Movies
MOVIES | Will France continue its Oscar-winning streak?
The Academy Awards continue their French love affair with this year's Best Foreign Language Film contender Un Prophete. It marks the 36th time France has been nominated in this category. The Oscar has gone to the country nine times.MORE »
MOVIES | When too many cooks don't spoil the broth: Oscar nominee "The Hurt Locker" an exception to Academy rules, with four producers credited
The Hurt Locker, a contender for Best Picture in this year's Oscar race, has been given the distinction of "extraordinary circumstances" in the listing of its producers, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced this week.MORE »
MOVIES | Sundance report, Part 2: Tragedy, controversy, and a few good laughs
PARK CITY, UTAH—Battling the sloppy and slush-filled sidewalks, a sporadic sleep schedule, constant drowsy red-eyes, and lack of protein, Sundance was just heating up and I needed a second wind to make it through my final three days. Having some much-anticipated titles to look forward to, I was not going to have the unexpected or uncertain elements, bring down my movie-going experience. Working up a frenzy to keep pace I just had to strive forward and hope that the films I was planning on seeing over the next three days lived up to the ones I had just seen.MORE »
MOVIES | Academy Award nominees announced, with Meryl Streep setting another record
Precious is one of ten nominees for Best Motion Picture of the Year for 2009, announced the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Tuesday.MORE »
Arts Orbit Radar 2/4/10
What's happening this week
On the radar: The buzz for the homegrown production of Rent opening this week at the Lab (formerly the Guthrie Lab) kicked into overdrive when casting was announced, but dipping into the music scene—snagging Maria Isa and Harley Wood, among others—isn't this production's only innovation. The producers are staging the show as a theater-concert hybrid, with open seating and, after several performances, public afterparties. Tonight's procession from the Lab will lead to the Loop. Don't be the Loser who misses out on this one.
Under the radar: Proposition: the perfect cure for wintertime cabin fever is a big ol' hula hoop jam. If that idea sounds absolutely absurd to you, you'll really want to avoid tonight's event, at which participants are being invited to wear a fun hair piece, a colorful outfit, or furry leggings.
On the radar: The word "quotidian" is not particularly quotidian, but this is contemporary art, so if you're going to display commonplace objects you have to surround them with esoteric verbiage. Opening tonight at the Weisman with a preview party is Common Sense: Art and the Quotidian.
Under the radar: "Do you guys actually have an office?" I'm often asked that question, and the answer is yes! Today is your chance to not just see the Daily Planet's glamorous digs, but to party with us as we host a happy-hour reception to welcome 2010.MORE »
MOVIES | Report from Sundance: Which films make the grade?
PARK CITY, UTAH—My first report from the Sundance Film Festival covers Friday through Sunday. Waking up Friday morning, on only about four hours of sleep, I made it to the first press screening of the festival, Sam Taylor Wood's Nowhere Boy, at 8:30 a.m.MORE »
THEATER | With "The Great War" at the Walker, Hotel Modern explore the no man's land between theater and film
I understand that Philip Bither, the Walker Art Center's curator of performing arts, chooses the productions to be included in each year's Out There series as a curator of visual arts would choose paintings to hang alongside one another on a gallery wall: Bither selects pieces that speak to one another and present different perspectives on a central theme. Certainly Hotel Modern's The Great War (originally created in 2001 and playing at the Walker this weekend) is interesting to consider in light of Radiohole's Whatever, Heaven Allows—which preceded it by two weeks in the McGuire Theater. Both pieces deploy formidible craft using transparent devices, but to very different effect.MORE »
Arts Orbit Radar 1/28/10
What's happening this week
On the radar: Music + comedy skits = success! Who woulda thunkit? Oh, wait...anyway, MPLS.TV is locally-made and most weeks it's a better time than SNL. Tonight its creators are throwing a benefit bash at Bedlam featuring Guante, Zoo Animal, and other fine acts.
Under the radar: The last show mounted by the Off-Leash Area in their garage theater was 2008's The Jury; tonight, OLA opens an expanded version of that powerful production—featuring text by cultural critic and naughtybilly jug-blower Max Sparber—at the Red Eye Theater.
On the radar: Ads for the Masters are already appearing on TV and Stravinsky's Rite of Spring was just heard at Orchestra Hall, but spring still isn't close enough for baseball fans looking forward to the Twins' 50th season in Minnesota and first season at Target Field. At this weekend's TwinsFest, you can revisit the Dome to hang out with players, browse memorabilia, and—are you ready for this?—audition to sing the National Anthem at one of this season's games. Among the past players scheduled to be in attendance is World Series pitcher Juan Berenguer, whose "Berenguer Boogie" compares favorably to Prince's new Vikings anthem.MORE »
Under the radar: Two stereotypes about Sweden are that the country (a) has amazing women and (b) has amazing designers. In one fell swoop, the Swedish Institute proves both of those stereotypes absolutely true with an exhibit, opening today, of superlative design by 17 Swedish women.
MOVIES | Science Museum's Omnifest 2010 brings you up close and personal with Vincent Van Gogh, Pink, and a parachuting SUV
A few decades ago, the Science Museum's Omnitheater was the only game in town for über-big-screen entertainment. Then Imax screens went up at Valleyfair and the Minnesota Zoo, and now even Rosedale has an Imax. What's the Science Museum's strategy for dealing with this upstart competition? Stay the course, senior V.P. Mike Day told me at the media preview for the upcoming 2010 Omnifest. "We're still filming in the world's biggest format and projecting on domed screens. We're also still focused on making documentaries."MORE »
MOVIES | Sundance Film Festival approaches, with Minnesotan films among those likely to wow
Once again this year, I'm off to Park City, Utah to report on the Sundance Film Festival for the Daily Planet. Sundance is always interesting, and this year will be even more interesting than most.MORE »
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