The politics of… politics

“Democratic National Convention Coverage”Tuesday 10pm, ABC, CBS, NBC Whether or not presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama taps governor Tim Kaine for his running mate, Tuesday night will be a big one for Virginia. Former Governor Mark Warner will have his national coming out party as he presents the keynote address on the topic “Renewing […]

Capsule Reviews

Babylon A.D. (PG-13, 90 minutes) It’s the dystopian future. Michelle Yeoh is a nun looking after a young woman who might have a deadly virus, and Vin Diesel is a mercenary looking after himself. Many explosions may change that. Opening Friday Brideshead Revisited (PG-13, 133 minutes) All hail the heart-conquering power of the historical novel! […]

Casualties of war

Tropic Thunder introduces its main characters through fake trailers for the entertainment properties that made them famous: Tugg Speedman (director, co-producer and co-writer Ben Stiller) has been muscling his way through a lobotomized franchise of apocalyptic action flicks; Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey, Jr.) is an Australian Oscar-magnet method actor much adored for disappearing into his […]

Truth and lies

“Penn & Teller: Bullshit!”Thursday 10pm, Showtime Tonight’s episode marks the sixth season finale for the comedian team’s documentary series, in which they debunk various cultural myths or political standpoints. In the past season alone the pair has investigated NASA, the green movement, dolphins, world peace and the war on porn; in tonight’s episode, the notion […]

Capsule reviews

Brideshead Revisited (PG-13, 133 minutes) All hail the heart-conquering power of the historical novel! Playing at Vinegar Hill Theatre The Dark Knight (PG-13, 140 minutes) Just as Batman (Christian Bale) makes real headway cleaning up Gotham’s streets, with help from a top cop (Gary Oldman) and an aggressive D.A. (Aaron Eckhart), some joker calling himself […]

Child’s play

"I remember in school, they used these two puppets ‘Will Do’ and ‘Can Do,’ to illustrate some points about good behavior,”