By Lucille Rollins
WATCH "Charlie Wilson's War." Of course, it's not as intense as the trailers make it out to be, but who doesn't love Tom Hanks (especially with a little chub and a drug-loving nature)? Director Mike Nichols and screenwriter Aaron Sorkin create a fast-paced (95-minute running time) drama based on Texas congressman Charlie Wilson's covert dealings in Afghanistan to drive out the Soviets.
Wilson is charming in his role as the unimpressive congressman turned do-gooder, although the movie fails to explain what ignites his change of heart so quickly. The movie surprisingly allows for a few good light-hearted jokes, despite the serious matter. Philip Seymour Hoffman brings them to life with his cantankerous character, Gust Avrakotos - the bitter CIA agent who acts as Wilson's right hand man.
Of course, Julia Robert's contribution cannot be ignored: She still has big lips as the influential Southern Christian heiress Joanna Herring. Whether or not you'll come out of the theatre pondering life, liberty and happiness is debatable, but Wilson's apparent dissatisfaction with his own good deeds may give you a little hope for the future.
GO TO The Moulin Rouge Mardi Gras Party at the Wonder Ballroom on Friday at 9 p.m. The event features circus performers, aerial performances and fire dancers for a grand total of $29 (a portion of the proceeds will go to Hands on New Orleans, a volunteer program based in the gulf area).
The event also includes an 80s Video Dance Party and a performance by Dr. Theopolis, an indie/pop Portland-based group. Of course, what is Mardi Gras without a little funk in the fashion? Dressing up right (or wrong?) may win the costume contest. Give it a go and support a good cause by dressing down in bright colors, big beads, and raising your arms in a "hip, hip hooray."
LISTEN TO "That's Your Fire" by Aloha, their first full-length album, originally released back in 2000. This Ohio-based group succeeds primarily because of their experimentation with sound, a sweet blend of jazz and post-rock, and soulful lyrics. They stylistically fill in seemingly empty spaces with reverberant tones from the vibes and deliver 10 ethereal songs that lack, in the best way possible, the traditional verse-chorus-verse structure. Contemplative thought and a few nods of the head co-exist, and the album doesn't veer off course with scattered melodies and monotonous nostalgia. So, even though 2000 seems long ago, what better way to start the year than venture back into the intensity of innovative sound?
