Washington City Paper: Contents for Apr. 25

Pop Culture
City Paper's guide to Filmfest DC's assortment of metalheads, geeks, lovers, do-gooders, and more.

Cover Story By Tricia Olszewski

Ballsy programming should be the essence of any film festival, but in its 22nd year, Filmfest DC seems to be playing it safe. For instance, don’t take its alleged focus on “Politics and Film” too seriously. Surely the festival’s decision-makers thought it appropriate to highlight political fare, given the zeitgeist—with an impending election and long-festering occupation on everyone’s mind, it could seem downright irresponsible not to include works speaking to urgent global issues. Then again, box-office returns over the past year have suggested that moviegoers have grown battle-weary, preferring the escapist to the educational in their trips to the multiplex.

The Filmfest solution? Gathering a mere six politically minded films—out of the festival’s 70-plus offerings—and touting it as a highlighted series. Worse, the selections seem to be most noteworthy for their good intentions. Out of the four our critics were able to view, only one—The Bread Winner, a 23-minute documentary about a 9-year-old Afghan boy who supports his family—is fully recommended, while the others are dragged down by polemic (The War on Democracy), poor storytelling (Mon Colonel), or simple dullness (Beyond the Call).... Continued

Issue of Apr. 25 - May. 1, 2008

News and Features

Pop Culture
Our guide to the 22nd annual Filmfest DC.
Cover Story By Tricia Olszewski
Tattoo Regret
Convicted felon claims his black teardrop helped put him away.
The City By Brendan Smith
Buyer's Market
Price Pick of the Week: Petworth foreclosure heads to auction
The City By Ruth Samuelson
Distractions

Columns

Drawing Blood Conclusions
Cecil gives the straight dope on crabs vs. humans.
The Straight Dope By Cecil Adams
Male-on-Male Dino-Dragon Action
Dan addresses the weird fantasies of a supposedly straight guy.
Savage Love By Dan Savage
Title Town
Qualifications aside, Vinny Cerrato gets another job.
Cheap Seats By Dave McKenna
It's Baa-ack!
Seriously? Klingle Road again?
Loose Lips By Mike DeBonis

Eats

Hard Times Cafe
News Bites from dining around town
Young & Hungry By Tim Carman

Movies

Music

One Track Mind
This Week: Chessie's "Intercity"
Music By Aaron Leitko
Boogie Rites
Israeli trio Monotonix do right by '70s boogie-rock.
Music Review By David Dunlap Jr.
Music Review By David Dunlap Jr.
Pulp Fiction
MC Slug drops the introspection on Atmosphere's latest.
Music Review By Ben Westhoff

Theater

Devil Indemnity
Reviewed: The Last Days of Judas Iscariot and The Screwtape Letters
Theater Review By Trey Graham
Curtain Calls
Reviewed: Translations at Keegan Theatre
Theater Review By Glen Weldon

Arts and Events

Broncos 34, Angsty Bartenders 0
Reviewed: Tara Yellen's After Hours at the Almost Home
Book Reviews By Britt Peterson
Dub Scout
How an indie rocker became a hard-core reggae booster.
Arts By Aaron Leitko
Sticks and Stones
Silver Spring sculptor finds form in the Anacostia.
Show & Tell By Amanda Hess
What's Your Problem?
Keep Your Beer Away From My Camera!
What's Your Problem? By Amanda Hess

City Lights

This week's best in Arts and Entertainment.

The Last Days of Judas Iscariot
Through May 4 at H Street Playhouse
Arts & Events By Trey Graham
Chicha Libre
Friday, April 25, at the Velvet Lounge
Arts & Events By Matthew A. Stern
Jay Reatard
Saturday, April 26, at the Black Cat
Arts & Events By Aaron Leitko
Urge Overkill
Sunday, April 27, at the Black Cat
Arts & Events By Andrew Beaujon
The Cops
Monday, April 28, at the Red and the Black
Arts & Events By Matthew Borlik
Bernie Horn
Tuesday, April 29, at Olsson's Books & Records
Arts & Events By Justin Moyer
ClancyWorks Dance Company
Wednesday, April 30, at the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage
Arts & Events By Nick Green
Howard Fineman
Thursday, May 1, at Politics and Prose
Arts & Events By Matthew Borlik
Nathaniel Rich
Monday, April 28, at Politics and Prose
Arts & Events By Mark Athitakis