Inspired by director Eugene Jarecki’s relationship with his childhood caretaker, The House I Live In serves as a great introduction and overview of America’s 40-year-long war on drugs. Through a series of interviews with law enforcement officers, scientists, drug users, drug dealers, incarcerated individuals and the families of the incarcerated, Jarecki paints a vivid picture explaining that the violation of drug laws has become a multi-generational problem for poor Americans. … read more
Blending Shakespeare: Aden Ross’ Mashup of Antique and Modern Fools
Plan B Theatre Company’s opening of Lady Macbeth in their 2011/12 theatrical season doesn’t just mark the 61st world premiere in the company’s history, it marks the opening of a season with all female playwrights. … read more
We’re Not Broke
United States tax law is purposely complicated. This is why people hire accountants. Unfortunately, the complexity of the U.S. tax code is exactly what has allowed the majority of multi-billion dollar U.S. companies to evade paying taxes through the use of offshore tax havens. Turns out U.S. companies hire accountants too, often times ones who helped write portions of the tax code, or have spent time working for the I.R.S. … read more
Blue Scholars, Bambu, Grynch and DJ Inphared, Burnell Washburn @ Urban 10.24
Blue Scholars have visited Salt Lake City a handful of times and have since gained a considerable following for an underground hip hop act in a city dominated by any genre other than. … read more
mr. Gnome @ Burt’s 10.26
I arrived a week early to mr. Gnome’s show at Burt’s … That’s how excited I was to see this band from Cleveland play live. … read more
The Law in These Parts
The Law in These Parts looks at the same issue as another World Cinema Documentary Competition film, 5 Broken Camera: Israel’s control over the West Bank. After seeing both films, it feels impossible to review one without referencing the other. Although both films cover essentially the same topic, the manner in which they are told and the perspective differ. … read more
Back Chat, Chasing Kings, Holy Water Buffalo, John-Ross Boyce & His Troubles @ Velour 10.27
This was one of several Halloween shows at Velour, and the venue was upgraded from its usual creepy chapel decor to goofy-scary chapel with the help of Frankenstein behind the drum set and a large skull above the stage. … read more
We Win Or We Die
Mahdi Zew, an oil company administrator and father of two daughters, pilots his car with a trunk full of explosive gas cylinders into the heart of the Katiba. This suicidal and heroic act devastates his family, yet creates a new future for Benghazi. … read more
Roller Town
Roller Town takes place in a part of the past where everyone roller-skates and everything is awesome. After “gangsters” murder his father, Leo grows up alone, knowing nothing but roller-skating. Leo’s smooth moves at the roller rink help him steal the mayor’s daughter from a local skate-snob, but when the goons who killed his father return to kill disco and turn local teens into video-arcade-addicted zombies, will roller-skating be enough to help Leo defeat them? … read more
Böikzmöind Film Premiere @ SL Art Center 10.27
The audience at the Böikzmöind (pronounced Bikes-Mind) movie premiere, held in the Salt Lake Art Center’s auditorium, were welcomed with letter-pressed posters at the door and a glossy set of printed cards on their arm rests designed by the film’s director, Gavin Strange. … read more
Kelly
In his feature film directorial debut, James Stenson brings us Kelly, a documentary about Kelly Van Ryan, a transgender prostitute living in Los Angeles. Stenson reveals Kelly’s life in layers, starting with her living in high demand. But as more about Kelly is revealed, the more one-dimensional she becomes. … read more
Shred Film: The Movement
The sheer freedom that sliding down mountainsides covered in a thick blanket of snow provides is unparalleled. However, for those athletes born with disabilities or severely injured later in life, finding that release requires a lot more focus and determination. In The Movement, Directors Greg I. Hamilton and Kurt Miller take the viewer along an emotional road to recovery for several individuals that are overcoming their disabilities to achieve great things. Utah screenings: Nov. 3 @ The Depot and Nov. 5 @ Egyptian Theatre … read more