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Movies are moving, hot dogs are hopping, Binga's is burning

Venue watch
Even as the temperatures drop and we head into hibernation mode for winter, Portland's drinking, dining, nightlife, and shopping scenes continue to evolve. Here's a round-up of comings and goings.
By DEIRDRE FULTON | November 26, 2008

Patti Smith: Dream of Life

An intimate, affectionate, non-linear visit
This collage of a documentary emanates from an 11-year collaboration between punk poet/rocker Patti Smith and her filmmaker friend Steven Sebring.
By GERALD PEARY | November 25, 2008

Terror masala

Bollywood’s colorful, multi-genre musicals serve up their most interesting character yet: the singing, dancing terrorist.
After living in fear of terrorism for more than half a decade, it’s something of a relief to sit in the dark at the Somerville Theatre and . . . laugh at it.
By SEETHA NARAYAN | December 01, 2008

Starting from Scratch

The Upsetter screens at the Coolidge
If the hip-hop generation ever calls for martial law, the revolution will be sponsored by Scion. The rectangularly adventurous car company is our closest corporate ally, bankrolling a large segment of the low-slung-pants community, and providing the rest of us with sweet events that rarely dent the pocket.
By CHRIS FARAONE | November 25, 2008

Harvard Beats Yale 29-29

Scores in nearly every department
Kevin Rafferty's 40th-anniversary documentary about the fabled Game of 1968 — when both teams were unbeaten and Harvard, after being completely outplayed by the 16th-ranked Elis, scored 16 points in the final 42 seconds to "win" — has no designs on being innovative: contemporary interviews with the players are intercut with slightly fuzzy but quite acceptable footage of the game.
By JEFFREY GANTZ | November 24, 2008

Fabulous flicks

Our third short-film festival crowns all new winners
A new crop of local entrants, including a professional filmmaker, won awards at the third annual Portland Phoenix Maine Short Film Festival, which turned out to be the most competitive ever ... and the most fun!
By JEFF INGLIS | November 21, 2008

Tiger by the tail

The wild and woolly cinema of John Boorman
The wild and woolly cinema of John Boorman
By STEVE VINEBERG | November 18, 2008

Mixed Media at the Papercut

Cultural staples
Last Saturday's mixed-bill affair at the Papercut Zine Library was a strange hybrid of contemporary salon, multimedia talent show, and impromptu modern-dance class (with instructions to move our bodies "like fire").
By CAITLIN E. CURRAN | November 18, 2008

A 'beautiful life'

Center Stage's Cabaret is in top form
In the context of today's new political dawn, Cabaret , the Kander and Ebb musical about 1930 Berlin, is like one of those silly horror movies that couples go to for an excuse to cling together and shriek. Isn't it great that the mayhem isn't happening to us is the unspoken message.
By BILL RODRIGUEZ | November 12, 2008

Quantum mechanic

Little Solace for Bond fans
Little Solace for Bond fans
By PETER KEOUGH | November 14, 2008

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

A stirring glimpse at Europe's darkest hour
The performances never falter, and even James Horner's heavy-handed score can't dim the film's unfathomable, unshakable ending.
By PEG ALOI | November 17, 2008

Drowning in a sea of red

Seeing Saw
As a film critic, I'm obliged to approach every film with an open mind.
By BRETT MICHEL | November 07, 2008

Word play

Doomsday is just a state of mind in Synecdoche, New York
The end of the world has always appealed to movie audiences, no more so than now that the prospect is looking more and more likely.
By PETER KEOUGH | November 10, 2008

Sin city

Sex and drugs rock the Boston Festival of Films from Iran
Sex and drugs rock the Boston Festival of Films from Iran
By PETER KEOUGH | November 07, 2008

B List rewind

Boston Phoenix film critics salute The Fly , King Creole , and The Conversation in The National Society of Film Critics latest tome.

By PETER KEOUGH | October 31, 2008

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EXCERPT: King Creole

Gerald Perry writes on King Creole' s neverending B list movie status.

By GERALD PEARY | October 31, 2008

EXCERPT: The Conversation

Peter Keough discusses how The Conversation is a B List movie.

By PETER KEOUGH | October 31, 2008

Loud and clear

Center Stage Productions is branching out in South County
Things certainly changed dramatically at the Courthouse Center for the Arts in West Kingston when Russ Maitland signed on last December as executive director.
By BILL RODRIGUEZ | October 29, 2008