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 | Hell Hath No Fury Like An Environment Scorned Writer/director Larry Fessenden is one of the most original voices in the horror genre today. His previous efforts ([b]Wendigo[/b], [b]No Telling[/b]) were understated, slow burning headtrips that reflect various societal fears. In a similar vein, Fessenden has crafted perhaps the first "environmental" horror film in [b]The Last Winter[/b]. An oil drilling team heads to the Artic tundra in Alaska for a job. With temperatures rising and the weather all over the map, the team begins to wonder if they’ve incurred the wrath of something supernatural.More |  | The Fox and the Hound The release of Richard Shepard’s [b]The Hunting Party[/b] couldn’t be timelier. The film revolves around a down and out war journalist (Richard Gere) who coerces his former cameraman (Terence Howard) to help track down the most infamous war criminal in Eastern Europe ("The Fox"). Allegedly, The Fox is being pursued by the CIA, FBI, and just about everyone in between. Additionally, it seems that most people know where this criminal resides, yet he still remains free. Hmmm…does this sound vaguely familiar?More |  | Released on Virgin Records, 8/28/07 A few years ago I had the good fortune to catch Ben Harper performing live at the Warfield in San Francisco. While I had heard great things about Ben, I had never listened to one of his albums or heard him perform live. His live performance was unquestionably one of the best I have ever experienced and the breadth and depth of his talent was readily apparent. Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminal’s latest album, [b]Lifeline[/b] is a powerful re-affirmation of Harper and the Innocent Criminal’s talents.More |  | Once Again, the Carrot is Cool We first got a taste of Clive Owen as an action star in the acclaimed [b]Sin City[/b]. While not the primary focus of this film, Owen owned the screen with his undeniably gruff, masculine presence. No wonder Owen was rumored to be the next James Bond. While Daniel Craig was great in [b]Casino Royale[/b] last year, it’s hard not to wonder what Owen could do as Bond after watching him kick (and shoot) a multitude of asses in [b]Shoot Em’ Up[/b].More |  | Don’t Get Chumpatized In the early 80s there was one videogame that stole the hearts (and quarters) of ardent gamers across the country. Successfully conquering this game required catlike reflexes, impeccable timing, and some obsessive compulsive tendencies rivaled only by "Rainman". The name of the game alone inspires fear: Donkey Kong.More |  | Released on Capitol Records, 7/10/07 After two critically acclaimed albums and a grueling touring schedule following the release of [b]Antics[/b], the New York based band Interpol was due for a bit of a break. Fortunately for fans, Interpol was back in the studio in early 2006 knocking out tracks for their latest effort, [b]Our Love To Admire[/b]. This album is the first for the band on their new label (Capitol) and includes an abundance of keyboards in many of the arrangements, making it a bit of a departure for the band. However, this infusion of new elements appears to have only improved an already solidly talented band.More |  | The Mysteries of Life In 2002, the fascinating documentary, [b]Spellbound[/b], focusing on the 1999 National Spelling Bee caught the attention of countless moviegoers and the Academy resulting in an Oscar nomination for debut director Jeffrey Blitz. [b]Spellbound[/b] was a breakout hit that engaged and entertained largely because of the quirky and endearing kids who participated in the competition. Blitz’s love and affection for the awkward, unusual (but highly intelligent) young adult continues; albeit in a slightly different fashion in the painfully comical coming of age feature, [b]Rocket Science[/b].More |  | Released on Martha's Music/Reprise, 7/10/07 For fans of The Smashing Pumpkins, the seven year itch has been nigh on unbearable. While the "grunge" sound of the 90s that The Smashing Pumpkins were often erroneously lumped in with has come and gone, few can deny that 1995’s [b]Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness[/b] was a seminal album and one of the greatest of the decade. The talent, imagination, and power of The Smashing Pumpkins was considerable. But, where does one go after such an epic album?More |  | Released on Capitol, 6/26/07 The Beastie Boys are inarguably one of the most dynamic, influential groups of hip hop/rock musicians. The one thing you can be certain of when giving a Beastie Boys album a listen is that you’re going to hear more than a few tracks that feel like a marked departure from what they’ve done in the past. However, one common thread that unites many Beastie Boys albums is an affinity for instrumental music. [b]Check Your Head[/b] was an album with numerous tracks that were pretty light when it came to lyrics and heavy on the instrumentals. With [b]The Mix-Up[/b], the B-Boys have completely indulged this affinity with a pure instrumental album.More |  | Perilously Close to Foolish Young Diana (Zoe Tapper), an ingénue with a heart of gold and a truckload of naiveté, heads to London in the 1930s to make it big on the stage as an actress. Despite the right kind of genes (her mother was a star on the stage), Diana finds the world of theater complicated, vexing, and more than she expected. This "revelation" leads to trials, tribulations, and adventures Diana never could have anticipated.More |
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