Entertainment
Noomi Rapace’s grip on a gripping role
Jul 28, 7:01 PM
Early in the movie “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo,” central character Lisbeth Salander is bound and raped by her legal guardian. It’s a harrowing scene from the first tale in novelist Stieg Larsson’s so-called Millennium Trilogy that was almost as difficult to film as it is to watch. Peter Andersson, the actor cast as the guardian, couldn’t bring himself to manhandle Salander, who is played in all three of the crime-story film adaptations by Noomi Rapace. The petite Swedish actress, 30, kept encouraging Andersson to dispense with any gentle stagecraft, worried that audiences would think the impending sexual violence wasn’t authentic. “Damn it, just hit me!” Rapace finally said.
‘Dinner’ director fell into farce
Jul 29, 3:10 PM
Jay Roach’s education as a comedy director came not in college or film school, but in self-imposed study shortly before making “Austin Powers.” He’d studied pre-law as an undergrad at Stanford University and mostly struggled for a decade as a screenwriter and cinematographer after film school at University of Southern California. Roach’s path to becoming one of the top comedy directors in Hollywood was far from assured.
‘Charlie St. Cloud’: Gimmicky premise darkens Zac Efron’s attempts to shine | 2 stars
Jul 29, 9:48 PM
His latest film marks a rise, and a dip, on Zac Efron’s creative trajectory. Moving beyond high school roles and away from song-and-dance silliness, he takes a confident half-step toward becoming a mature romantic lead. The film itself? Not so good.
‘Return to El Salvador’ is fueled with outrage | 3 stars
Jul 29, 3:03 PM
“Return to El Salvador” is the sort of earnest documentary that usually finds a home in liberal churches. This isn’t to disparage its effectiveness, merely to recognize the commercial difficulties facing this sort of movie.
MORE ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
- ‘Cats and Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore’: Strictly for undiscerning kids | 2 stars Jul 29, 9:55 PM
- ‘The Girl Who Played With Fire’: Nail-biting tension | 3 stars Jul 29, 9:58 PM
- ‘Dinner for Schmucks’ | Paul Rudd makes the most of a comedy that doesn’t quite work | 2 stars Jul 29, 3:34 PM
- ‘The Kids Are All Right’: Heartfelt comedy is an Oscar contender | 3 ½ stars Jul 29, 3:17 PM
- Free films, special screenings July 30-Aug. 5 Jul 28, 7:06 PM
- 'Grease Sing-A-Long' opens today; here's what we learned from a Pink Lady Jul 29, 3:14 PM
- Stargazing | No to Nelly; Bob Barker snipes at Drew Jul 28, 7:05 PM
- Butler’s Top Five Jul 28, 7:06 PM
- ‘The Room,’ one of the worst movies ever, comes to Screenland Crossroads tonight Jul 28, 7:06 PM
- Host Heidi Klum discusses now-longer ‘Project Runway’ Jul 28, 7:11 PM
- Behind the costumes and the hype, Lady Gaga is a real singer-songwriter Jul 29, 6:55 AM
- New midtown restaurant Duo is a successful culinary coalition Jul 28, 7:48 PM
- 'Tallahassee' and 'Goodbye, Kansas' creatively mix music and despair Jul 29, 3:30 PM
- Across the area, a variety of homegrown bands will satisfy your musical appetite Jul 28, 7:58 PM
- Paul Rudd plays a jerk with a conscience in ‘Dinner for Schmucks’ Jul 28, 8:28 PM
- 'Celebrating Women Artists of Color' offers a stylish showing of quilts, paintings Jul 28, 8:00 PM
- New Pornographers synthesize pop and Beatles legacy with smiles Jul 28, 8:04 PM
- Tickets on sale | Donald Fagen, Michael McDonald and Boz Scaggs to play Sept. 18 at Starlight Theatre Jul 28, 8:26 PM
- This Weekend in Kansas City | A festival for everyone Jul 28, 8:36 PM
- Stargazing | Oprah digs the Duchess; Steve Carell to leave 'The Office'; Oliver Stone apologizes Jul 28, 7:56 PM
- 'Entre Nos,' now on DVD, shows dark subject matter with touching story, cast Jul 28, 8:37 PM
- With 'Charlie St. Cloud,' Zac Efron distances himself from his old 'Musical' Jul 28, 10:27 PM
- Actress Mia Wasikowska gets back to her indie roots with 'The Kids Are All Right' Jul 28, 8:02 PM
- Hometown artist's musical to be featured at KC Fringe Festival Jul 28, 8:24 PM
- 'Jersey Shore' is ready to make waves again Jul 28, 8:33 PM
- Fringe Festival highlights Jul 29, 3:30 PM
- Movie best bets | July 29 Jul 28, 7:45 PM
- Movies opening July 30 Jul 28, 7:53 PM
- Free films, special screenings | July 29-30 Jul 28, 10:27 PM
- Esquire's A. J. Jacobs 'edutains' in his new book Jul 27, 3:14 PM
Aaron Barnhart
At Comic-Con, new voices are lurking at the fringe
SAN DIEGO | So what was “Hawaii Five-0” doing at Comic-Con, anyway? The remake of the classic 1970s cop show features no space aliens, no zombies, no wormholes, vampires or time travel. In fact, other than a couple of “NCIS”-inspired touches (Steve McGarrett now is an ex-Navy SEAL), it is admirably true to the original.
Previous Columns
TV BARN | Aaron Barnhart
- ‘The Big C’ is a big deal
- "Slow news” and the rift between Recent and Relevant
- Thoughts on Steve McPherson’s "resignation”
- TCA: In the ‘hood of ‘Parenthood’
- Kansas rancher to be grilled by Ramsay
- Behind the costumes and the hype, Lady Gaga is a real singer-songwriter Jul 29, 6:55 AM
- Across the area, a variety of homegrown bands will satisfy your musical appetite Jul 28, 7:58 PM
- Paul McCartney's Sprint Center concert was one of the best ever Jul 25, 9:32 PM
- Review | Paul McCartney at the Sprint Center Jul 25, 11:05 AM
- Paul McCartney’s longtime guitarist talks about his own music and what it’s like to play with the superstar. Jul 23, 6:51 PM
BACK TO ROCKVILLE | Tim Finn
- Lilith and the recession blues
- Fan sues Rush over postponed show
- Review: Tom Petty
- On the way: Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings
- On the way: Vampire Weekend
- Art exhibit at Ward & Ward Inc. shows historical African-American art Jul 24, 11:14 AM
- Art from all of America reaches new heights Jul 17, 7:55 PM
- Exhibit of works by prominent 20th-century black artists opens Friday Jul 14, 7:36 PM
FEATURED SPECIAL SECTIONS
BREAKING NEWS & REVIEWS
Fringe Fest review | 'The Event' is pure, refreshing theater
Jul 29, 3:29 PMFirst, the easy part: You've never seen a theater piece quite like "The Event." Bob Paisley, co-founder of the Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre, first saw John Clancy's one-actor play at the mother ship of all fringe festivals in Edinburgh, Scotland. It fascinated him, as it should have, and he resolved to learn the piece and perform it himself.
- Fringe Fest review | 'Head,' an apocalyptic twist on a familiar Bible story
- Fringe Fest reviews | American Alphabet, House of Fitzcarraldo
- Rancher from Chase County, Kan., to appear on 'Master Chef' with Gordon Ramsay
- The New Pornographers, at Liberty Hall, show they’re worthy successors to McCartney
Movie poll | Who is your favorite Will Ferrell wingman (or wingwoman)?
Jul 29, 4:36 PM
With Will Ferrell’s buddy cop comedy, “The Other Guys,” opening soon, name the best Ferrell co-star ever: John C. Reilly? Jon Heder? Christina Applegate? Vote here.
- Movie poll | Who is your favorite Will Ferrell wingman (or wingwoman)?
- First look | He may look like Iron Man, but Daniel Craig is a Cowboy
- Drew Carey's lost it: Eighty pounds!
- CBS pits youth against age on next `Survivor'
- Obama on Chelsea's wedding: I wasn't invited
HOT OFF THE WIRE
- Family feud could silence beloved singer Fairouz Jul 30, 1:50 AM
- Source: J-Lo close to deal for `American Idol' Jul 30, 2:26 AM
- Jill Biden plays to type in 'Army Wives' episode Jul 30, 1:00 AM
- ‘Dinner for Schmucks’ | Paul Rudd makes the most of a comedy that doesn’t quite work | 2 stars Jul 29, 3:34 PM
- ‘The Kids Are All Right’: Heartfelt comedy is an Oscar contender | 3 ½ stars Jul 29, 3:17 PM
- ‘Charlie St. Cloud’: Gimmicky premise darkens Zac Efron’s attempts to shine | 2 stars Jul 29, 9:48 PM
- ‘Cats and Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore’: Strictly for undiscerning kids | 2 stars Jul 29, 9:55 PM
- ‘The Girl Who Played With Fire’: Nail-biting tension | 3 stars Jul 29, 9:58 PM
- ‘Return to El Salvador’ is fueled with outrage | 3 stars Jul 29, 3:03 PM
Robert W. Butler
‘The Girl Who Played With Fire’: Nail-biting tension | 3 stars
Have the movies ever seen a heroine like Lisbeth Salander? As portrayed by Noomi Rapace in “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” and now “The Girl Who Played With Fire,” Lisbeth grabs our attention and our allegiance without for one minute asking for our love.
Previous ColumnsRobert Trussell
Fringe Fest review | 'Head,' an apocalyptic twist on a familiar Bible story
Kyle Hatley gives us an apocalyptic interpretation of a familiar Bible story in "Head," a show that impresses with its audacity and the quality of its performances but can find no better way to resolve a potent dramatic set-up than to litter the stage with corpses.
Previous Columns- 'Tallahassee' and 'Goodbye, Kansas' creatively mix music and despair Jul 29, 3:30 PM
- Fringe Fest reviews | American Alphabet, House of Fitzcarraldo Jul 29, 10:45 AM
- Reviews | Tallahassee and Goodbye, Kansas Jul 27, 2:33 AM
- Alternative theater is well represented at KC Fringe Festival Jul 26, 4:32 PM
Music venue address book
Addresses, Web sites and phone numbers for music venues throughout Kansas City and Lawrence
KC THEATER | THE 2010-11 SEASON
- The Star's list of 2010 farmers markets May 5, 10:00 AM
VIDEO GAMES
DINING OUT IN KANSAS CITY
New midtown restaurant Duo is a successful culinary coalition
Jul 28, 7:48 PM
The menu at Duo promises “authentic Ethiopian/Eritrean and Jamaican cuisine.” An unlikely pairing? Maybe — but then again, the food traditions of eastern Africa and the Caribbean both feature sweet spices, meaty stews and liberal dashes of heat. This might just work out.
- Food calendar | July 28-Aug. 3
- Frida's Contemporary Mexican Cuisine goes beyond tacos and burritos
- Guest mixologist, lounge menu coming to the American Restaurant
- Trezo Vino in Leawood keeps the surprises coming
- From high-end to low-brow, KC has a burger for every taste
- Classic Cup offers well-prepared food, extensive wine list in a welcoming atmosphere
- Café Trio is sure packed, but it can miss a beat
