A-B-C, 1-2-3.

I'm back.  Though I haven't really been away; I've just been too lazy (sometimes busy) to write anything.  In my defense, I was always thinking about things I could write (best albums of 2009 so far, more movie musings, etc.) for this blog.

The other day I was reading Jake's blog and posting some comments.  By the way, it's pretty amusing to see the web of musical influence spreading outward.  Maybe it's just my egotism manifesting itself, but it gives me satisfaction when someone I know expands their musical tastes because of my own direct or, in this case, indirect efforts to share the music I love.  It's cool to see Jake writing about bands like Built to Spill, Cursive, the Decemberists, etc.  Bands we've been listening to since back in the day.

Anyway, I bring this up because I've decided to do something similar to what Jake is doing with his blog.  Where he highlights a band's entire discography, I am going to do something different.  I've decided to choose anywhere between 1-3 albums by my favorite bands that start with each letter of the alphabet.  For example, for the letter 'D' I could choose an album by the Dismemberment Plan, the Decemberists, and Death Cab for Cutie.  I'll go through the entire alphabet in however long it might take me.  It should be fun and, hopefully, interesting to read.  I need to come up with a catchy name for this, but I can't think of anything right now.  Lost is on, and I must focus all my energies on the infinite mystery of the show.

Adventureland

As you know we went and saw Adventureland this past week, and as I have previously stated, I liked it. However, I liked it in spite of many many things. These things I will tell you. Apparently I should have written this when it was more fresh in my mind. Oh well.

Jesse Eisenberg's character- Is anybody else getting sick of seeing this character in every movie that's about a teenage or young adult male. Seriously, I feel like this is the only character written these days. The pseudo-intellectual that is awkward around the ladies and is trying to come into his own. The whole time I was watching this movie I couldn't help but think that his character is every character and the only character played by Michael Cera, and that he would have been much better in the role. But aside from that, I hated him. I thought he was an arrogant, selfish, spoiled little baby. I mean the kid was whining about having to find a job. Are you freaking kidding me?! Oh mommy and daddy can't pay for your trip to Europe, you poor baby. He drove me nuts.

Kristen Stewart's character- Don't get me wrong, like you said, she actually did a good job in this movie. I still would not call her a good actress, but at least now I won't call her a bad one. Her character bothered me because I feel like that is the only young adult female character written these days. The super cool chick that starts to get close to some kid but has excess baggage so she distances herself. How many times have I seen this?

Stupid Frigo- Is this not the worst, most obnoxious character ever put into a movie? And not in a good way. I realize he was supposed to be retarded and annoying, but it wasn't that. I felt like the character was very poorly written and the movie would have been so much more effective, and so much more enjoyable without him. He added nothing, and detracted a lot from the movie.

The Lack of originality- I felt the entire movie was regurgitated characters and jokes. Like you said, it felt like Freaks and Geeks on summer vacation, yet it was done by somebody else so it didn't have the same charm or effect. I don't know, nothing in the movie felt original to me at all.

The Fact that I hated all of the characters- It's quite difficult to enjoy a movie when you hate everybody. James was a selfish, hypocritical schmuck, Em was a homewrecker, Mike was simply retarded, and Lisa P., well, just look at her. There was only one character that I actually liked, which brings me to my next point.

The best thing about the movie for me was Martin Starr. He is so funny. I swear everything he says is hysterical to me. I wished that he would have been the main character. This guy needs his own show somewhere. He is so interesting and also appears to have so much going on inside his head yet nothing all at the same time. I love him. In spite of all the things I didn't like, I still found myself somewhat intrigued. I liked it, but would only give it 3 out of 5 stars.

Sad Songs Make Me...Sad(?)

Sometimes I get in a mood where all I want to listen to is something that will hit me like a brick, and one of those moods hit me just minutes ago.  I'm not sure why it happens.  The obvious answer would likely be that it's a manifestation of longing and loneliness, the desire for some greater, authentic soul-to-soul connection that I lack.  I'm sure each and every failure, every squandered opportunity, every word that once burned within me yet remained unsaid contributes to this painful melancholy.  Why is it that we turn to sad music when we're struck with these moods?  There's almost some pleasure in feeling that sadness as much as we possibly can.  Maybe the connection we form with those sad songs eases our pain and tells us we're not alone, that someone else has felt these same feelings.  Though we lack the soul-to-soul connection with another physical human being, we form a similar, less powerful connection with that synthesis of words and music.

Right now I'm listening to "13 Months in 6 Minutes" by the Wrens, one of my favorite sad songs.  I recently read an interview with Charles Gessell, one of the band's guitarists/vocalists/songwriters, and he was asked if most of the songs and the people mentioned in the songs were real people.  He stated that most of them were based on real people, but the names were fictional.  He mentioned, however, that "13 Months in 6 Minutes" was absolutely autobiographical.  This makes the song hit me all the more.  It's not about some intense breakup; it's just a gradual drifting apart.  And there is such remorse and regret in Charles's lyrics.  He admits to messing up, to being a fool, and his inability to change the situation haunts him (and me).  The line "I'm a footnote at best / I envy who comes next" has always killed me.  

(I'm currently on my third time listening to the track).  

I know you understand what I'm saying, Justin, as we've talked about this song in the past.  It really goes along well with "I've Made Enough Friends" as sort of the antithesis or the aftermath of what that song expresses.  In fact, I'm going to play that flawless song right now.  As much as I love these songs, I hope to sleep off this melancholy.  The last thing I need is to be all mopey and forlorn to kick off a new week.

Here are the lyrics to "13 Months in 6 Minutes" for those unfamiliar with them:

not yet 21 - with introductions done - a first slow dance just ends.

I was at my best - we ignored the rest (my band and your friends).

But as better night became best day we left the party while last records played. 

What started as dessert back at your house ended on the couch…

hours at your mouth…sunday’s on our hands. We followed where it led. 

I followed you to bed. We started secret plans.

Forward 7 months: I’ve only seen you once…I never call on time. 

Trying to seem tough, I said one visit’s enough - enough to keep you mine (of course it wasn’t…)

We were done by june. You’d graduate and leave forlondon soon. 

Your layover at newark’s near my house. We met for dinner there…

just one hour to spare - your 20’s all mapped out. I’m in my driest drought 

feeling old and shot and how.

And this is what I thought: I seem to still be caught…

I’m a footnote at best…I envy who comes next…wish we could just make out. 

‘The hour’s almost up’, you said into your cup. And it makes no difference now, as I help lift your bags out, that I’m lost and out of rope while on my wrist you wrote your newest number down. 

I kind of said your name but you’d turned to your plane so I backed my car out. 

I knew we’d never write (somehow that seemed all right) but this counts as calling three years out.

And then the awesome coda at the end with the chord progression that I wish was stretched for another 6 minutes and that aching melody with the lyrics that are just too faint to comprehend.  This is a perfect song.

Winter Passing

Yesterday I rented 'Winter Passing' from my local Hollywood video. I am surprised at our selection sometimes. We have a great selection of independent and foreign movies. I love my store. Anyway, I watched it last night and it left me a little frustrated. Why? Because once again Will Ferrell proved that he can act if he really wants to. If the guy can just refrain from having to be the center of attention all the time he can do quality work. However, I think quality is pretty low on his priority list. Moron. Once again Ed Harris proved that he is a great actor with so much range. He was great in this, he played a good cowboy in appaloosa, played Jackson Pollack flawlessly, and many many other great roles. He can be good or bad it doesn't matter. He is terrific and I always love watching him. Good movie, thanks for the recommendation. I had never even heard of it before, and that's pretty rare for me. Not that I am all knowing but the people at work have called me a walking database. I liked that. It made me feel cool and totally nerdy. Zooey was also ridiculously cute and adorable as she tends to be. Even when she is supposed to be cracked out she still manages to be a cutie.

I don't know why my computer is not letting me leave comments. Stupid computer. I liked happenstance when i saw it and i really like the fact that you said that Audrey Tautou was the Audrey Hepburn of her generation. I like it because now I have said that, you have said that, and a girl that i used to work with said that. She has that same charm and likeability that the first Audrey had on top of their obvious talent. Audrey Tautou's performance in Amelie is one of my all time favorite female performances. I also really dig 'Batman Begins.' I really like Cillian Murphy and i wish he were in more movies. A couple of months ago at work a customer told me that i have the same exact profile as him. He said not so much from the front, but our profiles are identical. That made me feel pretty cool so i thought i would throw that in there.

Ooh and i just watched this fantastic documentary called 'Murder on a Sunday Morning.' I don't know if you have seen this or not but if you haven't you really should. Really well made and really interesting. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Also, our stupid theater here in Cedar finally got The Reader and The Wrestler. It's about time. That made me so mad that it took so long and i had to find different ways of watching them.

Movie Musings - 09 March 2009

There seems to be a theme amongst a majority of the films I muse about in this entry:  they feature adorable actresses that I cannot resist.  The presence of those actresses usually guarantees a decent level of enjoyment when viewing their films, and that's not just because I find them beautiful.  I appreciate and admire their talent as well.  They just have an effortless way of winning me over.  Anyway, I know you understand my way of thinking, Justin.  I'm pretty sure we agree on these three actresses' high quality.  On we go!

How to Steal a Million (1966) - directed by William Wyler.

Date Viewed: 08 March 2009.  My Rating:  3 1/2 stars.

It's been a good time for movie watching lately.  I found myself invited to watch this film with a group of people Sunday afternoon so I accepted the invitation.  Unfortunately, losing an hour of sleep made it impossible for me to stay awake throughout the entire film.  There was a good portion of the middle-third of the film that I missed.  Nonetheless, what I saw was quite good, but that's pretty much a given with an Audrey Hepburn film.  If there is one woman in this world that I would travel back in time to marry, it would be Audrey Hepburn.  She is simply irresistibly adorable in her films, and, to make things even better, she was a fantastic person in real life.  She is her normal adorable self in this film, and it is a pretty good romantic comedy/heist film.  There is good chemistry between Audrey and Peter O'Toole, as well as many comedic moments.  Just a very fun movie overall.

Batman Begins (2005) - directed by Christopher Nolan.

Date Viewed:  08 March 2009.  My Rating:  4 stars.

I happened to watch this on TV Sunday night.  I was chilling with some homeboys, and we were hoping to find something to do around our apartment complex.  Nothing really turned up so we watched the movie as we waited futilely.  This is a very solid movie, and Christian Bale delivers a fantastic performance as Bruce Wayne/Batman.  As a character study, it succeeds admirably.  I actually wish The Dark Knight had spent a little more time delving into Bruce Wayne's psychology a little more.  While I don't think this movie was groundbreaking --- other than revitalizing the Batman series --- I like it a lot and can't really find many faults with it.  Bale has a very good supporting cast, and a director that seems to really care about the franchise.  I am excited, albeit somewhat reserved, to see how well the third Nolan-directed Batman will turn out. 

Happenstance (2000) - directed by Laurent Firode.

Date Viewed:  08 March 2009.  My Rating: 3 1/2 stars.

Well, another French movie.  This one features the adorable Audrey Tautou, and any film she is in will get at least an extra 1/2 star just for her presence.  She is basically our generation's Audrey Hepburn, and the two actresses share more than just a first name.  She is always so appealing and has such grace on screen.  Even when her characters might not seem like the most empathetic person, it's hard to think too poorly of them.  I always find myself enraptured with her characters.  I wonder how I'd react if she were to portray a truly reprehensible person onscreen.  Anyway, this movie was worth watching just to see how cute Ms. Tautou is when her character says, "Oui," within the first five minutes of the film.  I would pretty much do anything for a female capable of looking so beautiful, bashful, and innocent while saying, "Yes."  It's true.

The film itself is about how interconnected the lives of human beings truly are.  The film highlights how even the smallest decision someone makes can affect the lives of others around them.  It works better at times than it does at others, but it is an enjoyable little film.  My Audrey Tautou bias had me wanting to see her character onscreen more frequently, but the restrictions employed by the narrative required that the other characters get their fair share of screen time.  I understand why the writer and director chose to take the story one way, but some of the characters just seem unnecessary.  Certain plot developments just seem forced in order to continue the interconnected motif.  Still, the film is quite charming, and Audrey Tautou is as lovely as ever.

Winter Passing (2005) - directed by Adam Rapp.

Date Viewed: 09 March 2009.  My Rating: 4 stars.

This is an excellent independent film; it is very well-acted, subtle and moving.  And it features Zooey Deschanel in the lead performance, and she has many of the same qualities as Audrey Tautou described above.  Zooey is definitely one of my favorite actresses, and she doesn't disappoint in this film.  She plays Reese, the daughter of two intellectual novelist parents working as an actor in the New York.  The film picks up shortly after her mother's death.  Reese is somewhat estranged from her family, and when an editor offers her a large sum of money to publish her parents love letters, Reese is forced to confront some emotional issues as she returns to the family home in Michigan.  Ed Harris is excellent as her father, and Will Ferrell is pretty good in an offbeat, but low key role as a boarder in her home.

I really, really liked Zooey's performance in this film.  Her character is far from perfect and struggles to deal with some emotional issues throughout the film, but Zooey's portrayal is honest and poignant.  She is able to communicate so much without saying a word.  She really is extremely talented (and she can sing too!).  Perhaps the perfect woman...  Curse you, Ben Gibbard.  

Justin, I don't know if you'll find this in Hollywood Video, but it is available for online watching at Netflix until March 15th.

We Own the Night (2007) - directed by James Gray.

Date Viewed:  09 March 2009.  My Rating: 2 1/2 stars.

When I first heard the premise for the film and saw the trailer, I had high hopes for this film.  Then it was poorly received critically, and my desire to see the film basically disappeared.  I threw it on my Netflix queue and basically forgot about it.  I finally got around to streaming it online.  The acting is decent in the film, but that's expected with a cast like Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Wahlberg, and Robert Duvall.  The film tries so hard to be epic, but it never reaches the heights it aspires to.  And I kept getting distracted by the soundtrack.  They kept returning to this motif that sounded like a music box or child's lullaby or something; it just seemed really out of place for a film about the Russian mafia and New York officers of the law.  The film was barely entertaining, and I struggled to remain interested in any of the characters.  I don't see myself returning to this film any time soon, if ever.

First off, I love the movie musings. You must keep them coming. Secondly, I really want to talk about Synecdoche but I have no idea what to say about it.....I feel like there is a lot of meaning that I am not getting and I still really liked it. I would give it 4 stars, on a 5 star scale of course. I really wanted to understand but I just couldn't. I would probably have to watch it many more times. Like you said, I personally have no idea what was real and what wasn't. I'm not....I don't know.