August 13, 2008

Big Screen: Wall-E

Cute. Sweet. And only a few moments that seemed so potentially tragic as to freak out my 3-year-old companion (thankfully her Mom sitting between us reassured her quickly).

Posted by Duff at 12:54 PM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Watchin'

August 11, 2008

RS #1058 (some weird triplet boys)

Super Monkey Ball. Perhaps the best reason to want an iPhone.

Natasha Kai (olympics, soccer) has some seriously awesome tattoos.

I would really have laughed to hear Jay-Z doing "Wonderwall" at Glastonbury. The whole story behind that just cracks me up.

I already knew about James Franco's writing (one degree of separation/my friend took a class with him) but this article makes me like him even more. That, combined with Cinnamon's positive review, MIGHT be enough to make me pay to see Pineapple Express. But then again, I don't believe I want to put any $$ in Judd Apatow's pocket.

I'm sure I've never bought a Randy Newman album but I kinda want to buy this one just as protest against the Bush Administration. Singles: "A Few Words in Defense of Our Country" and "Feels Like Home" (which you already know a cover of if you were a Pacey's Pond fan).

This review of Dr. Dog "Fate" actually made me buy the album over the weekend.

But hmmm I can't decide about the new Conor Oberst. Anyone got an opinion on that one for me?

Posted by Duff at 07:42 PM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Rags, Tunes

August 06, 2008

Catching up on EW

EW 1002 (twilight)

The redesign is crap, if you ask me. A) It all looks like advertising and B) Was the goal of the redesign to have as few (and as short) album reviews as possible?

EW 1003 (watchmen)

Columbia Pictures/Sherlock Holmes with Sacha Baron Cohen as Holmes, Will Ferrell as Watson and Judd Apatow producing? I think I might puke. Warner Bros instead offers Robert Downey Jr. as Holmes with Guy Ritchie directing? Now that I might be willing to see.

I need to hear Sugarland's cover of "Life in a Northern Town." Need.

Bank Job DVD gets an A-. I heard it was good but given the star's previous work, did they really expect anyone to go to it in the theater?

Entire page on the new CSI but they don't mention David Weddle coming over from BStarG. Was that announced post this issue? I'm always so behind on magazines, it's hard to work out the chronology.

EW 1004 (dark knight)

EW: There's an old joke about how Superman is the guy girls want to marry but Batman's the one they want to date.
Christopher Nolan: Michael Caine had a great line: "Superman is the way America sees itself, but Batman is the way the world sees America."

Thomas Disch's latest "Word of God" gets an A-. RIP Disch, an amazingly versatile author (I've read his sci fi ["Camp Concentration" among others] and I've also read his historical fiction ["Neighboring Lives" set in the pre-raphaelite world] and both were EXCELLENT).

EW 1006 (some girl from some ridiculous show)

Olympics start August 8. Man, I can't wait for August 9: Swimming!

This book sounds funny: "Mine All Mine" Adam Davies
This book sounds intriguing: "Travel Writing" Peter Ferry
and this photo book looks and sounds very cool: "Perfect World" Sage Sohier

Posted by Duff at 09:00 AM | Say What? | filed under Books, Flicks, Rags, Tunes

August 05, 2008

Best of July

The best movie I saw in July was also the only movie I saw in July (or the only one I saw for the FIRST time anyway...). It was The Dark Knight and it was pretty fantastic. I had reservations, but they weren't "I don't love you" reservations. More like "I do love you, but I probably wouldn't marry you, because I know you'll only hurt me in the end."

The best book I read in July was Absurdistan by Gary Shteyngart, which was just outrageously fucking funny.

The best gig I went to in July was either the Fleet Foxes set at Pitchfork or the Earlimart show at the Hideout. Probably have to tip the hat to Earlimart since the sound was better (purely by locational happenstance), but I remain equally entranced by both.

My favorite tunes in July were Fleet Foxes and (more) Joseph Arthur and The Kills and Nana Grizol "Love It Love It"(which you sooo need) and this totally awesome mixdisc/playlist I made for Juno. My question for you is*: What would you give me to get a copy of that?

Random personal highlights: Visit from the Nipper. Secret Family Craft Project.

Lowlights? Long slow stressful month. This summer has sucked some fucking rotten ass, let me tell you. I mean, except for that it's all shit I can't tell you.

*Do you remember when I used to use this phrase ALL THE TIME? Dang, I miss it.

Posted by Duff at 10:00 AM | Say What? | filed under Best of..., Books, Flicks, Tunes

August 04, 2008

Big Screen: The Dark Knight

I liked it a lot, it definitely lived up to the hype for me, which these days is almost harder to do than to just make a decent movie.

• Loved Bale despite his (as always) weird gray all-the-same-length-across the-top front teeth. He continues to invest this character with an amazing sense of grim grief. It was just etched onto his face from scene 1.

• Loved Heath Ledger. Loved. Outstanding performance. Certainly worth the praise it is getting. No question. On the one hand, it makes it even sadder that he's dead now; just think what he could have done. On the other hand, to go out on the back to back performances of Brokeback and this? Wow. Talk about going out on a high note. Overall the performance just blew the fucking top off, but I have to say his mannerisms when he visits Dent in the hospital were just pitch fucking perfect. And when he walks out and is waiting for that last explosion? The move he makes with his arms there? Oh, Heath.

But I thought the last half hour dragged, too much time setting up the Two Face character. If he lived to be the villain of the next movie then it would make sense to me. But since he didn't, it made it feel long. I thought they could have edited some of that down. Yes, I understand that bringing him down was certainly one of the Joker's goals, but I thought the whole bit with the bombs on the ships just lagged. Didn't need it, we already KNOW the things that pointed out to us (or we should) and it just seemed like wasted time. While neither Iron Man nor Wanted made me get shifty in my seat, the last half hour of this had me really feeling the time. There was stuff they could've cut (and I think should've). Coulda been a little tighter.

That said, still tremendous. Super dark and delightfully so. Really a tour de force in the sequels department; takes the first movie and ratchets up quite a few notches. The additions of Ledger and Gyllenhaal really sent it over the top. Kudos. I've seen it twice already, I wouldn't be reluctant to see it again. But then that's nothing new for me and good movies; I am a repeat big-screen viewer and proud of it.

Posted by Duff at 05:10 PM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Recommending, Watchin'

August 02, 2008

Best of June

Just in time to write up Best of July... I mean, once I get the individual reviews of that stuff up. So slackerass I am this summer.

The best movie I saw in June was Wanted, which I just loved. But I also thought The Fall was visually stunning.

The best book I read in June was a tie between Lush Life by Richard Price (gritty, real and modern day) and Life Class by Pat Barker (artistic and historical). I also really enjoyed Dark Roots by Cate Kennedy, dark short stories, and I just cannot get enough of Patricia Briggs sci fi/fantasy stuff this year.

The best gig I went to in June was definitely Sea Wolf. Soooooo wonderful live.

My favorite tunes in June....were mostly things I bought in April. When I look back through my posts, I was listening to a lot of: Joe Purdy, Joseph Arthur, Fleet Foxes, Meg Hutchinson, Mason Jennings, the aforementioned Sea Wolf and Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin.

Random personal highlights: Amy's whirlyball birthday party (whirlyball! so much fun!); Weis [college roommate] here for a weekend; out to dinner with Cinnamon.

Lowlights? I'm sure there were some (primarily secondary browsing location and stress related presumably) but thankfully all I can tell you right now by looking at my calendar is that I was too lazy to go to the Printer's Row Bookfair this year (either day!) and that's pathetic.

Posted by Duff at 08:35 PM | Say What? | filed under Best of..., Books, Flicks, Tunes

July 30, 2008

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Eating: Not much. But drinking buttfuckingloads of caffeine (bad bad (and as a result) red-faced girl!). Caffeine + Rosacea = not so attractive.

Making: A blurb book from a select few of my Japan photos. Woot.

Reading: Still reading Dad's and my challenge book for the month, "The New Granta Book of the American Short Story" edited by Richard Ford, when I'm at home. And reading "Finding Battlestar Galactica: the Ultimate Unauthorized Fan's Guide" ed. by Lynette Porter, David Lavery & Hillary Robson on the El. [same as last week except FYI neither me nor Dad is going to finish this month's challenge during this month. Whoops!] whoops, wrong BStarG book, actually reading Battlestar Galactica and Philosophy: Knowledge Here Begins Out There, ed. by Jason T. Eberl. Although it is true, neither Dad nor I is going to finish our challenge book this month (we'll move on to our August book and hope we have time later in the month to go back and finish the July one).

Watching: Generation Kill. Love. Still carrying around the first disc of Band of Brothers for no reason since I've pretty much decided I won't start it until Generation Kill is over so I don't get confused about which war I'm in. Have been to The Dark Knight twice so far. Swoon.

Listening to: Earlimart "Hymn & Her". a) it is an awesome album and b) they are awesome live, super nice and sweet. Also a lot of random singles.

Posted by Duff at 01:08 PM | Say What? | filed under Books, Currently, Flicks, TVTVTV, Tunes

July 23, 2008

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Eating: Like there's no tomorrow. Seriously, people. On Friday, I must have been afraid there'd be a run on meat overnight because not only did I have a 900-calorie Chicken Poblano Fresco sandwich for lunch, but then I had BOTH a Brat AND a 2-lb. Hamburger at dinner. Along with 4? 5? Kirs. And as I'm sure you can imagine, I ate even grosser than that at Pitchfork all weekend. What is wrong with me?

Making: Technically nothing, last two days have been complete fucking hell on wheels at the secondary browsing location. But Jenn did rewrite the sleevecaps for me on the pattern I'm stuck on (ravelry link) so soon I will be working on that. Soon. Supposedly.

Reading: Still reading Dad's and my challenge book for the month, "The New Granta Book of the American Short Story" edited by Richard Ford, when I'm at home. And reading "Finding Battlestar Galactica: the Ultimate Unauthorized Fan's Guide" ed. by Lynette Porter, David Lavery & Hillary Robson on the El.

Watching: The Cleaner , a show that apparently I am the only person on earth to like. Have you read the reviews? Because they're BAD. But I like it! Also The Closer, which I am enjoying but not as much; Saving Grace, which I am NOT enjoying at all; Burn Notice, which I am enjoying primarily when Tricia Helfer is on screen (she is sooo different than her BStarG character, and yet has some of the same powerful characteristics. It's kinda awesome); and Generation Kill, which I am LOVING but am *ahem* only 15 minutes into the first episode. Slacker! And I've already watched Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog three times (all 3 eps) with many more repeat viewings to follow, I'm sure. As for the Big Screen, I loved both Wanted and The Dark Knight and frankly I'd like to see them both a second time over the weekend. We shall see.

Listening: to Nana Grizol "Love It Love It" which I bought after reading about them (a bunch of times) on this blog. It is a LOT of fun. And the Sea Wolf song "Neutral Ground" over and over after this morning's El contretemps.

Posted by Duff at 12:19 PM | Say What? | filed under Books, Currently, Flicks, TVTVTV, Tunes

July 17, 2008

Big Screen: Wanted.

Sooooo much fun. Completely exhilarating! Great trip to the movie theater. Very different from Iron Man, but just as completely what I am looking for in an action movie. My two favorite movies of the year so far. No fucking doubt about it.

I LOVED IT. Dad LOVED it. Nipper loved it. Michelle liked but didn't love it. The Chicago Reader hated it (prompting this response from Michelle: Damn! I liked it a little more than that dude. Who apparently doesn't understand the difference between REALITY and a FUCKING MOVIE.).

Where it suffers in comparison with Iron Man:

• The underlying mythology isn't as strong. With Iron Man, it's very clear why he decides to do what he does, what's driving him, it makes sense in a very cause-and-effect way. When he sits in front of the press and says "somehow we've become comfortable with zero accountability" it's like a jolt to your (any actual smart, responsible person's) heart, a direct attack on the fucked up situation of today. With Wanted, it's more smoke and mirrors. A very "In the Name of the Rose" or "DaVinci Code" type background. I mean, that's fine, except that no one ever questions "who's running the loom?" No one ever wonders who's in the background pushing the buttons? The assassins committed to this society BELIEVE the loom is doing it all on its own? (Although in other ways, this does work for me. That whole "secret society buzz" has a very comic book feel to it, so I think it works in the movie, I just think it doesn't work AS WELL as Iron Man's themes.)

• The situation isn't as personal, or it technically should be, but it's not presented that way. While RDJ's character in Iron Man is in many ways someone living a life who just doesn't care, when he does begin to care, it's very personal. His name on the weapons, his legacy, etc. In Wanted, McAvoy sort of falls into things with an extreme lack of knowing what's really going on. Things eventually become personal, but not at first, and they become personal via lies and misinformation that creates a kind of distance from any emotional effect. In other words: Iron Man becomes a MORAL QUEST. Wanted is about a gang of slaughterers. Fun, but kinda sick. Iron Man engages you on another dimension. As my Dad put it: It's probably not good to kill people you don't even know.

• The Hero's Glamour Factor. While RDJ's character may not be on the moral highground to begin with, he's not a frustrated loser working a shithole job and getting blindsided by his best friend either. He's a little easier to fall in love with in that "beginning of the movie, suck you in, make you want to watch him" way. Much as I love Bright Abbott dearly, oh, man, I hated seeing him be the swindler of McAvoy.

Where it SHINES in comparison to Iron Man!!:

• Hello, four words: Female Fucking Action Hero. Jolie* is just as much a focus as McAvoy, or any of the other assassins (even moreso). As Dad points out, "she is a MAJOR part of this movie, her part is outstanding and she's outstanding in it." Whereas in Iron Man while Gwyneth Paltrow is actually good (a rare enjoyment of her on my part), and has great chemistry with RDJ, her role is soooooo sidelines. And very retro, the female "secretary" role, even with sass is STILL the female secretary role. I mean, she goes to the final confrontation in 5-inch spiked heels to stand on the sidelines and shriek in distress. She's good when she's in it but she's so auxiliary.

• The Sets, particularly the Factory. While they make sense in the storyline, Iron Man's modern office buildings and desert caves don't really do as much for me as the sets in Wanted (although RDJ's house is pretty cool). The textile mill/factory is really majestic in a way, I LOVED all the car chases through the El structures and the stuff on the El itself (I love you, Chicago! You're so pretty!). And the train scenes at the end with his dad? And when Jolie drives her car onto it! VERY COOL!

Where both movies are GREAT:

• Effects, effects, exhilarating effects. Even my Dad who is not generally fan of CGI bullet fights (Peckinpah and Walter Hill did it better, OLD SCHOOL, and he will happily talk your ear off about it), even he loved the "fight" scenes in Wanted. How about the final showdown at the textile mill, where McAvoy is picking up other people's weapons as his way to reload? AWESOME!

• Wit, sarcasm, banter. Both movies have enough of this to be interesting BEYOND the effects and the drama and the Super Heroness of it all. Comic relief so you don't become bogged down by the horribleness of some of it.

• The "training" scenes. RDJ in his laboratory with his robot helpers and McAvoy gettin' schooled by Jolie. Like the scene where he's trying to grab the shuttle? And then when he finally does? All done with nice touches of humor.

I could go on (and on...) but believe it or not, I actually have something else to do right now. Shocking!

Need I even say it? Highly recommended. (BOTH)

*And if you enjoy Jolie in this, I recommend you check out Mr. & Mrs. Smith (which I LOVED a ridiculous amount!) as well as the two Tomb Raider movies, because she is great in these mixes of physicality/sass/sex/etc.

Posted by Duff at 02:30 PM | Say What? | filed under DadReaction, Flicks, Recommending, Watchin'

July 16, 2008

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Eating: My weight in brownies from Jamie. Yum.

Making: Secret.Family.Craft.Project.

Reading: Still reading the same two books as last week: 1) at home: Dad's and my challenge book for the month, "The New Granta Book of the American Short Story" edited by Richard Ford, and 2) in transit: "Absurdistan" by Gary Shteyngart . Close to finishing #2, which has been a hilarious ride so far, and definitely spending some time gazing at the bookshelves, pondering what's on deck.

Watching: Summer TV kickoffs of Burn Notice, The Cleaner, The Closer, Saving Grace and the wonderful, truly awesome, so enjoyable Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. (I had more to say ova heah.) Also rewatching lots of old favorites. As well as (re)watching BSG season 4 so far. Wanting to see Wanted again...Sooooo good. (So good that I haven't written it up? Slacker!)

Listening: Mostly to SModcasts. About five in the past four days or so? As my Dad says, "those two make great traveling companions." Also (re)listening to the latest albums from Madonna, Gnarls Barkley, Coldplay, Meg Hutchinson and Missy Higgins. All as accompaniment to Secret.Family.Crafting. I have a bunch of new stuff I haven't listened to yet. And there's Pitchfork (with the Nipper! YAY! NIPPER VISIT!) over the weekend. So we'll see.

Posted by Duff at 11:40 AM | Say What? | filed under Books, Currently, Flicks, TVTVTV, Tunes

July 15, 2008

Background Entertainment

Things that kept me company yesterday and today while I worked on a secret project. Generally I stick with old, old many-times-watched favorites for situations like this.

• SModcast #55 (not old, but too damn funny)
  
• SModcast #56 (and the same)
  
• Bull Durham (still quirky and fun on the gazillioneth watch)
  
• Streets of Fire (my love for this movie knows no bounds)
  
• The Thomas Crown Affair (the Brosnan/Russo one, sexy sexy)
  
• Lara Croft Tomb Raider (Angelina Jolie, best female action star ever?)

The bold of which is possibly my favorite movie IN THE WORLD and I am SHOCKED, s-h-o-c-k-e-d shocked, that there is no Snip entry on it to link to. My Gods, People, What Have I Been Doing with My Time?

Posted by Duff at 09:41 PM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Lists

July 08, 2008

RW #1055 (Chris Martin)

So I don't watch or know anything about American Idol but there is a really great photo by Peter Yang of the dude who just won it with some random little karate girl who walked by during the shoot. Really great photo.

Weird articles in this issue. Chris Martin = weirder than I even already thought. The dude who created Facebook = insane.

In other random news: Billy Squier will be part of Ringo Starr's "All-Starr" traveling band this summer. Hello, I could hear "The Stroke" live? Oh, the little junior high schooler I once was just swooned a little.

Single: "Handlebars" Flobots

Single: "Lost" Coldplay (compared to U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For")

Album: The Virgins (self titled) (gets a really great review. just read about these dudes somewhere else recently as well...)

Album: "Last 2 Walk" Three 6 Mafia (singles: "First 48", "Lolli Lolli")

The latest in the series of R&B-sounding but actually skinny weird white chicks coming out of the UK (what an odd trend): Adele "19"

Great Album title: "When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold" (Atmosphere)

Flick: "The Go-Getter"

Posted by Duff at 08:08 PM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Rags, Tunes

EW #1001 (Batman/Joker)

A(nother) redesign. WIth lots of bolding in the text.

I really can't wait to see Batman. The previews are intense and Heath looks amazing.

Stephen King agrees with my Dad on The Strangers.

This is a much better review of Wanted than the one in the Chicago Reader.

The new HBO drama Generation Kill sounds much more intriguing to me after reading this article (and Maureen Ryan has a whole host of PDFs to help you keep track of who's who if you feel the need).

Tune: "Hero" Nas feat. Keri Hilson
Mystery: "Swan Peak" by James Lee Burke (Robicheaux series)

Posted by Duff at 03:51 PM | Say What? | filed under Books, Flicks, Rags, TVTVTV, Tunes

July 07, 2008

DadReaction: The Strangers

Sooooo scary/good. A real psychological terror/thriller. Really well done.

Classic "things that go bump in the night". NOT a gorefest.

Dad to you, random reader who can handle scary movies and maybe even thinks they're fun: Go see it! Totally worth it!

Dad to me, scaredy freakshow, especially if she sees them a) alone or b) at night or c) any other time: Do.Not.Go.See.This.Movie. Do.Not.

Posted by Duff at 08:04 PM | Say What? | filed under DadReaction, Flicks

DadReaction: In Bruges

Howling [with laughter]. Off the wall. Black humor. Incredibly funny. Colin Farrell is so hilarious.

Dad is the second person in two weeks to recommend this movie to me.

Posted by Duff at 02:42 PM | Say What? | filed under DadReaction, Flicks

July 06, 2008

DVD: Rendition

Powerful. Emotionally moving. And extremely fucking depressing.

This IS what is going on ALL THE TIME in our world today and fuck who wants to live in a world like that.

p.s. Do Peter Sarsgaard and Jake Gyllenhaal have some clause in their contracts that they have to be in at least 90% of each other's movies?

Posted by Duff at 02:17 PM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Watchin'

July 02, 2008

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Eating: All I want to eat is crap. Particularly the Special Dark Hershey's Chocolate Kisses that I bought to send to Max (and Alison) and then never put in the mail...Whoops. Their loss, my ass's gain.

Making: Almost done with the second thick woolly sleeveless vest (WHATEVER!). Hoping to finish the top of Kysa's Friendship Star quilt (a.k.a. Friendship Star #2) and then sandwich/baste/and quilt BOTH that AND the quick baby quilt top I whipped up over the weekend and get them in the mail to her by the 9th, which is supposedly the date on which the baby boy is going to pop out. I'm hoping he's late (although I'm sure she's not!!).

Reading: Was supposed to start July's challenge book yesterday (!), but picked it up and almost had my arm drop off due to the weight. Guess I won't be reading that one in transit!! So instead I've started "Trespass" by Valerie Martin which is prickly and dark and promises to get moreso.

Watching: Since my dad started watching BSG, I started watching it ALL OVER AGAIN (I know!) so that when he calls me and says OH MY GOD I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS JUST HAPPENED, I know specifically what episode he's talking about (and in what order) and I don't accidentally give away a spoiler like I almost did the other night... Of course I have way more time in my day than he has in his, so I've already gotten past where he is. Maybe I'll wait for him to catch up. I mean, I so would, except for there being fucking nothing else for me to watch right now. And I saw "Wanted" which I loved as much as I thought I would and maybe I'll write a post on that for ya say over the long-ass holiday weekend during which I HAVE TO WORK ON SUNDAY and will not be in Southern Illinois with all my Blonde K-Cousins as I like to call 'em. Waah.

Listening: I listened to Matt Costa (which I mentioned here and here among other places) all weekend long, over and over, after introducing someone to him on Thursday night when we were at my house "playing DJ" since we thought we were going to see Meg Hutchinson at Uncommon Ground but she wasn't there (???) and instead there were these really pretty mediocre singers basically doing karaoke and I'm sorry but Alanis Morrisette "You Oughta Know" done on acoustic guitar with a husky Melissa Etheridge wannabe voice and admonitions to the audience to please "Join in!" ??? I don't think so.

But now I'm listening almost exclusively to the NEW! Earlimart "Hymn and Her" out yesterday that is AWESOME. Oh I love me some Earlimart (for example, this is how much I loved their previous album and here is where they were in my favorite albums of 2007) and Hello! Score! coming to Chicago on the 26th at the teeny tiny Hideout. Woot. Yes, I bought tickets. Yay! (Or, as a former coworker would say "I'm stoked!")

Oh and while the whole "Meg Hutchinson not being playing although that's the only reason we went" issue sucked, I did have some incredible pistachio-encrusted tilapia that pretty much blew my mind and this wacky french Apple-flavored beer that was DELISH. So there's that.

Posted by Duff at 11:57 AM | Say What? | filed under Books, Currently, Flicks, TVTVTV, Tunes

June 23, 2008

EW #998 (Angelina "Wanted" cover)

If there's one movie I can't wait to see this summer, it is indeed Wanted.

If there's one TV show you could NOT pay me to see, it is Swingtown, the previews for which look so incredibly bad, and that's not even taking into account the lame lame lame subject matter. What the fuck, EW, how did that piece o' crap make your Must list? Seriously.

The review of The Accidental "There Were Wolves" makes it sound like a good album...it also makes it sound a LOT like Fleet Foxes and Shearwater. So do I need it?

As usual, Mark Harris cracks me up (Women can apparently find a local multiplex without help from men!). He's my favorite back-pager.

Posted by Duff at 06:05 PM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Rags, TVTVTV, Tunes

Big Screen: The Fall

Visually stunning.

Similar to Pan's Labyrinth, the audience watches the fairytale playout of a child's imagination. Lee Pace is quite good here, very John Cusack-feelin'. Gorgeous, rich, saturated landscapes in beautiful locations (with every new scene, I thought: "WOW, where was THIS filmed???"). A sweetly charming (and ongoing) visual Indian vs. Indian joke.

Enjoyable enough plot; truly beautifully filmed.

Posted by Duff at 05:13 PM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Watchin'

June 18, 2008

Best of May

The best movie I saw in May was Iron Man and it was fucking awesome and definitely the best movie I've seen this year (not that I've seen many) and it's so good that even the second time around when you go to a crap ass neighborhood theater and the projector breaks and you have to watch the middle 20 minutes in two-minute increments, it's STILL brilliant. Are you coming to Chicago? I'd be happy to go to it again!

The best books I read in May were the one-two punch of Dragon Bones and Dragon Blood by Patricia Briggs. Magical and mysterious and yet so human and irresistibly attractive. If only I could have jumped into these books and become an auxiliary character (Another "cousin" for Ward? A romantic interest for Oreg?)... She ranks right up there with Elizabeth A. Lynn as my favorite current fantasy writers.

The best gig I went to in May was probably a tie between the Long Blondes (for actual "best") and Crowded House (for playing some of my all-time most beloved songs).

My favorite tunes in May....Honestly, I was soooo busy watching BSG over and over (see below), I really didn't do much listening in May. Which would be why I'm now working on listening to all the many many albums I bought but did not listen to in April, May and (thus far in) June all at once. Doh!

Random personal highlights: MDS&W, not the greatest, but I did get to see my peeps. I watched like* every episode of Battlestar Galactica. Twice. (Or more, depending on how much I loved the episode and how much screen time my current celebrity boyfriend Tahmoh Penikett had ha ha ha ha ha.) I went to visit my nephews. Met my newest cousin! And I got many back/shoulder massages at physical therapy (but see lowlights as well).

Lowlights? Physical therapy: a) the need for it, b) the stretching and lifting and pulling, ow, ow, ow, c) the ice. Hate the ice!! Had to skip a concert (Avett Brothers). Continuing buttloads of stress at the secondary browsing location.

*like used purely for valley girl emphasis, and not to approximate any less than ALL.

Posted by Duff at 10:14 AM | Say What? | filed under Best of..., Books, Flicks, TVTVTV, Tunes

June 11, 2008

EW #997 (the rock)

James McAvoy highlighted in "The Next A-List". I have seen some AWESOME previews for "Wanted" (with McAvoy and Angelina Jolie) and it looks GOOOOOD.

My mom is apparently dying to see Kung Fu Panda, and it gets an A- here.

After a good RS review, Fleet Foxes gets an A. (Love the album. Love it!) And I'm more interested in Jakob Dylan's solo album than any of these reviews really seem to be. (But I have consistently liked the Wallflowers' albums better than reviewers as well, so there you go.)

Although I crazy-amounts-of loved her movie (as you must know already, I've only mentioned it 9 bajillion times, starting here), Diablo Cody's back page columns have not really been doing much for me (maybe because New Kids on the Block? Seriously? Proud to say I never listened). This one doesn't either, but I do have to agree with this quote: Raise your hand if you can't hear "Losing My Religion" without thinking about Brenda and Dylan's breakup. Me neither.

Posted by Duff at 03:30 PM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Rags, Tunes

June 09, 2008

Big Screen: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

As lame and predictable as you would expect. Total schmaltz. Some of it was fun because it pointed back to those old (much better) movies: say, for example, the bit with the snake. But some of it was so ludicrously off pitch, it stuck out like a sore thumb: say, for example, the bits with the gophers. And the monkeys.

I always expect lame dialogue from anything that George Lucas is in anyway connected to, but the animal bits were pure Disney channel. Trying to attract a younger audience? Then perhaps you should have rethought using your original star, who certainly looks his age, if not more.

It was fine for staying in out of the alternate periods of a) torrential rain and b) torrential heat that strafed the city yesterday. Enjoyable enough for that, I guess. But unless you find yourself in similar straits, I couldn't recommend it.

Posted by Duff at 04:45 PM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Watchin'

June 05, 2008

EW#995/996 (Mad Men)

My personal favorite Sydney Pollack (RIP) movie? "Three Days of the Condor" without a doubt.

Album: Mason Jennings "In the Ever"

Book: "Dear American Airlines" Jonathan Miles. Sounds hilarious. I've spent many an hour stuck in O'Hare myself.

Book (new Jack Reacher): "Nothing to Lose" Lee Child. I might have to buy this one in hardback.

Book (recommended in Stephen King's column): "The Garden of Last Days" Andrew Dubus III

Posted by Duff at 10:35 AM | Say What? | filed under Books, Flicks, Rags, Tunes

EW #992/993 (SATC)

Flick: Reprise (gets an A-, on the one hand; I know someone who fell asleep during it, on the other)

Flick: My Father My Lord (gets an A, on the one hand; I may have had enough judaism for a month or two after just finishing an I.B. Singer story collection, on the other)

Flick: Battle for Haditha (sounds awesome!)

Posted by Duff at 10:33 AM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Rags

EW #991 (fake Bushes)

Book: "The Boat" Nam Le (stories)

Book: "Red Car" Sallie Bingham (stories)

Book: "Hotel Crystal" Olivier Rollin

And Diablo Cody highly recommends the Scorsese/Stones documentary "Shine a Light" but sadly I think it's already come and gone from Chicago while I wasn't paying attention. Moron (me).

Posted by Duff at 10:32 AM | Say What? | filed under Books, Flicks, Rags

June 02, 2008

Big Screen: Sex and the City

Bittersweet.

Disappointing.

• Given the events of the middle, I thought the unspoken "message" of the end was complete crap.
  
• Charlotte really got gypped in terms of storylines; hers had no tension whatsoever.
  
• It felt both superficial and rushed, and considering it went over two hours, it should have been neither.

That said, the other six girls in our group (no I do not know seven girls to go to the movies with in Chicago; I knew one of them) all seemed to like it. So take from that what you will.

Posted by Duff at 04:02 PM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Watchin'

May 29, 2008

Best of April

Just in time for June!!

The best movie I saw in April was Leatherheads, which might seem like it's not saying much since how hard is it to be the best of only two, but on the other hand, I thought it was really really good. It's not its fault my lack of movie viewing didn't give it much competition.

The best book I read in April was Belong to Me, by Marisa de los Santos but Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Goff was also good and a bit more high-brow if that's what you're looking for.

The best gig I went to in April was Bon Iver. A beautiful album done even more beautifully live.

My favorite tunes in April.... You know, at this point I'm not sure what I was listening to then, probably stuff I bought in February and/or March. The memory, it ain't what it used to be.

Random personal highlights: The yearly trip to Portland, yay, including burgers, beers and brunch; trying out my new camera (Hasselblad, yo). Not much else good happened; it was a rough month.

Lowlights? Had the punes; which seemingly caused a mysterious shoulder injury (look for "physical therapy" in May's highlights); had a LOTLOTLOT of stress at the secondary browsing location. And, I'm sure, airport delays on the way to Portland because you KNOW planes are delayed in every direction if I am flying on them.

Posted by Duff at 01:42 PM | Say What? | filed under Best of..., Books, Flicks, Tunes

May 28, 2008

Big Screen: Redbelt

A David Mamet script PLUS Jujitsu? Come on now, people, you can't go wrong with that one. Really compelling interesting story. Really cool fights (woot).

A lot of good performances here (Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tim Allen (unexpected), Alicia Braga), including one from Emily Mortimer (whose character undergoes one of the biggest transitions), and a really great one from Max Martini (yum), whom you may recognize from The Unit.

I'll tell you what. He, Dean Winters and Tahmoh Penikett need to do some kind of brothers/mafia/cops movie together. Ah, that would be wonderful.

Posted by Duff at 08:26 AM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Recommending, Watchin'

Big Screen: Iron Man

A full Family Reaction even featuring the extremely rare MomReaction!! (No, we did not see it together.)

DadReaction: Eye popping effects, but with a lot of character. And not so effect heavy that you lose the humor as in some action movies. Downey is really great here. He's a stronger character as an actor and so much more entertaining than, say, Spiderman. Christian Bale brought a lot of grimness to Batman but Downey is very funny, lively and self deprecating. Really uses his wise ass attitude so well here, and it makes the idea of a superhero movie so much cooler. His and Paltrow's characters attraction feels very real, even though it's an under the table sort and they dance around it. Jeff Bridges was good too.

MomReaction: There's a really topical social edge to this movie about collateral damage and what you do to the world, what weapons do to the world. They don't hide behind the story: War is bad. Guns are bad.

GirlReaction: Fanfuckingtastic. Everything you could want in an action movie AND MORE. Lovedlovedloved it.

Posted by Duff at 08:22 AM | Say What? | filed under DadReaction, Flicks, Recommending, Watchin'

May 13, 2008

EW #990 ("Meredith")

They gave Made of Honor a B? Are they kidding? (I'd give it a D-Minus at best.)

And per the cover (I refuse to read the article), they think Grey's "is getting good again." I watched it the last two weeks and it was far from good. The opposite, really.

Me and this magazine = not in sync.

Posted by Duff at 06:25 PM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Rags, TVTVTV

May 09, 2008

EW #988/989 (summer movie preview)

Definitely Planning to See:

• 5/2 Ironman (the 'rents really liked it)
  
• 5/9 What Happens in Vegas (Looks funny. Maybe the next "A Lot Like Love"?)
  
• 5/9 The Tracy Fragments (Ellen Page)
  
• 5/22 Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (I'm kinda pissy they're even doing this...but I'm probably going to go see it anyway. Pleased that Karen Allen is the girl they chose to bring back though.)
  
• 5/30 Sex & the City (Would like to see the story end)
  
• 6/13 The Happening (dir Shymalan, M. Wahlberg, Z. Deschanel) (I don't know why people are laughing through the previews, I think it looks awesome)
  
• 6/20 Get Smart (perfect role for "Michael")
  
• 6/27 Wanted (Angelina Jolie back in an action movie again plus James McAvoy, looks awesome!)
  
• 7/2 Hancock (W. Smith, J. Bateman, dir P Berg)
  
• 7/18 The Dark Knight (H. Ledger's last role)
  

Perhaps, We'll See:

• 5/2 Son of Rambow (hear it's really funny)
  
• 6/13 The Incredible Hulk (it is Ed Norton after all)
  
• 7/4 Diminished Capacity (M. Broderick, A. Alda, V. Madsen)
  
• 7/11 Hellboy II: Golden Army (actually enjoyed the first one)
  
• 7/25 American Teen (eh, maybe)
  
• 7/25 Brideshead Revisited (so not interested in the story/plot/whatever, but totally interested in Matthew Goode)
  
• 7/25 The X-Files (I didn't watch it that often, not sure I know enough of the underlying mythology to go to this)
  
• 8/1 The Rocker ("Dwight"!)
  
• 8/8 Pineapple Express (I think I will hate this (#2 below) but James Franco is so pretty)
  
• 8/15 Tropic Thunder (maybe not. I like Ben Stiller so much more when he's not trying so hard to be funny ("Flirting with Disaster" "Keeping the Faith")
  
• 8/29 Vicky Cristina Barcelona (latest Woody Allen)
  

No Thanks, Definitely Not:

• Baby Mama (#1: I am so sick of the "I am X age and I MUST have a baby" bullshit. Fuck you, babyNEEDers.)
  
• Mama Mia (give me a break. Stupid songs made into stupid nonsensical no plot broadway show now made into movie. Seriously?)
  
• The Love Guru (#2: I hate this kind of movie)
  
• You Don't Mess with the Zohan (see above #2)
  
• Miss Conception (see above #1)
  
• Step Brothers (see above #2)
  
• Baghead (Seriously?)
  
• Towelhead (Sure sexual abuse is a reality; but I don't go to the movies for that kind of reality. Dear Aaron Eckhart, please make a movie where I can see you be yummy instead of yucky?)
  

Book: "Child 44" by Tom Rob Smith (sounds really good!)

Posted by Duff at 01:13 PM | Say What? | filed under Books, Flicks, Rags

May 06, 2008

Big Screen: Made of Honor

Really horribly crap-ass bad. BAD.

Posted by Duff at 03:03 PM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Watchin'

Big Screen: Leatherheads

Beautifully filmed in lovely golden light. Completely charming. If you haven't already, you'll fall for George Clooney all over again. His Girl Friday-type snappy dialogue. Laurel & Hardy-esque physical comedy. Great soundtrack. Really lovely.

Ditto everything my dad said. Highly recommended.

Posted by Duff at 03:01 PM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Recommending, Watchin'

Big Screen: Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

So one day someone said to themselves, "Hey! I think I'll take this little, charming, fun, engaging book (that in many ways is about female friendship)...and I'll throw in a little World War II (and transfer the American depression onto London) and turn it into a moody, dramatic, cat-fight-full film! It's just not good enough the way it is!" Seriously bad idea.

Some good acting but in a convoluted messed up plot created solely because... because the book was too lighthearted? Because movie producers are idiots?

Read the book, skip the movie.

Posted by Duff at 02:56 PM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Watchin'

May 02, 2008

Cover of the Day...and Some Other Recommendations

"I Should Have Known Better" - She & Him (Zoey Deschanel & M. Ward)

Beatles done alt-country style. Sweet. Zoey D = the next June Carter Cash?

Other singles (but not covers) I'm diggin':

• "She Loves Everybody" Chester French
  
• "Tick of Time" The Kooks
  
• "Roadway Hymn" La Rocca
  
• "Heart of Mine" Peter Salett*

*So I've been rewatching Keeping the Faith lately. So what. You SHOULD be too.

Posted by Duff at 10:05 AM | Say What? | filed under " " of the XXX., Flicks, Listenin', Recommending, Tunes

May 01, 2008

Still in preparation for nuclear war.

You know, when I am stuck in my apartment, which was magically protected from the fallout, and have nothing to do but watch DVDs? (Otherwise known as continuing to pad the catalog with backlog as I have been doing.)

Today's Amazon delivery features:

• Aliens Quadrilogy (Alien, Aliens, Alien3, Alien Resurrection)
  
• American History X (had Ed Norton on the mind)
  
• The Fifth Element (as I've been telling people, I like watching this as a double feature with 12 Monkeys)
  
• Memento
  
• Primary Fear
  
• Seven (apparently I am feeling the need to be creeped out)
  
• 25th Hour (see, there he [EN] is again)

Too bad I'm out of town this weekend...

Posted by Duff at 11:12 AM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Lists

April 18, 2008

Today's Amazon Delivery.

DVDs of old (in some cases OLD!) favorites ordered to replace battered, beat-down, taped off HBO (or some such) VHS tapes. In alpha order...

• Addicted to Love
  
• Dangerous Beauty
  
• The Fabulous Baker Boys
  
• Good Will Hunting
  
• Married to the Mob
  
• Pretty in Pink
  
• Say Anything
  
• Singles
  
• Sixteen Candles
  
• Something Wild (ooooo, Dad and I love this movie! I haven't seen it in years!)
  
• Working Girl

Movies you've seen a thousand times = good background for knittin'. If I were doin' any.

Posted by Duff at 11:09 AM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Lists

Best of March

Ah, March, I barely remember you... Ha! Kidding!

The best movie I saw in March was also the only movie I saw (Be Kind, Rewind), so good thing I enjoyed it.

The best book I read in March was definitely The Complete Stories by David Malouf. Really wonderful stories.

The best gig I went to in March is harder to pin down. I was excited to finally see Matt Nathanson and (separately) Dan le Sac. I thought the Raveonettes sounded great. I probably enjoyed Griffin House the most as he was all sassy and laidback and it was a really fun night.

My favorite tunes in March were lots of stuff I was already listening to from February, like new albums from Missy Higgins, Nada Surf, Scotland Yard Gospel Choir, Bon Iver, Mike Doughty and the Raveonettes; but also stuff I bought in March like new albums from Jesse Malin "Glitter in the Gutter" (which I lovelovelove), Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks and Gnarls Barkley (DangerMouse can do no wrong)!!

Random personal highlights: Hmmm, let's see, nine-day trip to Japan, I guess that was kind-of a highlight (I guess! Ha!); my newest/youngest cousin was born!: Clark and I had a joint party; and I had a great long Saturday with Carlos and Shei getting back into shooting film (vs. digital).

Lowlights? Long, long, long airplane rides.

Posted by Duff at 10:15 AM | Say What? | filed under Best of..., Books, Flicks, Tunes

April 16, 2008

Plane: Elizabeth (The Golden Age)

I really did want to see this one in the theater. But it just could NOT hold my attention on the plane. Too slow moving? Or too much variation in loud & soft, had to keep changing the volume on the headphones? I don't know what the problem was but I kept tuning out.

After that travesty, on the way home I just watched Juno over and over. Sometimes with the sound, sometimes while I listened to other things. It just gets better and better. If you're on my christmas list, you can expect to get it in your package.

Posted by Duff at 07:33 PM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Watchin'

Plane: Mr. Magorium's Magic Emporium

This movie's missing ingredient = A plot.

But Natalie Portman wears super cute outfits in it! So there's that.

Posted by Duff at 07:32 PM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Watchin'

Plane: Lions for Lambs

I can see why this tanked at the box office. It's really a three-part movie. The part with Tom Cruise and Meryl Streep? Pretty much sucked. The part with Robert Redford and the snotty stupid boy in his office? Also pretty much sucked. The part with the two hotties who became soldiers? (This one and this one). Fucking rocked. But sadly they didn't get that much screen time; certainly not enough to save this movie from the suck pond. p.s. Peter Berg was hot but had even less screen time than they did.

Posted by Duff at 07:29 PM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Watchin'

DVD: The Descent.

Well. I may never sleep through the night again. Completely mind-twistingly scary and freaky and gross and OH HOLY SHIT! NO NO NO! RUNNNNN!!! RUNNNNNNNNNNNNN!

Dad LOVED it. In his top five for last year. I am not quite as much a fan of the horror genre as he, although I do get just as scared (thanks for passing that one down the gene pool, pops). In fact, if you ever want to have a really good time laughing at other people, you should sit between the two of us at a horror film. And wear ear plugs.

Really well done. Strong performances from unknowns. Great great locations, well chosen. Totally creepy-ass filming. I'm getting shivers just thinking about it and it was over a week ago that I watched it. *SKEEVES*

Posted by Duff at 07:25 PM | Say What? | filed under DadReaction, Flicks, Watchin'

DVD: Becoming Jane

While I know all the Austen fans are up in a flurry over this one, I thought it was charming and well done and really solid performances from both Anne Hathaway and James McAvoy. My heart broke right along with hers.

My Dad really liked it too. In fact his constant refrain has been "Years from now, nobody's going to be rewatching Michael Clayton but this movie is still going to be fresh and enjoyable." I have to agree.

Posted by Duff at 07:23 PM | Say What? | filed under DadReaction, Flicks, Watchin'

DVD: Lucky You

Too bad 90% of the dialogue sounds like it comes straight out of "Gambling for Dummies".

Posted by Duff at 07:20 PM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Watchin'

April 15, 2008

RS #1050 (Mick, Keith, Jack)

Checkout: Last Shadow Puppets "The Age of Understatement" ("like a rocked-out film score")

Flick/CD: "Shine a Light" the Scorsese/Stones documentary. I have GOT to get to this.

CD?: Tapes 'n Tapes "Walk It Off" (I know I bought their first album...and only listened maybe once. I should pull it out and give it another whirl.)

Spring CDs to Consider:
4/29 Madonna "Hard Candy"
5/6 Barenaked Ladies "Snacktime"
5/13 Death Cab for Cutie "Narrow Stairs"
5/13 Jason Mraz "I'm Yours"
5/13 Old 97s "Blame it on Gravity"
5/20 Scarlett Johnsson "Anywhere I Lay My Head" (??)
5/20 Bun B "Il Trill" (rap)
6/3 The Cure
6/10 Jakob Dylan "Seeing Things"
6/17 Weezer (a.k.a. The Red Album)
7/? The Hold Steady "Stay Positive"
7/15 John Mellencamp "Life, Death, Love and Freedom (I haven't bought a Mellencamp album in years but something about this one is sounding good to me.
8/? Ray LaMontagne

Posted by Duff at 08:45 PM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Rags, Tunes

RS #1049 (Chris Rock)

CD: DangerMouse-produced Black Keys "Attack and Release" (described as awesome!)

CD: Hercules and Love Affair "Blind" (Antony (of & the Johnsons) goes disco?)

Check out: Chester French "Love the Future" ("Brian Wilson melodies, early-Beck humor and synth beats")

Check out: PlayRadioPlay! (Dan Hunter) "Texas" ("wistful electronica in the vein of Postal Service")

Check out: Wale "Mixtape About Nothing" (rap)

CD: Mason Jennings "In the Ever"

DVD: "Southland Tales" (still bummed I missed this in the theater)

DVD: "State of Play" (BBC thriller with J. McAvoy and B. Nigh)

Single: Panic at the Disco "Northern Downpour" ("gorgeous, harmony-laden ballad")

CD: Joseph Arthur "Could We Survive" (first of four EPs followed by a full CD in August) [Hmmm, I bought "Crazy Rain" yesterday but I think I must have missed this one. Will have to check iTunes.]

Flick: "Stop-Loss"

Posted by Duff at 08:21 PM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Rags, Tunes

EW #987 (Tina Fey)

Flick (next Fall): "Righteous Kill" - Pacino & DeNiro as veteran NYPD detectives who resume the hunt for a mass murderer after 30 years off the case.

Book: "Our Story Begins" by Tobias Wolff

Movies I want to see no matter the EW reviews (not just in this issue): Leatherheads (my Dad loved it); Smart People; Street Kings (Keanu!).

Hmmm: Phantom Planet "Raise the Dead" (B+, very positive review)

Book: "Girls in Trucks" Katie Crouch

Book: "The Outlander" Gil Adamson

Posted by Duff at 07:07 PM | Say What? | filed under Books, Flicks, Rags, Tunes

April 08, 2008

DadReaction: Leatherheads

I thought it was a lot of fun. I don't generally like Renee Zellwegger but I thought she was really good. And I thought Clooney really did that screwball comedy stuff that they were trying for. It was really funny and they played off each other really well. John Krazinski was good as this kid who's a nice guy and is in trouble really through no fault of his own, so you kind of feel sorry for him.

I thought it was cool, and it had this really nice golden light. You know, that world still existed when I was growing up; these old railroad stations with wooden seats and the college stadiums with red brick around them, none of the glitz and the domes. That older slower world. I enjoyed the whole setting.

Randy Newman wrote the music and it was a great score; got the tone just right.

I enjoyed every part of it and I came out expecting to see a bunch of great reviews. I was in complete shock when I read EW's negative review. They called it slow, said it drags? And not funny? My jaw dropped.

Thumbs up from me!! [Dad, that is. No GirlReaction YET! But clearly it's now on my list!!!]

Posted by Duff at 04:47 PM | Say What? | filed under DadReaction, Flicks

April 02, 2008

EW #985 (Speed Racer)

Definitely interested in seeing "Stop Loss" after reading this interview with the director.

Pacey's movie "Shutter" gets only a C-. :(

I've never watched Criminal Minds before but tonight's episode has steamy shower sex and Nicholas Brendon (in the same scene I hope!). I'm there, baby!

Album: "Blueberry Pancakes" Fink
Album: "Attack & Release" The Black Keys (gets an A- and it was DangerMouse produced.)
Check out? Los Campesinos (boy/girl harmonies, self produced zine)
Book: "The Finder" Colin Harrison (thriller/sounds awesome!)

Posted by Duff at 11:35 AM | Say What? | filed under Books, Flicks, Rags, TVTVTV, Tunes

EW #984 (Desperate Housewives)

Some interesting tibdits about returning shows in the "Spring TV Preview". The only ones I find myself very psyched about are Gossip Girl (5 more) and Bones (6 more).

Album: "Pretty. Odd" Panic at the Disco (Hmmm. I thought their previous album was OK, kinda fun, but it never really made itself much a spot in the rotation.)

Album: "A Mad and Faithful Telling" DeVotchKa (Gets an A-)
Book: "Home" Julie Andrews (memoir) (Sounds pretty good!)
Book: "Our Story Begins" Tobias Wolff (stories) (I LOVED the book I read by him.)

Wow, someone's writing a four book series about Genghis Khan. Doesn't make me want to read it, but does make me think about rewatching the movie. Omar Sharif = Yum!! (Then. Not now.)

Posted by Duff at 10:48 AM | Say What? | filed under Books, Flicks, Rags, Tunes

EW #983 (SNL)

I've never seen The Big Lebowski. I'm not kidding. I am willing to pretend I have, to get through that moment when an otherwise enjoyable conversation looks like it might suddenly devolve into a "WHAT? YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT?" pothole. But I haven't. (I really should have included it in this post.)

Single: "Mercy" Duffy
Album: "Lay Down the Law" Switches
Album: "Trouble in Dreams" Destroyer (Hmmm, did I ever listen to the previous Destroyer album I bought? Hopefully I will find it during the 2008 CD Reorganization Project and I can give it a whirl.)

Posted by Duff at 10:25 AM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Rags, Tunes

March 18, 2008

Recommendation.

I didn't even realize that Anthony Minghella was the director of one of my favorite guilty pleasure films and yes although I do love The English Patient (one of the rare combinations where I love both the film AND the movie) and yes I thought Matt Damon was great in The Talented Mr. Ripley but no that's not what I'm talking about.

Mr. Wonderful. Rent it. It's sweet and funny and Matt Dillon is completely irresistible in it and William Hurt is as icky as ever and it's got New York City and bowling and big Italian family scenes and (sort of) karaoke and all kinds of good stuff. And I have already seen it oh 78.9 billion times. I'd happily watch it again tonight.

Posted by Duff at 03:59 PM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Recommending

March 12, 2008

RS #1047 (Jack Johnson)

The comments here certainly make Madonna's new album (due April 29) sound AWESOME frankly.

The latest Apple ads? "New Soul" Yael Naim.

weneedgirlfriends.tv sounds Hilarious! I mean if I had time for that kinda crap, I'm sure it is. But I'll never get around to it.

Great Rob Sheffield piece on the Grammys: Wherever you are when you hear Amy [Winehouse], you've been there too long.

Ew! John Mayer in the most horrible swimsuit known to man. Ew Ew Ew! MY EYES! MY EYES!

Album: Stephen Malkmus & the Jinks "Real Emotional Trash" - gets 4 and half stars (I just bought it last night but haven't gotten to listen yet).

Album: Jeffrey Lewis "12 Crass Songs" ("it's like hearing Belle & Sebastian cover Public Enemy"). Intriguing.

Album: Samamidon "All Is Well" ("deceptively ornate adaptation of ten traditional blues and folk songs").

DVD: The extras for Darjeeling Limited get the same amount of stars (3 1/2) as the movie itself...

Posted by Duff at 12:26 PM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Rags, Tunes

March 10, 2008

EW #982 (Indy)

Yes, Indiana Jones was hot. And Han Solo was hot. But Harrison Ford? Nope, not hot. Cannot believe they are making a 4th Indy film NOW. They always have to ride everything into the ground and devalue it, don't they.

Flick: Angels & Demons. The more I hear about it, the more I want to see it.

Album: Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks "Real Emotional Trash"

Check out? Langhorne Slim single "She's Gone" (album out April 29).

Joseph Arthur "Shadows of Lives" (new EP out March 18).

Book: New James Morrow! "The Philosopher's Apprentice." Morrow is a god to me.

Loved Mark Harris' "Eye TV" vs. "Ear TV" OpEd. Brilliant!

Posted by Duff at 08:17 PM | Say What? | filed under Books, Flicks, Rags, Tunes

March 06, 2008

Best of February

I know the rest of you complain about it, but February is my favorite month, even when it's one day longer than usual...

The best movie I saw in February was probably There Will Be Blood, but I actually liked Cloverfield better. And honestly, why is no one going to see it? Monsters! Mayhem! New York mashed up! So much to enjoy there.

The best book I read in February was The Good Soldier Svejk by Jaroslav Hasek, a rollicking tale of a misfit, fumbling soldier's sojourns. But I did LOVE both the sci fi/fantasy books I read this month as well (here and here).

The best gig I went to in February was a tie between Jason Isbell and Griffin House, both of whom havewho has serious stage mojo and far more rockingness than you can hear on theirhis studio albums. Isbell was fiery and intense and rocking out; House was sassy and sarcastic and living it up. [I'm an idiot, Griffin House was in March! Doh!]

My favorite tunes in February were Bon Iver "For Emma, Forever Ago" (never found a copy of the 2007 release, could barely hold my breath waiting for this one and it was soooo worth it, absolutely gorgeous heartaching music); Missy Higgins "On a Clear Night" (husky and gorgeous); Nada Surf "Lucky" (awesome and rockin' and leading off w/ my favorite single from last year); and Clare Bowditch & the Feeding Set "The Moon Looked On". Also loving some previews of new tunes by the Counting Crows (featured on Fuel/Friends). Enjoying, but still getting to know, The Scotland Yard Gospel Choir, new Mike Doughty "Golden Delicious" ("I wrote a song about your hips!" Yay! first heard in 06, finally on an album!). Bought a few others but haven't listened enough to have an opinion -- hopefully soon!

Random personal highlights: French movie night resurrected (and thanks for chili, Carla, and the Tarte Tatin, Jess!); long weekend in Vegas visiting Monica and Charlie (and Buddy and Ella!); annual milestone passed successfully; meeting Baby J for the first time (Curious George #1 recipient).

Lowlights? Not really a "lowlight" per se, but man I have been eating like crappyassola for at least a month. Gotta get back on track before my pants don't fit! Not that I regret having sour cherry pie for breakfast and molten chocolate cake for lunch on the same day. Not at all!!

Posted by Duff at 10:45 AM | Say What? | filed under Best of..., Books, Flicks, Tunes

Best of January

The best movie I saw in January was Atonement, which was both really beautifully costumed and filmed AND the most faithful screen adaptation I think I've ever seen of a book. Lovely.

The best book I read in January was a tie between You Must Be This Happy to Enter, by Elizabeth Crane (short stories), who I've read and enjoyed before but this time I felt took the bar even higher, and Native Guard, by Natasha Trethewey (poetry), an xmas gift from my pops, really beautiful and entrancing poems about her personal history as well as civil war history.

The best gig I went to in January was Bon Iver. It was the only gig I went to in January but it was really, really good (and I'm going to see him again in April! And you know I only go see the same artist again that soon if I LOVED it).

My favorite tunes in January were Cat Power "Jukebox", Matt Costa "Unfamiliar Faces" (quirky and fun!), and an old album Chris Bell "I Am the Cosmos", which I picked up in San Fran. Bell (now deceased I believe) was in Big Star, who I started listening to last summer thanks to Rob Sheffield (yes I am a loser and didn't know about them back in the day). Also enjoying tunes from Zoey Deschanel and M.Ward (as "She & Him"), Crowded House offspring Liam Finn's debut I'll Be Lightning, and another San Fran purchase Tracy Johnson (which to me is good old-fashioned female-vocaled pop music!).

Random personal highlights: Brunch in Chicago with Carrieoke and Cathy!!!; dinner with Cinnamon; rainy weekend in San Fran visiting Ms Silvia.

Lowlights? A month and a half later, I don't remember any so they must not have been that bad!!Oh, I know! Four to six hour flight delays in both directions. Fuckin' airports = hell on earth.

Posted by Duff at 10:15 AM | Say What? | filed under Best of..., Books, Flicks, Tunes

March 05, 2008

Big Screen: Be Kind, Rewind

Very funny, sweeter than it looks. Some nice friendship, small town, community stuff. Love the tie-in to the jazz stuff: the final movie they make is really great and such fun. The concept of "sweded" is awesome and really all I want to do now is run around with a videocamera making my own versions of everything. A Duff-sweded Matrix? Come on, that would be HILARIOUS. And it was nice to find that Mos Def really doesn't have to talk in that crazy ass high voice he used in 16 Blocks. Not half as annoying as I thought it'd be. Pleasing, even.

Posted by Duff at 11:07 AM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Watchin'

Big Screen: Vantage Point

Very entertaining while you're watching it...but discussing it afterward, you can come up with a lot of holes.

Seemed like the filmmakers had established a couple "rules" about the various "vantage points" at the beginning, but those start to fall apart midway through and then it's a free for all.

Some good performances, completely enjoyable...but not quite what it could have been.

Posted by Duff at 11:00 AM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Watchin'

Big Screen: Cloverfield

Totally fun, exhilarating monster movie! Kind-of reminded me of "Signs" / one of those "you think it's going to turn out to be psychological or Blair Witch-y but No! There are actual monsters! Yay!"

Now that I've seen it, I think the EW review was way off-base. The video backstory totally sucked me in and made me care about these characters. Very effective use of mostly little-known actors. Great New York destruction scenery. Thrilling, scary, (occasionally gross,) and awesome. I loved it. (My dad did too.)

Posted by Duff at 10:56 AM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Recommending, Watchin'

Big Screen: There Will Be Blood

Tour de force performance by Daniel Day Lewis.

Good, but difficult to watch, movie. One of those "oh it was a good movie but really? I don't ever want to see it again, I don't know if I could make it through" movies.

A demonstration of the myth behind the American dream.
The myth = work really hard and you'll become a millionaire and have everything you want.
The truth = work really hard, be ruthless, aggressive, villainous and hard and then maybe you'll become a millionaire and have everything you want.

Very effective soundtrack. So effective that at a couple points I wanted to stand up and scream JUST TURN THE MUSIC OFF! Really got under your skin, made me completely anxious, heart racing, even in scenes where it didn't need to be yet.

Powerful and vicious. Felt like checking for dirt under my fingernails as we left the theater.

Posted by Duff at 10:48 AM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Watchin'

February 27, 2008

Paste #40

Tunes to Think About:

• numberous reader write-ins about Sam Baker "Pretty World" (recommended in an article in Paste 38)
  
• Stephen Malkmus & the Jinks "Real Emotional Trash"
  
• The Wrights (self titled) (hearts-on-fire classic country duets)
  
• Thao (Nguyen) "We Brave Bee Stings and All"
  
• Throw Me the Statue "Moonbeams"
  
• Jaymay "Autumn Fallin' " (recently sampled a single on Fuel/Friends)
  
• Bob Mould "District Line" (also reviewed in RS recently)
  
• American Music Club "The Golden Age" (reviewed in EW as well)
  
• Tift Merritt "Another Country" (this sounds pretty good but I have a previous album of hers that despite me liking it just never really made it into the listening rotation)
  
• Evangelicals "The Evening Descends" (campy horror movie vibe. hmmm. would I like this?)
  
• Wild Sweet Orange "The Whale" EP (earnest, rewarding indie rock)
  
• Richard Julian "Sunday Morning in Saturday's Shoes" (I did love "Slow New York")

Tunes Already Bought:

• Bon Iver "For Emma, Forever Ago" (LOVELOVELOVE)
  
• The Mountain Goats "Heretic Pride" (have only listened to one song so far. it was good!)
  
• Mike Doughty "Golden Delicious" (fave tune is "I Wrote a Song About Your Car")
  
• The Raveonettes "Lust Lust Lust" (haven't listened to yet)
  
• moe. "Sticks and Stones" (very Rolling Stones rock)

Other Items of Note:

• Five reasons Sarah Michelle Gellar ("Smidge") should return to TV.
  
• Interesting article about "Penelope" (Christina Ricci, James McAvoy) and its ability to "remind us that what is perceived as odd and wrong isn't always so."
  
• I'm not a Black Crowes fan but (in this article) Chris Robinson makes some very pertinent, thought out, intelligent comments on the record industry and the current American political agenda.

Spring Movies (and very diff. than the EW ones)
3/14: New David Gordon Green film "Snow Angels" (I saw a long preview for this and I'm intrigued. Somewhat Juno-esque but with a violent story throw in. And it's based on a Stewart O'Nan novel, an author I like.)
3/14: "Pride and Glory" (same dir. as Miracle, Ed Norton, Colin Farrel, Jon Voigt NY police officer family)
3/14: I've seen a bunch of previews for "Funny Games" and I can tell you I will NOT be seeing that movie. Looks ICKY and scary and torturous and mentally scarring and not at all the "Funny" of the title.
3/28: "Run Fat Boy Run" (Simon Pegg! but it was directed by David Schwimmer? Really?)

Posted by Duff at 09:07 AM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Rags, Tunes

February 26, 2008

Song of the Day

"Gravedigger" - Willie Nelson (from Paste sampler #40, off his album "Moment of Truth")

Dude, he works "Ring Around the Rosie" into it; come on now. His voice is such a perfect combination of melodiousness and gravel. I neverrarely* buy his albums but every once in awhile I come across a tune of his I love. He's a better lyricist than I've heard him given credit for. You should never have to bury your own babies. And have you seen Songwriter? Because I love EVERYTHING about that movie, including him, his acting, his singing, and his humor. But it's one of those movies that I'm not sure anyone other than me and my Dad ever watched (Dad is a big Alan Rudolph fan).

*I did buy one a few years ago, I think it was this one.

Posted by Duff at 01:37 PM | Say What? | filed under " " of the XXX., DadReaction, Flicks, Listenin', Tunes

February 25, 2008

EW #980 (Will Ferrell)

Lost: By March 13 / Ep 7, the identies of (all) the "Oceanic 6" will be revealed.

Heath Ledger's only partially filmed role in Terry Gilliam's The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus will be filled by a collaboration of Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell (and it's rumored that original footage of Heath will still be used in the film).

Comics: Brian Vaughn "The Last Man" comes to an end with #60.

Flick: Be Kind Rewind sounds hilarious.

CD: Got It for Cheap: the Mixtape, Vol 3. (The Re-Up Gang)

Spring movies! Yay!
Feb 29: The Other Boleyn Girl
Mar 7: Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
Mar 21: The Grand (supposed to be a "Best in Show" style comedy about prop poker)
Mar 21: Shutter (Joshua Jackson)
Mar 28: Stop-Loss (Iraq)
Mar 28: 21 (!!)
Apr 4: Shine a Light (Scorsese films the Rolling Stones)
Apr 4: My Blueberry Nights (N. Portman, J. Law, R. Weisz and Norah Jones)
Apr 4: Leatherheads (I'm just going to see Jim)
Apr 11: Smart People (Ellen Page's Juno followup)
Apr 11: Street Kings (Keanu and Forest Whittaker as LA cops)
Apr 25: The Tourist (Michelle Williams)

Posted by Duff at 08:02 PM | Say What? | filed under Books, Flicks, Rags, TVTVTV, Tunes

February 20, 2008

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Eating: Potbelly turkey on skinny wheat, no cheese, just a little mayo. How can a plain turkey sandwich be so stinkin' good? Also chocolates from Moonstruck in Portland (thanks to Melanie) and Charles Chocolates in San Fran (thanks to Silvia). Because it's everyone's goal that I be the fattest girl in the world.

Making: Very very weak attempts at the daisy-stitch handwarmers I told Amanda I'd make her. Ugh, what an annoying pattern, the K3tog, yo, K3tog into the same 3 stitches was way too annoying on wooden needles -- talk about hand cramps! Will try again with addis. Lots of THINKING about the quilting I want to get done in the next few weeks, but given I was just out of town for a few days, nothing done on that front.

Reading: Dad's and my February challenge book "The Good Soldier Svejk" by Jaroslav Hasek (Svejk pronounced Shvayk). It's hilarious. Total farce. Along the lines of Tristam Shandy. With a few random other things thrown in here and there, particularly in airports, but those are all finished now.

Watching: The same movies over and over (hello Juno, I've seen you before. A few times.) with yay! a few fresh episodes of TV (Bros&Sis, Terminator, Jericho, Lost, Eli Stone) thrown in. It's almost like a season in full swing. Almost!

Listening: For several weeks, all I listened to were the new albums from Nada Surf, Missy Higgins and Clare Bowditch and the Feeding Set. Now I've got a few others thrown in including the beautiful Bon Iver (oh did you just hear my heart break?) released yesterday, just for me I like to pretend; a new Mike Doughty, because you can never go wrong with Mike Doughty; the Scotland Yard Gospel Choir, based in Chicago, not Britain; live sneak peeks of tunes off the upcoming Counting Crows double album... There's a lot going on all of a sudden.

Posted by Duff at 01:58 PM | Say What? | filed under Books, Currently, Flicks, TVTVTV, Tunes

February 14, 2008

DVD: Big Trouble in Little China

I remembered this movie. But I did not really remember just how hilariously AWESOME it is.

What a riot.

Merci beaucoup, SuperEggplant.

Posted by Duff at 08:51 PM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Watchin'

February 13, 2008

EW #977 (Ellen Page)

I really love some of the random "co-star" photos from Sundance.

Flick: "Blind Date" with Stanley Tucci (also dir.) and Patricia Clarkson.

The original Rambo was actually a really good movie and it kinda pisses me off that Sylvester Stallone has to drag everything out to such ridiculous levels of sequeldom that he tarnishes the things that were actually worthwhile.

Ellen Page is adorable. I can't wait to see what she does next (playing Dennis Quaid's daughter in Smart People due in April).

Books: "A Person of Interest" by Susan Choi
"The Monsters of Templeton" by Lauren Groff"
and maybe even "Covert" by Bob Delaney (former police undercover and NBA referee)

Posted by Duff at 12:38 PM | Say What? | filed under Books, Flicks, Rags

EW #975 (Conan)

Great Jason Reitman quote: "Juno has as much to do with abortion as Indiana Jones has to do with lassos."

The Strike Survival Guide to programming your own prime-time schedule with DVD sets was awesome: and even if the Strike is over, would work just fine summer TV planning as well.

And a random quote from the "TV-Free Chat" suggestions re: Books: "They can be divided into two categories: semiautobiographical first novels and books about food."

Weirdly, I don't think this Woody Allen "Brothers in Harm" ever came out in Chicago.

Books: "My Revolutions" by Hari Kunzru
"A Rush of Wings" by Adrian Phoenix (female FBI agent, serial killer, gorgeous vampiric bisexual rocker. what's not to like?)

Posted by Duff at 12:26 PM | Say What? | filed under Books, Flicks, Rags

EW #974 (Atonement)

Lupe Fiasco...might retire after his next album? Oh to have made enough to retire RIGHT NOW. I can't even imagine it.

Nice Atonement photo shoot. Very evocative of the flick itself.

Posted by Duff at 11:52 AM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Rags, Tunes

EW #976 (Heath)

Flick: "Body of Lies" dir. Ridley Scott with Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe. Can't wait.

In memoriam: Nice brief piece by Lisa Schwarzbaum on Heath Ledger, I agree, I loved him in Casanova as well.

Book: Glad to see "Life Class" by Pat Barker getting an A here, as I just read another review that really seemed not to get Barker. I can't wait to read it!

Posted by Duff at 11:46 AM | Say What? | filed under Books, Flicks, Rags

EW #978 (Bardem/Day-Lewis)

Funny how they list the offspring of Melrose Place but don't mention that it was itself a spinoff from 90210. Don't they remember that Jake (Grant Show) was originally a 90210 love interest of Kelly?

U2 3D. I saw a preview (in 3D itself) when I went to Beowful. Looked awesome.

CBS reshowing Dexter minus the profanity. Anything "minus the profanity" immediately loses interest for me.

New Death Cab album due in May.

Book(s): first in Paddy Meehan series: "Field of Blood" Denise Mina.

Dear Diablo Cody, I am SO GLAD I was not "between the ages of 4 and 15 in 1989" and "obsessed with Danny, Donnie, Jordan, Joe, or Jon." I was 21, in college and listening to The Smiths, Cocteau Twins, the Cure and U2, and NKOTB never ever even hit my radar. PHEW!

Posted by Duff at 11:29 AM | Say What? | filed under Books, Flicks, Rags, TVTVTV, Tunes

February 06, 2008

DadReaction: Away from Her

I was really disappointed. It was so light; an after-school special look at the issues. Actual Alzheimers is so much worse, and the manipulations of the story distanced the problem: you could be a saint and your partner could still get Alzheimers. They don't just fall in love with other people, but still regard their partners/families/etc. kindly: they will actually start to be abusive toward the people who used to be their entire lives; not just kindly "oh who are you" / a much more violent response.

Julie Christie really stole the show, but it seemed like maybe the writer was really going for the man's story? And while there are times when it works when you shuffle time via editing ("Memento"), it's another manipulation: it's really easy to make the audience feel an intensity that isn't really there.

I was also really irritated when he complained that she was wearing someone else's sweater and the hospital administrator said "well, she looks nice in it." We deal with nursing homes administrators all the time and I can tell you, NO nursing home administrator would ever say that, particularly not one in a high-toned place like that. They are so careful and go to great lengths to make sure people's stuff doesn't get confused, partly because of the pain it causes the relatives, and also just b/c of the miscellaneous theft that goes on. They sew on labels, they're constantly policing that stuff.

Little details like that really blew the film for me.

[I liked this better than my Dad did; but I too felt that the plot manipulations were heavy-handed and obvious (and not either necessary or particularly additive to the storyline).]

Posted by Duff at 12:00 PM | Say What? | filed under DadReaction, Flicks

January 30, 2008

DadReaction: Cloverfield

It got me, I loved it. They never break the premise: You're seeing the whole thing with this handheld and you never find out anything else, you just see what's on the tape. It really wrapped me up. I loved the music.

But you know, I told somebody about it the next day and he said his daughter said it was the worst movie she'd ever seen in her entire life. And that she'd read somewhere that on the sneak preview cards, the only grades the movie got were either As or Fs.

If you don't "go with it" you're going to be thinking "Who cares?" To me, it was very believable. The desperation of some of these people, and the fights... woah, look out. I thought it was just so effective.

Posted by Duff at 02:40 PM | Say What? | filed under DadReaction, Flicks

January 29, 2008

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Making: Shower gifts. Self portraits (damn you, 365 flickr project, you are killing me).

Reading: After reading the same two books for the first three weeks of the month ("Tree of Smoke" by Denis Johnson and "The Oxford Book of English Short Stories" edited by A.S. Byatt ), I'm now in a flurry of finishing, those plus some others thrown in. I haven't written any January reads up yet, but you can always view the current year's list to know what's going on. Just finished the Johnson on my way to work today so tonight it'll be pick out a new book time. Yay! (Either that, or wait until tomorrow when I have time to go to the bookstore and pick up the new Pat Barker.)

Watching: I finished "catching up" with How I Met Your Mother on my majorly delayed in every direction plane rides this weekend, whipping through the end of season 2 and all that's been shown of season 3 so far (this strike cannot end soon enough!). While Barney cracks me the fuck up (and damn, nice abs, boy), I think Marshall is my favorite character. And I haven't seen ANY new movies because instead I just keep going with people to see Juno (their first times, my second, and third, and fourth) again and again.

Listening: Over and over again to Sea Wolf "Leaves in the River", as I have been since mid-December. Also Matt Costa "Unfamiliar Faces"; he has a real sense of fun and joy (and quirkiness) in his tunes. Cat Power "Jukebox" although I like the first three-four songs the best and I usually move on after that. Bought some new stuff in San Fran but haven't listened yet...

Posted by Duff at 01:39 PM | Say What? | filed under Books, Flicks, TVTVTV, Tunes

January 22, 2008

EW #973

Thanks to this issue, I have just realized that at some point in time James Franco and James Marsden had become confused in my mind as the same person! I kept wondering why the dude in the 27 dresses previews didn't look the way I expected him too! Um, duh, because it's not the same dude!!! Too funny!

Pretty intriguing interview with Matthew Fox; more "hinty" than usual about the upcoming season of Lost.

Upcoming TV for Spring: Jan 28 - HBO "Mind Games", shrink show with Gabriel Byrne (a 5-nights-a-week commitment to one show is a bit much even for me); Feb 12 - Jericho returns!; March 7 new show "The Return of Jezebel James", sisters played by Parker Posey and Lauren Ambrose (Parker Posey doing a TV sitcom?); April 4 Battlestar Galactica returns (since there's nothing else to watch these days, I may actually be able t