Arts, Entertainment & Arizona... Since 1998

ARIZONA REPORTER
Harvey Critic
I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE, Grade: B

Decisions by the Supreme Court can be predictable. You just know well in advance, that the current court will vote 5-4 on some issues like the legality of Proposition 8 or whether corporations can donate unlimited amounts of money to candidates. Jurors are different. They can be unpredictable, even ignoring the law as related by the judge's instructions. For example: let's say that in summing up a case the judge tells the jury, "If you agree that the defendant committed premeditated murder, you may vote "guilty of murder one." Let's say you're sitting on a jury handling a case in which the defendant admittedly cut, chopped, broken and burned five men, all thoroughly planned out. That's murder one, no?

ARIZONA REPORTER
Arizona Guide
Arizona Fishing Report Sept. 1

With dove season being open (Sept. 1), it's a good time for a cast-n-blast trip, especially along the lower Colorado River.

Yuma has the prime dove hunting with all of its agricultural fields. During the past two weeks, however, I witnessed lots of doves all along the Colorado River from the Topock Gorge to Yuma (and also lots of fat quail for October fin and feather trips).

ARIZONA REPORTER
Harvey Critic
THE AMERICAN, Grade: C

It's chic for a movie critic to say that "the book is better," but in this case-considering that the story is a slow-moving psychological suspense thriller-Martin Booth's 1990 novel is the way to go. As you turn the pages you will doubtless wonder what comes next, the type of tale that intrigues on the page but comes across inert on the big screen. As directed by Anton Corbijn, "The American" is spare of dialogue (script by Rowan Joffe and the novelist), the music by Herbert Grönemeyer either non-existent or anything but intrusive, with a landscape in Italy's Abruzzo region that's, what should we say, European? The medieval town built on a hill, scene of most of the action, would be nice to drive through but would hardly entice tourists to stay overnight. This is the sort of place, however, that a fellow in the service of assassins might want to live, a form of redemption that he would not likely find in his home country but rather as an expatriate living the quiet life away from what novelist Martin Booth calls "the shadow-dwellers."

Entertainment

Two Stand Up For Mel Gibson, One Rich, One Poor

Probably one of the best examples of Tourette Syndrome I can think of is the Irish bartender characterized by (Gerard Parkes) in Troy Duffy's directed franchise - The Boondock Saints. Simple or complex the neurological disorder affects more people than one would imagine. Historically having its suffers labeled with being demon possessed.

Quantum Leap Thinking

You Don't Have to Do It Alone

How many wonderful ideas have never been put out in world because their creator was afraid of appearing foolish? How many people have stifled their creativity because of fear? How many of you have never allowed your creative vision to become reality for fear of asking for help or creating a partnership? Far too many, I'm afraid.
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Arizona Guide

Arizona Fishing Report Sept. 1

With dove season being open (Sept. 1), it's a good time for a cast-n-blast trip, especially along the lower Colorado River.

Yuma has the prime dove hunting with all of its agricultural fields. During the past two weeks, however, I witnessed lots of doves all along the Colorado River from the Topock Gorge to Yuma (and also lots of fat quail for October fin and feather trips).
Related Guide


Arizona Events

Tucson Spanish and Flamenco Festival

2nd Annual Spanish and Flamenco Festival in historic downtown Tucson. This is a unique opportunity to experience flamenco and Spanish culture in a traditional late-night, outdoor festival atmosphere. Traditional Spanish tapas will be served along with Casa Vicente's extensive dinner menu.
Related Events


Harvey Critic


THE AMERICAN, Grade: C

It's chic for a movie critic to say that "the book is better," but in this case-considering that the story is a slow-moving psychological suspense thriller-Martin Booth's 1990 novel is the way to go. As you turn the pages you will doubtless wonder what comes next, the type of tale that intrigues on the page but comes across inert on the big screen. As directed by Anton Corbijn, "The American" is spare of dialogue (script by Rowan Joffe and the novelist), the music by Herbert Grönemeyer either non-existent or anything but intrusive, with a landscape in Italy's Abruzzo region that's, what should we say, European? The medieval town built on a hill, scene of most of the action, would be nice to drive through but would hardly entice tourists to stay overnight. This is the sort of place, however, that a fellow in the service of assassins might want to live, a form of redemption that he would not likely find in his home country but rather as an expatriate living the quiet life away from what novelist Martin Booth calls "the shadow-dwellers."

A-LIST: HEARTBREAKER (L'arnacoeur)

"There are three kinds of women," says Alex Lippi (Romain Duris), a man who'd easily have found a place on Bennett Cerf's long-departed TV show "What's My Line?" "There are women who are happy; there are women who are unhappy; and there are women who are unhappy but don't know it." Alex would go primarily after that last group, in effect acting as a would-be psychoanalyst who would step in and play Don Juan to get the unhappy women to fall in love with him and thereby dump the men who are making them miserable. This is the high concept that fuels Pascal Chaumeil's "Heartbreaker," a jet-paced French romantic comedy, the kind that Americans and British are incapable of making (think of bores like Sandra Bullock and Hugh Grant, for example).

Susan Granger Reviews

Review: Takers, Wait for the DVD


Jimmy Buffett wrote a song called "Overkill" and that's the word which best describes this high-powered yet formulaic heist movie that's punctuated with shootouts and explosions, particularly a stylized machine-gun gangbang with Russian mobsters that decimates a Los Angeles hotel suite.

Eat Pray Love - Shallow, Indulgent, Female Wish-Fulfillment

Now I have to read Elizabeth Gilbert's best-selling memoir - because this tepid travelogue of a self-involved yuppie writer can't be what's inspired so many women.

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