2011/11/27
2011/11/21
george clooney - the descendants
another teary movie about someone facing death. (i guess i shouldn't find this theme so uncommon, considering that everyone dies.) though my fandom for mr clooney would probably have lead me to the same conclusion anyway, i liked this movie a lot. it seemed fairly well written, and the conflict between daughter and dad wasn't overworked. all the characters were pretty true, with the exception of the older daughter's not-quite-boyfriend, sid, who was one character that either 1) we didn't much need or 2) could have been utilized more effectively.
couldn't have cared much less for the subplot regarding the real estate sell off, though others in my particular audience seemed to find it intriguing.
here's my very, very minor quibble: there were a couple of scenes that seemed very poorly shot; was it the lighting? i don't know...they just looked like a student film project.
what was most remarkable: in scenes between clooney and beau bridges, mr. bridges' eyebrows won everytime.
2011/11/19
2011/11/15
2011/11/14
2011/11/13
movie catch up
just a few i've seen in the past few weeks:
- J EDGAR: don't get distracted by the really bad acting and the really bad makeup... but what it was missing was scandal or conflict or something. it was made apparent that hoover had inner demons, but what outside forces really threatened him, other than an oddly weak dig by a senator who discovered that hoover allowed hollywood to glorify him. it was entertaining enough, otherwise.
- IDES OF MARCH: nothing great, but nothing bad. well, george clooney and ryan gosling are both great; but like J EDGAR, above, there was nothing really compelling here.
- A VERY HAROLD & KUMAR 3D CHRISTMAS: funny continuation of the world's favorite not-gay same sex couple. the drugs are just an excuse for them to be with each other, of course.
lots and lots of really uninteresting trailers playing right now, too.
2011/11/12
the sound of arrows - voyage
sound of arrows - voyage
the sound of arrows (of whom i have posted previously) released their album, voyage. what's it like? it's like vangelis (composer of the blade runner soundtrack) called the pet shop boys and said, "let's have a rave while standing in line at disney's space mountain!"
at first i was hesitant to put the PSB reference in there, because they totally do not give off the same arty-pretentious vibe (sarcastically or not); but it's undeniable that the influence is there. and i hear more of a mid-70's synth feel, carried off very successfully.
since hearing "into the clouds" several months ago, i've been eager to get this album...the slow buildup has been worth the wait. and now, i highly recommend it.
(oh, and i didn't mention: one track actually samples a flock of seagulls single, "the more you live, the more you love".)
the sound of arrows (of whom i have posted previously) released their album, voyage. what's it like? it's like vangelis (composer of the blade runner soundtrack) called the pet shop boys and said, "let's have a rave while standing in line at disney's space mountain!"
at first i was hesitant to put the PSB reference in there, because they totally do not give off the same arty-pretentious vibe (sarcastically or not); but it's undeniable that the influence is there. and i hear more of a mid-70's synth feel, carried off very successfully.
since hearing "into the clouds" several months ago, i've been eager to get this album...the slow buildup has been worth the wait. and now, i highly recommend it.
(oh, and i didn't mention: one track actually samples a flock of seagulls single, "the more you live, the more you love".)
2011/11/11
melancholia
just finished watching MELANCHOLIA on-demand, rather than in the cinema. saved probably $20, considering tickets and popcorn and all...and this is definitely not a popcorn movie...ended up kind of loving it.
how would you approach the end of the world if 1) you weren't sure it was really going to happen, but you feared it might, or 2) if you knew it was going to happen, but didn't want to freak everyone out, or 3) if you were manic depressive, living with the most dysfunctional of families (and employer) who couldn't even help through your wedding?
(for number 3, i guess it's just another challenge to your limited coping mechanisms.)
i wish i'd seen this in the cinema, because it had some very striking visuals, and i suspect the sound and music (hinted at in the trailer, above) were gorgeous, in the right facility.
somewhat recommended. like THE TREE OF LIFE, this is one of those movies that you'll either (kind of) love, or detest.
how would you approach the end of the world if 1) you weren't sure it was really going to happen, but you feared it might, or 2) if you knew it was going to happen, but didn't want to freak everyone out, or 3) if you were manic depressive, living with the most dysfunctional of families (and employer) who couldn't even help through your wedding?
(for number 3, i guess it's just another challenge to your limited coping mechanisms.)
i wish i'd seen this in the cinema, because it had some very striking visuals, and i suspect the sound and music (hinted at in the trailer, above) were gorgeous, in the right facility.
somewhat recommended. like THE TREE OF LIFE, this is one of those movies that you'll either (kind of) love, or detest.
2011/11/10
2011/11/06
"weekend"
just finished watching WEEKEND with the husband. goodness, i forgot how sweetly crybaby i can get. give a couple guys 60 hours or so to run the gamut of emotions, and what comes out the other end…something sentimental, to be sure, yet…fairly complicated and very familiar, pulling so many emotions from this viewer.
(photography was great, too.)
washed out - call it off
saw this guy (and bandmates) at the cut copy concert a couple of weeks ago (oh yeah, i never posted about that!), and this album was my big takeaway. reobsessing over this track today.
2011/11/05
the rum diary
caught johnny depp in the rum diary the other day and loved it. great capture of the era (early 1960’s); consistently funny and entertaining.
just a moment or two of “oh god, don’t get all activist-heroic please”…and fortunately, they did not. stayed true to the puerto rico is a sorta beautiful and exotic, yet exploited colony of the US, where US citizens can go for seemingly legitimate reasons, but get in lots and lots of trouble.
aaron eckhardt is generally watchable, but a real gem is the true co-star of the movie, michael rispoli, playing the best imaginable buddy to depp’s character. and yes, that’s giovanni ribisi in there, too.
i have to ask, though, how is it that j depp hasn’t aged a spot in 20+ years? seriously.
2011/11/04
sigue sigue sputnik - love missile f1-11
sigue sigue sputnik - love missile F1-11
do you remember where you were when you bought each record you own? well, neither do i. but some of my records i distinctly remember: sigue sigue sputnik was found at lou’s records in encinitas, california, during one of the rare visits my then-idaho sister made to (my) san diego. the record was playing in the store, and i lit up immediately. idaho sister looked over in my direction, knowing that this would be the sort of record that would provoke that response in me.
i didn’t follow SSS much further than that first record, in spite of their pedigree, which crossed generation X, the clash, giorgio moroder, and others.
2011/11/03
2011/11/02
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