Faye Dunaway e Warren Beatty como Bonnie e Clyde.

# Primavera Muito Louca

Becky (Parker Posey), Judi (Rachel Dratch) e Gayle (Amy Poehler) são três amigas que se encaixam perfeitamente no protótipo de loser dos filmes americanos. Ingênuas, solteiras e infantis as três têm a chance de reviver os tempos de faculdade curtindo com os jovens durante suas férias.

Becky trabalha para uma senadora mexicana cuja filha “certinha” decide fazer de tudo para recuperar o namorado durante as férias. Para cuidar da reputação da jovem e consequentemente a da sua mãe, Becky viaja com suas amigas para bancar a babá. Entretanto, suas amigas Judi e Gayle tem um propósito bem diferente e entram na festa.

Como seu título sugere, Primavera Muito Louca (Spring Breakdown, Estados Unidos, 2009) é um filme recheado de situações forçadas e momentos clichê. Cegos, gays, loiras burras, mulheres inteligentes, mulheres da política são alvos de piadas nem sempre divertidas. Piores ainda são os momentos em que Becky tenta convencer a filha de sua chefe de que as mulheres devem ser prezadas pelo seu cérebro e não somente pelo corpo.

Para sorte do público Amy Poehler é uma ótima comediante e sua Gayle hilária. Junto com Sophie Monk (que assume o papel de “loira vadia”) ela protagoniza os melhores momentos do filme. E justamente os únicos que valem a pena. Talvez por isso o filme tenha sido lançado diretamente em DVD no Brasil.

Trailer:

# Sob o Domínio do Mal

Veterano da Guerra do Golfo, Raymond Shaw (Liev Scheiber) foi condecorado herói por salvar toda sua unidade. Sua mãe, Eleanor Shaw (Meryl Streep) controla com mãos de ferro sua carreira política com o objetivo de levá-lo a presidência.

Bem longe da Casa Branca, Ben Marco (Denzel Washington) também ex-combatente do Golfo e um dos soldados supostamente salvos por Raymond, convive com pesadelos e lembranças que contradizem a versão “oficial” dos fatos, aquela que desenha Raymond como herói e sob a qual Eleanor constrói sua campanha.

Destinado e dissolver os enigmas de sua memória, Ben irá até Washington onde descobrirá que ele e outros soldados sofreram lavagem cerebral para acreditar no heroísmo do presidenciável. Este também se revelará somente mais uma vítima do golpe e mais além, um marionete da própria mãe. Obviamente, Ben será desacreditado, o FBI será envolvido na trama e alguns tiros e mortes acontecerão.

Lançado no auge da Guerra do Iraque e no ano de reeleição de George W. Bush, Sob o Domínio do Mal (The Machurian Candidate, Estados Unidos, 2004) poderia ter se saído muito bem na tarefa de criticar o uso da guerra para o marketing político. Remake de um homônimo dos anos 60, além de naturais comparações o filme foi vítima da atualização do roteiro cujo teor de ficção científica poderia ter sido mais refinado. E que se preocupa basicamente em colocar Ben e Raymond como vítimas da gananciosa Eleanor e não do belicismo em si.

Entediante do início ao fim, em Sob o Domínio do Mal salva-se apenas Meryl Streep em outro bom desempenho num filme sofrível.

Trailer:

# Noivo Neurótico, Noiva Nervosa

Alvy Singer (Woody Allen) é um cara urbano, comediante, judeu e careta que faz análise a quinze anos. Annie Hall (Diane Keaton) é uma garota do interior que sonha em ser cantora. Absolutamente independente e descolada, Annie conquista Alvy e eles vivem juntos durante um bom tempo. Após o término do relacionamento, Alvy conta a história deles no que chama “fluxo de consciência”. A partir daí resta ao público curtir o nascimento e o desenrolar de um romance sabido “fracassado” ou dito de uma melhor forma, sem o final feliz pressuposto em uma comédia romântica.

A afinação e química entre o casal é indescritível. Seja o diálogo sobre lagostas, sexo, ou drogas, os dois completam-se perfeitamente. Mesmo o figurino masculinizado de Keaton parece refletir sua Annie como uma parte da personalidade de Alvy. Isto é, seu lado sensível, corajoso e arrojado.

Allen e Keaton são sensacionais em seus papéis. Ambos são carismáticos e engraçados, e fica difícil não torcer para que fiquem juntos. O destaque fica para cena em que os dois se cortejam enquanto tentam adivinhar o que o outro está pensando. Ou quando Alvy declara-se afirmando ser Annie “perversa polimorfa”. Ou ainda quando ela canta “Seems Like Old Times“.

Filme que consolidou Woody Allen entre os grandes diretores, Noivo Neurótico, Noiva Nervosa (Annie Hall, Estados Unidos, 1977) é sem dúvidas a obra que resume as melhores características de seu trabalho: doce, original e divertida. É uma tarefa difícil tentar reduzir todas suas qualidades e méritos em poucas linhas. Talvez seja melhor arriscar afirmar que depois de ver essa obra toda comédia romântica parecerá meia-boca.

Ah, nunca é demais lamentar pelo horrível título nacional.

Seems Like Old Times:

# O Roqueiro

Robert “Fish” é um cara esquisito e ressentido. Outrora fizera parte de uma banda que alcançou muito sucesso logo após sua saída. Embora tenha conseguido um emprego medíocre, Fish nunca esqueceu o sonho de ser um rock star. Uma vez que é demitido, ele decide passar o tempo na casa de sua irmã, quando começa a tocar com a banda de seu sobrinho. Um clip deles ensaiando vira hit no Youtube (não só pela musicalidade, mas também pela nudez e estranheza de Fish) e então a banda sai em turnê. Desta forma, como comédia barata que é, o filme mistura ao protagonista tosco a jovens sonhadores e músicos (que após sucessos como Hannah Montana e High School Musical estão se popularizando cada vez mais). O romance é adicionado pela entrada de Kim (Cristina Applegate) na trama e seu interesse por Fish.

Para atores de televisão é muito difícil abocanhar bons papéis no cinema. Depois de anos interpretando a mesma personagem é improvável que eles consigam uma diferente daquela com a qual o público sente-se confortável. Rainn Wilson (do seriado The Office) é bom exemplo. Em O Roqueiro (The Rocker, Estados Unidos, 2008) tudo o que ele faz no papel do protagonista é repetir as expressões e maneirismo que apresenta toda semana na televisão. Seu Fish é exagerado e caricato, mas essa parece ser intenção genuína da personagem. Como não há muito na película fora seu protagonista, sua atmosfera geral acaba refletindo essas características. E o saldo não é bom. Portanto, O Roqueiro não é uma recomendação a se dar.

Trailer:

# Uma Rajada de Balas

Bonnie (Faye Dunaway) conhece Clyde (Warren Beatty) no momento em que ele tenta roubar o carro da mãe dela. Mas ao invés de assustá-la, ele a excita. Entediada com seu trabalho de garçonete, Bonnie deixa sua pequena cidade para roubar bancos ao lado do parceiro e amante. Logo os dois estarão na lista de mais procurados de vários estados. Mas para eles, fugir ou quase morrer em conflitos com a polícia era uma melhor idéia do que voltar às suas vidas medíocres e monótonas.

Blanche (Estelle Parsons), a cunhada de Clyde, é a única que se recusa a aceitar esse estilo de vida. Para ela, Bonnie e o cunhado estão levando seu marido para o caminho da corrupção. Seus conflitos com Bonnie são inevitáveis e irão contribuir para a dissolução do grupo.

Tamanha tensão, entretanto, não tira o brilho do romance entre os protagonistas. E nem mesmo a falta de beijos ou cenas de sexo o faz. Bonnie e Clyde podem formar um casal condenado, mas ainda assim cúmplice. Corta a coração ouví-la declamar uma balada que escreveu sobre eles dois. Ou antecipar o fim deles.

Beatty e Dunaway são fenomenais nos papéis principais. E certamente, contribuíram bastante para que estes se tornassem icônicos.  Parsons, Michael J. Pollard (C.W.) e Gene Hackman (Buck) juntam-se a eles em um ótimo desempenho também.

Lançado no fim dos anos 60, Uma Rajada de Balas (Bonnie & Clyde, Estados Unidos, 1967) influenciou muitos filmes lançados na esteira de seu sucesso, Um Dia de Cão e Taxi Driver são exemplos. Todos possuíam em comum o forte apelo com o público jovem, uso da violência estilizada e o retrato de personagens marginais. Obviamente essa referência se dilui tornando possíveis filmes como Duro de Matar 4, mas ainda assim Coen, Tarantino, e outros ainda lhe devem.

Trailer:

E se eu tivesse que ordená-los:

1º Uma Rajada de Balas

2º Noivo Neurótico, Noiva Nervosa

3º Primavera Muito Louca

4º Sob o Domínio do Mal

5º O Roqueiro

Os dejo un video “curioso” de una de las mejores canciones de uno de los mejores grupos de la historia (por lo menos para mí). Es el video de la canción “The Rocker” de la banda irlandesa “Thin Lizzy”. Digo que es curioso porque es el único que he encontrado con la canción entera y además es en un estudio de televisión en el que los asistentes miran con cara de pasmados al grupo como diciendo “qué coño tocan estos tíos!!!”.

“Thin Lizzy” es una de las bandas más influentes entre los grupos de hard rock y heavy metal como “Metallica”, “Judas Priest”, “Iron Maiden” o “Los Suaves”. Seguramente, muchos conoceréis temas como “The Boys Are Back In Town”, “Cowboy Song”, “Whisky in the Jar” (aunque se trata de una canción típica irlandesa que seguramente hayáis oído por “Metallica”) o “Massacre”, por citar algunos de los muchos que tienen.

El bajista y cantante “Phil Lynott” fue un virtuoso del bajo pero murió en 1986 víctima de las drogas y el alcohol, después de 17 años en la banda. Por la misma han ido pasando numerosos componentes (por ejemplo, “Gary Moore”), y ya no queda ningún miembro originario de la banda.

Que lo disfrutéis.

October 18, 2009

Chers amis,

I’ve been meaning to try something different, but I have to admit I’m intimidated by the challenge.

FACE YOUR FEARS, Katherine.

I want to blog in French.

Of course, I’d blog in English. And then I’d translate with a much milder and grammatically incorrect version. But will it come in handy come April/May during the AP test? I think so.

Test run (Note: I can’t do accents with this compooter.): Je veux aller a Paris. C’est une belle ville, avec beaucoup de tresors culturels. (I’m 99% sure I just made an error.) Si j’etais a Paris, je mangerais dans un cafe (ERROR!?!?!) et je regarderais les gens qui a passe (ERROR?!?). Je visiterais le palais du Versailles et la Notre Dame.

Translation: I want to go to Paris. It is a beautiful city, with many cultural treasures (Cheesy lines like “cultural treasures is what you come up with on a limited vocabulary). If I were in Paris, I would eat at a cafe and I would watch the people who passed by. I would visit the Palace at Versailles and the Notre Dame.

Urgh.

I am seriously contemplating how I am going to get a teepee for my birthday. And a small campfire. Are people even allowed to have campfires in their backyards? Oh my god, what if I burn my neighborhood down on accident?

In my search for Halloween costumes I got to Mr. Bean’s Wikipedia page (Mr. Bean is not my Halloween costume) and realized he had a Mini. So. Now. I. Must. Have a Mini Cooper because it is the next best thing to his vomit green car. Parents, please please please trade in the clunky Mazda of my childhood for a Mini Cooper that I can paint vomit green and be hip to the jive in.

Mazda, I’ll miss you. Even though your smell makes me car sick – always has, even when I was five. And especially because of your outdated Mazda logo – god, you are a relic of the past.

“Children, I had a Mazda before it had a hip to the jive logo and had that one that looked suspiciously like that of Toyota.”

Halloween – I’m relishing the chance to dress up. I’ve narrowed my costumes down to:

1. a ghost
2. a cat burglar (costume jewelry!!!)
3. Quail Man. (Google it.)

Unfortunately I have realized that it will be impossible to be my dream of the Free to Be bear went-ing over the mountain to see what he could see with a baby and a cantaloupe in his arms.

This Saturday I took the PSAT and there’s that section that asks you if you want College Board to give your information out to “educational organizations”. Suddenly, images of all that mail that I had to shred this summer came to mind and I bubbled “no”.

Oh, MIKA. I just listened to the entirety of “The Boy Who Knew Too Much” and I love your music as much as ever. Lives up to “Life in Cartoon Motion”, definitely.

Last night I watched “Broken English” and “The Rocker”. I still remember my slightly embarrassing obsession with Teddy Geiger’s first CD. Even though he sounded slightly off-tune and his lyrics didn’t make sense (at the time). Then this year, with a nice three year separation, I finally understood what he was singing about. Totally understood. But not enough to start listening again. Haha so that CD is sitting on my desk.

Remember CDs? Yeah, me neither.

“The Rocker”: Pretty hilarious. Cheesy and typical, but hilarious. The makers of that movie have Rainn Wilson to thank. Not to mention the guys in Vesuvius. Bradley Cooper looks very feminine in guyliner. I also find it hilarious that they used GOB music in the movie.

“Broken English” was less memorable. The French guy was the highlight of the movie – I don’t know, Parker Posey just seemed like she was scowling the whole time. And the pacing just didn’t feel right. Still, I’m glad I watched it. All movies deserve a chance?

Love,
Katherine

P.S. Is it weird that I really like “Cookie” magazine? I do. So sad that they’re closing down.

P.P.S. Everytime I get a brochure from Mount Holyoke I am baffled by its name. Is it “holy-oke” or “hol-yoke”?

P.P.P.S. I watched the “Sweeney Todd” London Press Conference again. Still the best press conference ever. Then I watched the “Ten Decades” interview. I’m showing my children this.

P.P.P.P.S. Can’t get “Dr. John” out of my head. Finally, a break from the music of the past week? Onto a new play it again-and-again-and-again song? YES.

P.P.P.P.P.S. By the way, I took another look at Tiki Tiki Tembo, and it’s quite racist. What bothered me even more was that numerous people had it in Folk Tale anthologies and Chinese Folk Tale anthologies. What the heck.

P.P.P.P.P.P.S. You know what. How could I have thought that Teddy Geiger’s expressions were weird when he plays piano or sings when I think MIKA’s are awesome? Teddy Geiger’s expressions are way tamer than MIKA’s.

Well, it’s Saturday and I can say that I am SO happy that it is a day off from my job.  I’ll admit that a full week of school has taken it’s toll on me mentally and physically.  I got up around nine o’clock this morning because I didn’t want to sleep in too late and really throw off the schedule I’ve started from school.  I decided that today I really needed to try and get some notes done for the Clone Wars TV show, so I started right away with that this morning.  I went downstairs and watched two episodes of Clone Wars and took notes for Galaxy Cast.  I know Ian and I are going to want to record a lot in the near future, so I’ve got to catch up on notes which I’ve fallen behind in doing  before Dragon Con.  I also started to help Heather around the house by cleaning some things up in the basement as well.  I got done doing a lot of that and joined Heather upstairs for lunch.

After lunch, Heather joined our neighbor next door and helped her tear out the carpet in one of their bedrooms.  While she did that, I worked with our kids in putting the pool back up so Heather could clean it later this afternoon.  I also helped them pack things up in the yard for the Fall and I mowed the lawn for (what I hope is) one last time.  At least that is my hope.  I did that for most of the afternoon.  In the late afternoon, I watched a few more episodes of “Clone Wars” and took notes just before dinner.  I then went upstairs and joined the family for dinner.  After dinner, Heather and I decided to watch the movie “The Rocker”.  After getting done with the movie, I got things ready for tomorrows Lung Cancer Awareness Walk event for the Binghamton FanForce.  After that, we went to bed.

Okay, so let’s talk about Part 2 of Chapter 6 of “Star Wars:  The Hive” by Steven Barnes……Chapter 6 (Part 2):  Jesson started the on sequence as Kenobi looked at all the sensors around the chair and began to wonder if the three questions weren’t about destroying the eggs, but the questioner.  A hologram appeared before them and showed them that the eggs were below them in a tube, through the floor, in a chamber.  Surrounded by metal walls and a laser array.  Now they only needed to disable the lasers and lower the walls.  As Jesson manipulated the controls, Kenobi looked at his watch and was surprised that only an hour had passed since they entered the catacombs.  Then a voice came overhead and asked the question, “What is in the hive, but not of the hive?  What nurtures but is nurtured, what dreams but never sleeps”?  Jesson said he knew that answere and that was a Zeesta.  After answering, the computer voice told the X’Ting he was wrong.  Jesson was in such disbelief that he stood up from the choir.  The computer chair warned him to sit down on their session will be terminated.  The nozzles at the edges of the room opened up and Obi-Wan knew that if the session was terminated so were they and so were the eggs.  Jesson sat down and the computer asked if he wished to continue.  Jesson responded saying he didn’t have a choice, but the computer corrected him and informed them that if he chose personal termination, the eggs would not be harmed.  Jesson said he will try again and the computer gave him a second set of questions:  “Who lived and now stand still?  Who cared not for acclaim, but are idolized by all?  Who cared not for acclaim, but are idolized by all?  Who carried weight and now ring hollow”?  Kenobi asked Jesson if the thought he knew the answer and the X’Ting said he was pretty confident with his answer.  Jesson answered saying it was the Hall of Heroes, but the computer yet again said the answer was incorrect…..

There are two majorly rocking Starring Yous coming into your life next week and we can’t keep quiet much longer.  For starters, our Weird Al video will allow you to cast yourself into one of Yankovic’s music videos for the first time!  As if that weren’t enough, we also have a guitar shredding Starring You called “The Rocker” due next week.  Between “He’s Barack Obama” and these two videos, its safe to say that JibJab is declaring 2009 the summer of ROCK!

gentleman, or, just not interested?

*actually, many kisses on the cheek; one every time we part, sometimes two.

După ceva vreme de la ultimul post, vreme în care am vizionat nişte filme interesante, la îndemnu’ colegului m-am hotarât să vă detaliez câte ceva despre respectivele opere cinematografice.

Fără prea mult tam tam am să încep cu filmul pe care l-am văzut cel mai recent. Se numeşte “The School of Rock” şi îl are ca actor principal pe Jack Black, membru al trupei Tenacious D. Acesta joacă rolul unui tip pe nume Dewey Finn care e dat afară din trupa de rock din care făcea parte şi se “angajează” ca suplinitor la cea mai prestigioasă şcoală din oraş, sub numele prietenului cel mai bun. Dewey descoperă că elevii clasei pe care ar fi trebuit să o suplinească au talente la diferite instrumente şi formează cu ei o trupă pe care mai târziu o numesc “The School of Rock”. Ei bine, cu trupa asta tinerică participă la “Battle of the Bands” dar trupa din care a fost dat Dewey afară câştigă concursul.

Filmul merită văzut! Îl recomand cu toată căldura împătimiţilor muzicii rock, având în vedere că pe parcursul întregului film suntem delectaţi cu nişte muzică de calitate.

Următorul film pe care îl menţionez este “The Rocker“. Are un fir al evenimentelor asemănător cu cel al filmului anterior, dar oricum merită văzut.

Al treilea film de pe lista noastră este “Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street“. Filmul este un fel de muzical horror. Atmosfera e specifică filmelor lui Tim Burton, iar actorul principal e Johnny Depp, actor care a lucrat frecvent cu acest regizor.  Filmul este despre un bărbier care omoară oameni, pe motivul că oamenii nu merită să trăiască.  Apoi victimele devin placinte.  Oricum, lăsând de-o parte ideea sadică a filmului, soundtrackul face toţi banii.

Ultimul film pe care îl amintesc este “August Rush“. Nu am decât cuvinte de laudă pentru filmul ăsta. Am să vă spun în mare ce se întâmplă, dar nu vreau să vă stric surpriza. Filmul prezintă povestea unui copil care îşi găseşte părinţii cu ajutorul muzicii. Nu vreau să dezvălui prea multe pentru că filmul merită “experimentat”. Oricum e un film care e menit să vă lase cu gura căscată.

Sper că v-am sporit puţin curiozitatea. Toate filmele menţionate merită văzute, fiind muzicale de calitate, nu în gen “Highschool Musical”, cu tinerei care se cântă. Până data viitoare, numai bine!

Finalmente ho visto i Mötley Crüe!!!! Li adoro, sono ancora in adorazione per il concerto di sabato sera! Certo, è stato un concerto sudato, un po’ perché davvero di pomeriggio c’era un caldo allucinante e un po’ perché i Crüe erano l’ultima band della giornata, ovvero la tredicesima! Mi sono sorbita 12 band di cui non conoscevo la musica (Queensrÿche e Tesla a parte) o di cui non me ne fregava niente (tipo gli Heaven And Hell), ma ne è valsa la pena! Comunque non tutte le band mi sono dispiaciute. C’erano due palchi, uno di fianco all’altro, e le band hanno suonato alternandosi sui palchi. Quello di sinistra si chiamava L-Stage (L starà mica per left?), mentre quello di destra Crüefest Stage (e perché non R-Stage?), io sono riuscita subito ad accaparrarmi la prima fila e non l’ho mollata fino alla fine! Ero più o meno a metà tra i due palchi, davanti alle casse (!), ma per fortuna più spostata verso il palco di destra, che era quello che mi interessava! Fabio all’inizio era di fianco a me, ma appena io sono andata a prendere da bere, uno dei due posti che avevamo ce l’hanno fregato (quello di Fabio, che stava alla mia sinistra, NON il mio!), perché Fabio non poteva tenere due posti. Hanno tentato in tutti i modi di spostarmi, di fregarmi un po’ di posto, ma io l’ho difeso con le unghie e con i denti, per i Crüe questo e altro!

Per primi hanno suonato i The Rocker, sul Crüefest Stage, un gruppo italiano che ha suonato per 15 minuti, e non erano male. Poi ci sono stati gli Extrema, ma a me non piace il loro genere, cantano in growl e sono troppo pesanti. Poi c’è stata Lauren Harris, che altri non è se non la figlia di Steve Harris, bassista degli Iron Maiden. Fortunatamente faceva un genere diverso dal padre, era più hard rock. Lei non canta benissimo, anche se è carina, in compenso il suo chitarrista è bravo, oltre che fighissimo e sexy. Poi ci sono stati i Voivod, ma anche loro non mi sono piaciuti, perché sono pesanti (inutile dire che loro e gli Extrema piacevano a Fabio). Successivamente è stato il turno dei Backyard Babies, che non erano male. Poi hanno suonato gli Epica, che né a me né a Fabio piacciono molto come genere, ma io devo dire di averla abbastanza scampata bella perché per quasi tutto il tempo che hanno suonato io sono andata in giro a prendere da bere, sono andata in bagno – erano le 13.45 e non avevamo ancora fatto colazione né bevuto niente – e poi sono andata a dare il cambio a Fabio, che è andato a prendere da mangiare. Poco dopo gli Epica hanno finito, e dopo un po’ sull’altro palco ha cominciato a suonare Marty Friedman, ex chitarrista dei Megadeth nonché virtuoso della sei corde, che suona con grande tecnica e talento. Peccato che non ci siano parole nelle sue canzoni, e sentirsi un’ora e quarto di assoli di chitarra è abbastanza una palla, e non lo dico solo perché io non suono la chitarra e “non posso capire”, ma perché anche Fabio dopo un po’ si era stufato. Matteo probabilmente avrebbe apprezzato. Intanto Fabio era tornato coi panini, ma dopo qualche tempo che avevo finito, e intanto che Friedman continuava con i suoi assoli che mi avevano già rotto, mi è venuta una sorta di insolazione, e sono dovuta andare via dalla folla, mettermi sotto le docce e sedermi un attimo. Stupido sole che batteva continuamente sulla mia testa… Quando mi sono un attimo ripresa, verso le 3.45, ed essere andata in bagno una seconda volta – e ci tengo a sottolinearlo perché non ci andrò più fino all’1 di notte pur di non perdere il mio posto in prima fila – sono tornata e stavano suonando gli Edguy, un gruppo tedesco che non mi è dispiaciuto affatto, inoltre il cantante era un vero e proprio leader, un frontman che si possa definire tale. Ha coinvolto moltissimo la folla, si muoveva sul palco in modo da attirare la tua attenzione e non farti annoiare e poi era spiritoso e amichevole. La musica, poi, non era male, infatti mi sa che cercherò qualcosa di loro in giro.

Dopo di loro si è esibita Lita Ford, una donna che definirei “con le palle”. Nonostante i 50 anni suonati, si muoveva sul palco con grande energia, inoltre la musica non era per niente male. Lita Ford è famosa per le sue collaborazioni con i più grandi della scena hard rock (tipo Ozzy Osbourne), oltre che per il suo talento, e devo dire che ne ha da vendere, infatti a un certo punto si è messa a suonare una chitarra doppia! Si muoveva sul palco come una ventenne, cantava bene (è mezzo soprano, tra l’altro) e col suo carisma notavo che piaceva anche ai giovanissimi. Tra l’altro Fabio ieri mi ha fatto notare che una delle sue canzoni più famose, che ha fatto anche al Gods, è stata scritta in collaborazione con Nikki Sixx, bassista nonché autore del 99% delle canzoni dei Mötley Crüe.

Dopo Lita Ford è stato il turno dei Queensrÿche, e anche della pioggia. Infatti dopo pochissimo che avevano iniziato a suonare, hanno cominciato a scendere delle goccioline. Speravo fossero passeggere, invece dopo poco abbiamo dovuto aprire l’ombrello, ma per fortuna la pioggia forte è durata davvero poco, 15 minuti massimo, anche perché quelli dietro non avrebbero visto molto. Ha continuato una pioggerellina leggera, ma sopportabile. La band ha fatto pezzi dall’album nuovo e da Empire. Sembra che lo facciano apposta: quando sono andata al loro concerto, qualche anno fa, conoscevo solo Empire, e loro hanno suonato quasi tutte le canzoni da Operation: Mindcrime. Ora, che conosco bene Operation: Mindcrime – e che mi piace anche più di Empire – non ne hanno fatta neanche una! Che sfiga!

Dopo i Queensrÿche è stato il turno dei Tesla, che – devo ammettere – mi hanno sorpreso. Non li conoscevo tantissimo, avevo sentito qualcosa grazie a Riky, ma non mi avevano mai attratto tantissimo. Ma forse non li ho mai ascoltati come si deve, perché la loro esibizione è stata splendida, le canzoni mi sono piaciute molto e le persone della band mi sono piaciute. Il cantante mi è sembrato leggermente fuori di testa, ma simpatico, perché faceva continuamente battute e rideva! Ad un certo punto il bassista non poteva suonare perché aveva problemi con l’amplificatore, così si sono ritrovati con un po’ di tempo morto, e lui urla al chitarrista solista: “Do a solo, baby!!”. Ahah, che ridere! L’altro chitarrista, invece, era così carino! A me e Fabio sembrava che avesse sì e no 24 anni, invece poi abbiamo scoperto che ne ha 31! Ovviamente non è il chitarrista con cui i Tesla hanno cominciato, data l’età, però era bravo; a me pareva un pochino gay, per i movimenti femminili, il modo con cui sorrideva, ecc… L’ho definito il “cute guitarist”, in contrapposizione al “sexy guitarist”, che era quello del gruppo di Lauren Harris.

Dopo la bella esibizione dei Tesla, è arrivato il momento di uno dei due headliner: gli Heaven And Hell, ovvero i Black Sabbath con Ronnie James Dio. Che pallaaaaa!!!! La più lunga ora e mezza della mia vita. Non li sopportavo più, le canzoni erano tutte uguali!

Quando – finalmente – la loro esibizione è terminata, è cominciata a salire l’adrenalina per i Mötley Crüe, molto più attesi degli Heaven And Hell, a mio avviso. La gente ha cominciato a spingere, nonché a schiacciarmi contro la transenna, a voler mettersi davanti. Io ero spinta da destra, da sinistra e da dietro, ma non ce l’hanno fatta a farmi spostare dalla prima fila. Sì, mi hanno un po’ spinto verso destra, ma a me andava solo bene, perché mi facevano vedere meglio il palco. Poi, finalmente hanno iniziato! Kickstart My Heart come inizio, ed è subito il casino tra la folla, a partire da me, che mi agitavo come una pazza, con l’adrenalina a mille. Ero così eccitata di vederli lì di fronte a me! Mi sembrava quasi di conoscerli, dato che avevo letto la loro biografia e stavo leggendo il libro di Nikki Sixx, e vederli lì di fronte ai miei occhi muoversi e cantare mi sembrava un sogno. La loro esibizione potrebbe definirsi un “best” di tutti i loro album. In ordine sparso hanno fatto: Live Wire da Too Fast For Love, Shout At The Devil e Primal Scream da Shout At The Devil, Girls Girls Girls e Wild Side da Girls Girls Girls, Kickstart My Heart, Same Ol’ Situation (S.O.S.), Don’t Go Away Mad (con Vince che suonava la chitarra), Dr. Feelgood da Dr. Feelgood, Saints Of Los Angeles, Motherfucker Of The Year da Saints Of Los Angeles, e Home Sweet Home (con Tommy che faceva la parte al pianoforte) da Theatre Of Pain. Mi pare siano solo queste le canzoni…
Vince Neil è davvero un gran frontman, si muoveva tantissimo sul palco, poi era sempre sorridente, parlava al pubblico, intratteneva la folla. C’è da dire, però, che l’intrattenitore migliore è stato Tommy Lee, che ha parlato tanto con il pubblico, facendoci fare “giochi” del tipo urlare i nomi dei componenti della band secondo il ritmo che dava lui, oppure semplicemente chiacchierando. La band, invece, è stata presentata, componente per componente, da Nikki Sixx, altrimenti detto il bassista più figo del mondo. Lui suonava proprio dalla parte dove stavo io, anche se si muoveva, e questa è stata una grandissima fortuna, dato che, per chi non l’avesse capito, è il mio preferito. Certo, la nota negativa è che non sono riuscita a prendere neanche un suo plettro, soprattutto per colpa di una giapponese di merda che è riuscita a infiltrasi di fianco a me durante l’esibizione di Marty Friedman, e che si è fatta dare dalla security un plettro che era caduto davanti a noi.
Mick Mars, data la sua malattia (che, per chi non lo sapesse, è la Ankylosing spondylitis, una forma cronica e più grave di artrite, che si ha fin da giovani), non si muoveva molto, ma si è sempre meritato tutta la mia ammirazione per la sua forza: sono più di 20 anni che suona con i Crüe, e tenere sulle spalle il peso di una chitarra quasi ogni giorno non è facile, se non sei seriamente motivato in quello che fai.
Comunque in generale il loro concerto mi è piaciuto molto, sono soddisfattissima di averli visti e la fatica per la trasferta Londra-Milano di tre giorni è stata ripagata appieno!

Dopo il concerto siamo andati a mangiare al Murphy di Cologno, nonché a dissetarci, soprattutto io che non ho bevuto quasi niente tutto il giorno pur di non dover andare in bagno. Ero stanca morta, camminavo a malapena, ma ero ancora iper contenta. Non vedo l’ora che i Crüe tornino ancora in Europa, magari l’anno prossimo, per poterli andare a rivedere!

I am a children’s librarian in the midst of SUMMER READING! Which means, oh, my god, I am losing my mind. I am swarmed by children most of the day, signing them up for the program, explaining how the program works, etc and so forth.

I do have several tales to tell, though: Sideburns and his filthy, filthy touching; xb and his complete and utter lack of human decency (and my accompanying inability to realize that some people are just NO GOOD [for me]); and my epic conversation with a man that I’ve had a crush on for years, but the timing has never worked out–but soon, it just might.

I will try to write those down this weekend. There’s also work drama to be recounted.

As for my cymbalta commercial feelings? Those are doing better. Thanks for all the lovely, concerned comments.

In Rudo y Cursi, Y tu mama tambien co-writer Carlos Cuaron’s directing debut, Gael Garcia Bernal is Tato, also known as “Cursi,” a nickname that means “corny” in English, a country boy who makes it big as a Mexico City soccer star. But what Tato really wants to do is sing, and like Jon Gries’ deluded karaoke singer in the Polish bros.’ Jackpot or Christopher Guest’s hopeful theater director Corky St. Clair in Waiting for Guffman, Tato dares to make his dream come true. One of the delights of Rudo y Cursi is the music video within the film with Cursi covering Cheap Trick’s “I Want You to Want Me,” accompanying himself on accordion and singing the lyrics in Spanish – badly.

“Carlos picked the song,” Bernal tells me, hours prior to his scheduled appearance with Cuaron and friend and co-star Diego Luna at the San Francisco International Film Festival where Rudo y Cursi was screening in advance of its May 15 local opening. “I think secretly, between you and I and Diego and all the people that are going to read this, I think it’s a song that Carlos used to sing as a kid, like, in front of the mirror. There’s something about that song being very meaningful to him.”

If that is true, Cuaron, younger brother to Y tu mama tambien director Alfonso Cuaron, isn’t letting on, insisting that the song was chosen only for how well it fit the sentimental Tato.

“It defined the character so well, because someone who says or sings, ‘I want you to want me,’ has attention and affection problems and that’s a problem he has,” Cuaron suggests. “I thought thematically it was perfect for him. It was a song that I loved when I was a kid. Gael didn’t know it, because he was born the same year [it came out].”

“I was toying with the idea that probably I could use Echo and the Bunnymen’s “Lips Like Sugar” or Foreigner’s “Urgent,” he adds. “These three songs, what they share in common are silly lyrics. But one morning I was driving my kids to school and I was playing the CD and the Budokan version [of 'I Want You to Want Me'] started, the live version, and I started to sing along with Robin Zander, but very stupidly I started to sing it in Spanish, because I was looking for a song, so I was like doing dialog with the song. And as I did it, [I thought], ‘This is it! It defines the character! I love it!’ That’s why I chose that one.”

Cuaron says he drove his wife and children crazy for a solid year watching Bandamax, Mexico’s answer to MTV, but it was necessary research for getting the video right. “I didn’t want to copy a specific video,” he says. “What I did was take elements from most of the videos. They share a kitschy style. They always happen in a countryside backdrop, usually with horses running around, I don’t know why. Sometimes, they have green screens. For this choreography, you usually get two or more beautiful girls.”

“The choreographer asked what I wanted and I said, ‘Just illustrate the song. I want it be very illustrative, because I want Gael to have tools to illustrate and he could play with things,’” Cuaron continues. “And that’s what he did. He improvised some things that are hits, big hits, like this thing that he does [pretending to wipe his crying eyes with his fists]. I also told her that I wanted her choreography to be danced in weddings a year later and that is happening. I’m very proud of that. I achieved my goal!”

Bernal says that if got to choose, the song would have been Guns N’ Roses’ “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” prompting a laugh from Luna, who exclaims, “I was thinking just of that! I know you too well, Gael.”

“It fits really well,” explains Bernal. “In English, the words are very simple. The poetry is super simple. In Spanish, you do it and it’s incredibly corny.”

As to the million-dollar question of whether he can actually sing better than tone-deaf Tato, he only laughs, “Between you and me and the readers and Diego, no one will ever know.” – Pam G.

Further Studies in More Ambition than Sense:

Hamlet 2
The Rocker
Airheads
Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Wild West
This is Spinal Tap
Leningrad Cowboys Go America
Bowfinger
Highway 61
Be Kind Rewind

According to an article posted today on Pastemagazine.com, Rainn Wilson is going to be “unveiling” a cover of Joan Osborne’s “One of Us” with Rivers Cuomo, lead singer of Weezer, on April 11th. 

This is interesting, but what’s more interesting is that in an interview with Paste Magazine from June 2008, Rainn Wilson calls the National “uppity douche-bags.”

Here’s my question, Rainn.  How can you even go there?  You’ve got something to say about the National when you are collaborating with the lead singer of freaking Weezer??  Oh, I’m sorry, let’s compare. 

Battle Royale: Weezer’s “Beverly Hills” vs. The National’s “Abel”

And the National pounds Weezer’s stupid quirky foolishness into the dust with their seriousness, intensity, and ability to be something other than stupid.  Who’s the douche-bag now, suckaaaaaas!

Dammit, Rainn Wilson, you have  disappointed me and I never thought it was possible.  You know what?  I’m glad you didn’t get the part of Gob in Arrested Development.  You didn’t deserve it.

You can see the video here [of the interview clip, not the battle royale.  That was too gruesome to get on video]:
http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2008/06/rainn-wilson-the-national-are-such-uppity-doucheba.html

Marty and Doc Brown did it about 20 years ago in the popular Back To The Future-series: Doc makes a reference to Jules Verne in 1885 and Marty asks for a Pepsi in 1955. Today, pop culture references belong to movies and TV shows like bubbles to Coke.

The other day, I was watching Kevin Smith’s great 2008 movie Zack and Miri Make a Porno and found it interesting how the movie refers to Youtube (and the iPhone), where one of the characters becomes an Internet celebrity within just a few hours because of a video. The Rocker with Rainn Wilson is another movie that depicts the story of a band that becomes famous because of a remarkable video of their drummer on Youtube. In Sydney White college girls fight for the #1 spot on a Myspace Hot or Not ranking. This is not a new phenomenon. Teen shows such as Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Dawson’s Creek played with it already by the end of the 1990s. 

In my opinion, one of the coolest pop culture references can be found in the last episode of  Buffy The Vampire Slayer. Buffy remarks to Angel, in relation to his disapproval of her controversial relationship with Spike, “Are you just going to come here and go all Dawson on me every time I have a boyfriend?” For better understanding: Dawson, the main character from Dawson’s Creek, another popular WB’s TV show, is a teenager who believes in romance but is rather melodramatic and helpless when it comes to love. He also believes to find all of life’s answers in Steven Spielberg movies. And there we have another reference to pop culture.

More examples: The Simpsons use Google, Shrek sings on American Idol, the characters in Gossip Girl read GQ and use cell phones like the BlackBerry Storm, Blue LG Chocolate, and LG enV Orange, and there are many more. This is obviously only the beginning. I haven’t seen a reference to Twitter yet. But it is only a matter of time until The Twitter Song gets picked up by an influential screenwriter, who brings it to the mainstream. Looking forward to that.

I rented this movie because I liked the review Gary had……..
Movie Review – “The Rocker”
March 24th @wideworldofgary.wordpress.com

HERE IS WHAT I THOUGHT~~~~~~

This is a movie that held my interest, all the way to the end. It has an actual story to tell. It has actual lessons to be learned about human behavior. They are done in such a way that they make the point, with a twist of humor! It shows us the power of friendship and the power of love. It shows what commitment means and what happens if you stick with your plans and dreams. It makes you reflect on some of your own personality traits that could stand a little “adjusting.” The title of the movie speaks for itself. It is about rock bands. It is about staying motivated. It is about dreams coming true. I recommend this movie 100%. You will laugh, you will cry, the thing is….YOU WILL do SOMETHING! You will not just SIT THERE!

Mom/Dad……..Naked butt scenes…Man in underwear scenes…FYI

Cast

Rainn Wilson as Robert “Fish” Fishman

Christina Applegate as Kim

Teddy Geiger as Curtis

Emma Stone as Amelia

Josh Gad as Matt

Rated: PG-13

Genre: Comedy, Music

The Rocker tells the story of a failed drummer who is given a second chance at fame. Robert “Fish” Fishman is the extremely dedicated and astoundingly passionate drummer for the eighties hair band Vesuvius, who is living the rock n’ roll dream until he is unceremoniously kicked out of the band. Twenty years after his rock star fantasies are destroyed, just when Fish has finally given up all hope, he hears that his nephew’s high school rock band A.D.D. is looking for a new drummer. They reluctantly make him the newest member of the band, giving him a chance to reclaim the rock God throne he’s always thought he deserved, and taking the young band along for the ride of their lives.

This movie is HILLARIOUS!! I laughed my ASS off at this movie. This is a MUST SEE for any 80’s child such as me. The characters, acting and plot are all FANTASTIC! FUNNY, FUNNY FUNNY!!

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

The Rocker

Synopsis – An aging rock drummer is hired by his nephew to play drums in a high school band, which is catapulted onto the music scene. Hilarity ensues.

Review – 7/10

Reflix – Going into this film I thought – oh no, a film where Dwight tries to rock-out. As much as I love The Office and even though Rainn Wilson was hilarious on his episode of SNL (especially his SNL Digital Short), I was fearing the worst, especially after a 39% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, I was pleasantly surprised by this film. I think the pitch for this film was “That Thing You Do! with Dwight” because that’s what it feels like. The story is almost exactly the same – a new drummer comes in to an established band and ends up leading them on a summer tour. Same plot, except here the band is 20 years younger than the drummer and its a funnier movie. But lets be honest, the story isn’t what’s going to get  you rewatching this flick over and over – it’s the jokes, the laughs it gets out of you. And to tell the truth, the film is pretty darn funny. Rainn Wilson turns in a great performance as Fish, the rejected, nostalgic drummer. His jokes are hilarious and there is considerable physical comedy, even if it is the same sort of gag you’ve seen in other films. However, he isn’t the lone comedic actor here. Josh Gad is absolutely fantastic as Matt Gadman, Fish’s nephew. He has some hilarious lines and delivers them like no one else. I really think that most people will be shocked and impressed with his performance – he will actually get you to take another look at this film for sure. Jason Sudeikis is another actor who performs extremely well in this film, as he does in all his other projects. He is endowed with the best lines in the movie, one favourite of which is, “John Lennon is rolling over in his grave to hide the boner you just gave him!”. He delivers them extremely well and is another performance  that will have you replaying some of the lines.  Overall, the performances of a great ensemble cast are definitely reflixable, including the contributions of Will Arnett, Fred Armisen, Lonny Ross, Christina Applegate, Emma Stone, Jane Lynch, Bradley Cooper, and Teddy Geiger.

However, the good performances are the only reflixable aspects of the film. There are some great scenes as well, including Fish’s reunion with his former band (where they have adopted British accents), a scene in the recording studio, Fish and Curtis’ drive around the Cleve, or any scene with Vesuvius.  There are others as well and many are reflixable. The only problem is that the scenes which separate the reflixable ones aren’t great, but they do a decent job at moving the story and developing some character points.

I will also say that a unique reflixable quality of this film is that every song that Fish’s band, A.D.D., performs is fantastic. They are definitely worth watching over just to hear the songs. I wonder if they are on the soundtrack? Either way, they are definitely worth reflixing.

This film does a good job at developing a good story and adding lots of funny. I think the only downfall is that it is difficult to match a lot of the Apatow, McKay, or Smith films. But those ones are generally a lot more gross out and R-rated than this flick, so as a PG-13 flick, it is excellent. I would absolutely recommend this as a reflixable film. Reflixability – Boomerang.

The hosts become the answer to the question of those that watch the watchmen and go further to become those what talk about those watching folk. They consider whether the king of the clerks is moving to new pastures purely for the green and seek answers on the future quality of movies based on edited snippets. Later in the day, they move into a talk on the saving powers of quippery, the weakness of poor criticism and finally suggest some other picture books which might make nice films.

Download Episode 09

Show notes:

Grady Hendrix’s piece on the influence of Watchmen.

Watchmen reviews by: Dana Stevens on Slate – Roger Ebert in the Chicago Sun-Times – Owen Gleiberman at Entertainment Weekly – Michael Phillips for Chicago Tribune – Kirk Honeycutt at the Hollywood Reporter – Anthony Lane at The New Yorker

Peter Bradshaw’s Wendy & Lucy review in The Guardian.

Ben Child blog on Kevin Smith taking on ‘A Couple of Cops’ for The Guardian.

Trailers for: Terminator Salvation – Up – Star Trek – Public Enemies -The Taking of Pelham 123 – 500 Days of Summer – Gigantic – Bart Got a Room – The Limits of Control – Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen

Last Boy Scout quippery-as-lifesaver scene.

Trailers for Wendy & Lucy, American Teen and Surveillance (and trailer for Boxing Helena)

Info on Craig Thompson’s Blankets, Bottomless Belly Button by Dash Shaw (and his brilliant BodyWorld), David Boring (and other Daniel Clowes works), 100 Bullets by Brian Azzarello (plus Azzarello’s work on Joker), Jimmy Corrigan by Chris Ware and Fell by Warren Ellis.

Plus, Akira comics, Robert Kirkman’s Walking Dead series, Y: The Last Man by Brian Vaughan, Bone by Jeff Smith, Miracleman by Alan Moore, Starman and Marvels by Kurt Busiek with amazing art by Alex Ross.

The AV Club’s far more in-depth list.

Rainn Wilson just posted this on his Twitter account. It’s him doing a mock interview with Slash. It takes a few to get started but it’s fucking hilarious once they get into it. Twitter is awesome.

Within the first ten minutes, the creators of The Rocker make it readily apparent after Rainn Wilson punctures the top of a van with his drumsticks that you better relax and take this movie for what it is – a nonsensical farce attacking rock band cliché after cliché and offering a few catchy songs in the process.

Rainn Wilson, he of Dwight Schrute fame, plays Robert Fishman, the drummer of a band about to break it big in the early … Eighties?  As you can imagine, they have to dump him in order to get the huge record deal, and so they do.  Cut to Fishman twenty-some years later, still raging about the slight and going nowhere.  As fate would have it, he must move back in with his sister, and she has a socially awkward son who just happens to need a – wait for it – drummer for his band’s gig at the school dance.

Through a series of misadventures, including a YouTube video featuring Wilson’s naked butt, he and his teenage band mates have to hit the road in order to promote an unlikely hit song.

Wilson takes this as his chance to finally live the life of a rocker, but (of course) eventually learns a few life lessons with the help of Christina Applegate – the lead singer’s improbable mom – and has a chance to outdo his original band, the one that dropped him all those years ago.

This is not meant to be anything but a circus, but there actually were a few good laughs amongst all the pratfalls and the young actors playing the band members did a nice enough job of keeping up with Wilson.  There were also cameos galore from all the usual suspects.

Here’s the problem with actors playing eccentric characters on hit shows releasing movies – you can never quite differentiate between their television character and the character they play in the movie.  Oh, sure, once actors move on and years go by, you forget they were ever even on a TV show such as with Tom Hanks, George Clooney, and Clint Eastwood.  However, you also have those such as Michael Richards who will forever be Kramer no matter what he does.  Steve Carell also seems to suffer from this ailment.  No matter what movie I see him in, he’s the same guy to me.  Anyway, Rainn Wilson does an adequate job of taking a role that allows him to play to his strengths, but the character is also quirky enough that you don’t see a carbon copy of Dwight Schrute.  Perhaps a character who could be a distant relative of Dwight Schrute, but not Dwight himself.

So would I recommend The Rocker?  If you’ve got nothing else to watch or have a burning desire to see more of Wilson’s naked body than anyone should, you could watch worse movies.  And despite myself, some of the songs the fictional band performed were actually catchy.