widescreen and stereo sound

2003-10-19T08:11:00.000-07:00

I'm back from a business trip that brought me to Frankfurt and Cannes. Movies on the road are never that good as the selection is usually poor at best. On my Air France flight I watched a French movie, "Filles Uniques", that didn't know whether it wanted to be a whimsical comedy or a drama - it failed at both. At my hotel in Frankfurt I finally watched last year's Oscar winner, "Chicago" and wondered how such a frankly mediocre film garnered so much praise. I couldn't reconcile the musical numbers being performed on a stage. If I wanted to see the Broadway production I'd go to New York. To see them performed on a stage, filmed and put on the big screen was nothing special. Finally, in an act out of boredom I sat through the Hugh Grant/Sandra Bullock vehicle, "Two Weeks Notice" a tepid romantic comedy in which Hugh Grant delivered his typical one liners looking like he wanted to be elsewhere.

Film salvation finally arrived yesterday afternoon when Molly and I caught a screening of "The Station Agent". This beautiful meditation on the nature of friendship is both touching and genuinely funny. When dwarf, Fin (Peter Dinklage in an amazing performance) inherits a train station in New Jersey he forms a reluctant alliance with hot dog stand owner Joe (Bobby Cannavale) and local painter Olivia (Patricia Clarkson). Fin, who prefers to be alone, slowly accepts his role in his small (no pun intended) community of neighbors that include elementary school student Cleo (Raven Goodwin) and teenage librarian Emily (Michelle Williams).

First time director Thomas McCarthy crafts a patient, paced and thoughtful movie that investigates characters that are complex and interesting. Molly noted that she was so enraptured in the movie that as the film ended she forgot the time of day or even what our plans were. If there is higher praise, I can't think of what it is.

Please, go see the "The Station Agent".

2003-09-25T20:41:00.000-07:00

Lost In Translation is a film of rare power. Sofia Coppola in elaborating on the "less is more" camera work that dominated her strong debut, The Virgin Suicides, uses Japan as the backdrop to this wonderful film that is alternately beautiful and heart wrenchingly sad. To try and sum up "what-is-it-about" wouldn't do justice to the film. It's a film that will connect to audiences, young and old alike. Bearing a slight resemblance to Wong Kar-Wai's In The Mood For Love, it less "romantic" as an elegy on the choices one faces and makes in life and consequences we must bear. It's also about modern living and finding one's place in the world. Heavy subject matter indeed, but the cast is up to the task, and with a script that never relies on melodramatic histronics Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson are ably to shine. Both give stunning performances in which silence and a few words convey worlds of meaning. I cannot recommend this movie highly enough. Just go see it.
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On the flip side Robert Rodriguez's blood-soaked Once Upon A Time In Mexico is so plot heavy that it may as well dispense with it. Trying to keep with the backstabbing and multiple twists gets tiresome, however, a crack cast that includes a hilarioius scenery-chewing turn by Johnny Depp, a thick Mexican accented Willem Dafoe and the always reliable and poised Antonio Banderas keeps things clipping right along, and deliver their lines with such panache you can't help but sit back and giddily enjoy this overblown confection. Hell, I wouldn't mind seeing Johnny Depp's character return, um, you'll "see" why.....

2003-09-18T19:23:00.000-07:00

Three screenings of Alejandro Jodorowsky's The Holy Mountain came to Cinema Du Parc, spread out with two screenings last weekend and the final one, last night.

In a packed house, I took in my first film by this controversial director. Known for his fantastic imagery and gratuitous violence I wasn't sure what to expect. Like any controversial director, the critics are usually split into a "love" or "hate" camp. By the time the credits rolled last night, and the couple seated next to me had finished their smuggled bottle of wine, I found myself right in the middle. Jodorowsky has incredible talent. The imagery is simply amazing, and in a film where there is very little dialogue, he was able to move along the thin narrative often by visual spectacle alone. The sequence where The Thief first meets The Alchemist in the tower, and he goes into "training" (which involves among things, turning his feces into gold and bathing with a hippopotamus) is amazing as is the middle third of the film where the audience is introduced to the ruler of each "planet".

"The Holy Mountain" is a mishmash of alchemy, astrology, religion and modern politics turned into a polemic that isn't quite sure what to focus on. The loose story follows a Christ-like figure (The Thief) on his quest for secret of life. He meets The Alchemist who in turn introduces him to the rulers of the planets and sends them on a journey to the top of *the* holy mountain. Along the way they are tempted and go through various trials to test their strength. All this leads to a somewhat unspectacular ending in which Jodorowsky pulls the wool from everyone's eyes and ultimately thumbs his nose at both his admirers and detractor's. It's a bold move - but one that ultimately renders the movie moot.

Jodorowsky, who has dabbled in and out of film for the past thirty years has certainly got visual flair, no doubt influenced by 60s drug craze and the surrealists. However, his lack of focus dooms "The Holy Mountain". His careful attack on organized religion turns into a rambling polemic against commercialism, patriotism, the military - you name it, it's probably in there.

If only he would work in the scripting and editing stage a bit more his movies might move beyond the kitch value they seem to posess now. That said, his version of Dune which never came into production, I would have loved to see. With a cast that included Orson Welles and Salvador Dali and a score by Pink Floyd, it would been much better than the David Lynch snorefest.
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As you know by now, the Man In Black, Johnny Cash has died, and is hopefully reunited with June Carter in heaven.

As a kid I knew *of* Johnny Cash. I'd probably heard a couple of his songs here and there but his mystique was a much larger more potent thing. Then I got to know the music and got to know the man the embodied this person. A God-fearing, true man who found his love when he needed it most. June Carter perhaps saved him destroying or even ending his life with his addiction to drugs. He was also a rebel in the country music establishment and a friend to the working man. He posessed a connection to the everyday person that I don't think any celebrity or musician has now. When he sang "Folsom Prison Blues" it seemed as if he had lived it when the truth was he only served one day in prison. But maybe it was because he want beyond mere gestures or throwing money at causes, but he went to prisons and invited prisoners to his television show. His concern came from a genuine place. He knew what it was like to be facing death and addiction and realized it could've very well been him sitting in the audience in prison blues.

His death isn't tragic but it is a tragedy for there probably will never be another as true as he.
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I've finally heard the first single from the forthcoming Belle & Sebastian album "Dear Catastrophe Waitress". "Step Into My Office, Baby" is a return to form for B&S, subsituting dour proceedings of "Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like A Peasant" to the more upswing feel of "If You're Feeling Sinister". That said, I can't decide if I like the opening riff. It's nearly feels *corny*, but perhaps this one will be a grower. And call me crazy, but I'll miss Isobel. I certainly hope Stevie won't be singing any more tracks. Someone must tell him that he simply cannot sing.

U.S. Maple have returned with a track for their forthcoming "Purple On Time." posted on the Drag City site. And it's great. A delightfully manic and brooding piece that has the boys still sounding fresh in the wake of the post-rock meltdown.

Finally, I've gotten my hands on the Virgin Records vinyl re-release of the The Rolling Stones' "Exile On Main Street". Double 180-gram vinyl with reproductions of the postcard artwork. This album is a pleasure to hold and still sounds fantastic thirty years later.

2003-09-16T04:20:00.000-07:00

Last night while at the new Mad Hatters (long story, don't ask) shooting pool and having a drink, Bob Marley's "No Woman No Cry" suddenly came on. Now, I've never been particularly big reggae fan but I was surprised that I recognized it right away and that I really liked it. I guess I never full appreciated just how good Bob Marley is. "No Woman No Cry" had an undeniable groove backed up by Marley's distinct vocals and delivery. As I wake up this morning a couple beers and rye & gingers later, it's still reverberating.

Sean over at Tangmonkey has a great blog called said the gramophone. Check it out.

2003-09-08T21:31:00.000-07:00

Tonight I had every intention of seeing the little screened, but praised "September 11". Unfortunately, work had other plans and as I left a half hour late I decided upon checking out the controversial, dark look at the United States Army, "Buffalo Soldiers". Screened two years ago at the Toronto Film Festival and purchased by Miramax it was shelved with the onset of the Iraq war. After a screening this January at the Sundance Film Festival, a woman attending the panel afterwards accused the filmmakers of being "anti-American" and hurled a water bottle which hit Anna Paquin right in the forehead.

The film has finally received a limited release and while the it is hardly as incendiary as it's history suggests, it is a darkly funny critique of the Army, that in it's third act comes close to brilliance, before adding a cheap, and unbelievable coda that doesn't sit well with the nihilism that preceded it. Joaquin Phoenix hits the right note in portraying Ray Elwood, an always scheming ex-con, who puts on a facade of indifference but has a heart. It's this touch of humanity which ultimately makes him believable and worth rooting for, as he tries to eek out a meaningful role in Cold War, late eighties Germany. "Buffalo Soldiers" isn't as dark as "Full Metal Jacket" or as obvious as "Apocalypse Now" but it perhaps probes deeper into the boredom felt by the soldiers who are merely serving time at bases during peace time and the inefficient bureaucracy and glad-handing that goes on behind the scenes. "Buffalo Soldiers" is worth the attention it has garnered, though it won't be pushing any buttons that haven't already been pushed.

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Well, in just over a month The Strokes will be releasing "Room On Fire", their much anticipated follow-up to their lauded debut "Is This It?" and if their new single, "12:51", is any indication the sophomore slump should bypass these guys. The new single is streaming from their site and is available for "download" from their site (good luck trying to save it to your hard drive). Luckily, this fansite, has posted an mp3 ready download for your convenience. Check it out.

Much has been made of the production on this track with complaints that the vocals are too low in the mix. Frankly, I think it sounds great. The emphasis is in all the right places, namely the lead guitar line (which if it isn't keyboard, is killer) and the drums. "12:51" is more "Hard To Explain" than "Last Nite", but either way, it's been continually growing on me. And the handclaps are a great touch.

I think it's probably for the best that the band stuck with Gordon Raphael after their failed experiment with Radiohead collaborator/producer Nigel Godrich. I'm not the The Strokes are ready to start messing with a sound, that in their short career, has done them a world of good.

2003-09-07T18:46:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my new blog that will fulfill my need to vent, praise and critique movies, music and other pop cultural phenomenon. You can expect updates a few times per week and please feel free to give me feedback. I also write music reviews which appear weekly at Tangmonkey

Thanks for reading!