Entertainment Television

‘Marquis De Sade’s Justine’ Blu-ray Review: A Gut-Punch of the Most Hateful Variety

Henry Ibsch — Thu, 17 May 2012 04:37:15 +0000

I cant speak for how faithful this adaptation of Marquis De Sades Justine (aka Cruel Passion) is, but if it doesnt stick directly to the text, I have to imagine it sticks to the authors intent (the best it can, that is, without being pornographic). Under the direction of Chris Boger, and the lens of Coen Brothers stalwart Roger Deakins, Justine is an erotically-charged, bleak little number about a girl (Koo Stark, supposedly playing a pre-teen, though shes obviously and thankfully in her 20s) who clings desperately to her innocence while ricocheting from scene to scene where that chastity is put to the test in harrowing ways.

The film doesnt skimp on the depravity, featuring rape, necrophilia, mother-son incest and more, but before you draw the conclusion that this is some despicable sleaze-fest, it really isnt.

Luca Legnani & Francesco Calabrese – talking film

Bianca Lions — Sun, 13 May 2012 11:56:11 +0000

Posted May 15, 2012

This time on “Tea’s Talents” film producer Luca Legnani and director Francesco Calabrese share chinese food with Tea while discussing ghost stories, artistic wisdom and plans to restore Lindsay Lohan’s career.

“It’s not that I don’t like her. I ignore her.” Luca and I are drinking wine and discussing his Friendly Ghost. I just witnessed her turning on his stereo-something Luca says she does often-especially around girls. I’m convinced that she’s in love with Luca and therefore jealous of me. “What if she’s sabotaging your relationships?” I ask. “Oh, I know she is.”

I met Luca at a gallery a few years ago and since then I’ve had the pleasure to ruin his infamous New Gentlemen’s Club parties, attend his “Minema” shows, and, most recently, get drunk and eat Chinese food with him and his friend Francesco.

Luca Legnani

Luca Legnani (producer) and Francesco Calabrese (director) are working on a new film together, and telling by Luca’s talent and Francesco’s work, (I’m sure y’all have watched the Bloody Beetroots “Warp” on repeat, if not it’s just below), that shit will be cray. The two are a sweet sight to see in Milan-both super tall, hella hot and intimidating through their glasses. Luca is so intimidating, in fact, that his favorite Chinese Delivery Girl refuses to come to his door, making him pick up orders downstairs. “She never wants to come up,” he complains when she buzzes, “but I’ll slip her my business card.” A true Ladies Man, Luca is known for making the “best gelato in town.”

Directed by Francesco Calabrese

How’d you get involved in Milan’s ‘Art Scene’?

L: When I was studying at Bocconi my friend Luca Martinazzoli and I rode around town on my Vespa every night, just going to gallery openings and getting drunk for free. Eventually we were like, “if this old dude can be a curator, so can we.

Who’s the best artist you’ve worked with?

L: Gwen Stefani was the nicest. I did her “Cool” video in Como and she was surprisingly easy to work with but she chose the wrong actor to play her ex. Some model, totally wrong.

I love Gwen, she was like my first Gaga.

L: Yeah she’s hot because she’s kind of ugly.

Who are you watching now?

L: I’m really into Marzia Gaggioli. She’s a Roman singer, about your age, and she makes insane Youtube videos. She’s even crazier than you. (Impossible).

Francesco Calabrese photographed by Will Grundy

How do y’all feel about the “Youtube Famous”? Like, as filmmakers do y’all think it takes attention away from “real artists” or does it help everyone in the end?

F: I think it’s great-the only thing is that anyone can make a video now, so let’s say a kid makes a crappy film, puts it on Youtube, is lucky somehow and gets famous-meanwhile a talented person works on something for years, misses a connection and nobody cares.

You and Luca are filming a movie this summer, right?

F: Yes, I wrote a film about a fifteen year old boy who wants to have sex for the first time-but the film isn’t about sex, it’s about what he goes through, the chain of events that happen, in order for him to reach his goal.

Luca Legnani

So what will the soundtrack be? Lana Del Rey?

L: Yeah, and Rovina.

What’s that?

L: “Francesco’s band.” (I learn that Francesco sings for a punk rock band, which sounds kind of like Black Flag would have sounded had they practiced in a Pizzeria).

What’s it like working with a friend?

F: “Sometimes it’s annoying. I’ve been working with screenwriter Enrico Audenino and we spend a lot of time together and sometimes he wants to kill me and I want to kill him. It’s like being husband and wife. But we don’t get to have sex.”

Francesco Calabrese photographed by Sir Bob Cornelius Rifo

Could you save Lindsay Lohan’s career?

F: Sure, I’d write a film about her being Lindsay Lohan and me being myself-but the film doesn’t go well, so I dump her. Then I become super famous and she finds a guy from the suburbs and becomes a housewife.

Do you have a muse?

F: Muses are usually girlfriends that dump you, so I don’t need one. I’m the dumper.

Directed by Francesco Calabrese

Have you dumped every girlfriend you’ve had?

F: Yes. Then I try to come back and they reject me.

For more from both featured talents:

Francesco Calabrese’s Website

Luca Legnani’s Website

Interviewed and Written by Tea Hacic-Vlahovic

Review: Top-notch cooking at Red Cottage Restaurant

Ruby Anthony — Tue, 08 May 2012 20:50:02 +0000

She, however, takes the back way there and I found her directions a little daunting. So we decided to treat ourselves and go together.

From the moment we walked in the door of the charming and titular red cottage, it was clear Helen was a regular. The wait staff called out a greeting and, when we ordered, our server automatically asked Helen if she wanted the half-size portion.

She didn’t, but she did order one of her favorites, Eggs Napoli ($9.50). The dish featured a Bay’s English muffin split open and topped with roasted tomatoes and garden-fresh basil, then crowned with two poached eggs and lemon hollandaise sauce. It was an interesting take on the traditional eggs Benedict.

Fringe “Brave New World” Season 4 Finale Part 1 Review (VIDEO)

Henry Ibsch — Sun, 06 May 2012 00:15:29 +0000

Here is me and Roths review of the latest Fringe episode which is the first part of the season 4 finale Brave New World.

Fast Five Wins Weekend Box Office

Henry Ibsch — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 20:07:09 +0000

The Vin Diesel franchise street racing flick “Fast Five” tore the doors off the competition this weekend with a domestic movie house haul of $83,630,000 and a worldwide haul of over $160 million.

The flick also features Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and fans flocked to see the action flick which is the fifth in the franchise.

Following a distant second is the animated feature “Rio” that held the top spot for two weeks with a weekend total of $14 million for a three week total of $103 million plus domestically but a monster haul of $364 plus million globally.

Not

You Can Be Cool, Just Being You

Ruby Anthony — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 03:20:17 +0000

More DTC season insights from Kevin Moriarty

Bianca Lions — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 15:52:31 +0000

Here are some more outtakes from yesterday’s interview with the Dallas Theater Center’s artistic director, Kevin Moriarty, about the 2012-2013 season he announced Thursday:

1) There’s a big ongoing push toward involving Latino artists and audiences in the theater. A new Hispanic author will figure in each of the next three seasons, and you can expect some new Hispanic members in the acting company. Moriarty has been in contact with TCU grad Jaime Castaneda and former Fort Worth director since he got to town; now he’s hired the young director to stage Kristoffer Diaz’s show for next season.

BOOK GROUPIE: Unpleasant protagonist a hoot

Ruby Anthony — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 06:00:40 +0000

To write a funny book with an unfriendly main character is risky business. Most people want to read about characters they’d go out to dinner with or invite to a party, not ones they’d move across town to avoid.

The last book I read with an unappealing main character was John Kennedy Toole’s “A Confederacy of Dunces.” I recommended that book in this column, and received many delighted messages from Gazette readers who followed my recommendation.

Recently, I stumbled upon another book whose unpleasant main character caused me almost as much laughter as Toole’s Ignatius J. Reilly.

In Alexander McCall Smith’s “Portuguese Irregular Verbs,” Professor Dr. Moritz-Maria von

Spiga 2: Introducing Come-for- breakfast

Bianca Lions — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 03:06:05 +0000

View photogallery

Posted Mar 27, 2012

The Spiga 2 Dolce&Gabbana boutique is a launch platform for talented up and coming designers. For SS12, Dolce&Gabbana have selected an exciting collection of talented youngsters. Featured from the roster this week: Comeforbreakfast.

Comeforbreakfast was founded by Antonio Romano and Francesco Alagna in September 2009, and immediately the brand was selected to be part of the Vogue Talents for that season.

Antonio, graduated as a designer from Polimoda in Florence.

Commercial booths vital part of Yuma fair

Henry Ibsch — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 15:54:30 +0000

With the 60th annual Yuma County Fair just around the corner, there’s one burning question: Will the ever-popular cinnamon roll lady be there?

“Of course,” answered Eric Wofford, manager of the Yuma County Fairgrounds. “We couldn’t have a fair without her.”

Or to be more accurate, her son, who recently took over the business, Old West Cinnamon Rolls, that has been a longtime staple of the fair.

Every year, people que up in long lines for their annual fix of the addictive treat.

And even though Tom “Huf” Hofstedt retired a couple of years ago after drawing caricatures of fairgoers for 25 years, his replacement will be back again this year. He even doe

‘Virgin Witch’ Blu-ray Review: Banned in the UK, Now Banned in My Living Room

Henry Ibsch — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 19:22:45 +0000

For a little while, I was fascinated by Mill Creek Entertainments 12-in-1 DVD horror sets. The movies were, by and large, pretty terrible, but every now and then, youd come across one that had just enough production value and narrative interest to compel you to actually finish it. Those watchable films were rare. If you know what Im talking about, then youll understand when I say that Virgin Witch is like one of the better movies in a Mill Creek set. Which is to say, its terrible.

Real-life sisters Ann Michelle and Vicki Michelle play a couple of wannabe models who fall under the spell of a lesbian modeling agent and are quickly seduced into her coven of witches.

Take advantage of off-season at Old Yarmouth Inn

Ruby Anthony — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 11:29:19 +0000

Served nightly from 4:30 until 6 p.m. the special is only $25 and includes an appetizer selection, entre and dessert. Since many of the items on the extensive prix fixe menu are also on the regular dinner menu, it is a great opportunity to try some creative dishes that are lovingly prepared.

The warmth of the greeting we received on arrival was only topped by the warmth from the enormous hearth of a fireplace that was burning merrily. The hostess joked that she has the best seat in the house and she certainly does have a cozy view.

Originally built as a sun porch, the main dining room has plenty of large windows to let in the early evening light.

Looking back at Bruce Springsteen past decade of recorded work

Bianca Lions — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 10:26:57 +0000

Bruce Springsteen kicks off his U.S. tour with the E Street Band tonight in Atlanta. The first leg of the tour includes stops at the TD Garden in Boston on March 26 and Albanys Times Union Center on April 16.

The past decade has found the New Jersey rocker commenting on changes in America: From the post-9/11 landscape in The Rising in 2002 to the Occupy Wall Street themes depicted in his new album, Wrecking Ball.

Here is a look back at The Boss studio work recorded between 2002 and 2012:

For someone whos achieved such star status during his life, Bruce Springsteen has still been tough to pin down especially since the late 1980s.

Demi Moore Will Be In Rehab For Awhile

Ruby Anthony — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 09:05:03 +0000

After Demi Moore’s 911 was released to the public and then went viral, the G.I. Jane star almost immediately sought treatment at a rehabilitation center. Even now, we’re not exactly sure what the star did to send her into enough panic to dial 911. In the 911 call, friends of Demi’s stated that she’d smoked something but made it very clear that it wasn’t marijuana and that it caused her to have convulsions. In addition, one of the friends mentioned that she was struggling with some other things as well. Since Moore checked herself in to rehab, we’ve heard that the actress has an addiction to everything from Red Bull to perscription drugs. Wh Read more…

Manor Tavern proves that slow and steady wins the race

Bianca Lions — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 05:46:19 +0000

The Manor Tavern sits in the in the thick of beautiful Monkton, where the land is big but the community is tight, and folks know the names of their neighbors’ ancestors, children, horses and hunting dogs.

Change, when it comes here, comes slowly, which makes the Manor Tavern an interesting case study. The 250-year-old Baltimore County property, in the thick of world-famous horse country, was purchased last summer by two teams of experienced restaurateurs. William and John Mitcherling own Towson’s An Poitin Stil, and Patrick Russell and Bill Irvin operate businesses in Fells Point, including Kooper’s Tavern, Slainte and the Chowhound Burger Wagon.

The new operators have been making changes slowly, at more of a canter than a gallop.