MONSOON WEDDING (2001). Seeing the moldy expression feel-good in relation to a motion picture frequently has the ability to generate heartburn, but how else to describe this joyous work from Mira Nair, the director of The Namesake and Mississippi Masala? A picture as full of emotion as the traditional ceremony it celebrates, Monsoon Wedding uses the title event as the backdrop for a work that, among other things, delineates the struggle between old and new India, examines the compromises that individuals must perform for the sake of family sanctity, and, in the tradition of Father of the Bride, takes a gently comic look at the headaches brought on by pulling the whole thing together. Naseeruddin Shah is cast in the equivalent of the Spencer Tracy role, as the family patriarch who must contend with all sorts of old-fashioned strife in new-fangled Delhi as he coordinates the union of his thoroughly modern daughter (Vasundhara Das) to a handsome man (Parvin Dabas) flying in from Houston to take part in this arranged marriage. Characters come and go, tense situations alternately explode or dissipate, and secrets are uncovered yet through it all, most of these ingratiating folks invariably manage to do whats best for themselves and for the family unit. Vijay Raaz steals the film as a wedding planner whose obnoxiousness gets vaporized by true love, and theres an infectious soundtrack that may warrant an immediate trip to Amazon.coms music section.
Extras in the two-disc DVD set include audio commentary by Nair; a 22-minute conversation between Nair and Shah; an 11-minute conversation between director of photography Declan Quinn and production designer Stephanie Carroll; and seven of Nairs shorts (four fiction pieces, three documentaries), ranging in length from 9 minutes to an hour.
Movie: ***1/2
Extras: ***
To purchase this movie, check out its listing on Amazon.com.
Revolution Pizza in NoDa held a benefit event tonight for Pints for Prostates.
To see more photos, click here.
In honor of CL's 24-Hour Blog-o-thon, this week's episode of Audiofloss celebrates local music by playing three soul-flavored cuts from the CD compilation we released last week: Jeff Hahne's Homebrew Vol. 3. Check it out:
(To listen, click on the link or the MP3 icon below)
DRAG ME TO HELL (2009). The face of horror in modern cinema is, sad to say, torture porn, where sadism is exhibited with alarming regularity and imagination is only employed when the scripter conjures up gruesome new ways for characters to die. Because of this lamentable trend, its easy to sing the praises of this funhouse freak show thats more interested in delivering old-fashioned chills than in wallowing in misogyny, masochism and mutilation. The story is so thin that the entire screenplay could have been written on a bubble gum wrapper, yet the end result is so delirious in its desire to delight that film fans willing to be jerked around wont mind. Director Sam Raimi regains the playful prankster attitude he exhibited back in his Evil Dead days, crafting (with brother Ivan) this yarn about sweet-natured loan officer Christine Brown (Alison Lohman), who, in an ill-advised attempt to show her boss (David Paymer) that shes able to make the tough decisions, denies the elderly Mrs. Ganush (Lorna Raver) a third extension on a loan, thus leaving her homeless. Angered, the gypsy woman places a curse on Christine, a jinx that will expose her to three days of supernatural hauntings before shes ultimately ... well, check out that title. Drag Me to Hell isnt exactly scary, and the climactic twist, straight out of vintage EC Comics, is telegraphed far too early in the narrative. But Lohman is ideally cast as a decent person who nevertheless must occasionally make some hard calls if she wants to survive, and the brothers Raimi get a lot of mileage out of Mrs. Ganush as a formidable adversary. Forget Jason and Freddy and Jigsaw its the thought of this old woman gumming a viewer to death that might make it difficult to turn out the lights.
The DVD includes both the PG-13 theatrical version and an unrated directors cut (which actually runs 10 seconds shorter than the theatrical take). The only extras are a 35-minute behind-the-scenes featurette and theatrical trailers for other titles.
Movie: ***
Extras: **
Read the full-length review of the film here.
Fire My Desire Boutique is a lingerie store located in the University area for "easy access" for college students. In fact, those who can present a valid college ID even get a little discount. Check out this tour with manager Yakisha Norris.
9605 N. Tryon St.
704-595-1808
A few brave souls opened up to a man on the street question about getting it on in Charlotte ... and when I say a few, I mean two.
I'm not counting the "you offering?" ones.
Read more here.
I just love trolling on Craigslist looking for weird stuff.
The most bizarre listings, of course, lie in the "Personals" section of the popular classifieds-oriented Web site. Throughout the night, I'll be checking out posts on Craigslist and then publishing the strangest local Charlotte-area ones here. Maybe you could hit them up and make a love (or lust) connection.
OK, check out this second ditty:
real. :) - w4m - 20
i'm not going out this friday night, just sitting at home. i just want someone to talk to on yahoo. i need someone who can think with their brain, and just not their penis. i'm posting in casual encounters because i kind of do want a frisky conversation too.
body: "smaller" bbw (size 20) rather put this here than lead on one of those guys who only want a "smaller" woman :)
i have pics to trade when we talk.
any other information, just ask.
you: sane, intelligent, not too cocky, relaxed, can make me laugh, not bald, dark hair, sweet eyes, looks better than a mail box, not a troll just looking for sex
Since when is size "20" a "smaller BBW"? Anyway, to reach out and touch her, follow this here link.
Christopher Buckley, the best selling author and satirist, kept his audience chuckling Thursday night at ImaginOn's McColl Family Theater as part of the 19th Annual Novello Festival of Reading, presented by the Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. The next event, Wordplay, will be held Saturday.
Buckley is famous for a long list of things, including being the son of William F. Buckley, Jr. -- founder of the Conservative rag The National Review. He's also the author of the books Thank You for Smoking, Little Green Men and Supreme Courtship ... among others.
More impressively, depending on whom you ask, he served as Bush the First's speech writer for two years in the early 80s and is the recipient of numerous literary awards.
This week the theme is a multi-layered, continent-hopping trek toward everyone's ultimate goal: Utter intoxication.
David Capp, the wine distributer in charge of divvying out the goods, says this week's theme is a mix of old v. new, California v. Italy and Pinot Grigio v. red zinfandel.
(So far, there is no clear winner; ask them in the morning.)
Mike Trivitapoli, from Nashville, who's in town for a wedding, says he was lured to Common Market by friends who asked, "Do you want to go to a cool bar with a cool patio and a shit ton of beers?"
For him, he says, it was a no-brainer.
(He had no comment when we pointed out that he was drinking white wine.)
Kirsten Urke, Perrin Hedgepeth and Katie Harrell (pictured above), say Common Market is an easy choice since they work down the street.
I just love trolling on Craigslist looking for weird stuff.
The most bizarre listings, of course, lie in the "Personals" section of the popular classifieds -oriented Web site. Throughout the night, I'll be checking out posts on Craigslist and then publishing the strangest local Charlotte-area ones here. Maybe you could hit them up and make a love (or lust) connection.
OK, check out this first ditty:
3 female roomates looking to party. - w4m
3 female roomates looking to party and have a good time.We will be having a bonfire outside..Party starts at 9pm,
requirments
-no one under 21 or over 30.
-must bring alcohol.
-MUST ATTATCH PHOTO any email without one will be deleted.
were looking foward to hearing from you
This seems a little sketchy to me. Oh well, if you wanna check them out, follow this link.