The Rock's moral football tale is a pleasant surprise: a swift, sure-footed, and gritty melodrama that plays to the strengths of its formula and elicits empathy for its kids.

The Ground Truth

Far from being just one more documentary wishing to expose alternative truths about the war in Iraq, Foulkrod's film instead airs some of the hard-won truths learned by American soldiers.

Half Nelson

Ryan Gosling's bleakly hopeful turn as crack-addicted teacher Dan in Half Nelson is matched only by the smoldering realism of newcomer Shareeka Epps.

Haven

Lacking purpose or thoughtful complexity, Frank E. Flowers' film, starring Orlando Bloom and Bill Paxton, is an overly ambitious mess.

The House of Sand is a quintessentially moderate art film: panoramic and symbolic, epic in scope, technically accomplished, and miraculously acted by the mother-daughter team of Fernandas Montenegro and Torres in showy dual roles.

The Last Kiss

You could say Paul Haggis' The Last Kiss is something of a Garden State redux, but Zach Braff's character here is less fanciful, less melodramatic, and far more prone to doing the thoughtless things men tend to do.

Lunacy

Jan Svankmajer's creepy-crawl slowly becomes one of the most mordantly beautiful of the director's films, an asylum-set anti-love story with mobile body parts and splashy theatrics.

The Protector

Thai martial arts star Tony Jaa, who made a strong stateside impression in the recent Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior, stars in this follow-up action picture, that plays like an invigorating Free Willy with elephants.

Tales of the Rat Fink

Ron Mann's Tales of the Rat Fink is an ebullient survey of Ed "Big Daddy" Roth's life that revs along with the zest a souped-up hot rod.

arts & culture

Talented If Not Young

The artists in Mexic-Arte's 'YLA No. 11' may be beyond youth, but they're still definitely deserving of attention

BY RACHEL KOPER

Hairspray: 'The Beat' goes on

Austin gets its first blast of Hairspray via a new national tour, and director Matt Lenz explains what makes this musical such a crowd-pleaser

BY ROBERT FAIRES

American Fiesta: Doing the dishes one more time

Interest from New York producers is prompting a second encore run for Steven Tomlinson's award-winning one-man show 'American Fiesta'

BY ROBERT FAIRES

First Night Austin: Long day's journey into First Night

Pulling together the second First Night Austin has been a struggle and with New Year's less than four months away, Ann S. Graham has resigned as executive director

BY ROBERT FAIRES

BY LOUIS BLACK

Postmarks

Our readers talk back.

Letters @ 3AM

The greatest sins of newspapers are sins of omission and emphasis. Historical context is usually ignored, and though facts are reported truly, a lack of context can make the facts lie.

BY MICHAEL VENTURA

After a Fashion

Stephen learned of the Beauty of Life – and what's hot for autumn – at this fashion forward event.

BY STEPHEN MACMILLAN MOSER

Day Trips

The Texas Seaport Museum in Galveston hosts Texas' official tall ship, the 'Elissa'

BY GERALD E. MCLEOD

To Your Health

Do creases in the earlobe signify potential heart problems?

BY JAMES HEFFLEY, PH.D.

The Common Law

Bad Idea to Break My Lease?

BY LUKE ELLIS

Mr. Smarty Pants Knows

What exactly does that "J" stand for in Michael J. Fox?

BY MR. SMARTY PANTS

Oops!

Our latest batch

Luv Doc Recommends: Keepin' It Weird

Topfer Theatre at Zach, Thursday, September 14, 2006

BY THE LUV DOC

Feedback

Letters to the editor, published daily

sports

Soccer Watch

The Lady Longhorns split a pair on the road, play a pair at home this weekend, and more

BY NICK BARBARO

TODAY'S EVENTS

Blank Hellscape, Water Damage (album release), More Eaze, Fire Boys

Hotel Vegas

Georgetown Spring Art Stroll at Downtown Georgetown

The Tortured Poets Department Listening and Smoke Sesh at MaryJae

MUSIC | MOVIES | ARTS | COMMUNITY

Sept. 15, 2006