Traditional Values
Devon Sproule and Her Musical Maybes
The last time Devon Sproule came to town she had a vintage guitar dangling from her shoulder, a selection of songs as enchanting as the personality residing behind them, and a full house at the Lobero Theatre that wouldn’t let her leave the stage. It might have been Sings Like Hell that first introduced Sproule to Santa Barbara, but it is her considerable musical talent that has yielded a return invitation. This time around the Virginia native will be taking the stage at SOhO. Armed with a new album, she’s anxious to renew old acquaintances and likely to trigger an avalanche of new ones.
The Telluride and Toronto film festivals have become launching pads for films wanting to be considered serious Oscar contenders. After American Beauty premiered in Toronto in 1999, that fest’s fate was sealed and its momentum was unstoppable. Last year, Telluride was the place, giving filmgoers the chance to see Capote, Walk the Line, and Brokeback Mountain for the first time. But it’s not all benefits, for these festivals are also the place where Academy Award hopefuls can be shot down by critics, shattering any hope of glory.
