The Gunfighter
The Gunfighter 1950, NR, 85 min. Directed by Henry King, Starring Gregory Peck, Helen Westcott, Millard Mitchell. A good example of the brooding, psychological Westerns of the 1950s, The Gunfighter stars Peck as the aging gunflighter Jimmie Ringo, who causes more than a few dust-ups when he arrives in town to visit an old girlfriend.
Mai’s America
Mai’s America 2001, NR, 72 min. Directed by Marlo Poras. Marlo Poras’ Mai’s America is a feature-length documentary about a Vietnamese teenager experiencing a student-exchange program in Mississippi. The film received the Audience Award at SXSW 2002.
In Old Chicago
In Old Chicago 1938, NR, 95 min. Directed by Henry King, Starring Tyrone Power, Alice Faye, Don Ameche, Alice Brady. Natural disaster, Hollywood-style, gets another workout in this story about the 1871 Chicago fire that was started by Mrs. O’Leary’s cow. This effects-filled film was one of the most expensive productions of its time.
Piece of Work: Crab Trap
On a visit to the inaugural exhibition for UT’s newly renovated Harry Ransom Center, writer Madeline Irvine finds herself seduced into the silent undersea world of Karen Glaser’s photograph Crab Trap.
Phases and Stages
AtashRepublic of Love (Ars Mundi) “We have fallen to a place where everything is music,” (Rumi, 13th century). Recent world events may have inspired Republic of Love, but as the quote from the Sufi mystic suggests, when war disrupts the world, thank goodness it’s music that emerges from the ruins. And what glorious music it…
Naked City
The city parking police catch up with the progressive hangout on Toomey Road.
DVD Watch
Despite its initial promise and Raymond J. Barry’s worthy performance as the supposed second gunman, Interview With the Assassin never surmounts its clever concept to achieve something transcendental.
Articulations
After three years of leading the drive to build the Long Center for the Performing Arts, David Fleming has resigned as the center’s President and CEO.
Phases and Stages
Stubb’s Gospel Brunch Volume 1 C.B. Stubblefield was as legendary for his warm, spiritual nature as he was for his barbecue. A fitting reminder of this legacy can be found every Sunday at the venue bearing his name. For those who sleep in on Sunday, Stubb’s Gospel Brunch Volume 1 provides a great way to…
Naked City
The National Council of La Raza issues a disheartening report on Texans of color and the state’s justice system.
Exhibitionism
With Crazy for You, Zilker Theatre Productions brings the grand songs of George and Ira Gershwin back to the park for the first time in 43 years, and the occasion seems to have inspired the artists involved to an infectious jubilation.
Phases and Stages
Human MarvelsWith It Before soaking a torch in lighter fluid, sparking it up, and giving it the old deep throat, Penn Jillette of magic/comedy duo Penn & Teller would pause and wax for a moment about sideshow ancestry. “The real freaks are the self-made freaks,” he’d say, the folks who aren’t born freakish, but use…
Naked City
After months of talking about it, City Manager Toby Futrell finally makes official her proposal to bridge the city’s $57 million budget gap.
American Wedding
American Wedding 2003, R, 95 min. Directed by Jesse Dylan, Narrated by , Voices by , Starring Jason Biggs, Alyson Hannigan, January Jones, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Seann William Scott, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Fred Willard, Eugene Levy, Jennifer Coolidge. Jesse Dylan’s first feature was the ganja-infused comedy How High, which, while not exactly a high-bongwater mark…
Exhibitionism
With The Purpose of Tools, Travis Holmes has penned some nasty satirical material skewering the All-American Family, religion, and work, and Loaded Gun Theory’s production boasts a lot of energy, a strong cast, and some clever direction, but the play’s frequent blackouts and split focus cause the inspired mania onstage to fizzle out.
Phases and Stages
Weary BoysGood Times (Weary) In the past year or so, the Weary Boys have become one of Austin’s hottest live acts. Their standard m.o.: two minutes of music, a cloud of dust, and twang to burn. Repeat that for an hour or more, and audiences start bouncing off the walls. So it’s surprising that Good…
Naked City
David Fleming decides not to wait around for the Long Center to open.
Gigli
Gigli 2003, R, 124 min. Directed by Martin Brest, Narrated by , Voices by , Starring Ben Affleck, Jennifer Lopez, Justin Bartha, Lenny Venito, Al Pacino, Christopher Walken, Lainie Kazan, Missy Crider. Critics and audiences were already primed to hate the laughably monikered Gigli, a film made immediately infamous for marking the start of Jennifer…
The Correspondence
Austin writer Jim Lewis on how things came together in his new novel and on his current assignment in the Congo. Roger Gathman relays.
Phases and Stages
Pat GreenWave on Wave (Universal South) Love him or hate him, Pat Green is a phenomenon. He’s become a standard-bearer for “Texas music,” and with Wave on Wave, he appears genuinely bewildered by it all. On “Guy Like Me,” “All the Good Things Fade Away,” and “Barricades,” Green cogitates on luck and circumstance, seemingly more…
Naked City
Enviros and neighbors say the state’s latest landfill rulings don’t go far enough.
Scorched
Scorched 2003, PG-13, 89 min. Directed by Gavin Grazer, Narrated by , Voices by , Starring Alicia Silverstone, Rachael Leigh Cook, Woody Harrelson, Paulo Costanzo, John Cleese, Joshua Leonard, David Krumholtz, Jeffrey Tambor, Marcus Thomas, Ivan Sergei. The sleepy Desert Savings Bank is about to be hit – from here to Sunday and then some.…
Page Two
The Republican right’s hypocritical rhetoric machine has become so dazzling and effective it can only be viewed as (highly successful) conceptual art.
Phases and Stages
Girlie Action The Austin-based trio Same Day Service released their third album, Waiting for Tomorrow, last month, celebrating love, growing up, and dreams of the future (“Life,” “Try,” “Take It”) in 11 punky pop songs of endearing sibling harmony that are charming but lightweight. Rebecca Cole’s eponymous three-song EP (Mix-O-Rama) breaks nearly every rule: Opener…
Naked City
The city’s chief builder is the fourth department head to exit in the last month.
Gigantic: A Tale of Two Johns
Gigantic: A Tale of Two Johns 2003, NR, 102 min. Directed by A.J. Schnack, Narrated by , Voices by , Starring John Flansburgh, John Linnell. No, it’s not a “wishful thinking” selection from aGLIFF, but a candy-coated valentine of a documentary about art-rock quirksters They Might Be Giants. (Actually, the world premiere of Gigantic occurred…
Mr. Smarty Pants Knows
A casino once opened in Deadwood, S.D., called Carrie Nation’s Temperance Saloon.While George Washington regularly attended a Christian church, he would not take communion. On his deathbed, he did not request a minister to be present and asked for no prayers.The American Declaration of Independence was modeled on the inspirational document the Declaration of Arbroath,…
Calling Mom
An essay on the author’s mother and her generation of African-American women
Naked City
Former guv’s aide says Dubya wasn’t entirely ignorant of the facts when he put people to death!
Day Trips
At Fisherman’s Corner fishing ponds catching catfish is almost as easy as shooting the proverbial fish in a barrel. While you still have to go through the motions of fishing, at least you can be sure that there is something beneath these dark waters. No golden hook or other good luck charm is necessary at…
Tweaking the ARA Plan
Seven years after its creation, the Austin Revitalization Authority hopes new revisions to its urban renewal plan can push Eastside redevelopment forward.
Capitol Chronicle
Threatened with arrest, the Senate Democrats fly to New Mexico.
To Your Health
I am ready to stop smoking and plan to use nicotine gum to help. Is nicotine gum safe?
‘Spy Kids,’ Small Planes, and Surly Senators Star in Mueller Sequel
The State Aircraft Pooling Board’s long goodbye creates turbulence at Mueller for the city — and Robert Rodriguez.
Austin @ Large: Austin at Large
Another Austin boom is pointless unless it improves the quality of life.
About AIDS
Did you know that Austin has one of the “youngest” epidemics among cities in the United States? More of our HIV-infected Austinites are in their late teens and early 20s than most other urban areas. Worse still, probably one-third or more of HIVers don’t know they’re infected because they haven’t bothered getting tested, even though…
Public Funds Part of PromiseLand’s Plan for Praise
The conservative Christian church seeks a federal loan for an amphitheatre at its 51st St. campus
On the Lege
The Senate stands at ease, and the House steamrolls easily.
Feast of the Dragon
Hong Kong Sundays at the Alamo bring watermelon monsters and world-class Asian cuisine together.
After 40 Years of Hard Labor, Joe Gunn Steps Down
The longtime AFL-CIO leader ends a chapter of Texas labor history
The Hightower Lowdown
Nike can’t tell a lie; and useless crap we don’t need.
Food-o-File
Hot chefs and hot dogs heat up this week’s “Food-o-File.”
The Sheriff Shooting: A Very Different Story With the Same Ending
The shooting last week of Lennon Johnson by a Travis Co. deputy itself raises questions about the APD shooting last month.
The Marble Falls
The demise of one small town’s one-screen theatre comes down to cold logic in a big business. James McWilliams reports.
Mini-Review
Austin’s newest pie parlor brings the East Coast to the Third.
Naked City
Quote of the Week: “Moderation and Senate tradition are more important to some than the self-serving, arrogant desires of a Washington power broker. Though Tom DeLay thinks he is mighty special, there is no reason that the Texas Senate has to adopt special rules just for him.” — U.S. Rep. (and original Killer Bee) Lloyd…
All-Access
VSA Arts of Texas raises funds to outfit AMC Barton Creek 14 with new technology for its deaf and blind patrons.
Second Helpings: Slices of Life, Part 2
“Second Helpings” offers tasty, bite-sized restaurant listings compiled from new and previous reviews, guides, and poll results. This week’s entries were updated by Erin Mosow. For quick, reliable info about Austin eateries, check here. Marye’s Gourmet Pizza 3663 Bee Caves Rd., 327-5222 Monday-Friday, 11am-9pm; Saturday, noon-9pm Marye’s does a brisk lunch business with a special…
Oye Como Va
This trio of brothers from San Angelo aren’t gonna be lonely for long.
Naked City
It looks like Capital Metro is planning to go the commuter route in its latest rail plans, according to comments by Cap Metro reps at a recent workshop in the Crestview/ Wooten neighborhood-planning area in North Austin. The agency is contemplating peak-hour service on a 31-mile stretch of Cap Metro’s existing rail right-of-way between Downtown…
Blogging With the ‘Chron’
They say imitation is the highest form of flattery, but this is a parody. Of XL ent. And their shiny new useless blogs.
TCB
Developments in the SXSW wristband scam case, the resurgence of Emo’s, and a preview of local fall releases.
Los Lonely Boys Reviewed
Los Lonely Boys(Or Music) There are more angles to Los Lonely Boys than a many-sided die: a brother act, a family band backing their father, a Latin rock trio from San Angelo, harmony-laden Tex-Mex soul. Yet if the real gamble is whether their classic grooves will sell, bet heavily in favor of Los Lonely Boys.…
Naked City
When it rains, it pours. Hays Co. citizens spent last Tuesday moving from one meeting place to another to sound off on two separate but related matters concerning — as usual — water. First, about 150 Ruby Ranch homeowners and nearby residents voiced opposition to a proposed asphalt plant to be built behind the upscale…
Short Cuts
Grammy Hall Dept.: It came as much of a surprise to them as it likely will to everyone else, but in retrospect it just goes to show that the Latin Grammys are considerably more hip than their counterpart in el norte. Of course we’re talking about local animator/artists Jason Archer and Paul Beck’s recent nomination…
Telling His Own Story Fearlessly
With his theatrical memoir “I’m Not Lying,” Jaston Williams proves there is more to the man than Tuna.
Phases and Stages
BlazeAural Karate (Butter Vat) Jazz is forever misconceived as unapproachable, far removed from mainstream popular music. Yet jazz has always kept its ear to the street, having already achieved a goodly amount of equity in hip-hop, electronica, and DJ culture, often with surprising results. For drummer Brannen Temple and his increasingly confident local jazz ensemble…
Naked City
Bluegrass, traditional, and gospel music; a kid’s raffle; and a silent auction are highlights of a Sunday, Aug. 3, benefit for Austin Pets Alive!, which supports a no-kill policy toward homeless animals. Money generated at the benefit — 2-5pm at Jazz, 214 E. Sixth — will go toward APP’s spay/neuter program. For more details contact…
TV Eye
While the eyes of many might be on model Travis Fimmel’s man panties in the WB’s Tarzan, Belinda Acosta will be watching Benjamin McKenzie in The OC.
Luv Doc Recommends: Em & Lo’s Big Bang Sex Drive Book Tour
Since the personals became such a huge phenomenon back in the early Nineties, publishers have been devoting increasing amounts of space to love/dating/sex-themed content. The idea being, perhaps, that those using the personals need help above and beyond a phone number for a lunch date. The result has been an overwhelming glut of advice columns,…
