Charleston Gazette

The Gazz Calendar: ; Feb. 16-22

gazz MUSIC

Best Bet: ; Wasn't He; in ...?

Yep, you may not know his name, but you probably know his face. Kevin Pollak, who has appeared in more than 60 movies and television shows in his 30-plus-year career, brings his stand-up act to the Huntington Funny Bone, 26 Pullman Square Drive, Suite 207, this weekend with shows at 7:30 and 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 7 p.m. Sunday. Though Pollak's resume includes heavies like "The Usual Suspects," he is a comic at heart, starting stand-up comedy at age 10 and touring by age 20. A noted ...

Walk with Me

The law office of Foreman & Huber, 100 Capitol St., Suite 400, is joining tonight's art walk with "Inside Out: A Series of Life Size Abstract Self-Portraits by the Girls from High Rocks" (pictured). High Rocks, located in Pocahontas County, is a program for high school girls in Pocahontas, Nicholas and Greenbrier counties that encourages leadership, personal confidence and academic skills. The art walk runs from 5 to 8 p.m. At the Callen McJunkin Gallery, 221 Capitol St., an exhibit of works ...

Cabell Midland to Host Choir Competition

The second annual Cabell Midland High School Show Choir Competition will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 4 at Cabell Midland. Participating choirs include: Buckhannon-Upshur, Capital, Grafton, Herbert Hoover, Huntington, Nitro, Poca, Princeton, Riverside, Sissonville, St. Albans, Winfield and Dobyns Bennet of Kingsport, Tenn.

New Sounds

For longer versions of these and other reviews, see the NewSounds blog at thegazz.com. The Strokes: Multiple listens required

Coming Up: ; Hearts of Gold; Emotion Mixes with Brain Food in Oscar's Best- Picture Field

Academy Awards nominations confirm it: 2005 may have been an off year for the blockbuster crowd, but it was a great year for people who love quality cinema. Oscar voters overlooked big, amiable studio fare in favor of inquisitive films that present one of the most challenging best- picture lineups since the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences began handing out trophies in 1929. The Oscars take place March 5 in Los Angeles.

Dogs Outperform People in 'Eight'

REVIEW "Eight Below" HH 1/2 Rated PG (some peril and brief mild language) Directed by Frank Marshall Starring Paul Walker, Bruce Greenwood Marquee Cinemas, Park Place Stadium Cinemas There was a great nature and survival film to be had in "Eight Below," the story of sled dogs struggling to stay alive in Antarctica after their two-legged overseers leave them behind during a killer storm.

Nelson Records Gay-Cowboy Song

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Willie Nelson sang "Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to Be Cowboys" and "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys" more than 25 years ago. The 72-year-old singer released a different sort of cowboy anthem this Valentine's Day.

Film Clips

* "CURIOUS GEORGE": HH 1/2 Marquee Cinemas, Park Place Stadium Cinemas. "Oh, no," you're thinking. "Not again." They took a classic children's story and crammed it with pop-culture jokes and self- referential humor like so many recent animated films, simply to appeal to the adults. Thankfully, they don't, and the movie remains very much true to the spirit of the beloved books. Rated G. * "FINAL DESTINATION 3": HH MC, PPSC. The third time usually isn't the charm when it comes to movie franchis...

Gameplayer: ; 'Thrones' Completes; 'Prince' Trilogy Royally

REVIEW "Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones HHH 1/2 Publisher: Ubisoft System: Sony PlayStation 2 Cost: $49.99 ESRB Rating: Mature Ubisoft's final chapter in the "Prince of Persia" trilogy combines the ethereal and graceful feel of the first title with the dark and violent nature of the second to create a game that will surely appease fans of both.

In Short

Trying again, by George The Charleston Light Opera Guild will audition for George & Ira Gershwin's "Crazy For You," which replaces the shows the guild was unable to cast, first "Cats," then "Swing." This musical comedy is a new version of a 1930s musical. It includes seven great Gershwin songs from the earlier production, including "Bidin' My Time," "Embraceable You," "I Got Rhythm" and "Not For Me" plus 13 other Gershwin songs, including "They Can't Take That Away From Me" and "Nice Work If ...

Contest: ; so, You Think That Movie's Great?

At last, someone who actually knows something about movies will help out with our Oscar stories for the gazz - you. On March 2, we mark the Oscar ceremonies (to be broadcast March 5) with the "My Greatest Movie Of All Time" Gazz Oscar Contest. Delve into the dark theaters of your mind for that one movie you think represents everything good and wonderful in film. Your selections don't need to be technically or culturally significant. They don't even have to be good as long as you can back them...

The Good, the Bad and the Edgy

IF YOU GO The Nude Art Exhibition, 16001/2 Washington St. E., above the Bluegrass Kitchen. A Gallery Walk reception takes place 5 to 8 p.m. today. Other times: Monday and Tuesday, noon to 5 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 5 to 9 p.m.; or by appointment. No admission, but tips are appreciated. Call 346-2871. There comes a time in every reviewer's life when he is faced with the dilemma of whether to review a venue or the material contained within.

Executive Decision Fails 'Freedomland'

REVIEW Freedomland H 1/2 Rated R (language and some violent content) Directed by Joe Roth Starring Samuel L. Jackson, Julianne Moore Marquee Cinemas, Park Place Stadium Cinemas "Freedomland" clearly was an important film for Joe Roth - so important that the esteemed Hollywood executive decided he had to direct it himself.

Columnist Trades Newspaper for the Stage with Debut Play

flipside@wvgazette.com Nearly every month, in conjunction with the Art in the Heart downtown art walk, the Kanawha Players host an evening of short plays. Tonight, as part of the 2005-06 "Bizarre Briefs and Twisted Shorts," season, the group hosts "Valentines Gone Bad," a holiday celebration that's not so lovey-dovey. The 8 p.m. show costs $5 at the Charleston Ballet building, 822 Virginia St. E. Or, you can see it Feb. 23 at Hurricane's Museum in the Community. Since one of tonight's plays i...

Olympics Finish Far Behind 'Idol' in Tvratings

NEW YORK - The winter Olympics proved no match for television's gold-medal winner, "American Idol." Fox's phenomenally successful contest crushed the Olympics in head-to-head competition on Tuesday night, 27 million viewers to 16.1 million, according to Nielsen Media Research.

Rockin' Till the Cows Come Home

Charleston-based eclectic folk-rockers Holy Cow! (Mike Arcuri and Keith Lhati) bring their offbeat brand of music to Charleston's Capitol Roasters Cafe, 160 Summers St., at 8:30 p.m. Saturday. It's wild, it's sometimes wacky, and it's free.

Next Week

People in the News

Conan O'Brien meets Finnish president "Late Night" wit Conan O'Brien at last has met the Finnish politician whose re-election campaign he helped because of what he described as a striking physical resemblance. O'Brien presented Finnish President Tarja Halonen a heart-shaped box of chocolates during their meeting at the presidential palace in Helsinki. The prez, the first woman to hold the job in Finland, gave O'Brien Finnish troll dolls.

Pond Photo Fetches Record $2.9 Million

NEW YORK - A photograph of a pond taken by Edward Steichen has sold for more than $2.9 million, easily setting a world record for the highest-priced photograph ever auctioned, Sotheby's said. "The Pond-Moonlight," taken on Long Island in 1904, sold on Tuesday for $2,928,000, including the buyer's premium, Sotheby's spokesman Matthew Weigman said. It was bought by Peter MacGill, of Pace/MacGill Gallery, on behalf of a private collector.