By Erin Hayes

Gargoyle staff reporter


Posted Monday, Feb. 19, 2007, The OG, arts

EACH WEEK WE'LL look ahead to the next releases in entertainment, from movies opening in C-U to DVDs and CDs hitting the stores. Plus we'll give you the heads-up on the best local concerts and performances scheduled for the coming week. (Erin's partner in putting together this guide, Jono Baron, is in the Mississippi Delta on the Habitat for Humanity trip, so she'll be flying solo this week.)

MOVIES OPENING IN C-U THIS WEEK

Boardman's Art Theatre: First Annual Latin American Film Festival (official site)

In the past, Boardman's Art Theatre has hosted successful, culturally themed film festivals (e.g., their French and Asian film festivals). This year, they are expanding on that success. The festival will feature five movies, all of which are winners of national or international awards: “Iluminados Por El Fuego” (“Blessed by the Fire”), “Habana Blues” (“Havana Blues”), “Sin Amparo” (“Hopeless”), “Favela Rising,” and “Machuca.” Co-organized by the University's Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies, this exciting event will begin Friday, Feb. 23, and last until March 1.

“Reno 911!: Miami” (official site)

The police squad of Reno, Nev., is invited to the American Police Convention in Miami Beach. Fortunately for them, the convention falls smack in the middle of spring break, allowing for some convenient partying. However, the convention is threatened by a terrorist plot, and the Reno crew must struggle to save it. Based on the popular Comedy Central series, this film is bound to be a hit.

Opens Friday at the Beverly 18 and Savoy 16.

“The Number 23” (official site)

This thriller stars Jim Carrey, playing a man (Walter Sparrow) who is given a book in which everything has to do with the number 23. As he realizes that more and more details of his life incorporate said number, he becomes obsessed with the book and increasingly feels that his fate is tied to it. The twist: The book ends with a murder, and Walter believes that the murder must be forthcoming in his own life.

Opens Friday at the Beverly 18 and Savoy 16.

Erin's Pick: I always like to try new things when it comes to entertainment, and since I am entirely unfamiliar with Latin American cinema, this festival will be right up my alley. Also, “Favela Rising” looks like one of the most captivating movies that will be coming through C-U this year. It is the 2005 winner of the best film award from the International Documentary Association. The movie follows Anderson Sá's AfroReggae movement in Rio de Janeiro's slums as it causes a community uprising against the violent drug armies terrorizing the streets and corrupt police forces that maintain the status quo. To top all that off, I am half Mexican, so this festival will provide a convenient opportunity for some cultural exploration and possibly some self-examination.

NEW CD RELEASES (in stores Tuesday, Feb. 20)

Hauschka, “Room To Expand”

Hauschka is the project of Volker Bertelmann, an avant-garde pianist from Düsseldorf, Germany. “Room To Expand” is being released on the prestigious English label Fat Cat Records (known for bands such as Animal Collective, Sigur Rós, and Múm). His experimental sound is very enjoyable; it may come off as incoherent at first but, upon further listening, is very well structured. The string backing acts as a strong glue while Bertelmann's syncopated, staccato piano accents add a much-needed sense of growth.

Erin's Pick: Exile on Main Street's used CD bin.
While the Hauschka album is getting more and more exciting the more I learn about it, I'm not quite excited enough to spend $15 on it. Therefore, I have to go with the trusty old “used” bin. You can almost always find something good in there. Once, I found the soundtrack to the movie “Trainspotting,” which was loaded with excellent music from the likes of Pulp, Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, and New Order, for about 8 bucks. Most recently, I purchased a used copy of The Go! Team's debut album, “Thunder, Lightning, Strike,” for about $9. Really, this bin is a must-visit. Every student at Uni owes it to him- or herself to drop into this store and check it out sometime.

NEW DVD RELEASES (in stores Tuesday, Feb. 20)

“Babel” (official site)

The winner of the Golden Globe for Best Drama, “Babel” is also up for seven — count ‘em — seven Academy Awards, including best picture, best directing, and best original screenplay. This film departs from typical narrative structure and takes off on a mission to illustrate the complexities of miscommunication. The viewer encounters three major storylines: A married American couple visiting Morocco gets caught in a worldwide conflict caused by some unwitting children; a deaf/mute young woman in Japan feels isolated and reaches out to the world through sex; and a Mexican nanny caring for an American couple's children makes the fateful decision to bring them across the border as she attends her son's wedding.

“The Prestige” (official site)

Director Christopher Nolan and actors Christian Bale and Michael Caine reunite for “The Prestige” after having created the 2005 blockbuster “Batman Begins.” Two turn-of-the-century magicians, Alfred Borden (Bale) and Rufus Angier (Hugh Jackman) begin their careers as friends, engaging in friendly competition. But when their greatest trick goes horribly wrong, Angier blames Borden. From there on out, the duo are arch-enemies, constantly attempting to sabotage each other's work and learn their tricks of the trade. Their high-risk escapades and lives of deceit lead to violence and disaster. How can the turbulent cycle of lies come to an end? The DVD contains a feature on “The Cinematic Sleight of Hand of Christopher Nolan” as well as “The Art of The Prestige Gallery.”

Erin's Pick: “Babel.” Much as I love Christian Bale, “Babel” pretty much takes the cake as far as important movies of 2006 are concerned. I've heard that the performance of Rinko Kikuchi as Cheiko (the deaf girl) is nothing short of amazing, since her eyes and her body language are the only modes of communication she has available (and she was nominated for best actress in a supporting role for the Academy Awards). From what I can tell, the special features on this DVD will be pretty much nonexistent, but I think this film in itself should make up for that lack.

LOCAL SHOWS & CONCERTS

Wednesday, Feb. 21: Guster, Mason Jennings, 8 p.m., Foellinger Auditorium, $20 students; $22 public. Quirky alternative-rock band Guster bring their years of experience to the table for a fast-paced live show. Mason Jennings and his band will also be in attendance, producing weighty folk-pop bursting with piano chords and strong rhythm, and balanced by airy, Ben Kweller-esque vocals.

Thursday, Feb. 22: Denison Witmer, Noah Harris (of the local group Elanors), Casados, 8 p.m., Illini Union Courtyard Café, $4 students; $5 public. Philly-based acoustic folk artist Denison Witmer, who has worked with the likes of Sufjan Stevens, will grace the Courtyard Café with a night of serene, earthy tunes (think of sitting on a grassy hill on a cloudy, breezy March afternoon — in music form). Noah Harris and Casados bring in the local flavor, with powerful piano ballads and more acoustic folk, respectively.

Erin's Pick: Guster & Mason Jennings. First of all, I've never been to a concert at Foellinger in my life, and I think that needs to change. Second of all, I have fallen in love with Mason Jennings' “Be Here Now” (one of his MySpace sample songs). It makes me feel like spring, and when February rolls around each year, I always go for the music that makes me feel like spring (last year that was Belle and Sebastian and the Mountain Goats, among other things). Third, and finally, this show has been very well-promoted and has quite a bit of buzz surrounding it (I couldn't resist the pun). In short, I have concluded the following: This is a show that I do not want to miss.