Reviews – Pima Post

7May

By Pima Post Editorial TeamNo Comments

‘The massive’ legacy of Nic Cage

By JAVIER DOSAMANTESPima Post “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent”Directed by:Tom GormicanRating: RRun time: 1 hour, 47 minutesShowing in theaters In “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent” Nicolas Cage plays a fictionalized version of himself that is on the edge of financial and professional demise. After ruining a meeting with a director for a potential role and his daughter’s 16th birthday party on the same day, Cage has seemingly hit rock bottom. Then our protagonist has no choice but to reluctantly accept a $1 million offer from mysterious superfan Javi Gutierrez (Pedro Pascal) to attend his birthday party in Mallorca, Spain. When I first heard the movie’s premise, I thought it would be a weird, over-the-top meta comedy. Instead, this project took s...

‘The Northman’: revenge of the action epic

26Apr

By Pima Post Editorial TeamNo Comments

Arts & Entertainment, Opinion, Reviews

‘The Northman’: revenge of the action epic

By JAVIER DOSAMANTESPima Post “The Northman”Directed by: Robert EggersRating: RRun time: 2 hours, 16 minutesShowing at The Loft Cinema A movie like “The Northman” is rare nowadays, and even more rare is for studios to greenlight this type of movie. So this is how I imagine the pitch meeting went (it’s the only explanation): And we’re off. “The Northman” is a uniquely balanced film. It is raw and gruesome but at the same time beautifully shot without compromising artistry for fireworks. Most Shakespeare adaptations err in insisting that the dialogue has to remain in the Shakespearean style. That's great for people who have those artistic sensibilities. But when doing a version of “Coriolanus” as a contemporary war movie like Ralph Fiennes in 2011 … you might want ...

Tucson Taco Madness: The last taco face-off

5Apr

By Pima Post Editorial TeamNo Comments

Arts & Entertainment, Food, Opinion, Reviews

Tucson Taco Madness: The last taco face-off

By JAVIER DOSAMANTESPima Post This March, we had a tournament for the books. We witnessed upsets, future stars shining and legends coming up short. The 2022 Tucson Taco Tournament has now concluded, and a new champion has been crowned. Last night’s battle went down to the wire and culminated in a grueling journey for everyone who played. Tacos del Rancho and El Tacoson had to reach deep and put together their best tacos on the plate for one last time. It took a hard-fought and complete effort from both, but there could only be one winner. El Tacoson represented the South Central Conference with an al pastor taco, which is most emblematic of Mexico City. While Tacos del Rancho came out from the North Conference with a carne asada taco — the signature taco of the state of...

31Mar

By Pima Post Editorial TeamNo Comments

Culture, Food, Opinion, Reviews

Tucson Taco Madness: fish food fight

By JAVIER DOSAMANTESPima Post Making a fish or shrimp taco sounds like a simple task, right? You grab a tortilla, pack it with fish, pour some “powers” (veggie toppings and salsas) on it and you’re good to go. Well, actually … no. No, I tell you, no. What is known as a fish taco or a shrimp taco, isn’t made willy nilly with any kind of fish or shrimp. Nor with random powers and any kind of tortilla. It is not a simple taco. It is one of the most layered, colorful and loudest tacos. Jazz music is just random sounds and noises, struggling to find a flow and rhythm without structure to the unfamiliar ear. When in fact, it’s a beautiful collection of melodies within a structure. And that from time to time, it steps out of that structure in search of more adventurous soun...

Tucson Taco Madness: A fiery battle of taco powerhouses

29Mar

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Arts & Entertainment, Culture, Food, Opinion, Reviews

Tucson Taco Madness: A fiery battle of taco powerhouses

By JAVIER DOSAMANTESPima Post Mexico City is the Washington, D.C., of Mexico. It is also a standalone district outside of the other states, and it’s the capital of the country. Perhaps equally important, it is arguably the home of the best al pastor tacos. It is a taco rooted in history and cultural heritage. Its original conception was introduced by Lebanese immigrants who arrived in Mexico. It was a remix of a homeland dish — with the traditional anatomy substituted with ingredients found in the region. Pita bread was switched for a corn tortilla and lamb for pork. The meat was seasoned with chiles and spices from the region, and voila … the al pastor taco, as we know it today, was born. An al pastor taco is made with cuts of layered and seasoned pork m...

Tucson Taco Madness: The battle between goats and porks

25Mar

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Food, Opinion, Reviews

Tucson Taco Madness: The battle between goats and porks

By JAVIER DOSAMANTESPima Post The state of Jalisco has given the world tequila and mariachi, but equally as artful of a cultural contribution — is birria. Birria has a rustic origin, has a rich tradition and is known for its versatility. You can enjoy it as a broth with a birria taco on the side. As a taco with broth on the side for dipping … or as a straight up taco. People eat birria for breakfast, lunch or dinner. And with beers, the day after some beers or in family gatherings. Nearby states of Jalisco are known to have mastered the craft of making birria, but one of them is the state known for their carnitas. Michoacan gave birth to this beautiful incarnation of pork — it is tender on the inside and crisped to golden perfection on the outside. Car...

Tucson Taco Madness: A grilling duel in the Sonoran desert

24Mar

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Food, Opinion, Reviews

Tucson Taco Madness: A grilling duel in the Sonoran desert

By JAVIER DOSAMANTESPima Post Carne asada is not just another menu item in the Mexican state of Sonora. It is a tradition and a symbol of cultural pride. Sonora is mainly a livestock farming and agricultural state. It's a state known for its top-quality beef — and consequently — its carne asada. People have their grilling technique and taco construction philosophy that's passed from generation to generation or friendship to friendship. Although, two cardinal rules are followed by every Sonoran and perfected by some to become oracle-level “taqueros.” The meat (diezmillo or arrachera) should only be salted and not marinated. Marinating is frowned upon and is the mark of a lack of carne asada expertise.Carne asada tacos are to be made with flour tortillas, full stop. ...

10Mar

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Culture, Food, Opinion, Reviews

2022 Tucson Taco Tournament

By JAVIER DOSAMANTESPima Post In 2015, Tucson became the first UNESCO City of Gastronomy in the United States, a distinction shared by only 36 cities in the world. Tucson is famous for its unique multicultural food scene, particularly for its rich Mexican cuisine. In the very true and eloquent words of the late Anthony Bourdain: “I should remind you that Mexico is not homogenous. When you say ‘Mexican’ food to a Mexican, you haven’t really said anything at all. There are 32 distinct states, the food changes from region to region.” One universal staple, however, is the taco (seriously, there’s even a Netflix docuseries about it called “Taco Chronicles”). And the taco landscape in Tucson is one of the best in the country. Local chefs who specialize in tacos have app...

1Mar

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Arts & Entertainment, Opinion, Pima News, Reviews

Audiences absorb ‘Spongebob Musical’

What: “The Spongebob Musical”Where: Center for the Arts, 2202 W. Anklam RoadWhen: 7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday; 1 p.m. Sunday.ASL interpreters will be at the March 3 show. Cost: $12-$24Information: 520-206-6986 and online By EMILY GASTELUMPima Post “The Spongebob Musical” makes you feel like a kid again. It was a chance to see your favorite characters come to life. Spongebob, who was played by Samantha Beamer, brilliantly brought the water sponge to life. It seemed like Spongebob was actually there and that the audience was in Bikini Bottom trying to save the town from an active volcano. The rest of the cast also took their characters and brought them to life. It was exciting to see how the cast and director Chris Will portrayed the characters. “Spongebob...

15Feb

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Arts & Entertainment, Opinion, Reviews

‘Flee’ is a story worth telling

By JAVIER DOSAMANTESPima Post “Flee”Directed by: Jonas Poher RasmussenRating: PG-13Run time: 1 hours, 29 minutesNow streaming on Hulu Jonas Poher Rasmussen’s “Flee” is a unicorn of a film. We haven’t seen anything like it before, and we probably never will. Some films in the animated documentary genre have been nominated for an Oscar or have received critical acclaim, but none to the extent and success of “Flee.” Movies in this genre tend to be overly ambitious or too niche with their storytelling and animation. However, this animated docudrama has been a heralded success because of its simplicity in style. The reception from critics, audiences and the academy resulted in three Oscar nominations for Best Documentary Feature, Best Animated Feature Film and...