Can't Miss It: Wednesday
Sharp and Sensitive Lad: At some point in every long-lasting director's career, there will be a movie that serves as his or her first definitive moment. For Tim Burton that movie was Edward Scissorhands. Sure, he'd had several successes prior to the release of this film (a couple of insignificant works known as Pee Wee's Big Adventure, Beetlejuice and the sleeper of the bunch Batman), but with Scissorhands Burton had delivered his first truly personal film -- fitting, then, that it's the film from that early period that holds up the best. It also features the performance that cemented Johnny Depp's then burgeoning career as a character actor's leading man.
Tonight at 7:00p.m. // Central Cinema, 1411 21st Avenue // $6
Weed, Wine & Women: Devin the Dude is a living reminder that, once upon a time, Southern hip hop was a haven for good time grooves and beats, with plenty of room for a healthy dose of humor. Not that those qualities are missing from hip hop these days, but it ain't coming from acts like Tyler, The Creator. Anyway, the Dude is spitting tonight as part of the Doobeez N Ashtrayz event playing at Republiq, which should let any long time fans who haven't heard his recent output know that he's still doing what he does best: smoking, drinking, hanging with the ladies.
Tonight at 10:00p.m., doors at 9:00p.m. // Republiq, 2946 1st Avenue S // $30 (VIP - $50)
Alterna-holidays: When it comes to holiday fare, there isn't much we haven't seen. Re-enactments of Joan Crawford's and Judy Garland's Christmas specials? Seen it. A play where the reindeer tell a sordid tale about Santa sexually harassing one of their own? Been in it and directed it. A re-telling of Dickens' classic where Scrooge is replaced with Arthur Conan Doyle's famous detective? Know the playwright. So when a new seasonal alternative comes to town for a limited engagement and boasts an arm-load of pull-quotes promising a hilarious dark twist on the holiest of holy days, we pay attention and tell you about it. Jackie Beat: The Nutcracker comes to Seattle with well-established national acclaim; Beat has toured with Roseanne Barr, is the lead singer in an electroclash band named Dirty Sanchez, and has a documentary where she's the central subject and features commentary from Joan Rivers and Margaret Cho. Oh, and she describes herself as the bastard child between Bette Midler and "Weird Al" Yankovic. You pretty much don't need to know anything else, you're either into it or you're not.
Tonight at 8:00p.m. // Re-bar, 1114 Howell Street // $15
