2002 Hollywood Showcase
2002 Hollywood Showcase NR. Directed by Various, Narrated by , Voices by , Starring . The sixth annual UT Student Film Showcase previews this weekend in Austin before screening later this month at the DGA Theatre in Los Angeles. Highlights include Alejandro Gomez’s “Waiting for Trains,” Bennie Klain’s “Yada Yada,” Heather Courtney’s documentary “The Workers,”…
A Brazilian Celebration
A Brazilian Celebration NR. Directed by Various, Narrated by , Voices by , Starring . This celebration of Brazilian culture is sponsored by the Bikes Across Borders project, which is readying for its trip to Mexico bearing bicycles later this month. The films included along with other entertainment are: the documentaries “DuraLex SedLex” by UT’s…
Sabrina
Sabrina 1995, PG, 127 min. Directed by Sydney Pollack, Narrated by , Voices by , Starring Lauren Holly, Nancy Marchand, Greg Kinnear, Julia Ormond, Harrison Ford. Pollack’s remake of the 1954 Billy Wilder romance movie poses no threat to the original Sabrina’s charm, glamour, and wit. While it can’t hold a candle to Wilder’s film,…
Broken Blossoms
Broken Blossoms 1919, NR, 76 min. Directed by D.W. Griffith, Narrated by , Voices by , Starring Lillian Gish, Richard Barthelmess. Gish plays the 15-year-old daughter of a brutally abusive prizefighter and Richard Barthelmess plays the sensitive Chinese shopkeeper who loves and briefly shelters her. Visually stunning, Broken Blossoms boasts sequences tinted violet, rose, antique…
“The Accused”
“The Accused” 2001, NR. Directed by Fergal Keane, Narrated by , Voices by , Starring . This BBC-produced investigation probes the attacks on the Palestinian refugee camps of Sabra and Shatilla ordered by Ariel Sharon and carried out by Lebanese militiamen nearly 20 years ago. The segment won the Foreign Press Association’s 2001 TV Story…
Dr. Jekyll’s Dungeon of Death
Dr. Jekyll’s Dungeon of Death 1982, R, 88 min. Directed by James Wood, Narrated by , Voices by , Starring James Mathers, John F. Kearney, Tom Nickelson. In this amateur movie, the great-grandson of the original Dr. Jekyll conducts experiments with an aggression serum and creates an army of karate killers.
Gifting It: A Burning Embrace of Gift Economy
Gifting It: A Burning Embrace of Gift Economy 2002, NR, 74 min. Directed by Renea Roberts, Narrated by , Voices by , Starring . The Burning Man community and its gift-economy ethic partnered with radical self-reliance and self-expression form the focus of this documentary. Austin is featured as a regional burn.
Cool Hand Luke
Cool Hand Luke 1967, NR, 126 min. D: Stuart Rosenberg; with Paul Newman. No failure to communicate here – Cool Hand Luke is one of the sharpest prison dramas ever, although it’s graced with some very humorous portions as well. It can also be seen as a quintessentially Sixties parable about nonconformity.
The Johnson Treatment
It’s been a dozen years since Robert Caro’s previous book about Johnson, and now he’s back, this time with Master of the Senate, an exhaustive and exhausting examination of the United States Senate during the years of Johnson’s time there.
Rock & Roll Ghost
Paul Westerberg looks forward, talks backward.
Naked City
On Saturday, May 4, be daring. Be different — vote. Up for grabs: Three City Council slots, three AISD Board seats, three places on the Austin Community College Board, and two spots on the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District. Also on the board are eight propositions; check our endorsements or the features on p.28 for…
New in Print
Dallas author Sam Staggs writes with zeal and authority in his exposé of Billy Wilder’s classic camp ‘Sunset Boulevard.’
Texas Writers Month Events, May 2-May 9
Thursday, May 27-9pm, LBJ Library and Museum (2313 Red River) Celebrate the Ninth Annual Texas Writers Month Statewide Kick-Off Party. Open and free to the public. Friday, May 37pm , BookPeople (603 N. Lamar) With his books Anguished English, Bride of Anguished English, and Get Thee to a Punnery, grammar-monger Richard Lederer stops by BookPeople…
Dancing About Architecture
Noise ordinance debate blows over — for now — while Internet radio crisis threatens, and SIMS crisis subsides.
Naked City
The first hour of last week’s Texas Dept. of Transportation (TxDOT) presentation and public meeting on I-35 expansion had the feel of a cocktail party without the martinis. Activists and East Austin residents delicately mingled in the LBJ Library foyer with officials from TxDOT, its consulting firm Earth Tech, and the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning…
Short Cuts
The Austin film community appears ready to rumble as the Austin Film Office (under the aegis of the Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau) files suit against the Austin Film Commission, whose name and mission statement the AFO thinks is too close for comfort.
Son of the Bride
In this Argentinean film, a single dad and businessman struggles to keep his personal life afloat while undergoing a midlife crisis.
Book Review
South of Reason by Cindy M. Eppes Washington Square Press, 278 pp., $24 In South of Reason, first-time Texas novelist Cindy Eppes presents a poignant coming-of-age story told through the experiences of 13-year-old Kayla Sanders. When Kayla’s family relocates from the sheltering piney woods of Cameron to her parents’ childhood home of Rosalita in South…
Take It Outside!
In what can only be seen as an attempt to win some sort of award for irony given all that’s gone down with the new noise ordinance, Mayor Gus Garcia and KLRU-TV’s CEO Mary Beth Rogers held a press conference in sunny Zilker Park on Tuesday morning to announce, of all things, a new outdoor…
Naked City
A disgruntled big-city publisher (who was notoriously slow issuing freelance checks) once told us, “Whatever you do, don’t piss off writers. They never forget, and they talk to everybody in town.” The same must be true of actors, who were chewing the scenery and flaming the Web last week after a seemingly unremarkable ad appeared…
TV Eye
Technology is making great strides in the development of interactive TV. Now when are TV execs going to start paying attention?
Page Two
Endorsements are a pain, but we think they are also a service to our readers.
Phases and Stages
Waylon Jennings Hoot Night Hole in the Wall, April 24 Carla Bozulich & Friends perform Willie Nelson’s Red Headed Stranger Emo’s, April 26 Waylon Jennings is gone now, but he will be forever etched into the public consciousness as fellow outlaw and duet partner to Willie Nelson. In that sense, it’s fitting these two shows…
Naked City
You wouldn’t guess the Washington Post would pay much attention to daily reporters’ assignments in Austin, but last month the Post’s media critic got one of the best political reporters in Texas yanked off part of his Capitol beat. On April 8, the Post’s Howard Kurtz opened a transparently planted item with this lead: “A…
Video 101
1982’s Friday the 13th Part 3 holds a special place in the hearts of fans: It’s schlocky and stupid, yet somehow scary, it’s goofy, yet often gory, and it explains the origin of Jason’s signature facewear.
Letters at 3AM
The gargoyles guarding the great cathedrals are a part of religion, a part of humanity, even a part of God. You come to be redeemed, but it’s possible you’ll be devoured.
Phases and Stages
Beat Box As the Texas summer starts wetting your upper lip, shade, Kool-Aid, and cool jams are chill. So, grab your towels, because Cee-Lo’s new Cee-Lo Green and His Perfect Imperfections (Arista) is “an entire ocean emotion that is enlightened to swim in.” The current is a smooth, strenuous voice of a pint-sized dirty South…
Naked City
In true, sneaky federal government fashion, a byzantine new bill, HR 3782, currently — and quietly — winding its way through Congress would hold music and other live entertainment promoters criminally liable for any drug use taking place during their sponsored event. While much of the redundantly titled Clean, Learn, Educate, Abolish, Neutralize and Undermine…
Hollywood Ending
Hollywood Ending 2002, PG-13, 114 min. Directed by Woody Allen, Narrated by , Voices by , Starring Woody Allen, Téa Leoni, George Hamilton, Mark Rydell, Debra Messing, Treat Williams, Barney Cheng, Tiffani Thiessen. After 30-odd films, a director probably deserves the occasional freebie. The mostly applauding press seems to agree, as does the admission board…
Day Trips
A vulture found a dead Hereford bull in a pasture and picked it clean. When he was full he was so happy that he let out a guttural roar that attracted the rancher who rode up and shot the bird. The moral of the story: Keep your mouth shut when you’re full of bull. One…
Phases and Stages
Bob Mould Modulate (Granary)LoudBombLong Playing Grooves (Granary) If you haven’t been paying attention to Bob Mould’s career, the opening songs on Modulate will likely drop your jaw — and that’s not necessarily a compliment. Longtime fans will be disappointed to find few signs of the distorted guitar sounds and strangled, angst-ridden lyrics that made Mould’s…
Naked City
Have you ever had a near-death encounter with an SUV broader than a double-wide trailer? Or noticed that many Austin motorists use bike lanes for parking? You might have, if you’re a cyclist. But if you’re not, learn more about the treats and tribulations of Austin bike culture by checking out Bike Like U Mean…
Deuces Wild
Deuces Wild 2002, R, 97 min. Directed by Scott Kalvert, Narrated by , Voices by , Starring Stephen Dorff, Brad Renfro, Fairuza Balk, Debbie Harry, Max Perlich, Balthazar Getty, Matt Dillon, Frankie Muniz, Norman Reedus, Drea De Matteo, Johnny Knoxville, Vincent Pastore. Like most of the rest of the participants in American culture, I get…
Mr. Smarty Pants
Salt absorbs red wine.If you want a rough estimate of your daily caloric needs, multiply your weight by 10 if you’re a woman or by 11 if you’re a man. Add more calories if you’re very physically active.Under optimal conditions, a ballpoint pen will produce more than 28,000 linear feet of writing – more than…
Phases and Stages
Sheryl CrowC’mon, C’mon (A&M) Remember the old joke about eating Chinese food? That when you’re done, you’re hungry an hour later? Sheryl Crow’s fourth studio album, C’mon, C’mon, could fit easily into a Styrofoam container. Radio-friendly tracks (“Soak Up the Sun,” “Hole in My Pocket”) ensure Crow airplay by bringing in rock royalty like Stevie…
Naked City
If you think Austin’s political climate borders on savagery, check out Wimberley’s community web site for real blood. Behind the chirpy “share the magic of Wimberley” slogans at www.visitwimberley.com, there lurks the meatiest of all community forum pages — “Sound Off” — the cyber-street version of “let’s take this argument outside.” The topic of the…
Jason X
Although the serial killer Jason has been cryogenically frozen at the start of this 10th outing, the hockey-masked one ends up defrosting on a spaceship in the year 2455.
To Your Health
My thighs look like orange peel! I’ve seen this on older women, but I am only 28. My friends call it cellulite, so what is cellulite and more important, how do I make it go away?
Phases and Stages
WilcoYankee Hotel Foxtrot (Nonesuch) With the much-publicized dropping of Wilco by Warner Bros. last year there was always the possibility that the story behind Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, the album that led to said dropping, would overshadow the disc itself. And a cursory listen might not do much to alleviate that prospect, because the only thing…
Naked City
In a 7-0 vote late last Thursday, City Council granted a conditional-use permit to the operators of Sammy’s House, a day care center for special needs and medically fragile children. The day care, which sought the permit in order to increase its enrollment from six to 12 children, got the Planning Commission’s approval in February,…
Happenstance
The horoscope of a young woman (Amélie‘s Tautou) predicts that love is just around the corner.
After a Fashion
There’s no lack of fashion at Groopie; hair online; Marcy gets well soon, and another José Eber sighting. All inside!
Beverly Besieged
Mike Clark-Madison previews the Place 4 City Council race.
Naked City
“Cyberterrorism — is it real?” asked Mark Fabro, techno security superstar and chief security scientist of AMS Corporation, during his keynote address at the Internet Security Forum for Texas State Government. Held April 26 at the Jake Pickle Research Center, the conference was intended to raise questions about citizens’ access to government services in the…
About AIDS
AIDS Candlelight Memorial Service to Be Sunday, May 19 On Sunday, May 19, Austin will observe its third year of participation in the 19th International AIDS Candlelight Memorial Service. The event will be from 8-9pm at Republic Square Park at Fifth and Colorado. The local service will host speakers, prayer, music, poems, songs, and candle…
Hell Hath No Fury
Former friends become bitter foes in the Place 1 race.
Capitol Chronicle
The Lege attempt at air pollution control gets shot down in court.
Second Helpings
Food Editor Virginia B. Wood continues the catfish onslaught in this week’s “Second Helpings.”
Coach’s Corner
Odds and ends: David Stern … Drew Bledsoe … KevinGarnett … Rick Reilly … and more.
A Civil Action
Preview of Place 3 City Council Race
Austin @ Large: Austin at Large
The Chieftains of the Green Tribe need to remember that City Council represents all Austinites.
Extending a Dance’s Life: Deborah Hay
Deborah Hay forges her own answer to the issue of how one keeps choreography alive beyond one’s own physical and mortal limitations with Nine Nights of Music in May, in which her solo “Music” is performed and adapted by four diverse artists.
The Taste of Mexico
International culinary diplomacy, Austin-style.
Drawing Lines on Prop. 1
The city debates campaign finance reform.
The Hightower Lowdown
Kmart gives its CEO the blue light and workers the pink slip; corporate taxes disappear into the Bermuda Triangle; Vignette rewards failure.
Articulations
Seven Austin arts organizations receive outreach grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, playwright C. Denby Swanson receives a McKnight Advancement Grant, and Peter Pan receives his own Amy’s Ice Cream flavor.
Food-o-File
Austin’s latest culinary news in this week’s “Food-o-File.”
Chronicle Endorsements
Chronicle Endorsements, May 4 election
The Woodman Cometh
In promotion of his new film ‘Hollywood Ending,’ reluctant traveler Woody Allen appeared briefly in Austin to talk bats, barbecue, and why he’ll never go back to stand-up.
Hey Kids! Free Comics!
The folks who make and sell comic books are hoping that a promotional giveaway of 2 million comics after the release of the Spider-Man movie will rescue their ailing industry.
Mini-Review
Texas on the Plate by Terry Thompson-Anderson Shearer Publishing, 304 pp., $34.95 Luckily, the release of Terry Thompson-Anderson’s new book coincided with the recent Texas Hill Country Wine & Food Festival. The talented cooking teacher and executive chef of Halliburton Corporation’s Maner Lake Lodge in West Columbia was featured at the impressive Texas Meets Tuscany…
No Bilingual Blueprint?
Forgione’s new blueprint attracts critics who worry it will mean the end of the dual language program.
Fast Cars, Strip Bars, and Elvis, Even
What’s new, Pussycat? Onetime Russ Meyer leading lady Tura Satana comes to town for the first annual Alamo Drive-In.
The Free Comics
As many as 60 different titles may be available for free on Free Comic Book Day, yet not all the participating publishers have specified what they will be. But Dark Horse, DC, Image, and Marvel are all producing special editions of selected titles just for FCBD. And here they are. Justice League Adventures No. 1…
Mini-Review
The Napa Vintner’s Association benefit for Any Baby Can Thursday, May 9, 7-9pm, at the Driskill Hotel On Thursday, May 9, the Napa Vintner’s Association will show off their best wines to benefit Austin’s Any Baby Can. Sixty-five of Napa’s best producers will be here. Amongst the big guns in attendance will be Beaulieu, Chteau…
Noise Ordinance for Pipelines Needed?
It’s not enough that Patty McLeod loses sleep over the prospect of a gasoline pipeline running through her neighborhood. Now she has ’round-the-clock construction work on the pipeline to keep her awake at night. At least those were the fears that disrupted her sleep Monday night, after finding a friendly flier hanging on her front…
Better Git Hit in Your Soul
Former Austinite George Ratliff returns to town with his new documentary, Hell House, which explores the Trinity Church’s way of converting teens to Christ — by scaring the pants off them.
Comics Worth Spending Money on
Three Chronicle writers recommend 14 current comics, from standard superhero fare to funny-animal satire to slice-of-life drama.
Keeping the Peace
Andy Langer examines round one of trying to establish a new city noise ordinance for Austin.
War: Made in Texas?
The South — especially Texas — does big business as a major exporter of weaponry, and is a major facilitator of the current violence in the Middle East, according to the Institute for Southern Studies. Representatives of the North Carolina-based Institute and local activists will try to drive that point home at the ISS’s Peace…
The Sights and Sounds of Art in Sync
Ron Mann’s jazz avant-garde exploration Imagine the Sound provides the perfect counterpoint to Austin Eye+Ear (which will screen Mann’s film this Sunday in an E+E benefit): Both are bent on the blurring of artistic lines.
