Sunday, April 12, 2009
Adventure Is My Middle Name...
So we saw the film Adventureland last week and I'm just now getting around to posting a review. Directed by Greg Mottola, who's best known for Superbad, Adventureland tells the tale of college graduate James Brennan (played by Jesse Eisenberg) who ends up having to spend the summer working in a local Pennsylvania amusement park during the 80's. You can guess what happens next: he meets quirky yet genuine friends, falls for a girl, and has that defining summer of his life. Yet despite the paint by numbers plot, Adventureland manages to make these events engaging and real. With Superbad, Mottola showed he had a talent for developing characters the audience could genuinely care for. In Adventureland he again uses his skills to avoid the cliches of the teen comedy genre. The girl of James's affection is a pretty but realistic girl with depth and issues, as opposed to the usual unattainable local super hot girl. The "antagonist" of the story is not some mustache twirling villain or even that much of a douche bag, he's just a guy who makes some questionable choices. The 80's setting is just that, a setting. It's not played for jokes or done over the top, like in The Wedding Singer. There are laughs to be had in Adventureland for sure, but be warned this is not the laugh out loud crazy comedy of Superbad. If you want to see a well made coming of age story with well rounded, realistic characters, then check this one out. Oh and the sound track is awesome too.
4.5 out of 5 stars
Adventureland
Dir. by Greg Mottola
Rated R
2009
107 minutes
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Artist Update: Gorillaz
Most thought the end was near for Gorillaz, as the members have dozens of side projects, solo projects, and whatever kind of projects. But now, like clock work, about every four years or so the members of Gorillaz converge and come together to create a fresh, new album.
Here is some new info about their third album via Wikipedia...
"An article by the Toronto Star stated that the duo hope to begin work on the album in January 2009. Albarn also said that he wants "to work with an incredibly eclectic, surprising cast of people."[46] On 14 January 2009, Damon Albarn made an appearance as a guest DJ on BBC Radio 1, premiering demos of three new Gorillaz songs, which are entitled "Electric Shock", "Broken" and "Stylo".[47] Stated by Albarn himself, the album as a deadline to be finished by July, with it released no later than December."
Fingers crossed! Gorillaz never seem to disappoint...
Monday, March 16, 2009
Music Review: Beirut - March of the Zapotec/Real People Holland
Zach Condon's new EP, 'Zapotec/Holland' is of course really two EPs meshed together into one super hybrid EP, that's not be confused with an actual LP. If you were able to follow that, and you're still reading then you'll be interested to know that Condon's new work is pretty freakin' good. For two EPs that sound totally different and for the most part have nothing to do with another, somehow for whatever reason it works. The first half, 'Zapotec' was music that was originally composed by Condon for what ended up being a failed movie project in Mexico. So he wisely decided to release the music anyways with 'Holland,' the second half of the EP. 'Holland' focus more on a 'electronic-dance' theme, then the usual Beirut 'old-earth' music style. You may be thinking... "Beirut with electronic beats and keyboards and shit?! Well now I've heard everything!" But seriously, it's pretty good and should be treated as so.
Just remember, it's not an a full-length LP or anything... and it should be kept in mind these are or less songs to get you by until the next official Beirut record.
4 out of 5 Stars.
Best Songs: La Llorona, On a Bayonet, The Concubine, No Dice
Sunday, March 15, 2009
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