“Miracle at St. Anna” lacks plot focus
After Clint Eastwood released “Letters from Iwo Jima” and “Flags of Our Fathers,” Spike Lee berated him for the lack of black characters in either film. Eastwood responded by informing Lee that he should “shut his face.” Instead of giving a similarly witty retort, Lee made “Miracle at St. Anna,” a film about the trials of four black soldiers who are trapped in a Tuscan village by the German army.
“Battle in Seattle” explores social issues
Many people do not know of the events surrounding the World Trade Organization’s meeting almost 10 years ago in Seattle. Some of us may vaguely remember the news of protests and riots on the West Coast, but globalization is part of our everyday vocabulary, and the events of 1999 were crucial to raising awareness for its impact on developing countries, labor and the environment.
“Eagle Eye” excites without overwhelming
This September’s “Eagle Eye” may have taken pointers from the 1998 film “Enemy of the State,” but director D.J. Caruso manages to separate his paranoid actioner from being a carbon copy of the Will Smith thriller. Although the plot treads the familiar line of political propaganda and Big Brother-like suspicion, “Eagle Eye” does a great job at keeping the attention on the interaction of the characters while creating tense action sequences.
“The Lucky Ones” tells story of soldiers’ return
Movies about the Iraq war seem to be quite unpopular at the box office, but that doesn’t seem to stop filmmakers from making them. It’s important to these storytellers to express their feelings and their beliefs about the war, despite the fact that so few people will actually watch their movies.
Fleet Foxes take on the El Rey
Seattle-based Fleet Foxes performed at the El Rey Theatre in downtown Los Angeles on Sept. 23, kindly giving a chance to those of us who couldn’t get to their sold-out show the day before. Four friends and I, show enthusiasts that we are, braved the sardine feel of a less-than-roomy pickup truck during the long drive.
Jack’s Mannequin album grows on the listener
I’ve often found that my favorite records are those that aren’t instantly catchy – the discs that grow on you are usually the ones that grow to be larger than the quick flavor-of-the-day single that smashes the iTunes charts. Jack’s Mannequin’s new release, “The Glass Passenger,” is just one of those types of albums.
Promising indie film “Save Me” brings little peace
Sometimes films with noble intentions try to strike a balance when dealing with controversial subjects, in order to draw more people than they demonize. Yet sometimes this can backfire and make a film that is muddled, like the recent “Save Me.”
“On the Road” holds message respective to its generation
Jack Kerouac’s 1957 novel “On the Road” is one of those classics that will have some people forever proclaiming its brilliance, while others flippantly dismiss it as a book about driving around, usually while drunk.
“Ghost Town” charms in non-conventional way
Imagine silver-miner-turned-oil-man Daniel Plainview from “There Will Be Blood” as a leading man in a romantic comedy, and you may come close to sensing what “Ghost Town” feels like. In this film, the leading man is so selfish and filled with so much bitterness, it’s a miracle his gloom doesn’t defile the motion picture.
Concert venue for local bands puts on a good show
Directly off the bustling Interstate 5 freeway, sandwiched between a car dealership and outlet strip mall is a local concert venue - the Chain Reaction. With band t-shirts and stickers plastered all across the walls, “The Chain,” as it is known locally, definitely provides an atmosphere for a variety of bands to showcase their talent. Although the maximum capacity of the building is 250 people, there is more than enough space for a good sized concert.
Cold War Kids’ second album should make Biola proud
Atop the Mulberry Street Ristorante in Fullerton, Calif., there lies a very cozy apartment. Years ago, up in that apartment, the sounds of stomping, clinging tambourines and cymbals, piano ballads, and jangly guitars were often heard. This was the birthplace of Cold War Kids.
“Appaloosa” beautiful but unfulfilling
As I assumed my seat in a theater filled with expectant moviegoers, I recalled the movie I was about to watch, “Appaloosa,” a modern-day Western thriller written, directed and produced by Ed Harris (who also stars as the main character). I pulled my thoughts back to the present moment and glanced up at the screen, but instead of seeing the opening scene, I saw the “please silence your cell phones” message frozen on the screen.
“Between the Pages” is a Q-and-A series that explores one’s life through books that have shaped and influenced them. Books affect the forming...