Category: Arts & Culture

“The Recruit” is a non-event movie that offers nothing new to the spy genre. The filmmakers may think they have a clever plot on their hands, but it is nothing but a re-read of “The Spy Who Came in From the Cold,” “Three Days of the Condor” and the recent “Spy Game” molded together to form movie mush. A major theme of this film is deception, but it can’t even deceive us into believing this is a good movie.

In the early 90s the world was introduced to a band that fed into young people’s desire to wear homemade clothes, eat burritos, sell jewelry, hacky sack, and most importantly, do a lot of drugs and dance wildly around to music that seemed to have no end. The band that brought us to this crazy state: Phish.

USMARTASS. Don’t be offended by the logo for the new name of the student group, the Art Student Society (ASS). Look closely and you’ll find multiple acronyms present, all relevant to the subject.

It’s the first big show of the Theatre Department’s season and where have all the theatre majors gone? The American College Theater Festival has seduced them to travel to Keene State in New Hampshire to participate in a weekend of competition. The festival is a contributing factor in the Theatre Department’s decision to do a staged reading as opposed to a full production of Arthur Miller’s “A View from the Bridge.”

This week Pinkie meets Mr. Cruise for a night on the town and maybe a little dancing to “Old Time Rock and Roll” (“Risky Business”)

Rob Marshall’s “Chicago” is a hot sexy blistering wow of a movie. This musical fuels itself with all that Broadway should be and blasts off directly into the moviegoer’s senses. It’s great songs, amazing choreography and sharp filmmaking attack the viewer from all angles and never lets up.

In 1993 radio stations filled the airways with Beck’s eccentric and catchy tune, “Loser.” The cynical and self-loathing lyrics (“I’m a loser baby / So why don’t you kill me”) had us all singing along and making fun of our own idiosyncrasies. Along with “Loser,” songs like “Beercan,” “Pay No Mind,” and “Soul Sucking Jerk” created a strange but catchy and well-rounded album titled “Mellow Gold.”

How often do you question your beliefs? There was a time not long ago when white men dressed up in black face to entertain the merry masses and sheet music covers displayed oppressive stereotypes of black culture. Black face is a tradition in which travelling minstrel performers painted their face with coal in the early 20th century. This practice, not exclusive to white men, was an unquestioned element in society.

Disco tunes blast as Mick opens the door to Granny’s Burritos on 420 Fore St. We are no longer in 2003, dressed casually in jeans and sweaters, but 1973. Mick is wearing a cream leisure suit with a cherry red polyester shirt. He holds the door for me and says, “Come on in, little lady.

First of all, let’s get the nose out of the way. Is it possible for a piece of prosthetic to improve someone’s acting? Not that Nicole Kidman is a bad actress. In fact she is very good, but in “The Hours” Kidman completely emerges herself into Virginia Woolf and it’s difficult to judge how much the nose helps. Either way, it is a fantastic performance by both.

If you thought The Roots couldn’t get any better, then you haven’t heard their latest studio album, “Phrenology.” The Roots go above and beyond the expectations of their fans to create another great musical experience for their listening audience.

What’s a band to do once they’ve conquered Portland? Local groove band Sly Chi sets its sights on overcoming all of New England. Sly Chi, described by friend and sound man Dave Butler as a “smooth moving aura,” is working on moving into the touring circuit.

I was nervous, worried about interviewing nine people. A whole band (literally) of strangers and just me–that’s intimidating. Trying to block out the negative thoughts threatening to overwhelm me with anxiety, I reassured myself: “They’re only people, that’s all–just like me–mostly college students, nothing to worry about.” Still though, when I arrived to meet Sly Chi, there was a pit of anxiety brewing within and I was wrestling it for control.

The semester begins, leaving Mick and me with opposite schedules. However, we shuffle plans to meet for an early lunch. Mick and I dart into Latte Caf? and Bistro on 486 Congress St.

“Adaptation” is one of the most original motion pictures in history. It is not a film that merely reshapes the art form but attacks it with sharp barbs and hilarious insights while it does so. The whole movie spins brilliant circles that intertwine to create a new cohesive film structure.

Although her time allotted to her art is limited, Yankura said, “Teaching is one of the best things that ever happened to me for my work.” Yankura thrives on her role as an instructor and said she has learned a lot in her time teaching. ” I love to be with people who get really excited [about art],” Yankura said. Her current position is somewhat of a dream job. St. Luke’s is a day school for accelerated students, so Yankura’s students are enthusiastic, talented, and motivated.

Director Peter Jackson’s “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” is the type of successor we all hope for when we go to sequels. Moviegoers have continually been duped into films with titles that include Roman numerals and words like “return,” “revenge” and “bride of” that we almost accept the diminished experience when the trailers begin. A good sequel is rare.

USM’s Music Department gears up for a successful semester despite the budget cuts threatening to cripple the University. Utilizing its own resources to strengthen its programs, the Music Department took measures to ensure that its students don’t suffer needlessly through the financial uncertainties the University is encountering.

I’m bundled up, ready to take on the bitter Portland afternoon wind. The sun shines blindly as I step out into a winter afternoon. My date Mick Jagger* greets me with a warm smile. We mosey down to our first lunch date of the new year. The brown snow and slush mixture squishes between my black leather boots and his white Adidas tennis shoes.

Come out, come out wherever you are! The drag queens and kings lit up the stage at Woodbury Campus Center last week. Only a few broken nails and broken earrings put a damper on the stage.

Imagine unabashedly baring the contents of your most personal inner workings to an audience of over 100 strangers: it is a scary contemplation for most. USM graduate Jennifer Bowdish thinks so too, but she’s ready to face the crowd and the criticisms that may come with it. Bowdish who graduated from USM seven years ago with a bachelors degree in theater is presently the center of attention in the theater department.

“Die Another Day” is a return to the pulpier side of Ian Fleming’s espionage world where evil geniuses hatch incredible plots of world domination from the comfort of their incredibly cool fortresses, where sinister henchmen wreak destruction and beautiful women are plentiful. This is a return to the Saturday matinee James Bond that seemed to have dwindled over the years, which is both good and bad.

In “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” the world’s favorite boy wizard is back fighting evil to the delight of moviegoers and readers everywhere.

The semester is winding down and while most students are avoiding extra tasks that may consume valuable time, one group of students is voluntarily readying themselves to entertain their peers and each other. Student Performing Artist’s or SPA, is hosting a cabaret during finals week.