Monday, December 8, 2025

Take a peek behind the curtain and test drive the NEW StateNews.com today!

Features

FEATURES

'Hostage' can't save Willis

If recent films starring Bruce Willis, such as "The Whole Ten Yards" and "Rugrats Go Wild!" haven't held up his old rough-and-tough status, now is the time for him to reclaim it.

FEATURES

Soel's 'Memento' seductive, spicy

It's a Saturday night and you're ready for some quality time with that special someone. The candles have been lit, the wine has been poured, but there's one thing missing - the music. Fear not my friend, because that's where Parisian trumpeter/composer Soel's debut album, "Memento," comes in. It could be the way the musician's West African-inspired moniker, pronounced "soh-el," gently rolls around the mouth when said out loud.

FEATURES

B.Y.O.B. [Brew Your Own Beer]

Mmm, beer. Whichever way you like it - off the tap, out of the bottle or in a shameless red plastic party cup - there's no denying, if you love beer, there's nothing better than a tall, cold one.

FEATURES

John Butler Trio releases blues, roots-driven 'Sunrise Over Sea'

Fans of roots rock, blues, reggae and just plain ol' good music, listen up: If you haven't heard the John Butler Trio yet, you will - very soon. The Australian export has been riding a massive wave of popularity in its native country for a few years now, achieving a status equal to that of Dave Matthews Band in the United States.

FEATURES

'Noises Off' bares hidden thespian life

Riverwalk Theatre's "Noises Off" is a side-splitting look into the life and drama of the thespian world. The success is due to a brilliantly written script, a well-rehearsed cast and excellent direction. "Noises Off" is set in various English towns and follows an acting troop in its attempt to perform the British sex farce "Nothing On." In each act, the offstage drama takes a larger toll on the performance of "Nothing On," as couples fight and jealousy takes hold. Each actor is fully immersed in their character or characters.

FEATURES

Excessively loud hip-hop band Dälek to perform at Mac's Bar

There often is a very thin line between genius and crazy. One particular New Jersey hip-hop trio is definitely walking this line with its newest album, a disc that teeters dangerously between cutting-edge brilliance and absolute insanity. "Absence" is the third studio album for hip-hop group Dälek, pronounced "dialect." The album already is being hailed by some critics as a daring step into new musical territory, a mind-blowing masterpiece following in the footsteps of pioneers such as Public Enemy and KRS-One.

FEATURES

'Constantine' effects pop, characters coerced

Action movies are rarely known for outstanding plot development, but any movie requires character growth and a natural story line to be believable. Unfortunately, the movie "Constantine," directed by Francis Lawrence, lacked these necessary elements. The big special effects of the action-packed thriller are realistically fantastical but not quite enough to distract the viewer from the contrived plot full of holes. John Constantine (Keanu Reeves) is a cigarette-smoking exorcist who is dying of lung cancer.

FEATURES

'Man of the House' reeks with trashy acting, plot

Welcome to an exaggerated world only possible in film; a world where all cheerleaders are vapid, superficial and have boob jobs; Texas police officers are helplessly sexist and void of emotion; and black preachers do nothing but sing and dance to the point of embarrassment.

FEATURES

'On the Record' brings revamped Disney songs to Wharton stage

From "Whistle While You Work," to "Can You Feel the Love Tonight," a Disney song extravaganza pounces on East Lansing this week. The new Broadway show "On the Record" brings 75 years of Disney shows and songs to Wharton Center's stage this week with a brand-new plot. "This is kind of like a concert," Wharton Center spokesman Bob Hoffman said.