AltWeeklies Wire
'Wild Things' is a Delightful Movie for Adults About Being a Kidnew
After four years of filming and all kinds of delays, Spike Jonze has managed to put something on screen that resembles nothing like I've ever seen before. What he's made here is something wonderful ... just wonderful.
Tucson Weekly |
Bob Grimm |
10-29-2009 |
Reviews
'Sweet Smell' is an Intimate Portrait of a Distinctive Tohono O'odham Artistnew
In the affecting, beautifully illustrated oral history of the local artist's life and work, The Sweet Smell of Home: The Life and Art of Leonard F. Chana, his distinctive voice is paired with his even more distinctive art to create a very intimate portrait of Chana, who died of neurocysticercosis in 2004 at the criminally young age of 54.
Tucson Weekly |
Tim Hull |
10-29-2009 |
Nonfiction
'A New Deal for Native Art' Explains How the Gov't Undermined Indigenous Art During the New Dealnew
Jennifer McLerran makes the case that administrators of New Deal Indian policy, particularly John Collier, then-commissioner of Indian Affairs, insisted on romanticizing pre-industrial forms of indigenous art rather than pushing native artists toward self-sufficiency.
Tucson Weekly |
Jarret Keene |
10-29-2009 |
Nonfiction
An Impressive Amount of Top Talent is Wasted in 'Couples Retreat'new
One would think that casting Vince Vaughn, Jon Favreau, Kristen Bell and Kristin Davis would've gotten Peter Billingsley comic gold. However, the film proves that it's ill-advised to send a bunch of swell actors to an island paradise -- especially when you have a shitty script.
Tucson Weekly |
Bob Grimm |
10-15-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: Couples Retreat, Peter Billingsley
'Big Fan' Succeeds Because the Loser at its Center Isn't Ridiculed or Reformednew
Right now, Big Fan is easily one of the best, and most creative, films of the year. Its originality comes not from wild ideas or fantastic plot devices, but from exploring from the inside, and with sympathy, a form of life that has in the past only been subjected to ridicule and reform.
Tucson Weekly |
James DiGiovanna |
10-15-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: Big Fan, Robert Siegel
'Putrefaction Live' Looks at Paradoxes on the Reznew
Warren Perkins' new novel is worthwhile for its authentic feel, although the plot development is a bit sketchy.
Tucson Weekly |
Christine Wald-Hopkins |
10-15-2009 |
Fiction
While the Backstory of 'Guilty Women' is Interesting, the Music Stands on its Ownnew
When Chris Gaffney died, Dave Alvin lost both a close friend and the frontman of his band, the Guilty Men. Alvin formed the Guilty Women to perform at a festival last fall because, he said, he couldn't bear seeing the empty spot onstage where Gaffney used to stand.
Tucson Weekly |
Linda Ray |
10-15-2009 |
Reviews
'Before the Frost ...' is a Return to Form for The Black Crowesnew
The Crowes have not sounded this relaxed and vital at the same time in many years, tackling classic rock, psychedelia, blues, country and R&B.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
10-15-2009 |
Reviews
The Big Pink Feels Like a Marketing Ploynew
On A Brief History of Love, they've taken everything self-indulgent and whiny about Oasis and fused it with everything redundant and artificial about The Postal Service.
Tucson Weekly |
Sean Bottai |
10-15-2009 |
Reviews
Ignorance and Stupidity are Leading Too Many People to Avoid Flu Vaccinesnew
There are some parents who don't think that the H1N1 flu will be worse than any other flu, so why bother? I actually agree with them, but they're in the minority of the abstainers. The vast majority of those who are rejecting the vaccine are doing so out of wrongheaded politics or an empty-headed misunderstanding of science.
Tucson Weekly |
Tom Danehy |
10-15-2009 |
Science
The Debut from Girls is Shaggy and Masterfulnew
A stunning success of musical pastiche, Album, like Girls leader Christopher Owens, appeals as equally touching and troubled.
Tucson Weekly |
Michael Petitti |
10-07-2009 |
Reviews
Circulatory System's Latest Pushes the Band's Experimental Side to the Forefrontnew
Eight years have passed since its first album, and Circulatory System is back with Signal Morning, a hectic and sonically dense collection.
Tucson Weekly |
Eric Swedlund |
10-07-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: Signal Morning, Circulatory System
Metal Stalwarts Dying Fetus Take on an Empire With Clawsnew
Pared down to a three-piece Baltimore's Dying Fetus should possess a diminished sonic presence. However, such is definitely not the case with Descend Into Depravity; indeed, the band sounds absolutely recharged.
Tucson Weekly |
Jarret Keene |
10-07-2009 |
Reviews
The Raveonettes' 'In and Out of Control' is Unevennew
The Raveonettes' terrific last record focused on hedonism, consequences be damned. Now, they're talking about the fallout of indulging in bad things, and that's just not as fun.
Tucson Weekly |
Kristine Peashock |
10-07-2009 |
Reviews
'Aim and Ignite' by fun. is Theatric and Happynew
Aim and Ignite rushes along with the exuberant flair and candied adrenaline that you'd expect from a band named fun.
Tucson Weekly |
Eric Swedlund |
10-07-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: Aim and Ignite, fun.
