Movies
MOVIES | "Ida's Story," a documentary about a post-WWI Ukrainian immigrant, tells a sadly familiar tale of ethnic persecution
A documentary ten years in the making, Ida's Story had its big-screen debut at North Minneapolis's historic Capri Theater on November 16. The premiere drew nearly a full house; over 250 attended to see the new film by a local cast and crew led by executive producer Donna Sherlock and producer/director Barbara Wiener.MORE »
Weekend What's What: Funkytown
It seems to be the winter dance party season opener this weekend! With both Friday and Saturday dominated by l'étoile-worthy club jams and secret location parties, you'll be hard-pressed not to run into an opportunity to get your "Butterfly" on. At this rate we'll be sweatin' right through the hard freeze! Of course, there's plenty of awesome art to go around and even a few can't-miss rock n' roll shows—so those with two left feet, fret not—we've gotcha covered!MORE »
Arts Orbit Radar: 11/19/09
What's Happening This Week
On the radar: Before the holiday Nutcracker daze sets in, treat yourself to a long cool drink of inventive contemporary dance at the Ritz, where Zenon Dance Company's 27th fall season opens tonight.
Under the radar: Quietly, two of the Twin Cities' best and most inventive playmakers are rolling out new productions today. At Bedlam, Jeune Lune co-founder Barbara Berlovitz is premiering Stories as Told in a Bed, a show about the experiences of her Lithuanian immigrant grandfather. (Among the ensemble of performers is our writer Sheila Regan.) Meanwhile, at the Children's Theatre, Jon Ferguson and a cast of young actors are performing Gregory Gregorson and the Magic Pinto Bean, a show that "contains extreme flatulence, troll dating, intimidating Boy Scouts, temporary paralysis, L.P. records, naked album covers, a mom of the wig-wearing kind, and talk of decorative ducks."
On the radar: "Hearing 1,000-plus people shouting 'sexy ass me' when Brother Ali performs crowd favorite 'Forest Whitiker' is still one of my favorite hip-hop moments," writes Justin Schell. If you can squeeze your sexy ass into Ali's sold-out homecoming show tonight at First Ave, you won't regret it.
Under the radar: Tonight at the Nash Gallery, spoken-word artist IBé will perform to celebrate the opening of Talking Suitcases, an exhibit of suitcases filled with handmade objects that tell the personal stories of a diverse group of Minnesotans.MORE »
MOVIES | The Coens' perfectly tolerable "Intolerable Cruelty"
I can't believe I'm writing this about a Coen Brothers movie, but watching Intolerable Cruelty is just as enjoyable—and no more or less profound—than lying on the couch and watching a few episodes of Three's Company.MORE »
MOVIES | The Coens' "Man Who Wasn't There" makes metaphysical mincemeat of a solid setup
In my review of the Coen Brothers' debut feature Blood Simple, I said that it just might be the filmmakers' most successful movie in the sense that it does precisely what it sets out to do, and does it very well.MORE »
Arts Orbit Radar: 11/12/09
What's Happening This Week
On the radar: It's hard to pass up a chance to see the dance that the Washington Post calls "one of the seven wonders of the artistic universe," but be warned (or get excited): in costuming, notes Camille LeFevre, Martha Graham "certainly liked her men with buttocks bared."
Under the radar: MNfashion opens its holiday boutique tonight with winin' and snackin'. Stop by for a first look at the cool stuff Minnesota designers have created for you to tuck under the tree this year.
On the radar: The Seafarer, one of the darkest (but also, according to reports, funniest) of this season's holiday entertainments, opens at the Jungle. Downtown at First Ave, "national treasures" (per City Pages) Solid Gold headline a show that also features The Hood Internet and, just for good measure, Lookbook.
Under the radar: Tara Yule of the much-missed Pi Restaurant & Bar is convening a "Pi Family Reunion" tonight at BarFly. Pi patrons won't want to miss this chance to rub elbows (and, who knows, maybe more) with old friends.MORE »
MOVIES | 2009 British Television Advertising Awards: F*#!ed up...in a good way
Not three weeks ago was I on the phone with Assurant, trying to convince them that geloplegia—the chronic neurological condition that occasionally causes my upper-body muscles to go weak when I laugh—affected me very rarely. "In fact," I said, "I can hardly remember the last time it happened." And then there I was tonight, my head nodding limply as a sock puppet got drunk on champagne.MORE »
MOVIES | "Straightlaced" documents gender pressures on teens
Straightlaced is a documentary not only—as its title suggests—about GLBT issues, but about gender issues in general faced by teens (about 16 and up).MORE »
Arts Orbit Radar: 11/5/09
What's Happening This Week
On the radar: For most of human history, no one ever said, "Fo shizzle, my nizzle." Then Snoop Dogg said it, then everyone said it—and now, thank God, we're back to no one (except your awkward uncle) saying it. The West Coast drawler will be at Epic tonight, playing to a crowd of former frat boys, aging gangstas, and hipsters who face a tough choice between Snoop and A Fine Frenzy.
Under the radar: Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Ensemble isn't coming to Minnesota in the near future, but tonight we have the next best thing: Robaybat and Güvenç and Burk Orchestra, an all-star cast of local musicians who promise to lead "a musical journey through Greece, Turkey, into the Balkans, through Central Asia and Persia."
On the radar: This weekend's Art Attack gives you a chance to see the work of Northrup King artists without having to fight the Art-a-Whirl crowds. If you're looking for a crowd, try to squeeze in to the Paramore show at Roy Wilkins.
Under the radar: Lowertown has been pushing hard to compete with Minneapolis as an entertainment destination, and at least according to Sean McPherson, it's working. Tonight, the newly-anointed Lowertown Entertainment District hosts its first monthly First Friday open-studio event.MORE »
Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin to Host 82nd Oscars© Ceremony
Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin will serve as co-hosts of the 82nd Academy Awards©, Oscar© telecast producers Bill Mechanic and Adam Shankman announced November 3.
"I'm happy to co-host the Oscars with my enemy Alec Baldwin," said Martin in an Academy press release.MORE »
