“Alexander” is audience retardant, promising an exciting tale, then flashing a three-hour stop sign. It is an epically bad film - a film that will stand as a testament that big budgets and huge stars cannot guarantee you a decent opening weekend....

In the midst of everyone’s favorite time of year to shell out cash, Geffen Records has issued the long-awaited Nirvana box set “With the Lights Out.” Hyping more than 50 previously unreleased Nirvana recordings as well as an accompanying DVD, the...

Things you might find in an odds-and-ends drawer or in Grandma’s sewing basket are given new life by Sarah Beth Woods’ artwork. Woods is a senior painting/art major originally from Milwaukee, Wisc., but grew up in Wheaton. NIU is her fourth college....

With the year winding down, people are blindsided with lists upon year-end lists. Weekender is no exception. But since WE isn’t arrogant enough to tell you what the “best” albums of the year are, three of the section critics are here to tell you...

Gwen Stefani’s still just a (rich) girl in her first solo outing - an up-tempo extravaganza full of club-style hooks and New Wave-inspired sounds. The thirtysomething lead singer of No Doubt has created a lush and trashy party album that’s sometimes...

U2 has altered itself for 28 years. Its first decade reeked of raw political rock by and for the working class. The next four years highlighted Bono’s religious convictions and channeled his global awareness. The band reached its artistic peak in the...

Movies - John Drew Barrymore, the sometimes troubled heir to an acting dynasty and the absent father of movie star Drew Barrymore, died Nov. 29. He was 72. - “Sideways” led contenders Nov. 30 for the Independent Spirit Awards with six nominations,...

With Eminem’s sixth album, “Encore,” he is, as usual, blunt, real, derogative and racy while effectively including substantial content. “Spend Some Time” features 50 Cent, Stat Quo and Obie. The fellas take poke fun at groupies who use artists...

Shopping has always been a sore spot for me. Being a college student, I am frequently without funding to purchase anything other than the bare essentials: toilet paper, pants and Jager Bombs. Plus, I can never prioritize when making decisions, which leads...

What do you say to a man who risked his life to shelter people from a genocide that killed more than 800,000 of his fellow Rwandans? That is the question when one is face-to-face with Paul Rusesabagina, a former Rwandan hotel manager (played by Don Cheadle)...

Sweeps wouldn’t be Sweeps without a high-profile guest star every once in a while. Sweeps correspondent Laurel Marselle caught up with one of the stars of ABC’s red-hot “Desperate Housewives” at the 71st Annual State Street Thanksgiving Parade....