The Book of Eli

In a post-apocalyptic future, a mysterious traveler named Eli (Denzel Washington) wanders west across miles of scorched and barren desert. Along the way, he stops in a reconstructed town whose educated mayor, Carnegie (Gary Oldman), covets a certain book, believing it to be the key to expanding his power. That book is later revealed to be the last remaining Bible, which Eli just so happens to have in his possession.

It’s been nearly a decade since the Hughes Brothers’ last film (From Hell) and their latest effort seems like a significant departure. Released in the wake of The Road, The Book of Eli shares that film’s battered landscape, cannibal gangs and yearning for lost decency. But while The Road is a highly personal story told in a strikingly lyrical style, The Book of Eli is much more of a universal tale and functions as a parable. The thematic gist of the film – that religion can be a great creative or destructive force – is neither original nor complex, but the way in which that point is made is thoroughly engaging.

As entertainment, The Book of Eli also boasts a relatively quick pace and some exhilarating combat scenes. Cast against type, Washington brings a quiet determination to Eli, a resolute man on a mission. Oldman, in contrast, overacts in yet another one of his eccentric villain roles, but he does it so well that his scene-chewing can be forgiven. The female lead is filled by Mila Kunis, who occasionally feels like dead weight as she flees Carnegie’s clutches to join Eli on his quest. Other familiar faces (Tom Waits, Jennifer Beals, Malcolm McDowell) show up in bit parts, but only Michael Gambon and Frances de la Tour – a whacked-out old couple with a house full of grizzly secrets – leave a lasting impression.


The Book of Eli’s overt religious symbolism will likely divide viewers, as will a twist ending which forces a reexamination of the entire film up to that point. For those who can accept its premises, The Book of Eli offers both punch and purpose.


7.25/10

Mexico Restaurant

NOTE: The Battleground Avenue location has since closed, and the North Elm location is now Luna Mexican Seafood Bar and Grill.

A local family-owned franchise, Mexico Restaurants can be found at 4800 W. Market St., 1007 Battleground Ave. (the location covered in this review), 2307 Fleming Road and 3606 N. Elm St. Mexico offers a wide variety of tortilla-based dishes (tacos, burritos, quesadillas, fajitas), chicken and steak selections, salads, margaritas, imported beers and more. Food and drink specials change daily and lunch specials are offered from 11-2:30. Catering is available.

A Mexican restaurant called Mexico Restaurant sets the bar low for originality. Accordingly, the most innovative thing you’ll find here is the décor. Brightly colored tables, chairs and walls give the establishment a distinct identity – think Alice in Wonderland with a Southwestern flair.


Unfortunately, the cuisine is pedestrian by comparison. Grilled chicken served inside half a pineapple is as exotic a dish as you’ll find here. That means no mole sauce or puerco al pastor and the tacos are Tex-Mex rather than authentic-style. Though the menu spans an impressive 5-plus pages, many of the selections incorporate beef, chicken and some kind of tortilla.


Familiar as it may be, the food here isn’t too bad. Camarones (shrimp) come full-size and carnitas (seasoned pork) is just flavorful enough and not too dry. As most dishes come with lettuce and a side of rice (at minimum), you get a good deal of bang for your buck. Entrees run from $7-$8 for chicken and quesadilla dishes up to around $13 for steak and seafood. For those seeking lighter fare, tacos and sides are also available a la carte for a few dollars each.


Service at Mexico is prompt. Order a refillable beverage and your glass won’t stay empty very long. The wait staff is also able to provide separate checks for large groups without any difficulty. Just be clear about what you’re ordering or you could end up with something you never intended.


On the whole, Mexico offers standard Tex-Mex fare at reasonable prices. It’s hardly the worst in town, but it’s not a fiesta for your taste buds either.

6.25/10

The Crimson Rivers

When an eyeless, handless corpse is found in an isolated French university town, highly regarded police detective Pierre Niemans (Jean Reno) is brought in from Paris to investigate. Meanwhile, about 60 miles away, streetwise cop Max Kerkorian (Vincent Cassel) is working an investigation of his own: the desecration of a grave of a 10-year-old girl who died in a gruesome car accident. It isn’t long before additional bodies pile up and the two cases begin to intersect.

From the opening shot of a worm-ravaged body lying in snow to the closing fade away atop the icy mountains, this 2000 French thriller by Matthieu Kassovitz is nothing if not evocative. Gruesome, suspenseful and chilling, it features a taut pace, breathtaking cinematography and a creepy, if occasionally overbearing score.


The acting takes a backseat to the film’s technical elements, but it is far from deficient. Reno plays the veteran cop as calm, collected and determined….save for a mysterious fear of dogs. Cassel is annoying at times as his younger counterpart, but gets some of the film’s funnier lines and gives Max an edge. The strangest performance may be that of Dominique Sanda as the dead girl’s mother – a shadow-dwelling nun who looks like she stepped off the set of The Omen.


Given the film’s many strengths, it’s a shame that it builds to such an unsatisfying, confusing and ultimately preposterous conclusion. The killer’s identity is a major letdown and Kassovitz’ attempt at political allegory, while well-intentioned, is thoroughly mishandled and misplaced.


Had Kassovitz not fumbled by biting off more than he could chew thematically, The Crimson Rivers probably would have been a great film. Instead, it will have to settle for being a good one with a bad ending.


7.5/10

JP Looney's Sports Bar & Grille

NOTE: A JP Looney's remains in operation at 2213 Oak Ridge Road in Oak Ridge. The Greensboro location became Bleachers, which then closed. Fat Dogs currently operates in its location.

Located at 3021 Spring Garden St., JP Looney’s offers appetizers, wings, burgers sandwiches and entrees. Amenities include a full bar with daily drink specials, over a dozen televisions, karaoke and games. Catering is available.

Sometimes, there’s something to be said for the comfort of familiarity. JP Looney’s embodies just about every sports bar cliché imaginable, but in the end, it still manages to satisfy. The menu, for instance, is steeped in sports jargon. Appetizers are “The Starting Lineup,” salads are “Spring Training,” and so on. And if that doesn’t fulfill your quota for corniness, look no further than Looney’s chicken wing motto: “We pluck ‘em, you suck ‘em.”


In spite of the questionable marketing, the wings rate among the best in the Triad. They come in more than a dozen different flavors, bone-in or boneless. Try the latter in sweet teriyaki and you won’t regret it – those succulent suckers go by quick. BBQ-style, in either medium or hot, rate a distant second.


The rest of the menu varies in quality. Burgers, mozzarella sticks and ribs are done right, but a chicken sandwich was tough and bone-dry. Despite all the sports verbiage, nothing here is actually a steal: burgers and sandwiches run in the $6 to $9 range (choice of side included), while 10 boneless wings go for $9 an order (bone-in are only 30 cents less).


Finding seating at Looney’s is a gamble. Show up when there’s a popular game going on and you’re looking at a wait for a decent table. If you are able to get in, you may find yourself in the middle of “Dick Cheney’s hidden bunker,” as one friend put it – a room covered wall-to-wall with television screens. As with any sports bar, you can bet on sporadic earfuls of cheering and hollering. Servers are friendly and will gladly change TV channels for you, but don’t count on promptness if there’s a sizeable crowd.


As a dining experience, Looney’s leaves a bit to be desired, particularly if you aren’t in the mood for wings. But if all you’re looking for is a spot to get some food and watch a game, this is as good as it gets, bar none.


7/10

Windy City Hot Dog & Grill (CLOSED)

NOTE: Windy City Hot Dog & Grill has since closed. Geana's operated in its location before closing as well. Slices is the current tenant.

Located at 401 Tate St., Windy City offers hot dogs, burgers, sandwiches, salads and sides. Take out is available.

Up until recently, the corner of Tate St. and Walker Ave. was home to Jibaro, a family-run establishment which offered slightly overpriced but very satisfying Latino fare. Regrettably, Jibaro shut its doors earlier this month, only to reopen as Windy City. The management, the sparse interior and, thankfully, a few of the menu items have carried over, but for anyone who was a fan of pernil and plantain sandwiches, the rebranding will come as a disappointment.

First and foremost, Windy City suffers from a bit of an identity crisis. The name, the Cubs pennants on the wall and the use of Vienna Beef franks are all meant to evoke Chicago, but no one will confuse the Greensboro spot with a Maxwell Street establishment. And while Windy City does offer a Chicago-style hot dog and an Italian beef sandwich, don’t look for deep dish pizza, Vesuvio potatoes or other Chicago fare.

To Windy City’s credit, however, there is more variety here than you’d find at the typical hot dog joint. You can still get Jibaro’s tasty Cuban sandwich and empanadas, as well as fish & chips, chicken, chili and wraps. Oddly enough, the jibarito – a plantain sandwich popular in Chicago – is nowhere to be found.

There is also some variety among the burgers and dogs. You can get them plain, Carolina-style (with chili and slaw) or topped with bacon and cheese, all with your choice of free condiments. The dogs are a decent size and better than those you’d find at say Yum-Yum, but they won’t blow you away. The fries are flavorful, albeit salty.

Where Windy City really falls short is in pricing. A plain hot dog runs $2.79, specialty dogs are 70 cents more, and burgers and sandwiches go for $5 to $7, all without drinks or fries. Try to put together a meal and you’re over $6 easily – no bargain considering the quality of the food.

Because Windy City is a family establishment, it will likely win over supporters who value the personal touch. But from both culinary and economic standpoints, it rates an occasional visit, at best.

6/10

An Education

In early 1960s England, 16-year-old Jenny (Carey Mulligan) is pressured by her parents to get into Oxford. She’s up to the task intellectually, but she’s bored with her studies and life in general. Enter David (Peter Sarsgaard), an older Jewish man who promises her exactly the sort of adventure (concerts, art auctions, and, eventually, a trip to Paris) she’s looking for, even if it means potentially jeopardizing her future.

Though based on a memoir (by journalist Lynn Barber), there is very little about An Education that rings true. Sarsgaard’s character oozes so much superficial charm that we can’t help but wonder what ugly secret he’s hiding; that he has one is shocking to Jenny but certainly not to us. Similarly, the sympathy for Jenny exhibited by secondary characters verges on unrealistic. Only Emma Thompson as the pragmatic school headmistress seems to have a believably appropriate response. Granted, coming-of-age films like this are supposed to have a certain degree of innocence – and innocence lost – but the naiveté displayed here is a real disappointment, particularly given that Nick Hornby (High Fidelity) wrote the screenplay.



Lone Scherfig’s film is far from a total waste, however. There’s a good period feel, some well-crafted little moments (including an extremely awkward family tea) and the cast is definitely game. The poised, eager Mulligan carries the film in the lead, Sarsgaard nails both his character’s duplicitous allure and the English accent and Rosamund Pike excels as a ditzy friend. The best lines go to Alfred Molina as Jenny’s overbearing father – he’s hilariously crabby, but well-meaning, too.



The best that can be said about An Education is that it strives to grapple with something serious (live for the now or plan for the future?) and it looks good doing it. But when all is said and done, you’re left with a simplistic cautionary tale which is undermined by the fact that nobody really loses in the long run. There just isn’t enough weight and tension here for anything to really resonate.



6.75/10