Friday:
âÄúRoboCopâÄù
The Trylon Microcinema
3258 Minnehaha Ave., Minneapolis
7 p.m.
$8
The best science-fiction movies weave social commentary alongside stunning visual effects, so itâÄôs no surprise Dutch director Paul VerhoevenâÄôs 1987 American film debut stands the test of time. A police officer (Peter Weller) is viciously murdered, but becomes re-animated as a cyborg thanks to Omni Consumer Products. The robotic cop, programmed with prime directives by the police, tracks down criminals. Originally given an âÄúXâÄù rating by the MPAA due to its graphic violence, the film never stylizes its carnage for its context in exploring themes of corruption, capitalism and human nature. In the tradition of Fritz LangâÄôs classic 1927 futuristic epic, âÄúMetropolis,âÄù âÄúRoboCopâÄù explores the dystopia of a near-future Detroit.
Saturday:
Vertical EndeavorsâÄô Grand Opening
2540 S. Nicollet Ave. , Minneapolis
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Free
Cancel your plans to watch Sylvester Stallone and John Lithgow in 1993âÄôs âÄúCliffhangerâÄù and rock climb for free (and indoors). Saturday is the grand opening of Vertical EndeavorsâÄô Minneapolis location. With 25,000 square feet of walls for beginning and advanced climbers, the chain of climbing venues expands from its St. Paul location. There will also be free food, live music and raffles throughout the day. So if youâÄôre not privy to scaling 50- to 60-foot walls, at least enjoy complimentary cuisine provided by sponsors The Bad Waitress and Dunn Brothers Coffee. But if you are the climbing type, be wary of Lithgow âÄî turns out heâÄôs an ex-military intelligence member intent on stealing $100 million.
Sunday:
David Sedaris
State Theatre
805 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis
7 p.m.
$35-$42
Humorist David Sedaris struck comic gold with autobiographical portraits of his family with his collection of essays in âÄúNakedâÄù and âÄúMe Talk Pretty One Day.âÄù While the dysfunctional family schtick might seem overplayed, his writing expertly translates his self-deprecatory voice. His deadpan delivery lends well to live readings especially. Ever since the broadcast of his stint as an elf in MacyâÄôs Santaland during Christmas, his satiric observations continue to earn him widespread acclaim. Promoting his new book, a collection of animal allegories, âÄúSquirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary,âÄù his witty droll returns to Minneapolis.
Listen to this:
âÄúTe Amo,âÄù Atlas Sound
Bradford Cox, the cryptic frontman of indie four-piece Deerhunter releases another solo album dubbed âÄúParallaxâÄú and increases his prolific streak of multilayered yet instantly gratifying songs. Ditching the vocal reverb cloak he uses in Deerhunter, Cox reveals his altogether timid and mysterious upper register against a hypnotic looping piano in âÄúTe Amo.âÄù Songs like the latter display the contrasting immediacy of his simple hooks and the distance of his voiceâÄôs lyrics, fitting for the albumâÄôs titular optical principle âÄîthat an objectâÄôs appearance depends on our distance from them.
Watch this:
South Park, âÄú1%âÄù
Occupy Wall StreetâÄôs terminology lends almost too perfectly well to Trey Parker and Matt StoneâÄôs beloved big-boned Eric Cartman as he continues his misplaced rants of victimization when the Presidential Fitness Tests require the healthy 99% of schoolchildren of South Park Elementary to have physical education instead of recess for four weeks. CartmanâÄôs usual frustrations pay off as usual in humor, with a quality parody of current events. Watch online at southparkstudios.com.
Read this:
âÄúReamde,âÄù Neal Stephenson
The speculative fiction of Stephenson pits Zula Forthrast against gangsters and terrorists, but what sets the mammoth novel apart from other modern fiction is its embrace of current technological trends. The plot of âÄúReamdeâÄù revolves around a massive multiplayer game akin to World of Warcraft, called TâÄôRainâÄù and the titleâÄôs namesake virus that encrypts data for an international heist that Forthrast becomes involved in. Few writers make descriptions of virtual reality as exciting as Stephenson. While some might relegate the author as dwelling solely in science fiction, âÄúReamdeâÄù offers alarmingly accurate depictions of the InternetâÄôs stranglehold on our way of life.
