Local Films
Local Films NR. Directed by Various, Narrated by , Voices by , Starring . Throughout March, Cafe Mundi is hosting screenings of works by local filmmakers. Anyone with footage to share should contact Shanta at shanta_stevens@hotmail.com or 785-1123.
Short Film Showcase
Short Film Showcase G. Directed by Various, Narrated by , Voices by , Starring . Four films by award-winning University of Texas filmmakers screen in this program. Included are “Pillowfight” by Scott Rice, “Holding Patterns” by P.J. Raval, and “Bocho” and “Waiting for Trains” by Alejandro Gomez.
De Noche Vienes, Esmeralda (Esmeralda Comes by Night)
De Noche Vienes, Esmeralda (Esmeralda Comes by Night) 1997, R, 103 min. Directed by Jaime Humberto Hermosillo, Narrated by , Voices by , Starring Roberto Cobo, Ignacio Retes, Alberto Estrella, Pedro Armendariz Jr., Antonio Crestani, Tito Vasconcelos, Martha Navarro, Claudio Obregón, Maria Rojo. Esmeralda is simultaneously married to five men. She is about to marry…
Soco Fringe Festival
Soco Fringe Festival NR. Directed by Various, Narrated by , Voices by , Starring . This inaugural outdoor alternafest has something for everyone, including Club de Ville Fashion Show emcee Joel Mozersky, music by Karen Poston, and a snooty critics and filmmmakers panel. The films include the animated short “Fish Queen” by Craig Godwin, documentary…
The M.O. of M.I. (The Modus Operandi of Male Intimacy)
The M.O. of M.I. (The Modus Operandi of Male Intimacy) 2001, NR, 93 min. Directed by Susan Turley, Narrated by , Voices by , Starring Edwin Neal, Lane West, Luis Olmeda, Titos Menchaca, David Christopher, David Stokey, Cory Schneider. Based on a three-person play by Aaron Brown, who also serves as this movie’s screenwriter and…
Intimidades En Un Cuarto De Baño (Bathroom Intimacy)
Intimidades En Un Cuarto De Baño (Bathroom Intimacy) 1989, NR, 78 min. Directed by Jaime Humberto Hermosillo, Narrated by , Voices by , Starring Maria Rojo, Gabriela Roel, Martha Navarro, Alvaro Guerrero, Emilio Echevarría. Despite its provocative subject matter, Hermosillo filmed this movie in only 10 days as a continuation of his experiments with a…
Escrito En El Cuerpo De La Noche
Escrito En El Cuerpo De La Noche 2001, NR, 128 min. Directed by Jaime Humberto Hermosillo, Narrated by , Voices by , Starring Ana Ofelia Murguía, Marta Aura, Giovanna Zacarías, Ramiro Guerrero. A filmmaker revisits his past after the premiere of his autobiographical film. His memories of the apartment he shared as a frustrated teenager…
Iris
Iris 2001, R, 91 min. Directed by Richard Eyre, Narrated by , Voices by , Starring Judi Dench, Jim Broadbent, Kate Winslet, Hugh Bonneville, Juliet Aubrey, Kris Marshall, Penelope Wilton. As the lovely film Iris attests, the bonds of love are often forged to withstand the most daunting of adversities, beyond what we might rationally…
Exhibitionism
Lynn Ahrens’ and Steven Flaherty’s musical Once on This Island has a fairy tale feel, but director-choreographer Kevin Archambault can’t always get the large-student cast of this St. Edward’s University production to bring its colorful, swirling world to magical life.
Picks to Click
Grupo Fantasma Friday, March 15, the Vibe (1am) One of the definitions of phantasm is “imaginative conception,” and it’s this term that best suits Austin big band Grupo Fantasma. Their creative conception successfully blends influences and imaginations into a cohesive, yet rump-rotating, whole. En Español, the tag of this 10-member Latin-flavored collective could be translated…
Lingering Questions
Serious questions remain about the state’s case against Rodney Reed for the murder of Stacey Stites.
Naked City
In addition to another round of talk about charter amendments (see items at left), the council has on its plate: A further brace of items related to the Austin Revitalization Authority, including using $600,000 in excess federal funds to loan ARA money to buy parcels on E. 11th Street. The city and ARA also want…
‘Pizza … Any Way You Slice It!’ at the Austin Children’s Museum
Half the task of journalism is finding the right person (or people) to cover a story. There are a million stories out there, but unless they’re covered by someone who knows what questions to ask and who would be interested, the story gets lost. So when news of the Austin Children’s Museum’s latest exhibit came…
Exhibitionism
The Austin Symphony’s performance of the program Conception of Fate, with its works by Mozart, Brahms, and Beethoven, melded craft and style into a profound, spirited, joyful night of art.
Picks to Click
The Crack Pipes Saturday, March 16, Beerland (8pm) Imagine John Lee Hooker all jacked up on trucker speed and rotgut hooch and you’ll have a pretty good idea of Austin’s Crack Pipes. Then again, the local quartet’s blast of garagey, blues-influenced rock calls to mind forebears like Poison 13 and Jack-O-Fire, much more so than…
David Fisher, Butt-inski
A profile of David Fisher, volunteer sleuth in the Rodney Reed murder case
Questions for Tony and Dan
At a press conference this week, a reporter asked Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dan Morales what he considered the most important differences between himself and his major primary opponent, Tony Sanchez, on matters of public policy. Morales replied that he would welcome the opportunity to find that out — but that Sanchez’s reluctance to debate made…
Second Helpings: Smoothies
A panoply of smoothie connections in this week’s “Second Helpings.”
Farewells to Albert Huffstickler and Ed Eakin
Books Editor Clay Smith marks the recent passing of poet Albert Huffstickler and publisher Ed Eakin.
Picks to Click
Smackola Wednesday, March 15, Back Room (11:30pm) By dodging the limitations of West Coast/Dirty South pigeonholes, Cali-to-Austin transplant Smackola has carved out a versatile niche for himself in the local hip-hop community. Since 1997, he’s built a solid River City fan base, and his slammin’ Black Zorro EP may portend even bigger things to come.…
Endorsements: March 12 Primary
For a full version of the Chronicle endorsements, see the Feb. 22 issue on austinchronicle.com. We urge all of our readers to vote in the primary of their choice. Early voting in Travis County continues through Friday, March 8. U.S. Senate (Dem): Ron Kirk The candidacy of Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk represents a historical payback…
Austin @ Large: The Dunkerley Solution
Betty Dunkerley’s “pragmatic” challenge to Beverly Griffith’s obstinancy
You Made Me Love You
What is this thing called crush? Specifically, what makes us swoon over people we’ve never met? The creative minds at the Blue Theater have gathered over two dozen actors, musicians, artists, writers, and puppeteers to create art, wall-writing, and short performance pieces to address that very question in Celebrity Crush.
Recommended
The Writers’ League of Texas is hosting its first fiction writing conference March 9 and 10. Ann Patchett, whose latest novel, Bel Canto, has been nominated for the National Book Critics Circle Award, will be the featured speaker, but Janice Woods Windle will be there as well, with her forthcoming historical novel, Will’s War, as…
Picks to Click
The Gloria Record Wednesday, March 13, Red Room (Midnight) You can’t blame the Gloria Record for wanting to distance themselves from their past in the seminal emo group Mineral. After all, Thom Yorke probably doesn’t want to talk about “Creep” anymore, either. Yet while the Radiohead anthem was quickly dismissed as a one-hit-wonder, Mineral’s fans…
Welcome to the Primaries
A roundup of primary races important to the Austin area
The Hightower Lowdown
The Pentagon lies to us … and unashamedly admits it; Global Crossing investors and employees get Enronized; New York City whores its parks to the highest bidder.
Law and Other Performing Arts
The hottest arts venue in Austin this week may well be the UT Law School, where internationally renowned cultural figures, local arts luminaries, and prominent legal experts are converging there for a symposium on law and the performing arts.
Page Two
Even a lot of memorializing would not have been enough to pay tribute to Waylon Jennings, who had a profound and spiritual impact on Austin and its music; the Austin Music Awards will feature a salute to Ray Benson; our preview coverage of SXSW Interactive and Film gets under way with a tech-centric meditation by…
Picks to Click
The Cliques that Were Picked 1994: Meg Hentges, Hamell on Trial, Nogood Boyo, Sidehackers, the Horsies, Gomez, the Ugly Americans 1995: Los Pinkys, Elias Haslanger, Mumbleskinny, Kris McKay, Stretford, Billy White, Gretchen Phillips Experience 1996: Sixteen Deluxe, Kathy McCarty, Fastball, Prescott Curlywolf, Spoon, 81é2 Souvenirs, the Derailers (austinchronicle.com/issues/vol15/issue26/music.index.html) 1997: American Analog Set, Laurie Freelove, Trish…
Democratic and Republican Joint Primary: March 12, 2002
The joint primary election allows the Republican and Democratic parties to nominate candidates to represent their parties in the November election. (Other parties, e.g. Libertarian Party or Green Party, generally nominate candidates in conference or at a convention, and do not appear on the primary ballots.) You can vote in either the Republican or the…
Disarming Dubya
First-time director Alexandra Pelosi discusses Journeys With George, her surprising and fascinating documentary on George W. Bush’s 2000 presidential campaign, viewed from the back of the press plane.
We Were Soldiers
We Were Soldiers 2002, R, 140 min. Directed by Randall Wallace, Narrated by , Voices by , Starring Mel Gibson, Edwin Morrow, Keri Russell, Barry Pepper, Josh Daugherty, Chris Klein, Greg Kinnear, Madeleine Stowe, Sam Elliott. Based on the book We Were Soldiers Once … and Young by Lt. General Hal Moore and Joe Galloway,…
Articulations
After seven months as the Austin Museum of Art’s interim executive director, Dana Friis-Hansen has been named the permanent successor to Elizabeth Ferrer as AMOA’s executive director.
Mr. Smarty Pants
Despite their name, roads need not cross state lines to be designated as interstate highways.A demijohn is a wicker-covered wine bottle.Filipino innovator Manuel R. Dono has recently invented a grill that emits almost no smoke. The device, called Dr. Grilla Coal Grill, contains concave grids that catch dripping oil or water and channel them to…
Dancing About Architecture
Steamboat returns, SXSW looms closer.
Contested Races
Numerous races in the Democratic and Republican Party primaries feature uncontested candidates. Listed here are the races (excluding precinct chairs) which include at least two candidates.Democratic Primary Ballot Contested RacesU.S. Senator Gene Kelly Ed Cunningham Victor Morales Ken Bentsen Ron Kirk U.S. Representative, District 10 Lloyd Doggett Jennifer Gale Governor Tony Sanchez Dan Morales John…
Information Wants to Be Worthless
Money was never the most interesting thing about the Internet. Which is a good thing, since now it’s gone.
Exhibitionism
The Salvage Vanguard Theater production of Caridad Svich’s Fugitive Pieces is a nowhere road reminiscent of the Tom Waits milieu, with vagabonds hopping trains to anywhere other than where they are now. But while it’s not for everyone, it’s worth the journey.
Day Trips
The Spur Hotel in Archer City provides a comfortable night’s lodging that offers more in the way of atmosphere than in luxury amenities. The 74-year-old, three-story building exudes small-town charm from every squeaky step and stuffed deer head. The quiet little town 25 miles south of Wichita Falls was made world famous by Larry McMurtry’s…
Across the Great Dah-Veed
He may be off Atlantic Records, but the sunny Pacific Ocean doesn’t seem to be doing songster Davíd Garza any harm. Garza hasn’t even been an official resident of Los Angeles long enough to get the prefix changed on his cell phone, but he’s already landed residencies and assorted other gigs along the Left Coast,…
Fresh Plus — Minus Dave
Hyde Parkers mourn Dave Rackel’s departure from the Fresh Plus grocery store.
Cubicle Consciousness
A symbiotic relationship between socially conscious high tech professionals and community causes is becoming increasingly common, and a few Austin social entrepreneurs are leading the charge.
Really Rad Rachel
Media darling Rachel Muir and her nonprofit Girlstart earn the Dewey Winburne Community Service Award.
After a Fashion
Your Style Avatar asks, “What’s black & white and splooged all over …???” And keep your eyes peeled locally, kids, in the next few weeks, Austin becomes celebrity central.
Phases and Stages
SouthFrom Here on In (Kinetic/Mo’ Wax) Trusting your ears to the ever-fickle British music press is about as reasonable as trusting our government. Goodness knows we Yanks have a right to be skeptical in these troublesome times, but occasionally and amazingly, NME and their ilk get it dead on. That’s the case, anyway, with South,…
Here Come the Neighborhoods
Under a brilliant blue sky, members of the North University Neighborhood Assn. gathered on the steps of City Hall Feb. 25 for a noon press conference and rally against a perceived lack of neighborhood planning — placing extra emphasis on “neighborhood.” The impetus for NUNA’s rally — which included representatives from neighborhood associations across town,…
Too Tough to Die
As the commercial Web narrows and consolidates, independent Web sites become ever more numerous, varied, and participatory.
Pieces of Time
The legendary Peter Bogdanovich discusses his latest film, The Cat’s Meow, about a hush-hush Hearst scandal of long ago.
To Your Health
Travel is no fun any longer because of motion sickness. With vacation approaching I would like to head off this problem for my whole family. Where do I start?
Phases and Stages
Her Space HolidayManic Expressive (Tiger Style) Marc Bianchi and his longtime partner Keely, aka Her Space Holiday, have created a mesmerizing follow-up to 2000’s foray into melodic electronic experimentation, Home Is Where You Hang Yourself. With Manic Expressive, former hardcore punk Bianchi is currently being mentioned in the same breath as Radiohead and Air, but…
Advice Unvarnished — and Unsolicited
Letters between governmental groups show that Bush’s “unvarnished advice” was not coming from anyone interested in clean air.
Behind the Web Site That Works
The crude charms of Heavy.com.
The Dukes of URL
Web sites have their eyes on the prize — SXSW Interactive’s Earl Awards.
About AIDS
DEA Chief Booed by Officials Over Busts Despite more urgent demands, the Drug Enforcement Administration continues energetically denying chronically ill people the use of physician-recommended marijuana. But in a little-reported twist recently, the DEA received some negative input over the issue from San Francisco business and political leaders. One day last week, the feds busted…
Phases and Stages
StarsailorLove Is Here (Capitol) Critical opinion is divided on Love Is Here, the debut from Northern England quartet Starsailor. On the one hand, the British press has been pissing itself over these youngsters, enthusiastically throwing nominations and statuettes for Best New Band honors at the boys. Meanwhile, since the album’s January stateside release, some crusty…
Clash of the Titans
Bells sounded off around town this week when The New York Times reported that New York’s combined public debt load per capita — a major issue right now in the Big Apple — was exceeded by only two other major U.S. cities: Washington, D.C. and Austin. That comprises debt carried by the county and school…
Inherit the Net
Lawyer and Stanford professor Lawrence Lessig talks copyright law and the Internet.
Barbara Jordan National Forum on Public Policy
This year’s Barbara Jordan National Forum on Public Policy tackled the digital divide.
Coach’s Corner
Coach’s new dog, Jasper, is a joy. So was the Canadian gold medal in men’s hockey.
Phases and Stages
Bullfrog(Ropeadope) With a duel percussion section, guitar, bass, and renowned DJ Kid Koala, Bullfrog is a rhythm, rhyming, and scratching collective that’s been gigging across North America for six-plus years. As a primarily live act, Bullfrog eases the transition from stage to studio with a track list balanced between unmastered live performances and rough in-studio…
Battle Over Downtown Block Continues
A downtown landowner continues his fight to keep the city from condemning his property.
High Tech Hijinks
SXSW Interactive features two contests to determine the geekiest of them all: The Iron Webmaster Showdown and the Sexiest Geek Alive.
Telling It Like It is
UT and SXSW host an all-day documentary summit.
Out All Night
Chronicle Food writer MM Pack gives the lowdown on where to eat in Austin if you’re out all night.
Phases and Stages
Kevin SalemEcstatic (Future Farmer) It’s been five years since New Yorker Kevin Salem released any new music. During that time, the former Dumptruck guitarist made and remade what’s finally become his third solo album, Ecstatic, while also sharing his myriad musical talents with the likes of Giant Sand, Chocolate Genius, Marc Cohn, Heather Eatman, and…
Will Residents Bee Invited?
Bee Cave residents say they are somewhat mollified by a developer’s promise to scale back a proposed 1.8 million-square-foot development in their village, but they vow to stay vigilant nonetheless. “When people talk about ‘scale’ it’s difficult to evaluate,” said Adrienne Lallo, one of more than 400 petitioners opposed to the mammoth nature of the…
SXSW Film 2002 News
It’s shaping up to be a banner year for SXSW Film 2002 (March 8-17), with both badges and wristbands now available. Film badges, which get you into all the panels and screenings (with preferential treatment over lesser, pass-holding mortals), are now $225, and if you think that’s pricey you have only yourselves to blame, oh…
Food-o-File
Food Editor Virginia B. Wood has had correspondence from several of the most tasteful men in Austin’s food scene in the past week and it’s all good news.
Phases and Stages
LarryAmong Friends (Lauan) A jam band is only as good as their live show. Seminal jam bands Phish and the Grateful Dead had touring to thank for their success, not albums. Wisely realizing this, Austin-based Larry has released this live album compiled from sets here at Antone’s, and in jam-band mecca Boulder, Colorado. The nine…
Naked City
With a passel of former council members looking on, Assistant City Manager Betty Dunkerley announced last week that she’s running for City Council in May, most likely against incumbent Beverly Griffith (see “Austin@Large,” p.14). Dunkerley’s boss, Deputy City Manager Toby Futrell, has filled her ACM post temporarily with Deputy Police Chief Mike McDonald — possibly…
Tuvalu
Tuvalu 2000, NR, 86 min. Directed by Veit Helmer, Narrated by , Voices by , Starring E.J. Callahan, Terrence Gillespie, Philippe Clay, Chulpan Khamatova, Denis Lavant. Finding the right words to describe Tuvalu is difficult for reasons that only begin with the fact that this aurally rich movie is nearly wordless. Imagine, if you will,…
Short Cuts
More Harry to love: Ain’t It Cool News guru Harry Knowles hits the shelves and the airwaves.
Picks to Click
Six Austin acts showcasing at SXSW 02
Phases and Stages
Drive-by Truckers Southern Rock Opera (SDR) Wait a minute, three guitars? You mean like Skynyrd, the Outlaws, and Black Oak Arkansas? And a rock opera? What year is this from, anyway? It’s an ambitious undertaking, to be sure, but Patterson Hood and the DBTs see it through nicely. In a ragged-but-right voice, Hood muses on…
Naked City
As we approach the March 21 deadline for setting the May city ballot, the City Council continues to wrangle with proposed charter amendments. This week’s agenda announced discussion of not only single-member districts but of a mixed system of at-large and SMDs — an idea most assertively suggested in recent weeks by Council Member Daryl…
Kandahar
Kandahar 2001, NR, 85 min. Directed by Mohsen Makhmalbaf, Narrated by , Voices by , Starring Nelofer Pazira, Sadou Teymouri, Hassan Tantaï. It goes without saying that this exquisite film, which premiered at Cannes in May 2001 amid much acclaim, has become even more resonant for audiences since the aftermath of September 11, which focused…
Video Reviews
Judy Holliday’s expertly hilarious It Should Happen to You was created when the idea that someone could be famous for doing absolutely nothing at all was still novel and strange.
Picks to Click
The Weary Boys Saturday, March 16, Continental Club (9pm) It could be their creed: “We put surprisingly little thought into it.” Those are the words of Weary Boys fiddler Brain Salvi, describing the decision of the band’s California contingent — Salvi and guitarists Darren Hoff and Mario Matteoli — to relocate to Austin from Humboldt.…
Phases and Stages
Rodney HaydenThe Real Thing (Rosetta) Listening to Rodney Hayden’s debut The Real Thing, it’s surprising that the 22-year-old Pleasanton, Texas, native is even aware of songwriters such as Tom Waits, Billy Joe Shaver, Chip Taylor, and Robbie Fulks. Yet here he is, successfully covering their tunes. Hayden’s originals are equally noteworthy, though; famed producer Tony…
Naked City
Someone must be dumping a foreign substance — maybe saltpeter — into the water supply down on Town Lake, or wherever Austin American-Statesman columnists are imbibing their inspiration. On Wednesday, Feb. 20, Marvin “Calvinists Love Longer” Olasky delivered a hallucinatory version of the American Revolution, in which the British lost not because they were fighting…
40 Days and 40 Nights
40 Days and 40 Nights 2002, R, 95 min. Directed by Michael Lehmann, Narrated by , Voices by , Starring Josh Hartnett, Shannyn Sossamon, Vinessa Shaw, Paulo Costanzo, Griffin Dunne, Maggie Gyllenhaal. Some of us are angry and bitter. Some of us haven’t found the right person yet. Some of us are just having a…
TV Eye
Are you a Survivor? That’s what 300-some Central Texans wanted to know when they auditioned for the CBS reality show.
Picks to Click
Kevin Fowler Friday, March 15, Broken Spoke (1am) For eight years, Kevin Fowler made his living “throwing Chronicles.” Every Thursday, he’d load his pickup with 4,500 papers and deliver them to 110 locations. “I worked hard one day a week and pursued music the rest,” he says. Early last year, Fowler quit because of extenuating…
Breaking the Chain
Troubling questions persist in the Rodney Reed / Stacey Stites murder case.
Naked City
Both the national and state chapters of the nonpartisan League of Conservation Voters have released their legislative scorecards, rating lawmakers on their environmental records for the past year. The methodology is relatively objective and straightforward: The LCV selects what it considers to be the most important environmental votes of the year, and notes whether the…
