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The undisputed king of electric
blues is scheduled to play to a
packed audience Friday night at
Centennial Hall.

BB King is one of the most well-
known living blues musicians in
the world, and certainly the most
famous person to ever come out
of the tiny town of Itta Bena,
Miss.

The 2000 census pegged Itta
Bena's population at about 4,000
residents living within a 1.5
square mile area.

Yet the town still managed to
make it into the 2000 Coen
brothers film, "O Brother, Where
Art Thou?"

In the movie, a notorious
gangster terrorizing the the
Deep South stops George
Clooney's character Everett and
his crew and asks them how to
get to Itta Bena.

Name the gangster and the
actor who played him for a
chance to win a set of three
cookbooks.

Click here to submit your
answer.

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Frankenstein's Monster is closely followed by Machine Gun Joe's Dodge Ram in "Death Race," a film about a prison-sponsored, pay-per-view demolition derby.
photos courtesy of Universal Pictures
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Review
Death Race
**
• Rated: R for strong violence and language.
• Cast: Jason Statham, Joan Allen, Ian McShane, Tyrese Gibson.
• Director: Paul W.S. Anderson
• Family call: Not for kids.
• Running time: 105 minutes.
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'Death Race' likely to drive viewers crazy

By Phil Villarreal
Pvillarreal@azstarnet.com
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 08.21.2008
"Death Race" bravely takes on that philosophical quandary every one of us must face: What to do when a ninja breaks into your home, frames you for the murder of your wife and taunts you with a finger-gun motion?
For Jensen (Jason Statham), the answer is obvious. Enter the prison-sponsored, pay-per-view demolition derby, kill the ninja during one of the races — confirming it's him when he once again taunts you with the finger-gun — and win your freedom. Because in the future, racing skill trumps a life sentence.
In a way you've got to respect a movie that keeps a straight face and tosses out a line like "I want you to be Frankenstein," expecting the audience to nod accordingly and grip the armrests. You've also got to respect a studio for daring to remake the brilliantly awful "Death Race 2000," which is as tough a prospect as redoing "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" or "Freaks." You're setting yourself up for failure.
And failure is what "Death Race" is greased with. Failure courses through the pistons, pumps through the engine and out the exhaust pipe. The movie plays like it's based on a video game that wasn't good enough to have been made.
So many illogical things occur that when something that makes sense happens, it throws you off. So you're OK with Jensen, agreeing to assume the identity of the deceased fan-favorite driver Frankenstein, gleefully driving with a navigator (played by Natalie Martinez of "Fashion House") who cops to having helped kill the old Frankenstein. Also at Jensen's side is the mechanic Coach (Ian McShane of "Deadwood"), a lifer who has been granted release but chooses to stay inside. With the chance to mingle with girls who look like Martinez, who could blame him?
The racing action is intense and dramatic, and a post-film message informs you not to repeat the stunts you've seen.
Remember, kids — of all the life lessons you glean from "Death Race," be sure to filter out its driving instruction.

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