JACKSONVILLE

fall movie and tv preview

free weekly guide to entertainment and more | september 20-26, 2007 | www.eujacksonville.com 2 september 20-26, 2007 | entertaining u newspaper table of contents feature Fall TV Preview ...... PAGES 6-9 Fall Movie Preview...... PAGES 16-19 Brew at the Zoo ...... PAGE 22 at home Shane Tallant - HGTVs Design To Sell (interview) ...... PAGE 10 Ken Burns’ The War (TV review) ...... PAGE 11 Video Games ...... PAGE 11 movies Movies in Theaters this Week ...... PAGES 12-15 Across the Universe (movie review)...... PAGE 12 Sydney White (movie review) ...... PAGE 13 Eastern Promises (movie review) ...... PAGE 14 In the Valley of Elah (movie review) ...... PAGE 15 dish b.b.’s (restaurant review) ...... PAGES 20-21 Caring Chefs Profi le (Zaitoon) ...... PAGE 21 music Music Calendar ...... PAGES 22-25 Do Make Say Think (interview) ...... PAGE 23 Dukes of Hillsborough (interview) ...... PAGE 24 Robinella (European Street) ...... PAGE 25 arts / theatre / on stage Portent! I Said Portent (Pedestrain Projects) ...... PAGE 26 Midsummer Night’s Dream (Theatre Jacksonville) ...... PAGE 27 They’re Playing Our Song (ABET) ...... PAGE 28 Cabaret (Players By The Sea) ...... PAGE 28 columns and stuff Netscapes ...... PAGE 30 The Jock ...... PAGE 30 NASCAR News & Notes ...... PAGE 31

eujacksonville.com | september 20-26, 2007 3 thisweek Queens of the Stone Age Misery Signals Revolver Magazine once SEPTEMBER 20 said Misery Signals is thursday “a relentlessly ambitious melodic, metal core band Taste of the NFL with a knack for exhausting Northeast Florida’s top chefs, including Tom Gray, Liz Grenamyer members with their take-no- and Matthew Medure, show off their culinary skills at this fundraiser prisoners touring schedule.” for the Lutheran Social Services Second Harvest Food Bank. In Indeed, the Madison, addition to the seven-course dinner with wine pairings, the event Wisconsin mathcore fi ve- includes a silent auction and appearances by several Jaguars piece has been touring players. Tickets: $250 Crown Royal Touchdown Club, Jacksonville virtually non-stop since Municipal Stadium- 6 pm Info: (904) 739-7074 forming in 2002. The group Up & Cummers- Fashion Forward makes a stop at Thee Imperial this week during yet another Two fashion shows will emphasize New York inspired fall fashions tour, this time with The Agony Scene, Emmure, Sky Eats from Jacksonville area boutiques and Love Brigade, a designer Rock of Love Casting Call Airplane, Born of Osiris and more. Thee Imperial- 6 pm Info: After Poison’s kick ass show earlier this month at the Veterans label founded by Jacksonville natives. Participating boutiques and (904) 475-0488 Memorial Arena, who doesn’t want to date Bret Michaels in front restaurants include Aurathai, The Beauty Bar, Biscotti’s, Brick, of the entire world on MTV? OK, probably most people. But, if Carla’s Shoes, Casbah, Dirty Blonde, Mossfi re Grill, Olive, Petal you happen to be in the minority, head over to Twisted Sisters on Bruce Bruce Reve, Rosie True, Wardrobe Therapy and many more. Spring for Thursday to audition for the second season of the dating/reality Bruce Bruce is a name synonymous with keeping audiences the VIP tickets, which include a reception prior to the fashion show series Rock of Love. Twisted Sisters- 8 pm to 10 pm rolling with laughter thanks to his captivating improv skills. with complimentary wine, hookahs, a belly dancer and delectable Info: twistedsisterscafe.com/events.php Bruce’s larger than life comedic style has been showcased cuisine by local area restaurants. Tickets: $35-$110 across the country. A comic, an actor, a spokesman for Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens- VIP Guests: 7 pm, General Popeye’s Chicken and a published author, Bruce Bruce is admission: 8 pm Info: (904) 356-6857 a modern day Renaissance man and an underrated talent. Experience his wit, spontaneity and dazzling personality live and SEPTEMBER 21 - 23 in person this Friday at the Florida Theatre. Tickets: $31 th Florida Theatre- 8 pm Info: (904) 355-2787 19 Annual Rock Show A rock show you say? No, not the kind of rock show EU usually tells you about, but the 19th Annual Rock Show put on by the Ruckus Jacksonville Gem & Mineral Society. Gems, minerals, jewelry, fossils, and beads will all be on show and sale. Saturday and Sunday you will actually have a chance to see NASA’s Moon Rocks. $3 for the day or $5 for all three days, children under 12 free w/ adult. Morocco Temple, 3800 St. Johns Bluff Rd., Fri.-1-6pm, Sat.- 10am-6pm, Sun.-10am-5pm.

saturday SEPTEMBER 22 SEPTEMBER 20 - 22 QuiltFest 2007 The Dukes of Hillsborough Tampa’s Dukes of Hillsborough will bring their breed of Southern Oh, snap! It’s QuiltFest 2007! This three-day event will feature Ruckus opens for Chris Cagle special quilting classes, a fashion show, tons of vendors and a quilt punk to Jacksonville with The Reckoning, Pawn Takes King, Dark 99.9 Gator Country FREE Fall Concert Series puts on their fi nal Castle, and Shitagoddam. Catch the rawk live on stage in 5 points, competition where the winner will win a whopping $300! show Friday at the Landing with Chris Cagle and Crossin Dixon. Tickets: $8/daily, $15/multi-day armband read the EU interview on page 24. Fuel Coffeehouse Opening the show will be Jacksonville band, Ruckus, local Info: (904) 425-3835 Prime Osborn Convention Center- 9 am to 5 pm cover & original band, after surpassing many other bands and Info: (904) 630-4000 or quiltfestjax.com winning the Gator Country Battle of the Bands last weekend at Rivercity Brewing Co. The winner was not Restless Kind, The Snacks Blues Band another very talented local band, as reported by EU in last Head over to Springfi eld to check out this new breed Delta Blues week’s issue. Jacksonville Landing- 8 pm Info: 99gator.com act on the intimate stage of Springfi eld’s favorite new pub. Shanty friday SEPTEMBER 21 Town Pub (904) 798-8222 Culture While Culture has now been around for 27 years, they’re Puerto Rico Cultural Parade and Festival Queens of the Stone Age showing no signs of slowing down. The group has proved The third annual Puerto Rico Cultural Parade and Festival is Nearly a decade ago, Queens of the Stone Age immerged from the to be one of the few acts in reggae that can always be relied scheduled for this Saturday and the family-friendly event is Palm Desert Scene ready to rock the faces off of stoner rock fans on – both on record and on stage. As reggae music goes, a expected to have upwards of 10,000 people in attendance. The everywhere. Six albums and numerous line-up changes later, the Culture concert is both a tribute to the past and a glimpse of festivities begin with a fabulous parade along Liberty St. and Bay band is still going strong. Check them out this Friday with Howlin’ the future… Not to mention a whole lot of fun! Tickets: $10 St. that will end at the Jacksonville Municipal Stadium. Then head to Rain and Dax Riggs. Tickets: $22.50 Plush- 8 pm Freebird- 8 pm Info: (904) 246-BIRD over to Metro Park for a true fi esta with plenty of Puerto Rican fl air! Info: (904) 743-1845 Metropolitan Park- Noon Info: (904) 630-0837

4 september 20-26, 2007 | entertaining u newspaper Visual Arts Career Fair High school and college students and parents are invited to attend MOCA’s annual Visual Arts Career Fair to learn more about careers in the arts and employment opportunities in Jacksonville. Meet professionals from a variety of fi elds such as Museum Studies, Graphic Design, Architecture, Illustration, Teaching and more. This event is free! MOCA Jacksonville- 1 pm to 5 pm Info: (904) 366-6911

SEPTEMBER 22 - 23 Royal Hanneford Circus You may not be familiar with them, but the Royal Hanneford Circus is the second largest circus in America. The Morocco Shriners are bringing the decades old circus to the UNF Arena for six shows over the course of the weekend. Expect to see trapeze artists, animal acts and much more! Tickets: $12 UNF Arena Info: (904) 642-5200

sunday SEPTEMBER 23

Do Make Say Think Existereo Do Make Say Think started in January 1996 when three Toronto roommates began performing shows loosely based on their experimental 8-track home recordings. Since the the band’s music is (until recently) entirely instrumental and often has a kind of landscape quality to it, it has been of used in fi lms such as Mark Akbar’s “The Corporation”, Velcro Ripper’s “Scared Sacred” and Stephen Gaghan’s “Syriana.” Clearly they’ve come a long way from jamming out in Toronto! Check ‘em out this Sunday. Read interview on page 23. Tickets: $12/advance, $15/day of show Jack Rabbits- 8 pm Info: (904) 398-7496

2MEX and his LA Hip-Hop Crew Coming Straight from the legendary LA underground hip-hop crew The Visionaries, 2MEX joins Life Rexall (“his skilled delivery makes the pizza man jealous”), Existereo and Pickster One are bringing a show that’s “guaranteed to take the paint off the walls in the club.” Shanty Town Pub 22 W 6th St. Info: 798-8222 tuesday SEPTEMBER 25

Don’t Die Cindy Don’t Die Cindy is a band hailing from Panama City made up of 4 people that share common interests in creating a different genre of music. If you take the atmospheric feel from bands such as Pink Floyd and Radiohead, mix it with the intoxicating beauty of Sarah Mclachlan, and Coldplay, and add infl uences from Copeland, Twothirtyeight, Die Radio Die, No Doubt, Cave In and Year of the Rabbit, you have Don’t Die Cindy. Sounds like a blissful combination! Fuel Coffeehouse- 8 pm Info: (904) 425-FUEL wednesday SEPTEMBER 26 Falling Up Their fi rst album, 2004’s Crashings, had three songs make it to #1 on the Christian rock charts. Falling Up is hoping their third release, Captiva, will make a similar impact. With the record coming out on October 2nd, the band’s been touring the country to get their fans pumped for their new stuff. Hear it for yourself when Falling Up comes to Jax and shares the stage with This Beautiful Republic, Doubting Benefi t and A Dream Too Late. Tickets: $10/$13 Murray Hill Theatre- 7 pm Info: (904) 388-7807

eujacksonville.com | september 20-26, 2007 5 fall tv previewby kellie abrahamson

For diehard TV fans, fall is like Christmas and new network pilots are beautifully wrapped Pushing Daisies gifts just waiting to be opened. As with the holiday season, sometimes you watch that pilot and it’s as good as getting a diamond encrusted Rolex. Other times, it’s like getting a box full of socks. This year, think of EU as the older sibling who snuck into Mom’s closet and took a peek at all the presents two weeks before Christmas. We’ve seen nearly all of the most anticipated new original shows of the 2007-2008 television season and are ready to share which shows are keepers and which ones you’ll want to return for a full refund of your time and energy. abc monday While most of their pilots are hidden away under lock and key until the offi cial premiere dates, we did manage to fi nd out some dishy details about ABC’s new shows. We’ll start at the top with Monday’s new half hour comedy Samantha Who?, starring Christina Applegate. On the show, Samantha is the victim of a hit-and-run and what we’re hearing, this drama about a lawyer (Peter Krause) taking over his dead father’s job as the wakes up in the hospital to discover she has severe amnesia. personal counsel of a crazy, rich New York family is dark, intriguing and highly entertaining. Unable to remember anything about her old life, Samantha goes about her business and quickly fi nds that she was apparently a horrible person before the accident. With a new thursday Thursday nights bring one new show, Big Shots, which premieres at 10 pm on lease on life and a renewed state of mind, Samantha sets out September 27th, a primo spot since it’s on right after Grey’s. From what many insiders are saying, the to fi nd out the terrible things she’s done and make amends. show is going to need all the help it can get. The words “trite,” “demeaning” and “preposterous” are TV insiders say this show’s premise is a little too familiar being thrown around a lot to describe this series about a group of four high-powered executives who (My Name is Earl, anyone?), but Christina Applegate’s jump between the boardroom and the bedroom. Besides the cast, which includes Joshua Malina, Dylan performance makes it worth checking out. Tune in on McDermott, Michael Vartan and Christopher Titus, there’s apparently nothing worth watching here. Samantha Who? October 15th at 9:30 to fi nd out for yourself. friday ABC’s fi nal stab at fall TV success comes from Women’s Murder Club, a series based tuesday Two more half hour comedies pop up on ABC on Tuesdays. Everyone has been on novels by bestseller James Patterson. In it, a San Francisco detective (Angie Harmon) teams up with a talking about Cavemen since it was announced the popular Geico characters would be jumping from medical examiner (Paula Newsome), an assistant DA (Laura Harris) and a crime reporter (Aubrey Dollar) commercials to prime time. I had high hopes for this series but after viewing an early version of the pilot, to solve some of the city’s most gruesome murders. Those sick and tired of procedural dramas should I found myself disappointed. Like the commercials, three un-evolved guys live in a world where they are steer clear; this show doesn’t cover any new territory. Still, the girl-power element mixed with Patterson’s discriminated against by modern society. A satirical look at racism in America, Cavemen had potential to massive fan base may be enough to keep this one from sliding down the ratings drain. Women’s Murder be a hit based on the premise and the fact that the characters are already beloved by commercial watchers Club premieres on October 12th at 9 pm. nationwide. The problem is the show just isn’t funny. What I saw failed to connect on any level and came off talky and, what’s worse, a smidge racially insensitive. Word is ABC has completely retooled the fi rst episode in an effort to make it more tolerable (and hopefully tolerant). We’ll see if they succeeded on October 2 at 8 pm. Afterward, we’ll get a look at Carpoolers, a new comedy about four guys who bond cbs while carpooling to work. Word is this one has more laughs than , but the characters are far Cavemen In the past I’ve had a terrible time fi nding a show I actually like on CBS. Apparently, they’ve noticed folks less likable. So far it’s not looking good for ABC. Luckily, Wednesdays turn things around for the usually from my demographic have been having an equally diffi cult time because the new pilots from the Eye are winning network. skewing much younger this year. Mind you, that doesn’t mean they’re all good, but it is a step in the right direction. wednesday The all new ABC Wednesday kicks off with the most buzzed about new show of the network’s line up, Pushing Daisies. Ned (Lee Pace) has the ability to bring the dead back Monday, September 24th brings the fi rst of CBS’s new fall shows, The Big Bang to life but there is a catch- a second touch will kill the newly revived forever. Using his power to solve monday Theory. A geek lovefest if there ever was one, the series follows the cripplingly nerdy lives of Leonard murders, Ned’s got a good thing going. Things get complicated though when he brings his childhood (Johnny Galecki) and Sheldon (Jim Parsons) and their shock, awe and dorkitude when they meet their sweetheart Chuck (Anna Friel) back to life. This whimsical fairytale is beautifully told and shot and has hottie of a new neighbor (Kaley Cuoco). These poor characters are so inept at talking to the opposite sex potential to be as big as as long as it stays on track and people are willing to give the off-kilter series Lost it’s almost painful to watch. There were a few laughs here and there, but even the most hardcore of the a chance. Quirky and original, this is easily one of the top three best pilots of the season. Be sure to check geek population will have a hard time identifying with the leading men. This one was a miss. it out on October 3rd at 8 pm. Following Pushing Daisies is another sure-fi re winner, the Grey’s Anatomy spin-off Private Practice. While the original is still light years better, even after jumping the shark 50 times last season, if just half of Grey’s audience tunes in, the show will do just fi ne in the ratings department. tuesday The new Tuesday offering, a drama called Cane, does a lot better. Set in Miami, this The series begins on September 26th at 9 pm. Whether you choose to watch Private Practice or not, be spicy series revolves around the Duque family, a clan of Cuban-Americans living the high life in the sugar sure to switch over to ABC at 10 pm that same night to catch the premiere of Dirty Sexy Money. From and rum business. The family itself has some issues, especially when the adopted son (Jimmy Smits) is

6 september 20-26, 2007 | entertaining u newspaper given control of the company by the ailing patriarch (Hector Elizondo), leaving the eldest Duque (Nestor Carbonell) stunned and betrayed. On top of this infi ghting, the empire is also being challenged by the Samuels, a rival family looking to obtain the Duque sugar cane crops by any means necessary. The series is strong, with a terrifi c cast and a quality premise. Correctly pitched as a “Latino Godfather,” Cane is soapy but with enough of an edge to redeem itself. The series premieres on September 25th at 10 pm. friday Friday nights brings the curiously under- the-radar series Moonlight. Part Angel, part Beauty and the Beast, this drama is about an immortal private investigator (Alex O’Loughlin) who uses his supernatural abilities to help humanity. In short, he’s a vampire detective. Because of excessive behind-the-scenes drama, which led to a show- runner bowing out at the last minute and an entire cast overhaul, it’s hard to say if Moonlight will be any good. What we do know is that former Veronica Mars dreamboat Jason Dohring is one of the show’s leads and that makes Moonlight worth at least one viewing. Check it out on September 28th at 9 pm.

Moonlight sunday Last and possibly least is Sunday’s Viva Laughlin, which begins on October 21st at 10 pm. It’s a musical! It’s a murder mystery! It’s based on a hit BBC show! I don’t know of any of these facts will do anything for anybody, but if this sounds like the show for you, there may be reason for concern. Early reviews from critics have been less than great, most saying the drama doesn’t work, the premise is too “out there” and the multi-episode mystery arc lacks the oomph to get the audience really invested. Because of the mega-star cast, which includes Hugh Jackman and Melanie Griffi th, I want to give Viva Laughlin the benefi t of the doubt, but so far it’s not looking good. cw monday A few months back The CW incurred my wrath for canceling the cult hit Veronica Mars. While I am still healing from that loss, I must say that with a couple of the new pilots, the C-Dub has renewed my faith in the fl edgling network. Beginning with Monday night’s half hour comedy Aliens in America, which premieres on October 1st at 8:30. The show centers around the family of an awkward teen (Dan Byrd) who plots to be hosts to a foreign exchange student to up their son’s cool. What they wanted was a blonde-haired, blue-eyed European, what they got was a devout Muslim from Pakistan (Adhir Kalyan). The humor is completely politically incorrect and at times just plain wrong, with Raja, the foreign exchange student, taking a lot of fl ack for his religion and race. What the show does is shine the light on the ignorance of prejudice in a way that may make some really uncomfortable. Aside from some of the off-color stuff, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I laughed during the Aliens in America pilot. It’s smart and provocative without taking itself too seriously. Check this one out. tuesday If there was ever a show to take over my beloved Veronica’s timeslot, Reaper would be it. Bret Harrison plays Sam, a slacker who discovers on his 21st birthday that his parents sold his soul to the devil. Satan (Ray Wise) has plans for young Sam: he wants him to round up the evil doers who have escaped Hell. Teaming up with his best friend Sock (Tyler Labine), Sam begins working as the devil’s bounty hunter while trying to fi gure out a way to get his own soul back. With Kevin Smith as the pilot’s director (and apparently un-credited co-creator of sorts if you believe his MySpace blog), the result is a

Reaper

eujacksonville.com | september 20-26, 2007 7 Gossip Girl fox Fox has far less fall releases than all the other networks, saving much of their new stuff for later in the year. Having seen many of their spring offerings, I’m disappointed that those shows won’t see the light of day for several months since some of them are really good. Alas, we’re stuck with a mediocre police drama and a disappointing comedy for now. Oh well, let’s get to it.

monday Monday, September 17th at 9 pm will bring K-Ville, a cop show set in post-Katrina New Orleans. The show centers on Marlin Boulet (Anthony Anderson), a stressed out police offi cer who is trying to keep his family together, his neighborhood from sinking and himself from completely going off the deep end. Saddled with a new partner (Cole Hauser) and working one diffi cult case after another, Marlin seems to be on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Meanwhile, the rest of the department tries to reel him in and solve the broken city’s crimes. After seeing the fi rst episode, I really have to question where this show can go. Anderson is great, I’m a big fan of his work, but set this show in another city and there’s nothing special here. And, since the fi rst episode covered so much Hurricane Katrina ground, I’m not sure how many more episodes the writers can come up with without repeating themselves. K-Ville is worth a look for Anderson’s performance, but I don’t see it lasting very long.

wednesday Back to You, a half hour comedy that takes place in a Pittsburgh newsroom, will air on Wednesdays at 8 pm. In it, Kelsey Grammer plays a disgraced national news anchor that is forced to move back to Pennsylvania and the people he left behind after an unfortunate on-air mishap. Of course his old co-anchor (Patricia Heaton) is concerned the former superstar will steal her spotlight, one that she’s patiently developed during his 10 year absence. I was unimpressed with Back to You. While I did laugh a couple of times, most of the gags fell fl at. Fred Willard, who plays the sports anchor, is completely terrifi c fi rst episode with perfect performances, snappy dialogue and a hilarious story that takes the basic underused here and is really the only reason the show elicited any laughs from me at all. I don’t see Back (and frankly absurd-sounding) premise to a whole new level. Remember how I said Pushing Daises is to You lasting too long after its September 19th premiere date. easily one of the top three new pilots of the year? Reaper is right there with it. Clear your calendars on Tuesday, September 25th at 9 pm for this show. Chuck wednesday Beginning on Wednesday, September 19th at 9 pm, the young adult lit smash nbc Gossip Girl comes to the CW. Like the books, the show centers on the lives of rich private school kids who After years of losing in the ratings, NBC is fi nally are all about hooking up, getting wasted and partying, all under the watchful eye of Gossip Girl (narrated picking itself up again. Because of the wildly by Kristen Bell), who posts the deepest and darkest secrets of the elite teens on the web. A series based successful premiere for Heroes last year, the on teen bestsellers is naturally going to have a built-in following, but it seems they didn’t want to take Peacock is hoping lightning will strike twice and any chances with this one, so they hired Josh “The OC” Schwartz as show-runner. Honestly, this show’s one of their new pilots will take off. I suspect they almost critic-proof with the target demographic. The pilot didn’t really do anything for me, but I’m sure may get their wish. TMZ-loving teens will eat it up. monday Chuck kicks off premiere sunday The weakest of the bunch is Life is Wild, scheduled to premiere on Sunday, October week on Monday, September 24th at 8 pm. In this 7th at 8 pm. In it, a blended family packs up and heads to South Africa, much to the dismay of teen step- action/comedy, mild-mannered computer geek siblings Katie (Leah Pipes) and Jesse (Andrew St. John). Predictable (and that’s putting it kindly) and dull, Chuck (Zachary Levi) is the accidental recipient the early pilot I saw fails to engage at any point. None of the characters were particularly likable, except of an email that contains all of the government’s perhaps the younger kids, and the premise was a bit too similar to Everwood, only without the stuff that secrets in a format that essentially downloads made that show good. Perhaps the retooling that took place a couple months ago will put Life is Wild back them into his brain, making him a walking, talking on track. If not, I suspect this will be the fi rst pilot the CW will pull the plug on this fall. super-computer. The CIA (whose representative is a sexy, butt-kicking agent played by Yvonne Strzechowski) and the NSA (Adam Baldwin plays the agent assigned to this particular issue) both want their info out of civilian hands, but it soon becomes apparent that they’ll need to keep Chuck around if they want to have access to all those fi les. Although the premise sounds really bad when explained, this is a smart and funny

show. Across the board, Chuck is a keeper. The acting is great, the casting is superb and the story has just the right mixture of comedy and action. If the writers can stay on course, Chuck will be a huge success.

Later, at 10 pm on Monday, Journeyman will air. I predict this will be NBC’s second success of the 2007-2008 season. Dan Vasser (Kevin McKidd) is a successful journalist who seems to fi nally be getting his life on track after loosing his fi rst fi ancée. Now happily married with an adorable son and a good job, Dan seems to be living the American dream until he inexplicably begins traveling back in time. Of K-Ville course everyone thinks he’s lost his mind, but Journeyman

8 september 20-26, 2007 | entertaining u newspaper when it keeps happening Dan knows it’s got to be for a reason. Finding out what he’s been sent to do and love. See if it’s more your cup of tea why this is happening to him is the driving force behind this brilliantly executed drama. As with all time when it airs on September 26th at 9 pm. travel stories, there are things that can’t be explained and may not make complete sense this early on in the story. Thankfully, the writers of the pilot didn’t try to go into too much detail to appease viewers who Finally there’s Life, a cop drama with a twist, though not enough of one to like their stories neatly tied up in a nice little bow. Journeyman is going to be a hit with fans of Lost and make it worth a TiVo Season Pass. Heroes. Since I happen to love both, this show was right up my alley and is my favorite pilot of the 2007- 2008 season so far. Charlie Crewes (Damian Lewis) is a recently redeemed police offi cer who served 12 years of a life sentence for Bionic Woman wednesday Here’s a murder he didn’t commit. With a where it gets sticky for NBC. Wednesday massive, multi-million dollar settlement nights will bring Bionic Woman back to for his wrongful conviction, Crewes the small screen. In this series, Jamie is back on the force and is something Sommers (Michelle Ryan) is saved of a wildcard since his stint in the pen from death when a top-secret medical has given him some quirky character facility outfi ts her body with robo-parts fl aws. In addition to solving crimes, after a terrible car accident. Instead of Crewes is also out to track down the going back to the life she once knew, people who ruined his life by framing the former mild-mannered bartender is him all those years ago. Life is just forced to turn to the people who made ok. The premise is fi ne and the acting her this way in order to get used to her is good but there’s no reason to drop new enhancements and stop the fi rst everything for this show. I will give it bionic woman (Katee Sackhoff), whose a couple more viewings before writing gone rogue. It literally took me three tries to get through this pilot. I found myself bored stiff after the fi rst it off forever, but I don’t see this one 15 minutes and then again after the fi rst 35 minutes. The show fi nally picked up the pace in the last act, lasting long. Still, if you’d like to give but by then I didn’t care anymore. Michelle Ryan is a poor choice to play a badass; I didn’t buy her role for it a shot, Life premieres on September a second. Admittedly, the special effects were cool, but beyond that I’m just not feeling the Bionic Woman 26th at 10 pm. Bionic Woman kid tested, mom approved Yo Gabba Gabba BY KELLIE ABRAHAMSON [email protected]

For parents, most preschool TV is the entertainment equivalent of Chinese water torture. Cheesy characters, awful music and cutesy, cookie-cutter lessons make it almost impossible for someone over the age of seven to sit through it without wanting to physically hurt someone. With a little more than fi ve years of parenting experience under my belt, I’ve seen more than my fair share of preschool television and have, at every turn, been unimpressed with what I’ve seen- that is until late last month, when Yo Gabba Gabba premiered on Nick Jr. Incorporating new wave, rock, dance music, and hip-hop, Yo Gabba Gabba is a musically-driven kid’s show that mixes live action with animation, practical lessons with fun, and childlike silliness with grownup cool. The show is hosted by DJ Lance Rock (Lance Robinson), a colorful, energetic character whose gigantic boom box is fi lled with toy monsters that come to life at the utterance of the magic words: “Yo Gabba Gabba.” Once alive and kicking, Muno the Cyclops, Brobee the little green monster, Foofa the fl ower, Toodee the cat-dragon and Plex the robot sing, dance and learn about the importance of playing nicely and eating all your veggies, among other things. This is exactly the kind of show I would set out to create for my kids, so it’s no small wonder that One of the things that makes Sesame Street tolerable for parents is seeing celebrities and musi- a couple of Gen-X dads came up with it, no doubt out of the same frustration all parents have felt when cal guests show up every now and then and act silly with the muppets. Yo Gabba Gabba embraces this choosing between Barney and Teletubbies. Christian Jacobs (also known as The MC Bat Commander, concept, with probably a little more success than the Master. Eight episodes have aired thus far and The lead singer of The Aquabats) and Scott Schultz teamed up, took out second mortgages and put everything Aquabats, The Aggrolites, Smoosh, The Salteens and Supernova have all performed during the Yo Gabba they had into creating Yo Gabba Gabba. Once a pilot was made, they sent out copies to everyone they Gabba’s “Super Music Friends Show.” In upcoming episodes The Shins, Cornelius, Shiny Toy Guns, The could think of and never heard a peep. So the duo posted their creation on the web where it soon garnered Postmarks and Sugarland are scheduled to make appearances. so much buzz that Nickelodeon sat up and took notice. The series got picked up and the rest is TV history. During the regular segment “Dancy Dance” celebrity guests teach viewers kid-friendly dance moves. In all the interviews Jacobs and Schultz have done since their show premiered, they’ve maintained Elijah Wood was a Dancy Dancer, demonstrating his YouTube-worthy moves dubbed “The Puppet Master” that the whole point of Yo Gabba Gabba is to give parents a show that will allow them to have fun with in the fi rst episode. Nacho Libre’s Héctor Jiménez taught kids the “Jumping Jellyfi sh” a few shows later. their kids. Having watched all the episodes with my 3-year-old son, I’m confi dent they have succeeded. Tony Hawk, Laila Ali and others are lined up to do future “Dancy Dance” segments. Each day, my little boy and I dance around the living room, sing along with the silly monsters and talk The famous faces fun doesn’t stop there. The “Clown Prince of Hip-Hop” Biz Markie teaches kids about our favorite characters (he loves Toodee while I am partial to Brobee). During lunch and dinner we how to beatbox during “Biz’s Beat of the Day” and Devo founder Mark Mothersbaugh ditches his goofy sing “There’s a Party in My Tummy,” a recurring song on the show that encourages cleaning your plate. hat in favor of a paintbrush in “Drawing with Mark.” Both of these are regular segments and big hits with At night he happily brushes his teeth since hearing Plex’s song “It’s Fun to Brush Your Teeth.” parents as well as kids. Each show ends with a complete remix of all of the songs that were sung and the It’s great to be able to watch a show with my son that isn’t mind numbingly boring and sticky sweet. lessons learned, recapping the message in a fun, engaging way. On top of exposing children to different Yo Gabba Gabba succeeds where no other kids show has, at least in my home. Tune in this week and give types of music, Yo Gabba Gabba also features a different guest animator each episode, allowing kids to this mom-approved series a chance! Yo Gabba Gabba airs weekdays at 10:30 am and 1 pm on Nickel- see something new each time they tune in. odeon.

eujacksonville.com | september 20-26, 2007 9 the tallant show Shane Tallant of HGTV’s Designed To Sell BY KELLIE ABRAHAMSON [email protected] For some people on the First Coast, changing to all the news stations in Jacksonville on my own the channel to HGTV may result in more than just the second half of my senior year and just dropped getting great design ideas. They may also get a sud- them off,” he said. “I was dropping them off at Fox den wave of nostalgia. That’s because Flagler Col- 30 and the news director walked by and I guess I lege alum and former Fox 30 entertainment reporter caught his eye. He asked me what I was doing and Shane Tallant has gone national. After seven years I told him that I was looking for a job in news and of climbing his way from the bottom of the television I was a student at Flagler and he hired me sight totem pole, the 30-year old phenom has landed a unseen. So, I kind of owe it to a guy named Jim dream gig: hosting the HGTV series Designed to Sell. Labranche. He’s the fi rst person that took a chance Shane took time out of his busy shooting schedule on me with no experience and actually being very to chat with EU about his humble TV beginnings and green, not even a college degree at that point, but he what he’s up to now. saw something that he liked so that’s how I got my Tallant grew up in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, foot in the door.” and like many boys, he wanted to be a professional The foot in the door was really all he needed. baseball player. He chased the dream and managed Tallant rapidly moved his way up from editing the to score a baseball scholarship to Flagler. morning news to becoming a photographer to “Right off the bat, it was Culture Shock 101; standing in front of the camera as an entertainment the southern lifestyle, the slower pace,” he recalled. reporter. He then went from Jacksonville to Pittsburg “To be able to walk into a beautiful city with beautiful to San Francisco, where he became the host of a beaches and beautiful women and just to be able to daily entertainment show called The MIXX. There, relax and go to school in a setting like that was, fi rst Shane got to sit down with some of the biggest and foremost, just phenomenal. And then to be able names in Hollywood. to play such high level of competitive baseball, it “I’m just going to be honest,” he said, when really was a win-win.” asked what his most memorable interview was. “I When a shoulder injury dashed his Major always say Steven Tyler and Robin Williams because League dreams, Shane set his sights on broadcast they’re the two that are the biggest names as well journalism. as favorites, but I gotta say Angelina Jolie. I’m just “I literally had some resumes and took them up going to let the cat out of the bag and for obvious

reasons my 7 minutes with Angelina Jolie is prob- DC shooting episodes of the popular reality series ably the most memorable.” Designed to Sell. With a budget of just $2000, ex- If he was star-struck during those 7 minutes, pert designers, contractors and real estate agents he never let it show. help eager sellers transform their homes from not- “A lot of other reporters allow this person’s title so-sellable to totally bid-worthy. But where does or this person’s star power to intimidate them, and I Shane fi t into the picture? just didn’t really care that much. I just had fun with “My role has kind of been explained to me it,” Tallant recalls. “So, I would walk in and sit down as the glue that explains why we’re there, explains across from Anthony Hopkins or [Robert] De Niro. what we’re doing, and explains how people react to Most people would get really nervous, but I didn’t the work we’ve completed and all while trying to be really care all that much and I think that ended up funny and look presentable.” working out for me.” Designed to Sell is now on Monday through Indeed it did. In 2005, Shane won an Emmy for Sunday at 8 pm Eastern Standard Time. The series his work on The MIXX. His down-to-earth approach has crews in different parts of the country, so if you won over the celebrities in the hot seat and th San want to see Shane’s episodes, check the listings on Francisco viewers. One of those viewers ended up his MySpace page at myspace.com/shanetallant. For being an HGTV producer and the rest is history. our complete interview with Shane Tallant, visit Today, Tallant and his talent are in Washington our website at eujacksonville.com.

10 september 20-26, 2007 | entertaining u newspaper ken burns documentary The War on PBS video games BY RICK GRANT [email protected] BY NORM STOVALL [email protected] Since WWII ended in 1945, many scribes and to the German and Japanese single-shot bolt-action Skate. fi lmmakers have released comprehensive documen- rifl es. For PS3 and Xbox 360 taries on this worldwide confl ict. Millions died in The entire population of the United States was this global war, which had clearly defi ned combat- fervently into the War effort, either fi ghting it as Skate. from EA games has certainly been one of the most anticipated games of the year for me. ants–good versus evil. Many of these works are soldiers or working in the defense industry build- With its only real competition being Tony Hawk’s games, there has certainly been room for a new series historical docudramas such as Spielberg’s adapta- ing tanks, ships, planes, and munitions. All civilian of skateboarding games. And Speaking of Tony Hawk, I’d like to make some general comparisons for tion of Stephen Ambrose’s Band of Brothers. Each manufacturing was halted. Automakers converted fans of the genre and fans of video games in General. Since the demo for the new Tony Hawk game, work probes certain aspects of WWII, delving into their factories to produce War machines. At fi rst, Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground, is available for download on the Playstation Network and on Xbox Live; various cause-and-effect scenarios of this cataclys- we needed everything, but this monumental effort I’ll compare the gameplay elements from these two games. With THPG, you have the same standard mic event. Its scope is so broad, that up until Burns’ quickly supplied our beleaguered troops with enough tried-and-true gameplay elements you have come to expect with the series, and a few notable exten- work, it seemed impossible to cover the entire War. weapons to turn the tide of the War. sions in the form of ‘nail the trick,’ among others. So with THPG, I would say, you know exactly what Now, in what could be the defi nitive documen- Burns found rare unseen footage of our bloody you are getting into. Eventually, when you learn your bearings, you will be stringing together trick com- tary work on WWII, Ken Burns’ incredibly detailed island-hopping campaign to defeat the Japanese. bos that not only defy logic, physics and common sense, but you may also be gagging from the horrid seven-part documentary strikes the viewer in the Each island had to be taken by rooting out and killing representation of the activity of skateboarding that the game provides. heart. In Burns’ trademark style, he has woven each Japanese soldier who considered surrender So in relation to the aforementioned series, how does Skate. stack up? Well, honestly, I don’t feel together archival footage, some of which has never an act of cowardice. It was brutally hot, humid, and like there is any way to relate one to the other, with the exception of the fact that your character will be been seen, with surviving veterans’ accounts of their vicious hand-to-hand combat that quickly hardened moving around on a skateboard. While THPG is very much an arcade-style button masher, Skate. is experiences, into an emotional thunderbolt. Burns our troops to the grim reality of “war is hell.” Young probably the best example of a sports simulation, with strong realistic elements from nearly every style takes us to four towns and cities as he follows each idealistic men who went into the war with a sense of skateboarding. The controls of Skate. will probably take some getting used to for people that don’t veteran into combat, personalizing each story as we of adventure, were turned into cynical killers who know how to skateboard, but fans of skateboarding will pick it up with a quickness. To move your skate- watch naïve boys turn into men overnight. looted the enemy’s bodies. This grim footage of boarder around, just use one of the 2 push buttons (left foot or right) to steer, you lean the left analog Burns shows how ill-equipped our armed forc- the mass carnage on each of the islands has never stick either left or right. If you press up on the left stick, you will lean forward, or pump to gain speed es were to face the Axis nightmare when the United before been seen because it has only recently been if you are going down a ramp. If you press down on the stick, you will powerslide, or skid sideways to States entered the War after Pearl Harbor. Japan pos- declassifi ed. slow down. To grab your board, just pull the left and/or right trigger. You can grab with both hands at the sessed a mighty Navy, and fi ght-to-the-death fanati- Each veteran’s personal story draws the viewer same time, if you’d like, even while rolling, and if you hold the B button while holding both, your skater cal troops. Hitler had amassed an awesome mecha- into the war. One will feel vicarious grief and sorrow will move to the ‘coffi n’ position, laying on his back while rolling. And you had better believe that you will nized war machine. American draftees were given as millions of young Americans made the ultimate need to hold your board if you plan on back-fl ipping off a ramp, ‘cuz your board will leave your feet in a old WWI bolt-action rifl es, rode horses and trained sacrifi ce to defeat the enemy. One veteran tells a hurry. with cardboard tanks, while Hitler smashed Poland in gut-wrenching story of his experiences on a Japa- Those are the basic controls, in a nutshell, with one big exception. With Skate., EA has created an his fast moving blitzkrieg–a fearsome rolling thunder nese held island. “I spotted a Jap coming out of his amazingly innovative way for your character to ollie (AKA jump). The right analog stick on your control- with advanced tanks and thousands of well-trained bunker, and I raised my rifl e. I shot him four times in ler controls your board, and it works surprisingly well. So well in fact, that you will probably never want troops. To say we were unprepared for Hitler’s race the chest. I was so close, I heard the thuds of bullets to go back to another skateboarding game again. To ollie (jump) off of the ground with your board, you to world domination was an understatement. striking him and saw his face contorted in pain. For simply pull the right stick into the down position, and then quickly fl ip it straight up. If you want to do a Each episode approaches the war from Sac- the rest of my life, I have lived with that memory. I nollie, which is a jump using the nose of your board rather than the tail, hold up, and then fl ick down. ramento, California, Mobile, Alabama, Luverne, killed many more Japs but I’ll never forget that one It’ll take a little while to master it if you don’t get the physics, but once you do, it is very rewarding. To Minnesota, and Waterbury, Connecticut as each Jap’s face as he died.” do tricks such as kickfl ips or heelfl ips, just fl ick the stick from the down position up to the top right or town gives up the cream of their youth, who willingly For people in my age group, born at the start left. There are tons of variations to master, but these are the basics that will get you where you need to rushed to join the War effort. In Sacramento, huge of WWII (1941) , they will feel nostalgic and re- go. To grind on handrails or ledges, all you need to do is ollie onto them at the right angle with enough defense plants sprang up employing mostly women member the rationing of most everything including speed. To do more advanced tricks, just follow the in-game tutorials that expand on this control scheme. who had never held a wrench or a rivet gun in their eggs, meat, cigarettes, gasoline, and sugar. Burns’ Now that the controls have been covered, how is the game itself? For me, I couldn’t be more lives. Overnight, the country went from the Great overview of the War underscores how our govern- impressed, and that is an understatement. With Skate., EA has gone from being my least favorite game Depression to ninety-seven percent employment. ment covered up many disturbing facts of the war, developer to being my most respected. Before, I never appreciated the little nuances that they put in Shanty towns sprang up near the factories as dirt including the shocking casualty fi gures and atrocities games like Madden, because I never really cared much for real football. I mean, sure I loved Tecmo poor, dust-bowl refugees fi nally got a pay check and committed by American troops in the Pacifi c theater. Bowl, back in the day, but yeah, EA has truly brought the fun of skateboarding to the digital world. With slowly improved their lives. Jokingly, for those of us who got through the the laundry list of pros featured in the game and the fi ctional yet realistic skate spots, the game is ooz- Our inauspicious entrance into the War in the seven CDs or 14 hours of the viewing, we deserve ing with personality that only real skateboarders can truly appreciate, but everyone can experience and Pacifi c was on-the-job-training as our Marines and an honorary WWII medal. However, once I started enjoy. Playing the game and turning your character from a no-name scrub to a pro’s pro is not only fun, Army infantry soldiers quickly learned about the to watch it, I was hooked and made time to see the but also it is addictive and amazingly realistic. Some of the characters are far-fetched and humorous, principle of kill or be killed. As the war dragged on, entire series. I recommend buying the box set so you but this is the most realistic skateboarding game EVER. From the intro movie that looks like it came America gradually evolved into an industrial giant, can view it on your own time. But the entire mini- straight from a Spike Jonze skate video to the closing credits, EA really hit the nail on the head. And they supplying better weapons to the troops, such as the series will run on PBS Television WJCT Sept. 23rd hit this nail hard. So hard, in fact, I think it may have done some serious injury to Tony Hawk’s wallet. M1 Garand semi-automatic rifl e that was superior through 26th at 8 pm.

eujacksonville.com | september 20-26, 2007 11 Uncle Sam pulls Max’s name for the draft. With their MOVIES OPENING friend overseas fi ghting a war none of them believe in, the rest of the gang throw themselves into the EASTERN PROMISES Naomi Watts is a anti-war movement. Long hours and confl icting ide- London midwife who looks into the death of a als put a strain on Jude and Lucy’s romance and the patient, putting her in the sights of a ruthless two begin to question if love is indeed all you need. Russian mobster. Viggo Mortensen as the What makes Across the Universe unique is that mysterious and charismatic Russian-born the story was written around the soundtrack, with Nikolai Luzhin is a driver for one of London’s Beatles hits providing the framework for the plot. As most notorious organized crime families of with most musicals, the actors played double and Eastern European origin. Rated R at times triple duty, delivering lines, learning some- times complicated choreography and singing all of GOOD LUCK CHUCK A man breaks up with the songs, the majority of which were recorded live his long-time girlfriend only to see her get on-set, not in a studio. With Julie Taymor (famous engaged to the next guy she dates. The same for her Tony-winning stage adaptation of Broadway’s pattern occurs with his next girlfriend, and The Lion King) behind the lens, an exceptionally continues to repeat. All of a sudden he fi nds talented cast and a concept that intrigues from the himself becoming a lucky charm for women, word “go,” Across the Universe has been a hotly who all want to date him. Starring Jessica Alba, anticipated release among cinephiles and Beatles Dane Cook, Dan Fogler, Michelle Harrison, Ellia fans alike. Thankfully, the fi lm delivers in a big way. English. Rated R One thing I noticed right away about Across the Universe is once you see it you fi nd that you have to IN THE VALLEY OF ELAH On his fi rst weekend talk about it with your fellow moviegoers. The musi- back after serving in Iraq, Mike Deerfi eld goes cal numbers are just so visually stunning that you missing and is reported AWOL. When Hank can’t help but discuss them as soon as you walk out Deerfi eld and his wife Joan get the phone call i want to see it again of the theater. During certain sequences I literally had with the disturbing news, Hank sets out to chills. I won’t get into what the scene depicts, but search for their son. Emily Sanders, a police during ‘Let It Be’ I thought I was going to lose it. The detective reluctantly helps him in his search. Across The Universe movie review combination of that song with the images Taymor As the evidence grows, the case begins to look shows is heart wrenching and unforgettable. Another like foul play, and soon Sanders fi nds herself in scene that sticks with you long after the fi lm is over a fi ght with the military brass. Starring: Tommy BY KELLIE ABRAHAMSON [email protected] is Max’s Army physical, set to ‘I Want You (She’s So Lee Jones, Charlize Theron, Jason Patric, Susan A- Rated PG13 131 min. stead of molding young minds. While pondering his Heavy).’ Animation and live action were used during Sarandon, Jonathan Tucker. Rated R There are times when I walk out of a movie the- next move, Jude meets Max (Joe Anderson), a hard- this sequence, showing the military putting Max and ater wondering why a studio felt it necessary to waste partying frat boy who takes the Brit under his wing his fellow draftees through a battery of tests, most MY BEST FRIEND François is a middle-aged their time and mine on such dreck. Then there are and shows him life in the USA. Meanwhile, Max’s of which were conducted by creepy G.I. Joe-looking antique dealer. He has a stylish apartment and other times when I want to turn right back around and sister Lucy (Evan Rachel Wood) spends her senior soldiers with identical faces. The scene reminded a fabulous life, but at a dinner with a group watch the movie I’ve just seen again. Unfortunately, year of high school pining away for her sweetheart me a lot of Pink Floyd’s movie-musical The Wall in he considers his dearest acquaintances, he the former happens a lot more often than the latter. (Spencer Liff), who has just shipped out to Vietnam. both look and feel. Things take a decidedly trippy is blindsided by the revelation that none of Across the Universe, a musical set to the songs of A Thanksgiving visit to Max’s family home turn when the leads visit Dr. Robert (Bono), who is them actually likes him. His business partner The Beatles, is one of those pleasant surprises that brings Jude and Lucy together and after a big move, the walrus, and Mr. Kite (Eddie Izzard), who is the Catherine challenges him to produce his best had me wishing for another screening. Or twelve. a tragedy and an unknown amount of time, the two ringmaster in a crazy circus in the middle of a fi eld. friend which doesn’t come easy for Francois. It’s the 1960s and Jude (Jim Sturgess), a young end up in love and living in a small New York apart- Both of these numbers are wild and strange, giving Ultimately, he learns the cost of cheating at dock worker from Liverpool, packs his bags and ment with Max, a sultry singer named Sadie (Dana the audience a taste of exactly what the characters friendship. Rated PG-13 heads to America to fi nd the father he never knew. Ex- Fuchs), Jo-Jo (Martin Luther McCoy) the guitarist, are smoking (and dropping). While not completely pecting to fi nd a well-to-do college professor, Jude’s and Prudence (T.V. Carpio), a closeted lesbian who necessary to the story, they depict the era well, RESIDENT EVIL: EXTINCTION Alice, now in disappointed to discover that his old man (Robert longs to reveal her secret desires. The group spends which is one of the fi lm’s strongest points. Through- hiding in the Nevada desert, once again joins Clohessy) is a blue-collar working stiff who spends their time creating art, making music, indulging in out, Across the Universe manages to touch on the forces with Carlos Olivera and L.J., along with his time scrubbing the molding at the university in- drugs and otherwise living a carefree lifestyle until decades most memorable and notorious events, new survivors Claire, K-Mart and Nurse Betty to showing younger audience members the ups and try to eliminate the deadly virus that threatens downs of the era and giving older ones a walk down to make every human being undead...and memory lane. to seek justice. Since being captured by the The casting was just impeccable. Each and Umbrella Corporation, Alice has been subjected every actor did a phenomenal job on both the acting to biogenic xperimentation and becomes and singing fronts. For a lot of people, the thought genetically altered, with superhuman strengths, of an entire movie set to the songs of The Beatles senses and dexterity. These skills, and more, but without John, Paul, George and Ringo sounds will be needed if anyone is to remain alive. like a terrible idea. I’m happy to report that no songs Rated R were mangled during the making of this fi lm. In fact, you’re actually able to see some of your favorite SYDNEY WHITE Gorgeous freshman Sydney Beatles tunes in a whole new light when seen in White has come to Southern Atlantic University the context of the story. Going back to ‘I Want You to pledge her late mom’s once-dignifi ed (She’s So Heavy),’ the song is both sung ominously sorority. But while surviving the pledging during Max’s draft experience, and seductively by process wrought by evil campus witch Rachel, Sadie later in the scene, giving the same words Syd fi nds out this version of sisterhood isn’t very different meaning. This is done several times remotely what it’s cracked up to be. Banished throughout the fi lm and will no doubt be one of the to a condemned house on Greek Row, Syd fi nds things Fab Four fans will enjoy. her rightful place with a band of seven very There’s a lot to love with Across the Universe. The songs are time-tested, the actors are top-notch  and the story is one that will enchant and intrigue. While certain elements could have been shortened (Prudence, for example, is a character that could have had a lesser role) or eliminated altogether (the super-psychedelic-fun-show that was Dr. Roberts and Mr. Kite), the fi lm did a terrifi c job of captur- ing the imagination as well as the era. Across the Universe is a wonderful musical that no doubt gets better after repeated showings.

12 september 20-26, 2007 | entertaining u newspaper socially challenged guys. Starring Amanda Bynes, Matthew Long, Sara Paxton, Jeremy Howard, Crystal Hunt. Rated PG13 NOW SHOWING

3:10 TO YUMA A rancher struggles to support his ranch and family during a long drought. Desperately needing money to build a well, he takes an assignment to transport a notorious felon, in the hands of authorities, to Yuma for imprisonment. But, once the two meet, the criminal tries to tempt him with--in exchange for allowing him to escape--an offer of much more money than the rancher ever expected, the result of hidden loot. Starring: Russell Crowe, Christian Bale, Alan Tudyk, Peter Fonda, Gretchen Mol Rating: R

BALLS OF FURY In the unsanctioned, underground, and unhinged world of extreme Ping-Pong, the competition is brutal and the stakes are deadly. Now, this outrageous new comedy serves up this secret world for the fi rst time on-screen. Starring: Dan Fogler, Christopher Walken, George Lopez, Maggie Q, Thomas LennonRating: PG-13

DRAGON WARS A beautiful young woman possesses the power to transform a legendary giant serpent into an almighty dragon who can a college fairy tale only ascend into heaven with the woman’s ultimate sacrifi ce. But the forces of darkness are out to claim the young woman as their own. Rated Sidney White movie review PG-13

HALLOWEEN Under the direction of Rob Zombie BY ERIN THURSBY [email protected] there is a new take on the legend and a new chapter in the Michael Myers “Halloween” saga. B- Rated PG13 90 min seven dorks, whom Sydney befriends. Starring: Daeg Faerch, Danielle Harris, Malcolm Sydney decides to fi ght “Greek oppression” McDowell, Danny Trejo, and Sheri Moon. Rated R Amanda Bynes has a charm that can save and bands her dorks together to run for student most scripts, and she uses it well in the modern council. Meanwhile, the romance between Tyler HAIRSPRAY A plump but vivacious teenager day tale of ‘Snow White’ called Sydney White. Prince and Sydney continues to grow. Prince even joins a popular teen-scene TV show in the early While the movie might be a wee bit gimmicky and enlists the pledges from his Greek house to ser- 60s and teaches the show about integration by somewhat clichéd, it has a good heart and good enade Sydney in four-part harmony. bringing back “negro day.” He-Mom, Edna (John intentions. If you’re at all familiar with the story of Snow Travolta), who takes in laundry to supplement her The movie opens with Sydney (Bynes) on White, in particular the Disney version, it won’t be husband’s meager income from a joke store, joins one of her dad’s construction sites. John Sch- hard to draw parallels. Each dork represents one her daughter in the movement to restore “negro neider plays his dad role with warm understand- of the seven dwarves; see if you can match the day.” Rated PG ing. We get to see how Sydney grew up with her dork to the dwarf by the end of the movie! Of the dad and his workers. Sydney White is leaving to seven dorks, the one that was meant to represent I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU CHUCK AND LARRY go off to college at Southern Atlantic University, Grumpy was my favorite. Danny Strong plays Two single Brooklyn fi refi ghters, Chuck (Adam where she’ll be pledging to her deceased mom’s Gurkin, a dedicated blogger, fi ghting the power Sandler) and Larry (Kevin James) are best friends. sorority. It means a lot to Sydney to get into the with online anger. There was something unique to Larry saves Chuck’s life and he is willing to do sorority because she feels that it’s a way to con- love about each dork. anything to even the score, even masquerading nect with her mom. I liked Sydney’s quirks, her tomboyishness, as a gay couple to receive benefi ts for Larry’s But getting into the house isn’t easy, since her minor hammer obsession and her trunk full kids, which means they have to go through a Rachel (Sara Paxton), student body president and of vintage comic books. Her inspirational speech ceremony, have a honeymoon, and live together. head of the sorority, hates Sydney almost imme- to her seven dorky friends involves a metaphor Rated PG-13 diately. Rachel is concerned with her standing on regarding an obscure Avengers comic. the college “Hot or Not” website, which declares Sydney eventually runs for student council KING OF KONG: FISTFUL OF QUARTERS A her to be the fairest of them all. She fi ts the easily president herself, rallying all the school misfi ts and middle-school science teacher and a hot sauce recognized “evil queen” role, in which power and so-called losers in a coup to wrest power from the mogul vie for the Guinness World Record on the looking good are the most important things. Greeks. arcade classic, Donkey Kong. Rated PG-13 Rachel’s also upset because Sydney has The Snow White gimmick and the charm caught the eye of Tyler “Handsome” Prince, an of Amanda Bynes is enough to make this movie MR. BEAN’S HOLIDAY In his latest misadventure, ex-boyfriend of Rachel’s. After making pledging passable, and it’s a great fi lm to take a younger Mr. Bean--the nearly wordless misfi t who seems as diffi cult as possible, she attempts to humiliate teen to. Those who will like the movie most will be to be followed by a trail of pratfalls and hijinks- Sydney, banishing her from the sorority at the girls in the nine to sixteen-year-old range. Older -goes on holiday to the French Riviera and most public moment possible. and more cynical girls might roll their eyes at this becomes ensnared in a European adventure of Sydney ends up bunking with seven dorks movie, and that’s fi ne, they’re meant to. Fairy cinematic proportions. Starring: Rowan Atkinson, (not dwarves) in a campus house called The Vor- tales, like most comedy movies, have a formula Willem Dafoe, Emma De Caunes, Jean Rochefort, tex. The house is a place for the displaced, and that allows for a happy ending. It’s not a great Karel Roden. Rating: G since it isn’t a privileged Greek frat house or soror- movie, but it does have its appeal. It’s meant to be ity, parts of the walls periodically catch fi re and the accepted by a family audience- something that’s MR. WOODCOCK John Farley, author of a best- plumbing is awful. One thing that keeps the movie family friendly but not so saccharine that mom selling self-help book, returns to his hometown from being clichéd is the utter strangeness of the and dad go into a sugar coma. 

eujacksonville.com | september 20-26, 2007 13 to receive the community’s highest honor. While there, John learns that his widowed mother, Beverly, is engaged to Mr. Woodcock, the gym teacher whose sadistic exploits were the bane of John’s youth. Abetted by his old pal, Nedderman, John plots to break-up the relationship. Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Seann William Scott, Susan Sarandon, Kurt Fuller, and Amy Poehler. Rated PG-13

NO END IN SIGHT The fi rst fi lm of its kind to chronicle the reasons behind Iraq’s descent into guerilla war, warlord rule, criminality and anarchy, ‘No End in Sight’ is a jaw-dropping, insider’s tale of wholesale incompetence, recklessness and venality.

ONCE ‘Once’ is just a simple love story about a Guy with a guitar, a Girl with a borrowed piano, and the music they make together ... and it’s one of the most heartbreakingly perfect fi lms you’ll see this year. Starring: Glen Hansard, Markéta Irglová, Bill Hodnett, Danuse Ktrestova. Rating: R

SHOOT ‘EM UP Clive Owen stars in this gritty, over-the-top action thriller as Mr. Smith, a gun- toting badass with a hair trigger and an unknown twisting with intrigue past. He discovers an woman delivering a baby right in the middle of a gunfi ght and enters the fray to save her. Though the woman expires, he is Eastern Promises movie review the one left in care of the orphaned child. Smith takes the child to the closest thing he knows to a BY RICK GRANT [email protected] mother: a sultry prostitute known as Dairy Queen, Russian prisons and Stalin’s gulags, the inmates played by Monica Bellucci, who specializes in A Rated R 100 min were tattooed, which tell their stories in pictures, clientele with a mommy fetish. Teamed with his This twisting, intriguing scenario involving the marking them Thieves’ World members for life. hot but unlikely partner DQ, Smith unloads barrel Russian Mafi a in London, England was skillfully shot Death is the only way out for members. after barrel to protect the baby from Mr. Hertz in dark tones by director David Cronenberg. It is by (Paul Giamatti) a ruthless criminal mastermind. far Cronenberg’s best fi lm to date. It harkens back to the golden age of Hollywood when fi lmmaking A young man named Tristan STARDUST was still considered an art. Brilliantly cast with Viggo (Charlie Cox) tries to win the heart of Victoria Mortensen portraying a Russian mob soldier, Nikolai, (Sienna Miller), the beautiful but cold object of who works for the mob boss Semyon (Armin Muel- his desire, by going on a quest to retrieve a fallen ler-Stahl). Naomi Watts portrays Anna, a midwife star. His journey takes him to a mysterious and and nurse who comes from a Russian family. forbidden land beyond the walls of his village. One day, Anna helps a young Russian woman On his odyssey, Tristan fi nds the star, which has patient who is pregnant but having severe compli- transformed into a striking girl named Yvaine cations. The baby is born healthy but the woman (Claire Danes). Also starring Peter O’Toole, dies. Anna fi nds her diary with a card to Semyon’s Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert De Niro and Ricky restaurant. Anna wonders if it has information about Gervais. Rating: PG-13 who she can contact to take care of the child. The personal journal contains damning information that Screenwriter Steve Knight crafted a multilay- Two co-dependent high school guys SUPERBAD could expose Semyon’s criminal enterprise. As a ered scenario that gradually builds tension and mo- want to hook up with girls before they graduate cover, Semyon owns a popular Russian restaurant. mentum, with a surprise toward the end. The violent and go off to different colleges, but, after a Anna innocently asks Semyon to translate the diary. scenes of Mafi a executions are graphic illustrations calamitous night just trying to buy alcohol for a Wisely, she gives him copies of it and keeps the of the Russian mob’s favorite method of killing–slit- school party, overcoming their separation anxiety original. Unbeknownst to Anna, the diary’s explosive ting a victim’s throat with their special curved knife. becomes a greater challenge than getting the information puts her and her uncle, a former KGB These grizzly scenes are in stark contrast to the girls. Starring: Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, Michael offi cial, at risk. happy scenes at Semyon’s restaurant with all its Cera, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, and Bill Hader. Nikolai, who calls himself “a driver” for colorful food and festive atmosphere. Rated R Semyon, takes a liking to Anna. In the pecking order Nikolai is tapped by Semyon to take the blood of the Russian Mafi a, Nikolai’s brother Kirill (Vincent oath of the Thieves’ World as Semyon’s lieutenant. Jason Bourne is THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM Cassel) is a captain, above Nickolai in rank. Krill He accepts, takes the oath, and gets the obligatory hunted by the people who made him what he is-a is a loose cannon who drinks too much, is given star tattoos over his chest. Now, Nikolai outranks legendary assassin. Having lost his memory and to rages, and is sadistic. Nikolai acts as a calming his brother and is in line to take over Semyon’s lead- the one person he loved, he is undeterred by the infl uence to his brother. The two carry out Semyon’s ership of the gang. It is an awesome responsibility. barrage of bullets and a new generation of highly- orders as hitmen and gofers. These Russian mob- Meanwhile, Anna has been taking care of the trained killers. Starring: Matt Damon, Joan Allen, sters make the American Mafi a look like Boy Scouts. dead woman’s baby, which seems fi tting since she Julia Stiles, David Strathairn, Paddy Considine. They are ruthless and will kill anyone who gets lost her baby and her husband bolted. Anna’s uncle Rated PG-13 in their way or who poses a threat–babies, men, has disappeared and is feared dead, and Anna is women, children or even dogs. terrifi ed that Semyon will harm her and the baby. At Neil Jordan’s The Brave One THE BRAVE ONE Much to her chagrin, Anna’s uncle translates this point in the story, things go south, and sinister stars Jodie Foster as a happy woman whose the original copy of the diary and warns her that forces take hold of the characters. life changes irrevocably after a brutal assault Semyon may come after her and the whole family to Viggo Mortensen has a fi ght scene in the nude leaves her partner (Naveen Andrews) dead. The protect the diary’s secret. Oddly, Nikolai seems to be in a Russian steam bath that will go down in fi lm woman, feeling that the police investigation will be protecting Anna from Kirill and Semyon. Anna now history as one of the bloodiest and freakiest hand-to- unable to catch the perpetrators, begins to live in knows that she and her uncle are in great danger. hand combat scenes in fi lm history. These Russian constant fear. This outlook results in the woman The loyalties and alliances of the “Thieves’ World” thugs love their blood and killing up close and per-  of the Russian Mafi a go back hundreds of years. In sonal.

14 september 20-26, 2007 | entertaining u newspaper eventually dispatching vigilante justice. Terrence Howard co-stars as the offi cer in charge of the on a killer’s hunt investigation. Rated R THE NANNY DIARIES A 21-year-old New York In The Valley Of Elah movie review University student becomes a nanny to a family on the Upper East Side who turns out to be the family from hell. Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Laura BY RICK GRANT [email protected] Linney, Paul Giamatti, Chris Evans, Donna Murphy. Rating: PG-13 A Rated R 124 min WAR An infamous assassin, named Rogue, sets Writer/director Paul Haggis’ latest fi lm is a off a crime war between rival Asian mobs. An FBI masterfully crafted murder mystery framed in the agent is determined to bring down the killer after affects of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) his partner is murdered. on returning Iraq War veterans. Haggis’ purpose- Starring: Jet Li, Jason Statham, Devon Aoki, fully plodding pacing builds tension between the Nicholas Elia, Luis Guzman. Rating: R characters. Haggis’ war commentary is couched in the context of how his character/soldiers, who were drilled to kill on instinct, turn-off this visceral reac- tion to a confrontation. More signifi cantly, Haggis SPECIAL SHOWINGS shows how these soldiers are unable to cope with Not Just for Baby Boomers Film Series PTSD, which causes a litany of socio-psychological See the great movies that boomers grew up with domestic problems. that still intrigue and enthrall all generations. Tommy Lee Jones portrays Hank Deerfi eld, a Relax at a FREE 5:45 showing every 2nd and retired Army Criminal Investigative Command (CID) 4th Thursday of a classic fi lm in the Jacksonville detective whose son Mike has just returned from a Public Library Main Branch Auditorium with tour of duty in Iraq. Much to Hank’s dismay, Mike complimentary popcorn and soda and then enjoy turns up missing. So Hank kisses his wife, Joan an evening downtown. MIDNIGHT COWBOY will (Susan Sarandon), gets in his pickup truck, and be screened on September 27. Info: 630-2665 drives to Hank’s duty station near Las Vegas to look or www.jaxpubliclibrary.org/librarynews/main_ for him. boomers_2007.html Being an experienced detective, Hank goes the videos uploaded to his computer. This gives him right to Mike’s buddies in his platoon to fi nd out clues to what happened. He sees how this war has Night Owl Cinema Series when they last saw him and other basic gumshoe warped his son and his friends. Still, there is no hard The St. Augustine Amphitheatre will be hosting work. Hank fi nds Mike’s cell phone and although evidence. Sanders and Hank have a shaky bond. She a Night Owl Cinema Series. Friday, September it’s trashed, he pays an expert to clean it up to fi nd is intimidated by Hank’s gruff and controlling per- 28, see, THE SAND LOT, Rated PG. Food will be whatever videos or still images are on the phone. sona. But she gets over that and learns from Hank. provided by various local restaurants so come Saved on he phone’s media storage are grainy im- He’s an old pro who investigates every lead no mat- early and hungry. Doors open at 6:30 pm and the ages of battle and other disturbing videos. Hank then ter how seemingly trite it may be. movie start 8 pm. The Amphitheatre is located goes to the local police station and meets Det. Emily Sanders is a single mom and has been fi ghting 1340 A1A South in St. Augustine. Info: 904-471- Sanders (Charlize Theron) who, at fi rst, dismisses sexism in her unit. The other detectives think she 1965 or staugamphitheatre.com. him. But in his blunt forceful manner, he tells her his slept her way to detective, so they don’t respect her. son just came back from doing his duty in Iraq and Thus this case becomes her cause celebre to gain Midnight Movie his disappearance doesn’t deserve to be treated this respect and solve a heinous murder that took Hank’s The San Marco Theatre will be hosting the BUFFY way. She gets his point and promises him she will second son. Gradually, Sanders begins to respect THE VAMPIRE SING A LONG, Friday and Saturday, look into his son’s disappearance. Hank and his instinctual detective work. She imag- Sept 28th and 29th at 11:5p.m. No matter how The next day Sanders’ unit is assigned a mur- ines if her own son was murdered and immediately many times you have viewed the Buffy musical der case when body parts are found in the desert. empathizes with him. episode- Once More With Feeling- you have never It turns out the body was dismembered and burned. Tommy Lee Jones and Charlize Theron created experienced it like this with 200 other adoring fans Shockingly, the body is Hank’s son, Mike. At fi rst, remarkably sensitive character chemistry together. all singing their hearts out. Props will be handed the Army claims to have jurisdiction, but later, be- His intensity coupled with her personality confl ict out for key scenes and there will even be a special cause of Hank’s methodical detective work, Sanders’ with him make an intriguing pairing. As the two de- vide-oke contest. For more info: 396-4845 or unit gets the case and Hank turns his grief into in- tectives narrow down the suspects, Hank feels the sanmarcotheatre.com. tense focus. He works with Sanders to fi nd out who strain of channeling his grief into his investigation. murdered his son. On fi rst blush, the grizzly murder The Iraq war has cost him two sons and he fears his Friends of the Fest (Formerly Reel People) looks like a drug deal gone bad. However, Hank wife will never forgive him for encouraging Mike to Jacksonville Film Events’ Viva Cinema believes that someone close to Hank did this, and he enlist. As a Vietnam vet, he knows what Mike and presents LIVE-IN MAID on Oct. 14, at 1 pm pressures Sanders to interrogate Mike’s three friends his buddies were going through. Adjusting to civilian at the San Marco Theatre. Info: 396-4845 who were with him the night he died. They claim life after seeing such carnage in Iraq demanded pro- jacksonvillefi lmevents.com/events_reel.htm they dropped him off so he could go fi nd drugs, but fessional help. But there’s a waiting list for soldiers Hank doesn’t buy it. with PTSD to get into government funded programs. IMAX Theater Hank is obsessed with fi nding his son’s killer. Meanwhile, in real life, tragedies like Mike’s murder HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE He rents a motel room and spends hours watching happen on regular basis. PHOENIX is being shown on the 80-foot-wide by six-story-high screen at the IMAX Theatre through October 4th. The IMAX Theatre is located in the Word Golf Hall of Fame, One World Golf Place, St. Augustine. Info and tickets: 904-940-4022 or wgv. com.

eujacksonville.com | september 20-26, 2007 15 fall movie previewby rick grant

Ah, fall–when the triple digit heat index fi nally loosens its stifl ing grip and the air cools terrifi c mustache) play three estranged brothers that meet up to take a train trek through India and get to down to a bearable temperature. know each other again. Bill Murray plays the businessman. Pain killers and Indian cough syrup turn the complicated adventure into a spiritual journey of sorts. The fi lm opens in September but does not extend to Surprisingly, the summer movie box offi ce was up from last year, despite the allure of an wide release until October. Rated R increasing number of high-quality television shows. People still go to the movies to enjoy the big screen experience, and many fi lms have satisfi ed populace tastes this summer. In addition, there will be some quality “Oscar bait” fi lms that will vie for the attention of the 5,000 member october 5 Academy throughout the fall. They are usually released in November and December with the seeker: the dark is rising A boy’s life is turned upside-down when he learns that he is the last of a group of immortal warriors who have dedicated their lives to fi ghting the forces shameless lobbying by the fi lm companies, but when combined with the summer releases, they of the dark back and forth through time. The boy uncovers a series of clues, some dating back to biblical provide something for everyone. times, that lead him to a showdown with forces of unimaginable power. Rated R It seems the trend of releasing countless sequels continues this fall with franchises like Alien vs. Predator: Requiem and National Treasure: The Book of Secrets. Also, movie moguls the good night Gwyneth Paltrow’s brother, Jake Paltrow, makes his directorial debut in a fi lm about an ex-pop star who prefers sleep to the real world. In waking life, Gwyneth Paltrow is the pop star’s love remakes, using the rationale that a whole new generation hasn’t viewed these fi lms. girlfriend, but in his dream world it is Penelope Cruz. Danny DeVito also appears in this fi lm. Besides, the scripts are already written– just plug in the young actors and make minor changes to update the time frame. Unfortunately, remakes only increase the shortage of modern original the heartbreak kid The Farrelly Brothers are bringing Ben Stiller back to their scripts available because producers don’t want to pay writers. outrageous comedies with The Heartbreak Kid. It’s a re-make, but the Farrelly Brothers are certain to give it that something that they gave Something about Mary. Namely plenty of slapstick sex scenes as the You will have to forgive any minor date changes that occur after the publication of this honeymooning groom pursues the object of his desires, and not his new bride. Rated R feature, since movie companies often adjust release days at the last minute. In any case, the movie beat goes on for fall. october 12 the darjeeling limited we own the night For Bobby, every night is a party, as he greets friends and customers or dances with his beautiful Puerto Rican girlfriend, Amada, in a haze of cigarette smoke and disco music. The New York City nightclub manager tries to save his brother and father from Russian mob hitmen. Starring Joaquin Phoenix, Eva Mendes and Robert Duvall. Rated R

dan in real life Steve Carell and Dane Cook team up in this romantic comedy about a man that falls in love with his brother’s girlfriend (Juliette Binoche). Dan (Carell) is an advice columnist and a widower that is put to the test in life actual. PG-13 october 19 30 days of night After an Alaskan town is plunged into darkness for a month, it is attacked by a bloodthirsty gang of vampires. Starring Josh Hartnett. Rated R

the comebacks This is a comedy that spoofs the story of an out-of-luck coach, Lambeau Fields, who takes a ragtag bunch of college misfi ts and drives them toward the football championships. In the process, the life-long loser discovers that he is a winner after all– redeeming himself, saving his relationship with his family and friends, and fi nding that there is indeed no “I” in “Team.” Rated PG13

gone baby gone Ben Affl eck gets behind the camera to direct this crime-drama about a pair of Boston detectives searching for a missing 4-year old girl. Ben’s little brother, Casey Affl eck, stars along with John Ashton, Ed Harris and Morgan Freeman. Rated R september 28 across the universe A romantic musical told through numerous Beatles songs october 26 performed by the characters. A young man from Liverpool comes to America during the Vietnam War to fi nd things we lost in the fi re Halle Berry plays a recently widowed young mother his father. He winds up in Greenwich Village, where he falls in love with an American girl who has grown up who takes in her dead husband’s heroin-addicted best friend. The fi rst English-language fi lm by the Oscar- sheltered in the suburbs. Together they experience the sweeping changes of America in the late 60s. Rated nominated Danish director Susanne Bier, this drama also stars David Duchovny and Benicio Del Toro. PG-13 the game plan From Walt-Disney Pictures comes this family fi lm about an NFL quarterback november 2 (The Rock) living the bachelor lifestyle. He discovers that he has a 7-year old daughter from a previous Based on a true story, a drug lord smuggles heroin into Harlem during relationship and her arrival causes him many problems as he goes from bachelor to family man. Rated PG american gangster the 70s by hiding the drugs inside the coffi ns of American soldiers returning from Vietnam. Starring Russell Crowe, Denzel Washington, Josh Brolin, Common and Ted Levine. Rated R

september 29 the kite runner An unlikely friendship develops between the son of a wealthy Afghan the darjeeling limited The man who brought us Rushmore, The Life Aquatic, and The businessman and a servant to the boy and his father. During a kite tournament, an unspeakable event Royal Tenenbaums, Wes Anderson, is back. Adrien Brody, Owen Wilson and Jason Schwartzman (with a changes their relationship forever. Rated PG-13

16 september 20-26, 2007 | entertaining u newspaper bee movie

bee movie Jerry Seinfeld voices Barry B. Benson, a bee who has just graduated from college. He is disillusioned at his lone career choice– making honey. On a trip outside the hive, Barry’s life is saved by Vanessa, a fl orist in New York City. As their relationship blossoms, he discovers humans actually eat honey, and he subsequently decides to sue them. Also starring Matthew Broderick, Annette Bening, Chris Rock and Kathy Bates. Rated PG november 9 lions for lambs Injuries sustained by two Army Rangers behind enemy lines in Afghanistan set off a sequence of events involving a congressman (Tom Cruise), a journalist (Meryl Streep) and a professor (Robert Redford). This leads to a prolonged investigation. Rated R fred claus Santa’s bitter older brother Fred (Vince Vaughan) is forced to move to the North Pole and be involved with everything he hates. Rated PG november 16 beowulf Master fi lmmaker Robert Zemeckis adapted the classic literary tale of the warrior Beowulf to fi lm, with Neil Gaiman writing the screenplay. Beowulf must fi ght and defeat the monster Grendel, who is terrorizing towns. Later, Grendel’s mother begins killing out of revenge. Rated R mr. magorium’s wonder emporium Molly Mahoney (Natalie Portman) is the awkward and insecure manager of Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium, the strangest, most fantastic and wonderful toy store in the world. But when the eccentric Mr. Magorium (Dustin Hoffman) bequeaths the store to her, a dark and ominous change begins to take over the once remarkable Emporium. Rated PG love in the time of cholera Florentino (Javier Barden) is rejected by the beautiful Ferina at a young age. Thus, he devotes much of his adult life to carnal affairs in a desperate attempt to heal his broken heart. Rated R november 21 august rush This drama with fairytale elements involves an orphaned musical prodigy who uses his gift as a clue to fi nding his birth parents. Starring Robin Williams and Liv Tyler. Rated PG enchanted This classic Disney fairytale collides with modern-day New York City. A fairytale princess (Amy Adams) from the past is thrust into the present-day by an evil queen (Susan Sarandon). Soon after her arrival, Princess Giselle begins to change her views on life and love after meeting a handsome lawyer (Patrick Dempsey). Can a fairytale view of romance survive in the real world? Rated PG hitman Based on a video game, a gun-for-hire known as Agent 47 is ensnared in a political conspiracy, which fi nds him pursued by both the Interpol and the Russian military as he treks across Eastern Europe. There, he is hired by a group known as The Agency to kill targets for cash. Rated R i’m not there Whether it will open in Jacksonville is dubious, but this is the fi rst feature about Bob Dylan to be approved by the music legend. Starring Cate Blanchett, Richard Gere, Heath Ledger and Christian Bale. In this interpretation of Dylan’s life, each of these actors portray one of Dylan’s personas. Rated R 

eujacksonville.com | september 20-26, 2007 17 alvin and the chipmunks

december 7 the golden compass In a parallel universe, young Lyra Belacqua journeys to the far North to save her best friend and other kidnapped children from terrible experiments by a mysterious organization. Starring Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig. Not yet rated.

i am legend Robert Neville (Will Smith) is a brilliant scientist, but even he cannot contain the terrible virus that is gradually wiping out the human race. Rated R

leatherheads This is a romantic comedy set in the world of 1920s football. The owner of a professional team (George Clooney) drafts a straight-laced college sensation, only to watch his new coach fall for his fi ancée (Renee Zellweger). Rated R december 14 made of honor Tom Bailey is in love with his best friend Claire. But Tom has a fear of commitment and refuses to admit the obvious--he should propose to Claire before she fi nds a less procrastinating suitor. When Colin, a rich Scotsman, sweeps Claire off her feet and asks for her hand in marriage, Tom must witness her unquestioned happiness up close and personal–because she’s chosen him to be her Maid of Honor. Starring Patrick Dempsey, Beau Garrett, Michelle Monaghan and Sydney Pollack.

alvin and the chipmunks Based on the long running cartoon series about three chipmunk brothers, Alvin, Simon, and Theodore, the trio has been adopted by and are living with Dave the human in this CGI recreation of an American classic. Featuring voices of Jason Lee, Cameron Richardson, Jane Lynch, David Cross and Ross Bagdasarian Jr. Rated PG december 21 national treasure: book of secrets Treasure hunter Benjamin Franklin Gates (Nicolas Cage) is researching the assassination of President Lincoln. He uncovers a mystery within the 18 pages missing from assassin John Wilkes Booth’s diary and sets out to fi nd the truth. Rated R

sweeney todd This is Tim Burton’s adapted fi lm version of the Broadway musical, which tells the story of Benjamin Barker, a.k.a. Sweeney Todd, who sets up a barbershop in London. It becomes the basis of a sinister partnership with his fellow tenant, Mrs. Lovett. Starring Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen. Rated PG

walk hard: the dewey cox story America loves larger-than-life musician and songwriter Dewey Cox! But behind the music is the up-and-down-and-up-again story of a musician whose songs would change a nation. On his rock ‘n roll spiral, Cox sleeps with 411 women, marries three times, has 22 kids and 14 step-kids, stars in his own 70s TV show, collects friends ranging from Elvis to the Beatles to a chimp, and gets addicted to - and then kicks - every drug known to man. Starring John C. Riley. Rated R

p.s. i love you A young widow discovers that her late husband has left her 10 messages intended to help ease her pain and start a new life. Starring Hilary Swank. Rated PG-13

18 september 20-26, 2007 | entertaining u newspaper sweeny todd

december 25 charlie wilson’s war This is a drama based on Texas congressman Charlie Wilson’s covert dealings in Afghanistan, where his efforts to assist rebels in their war with the Soviets have some unforeseen and long reaching effects. Oscar winners Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts and Philip Seymour Hoffman team with Oscar-winning director Mike Nichols. Oh yes, and it’s a true story. Not yet rated. the bucket list Rob Reiner directs Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson as terminal cancer patients that make a list of things to do before they kick the bucket. Rated PG-13 persepolis This fi lm won the Jury Prize at Cannes. Written from a best selling graphic novel about a young girl growing up during the Islamic revolution in Iran, this fi lm is animated in black and white. The author of the graphic novel, Marjane Satrapi, wrote and directed the fi lm, which is voiced by Sean Penn, Gena Rowlands and others. Rated PG-13 december 26 there will be blood After several years of absence, director Paul Thomas Anderson has opted to make Upton Sinclair’s 1927 novel Oil! and turn it into a feature fi lm starring the legendary Daniel Day-Lewis. Rated R the savages Laura Linney and Philip Seymour Hoffman play in this dramedy about a family struggling to care for their dimentia-stricken father. Oscar rumors abound regarding Laura Linney’s performance. Rated R december 28 the water horse: legend of the deep Two children discover an egg on a beach in Scotland which eventually hatches into a “waterhorse.” Later, that waterhorse grows up to be the Loch Ness monster. Starring Emily Watson and Ben Chaplin. Rated PG alien vs. predator: requiem Warring alien and predator races descend on a small town, where unsuspecting residents must band together for any chance of survival. Where is Sigourney Weaver when we need her? Rated R

charlie wilson’s war

eujacksonville.com | september 20-26, 2007 19 Thai barbecue glazed pork chop dish. where to eat, drink and be merry.

san marco’s casual urban chic b.b.’s

BY ERIN THURSBY [email protected]

Diners can be like a fl ock of birds, ready to descend on the newest, shiniest restaurant on the scene. I’m here to remind folks of a place they may have gone when the buzz was hot, or intended to go to but never quite made it. That place is b.b.’s, the sister restaurant to Biscotti’s. Like Biscotti’s they have an excellent array of desserts, but they have a hipper, more urban and glass feel. If Biscotti’s is the place you go for brunch or a wine dinner, b.b.’s is the place you go when you want Bread Pudding from Columbia a snappy-but-classy lunch or dinner followed by a cocktail. While it’s a little too urban to qualify as a truly in St. Augustine. Look for a full romantic restaurant, it’s still a terrifi c place to take a date. restautant review of Columbia in Sitting to our left was a family of four, and to our right a couple enjoying dinner. They generally get quite next week’s issue of EU. a lunch rush during the day, and the dining area can get a little loud. They’re in the Southbank/San Marco area, so they attract a business crowd. Mediterranean chicken salad You can’t actually make a reservation at b.b.’s, but you can do a “call-ahead” which cuts down your wait time and puts you ahead of those just walking in. Most of their call-aheads are taken about 30 minutes in advance, though if you’ve got a large party coming in, they do accept a call-ahead the day before. The difference between call-ahead and reservation is this: when you make a reservation at a restaurant, it’s expected that you’ll have a table waiting for you but a call-ahead just cuts down the wait time. If you’re coming across town, you can call-ahead as you’re leav- ing home. Most of the dinner specials run about $20 and up. If you order just dinner and drinks, your bill will be upwards of $35, but you can have a tidy and relatively inexpen- sive meal by sticking to their pizza, page 20 - 21 b.b.’s restaurant review | small plate items and sandwiches. We sampled two appetizers, page 21 caring chefs: zaitoon’s chef profi le the mozzarella bruschetta and the calamari. While the bruschetta was

20 september 20-26, 2007 | entertaining u newspaper an interesting twist on an old favorite, it was the calamari that was the standout. Bar none, this is now my favorite place to get calamari. It’s far from the traditional preparation of fried squidies. They use an almond crust, giving it a distinctly nutty fl avor, with a number of different sauces drizzled over it, in a combination of sweet and spicy. It was the tangerine cream sauce that blew me away, and I loved the fi nal detail of the black caring chefs profi le toasted sesame seeds sprinkled on top. Gourmet personal pizzas served at upscale restaurants are one of my favorite indulgences. My favorite mini pie at b.b.’s is the white truffl e pizza. It’s topped with freshly shaved parm, mozzarella, wild mushrooms, truffl e oil, prosciutto and arugula. Mike Barbour from Zaitoon by erin thursby The freshly made, stunning dressings are enough to make any salad lover come back again and again. They’re substantial enough to serve as a meal, but small enough that you don’t feel overwhelmed by the por- tion. Selections include warm goat cheese salad, crispy fried rock shrimp salad, turkey cobb, Mediterranean chicken salad and grilled salmon salad. What: Caring Chefs When: Sunday, Oct. 21st @ char grilled fi let 7-9:30 pm Where: The Avenues Mall

Caring Chefs is certainly the pre- mier food event of the year here in Jacksonville. All proceeds go to the Children’s Home Society, so ticket holders can have both the satisfaction of helping those less fortunate and of being able to sample food from some of the First Coast’s fi nest restaurants. For the next few weeks we’ll be profi ling some of the chefs in- volved. This week, we’re profi ling Mike Barbour of Zaitoon.

Chef: Mike Barbour My entrée was a char grilled fi let, topped with a boursin cheese, toasted hazelnuts and a red onion mar- malade. It was paired with a rich and incredible veal bordelaise sauce. On the side, a layered potato gratin and Restaurant: Zaitoon asparagus fi nished the dish. The fl avors simply danced together in an exquisite ballet of taste. The grill fl avor of the meat contrasted with both the creaminess of the cheese and the sweetness of the red onions. The mar- malade wasn’t as sweet as I thought it would be, so those who might be put off by the idea of a very sugary EU: Why do you participate in Caring Chefs? How many years have you done the marmalade with their meat should just think of it as lightly sweet sautéed onions in a sauce. event? The other dinner entrée I sampled was their Thai barbecue glazed pork chop with Mandarin orzo “fried Barbour: This will be Zaitoon’s fi rst time participating in Caring Chefs since opening rice,” candied walnuts and nappa cabbage apple salad. The pork itself was cooked to perfection, neither dry nor undercooked. It was succulent. in late March. Zaitoon is proud to be actively involved in our community and we are I watched one of their patrons sit at the beautiful bar, order some wine and go for some dessert. Eating pleased to support the Children’s Home Society of Florida. dessert by itself is a smart idea. Dessert portions are large and rich, so either plan to share, come in just for dessert, or take home your leftovers. Many of the desserts available at Biscotti’s are available at b.b.’s. It can be a real treat to gaze into the well-lit dessert case and yearn for all that they offer. Included in the case was EU: What are the three ingredients you can’t live without? one of my personal favorites, the chocolate éclair cake. Cakes offered can vary, so just ask your server or Barbour: Frank’s Red Hot, soy sauce, and pork products. meander over to the case to look for yourself.

EU: Appetizer entree or dessert? Why? Barbour: Appetizer - I love the idea of tapas or sampling several small plates.

EU: What’s the strangest dish you’ve ever prepared? Barbour: Vegetarian Lasagna Sorbet

EU: What’s your favorite dish to eat? Prepare? Barbour: My favorite dish to eat is real New York pepperoni pizza. My favorite dish to prepare is one perfectly seared scallop paired with whatever looks fun that day.

EU: Can you let us in on what you’ll be serving at the event? Barbour: Traditional Middle Eastern dishes and Mediterranean food with a fl air.

Tickets for the event are $60, but it’s best to buy them in advance, since they are gen- erally sold out by the night of the event. Go to chsfl .org/buckner to register for tickets or call (904) 493-7739 for more info.

eujacksonville.com | september 20-26, 2007 21 This past Friday, I visited the Jacksonville Zoo live music & Gardens for the fi rst time in nearly 15 years, and although I didn’t get a chance to scrutinize too many exhibits very intensely, I got the distinct impression shows calendar that the Jacksonville Zoo has improved dramatically over the last few years. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 I went with my wife and some friends to Brew at the Zoo, an event that showcased a whole bunch Pianist Tim Nold Seawalk Hotel, Jax Beach (249-9981) of things, including the Range of the Jaguar, the new Open Mic w/Colleen Murphy Trade Winds Lounge, Trout River Gardens, wildlife artwork arranged by St. Augustine (829-8646) Fogle Fine Arts, and beer. Truthfully, I was hooked by Ron Perry Roadhouse, Orange Park (264-0611) the title of the event alone. It was a wonderful added Chuck Nash My Place, Jax (737-5299) bonus that the beer and food were free. Big Engine Box Seats, Jax (908-7328) Open Mic w/Krank Shaft Overtime Sports Bar, Jax (786-5466) Mike Sweet & Friends Kingshead Pub, St. Augustine Sweet Low Down Aroma’s, Jax (928-0515) Neurotic Butterfl y Mercury Moon, Orange Park (215-8999) Park Street Band Ragusa, Jax (443-7888) Sweet Little Ditty Spare Time, Jax Beach (246-8099) Flint Blade Stogies, St. Augustine Yojng Cash Endo Exo, Jax (396-7733) Lyons Murray’s Grille, Yulee Mariachi Guadalajara Jimadores, Jax (739-5828) Boogie Freaks Square One, Jax (306-9004) David Milam Shannon’s Irish Pub, Green Cove Springs (230-9670) The Everybodyfi elds European Street, Jax (399-1740) brew at the Cloud 9 Twisted Martini, Ponte Vedra Ajamu Mutima Casa Monica, St. Augustine The Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens has apparently Wes Cobb Fly’s Tie Irish Pub, Atlantic Beach (246-4293) begun a new chapter in its existence, constantly reaching out to the community and offering events Big City Sendout Jack Rabbits, Jax (398-7496) and exhibits that are defi nitely unique for a traditional Cornerstone The Mill Top, St. Augustine (829-2329) zoo. Brew at the Zoo is just one of the many events Ron Rodriguez Mellow Mushroom, Jax (997-1955) zoo I’ve heard about lately, and I’ll bet it’s one of the hip- 3 Eddie Bahamas, Jax Beach (241-3138) pest. We had a great time at the event. Although it Little Green Men West Inn Cantina, Jax (389-1131) BY DONALD DUSINBERRE [email protected] was stifl ingly humid, the beer servers were more Freeze Frame Fionn Maccool’s, Jax Beach (242-9499) I’ve always been a little confl icted about zoos middle school and rather apathetic about any family than willing to refi ll your cup whenever you wanted. Mr. Natural Whitey’s Fish Camp, Orange Park (269-4198) and circuses (or is it circi?), because it’s hard for outing, but I remember thinking that it was a medio- We did have to wait in some long lines, but they Ace Winn The Melting Pot, Jax me to believe that animals can be happy living in cre facility fi tting of a medium-sized American city moved pretty swiftly. cages and doing tricks for large crowds. The last like Harrisburg or Raleigh-Durham. Zookeepers were posted throughout the area, Yankee Slickers Players Grille, Orange Park (264-4633) time I went to the Jacksonville Zoo, I hadn’t yet Last year, I visited the San Diego Zoo hoping showing off owls and other creatures. Meanwhile, A1A North Jerry’s, Jax (220-6766) developed those apprehensions, but I still wasn’t that my reservations would be quelled by a world- the nearby exhibits stayed open until after dark, in- The Impediments Creekside Dinery, St. Augustine all that impressed with the place. Granted, I was in class facility dedicated to ethical treatment and ac- cluding the Jaguar exhibit and the Lost Temple. (829-6113) curate habitats. I’m not sure how close any zoo can If you’re cool with zoos, then you might look Stick To Your Guns Thee Imperial, Jax (475-0488) get to those ideals, but the San Diego Zoo left me into becoming a member of the Wild Things, a group Those Guys The Oasis, St. Augustine (471-3424) thinking that even if it was less than perfect for the of young professionals who support the Jacksonville animals within the zoo, the increased level of appre- Zoo and take part in a multitude of unique events. Von Barlow’s Jazz Journey Springfi eld Station, Jax ciation and education provided for the visitors could Look for more information about the Zoo and its Soulo Ragtime Tavern, Neptune Beach (241-7877) better the lives of all the animals (including humans) upcoming events right here in EU Jacksonville. In Stu Weaver Coffee Roasters, Jax living outside the zoo. As far as zoos go, the San the meantime, visit the Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens, Matt Still Urban Flats, Ponte Vedra Beach (280-5515) Diego Zoo is regarded as one of the best zoos in the located at 370 Zoo Parkway, on the Northside of country. Jacksonville. Charlie Walker Twisted Sisters, Jax Beach (241-6453) Heartstrings Kingfi sh Grill, St. Augustine (824-2111)

THURSDAY-SUNDAY, SEPT. 20-22 The Committee A1A Aleworks, St. Augustine (829-2977)

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 Nate Holley Mellow Mushroom, Jax (997-1955) Gator Country Concert-Chris Cagle The Landing, Jax Stevie Stilletto Fuel, Jax (425-3835) Culture Freebird Live, Jax Beach (246-2473) Anastasia Urban Flats, Ponte Vedra Beach (280-5515) Misery Signals Thee Imperial, Jax (475-0488) Mandy Joy Yesterday’s, Jax (387-0502) Lickin Gravy Pizza Garden, St. Augustine (471-9455)

22 september 20-26, 2007 | entertaining u newspaper CS: Yeah it is an abstract narrative; it means different The Split Tones Spare Time Grill, Jax Beach things to different people in the band. For me, the Diario Vivir Twisted Sisters, Jax Beach (241-6453) last record is about forgetfulness. It’s about look- Bob Margolin Mojo’s, Jax Beach (247-6636) ing at the things in life that have disappeared. The rusty memories. Every day is so fi lled with different Mariotito Flamenco Cellar Grille, Jax frustrations and joys and they just get forgotten. I Courtneys TSI, Jax (635-3024) don’t remember what I was doing on Wednesday. So Man Apart Jack Rabbits, Jax (398-7496) much of life, the huge majority of life is forgotten and Southbound Trucker Frisky Mermaid, Fernandina you just have these little moments in life that you use Beach (261-3300) to tie it all together, but for the most part, life is a big Queens of the Stone Age Plush, Jax (743-1845) void of forgetfulness that follows you around. Johari Tijuana Flats, Jax (737-9938) EU: I read that you guys go out to rural areas and Freeze Frame Aroma’s, Ponte Vedra (280-2525) farmhouses to record. That dynamic is so different McKenna Country Club Lounge, Macclenny from the live environment, how does that effect the Southbound Michelle’s, Jax (353-0002) evolution of the song? CS: When we go out to a barn or a cottage to record Flashback Kingfi sh Grill, St. Augustine (824-2111) there is a sense of freshness that we are looking for. Kenhe The Homestead, Jax Beach When we get out there, it’s a new place and there are Big Engine Brewsters Pub, Jax (223-9850) none of the distractions of regular life, so our senses Mike Sweet & Friends Mi Casa Café, St. Augustine are open to what’s around us a bit more. You sort of (824-9317) hope that that absorbs into the music, along with the smell of the manure in the next yard over (laughing) PC Synergy-Fashion Forward Cummer Museum, Jax you kind of want the dirt of the experience to make it Jager Dave On the Rocks, Jax (685-5268) into the music somehow. Scholar’s Word Culhane’s Irish Pub, Atlantic Beach i seem to be a verb When it comes time to tour, hopefully, we’ve (249-9595) been through the process enough that we have an The Jamdown Alliance San Sebastian Winery, St. Augustine understanding of why we are playing the music and Mike Gottuso Mandarin Cigar Company, Mandarin interview with Do Make Say Think what the emotion is that we’re trying to convey. And then touring is the presentation of it. Crystal Bessels Kickback’s, Jax (388-9551) BY JON BOSWORTH [email protected] Clayton Bush Pauly’s Pizza, Jax (727-9101) EU: Do the songs start organically and then you Shawn Lightfoot Yesterdays, Jax (387-0502) Spearin at his home in Toronto. Spearin started Do WHO: Do Make Say Think layer on the electronic elements or add some Zac Chester Casa Monica, St. Augustine WHERE: Jack Rabbits Make Say Think when he and Justin Small were violin, or does the vision of the song exist from the Irrational Club Rebar, Jax WHEN: Sunday, September 23rd roommates back in 1995. very beginning? “Justin was my roommate, I worked with him CS: No, it defi nitely happens over time… Sometimes Brian Turner & Rip Tide Cliff’s, Atlantic Beach (249-2777) Toronto is making a bunch of hip noise in mu- and then I moved in with him and instead of watch- there is a vision at the beginning, but that usually Lyons Tom & Betty’s, Jax (387-3311) ing TV we would record on my 8-track.” sic and fi lm these days. In addition to giving the fi lm just gets in the way because you stop listening and Dax Riggs Plush, Jax (743-1845) world one of the best fi lm festivals, their incestuous When James Payment joined the band they just try to create what you heard in your head, and music scene has brought us fantastic indie rock were ready to hit the scene with epic improvisational that’s just frustrating. So you start with a vision that Chuck Nash Ragusa, Jax (443-7055) bands such as Broken Social Scene and Godspeed rock sets. Do Make Say Think is more intentional is fl exible. Silver Lake Drive Endo Exo, Jax (396-7733) You! Black Emperor. One of Toronto’s post-rock than improvisational these days, ten years into their Lone Wolf Running Lillian’s, Jax (388-4220) marriage as a band, and their albums refl ect that offerings is Do Make Say Think, a fi rm part of the And I’m looking forward to seeing what Wiki- Skyblind Club Fusion, St. Augustine (829-8333) Torontopian avant-garde scene since the mid-nine- intent. Spearin also plays guitar, bass and trumpet pedia calls Chris Spearin’s “trademark moustache” ties. They are bringing their instrumental indie rock with Broken Social Scene. on stage at Jack Rabbits in San Marco on Sunday, Ron Rodriguez & the Repeat Offenders Latitudes, Jax Beach (247-6606) to Jack Rabbits. September 23rd. Go to jaxlive.com for more details. Their albums function as a whole, crafting EU: Are you guys into verbs? Find out what Toronto bands Chris Spearin recom- elaborate musical landscapes and adventurous CS: (Laughing) Maybe ten years ago, but we’re past mends, how their music refl ects life and how their FRIDAY-SATURDAY, SEPT. 21-22 plotlines while rarely uttering a word. However their verbs. We’re into nouns and adjectives now. album is not like Pink Floyd The Wall by reading Spanky Trade Winds Lounge, St. Augustine (829-9336) latest release, , does You, You’re a History in Rust the entire interview at eujacksonville.com. Driven The Roadhouse, Orange Park (264-0611) include some vocals. They aren’t dominant by any EU: What is the major difference between the two means, but they are present on the album and they bands as far as writing and performing is con- Pili Pili Caribbee Key, Neptune Beach (270-8940) somehow manage to not take the instrumental na- cerned? Cliff Worrell & the Restless Kind Scarlett’s, St. ture of the band away. CS: Well, I think it’s sort of an attempt at relevance. Augustine (824-6535) “At fi rst you have to be kind of brave to throw Broken Social Scene is trying to be culturally rel- Von Barlow’s Jazz Journey Simon’s Wine Bar, Jax away your verse-chorus, verse-chorus structure and evant and Do Make Say Think is trying to be more (396-8088) just make music. Then you do that for a long time artistically relevant. Dueling Pianos Dick’s Wings/Tinseltown, Jax and you’re like ‘okay, how can we bring vocals in Mr. Natural Creekside Dinery, St. Augustine (829-6113) and keep the freedom?’ So we tried to do that.” EU: When you’re constructing the albums do you Ghostrider Monkey’s Uncle, Mandarin (260-1349) EU caught up with Do Make Say Think’s Chris have a narrative in mind? Ian Kelly The Brick, Jax (387-0606) Roger That Lynch’s Irish Pub, Jax Beach (249-5181) Baystreet Sun Dog Steak & Seafood, Neptune Beach (241-8221) Nightowls The Oasis, St. Augustine (471-3424) Big Engine Brewsters, Jax (223-9850) Quest Mercury Moon, Orange Park (215-8999) Susie Kite Band Tailgaters, Green Cove Springs (529-1976) Big Al & the Kaholics Cheers, Mandarin (262-4337) Boogie Freaks Ragtime Tavern, Neptune Beach (241-7877) Wild Card Whitey’s Fish Camp, Orange Park (269-4198) Go Ask Alice Players Grille, Orange Park (264-4633) Drivin South New Neighborhood Tavern, Jax (721-5087) Sweet Low Down Square One, Jax (306-9004)

eujacksonville.com | september 20-26, 2007 23 SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 have been the best kept secret as far as shows here Robby Schenck Kickback’s, Jax (388-9551) go. I stood in the front row chanting along with a bunch of dudes to every brilliant lyric Jeff spat out. Diario Vivir Metro Park, Jax His vocals hit harder than the kick drum into my Songwriter’s Circle European Street/Beach Blvd., chest. Jax 725-3929) Jax Punkfest 5 Thee Imperial, Jax (475-0488) EU: Do you fi nd it harder operating with Phil living Jan Crawford Pizza Garden, St. Augustine (471-9455) up in Atlanta? Burning Brides Jack Rabbits, Jax (398-7496) Jeff: It’s a bit tougher. He still makes it down once or twice on month to practice or for a show. We basi- Spanky The Band Twisted Sisters, Jax Beach (241-6453) cally have just cut down on the local shows but we NH3 Band House of Jam, Mandarin (262-3377) plan to keep touring and recording. Oscar Barnett Urban Flats, Ponte Vedra Beach (280-5515) Livid Shannon’s Irish Pub, Green Cove Springs EU: Do you miss living with him? (230-9670) Jeff: I miss him waiting for me at the door when I Matlock CD Release Murray Hill Theatre, Jax (388-7807) came home from work wearing an apron and smiling at me while he set the table for the dinner he cooked Cloud 9 Kingfi sh Grill, St. Augustine (824-2111) for me. I also miss the late night pillow fi ghts and Retro Kats Marriott Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra dancing after a hard week. Brian Turner w/Rip Tide Conch House, St. Augustine (829-8646) EU: We discussed your band being “grandfa- Strings of Fire Jimadores, Jax (739-5828) thered” into The Fest in Gainesville. When did you Mike Sweet & Friends Mi Casa Café, St. Augustine fi rst jump on board and how does it differ from The (824-9317) Fest last year? We’ve been on since Fest 2. It keeps getting Lisa & the Madhatters The Landing, Jax Jeff: bigger and prettier. Payton Page Mellow Mushroom, Jax (997-1955) Glass Camels Freebird Live, Jax Beach (246-2473) put up your EU: While on tour, is it quantity over quality when Dana Salmela GQ’s, Jax it comes to alcoholic beverages? Absolutely. After Eleven Ocean Club, Jax Beach (242-8884) Jeff:

Ace Winn The Melting Pot, Jax EU: Will we be experiencing another shirts-off Stu Weaver Harry’s, Jax Beach (247-8855) party like last time? Open Mic w/Larry Broussard St. Johns Pizza Grill, Jeff: I surely hope so, but you can’t plan a shirts-off Jax (287-9900) dukes party. It’s a mystical thing of nature that just sorta Mike Gottuso Seven Bridges, Jax (997-1999) happens. Pawn Takes King Fuel, Jax (425-3835) interview with the Dukes of Hillsborough EU: Have you ever played a show sober and why? Chelsea Saddler Flavors, Jax Jeff: A couple of times. Usually it’s just bad plan- String Sessions Casa Monica, St. Augustine BY CHRISTINA WAGNER ning. SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 WHO:The Dukes with The Reckoning, Dark Castle, EU: What about the band has changed over the and Shitagoddam with a sprinkle of awesome and the Dukes them- years? Those Guys Sunset Grill, St. Augustine (471-5555) WHERE: Fuel Coffeehouse in 5 Points selves on one worthwhile night. I call Travis, Phil, Jeff: We’re older. I think that’s about it. Our beards Dan Shepherd Harpoon Louie’s, Jax (389-5631) WHEN: Saturday, September 22 and Jeff’s band I-75 rock. A blend of Gainesville and are fuller and our knees are more wobbly. John Thomas Group Shelby’s, Atlantic Beach (249-5182) Tampa DIY Punk Rawk that, while under-appreci- It’s hard to put a fi nger on why the Dukes ated and wildy understated, in a way that Acoustic Duo Ragtime Tavern, Atlantic Beach brings it EU: Are you working on a new album? of Hillsborough are so bad ass, but I’m up for the reminds me of a blend of Twelve Tour Turn and the Jeff: We just put out a split 7” with OWTH and have Isaac Byrd Jr. De Real Ting Café, Jax challenge. It all started with about a liter of whiskey Crows (featuring singer Chris Wollard of The Draft another split coming out with the Mercury League Tarik Hassan Sahara Café, Jax paired with a slew of really incredible locals, topped and Hot Water Music). The Dukes of Hillsborough from England. We should put out another full length David Milam Mellow Mushroom, Jax (997-1955) Pili Pili Ocean Club, Jax Beach (242-8884) Jimmy Parrish Carib Key, Jax Beach (270-8940) Do Make Say Think Jack Rabbits, Jax (398-7496) 25 ta Life Thee Imperial, Jax (475-0488) Flyin South Michelle’s, Jax (353-0002) Matanzas Trade Winds Lounge, St. Augustine (829-8646) Jim McKabba Creekside Dinery, St. Augustine (829-6113) Str8 Up Whitey’s Fish Camp, Orange Park (269-4198) 3rd Bass The Casbah, Jax (981-9966) El Toro Loco Square One, Jax (306-9004) Drivin South Reni’s Rooster, Jax (880-1111) Jan Crawford & Friends Cortesses, St. Augustine (825-6775) Busted & Confused Pasttime Grille, Jax 2mex, Tough Junkie Shantytown, Jax Self Employed The Ocean Club, Jax (242-8444)

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 Joey Cortesses, St. Augustine (825-6775) Charlie Walker Mellow Mushroom, Jax (997-1955) Sam Pacetti The Mill Top, St. Augustine (829-2329)

24 september 20-26, 2007 | entertaining u newspaper Lary Smith Harmonious Monks, Jax (886-3040) Band of Destiny Square One, Jax (306-9004) a unique Nolan Neal Fly’s Tie Irish Pub, Atlantic Beach (246-4293) Battle For Planetfest Jack Rabbits, Jax (398-7496) Goliath & Dorian Lopez Casbah, Jax (981-9966) Stu Weaver Harry’s, St. Augustine (824-7765)

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 talent Second String Sun Dog Steak & Seafood, Neptune Beach (241-8221) Matanzas Trade Winds Lounge, St. Augustine (829-8646) Robinella at European Street Christina Wagner & Friends Mark’s Downtown, Jax (355-5099) BY RICK GRANT [email protected] Will Pearsall The Mill Top, St. Augustine (829-2329) Doubting Benefi t Fuel, Jax (425-3835) Robinella presented a smiling, quirky Southern more than ten years, she had never Dave Massey Kickback’s, Jax (388-9551) belle countenance on stage at European Street. changed a string. That night at the She talked to her audience and told us road stories European Street, she broke a string Those Guys Hurricane Patty’s, St. Augustine (827-1822) as she performed her original repertoire of songs. and had to change it for the fi rst time. Scenic Void Cortesses, St. Augustine (825-6775) I was struck by her “aw-shucks” persona, which As a songwriter, Robinella Ron Perry Fionn MacCool’s, Jax Beach (242-9499) greatly enhanced her artistic on-stage magnetism. composes intricate and catchy songs Ace Winn Copelands, Jax The audience loved her. Frankly, I was instantly like ‘Break It Down Baby’–a tasty smitten by her songs, which were sung with a little ditty with lyrics that say “break Rebecca Zapen Wackadoos, Jax (620-1000) distinctly high soprano voice and a unique timbre it down baby, you can show me the Matt Still Caribbee Key, Neptune Beach (270-8940) that came off like sipping a mint julep on a summer way.” Robinella sings it with seduc- The Outcasts The Oasis, St. Augustine (471-3424) afternoon–all sweetness with a kick. tive vocal improvisations. ‘Down the Out of Hand Palace Saloon, Fernandina Beach Her solo act is somewhere between introspec- Mountain’ comes off with a jazzy tive romanticism and drudging cynicism. Her songs rhythm and speaks of life’s ups and E-Down The Roxy, Jax Beach speak of love gone bad, superfi cial women, love downs. “I started down the mountain several years heartfelt and “golly-gee-whiz,” she had the audience Bill Rice Mellow Mushroom, Jax (997-1955) gone good, and other personal subjects of her life ago... seems I could move faster falling down life’s in her palm. Men and women fell in love with her Mystic Dino Lynch’s, Jax Beach (249-5181) as a singer/songwriter and artist. She even makes path alone.... I was searching for some answers…” as she spun her poetry set to music and told her Mike Miller Band St. Nick’s Lounge, Jax her own T-shirts. She purchased the screen printing Robinella vocally improvises to her clever tales of a woman out on the big cruel super-slab to equipment so that she could feature her own art- chordal rhythms. It hovers on the fringe of jazz, but oblivion. Blues w/Rob Peck Creekside Dinery, St. Augustine (829-6113) work on her shirts. Robinella is special – a diamond hangs in the folk-mode by a thread. Of course, this ‘Oh So Sexy’ takes off with a funky rhythm in the rough among so many poseurs and imitators. makes her music diffi cult to categorize, but more about a lonely woman at the bar. A lively electric Jimmy Solari My Place, Jax (737-5299) Halfway through her set, Robinella launched importantly, it makes it vital and creative– a stand- fi ddle comes in to enhance Robinella’s spin on the Seth Ramsdill Fly’s Tie Irish Pub, Atlantic Beach one of her endearing road stories, the gist of which out in the legions of others out there. Robinella, bar pick up. “I believe the smoke is a screen that (246-4293) involved her ill-fated trip to New York City hauling a like Kate Bush, lets her music take her in whatever keeps us apart...Oh so sexy....Look for the ones that Ron Perry Harry’s, St. Augustine (824-7765) trailer. One of the trailer’s wheels went fl ying off and direction she needs to go to express emotional hon- catch my attention.” It’s a song to which all people El Toro Loco Square One, Jax (306-9004) she had to do emergency repairs on the road. When esty, and thus, it’s uncompromising and not written can relate. We’ve all been there at one time or an- she got to NYC, she parked her rig on the street in any particular genre. This sets her apart –framing other–men and women. and went out with friends, when she came back her her in an unlimited creative interval–from zero to “I fall in love as much as I can...love is here TUESDAY-WED., SEPT. 25-26 guitars had been stolen out of her SUV. Just prior to infi nity. and then it’s gone,” Robinella sings cynically, dis- Gene Nordan Mackenzie’s, Ponte Vedra (543-9143) that, her husband called and said the divorce was Robinella’s albums contain a variety of instru- believing that, for her, love can last as she travels fi nal. All this in one day was worth a story. So she mentation fl oating in and out of the music, including from one town to the next. She laid her soul bare WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 bought another Gibson acoustic guitar but, her now mandolin, fi ddle, and even a pedal steel. Unlike and opened up her heart to her audience leaving a ex-husband had always changed her strings, and her solo performance at European Street, which permanent impression of admiration for her musical Mr. Beam Casa Marina, Jax Beach (270-0025) she confessed that after playing professionally for was much more intimate. Her folksy stories are so art. And that is her greatest gift. Dave Massey My Place, Jax (737-5299) Rip Tide w/Brian Turner Eddie Bahamas, Jax Beach (241-3138) Falling Up Murray Hill Theatre, Jax (388-7807) Yancy Clegg Wicked Davey’s, Fernandina Beach FunKtion Brix, Jax Beach Wes Cobb Band Square One, Jax (306-9004) Jim McKabba Creekside Dinery, St. Augustine (829-6113) 1st Coast Jazz Orchestra The Pier, St. Augustine Lickin Gravy The Oasis, St. Augustine (471-3424) Eric Dawkins Mellow Mushroom, Jax (997-1955) It Prevails Thee Imperial, Jax (475-0488) Jesse & Leaa Cortesses, St. Augustine (825-6775) Busted & Confused Snookers, Jax (696-0714) Jodies Fiasco Castillo de Mexico, Jax Soulo Urban Flats, Ponte Vedra Beach (280-5515) The Mike Miller Band St. Nick’s Lounge, Jax (396-3396) El Toro Loco Aromas, Ponte Vedra (280-2525) Chuck Nash Sun Dog Steak & Seafood, Neptune Beach (241-8221) Sidewalk 65 Latitudes, Jax Beach (247-6606) Pili Pili Fly’s Tie Irish Pub, Atlantic Beach (246-4293) Dave Massey My Place Bar & Grill, Jax (737-5299)

eujacksonville.com | september 20-26, 2007 25 art events new this week

Katie Day & Ashley Hazen (Through September 30) Classis Blends, 201 W King Street, St. Augustine (904) 825-4303

Fashion Forward: Big Apple Up & Cummers Host Third Annual Fashion Show (September 21, 7 pm – 9:30 pm) Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens, 829 Riverside Avenue, Riverside (904) 356-6857 or cummer.org

Natural Visions: Recent works by John Bunker and Suzanne Magee Opening Reception September 21, 6 pm - 9 pm September 21 – October 19 Stellers Gallery Annex, 200 1st (left) James Greene, (above) Mark Street, Neptune Beach (904) 247-7200 Creegan, (right) Byron King Whenever I hear of an idea rich with enthusiasm, 2nd annual A.R.T. Exhibition (Thursday, September 20, 6 King is usually involved. He created jaxcal.org pm – 8 pm) ARC Jacksonville, 1050 North Davis Street, (Jacksonville Contemporary Arts League), a blog Downtown 355-0155 or [email protected] portent, i said portent site devoted to proliferating artistic growth and ideas Flora, Fauna, and Fine Art Presented by the Jacksonville in Jacksonville, and he has also coordinated some Zoo and Gardens and Fogle Fine Art Featuring Craig Bone, group shows around town. Olivia Marie Braida Chiusano, Laurin McCracken, Carmen at Pedestrian Projects In terms of his own artwork, Byron King is Lagos and John Reed (September 21 - October 13) currently obsessed with Trophy Soldiers, drawings Fogle Fine Art, 3312 Beach Boulevard (904) 296-1414 or foglefi neart.com of fallen U.S. soldiers with deer heads replacing their BY DONALD DUSINBERRE [email protected] own. The concept is intriguing and fl exible, with the Kurt Polkey & Morrison Pierce: Dreaming of Black It’s exciting for me to learn of a new art gallery is a new space for local artists to display their work. symbolism of the head and rack of a buck provid- Mountain (September 22 – October 14) in town, especially one that doesn’t specialize in On display through the end of September, Portent, ing a wide range of interpretations. It’s fascinating Opening Reception Saturday, September 22, 6 pm – 9 pm beach scenes and waterfowl. I Said Portent features artwork by Mark Creegan, that the power of symbolism allows artwork that is Jane Gray Gallery, 643 Edison Avenue, Riverside Working in conjunction with the Beaver Con- James Greene, Byron King, Kurt Polkey and Brittni quite straightforward in its style and medium to be (904) 338-5790 or janegraygallery.com temporary Art Center, the Pedestrian Projects Gallery Wood. splintered when pushing past its appearance and ongoing My fi rst question about the show was, of considering its meaning. course, “What the heck does portent mean?” The Brittni Wood offers just a few pieces of work, Allison Steadman & Brad Silverstein (Through September venerable Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary (m- if you count her series of 15 small mixed-media 26) Alexander Brest Museum and Gallery at JU 256-7371 w.com) defi nes Portent as “something that foreshad- paintings as one idea. Nevertheless, her treatment of ows a coming event,” or “prophetic indication or canvas is fresh, as she draws, paints, and encrusts My Florida: John Wilton exhibit (Through September 30) Thrasher-Horne Center, 283 College Drive, Orange Park signifi cance.” Now I get it. her work with confi dence. I look forward to examin- (904) 276-6815 According to Pedestrian Projects’ website, ing her work more thoroughly in the near future. thepedestrian.org: “The title of the exhibit suggests The most confl icting art in the bunch is that of Silverstein Tribute Art Show (Through September 26) a positive sign of things to come for the visual Kurt Polkey. Truthfully, I was immediately turned off Alexander Brest Museum and Gallery at JU (904) 256-7374 arts in Jacksonville. The unique work on display by what I perceived as a gross lack of traditional and foreshadows a new, contemporary direction for the conceptual skill. The more examples I saw, the less Art at the Airport: Beginnings: Work by David and Kay Olson (Through September 28) Haskell Gallery at local cultural scene, indicating we are on the cusp of impressed I was. But I now consider the possibility Jacksonville International Airport, 2400 Yankee Clipper Drive something exciting and progressive.” that Polkey’s work was more deliberate in its ama- (904) 741-3546 jiaarts.org “The artists extend the metaphor further by teurish look. creating work that stands as a reaction to and In one sense, Polkey’s work had a more long- Our World: Photographs by John Reed (Through September against the ominous ‘portents’ we read everyday lasting effect than any of the other artists’ work, be- 30) Thrasher-Horne Center, 283 College Drive, Orange Park (904) 276-6815 in the news. All of the artists are young, many with cause I still can’t fi gure out if he’s brilliant in a Daniel young families, and their work conceptually and Johnston kind of way, or if he just sucks and doesn’t Ron Burns: The Road to Recovery Benefi ting the materially refl ects their ever-present anxiety about realize it yet, in a Tourist Town Bum kind of way. You Jacksonville Humane Society and their rebuilding efforts the future.” know, like the creepy guy who draws pictures and (Through September 30) R. Roberts Gallery, 3606 St. Johns I had been looking forward to seeing the work peddles them in the town square in St. Augustine. Avenue, Avondale (904) 388-1188 of a few new artists, and Portent gave me everything Polkey has another show coming up at the Jane Gray Southern Sunday Arts Revival Featuring Atlanta artists I asked for. More importantly, I didn’t have to wade Gallery, and I can’t wait to see it. I’d love for my fi rst George Long, Jesse Cregar, Mario Schambon, Scott Pethia through a bunch of what I didn’t ask for. Galleries impression to be wrong. and Tindel-Michi (Through September 30) often overload exhibitions with too many artists. I’d Visit Pedestrian Projects at 1535 San Marco The Gallery At Screen Arts, 228 W. King Street, St. Augustine much rather see more works from a few artists, and Boulevard in Jacksonville to catch (904) 829-2838 or (800) 826-4649 or screenartsfl orida.com Portent, I Said Pedestrian Projects did it masterfully for this show. Portent! Check their website for upcoming shows at Elemental Atmospheres: Paintings by Princess Simpson The fi rst artist I’d like to mention is Byron King. thepedestrian.org. Rashid (Through September 30) The Museum of Science & History (904) 396-7062

Portent, I said Portent (Through September 30) Pedestrian Projects, 1535 San Marco Boulevard, San Marco (904) 859-8281 or thepedestrian.org

Bogda September Show (Through September 30) Bogda, 1253 McDuff Avenue South, Riverside (904) 387-0852

Louise Freshman Brown (Through October 5) University Gallery at the University of North Florida, 1 UNF Drive, Jacksonville (904) 620-2534

An Exploration of the Nature of Place by Sarah Crooks Flaire (Through October 6) Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, 2445 San Diego Road, Jacksonville 904-346-5620

David Ponsler Sculpture: Bronze, Steel, Copper and Iron (Through October 14) Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach, 50 Executive Way, Ponte Vedra Beach (904) 280-0614

26 september 20-26, 2007 | entertaining u newspaper king. He sprinkles Shakespeare’s version of “Love Potion # 9” on his wife Titania (Jennifer Gagnon) and she proceeds to seduce Bottom, the donkey, in one culture & arts shakespeare at of the play’s funniest scenes. Garry Burgoyne, as Lysander, and Seth Lang- SEPTEMBER ner, as Demetrius, are the rival lovers. They are well 20 Taste of the NFL Touchdown Club, Jax cast and they do some wonderful Shakespearian 20-21 Exhibit: “Made of Steel” Metalworker Photo Studies slapstick fi ghting over their women. FCCJ S. Campus, Jax theatre jax One of the highlights of Act II is the play within 20-21 Exhibit-14 Artists-Printmaking, Tile, Photography The the play, as a band of Athenian craftsman performs Art Advocate, St. Augustine at a wedding ceremony. Quince (Victoria Leone), 20-23 “Criminal Hearts” Limelight Theatre, St. Augusitne A Midsummer Night’s Dream Flute (Zack Bass), Snug (Scott J. Smith), Snout (Neal Thorburn) and Starveling (Chris Dickinson) are joined 20-25 Exhibit George Phillips Pitlak FCCJ Kent Campus, Jax by the previously mentioned Bottom to create a hilari- 20-26 Brad Silverstein Art Exhibition JU Alexander Brest BY DICK KEREKES [email protected] ous ending to the show. Library, Jax Theatre Jacksonville’s annual trip into the counters, are represented by branches that extend off Sandy Spurney continues her quest to do all of 20-29 “Cinderella” Orange Park Community Theatre, Orange Park world of Shakespeare is now on stage at The Harold three white plexi-glass columns that can be lit from Shakespeare’s mother roles (even if they were origi- 20-29 “Cabaret” Players by the Sea, Jax Beach K. Smith Playhouse at 2032 San Marco Ave as the the inside. The branches are strips of colored cloth. nally fathers. This is Shakespeare # 7 for Sandy, and comedy opened last Uncluttered, the set lets you focus on the actors and she is convincing as Egeus, Hermia’s mom. 20-30 Exhibit-Artist Ron Burns To Benefi t Humane Society R. A Midsummer Night’s Dream Roberts Gallery, Jax weekend and will run until September 29th. It is also the text. Larry Knight (Theseus, Duke of Athens) and Shani the theatre bargain of the year. Tickets are only $l0 Costume Designer Audrey Wagner opens the Harper (Queen of the Amazons) add a lot of class and 20-30 Elemental Atmospheres Paintings By Princess Simpson Rashid , Jax for any seat in the house, thanks to The River Branch play with all actors dressed in black and white with a elegance as the rulers of the country. Alex Palmer has MOSH Foundation. bit of gray, a wonderful visual. As the play progresses humorous moments as Cobweb, the overworked and 20-30 Exhibit: William Newby New Works in Oil Energy Lab This play has been done a number of times the costumes became more colorful. The fairies are under loved fairy. Art Gallery, St. Augustine over the years in Jacksonville and is always im- dressed like characters from the Commedia dell’arte. Director Geoffrey Kershner has done some 20-OCT. 6 A Midsummer Nights Dream Theatre Jax, Jax careful editing, and eliminated a few minor charac- mensely popular entertainment. A bit of the plot is You’ll love Ms. Wagner’s wall and lion costumes, 20-OCT. 7 Steel Magnolia’s Alhambra Dinner Theatre, Jax always part of a review and Theatre Jacksonville which defy description. Go see the play. ters to bring in the play under 2 ½ hours with the 20-OCT. 14 381 Days: The Montgomery Bus Boycott Story gives this so succinctly in the program/study guide. Shakespeare’s script leaves it up to the direc- intermission. (Most of Shakespeare’s plays can run Ritz Theatre, Jax tor’s interpretation as to who is the main character. 3 hours or longer.) Kershner assembled an excellent 20-OCT. 14 Dinosaurs & Ice Age Mammals , Jax The plot for A Midsummer Night’s Dream is broken My guesses would be Geoffrey King, who plays a cast that projected well and has lovely feet (Everyone MOSH up into three story lines: delightfully hammy Bottom, a role that is always in the cast is barefoot the entire show.) 20-OCT. 27 Mystery Dinner Theatre Dave & Buster’s, Jax 1. A love story, involving the changing relation- a favorite regardless of the production. Amy Noel A Midsummer Night’s Dream is about the 20-NOV. 4 The Cummer Is…Photographs By Ingrid Damiani ships between four young people. Johnson’s Helena is an over-the-top heroine, and frustration of fl awed people who want to be loved. Cummer Museum, Jax 2. A comic account of amateur actors struggling she contrasts nicely with the perky Hermia (Megan You, as an audience member, will have fun along the 20-JAN. 6 Sculptor: Minoru Ohira Exhibit MOCA, Jax to rehearse and perform a play English). Puck is cast as a female and Alexis Robbins way. Now if they would only reveal where we can get 3. A fairy story, in which the king and queen of the gives the character lots of energy and fl air. some of that magic fairy dust, I know several people 20-FEB. 28 Oh Say Can You See: American Art Cummer Museum, Jax fairies quarrel and made amends. Big Julie from last season’s Guys and Dolls, looking for it. Call 396-4425 for more information, or 21 Comedian Ron White Stephen C. O’Connell Center, Gainesville visit www.theatrejax.com. Jeremie Cook, is back and is “big” Orberon, the fairy 21 Fashion Forward: Big Apple – Fashion Show Cummer Museum, Jax Go early, since the seats are general admission, 22 Miracles in the Moonlight Gala Benefi t , Jax and use the extra time to read the excellent biogra- Hyatt Regency phies of the people involved in this play, the synopsis 22 Open Casting Call-HBO’s “Recount” 8am-6pm Ed Ball Building, Jax of the plot, and some good background on the 22 Dance Alive National Ballet “Cleopatra” Philips Center, Gainesville play. Geoffrey Kershner is making his TJ directorial 22 Race Revolution: Jax During the Civil Rights Era Ritz Theatre, Jax debut, but he is no stranger to Jacksonville, Theatre Jacksonville, or Shakespeare, having been the fi ght 22 21st Annual Rollin on the River Car Show The Landing, Jax director for The Taming of the Shrew. He is the Ar- 24 Betty Griffi n House Annual Luncheon & Fashion Show tistic Director of the Endstation Theatre Company in Marriott Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Virginia and a graduate of the MFF directing program 26 Go Figure: Drawing Live Models With Jonathan Lux MOCA, Jax at FSU. I hope he is invited back; his production of 27-29 From The New World-JSO Performing Arts Center, Jax Dream is a dream. Kershner and Scenic Designer Kelly Wagoner 28 Nightowl Cinema-The Sand Lot The Amphitheatre, St. Augustine have teamed up to give a unique setting for this 28-NOV. 9 Tricking Fish: How & Why Lures Work Exhibit The production. The back half of the stage is a curved Lighthouse, St. Augustine half-moon elevated stage. In center stage is a ramp 29 River City Showdown-FSU vs. Alabama Jax Stadium, Jax where much of the action takes place. It has a unique 29 Fiesta De Santa Maria Downtown, Fernandina Beach trap door that fairies love to peek out of. This is all while Jeff Wagoner, Technical and Lighting Director, 29 Experimental Painting with Instructor Kim Barry MOCA, Jax adds splashes of colored lights like drops of paint 30 Supper with the Spirits Dinner & Show Old St. Augustine on a palette to create many moods. The Athenian Village, St. Augustine Woods, home of the fairies and lots of romantic en- 30-OCT. 6 Peace Mural Exhibition UNF Fine Arts Center, Jax

OCTOBER 1 Lecture Series-Lois Simon-Anyone Can Paint Cultural Center, Ponte Vedra 1 John Muir-A Celebration of his Life Library, Ponte Vedra 3 First Wednesday Art Walk Various Venues/Downtown, Jax 3-4 Echo Boom UNF Fine Arts Center, Jax 4-6 First Coast Classic Dancesport Championship World Golf Village, St. Augustine 4-7 Fall Home & Patio Show Prime Osborn Center, Jax 4-7 Amelia Island Book Festival Various Venues, Amelia Island 4-28 “Frankenstein” Limelight Theatre, St. Augustine 4-NOV. 7 Edifi ce Beautiful Emposition – Exhibit by Patrick Miko JU Gallery, Jax 5 First Friday Art Walk Various Venues, St. Augustine

eujacksonville.com | september 20-26, 2007 27 a fresh reprise at abet try this show, you’ll like it They’re Playing Our Song Cabaret at PBTS BY ALUN MONTGOMERY each other to new highs and lows, each docu- BY DICK KEREKES [email protected] mented in song, of course. ments with her sailor customers. Later Ms. We can all see they should be together, Marshall sings in German, the anthem of the far better than they can themselves. This plot master race, ‘Tomorrow Belongs to Me’ and device can often be tiresome if handled less you could feel the hearts of the audience ably; but here, it works. Don’t ask me how; almost stop, it was bone-chilling. Gentlemen, it’s probably because the performers are so whatever your taste in women, you are bound damned cute, and there is a knowing wink and to fi nd it in the gorgeous Kit Kat Girls played a nod to the audience, inviting all to revel in by Madeline Hionides, Maya Adkins, Morgan their excruciating memories of that time in our Williams, Jessica Bitter, Renee Freeman and lives. Miranda Lawson. They sing, they dance, they One of the devices that really makes this story tease, they are wonderful. For those who may work is the “Greek Chorus” of supporting butter your bread on the other side, Kit Kat characters. In their early discussions, Sonia Boys, Sam Willis and Dax Dyer will be sure to mentions “The Girls,” the voices in her head please. To paraphrase Willie Nelson, miracles appear in with whom she mulls over her ideas. And as anyone Paul Rowe, as Ernst the Nazi organizer, is the smallest of places. Who would think, for instance, with an instinct for self-preservation would, Vernon frightening as he worms his way into Cliff’s that a popular musical hit from the 1970s could enjoy is ready to bolt. It turns out, however, that the girls life with the lure of cash for smuggling money a successful revival treatment in, of all places, the are really Sonia’s alter-egos, on whom she tries out from Paris. Bill White is picture perfect as smaller Atlantic Beach Experimental Theater? her harmonies and chord voicings; Vernon has his Max, the Kit Kat Club owner and Sally’s oc- Well, the folks at ABET managed to pull such a own “Boys” who fi ll the same role. They appear in the casional lover. Luke Hooper, Julian Goldhagen rabbit out of their hats, once again. The current revival show’s grander production numbers, the Girls (Leah and Kevin Jaeger all appear in multiple roles of They’re Playing Our Song is a delightful treatment Cortez, Trish McGavrock, and Daisy Miller) evoke as sailors and bodyguards. Mr. Goldhagen is that proves once again you can breathe life into a memories of the Little Shop of Horrors’ do-wop girls, also the very graceful dancing gorilla. dusty old piece. and the Boys (Jacksonville theater vets Leonard Alter- Lee Hamby designed the costumes, in ad- The fi ctionalized tale of the romantic and artistic man and Del Austin) evoke, well, something along the Players by the Sea opened its 42nd season dition to being assistant director of the show. trials and tribulations of songwriters Marvin Hamlisch lines of a really trippy cast of Night at the Roxbury. with the Tony award-winning musical Cabaret. It The clothing is authentic to the period and very and Carole Bayer Sager enjoyed some box-offi ce and What could have been a tired and embarrassing bit will run until September 29th and tickets are al- imaginative. Ms. Olin has many costume changes critical notoriety in the late ‘70s. It’s a thin story; the became a gag gamely executed. No one but someone ready going fast, so reserve today. and is a fashion show unto herself. Thanks to the songs are pleasant but hardly eternal classics, and it’s who had lived through it could provide the right touch Most readers already know that this story is fi nancial support of The Community Foundation’s hard to have a lot of sympathy for two such self-ab- of irony. It’s a brave and bravura comedic choice, and set in the decaying and decadent l930s Berlin as Tom Nehl Fund for making this important aspect of sorbed and neurotic characters. their brief appearances brought down the house. Germany moves toward Nazi rule and World War the show possible. But in the capable hands of husband-and-wife Cozily ensconced in Atlantic Beach’s Adele II. The plot centers on the occupants of an inex- Holly Deckerhoff-Manuel’s choreography team Randall and Laura Adkison, the production is Grage Community Center, ABET holds a distinctive pensive rooming house and a steamy nightclub. was exciting and inventive. Having a lot of stage utterly charming, providing a palpable sweetness sea- and dubious place of honor in the Jacksonville theater Hosted by the mesmerizing and puckish em- area to work with due to the set design helped. The soned with a knowing send-up of ‘70s sensibilities. pantheon. cee (Josh Waller) who sings the show’s opening set was designed by Director Joseph Schwarz, In my experience, real-life couples hardly ever have The creative team found very resourceful ways ‘Wilkommen,’ the tone is set for our provocative who also designed the evocative lighting. It is a successful romantic chemistry on stage. But the Ad- around the staging challenges, most notably in fabri- trip. Waller’s host provides sexually suggestive very unique set, and the design allowed this show kisons prove to be a pleasing exception. They’re just cating interchangeable and highly portable set pieces hints about the very diverse personalities that to be fast-paced and run only 2 hours and l5 adorable, and their self-centered neuroses is actually to suggest everything from Vernon’s apartment to frequent the Kit Kat Club. Chalk up another award- minutes, with intermission. Why? There is almost endearing. a club to a recording studio to a hospital suite to a winning performance by Waller, who, as an actor, no furniture to move. Cliff’s small bedroom and We fi rst meet the couple as they fi rst meet each beach in the Hamptons. disappears so far into his characters you’d swear Schneider’s rooming house foyer are both on the other, new collaborators on a musical venture that Laura Peden, one of the city’s formost musical his DNA had been altered! right side on raised platforms. each hopes will boost their respective sales and stat- theater veterans, turns in a crisp and sparkling perfor- Cliff Bradshaw, a young American writer, The Kit Kat Club uses ¾ of the stage. Even ure. Wrong notes are sounded in all respects during mance as musical director, and her trio is right on the comes into the club and meets the British singer, the excellent fi ve-piece orchestra, lead by Musical this fi rst meeting, but a sweet, harmonious chord is money. Sally Bowles, a lusty, freewheeling beauty with a Director Ellen Milligan, is incorporated as part of also sounded that resonates and sustains despite the There was a moment when I got the impression cloudy past. Bradshaw, despite his acknowledged the show on stage. One bench was moved for the dissonance around and between them. It’s the Disco that the road to opening night might have taken a toll interest in men, falls in love with Sally and wants short train scene and that is it. Technical Direc- Era, after all: a post-adolescent, post-Vietnam growth on the performers, when energy seemed to suffer. to be the father of the unborn child she carries. tor David Paul added some train sound effects to spurt that a lot of Boomers remember with a mix of Hearing afterwards that there had been illness in the Newcomer, Kristopher Copeland is good as make this realistic. Changing from scene to scene fondness and mortifi cation—and which many of us cast (an organic admission, not offered as an alibi), Cliff. His voice is not overpowering, instead it is was just a question of turning on and off lights, would rather forget. So our happily hapless lovers can I can confi dently predict that audiences can expect a pleasant and just right for his character. He is very and how long does that take? Players’ stage is on be forgiven their self-absorption and prickliness. Their show running on all eight cylinders for the rest of the believable in this role. the ground fl oor, making the audience feel that they concentric (and eccentric) orbits pull, warp and propel run. Tracy Olin is perfectly marvelous as Sally are truly in a night club. The only thing missing Bowles. She has great looks, stage presence and was cigarette smoke, as Germans are and have can she belt out a song (lots of them). She is always been heavy smokers. (But thanks, Joe, we among the best I have ever seen in this role. She did not really miss it.) alone is worth the price of admission! Cabaret has a highly compelling storyline A second plot is the touching courtship with a message from history that we must never and moving performances of the late-life lovers, forget. It is a musical with memorable songs from Fraulein Schneider (Robyn Neal) and Herr Schultz the pens of John Kander and Fred Ebb. Cabaret, (Redgie Gutshall). Though heart-warming, it is a as the season opener for Players, is setting a high romance not-to-be as the disillusioned landlord standard for quality. Try this show, and if you like and the Jewish Fruit merchant face the new perse- it, Players will apply your ticket price to a full sea- cution of the Jews at their engagement party. son of theatre at their playhouse, which is located There are many strong performances in this at 106 Sixth Street, Jacksonville Beach. Visit play- show. Aaron Marshall as the rooming house’s ersbythesea.org for more information. Don’t miss resident lady of the night, Kost, has funny mo- Cabaret, it is outstanding in every way.

28 september 20-26, 2007 | entertaining u newspaper eujacksonville.com | september 20-26, 2007 29 Eagle squad, and so we’ll get to see what Detroit can come out with in their own right. netscapades QB Jon Kitna has by brenton crozier done well at the helm THE of the Lion Defense. I am a new father. My three week-old baby girl is absolutely beautiful. For the sake of ob- Also, the 2-0 Cow- boys continue on the jectivity, I will put on my objective journalist hat and examine my baby’s splendor. Yes, as an road when they travel objective journalist, she is still beautiful, in fact much more beautiful than your baby, your friend’s JOCK to Chicago to face the nasty Bears, a team baby, or some anorexic model baby you may have seen hawking onesies and formula. Due to my who is great on De- exhilaration about fatherhood and everything that it entails, I’ve had baby on the brain and have by tom weppel fense, yet only medio- stumbled across many interesting websites that I would love to share with you. cre on Offense. Rex Gossman continues to hear loads of criticism babytoupee.com JAGUARS on his play. We’ll see what he can bring against the They say a win is a win, no matter how you do ‘Boys. Vanity knows no age limit. Babies can now style their fuzzy and typically bald heads with a wide it. And that’s the way a lot of people are looking at the selection of wigs from the pioneering fashionistas at Baby Toupee. Small wigs for small people is their victory by the Jaguars last weekend at home against COLLEGE FOOTBALL motto, and they deliver the affordable celebrity style that your little darling is surely not asking for. the beleaguered Falcons. The Jaguars didn’t play that Well, well, well. The Florida Gators gave us a Let’s face it, baby clothing and fashion items are on par with pet apparel and other worthless nov- well on Offense, they had a number of penalties, and very nice exhibition of playing last weekend in their elties that only serve to entertain parents and pet owners alike. Babies don’t care about what they look they only scored 13 points. But they won. thumping of the Tennessee Volunteers. Gator fans in like or are wearing, kind of like the middle-aged women you see sporting sweat pants in public. But it And so now, at 1-1, the Jags head to the Rock- the area certainly are pleased with what has occurred makes us all feel good, and isn’t that what really matters? I’m as guilty as the rest, as I fi nd myself lured ies to play the Broncos, a team that sits at 2-0 thanks so far, and they are also happy with local product to Baby Gap on a regular basis to buy an outfi t that my daughter is only going to spit up on. to two tight games that ended with winning fi eld goals Tim Tebow, in his fl ashes of offensive prowess. This Baby Toupee features four wig styles that range from the topical to the classic. The selection in- by Jason Elam. On Offense, it seems the Jags have a weekend the Gators head to Mississippi to take on cludes The Lil Kim (or the talentless tramp), The Donald (or the ruthless, style-challenged tycoon), The lot of parts to play with, meaning they got players with the Rebels. This shouldn’t be too tough of a contest, Bob (or the stoned legend), and The Samuel L. (or the Jules – one bad shut yo mouth). This is a great talent, yet they are all not on the same page. The Line although we’ve seen this season that many teams can start, but I need more selection. I will send an e-mail suggesting a new line consisting of The Christo- has not been blocking consistently. The running and get upset if they don’t take care of their business, as pher Walken, The Private Dancer Era Tina Turner, and The Mug Shot Nick Nolte. passing are here-and-there, and point production is has been the case with Michigan and Auburn. There is a hilarious image gallery of baby clients sporting the various styles. My personal favorite suspect. Coordinator Dirk Koetter must put everybody Meanwhile, the Georgia Bulldogs will go into the is Luke N. wearing The Bob, but I’m not sure whether that is a real baby or a fat midget (please visit together to come out with a good product that can depths of Bryant-Denny Stadium to play an Alabama to enjoy the photo for yourself and to provide context to this insensitive comment). The site is good produce, while the Defense continues to gel and get squad that is riding high after their exuberant defeat of fun, and the folks at Baby Toupee are especially charitable, donating 10% of their proceeds to various back to what we had been used to seeing last season. the Arkansas Razorbacks. The Tide is on a roll, with- children’s charities. Good parenting deserves amusement at the cost of your child’s dignity—visit Baby They will have a stern test against them when out question, and this contest will certainly be exciting Toupee to exploit them in the name of recreation today! they play a Broncos squad that has played better than to watch. Georgia would love to come out on top in average, although not great. RB Travis Henry has been this one, to get back into the swing of the top of the discountbabies.com running well, and the Jags are familiar with him, from SEC. In other SEC scraps this weekend, Steve Spurrier his days with the Titans. WR Javon Walker has also takes his South Carolina Gamecocks into the Bayou In the market for a bargain basement baby? Consult eBaby for all your discount baby buying been a bright spot, catching a lot of balls from QB Jay Country to face the top-ranked LSU Tigers, while the needs. Truthfully, I was sick of hearing so many complain about “paying those infl ated retail prices for Cutler. As always, there will be a sellout crowd in Den- surprising Kentucky Wildcats head to Arkansas. babies,” so it was a real relief to fi nd that there was an economical, e-commerce option. ver for the Broncos. This is a tough place to play, but Around the nation, we see that Michigan beat These professionals recognize the need for variety and offer more than 20 varieties of baby to the Jags have a shot at winning this game if they can Notre Dame handily last weekend. Now the Wolver- meet all of your infant purchasing needs. Fat babies, foreign babies, even devil worshipping babies are take care of business. We shall see. ines will host the Penn State Nittany Lions, a team available—they have everything! My personal favorite is the Generic Baby category that features dis- that seems to be pretty strong in their own right. This counts for bulk buying and is noted as being the result of a government surplus. THE OTHER THIRTY-ONE should be an interesting game, just to see where each Your sensibilities are sure to be incensed with the sale of narcotic addicted, disfi gured, and ugly Of the 2-0 teams playing, the two most surpris- school stands with their squad. The Irish, on the other babies. But who is really being thoughtless? All types of babies should fetch some price for their own- ing are the Houston Texans and the Detroit Lions. hand, are looking at a dismal season, as they host the ers, there is simply no need to discriminate. Whether you’re interested in buying or selling, eBaby is the Neither team has done well the past few seasons, yet Spartans of Michigan St. Charlie Weis is in serious tool for you. They recognize the need to protect a buyer’s discretion and encourage you to “lie about both have come through with wins to show possibili- trouble and it is quite possible, if his team continues your personal information.” ties of a good season. This weekend the Texans will their play at this level, that they could be 0-8 within a Leave that obnoxious baby sensitivity at the door as you root through eBaby. Every aspect is host the tough Colts. It will give us a very good idea few months, and that, my friends, would be a nasty completely hilarious and often absurd. Nothing is sacred on this website and pretty much everything as to what Houston has to play with. The key for them thing, especially to the boys at NBC, who MUST tele- is offensive and completely riotous. So if you are in the market, or have any extra babies just taking up will be the play of Matt Shaub, the QB they picked up vise all this. space and collecting dust, consult eBaby, the baby auctioning professionals. from the Falcons. Schaub has played well so far, but Please note, I don’t condone baby auctioning. Babies should be loved, nurtured, and adored. Un- he has a tough task going up against a stingy Colt Tom Weppel talks trash with Greg Larson, less you really, really need the money. Defense. Lonnie Marts, Eugene Chung, Artis Gilmore, and The Lions will head to Philly to play a nasty Ron Duguay on SportsAvengers.com 24/7.

30 september 20-26, 2007 | entertaining u newspaper nascar news & notes BY RICHARD TEAGUE [email protected]

Junior and the ‘injuns. Y’all know the saying, one day may be) all yours. Anyway, back to our “opinions are like a**holes, we all got’em?” Last reasoning together, with Jr. having all this pity and week there were plenty of them out there, opinions support and now a new big-time team, he’s going and a**holes. Every NASCAR chat site and web to think he can do no wrong, or at least until he is page chatted away about how Dale Earnhardt Jr. is caught. having ‘injun troubles this, his last year at DEI. Even Here’s the way I believe it is, and if y’all think the dang NASCAR writers and commentators got about it, I am right about why Earnhardt’s ‘injuns their ideas about what’s going on, but I don’t think are dying at such a rate this season compared to all any of these thoughts make a viable reason. I think his other years of racing. Junior has made his deal the motors keep breaking, but until I say what I think, with another team and probably will take his whole maybe we need to look back at his previous years. tribe with him, so to make their ex-employer look I’m going to do fi gures from IROC, Busch and Cup bad and to gain even more sympathy from people, races starting back in 1996 up until 2006 so we can they are the ones causing the troubles. Say you get fi rst see how things where before his leaving DEI a gas man to slip a little something in a can before was announced. it is used to fi ll the car, any crew member could do Junior has had 4 IROC races with one engine it. Any of the guys would do like their told because listed and in Busch there were 92 races with 4 en- they are all mad at DEI and it ain’t coming back to gine problems and one transmission, which was the them. Like Michael Waltrip trying so hard to fi nd out reason he was out of the race. If you look at those who spiked the fuel at Daytona. For weeks afterward facts there does not seem to be a real big deal go- he pledged to fi nd the culprit, but when was the last ing on with either. It’s like I said last week about his time he mentioned the inquiry? ‘injuns, “s**t happens.” Now for Dale’s Cup races, NASCAR racecar teams are families and no there were 255 of them with just 3 blown motors one does a thing without the driver or crew chief and still no big numbers, just real racin’, that’s all. knowing what’s going on. Is Tony slipping the #8 Well now we get to the 2007 season and, even Bud car a Mickey Finn before a race or getting one before the decision about DEI came to light, Junior of the team to do it? There’s just one other person had 2 pukers in his car. I take that into consideration that you might consider, and that is the ‘injun-builder. when I come up with my reasoning why this year is Who picks the car’s motors? Yeah, he probably a bad ‘injun year for him. does. Now that might be our guy, the evil builder. Counting those two and the other three (my Whoever it is, they are in cahoots with Junior. There ninth grade math teacher Miss Whaley will be re- is still one question that must be answered. (Dad ally proud of me) makes FIVE little ‘injuns Earnhardt burn it all, I got to use that word I am really starting has had go south on him so far, and the year ain’t to hate, “drama.”) With all of the drama about just done yet. The Bible says, “Come now, let us reason who to blame for the bad ‘injuns this fi nal year, I said together” and this can fi t in right here because we it was Junior and now I ask you, which Junior? need to try to understand just what is going on with Lots of stuff is supposed to be announced the parties involved. DEI, or rather Teresa Earnhardt, soon, like who is going to be Kasey Kahne’s new has got to be many things about Jr. leaving her team, sponsor? Dodge has come out and said they are including mad, let-down, relieved and many other happy with them, so is it Bud or what? When will things we could come up with. I can’t see where she GEM and Petty let their big deal out of the bag? Will would be vindictive or vengeful in the matter, cause it Joe and Sterling win the law suit against Bobby Ginn would be too dang obvious to everyone and give her and DEI? Come on guys, just how much does Ginn even worse of a public image. owe ya’ and why would you drag DEI into the suit Would she have the knowledge to be able to when they didn’t have anything to do with y’alls’ sabotage the #8 car all by her lonesome? If she contracts? I guess it’s like the lawyers do, “follow hired or told someone to do it, then she’d have to the money, follow the money.” worry about that person telling the public about it. Well the fi rst race of the Chase is done and 4th Well I guess she could have that person killed, but to 12th place has had monster changes, but the top then she’s got to worry about that and so on and so three stayed the same. Clint Bowyer moved eight on. So where’s the logic behind her being the reason spots Sunday with his win, but don’t be looking for the ‘injuns die on Junior? It Ain’t DEI or Teresa Earn- that in the next nine races, I’m still picking Gordon hardt that is behind all of this, but just a minute, let’s to win the championship. Kurt Busch, Carl Edwards reason some more before I tell y’all what or who and Denny Hamlin took beatings with Kurt, the worst the real culprit is. Y’all are going to read right here at a 7 position dropped to 12th place. Little brother something I don’t do often, but when I am wrong, I Kyle, on the other hand, slipped up to fi fth. A fourber am the biggest apologizer in the world. I apologize gain. Y’all might want to pay attention to see if NAS- for blaming s**t, when I said “s**I happens” about CAR will adjust the Chase again next year because the ‘injuns blowing. It is not s**t’s fault. Not one they are talking about doing something, but not little tiny bit. NO WAY! necessarily to the actual Chase itself. If Brian France Of all the people that have had the public’s does anymore “tweaking” to it he can jump up and sympathy throughout this whole big deal, Dale Earn- kiss my a** cause I am damn sick and tired of him hardt Jr. and his team have been the good guys and trying please everybody except the fans. it’s just awful how that nasty b**ch is doing them. I Boy, I bet I hear from the Junior fans, but never felt that way, and I still don’t, but man I am in when you do write, please specify Dale or Tony, ok? the minority when I say that. It’s not that I don’t like I am so out of here for this week. Me mate Pete from him or feel that he doesn’t deserve a piece of DEI, Australia and his lovely wife Deb will be in Jackson- but come on, 51% is too strong. Little pieces, Junior, ville this week and we’ll have them as our guest for little bites, not a great big ole chunk all at once, 4 days. Man are we going to have some fun. I will dude. Teresa’s been in charge for a long time and tell y’all about it next week, so stayed tuned. You can she and Dale started the biz, so, man, you should reach me at [email protected]. Remember, If have nibbled at it and it would have been (and still it ain’t NASCAR, It ain’t s**t!!

eujacksonville.com | september 20-26, 2007 31