Category: Blog Post

I’ve been remiss: there are two fascinating films in town, and tonight’s your last chance to one of them. Unfortunately, I can’t speak to Death of a President, as I’m going to tonight’s 7:15 show, but I’ll weigh in on it tomorrow–it’s around for another week.

So I’m hoping, gentle readers, that you go instead to a film that I believe will someday be a B-movie classic, in line with many of the great 50s noirs: 13 Tzameti. There is one showing, at 9:00 tonight, at the Lagoon. Tzameti is a movie of surprising power and tension, well acted (not a requirement in a B-movie), and a treatise for beginning filmmakers on exactly how to make a movie on the cheap. Focus on your characters, on your plot, keep your actors engaged, and can the fancy stuff until you get your hands on a real budget. I’m already dreaming of the day, hopefully in the not-too-distant future, when I’m walking the midnight streets of some forlorn city, Detroit or L.A. or New York, and I come across this little flick at some run down theater in a bad part of town. If all went well it would be raining afterward, and I’d spend the next few hours in an overlit coffee shop, watching the nightowls and thinking of poor Sebastien and his fate.

Since this may never happen, you owe it to yourself to stay up late this evening with 13 Tzameti.

Now, there’s a show I wish I had the ticket to see ‘n hear! Love the sound of an acoustic guitar… Love Habib Koite.

But I’m actually going to see Death of a President tonight… Finally. And because I’ve already written plenty about that flick, I figured I’d just put tonight’s happening-est music event front ‘n center. I find I’m a bit behind on my moviegoing as of late, in any case. And so I’m trying to pour energy there. I just got around to seeing Marie Antoinette for heaven’s sake! And I’m afraid I had to give that my thumbs down. Way down. This was about the most amateurish piece of art I’ve ever seen–from Dunst’s premature gazing into the camera, well before we felt any sort of empathy for the character (if we ever felt it at all), to the Chuck Taylors tucked amidst the queen’s stash. Having loved Sophia Coppola’s other films, The Virgin Suicides and Lost In Translation, I’ve been taking mental inventory ever since. Was I seduced by a pretty girl who trails off her sentences? Pretty clothes? (Wouldn’t be the first time.)

Easy! Go check out the westerly soulful Hacienda Brothers at the Calhoun Square Famous Dave’s.

It seems as though John Kerry sure isn’t taking the high road any more when attacked by the Republicans. In a NY Times story just posted in the last half hour, Kerry has some choice words for Bush, Cheney, Limbaugh and the rest.

If he’d talked like this two years ago, who knows what would have happened.

This is, of course, just another instance of the Dems not allowing themselves to be “Swift Boated” any more. Patty Wetterling’s campaign of accusing Michele Bachmann of being for tax increases is my personal highlight so far, although Amy Klobuchar’s immediate response to Mark Kennedy’s clumsy assertions about her health care policy is a close second. It looks like both sides can play with Karl Rove’s playbook.

As my father once said to me, “It doesn’t do you any good to quote the Marquis de Queensbury rules to someone who is kicking you in the groin.” Looks like the Dems are finally getting that message.

I figured I’d toss off a few of tonight’s costume contests for those who’ve actually poured some thought and energy into their getups: For one, the Minnesota Opera’s Tales of Hoffman performance comes replete with a costume contest. (And just who got to raid that department?) The rock ‘n’ roll versions are at the T-Rock, Bryant Lake Bowl, Fine Line, and First Ave. What am I missing?

I won’t be partaking in any of tonight’s festivities (although I do want to see the opera). I already got dolled up in the requisite sexy digs this past weekend (Austin Powers-era Beyonce), and won’t be putting my self-esteem through that ever again. Happy Halloween, in any case! And ladies, do y’selves a favor and lay off the pleather and thigh-highs!

It’s Monday, so I ought to reiterate that there are TWO short-term movie runs going on this week: 13 Tzameti at the Lagoon and Death of a President at Oak Street. (I already mentioned that second thing, I know. And no, I haven’t seen it yet… I’m just really intrigued, that’s all.)

But there are actually a bunch of other cool things going on, should you want to venture out on this nice weather day. The pretty fabulous Pretty Girls Make Graves is at the Triple Rock. There’s also an ode to Cole Porter going on at Rossi’s tonight; and it stars some excellent Twin Cities musicians like Maud Hixon and Arne Fogel. As with every Monday, Thirst Theater‘s going on at Jitter’s. And, if you count this, there’s a book signing with Senator Barack Obama at Borders Block E at noon.