A Movie Review: The Dilemma

The Dilemma. Another movie I saw while on an airplane. The caveat associated with this review is that I was watching on a small screen and probably missed 20% of the dialogue.

Ronny Valentine (Vince Vaughn) catches his best friend’s wife, Geneva (Winona Ryder), in the act of cheating. His dilemma is rather or not to tell his best friend Nick Brannen (Kevin James) about his wife.

I have to say that this movie wasn’t that bad. I wouldn’t put it up there as a great movie, but I would say it is a movie to watch. One has to come to this movie with the understanding that it has a dark side to it. The honest truth is that I think the dilemma has two sides to it. There is a dilemma for Ronny, but there is also a dilemma regarding who really is to blame when marriages/relationships fall apart.

Races, Californian and Black Flamingo at The Satellite

It was off to The Satellite to catch Races, Californian and Black Flamingo.

So I got there just in time to catch Races. I saw them a few weeks back at Silver Lake Jubilee. What was memorable this time around was seeing one of their friends show up about midway through their set. She had the biggest smile throughout. It just added a wonderful touch and actually got me more into their music.

Californian was up next.  They're the residency band for June.  (Next week, I'm hoping to head over to Bootleg to catch another residency band.)  At this point in time, my friend showed up from catching a Dodgers game.  This was her favorite band of the night (she caught just a bit of Races and Black Flamingo.)

Comment of the night (Californian):  I didn't want you to have it anyways, you're an asshole.  (Playful banter.)

To end the night, I stayed for a trio of Black Flamingo songs.  This is also a band that I saw at Silver Lake Jubilee.  I would have stayed for the full set if it wasn't for the fact that midnight was behind me and work was in front of me.  My friend called them ethereal angels.  That sounds good to me.

Races









Californian







Black Flamingo

Sarine Djabrayan and Goharik Grigoryan: recital

It was off to see my friend Sarine Djabrayan along with Goharik Grigoryan in concert/recital. This was the first recital I've been to in years. It was an evening of arias from Italian, French and Armenian operas. I know my friend has spent significant amount of time improving her vocal skills. A fun night.

A Movie Review: The Tourist

The Tourist A movie I saw while on an airplane. The caveat associated with this review is that I was watching on a small screen and probably missed 20% of the dialogue.

We have agents watching Elise Clifton-Ward (Angelina Jolie). We learn soon enough that these agents are tracking her in hopes that she leads them to her lover – an individual who stole billions from mobsters. She is tipped off by her lover to meet him in Venice and to attach herself to a random male who has similar characteristics as him. This happens to be Frank Tupelo (Johnny Depp).

This isn’t some action packed movie and you have to know that going in. It is a movie that takes its time with the story. Did it deserve a Golden Globe nomination? No. The twist at the end is totally crazy. Angelina and Johnny seem not to be totally into the movie – of course, it could just be how they decided to act it out as they keep this laissez-faire attitude throughout the movie. Is it worth watching? If you’re on a plane, yes. Not great, not horrid.

Wet & Reckless and Duniven at Silverlake Lounge

It was off to Silverlake Lounge to catch Wet and Reckless and Duniven. This was my first time out at a Los Angeles music venue in perhaps three weeks.  Yes, I went to Silver Lake Jubilee, but that is a street festival.  In between, I was on vacation.  So this being the first time in awhile, it was cool to catch a band I enjoy seeing, Wet and Reckless, as well as catching a band that I'm not familiar with, Duniven.  In regards to Duniven:  They had an extra band member along for the night.  She's in one of the below photos, person on the left.  This is the third band I've seen her in.  I feel like an unintentional stalker.        


Wet and Reckless












Duniven

Robert Kelly and Peachy Keene at Hotel Cafe

It was off to Hotel Cafe to see Peachy Keene and Robert Kelly.  A friend recommended checking out Robert Kelly.  I decided to show up a little early so that I could catch a couple sets.  Peachy Keene was up, a country-inspired rock band (per their website).  When first seeing the lead singer/guitarist, this description might catch you off guard as she does have the look that would fit in with a punk band.  But country-rock, it is.  (Noticed:  lead singer/guitarist dealing with some technical difficulties.  It didn't subtract from their set, but instead made it memorable.)  Robert Kelly closed out the night as my friends arrived right on time.  He hails from Nashville, TN.  He gave us an energized set filled with smiles and laughter.

Peachy Keene









Robert Kelly

Ranking the Winter/Spring 2011 Films (that I saw)

This winter/spring, I was a bit more selective with my movies versus last year. Last year I saw 16 movies. This year I saw eleven. How do I see this year ranking with last year? Last year we had Alice in Wonderland, Ghost Writer, Kiss-Ass and The Runaways to mention a few.  I loved those movies.  This year I found a handful of movies that I liked, but I don't think Limitless, The Adjustment Bureau and The Company Men rank with the 2010 movies mentioned.  I did; however, have high regard for Lincoln Lawyer and wish it had done better at the box office.

Cream of the Crop

Lincoln Lawyer


Good


Limitless
The Adjustment Bureau
The Company Men

Okay

Fast Five
Hanna
Battle: Los Angeles
Sucker Punch
Paul
The Green Hornet

Skip

Just Go With It

Joe Gil at Hotel Cafe

It was off to Hotel Cafe to see Joe Gil. A couple friends of mine were doing back-up for Joe Gil.  This was also the first time I was trying out a new lens, a 50mm f1.4.  The below photos aren't awesome, but they're better than my first attempt at taking photos at Hotel Cafe with my new camera.  I still say the lights are way too low to capture decent photos at Hotel Cafe.  Of course, I'm an amateur at all this.  I'm sure there are some professional photographers out there who are laughing at my opinion.  Anyways, there was one song by Joe Gil that reminded me of The Swell Season -- so high praise for his set.

Another side note, this night represented the 5th night of music in 7 days.  Crazy.  It was unintended.  Generally, I try to limit my music outings to a couple times a week.  

Gentlemen Prefer Blood and The Bloody Brains at the Blue Star

Another birthday party arrived and this time it was off to the Blue Star where Gentlemen Prefer Blood and The Bloody Brains were playing.  As I walked in, Gentlemen Prefer Blood was getting ready for their set.  I couldn't recall the band name, but I knew I'd seen these guys before and had enjoyed their set.  Well, the lead singer introduced themselves and then it hit me, I saw them previously at Mr. T's.  They gave us a solid set.  The Bloody Brains came up next.  This was their night and they gave us about a 45 minute set.    


Gentlemen Prefer Blood







The Bloody Brains

The Mots Nouveax, Sean Kangataran and Persephones Bees at Bootleg Bar

It was off to the Bootleg Bar last week to catch The Mots Nouveax, Sean Kangataran and Persephones Bees.

I was there mainly to see The Mots Nouveax though I did catch the back end of Sean Kangataran and the front end of Persephones Bees.

The Mots Nouveax are really putting things together.  There are a couple songs are their set list that truly inspire you to wonder. 

Enjoy some of the below photos from the night.

Persephones Bees



Sean Kangataran



The Mots Nouveax

He's My Brother, She's My Sister and Sweaters at The Satellite

With Los Angeles dealing with some May drizzles, it was off to The Satellite to catch He's My Brother, She's My Sister and Sweaters.

Sweaters started the night off for me with some energizing music.  They had the quote of the night when the lead singer from He's My Brother, She's My Sister jumped on stage to join in on a song:  We'd like to thank Jules Verne.

And then He's My Brother, She's My Sister went on stage.  I'd seen the band name on various venue schedules, but just never made it out to see them.  Well, they played a packed house at The Satellite.  The band includes a tap dancer and two siblings along with a couple others.  They also had a guest appearance from Harper Simon.  As per request, some of their fans dressed as if they were going to a costume ball.  A night to remember.

Sweaters





He's My Brother, She's My Sister

Tamaryn and The Ravonettes @ Troubadour

I took off to the Troubadour to catch Tamaryn and The Ravonettes.  This is obviously a little dated, but see below some photos from this awesome show.  I saw Tamaryn about a year and a half ago when she did a show over at the Bootleg.  That night was an interesting set filled with smoke machines and a dedicated fan base.  For this night, the smoke machines were gone, but that didn't lessen the impact of her music -- a set that hooked me in from the start.  The Ravonettes went with the smoke machine theme and played in front of a packed Troubadour.

Interesting side:  After The Ravonettes set, a young lady jumped up on stage to try and grab a set list that was taped to the floor.  She was quickly chased off.  The set list was than handed to someone else who was waiting in front of the stage.  As I was walking out, I happened to follow the young lady who got chased off the stage:  I'm a real dunce.

Other interesting moments:  I ran into Queen Kwong at the door.  Cool experience.  Than as I was walking to my car, some random guy called out to me and mentioned he'd seen me at the Romper Room for a Barb Wire Dolls show.  Interesting that someone would remember me from a show that happened a few months back. 

Tamaryn







Ravonettes

Mad Planet, The Shakers and The Mulhollands @ Satellite

It was off to Satellite to catch The Shakers, The Mulhollands and Mad Planet.  I only caught a couple songs from Mad Planet.  For some reason I just couldn't get out of the house soon enough.  As can be seen from the photos, they can put on a great show.  The Shakers were the middle band, rocking us through a set.  The Mulhollands ended the night, leaving us on a MEGA-phone high.

The current progress with the new camera:  learning that red light is a killer when not using flash.

Mad Planet







The Shakers













The Mulhollands