Surprising proof that Hollywood still can craft a memorable studio comedy, Roland Emmerich’s White House Down stands as a singular achievement in parody, its auteur’s intentions be damned. It’s not just a pitch-perfect attack on every risible plot point afflicting today’s all-exposition-and-explosions filmmaking, it’s also a mad liberal’s vision of…
Last month, in a major policy speech about America’s foreign entanglements, President Obama declared, “This war, like all wars, must end.” But veteran journalist Jeremy Scahill isn’t buying it. In his new documentary and nonfiction book, Dirty Wars, Scahill chronicles the insidious side of America’s covert military ops, which continue…
By 1975, many acts had walked through the doors of Don Davis’ Groovesville Productions offices in Detroit. None of them were quite like this, a band of three related-by-blood African-American brothers who played louder, faster, and weirder than anything anyone in the city that gave birth to Motown had ever…
Among the revelations you’re likely to experience during the course of Gideon’s Army, Dawn Porter’s vital, moving new HBO documentary (premiering July 1) about the struggle of conscience waged by public defenders in the deep South: “Everyone is so young.” Not just the suspects — mostly black and mostly broke…
I recognize that, even coming from a father of two preteen daughters, that might sound alarmist, so let me elaborate — the Disney Channel and its prime competitor, Nickelodeon’s Teen Nick, are a pox upon our tween nation, corrosive forces that impart more awful messages than any of Disney’s retrograde…
If you’ve never seen Sandra Bullock blow a peanut shell out of her nose, and you’d like to, The Heat is your movie. That’s not meant sarcastically: It’s one of the highlights of this often dismal but occasionally inspired comedy from Paul Feig, director of Bridesmaids, which pits Bullock’s hoity-toity…
When it is hot out — this hot out, anyway — it’s easy to feel a little worn down by lunch time. But if a nap in the office cubicle is out of the question, how about a pick-me-up with Someday, a blast of Lunch Time Theater at the Herberger…
For an unknown period of time, we were under the impression that comedians Dan Mintz and Nathan Fielder were one and the same. If you are familiar with both dark-haired jokesters known for their froggy deadpan delivery, then you know that they are voice twins and probably forgive us. Otherwise…
Put on your most fashion forward cocktail attire and get ready to have your creative socks thoroughly knocked off as independent arts organization RAW returns for its summer showcase, Kaleidoscope. This aptly named evening of art will highlight the talents of colorful creatives from all angles.Hosted by Tina Marie with…
“When the kids had killed the man I had to break up the band,” David Bowie laments.The line, from “Ziggy Stardust,” captures the dichotomy between the man behind the music and the “man” who was a direct result of it. Bowie’s Ziggy, an alien messiah, comes to earth to warn…
Whether you’re reading this on tree-killing paper or a screen manufactured by low-wage foreign workers, you’ve probably tuned out the moral implications of the world’s general acceptance of destructive and dehumanizing practices in pursuit of so-called progress. One man feels the heat of our choices in The Fever, on stage…
The old cliché about running away to join the circus has some appeal. You don’t have to deal with carnies, which makes it a more viable option than joining a traveling carnival. Life in the circus means befriending fire breathers, acrobats, and elephants. So, what’s not to love? Okay, cleaning…
The Phoenix Mercury could not figure out the New York Liberty last year. While this was hardly a unique problem (let’s face it, the Merc struggled with everyone last year) the Liberty really had the Mercury’s number: New York outscored Phoenix by an average of 20 points while sweeping the…
When it comes to Tempe, there’s only one spot that embodies the local spirit — in all its drunken, collegiate co-ed glory — and that’s Mill Avenue. During the 11th anniversary of National Independents Week, a celebration of all things locally-owned, Local First Arizona invites booze hounds to bar hop…
True sci-fi nerds were way into Princess Leia well before Jabba the Hutt dressed the Rebel Alliance heroine down in Return of the Jedi. The magnetic allure of her take-no-guff attitude, whether returning enemy fire or quipping back at Han Solo, is sure to make an appearance at Scandalesque’s Sexy…
If there’s one thing pundits love discussing, it’s how the American Dream is dead. They’ll dig up statistics, ask talking heads, and bemoan investment bubbles, Ben Bernanke, and inflation to prove their point: Doomsday is nigh, middle class. For more colorful perspectives on the topic, consult the works included in…
A lot has changed since Andy Warhol first showed his iconic Campbell’s Soup paintings in Eleanor Ward’s Stable Gallery in New York City. In 1962, Andy’s portrayal of something so inherently mundane as art made him the provocateur. Nowadays, that little can of soup is plenty provocative on its own…
While most Phoenicians are loading up on little packages of cardboard and gunpowder to express the American version of freedom, real fireworks in the form of 1,000-ton stones loom over us just waiting to hurtle down from the heavens and devastate human existence. At some point, a smug Chicken Little…
Something about summertime kind of kills our curiosity. No longer are we amped to hunt for cool art, try hot new restaurants, or, honestly, even bother to put on real clothing. Hence the appeal of “The Summer Gem Show” at Lisa Sette Gallery (which, yes, we plan to get dressed…
This summer the Arizona Museum of Youth is encouraging people of all ages and imaginations to dream big with its exhibition, “Dream On.” With plenty of interactive art installations for the family to enjoy such as the Dream Theater, Dream Weaver, and featured artist Laura Van Duren’s “Dream Cloud,” this…
Pundits, politicians, and (of course) celebrities took to Twitter to share their reactions to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the federal Defense of Marriage Act and dismiss California’s Proposition 8. Running the gamut from hilarious to heartfelt, here are the top 20 celeb tweets responding to the…
Gem features one standout piece from a local shop. Whether it’s a jacket, necklace, or handbag, it’s on our have-to-have list. What: With a mod look in a current color scheme, this geometric wood-bead necklace combines summery tones of mint and coral with tetrahedronic angles, making a wearable, chic adornment…
