Scribblings Of An Average Twenty-Something

Favorite Music of 2011

2011-12-02T08:03:00.001-08:00

Its that time of year again so you all know the drill...

Here's a little list of what I've been listening to and what I deem as my favorite records of the year.

Overall it was a pretty solid year for music, with a bunch of artists finally having their breakout records, and some old favorites remind us again why we loved them in the first place. Also, there was a new Tom Waits record, which...you know, is always good.

The records are in no real order unless noted otherwise.

Top Ten
Bon Iver, Bon Iver (Favorite record of the year)
Wye Oak- Civilian
Yuck- Yuck
Tom Waits- Bad as Me
m83- Hurry Up, We're Dreaming
The War on Drugs- Slave Ambient
Childish Gambino- Camp
Future Islands- On the Water
Wild Beasts- Smother
Kurt Vile- Smoke Ring for My Halo

11-20
Wild Flag- Wild Flag
Iron & Wine- Kiss Each Other Clean
Beirut- The Riptide
James Blake- James Blake
The Antlers- Burst Apart
Kanye West & Jay-Z- Watch the Throne
Girls- Father, Son, Holy Ghost
TV on the Radio- Nine Types of Light
Feist- Metals
Fleet Foxes- Helplessness Blues

Favorite Song of the Year: Civilian by Wye Oak
Favorite Non-albums: Pearl Jam 20 Soundtrack, Drive Soundtrack

Lots of great music came out this year, if you have a moment and need some new tunes--any of the above should do the trick!

What We Feel When We Go To The Movies...

2011-06-20T07:29:00.000-07:00

Last night I was involved in a conversation with family about how we all look at movies and then, in turn, how they affect us. The typical inaccurate stereotypes were thrown around "Men can't understand this...","Women aren't entertained by that..." and of course "You'll understand when you're older." All of which, of course, are wildly inaccurate blanket statements that simply are not true. Not about men, not about women, not about young people, and not about older people. But perhaps the more interesting part came when my mother-in-law said (and I'm paraphrasing a bit) "David looks at things from an artistic standpoint, direction, writing, angles...at least from what I have read on facebook."

At the moment the comment didnt really bother me. In the context of the conversation, she was saying that the way I percieve violence and language in film is from an artistic standpoint and not a parental one--which is certainly true. I am not a parent therefore I watch films for my own enjoyment and entertainment--not to screen them for children (although I do think I could do it if you asked me to). And while I may be more careful about what I bring into the house when a young David or a young Lia is in the house, I would like to think that my fundamental beliefs on movies and music will not be changed when that day (far off as it is) may come.

But it got me to thinking about how I, and in turn we as a people, look at movies. Do I look at films differently than other people? My first instinct was to say Yes, of course, I've taken film classes, I know more about the way a film is made than the average person on the street. But what exactly does that mean? Just because I know a little bit more about how a film is made than the average person doesn't mean that my film-going experience is different than other people (also, that was quite the conceited thought you just had there, self, cool your jets). Are cinephiles so caught up in the technical aspects of films that we can't look at films in any other way? Of course not. In fact, I think it is impossible for anyone to step foot in a theater and not watch a film from a personal, emotional, or cultural standpoint. It is impossible not to take a film and look at how aspects relate to us or affect us. Movies do this to us without us even knowing (at least good movies do this to us without even knowing).The basic question, and the reason why we as a people love going to movies is because in some way or another we have an emotional or cognitive response to what is happening on screen. We all feel movies.

For instance, last year Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan was released. It was a wonderfully made film, superbly acted, and impeccably written. However, and this is not necessarily a knock on the film as I think it was intentional by the filmmakers, it left me emotionally cold. I understood and could see why it was a well made movie based on what was happening on the screen, and I certainly went home and had long conversations about it with my wife and my friends--yet I cannot say that the film affected me emotionally. Black Swan was a much more cognitive film. It was a thinking film and really is meant to be a head-trip rather than an emotional journey--which it succeeds wildly in being.

Now, on the other end of the spectrum, Aronofky's film The Wrestler (an equally well made film) does not have the trippy psychological plot that Black Swan has. However, it is very similar. It is about a physical performer, who loves his craft so much he is willing to give anything to it. A rather basic premise, yet it is one that The Wrestler and Black Swan share, perhaps on purpose. What makes the films different is how we relate to what is on screen. The Wrestler is much more of an emotional journey than Black Swan is. Perhaps because while Black Swan was very much a journey into the head of it's main character, The Wrestler is very much a journey into the heart of it's protagonist.

We all bring our own baggage with us into the movie theater. However our baggage does not necessarily mean that we are able to comprehend a film more-so or less-so than others. Say a person does not come from a broken home and watches the film Kramer vs. Kramer. Is he or she still able to understand the emotional complications of the film? Of course they are. Of course they can see the hardships and feel the heartache. Why? Because it is a well-made effective movie. The only difference between a person watching the film who has come from a broken home and a person who hasn't is one will be able to say: yes, that is an accurate portrayal and that is how it feels. They both feel what is on the screen, one just might be able to say whether or not it was they way it was for them.

Movies are a part of our culture for good reason.They connect us. They bridge the gaps that are created by life and help us to understand each other better. This is not only true about film, but any kind of craft.So, I guess in a way, we all look at film from a technical and artistic standpoint--we just don't necessarily realize it.

Paris, Texas: A Love Affair Between A Boy And A Movie...And A Boy And A Girl

2011-06-03T08:24:00.000-07:00

When I was a sophomore in college I saw the film Paris, Texas (1984). It quickly became my favorite film (tied with Blade Runner (1982)) of all time.The movie is directed by German New Wave pioneer, Wim Wenders and stars Harry Dean Stanton, Dean Stockwell, and Nastassja Kinski. The film opens with a wandering wide-shot of the vast, craggy landscape. The camera wanders along until it finds our main character, Travis (Stanton). Travis' clothes are raggedy, his face sunburned and wrinkled. Travis is walking towards, or away from, something--we just don't know what. Soon after, Travis passes out near a doctors office and his brother Walt (Stockwell) is called to pick him up. It's been four years since the brothers have seen each other. From that point on the film follows Travis as he pieces back together his life.

I stumbled upon Paris, Texas in a bit of a peculiar way. I was bored one night and I was watching interviews with my favorite musicians, in this case The Hold Steady. The bassist listed his favorite films, two of which I loved (A History of Violence (2005) and Videodrome (1983)). Then he mentioned that his favorite film was Paris, Texas, so I casually put it at the top of my netflix queue. When it came in the mail, I invited this girl, Lia (you all know the one) over to my apartment to watch it. We had planned to watch the movie in my living room, but alas, my roommate Quinn was watching Alien 3 (1992), so Lia and I had to change to my bedroom. If this sounds like a sly trick, you would be wrong.

Let me take the time to explain what consisted of my apartment bedroom. There was a mattress on the floor in the corner, a dog house with a two year-old Dalmatian-Lab mix inside, a desk with a crappy laptop, and a crappy TV sitting on a barely standing crappy table, oh and a beach chair. Not exactly ideal conditions for wooing. We started the film, regardless the conditions, as well as my dog's insistence that she lay on the bed and watch as well.

We were transfixed, something in the film clicked in both me and Lia's brains. We both got it and talked all night (after she went home of course) about what we loved about it.

Fast forward a year. Lia and I are dating, she is studying in France and I am juggling a few summer jobs. Because of the time difference we only get to talk on the phone at really odd hours--so of course communication was limited. She did however tell me that she had a surprise for me when she gets home and that I wasn't going to believe it. She had found, at a random used record store in Athens, Greece, the Paris, Texas soundtrack. What are the odds? (By the way, I consider the score to Paris, Texas to be the ABSOLUTE best score to a movie ever--this is including all of John Williams' stuff)

Today, Lia and I are married, and we have two copies of Paris, Texas, one on DVD and one on Blu-Ray. It truly has become a part of our lives. I've always felt that art can change you. And I mean this in the most literal sense. What if we had watched the film in the living room, perhaps a better, but certainly less intimate location? What if I had never caught the interview with the bassist from The Hold Steady? Would our lives be the same? Maybe, but who knows. I always thought the connections we make through movies are important, I just never thought (though maybe I should have) that they would lead me to the most beautiful and important person in my life.

Favorite Flicks of 2010

2011-03-09T06:52:00.000-08:00

I'm a little late on posting this one--mainly because of the late surge of really great movies. It really turned out to be a great year for cinema. Things were looking rather dismal mid-year, but then awards season kicked in and we got a flurry of really great stuff. Here are my favorites (in no real order as usual):

The Social Network
127 Hours
The Fighter
Toy Story 3
Black Swan
The King's Speech
Inception
The Town
Never Let Me Go
Shutter Island

Best Direction: David Fincher for The Social Network

Best Writing: Aaron Sorkin for The Social Network

Most Underrated Movie: Tie, Never Let Me Go and Shutter Island

Most Overrated Movie: The Kids Are All Right (I thought it was a good movie, just didnt understand the hype)

Worst Movie: Sex and the City 2 (only because I was too scared to see The Last Airbender)

Best Cinematography: True Grit

Best Original Score: The Social Network

Best Documentary: Restrepo

If you havent seen these films, all of them are worth checking out (except, of course, the worst movie of the year). Here's to another great year of cinema!!

My Favorite Records of 2010

2010-12-09T11:28:00.000-08:00

If you haven't gotten a chance to listen to any one of the albums off this list I suggest you get to the nearest record store pronto. 2010 has been one of the best years in music in a looooong time.

1) Kanye West- My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

2) Arcade Fire- The Suburbs

3) Janelle Monae- The ArchAndroid

4) The National- High Violet

5) The Tallest Man on Earth- The Wild Hunt

6) Beach House- Teen Dream

7) Local Natives- Gorilla Manor

8) Max Richter- Infra

9) The Walkmen- Lisbon

10) Best Coast- Crazy For You

11) Sleigh Bells- Treats

12) Big Boi- Sir Luscious Leftfoot: The Son of Chico Dusty

13) Deerhunter- Halcyon Digest

14) Wild Nothing- Gemini

15) Joanna Newsome- Have One On Me

16) Cee Lo Green- The Lady Killer

17) LCD Soundsystem- This Is Happening

18) The Roots- How I Got Over

19) Sufjan Stevens- The Age of Adz

20) Spoon- Transference

21) No Age- Everything In Between

22) Broken Social Scene- Forgiveness Rock Record

23) Sun Kil Moon- Admiral Fell Promises

24) Four Tet- There Is Love In You

25) Band of Horses- Infinite Arms

5-10-15-20

2010-10-26T07:39:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite articles on the ever-pretentious Pitchforkmedia.com is th "5-10-15-20" features where they have artists write a little blurb about music that they were into when they were ages 5, 10, 15, and 20. I always think it's interesting and I try to find out whether the person is lying or not. If there are no embarrassing album choices--then the person is obviously lying. Anyways, I thought it would be fun to do it for myself so here we go...

Age 5: The Beach Boys- Greatest Hits

Probably the first CD I was ever given as a kid. I'm not really sure why my parents gave the record to me as I realized when I got older that neither of them were that into the beach boys. I guess they just figured that because I lived at the beach it would be a good thing to bring me up on the Beach Boys. Who knows? Regardless it was a pretty good choice. Also, I may be lying about my age on this one, it's simply the first CD I remember actually having. But it's my blog, So I make up the rules so I say it counts. Also, when I have a five-year-old I'm gonna make sure he or she's able to sing both Beach Boys and The Clash--or I'm not letting him or her go to kindergarten.

Age 10: David Bowie- Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars

This is on here for one specific reason. We used to take yearly trips to visit my Dad's family in Pittsburgh, PA. From Wilmington, NC that's about a 8 hour trip. My Dad used to have this zip-locked box of CDs that he would bring to listen to on the trip. We would listen to this CD at LEAST three or four times each way. Also, an honorable mention goes to Welcome to My Nightmare by Alice Cooper for the same reason. My Dad never really sheltered me from music--I owe him a lot for that.

Age 15: Dashboard Confessional- The Places You Have Come To Fear The Most

What, you thought I was going to lie about an actual album on here? Everyone has that guilty pleasure album, the one that "got you through those painful blah blah blah." I'm not gonna lie, I jammed to this CD. My parents and siblings cringed, I just turned up the dial. Now I look back and laugh (and shake my head). Good (hilarious) times. But I will admit, these tunes were MILES ahead of what is spewing out of speakers these days. I mean Owl City? Please. At least Dashboard was honest. Even if it was embarrassingly so.

Age 20: The Hold Steady- Boys and Girls In America

Lots of great stuff came out in 2006, TV on the Radio, Band of Horses, Yo La Tengo etc. But this cd was the one that was on constant rotation in my car. What can I say? I was in the throws of college, having a blast, finding out who I was going to be, and of course, meeting the woman I would spend the rest of my life with. Boys and Girls in America always reminds me of my wife and those early days when we were getting to know each other. We would go to rock concerts 3 hours away on weeknights, make eachother mix CDs, and stay up way to late watching movies. Little did we know four years later we would be here.

*Also, I'd like to note that this was the CD I listened to on the way to my wedding. I told my best-friend Kyle to pick whatever he wanted and this was what he chose. Coincidence?

Next year I'll be turning 25 (!!!) which is crazy for me to even think, let alone type. Music has and will always have a pretty big impact on my life. I can't wait to see what kind of impact it has on me in the future. I can only imagine it will be comparable to my past.

I can only hope.

America's Better Angels.

2010-10-12T06:50:00.000-07:00

Today in this country I see newsreels about people throwing rocks at teenage girls who walk into abortion clinics, bullies videotaping closeted teens having sex to humiliate them, and bigots advocating Iranian planes to fly into muslim community centers. I get called un-American because I support more federal funding for the education system and because I don't think it should be ok for someone to have to wait only 5 minutes to buy an assault rifle. It angers me that in a country where we've made so much progress that there are people who are literally trying to make "progressive" a dirty word. All in the name of protecting the constitution of course. Which leads me to todays news about Byron Williams who, inspired by Glenn Beck, took to the streets armed with a 9mm handgun, a shotgun and a .380 caliber rifle, to start a revolution by shooting up the ACLU (yes the American Civil Liberties Union, the "evil" organization designed to make sure that people's constitutional rights are protected). Apparently there are people in this country who love our constitution so much, that they would hunt down and kill the people who actually make a profession out of protecting it. So glad you can contribute to our political landscape Beck, really, I am.

The thing that baffles me about right-wing politics today is how backwards their views are. "We want small government, but we'll allow you to wiretap our phones in the name of security. We want government out of our financial lives, but we want it throughout our personal ones." Sometime you just can't help but shake your head.

But I can look into their faces with clear eyes and a full heart and say "I've beaten you."

I disagree whole-heartedly with everything that the Tea-Party and the extreme-right stand for, but I've beaten them and they don't even know it. I believe in the freedom of speech. I have the right to disagree with everything they say, but I will fight to the death for their right to say what they think. That is what people on the right can never understand. It's what America is all about, what it's always been about. To quote Aaron Sorkin: "America isn't easy. America is advanced citizenship. You gotta want it bad, 'cause it's gonna put up a fight. It's gonna say 'You want free speech? Let's see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, who's standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours. You want to claim this land as the land of the free? Then the symbol of your country can't just be a flag; the symbol also has to be one of its citizens exercising his right to burn that flag in protest. Show me that, defend that, celebrate that in your classrooms. Then, you can stand up and sing about the 'land of the free'."

There are millions of people around the world who disagree with everything that I think and that I say, but as long as we have the ability to say them, as long as we have the ability to think them, we can call ourselves Americans. America was founded on stories of greatness, of people who faced overwhelming odds and overcame them, not just for the good of the country but for the good of the people. America was shaped by people like Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Roosevelt, Martin Luther King Jr., and John F Kennedy. These people gave us hope for tomorrow, they believed in our better angels during times when it looked as though we would break.

I believe in America's better angels.

To quote Sorkin again: "Every time we think we have measured our capacity to meet a challenge, we look up and we're reminded that that capacity may well be limitless. This is a time for American heroes. We will do what is hard. We will achieve what is great. This is a time for American heroes and we reach for the stars."

Film Review: The Social Network

2010-10-04T06:36:00.000-07:00

The Social Network is the type of movie that needs to be seen twice to fully comprehend the beauty in it's intricacy. The movie moves at such a break-neck pace that it grabs you by the neck from the excellent opening sequence and doesn't let go until the credits role. People are calling it the movie that defines our generation. I have a hard time arguing with that statement, because it is half a good thing and half a bad thing.

Let's face it. We are pretty clever. In a world where information is spewed into our brains at a seemingly infinite rate, people "our age" have kept up with it pretty well. Those at the forefront of innovation are getting younger every day. One of Obama's head speechwriters during the campaign was in his early twenties. Matt Mullenweig created the website known as Wordpress which has capitalized on the blogging craze (which if you ask me has only enhanced the potency of the "written" word). And of course there is the central character in "The Social Network," Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of facebook.

The film doesn't paint Zuckerberg in a positive light. It doesn't paint him in a negative light either. He's simply smug and narcissistic (we get this from the fantastic opening scene), which I feel are attributes one could attribute to most young people. The Social Network shows what it takes these days, warts and all, to become the youngest billionaire in the world. Sure the movie is a fictionalization of the real events, but the meat is still there. The law suits, the backstabbing, the excitement, the disappointment. It's just written in a more allegorical way that makes the story about more than just the creation of facebook.

Which brings me to what is one of the strongest aspects of the film, its script. The film is written so tightly, so intelligently, that the next thing Aaron Sorkin will be writing is his Oscar speech. It has Sorkin's signature style, blazing fast and impossibly witty, framed in a story that only Shakespeare could have made up. The writing never talks down to the viewer, expecting the audience to keep up as Zuckerberg spits all kinds of computer lingo in the opening 20 minutes. It all goes over our heads--and it's supposed to. Sorkin wants us to understand how smart Zuckerberg is. To take the time to explain in arduous detail what Zuckerberg was doing would only have taken us out of the moment, not to mention bored our eyes out (though i suspect that if there is one writer who could have pulled it off it may indeed be Aaron Sorkin).

The acting is flawless, with both Jesse Eisenberg (who plays Zuckerberg) and Andrew Garfield (who plays his best friend Eduardo Saverin) turning in Oscar-worthy performances. The chemistry between these two is fantastic, you see their friendship in their eyes and their body language, which only makes the film's events that much more powerful. Justin Timberlake is perfectly cast as the devilish Sean Parker, who gives a similar performance to that of Peter Saarsgard in An Education. He plays someone so slick, so charming, that it is tough not realize his real motives.

And lastly we have the masterful direction of David Fincher. What I loved most about Fincher's direction is that the director seemed to play it cool. Known for his innovative special effects and flashy sequences, the stylish director only uses the special effects when necessary, and usually they are so seamless that the audience has no idea that it's even happening (which of course is the best kind). For instance the Winklevoss twins are played by one person, Armie Hammer (another stand-out performance), and through the use of camera tricks and special effects goes completely unnoticed. Fincher pulls fantastic performances out of the young actors, let's the writing do the talking, and paces the film perfectly. That is what a director is supposed to do. Bring everything together and make sure it is all working toward his overall vision. With a resume that includes films like Se7en, The Curious Case of Benjiman Button, Zodiac, and Fight Club, to say his latest film is his best may come with some speculation. But nonetheless, The Social Network is Fincher's most focused, most concise, and overall best movie yet.

The Social Network defines a generation. It show how we are different from any other generation before us. But perhaps the real crux of the movie is the revelation that as much as the world changes, and as much as we change with it, human ambition is and will always be an amazing, beautiful, dangerous, and at times dirty thing.

Don't hesitate to stand in line for this one.

5 out of 5 stars.

Married Life Is So...

2010-09-29T04:30:00.000-07:00

Awesome, actually.

People told me things would be different. That ring changes a lot. Even though you guys lived with each other, you will notice some changes. It's a lot of responsibility. All of these phrases were spoken to me in one form or another, a majority of which were said within a week of the big day. I knew most of what everybody was talking about, but I gotta admit, It kinda freaked me out a bit. I love Lia with my whole heart, and I knew that I was able to handle marriage--because to me it meant being able to spend the rest of my life with my best friend. But because I had no doubt in my mind that I wanted to get married, when all of these statements started surfacing, I suddenly wondered Do these people know something that I don't?

Well the answer is yes and no. Yes it feels different, but only in good ways. There is more of a sense of respect in the house. Things seem lighter and easier. Perhaps it's because for the first time in a few months we are able to shut off the planning mode and be a real-life couple again. We can go on dates (we just recently saw The Town and loved it by the way), we can cook nice dinners, we can plan which TV shows we will get addicted to this season. I sense it lasting this way forever. When I look at Lia I see myself 50 years from now, probably still crudely hitting on her like I usually do. I know things will change, there will be babies, new houses, new cities, and new jobs. But I can't help but think that throughout all of those changes, it will still be Lia and me--the two kids who met in college and fell in love.

Over %50 of marriages end in divorce these days. I'm no psychologist, I haven't even been married a month. But if you ask me why, I'd have to say that a lot are because of a lack of respect. People get so wrapped up in themselves these days that it doesn't surprise me their are so many unhappily married couples. One of the best bits of advice I ever got about marriage was from my Dad. He said "In a marriage its not you give 50% and she gives 50%. You both give 100%. Your life is over when you get married, you're about to start your lives." I think that if people really truly dedicated themselves to each other, instead of just being with each other, you'd have more happily married couples.

Also, you have to laugh. Life is always better when your laughing. I can't imagine married life being any different. Lia and I laugh a lot. And I have no doubt in my mind that we will be laughing together forever.

(And nothing makes me more excited.)

I'm Back

2010-09-23T11:01:00.000-07:00

So it has been a while since I've posted. Probably due to the fact that the most important (read: best) day of my life occured on September 4th, 2010. I married my best friend, Lia Kerner (who now goes by Lia Dangelico--it has such a nice ring to it)!

The countless days of planning (mostly done by her) paid off and we had the most beautiful ceremony a couple could ask for. We had friends come from all over (even one flying in from London) to share our moment with us. We couldn't have been happier (even though we felt as though we could sleep for days after it was over).

To all three of you who read my blog, I'm gonna start it up again in the very near future (Oscar season is right around the corner). I know the anticipation is killing you (or at least that's what I tell myself)--but the next blog entry will be coming in the next few days.

In other great news I finally buried my worthless piece of crap known as a blackberry, and got a beautiful, sexy iPhone.

So thats a beautiful, sexy wife, and a beautiful, sexy phone in the same month--I'd say I did pretty damn good.

See you all in the next couple of days...

Why It Sucks To Be A Star Wars Fan...Sometimes

2010-08-16T11:17:00.000-07:00

So news just broke that George Lucas will be releasing the Star Wars films on Blu-Ray. 'Bout damn time. Also he noted that they would be the Special Edition versions and not the orignial theatrical versions that we all grew up with. Why wont he just remaster the theatrical version for us? It's too expensive, he says.

Yeah, I'm sure it's too expensive George. Maybe if you werent investing so much time and money bastardizing your own creation then it wouldnt be so bad. Also, there is no way in hell it is too expensive. Look at Blade Runner. Ridley Scott gave us 5 versions of 1 film that looked absolutely beautiful. Sure on the workprint version there were some specks and other signs of aging. But it was still sweet to see. And you want to know the funny part? Nobody prefers the workprint version of Blade Runner. Millions and millions of fans (I'd go as far as to say everyone) prefers the original theatrical version of Star Wars. I mean why in the hell does Greedo need to shoot first--other than to make Han less of a bad ass? I will never, in a million years, understand why that change was even thought up, let alone made.

So George, let's face it. Youd be nowhere if it weren't for us. When I was three years old I watched my first Star Wars film and the rest is history. I know every line by heart. I bought the toys (just as Lucas wanted) I grew up with Star Wars on my mind, bringing along it's philosophy in the way I think and live. It becae a part of who I am. The same is said for millions and millions of people around the world. If it werent for us George, you wouldnt be anywhere near where you are today.

How about you give us what we want?

Thanks.

Reflecting on The Suburbs by The Arcade Fire

2010-07-28T05:38:00.000-07:00

The Arcade Fire has been my favorite band since I first listened to them. They have that power over me where when I hear their sound I simply say "yes, that is music". Their debut album Funeral is, and will always be, my favorite album of all time. I bought it at a used record store in Raleigh, North Carolina, not having any idea the impact my purchase would have on me. They were epic, yet personal. Majestic, yet refined. Then in 2007 they released Neon Bible, and showed the world that Funeral was no fluke and that the Arcade Fire was a band that was not only here to stay, but that they were an important force in our muscial landscape. Now in 2010, they bring us The Suburbs, a sprawling double LP of epic proportions. And yes, they knocked it out of the park for the third time in a row.

This is a long Arcade Fire album. With 16 tracks (not one being filler), the album clocks in at just over an hour. It is classic Arcade Fire, with epic choruses, pulsing melodys, and existential lyrics. Yet, The Suburubs is Arcade Fire's most ambitious album yet, including influences from Springsteen ("Modern Man") to even Depeche Mode or New Order ("Half Light II"). Influences aside, this is still, without a doubt, an Arcade Fire album.

The Suburubs is about just what it's title entails. Life growing up in cookie cutter houses, and the hopelessness of living the way you are "supposed to." It maps all of the hopes and dreams that can deteriorate as life in the suburbs of America locks you in. The lyrics are the Arcade Fire's most personal yet, as Win sings on the title track "I want a daughter while I'm still young, want to hold her hand and show her some beauty before the damage is done." It's as if he knows that with age he will become jaded and tired. He wants to be able to pass on his views while he still has them. While they are still hopeful.

One of the best parts of The Suburbs is the fact that it really highlights Win Butler's songwriting. "Suburban War" may be one of the strongest songs they have ever written. It's a love song, detailing a relationship that exists as the world around them changes. They realize, as life takes them seperate ways, that the place they grew up in has morphed into something unrecognizable. But towards the end, the realization hits that perhaps it wasnt the town that changed, but themselves. "All my old friends, they don't know me now," Win chants at the end. It's aching, bittersweet, yet somehow still hopeful. As the girl in the beginning tells Win "the past won't rest until we jump the fence and leave it all behind." She could be talking about eachother, about the town, or just the fact that the only way to grow is to do so facing forward.

It may sound bleak, just as the idea for Arcade Fire's debut Funeral did. But what has always been prevelant in Arcade Fire's songs is that the ablilty to resist is within ourselves. We all have the ability to make up our own minds about how we view things and how we handle them. We can see the death of family member as a terrible thing, which it is, but we can also choose to celebrate their life. We can let the suburbs of America turn us into zombies, or we can fight it. We can think for ourselves and maintain ourselves. Though things may seem hopeless, they only seem that way. We cant control how things shape us, but we don't have to lose who we are to the world around us.

This album is a classic, just as Funeral and Neon Bible are. In a world where most people have forgotten what it means to sit and listen to an album, where singles sell on iTunes at a more exponential rate than albums do, the Arcade Fire grabs us by the shoulders, sits us down, and makes us listen. They make us realize that craft, emotion, and honesty are the only key ingredients in making music.

The Suburbs is music in it's rawest, most beautiful form. It is absolutely perfect.

Film Review: Inception

2010-07-27T06:42:00.000-07:00

Spoiler Warning: If you have not seen the film do not read what I'm about to write unless you dont care about having the ending spoiled. And trust me, you do care.

Inception is Christopher Nolan's masterpiece. What exactly does that mean? People have been saying it, and I certainly agree, but what does it mean? First off, the film has to fire on all levels, score, acting, directing, writing, originality. Inception gets a check in every box. For a film to be considered an artist's masterpiece though, it must basically be the director's brain on a platter. It has to be personal without alienating the audience. It must have themes that transcend time. It must age well. While we won't know whether Inception will age well for a few years, my bet is on yes.

I think the brilliance of what Nolan has done, and the reason the film will stand the test of time, is that he has made a truly subjective film. Theories have been flooding the internet about whether or not Cobb's spinner fell at the end. People have said that the whole thing was a dream, that half of it was a dream, that Cobb was actually having a Mr. Charlie pulled on him by Saito. They have been all over the place. And they have all, in one way or another been correct. But how can that be? How can all theories be correct? Well because no definitive answer is given, so any guess, as long as it makes sense, could be true.

But here is the thing. Cobb himself didn't turn around to see if his spinner fell. It didn't matter to him. He got to see his kids and be with his kids again. To him his mission was accomplished, his wish fulfilled, whether it was a dream or in real life. Does happiness, or contentment, only exist if other people can see it or experience it? I dont think so. It's all a state of mind. So if he saw his kids in a dream (especially a lucid dream), to him that's just as good as seeing them in real life.

Inception is a film that you have to see to believe. I've never seen anything like it before, and I can't wait to revisit the film. Nolan uses special effects, rather than having the special effects use him. He never let's his visuals overtake the story (which believe me, with these visuals is a feat in it's self). Hans Zimmer creates his best score to date, taking nods from everything from The Dark Knight to Blade Runner. Leonardo DiCaprio is fantastic as usual. It's amazing to me the empathy he can draw from his audience. The supporting cast gets just enough character development to move the story forward (which is enough because it's not their story anyways it's Leo's). The structure of the film seems confusing at first, but when you see the characters act out what they were talking about it all makes sense.

I can't say enough about Inception. It's a blast. To me, Inception is perfect. It has everything I look for in a movie.

Also, for all of you who are wondering: I think Cobb was with his kids in real life at the end, I dont think it's a dream. Why? Because it's what I want for his character.

List of the Week: Favorite Head-Scratcher Movies

2010-07-15T06:54:00.000-07:00

Word on the street is that Inception is complex as hell. Word also is that it's a masterpiece. I love a meticulously plotted film. One that will engage me and keep me glued to the screen. If it's made well enough, it will warrant a "I'm gonna have to see that again." Sometimes films can be too complicated, during which they become a bit of a mess...but when a well-told complex story comes along, they can be great fun. Here are a few of my favorite movies that get better (or at least more understood) after seeing it more than once. These movies are either complicated in structure or meaning. Either/or they are much fun to pontificate over.

In no order...

1. Memento
2. The Matrix
3. 21 Grams
4. Solaris (1972)
5. Eternal Sunshine fo the Spotless Mind
6. La Jetee
7. Adaptation
8. Mulholland Drive
9. Barton Fink (Some may disagree but I had to watch it twice before I got it.)
10. Primer

Bummer Summer for Movies

2010-07-07T07:21:00.000-07:00

Ok so what have we seen this summer that blew us away? Toy Story 3, definitely. Iron Man 2, umm it was great, not as good as the first though. What else? Knight and Day, hell no. The Last Airbender, HEEEELLL no. Sex and the City 2, someone shoot me. But what else has there been? Really nothing.

Yes we have Predators which looks like fun, and we also have Inception, which may save our Summer (early reviews say it is a masterpiece and possible Best Picture front-runner). Scott Pilgrim vs. The World looks hilarious and fun. Dispicable Me looks pretty funny too. But if you think about it this Summer has really sucked for movies.

I will say though, last Summer may have spoiled us. I mean we had Star Trek, District 9, Up, (500) Days of Summer, Julie & Julia, Inglourious Basterds, and The Hurt Locker. All fantastic films in their own right, and those are just the ones I can think of off the top of my head.

Maybe studios are just prepping themselves for next summer's onslaught of Superhero films (both Captain America and Thor are coming out), but who knows.

Oh well, you can't win em all, Cinema. Don't worry, I still love you.

Existentialism, Age 10

2010-07-06T10:29:00.000-07:00

The radio broke in my car. This wouldnt be that big of a deal considering it was just a blown fuse, but considering all the autoshops were closed due to the holiday I was going to have to wait until Lia and I got back from our vacation in Wilmington to get it fixed. Basically it meant 9+ hours on the road with nothing to zone out to.

In order to pass the time, Lia pulled out one of my books of short stories and decided to read some of them aloud. She began to read a story that was written by a professor who taught at our school, David Gessner. It detailed an existential crisis he had when he was around 10, during which the thought of "nothingness" terrified him so much that he suffered from anxiety.

The story really spoke to me in more ways than one. While I didn't share some of the same views as the author, I too had an existential crisis at around the same age. I never spoke of it, I never had any extreme anxiety over it, but it certainly caused me to stay awake at night. I would lay in bed thinking about why there is so much detail in the world, why was it created as such. What was the point in making the colors a certain way, and does it even really matter. What was the point in creating air, if the absence of it only leads to death? These questions racked my brain as I laid in my Jurassic Park themed bed, staring at my ceiling.

To an adult, thoughts such as these may seem trivial, but to a child they can keep you up at night. Not being able to understand things, knowing that you don't understand them can be maddening, especially to a child with an imagination as vivid as mine was.

The story made me wonder how many other kids went through these sorts of thoughts. Pondering the universe. I wondered why when adults think these things are they deemed strange or even crazy. Such thoughts seem to me to only be human. Questioning the purpose of things has always been an important, if terrifying/controversial activity. However scary it may be to have these thoughts or questions, I always find it to be enlightening. It's through asking these questions that we begin to discover what we believe in. It certainly led me to my own personal faith.

I think that when you are a child your mind functions at its most freeing. You are not strapped down by the conventions of the world and other people. You are able to think and process things without the filter of a 24 hour news cycle, reality tv, and billboard advertisements.

Things just are, when you're a kid.

List of the Week: Best Things About Going Home (Wilmington, NC To Be Specific)

2010-06-30T10:18:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow at around 2:00 I'll be heading to my hometown of Wilmington, NC. At times, Wilmington was my favorite place on earth. At other times I'd rather spend a day in Hell (which actually would be comparable if you visited Wilmington in the summertime). But I guess that is to be expected of your hometown. We never realize how much where we come from has had an effect on us until we leave. Or at least I didnt. After I left I realized I missed a lot of things about my home (both big and small). Here are some of my favorite things about the sleepy little beachtown I call home.

1. My Friends- While some have moved on to other towns, you can always count on holidays to bring everyone together.
2. Indochine- The best Thai food on our hemisphere
3. Gravity Records- One of the few independent record stores still left standing in America (at least it seems).
4. Blue Post- The best bar in Wilmington. Back in the 1800s it was a pirate hangout. I mean c'mon, it doesnt get cooler than that.
5. The Beach- I didn't take advantage of it nearly enough when I lived there. And I went quite a bit.
6. Downtown ILM- Enough hangouts to fill any number of nights, all snuggled up to the Cape Fear River.
7. The Soapbox- The perfect upclose venue to see your favorite local band.
8. Trolly Stop- Probably the best hot dogs that you can buy outside of a baseball park.
9. Pita-Delight- My favorite lunch spot.
10. The Heat- I know I'm in the vast minority here, but I cant get enough of the southern heat. Especially because Wilmington has a nice salty seabreeze to go along with it.

Yeah, I'm excited about this weekend...

This is awesome and I want one...

2010-06-29T10:40:00.000-07:00

Good Lord It's Hot

2010-06-28T06:06:00.000-07:00

I'm a beach kid. I love the summer time. I always have, always will. This summer it feels like the heat is one for the books. I haven't been down to my hometown of Wilmington, NC to feel the how scorching it is there yet, but I will this weekend. Here in Northern Virginia it's pretty hot though. I think about 94 on average, peaking at around 100 in the dead afternoon. A lot of people complain about it, but I don't. I think it's great. I love being able to go outside in just a t-shirt and shorts.

I remember a few months ago we were digging our way out of multiple feet of snow. It was fun, sure, but after the novelty wore off the cold started to become annoying. You could only be outside for a few minutes at a time, and even then you (I) had to be so bundled up that you could barely move your joints. I'm not saying that winter doesnt have it's perks, it most certainly does. I'm just saying, to me, the perks of summer outweigh the perks of winter.

Everyone loves fall and spring. How can you not? The weather is usually in the 60s or 70s. The colors on the trees are always rather brilliant. Most people when you ask them what their favorite season is, they will say fall or winter. But there are those precious few people who love the extremes. They like to feel the sunburn on their arms or the numbness on their toes.

I definitely love the summer the most. I like the way it feels to go on a walk, sweat a bit, then walk into a nice air conditioned room. I like opening the windows, turning on a fan, and putting on some relaxing music. I like falling asleep in the sun, regretting it later that night when you are walking around with a sunburn on the back of your legs. Perhaps the best part of summer is the muggy nights where you can hear cicadas buzzing with the wind rustling through the trees. Or the waves crashing on the beach. I like being able to have the freedom of wearing flip-flops everyday.

To me summertime always takes to long to get here and never stays long enough when it is. Hopefully this one will take its time.

One Of The Coolest People On The Face Of The Planet. Period.

2010-06-23T12:27:00.000-07:00

I will definitely be picking up a copy...

Bruce Springsteen London Calling Trailer from Columbia Records on Vimeo.

I want this so bad it hurts

2010-06-22T06:57:00.000-07:00

I'm taking a poll. Who wants this to be me and Lia's wedding topper?

I Shouldn't Enjoy This As Much As I Do...

2010-06-22T05:41:00.000-07:00

Movie Review: Toy Story 3

2010-06-21T12:04:00.000-07:00

Some things are just masterpieces, gifts from genius minds that for whatever reason deem us worthy to to enjoy their creations. Not only does Toy Story 3 belong in this private group, but the Toy Story trilogy belongs there as well. Usually the third film is where a franchise falters. Case in point: Spider-man, X-Men, The Godfather, The Matrix etc. One could argue that The Lord of the Rings broke this spell with Return of the King, but I would counter that the book was already written, the story laid out, so Peter Jackson did not have to worry about staying fresh while also being faithful to the preceding films. This is not a swipe at Jackson, I'm just saying that the task at hand for Toy Story 3 was different than it was for The Return of the King.

When my fiance and I walked out of the theater, we dabbed the small remnants of tears from our eyes and asked each other which Toy Story film we liked the most. I couldn't do it. The beauty of Toy Story 3 is that it makes the films seem like one saga. While all three most certainly stand on their own, the best way to watch them, obviously, is in sequential order. We grow with these characters and learn as they learn. Perhaps it helps that I was 9, 14, and 23, respectively, when the three films came out. I saw them all in theaters at different points in my life, and I was able to make a strong emotional connection to all three of them.

Perhaps the message in the third film is the most profound of the three. That what makes life worth living are the people who we live with and the connections that we make with them. Sometimes our "purpose," whatever we think it may be, can change and shift in ways that we are not ready for, but the only way to face those changes is with the people who made us who we are by our sides. Pixar is genius in doing this, bringing out deep messages in family films. They are so good at it, in fact, that it makes me wonder why they seem to be the only ones who are doing it these days.

Regardless, Toy Story 3 is the best film I've seen in a long time, and definitely the best film I've seen all year. There aren't many movies that come out where I would say drop everything and go see it, but drop everything and go see Toy Story 3.

P.S. Make sure you get there in ample time to catch Pixar's short Day & Night. It's the best short film Pixar has ever done and it may be just as brilliant as Toy Story 3 itself.

What I've Been Listening to Lately: My Favorite Albums of 2010 (So Far)

2010-06-21T06:14:00.000-07:00

2010 is shaping up to be one of the best years in music we've had in a while, and we still have records from the Arcade Fire and Radiohead (supposedly) coming out. My iPod has been on almost constantly as it tried to keep up with all of the music that was coming in. Here is what I've liked the most so far:

The National- High Violet
Local Natives- Gorilla Manor
Janelle Monae- The Archandroid
The Roots- How I Got Over
Beach House- Teen Dream
The Tallest Man on Earth- The Wild Hunt
Broken Social Scene- Forgiveness Rock Record
LCD Soundsystem- This is Happening
Wild Nothing- Gemini
Four Tet- There is Love in You

If you all havent heard some of this stuff, I suggest you get yourself to your favorite local record store. This is a great year in music that only looks to get better!

A Rant About The Decay of Our Culture

2010-06-16T13:12:00.000-07:00

People never get sick of talking about the things they love. To me nothing is more interesting than to hear the passion someone has for a piece of art of hobby. To hear someone explain to me in detail why a certain movie or book or whatever is their favorite is music to my ears. That's one of the things that pains me about the death of independent record/movie/book stores. It would seem as though corporate America pulled a fast one on us. It wasn't Best Buy or Wal-Mart that destroyed these stores, it was Bestbuy.com and walmart.com. Why would we leave the house to get the new cd by The National when we can just order it online? We're even willing to sacrifice some album art, downloading the albums from iTunes where all we get is a small picture of the cover.

Soon the day will come when we can't even go into a record store and ask the person at the front what he or she recommends. Try asking your local Best Buy employee. I'm sure he or she will point you in the direction of the Billboard Hits. Or if he or she is ballsy they might send you to the "up and coming artists" section where you'll find Modest Mouses 7th album. Up and coming--get your head out of your ass.

Sure we have social networks that allow us to connect to entertainment gurus in one way or another but they still don't do the trick. Besides, it's not like people listen to critics anymore anyways. Transformers 2 was almost universally bashed by anyone with a brain cell, yet it went on to gross over $400 Million. Normally I wouldn't care, I'd say "oh well the people who I want to see make movies will make movies anyways because the production companies know that quality work is rewarded in one way or another." Then I read that a studio passed on the new Paul Thomas Anderson picture because it's budget (which was only $35 Million) was too high.

You're telling me that Micheal Bay can get $200 Million to make Transformers 2, and Paul Thomas Anderson can't get $35 Million to make what is sure to be a fantastic film?

I know this post seemed a bit scatter brained--but honestly I'm so fed up with my generation and their bullshit.

And don't get me started on Owl City...

Arcade Fire: In Concert (Coming August 6th)

2010-06-09T07:37:00.000-07:00

OK, so I just had what may have been the most exciting/insane 30 minutes of my life. Honestly.

Ever since I purchased their debut album Funeral at an independent record store in Raleigh, North Carolina, I have wanted to see the Arcade Fire live. Their debut album changed the way I look at music and skyrocketed them to the top of my favorite band list. They have stayed their ever since.

Almost 6 years later, I have graduated from high school, college, gotten a job, and gotten engaged (to an arcade fire fan). Things have changed drastically in my life, but I still salivate at every single thing the Canadian rockers put out.

Last Wednesday I was told that the Arcade Fire would be having a pre-sale of tickets for a venue that was a mere 30 minutes from our home. I waited patiently at my computer until the clock struck 10AM (the said time of presale), but alas, the supposed date of my concert was blank. After phonecalls and e-mails to Merge Records, Merriweather Post Pavillion, and Paste Magazine, we came to the conclusion that the presale had had technical difficulties and would go on sale again at a later date.

I stayed tuned to websites and discovered (via the Arcade Fire's twitter page) that the presales for our show would occur on June 9th at 10AM at the Arcade Fire's website. Come Wednesday I was there, again, at my computer, waiting to click go when...my computer crashed. I ran to a co-workers computer, forced her to get up and went through the process. I got the tickets (Front Row!!!) in my check-out cart when the screen froze! I let out a yelp (the same you would hear from a dog when you step on it's tail) and refreshed.

And then...like a gift from God I saw the words I had been waiting for 6 years to see.

"Confirmed Order: Arcade Fire Tickets"

I sat in a dream state and reveled in what had just happened. Not only are they fron row tickets--but Spoon is opening up for them!

Today was indeed, a wonderful day--all I need now is for my fingernails to grow back!

List of the Week: Things To Do on a Friday Night

2010-06-04T11:08:00.000-07:00

This sin't so much of a "ranking" post as it is just me trying to figure out what I want to do tonight. There isn't really anything out in theaters that I'm dying to se (although Splice looks interesting). Also, another thing to keep in mind is that I had a fairly busy week and I'm not exactly wanting to go "out" and do anything that requires that much physical commitment, I really just want to relax.

(Note: All of the following will be done with wine)

1. Friday Night Lights- The best show on TV that noone is watching (possibly because it comes on on Friday evenings). I'm actually looking forward to this episode because *spoilers* last week Matt's father was suddenly killed in Iraq setting up tonight's episode to be rather emotional.

2. The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus- Some people really cant get into Terry Gilliam's movies, but I really love his visual style. His narratives can sometimes get convoluted but when he is on, he is on. Take Brazil for example. Also, I'd like to see how Gilliam was still able to make this film when Heath Ledger died in the middle of it. Oh yea, and Tom Waits plays the devil--sweet.

3. Another Bullshit Night in Suck City- I'm about half-way through this book and it is really incredible. Nick Flynn is a poet so his memior certainly has some musicality to it. The memoir depicts when Flynn was working at a homeless shelter and meets his estranged father sleeping in one of the beds. It's bleak, depressing, and often funny. Perfect for a relaxing Friday night.

4. Netflix Instant- Because we have over 200 titles in our instant queue there is at least something interesting to watch. Can I also say that I love the fact that Criterion has been making their titles available to the masses the Netflix Instant. Very cool.

5. Do nothing- Sometimes I feel like a slob just lying on my couch diddling on my macbook--but there is definitely something nice about doing nothing at all. I appreciate it.

Hopefully, I'll be able to figure something out.

New Arcade Fire Songs/Album!

2010-05-27T06:21:00.000-07:00

Two new Arcade Fire songs were released yesterday. After listening to them both obsessively i have determined that "The Suburbs" is excellent and "Month of May" is great.

http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2010/05/listen-to-the-new-arcade-fire-song-month-of-may.html

Update: Literally minutes after I posted this. Arcade Fire officially announced their third album entitled "The Suburbs"

LOST: The End

2010-05-25T05:42:00.000-07:00

I sat down yesterday to write this blog and I couldn't do it. I spent the day in a haze: a mixture of contentness, sadness, and thought. I had never invested so much of myself in a television show before. Over the weekend my fiance, my sister (who was visiting from college), and I re-watched our favorite episodes. We talked about who our favorite characters are (throughout the weekend I think we named them all). We half-joked about how depressed we would be when the show came to an end. We threw our own little LOST party inviting friends and family who we had turned on to the show. When those fateful words "Previously on Lost" were spoken we quickly turned off the lights and focused in. After a mixture of cheers, laughter, and tears (lots of tears) the show came to an end.

That night I had trouble sleeping. I was so moved by what was on the screen that I couldnt just close my eyes and "let go". I wanted to go and find Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse and thank them personally for the gift that they had given me, and my family. I wanted to find J.J. Abrams and thank him for giving those writers the chance to capture our hearts and our imaginations. It seemed as though I would never be able to get my gratitude across. Then I read Damon Lindelof's last message on Twitter: "Remember. Let Go. Move On. I will miss it more than I can ever say."

He understood. They understood. The show meant more to them than it did to us. It was their creation. They know about our gratitude, and they want to thank us as well. We all were on this journey, the actors, the writers, the viewers. It was a group effort. I'll never be able to just forget about LOST. It will be my favorite television show for as long as I live. It was a part of my life where there were so many changes. Where I grew up. My fiance and I wouldnt be the same people without the show. It helped make us who we are. So in order for me to "let go," I am going to write a letter to my favorite show. The show that helped me become who I am today.

Dear LOST,

I miss you already. Thank you so much for taking me, my family, and my friends on this incredible journey. You made us question ourselves and our ways of thinking. You taught us that noone can tell us what we cant do. You taught us that things happen for a reason. And most importantly you showed us how one of the most important parts of life are those who we share it with. I plan on seeing you again in the near future, both in little bits as well in your entirety. Don't worry, I'll finally get a HDTV, so I can watch you in your full glory.

I remember in the beginning I was hooked and that was it. You grabbed me from the start. I had no choice in the matter. You took my heart and ran with it. I was not the only one though. Millions of people around the world loved you. People wrote about you, both good things and bad. The ones that love you stuck around, and you rewarded them with a beautiful and poignant finale. No matter how many times we questioned you, you always ended up coming through.

I wonder what my kids will think of you. Will they be able to be wrapped up in your mystery as their mother and I were? I think you will find your way to touch their hearts. At least I hope so. I want them to love things like I love you. I want them to invest themselves in things the way that I do. I want them to wonder why things are, and then accept them when they get the answer (or when they dont).

Your heart laid in the characters you gave us. The people who we watched grow and change. You were about humanity in general, as we could see ourselves in your characters. You showed us our good as well as our bad, and let us know that nothing is irreversable. We can be whoever we want to be.

Last night I was cleaning up after our party doing the dishes and lietening to your music. I couldn't help but feel as though I had just come back from a close friend's funeral. The kind of friend who helped make you who you are. Please know that this is not a goodbye letter. I will be seeing you again, many times. Take this as a thank you note. Thank you for changing my life. I'll be seeing you again soon. I love you.

-David

LOST: Why We Love Television Shows

2010-05-20T06:02:00.000-07:00

Why does it feel as though we are losing a family member when a TV show ends? People half-joke about needing to find a self-help group after their favorite show ends. I've said so numerous times (although I dont think I've ever meant it as much as now with the end of LOST a mere three days away). I mean if we put things in literal terms, we are just staring at frequency waves being projected through a screen (i think). If you really think about it, the phenomenon of people being hooked on a television show is really a bit strange. They tune in at the same time, on the same day of the week, to get their helping of a story in which they know their will be no resolution--unless, of course, it's the series finale, but even then it doesnt always give you the type of closure that you want (case in point, The Sopranos, although I am a fan of it's now infamous series ending).

Writing has a way of mystifying us, whether we like it or not. It is cool for a teenagers favorite books section on Facebook to say "never opened one," yet they will list forty of their favorite movies and tv shows. Little do they know that none of those movies or tv shows would exist without words on print. A script. Thats where it all starts.

The TV shows that break new ground today are the ones with the brilliant writing. Look at David Simon with The Wire and Treme. Or Alan Ball with Six Feet Under. Aaron Sorkin with The West Wing. And of course, Damon Lindleof and Carlton Cuse with LOST. The list could go on and on, but the majority of "great" tv shows are known for their great writing.

The writing creates the characters and the relationships that we are expected to invest ourselves in. If Sawyer from LOST didnt have snappy one-liners to say, he wouldnt be Sawyer. If President Bartlet from The West Wing didnt inspire the viewer to think what if with his rousing speeches then the heart of the show would be gone.

I don't mean to belittle the actors or the director of a tv show. They of course have to make the stuff work. But here is the thing, you cant get around bad writing. Look at what happened to Grey's Anatomy after the second season. What started as a mature (as well as fun) look at the struggles doctors go through, became a silly contrived attempt at making a Primetime television show a soap-opera. I mean did we really think that Meredith was going to die half-way through the third season? Will somebody please tell me why Izzie is doing surgery on a damn deer? Please.

LOST has kept me riveted throughout the years. It has made me theorize with friends and family. It has frustrated me as well as made me jump with excitement. The show also looks at these characters with a very human lens. A poll was recently done on a popular LOST fan-site asking what people watch the show for characters or the mystery. 84% said the characters. These characters have become our family. We'd follow them no matter what happens. And the bizzareness of the show really proves that. For instance a few of the main parts of the show include, time-travel, a monster made out of smoke, and quantum-physics.

LOST's impact on pop culture has been similar to the great television shows of all-time. It's already inspired knock-offs (Flashforward lasted one season before it got the boot). The fans are starting to have their own cult-like conventions (not unlike Star Trek). And it is one of the best-selling tv-shows on dvd of all time.

If I can say one thing about LOST, it'd be that the journey will not end on Sunday evening. The best part about LOST is watching your favorite episodes over and over again. Picking up on hints and clues that were left (another victory for brilliant writing). People will talk about where the Hurley-bird (fans know what I'm talking about) and who Juliet shot during the time shifts for years. No definitive answer will probably ever be given. Some would think that would be maddening.

LOST fans like myself think it's genius.

List of the Week: Desert Island LOST Episodes

2010-05-18T08:27:00.001-07:00

If I were stuck on an island (get it? get it?) and I could only have 5 episodes of LOST to keep me entertained they would be as follows:

1. The Constant- Stands on it's own as well as being an important part of the series, The Constant is my favorite episode of LOST. It has everything love, heartbreak, time-travel. Brilliantly written, acted, and edited, The Constant is what LOST is all about. Characters whom we care deeply about stuck in mysterious situations that seem hopeless.

2. The Pilot- Needs no introduction. This one started it all.

3. Ab Aeterno- Richard's backstory is similar to The Constant in that it stands on it's own as well as being a important part of the series. An old love story, the answers that are given about the island almost seem inconsequential due to Richard's plight to get back his wife. Brilliant episode.

4. Through the Looking Glass- Perhaps the best cliffhanger season finale in all of LOST the revelation given in the last few minutes is one of the great shockers that the show has become infamous for. The sacrifice made by one of the main characters also is sure to leave the iciest of people with a tear in their eye.

5. Walkabout- The first backstory of one of my favorite characters, John Locke. Here we learn what a tragic figure Locke is and what an interesting predicament he was in before Flight 815 crashed. Gives us the first hint of "powers" that the Island has.

Hopefully with only two more episodes left in the series one of them will show up here (The End prefereably, as long as it gives us a fitting conclusion). It's a bittersweet thing for a show you have been following faithfully for years to end. It is only a TV show, but you cant help but feel as though these characters are your tuesday night family, with whom you checked in once a week, 20 or so times a year. It's a brilliant show that I certainly plan on revisiting time after time again on DVD.

Anybody else got any favorite LOST episodes?

The Many Faces of John Cusack

2010-05-17T06:05:00.000-07:00

Good morning everyone! Stumbled upon this site this morning--thought it might help cure everyone's case of the mondays!

http://themanyfacesof.com/john-cusack/

Enjoy!

banksy is a genius

2010-05-13T20:12:00.001-07:00

"The Army 10-Miler" or "How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Accept My Fate as Roadkill"

2010-05-13T08:17:00.000-07:00

So in October I will be running 10 miles around Washington DC. Yes, I just typed 10 miles and not 10 kilometers. I was bullied into it by my co-workers. If anything this will be an example of how peer-pressure does indeed lead to death.

I'm just joking, I dont think I am going to die. I started training a few weeks ago and I actually think I will be ok. As my fiance's step-father Eric said "you won't come in first, but you wont come in last either." Pretty good mantra, I think. It made me feel a bit optimistic.

The race also gives me a good reason to take Amelia out for some runs. She can't last too long out there (she just simply lies down in the middle of the sidewalk whenever she has had enough exercise, forcing me to carry her home), but I enjoy having her next to me. She smiles while she runs, which I for one have never been able to do.

I've never been able not to finish a race or not pass any kind of physical test, so I feel a bit confidant about the entire thing, even though after I run for what feels like an hour and I realize Ive barely gone over two miles and it's only been 17 minutes.

There are a few things that help me get the motivation to go farther and faster. Perhaps the biggest one would be the second guitar solo on "Iron Man" by Black Sabbath. Always helps me kick it into high gear when it comes on.

Ill try my best to post updates as I progress wish me luck!

Stuff I've Been Into Lately

2010-05-11T07:20:00.000-07:00

1. High Violet by The National- It may just be better than Boxer. Im not quite sure. Id have to listen to it a few more times before I make an accurate assessment. But the fact that it's even a possibility means that this cd is really, really good. I highly recommend checking it out.

2. The Walking Dead Comic Series- I read the first few issues a while back and just never got around to reading the following stories. Now that they are available in volumes (and books, and omibus volumes) I have been really getting into the series. It is really fantastic.

3. Ipads- Basically I just want one because the are unbelievably slick and cool looking. Also, whenever I go to Best Buy I cant stop playing with them.

4. Following Roger Ebert's Twitter War with the Tea Party- At first it was a friendly debate. Then things were said to Ebert like "how many more pieces of you need to fall off before you shut up?" Don't get me wrong, I hate hearing humans reduce themselves to a level lower than bottom-feeders. It's appaling to me, I understand cheapshots, but making fun of a man's struggle with cancer is just wrong and there is no other way to put it. Watching this group expose themselves as the tactless, awful individuals that they are just makes me laugh--sort of.

5. Leon: The Professional- It was one of my favorite movies when I was in high school, and I hadn't seen it in a while, so Saturday night I decided to pop it in. Good Lord it is good. And Natalie Portman was such a phenomenal actress at such a young age. If you havent seen this film, or even if it's been a while since you have, I suggest you revisit it. You won't be dissappointed!

List of the Week: My Favorite Comic-Book Adaptations

2010-05-07T06:35:00.000-07:00

In honor of Iron Man 2 coming out today, I'm gonna make a list of my favorite comic-book adaptations (note that graphic novels will be included as well!)

1. The Dark Knight
2. Spider-Man 2
3. Iron Man
4. American Splendor
5. X-Men 2: X-Men United
6. A History of Violence
7. Batman Begins
8. V for Vendetta
9. Superman
10. Kick-Ass

There ya go. Now go see Iron Man 2 (even though I heard it wasn't as good as the first one, but still awesome)!

Johnny Depp versus Robert Downey Jr.

2010-05-04T11:31:00.000-07:00

Ok, so these are obviously the two most bankable actors in Hollywood today, and I just want to point out a few things.

Iron Man would definitely win in a fight against Jack Sparrow.

Robert Downey Jr is self-depricating which makes him cooler because let's face it, Depp is just kinda weird most of the time.

I like both of them and most of their movies.

Thus the most pointless blog entry I've ever written comes to a close.

Hope you enjoyed.

World War Z by Max Brooks

2010-05-04T10:50:00.000-07:00

At first I didnt think I was going to be able to get into this book, but then it hooked me in. It's style(snap-shot interviews with "survivors" of the zombie apocalypse) is different so it takes some adjusting, but ultimately it is refreshing. It's more topical and enlightening than it is scary, though it certainly is both. Im only half-way through, but Im enjoying it so far. I needed something a bit "fun" to read after finishing Zeitoun by Dave Eggers (but good lord that book was good, as is all of Eggers' stuff).

What is it about zombies that is so engrossing? Is it the fact that they are just inside the uncanny valley and that they repulse us just as much as they attract us? Is it that they can hold up a mirror to society better than any other horror creation of the 20th century? We see so much of ourselves in the undead that it is scary. Personally, I love trying to answer the what-if questions that the genre poses. Would you be able to off a friend, family member, any loved one--or would you let them turn into something they are not? It's a question I would most certainly ask in job interviews.

Regardless, check out World War Z by Max Brooks. It is fun.

Indie Music is Dead, Long Live Indie Music

2010-05-03T06:17:00.001-07:00

Broken Social Scene come with a new record this week. I got a hold of it earlier and it is really fantastic. It's not as good as You Forgot it in People, but it's just as good as their self-titled. Considering You Forgot it in People is a masterpiece and I really wasn't expecting FRR to be as good, let alone better. But it's incredible and definitely worth a listen. Broken Social Scene is one of those bands who you can count on to put out a quality record everytime.

Over the weekend Lia and I were discussing how it seems new artists today (specifically pop artists) aren't really trying. Case in point: Owl City. Good God that stuff is awful. Let's just remove the obvious: it's basically the Postal Service with really, really bad writing. I mean I dont care if this guy likes lightning bugs. Will someone please explain to me why I should care whether or not this guy wants to stay awake or go to sleep?

It normally wouldnt bother me, but I overheard someone arguing on the radio that the reason Owl City exists is because "The Postal Service never put out another record." No, the reason music like this exists is because some studio exec heard it and said "yea, that'll sell." There is an absense of heart, of earnestness. But really this is nothing new. It's just that it is much more difficult to find good music. In today's society, where everything has to happen now, with the snap of a finger, it seems like people dont want to dig to find music that will challenge them and make them think.

Thank God bands like Broken Social Scene, Radiohead, Arcade Fire, and Modest Mouse came just before the "Now Phenomenon." Would they have been able to put out multiple records in today's society? Would they have even been discovered? I want to say yes, just based on the quality of the art they are creating. But you have to wonder.

Now, don't get me wrong. Good music will always exist. It will always be loved and cherished by those who choose to find it. But the issue is this: who chooses to find it anymore? I guess it is our responsibility to keep the art alive. To bring our kids up on our music, crossing our fingers that they will "get it." Hoping that our music will touch them in the same ways that it has touched us. Explain to them that nothing worth having comes easy. Sure you can buy their record on iTunes with the click of a button. But you have to look for that music before you press a button. When you listen to a song you are choosing not to listen to millions of others. We need to teach them to make a good choice.

List of the Week: Most Anticipated Comic Book Adaptations

2010-04-28T05:46:00.000-07:00

Ever since Spider-Man swung into theaters smashing box office records, studios have been scrambling to find the next big hit. Some have been masterstrokes (The Dark Knight, Iron Man, Spider-Man 2), some have been just alright (The Incredible Hulk, Hellboy), and a lot have been just downright awful (X-Men 3, Elektra, Daredevil, Both Fantastic Four). I am a fan of the genre and I try my best to catch all of these flicks, both the good and the bad. So I've decided to compile what I believe to be my most anticipated Comic Book adaptations.

1. Iron Man 2 - Sequels usually fare well in the comic book world (The Dark Knight, Spider-Man 2, X2) but this one has a lot to live up to. The trailers are tightly knit and well made and Iron Man looks just about as bad-ass as ever. Rhodes dons the War Machine suit as they team up to fight Michey Rourke's whiplash. It looks like a lot of fun. Let's hope so!

2. The Dark Knight Follow-up - When we left our Caped Crusader he was on the run from the cops for crimes comitted by Harvey Dent/Two-Fac. Joker was arrested and we assume was sent to Arkham Asylum. When the credits rolled people were left wondering what would happen next. Would there be a sequel? Or would Christopher Nolan let Batman go out on top, let his series end with a masterpiece? Well a few months ago he and his brother Jonathon started writing the follow-up. The excitement and questions came rushing in: What would it be called? The Dark Knight 2? Batman Begins 3? The Return of the Dark Knight? Who is/are the villain(s)? We all expect great things when this one comes out.

3. Green Lantern - Martin Campbell(Casino Royale) is tackling the (or "a" seeing as there are several Green Lanterns) Green Lantern origin story with Ryan Reynolds playing Hal Jordan. Pitch perfect casting if you ask me. Then we got news that they would be shooting the film in 3-D, Avatar style. Then we got word that the suit would be all CGI to achieve an "alien-like" look. Say whaaa? That sounds interesting. The supporting cast is strong as well with Peter Sarsgaard playing the villain Hector Hammond. So we've got a director who knows how to shoot an action movie, a lead actor who seems born to play the role, and one of the most under-rated actors ever playing the villain. I say let them take some risks, this is gonna be sweet!

4. Thor - Im just really interested to see how they do this one without making it cheesy (same goes for pick number 5). Thor seems to be one of the more difficult to make the translation from page to screen, but with Kenneth Branagh behind the camera you gotta think the seasoned vet knows what he's doing. Chris Hemsworth will play the Norse God/ Donald Blake (Thor is placed in Donald Blake's body without him knowing that he is a God in order to teach the arrogant Thor humility) and Natalie Portman will be playing the love-interest Jane Foster. Hemsworth showed his chops in the opening of Star Trek as Kirk's father and we all know Natalie Portman can act. This one will be interesting, with the potential to be either fantastic or a flop.

5. Captain America- Oh, Captain America. One of the most beloved comic book characters of all-time, it will be interesting to see how they pull this one off. Chris Evans is a great pick as Cap (though I personally wanted Matthew Fox) and Hugo Weaving as the Red Skull is excellent casting. Here is the problem, Joe freaking Johnston is the director. The guy who did Jurassic Park III, The Wolfman, and Hidalgo. Three swings, three misses. Rocketeer was alright, and October Sky was a sweet, if overly sentimental, movie. Does he have the chops to pull of a movie like Captain America? His track record would say no, but apparently Joss Whedon (Serenity) is doing a re-write of the script. We'll see what happens...

List of the Week: My Favorite Album Titles

2010-04-20T05:29:00.000-07:00

Naming your album is an art, and one that gets forgotten from time to time. I mean when you are a kid the first thing you do when you create a faux-band with your best friend is name your band, and then you give your band's debut a name--then you start playing music. From the awesome to the ridiculous here we go:

"The World is NOT a Cold Dead Place" by Explosions in the Sky

"Building Nothing Out of Something" by Modest Mouse (In all honesty any of MM's album titles could be on here

"Let it Bleed" by The Rolling Stones

"Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven" by Godspeed You! Black Emperor

"It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back" by Public Enemy

"I Am Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass" Yo La Tengo

"Birth of the Cool" by Miles Davis

"Louder than Bombs" by The Smiths

"Appetite for Destruction" by Guns 'N Roses

"I And Love And You" by The Avett Brothers

Treme Ep. 1.2: Meet De Boys on the Battlefront

2010-04-19T14:56:00.000-07:00

So I've decided to write a weekly recap/reflection on what is turning out to be the one of the best shows on television: David Simon's Treme. The follow-up to the series premier had a big job. It's predecessor succeeded in introducing characters and creating a tone for the series. This weeks episode needed to continue its successful march by delving deeper into these characters lives and keeping us interested. It was triumphant.

This week brought the funny, albeit with some dark and disturbing elements. It opens up with the sacrificing of a chicken during a live radio session, which ends up getting our lovable DJ Davis (Steve Zahn) fired. It was a strange, humorous, if unsettling opening to our show. Davis gets a new job at a hotel and proceeds to send tourists, who happen to be in New Orleans on a mission trip, to the seedier side of New Orleans so that they can indeed get a taste of the culture of the city. They go missing, and Davis goes jobless, again. His heart is apparently much bigger than his sense of logic--but we love him for it.

A theme that I thought was interesting throughout the episode was that of pride or respect. Antoine (Wendell Pierce) goes to a gig on Bourbon Street at a strip-club. He is ashamed thinking it is beneath him, but people console him by saying "There is pride on Bourbon Street." Antoine is not convinced. Creighton (John Goodman)is wanting to get back to writing his book about the history of floods in New Orleans (he is already 250 pages in), but he doesn't want to be seen as cashing in on tragedy.

The most jaw-dropping moment of last night's episode was when Albert (Clarke Peters) confronted the thug who stole his tools. We expected a philosophical chat after Albert slammed him up against the wall, but what we got instead was a brutal beating. Albert took a crobar and beat the boy (he couldn't have been older than 20 years old) to death. Could it be that Treme has it's own Omar Little in the tragic figure of Mardi Gras Indian Chief Albert Lambreaux?

Treme continues to deliver when it comes to writing, acting, and music. If it stays on the track that it's on it will be a force to be reckon with come awards season.

Roethlisberger's Uphill Battle

2010-04-13T05:53:00.000-07:00

By now we have all heard that the charges against Big Ben have been dropped. We all know about the message that the Rooney's sent to the Steelers by trading troubled Superbowl MVP Santonio Holmes to the New York Jets for a measly 5th round pick.

Now what is next?

Wallace should fit just fine in Holmes' spot, he basically recreated Holmes' Superbowl-winning catch in the game against Green Bay last season. We know that talent is no question for Wallace. The kid can play and it's his time to step up. But what about getting the ball to him? How will Big Ben bounce back after he let down his team and his city by putting himself in a bad situation. Ben has a lot to prove and he needs to do it now.

Honestly, I think he's gonna go through a lot at the away games from the hecklers. They will not be kind to Ben (as if they ever were). But this is the NFL and this is part of the game. As Tomlin likes to say in the locker room, the Steelers are a "Band of Brothers" and this is no one-man show. This is the team with the legacy of "Mean" Joe Green, Jack Lambert, Terry Bradshaw and Jerome Bettis. The Steelers need to prove why it's an honor to walk in those player's footsteps. Why it's a privelage to don the black and the gold.

The off-season isnt over yet--or even close to it--and I'm already pumped for game day. This is the situation we are in. Big Ben and the Steelers need to show the world that they are the most dangerous team in the NFL. It's time to go back to what the Steelers are known for, smash-mouth football.

Treme: A New Beginning

2010-04-12T05:59:00.000-07:00

HBO used to be the holy grail for television. It had The Sopranos, Six Feet Under, Deadwood, The Wire, and Sex and the City. All groundbreaking shows in their own respect. Band of Brothers showed us war from beginning to end and pushed the limits for what a miniseries could do. And Entourage was good, if brainless, fun. But those shows have since ended (or fizzled out if you're talking about Entourage) and a new crop of shows started to try to fill the gaps.

Alan Ball's True Blood tried to cash in on the country's vampire phase, but never really caught on (though it the show does have some very loyal followers that swear by it), and Big Love always felt like a Six Feet Under rip off. Other than those two, all of HBO's newer shows (John from Cincinatti , Tell Me You Love Me, In Treatment ) struck out. None could capture the allure, the weight, the quality of the premium channel's previous shows. In short, there was nothing new in these shows, nothing groundbreaking. And we have come to expect nothing less from HBO. After a few years we began to lose faith.

And then last night the premiere episode of David Simon's (The Wire)Treme premiered. We had been waiting for the second coming of HBO and I believe it came last night soaked in jazz and flood water. The sprawling premiere introduced us to people who were coming back home, to find that their home had been changed. The watermarks were over their heads, everything they owned had been destroyed. Loved ones were still missing and the city's infrastructure was virtually nonexistant. Reporters came to the city trying to understand the tragedy, but they just cant. To really feel the heartache of losing your home, you had to be a native of "The City That Care Forgot".

The writing is naturalistic and on-point, the acting subtle and heartbreaking, and the soundtrack pulses like no other. The music and culture of New Orleans are just as much a character in the show as any living thing. The parades that take place in the streets are an enigma at first. How on earth can people parade in their city after it has been leveled by floods. But at the end of the show you understand. These people parade because they have to. They parade because it is in their blood, in their soul.

And the show will not leave out the politics, it is of course about the after effects of Hurricane Katrina. However, what is interesting is that the show doesnt seem to point fingers at any one person. As one character (played by John Goodman) booms "this was a Federal fuck-up of epic proportions." Everyone is to blame for this catastrophe. The Federal Government, FEMA, the Local Government, the Police. Everyone.

Treme premiered just after one of the most intense episodes of The Pacific (another fantastic miniseries that adds to the regeneration of HBO). I looked over to my fiance and whispered about how Treme now had a lot to live up to. From the first blast of the trombone, Treme hit it's stride and never let up. We are being brought along on a journey, a rebirth of the soul as we watch these people return to their lives to pick up where they left off. The pain is real as characters are being portrayed by real Katrina survivors (most of which were in the Spike Lee documentary When The Levees Broke).

With Boardwalk Empire, (a gangster series from the minds of Timothy Van Patten and Martin Scorsese) premiering in the fall we can only expect the best. The thing is, Treme has set the bar unbelievably high. Treme is art on a television screen. Time will only tell if it will live up to it's expectations. If it will indeed mark a new beginning for HBO.

Count this viewer in the believer category.

Film Review: Shutter Island

2010-04-06T06:13:00.000-07:00

Martin Scorsese is one of my heros. Honestly, if I were to pick people who made me who I am today (excluding family and friends of course) Scorsese would be very close to, if not at the top of the list. He is a master of cinema, and all of his films have stuck with me and challenged me in ways that other films haven't. The only director today that comes close is the incredible Paul Thomas Anderson (Magnolia, There Will Be Blood), but only time will tell whether he wil be able to match the cinematic prowess held by Scorsese.

Shutter Island is Scorsese's latest film and it is a masterpiece of the neo-noir genre. Scorsese has taken the darkened hallways of an Massachusetts insane asylum and turned them into a beautiful contemplation of what our minds our capable of. DiCaprio turns in one of his best performances (which if you ask me is saying something) as the tortured detective, Teddy Daniels, trying to solve the mystery of a missing patient, but unbeknownst to everyone else, Daniels has a hidden agenda that unravels as the film plays on.

And of course, there is the twist at the end that everyone is talking about. And here is my opinion about it: it's not that the twist is so shocking, but it adds a meaning and gives the film a sudden depth that forces the film to stay with you. The twist actually adds something to the movie if you allow it to sink in the way that it is supposed to. This is certainly a film that improves on repeat viewings.

The cinematography and editing are top-notch as Scorsese uses just about every trickin the book to capture the images and emotions that he wants. Daniels is haunted by flashbacks of his deceased wife as well as horrors that he witnessed during his campaign in World War II. These sequences are done with a phantasmagorical flair, matching on-screen beauty (although sometimes graphic the images are indeed somehow still beautiful) with incredible music. Scorsese wants you to know how much these events, these people, mean to Daniels. He wants you to know the weight that he carries on his shoulders, and he succeeds wildly.

I will admit that this is a difficult movie. But it is a rewarding one if you allow it to be. Scorsese is one of the best artists creating today and Shutter Island is a marvel. The same Scorsese themes are present: human nature, guilt, and the essence of violece; but he uses those themes to explore new ones as well such as the lengths the human mind will go to protect the body.

Scorsese is my favorite filmmaker not just because he makes great films, it's because his films apply to things outside of the world of celluloid. His films are cinematic marvels as well as gateways for people to explore themselves and the world around them. He is a master of his craft and his art demands to be seen, and Shutter Island is no exception.

Things I've Been Into Lately...

2010-03-31T08:05:00.000-07:00

Work has finally started to slow down (for now) and I've been able to set aside some time for the finer things in life.

Lia Daniele Kerner-This goes without saying.

She & Him Vol. 2- I really love this album and I find myself listening to it a lot at work. Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward continue to refine their sound, making the best Indie record Nancy Sinatra never made.

The Fantastic Mr. Fox- Lia and I watched this the other afternoon and thought it was absolutely hilarious. We've been quoting it to each other ever since. Wes Anderson needs to make more movies--one per year will do (as long as the quality holds up).

The "Perfect" Townhouse- Shhh...(Lia and I think we found it--but we're trying not to jinx it).

Springtime- Now that the snow has melted away and the grass has turned from tan to deep green I have no problem walking the dogs. Deep breaths of semi-warm air is good for the soul.

Bon Iver's For Emma, Forever Ago- This record hasn't gotten old yet...and I dont think that it will ever.

Flying Dog Pale Ale- The best beer ever, in my humble opinion.

Zeitoun by Dave Eggers- I started this a while ago and work got crazy so I had to pause. But seriously this book is incredible and I recommend it to everyone.

The Pacific on HBO- The sister miniseries to Band of Brothers, this engaging miniseries tells the stories of three marines during the Pacific campaign in WWII. It's brilliant, thought-provoking, and extremely well-made.

David and Lia’s (5 Year) Bucket List

2010-03-23T16:51:00.000-07:00

1) Pay Off Credit Cards

2) Leave the Country (Twice)

3) Attend a music festival

4) Attend a film festival (Cucalores doesn’t count)

5) Take a road trip (longer than 2 days of driving)

6) Potty Train Marlee

7) Go to one Steelers game a season

8) Buy a house

9) Find jobs we like (or advance in the ones we do)

10) Visit California

11) See more concerts

12) See all best picture nominees each year

13) Read (at least) 5 books a year

14) Write a screenplay

15) Learn an instrument

16) Go to Europe

17) Get a big screen TV (and a blu-ray player)

18) Enter one short story contest

19) Volunteer

20) Do something special with our siblings

21) See EVERY Bruce Springsteen tour

22) Exercise together more

23) Go skydiving

24) See a broadway play

25) Vacation every single summer (and get a tan)

26) Visit our friends more (buy cowboy boots when visiting Lindsey Johnson in Texas

Consistency is Good

2010-03-16T06:48:00.000-07:00

So lately things have been crazy. Work has been crazy. I haven't had much chance to breathe as we are writing 3 different proposals for the government and I've had to work late nights, weekends, and early mornings. If I could say one thing that is a bummer about my job it's the not knowing what comes next. But then again that makes it fun, to a certain extent. It keeps things interesting and stops it from being mundane. But sometimes consistency is good.

For instance I love that when I come home I can count on the dogs jumping on me, wagging with excitement to see me. I love that my fiance comes home everyday with hilarious tales from the NRA (it is still funny to me that she actually works there). I love that every Tuesday from 9-10 my favorite show, LOST, comes on. But alas, this is the final season of LOST--so the impending end of another consistency is near. Of course LOST will, one day, be replaced after it's end--and if it isn't Lia and I can always relive the fun on DVD. But for now, in the show's final weeks, Lia and I will tune in faithfully every week.

Perhaps this is why sports can be so easy to love. The Steelers play, every sunday (save for one bye-week) during football season. They are always there. They may not always win--they may dissappoint you, but they always try the next week to make up for it. Consistency like that is absent in a lot of people's lives.

Changes are coming up in my life. We have a wedding that is less than half a year away, we've begun house hunting, and talks of kids have emerged (we have agreed to wait a few years however :-) ). While it may seem with all that happening my life may be far from consistent, somehow knowing that I will come home to Lia everyday is all the consistency that I need. (That and maybe the Steelers maintaining winning records)

Are There Rollercoasters In Heaven?

2010-03-01T10:00:00.000-08:00

People have told me that Im stragely comfortable with death. I think a lot of it has to do with my faith, but also for some reason I have always just thought of it as another part of life. Something that we all will have to go through at one point or another. Lia's grandmother passed away last week, bringing up all sorts of new discussions about death, dying, and the grieving process.

It is interesting to be on the fringe of the whole process. Grace was certainly a part of my life, but not nearly to the extent that she was of Lia and her family's. To watch each person in her family deal with this tragedy in their own way was interesting. Some people decided to take on everything--all of the responsibility of getting everything done for the ceremony. I wondered whether they were doing it for themselves or for their grandmother--coming to the conclusion that it was probably both. The pastor at the ceremony stated that these days, funerals seem to be more for the living than the dead. And I think that is true.

Other people decided to grieve in their own personal way, smiling and going along with everything, letting a tear fall whenever they thought that no one was looking. I dont think that there is anything wrong with this. Some people would say that they are bottling up their emotions, but I think they are just trying to avoid having to say things that other people won't/can't understand.

I dont have any of my grandparents left. The last passed away when I was around 16 years old. Thats about 7 years since anyone connected to me by blood has left the earth. I remember it was strange--expecting to be going up to Pennsylvania in the summertime to visit my grandparents, only to spend it vacationing in Asheville or someplace else. Though I know they are still with me, I cant help but wonder what they are doing now. If celestial bodies actually can "do" things.

One of the hardest things for me to come to grips with is the actual idea of heaven. Not believing whether it exists or not--I know that it does--but just what people do up there. I always seem to be coming to the same paradox. How can there be no sadness? Would we even know what happiness is if we have nothing to compare it to. Isn't it the bad times that make the good times so great. How can things be fun if there is no real risk involved? Wouldn't roller-coasters be redundant in heaven?

Just to clarify--Im not wondering how heaven can exist. Im just wondering what it would be like. I guess it's just that Im thinking of this in human terms--where our minds work by using limitations and boundaries. In heaven neither of those things exist, therefore trying to figure these paradoxes out is pointless. Its impossible to solve them with our human minds.

The only thing we can do is wait.

The David's: 2009

2010-01-16T19:44:00.000-08:00

So a while ago my friend Chase was telling me about how good of a year 2009 had been for movies. I kinda shrugged my shoulders and smiled while nodding my head. It was pretty good, I thought to myself, nothing spectacular. District 9, Inglourious Basterds, and Up were pretty good--but I didn't see anything on the horizon that I thought was really going to floor me.

And then I started to see them. Moon. The Cove. (500) Days of Summer. Avatar. Up in the Air and The Hurt Locker.

Each of these movies floored me with their ambition and risk-taking. Where was the Hollywood Oscar bait movies? The only musical that was in sight was Nine, and apparently that sucked. So what we were left with was original films from audacious filmmakers. 2009 really was one of the best years for film.

And with that I present "The David's". First a list of 10 movies that I felt were the best the year had to offer (in no real order)--then a few personal little recognitions.

Best Films:

Moon

The Hurt Locker

Up In The Air

Inglourious Basterds

District 9

Avatar

(500) Days of Summer

The Cove

Where the Wild Things Are

Star Trek

Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow for The Hurt Locker

Best Actor: Sam Rockwell in Moon

Best Actress: Meryl Streep in Julie & Julia

Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz in Inglourious Basterds

Best Supporting Actress: Anna Kendrick in Up in the Air

Best Original Screenplay: Tie between The Hurt Locker and Moon

Best Adapted Screenplay: Up in the Air

Best Special Effects: Avatar

Best Score: Michael Giacchino for Up

Moon: See It Now

2010-01-14T10:12:00.000-08:00

Moon is one of those movies that proves all that you need to make a classic film is original ideas, a good script, and a powerhouse performance. I will say that not only does Sam Rockwell deserve to be nominated for an oscar--but he deserves to win the damn thing. It is the best performance since Daniel Day-Lewis' in There Will Be Blood.

The flick's set-up is a rather simple one. You have a guy, Sam, who works on a space station (located on the moon, obviously) harvesting H-3, which is being used for energy down on Earth. It is just him and a helpful robot, Gerty. The deal is: he works on the station for 3 years, by himself, after which he gets to go home to his wife and daughter. Of course, things never go as planned and Sam runs into several obstacles (which i will remain spoiler-free on).

In my opinion this flick ranks up there with the great Hard-Sci-Fi films like Children of Men and Blade Runner. It is emotionally-riveting and the philosophical questions that it raises are more than thought-provoking. Im gonna keep this blog a bit short because, simply, words escape me on this film, as I was so surprised and impressed by it. All I really need to say is Moon is my favorite film of the year, and I think you at least need to go see it.

Oh, by the way--it was made for only 5 million dollars. Incredible.

Someone's Going to Emergency, Someone's Going to Jail

2010-01-12T07:29:00.001-08:00

Lately I havent been able to stop listening to the Don Henley song "New York Minute." Really it's just the first two verses that really hook me in and after that the song never really let's go of its grip. The verses go like this:

Harry got up
Dressed all in black
Went down to the station
And he never came back
They found his clothing
Scattered somewhere down the track
And he won't be down on wall street in the morning

He had a home
The love of a girl
But men get lost sometimes
As years unfold
One day he crossed some line
And he was too much in this world
But I guess it doesn't matter anymore

The song goes on to state that in a "New York minute everything can change." I think that the brutal honesty of the song is its strong point. That life is flying by at a speed we can't wrap our heads around--so we need to take every chance we can get to do what we love. In a Six Feet Under episode a character once raised this sentiment by stating "You can't take a picture of this." No matter what you do--nothing lasts forever.

Now what got me hooked on the song is the West Wing episode "Someone's Going to Emergency, Someone's Going to Jail," where one of the main characters, Sam, has been working long hours because he found out that his father carried on an affair for years with his mother. It's an understated episode that starts off with a beautiful montage of Washington DC at dawn set to the Don Henley tune. But I didn't necessarily take anything about "fathers" per say from the episode. What I found more intriguing is how heartbreaking it can be to find out the truth--in anything. Sometimes the most damaging thing to a person's heart is to find out that the things you believe in are not necessarily true--or in some cases may actually just be wrong. I guess the idea of "ignorance being bliss" is really true, to a certain extent.

Would I rather my parents hadn't told me the details of their divorce? Maybe, it hurts to think of them as flawed human beings. But what happens when I find out the truth as I get older? What happens when I realize that the morals that I modeled my life after, never really existed in the first place? The truth always comes out and when it does--it can be devastating. I am proud of my parents and who they are. I guess all we can do is try our best to be as honest and as good--because we have no idea how much a facade can hurt someone.

Avatar: The Experience of 2009

2010-01-07T06:15:00.000-08:00

So I saw Avatar (in 3D, of course) with my fiance and my Dad the Friday before the "Blizzard of '09". In fact the blizzard started while we were in the theater--when we came out there was already a good four inch white fuzzy blanket covering everything. It was a surreal experience going into a theater seeing just light flurries and coming out to a winter wonderland. But perhaps the only thing that could trump the sights outside of the theater would be the visual specticle we saw inside the theater.

Sure, what you have heard about Avatar is true in a certain sense--it's long and the dialogue is a bit hokey--but to me those a strengths rather than weaknesses. It is long because Cameron wants to envelope you in this world that he has created. He wants you to go on the same journey of discovery as the main character, Jake Sully. The dialogue is hokey--but only in a fun way. The type of way that puts a smile on your face rather than makes you roll your eyes. It's a fantasy/sci-fi movie--so the writing will feel a bit different, if not odd.

One reviewer stated that Avatar is "the closest we will get to visiting another planet." and I whole-heartedly agree with her. Cameron's attention to detail is what makes this film special, and this is due to the innovative 3D technology that was created specifically for the film. Once you get used to the 3D--which I will admit takes about 15 minutes--you forget that you are even wearing 3D glasses, or that you are even watching a 3D movie. You are literally watching an experience, and it works best if you simply let yourself get lost in it.

I guess the best way to sum the whole experience up is I felt like a kid watching Star Wars for the very first time. I wasn't critiquing it. I wasnt trying to spot things that looked fake or felt unreal. I was simply marvelling at a created universe that felt enormous and mysterious. I wanted to know more about this place that seemed so alien--yet somehow still made sense. I never doubted what was on (or in this case, in) the screen. I accepted it and came out giddy like I was when I was 8 years old and Luke Skywalker just blew up the Death Star without his radar.

In the Arcade Fire song "Wake Up" Win Butler sings "Now that I'm older, my heart's colder". I've always found myself able to relate to that particular line. Sure Im still more optimistic than most people my age, but I can still feel that when I was young the world was full of possibility and you literally could do anything that you wanted--even if it meant something as fantastic as exploring another world. When you're a kid you just think Sure, it's easy to visit another world. You just build a space ship and you go there. Done. Another film this year expressed a similar sentiment to which I wrote about earlier: Where the Wild Things Are. While Where the Wild Things Are showed me what is lost from growing up, Avatar reminded me of what it felt like to be a kid. And if a movie can do that--if it can make you feel like a kid for two-and-a-half hours-- then God bless it.

Interesting to say the least...

2010-01-04T08:59:00.001-08:00

I know, I've already posted quite a bit today but this was just too interesting to pass up. Gawker.com took the time to tally up notable best-of-the-decade lists and you may be surprised who made the cut. Of course, to me, it is no surprise that There Will Be Blood is the number one film, as I whole-heartedly agree, it is interesting to see what else is on the list.

Enjoy.

http://gawker.com/5428998/

On a sidenote...

2010-01-04T08:12:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to the Steelers for pulling out a winning record of a season that was plagued by injuries and mistakes. Even though they didn't make the playoffs they still had a fairly good season, especially considering what they went through. Regaurdless, my interest in the the playoffs just dropped by about 80%. I guess I'll be pulling for the Saints, considering after Katrina I've had an unexplained bleeding-heart affinity for anything New Orleans. I also think Brees is a class act quaterback. I guess we'll see. My biggest dilemma now is to figure out what to do on Sundays...

Harry Potter, Africa, Film Clubs, And Friends

2010-01-04T07:41:00.000-08:00

So Lia and I are going to be watching the new Harry Potter flick tonight. We got it a while ago in netflix and just havent really been able to muster up theinterest for it to put it in our dvd player--especially while were are in the midst of intense family melodrama on the first season of Brothers & Sisters. Im sure it will be interesting enough--even though I really thought the Order of the Phoenix was quite boring and repetitive. I was tempted to send it back and get something else today but I feel guilty sending a netflix back without even watching it. For some strange reason it feels as though the "starving children in Africa" saying applies here. Like there are kids in Africa who would love to watch the new Harry Potter--so you shouldn't just let an oppurtunity pass so easily. Im weird, I know.

Although one of my New Year's resolutions (I have quite a few) is to not let oppurtunities pass. For instance I've always dreamed of finding a job writing about film or music in a magazine or some sort of publication. It doesn't need to be a paid position--although that certainly would be ideal--anything will do. I think what I'm really tackling with this reesolution is laziness. I need to work out more, I need to read more, I just in general need and want to do more.

Not to say I'm not happy. I certainly am--more so than Ive ever been in my entire life. I just think I need to get involved in things more. For instance there is this film society down at E-Street Cinema in DC (my favorite movie theatre actually) where people simply watch a certain film and then discuss it afterwards. Doesn't sound like much, but I think it'd be a pretty good way to meet people.

If I could say one thing that would be a goal to go along with my "opportunities" resolution, it would be to somehow meet new friends. I love and miss my friends from home a lot. I look at the rediculous mock-music videos that they make on facebook and I laugh--but I also feel a sense of melancholy. I could easily have been part of those shenanigans. Perhaps that is the worst part about work, there is noone really my age who has the same interests as I do. Not like Wilmington did. Perhaps this is simply a part of growing up. My main New Years resolution: to be a better friend to those in Wilmington, meanwhile making new relationships here in DC. It sounds like a simple enough goal--I think I can do it.

My Favorite Moments of 2009

2009-12-31T08:04:00.000-08:00

So another year has passed and it feels like it was merely a month long. So much happened to me this year (probably more so than any other year of my life) that it really is difficult to recollect all of them, so this is my best shot. Here we go...

10. The Cliffhanger of Season 5 of LOST. EPIC!

9. Surfing the Longest Left in the World in Chicama, Peru.

8. Finally Seeing Sci-Fi Get the Respect it Deserves in Cinematic Offerings: Star Trek, District 9, Avatar, and Moon

7. 4th of July in Front of the Washington Monument

6. Summitting Machu Picchu

5. Witnessing In-Person Ben Roethlisberger's Game Winning Pass to Mike Wallace With No Time Left on the Clock Against The Packers in Pittsburgh PA With My Dad

4. Getting My First "Real" Job

3. Moving Away From my Hometown For the First Time

2. The Inauguration of Barack Obama

1. Getting Engaged to Lia Daniele Kerner

Romantic Comedies of 2009: A Rebirth in Honesty

2009-12-30T11:27:00.001-08:00

In previous years, cinema was jam packed with cliched stereotypes of modern relationships. They always characterized men as "A" and/or women as "B." It was always black and white, with the blame of a failed relationship resting on one or the other's shoulders—never both, which is often the case for most relationships.

But this year we saw something different, a rebirth in "date-cinema" if you will. This year we had movies like Away We Go, Julie and Julia, and (500) Days of Summer. In these films we see couples go through hard times, find themselves, fight, make-up and grow in different ways.

In Away We Go we track a madly-in-love couple on their search to find a home for themselves and their new baby. This is probably the most optimistic-without-being-overly-sentimental take on a couple I have ever seen. Why in the past has it been a bad thing to show a couple that is completely falling apart in every area of their lives except for their love? Sure, they have financial problems, they don’t really have direction in their lives, but they know they have each other and to them, that’s all that matters. Perhaps that’s why the film was not more widely praised. People like to see couples that fight—they like for someone to do something wrong or screw-up. But that has since become tired. Perhaps what would be more interesting is a couple, madly in love in a cynical world.

Julie & Julia we see two couples that strain as the women in the relationships try to achieve their own personal goals. Here's where the film gets original: both of the men in the relationship are 100% supportive. They love their wives and want the best for them. It's when faced with challenges—either self-inflicted or from an outside source—that we see a struggle. You never for an instance doubt that these couples love each other. It is assumed that these men will support their wives, these are good guys. The real question is how much will the women allow their men to support them? What happens when these women become consumed by their work? It’s refreshing to see men displayed in a positive light—as many times and stereotypically, they are seen to be threatened by their mates’ success and ambition.

The oddball of the three—and my favorite is (500) Days of Summer. A story told about a 500-day relationship between a guy and a girl told out of order, this flick is original and refreshing. What happens when you have a hopeless romantic fall in love with someone who doesn't believe in love? Joseph Gordon Levitt plays a Lloyd-Dobler-esque guy who is trying to figure himself out as he finds himself falling for a girl, a girl who he thinks is the "girl of his dreams.” The little film has a lot to say about fate, coincidence, reality vs. expectations and how we often idealize certain parts of our relationships, or certain aspects of our partners. It is Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind meets Say Anything. The thing I loved the most about this film is that both characters are young, funny, flawed and irresistibly lovable. Both do their fair share of damage, even though the film is told from the male perspective. They are real and hilarious, which in turn makes them touching and heartfelt. They are the opposite of the one-dimensional male/female archetypes that are found in so many romantic comedies of the past.

Perhaps what we need today is to stop looking at who is right and who is wrong in relationships. We love to blame and we love to generalize. "Men are so blah blah blah.” "Women are so blah blah blah.” Instead, how about this: we are all out of our minds. Every single one of us is just as nutty and ridiculous as the other. We all screw things up at one point or another. It's when we find the person that we want to spend the rest of our lives with that things begin to make sense. That we REALLY begin to mature. Because it’s then and only then that we are able to put someone else’s needs in front of our own. We need more movies that show us these things. We need movies showing a relationship being destroyed by (and from) both sides. And we really need movies showing couples that love each other without reason and without condition. Because, let's face it, in this world, if two people can find a way to love each other like that, there may still be a little hope for the rest of us.

Chan Chan Chan

2009-12-16T14:47:00.001-08:00

I've been listening to Cat Power a lot lately. Actually, to clarify: I've been listening "Metal Heart" by Cat Power a lot lately. The reason is because at work I've just recently moved into a big room, and I'm the only one in it. It's probably a 30x10 foot room, all by myself. But this emptiness comes with a new freedom--and this is where the Cat Power song comes into play. I've hooked up these speakers to my computer--and I play that shit loud. I'm on the first floor--far away from everybody so I'm not disturbing anyone (even though I imagine the lame fifty-five year old men directly above me on the second floor complaining about "that damn twenty-something"). There is just something about the soul of her voice that fills up that room. It envelopes the corners and pulses in the walls.

Basically it's about the little things. It always has been. It probably always will be. Life is too short to listen to music played too softly.

Movie Review: Food Inc. (2009)

2009-12-09T12:27:00.000-08:00

One of the best documentaries I have seen in a while. The non-biased approach to this film makes it very hard to argue against. But who really would want to? I mean I dont know very many people who would argue for these big corporations that would rather see dollar signs than a healthy America.

The food industry is one of the biggest, as well as highly subsidized, industries in the United States. Although some of the information in this film may seem like common sense (for instance food being cleaned or inspected before it is shipped to consumers), it's shocking how much is ignored. The film also brings to light how difficult the fight in Washington is because these corporations have so many well-paid lawyers determined to bring down any kind of hardship these corporations may face.

Food Inc. (2009) brings to light several issues that are often overlooked, making you very careful of where you shop, and what you buy--as you should be. I would be surprised if anyone watches this film and then goes straight back to their regular eating habits.

What I found most interesting about this film is that it doesn't just tackle the health risks of these big corporations not getting the proper oversight over their products, but it also tackles the economic issues as well. These large corporations are slowly but surely putting hard-working, honest farmers out of business.

I read in a magazine the other day that 70 cents of every dollar that you spend in a local store stays in your community, while only 20 cents of every dollar spent in a chain stays. Hard facts to ignore when the economy is in the can...

Check out this film--it may be the most important film made this year!

My Favorite Films of the Decade

2009-12-06T18:49:00.000-08:00

So I put this list together kind of haphazardly. I was reading a lot of other peoples (EW, The AV Club, Total Film etc) and found that I had a lot of agreements as well as a lot of disagreements. So I decided to go through the arduous task of making my own--which proved to be more difficult than I had foreseen. It basically made me come to the conclusion that we may have had one of the best decades for cinema since the 70's. There were breakthrough's in all fields (animation, technology, even script syntax).

Now please keep in mind that I haven't seen very many films of this year, so there is a lack of 2009 films--but I will try to update this list if I do see anything that deserves to be on this list. I put these films in a vague kind of order, but I'd pay no real attention to that. All of these films are fantastic in their own right.

Here we go:

1. There Will Be Blood (2007)
2. City of God (2003)
3. Children of Men (2006)
4. The Departed (2006)
5. The Lord of the Rings (2001-2003)
6. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
7. No Country for Old Men (2007)
8. The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
9. Volver (2006)
10. Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
11. Control (2007)
12. The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)
13. WALL-E (2008)
14. The Pianist (2002)
15. Adaptation. (2002)
16. The Lives of Others (2006)
17. Amelie (2001)
18. All the Real Girls (2003)
19. Up (2009)
20. The King Of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters (2007)
21. Zodiac (2007)
22. Lost in Translation (2003)
23. Amores Perros (2001)
24. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007)
25. The Dark Knight (2008)
26. Pan's Labyrinth (2006)

Favorite Music of 2009

2009-11-30T11:16:00.000-08:00

Animal Collective- Merriweather Post Pavillion/Be Fall Kind EP

Accessible, yet still challenging, Merriweather Post Pavillion is the most rewarding experience of 2009 returning the effort you give it ten-fold. I will admit, it took me a while to actually get into this album, but once I did I couldnt stop spinning it. Songs like "My Girls," "Summertime Clothes," and "Lion in a Coma" envelope into musical nirvana, sending you into a dizzying bliss. Merriweather Post Pavillion is more than worth the price. Also, the album sports the trippiest album art, probably ever. And then, after we've gotten into Merriweather Post Pavillion, and it has worn its way into our minds, they release the Be Fall Kind EP, almost as if to say "...and we're not going anywhere." A great open and close to a year that was full of great, innovative music.

Bat for Lashes- Two Suns

The most soothing album of the year, as well as one of the best, Two Suns, is an experiment in passion. The yearning behind Natasha Khan's voice is infectious, and beautiful. Her most ambitious album to date helps show her maturity as an artist as well as her creativity. Her soulful voice may seem on paper to be at odds with her choice of foreign drum patterns and alien vibes, yet they match perfectly. The trap of "style over substance" is avoided as well, due to Khan's song writing prowess, put best to use on songs such as "Daniel" and "Siren Song." In the latter Khan belts: "My name is Pearl and I love you/the best way I know how." The details on what exactly the "best way" entails is never given, nor is it needed. You hear it in the power of her voice.

Phoenix- Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

Yes, the one with the song from the Cadillac commercial. Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix is the most fun record of the year. To listen to tracks like "1901" and "Lisztomania" is to hear "dance rock" at its best. The highpoint of the album, however, is at the instrumental center of the album with "Love Like A Sunset." The track(s)--depending on how you look at it--start with the simplest of keynotes, but quickly delves into a majestry of tone and songwork. This is indeed, Phoenix's best work to date and shows that they are ready to play with their sound and venture into new territory. I welcome it all the more.

Grizzly Bear- Veckatimest

When Grizzly Bear released their debut Yellow House they were quickly noted as artists to watch in music zines across America. Then they released Veckatimest, which is more of a refinement of their sound than it is a continuation. And what a sound it is. Being best described as melodic-chamber indie rock, Grizzly Bear furthers their ability to create some of the most powerful, albeit gentle, music around. The track "Ready, Able" is one of my favorites of the year as it slow-builds into one of the most dream-like melodys created. It's a strange experience as the album is most certainly on the softer side--the tunes evoke head nods that would most likely be performed during something edgier or more intense. But alas, Grizzly Bear pulls it off, and sucks you into their world of harmonizing vocals and subtle guitars.

Raekwon- Only Built For Cuban Linx Pt. II

The album that most Wu-Tang fans never thought would be made (it had been rumored to be released for years) does the impossible and doesnt dissappoint in the face of staggering hype. While Raekwons rhymes certainly aren't for the faint of heart, his mafia-tales are just as gritty and details as they were when he first came in the scene. With the help of longtime collaborator and fellow Wu-Tang member Ghostface Killah, Raekwon bursts back onto the scene as though he never left. Although Only Built For Cuban Linx Part II never reaches the epic heights the first album does (doing so would be near-impossible), the album is a worthy successor, which of course is saying a lot. To those who say "rap has lost it's edge" I'd reccommend giving this record a listen.

Girls- Album

Perhaps the best debut of the year, Album is the best Beach Boys record that Elvis Costello never made. Somehow both meloncholic and fun at the same time, Girls take their album the simple route: straight-forward rock, and it works. Stand-out tracks like "Lust for Life" and "Laura" make use of singer Christopher Owens' croon as he sings rock songs about, well, heartbreak. The thing that makes these songs work is their honesty. Owens' life-story is one for the record books as he was raised in a cult, fled, and lived as a homeless teenager for years before being adopted by a millionaire who gave him the chance to let his art flourish. His songs and voice seem wise beyond their singers years because he is.

Mos Def- The Ecstatic

Mos Def has experimented with his music for years, flirting with styles of rock and blues. On The Ecstatic--perhaps the best example of Mos Def's overall style--Def pushes his music to the boundaries and creates the best album of his career. His syrupy flow reaches never-before-seen heights on tracks such as "Quiet Dog Bite Hard" and "Supermagic." And his lyrics are as sharp as ever, mixing political sharpness with street-wise libretto better than anyone in the game. Even though this record is sprinkled with middle-eastern influences and touches, it is still undeniably Brooklyn-esque, and that is due to Mos Def himself.

Yo La Tengo- Popular Songs

A hazy mix of melancholy soft-indie-rock songs from some of the masters. The most impressive part of this album is how it acts as a mixed-bag of a Yo La Tengo songs that have never been released before. The album's opener, "Here to Fall" is a blend of subtly controlled distortion and guitar riffs. "The Fireside" is an eleven-minute jam of beautiful drum-patterns and swying vocals. This is a Yo La Tengo record through and through--and that is obviously a good thing!

Jay-Z- The Blueprint III

Of course Jay isn't rapping about the hood like he used to. He doesn't LIVE in the hood like he used to. The thing that struck me the most about this album is the way it is Jay rapping about the love of his life (sorry Beyonce), hip-hop. This album is all about Jay looking back at what he has done, and the genre that he helped create. On "A Star is Born" Jay pays tribute to rappers before him, and hose that will be getting their shot in the very near future. "Empire State of Mind" is more about the creativity that the city breeds rather than the city itself. "Forever Young" seems to evoke the way music will have an everlasting power over those who embrace it, and will make you feel as though you can live forever. Sure it may not be as good as The Black Album and The Blueprint, but was anybody really expecting that? This album was made for the Jay-Z fans, and as a Jay-Z fan, I love it.

Japandriods- Post-Nothing

"We used to dream/now we worry about dying." Could there be a more exacting statement on what it feels like to see your youth become a memory. The world seemed so huge when we were young. Now we have jobs, bills, and actual responsibilities. Japandroids debut release is a simple rock album that evokes the feelings of both being young as well as the yearning to be a kid once more. And when I say kid I don't mean a simple eigth grader. I mean a teenager on the precipice of life, drinking to much, staying out too late, and getting into to too much trouble. To say that's what life is about, may come across as shallow. But what I really mean by those statements is that it is the closest we can come to real freedom. In our minds it didnt really matter. Our juvenile actions had consequences but they were neither harsh nor everlasting. Post-Nothing doesn't try to hard to be ground-breaking, or thought-provoking. It wants to be a rock record that you play at 3 AM while you're driving home from the bar with too many people shoved in your sedan. It succeeds.

The Night I Missed Bruce

2009-11-04T11:52:00.000-08:00

Monday night Bruce Springsteen played Born to Run in its entirety here in Washington DC. I came so close to going that it actually pains me to put into writing the events that occured. Let me just put it this way to save myself some agony: I came as close as a person could possibly come to seeing his or her hero perform his or her most classic album all the way through.

Sitting at my house at around 7:30 I thought about what the Boss was playing. I wondered what he would open with--especially considering his cousin had passed away a few days prior. When Lia and I saw him on the 2008 Magic Tour, Danny Federici, the original E-Street Band organ player and dear friend to Bruce, had passed away after a long fight with leukimia. He opened up with "Souls of the Departed" a rarely-played track he had recorded on the Lucky Town album. I found out later that Bruce dedicated the DC show to his cousin, and then proceeded to open the show with an emotional "Outlaw Pete." An interesting choice, indeed.

My mind wandered on--I wanted to know what Clarence's saxophone solo on "Jungleland" sounded like in-person. I wanted to see feel the opening bars of "Tenth Avenue Freeze Out" raise the hairs on my forearms. I wanted to see The Boss sing the story about two kids getting in to deep with organized crime in "Meeting Across the River".

Some things just aren't meant to be. I guess I'll have to keep my fingers crossed he will still be doing his full album set-lists the next time I see him.

Oh well. What can ya do?

Halloween=Horror Movie Marathons (or Davids favorite horror movies)

2009-10-30T10:15:00.000-07:00

So...I have complied a list of movies that I will (at least try) to watch on (or around) Halloween:

Here we go

To start things off: Shaun of the Dead (Gotta start things off on a positive note...)

Evil Dead

Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn

Halloween

Alien (A different choice--but somehow still works)

Dawn of the Dead (1977)

Dawn of the Dead (2004)

Friday the 13th (1980)

Dead/Alive

28 days later...

The Bride of Frankenstein (if I can get a hold of it)

Psycho

...if I can get around to watching half of these...I'll be a happy guy.

New Spoon Album! Yes!

2009-10-30T10:05:00.000-07:00

New Spoon Album! Yes!

23 on the 23rd

2009-10-24T10:22:00.000-07:00

Right now I am laying on the couch, stomach down, stretched out, listening to the new Yo La Tengo album Popular Songs. It is excellent, and the rain coming down outside only adds to the melanholy ambiance coming form my macbook's little speakers.

Yesterday was my birthday, and I spent it hanging around the house with my fiance and her family. If you had asked me any other day what I would've preferred to do on my 23rd birthday, hanging out with family may have not been the first thing I would've said. But for some reason yesterday it just felt perfect. I talked Steelers football with my soon-to-be brother-in-law, while my fiance and her sisters gabbed about family stuff.

Am I getting older, or does has the appeal of going out and "partying hard just because" lost its allure?

I think it's probably both but all I know is that this weekend is going by sweetly. Also, 23 is an age that sounds old. 21 and 22 still sounded young, but for some reason 23 seems different.I mean my life is drastically different today than it was a year ago. So maybe that has something to do with it. Actually, Im pretty sure it does.

Yesterday Afternoon...

2009-10-21T11:34:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I blogged about my dog, Amelia and how much she meant to me. Later that day, when I went home to grab a quick bite to eat, I found something horrifying: Amelia lying in the kitchen surrounded by blood and diarrhea.

I franticly cleaned up the mess and called the nearest vet asking if there was anyway that we could come in for an emergency. They responded positively telling me to hurry because of the severity of her symptoms.

I rushed as Amelia lethargically walked out the door with me and hopped into her spot (my passenger side seat).

Five hours, countless tests and $750 later, the vets inform me that they think Amelia may have ingested a type of rat poison because her blood was not clotting. They also informed me that had I waited to bring her in, she would have bled to death because of how thin her blood had become due to the poison.

I quickly vanquished my shock at the amount of bills I had to pay. Amelia could have died. I glanced over at Lia, who had come to the vet's with me. She rubbed my hand reassuringly and told me that it didnt matter what we had to pay. That Amelia is our dog and we would have done anything to keep her safe and healthy.

Even when Amelia had epilepsy, I never thought that she might actually die from it. I spent the night cuddling her and stroking her head. Telling her, once again, "Everything is ok. Daddy is here."

Its amazing the power these creatures can have over us. Amelia is not just a canine companion. She is part of my family.

Must Love Dogs

2009-10-20T08:15:00.000-07:00

This morning Amelia had an accident all over the kitchen floor. It was awful, and not very good timing either as Lia and I decided to sleep in a little later than usual. As we held our breath and cleaned up the mess, Amelia walked over to her chair and hopped in. She curled herself up and put her little head down on top of her paws as she watched her Mommy and Daddy grumble and work. She knew that we were dissappointed in her.

I walked over once we finished and scratched her on her head. Her droopy eyes looking up at me like a child preparing for a scolding.

"It's okay sweetheart," I said as I leaned in to give her a kiss. "It was only an accident and Daddy still loves you."

I named Amelia after the french film Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain or Amelie. I didnt want to be cheesy and make it a completely direct connection so I altered the name just a bit. In the film the main character, Amelie, dedicates her life to bringing small bits of joy to others in different ways. I bought Amelia in the wake of a rough break-up, so naturally I was a bit in the dumps. When it came to naming her it was the first thing to come to my mind. I knew I would be relying on this little black-and-white pup to cheer me up as I knew that more rocky roads were ahead.

Of course I was right on both accounts. I ended up going through rough patches in school, I made bad decisions, and decided to change up my life--pushing the people who I thought were friends out of my perimeter. It was something that needed to be done because I was not functioning well in the group I had created.

The one thing I didn't expect was how lonely my decisions would make me.

Days were speant going to school, coming home, walking Amelia on endless walks, going into work, and then studying or going to sleep. Human connection was kept at a minimum.

The only thing that never dissappointed me was Amelia. She was always there, at the foot of my bed, eager top be played with or talked to.

Perhaps it is no wonder if you ask my fiance, Lia, what one of the first things she liked about me was my dog. In fact one of the first times Lia and I ever "bonded" was when Amelia was sick and we both sat with her stroking her head. Nothing is more heart-breaking than a dog who doesnt know what is happening to them. Amelia has idiosymatic-epilepsy, which means that she can have seizures at any time and anything can trigger it. Once, Amelia had one of her fits whenever Lia was over at my apartment. We looked over and rushed to her side. Lia sat and watched as I poured over my girl calming her, and whispering "It's ok, Daddy is here."

The results went something like this: Lia fell in love with my dog, and in turn fell in love with me.

I owe a lot of things to my dog. She was there for me when I felt like I had noone. She nuzzled her head into my hand (something she still does to this day) just when I needed it. She helped me find the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with. Man's best friend seems like an understatement.

We Were Once A Fairtytale- Spike Jonze and Kanye West

2009-10-19T16:27:00.000-07:00

So this is what you get when you meld the minds of two creative geniuses. Perhaps this was a timed career move for Kanye, but when the results are this introspective, who the hell cares. I sure hope Kanye can get his act together, because he has so many gifts it would be a shame to see them fade away.

Jonze is, of course, one of the most creative inventive directors working in cinema today. I mean just look at the emotions he can convey without the use of millions of dollars of CGI. Jonze uses whatever means necessary in order to capture his vision and the results are always stunning.

Inside all of us...

2009-10-19T09:26:00.000-07:00

We went and saw the film Where the Wild Things Are on Saurday night. It was a fantastic movie. More beautiful and insightful than I had expected (which was a lot). It brought out some emotions in me that I hadn't felt in a long time. Those basically belonging to my inner-eight-year-old. It made me miss being young and free. So much of that is lost so quickly, and we never even realize it is leaving.

I miss the days when the biggest tragedy of the day would be because my igloo got stomped on, or I got sent to my room. Im not saying this to suggest that now that I'm "grown-up" I've got bigger, more important things to worry about. I'm saying this because when those things are your biggerst worries, your biggest concerns, your imagination is set to run wild. Life is limitless, and all things are possible. Its only until we grow older that we start viewing the world in a more cynical way. We begin to learn that people will always dissappoint us, no matter how close we are to them. We learn that things don't always work out the way we want them to--and that merely is a part of life. We begin to expect less of people and our surroundings.

That is the true tragedy of growing up. Not the responsibilities that start to weigh down on our shoulders. Not the loads of bills that acrue on our kitchen table that we pretend arent there. The true tragedy is that we begin to lose sight of what made every day a new adventure. Things become boring and mundane.

I think we should all try to at least see through the eyes of an eight-year-old at least once a day. Do things that we normally wouldnt because we would normally think "what's the point?" Run up to a bunch of birds and watch as they all fly away. Kick a big pile of leaves only to get our shoes wet and dirty. Lie on our backs and let our dogs lick our faces.

I am grown-up now. I have a job, a beautiful fiance, two amazing dogs, a townhouse, and a car. My life is more complicated today than it was fourteen years ago. But that's life.

I think I'm going to try to see the world through the eyes of an eight-year-old at least once a day.

Starting today.

Good Stuff

2009-10-17T20:28:00.000-07:00

God Bless Thom Yorke.

Phoenix- Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

2009-10-01T14:03:00.000-07:00

Im pretty sure this album came out this summer therefore Im a little late, but damn if this isnt a good album. I mean it is such a fun, tightly constructed piece of music. I cant really imagine enjoying something else more this year.

I listened to it on repeat at work today, thinking I was going to make my co-workers sick, but of course Bob, a 40-year-old ex marine (the last person you'd think would be into music like this) asked me what I was jamming out to because he was on his way to best buy on the way home.

I was first introduced to Phoenix through Sofia Coppola's film "Lost in Translation" to which they provided the fantastic song "Too Young." I know I should have payed more attention to them when I first heard that track back in 2004, but of course some bands somehow manage to fall through the cracks. Phoenix obviously was determined to not let that happen to them as they churned out two of the most accessible, fun, albums of the decade.

If you are in the mood for something breezy, fun, but still a bit introspective, I'd give this album a listen. It will definitely be in heavy rotation in my car!

Things I've been into lately

2009-09-19T15:35:00.000-07:00

Awesome.

2009-09-19T12:14:00.000-07:00

I love my life...

20 Favorite Songs of the Decade

2009-08-21T08:58:00.000-07:00

Thought this might be an interesting exercise...

also I'm sure the list would change if I wrote it tomorrow--or any other day...

20) "Young Folks" by Peter Bjorn and John from Writers Block

19) "Staring at the Sun" by TV on the Radio from Desperate Youth And Blood-thirsty Babes

18) "Diamonds from Sierra Leone" by Kanye West from Late Registration

17) "Anthems for a Seventeen Year Old Girl" by Broken Social Scene from You Forgot It In People

16) "99 Problems" by Jay-Z from The Black Album

15) "It's Gonna Take an Airplane" by Destroyer from Your Blues

14) "The Wrestler" by Bruce Springsteen from Working On A Dream

13) "Two Weeks" by Grizzly Bear from Veckatimest

12) "My Girls" by Animal Collective from Merriweather Post Pavillion

11) "Carry Me Ohio" by Sun Kil Moon from Ghosts Of The Great Highway

10) "3rd Planet" by Modest Mouse from The Moon And Antarctica

9) "Mississippi" by Bob Dylan from Love And Theft

8) "Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)" by Jay-Z from The Blueprint

7) "Chicago" by Sufjan Stevens from Come On Feel The Illinoise!

6) "Slow Show" by The National from Boxer

5) "New Slang" by The Shins from Oh, Inverted World

4) "The Rising" by Bruce Springsteen from The Rising

3) "Ideoteque" by Radiohead from Kid A

2) "Wake Up" by Arcade Fire from Funeral

1) "All My Friends" by LCD Soundsystem Sounds of Silver

I hated it when people would do these...

2009-07-22T06:06:00.000-07:00

But self-loathing can be kind of sweet.

1. What is your current obsession? Halo 3 on Xbox Live. Yes I know...very nerdy.

2. What is your weirdest obsession? Teen Melodrama on Friday Night Lights (The TV show)

3. Recall a fond childhood memory? Friday Blockbuster nights back when my parents were still together. It's the only memory I have from that long ago. (Dad always let me rent Star Wars).

4. What’s for dinner? Probably pasta.

5. What would you eat for your last meal? Pad Thai with Chicken from Indochine.

6. What’s the last thing you bought? Literally? A 12 pack of Miller Lite.

7. What are you listening to right now? Merriweather Post Pavilion by Animal Collective

8. What do you think of the person who tagged you? I didn't get tagged. I'm just bored.

9. If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished, anywhere in the world, where would it be? Manhattan.

10. If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go? Buenos Aires.

11. Which language do you want to learn? Italian.

12. What’s your favourite quote (for now)? "life is so very fragile. we are all vulnerable, and we will all, at some point in our lives...fall. we will all fall. we must carry this in our hearts, that what we have is special. that it can be taken from us, and when it is taken from us, we will be tested. We will be tested to our very souls. we will now all be tested. It is these times, it is this pain, that allows us to look inside ourselves."

13.What is your favourite color? Blue...usually those of a lighter shade.

14. What is your favourite piece of clothing in your own wardrobe? One of my Bruce Springsteen t-shirts.

15. What is your dream job? Anywhere in the Department of Education

16.What’s your favourite magazine? The Economist

17. If you had $100 now, what would you spend it on? A wallet and some cds.

18. Describe your personal style? Ummm I guess it would be relaxed?

19. What are you going to do after this? Haven't thought that far yet.

20. What are your favourite films? Blade Runner, Magnolia, The Godfather, The Motorcycle Diaries, Raging Bull, Amelie, quite a few more too...

21. What’s your favorite fruit? Green apples.

22.What inspires you? People.

23. Your favorite books? Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers, Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer,The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami

24. Do you collect anything? DVDs i guess.

25. Any advice from bitter experience? Sic Transit Gloria...glory fades.

26. What makes you follow a blog? If it's good.

Science Fiction: A Cinematic Black Sheep Or Diamond In The Rough?

2009-07-02T11:37:00.000-07:00

Science Fiction movies get a bad rap these days. Let's face it, for every good sci-fi film there are about 20 bad ones. But let's be serious, isn't that the same with any genre? I mean honestly, wouldn't the ratio be the same for say, romantic comedies, family films, or horror?

But for some reason when people ask you what kind of movies you like, people cringe when you say science fiction. Why is this? And please don't say "sci-fi is for nerds," because honestly, we are all nerds in our own way. Whether it's lining up to catch the latest Star Wars in theaters, spending rediculous amounts of money to see Taylor Swift, or even making sure that you are decked out from head to toe in your favorite sports team's clothes we all are a little bit nerdy.

But why does the sci fi genre tend to make people turn up their nose?

I think it's because good sci-fi poses questions that might make people uncomfortable. This is different from most genres because a lot of movies make statements or observations about us. But sci-fi successfully poses questions about us, some that we often are not willing to try to answer because those answers may scare us.

I'll provide a few examples:

Children of Men (2005)--What would happen if a generation did not have to worry about the next?

Wall-E (2008)--What would we (or more importantly the world) look like if a corporation got so big and powerful that it became our world?

Brazil (1985)--What if the government became a beauracracy that used fear as its means for controlling its citizens?

Blade Runner (1982)--What if we had the power to build life?

People don't always have quick and easy answers to these questions, which I think bothers a lot of people. Some could write off these things as "never being able to happen." Not only do I beg for you to look at the question I said Brazil posed but I think we should also define sci-fi as a whole. I think also what turns people off of sci-fi is the fact that actual rules for a film to qualify as sci-fi is for it to actually be grounded in a world like our own. Everything in a sci-fi film has an explanation grounded in real life--as far-fetched as these rules may sometimes be. It doesn't necessarily have to take place in the future--though most sci-fi does--but I think what may turn people off is that these visions of reality are a bit too close for comfort for them.

People often say that sci-fi is just weird, but i think that those people are just close-minded. Yes it can be strange, but it can also be intellectually--and sometimes philosophically--stimulating.

What celebrity-based reality-television should look like...

2009-07-01T12:07:00.001-07:00

The Academy Cheapen Their Most Sought After Category

2009-06-25T11:46:00.000-07:00

So yesterday it was announced that the Academy Awards will now widen the competition for the Best Picture award from five to ten nominations. To most people, this will mean next to nothing. But to people such as myself, who love movies, love the oscars, and love to debate after the fact, this is a bit of a shocker. Why would the Academy do such a thing?

There are several reasons. One is that for years and years there have always been, at the very least one movie that was left out of the competition that deserved to be there. I really thought that the film Wall-E had a shot at being the second animated film to be nominated for best picture last year (the first was Beauty and the Beast). But alas, the Academy nominated The Reader (a good film but not the best of the year). One thing that opening up the competition could do is allow for more films that often get overlooked such as animated films and foreign films. One could say that these films already have their own category in the first place. But what happens in Wall-E's case where the film was easily better than the majority of the films that were out there by a long-shot.

However, my gripe is this. I love Pixar's films. But I don't want them to get a Best Picture nomination because the Academy decided to widen the field. I want them to get a nomination because they make damn good movies. Their films are easily in the top 10 each year. I want the Academy to put them up there with the Steven Spielberg films and the Peter Jackson films. Because in my eyes they are just as good, and in some cases better.

The other reason the academy is doing this is for a reason that makes a little bit more sense and sounds a little bit more like Hollywood with a capital H--money. If they can nominate more movies then more stars have the chance to walk the red carpet, which makes the event more "glamorous."

This is crap if you ask me. These awards ceremonies are not about the stars or the amount of glitz and glamour. These ceremonies are supposed to celebrate an art form and congratulate filmmakers on creating works that further our knowledge of ourselves and the world around us.

Are we forgetting why people love movies in the first place. It's because art has the ability to affect us and change us. Art has the ability to make us better people, to challenge our thoughts and our beliefs. These award ceremonies are supposed to celebrate the films that do this to the best of their ability. They are NOT supposed to be about the latest headline in Perez Hilton's blog.

I was all for a bit of a shake up in the way these award ceremonies were done because of the simple fact that phenomenal films like Wall-E get left out of the mix, but doubling the size of the race is not the answer. In my opinion, all that you had to do was add one or two more slots to the race and it should work fine. You wouldn't have snubs such as Wall-E, The Diving Bell and The Butterfly, or Children of Men.

Also, part of the fun of the Academy Awards is arguing until your face turns blue that your favorite film didn't make the cut. And what happens when there aren't ten stand-out films in a year (something that happens more than you think)? Will the Academy stoop to nominating films like Transformers 2 simply because they made a ton of money?

After hearing the news yesterday I don't think I'd be surprised.

Another Must-Read Friedman Article

2009-06-24T08:55:00.000-07:00

http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=12&a=405169

Friedman is honestly one of the most interesting mids writing in politics today.

I like him.

In Transition

2009-06-24T08:24:00.000-07:00

So we have Iranian protests over an obviously fraudulent election, a governor from South Carolina who decided to spend Father's Day in Argentina to "get away" without telling anyone--including his wife and kids--and a prominent football coach in Idaho died after being shot in the weight room of his school.

These are the headlines of the day.

I'm sitting here watching my dogs play in my new townhouse, waiting for my new job to start. It's a shitty job--waiting tables at a Macaroni Grill--but it's a job no less and in today's economic climate one can't really complain. But still, sitting here waiting for a job to start feels pretty pathetic, especially when people are silently protesting for the voting rights to be reinstated in Teheran.

Boredom can eat at ones soul. That may seem melodramatic, especially considering that there are thousands of people in school or work that would kill for just one day to absolutely nothing, but I'll be the first to say it--to many days of doing nothing can slowly make one look at these four walls and wonder how they would look with soft white padding.

Anyways, enough with feeling sorry for myself, there have been positive aspects of being stuck with nothing to do. I've recently been reading a lot more, something I always wished I had more time to do. I also realized that I was one of those people who bought a lot of books at one time, but usually only had the time to read one or two. As I now look over at my bookshelf I'm realizing that there are a few books that haven't even had their precious spines cracked yet.

One other thing that I've found is that I've become even more fascinated with the way our world has become more socially connected through digital means. First you has the election of President Barack Obama which started the whole political fascination with online networking, but now Twitter--an online networking tool that has become the butt-end of most jokes due to it's unfortunate name--has become one of the most important and widely used weapons in the Iranian conflict.

Our world is changing and I'm sitting here watching MSNBC and reading a Che Guevara biography. I will admit that I am happier with where my life is going today than I ever have been. I know that is a pretty vague statement but I don't know any straighter way to put it. I'm ready to get things started.

One thing is for sure though: life in a transition can be rough but there sure is a lot to look at.

Che: A Unique Experience

2009-06-22T06:52:00.000-07:00

So I finally saw it. It's taken almost 6 months but I finally got around to catching Steven Soderbergh's epic, 4-and-a-half-hour long biopic about the revolutionary Ernesto "Che" Guevara. All I can say is that I was floored by the ambitious effort and that it should not be missed by anyone who is interested in this sort of project.

This film is certainly not for everybody, and those who are not interested in a movie about Guevara will probably not be as enthusiastic about the film as I am. What is interesting about this film is that it is not a romantic film that holds Guevara and his politics up on a pedastal. The film does not try to sway anybody's feelings on the revolutionary. If you are sympathetic to Guevara's cause then the film will probably speak on a different level to you than it would on those who think less of him.

What the film does is take a historical account (almost in a documentary style) of the revolutions that Che led. The first part of the film details the Cuban Revolution, where Guevara and Castro led a grassroots movement--which started with a mere 80 men--and inspired the people to overthrow the Batista dictatorship. The film inter-splices black and white scenes depicting Guevara's controversial visit to the UN. The second part details Che's failed campaign in Bolivia, as he attempted to bring the revolution to all of Latin America. Still using a documentary-style of storytelling the second part gives the film it's arc. The rise and fall of Che.

Shedding light on a man that most Americans don't really take the time to understand, the film succeeds in showing what life was life as a revolutionary, and how--for the majority of the time--it wasn't as glamorous as people think. What these men did was hard, and the film is a testament to them as well as their leader, Che.

Benicio Del Toro stated that controversy always comes with people "who have truly lived." I have always been inspired by Che, not just on his politics, but his loyalty to his beliefs as well. He never compromised his beliefs for anyone, leaving a position of leadership in Cuba in order to bring what he saw as freedom to Latin America. Che unapologetically "truly lived." He lived to bring prosperity to people who were suffering around the world. There is no question why he is loved and looked at as a hero by many around the world. But as Del Toro stated, controversy always comes with people "who have truly lived."

Bruce on The Daily Show

2009-03-20T09:47:00.003-07:00

http://www.hulu.com/watch/63572/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart-thu-mar-19-2009

I imagine I would act similarly to that of Jon Stewart.

Female Directors: The Ghosts of Cinema?

2009-02-23T21:59:00.000-08:00

Finding well-known female directors is a very difficult task. I consider myself to be somewhat of a film-buff, yet I was unable to think of more than two or three female directors off the top of my head. The two that did stick out to me, I’m ashamed to say, did not stick out just because of their work, but people tied to their work. The first would be Sophia Coppola, the daughter of Francis Ford Coppola, has made only a few films, yet all of them have been unique and stylish. The other director is Nora Ephron. The only reason I know of her is because my girlfriend is a big fan of Sleepless in Seattle (1993). While these directors may not be the most well known names (or at least their first names aren’t) their work has certainly given cinema something you might call a “woman’s touch.”

Sophia Coppola is either known as three different things: Francis Ford Coppola’s daughter, the reason Godfather III (1990) was less than what was expected, or the director of such ground-breaking visual films as Lost in Translation (2003) and Marie Antoinette (2006). The fact that her last name is Coppola really is a shame as Sophia may never be able to get out of the enormous shadow that her father casts. Yet it is not for lack of trying. With Lost in Translation she became one of three women ever to be nominated for the Best Directing Oscar. Her style is of her own, each film having a dreamlike quality with its images and cinematography. The existentialism within Lost in Translation is unique and charming. Coppola explores themes as deep as the meaning of life, yet doesn’t dumb down the audience by trying to answer these questions. She let’s us ponder our own answers while we watch Scarlett johannsen drive around a beautiful downtown Tokyo at night, listening to the song “Sometimes” by My Bloody Valentine. There is no doubt that Coppola is talented.The question is would she where she is today if it weren’t for her father. We can only guess, but I’d assume the answer would be “no.” Then again there are several female directors in the world, it’s just that not all of them have their Dads as one of cinema’s most well-known, well-respected directors. Coppola’s father no doubt helped get her where she is today, but it is Coppola’s vision, and her vision alone that is on the screen, and we are lucky to have it.

Perhaps one of the best writers as well as directors of romantic-comedy films would be Nora Ephron. Ephron’s trademark however sets her romantic-comediesaside from others. They are often critiques on the differences between men and women. The prime example being Sleepless in Seattle. In the film the difference between men and women and each of their separate ideas on what love “should” be is examined and, of course, hilarity often ensues. Yet, not without Ephron’s biting satire. When being consoled about venturing into the world of dating again, Tom Hanks’ character “Sam” states that he could never let a woman pay for half of a date. His friend Jay, played by Rob Reiner replies “They’ll throw a parade in your honor.” Ephron’s depiction of the decay of the “perfect man” is done not in an insulting way, but one that makes us, or at least me, think twice about how we are seen to women. Why did we ever stop caring? Or, perhaps the question should be when did we ever stop caring. Perhaps this is the reason that few men will list Sleepless in Seattle as one of their favorite movies. The women of Ephron’s films demand respect not only in the work-place, but in the world of romance as well. Her criticism of the differencs between men and women continue in You’ve Got Mail (1998). In this film romance has gone digital, yet the themes are the same. Men are a bit different from women, but does that mean that they deserve any less respect? Of course not. What is original about this film is the way the man of the movie, again played by Hanks, is the owner of the big money-hungry book corporation “Fox Books” while Meg Ryan owns the sweet, honest, childrens’ book store names “The Store Around the Corner.” As most independent store owners are, Ryan's character genuinely cares about the people she is selling her products to, while Hanks works with only dollar signs in his eyes. But alas, men (or at least Tom Hanks) are not that shallow and Ephron knows it. Ephron’s satirical writing is always sharp, witty, yet warm and comforting. They say good artists listen, and Nora Ephron has had a close ear to us all.

Female directors are few and far between in Hollywood. However, as long as there are directors like Sophia Coppola and Nora Ephron, a path will be paved for things to change. Hopefully permanently.

My Favorite Movies of 2008

2009-02-18T12:42:00.000-08:00

Note that these are not in any order. Each of these films have their own merits that need to be dealt with separately. Overall a good year for movies. However, the runaway four for me this year were Slumdog Millionaire, Milk, WALL-E and Revolutionary Road.

Burn After Reading

A hilarious follow-up to No Country for Old Men from the Coens. Both Brad Pitt and John Malkovich turn in hilarious performances making this one of the best comedies of 2008.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

A bit of a different type of Woody Allen film, yet his presence is still (quite obviously at times) there. Penelope Cruz also is gives her best performance to date. A study on the complexities of love in two different settings--Spain and The US--Vicky Cristina Barcelona is a very sophisticated and entertaining piece of filmmaking.

The Visitor

The movie from nowhere. What a beautiful film that covers so many issues. Immigration, loneliness, the power of music. Richard Jenkins gives a beautifully subdued performance finally earning him the recognition he deserves. Hopefully now he will get more leading roles like he should!

The Dark Knight

The best comic book adaptation ever made. Period. The film ends up being more of a psychological crime-drama in the vein of Heat than anything else. Heath Ledger was nothing short of breath-taking. We will all miss him dearly.

The Wrestler

Darren Aronofsky gets personal...and it's a success. Perhaps one of the most human and realistic stories of the year. The film is only improved upon with Mickey Rourke's portrayal of a broken-down man, who goes down a road of loss that only celluloid has the ability to capture.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

A beautiful study of aging and all that goes along with it, including death, love, and loss. This movie will be remembered for years to come, not only for it's innovative use of technology, but for it's deeply potent story as well.

WALL-E

Perhaps one of the most socially important family-oriented films ever made. The film's strong point lies in it's writing, in which it's critique on contemporary society is beautifully woven into one of the sweetest love stories of the decade.

Revolutionary Road

A sharply written, painful, yet altogether beautiful commentary on the complexities of marriage. The simplicity of the story is what makes this film so powerful. Sam Mendes lets the camera quietly capture both Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet's best performances to date. A film that sticks with you for days after you leave the theatre.

Milk

Released in the wake of the passage of Proposition 8, Milk is one of the boldest, and most important films to be made in years. Sean Penn plays Harvey Milk with such ease that he disappears into the character. Strong acting across the board makes this the best acted film of the year. A extremely devastating drama about the power one person can have to change the world around him.

Slumdog Millionaire

The stand-up-and-cheer movie of the year. My favorite film of the year. See my last post to read what I really think about this one.

Have yet to see: Frost/Nixon or Waltz with Bashir...both of which seem pretty promising

The Difference Between Best and Favorite: Slumdog Millionaire

2009-01-25T10:28:00.000-08:00

Never before have I been so emotionally affected by a film.

By the end of this heart-warming, fresh, under-dog fantasy tale I wanted nothing more than to get back in line, purchase another ticket, and experience it again. And I indeed would have, had I not had to work an hour after the film got out.

I spoke to my girlfriend on the phone shortly after ranting and raving about the film.

"But was it better than 'Benjamin Button'?" she asked.

My reply went along the lines of something like this. That I didn't even think of the film as better or worse. I simply loved it and was filled to the brim with joy for having seen it. I told her that it may be my favorite film I have ever seen.

I've always loved to make that kind of distinction. the difference between your favorite film and what you think is the best film. For instance I would love to watch "Slumdog Millionaire" over and over again because of how it affected me and how it made me feel. "The Godfather", which indeed is one of my favorites as well as what I consider one of the best films ever made, could not stand up to this test. It's simply too exhausting. I have seen "The Godfather" countless times and know just about every word to the three hour long epic. However the reasons I would watch "The Godfather" are a bit different than what I would watch "Slumdog Millionaire" for. I would watch "Slumdog Millionaire" simply to make me happy.

Now this does not mean that "Slumdog" is not a technical masterpiece. In my eyes it is. The bright, beautiful cinematography is matched with hip, frenetic editing. The shots are all from exciting, interesting angles, that never cease to make this film a wonder to look at. And the music. My God the music pulses with life that keeps you entranced with everything that is going on in the screen.

All of this fantastic technical work would all go to waste if the film had lost grip on the one thing that gives it its heart.

Its story.

The story is a fantasy tale with a romance wrapped in that gave me a yearning feeling in my heart throughout its entire duration. The actors embrace who they are with such heart that to not be able to feel for them is almost impossible. The story, to put it simply, made me look at everything with more love and more empathy. This film made me want to get out of my seat and cheer on a number of occasions.

One reviewer hit the nail on the head when he called the film a "buoyant hymn to life". Never have I heard a reviewer perfectly describe the movie in such few words. However to understand what these four words mean you must see this film.

You must see this film!

"Slumdog Millionaire" deserves every award that it is nominated for. But if it doesn't win, I won't mind. The film has already done it's job to me and so many other viewers. I couldn't see anyone asking for more.

Top 10 albums of 2008

2008-12-11T10:23:00.000-08:00

These are my favorite releases of 2008

10)Sun Kil Moon- April

A slow burner of an album. Once you get into it however, Kozeleks lyrics stick straight to the heart. The guitar playing is some of the most soothing at times, as well as technical at times. Excellent effort from Mark Kozelek and crew.

9) No Age- Nouns

A reverb heavy rocker of an album. I can see where the sonic youth comparisons come from, yet dont be fooled, this group definitely has a style of their own. The slower moments are just as good as the loud ones from these new Sub Pop boys.

8)M83- Saturdays=Youth

One of the first albums that can convey what it means, and feels like to be a teenager. A new direction for m83, as this is their poppiest, most accessible album to date, but it is an undeniable classic none the less.

7)Vampire Weekend- Vampire Weekend

Perhaps the freshest sound of the year, Vampire Weekend's debut is one of the most repeatable records of the year. Lighthearted, fun, and bouncy, this band from Columbia seems to have a unique style that, hopefully, will stick around

6)Sigur Ros- Með Suð Í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust

Not only is it one of the best releases of the year, but it has the best album art of the year as well. The cover perfectly matches the new tone brought forth from the boys from Iceland. A carefree, hopeful record is a breath of fresh air from their usual dark, omnious sound.Yet dont be weary, it is still some of the most hypnotizing music released today.

5)The Walkmen- You & Me

An excellent rock album. The wails, the reverb, the pulsing drums. This record lets you know what it's like to be at a Walkmen concert. Also "In The New Year" is one of the best singles of the year.

4)The Hold Steady- Stay Positive

More serious than anything Finn and co. have ever done before, Stay Positive doesn't really stay true to it's name, yet no one can be upset about it. Finn's writing is on point here probably more than ever as he deals with themes such as murder, fate, faith, and love.

3)Beach House- Devotion

Listening to this cd could make anyone feel like they are dreaming. I'd never heard of this group and got the cd on a whim, however I was very glad that I did. The album is soothing from start to finish, and the bands sound is unique and delightful.

2)Fleet Foxes- Fleet Foxes

Give the Shins a southern twang and add a little My Morning Jacket and you get Fleet Foxes. The writing on this album is impeccable, as are the tones. This album is earthy, and I only mean that in the best possible way. A record that surely benefits from repeat listens.

1)TV on the Radio- Dear Science,

Far and away the best album of the year as well as one of my favorite release from these boys from Brooklyn, and that's saying a lot. It's their most accessible, yet it's never poppy. The lyrics are more down to earth and real. Oh yeah, the music is addictive as the world's hardest drug. Warning, once you pop this cd in your cd player, you will not eject it for a long while.

Working On A Dream

2008-11-17T10:27:00.000-08:00

Why do we love the artists that we love?

How can a piece of music change a persons life so dramatically?

I'm a big Bruce Springsteen fan. Actually, the word fan is an understatement. I am what one would call an obsessive fanatic. I own all of his albums, have seen him live, and salvitate over every bootleg that I can get my grubby hands on.

Sure I can get annoying. After last year's Magic came out Lia, my girlfriend, had to threaten a seperation in order for me to listen to anything else.

I'm just kidding. It never got that bad. But almost...

But I'm not the only one who suffers from this kind of debacle. I've heard of people creating shrines in their homes to artists such as John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix, and The Doors. One of the parents of one of the kids I give swim team lessons to still wears all of the Fleetwood Mac t-shirts shes bought from every single concert she's ever seen. And I've never seen her wear the same one twice.

Now I cant explain why these people love who they love. But I might be able to give some insight on maybe why The Boss means so much to me.

It's people.

His words are about people that all of us can see. The old man at the bar wondering if and when his wife will come home (You're Missing). The young kid watching his older brother go off to war--something he doesnt yet, and may not ever understand (Born in the U.S.A.). The guy who lost all of his hopes and dreams racing the car he built with his best friend (Racing in the Streets). People coming together for a cause they believe in (The Rising). Lastly--the one who we all can relate to--someone who just wants to get out of the town that he's grown up in (Born to Run, 4th of July Asbury Park (Sandy), Growing Up, etc).

His words--his--honesty give people something to relate to, something to believe in. When Bruce Springsteen endorsed President-Elect Barack Obama it came as no shock to us E-Street fans. It seemed like the perfect combination. Here we have a singer who has always represented the common-man, as well as the youthfulness of america; and we have a politician who works hard for the average working American, the one living paycheck to paycheck.

Last night during the Redskins Cowboys football game, Bruce Springsteen premiered his single "Workin' on a Dream" off of his upcoming new album. While campaigning for Barack Obama he would always say the same thing before playing an acoustic version of the song--"This one goes out to Senator Obama"

Out here the nights are long, the days are lonely
I think of you and I'm working on a dream
I'm working on a dream

Now the cards I've drawn's a rough hand, darling
I straighten the back and I'm working on a dream
I'm working on a dream

I'm working on a dream
Though sometimes it feels so far away
I'm working on a dream
And I know it will be mine someday

Rain pourin' down, I swing my hammer
My hands are rough from working on a dream
I'm working on a dream

I'm working on a dream
Though trouble can feel like it's here to stay
I'm working on a dream
Well our love will chase trouble away

I'm working on a dream
Though it can feel so far away
I'm working on a dream
Our love will make it real someday

The sun rise up, I climb the ladder
The new day breaks and I'm working on a dream
I'm working on a dream

I'm working on a dream
Though it can feel so far away
I'm working on a dream
Our love will make it real someday
I'm working on a dream
Though it can feel so far away
I'm working on a dream
And our love will make it real someday

What dream is he talking about in this song? In context it's about a man creating a family. However Bruce has never meant for his lyrics to be read on the surface level. This song could be seen as a vintage Springsteen song. America, the youngest country in the world, obviously has it's problems. It has it's kinks that are years and years away from being solved. However we are getting there. If the american people can rally behind Barack Obama, we can all get to work on the American Dream. A place where everyone--no matter your race, creed, sexual orientation, no matter anything--can come together, raise a family and live.

That is why I love Bruce Springsteen, he, as well as his songs, represent an America that is not only willing to admit it's faults, but work to change them selflessly for the betterment of all of it's citizens.

Wall-E a little film with a lot to say

2008-11-15T19:27:00.000-08:00

Wall-E was perhaps the most important film of the summer that will probably not be seen as much as it derves to. The one and a half hour long computer-animated "kids" movie said more about people in that small time frame than most films put together. Now films are obviously up to interpretation and everyone has their own opinion. However, I have decided to compile a list of the themes that I thought Wall-E decided to bring to light.

1. We Are Relying Too Much on Technology To Make Our Lives Not Only Easier, But Better

The whole idea behind the advancement of technology is to help make humankind smarter. By this I mean in doing things such as helping us to cure diseases, to make art more accessible to a broader audience, to, in theory, improve life on Earth. The problem is that e have become spoiled by technology. The days of kids playing stickball or setting up soccer goals in their backyards have been replaced by kids playing Guitar Hero or just vegging out on the couch Tivo'ing reruns of Hannah Montanna. Now I'm not saying there is anything wrong with Guitar Hero or Tivo. They are great fun. The problem here is that people have become to dependent on these things and have lost sight of the simple joys of going for a run outside, or playing catch with your father. We must find a way for these things to co-exist or as Wall-E warned...we are destined to grow into blobs that can hardly even stand up, let alone walk. Which brings me to my next point.

2. Everything We Need To Be Happy Is Already Inside Us

Yes. I'm going to get sappy here. Love. Friendship. That whole thing. But it's true. Not only has our technology seperated us from the outdoors, but it has seperated us from each other as well. What's the entire idea behind the telephone? It's a device that let's us talk to people with out even having to see them. And caller-id allows us to choose who we dont want to talk to. Have we become a society who is scared of each other? Have we become so self involved that we are beginning to not even need each other at all? Wall-E was lonely for hundreds and hundreds of years. Then one day he found his purpose. Eve.

3. We Only Have One Planet.

Sure this theme has been explored before (An Inconvienient Truth) but never in such a unique way as in Wall-E. In a not too distant future Wall-E is the one robot left in a world that has been so covered in waste that the inhabitants have just left instead of trying to clean it up. They left the place they had called home for as long as time existed. The past two themes are directly tied to this one. The whole film is about what can happen when human emotion is replaced with one thing: apathy. Are we doomed to destroy not only our way of living, but the place we live as well?

Wall-E is a fantastic film. It is coming out on dvd on Tuesday. I would buy it but I have no money.

Peace
-David