The University News

Through the button holes

Will Holston • February 12, 2009

The Nightmare Before Christmas and James and the Giant Peach-helmer Henry Selick is taking audiences down the rabbit hole in his new film, but this world isn't Alice's typical wonderland. Coraline, adapted from Stardust author Neil Gaiman's award winning fantastical and creepy novella of the same name, arrives in theaters at a time when animated films like WALL-E have proven that mediums traditionally oriented toward children's entertainment can provide more bang for your buck, no matter the age of the audience, than most over-scripted, star-heavy Hollywood blockbusters.

Audiences might just be ‘Into’ this new romantic comedy

Landon Burris • February 12, 2009

If it's early February that means there has to be at least one or two chick flicks in wide release, and this year is no exception. He's Just Not That Into You, based on the self-help book by the same name, follows the love lives of nine men and women living in Baltimore, all of whom are portrayed by an ensemble cast, including Ben Affleck (Hollywoodland), Jennifer Aniston (Marley & Me), Drew Barrymore (Music & Lyrics), Jennifer Connelly (The Day the Earth Stood Still), Kevin Connolly ("Entourage"), Bradley Cooper (Wedding Crashers), Ginnifer Goodwin ("Big Love"), Scarlett Johansson (VickyCristinaBarcelona) and Justin Long (Live Free or Die Hard).

Little Steven goes underground

Will Holston • February 12, 2009

Little Steven Van Zandt looked out onto the world of rock and roll. And this rock and roll god saw that it was not good. "At the time, there was nobody playing new rock and roll anywhere in the world," he said. "You could not hear any new traditional rock and roll.

Dreadful Yawns aim to excite

Matt Smyser • February 5, 2009

Behind a thick coating of informality lies a wealth of musical ideas, all ripe with amazing possibility and technicality. They come from the minds of guitarist Ben Gmetro and his fellow band mates in The Dreadful Yawns, a band that goes out of its way to be extraordinarily ordinary.

‘This show told me to push limits’

Jonathan Ernst • February 5, 2009

Light flashes down on the dark streets below. A silent bank erupts with thunder from a sudden explosion. A dark enforcer appears from out of the shadows to vanquish the bank robbers. This may sound similar to the 2008 blockbuster Batman epic, The Dark Knight, but this scene actually predates Christopher Nolan's film.

Cute is What We Aim For tours and calls students to ‘Take Action’

Will Holston • February 5, 2009

New York-based buzz band Cute is What We Aim For is getting back on a tour bus and hitting the St. Louis area on Wednesday. The band previously played here in November, a night lead vocalist Shaant Hacikyan remembers well. "Two of our crew members ended up spending $700 at a strip club," he said.

New line of T-shirts targeted at college students mines ‘green’ possibilities from bamboo

Will Holston • February 5, 2009

A new website and T-shirt line wants college-aged women to do their part for the environment and look good doing it. Jeff Fulmer, a Tennessee-based entrepreneur, started Bamboo-U more than a year ago. Armed with a background in t-shirt marketing and a newly developed sense of awareness about issues facing the environment, he became aware of the ecological advantages of producing clothing made from bamboo fibers.

24 Frames Per Second

Will Holston • February 5, 2009

I was watching the wonderful Frozen River, and I was struck by its similarities with another great little movie released last year: Ballast. Both films opened last year at Sundance to much acclaim -Frozen River took the Grand Jury Prize- and both are surprisingly self-assured and confident debut features from newly-Academy Award nominated Courtney Hunt (for Best Original Screenplay) and Lance Hammer, respectively.

Local band hits the road on new tour to support album

[email protected] • February 5, 2009

One St. Louis-based band is making a name for itself. Nothing Still, made up of Emilio Hernandez (vocals), Tom Fedke (bass), Patrick Slusser (drums), Anthony Ficken (lead guitar) and Matt Kleemann (guitar), drew inspiration for their name from an encounter Slusser had with a teacher.

Contemporary Art Museum awes, disappoints in two new exhibitions

Bonnie Rosenberg • February 5, 2009

There seems to be a dichotomous relationship between idea and actualization in art. Often one precludes the other, rendering a work either all style or all concept. The dual exhibit at the Contemporary Art Museum seems to fall prey, for the most part, to this clash of art's conceptual titans.

Ice skating rink brings local fun

Gina Cassaro • January 29, 2009

Steinberg Skating Rink, the largest outdoor ice skating rink in the Midwest, attracts St. Louis residents from every age group in search of inexpensive winter entertainment. And, for once, the locals are enjoying the cold. Located on the east side of Forest Park, the rink provides skaters with a bustling environment for recreational fun.

SLU professor hits the right notes

[email protected] • January 29, 2009

Saint Louis University has it very own rock star on campus in the communication and English departments. Richard Burgin, known in some circles for his critically-acclaimed 12 books, mostly novels and short stories, has just released an album, The Trouble With Love.