It's All About...

Best Lovey-Dovey Movies

I'm still not sure how I feel about this whole Valentine's Day thing.

A. Do we do something special because the calendar says we should and we are otherwise unappreciative of our loved ones, and really, they deserve better than louts like us?
B. Do we not do something special because we don't want to obey Hallmark when, in fact, we ought to treat our Very Important Peeps with respect, dignity and adoration on a regular basis?
C. Do we just take the excuse to be cutie pies and do something accordingly cute and perhaps pie-related? Maybe with all the friends we love and admire, who will eat our home-baked pie, even if it's not very good?
D. Do we just buy into it in a semi-ironic and very hungry way by ordering a heart-shaped pizza from Papa John's, making a heart-shaped meatloaf, desserting on the all-green bag of M&Ms and watching a movie?

Can't resolve that conflict, but maybe It's All About can help you find a good movie?

One World Film Festival

The One World Film Festival is one of the the greatest (free!) annual events in Lexington. For 10 years, it has brought a string of (free!) independent films to downtown theaters. The points of the volunteer-run festival is for us to learn and discuss ideas through art, storytelling and entertainment.

The festival kicks of this weekend with Feb. 10 showings of Please Vote for Me, the first of 13 (free!) films.

There's no catch, no agenda-spewing, no "sign your soul and politics away on our petition, and please, enjoy the show." Just show up and watch, and if you're moved to stay after and discuss, they'll welcome it. If not, hey, see you next time, maybe?

Let's review: a good indie movie -- some have appeared on PBS, on the Oscar noms list, at dozens of film festivals; out-of-the-norm education; meeting your neighbors.

And free.

Click the link below for more info about each film.

The Big Lebowski, artistically rendered.

Photo by Finlay MacKay/NY Times

As Kentuckians, we have a keen interest in The Big Lebowski, directed by Joel and Ethan Coen.

The Coen brothers' new film, No Country for Old Men, is an adaptation of a Cormac McCarthy novel, which means it cannot possibly be as light-hearted. (How would I know, though? The film hasn't opened here yet.)

Regardless, The New York Times published a charming and bizarre series of portraits gathering together some of the favorite characters from Coen brothers' movies. There seems to be a special focus on The Big Lebowski in these photos by Finlay MacKay.

Take a gander. I'm sure you will love it. 100-percent certain.

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Celebrate: The Goth-tuckians made it through another round on The Amazing Race!
The teams traveled from Ireland to Amsterdam. Kynt and Vyxsin, of Louisville, didn't come in first, but they were far from last, and they didn't appear to break down, scream or panic even once. By the way, here's Vyxsin's MySpace, and Kynt's.

Apply: Carnegie Center's 2008 Young Women Writers Program.
It's a series of five workshops for women in grades 9-12. (They're held on Saturdays in January and February. You must attend at least four of the five.) They'll focus on poetry, fiction, nonfiction, memoir and journalism. Organizers assembled a tremendous list of instructors, including Nickole Brown, Bianca Spriggs-Floyd, Randi Ewing and Lori-Lyn Hurley. I'll be teaching the journalism workshop, focusing on music and culture writing.
    Every gal selected for the program is given a full scholarship. Another cool feature: In April, you'll do a public performance of your writing during Gallery Hop, and you'll be invited to read at the Kentucky Women Writers Conference in the fall. Download the application or  e-mail kgreene@carnegieliteracy.org for more information. Deadline is Nov. 16.

And speaking of young writers, read: Teen Board!
We had a teen-heavy weekend at the H-L, with This I Believe essays from some of them, as well as letters to Gov.-elect Steve Beshear. I am so proud of them -- their ideas, their talent, their willingness to explore and debate -- I could just burst!

In Dreams Awake: The Life of Bill Petrie

In Dreams Awake will have only one night at the Kentucky Theatre, but it is the collection of a lifetime of memories and friendships.

The documentary follows the life of William Joseph Petrie -- Bill to those who knew him -- a farmer, artist and activist from Grant County. The film collects dozens of stories from friends, original footage and photos of the artist and the tale of his short life.

One of the most engaging parts is a long overview of his paintings; they're bright and engaging and identifiably his. To hear the explanations of why people bought them and hang them proudly is fascinating; to learn the stories of when they were painted and what inspired them is educational.

The film will show at 7:45 p.m. Oct. 18 at the Kentucky, after a reception and live guitar performance. Tickets are available by calling (859) 231-6997. Watch for a story about it in Thursday's Free Time section.

Our truest life is when we are in dreams awake. - Henry David Thoreau

I'm a Lebowski, You're a Lebowski.

Will Russell and Scott Shuffitt, they're just a couple of regular guys, regular dudes, if you will. They really dug this movie, The Big Lebowski, and when they realized how many other people dug the 1998 Coen Brothers classic, they thought they'd have a little party at a bowling alley, about 20 friends, a couple games of bowling, a few white Russians, maybe some movie-inspired costumes. Then a couple hundred people showed up to the Louisville alley, and a rumble in this little world of pain turned into a roar: Lebowski Fest.

That was 2002. The movie had already bombed in theaters and stirred few critics, but developed a Star Trek-ish cult following that enjoys quoting dialogue and grooming Pomeranians. Russell and Shuffitt, now 31 and 35 respectively, founded a festival where all the high-achieving Lebowski fans could come together. "They all said 'I thought I was the only one," Shuffitt recalls.

The Louisville festival now draws 2,000 to 4,000 achievers for a few days every year, and proud we are of all of them. The Fest founders have taken it on the road, to Las Vegas, Seattle, Austin, New York and this summer, the United Kingdom. (Just imagine "You want a toe? I can get you a toe, believe me" in a Scottish brogue.) Lebowski Fest L.A. will be Oct. 12-13.

This month, those dudes, along with pals Bill Green and Brian Peskoe, released the definitive movie fan guide, I'm A Lebowski, You're A Lebowski (Bloomsbury, $16.95) some three years after a literary agent suggested they write it. The book includes interviews with some of the actors and real-life inspirations for the characters, plus a forward by The Dude himself, Jeff Bridges, and his photos from the movie set, images of festival posters, profiles of fans and a map to ATMs around Pasadena. Some of their favorite parts are graphic explanations of how to Dude-ify your home, car, life and what have you. From Lebowski Fest HQ, where there is, in fact, a red Oriental-style rug that really ties the room together, the founding dudes abided and explained.

Question: Have you gotten tired of the movie yet?
Russell: It blows my mind that I haven't gotten tired of it. I've probably seen it 100 times. It's such a  rewatchable movie. It just fills me with joy. I know what's coming next, but it's not about that. We started this thing on a lark. We didn't intend to do it again. Every week, something amazing happens. When it slows, something else will happen, like 'Did I really try on Jeff Bridges' jelly slipper?'
Shuffitt: The book, it ended up being was like a three-year school project. It wasn't like "Oh! Let's write a book," it was "Oooh, let's go get this book written." I'm very proud of the final product.

Apples or White Russians?

We have three awesome events going down in our towns tonight. I hope you'll all take advantage of at least one.

First!
Music: Apples in Stereo will play The Dame tonight with Aqueduct and High Water Marks. Doors open at 8 p.m., and tickets are $10. If you saw the Apples show when they began the tour for New Magnetic Wonder, you know that this is a can't-miss for fans.

Second!
Books and Movies: The Louisville-based founders of Lebowski Fest released the ultimate Lebowski fan guide, I'm a Lebowski, You're a Lebowski. The authors will be signing the book from 7-10 p.m. tonight at the Locker Room Lounge in Vernon Lanes, 1575 Story Ave. in Louisville. (Of course it's at a bowling alley. You didn't think they'd host a book signing in a book store, did you? Please.) I interviewed founding dudes Scott Shuffitt and Will Russell this week, and expect to see parts of the interview in Sunday's Arts & Life section, or if you're not into the whole brevity thing, the full interview online here shortly.

Third!
Inspiration: It's Idea Festival weekend in Kentucky. Today's events kick off with everyone from Nicholas Kristof to Hunter S. Thompson talks. If you can make it to any of these events -- they are so choice -- I highly recommend it.

The Simpsons Movie.

Because I remember the 1990s mostly for pimples, flannel and sibling rivalry, it’s not a decade I miss much.

But when it comes to The Simpsons, few long-term fans would say they’d prefer a celebrity-laden episode of today to the social commentary and burp jokes of the past.

The fans who remember when America’s most obnoxious family as it adopted a dog, shot a nuclear power baron and consumed great quantities of Duff beer and doughnuts are exactly those who should be in line for The Simpsons Movie. We’ve waited 18 years for this cartoon. Yes, it is time to watch.

Sure, there are celeb cameos from Green Day and Tom Hanks, but nothing gratuitous. (Remember when The White Stripes randomly showed up on the TV show? Huh?)

The humor is a snappy mix of old-school Simpsons and the newer, ruder humor that makes its sister show on Fox, Family Guy, such a success. You will see Bart’s cartoon naughty bits as he skateboards through town in the buff and later hear Mr. Burns tell the meek Mr. Smithers that he’d never consider suicide, personally, but it might amuse him if Smithers wanted to try it.

And then there’s something so very characteristic of 1990s Simpsons: a plot, one that could never have fit into 22 minutes.

Falling in love with Once

We've already established that, lately, it's not so hard to move me to tears. (Hello, Ms. Weepy at the Farmers Market!) Still, the movie Once probably could've pried a tear out of the most hardened, stoic viewer. It opened in Lexington three weeks ago, but I realize now we didn't give it enough attention. It's only got a few days left here, so let me give you the basics, plus some additional reading on the topic...   

Harry Potter preparation.

Warner Bros. Pictures

Like all the other crazies out there, I was at a midnight showing of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Tuesday night, walking tall because obviously it was the only place to be.

A short review, although you'd be better off reading Rich Copley's: I liked it. Daniel Radcliffe's newfound physique and acting ability might've stole the show, if not for Imelda Staunton's frosted pink Umbridge smile was pure evil. And then there was little Evanna Lynch, who was mesmerizing as Luna Lovegood. (I still identify pretty closely with Hermione, but I knew a lot of Luna-types in high school. What can I say? Michigan's Renaissance Festival was based in my town. If you've ever been to one, you know exactly which kids I'm talking about.)

My great troubles with the film are mostly the snotty whining of a reader. They changed things! Wah! They cut too much! Wah! One serious criticism: At least one major plot point -- the prophecy provided by Prof. Trelawney -- was never clearly explained. If you hadn't read the books, you might be wondering if you'd accidentally dozed off during that midnight showing.

But what does this all mean for the big release, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, which will have its big debut at midnight July 20? Check out Heather Chapman's Potter blog, The Muggle Tongue, for notes on what was and wasn't in the movie that might come back later. (Author J.K. Rowling consults on the movies because, you know, it's hard to make a series of movies when you don't really know how it's going to end.)

And the serious crazies, the ones who were dressed up on Tuesday night and plan to spend all next weekend reading, maybe you should enter our blogging contest. We're looking for a few good readers to update us on their progress throughout that first weekend.

My plans for the night-of? I'll be at some book store's Potter party -- not sure which yet -- sipping homemade Butterbeer with my pals. Tell me what your plans are. Maybe we'll see you there.

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Read: All about hairy backs.
I've been working on this story for far too long. Enjoy.

Springfield, Vermont?!

Sad news for us today: Springfield, Ky. won't be hosting The Simpsons Movie premiere.

The honor goes to Springfield, Vt., according to the H-L story by Greg Kocher. As a consolation, each town will get a small screening the night before the film is released nationwide on July 27. You can see production photos from the Kentucky filming by clicking here.