WEDNESDAY: It's a myth that no one is from D.C. and we're all immigrants here. But everyone has a story of migration in their background, whether it's through Ellis Island or across the Bering Strait.
Political analyst and longtime D.C. journalist Steven Roberts tells the stories of modern transplants to this great nation in his new book, "From Every End of This Earth," and will be speaking about it tonight at the National Press Club.
» National Press Club, 529 14th St. NW; Wed., Nov. 4, 6 p.m., free; 202-662-7500. (Metro Center)
LEARNING THE HARD WAY
Lauded at film festivals and finally opening in D.C., "An Education" is a sneakily smart coming-of-age story. Girl on the brink Jenny (Carey Mulligan) perhaps wittingly invites chaos and dark maturity into her life in the form of David (Peter Sarsgaard) in early-'60s London. Written by Nick Hornby, director Lone Scherfig's film explores themes of forking paths, class distinctions and individuation, and Mulligan's performance has already made her an actress to watch.
» Landmark Bethesda Row Cinema, 7235 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda; opens Fri., Oct. 30; 301-652-7273, Landmarktheatres.com. (Bethesda)
» E Street Cinema, 555 11th St. NW; opens Fri., Oct. 30, 202-452-7672, Landmarktheatres.com. (Metro Center)
Continue Reading "Indies & Arties: Coming of Age and Death" »
THIS WEEKEND: Mmm, tuna. Or, rather, Greater Tuna, the deliciously funny fictional Texas town whence springs a number of off-the-deep-end characters, all portrayed by actors, writers and comedians Joe Sears and Jaston Williams. This weekend, the Greater Tuna-ites pack up their big hair and eccentricities and head to Sin City for the wide-eyed romp in "Tuna Does Vegas." Las Vegas may never recover.
» Warner Theatre, 513 13th St. NW; through Sun., Nov. 1, $26-$56; 800-551-7328, Warnertheatre.com. (Metro Center)
Photo courtesy Brenda Ladd
THURSDAY: As newspapers frantically search for ways to stay solvent, logic directs them to fundraise using the part of the paper people actually read: the cartoons.
Cartoons and Cocktails gathers D.C. political cartoonists and journalists — including Clay Jones, Justin Bilicki, Nate Beeler and Matt Wuerker, Bob Edwards, Gwen Ifill and Valerie Strauss — who will auction off drawings to raise money for a local youth journalism organization and the Cartoonist Rights Network.
You could also be turned into a cartoon yourself, as caricature artist Rajan Sedalia will be drawing portraits throughout the evening.
» National Press Club, 529 14th St. NW; Thu., Oct. 22, $65; 202-662-7500. (Metro Center)
Written by Express' Janice Leary
Photo courtesy Pulitzer Board
FILMMAKER JOE BERLINGER'S latest film, "Crude," is about the case filed against U.S. oil company Chevron by 30,000 rain forest dwellers in the Amazon jungle of Ecuador. They claim that for 30 years, Texaco, which merged with Chevron in 2001, contaminated their water, air and land, and that the results have been health problems such as cancer and birth defects. Berlinger, who made the films "Paradise Lost" and "Some Kind of Monster," followed the court case and visited contaminated fields to tell this tale.
» EXPRESS: How did you get involved with this project?
» BERLINGER: Steven Donzinger, the American attorney [for the Ecuadorian plaintiffs], came to my office and asked if I'd be interested in the story. I went into it with reluctance since I'm a multi-viewpoint filmmaker who doesn't like to use narration — I let things unfold and let the viewer make up their own mind about what they're seeing. It's also been a 13-year struggle, and since my style is present tense, I felt like I missed the story. I was also concerned that I wouldn't raise money for this kind of film.
» EXPRESS: What made you change your mind?
» BERLINGER: I agreed to go to the region, and as soon as I landed in the jungle and smelled petroleum and talked to mothers forced to give their children poisonous water, I felt my resistance starting to wear down. I was shocked at what had been done to the region, and I was dumbfounded at the level of environmental degradation and disregard for the people who live there.
Continue Reading "'Crude' Art: Documentarian Joe Berlinger Discusses His Latest Film" »
THERE'S SOMETHING UNDENIABLY cool about David Cross. Maybe it's the gray beard he's grown to go with the bald head and thick-rimmed glasses. Maybe it's because he's probable smarter then you — dude does have a way with words.
Maybe it's because he's kind of an asshole.
Whatever it is, you get the sense he knows it, which might explain why Cross decided to write his first book, "I Drink for a Reason" (Grand Central Publishing), released in August. He's knowledgeable about politics, controversial about religion and spot-on when it comes to making fun of people. Cross doesn't mince words — it's part of his appeal.
The book's a somewhat fragmented work of essays on the various topics you'd expect from Cross, and to promote it, he embarked on his fist stand-up tour in five years.
During the break from stand-up, Cross filled his time with roles in "I'm Not There," "Alvin and the Chipmunks" and "Year One." The co-creator of HBO's brilliant "Mr. Show," Cross is still probably best known for his role as Dr. Tobias Funke, a former psychiatrist with delusions about his acting prowess, on the cult-favorite series "Arrested Development."
Express chatted with the 45-year-old comedian about his return to touring, health care and Barack Obama. Oh, and before you go looking for it, no, Cross has nothing new to say about the "Arrested Development" movie, which series creator Mitchell Hurwitz is currently scripting.
Continue Reading "A New Development: David Cross, 'I Drink for a Reason'" »
SATURDAY: Rowdy "fooootball" fans will send "Rocky Horror" devotees offside with their own midnight viewing of John Huston's classic 1982 soccer film "Victory." How many other films can boast a cast that includes Pele, Sylvester Stallone, and Michael Caine?
Expect an audience full of team jerseys, a spirited discussion with Werner Roth (who portrayed Baumann, the German captain), and endless shout-outs of classic lines such as "I go like this, like this, like this, like this. I shoot. I score."
» E Street Cinema, 555 11th St. NW; Sat., Oct. 17, midnight, $11; 202-452-7672. (Metro Center)
Written by Express contributor Anne Polsky
Photo courtesy Paramount Pictures
THURSDAY: Back in February, jazz giants Willie Nelson and Wynton Marsalis played 15 Ray Charles tracks together, live, on stage, in New York City, with Norah Jones. Pissed you missed it? No worries, a taping of the show will be screened at E Street Cinema Thursday night.
The film, "Two Men with the Blues," includes exclusive interviews and rehearsal footage in addition to the 90-minute concert itself. If you can't make it, you can check out a clip here.
» E Street Cinema, 555 11th St. NW; Thu., Oct. 15, 8 p.m., $10; 202-452-7672. (Metro Center)
Written by Express' Sarah Mimms
Photo courtesy Blue Note
THIS IS THE story of the Steep Canyon Rangers:
Woody Platt met Anne Stringfield through his brother. The two got to know each other and Stringfield, a journalist who's written for the New Yorker, gave Platt's bluegrass band, Steep Canyon Rangers, some press whenever the group toured New York. Then, she married actor and comedian Steve Martin.
About a year later, Platt and the Rangers are at a cookout in North Carolina with Stringfield and Martin. Martin pulls out his banjo, they jam.
And the rest, as they say, is history.
Martin, who, if you didn't know, plays the banjo rather well, released his first album earlier this year, "The Crow: New Songs for the 5-string Banjo," which features guest spots from Earl Scruggs, Vince Gill and Dolly Parton. When he set out to embark on his first large-scale tour, he enlisted the Rangers for support.
"The whole thing has been pretty wonderful, and quite a surprise," Platt said.
Continue Reading "Bluegrass and Laughs: Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers" »
MONDAY: Did you see Steve Martin play the banjo on Saturday Night Live? Initially, we thought it was kind of weird too, but the more times we watch it, the more we realize: Steve Martin might be the most weirdly talented man in the universe.
He, his five-string and the Steep Canyon Rangers will be at the Warner Theatre this week playing songs off of his album "The Crow: New Songs for the 5-String Banjo."
» RELATED: "Bluegrass & Laughs: Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers" (interview) [Express, Oct. 2009]
» Warner Theatre, 1299 Pennsylvania Ave. NW; Mon., Oct. 12, 8 p.m., $69.50 - $89.50; 202-347-2359. (Metro Center)
Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Written by Express' Sarah Mimms
Addison Road