This is one of those movies where you find yourself smiling and even laughing out loud a few times while it's running, but then it ends and you feel a little violated. It made me wonder if director Andy Fickman had actually ever met a real live woman before, or if he'd only read about them in Misogynist Weekly. Every woman in this movie is vindictive, petty, cruel and duplicitous. Every man in the film is simpleminded yet benevolent. And every audience member is punished during the seemingly endless 105-minute running time, except for the shrieking pack of high-school girls in the back of the theater. They loved every single word of You Again, causing me to fear for the future of this country. Again.
The Shallow End: A talented cast slums through You Again
Posted inCulture
Reach for the Sky: Halo raises the bar on single shooter action
What's so important about the planet of Reach? Is it the way that all the native grasses sway in unison when the wind blows? Maybe it’s the urban architecture, which has the soulless, open style of shopping malls and airport terminals. Or perhaps it’s the planet’s collection of anti-aircraft batteries, superpowered shield generators, spacecraft launchpads and other significant military installations, none of which seem to be defended by an army of any size or skill.
Posted inCulture
The Land of Spotted Dick
Here's what we know so far about England: (1) It's also called “Britain.” (2) It's about the size of Kansas – and for some reason, we still give a crap about what they have to say. (3) It has something to do with Wales and Scotland – but holyfreakingcrap, don't dare get them mixed up.
Posted inMusic
A Cut Above: The Devil Makes Three's Pete Bernhard keeps the band's throwback Americana rolling with only three fingers
Pete Bernhard's left index finger still hurts and that's a problem for a guy who makes his living playing lazer-quick guitar riffs. It's starting to heal, but it's been less than a month since The Devil Makes Three front man sliced the end of his finger while sharpening a knife.
Posted inMusic
Bend Roots Goes Huge
Near the end of almost every set the Bend Roots Revival this weekend, the band or performer would say something like, “Isn't Bend Roots great?” or else thank festival creator Mark Ransom for his efforts to continue the celebration of local music. We at Sound Check gladly echo those sentiments because last weekend's fifth-annual Bend Roots was instantly memorable and, as we often say, the best party of the year.
Posted inMusic
Blonde Redhead: Penny Sparkle
Blonde Redhead
Penny Sparkle
4ad Records
It's hard to be critical of Blonde Redhead. The longtime New York trio always has gorgeous vocals, unique instrumentation and an otherworldly sound. Even at their weakest, this is a band that never lacks taste.
That's my long disclaimer for this: I am disappointed by Penny Sparkle. I'm not mad at it. It doesn't make me want to puke. It's just that it seems to lack the depth and range of emotion of 23 and Misery is a Butterfly – and I think Blonde Redhead fans need that diversity. Because when Kazu Makino, the band's singer, is sad, she's suicidal. And when the band picks her up off the ground and speeds things up, she's still no cheerleader.
Posted inCulture
Our Picks for 9/29-10/7: Ellen Waterston, Evil Dead, and more
Ellen Waterston Book Launch
wednesday 29
The executive director and founder of the Nature of Words is releasing her new book, a collection of essays entitled, “Where the Crooked River Rises, A High Desert Home” at this event. If you want a sample of Waterston's fiction, check out her short story in this week's special Fiction Issue.
Posted inNews
Viewed from Afar: Benjamin Percy no longer lives here, but that's not stopping him from writing about Oregon
Benjamin Percy speaks in a voice so low that it obscures some of the words coming through the telephone receiver and even though he's in Iowa and I've never met him, it's somewhat terrifying. It's the sort of grumble that could be used for one of those plastic Frankenstein monster door decorations that mumbles ghoulish phrases at trick or treaters. Percy sounds about eight feet tall and more like a professional wrestler – almost as baritone as Andre the Giant but twice as intelligible – than one of the nation's most promising young authors and one of Central Oregon's most famous native sons.
Posted inOpinion
Rondo Boozell, the Rambo Candidate
If we endorsed candidates on the basis of colorfulness, Bend City Council hopeful Ronald “Rondo” Boozell would be a shoo-in.
It's not Boozell's positions that make him colorful, although he does have some interesting ones. A self-described libertarian, he says he's “setting out to do nothing less than change our culture” and “dreaming of a sustainable lifestyle.” He wants to encourage Bend residents to buy locally, and thinks government should “get out of the way … and let businesses prosper.”
Posted inOpinion
Who Let The Hot Out? Lopez on marriage, Obama hates kids and more
The Heat of Autumn
It's officially fall, as of last week. It's the time of year when the leaves change color, the days get cooler and football dominates most casual conversation. Well, except for this year, that is. Well, people are still talking about football, but the weather on the West Coast has been anything like fall like. Temperatures have been weirdly warm here in Central Oregon, staying in the low 80s all week, but down in Los Angeles it got straight up scary hot… as in the hottest day ever.