Oscar nomination predictions
March 5, 2010
By Mitch Ringenberg
<mringenberg@hilite.org>
Best Picture
Who Will Win: “The Hurt Locker” has been sweeping every awards ceremony this year and even won director Kathryn Bigelow a Directors Guild. While James Cameron’s “Avatar” seems to be its toughest competition, the Academy will likely lean towards a wrenching drama before a blockbuster film.
Who Should Win: The Academy recently expanded the number of permitted Best Picture nominees from five to ten. Because of this, the selection for Best Picture is now a lot tougher. While “Avatar” was groundbreaking, its plot and dialogue don’t quite make it Oscar material. “The Hurt Locker” is an effective war film, but not worthy of comparison to other Best Picture war films like “Platoon” and “Braveheart.” My choice would be Quentin Tarantino’s “Inglourious Basterds” was one of the best war films I’ve ever seen, and Tarantino’s greatest work since the “Kill Bill” series.
Best Director
Who Will Win: It’s a tough call, but director Kathryn Bigelow will most likely get the coveted prize. Most Best Picture winners also receive a directing award, and while a James Cameron upset isn’t impossible, Bigelow has the upper hand.
Who Should Win: Jason Reitman, made his most accomplished film yet this year with “Up in the Air.” This was one of the best film’s of the year and Reitman’s directing was an even bigger surprise than Tarantino’s return to form.
Best Actor
Who Will Win: Jeff Bridges seems to be the favorite here. His role as Bad Blake in “Crazy Heart” is the single most praised performance of the year. This is almost a sure thing.
Who Should Win: Jeff Bridges played one of the most fascinating characters of his often-great career, and among the other choices, is simply the best candidate.
Best Actress
Who Will Win: Unfortunately, the Academy loves a tearjerker, even if its story is one of the most generic in Hollywood. Sandra Bullock is the front-runner in this category, for the “Blind Side.”
Who Should Win: Gabourey Sidibe, a former unknown, came out of nowhere in “Precious.” The film itself was only good, but Sibide’s performance was incredible, let alone for a newcomer.
Best Supporting Actor
Who Will Win: Christoph Waltz is a surefire winner for this category. His performance won him a Best Actor award at the Cannes film festival and gave “Inglourious Basterds” a much-deserved pre-release buzz.
Who Should Win: Christoph Waltz is by far the best choice here.
Best Supporting Actress
Who Will Win: Mo’Nique, an actress who until recently had not a shred of credibility, shocked critics and moviegoers with an insanely great role in “Precious.” Again, this nominee is almost a sure thing.
Who Should Win: Mo’Nique is definitely the winner.
‘Ketchup’ with local favorites
February 25, 2010
Entertainment reporter Min Qiao reviews and categorizes some of the area’s best burger joints
Best atmosphere
Red Robin
As one of the more expensive burger places around, Red Robin offers great quality in all aspects of dining except for food. The family-friendly atmosphere provides the perfect environment for younger kids and their parents to enjoy a casual, laid-back meal. Fully equipped with a bar and classic retro décor of a diner, the restaurant seems like the perfect burger joint—until the food is served. Its lackluster burgers are priced around $8 to $10 and, although Red Robin advertises their burgers as gourmet, there was nothing “gourmet” about the Bleu Cheese Ribbon Burger I had.
Even though I am fan of bleu cheese and have always enjoyed a good chipotle taste, I really can’t say much about this burger. Its famous stacked onion rings definitely looked much better than they actually tasted. Overall, Red Robin just does not seem to be worth the buck. Even the great atmosphere and service cannot make up for the terrible quality of its food. In fact, it seems that Red Robin invests much more on the expensive décor and presentation than its “gourmet” burgers.
Ratings
Atmosphere: A
Pricing: C
Service: A-
Quality of Food: B-
Location
14599 Clay Terrace Blvd.
or 9965 N. Michigan Road
Hours
Sunday to Thursday:
11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday to Saturday:
11 a.m. to 11p.m.
Best Atmosphere
Provides a fun and upbeat atmosphere that is inviting and family friendly.
Best overall
Bub’s Burgers and Ice Cream
Despite all the other burger joints that have opened up around here, Bub’s still remains the number one diner for my burgers. This classic local restaurant has flourished into a widely popular burger joint for everyone. On any given night, this restaurant is always packed with locals eager to get another bite of its famous Ugly Burgers. Even though I have yet to gulp down one of its famous Big Ugly’s, I have had and enjoyed the quarter pound version of it.
To me, a burger consists of two main elements—the meat and the bun. Bub’s has got both of these elements perfected to the tee. I’ve eaten at Bub’s countless times and each burger I’ve had there has come with a big, juicy beef patty and perfectly toasted buns. Its burgers are always perfectly seasoned and full of flavor. On top of it all, this place has the best waffle fries I have ever had. Beyond the food, Bub’s offers pretty decent service. On a busy day, the orders might take a bit longer and the place might be a bit louder, but these factors does not deter from the quality of their food. Usually, though, the food arrives within 10-15 minutes and crowded-ness is only a tribute to the popularity of place. For a reasonable price, one can enjoy a great dining experience at Bub’s.
Ratings
Atmosphere: B+
Pricing: A
Service: A-
Quality of Food: A+
Location
210 W. Main St.
Carmel, IN 46032
Hours
Sunday to Thursday:
11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Friday to Saturday:
11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Best Overall
Bub’s Burgers seems to please overall. With the line out the door in the summer months it continues to please new and returning customers
Least expensive
Bar Louie
Bar Louie has by far the best burger deal in Carmel. Every Tuesday night they has the “Dollar Burger Special” where for $1 a diner can order a plain burger with lettuce. While the total bill is not $1 it is still a great deal.
Compared to its normal burger price of $10, this price can really not be beat. Additional toppings can then be purchased upon request ranging from 50 cents to $1. The toppings menu offers a wide variety of toppings including bacon, sautéed mushrooms and their homemade chipotle mayo.
All together the average diner’s bill is usually around $6 including a drink, which is a bill more common at a fast food restaurant. However, despite the low cost, Bar Louie definitely does not sacrifice cost for taste. For high school students on a budget, Bar Louie remains one of the best deals in town.
Ratings
Atmosphere: B
Pricing: A-
Service: C
Quality of Food: B+
Location
14299 Clay Terrace Blvd.
Hours
Daily: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Fast and Simple
Having a delicious burger, fries and a drink for around $6 makes Bar Louie the best meal deal in town.
Fast and Simple
Five Guys Burgers and Fries
Upon walking into Five Guys, I immediately felt like I was back at our main cafeteria. Adorned with sterile white walls, the place felt stripped of any personality.
While we waited for our order numbers to be called out, we were offered complimentary peanuts located in cardboard boxes throughout the restaurant. For a fast food restaurant, their burgers were much better than I expected. The portion sizes were huge and a regular sized burger came with two hefty patties.
The burger itself tasted fine. The meat patties were fairly good and it was clear that their ingredients were fresh and never frozen. Despite the lackluster presentation of the food and the mediocre service, Five Guys is still a perfect place to grab a quick bite. I would not go there looking for a great dining experience, but the actual quality of its burgers makes it a worthy place to find a great meal.
Ratings
Atmosphere: B
Pricing: A-
Service: C
Quality of Food: B+
Location
2902 W. 86th St., Indianapolis, IN
Hours
Daily: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Fast and Simple
Five Guys put fast food on another level, allowing quality to meet speedy.
Stacking Up to the Rest
February 25, 2010
The stacked pickle is the new burger joint in town. How does it compare to local competitors?
By Sally Bae
<sbae@hilite.org>
Burgers and wings have always been popular and traditional American fare for hungry customers. However, it is difficult to find a genuinely good burger as most are indistinguishable from one restaurant to the next. Stacked Pickle, however, offers a small, but impressive selection of burgers and wings which are definitely worth the wait.
Stacked Pickle is a cozy dine-in restaurant with classic American fare. The atmosphere was inviting and rustic, although dimly lit. It did seem to cater to an older audience with the bar being a main feature of the restaurant. There were several plasma screen televisions, all tuned to ESPN, and a pool table, giving off a casual, meeting spot feeling. One rather interesting bit was the “over-21 only” game room in the corner of the restaurant.
Service was decent, not exceptional but friendly and prompt. I visited the restaurant around 5:30 p.m., but surprisingly, did not see much of a dinner crowd. I am assuming, however, that the majority of its older customers drop by at later hours for a drink. Seating was immediate and it only took about 10 minutes to get my order.
The restaurant featured their burgers, wings and beer as the favorites on their menu. The rest of the menu is a very typical mixture of pizza, tacos, and other standard fare. (Although I did see a rather strange appetizer, fried pickles, which I was not brave enough to order.) I had one of the favorite burgers, the Mob-Ster, topped with mushrooms, onions and bacon. All the burgers come with a side of fries with a price tag of about $7. The prices for these burgers are on the high side, but I felt that it was a decent price in comparison to similar restaurants. The burger itself was delicious, if not a bit large. The meat was cooked just right (medium-well for me) with plenty of toppings, served on soft warm bread.
Aside from the burger, the item that most caught my attention was the side of chicken wings. They come with celery and ranch or bleu cheese sauce and can be ordered in a variety of styles for $7 as well. I ordered the medium wings, which were juicy and flavorful with just enough heat, definitely a must-have. The other side item, however, was not quite as spectacular. There was a large serving of fries that came with the burger, but I felt they were flaky and mushy.
Overall, Stacked Pickle was a satisfactory, if not a bit pricey burger joint. Granted, I was not the typical customer, but enjoyed my experience nevertheless.
In comparison to other burger joints, Stacked Pickle was good but did not excel in one particular category. The burgers, themselves, are capable of competing with other restaurants but were not exceptional. In terms of pricing, Stacked Pickle cost is average restaurant for their burgers. The extra items on the menu, appetizers and sides, were pricey in comparison.
It was, however, definitely not a family restaurant, which other burger restaurants cater to. Overall, the food is worth a visit, but there are other options that might better fit the average high school student.
Digital Killed the Movie Star
February 25, 2010
Special effects prove to be bigger money-makers than even the most popular movie stars
By Ellie Seta
Prior to the 21st century, movie stars such as Julia Roberts, Tom Cruise and Tom Hanks dominated the film industry. But then in 1997, a phenomenon known as “Titanic” came crashing into the movie business, single-handedly revolutionizing the way future movies would be created. This new emphasis on special effects created a tremendous buzz and resulted in almost $1.8 billion in gross sales in the worldwide box office. In the last decade, digital spectacles have become a much larger draw than any of the famous actors and actresses who previously ruled the box office. Read more
Stepping it up
January 29, 2010
Resolutions to get fit in 2010 can now be revived. Reviews of local gyms will hopefully help jump- start your motivation to finding the best gym for the new you in the new year
Compiled By Min Qiao
Monon Center
This newly constructed facility is the center for almost any kind of activity. From its standard gym with some of the newest and technologically advanced equipment to the indoor track, the Monon Center has the resources for any activity. Entering through the Monon Center West entrance, the first thing one sees it its indoor water park. The emphasis here is on the “park.” Crossing over the lobby to go upstairs, one can then see a standard gym complete with elliptical machines and weight lifting equipment.
Beyond the gym, there is a brand-spanking-new indoor track with an equally impressive basketball court right below. Even more, the Monon Community Center is also filled with various workout studios perfect for the large variety of fitness classes taught here. The Monon Community Center brochures lists over 100 classes available for people of all ages, including special events and non-athletic activities.
Due to the large variety of activity that goes on around the facility, it seems be more of an activity center than a gym. The classes here range from standard aerobics workouts to painting and French. It is the one-stop center for any and everything which makes it especially suitable for family-oriented activities and workouts.
Certainly the huge breadth of activities available at the Monon Community Center can be a plus, but it can also sometimes be a negative. Instead of in-depth fitness classes to actually train participants in that particular area, the classes at the Monon Community Center tends to be geared toward beginners to learn that activity. For only $35 a month, this is a perfect way to stretch that last dollar and still get the benefits of a large gym to explore all of its programs, although additional classes here can cost up anywhere from $60 to $100.
Lifetime Fitness
Much like the Monon Center, Lifestyle Family Fitness puts an emphasis on family and it even has a kid’s club. However, the focus here is much more honed towards fitness and workouts. While the facility here is certainly smaller than Monon Center, that does not deter from the quality of resources. Everything from the equipment to the general condition of the place shows that it is well-maintained and everything is kept in mint conditions.
In addition to their main gym with the standard treadmills, bikes and weight machines, this place also features indoor basketball courts and a pool. Even though the pool might not be as big as one at an actual aquatics center, the four 25-yard lanes here are enough for a good swim. All of the classes here are fitness-oriented, including anything from Pilates to senior fit.
What stands out especially about Lifestyle Family Fitness is the service provided here. Upon joining the gym, members will get three free personal training sessions that can help guide them through the equipment. In addition, the club takes great measures to make sure that their members achieve whatever fitness goals they have. Members may opt for an initial test to measure things like body fat percentage and fitness level. From there, they will help find the perfect workout to cater to members’ goals.
All of these resources rack up a pretty high price tag for this gym. However, given the quality of service and workout equipment available, it is definitely worth the buck.
Carmel Total Fitness
With a basketball court, racquetball court and decent sized gym, the Carmel Total Fitness center is pretty much a standard workout center. Despite the slightly older building where it is housed, the actual equipment at the facility is relatively new and up-to-date. Its brochure boasts a tanning booth and a sauna as well. For an additional price, there is also a nursery for those who needs child care services while at the gym.
The classes offered here are pretty standard with some like Pilates, Tae Kwon Do and cycling free with the membership while other classes like Power Pump charge additional fees. Compared to the some of the other gyms, however, the resources at this facility are relatively scarce. The variety of activities available is limited but it does have the essential equipment for anyone to get a good workout.
The one thing that does stand out about this gym is its quiet environment. Since the gym is not as crowded, one can truly workout in a comfortable and serene environment. Carmel Total Fitness also offers the most flexible range of prices. If you are not willing to dish the bucks to be a member, there are Daily Fitness passes and Group Fitness classes that allows people the same access as members.
Re-shuffle your iPod
January 29, 2010
The best new music of 2010 includes everything from alternative rock to rap collaborations
Compiled by Mitch Ringenberg
Hot Chip
Album: “One Life Stand”
Release date: Feb. 9
If you like… LCD Soundsystem
Electronic outfit Hot Chip has been making great indie pop music since their debut “Coming On Strong” was released in 2005. Fans of LCD Soundsystem will find something to enjoy here, however, Hot Chip’s influences are across the board. Mixing electronica, rap, rock and soul the group has a sound that is almost distinctly theirs. Their previous record, 2008’s “Made in the Dark” had a much heavier and sleeker sound than previous affairs, but that album, while good nonetheless, was their weakest effort yet. Judging by “One Life Stand’s” first single, “Take It In,” the group is taking a step back in the right direction.
Nas and Damian Marley
Album: “Distant Relatives”
Release date: Mar. 16
If you like… Jay-Z
As far as rap collaboration albums go, they’re pretty hit or miss. Well, mostly miss. On the other hand, Nas is one of the most talented rappers of all time, and his past two albums have been among his best work since his early 90s debut, “Illmatic.” Damian Marley dropped a great reggae/rap album in 2005 with “Welcome to Jamrock.” Nas and Damian Marley also collaborated on the excellent “Jamrock” track “Road to Zion.” As far as the quality of this album, chances are it will either be excellent or it will be completely it will be disappoint. However, I’m leaning more towards excellent considering these two artists are both great talents who rarely falter in their music-making.
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists
Album: “The Brutalist Bricks”
Release date: Mar. 9
If you like… The Strokes
Ted Leo and his band, the Pharmacists, made some of the best post-punk/power-pop tunes of the last decade when they released 2004’s “Shake the Sheets.” The band balances their catchy guitar riffs and pop hooks with intricate instrumentals and intelligent lyrics. Always underrated in the indie rock scene, the Pharmacists have always delivered solid records, while the punk-influenced political sense displayed in their lyrics have only grown more relevant. Ted Leo has a voice that is very much his own, however, fans of alternative rock looking for a bit more intelligence in their music will be grateful to look into this band.
The Game
Album: “The R.E.D. Album”
Release date: Feb. 16
If you like… Tupac
While I’m not a fan of the majority of current rap music, Compton rapper the Game is one of the best MC’s putting out music today. His latest release, titled “The R.E.D. Album,” is becoming one of the most buzzed about rap albums in recent years. The Game’s songs don’t usually stray from typical rap subject matter, but his lyrical skills are undeniably powerful and help elevate rather standard and brutal subject matter to something oddly poetic. Fans of Jay-Z and early Dr. Dre will no doubt enjoy the album, which the rapper himself has stated as his best work yet.
Want more? Listen to…
Quasi
Album: “American Gong”
Release date: Feb. 23
If you like… Pavement
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