Spotlight:Spokane films set to make DVD debuts

Two Spokane-filmed movies are about to be released on DVD:

• “Wrong Turn to Tahoe” – This is the Cuba Gooding Jr.-Harvey Keitel thriller that was shot last winter. The official release date is Tuesday, but it’s already available through Netflix and those Redbox DVD rental boxes.

• “Give ’em Hell Malone” – This is the Thomas Jane-Ving Rhames thriller that was filmed here in fall 2008. The release date is Jan. 26.

Spotlight received an advance copy of “Malone,” which begins with some nice establishing shots of Spokane. But, trust me, you’ll never mistake it for a travelogue.

This Russell Mulcahy-directed thriller features lots of spurting blood, baseball-bats-in-the-face, exploding skulls and a slo-mo shot of a bullet smashing a guy’s nose.

And that’s all before the opening credits. Seriously.

The style is a combination of film noir and low-budget comic book. But it does have some nice exterior shots of the Otis Hotel – complete with bodies flying out the windows.

Jane on Spokane

The DVD of “Give ‘em Hell Malone” also contains an unintentionally hilarious “special feature” interview with Thomas Jane, a Golden Globe nominee for HBO’s “Hung.”

Let’s just say Jane doesn’t appear to be totally enthusiastic about being interviewed. At one point, he complains about the day’s filming start time, while smoking a big cigar.

However, I thought I’d pass along his comments about the merits of Spokane as a filming location: “It has a lot of that old-time film noir stuff. So it’s perfect. It’s sort of a city out of time, you know. It’s the perfect city for this film because it mixes elements of the modern-day city with older stuff. I love all the trains.”

Hazy shade of Garfunkel

Art Garfunkel, fresh off of performing at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame concert, is coming to the Northern Quest Casino on Feb. 13 and 14.

He’ll perform his solo hits as well as Simon and Garfunkel classics.

Tickets are $40 and $50, through TicketsWest outlets (800-325-SEAT, www.ticketswest.com).

Nickelback’s back

And for something completely different, Nickelback has been booked into the Spokane Arena on May 5. The Canadian rockers will be joined by Breaking Benjamin, Shinedown and Sick Puppies.

Tickets are $75, $65 and $45, and will go on sale Jan. 23, 10 a.m. through TicketsWest outlets.

‘Love Letters’

We can now tell you the details about the rumored fundraiser show at Interplayers Professional Theatre.

It’ll be “Love Letters,” starring Ellen Travolta and Jack Bannon, Jan. 29 at 7:30 p.m. and Jan. 30 at 2 and 7:30 p.m.

“Love Letters” is the popular A.R. Gurney romantic comedy told entirely through letters. Travolta and Bannon have plenty of experience with this show. They did a memorable performance of “Love Letters” in 1994 – also as a fundraiser for Interplayers.

These performances will be the culminating event in a month-long fund drive titled the Interplayers 30th Anniversary Campaign. This is only its 29th season, but the goal is to get the struggling theater company into its 30th season.

Tickets are $25, available beginning Tuesday by calling (509) 455-PLAY.

Humanities appointment

Lucia Huntington, a retired Gonzaga University professor from Spokane, has been named the co-chair of Humanities Washington.

The other co-chair is Karen Munro of Olympia, who is married to former Secretary of State Ralph Munro.

Humanities Washington provides cultural and educational programming throughout the state. It’s nice to see the east side of the state is represented so well on the board.

A Lukens- Nameck switch

Radio listeners will notice a significant change in the morning shows at KXLY-AM (920) and KVNI-AM (1080) this week.

Bud Nameck will return as the morning host of KXLY beginning Tuesday morning. A co-host will be announced soon, according to Brian Paul, radio marketing manager.

Nameck will continue to be the voice of the Cougar Radio Sports Network.

Rick and Teresa Lukens, the former KXLY-AM hosts, are moving to sister station KVNI in Coeur d’Alene. They start there on Monday.

The reasons for these changes? Paul said they wanted to get Nameck back on KXLY after a hiatus of several years, and they wanted the Lukens to rejuvenate the KVNI morning show. The Lukens’ show will be similar to their old KXLY show, but with a North Idaho slant.