The Third Man.

i missed my 'Fancy Little Blog'

2012-07-06T11:12:00.000-07:00

So i was watching this guy the other day ^ for obvious reasons (i watch iD4 every Wednesday. Duh.) and some of the things he said really stuck with me. Let me just take a minute to show you an excerpt from this masterful speech.

"We will not go quietly into the night. We will not vanish without a fight. We're going to live on. We're going to survive."

Basically Bill Pullman nails it. Always. No questions asked.

The point that i'm trying to make here as you wade through the sarcasm is that i am pretending he inspired me to not give up on my fancy little blog. As bad as this blog is and as much as all 4 or 5 of you that read this could care less about my opinion i missed sharing my favorite things. So i am pleased to announce that after a year long hiatus i'm going to give another shot to keeping this updated because in my head, it's 2001 and blogs are still awesome. And i would never want to let down Bill Pullman.

Also... i'm bored. in fact, disregard everything above this. it's really because i'm super bored.

sooo...

Things i saw, thought i'd share:

So i was trying to think of all the awesome things i could write so that the 5 people that read this would be like, "Oh wow, what a sweet comeback it was better than Mickey Rourke's and Robert Downey Jr.'s combined!!"

Here were some ideas i had.

MY TOP TEN MOVIES OF 2011

Why it's a bad idea: it's July. The oscars were like a million years ago. Missed my window there. (1.Hugo, 2.Warrior, 3.Drive, 4.The Descendants, 5.Moneyball, 6.Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, 7.The Help, 8.The Ides of March, 9.Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, 10.The Debt.)

THE GREY

Why it's a bad idea: The poster alone sends me into a rage blackout. i hate this movie. i only get so many days off and Liam Neeson ruined one of them immediately. i can never get that time back that you took from me Liam. Never.

Also this is a real thing so it doesn't even look like he's going to redeem himself in the near future

THE AMAZING SPIDERMAN

Why it's a bad idea: you don't need my help to get hype about this. it's redundant. if you don't know about this movie you probably don't know how to work the internet. Which means you aren't reading this.

THE SAME RULES APPLY FOR THIS:

AND THIS:

Summer time is not really a good time for this then i guess... so much for my epic comeback blog post. i'm gonna just stay away from movies and share a few things that have been hanging out on my Pandora bookmarks list.

Things i HEARD, Thought i'd share:

i spent about two hours this morning just going back and listening to everything i had bookmarked on Pandora in the last 6 or 7 months. Some of this stuff is pretty old, but it's new to me so you'll have to deal. Here are the highlights.

One Red Thread - Blind Pilot (2008)

Not Quite Happiness - Good Old War (2012)

Here We Are - Patrick Park (2007)

Charming the Flames - Fields (2007)

When U Love Somebody - Fruit Bats (2003)

my two favorites of my music marathon today had some really awesome videos to go along with great songs so here are those two:

Coconut Records - (2007)

and

The Temper Trap (2009), this one is especially fantastic these kids are freaking awesome. Temper Trap also released a new album last month so check that out too. It's self titled.

Parting shot:
My roommate introduced me to this band, and then i started hearing about them all over the place, you probably have as well. But just in case you don't know them yet i would love to be the one to introduce you to The Lumineers.

Here is the first single from their debut album

and my favorite from them

They are streaming their music for free on their website, which is linked above.

Awesome, i am no longer bored. As always if you got this far thank you for reading my fancy little blog. if you didn't get this far i don't care.

My Top Ten Movies of 2010

2011-01-14T15:02:00.000-08:00

Hey-oh. My top ten movies of the year, just before i start i have a disclaimer.

Disclaimer: I have not yet seen these movies, i don't have a job. if you'd like to buy me a ticket to any of these movies, i would enjoy your donation: Black Swan, True Grit, Blue Valentine, 127 Hours. (I did see Kids Are All Right. I hated that movie. I'm sorry.)

Now that i've disclaimed, here are MY top ten movies of 2010, i will try not to be as long-winded (long-fingered?) as i was with my albums. Here you go...

10. Winter's Bone

Winter's Bone

Directed By: Debra Granik

Released: September

This was a very subtle story of a backwoods town wrapped up in addiction, misguided loyalty, and extreme poverty. Conditions are so awful in this small town, you almost forget it's set in this country. Wonderful performances by Jennifer Lawrence and John Hawkes. Unfortunately it's all build, denouement of this story left me feeling a little bit gipped.

9. Robin Hood

Robin Hood

Directed by: Ridley Scott

Released: May

To everyone that hated this movie. I hate you. I continue to be flabbergasted at the horrible press this movie received and continues to receive. Yes, if you were expecting a classic version of Robin Hood, you went to the wrong movie. This movie focuses more on the creation of Robin Hood. The new spin on an old story (that has been DONE a million times) is what makes this such an incredible movie. Departing from classic conceits is the main reason this works so well. Ridley Scott and Brian Helgeland (director/writer) along with the cast create rich, thoughtful characters. And as expected the stellar cast does a stellar job and it contains good action sequences. If you're a huge fan of the classic Robin Hood, like i am, most of the fun of this movie is finding the nuance woven in with a new story.

8. The American

The American

Directed by: Anton Corbijn

Released: September

Blink and you missed this one. For Clooney it was a wonderful follow-up to Up In The Air. The American, plot-wise, is the story of the lifestyle of a freelance American weapon-maker living in Italy. What unfolds is a wonderful metaphor on the American nation from the eyes of an outsider. My problem is this movie was advertised as an action movie. it's not, it's more art house than action, but beautiful cinematography and another subtly strong performance by George Clooney was far more captivating than the 'shoot-em-up' flick i was expecting.

7. Jack Goes Boating

Jack Goes Boating

Directed by: Philip Seymour Hoffman

Released: September

Philip Seymour Hoffman's directing debut, Jack Goes Boating, is based on a play of the same name. A simple debut for PSH that very quietly creeps into your emotional core. It's funny, it's sweet, and it's heart-breaking. While Hoffman does an adequate job in his directing debut, you can very clearly tell that this is a piece that was lifted from the stage. The long scenes and minimal locations make this a movie about human relationships and about brilliant acting (Particularly for John Ortiz). I am also partial to this one because i watched it screened in NYC the night before it's major debut and sat in on a Q&A with the cast. A humbling/enlightening experience to listen to each of them. Maybe that's why it made my list... maybe it won't affect you the same way, but out of everything on my top 10 this is the one i hope sits with you.

6. The King's Speech

The Kings Speech

Directed by: Tom Hooper

Released: December

It's not often that a movie comes along with a lot of drama, a sharp message, and an uplifting story (a good movie, anyways). This hits all those points. The story of the rise of King George VI and how he overcame his impediments to become a rallying point for a nation at war. I'm a big fan of Tom Hooper's off balanced shot composition and it facilitated his storytelling very well. Colin Firth doesn't seem to miss these days, and Geoffrey Rush is delightful to watch, as always. A very thoughtful, inspiring film.

5. The Town

The Town

Directed by: Ben Affleck

Released: September

A long time ago, i would have told you Ben Affleck was brilliant. A few years after that i would have told you he was a total schmuck. Now i stand by my original statement. Affleck is playing a huge role in bringing back the Boston crime drama. And when he does it, it feels grittier and more realistic than all the others. Acting-wise it's solid, but not the strongest of the bunch, but it doesn't need to be the strongest it's a movie driven by plot and action. Sadly, The Town also becomes a vehicle for one of hollywood's finest to say goodbye. Intense and breathtaking from start to finish this is definitely one of the top movies of the year.

*Note: If you buy the extended cut of the DVD... stick with the theatrical version, it's a tighter, cleaner telling of the story.

4. Toy Story 3

Toy Story 3

Directed by: Lee Unkrich

Released: June

A striking end to a wonderfully thought out and sweet story line that most of us have grown up with. Toy Story first captured us in 1995 (i was 9), continued in 1999 (14) and now finishes over ten years later (24). This was a great movie made stronger by sentimentality, being in the theater for Toy Story 3 one of my favorite movie going experiences of all time. Coming to the theater for the matinee filled with small children, i was kicked and prodded and had popcorn spilled on me multiple times by the kid sitting next to me. And as the movie drew to a close i was fighting so hard not to burst into tears. Looking around i noticed a ton of 5-10 year olds smiling at the animated characters, and i also noticed a ton of 20 somethings fighting the same fight as me. Thanks pixar for continuing to make movies that bridge the age gap, that captivate us, and that always teach us something valuable. This movie is sure to win some awards this year, i'm just glad i got to grow up with Woody, Buzz, and Andy.

3. The Social Network

The Social Network

Directed By: David Fincher

Released: October

I already devoted a lengthy blog post to this movie this year, so i'm not gonna delve into it big time here. But to recap, Jesse Eisenberg is outstanding, Aaron Sorkin is outstanding, David Fincher is outstanding. it's #1 on everyone else's lists, why isn't it higher on mine? Two reasons: 1. These other two were better. 2. i'm sick of technology and facebook. (i realize the irony, as i state this on my blog).

2. The Fighter

The Fighter

Directed by: David O. Russell

Released: December

Give Christian Bale an Oscar already. He just keeps astounding us. Boxing movies tend to be eerily similar in their production values and story line. What sets this apart is that it carries most of the cliche's but it's also carried by performance. Christian Bale, as i said, is absolutely astounding. Amy Adams is flawless. Melissa Leo nails it. Mark Wahlberg... he's good. But he serves his purpose perfectly, i think that's the misconception about this movie. To me, Wahlberg isn't the lead, he's the glue or the facilitator of the plot, because of him (the closest to normal) we are introduced to all of these other complex and interesting characters. If it's Mark Wahlberg's story, it's Christian Bale's movie. The choices he made were so interesting that i had trouble taking my eyes off of him for two hours. He does enough to push this to number 2 for me. i'm also a sucker for stories about brothers.

1. Inception

Inception

Directed By: Christopher Nolan

Released: July

it incenses me that this has fallen behind the pack in awards voting. i think there are two reasons for this, we tend to put a heavier weight on the lower budget, independent films around awards season, and it's a victim of a very early summer release date. 1) This movie was innovative: Nolan has introduced so much with this film, clever subplots, new special effects, original storytelling. 2) it was thought provoking: my favorite question to ask after this movie has been, 'explain to me in one concise sentence what the main story in this movie is.' it's wonderful because EVERYONE has given me a different answer and that's what a good film should do, mean something different to everyone. 3) it has complex plots and simple plots: the dream with a dream within a dream, obviously a brilliantly laid out complex plot. A love story between two people trying to let go, a young adult coming to terms with his father's legacy- simple, identifiable plots hidden within a complex story. 4) it has tons of action: Joseph Gordon Levitt's sequences in the spinning hotel room are already iconic, and there's so much more to go along with that. 5) Well thought out characters: Cobb, Arthur, Saito, Eames, etc... all relatively hashed out and easy to fall in step with. And the greatest aspect of this movie to me is also another of my favorite 'theater experiences' of the year. Having such a complex, intense, driven movie for 2+ hours, but what truly puts everyone on their seat is such a simple shot. You can feel the audience holding their breath for the conclusion. And like all good pieces of art, it's a conclusion that you don't get the satisfaction of being laid out for you. Keep thinking. Keep watching... tell me The Social Network was better than this and i'll respect your opinion... but i'll secretly be judging you.

In Conclusion... Sorry i promised not to get long winded and i did anyways, but i'm not sitting next to you, so just tell me you read it all. Like i said, i left out some stuff i didn't see, but i'm actually quite proud of my list and looking forward to the upcoming awards season. Like always, thanks for reading... also if you did ACTUALLY hate Robin Hood, i don't hate you. But again, i'm secretly judging you. If you have a rebuttal, please let me know, in case you haven't noticed movies are kind of my favorite thing to talk about in the world.

My Top Ten Albums of 2010

2010-12-10T23:50:00.000-08:00

Without music life would be a mistake. ~Nietzsche

2010 was a good year for music, at least in my opinion... and that's all this is... i'm not Rolling Stone. That's at your local book store they probably did their own top ten list, and it's probably better. Go get it if that's what you want. My opinion is free though...

Anyways. 2010 brought us some great musical movements (a renaissance in hip hop, and a resurgence of folk music.), and some musical movements i will be embarrassed to tell my kids about one day (Justin Bieber... Justin Bieber's hair... Justin Bieber's ego).

All in all i'm very happy about the music i have stored up for the winter and, without further ado, here are the CD's i will be hibernating with, my Top Ten Albums of 2010:

# 10

Flamingo - Brandon Flowers

Release Date: 9/14/10
"Didn't anyone tell you? The house will always win?" When The Killers finished work on Day and Age and a Live at Royal Albert Hall album Brandon Flowers was apparently ready to immediately get back to work. The rest of the band, however, was ready to take a break. So Flowers set out on his own. I'm a huge Killers fan, ever since my college roommate introduced me to the band, so i was pretty nervous when i heard Brandon Flowers was taking his act solo. (Although it's hard to go wrong when Daniel Lanois is on board) The end result was surprising, he tells us stories through the eyes of his Las Vegas roots, switching from the seedy to showy side of the city without warning and keeping listeners on their toes. The arrangements don't seem a significant leap from what we would hear from The Killers, but it makes sense, considering these songs were written for the whole band. There are moments when Brandon Flowers reminds me of Springsteen with synthesizers. Also according to him he has enough songs to keep releasing CD's with or without the band. Can't wait.
Favorite Songs: Playing With Fire, Crossfire, Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas

I And Love And You - The Avett Brothers

Release Date: 2/5/10
I missed this wagon when they first came around, and i continued to miss it for the next 8 years. Surprising considered they come from one state up, but i have a tendency to wear blinders. Fortunately a dear friend of mine introduced me to them about a month or more ago and they have rarely left my ipod since then. I love the arrangements of music, the dominance of a piano, the musical versatility of the brothers, the harmonies between the two, the lyrics, but more than anything, the heartfelt truthfulness that resonates from listening and watching them play. There's no mistake they are excited to be here and excited to share. The Title Song is probably the most easily accessible example of all these things, but it's the first song on the album and it only gets better from there. (Also probably win my award for coolest cover art of the 10) The Avett Brothers also released a live album in October. Glad i'm on the wagon now, so i can be on the look out for the next one.
Favorite Songs: Heart Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise, I And Love And You.

Plastic Beach- Gorillaz

Release Date: 5/5/10

This one actually didn't catch my attention until i saw the video for Stylo, which is now on this blog twice. Because it's awesome. Come on... this CD deserves to be on the list solely for doing a video while being chased by Bruce Willis. The thing i continue to love about The Gorillaz, is that the more you listen to them, the better their songs get, because most of the time they are flooding listeners with so much stimulus that it takes multiple listens to be able to piece together the story they are telling. Gorillaz remains one of the few mainstream acts that has a strong concept and has a lot of fun playing with it, and it is apparent to their audience. And if you like featuring artists how does this sound: Mos Def, Snoop Dogg, Bobby Womack, Lou Reed, Paul Simon, De La Soul, etc. Word of advice if you are going to try to go on itunes and 'pick off' the singles don't waste your time. This is a complete work Track 1 - 18 (18 tracks on the deluxe.)

Favorites: I'm not telling you. Read the last damn sentence.

The Wild Hunt - The Tallest Man on Earth

Release Date: 4/12/10
To know me, is to instantly understand why this guy made my list. The Tallest Man on Earth was my favorite discovery this year, and The Tallest Man On Earth actually happens to be a Swede by the name of Kristian Matsson. He has stolen the heart and the soul of folk music straight from those Baby Boomers whose generation perfected the genre. I credit him with this, not just because he sounds like Bob Dylan's prodigy, but because he is more than a songwriter, he is a poet. I'm usually harsh on Dylan "sound a-likes" but his lyrical structure is so sound, i can't do anything but be amazed. His nasal, and ragged vocal stylings flow so smoothly on top of his six string picking that he sounds like he belongs in an era 20 years before. But i'm really glad he wound up in this one.
Favorite Songs: A Lion's Heart, Troubles Will Be Gone, Burden of Tomorrow.

Suburbs- Arcade Fire

Release Date: 8/3/10
I'm aware that every other musical publication has this much higher on their list, but like i said my opinion is free. Don't get me wrong, i really like Arcade Fire, i'm just not always in the mood for Arcade Fire, which is why a great album that should be #2 or #3 is listed 6th on my list. That being said, when i am in the mood for Arcade Fire i can only describe their sound as Epic. They seem to get the structure of a well-made-song, and they seem to find a way to blend so many sounds brilliantly. I also think they recaptured a feel and a sound that made them so brilliant with Funeral and was diminished on Neon Bible. That bitter- sweetness that makes you wonder where you stand when the song is over. Arcade Fire is on a bit of a hot streak. I mean how can you not be when Spike Jonze makes a movie for you?
Favorite Songs: City With No Children, Sprawls II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)

Junky Star - Ryan Bingham & The Dead Horses

Release Date: 8/31/10
Ryan Bingham achieved wonderful success and hit the national spotlight this year with his Oscar winning song The Weary Kind from the film Crazy Heart. The Oscar set loads of expectations on Bingham, considering he was a country star with only a cult following before the infamous T-Bone Burnett partnered up with him for the movie soundtrack. How did he handle the expectations? He picked up a band and put together a 13 track play list that is a powerful anthem during this country's recession. This folk/country hybrid has some catchy songs, some painfully depressing songs, and lyrics that sound like they should be coming directly out of Tom Joad's mouth ("Don't fear the vendor, a dream can be bought, as long as you don't sell what you've been fighting for.") In a country where a lot of us aren't sure what move to make next it feels good to at least know we're not alone. Bingham's gritty voice and thoughtful songs capture that perfectly.
Favorites: The Wandering, Depression, Hallelujah (not that one)

Recovery - Eminem

Release Date: 6/21/10
Uplifting, Inspiring, Apologetic. Eminem? Really? Angry. Violent. Abusive. Ok, that's more like it. He blends the two sides of the man together to make the most honest, self-effacing piece of work that he's ever done. Honestly i thought this would be at the top of my list when it came out in June, but 4 isn't bad either... and it's not like he cares. Relapse was not a good CD. And i was dreading the relapse 'companion' but then he scrapped that, there started to be rumors of the old Marshall Mathers... but better. And all of the sudden this CD drops that blows everyone away. Listen to it closely, from a tempo perspective... you can't invent that, it's inhuman, he changes his scheme constantly, he fits words in rhyme schemes that don't even belong in the same sentence together! But it works, fantastically. From suicide, to alcohol/drug abuse, to jealousy, Eminem is in confession, and we are on the other side listening, and it's beautiful.
Favorites: No Love, Not Afraid, Love The Way You Lie (He also gave us one of the best videos of the year)
#3

God Willin' & The Creek Don't Rise - Ray Lamontagne and the Pariah Dogs

Release Date: 8/17/10
Ray Lamontagne for the last few years has been one of my very favorite artists. He is a paradox, i can't think of another musician who makes me choke up in despair and laugh out of hopefulness at the same time... but he does it with every line. This effect is achieved from the rich, soulful voice coupled with the haunting simplicity of his lyrics. Whether by coincidence or by me morphing circumstances in my head Every CD he has released has found a way to fit seamlessly into what's going on in my life at the time. On this Album he's picked up the Pariah Dogs, who have done wonders backing him up, they expand his musical range, and a traditionally "folksy" artist can be heard with new influences, Bluegrass, R&B, Blues, Country, and Funk. The range has brought us Ray's best CD yet.
Favorites: New York City's Killing Me, The Devil's in the Jukebox, For The Summer

High Violet - The National

Release Date: 5/10/10
By conventional music standards, The National are not supposed to be good. They are cadenced, they are overly repetitive, they lacks levels. But... they break the mold and they are one of the most brilliantly captivating acts around. This band destroys convention. Why does it work? Because not one. single. thing. about The National comes off as contrived. Nothing is forced, from the subtle slip in of the horns, to the faint guitar, to the dominant drum line, it all blends into musical masterpiece. The rich baritone of Matt Berninger is nothing but icing on the cake. And that's all without touching the politically charged, romantically sound, socially conscious lyrics. Why is this the best indie rock band in music? It's because Berninger, the brothers Dessner, and the brothers Devendorf are not an indie rock band. When they hit the stage or the studio they are a living musical organism, blending everything into one. And that's why conventions are out the window. Plus they are so freaking cool.
Favorite Songs: Sorrow, Runaway, Bloodbuzz Ohio

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy - Kanye West

Release Date: 11/22/10
First of all... Kanye. Your cover art. It's not good. But then again... that's Kanye. As i've documented on this blog (yes. i linked you to my own blog.). And as i'm sure you've seen EVERYWHERE Kanye is weird. He blows up about his cover art not being allowed and throws a tantrum and the cover arts not even that good! Then a week later, he drops the album of the year on your lap. I mean maybe the fact that he's crazy is a testament to his brilliance. Whether you are a fan of hip hop or not you have to appreciate the artistic integrity with this album. This album saw Nicki Minaj's introduction and unveiling as hip-hops newest superstar, it saw indie main-stay Bon Iver make an appearance, we heard The Godfather of hip hop, Jay-Z, drop a killer verse on the track Monster, we 'toasted the douchebags', saw a cameo by R&B superstar John Legend (Blame Game), Then Bon Iver came back for an encore, Kanye finished incredibly strong by bringing in spoken word legend Gil Scott Heron to finish it out with a monologue. (Who Will Survive In America). And that is just the CD. There was a film, there were two (ONE, TWO) live performances that were so good they are being credited with helping to revive SNL's season, there were outbursts, apologies, and at the end of it all Kanye didn't give us an album. He gave us an experience. He didn't give us a release date, he gave us an opportunity to watch his long road back from the Taylor Swift debacle. He made his strongest argument for his legacy through his art. He put together great beats, a beautiful dance piece, ridiculously poetic lyrics. And -- I don't mean to be rude i'm really happy for you and... imma let you finish. But i think Kanye West just gave us one of the best albums of all time. All joking aside Kanye said it best on his song Power, "At the end of the day. Goddammit i'm Killing this Shit." Yes. Yes you are. Be as crazy as you want. Just don't stop.

Favorite Songs: i just said: one of the best albums of all time.

Wow... that took a while. if anyone at all reads this (sarcastic laughter) and you have different picks, let me know... odds are i missed it. Thanks for reading (Louder sarcastic laughter).

"The Dolphin's Smile is Nature's Greatest Deception"

2010-11-21T20:07:00.000-08:00

The Cove

Wow. James Bond? A Hollywood-made Expose? No. This is a documentary. But it is very hard to remember that at times. Whether it's our heroes planting cameras in the dead of night, or running from police tails, this never actually feels like a real story. Until it becomes to real to ignore. If you have not yet seen this movie you are missing something beautiful and alarming and deeply tragic.

This is a documentary seen through the eyes of Richard O'Barry, the trainer and captor of the Flipper dolphins for the 1965 television series.

Ric O'Barry

Richard O'Barry narrates his change of heart towards the captivity of dolphins and brings us to Taijii where there is some extremely troubling treatment of animals going on. As an audience member we watch as an "ocean's 11-like" team is assembled with state-of-the-art equipment to break into an area of Japan that is very viciously guarded by fisherman and local authorities, in order to document the heinous acts that not even some members of the Japanese public know about.

This story is heartbreaking and somewhat graphic. But it also shows a beauty and a deep appreciation for an animal that just may be the closest to us in brain capacity and personality. This juxtaposition is encapsulated in one sequence where we watch as a free-diver is approached underwater by a wild dolphin, and the two develop a very personal bond right before our eyes, as if they are dancing... just a few minutes later we watch as the same free-diver has to watch a dolphin struggle to escape a massacre and dies right before her eyes. it is tragic sequence but unfortunately the worst is yet to come.

i post this blog not because it is an exciting adventure (it is), or because I needed something new to blog about (i did), but because this story NEEDS to be told. This is something that you can't watch and continue to look the other way. You will be entertained but you will be moved. Tremendously. It is a Netflix Instant play, and if you don't have Netflix, i'm sure it won't be hard to find, it is an Oscar winner. Please watch.

The Cove Trailer

if you watch it, and it touches you the same way it has me... here are some things you can do.

More Information/Sign the Petition

My Friend. PSA

Watch. Do Something.

"We Are Such Stuff as Dreams are Made On"

2010-11-08T17:48:00.000-08:00

Here comes the vamp:
Starring-

Helen Mirren, Chris Cooper, Djimon Hounsou, David Strathairn, Alan Cumming, Alfred Molina, Russell Brand, Ben Whishaw

Sold yet?

It's Directed by:

Julie Taymor

You may be familiar with her track record, Broadway's Lion King, Frida, Across The Universe, Titus, etc.

She's had one or two hits...

Sold yet?

Watch:

i'm a sucker for a good Shakespeare adaptation. One of my favorite plays from Shakespeare, a wonderful cast, and a visually stunning director. it's getting to be that time of year for studios to start letting their oscar horses out of the gate, i can't wait.

"Push Up. Overload. Legendary Heavy Glow."

2010-11-07T17:01:00.000-08:00

Weekend Roundup.

Things i Saw. Thought i'd Share.

Welcome Back Coco

Conan's back in action tomorrow night after an 8 month absence. 11 PM on TBS.

i want to see this:

Biutiful Trailer

i want you to see this:

Gorillaz: Stylo

And piggybacking on my last post, you should watch this Spike Jonze short:

We Were Once a Fairytale

Spike Jonze

Starring Kanye West

That is all.

Enjoy.

"Let's Have a Toast for For the Douchebags"

2010-11-02T13:15:00.000-07:00

Concept Art for Kanye's Single Power.

Ok so, by now you've probably heard that Kanye's new album My Dark Twisted Fantasy is due to drop on November 22nd. I don't think anyone can forget the last time Kanye had national spotlight:

2009 VMA's

The world exploded a year and a half ago because he 'disrespected' Taylor Swift. Yeah, it was messed up and a dick move on his part, but everyone overreacted.... it's a VMA... it's not an Grammy or an Oscar. Fortunately now we can remember why most of us loved Kanye to begin with. The man has a brilliant artistic mind. This is one of the most hyped albums I can remember in my lifetime, and so far the early samples and singles i've heard give me goosebumps. Here is the latest piece of artwork from Kanye West.

Runaway (Full Length)

If you've got 34 minutes to spend you can get a good sampling of the forthcoming album, plus watch a beautifully shot short film. This is why we tolerate Kanye's occasional brashness (something he also addresses on the album). The short film has a strange feel all the way through, sometimes the plot doesn't quite click but the music never skips a beat and the cinematography looks fabulous. The two brightest spots are the actual song that inspires the radio single: Runaway (which to me is one of the most beautiful 'music videos' i've ever seen.) the second is the music that leads to a stunning finish to the video.

Runaway (selection)

Above is the shortened version of the video if you don't have time for the 34 minute one, but it cuts the song off early (right after Pusha T's verse) and takes a lot away visually from what the original version has to offer. If you have to pick and choose i would say watch the long version from 13:33 to 24:00, but seriously check the whole thing out if you can. The only person i remember hyping his releases with short movies like this was Michael Jackson (A la Thriller), who, as if on cue, Kanye lyrically references Michael Jackson (Twice, points for finding both.). After watching this i'm reminded of why the man is gaining a reputation as the prodigal son of his genre. I have a feeling that this CD will be to Kanye what "Blood on the Tracks" or "Highway 61 Revisited" was to Dylan. An opus that redefines his corner of the music world. But i could be wrong. We'll see on the 22nd.

*Follow up
Rolling Stones Review... can't do better than 5/5

"We Lived in Farms, Then We Lived in Cities, And Now We're Gonna Live on the Internet!"

2010-10-29T23:11:00.000-07:00

The Social Network.

Ok. So i usually try to find things that you may not have heard about, so i go to bed feeling like i did my part to 'enlighten' someone. Even though i'm pretty sure, no one reads this. But regardless, this is obviously not something that has 'flown under the radar', i mean it is the 5th most popular movie in America right now. But i'm writing about it anyways. Because it's my blog and i can do what i want.

You would think this movie would not be all that interesting, but then you look at the director.

David Fincher... known for...

Seven

and

(What movie? hint: it's not a trick question, the obvious answer is the right answer, don't be stupid.)

and then you look at the writer... Aaron Sorkin... who is known for:

(another no-brainer.)

Anyways, the point i was going for here was that with Fincher and Sorkin on a project it's hard to go in thinking it is gonna be bad... plus this movie has one of the coolest trailers i've seen this year or in recent memory...

First things first, after seeing this. Jesse Eisenberg is really talented. At first i just thought he was simply the better version of Michael Cera... but the more i see him, the more he impresses me. i've believed in every single character he's ever put in front of an audience. This is a fabulous performance on his part, everything about him, his movement patterns, his speaking cadence, the way he used the script to strengthen all of his decisions just blew me away. Speaking of the script, Aaron Sorkin took a movie that was made quite some time ago about Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, and was very boring (See... Pirates of Silicon Valley) and instead made a very entertaining, colorful, and smart character study about all the problems that guys face when they are going through their 20's. (only with these guys add billions of dollars to the stakes.)

Another tricky part of this movie was that, after thinking about it for a few hours, i'm still not sure whose side i ended up on. Fincher and co. did such a good job of storytelling, that i still haven't decided who is right. For example: Upon exiting the movie theater all i wanted to do when i got home was delete my facebook account. What did i actually do when i got home? i updated my facebook status. Which in turn made me feel kind of sick... this guy (Zuckerberg) is like 2 years older than me, and he's a billionaire and controls the cyber world... me? i blog on my outdated macbook. Damn theatre degree.

Anyways great movie and since the year is starting to wind down, i'm gonna go ahead and throw this out... Sorkin wins an oscar for his screenplay, and Eisenberg should at least be nominated for one for his role as Mark Zuckerberg. Also really great performances by the rest of the cast. Justin Timberlake was surprisingly good, there was just enough Rooney Mara to make me really excited about her upcoming work on the Millenium Trilogy, and Andrew Garfield was fabulous, he was recently a confusing casting choice for this:

Untitled Spider-Man Reboot

but after seeing him work, i'm really excited to see some more films from him.

(speaking of recent superhero change of hearts i have had, have you seen this:)

Captain America

i was not happy about Chris Evans being cast as Cap'... but he does look pretty badass in the costume...

one last thing

Okay... i'm way off topic now. But like i said, it's my blog. Sue me... ha. Do you get it? No? Go see The Social Network you will get it.

"Will You Share Your Life With Me For The Next Ten Minutes?"

2010-10-16T21:55:00.000-07:00

The Last 5 Years

Unfortunately, i have not seen it, fortunately i finally heard it. Numerous times people have tried to get me to listen to this off-broadway musical, and numerous times various glitches have stopped it from happening (stolen cd players, scratched cds, etc.) i did hear a sampling of it at one point though and it was enough to make me think of it 3 or 4 years later. it was written by Jason Robert Brown, i love non-chronological storytelling and this story starts with a woman and a man on separate ends of their relationship and follows them as they meet in the middle and then complete the circle. Beautiful voices and subtle instrumentation make this wonderful and stingingly painful to listen to at the same time...

I do think that because of the transition of content for the two characters, The Woman (Cathy) has a stronger presence (vocally and in context of plot) than The Man (Jamie) in the beginning of the show, he comes off nasally and a bit whiny. As the show goes on the two blend seamlessly together in a song entitled, "The Next Ten Minutes". After that it's almost as if the torch is passed and Cathy's character fades somewhat (although she does still have some bright spots in the second half) and Jamie becomes a very strong and moving storyteller to finish the show. it's a testament to the actors that strictly vocally you can hear a clear understanding of the necessary juxtaposition. As far as the instrumental goes, i don't know much about music, but i enjoyed the strings section accenting the piano without cluttering it with much else, it sounded very subtle, allowed me to focus on the words and compliments the story very well.

Strong writing, it's not easy to document the lives of dating artists. There is a level of competition and guilt present in those relationships that can be detrimental to even the most compatible couple, the playwright captures this brilliantly.

The Playwright's website

Opening song, in the hopes i can convince you to seek out the rest.

***

I was gonna post a sweet link to go with this from the Daily Californian about the top ten "break-up" albums of all time. But i guess the Daily Californian doesn't allow that. Lame. Google it.

The main reason i wanted to link to it is because Dylan's: Blood on the Tracks was #1, and that's pretty much the greatest album ever. period. But The Last 5 Years is #2 on the list although i don't know that it's the best idea to listen to that one while going through a break-up. it depressed the hell out of me when i was done, and i'm not in the middle of a break-up. But i suppose because it starts and ends from both sides of the relationship, you can take what you need from it.

One final thought from The Last 5 Years is that it reminded me a lot of this album:

The Swell Season

Strict Joy

That is Marketa Irglova and Glen Hansard, the Oscar winning musicians/actors that you may remember from:

Once

Their most recent CD (Strict Joy) is a complete documentation of the couple's own real life break-up. The album has some songs that are similarly haunting and heartbreaking, and has some other resemblances to The Last 5 Years. i'd like to see the two of them acting again, could they pop up in a revival of the featured musical? Doubtful, but until then i can watch this and wonder...

The Swell Season: Low Rising

Seek out, enjoy.

Parting shot from the Swell Season and Jason Segel: Because i couldn't have everything on here be depressing tonight.

"Every Second Counts."

2010-10-09T14:19:00.000-07:00

it's not out yet, so i haven't seen it, but i'm pretty excited about This Movie

Starring...

This guy.

it's a pretty incredible true story about...

This guy.

it's directed by...

This guy.

Who won an oscar for directing...

This movie.

and somewhere... 6 degrees away from all of them is...

This guy.

(but seriously... if any one out there actually reads this. Click the link, watch the trailer. 127 Hours looks really good)

"it's time we decide"

2010-10-07T01:41:00.000-07:00

Pretty interesting movie that netflix suggested for me i gave it a try and was pretty satisfied with what i saw. The story starts with a young couple standing on the Brooklyn Bridge figuring out their Fourth of July plans. They flip a coin to make the decision in then you watch the consequences of the coin flip. it is a unique film in the fact that you are watching both sides of the coin play out for the next two hours. Here is the trailer . This is a smart concept because often times, especially with indie films we end up with adventure movies lacking in depth of character. This film gives us a chance to see a tense adventure (admittedly a little far-fetched, but let it go) as well as some real character development in a slightly more mundane, but heartfelt in a second path of the couple. Some of the paradise/purgatory symbolism is really nice as well.
i am a pretty big fan of Joseph Gordon Levitt, not only do i think he does really good work, but i think he is really smart about the projects that he gets involved with. The chemistry between him and Lynn Collins is pretty great in my opinion.

i also enjoyed this movie because i adore New York City, and it really makes you feel close to the city, not only through it's cinematography, but also through nuances that come from journeying through the city. i.e. sitting on the steps of union square, or getting really annoyed when your metro-card fails to swipe at a particularly bad time. This movie takes care of the details pretty well. so yeah.
this one is a Netflix instant.

also. Just because i can, the brooklyn bridge and the george washington bridge play central roles in this. i just so happened to walk the brooklyn bridge for the first time a few weeks ago while looking for an apartment... so i'm shouting out to myself. But, i figure no one reads this anyway so who am i gonna offend?

Brooklyn Bridge

"What a mystery of this world, one day you love them and the next day you want to kill them a thousand times over."

2010-10-06T00:17:00.000-07:00

This is what i watched tonight. Excellent movie suggested by one of my favorite people. i have always been a huge fan of Pan's Labrynth, this movie falls very much in the same genre. it is directed by Tarsem Singh who also did This. Tarsem proves himself to be a master of visual storytelling and uses a design style that is reminiscent of a Salvador Dali painting. i am a big fan of arts being sampled across mediums and it's done very well in this film.

"Face of Mae West Which May Be Used As An Apartment"

Salvador Dali

While Tarsem has mastered the fantasy aspect of this story, the realist side is almost on the same level. Strong performances and storytelling (no pun intended) by Lee Pace and the most adorable little girl in the world, Catinca Untaru (she's romanian). These two actors pick up a story that starts slower than it's fantastical counterpart, but once it gets rolling it does nothing but gain momentum.

A wonderful story that's worth checking out at least once if not multiple times.

Here is a better seller than i am.

it's a Netflix Instant play as well.

Brownie points if you can find all the references to artists...

(like this one)

The Man With the Bowler Hat

Rene Magritte

Enjoy!

"The Uncertainty Principle. It proves we can't ever really know... what's going on. So it shouldn't bother you. Not being able to figure anything out."

2010-10-04T00:17:00.000-07:00

This is what i watched tonight. The title is a quote by the films main character, Larry Gopnik, and it pretty much sums up the way i feel about the movie. i Couldn't really figure anything out. This was nominated for a best picture Oscar? i don't understand that either. it Was directed by these guys:

That's right it's the Coen Brothers. Remember The Big Lebowski? Remember Fargo? Remember O Brother Where Art Thou? Do you think they do? i feel like they are moving further and further away from those almost mythological story lines that they once created. in Fact this one, to me, borders on mundane, and at some points i felt like i was missing the comedy because i wasn't jewish. Exclusion leads to investigation, investigation leads to enlightenment... right?

While i wasn't a huge fan of this movie, i find that everything the Coen brothers have done recently can be described in a 6 step process. Step 1: i watch it. Step 2: i am not impressed. Step 3: i forget about it completely. Step 4: one day somewhere down the road i realize what the movie was really about. Step 5: i watch the movie again. Step 6: i am thoroughly impressed. i guess time will tell if this process is going to continue.

i have always thought the Coen brothers were kind of smug. But when you really think about it. if i set out to be thought provoking to the masses... and i succeeded, i suppose i would be smug as well. Somewhere the Coen brothers are laughing at all of us for reading so much into every move they make.

*on a side note i have now seen all ten oscar nominated movies from 2009 (finally). i agree with the result.

Oh, and one last parting nod to Ethan and Joel Coen. i am pretty excited about this.

... maybe i should go as Ethan Coen for Halloween this year.

"That's What This Nation Has Been Built on, Proud Men."

2010-10-02T22:09:00.000-07:00

That's what i watched tonight. INCREDIBLE movie. i Was originally introduced to this movie a year ago by a friend of mine. The first time i watched it i was sucked into the film by the gritty feel and shock of the storyline. The second time around it was a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack that caught my attention punctuated by tracks from Gravenhurst (called: Nicole) and a cover of Please Let Me Get What i Want by Grayhill. The acting in the film was also particularly brilliant considering it was a very young cast. For me the three standouts were: Thomas Turgoose (Shaun), Joseph Gilgun (Woody) and the actor who put his fingers on the pulse of this film, Stephen Graham (Combo).

Stephen Graham

Recognize him? He was Babyface Nelson in Public Enemies, He was one of the original Easy Company officers in Band of Brothers, and most recently he's on HBO's Boardwalk Empire, as a young Al Capone. The dude is on point in this film. So check it out. I'd probably go 7.5/10 for it.

If i can't sell you on it check this out:

This is England: Trailer

Or this

This is England: Clip

This is also a Netflix InstantPlay if you are a member so... Get on it.

(Written and Directed by: Shane Meadows.)

Company Credits

Also Watched: 12 and Holding. Independent Film, interesting but pretty flawed. Worth checking out though for Jeremy Renner's supporting role before he blew up. Also the two sub-plots are for more captivating than the main plot.

Enjoy.