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Movies
Informative, if Self-Indulgent, Documentary
On February 20, 2005, Hunter S. Thompson, the father of “gonzo” journalism, took his own life at his “fortified compound” in Woody Creek, Colorado. He was 67. His death brought into sharp relief his despair with American politics (e.g., the invasion and occupation of Iraq by the Bush administration). As a charismatic, contradictory larger-than-life figure, Thompson has been the subject of numerous documentaries over the years. More
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Movies
Not Your Average Superhero
Superheroes don’t have it easy. Constantly asked to save the day, rescue kittens from trees, and foil nefarious villains day in and day out can take a toll. Being nearly invincible is certainly a blessing, but can any mere mortal truly understand the burden of being called upon whenever something goes wrong? Hancock (Will Smith) understands this burden all too well given that he loosely falls into the category of "superhero". Albeit, the method in which Hancock saves the day isn’t always quite so "heroic". More
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Music
Introductions
For his the fifth record, Eric Elbogen shortened the name of his indie rock outfit Say Hi To Your Mom to the more aesthetically appealing Say Hi. Also, gone are the references to spaceships and vampires and Elbogen’s cramped New York digs. He spoke with SF Station from his new home in Seattle where he recorded The Wishes and the Glitch. Say Hi performs at The Independent on July 17th. More
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Theater
From Parody to Powerhouse Performance
John Ford’s “’Tis Pity She’s a Whore", is one of the most gruesome morality plays in Jacobean literature. With its turgid sensationalism, brusquely candid treatment of incest, and unrelenting presentation of the bilious clash between church and state, there are obvious congruencies with Shakespeare, but this tragedy foregoes Bard-like suggestiveness for categorical bawdiness. More
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Specialty
Tailor-made Bicycles by Customer Choice
In my suburban hometown, we had a bicycle shop not unlike the one in the episode of the Brady Bunch where Peter gets a job repairing bikes. Instead of Mr. Martinelli, though, we had a slight-of build French gentleman named Pierre who wore a blue smock and sold and repaired every kind of bike they could fit in the tiny store, from the tricycle to fancy road racers. More
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Restaurants
Turkish-Californian Delight
When you think of Turkish food, kebabs and hummus likely come to mind. Troya may have started out as a kebab house, but as of 2008 this Inner Richmond gem has evolved into a well-rounded spot worthy of inclusion in the SF foodie pantheon. How? A new chef with a solid pedigree. More
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Movies
Flawed, But Promising Debut
Directed by Sarah Gavron, making her feature-length debut, and adapted by Laura Jones and Abi Morgan from the controversial novel by Monica Ali, Brick Lane explores the experiences of a Bangladeshi woman living in London’s Brick Lane community before and after the 9-11 terrorist attacks on the United States. Gavron crafts an often poignant, if borderline predictable and occasionally unfocused, character study that benefits from a warm, sympathetic turn by the lead actress, Tannishtha Chatterjee, and a willingness to ask questions about ethnic, religious, cultural, and gender identity in a post-9-11 world. More
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Movies
Pixar Perfect (Again)
In a summer movie season dominated by superheroes redefining the blockbuster, Pixar Animation Studios’ joins the blockbuster fray with WALL•E, the long-in-development, eagerly anticipated computer animated family film. Co-written and directed by Andrew Stanton (Finding Nemo), WALL•E is a Pixar film through and through: engaging characters, a meticulously crafted world, a universally appealing storyline, a strong underlying message (in this case, an environmental one), and enough humor, heart, wonder, and awe to fill an entire summer’s worth of blockbusters. More
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Movies
A Vulgar Display of Violence
Wanted is a blazing gun show masquerading as a parable about self-empowerment, or something like that. It cries out for the workers of the world to unite and improve their lot by becoming savage mercenaries, and even proposes an unorthodox health plan: candle-wax baths for trainees, who must endure a series of sadistic beatings before they’re allowed to administer them. More
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Music
Released on Black & Greene Records on 9/2/08
Apollo Sunshine has garnered a cult following for their neo-psychedelic-jazz-rock. Perhaps the reason they have such a devoted fanbase is due to the fact that it’s almost impossible to neatly label them with any one genre. Once you think you have them figured out, they’re already well into new territory. More
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