Honolulu Weekly

A&E Newsletter online

Bodysurfers Rule!

Come Hell or High Water isn't just a feel-great movie about board-less wave riders. It's the best bodysurfing movie out there. No one has ever framed the raffish and rarefied pastime as joyfully and as clearly as director Keith Malloy and his ace cameramen Dave Homcy, Scott Soens and Jeff Hornbaker. Episodic and light-footed, the storytelling has no narration, just on-camera or voice-over interview material. The twangy, feel-good music includes contributions from Mike Kaawa, Leo Kottke and Malloy's banjo-pickin' brother, Dan. The 40-minute film fizzes with the sheer playfulness of this most Zen of water sports. [Read more]

* "Come Hell or High Water" shows at Ward Theaters on Thu., Dec. 8, 7:30pm $10, and for free Fri., Dec. 9, at Sunset Beach Elementary School For more information, go to Woodshed Films at [woodshed.com]

Goapele

Fueled by life changes and personal growth, Goapele's latest nine-track music offering, Break of Dawn, is organic and soulfully based. It's the perfect opportunity to reveal more intimate and fun aspects of herself. "I've never wanted to do in your face sexy songs, although, like most women, I do have a sensual side," says the Bay Area singer-songwriter. "So I waited to share that side of myself until now. I wanted it to be on my terms and authentic for me, not me surrendering to sexual exploitation in entertainment just because it might sell." [Read more]

* Nextdoor, 43 N. Hotel St., Sat., 12/10, 9PM, $15–$20, [nextdoorhnl.com]

World of Dance

World of Dance, the largest international urban dance competition, will swing by Honolulu for a fun-filled night of rich, stylistic street dancing that's suited for the whole family. Get ready to be awed by some serious popping, locking and krumping. The acrobatic maneuvers and aerodynamic spins from these crews are executed with such precision and panache they would send Fred Astaire into a daze. [Read more]

* Blaisdell Arena and Expo, 777 Ward Ave., Sat., 12/12, 5–10PM, $25, [worldofdancetour.com], (909) 525-3716

Boyz II Men

If you went to high high school in 1995, there's a chance you own a prom picture with their song "One Sweet Day" cursively emblazoned to it—the duet with Mariah Carey that spent one sweet 16 consecutive weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, the most ever for a single song. With that and others like "End of the Road," "On Bended Knee" and "I'll Make Love to You," Boyz II Men is considered to be the most successful music group record sales-wise of the 1990s. [Read more]

* Blaisdell Arena, 777 Ward Ave., Sun., 12/11, 7:30PM, $45–$75, [ticketmaster.com]

Handmade Holiday Market

To celebrate the modern-day working moms on the island, Baby Awearness is hosting Handmade Holiday Market, featuring gifts locally made and handcrafted by over 20 home-based businesses and "mama-preneurs." The goods are all one-of-a-kind, so you can get your shopping done without becoming overly saturated with typical Christmas gifts. The event also has food and entertainment by musician Uncle Wayne and paper crafter Randi Kaumana. [Read more]

* Manoa Marketplace, 2752 Woodlawn Ave., Sat., 12/10, 11AM-4PM, free, [babyawearness.com], 988-0010

Sociallite: 1 + 1 is Three Thousand

I love a good partnership in the nightlife. The best is when the people partnering up don't have too much overlap in their reach. Then it's like the sky is the limit. I myself have done it once or twice and for the most part it's fantastic. When you're alone, sometimes you can get so far up your *** *** that you might lose sight of what you're doing. [Read more]

* [addictionnightclub.com]

* [apartmentthree.com]

DJ Lopazz: Whip My Hair

Not all forms of creativity are created equal. The über talented Lopazz wears many hats—from multimedia artist to engineer to music producer. While juggling so many responsibilities is a welcomed challenge, the end result is the music: his ultimate gift and passion. [Read more]

* thirtyninehotel, 39 N. Hotel St., Sat., 12/10, 9:30pm, 2am, [myspace.com], [thirtyninehotel.com]

Film: Melancholia

Bob Green says that Von Trier's Melancholia is not easy to love.

The movie is amazingly ambitious and has some brilliant passages, but great it's not. And it's not conventionally entertaining. It takes an equally ambitious audience, sticking it out for alleged greatness.

The film is insightful about the nature of depression, is beautifully photographed and well acted. Does this story end with a bang or a whimper? Well, one or the other. [Read more]

Film: Like Crazy

Bittersweet Like Crazy is eye and brain candy for Millennials. This is not a love story. Or is it? It's what you're left wondering during the final embrace of the romantic drama Like Crazy. Either way, it's definitely not the conventionally capitalized Love Story the trailers would lead you to expect, root for, then share-an-ice-cream-cone-with-your-date-while-looking-into-each-other's-eyes-and-"believe"-in over.

A crowned darling at this year's Sundance, director Drake Doremus' film instead chronicles young love spanning an undisclosed number of years, the Atlantic Ocean and a broader definition of the L-word. [Read more]

The Five People You Meet in an Irish Bar

What do Detroit and Honolulu have in common? Basically, nothing, but they do both have an Irish bar called Murphy's. In "The Five People You Meet in an Irish Bar," we take you on a journey through O'ahu's thriving pub scene. You'll drink lagers, order a few Irish stouts, and along the way you'll meet a few friends. Bottoms up! [Read more]