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PopWireNews, Reviews and Commentary from the World of Popular Culture Saturday, July 4 2009 Duncan Jones explores notions of home and self in 'Moon'SEATTLE — Duncan Jones' eerie yet playful science-fiction feature debut, "Moon," flirts with a number of contradictions. Much of it is special-effects driven, yet its... 'American Idol' finalists get ready to hit the roadBURBANK, Calif. — Face to face at twin pianos, Matt Giraud and Scott MacIntyre strike the opening chords of "Don't Stop Believin'," and playing in unison the two... Guitar legend Richard Thompson takes requestsIn the pantheon of British guitarists, Richard Thompson ranks right up there with Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page. As a songwriter, his tunes have been recorded by artists as... Musicals top the Bard in a topsy-turvy year for StratfordSTRATFORD, Canada — Antoni Cimolino and Des McAnuff, the duopoly in charge of the beloved Stratford Shakespeare Festival, began their annual letter to patrons with a... Tuesday, June 30 2009Johnny Depp turns gangster in 'Public Enemies'If it seems appropriate that "Public Enemies," director Michael Mann's film starring Johnny Depp as Depression-era bank robber and all-around gangster John Dillinger, is opening Wednesday in the midst of the greatest economic meltdown in 70 years, that's because the 1930s were the golden age of the gangster film. With their up-from-the-gutter storylines, movies like "Scarface," "The Public... When Motown met MichaelWilco's latest album is love letter to fansSpike Lee's gem 'Do the Right Thing' tops latest Blu-ray releasesFriday, June 26 2009'Thriller' was greatest triumph, greatest tragedyI got to interview Michael Jackson only once, at the family home in Encino, Calif. This was on the occasion of his 21st birthday, and I remember thinking that for a guy approaching a milestone, he didn't seem very happy. Truth is, he seemed tired. Not from fatigue or exertion. It was an existential tired, as if he felt worn down by the simple act of being. I remember Jackson did not walk about... A guide to books you should read before the movies hit theaters this yearEllen DeGeneres just can't stop dancing , even if she wanted toHard times demand a ... oh, nevermindMichael Jackson was a man and an artist of contradictions'Soraya M.' star Shohreh Aghdashloo wants her film to shine a light on IranFarrah Fawcett defined celebrityThursday, June 25 2009'Virtuality,' airing Friday on Fox"I'm asking if you know fantasy from reality," the starship commander demands of one of his officers, and in "Virtuality" the question is anything but rhetorical. This sci-fi TV movie that Fox hopes to spin off into a series is like an existential Cuisinart, slicing and dicing the real, the virtual and the imaginary into something that's intellectually fascinating if not quite dramatically... Phoenix took in its cultural surroundings to craft a breakout album'Fiddler' by design: 'Farewell' or not, Topol continues to raise the roofScience fiction battles odds but survives, flourishes on TVWednesday, June 24 2009After Grammy slight, fans wonder: Is polka dying?CHICAGO — To polka devotees, the news came like a slap in the face: After 24 years, the Grammy Awards were dropping the music as a standalone category. No longer would polka bands across America be recognized alongside rock and rap, jazz and blues, with the most coveted piece of hardware in the music business. No longer would polka players have at least one day in the year — when the... After years as indie act, the Avett Brothers hit it biggerInventor of instant noodles helped author confront 'infidelity and betrayal'Joseph O'Neill: Bowled over by the fantasticiPhone: the Great White Hype?Tuesday, June 23 2009Not too gaga over these summer hitsI knew I was in trouble with my summer-song literacy when I realized my current favorite is "Crazy in Love" by Beyonce, which dates all the way back to 2003. Counting in dog years, I'm doing just fine. But summer songs are meant to be savored annually. And the only up-to-the-minute tune I'm really familiar with is the one by the Frosty Posse from the Wendy's commercial — a realization that... 'Tonight Show' announcer Ed McMahon dies at 86'NYC Prep,' premiering Tuesday on Bravo'Confessions of a Shopaholic' leads slim list of new Blu-ray titlesWherever he goes, Dr. John's heart is firmly in his hometownMonday, June 22 2009Heroic 'Transformers' sequel is a toy story, tooThe bigger the boys, the bigger the toys. And now with "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" — the sequel to the 2007 hit based on the venerable Hasbro toys — opening Wednesday with more and even bigger robots, well, brace yourselves: The boys are back in town. And, no doubt, in theaters, where the rock 'em, sock 'em rampage of the original made it a blockbuster for boys of all ages... Sunday, June 21 2009HBO documentaries attempt to put Iran and the West in focusDuring this, the 30th anniversary of the overthrow of the Shah of Iran and the establishment of an Islamic republic, both HBO and National Geographic are airing films this week that offer American audiences rare insights into Iran. What timing! Obviously, no one at either channel anticipated the events of the past 10 days, so the films being featured don't mention the developments of the hinky... Friday, June 19 2009Fast chat with 'food evangelist' Michael PollanNEW YORK — Author of the foodie manifesto "The Omnivore's Dilemma" and, more recently, "In Defense of Food," Michael Pollan grew up in Woodbury, N.Y., when farms still dotted Long Island. Growing up next to a pumpkin field may have influenced Pollan's work as a food evangelist — not so much for a fruits-and-nuts regimen, but against the corporatization and general unhealthiness of... Remastered and reissued, these are the albums that started it allDane Cook's newest stand-up routines draw on personal painArrested journalists' TV network on a missionWoody Allen can't curb his enthusiasm for Larry DavidAnne Hathaway adds her star power to 'Twelfth Night'Thursday, June 18 2009Don't watch 'Food, Inc.' if you don't want to ruin your appetiteSee the cows grazing on the grassy hills! The chickens clucking around big old barns! All those lakes and trees, beneath cloud-flecked blue skies! Walk around a supermarket and look at the labels on the meat and poultry, the milk and juices, and the images are pastoral, perfect — bucolic visions of the quintessential family farm. Look at "Food, Inc.," the new documentary, and the picture... Brace yourself for ABC's 'Impact'Director (and now author) Guillermo del Toro: Fantasy is faithFrancis Ford Coppola gets personal with his new film'Whatever Works' for Larry David is starring in Woody Allen's new movieTweet success: It's easy to lose interest in Twitter, but there are reasons to stick with itFile-sharing trial wraps up testimonyWednesday, June 17 2009Three new documentaries explore the chasm between Iran and the WestHer husband was billing it as nothing more than a prolonged vacation, but Farah Diba, the queen of Iran, knew it was much more. As she climbed aboard the royal aircraft bound for Egypt, the streets of Tehran were full of demonstrators chanting "Death to the shah!" She recalls thinking, "Is this going to be forever?" Thirty years later, it feels like it — for the queen, for Iran, for us.... Wave of the future: New meaning to 'beach read''John Adams,' 'The Greatest Game' lead a stellar list of Blu-ray titlesTwitter brings new language to old institution, the SenateUruguayan author Eduardo Galeano takes First World nations to taskAuthor Ron Carlson returns with 'The Signal'A look at the TV series that never wereVideo-game sales expected to bounce backTuesday, June 16 2009Kotaku's Best of E3 Awards: Hair Dragons, CatBats and Light GraffitiThis year's annual E3 Expo gathering of video game developers, publishers and players brought with it an unprecedented look at the games we'll be playing over this year and next as well as the technology that will shape the games to come. Here are the staff of Kotaku's picks for the best of 2009's Electronic Entertainment Expo: Best Console/PC Game After three years in hiatus, Tom Clancy's... '24' moves to New York for season 8African-American woman aims for rare climb up the country music chartsThe robot rebellion is only a matter of timeVeteran punk-rock band X marks 30 years with new set list'Heroes' no longer a star of Comic-ConMonday, June 15 2009Luckily, Jimi Hendrix never used a Quilter ampCOSTA MESA, Calif. — Wouldn't it be great if Jimi Hendrix used one of my guitar amps, thought Pat Quilter. It was the mid-'60s when a musician friend complained that guitar amplifiers cost five times more than the $250 he had in his pocket. Quilter, a college dropout with a knack for audio electronics, agreed to build the needed amp for $250. It worked well enough (no amps were really... 'Idols' Kris, Adam, Allison ink record dealTV not making sense? It's not because you forgot to convert from analog to digitalSecond verse of file-sharing case takes on music copyrightsObama's economic adviser to show his 'wit' on 'Colbert Report'Good company man: Singer Paul Rodgers still has the passionIs it news? A comedy bit? Or an ad?A tip of a mud-caked beer bottle to Bonnaroo, Woodstock and the restWith 'The Proposal,' Sandra Bullock is ready to show she can still do it allLike her great-grandfather Ike, Jennie Eisenhower is used to the spotlightSunday, June 14 2009Change is coming to cable TVCable TV is flying high. More original shows are on this summer than at any time in non-network history, led by TNT with eight different series including "The Closer," "Saving Grace" and the new medical drama "Hawthorne." More people are watching cable more hours per day than ever. "Jon & Kate Plus 8" on TLC is more popular than "I'm a Celebrity" on NBC in the same time slot. Much like Jon and... Friday, June 12 2009Many still unprepared for digital TV transitionSAN JOSE, Calif. — When broadcasters turn off their old analog transmissions Friday, millions of Americans will lose access to television signals. Betty Bowman didn't want that to happen to her. The 80-year-old from Mountain View, Calif., lives alone, and her television is a companion. She watches the news and Oprah, and typically has it on most of the night. Last summer, long before the... Hammer too legit to quit: Rap star gives America a peek at his new lifeThursday, June 11 2009How the laughter got 'Lost'"Land of the Lost" isn't just a bad movie. It's emblematic of what's wrong with lots of movies, especially comedies. Watching this stillborn adventure you're painfully aware that the moviemakers are working their way down the list of key elements from the old Saturday morning kids TV show. Tyrannosaurus rex? Check. Sleestaks? Check. Hairy ape boy? Check. Cave hideout? Check. What never... Musician hits the road, on a bike'Battlestar Galactica's' Starbuck on '24' team?David Letterman defends Sarah Palin jokeWhich 100 greatest films, AFI's or Criterion's?Obama becomes a comics sensationLuis Guzman: The man behind that familiar faceWednesday, June 10 2009Acclaimed director Guillermo Del Toro sinks his teeth into vampire literatureForget "Hellboy." Forget "Pan's Labyrinth." Forget directing "The Hobbit," which is why Oscar-nominated director Guillermo del Toro finds himself in New Zealand these days. For the moment, del Toro's all about a plague of blood-feeders taking over New York — and the novel he's written about them, a man vs. vampire page-turner called "The Strain." "There was a little book I read as a kid,"... The late-night wars are backChatting with Dave Eggers and his wife about their literary success and new movie 'Away We Go'Latest upgrades underwhelm, but iPhone still holds leadTen years after the Internet boom, mistrusted tech sector wins new admirersWill New York Times Co. shut down Boston Globe?Tuesday, June 9 2009The great experimentIn a week full of startling gaming news, from Microsoft's virtual controller to Nintendo's biometric add-on, Sony's launch of a digital-download-only gaming system has the greatest potential to be a game changer for the industry. The PSPgo is a slimmed down version of Sony's Playstation Portable. The device, set to hit stores Oct. 1 for $249 in either black or white, slides apart to display its... 'Woodstock: 40th Anniversary,' 'Gran Torino' top new Blu-ray titlesTetris video game turns 25 years oldSax icon Wayne Shorter is an unconventional mentorMonday, June 8 2009DVD box sets: Norman Lear, Woodstock and Jack LemmonThis week we're looking at DVD box sets about a path-breaking TV producer, a memorable rock festival and one of America's most beloved actors. (List prices are included, but significant discounts may be found at video stores and online retailers.) "The Norman Lear Collection" (19 discs, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, $159.95, not rated): This outstanding box set shows how producer Norman Lear... Blend of music, dance, martial arts takes hold in MexicoDavid Choi has more subscribers on YouTube than Miley CyrusNew 'Woodstock' DVD lets fans have a virtual festivalBrenda star: Kyra Sedgwick still finds her 'Closer' role fascinating'Billy Elliot' takes 10 Tony AwardsFriday, June 5 200910 favorite moments from a remarkable year of Broadway theaterNEW YORK — The strange case of the triumphant star-driven theater season continues to grip Broadway with all the twisty surprise of a really satisfying thriller. Even as the commercial theater rehearses for the national ad campaign known as the Tony Awards (Sunday night at 8 EDT on CBS), box-office grosses continue to confound the world's financial realities. The season's final tally is... Spread the Emmy loveBritain's longest-running TV crime drama gets DVD release in AmericaMaya Rudolph goes home for her new comedy film 'Away We Go'Will Ferrell brings his favorite childhood TV show to the big screenEdie 'Carmela Soprano' Falco returns to TV in new Showtime series3-D or not 3-D? Cash is the questionThursday, June 4 2009Conan's cuckoo debut: O'Brien skips past Jay and Johnny and Jack right back to Steve Allen sillinessInheriting "The Tonight Show" throne this week, Conan O'Brien has taken NBC's late-night institution old-school. Steve Allen old. O'Brien's approach is the most off-the-wall and unpredictable since Steverino invented the job in the '50s. The impish Irishman favors a spontaneous style. Though not as strong in his opening monologue, he may be the best improviser in "Tonight's" distinguished line... Sid and Marty Krofft: This 'Land' is their 'Land'Folk artists pay tribute to a mentor, the late Utah PhillipsBlues singer Koko Taylor dies at 80Google may rule, but Bing shows zingMicrosoft to eliminate the need for game controllersWednesday, June 3 2009Veteran actress Sharon Gless finds her focus on 'Burn Notice'PASADENA, Calif. — "Do you mind if I smoke?" asked Sharon Gless. The question was odd because the actress was seated on the patio of the posh Langham, Huntington Hotel & Spa. Californians tend to object to smokers even if they're obeying the rules. It also was strange because it's hard to imagine Gless without a cigarette dangling from her digits. On the USA Network series "Burn Notice,"... Stay cool and delve into a good book this summerBook Expo exposes problems with publishing industryTuesday, June 2 2009'Glory,' 'Defiance' lead list of latest Blu-ray releasesA pair of stirring human dramas set in different wars — "Glory" (Sony, 1989, $28.95) and "Defiance" (Paramount, 2008, $39.99) — are among the best of the new titles being released on Blu-ray this week. "Glory" is based on the true story of the 54th Massachusetts Regiment, the first all-black volunteer unit to fight for the Union in the Civil War. Matthew Broderick plays Robert Gould... Sony prepares an army of Playstation evangelistsSecrets of 'Revolutionary Road' revealedMatisyahu keeps the faith while rappingNew video game releasesGuilty pleasures of summer TVMonday, June 1 2009As the Tonys near, Broadway is booming with escapist fareNEW YORK — You'd scarcely know times are hard from the crowds thronging around Times Square and into Broadway theaters for the Great White Way's version of a stimulus package. Shows that opened during the 2008-2009 season, which officially ended a week ago, grossed more than $943 million. That gross is up $6 million from the year before, in part due to higher ticket prices, although... Twitter Tees: Threadless launches T-shirts with sayings written by the TwitteratiWho are the top Tweeters? UCF grads created tracking sitePalm faces 'make-or-break' event with launch of the Pre |
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