Moon feels like a rarity in the film landscape these days. Sci-fi films that focus on space and how existential and boring it is – like Silent Running, Solaris, and Dark Star – just don’t seem to capture the public interest, but still, this comes along and fits rather nicely into that category.

The plot is kept simple and the pace is kept slow, but it all helps support Sam Rockwell’s brilliant one-man show of a normal guy in a temp job on the Moon who’s slowly losing his mind. Put together with a stunning visual design, a Clint Mansell score, and an air of mystery, Duncan Jones’ debut feature transforms into the smartest, most impressive sci-fi film in years.

Moon - Trailer

Films coming soon to the Twin Cities area Landmark Theatres.
(CAPS=new additions)

July:

10 – Hurt Locker (Uptown)
10 – Bruno (Lagoon)
10 – Jerichow (Edina)
15 – HARRY POTTER & THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE (Lagoon)
17 – Treeless Mountain (Lagoon)
17 – Tetro (Edina)
24 – 500 Days of Summer (Uptown)
24 – Betty Blue: The Director’s Cut (Lagoon)
24 – Seraphine (Edina)
24 – The Merry Gentlemen (Edina)
31 – In the Loop (Uptown)
31 – $9.99 (Lagoon)
31 – Soul Power (Lagoon)
31 – Shrink (Lagoon or Edina)

August:

07 – The Cove (Uptown)
07 – End of the Line (Lagoon)
07 – The Answer Man (Edina)
14 – Not Quite Hollywood (Lagoon)
14 – Adam (Edina)
14 – PONYO (Edina)
21 - Inglourious Basterds (Lagoon)
21 – Lorna’s Silence (Edina)
28 – Cold Souls (Uptown)
28 – World’s Greatest Dad (Lagoon)
28 - Taking Woodstock (Lagoon)
28 – Yoo Hoo, Mrs. Goldberg (Edina)
29 - The Adventures of Robin Hood (Edina)
30 – It happened One Night (Edina)
30 – Bride of Frankenstein (Edina)

September:

04 – Thirst (Lagoon)
04 – Afghan Star (Lagoon)
04 – My One and Only (Edina)
11 – The Baader Meinhof Complex (Uptown)
11 – Captain Abu Raed (Lagoon)
18 – The Beaches of Agnes (Edina)
18 – Burning Plain (Edina)
25 – Somers Town (Lagoon)
25 – PARIS (Edina)

October:

02 – Amreeka (Edina)
09 – EARTH DAYS (Lagoon)
16 – Still Walking (Lagoon)
23 - THE HORSE BOY (Lagoon)

The new music video/short film for The Dead Weather, directed by Jonathan Glazer (Birth), premiering on Cinemax on July 11.

It looks like Atomic Midnights are finally returning to the Twin Cities in some fashion this month, with the Parkway Theater now harnessing the power of b-film awesomeness.

07.11 - Reefer Madness
07.18 – The Legend of Bigfoot
07.25 - Werewolf vs. the Vampire Woman
08.01 – Cotton Pickin’ Chickenpickers
08.08 – Mysteries From Beyond Earth
08.15 - Swinging Wives

Each film starts at 11:30 PM, and tickets are $7.

Ex-UFC fighter Don Frye is so bad-ass, he once pulled a samurai sword out on Godzilla. While that action can never be topped, he can currently be seen in Michael Mann’s Public Enemies as Texas Ranger Clarence Hurt. Just look for the guy with the gigantic, awesome moustache.

Don Frye Is Awesome

Well, 2009 is now halfway over. Time to take a quick look at what’s been rocking our collective world so far this year.

* = local release

RichmanVA:

Dear Landlord – Dream Homes
Steel Panther – Feel The Steel
Kreator – Hordes of Chaos
Gallows – Grey Britain
Propagandhi – Supporting Caste
NOFX – Frisbee
Loser Life – Friends With a Demon
The Bouncing Souls – 20th Anniversary Series 7″ Vol. 1 & 2
Silversun Pickups – Swoon
In The Red – Volume 1.5

The Joe:

Bon Iver – Blood Bank [EP]
Depeche Mode – Sounds of the Universe
Handsome Furs – Face Control
Mass of the Fermenting Dregs – World is Yours
Moby – Wait For Me

Mojo Marshall:

Beirut – Realpeople Holland [EP]
Cymbals Eat Guitars – Why There Are Mountains (What)
DOOM – Born Like This
*Gospel Gossip – Dreamland [EP]
Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest
Handsome Furs – Face Control
Japandroids – Post-Nothing
Jeremy Jay – Slow Dance
Moby – Wait for Me
*P.O.S. – Never Better
Passion Pit – Manners
Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
*Red Pens – Reasons
Suckers – Suckers [EP]
Sunset Rubdown – Dragonslayer
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart – The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
Thunderheist – Thunderheist
We Were Promised Jetpacks – These Four Walls
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It’s Blitz!
Yellow Ostrich – Yellow Ostrich
Yourself and the Air – Friend of All Breeds [EP]
Yuksek – Away from the Sea
*Zombie Season – Life is Tragic

Kat:

White Lies – To Lose My Life

Moby
Wait For Me
Mute
2009

www.moby.com

1. Division
2. Pale Horses
3. Shot In The Back Of The Head
4. Study War
5. Walk With Me
6. Stock Radio
7. Mistake
8. Scream Pilots
9. Jltf 1
10. Jltf
11. A Seated Night
12. Wait For Me
13. Hope Is Gone
14. Ghost Return
15. Slow Light
16. Isolate
………………..

1999’s Play was a godsend. I was just starting to get into music and picked the album up solely due to its $9.99 price tag, not knowing it would be one of those rare few albums that you’ve been waiting your whole life to hear but just didn’t realize until you actually experienced it.

But then, what happened? Moby himself was always kind of a dick, but after Play’s success, it felt like he was merely trying too hard to placate to the musical needs of people who couldn’t care less. Redundant, generic club music replaced his once-original electronic sound, and all he was good for were soundtrack bits to Miami Vice and the Bourne trilogy. Truth be told, it was all rather heartbreaking.

So thank you, David Lynch, for reminding Moby in a BAFTA Awards speech that personal creativity should never bend to commercial demands, because he took those words to heart and created an astounding return to melancholy soundscape form.

………………..

“Wait For Me”

“Mistake” (Live)

Who’s the greatest modern American film director? Steven Soderbergh, that’s who.

The U.S. government decides to go after an agri-business giant with a price-fixing accusation, based on the evidence submitted by their star witness, vice president turned informant Mark Whitacre.

Director: Steven Soderbergh (The Limey, Solaris)

Starring: Matt Damon, Scott Bakula, Tony Hale, Patton Oswalt

Release Date: October 9

Trailer

http://myspace.com/pargraphsband

Awesome flyer design by Todd Pitman.

Military Special, Nobot, and Man is Doom are playing a free show this Thursday at the 501 Club.