Wednesday, March 17,2010

'Zeitoun' selected for One Book, One Community

Author Dave Eggers visits East Lansing Aug. 29

by James Sanford

The City of East Lansing and Michigan State University have selected Dave Eggers’ 2009 novel “Zeitoun” as the 2010 One Book, One Community novel. Set in New Orleans immediately after Hurricane Katrina has devastated the city, “Zeitoun” chronicles the journey of Syrian-American Abdulrahman Zeitoun, his wife, Kathy, and their four children as they face the storm’s terrifying aftermath.

Wednesday, March 17,2010

The Screening Room

It’s ’80s redux: Remakes pour into cineplexes

by James Sanford

“I would love to see some new ideas come out of the big studios ' the remake thing is killing me,” one Facebook follower complained. “I think they have remade every cult horror movie and now they are going to remake every chees(y) ‘80s movie. I mean, what’s next.

'Cheatin','April' among this week's theater openings

by James Sanford

“Cheatin’” (Lansing Civic Players) — Wagging tongues and other wagging body parts stir up big trouble in a tiny Texas town where infidelity is inescapable. Leo Sell, Paul Levandowski, Bob Purosky, Kat Cooper, Sandy Vanlacker, Tim Cody and Tippy Canal star in a farce...

Isn't it woe-mantic?

Thinking about seeing "Remember Me"? Forget it

by James Sanford

“Remember Me” is a tearjerker that won’t make you cry. It will, however, make you groan and squirm and possibly snore as it painstakingly details the lackluster love story of a bitter rich-kid-turned-rebel and a sunny social-worker-to-be brought together by police brutality. That may sound a bit peculiar but, as Al Jolson once said, you ain’t heard nothin’ yet.

Thursday, March 11,2010

Something fishy

Friday fish fries abound during the season of Lent

by James Sanford

Ifyou want to adhere to the meatless Fridays of Lent, but you don’t want tosettle for a salad or fast-food fish sandwich, there are plenty of otheroptions available. Numerous churches and organizations in the area are offeringFriday evening fish fries through April. 2 The p...

Thursday, March 11,2010

Something fishy

Friday fish fries abound during the season of Lent

by James Sanford

If you want to adhere to the meatless Fridays of Lent, but you don’t want to settle for a salad or fast-food fish sandwich, there are plenty of other options available. Numerous churches and organizations in the area are offering Friday evening fish fries through April. 2 The prices are rather appetizing, too: less than $10 for all-you-can-eat fish, fries and other menu items.

Wednesday, March 10,2010

Wharton Center adds 'Jesus Christ Superstar'

Ted Neeley stars in touring production

by James Sanford

Ted Neeley, who starred in the film adaptation of "Jesus Christ Superstar," will reprise the role in a touring production of the Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice rock opera coming to the Wharton Center at 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 5. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. March 15.

Wednesday, March 10,2010

The Screening Room

Lansing native Hughes gets Oscar attention - finally

by James Sanford

"I think that the best way to judge movies is, like, 10 years after they’re released," Damon told the Los Angeles Times. "I think they should actually do the awards that way. I think they should have done the Academy Awards this year for movies from 1998.

Mackerel Sky misses opening deadline

East Lansing art gallery settles in at new location Friday

by James Sanford

Mackerel Sky's grand re-opening in its new location at 211 M.A.C. Ave. is going to happen a couple days later than originally planned.

Friday, March 5,2010

And the Oscar goes to...

Expect some close races in Sunday night's Academy Awards

by James Sanford

Forget Christmas: For filmmakers, the most wonderful time of the year is Oscar season, a time when they do everything they can (and sometimes more than they’re allowed to) in order to take home one of those prized statuettes. Making movies is all good and well, but making big money off of them — that’s the real work.