The One-Minute Critic |
You might remember David deMontmollin as the guy from American Casino who tried to create an ultralounge in his Jockey Club apartment. Green Valley Ranch's marketing manager, he's also now the author of a book purporting to be A Guy's Guide to the Perfect Vegas Weekend (which ironically skips the swank off-Strip property entirely.) And you know what, it ain't half-bad. It's actually better than half-bad. A quick perusal turned up good advice, sage tips and helpful instructions to help man-herds have fun. And we're saying that even if we do prefer vodka martinis over David's gin.
Las Vegas Little Black Book
By David deMontmollin and Hiram Todd Norman
$11.95
It's Good to Be King |
Vegas oddsmaker and best-selling author Wayne Allen Root is adding another section to his résumé as executive producer and one of the stars of King of Vegas, a Spike TV show that will let gamblers test their mettle in poker, craps, baccarat and more with a $1 million purse at stake. "King of Vegas is the grandest and most unique, nationwide gambling competition ever shown on American television," says the non-hyperbolic Root. The local qualifying round will be October 29. Visit
www.spiketv.com for rules and applications.
Local CD |
Forever Plaid
Cast Album (4 stars)
Part Four Freshmen earnestness, part Manhattan Transfer playfulness, this fine audio document of the Vegas/worldwide hit is a haven of silky harmonics, lush romanticism and a wink-nod embrace of its '50s and '60s score. Tweaking the Beatles with "She Loves You, Yesiree"? Scrumptious vanilla with a rocky road swirl.
DVDs |
The Holy Girl (R) (4 stars)
$27.95
Argentine writer-director Lucrecia Martel portrays life in her provincial hometown of Salta (a.k.a., the Swamp) in much the same way Faulkner did with his fictional Yoknapatawpha County. The Holy Girl focuses on the lives of two teenage girls as they adjust to their evolving sexuality and ingrained religious passion. Martel's work recalls Gabriel Garcia Marquez and other South Americans whose art exists at the intersection of the corporeal and spiritual worlds.
Hondo: Special Collector's Edition (NR) (4 stars)
$14.99
McLintock!: Special Collector's Edition (NR) (4 stars)
$14.99
Based on a Louis L'Amour story (with some behind-the-scenes help from John Ford), Hondo is a representative Wayne western. The similarly entertaining and rarely seen McLintock! is essential viewing, if only for the fiery spats between Wayne and Maureen O'Hara, who plays McLintock's estranged wife. The bonus features are extremely generous and well worth perusing.
Martha's Holidays 2005 (NR) (3 stars)
$39.98
Anyone who thinks Martha spent all of her time behind bars getting inked and imbibing "pruno" might be surprised by this multi-disc box. Stewart could have been forgiven if her new collection of tips and recipes was tarnished by sour grapes, but instead, the ingredients call for appetizing fruits. For instance, nowhere in Martha's New Year's Celebration, Martha's Homemade Holidays and Martha's Classic Thanksgiving, or in the separate volume, Martha's Favorite Family Dinners, are we reminded that revenge is a dish best served cold. Who says fiends can't be rehabilitated?