Arts

Roddy Doyle’s latest collection of short stories takes a look at an Ireland in transition from homogenous economic ghetto to prosperous melting pot.

The premiere is under our belts, and as usual, many questions linger. Join Adam Fein for some rampant speculation.

A must see for those interested in the film noir genre, Brand Upon the Brain! manages to be as personal as it is experimental and stylized.

Kate Winslet won a Golden Globe for her performance in Stephen Daldry’s The Reader, but does the film match her brilliance? Suzanne Lewandowski gives us her take.

Children’s art returns to the Orpheum Children’s Science Museum with an exhibit titled, “It’s a Bird, It’s a Bug, It’s a Print.”

With the debut of season five of LOST right around the corner, Smile Politely introduces a new column dedicated to pondering network TV’s greatest drama.

A local group of aspiring romance novelists discuss the genre’s growth — “Today the woman doesn’t need the man; she chooses the man.” — and reveal that, like all writers, a little help from one’s peers can go a long way.

Eastwood’s farewell flick is a dandy — one of the most genuine films of 2008.

Wheatley’s bi-weekly classic book review takes a look back at Gabriel García Márquez’ One Hundred Years of Solitude, which contains some confusing consanguinity.

Our TV critic preps us for the new season of Flight of the Conchords and finds much to like about Mickey Rourke’s acceptance speech at the Golden Globes.

Koplinski reviews the best and worst of film in 2008. Which movie took home top honors: The Wrestler, Gran Torino, Milk?

This film, based on a F. Scott Fitzgerald short story, finally sees the dark of a movie theater. Chuck finds it worth the wait.

The “PC guy,” John Hodgman, offers up another book chock full of fake facts and plenty of laughs.

I was prepared to hate Marley and Me. This is probably something a film critic shouldn’t admit but the trailers for this adaptation of John Grogan’s best seller features all the tell tale signs of …

After parental complaints, Champaign’s Unit 4 School District recently compromised on allowing the reading of Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner in its sophomore honors English classes. Controversial books are usually the ones most worth reading. …

Barack Obama won big while refusing (for the most part) to go negative. Perhaps he won precisely because he refused to attack his opponent, to “pick on an invalid,” as Ronald Reagan—in an alarmingly effective …

Looking for some wholesome holiday fun this Saturday? Maybe you just need an excuse to pry the kids away from the Wii for an afternoon? Or possibly your vocal cords need to shake off a …

Several years ago, I had the opportunity to go to Australia. Lest you think that this was a sexy vacay with a special someone or even a fun trip with friends, let me clarify — …

Like most Americans, I was taught that in passing the National Voting Rights Act of 1965, LBJ betrayed the South, and this region then folded itself, seemingly for good, into the arms of the GOP. …

It may not be the fourth-greatest film ever made, but Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight is destined to be one of those fondly remembered pop masterpieces, the rare film which satisfies a large number of …

My co-worker reminded me that the new season of Lost comes on the day after Inauguration Day (Jan. 20, 2009), which means January’s looking up for TV and general happiness. My TV watching will be …

On the surface, it appears that director Danny Boyle’s films have very little in common. From the harrowing, cautionary descent into drug-addiction and madness that is Trainspotting to the unbridled optimism contained in Millions, it …

I stumbled upon Bethany Cooper’s artwork while I was searching Etsy’s local galleries. Bethany’s work is extremely affordable and also very darling. I received so many compliments on my bee earrings and pendant, I had …

A few people have spent time predicting the end of the superhero movie in recent months, but the genre-movement whose demise I’m anticipating (sooner and with more glee) is the children/teen-oriented fantasy film. The Lord …

Foreign film buffs may recall a 1966 black-and-white Norwegian drama named Hunger about a starving writer that talks to his shoes. It won a few awards in Europe, mostly for Best Actor. In 1890, critics …

“These violent delights have violent ends / And in their triumph die, like fire and powder, / Which, as they kiss, consume” (Romeo and Juliet, Act II, scene 6). The public’s consumption of Twilight has …

Let’s talk about vampires. I guess I really mean to say, let’s talk about sex. I am a wanton viewer of any kind of vampire entertainment. Wesley Snipes sealed the deal for me. He narrowly …

The Christmas shopping season starts this weekend, but the disc everyone wants for their respective holiday is still two weeks away. But I’m sure that there will be no shortage of mothers, fathers, wives, husbands, …

1-thumb-400×224.jpg” width=”400” height=”224” alt=”bolt-con1.jpg” class=”mt-image-left” style=”margin: 0 20px 20px 0;” /> If the reaction by the youngsters in the audience at last Saturday night’s preview of Disney’s Bolt is any indication, the new digital 3-D …

Tickets are still available to see actor Bruce Campbell live screening his new film, My Name is Bruce at the Avon Theater in Decatur, Ill., on Dec. 1. You know Bruce. As a cult and …

A slew of films are out today on DVD, including a couple of the summer’s biggest hits. There’s also one of those holiday-convenient box sets. But before we get into all that, have you seen …

Early birds who want to ensure a seat at the Virginia Theater for next year’s EbertFest can now order festival passes on-line. EbertFest, formerly known as The Overlooked Film Festival, showcases films that are hand-picked …

Like most Americans, I’ve been worried about the state of things these days. While I’m not in danger of losing my house or my job as so many thousands are, I’ve felt the pinch. My …

There are many fifty-dollar words to be learned through reading above your intelligence level. During these times, it pays to have a dictionary close to hand. For example, meretricious means tawdrily attractive, as in, “I …

This is our submission to the University of Illinois’ 49-Hour Film Competition from last weekend in which we had 49 hours to make a five-minute movie incorporating balloons, an extreme close-up and the line, “It …

There’s a library of sorts in town that hasn’t drawn near the attention of the refurbished digs at the Champaign and Urbana Public Libraries, despite its offering a few books that you won’t find in …

The Song and Dance Ensemble of West Africa appears tonight at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. The performance begins at 7 p.m. in Foellinger Great Hall. Comprised of singers, dancers and musicians from the …

The prominence of self-conscious genre films in (post-) postmodernism is a phenomenon which at times can grate the nerves, as anyone who has tried to watch Shoot ‘Em Up more than once can tell you. …

If Saturday Night Live has another opening sketch featuring Tina Fey as Sarah Palin it won’t be good for anyone. Just as McCain quickly gave a concession speech, so must SNL concede that they can …

Now that Halloween is over, we’re getting dangerously close to the holiday season, so be on the lookout for expensive box sets of DVDs you already own and the bigger movies from this summer, including, …

Graphic designers don’t get much exposure in art galleries. As commercial artists, our work is seen in the marketplace for a brief period of time, then trashed and forgotten. There are exceptions, of course, and …

The man who dressed up as a minotaur for Halloween. (I’m sorry I didn’t get your name buddy. If you know this guy, let me know.) It’s not everyday you get to see a person …

In conjunction with the University of Illinois, Greg Boardman’s Art Theatre will host the 4th Annual Tournees French Film Festival and as with similar programs in the past, the slate is filled with an eclectic …

In order to be liked and admired as a smart-ass, one must put in the time and effort: Step up your vocabulary, read more than one subtitle at a time, pick an author to loathe, …

Naomi Klein, reputed writer and archenemy of neoliberalism, will be making several appearances in person and on the airwaves around Champaign-Urbana in the next couple of days. Tonight at 7:30 p.m., Klein — columnist for …

More than any other holiday, with the debatable exception of Christmas, the Halloween experience is very much defined by the films we associate with it. The Halloween season lasts for about a week — it’s …

The School of Art and Design at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, will present video and performance artist, Ben Coonley (and perhaps his talking toy pony) tonight at the Krannert Art Museum. Coonley hails from …

About four years ago, Michael Moore crafted another addition to his filmmaking collection to little response. The film was called Captain Mike Across America, which premiered in the Toronto International Film Festival in 2007. The …