With loyalty to such cinematic emperors as Fellini, Pasolini, and Antonioni, the Criterion Collection's devotion to post-war Italian masterpieces is serious business. Seriously buffo, comico, spiritoso in the case of neo-realist Pietro Germi's 'Divorzio all'Italiana' (1962).

Film Reviews

Crash

The paths of a seemingly unconnected, multicultural group of Los Angelenos cross in the most compelling American movie to come around in a long while.

House of Wax

An occasionally creepy but mostly rote remake of the 1953 horror classic, with some putatively clever jibes at a certain high-profile hotel heiress.

Kingdom of Heaven

Ridley Scott's Crusades epic is a historical spectacle on the order of Gladiator and a dissection of war, as gritty and illuminating as Black Hawk Down, that takes flight when it becomes a canvas for ideas and ideologies in action.

Palindromes

Nominally the story of a 13-year-old girl who longs for a baby, Todd Solondz's latest is provocative, wicked, even bleakly funny, and ultimately empty.

Up and Down

Director Jan Hrebejk’s stylishly interwoven tales of modern-day Prague add up to a melancholy, comedic riff on what it means to be European these days.

Walk on Water

A homophobic Israeli assassin insinuates himself into the life of a former SS officer's gay grandson in hopes of learning the Nazi's location in a well-intentioned but ultimately simplistic plea for tolerance all around.

arts & culture

In Creative Hands

How artists shape the ancient medium of clay into works of stunning variety

BY RACHEL KOPER

Start Trekkin'

The Heroes of Comedy boldly go where no troupe has gone before

BY WAYNE ALAN BRENNER

Revenge of the Return of the Son of the Graphics Giveaway Begins!

If Scrooge McDuck, Bruce Wayne, and Veronica Lodge are giving away millions, it can only be Free Comic Book Day, Part IV

BY ROBERT FAIRES

'Norwegian Black Metal – Photographs'

This week offers a rare chance to objectify pure evil here in Austin as Peter Beste's photographic portraits of Norwegian Black Metal satanists go on display

BY RACHEL KOPER

Arts Reviews

Get Your War On

The Rude Mechanicals' 'Get Your War On' bulldozes through the buried media and lost horrors of the post-9 / 11 years with a sarcasm that strikes sparks

The Marriage of Figaro

Austin Lyric Opera offered something to delight everyone with its funny and excellent 'Marriage of Figaro'

'Adde Russell'

Adde Russell's artwork made me think she had stolen my childhood cigar boxes of treasures and painted replicas of each precious object onto canvas

columns

Page Two

Our 'rights' can be lost in many ways, one of which is to chip away at them because of health, community, decency, moral, and/or ethical standards

BY LOUIS BLACK

Postmarks

Our readers talk back.

About AIDS

The International AIDS Candlelight Memorial service will be held Sunday, May 15, 8pm at Republic Square Park on Guadalupe

BY SANDY BARTLETT

After a Fashion

Making the fashion scene with Your Style Avatar, Mr. Stephen McMillan Moser, it's hard to imagine when he has time to worship at the altar of Trinity Broadcasting Network... but he does. Hallelujah!

BY STEPHEN MACMILLAN MOSER

To Your Health

What are the benefits of taking the 'fancy' form of folic acid, 5-methyl tetrahydrofolate, and how would I know if it is better for me if I decide to try it?