A&E
Movie Review
Larry Crowne
(PG-13) ★☆☆☆☆
July 14th, 2011
This Tom Hanks-directed (and co-produced and co-written) rom-com is the neediest movie of the year, and one of the phoniest. Julia Roberts plays a washed-up community college instructor. Read more »
Movie Review
Monte Carlo
(PG) ★★☆☆☆
July 14th, 2011
This adaptation of the book Headhunters follows Grace (Selena Gomez), a Texas girl who travels to Paris with waitress pal Emma (Katie Cassidy) and third wheel Meg (Leighton Meester). Read more »
Movie Review
The Names of Love
(R) ★★★★☆
July 14th, 2011
Director Michel Leclerc and his co-writer Baya Kasmi illuminate the ethnic, racial and religious issues that have beset France from World War II to the present—through, surprisingly, the unfolding of a classic romantic comedy plot. Read more »
From Back Beat to Front Man
With distinctive drumming and sound instincts, Ronnie Vannucci helped launch the Killers to stardom. Can he do the same with his own band?
July 7th, 2011
On a recent lunch date with Ronnie Vannucci Jr., the drummer for the greatest rock band ever to emerge from the Vegas desert, I arrive early and pick a gunfighter booth in a dark corner of an old downtown tamale joint called Doña María. The booth is private, away from the lunch-hour clank, and tape-recorder friendly. Vannucci swings open the door, spots me and immediately changes the plan. Read more »
Movies
Local Movie Mecca
In its fourth year, the Las Vegas Film Fest is picking up steam
July 7th, 2011
The festival received 1,100 submissions for 2011, about 200 more than last year. In order to give each submission the attention it deserves, director of operations Milo Kostelecky enlists the help of film buffs and experts from College of Southern Nevada and UNLV. Each screener takes home a packet of 14 films, which they rate on a 50-point scoring system. After the results are tallied, 200 films fall into a category of recognition and the top 50 are shown at the festival. Read more »
Movies
Film Festival Highlights
July 7th, 2011
The Las Vegas Film Festival takes place July 15-17 at the Las Vegas Hilton. Tickets start at $8 for individual movies, and various packages are offered up to the High-Roller Pass $150. Read more »
Stage
Turning Tricks
German transplant Jan Rouven fulfills his longtime dream with Vegas magic act
July 7th, 2011
When German magician Jan Rouven was 19, he made a pilgrimage to Las Vegas to see its magic shows. “I realized all the illusion gurus are located here in Vegas, and it made it somehow the magic capital of the world,” he says. “I always dreamed about bringing over my show to Vegas.” Read more »
Show Review
Magic of Paris
July 7th, 2011
Stefane Vanel’s Magic of Paris is an hourlong confection of a variety show. The Frenchman makes balls, coins and cards appear, reappear, float, flutter and dance in his hands. Read more »
Book Review
Vegas native turns his rock critic past into debut novel
July 7th, 2011
As a critic, it’s not hard to develop some level of contempt for the material you review. Books, movies, music—for every buried gem, there’s a mountain of garbage demanding your time but completely unworthy of your attention. Vegas native Andrew Kiraly knows the feeling. Read more »
Soundscraper
Six-strings, Stevie Nicks shams and satanic metal
July 7th, 2011
Big news in the Vegas gearhead scene last week. Roxie and Jesse Amoroso, the bassist-guitarist/wife-and-husband team who lead sleaze-rock band Pigasus, bought vintage instrument shop Cowtown Guitars (2797 S. Maryland Parkway, 866-2600) from Bob Seger’s touring guitarist Mark Chatfield, who opened the local oasis of cool guitars and amps way back in 1990. Read more »
