Closing Time

February 16, 2006 by

There's something heartwarming about Philip Seymour Hoffman, and it isn't just that scruffy teddy bear look he's been sporting as of late. In front of an overflowing theater of friends and fans, Hoffm...
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Thank You for Smoking | Go Ahead, Light Up

February 16, 2006 by

After 10 days of back-to-back movie viewing, reviewing, discussing and disliking, one's appreciation for a sub-par trip to the cinema is all but shot. Lucky for us, Sunday night's closing film, "Thank...
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And the Award Goes To…

February 16, 2006 by

After nearly two weeks of non-stop moviegoing, we here at Artsweek would like to stop, recognize and congratulate the winners of the 2006 Santa Barbara International Film Festival. The envelope please...
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Bragging Rights

February 9, 2006 by

It takes a certain type of guy to get on a stage in front of 2,000 people and wax poetical on himself for two-plus hours without coming across like a self-centered schmuck. And after Friday's Modern M...
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Daddy Dearest

February 2, 2006 by

With a tagline that reads, "But what about me?" one can't help but think that Christopher Jaymes' "In Memory of My Father" has a little less to do with pained mourning than your average tear-jerker ab...
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Drinks, Drugs and Rock ‘n’ Roll

February 2, 2006 by

One of many standout films to grace the first half of the Santa Barbara Film Festival, John Scheinfeld's "Who is Harry Nilsson (And Why is Everybody Talkin' About Him?)" is rockumentary filmmaking at ...
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Never Underestimate the Power of a Finely Tailored Suit

January 26, 2006 by

Hailing from sunny, star-studded Los Angeles it's no wonder the buoyant pop rock hooks of the 88 found their way to television so easily. But outside their re-occurring role on Fox's "The O.C.," singe...
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Stand by Your Man

January 19, 2006 by

If you're looking to indulge yourself in a full sensory experience that is just slightly left of center, may we suggest to you Santa Barbara's own Contemporary Arts Forum (CAF).
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Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins | Rabbit Fur Coat | Team Love Records

January 19, 2006 by

With Rabbit Fur Coat, Rilo Kiley frontwoman Jenny Lewis sets out to secure herself a spot alongside the Patsy Clines and Tammy Wynettes of decades past. The startling part of such a bold venture is th...
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Winter Wonderland

January 12, 2006 by

With the start of what looks to be the warmest winter Santa Barbara has seen in years, we here at Artsweek cannot help but get a little giddy at the thought of a new quarter. For us at least, the next...
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The Elected | Sun, Sun, Sun | Sub Pop

January 12, 2006 by

Fans of older Rilo Kiley cuts like "August" and "Small Figures in a Vast Expanse" will remember Blake Sennett as Jenny Lewis' right-hand man and unlikely replacement at the mic stand.
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Ryan Adams | 29 | Lost Highway

January 12, 2006 by

At the rate that Ryan Adams has been penning tunes as of late, some cannot help but worry that his meticulous composition and artistic integrity may begin to suffer. Meanwhile, others are just frettin...
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Live: Death Cab for Cutie @ The Wiltern

November 17, 2005 by

Sure, Ben Gibbard may appear the atypical tough guy, but after Saturday night, one cannot dispute the fact that the lead singer of Death Cab for Cutie had his game face on. Prone to wearing his heart ...
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Moview Reveiw: The Ice Harvest | Lloyd Dobler Takes on the Mob

November 17, 2005 by

Coming from someone who would like to think that John Cusack can do no wrong, it means a lot to say that the plot description for his latest venture, "The Ice Harvest," found me hesitant to see it at ...
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Arlo in Wonderland

November 3, 2005 by

It's four decades later and renowned folk activist Arlo Guthrie is still humming the same tune. In conjunction with his concert performance later that evening in Campbell Hall, Guthrie took some time ...
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