by Christina Waters | Mar 8, 2007 | Home, Movies |
Nothing prepared me for this spellbinding package of high def digital cinematography, under-stated horror and savvy, ensemble acting. But that’s exactly what Zodiac delivers. Long (2 hours, 40 minutes) yet so taut and intricately edited that time stands still. And anyone old enough to recall the shock and awe the Bay Area experienced during the early 70s as the serial killer of the title insinuated himself onto the front pages and the collective psyche, will be gripped by this brilliant true-life crime film.
Director David Fincher has already shown his dark power in Seven, and earlier in the cult classic, Fight Club. This time he restrains himself, turns the colors down to the saturated browns of another era, with a few David Lynchean touches of aqua and acid yellow, adds some vintage Donovan to the Hurdy-Gurdy Man soundtrack and shoots away. (The digital process used by cinematographer Harris Savides is called Viper. No film, no videotape — this is the first major motion picture to use the process). The effect is visually pulverizing, as chrome grilles of Ford Galaxies fill the entire screen, every stop light oozes danger and the editorial offices of the San Francisco Chronicle take on the frenetic pulse of an entire city.
Three compelling actors — each at the top of his game — power this film along, like a mystery play in three acts. Jake Gyllenhaal plays Chronicle cartoonist Robert Graysmith, on whose book the film is based. With bulldog tenacity Gyllenhaal’s character gets caught up in the newsroom excitement, as the Zodiac killer begins sending his coded messages in to the newspaper. Journalist Paul Avery (played by an astonishing Robert Downey, Jr) starts tracking the case in print, while homicide detective David Toschi (played by Mark Ruffalo) tries to connect the dots as more murders crop up around the Bay Area backroads. Each man attempts to make sense of the seemingly random killings, and the enigmatic hand-written notes from Zodiac, as the film tightens, yet never succumbs to thriller genre pornography. (more…)
by Christina Waters | Mar 8, 2007 | Home |
Judy Slattum, the thinking man’s performance ethnographer and longtime Bali connoisseur, is at it again with “A Taste of Bali.” Danu Tours, and co-sponsor Cabrillo College Culinary Arts program, have teamed up for the culinary odyssey in Bali this coming June. Spicing things up on the special tour will be India Joze cuisinartist Joseph Schultz, and Indonesian cooking expert Made Surya. Expect two and a half unforgettable weeks of truly exotic flavors, touring, sights, sounds and authentic Balinese foods – including betel nut sampling, rice wine making, and other things your mother didn’t teach you. For details and full itinerary, please go to the Danu Tours website. Cabrillo culinary arts students can get credit for this globe-trotting course, which takes up to 20 participants to Bali from June 16 to July 6. An intensive forage through a beautiful island, with a team of experts. Sweet.
Michael Olson, host of Saturday morning’s “The Food Chain” on KSCO AM1080, knows more than any five people you’d care to name about the eco-web of earth, people, animals and plants. When he’s not doing his beyond interesting Saturday 9-10am interview show, Olson also hosts MetroFarm, an online magazine devoted to the curious corners of urban ag. But there’s more! Now Olson has just come out with a book of important oral histories, called Tales from a Tin Can: USS Dale, in which 44 World War II sailors tell their personal stories about life and death on the destroyer USS Dale. Olson’s Tales is out from Zenith Press. Look for it at your favorite bookstore.
Tom Vinolus and the Bittersweet Bistro staff, will host a five-course Cabrillo Music Festival fundraising Spring Feast — paired with great local wines. March 22, Thursday, at 6:30pm the event begins, with pourings from Ahlgren, Bonny Doon, Burrell School, Kathryn Kennedy and Storrs wineries. Since Vinolus is the dessert king, this lively affair should provide a sweet finish. Tickets are $125 per person (all inclusive) and it’s already filling up. Make reservations by calling the Cabrillo Festival office at 831/426-6966, by March 16th! Do it now.
Charlie Hong Kong is my idea of a lunchtime bonanza. Here’s my latest CHK confession: I stopped by for a carry-out lunch of Pad Thai noodles topped with Hoisin Pork — roughly $8, and we had three lunches each out of the glorious, tamarind-spiced creation. That’s six dining experiences! Corner of Seabright and Soquel – open 11 to 11 daily. Get over there!
Regal Theaters (or whatever its called this week) ought to be ashamed. A “small” popcorn now costs $5.25 at Santa Cruz’ downtown multi-plex. Give me a break! This is cruel and unusual punishment for popcorn lovers (me), and highway robbery any way you slice it. I know first-run movie houses are in trouble, but this is ridiculous. Having said that, I still maintain that nothing, absolutely nothing you can watch in the privacy of your own living room, can match the magic of the Big Screen. Movies are still the artform of our era. But from now on, I’ll have to give up the pleasure of munching popcorn with my movie. Damn!
Brian Rounds is a plein air painter with a genuine feel for our neck of the woods. (That sounded like a Bruce Bratton line, don’t you think?) Rounds will be on hand at the St. Patrick’s Day reception for his atmospheric oil paintings at Theo’s Restaurant in Soquel, March 17 from noon to 3pm. Stop by and soak up some local color in a landmark to the best that California Cuisine can offer.
by Christina Waters | Mar 8, 2007 | Food, Home |
At the Shadowbrook – yes, that Shadowbrook – last week, I had pizza so amazing that I found myself comparing it with the thin-crusted, sophisticated, completely addictive varieties I tasted in Rome. (Or, for that matter, at La Posta.)
Shadowbrook may not be known for its pizza. But that needs to change right now. At the main landing of the restaurant, down the winding, landscapes hillside, take a left and enter the Rock Room. Substantial appetizers are the rule here, and that’s where the pizza comes in. From the wood-fired oven comes a variety of satisfying $10 pizzas — perfect to share over drinks. The version I sampled last week featured a thin layer of pesto topped with toasted pinenuts, artichokes and grilled chicken, all on a feather-light, crisp crust. It has been a long time since I got this excited about pizza, but there it is!
The Rock Room feels good and it’s very user-friendly hours start at 4pm every day – from 2:30pm on Sundays.
by Christina Waters | Mar 2, 2007 | Food |
Check out my profile of O’mei restaurateur and cultural analyst Roger Grigsby, on p. 37 of the March 1 issue of GT Weekly.
by Christina Waters | Feb 28, 2007 | Home |
I spent an enchanting hour up at Love Apple Farm, where Cynthia Sandberg — grower for Manresa Restaurant — is busy experimenting with biodynamic techniques and rare varieties of herbs, leafy greens and root crops. (My story on Sandberg in March 8 issue, p. 19 of GT Weekly.)
In addition to two acres of raised beds, Sandberg cares for a flock of chickens so beautiful they might as well be sculpture. They share gourmet grub with Cynthia’s pot-belly pig, Dali, when they’re not out foraging on compost, bugs and other luscious morsels.
