I doubt “Sideways” will win Best Picture, but maybe it should.
(more…)

I’m going on a little break for a few days, but be strong in my absence, and in the meantime, absorb yourself completely in one of the cooler sites I’ve discovered in recent days:  Musicplasma. 

It’s fairly self-explanatory once you get there.

The opening roll-up sequence for Episode III: Revenge of the Sith is now available on starwars.com, along with the roll-ups for all of the other episodes.  It looks promising, I have to admit — much less confusing than the "taxation of trade routes" of Episode I.  I still fear that this movie will stink, but I am drawn to see it nonetheless, moth-like.

I was thinking this morning about the worst movie I’d ever paid good money to see.  It’s a tough battle — I’ve seen some crappers.  Though I’ve seen many of the poopers on the IMDB worst list, I haven’t paid for them.  Most of bad movies that have robbed me of cash have been big-budget productions, where the lure of the big screen action sucked me in.  To wit:

(more…)

As I was walking home yesterday I listened to a song I hadn’t in a long time, Stairway to Heaven.
(more…)

I started a book club with the women’s group at my church, and I need suggestions for books to read. The women in the group are mostly older, sweet ladies who like to read mysteries.

It can be tricky suggesting a book for a church group.

(more…)

When Johnny Carson died over the weekend a certain kind of comedy died with him. I think it’s gone forever.

(more…)

They’re out:

http://oscar.com/nominees/nominees.html

More later, but you can discuss below.

Last night we watched Lagaan again.  It is the Gone with the Wind of Bollywood productions, starring the famous Aamir Khan and then-newcomer Gracy Singh.  A sweeping, epic tale of a battle for freedom and survival, fought by playing cricket.

I don’t know if you’ve ever watched a Bollywood movie, but it is a strange cinematic world, with its own traditions and customs.  It’s a delight to discover, and Lagaan is perhaps a good jumping-on point for you (it got an Oscar nod for best foreign film).  Here’s a couple of things to keep in mind should you choose to discover this world:

(more…)

http://www.couplandesque.net/culture/musicnerd.htm

See where you score!  I’m not as big a nerd as I thought, but I bet Susan is a total geek!

“J-Horror” is the uninventive American nickname for Japanese Horror Cinema. (The J stands for Japanese, get it?) It’s the latest thing in the horror genre. Americans it seems might finally be getting tired of gory and predictable slasher films that rely on cheap shocks to create their fear and trembling.
(more…)

…in their own thread, so we don’t waylay the other one. Just to whet your appetite, ask me about any of these.

(more…)

There’s a major piece of news on the web. A 1965 movie, Major Dundee, directed by Sam Peckinpah, is being re-scored. This must be a first, setting a precedent (if it’s successful) for other older movies. So, let’s make a list and send it to … er, … them!
(more…)

Just wanted to remind y’all that Veronica Mars is on tonight.  I think that they are re-airing the pilot episode, so it’s a great hopping-on point.  UPN.  Tonight!  I dare you to tell me it’s not good.

I really enjoyed Steve’s post with the NY Times article about Ruth Gershon.  The article and all of your comments got me thinking about about what makes one an artist, and the eternal "struggle" between following your dream and having a career. 

(more…)

According to this article in the Guardian, the music industry is already using A.I. to predict what bands will be a hit, using a process called Hit Song Science (thanks Slashdot for the tip).  You can visit the site that creates the software here.  I find this immensely creepy for a couple of reasons: first, it says horrible things about how formulaic and non-inventive the music industry has become.  Second, if this software works, it says horrible things about how predictable and sheep-like the masses are with regards to their music.

I’m posting U2′s "Pride" on the radio.blog. I’m sure it’s being played on the airwaves all over today…and so it should.

There’s a great story in the NY TImes (where else?) about Ruth Gerson, a singer/songwriter that showed the beginnings of a promising career but then who seems to have sputtered into semi-anonymity.  It’s a very moving story, and very telling, I think, about how our society creates stars and the illusion of celebrity.  There’s also a great quote: "Don Dixon, the veteran producer of groups like R.E.M. and the producer of Ms.
Gerson’s album, "Fools and Kings," remains an admirer. "She wasn’t about doing
whatever it took to be a star," he said. "To that degree, she may have gotten in
her own way. Extremely talented people can be like that. They don’t want to play
the game."

(more…)

I often wonder which professions are trusted most by their clients. I would imagine a heart surgeon is near the top of the list. Airline pilots are up there as well. Even my tax guy has all my trust. These are people that I have no problem paying them a lot of money because my return on investment is significant. I pay the surgeon, my heart continues to beat. I pay the pilot, I see my family in five hours and don’t die. I pay my tax guy, the government pays me more than if I were to do it. Simple.
(more…)

I don’t expect James L. Brooks’s Spanglish to be nominated for any Oscar awards, much less win any. (Like Brian, I think the odds are looking good for The Aviator, a perfectly competent and entertaining bit of Hollywood moviemaking with some scenes of real bite, drama, and flair, to walk away with a fair number of awards, most especially the Best Director Oscar which the Academy has been half-heartedly trying to give to Martin Scorsese for years.) Frankly, Spanglish isn’t award material: it’s narrative focus is too confused, the tone bounces back and forth between melodramatic and gonzo; all in all, it doesn’t sell itself. But it bothers me that the mixed reviews it has received (hammered by A.O. Scott in the New York Times; praised by David Edelstein in Slate (scroll down)) have likely partly contributed to its failure to develop much momentum. Of course, it’s not really a movie with much momentum, and it’s certainly not building to anything monumental; it is a slow, observant, humble film, cobbled together out of a lot of glorious parts, many of which are, on their own, better than the movie as a whole. More than most domestic dramas, this one is well served by being taken apart. (The following assumes you’ve seen the film; if you haven’t, please consider checking it out tonight.)

(more…)

And if so, are they offended by it? Do they say things like, I would never spill the beans even if Jack Bauer shot me in the leg? Or, in real life if we kidnapped the Secretary of Defense we would decapitate him immediately, not stage a cheesy trial—this is so dumb?
(more…)

…just asking the question. I’ve started a new thread/list about Wyler, since I’ve added so many of his movies to my collection in the last few months. The latest additions are The Letter and Carrie.
(more…)

Have you ever wanted to see a movie just because of the music used in the trailer? I can think of two: Indecent Proposal, which used Sade’s "No Ordinary Love," one of the most romantic songs ever written, and Closer, which uses Damien Rice’s "The Blower’s Daughter," also a contender.

Who can forget the use of "Twist and Shout" in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off? Or "Bohemian Rhapsody" in Wayne’s World? Or "In Your Eyes" in Say Anything?

(more…)

Just wanted to make note of a few recent uploads…

Husker Du: "Diane" – per Danithew’s request.

Smashing Pumkins: "Bullet With Butterfly Wings" - by request from Steve.

The Fugees: "Ready or Not" – we needed some hip hop schooling, but all I have that’s not loaded with swearing is pretty old school.

Jay-Zeezer: "Undone – The Threater Song" – see Steve’s post. WARNING: explicit lyrical content, not safe for work!

DJ Jay-Zeezer has a fun website where he describes his work, a Jay-Z/Weezer mashup album.  It’s fun stuff, with downloads available (don’t try to buy an album: "If anyone tries to sell you a Jay-Zeezer cd, kick them in the nuts").  The songs are well worth a listen, as both Jay-Z and Weezer are fun on their own.  But what I really like is the site itself, which includes "The Story of How an Indie Rocker Learned to Love Like
Rap Music."  A really fun story that hits some notes for me, since I have an on-again off-again relationship with rap.  Plus he mentions Husker Du, which I figured would at least appeal to Susan and Dallin…

Word is that Tron the next Hollywood property to get the remake treatment.
(more…)