The Best Films of 2013
10. Instructions Not Included Popular Mexican comedian Eugenio Derbez made his directorial debut with this heartwarming — and heartbreaking — Spanish-language comedy that became one of the biggest cinematic successes of 2013. Derbez is the womanizing Valentín who, after a baby is abandoned on his doorstep, mostly reforms into a near-perfect dad. The setup is…
Made for TV
But there’s much more to Ness’ story, including the little-known fact that he tried to solve the case of America’s first true serial killer, the Cleveland Torso Murderer, in 1935. New York Times’ bestselling author and professor William Bernhardt read the factoid in a biography about Ness and was curious enough to start researching Ness’…
OKG7 Eat: Coffee culture
The Red Cup 3122 N. Classen Blvd. 525-3430 The Red Cup set up shop at NW 31st Street and Classen Boulevard in 1995, and it has changed very little since. Nestled in a converted house surrounded by gardens, The Red Cup has welcomed coffee drinkers (and vegetarians) with its homey feel and eclectic interior that…
VISUAL ARTS
Allan Houser and His Students, in celebration of his 100th birthday, this exhibit features works of Allan Houser as well as his students, focusing on his role as a teacher and mentor. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., 478-2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org. Art After 5 Roof Terrace, join downtown workers, adventurous concert and…
Life
life In 1994, Rwanda was the site of a devastating genocide stemming from tribal disputes and political upheaval following the death of the president. In a little over a week, nearly 1 million people were killed. Sweet Dreams revisits Rwanda and follows a group of remarkable women from both sides of the genocide as they…
LETTERS
Shocked by that? We naturally understand studios target the demographic group that frequents the movie theaters more than any other group: the teenager. Did studio executives suddenly discover a new secret hit parade of material? Maybe, but the first superhero movie started back in 1937, with The Shadow. And yes, special effects have improved since…
Public education is changing
Today, “public education” is coming to mean something different: We want an “educated public” — and it doesn’t matter where that education takes place. Most students still go to the school closest to their house. But did you realize that in Florida, for example, nearly half the students (43 percent) go to a school other…
High time for Downton
Are you overwhelmed by the chill of winter and need to warm your toes? Sit by a roaring fire in the sought-after “upper tea room” at Inspirations Tea Room, 2118 W. Edmond Road in Edmond. Inspirations offers a three-tiered tea tray accompanying a full tea service. The lower tier displays a selection of two types…
NEWS OF THE WEIRD
Annals of science America’s foremost advocate for frontal lobotomies as “treatment” for mental disorder, the late Dr. Walter Freeman, performed an estimated 3,500 lobotomies during the 1940s and 1950s before opposition finally solidified against him, according to a December 2013 investigation by The Wall Street Journal. At the peak of his influence, he was so…
Soul it
ç Soul it New Year’s Eve is all about positivity. So why not spend it with the Positive Productions Band? See the soul and R&B act 9 p.m. Tuesday at The Centre, 4325 NW 50th St. Tickets are $25-$30 and include hors d’oevres and a breakfast buffet served after midnight. Call 208-3456. Tuesday
Hoop It
Hoop it So there’s this basketball team here in OKC called the Thunder. You may have heard of them? Well, they’re kind of good at sports and stuff (like, really good), and their games are as electric in person as the team’s name would suggest. See them play the Brooklyn Nets 7 p.m. Thursday at…
Jabee — Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt
Jabee has, in turn, proven to be a worthy ambassador for the state and to its youth, one who has been chomping at the bit to stretch his legs beyond its borders. That turn comes with Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt, released nationally through the Murs 316 imprint, owned by renowned LA emcee Murs.…
Book it
Book it Author Laura Moriarty has written four novels, and she was recently awarded the George Bennett Fellowship for Creative Writing at Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire. In other words, she’s good. Moriarty and Oklahoma author Joy Harjo will present a reading of their works along with a book signing at 6:30 p.m. Saturday…
Back to the future
Fallin offends everyone,straight and gayOklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin put the state in the national spotlight in 2013, but not in a positive way. Fallin, in her infinite wisdom, decided unilaterally that a federal mandate directing spousal benefits to same-sex couples in the military would not take place in Oklahoma. As a result, Fallin pulled spousal…
Coffee culture
Winter is perhaps the best time of year to find a great coffee shop, grab a book and settle in with a warm cup of coffee. You can always find a diner with a bottomless cup of coffee, but why not go all out and enjoy a great cup of coffee in a great space?…
Past, present, future
Oklahoma’s Century Chest exhibit bares unique Indian artifacts from a 100-year-old time capsule. When the Oklahoma Century Chest was opened in April, 100 years after the time capsule was buried, Chad Williams, director of research at the Oklahoma History Center, was surprised. “When we opened it, we couldn’t see anything because each item was wrapped…
Java update
This treasure comes from Mariposa Coffee, a local, small-batch, artisan company in Norman that has cared about social justice from its beginning. Mariposa is a local company working to give back both in the community and in developing communities around the world. Its support of local art and events is a ll the more obvious…
Soundcheck
Album Review Jabee Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt Few Oklahoma emcees have enjoyed the local spotlight that Jabee has. Thanks to his lyrical prowess and underdog mentality, the Oklahoma City emcee is quickly becoming appreciated by those outside the hip-hop scene as well as those inside it. Jabee has, in turn, proven to be…
VISUAL ARTS
Allan Houser and His Students, in celebration of his 100th birthday, this exhibit features works of Allan Houser as well as his students, focusing on his role as a teacher and mentor. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., 478-2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org. Art After 5 Roof Terrace, join downtown workers, adventurous concert and…
Life
life In 1994, Rwanda was the site of a devastating genocide stemming from tribal disputes and political upheaval following the death of the president. In a little over a week, nearly 1 million people were killed. Sweet Dreams revisits Rwanda and follows a group of remarkable women from both sides of the genocide as they…
Nine it
Nine it If you’re looking for generic sketch-comedy, do not go see Take 9. If you’re looking for sketch-comedy unlike anything else, go see Take 9’s New Year’s Eve Bash, an interactive variety production featuring live music, giveaways and lots of laughs. The fastpaced show starts at 9 p.m. Tuesday at Red Room Event Center,…
Recovery efforts
With drug use — and addiction recovery — in the spotlight of this year’s mayoral race, experts weigh in on how it might hamper or help overall public health. Public vilification of an Oklahoma City councilman’s past drug use, treatment and recovery is likely to restrict the number of people willing to seek elected office,…
NEWS OF THE WEIRD
Annals of science America’s foremost advocate for frontal lobotomies as “treatment” for mental disorder, the late Dr. Walter Freeman, performed an estimated 3,500 lobotomies during the 1940s and 1950s before opposition finally solidified against him, according to a December 2013 investigation by The Wall Street Journal. At the peak of his influence, he was so…
Instalove
A long-distance photo share turns into a down-home, real-life love affair. After two years following each other on Instagram, an Oklahoma City woman asked her British follower to meet on Skype for a cup of tea. This led to a four-hour date and many more sleep-deprived days for Zitta and Parker Cowans, who married in…
Jumpstart your 2014
Red Coyote Running and Fitness 5720 N. Classen Blvd.redcoyoterunning.com840-0033 If you’ve decided to get fit in 2014, run to Red Coyote and grab a flashy, comfortable pair of running shoes that will give your feet the support they need whether your goal is to become one of those people who runs at 5 a.m. every…
Wax poetic
When Oklahoma City indie outfit Bored Wax was looking for a name, it decided to pay homage to its three loves: surf rock, wordplay and indifference. “We were all listening to older surf and punk music, and this name kind of popped up,” singer and guitarist Billy Muschinske said. “We thought we’d change the spelling…
Ziggy Stardeath
Throughout rock and roll lore, there are stories of bands breaking away from familial bonds to create identities of their own. However, even though local freakout artists Stardeath and White Dwarfs are closely related to The Flaming Lips — lead singer Dennis Coyne is Wayne Coyne’s nephew — it’s a shadow that the band is more…
Monochromatic masterpieces
As the temperature has dropped and the sky has turned gray above a white, snow-covered ground, wintertime is the perfect time to view a collection like Black and White, according to Janice Mathews-Gordon and Diana Smith, co-curators of In Your Eye Studio and Gallery’s latest exhibition. “We’re in shades of gray. It just seems to…
Cassadaga
Until then, the scope shifts to focus on Lily (Kelen Coleman, TV’s The Newsroom), a pretty music teacher who happens to be deaf. (You wouldn’t know it from Coleman’s performance; although the appealing actress uses sign language, she also speaks at a perfectly normal pitch and volume at all times.) Grieving her dead sister, Lily…
The Wolverine / Prisoners
Based on a particularly well-received run of issues in the 1980s by Frank Miller and Chris Claremont, The Wolverine transports our indestructible, retractable-claw hero (Hugh Jackman, Les Misérables) back to Japan — “back” because he spent some time there as a P.O.W. during World War II, where he saved the life of an enemy soldier…
The Snake God
Directed by Django co-scripter Piero Vivarelli, the mostly plotless Italian film follows the beautiful Paola (Nadia Cassini, Starcrash) to the luscious Caribbean, where she makes a fast friend with Stella (Beryl Cunningham, The Weekend Murders), a local babe with membership in a voodoo cult. That’s where the title comes into play, as seemingly endless drum…
The Horror Show
Aliens’ Lance Henriksen stars as Lucas McCarthy, a police detective tormented by the memory of sneering evil killer Max Jenke (Brion James, Blade Runner), whom he helped put in prison. Jenke is sentenced to death and bursts into flames in the electric chair. Somehow he busts out of the straps and walks across the room…
The Wolf of Wall Street
The rise-and-fall story of real-life former penny-stocks swindler Jordan Belfort exudes a definite vibe of Scorsese déjà vu, most notably Goodfellas and Casino, even if the characters here are entitled white dudes instead of Mafiosi. Like Belfort himself, Wolf is wild, vulgar and often a helluva lot of fun. But also like its antihero, the…
