Friday news and reviews
Art
Photographer Angela Strassheim turns her artistry to crime scenes in a new Minneapolis Institute of Arts show.
- Mary Abbe, Star Tribune
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Books
Minnesotan gets the best of 2 book worlds
E-book author Amanda Hocking signs with a traditional publisher. Tales of trolls and vampires are making Minnesota publishing phenomenon Amanda Hocking, 26, a millionaire.
- KIM ODE, Star Tribune
General
Wonder and tragedy: 'Midnight Party' and 'Woyzeck' at the Walker
I had a scheme, but places like the Walker Art Center are making it awfully hard for me to enact it.
- Max Sparber, MinnPost.com
Movies/Television
A new, inspired "Jane Eyre" is filled with passion, fury and pain.
- Colin Covert, Star Tribune
Review: To Eyre is human, to forbode divine
"Jane Eyre" knows exactly who she is, which is both a blessing and a curse.
- Chris Hewitt, Pioneer Press
Pipsqueak as protagonist in 'Wimpy Kid'
Poop jokes and high jinks abound in "Wimpy Kid" sequel.
- COLIN COVERT, Star Tribune
Review: We kid you not -- sequel is as endearing as the 'Wimpy' original
The key to the appeal of "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules" is similar to the first "Diary": the loving, mistake-prone and funny family at its core.
- Chris Hewitt, Pioneer Press
In a lively rom-com, a cast of late-twentysomethings test themselves against love and duty.
- COLIN COVERT, Star Tribune
Review: Happythankyounowgobacktotelevision
The comedy is called "Happythankyoumoreplease," but a better title would be "Icknogoaway."
- Chris Hewitt, Pioneer Press
Remarkable actress is the brightness in bleak story of shame and retribution
For Sibel Kekilli, making "When We Leave" must have felt like running a marathon, then doing a triathlon, then climbing a couple of mountains.
- Chris Hewitt, Pioneer Press
Now in its 18th year, the Jewish Film Festival presents 18 movies through April 10.
- COLIN COVERT, Star Tribune
Review: Director's mind games will get audiences to brainstorm
Early in "Certified Copy," a character named James says of art, "There are no fixed references, no immutable truths to fall back on." He's probably also talking about the movie.
- Chris Hewitt, Pioneer Press
Series of eight films from Italy includes a compelling true story, a contemporary comedy and a Mafia drama.
- COLIN COVERT, Star Tribune
Music
Benefits for Japan begin with 50 musicians in two-night gig
The first of what likely will be many benefit shows for Japan have been booked, and the opener looks promising, with more than 50 area musicians staging a two-night show Monday and Tuesday at Rudolphs in Minneapolis.
- Ross Raihala, Pioneer Press
A diary (and Twitter) account of how Minnesota's record number of artists fared in Austin, Texas, last week.
- CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER, Star Tribune
McNally Smith launches online radio station, iPhone appSpearheaded by students at the school with help from Composition faculty member J. Anthony Allen, the radio station is currently developing programming and is trying to get the word out to musicians and labels to submit material.
- Andrea Swensson, City Pages
Country superstar Kenny Chesney connects with football's "Boys of Fall" on radio and TV and in hockey arenas -- but not NFL stadiums.
- JON BREAM, Star Tribune
Chapel Club at the Entry, 03/24/11
There is something exhilarating about seeing a young English band on their first proper tour of the U.S.
- Erik Thompson, City Pages
The Wailin' Jennys' "Bright Morning Stars" fairly glistens
They're excellent lead singers who, when they blend their voices in harmony or back each other up, weave a rich aural tapestry, with passion.
- Dwight Hobbes, TC Daily Planet
Hot Tuna's "Steady As She Goes": Yes, they DO still make them like that
"Steady As She Goes should do pretty damned good things for the band and for Red House Records."
- Dwight Hobbes, TC Daily Planet
Stage
"Oedipus el Rey" illuminates a dreary fate
The Cradle-to-Prison-Pipeline serves as the political backdrop for Luis Alfaro's play Oedipus el Rey, now being presented by Teatro del Pueblo and Pangea World Theater at The Lab Theater.
- Sheila Regan, TC Daily Planet
Members of the cast of "Avenue Q" talk about their puppet characters, and vice versa.
- ROHAN PRESTON, Star Tribune
Text, photos, music, installations ... it's all 'Women's Work'
"It's Women's Work," is a five-week showcase for local women artists at Open Eye Figure Theatre.
- Mary Ann Grossmann, Pioneer Press
Backstage theater stories with Peter Michael Goetz"Of course, we won't be doing that in front of a live audience," he told me.
- Max Sparber, MinnPost.com
MSU Mankato's 'The Odyssey' at the Kennedy Center
Theater students from Minnesota State University, Mankato, will be performing at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., on April 21. The Department of Theatre & Dance's production of Homer's "The Odyssey" is one of four productions from throughout the nation chosen for the honor.
- Pioneer Press