Suite soundtrack
The performances in Calle 54, the bracing Latin-jazz concert film from noted Spanish director Fernando Trueba (Belle Epoque) are so full of charm, charisma and sheer good-vibes exuberance that audiences at the Miami Film Festival clapped after every number. Patrons even cheered during several solos, notably Dominican pianist Michel Camilo’s exuberant outing on his “From…
Sale away with me
Half-used nail polish, stained coffeepots … garage sales are great. It’s fascinating to see what other people have, and whether you want any of it.
Country mouse
When Darren Hayman claims he’s “competent, not merely adequate,” he’s really saying something. Lead singer and songwriter for Hefner, British indie rockers and professional cynics, Hayman is such a sad sack that when he bothers to stick up for himself at all it’s like he’s Muhammad Ali representin’ at a press conference. More than anything…
Greed, blood and gold
Ancient tales of the Icelandic Edda on the postmodern stage….
Digital Peter Pan
So it’s finally come down to this. What originally began as a series of four-track recorded songs that were probably only meant to be passed around to Atom’s circle of friends has now become an underground phenomenon. Along with a Yamaha QY 700 Sequencer (otherwise known as His Package) Atom and His Package has recorded…
Hanging by a nail
A broken fingernail and a fleeting glance led to a murder conviction — and lingering doubts….
Billboard boxers
As four skinny white guys with tacky ties and matching peroxide dos, there’s no good reason why the Briefs shouldn’t come off as punk’s latest one-trick phonies. After all, Ramones-ripped riffs and 90-second blasts of snot-rocket rock aren’t exactly indications of innovation, so it would’ve made total sense had Seattle’s (h)it band du jour immediately…
Free to be
Drawing from their Cass Corridor environment and from the band members’ own group dynamic, Paik’s otherworldly sound grounds itself in reality.
Shattered
Audacious, brutal, brilliant and relentlessly bleak, this startlingly visceral journey through the social strata of Mexico City — where characters are brought together by their loves (amores), their dogs (perros) and a car crash — is rendered with a style that’s bold, confident and intoxicating.
What the Archer years meant
Dennis Archer showed he had more political savvy and willpower than expected by refusing to run for mayor again. And while Archer didn’t “save” Detroit during his two-term stint, he did more good than harm.
Lenore Marwil Jewish Film Festival
Sponsored by the Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit and the Detroit Jewish News, this year’s festival has expanded to offer more than 25 features and documentaries, as well as animated and short films, including: Kosher Valley, Daring to Resist, and The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg.
Getting warmer
Detroit shakes off winter hibernation with new club nights: Spiritworks’ grand opening (Wednesdays at The Works) and Carlos Souffront residing Saturdays at Clutch Cargo’s … plus, an evening with St. Germain and friends.
The Wind Will Carry Us
Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami’s first flat-out comedy is rich with observational detail and lavish landscapes. Ostensibly the story of a modern man who arrives in a remote Kurdistan village on an unknown mission, its accumulated languidity reaches something close to a state of grace.
Smile, darn ya
Spring is here, and a not-so-young gossip columnist’s thoughts turn to the blood of Houdini … the changing of the mayors … the hop-a-riffic Motor City Tap Room … cult video rentals … & much more.
Freddy Got Fingered
Terrible Tom Green trips out in this flick. It’s like you’re 14 and your Laffy Taffy got doped with rhino tranquilizer! Green doesn’t just push the envelope of gross-out comedy, he rips it apart, smears it with something nasty and wears it like a party hat. And makes it laugh-out-loud, R-rated funny.
Taking it to the streets
From Quebec City to Detroit, opponents to free trade see movement maturing….
Shadow Magic
Set in Peking in 1902, this mix of fact and fiction purports to tell the story of the introduction of cinema to China. It has a well-delineated sense of wonder in its depictions of the birth of a new medium. Unfortunately, such moments are respites in an overlong, melodramatic plot.
Adios, Dennis
The top-10 reasons Dennis Archer isn’t running for mayor again….
Lessons in blood
From blood and guts to gorgeous nostalgia — war reconceived on screens large and small.
Company Man
When one person writes, directs and stars in a film, the results can range from enlightening to frightening. From the moment Douglas McGrath (who co-wrote and co-directed with Peter Askin) appears onscreen, it’s obvious that this film falls into the disaster category.
On the other foot
They could-a been (and still could be) mayoral contenders….
Prime Ministers
The Prime Ministers provide a constant reminder that keeping an open heart isn’t necessarily a bad idea. Hearing just one of those pleading harmonies, weighty drum sequences or claustrophobic riffs will make you forgive all wrongdoings, rest your gaze on a spot just past the bullshit in your own life and realize what¹s important —…
Various tributaries
Base lyrics, formulaic song structure and a gimmicky schoolboy outfit equaled something close to legendary in the case of one Aussie rock workhorse known as AC/DC. After inspiring countless various-artists tribute albums over the years, the band is back in black, touring with the same vim and voracity as it did about a quarter of…
Dewey wins!
Detroit News surprised by the real story….
Gastronomic dream
Chef and co-owner Kipp Bourdeau has opened his own dream restaurant, but we diners are the lucky ones. Starter courses are elegant and creative (don’t skip the onion soup). Pork chops with Calvados cream sauce, jambalaya pasta, maple-cured salmon … none of the entrées disappointed, and the prices are quite reasonable. It’s not easy to…
Free Will Astrology
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Based on the tarot reading I just did, I surmise that this would be a good time for you to seek out product endorsement deals. The cards evoked in me a clear vision of your face appearing on a box of Kellogg’s Corn Flakes. On the other hand, if I were…
Bridge gap
Ambassador Bridge company builds without permits….
Under the knife
Matmos — aka San Franciscans M.C. Schmidt and Drew Daniel — will stop at nothing to bring to light the finest in sound artifacts. While most cut-and-paste sonic reconstituters would be content to mine their record crates, Matmos is in the field doing the primary research. Better still, once they bring it on back to…
When cousins kiss
• I think you gave a pretty good answer to the woman in love with her cousin. I know about these things because I have been in a relationship with my first cousin for seven years, and have been happily married to him for four years. The facts: 1) All the major monotheistic religions allow…
Earth to Harding
Celebrating Earth Day by decrying the DEQ….
Champions revealed
Dual layering and multiple camera angles aren’t the most precious supplements on a DVD — especially when examining the heart of the NBA. Sure, a treasure trove of applications may spark — like Jordan firing from the three-point mark, viewable in wide, close-up and aerial shots. Or a virgin to DVD technology might think dual…
White crash
Marketing famous dead people for fun and profit….
Regarding Henry
Wear a T-shirt, go to jail….
Various tributaries
Base lyrics, formulaic song structure and a gimmicky schoolboy outfit equaled something close to legendary in the case of one Aussie rock workhorse known as AC/DC. After inspiring countless various-artists tribute albums over the years, the band is back in black, touring with the same vim and voracity as it did about a quarter of…
Letters to the Editor
Claiming Immunity I agree with Melissa Giannini’ statement (In One Ear, MT, April 11-18) when she says, “The less representative the awards are of the entire scene, the less the awards are going to mean.” Consider the low return rate on the 2,600 Detroit Music Award ballots sent every year, which I think tends to…
Jaye the jailbird
Sen. David Jaye just wants to help crime victims….
Ghost in the machine
Reginald Dokes is ready to be a contender. Scratch that. He may be one already. After spending the bulk of the ’90s soaking up notes as a resident DJ for Derrick May’s Transmat label, and putting it down from Motown to Madrid, Dokes has decided to move from behind the turntables and into the studio.…
Justice in the wings
Matrix Theatre renders the fears and hopes of a community….
Ben and Jerry’s new flavor
The scoop on the Detroit Pistons’ 2001 season (and the departure of head coach George Irvine)…
