In his first starring role in a decade, the former governor of California plays Sheriff Ray Owens, the lovable law enforcer of Sommerton, Ariz., where nothing ever happens except a parade — that is, until the FBI starts to transfer Mexican cartel boss Cortez (the Benicio Del Toro-esque Eduardo Noriega of Blackthorn) from Las Vegas […]
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Hopper: A Journey into the American Dream — Tom Folsom
Folsom traces the life of Dennis Hopper through its four distinct phrases: Kansas farm boy, Method actor/James Dean worshipper, pharmaceutical madman, comeback kid. That he had a fourth at all continues to amaze me, especially after reading all the details. The kinder, gentler Hopper was hardly one to shy away from admitting his battles with […]
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Out with a Bang
Photo: Doug Schwarz Oklahoma City punk-rock outfit The Boom Bang is headed to the big glass house in the sky, exiting this world in a blaze of smoke bombs, cheap beer, broken glass and partial male nudity. Pizza cookers, firework vendors and local music fans alike mourn the loss of one of the greatest live […]
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Tiger would
Everyone in their mid-20s to 30s arguably carries a certain guilty pleasure for the pop-punk and pre-guyliner emo tunes of the likes of Taking Back Sunday, Brand New and Blink-182. Oklahoma City’s own Tiger Lily is more upfront about its appreciation. Luckily, a new generation of bands, including The Wonder Years and The Story So […]
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Supernatural Activity
The gist is that for its season/series finale, one of those ridiculous ghost-hunting shows goes to Hicksville, Texas, in search of the “yeti-demon” known as Smallsquatch. To give you an immediate idea of the level of humor the flick operates, the creature tickles its victims to death. Ha-ha! I mean, ha-ha? This flimsy setup allows […]
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Local heroes
Vince Gill, who was born in Norman and grew up in Oklahoma City, has already taken home a record 20 Grammys. He has now been nominated for induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. The impressive roster of Gill’s fellow nominees includes Elvis Costello, B.B. King and Ray Davies of The Kinks. Anthony Shadid, originally […]
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Stage fright
The structure, just west of Myriad Botanical Gardens, is facing the real possibility of becoming intimate with a wrecking ball, as the building’s owner, the Oklahoma City Community Foundation, is trying to sell it. The building, which arguably resembles something created with giant Tinkertoy pieces, was constructed in 1969 by John Johansen. It long served […]
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That’s a lot of people zooing it
The new record, despite those triple-digit temps, is 989,622. (For those not into math, that’s a full 6,901 more.) According to the city institution, it helped that its first baby elephant, Malee, celebrated her first birthday this past spring, not to mention the arrival of the male Asian elephant named Rex. Perhaps we can rally […]
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That would be bad, however, because Marvel has saved the best for last. It’s miles better than that Norse god with the magic hammer, and just a hair below the greatness of Robert Downey Jr.’s first go-round in his iron armor, both of whom will team with Cap in next summer’s guaranteed nerdgasm, “The Avengers.” […]
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The Unthanks — Last
No better synopsis exists, as this sparse folk disc deals almost exclusively in exquisite misery. It’s a downtrodden affair, but it’s oh-so-gorgeous while being gray. Rachel and Becky Unthank (their real name!) are the driving force behind the band, as their pristine, incredibly British vocals dominate the proceedings. Their lovely accents are a boon for […]