Sammy and Rosie Get Laid
Sammy and Rosie Get Laid 1987, NR. Directed by Stephen Frears, Narrated by , Voices by , Starring Shashi Kapoor, Frances Barber, Claire Bloom, Ayub Khan Din, Roland Gift, Wendy Gazelle. The Anglo-Pakistani writer Hanif Kureishi has carved an entire career out of smuggling “as much filth and anarchy into the cinema as possible.” The…
Mr. Billion
Mr. Billion 1977, PG, 93 min. Directed by Jonathan Kaplan, Narrated by , Voices by , Starring Terence Hill, Valerie Perrine, Jackie Gleason, Slim Pickens, Chill Wills, Dick Miller. Spaghetti Western king Terence Hill made his American acting debut with this cross-country road-race picture featuring a host of cameos by regulars from the Roger Corman…
Goodbye, Boys
Goodbye, Boys 1964, NR, 97 min. Directed by Mikhail Kalik, Narrated by , Voices by , Starring Nikolai Dostal, V. Burlakov, Natalya Bogunova. This adaptation of a bestselling novel by Boris Balter is a lyrical coming-of-age story about three graduating teenagers during WWII whose summer idyll of chasing girls on the Black Sea beaches is…
Guide for the Married Man
Guide for the Married Man 1967, NR, 89 min. Directed by Gene Kelly, Narrated by , Voices by , Starring Robert Morse, Inger Stevens, Walter Matthau. Morse tries to teach Matthau (who is faithfully married to Inger Stevens) the pleasures of adultury. Comic vignettes perfomed by a host of top-name stars dot the movie.
My Name Is Ivan
My Name Is Ivan 1962, NR, 92 min. Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky, Narrated by , Voices by , Starring Nikolai Burlyayev, Valentin Zubkov, Yevgeni Zharikov. This is the first film directed by noted film stylist Andrei Tarkovsky. The movie won international acclaim for its visually poetic portrait of a 12-year-old Russian orphan during WWII, who…
Battle Royale
Fukasaku’s violence-soaked film about a government-sponsored, survival-of-the-fittest contest among schoolchildren has caused storms of controversy.
Long Night’s Journey Into Day
Long Night’s Journey Into Day 1999, NR, 95 min. Directed by Deborah Hoffman, Frances Reid, Narrated by , Voices by , Starring . South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which in the aftermath of institutional apartheid bore testimonial witness to the crimes sanctioned by its racist policies and provided amnesty and renewal for so many…
Black Belt Jones
Black Belt Jones 1974, R, 87 min. Directed by Robert Clouse, Narrated by , Voices by , Starring Jim Kelly, Gloria Hendry, Scatman Crothers, Eric Laneuville. This blaxploitation kung fu picture is by the same core team who made Enter the Dragon and co-stars the much-overlooked Gloria Hendry. The story pits the students of a…
Letters at 3AM
Sometime in the wee hours of September 12, George W. Bush realized that he is the President of United States and rose from his previous ineffectuality to meet the occasion.
Phases and Stages
SpiritualizedLet it Come Down (Arista) Just when it looked like Jason Pierce had finally left his past in the dust, it overtakes him in a big way. It’s been almost impossible for Pierce to escape the enormous shadow of late-Eighties psychedelic cult Spacemen 3, though Spiritualized’s 1998 Royal Albert Hall double live album almost did…
Naked City
If you predicted a 5% turnout for the Nov. 6 mayoral election (see “How Few Can We Be?,” p.16), you seem to be right on target. During the first nine days of the 12-day early voting period, 7,307 Austinites, and 10,027 Travis County voters overall, cast their ballots. If that represents three-fourths of the total…
Video Reviews
The Drunken Driver Has the Right of Way: Poems by Ethan Coen Crown, 137 pp., $18 Don’t think that just because it offers 18 straight pages of limericks Ethan Coen’s second book is a filthy, inconsequential trinket, but don’t think it’s much more than that, either. The 44-year-old screenwriter/producer has a witty, textured (though often…
The Man Who Wasn’t There
The story is rife with the Coens’ ripe ambivalence, a black seriocomic opera of fouled-up American dreams, and a meditation on ambivalence that is itself often as ambiguous as the emotional meanderings of its protagonist, a small-town barber. The film’s black-and-white image processing is stunning.
Mr. Smarty Pants
Shadows on the wall of your mind’s fleeting cave
Phases and Stages
The AvalanchesSince I Left You (Modular) There are few things in the world as deeply satisfying as coming across a group or CD sight unsound and having your expectations — or lack thereof — shattered into a million shiny, perfect pieces. So it is with Australian DJ/artist collective the Avalanches, who would probably still be…
Naked City
Religious right-winger Jerry Falwell sent a special message to his listserv supporters last week in defense of Gov. Rick Perry, who supports organized school prayer and promises to make it a campaign issue in next year’s gubernatorial bid. (Perry’s rival, Democrat Tony Sanchez, has joined the call for a school “moment of silence.”) Acknowledging that…
Video Reviews
D: Jean Douchet, Jean Rouch, Jean-Daniel Pollet, Eric Rohmer, Jean-Luc Godard, Claude Chabrol (1965); with Barbara Wilkins, Jean-François Chappey, Barbet Schroeder, Nadine Ballot, Gilles Quéant, Claude Melki, Micheline Dax, Jean-Michel Rouzière, Joanna Shimkus, Serge Davri, Philippe Hiquilly, Gilles Chusseau, Chabrol, Stéphane Audran. By then, there was nothing left to prove. What had originated a decade…
Domestic Disturbance
Domestic Disturbance 2001, PG-13, 88 min. Directed by Albert Hughes, Allen Hughes, Narrated by , Voices by , Starring Ian Richardson, Jason Flemyng, Byron Fear, Katrin Cartlidge, Joanna Page, Paul Rhys, Robbie Coltrane, Ian Holm, Heather Graham, Johnny Depp. It’s likely there’s going to be some “viewer disturbance” going on after audiences catch a whiff…
After a Fashion
Your Style Avatar revels in his New York state of mind, having just visited our noble Big Apple. Come along for the ride.
Phases and Stages
Charles LloydHyperion With Higgins (ECM) As one of the last direct descendants of John Coltrane and his musical quest for spiritual enlightenment, saxophonist Charles Lloyd occupies a rarefied place in the jazz world these days. Especially now, in light of current events, Lloyd’s endeavor to create a musical space of refinement, beauty, and intelligence, provides…
Naked City
First there were charges that Gov. Rick Perry was filming B-roll for his patriotic gubernatorial campaign just days after the Sept. 11 attacks (Perry spokeswoman Kathy Walt vehemently denied the allegation.) Now we have David Dewhurst chest-thumping his role as head of the Guv’s Homeland Security Task Force in the text of a political ad…
Thirteen Ghosts
Thirteen Ghosts 2001, R, 91 min. Directed by Steve Beck, Narrated by , Voices by , Starring Alec Roberts, F. Murray Abraham, Jr Bourne, Rah Digga, Shannon Elizabeth, Embeth Davidtz, Matthew Lillard, Tony Shalhoub. The cinematic exhumation of Sixties schlock-genius producer/director William Castle continues unabated, and, sadly, remains uninspired, uninteresting, and unfun. After last year’s…
Day Trips
The Amon Carter Museum has a new, modern look, but it’s still the same old great place to get culture.
Phases and Stages
Cheb MamiDellali (Mondo Melodia) “Rai” is Algerian blues, from-the-heart musical expression that irks so-called authorities while providing much needed catharsis to everyday people. In the decades since its birth, rai (pronounced “rye,” and meaning “opinion”) has topped European charts, now making headway in America thanks to singers like Khaled, Rachid Tana, and Cheb Mami. A…
Naked City
If the name Neil Livingstone sounds familiar, it’s probably because he has been a ubiquitous media presence since Sept. 11. When the subject is terrorism, Livingstone — who will deliver a free lecture at the Texas Union on Nov. 6 — is one of the first people the networks and newspapers call. He’s appeared on…
Grateful Dawg
Grateful Dawg 2000, PG-13, 81 min. Directed by Gillian Grisman, Narrated by , Voices by , Starring . Captain Trips Unplugged. Using the parlance of the day, the “unplugged” terminology might be the best way to get across the idea of Grateful Dawg — home-movie footage cobbled together into an 80-minute documentary tracing the friendship…
To Your Health
I started taking a mushroom extract a few months ago on the recommendation of a friend, and I do feel better. What is in there that could make a difference?
Wasn’t It FABulous?
Economic and environmental consequences of high tech plant closings are potentially grim.
Naked City
Longtime East Austin activist Ron Davis has always been quick to point out environmental injustices east of I-35. Now, as a Travis County commissioner whose precinct covers Eastern Travis Co., Davis is in a position to implement and enforce the cleanup of some of those messes. Next week, Davis might be successful in collecting enough…
Wet Hot American Summer
Spoof of old summer-camp sexcapades is performed by a sprawling cast of comedic hams, largely culled from comedy troupe the State.
Second Helpings: Sushi — Part Two
Wes Marshall completes his survey of Austin’s sushi restaurants.
Coach’s Corner
Coach’s pre-season glance at the NBA: the Spurs are overrated and on their way down; Michael Jordan is overrated and already down; but the real season doesn’t stat for another half-year anyway, so does anyone really care?
A FAB Toxic Inventory
Here is the Environmental Protection Agency’s most recent (1999) Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) data for Austin’s three largest semiconductor companies, which use highly hazardous materials in the manufacture of microchips. The latest findings, when compared to 1991 data, show a significant reduction in air emissions, and a remarkable reduction in transfers of toxic waste to…
Naked City
Texas Monthly publisher Mike Levy was on KVET-FM’s Sam and Bob Show Tuesday morning, promoting this weekend’s visit of the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Fund “Traveling Wall– to the Texas State Cemetery, sponsored in part by the magazine. Levy revealed that he has been admitted to be buried at the state cemetery, announcing the news with…
Monsters, Inc.
Re-released in 3-D.
Hope Wears a Cherry Red Suit
Santa scholar Carl Anderson talks about the role of Kris Kringle in a time of grief and fear.
Not Just Plain Vanilla
You may have noticed the neon deco sign on the roof of the Adams Extract Company’s distinctively low-slung Moderne building, set back from I-35 just south of Slaughter Lane and rather dramatically surrounded by prairie grassland. What you might not know, Food writer MM Pack explains, is that, unlike Betty Crocker, there really is a…
Drought? What Drought?
Because the chip-making process requires massive volumes of water, Austin semiconductor companies (in bold below) rank among the city water/wastewater utility’s biggest customers. Below is a chart of water usage by the city’s top eight users. These are the city’s only “industrial customers” — so designated because they drink up 85 million gallons or more…
Naked City
Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 6Austin Mayor, Travis Co. Bonds, Texas Constitutional AmendmentsPolls will be open on election day Tuesday, Nov. 6, 7am-7pm. To find out if you’re registered, where you vote, etc., check www.travisvoter.org for a nicely designed search utility. Early voting continues through Friday, Nov. 2, 7am-7pm at most locations, but until 9pm at…
Articulations
Memorializing The Public Domain Theatre Company, 1993-2001
Adams Sponsors Bowie High Culinary Program
I first learned about John G. Adams Sr. last winter, when I was working on a story about professional culinary schools in Austin (austinchronicle.com/issues/dispatch/2001-01-19/food_feature.html). At the time, when I talked with Pat Bell at AISD Administration about the culinary programs in Austin high schools, she told me how substantively the local corporate sponsors had contributed…
Endorsements
The Austin Chronicle endorses Gus Garcia for mayor of Austin and offers other endorsements on the Nov. 6 state constitutional amendments election and county bond propositions.
Naked City
The Candidates Propose … The League of Women Voters’ voters’ guide for the Nov. 6 election is available countywide and on the web at www.leaguewv.austin.tx.us. Candidates were asked to describe their qualifications and their positions on transportation, projects receiving city funds, sustainability issues (“living wage, affordable housing, health care access”), and safety concerns arising from…
Exhibitionism
In bringing Stephen King’s Misery to the stage, the Zachary Scott Theatre Center production paint the story’s characters in the most awkward fashion possible and mixes horror and comedy to a degree that’s confusing.
Food-o-File
Virginia B. Wood on this week’s events and news in Austin’s culinary life
Dale Gas, Gus!
Henry Cisneros, Gonzalo Barrientos, and other politicos try to get out the vote for mayoral candidate Gus Garcia.
Capitol Chronicle
Environmental groups notify Alcoa Corp. of intent to sue over environmental violations.
Exhibitionism
Having sat through a Tom Stoppard play, there comes the feeling that a return visit is required to better appreciate all his linguistic, historical, scientific, sexual, comedic, and theatrical flourishes. The Austin Playhouse production of Arcadia, featuring one of the best ensembles to be seen on an Austin stage, may, indeed, warrant repeat visits to…
Liquid Assets
Wes Marshall reveals the best wine bargains of 2001.
How Few Can We Be?
How many registered voters will actually go to the polls November 6? Would 4% be too generous? That was the turnout in the last city election, which admittedly was a run-off for only one race (between Raul Alvarez and Rafael Quintanilla). That 4% translated to 20,303 votes out of 513,072 registered voters so it took…
Austin @ Large: Austin at Large
Candidate Gus Garcia takes on the school district
Exhibitionism
For its new production of Romeo and Juliet, Stephen Mills and a gifted company delivered the eloquence with which Shakespeare described the couple’s profound passion — without ever using the Bard’s words.
Safety Net
Chillin’ with a trio of Austin’s hippest emergency-services personnel
Eric Mitchell Speaks!
In keeping with his Reluctant Candidate campaign, mayoral candidate Eric Mitchell declined several Chronicle requests for an interview. He has thus far maintained his promise to speak at length only to KAZI-FM’s Frank Garrett and KVET-FM’s Sam Allred and Bob Cole — not surprisingly, since the talk-show hosts have enthusiastically promoted Mitchell’s candidacy on the…
The Hightower Lowdown
Nike does the right thing — when it’s forced to; Monsanto monkeys with Mexico’s corn supply; the San Antonio Spurs and SBC stick it to taxpayers.
Citizen McCall
Kinky Friedman once remarked that the line between fiction and reality is the one he snorted back in 1978. More than two decades later, he’s still getting things mixed up. Chronicle writer Sidney Moody investigates why he puts his friend John McCall, the multimillionaire shampoo magnate and owner of the beauty supply firm Armstrong McCall,…
Dancing About Architecture
L.A. vs. Austin — Tinseltown wins.
Nov. 6 Election: Ballot Summary
Mayor of AustinRay Blanchette David “Breadman” Blakeley Leslie Cochran Jennifer Gale Gus Garcia Greg Gordon Eric Mitchell Allen PhillipsTravis CountyAbolishing the office of county surveyor Prop. 1: Authorizing $57.43 million in road bonds. Prop. 2: Authorizing $28.6 million in park bonds. Prop. 3: Authorizing $32.725 million in ROW acquisition bonds for FM 1826 and SH…
Six (Not So) Easy Pieces
Eight local filmmakers team up to shoot DV shorts in and about Austin.
The Real Stephanie Dupont
Stephanie Dupont is a recent addition to the Village Irregulars. She is described in Spanking Watson (1999) as, “the drop-dead gorgeous blonde who lived upstairs across the hall.” Kinky describes himself in Steppin’ on a Rainbow as being “mentally ill to think I had a chance with her.” Rambam, Ratson, McGovern, Hoover, and the other…
Literature Corner
An excerpt from:American Hardcore: A Tribal History by Steven Blushby Steven Blush Feral House, 332pp. $19.95 “Bad Brains’ homophobia ignited their most infamous episode in Austin, Texas in 1982 on their first national tour — an ugly incident involving Big Boys and MDC that resulted in a nationwide grassroots boycott from which Bad Brains never…
Brackenridge Plan Aborted
The latest solution to the Brackenridge reproductive services crisis collapses.
Comrades-in-Cameras
A new AFS series highlights the little-seen films of the Soviet New Wave.
Bud Shrake: Touched by an Angel?
Bud Shrake has been communing with angels since he was a child, but why?
An Early Discmas
Already crossing the desk before Halloween has finished howling…
Standing on Opposite Sides of the Road Bonds
If there was any doubt about the seriousness of the folks pushing the massive road and parks bond package, just one look at their latest financial reports proves their commitment. The Yes! Travis County Bonds Committee pulled out all stops and raised a whopping $122,775 in one month’s time, mostly through handsome contributions from developers,…
Soviet New Wave Schedule
TUE, 11/6 Nine Days of One Year D: Mikhail Romm (1961, 110 min.) TUE, 11/13 My Name Is Ivan D: Andrei Tarkovsky (1962, 92 min.) THU, 11/15 Goodbye, Boys D: Mikhail Kalik (1964, 97min.) TUE, 11/20 Hamlet D: Grigory Kozintsev (1964, 140 min.) TUE, 11/27 The Letter Never Sent D: Mikhail Kalatozov (1959, 97 min.)…
Postscripts
Readings and rhetoric on the literary front
Phases and Stages
Tori Amos Strange Little Girls (Atlantic) Leave it to strange little Tori Amos to completely upend the idea of a covers album. When Amos interprets someone else’s song, she doesn’t simply rehash the music and lyrics; she’s invented 13 different personas to serve as narrators — one for each song, plus twins for Neil Young’s…
FWS Approves Stratus-pheric Development
A plan by Stratus Properties to develop its Circle C property has received the all-important blessing of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, laying a significant piece of groundwork for an overall development that could be the size of a small city in 30 years. The Circle C site is one of three large pieces…
Short Cuts
Cinemaker Co-op says bring on the healing, and classes galore.
Life as a House
Life as a House 2001, R, 128 min. Directed by Irwin Winkler, Narrated by , Voices by , Starring Kevin Kline, Kristin Scott Thomas, Hayden Christensen, Jena Malone, Mary Steenburgen, Ian Somerhalder, Sam Robards, Jamey Sheridan. This family melodrama is as subtle as a load of bricks and occasionally as painful, but it offers two…
Page Two
Gus Garcia is not simply the best choice for mayor on this slate but the best choice for mayor, regardless; Austin needs roads, but the road propositions that go before the electorate Tuesday are bad politics; the war in Afghanistan is a terrible misstep that played into the terrorists’ hands and will have devastating consequences…
Phases and Stages
The Prima DonnasDrugs, Sex & Discotheques (Peek-a-Boo) The Prima Donnas are to early-Eighties synth-pop what the Rutles were to the Beatles — a stinging yet affectionate parody chock-full of yocks rooted in the muted British rock humor of the Bonzo Dog Band. The supposedly Sussex-bred trio initially made a name for themselves in mid-Nineties Austin…
Naked City
New Mexico is preparing to carry out its first execution since 1960. In an effort to ensure things are done properly, they’ve consulted the experts — us. Texas, that is. The Dallas Morning News reported last week that our neighbors to the west have hired two unidentified Texas “execution experts” from the Texas Corrections Dept.…
TV Eye
Pregnant on prime time: Single parenthood gets more blasé (and more bizarre) on TV.
The One
The One 2001, PG-13, 80 min. Directed by James Wong, Narrated by , Voices by , Starring Jason Statham, Carla Gugino, Delroy Lindo, Jet Li. This One’s for you if (a) you dug The Matrix but found it a bit too highbrow; (b) you appreciate movies to the extent that they resemble video games; or…
