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Got a couple nice little short films for you. First up is Who I Am and What I Want.

(dir. David Shrigley)

And Oscar nominated Animated Short, The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore.

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore from Moonbot Studios on Vimeo.

(dir. William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg)

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Flosstradamus has been doing it for me this week.

Luuk Out Gurl (dir. Grizz Lee Arts)

The video makes this song.

Zebra Katz ft. Njena Reddd Foxxx Ima Read

Song/Image 007

Very nicely done new Light Asylum video:

Skull Fuct (dir. Emilxa Xuryłowicz, Cezary Zacharewicz)


Now I'm in love with Alexis Krauss:

Sleigh Bells Comeback Kid (dir. Miller and Gregory Kohn)


And....The Cranberries are back together? Do I like this idea?

Tomorrow
New album Roses out on Feruary 28.

Must See Bands of SXSW 2012 - Charli XCX

Seven weeks to go...

Charli XCX

I previously made a brief reference to the fact that there will be a lot of electronic acts at SXSW this year. If I may be a little more specific; SXSW will be heavy on the chillwave and all of the sub genres that have have come after it. Not much can be said that hasn't already been said on the subject of chillwave.  It isn't exactly the most beloved of music genres and it hasn't exactly been my favorite.  Generally, I thought this past year was a pretty poor year for music and I feel that this particular genre is to blame for much of that. So much of it is just so banal and saccharine and desperately needs to be pushed to more extreme levels in order to be interesting. Most artists have failed to do this.  Some have succeeded. Charli XCX has succeeded with...well, one or two songs really. So yes, I'm basing all of my expectations on a couple songs, but even with this limited output she's been able to push the boundaries of this genre just far enough to make something pretty damn good.  Granted, technically this probably isn't even considered chillwave, but I don't think it would exist without the genre. It's got a dark-goth-pop edge to it that I enjoyed and I'm looking forward to seeing what else she has to offer.

Nuclear Seasons (dir. Ryan Andrews)

Chuck Norris: Icon

My brother and I had Sidekicks on VHS when we were kids and we watched it on a continuous loop. We rented Three Ninjas every time we had a chance. Of course, I'm very much aware that both of these movies borrowed most of what they had to offer from The Karate Kid (and did so rather poorly) and also that they were brought on by the popularity of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. They weren't great movies, but martial arts films aimed towards children were a big deal in the early to mid 90s. Our interest in martial arts was no exception. We even took karate classes for several years.

Chuck Norris, the star of Sidekicks, has been in the news a lot lately.  Well, a lot for him and the current state of his non-career anyways.  He has endorsed Newt Gingrich, because for some reason an endorsement from Chuck Norris means something in our current state of politics. Mr. Norris was also recently the supposed reason behind Expendables 2 shooting for a PG-13 rating. I couldn't care less about this movie or its rating as I didn't see the original film nor do I plan on seeing its sequel. I just find it interesting and maybe a little sad that this childhood icon (yes, really) of mine has become the representative of conservative Republican values for the state of Texas. I've known for many years now that Chuck Norris isn't a perfect man. I'm not sure at exactly what moment I came to this realization. I do know that it was sometime pre-Conan O'Brien Walker, Texas Ranger lever. It was similar to that moment when you realize that your parents aren't perfect. But. 

Come on Chuck, get your Jesus boner out of my eye.

5 Best Films Set in Texas

I feel the very best about my home state of Texas when it's represented favorably in film. Otherwise, I'm ambivalent. I feel that the following films represent a wide range of some of my favorite aspects of the state. Friday Night Lights (not the movie) would probably be #1 if it only met the technical requirements of the list. I miss that show so much.

5. Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada 2005 (dir. Tommy Lee Jones)

The border patrol issue, in my opinion is a major point of embarrassment not only for the state of Texas, but the entire U.S. This film is my favorite portrayal of the Texas side of the conflict.

4. No Country for Old Men 2007 (dir. Joel and Ethan Coen)

I just think that this is the best, most exciting story ever told in a film set in Texas.

3. Death Proof 2007 (dir. Quentin Tarantino) 

Of all the great Tarantino flourishes represented in this film perhaps my favorite section is the more carefree first half where the focus is on the group of girls just hanging out in a dive bar in Austin taking shots and drinking Shiner. That is a Texas I'm very much familiar with.

2. Tree of Life 2011 (dir. Terrence Malick)

I may not have grown up in the 50s, but that sense of nostalgia Malick created for growing up in a Texas neighborhood around other kids and spending summer evenings getting into trouble was extremely palpable for me.

1. Paris, Texas 1984 (dir. Wim Wenders)

As far as pure Texas cinematography there is nothing better than Paris, Texas - from the desert landscapes to the sparse highway system and the city skylines. I don't think it's coincidence that it took a German director coming in from the outside to take notice of Texas' unique landscape like no other directer ever has. 

5 Most Boring Boring White Dudes in Movies

These boring white dudes could have been created in a lab.  They may actually be the same person.  Who am I to decide? I just know they are served best shirtless in order to showcase their perfect nipples and are most appreciated by 17 year old girls. I realize that it's probably unfair to judge them in this way, especially considering that several of them I've never seen in a single film, but I'm willing to take that chance. How well do you know your dudebro actors?

Channing Tatum
Featured in such riveting cinema as Dear John and The Eagle.

Garrett Hedlund
Blowing shit up real good and shit in Eragon and TRON: Legacy.

Chace Crawford
Blowing minds to shreds in films such as The Haunting of Molly Hartley and What to Expect When You're Expecting.

Liam Hemsworth
Flexing his man rack in films such as Thor and Snow White and the Huntsman. Actually, wait. Huh? There are two of them? I'm confused.

Alex Pettyfer
Removed his shirt a grand total of 36 times in movies such as I Am Number Four and Beastly.

Must See Bands of SXSW 2012 - Teengirl Fantasy

The hotel room is officially booked and I'm ready.  Here is another must see band for 2012.

Teengirl Fantasy

I was a little late in my discovery of this band and just recently started listening. I'm pretty obsessed with Dancing in Slow Motion featuring Shannon Funchess of Light Asylum. SXSW, at least for me, is looking to be heavy on the electronic bands this year and I'm not complaining. 

Dancing in Slow Motion (dir. DJ Mark Brown)

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I would watch the shit out of this show:




The funniest thing I've seen all week:





And my current favoritethingofalltime!!!!!:



Perfume Genius Hood (dir. Winston Case)
New album Put Your Back N 2 It out on February 21.

Must See Bands of SXSW 2012 - Gauntlet Hair

Leading up to SXSW this year I will be highlighting some of the bands I am most excited to see and that you should most definitely check out yourself.

Gauntlet Hair

Artsy, avant-pop, psychedelic, experimental, reverb-heavy rock. Whatever you call it, it's kinda great. With their yelpy vocals and comparisons to Animal Collective, their debut self-titled album was another one of my favorites of 2011.  They will be at SXSW 2012 and I will be seeing them. 

Keep Time (dir. Bernardo Pantoja and Skyler Stevenson)


More bands to come...

Top 20 Anticipated Films of 2012, 5-1

5-1 are as follows:

5. Provizoriu (dir. Cristian Mungiu)

Christian Mungiu's 4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days stayed with me way longer than most films do and that's always a mark of something great. Set in a Romanian convent, this is the story of a 23 year old girl's love for a girl inmate.

4. Like Someone in Love (dir. Abbas Kiarostami)

I just recently watched Certified Copy so it's very fresh on my mind. It was my first Kiarostami film and I plan on catching up on older films from the director very soon. I'm looking forward to this one in particular because while I enjoyed much of what Certified Copy had to offer, for some reason I felt very much as if I were on the outside looking in.  I found that I had a hard time relating to that particular couple's story. I don't think that's any fault of the filmmaking. This film, on the other hand, features a younger lead and a story set in Japan.

3. Django Unchained (dir. Quentin Tarantino w/Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Kerry Washington, Leonardo DiCaprio, Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, etc., etc., etc.)

I don't think there is a more universally admired director right now than Quentin Tarantino and the story of a freed slave joining up with a German bounty hunter to track down his wife from her plantation owner sounds extremely promising.

2. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (dir. Peter Jackson w/Martin Freeman)

Nerd alert! I loved Lord of the Rings and I can't wait for this. That is all.  

1. The Master (dir. Paul Thomas Anderson w/Philip Seymour Hoffman, Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, Laura Dern)

Anderson is, after all, my favorite working director.  There Will Be Blood is a masterpiece. And this story that has strong ties to the founding of Scientology couldn't sound more interesting.

The Royal Tenenbaums

Before The Royal Tenenbaums came out in 2001, I was a freshman in college.  I had a lot of free time on my hands in between classes and I would spend much of it in the library where I would browse photography books and film magazines; most likely Film Comment.  The Royal Tenenbaums was one film in particular I remember reading about.  I would ogle the screen caps with their wonderful pink and brown color palette. I'm a little infamous for my dislike of the color brown, but when it's placed next to pink, it's another story entirely. I was particularly amazed by the cast of character shots from the opening title sequence. And any image of Margo with her fur coat and cropped blonde hair.  All of this before I'd even seen the film itself.  I had never seen or even heard of Wes Anderson at that point and I was pretty new to the idea of 'film as art'.  I looked up the trailer online and watched it over and over. I was still in a very small town at that point and had absolutely no exposure to that sort of film making.  Several months after the film had been released and it seemed like everyone else in the country had seen the movie except for me, I was surprised to discover that the college would be having a mini film festival (I think only 4 films were shown) at the local theater and The Royal Tenenbaums would be one of those films.  On opening night I coerced a friend into going that had no idea what I was making her see.  It didn't disappoint. Some of the images I had been prepared for, but what completely took me by surprise was the music.  I credit this film with introducing me to artists like Nico, The Velvet Underground, Nick Drake, and Elliott Smith.  Subsequently, I credit music like Nick Drake and Elliott Smith with encouraging my minor depression in the next couple years after I was finally able to move away to the 'big city'. Needless to say, when the trailer for Moonrise Kingdom was released all of these memories of my experience with this film came back to me.      

Top 20 Anticipated Films of 2012, 10-6

10-6 are as follows:

10. Only God Forgives (dir. Nicolas Winding Refn w/Ryan Gosling, Kristin Scott Thomas)

Like I said, kind of over Ryan Gosling for the moment, but I'm still all about Nicolas Winding Refn (Drive).  And considering Southeast Asia is my current dream travel location, pretty much anything set in any Asian country, I get really excited about.  This is a revenge story about a gangster living in Thailand where he runs a Thai boxing club as a front for his family's drug smuggling operation.  This one is supposed to be pret-ty crazy.

9. Laurence Anyways (dir. Xavier Dolan w/Nathalie Baye, Melvil Poupaud)

I sometimes feel that the style/substance ratio that I personally enjoy most in a film can sometimes lean a little too much towards style.  Based on this director's previous film Heartbeats, which I loved, Dolan may become a very good example of that for me.  Heartbeats was great and I even related to certain parts, but it was definitely heavy on style.  Screw it, I hope Laurence Anyways is just as indulgent.

8. Gravity (dir. Alfonso Cuaron w/Sandra Bullock, George Clooney)

This is the second sci-fi movie on this list. Weird.  I was just in awe of how Children of Men was filmed, Y Tu Mama Tambien is one of my favorite films of all time, and even Prisoner of Azkaban was the best of the Harry Potter movies.  This one is about two astronauts on an emergency return home after an exploding satellite accident. 

7. The Grandmasters (dir. Wong Kar-Wai w/Tony Leung, Song Hye-kyo, Chang Chen, Zhang Ziyi)

An action film (his first since Ashes of Time) from Wong Kar-Wai about Ip Man, the man who trained Bruce Lee.  What else do I need to say?

6. Untitled (dir. Terrence Malick w/Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams, Javier Bardem, Barry Pepper, Olga Kurylenko, Jessica Chastain, Rachel Weisz, Michael Sheen, Amanda Peet)

Who knows how certain that cast is, but if all of those actors make into the final cut - craziness.  You may have noticed that I didn't do a 'best of 2011' list because I've been more focused on looking forward, but if I had, Tree of Life would have been sitting somewhere around the three spot.

5-1 coming soon!

Quilt Young Gold Music Video and The Turin Horse Trailer

This is that band you keep hearing about on all of your favorite blogs, or maybe just that one music blog, but didn't really pay much attention to because there always seemed to be something just a little more interesting to read or listen to.  Anyways, here it is 2-3 months later and you finally decide to listen to this new video and, oh, it's actually pretty good.  You realize that it's one of those bands that make music that sounds so familiar some how, but there's no way you've ever heard it because, well, you ignored them for 2-3 months of their blog existence so there's definitely no way.  Quilt is that band.  This is Young Gold.





And Moonrise what? Wes who? The Turin Horse (dir. Bela Tarr)

Top 20 Anticipated Films of 2012, 15-11

15-11 are as follows:

15. Love (dir. Michael Haneke w/Isabelle Huppert)

One half of an older retired music teacher couple suffers a stroke, is paralyzed down one side, and their love is put to the test. Sounds pretty uncharacteristic of Haneke, but I'm looking forward to it based on the strength of previous films (of course) which are some of my favorites. Cache? Anyone? 

14. Stoker (dir. Park Chan-wook w/Mia Wasikowska, Matthew Goode, Nicole Kidman, Dermot Mulrony, Jackie Weaver)

I'll be honest.  I just recently saw Oldboy (and no, I still haven't seen the other two in the trilogy).  I don't know why.  It's not like me to not watch something that's so culturally and critically admired.  And Korean!  Needless to say I kinda loved it.  I saw Thirst when it came out, which is to say, before I saw Oldboy and loved it as well.  I just hope he's able to hold on to his Kooky Korean Kraziness for this film and it's not too Americanized.

13. Untitled Bin Laden film (dir. Kathryn Bigelow w/Joel Edgerton, Jessica Chastain, Edgar Ramirez)

Obviously, this is based on pretty much nothing more than the success of The Hurt Locker.  I had absolutely no interest in that film when it came out and I was basically forced to watch it.  And then I enjoyed it - a lot.

12. Moonrise Kingdom (dir. Wes Anderson w/Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, Frances MacDormand, Jason Schwartzman, Harvey Keitel)

I went through a phase with Anderson's last 2-3 films where I had almost lost all hope.  I just wouldn't allow myself to enjoy them.  I thought he was repeating himself too much.  I think I'm over that.  I've realized that it's just a near perfectly realized style that, honestly, works very well for him and as much as I try not to be, I'm always very much entertained by his films. 

11. Prometheus (dir. Ridley Scott w/Michael Fassbender, Noomi Rapace, Charlize Theron, Idris Elba, Guy Pearce)

Here's that big budget I promised.  Honestly, I think I'm just looking forward to this one because it looks real cool.  If it's anything like Alien and nothing like Gladiator, that couldn't hurt.

10-6 coming soon!

Advanced Style Trailer

Trailer for Advanced Style (dir. Lina Plioplyte), a documentary about stylish New York older ladies.  Summer 2012.

Top 20 Anticipated Films of 2012, 20-16

Before I even start, I'm going to warn you.  There is one glaring omission from this list.  Without even saying actual titles, I will say that Christopher Nolan is not my favorite director and I think he's highly overrated as an action director. With that out of the way, I must admit that there are some really great looking movies coming out this year and I think my list represents a wide range - everything from small budget indie/foreign films to even a few huge budget event movies.

Inside Llewyn Davis (dir. Coen Brothers), Cogan's Trade (dir. Andrew Dominik), Simon Killer (dir. Antonio Campos), Argo (dir. Ben Affleck), Cosmopolis (dir. David Cronenberg), The Great Gatsby (dir. Baz Luhrmann), and Kiss of the Damned (dir. Xan Cassavetes) were all on the cusp but didn't quite make my very special and important list.

20. The Wettest County (dir. John Hillcoat w/Tom Hardy, Shia LaBeouf, Jason Clarke, Jessica Chastain, Mia Wasikowska, Guy Pearce, Gary Oldman)

Most, if not all, of my choices were made based upon the director and their previous work.  This is a great example of that.  This pick is based mostly on The Proposition (and not quite as much on The Road).  It is the true story of brothers who run a bootlegging gang threatened by authorities who want a cut.

19. Under the Skin (dir. Jonathan Glazer w/Scarlett Johasson)

Again, I was really impressed with Sexy Beast and I may even prefer Birth which I think is really underrated.  This one sounds a little odd, but in a good way.  Johansson is an extraterrestrial sent to earth by a greedy alien corporation?

18. Something in the Air (dir. Olivier Assayas)

Paris in the 70s from the director of Carlos and Summer Hours. 

17. A Place Beyond the Pines (dir. Derek Cianfrance w/Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper, Ray Liotta, Eva Mendes, Rose Byrne, Ben Mendelsohn)

I'm a little conflicted about this one because, while Blue Valentine was probably my favorite film of 2010, I'm a little tired of having Ryan Gosling shoved in my face. And the synopsis of a motorcycle stunt driver committing a crime in order to provide for his wife and child doesn't sound particularly enthralling to me.  Other than that, I'm sure it will be great. 

  

16. A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence (dir. Roy Andersson)

I really enjoyed 2007s You, the Living.  Maybe a little more than I should have.  I just have really fond memories connected to watching that one, so I'm really looking forward this one which looks to be similar in tone. 

15-11 coming soon!