Archive: May, 2010

MOVIE REVIEW: Slaying Goliath

POSTED: Friday, May 14, 2010, 9:00 PM

Filed Under: Movies Movie Review

Slaying Goliath, a portrait of a 10 days in the life of an Amateur Athletics Union basketball team and their emotionally fraught trip to the AAU National Championships, seems like a straightforward documentary. It is and it isn't: Directors Michele Stephensen and Joe Brewster aren't just a husband-and-wife filmmaking team doing another project here, they're also the parents of a fifth-grade boy who just happens to play for the team. As Stephensen and Brewster admitted after Tuesday's screening at International House, they knew their son's team had some drama, so they figured they'd take their cameras along as they joined the rest of the parents on the team's drive down to Cocoa Beach, Florida. They got some drama alright: A 24-year-old coach with an anger problem, a team of kids who have trouble coaslescing as a team and, throughout it all, a bunch of parents fighting over what to do about everything. Needless to say, things fall apart: There are tears, there are losses (but also a few wins) and the team goes home — apparently never to play together again, as Stephensen and Brewster explained after the screening. Unfortunately, what's missing is a lot of important contextual information. How do the filmmakers fit into all the parental bickering? What do they really think of the team and its coach, and how do they feel about their son's role on the team? What happened before the tournament, and what happened afterwards? Considering how close the filmmakers were to the material, I would have liked to see some kind of personal reflection. They aren't interested in making the kind of reflective, personal film that would answer those questions, and on some level, that's fine. They chose to make an objective documentary — a short, tightly edited film that seems balanced in its depiction of the team's coach, players and other parents. However, these are parents with a huge personal investment in their son's team, and whatever "balance" the film appears to must be artificial, in the sense that the filmmakers almost certainly have their own opinions. Those opinions don't come out in Slaying Goliath as blatantly as they could have, and I can't see how they could do anything but make for a richer film with a more nuanced story to tell.

Posted by Sam Kaplan @ 9:00 PM Permalink | Post a comment

ADORABLE/FIERCE ROCK ALERT: Post Post plays Sugar Town @ Khyber on Saturday

POSTED: Friday, May 14, 2010, 8:15 PM

Filed Under: Music | Philly Bands Show

We love Post Post. Remember? We told you all about these cute-as-bugs Bryn Mawrtyr indie pop-kids in our Music Issue. Well, they're playing Sugar Town on Saturday. This video's only YouTube quality, but I think you'll get the jist.

Sugar Town with Post Post, Exit Clov, She Ends All and Hannah Zaic and the Damaged Goods, Sat., May 15, 9 p.m., $8, the Khyber, 56 S. Second St., 215-238-5888.

Posted by Patrick Rapa @ 8:15 PM Permalink | Post a comment

CRITICAL MASS WEEKEND OMNIBUS: Relax Your Balls Weekend

POSTED: Friday, May 14, 2010, 7:15 PM

Filed Under: Weekend Omnibus

Jack Donaghy says have a great weekend. And to relax your balls.

Friday: Peter Hornsberger runs The Girly Show with Tracy Jordan with a limp wrist, but ironically that means Scott Adsit kills playing Pete on 30 Rock. He and Philly native Christina Gausas hit up the Philadelphia Improv Theater tonight, but don't go without reading Tom Tiballi's interview with Adsit first. Then it's time for the legendary Buzzcocks who will no doubt melt the faces of the Trocadero crowd tonight. Want in? Enter to win two tickets WE HAVE OUR WINNERS!!! right here on Critical Mass (you know we love ya, Omnibussers). Saturday: So much to do, so little time! But if you have unlimited time then you can do it all. Consider immortality tonight at the 50th anniversary of Dracula's Ball. But first pick up some new duds at the Art Star Craft Bazaar and get your food and drink on at the Italian Market Fest. Sunday: Do as Lil' Jon and the Eastside Boyz do when you get low today and the SoLow arts fest. Continue your off-the-wall arts antics with Rhymes with Opera, who will teach you that classical vocal arts ain't just fat ladies singing.

Posted by Molly Eichel @ 7:15 PM Permalink | Post a comment

TV Watch: Philly-shot Garza Outlaw ready for prime time UPDATE

POSTED: Friday, May 14, 2010, 6:24 PM

Filed Under: TV

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,smits27

insidesocal.com

How many press photos can I find of Jimmy Smits before this show actually airs?

In a surprise move, NBC picked up Garza Outlaw (according to TV Watch, Outlaw is the new title), the Philly-shot pilot starring Jimmy Smits as a Supreme Court justice who returns to private practice, for a regular season run. All reports pointed to Garza receiving a midseason pick-up because of a weak pilot but strong marks for star Smits. But the Peacock (or simply the 'Cock, as I like to call them while giggling to myself like a 12-year-old boy) switched it up: Kindreds, another legal-themed pilot from TV vet David E. Kelley (Ally McBeal, Chicago Hope) will take the midseason slot. The pilot for Garza Outlaw will be re-shot so expect to see Smits bouncing around town. RELATED >> TV Watch: Jimmy Smits' Philly-shot show now called Garza, ready for midseason?

Posted by Molly Eichel @ 6:24 PM Permalink | Post a comment

MUSIC MADNESS: Win tickets to see the Buzzcocks tonight! -- We have winners!

POSTED: Friday, May 14, 2010, 4:00 PM

Filed Under: Music

Holy punk rock, Batman! We've got two pairs of tickets to see the Buzzcocks tonight at the Troc. Here's what MJ Fine had to say about the Manchester legends:

Any band can play an album from start to finish and call it a show. But when your songs are as sharp as those in the Buzzcocks' repertoire, you've got to up the ante. The Brit punks will plow through the two records they released in 1978, Another Music in a Different Kitchen and Love Bites, with time to spare for an encore set of hits from their three-decade career.

You can get your grubby lil' fingers on these tickets by answering a simple trivia question. To answer, e-mail molly [dot] eichel [at] citypaper [dot] net. Here goes: We have our winners! Congrats to Jay and Marissa!

Pete Shelley recruited Howard Devoto by posting signs seeking fans of what song?

"Sister Ray" by the Velvet Underground

The only rub is you need to be able to pick them up in our Old City offices. But who cares? Buzzcocks!

Posted by Molly Eichel @ 4:00 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Party hard with Andrew WK at POPE

POSTED: Friday, May 14, 2010, 3:00 PM

Filed Under: Music

Andrew WK says he's paying us a visit!:

So Andrew WK is coming to P.O.P.E. (1501 E. Passyunk Ave.) for some pump up-age and DJ action. There's nothing on P.O.P.E.'s site and we'll give 'em a shout when they're open for more details, so come back later for an update. But, to satiate your hard partying needs, here's a picture of A.W.K. and T-Pain. h/t Meal Ticket Man Drew Lazor

Posted by Molly Eichel @ 3:00 PM Permalink | Post a comment

INTERVIEW with 30 Rock's Scott Adsit: "So now in bars across the world, you can spend 50 cents and hear Liz Lemon and Pete Hornberger yelling at you to 'shoot it up the ramp!'"

POSTED: Friday, May 14, 2010, 2:00 PM

Filed Under: Interview

timeoutchicago.com

Scott Adsit

Philly native Christina Gausas, a former writer for Late Night with Conan O'Brien, and Scott Adsit — aka Pete from 30 Rock — ditch New York City for a two-night set beginning tonight with Philly Improv Theater. And improv being what it is, who knows what to expect? If Gausas and Adsit's behind-the-scenes credits don't get you hot and bothered, check out the characters they've played on screen: Hoppy Bunny, Dwight Lomax, Woman with Red Bow, Greasy Man, Man in Dress and Male Addict. Will there be greasy men? Which one will end up in women's clothing? Find out. We sent talked with Adsit about pinball machines dialogue, Mr. Show and Pete Hornberger's mug. City Paper: The mid '90s seem like they must have been pretty wild. I am really interested in is Medieval Madness Pinball. Between you and Tina Fey both being involved, it's hard to think of any pinball machine with more clout and integrity. How'd you two get involved, and have you ever had anything weirder on your CV? Scott Adsit: In 1996 or '97 Midway/Bally came to Second City for advice on scripting the vocal tracks of their new pinball game and found Kevin Dorff (who has been writing for Conan O'Brien since he left Second City) and I. We had a meeting with the creators, Brian Eddy and Lyman Sheats, and found out the kind of things they needed for the game's audio; subtle and complex things — like "Get the extra ball!" and "Charrrrge!" — sure, but the game has several characters that needed punchlines and wisecracks, too. The Wizard, the King of Pain, Sir Loin of Beef, Trolls and that kind of thing. When we needed damsel voices, we went to our castmate, Tina, to give voices to the ladies. So now in bars across the world, you can spend 50 cents and hear Liz Lemon and Pete Hornberger yelling at you to "shoot it up the ramp!" It's a good game. Voted one of the top three pinball games ever, or something. I love it. I bought one and had it shipped from Germany to my sister's basement, where I can play it at Christmas time. CP: You were also involved in Mr. Show during the mid-90s. What was it like having so many future forces in the comedic scene gathered together so early in their careers? Did you have a feeling of the cult appeal the show would take on? 30 Rock is so star studded with recognizable comedians in their primes, the two seem to be great bookends to your career. SA: I came in late to the Mr. Show thing. It had been on for three seasons and I knew several of the main forces behind it from Chicago. Dino Stamatopoulos, Bob Odenkirk and Jay Johnston. Bob and Jay had been at Second City and I also knew Jay and Dino from college. When I moved to California, I was invited into that fold. It was a room of brilliant comic minds, obviously. They didn't seem like future giants, they were just the funniest guys around. They were young and trying to balance their new responsibilities of producing a weekly TV show with just having a good time and making each other laugh. They were confident, laid back yet cocky, and angry at their network, HBO, for not promoting them. I remember in that last season, HBO moved us to the midnight slot on Mondays. That was our time slot! It was hostile on the network's part. Particularly because that sports sitcom, Arli$$, had prime real estate on the schedule and got promoted morning, noon and night. ARLI$$! So Mr. Show went away to everyone's mutual satisfaction. But it was the best sketch show since Python, there's no doubt. I can say that out loud because I wasn't a writer on Mr. Show. Best sketch since Python. CP: I also see that you have a new show on Adult Swim debuting in June, "Mary Shelley's Frankenholes." Give me your hardest pitch for why it will be the best 11 minutes of all time. SA: It won't be. It will be the best stop-motion, anachronistic, twisted, history-intercoursing, obscure pop culture, expressionistic, gothic puppet, Frankenstein pastiche on at that time. But you'll probably find a better 11 minutes just talking to your grandma. CP: Who is your favorite Baldwin brother? SA: Alec is my favorite Baldwin, but he speaks highly of all of them. The Barney Rubble one is funny to watch. CP: Also, are you more into Tina Fey-Sarah Palin or Sarah Palin-Sarah Palin? SA: The Tina Fey Palin is directly interchangeable with the real one. CP: And finally, what is up with that huge clay mug you are always using in 30 Rock? Is it a real-life thing for you? And, if so, are you into hand-turkey finger painting too? SA: Pete's clay mug is not his mug of choice. His mug of choice would be the grand, sexy, exciting, fast-paced mug of a jet-setting playboy with no responsibilities. As it is, he's obligated to use the leaky mug his daughter made for him.

Fri.,-Sat., May 14-15, 8 p.m., $20, The Adrienne, 2030 Sansom St., 267-233-1556, phillyimprovtheater.com.

Posted by Tom Tiballi @ 2:00 PM Permalink | Post a comment

TV Watch: Jimmy Smits' Philly-shot show now called Garza, ready for midseason?

POSTED: Thursday, May 13, 2010, 10:00 PM

Filed Under: TV

Jimmy Smits is transfixed by his own rugged good looks.

Once on NBC's pilot chopping block, Jimmy Smits' show is looking like it will get a mid-season pick-up from NBC. The Philly-shot show, about a Supreme Court justice who decides to leave the hallowed halls for private practice, inititally came in lukewarm at the Peacock (possibly because it is exec produced by Conan O'Brien, and he's not exactly BFFs with NBC at this point?). But Nellie Andreeva at Deadline.com says there's been turnaround and, after a major re-tooling — including a name change from Rough Justice to Garza, it might just make it, despite a law-heavy pilot season, including TV legend David E. Kelley's Kindreds and Rex is Not Your Lawyer. Andreeva writes:

John Eisendrath's script was one of the best liked at the network and the pilot's chances went further up when Jimmy Smits signed on as the lead. Then it was radio silence, with the completed pilot getting very little early buzz until Smits started testing very well. But NBC executives have remained deeply divided on the pilot, which is said to have the support of NBC Uni topper Jeff Zucker and the network's marketing team. After an idea to possibly attach Smits to the new Law & Order series didn't get a lot of traction, the focus moved back on trying to find a way to keep the concept of Garza and Smits while reworking the project. It must be karma -- O'Brien and NBC destined to stay together.

This is all really a testament to how likable Smits is, which he's been since his NYPD Blue glory days. Remember when Det. Bobby Simone died? Excuse me while I go remove this thing that's in my eye ... sob. RELATED >> TV Watch: Jimmy Smits pilot coming in cold at NBC? Screw Smits, we want Cole!

Posted by Molly Eichel @ 10:00 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Allen Iverson's long lost album! Released!?

POSTED: Thursday, May 13, 2010, 9:26 PM

Filed Under: Music | Album Philly Bands

Only 4 tracks by A.I.? I musta misunderstood.

Well, some of it, anyway. WPRB DJ Jon Solomon and I were just talking about Allen Iverson's would-be rap career and how impossible it seems that the Misunderstood album — the rap record that was going to be released back in 2000 until people heard the single "40 Bars" and complained about the gangsta/anti-gay language/themes — has never leaked online. Then I did a little searching, for the hell of it. I don't do illegal downloads but I thought I'd look around. And. Misunderstood, or some semblance of it, came out April 20. This year. Timed with the release of the The Trial of Allen Iverson documentary apparently. Misunderstood was supposed to be the name of that long lost album. And here's an album by that name, with Iverson right on the cover. So. Is this it? I guess so? It certainly appears to be some of the original album. You can listen to song samples here. I bought it. Only $2.99 on iTunes. The digital-only release is 10 tracks — and only the first four appear to be A.I. even though that's him real big on the cover, and it says "Allen Iverson" in the "Artist" column when you download it. The other songs "feature" Ty Gracie and Cru Thik — ringers with a more polished flow. There's no "40 Bars" here though. There is a track called "Jewelz Time" — Jewelz was gonna be A.I.'s hip-hop moniker. Here's Iverson, Thik and Gracie hanging out. Warning, the n-word is all over this shit:

Posted by Patrick Rapa @ 9:26 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Comcast picks up ESPN 3-D

POSTED: Thursday, May 13, 2010, 8:57 PM

Filed Under: TV

3d-tv-technology.com

This is not what my home theater system looks like.

Comcast signed a deal with ESPN 3-D to broadcast the 2010 World Cup in three dimensions. Of course, you can't see it if you don't have a 3-D TV (... unless ... hey super rich new friend! Wanna invite me over? I make a mean popcorn), but it's an interesting step in the TV landscape. Philly-based Comcast is the first cable provider to jump on the 3-D ship, while DirectTV decided to go with ESPN 3-D in March. So what does this mean for you, you peon with a regular 2-D boob tube? Nothing as of yet, but the proliferation of 3-D throughout various media soon will mean something to you. I'm gonna level with y'all: I hate 3-D. But I also can't see 3-D. Not all of it anyway. I have an astigmatism, which means every once and while something cool pops up but, for the most part, it just gives me a headache and weird indents on the sides of my head. So while everyone else was oohing and aahing during Avatar, I couldn't tell if they were wowed by the bodacious visuals or even more eye-popping moments I couldn't see. So, yeah, part of me is just super jealous at all you sighted people, but I also hate it because it cheapens movies, making them a spectacle when, in fact, they're just covering up a shitty movie (I'm looking at you Clash of the Titans). It's a marketing gimmick. Nothing more. In his excellent essay for Newsweek, Roger Ebert decries the wide-spread usage of 3-D in film, saying (bolds mine):

There seems to be a belief that 3-D films are not getting their money's worth unless they hurtle objects or body parts at the audience. Every time that happens, it creates a fatal break in the illusion of the film. The idea of a movie, even an animated one, is to convince us, halfway at least, that that we're seeing on the screen is sort of really happening. Images leaping off the screen destroy that illusion.

Granted, when it comes to sports on TV, you don't need to be convinced the action you're watching is real because, well, it is. But will you be that much more invested in a game if the ball is flying right at you while you sit on your couch wearing stupid glasses? Seriously, sports fans, I wanna know so tell me in the comments. If anything, it's a distraction, breaking down the communal experience of drinking a Lager and watch the Phillies pummel whoever they are playing. Also, most of what I watch on TV I don't want to see in 3-D. Believe me, I don't need to feel any closer to Michael Scott than I already do. And while a show like Planet Earth would be amazing in 3-D, watching in it 2-D is pretty badass in and of itself. Going back to Ebert's point, will 3-D serve to make the real look more, for lack of a better word, unreal? At the same time, this could be great for people like me. One of Ebert's points is that when the movie industry feels threatened, it reverts back to technology — to this idea that you can't get a theatrical experience anywhere but a theater. Now that 3-D television exists and — like HD or BluRay — will at some nebulous time in the future be a big ticket item, Hollywood can't make that claim and they'll stop berating me with all of this 3-D crap. Although, with the recent FCC ruling that studios will now be allowed to bypass theatrical releases and send movies directly to people's homes, maybe they won't. So what do you guys think? Would you spring for a 3-D TV if it wasn't crazy expensive? Am I just a Luddite who needs laser eye surgery? Have at it in the comments below.

Posted 2010-05-13 16:34:25

I'm holding out for 4D.

Drew Lazor

Posted 2010-05-13 16:09:01

I can't wait to see Lee Corso in 3D!!!

Posted by Molly Eichel @ 8:57 PM Permalink | Post a comment

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About this blog

Featuring everything from event roundups to concert reviews and sex talk, City Paper's Critical Mass is a space for off-the-wall coverage of Philly's A&E scene.

Follow Critical Mass editors Patrick Rapa and Emily Guendelsberger on Twitter:

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