Artsweek

February 18, 2010

“Crow II” Flounders **

By Hunter M. Daniels

Takashi Miike is an incredibly talented filmmaker. He's made about a dozen truly wonderful movies. Problem is, he's made over 80 films in total. "Crow Zero II," his latest endeavor, is a huge step up from its predecessor...

February 18, 2010

A Night With the Stars

By Emelie Battaglia

While most actors would let a moderator get away with being a bore, Gabourey Sidibe ("Precious") -- who was receiving her Virtuosos Award at the Cinema Vanguards event Friday evening -- did just the opposite. Roger Durli...

February 18, 2010

“Men” in the Middle” ***

By Hunter M. Daniels

Who is a pornographer? Surely the fine folks over at Vivid Entertainment are pornographers. But what about the Hyatt? Holiday Inn? The Hiltons? (Well, minus Paris, perhaps). This the question Jack Harris (Luke Wilson) fi...

February 18, 2010

Del Rocks the Hub Tonight

By Matt Connolly

The Hub is about to get funky. The underground hip hop prodigy stopping at UCSB tonight is a man of many profiles, the more notable of which include Hieroglyphics frontman, Gorillaz ghost rapper and master of the year 30...

February 18, 2010

“Kingdom City” Boasts a Talented Cast of Actors

By Nico Kiefer

Last weekend, the doors of the Performing Arts Theatre were opened to the public for the world premiere of Sheri Wilner's "Kingdom City." Directed by Theatre & Dance Dept.'s BFA professor Risa Brainin, this is the fifth ...

February 18, 2010

Olympic Fever Takes Hold

By Courtney Schonfeld

Between the Super Bowl, Valentine's Day and all the midterms scattered around them, I bet you thought you'd be able to return to your normal schedule: one part class to two parts studying to five parts alcohol. Wrong-o. ...

February 11, 2010

Kathryn Bigelow Takes Home the Honors at the Lobero for Director of the Year

By Virginia Yapp

As Santa Barbara International Film Festival head honcho Roger Durling pointed out Monday evening in his comments during the festival's reception for Outstanding Director recipient Kathryn Bigelow, to mention Bigelow's g...

February 11, 2010

SBIFF Brings High-Caliber Writers to Panel

By Virginia Yapp

You know that thing they say about writers: How they can only write about what they know?

February 11, 2010

Bullock Storms the Riviera

By Emelie Battaglia

If Sandra Bullock had it her way, she'd be taking the 200-liter bottle of Chopin Potato Vodka at the door of Arlington Theatre last Friday night back home with her.

February 4, 2010

Ingrid Michaelson Live

By Nicole Sands

If you bought tickets to Ingrid Michaelson's concert last Saturday night thinking you were her only fans (I'm talking about you, annoying girls in line in front of me), you were immediately proven wrong. The line for the...

February 4, 2010

“Lost” Begins to Get Lost

By Courtney Schonfeld

What kind of a TV columnist would I be if I didn't dedicate a column to the return of "Lost"? Actually, I'm hoping with this article I'll have filled my "Lost" quota and won't have to bring up this dumb-ass show again, b...

February 4, 2010

The Ruins of “Rome” *

By Emelie Battaglia

Oh, Veronica Mars, how far you have fallen. You went from a sarcastic, witty teen detective to a flat, broken slapstick humorist. "When in Rome" just happens to be your latest sad attempt at moving beyond the small scree...

February 4, 2010

Artsweek’s Anticipated February LP Releases

By Lucas Villa

It's barely February, and 2010 is already shaping up to be a stellar year for new albums. January has already seen the arrival of pop it-girl Ke$ha's debut album, Animal, and the return of indie rocker group Vampire Week...

February 4, 2010

“World’s Greatest Dad”

By Hunter M. Daniels

So the Oscar nominations came in Tuesday. As usual, they were all for boring, safe, generic movies. Almost nothing edgy or off the beaten path made the cut. Just the same old, same old and Meryl Streep's 14th nomination....

February 4, 2010

Hard to Find Venue Is Back in Business

By Virginia Yapp

It might not look like much from the outside, but the Hard to Find Showspace is a local legend. Bigger than beloved venues like the Biko Co-op or the Pink Mailbox, the music venue run by brothers Josh and Tim Eymann will...

February 4, 2010

Word Farm Benefits Amateur Screenwriters

By Hunter M. Daniels

It was barely 9 a.m. on a Saturday, but the halls of the new Social Sciences and Media Studies building were abuzz with chatty students munching on cereal and pastries. Welcome to Word Farm.