A Movie Review: The East

The East. Sarah (Brit Marling) works for a private intelligence firm. An anarchist terrorist group is targeting CEOs of corporations that are destroying the environment, putting out defective products, etc.  Sarah is sent in to infiltrate the group.  This group seems like more of a nuisance than anything else.  At the beginning of the movie, you see them going into the house of a major oil company's CEO.  They pour oil through the air vents, filling the house up.  Admittedly, a more vicious group than the Los Angeles Bling Ring that targeted movie stars, but not a group that might target someone for bodily harm.

As soon as Sarah finds her way in, the group takes a turn for the worse.  They get themselves into a house party, hosted by the executive of a pharmaceutical corporation.  This corporation has an antibiotic that has some very negative consequences for a small percentage of the population.  They pour the antibiotic into the champagne glasses.  One of the executives later suffers the side effects of this antibiotic.

Sarah finds herself drawn into the beliefs of the group, but can't condone the actions of the group.

In some ways, this is perhaps an anarchist's wet dream type of movie.  A few years back, I remember reading about how SUVs were being vandalized at a dealership.  This movie takes it so much further.  The acting is low-key, but you feel the fervor that the characters have towards their cause.  In some ways, you sympathize with their cause, but like Sarah you wish they'd go about it in a different manner.

This is definitely a movie that is worth your time.

A Movie Review: Eyes Wide Shut

Eyes Wide Shut.  Secret sex clubs for the 0.1% -- the 1% need not apply?  Dr. William Harford (Tom Cruise) is an upper middle class doctor -- maybe he's even part of the 1% -- who just happens to have patients in the 0.1%.  He is invited to a holiday party by one of his patients, an individual in the 0.1%.  He brings his wife, Alice Harford (Nicole Kidman).  Dr. Harford runs into an old medical classmate who dropped out of med school to become a full-time musician and is playing in the house band.

What Dr. Harford thought was a perfect marriage is revealed to have a few cracks in it soon after the party ends.  Via his former classmate, he sneaks his way into a secret sex club.  It is a hyper sexual environment that he finds fascinating, but once he is discovered he learns that his actions result in unintended consequences.

This movie is slow and prodding, but also brilliant.  What one thinks would be many a man's sexual fantasy turns into a disaster.  The tonal soundtrack drives the viewer into the growing tension that surrounds Dr. Harford.

Now I saw this movie recently, but this was my second time watching it.  My first time was around the time it came out.  I don't recall if I saw it in the theater or at home on my DVD/VHS.  There are a number of scenes where you see Tom Cruise paying with $100 bills.  I remember those scenes really standing out for me.  Even now, some 15 years later and the inflation that comes during that period, those scenes still cause me to think, "Who carries that much money around with them?"  I guess the 1% do.

Babes playing Chinatown

Babes. This band has great fan interaction. They brought a couple folks on stage to help them out with two songs. The keyboardist went into the crowd. They shot off poppers. They had beach balls ready to go.

This is a band to keep an eye on.

Meiko playing Chinatown

Meiko. I've been aware of Meiko for awhile, but I finally was able to catch her at Chinatown Summer Nights. What an experience.

Her fans were out in mass.  After the set, a long line formed of folks wanting to meet her.

French Style Furs at The Satellite

French Style Furs. This band plays one last set at The Satellite on Monday (tomorrow, 6/23/2014). You've got to see them. They'll inspire.

Afternoons at The Satellite

Afternoons. Awesome operatic rock.

Nacosta at Silverlake Lounge

Nacosta.  You'll find your feet moving.

Tone in Georgia at Silverlake Lounge

Tone in Georgia. Hyper-active desert folk music.

P.S.  They're from the Antelope Valley, a location I am very familiar with even though I haven't been there in years.

The Kids in Detention (solo act) playing Silverlake Lounge

The Kids in Detention. This was a solo act by one of the members of The Kids in Detention.  A quiet, retrospective set.

Until the Ribbon Breaks at The Bootleg

Until the Ribbon Breaks.  They hit the drums, the synths.  Occasionally a trumpet pops up.  A thirty minute journey of staring up at the stars.

Side note:  I think the lead singers of Until the Ribbon Breaks and NO should get together.  I swear their hand movements transfer so much meaning.

Misun at Bootleg Theater

Misun. Okay, so why was my first through while watching their set:  Fitz and the Tantrums?  Lead singer Misun Wojcik is a ball of energy.

Jhameel at The Satellite

Jhameel. One couple came all the way from Arizona to catch the set.  Also, a number of fans had his trademark black slash across the cheek.  I think that speaks to the devotion of his fans.

DWNTWN at The Satellite

DWNTWN. Their tunes are so amazingly catchy. What can one do but be enthralled.