Artsweek

October 22, 2009

The “Paranormal” Phenomenon ****

By Emelie Battaglia

It only took one million online demands for the independently produced "Paranormal Activity" to be distributed to theaters nationwide, but it has finally arrived. And boy was it worth it.

October 22, 2009

OFF THE BEATEN PATH: [REC]

By Hunter M. Daniels

1968's "Rosemary's Baby" featured a shot of a woman sitting in a bedroom on the phone with her face blocked by the edge of the doorway. Legend has it that at the first screening, nearly the entire audience leaned forward...

October 22, 2009

The University Art Museum Takes a “Holiday”

By Stephanie Leong

The University Art Museum opened its doors to four new exhibitions last Wednesday, all of which will be showing through Jan. 31, 2010. The distinct and diverse exhibitions deal with enticing themes, all confronting large...

October 22, 2009

New “Stepfather” Is No Replacement *

By Tyler Anthony

From the brilliant minds that brought us 2008's "brilliant" remake of "Prom Night" comes another 1980s horror-film retread that should have gone straight to DVD. Nelson McCormack's update of "The Stepfather" lacks the or...

October 22, 2009

“Citizen” Abides the Law of Action Entertainment

By Lance Kosher

Earlier this summer, Gerald Butler demonstrated how he does in fact has some range as an actor by playing a crudely endearing nice guy/asshole that pursues the chick from "Knocked Up" (I know her name, but I choose not t...

October 22, 2009

Ghostface Killah’s Spectre Haunts Velvet Jones

By Artsweek Editor

Fresh off an appearance at VH1's Hip Hop Honors, founding Wu-Tang Clansman Ghostface Killah made a shambolic appearance at Velvet Jones last Saturday night. Apparently battling some sort of flu, Ghost basically turned hi...

October 22, 2009

Thao Nguyen with the Get Down Stay Down at SOhO

By Alexandra Llerena Reporter

Last Thursday, SOhO was graced with the presence of Kill Rock Stars artist Thao Nguyen and her backing back, the Get Down Stay Down. Though the Virginia-based band's only been around for the past three years, it has gath...

October 15, 2009

New Noise Festival’s Debut Is Promising

By Se Young Kang

The organizers of New Noise Santa Barbara, a three-day "music and digital media conference" that invaded downtown State Street this past weekend, sell the event as a hip and timely educational event for those plugged in ...

October 15, 2009

Local Act, The Sunshine Brothers, Brings Reggae Rock to the Sandbar

By Jeanette Barnard

The Sunshine Brothers brought the motion of the ocean to Sandbar last Saturday night with its island-loving tunes as part of the first annual New Noise Santa Barbara music festival. Sunshine Brothers kicked off the last ...

October 15, 2009

Will The Real John Leguizamo Please Stand Up?

By Hunter M. Daniels

John Leguizamo is a complicated man, a man full of contradictions and seemingly mutually exclusive ideas. He has turned this premise into a long career as a character actor and performance artist.

October 15, 2009

Lovely, Flawed “Education” Shows a Young Life at a Crossroad ***

By Lance Kosher

"An Education" puts forth the thesis that there are two roads to be traveled for a young girl on the cusp of womanhood: One involves pedophilia, con-artistry and glamour; the other, academia and a lifetime of loneliness.

October 15, 2009

Paradise, Lost: Artsweek Urges Audiences to Quickly “Retreat” *

By Emelie Battaglia

What do you get when you bring together a huge cast, an overly invested writing team and an inexperienced director? A failed comedy. Were it not for the non-stop hilarity roll that is Vince Vaughn, "Couples Retreat" woul...

October 15, 2009

Shakira’s New Wolf Has Claws ****

By Lucas Villa

After dominating the airwaves worldwide with her 2006 hit, "Hips Don't Lie," Colombian superstar Shakira is now looking to translate that success to dance floors with She Wolf. The new 12-track LP explores new territory ...

October 15, 2009

Latest LP Unworthy of Kings **

By Aaron Murphy

You can say many things about the music performed by Kings of Convenience, but nobody would accuse the songs of not being pretty. Here, the duo rarely utilizes more than an acoustic guitar, a violin and their own vocal c...

October 15, 2009

Legacy of Lincoln Lives on in Jones’ Latest Work

By Karen Urrutia

Last Tuesday night's performance of "Fondly Do We Hope...Fervently Do We Pray," presented by the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, marked Arts & Lectures' first presentation at the Granada this season and served as...

October 15, 2009

INTERVIEW: A Chat With Derren and Ana of DNA Imagery

By Rene Caballero

If you've been downtown or attended one of the ridiculously sick parties in I.V. where there are photographers snapping pics of all the drunkards, you have more than likely run into Derren and Ana of DNA Imagery. Their p...