The Ithacan

Lovato stands for survival

By Benjii Maust, Staff Writer • October 5, 2011

After spending almost four months in treatment for emotional and physical distress, Demi Lovato is back with an album that turns personal hardship into soulful gold.

Indie-rock group hails heritage

By Jared Dionne, Staff Writer • October 5, 2011

Girls, a folksy San Francisco duo, wowed the indie scene with their catchy throwbacks to 1950s rock ’n’ roll on their debut LP, “Album,” in 2009. Two years later, they have returned with a full-length sophomore effort that proves the first time around wasn’t just luck.

Poor direction fails impressionist film

By Ian Carsia, Staff Writer • October 5, 2011

Miranda July’s latest film, “The Future,” is an impressionistic and underdeveloped romantic drama that fails to convey a substantial message.

Cast chemistry kills spy thriller

By James Hasson, Staff Writer • October 5, 2011

With professional assassins, secret societies and government agents playing all sides of the law, “Killer Elite” has all the ingredients for an outlandish spy action thriller, but its two heroes and their motivations never fully ignite the story.

Infectious comedy defeats the odds

By Michael Reyes, Contributing writer • October 5, 2011

Echoing cross-genre films such as Adam Sandler’s “Click” and “Funny People,” which borders the line between comedy and drama, director Jonathan Levine’s new dark comedy “50/50” is a creative and effective mix of tragedy and humor.

Grounded acting fails to move story

By Lucy Walker, Staff Writer • October 5, 2011

“In the Company of Dancers,” the latest production at the Kitchen Theatre, is a complex theatrical performance that combines narrative and motion, but fails to accurately portray the life of a woman with one simple goal — to dance.