A&E
Art
Show and Sell
Visit the fortune-cookie art fair to find out why all the are dealers flocking to Hong Kong
July 7th, 2011
Movie Review
Dirty Work Done Right
Three office drones go for the jugular in the wickedly funny Horrible Bosses
July 7th, 2011
So, remember what I wrote about Bad Teacher, and how its title basically encapsulated my opinion of the awfulness of that movie? Well, like the wise Missy Elliot once said (both backward and forward!) flip it and reverse it, because Horrible Bosses is not horrible at all. The dark comedy about a trio of friends who plot to murder their bosses (imagine a celluloid three-way between 9 to 5, Office Space and Strangers on a Train) is actually surprisingly clever, satisfyingly twisted and blessedly free of the dick jokes and projectile body fluids that many recent buddy comedies (ahem, Hall Pass) sub in for real comedy. Read more »
Movie Review
Somebody Buy This Movie a Convertible
Both the actors and characters in Larry Crowne suffer from a mid-life crisis
July 7th, 2011
A pinch of cinnamon, a dash of sugar or a drop of Tabasco has enhanced many a disastrous, dried-out holiday feast, but even the combined flavors of Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts can’t salvage the turkey Larry Crowne. I applaud Hanks’ effort to write, produce and direct a harmless romantic comedy that exists for no other reason than entertainment. But even with nothing else on its mind, a so-called “comedy” should engage the senses on some level besides the funny bone. This one just lays there like road kill. Read more »
Movie Review
French Farce
A girls’ trip leads to mistaken identity and boys, boys, boys in this frothy summer fare
July 7th, 2011
So Monte Carlo turns out to be a lot easier to take than both Transformers: Dark of the Moon and Larry Crowne. You never know. Read more »
Movie Review
Transformers 3: Dark Of The Moon (PG-13)
★☆☆☆☆
July 7th, 2011
Once again, the Autobots (our friends) take on the Decepticons (not our friends), with humanity and downtown Chicago caught in the middle. Destruction ensues. Michael Bay continues to offer up soulless and frenetic trash. Read more »
Movie Review
Cars 2 (G)
★★★☆☆
July 7th, 2011
In this overstuffed sequel to the 2006 hit, Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) and Tow Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) leave Radiator Springs for Tokyo, Italy and England to participate in a World Grand Prix. A James Bond-esque subplot involving espionage is flashy and fun, but seems like overcompensation for relatively unmemorable characters. Read more »
Goodbye to a Classic
The vintage Vegas sounds of the Fontana Bar are about to go silent
June 30th, 2011
Bellagio’s Fontana Bar, which is closing July 5, is a choice setting for such people-watching. A Vegas lounge of a dying breed, it has no cover charge, a variety of house bands, a dance floor and a great Strip view. It also has a slew of notably older or delightfully dressed-up people drinking tall fruity drinks, and a swanky aura that promises something fun, or funny, is about to happen. Read more »
Music
Slow Ride
A bevy of local gigs pushes Black Camaro further down the road toward a great new album
June 30th, 2011
In a spacious downtown studio filled with antique rugs, ’60s furniture and a plethora of musical instruments, the seven members of Black Camaro lounge around, with visions of their fourth album, Black Camaricans, dancing in their heads. Read more »
Music
Black Camaro Discography
June 30th, 2011
A year in the making, our first album is 23 months of 18 different emotions summed up on one LP. Read more »
Soundscraper
Shoes, Nocturnals, reggae bros
June 30th, 2011
Man, did you enjoy the Deadhand CD-release party a couple of weeks back as much as I did? My crew is still talking about that one, a show that will live in infamy, for sure. I’ve been tracking this other cool new local band called Candy Warpop, who played a spirited fuzz-rock set (only their second live performance) to a small crowd inside Beauty Bar, into which I happened to stumble. Read more »
