Trendy seek college chic
Each generation of college students has its own variation on back-to-school necessities.
`Urbania’ walks a fine line between reality and dreams
“Heard any good stories lately? I’ve got a good one. And this one really happened.” And so begins “Urbania,” a superbly crafted film that will leave moviegoers both unsettled and captivated by the time the closing credits roll.
The new men of food: Tyler Florence, Bob Blumer
Back in the day, celebrity chefs started and ended with Julia Child and her messy but amusing style. But thanks to the advent of cable television in general and the Food Network in particular, the faces of a new breed of hot-shot chefs are becoming familiar. Joining the ranks of Emeril Lagasse, Ming Tsai and those poker-faced Iron Chefs are a couple of young guns–Tyler Florence and Bob Blumer.
What the Net surfers are saying
Here’s what the Internet buzz was Monday about Madonna’s “Music.” All spelling and grammar are as the fans intended:
IMAX’s “Solarmax” reveals sun’s relentless inferno
As Galileo Galilei once described it, the sun is as spotty as a teenager. And the general audience gets a chance to see the sun in all its magnificence and fury in “Solarmax”–the latest giant-screen IMAX film to screen at the Museum of Science and Industry’s Omnimax Theater.
In modest gown, Jennifer Lopez still stands out
There were no gasps of shock when Jennifer Lopez walked on stage during the Latin Grammy Awards on Wednesday night in Los Angeles. She didn’t wear anything remotely resembling that dress that generated more talk than many of the winners at February’s Grammy Awards.
Much-improved Dogstar rocks at free concert
A couple of words about Dogstar. No, Keanu Reeves doesn’t sing. And yes, the band can play. At a free, 45-minute concert at the House of Blues Monday night, the three-man group rocked hard onstage, lending a punky edge to the material. Much of Dogstar’s set list was culled from “Happy Ending,” its newly released U.S. debut album.
Keanu Reeves: Not your everyday pop band
“The Watcher,” America’s No. 1 film, isn’t the the only project where Keanu Reeves shuns top billing.
He’s been doing it for years in the rock band Dogstar. The star of “The Matrix” is very aware that his status as an actor will overpower anything that his formidable band Dogstar accomplishes.
Fighting words
James Sie has Jackie Chan’s moves down pat. Vocally, anyhow. As Chan’s voice double in the animated series “Jackie Chan Adventures,” which will air at 10 a.m. Sundays on WCIU-Channel 26 starting this weekend, the former Chicago actor captures Chan’s energetic nuances so well that the casual listener would have a difficult time figuring out whether it was Chan or Sie doing the talking.
Chicago lives the good life
It was a summer of fluctuating temperatures. But Chicagoans made the best of it. Even the city’s notorious humidity didn’t dampen our spirits, not when we could ensconce ourselves in a state-of-the-arthouse theater.
“Psycho Beach Party” no day at the beach
Just when it looked like the “Scream” franchise and “Scary Movie” had pretty much had their way with spoofing the horror film genre, along comes “Psycho Beach Party” attempting to horn in on the territory. Unfortunately, it’s the little movie that can’t.
Nightlife theme, club clothes style rock the house at Fash Bash
The music rocked. A bride bonded with Superman. And the clothes weren’t bad, either. This year’s Fash Bash–Friday night at the Chicago Theatre–had all the frenetic energy that was lacking at the event’s more staid Chicago debut last year.
Christina Aguilera: Spanish disc on the way
Christina Aguilera, a former Mouseketeer, has set herself apart from the other blonds who have clambered onto radio’s playlists. Sure, former “New Mickey Mouse Club” co-castmate Britney Spears has sold more records. And Jessica Simpson’s climbing the charts, while Mandy Moore has her own show on MTV.
State of being single not a sickness
I realize that no one’s going to mistake me for Tyra Banks and that Keanu Reeves probably won’t be knocking on my door any time soon with an engagement ring (although a girl can always dream). But I’ve got a good career going, my mental health is stable and I’m debt-free. In some countries, I would be considered a good catch.
`New’ Beatles song on way
Thirty years after the Fab Four broke up, Paul McCartney has put together a “new” Beatles single. McCartney announced Tuesday that the new single, “Free Now,” offers snippets from the band’s recording sessions in the 1960s.
“Autumn in New York”
“Autumn in New York” is a movie built to tug at our heartstrings. But with its rote story line, the film proves to be little more than pretty eye candy in the form of stars Richard Gere and Winona Ryder. Will Keane (Gere) is a 48-year-old womanizer who owns a hip New York restaurant. Celebrating her 22nd birthday at his restaurant, Charlotte Fielding (Ryder) catches his wandering eye.
Margaret Cho’s comic flair drives `I’m the One That I Want’
At the end of “I’m the One That I Want,” Margaret Cho declares, “I’m gonna stay here and rock the mike until the next Korean-American, fag hag, shit starter, girl comic, trash talker comes up and takes my place!” Any takers? This film version of Cho’s savagely funny one-woman show is true to the tour she took on the road last year.
City ranks high for fine dining
Chicago is good enough to eat. Just ask Bon Appetit, which features eight Chicago restaurants in a list of its 100 favorite restaurants nationwide.
“The Scarlet Pimpernel”
Fop by day, dashing hero by night, Sir Percy is the central character in “The Scarlet Pimpernel,” a swashbuckling musical comedy set during the French Revolution. That’s right. Swashbuckling. Musical. Comedy. Of the three elements, the comedy works best in this play, where the generic music does little to set the tone. The production–which opened Wednesday night at the Shubert Theatre–comes courtesy of Frank Wildhorn, whose other weird musicals include “Jekyll & Hyde” and “Civil War.” His musicals have a strong pop edge that don’t fit the period pieces he’s trying to create.
Raising eyebrows
George W. Bush is a plucker. Take a peek at his pictures from the 1980s and you’ll see that he was sporting a unibrow that has now disappeared.