Spellbound dir. Blitz Opens Fri June 6 Cinema 21 Spellbound is a documentary that follows eight pre-teenage contenders in the 1999 National Spelling Bee finals. The cast includes an inner-city girl from D.C. who looks like she’s going to barf every time she steps up to the microphone. Another is a hyperactive spaz from New […]
Marjorie Skinner
Marjorie Skinner is the Portland Mercury's Managing Editor, author of the weekly Sold Out column chronicling the area's independent fashion and retail industry, and a frequent contributor to the film and other arts and feature sections of the paper. She has been writing about Portland life and culture for the Mercury since 2001, produces one of Portland's largest annual spring fashion shows, and occasionally answers emails.
Posted inNews
The Perv Patrol
Perverted Justice Pulls an Online “Bait-and-Switch” on Pedophile Wanna-be’s
hellbound47591: are you alone britneyx69: well, my dad is asleep, but other than that, yes hellbound47591: suck on your finger britneyx69: ok i will hellbound47591: what are you wearing britneyx69: PJs hellbound47591: any thing under that britneyx69: no hellbound47591: now suck on your finger and rub your clit On February 21, this online exchange was […]
Posted inMovies & TV
Sweet Oddity
The Sensitive Side of Finland
Man Without a Past dir. Kaurismaki Opens Fri May 23 Cinema 21 The second installment of director Aki Kaurismaki’s “Finland” trilogy, Man Without A Past, is striking in its quiet intelligence. Those who revel in action, emoting, quick dialogue or hot actors will fill their shoes with drool by the film’s end. But if you’re […]
Posted inNews
Painting The Town!
City Code Puts the Chill on Murals
Several weeks ago Jason Brown, the owner of New American Casuals, invited aerosol artists to paint the side of his store. The mural that resulted features a mix of graffiti-style writing and a large figure posing with a can of spray paint. The colorful mural is a component of his ongoing campaign to show off […]
Posted inMusic
SatyriGone?
Legendary Rock Club Owner Sells Legendary Rock Club
Satyricon 125 NW 6th Ave It’s just a building. In a dark, windowless cavern, it’s got just the kind of lighting environment that flatters pockmarks and heavy makeup. The bathrooms are crusted in graffiti and never seem to have enough privacy or toilet paper. Satyricon has earned its stature by withstanding the throttle of tough […]
Posted inMusic
Mouth-to-Mouth
Exploding Hearts Revive Pop
Exploding Hearts Mon April 21 Dante’s Punk has been looking more than a little exhausted and “pop” has to be the least effective descriptive term in the cultural lexicon. Despite the circumstances, the Exploding Hearts’ new record, Guitar Romantic, is both exceedingly punk-poppy and hooky-addictive like an unlimited wealth of lite cigarettes. The first impression […]
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A Clip n’ Save Resource Guide
REMODELING: To get information about Portland’s building codes, call the Office of Development & Planning at 823-7310. For code and permit information on plumbing, electrical, heating & ventilating, sign, and sewer, call 823-7363. HIRING A WORKMAN: Before signing up with any company offering services like plumbing, electrical, landscaping, tiling, etc., check out their reputations and […]
Posted inMovies & TV
Make Me Sick
Hmm, Needs More Blood
Dead or Alive Final dir. Miike Opens Fri March 21 Clinton Street Theater Takashi Miike has made an international name for himself. His films are extremely varied, from the horror show Audition, to the sordid, absurd humor of Visitor Q, as well as various action-oriented yakuza films, Fudoh and Dead Or Alive. Miike’s fatalistic, all-inclusive […]
Posted inMovies & TV
Our Town
Does Down and Out Represent PDX Standards?
Down and Out with The Dolls dir. Voss Opens Fri March 21 Hollywood Theater Down and Out with The Dolls deserves a little of your scrutiny. The latest rock-and-roll adventure from Kyrt Voss spins the familiar tale of a chick band (The Paper Dolls) trying to register on Portland’s music radar. Everything about it hollers […]
Posted inMusic
Recording Studios: Where to “Cut a Record”
At some point, your band may want to “record an album.” If you opt out of the DIY route, here are some studios in the Portland area that might be able to “help you out.” Fresh Tracks, 235-7402 Past Clients: Fran Gray, Jonathan Hoffman, The Essentials Insta-Fame Studios, www.insta-fame.com, 786-5045 Past Clients: Minmae, El Doras, […]
Posted inMovies & TV
Frenchified
Please “Deconstruct” Their Cameras!
Derrida dir. Dick & Kofman Opens Fri Feb 21 Cinema 21 There are some very serious problems with Derrida. This documentary is about Jacques Derrida, the French philosopher credited with founding deconstructionist thought. It’s difficult to know where to begin, but the most immediately obvious aspect of this film is its tedium. Derrida is shot […]
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How To Lose A Guy…QT Tues Nite
Palestinians Tour Israel
The Inner Tour dir. Alexandrowicz Thurs Jan 30 Whitsell Auditorium xxxxtate of Israel and Palestine’s constant struggle is in our faces daily, but only as an abstraction. While the drama plays out in the form of headlines, reactions, and reporting biased towards American interests, it’s rare that we are presented with a truly human, personal […]