“Can you count, suckers?” “Can…you…DIG IT?!!!” “Come out and play-ee-ay!” Even if you haven’t seen the 1979 cult classic The Warriors or played the Rockstar videogame version, you’ve at least heard rehashes of its more quotable lines or seen any of countless tributes or parodies, from hip-hop references (Ol’ Dirty…
The story behind One-Eyed Jacks is nearly as compelling as the actual film, and for a betrayal-and-revenge Western, that’s saying something. The 1961 movie is the lone directorial effort of star Marlon Brando, who either fired Stanley Kubrick or took over after Kubrick quit to make Lolita, take your pick…
Fender benders: We’ve all had them. One time I spotted a choice parking spot and threw my car into reverse, only to slam directly into a Volvo that had been patiently waiting behind me to grab the same space. We each got out of our respective vehicles, surveyed the damage,…
After completing his first suspenseful work of fiction, Chiefs, in 1981 (it was begun in 1973, but a foray into sailing interrupted his initial writing career), Stuart Woods received the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best First Novel. It may have taken him a while, but it sounds like it…
As lead singer for essential ’80s band Wall of Voodoo, Stan Ridgway carved a unique vocal groove into the pop consciousness. Often dismissed as one-hit wonders for their song “Mexican Radio,” Wall of Voodoo was a surprisingly original band. Their snakey spaghetti Western guitars and combination of drum machines and…
Kevin Macdonald’s Washington thriller is a bellows designed to puff up the most beaten-down reporter’s chest. Compressed from the highly regarded BBC miniseries first telecast in 2003, State of Play is an effectively involving journalism-cum-conspiracy yarn with a bang-bang opening and a frantic closer. There are more than a few…
This much is for sure about the makers of the new Zac Efron picture 17 Again: They know their audience. Scientifically engineered for maximum shriek-and-squeal value among Efron’s legion of distaff tween fans (and no small number of lonelyheart cougars and gay men), the movie opens on His Zackness’ sweaty,…
The last time a PG-rated movie won the Best Picture Oscar was almost 20 years ago. Really, it’s difficult to imagine that Driving Miss Daisy could charm Oscar voters in the same way today that it did in 1990, given the Academy’s fondness for tales of twisted sexuality and redemption…
Akubra. Balmoral Bonnet. Casquette. Fascinator. Kolpik. Porkpie. Ushanka. You’re probably wondering what all these weird words I’m throwing at you are, and no, they’re not different kinds of desserts from around the world. They all happen to be different styles of hats you may end up seeing if you attend…
The multi-tasking Mo Rocca has had his fingers in a multitude of comedy pies over the last decade. He accomplished the rare task of representing “real” media like Larry King as well as taking hilarious turns as a correspondent for The Daily Show and guest commentator for VH1’s seemingly endless…
The skydivers chugging Mountain Dew and eating Taco Bell were bad, but I didn’t think EXTREME marketing could reach a lower point than Extreme Pringles. Really, Pringles? You’re telling me that oval-headed, handlebar-mustachioed, bowtie-wearing mascot cranks out flavors extreme enough to satisfy the extreme tastes of extreme-sport enthusiasts? You can…
I’ve never understood why guitar festivals insist on booking the same tired blues and hard rock guitarists year after year. Really, when was the last time you heard anyone say–“Hey, Rick Derringer’s in town, guys! We should totally go check that out.” Not to knock “Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo”…
Are you behind on your gallery-hopping? We understand. Dallas has a whole lot of galleries, and checking out all of the best ones isn’t always easy. Luckily The Dallas Art Dealers Association (DADA) helps out a bit with its annual Spring Gallery Walk, along with Panel Discussions and a student…
Looking for some snakeweed, a pink skullcap, small leaf pussy toes, a red hot poker or fire bush? Well, you can find them at the Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary this weekend during the Annual Spring Native Plant Sale. (Yes, they’re all plants. Sheesh, get your minds out…
Posh restaurants? Classy dames? Stylish boutiques? Sure, Big D’s got those. But nothing exudes class like a celebration honoring the best in North American jazz music. And, baby, we’ve got that too. The University of North Texas Jazz Studies Division and the town of Addison are banding together for a…
Based on his writings, it’s tough to pin down Fareed Zakaria’s point of view. At times he sounds like an apologetic voice for U.S. imperialism–he initially supported the invasion of Iraq–but lately he’s focused on the rise of Asia as the beginning of a multi-polar, “post-American” economic order. As a…
Why do projects such as Biosphere 2 capture the imagination? Is it because they resonate with the thrill of the possibility of exploring and settling other planets or moons? Or is it the plethora of potential scientific discoveries that powers our fascination? Or could it be a deep desire to…
Continuing its 2008-2009 “Discover Series,” WaterTower Theatre presents the regional premiere of Based on a Totally True Story by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa. As comic book writer Ethan Keene prepares for a screen adaptation of his work, his behind-the-scenes life runs amok–a common situation of artists faced with fame and glory. The…
2009 marks the 24th year of Fort Worth’s art/food/music/film/good times fest, the Main Street Fort Worth Arts Festival. Art Fair SourceBook recently called the annual event the No. 3 fine arts festival in the nation, and with one glance at this year’s lineup, it’s easy to see why. The festival…
Perfect your comedic chops. Fine-tune your rhythm and rhyme. Sharpen your literary arsenal, area poets. The ringmaster waits. Linguistic smackdown–with words and vague symbolism replacing oiled muscles, mustaches and stretched spandex–will ensue at the Pub at UTD to determine the poetry champion of DFW: Dallas vs. Fort Worth. DJs, bands…
Judging from a quick skim of Yeah Dave’s Guide to Livin’ the Moment: Getting Ecstasy through Wine, Chocolate, and Your iPod Playlist, it seems author Dave Romanelli is a master of the obvious. People could be happier if they, like, take a moment to enjoy the nice things in life,…
Ten thousand years (6,000 in the South) of human development have finally brought us to the precipice. Not the Internet and its bounty of free porn. Not even the first black president. I’m talking about–wait for it–sleeves in a blanket! Sure, we may be in a recession, but Snuggies prove…
