Russell Crowe

Les Misérables

The follies of 1832

Films of 2012: Ten Best Films of 2012

Just because you live in Houston doesn't mean you can't see all these films.

The 5 Best Shows In Houston This Week: October 15-18

Metric House of Blues, October 15 Along with future members of Stars and Broken Social Scene, Metric front woman Emily Haines went to an arts high school in Toronto, and started the group with guitarist James Shaw after returning from college in Montreal and Vancouver. Metric has found it difficult ... More >>

RZA

Sam McPheeters: The Loom of Ruin

Top 5 Most Awesomely Insane Things Done By Nick Cave

Nick Cave remains in a class by himself. On one hand, he's the most gothic person alive, but on the other he's so unique in his contributions that when we sat down to make a list of all the different eras of goth music, we simply had to leave him out because he doesn't fit anywhere. He's a statistic ... More >>

Last Night: Kid Cudi & Chip Tha Ripper At Reliant Arena

Photos by Larami Serrano​Kid Cudi, Chip Tha Ripper Reliant Arena July 19, 2011 6:58 p.m.: Pulling up. Holy crap. There is (what seems like) a neverending line of kids waiting to get in. Crazy. There's also a KRBE truck here. Is Kid Cudi a KRBEian now? What's happened? 7:29: Inside. 7:31: T ... More >>

Food Fight: Box Lunch

Matthew DresdenLe Mistral's box lunch, with grilled chicken panini and cream of tomato soup. Perhaps the best deal in Houston.​If you google the phrase "box lunch history," virtually all the results are for lunch boxes and the fascinating history thereof. (Check out the Smithsonian's photo op ... More >>

For The Final Four: 9 Musicians Who Love College Sports

​After weeks of anticipation and preemptory hand-wringing over where we're going to park on Washington Ave. this weekend, the Final Four is Finally here. As with any other time a marquee sporting event comes to Houston, you can count on some familiar themes in media coverage: Where to party, w ... More >>

Top Ten Celebrities This Decade Who Overcame Controversy

The center of all things smarmy and controversial.​Celebrities have money and fame and are constantly surrounded by controversy. Many of them never make it back from a serious legal problem or a major embarrassment. Ask Mel Gibson. Others, however, find their footing and manage to right the s ... More >>

Wu-Tang Clan

What The Hell is That? Thanksgiving Edition

All photos from daniellespencer.com Flesh colored Jell-O is never (*ever*) okay. ​New York artist Danielle Spencer (a.k.a. Mrs. Russell Crowe) crafted her first faux Thanksgiving spread in 2005 using a Cornish game hen form, peach Jell-O, and evaporated milk. That initial flesh-colored mass ( ... More >>

Next to Nothing

Paul Haggis shows no improvement.

Falcon Lake: Casting The Inevitable Lifetime Movie

Tiffany Young-Hartley: Only Reese Witherspoon could do her justice​Okay, so it's time to get started on the script and casting for the movie about David and Tiffany's fateful Jet-Ski trip on Falcon Lake. First, what to name this movie? The Pirates of Falcon Lake will never do: it conjures Johnn ... More >>

Pop Rocks: With Friends Like These

​Oscar-winning director Roman Polanski remains under house arrest in Switzerland, awaiting possible extradition to the United States for fleeing sentencing after pleading guilty to "unlawful sex" with a 13-year old in 1977. His attorneys are, naturally, fighting this possibility, while a numbe ... More >>

Ridley Scott Waters the Tree of Liberty

Robin Hood rails against the no-good tax-and-spend Nottingham elite.

Pop Rocks: Yoiks and Away

​When (if) you think of Robin Hood, you probably recall the devil-may-care outlaw in Lincoln-green tights who fought the forces of medieval oppression with a longbow and a band of merry men. If you're lucky, you've caught Errol Flynn's definitive performance in 1938's The Adventures of Robin Hood ... More >>

Minute by Minute at Robin Thicke's Sex Therapy Listening Party

Photos by Marco Torres​ 7:15 p.m. Ack. Parking on Washington Avenue at night is just about the worst. It's such an uneasy feeling. If we had to choose between parking on Washington or juggling knives with no pants on, it'd end up being something we actually had to think about. We mean, we're just ... More >>

I Am the Body Beautiful: Our Favorite Patrick Swayze Musical Movie Moments

​It's only been a few hours, and we already miss Patrick Swayze. The Houston native won our hearts as the sensitive yet murderous Dalton in Road House and the senstive yet Confederate Orry Main in North and South. Here at Rocks Off, however, we want to take a moment to commemorate the musical leg ... More >>

He Said She Said: Ten Artists We Would Go Gay For

​It always happens: you and your friends toss back a few beers and the talk turns to what celebrities and models you find attractive. At first it starts out innocent enough, arguing the merits of Angelina Jolie, Megan Fox, Marissa Miller or Paula Deen. Well that last name is actually just our ... More >>

State of Play

Journalistic nostalgia meets political intrigue in a brave new world.

Bill Hicks, Still Dead 15 Years Later

Wholly influential and ridiculously honest stand-up comic Bill Hicks died fifteen years ago today, succumbing to lung cancer. Ironically he had always opined that that was how he would meet his end. Smoking seemed to be his obsession and he was rarely seen onstage not puffing away. The comedian move ... More >>

Memo Re: Slap Shot Remake

TO: President, Universal Pictures FROM: Script Department RE: Slap Shot Remake We received a copy of Peter Steinfeld's (21) first draft for the planned Slap Shot remake. Before we pass it on to the director currently attached to this project (Dean Parisot, Fun With Dick and Jane), we though ... More >>

Memo Re: Slap Shot Remake

TO: President, Universal Pictures FROM: Script Department RE: Slap Shot Remake We received a copy of Peter Steinfeld's (21) first draft for the planned Slap Shot remake. Before we pass it on to the director currently attached to this project (Dean Parisot, Fun With Dick and Jane), we though ... More >>

We Can Believe In Body of Lies

Ridley Scott's latest is the post-9/11, tech-savvy terror thriller we deserve

Turning the Screw: Fela Kuti, Jay-Z, Left Eye, Lil Wayne, Ed McMahon, Ciara, DMX and More

Turning the Screw: Hollywood F.L.O.S.S., LL Cool J, The Kanye West, Lil' Wayne, Russell Crowe (!?), MF Doom, Beyonce and More

Margot at the Wedding, American Gangster: Unrated Extended Edition, Lust, Caution, Excellent Cadavers

Joshua, Sunshine, 3:10 to Yuma, Zodiac: 2-Disc Director's Cut

3:10 to Yuma

James Mangold remakes a classic western for our ADD times

Weed Killer

Heart Attack

Attempting romantic comedy, Sir Ridley Scott conquers neither.

Cracked Code

Da Vinci's leap to the screen leaves no room for surprise

Class Conscious

Live and learn with some of Houston's most entertaining courses

Sweat Along with Russell

Jada Rocks

Mrs. Fresh Prince brings her "spiritual hardcore" to the Scout Bar. Deal with that.

Excess Hollywood

In the season of sequels and Happy Meal toys, '05 may be a pleasant surprise.

Method Rocking

Minnie Driver and Juliette Lewis have started bands. Come on, you know you're curious.

Shakedown Cruise

On his maiden voyage, veteran director Peter Weir masters the sea epic

The Warp Records Tour

Friday, May 9

A Horrible Mind

Unlike John Nash, Spider sees little triumph over schizophrenia

Playbill

Willie Nelson's Family Picnic

Hostage Crisis: Day 143

Proof of Life kidnaps the audience and makes it beg for mercy

Serious as Hell

Deadly somber Gladiator needs every ounce of earnestness to prevent it from lapsing into parody

Tobacco Toad

Mann elevates The Insider to Oscar-level suspense

Luck of the Puck

Sweet irreverence works in Mystery, Alaska

Police Brutality

The terrific L.A. Confidential captures our worst suspicions of how the world works

Magical

Rough Magic has plenty up its sleeve

Back to the Future

Dead Bang

Gonzo Western The Quick and the Dead is ludicrously entertaining