Tuesday, August 5, 2014
Monday, August 4, 2014
Top Rock at the Roosevelt Hotel
Top Rock. Looking for some Rock of Ages entertainment? Well, head on off to Palm Springs to catch Top Rock. I got to catch a preview of their show at the Roosevelt Hotel.
Saturday, August 2, 2014
A Movie Review: Boyhood
Boyhood. The movie starts out with five year-old Mason (Ellar Coltrane) staring up at the Texan clouds. He’s waiting for his mom (Patricia Arquette), who is talking to his teacher. Mason is apparently a bright kid, but just unfocused. He lives with his mom and sister, Samantha (Lorelei Linklater), who is a couple years older than him. His parents are divorced (it sounded like for over a year) and his dad (Ethan Hawke) is currently working in Alaska. The family moves to Houston soon after this scene. The dad also returns from Alaska and relocates to Houston, as well.
From here, the movie takes us on a 12+ year journey over the course of around 2 hours and 45 minutes. And no, new actors and actresses do not replace Ellar Coltrane and Lorelei Linklater. This movie, directed by Richard Linklater, was filmed over the course of 12 years. Maybe you should read that again: filmed over the course of 12 years. Over this time frame, we get to see these characters develop and grow in fascinating directions.
Though the movie is called Boyhood, it really feels that at the beginning this movie should be renamed Family. For much of the early going, the more interesting characters are Mom and Dad. Mom and Dad got divorced largely due to the fact that Dad was too immature and young to handle a life with two children. In search of someone with a more disciplined life, Mom gets involved with two individuals who definitely know a thing or two about discipline. First, she marries and divorces a college professor named Bill Welbrock (Marco Perella); and later, for a time has (I believe as I didn’t see a wedding ring) a live-in boyfriend, Jim (Brad Hawkins), who served in the military. Unfortunately for her and her children, both are alcoholics. Mom also grows up with a desire to achieve, but ends up as someone who has a nice paycheck, but has become house poor . . . essentially ending up where she started, but just better educated. Dad meanwhile lives a musician’s life in Houston. While there, he slowly turns himself into the man that Mom probably would have wanted to marry: a man with discipline, a touch of the wild side, and definitely not a drunk. Dad also goes from a big time liberal who encourages his two children to put up Obama lawn signs to one who (dare I even say it) probably considered putting up Romney signs in the next presidential election – partially driven by the fact that his second marriage was to a woman that gave off the impression of being a conservative Christian.
During the middle of the movie, a title called Siblings is more appropriate. For much of the movie, until she leaves for college, Samantha is just as important in this movie as Mason. There is a real tender moment in the movie when Dad comes back from Alaska. He is in Mason’s room. Mason is showing him arrowheads and snake vertebrae that he has collected. Not wanting to be left out, Samantha comes into the room with some photos. The Dad tries the impossible, paying attention to both of his children. And though it is impossible, he does his best. Yes, Samantha is not the child who is ignored in favor of another. Neither parent has a favorite, they love both children equally.
In the beginning and middle of this movie, I call it Family and then Siblings, because in some ways I found Mason’s childhood life less interesting than the others in his immediate family. I’m not saying I didn’t like Ellar Coltrane’s acting as a child actor and a tween. I’m just saying I found myself connecting with Mason later in his life as he was in his high school years. He still had those early traits with him that you saw at the beginning of the movie where he was just a bit of a scatterbrain. But in other ways you saw his passion in life (photography) and that was thrilling.
This is a movie that grows on you. This isn’t a movie that digs deep into a brief period of time such as a movie like August: Osage County. You only get maybe twenty minutes worth of storyline per selected year in this family’s life. What this movie does do is give you the breathtaking landscape of an individual’s youth: the good, the bad, the banal.
Highlight: One of my favorite Los Angeles bands is Family of the Year. I believe the first time I saw this band was September, 2010. They were doing a residency at Silverlake Lounge. Their song ‘Hero’ is featured in the movie and I say it is placed perfectly. I couldn’t help but sing along as Mason was heading off to college to find himself in the state of Texas – and yeah, maybe I irritated my fellow movie goers as I sung along.
Guess: Dad (Ethan Hawke) has a moment with his teenage son where he discusses his only personal growth and how it related to Mason’s Mom. Was this a moment where Ethan Hawke was acknowledging his own personal short-comings in regards to his marriage to Uma Thurman?
Complaint: During a drive to Austin, Mason discusses Facebook with his girlfriend. Ah . . . isn’t Mason a photographer? Shouldn’t the discussion have revolved around Instagram, which I believe based on the timeline would have fit.
From here, the movie takes us on a 12+ year journey over the course of around 2 hours and 45 minutes. And no, new actors and actresses do not replace Ellar Coltrane and Lorelei Linklater. This movie, directed by Richard Linklater, was filmed over the course of 12 years. Maybe you should read that again: filmed over the course of 12 years. Over this time frame, we get to see these characters develop and grow in fascinating directions.
Though the movie is called Boyhood, it really feels that at the beginning this movie should be renamed Family. For much of the early going, the more interesting characters are Mom and Dad. Mom and Dad got divorced largely due to the fact that Dad was too immature and young to handle a life with two children. In search of someone with a more disciplined life, Mom gets involved with two individuals who definitely know a thing or two about discipline. First, she marries and divorces a college professor named Bill Welbrock (Marco Perella); and later, for a time has (I believe as I didn’t see a wedding ring) a live-in boyfriend, Jim (Brad Hawkins), who served in the military. Unfortunately for her and her children, both are alcoholics. Mom also grows up with a desire to achieve, but ends up as someone who has a nice paycheck, but has become house poor . . . essentially ending up where she started, but just better educated. Dad meanwhile lives a musician’s life in Houston. While there, he slowly turns himself into the man that Mom probably would have wanted to marry: a man with discipline, a touch of the wild side, and definitely not a drunk. Dad also goes from a big time liberal who encourages his two children to put up Obama lawn signs to one who (dare I even say it) probably considered putting up Romney signs in the next presidential election – partially driven by the fact that his second marriage was to a woman that gave off the impression of being a conservative Christian.
During the middle of the movie, a title called Siblings is more appropriate. For much of the movie, until she leaves for college, Samantha is just as important in this movie as Mason. There is a real tender moment in the movie when Dad comes back from Alaska. He is in Mason’s room. Mason is showing him arrowheads and snake vertebrae that he has collected. Not wanting to be left out, Samantha comes into the room with some photos. The Dad tries the impossible, paying attention to both of his children. And though it is impossible, he does his best. Yes, Samantha is not the child who is ignored in favor of another. Neither parent has a favorite, they love both children equally.
In the beginning and middle of this movie, I call it Family and then Siblings, because in some ways I found Mason’s childhood life less interesting than the others in his immediate family. I’m not saying I didn’t like Ellar Coltrane’s acting as a child actor and a tween. I’m just saying I found myself connecting with Mason later in his life as he was in his high school years. He still had those early traits with him that you saw at the beginning of the movie where he was just a bit of a scatterbrain. But in other ways you saw his passion in life (photography) and that was thrilling.
This is a movie that grows on you. This isn’t a movie that digs deep into a brief period of time such as a movie like August: Osage County. You only get maybe twenty minutes worth of storyline per selected year in this family’s life. What this movie does do is give you the breathtaking landscape of an individual’s youth: the good, the bad, the banal.
Highlight: One of my favorite Los Angeles bands is Family of the Year. I believe the first time I saw this band was September, 2010. They were doing a residency at Silverlake Lounge. Their song ‘Hero’ is featured in the movie and I say it is placed perfectly. I couldn’t help but sing along as Mason was heading off to college to find himself in the state of Texas – and yeah, maybe I irritated my fellow movie goers as I sung along.
Guess: Dad (Ethan Hawke) has a moment with his teenage son where he discusses his only personal growth and how it related to Mason’s Mom. Was this a moment where Ethan Hawke was acknowledging his own personal short-comings in regards to his marriage to Uma Thurman?
Complaint: During a drive to Austin, Mason discusses Facebook with his girlfriend. Ah . . . isn’t Mason a photographer? Shouldn’t the discussion have revolved around Instagram, which I believe based on the timeline would have fit.
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
A Movie Review: Pain & Gain
Pain & Gain. Daniel Lugo (Mark Wahlberg) is a professional body trainer. He has hopes of making it big in life, but a professional trainer doesn't make much in life. He decides to rob a wealthy client of his: Victor Kershaw (Tony Shalhoub). He convinces two other body builders to join his cause: Paul Doyle (Dwayne Johnson) and Adrian Dooral (Anthony Mackie). He also gets his boss involved, John Mese (Rob Corddry) and his girlfriend/stripper, Sorina Luminita (Bar Paly).
This is a movie based on a real life story: highly condensed and re-written from what I read. From what I understand, there were more than just 5 individuals involved in this criminal action. Of course, just like other movies that might condense characters (Zero Dark Thirty), I find this totally acceptable.
But what did I think about the movie? A mess. I hated how many of the characters had narrative moments. I understand perhaps the attempt to make a unique action movie, but it just failed for me.
I will say there was good character development: Daniel wanting success, Paul aspiring for a religious life (though still a cocaine addict who likes to steal money), and Adrian wanting a typical home life.
This is a movie based on a real life story: highly condensed and re-written from what I read. From what I understand, there were more than just 5 individuals involved in this criminal action. Of course, just like other movies that might condense characters (Zero Dark Thirty), I find this totally acceptable.
But what did I think about the movie? A mess. I hated how many of the characters had narrative moments. I understand perhaps the attempt to make a unique action movie, but it just failed for me.
I will say there was good character development: Daniel wanting success, Paul aspiring for a religious life (though still a cocaine addict who likes to steal money), and Adrian wanting a typical home life.
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
A Movie Review. Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa
Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa. Irving Zisman (Johnny Knoxville) is taking his grandson, Billy (Jackson Nicoll), on a roadtrip. Billy's mother has to serve time in jail so Irving is taking Billy to his father.
Okay, that's the movie plot that highlights the antics of Johnny Knoxville. Though I wouldn't consider this a great movie, there are enough comedy skits that make this a well-worth movie to watch. At times, I was in tears. I just wonder which parts of the movie were filmed with unknown individuals versus paid actors/actresses. For example, there is a cute scene where Billy is playing finger wrestling with a young woman. I noticed on IMDB that she is an actress. The end credit scenes provide some clues on which ones were done in front of unknowing individuals, but I'd really like to know about all the skits. The scene I'd really like to know about is when Irving calls in a couple moving guys to help move a bed, but instead he asks them to move the dead body of his wife.
Also, I'd love to see the outtakes. I wonder how many folks made the effort to call or wave down a cop. For example, Billy goes around in one city asking men if they'd be willing to be his father. I wonder if any of those guys attempted to call or wave down a cop and were stopped by the filming crew. It might actually be an interesting psychology experiment that I'm sure has been done already.
Okay, that's the movie plot that highlights the antics of Johnny Knoxville. Though I wouldn't consider this a great movie, there are enough comedy skits that make this a well-worth movie to watch. At times, I was in tears. I just wonder which parts of the movie were filmed with unknown individuals versus paid actors/actresses. For example, there is a cute scene where Billy is playing finger wrestling with a young woman. I noticed on IMDB that she is an actress. The end credit scenes provide some clues on which ones were done in front of unknowing individuals, but I'd really like to know about all the skits. The scene I'd really like to know about is when Irving calls in a couple moving guys to help move a bed, but instead he asks them to move the dead body of his wife.
Also, I'd love to see the outtakes. I wonder how many folks made the effort to call or wave down a cop. For example, Billy goes around in one city asking men if they'd be willing to be his father. I wonder if any of those guys attempted to call or wave down a cop and were stopped by the filming crew. It might actually be an interesting psychology experiment that I'm sure has been done already.
Monday, July 28, 2014
A Movie Review: The Impossible
The Impossible. This is a stunning story about a family of five that survived the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that killed 200,000. Maria (Naomi Watts) and Henry (Ewan McGregor) and their three sons were staying at an ocean side resort in Thailand. The tsunami pushed Maria and her son, Lucas, inland. Somehow the currents connected the two together. Henry climbed a tree near the resort and was able to locate their two other sons. The movie follows their story as they eventually re-unite.
The family was extremely lucky to say the least. In some ways, one might want to ask why a movie would be made about this family when so many other families were torn apart by this natural disaster (or none survive at all). On the other hand, showing that miracles happen even in the worst of disasters provides one with a sense that even when great tragedies hit one can still appreciate that one surviving flower.
Reading about the true story online, I realized that this story revolves around a Spanish family. I don't know why the movie didn't make this more obvious as I had the distinct feeling that this family was from Northern Europe.
Note: in many ways this is a gruesome movie to watch. Maria suffered severe injuries: a massive, deep gash in one of her legs and an ugly cut under one of her breasts. Who ever did the make-up on Naomi Watts has to be given props, because it made me ill to my stomach.
The family was extremely lucky to say the least. In some ways, one might want to ask why a movie would be made about this family when so many other families were torn apart by this natural disaster (or none survive at all). On the other hand, showing that miracles happen even in the worst of disasters provides one with a sense that even when great tragedies hit one can still appreciate that one surviving flower.
Reading about the true story online, I realized that this story revolves around a Spanish family. I don't know why the movie didn't make this more obvious as I had the distinct feeling that this family was from Northern Europe.
Note: in many ways this is a gruesome movie to watch. Maria suffered severe injuries: a massive, deep gash in one of her legs and an ugly cut under one of her breasts. Who ever did the make-up on Naomi Watts has to be given props, because it made me ill to my stomach.
Sunday, July 27, 2014
A Movie Review: Salmon Fishing in the Yemen
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen. Dr. Alfred Jones (Ewan McGregor) is approached via e-mail by Harriet (Emily Blunt) about introducing salmon to Yemen. One of her wealthy clients, Sheikh Muhammed (Amr Waked), wants to attempt this project. Alfred immediately laughs it off as he just doesn't see it as possible, but via outside events he is pressured into it.
This is a low key movie about attempting to do what is considered impossible. It is also about lost relationships (or relationships that really weren't meant to be) and finding new love.
This is a low key movie about attempting to do what is considered impossible. It is also about lost relationships (or relationships that really weren't meant to be) and finding new love.
Saturday, July 26, 2014
Friday, July 25, 2014
Irontom at Bootleg HiFi
Irontom. I believe this was my 2nd or 3rd time seeing this band. I was impressed the first time I saw them. I was amazed this time around.
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
A Movie Review: The Great Gatsby
The Great Gatsby. Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire) just moved to New York to work on Wall Street. He lives next to an isolated millionaire, Jay Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio). Jay takes an interest in Nick when he learns that Nick's cousin is Daisy Buchanan (Carey Mulligan). It so happened that Jay and Daisy were once lovers. The movie takes a look into the 0.01% of the 1920s.
I found this an enjoyable movie though I found Nick's wrath towards his cousin at the end of the movie wrong. I understand his anger towards his friend (and Daisy's husband), Tom Buchanan (Joel Edgerton). But to me Daisy felt she needed to honor her marriage versus following her heart, which I think is understandable.
Break out star: Elizabeth Debicki (Jordan Baker) who was just wonderful in a detached sort of way.
I found this an enjoyable movie though I found Nick's wrath towards his cousin at the end of the movie wrong. I understand his anger towards his friend (and Daisy's husband), Tom Buchanan (Joel Edgerton). But to me Daisy felt she needed to honor her marriage versus following her heart, which I think is understandable.
Break out star: Elizabeth Debicki (Jordan Baker) who was just wonderful in a detached sort of way.
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
A Movie Review: The Sea Hawk
Set just before the British defeat of the Spanish Armada, Geoffrey Thorpe (Errol Flynn) is a pirate with a tangential association with the British queen (Elizabeth). He attacks Spanish ships. The Spanish aren't too pleased and find a way to capture him. He escapes and warns the queen about the coming invasion.
I find it an enjoyable romp, but I do have that question of rather or not a woman would really fall for a man who attacked the vessel she was on -- especially considering it was a vessel on a diplomatic mission? Oh well, I doubt such a dynamic would be greeted very well in a contemporary film, but it is fine for something filmed in the 1940s.
I find it an enjoyable romp, but I do have that question of rather or not a woman would really fall for a man who attacked the vessel she was on -- especially considering it was a vessel on a diplomatic mission? Oh well, I doubt such a dynamic would be greeted very well in a contemporary film, but it is fine for something filmed in the 1940s.
Monday, July 21, 2014
Dead Sara at Pershing Square
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