Dressed in 1920s attire, George Clooney and Renee Zellwegger began their Leatherheads tour with an appearance at the old Depot, in downtown Duluth. Now, we finally get to see the film. Directed by Clooney himself, Leatherheads offers a comedic tribute to the early days of pro football. Determined to keep his team alive after they … Read more
The story is nothing new: a Mexican mother goes to America, Los Angeles to be precise, in search of a better life for her child, whom she leaves in Mexico under the care of her mother. It’s "real," if nothing else. And it’s touching, if you’re at all moved by a mother’s love and a … Read more
Most of us have heard of Milos Forman, or at least his films. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, adapted from Ken Kesey’s novel, won all five major Academy Awards in 1975. Hair, now a cult classic, was nominated for two Golden Globes. And Amadeus, about the life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, won eight — … Read more
What separates the typical Disney flick from most operas is not just the animation or the language, but the ending, the resolution. True, not all operas end in tragedy (though most do), but even the happily-ever-afters come laden with sacrifice and cost-of-learning, so to speak. And let’s face it, someone usually dies. This month, the … Read more
Nothing moves people more than the death of a child. And while a play centered around such tragedy might make its audience feel manipulated and cheap, like a bad Lifetime move, David Lindsay-Abaire’s Rabbit Hole handles it with such honesty and insight as to take its audience through the most grievous journey without resentment or … Read more
"If Shaft was living in southern California and he invited Bob Marley and Jimi Hendrix over for dinner," reads their website bio, "Orange County quartet QWIKSAND would make a groovy side-dish." What the California surf funk band fails to mention is the wonderful scent of salt and sun evoked by their music — so much … Read more
In January, the New York Times reported labor abuses in Chinese factories. "’I work on the plastic molding machine from 6 in the morning to 6 at night,’ said Xu Wenquan, a tiny, baby-faced 16-year-old whose hands were covered with blisters." At the end of last year, a Gap scandal revealed child-labor abuses in India. … Read more
Brian Blade FellowshipSeasons of ChangeVerveRelease date: April 1, 2008 Blade’s ensemble seems heavily influenced by his membership in Wayne Shorter’s magnificent but overtly cerebral quartet, which isn’t always a good thing. The frequently lethargic pace and finely crafted harmonic and melodic nuances occasionally feel like music that must be listened to for your own good, … Read more
"Where is Brad Zellar?" you might ask, as his hiatus from The Rake has created quite a void. Happily, he’s been busy promoting his new book, Suburban World: The Norling Photos, from Borealis Books. Zellar discovered Irwin Norling in 2002, when he unearthed Norling’s neglected negatives from the Bloomington Historical Society archives. Struck by the … Read more
About three months ago, John and I decided we were in a rut. We went out to eat and then to a movie; we went to a movie and got a bite to eat. There was something missing. Music. So we pledged to go out at least twice a month and listen to some band … Read more