Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa
The funniest movie of last year, Bad Grandpa is also the funniest movie of this year (thus far), thanks to its unrated cut on Blu-ray. It’s not that the extra 11 minutes prove essential (they don’t) but that the gags from the theatrical release hold up, even without the benefit of playing to a packed…
Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon
Therefore, no one blames Hark for wanting to mine Dee for franchise potential. Unfortunately, the result is the kind of unfocused, overindulgent mess that saw the shine wear off his reputation in the first place. With Mark Chao taking over the part, Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon is a prequel concerning the…
Scorned
Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar; here, it’s just one of many atrocities suffered by his rich-guy character when his girlfriend, Sadie (AnnaLynne McCord, TV’s rebooted 90210), discovers he has been cheating on her — and with her own BFF (Viva Bianca, TV’s Spartacus), no less! Over one rainy night and long off her…
The Conjuring / Insidious: Chapter 2
This summer, the smash of The Conjuring crowned him king. Based on a “true” case file of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren (if you believe bunk to be true), the film begins with perhaps the most frightening doll in cinema history — or at least since Poltergeist — and things just grow creepier from…
Scorned (2013)
Scorned (2013) For those who always have wanted to see Titanic cad Billy Zane have a lit cigar put out in his left ear, rejoice! Scorned is your movie. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar; here, it’s just one of many atrocities suffered by his rich-guy character when his girlfriend, Sadie (AnnaLynne McCord, TV’s…
Thou shalt not lose to Texas
The never-ending debate over the Ten Commandments monument at the State Capitol is a self-inflicted comic wound. Of course Satanists and Hindus want their own spot on the lawn. Our born-again legislators opened this can of worms by violating one of the Ten Commandments: You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. The man…
Kicked off
The Energy FC will kick off this spring, and local fans already have shown their excitement. Announcement and preview events were received with a growing flood of fans, even before much information about the team was clear. At the forefront of this effort is to help the team achieve the status of a Major League…
Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa
(2013) Strange as it sounds, come March 2, one of the films that stands a good chance of walking home with an Academy Award is Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa. It’s one of three nominees in the category of makeup, but still, the recognition marks real progress for films that open with a senior citizen getting…
Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon
(2013) Tsui Hark struck gold with 2010’s Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame, marking a return to form for the Hong Kong director following several lackluster, effects-driven flops. Therefore, no one blames Hark for wanting to mine Dee for franchise potential. Unfortunately, the result is the kind of unfocused, overindulgent mess that…
FILM
Movie Night at the Downtown Library, enjoy a film at the downtown library, 6-8 p.m., Jan. 29. Downtown Library, 300 Park, 231-8650, metrolibrary.org. WED Army of Frankensteins, (U.S., 2013, dir. Ryan Bellgardt) a young man travels back in time finding himself entrenched in the Civil War with an army of Frankensteins, 7 p.m., Jan. 31.…
The Grandmaster
These are heady days for Ip Man — not bad for a guy who died more than 40 years ago. Over the past several years, the celebrated kung fu teacher whose students included Bruce Lee has been in the midst of a sort of revival with his exploits having been fictionalized in a handful of…
Graham Colton — Lonely Ones
Lonely Ones doesn’t feel like a manufactured change, though, and Colton’s wise choice in marrying his intrinsic tendency toward soaring, ear-friendly melodies with some quirkier sonic sensibilities — owed to a push from friend Wayne Coyne — is nothing if not natural. This sounds like where Graham was meant to be all along. The opening…
Heavy mettle
Mississippi metal band Cathercist takes its music — but little else — seriously. The grueling path of an upstart, touring hard-rock band is taxing to be sure, with sweaty dudes packed into cramped vans and scraping by from city to city with just enough cash to put gas in the tank. But the five-piece has…
OKG7 Eat: Snack to the future
Classic 50’s Drive-In 1521 W. Lindsey St., Norman 321-2271 Looking like the type of Friday night hangout where greasers and bobbysoxers would mingle together over burgers and malts before a switchblade-laden rumble, Classic 50s Drive-In is a tried-and-true Norman institution. The classic long coney with cheese ($3.19) is a treat, as is their selection of…
Who’s That?
When you see a guy standing alone onstage, next to a pair of connected steel pipes and wearing a top hat, you might be a bit taken aback. Mike Silverman — the one-man act called That 1 Guy — is completely aware of how he looks. “Where did that thing come from?” he asked, characterizing…
Happenings the week of Jan. 28, 2014
FOOD Food Service Operator’s Certification, meets requirements for food service (manager certification) approved by the Oklahoma State Health Department, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Jan. 29-30. Francis Tuttle Technology Center-Rockwell Campus, 12777 N. Rockwell Ave., 717-4900, francistuttle.edu. WED–THU Chef Knife Skills, learn San Francisco-style chopping skills and sharpen your knife to a razor’s edge, 6:30- 9:30 p.m.,…
Traffic pattern
Photo: Shannon Cornman For those winging their way into the Wiley Post Airport, there’s a little diner called Annie Okie’s Runway Cafe, 5915 Phillip J. Rhoads Ave. If you’ve landed for a brief refueling on your way to the next little airport, it’s an easy place to stop and grab a bite before your next…
Hello, neighbor
Photo: Randi Radcliff Pop-rock juggernaut 3 Doors Down is coming to Oklahoma with an acoustic interpretation of its live show. The band will be playing a variety of its catalog ranging from its numerous No. 1 hits to some songs never played on stage until this tour. Feb. 1, the group will bring its Songs…
House party
The restaurant has an elegant exterior with imported SWISSPEARL siding. Curved glass windows provide a 180-degree view of the gardens and its exterior wooden deck. Owned by Peter and Sheree Holloway, the upscale eatery’s sleek, circular interior draws diners’ eyes toward a large wooden disk in the center of the ceiling. Well-known for its other…
LETTERS
This contraception, if taken within 72 hours after unprotected sex, will most likely prevent pregnancy but will not terminate an existing pregnancy. However, getting an appointment with a doctor for a prescription could cause unacceptable delays. Equally bad, a female age 17 and older must prove her age with identification that she may or may…
Let them eat king cake
Parishioner Jenifer Cameron, a New Orleans native, started baking king cakes at the church three years ago as a form of rehabilitation therapy after having seizures in 2009 and subsequent brain surgery, Rev. Jeannie Himes said. The seizures caused Cameron to lose some of her long- and short-term memory, but her intact baking skills are…
No Russ, no problem
After going 5-5 in the first 10 games since Westbrook went out on Dec. 27, the Thunder have racked up several quality wins against playoff contenders. Oklahoma City plays at two-time defending NBA champion Miami tonight at 6 p.m. CST, and then the Thunder travel to New York to face the Brooklyn Nets on Friday…
Learning by doing
Sarah Chang, one of the world’s greatest violinists, returns to OKC to perform with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic as part of a night of darkly romantic music including Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2 and Max Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1. She debuted with the New York Philharmonic at age 8, which led to a successful…
It’s about gun rights for everyone
No word yet on whether laser-gun noises are similarly protected. Apparently, Kern wants to bring some “common sense” to the school administrations in Oklahoma. You see, little Timmy (not his real name) got in lots of trouble for eating a Pop-Tart so what was left of it resembled a gun and then waving it at…
We’re no. 51!
The Great Place to Work Institute scored companies based on employee survey responses, in which employees rated trust in management, workplace pride and camaraderie and job satisfaction. The institute also added that the 100 companies promote the best applied management practices. In Chesapeake’s case, it mostly just practices laying people off. “This recognition is a…
Okie set to replace Paul Walker role
While Walker was filming Fast & Furious 7 at the time of his death, he also was slated to star in two additional movies: Agent 47 and The Best of Me. The latter is based on a Nicholas Sparks romance novel. So who will replace Walker as the film’s lead? None other than Stillwater native…
Sarge in charge
Two of his opponents — Mayor Mick Cornett and Ward 2 Councilman Ed Shadid — have more financial backing, and Nelson isn’t betting on himself to win the March 4 primary election. “I know it’s far from happening, but I do have people who take me seriously, even if the people on the council don’t,”…
LIFE
The University of Central Oklahoma’s Department of Design will present the projects of 14 interior design students in the exhibit Premises: Undergraduate Thesis Projects in Interior Design. The projects include a learning center for autistic children and their parents and a sustainable home for a family of four. Premises opens Thursday with a reception from…
James lankford liberal?
After announcing his bid for Tom Coburn’s soon-to-be vacant senate seat, local Tea Partiers (not to be confused with “partiers”) launched an all-out assault on the fiery, redheaded Republican U.S. Representative of Oklahoma’s 5th District. Apparently, gutting SNAP food stamp benefits, blaming gun violence on “welfare moms” and believing it should be legal to fire…
The biggest loser
Last year, Mayor Mick Cornett was invited to participate in TED, a global conference movement that has been rapidly gaining interest in the past couple years or so. Seriously, everyone from Wayne Coyne’s quirky friend Amanda Palmer to our mayor have participated, talking about everything from The Art of Asking to how to get an…
Art funding cuts proposed
House Bill 2850 is a measure to cut public funding for the Oklahoma Arts Council on what is phrased an “emergency basis.” The bill lays out a plan to defund the OAC and is cued for consideration when the Oklahoma Legislature convenes Feb. 3. Bill author Rep. Dan Fisher proposes that OAC funding be cut…
In session
Payback?Political payback is the primary reason state lawmakers have introduced bills that “attack the independence” of the Oklahoma judiciary, a state court administrator said. Proposed measures would eliminate approved raises for state judges and justices and change the way judicial officers are elected. Specifically, a proposal by Sen. Brian Crain (R-Tulsa) would require a judicial…
We’re no. 10!
Oklahoma is No. 10, rounding out the top offender list with a high school graduation rate of 73.9 percent, shows a study from 247WallSt.com. Per-student expenditure is the eighth lowest in the nation at $9,075. Our overall score was a 64.2, a D. The silver lining here is that somehow, we also scored an A…
Ruff stuff
Charley has been helping kids who struggle with their reading skills gain confidence by providing a willing, uncritical audience. Charley is a 7-year-old AKC Certified therapy dog who, along with her person, Jerry Nickell, visits The Village Library to participate in Children Reading to Dogs, a weekly program at several Metropolitan Library System branches. A…
In session
Dozens of laws are proposed for this year’s state Legislature, including changes for judges, divorces, marijuana legalization, militias and more. BY TIM FARLEY As the Oklahoma Legislature convenes on Feb. 3, hundreds of bills are stacked and ready for its consideration. From legalizing marijuana to changing how divorces are considered, some may have more impact…
Take Shelter Oklahoma wants Governor to release files
Take Shelter Oklahoma, led by Oklahoma City attorney David Slane, wants all communications between the governor’s office, the State Chamber of Commerce, lawmakers and Attorney General Scott Pruitt in connection with a public school storm shelter drive and the state’s franchise tax. The deadline for receiving the communications is Friday. “The governor has a practice…
OKC mayor to appear on State of the Union PBS special
Co-anchors Judy Woodruff and Gwen Ifill will host live political analysis from Mark Shields and David Brooks as Obama addresses a joint session of congress and the Republican response from Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers. Show analysts include syndicated columnist Shields and New York Times columnist Brooks with panelists Cornett; Scott Smith (R), Mesa, Ariz.; Marilyn…
Mayor race filing starts Wednesday
OKC Mayor Mick Cornett announced his bid for a fourth term several months ago. In addition, Ward 2 Councilman Ed Shadid kicked off his mayoral campaign in September. Other potential candidates include retired businessman Joe Nelson and Phil Hughes. The mayor’s primary election is scheduled for Tuesday, March 4. A general election, if needed, will…
Sarge in charge?
Fully aware that his two mayoral opponents — Mayor Mick Cornett and Ward 2 Councilman Ed Shadid — have more financial backing, Nelson isn’t betting on himself to win the March 4 mayor’s election. “I know it’s far from happening, but I do have people who take me seriously, even if the people on the…
Food Network headed to local eatery
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; First, the Food Network’s Restaurant Impossible show will tape an episode Jan. 28-29 at the venue, 322 NE Second St. Show host, chef Robert Irvine, is tasked with helping save America’s most desperate restaurants from impending failure in two days with $10,000. Irvine is seeking volunteers to help with painting, crafting,…
