Ok, so maybe I was a little off-base with my rant on Shark Week in the last Musings post. Why the sudden change of heart you ask? Well, I caught a show about crocodiles on Animal Planet on Tuesday night and they had a story about some kid swimming when a croc bit off his arm. That was kind of sad and disturbing and it also taught me a lesson that I will never again swim in a swamp. Anyway, they ended up killing the croc that took little Johnny’s (can’t remember his name, so we are sticking with Johnny) arm off and they actually showed footage of the authorities pulling out Johnny’s ARM from the croc! His actual arm, in the croc’s gut, they pulled it out for everyone to see. No warning, no “hey, we are about to show you some sick, twisted stuff, make sure you turn your head for a good two minutes.” Nope, nothing like that at all. And it was gruesome. I’m getting a little nauseated just thinking about it (it could also be the eggs and shrimp I had last night at 11:30p, I’m not a doctor, so I can’t say for sure). Wow, just wow. So, Animal Planet, you are a sick F.
- This one is for all of you ladies out there. Diane Keaton will star in an HBO series as a feminist icon who attempts to reignite the movement by starting a sexually explicit magazine for women. (Thanks Hollywood Reporter for that sentence). A few years ago, John and I had talked about starting our own sexually explicit magazine just for women, but we could never get the investors so we decided to go the blog route. I still say that was a mistake.
- Here is a link to the trailer of Tron Legacy for all of you nerds out there.
- If you ever need a quick drawing of Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins…this is the artist you should call.
Another little clip from 9. Friend of the show, Mike D., says he saw the original version of the film back in the day when it was just a short. He gave it rave-reviews and seconds my opinion that it is well worth your viewing once it comes out.
I think of a movie. You try to guess it in the comments section. As always, the above picture is a hint. If nobody guesses correctly, I will update the post with another clue.
Good luck!
UPDATE: Good guesses by most folks…but no correct guesses yet. This is a comedy that came out a few years ago. It probably was enjoyed by folks not only in America but also in another english speaking country.
UPDATE II: Congrats CC! You are the big winner this week! The correct answer was Hot Fuzz, the Simon Pegg hilarious action-comedy about police officers in a small English town fighting crime. CC, be sure to tell all of your friends how great you are, you deserve it.
Bast For Lashes is one of those bands that I meant to put up in the spotlight like 4-5 months ago but never got around to it. No real reason why - it just worked out that way. But…better late than never. Bat For Lashes is actually an individual artist rather than a band. It consists solely of exotic-natured, British chanteuse Natasha Khan (KHAAAAAAAN!!) who gets ger exoticism (probably not a word) from the combined genes of her Pakistani father and English mother. Dig that. Her latest album, Two Suns, is nominated for a Mercury Prize and she has also opened for Radiohead and appeared on Letterman. She’s got a sultry, melancholy voice that is a pureed version of Tori Amos, Cat Power and Siouxie Sioux all in one. If you’re down with those ladies, you’ll be down with Natasha, I mean, Bat for Lashes. Respect…
Shark Week is airing next week on Discovery Channel. I tuned in one year because #1. Sharks are cool and #2. A week full of sharks on tv is an awesome idea. But, I came away pretty disappointed. The stuff that I watched had way too many cheesy reenactments and they even threw in the ol’ “look at our awesome technology, we are going to show you a computer generated shark and show you all of it’s glorious movements”…which is cool, except you could actually show me some real footage of sharks, which would be cooler. Way cooler.
So this is what I’d like to see from Discovery Channel next week: I want to see blood. Lots of it. They should pay some guy a million dollars and have him swim a mile in treacherous, great white shark infested water (Preferably they can do this off the Australian coast and have it narrated by some Australian guy. It sounds more legit coming from someone with an accent). Let’s see if the sharks try to attack him…wouldn’t you want to see that? And then if they don’t, let’s prick him with a needle, make him bleed just ever so slightly (sharks have a keen sense of smell. For blood that is)…how long will it take for the sharks to take a nibble? 2 minutes? 5 minutes? 30 minutes? I have no idea, but I’m telling you I’d tune in. And so would you. And then I want a three hour montage of the shark’s “greatest hits.” It just shows sharks attacking seals, fish, and polar bears (yes, eating polar bears is a staple of a shark’s diet)…wouldn’t that be fun? Instead, Discovery Channel drones on and on about how bees kill more humans than sharks. Blah, blah, blah. Let’s show sharks the way most people view them, them: as blood-thirsty creatures who amuse themselves by killing precious little animals and humans.
- Funny interview with Sacha Baron Cohen and David Letterman about a scene involving terrorists in the new movie Bruno.
- The SNL skit, MacGruber is getting close to being made into a full length movie. Val Kilmer and Ryan Phillippe are in negotiations to star. I don’t really find the skit all that funny…but I do like Kilmer a lot, so maybe it’ll be ok.
- There seems to be a salary dispute for a few of the ladies from hit show The Real Housewives of NY. As long as the crazy one (Kelly, I’m looking in your direction) comes back, I’ll be ok.
- Have you ever wondered what an assistant like Lloyd from Entourage makes in a year? It’s depressing. And factor in that they live in either LA or NY.
I always found this movie to be extremely underrated. Great cast, (Tobey Maguire, Reese Witherspoon, Joan Allen, Jeff Daniels…) great story and fantastic camerawork and art design. The story is about a high school kid (Maguire) who watches an Andy Griffith-like show everyday called Pleasantville. One day, the cable man leaves him a mysterious remote and he and his sister (Witherspoon) get sucked into the show and find themselves living in Pleasantville, immersed in small-town life of the 1950s. Everything there is the picture of the American dream from that era. No one fights, the basketball team always wins, no one questions anything and life is always perfect - in that glossy, don’t dig beneath the surface kind of way. While Maguire is delighted about this, because he finds modern day to be undesirable and devoid of values, his much wilder and promiscuous sister eventually manages to rock the proverbial boat. As they go about their lives in Pleasantville, Maguire and Witherspoon introduce the sheltered, idealistic American town to sex, alcohol, books, art, free-thinking and a host of other topics that were previously unbeknownst to the town’s isolated residents. The story serves as a platform to highlight the cutural and social revolution that actually took place in America during the 1950s and 1960s. While social commentray on race, religion, self-expression, and censorship are certainly prevalent, the movie never seems preachy or cliche. Though these topics are undoubtedly complex and important, their presentation, and hence indirect discussion, in the film is done so creatively that audience members are able to enjoy the film without feeling as though their own opinions are being challenged. The use of color and music in this movie is implemented with expert craftsmanship and really serves as an indespensible member of the cast. I have always liked this movie and value the way it covets art as a prize aspect of human culture. I hope that you will take the time to check it out if you haven’t already done so.
The Game
You know what’s awesome? Besides double cheeseburgers (which are twice as awesome as regular cheeseburgers - just ask Nealworld). Being truly held in suspense and not knowing which way a movie is going or being able to predict every single move before it happens. That denotes an excellent script, excellent story-telling and excellent direction. All of those elements can be found in The Game by one of my favorite directors, David Fincher (Se7en & Fight Club). I can’t get too in-depth with the plot because I don’t want to spoil anything for anyone that hasn’t seen it, but I will say that you are legitimately kept in the dark not really knowing how everything is going to play out until the very end. It is always unclear as to what is actually going on, but the beauty of the movie is that it’s not confusing. I know that sounds contradictory but it’s true. You’re able to follow exactly what’s happening, remember characters and, in the process, form theories about the ending that change every 5 to 10 minutes as new information is presented. It’s the ultimate example of intricacy and mystery being delivered to viewers in a way that doesn’t alienate or frustrate them. Michael Douglas and Sean Penn star as brothers, one at the top of the world (Douglas) and one managing to get by (Penn), who find themselves in the center of some bizzarre and seemingly unexplainable events. There’s secrecy, murder, kidnappings, mild espionage and conspiracy yet, no apparent motive behind any of it. It’s a rarity these days to find a movie that is truly unpredictable, but this phenomenal thriller delivers the goods and is worth a first-time viewing via rental rather than a watered-down cable appearance. When has Fincher (or me) ever let you down?
Finally, the guys are back with the feature that started the whole PCC2C revolution: a scintilating podcast. On the latest edition of this storied podcast, your favorite co-hosts talk about entertainment taking place during the summer of 2009. The guys discuss HBO and its important summer time role, what movies they’ve liked and disliked thus far and of course a little Classic GTM to get things started. You asked for it, and they listened. Slake thy pop culture thirst on this…
Oh snap - England is back in the house, er.. spotlight. Hertfordshire, England to be exact and it’s been a long time coming. The Friendly Fires self-titled 2008 album has earned the band tons of press from NME, BBC1 and numerous other European media outlets, and it was just announced a few days ago that they are in contention for the coveted 2009 Mercury Prize. You know how I like to showcase those Mercury Prize nominees. They’re an upbeat mix of pop, electronica, and indie rock and have already managed to pedal their unique brand of music to Europe, Asia, South America and the U.S. Check out White Diamonds below and put a little spring in your step for the rest of the day.
Today’s featured artist has been rocking the music scene for quite some time; playing a host of notable venues and sharing the stage with a veritable who’s who of rock and blues legends. He’s released several albums over the last five decades and his most recent offering, 2008’s The Blues Roll On , featured B.B. King and Derek Trucks and was nominated for a Grammy award for Best Traditional Blues Album. His sound is classic blues, highlighted by piercing guitar riffs and lyrics so heartfelt you’re instantly a little more depressed than before you started listening. But in a good way. What makes the selected song even more awesome is that Bishop is accompanied on the track by the Home Made Jamz Band that Rhett previously mentioned upon a recommendation from reader Meigan P. If you’re not a blues fan, prepare to become one.
I think of a movie. You try to guess it in the comments section. As always, the above picture is a hint. If there are no correct guesses, I’ll update the post with another clue.
UPDATE: Good guesses so far, but none of them are correct. Here is the hint: This was originally a children’s book (my class read it in the 5th grade) that dealt with some serious issues about life, death, and love. Also, there is a pretty big clue in the picture above that people are overlooking. Check it out again.
UPDATE II: We have a WINNER! Hales, congratulations, you have guessed the movie! The correct answer was Tuck Everlasting. (”everlasting” gobstoppers in the picture above was a pretty great hint) Remember that movie? Well, remember the book? Either way, it doesn’t matter, this is your day Hales. Live it up!
UPDATE III: Short is right, WKA Holla’s guess was stuck in the inner workings of the information superhighway and not posted until after Hales made his guess. However, WKA Holla did put in the guess before Hales put his guess in…so what to do? Hales, your victory is clearly tainted. I’m declaring co-champs, WKA Holla and Hales as the winners of GTM this week.
