By Jono Baron & Erin Hayes

Gargoyle senior editor & staff reporter


Posted Wednesday, April 25, 2007, The OG, arts

THIS WEEK WE'RE taking a break from our normal format to highlight one of Champaign-Urbana's biggest entertainment events of the year: Roger Ebert's Overlooked Film Festival.

This is the ninth annual Ebertfest, and during that time the festival has become one of C-U's perennial favorites, drawing visitors from around the world.

Ebertfest begins tonight at 7 with a showing of “Gattaca.” The film's producer, Michael Shamberg, will be on hand as a guest speaker.

Other guests this week include director Werner Herzog and actor Alan Rickman (“Die Hard,” “Harry Potter”).

Ebert, an Urbana native and University of Illinois graduate, will be in town for the entire festival despite awaiting another surgery. The famed critic discusses his decision to attend the festival here.

ROGER EBERT'S OVERLOOKED FILM FESTIVAL, April 25 - 29

• Location: The Virginia Theatre, 203 W. Park Ave., Champaign

• Tickets: Individual tickets remain for eight of Ebertfest's 13 films. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students. The five sold-out films are “Gattaca” (7 p.m. today); “Perfume: The Story of a Murderer” (8:30 p.m. Thursday); “La Dolce Vita” (7:30 p.m. Friday); “Stroszek” (7 p.m. Saturday); and “Beyond the Valley of the Dolls” (noon Sunday).

• But don't give up. If you want to go to a sold-out show, arrive at the Virginia Theatre some 30 minutes before the film starts. Chances are good that you will be able to buy a ticket. According to today's News-Gazette, would-be moviegoers have come up empty only once (at year's showing of “Ripley's Game”).

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25

• 7 p.m. — “Gattaca” (112 min)

• Guest — Michael Shamberg, producer

• Summary — Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman star in this sci-fi film. In the world of “Gattaca,” everyone is genetically tested at birth — their medical and therefore social fates are practically predetermined. But for Hawke, his bad diagnoses aren't going to interfere with his dreams to become an astronaut.

THURSDAY, APRIL 26

• 12:30 p.m. — “The Weather Man” (102 min)

• Guests — Steven Conrad, writer; Gil Bellows, actor

• Summary — David Spritz (Nicolas Cage) is a depressed Chicago weatherman. Divorced from his wife, estranged from his kids, and threatened by his successful novelist father who is now dying from lymphoma, Spritz must decide whether or not he wants to pursue his career in New York or try to patch up his personal life.

• 3:30 p.m. — “Moolaade” (124 min)

• Guests — Fatoumata Coulibaly, actress; Samba Gadjigo, professor

• Summary — In an African village where 9-year-old girls must undergo a painful, occasionally lethal circumcision operation, one woman, Colle, offers them Moolaade, a magical protection that only she can revoke. Says Ebert, the struggle that follows is on “vibrating with urgency and life.”

• 8:30 p.m. — “Perfume: The Story of a Murderer” (145 min)

• Guest — Alan Rickman, actor

• Summary — Jean-Baptiste Grenouille works in a perfume shop in France during the 18th century. As he works to create and preserve the perfect scent, his work takes a dark turn when he looks to the skin of young women.

FRIDAY, APRIL 27

• Noon — “Sadie Thompson” (& CU Symphony) (91 min)

• Guests — David Bordwell, film scholar; Steven Larsen, conductor; Joseph Turrin, composer

• Summary — From the silent days of 1928 comes “Sadie Thompson,” a film nominated for two Oscar Awards. The movie follows Sadie Thompson (Gloria Swanson) as she attempts to flee her old life in San Francisco. She makes her way to Pago-Pago to start over, but when she meets Alfred Davidson, an extremist missionary, it doesn't seem that starting anew will be as easy as it once sounded. The film will be accompanied by the CU Symphony.

• 3 p.m. — “Come Early Morning” (97 min)

• Guest — Joey Lauren Adams, director; Scott Wilson, actor

• Summary — Lucy Fowler (Ashley Judd) has an honest job working for a construction firm near Little Rock. But off the job, she leads a corrupt lifestyle of drugs, sex, and alcohol. When her father comes back to town, it seems that things might change.

• 7:30 p.m. — “La Dolce Vita” (167 min)

• Guests — Michael Barker, producer & distributor; Jacqueline Reich, professor

• Summary — Marcello Rubini (Marcello Mastroianni) is a young journalist who enjoys a life of glamour, partying with celebrities and aristocrats — living the dream. When a famous actress comes to Rome, he falls head-over-heels in love with her, and does everything he can to reach out to her. “La Dolce Vita” follows this tension through a few days of Marcello's life.

• 11:30 p.m. — “Freddie Mercury, the Untold Story” (59 min)

• Guest — Rudi Dolezal, director

• Summary — This documentary about the late lead singer of Queen, who died of complications from AIDS, gives his musical contemporaries and friends the chance to talk about his life in an excellent, stylized documentary film. It also includes the thoughts of Mercury's family, in addition to notable singers such as Robert Plant and Mick Jagger.

SATURDAY, APRIL 28

• 11 a.m. — “Holes” (111 min)

• Guest — Andy Davis, director

• Summary — Shia LaBeouf stars as Stanley Yelnats, a wrongfully accused thief. As a result of his “crime” (stealing a pair of cleats from a major league baseball player), he's sent to a juvenile detention facility called Camp Green Lake — a complete desert, where the detainees are forced to dig one hole every day to “build character.” But Stanley isn't exactly satisfied with this cruel and unusual treatment.

• 2:30 p.m. — “Man of Flowers” (91 min)

• Guests — Paul Cox, director;
Werner Herzog, actor

• Summary — “Man of Flowers” follows an old man, who has a few issues. He enjoys the elegant things in life — collecting art and flowers; he considers them to be truly beautiful. But in his free time, he's also a Peeping Tom.

• 7 p.m. — “Stroszek” (115 min)

• Guest — Werner Herzog, director

• Summary — “Stroszek” takes place in Wisconsin but pays attention to the recently released-from-jail and alcoholic Bruno Stroszek (Der Bruno Stroszek) and his entourage of an elderly friend and a prostitute. They leave Germany looking for a better life, but it turns out that Wisconsin isn't a piece of cake, either.

• 10:30 p.m. — “Searching for the Wrong-Eyed Jesus” (82 min)

• Guests — Andrew Douglas, director; Jim White, musician

• Summary — “Searching for the Wrong-Eyed Jesus” is an examination of the American South that penetrates through the entire working class culture, from trucker and biker stops to coal mines.

SUNDAY, APRIL 29

• Noon — “Beyond the Valley of the Dolls” (109 min)

• Guests — Marcia McBroom, actor; Peter Sobczynski, critic; Strawberry Alarm Clock, band

• Summary — Written by Roger Ebert himself, this film (a quasi-sequel to 1967's “Valley of Dolls”) follows a female rock band to Hollywood, where they go to try and make it big. They succeed, but there's a cost. They find themselves sinking into Hollywood sleaze.

EBERTFEST SPECIAL EVENTS, April 26 - 28

• Location: Illini Union, 1401 Green St., Urbana. All special events listed below are free and open to the public

THURSDAY, April 26

• 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. — “The Role of the Film Critic in Contemporary Distribution Practices,” moderated by Nate Kohn

• Pine Lounge, first floor

FRIDAY, April 27

• 9 to 10 a.m. — “Politics in Movies, Movies in Politics,” moderated by Eric Pierson

• Pine Lounge, first floor

SATURDAY, April 28

• 9 to 11:30 a.m. — “Bringin' It All Back Home: The Principles of Independent Filmmaking,” presented by Michael Wiese (Uni High alumnus)

• General Lounge, second floor

• 9 to 11:30 a.m. — “High Tech Edge Program” (Come see how students are impacting the film industry for Champaign County)

• Pine Lounge, first floor

MOVIES OPENING IN C-U THIS WEEK

“The Invisible” (MySpace site)

This is the latest from the producers of “The Sixth Sense.” When Nick Powell (Justin Chatwin) is mysteriously murdered, he finds himself “living” a phantom existence — no one can see or hear him; he's dead — a ghost. However, it turns out that if he finds his killers, he can resurrect himself. As his journey progresses, he discovers another “ghost.” Together, they'll attempt to solve the puzzle that chains them to their semi-existence.

Opens Friday at the Beverly 18 and Savoy 16. For showtimes at both theaters, click here.

“The Condemned” (official site)

When 10 convicted murderers are placed on a deserted island, they're given explicit instructions to complete one goal: Fight to the death; only one can leave alive. How's that for the death penalty? This film stars mostly obscure actors, with a character or two played by WWE wrestlers.

Opens Friday at the Beverly 18 and Savoy 16. For showtimes at both theaters, click here.

“Next” (official site)

Small-time Las Vegas magician Cris Johnson (Nicolas Cage) can see a few minutes into the future. After spending a miserable childhood being examined and studied by the government, he has tried to live a life of contented obscurity under an assumed name. But a terrorist group threatens to destroy Los Angeles with a nuclear device, and happy obscurity is no longer an option for him. The film is based on a Philip K. Dick story and co-stars Julianne Moore.

Opens Friday at the Beverly 18 and Savoy 16. For showtimes at both theaters, click here.

“Kickin' It Old Skool” (official site)

The premise actually seems mildly amusing, though razor thin: A young breakdancer hits his head during a talent show in 1986 and remains in a coma until 2006. You can fill in the rest. Starring Jamie Kennedy.

Opens Friday at the Beverly 18 and Savoy 16. For showtimes at both theaters, click here.

“The Wind That Shakes the Barley” (official site)

Directed by Englishman Ken Loach, whose politically charged work has rarely generated big box-office returns, this acclaimed 2006 film looks at the fight for Ireland's independence from Britain in the 1920s. Damien (Cillian Murphy) gives up his promising career as a doctor to join his brother, Teddy (Padraic Delaney), to battle the “Black and Tans,” vicious squads sent to crush the rebellion. After a short-lived peace, the Irish — including the two brothers — begin to battle among themselves.

Opens Friday at Boardman's Art Theatre. For showtimes, click here.

Jono's Pick: “Battle Royale.” If I wanted to see people put on an island just to kill each other, I'd rather check this puppy out. “Battle Royale,” a 2000 Japanese film available on DVD, takes place in the not-so-distant future, I suppose, somewhere in Japan. In order to keep the younger generation under control, the adults have instituted a law that requires a certain high school class to fight to the death every year — one survivor is chosen. But here's the difference between “Battle Royale” and “The Condemned”: “BR” is good. It's received seven wins and nominations at various film festivals. The actors are amazing, and the writing's great. And unlike “The Condemned,” “BR” actually considers the human aspect — the main characters are kids our age, and when they're told they have to kill each other to survive, they react in a wide variety of ways. Check it out — it'll surely be a treat.

NEW CD RELEASES (in stores Tuesday, April 24)

Cornelius, “Sensuous”

After five years, one-man-band Japanese indie music master Cornelius (aka Keigo Oyamada) has finally come out with his latest album. Although Cornelius' previous work has been released on the Matador Records label (which hosts such indie giants as Yo La Tengo, the New Pornographers, Mogwai, and Belle and Sebastian), he has recently switched to Everloving Records. As with his previous work, this album will include an eclectic sound ranging from insane guitar solos to driving electric melodies to Sigur Rós-esque aesthetics — and it even comes with videos.

Arctic Monkeys, “Favourite Worst Weapon”

This British quartet follows the success of their 2006 release, “Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not” (named album of the year by Time). Their new release follows in the vein of the semifictitious New Rave movement, having been recorded in East London and produced by James Ford (known for his work with The Klaxons and Sh-tdisco). “Brainstorm,” the first single off the album, features driving basslines and manic percussion, and is indicative of the overall heavier and faster feel of the album.

Sa-Ra, “The Hollywood Recordings”

Los Angeles/New York-based electronic hip-hop and R&B group Sa-Ra release their first full-length album. While Sa-Ra have been around since the '90s, they have previously been limited to singles or collaborations with well-known artists such as Jurassic 5 (although they were once signed to release an LP on Kanye West's GOOD label).Their distinctive sound, concocted through a mix of spacey, vintage synth, soul harmonies, jazz instrumentation, and hip-hop beats, is finally demonstrated in full bloom on “The Hollywood Recordings.” The record will include some of the group's previously released singles, as well as new material, and will feature collaborations with the likes of Talib Kweli and Erykah Badu.

Cowboy Junkies, “At the
End of Paths Taken”

Canadian alt-rock/country rock band Cowboy Junkies have been putting out
fresh tunes since the mid-1980s. “At the End of Paths Taken,”
however, has received mixed reviews as bland, especially compared to
their original work (these guys covered the Velvet Underground — they
know how to rock). Regardless, the release might interest longtime fans, as well as
anyone interested in finding out more about this band.

Jono's Pick: “SENSUOUS”!!! Cornelius is amazing. His work ranges from incredibly mellow, atmospheric songs to in-your-face heavy guitar and drums to remixes of tons of other incredibly good artists. In addition to that, he's a one-man-band — he does all of this completely on his own; he uses drum machines and electronic music processors — he can do anything. And with a previous record deal with Matador, one of the best independent music labels in America, if not the world, you can't question just how awesome Cornelius is. Buy this album. Buy it. Now.

NEW DVD RELEASES (in stores Tuesday, April 24)

“Déjà Vu” (official site)

Denzel Washington stars as an ATF agent investigating the terrorist bombing of a ferry boat near New Orleans. When he is introduced to secret FBI technology that allows him to travel into the past, he uses it to attempt to save a woman from being murdered, and ends up falling in love with her in the process. Special features include behind-the-scene looks at the stunts and special effects (including the bombing of the ferry and a split-time car chase), as well as “The Surveillance Window,” a feature that allows you to go behind the scenes with the filmmakers.

“Night At The Museum” (official site)

Ben Stiller plays the newly divorced and unstable Larry Daley, who, upon being hired to be the night guard at the Museum of Natural History, comes to realize that a curse makes the exhibits come to life at night. The film features an all-star cast, including Owen Wilson, Robin Williams, Mickey Rooney, and Dick Van Dyke.

“The Queen” (official site)

“The Queen” pays close attention to the intersection of the private and public spheres among the British ruling elite after Princess Diana's death in 1997. The well-received film stars Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth II and Michael Sheen as Tony Blair.

Jono's Pick: “Déjà Vu.” I'm picking this film pretty much for one reason: Adam Goldberg, one of my favorite actors. In the past, he's been the Hebrew Hammer — man, come on! I love this guy. That said, I'd really like to see his performance in a more serious film, and although “Déjà Vu” isn't a drama, it's not about a crazy Santa Claus trying to destroy Chanukkah. In any case, the film does look fairly interesting — I still don't know what it's about exactly, but I think time is involved. That's interesting. I'll be checking it out this weekend. If it doesn't work out, I can always treat myself to some Owen Wilson and Ben Stiller.

LOCAL SHOWS & CONCERTS

Thursday, April 26: Green Street Records presents Missing The Point, The Dakota, Mad Mardigan, Vanattica, Brian Esmao, 8 p.m., Courtyard Café, $7. Green Street Records, the only student-run record label in the Big Ten, holds its second release party for its new compilation CD, “No Rights Reserved.” As with last week's show, the admission price gets you a night of eclectic music and a copy of the new record, which features the best U of I artists and bands.

Friday, April 27: elsinore, Gentleman Auction House, Death Ships, 9 p.m., Iron Post, $8. Local folk-rock/Americana group elsinore share the cozy Iron Post stage with St. Louis indie-pop favorites Gentleman Auction House. Iowa City's Death Ships round out the set with distinctive indie-folk.

Friday, April 27: Rebel Diaz, 9 p.m., Courtyard Café, cost TBA. Hailing from the Bronx, hip-hop three-piece Rebel Diaz blend Spanish and English lyrics with socially conscious messages about everything from immigration laws to police brutality and urban poverty. They have performed with the likes of Dead Prez, Immortal Technique, and The Coup.

Erin's Pick: It's a tie between elsinore et al. and Rebel Diaz. Even though the rap show I encountered at the IMC last weekend for the Prison Arts Festival was fairly low-key and not very politicized, it whetted my appetite for live hip-hop (I hadn't seen a single show since Kanye West came to the Assembly Hall in 2005). I see the Rebel Diaz show as a great opportunity not only to satisfy that appetite, but also to hear some unique perspectives on the issues that affect the U.S.'s Latin-American community, and to practice my Spanish language skills (a Venezuelan friend of the family assures me that the best way to practice a language is to listen to its music). When it comes to the elsinore show at the Iron Post, I have a few reasons for wanting to go. First of all, I missed Ryan Groff's set at Exile On Main St. last Sunday (he's the lead singer of the band). Second, I just love elsinore all the way around. Their last album is next to flawless, and I simply can't get enough of them. Then, there's the fact that I've never actually seen elsinore live, despite assurances to myself, the band, and any of you who may read this section of the entertainment update. Also, Gentleman Auction House and Death Ships both sound really enjoyable, judging by their MySpaces. The only problem here? The two shows are scheduled for the same time, on the same night. So, I've got a tough decision to make this week, and so do all of you.