RING OUT THE OLD
In 2003, everyone got to pick their favorite brand of retro It’s been said that we live in an age of such instant nostalgia that people will videotape an event, watch it five minutes later, and wistfully coo things like, “Remember when I did that?” Certainly, pop culture has never done more gazing at…
TOO FAST
Motley Crüe, during their infamous, early ’90s John Corabi phase (coutesy photo) New Motley Crüe box documents the roots of their debauchery “Once we had taken clothes from a homeless girl, there were no taboos.” – Nikki Sixx, The Dirt: Confessions of the World’s Most Notorious Rock Band In Motley Crüe ‘s now legendary…
HIP-HOP BANDA
With its tuba-driven bass and funky brass trumpets and trombones, banda music lends itself to sampling as well as anything from George Clinton or James Brown’s catalog, a point that L.A. hip-hop duo Akwid exploits to its fullest. Proyecto Akwid, their CD, starts inside the studio, or possibly a rehearsal space. While the musicians…
FEELING A DRAFT
Men must register within 30 days of their 18th birthday, or face a fine of up to $250,000 and/or a five-year prison term. Local draft boards decide who stays and goes D uring World War I, more than 2.8 million men were drafted for military service. More than 10 million got the call to…
DEMS STRIVE TO AVOID JEWISH EXODUS
I n response to renewed Republican efforts to capture Jewish voters and donors from the Democrats’ traditional base, House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer has implemented a multiprong plan to make support for Israel a touchstone of Democratic policy, say lawmakers, aides, and party operatives. In addition to leading a 29-member congressional delegation to Israel…
A STATE OF HIGH ALERT
The 9-11 memorial overlooking Highway 90 West by Lackland Air Force Base was conceived and built by the New Life Christian Center. (Photos by Mark Greenberg) 9-11 peace memorial or permanent call to arms? An eternal flame, a reflecting pool, a “Wall of Peace,” and names of the fallen carved in granite: The San…
ARTIFACTS
Dancer and choreographer S.T. Shimi will be hanging around at Jump-Start Performance Co.’s Performance Party XIX on Saturday, January 3. The event celebrates Jump-Start’s 19-year anniversary – circus-style. News and notes from the San Antonio art scene CIRCUS CIRCUS The holidays are a slow time for bidness in San Antonio, which makes it a…
WAITING FOR INMAN
Jude Law portrays Inman, a Civil War soldier struggling to return to his homestead and wife in Cold Mountain (courtesy photo) A Confederate deserter makes his way back home Medieval literature had three great themes: the Matter of Britain (the Camelot cycle), the Matter of France (Charlemagne, Roland), and the Matter of Rome (classical…
THE GRANDDADDY OF THE GENRE
Jeremy Sumpter – a real boy – as the impish Peter Pan (courtesy photo) The classic children’s story ‘Peter Pan’ soars to new heights Twentieth-century children’s fiction – from Tolkien to Rowling – is hot box office magic. Now, the granddaddy of the genre – J.M. Barrie’s classic Peter Pan – triumphantly returns. Those…
Armchair Cinephile
Second Chances At 2003 One of my favorite movies of 2003 was Aki Kaurismäki’s The Man Without a Past (Columbia/TriStar). A distinctive voice in filmmaking today, Kaurismäki makes films you could pick out of a crowd even with the sound turned off. Dry and deadpan, his style is most like that of Jim Jarmusch,…
RECENT REVIEWS
Bad Santa Dir. Terry Zwigoff; writ. John Requa & Glenn Ficarra; feat. Billy Bob Thornton, Tony Cox, Bernie Mac, Brett Kelly, Lauren Graham, John Ritter (R) Bad Santa is vile. Snot-dripping and alley-pukey, pants-pissing and rotgut-swilling vile. It does not have redeeming social merit; it will not enrich your soul or teach you the meaning…
