Arts

Moneyball' joins league of sports flicks for everyone

An interview with Gordon Ramsay, reality TV chef

Gordon Ramsay has always been an eccentric character and incredible chef. However, he was only thrust into the American spotlight in 2005 with his cooking reality show, "Hell's Kitchen." On the show — currently in its ninth season — chefs compete for a prestigious head chef position and Ramsay's harsh critiques and bad temper have earned him a considerable reputation. In another reality show, "Kitchen Nightmares," Ramsay travels to struggling restaurants around the country hoping to save them. As in "Hell's Kitchen," his criticisms are often harsh.

Aguirre leaps and twirls across Tufts' dance scene

Tufts senior Christina Aguirre is a classically trained dancer who literally does it all: She pirouettes as the president of Sarabande, gets low as a choreographer and dancer for Spirit of Color and was even a former member of Static Noyze last year, the Boston-based dance company that was in the running for MTV's "America's Best Dance Crew." Although she'll never admit it herself, Aguirre is the closest thing Tufts has to a "So You Think You Can Dance" all-star.

Blue Inc. serves up genuine flavor in a chic package

Should you find yourself with a bit of extra cash on hand to devote to some culinary spelunking — or in the company of a date whom you'd very much like to impress — there is no shortage of high-end dining options in Cambridge and Boston proper. Choices range from the Southern quirks of Hungry Mother, to the classic appeal of Ten Tables, to the rustic, gourmet quality of Gaslight Brasserie du Coin.

Kasabian's fourth album falls short of self-styled hype

Kasabian has a lot to live up to — mainly, its own hype. Three months prior to the release of its fourth album, Kasabian's front man Tom Meighan told NME Magazine that "Velociraptor!" would "change people's lives." When the band leapt into fame back in 2004, it declared itself the best British band of the time.

Danish director Refn brings thoughtful direction to gritty action film 'Drive'

Danish director Nicolas Winding Refn could have turned an action film into a masterpiece. He was damn close, and the necessary ingredients were in the right places: Ryan Gosling in the lead role, talents like Bryan Cranston, Ron Perlman and Albert Brooks in the supporting cast, a tremendously dynamic soundtrack, restrained car chases and some heavy suspense. "Drive," however, does not find perfection because the film is too addicted to its excessive choice of style.

Australian Bell conveys activism through art

The controversial work of Richard Bell has been well-known for a long time in his native Australia, but he is still unknown to many Americans. Bell's art-cum-activism, now on view at the Tufts University Art Gallery, creates a dialogue around the still unaddressed plight of the Australian Aboriginal community. Until 1967, the Australian census counted Aboriginals not as citizens, but as "Flora and Fauna." Unfortunately, the stereotypes and racism arising out of this social imbalance are still very much ingrained in Australian society. Bell's work seeks to bring these injustices out from under the carpet and into the limelight. Daily Arts Editor Anna Majeski sat down with Mr. Bell to discuss his work, his history and how he uses his art as a vehicle for these issues:

Jordan Teicher | The Independent

have never written a column before. You could say I am losing my column virginity and make some "American Pie" (1999) joke involving the forgotten career of Jason Biggs and a warm apple dessert, but I think it is best if we leave that to the sex columnists. For nine years — dating back to middle school — I have been involved in scholastic journalism. Now, with eight months left in my college career, I get to write in the first-person and have a goofy portrait of myself accompanying the text each week. For that, I am grateful.

Intriguing remakes and promising, nostalgia-laden originals on the horizon for television this fall

Every fall, television networks spew out dozens of new programs, hoping that one will catch viewers' attention and become the breakout show of the year. Plenty of quality and original programs look to find a following as stations start premiering some of their most anticipated pilots.

Whistler's 'The Bacchae' revels to tragic success

Darkness has fallen. Silence reigns in the tiny Charlestown Working Theater, and not even the nearby actors' breathing can be heard. Just as the sensory dearth begins to become unbearable, a soft glow radiates from a box in center stage. The chorus begins to dart, run and tumble, until — finally — the boxed light is mounted, a mask is put on with trembling fingers and frantic panting, and Dionysos begins to speak.

Deschanel's performance carries Fox's cliched new romcom

There are only a few actresses in Hollywood who manage to transcend the various rules of attraction. More often than not, they are either aligned with what is known as "boy or girl sexy." Zooey Deschanel, the star of Fox's new sitcom, the "New Girl," somehow manages to fuse the two. With her quirky and charming humor, Deschanel attempts to save a fairly tired and cliched script.

Chris Poldoian | Extra Butter

You know what the most awkward part is about Facebook photo−stalking — other than admitting to the entire Tufts population that you actually Facebook−stalk? The answer: pressing the left key when viewing the first photo. It is that chance click that sends you soaring into yester−year, to the days of pudgy, awkward adolescence. Yeah, it's weird. I imagine that's how most of us will feel now when we pop in any of our old movies starring Jonah Hill.

Old favorites return to television this month

This month, many beloved television shows return to the airwaves after their summer hiatus. Fans will finally get to see if their favorite shows will continue to succeed or if they will take a turn for the worse.

Laura Marling's latest explores dark, sophisticated themes

Laura Marling's third album, "A Creature I Don't Know," has been highly anticipated ever since she started recording it. After bringing innovative style and attitude to the singer−songwriter scene with her first two albums, Marling faced real pressure of following up with something just as good, if not better.

Apollo 18' is one giant leap in the wrong direction for cinema

Gonzalo López-Gallego's "Apollo 18" (2011) has conquered new frontiers of flopping. Here is a movie of such astoundingly poor quality that it even misses the "so bad it's good" territory, settling instead into the realm of painful, absolute disaster.

Favorites and winners: predictions for the Emmy Awards

This Sunday, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences will be handing out the 63rd annual Emmy Awards. This year's nominees include many fan-favorite shows and critically acclaimed productions.

Swardson exposes himself as 'Bucky Larson'

Comedian and actor Nick Swardson has been one of Hollywood's rising stars of comedy ever since he was taken under the wing of Adam Sandler and his merry troupe of goofballs. The Daily got an opportunity to speak with Nick via telephone about his starring role in "Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star," which he co-wrote with Sandler and Happy Madison Productions coworker Allen Covert, as well as his whimsical experience playing an undersized porn star.

The Debt' frees itself from the stereotypical espionage genre

Films can easily succumb to melodramatic scripts and overdone performances, especially when the focus is on unearthing truths from the past. "The Debt," however, treats its plot and truths with a certain care, keeping the drama in check and the performances on par with the script. The film's ultimate downfall lies in its inability to create a seamless transition between characters in the past and present.

Fashion's Night Out Boston 2011 takes style to the streets

"Walk, walk, fashion baby." From New York to L.A., Paris to Milan, fashionistas around the world were out on the streets in style as they celebrated Fashion's Night Out (FNO) on Sept. 8. FNO is the one time of year where stores stay open late for a night of shopping, champagne and giveaways.

Healthy food, fun theme make Veggie Galaxy a worthy addition to Boston's vegetarian fare

Imagine if a 1950s diner somehow became… healthy. Now imagine if this diner burst onto the culinary scene with a vegan bakery, homemade bread and a menu comprised entirely of vegetarian diner fare. Sound too good to be true?