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Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024

Scene

BIG PIMPIN' - Denzel Washington (left) and Russell Crowe face off against each other in "American Gangster," the latest film by director Ridley Scott. Washington plays a drug lord who smuggles heroin in the coffins of dead soldiers returning to the United

Review: Performances shine in 'American Gangster'

By Bryan Koenig · Thursday, Nov. 1, 2007

American Gangster: A Late 1960s and early 1970s, the United States was a time of civil strife, violence, drug use, public unrest, war, protest and societal change. It is during this turbulent period that "American Gangster" plows into audiences with Oscar-worthy performances and a mesmerizing plot.

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL - Larry (Kyle Encinas) and Dan (Marc Thuot) chat with each other in "Closer." Dan is staging a romantic assault on love interest Anna, enticing Larry with Anna's "epic tits" and "love of cock." Dan sets up a situation where Larry mee

'Closer,' 'Crave' explore dynamics of love

By Kristen Powell · Thursday, Nov. 1, 2007

The AU Players are performing two complex stories of love, loss and betrayal this weekend in the Katzen Studio Theater. For fans of avant-garde theater, "Crave" is a refreshing look at the thought processes behind human motivation. For a more traditional look at life and love, check out "Closer," the play of popular movie fame.

Carter's humble roots hit big screen

By Ali Goldstein · Thursday, Nov. 1, 2007

Plains, Ga., the boyhood home of former President Carter, has only 650 residents. Each year, the town hosts a peanut festival to celebrate its agricultural riches. Roots are important in the new Jimmy Carter documentary, "Man From Plains," which follows the former president with the famous southern drawl on a cross-country tour for his controversial book, "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid.

AGING GRACEFULLY - Though no longer in their heyday, pop-punk musicians Jimmy Eat World have released an upbeat and catchy new album, "Chase This Light." Vocalist and guitarist Tom Linton said recording this album was a much more personal endeavor for the

News

Energetic pop-rock quartet ups ante

By Amanda Krause | November 1

Jimmy Eat World is most known for its smash pop-rock song "The Middle," which launched the band into its multiplatinum status and rewarded it with sold-out tours, an MTV Video Music Award nomination and invitations to tours with Green Day, Weezer and blink-182.

ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK - "Guitar Hero III," the newest addition to the "Guitar Hero" video game series that includes songs by Smashing Pumpkins and Sonic Youth, adds several features to the gameplay experience. Players may now face off against several guit

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'Guitar Hero III' caters to pros with new features

By Jamie Burton | November 1

The newest release in the "Guitar Hero" series, "Guitar Hero III," is developed by a new team: Neversoft. Now, many gamers might find this news distressing. Did Neversoft change a game formula everyone already loves, or did the company manage to mess it up? The answer is no to both questions.

DENNIS THE MENACE - Science fiction novelist David (John Cusack) fulfills his late wife's wish to adopt Dennis (Bobby Coleman), who believes he's from Mars, in "Martian Child," the latest film by director Menno Meyjes.

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Review: Worlds collide in 'Martian'

By Caitlin Servilio | November 1

Luckily for the perennially adorable John Cusack, "Martian Child" is more a hit than a miss. Its above-average acting and offbeat sense of humor almost mask the script's clichés, but what really carries the film is its fearless embrace of weirdness in kids and adults.

The Rude Boy is a C-shaped prostate toy.

News

These toys are not for children

By Pierce Hardcastle | November 1

As I said in my first column, I want to be the guy who said the thing about anal beads. This week's column is devoted entirely to sex toys. Do you need sex toys to have great sex? Absolutely not. Can great sex be improved with sex toys? Absolutely. Extra bedroom equipment can be daunting, especially for students with little experience or cash.

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Furnaces fire up

October 29

The Fiery Furnaces "Widow City" (Thrill Jockey) Sounds Like: A fearless step in the right direction. Love them or hate them, The Fiery Furnaces (brother-sister duo Matthew and Eleanor Friedberger) are two of the most imaginative musical artists of their generation.

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WVAU Pick of the Week

October 29

Jens Lekman "Night Falls Over Kortedala" (Secretly Canadian) Sounds Like: Rat Pack meets Morrissey. "Night Falls Over Kortedala," the third offering from sample-happy Swede Jens Lekman, is his best yet. Lekman uses a palate of bombastic brass, chirping flutes and buoyant beats to create his own unique brand of chamber pop.

News

Young grows old

October 29

Neil Young "Chrome Dreams II" (Reprise) Sounds like: An aging Neil Young failing to revive his old self Neil Young spent the 1970s lamenting the hippie hey-day because he couldn't connect with the rising punk and glam rock scenes. More than 40 years later, Young is still lamenting the loss of the hippie era.

STREET CRED - Freshman Kristen Parotta performs her version of Bob Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man" at the Tenleytown Metro station. Parotta is one of several performers taking music to the streets of D.C. She embraces street music as a professional and perso

News

Musicians go back to basics, hit streets

By Ryan Pickett | October 29

The District prides itself on being diverse. From politics to restaurants, one can find a mix of styles and cultures that suits any and every need. The music scene is as diverse as the rest of the city, and to find it, all one has to do is keep one's ears open while walking down a busy street or coming out of the metro.

THE ELECTRIC SLIDE - Murray Lerner's film chronicles Dylan's transition from his eponymous 1962 debut to "Bringing it All Back Home" in 1965 - a move from acoustic to electric that shocked the orthodox folk crowd.

News

'Mirror' reflects Dylan's soul

By Laura Busche | October 29

He sat on a wooden stool, acting as though the hollering crowd around him did not exist. The enchantment of Bob Dylan's harmonica cannot be reduced to words, and the producers of "The Other Side of the Mirror" seemed to understand that fully. The 80-minute recital contains no narration, chronicling Bob Dylan's appearances at the Newport Folk Festival from 1963 to 1965.

News

Take a hike: Hit gym instead of bottle to relax

By Alyssa Pry | October 29

Midterms are finally over for me, and I am wiped out. All I've wanted to do lately is curl up in a ball and sleep for hours and hours on end. Plus, I haven't been home in a few months; my parents didn't come for Family Weekend and I am feeling the overwhelming urge to get as far away from college as possible.

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Review: Total Magique; Grade: C+

October 29

We Are Wolves "Total Magique" (Dare to Care Records) Sounds Like: A coarse electro-punk howl. This album cover looks like a take on Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon." And before I heard We Are Wolves' "Total Magique," I thought Floyd was dark. Hell, no.

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Canadian bands you ought to know

By Laura Phelps | October 29

Canada has routinely been seen as the ugly second cousin of the United States, lacking the spunk and ingenuity of U.S. media. But there is nothing boring about our northern neighbors. For years, Canadian musicians have been infiltrating the U.S. music scene, such as Neil Young, Rush, Celine Dion and the Barenaked Ladies.

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Tokyo's view speaks for itself

By Andrew Robinson | October 29

Most major cities in the world have some iconic landmark, building or monument associated with them that are instantly recognizable to people around the world. New York City has the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building, Paris has the Eiffel Tower, London has Big Ben, D.

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TECH BITS

October 29

Information Video Boom on YouTube Most people visit YouTube to watch a music video or the latest viral video. Who would guess people would watch videos about root canal procedures? The New York Times reported that experts are beginning to post informative videos on a number of information subjects, including dentistry.

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Stay stylish: Sweet tricks for cheap costumes

October 29

It's the middle of the semester, and for most of us, our funds are running a little low. This doesn't leave much room for Halloween costumes - especially not that $150 costume of your dreams on that fancy Web site. Just because you can't buy a costume doesn't mean your costume should be boring, so put away your sheets and brooms because we have a few of the best do-it-yourself ensembles for this Halloween.

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Paik sculpts neon, views of pop culture

By Kelly Barrett | October 25

If U.S. culture is shaped by the opposing worlds of avant-garde art and mainstream media, it appears that Nam June Paik has found a way in which to wire both together. Paik's "Electronic Superhighway: Continental U.S., Alaska, Hawaii," originally created in 1995, was recently reconstructed at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, along with several other works by the artist, including "Megatron Matrix" and "Zen for T.

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Doin' it: 'WAM' bam, thank you, ma'am: fetishes

By Pierce Hardcastle | October 25

What does BDSM mean to you? To people all over the world in positive, healthy, sexual relationships, it means Bondage/Discipline and Sadism/Masochism. Last night, the GLBTA Resource Center, Queers and Allies, AU Methodists and Women's Initiative held their annual "S&M 101: An Interactive Workshop" as part of National Coming Out Week.

The UFL and Why it's Good for the Sport

Section 202 hosts Connor Sturniolo and Gabrielle McNamee are joined by fellow Eagle staff member and phenomenal sports photographer, Josh Markowitz. Follow along as they discuss the United Football League and the benefits it provides for the world of professional football.

Solutions by The State News