INsite Atlanta December 2009 Issue

December 2009

www.insiteatlanta.com

tainment Monthly r e t n E s ’ a t n Atla

Vol. 18, No. 5 FREE

The Season’s Hottest Video Games

Holiday Our Annual

Guide to New Year’s Eve & Holiday Events, Cater Your Party, Great Gift Ideas

Interviews with Penelope Cruz, Woody Harrelson, Olivia Wilde & Port O’Brien

PG 2 • insiteatlanta.com • December 2009

CONTENTS • DECEMBER 2009 • VOLUME 18.5

Dining at Chin Chin is pure pleasure ��������������

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Atlanta’s

Entertainment Monthly

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INTERVIEWS 06 TERRY GILLIAM 10 WOODY HARRELSON 12 OLIVIA WILDE 15 PENELOPE CRUZ 19 EVERY TIME I DIE 22 DEVO 23 HALL & OATS 27 PORT O’BRIEN 27 AS TALL AS LIONS 28 M. EALY & C. SHORT

FEATURES

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of THANK YOU ATLANTA!

BEST CHINESE

15

1998-2009 Best Chinese by Creative Loafing "Mouthwatering Chin Chin spices things up." – AJC

08 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE 11 HOLIDAY CATERING 21 HOLIDAY EVENTS GUIDE 24 VIDEO GAME PREVIEW 26 TRAVEL TO ORLANDO 29 ATLANTA HAWKS

COLUMNS 04 AROUND TOWN 05 ON TAP 05 ON A DIME EVENTS 07 UNDER THE LIGHTS 13 MOVIE REVIEWS 14 VIDIOTS 16 CONCERT CALENDAR 18 ROAD WARRIORS 19 WE GOT NEXT 20 ALBUMS 30 FANATIC

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Vol. 18, No. 5 FREE

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Check out our Holiday Gift Guide on page 8!

Holiday Annual

Guide to New Year’s Eve & Holiday Events, Cater Your Party, Great Gift Ideas

Interviews with Penelop e Cruz, Woody Harrelson, Olivia Wilde & Port O’Brien

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THANKS ATLANTA! BEST HAPPY HOUR TINLIZZYSCANTINA.COM PG 3 • insiteatlanta.com • December 2009

Around Town Museums & Exhibits

The Atlanta Zoo will host Visit with Santa on Dec. 12 from 10am-2pm. Zoo Atlanta Members may stop by the Conservation Action Resource Center to warm up with hot beverages and refreshments, frolic with costumed characters and festive tunes and let the kids be “secret shoppers” choosing special Zoo gifts for their parents. Visit zooatlanta.org for additional info.

The High Museum of Art has a great opportunity this month. It will host Art in the City: Thursdays on Dec. 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31 from 5-8pm. Relax and rejuvenate at the High after work with extended hours at half price every Thursday until 8pm. It is a great way to see the museum’s special exhibitions and permanent collection while avoiding the weekend crowds. A guided tour of Permanent Collection highlights is offered at 6:30 p.m. Visit the high.org for additional details.

Sporting Events The Atlanta Hawks will hold an interesting slate of games in December. The Hawks look to build off their hot start with games against Chicago (Dec. 9), New Jersey (Dec. 13), Memphis (Dec. 16) and Utah (Dec. 18). The can’t-miss matchup is with LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavs on Dec. 29. For ticket info, visit atlantahawks.com.

It’s cold, so you should be in the mood for hockey. The Atlanta Thrashers have a solid three-game slate in mid-December against the Stars (Dec. 17), the New Jersey Devils (Dec. 19) and the Canadiens (Dec. 21). Tickets start at $10 for most games. Visit atlantathrashers.com for details.

Theatre, Film & Performing Arts The Georgia Ballet celebrates its 50th Anniversary this season just in time to celebrate the holidays.

“The Nutcracker” will run Dec. 4 at the Jennie T. Anderson Theatre at the Cobb Civic Center in Marietta. For tickets and more info, call 770528-0881 or visit georgiaballet.org. Ticket prices range from $17 to $37. Group ticket discounts are available.

The Georgia State University School of Music and the Rialto Center for the Arts will present the 12th annual Gala Holiday Concert at 8pm on Dec. 5 and 3 pm on Dec. 6. at the Rialto Center for the Arts. This year’s performances will feature traditional holiday favorites as well as music with an international twist, celebrating the Rialto and School of Music’s international initiatives and involvement in the community.

Tickets range from $22-$48 and are available in person at the Rialto Center Box Office, by calling 404-413-9TIX or online at rialtocenter.org.

The Center Theatre at the MJCCA will present “The Music Man,” directed by Dina Shadwell this month Dec 10-20. The show will be performed at the Center Theatre’s Morris & Rae Frank Theatre (located at the MJCCA, 5342 Tilly Mill Road in Dunwoody). General Admission ranges from $12-$20.

The Center for Puppetry Arts will present Crabgrass Puppet Theatre’s The Last Dragon on Earth showing Dec. 1-13 as part of the 200910 Family Series. With their trademark blend of beautiful puppets, fabulous scenery, and hysterically funny action, Crabgrass Puppet Theatre tells a tale of castles, dragons, and princesses, but this isn’t your traditional fairy tale. Call 404-873-3391 or visit puppet.org.

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Stop by Variety Playhouse on Dec. 19 to see Abbey Road Live. The Beatles look-act tribute act is one of the every best. Tickets are $15 in advance, $17.50 the day of. Variety is located at 1099 Euclid Avenue.

The Second City: Peach drop, Stop and Roll has been extended at The Alliance Theatre for an additional 15 performances. Tickets are now on sale for $30-$45. To purchase tickets, call the Woodruff Arts Center Box Office at 404-7335000 or visit alliancetheatre.org. The show will now conclude on Dec. 27. Alliance performs on the Hertz Stage at 1280 Peachtree Street.

The Highland Inn Ballroom Lounge will host a Holiday Fundraiser for The Atlanta Community Food Bank with A Fight to the Death and Telegram on Dec.19 at 8:30pm. There will be a $3 cover or free entry with three canned goods.

The Ballroom Lounge is located at 644 North Highland Avenue.

Special Events Here’s some burlesque for a good cause. Syrens of the South will present thier Winter Wonderland Show, their Stupendous Student Showcase and their annual Toys for Tots drive on December 12. Visit syrensofthesouth.com for our calendar and more information. The Syrens perform at 2842 Franklin Street in Avondale Estates.

The 29th Annual Grant Park Candlelight Tour of Homes returns on Dec. 12-13 from 6-10pm. The event will feature a Winter Wonderland Children’s Celebration on Dec. 12 from 4-6pm and an Artists’ Market from 5-9pm both days. The meeting point for the Tour is the St. Paul United Methodist Church at 501 Grant Street. Tickets are $12 in advance at candlelighttourofhomes.com.

Joey D’s Oak Room will host a Bourbon and Cigar Dinner presented by Jack Daniel’s on Dec. 11 at 8pm. There will be live music from the Tom Olsen Trio. The event will begin on their patio with a Romeo Y Julieta Robusto Cigar, glass of Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Sour Mash and hors d’oeurves. Patrons will then enjoy a four-course meal in the dinning room. The cost is $39.95 per person plus tax and gratuity. Limited reservations available by calling 770-512-7063.

California Dreaming in Kennesaw will host Dreaming with Santa on Dec. 16 from 6-9pm.

Elves will be included. Bring a toy for Toys for Tots and receive a complimentary appetizer. The Marines will be picking up toys. There will also be a free picture with Santa and face painting with Santa’s elves. California Dreaming is located at 745 Chastain Road. Call 770-428-2055 for more information.

Janke Glassblowing Studios presents “WinterGlassFest” this month. Join them Dec. 12 from Noon-6pm at Studioplex located at 659 Auburn Avenue. There will be glassblowing exhibitions, flameworking demos, live music, kids craft corner, refreshments and an artist market. More info at 404-584-0305 or online at www.jankestudios.com.

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STUDIOPLEX Conveniently located between Inman Park & the King Birth Home

659 Auburn Ave. Studio G-9 Atlanta, GA 30312 404-584-0305

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LOCAL EVENTS

On Tap this Month EMAIL EVENTS TO ONTAP@INSITEATLANTA.COM

December 28-29: Fox Theatre

LADY GAGA

Hide your children. Lady Gaga is coming to town. The queen of the new glam pop movement will play two nights at the Fox Theatre, featuring hits from her topselling album “The Fame.” You can rock out to “Poker Face” or “Just Dance” for a great concert in Midtown.

Tickets can be found by calling Tickermaster at 1-800745-3000 or by going to foxtheatre.org.

December 31: Georgia Dome

CHICK-FIL-A BOWL

It’s not exactly as exciting as the SEC Championship, but the Chick-fil-A (Peach) Bowl is a prime matchup for even the most casual college football fans. Tennessee will face Virginia Tech in a battle of SEC/ACC teams. Tickets can be found at chick-fil-abowl.com , but don’t wait around. You’re likely to have to fight the Vol and Hokie fans for a seat in the crowd.

Through Decemeber 30: Stone Mountain

SNOW MOUNTAIN CHRISTMAS

Experience the magic side of Christmas with Stone Mountain’s annual “Snow Mountain” exhibition. Tickets are $25 to the ice sledding area, or you can take your family to see more than two million twinkling lights around the park.

There will be a Polar Express 4D Experience, family friendly shows and a Christmas parade. For more information, go online to stonemountainpark.com.

Through December 30: Lake Lanier

MAGICAL NIGHTS OF LIGHTS

Enjoy the holiday spirit in style with Lake Lanier’s Magical Nights of Lights through Dec. 30. The impressive glittering showcase features seven miles of holiday lights along with roasted marshmellows, carnival rides and a visit from Santa. Several resorts offer overnight packages starting at $179. The event has been a tradition at Georgia’s Great Lake for 17 years and should be better and brighter than ever this holiday season.

Through January 3: Macy’s Lenox Square

THE PINK PIG

Since 1953, the Pink Pig has been delighting generations of Atlantans. Through Jan. 3, ride Priscilla the Pink Pig on train tracks through a life-sized storybook featuring Priscilla and her friends. Tickets are available at the Pink Pig kiosk inside Lenox Square. A portion of the ride’s proceeds will benefit Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. You may call 404-231-2800 for more information.

Through January 3: Atlantic Station

CAVALIA

The grace and enchantment of “Cavalia” comes to Midtown with its 60 plus horses prepared to deliver one of the very best equestrian shows in the world. The show is an offspring of Cirque de Soleil and sure to entertain in just the same fashion. Horses will perform various groundbreaking routines sure to amaze your entire family. Tickets can be found at cavalia.net and range from $34-$109. For reservations, call 1-866-999-8111.

ATLANTA ON A DIME! Receive updated events weekly. Sign up by e-mailing newsletter@insiteatlanta.com Enter on subject line: Sign Me Up INsite!

PG 5 • insiteatlanta.com • December 2009

FILM INTERVIEW

The Imaginarium of Terry Gilliam

BY MATT GOLDBERG

S

OMETIME MY JOB IS WEIRD. IN September I was awoken by a phone call from a publicist asking if I wanted to come to DragonConand interview Terry Gilliam, the director behind such classics as Brazil, Time Bandits and Twelve Monkeys, for his upcoming film The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. I had to get downtown in less than 90 minutes, which wouldn’t be a problem except DragonCon, a huge college football game, multiple concerts and pretty much every major Labor Day event were happening at the same time.

Thankfully, I made it just as Mr. Gilliam was finishing up his Q&A with fans who came to hear him speak about his upcoming projects.

I was lucky enough to ask him about those projects as well as his legacy, his past, and why he didn’t really care for this year’s Watchmen (a graphic novel he attempted to adapt twice). It was a great interview because Gilliam was very open and has no need for politics; he just cares about getting his films made his way… and that alone is impressive.

I was doing some research and I noticed that whenever someone mentions your name, they always precede it with “beleaguered”. Is that how you see your legacy, or would you use a different word?

Things kind of develop. I think it’s because I’ve had enough books and documentaries about things going wrong, where other people don’t. I remember when Lost in La Mancha came out and other filmmakers started coming up to me and telling me their stories, and they were worse than mine. I’ve just been lucky (or unlucky) to have these things reported. I’m the one who gets stuck with an adjective like “beleagured,” and I actually think I’m lucky.

Since you’re getting a second chance at The Man Who Killed Don Quixote, are you bringing back [Lost in La Mancha filmmakers] Keith Fulton and Louis Pepe to make a “Found In La Mancha”?

Strangely enough, that’s exactly what they were going to do. They were in London and they asked me and I said, “You’ll probably just make a really boring film because everything is going to go right this time, and there’s going to be no drama. It’s just going to be another EPK [Electronic Press Kit], another puff piece that the studios love. So if that’s what you guys want to do, that’s fine. But you made a good film because we had a tragedy. We crashed and burned, and you guys recorded it.”

Animation was where you got started, and I read you’d do anything to get involved with

. . .

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Pixar. I believe the quote was along the lines of you offering to sweep the floors?

That was at the premiere of WALL-E. I think Pixar is great. It’s extraordinary what they do, and the way they’ve structured themselves internally.

It’s really creative people running the show, and that’s a rare thing. But I have to think about my future when I’m old and ancient and I can’t walk.

Would you want to do a short or a feature?

I actually have no interest in doing animation at all [laughs]. I think there will be a time when I slip back into that, but the thing with Parnassus is that there are great chunks which are like my animation and have that kind of freedom, so I have a feeling I’m going to want to keep working with real people no matter how fantastical and animated the world might be.

There’s such a devoted following for your Monty Python animated shorts; why did you decide to let it go?

I just got bored with it. I really thought my cutout technique was very limited in what you could do. I thought I’d pretty much beaten this one to death, and I never wanted to be an animator. I wanted to be a lumberjack!

That didn’t work out, did it.

[Laughs] No, it didn’t. Film directing is what I’ve always wanted to do. Animation gave me the possibility for me to do what I do now, but it was also exhausting because I was also working on my own. There was a point when Holy Grail came along and Terry [Jones] and I looked up at the screen and it said, “Co-directed by…” Once it says that, you’re a director and then, bingo! We got Jabberwocky and I was off.

Are you still trying to make Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett’s Good Omens?

It’s sort of sitting there. I think if Parnassus is a big success, the likelihood of that becomes greater, because it’s an expensive movie. There’s no way out of that one. It’s a real world and it’s going to need reasonably big stars and that combination of success to get it made. But I would love to do it if we can get it together.

How about The Defective Detective?

That’s one I’d still love to do. I stole one of my ideas for that and put it in Parnassus. That could still happen, but I have to get the right guy to play the lead. Unfortunately, all the films I’m doing

YOU GET TO A CERTAIN POINT WHERE YOU HAVE TO START LETTING THE THINGS THAT DON’T COME EASILY GO.

all require stars to get the money. I’m stupid. If I could get my budgets down to $5 million or $10 million, I’d have more freedom, but to do what I want costs more.

I would think that with your body of work it would be easier to get a star…

Doesn’t matter. Tideland didn’t work, so it’s finished. We’re in Hollywood!

But there are actors who do the big project, and then they’ll do the smaller project for no money.

There was a flurry of activity on Good Omens before this one, and I was going after a particularly big actor. It didn’t happen and then a couple of other things happened, and I didn’t know who else could take that part. It was a funny time after Tideland where I wasn’t sure what I was doing.

You get to a certain point where you have to start letting the things that don’t come easily go. But I’ve got these things in store and they’re all good projects, so if the atmosphere changes…

You tried to direct Watchmen, so I was wondering how you felt about the version that came out this year?

I was impressed with the look of it. I think he got it. But I think it was too reverential to the book. I think it needed a kick in the ass, frankly.

Charles McKeown and I had written a script just after I’d finished [The Adventures of Baron Munchausen] and it was frustrating because I felt to get it down to 2:15, we were getting rid of so much. I said at the time I think it should’ve been a 5-part miniseries for television, and I still think it would be better. [Zack Snyder’s Watchmen] started so well and then it just was, “Come on… it’s not moving anymore!” But I thought technically it was a good job.

How would you have done it differently?

The problem to me always was that this “graphic novel” is about these characters, and you need time to develop each one. I thought Rorschach was great in the film– he was cracking– but with Nite Owl and [Silk Spectre], something got lost and it wasn’t clicking the way it should. I think the Comedian really worked well, but I think the whole thing was probably too loyal. It was an issue of pacing, and he wasn’t getting those things right. But it was a huge undertaking and probably a better attempt than anybody else would’ve pulled off, frankly.

Do you think if you ever attempt a $300 million movie you’ll run into the same…

But I don’t want to. There’s too much pressure.

You have all these terrified executives running around, and when you work in that kind of atmosphere of neurosis, it affects you. Like Harry Potter: They were never going to hire me, but I was glad because I watched friends work on it and it was horrible. It’s factory work! The last factory job I had was in a Chevy plant working the night shifts, so no. No, I’m over it…

Under The Lights New Theatrical Performances this Month

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

700 SUNDAYS

www.AllianceTheatre.org

www.CobbEnergyCentre.org

Thru Dec. 24 Alliance Theatre Box Office 404.733.5000

Dec. 16-20 Cobb Energy Centre Box Office 404.817.8700

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Billy Crystal brings his Tony Award-winning Broadway blockbuster to the Cobb energy Centre this month. 700 Sundays, an autobiographical journey, is an original two-act play in which Billy plays numerous characters that

Photo by Greg Mooney

Scrooge is back in the Alliance's annual holiday gift to Atlanta! Now in its 20th year, A Christmas Carol has become a holiday season tradition for generations of families throughout the Southeast. It is set in a Victorian warehouse where a stone-hearted Ebenezer Scrooge learns the meaning of compassion as he travels the road to redemption for his lonely, miserly life. A Christmas Carol is an adaption from the 1840s tale into a musical featuring favorite holiday carols and hymns. Soaring holiday music and jaw-dropping special effects accompany this beloved classic tale of the power of the holidays to awaken the soul. It’s an event certain to dazzle your eyes, warm your heart and carry you throughout the New Year.

THE SHOEMAKER AND THE ELVES

Photo by Carol Rosegg

have influenced who he is today. It deals with his youth, growing up in the jazz world of Manhattan, his teenage years, and finally adulthood. It is about family and fate, loving and loss. In its opening week on Broadway, 700 Sundays broke the house record for highest weekly gross at the Broadhurst Theatre

SANTALAND DIARIES Ongoing thru Jan. 3 Horizon Theatre Company Box Office 404.584.7450 www.HorizonTheatre.com

Thru Jan. 2 Puppetry Arts Center Box Office 404.873.3391

Mel and Tootsie Footmeyer have kept their shoe store open for 42 years, but business is not booming as it once had and this year may prove to be the last. Enter Frankie and Gino, two bumbling, loveable elves who have nothing but time on their hands and a burning desire to build! Come join the fun as these shoe artists help the Footmeyers spread good cheer all around New York City. Expect exciting celebrity appearances and swinging big band music to keep the holiday spirit hopping.

PRIVATE ROOMS AVAILABLE FOR HOLIDAY PARTIES

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www.puppet.org

Photo by Bill Jones

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Your Neighborhood Pizzeria!

Deck the halls with peals of laughter as Horizon Theatre Company brings back its popular annual holiday production of The Santaland Diaries. The satirical, sarcastic and merry misanthrope, played by Harold M. Leaver, recounts the tale of his stint as a Macy's Department Store elf. Besieged by bratty kids with overzealous parents and donning in a humiliating costume, he finds that his cynical self and his elfin alter ego, "Crumpet," are not exactly compatible. The play is adapted from David Sedaris' best-selling book Holidays on Ice. This special holiday tale is a modern classic made famous when it originally aired on National Public Radio.

Photo by Catherine Ashmore

BEST PIZZA! Available on Blu-Ray Hi Def & DVD December 15

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Shop Decatur

Nearly 50 boutiques and restaurants around downtown Decatur and Oakhurst Village offer deals and treats, and stay open late.

Through Dec. 17.

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659 Auburn Ave. Studio G-9 404.584.0305 www.jankestudios.com ���������� ����������� ��������������� �������������� ������������� �������������

Cook’s Warehouse 180 W. Ponce de Leon Ave.

���������������������������������������� ��������������� SHOP DECATUR ������������� decaturga.com �������������� thedecaturminute.com Terrific Thursdays are Back! Nearly 50 ��������������� boutiques and restaurants around downtown �������������� Decatur and Oakhurst Village offer deals and ��������������� treats, and stay open late. Through Dec. 17. ���������������� JANKE STUDIOS ����������� 659 Auburn Ave. Studio G-9 ������������ Atlanta Ga. 30312 ������������� ���������������������������������� ������������ Hand Blown Glass & Art Gallery located at Studioplex.

Here you will find one of a kind ������������ hand blown glassware, custom lighting and ���������������� gifts. They have special items like the heirloom ��������������� ornaments featured for the holidays as well as glassware gift certificates available. Don’t miss ��������������� Winter Glass Fest 09 Saturday Dec. 12 from ������������ noon – 6PM. “A Celebration of Frozen Sand.” �����

RETURN TO EDEN

Salon Red Kids

2335 Cheshire Bridge Rd. Atlanta, GA 30324 ��������������������������������

123 E. Ponce de Leon Ave.

Go retro for the holidays with natural and sustainably sourced soaps & gift items from Savannah, Ga’s own PanhandleGirl! Products range from $5.49 - $16.99. Whether it’s Ginger-Lime or Cinnamon-Vanilla, they’ve got a glamtastic soap to please that pin-up crazed special someone this holiday season!

Decatur Market and Gallery 153 Ponce de Leon Pl.

G-FORCE

Mingei World Arts

Vivid Boutique

427 Church St.

133 E. Court Square

The perfect stocking stuffer for the little ones this holiday season. A team of super intelligent guinea pigs look to foil a sinister plot set to occur in 29 hours. When the evil plot happens, the gang must stop an unlikely villain who has betrayed them. Voices provided by Steve Buscemi and Nicholas Cage. The two-disc DVD and Digital copy are available in stores December 15.

Largest Gluten Free Selection in Atlanta decaturga.com thedecaturminute.com

Downtown Decatur

Advertising funded by the Great Decatur Craft Beer Festival.

Best Organic Selection

404.320.EDEN (3336) Return2eden.com | We Ship Anywhere!

2335 Cheshire Bridge Rd | Atlanta, GA 30324 At the corner of Lavista and Cheshire Bridge

PG 8 • insiteatlanta.com • December 2009

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CENTRAARCHY RESTAURANTS CentraArchy.com

This Holiday Season give the gift that gives back! When you purchase a Gift Card online or in the restaurant (in increments of $25.00)

by December 31, 2009 you will receive a gift certificate worth 20% of the value of the card.

Valid at any CentraArchy restaurant.

PSYCHO SISTERS

��������������������������������� psychosistersshops.com ������������������������������� ������������������ Piedmont / Cheshire Bridge ��������������

An out of the ordinary name for a unique boutique. From fun to funky, wacky to wild, Psycho Sisters is the queen of consignment.

Featured threads include Levis, Diesel, costumes, footwear and plenty of bling!

AMERICAN PIE 4

Ten years after the first American Pie movie, three new hapless virgins discover the Bible hidden in the school library at East Great Falls High. Unfortunately for them, the book is ruined, and with incomplete advice, the Bible leads them on a hilarious journey to lose their virginity. Available in stores December 22.

STARSHIP

������������������������������ ShopStarship.com

This year, give the mall the cold shoulder. Visit the Southeast’s largest adult fantasy emporium… Starship! Erotic gifts for him, for her, for them. BEST selection, service and prices! Santa may only come once a year but Starship satisfies all year long!

SMOKE 911

��������������������������������� �������������� ������������������������������ �������������� ��������������������������� ��������������

Specializing in the sale of water pipes, vaporizors, RooR, handblown glass, exotic pipes, posters, adult novelties, detoxification, cigars and cigarettes. Featuring the largest selection and best prices on glass pipes and water pipes.

INSERECTION

5 Metro Area Locations

The best things come in small packages!

Inserection is the place to go for sexy lingerie this holiday season. Check out Shirley Lingerie aka. H.O.T. Lingerie at Inserection stores. They also offer plenty of adult toys and gag gifts for those on the naughty side.

ps

ALWAYS BUYING CURRENT MALL CLOTHES

SANDY SPRINGS (404) 255-5578

PSYCHOSISTERSSHOPS.COM

PIEDMONT/CHESHIRE BRIDGE

90’S GOTHIC

THANK YOU ATLANTA!

404-733-5599

LITTLE FIVE POINTS (404) 523-0100

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PSYCHO-SISTERS.COM

WE PAY MORE $ FOR USED CLOTHES PG 9 • insiteatlanta.com • December 2009

THE POSTMAN Whether slaying the undead in Zombieland or delivering casualty

FILM INTERVIEW

notifications in The Messenger, Woody Harrelson Delivers The Goods

BY ALEX S. MORRISON

F

EW WOULD’VE GUESSED FROM his performance as dim-witted bartender Woody Boyd on Cheers that Woody Harrelson would become the show’s breakout star. But for a time in the early ‘90s he was as A-list as actors get, starring in a string of hits that included White Men Can’t Jump, Indecent Proposal, Natural Born Killers and The People Vs. Larry Flynt (for which he earned his first Oscar nod).

But by the end of the decade the Ohiobred theatre major had begun to burn out on Hollywood hype and the prying eyes of the paparazzi, and decided to drop out completely. He lived in Costa Rica for a while, then moved his family (including former assistant-turnedwife Laura Louie and their three daughters) to the Hawaiian island of Maui. He became an outspoken environmental activist, raging against the American political machine on matters ranging from the reform of marijuana laws and the cutting down of ancient redwoods for lumber to the need for organic farming and sustainable fuel. What he didn’t do is act for almost four years, except for a brief guest starring stint on TV’s Will & Grace.

But now Woody is back with a vengeance.

After a string of small roles that culminated with his turn in the Coen brothers’ No Country For Old Men, he’s having a kick-ass 2009. First, Zombieland emerged as the sleeper hit of the year, a niche genre indie film that made over $80 million and has already been greenlit for a sequel. Then came 2012, an apocalyptic epic that grossed over $450 million at the global box office in its first two weeks. Another indie, Defendor, garnered huge buzz at this year’s Toronto Film Festival and was subsequently picked up by Sony Pictures. And now comes The Messenger, a timely and emotional drama about two soldiers saddled with the task of notifying next-of-kin that their loved ones have died in battle. Putting a human face on the cost of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, it’s the kind of little film for which Oscar buzz was invented.

We recently chatted up the Cheers legend via telephone to talk about his remarkable string of successes.

It’s been an amazing year for you, huh?

Yeah, it’s been a good year for sure. Quite honestly, I haven’t been in a hit in 16 years, so it’s nice that Zombieland did well.

How does the career you have now differ from the one you aspired to when you first started out as an actor?

I never had any idea things would go this way. There was a while there when I was on Cheers and I couldn’t get another job, so it was cool to just be able to break off from that and get some movies. I guess I always hoped to do theater and movies, but I was more focused on theater initially because that’s where I started. I feel pretty lucky with the way things have gone.

Do you ever miss your theater roots?

I’ve done plays off and on, but the last one was in London– Tennessee Williams’ “Night of the Iguana.” If you get that one right, the effect is like punching the audience number in the stomach. But that was over three years ago, so I wanna do another play pretty soon because I didn’t feel like we got that one right and I’d like PG 10 • insiteatlanta.com • December 2009

to get back on stage. I have to admit that’s what drew me to this profession.

Your recent projects– Zombieland, The Messenger and 2012– are all very different. Is there any rhyme or reason to the way you’re picking these roles?

It’s just a gut reaction to the material, resonating with the heart of it. With Zombieland I just loved the part, and with The Messenger it’s a journey of the heart. But it’s pretty random; it’s not like I have some kind of grand scheme.

You seem to move effortlessly from big budget movies to indie stuff. What are the positives and negatives of working in each of those worlds?

The positive on doing big budget movies is that you know the distribution is going to be effective… well, you don’t know that, but it’s much more likely. The positive in doing indies is that you don’t have the studio telling the director “You gotta do it this way.” Also, indies tend to be more interesting projects.

In the sense that they’re willing to take more risks?

Yes, that’s exactly it.

You have this love/hate relationship with fame. What are your primary motivations as an actor, and how have those evolved with age and experience?

I guess you can say I have an ambivalent relationship with fame. I do love performing, but there’s a whole other aspect to this job that I think is a little strange. The fame, the paparazzi…

I don’t feel connected to that. That’s why I’ve lived for a while in Costa Rica and then Hawaii, just to be more removed from Hollywood. As I get older, I think I’m doing much better with accepting things as they are as opposed to fighting it.

You took a pretty long break from the business a few years back. What where the benefits of the time off?

I didn’t intend to take such a long break. I just needed to get away from it because I wasn’t enjoying it. I also wanted to take time to hang with my family. After wrapping Cheers, [my career] was non-stop, with one movie after another. I wasn’t taking time to smell the roses or spend time with my kids, so that was what led to the decision to take time off. I think it

was one of the better decisions I’ve ever made.

I thought it would take three years to get back into it, but of course it took longer than that.

Now I’m in a place where I can work maybe 5 months out of the year and then take 7 months to just hang with the fam.

You were a big proponent for environmental awareness long before it was hip. How do you feel about the current state of environmentalism?

I think it’s good that people are more aware, and guys like Al Gore and Edward Norton have helped raise awareness. But I don’t feel like anything is changing on a fundamental level because in order change things ecologically we have to change things economically. We have to make this ecology sustainable, and I think the #1 thing is to get off the dinosaur kick. In places where we’re using carbon, we could be using solar energy. I live in a community in Maui where there’s no power lines, and everybody uses bio-diesel in their cars and tractors.

It’s a bunch of organic farms, and people are eating off the land. We’ve eaten almost entirely out of our own garden for almost 10 years. It is possible to live life with a light footprint, but certainly the powers-that-be that control the body politic are not wanting to change things.

Let’s talk about The Messenger: What was it about this role that appealed to you?

I thought it was the most beautiful script I’d ever read. The emotional reaction I had to reading it was pretty strong, and in the course of shooting it was an emotional journey. Just putting yourself in that kind of headspace was really challenging for a hippie from Hawaii!

(Laughs) I got to play a solider, and not only a soldier but one that does [casualty] notifications. It made me go a little deeper on a journey into my own heart through what my character was experiencing.

From Natural Born Killers to Zombieland and The Messenger, there seems to be something you enjoy about taking anti-heroes and making them likable.

I think it’s more fun than taking an obviously heroic character. When my daughter was 4 I said, “You are so sweet!” She said, “Yeah, but I’m mean, too!” That was one of the most genius things I’ve ever heard: she already had

a sense that we’ve all got part angel and part devil inside us.

There’s been talk of you and Ben Foster getting Oscar nods for The Messenger. Do awards mean anything to you?

Any actor that tells you they don’t give a shit, they’re lying! I think it would be a superficial thing, but of course it would be great. I just don’t invest time in thinking about it. You can’t make a movie thinking about golden statues. You make the movie from your heart and hope that people like it. So far, it’s been extraordinary how people have resonated with the movie.

It puts a human face on the price of war, which I think is important.

Well stated! Thank you, that was our intention.

Can you tell me a little bit about your next film, Defendor?

I’m playing a character that is in some way mildly retarded, but considers himself a superhero. He has a costume made with duct tape and wants to fight crime, but of course bullets don’t bounce off him and he’s always getting beat up. He falls in love with a character (played by Kat Dennings) who’s a crack whore, and they have an unlikely friendship develop. It’s hard to describe, but the writer/director did an incredible job. I was really psyched when Sony picked it up.

And what’s the deal with this other film I’ve heard about, Benraku?

That’s the only one of these movies that I’ve not seen, so I don’t know how it’s going to turn out. But the guy who made it is really a sharp customer. It’s a fight movie, but it’s very original, shot in this fantasy world in the future after there is a lot of devastation.

How content are you with where you are at this stage of your career?

I feel great with the way things are, with Zombieland giving me my first big hit in years, not including No Country For Old Men. Zombieland and The Messenger allowed me to play substantial lead characters, and it feels good following that up with Defendor. I want to eventually do a bit more, and I want to direct.

As an actor you’re like a pawn, but as a director you get to put across your own vision. In my case, it’s funny.

HOLIDAY CATERING GUIDE Ideas for planning a party at home or at a restaurant Mezza A Lebanese bistro & wine bar

Johnny’s Pizza & Subs

Mezza is a traditional way of dinning in which all menu items are served in small portions allowing diners to sample and share a large variety of dishes.

This type of dining lends itself well for large groups and catering for large functions.

Mezza is Zagat rated, one of Atlanta Magazine's "Top 100 Restaurants in Atlanta" and one of AJC's top 50 restaurants. A variety of more than 60 menu items ranging from the traditional dishes, such as hummus, baba ghannouge, falafel, tabbouleh, kebabs, legs of lamb are available. Mezza offers an assortment of party trays and gift cards.

Johnny’s Pizza has come to be synonymous with great pizza and subs in Atlanta. They specialize in NY Style pizza, which is thin in the middle and thick around the edges. Johnny’s offers plenty of specialty pizzas plus subs, salads, sandwiches and other popular Italian dishes including calzones, strombolis and lasagna. Go to their website to find the location nearest you.

2751 Lavista Rd., Decatur 404.633.8833 www.mezzabistro.com

Athens Pizza House 1341 Clairmont Rd. Decatur 404.636.1100 www.athenspizzaatlanta.com

For over 30 years, the Papadopoulos family has been serving up great Greek and Italian cuisine to the Emory area. Athens Pizza is Zagat rated and the recipient of various awards including Best Greek Cuisine ’09. Don’t let the name fool you, there is much more than great pizza, as some of the favorite recipes on their Greek dishes go back generations! This holiday season consider ordering from their catering menu which is available at the restaurant and also on their website. Athens Pizza House can accommodate large parties and a private room is available.

Agave 242 Boulevard SE 404.588.0006 www.agaverestaurant.com

1810 Cheshire Bridge Rd. 404.874.8304 and Multiple Locations www.JohnnysPizza.com

The Flying Biscuit Cafe’

Catering Hotline: 404.849.2283 www.flyingbiscuit.com

Recently voted as having the Best Breakfast in Atlanta, The Flying Biscuit now boasts 7 locations.

Their one of a kind award winning biscuits are the perfect addition to any holiday function. The Power Breakfast is a popular catering option for businesses in Atlanta.

It consists of scrambled eggs, white cheddar grits, oven-roasted rosemary potatoes, turkey bacon, chicken sausage and Biscuits.

They also have Breakfast Biscuit Sandwiches. Choose from egg & cheese, turkey, bacon egg & cheese, chicken, sausage egg & cheese, and soy-sage egg & cheese. In addition The Flying Bicuit can prepare sandwich & salad boxed lunches. Call their catering hotline or check The Flying Biscuit website for great ways make this year’s holiday party a memorable one.

Mediterranean Grill

N. Decatur Plaza 404.320.0101 Midtown 404.917.1100 East Cobb 678.996.0045 www.mediterraneangrill.com

Agave has been voted by several publications for Best Southwestern cuisine as well as being voted one of the “Top 100” restaurants in Atlanta. Agave has two beautiful dining rooms as well as an enclosed patio area making it perfect for holiday parties. The rooms can accommodate parties from 6 guests to 120. Agave’s bar boasts over 85 tequilas and their Margarita’s have also won various awards. Those looking to add some extra fun to their party can arrange a special tequila dinner. Their chef's menus are located online which take the pressure off of ordering for large groups and include a personalized menu with your special heading at the top of each menu.

Over the past ten years their loyal customers have made family/chef-owned and operated Mediterranean Grill the place in Atlanta for authentic Mediterranean food. Here you will find authentic regional dishes like gyros, falafel and kabob sandwiches that are perfect for holiday parties large and small. Other popular menu items for catering include: Humus, Tabouleh salad, Greek salad, grilled fresh vegetables and Calamari. Mediterranean Grill has a special catering menu that can be found on their website or at their restaurants.

Mexico City Gourmet

3887 Peachtree Rd. 404.816.2229 and Multiple Locations www.ChinChinOnline.com

2134 N. Decatur Rd. 404.634.1128 www.mexicocitygourmet.com

Since 1984, Mexico City Gourmet has been serving award winning cuisine to the Emory / Decatur area. They are is known for their vast menu consisting of many authentic Mexican dishes indigenous to the region. The restaurant offers 3 distinct dining rooms and bar area making it a perfect place to hold a private party. Their menu offers many selections that lend themselves well for catering large groups. For catering orders, they require 10 person minimum and prices start at $7 per person. A popular catering choice at is their Fajita platters which run $10 per person. They can prepare pitchers of Margaritas for large parties as well. A 24 hour notice is asked for large catering orders.

Chin Chin

Chin Chin is consistently voted Atlanta’s Best Chinese restaurant.

Their menu not only offers the standard favorites but also many exotic dishes in Chinese cuisine at affordable prices. Standards prepared to perfection include: General Tso’s Chicken, Shredded Beef and Bell Peppers and Skewer Chicken with Szechuan sauce. Some of the more exotic include Braised Duck with seasonal vegetables and Steamed Salmon fillets. Chin Chin also offers great appetizers from Spring Rolls to Soft Shell Crab and superb noodle dishes including Vegetable Lo Mein.

Chipotle Mexican Grill

2963 N. Druid Hills Rd. and Multiple Locations www.Chipotle.com

VOTED BEST DELI IN ATLANTA Est. 1956 Full Breakfast & Lunch Menu

goldbergsdeli.net

of 25 Kinds of Bagels - Breads - Deli Sandwiches Deli Meats - Smoked Meats - Smoked Fish 1272 W.Paces Colony Square 4520 Chamblee- 4383 Roswell Rd 1062 Johnsons Ferry Rd Dunwoody Rd 404-252-1114 at food court Ferry Rd. 404-266-0123 404-888-0877 770-455-1119 At Wieuca 770-578-3771 Just off I-75 Road Georgetown Shopping Ctr

Chipotle strives for “Food with Integrity” which is a company slogan. This means ingredients that are unprocessed, seasonal, sustainable, family-farmed, nutritious, naturally raised, added hormone free, organic, and artisanal. They focus on a limited menu that lends itself well for catering holiday events.

Order party platters to create burritos, tacos and salads using Chipotle’s finest ingredients. They offer meats including chicken, steak, naturally raised pork and shredded beef. Don’t forget to order sides of salsa, chips and guacamole which are always a party favorite.

Lola’s Cantina

4665 Lower Roswell Rd. 770.973.4747 www.lolascantina.com

After being a East Cobb neighborhood favorite, Lolas Cantina was recently voted Best New Restaurant in Atlanta. Their great mexican cuisine offered at reasonable prices in a friendly atmosphere has won them many fans. Lola’s has several distinct rooms and bar stations that can be booked for holiday parties.

They offer live music and some of the best margaritas in town.

Manuel’s Tavern

602 N. Highland Ave. 404.525.3447 www.manuelstavern.com

Manuel’s Tavern is a large neighborhood bar & restaurant located on the corner of North Ave. and N. Highland Ave. Manuel’s is a great choice for either catering a holiday event or for holding a holiday party. They are known for their great wings, sandwiches and salads but they also offer a vast catering menu for large parties or small. Appetizers on the menu include: Buffalo Wings, Tortilla Chips and Salsa, Chicken Bites, Mini Egg Rolls and Mini Quiches. Some Party Platters offered are the Vegetable tray, Shrimp tray, Fruit tray and Cheese tray. Manuel’s also offers buffet dinners that include popular entrees: Herb Roasted Chicken Breast, Sliced Roast Beef and Meat Lasagna. If you wish to hold your party at Manuel’s, there are several rooms available that can accomodate parties of 15 to 200. Manuel’s does not charge a room fee. Call 404-526-0733 for catering orders or party bookings.

Goldberg’s Deli

5 Metro Area Locations www.goldbergsdeli.net

Atlant’s Best Deli is a great place to cater your holiday party. They have trays specialized for breakfast, lunch and large parties. A sampling of those offered for breakfast include: Continental, Bagel Tray, Egg Breakfast and Morning Sweet baked goods. For lunch you can order individual boxes that include traditional deli sandwiches, club sandwiches, Po’ Boys and salads. For large parties Goldberg’s offers several trays that include many of their deli salads, smoked fish, wraps and traditional deli meat

Atlanta Diner

2071 N. Druid Hills Rd. 404.633.0024

Located just off I-85 on N. Druid Hills, Atlanta Diner offers 24 Hour Catering and Hosting for private parties. They offer a wide selection of salads, appetizers, burgers and sandwiches. They also serve world class dinners including Greek favorites like the Gyro Platter and Chicken Souvlaki to Italian favorites including Chicken Parmigiana and Home Baked Lasagna.

HAPPY

Holidays Private Rooms

Great Wings, Sandwiches, Burgers and Salads

Available for Parties of 15 to 200 (No Room Fees) Call 404-526-0733 for Private Party Bookings & Party Platter Orders

602 N. Highland Ave.(@ corner of North Ave) Atlanta, GA 30307

������������������������������������ �������������������������������������������

PG 11 • insiteatlanta.com • December 2009

FILM INTERVIEW

Where the Wilde Things Are

Olivia Wilde Gives Fans a Fix

BY THE LUTHIER SOCIETY

D

EPENDING ON WHO YOU ASK, Olivia Wilde is either best known for her breakout role as Thirteen (a.k.a. bisexual doctor Remy Hadley) on Fox’s hit drama “House M.D.” or as the hottie that actress Megan Fox famously described as “so sexy, she makes me want to strangle a mountain ox.”

Either way, there’s no doubt Wilde’s career is on a rapid rise, co-starring with Jack Black and Michael Cera in Year One and being tapped for a lead role in next year’s eagerly anticipated Tron Legacy. In the meantime, she recently sat down for an interview to discuss Fix, a new indie drama directed by her husband (and costar), Tao Ruspoli.

WE CATER TO PARTIES LARGE AND SMALL PRIVATE ROOM AVAILABLE FOR HOLIDAY PARTIES

��������� ½ – AOL City Search ��������������������������� at $5.75 ���������������������������

What was your involvement in the conception and writing of FIX? Tao and I came up with the concept of the film together while driving up the 405 in his ‘59 Thunderbird. I’d always been a fan of Tao’s documentaries, music videos, commercials, and experimental films, but this was to be his first narrative feature. I have always been fascinated by his family, and I urged him to draw from his own past. There’s nothing like the love between siblings, and I thought a story inspired by Tao and his little brother would be an interesting way to illustrate that love. From that point on Tao was off and writing, with his partner Jeremy Fels, and I advised whenever asked, offering both the cynical and female perspectives.

Did your family background in journalism and filmmaking inform your characterization of Bella, who is also a documentary filmmaker?

My mother, a documentary filmmaker herself, was definitely a source of inspiration as we were creating Bella. I borrowed from her that non-negotiable sense of right and wrong.

Mon: $3 Margaritas Tues: $2 Tecate Wed: $3 Modelo Especial Thur: $4 1800 Margaritas Fri: LIVE Music 7-10pm Sun: $3 Sangria

“Serving Emory / Decatur Since 1984” Located N. Decatur Plaza | 404-634-1128 | www.MexicoCityGourment.com

Mondays and Tuesdays

CHESHIRE BRIDGE

“Your Neighborhood Pizzeria”

WE DELIVER (after 5 PM)

$5 PITCHERS OF BUD & BUD LIGHT LUNCH SPECIALS FROM $6.75 VOTED BEST PIZZA 2009!

1810 CHESHIRE BRIDGE RD. �������������������������

PG 12 • insiteatlanta.com • December 2009

How would you describe the character of Bella, which you play in the film?

Bella is a documentary filmmaker and activist. She is initially an unenthusiastic passenger on the quest to rescue her partner/boyfriend’s little brother from jail so they can check him into rehab. She strives to bring justice to the subjects of her films, but has trouble recognizing the purpose of interrupting her work to help one troubled soul whose only enemy is himself. She is fiercely stubborn, sarcastic, smart, and surprisingly savvy. In many ways Bella is the audience as she is dragged along on a road trip through a family drama that ultimately teaches her that power is not nearly as valuable as unconditional love.

of

Martin Scorsese, Pedro Almodovar, Woody Allen, Francis Ford Coppola, Spike Jonze, Michel Gondry… I’m also dying to work with more female directors, such as Katherine Hardwicke, Katheryn Bigelow and Jane Campion.

What is your favorite story you have from shooting FIX? When we were shooting the scene at the compound of the Afghanistan War veteran who also happens to be a dealer, Tao had rented farm animals (chickens and some goats) to add to the totally surreal nature of the scene, and suddenly, in the middle of filming, one hen laid a perfect brown egg. We decided that was a good omen for the rest of the shoot.

Los Angeles is an important part of the film.

What makes this film different from the thousands of other films/TV shows that are shot in LA? Not only does FIX show a completely different side of LA than people are used to, but it also seamlessly traverses the worlds of this strange city, gliding from the Projects to Beverly Hills, from the desert of Chatsworth to Venice Beach. People often tell us that the movie makes them interested in LA as a city for the first time. Even the proudest New Yorkers have admitted a new found respect for their sunny counterpart after watching this homage to Angelenos.

REGARDLESS OF YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO THE DIRECTOR, AS AN ACTOR YOU ARE HIRED BY THEM TO BRING SOMEONE TO LIFE WITHIN A WORLD THEY ARE CREATING, AND SO THERE IS NO ROOM FOR DRAMA OR POWER STRUGGLES.

What are some of your favorite documentaries?

American Casino, 12 Hours in My Lai, The Cove, Michael Moore’s Sicko and Fahrenheit 451, Dear Zachary, The King Of Kong, and so many more.

What were the biggest challenges this role presented for you?

Bella has an arc more dramatic and extreme than any character I’ve ever played. She transforms as the audience learns to love Leo, the complicated anti-hero.

What was it like being directed by your husband?

Regardless of your relationship to the director, as an actor you are hired by them to bring someone to life within a world they are creating, and so there is no room for drama or power struggles. I respect Tao tremendously as an artist and it was a joy to be directed by him.

I trusted his vision, and appreciated his ability to communicate. He is limitlessly enthusiastic, and that’s rare. I had fun.

Besides Tao, who are the directors you most admire or want to work with?

How is acting in an independent film compare to working on a television series like House or a big Hollywood production like Tron?

On an indie film like FIX, every person in every department is pulling the weight, and there is no time to waste hovering by craft service. This is also because we couldn’t afford craft service, or makeup and hair, or trailers for that matter. Films like FIX teach you that all the luxuries on a larger production can get in the way of the mission. When you’re stealing shots on street corners in downtown LA in one hundred degree heat, and everyone is carrying lights, sharing a bag of fruit, and hustling to make the day, you remember what making movies should really be all about. The reward of this kind of work is a sense of ownership and pride that fills you with the love of film making as an art and a joy to be a part of this business.

If you could take a year off completely from film and TV, what would you do with your time?

Theatre!

FILM

Movie Reviews BROKEN EMBRACES (R)

������Release Date: Dec. 11

Penelope Cruz may have won an Oscar for her role in Woody Allen’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona, but it’s her longstanding connection with director Pedro Almodóvar that has historically produced her best work. Their latest collaboration, the noirinfluenced Broken Embraces, is no exception. The story centers around screenwriter Harry Caine (Lluís Homar), who was previously known as film director Mateo Blanco. Harry is blind, and the tale of how he became sightless unfolds as a perfectly paced melodrama. Flashing backwards and forwards in time from the early ‘90s to present day, we gradually learn of Mateo’s love for Lena, who gave up her dreams of being an actress to work as secretary to wealthy mogul Ernesto Martel. When her father is diagnosed with terminal cancer, the desperate Lena has no choice but to turn to her elderly boss for help, resulting in a long-term relationship that begins out of a sense of obligation.

But when she nabs an audition with Mateo after taking Ernesto Jr. (an aspiring filmmaker himself) to the meet the director, her passions are kindled, both for acting and for Mateo. The movie offers a wonderful examination of the complex, intimate relationship between an artist and his muse, as well as the absorbing power of the creative process.

Cruz, looking like a Spanish Audrey Hepburn, proves she’s at her best when acting in her native tongue. Almodovar continues to refine his skills as a visual storyteller, expertly ratcheting up both suspenseful and sexual tension. Not every moment works, and the momentum seems to drag a bit in the third act. But with excellent performances all around (including supporting turns from Blanca Portillo as Mateo’s ex-lover-turned-caretaker and José Luis Gómez as the elder Martel) and plenty of humor to lighten the dark storyline, Almodóvar’s latest film works as a fine addition to his storied canon.

–B. Love

THE BLIND SIDE (PG-13)

������Release Date: Nov. 20

I’m of two minds about this film based on the true story of Michael Oher, a homeless black teen traumatized by abuse who was taken in by a well-to-do white family and eventually became an All-American college football player drafted by the Baltimore Ravens. On the positive side, there’s the unbelievably uplifting storyline; a surprisingly strong performance from Sandra Bullock as conservative interior designer Leigh Anne Touhy, a ballsy go-getter who ensures Oher gets into private school, gets on the football team, and gets good enough grades to qualify for a scholarship; and John Lee Hancock’s refreshingly subtle direction, which largely avoids the sports clichés that plagued his Remember The Titans.

On the downside, the story ignores deeper issues about race, poverty and privilege; Leigh Anne’s brassiness makes the quiet, withdrawn Oher (newcomer Quinton Aaron) seem like a bland blank slate by comparison; and Hancock largely sticks with feel-good generalities rather than digging down for the heart of what makes these characters tick. It’s not a bad movie by any means, but in trading dynamic drama for cuddly crowdpleasing, it’s the equivalent of settling for a field goal instead of fighting for the touchdown.

–B. Love

BROTHERS (R) ������Release Date: Dec. 4

It was King Croesus of Lydia who said, “In peace the sons bury their fathers, but in war, the fathers bury their sons.” For the Cahill family, truer words have never been spoken. Though Capt. Sam Cahill

(Tobey Maguire) has decent parents, loving wife Grace (Natalie Portman) and two cute daughters, nothing sends a jolt through the Marine quite like the smell of Afghani soil. As fate would have it, the week of his deployment is the same time his brother, Tommy (Jake Gyllenhaal), comes home from prison. Yeah, someone had better get Dr. Phil on the phone ‘cuz we feel some serious good son/bad son domestic quarreling on the horizon here. But before it can unfold, the family’s world is shattered when word comes back that Sam’s been killed in combat. Grace crumbles with heartache.

Sam’s pop does likewise—only in a prouder, drunker fashion. Tommy finds himself somewhere in between, battling past demons with his father and helping Grace with the kids and house. The carpenter’s got a tough exterior, but a heart made out of crown molding. So, after months of thinking his brother’s dead, he falls for the grieving widow.

Alas, director Jim Sheridan’s (Get Rich or Die Trying) camera pans to some nameless cave in the Middle East. Sam’s alive. The soldier somehow makes his way home. But not really. (See above Croesus quote.) A disheveled shell of his former self, Cahill irks his kids, questions Grace’s loyalty and scares the bejesus out of you with nearly every motion. Maguire’s there, but he’s totally lost in this post-war, oblivious-to-normal-life place war films rarely venture. You almost wish there was an Academy Award for body parts, because his piercing eyes steal every scene. As it stands, Brothers is a gripping picture with heart and, thanks to its three leads, plenty of dramatic legs.

–DeMarco Williams

A CHRISTMAS CAROL (PG)

������Release Date: Nov. 6

When it was announced that Robert Zemeckis was directing an adaptation of Dickens’ classic starring Jim Carrey and made with 3D motioncapture, my response was negative. But then I saw the opening scene at Comic-Con and heard the first line of Dickens’ take– “Marley was dead”– and I’ve been excited ever since. A Christmas Carol is not only another step forward in the field of 3D motion-capture cinema, but an adaptation that realizes that ghost stories are supposed to be scary. Through a new program used to track retinal movements, Zemeckis has solved the “dead-eye” problem, and his Scrooge is very much alive. The character’s greatest technical asset is his age, with distinct facial movements and the tightness of the skin allowing for subtle tics that make the character feel realistic. While it would be no challenge to put Scrooge makeup on Carrey, the advantage of the animation is that it can de-age him, allowing him to play Scrooge as a child and a young man, the child-like Ghost of Christmas Past and the hearty Ghost of Christmas Present.

It’s not a matter of trying to save money on actors, but a thoughtful reason for having one actor play multiple roles. This is not an Eddie Murphy movie.

To that end, A Christmas Carol intentionally scares children. Parents will be left wondering how this movie and Where The Wild Things Are got PG ratings. My answer: they don’t have swear words.

It’s simple to dismiss Robert Zemeckis’ ongoing quest to tell stories in motion capture 3D, but after seeing this one I’m learning to have faith.

–Matt Goldberg

THE FANTASTIC MR. FOX (PG) ������Release Date: Nov. 25

This feels like the film director Wes Anderson has been trying to make ever since Bottle Rocket.

His movies always had the tone of a classic book for young adults, but what was once a stylish affectation mutated into artistic lethargy, with Anderson using his style as a crutch rather than a means to tell a story. But with Fantastic Mr. Fox

PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL PUSH BY SAPPHIRE Starring: Gabby Sidibe, Mo’Nique, Mariah Carey, Paula Patton, Lenny Kravitz Director: Lee Daniels. Release Date: Nov. 6. Rating: R ����� An obese black girl growing up in ‘80s Harlem is beaten and verbally abused by her selfish mother. The girl is pregnant with her second child after being raped once again by her father.

Still hopeful for a better life, the girl enrolls in a program that helps wayward young women to get their G.E.D. Through the help of a saintly teacher and the support of her classmates, the girl finds confidence and love. The movie co-stars comedienne Mo’Nique, pop sensation Mariah Carey, rocker Lenny Kravitz.

Despite that description, Precious is not a Hallmark movie, but it is one of the best films of the year. Director Lee Daniels dodges every pitfall the premise sets for his story through his unwavering devotion to the honesty of Precious’ life. He and screenwriter Geoffrey Fletcher never shy away from the brutality of Precious’ experiences, nor do they neglect the triumphs she achieves through her desire to succeed. Precious’ hope isn’t euphoric or myopic, but over the course of the film it transforms from wishing others would love her to learning to love herself.

It’s easy to dismiss her abusive mother Mary as nothing more than an evil, malevolent force who turns her daughter into a servant so she can watch shitty TV and eat crappy food as she subsists on welfare checks. But she’s rendered more than an easily dismissed stereotype by comedienne Mo’Nique (Soul Plane, Phat Girlz), who maintains the realism of the character by showing us that her ugliness comes from pain, regret and betrayal. While Mo’Nique’s work is astounding, not a single actor here gives anything less than a powerful performance. Even Carey and Kravitz remove their Hollywood glamour to play minor roles in the movie, supporting a story they believe in. In her feature film debut, Gabourey Sidibe gives a breakthrough performance as Precious, showing in every scene that she has the strength to endure her abuse and the joy to appreciate the love she receives.

Thanks to Sidibe, you never pity Precious: You cheer for her. Credit Daniels, whose only previous feature was the 1995 Cuba Gooding Jr. crime-drama Shadowboxer, with crafting an emotional rollercoaster that knows when to break from reality and bring one of Precious’ daydreams to life, and when to show her life at its bleakest. There are so many ways to cynically brush aside Precious: Based on the Novel by Sapphire, but once you see this film you won’t be able to let it go.

–Matt Goldberg (based on the Roald Dahl book), Anderson turns what had become his greatest weakness into his greatest strength. Mr. Fox (George Clooney), Mrs. Fox (Meryl Streep), and their sullen son Ash (Jason Schwartzman) live a cozy life in a tiny borough, but Mr. Fox wants more. Feeling trapped by his domestic life, he returns to his wilder days by robbing Boggis, Bunce and Bean of their goods and then slapping discount stickers on to fool Mrs. Fox. Meanwhile, Ash falls into the shadow of his cousin Kristofferson (Eric Anderson) and becomes even more desperate to earn his father’s approval. Boggis, Bunce and Bean care little for the family matters of foxes, and attempt to destroy the thieving Mr. Fox any way they can. This results in chaos for all the creatures living under the hill, and in order to make things right Mr. Fox must discover if he’s really as clever as he thinks he is.

The tale is told through meticulous stop-motion animation: All Anderson’s animals have fur and inhabit a world that feels like a ‘70s children show stretched to make a full-length film. But it never feels overly long, and Anderson’s signature bright colors, direct angles and cool soundtrack enhance the film rather than feeling forced upon it. Thematically, the story’s undercurrent is the

same as previous Anderson films, with a flawed father figure and dysfunctional family with bizarre coping methods. In the end, Fantastic Mr. Fox is a charming and clever family film that’s silly without ever being stupid.

–Matt Goldberg

RED CLIFF (R)

������Release Date: Nov. 20

There was a time when the mere mention of director John Woo’s name was enough to get my heart pumping. Already a Hong Kong action legend, films like Face/Off and Mission: Impossible II proved him capable of crossing over to Hollywood. It’s been nearly a decade since Woo made anything worth getting excited about, but after a six-year break he’s returned with one of his most accomplished efforts. The most expensive film in Chinese cinematic history, Red Cliff is an epic historical drama set in third century China, where the emperor of the Han Dynasty has sent a million-man army to fight two rebellious, but woefully unmatched kingdoms. Stripped down to 148 minutes from the original 5-hour Asian PG 13 • insiteatlanta.com • December 2009

BASED ON THE NOVEL PUSH BY SAPPHIRE

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UPCOMING DVD RELEASES AND REVIEWS

BY B. LOVE & JOHN MOORE GLEE- SEASON 1: ROAD TO SECTIONALS – It’s not a perfect show by any means (see: soap opera plots, sashaying football teams), but Ryan Murphy’s follow-up to Nip/Tuck is TV’s first successful musical melodrama, making both geeks and retro sounds seem cool… no easy feat. This 4-DVD set features the first 13 episodes as well as behind-the-scenes featurettes, audition videos and isolated music from the show. See what all the buzz is about.

HIGH SCHOOL RECORD – For those who thought Napoleon Dynamite was waaaay overrated, High School Record is everything that movie should have been. Following four awkward high school kids as they stumble through sex, school and one embarrassing day after another, this 90minute faux documentary (shot through the lens of fellow student filmmakers) is just as quirky as Napoleon, but far more touching and real.

THE IT CROWD: THE COMPLETE THIRD SEASON – Though it never generated the U.S. buzz fellow Brit-com imports Little Britain or The Office did, The IT Crowd is still a remarkably funny series.

Taking place in the IT department of a faceless company (complete with two computer nerds and a boss who wouldn’t know a mouse from a… well, real mouse), the IT Crowd is a unique mixture of slapstick physical comedy and brilliant writing.

IT MIGHT GET LOUD – Largely overlooked in theaters, this historic documentary pairing Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), The Edge (U2) and Jack White (White PG 14 • insiteatlanta.com • December 2009

Stripes) deserves to find an audience. The legendary guitarists come together to play, compare notes and talk about their mutual love of music, with extras including deleted scenes, director commentary and an engaging Toronto Film Festival press conference with the director and his stars.

MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000: VOLUME XVI – It takes watching some of the truly terrible films being released today to make you realize how much you miss the MST3K gang’s snarky quips. This limited edition 4-DVD set is perfect for the hollydaze, skewering god-awful classics like “Santa Claus Conquers the Devil” and “Night of the Blood Beast.”

Extras include MST3K miniposters and a collectible Tom Servo figurine.

OTHER DECEMBER RELEASES:

DVD

December 1 – Ben 10: Alien Swarm ���������������������������������� �������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������ December 8 – Harry Potter and the Half-Blood ������� �� ������ �� ������ �� ������ ��� ��������� ������ �������������������������������������������������� Volume Two December 15�������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������ ����������������������������������������������� ������������������� December 22������������������������������������������ ������������������������������������������������ Something, Something, Darkside December 29 �� ����������� ����� �� ����������� Activity

edition, the film feels massive by any definition, using 300 horses and a cast and crew of nearly 2,000. The result is like a cross between 300 and The Lord of The Rings, with nearly every scene a jaw-dropping grand scale battle unlike anything Woo has ever filmed. If there’s one complaint to be had, it’s that the action flies so fast and furious it can be difficult to figure out who’s who. The villainous General Cao Cao (Zhang Fengyi), who browbeats the timid emperor into launching the attack, remains strong throughout, and Woo fans will root for Hard Boiled star Tony Leung as warrior Zhou Yu, whose gorgeous wife (model-turned-actress Chiling Lin) seems to be the object of Cao Cao’s murderous mission. But rebel leaders Liu Bei (You Yong) and Sun Quan (Chang Chen) and their various generals tend to get lost in the shuffle, overshadowed by Zen-like military tactician Zhuge Liang (Takeshi Kaneshiro), who proves himself as much the film’s soul as Zhou Yu is its heart. The action sequences are absolutely stunning, building to a devastating climax that required a year to plan and makes the opening sequence of Saving Private Ryan look like child’s play. And while some critics have carped that the dialogue is wooden or that the story takes liberty with history, to my eyes it’s the best foreign film of the year, and one of Woo’s best yet.

–B. Love

THE ROAD (R)

������Release Date: Nov. 25

The word “bleak” does not do justice to director John Hillcoat’s faithful adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. Set in an ugly grey apocalyptic wasteland, “Man” (Viggo Mortensen) and his son “Boy” (Kodi Smit-McPhee) struggle to survive in a world where the best use of a bullet is to kill your child to make sure he isn’t eaten alive by cannibals.

But perhaps the greatest flaw of The Road is the fact that Hillcoat (The Proposition) completely embraces the journey of his characters: pointless. Which isn’t to say that the film doesn’t have clear themes, it’s just that you reach the end and you’re left feeling destroyed by a world that provides no incentive to live.

As Man clings to his son as his only reason for survival, with their quest to reach the coast their only reason to keep moving, there’s not much you can find uplifting. It’s to Hillcoat’s great credit that he’s still able to derive tension when necessary by finding a situation which would be even worse for Man and Boy than the one they currently inhabit. It’s to even greater credit that Mortensen can find an array of gut-wrenching emotions for his character despite the hopeless circumstances. But ultimately, there’s not much you can take away from The Road. There’s the muted-yet-impressive cinematography of Javier Aguirresarobe (who also shot New Moon) as well as the sorrowful tones of Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, which is reminiscent of their brilliant score for The Assassination of Jesse James By the Coward Robert Ford. On a technical level, The Road is a success. Yet when it comes to its story, there’s not a lot you can say once the credits roll other than, “I’m glad the world outside this theater isn’t a place where death is a blessing.”

–Matt Goldberg

NEW MOON (PG-13)

������Release Date: Nov. 20

Like last year’s Twilight, New Moon is criticproof. This film isn’t for us, and the fans will love it. However, none of that means New Moon isn’t worthy of humorous derision or concerned analysis of the disturbing subtext. This is a bad movie that fails on nearly every level, but that doesn’t mean it’s not fascinating. The series is one of the most popular young adult stories of the last decade, yet the movie lacks so much, including a strong female protagonist, subtlety, joy, a positive message for young women and, above all, shirts. There is a severe shortage of shirts in New Moon. Director Chris Weitz brings three skills that Twilight director Catherine

Hardwicke sorely lacked: the ability to shoot without a blue filter, well-shot action scenes, and convincing special effects as far as the animals are concerned. But Weitz makes Hardwicke look like Bergman when it comes to subtlety. There are moments in New Moon where I laughed out loud because I thought Weitz was mocking this overwrought teenage love story by using the cheesiest, most clichéd images imaginable.

But he’s playing it completely straight and, while Twilight fans are eating it up, the rest of us are trying to balance slack-jawed amazement with hysterical laughter. Those moments are at least a reprieve from Bella’s unrelenting misery. Bella’s dependence on men is where I leave the silliness of New Moon behind and begin to actively loathe the property. Here are six words you will never hear Bella Swan say: “I can take care of myself.” This is the protagonist of one of the best-selling books today! Parents, is this really the kind of role model you want for your child? And women who see this as fantasy, is this really what you find exhilarating?

There are moments in which I don’t hate New Moon. I like the cinematography, the werewolf CGI, Taylor Lautner, and the fact they made up an action movie called “Face Punch,” which I would totally see based on title alone. But two questions remain at the forefront of my mind: How troubling it is that this movie will gross hundreds of millions while having such a misogynist message? And why won’t someone give these hot Native Americans some shirts?

–Matt Goldberg

UP IN THE AIR (R)

������Release Date: Dec. 25

“To know me is to fly with me,” says Ryan Bingham as he packs his bags and moves through the airport with rapier-like precision. “Everything you hate about travel… are warm reminders that I’m home.” It’s the perfect introduction to a man George Clooney was born to play. Bingham is a 21st century gunslinger, hired to travel around the country firing employees their bosses are too timid to terminate. Bingham spends over 300 days a year on the road, and loathes every minute of the few days he’s home in Omaha. He finds comfort in first class upgrades, Admiral’s Club admission and frequent flyer miles (his dream is to become the 7th person to reach 10 million).

“Moving is living,” he says in his “What’s In Your Backpack” motivational speeches, avoiding emotional intimacy at all costs and considering commitment a fate worse than death. When he meets a fellow road warrior (Vera Farmiga) in a hotel bar, comparing reward program cards and discussing mile-high club experiences, it’s a match made in heaven. “Think of me as yourself,” she quips, “only with a vagina.” After a quick romp through the Kama Sutra, they’re coordinating schedules to arrange another rendezvous. That is, until Bingham’s upwardly mobile associate (Anna Kendrick) suggests the company fire people via teleconference, saving themselves thousands on travel costs.

Bingham’s job may not be in jeopardy, but his nomadic lifestyle is, and there’s an undeniable air of comedic tension as he takes the young gun on the road to show her the ropes. Cowritten and directed by Jason Reitman, Up In The Air is easily one of the year’s best films– an adult comedy that evenly balances humor and heart while tapping into our cultural zeitgeist by putting human faces on the economic downturn. Jason Bateman delivers another fine supporting turn as Bingham’s smarmy boss, while Kendrick proves one of the year’s best new talents as a recent college grad struggling to get ahead in her career while pursuing the traditional American family dream. The film wisely makes no character judgments, leaving it up to the audience to decide whether Bingham’s existence is a valid lifestyle choice or merely a self-protective emotional cocoon. It also offers no pat Hollywood resolutions, letting you figure out for yourself whether our dashing cowboy hangs up his hat for good or simply rides off into the sunset.

–B. Love

Penelope Cruz’s Nine Lives

FILM INTERVIEW

Can a Broadway Musical Finally Give “The Spanish Enchantress” Her First Hollywood Hit? T

BY ALEX S. MORRISON

HERE IS A LONGSTANDING HOLLYWOOD SUPER stition suggesting that winning an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress is the career kiss of death. Mira Sorvino has never rivaled her winning role in Mighty Aphrodite, Catherine Zeta-Jones hasn’t had a single hit since Chicago, and Renee Zellweger has watched her movies tank consistently since getting an Oscar for Cold Mountain.

But Penelope Cruz seems to have found the perfect way to reverse the curse: Before the 2009 win for her role as mentally unstable artist Maria Elena in Woody Allen’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona, the actress known as the Spanish enchantress had never had anything resembling a box office blockbuster. Which is a fairly impressive feat when you consider how many high-profile roles she managed to land opposite A-list alpha males like Matt Damon (2000’s All The Pretty Horses), Johnny Depp (2001’s Blow), Nicolas Cage (2001’s Captain Corelli’s Mandolin), Tom Cruise (2001’s Vanilla Sky) and Matthew McConaughey (2005’s Sahara). The fact is, despite stellar starring roles in numerous foreign films, Cruz remains best known in the U.S. for her relationships with her leading men, including Cruise, McConaughey and current boyfriend Javier Bardem (whom she first worked with in 1997’s Live Flesh).

So where other actresses have had to worry about maintaining momentum in the wake of winning Oscar gold, the 35-year-old Cruz approaches the release of the eagerly anticipated Nine simply looking for a Hollywood hit in which she doesn’t appear as the voice of a crime-fighting guinea pig (see: last summer’s kiddie flick G-Force… or, better yet, don’t).

This is not the future most pundits would have predicted for Cruz when she first came to the attention of American art-house audiences in the late ‘90s. Born Penélope Cruz Sanchez in Madrid, she began her career as a ballet dancer with Spain’s National Conservatory before besting 300 other girls in a talent agency audition at the age of 15. Roles in Spanish TV shows and music videos led to film acting, including a role in 1992’s Oscar-winning import Belle Epoque. But it was her work with Spanish indie auteur Pedro Almodóvar that initially established Cruz’s thespian cred in Hollywood.

“I met Pedro when I was 18 and I was too young for the script that he was writing,” she recalls during an interview at the Toronto Film Festival.

“But he told me, ‘I will write something else for you,’ and now we’ve made four films together. We became friends from the beginning and know each other really well. We share a lot of our lives with each other, and I count him as one of my closest friends.” That friendship has produced some of the best work of their respective careers, including Live Flesh, 1999’s All About My Mother (which won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film), 2006’s Volver (for which Cruz earned her first Oscar nomination) and their latest collaboration, Broken Embraces.

The latter film, which was nominated for a Golden Palm Award at the Cannes Film Festival and will be released in December, casts Cruz as

Lena, an aspiring actress who suddenly finds herself the muse for visionary director Mateo Blanco (Lluís Homar). Though the film noir-style story of passion, jealousy, obsession and guilt is clearly a work of fiction, it’s not difficult to imagine the loving connection between Lena and Mateo mirroring the one between Penelope and her mentor, Pedro.

“It is a very different type of relationship,” Cruz says, noting the romantic and sexual nature of Lena and Mateo’s partnership. “But I used a lot of my relationship with Pedro in playing the role. Emotionally, he is somebody that I connect with, somebody I’m close with, somebody I care about. A lot of times when we were rehearsing Pedro would play Lluís’ role, and when he and I were acting together it helped me understand our relationship. He is very important in my life.”

my country. The doors were much more closed years ago, so I was very grateful that they kept giving me opportunities.”

But Almodóvar sees things differently. “Hollywood doesn’t take risks with actors,” he told London’s Telegraph. “They’re not that rich in female characters either. I have the advantage that I know Penelope very well as a friend.

She has such faith in me, so I can take more risks, bring out those unseen Penelopes that other directors wouldn’t dare to conceive. She is the perfect material that I can shape into all the different women I can imagine… and [Lena] is the most difficult role she has played in all her career.”

Indeed, while critical reaction to Broken Embraces at the Toronto Film Festival was mixed, Penelope’s performance was universally praised, with some people predicting yet another Oscar nod in her future. But first, there’s the matter of Nine, Chicago director Rob Marshall’s eagerly anticipated film adaptation of the Tony Awardwinning Broadway musical. Based on Federico Fellini’s 1963 film 8½, the story follows a director (played by Daniel DayLewis) struggling to find balance during a mid-life crisis, juggling dynamic relationships with the myriad women in his life. With a remarkable cast that also includes Nicole Kidman, Judi Dench, Marion Cotillard and Kate Hudson, the film is the closest thing this year’s awards season has to a sure thing… not to mention Cruz’s best chance yet for a bona-fide Hollywood hit.

“I miss it,” she admits when asked about working with such a stellar lineup of talent. “It was a long shoot with a lot of preparation time, but I loved it because I’ve always wanted to do a musical. I loved the feeling of going back to dancing five hours a day and the challenge of having to sing and be completely vulnerable. I think we were all caught off guard by it, but we had a very supportive team. We were all together all the time during the training part. Singing, acting, choreography, dancing… we would do classes all day long.”

Adding to the shoot’s allure for Cruz was the opportunity to act alongside one of her idols, Sophia Loren, who worked with the legendary Fellini on Boccaccio ‘70. “8½ is one of my favorite movies of all time, and it felt like Fellini was very present on the set,” she recalls with a warm smile.

“Our movie was different because it was a musical, but Sophia knew Fellini and worked with [8½ star] Marcello Mastroianni many times and would share stories about that era and those amazing people with us.”

With Nine hitting theaters this month and Broken Embraces following closely on its tail, all that remains is to wait and watch the box office receipts come in. But Cruz, looking radiant in a violet and white sundress and light pink cardigan, doesn’t seem all that concerned with her commercial success (or lack thereof). For her, it truly seems to be all about the journey as opposed to the destination.

“When I started,” she recalls, “my biggest aspiration was just to be able to be an actress with work. The best situation I could imagine was to be able to choose what I wanted to do. That counts more for me than the concept of stardom. I think we’re constantly moving forward, evolving, changing and learning, and I never want to lose that sense of excitement every time I go to the set.”

WHEN I STARTED, MY BIGGEST ASPIRATION WAS JUST TO BE ABLE TO BE AN ACTRESS WITH WORK. THE BEST SITUATION I COULD IMAGINE WAS TO BE ABLE TO CHOOSE WHAT I WANTED TO DO. THAT COUNTS MORE FOR ME THAN THE CONCEPT OF STARDOM. I THINK WE’RE CONSTANTLY MOVING FORWARD, EVOLVING, CHANGING AND LEARNING, AND I NEVER WANT TO LOSE THAT SENSE OF EXCITEMENT EVERY TIME I GO TO THE SET. Cruz readily admits that this close connection between them allows Almodóvar to bring out her peak performances. “I think it’s because he’s very specific and very honest,” she reasons, “and he sees everything. On and off the set you cannot lie to him, and I know he can’t lie to me either.

The fact that we’re close friends does not mean that he’s less demanding. I always feel the same feeling of butterflies while working with him. I cannot bear to have him go home disappointed at the end of the day: I always want to feel that I am giving 100% because, one time after another, he’s given me huge amounts of trust.”

But while her friendship with Almodóvar has inarguably produced some of her finest work, Cruz has certainly proven her abilities when working with other directors. After all, Fernando Trueba’s Belle Epoque won a Best Foreign Language Film Oscar, and she was widely praised for her work in director Alejandro Amenábar’s Abre Los Ojos (which was remade by Cameron Crowe as Vanilla Sky). So why can’t Hollywood filmmakers seem to find projects worthy of Cruz’s talents?

She rejects outright the notion that Hollywood studios have failed to provide the same quality opportunities she’s gotten overseas. “I think it would sound ungrateful if I said that the work in America was less interesting than my European work,” she insists. “I feel that as an actress from Spain who spoke very little English, I’ve gotten to work with a lot of amazing people in America. I’ve never felt like I had difficulty because I never expected this to happen, since it never happened to an actress from

PG 15 • insiteatlanta.com • December 2009

CONCERT

CALENDER

FRIDAY DECEMBER 4 ANDREWS UPSTAIRS Girlz Girlz Girlz BLIND WILLIES Houserocker Johnson CENTER STAGE Bangkok Fight Night THE EARL Dropsonic EDDIES ATTIC Josh Joplin FAT MATT’S Jumpin’ Jukes FIVE SPOT Oliver Wood HIGHLAND INN The Electric Cycles LAUGHING SKILL Bil Dwyer MASQUERADE (Heaven) Almost Legendary MASQUERADE (Hell) I Wrestled A Bear Once NORTHSIDE TAVERN Zydefunk PEACHTREE TAVERN Trotline SMITH’S The Elvis Show STAR BAR Noot D’Noot VARIETY The Whigs VINYL I Do Music!

WILD BILL’S Tracy Lawrence

Kem at THE FOX THEATRE (Dec. 30) SATURDAY DECEMBER 5 ANDREWS UPSTAIRS Ray Johnson Band BLIND WILLIES Chick Willis CENTER STAGE Joyce Litel THE EARL Trances Arc EDDIES ATTIC The Brilliant Inventions FAT MATT’S Andy Makely HIGHLAND INN The Meeks Family LAUGHING SKILL Bil Dwyer MASQUERADE (Heaven) Raekwon MASQUERADE (Hell) Inward Eye NORTHSIDE TAVERN Beverly Watkins PEACHTREE TAVERN Fly By Radio SMITH’S Slobberbone STAR BAR Sun Domingo VARIETY Kingsized WILD BILL’S Blizzfest 2009 SUNDAY DECEMBER 6 BLIND WILLIES Luxury Kings THE EARL Rick Dang EDDIES ATTIC Jan Smith Student Showcase FAT MATT’S Blues Envy FIVE SPOT Bluegrass Jam Sessions LAUGHING SKILL Bil Dwyer MASQUERADE (Heaven) 2009 PacTour MONDAY DECEMBER 7 BLIND WILLIES The Stingrays THE EARL Pelican EDDIES ATTIC Songwriter’s Open Mic FAT MATT’S Patrick Vining FIVE SPOT Michael C. Smith HIGHLAND INN Lo Fi Mondays MASQUERADE (Hell) A Winter To Remember SMITH’S Come On Go With Us TUESDAY DECEMBER 8 BLIND WILLIES Barrelhouse Bob Page THE EARL Land of Talk EDDIES ATTIC Amber Rubarth FAT MATT’S Pokey LaFarge FIVE SPOT Open Mic HIGHLAND INN DJ Yoon MASQUERADE (Hell) California Love TOur SMITH’S The Plastic Lennon Band STAR BAR Derek Lyn Plastic VINYL Stevie Monce WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 9 BLIND WILLIE’S Scott Glazer’s Mojo Dojo THE EARL Tealights EDDIES ATTIC Tony Furtado FAT MATT’S The Soulshakers FIVE SPOT RISE HIGHLAND INN 40 Hells LAUGHING SKILL Comedy Gold Open Mic SMITH’S Benefit for Melinda Kingsley STAR BAR FREAKOUT!!!

For Advance ticket information and more details go to www.yourbrotherproductions.com or call 404-227-3549 PG 16 • insiteatlanta.com • December 2009

THURSDAY DECEMBER 10 BLIND WILLIES Tommy Brown THE EARL All the Saints FAT MATT’S Chickenshack FIVE SPOT Rollin’ in the Hay MASQUERADE (Heaven) Nitzer Ebb MASQUERADE (Hell) Sponge LAUGHING SKILL Gary Gulman SMITH’S Ryan Horne VINYL Ernie Halter & More FRIDAY DECEMBER 11 ANDREWS UPSTAIRS Frontiers BLIND WILLIES Houserocker Johnson THE EARL Brendan Benson EDDIES ATTIC Indigovox FAT MATT’S Old Georgie Appalachian Jug Band FIVE SPOT Capt. Soularcat & the Sundogs HIGHLAND INN Reining Mother LAUGHING SKILL Gary Gulman MASQUERADE (Heaven) Ghostland Observatory MASQUERADE (Hell) Baroness NORTHSIDE TAVERN Soul Shakers PEACHTREE TAVERN Wes Loper Band SMITH’S Rebirth Bass Band STAR BAR Today the Moon, Tomorrow the Sun VINYL The Foolish Experience WILD BILL’S Gretchen Wilson SATURDAY DECEMBER 12 ANDREWS UPSTAIRS Dangerous New Machine BLIND WILLIES Delta Moon CENTER STAGE Atlanta’s Fight Night THE EARL The Happenstance EDDIES ATTIC Girlyman FAT MATT’S Jason Pastras FIVE SPOT Holiday Boogie Celebration HIGHLAND INN Odist LAUGHING SKILL Gary Gulman MASQUERADE (Heaven) St. Kickass MASQUERADE (Hell) The Street Dogs NORTHSIDE TAVERN Ike Stubblefield PEACHTREE TAVERN Slippery When Wet SMITH’S Rebirth Bass Band STAR BAR The Selmanaires VINYL Almost Heroes WILD BILL’S Martina McBride Afterparty SUNDAY DECEMBER 13 THE EARL Clay Reed EDDIES ATTIC Cowboy Envy FAT MATT’S Blues Envy FIVE SPOT Toys for Tots Benefit LAUGHING SKILL Gary Gulman SMITH’S Amnesty Road MONDAY DECEMBER 14 THE EARL Leopold and his Fiction EDDIES ATTIC Songwriter’s Open Mic FAT MATT’S Patrick Vining FIVE SPOT Mudcat HIGHLAND INN Lo Fi Mondays SMITH’S Jimmy Gnecco TUESDAY DECEMBER 15 BLIND WILLIES Heather Luttrell THE EARL Magnapop EDDIES ATTIC Jim White FIVE SPOT Open Mic FAT MATT’S JT Speed MASQUERADE (Hell) When Hell Freezes Over VINYL The Producers Beat Attack WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 16 BLIND WILLIES The Electromatics THE EARL The Dutchess EDDIES ATTIC Drew Holcomb FAT MATT’S The Soulshakers FIVE SPOT Allison Weiss HIGHLAND INN Lost Cause DJs LAUGHING SKILL Comedy Gold Open Mic MASQUERADE (Heaven) Sam Koon Band MASQUERADE (Hell) Strange Design SMITH’S Sam Thacker VINYL Spy For Hire THURSDAY DECEMBER 17 BLIND WILLIES Sandra Hall THE EARL Benji Hughes EDDIES ATTIC Jennifer Daniels FAT MATT’S Chickenshack FIVE SPOT Sumati GWINNETT ARENA Star 94 Jingle Jam HIGHLAND INN Johnny L Hurricane Jones LAUGHING SKILL Natasha Leggero MASQUERADE (Hell) The Supervillains PEACHTREE TAVERN Az Izz SMITH’S B.O.B. STAR BAR Big Trouble in Little 5 VINYL Silent & Listen FRIDAY DECEMBER 18 ANDREWS UPSTAIRS Slow Nerve Action BLIND WILLIES Sandra Hall THE EARL Death of Kings EDDIES ATTIC Matthew Perryman Jones FAT MATT’S The Pocket Mafia HIGHLAND INN Dropsonic LAUGHING SKILL Natasha Leggero MASQUERADE (Heaven) Seven Story Fall MASQUERADE (Hell) Last November

NORTHSIDE TAVERN Eddie Tigner PEACHTREE TAVERN The Wrong Way SMITH’S Collective Efforts STAR BAR Yule Log TABERNACLE Dashboard Confessional VARIETY Yacht Rock VINYL Pasadena WILD BILL’S Fight Night

MONDAY DECEMBER 28 BLIND WILLIES Boo Hoo Ramblers THE EARL Blue Eyed Goodbyes FAT MATT’S Patrick Vining FOX THEATRE Lady Gaga HIGHLAND INN Lo Fi Mondays PHILIPS Jeff Dunham

SATURDAY DECEMBER 19 ANDREWS UPSTAIRS Money Shot BLIND WILLIE’S Chicago Bob THE EARL T.T. Mahony EDDIES ATTIC A Night of Ed Roland FAT MATT’S Cope FIVE SPOT Zach Deputy HIGHLAND INN A Fight to the Death LAUGHING SKILL Natasha Leggero MASQUERADE (Heaven) Norma Jean MASQUERADE (Hell) Jingle Bells 2009 PEACHTREE TAVERN Bill Sheffield SMITH’S Winter Soulstice STAR BAR The Greater Vacuum VARIETY Abbey Road VINYL Boston Teabaggin

TUESDAY DECEMBER 29 BLIND WILLIES Joe McGuinness EDDIES ATTIC Sarah Peacock FAT MATT’S JT Speed FIVE SPOT Open Mic FOX THEATRE Lady Gaga MASQUERADE (Hell) The Get Goes SMITH’S Col. Bruce Hampton

SUNDAY DECEMBER 20 EDDIES ATTIC A Night of Ed Roland FAT MATT’S Blues Envy FIVE SPOT A Night of Ladies of Athens LAUGHING SKILL Natasha Leggero MONDAY DECEMBER 21 BLIND WILLIES The Deacon Brandon Reeves THE EARL Death Match EDDIES ATTIC Songwriter’s Open Mic FAT MATT’S Patrick Vining FIVE SPOT Holly Howell HIGHLAND INN Lo Fi Mondays SMITH’S Blues Cat TUESDAY DECEMBER 22 BLIND WILLIES Soul Shakers EDDIES ATTIC Jonathan Rich FAT MATT’S JT Speed SMITH’S Mama’s Love

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 30 EDDIES ATTIC Mike Willis FAT MATT’S The Soulshakers FOX THEATRE Kem LAUGHING SKILL Comedy Gold Open Mic SMITH’S Entropy TABERNACLE Band of Horses VARIETY Perpetual Groove THURSDAY DECEMBER 31 ANDREWS UPSTAIRS Unzipt THE EARL The Black Lips EDDIES ATTIC Michelle Malone Banned FAT MATT’S Chickenshack FIVE SPOT Yonrico Scott & Laura Reed HIGHLAND INN Sealions MASQUERADE (Heaven) Nashville Pussy NORTHSIDE TAVERN Mudcat PEACHTREE TAVERN Groove Factor SMITH’S Modern Skirts w/ Five Eight STAR BAR Young Orchids TABERNACLE Band of Horses VARIETY Perpetual Groove

Lady Gaga at THE FOX THEATRE (Dec. 28-29)

Fri, Dec. 11 WENDESDAY DECEMBER 23 BLIND WILLIES Burnt Bacon THE EARL Travel by Train EDDIES ATTIC Peter Bradley Adams FIVE SPOT Open Mic FAT MATT’S The Soulshakers HIGHLAND INN Lost Cause DJs LAUGHING SKILL Comedy Gold Open Mic MASQUERADE (Hell) The Tree That Jordan Built SMITH’S David Ryan Harris THURSDAY DECEMBER 24 CHRISTMAS EVE FRIDAY DECEMBER 25 MERRY CHRISTMAS THE EARL A PBR Christmas MAINSTAGE Steve & The Millers NORTHSIDE TAVERN Mudcat PEACHTREE TAVERN Santa After Party SATURDAY DECEMBER 26 BLIND WILLIES Houserocker Johnson THE EARL Eric Bachman EDDIES ATTIC The Lovell Sisters HIGHLAND INN DJ Rene LAUGHING SKILL Dan Mengini NORTHSIDE TAVERN Mudcat PEACHTREE TAVERN Culture Sol SMITH’S The Swinging Richards STAR BAR Nine Inch Neils TABERNACLE Drivin N Cryin SUNDAY DECEMBER 27 EDDIES ATTIC Micah Dalton FAT MATT’S Blues Envy FIVE SPOT I-Tegrity LAUGHING SKILL Dan Mengini

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Fri, Dec. 18

WES LOPER SLIPPERY WHEN The Wrong Way BAND WET (Sublime Tribute)

(Country Rock Cover)

Fri, Dec. 25

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(Bon Jovi Tribute) w/ Nesbit

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Thr, Dec 31

CULTURE SOL

GROOVE FACTOR

(Hip-Hop Cover)

NO COVER WEEKNIGHTS!

NEW YEAR’S EVE

(Hip-Hop & Dance Cover Band)

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Road Warriors

This Month’s Hottest Shows

BY SACHA DZUBA

Dashboard, you’ve got your wish… This will be a solo acoustic show. Guyliner a must!

12/3/09 JUCIFER

Lenny’s Undeniably full of energy and insanity, Jucifer is a powerful duo that brings equal measures of metal and melodic songs á la Lush. Think Portishead’s Beth Gibbons singing for the Melvins, with lyrics just as likely to be in French as in English. So lay off the Ritalin and let your ADD nature run wild, for schizophrenia when you’re rocking out with one of Georgia’s finest homegrown bands.

12/19/09 VINCE GUARLDI’S “A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS”

JUCIFER

12/7/09 PELICAN

The Earl Pelican is an instrumental quartet that sonically assaults you with a metal-influenced style all their own. Instead of dirge-like minor keys and palm-muted power chords, major chords are their primary fare.

Whether in-your-face or acoustic, their epic songs always take the listener on a journey. Their latest album, What We All Come To Need, has a sun-flecked lazy summer’s day hopefulness that will likely surprise you. Powerful and unique, you’re PELICAN sure to hear a dense combination of sounds and styles.

12/7/09 CURSIVE

Lenny’s Offering emo sounds with anguished vocals, Cursive’s career has been moving steadily forward without ever quite reaching the big time.

The Ugly Organ brought cello into their mix of pointed riffs and emotive screams, but the dissonant jags of guitar are still there, along with humorously self-aware and bizarrely inspired lyrics. Touring in support of their diversely chaotic album, Mama, I’m Swollen, these indie-rockers will grab you by whatever they can get ahold of and make you wonder what LADY GAGA hit you.

12/16/09 ROONEY

The Loft After their self-titled debut, Rooney released Calling The World, which borrows musical influences from bands ranging from Queen to New Order. There’s a decidedly ‘80s pop sensibility that’s clearly evident in songs like “When Did Your Heart Go Missing,” but the group usually finds a way to make each song distinctively theirs. Their poppy sound is inevitably catchy– they’ve toured with everyone from Weezer to the Jonas Brothers and Kelly Clarkson– but there’s something undeniably charming about their style.

12/17/09 DASHBOARD CONFESSIONAL

ROONEY

The Loft After gaining numerous fans with The Places You Have Come to Fear the Most and A Mark, a Mission, a Brand, a Scar, Dashboard Confessional had the emo crowd eating out of the palm of Chris Carrabba’s hands. Even I was seduced by the heart-on-his-sleeve lyrics and undeniable hooks. But their latest album, Alter the Ending, leaves me longing for the intimacy of Carrabba’s open-hearted lyrics and soulful style, as the radio polish and gloss seems to have diminished the original draw. For others longing for the more stripped-down version of PG 18 • insiteatlanta.com • December 2009

The Earl Who doesn’t love a Charlie Brown Christmas? Nobody, that’s who.

This holiday musical extravaganza is brought to you by Atlanta musicians Jeffrey Bützer (drums) and T.T. Mahoney (piano), with Adrian Ash joining them on bass. These talented cats will perform Vince Guaraldi’s jazzy Christmas classic in its entirety, joined by singers, holiday-themed projections, baked goods (in limited amounts, so get there early!), and apparently a few naughty elfin dancers. The show will open with some surf-style Christmas tunes from El Capitan & his Merry Melody Makers. Good Grief! Christmas time is here, indeed…

12/26/09 DRIVIN ‘N’ CRYIN

The Tabernacle Atlanta legends Drivin ‘n’ Cryin bring their finely-honed southern rock sound to the Tabernacle to promote their first new album in 12 years.

Whatever Happened To The Great American Bubble Factory? will almost certainly please diehard Drivin ‘n’ Cryin fans with its eclectic mix of rock, country, folk, punk and blues.

Expect to hear lots of classic fan-favorites from the “Fly Me Courageous” and “Straight To Hell” days, as well as some new tracks.

12/28/09 LADY GAGA

Fox Theatre I’ll admit I’m entranced by this quirky woman– her crazy fashion sense, her amusing videos and her obvious talent. Despite the styleover-substance exterior, Gaga’s solo performances prove she can sing and play piano quite well, and she’s obviously got a great sense of humor. The Fame has become one of 2009’s greatest guilty pleasures, and if her concert is anything like her American Music Awards performance, you’re in for a 3-ring circus of a treat.

12/31/09 MODERN SKIRTS

Smith’s Olde Bar This Athens-based quartet is almost single-handedly reviving the sound of the ‘60s British Invasion. The longtime local favorites have enjoyed a successful European tour and the blessing of Mike Mills (R.E.M.).

Now they bring their blend of Britpop, Brian Wilson sensibilities, solid piano foundation and catchy vocal harmonies to Atlanta’s ear-holes.

12/30-12/31/09 BAND OF HORSES

The Tabernacle This two-day event finds Band of Horses rustling their rustic brand of indie-rock into Atlanta for a pre-New Year’s stint. The group is often compared to My Morning Jacket, likely due to having a similar vocal style, but the shimmery nature of their music will draw even non-MMJ fans in. If you haven’t heard songs such as “The Funeral” or the enchanting “No One’s Gonna Love You,” just imagine the Flaming Lips’ Wayne Coyne singing for Modest Mouse and you’re almost there…

MUSIC INTERVIEW

BY JOHN B. MOORE

I

T’S ONLY BEEN TWO YEARS SINCE Every Time I Die last unleashed their paintstripping brand of upstate New York metal/ hardcore to the masses. But in the past 24 months, the band has added a new bass player, lost a drummer and landed on their dream label. They also somehow found time to put together a new record, New Junk Aesthetic, a dozen or so blistering tracks that also happens to be the best effort yet from Buffalo’s finest. Frontman Keith Buckley spoke with us recently about the band’s new lineup, the new record and how cool it would be to get Tom Waits to sit in on a song.

Keith Buckley On Their New Drummer, New Label & New Junk Aesthetic

he’s played with a few bands out in California. You don’t want to go with the first person you find.

You’re lucky if you can hit it right on the head without too much heartbreak and tribulation.

What can you tell me about the new album?

It’s definitely our most cohesive release ever.

There’s actually a tight theme lyrically, the artwork was all done by Jordan, and everything was handled in house by Epitaph. It feels like when this CD comes out it will be less of a CD release and more of an art exhibit. It just feels like we all came together on this one.

Artists on the verge of making it big

Latest Project: J. Neutron (Bases Loaded/Universal Republic) For Fans of: Yung L.A., T.I. and Lil Wayne Why You Should Care: Because rap’s post-Auto Tune movement might very well be filled with J’s colorful blips and zany antics.

BY DEMARCO WILLIAMS

H

What song in particular did you want to have him on?

I wanted to have him particularly on “Turtles All the Way Down.” It’s a really slow, weird one.

How did you guys end up on Epitaph for this record?

I don’t know how it usually goes for things of Is this the first time you’ve ever had a cohesive this nature, but it was extremely easy. We realized theme lyrically?

Let’s get this question out of the way. Were our contract with you surprised at all when THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW COMMON THEMES ON EARLIER Ferret was up and we Mike (drummer “Ratboy” had a meeting with RECORDS AND SOME THINGS I DIDN’T SEE UNTIL LATER, Novak) announced he was management. We leaving the band?

BUT FOR THE MOST PART, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE ART our said, “Honestly, we No. No one was surprised at AND THE LYRICS HAVE BEEN PARTNERED TOGETHER. just know we would all. To be honest, I was surprised love to be on Epitaph. it didn’t happen sooner. It was There have been a few common themes on earWe’ll play ball and maybe get some free meals out inevitable; it was just a question of when. He lier records and some things I didn’t see until later, of it in New York and L.A., but we know we want started going down a different path; Got engaged but for the most part, this is the first time the art to be with Epitaph.” We put some feelers out there and bought a house with a kid on the way. Someand the lyrics have been partnered together. and they got back to us, and we knew it would be times you gotta grow up and make a choice. It’s a dream partnership. It didn’t take any coercing on best for all involved.

You guys had a number of guests on this record. either side… and we still got a free meal out of it!

Aside from Pete Wentz, who else?

What are you guys doing about a drummer now?

We had Pete, we had Matt (Caughthran) from And were you or are you a big Bad Religion fan?

Jordan (Buckley, Keith’s brother and ETID’s guiOh, absolutely, ever since seventh grade. I actuThe Bronx and Greg (Puciato) from Dillinger tarist) lives out in California and is trying someone ally just saw them yesterday at Warped Tour.

Escape Plan. out now. He’s a guy from Las Vegas who is trying out with Jordan and our tour manager. They hung Was there anyone you really wanted to get Is that surreal at all to you to be on Brett (Gureout a little bit and jammed with him. We’re actuon the record, but for whatever reason you witz’s) label now? ally going out to California to shoot a video next It’s unbelievable! I remember getting introduced couldn’t swing it? week and we’ll meet him in person and practice Actually, the one person I really wanted but to them by my friend in middle school. I never rewith him to see how it goes. ally got into Metallica or anything like that. These couldn’t get was Tom Waits. guys were my Metallica. They were bigger than It’s not someone from Panic at the Disco, is it? life: I had all their albums and would just sit there Oh, really? Did you try?

(Laughs) No, no, no, no, no. It’s just a guy who and read all their lyrics. I feel like a geek, but it’s Yeah, we tried a little bit because he’s on Anti came highly recommended through friends and just really cool.

(Epitaph’s sister label). But because he’s a bit

WE GOT NEXT J. FUTURISTIC

standoffish, I don’t think it was his cup of tea. He would have been awesome. I don’t want to dig at anyone on the record, like they’re our second choice. But before we even started recording, after we had the song written we said, “God, this would be prefect to get Tom Waits on this song.”

ERE’S THE THING ABOUT youthful exuberance: Feelings can change on the daily. When we last spoke to J. Futuristic, 25, he wasn’t exactly beefing with fellow gimmicky ATLien Yung LA, but there was clearly a rift. In between talking up his street classic, “1st Name Last Name,” and still-unreleased debut, J. Neutron, he made it a point we understood the differences between him and LA. Now, just a couple of months later, the friends-turned-foes are back family, finishing a mixtape, Batman and Robin: Superman Language, and fooling

around on YouTube videos together. And you know what? We salute the young men for making amends. Hip hop could certainly use more of that in the future.

Let’s cut the chase. What makes you different from the Yung LAs, Kid Cudis and the B.O.Bs? I’m just really futuristic. I’m just different. You can’t compare me to them. When you do my background, do my research, I’ve built a whole different life now, came up on a whole different way. It’s my personality. I’m just different, very futuristic a.ka. J Money. Just different.

What makes a J. Futuristic fan?

A person that stays fly. A person that loves to have fun. A person that supports the positive movement of saving the future.

The younger kids that love to have fun and my older middle class-working people who love to go to the club and have fun and love inspiration music. All my people that support good music, those are my fans.

What do you see for the future of hip hop?

Auto tuning, everybody singing. But I feel like music needed a change. Music don’t need to remain the same. Basically the only ones worried about the sound changing is the old rappers, the ones who stay in their own mold.

But me, I’m a artist where I can do anything.

I can rap on the track. I can sing if you want me too. I showed on “1st Name Last Name” that I can [be versatile]. I got songs like “Secret Agent,” where I go bar for bar. I feel like people need to change for our youth. Right now, the state of hip hop, I mean what do you have coming? Everything from the South. It’s a new sound right now, with this futuristic movement. The only people that are getting mad are the ones that are stuck in their own lane. I feel like it’s time for a change.

But is it all a gimmick. Are you making music that people will listen to two or three years from now?

As long as the music has meaning to it; it has to have meaning and fun. Like the party movement, like my music or “Party Like a Rock Star.” They can say whatever they want to say about them boys, but guess what? That song right now til this day still gets played. I got songs like “This is How We Play,” where it’s just fun music.

You’ve had some ups and downs with the law.

Who do you credit for keeping you focused?

God, man. I couldn’t give nobody else the credit but God to help give me the strength to be able to survive that long away from my family, allowing me to come home in one piece, the way I went in there. Folks go in and turn gay or get killed or get more time. Here I came in and left out with a stronger mind.

I just had to know that I wanted more for myself in life and I always felt as a kid that I was bigger than I was. I always felt that this was destined for me.

What happened with you and LA’s group, the Black Amigos?

I started it but it seemed like too many things were going on in the streets with that. You know the Black Amigos stand for the Black Mexicans that supply [drugs] but I’m not into supporting that anymore. If I’m futuristic, I ain’t really known for that. I can’t represent that.

So, what’s the real differences between you and Yung LA? Biggest difference I see is that I can stand on my own and hold my own. I never got into having to be with the big dogs like [Grand Hustle Records’] T.I and Young Dro with me.

I can shine of my own. Look at me, I’m by myself, I ain’t none of them on my team and my name is just as big as his. I’mma stand on my own regardless.

How do you stand out?

I’m from the street so I can try and stay away from talking street, but you gonna hear it in me. I’ve actually done most of the things I rap about, really 99% of it. I’m motivating. [The public] sees me as a cat that came from the street that transitioned to being a rapper.

PG 19 • insiteatlanta.com • December 2009

MUSIC

Album Reviews

By B. Love, DeMarco Williams, John B. Moore, & Sacha Dzuba

The Dean’s List AC/DC – BACKTRACKS (Columbia/Legacy) Aussie rockers dig up some gems for box set

JM: AC/DC is one of those bands where there’s very little fence-sitting: You either love ‘em or hate ‘em.

The argument that always gets trotted out in discussing AC/DC is that the band sounds the same on just about every song on every album. Well… you’re right.

They found a formula very early on that works: big crunchy power chords paired with stadium sing-along lyrics about sex and rock. Not sure what the problem is there. They’ve found a way to tap into that horny, rebellious teenager in all of us regardless of age. Personally, I was sold on the band at the age of 9, when I first heard “Big Balls” after liberating the Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap cassette from my older sister’s room. Haven’t looked back since.

Backtracks is packed with a slew of rare tracks (27 to be exact, spread out over two discs) that have never appeared on studio albums. The songs have shown up on various soundtracks, many were released as singles or available in special promo releases over the band’s 35 years of existence. The box set includes 15 live tracks and another 12 studio tracks, all remastered.

Among the collection are stellar live takes of “For Those About to Rock (We Salute You),” “Jailbreak” and “Live Wire,” as well as hard-tofind songs highly coveted by AC/DC diehards, like “Cold Hearted Man,” “Borrowed Time” and “Big Gun.” The DVD boasts a ton of music videos, including four rare videos, promo clips and two short making-of docs for “Hard as a Rock” and “Rock n’ Roll Train.” I would say that this box set is probably better suited for serious AC/ DC fans but, as stated at the beginning, there is no middle ground. You’re either a diehard fan or you’re still scratching your head, trying to figure out what all the hype is about.

BARONESS – BLUE RECORD (Relapse) The South will rock again

BL: As illustrated by former INsite writer David Peisner’s recent story in SPIN, the Savannah metal scene is rapidly emerging as one of the nation’s most intriguing musical subcultures. In this tiny, historic coastal town with no record store, suffocating heat, high crime and a 20% poverty rate, teens tend to immerse themselves in music because they have nothing else to do. The sonic aggression of bands like Blacktusk and Kylesa seems indicative of their collective frustrations with their surroundings.

But to call Baroness a metal band doesn’t do their expansive sound justice. Obviously influenced by Atlanta headbanger icons Mastodon, the quartet (frontman John Baizley, bassist Summer Welch, drummer Allen Blickle and new guitarist Pete Adams) nimbly blends elements of Southern rock riffage, psychedelic spaciousness, emotive instrumental passages and hammer-of-the-gods drumming to create a sound uniquely their own.

Produced by John Congleton (the Polyphonic Spree, the Thermals), the band’s sophomore LP PG 20 • insiteatlanta.com • December 2009

is not only a clear step forward in their artistic evolution, but also one of 2009’s best hard rock albums. The artful melodic structure of the instrumental opening track, “Bullhead’s Psalm,” wouldn’t sound out of place on a Coheed & Cambria album, while “The Sweetest Curse” offers some of the strongest monolithic metal riffing I’ve heard since Metallica’s heyday. But just when the four-to-the-floor pummeling of “Jake Leg” makes you think you’ve got Baroness figured out, “Steel That Sleeps The Eye” comes along with its Moody Blues-style melodies to defy your attempts at categorization.

But the simple fact is that Baroness is not the type of band whose music fits neatly into any one box. For every hell-raising headbanger like “A Horse Called Golgotha,” they’ve got a trippy interlude like “Ogeechee Hymnal” to put the testosterone on ice. And when they seamlessly pull all their various influences together for an epic like “The Gnashing,” the results are downright exhilarating.

FUN – AIM AND IGNITE (Nettwerk)

One half of The Format creates a stellar power-pop debut JM: When The Format announced they were splitting up last year after their epically brilliant, but tragically underrated concept album, Dog Problems, it seemed like a horrible waste of talent. Dog Problems, produced by Red Kross’ Steven McDonald with musical arrangements

by Jellyfish’s Roger Manning, Jr., one of the best power-pop records of 2007. Taking inspiration from XTC and ELO, the record was an unflinching love note to every pop band that came before it disguised as a break up album.

Fun, though dreadfully named, picks up right where The Format left off. Comprised of Format co-founder Nate Reuss, Andrew Dost of Anathallo and Jack Antonoff of Steel Train, the band is a step away from Dog Problems artistically, with a few more musical risks taken, but overall just as enjoyable. With similar influences (and with McDonald and Manning back on board), Aim and Ignite is a stellar collection of power-pop songs. There is honestly not a weak track in the bunch.

Like The Format’s last album, Aim and Ignite was self-released with help from Nettwerk, which is probably why it sounds unlike anything else being churned out right now. Unabashedly poppy, with jangly guitars and sing-along choruses, the songs on the album manage to be both fun and deeply personal. You’d be hard-pressed to find a sweeter song than “The Gambler,” Reuss’ ode to his parents, and “At Least I’m Not As Sad As I Used to Be” is some of his best lyrical writing. With Aim and Ignite, Reuss and company have rightfully earned the Kings Of Intelligent Power-pop crown once worn by groups like Jellyfish, XTC and The Kinks.

Rest of the Class THE CLIPSE – TIL THE CASKET DROPS (ReUp/Columbia) & SNOOP DOGG – MALICE ‘N WONDERLAND (Priority/Doggystyle) Growing up is hard to rap to

DW: The Clipse’s Lord Willin’ was flawless. The Hell Hath No Fury follow-up was another dose

of street-savvy perfection. Sadly, for the first time in the VA crew’s career, it has released an album that doesn’t totally deliver the goods. But diehards to the duo could have seen this coming.

Before, brothers Pusha T and Malice had strife under their nails.

Records weren’t selling.

Labels weren’t cooperating. Now, things are sweet.

And it shows at times on Til the Casket Drops.

“Showing Out” jingles a lil’ too much to come from the same grindin’ crew that first made crack rap snap. The Clipse ain’t Jim Jones, but on the pop radio-ready “I’m Good,” they might as well be. Jones’ one-time man, Cam’ron, stops by on “Popular Demand,” but as soon as it and other back alley knockers like “Never Will It Stop,” “Door Man” and “Footsteps” conclude, it’s back to duets with Keri Hilson. Huh?! No disrespect to progress, but maturing shouldn’t mean losing your musical mojo.

Not that Snoop Dogg knows much about aging well. These days the 38-year-old Doggfather comes off like the guy at the mall who’s wearing the Avirex sweatsuit with Fila sneakers. Sure, it’s cool—if we’re talking about 90s night at the club.

Honestly, Snoop hasn’t been musically relevant since ’00. But with every trend known to Billboard at his disposal on this 10th solo album –The Dream (“Gangsta Luv”), Soulja Boy (“Pronto”) and Lil Jon (“1800”)- he tries to keep up with the times but usually comes up short. The Long Beach icon manages to hold his wheezing enough on the Nipsey Hussle-smashed “Upside Down” and R. Kelly-backed “Pimpin’ Ain’t EZ,” but almost everywhere else dude comes off comical. And honestly, laughing at elders is typically frowned upon. Clipse=B-; Snoop=C-

PELICAN – WHAT WE ALL COME TO NEED (Southern Lord) Music for the contemplative rocker

SD: Chicago quartet Pelican is an all-instrumental guide to a musical realm filled with sun-drenched imagery of a lazy summer’s day on a post-apocalyptic Earth. What We All Come To Need continues in line with their previous releases, but with a slightly improved sense of rhythm and clarity of recording.

One of my favorite tracks, “Specks of Light” offers delicious counterpoints to each guitar and bass riff, alternating between shimmering chorded picking and distortion as the drums drop out, lay back or surge forward to create a dynamic emotional energy. Some of the most captivating songs feature guest musicians, such as like-minded Isis guitarist Aaron Turner’s appearance on the title track. Echoes of Alice in Chains and a major chord structure’s hopeful riffs make you wonder where the banjo and mandolin are hiding, then moments of Pearl Jam influence build into Creedence Clearwater-inspired guitar riffs before it all devolves into a cacophonous crescendo. The final surprise is Shiner vocalist Allen Ripley’s appearance on the closing song, “Final Breath.” Sounding a bit like My Bloody Valentine, the track brings to life a clearer vision of Pelican’s intent, blending a wistful sense of

longing with prospects of redemption.

Some may find this album a bit gloomy, but the mid-tempo, major-chorded riffs of Pelican’s style only served to give me feelings of hope… albeit within an occasionally aggressive context.

GRADE: B-

MOWER– MAKE IT A DOUBLE (Suburban Noize) Metal-influenced punks break out the lounge jackets

JM: Oh, hyper aggressive hybrid of metal/punk band, do you ever tire of writing the same song over and over again? If you’re Mower, I guess so. Four albums into their careers, the Mohawk-sportin’ (two members, at least), tattooed members of the San Diego hard rock band are releasing their grip on that template a bit.

Sure, the themes of partying and violence are still front and center, but Make It A Double also mixes in a bit of their lounge lizard alteregos (aptly named Slower). The result is actually pretty interesting, and not nearly as forced as it sounds. The first half of the record is predictably aggro jock-rock, but the second half– the slower songs– are, well… pretty damn decent.

“Faded” and “Road Rage,” for example, are stronger than any of the band’s standard fare of sludge rock. With laidback vocal delivery, muted guitars and some strings, they somehow manage to make a song about the dangers of using a cell phone in the car (“Road Rage”) sound pretty damn good. Now, if only they would ditch the played-out metal act and take up the lounge singer vibe full time. GRADE: B-

NORAH JONES – THE FALL (Blue Note/EMI)

How adult contemporary sounds when it’s tinkering around DW: Norah Jones never really had the voice of an angel—only the arrangements and musicianship of one. Many couldn’t understand why anyone could fall for such a stern, almost husky tone trembling over soft piano keys. You tried explaining how “Come Away With Me” and “Those Sweet Words” were more about people and places than pitch and precision. Her songs told beautiful narratives. And they still do. Only now, those who first questioned your affinity seem even more vexed because her sound’s continued evolution.

The Fall is Jones’ latest oh-so-subtle departure from the Lone Star lass we first met in ’02.

Flanked by a whole new set of collaborators (producer Jacquire King, songwriter Ryan Adams and keyboardist James Poyser, just to name a few) and a brand-new notebook of quirky and flirty, this fourth album makes it a point to express the artist’s soft rock (“It’s Gonna Be”), Dixie (“You’ve Ruined Me”) and dark pop (“Even Though”) influences even more. Of course, she never goes overboard anywhere. Her sexy scruff is almost like a thread keeping every track tidy.

But like the inflection we’ve come to know and adore, Jones’ penmanship is also front and center. And it’s truly the stories of bad parents (“Tell Yer Mama”) and good dogs (“Man of the Hour”) that keep bringing us back for more.

So let the naysayers nay. We’re comfy right here, listening to this confident, new Norah Jones play. GRADE: B+

NYE in

ATLANTA

New Year’s Eve & Holiday Events

Peach Drop 2010

Irving Berlin, Rodgers and Hammerstein and more. Michael Krajewski leads the Orchestra in selections of your favorite light classics to round out this special evening. Join in their early Champagne toast. Once the show is done, there will be plenty of time to continue the party elsewhere, or warm up to a very special evening at home.

Underground Atlanta

Thursday Dec. 31; Noon until 4 AM Free Admission; Underground Atlanta Peachdrop.com (404) 523-2311

Packed full of excitement, the Peach Drop is Atlanta's favorite way of ringing in the New Year! This 16-hour event begins at 12 noon with various children's activities and entertainment. Festivities will continue well into the morning with a variety of live performances, followed by the descent of the 800 pound Peach and a spectacular firework display.

Highlights of this popular event include the Peach Drop Main Stage featuring live entertainment, fireworks, and the Peach Drop (6:00 p.m. - 12:30 a.m.). The Family Fun & Budding Peach Stage will include family-friendly activities & entertainment (12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.) and Kenny's Alley will feature live entertainment all day & night (12:00 p.m. - 4:00 a.m.).

Chick-fil-A Bowl Georgia Dome

Virginia Tech vs. Tennessee www.chick-fil-abowl.com Dec. 31 The Chick-fil-A Bowl, Atlanta's bowl game tradition since 1968, will play its 42nd annual game on New Years Eve at 7:30pm. This year the Virginia Tech Hookies will represent the ACC versus the Tennessee Vols of the SEC. Game Week includes the Parade, Coaches Luncheon, FanFest and an MVP Tailgate Party.

The 71,500-seat G e orgia Dome is expected to be a sell-out.

The game will also be nationally televised by ESPN. Formerly known as the Peach Bowl, the Chick-Fil-A Bowl historically has been the most competitive of any of the bowl games. At 12:30 p.m. on game day, downtown Atlanta will come alive with the Chick-fil-A Bowl Parade. The parade will come to an end at the Georgia World Congress Center, where the Chick-fil-A Bowl FanFest presented by Coca-Cola will draw 30,000 fans for a pre-game interactive football and tailgate experience including games, music, great food and the traditional pre-game team walks.

Lady Gaga

Fabulous Fox Theatre

Dec 28 & 29 7:30 PM (404) 881-2100 www.foxtheatre.org Lady Gaga brings her highly anticipated "Monster Ball Tour" to Atlanta. Along with her long list of hits, this superstar will bring all her pop theatrics to Atlanta's Fox Theatre.

Fans attending are sure to be channeling their inner "Gaga" and expect to see many blondwigs and outrageous outfits at the show. Lady Gaga released her new album, The Fame

Monster in November and already her song "Bad Romance" is a hit. In addition to her new material, fan favorites like Poker Face and Paparazzi are expected to bring the crowd to their feet! Lady Gaga will be joined onstage by Kid Cudi & Jason Derulo.

KEM

Fabulous Fox Theatre

Atlanta Ballet’s NUTCRACKER

Fabulous Fox Theatre

(404) 881-2100 www.foxtheatre.org Dec 11-27 (404) 881-2100 www.atlantaballet.com R&B soul singer, Celebrate Atlanta Ballet's 50th Anniversary of songwriter and this annual holiday classic. Atlanta Ballet's producer visits Nutcracker is the the Fox Theatre perfect way to ring with special in the season and to guests Will introduce young Downing and children to the Kindred and the energy and beauty Family Soul. of dance.

Born in Nutcracker is a Nashville and spectacle of music raised in Detroit, and dance set in a this musical sensation brings all his life expeRussian wonderrience and talent to every performance. Look land filled with for KEM to perform some his biggest hits opulent period costumes and amazing special including Tonight, Fascination and Love effects, all to enchant the child in you. Atlanta Calls.

Ballet's company of professional dancers share the stage with over 250 young dancers from across the city, giving Atlanta's youth a chance to experience the magic of being on the Fox Atlantic Station - Under Big White Top Theatre stage. Atlanta Ballet will present 19 Held Over Through January 3 performances of Nutcracker during the two (866) 999-8111 www.cavalia.net week run. The Atlanta Ballet Orchestra will perform Tchaikovsky's timeless score opening For the first weekend only. time on stage, the equestrian arts are infused with unprecedented magic and emotion in Cavalia, an Premier Exhibition Center innovative mul- Atlantic Station (866) 866-8265 timedia extrava- www.bodiestheexhibition.com ganza. Blending www.dialog-in-the-dark.com dramatic visual effects, live music, dance and acrobatics with Bodies the Exhibition features actual human and the bold presence of more than 60 magnificent specimens allows people access horses, Cavalia raises the bar for spectacular entertainment in the 21st century. Seen by to sights and knowlnormally over 2.5 million people worldwide, this multi- edge media extravaganza features more than 100 reserved only for two-and four-legged artists, including beauti- medical professionful horses of 12 breeds, riders, acrobats, aerial- als. Take the opporists, dancers, and live musicians. It is this com- tunity to peer inside bination that sets the mood in the majestic yourself, to better White Big Top, the largest touring White Big understand how your elaborate and fasciTop in the world. nating body works, and how you can become a more informed participant in your own health care. Dialog in the Dark offer exhibitions in total darkness. Blind guides lead visitors through a completely dark environWoodruff Arts Center ment where one learns to interact by relying 15th & Peachtree St. Dec 31, 8:00PM on other senses. Dialog in the Dark is a platform for communication and a close www.atlantasymphony.org A classy way to ring in the New Year as two- exchange, provoking a change in perspectives. time Grammy Award-winner Sylvia McNair For INsite readers -Buy one Adult Admission returns to Symphony Hall with selections to one exhibit and Get the Other One Free. from the Great American Songbook including See the ad on page 2 for more details!

CAVALIA

THE FIASCO

New Year’s Eve Space Odyssey North Park Bistro Dec. 31 8PM

105 N. Park Square, Marietta 30060

The 2010 New Year’s Eve Space Odyssey is set to launch with live funk from The Fiasco.

Orginally from Marietta, The Fiasco is a seven piece funk band that has been getting rave reviews for their live shows. The night will also feature a special guest performance by Evan Gamble Lewis from Tampa, Florida. This Marietta Square event will have a live broadcast from Times Square at Midnight with a balloon drop and free champagne toast! Doors open at 8PM and is only $10 to get in. Free valet parking and coat check are available. Purchase tickets by phone at 404- 227-3549 or online at yourbrotherproductions.com. For more information visit www.northparkbistros.com; www.myspace.com/evangamblelewis; www.myspace.com/thefunkyfiasco.

For Advance ticket information and more details go to www.yourbrotherproductions.com or call 404-227-3549

For Charity BODIES the Exhibition AWildFight Fight Night 24 DIALOGUE in the Dark Friday,Bill’s Dec. 18

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

Fights start at 8PM

Free Admission with new toy Fight Hotline: (404) 626-2126

For the second year in a row, David Oblas and Amy Lynn at Wild Bill’s bring you Wild Bill’s Fight Night to benefit Toys For Tots. The MMA Fight Night will take place at Wild Bill’s in Duluth on Friday, Dec 18 and admission is free with the donation of a new toy for Toys For Tots. Last year this event was one of the Top 10 Single Day Toy Drives in Atlanta with more than 4,000 toys. Organizers are expecting Wild Bill’s Fight Night to exceed that goal.

For more information go to www.UndisputedProductions.com or www.FullThrottleMMA.com.

PG 21 • insiteatlanta.com • December 2009

MUSIC INTERVIEW

WHIP IT GOOD Devo Gets Fresh With A New Album, Tour & Documentary Film

BY PATRICK FLANARY

I

GNORANCE USED TO BE BLISS. YET somewhere along our evolution excursion, we all went ape.

This week our news media delivered a gem of a story, a slice of life so tasteless it made one almost wish for another aimless balloon over Colorado: the evolution of swine flu parties. People hoping to build immunity to the pandemic are flocking together to get each other sick. Are we witnessing de-evolution at work?

“Well, absolutely,” says Gerald Casale, who co-founded rock band Devo soon after he watched his friend die at the hands of the U.S. military. Allison Krause was one of four students killed on May 4, 1970, when the Ohio National Guard opened fire on a Kent State University student protest.

From the bloodshed a band was born by a gang of art students already furious with Nixon’s recklessness in Cambodia and Vietnam. Originally from Akron, Devo coined their name from a disgust with humanity’s regressive evolution in daily society. Man had resorted to primitive, chauvinistic and thoughtless action and had clearly begun developing in the wrong direction.

Man was de-evolving. Ergo, Devo.

“There’s no question that de-evolution is real.

It came true. The world went backwards and down,” says Casale, whose band will unleash a

pair of remastered albums and hit the road for a seven-city tour Tuesday.

“They were predictive. Now they’re reprising their past, saying ‘I told you so,’” says Robert Margouleff, who produced Devo’s 1980 Freedom of Choice album, which spawned the hit “Whip It.” Known for their minimalist synthetic sound, herky-jerky performances and uniform wardrobe -- sometimes clad in plastic JFK wigs, sometimes in flowerpot-like headgear -- Devo sparked two major musical movements during the ‘70s: punk rock and new wave.

“They really are the first post-modern band,” says Jade Dellinger, a Tampa art curator and co-author of We Are Devo!, the group’s only biographical account.

“Their ambition was to sign with one of the biggest record companies in the world -- which they did -- and to sort of dismantle them from the inside, which they never did,” adds Dellinger.

Warner Bros. Records -- the label that dropped Devo 25 years ago after six albums -- signed the band again in September. Such a move should almost be considered sacrilegious, even anti-Devo, given the band’s outspoken cynicism toward record companies.

“They’re sort of countering what they used to make fun of,” observes We Are Devo! coauthor David Giffels. “But they pull it off in a charming way.”

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“It’s the devil you know,” says Casale, who insists the music industry has dramatically changed since Devo and Warner Bros. parted ways in 1984. The bassist adds that tours, rather than album sales, bring home the bacon and Warner Bros. knows how to whip Devo into shape.

Mark Mothersbaugh, the other creative half of the Devo brainchild, admits: “It was ironic. The old Warner Brothers we signed with, they were just thugs. I was totally ready to say ‘forget it, I don’t want anything to do with it.’ But I think we’ll be a good match for each other.”

Now flirting with age 60, four original members of Devo -- Mark Mothersbaugh, Gerald Casale and their brothers, Bob 1 and Bob 2 -- are backed by 36-year-old session drummer Josh Freese, who also toured with Weezer and Sting this year. Tour rehearsals commenced Oct. 21 at Mutato Muzika, Mark Mothersbaugh’s West Hollywood studio. Devo will perform back-toback nightly shows of two early albums in their entirety (Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! and Freedom of Choice). Between the albums, Devo are relearning 11 songs they haven’t played live in about 30 years, says Casale.

“We try every day to get better at them,” he laughs.

“They created their own boogie,” says radio personality Kal Rudman. “The Devo crowd in particular catered to a special niche of people, so it becomes a real treat to go see them again.”

Call it foreplay; Devo are just getting warmed up. Paunchier, angrier and more passionate about their de-evolution message than ever, Devo’s leaders say these November live dates should prove to be good practice; they’ve got a tour scheduled for spring, which will coincide with the release of their first full-length recorded project in 20 years. Just don’t call it an album. “’Album’ is just a term to figure out what we’re doing,” says Mothersbaugh. He would prefer to release Devo’s new stuff online, a few songs at a time. “We’ll see what comes out. We’re having fun so far.”

“The working title is Fresh Devo, because it is. We’re treating it like produce,” Casale points out. “I think it’ll carry forward what people like about us.”

While submission has never been in Devo’s DNA, they’ve stepped away from the console and invited a handful of producers to remix and rework the finished tracks. Contributors include Greg Kurstin (Geggy Tah, Kris Allen), John Hill

(Shakira, Jay-Z) and DJ Adam Freeland. John King of the Dust Brothers -- a duo known for its textured production of the Beastie Boys’ Paul’s Boutique -will produce “Step Up,” a new Devo song.

To bookend the new album and tour, a Devo documentary will likely hit the big screen next year, says filmmaker Tony Pemberton of Go East Productions, a New York-based company.

“Our release date at the moment is for Fall 2010 or Spring 2011, mostly at festivals and, hopefully, immediately in theatres,” says Pemberton.

Before their new album -- whatever form it takes -- finds fruition next spring, Devo will continue to evolve (de-evolve?) with film and television ventures. Gerald Casale describes gradual work on his Devo biopic that follows the band from their early days in Akron to their first days with Warner Bros. Mark Mothersbaugh, whose scoring credits include Pee-wee’s Playhouse, Rugrats, Wes Anderson’s films and, most recently, the animated Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, says he plans to pitch an “Adult Swim-style show” along the lines of “a twisted, dark Dick Tracy.” It too will examine the theory of de-evolution.

“Since the beginning we’ve been kind of antistupidity and pro-information,” he says. “I’m all for six billion humans, but I’m not for having them on the planet at the same time.”

Fresh Devo won’t be the last we’ll hear from those iconic perpetrators of political prowess.

“I’m hoping that after we put this out there’ll be at least one curtain call,” Casale laughs.

For their first album in 1978, Devo chose to cover a classic song, one that likely seemed overly ambitious on paper for a band that had just inked a deal with Warner Bros. What Devo crafted remains one of the most inventive covers of all time: a rhythmically robotic version of The Rolling Stones’ “Satisfaction.”

Well into their sixties, The Stones continue to make music and tour the world for their fans. Will Devo follow suit ten years from now?

Mothersbaugh and Casale are, after all, the new wave Jagger and Richards: raucous, haunting, oddly sensual.

“Who knows,” says Mothersbaugh. “Humans might not be around when I’m approaching 70.”

MUSIC INTERVIEW

JUST WHAT THEY WANTED TO BE Following the release of a career-spanning box set, John Oates reflects on decades atop the pop music mountain thing for which you were honored a few years ago with an induction into the American Songwriter’s Hall of Fame. How big of a validation was that for you?

[It is] Probably one of the most satisfying things that has ever happened. I mean, to be honored in that way is very, very personally important to me. You know when you get these type of honors you get this kind of amp of credibility - you can put it on your business card, so to speak. Its really given me a chance to reach out, and work and associate with people that I respected.

BY ALEC WOODEN

I

N A WAY, HALL & OATES BEGAN as elevator music. Taking refuge in a freight elevator from a fight inside a Philly nightclub in the late ‘60s, a young John Oates and Daryl Hall would meet for the first time, beginning a ride together that would never come down. For the better part of three decades, they would own pop music, penning countless Top 10 hits and selling over 60 million records to become the most successful pop duo of all time. Now, following the release of Do What You Want, Be What You Are– a career spanning, four-disc box set– John Oates took a few moments to reflect on his music, the importance of songwriting and today’s musical climate.

Who’s the one artist or songwriter, current or historical, that you’ve always been in awe of?

For me, Joni Mitchell is the consummate songwriter. I think her artistry is just superb.

Ya know, but there’s so many: Bob Dylan, Chuck Berry, Chris Mayfield. The list goes on and on -- Paul Simon -- There’s so many great songwriters. You know I would be remiss if I didn’t mention so many more, so I don’t even want to have mentioned the ones I mentioned (laughs).

Do you remember your first impression of Daryl Hall?

I first saw Daryl in his vocal group, The Temptones, at a show and was impressed immediately. I knew they were great singers; they were all really great singers. So I was aware of Daryl before he was aware of me. [Our bands] were out at the same time, competing with each other basically on local radio. So we became aware of each other and then we met, and my band was kind of falling apart, the guys were going their separate ways. His group actually needed a guitar player, so I joined up with him. When that band fell apart, Daryl and I just kind of gravitated toward each other.

What was your mindset starting out? There probably isn’t any way to know all those years ago that now you’d have the kind of success you guys did. Do you remember having your first ‘wow, we have something really special here’ moment?

Never (laughs). We really never did. We always took it one step at a time. You know, we had small but important goals that we tried to achieve. We didn’t just want to have success and then disappear and go somewhere and get a job. That wasn’t even something that entered my mind. We took everything in very realistic steps - ‘How can we write a better song?’ ‘How can we find a better producer?’ ‘How can we find a better studio?’ ‘Find a great band?’

‘Go into the studio with our better band?’

These are all goals we achieved along the way, you know. The first goal was to get a record contract and go on tour, and after that we just kept on moving forward.

This box set does a wonderful job of spanning your entire career. Obviously other than the fact that it’s a song, why is Do What You Want, Be What You Are the perfect name for this project?

I think it represents our philosophy not only of life but of music. We did what we wanted to do in the way we wanted to do it and we focused on what was important to us, which was the songwriting, the playing, the arranging, the singing and the performing. The commercial success was a byproduct and followed that philosophy. We didn’t go out there saying ‘We’re gonna set the world on fire, become the biggest duo of all time and have numerous number one records.’ That was not our motivation, and over the years I think we were sold short, especially by rock journalism in the early days, as kind of hit makers with some sort of premeditated or prepackaged formula for number one records.

The depth of the material that you hear on this

You’ve been a performing artist through many of the most fascinating periods in music history: The rise and falls of genres, the rise of technology in this digital age. So much has changed in the music world since Hall and Oates began - but what’s something that hasn’t changed?

Passion for music that every generation seems to have. I’m always impressed with the new generation of musicians that are coming up now. The ones who are good are really, really good. They’ve got this incredible background and depth of material to draw from that we didn’t have and the passion that they have is still burning. I see it with a lot of different bands. I go to the festivals, see them playing, see what they’re doing, see their intensity and stuff. It’s really hasn’t changed very much.

I’M ALWAYS IMPRESSED WITH THE NEW GENERATION OF MUSICIANS THAT ARE COMING UP NOW. THE ONES WHO ARE GOOD ARE REALLY, REALLY GOOD. THEY’VE GOT THIS INCREDIBLE BACKGROUND AND DEPTH OF MATERIAL TO DRAW FROM THAT WE DIDN’T HAVE AND THE PASSION THAT THEY HAVE IS STILL BURNING. box set will, I think, show that there’s a lot of music going on there, a lot of quality music that goes way above and beyond hit records.

What’s your favorite bit of the unreleased material on the set?

My favorite is the live tracks from the ‘70s. It was just a great moment. It was our first trip to Europe, our first show in London. We were the darlings of the London underground for that period of time. We were a cult band, really.

We had no hits, and there was a buzz about us.

Everyone turned out, and we were on fire that night and we were just a really cool young band just going for it. I hear the energy and I hear the passion of the ‘trying to make your mark’ kind of statement that we did that night.

As you look at the liner notes for this collection and read all the musicians commenting on what your music has meant to them, why has the music of Hall and Oates stood the test of time?

Because of the songwriting. Its a very simple answer. We started as songwriters, we’re passionate about songwriting, we put most of our emphasis into song writing...and everything else just sort of falls into place.

Those people have all learned something from you, but what have you and Daryl learned from each other?

I have no idea what he’d say about me (laughs). What I’d say about him is that he’s a consummate musician and has a passion for what he does and it’s the only thing he really cares about in his life. He’s always been that way. Probably what I brought to him was the appreciation of the traditional American acoustic music and folk-blues that I was steeped in before I even met him. The blending of his R&B sensibilities and my folk sensibilities really kind of, if you had to distill it, I guess that’s really what we’re all about.

You keep mentioning the songwriting, some-

Keeping in mind all that’s changed, what would you find exciting again if you were a young, aspiring musician but in 2009?

Well, I find exciting things and depressing things. Exciting things are that you have the ability to reach the world through the Internet, the virtual world. And the depressing thing is that you have the ability to reach the world through the Internet (laughs). Because you get lost in the mass of all the crap that’s out there and all the crazy stuff that’s going on. It’s hard for people to focus but at the same time, if you’re realistic, you can reach a group of people who can be very passionate about what you’re doing.

Here’s a nice full circle moment: 29 years after its release, “You Make My Dreams” was featured in 500 Days of Summer, one of the big films sensations of this past summer. Did you see the movie?

Yeah, I did. The song was the highlight of the movie (laughs)! I thought it was a real cute little film. It was well acted, a great story and very creatively done. And the song really encapsulated that euphoria that you can have when you’re falling in love. It was a really, really well done moment. I saw it in the theater with my family and that song came on and people started clapping along and I thought that was really awesome, because that doesn’t really happen often in a movie theater. I mean, it really reached people.

PG 23 • insiteatlanta.com • December 2009

HOLIDAY

FEATURE

The Biggest and Best Games of the Season

BY B. LOVE

D

ON’T LOOK NOW, BUT videogames have long since eclipsed books, movies and music as the most profitable form of entertainment in the world. With Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo all battling it out for market dominance and the recession driving prices lower than ever, developers have literally been stepping up their games, creating the most vivid, entertaining and interactive playing experiences in gaming history. We don’t have space to cover EVERY game that’s come out in recent months, but what follows is a guide to some of the season’s biggest and best titles…

ACTIVE LIFE: EXTREME CHALLENGE

(Namco Bandai) System: Wii This sequel ups the ante with 15 new challenges, including double dutch, basejumping and kite surfing. Using the 8-button Active Life mat and the Wii Remote, the pick up-and-play activities provide both intense exercise and pulse-pounding fun. Whether trying to beat your record time alone or competing head-to-head in multiplayer mode, this game’s designed to get your butt off the couch and into a serious sweat.

ASSASSIN’S CREED II

(UBI Soft) Systems: PC, PS3, X360 This stunning sequel follows new assassin Ezio as he carries on the deadly traditions of his forefathers, tackling missions in the lushly rendered world of the Italian Renaissance. It’s an epic tale of power, revenge, corruption and conspiracy, with all new weapons and instruments created

by Leonardo da Vinci himself. A fantastic storyline, with even better graphics and gameplay than the original.

BAND HERO

(Activision) Systems: DS, PS3, Wii, X360 This kinder, gentler take on the Guitar Hero franchise is aimed squarely at the ‘tween girl demo. With Taylor Swift as their celebrity spokesperson and playable tracks from pop acts such as Jesse McCartney and Maroon 5, the game is clearly going for family-friendly appeal.

But with 65 songs, downloadable content, Party Play mode and a karaoke setting, it fills a valuable niche in the music gaming market.

THE BEATLES: ROCK BAND PG 24 • insiteatlanta.com • December 2009

(MTV Games) Systems: PS3, Wii, X360 Still going strong 3 months after its release, this Fab Four funfest is the coolest music game ever made. Overseen by Paul, Ringo, Yoko Ono and Olivia Harrison, the trippy graphics and song selection are impeccable, allowing players to experience every phase of the Beatles’ career, from the Cavern Club to the rooftop performance of Let It Be. Look for Rubber Soul downloadable content this month!

CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE 2 (Activision)

Systems: PC, PS3, X360 Bringing in $550 million in 5 days, this eagerly anticipated sequel set an entertainment industry record. It’s easy to see why, as the Call Of Duty franchise remains one of the most intense and engrossing first-person shooters on the market. With an intriguing storyline that picks up right where COD4 left off, intricately rendered settings, new weapons and a cooperative SpecOps mode, it’s an epic tactical combat title.

CARS RACE-O-RAMA (THQ)

Systems: DS, PS2, PSP, Wii, X360 With over 30 playable characters (15 new to the Cars franchise), endless customization options, four new racing environments (eight overall), an advanced competitive AI system and enhanced drifting abilities, Cars Race-O-Rama is the best thing to happen to family-friendly racing games since Mario Kart. With a wide variety of mini games, multiplayer options and missions, the replay value is excellent.

CSI: DEADLY INTENT (UBI Soft)

Systems: DS, PC, Wii, X360 TV’s hottest drama follows up a patchy transition to the gaming world (CSI: Hard Evidence) with this expansive whodunit, casting players as a skilled forensic expert with the Vegas CSI team (which includes Laurence Fishburne’s Ray Langston). The immersive title features better graphics and wellcrafted cases, but newbies may experience a learning curve figuring out how to work a crime scene and dissect a body.

DEAD SPACE EXTRACTION (EA)

System: Wii A rare M-rated Wii title, this prequel kicks the horrific action up a notch via co-op gameplay, branching pathways and intriguing puzzles. The story follows survivors battling both dementia and a violent alien race known as Necromorphs, carving a path through the carnage with brutal new weapons. Using the Wii Remote to dismember and freeze enemies or manipulate gravity via telekinesis, it’s bloody good fun!

DJ HERO (Activision)

Systems: PS3, Wii, X360 Finally, a music game for the big ballers and shotcallers…. Doing for hip-hop and dance music what Guitar Hero did for rock, DJ Hero offers rhythmbased play on a turntable/mixer controller. With 100 songs blended into over 80 mixes and great tutorials that make it easy to play right from the get-go, the game will have you cutting and scratching like Mixmaster Mike on a Red Bull rush in no time.

DRAGON BALL: RAGING BLAST

(Namco Bandai) Systems: PS3, X360 Bringing the hit franchise to life on Next Gen platforms, Raging Blast features over 70 characters and allows players to relive epic battles from the series in stunning 3D graphics. Widely considered far superior to previous series entry Burst Limit, the game’s diverse play modes, lightning speed action, customizable Super Attacks and large-scale destructible environments should make it a hit with DBZ fans.

FALLEN EARTH

(Southpeak) System: PC This unique MMO title mixes the adrenaline-fueled action of a first-person shooter with the design of an RPG. Set near the Grand Canyon in 2156, after a plague has wiped out most of humanity, the story features six sociopolitical factions and a classless advancement system.

With a cool feature that allows players to craft 95% of game items, the sleeper hit

should appeal to fans of MMOs like Age of Conan and Aion.

FIFA SOCCER 10 (EA)

Systems: DS, PC, PS2, PSP, Wii, X360 I’ve been a soccer geek since the age of five, so I’m naturally predisposed to loving games like this. But with FIFA 10 Europe’s #1 game of 2009 and the highest-rated sports game ever made, it’s safe to say I’m not alone. Striking realism, exceptional ball control, more natural passing lanes, a true 360º dribble system, advanced AI and a deeper Manager Mode don’t just make this game better; they make it one of the best.

FINAL FANTASY XI: ULTIMATE COLLECTION

(Square Enix) Systems: PC, X360 The original online RPG is back , welcoming seasoned veterans and new adventurers alike to Vana’diel, a magical realm of swords, sorcery and technology in desperate need of warriors to restore peace. The “Ultimate Collection” package includes four different expansions and three add-on scenarios, and comes with a free 30-day subscription for online play.

GUITAR HERO 5 (Activision) Systems: PS3, Wii, X360 The brand that started the music videogame craze rose to the challenge of Beatles: Rock Band by releasing their best title yet, with 235 available songs and legendary playable characters such as Johnny Cash and Kurt Cobain. With social features like Party Play and RockFest, the user-generated content of GHTunes and an option to add songs from previous titles, the Guitar Hero juggernaut shows no signs of slipping.

HALF-MINUTE HERO (Xseed) System: PSP With old school 8-bit graphics and a b listering metal soundtrack designed to accentuate the game’s rapid pacing, this is like no RPG you’ve ever played before.

Four distinct storylines and game modes keep the action fresh, as players must fight, protect, shoot and summon their way through 120 widely varied stages, trying to save the world 30 seconds at a time.

JILLIAN MICHAELS FITNESS ULTIMATUM 2010 (Majesco)

Systems: DS, Wii I’ve always loved Biggest Loser loudmouth Jillian Michaels: Part fitness coach,

part sadistic dominatrix, she’s got a gym rat’s body, a movie star’s face and a shock jock’s personality. Here she guides gamers through intense workouts blending strength and cardio training, making great use of the Wii Balance Board and allowing customizable regimen calendars up to six months. It’s like Boot Camp in your living room!

JUST DANCE (UBI

Soft) System: Wii Or, for a more enjoyable high-NRG workout, how about a game that encourages you to burn calories and stay fit by shaking your moneymaker?

Learn MTV-style dance moves along to infectious retro and modern pop hits, from MC Hammer’s “Can’t Touch This” to Katy Perry’s “Hot N Cold.” The song list is on the short side, but with scrolling lyrics and multiplayer modes, it’s a surefire icebreaker for your holiday party.

LEGO ROCK BAND (Warner Bros)

Systems: DS, PS3, Wii, X360 After adapting the Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Batman and Harry Potter universes, it would appear the Lego franchise can do no wrong. Here, they tackle the music gaming genre, creating the first title appropriate for ALL ages. There’s a “Super Easy” mode that’s perfect for little kiddies, and a family-friendly song list that includes everything from Elton John and Queen to The Hives and Vampire Weekend.

MAGNA CARTA 2 (Namco Bandai)

Systems: PS3, X360 Borrowing liberally from RPGs such as Infinite Discovery, with a clichéd storyline about a hero with amnesia who trains for combat in the midst of civil war, this sequel nonetheless earns points for beautiful graphics, quick transitions and ease of game play. Powered by the Unreal Engine3, with character designs by Korean artist Hyung-Tae Kim, it’s sure to be a hit among fans of Japanese manga.

MARVEL ULTIMATE ALLIANCE 2

(Activision) Systems: PS3, PSP, Wii, X360 This sequel to the hit 2006 RPG puts players in the midst of the Marvel Universe civil war storyline, allowing you to choose a size, customize your own team, combine superpowers and play with or against friends. But your enjoyment will likely depend on which platform you choose to play it on: While the PS3 and Xbox versions have plenty of fans, many Wii players came away disappointed.

MINI NINJAS (Eidos)

Systems: DS, PC, PS3, PSP, Wii, X360 This kid-friendly action/adventure casts players as Hiro, a ninja working with his clan to battle an evil samurai warlord.

Each of the 6 playable characters (unlocked as the game progresses) has different abilities, weapons and moves they must use as they fight their way to the Fortress of Doom. There’s no blood and guts to the battles: vanquished evil ninjas

revert to animal forms, ensuring a fun time for all ages.

MYSIMS AGENTS (EA)

Systems: DS, Wii Expanding the Sims franchise into more exciting territory, MySims Agents allows players to create their own super spies, recruiting agents they meet along the way to form a crime-busting team to take down a corrupt CEO. But the biggest fun comes from solving mysteries along the way, using skills (and a collection of hi-tech gadgets) to track footprints, pick locks, hack computers and examine clues.

PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER 2010 (Konami)

Systems: PC, PS3, PSP, Wii, X360 Running neck and neck with FIFA 10, the PES franchise prides itself of crafting the most realistic soccer gaming experience imaginable. The latest version puts players in the Champions League, with exceptional graphics, realistic ball movement, improved management tactics and more teams to choose from. The only gripe thus far is a lag during online play, but overall PES 2010 is one of the year’s best sports titles.

RABBIDS GO HOME (UBI Soft)

Systems: DS, Wii An irreverent sense of humor seems rare in the gaming world, but the latest Rabbids incarnation has it in spades. Abandoning the focus on mini-games, this comedy adventure finds the crazy critters collecting every human object possible over 40+ missions in their effort to get to the moon. Its madcap mayhem, oddball characters and sheer variety of play make it 2009’s most wonderfully wacky videogame.

SCRIBBLENAUTS

(Warner Bros) System: DS Arguably 2009’s most inventive game, Scribblenauts puts your imagination to work with 220+ levels of mystery-solving fun. Simple missions allow gamers to conjure up almost any item they can think of (over 30,000), then use it to overcome an obstacle. Sure, you could swim across the piranha-infested stream, but why not use a catapult or a jetpack instead? The ability to create your own levels is icing on the cake.

the game offers a chance to explore eight major mountains through 75 unique challenges. With the Wii Balance Board (and optional Sportboard accessory), it feels just like carving powder from the warmth of your living room.

SUPER MARIO BROS. WII

System: Wii If you’re a fan of videogames, there’s a level of excitement that greets every new Mario release. The biggest news here is the franchise’s first-ever simultaneous multiplayer option, which allows 2-4 players to play the decidedly retro 2D side-scroller in co-op or competitive modes. New elements such as a propeller suit and Penguin Mario are fun, ensuring a whole new generation will fall for gaming’s greatest icon.

TONY HAWK: RIDE SKATEBOARD BUNDLE (Activision)

Systems: PS3, Wii, X360 Part of another venerable gaming franchise, Ride’s innovation comes in the form of the optional board controller, whose motion sensing technology provides a sense of realism as players strive to master more than 100 built-in moves. Four game modes and multiplayer options make this a fun addition to the Tony Hawk canon, but issues with the board have made this a frustrating title for some gamers.

UP! (THQ)

Systems: DS, PS3, Wii, X360 This game brings all of the characters from Pixar’s instant classic back for a family-friendly actionadventure. Playing as Russell, Carl, Dug and Kevin, you can explore alone or with a friend through the jungles of South America, battling beasts and overcoming obstacles along the way to a showdown with evil explorer Muntz. The year’s best animated film is also one of its best movie-to-game adaptations.

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE: THE VIDEOGAME

(Warner Bros) Systems: DS, PS3, Wii, X360 Another solid movie adaptation, this game casts players as mischievous Max as he explores the Wild Things’ mysterious island, crossing dangerous terrain and battling fierce creatures. Excellent graphics and a variety of mini-games help to keep the action interesting, but the game is unlikely to provoke the same sort of visceral emotional reactions Spike Jonze’s enigmatic film did.

WII FIT PLUS (Nintendo)

System: Wii One of the most popular video games of the year, Wii Fit Plus continues to revolutionize the relatively new exercise gaming genre with a bevy of workout options.

Whether you prefer strength training, cardio or yoga, the game has an activity, from running obstacle courses and riding on Segways to flapping your arms as a chicken-suited character. Maybe making exercise fun is the key to getting and staying in shape?

WWE SMACKDOWN VS. RAW 2010

(THQ) Systems: DS, PS3, PSP, Wii, X360 The best-selling wrestling franchise returns with a handful of new updates to keep devoted fans interested. The CreateA-Superstar option has been redesigned, allowing players to create their own tattoos, costumes, logos and more, all of which can be shared online. The Story Designer allows you to take a directorial role, fashioning your own twists and turns to the saga. With 60 wrestlers (including Divas), it’s a surefire hit with fans of the squared circle.

SHAUN WHITE SNOWBOARDING: WORLD STAGE (UBI Soft)

System: Wii This sequel to White’s 2008 hit raises the stakes as players cross the globe to ride against the crème de la crème. From a half-pipe in Times Square to prestigious competitions in France and Japan, PG 25 • insiteatlanta.com • December 2009

Visit Orlando

TRAVEL

MICKEY’S MERY CHRISTMAS PARTY

THIS HOLIDAY SEASON’S EXCITING NEW EXHIBITS & ATTRACTIONS

BY MARCI MILLER

A

MERICA’S FAVORITE VACATION destination has a new slogan, “Orlando Makes Me Smile”!

And there is plenty to smile about if you are thinking of visiting Orlando this holiday season. All the major parks have special holiday celebrations in place that are certain to thrill and entertain each member of the family. The hardest part will be trying to fit it all in during one vacation.

WALT DISNEY WORLD

Gather your loved ones and celebrate the season with the yuletide festivities at Walt Disney World Resort. It’s an especially enchanting time of the year! So whether you marvel at a fireworks extravaganza or sit back and let your spirit be revived by the story that started it all, this holiday is sure to be more than memorable.

The special events for the 2009 holiday season include the following: MICKEY’S VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS PARTY is a special event held each winter on select nights at Magic Kingdom theme park that requires a separate ticket to attend. This festive celebration features: the enchanted CASTLE DREAM LIGHTS on Cinderella Castle, MICKEY’S ONCE UPON A CHRISTMASTIME PARADE, complete with a special appearance

by Santa Claus himself, an exclusive holiday fireworks extravaganza — HOLIDAY WISHES: CELEBRATE THE SPIRIT OF THE SEASON, live entertainment featuring Disney Characters, meet and greet opportunities throughout Magic Kingdom theme park with some of your favorite Disney Characters, complimentary cookies and hot cocoa , a magical snow fall on Main Street, U.S.A. and many of the most popular Magic Kingdom attractions. The event will be held from 7:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. on select dates in 2009, so make sure to check the website for more information.

Other events include HOLIDAYS AROUND THE WORLD  CANDLELIGHT PROCESSIONAL. Guests at the Epcot Theme park are invited to get into the Christmas spirit and enjoy this magical retelling of the Christmas story by a celebrity narrator. The event has become an essential family tradition for many-once you experience it, you may be inspired to share it every year with the ones you love.

The OSBORNE FAMILY SPECTACLE OF DANCING LIGHTS takes place at Disney’s Hollywood Studio Theme Park and is a massive seasonal display featuring millions of holiday lights perfectly synchronized to music. Guests will be amazed by the sheets of multi-colored lights that blanket buildings, twirling carousels, heavenly angels and even Santa and his reindeer.

MICKEY’S JINGLE JUNGLE PARADE at Animal Kindgdom Theme Park will lift your spirits with a merry blend of traditional holiday wonderment and the wild revelry of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park. Delight in Disney Characters dancing to traditional holiday music in this joyous celebration for all ages.

FESTIVAL OF THE SEASONS takes place in Downtown Disney retail district. From Once Upon a Toy with its exclusive playthings

by Hasbro and Disney to World of Disney, the most humongous character emporium in the world, shoppers are bound to find the perfect holiday items. And don’t forget to take your photo with Santa himself!

For more information, visit http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/ holidays.

UNIVERSAL ORLANDO RESORT

Holiday celebrations at Universal Orlando Resort begin December 5 and run through January 1. Universal Orlando Resort brings music home for the holidays this year as it kicks off a brand-new holiday concert series featuring MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER and artists Natalie Cole and Chris Isaak.

Mannheim Steamroller – the iconic holiday music masters who have sold more than 30 million albums worldwide – performs at Universal Studios on Dec. 5. CHRIS ISAAK performs on Dec. 12 and NATALIE COLE performs on Dec. 19. Each concert begins after that night’s Macy’s Holiday Parade. Natalie Cole and Chris Isaak will perform a mix of holiday classics along with their most popular hits. The performances will take place at the new Music Plaza – a brand-new, state-of-the-art, outdoor permanent concert venue located in the heart of the Universal Studios theme park.

The MACY’S HOLIDAY PARADE at Universal Studios features the world-renowned balloons and floats from Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. In addition to the parade, Universal Studios guests can enjoy performances by marching bands from across the country, a nightly Christmas tree lighting, and specially themed holiday shows including The Blues Brothers, Woody Woodpecker’s Kidzone and Barney.

At Islands of Adventure, the popular Dr. Seuss book “How the PG 26 • insiteatlanta.com • December 2009

Grinch Stole Christmas” is brought to life in GRINCHMAS, a live stage show featuring an original musical score by Mannheim Steamroller. During the show, six songs are performed by a live cast, including The Grinch and The Whos from Whoville. As a part of the Grinchmas celebration, guests will also have the opportunity to meet The Grinch.

The celebration continues at the three on-site hotels at Universal Orlando– LOEWS PORTOFINO BAY HOTEL, HARD ROCK HOTEL and LOEWS ROYAL PACIFIC RESORT – all of which will glisten with holiday decorations.

Hotel guests will be immersed in the spirit of the season with tree-lighting ceremonies, special musical performances, holiday “dive-in” movie presentations and holiday dining events. Loews Portofino Bay Hotel kicks off the season on Friday, November 27 with ‘Holiday Harbor Nights’, a wine tasting, food and jazz celebration on the piazza. Hard Rock Hotel welcomes Santa to the Kitchen restaurant on Fridays in December and Loews Royal Pacific Resort rings in the new year with ALOHA 2010, a New Year’s Eve celebration.

Guests can also enjoy the holiday cheer at CITYWALK with decorations, live music on the plaza stage and strolling entertainment on select dates throughout the event. All holiday entertainment – including the Mannheim Steamroller concert, is included as part of admission to Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure.

For more information, visit www.UniversalOrlando.com.

CASTLE DREAM LIGHTS

MACY’S HOLIDAY PARADE

SEA WORLD ORLANDO

This holiday season, families and friends can celebrate like never before at SeaWorld Orlando. Guests can take an exciting trip to the North Pole aboard The Polar Express Experience. Plus, enjoy three all-new shows: Winter Wonderland on Ice, an ice-skating spectacular; Clyde and Seamore’s Countdown to Christmas, a holiday-themed comedy and A Sesame Street Christmas, even the little ones can celebrate the spirit of the season with Elmo, Big Bird and other Sesame Street friends.

Through January 3, SeaWorld’s Wild Arctic transforms into the North Pole, and getting there is half the fun. THE POLAR EXPRESS EXPERIENCE is based on the film from Warner Bros.

Pictures about a doubting young boy who takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole on Christmas Eve. As guests embark on The Polar Express Experience, classic scenes from the movie are recreated in a multi-sensory experience immersing passengers in special lighting, scent, sound and motion effects. Upon arrival at the North Pole, guests will discover a winter wonderland surrounded by holiday cheer and amazing animal encounters.

An all-new holiday-themed ice-skating spectacular, WINTER WONDERLAND ON ICE, debuts November 27 at SeaWorld’s Bayside Stadium and continues select nights through January 3.

Christmas comes to life with towering water fountains, magnificent fireworks and some of the most talented skaters in the world as they dazzle and delight families this holiday season.

Families can enjoy this all-new Christmas comedy with their favorite loveable sea lions Clyde and Seamore, along with a few mischievous otters and a jolly walrus or two. Clyde and Seamore’s Countdown to Christmas runs on select nights November 27 through January 3.

Celebrate the holidays with friends from SESAME STREET AT SEAWORLD - it’s an all-new festive and fun musical celebration, A Sesame Street Christmas. Following the show, families can create wonderful memories with their friends from Sesame Street during character meet-and-greets. Families can also enjoy a unique dining experience for the whole family: Elmo and Friends Christmas Breakfast.

And that’s not all….there are even more holiday events at Sea World including SHAMU CHRISTMAS … Miracles where Shamu Stadium comes alive with bright lights and glowing candles as Christmas carols abound and Shamu splashes to celebrate the holiday season. MAKAHIKI CHRISTMAS LUAU , a South Seasstyle festive celebration including tasty island cuisine keeping with the ancient holiday traditions of the Pacific Islands. And NEW YEAR’S EVE AT SEAWORLD, featuring a musical extravaganza including the best in pop, Latin and swing music. At the stroke of midnight, the evening sky will shine even brighter with a vibrant fireworks show to celebrate the festivities.

For more information about the holidays at SeaWorld, visit www.SeaWorldOrlando.com.

So don’t wait to make your holiday plans in Orlando as space at area hotels is filling up fast. For more information, and to help in your planning, visit www.orlandoinfo.com.

GRINCHMAS

THE POLAR EXPRESS EXPERIENCE

SHAMU CHRISTMAS

PORT O’BRIEN

Meet M. Ward’s Favorite Band

BY ALEC WOODEN

A

LOT OF THINGS COME OFF ALASKAN fishing boats when they dock after long hauls at sea — grumpy men, pervasive aromas and, of course, loads of fresh catch. What doesn’t always step off the decks and onto the docks is mesmerizing folk-pop music, though that’s exactly what happened each time Van Pierszalowski, who along with Cambria Goodwin makes up the creative core of West Coast buzz band Port O’Brien, unloaded from his father’s salmon fishing boat on Alaska’s Kodiak Island.

The arrangement was simple: each summer, Pierszalowski would travel from California and go to sea with his father, sometimes for as many as six weeks at a time, while Goodwin would stay on shore and run the local bakery. Each would write songs in their respective isolation and converge when the fishing trips ended, a collaboration which spawned many of the songs that carry POB’s early discography on either of two albums released in 2007 - The Wind and the Swell and All We Could Do Was Sing.

Pierszalowski’s fishing days are over, due to a combination of the backbreaking work and the band’s increased touring schedule behind its latest offering, Threadbare.

Checking in from San Francisco (his home base these days), Pierszalowski reflects on the new record, his days on the boat and his band’s bright future.

really love that imagery of this place that was kind of like once this thriving community and now it’s kind of just disappearing.

How would you sum up life on a fishing boat?

It’s hard work. Long hours. We basically have to work as long as the fish are swimming, and they’re swimming as long as the sun is out — which, in Alaska in the summertime, is pretty much always (laughs). You probably work about 20 hours a day, and you’re out at sea for up to six weeks at a time or so. It’s very tough, very intensive.

During those summers, You and Cambria were separated all the time, but still writing towards a common goal. What were the up and downs of writing in separation?

It’s just different. I would write stuff on the boat, she would write stuff on land and we’d put them together.

MUSIC INTERVIEW Maybe the positive of that is that you can put more of your own sort of personal stamp on things. Away from there, it’s more immediately collaborative, and that feels a little more natural. That’s what we did on this record. And who knows how the next record will shape up — maybe it’ll be totally different.

Did you find it easier to write about the place you weren’t? For example, writing about land when on the boat, writing about the boat when on land?

Definitely. It’s easier to be reflective about something.

If you’re writing a song about being on a boat when you’re on a boat, it just gets a little too literal (laughs).

The romanticized image of any songwriter always seems to have them alone. What is it that’s so artistic about isolation?

Well, on the boat, for example, I didn’t talk to anyone but my dad or my crew for six weeks. It really frees your mind of a lot of the distractions — modern day distractions like technology and text messaging that are always around you, all of a sudden there’s none of that.

It’s been a couple summers since you’ve had that routine, so the writing process was obviously dif-

ferent for Threadbare. Did you find the change in setting to be a challenge?

We had so much going on in our lives that it was really easy to get inspiration. I think being in a city, in many ways, is just as inspirational as being out on boat. There’s something inspirational about being distracted by text messaging (laughs).

Where does Threadbare fit into the natural progression of Port O’Brien? Or does it all?

With our music, it’s all the same sorts of songs (across records) - so it’s more of the way that we see them, the way we approach them. With The Wind & The Swell (2007), that was recorded by me and Cambria in our bathroom. We did it in like six days, really rushed, basically just because we didn’t know what we were doing. With Threadbare, we had a totally different approach.

NPR recently tagged you guys with its “Song of The Day” honor. Do things like that add any pressure moving forward?

Not really. In the last three years, we’ve had our fair share of stuff like that. Not saying that it isn’t an honor - we were very excited about that. But I don’t really ever feel pressure because of reviews or critiques or anything like that.

Is there a comparison of your music you’ve heard that stands out as the most flattering?

Everyone kind of says Neil Young. That’s flattering, obviously. Neil is amazing, a big inspiration for us.

Are there comparisons you’ve just never understood?

Ya, people have compared us to Rogue Wave. I don’t really understand that at all, we don’t sound like them.

A lot of people say Arcade Fire, which is just lazy. Just because we have strings, I guess, and some shouting (laughs)? The songwriting style is completely different. I really have never understood why everyone says that. It’s like the Beatles. Everyone always says everyone sounds like the Beatles.

Literal band names are always interesting — and yours is literally a place I could find on a map and go visit, right?

Yeah, it’s the name of a now abandoned cannery on Kodiak Island in Alaska where my parents met in the late ‘60s. It’s still there, but no one works there. I just

MUSIC INTERVIEW

WHATEVER DOESN’T KILL YOU… As Tall As Lions Survive Trial By Fire & Emerge With Their Best Album Yet

BY JOHN B. MOORE

A

FTER A MISERABLE EXPERIENCE RECORDING THEIR latest record (including three producers and a near- breakup) and a tour fraught with van breakdowns and health problems, As Tall As Lions are finally on the right path. The album, You Can’t Take it With You, turned out better than imagined and the tour with MuteMath had some undeniably great moments. While the thought of recording their next record still causes guitarist Saen Fitzgerald to shiver, he took the time to answer a few questions about the new record, finding their groove and seeing Kiss up close.

every moment of the day is spent with them. We definitely learned a lot.

It wasn’t all-bad though. I’d say our biggest and best shows were on that tour. Even the shows without Dan gave the boys and I the opportunity to be creative with our instrumental and improvisational sets.

What can you tell me about making You Can’t Take it With You? It was the hardest thing we ever had to do. Even the writing process became grueling. We tried to go about the whole thing in a different way, and like most things in life when you do that you make mistakes and learn along the way. It was just test after test and black cloud after

I read somewhere that the band almost broke up a few times working on this album. What do you think kept you from ultimately splitting up?

(Laughs) I have no idea. Maybe it was just the concept of the greater good. We had faith that what we were trying to accomplish was good, and that these problems were just temporary setbacks. Though, when the problems kept happening and happening, it really got to us. In order to stay together, there had to be a sense of camaraderie between us. We were soldiers in the mud, and we were just trying to keep our band alive. Looking back on it now I’m very proud of us. We went through a lot of shit and I’m surprised we came out of it, all limbs intact.

WE WENT THROUGH A LOT OF SHIT AND I’M SURPRISED WE CAME OUT OF IT, ALL LIMBS INTACT.

How was the tour with MuteMath?

The tour was a rollercoaster of bad luck and great experiences. Our trailer broke down just shy of a million times, and Dan (Nigro), our lead singer, had to miss a good amount of shows due to doctor-prescribed vocal rest. On top of that it was the longest stretch of tour we’ve ever done. There was no break in between MuteMath and the previous tour with Rx Bandits/Dredg. No matter how much you love your bandmates, it’s hard not to squabble when

black cloud. We caught the whole thing on camera and released it as a DVD to coincide with the record. We thought that fans would get more out of the album if they knew the story behind it.

You had a number of producers lined up to make this record. Why do you think it was harder to write/record this one?

Well we knew we wanted to make a different kind of record. We had done our previous EP and LP with our good friend and producer Mike Watts. We thought to achieve this new sound we would need to find someone different to push us out of our comfort zone. This led to an endless search for the “perfect” producer that lasted almost a year.

Who ended up producing the record?

A lovely man named Noah Shain. He saved the record and, in my mind, is the one responsible for its existence. He hustled and busted his ass; working all through the night to make sure everything got done. His attitude and work ethic was inspiring. After losing two producers in a row, we had a bad taste in our mouths. There was a very good chance that if we had gone with someone other than Noah, we wouldn’t have gone through with making the album.

Despite all that you went through, are you pleased with how the album came out?

Very much so. I look at it as our selfish album. A lot of people were trying to freak us out by saying things like, “Your self-titled album was great and a lot of people loved it. You have to make sure whatever you do next is that much more successful or you’re screwed.” I don’t subscribe to that line of thought. We have always made music for ourselves and are astounded when other people like it. I think we were much more conscious about trying to make a “successful” record during the self-titled sessions. We had conversations about trying to write these three-minute pop songs that were disguised in reverb and crazy drum patterns. I think we were trying to make up for dropping the ball on our first LP.

What’s next for the band?

We’re releasing a 7” in the UK that we’re all very excited about. It’s just a single for “Circles” with a few songs from You Can’t Take It With You, a song from As Tall As Lions, and a new B-side called “I Could Die Here.” We go over there in early December to support it, opening up for Frightened Rabbit in Scotland and Athlete in England. After that we’re planning to head to Costa Rica in January to film a live DVD of us playing acoustic versions of our songs in various locations. We’ll probably take February off and start a U.S. headline tour in either March or April.

PG 27 • insiteatlanta.com • December 2009

FILM INTERVIEW

WHERE’S THE BROTHERLY LOVE ON THE BIG SCREEN?

BY DEMARCO WILLIAMS

L

OOKING OVER THE holiday movie calendar, there seems to something for everyone. You’ll find certified blockbusters (Sherlock Holmes), romantic comedies (Did You Hear About the Morgans?), feel-good family flicks (Old Dogs), glossy action pictures (Ninja Assassin) and kiddie romps (A Christmas Carol). There’s pretty much everything your wallet could ever want to see on the big screen —except for African Americans. In fact, of the top 25 movies at theaters over the Thanksgiving Holiday, only five –The Blind Side, 2012, Precious, This Is It and The Princess and the Frog- had black actors in headlining or supporting roles.

Michael Ealy and Columbus Short don’t make a huge deal about skin tone setting the tone in central castings. Still, the gifted thespians would be remiss to say the disparity didn’t exist. This month, the young artists approach the subject of equality in different manners, Ealy as a voice in the powerful documentary The People Speak and the Armored-starring Short in a candid interview right now.

MICHAEL EALY, 36

HOME: Silver Springs, Maryland LATEST PROJECTS: The People Speak (Dec. 13 on the History Channel) and Takers (Feb. 2010) HISTORIC BLACK FIGURE PORTRAYED: Sgt. Bishop Cummings in Miracle at St. Anna Where does the grassroots story behind The People Speak play on a personal level with you? Have you been involved from a street level in terms of getting changes done or making an impact?

Not really. I just think that it’s been a very interesting ride. We were talking before you guys came in. It was three years ago that we filmed the Boston segment of the documentary and before that there were obviously many more years before I even got involved. As I said from the beginning, in Hollywood you don’t get a chance to do stuff that means something very often and this has been one of those projects that means a lot to me. When you do these speeches, these letters and excerpts, you feel like you’re involved. You feel like you’re contributing. You feel like you’re just not giving

PG 28 • insiteatlanta.com • December 2009

I TAKE MATERIAL THAT SPEAKS TO ME AND CHARACTERS THAT I FEEL LIKE I CAN BRING SOME SORT OF LIFE TO AND CHALLENGE ME A LITTLE BIT

–C. SHORT

back but getting something from it. I feel like this has just been incredible for me personally and it’s made we want to get more involved.

Do those opportunities not exist in Hollywood or have they simply not been presented to you?

Actually they do exist. I’ve been blessed to be a part of many what I would call pivotal pieces, but there’s a lot more. I’ve been blessed to be selected and take those pieces but there are a lot more to choose from that don’t necessarily have the same social or historical relevance that you might like them to have. When I was in school, I was an English major. I was either going to be a teacher or an actor. I chose acting but I was an English major with a concentration in African American literature. I wanted to teach at the collegiate level but I wanted to start at the high school level so I could make a difference. The interesting thing is that you learn all this wonderful history in college that you don’t learn in high school and you realize that there’s an alternative history out there and I think that’s what The People Speak has been about—the alternative history. So, for me, Hollywood actually gives you access to a broader audience than just your classroom, so I’m trying to use that platform.

COLUMBUS SHORT, 27

HOME: Kansas City, Missouri LATEST PROJECTS: Armored and The Losers (April 2010) HISTORIC BLACK FIGURE PORTRAYED: Little Walter in Cadillac Records The direction of your career seems to be going way mainstream and action-orientated, so are we continue to see a continuation of that direction?

There’s really no rhyme or reason to it. I take material that speaks to me and characters that I feel like I can bring some sort of life to and challenge me a little bit. I have another big action franchise that I did with Warner Bros that comes out in April so I’m trying to shake it up a bit. I still want to do pieces that are more indie spirited like Cadillac Records.

What’s the status of Stomp the Yard 2?

Currently filming. I’m executive producing it. I’m back and forth to Atlanta, popping my head in to make sure everything is going okay… I’m not [in it]. The opportunity that was given to me with that movie was huge but I wanted to see a new guy come in. We found a kid Collins Pennie to play Chance.

We’re following a new guy.

Is your career moving at the pace you’d like?

I don’t know if there’s an appropriate pace but it’s taken a lot of actors that have been in the game quite a few more years longer than I to get some of the opportunities that I have gotten. I’m still relatively young, staring 30 in the face. I’d like to think that I’ve had the opportunity to break out in roles and movies that are color blind. It’s moving along. I can’t complain. [But] I go through stages where I’m frustrated with the business, just how the game works. I guess I can say I’m happy. I’ve gotten a lot of opportunities, but this is just the second opportunity I’ve had to carry a movie.

They’re not writing a tremendous amount of scripts for African Americans, so I’m fighting in a game where I just don’t want to do urban. I want to do quality cinema. I’m not saying that urban movies aren’t quality but I want to work with great filmmakers like Tony Scott, Martin Scorsese and Ron Howard. Me trying to break into that part of the business is daunting.

Hopefully, with movies like Armored and The Losers coming soon, I’m getting there. So I take it all in stride but I do get frustrated.

Speak on Armored specifically. How is this role special?

My character was written white. They had offered it to Jake Gyllehall, Tobey Maguire, Channing Tatum and Sam Worthington. For readings, some of them were working and some passed. I begged the studio to let me do it. I felt like it was movie that crossed me over and gives me an opportunity to do something on a larger scale. Also, it’s a very interesting character. Ty Hackett, he’s blue collar, not glossy and sexy. It’s really a character piece for all the actors involved in this movie.

A few years ago you were very humble about being pegged one of the “it” guys. Do you still feel that way now that everyone thinks you’re it?

Who is this everyone who thinks I’m it? Man, I wished they’d tell me that! I don’t know if that’s all the way true. I definitely think that I’m positioned in a terrific spot as far as young actors—black or non white. I think I see a leading man at 27 in front of movies and that’s fantastic. I don’t know if that means I’m it but I do know that I’ve been positioned well and, hopefully, my work speaks for itself and continues to help me progress.

SPORTS NEWS

A Sight for Soaring Eyes

Hey, isn’t that Joe Johnson, Josh Smith & Jamal Crawford, the three biggest reasons the Atlanta Hawks are flying high in the NBA?

BY DEMARCO WILLIAMS

E

SPN AND SPORTS ILLUSTRATED MIGHT BE at a lost for words when it comes to explaining the Atlanta Hawks’ ascension to the top of the NBA pantheon, but the players aren’t. They knew that it was only a matter of time before the talent gelled, players matured and pulses calmed in Boston’s presence. The Hawks were a league-best 10-2 when we went to press.

While we hesitate to say they’ll be 20-4 this time next month, we can confidently claim the blistering start isn’t a major shock around the office. See, the team’s biggest weapons (shooting guard Joe Johnson, stat-stuffing forward Josh Smith and super sub Jamal Crawford) had already given INsite the inside scoop…

JOSH SMITH J-Smoove, how did you approach this past offseason different than previous ones?

Yeah, you always want to approach it differently because you get different tips from guys that have been successful in this league. I think I approached the [offseason] a lil’ different. I did more conditioning than I usually do. I did two-a-days. I was working in out in the weightroom and then I’d go and play basketball.

Things like that. Then, some days I’d work in the gym, critique my game. I focused on those things and really tried hard on improving it.

Did you all do enough, player wise, to compete with the Bostons and Clevelands down the road?

I think we [did enough to compete]. [It’s great having] the guys that do intangibles like Joe Smith that can knock down a 17-footer and play good defense. Then there are guys like Jamal Crawford, who’s another playmaker we can add to our backcourt. Guys like that. Just to keep our nucleus together, that’s what we really wanted to focus on so we could have the opportunity to be successful like other teams have kept their teams together in the league.

That has to feel good that Hawks management saw something good and decided to keep it together.

They see that something good is happening. You see the same guys, so now it becomes brothers instead of teammates. It’s a family. It’s a family-oriented environment. Everybody is uplifted.

Everybody is at ease instead of being uptight.

Define success for me. Do you think you’ve reached it?

Success is getting better every year. I think that we’ve attained. I’d like to be more successful and play further into

the postseason. Every year we’ve taken baby steps and giant steps too, so we just have to be excited about where we’re going and what the season holds.

JOE JOHNSON Where have you seen the most growth in your game the last five or six years?

Man, probably just being more vocal as a player. I’m getting stronger. I’ve just been coming out, man, every year, working on something new, something different.

JOSH SMITH

Does it frustrate you when folks say you still aren’t vocal enough?

Nah. I’mma do me, regardless. I don’t care what nobody says about me. I’mma come out, enjoy and have fun. I’mma play the game the way it’s supposed to be played.

Where do you see the Hawks in the Eastern equation?

It’s really up to us, honestly. I can’t really just give you a number where we’re gonna fall, whether it’s 1 or 5. I think it’s really going to be up to each individual to come together as one and try to make it happen. We got the fourth spot last year, so obviously we want to make strides and improve on that. We’ll see how it goes.

Do you have to do anything different this year compared to last?

Definitely. I think this year I have to be a lil’ bit more assertive on both ends of the court because I think we only go as far as I’mma take us. I know the rest of the guys follow.

JOE JOHNSON

JAMAL CRAWFORD What’s your realistic role with Atlanta?

I don’t know. As a starter or off the bench, either way I’ll contribute and make a way. I think that’s why they brought me here. I don’t think they brought me here just to get to the second round. They’re trying to go further. So, we’ll see what happens.

Do you get the props you feel your game deserves?

It’s weird. If you compare [me to] rappers or something, I’d say I’m like [Outkast’s] Andre before “Hey Ya.” I think I have the respect of basketball fans, but mainstream hasn’t really caught on. It took a “Hey Ya” for that to happen. It could take the Playoffs and going to the Eastern Conference Finals for that to happen [for me]. But I’m not in it for that.

Just as long as my peers know and the people I’m playing against [know], I’m good with that.

JAMAL CRAWFORD

Get it online.

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ON BLU-RAY™ HI-DEF & DVD DECEMBER 22 PG 29 • insiteatlanta.com • December 2009

SPORTS NEWS

FANATIC

BY DEMARCO WILLIAMS “But what was more disheartening than watching a defense that a lot of people, myself included, believed had shown signs of evolving into a championship caliber unit, be picked apart like a beignet was the PATRIOTS downright un-Patriotic play in all three phrases of the game, from poor throws to busted coverages to missed field goals…When was the last time the Patriots simply imploded under the weight of their own mistakes and got rolled like a cheap rug in a big-time game?” –Boston Globe writer Christopher Gasper, after the Pats’ 38-17 loss to the New Orleans Saints In the span of about a week, three HIGHPROFILE Dustin COACHES –New Jersey Nets’ Lawrence Frank, Florida Pedroia State football’s Bobby Bowden and Notre Dame’s Charlie Weis- were relieved of their duties. While Frank and Weis don’t have close to the resume of the Seminole legend, each offered mild accomplishments while on the sidelines.

Frank, whose Nets lost their first 16 games under his reign this season, is one of only three NBA coaches with a losing streak and winning streak of at least 14 games with one team. Weis, who finished 35-27 as the Irish helm, did guide the team to a ’08 Hawaii Bowl win, their first postseason victory in nine years.

“I’d like to thank my wife Ann and my family for their love and support.

There were a lot of nights when I was on the road and not at home at the dinner table. We all know that’s part of it… I’d also like to thank the coaches and their families who helped build the program into something that is special. You can’t have a successful program without players and we have been blessed to have young men who are winners both on and off the field. I want to thank them and their families for committing 4-5 years of their lives to me and to FSU… We’ve got one more game and I look forward to enjoying these next few weeks as the head football coach.”

–BOBBY BOWDEN, six-time National Coach of the Year “They’ve asked me if I think I could play shortstop. They’ve put it out there and I’ve told them I’m all for it. I can do it. I can’t wait for [Boston manager Terry Francona] to call me and ask, ‘Can you do it?’ I can do it. I really want to do it.” –Red Sox Second Baseman and 2008 AL MVP DUSTIN PEDROIA

A Monthly Sports Must-See TV Wrap-up Top 5 Games This Month

All right, so the NBA SEASON’S been going strong for over a month now. Lots of early surprises (Houston and Atlanta’s starts) are starting to be replaced with news we had long figured out (L.A. and Boston are the teams to beat). Here are a few Nov. notes that may have slipped by: 1) The Denver Nuggets have scored over 130 points three times. No other NBA team has achieved the offensive feat more than once; 2) When the Knicks (3-14) defeated the Suns (14-3) 126-99 on Dec. 1, it marked the first time in NBA history that a squad with a winning percentage under .200 beat a team with one over .800 by over 20 points; 3) Milwaukee sensation Brandon Jennings is only the second rookie since Michael Jordan to average over 22 points in Nov. Memphis’ O.J. Mayo did it last year.

“PHILADELPHIA, as a sports town, has never been known as the city of second chances. There are plenty of people who will tell you that Philadelphia isn’t always so great with the first chances, if truth be told. But in the space of a couple of months, it appears as if both of them - first Vick by the Eagles, now Iverson by the Sixers - are to be given one more opportunity to salvage their careers, and to do it completely out of nowhere - in this town… The Eagles accepted the uproar as a necessary bit of collateral damage. The Sixers, on the other hand, want the uproar. They crave the uproar. It can be the only explanation for this whole thing.” –Philadelphia Daily News’ Rich Hofmann, after word spread that former Sixer Allen Iverson was offered a new contract by the team And finally…

Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson rushed for an NFL-record 800 yards in November. Oh, and his six straight games of rushing for over 125 yards haven’t been done since 1958… Don’t be surprised if Mike Cameron or Jermaine Dye patrol the Atlanta Braves outfield next year... On Nov. 27, New Jersey’s Martin Brodeur broke Patrick Roy’s NHL record for most minutes played by a goaltender… The Saints have scored 407 points through 11 games. That’s the fourth-best clip in NFL history… According to 21 years of data collected in the new book Soccernomics, Honduras is the most overachieving country in world soccer and Canada is the most underachieving…The second reporters said Tiger Woods’ wife shattered the back window to rescue her husband in the mysterious one-car crash, Fanatic thought the story was fishy.

1 2 3 4 5

Citi National Championship (January 7, 8PM, ABC)

The only thing INsite knows for sure is that it’ll be SEC (Alabama or Florida) vs. the Lone Star State (Texas or TCU).

New Year’s Day Bowls (January 1, Various, Various)

We’ll just call the Outback, Capital One and Gator Bowls flickers to the Rose and Sugar Bowl’s all-out fireworks.

San Diego at Tennessee (December 25, 7:30PM, NFL Network)

In Nashville, Santa comes in the form of a revitalized Vince Young and a remarkable Chris Johnson.

Boston at Orlando, at L.A. Cleveland (December 25, 2:30 and 5PM, ABC)

NBA schedulers always get it right on Christmas.

This year’s hardwood gifts are no different.

Michigan St. at Texas (December 22, 7PM, ESPN)

The Spartans, INsite’s preseason No. 1, try to right their wobbly ship against the No. 2 Longhorns.

Let us Know How We Are Doing!

INsite’s 2009 Readership Poll Our annual poll is currently being conducted online at www.insiteatlanta.com We would like to know more about you and more importantly how you feel we can make the paper serve you better. Just take a few minutes to tell us your thoughts and we will reward you for your time and effort. All participants will have a chance to win tickets to local attractions, upcoming events, movie screening passes, DVD’s and more. We are stocked this year with goodies to give out. A sampling of what is currently available for participants include: Zoo Atlanta tickets, Georgia Aquarium tickets, Tickets to Bodies and Dialogue in the Dark Exhibits, Bruno DVD’s, various restaurant Gift Cards, and more!!

Just go to our site at www.insiteatlanta.com & click on Readers’ Poll today!

PG 30 • insiteatlanta.com • December 2009

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