In what has already been a surprisingly stellar and abundant year for family entertainment and superhero flicks, casual moviegoers could be forgiven for viewing Disney’s decision to throw its hat in the ring with Big Hero 6, a film that attempts both genres at once, as being driven more by cold number-crunching than good storytelling. […]
In what has already been a surprisingly stellar and abundant year for family entertainment and superhero flicks, casual moviegoers could be forgiven for viewing Disney’s decision to throw its hat in the ring with Big Hero 6, a film that attempts both genres at once, as being driven more by cold number-crunching than good storytelling. […]
Dance and step complement each other like peanut butter and jelly—and the Best of Both Worlds Dance Competition finds the top teams in a friendly battle during an evening filled with high-energy moves and grooves. The dance-off serves as a joyful celebration and an opportunity to connect with surrounding communities in a room full of […]
In an age when singers are obsessed with tweaking and expanding classic genres, it’s nice to find a band dedicated to preserving musical heritage. Cabinet is unapologetically devoted to bluegrass in the classic Appalachian tradition. With rhythm marked by fast-picked banjos and energetic acoustic riffs peppered with folklorical lyrics, each song is a peek at […]
Marie Landragin just didn’t fit in. How could she? She was born in Australia to French parents and then found herself in the early ’90s going to high school in Culpeper, Virginia, population 45,000. “At the time, I definitely suffered some culture shock,” Landragin said. “I think for two years I didn’t have any friends.” […]
Lucinda Williams is on a roll. After a feverish songwriting spell, she recorded 30 tracks, 20 of which made the cut on her new double album Down Where The Spirit Meets The Bone. The extended effort checks off a couple of new accomplishments for Williams, the longstanding songstress who’s maintained a steady presence on the […]
If you ask fans how they classify the music of Deerhoof, you’ll most likely be answered with shoulder shrugs and some sort of take on ”awesome.” The San Francisco group has built its reputation by refusing to be defined by labels or genres, running the gauntlet of every music form imaginable. It’s punk. It’s rock. […]
In a desert of feature length movies, it’s a delight to stumble upon this year’s slate of short films at the Virginia Film Festival. There are four separate programs of shorts, featuring a total of 29 short films—a grand total that’s much higher than in recent years. These films range in genre and style, offering […]
Although he may not be a household name, Pierce Pettis has been a forerunner of the singer-songwriter scene since the mid-’80s. His original songs have energized the genre and inspired covers by Garth Brooks, Suzanne Vega, and Shawn Colvin. During his 30-year career, Pettis has released more than 10 albums and played just about every […]
It would be a very short list of film festival guests who have a stronger set of accomplishments and accolades than Barry Levinson. His recognition includes over a dozen Oscar nominations, and Oscar wins for Best Director and Best Picture for Rain Man. But maybe even more impressive than the awards is the sheer number […]
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb Though immensely quotable and every bit as gut-bustingly funny as the day it landed in theaters 50 years ago, one surprising fact about Dr. Strangelove is that it did not begin its life as a comedy. The film is based in part […]