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Friday news and reviews

Posted at 11:09 AM on March 11, 2011 by Marianne Combs
Filed under: News and reviews

Art

Potter's homecoming
Minnesota-born Michael Simon returns from Georgia to the Northern Clay Center for a career retrospective.
- MARY ABBE, Star Tribune

'Scuffle and Scrape' opens this Saturday at Rosalux Gallery"Scuffle and Scrape" is not only the name of Shawn McNulty's upcoming exhibition, but also an apt bare-bones description of his application of paint, pumice, and gels to his large canvasses.
- Coco Mault, City Pages

General

The week before St. Pat's: Irish comedy at the Fine Line and Frank Theatre's 'Cabaret'
- Max Sparber, MinnPost.com

Old gods: 'The 7-Shot Symphony'; also, Julian Schnabel at the Walker
- Max Sparber, MinnnPost.com

Movies

'Before Night Falls' screens at the Walker Friday
The film first premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2000, where its reputation grew as an award-winning glimpse into an important era of Cuba's history.
- Shelby Meyers, City Pages

'Mars' needs more than mothering
How about some 3-D storytelling to go with 3-D animation?
- TOM HORGEN, Star Tribune

Review: Looks like Disney spaced out on this one
The best way to enjoy "Mars Needs Moms"? Skip the movie and watch the closing credits.
- Chris Hewitt, Pioneer Press

Grimm reaper
'Red Riding Hood' gets botched in this teen-targeted retelling.
- COLIN COVERT, Star Tribune

Review: Director Catherine Hardwicke's scary tale doesn't measure up to her 'Twilight' series
Clearly an attempt to cash in on the success of the "Twilight" movies, "Red Riding Hood" repurposes the folk tale as a vaguely creepy romance.
- Chris Hewitt, Pioneer Press

"Red Riding Hood": My, Grandma, what a big demographic you have!
Rather than focusing on doing a few things well, the movie bounces all over the place trying and half-exploring a theme for a scene and then discarding it for another theme in the next.
- Sarah Heuer, TC Daily Planet

California screaming
Alien invaders attack greater Los Angeles. All hell breaks loose. Call in the Marines.
- COLIN COVERT, Star Tribune

Review: Simple plot, unassuming characters, plain speaking, colossal payoff
Bad news: The West Coast is under attack. Good news: We've got Michelle Rodriguez on our side.
- Chris Hewitt, Pioneer Press

A platter of splatter
New from director Kim Jee-woon, an ultra-violent revenge flick.
- COLIN COVERT

Review: Any time there is this much torment, there's also the devil to pay
"I Saw the Devil" is a long movie -- a little too long, given the modesty of its cat-and-mouse tale -- but Kim is so in control as a filmmaker I was willing to go to whatever bloody, unpleasant, humanity-questioning place he wanted to take me.
- Chris Hewitt, Pioneer Press

Review: Guaranteed not to be music to your ears
I would not recommend "The Over the Hill Band," but it practically begs to be remade for American TV with Betty White in the lead.
- Chris Hewitt, Pioneer Press

Review: The action is brutal, the message clear"The Last Lions" seems to have been created for people who want a land-based version of the Discovery Channel's "Shark Week." It's all carnage all the time.
- Chris Hewitt, Pioneer Press

Music

SPCO program propelled by contrast
In both his original compositions and his interpretations of others' work, Matthias Pintscher is devoted to emphasizing contrasts and conflict.
- Rob Hubbard, Pioneer Press

Hip-hop contenders
Three local names to watch, all with different styles and backgrounds.
- CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER, Star Tribune

Cold War Kids at First Avenue, 3/10/2011
Cold War Kids have received some lukewarm press and icy criticism following their January-released third album Mine is Yours, which was all zipped up by Kings of Leon producer Jacquire King.
- Natalie Gallagher, City Pages

Gayngs and friends at First Ave: Once again, Prince missed his big night
A plethora of Minneapolis bands gathered at First Avenue Sunday night for the debauched Gayngs Affiliayted Showcase.
- Matt Beachey, Examiner.com

Vocalessence upcoming season: New work and old
Premieres, commissions and a state tour
- GRAYDON ROYCE, Star Tribune

Yeti Records hosting mixtape exchange, 'Yetifest'
Yeti Records has been the hub of much music loving activity lately.
- Danny Sigelman, City Pages

Get ready for 'Petrenko-mania' and one of season's best
For concertgoers accustomed to Osmo Vanska's leaping and lunging, Petrenko must have seemed downright statuesque conducting Schubert's "Unfinished" Symphony.
- Rob Hubbard, Pioneer Press

Stage

Barrio Grrrl! at The Children's Theatre Company
Even nine-year-olds will not miss the positive message inherent in this sweet story: that it is possible to change your world for the better, just by exercising a little imagination and gumption.
- Janet Preus, Howwastheshow.com

You'll be glad there are strings attached
An experimental wonderland for miniature puppetry, the annual Toy Theatre After Dark Festival is bigger than ever.
- Amy Carlson Gustafson, Pioneer Press

The accidental actor
James Craven never intended to be an actor, but 40 years later he believes it is "the finest thing a person can do."
- ROHAN PRESTON, Star Tribune

Mario and Michael Bay: Like peanut butter and exploding chocolate
The folks at Comedy Suitcase gleefully jam genres together with Michael Bay's "Super Mario Armageddon."
- Ed Huyck, City Pages

At SteppingStone Theatre, "Get Up Your Irish" tells the story of Irish immigration to Minnesota
Get Up Your Irish tells the story of a group of immigrants from the fishing village of Connemara, Ireland who, in 1880, were plopped in the prarie land of Graceville, Minnesota under the order of Archbishop John Ireland.
- Deb Pleasants, TC Daily Planet

Radio stars are the focus of next season's Orpheum and State shows
Artists better known for showing up on radio stations than in theaters -- including Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Abba and punk-rockers Green Day -- highlight the season.
- Chris Hewitt, Pioneer Press

New, old Broadway musicals on tap
Hennepin Theatre Trust's 2011-12 lineup includes "American Idiot" and "Million Dollar Quartet."
- ROHAN PRESTON, Star Tribune

Comedian Gallagher collapses during show in Rochester, Minn.
Comedian Gallagher was rushed to a hospital on Thursday night after collapsing during a performance in Rochester.
- Associated Press