It is Written

Review: Slumdog Millionaire


What is Slumdog Millionaire?

A) A new film by Danny Boyle
B) A film with no major stars
C) One of the Best films of the year
D) All of the Above


The Answer is D. Slumdog Millionaire, is bound to be the surprise of the award season. It's a beautiful, touching, romantic, uplifting yet quite harsh look at the rise of a poor boy in India to his appearance on India's Who wants to be a Millionaire. I know how that sounds, but its truly a cinematic feast. Go out and see it now. It's a great holiday movie that will leave you both humbled and enriched.

Danny Boyle has always been a visually inventive, solid director. He has the ability to push and blend genre to create something greater than given. I give Boyle credit for single-handedly resurrecting the zombie genre with his awesome 28 Days Later. He made a cult classic in Trainspotting. He elevated a standard Event Horizon-ish sci-fi film into something more in Sunshine. And he showed he could make films with a lot of heart in Millions, a tale of a boy who sees saints and comes across a fairly large sum of money just when his single father needs it the most.

I adore Millions. It wears it's heart on its sleeve, but I love it for it. Boyle is always visually inventive. The guy makes good looking flicks (even 28 Days Later which was shot on Mini DV). His actors are always solid. But Millions was really his first use of child actors, and the performances he elicits are phenomenal. That film help really set the stage for Slumdog.

The narrative is fractured around how young slum kid Jamal could possibly know the answer to these questions. The film then cuts back and forth between the present and the rest of Jamal's life to show how he came to know what he does and be where he is today. Three different actors play the three leads as the pass children, to teenagers to young adult. Most were untrained actors. All of them do amazing work.

The films is fantastic in that it takes the Bollywood genre and deconstructs it and adopts it for western audiences. This is a Indian film made by an English writer and director yet it feels totally authentic. This is for India what City of God was for Rio. I don't know if life is like that, but it feels right. Bollywood films adhere to strict guidelines regarding the precantage of action, romance and musical numbers must be in the film. And Slumdogs has that mix without seeming forced. They even threw in a musical number, just when I thought they had forgotten. And not only that, but it furthers the plot! The film mixes both English and native language with ease, never once being annoying. Boyle uses the Tony Scott interactive subtitle route and it fits beautifully into the film, becoming just another piece of the frame rather than an intrusion on the film. The subtitle's intergration should help those who cry foul and run away from foreign fairs.

The use of M.I.A is extremely deft. The beginning chase scene is perfectly complimented by her. Also the use of Paper Planes. Listen, I am addicted to this song. Ever since before I heard it attached to the Pineapple Express trailer. When itstarted during the movie, it put a smile on my face. Then I thought, really, why are they using it? But honestly by the time the montage with it is finished (and it is quite a montage) you'll find that the song is actually telling the narrative in a way you'd never imagine possible. It's quite fitting.

Also, unlike Millions, which some might deem to saccharine, Slumdog is quite harsh. There is torture, blinding, fist-fights, murder, riots, things that you'd usually wouldn't find in something that is actaully an uplifting film. But its those real world tragedies that ground the narrative and enrich the story. Without all this strife as a backdrop, Jamal's rise wouldn't be so moving. It is inspite of all this adversity that Jamal strives to find happiness, not with money but with the woman he loves.

I really can't recommend this film enough. There aren't enough films like Slumdog around. Films made with craft and heart. Films that were shot on a limited budget, yet feel epic. Who has no movie stars, but it doesn't matter. It's a about the characters, not the people playing them. Films like Slumdog don't come around often. And when the do, they should be heralded and supported. I hope this puts Boyle, who often struggles finding finacing for films, in a position where he'll be making many more for an awfully long time. Don't be surprise if this walks away with some Gold men come Oscar time. It deserves to. Cherish this. Go with friends. Find it in the theatre. And experience Slumdog Millionaire.

Have You Ever Seen a One Armed Man Punching at Nothing but the Breeze

Review: The Wrestler

I'm a huge fan of Darren Aronofsky. Before The Fountain, I had to argue with many that he wasn't purely the MTV stylist that Requiem for the Dream tagged him as. Don't get me wrong, Aronofsky is an amazing visualist. The Fountain only proves that. With that film (one that i waited six years dying for) he took himself to the next level of cinematic craft, creating a visually innovative and stunning film, as well as an emotional one. There is an underlying humanity beneath all the pretty flash of Requiem and Fountain, and with The Wrestler, that flash has been stripped as bare as the soul of lead role Mickey Rourke's Randy "the Ram" Robinson. All that's left is his humanity. And boy is it a beauty to see.



Much has been and will be made of Mickey Rourke's performance. It's not hyperbole. Rouke deserves every word dedicated to his accolades. It's been a long time coming. The Wrestler is the role Rouke was born to play. I'm so glad that Aronofsky stood by his gut, and took a budget cut; Nicholas Cage gracefully stepping aside and backing Rourke a role written for him. The film works on a meta level. The Ram's career mirroring Rourke's own.

Randy: "The 90's sucked"

Yes they did for Rouke, who literally disappeared for the screens for a decade before returning in smaller character roles thanks to Robert Rodriguez and Tony Scott. If this film had a subtitle it'd be the Passion of Mickey Rourke. As Randy himself says, he's a "dired up piece of meat." A man whose career has taken as much toll as his body. Randy is washed up and alone. A daughter that hates him, and a crush on a stripper near her end much like him. Both burdened with a occupation and responsibility they cannot escape.

Yet together Marisa Tomei's Cassidy and Rourke's Ram have that beautiful chemistry of two old souls surviving the life they've been dealt. Tomei deserves her praise as much as Rourke. If anything, and its minor, its that at age 44 she's still too beautiful to play a washed up stripper. Would you say no to a naked Marisa Tomei standing in front of you? I'm half her age and I don't think so. But despite that physicality its Tomei's working class, brown beaten spirit that shines through. She's a glimmer of hope in both the film and Randy's life.

Also not to go unnoticed is Evan Rachel Wood. I've had my eye on her since Once and Again years ago. She's come a long way since Thirteen. Wood's screen time is brief but brimming with emotion. There's beauty in her few scenes with Rourke that really does capture a girl that would like nothing better to have a Daddy again. A father Randy never was, and never can be.

All this is grounded by Aronofsky's uncharacteristically plain, verte-style camera. Rourke is introduced through a series of tracking back shots, Rourke's bleached hair and huge shoulder blades on display more than his mug. This is a man whose best days are behind him. He is not walking at us into a brighter future, he's walking away from former days filled with glory. The Ram's saga is built on the details that Aronofsky and cinematographer Maryse Alberti (in place of his usual collaborator Matthew Libatique) loving capture with deft subtly. This is a film about how Randy prepares to face the world, whether it his audience or the deli counter he works at (in an wonderfully reversed Raging Bull-like entrance). Whether it's with bandages, steriods, bleach and tanning, or hair nets and swallowing pride, the every day minutia of the Ram's life is the journey.

It all builds to a beautiful final rematch with The Ram's old foe, The Ayatollah. It ends with a staunch ambiguity that lets the viewers decide as they are sheparded out the door to an amazing original track by The Boss himself, Bruce Springsteen (who should hopefully win Best Song Oscar. Go download it now.)

The Wrestler is a film with its heart on its sleeve. I hope it gives a gold statue to Rourke and opens more doors for Aronofsky. Together they've crafted a touching modern tragedy, and one of the best films of the year.

Disappearing Trick

So, yes, once again, its been awhile. My fault completely. Between moving to Brooklyn, among other things, parts of my life got dropped by the wayside.

Witness example A.

But that's not all, I'm coming up on my one year anniversary of the blog, and I'm thinking about what I want to use it for and the site in general.

So I'm going to be experimenting a little. Bear with me. And forgive, alittle.

More posts to come soon.

Changeling trailer! New Clint Eastwood film! J. Michael Straczynski !

I started getting excited for this film when I found out J. Michael Straczynski (of Babylon 5 fame) wrote this film. And Clint always delivers solid films. After seeing this trailer, and what I've heard out of Cannes, look for it to be collecting Oscars later on, maybe even for star, Angelina Jolie.

New Bond Trailer! Watch now and rejoice!

My love of Bond was established long ago with Sean Connery and a little film called Gold Finger. It was cemented with a film called from Russia with Love. The Bond franchise is a staple of my film going experience. I really enjoyed Pierce Brosnan as Bond. Goldeneye restarted the Bond franchise my generation after it had all but died. He was an awesome Bond it lukewarm to bad Bond films. Then Martin Campbell (who also directed Goldeneye) with Daniel Craig gave us a Bond shot in the arm with Casino Royale. I really enjoyed that film. It had it's problems, but, like Batman Begins, it left us with a promise of a truly kickass sequel to follow. Well, with the teaser, I was thoroughly excited. With this, well... let me just say, the Bond series may have just Dark Knighted itself. There. You heard it here first.

Is it November yet?

Quantum of Solace opens Nov 14th.

I'm the dude playin' the dude, disguised as another dude!

Review: Tropic Thunder

So, after three weeks of it being the number one movie in America, I finally got around to see Tropic Thunder. I can’t say that it was “built up” for me. It wasn’t, in fact of the people I knew who saw it they said simply, it’s funny.

And it is funny. In fact the way the movie starts with it’s pseudo-commercials/fake movie trailers are priceless. People in the theatre didn’t know what was going on. It was quite hilarious. So was the beginning part of the film within the film also called Tropic Thunder.

So lets go with the positive. Robert Downey Jr. owns the movie. Owns it. You can see the movie just for him and be satisfied. I’m so happy to see his return to glory this year. He deserves it. And his fake trailer with its amazing cameo is priceless. Simply priceless.

Also Jay Baruchel aka Steven Karp from Undeclared is great. He doesn’t have much to do here, but he’s great. I love me some Steven Karp. I’m really hoping him and Seth Rogen do that post-apocalyptic movie that showed up as a short on Youtube a few months ago, Jay & Seth vs The Apocalypse. I’m sold for that, especially after all the post-apocalyptic movies that have been coming out of late.



Also someone whose every line made me smile was Danny McBride. This is his break out year (I had only previously known him as Bustass in David Gordon Green’s All the Real Girls) with this, coupled with Pineapple Express, he’s in the two big comedy blockbusters of the summer. And he kills.

Unfortunately, the movie has problems. The narrative seems like a dead weight hanging around the movies neck, and the things that move it into place are boring. Its surprisingly graphically violent. More so then I expected, but that’s not a major problem. The problem is that some jokes fall dead. There are points in the film when I know that I’m supposed to laugh but I wasn’t and that shouldn’t be. Yes, comedy is hit and miss, but true classics don’t have that sound of crickets I found myself going through too many times. Now granted, there are equal killer moments, but in the end it just seems like a wash. The film is absurd to the extreme, which I’m fine with if it garners greater laughs. Sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn’t. There were many times I felt myself saying, “no they didn’t” even though it was telegraphed it was going to happen. And I’m not part of the Jack Black hating crew, but he rubbed me the wrong way in this film, and his storyline was contrived. Though he did have one of the greatest lines of the film.

When all is said and done, Tropic Thunder really is like Downey's line above. Its a dumb Hollywood blockbuster pretending to be a comedy satire of big Hollywood blockbuster war flicks that's really just that, a big summer blockbuster.

Overall, both Pineapple Express and Tropic Thunder, the summer’s two blockbuster’s failed me. Good for a laugh, but I won’t see them again anytime soon. Well maybe Pineapple (which I enjoyed more). That’s such a DVD movie.

Zack and Miri Make an R-rated Trailer

So here's the link to the trailer for Kevin Smith's hilarious upcoming film, Zack and Miri make a Porno. I wish I could embed it for you, but i can't. Check it out and laugh, but beware, not for the office environment.

Watch it here.

Appaloosa Trailer!

So if you read the fall preview, you knew that I had my ear to the ground about a Ed Harris directed Western starring him and Viggo Mortensen. Til now I hadn't known jack, only the people involved and the quality they strive to produce. I mean honestly, after see A History of Violence who would not be pump to see these two together again and as partners!

From what i've gathered from the trailer above, Viggo & Harris are badass men called in by the higher ups to clean up a town polluted by the scum of Jeremy Irons. I am so there!

Watch the trailer is HD quicktime at the apple site.

Appaloosa will be released Sept 17th.

Looking Ahead: 2008 Fall Movie Preview

After the a summer blockbuster season ruled by superheroes (tentpoled by Iron Man and The Dark Knight and filled in nicely by Incredible Hulk and Hellboy 2). And lets not forget the other great film coming out this summer, pixar classic Wall-E.

As we look to the fall usually we find the race for the elusive Oscar heating up as the studios roll out their big guns for award nights. Generally speaking this is where the big names directors roll out there next masterpieces or failures and all and all critics top ten list are never fully complete until New Years Eve where some January releases are squeaked in around Christmas for Oscar contention. So without further ado, the 2008 fall preview:

Note, I am not stating all fall films, just the ones that I find the need to point out. For a full list check here.

Color Coding: Must sees are in Red. Of interest are in Blue. On the fence are Yellow.

Sept 12th

Burn After Reading

The Coen’s first film the their Oscar awarding winning No Country for Old Men devles back into their quirky humor before they were known for making Javier Bardem a prince valiant haired killer. The cast including, Brad Pitt, Francis McDormand, George Clooney, Tilda Swinton, and JohnMalkovich. The plot revolves around important C.I.A info falling into the hands of the clueless Pitt and McDormand. Then they blackmail Malkovich. Hilarity ensues. First must see of the fall.

Righteous Kill

Pacino. DeNiro. Yeah, yeah I know, but that doesn’t earse the fact that I get a stink off of this film. I could be wrong and maybe the energy of these two performers together sparked some movie magic they haven’t had in several films, but I doubt it.

Sept 17th

Appaloosa

I know what you’re saying, what the hell is this? Well actually this is the cinematic equivalent of a blind buy for me. I haven’t seen a trailer for it. I haven’t seen a poster. No one’s pumped it up. It’s a western directed and starring Ed Harris with Viggo Mortensen. Watching those two performers sells it for me. Who knows it could be the sleeper film that came after the year of the western that was 2007. Find out more here.






Sept. 19th

The Duchess

Another Keria Kightly costume drama? Yawn. But I know she has her supporters out there. It might wield some good performances, but it will probably end up like last years Atonement for me. I’ll see it eventually, or not.





Sept. 26th


Miracle at St. Anna

Spike Lee is hit or miss for me. I respect his work, I just don’t always enjoy it. This is Spike doing a WWII film. Count me interested. This might be Oscar contention.





Blindness

Fernando Merieless whose City of God was phenomenal, and whose Constant Gardner was less so, delivers his next film. I am a huge Julianne Moore fan, so having her in it has me there already. The posters and the trailers have me hooked. Unfortunately the buzz out of Cannes said it was a miss. But what do the French know? I’ll let my enthusiasm go unblemished.


Choke

Read the Chuck Palahniuk book. It was interesting. Not as good as Fight Club though thematically similar. The film could be a sleeper. Personally, I think it looks flat. A tough book to put up on the screen. Jury is still out.








Oct. 3rd

How to Lose Friends and Alienate People

Simon Pegg? Plus. Stock Hollywood comedy? Minus. Could be good for a laugh or date. Could make my skin crawl or be forgotten the next day.




Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist

Horrible title. And good god, one of the downfalls of seeing The Dark Knight 4 times in the theatre was seeing this thing play before it every time. By the third time I actually took interest. I like Michael Cera though. It has some good music behind it and I think a high schooler would possibly love this. If it introduces the youngsters to some music that mid twenties me is listening to, power to it. Cute date flick.





Oct 8th

Rocknrolla

I think the eight other people who saw Revolver along with me would agree that it got shat on for no reason. Not a huge Guy Ritchie fan as some are, but his films, minus the unspeakable Swept Away, are always enjoyable. This one looks a like an awesome British gangster time with a great cast. Despite the fact that the studios are dumping it.





Oct. 10th

Body of Lies

Crowe. DiCaprio. Ridley Scott. I feel the trailers don't really sell me the whole film or how good it might be. Right now it looks like Tony Scott's Spy Game the Ridley Scott version. And lets not forget that it’s written by Oscar winning William Monahan of Departed fame, who also wrote Scott’s Kingdom of Heaven (and whose lesser seen director’s cut is absolutely classic). This means we'rein for a well written, well shot film. What’s so bad about that?



Ashes of Time Redux

I have seen part of Wong Kar Wai’s Ashes of Time. It’s a horrible print on a wrongly formatted dvd and I’m going to struggle with my filmmakers OCD to watch the original fully before seeing this gloriously shot film re-cut and beautifully restored to its mind numbingly stunning image in the theatre. Could this be Wong’s Apocalypse Now Redux? I’ll be there in the theatre to tell. Check out the trailer here.








Oct 17th

The Brother’s Bloom

I really enjoyed directors Rian Johnson’s first film Brick. A great little debut with a nice original voice. Let’s hope he continues it here, with what looks like a 60’s heist film starring Mark Ruffalo, Adrien Brody and Rachel Weisz. Looks like a good time to me.



Max Payne

I don’t expect this to be a great film. I’m just hoping for it to be fun. I love the video game and I hope its adapted right. Its got tons of things to love. Action, guns, Mark Wahlberg, noir trappings, Mila Kunis, Mila Kunis shooting guns. Lots of things. So lets just hope for a decent action flick, and not the Departed 2.

W.

Olivier Stones Bush satire. We’ll see.

Oct 24th

Changeling

Basically at this time Clint Eastwood could take a shit and get an Oscar nom, but its not undeserved. The man consistently makes solid films. Buzz from Cannes is that he’s done it again. The great news is that its written by Babylon 5 creator, and comic author (Rising Stars, Midnight Nation, Amazing Spiderman) J. Michael Straczynski. I'm a huge fan of his writing, if you haven't seen B5 or read his comic series, check them out! If he hits Hollywood gold, it would be a great thing in my opinion. Look for this as another Oscar contender starring Angelina Jolie.

Synedoche, New York

I think Charlie Kaufman writing is absolutely fantastic. This is his first directorial effort. I’ve heard contrasting things, but regardless my butt is in the seat. The man that gave of Being John Malkovich, Adaptation & Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind deserves that much.

Oct. 31st

Zack and Mira Make A Porno

Kevin Smith. Seth Rogen. I really think Smith is getting better as a director, and he does hiliarious rated R comedy. Clerks 2 had so much heart in it while being funny and if he can transfer that here, things should be fine.

Nov 7th


The Boy in Striped Pajamas

I’ve never read the book, but I hear its heartbreaking. A boy a boy living next to a Nazi concetration camp and befriending a boy behind the wire, this can only lead to tears. And maybe Oscars.

Nov 14th

Australia

Hugh Jackman/ Nicole Kidman epic. Looks pretty. Actually reminds me of Peter Jackson's Depression era scenes in King Kong. Not a Baz Luhrmann fan. Hmmm…..

Quantum of Solace

Who cares about the title anymore. New Daniel Craig Bond! They had me at Bond, James Bond.

The Road

I have the Cormac McCarthy novel sitting on my stack of things to read. Hopefully I’ll get to it before this. Viggo Mortensen with his kid doing a lone wolf and cub across a post-apocolyptic America. The pics I’ve seen look superb.

Dec 5th

Punisher: War Zone

First one, sucked. Second one, Thomas Jane cool, movie sucked. Third time: back to a Dolph Lundgren route with a no name Frank Castle. I’ve heard contrasting reports about the chaos behind this film. Whether confirmed or not, from what I’ve seen it just looks like shit. How hard is it to get Punisher right? He's serial killer who happens to kill the right guys, criminals. The end. And I hear they’re turning it from rated R to pg-13? Guh! Studios execs are idiots! Oh and nothing says Christmas like the Punisher. Holy Christ!

Frost/Nixon

Now here’s what I’ll be seeing this weekend instead. Didn’t know about it til a week ago, but Ron Howards next film looks to be a winner in my book. And another possible Oscar nod. Could be this year’s Good Night and Good Luck. Plus bonusFrank Langella Nixon!

Dec 12th

The Day the Earth Stood Still

Here’s a studio meeting, it goes like this: we need a new film to remake. How about remaking a beloved sci-fi classic? And we can put Keanu Reeves in it! Barf. What a waste of Jennifer Connelley. Wake me when the nightmares over.

Defiance

Ed Zwick WWII flick. Daniel Craig. Leiv Schriber. Jamie Bells. Loooks great. Two baddass Daniel Craig movies in one season!

Dec 25th

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Brad Pitt aging backwards. David Fincher is back again. Absolutely loved Zodiac, here’s looking for a repeat. Fincher always insures quality. Looks stunning. Here’s for Fincher’s first Oscar bid.

The Spirit

Frank Miller. Will Eisner’s Spirit. Sin City like style. Hmmm. Miller’s solo directorial effort. At Christmas? Really? This is like Grindhouse on Easter. This will not go well. My city screams!

Dec 26th

Revolutionary Road

Sam Mendes. Dicpario. Winslet. Don’t know much about it. But I can’t wait to see it. That’s saying something. Could be another Oscar squeaker.

Valkyrie

Bryans Singer’s Tom Cruise starring WWII film about assassinating Hitler. Its been bounced around scheduling wise. Lots of WWII movies this year, wonder if this one might be the victim of burnout. We'll see. I hope not. Look forward to seeing though after a disappointing Superman Returns.

So there you have it. My picks so far. There might be others that I’ve yet to hear about, or could be added. Notable absent are films I’m dying to see like Terrance Malick’s Tree of Life, Darren Aronofsky’s The Wrestler and Tarantino’s Inglorious Bastards that will come out next year. On a whole though I don’t have my big time auteur tentpole that I’m absolutely dying for like last year’s There Will Be Blood. Here’s hoping for surprises and great filmmaking this fall season.

No Heroics

So here's a little trailer for show about superheroes living regular lives out of Britain called No Heroics. I'm a big fan of UK shows. Keeping Up Appearances, Black Adder, Spaced. Extras. The Office. Great, now another UK cult show I'll have to search the Internet for. Take a look.

Does this mean you could poke Aaron Sorkin?

You know, its funny. I've been on a major Sorkin kick this summer. First I finally saw Charlie Wilson's War on dvd finally (which I loved) then I bought and watched the first four seasons of the West Wing, and currently I drudged up my bootleg copies of Sports Night that I'm enjoying on my computer every night. By the way, Sports Night will release a 10th anniversary dvd edition Sept 30. Expect me to review it then. And as always I was sad to see Studio 60 go.

So yeah, I can say I'm a big Sorkin fan.


News comes today that Sorkin has signed a deal to write a screenplay about, of all things, the founding of Facebook. That's right, Facebook. Like go on there and write on your friends wall and poke them, Facebook.

While I can't say how intriguing said funding is, I will say that if I had to pick someone to elevate such material that I wasn't vomiting at the mere mention of it, it's Sorkin. I have often stated that Sorkin could write about characters reading the phone book and I would watch it. I guess this is tantamount to that.

For more info, check out the story here.

And the facebook group here.

Sidenote: If you go on facebook and search Aaron Sorkin you will actually find the profile he used to announce it. Sadly you cannot become his friend.

In My Headphones: Post-Modern Musical Pop Art

Review: Girl Talk- “Feed the Animals”

So I know, for someone who claims to run a film, music and literature site, I’m very heavy on the film and not so much on the lit and music. Well allow me to start to mend that fence.

Welcome to my latest obsession, Girl Talk. Girl Talk is actually one guy, DJ Gregg Gillis, whose eclectic taste for modern music leads him to blend divergent sources ranging from Public Enemy, Kanye West, Metallica, The Police, Jackson 5, and Kelly Clarkson into interesting and unbelievably catchy packages. Gillis uses tons of illegal samples creating beats, and melding material in ways not usually evident (who knew mixing Elton John’s Tiny Dancer and Notorious B.I.G’s Juicy would be so delicious, ie Smash Your Head). Girl Talk often uses something close to thirty samples per song, sometimes three or four at once. So if your not digging a track, give it thirty seconds, you might hear a well known hook that gets you right back in.

Sampling isn’t new. It’s been used heavily to great effect in rap music for years. But the multiple and often antithetical sources create inspiring tracks (if you had told me a month ago that I’d be jamming to Kelly Clarkson mixed with NIN, I’d have said you were sniffing glue). On his newest album, Feed the Animals, Gillis has continued his mix happiness, bringing not only stellar tracks, but an overall album. This is the self contained DJ album for the Ipod generation. Throw this on at a party. It will definitely get things jumping. Feed the Animals ebbs and flows not only within individual tracks but across whole the album, making a complete seamless package that other mash-up artist don’t provide with their individual mp3-ready-for-myspace one-offs.

Take this little tidbit. On tracks 4, What’s it all about, Gillis mixes Michael singing with the Jackson 5 “ABC” backbeated to Vanilla Ice’s “Havin a Roni” that kicks into a backbeat of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” during Michael’s chorus. It’s a euphorically transcendent ending to a song. Not only does it play into my love of ABC but then puts it against the universally loved Queen, Gillis is playing on your love and recognition of the source material to draw you into his world. You like the source, you like the mash, you like the Girl Talk song.


Good for him. My boys sent me Girl Talk’s way after catching him burning it up over in Chi-town at Lollapalooza. Feed the Animals is provided In Rainbows style for pick-your-price payed download at his site. You can get the album as one whole mix or separated tracks. And paying certain prices get you better files and hardcopies. Smart move considering the legal hurdles he’d have to jump through with all his samples. It’s a quick and effective way to bring fans into his flock. Count me among them, I’m sold. After listening to Feed the Animals hardcore for at last two weeks I’m already trying to get a hold of his previous three albums especially his previous Night Ripper (what I’ve heard so far, I love). I’m also happily holding tickets for his sold out November show here in New York at Terminal 5.

Girl Talk walks the walk. If your looking for a great summer party mix to end the summer, get it now. Be glad you did.

Check out his Myspace page to get a feel.

That's the man behind the music folks, Gregg Gillis. No seriously, I got that off his wikipeida page.

Temp Bastard

BJ Novak (Ryan the former temp now jailed boss on The Office) has officially confirmed that he will staring in Quentin Tarantino's Inglorious Bastards. He signed the contract Friday. That makes him join the ranks of Eli Roth, Brad Pitt, and Mike Myers. I'm interested to see Novak in this role, something totally different than taking abuse from Michael Scott. Novak is also a writer and producer on The Office. He says that he's really excited for the upcoming season and that he and Toby will be in the first episode. Oh The Office, how far away are yea.

And apparently Novak did a solo show with a puppet. I'd like to see that.



Sidenote: Unfortunately Simon Pegg won't be able to be in Inglorious Bastards to to scheduling issues. In response to the miss opportunity he apparently said, "It's like Tom Selick saying, oh well, who the fuck is Indiana Jones?"

New York, I Love You trailer

So here's the trailer for the next installment of the city love stories, New York, I Love You. I absolutely love the first film, PARIS JE T'AIME. Honestly its one of the best anthology films in recent memory. New York, much like Paris Je T'aime revolves around multiple short films by a plethora of directors that sometimes overlap one another. Check out the list of talent attached here. And the trialer below.




For some reason I just expected to hear LCD Soundsystem- "New York, I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down"

Crazy Fanboy Dark Knight Sequel Wet Dreams!

Spoiler note: For you three people who haven't seen the Dark Knight yet, you might not want to read this as it does devulge plot information.

You know what the mark of a good franchise is? When people are already dreaming of the third one before they exit the theatre. Dark Knight has definitely wetted the appetite of fanboys (and they have big appetites) around the word. Now the fan theories have been floating around the Internet for weeks, accompanied by some great fan art, my favorite of which is this


I almost ran this stuff awhile ago but decide against it, but after the following artwork I just felt compelled to. (Note, the following fan work is created by a different artist than the previous. His work can be found here)

I never thought of Harley Quinn as a viable option, but god if that pic isn't sweet. I could dig that.

Never thought of Dr. Who for Riddler, but I could go for it.

I think this Catwoman is too manish. But Marion Cotillard as the Cat is a way to go.

Which brings me to actual plot theories. Here's mine (that has been refined through help of friends).

Dark Knight leaves Batman in a very dark place. Rachel is dead. Harvey is gone. And he's on the run from an ally (Gordon and the cops). Thematically speaking Batman has to work his way into the light, which is a pretty tall task. Right now Bruce Wayne has a gaping whole in his heart, one that could easily played with and filled by Catwoman. Now Tim Burton's Catwoman is near and dear to many fans heart, including my own. Much like Ledger's Joker, whomever inherits the Catwoman mantle would have to forge there own image. This would be fine because a more realistic jewel thief Catwoman has never been explored on film and that would probably be the way Nolan would go. Selina Kyle would be an interesting choice as a villain. With the lost of Rachel, Bruce could definitely find Catwoman an attractive package; a woman that also deals with a hidden identity, someone like him, a soulmate. Throwing himself completely into a Batman persona after Rachel's death and his fight with Joker, a relationship with Catwoman could bring him back to his much needed humanity. However in the end Selina will cross lines Bruce will not, leaving him alone once again, but back from the edge of the abyss and a better Batman.

For this arc to work though, Catwoman and Batman have to team up against a common foe, and that's the Riddler. Now the thing about the amazing world Nolan has created is that it's very realistically based. Therefore villains that could use some proper treatment, chief of which Mr. Freeze, fit awkwardly into the created universe. The Riddler plays right into the established rules, especially if you follow the trend of the Joker now inspiring other villains. Combine that with a Zodiac like Riddler who manipulates the media(something clearly established by the Dark Knight) you can have quite an explosive film. With the Riddler battling the dark knight detective's brain while Catwoman captures his heart, these externalized struggles could make for a great capper of the trilogy.

So what are your thoughts?

Sidenote: Jude Law for Riddler anyone? Watch Road to Perdition again. Tell me he can't match the egotistical Riddler for menace and aloofness.

Righteous (or ILL) Kill?

Pacino. DeNiro. I should be on this. I'm not. Early word on the street was that its a major let down. That's really a shame. I'll still see it for myself. Probably on DVD.


What's up with the "ripping off the Departed" Rolling Stones usage? Does not score points in my book.



The gold standard.

Frost/ Nixon & Bush

Here's the international trailer for Frost /Nixon, the new Ron Howard film that I had no clue about until today. The film revolves around Nixon's interview post-resignation with the British talk show host David Frost. Frank Langella plays Nixon. Color me interested. Or maybe I'm just a sucker for 70's recreations. Check it out below.


Any films that has the man who played Skeletor in it is fine by me.





And secondly we have Oliver Stone's (who previously made a Nixon film himself with Sir Anthony Hopkins) Bush film W. The following clip is behind the scenes footage from Access Hollywood. Not much to get excited about really other then this is, as least my first extended viewing of Brolin's Bush outside of ther trailer. Honestly I don't really know how to feel about this one folks. I know there's going to be a resurgence of debate once it gets closer to its Oct release date (and a little something called the Elections) but overall I have a tentative "meh." Stone is a talented filmmaker, but he's hit or miss for me. I do remember enjoying his Nixon, though that was quite awhile ago. I just hope W. gives Bush some depth instead of just playing him as some cheap joke. Cause honestly, a fifth grader can make a Bush joke.

Soapbox: What the hell is Fox smoking?

It must be crack. Must be.

I'm sorry folks, I don't like to get on my soapbox and pontificate, but on this i feel I must. Fox studios (specifically head Tom Rothman) is making colossal blunders today. I can't keep silent.

First news of the day was Fox filing an injunction to stop the release of WB's Watchmen due to rights that stretch back to the 80's. Yeah, okay. You and I both know they are not going to let the Watchmen be delayed. Not in a post-Dark Knight climate. Watchmen has potential to be big. So don't worry, I don't think anything short of Alan Moore being granted the power of God himself could stop Watchmen's March release date. So it comes down to settlement. Meaning money. Now I am not a naive fool. Hollywood is business. Business is about money. Fox will probably likely drop this whole thing for a nice tidy sum that will make them say " Who watches the Watchmen?" They couldn't give two shits. But its low ball, that's all. Where was this injunction when it was being film? I mean it wasn't like the weren't posting VIDEO BLOGS about the making of the damn thing! Or that it had a trailer in front of the Dark Knight? Maybe all the Fox Execs finally decided to check out Batman and realized they could make a dime without lifting a finger. Whatever.

Secondly comes news that Rothman is taking control of X-Men Origins: Wolverine from director Gavin Hood because it was "too dark" and they wanted to make it more "family friendly." Now excuse me, but when did a guy with essentially three knives sticking out of his hands become Barney? Honestly! I think all comic fans would support the idea of a family friendly Wolvie. NOT! But then again this a studio that decided making such franchises such as Alien vs Predator & Die Hard, (two adult rated R properties by the way) and turn them into more "family friendly" pg-13 fair. Right, cause that worked out so well for them. Jesus Christ, did you watch the Dark Knight? The average comic book geek audience is 18 and above, not kiddies! In fact the comic book industry can attest to the fact that it doesn't have a replenishing younger readership, hence the art form is suffering! Trust me, a hardcore Wolverine is what the doctor ordered. And Gavin Hood is a good director. He won the Oscar for Best Foreign Film for Tsotsi! A dark and gritty film by the way. AN OSCAR!

So hopefully they just had bad sushi or something and they will get their collective heads out of said asses. Other than that... shame Fox. Shame.

Wolverine is not happy with Fox, not one bit.

Vicky Cristina Woody Allen

Review: Vicky Cristina Barcelona

I am a huge Woody Allen fan.

I've practically written a thesis on him, The Six Types of Woody Allen. The basic gist of it is that Woody films fit into Six basic categories:

1) The Early Funny Ones (pure comedy's): Sleeper, Bananas, Annie Hall, Bullets over Broadway, Hollywood Endings

2) Bergmanesque (hardcore dramas): Interiors, September, Husbands & Wives

3) Felliniesque (Surreal existential pieces/autobiograpichal pieces): Stardust Memories, Deconstructing Harry, Celebrity, Radio Days, Mighty Aphrodite

4) Psuedocumentary (Mockumentaries/ narratives include documentary devices): Take the Money and Run, Zelig, Sweet and Lowdown

5) Magical/Fantastical(those that feature supernatural or out there elements): Alice, Scoop, Everyone Says I Love You, Purple Rose of Cairo and his New York Stories segment Oedipus Wrecks

And finally something I like to call 6) Pure Woody Allen (dramatic stories featuring humor whose homages are less outright and are often novelistic in narrative): Manhattan, Hannah and her Sisters, Crimes and Misdemeanors

The thing about critiquing a Woody Allen film is that you inevitably compare it to his other works (Match Point is the dramatic narrative echo of Crimes and Misdemeanors minus the Woody part). This is both a hobby of Woody fans as well as a sometime unfair standpoint(oh it was good, but it was no Annie Hal, etc). Unfortunately it's bound to happen, and while that may lay undue criticism on works that would be hailed by other artist, it's just bound to happen for a man who puts out a film per year and has such a large oeuvre as Woody.

This leads us to Woody's latest flick, Vicky Cristina Barcelona. I'm gonna try to make this review as non-Woody Allen fan friendly as possible while still being a Woody Allen fan.

To put it simply, Vicky Cristina is simply charming. Allen has taken the invitation from Spain for financing and fashioned a little story that is fill with beautiful people in a beautiful place trying to figure out who they are. It's a postcard to Barcelona. It's a forties travelogue film(right down to the iris ins and outs, where you lose yourself for 90 minutes a visit another country from the comfort of your movie theatre seat. It has all the Woody staples. The Title cards. The Great music. The existential dialogue. It's quite pretty. So are its stars. Bardem and Cruz have a sizzling hot energy to them and their interaction (fights alternating between Spanish and English, subtle physical movements that mark them as former lover) are fun to behold. Scarlett, while also pretty to look at, doesn't need to do much and plays what she is dealt (her highlight being beguiled by Bardem's Juan Antonio when he invites her and her friend for a threesome). Rebecca Hall also impressed with her woman finding less and less satisfaction with her marriage after being not but. Her storyline was unexpected for me and she had some nice points. She also is the current film bearer of the "Woody Allen tick" torch (for those not in the know, in films Allen doesn't star in there is inevitably an actor who carries his mannerism. Whether this is there way of speaking his dialogue or something Allen imposes himself, I am quite curious about.) Patricia Clark also has a nice, albeit protracted arc, but she puts the most into it. But while this is all well and good, Vicky Cristina is not without its problems.

The chief of which is the omniscience narrator whose voice over guides us through the film. While literary and useful at first to set the stage of the film, the voice over's continued use through only robs the film of actual growth. Why see Cristina's dissatisfaction when we can be told about it. It's the cardinal sin of telling, not showing that keeps the film from being great. We are told about things that we should see onscreen, things that would bring us closer to the characters and help us empathize. Instead the narration keeps us at arms length and shorts the characters development that is sorely needed. Instead of complete characters we get sketches. The brooding mysterious artist, the woman in search for herself, the crazy ex wife, etc.) The storylines of Vicky Cristina are ripe with possibilities not fully explored because of unrounded characters. I just invented a word.

Penelope might not get naked, but she's still smoking.

Also, fair warning, I know Vicky Cristina has gotten a lot of buzz because of its storyline and the potential threesome and Scarlett and Cruz's spit swapping. If that is what your looking for in this film, you came to the wrong theatre. It's there, but in a restrained tasteful way. Gratuitous isn't in the film's vocabulary, and that's probably want you want when you think of Johansson and Cruz making out in a darkroom. Could the sex scenes be hotter or even existent? I guess, but that's not what the film was about. I will say the Johansson Bardem sex scene, while not even remotely graphic, is shot absolutely beautiful for a way the gives you the sex without showing anything and resorting to the "pan to fireworks" sort of cliche. Vicky Cristina really isn't about sex. In fact, sex in the film is quite empty or simple just enjoyable for sex sake. The film is actually about relationships and finding fulfillment in them( including sex, artistic inspiration, friendship, relationship stability, self fulfillment).

Anyway, for those Allen fans out there, I stick it in the Pure Woody Allen category. Its like a more serious Midsummer's Night Sex Comedy. A Barcelona Night Sex Drama. Ironically enough Midnight in Barcelona was a working title. Its charming and pleasant and pretty to look at. Allen directs it well and the story has novelistic echos (Vicky's storyline echoing Judy's, Cristina's and Vicky's playing off one another) however, when put into perspective with the likes of Hannah and Manhattan, Vicky invariably falls short.

But its not supposed to be a masterwork, its simply a good film. It's better than most out there. Unfortunately Woody's worst enemy is himself.

Here's looking at you Woody.

Sidenote: Personal Top 10 Woody Allen Films
1) Stardust Memories
2) Interiors
3) Crimes and Misdemeanors
4) Sleepers
5) Hannah and her Sisters
6) Husbands and Wives
7) Zelig
8) Purples Rose of Cairo
9) Manhattan
10) Match Point