Monday, December 6, 2010
A Thing to Follow
Hi Guys this won't be a long post but I wanted to let everyone in on something new. Kevin Smith has a podcast called "Red State of the Union" where every week he talks about his upcoming film and features clips from it. Now I have to say Kevin Smith doing a horror movie was not my first choice but listen to this rough cut of a trailer that he has put out and tell me what you think. Here is the poster of the film and the Link.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
The Little Box
THE TOP 15 TV Shows of 2010
15.Weeds: Episode 13 Theoretical Love is Not Dead In what is most uneven and all together weakest season to come from the decent Showtime show about a housewife turned weed dealer. We at least get a somewhat good last episode that not only a decent end to a season but also leaves all the fans wondering if we will have another season or if the very open ended final moments are just that final. I love the fact that the writers for the last few episodes of this season the writers went back and examined some things about Nancys (Mary-Louise Parker) past. It's too bad the entire season was pretty much a bust but it does leave hope that next years will be a better season.
14.Outsourced: Episode 6 Bolloween
I am a sucker for NBC and the way they will do a show themed around a Holiday. When they do the Office at Halloween or Christmas I am watching. Now with the Office entering it's seventh year they are having to come up with new shows and this years Outsourced is very funny. The Halloween episode is great because of how good looking the women are and how well placed the costumes are in the certain scenes. Now I don't think Outsourced will ever be the next Office but it will be interesting to see where they go after this first season.
13.The Office: Episode 3 Andy's Play
It seems like I spoke about the Office enough in the Outsourced piece above but I'm here to say that I hope this is the last season of the show. Go out with a nice note don't drag it down into being that show that you don't want to finish because it just got so average. The nice thing about this season is that they are moving away from the main four characters and letting the background players have their own episodes. I really dug this episode because it focused on Andy (Ed Helms) and at the same time gave us some wonderful moments with the other players in the cast. If this is the last season I can't wait to see how they end this very funny show.
12.Bored to Death: Episode 1 Escape From the Castle
I have to say that watching Jason Schwartzman run around New York in a leather gimp mask for a good chunk of an episode is just downright funny. I don't know why I didn't get on board with this offbeat show about a failed writer who takes up an add as a private investigator. The cast to this show is simply fantastic with people like Ted Danson and Zach Galifinanakis to share scenes with each other you can't help but laugh at this show.
11.30 Rock: Episode 5 Reaganing
Now I was very tempted to put the live show as the best episode the year but what the Live episode has in a good cast performance it lack in Alec Baldwin just tearing the scenery apart with his amazing acting. He is so dam funny as Jack trying to pitch a perfect game of Reaganing. Reaganing is fixing peoples problems and everyone he has helped except for Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) I love this episode because it really came off the live show episode. I really enjoyed also how Tracy Morgan did by making me laugh throughout it.
10.The Venture Brothers: Episode 11 Every which way but Zeus
Now I love that the Venture Brothers over the years has gone from a really great show with one episode after another to a fantastic show with an ongoing plot line and reoccurring characters. I also love that the main characters have not become tiresome with one note jokes and just being dam annoying. The people who write the show have taken these cartoon cliches and made them into some very funny characters over the past four seasons. The reason episode 11 takes the cake over the other wonderful fifteen episodes is that it brings together tons of secondary characters and also we get some great Hank moments as well. I love the way this story unfolds and we see the final act come to play out in wonderful Venture form.
09.The Big C: Episode 4 Playing the Cancer Car
This may take my prize for the show that I will never tell anyone else I watch. This show goes beyond the realm of chick show so much so that I never will admit to seeing it to anyone with male genitalia. I love Laura Linney in anything she does her range is so good and her presence as an actor is simply amazing when she is on screen she makes you very aware of it despite only being 5'7. I love this episode because we get to see Linney really doing a nice job of playing both the victim and the supportive one for herself. I watched the entire season in three days and I have to say if this is Showtime's alternative to Weeds them lets hope it gets a second season.
08.Breaking Bad: Episode 10 Fly
So most of the Time I don't enjoy filler in my shows but when you have a show like this the filler can be the best part some of the time. This episode is about what the title says. Our main character is worried about a Fly in his lab and its all about the process of him getting rid of the Fly. Now this is the third season of the show and so much has happened but with such a simple concept i love how this episode almost pulls away from the fact that this man is a high end drug trafficker and shows that he like everyone else is bested by the smallest of problems.
07.It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: Episode 7 Who Got Dee Pregnant?
I wasn't sure about this season I thought that the boys of Philly had reached their zeaneth and the show was on the brink of sheer disaster. Ohh I have such little faith. If you haven't been tracking with one of the best things on FX then you as "The Gang" would say need to pull your head out of your ass. Once again I am a sucker for a showed based around a holiday or specific event. The episode works so well because of how they don't bury the lead right away we are confronted with the problem and we watch the four boys stumble throughout their various versions of the night and hilarity ensues. The season hasn't been a grand slam this year but over all the gang of philly is still proving why this show is a must watch every week.
06.Conan: Episode 1 Baa Baa Blackmail
I am not a huge talk show guy I avoid most of them like they were some sort honest work. The one I can tolerate and on several occasions nearly piss myself is the Giant Irishman Conan O'brien. The reason I love his is because I don't usually get to see him because of how late he is on also He has some of the best sketch writers working today. I won't say anymore but take a look at the video above. That was only his opener and they have gotten funnier as the show has gone along.
05.The Walking Dead: Episode 1 Days Gone Bye
This is a show that has so many things going for it. I love that with very few exceptions anyone can be next on the chopping block. A show that has that weapon under its belt is a show to watch because it keeps you guessing and wondering who will be the next to the slaughter. I also love how dam eerie the opening music is to the show is. I chose episode one because it is not only a strong open but it is also the episode that made me glad i waited a week to have two saved up to watch. The premise is so great i'm surprised that no one has ever done this before. The world is ending and the Zombies are taking over. I think the way they are doing it and that they have set it in the south is a great thing as well.
04.Louie: Episode 6 Heckler/Cop Movie
If you haven't see the next four shows then stop reading right now and go watch them because these are the big four of the year. Louie is the second brain child from one of the best comedians today. Louis CK brings us a frank and honest look about what it is to be a stuggleing New York comic who is also out of shape, balding, two kids, divorced, and generally just a sad sack. If you want to know how to bring the funny then look no further. The episodes are usually broken up into two adventures that Louie is on. This one is so good because when he takes on this Heckler they have to bleep out most of what he is saying. I can't wait to get the DVD's so I can hopefully find out what he said to that women. The second half is all about him trying to get through working on a movie. This show is funny and at times very touching. So check it out and also your father is dead.
03.Archer: Episode 5 The Honeypot
If James bond were not classy a drunk and a man who went to bed with anything that moved you would have Archer. I did not warm up to this show right away but Now I have seen the season at least eight times straight through. This is the perfect sick at home TV show to watch because you are laughing and it doesn't take much effort to watch it. I burned through it in one day while sick in my bed and I think it is responsible for making me feel better. The episode entitled Honeypot is all about our main character Sterling Archer pulling his favorite spy move the honeypot on a target that he wants nothing to do with a male spy. The show is very funny and very dark but that alone makes it one of the funniest things I have seen all year.
02.Boardwalk Empire: Episode 1 Boardwalk Empire
Strong openings to a season are important in TV. Strong openings to a first season are crucial. This new show on HBO that has become THE show I look forward to every week and now I am screwed because I have to wait until sometime next year to get back to that magical world of crime and corruption. This show is beyond good it is near perfect. It combines so many elements of what makes up an amazing TV show. First off you have Steve Buscemi doing some of the best work he has done with an amazing all star cast behind him. The supporting cast includes Michael Pitt, Kelly Macdonald, Michael Shannon, Michael Stuhlbarg, Stephen Graham, and Michael K. Williams (Omar from THE WIRE), you know you are in for a hell of a ride. The first episode takes place over the course of three days and shows the inner workings of Atlantic City on the day that prohibition is being enacted. I love how well the play between seperate storylines goes and how we only get to see glimpses of the operation that is keeping Atlantic City wet in this dry time. Also if you aren't impressed by cast and the plot, the pilot is directed by the king of gangster movies Martin Scorsese.
01.Mad Men: Episode 7 The Suitcase
14.Outsourced: Episode 6 Bolloween
I am a sucker for NBC and the way they will do a show themed around a Holiday. When they do the Office at Halloween or Christmas I am watching. Now with the Office entering it's seventh year they are having to come up with new shows and this years Outsourced is very funny. The Halloween episode is great because of how good looking the women are and how well placed the costumes are in the certain scenes. Now I don't think Outsourced will ever be the next Office but it will be interesting to see where they go after this first season.
13.The Office: Episode 3 Andy's Play
It seems like I spoke about the Office enough in the Outsourced piece above but I'm here to say that I hope this is the last season of the show. Go out with a nice note don't drag it down into being that show that you don't want to finish because it just got so average. The nice thing about this season is that they are moving away from the main four characters and letting the background players have their own episodes. I really dug this episode because it focused on Andy (Ed Helms) and at the same time gave us some wonderful moments with the other players in the cast. If this is the last season I can't wait to see how they end this very funny show.
12.Bored to Death: Episode 1 Escape From the Castle
I have to say that watching Jason Schwartzman run around New York in a leather gimp mask for a good chunk of an episode is just downright funny. I don't know why I didn't get on board with this offbeat show about a failed writer who takes up an add as a private investigator. The cast to this show is simply fantastic with people like Ted Danson and Zach Galifinanakis to share scenes with each other you can't help but laugh at this show.
11.30 Rock: Episode 5 Reaganing
Now I was very tempted to put the live show as the best episode the year but what the Live episode has in a good cast performance it lack in Alec Baldwin just tearing the scenery apart with his amazing acting. He is so dam funny as Jack trying to pitch a perfect game of Reaganing. Reaganing is fixing peoples problems and everyone he has helped except for Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) I love this episode because it really came off the live show episode. I really enjoyed also how Tracy Morgan did by making me laugh throughout it.
10.The Venture Brothers: Episode 11 Every which way but Zeus
Now I love that the Venture Brothers over the years has gone from a really great show with one episode after another to a fantastic show with an ongoing plot line and reoccurring characters. I also love that the main characters have not become tiresome with one note jokes and just being dam annoying. The people who write the show have taken these cartoon cliches and made them into some very funny characters over the past four seasons. The reason episode 11 takes the cake over the other wonderful fifteen episodes is that it brings together tons of secondary characters and also we get some great Hank moments as well. I love the way this story unfolds and we see the final act come to play out in wonderful Venture form.
09.The Big C: Episode 4 Playing the Cancer Car
This may take my prize for the show that I will never tell anyone else I watch. This show goes beyond the realm of chick show so much so that I never will admit to seeing it to anyone with male genitalia. I love Laura Linney in anything she does her range is so good and her presence as an actor is simply amazing when she is on screen she makes you very aware of it despite only being 5'7. I love this episode because we get to see Linney really doing a nice job of playing both the victim and the supportive one for herself. I watched the entire season in three days and I have to say if this is Showtime's alternative to Weeds them lets hope it gets a second season.
08.Breaking Bad: Episode 10 Fly
So most of the Time I don't enjoy filler in my shows but when you have a show like this the filler can be the best part some of the time. This episode is about what the title says. Our main character is worried about a Fly in his lab and its all about the process of him getting rid of the Fly. Now this is the third season of the show and so much has happened but with such a simple concept i love how this episode almost pulls away from the fact that this man is a high end drug trafficker and shows that he like everyone else is bested by the smallest of problems.
07.It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: Episode 7 Who Got Dee Pregnant?
I wasn't sure about this season I thought that the boys of Philly had reached their zeaneth and the show was on the brink of sheer disaster. Ohh I have such little faith. If you haven't been tracking with one of the best things on FX then you as "The Gang" would say need to pull your head out of your ass. Once again I am a sucker for a showed based around a holiday or specific event. The episode works so well because of how they don't bury the lead right away we are confronted with the problem and we watch the four boys stumble throughout their various versions of the night and hilarity ensues. The season hasn't been a grand slam this year but over all the gang of philly is still proving why this show is a must watch every week.
06.Conan: Episode 1 Baa Baa Blackmail
I am not a huge talk show guy I avoid most of them like they were some sort honest work. The one I can tolerate and on several occasions nearly piss myself is the Giant Irishman Conan O'brien. The reason I love his is because I don't usually get to see him because of how late he is on also He has some of the best sketch writers working today. I won't say anymore but take a look at the video above. That was only his opener and they have gotten funnier as the show has gone along.
05.The Walking Dead: Episode 1 Days Gone Bye
This is a show that has so many things going for it. I love that with very few exceptions anyone can be next on the chopping block. A show that has that weapon under its belt is a show to watch because it keeps you guessing and wondering who will be the next to the slaughter. I also love how dam eerie the opening music is to the show is. I chose episode one because it is not only a strong open but it is also the episode that made me glad i waited a week to have two saved up to watch. The premise is so great i'm surprised that no one has ever done this before. The world is ending and the Zombies are taking over. I think the way they are doing it and that they have set it in the south is a great thing as well.
04.Louie: Episode 6 Heckler/Cop Movie
If you haven't see the next four shows then stop reading right now and go watch them because these are the big four of the year. Louie is the second brain child from one of the best comedians today. Louis CK brings us a frank and honest look about what it is to be a stuggleing New York comic who is also out of shape, balding, two kids, divorced, and generally just a sad sack. If you want to know how to bring the funny then look no further. The episodes are usually broken up into two adventures that Louie is on. This one is so good because when he takes on this Heckler they have to bleep out most of what he is saying. I can't wait to get the DVD's so I can hopefully find out what he said to that women. The second half is all about him trying to get through working on a movie. This show is funny and at times very touching. So check it out and also your father is dead.
03.Archer: Episode 5 The Honeypot
If James bond were not classy a drunk and a man who went to bed with anything that moved you would have Archer. I did not warm up to this show right away but Now I have seen the season at least eight times straight through. This is the perfect sick at home TV show to watch because you are laughing and it doesn't take much effort to watch it. I burned through it in one day while sick in my bed and I think it is responsible for making me feel better. The episode entitled Honeypot is all about our main character Sterling Archer pulling his favorite spy move the honeypot on a target that he wants nothing to do with a male spy. The show is very funny and very dark but that alone makes it one of the funniest things I have seen all year.
02.Boardwalk Empire: Episode 1 Boardwalk Empire
Strong openings to a season are important in TV. Strong openings to a first season are crucial. This new show on HBO that has become THE show I look forward to every week and now I am screwed because I have to wait until sometime next year to get back to that magical world of crime and corruption. This show is beyond good it is near perfect. It combines so many elements of what makes up an amazing TV show. First off you have Steve Buscemi doing some of the best work he has done with an amazing all star cast behind him. The supporting cast includes Michael Pitt, Kelly Macdonald, Michael Shannon, Michael Stuhlbarg, Stephen Graham, and Michael K. Williams (Omar from THE WIRE), you know you are in for a hell of a ride. The first episode takes place over the course of three days and shows the inner workings of Atlantic City on the day that prohibition is being enacted. I love how well the play between seperate storylines goes and how we only get to see glimpses of the operation that is keeping Atlantic City wet in this dry time. Also if you aren't impressed by cast and the plot, the pilot is directed by the king of gangster movies Martin Scorsese.
01.Mad Men: Episode 7 The Suitcase
It's hard to beat a show that has gone three seasons strong is the definition of cool and classy. This show also boasts one of the best leading men and a cast that any TV director would kill to get his hands on. I find it funny that I mention the cast because the episode that I was most impressed with this season was one that didn't involve the cast much it centered around Don Draper (Jon Hamm) and his former secretary Peggy (Elisabeth Moss). The events of the evening take place on the night of the Ali vs Liston fight. The two characters have been at odds with each other and know more about each other then anyone else does. This episode works because the writers back off of the usual huge cast and let the interplay of the two most important characters come out and we see why these two need each other and why they are the perfect team. I have to say that maybe the reason I liked this movie is because I watched a really bad movie right before it or perhaps it was just the right atmosphere of having friends over to watch it with me. Whatever the case may be this is one of the best examples of how to make amazing TV. This episode is full of beautiful moments and awesome performances trully worthy of this years top slot.
I can't wait for next year to see what my favorite TV stations are at. So I hope you guys dug this very long ass kissing session and I hope you all get a chance to look at these shows and play catch up over the next year. So folks enjoy and be aware the biggest and most important list is yet to come.
I can't wait for next year to see what my favorite TV stations are at. So I hope you guys dug this very long ass kissing session and I hope you all get a chance to look at these shows and play catch up over the next year. So folks enjoy and be aware the biggest and most important list is yet to come.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Zip it Listen!!!
Top 10 Songs of 2010
The end of the year is close at hand and I thought I would do a few top 10 lists to finish out the year. So I thought instead of doing just Film this year I would change it up and do music and TV, the other two demons that inhabit my life. So to begin we are looking at the top ten songs of 2010. The nice thing about the article is that you have a soundtrack to go along with it. So here we go with the ten.
10. Sir Greendowm-Janelle Monae-The ArchAndroid May 18th, 2010
Not only has Ms. Monae made a wonderful concept album that tells a wonderful story she has also made an amazing single that is full of love and hope between two people who are destined to be together. I love this song because the rest of the songs are very busy and pumped up but this one seems to be restrained and pulled back and i really like that she can do that. It's not only a good dance album but you can also enjoy the smooth parts too. I walked in the rain the first time I heard this album and I have to say that it was an amazing walk.
09.You Must Be Out of Your Mind-The Magnetic Fields-Realism January 26th, 2010
In every great list you need a breakup song. Most of the time its a woman who is singing about being stronger now that her man has left or she has left her man. What I love about this song is that the man gets the chance to throw out his point of view and really does an excellent job of saying how he feels about where the relationship has gone and why he is glad to be out of it. The Magnetic Fields really do a great job of this because the first thing I heard by them was their three disc set called 69 Love Songs. They really have a nice way of throwing some venom into the breakup song.
08.Hand Covers Bruise-Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross-The Social Network September 28th, 2010
Yes I know I couldn't make it an entire post without bringing the silver screen into the mix, but I can't help it. This is probably the most surprising of the artists that would make my list because normally Reznor and the word favorite are not in the same sentence. I would normally not bother listening to this but when you have the soundtrack to a Fincher film sometimes you need to pay attention. I am glad I did because this score is amazing. Every second of the score sinks up so well with what is happening on screen. The Track above is a particularly great bit of music. It is the opening piece that follows the main character as he heads to his dorm after being dumped.
I can't give more away just enjoy this haunting sad bit of brilliance.
07.The Day (Feat. Blu, Phonte, Patty Crash)-The Roots-How I Got Over June 22nd, 2010
Now I had always heard about the roots but until 2010 I hadn't heard a single thing by them. 2011 will be spent getting to know them and listening to the rest of their catalog. What I can say about them is they seem to really know how to pic the right people to guest star on the album. Patty Crash does an amazing job with the back up vocals and really slays by giving the track such a original sound. The track really doesn't sound like anything else this year that I have heard.
06.Hustle Blood Ft. Jamie Foxx (Produced By Lil' Jon)-Big Boi-Sir Lucious Left Foot The Son Of Chico Dusty July 5th 2010
When I was first exposed to Outkast in 2000 when Stankonia was released I thought that this was just another Hip Hop album with a few catchy tunes. I would listen to a few times and move on. Now we are ten years later and the two performers are doing solo projects. This is Big Boi's solo album and I have to say that I am very convinced that both of these boys are going to be just fine on their own and I hope they do work together again. Big Boi has put together not only a wonderful album but this song on its own really grabs yoru attention. I mean the vocals of Fox with the skills of Big Boi it is clear why this track is so dam good.
05.Testify (Produced By Kanye West)-Common-Go! Common Classics May 11th 2010
This track is older but it was released in 2010 on a best of album so just deal with it. If Common has a real talent to his rapping its that he knows how to weave a story through his beats. Now the story is that of a women who is in court watching her husband being tried for crimes. What really works for this is how well the music video moves along with the song. I only saw the video earlier this week and I have to say that I really dug the crap out of the way they played it. This song is not only good because of the rapping its also amazing because of the chorus sung by Honey Cone. You can't help by say that this is story telling at its best.
04.All to All-Broken Social Scene-Forgiveness Rock Record May 4th 2010
I may be a sucker for the softer songs now does that make me less of a man well you will have to listen to the wonderful mid album masterpiece above to give an opinion. The mark of a bad song is when it is a little hard to understand the singer and you can't get what the message of the song is. The mark of an excellent song is when they are having the same problem but the tune or the beat is so catchy that you want to go back and listen again to hear what they are saying and just to hear the song again. Now I have not been the biggest Broken Social Scene fan up till now but with this strong album and very strong track.
03.Dark Fantasy-Kanye West-My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy November 22nd, 2010
"You might think you've peeped the scene you haven't. The real ones far to mean. The watered down one. The one you know. Was made up centuries ago. It made it sound all wack and corny. Yes, it's awful, blasted boring. Twisted fiction. Sick addiction. Well gather round children. Zip it listen!" With that we have one of the most mood setting openings to one of the best albums of the year. when West is good he is good but when he is great you can't stop him. Most people think West is cocky in his rhyming but I have to say that it isn't cocky it is confidence. Also West has the ability to back up his claims as being the best by putting out an amazing album. The album has so much growth from his last 808 heartbreak. This new album shows a mature West that we haven't seen before and I hope we get to see more of in the future. The man has graduated and is ready to start rapping in the adult world.
02.Palaces Of Montezuma-Grinderman-Grinderman 2 September 13th 2010
I handed Grinderman 2 to my friend Nathan after I had listened to it and within 24 hours he came over and we had a conversation about the album. We talked about some of the high points and other weaker songs. Then we got around to the penultimate track and both of us could say nothing but what an amazing writer and performer Nick Cave is. Cave is not only a genius writer and singer but he also knows where to places tracks on an album. If you look back to the first and last track on Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!. He knows how to make a bold open and how to close with some brilliant. Now I have to say that I wasn't sure how I was going to like his break off project but this is not a bad second album and Palaces is a wonderful track because of how toned down it is from the rest of the album. Grinderman is a much rougher version of The Bad Seeds and I like that but it still seems that front man Cave has added a soft side to this album with this one. The entire song is about what this man would give to be with his woman. All of us have made those kind of promises at one time or another.
01.Can Change-LCD Soundsystem-This Is Happening May 17th 2010
If you notice that most of my songs at the core have been about love in one form or another. Some have been about that straight forward love that we all hope to have. Others have been about love that is heading down rather than rising up. Even Some have been about that twisted love that drives people to do the unspeakable acts. For my number one of 2010 I have to say that if there is one song that I could dance to one song that I could listen to multiple times and one song that spoke to me its Can Change. I will say that I was not a huge fan of LCD until This is Happening. The reason I liked this album is because it didn't feel forced it flowed so naturally and it had humor and also moments of self criticism. When it comes down to it the track to be played on several repeats is Can Change. It is a track about trying to change for the better and at the same time trying to still maintain your original self. It also has one of the greatest lyrics to be put in music. "And Love is a curse shoved in a hearse. Love is an open book to a verse of your bad poetry. And this is Coming from me." This line is so incredibly honest and funny with no sense of irony to it in the least. I have to say that the boys from LCD sound system have really done an amazing job with this polished bit of genius.
So guys check these out and also keep looking for more end of the year lists to come this month because we are only a few short weeks away from 2011.
10. Sir Greendowm-Janelle Monae-The ArchAndroid May 18th, 2010
Not only has Ms. Monae made a wonderful concept album that tells a wonderful story she has also made an amazing single that is full of love and hope between two people who are destined to be together. I love this song because the rest of the songs are very busy and pumped up but this one seems to be restrained and pulled back and i really like that she can do that. It's not only a good dance album but you can also enjoy the smooth parts too. I walked in the rain the first time I heard this album and I have to say that it was an amazing walk.
09.You Must Be Out of Your Mind-The Magnetic Fields-Realism January 26th, 2010
In every great list you need a breakup song. Most of the time its a woman who is singing about being stronger now that her man has left or she has left her man. What I love about this song is that the man gets the chance to throw out his point of view and really does an excellent job of saying how he feels about where the relationship has gone and why he is glad to be out of it. The Magnetic Fields really do a great job of this because the first thing I heard by them was their three disc set called 69 Love Songs. They really have a nice way of throwing some venom into the breakup song.
08.Hand Covers Bruise-Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross-The Social Network September 28th, 2010
Yes I know I couldn't make it an entire post without bringing the silver screen into the mix, but I can't help it. This is probably the most surprising of the artists that would make my list because normally Reznor and the word favorite are not in the same sentence. I would normally not bother listening to this but when you have the soundtrack to a Fincher film sometimes you need to pay attention. I am glad I did because this score is amazing. Every second of the score sinks up so well with what is happening on screen. The Track above is a particularly great bit of music. It is the opening piece that follows the main character as he heads to his dorm after being dumped.
I can't give more away just enjoy this haunting sad bit of brilliance.
07.The Day (Feat. Blu, Phonte, Patty Crash)-The Roots-How I Got Over June 22nd, 2010
Now I had always heard about the roots but until 2010 I hadn't heard a single thing by them. 2011 will be spent getting to know them and listening to the rest of their catalog. What I can say about them is they seem to really know how to pic the right people to guest star on the album. Patty Crash does an amazing job with the back up vocals and really slays by giving the track such a original sound. The track really doesn't sound like anything else this year that I have heard.
06.Hustle Blood Ft. Jamie Foxx (Produced By Lil' Jon)-Big Boi-Sir Lucious Left Foot The Son Of Chico Dusty July 5th 2010
When I was first exposed to Outkast in 2000 when Stankonia was released I thought that this was just another Hip Hop album with a few catchy tunes. I would listen to a few times and move on. Now we are ten years later and the two performers are doing solo projects. This is Big Boi's solo album and I have to say that I am very convinced that both of these boys are going to be just fine on their own and I hope they do work together again. Big Boi has put together not only a wonderful album but this song on its own really grabs yoru attention. I mean the vocals of Fox with the skills of Big Boi it is clear why this track is so dam good.
05.Testify (Produced By Kanye West)-Common-Go! Common Classics May 11th 2010
This track is older but it was released in 2010 on a best of album so just deal with it. If Common has a real talent to his rapping its that he knows how to weave a story through his beats. Now the story is that of a women who is in court watching her husband being tried for crimes. What really works for this is how well the music video moves along with the song. I only saw the video earlier this week and I have to say that I really dug the crap out of the way they played it. This song is not only good because of the rapping its also amazing because of the chorus sung by Honey Cone. You can't help by say that this is story telling at its best.
04.All to All-Broken Social Scene-Forgiveness Rock Record May 4th 2010
I may be a sucker for the softer songs now does that make me less of a man well you will have to listen to the wonderful mid album masterpiece above to give an opinion. The mark of a bad song is when it is a little hard to understand the singer and you can't get what the message of the song is. The mark of an excellent song is when they are having the same problem but the tune or the beat is so catchy that you want to go back and listen again to hear what they are saying and just to hear the song again. Now I have not been the biggest Broken Social Scene fan up till now but with this strong album and very strong track.
03.Dark Fantasy-Kanye West-My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy November 22nd, 2010
"You might think you've peeped the scene you haven't. The real ones far to mean. The watered down one. The one you know. Was made up centuries ago. It made it sound all wack and corny. Yes, it's awful, blasted boring. Twisted fiction. Sick addiction. Well gather round children. Zip it listen!" With that we have one of the most mood setting openings to one of the best albums of the year. when West is good he is good but when he is great you can't stop him. Most people think West is cocky in his rhyming but I have to say that it isn't cocky it is confidence. Also West has the ability to back up his claims as being the best by putting out an amazing album. The album has so much growth from his last 808 heartbreak. This new album shows a mature West that we haven't seen before and I hope we get to see more of in the future. The man has graduated and is ready to start rapping in the adult world.
02.Palaces Of Montezuma-Grinderman-Grinderman 2 September 13th 2010
I handed Grinderman 2 to my friend Nathan after I had listened to it and within 24 hours he came over and we had a conversation about the album. We talked about some of the high points and other weaker songs. Then we got around to the penultimate track and both of us could say nothing but what an amazing writer and performer Nick Cave is. Cave is not only a genius writer and singer but he also knows where to places tracks on an album. If you look back to the first and last track on Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!. He knows how to make a bold open and how to close with some brilliant. Now I have to say that I wasn't sure how I was going to like his break off project but this is not a bad second album and Palaces is a wonderful track because of how toned down it is from the rest of the album. Grinderman is a much rougher version of The Bad Seeds and I like that but it still seems that front man Cave has added a soft side to this album with this one. The entire song is about what this man would give to be with his woman. All of us have made those kind of promises at one time or another.
01.Can Change-LCD Soundsystem-This Is Happening May 17th 2010
If you notice that most of my songs at the core have been about love in one form or another. Some have been about that straight forward love that we all hope to have. Others have been about love that is heading down rather than rising up. Even Some have been about that twisted love that drives people to do the unspeakable acts. For my number one of 2010 I have to say that if there is one song that I could dance to one song that I could listen to multiple times and one song that spoke to me its Can Change. I will say that I was not a huge fan of LCD until This is Happening. The reason I liked this album is because it didn't feel forced it flowed so naturally and it had humor and also moments of self criticism. When it comes down to it the track to be played on several repeats is Can Change. It is a track about trying to change for the better and at the same time trying to still maintain your original self. It also has one of the greatest lyrics to be put in music. "And Love is a curse shoved in a hearse. Love is an open book to a verse of your bad poetry. And this is Coming from me." This line is so incredibly honest and funny with no sense of irony to it in the least. I have to say that the boys from LCD sound system have really done an amazing job with this polished bit of genius.
So guys check these out and also keep looking for more end of the year lists to come this month because we are only a few short weeks away from 2011.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Those Beasts in Beautiful Girls
Top 20 Women Who Crush Men in Film.
20.Intolerable Cruelty
Catherine Zeta-Jones-Marylin:This is not a great movie and I shutter to think what the film gods will do to me now that I've said that about two of the most talented filmmakers today. Watching what is considered the worst of the Coen Brothers films I found a charm to this one that I hadn't seen before. The problem is not the acting it is the story but as far as acting goes this is one of those movies that has amazing performances especially from the leading lady. Zeta Jones is a wonderful man eater. She has the amazing ability to give off this pure sexuality and at the same time being cold as ice. She can be a real bitch but the thing that puts her higher then lower on the list is that she eventually changes her ways.
19.Ghostbusters
Sigourney Weaver-Dana Barrett/Z00l: This is a movie that works on the cast alone. You can't believe how well Weaver does in this movie until that moment when she turns her performace from the nice unsuspecting mild mannerd Danna Barret to the foxy as hell Zool. What I love is how well she take control of the scene with Murray and makes him his bitch throughout most of it and just completely dominates every single moment of it. many props to the people who did costume and makeup design on this movie. they turn her from an 80's girl to an otherworldly entity that every guy wants to get with. She is great but she doesn't get much higher because she has to be saved at the end of the day.
18.Terminator 2 Judgment Day
Linda Hamilton-Sarah Connor: If ever a women in film could drop me or any man I know like a bad habit, it would be Sara Connor. Now we are not talking about Terminator 1 Sara Connor. In the first movie she was a scared soon to be mother who was just trying to survive the robot apocalypse. In T2 she is cut she is rough she is ready to knock some heads. Hamilton is such a bad ass that she does not take shit from anyone and dominates every man except for one. This is a wonderful movie full of strong performances including Hamilton who just knows how to kick major ass.
17.Sunset Blvd
Gloria Swanson-Norma Desmond-Even from the first time we see her we see that she is a force to be reckoned with. Swanson is doing her best work as the over the hill actress who still believes that her comeback picture is just a phone call away. The reason I dig this character so much is the way she manipulates the main character to do whatever she wants. The other thing about this performance is that she doesn't have sex appeal on her side she isn't charming or witty. What she has going for her is the name that once held sway and a sort of toughness that she has developed over the years and makes her a real terror.
16.The Descent
Shauna Macdonald-Sarah: What makes this character with one name such a force to be reckoned with. From the opening of the film this woman experiences great loss and also is suspicious about her best friend being untrue to her. throughout most of the movie she is in what appears to be an emotional coma and stays there. It is only when the stakes are at their highest does she snap out of it and turn into a woman of pure animal like nature. The way Sarah fights tooth and nail to escape her nightmare is amazing.
15.Fatal Attraction
Glenn Close-Alex Forrest-Does crazy even begin to describe this women. No it does not. She has this ability to be sexy and within twenty seconds she can turn it on a dime and make you want to change your name and fake your death just to be sure. The reason Close does so well in this film is because throughout half the film you are sympathizing with her and you feel that the actions she has taken are justified. It is only when she does the unthinkable that we feel that the character might need to be put down.
14.The Graduate
Anne Bancroft-Mrs. Robinson
How do we feel about a woman trapped in a loveless mariage who happens to find happiness in the arms of younger man who is the son of her close friends? If it were anyone but Mrs. Robinson we would call her a whore. Mrs. Robinson is a woman who knows how to topple men and at the same time has a side to her that most of the world doesn't see. She can be cold one moment and then within seconds she will have a look of regret and sadness on her face that will show the real Mrs. Robinson, the one trying to escape the shell of a woman she is now. What Bancroft pulls off so well is that she is not the main character in the piece and yet she is the character that is most remembered and referenced from the film.
13.Sin City
Devon Aoki-Miho
It is amazing that a character with no lines can be one of the most affective in a film. Aoki doesn't say one thing throughout her part of the story and yet you feel that not a single other man woman or whatever can match her in deadliness. There isn't much to say about her just that she is a bad ass.
12.Jackie Brown
Pam Grier-Jackie Brown
For god sakes her name is in the title. Grier gives a great performance in the weakest of the Tarantino movies. To say that she is bad in it would be untrue the only thing that makes the movie weak is the length of it. Grier is awsome as the lead character who concocts a plan to take half a million dollars and screw over any and everyone in order to get it. Grier is best known for playing the strong female black cop in the 70's. She is known for her big hair and even bigger attitude. What Tarantino brings out of her so well is the same sassy soul mama but more reserved and tied down with a plan not just flying by the seat of her pants. The thing I don't dig about the character is how mouthy she can be and it gets a bit old after some time.
11.Double Indemnity
Barbara Stanwyck-Phyllis Dietrichson
I want to believe that if Sharon Stone took most of her inspiration for her character from this hot pistol. If their was an award for the queen of noir it would go to the character of Phyllis Dietrichson who plays the game of deception so well and makes everyone fall right into her well oiled trap. She has this wonderful way of looking up at a man and just making them melt in front of her.
10.Scream
Courtney Cox-Gale Weathers
I would be remiss if we didn't mention one of the most bitchy women in film. She is cold blooded ruthless and most of all motivated to uncover the truth. What also makes her such an interesting character is not only does she have some of the better lines in the films its also that she has survived three films and looks like she is going to be in the next one as well. Cox has never lost the edge with this character even when working with lesser scripts and actors.
09.Basic Instinct
Sharon Stone-Catherine Tramell
Perhaps the most cold and calculating women in all of cinema. Stone plays the part with not only venom but that of a small child who has pinned down a fly and wants to tear the wings off one at a time. She is amazing at playing the temptress with so many layers. The reason she plays the role so well is because she has an amazing counter part in Michael Douglas. The two play the cat and mouse game and you are never sure who is who in that relationship. The reason she cracks the top ten is because you never see the full side of her evil. The film is left open ended and you don't feel satisfied.
08.Election
Reese Witherspoon-Tracy Flick
So you want to tak about bitchy. Well if bitchy had a best friend it would be Tracy Flick. She is the princess of bitchy and knows how to use it. I have never been a Witherspoon fan and usually she bugs the hell out of me. In this dark comedy she does seem to shine through her usual annoying self. This is what director Alexander Payne dose so well with the entire cast. I usually dislike all the actors in this piece but Payne does a wonderful job of bringing out the best in all of them. Especially with Witherspoon he makes her a leading lady and not just some background figure that looks good. He stretches her acting and really makes you dislike her on several levels.
07.Let the Right One In
Lina Leandersson-Eli
from the first moment we see the frail little girl who doesn't say much and seems to be almost sick from the way she looks we know there is something dangerous about her. The performance given by Leandersson as the small but deadly creature is nothing short of mesmerizing. She does not come off as dangerous at anytime until the moment she seems threatened. The way she deals with the things that threaten her or those she loves is scary and the director also brings a sense of beauty to her brutality. I won't ruin any thing but the final scene is fantastic and should be viewed multiple times.
06.Brick
Nora Zehetner-Laura
She dosen't have the most lines she isn't the biggest player in the game hell she isn't on screen all the time. She is the biggest reason the movie has a plot to it. The whole movie revolves around her and you don't even know it. Zehetner is what you call the silent player in this film and she does it so well. Director Rian Johnson makes her seem so innocent with a dark side to boot. As an audience we should not trust her but we are tricked so quickly into thinking she is the only one we can trust. Noir never looked so good in color.
05.Kick Ass
Chloe Moretz-Hit-Girl
You know the movie is called Kick Ass but the star of the film is Hit Girl. Moretz steals the show and every scene she is in. This is a girl who can fight like a prizefighter and curse like a sailor. Now I have heard a lot of people say that what she does and what she is put through is nothing short of child abuse. All I have to say is "IT'S A MOVIE RELAX." The character is fictions and you should just enjoy the film and divorce yourself from reality. Now Hit Girl is just a unstoppable force. Director Matthew Vaughn knows what he wants to see on film and he gets that with this performance. While the movie is about Kick Ass and his struggle Hit Girl is the stunner of the film.
04.Kill Bill
Uma Thurman-The Bride
Perhaps the only women who could give Hit Girl a run for her money in body count. The Bride or ******* ***** as we don't hear throughout the first movie. All we know about her is that a man named Bill betrayed her and that she is out to settle the score. We first see her with an old partner who she tears apart in her home and sticks her with a knife. The Bride then flies to Japan and confronts her next nemesis O-Ren Ishii. O-Ren is not alone she has her gang the crazy 88's and that is where the carnage really begins. She goes through 88 bodyguards to reach O-Ren in one bloody beautiful massacre. There is a lot of fights in the second film but it is the first where we see the Bride come out as a vicious killing machine. In the nearly fifteen minute fight sequence between her and the crazy 88's, she shows that she will do anything to kill her enemy and get to the next one.
03.Aliens
Sigourney Weaver-Ellen Ripley
In Alien we have a group of minors who are trapped on a ship with a hostel creature. Not unlike a great horror movie the creature picks them off one at a time and one strong female lead manages to survive. Seven years pass and a new film comes to the big screen. This time a crew of bad to the bone marines are sent down to a planet to investigate why colonists have stopped communications. Weaver after being lost in space for years goes with the marines and comes down to figure out if what happened on the planet happened to her former crew. The marines take it by the numbers and run into not one but many aliens that are meaner and faster then the first. The warrior alienstear apart the marines and we are left with a few beat up marines a little ggirl and Weaver. So what makes Weaver such a great female lead. Up till now in the two films all she has done is survive the first alien. She barely survived the first one and now she is on a planet full of aliens. The one thing that turns this lady in distress to a futuristic Valkyrie is that she has something to protect. In Alien director Ridley Scott makes Weaver his girl trapped in the house with the Killer. In Aliens Director James Cameron does the same thing only this time gives her a big gun to defend herself with. The scenes where Weaver is fighting off the Aliens and defending the little girl are nothing short of amazing. She becomes the bad ass momma with a pulse rifle.
02.500 Days of Summer
Zooey Deschanel-Summer Finn
We are meant to fall in love with her from minute one and we do. She is lovely she is wonderful and she will tear your heart out stomp on it shove it back in your chest and you will still want to love her. Deschanel can be given only partial credit. The reason this little gem works is because of the chemistry that Deschanel and Joseph Gordon Levitt share. She is a modern woman and doesn't believe in love. I saw this movie when I had just gotten out of a bad relationship and was a bit jaded to the idea of love myself. I dry ran this film and began yelling at the screen hoping that something bad would happen to this character. Upon watching it several months later I really started to see it from her side. Both sides are presented well and you do feel empathy for her by the end. Still when it is all said you feel she gets to walk away nearly free.
01.Closer
Natalie Portman-Alice?
When I came up with this list I didn't have any real idea who would come out on top and I started to look through my film collection and I spotted Closer. This is a movie about love in all the wrong places and what we do to find love or at least what we think is love. Portman plays a woman who by chance runs into a man that she falls for and becomes involved in his life. The two become lovers and eventually become interlocked in a love square. Why is Portman number one on this list? It's because the whole movie she never loses control she is constantly one up on the other three and by the end of the film we are left with the fact that we might not know anything about her. She is a mystery wrapped in a enigma. This girl not only knows how to take verbal punches but also knows how to throw them hard. Portman in the strip club scene with Clive Owen is one of the best conversation pieces I have seen.
Catherine Zeta-Jones-Marylin:This is not a great movie and I shutter to think what the film gods will do to me now that I've said that about two of the most talented filmmakers today. Watching what is considered the worst of the Coen Brothers films I found a charm to this one that I hadn't seen before. The problem is not the acting it is the story but as far as acting goes this is one of those movies that has amazing performances especially from the leading lady. Zeta Jones is a wonderful man eater. She has the amazing ability to give off this pure sexuality and at the same time being cold as ice. She can be a real bitch but the thing that puts her higher then lower on the list is that she eventually changes her ways.
19.Ghostbusters
Sigourney Weaver-Dana Barrett/Z00l: This is a movie that works on the cast alone. You can't believe how well Weaver does in this movie until that moment when she turns her performace from the nice unsuspecting mild mannerd Danna Barret to the foxy as hell Zool. What I love is how well she take control of the scene with Murray and makes him his bitch throughout most of it and just completely dominates every single moment of it. many props to the people who did costume and makeup design on this movie. they turn her from an 80's girl to an otherworldly entity that every guy wants to get with. She is great but she doesn't get much higher because she has to be saved at the end of the day.
18.Terminator 2 Judgment Day
Linda Hamilton-Sarah Connor: If ever a women in film could drop me or any man I know like a bad habit, it would be Sara Connor. Now we are not talking about Terminator 1 Sara Connor. In the first movie she was a scared soon to be mother who was just trying to survive the robot apocalypse. In T2 she is cut she is rough she is ready to knock some heads. Hamilton is such a bad ass that she does not take shit from anyone and dominates every man except for one. This is a wonderful movie full of strong performances including Hamilton who just knows how to kick major ass.
17.Sunset Blvd
Gloria Swanson-Norma Desmond-Even from the first time we see her we see that she is a force to be reckoned with. Swanson is doing her best work as the over the hill actress who still believes that her comeback picture is just a phone call away. The reason I dig this character so much is the way she manipulates the main character to do whatever she wants. The other thing about this performance is that she doesn't have sex appeal on her side she isn't charming or witty. What she has going for her is the name that once held sway and a sort of toughness that she has developed over the years and makes her a real terror.
16.The Descent
Shauna Macdonald-Sarah: What makes this character with one name such a force to be reckoned with. From the opening of the film this woman experiences great loss and also is suspicious about her best friend being untrue to her. throughout most of the movie she is in what appears to be an emotional coma and stays there. It is only when the stakes are at their highest does she snap out of it and turn into a woman of pure animal like nature. The way Sarah fights tooth and nail to escape her nightmare is amazing.
15.Fatal Attraction
Glenn Close-Alex Forrest-Does crazy even begin to describe this women. No it does not. She has this ability to be sexy and within twenty seconds she can turn it on a dime and make you want to change your name and fake your death just to be sure. The reason Close does so well in this film is because throughout half the film you are sympathizing with her and you feel that the actions she has taken are justified. It is only when she does the unthinkable that we feel that the character might need to be put down.
14.The Graduate
Anne Bancroft-Mrs. Robinson
How do we feel about a woman trapped in a loveless mariage who happens to find happiness in the arms of younger man who is the son of her close friends? If it were anyone but Mrs. Robinson we would call her a whore. Mrs. Robinson is a woman who knows how to topple men and at the same time has a side to her that most of the world doesn't see. She can be cold one moment and then within seconds she will have a look of regret and sadness on her face that will show the real Mrs. Robinson, the one trying to escape the shell of a woman she is now. What Bancroft pulls off so well is that she is not the main character in the piece and yet she is the character that is most remembered and referenced from the film.
13.Sin City
Devon Aoki-Miho
It is amazing that a character with no lines can be one of the most affective in a film. Aoki doesn't say one thing throughout her part of the story and yet you feel that not a single other man woman or whatever can match her in deadliness. There isn't much to say about her just that she is a bad ass.
12.Jackie Brown
Pam Grier-Jackie Brown
For god sakes her name is in the title. Grier gives a great performance in the weakest of the Tarantino movies. To say that she is bad in it would be untrue the only thing that makes the movie weak is the length of it. Grier is awsome as the lead character who concocts a plan to take half a million dollars and screw over any and everyone in order to get it. Grier is best known for playing the strong female black cop in the 70's. She is known for her big hair and even bigger attitude. What Tarantino brings out of her so well is the same sassy soul mama but more reserved and tied down with a plan not just flying by the seat of her pants. The thing I don't dig about the character is how mouthy she can be and it gets a bit old after some time.
11.Double Indemnity
Barbara Stanwyck-Phyllis Dietrichson
I want to believe that if Sharon Stone took most of her inspiration for her character from this hot pistol. If their was an award for the queen of noir it would go to the character of Phyllis Dietrichson who plays the game of deception so well and makes everyone fall right into her well oiled trap. She has this wonderful way of looking up at a man and just making them melt in front of her.
10.Scream
Courtney Cox-Gale Weathers
I would be remiss if we didn't mention one of the most bitchy women in film. She is cold blooded ruthless and most of all motivated to uncover the truth. What also makes her such an interesting character is not only does she have some of the better lines in the films its also that she has survived three films and looks like she is going to be in the next one as well. Cox has never lost the edge with this character even when working with lesser scripts and actors.
09.Basic Instinct
Sharon Stone-Catherine Tramell
Perhaps the most cold and calculating women in all of cinema. Stone plays the part with not only venom but that of a small child who has pinned down a fly and wants to tear the wings off one at a time. She is amazing at playing the temptress with so many layers. The reason she plays the role so well is because she has an amazing counter part in Michael Douglas. The two play the cat and mouse game and you are never sure who is who in that relationship. The reason she cracks the top ten is because you never see the full side of her evil. The film is left open ended and you don't feel satisfied.
08.Election
Reese Witherspoon-Tracy Flick
So you want to tak about bitchy. Well if bitchy had a best friend it would be Tracy Flick. She is the princess of bitchy and knows how to use it. I have never been a Witherspoon fan and usually she bugs the hell out of me. In this dark comedy she does seem to shine through her usual annoying self. This is what director Alexander Payne dose so well with the entire cast. I usually dislike all the actors in this piece but Payne does a wonderful job of bringing out the best in all of them. Especially with Witherspoon he makes her a leading lady and not just some background figure that looks good. He stretches her acting and really makes you dislike her on several levels.
07.Let the Right One In
Lina Leandersson-Eli
from the first moment we see the frail little girl who doesn't say much and seems to be almost sick from the way she looks we know there is something dangerous about her. The performance given by Leandersson as the small but deadly creature is nothing short of mesmerizing. She does not come off as dangerous at anytime until the moment she seems threatened. The way she deals with the things that threaten her or those she loves is scary and the director also brings a sense of beauty to her brutality. I won't ruin any thing but the final scene is fantastic and should be viewed multiple times.
06.Brick
Nora Zehetner-Laura
She dosen't have the most lines she isn't the biggest player in the game hell she isn't on screen all the time. She is the biggest reason the movie has a plot to it. The whole movie revolves around her and you don't even know it. Zehetner is what you call the silent player in this film and she does it so well. Director Rian Johnson makes her seem so innocent with a dark side to boot. As an audience we should not trust her but we are tricked so quickly into thinking she is the only one we can trust. Noir never looked so good in color.
05.Kick Ass
Chloe Moretz-Hit-Girl
You know the movie is called Kick Ass but the star of the film is Hit Girl. Moretz steals the show and every scene she is in. This is a girl who can fight like a prizefighter and curse like a sailor. Now I have heard a lot of people say that what she does and what she is put through is nothing short of child abuse. All I have to say is "IT'S A MOVIE RELAX." The character is fictions and you should just enjoy the film and divorce yourself from reality. Now Hit Girl is just a unstoppable force. Director Matthew Vaughn knows what he wants to see on film and he gets that with this performance. While the movie is about Kick Ass and his struggle Hit Girl is the stunner of the film.
04.Kill Bill
Uma Thurman-The Bride
Perhaps the only women who could give Hit Girl a run for her money in body count. The Bride or ******* ***** as we don't hear throughout the first movie. All we know about her is that a man named Bill betrayed her and that she is out to settle the score. We first see her with an old partner who she tears apart in her home and sticks her with a knife. The Bride then flies to Japan and confronts her next nemesis O-Ren Ishii. O-Ren is not alone she has her gang the crazy 88's and that is where the carnage really begins. She goes through 88 bodyguards to reach O-Ren in one bloody beautiful massacre. There is a lot of fights in the second film but it is the first where we see the Bride come out as a vicious killing machine. In the nearly fifteen minute fight sequence between her and the crazy 88's, she shows that she will do anything to kill her enemy and get to the next one.
03.Aliens
Sigourney Weaver-Ellen Ripley
In Alien we have a group of minors who are trapped on a ship with a hostel creature. Not unlike a great horror movie the creature picks them off one at a time and one strong female lead manages to survive. Seven years pass and a new film comes to the big screen. This time a crew of bad to the bone marines are sent down to a planet to investigate why colonists have stopped communications. Weaver after being lost in space for years goes with the marines and comes down to figure out if what happened on the planet happened to her former crew. The marines take it by the numbers and run into not one but many aliens that are meaner and faster then the first. The warrior alienstear apart the marines and we are left with a few beat up marines a little ggirl and Weaver. So what makes Weaver such a great female lead. Up till now in the two films all she has done is survive the first alien. She barely survived the first one and now she is on a planet full of aliens. The one thing that turns this lady in distress to a futuristic Valkyrie is that she has something to protect. In Alien director Ridley Scott makes Weaver his girl trapped in the house with the Killer. In Aliens Director James Cameron does the same thing only this time gives her a big gun to defend herself with. The scenes where Weaver is fighting off the Aliens and defending the little girl are nothing short of amazing. She becomes the bad ass momma with a pulse rifle.
02.500 Days of Summer
Zooey Deschanel-Summer Finn
We are meant to fall in love with her from minute one and we do. She is lovely she is wonderful and she will tear your heart out stomp on it shove it back in your chest and you will still want to love her. Deschanel can be given only partial credit. The reason this little gem works is because of the chemistry that Deschanel and Joseph Gordon Levitt share. She is a modern woman and doesn't believe in love. I saw this movie when I had just gotten out of a bad relationship and was a bit jaded to the idea of love myself. I dry ran this film and began yelling at the screen hoping that something bad would happen to this character. Upon watching it several months later I really started to see it from her side. Both sides are presented well and you do feel empathy for her by the end. Still when it is all said you feel she gets to walk away nearly free.
01.Closer
Natalie Portman-Alice?
When I came up with this list I didn't have any real idea who would come out on top and I started to look through my film collection and I spotted Closer. This is a movie about love in all the wrong places and what we do to find love or at least what we think is love. Portman plays a woman who by chance runs into a man that she falls for and becomes involved in his life. The two become lovers and eventually become interlocked in a love square. Why is Portman number one on this list? It's because the whole movie she never loses control she is constantly one up on the other three and by the end of the film we are left with the fact that we might not know anything about her. She is a mystery wrapped in a enigma. This girl not only knows how to take verbal punches but also knows how to throw them hard. Portman in the strip club scene with Clive Owen is one of the best conversation pieces I have seen.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
HAS 3D GONE TOO FAR??
Jackass 3D
Release Date: October 15, 2010
Director: Jeff Tremaine
Starring: Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera, Steve-O, Chris Pontius, Ryan Dunn, Dave England, Preston Lacy, and Jason “Wee Man” Acuna.
When we last left our heroes it was 2006, the gang was performing outrageous, dangerous, clever, and all together gross stunts. It has been four years and not much has changed for our group of loveable pranksters. This is not the social network let me make that very clear right now. If you have gone to see a movie with any sort of intelligence then you have walked into the wrong movie theater. However this is not a movie that is shy in the heart department. This is a film that will have the entire audience cheering and gagging within seconds of each other.
I watched this earlier today and was very surprised at how much yelling was coming from my work mates and me. Now I can safely say that there are spoilers ahead so if you want to watch these stunts without being aware of the trials and tribulations you will need to undertake stop reading Now.
Your still here well ok here we go. I have broken the stunts into the five categories above. We will go through my favorite of each and talk about why these men on the screen are modern day gods of comedy in their own right.
We start with the Outrageous stunts of these men of steel. The one that I found to be most outrageous was Knoxville wearing a very pink shirt and a pair of roller-skates in a cattle corral. We then cut to about four bison sitting in another cage. Knoxville says without hesitation “This is Roller Buffalo.” We watch Knoxville dancing and being his old silly self and then out of nowhere he is hit by the buffalo head on and thrown at least four feet in the air. The stunt is over after that but you are left with the feeling that he won’t be feeling all that great tomorrow.
We head over to the Dangerous side of the map where we find Knoxville and the gang in the snow and Knoxville is dressed as Santa and has an elf along with him. Surprisingly it is not Weeman. The two climb a tree and the tree is then proceed to be cut down. The two fall from about forty feet and hit the snow very hard. Not a thing that takes ton of time or preparation. You do have to appreciate the sheer scale of the tree and tell me it didn’t look like a hell of thing to pull off.
Something the guys do every movie is try to freak out Bam Margera’s mom and dad. April and Phil Margera have just come into Los Angels and the two are about to check into their hotel. What they don’t know is that Chris Pontius is going to be in the room dressed as a gorilla. The two enter the room and out comes what appears to be a huge gorilla tearing up the room. The two freak out and Phil has messed himself. The mom April is screaming and just losing it. This is one of my favorite parts to the movies because these guys just like us. They love messing with their parents like all of us but they take it to such a wonderfully dark degree.
Now we arrive at the worst and somewhat best part of the film is the sheer gross out part. There are a lot of these and they span from an apple in the ass to a fart in the mouth to the moment that nearly had me throwing up in the theater. This was the moment that they did “The Sweat suit cocktail. They have the member of the gang Preston Lacy work out on a cycle and then men putting the sweat in a cup. Steve-O then drinks the sweat and I’m nearly retching thinking about the scene. This was the moment that you know a movie has an affect on you because of the fact that I will never forget that scene.
As for the 3D I will totally say that it was way better then I expected. It had some great moments and it was better then most of the 3D I have seen in awhile. I really enjoyed that and I didn’t seem to mind wearing the glasses. It seems to be 3D has reached its Zenith but if this is one of the last ones then we can say 3D went out on a good note.
Until we meet again I'm hoping you dug the post and hoping you dig a little bit past the romantic comedy section in your video store.
BDK
Jackass 3D: 3/4 Stars
The boys are back and here to play.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Down Right Anti-Social
The Social Network
Release Date: October 1st 2010
Director: David Fincher
Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Armie Hammer Justin Timberlake
When one thinks of the subjects on whom director David Fincher makes most of his movies on we think of murder, anti social behavior, true to life crimes and general dark subject matter. When I read in the winter of 2009 that David Fincher was doing a movie about the early years of Facebook, I stood up and shouted at my computer “Oh whoa to you Fincher you have betrayed me for the last time.” I mean come on this is the guy who has brought us some of the best work of nearly the last two decades. The director’s filmography includes Seven, Fight Club, Zodiac, and The Curious case of Benjamin Button. So after reading that this was the next thing he was going to be involved in I reserved myself to the idea that Fincher was about to go the way of many other great directors and just sell out and head into a spiral of mediocrity.
So a few months go by and nothing new comes from IMDB about the movie only that it's on time and will be done by October 1st.
Then the day came where I sat in Inception. The lights dimmed and as I began to watch a strange familiar song was piped in through the speakers. The song creep by the band Radiohead was being played but was being covered by what I would later find out was a Belgian girls choir. The images on the screen were that of posts on Facebook Random pictures and all together a mishmash that seemed to have nothing to do with the song. Then I saw a face appear it was that of actor Jesse Eisenberg typing away on a computer. The music continued to build as the events of the plot continued to unfold. All the time I was watching the trailer all that ran through my head was what is this movie and when the hell does it come out. The trailer finally hit its apex and the simple black screen with the white words “The Social Network” came up. I nearly lost it and realized that this was the David Fincher film I had been scoffing at all those months ago.
I got home from the movie and looked up the trailer again and the cast on Imdb. Besides Jesse Eisenberg who had been making the rounds as one of the more talented new comers of the cinematic world. The only other name I saw on the list was that of former teen heartthrob Justin Timberlake. It was at this that once again I bellowed at my computer “Oh Dam you Fincher and your poor choice of casting.” So the months passed and the summer came and went and a few things made note worthy entries into the 2010 year of movies. Then all of a sudden it was October 1st and I was sitting with a good friend waiting for the string of terrible previews to end so we could see if the movie we had been promised in the trailer was going to deliver.
To say that Fincher knows how to make a dark subject out of anything is one hundred percent true and a testament to these abilities as a director and as a storyteller. The film begins on Mark Zuckerberg (Eisenberg) and his girlfriend Erica Albright (Rooney Mara) talking about how it is important for Mark to get into a Finals club so he can advance himself further up the social ladder. As the conversation rolls along at a break neck pace you see that Mark is slowly losing her in the conversation not because she is slow but because of how fast his mind is moving. Mark says the wrong thing and she storms out breaking up with him. Mark returns home to this dorm and out of spite and maybe a little too much beer begins to blog and concoct a plan to make a website that takes all the girls at Harvard and rate them against each other. Mark and his friends along with Eduardo (Andrew Garfield) end up crashing the Harvard server at 2 am and that is where the movie begins. Mark is later approached by two brothers both played wonderfully and differently by (Armie Hammer) who explain to them their idea of creating a website for Harvard men to get dates. Mark takes the idea and runs with it making his own website which eventually becomes Facebook. Now the story moves along and does a nice transition of back and forth from when the website was in its early years to the legal proceedings that are taking place over how much Mark is going to have to pay out to the people who are suing him.
Now to talk about why this film is one of the top ten films of the year is very simple. The movie has engaged people who have Facebook accounts and those who want nothing to do with Facebook. I have seen the film twice and it is really a movie where not much happens and the entire film is relying solely on dialogue. So if you are going to have a movie where you need dialogue that is razor sharp you best turn to one of the better writers of this century for film and Television. Aaron Sorkin who has been writing some of the best drama most notably a good chunk of the “West Wing” has penned this amazing script and is as smart as anything I’ve seen this week. What Sorkin has done for the drama is he has turned the dialogue into an action film. I mean in the sense of that every line of the script is quotable and you can call back after several days of seeing it. This is a masterful script and I would not be surprised if the screenplay doesn’t only get nominated but wins for adapted screenplay. The script is based on a book entitled “The Accidental Billionaires”. I have been told that the book is based in speculation and as far as I’m concerned speculation makes a dam entertaining movie.
Now to speak about the acting in this movie one word I would use is astounding. Fincher has gathered a talented group of young actors and given them a script in which they can chew the scenery with. Eisenberg who I am convinced is going to be the next Joseph Gordon Levitt is amazing as the lead character and how he portrays this angry brilliant young man. Garfield is equally brilliant as the cofounder of Facebook and Eisenberg’s only friend. Now as for Mr. Timberlake I have to say that the words I wrote at the first half of this article on how I was worried he would wreck this movie for me and I’m here now to say that I would love to eat those words. Justin Timberlake steals the show and he comes in about nearly half of the way through. He is so charismatic as the founder of Napster Sean Parker. Timberlake has proved that with the right script and director this guy can be an actor.
The score to this film is also rather good coming from Trent Reznor from Nine Inch nails and Atticus Ross. It is a wonderful and simple score that never overpowers but certainly doesn’t back down.
Well if I have to say one thing it was that I was wrong from day one about this film it is one of the finest films of the year and certainly in my top 10 if not top 5. So to sum it all up David Fincher has created a masterpiece worthy of any top ten list and award show this year. What I think I have heard said best about the film is that David Fincher hires people who he knows can do the job so when its time to work he doesn’t have to worry about the job getting done. This is the mark of a talented director and a man who knows what he wants to see on the screen when the final cut is made.
The Social Network 4/4 stars
Truer Words were Never Printed
Until we meet again I'm hoping you dug the post and hoping you dig a little bit past the romantic comedy section in your video store.
BDK
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Top 15 Trailers
Top 15 Trailers
So here we are again on post number one. the top 15 trailers from film. These are some of the finest examples of how to entice an audience and get them into the theater to see your flick as we go through I will give my explanation on why the trailer works.
15.The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford: The reason a movie like this could have failed is because of the length or because the subject matter is unrelatable or because of several other things. The reason it didn't fail is because of the amazing trailer that was first put out and stunned audiences. Seeing Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck in the two lead roles along with the haunting score from Nick Cave and Warren Ellis makes this trailer flow so wonderfully. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qp2ppYB9fDo
14.Dr. Strangelove: If you want to talk about trailers that don't give you a lot about the plot this one is the king. Its really brilliant in the sense that it shoves the title at least twice at you and really doesn't give you any information about the main story. You also can't tell if its a comedy or a drama. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gXY3kuDvSU
13.Heat: When it comes to putting your best foot forward this trailer certainly does that by showing you that its two lead actors are certainly qualified to go head to head. They also give a nice job of showing you a few scenes but not spoiling all of the action sequences. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xbBLJ1WGwQ
12.Sunshine: A simple explanation of the plot is all it takes. You know the sun is dying and you know it all depends on one mission the rest is beautiful music by John Murphy and amazing visuals that don't give away the entire plot but still grab your attention. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZ2-xR54UDU
11.The Proposition: This is what I'm saying get your plot out there and then just let the trailer unfold as it goes. This is a prime example of how well you can do with a trailer. The way you get the feel of how raw it is just by the few images is amazing also the cast is nothing to scoff at. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7V-CW_SUos
10.Millers Crossing: This is something that I have noticed not only in this trailer but in everyone of them a great trailer has either an amazing song or score playing in the background that is noticeable but doesn't overpower the message of the the trailer. the other thing about millers crossing is how much information you get but you don't feel like you know the whole story. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkJIcFMN_pc
09.Fight Club: The trailer is so wonderful and makes me feel just like a did when i saw the whole movie. you feel constricted at first then as it goes on you feel this sense of freedom and pure joy come over you. Its a wonderful experience especially with the Pixies song cutting in nearly at the end it is a mark of real fine editing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QgFWXLN-ug
08.Leon: If you ever want to see what an example for a superhero movie trailer Look no further then Leon. It shows your hero your and establishes him it shows what he stands for and who he protects. It also shows the villain of the piece and what makes him such a monster amongst men. Want to know something else. Leon isn't even a superhero movie its a action thriller this is great trailer making at work. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ns4vh_xAn98
07.Layer Cake: An amazing song by Duran Duran throughout the trailer giving us a good indicator of what to expect. the editing is sharp and on point letting us know that the movie is going to be the same way. I love this trailer for several reasons but most of all a non comedic trailer that can get me to laugh is fantastic. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5R4iepdXqo
06.Little Children: Talk about a trailer that gives you a lot of information but not much plot development. this is really one that shows what an amazing editor can do with sound and visuals but most especially sound. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiJLJd7cH1c
05.There Will Be Blood: One of the most engaging trailers from start to finish. The way it begins slowly like a train and picks up speed and by the time you are at the end it is unstoppable. The music is a good example of how all you get is natural sounds and then it picks up and by the end it is almost a roar of things mixed together. My hat off to Jonny Greenwood for his contribution to the films score. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ml2Ae2SIXac
04.Brick: If ever a trailer raised my hopes for a movie and delivered on it so wonderfully it was this trailer. you will also notice that at the front it has a red band on it. This is something you will very rarely see it means that something in the trailer has been deemed not appropriate for all showings. these trailers are usually only attached to rated R films. The trailer is wonderfully cut and gives you all the chills in all the right places. You as an audience member want to know more and that is exactly what a great trailer does. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cVzHeJ0Z3I
03.A Serious Man: Once again you have to give it up to the Coen Brothers whoever they get to cut their trailers is on their A game. The use of sound is once again a factor this time with a repeated sound that gets under your skin and stays their throughout the rest of the trailer and film. Watching the way it cuts quickly and cleverly is amazing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FYtprwg1As
02.Paradise Now: A trailer that to this day gives me a chill down my back. I have seen this trailer easily a dozen times and the effect it is trying to present is amazing. Also it's one of the few trailers I have seen that takes the tension down in the second half. The real sell to this movie is my mom started to cry from just watching the trailer. If that is not a ringing endorsement then I don't know what is. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jyz15qG22Ec
01.The Social Network: I know this trailer only came out this year and most of you are going to say the words "Fan Boy" but I don't care if ever a trailer impressed me on a subject that I had no real interest in seeing a movie about this is it. Mr. Fincher I take my cap off to you and your ability to make a movie about Facebook. The trailer has the strength of not having any real dialouge for about a minute and when it does hit it keeps up and dosen't let up until the very end when it cools down and you realize you have seen and amazing product and the only way to duplicate the feeling is by seeing the movie. That is what a great trailer does it leaves you hungry for more. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lB95KLmpLR4
So there you have it 15 amazing trailers and 15 movies you should be watching not only for the trailers. Until we meet again I'm hoping you dug the post and hoping you dig a little bit past the romantic comedy section in your video store.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
To Anyone Who Reads This Rag Still
Hey Hope whoever is still willing to look at this will be open to giving it one last shot. I am going to start a new blog and just see where it goes.
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