IUSA

Islamic Center turnout up after fire bombing

By Kelsey Peters · Wednesday, Nov. 2,2005 10:23 p.m.

As Ramadan comes to a close, the Islamic Center of Bloomington appears to have fully recovered from the firebombing this summer and attendance has even risen in the wake of the apparent hate crime. "We've definitely had an excellent turnout at the mosque and the (Muslim Student Union) events we've held during Ramadan," MSU vice president and senior Shahaab Uddin said. "From the MSU perspective, (the firebombing) inspired us to reach out and make people aware of what Islam is. It is a lack of understanding that lead to this action."

Hello Oscar season!

By Alyson Brodsy and Chris Wisner · Wednesday, Nov. 2,2005 10:22 p.m.

November is right around the corner and with it comes the slew of movies all vying for that little golden statue called Oscar. While 2005 has already seen potential candidates in the form of Ron Howard's brilliant boxing biopic "Cinderella Man," Fernando Meirelles' political thriller "The Constant Gardener" and John Madden's mathematically poignant "Proof," most studios hold off on releasing the cream of the crop until the end of the year.

'Saw' sharpens up for more

By C. Warner Sills and Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Nov. 2,2005 10:20 p.m.

"Oh yes, there will be blood." These few words, spoken by John, aka The Jig Saw Killer (Tobin Bell), pretty much sums up what the "Saw" films are all about. "Saw II" follows in the footsteps of tons of similar crime/horror films of the past, as being a vehicle for gruesome scenes of blood and gore. However, unlike so many horror movies that focus merely on shock value, "Saw II" also features a fairly clever plot, which in many ways is equal yet different to its predecessor.

Healthy Baby

By Larry Walters · Wednesday, Nov. 2,2005 10:18 p.m.

Hailing out of Chicago, the band Healthy White Baby will be playing at Second Story Nov. 4. The three-member band boasts sounds of alternative rock, and the name comes from a line in the Cohen brothers' "Raising Arizona." Lead singer, songwriter and guitarist Danny Black pulls lead vocal duty and the other two members, Laurie Stirratt and Ryan Juravic, provide instrumentals and backup vocals. Black took time out of HWB's touring schedule to chat with us about the band, their influences and their eponymous album.

Darkshadows

By Kathleen Quilligan and Kathleen Quilligen · Wednesday, Nov. 2,2005 10:01 p.m.

Bobtown, Ind.-- The night clung to the group assembled in front of the metal farm gate, draping across their shoulders and sneaking up under their coats, making them feel the need to whisper.

GLUED TO THE TUBE

By Byran Lufkin · Wednesday, Nov. 2,2005 9:17 p.m.

Can you name the nerdy next-door-neighbor from "Family Matters?" What about the slacker cousin who lived in the van outside in the lawn on "Step by Step?" Or Cory's girlfriend on "Boy Meets World?"

'Mad Hot' luke warm at best

By Alyson Brodsy and Michael Mellini · Wednesday, Nov. 2,2005 9:01 p.m.

Have you ever found yourself flipping through channels late at night and settling for reruns of "Kids Say the Darndest Things?" Do you then laugh hysterically at the kids on screen? If so, then "Mad Hot Ballroom" is the movie for you. However, just laughing at the kids' random comments may cause you to miss the point of the film. "Mad Hot Ballroom" is a documentary about a group of underprivileged New York City fifth graders who compete in an annual ballroom dancing competition. The mandatory program is used to keep children safe and off the streets.

Special features more interesting than film

By Alyson Brodsy and Evan Ross · Wednesday, Nov. 2,2005 8:59 p.m.

It was nearly 40 years ago that director George A. Romero changed the face of cinematic horror with his film "Night of the Living Dead." That film, seen as a milestone in zombie-film history, spawned two sequels, a remake and numerous imitators. The latest sequel, "Land of the Dead," shambled its way into theaters this summer. Was it a return to form for an old director or a sign that a long dead franchise should have stayed dead? It's the latter.

This 'wax' melted in Theaters

By Alyson Brodsy and Ash Cartwright · Wednesday, Nov. 2,2005 8:54 p.m.

I applaud the people responsible for the "House of Wax" DVD. Many times I have criticized DVDs that include few special features but I say that in this case to be sparing is good. They could have been even less generous in what they chose to include.

Kidman casts a 'bewitching' spell

By Alyson Brodsky and Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Nov. 2,2005 8:52 p.m.

Nora Ephron brings the television favorite "Bewitched" back to life in the theatrical debut that is just as spell-enchanted as the show. The movie, which focuses mostly on the show behind-the-scenes, stars Will Ferrell as actor Jack Wyatt and Nicole Kidman as Isabel Bigelow.

Take the trip over the rainbow again

By Alyson Brodsy and Michael Mellini · Wednesday, Nov. 2,2005 8:50 p.m.

There's no format like DVD...There's no format like DVD... The new special edition 2-disc "The Wizard of Oz" has arrived just in time for, um, the film's 66th anniversary? Well, there may not be a reason for the release, but that doesn't mean this isn't a DVD to celebrate. Packed with more than ten hours of special features, the disc is a real delight.

The solitude of the 'Samouraï'

By Alyson Brodsy and Chris Wisner · Wednesday, Nov. 2,2005 8:48 p.m.

In 1967, French director Jean-Pierre Melville would make his masterpiece "Le Samouraï," a stunning examination of one hitman's solitary lifestyle influenced by the Japanese samurai code of the Bushido. Jef Costello (French film legend Alain Delon) is a modern-day samurai -- replacing heavy armor with a raincoat, a fedora instead of a crescent-mooned helm and wielding a revolver in place of a katana.

Send this 'bird' away

By Alyson Brodsy and Mark Perlman-Price · Wednesday, Nov. 2,2005 8:46 p.m.

1965 was known as "the year of folk rock." Bands and artists like The Byrds, The Mamas and the Papas and Bob Dylan defined the year. But this era wasn't crowned complete until December of 1965, with the release of The Beatles' Rubber Soul. A couple months short of 40 years later, we get This Bird Has Flown, a tribute album featuring artists such as The Donnas, Dar Williams, Ben Harper, Sufjan Stevens, Ben Kweller, Ben Lee, the Cowboy Junkies and others.

A 'road' worth traveling down

By Alyson Brodsy and Bryan Lufkin · Wednesday, Nov. 2,2005 8:44 p.m.

What do you get when you mix elements of '90s British pop, influence from Madness and The Doors and a lead singer named Gaz? Road to Rouen, the latest CD from the British group Supergrass, proves to be an album that would satisfy fans of any of the above, if not at least pique the interest of fans of genres across the board. The songs are diverse, ranging from the almost ethereal acoustic strumming in the first track, "Tales of Endurance," to the catchy and upbeat (yet still wonderfully mellow) "Low C," to the final track that begins with sounds remarkably similar to American R&B.

Adrift between folk, pop and drugs

By -Nate Bethea and Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Nov. 2,2005 8:39 p.m.

I'll be the first to admit that, despite the hype, I couldn't warm up to Animal Collective's 2004 critical slam-dunk and breakout record Sung Tongs. As off-time and smirking as other 2004 darlings (i.e. the Fiery Furnaces) it was over-caffeinated, overly quirky and obnoxious. Still, just as it was a personal concession for me to admit that the 2004 Fiery Furnaces EP was pretty damn good, I have no choice but to admit the positives of Feels. It's a solid recording, albeit extremely off-kilter.

Trading metal for melody

By Alyson Brodsy and Josh Kastrinsky · Wednesday, Nov. 2,2005 8:37 p.m.

Sometimes, less is more. It may not be appropriate, though, when being loud is your thing. Following the surprising success of 2003's The Artist in the Ambulance, Thrice returns with Vheissu, their fifth full-length release, a far cry from their previous outputs. The band's post-hardcore throttle is only evident on about half of the album's 11 tracks, the others yielding to a softer, more melodic side.

'Drifting' into a difficult listen

By Alyson Brodsy and Ryan McLaughlin · Wednesday, Nov. 2,2005 8:36 p.m.

Watersphere is the debut major label release from Pilotdrift, an eclectic band hailing from Texarkana, a city on the East Texas border with Arkansas. Pilotdrift is the musical creation of five friends: Kelly Carr (lead vocals, piano, acoustic guitar), Jay Budzilowski (bass), Ben Rice (drums), Eric Russell (electronics, guitar) and John David Blagg (electric guitar). Pilotdrift's sound is an interesting array of styles ranging from electronica to rock to jazz fusion to orchestra inspired instrumentals.

How can this be music?

By -Nate Bethea and Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Nov. 2,2005 8:33 p.m.

Let me tell you something about the Fiery Furnaces: they're really creative and have the potential to write genre-inventing, era-defining music if they would just slow the hell down. Their hooks are phenomenal; their ear for instrumentation (and the wide variety of instruments they use effectively) is impressive. They just don't seem to have enough confidence in their melodies, because they abandon them just about every 30 seconds.

Martin's little-movie-that-could

By Alyson Brodsy and Rob O'Connor · Wednesday, Nov. 2,2005 8:30 p.m.

I believe I might be one of 12 people in the state who have actually read Steve Martin's little-book-that-could, "Shopgirl." It was great, it was funny, it was touching, it was basically impossible to visualize as a film. Still, when I heard Martin was going to write the screenplay himself, I was hopeful. Then when I heard Jimmy Fallon was going to play one of the main characters, things looked dim. Thank goodness he left the project to go make that self-indulgent tripe about how great his favorite baseball team is, "Fever Pitch."

'Prime' update of 'The Graduate'

By Alyson Brodsy and Doug Evans · Wednesday, Nov. 2,2005 8:28 p.m.

Writer/director Ben Younger, whose only previous credit includes the greed-inspired "Boiler Room," returns with sophomore effort "Prime," which, disregarding the brilliance of "The Graduate," could be considered its modern day rendition.