It’s not an unreasonable complaint, worrying that confident, pretty Bradley Cooper is miscast as Pat, the frazzled bipolar soul at the center of Silver Linings Playbook. But the actor’s bland handsomeness, something until now less chiseled than forgettably cookie-cutter, finally magnetizes here, finally taps into a force that can repel as surely as it attracts. For this, Cooper can thank…
Blatantly allegorical and loosely episodic, Life of Pi is bound to make its more literal-minded viewers squirm. But there’s a genuine sense of wonder in this adaptation of Yann Martel’s best-selling novel, which a very assured Ang Lee (Brokeback Mountain, The Ice Storm) directs with lavish, picture-book grandiosity. The movie begins with an adult Pi Patel (the honey-tongued Irrfan Khan)…
Pitch staff writer Ben Palosaari proudly lists Red Dawn — John Milius’ somber 1984 movie positing a Soviet-backed invasion of a United States populated by Brat Packers — as one of his three favorite movies. That indefensible enthusiasm finally came in handy last week, when it was time for us to send a reviewer to see the new Red Dawn…
If U.S. ballroom dance had a Super Bowl, it would be the Ohio Star Ball. Held for the past 35 years at the Hyatt Regency in Columbus, Ohio, it’s the final big annual competition on the Pro-Am DanceSport circuit, a six-day event for amateurs and professionals. It involves hundreds of contestants, 70 judges, three masters of ceremonies, two DJs —…
American hero Bruce Springsteen was in Kansas City last weekend. I wish I could report a local Bruce spotting — best-case scenario would have involved him eating from a lunch pail outside some factory down on Front Street, though eggs at Succotash would have sufficed — but nobody I have spoken with or creeped on social media seems to have…
When he was 17, Kevin Morby dropped out of Blue Valley Northwest High School, got his GED, and did what you do if you want to be in a successful indie-rock band: He bought a one-way ticket to Brooklyn. He had learned to play guitar when he was 10 and, before he could legally drive, formed bands with names like…
Standing underneath coolly diffuse track lighting, staring intently at artwork encased in expensive Plexiglas and wood hung at regular intervals on white walls, you might find it easy to forget that what you’re experiencing in a museum or a commercial art gallery is a product. Like the socks on your feet or the burrito you just put in your stomach,…
Sometimes what seems like a good idea isn’t really such a good idea. It’s true in restaurants all the time: If at first you don’t succeed, you try something else. A new menu, a different color of tablecloth, remaking a French bistro as an Italian trattoria — anything can sound like an inspired plan when the alternative is failure. And…
Young Guru He has worked on albums by Ghostface, T.I. and Ludacris, but to the extent that Young Guru is known at all, it’s for being Jay-Z’s right-hand man behind the boards. In addition to engineering just about every record that Hova has released, Guru now also serves as Jay’s tour DJ. He does his own thing, too, though, and…
Providence New American Kitchen offers American fare in a historic setting: the President Hotel. The recently opened restaurant is adjacent to the Drum Room, which also got a new look as part of the President’s makeover. Photos by Angela C. Bond.
You can’t fight City Hall. You can’t sleep there either. In the Lifetime movie, the gruff City Council president with a heart of gold helps a homeless friend get back on his feet by letting him stay at City Hall. In Prairie Village, City Councilman David Morrison is looking at losing his seat after it came to light that he’d…
Facebook: Johnny Jo’s The pizza oven at Johnny Jo’s will fire up again this Friday. Mufasa had it wrong. Pizza is the true Circle of Life. And this morning, we have a resurrection story. Johnny Jo’s Pizzeria (1209 W. 47th St.) on the West Plaza is reopening this Friday. Per the pizza shop’s Facebook page: ATTENTION LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! We…
Geez, Liberty Hall is on point lately. In addition to recently announcing dates for Morrissey and Jeff Mangum, the Lawrence venue is also bringing spirited U.K. rock band Bloc Party to town Sunday, January 20. The tour is in support of the band’s newest album, Four. Here are a few other bands’ recently announced shows: Categories: Music Tags: bloc party,…
Facebook: Marriott Downtown American fare with a Kansas City flair is now available at the Marriott Downtown, a fact I was reminded of courtesy of the hotel’s attempt to be featured in the Guinness Book of World Records. Last Friday, the world’s largest game of Pong was held on the downtown building’s electronic light display. MetropolitanKC (200 West 12th Street)…
There’s a new local radio station in town, Flood FM, and the night before Thanksgiving, six venues are hosting 30 (30!) bands to help spread the word about it. Flood FM’s aim is to connect local artists and fans by providing digital tours of the service’s online radio stations. Money collected at the festival will go to help launch the…
Devoted Chiefs fan Loren G. “Sam” Lickteig died on November 14, 2012. And his family humorously placed part of the blame for his death on the Chiefs’ godawful play. The obit (read the whole thing here.) has now charmed just about everybody and is getting posted around the Web. His daughters gave an interview about the colorful send-off to KSHB…
Flickr: roberthuffstutter The Twinkie is still a cultural icon. With Hostess leaving this world and taking its sugary baked goods with it, Fat City wanted to remember what the creme-filled confectioner has meant to all of us. In case Twinkies don’t return (which truly might be the end of the world for some), we thought we’d point to the five…
