The University News

Traitor spins a too tangled web for its intended audience

Landon Burris • September 4, 2008

The truth is complicated, at least according to the tag line of the recently released film Traitor (Overture). This tag line is right on the money. See, the truth about Traitor is that it is not that good of a movie, unless you factor in the winning performance from Don Cheadle.

Sputtering across the finish line with no place to go

Landon Burris • August 28, 2008

The end of summer blues are beginning and with them comes a plethora of lousy films. Studios are dumping the films they have little faith in, stinking up multiplexes nationwide. This is as good a time as any to see The Dark Knight for a fourth time. Among these lackluster titles is Death Race (Universal), a loose remake of the Roger Corman produced 1975 cult classic Death Race 2000.

Jack’s Mannequin set to rock SLU

defaultuser • August 28, 2008

Saint Louis University's Student Activities Board announced the acts for this year's Homecoming Concert. Jack's Mannequin, a rock band originally from Orange County, Calif., will play on Sept. 26, 2008, with opening act Eve6. Members of the band are Andrew McMahon (vocals and piano), Bobby Anderson (guitar, back up vocals), Jonathan Sullivan (bass) and Jay McMillan (drums).

Watching out for 2009

Matt Wilhelm • August 28, 2008

"Who watches the Watchmen?" Filmgoers will answer this question, proposed by Alan Moore's 1983 graphic novel The Watchmen, in February of 2009 when Warner Bros. Pictures releases director Zach Snyder (300, 2004's Dawn of the Dead) movie adaptation in theatres nationwide.

To be funny or not to be funny … that is the question

Will Holston • August 28, 2008

The last 30 minutes of Andrew Fleming's Hamlet 2 contains the staging of a funny, if not entirely realistic, musical featuring (among other things) a time machine, Albert Einstein, a bi-curious take on a Shakespearean character and a rollicking performance of the song "Rock Me Sexy Jesus.

The Taste Tour

Will Holston • August 28, 2008

A whole new class of freshmen is hitting campus this year, and, if history repeats itself, that's a whole new batch of hungry Billikens looking for a filling, and not too expensive, bite to eat. Below is a list of local and regional establishments (OK, and maybe a few chain restaurants) within walking distance of Saint Louis University's campus that can cater to any college student's culinary needs.

Local arts haven

Maggie Heyduk • August 28, 2008

Ever wanted to learn to tango? Interested in the arts? The Center of Contemporary Arts (COCA), is recognized by The Riverfront Times as "Best Arts Organization" in St. Louis. It is located near the Delmar Loop and is accessible by car or metro. One of the main events is Club 524, geared toward young adults 18 and up.

Have your say on: Three Cups of Tea

ADAM TAMBURIN • August 21, 2008

Three Cups of Tea is a New York Times bestseller published by Penguin Group in 2006. Alongside co-author David Oliver Relin, Greg Mortenson describes the events in his life that led him to devote himself to fighting for poverty relief and education in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Stiller’s Thunder ends the summer movie season with a bang

Landon Burris • August 21, 2008

The summer movie season comes to an end in a big way with Tropic Thunder (DreamWorks), Ben Stiller's first directorial effort since 2001's hilarious Zoolander. In case you haven't heard, this is the movie that has been causing all of the controversy lately, some of it due to the fact that Robert Downey Jr.

Environmental photographer brings unique insight to St. Louis

Will Holston • August 21, 2008

The St. Louis Zoo is hosting a question and answer session with noted nature photographer Steven Kazlowski next month as a part of a presentation of images from his new book The Last Polar Bear: Facing the Truth of a Warming World. "My most favorite type of photography is the foundation of this piece: photography in which I can spend a lot of time with animals," Kazlowski said.

Woody’s European vacation

Will Holston • August 21, 2008

In the immortal words of the J. Geils Band: "You love her, but she loves him and he loves somebody else. You just can't win." Never was this platitude truer than in Woody Allen's breezy and biting new comedy Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Rebecca Hall (The Prestige) and Scarlett Johansson (The Other Boleyn Girl) star as the titular women, two friends spending a summer in Barcelona with a friend.

Summer Movie Special: Small vs. Spectacle

Will Holston and Landon Burris • July 17, 2008

The summer movie season is currently in full swing, but movie theaters across the country will soon find themselves without the help of capes or creatures to draw in the crowds of action-starved summer moviegoers craving plush seats, air-conditioned auditoriums and hot, buttery popcorn.