The Amityville Horror Trilogy
Based on a supposedly true story, 1979’s The Amityville Horror pits newlyweds George and Kathleen Lutz (James Brolin and Margot Kidder, respectively) against a Long Island lakeside home that’s one mean sonofabitch. No sooner have they moved in with their towheaded tots when strange things start to happen: voices at night, a roomful of flies,…
House of Wax
I also recall loving the movie, which continues to this day, especially its famous scene of the paddle ball seemingly bursting through the screen and toward our faces. It’s a superb effect lost on previous home-video releases; absent of another theatrical re-release, Warner Bros.’ new Blu-ray of House of Wax is as close as you’re…
Europa Report
Among the six-member crew are a few recognizable faces who nonetheless disappear into their roles, including Elysium villain Sharlto Copley and Dragon Tattoo trilogy star Michael Nyqvist. Unfortunately, as with the case of so many found-footage films, there’s not much of a story here. It’s all build-up to a final image that leaves audiences asking,…
In the House
High school literature teacher Germain (Fabrice Luchini, Ozon’s Potiche) is fed up with the student body at large, but impressed with the quality of writing by 16-year-old Claude (Ernst Umhauer, The Monk). For an early assignment, the student turns in a rather voyeuristic, true story about visiting the home of his awkward classmate, Rapha (newcomer…
The Kings of Summer
Socially awkward and undersized classmate Biaggio (Moises Arias, TV’s Hannah Montana) comes along just for something to do, but the machete he brings along sure does come in handy. Although he indulges in shots of super-slow-motion too often, director Jordan Vogt-Roberts (TV’s Funny or Die Presents …) ably recaptures that feeling of when summer…
Behind the Candelabra
It’s a role I never would’ve expected him to play, either — at least not the Douglas who defined the American Man of the 1980s and early 1990s: the triumphant philanderer of Fatal Attraction, the greedy banker of Wall Street, the onscreen sex addict of Basic Instinct, the real-life sex addict. The dude definitely had…
Redemption
The film is more crime drama than crime action, but relax: The Stath still gets to kick ass aplenty. He’s Joey, a former Special Forces soldier on the lam from a court martial. Homeless and haunted by the demons of Afghanistan, he becomes a muscle for Chinese mob and finds himself strangely attracted to a…
Move over, Malee
The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Gardens celebrates the arrival of its newest family member, a baby girl giraffe. The little-ish bundle of joy already stands six feet tall and, according to the press release from the Zoo, is “full of energy, personality and spunk.” Pending weather, the baby girl can be seen during the…
United States of shame report
The report rounds up each state’s No. 1s, from highest porn subscription rates (Utah) to highest corporate tax rate (New Hampshire) and even dumbest state (Maine, based on SAT scores). How are our neighbors, you ask? Arkansas had the lowest average credit score with 636. Texas had the lowest high school graduation rate at 78.3…
LETTERS
“Tinker toys” they say “grain elevator, cotton gin.” and I say yes Art in imitation of the functional The compartmentalized sphered cube holistic three-dimensional sculpture holding sculpture. Let’s say a tribute to the workplace of the farmers hip deep in their work using sheet and cast metal enhancements and to construction workers birthing steel-boned concrete…
Chesapeake admits it has ‘too many people’
“We have way too many members of management, we have too many layers of management and too narrow spans of control,” Dunham told The Daily Oklahoman. An internal review is expected finished by Nov. 1. However, rumors have been circulating for weeks. The Lost Ogle website published a leaked internal Chesapeake email on Sept. 17…
Shut ’em down?
Two Oklahoma Republicans — Rep. James Lankford and Rep. Tom Cole — distributed press statements condemning the national health care program while also claiming to keep the government operational through Dec. 15. Some Republicans have said they’re willing to shut down the government if they can defeat Obamacare. Lankford claims he’s “proud” to join his…
Banned, but not in Oklahoma
The novel is told from the perspective of an African American man who opens the story by explaining that he is invisible “simply because people refuse to see [him].” It also contains commentary on social, intellectual and identity issues of African Americans in the twentieth century and explores contrasts in regional racism. It won the…
Happenings the week of Oct. 1, 2013
2013 Student ADDY Winners Exhibit, showcasing thework of 38 UCO students whose work earned a total of 92 ADDY awards. University of Central Oklahoma, Donna Nigh Exhibit Hall, 100 N. University Dr., Edmond, uco.edu A Fresh Take: William S. and Ann Atherton Art of the American West Gallery, showcasing the Museum’s permanent art collection in…
‘No tolerance’ doesn’t teach
In 1999, the committee was shocked to learn that the OKCPS only had 485 alternative school slots for students with behavioral or attendance problems, health conditions, pregnancy or parenting challenges or who were institutionalized. According to the state’s Needs Assessment, the OKCPS needed another 1,205 slots. We also knew that punitive policies, such as “zero…
LIFE DVD REVIEWS
V/H/S/2 (2013) If you liked V/H/S, just press play on V/H/S/2; if you didn’t, don’t even start. With one fewer segment than the original, this second stack of lo-fi tales of taped terror opens with no credits — just the wraparound story of two private investigators whose gig takes them to a house, where in…
Still fighting
David Green The crafts retailer has until Oct. 21 to file a response to a 251-page appeal filed by U.S. Solicitor General Donald B. Verrilli and other government attorneys who want the high court to hear more about why the chain should or should not include contraceptives in its required healthcare coverage to employees. Hobby…
Railing cry
Photo by Mark Hancock A debate on the project’s route was filled with emotionally charged and often contentious remarks by citizens, community volunteers and elected officials. Almost two dozen citizens spoke against and in favor of the proposal during a 2-plus-hour discussion of the most controversial MAPS 3 project. After the public comments ended, Mayor…
Nowhere to hide
State Rep. Joe Dorman (D-Rush Springs) said the statewide figure demonstrates a greater problem because more than half a million students and teachers are without adequate protection from tornadoes. “It’s shocking how many school districts are without shelters,” he said at a meeting last week, highlighting a report released the week of Sept. 23. “I…
Health kick
Grant funds will create the Oklahoma Shared Clinical and Translational Resources program, which develops partnerships between the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF), Native American tribes and physicians across the state. “This gives us access to people and data immediately,” said Courtney Montgomery, Ph.D, an associate member of the…
Pedal power
Sandwich at Pelotón BY: Shannon Cornman To say that it’s cozy is an understatement, but Steve and Leslie Schlegel know about maximizing space. They did, after all, manage to build the thriving bicycle business out of a tiny, four-employee shop at Southwest 59th Street and Western Avenue into the two-location shop on Automobile Alley that…
Hungry? Get in line
At least that’s the perception a lot of folks are getting since House members voted to slice $40 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Commonly known as food stamps, the SNAP decision by the GOP-controlled House would cause 3.8 million people to lose benefits while another 850,000 people would have their assistance reduced.…
Fall fête
Earl’s Rib plate BY: Shannon Cornman There are fancy pins of perfect tablescapes and recipes on Pinterest boards. However, where to start and how to actually pull off a fabulous dinner party is another thing entirely. Thankfully, better than any app or site, the metro is flush with experts and retailers at the ready to…
NEWS OF THE WEIRD
Unclear on the concept In August, the Mother Nature Network website showcased an array of camping gear seemingly designed for the daintiest of those ostensibly “roughing” it. The Blofield outdoor couch inflates in minutes to produce a facsimile of a Las Vegas lounge sofa. The Rolla Roaster’s 42-inch-long steel fork assures elegance (and evenness) in…
Happenings the week of Oct. 1, 2013
FOOD Mid-Week Market, fresh, delectable local fruits, vegetables and other goods, 4-8 p.m., Oct. 2, 9. Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno, 445-7080, myriadgardens.org. WED, WED Paint N’ Cheers, creative social art classes, 6:30 p.m., Oct. 2-5; 2 p.m., Oct. 6; 6:30 p.m., Oct.9. Paint N Cheers, 1614 N. Gatewood, 524-4155, paintncheers.com. WED–SUN, WED Pinot’s…
OKG7 scholarly stops
Padthai119 W. Boyd St., Normanpadthainorman.com360-5551 Are you running around campus in Norman and only have time for a quick meal? This restaurant should be at the top of your list. It’s a casual Thai house that consistently serves up tasty food. Try the red curry chicken, spicy basil noodles and, of course, the authentic-style pad…
S E E
Ryan Bowling at Black Optical BY: Mark Hancock In a season jam-packed with the excitement of heavier fabrics, scarves, boots and tights, don’t forget to extend that expression of style to your face. According to Ryan Bowling of Black Optical (5820 N. Classen Blvd.; 879-6776), browline frames are back for fall and spring. “Browline frames”…
Fancy farmin’
Samantha Lamb milks one of her cows. BY: Shannon Cornman Tall, sun-dried grass sweeps the broad borders of the old, abandoned barn, weaves in and out of the wooden stables and encircles the surface of a moss-topped pond. No livestock or domestic friends inhabit the space yet, which is a change of pace from Lamb’s…
Huff and puff
Owner Sammy Khader smokes hookah at Hubbly Bubbly. BY: Mark Hancock His fond and authentic memories were dampened when he was of age to hang out in the American versions of the popular smoking bars. “Since I’ve been smoking for so long, when I hit 18, I was looking for a place to smoke hookah…
Carmina Burana-rama
Chad Mount In Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, Oklahoma City will witness projection mapping, an emerging technological art form that turns objects, often irregularly shaped, into a surface for video projection. For the first time in the metro, local artist Chad Mount presents his visual art form in conjunction with a live Canterbury Chorale Society performance.…
Seattle’s best
The Seattle-based band Pickwick has played some of the biggest venues in its hometown of Seattle — including opening day for the local professional baseball team, the Mariners — but they’ve never played a museum. It was an unexpected shock to frontman Galen Disston when the band was booked to play the Fred Jones Jr.…
Go Limp
“We wanted to make a band that was so over the top and ridiculous and over-confident that no one could possibly take us seriously. So we had to throw an ode to Limp Bizkit,” singer Taylor Young said. “There’s nothing more punk rock than misspelling a word like Bizkit or Wizurdz and talking about skinning…
CONCERTS
Ill Nino, The Chameleon Room. Oct. 2 chris tomlin, Chesapeake Energy Arena. Oct. 3 Jimmy Eat World, Diamond Ballroom. Oct. 3 the Lumineers/Dr. Dog/Nathaniel Radcliff, OKC Downtown Airpark. Oct. 3 Blake Shelton, BOK Center, Tulsa. Oct. 4 Martina McBride, Lucky Star Casino, Concho. Oct. 4 D’Angelo, WinStar World Casino, Thackerville. Oct. 4 Vampire Weekend, Brady…
Take shelter
It takes a private studio to keep up with Dr. Dog’s output, and heading into album eight, the Philadelphia folk outfit had officially outgrown its kennel and built a new one, basically from scratch. “We had been at our old place for seven or eight years, and it was getting kind of stale and kind…
CONCERTS
Ill Nino, The Chameleon Room. Oct. 2 chris tomlin, Chesapeake Energy Arena. Oct. 3 Jimmy Eat World, Diamond Ballroom. Oct. 3 the Lumineers/Dr. Dog/Nathaniel Radcliff, OKC Downtown Airpark. Oct. 3 Blake Shelton, BOK Center, Tulsa. Oct. 4 Martina McBride, Lucky Star Casino, Concho. Oct. 4 D’Angelo, WinStar World Casino, Thackerville. Oct. 4 Vampire Weekend, Brady…
I love this par
For the past few years, she has become a golf enthusiast, combining her passion for the sport with her need to help children with cancer by creating the Schooner Fall Classic, a women’s collegiate golf tournament with a purpose. “One of Tricia’s goals is to help support women’s golf,” said Juliet Nees-Bright, executive director of…
Humming along
You would think that following the huge, surprising success of Silver Lake indie rock outfit Local Natives’ 2010 debut album Gorilla Manor, the four-piece would be riding high into its sophomore album. But the passing of Kelcey Ayer’s mother and the severed relationship with former bassist Andy Hamm had the band feeling quite the opposite.…
Kickin’ it
It was an eye-opening experience. “After you saw all these athletic facilities and the shape that a lot of these fields were in, it was just very bothersome, knowing that it was happening in our city.” McLaughlin spoke with Keith Sinor, the athletic director for the Oklahoma City Public Schools, who was on that trip.…
You get Mom, I’ll take Dad
BY DEAN ROBBINS Multi-camera, laugh-track sitcoms have been in decline, but The Millers is one that works (7:30 p.m. Thursday, CBS). Nate (Will Arnett) and Debbie (Jayma Mays) have always kept their distance from their insufferable parents (Beau Bridges, Margo Martindale), but that becomes impossible when Mom and Dad break up. She moves in with…
It’s the place to be
Shannon Hoffmann, GreenAcres Market president, said the purchase of the Health Food Center stores was negotiated with the company’s longtime health food store competitor Rene Shelton, who also sold the company her three Whole Foods Association stores in Wichita. The purchase of the stores should be complete by late October. “We’ve been healthy competitors with…
A ‘Spell’ on you
Godspell cast Oklahoma City Repertory Theatre opens its season with a production of the 1971 musical Godspell that has all the charm of a committee meeting in search of agenda. The show poses this ontological question: Why did God endow human beings with a mind if we’re not supposed to use it? The show, by…
Power Pyramid — The God Drums
The album’s searing, swirling guitar riffs lay pinned to defiant bass grooves and drum loops, moving from pretty, tempered aggression (opener “Diving Lessons,” “Holland”) to more edgy, snarling anthems (“Runner,” “Stop Your Pulse”). Early on, Power Pyramid establishes a formula that it refuses to deviate far from, but like Beach House smothered in cigarette smoke,…
From Lima, with love
Ceviche de Mixto BY: Mark Hancock Prosaic neighborhood aside, Mamaveca is on a very short list of restaurants in Oklahoma serving truly authentic Peruvian cuisine. No sign outside tips you off to that fact other than a lone wind-blown banner; all indications are it’s another Tex-Mex joint. Mamaveca is in a freestanding building that originally…
Seeing red
Broadway Wine Merchants BY: Mark Hancock It’s also a good time to pick up the last of this year’s crop of rosé before the shelves are empty until spring. Corsican wine — made on the Mediterranean island of Corsica — is not well-known in Oklahoma yet, and it’s pretty rare on wine lists, although Ludivine…
Federal grant helps fund disease research
Photo by Mark Hancock Grant funds will create the Oklahoma Shared Clinical and Translational Resources program, which creates partnerships between the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF), Native American tribes and physicians across the state. “This gives us access to people and data immediately,” said Courtney Montgomery, Ph.D, an…
