.MOVIE LISTINGS | MOVIE REVIEW ARCHIVE | THEATER INFO
Black Book Directed by Paul Verhoeven. Written by Verhoeven and Gerard Soeteman. Cinematography, Karl Walter Lindenlaub. Music, Anne Dudley. Starring Carice van Houten, Sebastian Koch and Thom Hoffman. Sony Pictures Classics, 2006. R. 145 minutes. 
Chotic, fidgety and incredibly tense, Black Book carries so many contradictions that by the end it simply collapses, broken-backed. For one thing, this mostly enjoyable spy thriller is a love story between a Dutch Jew, Rachel Stein (Carice van Houten), and the German Colonel Muntze (Sebastian Koch) during WWII. What’s more, although Black Book was filmed in Holland to recreate a complex period in Dutch history, the film has an epic Hollywood feel reminiscent of Spielbergian blockbusters, notably Schindler’s List. It wants quite badly to be a serious picture, but Americans only know Black Book‘s director, Paul Verhoeven, as the man who yelled “Action!” just before Sharon Stone uncrossed her legs. I could go on, but you get the drift: Black Book is something of a paradox — one that’s satisfying almost all the way through. Read more…
Avenue Montaigne Directed by Danièle Thompson. Written by Danièle Thompson and Christopher Thompson. Starring Cécile de France, Valérie Lemercier, Claude Brasseur, Albert Dupontel, Laura Morante, Sydney Pollack and Christopher Thompson. THINKFilm, 2007. PG-13. 100 minutes. In French and English with English subtitles.
Once upon a time, maybe, more romantic comedies were like Avenue Montaigne.The film’s humor is a gentle thing, built more in small moments than belly laughs and pratfalls. As for romance, Avenue Montaigne take a wonderful and welcome tack: It gives nearly as much weight to an established relationship under strain as it does a new one just begun to bloom. Read more…
Archeology Channel International Film and Video Festival
This year, The Archaeology Channel International Film and Video Festival has a new home in The Shedd’s Jaqua Concert Hall. But as usual, the festival encompasses more than just movie screenings; a guided tour of Cascadia Cave with Tony Farque and a free symposium on heritage film at the Downtown Library, both on Friday, are among the additional events. Read more…
A Note From the Publisher
Dear Readers,
The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.
That’s because of you!
Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.
Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.
We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.
And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.
None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.
As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.
Thank you for standing with us!
Publisher
Eugene Weekly
P.S. If you’d like to talk about supporting EW, I’d love to hear from you!
jody@eugeneweekly.com
(541) 484-0519