We are quite curious about The Game of Their Lives, a film partially shot here in the summer of 2003 amid much media hoopla. You remember: It's the one about the ragtag amateurs of the 1950 U.S. soccer team that, in the World Cup, miraculously beat England's top squad 1-0 in what is widely considered one of the sport's greatest upsets.
The film was directed by David Anspaugh, a man who chokeholds the choke-you-up sports-movie market: He helmed Hoosiers and Rudy. The cast includes the esteemed (Patrick Stewart), the steamy (Wes Bentley) and the wuh-the-huh? (Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale and Home Improvement kid Zachery Ty Bryan).
But just how will our fair city look on the silver screen? Join us when lucky St. Louis gets its own premiere of the flick at 4 p.m. on two screens at the AMC Esquire 7 theater (6706 Clayton Road, Richmond Heights) before its limited nationwide release the following Friday. Tickets cost $25 each and may be purchased in advance by calling Cinema St. Louis at 314-454-0042, extension 10.
No word yet on Hollywood celebs appearing, but a number of the athletes portrayed in the movie, including locals "Gino" Pariani and Frank Borghi, plan to attend. Maybe that'll change our red-carpet-is-always-half-empty attitude. -- Rose Martelli
Sexual Intellectuals
Writing the great American porno
If there's one element of the porno genre everyone agrees upon, it is the weak-link status of the script. Unimaginative, uninspired and riddled with poor dialogue, many a would-be masterpiece of the fleshly cinema has been sunk by a flaccid script. In Elaine May's comedy Adult Entertainment, a closely knit cast of porn regulars decides to write and produce a blockbuster. This group brings in a script doctor to help, and he recommends a steady diet of classic literature to help the cast achieve greatness on the page and on the soundstage. Naturally, comedy (or comedia?) ensues. HotCity Theatre presents Adult Entertainment at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and at 2 p.m. on Sunday (April 14 through May 7) at the ArtLoft Theatre (1527 Washington Avenue; 314-482-9125 or www.hotcitytheatre.org). Tickets are $18 to $23. -- Paul Friswold
The Choice Is Yours
To eat or not to eat
MON 4/18
Hearing "Parkway South Class of 2006" probably makes you feel a little old. These kids still have so much life to experience, so much more home-cooked food to eat! They're probably not worrying about where their next meals will come from, but you sure are. So instead of having cereal for dinner -- yet again -- head over to the sixth annual Festival of Foods/Silent Auction, which is held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Parkway South High School commons (801 Hanna Road, Manchester; call 636-256-6535 for more information). There, you can eat Imo's pizza (it's good! Hush up, you out-of-towners!), Frick's food (also quite tasty), Tony Marino's Italian dishes (yum!) and other edibles from more than two dozen additional restaurants, while Parkway students provide the entertainment. Tickets cost $7 to $10, and the proceeds will help provide the Class of 2006 with a graduation party. Isn't that sweet? Almost as sweet as the MaggieMoo's ice cream that will be served at this fundraising dinner. -- Alison Sieloff
Mullets and Muscle Cars
SAT 4/16
Never let it be said that KSHE-95 (94.7 FM) does not know its audience. The AOR titan of St. Louis knows that if you love Sweet Meat, you probably love Camaros, monster trucks, a Hooters swimsuit competition and the retro-rock of Joe Dirt. So don't disappoint the Big Pig: KSHE's Rock & Roll Car Show at the Family Arena (2002 Arena Parkway, St. Charles; 314-534-1111 or www.kshe95.com) has all these features and more waiting for you. Tickets are $22, and doors open at 11 a.m. -- Paul Friswold
