Songbird
Dec
26
Juno the Junebug
Filed Under Film Box | 6 Comments
Pip here and I finally got around to seeing this little jewel, and I really liked it. So if you don’t want to read any more there you have it. This one was penned by relative newcomer Diablo Cody and helmed by the Reitman boy (you may have heard of a few of his dad’s films) who impressed me with Thank You For Smoking, and has really impressed me with one of the more heartfelt, cute and cuddly films to come along in a while.
I will say that I was annoyed with the movie for about five seconds, and only about five seconds. It was just too well written, too witty for its own good, and too archetypal… but that only lasted for five seconds. It seems that I must grant an executive pardon for overwritten and too witty for their own good teenagers, because once you live in the world for just about six seconds, you really do fall in love with everything and pretty much stop worrying about it. On first glance all the characters are one dimensional, here we go again, type people. Actually, I think every time you meet a new character there’s a five second window of “ugh”. But I’m tellin’ ya, at six seconds, she’ll have you at “wizard”.
The wonderful thing about Juno are the characters, not necessarily their dialogue. They are all living and breathing people. When you meet them seem like people you’ve met a thousand times over, but they’re really not, that’s just the smiley exterior. Kinda like real life people in that way. Everyone gets their moment to shine, but it’s not really like that… you don’t know it’s happening when it’s happening. You really end up loving everyone in a different way. Some relationships in the film seem like something for one minute until you find out some other bit that takes it to a whole new level. There’s no black and white, if anyone is at fault it’s everyone.
I’ll admit something else, I’m a crier… yeah I cry in movies. And not just at… say the end of Braveheart or something. I cry at the end of Braveheart upon viewing it for the 48th time. I’ll cry while watching Amelie walk the blind guy down the street… or when the brother can’t fly because he’s colorblind. Really anything. I am at their mercy. That said, I actually haven’t cried in a film in a while… I don’t know if it’s just the type of film or what, but I haven’t. And we should take note of that. However, in this film, once I found out what was really happening and the sacrifice that was made and everyone’s reaction to it, coupled with everything that had happened in the film so far… I let ’em loose. Happy day, this is what I go to the theater for.
Not to cry really, just… well the whole thing… you… um… you get the point.
Dec
19
Silent Night
Filed Under Music Mix Up | 5 Comments
Well this will be the only Holiday song I will be posting this season…And who better to post then the one and only Alexi Murdoch with his version of Silent Night? I can think of no one better. Hopefully this will help some of you Scrooges out there to get into the holiday spirit. And even if it doesn’t help at least you could say that you heard a lovely acoustic version of this classic holiday song.
I have a final paper I am working on, which is due tomorrow evening and then after that I plan on posting my 2007 end of the year selections. Happy day everyone!
mp3: Silent Night
Alexi Murdoch on myspaceÂ
Dec
17
Margot Should Be At a Special Home.
Filed Under Film Box | 2 Comments
Margot At the Wedding: imdb / trailer
Pip here again, and I’ve finally seen a film I wanted to see since I saw the trailer a while back…
So Noah has made some really good films in the past, and/or had his fingers directly in the film making pie so to speak. He’s also made a… well not so good one, but we won’t hold that against him! He’s now heavily involved in Wes Anderson’s projects, which I believe is a good pairing. After seeing The Squid and The Whale, and now Margot, I really do have some very serious concerns about Noah’s mental health and relationships with his family.
When I saw The Squid…, I was really moved by the story and the characters. I had someone to root for. I had someone to hate, yet secretly like. The parents were disasters, the children weren’t much better off and everything coalesced together in a sort of self-serving family dynamic that not only felt sincere, but real. In a previous outing, my favorite of his directing work to date, Mr. Jealousy (rent of ‘flix it), everyone again was messed up emotionally, but I really loved each of the characters and wanted to see the end of each of the arcs that were masterfully tied together. And then there’s Margot At the Wedding… and the best words I’ve heard that describe it are: too much.
Everyone is trying just a little too hard, from the writing, to the acting, to the characters themselves in their little world. All the characters are just a little too messed up. All the themes he’s used just a few too many times. This leads me to my main concern. The family this person grew up in had to be… interesting. Take his last two films as a case study in textbook somethingaphilia. Especially considering in both of those films characters are shown quoting their life in their written work to a literal ‘T’. Too. Much. I honestly didn’t hate this film, but I’m not sure if I liked it or not. I don’t think I’d give it the chance with a second viewing to see if maybe I didn’t see it from the right point of view, which has helped a few times in the past.
By the end of the film I was just sick of the two main characters and I was left completely dissatisfied. Nothing was gained, nothing was lost, nothing was learned. Mere moments strike out amongst the mishmash as real gems, showing off just what this talent can do. It leaves a viewer and fan more disappointed, and walking away from the credits shaking their head with a sigh.
Dec
16
Have you ever been?
Filed Under Music Mix Up | 6 Comments
Here is a little something we were shown at a friend’s house that we found quite amusing. Not safe for most situations. Be sure to check out his other postings, they are equally hilarious.
Dec
12
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
Filed Under Album Picks | 8 Comments
Oh my, oh my Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings have more soul in one of their little pinky fingers then I do in my entire body. But listening to their new album 100 Days, 100 Nights certainly makes me want to get on my knees and thank the sweet lord for blessing me with the music of Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings.
Their new album is filled with some of the greatest R&B Soul I have heard in a long time, not since Ray Charles and the entire album is that good. Timeless.
mp3: 100 Days, 100 Nights
mp3: Something’s Changed
100 Days, 100 Nights 2007 (Daptone Records)
Dec
6
Band Of Horses In Commercials?
Filed Under Album Picks, Music Mix Up | 22 Comments
WTF? I don’t know how I feel about companies corrupting the music I listen to! I am sorry. Call me a snob! Call me possessive! I just find it a little unsettling to hear music like The Funereal by the Band Of Horses playing in a commercial advertising a Ford Edge “Crossover” vehicle…What the fuck does “crossover” mean anyway?! It still looks like a gas guzzling SUV to me. Sorry I am not ranting to offend anyone here…I am just saying I don’t really get it. Couldn’t they use an Angels & Airwaves song? I know, I know, I am sorry but I was bound to offend someone tonight. I guess I am feisty from working on a paper all day.
And I just want to add I am not the only one who has some anger about this subject, check it.
Speaking of the Band Of Horses their new album, Cease To Begin I can’t say I am all that impressed with. I mean I was anticipating it’s release but I just can’t seem to get that excited about the album. I was bummed to say the least but there are a couple of diamonds in the rough so to speak, so I thought I would share my favs.
mp3: Is There A Ghost
mp3: No One’s Gonna Love You
Band Of Horses on myspace
Cease To Begin 2007 (Sub Pop)
Dec
5
That Time Of Year
Filed Under News & Info. | Leave a Comment
Sorry folks it is just that time of year…Where you wake up and all of a sudden it is the new year! Currently I am working on a paper that is due tomorrow evening and well that is taking up a lot of my time because I have procrastinated as usual. So check back tomorrow night when this paper is done and out of my life. Cheers!
Dec
2
Paste Music Sampler Pick #1
Filed Under Music Mix Up | 5 Comments
Pip helped with this new feature, thanks Pip! I decided to start a new feature where I pick a favorite song from my monthly Paste Music Sampler. Sound like fun? I hope so. This months pick comes from Music Sampler #38 and my pick is by the lovely UK indie pop rock darling Kate Nash. Her new EP, Foundations is available now in the US and look for her new CD single Pumpkin Soup coming soon.
As for me I have an interview tomorrow so do wish me a bit of luck and I will let you all know how it goes. :)
mp3: Foundations (clean version)
Kate Nash on myspace
Foundations EP 2007 (Geffen Records)
Buy it Here
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