Heart of Now- starts slow but finishes strong

After I watched the first 15 minutes of “Heart of Now” I was ready to walk over to the director and give him $20 to hire a screenwriter. There was literally no talk for almost the entire start of the film, which to some can be seen as an artistic expression, but I feel it is a cop out. A cop out like doing something sacrilegious for shock value (I’m talking to you GaGa). Though, after the beginning of the film I really got in to the story. The main character Amber is quite a oddfellow, she has seemed to regress into a near adolescent state after a breakup with her boyfriend (her pregnancy may be the reason for it but it is never directly addressed by the dialogue). The story of Amber and her boyfriend is really a second plot line in the film about how she loves him and wants him to commit while he does not want to, pretty simple. The main plot arises when Amber, with no place to go, moves in with her mother’s former live in boyfriend, Gabe. Gabe left Amber’s mom right after they found out she had cancer. Now unfortunately I do not want to go to in depth into the film do to the fact that it is a little hard to describe, but know this while slow at times, even almost reaching the point of boring, “Heart of Now” capitalizes with great camera work, a thrilling sound track, and a brilliantly crafted final half hour. This film made me realize that I can be a bit of a curmudgeon when it comes to overt artistry and if I take a moment and pull down my own barriers, I can come to find films that are truly spectacular.

The film is made by Sabi, keep a lookout for them and their films in the future.

DeadCenter and Blockbusters

Been away from for a while, have reviews coming from the deadcenter film festival and, of course, the big summer blockbusters.

Dawes

To say that SXSW is exhausting would be a gargantuan understatement, and I was very well at my most exhausted when I saw Dawes play at SXSW on Wednesday night. I don’t even remember the venue that I saw them at, but I had just spent three and a half hours waiting in line to not get in to see Spoon at Stubb’s and was just wanting to find a place to sit down. I finally got in this other venue not knowing of any of the bands that were about to play, slumped on top of an upside down trough and began to listen. And then Dawes began to play. I thought I was listening to an early Credence cover band, but they were playing songs I had never heard before. I began to perk up and pay attention to the band on stage, and I hear behind me someone say the word “Americana”. Apparently that is the term for country music now that has not been ruined by pop or repeatedly reminding the listener they are country. Needless to say this band reenergized my for the rest of the night, I was on my feet and really enjoying this new band I had never heard of before. Then it came to their last song “When My Time Comes”, and I was sold on this band.

Their sound can only be described as sounding like the sons of Credence, and they really have an old sound in the best since of the word. The only downfall their music has is that it can become a little dreary sometime, especially the songs in their album “North Hill”. Now do not get me wrong I love this album, but the there are a lot of slow songs on the album, but beyond that, it is still an album you can play all the way through. I suggest to every to give this band a listen even if that is not the sound you like because this band is good enough to be appreciated beyond it’s genre

KICK-ASS is KICK ASS!

Kick-Ass is one of the best films I have seen this year. GO SEE IT IMMEDIATELY, and then go back to box office when you leave the theater, buy another ticket and go see it again. Plot, characters, tone, and visuals, they are all superb in this film. This film is about an average kid who tries to be a super-hero, and with the help of the internet becomes a phenomena and inspires a city. Now I read comic books, so I have known about Kick-Ass the comic book for quite some time (I actually have the first issue sealed, and setting out on my counter currently), so I was going to be incredibly critical of this film from the beginning. And while there have been some changes from comic to screen, the movie was everything the comic was and more. The director Mathew Vaughn really showed that he is a director worthy of giving a big budget, and is a master of blending action and comedy correctly (which I think a lot of directors struggle at doing). The film’s action is superb too, while at point it looks ridiculous, it does not seem implausible, and the Kick-Ass’ first fight is amazing because it looks almost how a real life attempt at defending a person from three people would be. The actors are all fantastic in this film, especially Nick Cage and Cloe Moretz, who are bad ass. Nick Cage, to me, lately has been taking roles that were more paychecks than challengeing, and while this is not an Oscar winning role, it is a great role for where he is at right now. His character, Big Daddy, is a father/crimefighter/victim and Cage's range as an actor was able hit all of those points; he also brings a seriousness to this movie's absurdity. Now on to the main character Kick-Ass, played by relative unknown Aaron Johnson, this movie hinged on the protrayal of this character as real and Aaron Johnson did that. While watching this film I kept thinking to myself that I knew this kid in high school, and that really let me know Johnson gave a great performance. Then there is McLovin (and yes I know that is not his real name, but c'mon), he was the surprise of this movie, because he gave a performance beyond that of a cartoon nerd. He plays a weak kid who desperately wants to be involved in his father's business, easy enough, but his dad a murdering gangster, so you get to see his transformation from a dork into a full fledged super villain by the end of the movie.  It could be said that this movie is just as much about his character as it is Kick-Ass'. Lastly there is Hit-Girl, oh Hit-Girl, to paraphrase one of Kick-Ass' friends, I am in love and I don't care if she is 11, I will wait. But in all seriousness, Cloe Grace Moretz is a star and if you do know believe that before you see this movie, you will after. In very few words, she is a little girl commando who has declared war on crime. She is like a tornado in this movie, you are afraid and in awe of her all at the same time, and she makes you laugh very uncomfortably at times too. Now there has been some contreversy over her role in the movie, and all I have to say is a little girl using the "C" word is no where near as bad as Miley Cyrus pole dancing at the Teen Choice Awards.
All in all, this film is a great blend of real and ridiculous, and is the first film of the year that should have you running to the theater.

Hot Tub Time Machine

I was actually a little excited to see HTTM, because I was intrigued by its title. I was thinking that if they can get away with using such an off-putting title, the movie actually may be very good. That was sort of the case. While I did not hate this film, I cannot say that I loved it either. I loved seeing John Cusack in a movie again, especially a film that takes place in the 80's, because to me he will always be outside holding that stereo over his head. The film also showed that the young Clarke Duke could step out of being just a character actor, with him showing some depth for the first time, outside of his show Greek. There were also some good surprises in the film with Crispin Glover giving a very funny performance as a man we keep waiting to see lose his arm, and the always quirky and lovable Lizzy Caplan as Cusack's love interest. But other than Those performances, the movie lacked real situational comedy (only cheap gags), Chevy Chase's cameo was pointless, and it had a super cliché happy ending. I would say this film is best suited to be a rental when you need a few cheap laughs.

Beach Fossils

A few weeks ago I got to experience SXSW for the first time. Even though I was there most for the movie festival, I did get a chance to see some great bands too. The very first band I saw was Beach Fossils at Red7 on Wednesday. This band of four lanky young kids from Brooklyn almost ruined the rest of the music festival for me because they put on the best live show I have seen in the past year. There music was what I can only describe as neo-indie-beach rock, and I loved it. Their music made you feel like you were at a beach bar in So Cal about to go surf for the rest of your life. They also have a very interesting drummer; he only uses two drums, a tambourine, and plays standing up. It has a great sound, and sounds to have nothing lacking from what they would have had with a traditional drum set. I really cannot praise their unique and captivating music style enough. But there music was not the only thing that made them great that day, it was also their energy. The moment they started playing and jumping around stage the whole audience could feel the excitement and could not help but feel the same way. While I do not know this for sure I assumed that performing at SXSW was the biggest performance of this bands short life. whether I am correct on that point or not, there performance and how visibly young the members of this band are really made for a great show, and left me hoping that I will get a chance to see these guys again.
Unfortunately, when I got back from SXSW and heard some of the bands studio recordings, I found that their energy and excitement were gone from the music. The tracks still have their unique style and sound, but the tracks seem boring, almost sleepy compared to their live performance. My suggestion to this young band would be to create a live album.
Overall, I would say check this band out, but know they are much better live.
Check out their MySpace here.

http://www.myspace.com/beachfossils

Skateland

"Skateland" epitomizes what a SXSW film should be, great film made by a Texan director in Texas. The premiere was very fun because not only was the cast there (which included the very talented Ashley Greene) but the families of those involved were there to. So, when a random name would pop up in the opening credits you would sometimes hear a small group let out a burst of applause and yelps. It felt like you were at more than a movie, you felt like you were very big event in people’s lives. So, along with that great experience, "Skateland" was an excellent movie. To describe this movie in the simplest way possible, I would have to say that "Skateland" was everything "Adventureland" was supposed to be (heck it even had a girl from Twilight). It is a superb coming of age tale set in the back drop of the 1980's Texas. The film is easily goes from heart breaking to painfully funny, illustrating the complexity of young adulthood. I do not want to go in depth into the plot because I do not want to spoil this film for anyone. But it is about a smart early twenties guy who is struggling on whether or not to go to college, has a friend who just came back after being a bike race, has a complicated relationship with the bike racer's sister, and whose parents are going through a divorce. There are various other story lines that are occurring, but that is the main surface of the film. This film richly shows the growth of its main characters and does what all great dramas do to their audiences; it makes the audience care about the characters. The Surprise of the film for me was Ashley Greene of Twilight fame, she had a very subtle performance, but by the end of the film you cannot forget her, she is a young woman with a very fragile exterior but reveals a woman of great resolve by the movies end. I truly hope he appears in other films (keyword films, not Twilight), because she could be an acceptable leading lady in the future. There is another unforgettable performance by a character in a moustache, I cannot recall the actors name but when the movie is done you will remember every single one of his hilarious lines.
I am truly hoping this film gets the wide release that it deserves, but it seems unlikely without a big star. Hopefully it will find a home on DVD.

The Loved Ones

This movie is definitely loved by me. I have watched a lot of horror films due to my older brother torturing me from a very young age, and I can say, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that "The Loved Ones" directed by Sean Byrne is the best fusion of horror and comedy I have ever seen. The film was surprisingly scary with a very original and twisted plot, which created a scenario that was so crazy it could be true. The main plot is about the boy who is kidnapped by a female classmate and her father after her turned her down for the school dance and they drag him through a macabre and torturous dance of their own making. While this may sound like a plot for a generic teen slasher flick, it is so much more. The movie has compelling (and might I say complete, which most horror films lack) characters, bizarre plot twists, and gives something most torture films never give the audience (spoiler alert!) retribution. The films is anchored by Robin Mcleavy as the main torteress who is extremely cute and crazy (almost so much so she may remind you of someone you know), and also has an obsession with a song called "Am I Not Pretty Enough". This song is hilarious and seemed to have been written for the film specifically to compliment the unbalanced psyche of the character. Then, I found out the song was a number 1 hit in Australia when I got a chance to speak to the director at the screening. Shows how funny the real world can actually be. Here it is (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzLuYZ9rz5M). There is another notable performance from the victim played by Xavier Samuel, who seriously may have less than 10 lines of dialogue, who brings a monster performance showing true anger and resistance with only his eyes. Those two performances combined with the extra story line of the victims lovable best friend, which gives the audience a much needed respite from the gore, makes something so well balanced it only comes along once in a while. I cannot give this movie enough praise, and it is very obvious that it should have been the only film sold at SXSW.

incoming SXSW reviews

The People Vs. George Lucas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aoc3roT81nU

Skateland
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5i95Ow7Z1k&feature=fvw

Beach Fossils
http://music.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=music.singleplaylist&friendid=461316576

Neon Indian
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlJ27Dcv4fc

Dawes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgYxzBVDW_4

Richard Garriot: Man on a Mission
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPRvqt3NKFs

Futurestates
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=futurestates&search_type=&aq=f

Beyond Ipanema
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65N_1eSkKWg

The Loved Ones
http://www.tribute.ca/interviews/Xavier+Samuel/starchat/811

Alice In Wonderland

While i know that most will be saying how much they loved Tim Burton's latest effort, Disney's "Alice In Wonderland", I must tell you this was probably his worst film since "Planet of The Apes". My first problem is the title, it should not be "Alice In Wonderland" because it is not, it is a generically plotted sequel created by Burton. I guess Disney wanted the original title for marketing reasons, but still there are better ways of doing such thing, they could have easily called it "Alice In Wonderland: Through The Looking Glass" or something to make a distinction from the famous story. Then there was the lack of background, the whole time i felt like i should have watched the Disney animated original before, and i was craving backgrounds on my favorites characters from wonderland, which is something i think Burton could have had a lot of fun with. I know i am not the only person who wanted to know how the Caterpillar became an addict.
Next comes the plot (spoiler alert), this film is about an outsider that comes to a tormented state, defeats a dragon, and puts the rightful ruler in place. ARE YOU SERIOUS. Teen movies have more original plots, you know whats going to happen 30 mins into the movie. Now on to Johnny Depp, arguably the best actor without an Oscar, and is known for going deep into character to create something unique and captivating. The Mad Hatter is probably the worst performance he has given in 20 years, now you could blame the writing, but he is talented enough to overcome such set backs (Chocolat). The character was flat, looked like he was in kabuki makeup, totally sane, and not very funny. The character also had this weird Scottish voice that he kept going in and out of, and it did not make him seem delightfully mad (which is what he is suppose to be), but really very weird ( weird like the kid in high school that wont take a shower after gym, not cool weird). Then to top it all off, there is a dance he does at the end of the film that almost made me ask for my money back.
Now i know that i won't be in the majority on this, but i was also not that crazy about the set. It was good for for most films, but i feel if they had gone the other way and tried to create the sets it could have been much more awe inspiring. Crispin Glover's animation was a little off too.
There were some great parts in this film also. Mia Wasikowska who plays Alice is amazing, she hit her character spot on changing from a frustrated girl to a strong young woman. It would be easy to say that most men would want to purpose to her by the end of the film. Helen Bonham Carter was the stand out of the film with her big head, hilarious cruelty, and surprising girlishness, shown in a scene on a balcony with Crispin Glover. This film really makes me wish we saw her in more things other than her partner's movies. The last part of the film i am going to praise are the scenes outside of Wonderland. They were spectacular, they were excellently written with very dry humor and these were also the most beautiful scenes visually. Each shot looks like it could have been a rococo painting.
My suggestion to all is to go see the film since everyone else is but don't pay extra for 3D. And don't let all the pretty colors fool you. we should expect much more from Depp and Burton.

what is this about?

Pretty much this blog will be about things that i feel are important to me at the time. This can be news, politics or just what i did that day. While there never may be a central theme of this blog, there will probably be an emphasis on movies, due to the fact that i watch a ridiculous amount of films, but there will be more than just that addressed.

My blog in the coming days will be detailing my trip to South By South West (SXSW)for spring break.

Hope to have a follower by next Friday.