Buried tells the story of Paul Conroy (played by Ryan Reynolds) an American truck driver in Iraq whose convoy is attacked by Iraqi insurgents. Rather than simply kill him, they abduct and bury him in a wooden box several feet below the desert. His kidnappers leave him with a pencil, a Zippo, a Blackberry and some instructions for what they want him to do. If I told you any more, it wouldn't be fair because part of the fun of this movie is discovering things as Paul does. Suffice to say, we are just as stuck in the coffin as he is, only hearing what he hears through the phone and never leaving the coffin to get another point of view.
Man in a Box: Ryan Reynolds gives what might be the performance of the year in Buried
Posted inNews
A Novel Idea Announces 2011 Book: Kapitoil by Teddy Wayne
If you’re looking for a book to read, which you probably should be, considering the onslaught of crappy weather rumored to be on the way soon, the Deschutes Public Library has a suggestion, and it’s the title they’ve picked for their Novel Idea Program: Kapitoil by Teddy Wayne.
Some 5,500 county residents participate in the community literary event each year, according to the DPL.
Posted inCulture
Escape From New York: What do with a couple of post-apocalyptic sweethearts…
Like all buddy-cop/true-love stories, Enslaved begins with the two main characters meeting under less-than-romantic circumstances. In this case, Monkey, a glowering tree-trunk of a man, and Trip, a ragdoll-haired brainy girl, are both slaves aboard an airship that crashes someplace in Brooklyn. Then, while Monkey is unconscious, Trip snaps a headband on him and programs it to electrify his brain if she dies. This, naturally, convinces him to protect her.
Posted inCulture
Your Failure, My Success
People often ask, “Hey, Wm.™ Steven Hump-Me! What is the secret of your success?” Well, that's a complicated question: How did I – a barely literate narcissist and sex addict born in the rabid goat-infested mountains of Lithuania – rise to the lofty position of America's most beloved television columnist? Well, frankly… I have YOU to thank.
Posted inFood & Drink
Drinking in Halloween
Halloween is no doubt the best American holiday. It is impossible to explain to foreigners our passion for wearing panties in public with little ears and platform high-heeled shoes. Children love it because they get to wear costumes, go to parties, and of course, get plenty of free candy. Adults love it because it means getting to escape who they really are, drink until they are silly and hide behind a sexier, more tawdry version of themselves. Nothing is sacred on Halloween night, even Big Bird has been turned into a trampy female transvestite for the sake of having the snarkiest outfit of the evening.
Posted inMusic
The Guitar Hero Lives: Doug Martsch and Built to Spill continue to make rock's greatest instrument king
The last time Built to Spill played in Bend, it was at the Les Schwab Amphitheater and it was raining. Wait, that's not quite accurate. It wasn't raining as much as it was dumping gallons of water from the heavens, leaving fans – many of whom were there primarily to see headliner Michael Franti and Spearhead – huddled under umbrellas and ponchos, waiting for the deluge to lift. Eventually it did, but long after the band had wrapped up its set.
Posted inMusic
Belle & Sebastian: Belle & Sebastian Write about Love
I love Belle & Sebastian. We're great friends. We met early in college when roommates and other time travelers (the dudes who wear their collars up) were listening to the typical meathead rock that cheapens sex and rots your soul. I was looking for a new band to embrace and stumbled into Belle & Sebastian while trying to learn more about The Velvet Underground.
Posted inCulture
Our Picks for 11/03-11/11: Last Comic Standing, Star Trek Live and more!
The Yard Dogs Road Show
thursday 4
We gave you a heads up on this rock and roll “hobo cabaret” in last week's Halloween preview and if you're still in need of some costumed fun or some Burning Man flashbacks, check out Yard Dogs Road Show. It will remind you of the heyday of vaudeville, on the far off chance you know what “vaudeville” means. $20.50/adv or $25/door. All ages. 9pm. Domino Room, 51 NW Greenwood Ave.
Posted inNews
Big Boss Man: From home builder to state representative to county commissioner, Dennis Luke has left his mark on Deschutes County
Imagine the Flintstones without Fred, Smith without Wesson, Bo without Luke. And for anyone who has been around county government for the last ten years, Deschutes County without Dennis Luke. Just a few years ago it seemed like an unlikely proposition, but the senior statesman will preside over his last meeting sometime in December. With another run at office unlikely for the 64-year-old Luke, it could be the final chapter in his political career, which began almost 20 years ago and included three terms as an Oregon legislator and ten years as a Deschutes County commissioner.
Posted inOpinion
Oregon's Untouchables vs. the Wall Street Banksters
If you were doing a remake of “The Untouchables,” neither Ted Wheeler nor John Kroger probably would be your first pick for the role of Elliot Ness. They're skinny guys with glasses who, let's face it, look more than a little nerdy.
When it comes to tackling organized crime on Wall Street, though, Oregon Treasurer Wheeler and Attorney General Kroger are a couple of tough customers.