IUPD

Playoffs test speed, talent

Wednesday, Oct. 12,2005 11:10 p.m.

Nine teams comprised of a writer, director and one to three actors will continue to compete this weekend in the 4th annual Bloomington Playwrights Project Playoffs. The Playoffs offer the chance for amateurs and veterans of the stage to come together to write, produce and perform nine new plays within 24 hours -- a breakneck pace compared to the months spent rehearsing already-scripted, full-length projects.

A reunion like no other

By Alyson Brodsy and Ryan McLaughlin · Wednesday, Oct. 12,2005 10:54 p.m.

The DVD release of Cream's Royal Albert Hall performance shows the highlights of the long overdue reunion concert of rock's first "super-group." The 2-disc DVD set contains more than 20 classic Cream songs, including "Badge," "Crossroads," "White Room" and "Sunshine of Your Love," as well as interviews with band members Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker.

Decent film in a bad age of entertainment

By Alyson Brodsy and John Barnett · Wednesday, Oct. 12,2005 10:50 p.m.

Steven Spielberg's first foray into World War II films, unless you count 1979's godawful pseudo-comedy "1941," "Empire of the Sun" concerns itself with the fate of a young British boy (newest Batman Christian Bale, aged 12 years here) stolen away from his comfortable, upper-class existence and forced to endure the war in a Japanese prison camp in China. Generally and perhaps unfairly dismissed as one of Spielberg's select few failures as a director, "Empire of the Sun" is actually a somewhat harrowing tale of one youth's steadfastness in the face of incomprehensible adversity.

Recipe for fun: Get 'Naked' and watch DVD

By Alyson Brodsy and Olivia Morales · Wednesday, Oct. 12,2005 10:48 p.m.

I've seen Mike Leigh's "Naked" almost a dozen times and I still can't describe how good it is. It gets better each time I see it, and I learn more each time I see it. When it debuted in 1993, its reception was, to put it mildly, mixed. Critics didn't dispute that it was a valuable film, but some viewed its protagonist, Johnny, as misogynistic, rambling and over-dramatic. To be fair, Johnny does possess a certain violent discontent with the world, which seems to manifest itself in his careless treatment of women.

At home on this 'prairie'

By Alyson Brodsy and Dan Hopmann · Wednesday, Oct. 12,2005 10:43 p.m.

There are no tricks or gimmicks on the latest Neil Young release. The album art looks just like the music sounds -- unpretentious and down-home. Fans have seen this approach previously from Young on 1972's Harvest. The lyrics conjure images of country roads and boundless cornfields, and the stripped-down musical elements contribute to an agrarian vibe. Prairie Wind may not contain the characteristic blustering guitar solos and thick distortion, but it's a welcome album.

Another day, another Ryan Adams album

By -Nate Bethea and Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Oct. 12,2005 10:39 p.m.

Ryan Adams is nothing if not prolific. He already released a double album (Cold Roses) this year with his new band the Cardinals, and since 2000 he has put out seven releases, all of varying quality. 2000's Heartbreaker was a jaw-dropping alt-country dirge; 2003's Rock 'n' Roll was a tongue-in-cheek rip-off of just about every alternative rock act ever. Adams seems to have come full circle from his days in Whiskeytown -- after conjuring every genre, he's back to straightforward country. It certainly sounds great, and the fact his picture isn't plastered all over every surface of the album means he may be becoming less of a prima donna.

Good 'morning'!

By Alyson Brodsy and Patrick Hurley · Wednesday, Oct. 12,2005 10:37 p.m.

To call My Morning Jacket a unique band is an understatement. Hailing from Louisville, KY, MMJ got started with five members. After some amount of success, two of the founders of the band decided they weren't cut out for the constant touring that comes with success. The remaining members didn't know where to go next. Would they dismantle the band? Would they continue with three members? Would they add new members? Bingo, the remaining three: singer/songwriter and guitarist Jim James, bassist Two-Tone Tommy and drummer Patrick Hallahan decided to add keyboardist Bo Koster and guitarist Carl Broemel to the mix.

Still awaiting 'the day'

By Alyson Brodsky and Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Oct. 12,2005 10:34 p.m.

One of hip-hop's most in-demand rappers, Twista, is back with a fresh beat and a new album to show for it. The multi-platinum rapper teamed up with award-winning producers Scott Scorch, David Banner, Timbaland, the Neptunes, Toxic and Cuzo to create The Day After.

With 'Two,' all bets are off

By Alyson Brodsy and Chris Wisner · Wednesday, Oct. 12,2005 10:34 p.m.

If you're going into the theater expecting "Two for the Money" to be this amazing study of the sports-gambling business, you might end up disappointed. There's more to life than winning football games and 7-point spreads -- there's the drama that comes from losing.

This 'scene' is overwhelming

By Alyson Brodsy and Nate Gowdy · Wednesday, Oct. 12,2005 10:31 p.m.

An experimentation has always been central to rock, and that's what Broken Social Scene's new eponymous album epitomizes. Not satisfied to stay with what's already worked for them, they've pushed the envelope even more, taking the "growing as a band" cliché literally.

Crazy has entered the building

By -Nate Bethea and Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Oct. 12,2005 10:28 p.m.

Fiona Apple has long been known for two things: writing eye-opening, nuanced piano songs and being crazy. Neither of the two has changed in the six years since her last album, the consistent and underappreciated (if dense and inaccessible) When the Pawn... For starters, anyone who downloaded the leaked version of the album in the past year or so will be happy to learn that the final mix sounds much better than what was passed around on the internet. Producer Jon Brion was dropped in favor of hip-hop producer Mike Elizondo, and the album was re-recorded.

'Shoes' every girl has been in

By Alyson Brodsky and Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Oct. 12,2005 10:25 p.m.

There is no better way for Cameron Diaz to have made a comeback then to star in "In Her Shoes," a story to which every sister can relate. As Curtis Hanson makes a transition from his last directorial feature, "8 Mile," he couldn't have picked a better cast to star in this adaptation of author Jennifer Weiner's best-selling novel. Diaz plays Maggie Fuller, a free-spirited, irresponsible party girl who often clashes with her straight-edged, job-oriented sister, Rose, played by Toni Collette. Diaz spends the first half hour of the movie as an unemployed party girl who mooches off of her successful sister.

Like sitting through church...

By Alyson Brodsy and Rob O'Connor · Wednesday, Oct. 12,2005 10:16 p.m.

As you may have guessed from the title, "The Gospel" is a movie about church. But not the stuffy old church you went to as a kid, this is a rockin' happenin' church where they dance and play the electric guitar. Finally, a movie about how cool it is to go to church... Wait, I mean, who was the idiot that thought it would be a good idea to make a movie about how cool it is to go to church? Now maybe it's just me, but no matter how many flag girls with sequin jumpsuits you put on stage, I would still rather spend my Sundays sleeping in and watching football (or in the off-season just sleeping in some more).

Disgusting, but so funny

By Alyson Brodsy and Matt McMullan · Wednesday, Oct. 12,2005 10:12 p.m.

"Waiting..." is about youth in limbo. It's about that feeling you get when you're twenty-something, a couple years past (or shy of) a college degree and you have no idea what to do with your life. It's about the feeling as if you have no point. No direction.

This 'curse' is hilarious!

By Alyson Brodsy and Evan Ross · Wednesday, Oct. 12,2005 10:06 p.m.

For those of you uninitiated (okay, most of you, myself included), British animator Nick Park created the claymation duo of Wallace and Gromit back in 1989. For years, his animated shorts have existed almost completely on the other side of the Atlantic. However, Dreamworks decided to distribute Wallace and Gromit's first feature-length debut here in the States. Can an obscure stop-motion British duo make it? By the reaction this film received in the theater, the answer is a resounding "yes." First, an introduction: good-natured inventor Wallace (voice of Peter Sallis) and his trusty silent partner/dog Gromit are making a small fortune helping out their small town with their humane pest control business. Looking for a permanent way to stop these bunnies from chomping up prized vegetables, Wallace constructs a machine in order to change their rabbit-y nature. Unfortunately, the machine malfunctions and instead lets loose a hopping mad monstrosity on the town.

IUSA Congress focuses on service-learning classes, hurricane relief

By Hannah Lodge · Wednesday, Oct. 12,2005 6:17 p.m.

In its third meeting of the school year, the IU Student Association Congress last night discussed an upcoming Katrina relief trip to Biloxi, Miss., an increase in service-learning classes and student concerns regarding the athletics fee and admission standards.

Student upgraded to fair condition

By Kathleen Quilligan and Kathleen Quilligen · Wednesday, Oct. 12,2005 2:05 a.m.

Freshman Ashley Lee has been upgraded from critical to fair condition almost two weeks after contracting bacterial meningitis, said John Mills, the public affairs manager at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. "If another case comes up now it will be unrelated to (Lee's)," said Dr. Hugh Jessop, director of the IU Health Center. "Ten days from exposure is the most contagious time, and we are four or five days out of that."

Crash suspect trial delayed

By Elisha Sauers · Wednesday, Oct. 12,2005 1:52 a.m.

The supposed last pre-trial conference for Meliton Praxidis, who is accused of fleeing the scene of an accident killing student Ashley Crouse April 11, convened Tuesday morning after an earlier delay last month. But a Monroe County Circuit Court judge scheduled another final meeting -- for the second time -- to Nov. 11 because of a pre-trial, pre-sentence investigation.

Axe body spray 'pimping' fraternity bathroom showers

By Michelle Manchir · Wednesday, Oct. 12,2005 1:22 a.m.

Not only are "dirty boys getting clean" by Axe hygiene products, but so are their bathrooms. In an effort to promote their new shower gel, the makers of Axe products are holding a nationwide "Pimp My Fraternity Shower" in which members of fraternities are asked to take a picture of their soiled, mildew-ridden bathrooms. The public will vote on the most appalling lavatory online and the winner receives a $15,000 bathroom makeover, according to the contest Web site, www.pimpmyfraternityshower.com.

University heads roll nationwide after mismanagement of schools' funds

By Mike Wilson · Wednesday, Oct. 12,2005 1:19 a.m.

American University President Benjamin Ladner was fired Monday night for allegedly misusing travel funds and spending school capital on private parties. And Adams State College President Richard A. Wueste was fired for alleged financial mismanagement Friday, according to Chronicle of Higher Education reports.