The Stool Pigeon
In other words, whether you’re into HK cinema or not, temper your expectations. The storyline bears all the roots of a great Michael Mann script, rife with ethically compromised cops and their questionable informants, and the danger that awaits both sides of these shaky pig-and-snitch relationships as they go undercover. Here, director Dante Lam (“Vampire…
Supply demand
The idea for the project came from the CEO of Comtech Direct Mail Solutions. Michael Morrison saw a boy at his son’s school bringing his supplies in a pillowcase. Since then, Comtech has paired up with Panera Bread and other local organizations to consolidate their school supply drives. Morrison also was encouraged to create the…
M83 — Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming
And not just in indie. Released this week, Coldplay’s “Mylo Xyloto” (also see Florence + The Machine, Lady Gaga) is the group’s biggest, brightest, largest-swelling album yet, just as optimistic in tone as its lyrics are complimentary and superficial. Meanwhile, once the biggest, loudest, hardest chest-beaters of the indie-rock scene (just watch them playing “Wake…
Bunraku
With an unfortunate Burt Reynolds mustache, Josh Hartnett (“30 Days of Night”) plays a drifter — that’s literally his character’s name — who rolls into town, which looks like the Old West has been given a face-lift courtesy of “Moulin Rouge”’s Baz Luhrmann. His fists are supposedly as mean as his game of cards. Sporting more…
Dark Angel
Oh, well. At least it’s finally available on DVD, so I can ditch my VHS. (Google it, kids.) Any Dolph Lundgren fan worth his weight in protein powder knows how welcome the MGM Limited Edition Collection release is. In a fun, sci-fi-tinged take on the buddy-cop formula, Lundgren (“The Expendables”) is the tough but easygoing…
Girlie action
Since its inception in 2004, The Girlie Show has done nothing but gain momentum, so much so that the event spread across two days starting in 2006. Five years later, the show has become an establishment of the Oklahoma City art scene. This year, the two-day soiree commences 7 p.m. Friday at the Farmers Public…
Ben there, sung that
“I think a good song is just unflinchingly correct,” Ben Folds said, simultaneously answering a question about the lasting success of his solo debut album, “Rockin’ the Suburbs,” and explaining his method of songwriting, a strategy that’s sold more than 3 million records to date. “That doesn’t mean it’s a masterpiece — it’s just that…
From closet to community
A local, non-emergency transport service refused to take the 17-year-old Oklahoman to his hospital visits, insisting that medical officials first explain precisely how AIDS moved from person to person. After each hospital trip, they sterilized their van from top to bottom; medical technicians wore hazardous material suits to avoid touching him and used a telephone…
‘Rum’ punchless
Thompson was no exception among young writers; the novel was only a seedling of what would eventually bloom in merciless attacks on the American Dream in “Hell’s Angels” and the narcotized paranoia of “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.” Talk-show host Charlie Rose rightfully harangued the writer in 1999 for the late-career cash grab. Unfortunately,…
Lemma — Lemma
I say R.E.M. because of the little tinge of country that affects that band’s tunes (and subsequently Lemma’s), and the fact that singer Aaron Newman does a terrific Michael Stipe impression when he wants to. “Nothing Is Set” is a tribute to “The One I Love,” with Newman giving a dead ringer of a performance.…
Take Shelter
The indie drama is scheduled to open Friday at AMC Quail Springs Mall 24. Strangely, Curtis (Michael Shannon, TV’s “Boardwalk Empire”), a blue-collar worker in a small town in Ohio, is the only one who notices how different the drops are. That’s because it’s just a dream. Trouble is, his dreams have seeped over into…
Doggie style
What started as a collective of friends in Philadelphia fooling around with amateur recording techniques will roll its way into Tulsa’s historic Cain’s Ballroom on Monday night, with sunny, late-’60s/early ’70s AM radio sounds in tow. The band is Dr. Dog, which unabashedly records charming, harmonic rock ’n’ roll more than 40 years after the…
Tenn. man
Will Mann’s first trip to Civic Center Music Hall was disastrous. As a University of North Texas opera student in Denton, he heard “Rent” was being staged at the downtown Oklahoma City venue. Having never seen it, he bought a ticket, looked up directions and made the drive … only to end up somewhere other…
Dope heads
Local music lovers Clint McEwen and Rob Vera had long desired to turn their love of vinyl into a record label of their own. It took a half-naked man in a tattered bunny mask to make that dream a reality. McEwen saw an opening in punk musician Nobunny’s schedule last winter, and when the booking…
Rise of the machines
JBOT’s plan to replace his former bandmates with robots may have backfired when — according to his bio — the machines pulled off a full-scale mutiny and enslaved their former captain and creator. But, hey, it beats the hell out of playing with other people. “You ever been in a band? Try it sometime. You’ll…
Beneath the Owl
Having played Oklahoma twice in three short years of touring, electronic-pop musician Adam Young — operating as Owl City — already has formed fond memories of the Sooner State. “Some kid in blue sweatpants drew pictures of genitals all over the side of my bus in black Sharpie last time I was there,” he said.…
Afraid of the ‘Dark’?
Carpenter Square’s production of “Dark Matters” is a challenging play — both to stage and to process. Set in the Virginia mountains, the aptly titled work opens with milkman Michael Cleary distraught over the disappearance of his wife, Bridget, a school librarian obsessed with aliens and UFOs. Michael and his son, Jeremy, struggle through personal…
Dickensian delight
The Pollard Theatre continues its 25th season with the Tony-winning 1985 musical comedy “Drood: The Mystery of Edwin Drood.” Written by musician Rupert Holmes, “Drood” is inspired by Charles Dickens’ final, unfinished, novel. Its conceit is that the production is being mounted by the loony Victorian troupe Music Hall Royale, with all the actors impressively…
‘Wham,’ bam!
A vegetable oil-powered bus of visual artists, musicians and comedians is puttering toward Oklahoma at 50 miles per hour, tops. This french fry-scented chaos is a branch of the Baltimore-based Wham City Collective, currently in its sophomore cross-country tour. The Wham City Comedy Tour can’t be distilled to a single descriptor. The two-hour show includes…
‘Buried’ issues
Calling the Illinois farm family in Sam Shepard’s “Buried Child” dysfunctional would be the understatement of the year. Here’s how patriarch Dodge puts it: “You think just because people propagate they have to love their offspring? You never seen a bitch eat her puppies?” These are the type of people who play keep-away with a…
Go ‘Beneath the Surface’
Four Oklahoma artists are featured in a gallery exhibition in which they go “Beneath the Surface” of the theme of nature. Looking beyond the obvious, Individual Artists of Oklahoma Gallery visitors can see the artists’ deep feelings and spiritual journeys. The idea for the show was born in the wake of rejection from the Oklahoma…
Foot powered
A group of Oklahomans is holding the state’s first-ever bike summit in the hopes of making the Sooner state more bike-friendly. It currently ranks 46th nationwide. Coordinated by the Oklahoma Bike Coalition, the two-day conference is geared toward engineers, city planners and cycling advocates. Friday’s events costs $25 to $100, but all Saturday sessions are…
Good jeans
Maybe you got the short end of the stick when it comes to filling out your pants. If you feel this way, you’re not alone. The fix? The perfect pair of jeans. Let them cup and hug and lift you in all the right places. (Who needs a significant other with the promise of that,…
Still fancy
“Our long-term goal is to make Classen a beautiful boulevard that all of Oklahoma City can be proud of,” program manager Nicki Largent said. OKC Beautiful officially celebrated its anniversary with the Ruby Red Rendezvous dinner in August. The organization started in the 1960s as a beautification committee for the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, then…
Not-so-weird science
Chemistry has morphed from a boring class subject into a fun, interactive learning experience for kids, thanks to Science Museum Oklahoma’s Chemistry Day. Friday’s event is an annual one for the museum, and the first to be celebrated during the school year. “There will be activities going on all across the museum floor, based around…
Okie roots to California vines
In 1989, the couple moved to California and began looking at property in the Sonoma Valley. They chose a remote site on the Sonoma side of Spring Mountain and purchased 60 acres in 1991, not even sure what they would do with the property. To this day, it’s so remote, it can only be reached…
Smag 7: Round the world in 7 dishes
Humble Pie Pizza1319 S. Broadway, Edmond 715-1818 Authentic pizza from New York and Chicago, owners Matthew and Joyanne Heard take pride in their pies. Customers nod approvingly at its most popular pizza, the Greek Goddess. Just recently the Heards revised their hours to do away with weekday lunches and now serve dinner Tuesday-Thursday, 4-9 p.m.;…
Bite Size: 11-2-11
Show it off on Saturday at the Oklahoma Food Co-op Harvest Hootenanny. The event will take place from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Operations Center at 1300 S.W. 15th. There will be live music, a new website preview, food, fun and lots more. Performances will include Mike Hosty, a co-op talent show, dancing, singing,…
Dig in
Opened about a year and a half ago by owner Jose Garcia, the restaurant has been on the rise ever since. Cecilia Pasillas, a waitress at the restaurant, gave a couple of reasons for the restaurant’s success. “We think the food is fresh and very good,” she said. “You can come and taste everything fresh.”…
Out of alignment
(Kinda like Brett Favre coming out of retirement to start for the Minnesota Vikings again!) Well, West Virginia’s number was up last week in these higher-ed high jinks. First came an Oct. 25 report from The New York Times that Mountaineers were poised to depart the disintegrating Big East for the seemingly expanding Big 12…
Making local work
However, the days of processed and pesticide-riddled “food” could be on the way out the door if an outspoken and well-rooted advocate gets his way. Oklahoma native Matt Burch had a veggie epiphany back in 2008, and Urban Agrarian was born. He recognized the disconnect between local, sustainable farmers to the consumer. That realization and…
Banish the bully
Scott Hamilton, Cimarron Alliance executive director, said donations from Oklahomans have made it possible for all interested educators, administrators and school counselors to attend at no cost. “We want everyone who wants to attend to be here,” Hamilton (pictured) said. “We’re going to work together to learn how to work together in a school setting…
The eye of the spider
Although they are creepy and pesky, mainly they’re pretty harmless. In fact, they can be beautiful. Give the critters a chance! That’s what Oklahoma native Thomas Shahan did. He grew up observing arachnids with his grandmother, and now Shahan has developed a keen eye for the oft-feared, eight-legged creatures. When an interest in cameras collided…
Questionable commemoration
The state Department of Transportation developed a series of 25 postcards featuring photos of important events or projects the department has been involved in, such as a barge navigating the Arkansas River; the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Turner Turnpike; Wiley Post standing in front of his airplane; and the Interstate 40 bridge collapse near Webbers…
Delayed reaction
The policy amendment, which was introduced by Ward 2 Councilman Ed Shadid, would provide protections for city employees who have faced discrimination because of their sexuality — an issue that has failed to win support at the federal and state levels. The council appeared divided on the issue when it came up for discussion. “There…
Rally in the Hills
In the back corner of Nichols Hills Drug, a man with gray hair and glasses worked to fill prescriptions, removed but aware and thankful for the flood of customers that had filled his store on a Saturday afternoon. “I just appreciate everyone coming out and showing up,” owner J. Black said from across the pharmacy…
Wild about ‘Hogs’
I’m appalled by the numbers from the Gaillardia addition. As the owner of a home with a small in-ground pool (11,000 gallons), I found that the largest user dumped the equivalent of an entire pool once every 30 hours for a year. Must be good to be rich. —Carl O. Owen III MooreOklahoma Gazette provides…
Upon further review
And while I am the director of the current Ghostlight show, I’m perfectly fine with the fact that Larry Laneer didn’t like “The Man from Earth” (Performing Arts, “Earth to ‘Earth,’” Oct. 26, Gazette). I’ve done theater long enough to not get riled by one person’s negative opinion of my work. However I do get…
Misspending money
I attended the Keystone XL pipeline public comment meeting on Oct. 1 at the Reed Center in Midwest City. The long-term consequences of the pipeline produce another risk that I have not seen addressed. The investment money to build the pipeline would be better spent developing renewable energy sources. Money removed from developing renewable energy,…
Counterpoint: Bad tax model
But is eliminating the income tax here really the panacea some state leaders think it is, and can Oklahoma really emulate Texas, which is often cited as a tax model? No. On the surface, the proposal seems tempting. Most people don’t like paycheck taxes, state or otherwise, even though they enjoy and often take for…
Spur of the moment
The rail line, extending east of Santa Fe Station, which is slated to be the city’s future intermodal transportation hub, to the east bank of the Oklahoma River, is under a 30-year lease-to-own agreement between the rail company and the state’s transportation department. The state originally acquired the line from the now-defunct Rock Island and…
Point: Creating a boomtown in OKC
One strategic move that would create an economic boom in the metro would be for Oklahoma to phase out the state personal income tax. Can you imagine the boom that would happen throughout the OKC metro area if this happened? Places like the vibrant and growing Paseo Arts District and all of its entrepreneurs would…
The Cannonball Run
Now, decades later, the huge, huge box-office hit has hit Blu-ray — Blu-ray! — and although I hadn’t seen the action-comedy since junior high, it’s remarkable how much I remembered about it:• every line and note of Ray Stevens’ cornball theme song;• Burt Reynolds’ mugging at the fourth wall;• DeLuise’s Captain Chaos superhero garb; •…
Justice — Audio, Video, Disco
Well, the bigger they are, the harder they fall. While injecting prog-rock instrumentation into electronic dance music (Justice specializes in house) isn’t entirely novel, it’s definitely better when Kanye West cuts it, screws it, then raps over it, as he did on last year’s “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.” Incorporating prog meant that “AVD” had…
Ben Folds — The Best Imitation of Myself: A Retrospective
Those, of course, are his songwriting and piano playing (dude’s never been much of a singer, but to his credit, his voice has never seemed to hinder listeners from engaging with his music), which established Folds as the premiere balladeer for both Generation X and Y. He’s got plenty of other sensibilities, including a penchant…
Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer / Monte Carlo / Rio
First, “Judy Moody.” All Judy wanted was to have the best summer ever. She had it all planned out on a chart for her and her friends to do together. Ending up two of her friends had other summer plans and wouldn’t be there for the summer. She begged her mom to let her go…
Night School
Remembered all these years for introducing us to Aussie actress Rachel Ward (“Against All Odds”), the horror film is finally available on DVD, courtesy of Warner Archive. She’s one of many pretty people in danger of losing her head at the titular institution — not figuratively due to a punishing course load, but literally due…
Fringe: The Complete Third Season / Supernatural: The Complete Sixth Season / Nikita: The Complete First Season
And neither “Fringe,” “Supernatural” nor “Nikita” are household hits, despite being enjoyable TV. Perhaps Blu-ray and DVD releases of their last seasons will boost viewership in the new seasons. In the case of “Fringe,” being allowed to operate under-the-radar, as it were, has been to its creative benefit, altering and manipulating its own DNA, experimenting…
Women’s workshop to address political, community leadership
The “Pipeline to Politics” training will be Saturday at the Embassy Suites in Norman. A session for women interested in tribal politics will start at 10:30 a.m., while lunch and other sessions will begin at 11:30 a.m. The day’s sessions end at 5:30 p.m. This is the third year for the conference, which is devoted…
Moyers: 1 percent exemplifies nation’s greediness
Although his career has included stints at PBS, CBS and NBC, journalist Bill Moyers barely mentioned his industry in his “Truth of Your Life” speech Wednesday at Oklahoma City University. Instead, the Oklahoma native spoke about the state of America and how the lack of good in politics could lead to the country’s demise. Moyers,…
Occupy OKC gets soggy
Last night and this morning brought chilling rains, but the inclement weather wasn’t enough to drive the Occupy OKC movement out of Kerr Park, where protesters have been camped out since Oct. 11. “Rain’s not gonna stop us,” said protester Mike So. “We’re still gonna do what we’re here to do.” So, a Utah native,…
The Basement: Camp Retro ’80s Collection
Grisly photos, garish coloring — they called out to me like forbidden fruit. Camp Motion Pictures’ five-film set, “The Basement: Retro 80s Horror Collection,” celebrates those best of times, rounding up four flicks from the 1980s whose giant cases you may have held in your hands as your eyes snuck peeks at the pictures. The…
Creativity abounds at Nov. 1 forum in Norman
If so, don’t tell the people of Creative Oklahoma, which will be holding its inaugural Oklahoma Creativity Forum from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 1, at the Embassy Suites Conference Center in Norman. The event, which is held to inspire and encourage creativity in all walks of life, sprang from last year’s…
The Phantom of the Opera
Chaney’s name is forever associated with “Phantom,” and for good reason: It’s one of the great performances in silent films. When you’re unable to speak to your audience, your language is physical, and while so many other actors emoted with overly raised hands — something still seen on the stage today — Chaney relied on…
