Some TV shows need to die sudden, violent deaths. Others are taken away far too soon, and deserve a second chance—a resurrection, if you will. Now, through the wonder of DVD, everything canceled is new again. • Wonderfalls: The Complete Series (2004)—This deliciously dark and funny series, which Fox canceled after only four episodes, follows […]
Michael Svoboda
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Taste the World
Portland’s International Groceries
Are you sick to death of buying the same cart of groceries at Fred Meyer every other week? Well, bust out of that rut and find something new to eat at one of these great international grocery stores. Impress your lover with a meal of New Zealand lamb chops or rock that kitchen with a […]
Posted inMovies & TV
Beyond the Ego
Kevin Spacey is a Vainglorious Ass
Beyond the Sea dir. Spacey Now Playing Various Theaters Kevin Spacey is a vainglorious ass. Every movie he’s in always becomes about him–not about whatever character he’s playing, but about Kevin Spacey and his vanity. Spacey dives even deeper into his cesspool of narcissism with Beyond the Sea, a postmodern, self-referential song and dance biopic/fantasy […]
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Want to Meet the Fockers?
Trust Me. You Don’t.
Meet the Fockers dir. Roach Now Playing Various Theaters How many times can a name be used as a joke in a movie and still be funny? Well, depending on the hilarity of the name, I’d wager no more than four times. And while “Focker” is a pretty funny name, it’s also pretty lame that […]
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The POWER of the PHANTOM!
The Power to NUMB Your MIND!
Phantom of the Opera dir. Schumacher Now Playing Various Theaters In 1986, when I was 14 years old, I had a glow-in-the-dark Phantom of the Opera T-shirt, and I totally thought it was the shit. True, I had never actually seen the musical, and I definitely wasn’t aware that its creator, Andrew Lloyd Webber, might […]
Posted inBooks
A Paper Life
A Paper Life by Tatum O’Neal (HarperEntertainment) Who would ever think that a child star could turn out so fucked up? Hollywood seems like such a stable and nurturing place to raise children, chock full of positive role models and far, far away from drugs, booze and excess. RightÉ Tatum O’Neal’s story, as she tells […]
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Queer Across Town
A Compendium of Queer Nights
Portland is special, and dare I say “evolved” in its abundant variety of bars that aren’t necessarily gay but play gay a certain night of the week. These nights feel like parties and are a welcome alternative to the incredibly lame Stark Street gay bar scene. So, pick your pleasure, gay, ‘cuz it’s always Friday […]
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SpongeBob Is Gay!
That’s Gay as in “Happy”
The SpongeBob SquarePants Moviedir. Hillenburg Opens Fri Nov 19 Various Theaters The first thing I came across while I was researching The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie–and yes, I actually did research for The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie–was a raging internet debate as to whether or not the film’s titular character is gay. (The debate had even spread […]
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Surviving Affleck
Christmas Comes Early… Too Early
Surviving Christmas dir. Mitchell Opens Fri Oct 22 Various Theaters The true test of a good Christmas movie is if you can see yourself watching it every year and still laughing (or crying) at the appropriate moments. A Christmas Story? Yes. Miracle on 34th Street? Yes. Even Bad Santa? Yes. But I never want to […]
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More than a French Burrito!
Eat Your Weight in Crêpes
Lots of places have crepes on their menus, but only a handful can call themselves creperies–magical places where you’ll find little but thin pancakes stuffed with a myriad of delicious ingredients. “Creperie,” what a romantic word… Seduce your mouth with these, the cutest creperies in town. Fold, Streamline Trailer No. 43 2921 NE Alberta, Official […]
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Go To This
Mother Nature Kicks Ass, IMAX Style
Mount St. Helens is so boring! Ooh–steam! I’m really scared! You know what, St. Helens? I think I’m going to make some tea and go to bed, because you’re putting me to sleep. If you’re like me and can’t stand another minute of sitting around and watching Fox 12’s melodramatic, up-to-the-second coverage of absolutely nothing […]
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Like a TV Movie… On Fire!
A Rickety Ladder 49
Ladder 49 dir. Russell Opens Fri Oct 1 Various Theaters At first glance, it’d be easy to categorize Ladder 49 as a piece of post-9/11 heroic schmaltz–then again, sappy movies about firefighters were being made long before 9/11. But that familiar, post-9/11 heroic glaze of idealism is certainly present in Ladder 49, a high-gloss look […]