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Movie Review
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The Watchmen
A parallel universe where Tricky Dick gets re-elected more than twice and a Vietnam war that ends in a US victory. It’s all such a haze, how did we get here? A poor cast, weak story lines, and several attempts at beautiful irony fail miserably. The movie revolves around the character flaws of masked superheroes living in a past where the line of Good vs. Evil was easily distinguishable. I’m all about having random acts of violence and gratuitous scenes of nudity, but they didn’t fit well into the movie and seemed forced. Did I mention that we sprung the extra dough on the Imax version? Yeah, not very happy. The beginning montage of the group of Watchmen being cast out by society visa vie the Bob Dylan classic , The Times They Are A-Changin’, was the most engaging part of the movie. The rest of the movie used horrible choices in scenes depicting a certain time frame (i.e. KC and the Sunshine Band), and All Along the Watchtower at the end, I don’t get it.
Leonard Cohen-Hallelujah [mp3]
The Watchmen
A parallel universe where Tricky Dick gets re-elected more than twice and a Vietnam war that ends in a US victory. It’s all such a haze, how did we get here? A poor cast, weak story lines, and several attempts at beautiful irony fail miserably. The movie revolves around the character flaws of masked superheroes living in a past where the line of Good vs. Evil was easily distinguishable. I’m all about having random acts of violence and gratuitous scenes of nudity, but they didn’t fit well into the movie and seemed forced. Did I mention that we sprung the extra dough on the Imax version? Yeah, not very happy. The beginning montage of the group of Watchmen being cast out by society visa vie the Bob Dylan classic , The Times They Are A-Changin’, was the most engaging part of the movie. The rest of the movie used horrible choices in scenes depicting a certain time frame (i.e. KC and the Sunshine Band), and All Along the Watchtower at the end, I don’t get it.
Leonard Cohen-Hallelujah [mp3]
The Wrestler
The newest movie from genius Darren Aronofsky (Pi, Requiem for a Dream, The Fountain) is a departure from difficult themes dealing with drugs, terrible jobs, and a life threatening disease. His latest feature has been given the thumbs up from Cannes and every major publication. I had not done a favorite movies of 2008 , partly due to the non viewing on my behalf of this movie. I had a chance to see it this past November at the Denver International Film Festival, but I never got around to the movie. I give credit to Aronofsky for making use of an ill-begotten actor in Mickey Rourke. His acting range never stretches past A to B, but his heart-felt performance is Oscar worthy in a year with not many Oscar worthy performances. The story is deeper than an old washed up wrestler coming to grips with his mortality. He realizes that he has led a destructive life destroying everything else in his life, isolating himself in the process. Marisa Tomei may come away with her second Oscar with her performance of a washed up stripper facing the same harsh realities as her screen counterpart. Evan Rachel Wood (Mrs. Ex-Marylin Manson) portrays Rourke’s daughter that wishes to have nothing to do with her deadbeat dad and does well at grasping an emotional angst ridden basket case. A bit underwhelmed , I was happy to see that the Boss’s song nominated for an Oscar is very Oscar worthy and Aronofky’s use of 80’s rock (no the synth kind, but the frayed denim and big hair kind) is extraordinary in a way that portrays Rourke’s character as being stuck in the past and facing his inner demons. Spoiler alert: Marisa Tomei is topless 90% of the movie.
Ratt-Round and Round [mp3]
Bruce Springsteen-The Wrestler [mp3]
The Wrestler
The newest movie from genius Darren Aronofsky (Pi, Requiem for a Dream, The Fountain) is a departure from difficult themes dealing with drugs, terrible jobs, and a life threatening disease. His latest feature has been given the thumbs up from Cannes and every major publication. I had not done a favorite movies of 2008 , partly due to the non viewing on my behalf of this movie. I had a chance to see it this past November at the Denver International Film Festival, but I never got around to the movie. I give credit to Aronofsky for making use of an ill-begotten actor in Mickey Rourke. His acting range never stretches past A to B, but his heart-felt performance is Oscar worthy in a year with not many Oscar worthy performances. The story is deeper than an old washed up wrestler coming to grips with his mortality. He realizes that he has led a destructive life destroying everything else in his life, isolating himself in the process. Marisa Tomei may come away with her second Oscar with her performance of a washed up stripper facing the same harsh realities as her screen counterpart. Evan Rachel Wood (Mrs. Ex-Marylin Manson) portrays Rourke’s daughter that wishes to have nothing to do with her deadbeat dad and does well at grasping an emotional angst ridden basket case. A bit underwhelmed , I was happy to see that the Boss’s song nominated for an Oscar is very Oscar worthy and Aronofky’s use of 80’s rock (no the synth kind, but the frayed denim and big hair kind) is extraordinary in a way that portrays Rourke’s character as being stuck in the past and facing his inner demons. Spoiler alert: Marisa Tomei is topless 90% of the movie.
Ratt-Round and Round [mp3]
Bruce Springsteen-The Wrestler [mp3]
:::Movies
:::Movies
:::Movies
Over the last week, I’ve had the pleasure of viewing several movies. This is the time of year when Academy contenders start to flock to the theatres. Over the last week I’ve seen a couple of contenders. Here’s the low down, down low, no doubt.
Australia
Baz Luhrmann is one of my favorite filmmakers around. His ability to unravel stories (always love stories) and intertwine contemporary music in stories that take place centuries ago or maybe less than fifty years ago is sublime. Though, this movie is thirty minutes too long, the cinematography is brilliant. I wouldn’t be suprised if the film ended up with an Oscar for that category. The landscapes shot throughout the film were absolutely breathtaking! The film is a definite date movie…. Most random note about the movie is the random character in the film strumming “Such Great Heights” on his mandolin. Did I mention that Danny Elfman composed the music to this film, yeah!
The Postal Service – Such Great Heights (KCRW SESSION) [mp3]
Bolt
It’s easy to forget John Travolta these days. He’s busy galavanting the world as a pilot. When he’s not doing that, he’s a practcing Scientologist with a current string of bad films. The very charming Disney is one for the child in your life or your inner child (like in my case). I’m a sucker for Pixar movies or Disney movies. Nowadays, the script is full of double entendres meant for parents and kids alike. I was sold when I saw that cute little hamster aptly named Rhino in his little plastic ball.
Jenny Lewis-Barking at the Moon (Youtube Link)
Milk
This film has Oscar written all over. Sean Penn’s portrayal of the US’s first openly gay politician Harvey Milk oozed of Oscar material. Aside from the genuine potrayal, the resemblance of the real Harvey Milk and Sean is uncanny. The best part of the movie is that it celebrates the life of Harvey Milk as opposed to focusing primarily on the pending death. Gus Van Sant outdid himself with casting this movie. By the way, did you see him on the season finale of Entourage, hahahaha….
Rachel Getting Married
The least favorite of all the movies that I saw. It was self-indulgent, and entirely way too long. Towards the latter part of the movie during the actual wedding scene, I probably dozed off a couple of times in what seemed like forever. TVOTR’s Tunde Adebimpe flexes his acting chops as the future beau of Rachel. Anne Hathaway’s performance was annoying at best and did I mention the movie dragged?!
TVOTR-Blues Down Here [mp3]
:::Movies
:::Movies
:::Movies
Over the last week, I’ve had the pleasure of viewing several movies. This is the time of year when Academy contenders start to flock to the theatres. Over the last week I’ve seen a couple of contenders. Here’s the low down, down low, no doubt.
Australia
Baz Luhrmann is one of my favorite filmmakers around. His ability to unravel stories (always love stories) and intertwine contemporary music in stories that take place centuries ago or maybe less than fifty years ago is sublime. Though, this movie is thirty minutes too long, the cinematography is brilliant. I wouldn’t be suprised if the film ended up with an Oscar for that category. The landscapes shot throughout the film were absolutely breathtaking! The film is a definite date movie…. Most random note about the movie is the random character in the film strumming “Such Great Heights” on his mandolin. Did I mention that Danny Elfman composed the music to this film, yeah!
The Postal Service – Such Great Heights (KCRW SESSION) [mp3]
Bolt
It’s easy to forget John Travolta these days. He’s busy galavanting the world as a pilot. When he’s not doing that, he’s a practcing Scientologist with a current string of bad films. The very charming Disney is one for the child in your life or your inner child (like in my case). I’m a sucker for Pixar movies or Disney movies. Nowadays, the script is full of double entendres meant for parents and kids alike. I was sold when I saw that cute little hamster aptly named Rhino in his little plastic ball.
Jenny Lewis-Barking at the Moon (Youtube Link)
Milk
This film has Oscar written all over. Sean Penn’s portrayal of the US’s first openly gay politician Harvey Milk oozed of Oscar material. Aside from the genuine potrayal, the resemblance of the real Harvey Milk and Sean is uncanny. The best part of the movie is that it celebrates the life of Harvey Milk as opposed to focusing primarily on the pending death. Gus Van Sant outdid himself with casting this movie. By the way, did you see him on the season finale of Entourage, hahahaha….
Rachel Getting Married
The least favorite of all the movies that I saw. It was self-indulgent, and entirely way too long. Towards the latter part of the movie during the actual wedding scene, I probably dozed off a couple of times in what seemed like forever. TVOTR’s Tunde Adebimpe flexes his acting chops as the future beau of Rachel. Anne Hathaway’s performance was annoying at best and did I mention the movie dragged?!
TVOTR-Blues Down Here [mp3]
Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist
I had the pleasure of catching my second sneak peek of the week (say that eight times fast). I was bracing myself for a major letdown. When you see previews for a movie that you hope is hilarious with a great cast and AWESOME soundtrack, there’s a tendency to be let down. I had read several reviews prior to last night’s movie and all had read like , too slick for it’s own good, etc… I thought Juno was too slick for it’s own good, with Diablo Cody’s firm grasp on teenage hipsterdom, but last night was different. The movie itself is a coming of age high school movie that stands to break out Michael Cera’s love interest (you probably remember her as the daughter from 40 Year Old Virgin) , the foxy Kat Dennings. The evident chemistry at the end of the movie fit all too well with the rest of the movie, but the quick witted script managed to offset any apprehension that I had (but not too quick witted).
Choke
I caught a sneak peek of the movie adaptation to Chuck Palahniuk’s classic with a very palatable performance by Sam Rockwell. The movie is quickly stolen by the supporting cast, Anjelica Huston as his mother and his best friend portrayed by Brad William Henke. I knew the basis of the movie revolved around a sex addict, but the gist of the movie has Sam Rockwell in search of himself while immersing himself in loads of meaningless sex while tending to a mentally ill mother in a mental hospital. Many had speculated that Radiohead was to score some music in the film but they only contributed one song to the Soundtrack.
Radiohead-Reckoner [mp3]