OPENING THIS WEEK “THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO” (R) (2:38) Stars Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, Stellan Skarsgard and Robin Wright. Directed by David Fincher. A disgraced journalist gets assistance from a computer hacker to unravel a horrific family history while investigating the disappearance of a woman who went missing 40 years ago. Opening at: Nickelodeon (Portland) […]

• HOT TICKETS Music and Nightlife: Merry metal: Clutch performs at the State YOU’VE ALMOST made it through another year, so now is no time to slow down. Keep on rockin’ hard this week with a triple-powered show: Maryland metal outfit Clutch will headline at the State Theatre, supported by Corrosion of Conformity and Kyng. WHEN: 8 […]

Nancy and I had no idea what to expect when we opened the Shipyard Applehead Ale, which the brewery gave me so I could sample it before it reaches the shelves in Maine stores later this month. Bruce Forsley, director of sales and marketing at Shipyard, said in a press release that the company asked […]

Christmas movies are all about presents, togetherness and, maybe, comically knocking the tree over onto grandma. And, of course, class warfare … “It’s a Wonderful Life” – Beloved holiday classic it may be, but this 1946 Frank Capra film is basically a microcosm of the current financial crisis and the way the 99 percent can […]

NEW ON DVD AND BLU-RAY “COLOMBIANA,” starring Zoe Saldana and Michael Vartan. Love him or hate him, Luc Besson knows how to entertain, and his name in the production credits of this slam-bang, none-too-intelligent actioner benefits from a brisk pace, a fair share of oddball setpieces, and an engaging and even, dare we say, sensitive […]

Top 10 for Portland store Dec. 12-18: 1. The Black Keys, “El Camino” 2. “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” (DVD) 3. Adele, “21” 4. Coldplay, “Mylo Xyloto” 5. Tom Waits, “Bad as Me” 6. She and Him, “A Very She and Him Christmas” 7. Michael Buble, “Christmas” 8. Mumford and Sons, “Sigh No […]