©2011 CAMPUS CIRCLE • (323) 939-8477 • 5042 WILSHIRE BLVD., #600 LOS ANGELES, CA 90036 • WWW.CAMPUSCIRCLE.COM • ONE FREE COPY PER PERSON CampusCircle_6-pack_10x13.qxp:Layout 1 11/14/11 10:35 AM Page 1 SAVE 50% ON TICKETS RIDE FOR ONLY $33 INCLUDING HOLIDAYS

SAVE $36 PER TICKET 6 Adult Lift Tickets 8-hour lift tickets valid any 8-hour period seven days & nights a week.

̈ SAVE $36 PER TICKET — OVER 50% OFF DURING WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAY PERIODS. ̈ SAVE $26 PER TICKET ALL OTHER DAYS.

GO STRAIGHT TO THE LIFT! Ticket is activated. No more ticket lines. Different people can use the 6-Pack on different days but only one ticket can be used per day until March 26th. On March 26, 2012, until close of season, more than one ticket can be used per day to share with family and friends. ONLY $33 PER TICKET TAX FREE! $ OVER 50% OFF WEEKENDS & HOLIDAYS! 199 USE 3 TIMES AND YOU SAVE MONEY! ON SALE AT SELECT SKI/SNOWBOARD SHOPS & MTHIGH.COM SALE ENDS FEBRUARY 12, 2012. TICKETS EXPIRE END OF THE 11.12 SEASON. TICKETS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE.

PO BOX 3010, WRIGHTWOOD, CA 92397 • 888.754.7878 • MTHIGH.COM Follow CAMPUS CIRCLE on Twitter @CampusCircle

campus circle inside campus circle Nov. 14 - Dec. 20, 2011 MODELS WANTED Vol. 21 Issue 48 GET A SIGNATURE SASSOON CUT EXPERTLY GUIDED BY OUR WORLD RENOWNED TEACHING TEAM

Editor-in-Chief 15 Yuri Shimoda STUDENT HAIRCUTS from $10.00 [email protected] FOR A COMPLIMENTARY CONSULTATION Film Editor 6 17 PLEASE CALL | 310 255 0011 [email protected] SASSOON SALON | 321 SANTA MONICA BLVD 04 BLOGS TROJAN SIDELINES SANTA MONICA | CA 90401 Music Editor [email protected] 04 BLOGS SPIRITED BRUIN SASOOON.COM Calendar Editor Frederick Mintchell 23 BLOGS TREND BLENDER [email protected] 05 NEWS LOCAL NEWS Editorial Intern Teach English in Japan Kristina Bravo 06 FILM MOVIE REVIEWS Live and work in Japan teaching English at one 08 FILM THE CHANNEL SURFER of AEON’s 300+ branch schools throughout Japan

Contributing Writers 08 FILM MISE EN SCENE • 270,000 Japanese Yen monthly starting salary Tamea Agle, Trisha Bennett, Mary Broadbent, • 3 one-week paid vacations per year + 5 personal days Jason Burnley, Erica Carter, Richard Castañeda, 09 FILM GUY RITCHIE • Subsidized, furnished apartment Nataly Chavez, Natasha Desianto, Sola • Contract completion bonus Is at the Helm Again for Sherlock Fasehun, Gillian Ferguson, Jacob Gaitan, Tien • Health insurance • Paid training in Japan Thuy Ho, Denise Guerra, Kelly Hargraves, Holmes: A Game of Shadows Elisa Hernandez, Ximena Herschberg, Josh Interviewing year round at our Los Angeles Office Herwitt, Dana Jeong, Arit John, Alexandre 10 FILM TV TIME Apply today! Johnson, Kathy Leonardo, Patrick Meissner, Hiko Mitsuzuka, Sean Oliver, Brien Overly, Ariel 11 FILM DVD DISH Paredes, Sasha Perl-Raver, Rex Pham, Eva Recinos, Mike Sebastian, Doug Simpson, David 12 FILM BRAD BIRD www.aeonet.com Tobin, Abbi Toushin, Emmanuelle Troy, Kevin Goes Out on a Limb in Mission: Wierzbicki, Candice Winters Impossible ‑ Ghost Protocol

14 MUSIC FREQUENCY LARGE 3 TOPPING PIZZA Contributing Artists & Photographers 14 MUSIC LIVE SHOW REVIEWS Tamea Agle, David Tobin, Emmanuelle Troy 15 MUSIC NOTES $10.99 ADVERTISING 15 MUSIC REPORT Sean Bello Agoura Hills (818) 707-2121 • Culver City (323) 296-1543 • Encino (818) 990-8820 [email protected] 16 MUSIC INTERVIEWS Glendale (818) 247-1946 • Granada Hills (818) 831-1245 • Huntington Beach (714) 964-5926 Joy Calisoff Lee Lucas: Singer-Songwriter and Koreatown (213) 386-6884 • Lawndale (310) 214-8704 • North Hollywood (818) 766-7184 • Pacoima (818) 890-5515 [email protected] Jewelry Designer Palmdale (661) 947-4545 • Pasadena (626) 577-1723 • Saugus (661) 259-3895 • Simi Valley (805) 522-2586 Social Media Interns 17 MUSIC BEST SONGS OF THE YEAR Van Nuys (818) 786-3204 • Wilshire/Highland (323) 939-7661 • Winnetka (818) 700-0509 Nick Golden, Sabina Ibarra ExpiresExpires 12/31/2011 6/30/11 18 MUSIC SANTA’S PLAYLIST

Campus Circle newspaper is published 05 CULTURE GAME ON 49 times a year and is available free at 35 schools and over 500 retail locations 18 CULTURE PAGES LARGE 3 TOPPING PIZZA throughout Los Angeles. Circulation: 30,000. Readership: 90,000. 20 CULTURE POST-FINALS ACTIVITIES

PUBLISHED BY 20 CULTURE JET SETTER $10.99 CAMPUS CIRCLE, INC. 5042 Wilshire Blvd., PMB 600 22 CULTURE ON THE MENU Los Angeles, CA 90036 Agoura Hills (818) 707-2121 • Culver City (323) 296-1543 • Encino (818) 990-8820 (323) 939-8477 21 EVENTS 20-SOMETHINGS (323) 939-8656 Fax Glendale (818) 247-1946 • Granada Hills (818) 831-1245 • Huntington Beach (714) 964-5926 [email protected] 22 SPORTS COLLEGE HOOPS Koreatown (213) 386-6884 • Lawndale (310) 214-8704 • North Hollywood (818) 766-7184 • Pacoima (818) 890-5515 www.campuscircle.com Palmdale (661) 947-4545 • Pasadena (626) 577-1723 • Saugus (661) 259-3895 • Simi Valley (805) 522-2586 © 2011 Campus Circle, Inc. All rights reserved. Cover Photo Credit: Emmanuelle Troy Van Nuys (818) 786-3204 • Wilshire/Highland (323) 939-7661 • Winnetka (818) 700-0509 ExpiresExpires 12/31/2011 6/30/11

Campus Circle 12.14.11 - 12.20.11 3 NEWS FILM MUSIC CULTURE EVENTS DVD GAMING SPORTS MEDIA BLOGS Colors of Culture D-Day Door Service Spirited Bruin Trend Blender Trojan SideLines Urban Driver

TROJANSIDELINES Campus Circle > Blogs > Trojan SideLines

pay off some loans and also be able to do better internships and travel abroad,” says Tomkovicz. MICHELLE After submitting the video, a month had passed and Tomkovicz thought nothing of it until Dr. Pepper called to give her the good news. TOMKOVICZ “I was actually in Minnesota [when I got the call], and I just got in the car and everyone was loud. The second he said Spotlight on USC Local Dr. Pepper I got excited. They said I was going to Oregon to

compete and had already won $2,500. I just kept telling him lbjimages.com Celebrity I was speechless over and over. I was so excited I didn’t know what to say,” she shares. b l y e isa hernandez Tomkovicz was one of five contestants who were flown Nevertheless Tomkovicz didn’t go home empty handed, out to Oregon. She brought along her father from Iowa she was given a $7,500 consolation prize, a free trip to As we bid farewell to our fall 2011 semes– for support, as she was all set to compete. Unfortunately, Oregon, an opportunity to see her father before the holidays, ter, we must highlight one of the coolest experiences anyone before the main event she fell short and lost what she says plus a previous $2,500 prize. But for Tomkoviz she gained could ever encounter. Imagine this: The first ever Pac-12 was “10 seconds,” before the last two contestants went on air something else. Championship game, you standing in an empty Oregon to compete live. “I learned to just go after things, [when this first all Duck stadium, walking across the yellow paint just hours “I was really bummed because the way they set it up is started] I thought there’s no way I’m going to win, but I away from possibly winning $100,000. Well, for one lucky that they had everyone watching [everyone else compete], submitted it anyway and it ended up being an amazing Trojan, what seems like a dream became a reality. and I went first. It was heart breaking watching the others go experience. The whole Dr. Pepper team was amazing and Michelle Tomkovicz, 21, is a junior at USC studying up after you and see their points go up and up and passing helpful,” she says. “I didn’t win the big prize, but it was still International Relations. Tomkovicz was selected from yours,” she says. “You had 30 footballs and 30 seconds and amazing; it really put things in perspective. It made me feel thousands across the country to compete for $100,000 as you had to throw them in the huge Dr. Pepper Can standing good that out of thousands and thousands of kids I was part of the 2011 Dr. Pepper Challenge. This Iowa City native [about] five yards away … I made nine.” chosen not only to win, but as a top five contestant, they said got the chance of a lifetime after being selected as a top five On the bright side, Tomkovicz was able to get an I was in the top .3 percent chosen.” contestant to compete at the Half Time show of the Pac-12 experience most Trojans will never get. Tomkovicz will use the money for her pre setgoals and championship game, where the Oregon Ducks took on the “I was thinking the whole time, ‘USC should be here, will be graduating from USC in spring 2013. As she heads UCLA Bruins. Tomkovicz made a one-mintue video and this was our game.’ I think I was underwhelmed because home to Iowa City, Iowa she looks to spend the holidays submitted it to the Dr. Pepper Web site talking about why the Coliseum is much better,” she says with a laugh, “but with her family and might get some publicity as she is now she needed tuition assistance. it was still amazing, especially since it was the first Pac-12 Michelle Tomkovicz: Iowa City’s and USC’s very own local “I said I wanted to give back to my parents and Championship Game. We had amazing seats and all these celebrity. grandparents for all their sacrificing, and all their giving to passes that let us on the field. It was nice; it made me feel Have an idea for a future Trojan SideLines? E-mail editor. send me and my sister and my brother to college. I wanted to important.” [email protected].

SPIRITEDBRUIN Campus Circle > Blogs > Spirited Bruin

me check if there are any deals for stores when I go shopping. Ten minutes later, I realize I have just wasted valuable study i sURVIVEd time. Must focus…. I finally get a good 30 minutes of studying in. I think I now understand the relationship between interest rates and finals week the money market. Now to study the effect of the interest rate increases on the bond market…. After about another 30 minutes of studying, I realize that at ucla I am getting hungry. I’ve been working pretty hard, time for some food. But what kind of food do I want? Oooh, Thai food b y tien thuy ho sounds good. I should call my friend over and order pad thai. Time to leave the library! As finals week approached, I began to As I head home, I feel very productive, I got a lot of venture down to the Young Research Library. During the studying done and I feel like I know a little more about

week, everyone seemed to be in a stupor. People came and economics. Today was a productive day! Tribune/MCT Renee Jones Schneider/Minneapolis Star went, staring intently at their papers as they walked to their When I arrive home, I eat Thai food with my friend and finals. People constantly posted Facebook statuses on how then we study at my place. The thing is, he is very productive, tired they were or what their finals schedule was like. It seemed but I am falling into a bit of a food coma. This is not good. study. You always feel like you are unprepared for the next test like everyone was intently looking for something, an answer, a Maybe I should lie down … zzz … and just can’t wait for it to end. good grade, something. When I was in the library, I could feel As nine o’clock rolls around, my friend is wrapping up Fall quarter is the worst because you can feel the holiday the studiousness around me. People looked for a good place studying while I am still fast asleep. My friend wakes me up spirit and just yearn to leave school and go shopping. Sleep to study. Sometimes they got annoying, though, when they (grr!) and says “Hey, I’m gonna head back now.” That’s when deprived, you attempt to shove as much knowledge into your talked too loudly. I realize it is already 9 p.m. Oh no! I wasted three hours. What brain as you can and hope that it sticks. You lose track of days Here is the story of one day during finals week: Everyone am I going to do? How am I going to wake up? I ask my friend, and only know how many days you have left until your next around is being so studious. I open my book and start “Hey, can you get me some boba?” My friend replies, “Sure,” final. studying. Fifteen minutes in, I get tired of studying. Oh well, and orders some boba as he leaves. Yes, I shall be awake. When it is all done, you feel a tremendous sense of relief. Facebook time. Let’s see how my friends are doing. Hey, my When the boba finally arrives, something is wrong. There Or not. Because you know that this will happen again next friend who’s at law school is on, I’m gonna talk to her. After 10 are way too many coffee flakes in it. How could they make quarter and next quarter and the quarter after that. And if you minutes, she decides to go back to studying. Maybe I should boba this bad!?! Oh no, what am I going to do? Finally I decide are planning on going to grad school, and then PhD, then this too. to just make my own coffee to stay awake and just stay up all cycle will never end. Oh well, what can you do? Many thoughts are going through my head as I write. night studying. Man oh man. Some are actually about the material I am studying. Others, Experiences like this make me realize the stresses of finals Have an idea for a future Spirited Bruin? E-mail editor.chief@ though, are about what I am going to do after finals. Ooh, let week. Everyone is on edge, and there is never enough time to campuscircle.net.

4 Campus Circle 12.14.11 - 12.20.11 Become a CAMPUS CIRCLE Fan on Facebook http://bit.ly/dhFhEE

GAMEON LOCALNEWS (c) 2010 Universal Orlando Resort HOGW ARTS IS COMING

DKC Puclic Relations/Courtesy of Volition/THQ/MCT Relations/Courtesy of DKC Puclic TO HOLLYWOOD b y nick golden

“Saints Row: The Third” ‘ So it’s true then … Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts,’ (Volition/THQ) purrs Draco Malfoy in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. And with that, a phenomenon Three chapters into a series that began as a straight-faced “Grand Theft Auto” wannabe, was born. “Saints Row: The Third” commences by almost immediately giving you a reaper drone as Harry Potter was first published in the U.K. in 1997. Since then, it has captured the your first weapon upgrade and letting you call in (and control) missile airstrikes at will hearts and minds of millions of readers and moviegoers. Over the course of the next 13 from that moment forward. And with that – and following an opening sequence in which years, six more books and eight movie adaptations would prove that Harry is here to stay. you lead a bank robbery that somehow culminates in an airborne shootout that includes The Harry Potter movies have made upwards of five billion dollars worldwide, and the skydiving into and through the windshield of a crashing airplane – we are off to the races. books have now been translated into more than 60 languages, ensuring Potter fans all over Before we get carried away with how out of control this fable gets, it’s worth stopping the world can enjoy the series. It’s no wonder, considering the always-hungry-for-more and emphasizing how solid “SR3’s” underpinnings are. The game’s third-person shooting nature of the Potter fan base. The series has influenced a generation, and many may find controls are far more versatile than what “Grand Theft Auto IV” produced, and the it hard to imagine a world without J.K. Rowling’s popular stories. The profound impact driving (and, eventually, biking and flying) controls are what you expect – loose and that Harry Potter has had on the world is undeniable, and it is arguably the most successful arcade-y, but with enough weight that driving a sports car, street sweeper and tank (yes, franchise of all time. So, what could possibly make it better? there are tanks) are markedly different experiences. In 2007, Universal Studios partnered with Warner Bros. Entertainment to answer that The graphics aren’t always easy on the eyes, but they certainly suffice, considering question with the announcement of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, a themed area how big, busy and free of load times the open world is. Perhaps more surprising is how in its Orlando Islands of Adventure park. Two and a half years and more than 200 million much care goes into the coherence of a story and world in which anything and everything dollars later, the park was opened to the public. goes. “SR3’s” humor is juvenile, but it’s cleverly, sharply and even endearingly juvenile – On June 18, 2010, thousands of fans were finally able to step into the world of Harry more silly than obscene, though exceptions certainly apply when one mission involves Potter and his friends. Even today, countless people continue to travel to Orlando just to rescuing a friend from a brothel via a rickshaw chase. see the world that Rowling created brought to life; however, some of those who can’t make The main character’s gender, voice and appearance are your calls to make, thanks to it to Orlando may be in luck. “SR3’s” terrifically flexible character editor, but nothing you do changes the lengths the Due to the success of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando, Universal has game goes to in developing our hero and his/her friends, enemies and random weirdo decided not only to expand the original park, but also to build the park to California. That’s acquaintances into legitimately good characters. With that groundwork thoughtfully laid right! Hogwarts is coming to Hollywood. Now, all of the fans on the West Coast who long out, “SR3” is free to go completely bananas en route to creating the most shamelessly to walk into the streets of Hogsmeade and visit the Hog’s Head Pub for a butterbeer can bombastic open-world game you can play today. experience the magic and fun that so many have already been able to. Though it may take Where to start? How about the multi-factional war that pits the Saints against cops, some time to complete the attraction, all of the dedicated fans that have stuck by Harry’s Luchadores, supernatural beings, an armed-to-the-teeth private military and zombies all side thus far will no doubt be willing to wait. at once? Because every faction brings its own playable toys to the fray, you can (among “I am delighted that the Wizarding World of Harry Potter has been so popular with numerous examples) jack and joyride a tank, wield a weapon that’s basically the Gravity fans since the opening in Orlando last year, and I am sure that the teams at Universal and Hammer from “Halo,” or steal a gunship and rain hellfire down on gang strongholds that Warner Bros. will bring their expertise and attention to detail to Hollywood to make this fall under your control once cleared out. And that’s just the first few hours. new experience equally as exciting,” says Rowling. Without spoiling any specifics, “SR3’s” toy chest only gets crazier as you progress Not much is known about the exact plans and layout for the Hollywood version of the through its story and wrap your arms around the ridiculous cache of upgrades, attraction, but Universal and Warner Bros. will assuredly pay the same attention to detail properties, (very) customizable vehicles and not-of-this-world weapons that recurrently and authenticity that they did as they created the park in Orlando. They promise that the avail themselves to you. Your default pistol, for instance? Outfit it with upgrades, and it Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood will be faithful to the shoots exploding projectiles that launch enemies airborne. Should you launch an enemy landscape created in the films, with a Hogwarts replica serving as the centerpiece to the from a high altitude, “SR3” will measure how far he flies and reward you in the form of new portion of the park experience points. “The announcement of our partnership with Universal to bring the Wizarding World In fact, pretty much everything you do – from balancing a handstand on a moving jet of Harry Potter to Hollywood and expand what already exists in Orlando is probably to driving on two wheels to flying through your windshield after a nasty crash – is tracked the best holiday gift we could give to the legions of Harry Potter fans worldwide,” says in some way for high score purposes and cashed in for experience that unlocks more Barry Meyer, Chairman & CEO, Warner Bros. “Everyone involved with these projects is surprises. “SR3” wants you to use this playground to goof off as creatively as you like, and committed to continuing the enchantment of J.K. Rowling’s masterful books as they were it lets you know by rewarding you in some way for every single thing you do. brought to life on screen in our eight films and dedicated to extending the magic of the The only place “SR3” dials it back is with multiplayer, with “SR2’s” 12-player experience for generations of fans to come.” competitive multiplayer omitted completely. The two-player survival mode that replaces Harry Potter seems to be in good hands here in Hollywood, and with Rowling’s it is amusing, but considerably more limited in its novelty. Fortunately, two-player blessing, Los Angeles-based fans are sure to be eagerly anticipating the day when they can anything-goes co-op – which was the absolute best way to maximize “SR2’s” burgeoning also step into Hogwarts castle and wander the famous halls that their favorite characters goofiness – returns intact. frequented in both the books and the movies. The completion date for the park is unclear, —Billy O’Keefe, McClatchy-Tribune (MCT) but it’s sure to be a blast that Potter fans can enjoy for many years. © 2011, McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. Distributed by MCT Information Services. For more information, visit universalstudioshollywood.com.

Campus Circle 12.14.11 - 12.20.11 5 NEWS FILM MUSIC CULTURE EVENTS DVD GAMING SPORTS MEDIA BLOGS The Channel Surfer DVD Dish Interviews Mise En Scene Movie Reviews Special Features

MOVIEREVIEWS Campus Circle > Film > Movie Reviews

The connection at first startles the small-minded and xenophobic Elisabeth who believes that all Muslims are bad people and terrorists. But she learns that she must depend on Ousmane, a Muslim, and control her fears to solve what happened to her daughter. London River is a great story that puts you in the middle of a historical event most people never really talk about anymore. The story gives a heart and face to the tragedy. It is an extremely sentimental movie, unveiling a complication of the values that we as people have put on ourselves, and how we simply have notions about others before we even truly know them. Bouchareb does an amazing job with the Ousmane character, portraying how we take hold of racial, xenophobic and religiously biased values and how they make us think about others. London River is a great film that makes you think about how we as humans have to start trusting and helping one another, because who knows, maybe the person you thought you could never believe or trust holds the key to a mystery within yourself. Grade: A- — Sean Oliver London River releases in select theaters Dec. 16. Young Adult

Phillip V. Caruso V. Phillip (Paramount) To some extent, we are all just older versions of our younger Charize Theron plays Mavis Gary in Young Adult. selves. We don’t grow up that much, not really. A timely and very fitting example of this is the phenomenon known Corman’s World: Exploits of a Hollywood Rebel nearly 86 and still churning out flicks left and right – around as Twilight, which has encouraged a generation of Susie (Anchor Bay) 500 to date. Corman continues adding to his legendary cult Homemakers to replace their spatulas and vacuums with The unheralded godfather of the fast-and-cheap indie film, film empire, one low-budget success at a time, capitalizing books and fang marks. More than ever before, pop culture Roger Corman, has spent his career not getting the respect he on undiscovered talent and pushing the boundaries of lowers our inhibitions and drugs us with the sweet sounds of deserves, and Corman’s World: Exploits of a Hollywood Rebel independent filmmaking. This documentary is a must-see reality television so that the line between fiction and the real seeks to show that the movie industry would not be what it is for anyone interested in the film industry. world is blurred to near obscurity. today if it was not for Roger Corman. Grade: A+ Writer Diablo Cody depicts, with spot-on clarity, this Corman’s World is a star-studded tribute to Corman, —Sean Oliver kind of people who parade around still reliving their high Hollywood’s most prolific writer-director-producer ever Corman’s World: Exploits of a Hollywood Rebel releases in school or college glory days. Mavis Gary (Charlize Theron) and a seminal influencing force on modern moviemaking select theaters Dec. 16. is one such person, a 30-something-year-old writer of young over the last 60 years. He launched many legendary careers, adult fiction. An avid follower of the Kardashians and other including Jack Nicholson, Robert De Niro, William Shatner, London River E! stars, Mavis is somewhat in ruins. She has major writer’s Francis Ford Coppola and Peter Bogdanovich, just to name (Cinema Libre) block, her apartment is a mess and she seems to only have a few. Corman changed the landscape of filmmaking with a Finally coming to America is the critically lauded film one friend. career that spawned in the late ’50s. London River, which debuted at the Berlin film festival and When she receives an e-mail from her high school Corman provided a refreshing alternative to stuffy and received much acclaim. It is the riveting story of two parents boyfriend (Patrick Wilson) announcing the birth of his child, overly expensive Hollywood features with original cult films looking for their respective children following the aftermath Mavis is convinced it’s a sign to leave the big city and return such as the The Fast and The Furious (1955), The Little Shop of the London bus bombings in 2005. to her small hometown to save her ex from his ‘miserable’ of Horrors (1960), The Cry Baby Killer, The Intruder, House of London River, directed by Rachid Bouchareb, the three- life of marriage and fatherhood. Neglecting her dog and the Usher and The Wild Angels (which at that point in 1966 was time Academy-Award nominated director of Days of Glory manuscript due in days, Mavis sets out to woo the boyfriend his 100th film). The film industry is heading into what I feel and Outside the Law, stars Brenda Blethyn (Atonement, that got away. is the Neo Corman era, where the industry is going to look to Pride & Prejudice) as the closed-minded suburban farmer One unforeseen obstacle in her quest to conquer is Matt cheap, fast films to satisfy the content needs of the masses. It’s Elisabeth Sommers, and the late Sotigui Kouyaté (Little (Patton Oswalt) who went to high school with Mavis and funny how Corman has never gotten the credit he deserves, Senegal, Genesis) who helps drive this controversial film who was beaten to near death by high school jocks. The but soon he will get that and more. with his portrayal of the quiet and wise Ousmane. Both unlikeliest of pairs, Matt and Mavis bond over alcohol and Director Alex Stapleton does an incredible job weaving Elisabeth and Ousmane have come to London from different drugs, but both harbor the same resentment for their past archival footage following Roger’s illustrious career: From backgrounds and lifestyles, with different fears and beliefs. (or maybe it’s their inability to get over their past?). his early days of genre-defining classics, Corman continued The sole purpose is finding their missing children. Mavis doesn’t get what she wants in a spectacular to produce and distribute films outside the studio system. Ousmane believes that his son’s being a Muslim and not fashion, and what ultimately culminates in disaster is Cody’s Along with feature interviews with Hollywood icons and seeing his father since childhood pushed him into a life of finger-pointing, full belly laughing cynicism directed at the cinematic luminaries, some who launched their careers bitterness and terrorism, and upon hearing of the attacks people who left their prime in their teens. Theron makes a within Corman’s unforgettable world of filmmaking, believes that his son may have been one of the bombers. very despicable character, and Oswalt, who has had years of including Paul W.S. Anderson, Bogdanovich, De Niro and Elisabeth, on the other hand, is a small-town farmer who has comedic practice on such shows as “Reno 911!” and “United Jack Nicholson, Corman’s journey truly shows that with let her daughter go from her sheltered rural life to London States of Tara” (created by Cody), is in top form, delivering hard work and determination you can create true Hollywood for school, and fears the worst as her daughter has always the best one-liners of the film. magic. Although some of Corman’s films were not always of maintained steady contact. She tries to reach her, especially Director Jason Reitman should be given credit where it’s the quality and class of other Hollywood classics – which after news of the bombings, but has not heard from her. due; he sets the tone for the entire film, and we only laugh was readily admitted to by Corman and luminaries like Elisabeth does what most parents would do in the when he instructs us to. However, it is Cody who is the Nicholson, who is awesome in his interviews – they got the same situation: She gets on a train and desperately heads shining star here, who has developed and, dare I say it, grown job done. to London trying to solve the mystery of her daughter’s up quite a bit, dropping the happy ending and progressing Corman is a symbol of cinematic inspiration and shows disappearance. The search spins an unusual web of fate and past the young adulthood she sadistically tears to shreds. that anyone can pursue filmmaking. While you don’t have secrets. Elisabeth now sees that her daughter isn’t who she Grade: B+ to be a film student extraordinaire to get your dreams on thought she was, and Ousmane at the same time is coming —Candice Winters screen, it takes persistence, grind and hustle. The mind- to that same realization about his son. The two parents soon Young Adult is currently in select theaters, and its wide release boggling aspect of Corman’s documentary is that he is see that their lives are eerily connected. is Dec. 16.

6 Campus Circle 12.14.11 - 12.20.11 ‘‘THE MOST FUN YOU’LL HAVE AT THE MOVIES THIS YEAR!” Joel D. Amos, MOVIEFANATIC.COM “IT’S EVEN BETTER THAN THE FIRST MOVIE.” Tom Snyder, MOVIEGUIDE “ROBERT DOWNEY JR. AND JUDE LAW ARE AT THE TOP OF THEIR GAME.” Patrick Stoner, PBS FLICKS “EXTRAORDINARILY BRILLIANT!” Sandra Varner, CELEBRITY PROFILES “THIS IS WHY WE GO TO THE MOVIES! AWE-INSPIRING ACTION AND RAZOR-SHARP HUMOR.” Jake Hamilton, FOX-TV “FLAT-OUT FANTASTIC!” Mike Sargent, WBAI RADIO

SPECIAL MIDNIGHT SCREENINGS THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15. EVERYWHERE DECEMBER 16. CHECK YOUR LOCAL LISTINGS.

Campus Circle Wed 12/14 10x13 LF DN ALL.SHG.1214.CAM 1 NEWS FILM MUSIC CULTURE EVENTS DVD GAMING SPORTS MEDIA BLOGS The Channel Surfer DVD Dish Interviews Mise En Scene Movie Reviews Projections Special Features TV Time

THECHANNELSURFER Campus Circle > Film > The Channel Surfer

2) “The Killing” (AMC) – True, most episodes left me swoon over the tastefully done fairy-tale production of this wanting to reach for a raincoat, but the first-rate ensemble historic affair. TOPf 10 o 2011 and killer writing brought life to this dreary tale of a 7) “Hot in Cleveland” (TV Land) – There’s something murdered Seattle teen and those affected by her gruesome very ’80s about this comfortably traditional sitcom. These b y hiko mitsuzuka death (Michelle Forbes, I always knew you’d get Emmy three golden boomers (and one “Golden” girl) hit their stride recognition.). And special kudos goes to Mireille Enos and during the cable-com’s second season, and the undeniable 2011 was what I like to call the Year of the Joel Kinnaman for their dynamic chemistry as Linden and charisma of this cast of comedy veterans is what drives each Departure. Oprah, Regis, Meredith Vieira and Susan Lucci all Holden, the most original and watchable pair of investigators episode. Get in on the fun – the third season just started. said goodbye to their daytime audiences. Katie Couric peaced since Mulder and Scully. 8) “2 Broke Girls” (CBS) – Hipster-hating Max (the out on the “CBS Evening News.” The Walker family danced 3) Cinema Verite (HBO) – One of the year’s most sharp-tongued Kat Dennings) and spoiled-rich Caroline (a into that good night on “Brothers & Sisters” (to Lady Gaga no pleasant surprises was seeing The Secret Circle’s Thomas bubbly Beth Behrs) are the breakout duo of the TV season. less). And yours truly left a position at a company after several Dekker effortlessly play Lance Loud (his best role to date), Girl power was never this funny. years of service. It seems like wherever you turned, someone the out-and-proud son of America’s first reality-TV family 9) “The Oprah Winfrey Show” (ABC) – The void was embarking on a new chapter of his or her life, whether in 1973. Diane Lane, Tim Robbins and James Gandolfini Oprah left in daytime television will certainly be felt for voluntarily or not (Kim Kardashian notwithstanding), in the also shine in this fantastic fictionalized behind-the-scenes some time to come, and we will forever be grateful for the 25 first year of this new decade. account of the groundbreaking PBS documentary series, “An enlightening years the talk show titan gave us. In the weeks Personally, 2011 was the year I got in touch with my American Family.” leading up to her poignant farewell, watching “Winfrey” was “inner artist” and attempted to live the life of a writer, which, I 4) “American Horror Story” (FX) - Ryan Murphy and like experiencing a greatest hits collection. Every show, every found out, involves getting increasingly familiar with daytime Brad Falchuk’s enjoyably twisted take on the haunted house guest, was impressive, provocative and ultimately satisfying. television. That said, I’d like to have lunch with Wendy genre was everything I expected from the minds behind polar- And as for that lecture-filled finale? We’re still soaking up Williams and Anderson Cooper – at the same time. But on to opposite “Glee.” Jessica Lange couldn’t have chewed enough those memorable life lessons. the good stuff: Here are the 10 pieces of terrific television that scenes this season as Constance, the next-door neighbor with 10) “Revenge” (ABC) – For all intents and purposes, this titillated, tantalized and thoroughly entertained the hell out plenty of secrets up her sleeves, and Evan Peters brought it as suds-filled drama about rich people with problems shouldn’t of me (and hopefully some of you too). the tortured Tate, television’s chilliest teen. have made this list (boring billboards, lackluster promos), but 1) “Happy Endings” (ABC) – Sure, they’re a bunch of 5) “Homeland” (Showtime) – Who knew little, angsty after experiencing the first 10 episodes, I became a convert. young urbanites navigating life and love with laughter, but Angela Chase would grow up and return to television in a Why does it work? While “Desperate Housewives” satirized whereas “Friends” now seems so quaint (and so ’90s), this political potboiler? Claire Danes gives new meaning to the primetime soaps (and suburbia), “Revenge” refreshingly sophisticated group of buds has turned rapid-fire dialogue term conspiracy theorist, and what the dynamic drama does plays it straight. Icy glares. Delectable dialogue. And enough and gut-busting non-sequiturs into an artform. Huge claps best is balance both sides of the character coin. Who’s good? twists (Tyler’s a hustler?!) to make us shiver with anticipation for Casey Wilson, who plays unlucky-in-love Penny with a Who’s bad? The fun is in the guessing. for the next episode. By the way: Welcome back, Madeleine slight adorkable desperation that doesn’t get too grating, and 6) The Royal Wedding (all networks) – As inescapable Stowe. the hysterical Damon Wayans Jr. whose Brad is an irresistibly and overdone as the coverage was for the regal tying of the For more pop cultural ramblings, visit thefirstecho.com and dashing cad with a goofball edge. knot of William and Kate, Americans couldn’t help but hotterinhollywood.com

MISEENSCENE Campus Circle > Film > Mise En Scene

boil down to being popularity contests. However, I’m not here to bash on popularity contests, no matter what title or A NNUAL award the winner earns. What I am here to bash on are the unpopularity contests. To use the high school analogy again, we don’t vote on the least popular girl in the class, the worst ‘WORST-OF’ leader of the class or the person least likely to succeed. Except for the Mean Girls or Heathers out there, most of us don’t like to kick people while they’re down. LISTS Then why do critics do it? I’m talking about the year-end Worst-Of lists that always Why kick something when it’s accompany those Best-Of lists. We see the lists of the worst movies, songs, TV shows, etc. of the year. But what’s the point? down? Again, why kick something when it’s down? And besides, we are talking about something that’s highly subjective. Sure b dei y fre r ck mintchell there are those movies that have stood the test of time and are Was The Island really one of the worst movies of 2005? the gold standard for filmmakers to follow – Casablanca, The ’ Tis the season for the all of the year-end Godfather, Citizen Kane, The Maltese Falcon. I’m just saying McCarthyism. Granted, I’m not comparing a movie being Best-Of lists. All of the critics groups are weighing in with all that we should celebrate “good” movies instead of hating on critically panned to an innocent person burning at the stake, of their choices for Best Movie, Best Actor and Actress, etc. in the “bad” ones. but you get the idea. Hysteria is contagious. the lead-up to the biggest awards show of them all, the Oscars. No matter how bad a movie is perceived to be, someone I remember when Gigli came out and everyone was saying Not only are we hearing about the “best” movies of the – and most likely many people – put their heart and soul into how it was one of the worst movies ever. I never actually saw year, there are lists ranging from the best songs and TV shows that project. It’s not like a big group of people got together and Gigli, but I wonder how much of that came out of the Bennifer of the year to the best fashion choices of the year to the best said, “Let’s make a big, steaming pile of manure for millions of media over-saturation at the time. sports moments of the year. And this is all well and good; dollars.” Even if I was just a production assistant or the craft I also remember when Michael Bay’s The Island came people need a sense of hierarchy in their lives, or else we get services person, I don’t want to be reading about how the out. It too was universally panned, and I do remember it anarchy. From the White House to high school, there’s a need project that I worked on for hundreds of hours is a big piece making some year-end Worst-Of lists as well. I was curious, to know who’s on top to preserve the natural order of things. of crap. Imagine what it must be like for the director or star of so I watched and guess what, I liked it. To paraphrase Sally Granted, voting on what’s best is very subjective – and many a movie to hear that all that work you did smells like methane. Field, I really, really liked it. I didn’t understand the uproar. times a popularity contest, but hopefully whoever wins out With awards season in full swing, one word you will hear I’d bet that many people didn’t really think it was one of the has actually earned those accolades in some way. a lot is momentum. What movie or star has the momentum worst movies of the year – they were just jumping on the anti- In high school, there are homecoming queens, student right now to win the big awards. The same idea in reverse Michael Bay bandwagon. body presidents and those voted most likely to succeed. While works for the “bad” movies. It’s easy to get caught up in the I vote that in this supposed season of giving, let’s just there are usually different criteria at work, they all basically backlash, just like in the days of the Salem witch trials or focus on what was good this year.

8 Campus Circle 12.14.11 - 12.20.11 Become a CAMPUS CIRCLE Fan on Facebook http://bit.ly/dhFhEE

FILMINTERVIEWS Campus Circle > Film > Interviews

moves and editing (by longtime collaborator James Herbert). “That’s what defines his movies – it’s all through the filter of Guy’s sensibility.” The new movie, budgeted at $125 million, is set in 1891 London, and international unrest is mounting, due largely to mysterious bombings. Holmes is pursuing the “Napoleon of crime,” an academic named Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris) who may be trying to foment, and then make a fortune from, a world war. Holmes, who calls it “the single-most important case of my career – perhaps of all time,” resorts to all manner of disguises in chasing the professor, who intends to corner the market on artillery and bandages. Holmes must first persuade Watson, who is about to wed Mary Morstan (Kelly Reilly), to put crime fighting ahead of marriage. With his assistant finally on board, the two collaborate with the gypsy Sim (Noomi Rapace), whose brother may be working with Moriarty, to stop the professor’s plot. Ritchie says making the first film was as personally satisfying as it was professionally, largely thanks to the collaboration with Downey and his producing partner, wife Susan Downey. “They were great mates,” Ritchie says. “I was going through a divorce, and there was a lot going on [in making the movie] that made me feel comfortable.” If the director, who also has made award-winning commercials for BMW and Nike, was comfortable on the set of the first film, he was luxuriating on the second, his ease revealed in how he shot the forest scene. (It was shot in Bourne Wood, outside Surrey, England; most of the film was staged in the United Kingdom).

Daniel Smith “I made up my mind to make something out of nothing,” Ritchie says. “In the script [credited to Michele and Kieran Jared Harris, director Guy Ritchie and Robert Downey Jr. on the set of Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows Mulroney, but revised and improvised by Ritchie, the producers, Downey and Law], it just said, ‘They are running heavy on computer effects but light on novelty – the sort through the woods.’ But often the most creative stuff comes of staging you might come across in any number of studio from nothing.” s hERLock action movies. But as the new detective movie should prove, Shooting in the woods was originally scheduled for just Ritchie has in many ways reverted to his earliest form, two days of filming, but Ritchie asked for an additional three injecting the follow-up with more of his signature cinematic days of photography there. holmes: A touches. “And then I armed myself with as many toys as I Audiences appear even more intrigued with the sequel could,” he says. “I need gizmos – I like the technical side of than with the original, as pre-release surveys suggest A Game filmmaking.” game of of Shadows could be December’s all-conquering hit, with In his arsenal was a track system designed for sports that stronger early interest than for Mission: Impossible – Ghost can travel as fast as 70 mph, and a digital camera called “The Protocol. And because Ritchie’s film won’t be competing Phantom” whose frame rate could be cranked up to 5,000 shadows against a juggernaut such as Avatar, as was the case with frames per second – the normal rate is 24 – so as to freeze Sherlock Holmes, A Game of Shadows could play far into the high-speed objects such as bullets. (The faster the camera To director Guy Ritchie, it’s new year. films, the slower the images play.) “I much prefer it to the first movie,” Ritchie says a day “The bullets you see in the air are real bullets – that’s the elementary. after jetting through Southern California’s windstorms in a speed at which they fly,” the director says. terrifying flight that left the 43-year-old director (traveling Popcorn movies such as Sherlock Holmes don’t usually with model Jacqui Ainsley and their newborn son) so try to present philosophical arguments. Though Ritchie, b y john horn discomfited that he was gasping for breath. “I just enjoyed who has been working on a documentary about spirituality, l lesos ange times (MCT) the experience more.” believes there’s one inside A Game of Shadows, principally in When Warner Bros. hired Ritchie to pump life into how Moriarty is banking not on the likelihood of war but on T he signature action scene in the soon- Arthur Conan Doyle’s 19th century literary creation, he was its inevitability. to-be-released Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, unfolds an unusual choice. His 2008 filmRockNRolla was only a minor “Moriarty is relying on the fact that inside the human in a fusillade in a forest, as high-speed cameras zooming respite from his critical and commercial disappointments consciousness is an insatiable desire for conflict,” Ritchie at 70 mph capture ammunition ripping through trees and Revolver (2005) and Swept Away (2002), the latter starring says. “I’m not sure I have seen that in a film like this before.” flesh in real time. It’s the type of mayhem, initially so intense his then-wife, Madonna. And “Sherlock Holmes” would cost Having recently formed a partnership with Wigram, that the film faced an R rating, that you would find only in a about 10 times that of his most expensive production, the Ritchie says he’s unsure what he’ll do next, but it’s safe to movie directed by Guy Ritchie. $18-million RockNRolla. assume a third Sherlock Holmes movie will be atop the list. Until two years ago, Ritchie was known only to a select Producer Lionel Wigram, who worked with director He recently published the graphic novel Gamekeeper, which cinema buff crowd for his stylish, low-budget British gangster David Yates, another unconventional choice, on the studio’s could easily translate into a feature. movies – Snatch, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Harry Potter franchise, nevertheless thought it was a marriage “I know what kind of movie I want to do next,” he says. Revolver and RockNRolla. He burst into the mainstream, and made in moviemaking heaven. “It just doesn’t have a label on it.” into Hollywood’s loftiest ranks, by directing Robert Downey “He’d obviously had a period where a couple of his He appreciates that he has a new lease on life. Jr. and Jude Law in the 2009 megahit Sherlock Holmes, which movies had not been well received,” Wigram says. “But the “Now,” he says,” it feels like I can have my cake and eat grossed more than $524 million worldwide. way to make Sherlock Holmes feel fresh and innovative was it too.” Though the first Sherlock was a blockbuster, in many the Guy Ritchie version.” ways it was Ritchie’s most constrained production, short on Specifically, Wigram says, it was through Ritchie’s © 2011 the Los Angeles Times. Distributed by MCT Information some of his distinctive flourishes. The key set piece in the filmmaking manner: an innovative mix of staging (especially Services. Sherlock Holmes releases in theaters Dec. 16. For film, for instance, transpired on London Bridge, a sequence the fighting), humor, voice-overs, lenses, frame rates, camera more information, visit sherlockholmes2.warnerbros.com.

Campus Circle 12.14.11 - 12.20.11 9 NEWS FILM MUSIC CULTURE EVENTS DVD GAMING SPORTS MEDIA BLOGS The Channel Surfer DVD Dish Interviews Mise En Scene Movie Reviews Special Features TV Time

TVTIME Campus Circle > Film > TV Time

When it comes to reality television, Wayne is more on the how well they get fence. along and how Randy WAYne “Reality TV is addicting … people love to see train wrecks much fun they [laughing]. We’re a tabloid society where shows like ‘Jersey have.” Dancing to the Beat of His Own Shore’ become a hit. If people want to watch that, fine.” What’s next But Wayne explains that there are some good reality shows for Wayne? Drum that focus on helping people rather than exploiting them. “Other than “I only watch one reality TV show, and that’s the ‘Biggest acting, I also keep b y sola fasehun Loser’ … on that show, people transform their lives for the pretty busy with better. If I had my wish, all reality shows would be positive.” producing. I’ve Ra ndy Wayne picks up after the fourth Wayne talks about “Talent,” a Web series from the people produced eight ring. Throughout the weekend we had been playing behind “Pretty Little Liars,” which is a scripted show. I bring films in the last unintentional phone tag due to conflicting schedules. His up the British reality show, “Shipwrecked,” and he explains: few years, with voice seems low, even over the phone. He tells me that he’s “I wasn’t an actor at that point in my life, but I sent in an one in post and recovering from a cold, and he’s not his usual self. I completely audition tape and ended up doing the fourth season of the another in de– understand. His explanation seems to the break the ice, and show.” velopment.” now we’re both ready to get down to business. Supposedly the idea for the hit reality show “Survivor” He also To anyone who’s a fan of ABC Family, Wayne is a very came from “Shipwrecked.” mentions the familiar face. He’s had a recurring role in “The Secret Life of Wayne just finished shooting Honey 2. I ask him what it people in the biz the American Teenager” and is now on “The Lying Game.” A was like to work with Kat Graham from the “Vampire Diaries.” he looks up to and wants to work with: Paul Giamatti and closer look at Wayne suggests that he’s a versatile actor. “Horrible [laughing], she’s unattractive and can’t sing. the Coen brothers. He also just finished working on “Hot in Originally from Oklahoma, Wayne’s mother suggested Nah, I’m kidding, she’s amazing.” Cleveland.” that he give acting a shot, but it wasn’t until his first year of He describes the audition and mentions that when “Getting to work with Betty White was amazing because college at Campbellsville University, on a cross country and Graham walked in he was amazed. she’s a legend and so funny.” swimming scholarship, that he began to look into acting. “She has a great presence. She’s busy, has a lot going on For now it looks as if the future is bright because he’s As an actor who has done Web series and a reality TV and she’ll be around for a long time.” following his own advice: “Patience, passion and persistence show, I thought to ask Wayne about both. When it comes to I had to ask Wayne about his time on HBO’s “True Blood.” …I move forward because of this.” Web series, Wayne is a big fan. “I was only on two episodes, but I was in a scene with Wayne also moves forward because of his hard work and “With a Web series … one can be more creative because Deborah Ann Woll, Anna Paquin and Jim Parrack. Deborah humbleness. The future not only looks bright for this actor there’s no studio or network worried about advertisers.” Ann Woll is one of the nicest actresses I’ve ever worked with but positively limitless. He practically lists the benefits of web series: “They cater so far.” to youth because the attention span has gone down. It’s He describes the table read where the entire cast was there: For more information, visit twitter.com/iamrandywayne and around five minutes per show, easy and accessible,” “It was great to see the actors of ‘True Blood’ do their thing, facebook.com/iamrandywayne.

TVTIME Campus Circle > Film > TV Time

to ride a bike until she was 12, and if handed a basketball, “I straitjacket. would instantly begin to cry.” In addition to prescription FROM TINA Fey admits following an uninterested boyfriend around drugs, “I was drinking, doing for years in college. (Even she doesn’t seem positive how coke, cutting myself in the she wound up in a happy marriage, with two kids.) Kaling dressing room.” FEY TO Rob confesses that “hooking up confuses me” and recalls how she Thankfully, Hammond once abandoned her jacket to avoid an old boyfriend and his writes from a place of hot date. recovery, but his journey lowe The twist to both books isn’t a surprise: Our heroines there is harrowing – and often triumphed. Fey fought sexism at “Saturday Night Live,” in the darkly funny. Small-screen stars air their book’s most interesting chapters, and is a triple threat (star, Also on the book circuit writer, executive producer) on “30 Rock.” Kaling is both an this year was Jane Lynch of lives in memoirs. actor and writer on “The Office.” “Glee,” who writes in Happy As Fey sums up: “Do your own thing and don’t care if they Accidents that she was born with “an extra helping of angst” b ey gail p nnington like it.” and wished nothing more than to go unnoticed. As a girl, st . louis post-dispatch (MCT) Rob Lowe never felt insecure – he’s Rob Lowe, after all, she knew she was attracted to other girls, what she calls her and was a kid so handsome, he had to fight off job offers. But “big gay secret.” But her real coming out, her book convinces I f you were a chubby kid, insecure, a bit in Stories I Only Tell My Friends, he tells of losing himself to readers, was as a strong, confident woman. nerdy – or, better yet, all three – chances are you now work in substance abuse, only to be rescued by his wife, Sheryl. Lowe Ellen DeGeneres promises insight into “life and love and TV comedy. Two of the most entertaining books of a year in also writes, finally, about his exit from “The West Wing,” giving other ‘L’ words” – even to let us know how she found happiness which many people in television put their stories between hard his side of the complicated story. – in her third book, Seriously ... I’m Kidding. But in the end, covers came from Tina Fey (“30 Rock”) and Mindy Kaling Lowe’s confessions, like his title, are tame next to what she’s mostly content to poke fun at herself in stream-of- (Kelly Kapoor on “The Office”). “Saturday Night Live” veteran Darrell Hammond has to say consciousness style. In Bossypants, Fey reveals that she grew up pale and in God, If You’re Not Up There, I’m F*cked. Promising tales of “Sometimes,” she says, “the greatest things are the most awkward, with a perpetual bad haircut (for proof, there are “mind-altering mayhem,” Hammond shares some shockers. embarrassing.” pictures) and a scar on her face that was her only claim to fame. As a child, abused physically and emotionally, he turned to And then there’s Betty White, who at 89 is still focused on In a recurring dream, she was being chased through an airport cutting himself. “now,” not “then.” In If You Ask Me” (And of Course You Won’t), by her gym teacher. She felt like herself only in a local theater In the fall of 2010, he writes in his prologue, he was sent White writes primarily about the past two decades of her life, program. to psychiatric rehab “after getting drunk and trying to cut my about friendships and animals (her true love) and comedy. Kaling, who titles her book Is Everyone Hanging Out arm off with a large kitchen knife.” By then, he’d already been There’s a good chance you’ll come away thinking angst is Without Me? (And Other Concerns), was pudgy (she still is, she in rehab so many times “that I’ve honestly lost count.” overrated. insists) and dark-skinned. (“Like being Indian, being chubby He calls “SNL” his “golden years” but admits, “It cannot © 2011 the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Distributed by MCT feels like it is just part of my permanent deal.”) She didn’t learn have been easy to work with me.” Once, he was carted off in a Information Services.

10 Campus Circle 12.14.11 - 12.20.11 Follow CAMPUS CIRCLE on Twitter @CampusCircle

DVDDISH Betsy Sharkey “CHARLIZE THERON PLAYS MEAN TO PERFECTION. IN ‘YOUNG ADULT’ THERE IS SOMETHING special ABSOLUTELY MESMERIZING ABOUT features WATCHING A TRAIN WRECK UNFOLD ON SCREEN.” b keby mi e s astian FROM THE DIRECTOR OF UP IN THE AIR AND THE WRITER OF JUNO Under the Radar: Independent Spirit Award-winner Daddy Longlegs is a totally original film about one man who creates a fairy tale world for the two sons he only gets to see once a year. Four up-and-coming horror directors each craft an entry in the anthology filmChillerama , a love letter to hilariously gory Midnight Movies. Rooney Mara (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) stars in Tanner Hall, a look inside a privileged all-girls boarding school.

The Majors: Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis star in the romantic comedy Friends With Benefits. Two friends who have sworn off love decide to enjoy their mutual attraction without all the emotional hang-ups, but soon find it isn’t that easy. Woody Harrelson and Emma Stone co-star. Harrison Ford and Daniel Craig are two cowboys leading a posse of outlaws and Indians to defend the Wild West from a much bigger menace in Cowboys & Aliens. Jon Favreau brings his Iron Man directing chops to bear in his latest comic book special effects blockbuster. James Franco and John Lithgow add their considerable acting talents to Rise of the Planet of the Apes – a far superior sequel to Tim Burton’s initial reboot of the beloved sci- fi franchise – which tells how the apes began to evolve past man.

The Idiotbox: HBO’s hilarious deadpan, animated comedy The Life & Times of Tim: The Complete Second Season follows an office drone doormat in his misadventures in work and romance. In one episode, Tim’s coworkers mistake him for a homeless man when he attempts to grow a beard. An all-star list of comedians guest star. An Australian “Sopranos,” Underbelly: The Trilogy is an original and ambitious take Peter Travers on the gangster series. Each season tracks a different story based on true events from the “CHARLIZE THERON IS A COMIC FORCE 1970s up until the present day A handful of Hollywood talents lend their voices to Vietnam in HD, an immersive, OF NATURE. BUT FAIR WARNING: THE six-hour, on-the-ground look at a tragic war, culled from never-before-seen color footage LAUGHS IN ‘YOUNG ADULT’ LEAVE BRUISES.” filmed by those who were there.

From Criterion with Love: You’ve never seen a gangster film quite like those of RICHARD ROEPER Seijun Suzuki. Branded to Kill, created at the height “ of ’60s Japanese New Wave, is perhaps his most ONE OF THE VERY BEST MOVIES OF 2011. demented. It’s a visually inventive and darkly funny ‘ ’ ” story of a Yakuza gangster with a rice fetish, who I GIVE YOUNG ADULT AN A. becomes the target of a hit. This Criterion release contains new interviews with Suzuki and more.

Foreign Fare: Point Blank is an edge-of-the- Claudia Puig Joe Morgenstern seat French thriller about a man whose pregnant “GUTSY PERFORMANCE.” “EXCEPTIONAL CAST.” wife is kidnapped. Now he has to follow a criminal mastermind’s instructions if she is going to survive. He soon finds himself in over his head with rival gangsters and the police. Mick LaSalle Pier Paolo Pasolini’s Greek tragedy Medea “ ” starring Maria Callas comes to Blu-ray. HHHHH Also from Italy: Lamberto Bava’s Body Puzzle, Alberto Lattuada’s Come Have Coffee with Us, Riccardo Freda’s Murder Obsession

Blu Notes: Just in time for Christmas, Vincente Minnelli’s classic musical Meet Me in St. Louis starring Judy Garland comes to Blu-ray. This beautiful edition features a 40-page booklet with photos, song lyrics, trivia and more. Peter Jackson made his dramatic film-directing debut with Heavenly Creatures starring a young Kate Winslet as a charismatic but mentally unstable girl who has a mutually destructive and tragic relationship with her obsessive friend. Director/star Sylvester Stallone assembles the biggest group of action stars ever seen in a single film forThe Expendables: Director’s Cut, a throwback to the good ol’ fashioned shoot ’em up. EXCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENTS NOW PLAYING A lso Available: Michael Feinstein: The Sinatra Legacy STARTS FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16 AT A THEATRE NEAR YOU. CHECK DIRECTORIES FOR THEATRES AND SHOWTIMES. SPECIAL ENGAGEMENT - NO PASSES OR DISCOUNT TICKETS ACCEPTED

Campus Circle 12.14.11 - 12.20.11 11 CAMPUS CIRCLE WED 12/14 3 COL(4.875”) X 12” LT 4 COLOR ALL.YAD.1214.CAM NEWS FILM MUSIC CULTURE EVENTS DVD GAMING SPORTS MEDIA BLOGS The Channel Surfer DVD Dish Interviews Mise En Scene Movie Reviews Special Features

FILMINTERVIEWS Campus Circle > Film > Interviews

expression and a beat of hesitation before he tackles the stunt. “I really hate it when action stars think they look cool by blithely facing danger and acting mildly bored,” Bird says. “Roger Moore’s James Bond always looked like he was between saunas. Sean Connery was clearly a tough guy, but he’d get in these action scenes and you’d see his life flash before his eyes. That made you invest in the character because he became real.” Getting out of one’s comfort zone and taking chances is something of a mantra for the 54-year-old Bird. Born in Montana and raised in Oregon, he was an animation prodigy who made his first film short, a retelling of the tortoise and the hare, at age 11. It took him two years to complete. In 1977, he sent a copy to Walt Disney Studios. Impressed by his work, they invited him, at 14, to enroll in a mentoring program. He trained as an apprentice under legendary Disney animators and helped animate the studio’s 1981 feature The Fox and the Hounds. Disappointed with the creatively timid Disney of the early 1980s, Bird left, and quickly established a reputation as a top writer for Steven Spielberg’s fantasy anthology TV series “Amazing Stories.” Next came a stint on “The Tracey Ullman Show” and eight seasons with “The Simpsons.” Bird’s film directorial debut, 1999’s The Iron Giant was a touching adaptation of British poet Ted Hughes’ story of loyalty between a boy and a robot. A box-office disappointment, it made a strong impression on those who saw it. That included Steve Jobs, who hired Bird for Pixar in 2000 to shake things up and make sure the company remained innovative. Bird helped guide it to an unprecedented run of hits. The first film he developed for Pixar (and wrote and directed) was the smash superhero spoof The Incredibles, whose boisterous

David James action scenes demonstrated the visual storytelling chops that earned him the Mission: Impossible assignment. Director Brad Bird on the set of Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol The Mission: Impossible stunt sequences presented Bird with challenges like nothing he’d ever faced. top stars from the world’s tallest building isn’t so different “The sequence on the Burj was so logistically complex from directing computer-generated cartoon characters. to pull off. Not just to be up there with our actor but also mission: “It’s all shots and storytelling,” Bird says. filming it in IMAX,” whose special 70mm cameras are huge, While live-action films are using more of the techniques heavy and noisy. “We definitely made it about as hard as we of digital animation, he knew that going on location and could make it and still manage to survive and tell the tale.” impossible “actually, physically” hanging Cruise a quarter-mile above The biggest bonus from directing live action, Bird says, the city would give viewers a visceral thrill that could be is spontaneity. captured no other way. “I like being able to throw something at an actor right – ghost The Mission: Impossible franchise offered Bird before the camera goes on and see something happen. Then considerable latitude. Cruise, who also produces the films, you have something magic that happened that one time has hired a different director for each of its four installments. only. There’s a scene in the film between Jeremy Renner and protocol In this outing, Cruise’s team includes returning co-star Simon Pegg that was done all in one take where they threw Simon Pegg and newcomers Jeremy Renner and Paula Patton each other curves and responded to the curves, and it was Brad Bird enters the live-action playing colleagues unknown to each other and cut off from this incredibly alive moment. That’s the kind of thing you official support. Without a fixed blueprint to follow, Bird can’t have happen the same way in animation.” fray. says, he was free to chart his own path, giving his chapter a He holds both in equal esteem, but Bird says that in the more playful feel and a hero who is extraordinarily skilled movie industry, directing live action is “taken more seriously. b y colin covert yet still human. For a long time, animation has been seen as the kids’ table.” st iu ar tr b ne (Minneapolis) (MCT) “I liked the fact that each one had different vibes to them. He notes that no maker of animated films has ever been Tom wanted each film to have the flavor of its director, and nominated for best director. B rad Bird has made some of the more that’s one of the things that attracted me.” “The animated film Oscar is wonderful, but it tends to brilliant and thrilling animated movies of the past two Some of Bird’s favorite films are action movies laced with separate animation from the rest of movies. I was honored decades, if not of all time. He pushed the boundaries of humor “and not T-shirt lines that are meant to be quoted to be nominated for best original screenplay a couple of feature animation with The Iron Giant, and won best- later. Not wink-wink-nudge-nudge humor, either, but stuff times because I was competing against all films, not just with animated-feature Oscars with The Incredibles and Ratatouille, that comes out of character.” animated films. I like being in the larger pond.” merging commercial and critical success. But Bird scorns Bird loves Raiders of the Lost Ark, he says, “because it has While his new film will certainly open the door to a live- complacency, quoting Steve Jobs’ 2005 commencement this wonderful balance between the energy and pace and action directing career for Bird, he says he plans to remain address at Stanford University: “Stay hungry. Stay foolish.” peril of the action sequences and the way you’re continually active in Pixar as part of the creative oversight committee. Now Bird is dreaming bigger, navigating a new high- engaged by the character of Indiana Jones. You like him, and “I’m not there as much, obviously, but I’m still keeping stakes testing ground. His live-action directing debut is the there’s a wit to the way he’s presented. I could say the same my hand in. It’s an amazing company, a mutually supportive stunt-heavy mega-budget Tom Cruise adventure Mission: for the firstDie Hard movie. There’s a lot of humor in it, but team of really talented people, and I love those guys.” Impossible – Ghost Protocol. it never comes at the expense of the action.” The production traveled to locations in Russia, the One such moment comes when Cruise’s superspy, Ethan © 2011 the Star Tribune (Minneapolis). Distributed by MCT Czech Republic, Canada, the United States and Dubai, where Hunt, is informed he’ll have to climb across the sheer glass Information Services. Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol Cruise rappels down the face of the towering Burj Khalifa face of the Burj tower aided only by some glue gloves. Time releases in select theaters Dec. 16 and theaters everywhere Dec. skyscraper. Surprisingly, Bird says dangling one of the world’s is running out, but there’s a cut to Cruise’s thunderstruck 21.

12 Campus Circle 12.14.11 - 12.20.11 A COMEDY OF NO MANNERS “…THE TALK AND ACTION ARE FLUID, THE MOOD MENACING — MR. POLANSKI, AS EVIDENT FROM FILMS LIKE ‘ROSEMARY’S BABY,’ HAS A FEEL FOR DOMESTIC HORROR — AND THE CAST IS VERY FINE. PARTICULARLY OUTSTANDING IS MS. FOSTER, WHOSE GARGOYLE FACES COULD ADORN NOTRE-DAME CATHEDRAL, AND THE SUAVE, SENSATIONAL MR. WALTZ…” -Manohla Dargis, THE NEW YORK TIMES “WE’RE TOO BUSY LAUGHING! WICKEDLY FUNNY! A GOLD STANDARD FOURSOME! A COMEDY OF MANNERS, MOST OF THEM ENJOYABLY BAD OR INSINCERE, DELINEATED WITH A NIMBLE VERBAL CLARITY THAT KEEPS THINGS BRIGHT.” -Karen Durbin, ELLE

“COUPLES TURN AGAINST COUPLES, HUSBANDS AGAINST WIVES, AND THE TULIPS, HANDBAGS AND BODILY FLUIDS BEGIN TO FLY. THE LEVEL OF CRAFT HERE IS SOMETHING TO BEHOLD.” -Justin Chang, VARIETY

JOHN KATE C. REILLY WINSLET

CHRISTOPH JODIE WALTZ FOSTER

“FULLY DELIVERS THE LAUGHS AND SAVAGERY. SNAPPY, TASTY, DEFTLY ACTED AND PERHAPS THE FASTEST PACED FILM EVER DIRECTED BY A 78-YEAR OLD. REILLY IS RIGHT ON THE MONEY.” -Todd McCarthy, THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

“MS. WINSLET’S “THIS ONE HAS PERFORMANCE WILL OSCAR® WRITTEN REMAIN THE MOST ALL OVER IT.” UNFORGETTABLE.” -Mark Rabinowitz, -Roderick Conway Morris, CNN.COM THE NEW YORK TIMES

OPENING NIGHT GALA CENTERPIECE NEW YORK FILM FESTIVAL AFI FILM FESTIVAL 2011 2011 A ROMAN POLANSKI FILM BASED UPON THE PLAY “GOD OF CARNAGE” BY YASMINA REZA

A SONY PICTURES CLASSICS RELEASE PRODUCEDBY SAÏD BEN SAÏD CO-PRODUCEDBY MARTIN MOSZKOWICZ OLIVER BERBEN PIOTR REISCH AND JAUME ROURES A ROMAN POLANSKI FILM “CARNAGE” JODIE FOSTER KATE WINSLET CHRISTOPH WALTZ JOHN C. REILLY PRODUCTIONDESIGNER DEAN TAVOULARIS COSTUMEDESIGNER MILENA CANONERO MUSIC ALEXANDRE DESPLAT DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY PAWEL EDELMAN CASTING FIONA WEIR EDITOR HERVÉ DE LUZE LINE PRODUCER FRÉDÉRIC BLUM BASED ON THE PLAY “LE DIEU DU CARNAGE” BY YASMINA REZA SCREENPLAY BY YASMINA REZA AND ROMAN POLANSKI TRANSLATED BY MICHAEL KATIMS DIRECTEDBY ROMAN POLANSKI A FRENCH-GERMAN-POLISH-SPANISH CO-PRODUCTION SBS PRODUCTIONS CONSTANTIN FILM PRODUKTION SPI FILM STUDIO VERSATIL CINEMA ZANAGAR FILMS

AND FRANCE 2 CINEMA WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF CANAL + CINECINEMA FRANCE TÉLÉVISIONS THE POLISH FILM INSTITUTE AND WILD BUNCH ©2011 SBSPRODUCTIONSCONSTANTINFILMPRODUKTIONSPIFILMSTUDIOVERSATILCINEMA, S.L. ZANAGARFILMSFRANCE 2 CINEMA

WWW.SONYCLASSICS.COM

OPENS IN NEW YORK & LOS ANGELES DECEMBER 16TH! COMING SOON TO A THEATRE NEAR YOU!

CARDINAL COMMUNICATIONS GRAPHICS STUDIO CGA PROOF TRAFF A.E. Made in QuarkXPress 8.1 Client: File Page:< > AE: Publication: SONY JP CAMPUS CIRCLE SPELLING Prepared by : Cardinal Job #: Date To Run: FULL PAGE GRAMMAR SONY-RGMI-26_CC_FP_4C_12.14 WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2011 ARTWORK Communications 10” x 13” Movie: CARNAGE Type: MAG Specs: 300dpi F. TIMES THEATRES Version: Line Screen: AD SIZE Last Rev:TE Date/Time: 133 12/9/11 5:20 PM READER B PDF-X1A DENSITY OK NEWS FILM MUSIC CULTURE EVENTS DVD GAMING SPORTS MEDIA BLOGS CD Reviews Frequency Interviews Live Show Reviews Music Notes Music Report Special Features

LIVESHOWREVIEWS Tamea Agle Tamea

Blink-182’s Mark Hoppus performs at KROQ’s Almost Acoustic Christmas. Camp Freddy Dec. 2 @ The Roxy It’s that time of year again … when the weather gets cold, and the Sunset Strip gets hot. For the fifth year, the Roxy Theatre is playing host to a Camp Freddy residency. Friday nights in December will belong to rock ’n’ roll as this all-star band takes the stage and shows everyone what music is truly made of. The band consists of legends and soon to be legends: vocalist Donovan Leitch for part of the night, then you have Matt Sorum from Guns N’ Roses on drums, over on one guitar is Billy Morrison from the Cult and then on another is Dave Navarro of Jane’s Addiction. Then the real fun kicks in… Each night, a slew of rock stars join the already talent-laden group on stage at the Roxy. The opening night had the craziest line up to date: Sebastian Bach from Skid Row, followed by Mark McGrath from Sugar Ray singing alongside Skinhead Rob of the Transplants doing some Beastie Boys. But the biggest thing about the opening night was Billy Idol coming on stage and doing the last three songs of the night with his longtime guitarist Steve Stevens at his side. Now, if all of this went down on the first night, just imagine where it’s going to go from there. And that’s really the beauty of the Roxy and Camp Freddy; both embody what’s right about music and the scene. They both take the pure aspect of playing fun songs with your friends and bring everyone together for a great time. The Roxy has always been a place for the best to come show the world what they have, and now this seems like their little Christmas gift back to the people who have made it the place it is with a show that rivals anything on the strip. —David Tobin FREQUENCY b i y br en overly KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas The Naked + Famous Dec. 10 @ Gibson Amphitheatre Dec. 15 @ Galaxy Theatre For the last 22 years,the KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas has been the beginning of the I know we’re all hearing this band’s singles Christmas season for the station’s listeners in Southern California. This year’s Night One everywhere at the moment, to the point lineup was a thrill to see, with just one glitch: Incubus regrettably had to pull out of the that certain songs have nearly become show a few days before due to illness in the band. synonymous with badly acted television teen While I have to admit they were one of my top picks for the night and I would angst – with superpowers. But be that as it have loved to see them again, I was still happy to begin the Christmas season at Gibson may, it doesn’t change the fact that the New Amphitheatre. The boys of New Found Glory started out the night with vocalist Jordan Zealand natives of the Naked + Famous still Pundik decked out as a punk rock Santa and were a great opening for the festival. Young know how to craft a sweeping sonic landscape the Giant continued the night with “Cough Syrup” and “My Body,” which both got great in a song. Effectively catchy enough to be sing- responses from the crowd who sang along and finally got up on its feet. along-worthy, with enough of a darker edge The Naked + Famous Chevelle took to the stage as the third band, and the screams from the pit challenged to give it a haunting emotional resonance, the soundsystem for a moment. The fans of the Loeffler brothers and the rest of the band the fivesome gives a new depth to modern indie. Even if the more vapid segments of sang along from the beginning. entertainment want to use it as their soundtrack. Bush, who was the start of the 2000s flashback of the night, came out and put on a great show. People of every age jumped to their feet and yelled and danced. Parents Young the Giant and kids, side by side at a rock show, is a great way to bring in the holiday season. Gavin Dec. 16 & 17 @ Galaxy Theatre Rossdale took time between songs for some personal shout-outs to the KROQ team to I guess this band is a big deal or something right now. Whatever. Not like anyone really thank them and of course the fans for the support throughout the years. listens to mainstream rock radio in Los Angeles anymore anyway. Regardless, these Irvine Sublime with Rome, while an unconventional replacement for Incubus, came out natives can do both big-sounding rock that’s perfect for those long weekday drives home and filled in the other band’s shoes. Drummer Bud Gaugh announced that he would be up the 405, as well as the more intimate acoustic jams for weekend trips heading down taking a break to be with his family since, they’re expecting a baby. The set unexpectedly PCH with the windows rolled down. And in the grand scheme of mainstream-embraced ended up being a goodbye for the band members. rock, it’s surprisingly low on the d-bag scale – most importantly. Social Distortion, whose frontman was described to me as a “punk rock gangster” brought an energetic and rock-filled set. I agree whole-heartedly with the description of Tori Amos Mike Ness. He earned it. Dec. 17 &18 @ The Orpheum 311’s set was full of hipster-esque rock and light-hearted banter with the audience. At this point in her career, I’m not even sure what genres to classify Tori Amos under. Or “Someone over there is lacking the Christmas cheer!” 311 frontman Nick Hexum even if she really fits into conventional genres at all anymore, given that she’s kind of done joked when someone wasn’t dancing quite enough. The other photographers and I found it all by now. Regardless of what you think of piano-driven female singer-songwriter fare, ourselves dancing along with their set, and that doesn’t happen at every show. Amos is a sonic and visual performance artist everyone ought to see live at least once. All Blink-182’s own brand of “bad punk rock” was the best way to end the night. The those other girls on the keys, the ones who your mom loves their singles when they come guys, who have been playing off and on for years, still have fun on stage together. Tom on the radio? Pretty much all read the Being Tori For Dummies manual, just skipping the DeLonge, Travis Barker and Mark Hoppus told jokes and performed a great set. They chapter on how to be edgy and progressive. were the highlight of my night. —Tamea Agle

14 Campus Circle 12.14.11 - 12.20.11 Follow CAMPUS CIRCLE on Twitter @CampusCircle

MUSICNOTES MUSICREPORT b vy ke in wierzbicki YEAR IN REVIEW b vcy e a re inos Harriet tells the Right Story Jan. 31. Romain Blanquart/Detroit Free Press/MCT Romain Blanquart/Detroit Free Harriet Ready to Tell the Right Story As Dec. 31 gets closer Kanye West and Jay-Z perform on the Watch the Harriet, a new Los Angeles-based band fronted by former Dawes member Alex Casnoff and closer, there will be plenty Throne tour. has announced the details of their upcoming debut EP, Tell the Right Story. Inspired largely of ends – the end of a semester, by classic storytelling and the spectacle of the movies, Tell the Right Story weaves eerily the end of Christmas celebrations and the end of a music year that brought everything romantic ballads with unwavering anthems and features classic elements of Americana from an explosive collaboration to plenty of strange, intriguing music videos. The best and folk music contrasted with futuristic electronic samples and beats. albums of 2011 can’t all be detailed here, but some of the best were the ones that really “I wanted it to feel big … cinematic,” says Casnoff. “I wanted every song to be a stirred up the music world. It’s one thing to create a good album; it’s another to create movie; to feel like an occasion. I wanted it to feel like a wedding.” an album that can go down in music history as an important album. There are a few Tell the Right Story drops on Jan. 31, but you can hear first single “I Slept With All standouts from 2011 that belong to a group that’s created buzz that will have to be topped Your Mothers” now on SoundCloud. come 2012. Mötley Crüe Announces Vegas Residency Lady Gaga – Born This Way Everyone from Elvis Presley to Elton John to Garth Brooks has done it, but Mötley Crüe? Mother Monster is obviously well known for causing a stir in popular culture. But it’s The rowdy rockers are the latest in a long line of entertainers to take to the stage in Born This Way that has capitalized on this attention and turned it into fuel for a worldwide glitzy Las Vegas for an extended run of performances. The world’s most notorious band is dance party hosted by Gaga. Criticized by some for its pastiche-like arrangement of heading to the world’s most notorious city to play a dozen shows at the Joint at the Hard sounds and influences and hailed by others for including loveable tracks, such as the Rock Hotel & Casino starting Feb. 3 and running through the 19th. anthemic “Born this Way,” Gaga’s latest shows a newfound freedom in creativity. Gaga is Drummer Tommy Lee, never at a loss for words, says, “I don’t know about you but not afraid to take risks, both musically and lyrically. And if new single “Marry the Night” when I think of Mötley Crüe I think of filthy sex, drugs, a really big show and way too is any indication, Gaga is still intent on bringing back the music video as both an art form much fun. Sounds like Vegas doesn’t it? A match made in heaven!” and a phenomenon. In fact, Born This Way proves that Gaga will continue to push plenty Ticket info is at motley.com. of boundaries over the rest of her music career. Clarke + Gore = VCMG Skrillex – Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites Depeche Mode principals Vince Clarke and Martin L. Gore are working together for the Electronic music is huge right now – there’s no doubt about that. From festival to festival first time since 1991 and calling their techno-inspired outfit VCMG. and concert to concert, the new frenzy for electronic sound expands, and it might be Clarke explains, “I’ve been getting into and listening to a lot of minimal dance now or never for DJs/producers to introduce their expertise and plug in their new sound. music, and I got really intrigued by all the sounds. I realized I needed a collaborator so it Among the big stars of the movement is Skrillex, whose Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites occurred to me to talk to Martin.” is a testament to the brain-rattling impact of dubstep. Skrillex’s slick tracks follow the Gore says, “Out of the blue I got an e-mail from Vince just saying ‘I’m interested in electronic music pattern well – build up the tension before dropping the bass – but there’s making a techno album. Are you interested?’ So I said OK!” something inherently thrilling about the deep sounds that escape the speakers. Now The pair has finished an as-yet untitled album, produced by Uberzone/Q and ready Skrillex has got “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites” featured on a GoPro Action Camera for release at a to-be-determined date in 2012. In the meantime a VCMG EP called Spock commercial and has been Grammy nominated for Best New Artist, even without Scary is now available digitally. Monsters and Nice Sprites being a huge chart-topper. Nothnegal: Win a Trip to the Maldive Islands Adele – 21 Maldivian melodic death metal band Nothnegal is celebrating the release of their first Adele fans, or maybe just anyone who had heard her sing, recognized that the musician full-length album by giving fans a chance to win a trip to their homeland, the Maldive had a powerful, sultry voice and a knack for cooing heart-wrenching songs. But 21 proved Islands. Decadence drops on Jan. 24, but if you pre-order a copy from season-of-mist.com just how talented Adele is without having to resort to fancy production or elaborate you’ll be automatically entered in the contest to win a five day journey to the all-inclusive costumes. Adele’s tracks on the album are sincere and sung beautifully. Yet Adele did Fihalhohi Island Resort in the summer of 2012. The trip for two includes round-trip take some risks in the album. “Someone Like You,” for example is a bare-bones song airfare, scuba diving and water sport activities at the resort and a meet-n-greet with the that is only her voice and the piano. Somehow, the emotional intensity is concentrated band. enough in Adele’s voice that the track needs nothing more, and it’s been a chart-topper in numerous countries. Who knows what will come with the next numerically-named Half Notes released. Don’t Think, a film by Adam Smith starring the Chemical Brothers, will be screened at select theaters in 20 cities worldwide on Jan. 26. Smith, the group’s longtime visuals Jay-Z and Kanye West – Watch the Throne collaborator, shot the full-length concert film in Japan last July. The ArcLight Theater in If any music lover had his/her doubts about how much swagger could fit into one album, Hollywood is the local participant; for other cities visit dontthinkmovie.com. Kanye West and Jay-Z offered an answer. Watch the Throne was a highly anticipated album The official biography of Finnish prog rock band Nightwish is now available in that was destined to cause a stir from the beginning. From its production to its inclusion English for all Kindle apps. Once Upon a Nightwish (Bazillion Points Books) details the of different musical influences to its subject matter – mainly wealth and fame – Watch departure of singer Tarja Turunen in 2005 and all the band’s doings from 1996-2006. the Throne has gone down as one of the albums that is not only musically intriguing but Remember the whole Justin Beiber paternity issue with Mariah Yeater? Sacramento interesting to view as an event. Two of rap’s titans teaming to talk about, well, mostly band Get Shot! wants to help out Yeater a little financially and is setting aside 10 percent themselves, sounds like a basic plan but it’s somehow unfolded into 12 carefully-crafted of the proceeds from sales of their new Keepin’ it Sleazy album for the young mother. The tracks. Within the first minute or so of songs like “Otis,” it’s obvious that Kanye and Jay-Z band reportedly will be sending Yeater a $1,500 Wal-Mart gift certificate for Christmas. meant business. You can’t mean anything else with an album title such as this. As part of their 15th anniversary celebration, Polyvinyl has released a DVD compilation called A Brief History in Moving Pictures featuring acts like Deerhoof, of Plenty of other releases are important for 2011, but when you look back a decade or so Montreal, Owen, Mates of State and many others. from now, these will be some of the most ground shaking that will pop into your head. British thrashers Savage Messiah are giving away digital copies of their new The year might be ending, but the energy that these artists have raised in the music world Earache Records album Plague of Conscience. Grab your free download at earache.com/ is only just starting to grow. savagemessiah.

Campus Circle 12.14.11 - 12.20.11 15 NEWS FILM MUSIC CULTURE EVENTS DVD GAMING SPORTS MEDIA BLOGS CD Reviews Frequency Interviews Live Show Reviews Music Notes Music Report Special Features

MUSICINTERVIEWS Campus Circle > Music > Interviews

always have ideas. The Looksy, songs, lyrics, movie ideas – things like that. I don’t normally create things with my hands. LEEu l CAS I’m not a real ‘crafty’ person. But I did love the jewelry and leather classes in high school, which was probably my basis Singer-Songwriter and Creator for using leather as the material for the first Looksy designs.” Lee further explains the early days of the Looksy: “I of the Looksy started with ribbon, glue and mirrors from Michael’s craft store. I have kept a lot my prototypes; it’s hilarious and b ey Kathy l onardo inspiring when I look back on what they were when I first started creating the Looksy. They’ve really progressed, and L cee Lu as, singer-songwriter and entre– now I am really proud of the Looksy.” preneur agrees to meet before a recent gig at the Cinema Bar When asked about the music business, she replies, in Culver City. I notice three bracelets stacked on her wrist, “My perception is that the record business has completely and realize these must be from her bracelet line, the Looksy. changed, and is still in flux. I also think there are two very We dive right in talking about the Looksy, creativity, different sides to it, the corporate music side and the indie the music industry and life as the frontwoman for a band. side. The Internet, iTunes and the deregulation of radio Lee’s band, NeonWest just won “Best in Country” on mp3. completely changed the game for everyone. Now a band com and has been featured on “Entertainment Tonight.” doesn’t need a record label, which is great. However, there is Lee says. Like many others in Los Angeles, Lee balances many so much music out there, since anyone can do it online. So While working as a waitress, Lucas has sold many creative projects, the Looksy Bracelet line, NeonWest and you really have to stand out, work hard, get lucky. But at least Looksys to customers, servers, even busboys! songwriting, producing a cartoon and working a day job. musicians have the ability to be 100 percent in charge of their “It’s perfect for servers who are always grabbing food on At one of her gigs one night, as she was rushing to get up own careers. That’s the cool part about it.” the run. The last thing you want to do is go up to a table with on stage, she realized she hadn’t checked her lipstick. Looking Her bracelet line is featured at Bohemian Exchange a huge smile and totally embarrass yourself. It’s saved me lots around, she realized there was no mirror to be found and no Boutique (1358 Abbot Kinney, Venice), Rosenthal Estates of times!” time to go find one. It was then that it hit her: Wouldn’t it be Winery in Malibu and other locations. Several celebrities can The Looksy will also be featured at the Venice Art Crawl great to have a mirror that you wear, a trendy bracelet that be seen wearing the Looksy, such as singer Vicci Martinez in December, a monthly art walk that happens every third also doubled as a touch-up mirror? The Looksy was born. (from NBC’s hit show, “The Voice”) and actress/model Sarah Thursday of the month. Lee will be showing off her Looksy The Looksy is a leather bracelet/wristband with a mirror Hester. line downstairs at Hotel Erwin (1697 Pacific Ave.), from 6 on it, perfect for a quick makeup check with a flip of the wrist. Lee also participates in jewelry/art shows, like the p.m. until 10 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 15. It currently comes in two styles, “Rockstar” and “Popstar” Holiday Boutique event, at Walgrove Elementary School, Lee adds, “The Looksy makes a great stocking stuffer/ and four colors: black, white, dark brown and purple. (1630 Walgrove Ave., Venice) on Wednesday Dec. 14 from 8 holiday gift!” When asked if she ever designed anything, she replies, a.m. to 3 p.m. A portion of the proceeds will go to the school. “I’m creative in lots of ways. I invent stuff all the time. I “I think it’s really important to support your community” For more information, visit thelooksy.com and neonwest.com.

CDREVIEWS Campus Circle > Music > CD Reviews

The Black Keys through mutual friends, and when offered the opportunity, A my Winehouse El Camino (Nonesuch) I didn’t have to think twice. This album is all about having Lioness: Hidden Treasures (Universal Republic) While the Black Keys’ Grammy-winning breakthrough, good, old-fashioned, hoodrat fun with friends.” Pretty much everything about Amy Winehouse’s Lioness: Brothers, took its inspiration from old-school hip-hop, the It all sounds very cool. Whether an avid fan of rap or not, Hidden Treasures is heartbreaking. It bears all the hallmarks new El Camino vibe is more Southern-fried and boogie- Baytl is enjoyable. of a posthumous album – the cobbled-together new material, based, like ZZ Top crossed with the Stooges. Grade: B+ the previously passed-over tracks, the alternate versions of her The ache at the core of “Lonely Boy” and “Hell of a —Marvin Vasquez hits – and they all serve as a reminder that if Winehouse were Season” is coated in such sticky guitar melodies and crisp, Baytl is currently available. still alive, this album would never have happened. upbeat rhythms that it feels like comfort food. Even the What makes it all the more wrenching is how, at times, uncharacteristic ballad “Little Black Submarines” ends in a Los Tigres Del Norte and Friends it still sounds completely amazing. On “Between the Cheats,” stomping snarl of garage rock. MTV Unplugged (Fonovisa) one of a handful of tracks that producers say were meant El Camino will keep the Black Keys deservedly parked at The classic bosses of northern regional Mexican music are for the follow-up to her 2006 masterpiece, Back to Black, the top of the charts. here, and with friends. Winehouse shows how incredibly skilled she was at making Grade: A- Out now, Los Tigres Del Norte accomplished a resonating her pain sound upbeat. Surrounded by the gorgeous doo-wop —Glenn Gamboa, Newsday (MCT) album titled Tr3s Pres. MTV Unplugged Los Tigres Del Norte track, she declares, “I would die before I would divorce ya, I’d © 2011 Newsday. Distributed by MCT Information Services. El and Friends, which includes several collaborations with take a thousand thumps for my love.” Camino is currently available. musical contemporaries. Her wounded, woozy delivery is even more poignant Mexican pop sensation Paulina Rubio played a part in placed after the hopeful, almost innocent sound of a much- Gucci Mane and V-Nasty “Golpes En El Corazon (Hits to the Heart),” a very romantic younger Winehouse on her reggae-tinged take on “Our Day Baytl (Warner Bros.) track and the album’s lead single. Rubio, with her captivating, Will Come.” Her vocals are so well crafted and distinctive Gucci Mane and V-Nasty’s new effort is the whole enchilada. yet charismatic tone of voice, sounds wonderful while singing that they hold their own against the legendary Tony Bennett The album’s first single is “Whip Appeal,” featuring P2theLA. the popular lyrics. on “Body and Soul,” the final song she completed before her You can bump this track in your car and are sure to look good The album also features performances by acclaimed death from alcohol poisoning in July, and they overshadow while driving. urban Puerto Rican artist René of Calle 13, Colombian pop Nas and his timely rhymes on the rushed-sounding “Like “Many people are going to be surprised by Baytl,” Gucci star Juanes and rock’s Zack de la Rocha, among others. Smoke.” Mane confesses. “This, by far, is my most controversial One of the most prominent tracks of the ensemble’s Lioness has many moments like that, where something mixtape to date.” career is “La Puerta Negra (the Black Door),” detailing the doesn’t sound quite right. Gucci Mane has released three studio albums, including disapproval of a girl’s parents with her boyfriend. Get this: It Then, you remember, it’s not right because Amy’s not Back to the Trap House (2007), The State vs. Radric Davis sounds better live! around to fix it. (2009) and The Appeal: Georgia’s Most Wanted (2010). But this Grade: A Grade: B street album is better than any of those. —Marvin Vasquez —Glenn Gamboa, Newsday (MCT) V-Nasty also provides input on the record: “I’ve been a fan Tr3s Pres. MTV Unplugged Los Tigres Del Norte and Friends © 2011 Newsday. Distributed by MCT Information Services. of Gucci since Trap House. We had the opportunity to connect is currently available. Lioness: Hidden Treasures is currently available.

16 Campus Circle 12.14.11 - 12.20.11 Become a CAMPUS CIRCLE Fan on Facebook http://bit.ly/dhFhEE

SPECIALFEATURES Campus Circle > Music > Special Features

in Americana, that catch-all genre that pulls from traditional American roots music forms. So, it was a perfect song for the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and the Del McCoury Band to make as the centerpiece of their stellar 2011 album, American Legacies. Despite all the superb versions of this song over the years, Pres Hall and the McCoury Boys virtually stamp this classic as their very own, offering up the definitive version to stand for the ages. Soaring trumpet, swirling clarinet, soulful lead vocals, airtight bluegrass harmonies, rhythmic banjo ... this is Americana at its finest. —Sarah Zupko

6) Nicki Minaj, “Super Bass” – Let us think about what could have happened had “Super Bass” never graced the airwaves: Katy Perry’s cheesefest, “Last Friday Night (TGIF),” would have had no competition for Best Summer Song 2011, the little British girl who famously belted “Super Bass” on YouTube would be just another precocious child and Minaj would continue to be known more for her stellar guest appearances than her own material. So, thank goodness someone had the savvy to release “Super Bass” as Minaj’s seventh single, thus gifting the listening public with a deliriously hooky chorus and jackrabbit rhymes. Pelican fly, anyone? —Maria Schurr

7) James Blake, “The Wilhelm Scream” – “The Wilhelm Scream” is at once a startlingly adept cover and, paradoxically, Blake’s own haunting composition. The song borrows its vocal refrain (“I don’t know about my love ...”) from “Where to Turn,” a minor 1970s soft-rock hit by Blake’s father, James Litherland, but uses it as more of a sample than a chorus – a distant, winding loop to be twisted, warped, and submerged beneath thick synth textures and icy echoes of drum loops. So goes Blake’s approach to recording. Much as he re-appropriates elements from an eclectic grouping of contemporary genres (dubstep, soul, electronica), what results is indisputably his own. —Zach Schonfeld

8) Kanye West and Jay-Z, “Otis” – In case you haven’t figured it out by now, Mr. West has an uncanny knack for flipping

GL Wood GL samples _–see his productions “Izzo (H.O.V.A.),” “Lucifer” or “Stronger.” For “Otis,” he sliced up the keys, drums, and vocals Nicki Minaj of Otis Redding’s “Try a Little Tenderness” to create one of the warmest beats of the year (“Sounds so soulful, don’t you Gilstrap agree?” says Jay about 30 seconds in). Join that with Yeezy and Hova’s unique rapport and you get one of the greatest THE 10 BEST 3) Fleet Foxes, “Helplessness Blues” – Fleet Foxes’ excellent moments of their storied collaborative career, despite the second album Helplessness Blues has a lot of highlights, to be complete absence of a chorus. Yeah, these guys are kings. — sure. But the album’s best song is its eponymous centerpiece, Mike Madden SONGS OF an unflinchingly earnest meditation on finding one’s place in the universe. “Helplessness Blues” starts out lean, riding on 9) Florence + The Machine, “Shake It Out” – While Florence Robin Peckhold’s vocal harmonies and the relentless strum Welch set the bar high for herself with a first impression as 2011 of an acoustic guitar for its first half. But then the song memorable as “Dog Days Are Over,” her triumphant single erupts into a massive coda: The harmonies multiply upon “Shake It Out” isn’t just on par with that signature art-pop b keby mi e s astian themselves, a few more guitars materialize and suddenly the number, but actually trumps it. Rather than playing it safe, band’s up in the clouds. By the time they return to earth, being Welch throws caution to the wind and goes all out on “Shake 1) M83, “Midnight City” – All it takes is four synthesizer small and insignificant in an oversized world doesn’t seem so It Out,” a grand pop composition that’s a showcase for her notes. That’s it. Smothered in reverb, coated in ’80s nostalgia, daunting, anymore. —Billy Hepfinger even grander voice. More than anything, the song’s desperate teetering on the edge of full-on explosion, those four notes tone and soaring orchestration show that Welch isn’t resting pack more heart and energy than most albums released 4) Radiohead, “Lotus Flower” – Introduced by Thom Yorke on her laurels, but pushing herself to bigger and better things. in 2011. But “Midnight City” is more than just a powerful during some solo shows a couple of years ago, “Lotus Flower” —Arnold Pan introduction. On this transcendent standout from the sixth worked great as a haunting electric guitar lullaby, but for the M83 album, Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming, Anthony Gonzalez studio version Radiohead opt to beef up the arrangement, 10) tUnE-yArds, “Bizness” – The video for “Bizness” opens and co-synth-scientist Justin Meldal-Johnsen build layer creating one of their most accessible songs in years. Yorke’s with tUnE-yArds as a child, resembling a prowling lioness. upon layer of keys, arena-sized drums and vocal atmospherics lingering falsetto has survived the transformation, but the This encapsulates her; she’s ferociously childlike – tenaciously (not mentioning one of the tastiest sax solos this side of a tracks beauty isn’t stifled by the a web of energetic synths, joyous. After two years of slowly building buzz, “Bizness” hit Springsteen record). The result? The synth Sistine Chapel. — pulsating beats and shuffling drum loops that now surround like a shotgun with everything special about her – the singular Ryan Reed the vocal. And, famously, you could dance to it to. —Dean voice, the harmonic use of loops, the African polyrhythms, Van Nguyen the inability to be pinned down, the confidence – turned up 2) Adele, “Rolling in the Deep” – For those of us who didn’t to 11,000. It was a large step from her humble, lo-fi roots and a know Adele’s breakthrough 19, this was the growing tremor 5) Preservation Hall Jazz Band & The Del McCoury Band, declaration of uncompromised music talent. —Jesse Fox that announced the coming of 21. For all its massive success, “I’ll Fly Away” – “I’ll Fly Away” is a tune with a long history 21 isn’t a perfect album, as even the world’s biggest producers in American music; it’s a standard for New Orleans brass aren’t sure what to do with a talent this large. They should just bands playing at jazz funerals, it’s heavily favored by gospel listen to “Rolling in the Deep” more, which basically advises musicians, and has been a standard part of the bluegrass © 2011, PopMatters.com. Distributed by MCT Information “get out of Adele’s way and let her do her thing. —Andrew repertoire for decades. In other words, it’s thoroughly soaked Services.

Campus Circle 12.14.11 - 12.20.11 17 NEWS FILM MUSIC CULTURE EVENTS DVD GAMING SPORTS MEDIA BLOGS Art Beauty Books Fashion Food Gaming Special Features Theater Travel

PAGES Campus Circle > Culture > Books

novel based on his travels throughout the Sahara. This book, however, is non-fiction, collecting nearly 40 of his travel BOOK REVIEWS writing essays and inspired by stints in Morocco, Kenya, Paris, Ceylon, Thailand and other places. b vy ke in wierzbicki You might think the older essays here, like the 1956 piece View From Tangier, would be hopelessly dated. To The History of the World According to Facebook the contrary Bowles relates details that seem to jump By Wylie Overstreet (It Books) from today’s headlines; a Moslem woman caught drinking Yes, this book is a complete parody featuring bogus Facebook alcohol in Tangier will suffer the penalty of having her hair entries that begin appropriately enough with “The Universe” and eyebrows shaved off. This is not typical travel writing posting pictures from his “birthday party,” photos of stars – go here and see this – Bowles marvels at natural wonders being born and other cosmic events that get a “like” from throughout, but it is the people he interacts with and the Carl Sagan. The Dawn of Man chapter has lots of dialog situations they get into (There’s a chapter on smoking the Grade: B from Adam, Eve, God and an assortment of other religious African cannabis known as kif.) that make the book an biggies while a couple thousand years later, in the Industrial exceptional read. Vintage 80s: London Street Photography Revolution chapter, Alexander Graham Bell utters the first Grade: A By Johnny Stiletto (Frances Lincoln) “Can you hear me now?” Renowned photographer Stiletto has a collection of his work Most of the parody is nowhere near hilarity, but it is Unicorn Being a Jerk on display in the vaunted Tate Gallery in London; Vintage spot-on in its mimicking of inane Facebook entries even if By C.W. Moss (It Books) 80s collects 160 black and white street photos taken at a time some of them are mean-spirited (Helen Keller’s gibberish) or You may have seen Moss’ naughty Mr. Unicorn acting up when, per Stiletto, London was “the style, musical, political just in plain bad taste, like everything posted by or because in illustrations on the Internet; Unicorn Being a Jerk gathers and fashion capital of the world.” Some of the photos are of Hitler (“Europe changed its profile picture.”) The last 55 full color, one-panel LOL comics with the one-horned quite puzzling until you read the caption; a shot of a woman chapter covers pop culture from the most recent decades, menace doing such things as peeing in the pool, photocopying bent over on the sidewalk and apparently peering behind her and this will probably be the book’s most enjoyed segment; his butt, stealing all the change from a fountain and getting is identified as “Woman farting, West End.” Overstreet doesn’t get too obscure with his references, but into a fight at his kid’s Little League game. The most evocative of photos though are those featuring obviously the reader needs to have a basic knowledge of It’s important to remember that unicorns, let alone faces, as Stiletto demonstrates a talent for capturing quite an history in order to get many of his gags. Mr. Unicorn, are mythical creatures because some of the assortment of characters, most of whom are just everyday Grade: B illustrations might push the buttons of more sensitive people although here and there will be a candid of someone viewers. Some may not see the humor in panels showing like musician Phil Collins’ mother. Hairdos, shoes and Travels: Collected Writings 1950-1993 Unicorn beating his wife, clubbing baby seals or indicating headlines get their share of attention too and by the time By Paul Bowles (ECCO) that he’s a pedophile. Generally though, Unicorn Being a you’re through studying the pages you can almost feel the Bowles, who died in 1999, was a well-traveled author who Jerk is a real hoot that’ll leave the viewer looking forward to London fog. wrote the New York Times bestseller The Sheltering Sky; a future volumes. Grade-A

SPECIALFEATURES Campus Circle > Music > Special Features

7) “All I Want for Christmas Is New Year’s Day” by Hurts 8) “Winter Wonderland” by Jason Mraz – This acoustic THET SAN A rendition of the holiday classic is fabulously folksy and perfect for cuddling up by a roaring fire. 9) “Do You Hear What I Hear?” by Kristinia DeBarge SESSIONS 10) “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” by Leighton Meester A 2011 Holiday Playlist 11) “Last Christmas” by Jimmy Eat World 12) “Grown-Up Christmas List” by Monica – The R&B b y hiko mitsuzuka vocalist offers a stirring version of this plea for peace. 13) “Wonderful Christmastime” by Kelly Rowland T his was inevitable. After all, if Justin Bieber 14) “Child of Winter” by Rachel and the Reindeerz – A and Zooey Deschanel can pop out Christmas compilations, shameless plug for a friend who worked on this merry little then why can’t I? Beach Boys cover and turned it into a cheery viral hit. I’ve always believed that a steady, well-balanced diet of 15) “Extraordinary Merry Christmas” by the “Glee” cast contemporary and classic holiday tunes is necessary for any – An original pop number that will get your head bopping celebration involving tinsel, candy canes and spiked eggnog. while trimming the tree and hanging up those stockings with Therefore I’ve come up with a small sample of what’s on my care. playlist between now and Dec. 25. I mean, there are only so 16) “Mistletoe & Holly” by Leigh Nash Michael Buble provides smooth holiday vocals. many times I can listen to Bruce Springsteen’s “Santa Claus Is 17) “Merry Christmas Everybody” by Steps – Because Coming to Town” on the radio. So I’ll be relying on my iPod nothing screams “cheesy kitschy fun” like this poptastic, early- enough, then check out this club-friendly rendition from the to deck the halls with boughs of ear candy. I suggest you do 2000s gem from the Britpop superstars. Queen of Eurodance Trash. the same. 18) “Carol of the Bells” by the Bird and the Bee 23) “Sleigh Ride” by Debbie Gibson – A flashback to the 1) “When Christmas Comes” by Mariah Carey & John 19) “All Alone on Christmas” by Darlene Love – An oldie ’80s to help you reminisce about that Hot Wheels playset you Legend from the early ’90s (Yes, it’s also from the Home Alone 2: Lost found underneath the tree (or is that just me?). 2) “Shake Up Christmas” by Natasha Bedingfield in New York soundtrack.), and it is one helluva rollicking good 24) “The Christmas Song” by Justin Bieber & Usher – I 3) “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” by time. hesitate to put this on here, but Usher offers some redeeming Michael Buble – smooth vocals from a smooth operator 20) “The Christmas Song (Thunderpuss Remix)” by vocals to turn this holiday classic into a late-night slow jam. 4) “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” by Katharine McPhee Christina Aguilera – It wouldn’t be Christmas without some 25) “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” by the “Glee” cast 5) “White Christmas (Live)” by Lady Gaga – Straight from diva theatrics set to an over-the-top remix. Perfect for those Happy Holidays, everyone! her ABC Thanksgiving special, Mother Monster jazzes it up yuletide rooftop soirees in West Hollywood. to perfection. 21) “Love Is Christmas” by Sara Bareilles For more pop cultural ramblings, visit thefirstecho.com and 6) “Happy Xmas (War is Over)” by Charice 22) “Last Christmas” by Cascada – If one version wasn’t hotterinhollywood.com

18 Campus Circle 12.14.11 - 12.20.11 Follow CAMPUS CIRCLE on Twitter @CampusCircle

PAGES Campus Circle > Culture > Books

people living in the margins. From the obsessive pursuit of 9-11: Was There an fame to the effects of perpetual war and the sense that the Alternative? – With this YE AR-END American Dream is slipping from our grasp, it’s a timely and past September marking vital collection. the 10th anniversary of the attack on the Twin READING list Habibi – Craig Thompson (Blankets) returns with another Towers, and the War on epic graphic novel, a gorgeous gilded tome fittingly reflecting Terror still dragging on, b keby mi e s astian the exotic and epic tale within. It’s the story of two refugee it’s amazing how muddy slave children as they make their way through an Arab world many of the issues still Classics Revisited: Those long winter nights are perfect that is somehow simultaneously contemporary and timeless. are behind how we got for delving into some of those must-reads, but who says It is a beautifully rendered and timely story of finding here. Who better to put classics have to be stuffy and difficult? connection in a culturally divided world. things in perspective than Noam Chomsky, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and But Gentlemen Marry Long, Last Happy – Because he worked primarily within the whose analysis of Brunettes – While it’s overshadowed by the Marilyn Monroe short story form, Barry Hannah was destined to be a writer’s history, nations and musical, Anita Loos’ 1925 novel (and sequel) crystallized a writer, despite having a lively and darkly hilarious voice which power is unparalleled? new archetype, the gold-digger, with a hilarious faux-diary should have made him a household name. This posthumous This revised edition includes a new essay by Chomsky written of a globetrotting blonde and her interactions with such release, which culls the best of Hannah’s previous collections following the killing of Osama bin Laden. figures as Sigmund Freud. Edith Wharton dubbed it the Great as well as four new stories and an uncollected early work, American Novel. is the perfect introduction to one of America’s great Deadly Monopolies: The Shocking Corporate Takeover of underappreciated artists. Life Itself – And the Consequences for Your Health and Our The Master and Margarita – In our contemporary climate Medical Future – As corporations look for ever-expanding of fluff, it’s sometimes easy to forget just how vital and brave The Marbled Swarm – With pitch-black humor and language frontiers to conquer, a new market has opened up: our a work of storytelling can be. Written during the darkest era that is alive and wholly original, Dennis Cooper channels DNA. Harriet A. Washington documents the pharmaceutical of Stalin’s reign and not published until the late ’60s, Mikhail William S. Burroughs and the Marquis de Sade to fearlessly companies’ attempts to monopolize life itself. Bulgakov’s fantastic and hilarious satire of Soviet life is an explore the darkest corners of our psyches with tireless important and above all entertaining reminder of fiction’s inventiveness. Here is the story of one young cannibal’s The Ecstasy of Influence – With this hefty non-fiction power. conflicted relationship with his late father and the made-up collection Jonathan Lethem draws on an eclectic set of language they shared. influences to engage with contemporary culture as he has in The President – Unavailable for 40 years, this stunning work novels like Chronic City. In reprinted essays as well as new from a master of psychological suspense, Georges Simenon, Nanjing Requiem – Set during the 1937 Japanese invasion of pieces, Lethem tackles everything from 9/11 to Bob Dylan paints a portrait of a former French Premier living in Nanjing, Ha Jin’s latest novel is a powerful tale of an American and, of course, Brooklyn, to examine the nebulous role of the isolation out in the country. Based on real-life figure Georges missionary and dean of a women’s college and her brave artist in the modern world. Clemenceau, the aging ex-leader is a once powerful man who attempt to help the refugees who flood into the school during holds a bitter grudge and a secret that could bring down the the tragic occupation. The Hidden Reality: Parallel Universes and the Deep Laws government. of the Cosmos – Fans of TV’s “Fringe” should grab a copy The Pale King – Never short on ambition, the late David of physicist turned TV host Brian Greene’s latest, a mind- Something Happened – With the recent publication of two Foster Wallace’s posthumous novel remains unfinished at bending exploration of theoretical physics’ most far out biographies of Joseph Heller, it’s a perfect time to go back and 500-plus pages (an appendix includes Wallace’s notes). Set in theories, from multiverses to doppelgängers. revisit his work. While he’s still mostly known for his iconic a regional IRS office in Illinois where the employees receive first novel,Catch-22 , his long-awaited follow-up is actually his boredom survival training, the novel tackles life’s biggest How the World Works collects four previous Noam Chomsky best work, a scathing examination of the American suburban questions with Wallace’s characteristic wit and empathy. releases, originally published in the ’90s but remaining entirely middle class. relevant: What Uncle Sam Really Wants; The Prosperous Few Submarine – If you enjoyed the recent big screen adaptation, and the Restless Many; Secrets, Lies and Democracy; and The The Universal Baseball Association, Inc., J. Henry Waugh, go back and check out Joe Dunthorne’s hilarious and original Common Good. These works are unique in the approach, Prop. – With the success of The Art of Fielding, baseball novels take on the outsider teenage coming of age tale. The novel editing together Chomsky’s speeches and interviews on are making something of a comeback. But to describe post- follows Oliver as he attempts to rekindle his parents’ fading various topics into accessible, conversational yet profoundly modern heavyweight Robert Coover’s 1968 book as merely a marriage and lose his virginity. insightful and illuminating essays. baseball novel would be inaccurate. The title character lives in a world of his own creation, a fantasy baseball league with a There But For The – Ali Smith’s incisive yet playful and wholly The Master Switch: The Rise and Fall of Information star rookie who pitches a perfect game. But when the fictional original story concerns Miles Garth, who leaves the table mid- Empires – Tim Wu’s newest is an important and timely look all-star meets his untimely demise, Waugh’s life is thrown into meal at a dinner party and locks himself in a room. The party’s at communications and big business, a chronicle of how every disarray. other guests gather around to each give their perspective on new medium that has promised to be a vehicle of democratic Miles. With her typical deft touch, Smith questions what it’s good has come under corporate control. Is the Internet next? Fiction possible for us to really know about other people. The Angel Esmeralda: Nine Stories – The first collection of Poser: My Life in Twenty-three Yoga Poses – Newly shorter work from one of America’s greatest living writers, The Visible Man – Known primarily for his hilarious paperbacked (Jan. 3, 2012), Claire Dederer’s memoir smartly Don DeLillo, features nine tales written between 1979 and dissections of pop culture, Chuck Klosterman has in recent capitalizes on an exercise trend that seems to have incorporated 2011, which span Manhattan to Greece to outer space, and years made the foray into fiction. His latest is written from itself into American culture as seamlessly as pizza, sushi and chronicle the author’s constantly evolving but ever-evocative the perspective of a therapist whose newest patient claims to lattes. It will entertain die-hard practicers, as well as those who prose style. possess a cloaking device that allows him to spy on people. The are still non-believers. —Angela Matano man’s increasingly disturbing tales offer a thought-provoking Erasure – If certain best sellers were to be believed, racism was critique of our ever more public lives. Throw Them All Out – Washington is never short on scandals, a regrettable phenomenon that was successfully abolished 50 and the latest is a doozy. Peter Schweizer offers a non-partisan years ago. For those living in the real world, there’s Percival Just for Laughs account of how our elected officials parlay the highest offices L. Everett’s reissued satire about a black author who writes a I Am Better Than Your Kids – If you were one of the multitude into huge profits, the political equivalent of insider trading. novel called My Pafology, which is intended to eviscerate just busting a gut to a viral e-mail some years back in which the such dishonest treatments of race but is inadvertently taken author excoriated children’s artwork, then you’ll rejoice to Vultures’ Picnic: In Pursuit of Petroleum Pigs, Power Pirates seriously and becomes a huge hit. know that Maddox, the culprit behind those critiques, has and High-Finance Carnivores – Written like a non-fiction collected them, along with hundreds of pages of new creative espionage thriller, investigative journalist Greg Palast’s latest God Bless America: Stories – Equally heartbreaking and efforts, from Valentine’s cards to homemade presents, as well is a globetrotting exposé on Big Oil, Big Energy, Big Finance hilarious, Steve Almond’s (Candyfreak) latest collection of as offering up some of his own childhood drawings. and all the other parasites sucking the world dry while short fiction paints a kaleidoscopic portrait of the modern governments look the other way – or worse, help. It’s the American psyche through intimate examinations of the Non-Fiction perfect read for down time in your Occupy tent.

Campus Circle 12.14.11 - 12.20.11 19 NEWS FILM MUSIC CULTURE EVENTS DVD GAMING SPORTS MEDIA BLOGS Art Beauty Books Fashion Food Gaming Special Features Theater Travel

SPECIALFEATURES Campus Circle > Culture > Special Features

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and Earth Day in the winter by going green and doing something useful for the environment. holl- a day! Holla! Time Out From School, Time for Celebrate Cinco de Mayo and Martin Luther King, Jr. Day by learning about other nationalities’ history and culture. You! I know it’s learning something and all, but it’s much more interesting and fascinating than what most of us were learning over the past four months. Holla! b mmny e a uelle troy

Celebrate your time off like it’s Halloween by taking it all off T here is no “I” in team, but there is one instead of putting a costume on. Treat yourself to a spa day in “holiday”! No classes, no worries – it’s all about you! by being naked, pampered and happy during the day for a Celebrate your time this year by celebrating all the other change. holidays rolled into one vacation holla-day! You can even show off your chest like its Mardi Gras! Let someone else do all the work like it’s Labor Day! Holla!

Utilize your time as if it was Thanksgiving by trying out a Now that you’re feeling good that you have time to feel new recipe or a new restaurant you’ve wanted to go to. good, celebrate your free time like its Valentine’s, Fathers or If you choose something with eggs, pretend its Easter Mothers Day by doing something nice for someone you love. and be happy you found something new. They will love the surprise, and you’ll be surprised at Eat a lot of it like its Fat Tuesday and enjoy more. Holla! how good it feels doing it randomly. Holla!

Celebrate like I’ts Columbus Day by discovering something Celebrate your time like it’s Presidents Day and Veterans Day new about you. Go somewhere you’ve never been, listen by taking time to honor and appreciate this country – with to some music that you’ve never heard or read something all its wonderful holidays – and the people who have served you’ve never read. us. Any day could be like a Good Friday, New Year’s Day and

While you’re at it, try to figure out whom you’re going to Independence Day when you’re celebrating and discovering Troy Emmanuelle vote for in the upcoming elections. Holla! something new, especially when its all about you. Holla!

JETSETTER Campus Circle > Culture > Travel

Stay & Ski package for $219 (price in Canadian dollars) or if you want to stay longer, there’s a deal where you get your lettNw i S o fifth night free. When you’re not on the slopes you find that Whistler has more than a hundred restaurants and bars for Ski the West This Winter you to explore. Find details and chat live with a booking agent at whistler.com/winter_packages. b vy ke in wierzbicki Utah Snow for Half the Dough W inter is finally here, and that means it’s Southern Utah’s Brian Head offers a full range of terrains time to breakout the skis and snowboards and head for the suitable for all ability levels, and right now the facilities can Stevens Pass, Snohomish County, Wash. hills. If you’re looking for someplace to go and play in the be enjoyed at a bargain price. Lots of local hotels are offering powder, here are some ideas. discounts on ski-and-stay packages, including the Springhill Valley, Yellowstone’s Grand Canyon and the foot of the Gallatin Suites by Marriot in nearby Cedar City where during the week Ridge, being led by a naturalist guide and accompanied (for Visiting Seattle? Ski Northwestern Washington you can get a room and two lift tickets for $159; the price goes two days) by a cross-country skiing instructor. Evenings will Snohomish County is only 12 miles north of Seattle (40 miles up to $169 per night on the weekend. And if you’ve never be spent at the Mammoth Hotel and the Old Faithful Ski from the airport), and that’s where you’ll find the Stevens hit the slopes before Brian Head has a full-service ski school Lodge. Participants need to bring their own skis; rentals will Pass ski park. From now through Jan. 1 snowboarders can program for people of all ages. More discounted offers are be available at an extra cost. For program details including a purchase a day pass for the park’s Brooks lift and Top Phlight detailed at brianhead.com. list of additional dates when the Yellowstone on Skis program Terrain Park for $25, enabling them to explore lots of different will be offered visit yellowstonenationalparklodges.com. rails, boxes, booters and the brand new stunt ditch. The Top Bowl Park City Phlight pass can be upgraded to a full mountain pass for $37. If your favorite ski destination is Park City, Utah you’ll want SnowGlobe Music Festival 2011 stevenspass.com to know about Jupiter Bowl, the place to see and be seen après Why not take in some tunes along with your time on the If you’re a fan of snowshoeing, head a little farther north ski. The relatively new (two years) facility has 16 ultra modern slopes? The unique landscape of South Lake Tahoe is the to Whatcom County and Bellingham. The Mt. Baker ski area bowling lanes, pool tables and a billiard lounge and multi- perfect setting for you to do just that. Head to the SnowGlobe is full of snowshoeing trails through scenic areas of old- screen music video and sports viewing. A live DJ spins dance Music Festival being held at Bijou Park on the campus of Lake growth forest, waterfalls and unique geologic formations. and hip-hop tunes Friday and Saturday nights during JB After Tahoe Community College on Dec. 29 through the 31st to bellingham.org Dark when complimentary bowling (two games per person) see performances by 40 acts including Glitch Mob, Fishbone, is also on offer. jupiterbowl.com Bassnectar, Theophilus London, SBTRKT, Max Mool, Dr. Going to Vancouver? Think Whistler Israel, RUN DMT, Govinda, Paper Diamond and many others. About 75 miles north of Vancouver in British Columbia, Yellowstone on Skis The area has about 9,000 acres of skiing and snowboarding Canada, is Whistler, often rated as the No. 1 ski resort in Cross-country skiing enthusiasts will love the five-day ski- terrain, and gamblers will be happy to know that the festival North America and the place that hosted the 2010 Olympic and-learn Yellowstone on Skis program that launches on Dec. grounds are only about three miles from the casinos of Winter Games. Right now you can book a two-night/two-day 31. Participants will take daily ski trips to Blacktail Pass, Lamar Stateline, Nevada. snowglobemusicfestival.com

20 Campus Circle 12.14.11 - 12.20.11 Become a CAMPUS CIRCLE Fan on Facebook http://bit.ly/dhFhEE

CALENDAR20-SOMETHINGS Campus Circle > Calendar BFDEI Y RE R CK MINTCHELL

SATURDAYDEC. 17 TUESDAYDEC. 20 A Tnnual SAN A Monica Pub-Crawl Slasher Christmas Movie Double santamonicapubcrawl.com Feature Participating locations will offer drink and food New Beverly Cinema, 7165 Beverly Blvd., Los specials to crawlers on three routes (Main Street, Angeles; newbevcinema.com Pier or Wilshire). A portion of all proceeds will go If you miss the usual onslaught of slasher movies to the Westside Food Bank to feed the less fortunate around Halloween, then check out these Christmas over the holidays. With the official SMPC wristband, movies of gore, er yore – Black Christmas and Silent you’ll get food and drink specials as well as entry into Night, Deadly Night. 7:30 p.m. the official afterparty, where all three routes will join forces to dance, celebrate, win prizes and spread good Colin Young-Wolff Colin cheer. 5 p.m.-2 a.m. $10.

WED Y NESDA DEC. 14 today. This black market catwalk will offer FRIDAYDEC. 16 SATURDAYDEC. 17 Alexander Payne Double Feature the music stylings of local diva Abby Travis, Lingerie Football UCLA Women’s Basketball vs. Aero Theatre, 1328 Montana Ave., Santa fashionista host Howard Seth Cohen and L.A. Coliseum, 3939 S. Figueroa, Los Tennessee Monica; americancinematheque.com sizzling aerialists to satisfy your desire for all Angeles; lflus.com John Wooden Center, 221 Westwood Plaza, Director Alexander Payne appears with things deviant. Runs through Saturday. 7:30 Who knew that football could be so sexy? UCLA; uclabruins.com his latest film, the critically-acclaimed The p.m. $20, $15 w/student ID. The ladies of the Los Angeles Temptation take The perennial1712 power and seven-time Descendants starring George Clooney, fol- on the Seattle Mist in true fantasy football. 7 national champions come to town. This was lowed by 1999’s Election starring Reese With- THURSDAYDEC. 15 p.m. supposed to be a match-up between former erspoon and Matthew Broderick. 7:30 p.m. Invisible Children’s Third Annual Tennessee player Nikki Caldwell (who left $11, $9 w/student ID. Holiday Benefit Show FRIDAYDEC. 16 UCLA last year for LSU) against her former The Troubadour, 9081 Santa Monica Blvd., Power 106’s Cali Christmas 2011 coach, Tennessee’s Pat Summit. 2 p.m. WEDNESDAYDEC. 14 West Hollywood; invisiblechildren.com Gibson Amphitheatre, 100 Universal City; Disney On Ice Presents: Disney Sponsored by the Stash Box, the shows power106.com SUNDAYDEC. 18 Pixar’s Toy Story 3 are curated by Pete Wentz, Alternative Headlining the annual radio show is hip- Alfonso Cuarón Double Feature Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa, Press magazine and Chop Shop Music’s hop superstar, 13 Drake, along with this year’s Aero Theatre, 1328 Montana Ave., Santa Downtown; staplescenter.com Alexandra Patsavas and will feature some of No. 1 selling recording artist J. Cole plus Monica; americancinematheque.com Toy Story 3, along with memorable Invisible Children’s biggest supporters from Detroit’s Big Sean with his smash single and This double feature spotlights the moments from Toy Story and Toy Story 2, hits throughout the years. Money raised through No. 1 watched video “My Last.” Opening the collaborative 18 work of cinematographer the ice when Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Jessie the Musician Coalition will support an Early show will be the Bay Area’s “Love Rance” with Emmanuel Lubezki and director Alfonso and the Toy Story gang – along with some Warning Radio Network which links remote the hit single, “Up,” Audio Push, YG and the Cuarón with a 10th anniversary screening of new faces – escape from the rambunctious Central African communities through radio Chi-Town Breakers dance crew. See what all Y Tu Mama Tambien and the destined-to-be tots of Sunnyside Daycare and race for home. broadcasts. These broadcasts encourage child your favorite on-air personalities look like in classic Children of Men starring Clive Owen Runs through Sunday. soldiers forced to fight in rebel leader Joseph person too. and Julianne Moore. 7:30 p.m. $11, $9 w/ Kony’s force, the Lord’s Resistance Army, to student ID. WEDNESDAYDEC. 14 return home. Also Friday. SATURDAYDEC. 17 White Christmas Naughty & Nice MONDAYDEC. 19 ArcLight Pasadena, 366 E. Colorado Blvd., THURSDAYDEC. 15 Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale; A Christmas Story Pasadena; arclightcinemas.com Mark & Brian Christmas Show gmcla.org ArcLight Hollywood, 6360 Sunset Blvd., Since there won’t be one in Los Angeles, Nokia Theatre, 777 Chick Hearn Court, The Gay Men’s Chorus’ popular holiday Hollywood; arclightcinemas.com see one on the big screen with Rosemary Downtown; nokiatheatrelalive.com concert features14 Grammy Award-winning Although you have probably seen one of Clooney, Bing Crosby, Vera Ellen and Danny Featuring the Steve Miller Band, recording artist Melissa Manchester, the the countless showings19 over the years on TBS, Kaye. 7:15 p.m. comedian Kathleen Madigan and the M&B GMCLA handbell choir, the Malibu Monks why not see it on the big screen this year? 8 All Star Band: Sammy Hagar, Michael as well as some special surprises. Also Sunday. p.m. THURSDAYDEC. 15 Anthony, Joe Satriani, Kenny Aronoff, Steve Adam Carolla Lukather, Marc Bonilla, Kevin Cronin and SATURDAYDEC. 17 MONDAYDEC. 19 Grove of Anaheim, 2200 E. Katella Ave., more. 7:30 p.m. “The Nutcracker” Starfish Circus Christmas Benefit Anaheim; adamcarolla.com Royce Hall, 245 Charles Young Drive, Largo at the Coronet, 366 N. La Cienega, Lest you forget, the star of “The Adam FRIDAYDEC. 16 UCLA; losangelesballet.org Los Angeles; largo-la.com Corolla Show,” MTV’s “Loveline,” “The Man Comedians of “Chelsea Lately” Not going home for Winter Break? The Greg Behrendt, the author of the best- Show” and “Crank Yankers” started out as a Club Nokia, 800 W. Olympic, Downtown; holiday tradition15 continues with Los Angeles selling book,20 He’s Just Not That Into You, stand-up comedian. Check out his live act, clubnokia.com Ballet’s acclaimed original production which was adapted into the movie of the and be ready to laugh. 8 p.m. If you love watching them on E!, then of “The Nutcracker.” Join Clara and her same name, will be joined by Dave Anthony, see them perform live. No pop culture topic Nutcracker as they journey to magical realms Patton Oswalt and more for a hilarious night THURSDAYDEC. 15 or personality will be safe! Featuring Ross where mischievous mice battle toy soldiers, of comedy to benefit the Littlest Tumor Criminal Couture: Forbidden Mathews, Heather McDonald, Josh Wolf and snowflakes dance and Clara’s dolls come to Foundation. 8 p.m. $30. Fashion Jen Kirkman. 9 p.m. life. 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Also Sunday. Bootleg Theater, 2200 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles; forbiddenfashionbootleg.tumblr. FRIDAYDEC. 16 SATURDAYDEC. 17 com Cynical Christmas Movie Double Stevie Wonder’s Annual House This runway auction of 60 gowns on Feature Full of Toys Benefit Concert 20 models will be constructed from stolen, Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Blvd., Nokia Theatre, 777 Chick Hearn Court, For more events, visit found and recyclable materials created with Hollywood; americancinematheque.com Downtown; nokiatheatrelalive.com campuscircle.com/calendar. the theme of all things Bootleg. Brought Double your cynical11 pleasure with Bill Drake is back,16 along with Justin Bieber To submit an event for to life in the basements of Los Angeles’ top Murray in Scrooged and Billy Bob Thornton and Michael McDonald, who will be per- consideration, e-mail artists and designers, these ravaging rip-offs and Bernie Mac in Bad Santa. 7:30 p.m. $11, forming with the R&B legend to raise money [email protected]. pay homage the top chi-chi designers of $9 w/student ID. for House Full of Toys. 7:30 p.m.

Campus Circle 12.14.11 - 12.20.11 21 NEWS FILM MUSIC CULTURE EVENTS DVD GAMING SPORTS MEDIA BLOGS Baseball Basketball Football Hockey Soccer

COLLEGEHOOPS Campus Circle > Sports > Basketball

b ry ma vin vasquez contests, while averaging 5.7 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. UCLA: The UCLA Bruins men’s basketball squad topped I wonder if Nelson was missed in the team’s first game the University of Pennsylvania Quakers by a score of 77-73 after being dismissed, but the four-point victory for the on Saturday night at the Honda Center in Anaheim. With Bruins did not really show that. They played well, led by the victory, the Bruins improved to 3-5 overall, while the Lazeric Jones’ 21 points, four assists, three rebounds and Quakers dropped to 5-6 for the year. More than 6,000 fans two steals in a team-high 36 minutes of playing time. Jones attended the nonconference affair, which had both programs converted seven of 10 shots, including three treys. facing each other for the first time since 1987. Additionally, three other Bruins saw point production Although UCLA held a comfortable lead at times during reach double figures. David Wear recorded a double-double the game, Bruin head coach Ben Howland acknowledges of 11 points and 12 rebounds, while Joshua Smith had 12 how close the game became. points and six boards and Travis Wear pitched in 12 points

“It was important for us to win a close game,” Howland and three rebounds. Times/MCT Angeles Gary Friedman/Los says. “Our guys made key plays down the stretch. Jerime At halftime, the Bruins led by four points (39-35). The Anderson, in the first half, made some big shots to get us hosts’ biggest lead of the contest came in the second half, Jerime Anderson battles for the ball against Pennsylvania. going.” when they held an edge of 14 points. One of the major For UCLA, it was also an important win because of the differences in the game arrived with regards to points in the p.m. before hosting the UC Davis Aggies at the Honda Center recent conflicts surrounding Reeves Nelson, who was kicked paint, which UCLA dominated 34-16. They also outscored on Saturday, Dec. 17, at noon. Both games are nonconference off the team due to poor behavior. Consequently, earning the Quakers in points off turnovers, 15-8. meetings. this victory just two days after the announcement was crucial The Bruins led by 13 with 5:34 remaining before getting for the Bruins in order to begin their next chapter as a team. outscored 18-9 to end the affair, and Penn’s Tyler Bernardini USC: For USC, well, they had a different outcome. USC “After much thought and deliberation, I have made the had a lot to do with that. Bernardini totaled a game-high 29 suffered a 44-41 loss to the New Mexico Lobos. With the decision to dismiss Reeves Nelson from the UCLA men’sb points with seven rebounds and three assists. Rob Belcore defeat, the Trojans moved 4-6 overall, while the Lobos team effective immediately,” Howland said in a prepared was the other Penn player in double figures, registering 13 improved to 7-2. statement. “This decision is not one that I take lightly, but it points with his three steals. Maurice Jones led USC with 19 points and five rebounds. is in the best interest of both the program and the student- Despite giving up the lead for a bit, Howland felt well Two Lobos scored in double figures, led by Drew Gordon’s athlete.” about beating Penn. double -double of 13 points and 13 rebounds. Tony Snell For better or for worse, Nelson’s scoring will be missed. “It was a good feeling to win,” he says. “Penn is a very contributed 10 points. Last year, he was a first team All-Pac-10 selection after he led well-coached team. It was a good win for us, and a step in the New Mexico led by eight points at halftime (23-15), but the Bruins in scoring and rebounding with averages of 13.9 right direction. Our next game against Eastern Washington the Trojans mounted a comeback bid although it did fall just points and 9.1 rebounds per game. This season, however, won’t be any easier.” short before the 4,000 fans present. he saw a significant drop in production. Nelson had started The Bruins entertain the Eastern Washington Eagles on The Trojans return to the court on Dec. 17, hosting the in only one game this season and played in six of the seven Wednesday, Dec. 14, at the Los Angeles Sports Arena at 7:30 Georgia Bulldogs at 7 p.m.

ONTHEMENU Campus Circle > Culture > Food

round tables that encourage long conversations and sharing your order with your friends. It’s a neighborhood-tailored BÄCO MERCAT spot; just show up, there are no reservations allowed at Bäco Mercat. 408 S. Main St., Downtown Once you’re seated, take a look at the well-prepared beverage menu. The beers are hand picked and unique, like b i y er ca carter the Flying Dog Gonzo Porter from Maryland and the best pilsner I’ve tried in a while, Avery Joe’s from Colorado. But Iw as walking downtown near Fourth what really caught my eye were the in-house prepared Bäco Street one Sunday afternoon eager to visit my favorite brunch sodas. The signature Bäco pop – a blend of orange, ginger and spot, Banquette Café, but was greeted with signs that the juniper – is uplifting and literally put a smile on my face. I establishment had closed and was making way for a new could probably drink about two of these a day to keep the restaurant. I am relieved that Chef Josef Centeno is the one blues away. who took over with Bäco Mercat, as I’m already a fan of his To start the meal, I ordered honeydew melon with Lazy Ox Canteen a few blocks away. crème fraiche and the pickled vegetable salad. Lots of times, Some of the best culinary creations can come from hours honeydew is not very flavorful, I usually look at it as a filler The Original Bäco sandwich spent in the kitchen experimenting with ingredients or the fruit in fruit salad, but Centano’s melon is not only sweet and, need to feed lots of people with what you have available. Enter along with the crème fraiche, I am rethinking honeydew’s Bäco. the Bäco, a flatbread creation by Chef Centeno that he came rank in fruits that I enjoy. The salad, ripe with radish, beets The Bäco gets even flatter and is made into a flatbread up with when he was the Executive Chef for Hollywood’s and tomatoes, was very tangy, but what I noticed most is pizza called the Coca, or crispy flat bread. Simple ingredients Meson G. He used the flatbreads that were left over from the the ingredients tasted extremely fresh like they were just like salsa verde, ricotta and eggs make “The Egg” a great choice evening’s dinner service and topped them with the meats that purchased from the farmer’s market. For me, this was a great to order, as well as the El Cordero with Merguez sausage, spicy were available at any given time, like pork belly and short ribs, indicator that your dining experience will be good, when you harrisa (a sauce native to Africa) and creamy chevre. The to feed the back and front of the house staff after long hours can taste the freshness of the ingredients. Cocas are prime for sharing, but be warned: You’ll definitely serving guests. Our server suggested we order two or three Bäcos each, be fighting over who gets the last piece. The Bäco soon became the signature family meal for the so we had “the Original:” pork belly and beef carnitas with Since Bäco Mercat is closed on Sundays, I don’t have my staff at each restaurant Chef Centeno worked at. Soon, the smoked aioli and the Spanish sauce Salbitxada, a powerful brunch spot but if I’m up early enough for their Saturday popular dish made its way on to the menu of Lot 1. And now, blend of garlic, tomatoes and parsley with just the perfect “hair of the dog” mornings, I will be enjoying the Bäzole. It’s almost three years later, Chef Centeno has opened a concept amount of vinegar to enhance the salty charred carnitas. Next a take on pozole, with house-made noodles steeped in a green entirely focused on the Bäco. up, the Pesco, on par with a deep-fried fish taco you find in chile broth, carnitas and a perfect fried egg. That paired with Bäco Mercat’s layout is well thought out, from the small, Baja, in a very delicious way. The vegetarian Fava Bean Fritter a Bäco soda is a perfect start to the day. plant-lined patio looking out onto Fourth Street, the inviting with poblano, feta and another sauce found in Spain called bar that greets you when you open the glass doors and the Salmorejo – almost like a gazpacho – is my second favorite For more information, visit bacomercat.com.

22 Campus Circle 12.14.11 - 12.20.11 Follow CAMPUS CIRCLE on Twitter @CampusCircle

TRENDBLENDER Campus Circle > Blogs > Trend Blender

As the holidays draw near, nothing excites me more than the thought of picking my present from those winter must-haves I’ve been accumulating on my wish list all season. But what if there are too many that dt ear san a... are just too beautiful to give up? Or what if our most coveted item is way beyond our parents’ budget (damn you, online haute couture boutiques)? Instead of waiting for fat old Santa to deliver our wishes – or in some desperate cases, a prince charming with a trust fund – we independent ladies can take the matter into our own hands and rummage every shop in the city in quest b y dana jeong of the budget-friendly versions of our expensive trinkets. And voila! Here’s what I found after only a day of scavenger hunt.

THE PERFECT FUR THE PERFECT HOLIDAY PARTY DRESS Originally it was: $7,949, Gucci Get it for: $138, Freya Faux Fur Originally it was: $5,270, Lanvin Get it for: $59.90, Zara Dress with Shawl Color Fur Jacket Coat in Forest Green Belted Leather Dress Slits nastygal.com net-a-porter.com zara.com Monica Feudi/style.com

Every girl needs a perfectly proper dress for the holidays, especially if she is visiting the Colored fur has been on my wish list since I spotted that gorgeous beauty from Gucci during boyfriend’s house. With this elegantly chic dress for so much cheaper, you’ll even have money fashion week. But why spend a fortune when you can get this one for a fraction of the price? left over to buy the best pie in town – and the parents will love you even more! Plus, the cropped length and collarless design make it look so much more youthful.

THE PERFECT HEELS THE PERFECT PURSE Originally it was: $625, Dolce Get it for: $116, Topshop Luxury Originally it was: $825, Alexander Get it for: $38, Deena & Ozzy & Gabbana, Bow-Embellished Velvet Platform Sandals Wang Diego Textured Leather Confetti Studded Bucket Bag Velvet Sandals Bucket Bag topshop.com net-a-porter.com urbanoutfitters.com net-a-porter.com.com

Although those Dolce & Gabbana heels would be ideal for dancing in ball gowns, we need a The sweet irony between buttery leather and edgy studs made that cutie the It Bag of the Year, sturdier, more layerable pair to last this winter. With thick platforms and ability to transform but as a broke college student, all I could do was drool every time I see one. Now, with this new into anything when layered with different socks, this adorable pair will surely be our go-to bucket bag in an even prettier color and softer leather, I no longer have to be jealous – and hey, shoes this season. that’s $800 more in my bank account than yours!

Campus Circle 12.14.11 - 12.20.11 23