There is a Light That Never Goes Out

Best of 2009...So Far: Music

2009-07-05T15:55:00.001-05:00

The second half of 2009 may turn out to be quite disappointing. After all, it's only once in a blue moon that the best album of the year (and maybe even the decade) gets released in the first few weeks. But that's what happened with my #1 pick. For more on that, and the other tracks that provided the soundtrack from January 6-June 30.

ALBUMS

1. Animal Collective, Merriweather Post Pavilion (Domino)

Everything changed on Jan. 20. Now we'll all have to reevaluate what the best album of the 2000s is. Kid A? Think again. Heartbreaker? Nah. Yoshimi? Jury's still out. What's truly incredible: Avey Tare, Panda Bear, Deakin, and Geologist have delivered not only their most accessible and successful album, but die-hard fans even consider it among their best. No alienation here. Just a mind-blowing experience.

2. Bon Iver, Blood Bank (Jagjaguwar)

After Justin Vernon dropped his haunting debut For Emma, Forever Ago, he followed it up with this sunnier (but no less ethereal) EP featuring four knockout tracks. It's short but sweet, but it's perhaps the best 17 minutes you'll spend listening to music this year.

3. U2, No Line on the Horizon (Interscope)

Five years after their Grammy-winning How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, Bono and co. return with yet another powerful set. More introspective than their past releases, No Line is a meditation on hitting the other side of 50, and who will be by your side when the dust settles (hint: it's not the fans).

4. Phoenix, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (V2)

Though I doubt they'll ever top the inescapable "Consolation Prizes," but this is the French band's most accomplished album yet. From the bittersweet "Lisztomania" to the buoyant "1901" to the beautiful two-part "Love is Like a Sunset," this is indie pop at its finest.

5. various artists, Dark was the Night (4AD)/Heroes (Astralwerks)

Compilations seem to never go out of style, but while the NOW series seems to remind us of how horrid the Top 40 charts have become, along come two charity albums that are more than hardly an amalgamation of heart-tugging "please donate" singles and half-hearted covers. Red Hot Organization's double album Dark was the Night features some of the indie world's best and brightest (like Grizzly Bear and Kevin Drew), while War Child's Heroes features artists (The Hold Steady, Duffy) hand-picked by the originals (Springsteen, McCartney) to cover some of their best tunes.

SONGS

1. Anything from Merriweather Post Pavilion

A sign of a truly great album: when there's no track you could single out as the best. I've tried, but each week a new song takes the top spot. First it was "My Girls," then it was "Summertime Clothes," then just about every other track. I've recently landed on "Guys Eyes," but I know there'll be another song to take its place.

2. Bon Iver, "Blood Bank"

From the EP Blood Bank

Like a great short story, Vernon transports us to a frozen locale, where love blossoms at donation centers, but as the snow melts, so do hopes of a long and happy romance. Bloody brilliant.

3. Dirty Projectors & David Byrne, "Knotty Pine"

From the Dark was the Night compilation

An infectious little jam from the somewhat heavy 2-disc set, this song, featuring gorgeous vocals from Amber Coffman, is bound to get stuck in your head. But you'll be OK with that.

4. Phoenix, "Lisztomania"

From the album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

One of the many pop gems from the French group's latest album, the song tells the tale of a disastrous love affair, but you'd never know the singer's bitterness. This track is undeniably giddy on the surface, but underneath there's layers of pain.

5. Coldplay, "Life in Technicolor II"

From the EP Prospekt's March

The instrumental intro to their 2008 album Viva la Vida gets wonderfully expanded here into a soaring arena rocker, and stands among the band's best tracks. You'll be lifted so high, your "feet won't touch the ground."

VIDEOS

1. Animal Collective, "My Girls"

Directed by Jon Vermilyea

Certainly not for the kiddos, this bizarre animated video is creepy but utterly mesmerizing, and not even half as trippy as their video for "Summertime Clothes."

2. The Lonely Island feat. T-Pain, "I'm on a Boat"

Directed by Akiva Schaffer

Best. Boat ride. Ever. "Don't you ever forget!"

3. Camera Obscura, "French Navy"

Directed by Blair Young

Matching the band's wistful tune is this home movie-style romance that feels authentic, despite its jewelry commercial appearance. It'll make you feel warm inside, but in the best way.

4. Pink, "Please Don't Leave Me"

Directed by Dave Meyers

From the Matthew McConaughey in Reign of Fire school of performance, Pink stars in this video as a woman who kidnaps her boyfriend and tortures him a la Misery. But I don't think she was acting. She really did kidnap and torture a guy.

5. Coldplay, "Life in Technicolor II"

Directed by Dougal Wilson

Marionettes act as the British band, complete with pyrotechnics. A big budget video on a small scale. Simply wonderful.

Best of 2009...So Far: Film

2009-07-05T14:11:00.000-05:00

The first half of the year is usually devoid of greatness, but here's the best of what's been released from January 2-July 1.

MOVIES

1. Up

Directed by Pete Docter and Bob Peterson

Pixar's 10th feature is its best yet, an especially incredible feat considering the studio's never made a bad movie. Ringing much more true than a good 99% of movies in the last decade, this surely has a legitimate shot at not only being nominated for Best Picture, but winning it as well.

2. Public Enemies

Directed by Michael Mann

The thinking man's action flick, Michael Mann (Heat, Collateral) completely rebounds from his disastrous Miami Vice adaptation to deliver an introspective, romantic, highly stylized gangster picture with an duo of Oscar-worthy performances from Johnny Depp as John Dillinger and Marion Cotillard as his faithful lover.

3. The Hangover

Directed by Todd Phillips

Brilliantly told, this summer's breakout hit made stars of its trio of lead actors (see below) and never let up with the laughs. A rowdy, ingenious comedy, it's everything Wedding Crashers wanted to be but wasn't.

4. Star Trek

Directed by J.J. Abrams

In a world where every week brings yet another remake, here's a relaunch that fires on all cylinders. It's everything that a summer movie should be: sharp, visually stunning, and tremendously entertaining.

5. Drag Me to Hell

Directed by Sam Raimi

It was just a few short years ago (October 2005, to be exact) when American horror died, shortly after the release of Saw II. And so the American public has been forced to be stuck with horror movies with no scares, no sense of humor, no real story, just gallons of blood and hundreds of bare breasts. But master Sam Raimi has triumphantly returned to the genre that made a name for himself, completely recovering from the overblown Spider-Man 3. The film delivers scares and laughs with equal measure. A real cinematic treat.

PERFORMANCES

1. Johnny Depp, Public Enemies

Portraying John Dillinger

After years of going brilliantly over the top in three Pirates films and Tim Burton's adaptation of Sweeney Todd, Depp again proves his impressive range by going introspective, showing us the complexities of a simple man.

2. Marion Cotillard, Public Enemies

Portraying Billie Frechette

But Depp's performance wouldn't be quite as impressive were it not for his character's anchor throughout most of the film, his faithful girlfriend Billie. Cotillard already has an Oscar for La Vie en Rose, but I wouldn't be surprised if she picks up another nomination here. She simply captivates the screen in every scene.

3. Ed Helms, Bradley Cooper, and Zach Galifianakis, The Hangover

Portraying Stu, Phil, and Alan

While they're the "three best friends that anyone could have," this brilliant comic trio really makes this comedy work, as they desperately try to search for their missing compatriot Doug through the impound lots and seedy motels of Las Vegas. Each gives a distinctive performance: Helms as the hen-pecked dentist, Cooper as the douche-y schoolteacher, and standout Galifianakis as sweet-natured possible pedophile Alan. Together, they create one of film's greatest comic teams.

4. Rachel Weisz, The Brothers Bloom

Portraying Penelope Stamp

While the entire cast (including Adrien Brody, Mark Ruffalo, and the always intense Rinko Kikuchi) gives textured performances, it's Weisz, playing the perpetually sunny Penelope, that makes this con-man comedy sing. Having resided as a shut-in for most of her life, she's bursting with life and ready to go out and experience the world. It's a downright joyous performance.

5. Sam Worthington, Terminator: Salvation

Portraying Marcus Wright

Christian Bale may have had top billing, but it's the Aussie heartthrob who's the real discovery here. In his first U.S. feature, he proves to possess some serious acting chops. As the death row inmate-turned-robot prototype, he's desperate to learn his true nature. He makes this hunk of metal human.

TRAILERS

1. Where the Wild Things Are (Oct. 16)

Directed by Spike Jonze

Set to the wistful score of Arcade Fire's "Wake Up," the tease of Spike Jonze's adaptation of the beloved children's book brings a tear to one's eye. Not because it's sad; it's just that beautiful.

2. Bruno, red band trailer (July 10)

Directed by Larry Charles

On the other end of the spectrum, the completely unsubtle creator of Borat returns to wreak havoc and reveal the darkest of human nature, but does it while splitting your sides with laughter.

3. The Hangover, teaser trailer (now in wide release)

Directed by Todd Phillips

The perfect trailer: just enough information to make you pay attention and say "I gotta see that." And Mike Tyson singing "In the Air Tonight"? I'm there.

4. The Hurt Locker (now in limited release)

Directed by Kathryn Bigelow

First thought: "Oh, great. Another Iraq movie." But once the focus shifts on the real people serving overseas as well as the tense action sequences, you quickly realize this isn't your typical war (or anti-war) movie, the kind that can't be ignored.

5. District 9, teaser trailer (Aug. 14)

Directed by Neill Blomkamp

The interviews seem to be pulled from any news report, and the testimonials about racism and immigration certainly seem real, but it's all about the sucker-punch at the end of the trailer for South Africa native Neill Blomkamp's faux documentary: the unwanted aliens are actually aliens.

Long Live the King of Pop: Michael Jackson's 10 Best and 5 Worst Songs

2009-06-26T23:50:00.008-05:00

The shocking and untimely death of Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, sent shockwaves around the globe. Despite having released only one album in the last decade and surviving two separate trials, nothing could undo the success he built with greatness like Thriller, the best selling album of all-time. So, here in, is a warts-and-all tribute, counting down the 10 best and 5 worst songs of his career.

(Note: Be sure to hit "HQ" where available for the highest quality picture and sound.)

THE BEST:

1. "Billie Jean" (1983, Thriller)

As if there could even be a debate. This is simply 5 minutes of pop perfection. It went to #1 in four countries, and Top 10 in six more. It introduced a generation to the iconic "Moonwalk" dance, and it broke down racial barriers as Michael became the first black artist to be played on MTV. And when Blender magazine picked the 500 best songs of the last 25 years in 2005? Yup, it was this song.

2. "Rock with You" (1979, Off the Wall)

I've always been partial to Michael's breakout album, the one that established him as an adult performer. It's one of the first albums I remember listening to and it's always stuck with me more than the hit-packed Thriller. In short, I think it's his best album. And here is the creme de la creme: a smooth jam for the ages, a disco track for people who hate disco, a song so incessantly happy you can't help but smile and "feel that beat."

3. "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough" (1979, Off the Wall)

Released in the summer of '79, this is arguably the easiest of Michael's songs to dance to. Kicking off with a spoken word intro about an unstoppable force, once he gets to his signature "ooo," you'll already be up out of your seat and ready to groove.

4. "The Way You Make Me Feel" (1987, Bad)

From the turning point in his musical career, this is the secret weapon on his 1987 album. While the title track had the most enduring success and the epic 16-minute video directed by Martin Scorsese, this simple song will floor you every time it's played, and probably the only MJ song you could pull off singing to your love interest--and have it be 100% guaranteed to work.

5. "Beat It" (1983, Thriller)

With a rockin' guitar riff courtesy of Eddie Van Halen, this was the ultimate crossover hit, earning Michael an even wider audience and enduring legion of fans. Synonymous with songs about courage like Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger," but so much better, someone is probably listening to it right now to get pumped up before a game.

6. "Thriller" (1984, Thriller)

Though most serious (read: cynical) critics deride this as a "silly diversion" from an otherwise perfect album, it's survived thanks to its iconic dance (seen at weddings and prisons the world over) and groundbreaking, widely-seen music video, and chilling laughter from the one and only Vincent Price, here to "terrorize y'alls neighborhood."

7. "Black or White" (1991, Dangerous)

Talk about your comebacks. After doggedly fighting rumors about everything under the sun in the late '80s, Michael burst back onto the scene with this ode to racial harmony, sticking it to the man, and of course, catching the attention of a lady. The monstrously expensive video featured a multi-cultural cast and (still) mind-blowing "morphing" technology. But then there's also the extended version where MJ crotch-grabs his way through an anti-racism rant, but what would he be without controversy?

8. "Say Say Say" with Paul McCartney (1983, Pipes of Peace)

Following the immensely popular but terrible (see below) duet "The Girl is Mine," the Beatle and the King of Pop collaborated again, and this is how you do it. Incredibly catchy (and definitely more Paul's style than Michael's), it's no wonder it went to #1 to close out the year.

9. "Smooth Criminal" (1988, Bad)

Any doubts as to whether or not Michael still "had it" were resoundingly shut out with this funk-infused track. The mind-blowing video certainly had something to do with its inclusion on this list (fast forward to 7:16 for the antigravity lean), but this is one of his best regardless. Smooth indeed.

10. "Remember the Time" (1991, Dangerous)

You'll definitely remember the first time you heard this, about as romantic (without veering into sappy territory) as Michael ever got. Recalling his first love, you can't help but feel nostalgic for simpler times, a track that sums up Michael quite well.

THE WORST:

1. "Heal the World" (1992, Dangerous)

This spot could really be held by any of his maudlin hits, from 1984's charity single "We are the World" to HIStory's "Earth Song," this represents MJ at his sappiest and least effective. His desire to go straight for the heartstrings even threatened to ruin some of his biggest hits like "Man in the Mirror."

2. "2 Bad" (1995, HIStory)

Even the greatest artists recycle their past successful material, so you can't hold that against him. But a guest rap from Shaquille O'Neal (fast forward to 3:45)? That's unforgivable. And really, nearly any track from HIStory could hold this spot. It's easily his worst album.

3. "The Girl is Mine" with Paul McCartney (1982, Thriller)

The first collaboration between these guys was a monstrous hit, and also an atrocious back-and-forth about Paul and Michael's giggly fight over a girl ("I told you: I'm a lover, not a fighter"). It's about as lame as they get.

4. "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" with Siedah Garrett (1987, Bad)

Romantic? Nah. Just pathetic. A big swelling string arrangement covered in syrup. Gag.

5. "In the Closet" (1991, Dangerous)

A horribly misguided attempt to stave off rumors that he was gay (or something else), this slinky and downright gross jam (and its accompanying NSFW video) about "our love/woman to man" is just depressing.

The Amazing Kiplin

2009-06-08T10:24:00.002-05:00

It's time for a new segment on this blog:

The Amazing Kiplin, where I, guru of all movie knowledge will make random predictions (usually about movies) that are completely unfounded, just based on my observations and street smarts (the street being Hollywood Boulevard).

Sasha Grey will win Best Actress for The Girlfriend Experience from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association.
Morgan Freeman will win Best Actor for Invictus at the Oscars, no contest.
Depending on who invites me (which lady), I will actually go see the incredibly clichéd, likely unfunny romantic comedy The Proposal.
I will, for the first time ever, voluntarily pay to see TWO horror movies this summer: Orphan, starring Vera Farmiga and Peter Sarsgaard; and The Final Destination (in 3-D!).
Unfortunately, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen will be the highest grossing movie of the summer, with approximately $300 million domestic gross. *sigh*

Mooney at the Movies: The Hangover

2009-06-06T18:15:00.004-05:00

Galifianakis: So manly it literally hurts.

The Hangover (A-)
Starring Ed Helms, Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis
Written by Jon Lucas & Scott Moore
Directed by Todd Phillips

Read my full review here.

Photo courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures and Rotten Tomatoes

Mooney at the Movies: Land of the Lost

2009-06-05T15:49:00.006-05:00

"I think we lost him. The ghost of Jack Valenti won't find us in here."

Land of the Lost (B)
Starring Will Ferrell, Anna Friel, Danny McBride, Jorma Taccone
Written by Chris Henchy & Dennis McNicholas
Directed by Brad Silberling

Adapting a television series can be awfully cumbersome. After all, it's the most tailor-made for our ADD generation (made even worse thanks to MTV) and getting the average person to sit through a 90-minute or two-hour movie after ordinarily sitting through 22 minutes plus commercials can be quite difficult.

Usually, the faithful efforts end up as the best, in both action (i.e. The Fugitive, Mission: Impossible) and comedy (The Naked Gun, The Simpsons). And occasionally directors score with an off-kilter adaptation or outright parody like The Brady Bunch Movie), but usually they end up as horrific mismatches of the two (Charlie's Angels, Wild Wild West).

So it's actually kind of refreshing that Land of the Lost doesn't even seem to have (or care to have) a plan.

The film opens with an appropriately crazed-looking Dr. Rick Marshall (Ferrell), plugging his new book on the Today show, angering host Matt Lauer (a great sport here) with his every word, claiming travel to parallel dimensions is possible through extensive research and trials of "tachyon accelerator." When Lauer attacks his credibility, Marshall storms off the set, only to come lunging back. Flash forward three years where Marshall's been reduced to a YouTube-fueled joke.

"Any requests? Stop? As in 'Stop in the Name of Love'? Oh, you just want me to stop."

He now gives "wonders of science" presentations to school groups visiting the La Brea Tar Pits, only the youngsters are more vicious than his peers or Matt Lauer. "How come I saw you crying in the bathroom before this presentation?" one girl asks. Drowning his sorrows in chips, ice cream, and late-night Arby's runs, Marshall is surprised to see lovely British grad student Holly at his office door, announcing herself as a disciple of his "quantum paleontology" research.

She convinces him to fix his "tachyon accelerator" and off they go into the desert to perform a field test. They ask lecherous Will (Danny McBride) to give them a tour of his amusement park, but first he tries to shill fireworks (with interesting, homemade labels like "The Mexican Vasectomy") and mammary-shaped coffee mugs. And on the water ride he warns his two passengers they "may get wet." Marshall demands to know if his equipment will get soaked, to which Will responds, "I wasn't talking to you. I was talking to Mary Poppins."

And at this point, let me remind audiences everywhere that the presence of Danny McBride is a sure-fire sign that you shouldn't bring kids into theater.

This is one of the film's fatal flaws. It's being marketed as family-friendly entertainment, and parents will probably take kids under age 12 (which is a bad idea for any PG-13 movie) here, expecting an action-comedy everyone can enjoy. Boy, are they in for a surprise. Between constant groping, drug use, and an F-bomb or two, it's enough to make parents want to stay home and rent Paul Blart: Mall Cop again. Heaven help us.

I don't think this is quite the shot in the arm you wanted for your film career, Jorma.

So for whom is this movie? Well, obviously Ferrell and McBride fans, who still imagine to be hilarious in neutered PG-13 form. But it's more for those who remember the series (either the original, trippy '74 incarnation or the terribly awesome '90s version) as a source of campy laughs or the Most Awesome Thing to Watch While High (the latter title applies to any Sid & Marty Krofft production).

When the movie adheres to this premise, throwing gag after gag at the screen, the movie works. But when it tries to focus on a plot (something about retrieving the "tachyon accelerator" for a lizard in a tunic and he'll get them back home, it loses all momentum.

It's almost like a rip in the time-space continuum: when the film's focus is nothing, this film roars.

(Photos courtesy Universal Pictures and Rotten Tomatoes)

The May Review Round-up

2009-05-31T17:38:00.007-05:00

I didn't keep up with this blog like I should have over the month of May (most of 2009, really), so here's a few mini-reviews to get us call caught up and ready to kick this blog into high gear over the summer.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine (B-)
Starring Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Danny Huston
Written by David Benioff and Skip Woods
Directed by Gavin Hood
I went in expecting the worst only to discover that this prequel wasn't quite that bad. Most critics derided it as boring, but I was riveted throughout. And while the Oscar-winning South African director (Tsotsi) isn't quite the right pick to tell the origin story of one of the comics' most iconic characters, it's not a total mess (though there is a bit of heavy-handed commentary on the U.S.'s mistreatment of Africa--it's important, but not relevant here). Bonus points for the scene-stealing Ryan Reynolds as sarcastic superhero Deadpool.

Star Trek (A-)
Starring Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Eric Bana
Written by Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman
Directed by J.J. Abrams
Now here's a prequel (ahem, relaunch) that really takes off. The Abrams-Orci-Kurtzman team (arguably the greatest creative trio since the ZAZ days) have once again taken a franchise desperately in need of some creativity (see also: Mission: Impossible III) and produced the nearly unthinkable: a summer blockbuster with a brain. The entire crew of the USS Enterprise are perfectly cast, and the special effects are actually, well, special. But beneath all that is a compelling story with a whole lot of heart, and that's why it's been the only summer movie with legs thus far (as well as the first 2009 release to surpass $200 million at the box office).

Terminator: Salvation (B)
Starring Christian Bale, Sam Worthington, Anton Yelchin
Written by John D. Brancato & Michael Ferris
Directed by McG
In what's hopefully the first part of a new trilogy, the formerly terrible McG (the unfortunate Charlie's Angels movies) brings us into the future of the Terminator universe, where Skynet has blasted most of humanity to bits, and hunt down the survivors in order to craft more menacing machines. The action (including a frighteningly realistic helicopter crash) pops onscreen, and the acting (something not exactly notable in the first trilogy) elevates the so-so script. New talent discovery/heartthrob Sam Worthington truly impresses, stealing the movie right out from under Bale as the half machine-half human yearning to understand more about his condition. It's his moments onscreen (as well as the spiritual undertones) that separate this from this summer's other machines vs. humans flick. It actually has a brain and a heart.

Drag Me to Hell (A-)
Starring Alison Lohman, Justin Long, Adriana Barraza
Written by Sam Raimi & Ivan Raimi
Directed by Sam Raimi
The big problem with summer movies (and movies in general) lies in the lack of originality, and horror movies especially suffer from this absence. These days you get stuck with sickening "gorenography" (Hostel) or a dreadful remake of a much more effective original scarer (Friday the 13th). So how refreshing a little movie called Drag Me to Hell. After elevating the comic book movie to new heights with Spider-Man 2 (and then dumbing it right back down with the overblown part 3), Sam Raimi has returned to his low-budget scary-funny roots (which reminds me, if you haven't seen any of the Evil Dead trilogy, get on it), devilishly delivering an A-list B movie. The lovely Alison Lohman plays Christine, the fat farm girl turned petite loan officer who denies a phlegmy gypsy woman (Lorna Raver) a third mortgage extension. The shame the old lady experiences turns to unholy anger, and she places a curse on poor Christine, damning her to hell. While the events grow more ludicrous, terrifying, hilarious (and even a bit predictable), it becomes apparent that Raimi is in complete control of this movie, crafting every scene to elicit the audience response he wants. It all adds up to the most unique movie-going experience of the year.

Up (A)
Starring the voices of Ed Asner, Jordan Nagai, Christopher Plummer
Story by Pete Docter, Bob Peterson, Tom McCarthy
Screenplay by Peterson and Docter
Directed by Docter and Peterson
After last summer's magnificent WALL•E, it's obvious that Pixar is no longer content with being the best in the animation game, the want to make the best movies period. And they've staked they're claim with Up, their elating 10th feature. Throughout the film you'll laugh, cry, and stare in awe at the majestic tale of the curmudgeonly Carl and his overeager stowaway Russell. While Disney marketed the film as an adventure, it's more about relationships than anything else. And while it could have easily gotten maudlin, the astute writing team masterfully control the tone of the picture, adding just the right touches at every stop. It's still early, but I doubt any film this year will rise higher than Up.

Summer Movie Preview 2009: The 10s

2009-04-25T22:49:00.031-05:00

Summer movies run the gamut from brainy action to senseless romantic comedies to sleeper indie hits, and they all have the potential to disappoint or impress. So here's a road map with 10 movies you can get excited about, be unsure about, and feel sick about. Enjoy.

ALL CLEAR
• (500) Days of Summer (July 17)
Music video director Marc Webb takes a stab at directing features, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who recounts his relationship with the one and only Zooey Deschanel on shuffle.
• The Brothers Bloom (May 15)
Though its release has twice been delayed, I'm still quite excited about Rian Johnson's follow-up to his incomparable debut Brick. Adrien Brody and Mark Ruffalo play brothers/con artist out to score one last job against eccentric heiress Rachel Weisz. But who's really getting played?
• Brüno (July 10)
Sacha Baron Cohen is at again, slyly revealing the worst of human nature while in disguise as a foreigner. Here, he's gay Austrian TV reporter Brüno, trekking across America, ruining fashion shows, adopting African children, and seducing U.S. Congressmen. It's laughter with a side order of guilt.
• Drag Me to Hell (May 29)
The trailer bills it as "the return of true horror." It's a lofty claim, but if anyone can make it, it's Sam Raimi (The Evil Dead trilogy), who's making a much smaller scale project after the over-indulgent Spider-Man 3.
• The Hangover (June 5)
It seemed as if Todd Phillips had lost his way for a bit there. After hitting it big with the ultra-raunchy Road Trip and Old School, then played it safe with the humorous Starsky & Hutch and humorless School for Scoundrels. Now he's found his mojo again, directing this tale of a bachelor party gone awry. Missing teeth, a baby, a tiger, and Mike Tyson singing "In the Air Tonight." No one knows exactly what's going on, but I definitely want to find out.
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (July 15)
All I can say is it's about time. After Warner Bros. scheduled this for a Thanksgiving release, they moved it back to this summer to keep shareholders happy and consistent after the overwhelming success of The Dark Knight and other 2008 hits. Now, we finally get to probe Lord Voldemort's psyche as Harry and co. prepare for the battle royale.
• Inglourious Basterds (August 21)
Pretty much everyone had written off Quentin Tarantino's claims last year that we would have his WWII epic (starring Brad Pitt no less) done in time for May's Cannes Film Festival. Well they'll all have to eat their words as this brutal film is slated to compete for the prestigious Palme d'Or. Tarantino wants that award (it would be his second--he won in '94 for Pulp Fiction). And his scalps.
• Public Enemies (July 1)
It's not every day a director as brilliant as Michael Mann gets a major summer tentpole release, but here we are. Johnny Depp stars as infamous bandit John Dillinger with Agent Melvin Purvis (Christian Bale) hot on his trail. Mann needs to recover after his near-disastrous Miami Vice adaptation and Depp must prove himself a bankable star post-Pirates. I expect all those things to happen in this top-shelf gangster tale.
• Star Trek (May 8)
While he can't keep his projects from maintaining their luster throughout the years, J.J. Abrams sure knows how to blow away his audience for the first time. His M:i:III was easily the best of the franchise and the completely unique Cloverfield (which he produced) made for quite the cinematic divide in 2008, so I'm expecting nothing less than an massively entertaining box office smash from this reboot of the USS Enterprise.
• Up (May 29)
Another year, another Pixar masterpiece. But for the first time, the animation geniuses have kept their story entirely in the human world. Ed Asner voices the crotchety Carl Fredericksen, who attaches a bevy of balloons to his roof and simply floats away to embark on the adventure he never had. The script is rich with universal humor and biting honesty. It's easily the best movie of 2009.

PROCEED WITH CAUTION
• Angels & Demons (May 15)
Ron Howard is hot off another Oscar nod for Frost/Nixon and Tom Hanks of course needs no introduction, but their last collaboration, The DaVinci Code was disappointing to say the least. But the source material here (where Dr. Langdon uncovers some nasty murder business in the Vatican) is superior to Dan Brown's monster best-seller and they've likely listened to some of the complaints about their last outing, namely Tom's hairdo.
• Away We Go (June 5)
To paraphrase Bart Simpson's reaction to the Planet of the Apes musical: "This movie has everything." Highly esteemed director? Check. Gushed-over writer? Check. Folksy music in the trailer? Oh, yeah. And it's a road trip movie. But this indie dramedy might be too ~~perfect~~ pretentious for it's own good.
• Funny People (July 31)
Judd Apatow is pretty much a god among men when it comes to comedies lately, having stumbled only a few times here and there. His latest is more ambitious, delving into James L. Brooks territory as Sandler plays a comedian who may or may not be dying. It could be his best work as a director, but it could be a maudlin mess.
• Julie & Julia (August 7)
Nora Ephron adapts to bestsellers to spin the twin tales of world-famous spy/chef Julia Child (Meryl Streep) and neurotic New Yorker Julie Powell (Amy Adams). While a chance to see either of these ladies act is worth seeing (let alone together again, right after the devastatingly powerful Doubt), it may be chick-flick overload. Besides, Ephron hasn't done anything truly worthwhile cinematically since, uh, Sleepless in Seattle.
• Land of the Lost (June 5)
I love Will Ferrell and Danny McBride as much as the next guy, but do they really belong in a Sid & Marty Krofft adaptation aimed at families?
• The Proposal (June 19)
I really want to hate this movie (about a Canadian boss marrying her hated assistant for a green card) but it's hard when the two leads are this dern likable. Throw in Betty White, Craig T. Nelson, Mary Steenburgen, The Daily Show's Aasif Mandvi, and Reno 911!'s Niecy Nash and this might be the year's most pleasant surprise.
• The Taking of Pelham 123 (June 12)
I love battle-of-wills movies where two great actors square off (i.e. The Prestige, Doubt) and I'm happy to see John Travolta do something a bit darker (he takes a subway train hostage), but this wasn't a movie that was really begging to be remade and director Tony Scott is notoriously hit-or-miss. Then again there's always the Denzel Washington card. And it's usually well-played.
• Terminator: Salvation (May 21)
Even during the original films, you always knew that someone was going to have to do another trilogy about the actual battle between humans and machines; it was only a matter of time. And while I'm excited about this Christian Bale-led franchise, I don't know if McG (Charlie's Angels) is really the man to be undertaking such a project.
• X-Men Origins: Wolverine (May 1)
As a huge X-Men fanatic, I've been dying for another fix, especially one that would make up for Brett Ratner's rather awful The Last Stand, and Wolverine's backstory has needed proper treatment. And while I'm glad an indie director (one with an Oscar win, no less) is getting the chance to tell such a grand story, someone more accomplished should probably have tackled this. Also, if this is Wolverine's origin, why do we also need to introduce a half-dozen new characters?
• Year One (June 19)
When I first heard about this Biblical comedy starring Jack Black and Michael Cera, I got very excited. I don't believe in sacred cows. But after seeing the lackluster Super Bowl ad and the subsequent trailer, I'm wondering where the humor is. Hopefully director Harold Ramis (Caddyshack) can find it.

TURN BACK NOW
• Dance Flick (May 22)
Looks like the Wayans have brought us back to the '90s. A CGI dancing baby? Heaven help us.
• G-Force (July 24)
Who could have guessed the saddest and most racist movie of the year is aimed at kids? This amalgamation of crude stereotypes, played by the likes of Tracy Morgan, Steve Buscemi, Penelope Cruz, and the one and only Nic Cage. They voice an elite task force of guinea pigs. I'm not kidding.
• G.I. Joe: The Rise of COBRA (August 7)
More noise from a line of HASBRO toys, this one courtesy of Stephen Sommers (The Mummy). I don't even think the peerless Joseph Gordon-Levitt can save this one.
• Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (May 1)
McConaughey grin time. Here he plays a man living out a Valentine's Day Carol of sorts as his past relationships come back to haunt him.
• H2 (August 29)
The sequel to the remake of the original modern slasher flick from Rob Zombie. Will Hollywood ever come up with an original horror movie?
• Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (July 1)
The first one was tolerable. The Meltdown was irritating. This one will be downright insufferable, despite its 3-D presentation.
• Imagine That (June 12)
Eddie Murphy continues his intense decline after his momentary Dreamgirls upswing. Imagine that. Here, he plays the father of a girl whose imagination comes to life.
• My Life in Ruins (June 5)
We wanted you back, Nia Vardalos, but not like this. Not in this cliché story of a 40-something who still wants to find true love. I think it's your career that's in ruins.
• Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (June 24)
Big robots! Loud noises! Eye candy for boys and girls! BOOM!
• The Ugly Truth (July 24)
Did you know that men and women are different? Like, all women make relationships complicated and men just want sex 24/7. How clever!

Top 5 Songs Stuck in My Head this Week: 17 Apr 2009

2009-04-17T16:38:00.002-05:00

5. Fall Out Boy - "America's Suitehearts"

4. Garth Brooks - "Unanswered Prayers"

Unanswered Prayers ( Live) - Garth Brooks

3. Leeland - "Brighter Days"

2. Phil Harris - "The Bare Necessities"

1. The Band - "When I Paint My Masterpiece"

Top 5 Songs Stuck in My Head this Week: 10 Apr 2009 - Good Friday Edition

2009-04-10T22:51:00.002-05:00

5. TV on the Radio - "Heroes"

4. Shane & Shane - "Before the Throne"

3. Fleetwood Mac - "Go Your Own Way"

2. The Beach Boys - "I Know There's an Answer"

1. The Hold Steady - "Atlantic City"

Top 5 Songs Stuck in My Head this Week: 03 Apr 2009

2009-04-03T17:38:00.002-05:00

This is a new feature to my blog. It started back in my days as a young, naïve message board commenter on the NoHomers forum. Now, I've adapted it for your consumption. Enjoy.

5. Beck - "Leopard-Skin Pillbox Hat"

4. Hall and Oates - "Private Eyes"

3. The Isley Brothers - "This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)"

2. Van Morrison - "Into the Mystic"

And for the umpteenth week in a row...
1. Animal Collective - "My Girls"

The return of blogging

2009-04-03T17:38:00.001-05:00

It's been a while, guys. So to all my faithful readers, I'd like to announce my grand return to blogging. It will be somewhat infrequent during this last month or so of school (wow, is it really that close?!) but I'll be updating several times a week during the summer as I hone my blogging and writing skills and keep trying to get my name out there. But, for now, it's good to be back.

Oscar Predictions '09

2009-01-20T09:48:00.003-06:00

BEST PICTURE
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Frost/Nixon
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire
DARK HORSE: Doubt
LONG SHOT: WALL-E

BEST DIRECTOR
Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon
Christopher Nolan, The Dark Knight
Gus Van Sant, Milk
DARK HORSE: Darren Aronofsky, The Wrestler
LONG SHOT: Jonathan Demme, Rachel Getting Married

BEST ACTOR
Clint Eastwood, Gran Torino
Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn, Milk
Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler
DARK HORSE: Richard Jenkins, The Visitor
LONG SHOT: Robert Downey, Jr., Iron Man

BEST ACTRESS
Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married
Melissa Leo, Frozen River
Meryl Streep, Doubt
Kristin Scott Thomas, I've Loved You So Long
Kate Winslet, Revolutionary Road
DARK HORSE: Angelina Jolie, Changeling
LONG SHOT: Cate Blanchett, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Josh Brolin, Milk
Robert Downey, Jr., Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt
Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
Dev Patel, Slumdog Millionaire
DARK HORSE: James Franco, Milk
LONG SHOT: Aaron Eckhart, Gary Oldman, Michael Caine, or Morgan Freeman, The Dark Knight

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis, Doubt
Taraji P. Henson, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler
Kate Winslet, The Reader
DARK HORSE: Amy Adams, Doubt
LONG SHOT: Debra Winger, Rachel Getting Married

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Woody Allen, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Dustin Lance Black, Milk
Joel & Ethan Coen, Burn after Reading
Jenny Lumet, Rachel Getting Married
Robert Siegel, The Wrestler
DARK HORSE: Nick Schenk, Gran Torino
LONG SHOT: Baz Luhrmann & Stuart Beattie & Ronald Harwood & Richard Flanagan, Australia

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Simon Beaufoy, Slumdog Millionaire
Peter Morgan, Frost/Nixon
Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan, The Dark Knight
Eric Roth, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
John Patrick Shanley, Doubt
DARK HORSE: Justin Haythe, Revolutionary Road
LONG SHOT: Clayton Frohman and Edward Zwick, Defiance

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
Kung Fu Panda
WALL-E
Waltz with Bashir
DARK HORSE: Bolt
LONG SHOT: Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who!

BEST ORIGINAL SONG
"I Thought I Lost You" from Bolt
"Gran Torino" from Gran Torino
"Right Here, Right Now" from High School Musical 3: Senior Year
"Jai Ho" from Slumdog Millionaire
"The Wrestler" from The Wrestler
DARK HORSE: "Trouble the Water" from Trouble the Water
LONG SHOT: "Dracula's Lament" from Forgetting Sarah Marshall

Best of 2008: Film

2008-12-31T12:16:00.044-06:00

Revisions since original publication indicated in bold.

MOVIES:
The Dark Knight (dir. Christopher Nolan)
The ultimate sequel, comic book movie, crime epic, morality play, summer movie, et al. Any questions?

Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son about His Father (dir. Kurt Kuenne)
The documentary of the year: part murder-mystery, part touching anecdote, all told with the emotional heft of the pain of losing a loved one. Bring the tissues.

Doubt (dir. John Patrick Shanley)
Can you name another movie recently this chock full of this many spectacular performances? Neither can I. But beyond the performances is another movie that causes you to wrestle with your preconceived notions, your perceptions, your faith.

Forgetting Sarah Marshall (dir. Nicholas Stoller)
The year's best comedy, which out-Apatows Judd Apatow. Funny, smart, sweet, and extremely relevant to anyone who's gone through a breakup recently.

Iron Man (dir. Jon Favreau)
If Dark Knight was $100 steak, this is the burger from the joint around the corner. The former may be better overall, but the latter is so much more laid-back and enjoyable.

Milk (dir. Gus Van Sant)
So much more alive than most biopics of recent years, Milk adds context, visual flair, and timeliness to the generic life story, to give a riveting history lesson, made all the more relevant in light of recent political events. Sean Penn and Josh Brolin are riveting.

Slumdog Millionaire (dir. Danny Boyle)
In a world where every other release is a remake of something that wasn't that good to begin with, here's a truly original story that'll sweep you up with its unique storytelling device and genuinely uplifting message.

U2 3D (dirs. Mark Pellington and Catherine Owens)
Some of us may never get to see the great band in concert, but this truly is "Even Better than the Real Thing," with cameras taking you onstage, backstage, and front row center. The best moviegoing experience of the year.

WALL·E (dir. Andrew Stanton)
Not content to make an animated movie that merely reaches the heights of great cinema, Stanton (Finding Nemo) went into the great beyond to create a work of art that's part Chaplin homage, part vicious satire of lazy humanity.

The Wrestler (dir. Darren Aronofsky)
Aronofsky's simplest yet most powerful film. Mickey Rourke gives the performance of a lifetime as Randy "The Ram" Robinson, a pro big in the 80s and now clinging to his glory days, a shell of his former self.

Runners-Up: American Teen, Burn after Reading, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Frost/Nixon, Ghost Town, Gran Torino, Hellboy II: The Golden Army, Kung Fu Panda, Run Fat Boy Run, Tropic Thunder

PERFORMANCES:
Russell Brand as Aldous Snow in Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Riffing on his own bad-boy persona, Brand delivered one of the all-time great supporting comedic performances as the lead singer of rock band Infant Sorrow. He's a one man Spinal Tap.

Ben Burtt as WALL·E in WALL·E
What? A sound mixer can't land a spot on this list? Well, truly any human voice would have cheapened the beautiful emotions of the robot in Pixar's latest masterpiece.

Robert Downey, Jr. as Kirk Lazarus in Tropic Thunder
A bravura performance from Downey, as self-serious Oscar hound Kirk Lazarus, who "never drops character 'til the DVD commentary." The best time anyone's played a "dude playing a dude disguised as another dude."

Clint Eastwood as Walt Kowalski in Gran Torino
If this really is the legend's final onscreen performance, what a way to go. As the grizzled, racist, but ultimately heroic Korean War vet, Eastwood delivers his all-time greatest acting work.

Everyone in Doubt
It's just too hard to single out any one performance from this ensemble, with Viola Davis, Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, and Philip Seymour Hoffman all in top form as people affected by weighty allegations.

Frank Langella as Richard Nixon in Frost/Nixon
Blowing all previous attempts to portray the disgraced President out of the water, veteran actor Langella gives the crown jewel in his lustrous career in Ron Howard's biopic, a role he previously owned (and won a Tony for) on Broadway.

Heath Ledger as the Joker in The Dark Knight
Not only the best villain of all-time, but deserves a spot alongside the all-time great cinematic performances in history.

Sean Penn as Harvey Milk in Milk
Going beyond mere imitation, this Oscar winning performance from notorious hot-head Sean Penn is truly inspiring, just like the man himself. Exuding charisma and hope, it's a wholly captivating performance.

Brad Pitt as Benjamin Button in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
This award could also go to the F/X wizards who pasted Pitt's face on younger, smaller bodies as he ages in reverse, but it's really Pitt's career-topping performance that's the glue that holds the vast landscape of the film together.

Mickey Rourke as Randy "The Ram" Robinson in The Wrestler
The kind of role that comes along once in a lifetime. Sometimes actors can simply BE real people (Jamie Foxx and Helen Mirren come to mind), but so rare is the performance that makes you feel the actor truly IS this fictional character. The Best Actor trophy belongs to him.

QUOTES:
American Teen
Hannah Bailey: "All we have to do is figure out who we are and where we're heading in life. Holy s***!"

The Dark Knight
The Joker (Heath Ledger): “I'll show you. When the chips are down, these... these civilized people, they'll eat each other. See, I'm not a monster. I'm just ahead of the curve."

Doubt
Father Flynn (Philip Seymour Hoffman): "There are people who go after your humanity, that tell you that the light in your heart is a weakness. Don’t believe it."

Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Rachel (Mila Kunis): "It's a metaphor for, you know, for society, for reliance, on technology."
Aldous Snow (Russell Brand): “It’s a metaphor for a crap movie.”

Kung Fu Panda
Po (Jack Black): “Skadoosh!”

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist
Thom (Aaron Yoo): "See, the Beatles had it all figured out."
Nick (Michael Cera): "What are you talking about?"
Thom: "I want to hold your hand..."

Role Models
Ronnie (Bobb'e J. Thompson): “F*** you, Miss Daisy!”

Run, Fat Boy, Run
Gordon (Dylan Moran): "That's the second-most disgusting fluid I've ever gotten in my eye."

Tropic Thunder
Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey, Jr.): "Check it out. Dustin Hoffman, Rain Man, look retarded, act retarded, not retarded. Counted toothpicks, cheated cards. Autistic, sho'. Not retarded. You know Tom Hanks, Forrest Gump. Slow, yes. Retarded, maybe. Braces on his legs. But he charmed the pants off Nixon and won a ping-pong competition. That ain't retarded. Peter Sellers, Being There. Infantile, yes. Retarded, no. You went full retard, man. Never go full retard. You don't buy that? Ask Sean Penn, 2001, I Am Sam. Remember? Went full retard, went home empty handed..."

The Wrestler
Randy "The Ram" Robinson: “The only place I get hurt is out there.”

DVD RELEASES:
12 Angry Men (50th Anniversary Edition)
One of the 10 greatest films ever made got the deluxe DVD treatment. If you haven't seen it yet, drop whatever you're doing and pick this up.

A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!
Stephen Colbert's hilarious send-up of Christmas specials should become a new tradition, and the DVDs interactive Advent calendar is a genius extra.

The Dark Knight (Blu-ray Limited Edition Gift Set)
Really, any edition will do, and Lord knows every retail outlet had their own spin on the disc (some with a collector's coin, some with a mask, and the Blu-ray set, complete with replica Batpod).

The Godfather: The Coppola Restoration
A stellar update of an already essential box set. The films have never looked better.

Iron Man (Ultimate 2-Disc Edition)
The perfect movie to debut your new HDTV, Blu-ray player and Surround Sound system. I am Iron Man, indeed.

My Boys: The Complete First Season
The best sitcom on TV deserves to be treasured, and keep you caught up with its short seasons.

The Nightmare Before Christmas (2-Disc Collector's Edition)
Jack Skellington's rich, dark adventure has never looked better. Look here!

The Simpsons: The Eleventh Season
Despite the standard edition's hideously impractical packaging, and despite the eleventh season containing two of the worst episodes in the show's history ("Bart to the Future" and "Kill the Alligator and Run"), this is the last season worth owning. Nab it, and get the collectible Krusty packaging while you can.

Sleeping Beauty (50th Anniversary Platinum Edition)
Another of Uncle Walt's true treasures, the fairy tale looks simply stunning. Add it before Disney does something stupid like put it back in the vault.

Spaced: The Complete Series
Until this year, I had only heard of this BBC series, the precursor to Nick Frost, Simon Pegg, and Edgar Wright's brilliant films. Whip-smart and British to its core.

SPECIAL AWARDS
BEST TRAILER (REAL):
Cloverfield

BEST TRAILER (FAKE):
Satan's Alley

BEST SONG:
Bruce Springsteen - "The Wrestler"
From the film The Wrestler

BEST POSTER:
Forgetting Sarah Marshall

Best of 2008: Music

2008-12-30T13:31:00.049-06:00

Revisions since original publication indicated in bold.

ALBUMS:
AMERICAN TEEN: MUSIC FROM THE MOTION PICTURE (Almost Gold)
Of all the albums in 2008, this is the one I listened to the most. A pitch-perfect compilation that flows just as well outside of the context of the movie.

Coldplay - VIVA LA VIDA OR DEATH AND ALL HIS FRIENDS (Parlophone)
With just the right amount of ambition and grandiose musicianship, the best band in Britain rebounded sensationally from the lackluster X&Y.

Death Cab for Cutie - NARROW STAIRS (Atlantic)
Still in top form, Ben Gibbard and co. continue to make one great album after another, defying even their own expectations.

Fleet Foxes - FLEET FOXES (Sub Pop)
While My Morning Jacket got ~~too weird for their own good~~ experimental and Kings of Leon went all-out for arena rock, the Seattle band claimed the throne of the Best Southern Rock Band.

Girl Talk - FEED THE ANIMALS (Illegal Art)
Arguably superior to NIGHT RIPPER, DJ Gregg Gillis sampled over 300 tracks for the year's best party album.

The Hold Steady - STAY POSITIVE (Vagrant)
Perhaps a level down from BOYS & GIRLS IN AMERICA, but still a collection of raw energy and emotion.

Kings of Leon - ONLY BY THE NIGHT (RCA)
When an album is this good, who cares that it's more of a lateral shift than a step up? Leaving Southern rock behind for the sunny shores of mainstream guitar-pop, the Followill clan became the best act in a whole new genre.

Lecrae - REBEL (Reach)
It's not everyday one man legitimizes and entire sub-genre of music, but Denton's own Lecrae Moore brought gravitas and genuine talent to Christian rap.

Sigur Rós - WITH A BUZZ IN OUR EARS WE PLAY ENDLESSLY (EMI)
The Icelandic group decided to get folky, yet the new batch of tunes is every bit of glorious as any of their previous efforts.

Kanye West - 808s & HEARTBREAK (Roc-A-Fella)
The BLOOD ON THE TRACKS for the iPod age. Kanye surpassed anything else he's ever recorded with this, his most intimate album ever.

Runners-Up:
The All-American Rejects - WHEN THE WORLD COMES DOWN, Beck - MODERN GUILT, Bloc Party - INTIMACY, Bon Iver - FOR EMMA FOREVER AGO, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - DIG!!! LAZARUS DIG!!!, Fall Out Boy - FOLIE á DEUX, Keane - PERFECT SYMMETRY, Leeland - OPPOSITE WAY, MGMT - ORACULAR SPECTACULAR, Snow Patrol - A HUNDRED MILLION SUNS

SINGLES:
Coldplay - "Viva La Vida"
From the album VIVA LA VIDA OR DEATH AND ALL HIS FRIENDS
Here's a true testament to a song's power: it still resonates, even after it's been "overplayed."

Does it Offend You, Yeah? - "Dawn of the Dead"
From the album YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU'RE GETTING YOURSELF INTO
While the album couldn't live up to this track, the steel drum-tinged ballad of doomed love should be played again and again.

Elbow - "Grounds for Divorce"
From the album THE SELDOM-SEEN KID
Unsurprisingly, the video features the band performing this stomper in a seedy bar. Raise a glass and feel the raw energy.

Estelle featuring Kanye West - "American Boy"
From the album SHINE
While Beyoncé and Leona Lewis ruled the airwaves, this British babe quietly released the year's best R&B track.

Keane - "Spiraling"
From the album PERFECT SYMMETRY
Prepare yourself. The lead single from their latest album is a complete 180 from anything they've done before. But it's just as good as any of their winsome ballads.

Kings of Leon - "Sex on Fire"
From the album ONLY BY THE NIGHT
Only a band this dirty would choose this as their lead single. Great driving music, just don't try to act out the lyrics.

M.I.A. - "Paper Planes"
From the album KALA
Technically, this song came out in '07, but soared to popularity thanks to David Gordon Green's Pineapple Express. The only downside? The radio edit, which featured video game explosions in lieu of gunshots. Wussies.

MGMT - "Time to Pretend"
From the album ORACULAR SPECTACULAR
Another late '07/early '08 entry, the duo provided us with this generation's "The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades." Only, you know, good.

Vampire Weekend - "A-Punk"
From the album VAMPIRE WEEKEND
If you were in Austin during SXSW, this track was inescapable. Even if their hype preceded them, this track was truly indispensible.

Kanye West - "Heartless"
From the album 808s & HEARTBREAK
A song that would have come across as whiny in any other hands, 'Ye bared his soul and listeners responded.

VIDEOS:
(All NSFW are outbound linked, not embedded)

The Black Keys - "Strange Times"
Directed by Lance Bangs

Who wouldn't want to play laser tag with the Ohio rockers?

The BPA featuring David Byrne and Dizzee Rascal - "Toe Jam"
Directed by Keith Schofield
Fatboy Slim's new side project proved he still knows how to make clever videos, this one featuring the most creative use of censor bars in history.

Evangelicals - "Midnight Vignette"
Directed by Matt Leach

Norman, Oklahoma's own Evangelicals paid tribute to '70s slasher flicks. Keep the Grindhouse dream alive, guys.

Girl Talk - "Still Here"
Directed by Chris Beckman

YouTube user BunnyGreenhouse made a whole series of videos to Greg Gillis' stellar album, all of them brilliant labors of love. Here's a taste.

Lenka - "The Show"
Directed by James Gulliver Hancock/Lenka

The Australian actress-turned-singer's buoyant energy is hard to ignore. One view and you'll be bouncing around yourself.

The Lonely Island - "Jizz in My Pants"
Directed by Akiva Schaffer

The SNL Digital Short/lead single from 2009's Incredibad, this ode to all things premature and immature gets funnier every time you watch it.

She & Him - "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?"
Directed by Ace Norton

Subtext, schmubtext. It's two and a half minutes of Zooey Deschanel!

Usher featuring Young Jeezy - "Love in This Club"
Directed by Chris Thrash

The owner of one of the only complete line-ups of the original Rock-afire Explosion (the animatronic band from Showbiz Pizza), Alabama's Chris Thrash takes requests for his band to perform pop hits. This is the best.

Weezer - "Pork and Beans"
Directed by Matthew Cullen

With this, the lead video from their best album in years, Rivers Cuomo and co. brought all viral videos full circle.

Kanye West featuring Dwele - "Flashing Lights"
Directed by Spike Jonze
With this mini-film noir, Spike Jonze again proves that he needs to make another feature already.

LYRICS:
The All-American Rejects - "Damn Girl"
When he's inside you/Know there's no room for me

Coldplay featuring Jay-Z - "Lost+"
If you succeed, prepare to be crucified

Death Cab for Cutie - "Your New Twin-Sized Bed"
You look so defeated lying there in your new twin-sized bed/With a single pillow underneath your single head

The Hold Steady - "Constructive Summer"
Let this be my annual reminder/That we can all be something bigger

The Lonely Island - "Jizz in My Pants"
When Bruce Willis was dead at the end of Sixth Sense, I...

Keane - "Spiralling"
When we fall in love/We're just falling/In love with ourselves

Lecrae - "Truth"
What if my truth says yours is a lie? Is it still true?

Vampire Weekend - "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa"/"Ottoman"
This feels so unnatural, Peter Gabriel too

Butch Walker - "3 Kids from Brooklyn"
I grabbed shots in Decatur with a girl who's on my block/She's the best drummer that I know/Her band's always struggling and they always say they're juggling/All their schedules just to play a show/Working at American Apparel selling women's clothes to guys/She got a call to play in someone's band I don't know well/She don't wan't to do it, she's so broke that she said screw it/Then I never spoke to her again

Kanye West - "Heartless"
How could ya be so Dr. Evil?/You're bringin' out a side of me that I don't know

SPECIAL AWARDS
BEST NEW ARTISTS:
Black Kids (Jacksonville, FL)

Fleet Foxes (Seattle, WA)

MGMT (Brooklyn, NY)

She & Him (Portland, OR)

The Ting Tings (Manchester, England)

BEST MIXTAPE:
Rhymefest - MARK RONSON PRESENTS: MAN IN THE MIRROR

MOST OVERRATED ALBUM:
TV on the Radio - DEAR SCIENCE (Interscope)

MOST UNDERRATED ALBUM:
Scarlett Johansson - ANYWHERE I LAY MY HEAD (Atco)

ALBUM THAT WOULD SOUND 10x BETTER ON VINYL:
She & Him - VOLUME ONE (Merge)

GUILTIEST PLEASURE (ALBUM):
Fall Out Boy - FOLIE á DEUX (Decaydance)

GUILTIEST PLEASURE (SINGLE):
Jason Mraz - "I'm Yours"
From the album WE SING, WE DANCE, WE STEAL THINGS

BEST COVER SONG:
The Swell Season - "Astral Weeks"

BEST ALBUM TITLE:
Martha Wainwright - I KNOW YOU'RE MARRIED BUT I HAVE FEELINGS TOO (Shock)

BEST ALBUM COVER:
The Walkmen - YOU & ME (Gigantic)

Best of 2008: Television

2008-12-29T14:34:00.012-06:00

SHOWS:
American Idol (Fox)
It could have easily gotten stale, but thanks to another talented group of contestants, and the most deserving winner in years, I was hooked again.

A Colbert Christmas (Comedy Central)
Featuring all-new songs from Fountains of Wayne's Adam Schlesinger and a slew of guest stars eager to play along, this should be a new holiday tradition.

The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

A Colbert Christmas: Peace, Love and Understanding

Colbert at Christmas
Colbert Christmas DVD

Green Screen
Bill O'Reilly Interview

Elvis Mitchell: Under the Influence (TCM)
With At the Movies a hollow shell of its once great programming, former New York Times critic Mitchell filled the void by chatting about movies with some of Hollywood's best actors and directors.

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (FX)
Ditching any remnants of plot, the wackiest show on TV got even wackier. Highlight: "The Gang Solves the Gas Crisis."

The Late Show with David Letterman (CBS)
During the endless Writers' Strike, David Letterman's Worldwide Pants struck their own deal with the scribes, and gave us some much needed guilt-free late-night programming. What's more, Dave gave us one of the year's best moments with his tirade against John McCain, who claimed to have to catch an early fight, only to find out he was down the street talking with Katie Couric.

My Boys (TBS)
While it seemed we were already on Season 3 or 4, the show's second season took some interesting turns, with alleged affairs, book deals, and the funniest wedding scene in TV history.

My Name is Earl (NBC)
Continually proving that it still knows how to remain fresh, even well into its fourth season, the Hickey's misadventures continue to cause uproarious laughter.

Robot Chicken: Star Wars – Episode II (Cartoon Network)
Not quite as good as its predecessor, but still a reverent but biting send-up of the entire saga. Now if only Dr. Ball could be a real series...

The Simpsons (Fox)
While it will never have a season full of brilliance, the longest-running comedy on television still had some flashes of genius, including the episode "E. Pluribus Wiggum," the best political satire on TV.

True Blood (HBO)
Twilight schmilight. This gritty, darkly funny series of vampires living among us provided chills, laughs, and scathing social commentary.

PERFORMANCES:
Michael Bunin, Jim Gaffigan, Kyle Howard, Jamie Kaler, and Reid Scott as the Boys on My Boys
Again, all five men are the perfect foil for tomboy PJ, still trying to navigate among the friends, siblings, and suitors.

Elvis Costello as himself on A Colbert Christmas
The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer had no problem dressing in elaborate costumes, getting eaten by a bear, or making a joke (while dressed as a Jack-in-the-Box) about the Jonas Brothers "turning his crank." A good sport indeed.

Mark Cuban as himself on The Simpsons
Gleefully skewering his own oddball billionaire reputation, the Mavericks owner one-upped even Mr. Burns.

Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton, Rob McElhenney, Kaitlin Olsen, and Danny DeVito as the Gang on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Definitely a more obscene version of the crew from Seinfeld, with DeVito the Newman here, the Gang got into situations most people would be arrested for, but escaped incarceration with their hair-brained antics.

Tina Fey as Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live
Going beyond mere imitation, Fey's mockery of the VP candidate belongs in the canon of great real-life performances next to Jamie Foxx and Helen Mirren.

Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová at the Oscars
Their absolutely lovely rendition of "Falling Slowly," as well as their humble acceptance speech, transcended them past musicians--and into genuine role models.

John Michael Higgins as Phil Knight and Mikey Day as Craig on Kath & Kim
While the show was named for their significant others, it was the faithful husbands who really made the show above average.

Elvis Mitchell on Under the Influence
The critic and historian proved an invaluable addition to TCM's already stellar staff, offering insight into the minds of some of the best folks working in Hollywood today.

Anna Paquin as Sookie Stackhouse on True Blood
With a show that goes in as many different directions as Alan Ball's horror series, it needs glue to hold it together. Luckily, the Oscar winner provides it as the Southern belle/victim/mystery woman.

Jerry Van Dyke as Jerry on My Name is Earl
Last year's film Waitress brought us Andy Griffith as a kindly old grouch, and here, Luther from Coach does the same.

QUOTES:
2008 presidential acceptance speech
Barack Obama: "If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer. It's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen, by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different, that their voices could be that difference. It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled. Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been just a collection of individuals or a collection of red states and blue states. We are, and always will be, the United States of America."

2008 presidential concession speech
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ): "I would not -- I would not be an -- an American worthy of the name, should I regret a fate that has allowed me the extraordinary privilege of serving this country for a half a century. Today, I was a candidate for the highest office in the country I love so much. And tonight, I remain her servant. That is blessing enough for anyone..."

A Colbert Christmas
Stephen Colbert: "My guest tonight is Elvis Costello. For our younger viewers, think of him as an older, male Avril Lavigne. But instead of skateboarding, he sings about people dying in shipyards."

Countdown
Keith Olbermann: "If you voted for this Proposition or support those who did or the sentiment they expressed, I have some questions, because, truly, I do not understand. Why does this matter to you? What is it to you? In a time of impermanence and fly-by-night relationships, these people over here want the same chance at permanence and happiness that is your option. They don't want to deny you yours. They don't want to take anything away from you. They want what you want—a chance to be a little less alone in the world."

The Grammys
Vince Gill: “I got a Grammy handed to me by a Beatle. Did that happen to you, Kanye?”

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Charlie (Charlie Day): "Wild card, bitches!"

My Name is Earl
Buddy (Seth Green): "Have you ever seen a movie without Burt Reynolds in it?"
Earl (Jason Lee): "Not all the way through, no."

Saturday Night Live
Tina Fey: "Bitch is the new black."

The Simpsons
Kent Brockman (Harry Shearer): "With Springfield's primary now first in the nation, our humble city is overrun with candidates, newshounds, spin doctors, hacks, flacks, Russerts, Blitzers and even the occasional voter. Sir, do you have a preference?"
Moe (Hank Azaria): "Yeah, I like girls, fruit loop."
Kent Brockman: "Oh. Are you a registered voter?"
Moe: "I'm a registered… something."

World News Tonight
Sarah Palin: “As Putin rears his head and comes into the air space of the United States of America, where do they go? It's Alaska."

SPECIAL AWARD:
BEST SHOW I STILL DON'T CARE ABOUT:
30 Rock (NBC)

BEST SHOW THAT GOT COMPLETELY DESECRATED IN 2008:
At the Movies (Syndicated)
THEN:

Richard Roeper and Roger Ebert (Chicago Sun-Times)

NOW:

Ben Lyons (E!) and Ben Mankiewicz (Turner Classic Movies)

Worst of 2008

2008-12-28T19:32:00.009-06:00

FILM:
1. Max Payne (dir. John Moore)
Not even Mark Wahlberg can save this video game adaptation, hopefully the final nail in that genre's coffin. Some cool slo-mo shoot-outs, but ultimately it's the last thing a movie, let alone an action picture should be, dull.

2. Wanted (dir. Timur Bekmambetov)
The action scenes were supposed to save this picture, but advertisers gave away every single "whoa" moment in trailers and TV spots. Subtract those cool parts, and take a whiny James McAvoy, an alien-looking Angelina Jolie, and Morgan Freeman saying "Shoot this motherf***er!" Oh, and a plot whose key element involves a LOOM. It all adds up to utter stupidity.

3. The Spirit (dir. Frank Miller)
No one asked for a cross between Sin City and Adam West's Batman, and that's exactly what we got.

4. Choke (dir. Clark Gregg)
So much wasted potential. Adapted from Chuck Palahniuk's extremely graphic novel, Gregg simply can't focus his adaptation in any coherent direction, so what's left if is a gross, ambling, cliché tale of a man who has to learn about himself in order to become a better person. But it's too hard to care when all the characters are so unlikable.

5. Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay (dirs. Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossburg)
More wasted potential. The first was a genre-defying, sharp-edged satire. This sequel simply throws everything (including bodily fluids) at the screen to see what sticks. What a shame.

SONGS:
1. Britney Spears – “Womanizer”
From the album CIRCUS
Don't call it a comeback indeed. The epitome of desperation.

Womanizer - Britney Spears

2. Lil Wayne – “Lollipop”
From the album THA CARTER III
The so-called "Greatest Rapper Alive" certainly didn't prove his mettle here, boasting about money, cars, and loose women. Yawn. Seriously, R. Kelly could suggest circles around you, sir.

Lollipop - Lil Wayne

3. Katy Perry – “I Kissed a Girl”
From the album ONE OF THE BOYS
If this chart-topper was only a song about unrequited love like Jill Sobule's mid-90s hit, that would be one thing. Alas, the former gospel singer's same-sex smooches are simply an attempt to attract attention. I don't like it.

I Kissed A Girl - Katy Perry

4. Sugarland – “All I Wanna Do”
From the album LOVE ON THE INSIDE
One of the reasons modern country music deserves to die a slow and painful death, the latest crossover hit will get stuck in your head and never get out. All I wanna do-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o is shoot myself.

All I Wanna Do - Sugarland

5. (tie)
3 Doors Down – “Citizen Soldier”
Kid Rock – “Warrior”
These two atrocious singles from the National Guard prove music is another endeavor on which the military should maintain an isolationist policy.

Citizen Soldier - 3 Doors Down

Warrior - Kid Rock

SHOWS:
1. I Love Money (Vh1)
There are no words. This show, featuring the "stars" of Vh1's atrocious Love reality shows competing for money, is simply the end of civilization as we know it.

2. The Moment of Truth (Fox)
Risk losing your family or a large sum of money? It's your choice on this, a new low even for Fox.

3. Hole in the Wall (Fox)
Is this what it's come to? Human Tetris? Are you sure Fox knows what they're doing?

4. A Double Shot at Love (MTV)
If this reality sequel, about two bisexual twin sisters, is really about love, shock value has no place in it. Good luck with your music-free programming, MTV.

5. Testees (FX)
For a network built on edgy, top-notch programming, FX really blew it with this follow-up to It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia about two buddies who agree to be laboratory guinea pigs. Gross, weird for weird's sake, and flat-out unfunny.

Revisionary Road 2007

2008-12-19T23:44:00.016-06:00

In anticipation of my Best of 2008 list, let's look at my revised Best of 2007. Bold titles are new additions.

FILMS:
• American Gangster (dir. Ridley Scott)
• Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead (dir. Sidney Lumet)
• The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (dir. Julian Schnabel)
• Grindhouse (dirs. Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino)
• Hot Fuzz (dir. Edgar Wright)
• Juno (dir. Jason Reitman)
• The Kingdom (dir. Peter Berg)
• Once (dir. John Carney)
• Superbad (dir. Greg Mottola)
• Zodiac (dir. David Fincher)

Falling Off: No Country for Old Men, Sweeney Todd, Waitress

ALBUMS:
• 116 Clique – AMPED (Reach)
• Arcade Fire – NEON BIBLE (Merge)
• Explosions in the Sky – ALL OF A SUDDEN I MISS EVERYONE (Temporary Residence Limited)
• Glen Hansard & Markéta Irglová – ONCE (Canvasback)
• Kings of Leon – BECAUSE OF THE TIMES (Hand Me Down)
• LCD Soundsystem – SOUND OF SILVER (Death from Above)
• Modest Mouse – WE WERE DEAD BEFORE THE SHIP EVEN SANK (Epic)
• My Chemical Romance – THE BLACK PARADE (Reprise)
• Rilo Kiley – UNDER THE BLACK LIGHT (Warner Bros.)
• St. Vincent – MARRY ME (Beggars Banquet)

Falling Off: Feist - THE REMINDER, Mika - LIFE IN CARTOON MOTION, Say Anything - IN DEFENSE OF THE GENRE, The Shins - WINCING THE NIGHT AWAY, Stars - IN OUR BEDROOM AFTER THE WAR, Kanye West - GRADUATION

SINGLES:
• Arcade Fire - "No Cars Go"
• Feist - "1234"
• Jay-Z - "Roc Boys (And the Winner Is...)"
• The Killers - "Read My Mind"
• LCD Soundsystem - "All My Friends"
• Mika - "Grace Kelly"
• Damien Rice - "Rootless Tree"
• Say Anything - "Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too"
• Spoon - "The Underdog"
• Kanye West featuring T-Pain - "The Good Life"

Falling Off: Orba Squara - "Perfect Timing (This Morning)," Robin Thicke - "Lost Without U," Amy Winehouse - "Rehab"

SHOWS:
• Californication (Showtime)
• The Colbert Report (Comedy Central)
• Flight of the Conchords (HBO)
• Heroes (NBC)
• My Boys (TBS)
• My Name is Earl (NBC)
• Robot Chicken: Star Wars (Cartoon Network)/Family Guy: Blue Harvest (Fox)
• Scrubs (NBC)
• The Simpsons (Fox)
• Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (NBC)

Falling Off: King of the Hill (Fox)

Mooney at the Movies: Eagle Eye

2008-09-29T14:47:00.003-05:00

Eagle Eye (B)

Starring Shia LaBeouf, Michelle Monaghan, Billy Bob Thornton, Rosario Dawson, Michael Chiklis, Anthony Mackie, Ethan Embry
Story by Dan McDermott
Screenplay by John Glenn & Travis Adam Wright and Hillary Seitz and Dan McDermott
Directed by DJ Caruso

Read the full review here.

Photo courtesy DreamWorks

Mooney at the Movies: Choke

2008-09-29T14:41:00.008-05:00

Choke (C-)

Starring Sam Rockwell, Anjelica Huston, Kelly MacDonald, Brad William Henke, Clark Gregg
Written and directed by Clark Gregg
Based on the novel by Chuck Palahniuk

Read the full review here.

Photo courtesy Fox Searchlight.

Mooney at the Movies: Ghost Town

2008-09-21T16:24:00.004-05:00

Ghost Town (B+)

Starring Ricky Gervais, Téa Leoni, Greg Kinnear, Kristen Wiig, Aasif Mandvi
Written by David Koepp & John Camps
Directed by David Koepp

Ghost Town is the most pleasant surprise of 2008.

What could have been a painfully unfunny and misguided vehicle from the seriously hilarious Ricky Gervais is actually a pleasant romantic comedy that makes up for its trips into cliché with consistently sharp, chuckle-inducing jokes and impeccable timing.

And the person most responsible for this movie's success is Gervais himself. Yes, the master of sarcasm is up to his old tricks again as Bertram Pincus, D.D.S., a character as awkward as his name. His people skills leave something to be desired, as he avoids contact with the living as much as possible. (His reasonings are later explained, but not as fully as I would've liked. But hey, this isn't supposed to be As Good as it Gets.)

So imagine his surprise--and irritation--when, after his death and resurrection on the operating table, he can, like little Haley Joel Osment, see dead people. And he's gotta help them. Just like little Haley Joel Osment.

Yes, Ghost Town cribs a LOT from Sixth Sense, but this ain't no horror show. This one's strictly for the laughs. And there are plenty.

Anyone who's seen the original Office knows Gervais elicits laughs like few other sitcom actors. And his first big exposure to U.S. audiences (which makes it even sadder that Ghost Town bombed opening weekend) will win over lots of loyal fans. Not only does he shine in his showdowns with his nurse (Audrie Neenan), his surgeon (Kristen Wiig, again proving she's better than SNL), and the otherworldly thorn in his side Frank (Greg Kinnear, gliding through this role with the greatest of ease), he's also got outstanding chemistry with his neighbor Gwen (Téa Leoni, one of the most shamefully underutilized actresses in Hollywood).

Though their relationship starts out frosty, they grow closer as Pincus tries to fulfill the bargain Frank struck with him: break up Gwen's upcoming wedding, and the ghosts are gone for good.

And of course we all know what's coming next. Fortunately Ghost Town remains razor-sharp and hilarious throughout, and it's easy to forgive a movie this joyous for its occasional trips into cliché.

The one piece of good news about Ghost Town's poor box office performance is that soon and very soon audiences will be able to catch up with this gem on DVD. But it's worth catching anywhere. This is the year's best date movie.

Photo courtesy DreamWorks/Paramount

Week in Review (09-12-08)

2008-09-13T18:58:00.007-05:00

This is a new feature on the blog. Kind of a rundown of what's gone on this week in pop culture and what I thought about it:

SUNDAY
Brady out for the season
For those of us who still think he's a douchebag, this is sweet justice. Sort of.

MONDAY
Russell Brand/VMAs backlash
How can someone so funny here, be so horrendously unfunny at the awards? We may never know. Personally, I have no problems picking on the Jonas Brothers. But go after them for being talentless, not abstinent. And even though I didn't watch the whole thing, I got enough of it to know it was simply two hours of pro-Britney propaganda.

Michael Caine misleads the public about 'Dark Knight' sequel casting
If Nolan isn't signed, no one else is. Geez. All the rumors just need to die.

TUESDAY
New iPod Nanos released
I want one. Period.

'Disturbia' getting sued
Really? Shouldn't this have been done last year? When the film came out? Before it made lots of money? Oh right, no one ever sues anyone who has no money.

WEDNESDAY
Kanye releases "Love Lockdown" on his blog
New direction or not, this is just dreadful. The Auto-Tune is not your friend, Kanye. You don't know how mad this makes me. You're better than Akon, T-Pain, and Sean Kingston. What are you DOING?!

THURSDAY
Kanye arrested
Sure he's got an ego, but everyone at TMZ is a jerk. So I guess I'll side with someone who does something for a living?

Liberace biopic planned
Who asked for this? Was it you? Was it Michael Douglas? If they do this, they better mention that awesome 'Batman' two-parter where he plays a pianist who seduces the women of Gotham (snicker) AND his evil twin brother Harry (guffaw).

FRIDAY
'The Women' remake released
Why why why? You just don't mess with a classic, holmes.

My McConaughey interview runs
Produceorial duties are tough, man.

SATURDAY
I discover kitchenpundit.com
My life is complete

The Lookout: Fall Movie Preview 2008

2008-09-12T20:45:00.016-05:00

This summer was pretty mixed. But things will hopefully change this fall (at the moviehouse and the White House) with loads of Oscar contenders and smart entertainment. Here are the 30 movies to get excited about. All release dates subject to change. Photos courtesy Rotten Tomatoes and the respective studios, except where noted. Any possible copyright infringement is strictly unintentional.

SEPT. 12
Burn After Reading (Focus)
STARRING: George Clooney, Frances McDormand, John Malkovich, Tilda Swinton, Brad Pitt, Richard Jenkins
DIRECTED BY: Joel & Ethan Coen
THE SKINNY: Hot off their Oscar win for No Country for Old Men, the Brothers return to quirky comedy with this farce about two idiotic gym employees who try to blackmail an ex-CIA analyst.

SEPT. 17
Appaloosa (Warner Bros.)
STARRING: Ed Harris, Viggo Mortensen, Renée Zellweger, Jeremy Irons
DIRECTED BY: Harris
THE SKINNY: After last year's bleak Western 3:10 to Yuma, this looks like another successful addition to the canon, but I don't think anyone will call it "crowd-pleasing."

SEPT. 26
Miracle at St. Anna (Touchstone)
STARRING: Derek Luke, Michael Ealy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, John Turturro
DIRECTED BY: Spike Lee
THE SKINNY: A Spike Lee Joint is always worth seeing, but his filmography can be divided into two subgenres: deep insights on racism in America and straight-up, dern-good entertaining flicks. This looks to be a good mix of the two.

Eagle Eye (DreamWorks)
STARRING: Shia LaBeouf, Michelle Monahan, Rosario Dawson, Billy Bob Thornton
DIRECTED BY: DJ Caruso
THE SKINNY: Caruso and LaBeouf seem to be on a roll here, with Disturbia (lawsuit notwithstanding) and the upcoming Y: The Last Man. This high-tech thriller looks like a great throwback to '70s paranoia films. Check out this creepy but effective viral site.

OCT. 3
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (Sony)
STARRING: Michael Cera, Kat Dennings
DIRECTED BY: Peter Sollett
THE SKINNY: Based on the funny and heartfelt novel, this hipster-friendly tale of a night of passion between two music lovers and their crazy night in New York.

How to Lose Friends and Alienate People (MGM)
STARRING: Simon Pegg, Kirsten Dunst, Danny Huston, Jeff Bridges
DIRECTED BY: Robert B. Weide
THE SKINNY: Another transfer of novel-to-screen, this black comedy features Simon Pegg (who proved earlier this year that he can hold his own without Nick Frost) as a journalist who constantly puts his foot in his mouth. (Photo courtesy Collider.com)

An American Carol (Vivendi)
STARRING: Kevin P. Farley, Kelsey Grammer, Leslie Nielsen
DIRECTED BY: David Zucker
THE SKINNY: It might be a mess, but for now this looks like a swift upper-cut to the far left. Farley (yes, Chris Farley's brother) plays a documentary filmmaker who learns the true meaning of the Fourth of July. (Photo courtesy Vivendi Entertainment)

OCT. 10
Body of Lies (Warner Bros.)
STARRING: Russell Crowe, Leonardo DiCaprio
DIRECTED BY: Ridley Scott
THE SKINNY: Based on the novel from Washington Post writer David Ignatius, this timely action pic features two of the hardest working actors in the biz as spies, one of which (DiCaprio) goes rogue.

RocknRolla (Warner Bros.)
STARRING: Gerard Butler, Idris Elba, Tom Wilkinson, Thandie Newton
DIRECTED BY: Guy Ritchie
THE SKINNY: With this return to form (we're talking quickly-edited, foul-mouthed British gangster movies here), Ritchie can almost (almost) be forgiven for Swept Away.

City of Ember (Fox/Walden)
STARRING: Saoirse Ronan, Bill Murray, Tim Robbins, Toby Jones
DIRECTED BY: Gil Kenan
THE SKINNY: After creating the phenomenal Monster House, Gil Kenan's first foray into live action looks like (finally) an adaptation of a kids novel that will appeal to both kids and adults, and features a timely plot point about the energy crisis.

OCT. 17
W. (Lionsgate)
STARRING: Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Banks, Richard Dreyfuss, Thandie Newton, Jeffrey Wright, Ioan Gruffudd, Scott Glenn, James Cromwell, Ellen Burstyn
DIRECTED BY: Oliver Stone
THE SKINNY: It's sure to be unbiased (not), but at least someone is taking a shot at making a movie about one of the most controversial presidents ever. And just look at that cast...

Max Payne (Fox)
STARRING: Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Ludacris, Beau Bridges
DIRECTED BY: John Moore
THE SKINNY: There has never been a good live-action video game adaptation. Ever. But this could be a start. We'll just have to wait and see...

What Just Happened? (Magnolia)
STARRING: Robert de Niro, Sean Penn, Bruce Willis, Robin Wright Penn, John Turturro, Stanley Tucci
DIRECTED BY: Barry Levinson
THE SKINNY: Levinson is in dire need of a hit to patch up his recent record of shoddy work. It looks hilarious, but this movie (about a producer's trying time in Hollywood) may be to inside for the average moviegoer. (Photo courtesy Collider.com)

OCT. 24
Changeling (Universal)
STARRING: Angelina Jolie, Amy Ryan, Andrew Donovan
DIRECTED BY: Clint Eastwood
THE SKINNY: Probably the hardest working director in Hollywood, Eastwood continues to make thought-provoking movies, this one looks to be no exception: Jolie (finally in a meaty role) plays a mother who's son is kidnapped. But she doesn't believe the police when they return her boy.

Synecdoche, New York (Sony Pictures Classics)
STARRING: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Catherine Keener, Michelle Williams, Samantha Morton
DIRECTED BY: Charlie Kaufman
THE SKINNY: The Oscar-winning screenwriter of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind makes his directorial debut with this tale of an obsessive playwright who builds an almost full-scale replica of New York in an abandoned factory.

OCT. 31
Zack and Miri Make a Porno (The Weinstein Co.)
STARRING: Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks, Craig Robinson
DIRECTED BY: Kevin Smith
THE SKINNY: Back to show everyone how to balance extreme raunch with sweet message, Kevin Smith finally releases his much contested comedy. And, c'mon, this movie needs no explanation. Just read the title.

NOV. 7
Role Models (Universal)
STARRING: Paul Rudd, Seann William Scott, Elizabeth Banks, Christopher Mintz-Plasse
DIRECTED BY: David Wain
THE SKINNY: In his first full-on feature since 2001's cult classic Wet Hot American Summer, the Wainy Days and Stella co-creator lets Rudd and Scott run free as two buddies forced to spend time doing community service in a Big Brothers, Big Sisters-type program. (Photo courtesy Empire Movies)

NOV. 14
Quantum of Solace (Columbia)
STARRING: Daniel Craig, Olga Kurylenko, Judi Dench, Jeffrey Wright, Mathieu Amalric
DIRECTED BY: Marc Forster
THE SKINNY: Probably my most anticipated movie this fall is this direct sequel (a first) to Casino Royale, the highly successful (critically and financially) James Bond reboot.

Assassination of a High School President (Yari Film Group)
STARRING: Reece Thompson, Mischa Barton, Bruce Willis
DIRECTED BY: Brett Simon
THE SKINNY: Saw this at SXSW, and I've got to say this humorous noir set in a Jesuit high school is still one of the funniest movies of the year. Seek it out.

NOV. 21
The Soloist (DreamWorks)
STARRING: Jamie Foxx, Robert Downey Jr, Catherine Keener
DIRECTED BY: Joe Wright
THE SKINNY: You'd think Downey would take a break, but it looks like he's going for a hat trick of greatness this year (after Iron Man and Tropic Thunder), playing a journalist who discovers a homeless, schizophrenic cello prodigy (Foxx). Based on a true story. Bring some hankies and your Academy nomination form. (Photo courtesy pop critics)

NOV. 26
The Road (Dimension)
STARRING: Viggo Mortensen, Charlize Theron
DIRECTED BY: John Hillcoat
THE SKINNY: The novel by Cormac McCarthy won a Pulitzer, but I think it's pretty overrated. That being said, this adaptation looks like it will have much more of a plot, and therefore more compelling.

Australia (Fox)
STARRING: Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman
DIRECTED BY: Baz Luhrmann
THE SKINNY: Possibly the most wonderfully over-indulgent director in history, Luhrmann returns to the big screen with this labor of love, a romance set against the backdrop of Australia during WWII.

Milk (Focus)
STARRING: Sean Penn, James Franco, Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin, Diego Luna
DIRECTED BY: Gus van Sant
THE SKINNY: Here's a biopic that looks worth investigating: Penn plays Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official in U.S. history, who had a controversial run as San Francisco's city supervisor that ended with his assassination.

Slumdog Millionaire (Fox Searchlight)
STARRING: Dev Patel, Freida Pinto
DIRECTED BY: Danny Boyle
THE SKINNY: One of the most interesting filmmakers working today, Danny Boyle moves his cameras away from the UK (and well, outer space) to India, where a kid trying to escape the horrendous gang violence of his neighborhood competes on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?

DEC. 5
Frost/Nixon (Universal)
STARRING: Frank Langella, Martin Sheen, Kevin Bacon
DIRECTED BY: Ron Howard
THE SKINNY: Keeping the original cast intact from the stage play, Ron Howard directs the duo (disgraced President Richard Nixon and British journalist David Frost) in this film adaptation.

DEC. 12
Doubt (Miramax)
STARRING: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Meryl Streep, Amy Adams
DIRECTED BY: John Patrick Shanley
THE SKINNY: Another play adaptation, this one without its original cast (but keeping its original writer/director) about allegations of abuse in the Catholic church. But what a cast... (Photo courtesy WorstPreviews)

DEC. 19
The Brothers Bloom (Summit)
STARRING: Adrien Brody, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel Weisz, Rinko Kikuchi, Robbie Coltrane
DIRECTED BY: Rian Johnson
THE SKINNY: If there's ever a project I had more desire to see (without knowing what it would be) than Rian Johnson's follow-up to Brick, I couldn't tell you what it was. This twisty, hilarious tale of two con artist brothers going for one last job could just be the greatest thing since, well, Brick.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Paramount)
STARRING: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Tilda Swinton
DIRECTED BY: David Fincher
THE SKINNY: After directing last year's best movie Zodiac, I have full faith in Fincher in making the unfilmable material something worth watching. Now if only he could get over his spats with the studio. (Photo courtesy Collider.com)

The Wrestler (Fox Searchlight)
STARRING: Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood
DIRECTED BY: Darren Aronofsky
THE SKINNY: A Mickey Rourke wrestling movie? What is this? The '80s? Why on earth would I want to see that? But buzz out of Toronto is strong. /Film even says "I haven't read a review yet that didn't mention Mickey Rourke and Academy Award nomination in the same sentence."

Seven Pounds (Columbia)
STARRING: Will Smith, Rosario Dawson, Michael Ealy, Woody Harrelson
DIRECTED BY: Gabriel Muccino
THE SKINNY: Two years ago (almost to the day) Smith and Muccino teamed up to make The Pursuit of Happyness, which went on to make over $100 million domestically and made us all want to slit our wrists until the final 20 minutes. This looks to repeat that formula. But if there's anyone who can pull off anything, it's the world's biggest movie star.

An Open Letter to...Samuel L. Jackson

2008-08-15T11:01:00.003-05:00

Welcome to a new feature on this blog. I had written one entry in the past, dedicated to Mr. Nicolas Cage. Well, now I plan on it being a semi-regular feature thanks to my growing disgust of Samuel L. Jackson. With that, here's the letter:

Mr. Jackson:

It seems your presence is inescapable. This is mostly due to the many movies you appear in this year, and I congratulate you on your continued success. However, quantity does not equal quality. And there hasn't been a quality performance from you in over six years (not including your voice work in The Incredibles or your cameos in Kill Bill: Vol. 2 or Iron Man). Now, if you chose your roles carefully, this would not be the huge problem it is. Alas, it seems you star in anything that crosses your desk and you've done no less than 20 movies in that time. And after each movie, you don't get better, just louder. You're beginning to sound like Dave Chappelle's version of you.

But what's truly frustrating is that you used to be good. Great even. You received great acclaim for your roles in Jungle Fever (1991) and Juice (1992). You were in the second-biggest movie of the '90s (Jurassic Park) and even got a well-deserved Oscar nomination (Pulp Fiction). And you were terrific in A Time to Kill (1995) and Jackie Brown (1997).

Now look what you've become. An over-the-top caricature of yourself. Your recent resumé is filled with poorly-made action films and ill-suited indie projects with great intentions but terrible execution. And don't get me started on some of the bad lines you've spoken lately. And now your next projects look to be the apex of your suckiness: Lakeview Terrace, the latest from the infamous Neil Labute (who I'm surprised was allowed to make another film after The Wicker Man). Let's take a look:

Seriously? "I'm the POLICE! You have to do what I say!" I would say this would make a serious play for the worst movie of the year. But then you top it, camping up the supposed-to-be-awesome The Spirit with the now infamous leaked Comic-Con footage. "Toilets are ALWAYS funny!" Oh, but they're not.

So here's what you do: Call Quentin Tarantino. Fast. If you don't, can't, or won't, you'll just have to retire. Think of it as a tribute to your fallen co-stars Isaac Hayes and Bernie Mac.

Sincerely,
Jules Winfield's #1 Fan

Mooney at the Movies: Tropic Thunder

2008-08-13T14:50:00.004-05:00

"So you mean to tell me that our joke about actors playing the mentally disabled offended groups representing the mentally disabled? That's retarded." (DreamWorks)

Tropic Thunder (A-)

Starring Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr, Brandon T. Jackson, Steve Coogan, Nick Nolte, Danny McBride
Story by Stiller & Justin Theroux
Screenplay by Stiller & Theroux and Etan Cohen
Directed by Stiller

This may sound improbable, but Tropic Thunder is the smartest stupid comedy of the year.

From the smarmy highs of Smart People to the shameful but hilarious lows of Step Brothers, comedies this year have run the gamut, but Tropic Thunder is the brightest of them all (at least of the summer months). It's been a good while since we've had a satire this sharp, and boy is it welcome.

Whether it's the action star in need of a career reboot (Stiller, eerily similar to Tom Cruise, who makes a cameo here) to the hefty, drug-addicted comedian (Black, who's definitely a less tragic Chris Farley-type) to the ultra-serious Method actor (the brilliant Downey Jr, adhering to the Russell Crowe/Heath Ledger pastiche), the stranded stars of the incredibly expensive Vietnam picture, they all deserve to be taken down a peg.

But there's more than just brilliant parody, there's also plenty of darn funny jokes too. There's Stiller's accidental panda-cide, Black's withdrawals (and his increasingly outrageous promises to anyone who will release him from them), and Tom Cruise swearing up a storm, just to name a few. And enough simply cannot be said about Robert Downey Jr's performance. He's officially back on track, and between this and Iron Man (and last year's Zodiac snub), he deserves another Oscar nomination.

There's so much to love here and so much takes place that any plot description or further explanation would spoil the surprises that lie within (including glorious fake trailers, a trend I pray continues in years to come). So close this webpage, go outside, and get yourself to theater immediately and prepare to laugh like you haven't laughed in a while. But don't worry about staying through the end credits; they're the only weak part of the whole movie.