The W. premier is the opening film for the Austin Film Festival. Director Oliver Stone will be in attendance, along with James Cromwell. Its playing at the Paramount, a stone's throw away from the Texas Capitol and the Governor's Mansion. Wish I could go. And here is the rest of it.
Continue reading this postThursday, October 16, 2008
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Burn After Reading - B+
As the local Coen brother apologist, I was somewhat dismayed by priest’s review. How could they jettison everything they did so well in 2007’s No Country for Old Men? Well, the many mixed reviews probably diminished my high expectations so much that I was able to appreciate the moments of greatness . . .
The film opens as a God’s-eye view of Middle America and moves east to Washington, DC before descending on CIA Headquarters. Analyst Osborne Cox (John Malkovich) is being demoted by his boss (David Rasche). After being accused of having a drinking problem, Cox quits and decides to write his memoirs. His wife Katie (Tilda Swinton) is having an affair with Harry Pfarrer (George Clooney) and her divorce lawyer encourages her to download his financial information. The lawyer’s secretary will eventually lose this disc (and Cox’s memoirs) at Hardbodies gym where it is found by Hardbodies employee Manolo who hands it over to fellow employees Ted (Richard Jenkins), Chad (Brad Pitt) and Linda Litzke (Frances McDormand). Chad and Linda then try to blackmail Cox so she can pay for some cosmetic surgery. Eventually, a CIA superior (J.K. Simmons) will be briefed on all the action.
The actors seem to be having a great time. Clooney’s paranoia is perfect and Malkovich’s profane rants were hilarious. Rasche and Simmons’s deadpan exchanges were funny. Swinton plays ice-cold bitch better than anyone and Jenkins is fine, especially when he tries to express his admiration for McDormand. McDormand doesn’t hold up quite as well as expected, but there is lots of sadness underneath the surface that I look forward to exploring on repeat viewings. But Brad Pitt is the real scene-stealer, a great, unforgettable comedic performance. I loved the way he kept saying, “Osborne Cox”.
The Coen brothers have always been fascinated with idiots and misunderstandings, but they’ve never been this interested in infidelity. They’re attacking modern America’s obsession with the physical appearance as well as the moral bankruptcy of adults who try to fulfill their lives with new lovers. (Witness the pillows Clooney and Swinton lay on.) For those who don’t think the movie is about anything, I’ll direct you to Cox’s confrontation with Ted when he discusses “the Age of Idiocy”. Cox is smart and faithful to his wife – he’s the hero of sorts, but lets his anger get the best of him. I thought the Coens would conflate idiocy with the Bush-era CIA, but that’s not the case. The CIA agents are intelligent, but certainly confused about what is happening. If anything, the Coens see the United States through the eyes of the agents, confused about America’s obsession with celebrity, looks, and stupid movies starring or not starring Dermot Mulroney. 
Their technique as directors, while not in top form, is still pretty great. The scene showing Chad’s point of view in the closet is spectacular – his mind is racing on a stationary bike. All of the “paranoia” shots are just as interesting. Their abilities as writers are just as good. Their delayed reveal of agent Olson and Harry’s gift to his wife are interesting structurally, but I will admit that the dialogue isn’t quite as memorable as The Big Lebowski (“You see what happens, Larry?”) or No Country for Old Men (“You keep runnin’ that mouth , I’m gonna take ya in the back and screw ya.”) but many of the characters are.
This is the first Coen movie not shot by cinematographer Roger Deakins since Miller’s Crossing. Emmanuel Lubezki (Children of Men!) takes over and does a serviceable job, occasionally rising to greatness: the beams of light on Linda after her first romantic encounter, - the light making her loneliness all the more obvious. It certainly looks different that recent Coen films, brighter and with more contrast. I can’t wait to dissect Lubezki’s work on the DVD.
MAJOR SPOILERS: The Coens make the mistake of killing their best character first, but maybe that's another comment on the celebrity obsession. The 2 people that are killed are breaking real laws, not just moral ones, thus showing the Coen’s sense of morality. The last scene is a unique and unusual one. Just before the camera goes back to its satellite orbit and proceeds over the Atlantic Ocean, Rasche and Simmons wrap up the plot very quickly. What happens to major characters is told rather than shown - which is usually a big faux pas, but kind of works here. Linda gets what she thinks she wants. Harry gets a new start, and the “hero” Osborne Cox ends up in a coma, sound asleep, for who knows how long. Probably until this Age of Idiocy is over. B+
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
DVD and CD Releases - October 14, 2008
Recent DVD Releases: 
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Mongol: The Rise of Genghis Khan
The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything
Standard Operating Procedure
War, Inc.
Click below for more DVD and CD releases.
DVD Special Editions/Other Releases:
TV Box Sets:
Back to You: Season One
CSI: Season Eight
How I Met Your Mother: Season Three
Nash Bridges: Season One
Quark: The Complete Series
The Sarah Silverman Program: Season Two, V1
The Unit: Season Three
Special Editions/Other Releases:
Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection
Brotherhood of Blood
Chaplin: 15th Anniversary Edition
Dance of the Dead
Dark Floors
Holiday Inn: Collector's Set
Indiana Jones: Complete Adventure Collection
The Last House in the Woods
The New World: The Extended Cut
No Man's Land: The Rise of Reeker
Room 205
Stuck
The Substitute
Trackman
New CD Releases:
Cranes, Cranes
Los Campesinos!, We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed
Ashanti, The Vault
Boo and Boo, Too No Tempo
Nikka Costa, Pebble To A Pearl
Curumin, JapanPopShow
Jo Dee Messina, Unmistakable
Gojira, The Way of All Flesh
Keane, Perfect Symmetry
Kinetic Stereokids, Have A Nice Day EP
Ray Lamontagn,e Gossip In The Grain
Lotus, Hammerstrike
Bill Madden, Child of the Same God
Menahan Street Band, Make the Road By Walking
The Secret Machines, Secret Machines
Sixpence None The Richer, The Dawn of Grace X-Mas album
Lucinda Williams, Little Honey
Monday, October 13, 2008
10,000 BC - D+
Why do I even bother? Knowing director Roland Emmerich is the ultimate hack and his films have more lapses in logic than any other random 10 films combined, I proceed – and I endure. In this film, after many members of his dreadlocked tribe (including his blue-eyed special lady) are kidnapped by some ruthless warlords, a wooly mammoth hunter leads a hunting party to rescue them. It’s like a watered-down version of the middle third of Apocalypto stretched to 2 hours with none of the excitement or technical skill. Say what you want about Mel Gibson (personally I try to work “sugar-tits” into a conversation at least once a day), but the man knows story structure and how to direct action scenes. . . 
Roland Emmerich knows neither. The lifeless script and crappy CG creatures (a discerning saber-tooth tiger, rabid ostriches, and graceful wooly mammoths) don’t help. The 2 leads (Steven Strait and Camilla Belle) are as pretty as they are hollow. And someone must have pictures of the usually great Cliff Curtis (Three Kings, Whale Rider) sodomizing a gopher to get him to costar in this. D+
Continue reading this post
The Visitor - B-
On DVD. 108 minutes, Rated PG-13. Trailer.
The conventional wisdom in movieville this summer was that The Visitor was the strongest early indie contender for several Academy Awards. Um, no. Richard Jenkins is Professor Walter Vale, a lonely recent widower going through the motions with his job and his life. When he reluctantly goes to Manhattan to present a paper at a scholarly conference, he discovers illegal immigrants living in his long dormant apartment as a result of a misunderstanding. His desperation for human interaction leads him to let them stay, and away we go on every limousine liberal's pipe dream. Click below for more on a movie that allows one of its characters to say (referring to the USA) "its just like Syria":
Of course the illegal immigrants in question are attractive, intelligent, well spoken and talented, especially Tarek. He is a bongo drummer that 'just wants to live his life and play music'. After lots of bonding betweeen Connecticut liberal guy and immigrant guy, Tarek inevitably gets arrested for an extremely marginal offense and then put into the ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) lock-up with indefinite rights and information. Vale puts his life on hold to help him get out and falls in love with Tarek's mom in the process. No cliched happy ending here, just a scene with Vale erupting at a clerk after being excessively polite and well mannered for the previous hour and a half.
The film is frustrating because its starts out quietly and intelligently with Vale and his life. By the time the sunny Tarek gets surprised while practicing his bongos in his tightie-whities, the film has been derailed so badly it became a chore to watch. Vale gets to use his money to entertain and help the immigrants and even learns to play the bongos along the way. The writer/director (see below) seems mad at the USA about how illegal immigrants are treated, but doesn't offer any solutions or coherent arguments against it except that it is unfair. A trip to the Statue of Liberty is an obvious reminder about most American's roots, but there is little acknowledgement that Tarek et al are ignoring the immigration laws of the United States, unlike those Ellis Island immigrants. 
The subtext of the film is that Vale is moving from classical (specifically piano) music to African music and a new chapter in his life (his wife loved classical piano). It had the Shawshankian feeling of "get busy livin' or get busy dyin', but without any of the associated resonance.
This film was written and directed by Tom McCarthy (role player in Meet the Parents, Syriana etc, direcotr of Station Agent (B+)). The direction is excellent, with lots of subtle close ups and restrained images telling the story. Jenkins is excellent in his performance and will likely get a Best Actor nod. Some have this on the Best Picture shortlist - if it ends up there this will truly be the weakest of all follow-up years to the greatness that was 2007.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
The Cardinals Concert - October 11, 2008
At Nokia Theater in Grand Prairie.
As the most tenuous of all 'fans' of Ryan Adams, I have gradually started to enjoy his music, mostly after the consistent praise of Priest. His version of Wonderwall is a good song, but my affection for the original has kept it from being in my listening rotation. With "Two", I started to appreciate his voice, musical style and lyrics. So I decided to give him and his band, The Cardinals, a chance in concert. I wasn't disappointed. Click below for best show banter ever and a misplacement of concert Karma:
After buying my tickets early, I lucked into the 4th row of the center section(first misapplication of concert karma - misapplied because I am not a big enough fan to appreciate it). With no opener and a start time of 8:30, the band came out on time to a 2/3 full house (the 3rd deck was not used). Their stage configuration is indicative of Adams' insistence that they be considered as a band, not just Ryan Adams and the Cardinals. Their is no clear 'front man', and the band is positioned (and never moves) from a crescent formation. Have no doubt, though, who is in charge. Adams' significant charisma was on display all night through his strong and soulful voice and instrumentation, but mostly through the 20+ minutes of stage and crowd banter. He and the band engaged the audience more as a buddy at dinner than adoring fans, which was refreshing. Genuinely funny and self-aware, he and the band had the crowd (including me) in stitches most of the night.
The second misapplication of concert karma was the length of the set. After starting at 8:35, they played until 11:25 with only a 3 minute break before the first encore. With only a passing familiarity with the group's material, I still thoroughly enjoyed the show, and would be able to pick out about 10 that I would buy (I am still sorting through the setlist (see below)). I didn't care too much for the louder stuff, but love anything showcasing his voice and guitar playing. Bride and I were glad we went and left as fans. More pics below the setlist.
1. Cobwebs
2. Come Pick Me Up (electric w/ harmonica)
3. Everybody Knows
3. Wonderwall
4. Magick
5. Let It Ride
6. Desire
7. Fix It
9. Natural Ghost
10. Sun Also Sets
11. Goodnight Rose
12. Dear John
13. Crossed Out Name
14. Stars Go Blue
15. Sink Ships
16. La Cienega
17. Peaceful Valley
18. Cold Roses
19. Off Broadway
20. Shakedown
21. A Kiss Before I Go
22. The End
23. Bartering Lines
24. Rescue Blues
25. Stop
Encore
26. Freeway to the Canyon
27. Evergreen
28. Beautiful Sorta
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Body of Lies B
In theatres. Rated R. 128 Minutes.
After a late summer/early fall dearth of good films, we’re finally hitting some Oscar warm-up fare. Ridley Scott’s Body of Lies appears to be exactly that, although the there’s an unspoken warning when a Ridley Scott film starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe isn’t playing with the big boys in November and December. This one wants to be Syriana but ends up closer to Ridley’s brother Tony’s Spy Game.
Here’s the set-up: DiCaprio is a deep cover CIA operative in Iraq taking directives from Crowe, the picture of American excess, who’s directing his every move in bathrobes and gingham shirts from soccer games and satellite smart rooms in the States. After a big score that leaves him pulling his local partner’s bone shards out of his arm, Leo gets promoted to head up the Jordanian office where he impresses the head of Jordanian intelligence and sets up an uneasy alliance based on a trust neither party believes. All the while Crowe is using Leo as a high value pawn in an international game with subtlely changing rules DiCaprio sees on the ground but Crowe is missing.
So far so good, but the introduction of a forced and emotionally extraneous but expedient love interest for Leo forecasts a series of increasingly irrational, out-of-character, and unbelievable plot turns. Happily, as he demonstrated in the near-perfect Black Hawk Down, Scott shoots military action as well as anyone. His use of multiple camera techniques, from hand held to satellite views to traditional crane shots, bring the action into the theatre and distract from his momentary loss of focus.
But what a focus when it’s sharp. Lies dissects the ramifications of the U.S. involvement in torture and the loss of the moral high-ground implicit in that. The American hubris, perfectly personified by the fat, just-over-the-hill Crowe, is even more pointedly torpedoed. Lines like, “It’s the Middle East. No one wants to live there,” betray our own latent feelings while exposing them for the obvious lies they are when uttered against this backdrop.
This is the third film in a row between Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe (American Gangster, A Good Year). Thus far it appears that Scott’s getting more out of this partnership than Crowe is. They next partner in 2009’s Nottingham. Let’s hope they both bring their A-game to that one. B
On a side note, the new Guns N' Roses song plays over the final credits. It doesn't suck.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Appaloosa - B-
In theaters. Rated R, 101 minutes. Trailer.
With its sweeping vistas, complicated cowboys and violence, the Western genre has been thoroughly mined by filmmakers. With Appaloosa, director Ed Harris struggles to introduce anything new or compelling to the substantial canon. Harris stars as Virgil Cole, a lawman for hire in 19th century New Mexico; his sidekick is Everett Hitch (Viggo Mortensen). The two make for an odd couple and Renee Zellweger's Ali doesn't improve the chemistry. A variation on the Wyatt Earp story, this screenplay is based on the Robert B. Parker novel of the same name. Click below for more of Aragorn and Pollock Go West:
As Cole and Hitch ride into Appaloosa, the town is lawless after its town marshall and deputies are murdered by Bragg (Jeremy Irons) in cold blood. The two are hired to enforce the law according to their whims in the town. After a few brief uninspiring and uninteresting run-ins with Braggard and his crew, they finally nail Braggard for the murder of the marshall and the film turns into 3:10 to Yuma for about 25 minutes. Complicating everything is the appearance of Ali and Virgil's immediate love of her. She drops into the town without any backstory and right into Virgil and Everett's life. She is only loyal to Virgil when he's around, but he doesn't mind it so much because "he's only really been with whores and squaws." Everything turns out in the end, except any real point to the movie. 
Virgil Cole is a classic cowboy badass - legendary with a gun, stunted emotions, bravery and no formal education. Hitch completes him with his West Point education, soft spoken manner and pragmatism. The two of them have several dry and funny scenes together, but their weird gay partner type relationship never really clicked for me. Irons is wasted as the Northerner Braggard, a role that could have been great if allowed to flourish instead of the boring Ali storyline.
Harris crafts some beautiful shots of the New Mexico terrain, but that's not hard to do. Mostly the film felt like it didn't know what it was. Sometimes it was trying to show the portrait of a tortured soul (he does that well - see Pollock (B+)), while other times its a serial western and then a love story. Not enough shooting in the film and way too much Zellweger. A disappointment.
TV This Week
The Office: Business Ethics
Season 5, Episode 2 - Airdate 10/9/08
After corporate wants Holly (Amy Ryan) to lead an ethics seminar, many revelations lead to some office turmoil. The biggest bombshell is that Meredith has been getting discounts on office supplies by sleeping with a supplier. Meanwhile, after Dwight insists he’s 100% ethical, Jim decides to record the time he’s not working with a stopwatch. The Jim-Dwight stuff here is as good as it’s ever been. Dwight’s slow burn while Jim intentionally butchers Battlestar Galactica, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, etc. is priceless. Is there any way we can extend Pam’s New York class a few more months? – it’s good for the show. The conflict between Holly and Michael is a welcome development. B+
Next new The Office episode: Baby Shower on 10/16/08.
Click below for SNL Thursday and South Park
Saturday Night Live
Weekend Update Thursday 10/9/08
An impossible title that will be airing 2 more weeks before the election. Fred Armisen’s Obama is still not that funny, but Darrell Hammond nails John McCain’s overuse of the phrase “my friends”. Hammond’s mannerisms are improving and his name calling ("pee-pants") is hilarious. McCain wandering around in front of cameras was funny but kinda unfair if you watched the debate. Chris Parnell’s Tom Brokaw only had one joke – and it wasn’t that funny the first time it was told. As for Weekend Update, Seth Myers and Amy Poehler were solid commenting on the incredibly full week of news. Nothing earth shattering or unforgettable. Hall and Oates was pretty good, but Keenan Thompson’s “Fix It” character wasn’t. Really?!? With Seth and Amy is always welcome. B+
SNL on 10/11 is the season opener Michael Phelps rerun, followed by a new 30 minute Thursday show on 10/16. Josh Brolin will host a new episode of SNL on 10/18, a day after W. is released.South Park: The China Probrem
Season 12, Episode 8. Original Airdate 10/8/08
While Cartman frets over the impending Chinese world domination, Kyle and Stan try to cope with one of their friends being raped over the summer: Indiana Jones. For those who felt Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was a disappointment, Trey Parker and Matt Stone take it to the next level by showing George Lucas and Steven Spielberg literally raping Indiana Jones (3 times!), simultaneously spoofing rape scenes from The Accused and Deliverance. Meanwhile, an undercover Cartman and Butters hold up a Chinese restaurant to find out when the invasion begins. But Butters keeps shooting dudes in the crotch, leading to a rift between the duo.
The Stan/Kyle half works well since it plays the “traumatic experience” straight. Indiana Jones IV didn’t lose me until all that alien crap at the end, but I can see why some had problems with the refrigerator and waterfalls. The Cartman half isn’t as developed as it needs to be, but he’s great profanely chastising Butters for his misplaced bullets. B+
See the full episode here.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Religulous - B
In theaters. Rated R, 101 minutes. Trailer.
Religulous, the pet project of star Bill Maher and Director Larry Charles (Curb Your Enthusiasm, Borat), is their attempt at disproving and pointing out the inconsistencies and bad consequences of some of the world's religions. My appetite for mocking Scientology and Joseph Smith is insatiable...my appetite for Bill Maher is like a stapled stomach, which resulted in an odd but surprisingly enjoyable film with a lead that I can't stand. From the outset, Maher is clear that he isn't an atheist, but that on the 'big questions' he "just doesn't know." Click below for more on Priest's likely least favorite film of the year:
I know some people will be offended by this film, but let's be clear: this is a snide and cynical look at religion, especially Christianity, Mormonism, Scientology and Islam, so don't go if you can't tolerate skepticism of your religion.
Moving on. Charles has a talent for comedic interludes and knows how to find the insightful/hilarious moments in the myriad interviews Maher conducts. Most of the time, Maher is respectful but forceful as he challenges the core beliefs of good people. He seems most upset with the Christian fascination with a world that is 6000 years old and he never does get a good answer to that question. I'd be interested to see what Priest's take on 'pure' creationism versus intelligent design and evolution. Maher gets too rough on a 'converted gay' man that has a Christian ministry that helps to reform gays, and makes too much fun of the man's life. Christianity gets the most attention, but I didn't feel it was picked on more than the other religions. The funniest moments of the film were with 2 obvious false prophets, one guy seriously claiming to be the second coming of Jesus and another preacher wearing a $3000 suit, etc.
His riffs on Mormonism were well executed and funny, if too short. I love the idea that Joseph Smith kept making up the 'golden tablets' to get himself out of jams, and people bought it. Scientology only gets a little attention, probably because it is so preposterous to begin with. Islam is, thank the Lord, treated extremely harshly for its adherents unwillingness to acknowledge the violent passages and the alarmingly high amount of violence in the Muslim world. He focuses on the Theo Van Gogh killing and Mohammed cartoon debacle in Holland to illustrate his points.
Toward the end of the film Maher takes his most serious shots at Christianity, citing to several pre-Christ belief systems that featured a messiah with a similar story. He then winds the film up with his theory that the Revelation prophecies are essentially self-fulfilling because man created the ability to end itself (nuclear bombs) before it grew enlightened enough to be free of religion. That coda to the main film is such an odd tonal transition it really doesn't fit with the rest of the film.
I enjoyed this film and found it challenged several of my own beliefs and thinking about several religions. Not for the easily offended.
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
This isn't a travel blog, but my recent trip to Jackson Hole yielded some beautiful pictures due to the changing of the leaves. Click below to see a sampling if you're so inclined. 
An American Carol - D
In theaters. Rated PG-13, 83 minutes. Trailer.
An unfortunate movie timing situation pushed my group into the worst movie I've seen in the theater in a long, long time. An American Carol is a 'right wing comedy' written and directed by David Zucker (Airplane! and Naked Gun) and starring the tiny Hollywood conservative coalition. The film tells the a semi-Dickensian tale of a Michael Moore type director (played by Kevin Farley) that learns that his constant criticism of America is a bad thing and he has to repent to save the country. Out of 83 minutes, only about 5 are enjoyable or funny. Click below for more CAROL:
I'm not a Zucker fan and don't care for non-Python slapstick, so this didn't have much of a chance with me, even as a Conservative. The problem is, there IS a funny movie to be made about liberalism in America, but this is so stupid it gets in its way. For starters, the film focuses too much on Michael Moore - an unworthy target. He's worth a couple of shots, but the constant references to his weath and slovenly ways are dumb and not funny. The movie drags and drags and tries to stick to a terrible story punctuated with few actual jokes, many of which are elementary school funny, but most of which aren't funny at all. The only reason it avoid an F is the 5 or 6 funny jokes (mostly about Islam) and the points I award them for trying to make a movie about conservative values.
DVD and CD Releases - September 30 and October 7
[Sorry I missed last week - the releases for September 30th are below]
October 7th DVD Releases: 
The Happening
Rest Stop: Don't Look Back
The Visitor
You Don't Mess with the Zohan
Click below for more DVD and CD releases.
DVD Special Editions/Other Releases:
TV Box Sets:
30 Rock: Season Two
The Beverly Hillbillies: Season Two
Martin: Season Five
Mission Impossible: Season Five
The Munsters: Complete Series
The Naked Brothers Band: Season Two
Robot Chicken: Season Three
The Sarah Jane Adventures: Season One
The Simpsons: Season Eleven
The Smurfs: Season One, V2
South Park: The Cult of Cartman
Speed Racer: Complete Series
Special Editions/Other Releases:
The 7th Voyage of Sinbad: 50th Anniversary Edition
A Charlie Brown Christmas
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
The Devil's Chair: Unrated Edition
Halloween: 30th Anniversary Box Set
Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer
Jack Frost: Deluxe Edition
Joy Ride 2: Dead Ahead
The Picture of Dorian Gray
Psycho: Special Edition
Rear Window: Special Edition
Sleeping Beauty: Platinum Edition
Stuck
Touch of Evil: 50th Anniversary Edition
Vertigo: Special Edition
Watership Down: Deluxe Edition
The You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown
New CD Releases:
Annuals - Such Fun
Antony And The Johnsons - Another World
Aqualung - Words & Music
Deerhoof – Offend Maggie
Department Eagles – In Ear Park
Bob Dylan - Bootleg Series Volume 8
Elliott Yamin – My Kind of Holiday
The Clash – Shea Stadium
Crystal Antlers – EP
Japanese Motors - Japanese Motors
Johnny Cash – Christmas Special (DVD)
Jolie Holland - Living and the Dead
Jon McLaughlin - OK Now
Lambchop – Oh(Ohio)
Land of Talk – Some Are Lakes
The Little Ones – Morning Tide
Michelle Williams - Unexpected
Oasis - Dig Out Your Soul
Of Montreal - Skeletal Lamping (Dig)
Pretenders - Break Up the Concrete
Rachael Yamagata - Elephants…Teeth Sinking Into Heart (2 CD)
Rasmus - Black Roses
Rosebud – Life Like
Sarah Mclachlan – Closer: Best of
Streets - Everything Is Borrowed
Wu-Tang – Soundtracks from Shaolin
-------------------------------------
September 30 DVD Releases:
Bigger Stronger Faster
Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Iron Man
Lou Reed's Berlin
Pulse 2: Afterlife
DVD Special Editions/Other Releases:
TV Box Sets:
Beauty and the Beast: Complete Series
My Name Is Earl: Season Three
Numb3rs: Season Four
Special Editions/Other Releases:
Buried Alive
Can't Hardly Wait: 10th Anniversary Edition
Lewis Black's Root of All Evil
Popeye & Friends: Volume Two
Popeye the Sailor: Volume Three
The Rebel
R.L. Stine's Mostly Ghostly
New CD Releases:
Anberlin - New Surrender
Ani Difranco - Red Letter Year
Ben Folds - Way to Normal
Dream Theatre - Chaos In Motion (CD/DVD)
Echo & The Bunnymen - Songs to Learn and Sing
Enigma - Seven Lives Many Faces (2 CDs)
Faith Hill - Joy To The World
Gemma Hayes - The Hollow of Morning
Grateful Dead - Live Egypt 1978 (CD/DVD)
Jack’s Mannequin - The Glass Passenger
James Morrison - Songs for You, Truths for Me
James Taylor - Covers
Jennifer Hudson - Spotlight
Jesus & The Mary Chain - Rarities (4 CD Boxed Set)
Joseph Arthur - Temporary People
Joshua Radin - Simple Times
Kellie Pickler - Kellie Pickler
Laura Fygi - Rendez-Vous
Mary Chapin Carpenter - Come Darkness Come Light: Twelve Songs Christmas
Matt Belsante - White Christmas
Melissa Etheridge - A New Thought For Christmas
Robin Thicke - Something Else
T.I. - Paper Trail
Taj Mahal - Maestro
Tom Morello - The Fabled City
Travis - Ode to J. Smith
U2 - Red Rocks (DVD)
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
SNL C-SPAN skit
This skit was briefly taken off the NBC website. Conspiracy theories were rampant since this is the first skit criticizing Democrats this season.
Turns out Herbet and Marion Sandler (played by Darrell Hammond and Casey Wilson) are real people and the phrase "People that should be shot" that run under the duo while they were talking presented a potential legal problem. It's no longer there, but you can still hear the laughter when it played.
Speed Racer - C
On DVD - 135 minutes (!?!)
Most directors mature as they age, taking on more complex and tougher issues in their films. The Wachowski Siblings seem to be regressing – and their films have progressively worsened. After their spectacular debut Bound and sophomore sensation The Matrix, the Wachowskis have largely disappointed with the overly plotted Matrix sequels and the overly political V for Vendetta. But this is their first foray into the sophomoric. It’s basically a kid’s movie, filled with bright colors, shiny lights, fast editing, and a pet chimpanzee. After (deservedly) receiving lots of street cred for Into the Wild, Emile Hirsch cashes a big paycheck but sells his soul by starring as the titular character. I couldn’t help but think of Vincent Chase’s recent option to star in a Benji movie . . .
The rest of the cast is just as miscast. Indie queen Christina Ricci was also misled by her “people” by taking this role. The heat between Hirsch and Ricci is undetectable. As Speed’s parents, Susan Sarandon and John Goodman try to bring substance to the stilted dialogue. But can you really be taken seriously when a chimpanzee is listening to you and lots of unrealistic primary and secondary colors fill the rooms? The rest of the cast is filled with forgettable faces. The races are pretty exciting to watch, unlike anything you’ve seen before. Announcers’ faces move across the screen, describing the action. The roads are more like rollercoasters than anything you’ve seen by Nascar. But it’s fitting the film is based on the 1960s Japanese cartoon, because this film feels as two-dimensional as the Star Wars prequels. C
Monday, October 6, 2008
Forgetting Sarah Marshall - B
Just released on DVD
Lawyer basically got it right in his theatrical review. This Judd Apatow-produced, Jason Segel scripted comedy is at its best when its supporting characters (such as Apatow regulars Paul Rudd and Jonah Hill) are allowed to improvise and riff on the situations. As the protagonist, Jason Segel is able to keep things interesting, which is no small feat since the character could have easily become a whiny cliché. Also surprising are the lengths Segel will go to show the world his bad habits as well as his junk . . .
Much has been written about the amazing ability for Apatow produced films to be both vulgar and heartfelt at the same time – and you’d think that territory had been mined clean in 40 Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up, and Superbad. But, I completely bought the impossible love story between Segel and Mila Kunis. I guess she’s been around awhile, mostly on TV’s That 70s show, but I’ve never noticed her until now – and I couldn’t take my eyes off her.
The odds of Segel staying in the same hotel as his ex-girlfriend Kristen Bell (and her new boyfriend, Bush-hater Russell Brand), walking past her room, then staying in the room next door are astronomical, of course, but it’s only a movie and you have to choose to go with it. I didn’t completely go with the Dracula puppet show at the end, but it gets points for originality. The full frontal male nudity seems like an inappropriate stunt, but it works when taking into account Segel’s inability to become aroused with his ex at the end. His body knows what his brain doesn’t – it’s usually the other way around. B
The DVD has hilarious extras with ad-libbed lines (especially from Rudd) and a funny gag reel.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Last 5 iTunes Downloads
1. MGMT - Time to Pretend. Great sonic alterna-anthem. 
Love the unique sounds and perfect lyrics. Great for rolled down windows on a Fall car ride.
2. Rogue Wave - Everyday. This update of the Buddy Holly song is the soundtrack for the Rachel Gets Married trailer (gets really good at the 2:00 mark). Sounds like a Priest-ly song. Ditto on the rolled down windows.
3. Killers - Human. Heard this on SNL last night. Great vocals, better lyrics("Pay my respects to grace and virtue, Send my condolences to good") and transcendental synthesizer (coming from a synth-hater, that's saying something). I buy the melancholy the Killers are selling. Maybe my favorite song of the year (we'll see).
4. John Mellencamp - Our Country (Rock version). Every politician uses this as their 'event closer', and its a car commercial, but it is great. Love the East Coast/West Coast chorus.
5. Alphaville - Forever Young. This 80's classic and Napoleon Dynamite prom song has been stuck in my head for a month. Again - I love the emotion conveyed by the synthesizer, despite my hate for it.
Saturday Night Live – 10/4/08
The opening vice presidential debate was better than expected. Jason Sudeikis was a pretty good Joe Biden and he nailed the inappropriate smile and the conflicted feelings about John McCain. Tina Fey’s dismantling of Sarah Palin continues – it’s either very hilarious or pretty amusing – depending on your politics. Host Anne Hathaway making fun of her love life in her monologue made it the best of the season so far. It didn’t hurt it’s also been the shortest one . . .
After Barack Obama seemingly has the election won, SNL finally allows itself to be intellectually honest in the C-SPAN sketch when Nancy Pelosi and Barney Frank acknowledge that Democrats were the ones who refused to regulate Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae despite the Bush Administration’s efforts. Kristen Wiig’s Pelosi praising “victims” who abused the system was great.
Somehow, the Mary Poppins and Lawrence Welk sketches both worked despite none of the performers having been born when both Poppins and Welk were culturally popular or relevant. The digital short was the best of the season so far. Love Will Forte in the fetal position at the end. Andy Samberg was also terrific as Mark Wahlberg talking to animals – simple but funny. The “Most You-Tubed”, “Gay Roommate”, and “Katy Perry” sketches seemed to be filling time, but they weren’t total disasters. Weekend Update was mixed – with some pretty good timing from Seth Myers (the OJ joke), but a little too much screeching from Amy Poehler. The show is improving every week. Overall: B
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Taxi to the Dark Side
On DVD and HBO
This won the Oscar for Best Documentary a few months ago and traces the origins and full extent of America’s post 9/11 torture policy. It centers on Dilawar, an innocent Afghanistan taxi driver who died in US military custody in 2002. The film logically transfers the abuses in Afghanistan to Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay and makes a pretty good case that approval came from the very top levels of the Bush Administration . . .
Writer-director Alex Gibney (Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room) interviews military personnel involved in the abuse who are so relaxed and soft-spoken that you can’t imagine them abusing a helpless, bound, unarmed man. Gibney clearly sides with the troops, insisting it’s the atmosphere created (not the people) that is the problem. And those people who create the atmosphere are the blame. Gibney connects Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld a little too simply to the abuses, but does show why America’s stature around the world has fallen so far.
One of the most startling facts presented is that one of the main witnesses who connected Saddam Hussein to Al Qaeda in late 2002 was tortured before giving up that information. He was later determined to be an unreliable witness. I’m not sure I agree that only 1% of Guantanamo’s detainees have actually been terrorists, but the arguments against torturing are convincing. John McCain is featured prominently speaking out against torture. The Abu Ghraib photos are unedited and there’s probably too much full frontal male nudity for even Madonna to deal with, but the shock value is effective. This is a difficult film to grade since it completely succeeds with its goals, but it’s doubtful I will ever watch it again. But like that other great 2007 documentary No End in Sight, it should be seen a large audience. B+
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Snap Judgments - A Quick Review of 5 Movies
The Love Guru - Lawyer was right in his review when he said Mike Myers’s time has passed. The 3 songs Myers plays on his sitar during the film are from 1973 (“The Joker”), 1980 (“Nine to Five”), and 1991 (“More than Words”). Its ridiculous plot and frequent extraneous scenes are reminiscent of Austin Powers, but that series grew old a couple of minutes into the second film. Here, characters begin each scene explaining what happened in the last - just in case someone wasn’t paying attention. Ben Kingsley defames his Oscar winning performance, but Justin Timberlake’s performance is delightfully free of self-awareness. There are many laughs when hockey announcers Stephen Colbert and Jim Gaffigan are on screen. But not from Myers, who constantly and annoyingly laughs at himself. Some have called it one of the worst films of the year, but there are some interesting ideas floating around. And Jessica Alba. There is Jessica Alba. C
A Band’s Visit – Nothing, and I mean, nothing happens when an Egyptian band gets lost in a small Israeli town, trying to play at the opening of some kind of Arab arts center. Over the course of one night, the different cultures will clash, then come to realize how much they have in common. Yuck. I mean, Yawn. The “humor” is forced, the pace is slow, and the ending predictable. There’s a nice moment when a young man teaches a teenager how to hit on a girl, but this one’s otherwise really painful and slow. Did I mention it’s slow? C-
Son of Rambow – This is what happens when untalented people who’ve seen Rushmore too many times make a movie. Crappy kid acting, uninspired action scenes, humorless attempts at humor, and an instantly forgettable film. Rich kids at a British boarding school pretend they’re heroes as they shoot a film so they can avoid reality. Between this and A Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Garth Jennings is the worst working director alive. D+
Reprise – It’s been called the best Norwegian film in years. Compared to what? This Jules and Jim wannabe depicts two friends and burgeoning authors as they fail, succeed, love, lose, etc. The style begins fractured with many alternative paths (think Choose-Your-Own-Adventure) before settling into a more conventional narrative. The discussion about luck and fate and how it affects lives is certainly well-worn. There are some honest performances but the objective narration and episodic plot probably impresses more if you haven’t seen that Francois Truffaut masterpiece – or even Y Tu Mama Tambien. C+
Young@Heart - This documentary shows a geriatric group (average age: 80) singing Sonic Youth, The Ramones, Coldplay, James Brown, etc. to big audiences. Most members admit they prefer opera or Julie Andrews and don’t seem to know why they do it – especially when you never know which member is going to die in between performances. The middle-aged jerkweed chorus director Bob Cilman verbally abuses them when they mess up and the whole thing feels like horrible exploitation (new genre: Exlaxploitation?). You’ll feel sorry for the old people. Some will claim that it’s keeping them young, but it’s embarrassing and those enjoying the performance are laughing at old people, not with them. If anyone uses the phrase “triumph of the human spirit” discussing this film, they’re a pretentious dick. C
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