52nd City: November 2007

Dining out for Life: Three Stops

Hit three stops in The Grove on Tuesday night, part of Dining out for Life's fall edition.

The Atomic Cowboy was the first and I've never enjoyed the Cowboy more. Thought the place had been reserved for nearly two weeks - the 100% donation to Dining was surely the cause of that - Superstar Server David slotted us with a two-top near the door, no mean feat. It was obvious the fully-staffed room was cranking, with a capacity crowd, but even so, the order came up quickly and the new veg addition to the menu, a veggie burger, was a total winner, much better than the usual warmed-up-Morningstar-on-a-bun that passes for one through the rest of town. The mood was upbeat, the place was humming, the club had a big-time, big-town feel that you don't normally see on a Tuesday night in November. Excellent stuff.

From there, it was a quick stop at Novak's, which I wasn't "feeling," as the kids say. Maybe it's because I'm hearing that the club's traditional, lesbian fanbase isn't enjoying the incursion of the new crowd that's come with the move to The Grove. True? False? I'd like to know. Anyway, it was a full room and there was nothing wrong, per se, just quite grab the vibe of the place.

Lastly, a trip to the new Newstead Tower Public House, found at Newstead and Manchester. Four thoughts here. One: what will the place be finally known as? The Public House? The Newstead? The Newstead Tower? Too many words! Let's figure this out. Two: Eventually the walk between, say, Talmadge and Newstead won't scare anytime, but some shrinking flowers will still worry about the walk today, as lots of empty storefronts and a few interesting, other pedestrians will flip out the non-urban types. I predict a few two-block drives for the next li'l while. Three: This is a cool room! Neat bar design, with a segmented mirror behind the bar and an overall "classic" pub feel. It's a loud room; lots of hard surfaces. Didn't try the food, but plenty of folks in the room were dining, in addition to drinking. Nice space, overall; very "usable" space, if you will. Four: soccer on the TV! Wanna be a European pub. Play soccer. Leave it on. Some of us will find more often because of that.

The Cult

My last three concerts have been: Fishbone, Fragile Porcelain Mice and The Cult. Is this 1997? I dunno, 1987? I'm happy, in any event.

Attending The Cult's show at the Pageant last night was funny on a few levels, not the least of which was ID-ing the desperate aging rocker factor on both the stage and in the audience. I was fairly impressed on both counts, including (on-stage) Ian Astbury's possum tail/belt accoutrement and Billy Duffy's of-the-moment-rock-guy-hair. Nice.

The group - Astbury, Duffy and assorted hired guns, including what appeared to be their accountant on second guitar - played most of the songs I essentially wanted to hear ("Fire Woman," "Edie [Ciao Baby]," "Wild Flower," "Nirvana," "She Sells Sanctuary" and "Love Removal Machine" among them), missing only "Rain" and "Sun King," from my personal "must" list. So, yeah, the show worked for me, though a free ticket also helped, since $36 for a group in this stage of career ain't necessarily a nice price.

The most amusing moment for me, though, may've been at show's end, when the group partook in the time-honored ritual of tossing tokens into the crowd. Drumsticks. Guitar picks. And two tambourines, the last of which arc-ed three feet to my right, bounced off head and then into the hands of someone three feet the other direction. Maybe the Hefeweizen had something to do with it, but my hands never left my sides as tambourine clanged it's merry way into someone's collection, with my noggin as a temporary side trip.

If the group's not quite what they used to be, then as an audience member, I have to confess that my old-goalie quickness has clearly degraded, as well.

Damn. Like I needed the reminder.

NPTCO's "second" Opens Next Week

Dug the first show by the Non-Prophets and I'm looking forward to the next one. It'll be nice to catch a show at the new Ivory Theatre, too.

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Hot on the heels of their critically acclaimed season opener Corleone ~ The Shakespearean Godfather , The NonProphet Theater Company closes out 2007 with the second production of their second season with a play entitled- appropriately enough- second.

second was written by Neal Utterback and first produced by the Horse Trade Theatre Group in New York City in 2004. The NonProphet Theater Company is proud to present the regional premiere here in St. Louis.

The story is an unusual mix of comedy, drama, crime noir and love story, with themes that touch on faith, love, loss and the quest for salvation. The play is told in a non-linear fashion as the lives of six New Yorkers and a mysterious man intertwine on a fateful Christmas Eve. Three separate stories that all have one common bond combine in this innovative tale, and it prompts the questions: what are the defining qualities of hope, faith and trust? To what lengths would a person go to protect those things?

After the death of her mother, Lauren and her partner Vick find themselves second guessing their life together. John hires T, a prostitute, as he finds himself facing the seemingly endless seconds of his days. Jake and Davey work on a deal that could be each other's second chance. second is an exciting "comedy with questions" for the new millennium where science and religion collide, and the play is as entertaining as it is intriguing. What will you believe?

second, by Neal Utterback, will be presented by The NonProphet Theater Company, December 7—16 at the Ivory Theater. Performances will be Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, with all show times at 8:00pm. Tickets are $15 for general audiences and $12 for students and seniors.

Deanna Jent directs the cast:

Kelley Ryan as Lauren, Kirsten Wylder as Vick, Robert A. Mitchell as Jake, Adam Flores as Davey, B. Weller as John, Bess Moynihan as T, and Tyson Blanquart as The Man.

Set design by Nick Uhlmansiek. Lighting design is by Dominique Gallo. Sound design is by Robert A. Mitchell. Props and Stage Management by Katie Donnelly.

The Ivory Theater is located at 7622 Michigan Ave. at Ivory St. in the Carondolet neighborhood of St. Louis. Click here for directions.

Reservations can be made by calling 314-752-5075 or by sending an email to reservations@nptco.org . Payment is received at the Box Office. At this time, only cash or checks are accepted.

For more information on The NonProphet Theater Company, visit their Web site at http://www.nptco.org or on MySpace at http://myspace.com/nptco.

Mmmelt this Saturday

Can it be December already? Really? It can?

Wow.

In that case, I am so going to this event:

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CD release party for MOMBASA by mmmelt on Saturday, December, 1 from 6 p.m. until midnight at Jackson Pianos, 3138 Cherokee St. The first two hours will be a sociable party. The next four hours will be a meditative chill zone.

Don't expect new-age white-light bliss. We'll visit the brightest and the darkest corners of sonic splendour, and a full video explosion of projectile lumens striking like weapons and rendering solid witnesses into gelatinous liquids pools of awe. The performance will feature ambient electronic soundscapes broadcast on a micro-transmitter to a receiver planted inside a full grand piano with video mixed live and projected onto the piano. Tea will be served throughout the
performance, and visitors are encouraged to bring a prayer rug, meditation mat, sleeping bag, pillow, or whatever other deep listening enhancing technologies they see fit.

MOMBASA is a mmmelt first, a full-length solo album. It is a theatrical A/V explosion of dark ambience, glistening noise, rolling thunderous basslines, bouncy beats, electronic mandalas, digital noir cinema, and video feeds from the Free City of Mombasa, where cyborgs are not slaves. It features the poetry of Stefene Russell and Brett Lars Underwood on three tracks. Available in stores and online Dec. 1.

http://mmmelt.us/
http://myspace.com/mmmeltus

Martin Atkins @ Webster U./Upstairs Lounge

It's safe to say that in some circles, Martin Atkins qualifies as a "legendary" drummer, having banged the pots and pans for Public Image Limited, Ministry, Pigface and others. He'll be in town for a special engagement next week and we let Mark Early tell the tale from there:

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Martin Atkins of PiL w/ Adam of Tone Rodent 12/4/07 STL!!!!

Body: Tone Rodent singer/guitarist and St. Louis based artist Adam Watkins is featured as a contributor in the new book, Tour: Smart by Martin Atkins (PiL, NIN, Pigface, Killing Joke, The Damage Manual, Invisible Records Owner and Founder).

Martin will be in Town on Tuesday the 4th of December giving a Free Seminar on the book at the Cecille R. Hunt Gallery, in the Visual Arts Studios of Webster University at 6 pm.

Martin will then be DJing a special Afterparty at the Upstairs Lounge with Adam, Matty and Marko of Tone Rodent joining the sonic fray. +21 and Free!

The Upstairs Lounge is located at 3131 S. Grand, STL, MO 63116.

Yay!: Truc Lam

It took me, oh, about 15 years to walk into Truc Lam, the little Vietnamese place at the corner of Gravois and Spring. Man, that was some wasted time.

I'm now only mildly obsessed with the spot, which has a good selection of vegetarian fare and - based on my four, first visits - distinct lack of non-Vietnamese patronage. I dig that.

I don't dig the smoke, which can be heavy. Yesterday, four guys at the long, center table managed to light up about a dozen squares during the course of my meal. Not so enjoyable.

But the wood paneling? Delightful. The hot tea? It'll put pep in your step. The service? Just fine, especially if you speak Vietnamese.

I love Truc Lam: 3737 Gravois, 314-776-1299; open Thursday-Tuesday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m., closed Wednesday.

Improv Trick @ Mad Art

Local actor and improv coach Bill Chott's spent a good chunk of the last year working in LA, but he's back in town for the holidays. With that, his popular class series, dubbed The Improv Trick, will also be back for a December-into-January run of dates at a new venue, Mad Art Gallery.

I've taken his classes and have told plenty of other folks exactly this: you don't even need to have a desire to be an actor or comedian to benefit from his courses. It's just a great way to open up your head to new ways of communicating in public settings. Quality stuff, for sure, and I look forward to catching up on some work with Bill in the next li'l while.

Join me, yeah? Details here:

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Free Improv Class
Sun, Nov. 25th 1-4 pm
Explore your creative side. This class is a supporting and comfortable environment, suitable for people who have never been in front of an audience before. Get ready to have fun with group creativity exercises.
Cost: FREE

Creativity Workshop
Saturday January 5th and Sunday January 6th - Noon-2 pm
Discover your hidden talent to create and be spontaneous. Great for professionals looking to explore their creative side and gain a competitive edge or artists who want to overcome creative block. Play creative games and interact with other creative people. Get in the creative habit!
Cost: $30

How to Break into Show Business
Monday January 7th 7-9 pm
What are the secrets to a successful career in show business? Bill Chott of The Improv Trick reveals "The Trick" to breaking into show business and making money with your acting skills. For a complete listing of Bill Chott's professional work including hit film and TV work, visit the Internet Movie Database.
Cost: $30

Teen Workshop
Saturdays in Dec. from 10-12 pm
Young Improvisers know Bill from his work on Nickelodeon, The Disney Channel, and hit teen movies. Students in this workshop will perform with Bill Chott in a showcase December 23rd!
Cost: $150 for four weeks

Beginning Workshop
Saturdays in Dec. from 1-4 pm
Explore your creative side. This class is a supporting and comfortable environment, suitable for people who have never been in front of an audience before. Get ready to have fun with group creativity exercises. Students in this workshop will perform with Bill Chott in a showcase on December 23rd.
Cost: $150 for four weeks

Intermediate Workshop: Introduction to Longform
Wednesdays from 7-10 pm
Dec. 5, 12, 19th and Jan. 9th
Students with over a year's experience in improvisation or continuing students of The Improv Trick can learn Longform Improv from a professional improviser. Learn "The Trick" to creating instant theater. Students will perform long form improv to a packed house on December 23rd.
Cost: $150 for four weeks

All classes at the MAD ART Gallery
2727 S. 12th Street
St. Louis, MO
Class sizes are limited . . . Register now!
Email: The Improv Trick
Call 314-922-1998

That's a Wrap!

Now the festival is over the real hard stuff begins, the reviewing of what worked and didn't work. Still hte CSL staff can sleep at night knowing they kicked ass and took names.

It's like they say in the movie at the Arch, 'the thing was done.'

That said, I'll end my blog with a few bits of randomness!

There is a website for "Spine Tingler," the documantary about William Castle.

www.spinetinglermovie.com

Those who loved the punk documentary "Punk's Not Dead" can visit that site at

www.punksnotdeadthe movie.com

If you liked the expereince of the film festival why not become a member of Cinema St. Louis and have the thrill all year long?

John Thompson is back on patrol at the Tivoli. He was in Italy for part of the fest. He is an institution!

It was weird seeing John Cusack play a Republican in "Grace is Gone."

Comic book artist Chris Ware has designed the movie poster for "The Savages," a film with a strong post festival buzz.

Michael Ketcher is a local artist and actor. He goes to loads of arts events in the city and represents all the time. I saw him a few times this weekend and he mentioned that his film, "Sound of the Dead" is looking for distribution but is out on DVD.

Those of us who attend CSL events throughout the year know Mike as "Bill Clinton Guy" or "BCG" because of his facial resemblance to Willy. He takes this all in stride. He made an appearance in the film "Ghost Image" as the cop in Kiener Plaza who says "We lost her."

The volunteers this year were much more affable and helpful about movies this year. Maybe they were afraid of the canings they would get if they failed.

MOVIES I LOVED

PERSEPOLIS
This adaptation of the graphic novel was frackin excellent!

CHILDREN OF GLORY
Water polo and Communists. Whoda thunk it.

GETTING HOME
Just a really solid film that does everything emotionally that a movie should.

BIG DREAMS LITTLE TOKYO
Just a wacky little movie.

So as I leave the exciting world of 52nd City I want to remind you all to listen to Juxtaposition on KDHX (Wed. 8-10pm), come to my DJ gigs on the 2nd Sat of each month at The Royale and lastly just be nice t each other!

AWARDS

THAT'S A WRAP
The 16th annual AT&T St. Louis International Film Festival is now over.

I'll do a few more wrap up blog entries with funny stories or whatever, but here's the stuff everyone wants to know... what won.

Audience Choice Awards
Best Feature: Juno directed by Jason Reitman
Best International Feature: Children of Glory directed by Krisztina Goda
Best Documentary: A Walk to Beautiful directed by Mary Olive Smith

Interfaith Awards
Best Documentary: A Walk to Beautiful directed by Mary Olive Smith
Best Feature: Getting Home directed by Yang Zhang

New Filmmakers Forum Award
Lovely by Surprise directed by Kirt Gunn

Short Subjects
Best Local Short: "Actors" by Joe Leonard
(additional awards will be announced next week)

Gateway Film Critics Association Award
Best Feature: Diving Bell and the Butterfly directed by Julian Schnabel

Vital Voice LGBT AwardThe Gymnast directed by Ned Farr

STATS
The Festival attendance was up by about 15% which is awesome. It looks like the early figures show that about 16,000 or 16,500 people attended the Festival. I counted them all!

There were more volunteers this year and people seemed less fatigued as time went on. This is terrific!

The overall mood of the festival was upbeat, frenetic and fast paced. It was relentless!

THE DIVING BELL & THE BUTTERFLY
I only saw one film yesterday. It was this one. I was glad to have it screen at the tivoli becuase it's the best screen in town for films. Julian Schnaebel's film is coming out soon so do not miss it. It has some really dark parts in it, but overall it is a good film. it's really dark and dreary at times but also amaingly powerful and full of life at the same time.

SLIFF Day 11

This is the last day of our acquaintance...
Yes the St. Louis International Film Festival comes to a close today after record crowds, great hype and minimal scheduling messiness. The volunteers, venue employees and staff ahve all done a great job at keeping things going and should be given a hug!

But I digress. See a film!

AVIVA MY LOVE
An Israeli film about the inner struggle of a woman who must decide on whether or not to stay with her family or give in to a new interest love interest. Things get even more murky when and her own ambitions to be published get in the way. 1pm and 3:30pm, Plaza Frontenac.

A WALK INTO THE SEA
If you missed this bio doc about the life of Danny Williams, Andy Warhol's lover, then you have a chance to see it one more time. 12:30pm, Plaza Frontenac

BEAUTY IN TROUBLE
A romantic triangle set in modern Prague. The film features great cinematography and terrific acting. One of the hidden gems of the festival.
3:45pm, Plaza Frontenac

DROWNING BY NUMBERS
So what if Peter Greenaway cancelled. This is a terrific flick. For some reason this one is difficult to see in actual theatres so please make an effort to catch it and see why Greenaway is such an innovative director. 2:30pm, SLAM

DAISY
Fans of Asian cinema should love the latest from Andrew Lau. When a detective and assassin fall for the same woman things get messy.

THE DIVING BELL & THE BUTTEFLY
An odds favorite to win the festival this year. From NPR to local critics, this film Julian Schnabel has a huge buzz propelling it into tonight's screening. The film will now be shown at the Tivoli at 6:45pm.

GETTING HOME
Now you the mighty reader can get a chance to see one of my favorite films from this year's festival. The powers that be at SLIFF have added an extra screening of "Getting Home." For weird reasons the print had an ordeal getting here so now we can see it on film rather than video. "Getting Home" is wonderful and potent film laced with comedy, emotion and melancholy. Everything a film should be. 8pm, Plaza Frontenac.

SLIFF DAY 10 (recap)

PERSEPOLIS
One of the films I have most been looking for for this year's festival was "Persepolis," based on the widely acclaimed graphic novel.

I loved it. It was one of my favorite films at the fest. The animation was in sync with the style of the graphic novel while remaining true ot the spirit of Marjane Satrapi's work.

From a political standpoint the film could not come out at a better time. Socially it is a film that does a lot to explain a culture that many are quick to condemn without understanding.

The downfall of the Shah of Iran and subsequent Islamic Revolution has never been so easily explained in such a minimalistically clever way. The humor of the graphic novel is retained as well, providing a very accessable human element to the animation on screen. This film won a jury Prize at Cannes and is slated for a wide release soon. Do not miss it!

Another reason to see "Persepolis" is because the French are doing some cool things with both comics and animation right now. A case in point of this would be, "Renaissance" which came out here last year.

THE WALKER
Woody Harrelson plays gay against a triple threat of acting powerhouses, Lily Tomlin, Lauren Bacall and Kirsten Scott Thomas. Okay, two powerhouses and KST. Anyway, What the hell happenend to director Paul Schrader ("Taxi Driver," Raging Bull")? With the body of work he has created you would expect to see a film that was a not a slowly paced meandering mess like this. At times it was stagnant and had no life. Harrelson was not awful onscreen, he just wasn't very great either.

SLIFF Day 9 Recap

I've been away with lots of really annoying work stuff. I do apologize....

There was a lot to do on this the last weekend of the festival. Despite a wonderfully array of films i went to the Art Museum to ssee "The Iron Horse."

I have been looking forward to this since I first heard about in the spring. it was not a let down!

THE IRON HORSE
Friday night's screening of "The Iron Horse" was amazing. For starters it was great to see so many people at the Art Museum for the film. Second, the print was gorgeous. Third, the combination of an epic film and the organ wizardry of Stan Kann provided an unparralled film experience. As for the movie it was everyhting you would expect from an epic film. Considering it was made in 1924 it really was bold and inventive.

I was thrilled with both silent films offerings this year and hope that Cinema St. Louis continues the tradition with future festivals.

BioSonar on Sunday @ Mad Art

A number of folks who performed on the 52nd City CD "Sound" will be taking part in an event at Mad Art Gallery this Sunday afternoon-into-night.

Here are the details:

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BioSonar: music and art festival / potluck / indoor picnic
4-11PM this Sunday, November 18, 2007
Mad Art (2727 S. 12th Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63118)
$7, or free if you bring a dish that can serve 10 or more

Echolocation Recordings inaugural festival featuring dozens of regional artists from the improv / experimental / electroacoustic / free / deep listening / eclectic / concrete / new music / avant garde / noise / drone / field recording / lowercase / uncategorizable circles, as well as regional literature, video art, and potluck.

The line-up so far includes Peanuts (Jeremy Brantlinger, Eric Hall, Nazeer Sadeeq Holmes), Ghost Ice, Mike Pitts, Y Toros, Andrew Hefner, Raglani, Ajay Khanna and Chris Smentkowski (of Brain Transplant), Mark Sarich, Worm Hands, Dave Stone, Joseph Potthoff, Tony Renner / Learn Artist!, James Weber jr. (of Julia Sets and Museum Mutters), Catholic Guilt, and more to be announced. These performers are encouraged to explore extended technique, long-form composition / improvisation, and collaboration.

This will be an afternoon / evening event designed as an indoor picnic, so bring a blanket or pillow to lay out on the floor as you enjoy the various approaches to non-traditional musics, food provided by the organizers and audience, video / film projections, books from local writers and publishers, and a mini-shop set up by Cherokee St.'s Apop Records (offering a hand picked selection of music to compliment the event).

The cover will be $7, or totally free if you bring any dish that can serve 10 or more people. Refrigeration will be available if needed, and be sure to mark any dishes you need back with your name. Per the liquor license at Mad Art, no outside liquor may be brought, but a full-service cash bar will be available. Smoking is allowed only in the fenced-in outdoor garden area. The all-ages event goes from 4-11 PM.

SLIFF DAY 9

Films shift to two screens at Plaza Frontenac and expand to COCA this weekend as the great programming continues.

Friday sees some really good stuff from Europe, more shorts and a silent gem.

FRESH AIR
I saw this one last night. It takes awhile to get going and you have to stay with it because it's a little slow out of the gate. A quiet film with lots of emotion. 2:30pm, Plaza Frontenac

BEAUTY IN TROUBLE
A bizarre love triangle, Czech style. Loaded with beautiful cinematography and great performances. 4:45 pm, Plaza Frontenac

EMMA'S BLISS
A quick warning on this one. Animal fans may not love the scenes of animal deaths in the film. Although Emma is gentle in kiiling her swine there are some icky gross bits that are not for the squeamish.

Nonetheless, this is a really nice film based on a popular novel. Emma is a
down on her luck pig breeder who is in danger of losing her farm to creditors. She keeps to herself and treats her animals humanely as she kills them. Her solitude is interrupted when Max, a down on his luck city guy who has just been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, crashes his car on her farm. As their two worlds collide it has both tragic and touching results. This is a pretty good film from Germany. 7:15pm, Plaza Frontenac.

TWO PLAYERS FROM THE BENCH
A Croation film about two athletes, one a Serb and one a Croat, who are thrown into the spotlight when they are asked to impersonate witnesses before The International War Crimes Tribunal. 4:30pm, Plaza Frontanac

THE IRON HORSE
This is something very special! It's a wonderfully restored version of John Ford's 1924 silent Western. This is an epic film that definitely must be seen.
St. Louis organist and noted vacuum collector Stan Kann will provide live musical accompaniment. Film historian Charles Barr will introduce and discuss the film. I cannot emphasize enough what a treat it will be to see this movie!

TIM AND ERIC:WHAT A WONDERFUL RIDE
This is another can't miss program. In fact it may be the can't miss special event of the festival. Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim, stars of "Tom Goes to the Mayor" and "Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!" will discuss their collaborative chicanery and present short films from their career, including stuff too scary for broadcast TV. If you love Adult Swim you must come to this. Get your tickets early this will be an event.
8pm, COCA

SHORTS PROGRAM 7: AROUND THE WORLD IN EIGHT SHORTS
A broad collection of short films from across the globe. 9:30 pm, Plaza Frontenac

MANUAL OF LOVE
This Italian romantic comedy did very well at the box office. Interwoven plots
chronicle the joys and fears of being in love. 9:45 pm, Plaza Frontanac

SLIFF MOVES WEST

So the AT &T St. Louis International Film Festival has left the environs of the Tivoli until Sunday night. The caravan has been packed up and the trucks have been sent out as operations now shift to the mean streets of Frontenac for a few days of film.

You must be cautious as you go to Plaza Frontenac for the films. They have better parking that is for sure, but they don't have the food or time killing options that the Loop has. I would recommend packing food and bringing a book if you plan to wait between times. Although there is a really nice sandwich joint and some tables to sit and read at this is basically a mall with no traces of popular culture outside the theaters.

I will miss the option of running to Star Clipper, Subterranean Books or Vintage Vinyl between my films at the Tivoli. I guess I'll have to wander around Nieman Marcus or sit on those really comfortable couches they have all over the place until they run me off for being a vagrant.

I am telling you, the neighborhood makes a difference.

Then there's the theater. The theaters at PF keep having the lights go on during movies. Urgh! This has happened 4 friggin' times now! But the staff there is top notch and they work on issues ASAP and they also do their best to get you out of line and into the theater in a courteous and nice way.

As for the 'mall.' Don't get me going on the XMAS decorations. They are bloody everywhere! They have these two symetrically placed wreaths that get on my nerves because they give the appearance of those rings that acrobats jump through at the circus. Please don't do this. You will die!

Anyway, as you brave the rough surroundings this weekend make sure to move your wallet into your front pocket. You may even want look over your shoulder a few times to make sure the gangs aren't following you. Even better yet, if you have a goofy haircut or even look like an individual you won't have to worry about this, the mall security will follow you.

But I will say this in all seriousness. PF is totally safe and clean and the people there are nice so I should give them a break. They just could use a Spencer's Gifts or a Chic-Fill-A or something. An upscale dollar store or one of those tobacco stores that sell ceramic gnomes would be cool too.

All in all you will not be in misey if you go there for some films as long as you take precautions to counter boredom and hunger before and after your movies. Think of Plaza Frontanac as a Mos Eisley for rich people.

SLIFF DAY 8

Even if "Bill" has sold out there is still quite a LOT to see this evening!

DAM STREET
Not a very cheery film but a great ensemble makes the tension real and relatable. A moving and powerful film. 5pm, Tivoli

ORANGE REVOLUTION
I am quite keen to see "Orange Revolution" by STL's own Steve York. Being a big history dork this documentary about the Ukraine's Orange Revolution is up my alley. Besides, it has a cool movie poster that's been up in the Tivoli lobby. 7:15pm, Tivoli

THE SAVAGES
Philip Seymour Hoffman keeps his clothes on during this film about a family trying to pull itself together in the wake of parental illness. 9:30pm, Tivoli

SHORTS PROGRAM 6-DARK PLACE
Fans of animation can enjoy another great program of Shorts. Very fun!
9:45 pm, Tivoli

NEAL GABLER
Gabler Gabler Hey!
You loved him on "Sneak Previews" back in the day. You've read his critically acclaimed books. Maybe you heard him talk about Walt Disney on NPR. Now you can see him in person with a batch of really cool Disney short films in this exciting program at the St. Louis Art Museum.

It will be hard for me to miss this one, but I figure it'll be crowded. Plus some of those hardcore Disney fans are a little weird to me. Still, Gabler is always a wonderful speaker and any chance to see "Steamboat Willie" is pretty cool.

Personally, I think Disney really screwed over a lot of his animators and creative stuff. As for Gabler, I loved his book on Walt Winchell.
7 pm,Saint Louis Art Museum

RAINBOW SONG
A melancholy film from Naoto Kumazawa. I talked to some people in line the other day who said this was a good film. One of them had a Bruce Campbell t-shirt on so obviously he has the knowledge. 7pm, Plaza Frontenac

FRESH AIR
I love Eastern European films. This Hungarian film about two women looking for something new and different from the world was named Best Film at the 2006 Brussels European Film Festival. 9:30pm, Plaza Frontenac

THE PAPER
Don't forget Webster!
SLIFF 2007 has some great documentaries this year and the word is that this is one of them! "The Paper" looks inside Penn State's Daily Collegian newspaper and highlights the pratfalls its staff has as they struggle to become journalists. 7:30pm, Webster.

Snowflake: Opening on Friday

If it's happening at Snowflake, we're fans:

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Selected prints from Magaly Ponce's "Remains" series
will be on display through December 8.

OPENING RECEPTION Friday November, 16. 7-10pm.

Magaly Ponce has been exhibited widely in her home country Chile and the U.S., as well as Portugal, Denmark, and Korea. She uses metaphoric language to convey the complexity of the subject matter, something explicitness cannot convey. Her work gravitates from the Poetic to the Political while maintaining a love for audio and crafted imagery.

SNOWFLAKE/CITYSTOCK
contemporary art mid century furniture modern design
3156 Cherokee Street
St. Louis, Missouri, 63118
www.snowflakecitystock.com

"Go South" Closing Party

"Go South for Animal Index" - the art show, the CD, the whole shebang - is back on the cultural map this weekend, as our friends from Poetry Scores close out the Hoffman Lachance run of "Go South," while giving you a chance to pick up the CD and plenty of other Hoobellatoo/Poetry Scores/Skuntry products. If you missed the opening last weekend (ahem), here's your chance to catch up.

Some details:

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Poetry Scores Holiday Store
During 'Go South for Animal Index' finale and teardown
4-6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17
Hoffman La Chance Contemporary
3100 Sutton Blvd. in Maplewood

Folks have from noon to 5 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Nov. 14-17, to take a last look at the Poetry Scores art invitational 'Go South for Animal Index' at Hoffman La Chance Contemporary, 3100 Sutton Boulevard in Maplewood (just south of Manchester). Come see work from more than 30 artists responding to Stefene Russell’s poem about the atomic bomb. Bid on one of the few remaining unsold pieces, if you wish.

Just before closing on Saturday (and continuing through teardown), Poetry Scores will display and attempt to sell its rare and sumptuous wares – including the brand-spanking-new poetry score to 'Go South,' bundled up with two essays, the annotated poem, and an art print.

SLIFF Day 8 BILL

Tonight's screening of "Bill," soon to be retitled "Meet Bill" has sold out. This is pretty great. Some shooting for the film was done here in St. Louis and a lot of local talent is in the film. Why this is great is because the film gives us, as a community, to get more national film work in the area.

Speaking of sell outs, get tickets now. This is the time of the Festival when things begin to sell out and line waiting gets down and dirty.

My next blog entry will be about the other films on the 'bill' for tonight. It's a very solid night of film for the festival.

SLIFF DAY 6 Recap

I don't mean to be nonsequential but I got busy with my job and had to come back ot this one. sorry!

On a day when most festivals take a breather (Tuesdays), the St. Louis International Film Festival got some life.

I saw two great films, had the dickens scared out of me and laughed a lot.

OS 117: Cairo, Den of Spies
This film came highly recommended and with all the heavy stuff I've been seeing I needed a light of frivolity. "OSS 117" is a redux of the French spy film series of the 60s and 70s. I think. French spy thrillers are not my forte'

Anyway, this time around, the franchise has been reshaped is a comedy, a la' the Naked Gun movies or rougher, more politically incorrect version of "Get Smart." It was a non stop laugher of intelligent humor, well timed physical comedy and general silliness. The apex was a fight between two men battling it out with live chickens

When I arrived at the theater the house was packed and few seats could be found. The crowd was laughing and enjoying itself throughout the film.

Big Dream Little Tokyo
One of two Japanese themed films screening on Tuesday, this one tells the story of Boyd a really white kid who wants to be a Japanese businessman and his hapless friend Jerome who is a Japanese-American trying to fit in. jerome's efforts t become a sumo fail miserably. I liked the film because it had the feel and texture of a movie like Napoleon Dynamite without the reliance on gimmicky dialogue. The atmosphere of the film had the air of an Adrian Tomine comic. This is a light, fun film about cultural acceptance. The laughs were bountiful too which is nice.

American Fork
I did not see this movie but there are a lot of people talking about it positively.

There were two people in the Tivoli lobby tonight reading Dickens, I don't think they were in a class or anything. Still in our age of downloading, audio books and smart bombs it's kind of disturbing and refreshing to see someone, much less two someones, reading Dickens.

The new Alan Moore League of Extraordinary Gentlemen graphic novel comes out tomorrow. Yippee!

SLIFF Day 7

This is normally about the time in the film festival when fatigue sets in. The staff looks bleary, the volunteers begin to switch out, the movie house workers are on caffeine IVs. However, this year the festival has more energy to it than in recent years. So as SLIFF and chugs into the last weekned one thing is for sure, the CSL people are definitely on a roll.

There are two fine can't miss films tonight at the festival.

Spine Tingler
A terrifc documentary about the wacky fillmmaker William Castle.
Castle went all out to get the audience involved. He was like PT Barnum in many ways as he pulled out all the stops to scare people and get them to his movies! Director Jeffrey Schwartz will be in attendance. 7:15 PM, Tivoli.

OSS 117:Cairo , Nest of Spies
I saw this last night at Frontenac and it packed the house with laughter all night long. Everyone loved it! This send up of spy movies is part James Bond part Airplane! the OSS series used to big a big deal in France, now it is back as a parody of itself. It has everything, a great score, slapstick humor and lots of laughs.

7pm, Plaza Frontenac

Juno
A soon to be in wide release feature from Jason Reitman. This is sure to sell out as it is getting rave reviews everywhere. It reminds me of "Saved" from a few years ago, but with more heart. This off beat comedy about teen pregnancy
features a breakout turn from newcomer Ellen Page. Despite being a must see at Toronto, I would can wait for the wide release and see something else.

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

A Muppet News Flash has been sent to us from our correspondent, Kermit the Frog.

One of the most highly touted films of the fest is getting a new home.

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Because of projection concerns, the time and location of "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" has been changed to 6:45 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18, at the Tivoli.

This allows the film to be seen by more people, in a better theater and at a time where people can still hit the afterparty for booze and mingling!

Serioulsy though, "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" has been cited by at least two local criitics as the best film in the festival this year.

All previously purchased SLAM tickets will be honored.

SLIFF DAY 6

Day 6 brings another batch of fine films, including one that is highly recommened by the SLIFF staff, OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies.

OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies
After a hiatus of over 25 years France's #1 spy is back. This time it's a total farce. Apparantly the OSS film series was huge in France back in the day. After a week of heady drama and angst galore a mindless cinematic escapade is in order. Plaza Frontenace 7 p.m.

Fans of Japanese film have two choices this evening.
"Rainbow Song" is a tale of lost love. "Big Dreams Little Tokyo" is an off kilter American-Japanese comedy that touches on tehmes of global identity and cross cultural relations.

Rainbow Song
The death of a close friend has devastating effects on the meek Tomoya. This stirring film about friendship, love and loss features some of Japan's biggest up and coming actors. "Rainbow Song" was honored with a Hochi (the Japanese Oscar) for Best Supporting Actress in 2006. 9:30pm, Plaza Frontenac.

Big Dreams Little Tokyo
The plot of this film reminds me of an Adrian Tomine "Optic Nerve" comic.
"Big Dreams Little Tokyo" is the story of two roommates, Boyd and Jerome who are both dealing with aspects of Japanese culture in their daily lives. Boyd wants to make an impact in Japanese business world while Jerome, a Japanese American, struggles with his identity. A wannabee sumo, Jerome feels he doesn't identify strongly with either culture. Co-star Jayson Watabe will be on hand to talk about the film and field questions.

SHORTS!
Fans of short films are jumping for joy with three great programs today. First is "Global Lens Shorts" at 2:15pm at Frontenac featuring shorts from all over the world. At 5pm there is the "St. Louis Filmmaker Shorts" presentation featuring the best shorts from STL's own filmmakers. Then there is the "Shorts Program 4" which unleashes the festival's first batch of animated shorts at 9:30pm at the Tivoli

Seeing the shorts is really a fun thing! I enjoy them because you really get a feel for the rawness of filmmaking. It also is an extremely creative medium to watch onscreen.

Each year SLIFF goes out of its way to offer a great collection of short films. For 2007 they have upped the anti with great results adding more shorts programming.

Shorts are perfect films to take someone to who may not know a lot about film or who someone who may not want to see something foreign or a documentary.

Shorts curator Mark Bielik worked long and hard to get the best shorts he could find from around the world and from this years STL Filmmakers Showcase. It really is an impressive program.

If you have not ventured to a film yet make an effort to do so. There's a lot of cool stuff happening! Plus the Festival is getting less stuffy and much more younger and cooler with each year.

But no matter what you like in film please come out and support the hard working film actors, filmmakers and crews in town who struggle to make their artform each day. There are several local films and shorts offered this year so get out and give the love to your comrades in the trenches who are making interesting movies!

SLIFF DAY 5 (recap)

Like a train turning around the bend towards its final destination so the St. Louis International Film Festival enters a second week.

By now I have yet to tire on seeing movies. However I have had my fill with the AT&T commercial. If they have to run a spot before films could they please run more than one. People are starting to recite it by heart as it is running.

The SLIFF ads are pretty great. They are funny and creative.

Despite a wide array of offerings I only saw two films today.

Dam Street
A pretty miserable and bleak film but one that is poignant, moving and well acted. I recommend it highly for anyone who loves Asian cinema. Director Li Yu has done a wonderful job of making an emotionally powerful fim with vibrant cinematography and tense drama.

Ploy
I didn't love it but I didn't hate it either. I was however, expecting more. Director Pen-Ek Ratanaruang is a SLIFF favorite and he has made some great films in the past ("Citizen Dog," "Monrak Transistor"). I was expecting this film to move a little better and more life ot it. It was was a bit more churlish than I would have liked. The crowd at Frontenac didn't respond to it very well and it seemed endless at times.

The big story of the day was "Disappearances" which had a huge crowd for it's showing at the Tivoli. A friend of mine went to see "Cyrano Fernandez" and loved it. He thought it was warm and touching and very funny.

Finally, many films on the schedule for this week are starting to sell lots of tickets. If there is anything you are really jazzed to see get off your butt and get tickets becuase the last week really moves fast and furious!

SLIFF @ PFA: Greenaway, Water

In the haze of SLIFF's various programming, I've forgotten one other thing over the past few mornings, namely posting a note about a Pulitzer event this coming weekend.

(EDIT: Minutes after posting this, I learned that Greenaway will not be coming to St. Louis for this SLIFF event. The event below will occur, with the caveat that Greenaway will not be attending. The films should still be an inducement for some to attend, but read the following the a different eye.)

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Films at the Pulitzer : Water Films with Peter Greenaway

St. Louis, MO – The Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts and Cinema St. Louis are pleased to present an evening with acclaimed filmmaker Peter Greenaway on Saturday, November 17th at 7:00pm.

Greenaway will present and discuss a selection of his water-related films, in conjunction with the Pulitzer’s current exhibition Water. This will be an exciting opportunity to not only view these rarely-seen films, but also to engage in discussion with the filmmaker himself.

Born in Wales and educated in London, Peter Greenaway trained as a painter for four years, and started making his own films in 1966. He now lives in Amsterdam. He has made 12 feature films and some 50 short-films and documentaries, been regularly nominated for the Film Festival Competitions of Cannes, Venice and Berlin. His first narrative feature film, The Draughtsman¹s Contract, completed in 1982, received great critical acclaim and established him internationally as an original filmmaker, a reputation consolidated by the films, The Cook, the Thief, his Wife & her Lover, The Pillow-book, and most recently The Tulse Luper Suitcases.

The event is free and open to the public. The program is a collaboration with Cinema St. Louis and a part of the AT&T St. Louis International Film Festival. In addition to the event at the Pulitzer, at 2:30pm November 18th at the Saint Louis Art Museum Greenaway will screen his film Drowning by Numbers, receive a Lifetime Achievement Award, and participate in a career-spanning Q&A with filmmaker and teacher RD Zurick.

Cinema St. Louis is a not-for-profit organization that emphasizes film as an art form. Its mission is to enhance cultural diversity by bringing American independent productions, horizon-expanding international films and high-quality studio films to audiences before their commercial release.

The Pulitzer aims to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of art and architecture. With the works of art themselves, along with programs, collaborations and exchanges with other cultural and educational institutions, the Pulitzer is a resource for artists, architects, scholars, students and the general public. The Pulitzer is located at 3716 Washington Blvd., St. Louis, MO, 63108, Telephone 314.754.1850, www.pulitzerarts.org.

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Local Harvest: Open House, Tonight

Yesterday evening, I happened into Local Harvest Grocery in a tofu run and, upon hitting the door, realized that I had arrived during the Holiday Open House. Thus, free, locally-produced food and drink was had. Deee-lightful surprise!

I'd even meant to write up the word about this event, but had forgotten, despite the flyer sitting next to my computing machine. Applying the better-late-than-never axiom, the event will happen again tonight, from 5-8 p.m., with the same amenities applying.

It's a charming store. And can we mention that the business is a Kick-Ass Award winner for 2007? Info on the venue, for those who've been late to the party: localharvestgrocery.com.

Free Candy is Back

After the sometimes outrageous field trip to the Royale for the last installment, this month's Free Candy finds the two (two?) co-hosts of Free Candy returning for more fun and mirth at the old home of Hartford Coffee.

Not sure I can make this one, due to remaining SLIFF commitments, which breaks my callous heart. That doesn't mean you can't enjoy this wonderful stuff, even if the note about this week's show doesn't exactly give a sense of the identity of the guests and "bits." Gotta love the intrigue!

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Good people of Free Candyland:

We're back to the old skool ways, and you simply must join us for the next Free Candy, kickin' it at our old stomping grounds -- Hartford Coffee Company, 3974 Hartford -- next Sunday, Nov. 18, at the new, improved hour of 6 p.m.

Simply put, you don't want to miss this show. Guests include a local legend of independent retailing, holiday gift ideas (yes! we are just like Oprah, only with less schoolgirl abuse), Town Talk dramatic readings and so much more. Still reeling over the implications of cleanishappy.com? We're gonna blow you mind with our new web site selection.

Tom and Amanda will be holding it down, but without you, we're just a sad pair of clowns. With you, we're a sad pair of clowns with an audience! Please join us.

And big ups to our November Sugar Daddy/Candy Sponsor, Big Small Town Designs. You'll be able to buy the very latest in local greeting and Christmas cards, hot off the presses, so bring your checkbook! Check 'em out at bigsmalltown.com

Toodles, and see you Sunday,
Amanda & Tom

LucaBrasi CD Release

I ran into LucaBrasi vocalist Matt McInerney yesterday, at an annual chili cookoff, where he was preparing for an afternoon band practice by fueling himself with that delicious, delightful chili. There, I was reminded of the LucaBrasi release show this week, a fact confirmed by a morning e-mail. For those not privy to Matt's chili-time promo, here're the facts:

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LucaBrasi CD Release Show!!

With Extra Special Guests:
The Feed & Ready the Cannons

Date: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23rd (the Friday after Thanksgiving!)
Venue: THE DUCK ROOM @ BLUEBERRY HILL
Details: Doors @ 8/Show @ 9
Cover: $8

Listen to the rock:
http://www.myspace.com/lucabrasirocks
http://www.myspace.com/feedrock
http://www.myspace.com/readythecannonsmusic

SLIFF Day 4

Before I jump into the fare for today a few quick things...

God bless Norman Mailer

Muchas gracias to the Tivoli staff and SLIFF posse who came to my DJ gig at The Royale last night!

Sunday Morning Coming Down
The wear and tear of seeing a lot of films has set in. Still, I knew what I was in for when I opened the program.

But I digress...
There are a lot of really great films lined up today. No Sunday blahs here!

Forget the Rams, there's a new team in town, the St. Louis Reels. They would be the awesome staff who assembled the program for SLIFF this year.

Documentary Abundance!
If you are more suited for documentaries then this is a big day for you. The doc programming this year is stellar and Sunday's lineup is amazing. You would be hard pressed to plan your film day without including a documentary.

A Walk Into The Sea
Danny Williams was Andy Warhol's lover. This film looks at his life and deconstructs The Factory scene that propelled Warhol to iconhood. 12:30pm, SLAM

A Walk To Beautiful
A powerfully moving doc about five women in Ethiopia who are struggling to overcome childbirth injuries. The film follows their trek to the hospital of
Dr. Catherine Hamlin, who was featured on Oprah. Just a warning that this is pretty bleak stuff! 2pm, Tivoli

We Are Together
This touching and award-winning documentary is about the AIDS crisis in South Africa and the orphanges it has left behind.
2pm, SLAM

First Saturday In May
So you want to see a doc without politics or international despair. This could the tonic for you. The film follows six Kentucky Derby hopefuls and their trainers, owners and caretakers as they run for the roses. 2:30pm, Tivoli

Hear & Now
Sponsored by the Central Institute for the Deaf, a daring film about deaf parents who get their hearing restored. A profound film.
4:30pm, Tivoli

Election Day
An examination of Election Day 2004, one which was as full of intrigue, wheeling and dealing and chicanery as any Hollywood blockbuster.
This is the forum on the Election Day crisis our country seems to have, but this film will certainly reopen the discussion just in time for 2008.
4:30pm, Tivoli

Banished
A film that confronts the racial injustice experienced by African Americans in 3 towns from the end of the Civil War through the Great Depression. Director Marco Willaims explores the social, cultural and politcal scars left on the fabric of these communities today. 7:15pm, Tivoli

Features Featured

Waiter
A Dutch co-worker of mine waxed poetic on the films of Alex Van Warmerdam. so much in fact that I got a ticket to see his new film. The screenplay won the 2006 Netherlands film Festival. 2pm, Plaza Frontenac.

Getting Home
I went on about this one earlier. A terrific film from China and a nice break from the heavy doc schedule. 4:30pm, Tivoli

A Year In My Life
The French are finally here at SLIFF. A charming film set in the 1950s about a family that takes in a hard luck kid. 5pm, SLAM

Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
A new suspense film from Sydney Lumet is nothing to miss. Destined for wide release, this Oscar Buzz film features Philip Seymour Hoffman and Marisa Tomei naked. EEAHH! 7pm, Plaza Frontenac

Children of Glory
I loved this Hungarian film set in Budapest in 1956 that mixes geopolitical tension with waterpolo. A sleeper to win best of the fest! There was a buzz about this film from those who saw it last night!
9:30pm Plaza Fronteanc.

Nina's Heavenly Delights
Yay! A film about curry set in Scotland! Part Bollywood, part Scottish black comedy, this film is sure to please viewers with an eye for quirky cinema. 7:30pm, Tivoli

On a final note, I encourage those wanting to see films in the next week to get tickets now. After today it gets heady and the slam of sellouts and long lines begins in greater intensity.

'Nuff Said!

SLIFF DAY 3

Sorry this is just a recap. Yesterday was excruciatingly busy.

A change of pace was in order as I ventured off to other SLIFF venues besides the Tivoli.

Enough!
I began the day with this gorgeously shot Djamilla Sahraoui film about two women searching for a missing husband in Algeria during the turbulent 1990s. The music was great and the picturesque seascapes and landscapes framed the onscreen drama. Great performances from a solid cast and an intense plot made the movie pretty powerful. Enough! screens again next Thursday at 12:30pm at Plaza Frontenac.

Mahek
Mahek is Hindi for 'smell' which has a little to do with the symbolism of the lead character in this film.

Mahek is a twelve-year-old girl with gifted intelligence and energy. The problem is that she is also a dreamer with delusions of grandeur. Her dreams aren't simple--she dreams of big stuff like becoming prime minister, winning awards and saving lives.

Unfortunately she does it at the worst possible moments, often with cataclysmic results. This creates a seemingly endless series of adolescent John Hughes-esque escapades as Mahek ends up a runner-up.

What Mahek needs is a good swift kick in the arse to get her going. This is provided by a visiting fairy who leads Mahek towards an inward journey in search of her best attributes.

I hate to use the words 'family comedy' but this film reminded me me of a Hindi Afterschool Special. It was charming and funny and the characters were very basic, but after a few days of searing intense films it was a nice reprieve.

I wish more Indian films were in the fest but I understand the complications of getting current titles brought over that a large segment of that community has not already seen. Still, with this film in particular, I wish the word had gotten out to the Indian community because it would make a fine afternoon trip to the cinema. Mahek screens again on Tuesday, November 13th at 12:30pm at Frontenac.

Jujiro
After a break I went to the St. Louis Art Museum to see Jujiro (Crossways)
a brilliant 1928 silent film from Teinosuke Kinugasa.

I'll save the rabid semantics on Japanses silent film for anojther time but all I can say is this: kudos to SLIFF and SLAM for brinigng this amazing film to our city.

Jujiro (Crossways) tells the story of a Ronin who runs the table on lust, anger, blindness, madness and obsession in pursuit of a geisha. When everything goes to shit he turns to his older sister for protection, which subsequently forces her down a path of misery, rape and humiliation.

This triumph of the silent era relies on Kinusaga's moving camera techniques, hallucinogenic shots and his adept usage of expressionistic costuming, lighting, makeup and set design.

New Music Circle provided a wonderful accompaniment for the film.
This was really something special!

A few final bits...

A quick word about the Frontenac films...
First, the volunteer staff was top notch. Sometimes this venue gets a bad rap because it isn't as heavily staffded as the Tivoli. But I have to say the staff there bent over backwards to be outgoing, recommend films and be generally helpful.

Second, the attendance at both films was woeful when held up against the quality of the material. My point is this, more people should have taken a chance on these films and come out to see them.

The St. Louis Art Museum has really stepped up to make its auditorium a good place to see a film. It still could use a bigger screen, but they have done a nice job with programming films on-site.

We cinephiles are responsible for getting people we know out to see some films that they wouldn't normally see. So why not bring a family member, co-worker or member of your crew to see a movie?!

SLIFF DAY 2

A quick program note....

Tickets for the November 15th 7pm screening of "Bill", the film with Aaron Eckhardt and Jessica Alba which had some location filming shot in St. Louis has sold out.

But fear not. There still are plenty of cinematic options for that time on that date. There is a great program about Walt Disney that same night at the Art Museum hosted by Neal Gabler.

I however am looking forward to "Orange Revolution" which also screens at that time at the Tivoli. This documentrary about the 2004 Orange Revolution in the Ukraine is important in light of Vlad Putin's recent power grab and the fact that the film was made by St. Louisan Steve York. This doc is a compelling option for history poli sci nerds like myself.

But back to today.....

A few ideas of stuff to see.

Global Shorts
Screening at 2:30pm today at Frontenac. I am excited about the offering but have to work and will miss it. Urgh! This means that you, intrepid reader, should go in my stead. The program features short films from places like India, Iran, Morocco and Brazil amongst others. The SLIFF shorts are always compelling and this one is a particulalry strong package.

The Collector
This Polish film screens at 4:30pm at Frontenac. A debt collector has a 'moral epiphany' with interesting results on his love life.

Getting Home
This Chinese film is terrific. I had an opportunity to see a screener of it and I highly recommend it for its warmth and humor. It's kind of like "Weekend At Bernie's" in a way. Zhao, a Chinese worker honors a promise made to his friend Liu and carries (literally) his dead body all the way across China to his family home in the 13 Gorges. What happens along the way is both a testament to the human spirit and a panoramic social commentary on contemporary China.

The 13 Gorges has been in the news recently because it forced the relocation of over 4 million people. Cities in the gorges were leveled brick by brick its citizens to make way for this super dam. Knowing this helps understand the film at the end a bit better but I digress...

Enough about hydraulics already. This funny, touching and powerful and funny film is one of the best offerings of the Fest!

Those wanting to see a great international film should scurry over to Plaza Frontenac and catch this 7pm screening.

The Melon Route
Screening at Frontenac at 9:30pm this Croation entry to SLIFF chronicles the tragic drowning of Chinese immigrants on the Bosnian/Croat border. The plot deals with the relationship between the one survivor of the incident and the smuggler who got her into Croatia.

The Sacred Family
Much has been said about the burgeoning South American film scene. Director Sebastian Campos' use of hand held cameras and improvised dialogue makes this film about the disintegration of family an interesting film to see.

Slither
SLIFF brings out zombie nation in full effect with a 7pm screening at Webster screening of James Gunn's 2006 B movie scaretacular. The onscreen presence of zombies and Firefly's Nathian Fillion means that this will be a geek fest of epic proportions. This clever film was grossly overlooked at the box office. Charles Guggenheim Cinema St. Louis Award winner Gunn will be in attendance to intro the film and conduct a Q&A afterwards.

Grace Is Gone
Hey it's John Cusack as a dad! This is a powerful film about childhood innocence war, love, marriage and tragedy. Not the most cuddly of films at this year's festival, but a pretty good one nonetheless. See this! It has contemporary themes that loudly resonate with us all and Cusack usually makes pretty decent movies. Shown at he Tivoli at 7pm.

Punk's Not Dead
Punk rock is 30! scary! As the Sex Pistols tour again and countelss old school punk bands reform to cash in comes this film about the halcyon days when wearing boots, ripped jeans, shredded shirts and lots of safety pins was a statement against authority.

I like many others cut my adolescent teeth through the music of The Sex Pistols, The Damned, Fear, Black Flag, Dead Kennedys, Minor Threat, the Vandals and the like, so this is an interesting trip down memory lane.

Susan Dynner loved this stuff too, except she knows all these people and got them to be in her film about Punk rock. Her film examines the culture of punk and explores how the DIY ethos of punk has been co-opped by crappy bands, MTV and Hot Topic.

Although there won't be a pit there'll be plentry of adrenaline and rage at 9:15 at the Tivoli!

SLIFF-Honeydripper

It's always weird when music freaks and film freaks meet at the same point in space and time. Such was the case tonight when a diverse crowd of scenesters, Blues enthusiasts and cinophiles who packed into the Tivoli to see John Sayle's new John Sayles film, "Honeydripper."

Without giving too much away, the film is set in Alabama in the 1950s and stars Danny Glover and Charles Dutton as two friends trying to save a juke joint.

Although the Blues drives the film, gospel, and this new fangled thing called rock and roll also ooze between the plotlines to make "Honeydripper" a kind of warm, socially tinged period film about hanging in there against adversity.

Aesthetically, I think it is interesting that Sayles framed the socially changing times of the rural South in the 1950s with the equally changing musical environment of that era.

Following the screening Sayles and his partner Maggie Renzi received SLIFF Lifetime Achievement Awards for thier 30 years in the industry.

During his Q&A afterwards Sayles mentioned that this film, like many of his other ones emphasize the importance of regional culture. The director also described "Honeydripper" as his most musical project to date. Renzi discussed the ups and downs of the film's 5 week shoot and elaborated on how their films get financed, cast and finally made. All of this was pretty interesting stuff.

Sayles revealed that he has no film degree, but a degree in psychology. Sayle's also spoke quite candidly about the writer's strike in Hollywood and joked that he was on strike too. Both he and Renzi were cordial and engaging and generally very easy going.

Getting back ot the Film Festival itself. It was great to see so many people in attendance on opening night. There is something refreshing about seeing a culturally and racially diverse crowd experiencing the same emotions, thrills and laughter through the mediums of music and film.

Tomorrow things get heady. I have tickets to see "Sacred Family" at the Tivoli but really also want to see the Polish film, "The Collector" at Frontenac at 4:30pm. Decisions, decisions....

I am seeing "Grace Is Gone" with John Cusack. Not with him per se mind you, but with him in the film. Still it would be scary to see a film with him in person because you hear stories about him being difficult sometimes. Anyway, Cusack has made a bit of a career change of late opting for parts with more family aspects involved in the plot mix. Maybe I am just talking crazy.

As a final note, the staff at the venues showing these films have a lot of long days and nights ahead of them. Please don't be an ass to them or make a really filthy mess behind for them to clean up. The Tivoli was a sty at the end of tonight. I've seen it look better after screenings of Rocky Horror.

Seriously, don't make the guys and gals working during SLIFF become angry. Over time they'll begin to act like the poor souls in "28 Days Later" if they have to do a lot of cleaning and stupid question answering.

It reminds me of the Indian in those old 70s TV commercials who cries when he sees people littering or poluting the environment.

SLIFF DAY 1

The 16th Annual AT&T St. Louis International Film Festival is now underway. What lay ahead is a long grueling ten days of cinematic darkenss fueled by reels and Red Bull.

By this time most of us die hard film lovers in the STL have gotten their SLIFF schedule books and feverishly planned out the next ten days and procured tickets.

For these intrepid souls mapping, planning and organizing the Festival is an arduous undertaking along the lines of D-Day or Live-AID.

Choosing a film can be difficult if you are not a big film person of if you are with someone who isn't and you are. I recommend you start with somethnig popular and work inward to the other stuff.

After all there is no better way to move out of the kiddie pool and into the big kid deep end of the pool then by taking a chance and dipping both feet in the deep end and watch something new and different.

But if you, or someone you know fears change or new things, then there is a film for you, "The Honeydripper" by John Sayles. "The Honeydripper" screens at 7pm tonight at the Tivoli Theater. Sayles will be on hand to get his Lifetime Achievement Award with his partner Maggie Renzi.

Sayles is one of nation's best filmakers. He alwasy gets the best from his actors and his use of narrative is terrific. The movie has a Bluesy theme as well so lovers of music can come and check it out with satisfaction as well.

While you are at the Tivoli tonight pick up advance tickets for other movies. If you love music take a chance on a great doc called "Punks Not Dead" which screens at 9:15 tomorrow.

All the films, events and miscellany can be found at and www.cinemastlouis.org

Remaining 2007 Kick Ass Winners Announced

Happy to have the remaining recipients of the 4th Annual Kick Ass Awards confirmed. Celebrating with us at Duff’s on Monday, November 26th will be these 2007 winners:

Rob Levy on SLIFF

Assuming no mad technical glitches, look for blog entries by KDHX's Rob Levy over the next two weeks, on the topic of the St. Louis International Film Festival. He's blogged on this topic for other outlets in years past and we're happy to have him join us for a November fortnight.

Stay tuned. That is all.

Some 52nd City Meta: King on "Stupid"

I was recently drawn into a long and confusing conversation, not all that unusual, but the core problem was sourcing. A few months back, I posted up a Chris King faux-release on the then-latest 52nd City. A contributor, Googling herself, found the piece and was miffed about my words. Which weren't my words, at all. They were Chris King's.

Anyway, here's another of the pot-stirring Chris King faux-releases:

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'Stupid'
Various artists
(52nd City)
$8, 36 pp.

Reviewed by Chris King


'Stupid' is really smart.

It’s the new publication by 52nd City. The editors organize each project by theme, this time 'stupid,' and surely regular readers of 52nd City who were aware of this theme on their editorial calendar expected wonderful things.

I did. I wasn’t disappointed. Yet, 'Stupid' surprised me.

There are stupid and funny things throughout the volume, as I had hoped. Piedmont Chris Johnson imagining an incompetent performance artist who can’t even manage to eat himself alive.

There are hints of sadness and even despair amidst the stupidity, as one would expect. Mike Steinberg discerning the Rilkean angels who sing background vocals on all artistic accomplishment, very much including Gary Coleman's pout.

There is incalculable shit, as one must crave. Aaron Belz breaking rules we didn't know we had agreed upon that govern a game we hadn't yet admitted we all play.

And there is one dangerous excursion into the philosophy that underpins the dualities that make a concept like 'stupid' possible. K. Curtis Lyle explaining the varieties of narcotic experience as both metaphors for psychic states and escape hatches from the burden of experiencing life at psychic depth.

But, actually, it's the visual art that caught me by surprise.

Sara Raischel has done childish justice to the shapes and moods of things we aren’t allowed to notice in clouds on the move, which art director Caroline Huth (presumably) superimposed over an image of clouds on the move.

This thing Caroline (presumably) did with the ending of Piedmont Chris Johnson's skit, you kind of have to see it and experience it in the context of narrative's warp and woof (woof), but it involves a plate, a pattern, shadows, a tea cup, a hammer (all caught in a photograph by Kerry Zimmerman), and the menace that you might mistakenly have thought was missing from the poem.

Wow, Andrea Day's photographs of what must be Curtis Lyle feeling his feet, because he has rooted his existential philosophy in feeling his feet.

And, then, Michael Allen's lead image for his ruined building ruminations, which does such a very fine job of letting blackness speaks for itself. It makes me think, inexplicably, of Mississippi Hill Country country picnics, and the covers of ambitious rock albums back when albums were bigger than cheeseburgers.

Speaking of cheeseburgers, Andrea Avery has a really stupid (smart) drawing of a Mustard King, which illustrates a really stupid (smart) Turkish poem about mustard that I had a tiny role in translating.

Here is what I did. I ordered drinks and sat down in Arlene's Grocery, in The Village, with this Turkish punk rock chick, who didn’t even begin to believe in herself. I believed in her, however, and that kept her turning the pages of Orhan Veli's poems and imagining the English words that the Turkish words wanted to be. I wrote down what she said. Sometimes, I flipped what she said on its head. Then she stole a lid from the tampon trash can. That was pretty stupid. She gave it to me. I moved it here from New York and have it hanging on a wall in my basement, which I call a museum. That's really stupid.

'Stupid,' however, is smart.

More Nader

Only a day after posting about Ralph Nader's upcoming STL appearance, I found a flyer detailing the bio-pic "An Unreasonable Man." The flick, which will debut on PBS on December 18, will be playing some select cities/events prior to its going live on PBS' "Independent Lens."

The STL info is:

Thursday, November 8 * 7 - 9 p.m.
Lee Auditorium at the Mo History Museum * Lindell & Debalivere
314-746-4599 * www.mohistory.org

A free event with guest speakers: Dr. Don Fitz; Dr. Art Silverblatt; and Ms. Liz Forrestal.

52nd City on KissAsylum

It was a matter of time, but 52nd City's finally represented on the KISS fanpage KissAsylum.

Jim Ousley's piece from the current web edition of 52nd City can be found there. Though, it must be said, there's no small amount of activity on the page, and Jim's piece has already, in a matter of days, fallen down the front page.

Wow.

Nader @ SLU

A couple of election cycles back I saw Ralph Nader speak at SLU and the thing that still stands out is the fact that the man talked.... for no small amount of time. It was a packed room and his candidacy was taking on a certain flourish at that point, but I've seldom seen a speaker less attuned to an audience than he, the man going well-and-far beyond the point at which could process what he was saying. The applause was dying, the feet were shifting and watches were being checked. Man had a lot to say.

All that aside, it was a fascinating address, at points, and certainly gave pause to some of the students who were certainly there for "class purposes" only, as well as for the diehards who thought he could spearhead an effective, third-party launch after that race.

Well, Nader's back at SLU next week. My over/under on his lecture and Q/A? Mmm, let's go two-hours and fifty.

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Great Issues Committee Hosts Consumer Advocate, Former Presidential Candidate Ralph Nader

Event Details: 7:00 p.m., November 14, Busch Student Center Multipurpose Room, 20 N Grand Blvd., Room 200, Lower Level, St. Louis, MO, 63103-2051

Saint Louis University 's Great Issues Committee will host a special event with political activist, consumer advocate and former presidential candidate Ralph Nader at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14, in the multipurpose room of Busch Student Center . The event is free and open to the public.

Nader's topic for the evening is "Don't Waste Your 20s! Take on the Little Things and the Big Things."

About Ralph Nader: An attorney and political activist in the areas of consumer rights, humanitarianism, environmentalism and democratic government, Nader also has been a staunch critic of corporations, which he believes wield too much power and are undermining the fundamental American values of democracy and human rights. Nader helped found many governmental and non-governmental organizations, including the Environmental Protection Agency, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Public Citizen, and several Public Interest Research Groups. Nader was the Green Party presidential nominee in 1996 and 2000, and ran as an independent candidate in 2004.

About the Great Issues Committee: A component of the Student Government Association (SGA) at Saint Louis University , the Great Issues Committee is a student-initiated group that strives to stimulate insightful, provocative debate on current issues. Recently, the committee has brought many notable speakers to campus, including Watergate journalist Bob Woodward, famed filmmaker Spike Lee, and former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak.

Kirkwood Singles?

While driving through Kirkwood today - something of a rarity, at that - I noticed a sign on a city right-of-way, simply stating: "Single? www.kirkwoodsingles.com." Hmm. Okay. Is there something happening in the suburb that we don't know about?

An odd media message to say the least, and worthy of immediate follow-through. The site features a graphic of Downtown St. Louis and a long, personal questionnaire (uh, no thanks), along with non-clickable graphics offering "parties, trips and introductions." I couldn't make out any reason why Kirkwood was the hook for this site, but I imagine my inbox will soon be filled by curiously-worded, spam-my promotions featuring the city's name.

Alas, curiosity can kill the inbox.

Big Friday

Don't know about you, but I wish I could doppelganger myself tonight. Thomas posted previously about Harvest For Art (The Black Diamond Heavies, Bob Reuter, Fire Dog, Jessica Butler and our town's art hoi polloi in one spot - the doors will blow off the Lucas Schoolhouse!) which takes place tonight. But also taking place this evening is Day of the Dead Beats, Brett Underwood's annual marathon reading of dead Beat poets, always a mind-bending experience. That'll be taking place at Schlafly Bottleworks (7260 Southwest) at 8pm. Usually I feel squeamish about posting stuff I'm involved with, but I'll only be reading a homeopathic dose of Ann Waldman (who, for the record, is NOT dead) but there's lots more than that: for one, Ann Haubrich reading Kerouac, backed by Dave Stone; the Get Born poets reading various spitfire poets like Herbert Huncke and Bukowski; and Mr. Underwood himself, who traditionally has read Bukowski, but has handed over those duties and will be channelling one of St. Louis' own, William S. Burroughs.

And if you're pleasantly exhausted and/or hung over after attending one or both of the above events, may I recommend a vicarious walking trip, via Claire Nowak-Boyd's new blog, Curious Feet, which is all about exploring our fair city on foot.

Fishbone @ City Museum

I never thought I'd get a digital press release announcing a Fishbone show at the City Museum, but that's just what my last few minutes have yielded.

Ah, Fishbone. So many memories for a gentleman of a certain age. Having the band "explained" to me by a fellow, teenaged drummer, on the way to a baseball game. Seeing that t-shirt on John Cusack every time that "Say Anything" is played on the ol' DVD player. Thinking back to getting swallowed up by the pit at a CMJ in New York in the early '90s. Watching a bouncer/local drug dealer rough up fans at the Firehouse, years later, with the band commercially on the wane, but still possessing a distinct, live snap.

Anyway, enough nostalgia for the moment. Here's that unexpected release:

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Fishbone CD Release Concert at City Museum

This November, City Museum is proud to present L.A. based band, Fishbone, featuring original members Angelo Moore (aka Dr. Madd Vibe), John Norwood Fisher, John McKnight (of Ben Harper’s Band), Rocky George (of Suicidal Tendencies), Dre Gipson, and John Steward. This will be the first time the band has returned to St. Louis since 2000.Opening for Fishbone will be a special performance by St. Louis’s own Alley Cat Revue. This is a 21-and-up show. Seating is limited, so purchase your tickets today!

WHO: Fishbone featuring Alley Cat Revue Burlesque Show

WHAT: Concert and CD Release Party

WHERE: City Museum, 701 North 15th Street, St. Louis, MO 63103

WHEN: Wednesday, November 21, Doors at 7:31pm

HOW MUCH: $10 in advance, $15 day of show. Advance tickets available by calling 314.231.2489

WHY: Part of a year-long series to let adults enjoy City Museum without stepping on six-year-olds