Poetry and Peace

If you love poetry and have somehow missed seeing Committing Poetry in Times of War, the documentary about Albuquerque teachers who were suspended and fired for supporting their students’ rights to speak out on the war in Iraq, you’ve got another chance. On Thursday, Nov. 6, beginning at 7 p.m., Bill Nevins and Allen Cooper--teachers and peace activists featured in the film--will host a free public screening. The screening will take place at the Albuquerque Peace And Justice Center (202 Harvard SE). For more info, log on to abqpeaceandjustice.org.

The State of comedy isn’t what it used to be, but it’s still good for a laugh

While Judd Apatow has been building an unstoppable empire of hilarity over the last few years, David Wain and his pals have quietly assembled their own insular but dedicated cult of comedy. Shows like “Stella” and “Reno 911!” and movies like Wet Hot American Summer and The Ten have put Wain in regular contact with a stable of fine comedic performers. So far, though, mass appeal has eluded Wain and his chuckle pals.

Loose indie dramedy showcases actress, director at their best

The last we saw of beloved indie director Jonathan Demme, he was off investing his time in a string of personality-driven documentaries (The Agronomist, Neil Young: Heart of Gold, Jimmy Carter Man From Plains) ... oh, and that ill-advised remake of The Manchurian Candidate ... oh, and that even more ill-advised remake of Charade. So it is with a sense of comfort and relief that longtime fans find Mr. Demme returning to his low-budget indie film roots with the low-key dramedy Rachel Getting Married.

“Legend of the Seeker” in syndication

There was a time—a Golden Era, if you will—when syndicated television series ruled the land. Cheesy action shows like “Lightning Force,” “Super Force,” “TekWar,” “War of the Worlds,” “Renegade,” “Sheena,” “Thunder in Paradise,” “Baywatch” and “Baywatch Nights” kept viewers tuning in to non-network stations during off-peak hours. The trend hit its high point when producers Rob Tapert and Sam Raimi created “Hercules: The Legendary Journeys” and “Xena: Warrior Princess”—shows strong enough to inspire their own conventions. But as the ’90s waned, networks like FOX, UPN, The WB and MyNetworkTV started gobbling up the independent stations, filling their primetime schedules and leaving no room for the likes of Pamela Anderson’s “V.I.P.”

Week in Sloth

The Week in Sloth