‘Arts’ Archives
MARTHA REEVES & THE VANDELLAS Bring Minneapolis Much Needed HEATWAVE
By Raymond Jackson It was Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, Diana Ross & the Supremes, and Martha Reeves & the Vandellas that brought Motown Records, unheralded success and worldwide spotlights. It is, however, Martha Reeves and her current Vandellas, that continue to glow and shine now; in the new millennium. Returning to The Dakota Jazz Nightclub, 1010 Nicollet Ave., in Loring Park Neighborhood, northwest of Phillips Community, on January 11 & 12, they did four shows on our two coldest nights of this current winter season. Martha and her two youngest sisters, Lois and Stephanie, her current Vandellas, brought back many memories to their four fully packed houses. In regard to her Dakota Nightclub audiences, who enjoyed light to heavy dining that created quite an aroma, she stated, “I recognize many off you as members of my old hippie following.” You see, Martha & the Vandellas reached International stardom in 1964, with their hit, [...]
Top 10 Movies of the Year 2011
By Howard McQuitter II #1 “The Tree of Life” PG-13 Drama 139 minutes Many will find “The Tree of Life” esoteric but it”'s enlightening about one man”'s story starting in the 1950s and weaving into what is at times a convoluted cinematographic wonder. Directed by Terrance Malick. #2 “Of Gods and Men” PG-13 Drama/History 122 minutes Country: France Language: Arabic/French. Eight Trappist monks in a monastery in Algeria (in the 1990s) working with poor Muslims clash with government and military forces. Directed by Xavier Beauvois. #3 “War Horse” PG-13 Drama? War. 146 minutes A horse named Joey is bought by a poor farmer in England on the edge of World War I. The horse is sold to the army, the boy goes to war, too. That”'s not the end of the story. Directed by Steve Spielberg. #4 “Extremely Loud &Incredibly Close” (PG-13) Drama 129 minutes First time actor Thomas Horn, as Oskar Schell, loses his [...]
Melancholia
“Melancholia” Sci-fi/Drama/Art House Cast: Kirsten Dunst (Justine), Charlotte Gainsbourg (Claire), Alexander Skarsgard (Michael), Charlotte Rampling (Gaby), Stellan Skarsgard (Jack), Cameron Spurr (Leo), Kiefer Sutherland (John). Running time:136 minutes. Director: Lars von Trier. “Melancholia” opens up with the classical composition Tristan und Isolde* by Richard Wagner while some of the cast are standing still or moving in eerily slow motion. What a beautiful send off with the underbelly of fate if one looks closely in the eyes of the characters. Justine (Kirsten Dunst) has just gotten married to Michael ( life forms (including Alexander Skarsgard), both bride and groom join the wedding party at a mansion on a golf course. Justine”'s consumed by depression, her sister Claire (Charlotte Gainsbourg) the practical one, and her husband John (Kiefer Sutherland) reminds himself of how sumptuous the wedding party is. Justine and Claire”'s [...]
