Interviews - INsite Magazine

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Interviews
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PREVIOUSLY RENTED. DRASTICALLY REDUCED.
CONTENTS • NOVEMBER 2008 • VOLUME 17.3
INTERVIEWS
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06 MICHAEL CERA
10 PAUL RUDD
10 HAWTHORN HEIGHTS
11 THANDIE NEWTON
14 NEIL DIAMOND
15 ANNE HATHAWAY
18 THE TOADIES
19 JEAN GRAE
20 OSAKA POPSTAR
22 GUY RITCHIE
FEATURES
10
11
05 ATLANTA ON THE CHEAP
21 TORONTO FILM FEST
23 BEST OF ATLANTA
29 NCAA PREVIEW
30 NBA PREVIEW
15
COLUMNS
05 ON TAP
06 AROUND TOWN
06 BOOKS
09 UNDER THE LIGHTS
13 MOVIE REVIEWS
16 CONCERT CALENDAR
20 WE GOT NEXT
28 ALBUM REVIEWS
22
www.insiteatlanta.com
STAFF LISTING
Publisher
Stephen Miller
[email protected]
National Managing Editor
Bret Love
[email protected]
Art Director
Michael T.
[email protected]
Music / Sports Editor
DeMarco Williams
[email protected]
Events Listing Editor
Glenn LaFollette
[email protected]
Special Features Editor
Marci Miller
[email protected]
Entertainment Editor
Matt Goldberg
[email protected]
Web Design Kalico Productions
[email protected]
PG 4 • insiteatlanta.com • November 2008
Contributing Writers / Interns:
John Moore, John Davidson, Jon Latham, John C. Snider
Benjamin Carr, Ryan Loftis, Mike Brune, Matt Goldberg
Mitchell Hughes, Alexis Gray, Rodney Hill, Rebecca
Crosby, Zena Scott, Alex S. Morrison, Blue Sullivan
Michele Fontanelli Arnett, Roger Presswood
Dave Cohen and Russ Marshalek
CONTACT US
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All Rights Reserved
Check out our NCAA and NBA
basketball previews on pages 29 & 30!
LOCAL EVENTS
OnTap November
EMAIL EVENTS TO [email protected]
November 8-22: MJCCA
17TH ANNUAL
BOOK FESTIVAL
Major personalities from the world of movies, TV, politics and more are coming out for the 17th annual Book
Festival of the Marcus Jewish Community Center of
Atlanta. This year's lineup features 33 award-winning,
bestselling authors. Festival goers will enjoy engaging
speaker programs, author meet-and-greets, book signings, panel discussions, and more. Some of the expected
attendees include legendary film star Tony Curtis, NBC
Middle East Bureau Chief Martin Fletcher, and CNN Sr.
Legal Analyst Jeffrey Toobin. For more information visit
www.atlantajcc.org.
November 8 & 14: Wild Bill’s
FIGHT NIGHT & REO SPEEDWAGON
Wild Bill’s announces two big events in the month of
November. Fight Night comes back to Wild Bill's on Friday,
November 8. Fight Night is a display of top mixed martial
arts fighting live in the ring. This event is headlined by
Junior Assunca and Kalvin Hackney. 70's hit makers, REO
Speedwagon performs on November 14. Power ballads such
as "Keep on Lovin You" and "Can't Fight This Feeling", along
with other classics off the band's Hi Infidelity album are sure
to be crowd pleasers. Tickets for both events are available at
www.ticketmaster.com or www.wildbillsatlanta.com.
November 11: Philips Arena
COLDPLAY
Alternative English rock band, Coldplay, brings its highly
anticipated world tour "VIVA LA DIVA" to Philips Arena. In
addition to covering some of their older tunes, look for sets
to feature new hits off their new album Viva La Diva like
Violet Hill, Lost! and 42. Chris Martin and his band have
made headlines recently for their outspoken support of presidential candidate Barrak Obama. For more information
about tickets, please visit www.philipsarena.com or
www.ticketmaster.com
Nov.15-May25: Atlanta Civic Center
TUTANKHAMUN:THE GOLDEN KING
The Michael C. Carlos Museum presents its new exhibition
featuring more than 130 treasures from the tomb of the celebrated pharaoh King Tut and additional ancient sites.
"Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs"
will feature striking objects from some of the most important
rulers throughout 2,000 years of ancient Egyptian history.
The exhibition will highlight more than 50 treasures from
Tutankhamun's tomb. Highlighting the exhibit is a 10-foot
statue that originally may have stood at Tutankhamun's mortuary temple. www.kingtut.org or www.carlos.emory.edu.
Nov. 18-19: Uptown Comedy Corner
D.L. HUGHLEY
Fresh off the debut of his new political show, "D.L. Hughley
Breaks the News" on CNN, the only African-American host of
a cable news program returns to his stand-up comedy roots.
The sometimes controversial, yet always hysterical comic will
bring his outrageous brand of humor to topics that include
American politics, the economic meltdown, and pop culture.
D.L. Hughley has been featured on Def Comedy Jam, BET's
Comic View, and Real Time with Bill Maher. For more information, visit www.uptowncomedy.net.
Nov. 27: Lenox Square Mall
LIGHTING OF MACY’S TREE
Since 1948, this has been a Thanksgiving Day tradition for
thousands of Georgia's families. Scheduled to appear this
year include singer/songwriter Jewel, Broadway star Heather
Headley plus the event's guest co-host, Entertainment
Tonight's Jann Carl. Over the years this holiday event has
been captured on national television specials and has
received international exposure on CNN. Millions of viewers across the United States have enjoyed this Atlanta holiday tradition as a result of its national syndication. For
more information, please visit www.macys.com.
ATLANTA ON THE
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TOP EVENTS
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Know about a low cost event or happening in Atlanta? Email [email protected]
WEST END ART / STUDIO TOUR
675 Metropolitan Pkwy. 404-758-8800
www.metropolitanwarehouses.com
Nov. 8; Tour 1-7PM; Auction 7-10PM
Free Event
The afternoon tour includes 15 open artist
studios and businesses at The Metropolitan
including The B Complex, The Hammonds
House Museum, Danger Press Printing and
Dickey and Stewart Recording Studio. A party
with a live D.J. and silent auction begins at
7:00pm. Select studios will provide complimentary wine and hors d'oeuvres.
CHILI COOK-OFF AND FESTIVAL
Cabbagetown Park
www.chompandstomp.com
Sat. Nov. 8; 10AM - 8PM
Free to Attend - 5K run is $20
Cabbagetown hosts this 6th annual event that
features a 5K run, chili cook-off, live bluegrass
music, art market and beer!
ATLANTA BRAVES MUSEUM
AND HALL OF FAME
Turner Field
www.atlanta.braves.mlb.com
404-522-7630
Sat. Nov. 15; 10AM - 2PM; Free
The Braves Museum & Hall of Fame features
more than 600 Braves artifacts and photographs that trace the team's history from its
beginnings in Boston (1871-1952) to
Milwaukee (1953-65) to Atlanta (1966-present). It is located on the northwest side of
Turner Field at Aisle 134. A free tour of the
stadium is also included.
CENTENNIAL OLYMPIC PARK'S
HOLIDAY IN LIGHTS
Centennial Olympic Park
404-222-PARK centennialpark.com
Nov. 15 - Jan. 4; 7AM - 11PM
FREE - Ice Skating Rink Admission $7
per person, $2 skate rentals
In November, the park transforms into a winter wonderland with thousands of lights that
make up a
dazzling
display.
Come celebrate the
2008 holiday season
by taking a
s t r o l l
through the courtesy of Centennial Olympic Park
glowing 21-acre park or spin around Atlanta's
only outdoor ice skating rink.
ATLANTA HABITAT
BUILDING BLOCK PARTY
2079 and 2083 Lakewood Trail in
Lakewood Commons Neighborhood
www.atlantahabitat.org
(404) 223-5180, ext. 165
Sat. Nov. 22; 11:30AM - 4PM; Free
Celebrate Atlanta Habitat for Humanity's
25th anniversary along with the achievement
of constructing its 1000th home. This event
will be Atlanta Habitat's largest dedication
ever with performances by the Atlanta Drum
Line, children activities, family-friendly entertainment, stilt walkers, jugglers and more.
Corporate and local vendors will provide food
and beverages. Earlier in the month, President
and Mrs. Jimmy Carter will make a special
visit to the home site along with Mayor
Shirley Franklin and Clark Howard.
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Book Review
GREAT AMERICAN HYPOCRITES:
TOPPLING THE BIG MYTH OF
REPUBLICAN POLITICS
Author: Glenn Greenwald
BY JOHN B. MOORE
None of the arguments put forth by author Glenn
Greenwald in his latest rant against the Right is going to
come as a shock to anyone who has ever made a donation
to MoveOn.org or read The Huffington Post. But that’s
not to say it’s not a highly entertaining read full of great
argument-starters.
Greenwald does a great job of tackling a handful of the
biggest hypocritical arguments about the Republican
Party that Conservatives love to trot out on talk radio and
in election ads. Here are a few of the myths Greenwald
deftly points out in the book: Myth 1: Republicans are for
small government… Except for when they get us in debt
to the tune of trillions of dollars. Myth 2: Republicans
are wholesome family men who love (heterosexual)
marriages. How much do they love the institution of
(heterosexual) marriage? So much that they want to
marry again and again. Just consider how many times
Rush Limbaugh, Newt Gingrich, John McCain, Henry
Hyde, Fred Thompson, Bob Barr and others have taken
the walk down the church aisle. Myth 3: Republican
leaders love a war hero… as long as it’s not one of them
who’s asked to do the fighting. Aside from McCain, the
party and its faithful attack dogs are packed with people
who managed to pull strings and call in favors to avoid
having to fight in Vietnam. Both Al Gore and John
Kerry risked their lives in Vietnam, while their opponent
George W. Bush (who put in a couple of days with the
National Guard in Alabama)
managed to come out looking
like the military hero.
Greenwald’s well-documented
examples may not win over any
hardcore Conservatives, but
this smartly written and wellresearched book should be on
the nightstand of every Daily
Kos devotee.. Grade: APG 6 • insiteatlanta.com • November 2008
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FILM INTERVIEW
MORE MR. NICE GUY
THE UNFAILINGLY POLITE MICHAEL CERA
BY B. LOVE
M
ICHAEL CERA THE SOFTSPOKEN
Ontario native, best known for his roles
in back-to-back blockbusters “Superbad”
and “Juno”. From his low-key demeanor and innate
sense of nervousness, Cera is a welcome anomaly on a
young Hollywood scene that tends to prefer style over
substance. What’s most remarkable is the realization
that, with Cera, what you see really is what you get.
Your career has taken off
astronomically in the last year or
so. Are you comfortable with your
newfound fame?
Yeah, I’ve been enjoying it. I really
like working and being on sets, so
it’s nice to be able to continue doing
that. If I get recognized in the street
it’s normally just a brief exchange.
They’ll tell me they like my work or
someone will shout something out,
but it’s always very pleasant.
really hard to watch and uncomfortable. On the
Superbad set it was all really loose and we were playing
drunk, so we could hide behind that.
Movies like Superbad and Nick & Norah are very
different teen movies than those of the ‘90s, and
almost feel like a return to the days of the John
Hughes classics. What makes them different in your
eyes?
Well, I like anything that feels authentic and comes
from someone’s heart. I watch a
I LIKE ANYTHING THAT lot of movies and I’ve never liked
those gross-out comedies, so I
FEELS AUTHENTIC
just try to do movies that I think
AND COMES FROM
I would like. Sometimes you read
SOMEONE’S HEART.
a script and there are things that
don’t ring true, but you can work
I WATCH A LOT OF
with the director and the writers
MOVIES AND I’VE
on fixing it. I’ve always found
NEVER LIKED THOSE that
it’s best to work with people
GROSS-OUT COMEDIES, that are collaborative and openSO I JUST TRY TO DO minded.
MOVIES THAT I THINK I
What’s the latest word on the
Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist
WOULD LIKE.
possibility of an “Arrested
was your first film after the double
Development” movie?
whammy of Superbad and Juno. What attracted
I mean, it’s not like we’re in production and I haven’t
you to that project?
My manager sent me “Raising Victor Vargas,” the read a script. I know Jason Bateman wants to do it,
first film Pete Sollett directed, and I really loved it and but I’m not sure if [creator] Mitch Hurwitz wants to.
wanted to meet with him. We met in New York and I would only want to be a part of it if it was gonna be
really hit it off, so I decided I wanted to work with him really good, because I think it’s good to go out on a
high note, end with a bang and leave them wanting
and thought he’d do the movie really well.
more. That’s just my instinct: I don’t think it would be
You’ve had romantic storylines in your last couple of worth doing unless it would live up to the expectations
movies now. What’s it like for you watching yourself that might come with it.
in those love scenes?
Normally the audience is pretty giggly, like they’re Can you talk about the experience of working on
embarrassed for the characters. I actually like if it’s that show? Many fans thought it was like “Freaks &
Geeks,” a prematurely cancelled show that was way
ahead of its time.
I love “Freaks & Geeks”! It had a short run, but I
watch those episodes over and over. But with “Arrested
Development,” we did have a good run. Three seasons
was more than I ever expected when we started,
because right off the bat we were told it wasn’t doing
to good. I was surprised every time we got picked up
for another season, and we had a nice following. It’s
nice to have a handful of people who really love it, and
it feels like a tight-knit group of people who come up
and talk about the show.
What can you tell us about your next film, “Youth
In Revolt”?
It’s directed by Miguel Arteta, it’s coming out in
February and I love the book by C.D. Payne on which
it’s based. It’s about a young guy who meets a girl on
a family vacation and becomes obsessed with her.
I’ve read the book like five times and really love the
character, so I was excited to do it. I think the movie
will be really good.
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Dining at Chin Chin is pure pleasure
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Do You Have Trouble
Sleeping at Night?
If you usually fall asleep easily, but have trouble
staying asleep, you might be interested in learning
more about this insomnia clinical study.
If you are 18 years or older you may qualify to
participate in this insomnia research study evaluating
whether an investigational medication improves
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Study participants will receive at no cost,
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COMPREHENSIVE NEUROSCIENCE
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THEATER
Under The Lights
Theatrical Performances this Month
High School Musical 2
Ain’t Misbehaven’
Nov. 6 - Nov. 16 Fox Theatre
Box Office 404.817.8700
The Wildcats are
back for an all new
adventure with rocking songs and twice
the fun. Disney's
High School Musical
2 comes to The Fox
Theatre this month.
It's summer time
and Troy, Gabriella,
Sharpay, Ryan,
Chad, Kelsi and all
the gang from East
High School get
summer jobs at the
exclusive
Lava
Springs
Country
Club, where it turns
out that Sharpay 's
family are members.
Sharpay
and
Gabriella vie for
Troy's attention and
Gabriella as played
the
competition
by Arial Jacobs
heats up over the
annual talent show. Join them as they put their
talents and friendship to the ultimate test.
The Creative and Design Team from the original Atlanta production of Disney’s High
School Musical On Stage returns for this allnew production.
Nov. 18 - Nov. 23 Fox Theatre
Box Office 404.817.8700
The 30th Anniversary National Tour of the
Tony Award winning musical Ain’t
Misbehavin’ comes to The Fox Theatre this
month. Ain’t Misbehavin' is a musical revue of
a book by Murray Horowitz and Richard
Maltby, Jr. and music by Thomas Wright "Fats"
Waller. Waller, the
outrageously
prodigious comic
and musical soul of
1930s Harlem, lives
on in this rollicking, finger-snapping show that is
still considered one
of Broadway's most
well crafted revues.
Ruben Studdard
The Atlanta engagement stars American Idol
icon and Grammy nominated star Ruben
Studdard. Other American Idol alum include
2003 contestant Frenchie Davis as well as 2003
top five finalist Trenyce Cobbins. Together
with a first-class cast and a live, on-stage band,
they bring classic popular hits like
"Honeysuckle Rose," "This Joint is Jumpin',"
"Your Feet's Too Big," and the title song "Ain't
Misbehavin'" to life.
Ain’t Misbehavin’ originally opened in The
Manhattan Theatre in 1978 with featured
singer Irene Cara. The show was an instant hit
among theatergoers and was quickly developed into a full-scale Broadway production.
Cool Shops! Hot Deals!
40 shops
stay open late
Indulge in a New ‘Do!
Fresche Salon & Boutique
350 Mead Rd.
Hair Werks and Co.
302 E. Howard Ave.
Natural Body
225 E. Ponce de Leon, #150
Salon Red
119 E. Ponce de Leon Ave.
Salon Red Kids
123 E. Ponce de Leon Ave.
Rock the World!
Mingei World Arts
427 Church St.
Pambili African Artworks
201 W. Ponce de Leon Ave.
Alexia Gallery
335-B W. Ponce de Leon Ave.
MoJo Pizza ‘n Pub
657 East Lake Dr.
Cook Up Some Excitement!
Taste
416 Church St.
The 17 Steps
235-M Ponce de Leon Pl.
The Cook’s Warehouse
Sherlock’s Wine Merchants
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And there’s more!
Visit www.decaturga.com
for updates.
Dresscodes
Little Shop of Stories
133-A E. Court Square
Throughout the season . . .
Shop more than 200 independent salons, boutiques and
restaurants, just six miles
east of Atlanta, inside I-285.
Park and walk, or take MARTA
to the Decatur station.
Expires 12-15-08. Only valid at Ponce and Buckhead stores.
FILM INTERVIEW
A 39-YEAR-OLD SURGING
A Role-Playing Vet, Paul Rudd Gets a
Well-Deserved Top Billing in Role Models
BY DEMARCO WILLIAMS
R
EMEMBER THE INFAMOUS FIST BUMP
Michelle and Barack Obama exchanged over
the summer? Okay, Paul Rudd and I just did one
and it was way funnier. Here’s how it went down: I walked
into a hotel conference room to chat with the Kansas-bred
star of the side-splitting new comedy Role Models. As I
approached Rudd, he’s adjusting his sack—and we’re not
talking about potatoes either. Seeing the scene unfold, you
almost think you’re on the set of Knocked Up, Reno 911!:
Miami or one of Rudd’s other silly pictures, but you’re not.
In fact, after the fist bump –and for the record, I didn’t
watch the whole gesture and Paul did apologize for it- we,
umm, scratched the surface on writing Models’ screenplay,
working with comedy genius Judd Apatow and learning
from legend Michael Caine.
How much fun was it making this movie?
It was really fun. It was a long experience because we
spent months writing, then to go shooting it, then post
production. I’ve never been involved with something from
start to finish like this. I’ve produced a movie with Ken
Marino and David Wain called The Ten and Dave directed
it, but I didn’t write any of that. So this was a new experience for me. It was really fun and fulfilling.
Did you find screenwriting a rewarding experience?
Yeah, it was. It was a rewrite. It wasn’t my idea for the
movie. It was very rewarding. And seeing it and hearing
people laugh at stuff you’ve written is very exciting. That’s
really cool. It certainly whets my appetite to do another
one with an original idea, assuming I can ever figure one
out. If you have anything, let me know.
If the Paul Rudd from Clueless spoke to the one today,
what would he say?
I feel like, as far as my tastes and things that I like, they
weren’t that much different then as they are now. I think
I’ve gotten less precious about stuff now ‘cuz I’m just old
and I don’t care. In my early 20s, it was the perfect time
in my life to be artistic and precious. I think I would have
been pleased because, even starting out, I knew it was
a hard road. It’s hard to make a living in any business,
whatever that is. To try to do it on one’s own terms is even
harder. I thought, “I only want to do things I really like.”
For the most part, I have been able to kinda stick to that. I
mean, I have done some real clunkers in there, too. They
don’t always turn out the way you hope. But I feel as if I’ve
gone through the things that I’ve liked and have turned
out well in my own opinion. But if I think I would have
looked forward, I would have been pleased. I really would
have been pleased that I was just able to sustain a career, to
work at all. I’m still always amazed that people would hire
me to do something in a movie. It’s a job that many people
want. I just feel under-qualified in almost every category.
I’m sure there will be several people who’ll see the film and
agree with me.
I don’t see how anyone can say that about this one.
Well, there is something universally appealing about
seeing a 10-year-old swear [like Bobb’e Thompson in Role
Models]. I don’t know if my grandparents would feel the
same as me. That’s just built-in funny to me. But I’m also
one of those guys, no matter how old I get, if you fart, I’m
going to laugh for about ten minutes.
Have you ever felt that a movie was going to be a clunker,
but it actually turned out okay?
Not really. If you have this feeling that, Oh, this is going
to be a clunker, more than likely it’s going to be a clunker.
The movies that I’ve worked on that I really, really liked,
and seemed genuinely funny to me, in my opinion, have
turned out pretty funny. That was something I kinda
realized a lot of actors [thought]. If you find it funny when
you’re shooting it, it won’t be funny when it’s released. An
example of that would be -This a huge, huge name-dropme working with Michael Caine on The Cider House
Rules. [He reaches for his cellphone and speaks in a British
accent] Is that Michael Caine calling me? I couldn’t believe
I was in the same room, let alone the same movie, with
Michael Caine. So, I worked up enough nerve to talk to
him about the movies he had been in because he’s pretty
iconic. I wanted to ask him desperately about Dirty Rotten
Scoundrels because I think that movie is hilarious. He said
he was very nervous about it because he loved working on
it so much and he found it very funny. He said, “Whenever
you work on a movie and you find it funny, it’s never
funny.” I had heard that from other people. That seemed
to be the adage. I have not found that to be the case. I have
worked on a few movies that I think are pretty funny and
they were a blast making them.
I’m guessing some of those movies are 40-Year-Old
Virgin and Knocked Up. The guy behind those is Judd
Apatow. What makes him so special?
He has a real since of what people are going through.
We’re all pretty universal. The insecurities people have, the
victories, [are all pretty similar]. He has an understanding
of that. He knows how to show that. All of the things that
he’s done, which have been very, very funny, have been
character driven. They all have those moments that are
really moving. I mean, Freaks & Geeks, The Larry Sanders
Show, those kinds of facets of human behavior [are captured by Apatow]. That’s what sells it. That’s what makes it
work more than anything. He can create a story and characters that are very realistic and relatable. Then he’s just
naturally funny and knows how to write funny jokes and
fill it with jokes and make it topical and seem very fresh.
Also, his directing style is different than almost anyone
that I’ve worked with. He really encourages improvisation.
In Knocked Up, we got together and improvised scenes
and those things found their way into the movie. We’d
also improvise scenes while we were shooting stuff. He’ll
say go more in that direction. He knows where he wants
to take it, but he’s very open to letting the actors come up
with how we get
there. There’s a
lot of trust in that.
It’s great because
[the movies] are
collaborative and
creatively fulfilling
in a way that’s different than some
other movies
where you just
stand on the X
and say your lines.
I think it’s a very specific style; it’s a style that seems to be
resonating right now. He’s kind of the mayor of comedy.
These movies are really popular. It could very well fall out
of fashion. It probably will somewhere along the way. I
think the thing that sustains itself is the relationships between people. That’s ultimately what all of these comedies
are; they’re all kind of dramatic movies—they’re just filled
with boner jokes and farts.
Talk about your two March releases.
There’s another called I Love You, Man with Jason Segel,
who also works a lot with Judd. He did this movie Forgetting Sarah Marshall. I realize I don’t really have any male
friends [in the movie]. I’ve been kind of a girlfriend guy. So,
it starts freaking my fiancé out (Rashida Jones) and freaking me out ‘cuz I never really thought about it. I’m going
to need a best man for my wedding, so I go out and try to
find a friend. Then this movie sorta follows these conventions of a romantic comedy, but it’s between two guys. I go
on man dates, blind dates. It doesn’t quite work.
And the animated experience, Monsters vs. Aliens?
That was really cool. It was over the course of a couple
of years. It’s strange because I feel really distant from it.
You go to work one day for a few hours in a sound stage
and, six months later, you go do another thing. It’s really
isolated. I don’t really work with any of the other people
in the movie ‘cuz it’s all just vocal. I’m really curious. I’ve
never read a script for it. I will see that movie and it will be
very strange. I’m a character in it but I don’t know what to
expect. I’m really looking forward to seeing it.
MUSIC INTERVIEW
HAWTHORN HEIGHTS
Fragile, But
Not Broken
T
BY JOHN B. MOORE
O SAY THE LAST TWO YEARS HAVE
been difficult for Ohio-based emo-punks
Hawthorne Heights would be like saying
the U.S. economy is having a bad month. The band
has gone through a very public feud with its label,
and lost their friend and guitarist Casey Calvert last
November.
After a legal fight to get out of a deal with Chicagobased Victory Records– the label that released their
first two records– the band surprised many earlier
this year when they announced they would put out
their next release Fragile Future on Victory. The
record is a subtle departure from their first two
albums, and by far their strongest record to date.
Singer/guitarist JT Woodruff spoke with us
recently about the band’s rocky history, the loss of
Calvert and their future.
Let’s get the obvious question out of the way first:
you had a pretty ugly legal fight going with Victory
for awhile. What made you guys decide to come
back to the label?
Life is too short to fight over dollars and cents. We
all sat down and figured out how to live together
again.
Are you going to be releasing more records on
Victory?
I’m the kinda guy who never says never. Victory has
done a lot of great things for Hawthorne Heights, so
I’m sure they will continue to help us in the future, as
we continue to help them.
What can you tell me about Fragile Future?
We are extremely proud of Fragile Future. Every
time I listen to it the songs make me both happy and
sad. That is the whole point of writing music, so it
tells people how you feel. This record tells the world
how we feel.
How difficult was this record to write?
I think all records are hard to write for different reasons. Fragile Future was very easy to write,
because so much had happened to us that our emotions were boiling over. But, it was also very hard to
sing about this stuff. It was hard to relive it take after
take. In the end, it was great therapy for us to put
feelings to song.
How do you think it compares to the first two
records?
The obvious comparison is that we have no
screaming on Fragile Future. When Casey passed
away, we didn’t want to try to replace him... so we
didn’t. There is a lot of raw energy on this record that
isn’t on our second CD. I think they all fit how we
were feeling at the time, and I’m proud of that. I like
to have no idea how a record will sound before it’s
recorded. It makes it interesting.
When Casey passed away, did you guys ever think
about ending the band?
We never thought about quitting. This is what we
love to do, so we wouldn’t end it for any reason. We
IF I PERFORM NAKED, I WILL PROBABLY GET ARRESTED. SO PLEASE
COME BAIL ME OUT, OR AT LEAST BRING ME STARBUCKS IN JAIL.
think it’s better to celebrate Casey’s life throughout
the rest of our career. He will always been in our
songs, and our hearts.
What can you tell me about the tour you are about
to start?
I can tell you that we are dusting off some old songs
for our hardcore fans. We will be playing a good
mix of songs from our older records, but will also
spend a large part of our set on Fragile Future. For
the first time in an extended tour, we will be playing
a few songs acoustic during the set...to keep things
fresh. We personally picked all the bands on this
tour, because we are friends with them...so let the
brodown commence. Also, I might play a few shows
bare naked.
You guys just played The Tonight Show recently.
What was that like?
It was an honor to play the Tonight Show. It’s a
dream of any musician, so we are very proud to have
played it. TV shows are kinda nerve racking, because
you only get one chance to play the song right...but
when it’s over it’s the best feeling ever. Also, it makes
you feel like a celeb for about 4 minutes.
What’s next for the band?
After we finish the Never Sleep Again tour, we will
hibernate through the holidays. During hibernation
we will sleep, watch football, and write a lot of songs.
Expect to see a lot of us in 2009 in the USA and
hopefully overseas.
Anything else you want to add?
If I perform naked, I will probably get arrested. So
please come bail me out, or at least bring me Starbucks in jail. Also, come to the show and say hello.
Bring me a demo. I love new music... and Starbucks.
If you sing about Starbucks, I will love your band.
Increase the peace. Obama 2008!
It’s a
Man’s
World
FILM INTERVIEW
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Thandie Newton
Just Rules It
BY B. LOVE
T
HIS MOMENT IS SO MUCH BIGGER
than me. This moment is for Dorothy Dandridge, Lena Horne, Diahann Carroll. It’s for
the women that stand beside me– Jada Pinkett, Angela
Bassett– and it’s for every nameless, faceless woman of
color that now has a chance because this door tonight has
been opened.” –Halle Berry
Halle Berry may not have mentioned Thandie Newton
specifically in her famously emotional 2002 Oscar acceptance speech, but no actress in the world has benefited
more from the doors opened in the years since the
Monster’s Ball star’s historic Best Actress win.
Best known at the time for her role as Tom Cruise’s
love interest in Mission: Impossible II, Newton went
on to star opposite Terrence Howard in Crash, and
Will Smith in The Pursuit of Happyness. And now,
with high-profile turns in Guy Ritchie’s RocknRolla and
Oliver Stone’s W., the 36-year-old actress finds herself in
the luxurious position of being able to pick and choose
projects with Hollywood’s brightest talents.
Sitting down for an interview at the Toronto Film
Festival, Newton acknowledges that she was once bitter
about the lack of roles for black actors, but that things
have improved. “Sometimes I even have to remind my
husband [writer/director Oliver Parker] that certain
roles could be multi-racial,” she admits. “But it has
evolved in a positive way so different from 10 years ago,
when I was the only black actress from England working
in American movies. Instead of complaining about
it, recognize the positives and use that to keep going
forward, bring in your friends, and encourage people
to look outside their small circle. Moaning about it just
doesn’t do anything.”
Things haven’t always been so positive for the actress.
While she got her first big film role, Flirting, when she
was just 19, Newton has always maintained something
of an outsider’s perspective on Hollywood. “I started out
really young and realized early on that my happiness did
not lie with the business,” she recalls matter-of-factly.
“I had difficult times I had to deal with, which made
me very skeptical about the film industry. So in a weird
way it’s been a really good thing, because I use the film
industry as a pleasure for work and it’s not a pursuit to
make me feel happy in my life.”
Newton claims to have only gotten more selective about her roles in the years since she and Parker
welcomed daughters Ripley and Nico into the world.
But even as she strives to maintain a healthy balance
between motherhood and her career, she insists that she
gives the decision-making process far less thought than
she used to.
“It’s just a gut reaction to something,” she says when
asked about choosing roles. “I’ll read [mediocre] scripts
and start to think, do I not want to do this anymore? But
then the next day I’ll read something that I love, and I
can’t wait to do it. There’s no formula to how I go with it.
Sometimes it can be because I think the director is really
inspiring.”
With her two latest projects, it was clearly directors
Guy Ritchie and Oliver Stone who were a huge part
of the draw. “Guy and Oliver are completely different,”
Newton insists when asked to compare these influential
auteurs. “Guy steps back in many ways and isn’t precious
about his material. He’s very confident and clear about
what he wants, but at the same time lets go of the reins
in terms of what you as an actor do with your character.
The same is true for Oliver, but the material is very much
based on truth. He’s hugely knowledgeable, so you’re
constantly looking to him for his approval… Constantly!”
Stone’s passionate liberal political views and President
George W. Bush’s low approval ratings have made W.
one of the year’s most controversial and eagerly anticipated films. Though the film had not been screened for
critics at press time, Newton seems excited to discuss
the project, in which she co-stars opposite Josh Brolin
(Bush) and Richard Dreyfuss (Dick Cheney).
“I haven’t seen it yet,” she admits, “and Oliver Stone’s
editing style is a huge part of his talent. But we were
going for a very natural human portrait. It was about
the dynamics of the relationships between the players of
the administration. The movie is much more about the
shades of grey, allowing the audience to figure out how
they feel about it.”
In both of these roles she plays a powerful woman pulling strings in arenas typically dominated by men. Could
they be seen as analogous to Newton’s position in Hollywood, where actresses over the age of 35 are frequently
put out of pasture in favor of younger, prettier “It Girls,”
but where Thandie seems to be just hitting her stride?
“I made RocknRolla a year before I worked on Oliver
Stone’s movie,” she counters, “and had completely different approaches to both. I wanted to do RocknRolla
because it had a great script, lovely cast, I liked Guy very
much, we were working in London, and I knew it would
be a lot of fun. But Condoleezza was more like taking a
deep breath, then jumping in, terrified but at the same
time enormously satisfied.”
Those two words– enormously satisfied– seem like an
apt description of Thandie Newton’s life at the moment.
With a loving marriage, two beautiful children, and a
career most actresses can only dream of, she seems to
be truly savoring every moment with a newfound sense
of peace.
“I love playing these characters, but at the end of the
day it’s easy to leave them behind. I can’t explain it,” she
admits with a smile, “but going through adolescence
you’re always afraid to be yourself for fear of being
mocked, criticized or rejected. But these days, I just love
being me.”
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CITY OF EMBER (PG)
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HAPPY-GO-LUCKY (R)
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ROCKNROLLA (R)
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We like Daniel Craig (above) as Bond, James Band, but we are worried the franchise is
slowly ripping of the Bourne series. Just drop “shaken, not stirred” in the next film at least.
QUANTUM OF SOLACE
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coming this month
Nov. 7: Madagascar 2: Escape to Africa (PG)
We had to admit this, but we actually walked out of the first “Madagascar” film.
It wasn’t horrible. It just didn’t suit us. Take the kids to see the sequel starring
Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer (wow, good to see him working)
and Jada Pinkett Smith. The second film has the band of animals trying to get
back to New York.
Nov. 14: Australia (PG-13)
This is an epic, romantic comedy starring Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman
during the brink of World War II. We’re kidding about the comedy part. The film
brings together two of the world’s favorite Aussie’s for a tale about a woman
(Kidman) trying to save a crop of land she inherited. Naturally, there is a rugged
local man (Jackman) to help her out. Cue happy women everywhere.
Nov 21: Twilight (PG-13)
Teenagers everywhere will rejoice. This film is based on the highly successful
book series. We’ve never read it, but apparently it’s the new Harry Potter.
It’s a love story between a human (Kristen Stewart) and a vampire (Robert
Pattinson). Girl moves to new town. Girl falls in love with mysterious boy.
Girl gets blood sucked dry. We doubt that happens, but it would make the film
better for us.
Nov 21: Four Christmases (Not yet rated)
Vince Vaughn returns with another comedy, and this time he’s dragging
Reese Witherspoon down with him. The two star in this rom-comedy about
an unscale, San Francisco couple that is forced to visit four different family
Christmases. Thus the title. Jon Favreau makes an appearance as a crazy
brother. Good to see he has time aside from making millions with “Iron Man.”
–Compiled by Glenn LaFollette
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ROLE MODELS (R)
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THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES (PG-13)
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SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK (R)
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ZACK & MIRI MAKE A PORNO (R)
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MUSIC INTERVIEW
NEIL DIAMOND
The Solitary Man
Reflects on a Banner Year
BY JON LATHAM
N
EIL DIAMOND’S CAREER DOES
not fall short of landmarks. He wrote, “I’m
A Believer”, which became a smash for
the Monkees, and he racked up numerous hits with
introspective tunes such as, “Solitary Man”, “Brooklyn
Roads”, and “I am…I Said”. The landmark ‘Hot August
Night’ album, stood as a testimony to the power of
Diamond’s stage shows. As the years progressed, so did
the number of studs on his signature stage wardrobe. It
is safe to say that the sheer talent for song craft got lost
in the haze of rhinestones and easy listening schmaltz.
Nevertheless, Neil remained a sell-out ticket and an
iconic figure in pop music. 2008 brought the release
of ‘Home Before Dark’, the masterful follow-up to the
much-lauded 2005 album, ’12 Songs’. Winding down
the year, Neil keeps running full speed ahead into a
rigorous third leg of his world tour. Even at his age now,
Neil is a man who finds himself at his best when he
does the job that he loves.
‘Home Before Dark’ became Neil’s first number one
album, a feat which even he himself was somewhat
blindsided by.
“Honestly I never paid much attention to it. I am more
focused on the quality of the album and not whether it
makes it to number two or three or one. When I was
told that this was my first number one, [I was thinking
that] I had one or two before this, so it’s nice to have
that little milestone. But then even more important I
was very pleased with the way the album came out.”
‘Home’ was Neil’s second collaboration with Rick
Rubin, a monster producer who is well-known for
resurrecting Johnny Cash’s career in the ‘90’s. Of course,
when it came to this balladeer, the plan was never to
reinvent anything.
“We were just trying to create something wonderful,
something magical, and something that had the right
chemistry, which you always try to do,” Diamond explains. “When we got into the studio, we [went] in with
a very small ensemble not knowing what would happen
or what would come out of it. And it was an elite group
of musicians [including Mike Campbell and Benmont
Tench of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers]. I’ve always
gotten along great with musicians. I’ve worked with
them all my life, so we had a great deal in common.”
The haunting, brooding melancholy of the album
flowed naturally, as Rubin allowed the sessions to let
the songs mature from the inside out. “Rick is not the
type of producer that’s there in your face all the time,”
recounts Neil. “[As for in-studio encounters,] we [occasionally] saw each other for playbacks.”
Such a musical bond with Rubin is heard in Neil’s
voice when he talks about their work together. It is obvious that the respect is certainly mutual.
“[Rick] was more an objective observer and it was
very helpful for everybody. But I wouldn’t say there was
an original intention to go and distill the essence of my
music, certainly not for me. Although, maybe, if you
spoke to Rick, he might have a different answer,” Neil
says with a gruff chuckle, “but he never let on to me but
that’s what he was trying to do.”
The ballads that make up ‘Home Before Dark’ hold
true to Diamonds unbelievable ear for songs, but it
doesn’t even hold a candle to the upbeat energy and
essence of his live show. At 67, he is, by far, one of
few performers his age to still be packing arenas and
stadiums worldwide; at my best, I still can only think of
the Stones and the Who. So what is it that keeps Neil
on the road?
“Well, it’s a good antidote to the writing,” Neil
explains. “The writing is very, very introspective. You’re
constantly digging [inward]. It’s a hard process because
you’re excluding contact with a lot of people and things
that you would ordinarily be in contact with in your
every day life. I kind of sequester myself often [to] do
the writing and sometimes it’s a year or a year and a half
[away from everything]. That’s a long time to be out of
contact with people.”
Neil’s desire to connect with the audience sent him on
a whirlwind tour that covered parts of the U.S., as well
as Europe, an experience which still leaves him quite
astounded. “When you play in Europe, it’s all exotic and
everything is new and different. I played in a number of
cities and countries that I hadn’t played in a long time,
so it was a very exciting experience for me.”
A certain tour highlight resonates with Neil in a very
special way, his performance at Fenway Park, the home
of the Boston Red Sox.
“I play stadiums overseas, but not usually in the states.
[Playing at Fenway] was an amazing experience. The
audience was 1,000 percent there and ready to have a
good time and so was I. The show came off beautifully”
In the stands of the Green Giant, Neil’s classic “Sweet
Caroline” has become a staple sing-along in a way that
Diamond himself could have never imagined.
“If I had planned it out, even though I don’t know how
you plan something like that out, [“Sweet Caroline”]
is just one of those songs that everybody can sing and
will sing at the drop of a hat. [It has taken on] a little life
of its own. It seems lots of people are attracted to that
song and I don’t know what it is; it’s a feel good kind of
song. And I think if you just want to feel good that’s the
song to sing,” Neil laughs.
As the year comes to a close, you will find Neil
Diamond out on the road, but where is home? Is there
a sense that Neil is packing it up and slowing down? Is
the future looking more like a time of settling down?
Unabashed in his stature, Diamond sets his path clear.
“Well, maybe 20 years from now, but not right now.
This is what I do, and it’s my official job. Somebody gave
me this job when I was a kid, when I was a teenager, and
I’ve been doing it [ever since then]. This is what I want
to do. It involves me totally. It’s a very exciting kind
of work.”
THIS IS WHAT I DO, AND IT’S
MY OFFICIAL JOB. SOMEBODY
GAVE ME THIS JOB WHEN I
WAS A KID, WHEN I WAS A
TEENAGER, AND I’VE BEEN
DOING IT [EVER SINCE THEN].
THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO DO. IT
INVOLVES ME TOTALLY. IT’S A
VERY EXCITING KIND OF WORK.
��
FILM INTERVIEW
The Maturing Of Anne Hathaway
BY ALEX S. MORRISON
B
UZZ” IS ONE OF THOSE PESKY
words that get overused a lot in these
heady days of canny marketing savvy,
but it doesn’t even come close to describing the
rousing roar of accolades that surrounded Anne
Hathaway at the 2008 Toronto Film Festival.
Critics, peers and audiences alike have been
enraptured by the 26-year-old’s masterful performance in director Jonathan Demme’s Rachel
Getting Married. As recovering addict Kym, who
comes home from rehab to inject some dysfunctional drama into her sister’s nuptials, Hathaway
delivers the sort of stunning turn that makes you
reconsider everything you’d previously thought
about her; the sort that virtually locks her in for
her first Academy Award nomination. Hathaway,
who will also be appearing in January’s Bride
Wars (with Kate Hudson) and recently signed on
to appear in Tim Burton’s Alice In Wonderland,
sat down with us in Toronto to discuss being a
role model, those pesky paparazzi and putting
her princess tiara on the shelf for good.
When you were growing up, who were the actresses you admired?
Julia Roberts. Pretty Woman was my Princess
Diaries; I used to watch it every day. Katherine
Hepburn has always been one of my favorites,
and Jessica Lange and Sigourney Weaver. There
are a lot. I would never go to see a movie just
because someone was in it, but the closest person I’ve ever had like that is Drew Barrymore. I
would see anything she’s in. I just adore her. I’ve
met her, and I was so star-struck.
Do you feel any responsibility to be a role
model for the young women who look up to you
now?
I’m just a person living my life, but I do understand that some of the characters I play are very
good role models. They’re smart and in possession of their lives, and I do have a lot in common
with them, so I don’t mind being seen as a role
model. But it’s not something that I have ever
aspired to be or courted. I think the second you
say, “I’m a role model, and that’s why I make
the decisions that I make,” you’ve kind of shot
yourself in the foot. A role model is somebody
that does things because of what they believe in,
regardless of what other people think.”
What has surprised you most about your
career so far?
I’m genuinely surprised that I keep getting
asked back.
Why?
Well, because I’m an actor, so I’m horrifically insecure. (Laughs). All of this has been a
surprise! When I was 14 years old and dreaming
of being an actress in New Jersey, I didn’t know
this was how it was done. I didn’t know this was
possible. My idea of being an actor was understudying the lead in a Broadway show, having
student loans, living with five other dancers and
waitressing on the side. That was my understanding of what an actress was and, for a lot of
people, that’s what being an actress is. So right
now I’m existing in a stratosphere that I find very
surprising.
The events of this past year have thrust you into
the eye of the tabloid media. How do you deal
with the paparazzi?
Honestly life is so much bigger than paparazzi
attention. It comes and it goes, and when it’s big
it’s sort of annoying. When it’s not there I don’t
DIRECTOR JONATHAN DEMME, ON WHAT
MAKES ANNE HATHAWAY SPECIAL:
“However old she was when she made The Princess Diaries, she could free herself
from the intimidation of working with Julie Andrews and being in some big movie
when she’d never done anything like that. Yet there she was, in the moment! She’s got
that creative thing, whatever it is, that consumes the people who really want it. She’s
got that gift of total immersion in the part, and that’s what enabled her to hold her
own as a teenager with Julie Andrews. She’s also extremely bright, knows so much
and is always questioning to learn more. She’s as big-hearted as she seems to be, and
that’s a tremendous resource. And I’m not a surface person– I think everybody looks
great– but there’s just something about her look that I just love!”
miss it, but there is so much else going on, it’s
not really worth thinking about it.
You became famous when you were just 19
years old. What keeps you grounded?
Gravity. (Laughs) I’d like to think part of it
is just me not being a [jerk]. But I have to give
my family credit. I come from salt-of-the-earth
people. Their lives haven’t changed since their
daughter, or niece, or cousin became a wellknown actress, and they still go about their own
routines. I want to be a source of surprise for
them, not a source of shame. So that’s a big part
of it. But I’m still just 26, so mistakes can still
come.
Can you talk about some of the directors you’ve
worked with?
Garry Marshall was the best first director to
have. He’s kind of like a grandfather to me now.
He was so loving, and saw the very raw talent in
me, and edited [The Princess Diaries] together
so I came across as a much more polished
actress than I was at the time. Flash forward to
Ang Lee (Brokeback Mountain). I never really
talk about this, but it was difficult for many
years to think, have I peaked? Am I only going
to be the girl from The Princess Diaries? Then
Ang Lee said, “Yes, I see you as something else.”
That was not only amazing for me to develop as
an actress, but just psychologically, for my ego.
David Frankel (The Devil Wears Prada) helped
me come off as a woman. And as much as I love
everyone I’ve worked with, I have never trusted
anyone as much as I trust Jonathan Demme, so
I’m really excited for where I’m going to go with
Rachel Getting Married.
Your role in Rachel Getting Married was
shocking to some people because it was such a
different type of role from what they’ve come
to expect from you. Did you take on that role
intending to change people’s perceptions of you
as the “princess”?
No, I’ve been saying since The Princess Diaries
came out that I was not going to do any performances in reaction to it. I don’t perceive myself
in that way, even though I understand that that
I THOUGHT IF I
COULD JUST SING
ON BROADWAY,
I’D BE A SUCCESS,
AND I’VE ACTUALLY
GOTTEN TO DO
THAT. BUT I DIDN’T
KNOW THINGS LIKE
THE TORONTO FILM
FESTIVAL AND
MOVIE PREMIERES
IN 3,000-SEAT
THEATERS
EXISTED, AND I
DIDN’T IMAGINE
I’D GET TO TELL
ALL THESE GREAT
STORIES.
may be how other people perceive me. I don’t
think of myself as a celebrity, I think of myself
as an actress, so it’s always been about finding
interesting material. I knew eventually I would
find a story that would really put the tiara on the
shelf for everyone else, because it’s been on the
shelf for me ever since I made the first Princess
Diaries.
The film had a very naturalistic style, almost
like watching a dysfunctional family’s private
home videos. Did that impact the way you approached your performance?
I didn’t approach the creation and study and
absorption of the character in any different way,
because my process has always been fairly fluid,
but similar from film to film. I’ve always relied
primarily on instinct, combined with tons and
tons of research. But for Rachel Getting Married
I did let go of the idea that I any say as a filmmaker. Sometimes when a director comes over
and says, “OK, we’re gonna do this shot and this
shot,” you try to help the director out by saving
your best stuff for the close-up or whatever. You
start editing the movie in your head, which you
shouldn’t do, but I’m a reformed people-pleaser.
(Laughs) With that film, not knowing where the
camera was gonna be freed me to just be the
character. It was incredibly liberating, and it
changed my approach to acting.
What was it like going from an intimate project
like Rachel to a big Hollywood film such as
Bride Wars?
It was kinda fun, because it’s about a good girl
having an identity crisis. It’s another wedding
film. Oh my god, I have turned 25! (Laughs) But
I took the same level of comfort with just focusing on the character to that film, and I found
that I enjoyed that experience a lot as a result. It
made my performance better than some of my
other commercial films, and it taught me that I
need to trust my directors more.
Is there any fear that you might become overexposed?
I don’t know. I’m a middle class girl from New
Jersey who stared at the lights of Manhattan
and dreamed about being on Broadway. I would
go up on these hilltops and look out to see the
city lights– this was before Manhattan became
an outdoor mall– and I had this idea that I was
gonna be this fantastic bohemian surrounded
by all these fabulous gay friends. So it doesn’t
occur to me yet that I have the right to become
over-saturated. I feel like I’m lucky to work, and
I don’t know if Rachel Getting Married was the
start of a new phase in my life, whether it will
change or spoil me in any way. But I do know
that there are interesting filmmakers out there
who are making movies in an interesting way,
and I don’t like to speculate on the future in any
way… especially when it comes to turning down
work! (Laughs)
How does the reality of your life now compare
to those dreams you had when you looked out
over New York City?
I thought if I could just sing on Broadway,
I’d be a success, and I’ve actually gotten to do
that. But I didn’t know things like the Toronto
Film Festival and movie premieres in 3,000-seat
theaters existed, and I didn’t imagine I’d get to
tell all these great stories. It’s cool, because right
now it feels like I’m getting back to the basics of
the dream, which was to tell good stories. That’s
what I wanted as a young girl, even if I didn’t
think about it in those terms. Now that my terms
are clearly defined, it’s like, OK, now I can begin.
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MUSIC INTERVIEW
No More “Workin’ For The Man”
The Toadies Go The Indie Route
BY JOHN B. MOORE
T
HANKS TO HEAVY LABEL
interference, fans of Dallas alt-rock
band The Toadies had to wait seven
long years for the follow-up to their popular debut, Rubberneck. With another seven
years between their sophomore record and
No Deliverance, their recently released third
CD, Toadies fans are learning a bit about
patience.
In the years since their last record, the
band imploded, formed other groups and
eventually reunited, adding a new member
along the way. Singer/guitarist Vaden Todd
Lewis, drummer Mark Reznicek and guitarist
Clark Vogeler– all original members– spoke
with us recently about the new record, label
woes and their plans for the future.
So what made you guys decide to reform?
Lewis: Seemed like the right time. I was
looking at quite a bit of down time
since the Burden Brothers were
taking a break. I started writing and
pretty soon I started hearing songs
that were distinctly “Toadies”.
ond album. Was it because of problems with
the label or within the band?
Vogeler: We spent endless hours in our
rehearsal space starting in ’96, writing and
rehearsing songs for the follow-up to Rubberneck. Interscope slowed us down at every
chance. We were ready to release our second
album in 1998, but at the label’s insistence,
we spent another two years writing more
songs because they “didn’t hear a single” in
the first batch. In 2001, Interscope finally
released Hell Below/Stars Above to an audience that had largely moved on. It was seven
years between albums, even though the band
was working hard the whole time. All-in-all,
a very frustrating time for everyone in the
band.
You released the new album on Dallasbased Kirtland Records. Is working with
an indie label that much different than
Interscope?
Reznicek: Yes. Interscope seemed to
meddle with all aspects of our business, for
example telling us which songs to record,
what sort of songs to write, etc. On the other
hand, Kirtland understands that if given the
freedom to do so, the Toadies will deliver an
album of quality music that we feel passionately for. In other words, they allow us to do
what we do best. Also, we seem to get paid in
a more timely fashion, and have a hands-on
approach to all aspects of the business. It
seems like more of an equal partnership now,
rather than “workin’ for the Man”.
When did you start working on the songs
IF GIVEN THE FREEDOM TO DO SO, THE TOADIES WILL DELIVER AN
ALBUM OF QUALITY MUSIC THAT WE FEEL PASSIONATELY FOR.
that make up No Deliverance?
Lewis: August of ‘07.
And you’ve got a new bassist this time
around . How did you meet Doni Blair (who
replaced Lisa Umbarger on bass)?
Vogeler: We’d known Doni from his years
in another Dallas band that we all knew,
Hagfish. He’s a great guy and a super bass
player, so when we auditioned a dozen or so
guys, it was clear that Doni was the guy to
get. He’s awesome, and he quickly became
one of the family.
Most of you were involved in other bands
and side projects over the last few years
(Eleven Hundred Springs, Burden Brothers,
etc.) Are you all still involved with those
other bands?
Reznicek: I tried for awhile to do both
bands, but the scheduling became too hectic,
so I left Eleven Hundred Springs in May of
this year. But I still keep in touch with those
guys and follow their progress, and when I
have the chance I still go and see their shows.
I’m still their biggest fan. So in that
regard, I am still involved.
What’s next for the Toadies?
Reznicek: More touring though
the rest of the year at least. There
has been talk of other possible
projects in the future - archival
releases, DVDs, overseas touring,
etc. - but all that is still in the talking and planning stages. For now,
we plan to work our asses off in
support of the new record.
Is this a one-off reunion or are the
Toadies back to stay?
Lewis: We’ll see. We’re planning
on working this record until it’s
time to do something else.
It took a while to release your sec-
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MUSIC INTERVIEW
Battle of the Sexist
Jean Grae spits better than most dudes.
Jeanius is just further proof.
BY DEMARCO WILLIAMS
together. Are you a part of that show?
I am not. Sounds like a really good show there.
I would love to be involved in that. Didn’t know
about that.
J
EAN GRAE AND I ARE ON THE PHONE,
just chopping it up about her loving Obama,
cooking breakfast and beefing with Talib Kweli,
the head of the Wordsmith imprint she records on.
All of a sudden, there’s a knock at my door. Damn.
Hold on, Jean.
“DeMarco, who is it,” asks the super-gifted and
super-silly MC. It’s the post lady and her timing
couldn’t have been worst. “Oh, the post lady had
a box for you. It sounds suspiciously like you were
having some things delivered to your house that
you don’t wanna talk about. Sure, DeMarco, sure. I
believe you.”
Well, believe this: The New Yorker’s new album
Jeanius, a collaborative effort with soul-fixated
producer 9th Wonder, is out and it’s hella good. We’ll
forgive you if you haven’t heard it yet. There are
no excuses, however, for discounting the following
interview as just another soapbox for a disgruntled
female rapper waiting for opportunity to knock at the
front door.
Well, you and Kweli have a good relationship,
right? What kind of role does he play in your
career?
Umm, we’re a bit at odds right now, I guess,
with the situation at the label and how things,
time-wise, should have gone. So, I’m not quite
sure where everything stands right now. I’m not
taking away anything that he has contributed to
hip hop in general. Or the fact he [signed me]
when no one else would look in my direction
and say, “We’re willing to take a chance on signing you.” He was definitely very open to that. I
don’t want to frown upon that at all. It’s really to
have someone, as you look back, and say, “Hey,
we didn’t forget about you.”
How has the response been thus far for Jeanius?
You know what? I didn’t go in it, reading reviews
until a week ago. I was kinda just tryin’ something
new and steppin’ away from [the media]. It seems to
be going well. That’s good. Nobody has been like, “It
sucks!” So, that’s good. I enjoy that.
That’s probably because it doesn’t suck.
Thank you. It’s old music for us. And it’s old music
for people who actually had it already. There are
certain albums I don’t listen to for a couple of years,
and then kind of go back and see that it was a good
snapshot of where I was. You always hear something
different that I may have missed. Everything was
done so quickly and written so quickly that I get
to pick on certain parts of music or certain rhyme
schemes that I didn’t necessarily notice then.
So, Jeanius was recorded a while ago?
Four, almost five years ago.
That’s a testament to your skills. The record still
comes off fresh.
Yeah, I mean, timeless music is important. Longevity
includes making timeless music.
Vibe’s August issue had this NCAA-style tournament where they asked readers to pick out the best
rappers from a bracket of 64. Of course, only three or
four women made it. Do things like that bother you
anymore?
No, no. You know what? I was never really bothered
by it until people actually brought it up. I never really
noticed. I just rhymed. They were like, “Hey, you have
titties and you rhymed!” I was like, “Oh, wow. Thank you. I
kinda already knew that.” No, it’s sort of an accepted thing. I
try to move past it. I’m happy that I can be included in conversations with my top MCs in general. Breaking that kind of
boundary made me want to do this a lot.
Your lyrics speak like someone who stays abreast on politics
and current events. Am I safe in that assumption?
Yeah, I like to be aware of things. Reading words is good.
Sort of a lost art.
How much energy are you putting into McCain and
Obama?
It’s the first election where I’ve been able to pay attention.
Obama is just a really good, captivating speaker. I think a
lot of our generation has become more involved than we
normally would have- not necessarily because it’s a black
candidate but because it’s an amazing candidate. He’s incred-
I NEVER REALLY NOTICED. I JUST RHYMED. THEY
WERE LIKE, “HEY, YOU HAVE TITTIES AND YOU
RHYMED!” I WAS LIKE, “OH, WOW. THANK YOU. I
KINDA ALREADY KNEW THAT...” I’M HAPPY THAT
I CAN BE INCLUDED IN CONVERSATIONS WITH MY
TOP MCS IN GENERAL. BREAKING THAT KIND OF
BOUNDARY MADE ME WANT TO DO THIS A LOT.
ibly relatable. Sometimes I wish I had those kind of answers
to questions [like he does]. He’s so amazingly quick and
wonderful. People are talking about how there’s a difference
between being a politician and a statesman. I think that’s
very evident this time.
Nas and Kanye have been quite vocal about the political
precedings. Do you see hip hop and politics going beyond an
every-four-year fad?
I hope so for people with the ability to have a louder voice.
I hope they take some responsibility for their community,
in general, going beyond the presidential candidates. It can
be your community. It can be your block, your building. Just
taking some kind of responsibility for what it is. I don’t want
it to be a fad. But I’m not necessarily mad at it if that’s the
way it has to happen. Whatever way necessary to open conversations between people is great.
Speaking of Nas, he and Talib Kweli have been touring
What are you most proud of with this album?
It was recorded at a very interesting time.
I was pretty much not doing what I was going to do. 9th and I had met. I just came off
the Okay Player tour. We worked on one song,
“Don’t Rush Me,” that was actually off my This
Week album. After we did one song, we enjoyed
working together so much that we [wanted to
go] back and do an EP. We went back to do the
EP and said, “Who are we kidding? Let’s just do
the whole album.” It may sound corny, but there
was just a whole bunch of magic around at the
time. Four and a half days [we recorded]. We
took a whole lot of Vivarin. It was pretty much,
he played a beat, I wrote, he recorded and we
moved to the next one. We really tried to sequence and make a cohesive album. That’s kinda
been lost, too. It wasn’t, “Hey, this is the club
song. This is the song about the dude. This is the
song about my momma.” It was really like, “This
is No. 6. This is No. 2. This is No. 12.” Having
the kind of chemistry to work that quickly and
this being the first time working together and
getting it done and being on the same page was
magical. Is that gay? Sounds kinda gay. It’s a gay
album, DeMarco.
Speaking of magic, a friend and I were discussing the magic Nas and DJ Premier once made
together. Who are some of the magical tandems
you can recall?
Biggie and Primo, definitely. RZA and everyone out of Wu Tang. It was so calculated how
different everything would sound for a specific
person. [GZA’s] Liquid Swords doesn’t sound
anyone else’s album. We don’t have that any
more. Buckwild and Big L and Big Pun [was another good
combination]. Havoc and Prodigy [too].
Define success for Jean Grae. Have you attained it?
I’m not sure. I think it changes. There are certain goals that
I set for myself that I’m happy to have achieved. I’m happy to
still be around. Soundscan success and achieving longevity
are two different things. I think I’ve been able to make a good
mark so far. I’d say I’m about 65% of where I really want to go.
What are some of those goals in that 35% that you’re reaching for?
I need that Grammy really bad. And just more options to
be able to play the game in a more mainstream way. I’m definitely not looking for anything to be handed to me or given
away; just the opportunity to be out there so people can
make a choice. If it doesn’t happen now, either I go postal
or stop.
MUSIC INTERVIEW
��
Osaka Popstar Keeps
The Dream Alive
BY JOHN B. MOORE
E
VER WONDER WHAT IT MIGHT SOUND LIKE IF THE
Misfits were jamming with the Ramones and the Voidoids,
fronted by John Cafiero? Exactly like Osaka Popstar.
The brilliant pop-punk supergroup is the brainchild of longtime punk
veteran and film/video director Cafiero, who teamed up with Ramones
drummer Marky Ramone, Misfits bassist Joey Only, Voidoids guitarist
Ivan Julian and Black Flag/Misfits guitarist Dez Cadena in 2006 to start
the band.
As a follow-up to their much-loved debut, Osaka Popstar & the American Legends of Punk, the band has just turned in a 9-song live record,
Rock ‘Em O-Sock ‘Em Live! Cafiero spent some time recently talking to
us about the band’s origins, the visual element of Osaka Popstar, and the
current state of punk-rock.
When you were putting Osaka Popstar together, did you have every
intention of putting out records or
were you just planning on jamming together?
My main intention was records
from the start. The big question was would we tour? And the
answer was yes.
What are your thoughts on the current state of punk?
Well, it will never be what it was in the ‘70s, when I first started to
observe it happening as a kid, but nothing ever is. Sometimes memories
can be a more romanticized version of reality anyway. Overall I think it’s
great to see how “punk” has bubbled over into mainstream pop culture.
I think it’s a sign of the world finally catching up with something ahead
of its time. Sadly, many of those pioneers who were the best in the field
were never really fully appreciated in their careers and, for some, in
their lifetime. The Ramones are a primary example. As a kid I’d actually
get into fights defending the Ramones. I always thought they were the
greatest band in the world. With the deaths
of three founding members (Joey, Dee Dee
and Johnny), the world finally recognized
their brilliance. At times in the early days,
the Ramones were laughed at, while others
followed them with total admiration. Now
they truly are the new Beatles in a sense,
and deservedly so.
Are you hearing any new, younger bands
that impress you?
Yes, Jay Reatard. He has a retro sound,
yet its contemporary at the same time.
Great live performer, great recordings,
great songs, just great stuff in general. I
have yet to hear a bad song. His material is
consistently good and he’s got a total DIY
mentality. I’m really digging his stuff.
WE GOT NEXT
JAKE ONE
Any plans for another CD from Osaka Popstar?
Absolutely. I have a lot of it in my head already and just need time
to hash it out on tape. I’m aiming to have it recorded and out in
2009, but at the very least I’ll be recording in ‘09. I did the first one
sporadically over the course of three years. I juggle lots of projects, all
of which I am proud of and passionate about, so giving things your all
can sometimes take longer than expected. Long story short, yes, you
can count on it.
Judging from the album art, I’m assuming you’re a big anime fan?
Yes, absolutely. I love the look of it, the vibe of it and the fact that in
Japan animation was always looked at as an art form that could be used
to interpret any genre whereas in the US, animation was stereotypically looked at as something just for kids. Don’t get me wrong, I love
the Saturday morning cartoon genre too and have had many a bowl of
Cap’n Crunch and Frankenberry while taking them in, but Japanese
animation opened new doors, broke new ground and in my opinion
illustrates how we ping pong or influence each other culturally. Japanese
animation was bred through Osamu Tezuka who created Astro Boy and
was inspired by Fleischer animation (like Betty Boop - that’s where the
influence of big eyes in Japanese animation first began). In the early 90’s
Japanese animation targeting teen or more adult oriented themes would
star breaking ground in the US. Now hybrids of the two, like Cartoon
Network’s Teen Titans for example, are the cross-polenized results of
artists influencing each other across two continents and that’s just one
of many examples.
What next for you and the guys in the band?
The Misfits continue to tour and are writing a new Misfits album.
Marky continues to tour overseas as Marky Ramone & Friends, and
hosts a weekly radio show on Sirius. Ivan does a lot of studio work, and
I’m always wearing a multitude of hats. Some of the projects I’m currently encompassed in range from producing the studio debut for Juicehead to having the huge honor of managing Johnny Ramone’s estate.
I’ve been developing projects to keep Johnny’s memory alive, as well as
some cool projects for the Ramones that it’s too early to talk about here,
but will start surfacing in the not-too-distant future. I’m also in talks
about an Osaka Popstar video game, and I’m writing and recording the
theme song for the forthcoming Garbage Pail Kids animated series! As
you can see, there’s lots of great stuff happening constantly. I hope you
and you’re readers are digging it!
Artists on the verge
of making it big
Latest Project:
White Van Music (Rhymesayers)
Why You Should Care: Because this Washington native meshes soul and hip hop better than
most cats from the NYC
For Fans of:
DJ Premier, Pete Rock and Just Blaze
BY JOHN B. MOORE
W
HITE VAN MUSIC IS EASILY ONE
of the five best hip hop albums of ’08. Sadly,
the project probably will never see commercial success. Too many things working against it. For
starters, its creator, Jake “Jake One” Dutton, is a laid-back,
headline-avoiding white dude from Seattle. Two, Music,
while stuffed with amazing collabs with the likes of Freeway,
Little Brother and Busta Rhymes, is on a fledgling indie
label, Rhymesayers, that simply doesn’t have the money to
muscle MTV for more press. And three, Jake One is one of
50 Cent’s hush-hush production weapons (Jake’s worked on
50’s solo projects and G-Unit records), so there’s little chance
the rap star will voluntarily let his amazing secret out.
What do you and I need to do to get the masses to hear
White Van Music?
That’s a good question. I think, with the underground in
general, it really is something [that happens] with word-ofmouth. If the word gets out there [it’ll succeed]. It feels like
people in the underground take more ownership of their
records. You have a more personal attachment to the record
in general. Hopefully, we’ll see that. The feedback has been
really good. It’s been pretty crazy.
Why go into an industry that often doesn’t reward the
good product?
You know, it’s funny. When I started doing it, I never
thought I’d be a part of the music industry. I was just doing
it for fun. I had a job up until 2006. So, I kinda looked at it
like a side thing I was doing. It just got to a point where it
was doing so much for me that I had to focus more time on
it. So, I wasn’t one of those guys that would tell you, “Oh,
I’m going to make a million dollars off of rap.” It didn’t really
sound realistic at all.
Seattle or anything. It’s crazy to see your idol come out and
play your record. Then, after that, a remix to song from
Nicole Wray and they just looped my beat. They jacked the
beat. When that happened, I was like, “Damn, this is really
serious.” I was almost kinda flattered by the whole thing.
That was probably the first time I was like, “Damn, I’m really
doing this.”
Tell me about the Washington you remember growing up.
Seattle is just a real chill, mellow place. It’s one of those
places that’s kinda disconnected from the bigger cities,
so we kinda got our own thing going on here. We’re not
necessarily completely influenced by something around us.
We pretty much take everything in. When I was a kid, we
listened to everything from the Bay Area rap to L.A. to all
the New York. I would listen to Gangstarr and E-40 in the
same day. We just have a different perspective on things.
You got a lot of magic happening on White Van Music
with Freeway, Ish from Digable Planets and others. Does
one recording session stand out above the rest?
Actually, the only song I was present for with any of it was
the last record, “Home,” which is a tribute to 90s hip hop in
Seattle. That was really cool. I had come up with the idea of
how I wanted to do it. The chorus is basically all choruses
from old Seattle songs. I basically got guys from that era
that are still doing it, and I just wanted them to speak on the
city and the scene. Ish (who went by Butterfly with Digable
Planets) is from Seattle. I don’t really know him that well,
but we know each other. He’s the pinnacle of Seattle hip
hop. He made two classic albums. He’s from here. He went
to high school here. He won the state [title] in basketball.
Everybody else did, like, a 12-bar verse. He came in and, like,
30 something bars. I was there for that. To me, that was a
magical moment.
Were there any artists or moments that got the wheels
turning in your head that this could be a career for you?
The first thing I did where I was, “Wow, this is real,” was
[when I recorded with] a label out of Seattle called Conception. It was ’97, ’98. I did a song called “World Premiere.”
That record got played everywhere. It was one of those
things where Gangstarr would come to town and they’d
come out to that beat. I don’t think they knew I lived in
So, if you weren’t in the studio with Free and Little Brother
and the others, how did those songs come about?
I would basically send records to people. I’d send, like, five
beats and try to direct them towards the one I wanted them
to do the most. Bishop Lamont’s record with Busta was
done for his album. After a lot of phone calls and begging
–I was like, “I need the record. I need the record.”- he finally
gave it to me. With Little Brother, I sent them stuff for [their
CD] GetBack and my album. They liked the record a lot,
and they were actually thinking about using it on GetBack.
I had a relationship with them for a while. With Freeway’s
record, I didn’t even know Freeway until I reached out to
him to do this record. He ended up taking “It’s Over” for his
album and he did “How We Ride” and “The Truth.” Me and
him have been working a lot. I got a bunch of songs on his
new record. That was definitely a blessing.
And there’s still a G-Unit connection, too, right?
Definitely. Shit, 50 just leaked one of my songs the other
day! That’s still going on. I’m working on stuff for the new
album. That “50 Cent for President” song, I did that beat.
I’ve done so many songs for them, I could have come out
with a mixtape of just G-Unit. It’s kinda crazy ‘cuz I don’t
really have a personal relationship. I don’t claim G-Unit or
anything like that, but for some reason, they just gravitate
towards my music. It’s been a great thing for my career and
I’m definitely appreciative of it.
What do you think it is about your music with them?
You know what, man? I really don’t know. Sha [Money
XL, 50 Cent’s business associate] put me in the position
for them to hear me, but they literally go off of what they
like. The theory that I have is that I just come from the
same era as those guys. 50 is probably about the same age
as me. I have a lot of that sound that he probably grew up
listening to [inside of me]. But I do have a lil’ twist on it
that’s a lil’ more current than something like [Capone ‘n
Noreaga’s] “T.O.N.Y.” Those are the kinds of beats he likes. I
might make something that has that vibe, but it’s 2008. It’ll
bang a lil’ harder and have some bigger sounds to it. I don’t
intentionally do that for them. There have been times it
didn’t’ really work.
O
C
CITY
I
X
E
ALL MOVIES, M
Gourmet
ALL THE TIME
FEATURE
My Marathon
Week at the
Toronto Film
Festival
BY B. LOVE
Y
ou can have your Sundance, your
Cannes, your Venice. For my money,
the world’s finest film festival happens
every September in the Great White North.
I’ve always loved Toronto– the gorgeous
weather (at least until the harsh Canadian
winter rolls around), the gorgeous women, the
cultural awareness of New York City combined
with the cleanliness and friendliness of the
ATL– and TIFF (now in its 33rd year) is, as
one of my fellow journalists described it, “the
film lover’s film festival.” More than 300 films
from all over the world are screened over the
course of 10 days at theaters spread across
downtown Toronto. Add in dozens of press
conferences, press junkets, film premieres and
after-parties, and you have a marathon week
full of fun, stress and fantastic films running
the gamut from low-budget indies looking for
a distributor to Oscar hopefuls from the major
studios.
As such, there were plenty of big-name
Hollywood talents on hand to promote their
latest projects. BRAd PITT and GEORGE
CLOONEY were among the big names there to
promote the Coen brothers’ farce “Burn After
Reading.” RICKY GERVAIS, there to promote
his debut film as a leading man, “Ghost Town,”
managed to outshine his movie and establish
himself as a comedic force to be reckoned
with. Co-star GREG KINNEAR was pulling
double duty, appearing on behalf of his starring
turn in “Flash of Genius,” while the alwaysbusy MARK RUFFALO had three films at the
fest, including “Brothers Bloom” and “What
Doesn’t Kill You.”
Director GUY RITCHIE managed to do
numerous press conferences in support of
his excellent new film, “RocknRolla,” without
getting a single question about his impending
divorce from Madonna. Then again, Canadians
are nothing if not unfailingly polite. SPIKE LEE
didn’t fare quite as well while talking about
his WWII film “Miracle At St. Anna,” fielding
questions about his tiff with grumpy old man
Clint Eastwood. VIGGO MORTENSEN and
RENEE ZELLWEGER (“Appaloosa”), KEIRA
KNIGHTLY (“The Duchess”), KATE BECKINSALE (“Nothing But The Truth”), MATT
DAMON (“The People Speak”), and COLIN
FARRELL and EDWARD NORTON (“Pride &
Glory”) also added their share of Hollywood
shine to the proceedings.
Music was a big part of the festival as well,
with performances by artists such as jazz great
TERENCE BLANCHARD and Senegalese
superstar YOUSSOU N’DOUR (star of “I Bring
What I Love”); CDs in every festival attendee’s
gift bag; and high profile music-centered films
such as MICHAEL CERA’s “Nick & Norah’s
Infinite Playlist” and the documentary “It
Might Get Loud,” which features legends such
as JIMMY PAGE and U2 guitarist THE EDGE.
White Stripes/Raconteurs frontman JACK
WHITE was also in attendance, meeting up
with “Secret Life of Bees” star ALICIA KEYS
later in the day to film the music video for
“Another Way To Die,” their collaborative duet
for this month’s James Bond flick, “Quantum
of Solace.”
Some of the biggest buzz in Toronto was for
films whose stars were years removed from
their days at the top of Hollywood’s A-list.
“JCVD” proved a popular favorite for its hilariously meta story about JEAN-CLAUDE VAN
DAMME (playing himself ) taken hostage in
the middle of a hold-up. Yes, you can call it
comeback. Equally surprising was MICKEY
ROURKE’s dazzling turn in director Darren
Aronofsky’s “The Wrestler,” a gripping drama
centering on retired pro grappler Randy “The
Ram” Robinson as he works his way up through
the indie wrestling circuit in hopes of getting a
showdown with his former rival.
But many of the festival’s finest films had
nothing whatsoever to do with Hollywood.
Canadian stop-motion animated tale “Edison
& Leo” is a twisted fairytale about an inventor’s
son electrified by an experiment gone wrong.
Canuck icon BRUCE MCDONALD’s “Pontypool” proved a unique combination of horror
and comedy that should appeal to fans of
“Shaun of the Dead.” A wimpy, sensitive music
geek who dreams of being a pop star, but winds
up as frontman for a death metal band drives
the story of “Detroit Metal City,” while the
action-packed “Chocolate” follows a young autistic woman (martial arts master JIJA YANIN)
who tried to settle her family’s debts by seeking
out the violent gangs who owe them money.
Of course, the biggest story to emerge from
this year’s festival was ANNE HATHAWAY,
star of Jonathan Demme’s “Rachel Getting
Married.” Though most critics found the film
itself to be somewhat flawed, everyone was
blown away by Hathaway’s Osacar-worthy
performance, and her winning persona during
grueling rounds of interviews, press conferences and premieres made her even more loveable. More than anyone else at this year’s TIFF,
Hathway went in a celebrity and came out a
bona-fide star.
The best part of the Toronto International
Film Festival may be the fact that it gives
common film fans an opportunity to preview
hundreds of films that might otherwise only
be seen by select critics. With free outdoor
screenings in Yonge-Dundas Square and tickets to galas, special presentations and regular
screenings available to the public, virtually any
film fan with disposable income and time on
their hands can get in on the fun. 2008 marked
my first year of attendance, but you can bet it
won’t be my last.
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DIRECTOR INTERVIEW
GUY
RITCHIE
Talks Childhood and
Character Inspirations
BY BRET LOVE
O
NCE CONSIDERED BRITAIN’S ANSWER
to Quentin Tarantino thanks to the intense
action and expletive-laced dialogue of early films
such as Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch,
in recent years Guy Ritchie’s career as a writer-director
has largely existed in the shadows of his high-profile, now
former marriage to Madonna. So it was refreshing to see
the 40-year-old auteur take some time out of his busy
schedule to discuss his childhood in Hertfordshire and his
inspirations for his characters.
Your films have a very hard-knock attitude. Was that
your life growing up?
(Laughs) No, I come from a simple middle class family
from Hertfordshire. My father was an advertising executive,
my mother was a housewife. We weren’t short of money,
but we weren’t flush with it either. But I certainly never
suffered financially. I wasn’t brought up in a criminal
environment.
So where did your fascination with these dark characters
originate?
Spending years growing up in London, you’re introduced
to the underbelly of polite society at
some stage or another. I was always
caught by the size of their personalities, and how their stories were
always so big and bold. They were
like a film already in the making.
Where do you find inspiration for
your rough ‘n’ tumble characters?
What’s great about the UK from
a filmmaker’s perspective is the
class system, because it’s so cosmopolitan that you end up getting
these intriguing subcultures. These subcultures were largely
unexposed previously in the UK, so I just felt they HAD to
be filmed. They’re not as fictitious as they may seem.
Do real-life gangsters ever approach you?
Yes. After Lock Stock was released I kept having guys
come up to me wanting me to put them in my films. I went
to a football match and ended up sitting next to a bloke
who starts telling me that a pig farm was the most effective
way to dispose of bodies which I used in Snatch.
What inspired you to return to the criminal underworld
for RocknRolla?
England’s changed so much in the last 15-20 years, and
the world of crime has consequently changed. So part of
the movie is about old school gangsters getting pushed out
by the new school.
What social commentary do you think the film makes
about England?
England no longer has the identity we previously understood it to have. It’s become international, like New York.
So the commentary is about how cultural identities have
shifted. New York and London now are so much more
similar than they used to be.
You’re moving from this to your Sherlock Holmes project
with Robert Downey Jr. How different will that film be
from your previous work?
That is clearly going to be in a
different genre, so it’s going to be
very contemporary. I suppose
originally Sherlock Holmes was
this intellectual action man, and
I think what happened was they
played down the action man aspect because they just didn’t have
the means of executing the action
in interesting ways. Now we do
have the means and we have the
technology, so we’re just riding on
the back of that.
DINING
17 Metro Locations
www.jchristophers.com
Atlanta’s original burrito chain. Willy’s award
winning signature California-style burritos
keep the concept of freshness true.
BEST BAGELS
Goldberg’s
BEST CARRY-OUT
Doc Chey’s
5 Area Locations
www.goldbergsdeli.net
The place to go for all your traditional breakfast favorites. Go for their signature dish Eggs
Benedict or try one of their original omelettes
and fluffy pancakes.
BEST BRUNCH
The Flying Biscuit
Twenty-five varieties baked fresh daily.
BEST BARBECUE
Dreamland
Buckhead 404-816-3152 Midtown 404-874-8887
Decatur 404-687-8888 Terminus 404-477-0013
East Cobb 770-321-4445 www.flyingbiscuit.com
Multiple Area Locations
www.tacomac.com
3652 Roswell Rd. & other locations
404-816-9090 Landmarkdiner.com
1556 N. Decatur Rd. 4-378-8188
1424 N. Highland Ave. 404-888-0777
www.doccheys.com
A landmark of good eats, 24 hours a day.
When you crave a 2 a.m. breakfast or an
8 a.m. steak, the food at Landmark Diner
will hit the spot.
The original pan-asian noodle house in
Atlanta. Menu includes dim sum, salad bowls,
soup bowls, noodle bowls and rice plates.
Easy menu, quick service and affordable pricing make Doc Chey’s a carry-out favorite.
BEST GREEK
Athens Pizza House
1341 Clairmont Rd. 404-636-1100
www.athenspizzaatlanta.com
3887 Peachtree Rd. 404-816-2229
and other locations
www.chinchinonline.com
One of Atlanta’s favorite home-grown gems
has five metro locations and more on the way.
Known for their mouthwatering biscuits and
original and affordable menu items.
BEST BAR FOOD
Taco Mac
BEST DINER
Landmark
BEST CHINESE
Chin Chin
10730 Alpharetta Hwy. Roswell
678-352-7999 dreamlandbbq.com
Ain’t nothing like them, nowhere! Dreamland
is currently celebrating their 50th Anniversary. Their legendary ribs go back to 1958 in
Tuscaloosa, AL. The Roswell store opended
in January 2000 and goes through 22 tons of
hickory wood every ten days!
15 Area Locations
Catering 404-422-7107 www.willys.com
BEST BURGER
Tap
1180 Peachtree St. 404-347-2220
www.tap1180.com
Home of the Pub Burger; served to perfection
on an English Muffin.
From crab rangoons to cashew chicken, Chin
Chin offers fine dining that won’t break the
bank. This Chinese chain offers several locations around Metro Atlanta, each with the
same great flavor, healthy portions and elegant décor. Perennial Best Of winner.
Originally opened in the summer of 1977 by
the Papadopoulos family, Athens Pizza is still
serving the same delicious Greek recipes their
customers have come to expect.
BEST DELI
Goldberg’s
BEST ICE CREAM
Jake’s Ice Cream
5 Area Locations
www.goldbergsdeli.net
BEST BURRITO
Willy’s
Irwin St. Market 678-705-7277
Ansley Mall 404-541-9124
2144 N. Decatur Road
www.jakesicecream.com
With inviting interiors that encourage you to
relax and stay awhile, Jake’s is not your average
ice cream shop. Flavors like “Chocolate Slap
Great menu selection with plenty of beers on
tap to enjoy while watching the latest game.
BEST BREAKFAST
J. Christopher’s
Here you will find authentic kosher meats and
dishes. All Goldberg’s locations offer full
dine-in seating.
Yo Mama”, “Elvis Peppa-choca-mint Peppermint” and “Just Jake” prove it.
BEST INEXPENSIVE
RESTAURANT
Eats
Mediterranean Grill
N. Decatur Plaza 404-320-0101
Midtown (10th & Monroe) 404-917-1100
www.mediterraneangrill.com
BEST NOODLE BOWL
Doc Chey’s
1556 N. Decatur Rd. 4-378-8188
1424 N. Highland Ave. 404-888-0777
www.doccheys.com
BEST RIBS
Fat Matt’s
1811 Piedmont Ave. 404-607-1622
www.fatmattsribshack.com
600 Ponce de Leon Ave.
404-876-6161
Authentic regional dishes like gyros, falafel and
kabob sandwiches made to perfection. Also try
their fall off the bone lamb shank.
For 16 years people have been heading down to
Ponce to experience their great jerk chicken and
pasta dishes. Over all this time they have maintained the great quality of their food and kept
their prices low.
BEST MEXICAN
Mexico City Gourmet
2134 N. Decatur Rd. 404-634-1128
www.mexicocitygourmet.com
The original pan-asian noodle house in Atlanta.
Menu includes dim sum, salad bowls, soup
bowls, noodle bowls and rice plates. Best Spicy
Thai Basil Noodle Bowl in the city!
BEST PIZZA
Johnny’s Pizza
Multiple Locations
www.JohnnysPizza.com
BEST ITALIAN
Sotto Sotto
BEST MEAL DEAL
The Real Chow Baby
1016 Howell Mill Rd. 404-815-4900
One Galleria Pkwy. 770-405-2464
www.therealchowbaby.com
With unlimited trips at $7.99 for Lunch and
$11.99 for dinner, how can you go wrong?
BEST MEDITERRANEAN
BEST SEAFOOD
Legal Seafoods
275 Baker St. 678-500-3700
www.legalseafoods.com
Atlanta’s newest downtown restaurant features
a Oyster Bar, a street level cocktail lounge, and
freshly shucked shellfish. The upper level has a
balcony style patio, open kitchen and full service bar. Enjoy gorgeous views of the downtown
skyline and the freshest seafood flown in daily.
313 N. Highland Ave. 404-523-6678
www.sottosottorestaurant.com
Great starters like the cured sashimi tuna (Bresaola di Tunno) to main dishes like the oak roasted veal chop (Costoletta di Vitello), keeps this
highlands bungalo packed in.
Featuring finger-licking-good smoked meat and
tangy sauce. Eat ribs by the slab, half-slab, as a
combo or on a sandwich and listen to local
blues bands in this friendly honky-tonk.
For 25 years Mexico City Gourmet has been
serving award winning cuisine to the Emory /
Decatur area. they have built a loyal followintg
with their authentic Mexican dishes.
BEST NEW RESTAURANT
Stella
563 Memorial Dr. 404-688-4238
www.StellaAtlanta.com
Overlooking the historic Oakland Cemetery,
this neighborhood trattoria shows a lot of life!
Their rustic Italian menu includes hand-tossed
pizzas, made-from-scratch pasta sauces, and
other affordable menu options making it a popular choice in a difficult economy.
When their first location opened in East Point
back in 1977, it was an instant success. There
are now 65 Johnny’s Pizza restaurants. The
secret to their success is in the preparation.
They alwys have used the finest ingredients
accompanied with friendly service that keeps
customers coming back.
BEST DEEP DISH PIZZA
Chicago’s Nancy’s
BEST SUB SANDWICH
Baldinos Giant Jersey Subs
80 Powers Ferry Rd. 770-321-1177
5697 Buford Hwy. 770-455-8570
Since 1975, Baldino’s Giant Jersey Subs has
been recognized as the only true New Jersey
Style submarine in the South. When you eat a
Baldino’s sub, you know the difference.
265 Ponce De Leon 404-885-9199
www.TheBestPizzainAtlanta.com
Chicagoland pizzerias have been serving up
authentic deep dish pizza for years. Atlanta
now has their own.
“Aint Nothing like ‘em Nowhere”
Catering
Available
Mon – Sat.
10AM – 10PM
Sunday
11AM – 9PM
NOVEMBER SPECIALS
www.baldinos.us
Monday – Baldinos Extra Special (#7)
Tuesday – Like it Hot? Grilled & Toasted The HOT Italian
Wednesday – Ham it Up - (#5) Boiled Ham & Cheese w/ soup or side
Thursday – “Check Out Our New Chicken Breast” Try #21
Friday – Meatless Combo - Tuna (#10) or Veg Stir Fry (#27) w/ side
Saturday – Steak Out- A-Steak Sub Your Choice (#11,13, or 19)
Sunday – American Special - (#14) w/ choice of soup or side
$3.49
All Day!
Marietta
Doraville
80 Powers Ferry Rd 5697 Buford Hwy.
770-321-1177
770-455-8570
Voted Best
Barbecue in
Atlanta!
10730 Alpharetta Hwy. | Roswell, GA 30076 | 678-352-7999
VOTED BEST SUBS IN ATLANTA
Atlanta’s Best Tapas Restaurant
OPEN FOR LUNCH!
4505 Ashford Dunwoody Rd. 678.205.5862
764 Miami Circle 404.846.0449
www.eclipsediluna.com
BEST SOUTHWESTERN
Agave
in south buckhead and Sandy Springs has
become a staple for those carnivore adverse.
You can also find great vegan desserts here.
242 Boulevard S.E.404-588-0006
www.agaverestaurant.com
BEST WINGS
Taco Mac
Multiple Area locations
Catering 404-642-3442 www.tacomac.com
Agave’s unique blend of eclectic southwestern
cuisine, extensive tequila bar and wine list coupled with exceptional service makes this one of
Atlanta’s top resturants. They are the recipient
of numerous awards from various publications
for their cuisine and great margaritas.
BEST TAPAS
Eclipse di Luna
4505 Ashford Dunwoody Rd. 678-205-5862
764 Miami Circle 404-846-0449
www.eclipsediluna.com
When it comes to wings, the mantra at Taco
Mac is “We did ‘em first and we still do ‘em
best!” Taco Mac brought the southeast its first
taste of Buffalo Style Chicken Wings back in
1979. Their wings immediately had people talking and since then, they have consistently won
awards for Taco Mac. Original Virginia Highlands location shown.
Breakfast, Brunch & Lunch
THE BEST
BREAKFAST IN
TOWN IS AT
J. CHRISTOPHER’S!
BEST JAPANESE
Nakato
1776 Cheshire Bridge Rd. 404-873-6582
www.nakatorestaurant.com
Upon opening in 1997, Eclipse di Luna set the
trend in Tapas style restaurants in Atlanta.
With over two dozen Tapas to choose from,
there is something to please any taste.
BEST VEGETARIAN
Cafe’ Sunflower
Nakato offers a Teppan “Hibachi” dining room
featuring large teppan grills at which a personal
chef cooks for the entire table. The chef’s skills
in preparation are on display almost as much as
the food. The cuisine is authentic Japanese.
BEST LOOKING WAITSTAFF
The Tavern at Phipps
3500
COMEPeachtree
FOR THE FOOD -Rd.
STAY 404-814-9640
FOR THE SCENERY
2140 Peachtree Rd. 404-352-8859
5975 Roswell Rd. 404-256-1675
A vegetarian’s delight. Cafe Sunflower located
17 LOCATIONS!
MIDTOWN
950 West Peachtree St.
404.917.1790
BUCKHEAD
3050 Peachtree Rd
404.917.0350
3500 PEACHTREE ROAD • PHIPPS PLAZA • BUCKHEAD • 404.814.9640
www.TheTavernAtPhipps.com
DECATUR
250 E. Ponce De
Leon Ave
404.378.2662
PONCE DE LEON
774 Ponce De Leon Ave
404.892.6262
GO TO WEBSITE
FOR OTHER AREA
LOCATIONS
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New Location! MIDTOWN
COMING SOON
BROOKHAVEN
7 Days a Week from
7am–2pm
www.jchristophers.com
NOW OPEN!
404-917-1100
(10th and Monroe)
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NIGHTLIFE
BEST COCKTAILS
Moondog’s
3179 Peachtree Rd. 404-231-2401
BEST HAPPY HOUR
3500 Peachtree Rd. 404-814-9640
BEST BEER SELECTION
Taco Mac
BEST BLUES CLUB
Northside Tavern
1058 Howell Mill Rd. 404-874-8745
1044 Greenwood Ave. 404-892-0552
www.pozolerestaurant.com
This Virginia Highland’s favorite offers over 50
different tequilas. Here you will find the Perfect
Margarita served poured over shaved ice (a
Pozole’ original). Find other originals like Pomegranate and Jalapeno Margaritas.
Multiple locations www.tacomac.com
With over 200 bottled beers and up to 100 beers
on tap, Taco Mac has the largest beer selection
in the city. People come to try beers they never
heard of before and wash them down with their
great wings.
BEST MARGARITA
Pozole’
Strong drinks, loud music and a fun loving
crowd makes for a lively atmosphere.
BEST COUNTRY HALL
Wild Bills
2075 Market St. Duluth
678-473-1000
www.wildbillsatlanta.com
The city’s hottest spot for cool cocktails after
work. The Tavern is also home to the Best
Martini and Best Looking Waitstaff.
BEST LOCAL MUSIC
Smith’s Olde Bar
1578 Piedmont Ave. 404-875-1522
www.smithsoldebar.com
BEST MARTINI
3500 Peachtree Rd. 404-814-9640
Whether you like’em dry or with a twist, you
can’t go wrong as Tavern martinis are made by
Atlanta’s best bartenders. Have one while sitting down for dinner with a steak or out on the
patio for Happy Hour.
BEST MUSIC VENUE INDOOR
Variety Playhouse
1099 Euclid Ave. 404-524-7354
www.variety-playhouse.com
Bringing great blues to the westside. A Wonderfully rhythmic sound emanates from this
popular tavern at night. Here you will find all
sorts of people with one thing in common; their
love for the blues.
BEST COLLEGE BAR
Maggies
2937 N. Druid Hills Rd. 404-636-5300
Maggies is so popular among Emory students,
that the campus sponsored a shuttle to and
from to discourage the students from driving.
BEST COMEDY / IMPROV
Whole World Theatre
1216 Spring St. 404-817-7529
www.wholeworldtheatre.com
Laugh out loud comedy sketches nightly.
With a capacity of over 5,000, they can show
you a good time. Wild Bill's is located just off of
I-85 on Pleasant Hill Rd, in front of Gwinnett
Place Mall.
BEST DANCE PARTY
Hole in the Wall
3179 Peachtree Rd. 404-233-9801
The dance floor has
been bump’in at
Hole in the Wall this
year and Insite readers have come to
notice. A great
place to head to at
the end of the night.
Original live music seven nights a week. The
music venue is located upstairs from the bar and
offers an intimate setting that is a favorite among
Atlantans. Here you will find national acts as
well as local artists during the week.
BEST LOUNGE
Eastside Lounge
485a Flat Shoals Ave. 404-521-9666
www.eastsidelounge.net
Sleek and modern, warm and inviting. Eastside
Lounge’s decor and mood captures the attention
off all who relax by the dark red walls, giant
paintings and eclectic video projections. They
have an wide selection of wine, liquor and beer.
Great seating, unobstructed views and eclectic
acts are hallmarks of this Little Five landmark.
BEST MUSIC VENUE OUTDOOR
Lakewood Amphitheatre
2002 Lakewood Way
404-443-5000 www.livenation.com
Atlanta’s largest and premier dedicated concert
venue. Advanced lighting and clear unrescricted sightlines make this the favorite summer
concert site for the avid music fan.
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Best
Health
Food
Store
Best
Organic
Selection
404.320.EDEN (3336)
Return2eden.com | We Ship Anywhere!
2335 Cheshire Bridge Rd | Atlanta, GA 30324
At the corner of Lavista and Cheshire Bridge
WINNER BEST
CONSIGNMENT
STORE
SELL US YOUR TRENDY CLOTHES
LITTLE FIVE
SANDY SPRINGS
POINTS
(404) 255-5578 (404) 523-0100
PSYCHOSISTERSSHOPS.COM
PSYCHO-SISTERS.COM
CARTERSVILLE
(770) 607-0888
90’S GOTHIC
and state of the art ventalation system, Highland Cigar is unmatched among afficionados in
Atlanta.
BEST MICRO BREWS
Taco Mac
Multiple Area locations
Catering 404-642-3442 www.tacomac.com
looking to burst onto the national scene. Views
of the stage are unubstructed from any of their
many bar stations. Some acts appearing here in
November include Grayson Hill, Wrong Way
and Reckless.
With over 200 bottled beers and up to 100 beers
on tap, Taco Mac has the largest selection of
micro brews in the city.
BEST NEIGHBORHOOD BAR
Atkins Park Tavern
794 N. Highland Ave. 404-876-7249
Serving the historic neighborhood of Virginia
Highlands, Atkins Park has been serving up
great food and drink since 1922. It holds the
title of the longest continuously licensed tavern
in Atlanta.
BEST NIGHTCLUB
Opera
1150 Peachtree St. 404-872-1150
www.operaatlanta.com
Housed in a former 1920's theater, Opera is the
place to find the pulse of Atlanta's Midtown
nightlife. With a multi level main area at a
capacity of 1800 and a large outdoor cabana
patio, Opera packs in the crowds and keeps
them dancing.
BEST PATIO
Front Page News
351 Moreland Ave. 404-475-7777
1104 Cresent Ave. 404-897-3500
www.FrontPageAtlanta.com
BEST ROCK CLUB
The Earl
488 Flat Shoals Rd. 404-522-3950
www.badearl.com
An East Atlanta institution for great live music.
Anything and everything goes on here. National acts and the best of the emerging Atlanta
music scene grace the stage nightly.
BEST POOL HALL
Twains
211 Trinity Pl 404-373-0063
www.twains.net
This Decatur establishment has been winning
over billiards fans with there multiple tables
and laid back pub atmosphere since 1996. With
a wide selection of beers on draught, people
flock here for the drinks as much as the pool.
BEST PUB
Fado’ Irish Pub
300 Marietta St. 404-885-1472
www.statsatl.com
With the resurgence of downtown and the
much improved Falcons and Hawks, Stats is the
place to be during game days. Self-pouring taps
at your table should be patented.
BEST TEXAS HOLD’EM
Moondog’s
3179 Peachtree Rd. 404-231-2401
Moondog’s features Texas Hold’em on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights. You will
find a wide range of skill levels to play with.
There are plenty of rooms to wander offering
pool tables, dart boards, and rock’in music.
RETAIL
BEST SMALL
MUSIC VENUE
The Peachtree Tavern
3179 Peachtree Rd. 404-842-1700
www.peachtreetavern.com
Here you will find a great collection of local
artists, cover bands and up and coming acts
An out of the ordinary name for a unique boutique. From fun to funky, wacky to wild, Psycho
Sisters is the queen of consignment. Featured
threads include Levis, Diesel, costumes,
footwear and plenty of bling!
BEST VINTAGE CLOTHING
Junkman’s Daughter
464 Moreland Ave. 404-577-3188
An Atlanta favorite for those into the erotic.
Thousands of videos, dvd’s, adult toys, condoms, candles and novelties to meet whatever
your desire.
Little Five Point’s favorite and largest store.
Here you will find eclectic and unique clothing
that has made the area a most stop shopping
destination.
BEST FURNITURE
CLEARANCE CENTER
Cort Furniture
Doraville 770-939-5222
Marietta 770-955-4044
Name Brand Home and Office furniture being
offered at up to 70% off the new retail prices.
Cort Clearance Center is a great way to get high
quality furniture pieces that will hold up for years ,
but at an unbeatable price. Our readers agree!
BEST HIP CLOTHING STORE
Rag-O-Rama
1111 Euclid Ave. 404-658-1988
www.ragorama.com
BEST ART SUPPLY
Sam Flax
1460 Northside Dr. 404-352-7200
www.samflaxsouth.com
Great selection of new and used clothes in an
open and inviting store setting in the heart of
Little 5 Points.
2335 Cheshire Bridge Rd.
404-320-3336
www.return2eden.com
Neighborhood grocery featuring fresh organic
produce, grab and go prepared foods, cuting edge
supplements and a huge vegan and vegetarian
selection.
BEST JEWELRY STORE
Worthmore Jewelers
500 Amsterdam Ave. 404-892-8294
117 East Court Square 404-370-3979
www.worthmorejewelers.com
The place to go for all your art supply needs.
Sam Flax offers a wide selection in their huge
warehouse and the lowest prices in town.
BEST CIGAR STORE
Highland Cigar
245 N. Highland Ave. 404-477-2415
www.highlandcigar.com
With a knowledgable staff and walk-in humidor
Known for there wide selection of casual shoes
like Birkenstocks, Vans and Crocs, Abbadabbas
is a favorite for men, women and kids.
BEST WOMEN’S SHOES
Foot Prints
2480 Briarcliff Rd. 404-679-9922
2080 Henderson Mill Rd. 770-493-4674
This affordably priced women’s shoe store offers
a wide selection of brands in various styles.
BEST SMOKE SHOP
Smoke 911
If you are looking for premium cigars, they have
a walk-in humidor with all the accessories. This
is the place to go from everything for your smoking needs and more. You will also find adult
novelties, incense, vaporizers, and aromatherapy.
BEST THRIFT STORE
Last Chance Thrift Store
5 Metro Area Locations
www.lastchancethriftstore.com
Best place to go for used jewelry, clothing, gifts
and furniture on the cheap.
LIFESTYLE
BEST BODY WAX
Brazilian Wax
80 Powers Ferry Rd. 770-579-3201
1230 Powers Ferry Rd. 404-454-4742
Owner Andreia Longshore has been waxing for
over 16 years. They have expanded to two locations in Marietta with an Alpharetta location
coming soon.
BEST ADULT VIDEO STORE
BEST HEALTH FOOD STORE
Southern Nights
BEST ORGANIC SELECTION
404-728-0701
Return to Eden
The largest selection of DVD’s and videos starting at $4.99 under one roof. They are open 24
hours, offer free membership and also house a
wide variety of magazines and adult toys to get
your nasty on.
Multiple locations
www.coolshoes.com
6125 Roswell Rd. 404-256-1116
710 Holcomb Br. Rd. 770-992-4485
Multiple Area Locations
For location nearest you 404-766-6993
www.shopstarship.com
273 Buckhead Ave. 404-841-0066
www.fadoirishpub.com
Moved down the street to their new digs, Fado’
hasn’t missed a beat. They have upgraded their
million dollar pub with a new multi-million dollar one that features multiple levels and plenty
of space for private functions. They still have
tons of authentic memorabilia and great pints.
Little 5 Pts 404-523-0100
Sandy Springs 404-255-5578
Cartersville 770-607-0888
BEST SPORTS BAR
Stats
BEST ADULT
NOVELTY STORE
Starship
Upon entering Front Page News you immediately get the sensation of being in New Orleans
with its laid back and inviting atmosphere. the
patio has a feel of an ancient New Orleans
courtyard with bubbling fountains, lush foliage,
wrought iron fences, fireplaces and flickering
gaslights.
BEST CONSIGNMENT
Psycho Sisters
BEST MEN’S SHOE STORE
Abbadabba’s
Offering top quality merchandise at low low
prices, Worthmore Jewelers has built a huge fan
base. With ample displays of all types of jewelry,
Worthmore is the perfect place to go for that one
of a kind piece.
BEST LIQUOR STORE
Green’s
737 Ponce de Leon 404-872-1109
2612 Buford Hwy. 404-321-6232
Green’s has been serving Atlanta’s beverage
needs since1937 with thousands of items at
deeply discounted pricing every day. Voted Best
retail beverage store in Atlanta 17 years in a row.
BEST CAR WASH
Cactus Car Wash
Midtown 404-876-3232
Buckhead 404-846-4040
Winner of multiple awards in Atlanta, their
Ponce location was recently rated as best nationally. See their Best Of Atlanta special, a handdried exterior wash for $2.95!
BEST HAIR SALON
Van Michael
Multiple Locations
www.vanmichael.com
Voted one of Atlanta’s best and most affordable
salons by numerous publications including:
Atlanta Magazine, Creative Loafing, Access
Atlanta and the AJC. It looks to be unanimous.
BEST HEALTH CLUB
LA Fitness
Multiple locations
www.lafitness.com
LA Fitness offers tons of amenities at unusually
low rates. Here you can take classes in boxing
and cycling, swim in their many pools, or take
part in a game of basketball or racquetball.
With so many locations, there is bound to be
one near you.
BEST MARTIAL ARTS
X3 Sports
Midtown 404-525-2269
Marietta 678-903-0100
www.xsports.com
State of the art gyms offering boxing, kickboxing, jiu jitsu, grappling and sports training.
MUSIC
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THE HOLD STEADY – STAY POSITIVE (Vagrant)
Narratives built on faith, hope, and massive hangovers
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MENAHAN STREET BAND – MAKE THE ROAD BY
WALKING (Daptone)
Singer? We don’t need no stinkin’ singer!
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THE CLASH – LIVE AT SHEA STADIUM (Legacy) & THE
CLASH BY THE CLASH (Grand Central Publishing)
The world’s most influential punk band
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THE BOMBS – BLACK BUTTERFLY (Self-released)
Appropriate band name
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RAY LAMONTAGNE – GOSSIP IN THE GRAIN (RCA)
Spreading creative wings
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SOLANGE – SOL-ANGEL AND THE HADLEY ST. DREAMS GLEN CAMPBELL – MEET GLEN CAMPBELL (Capitol)
The Rhinestone Cowboy returns
(Geffen)
Lil sis is soulful, quirky and can’t-miss
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DJ REVOLUTION – KING OF THE DECKS (Duck Down) &
JAKE ONE – WHITE VAN MUSIC (Rhymesayer)
Assembling a Hot Rap Compilation 101
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THE STATUS – SO THIS IS PROGRESS (Doghouse)
Atlanta rockers set the bar high
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SPORTS NEWS
2008-09 NCAA Hoops Preview
UNC Still Looking Strong
BY DEMARCO WILLIAMS
O
UR CALCULATIONS SAY THAT
43 Division-1 coaching changes were
made this past offseason. Of course,
by the time you read this, Oklahoma might
re-hash an old controversy and Bobby Knight
could be coaching somewhere new, altering
those numbers even more. It’s just that, in this
temperamental economy, everyone’s on edge—
the school presidents, the athletic directors, the
sponsors, the mascots.
Kansas’ Bill Self wasn’t anywhere close to
getting a pink slip a year ago, but the forwardthinking young man went ahead and won the
NCAA title just in case. This year, guys like
USC’s Tim Floyd and UGA’s Dennis Felton need
solid March runs to ensure job security. On
the flip, the only update UNC’s Roy Williams
will need to make to his decorated resume is
an entry reading “2009 Champs.” With Tyler
Hansbrough, Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington in
the fold, the other 24 teams on this list can only
hope that a recession leaves the Tar Heels travel
budget so depleted the team has to forfeit their
road games.
1. NORTH CAROLINA – As if Hansbrough,
Lawson and Ellington weren’t enough octane to
ensure a trip to the Detroit Final Four, Coach
Williams went out and got a couple of insurance
policies in the names of five-star freshmen Tyler
Zeller and Ed Davis.
2. CONNECTICUT – There have been times
when Huskie big man Hasheem Thabeet has
looked totally lost in the paint. When he’s on
his game though, few centers in the country
can hang with him. AJ Price and Jeff Adrien are
completely clued-in on scoring.
7. OKLAHOMA – Blake Griffin, the Sooner
sensation who averaged nearly 15 points and
nine boards last year, is the perceived top pick to
many in the ’09 NBA draft. “He’s better prepared
than he was last year,” said coach Jeff Capel.
Scary, very scary.
3. UCLA – Center Alfred Aboya toyed with the
idea of returning to his native Cameroon and
getting into politics. The Bruins faithful is glad
he vetoed that idea, because the ticket of he,
Darren Collison, Josh Shipp and freshman Jrue
Holiday makes a Pac-10 power.
8. TEXAS – AJ Abrams probably won’t make
fans forget about DJ Augustine, but he’ll do
a solid job running the point. Same goes for
Damion James manning the interior. The
Longhorns are stil looking for whoever dreamt
up this tough early schedule (Michigan State,
UCLA).
4. LOUISVILLE – Here’s how things look for
Rick Pitino’s Cardinals: Ed Clark is dangerous
from outside; Freshman center Samardo Samuels
is an animal in the low post; Terrence Williams
covers every other inch of the court.
5. PITTSBURGH – Pitt was ravaged by injuries
last year. If the flashy Levance Fields is 100%,
there’s a 90% certainty the Panthers will compete
for a Big East crown—possibly more. Toss in
Sam Young and DeJuan Blair, both 50% from the
field, and odds get even better.
6. MICHIGAN STATE – Freshman forward
Delvon Roe’s knees are an issue. Kalin Lucas’
legs are an asset. Raymar Morgan’s heart is
astounding. Tom Izzo’s Spartans have the
makings of a national concern.
9. DUKE – OMG! The Dukkies haven’t reached
the Sweet 16 since ’06! Does Coach K look the
least bit worried? You wouldn’t either if you
had Gerald Henderson, Kyle Singler and Nolan
Smith on your side. All will be right around
Durham come March.
10. USC – We’ve seen prep sensation Demar
DeRozan play. The kid is r-i-d-i-c-u-l-o-u-s.
You’ve seen Taj Gibson and Daniel Hackett play.
They’re good, right? If Floyd can’t get all of that
talent pass the first round, we all may see the
coach’s head on a stake.
11. GONZAGA – With six of the top seven
scorers from a year ago returning (including
the super Jeremy Pargo), the Zags are more
UNC’s Head
Coach Roy
Williams
experienced than most. They’ll need every
ounce of it, too, as their brutal sked has ‘Zaga
facing 12 teams from the ’08 tourney.
12. TENNESSEE – The Vols won a schoolrecord 31 games last year. That team’s star,
Chris Lofton, is gone. So, why is it then that
Knoxville is so darn excited about Bruce Pearl’s
new bunch? Probably has something to do
with Scotty Hopson and Tyler Smith being
teammates.
13. FLORIDA – For every strength that the
Gators have (Billy Donovan’s coaching; Jai Lucas’
and Nick Calathes’ long-distance touch), the
SEC squad has a debilitating weakness (interior
strength; upperclass leadership). They should
still find enough balance to battle UT for the
conference crown.
continued on page 30
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SPORTS NEWS
2008-09 NBA Preview:
Lakers vs. Celtics, The Sequel
BY DEMARCO WILLIAMS
L
ET’S CUT THE CRAP. WE LIKE A REPEAT FOR THE
’09 Finals: the Kobe Bryant-sparked L.A. Lakers against the
three-headed monster folks in New England affectionately
call the Boston Celtics. We would say we predict Kevin Garnett, Paul
Pierce and Ray Allen defending their hard-earned crown, but seeing as
how the other Beantown sports franchises haven’t looked so stellar in
encore performances this year, we’re envisioning a Lakers toast after six
passionate games.
1. L.A. LAKERS – Kobe and Pau Gasol played their hearts out over the
summer, only to watch the champagne pop in the other locker room. With
a healthy Andrew Bynum clogging up the middle, the Lake Show will
experience its own shower of suds in June.
2. BOSTON – It’s not that the Celts didn’t like making it rain in the
clubhouse, but by replacing the unheralded James Posey with Darius
Miles, the team didn’t exactly spark that confidence Boston fans were
hoping. But hey, if there’s anybody who can rally the troops, it’s Celts
coach Doc Rivers.
Terry Porter at the helm; we just can’t say that’s enough to get beyond the
first round.
11. CLEVELAND – For the next ten years LeBron James will be a MVP
candidate. However, until the Cavs front office gets him some scoring help
(Mo Williams is a start) and under-the-basket bulk, he’ll never be a Finals
MVP.
12. SAN ANTONIO – Until something dramatic happens, the Spurs will
remain a playoff threat. But for every quick step to the left for Tony Parker
and Manu Ginobili, Tim Duncan’s moves seem to be a second slower.
18. DENVER – We’ll ride to the edge of nowhere next to Allen Iverson
and Carmelo Anthony. But if the Nuggets front-office is expecting us to
believe that things are cool in the Rockies without Camby in the paint,
they have us pegged for blind fools.
19. TORONTO – Former Indiana all-star Jermaine O’Neal had to cross
the border to get some love. We don’t knock him for it. Actually, the
teaming of the ache-free O’Neal and Chris Bosh could have the makings
of the league’s most dashing frontcourt. That Jose Calderon is gorgeous at
the point.
20. CHARLOTTE – How’s that old hood saying go? If an “If” was a fifth
of alcohol, we’d all be drunk. If the ifs –If Sean May and Adam Morrison
are healthy… If Jason Richardson is ready to lead… If coach Larry Brown
has anything left…- work out, drinks on us!
21. MILWAUKEE – The days of the Bucks being an Eastern Conference
joke are probably over. Getting the angular Richard Jefferson to help ease
some of Michael Redd’s scoring load was serious business. To have the last
laugh in the Central, Andrew Bogut has to do more.
Kobe
Bryant
22. SACRAMENTO – Did you know Kings guard Kevin Martin finished
in the top seven in scoring average last year? That one slipped past us, too.
Sac-town ain’t slipping past anyone in the standings if Brad Miller can’t
return to ’04-05 form.
3. NEW ORLEANS – The Big Easy only got a taste of what the Hornets
were capable of. Chris Paul, the game’s best PG, is a year older. Tyson
Chandler and Peja Stojakovic are –hopefully!- a year stronger. David West
is a year better. New defensive stopper Posey won the title last year.
23. MINNESOTA – In Al Jefferson, Randy Foye and Rashad McCants,
the T-Wolves certainly have some talent. Seeing it come together for a GM
(Kevin McHale) that comes off clueless most of the time –Don’t rookie
Kevin Love and top scorer Jefferson play the same position?- will be a feat.
4. DETROIT – Okay. This is it. And we really mean it. The aging Pistons
have to piss or get off the pot this season. The core (Chauncey Billups, Rip
Hamilton, Rasheed Wallace) gets it done in the winter, but the moment it
warms up, the team cools. Rodney Stuckey sure provided some heat in the
playoffs though.
24. MIAMI – Between the Michael Phelps highlights, you saw the
“Redeem Team” earn hardwood respect in Beijing, right? Dwyane Wade
was one of the most impressive guys out there. We’ll be more impressed
if he, Shawn Marion and Michael Beasley finish with their heads above
water.
5. UTAH – We like the sound of these Jazz. With Carlos Boozer
drumming up offense in the paint, Andrei Kirilenko orchestrating
things on the wing and Deron Williams conducting it all into a winning
symphony, “Northwest Champs” should have a nice ring to it.
25. CHICAGO – The Bulls have more guards (Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon
and No. 1 pick Derrick Rose) than Beyonce. But unlike Jay-Z’s better
half, they’ve yet to show they know what to do with all the talent. Under
freshman coach Vinny Del Negro, we don’t see any destinies fulfilled.
6. HOUSTON – Adding the volatile (but valuable) Ron Artest to a lineup
that includes stars Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming could prove the smartest
thing any team did over the offseason. Then again, if either injury-plagued
stud gets hurt again, it won’t much matter.
7. PHILADELPHIA – We’d be silly if we didn’t say the signing of
Elton Brand wasn’t money. But to discount the things the fast-maturing
Thaddeus Young and Louis Williams bring to the Sixers would be wrong.
Leaders Andre Iguodala and Andre Miller certainly know their worth.
8. ORLANDO – Our cute pick last year didn’t do terribly. Hell, most
teams would kill for a slot in the Eastern semis. But when you have a
rebounding beast (Dwight Howard), a shape-shifting monster (Hedo
Turkoglu) and a scoring animal (Rashard Lewis), the semis ain’t enough.
9. PORTLAND – Yeah, so it took a year longer than anyone expected for
Greg Oden to become a force in the NBA. You can’t rush greatness—or
a healing body. Now 100%, Oden, Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge and
rook Jerry Bayless have some franchise re-shaping to do.
10. PHOENIX – Players play the game. We know the adage. But taking
coach Mike D’Antoni away isn’t going to do anything for Steve Nash and
Amare Stoudemire’s love of the break. They’re still playoff material with
13. L.A. CLIPPERS – In what may have been the most controversial
offseason move, Baron Davis left Golden State for the warmer confines of
So Cal. We like BD anywhere, but him playing alongside Marcus Camby
and almost-famous Al Thornton is gonna be nicer than Monterrey in May.
26. NEW JERSEY – Rookie Brook Lopez and ex-Buck Yi Jianlian are great
if you need some help fixing the roof. But if you’re trying to get back on
solid footing in the NBA, you gotta have more than an aging Vince Carter.
14. ATLANTA – The spirited seven-game series with Boston was nice.
It’s a new year, one that will see Joe Johnson further evolving, Josh Smith
maturing and Mo Evans filling in admirably for the Greece-defected Josh
Childress.
27. INDIANA – The Pacers are down two with three ticks on the clock
in the fourth quarter. Who does coach Jim O’Brien draw up the play for?
Mike Dunleavy Jr.? Troy Murphy? Danny Granger? Umm, that’s about it in
Indiana options. Yikes!
15. WASHINGTON – DeShawn Stevenson is one of the team’s most
outspoken members. Over the summer, he said Gilbert Arenas’ health
inconsistencies kept the Wizards from reaching their potential. Arenas,
D-Steve and Caron Butler will let their games speak from here on.
28. NEW YORk – A NBA.com poll of team GMs voted Knicks coach
Mike D’Antoni as the game’s best offensive mind. If he somehow figures
out a way to get Jamal Crawford, Chris Duhon and Zach Randolph playing
anywhere near .500, he might go down as one of the best ever.
16. GOLDEN STATE – A roster of Al Harrington, Monta Ellis, Stephen
Jackson and newly-acquired Corey Maggette calls for front-row seats and
popcorn. That Ellis is suspended the first 30 games for hurting himself on
an all-terrain vehicle is a milk dud.
29. MEMPHIS – You know what we’re about to say: If the Grizzlies were
playing in the East, they’d be playoff contenders. Still, if OJ Mayo, Rudy
Gay and Co. continue to develop as expected, they’ll contend in the West
in a few years.
17. DALLAS – Oh, how the mighty have fallen. But enough about owner
Mark Cuban’s stock portfolio… His Mavs are on the cusp of irrelevance if
they don’t make some playoff noise. Jason Kidd, Dirk Nowitzki and Josh
Howard have the most to say.
30. OKLAHOMA CITY – We hurt for Seattle as it watched its team
move to the Midwest. But a new day has dawned, and it goes by the
Thunder. Take solace, Sonics fans, in the fact that, even with the address
change, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook still have a long ways to go
before being relevant.
14. WEST VIRGINIA – You may not like coach
Bob Huggins, the man, but you have to respect
Bob Huggin’s game plan. Whether the address
be at Cincinnati, Kansas State or here with the
Mountaineers, Huggie’s teams are always physical
and athletic. This year’s Da’Sean Butler-led crew is
no different.
genius across his clipboard last
season, leading the Boilermakers
to 20 wins and earning Big Ten
coach of the year honors. With
a healthy Robbie Hummel on the
wings, the picture might get even
prettier now.
15. ARIZONA STATE – Coach Herb Sendek lead
the Sun Devils to eight wins in ’06-07. That number
jumped to 21 a year ago. Staying with that pattern,
ASU is expected to win 34 games in ’08-09. Won’t
happen. But with super soph James Harden, a Sweet
16 showing should.
Verizon. Georgia native DeQuan Jones will
undoubtedly get some of the offensive
calls, too. As for the Hurricanes’ situation
in the paint, pray someone gets the
signal ‘cuz right now it’s a dead zone.
this list. A few seasons ago, the team was in absolute
shambles. All the congratulatory pats have to go to
coach Scott Drew. As for Baylor’s continued rise in
hoops, a round of applause for LaceDarius Dunn
and Curtis Jerrells.
18. NOTRE DAME – Lest ye
forget, these Fighting Irish finished
in the top 20 a year ago. All of the big guns, Kyle
McAlarney and Big East player of the year Luke
Harangody, are back to ensure teams don’t forget.
21. CREIGHTON – Though this
Missouri Valley Conference power has
had some regular season success, the Blue
Jays haven’t really carried that over to the
postseason. With four starters back (including
P’Allen Stinnett) from a battle-tested squad, this
year could spell two tournament victories.
24. DAVIDSON – The darling of last season’s
dance, the Wildcats tasted the national spotlight and
want nothing more than seconds. All-everything
Stephon Curry liked the attention so much that he
returned for his junior year. After non-conference
games with West Virginia, Purdue and Duke, he
might have second thoughts.
16. MEMPHIS – Over the past three seasons, the
Tigers have won 104 affairs. If Memphis wins 30
games this year, seniors Robert Dozier Antonio
Anderson become the winningest players in NCAA
history. Fab frosh Tyreke Evans helps their efforts.
19. MARQUETTE – You know that feeling you
get at the Thanksgiving table, when you don’t know
whether to grab the turkey leg, dressing or corn
first? That’s kinda how new coach Buzz Williams
feels when drawing plays for Dominic James, Jerel
McNeal and Wesley Matthews.
22. GEORGETOWN – There were whispers
around D.C. last year that this team was soft. Coach
John Thompson III heard the same chatter and went
out and got 6-11 Louisiana stud Greg Monroe for
under-the-hoop bulk. Jessie Sapp handles beyondthe-arc duties.
25. ST. MARY’S – There are five Australian natives
on the Gaels’ ’08-09 team. Lightning-quick guard
Patty Mills is probably the most fascinating out the
lot. But take your eyes off any of them and your
team will be down by 15 in the first half.
17. PURDUE – Matt Painter brushed strokes of
20. MIAMI – Jack McClinton has better range than
23. BAYLOR – It’s amazing that Baylor is even on
Others to watch: OHIO STATE, SYRACUSE,
UNLV, WAKE FOREST AND WISCONSIN.
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