Well, I'll give it an A for effort and a D for execution. By effort, I mean I think it tries to create a Southern Gothic feel and to pass along a Christian, conservative message (and any movie that features an anti-abortion blues number sung by Samuel L. Jackson can't be all bad!). But a D for execution, cuz Flannery O'Connor it ain't. She had herself a real pair, for one, and this movie just doesn't. It chickens out in its Christianity, watering it down with p.c. amateur psychobabble and let's-talk-about-how-we-feel therapy (i mean, literally, therapy - one of the final scenes could have come straight out of Dr. Melfi's office), and no amount of religious symbolism can redeem that. Also, the whole white-guy-really-into-blues-music-because-it's-just-so-damn-real thing can get pretty patronizing and annoying sometimes (see Zeppelin, Led). Plus, it way overdoes the whole Christina-Ricci-writhing-sluttily-on-the-floor-thing (almost as much as I'm currently overdoing the whole connecting-all-my-words-with-dashes thing) and basically ends up glamorizing what it set out to condemn (though, let's be honest, that's a flaw I could live with...). Oh, and Justin Timberlake is in it for some reason.
But, it is Hollywood after all, and if there has to be exploitation and huggery alongside the salvation, well, it's better than the morality they usually give us - that is to say, better than nothing.
And, yes, the music is great. They have Ricci sing this, I leave you with another version:
Showing posts with label Music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Music. Show all posts
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Junebug
First off, my belated wishes for a very happy Thanksgiving! Besides everything and everyone I'm always thankful for, I just wanted to give a special shout out to AMC's Thanksgiving Day Hitchcock marathon - add Shadow of a Doubt and Rear Window to the Cowboys game, and I was able to stay almost sane cooped up in a hotel room last week.
I'm very behind on the news and my reading, but looks like the wonderful folks on the ol' blogroll have everything taken care of.
What prompts my return is that I watched Junebug for the second time last night, loved it even more, and wanted to spread the word. Besides being a wonderful movie, it's another example of a deeply conservative movie going right over liberal critics' heads. Yet, unlike Apatow's movies, the morality isn't couched in vulgarity, it's right out in the open, and still some reviewers just don't get it.
Exhibit A. The heart of the movie is Amy Adams' hyper-vivacious Ashley, who the critic says "talks because to be silent would be to confront her life's emptiness." B.S. The refined British visitor is clearly the empty one - Ashley is full of life, love, and God. But the critic, unsurprisingly identifying with Embeth Davidtz' sophisticated Madeleine, just doesn't get it. A key moment occurs when Ashley goes into labor and the entire family stays by her side at the hospital. The entire family, that is, except for Madeleine - she goes off instead to work on a business deal. The filmmakers are anything but subtle about this; some touching scenes at the hospital show us the importance of family, while some ridiculous scenes with her client illustrate the absurdity of Madeleine's career. Yet what does the Boston Globe critic write about this almost too obvious parallel? "At a certain critical juncture, George's family turns against this outsider artiste for reasons we're supposed to share, but such is Davidtz's deep-dish joy in her role that you're likely to stay on her side." Reasons we're supposed to share - you know, weird reasons, like love and family over business. Sheesh.
Anyway, ranting aside, the movie is definitely worth a look. And yes, Amy Adams is everything radiant and wonderful and just plain good.
here's the trailer:
and here's the opening song, light and fun:
I'm very behind on the news and my reading, but looks like the wonderful folks on the ol' blogroll have everything taken care of.
What prompts my return is that I watched Junebug for the second time last night, loved it even more, and wanted to spread the word. Besides being a wonderful movie, it's another example of a deeply conservative movie going right over liberal critics' heads. Yet, unlike Apatow's movies, the morality isn't couched in vulgarity, it's right out in the open, and still some reviewers just don't get it.
Exhibit A. The heart of the movie is Amy Adams' hyper-vivacious Ashley, who the critic says "talks because to be silent would be to confront her life's emptiness." B.S. The refined British visitor is clearly the empty one - Ashley is full of life, love, and God. But the critic, unsurprisingly identifying with Embeth Davidtz' sophisticated Madeleine, just doesn't get it. A key moment occurs when Ashley goes into labor and the entire family stays by her side at the hospital. The entire family, that is, except for Madeleine - she goes off instead to work on a business deal. The filmmakers are anything but subtle about this; some touching scenes at the hospital show us the importance of family, while some ridiculous scenes with her client illustrate the absurdity of Madeleine's career. Yet what does the Boston Globe critic write about this almost too obvious parallel? "At a certain critical juncture, George's family turns against this outsider artiste for reasons we're supposed to share, but such is Davidtz's deep-dish joy in her role that you're likely to stay on her side." Reasons we're supposed to share - you know, weird reasons, like love and family over business. Sheesh.
Anyway, ranting aside, the movie is definitely worth a look. And yes, Amy Adams is everything radiant and wonderful and just plain good.
here's the trailer:
and here's the opening song, light and fun:
Monday, November 12, 2007
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Winona Ryder and Marisa Tomei making out
Sorry for the light blogging, I've been super-busy at work the past few days.
As for the title of the post, I cannot, alas, deliver. It was just my way of expressing my excitement over what I consider to be the blogosphere equivalent, namely Kathy Shaidle's recent habit of linking to Rachel Lucas (here and here). If Althouse starts linking to the two of them, well, I'll be in my bunk.
A comment on the Derbyshire post Kathy links to: absolutely I agree with the pretty/sexy dynamic, but if you watch The Great Lie and tell me Bette Davis isn't the goshdarned prettiest thing this side of Pollyanna, then you're worse than Hitler.
As for the horror movie list, how on earth can they claim that Tremors is the fifth best conservative horror movie of all time? It is, in point of fact, the absolute greatest movie of all time.
I would also like to disagree with the "liberals are 'vampire' people, conservatives are 'Frankenstein' people" remark, but I won't, because to do so would reveal far more about the Buffyverse than I would ever publicly admit to knowing...
On to the 80's music list. Sorry, Kathy, but "Wanted Dead or Alive" blows. "Eye of the Tiger," on the other hand, certainly is up there, but the greatest 80s song ever is, hands down, "Holding Out for a Hero."
Well, that's it for now. Work should be lighter this week, so don't go away for too long!
Okay, okay, a little Marisa to close with, I can't help myself:
As for the title of the post, I cannot, alas, deliver. It was just my way of expressing my excitement over what I consider to be the blogosphere equivalent, namely Kathy Shaidle's recent habit of linking to Rachel Lucas (here and here). If Althouse starts linking to the two of them, well, I'll be in my bunk.
A comment on the Derbyshire post Kathy links to: absolutely I agree with the pretty/sexy dynamic, but if you watch The Great Lie and tell me Bette Davis isn't the goshdarned prettiest thing this side of Pollyanna, then you're worse than Hitler.
As for the horror movie list, how on earth can they claim that Tremors is the fifth best conservative horror movie of all time? It is, in point of fact, the absolute greatest movie of all time.
I would also like to disagree with the "liberals are 'vampire' people, conservatives are 'Frankenstein' people" remark, but I won't, because to do so would reveal far more about the Buffyverse than I would ever publicly admit to knowing...
On to the 80's music list. Sorry, Kathy, but "Wanted Dead or Alive" blows. "Eye of the Tiger," on the other hand, certainly is up there, but the greatest 80s song ever is, hands down, "Holding Out for a Hero."
Well, that's it for now. Work should be lighter this week, so don't go away for too long!
Okay, okay, a little Marisa to close with, I can't help myself:
Friday, October 19, 2007
King Harvest is on his way
This is silly, but, hey, I'll take whatever chance I can get to post a video of my favorite band:
I like Neil Young, too, so let's put 'em together:
I like Neil Young, too, so let's put 'em together:
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
More MoxVox
Like I said, great show, check it out. In the show I just heard, they were talking about Nicole Richie's decision not to abort her baby even though she's a (quite literal) pinhead. I'm as pro-life as they come, but even I will admit to feeling very uneasy about someone as unhealthy as Richie having children. But, don't despair, I've figured out the solution: she should have the baby, and then eat it.
Moxie then blew my mind by talking about Matthew Good. Man, I haven't heard that name in ages. Good times. I'm not a fan myself, but I remember this video was huge when I was a kid. We all used to hang out in the junior room after the Saturday morning tennis clinic to watch the MuchMusic Countdown, and this is what we saw:
Like I said, not a fan, but nostalgia will do wonders. A Canadian band that I liked a bit more that never broke through in the States is The Tragically Hip. This is my favorite (oops, favourite) of theirs:
And I'll admit to a bit of a Sarah McLachlan fixation back in the day:
Ooh, ooh, (it's all coming back to me now), don't forget Our Lady Peace. They were HUGE:
Meanwhile, the ones who did make it big were Celine, Nelly, and Avril. Yuck.
Well, to end this post on a high note, I hope we can all agree to love Shania!
UPDATE: OMG, I almost forgot... Robin Sparkles! Wait for the Mulroney cameo!
Moxie then blew my mind by talking about Matthew Good. Man, I haven't heard that name in ages. Good times. I'm not a fan myself, but I remember this video was huge when I was a kid. We all used to hang out in the junior room after the Saturday morning tennis clinic to watch the MuchMusic Countdown, and this is what we saw:
Like I said, not a fan, but nostalgia will do wonders. A Canadian band that I liked a bit more that never broke through in the States is The Tragically Hip. This is my favorite (oops, favourite) of theirs:
And I'll admit to a bit of a Sarah McLachlan fixation back in the day:
Ooh, ooh, (it's all coming back to me now), don't forget Our Lady Peace. They were HUGE:
Meanwhile, the ones who did make it big were Celine, Nelly, and Avril. Yuck.
Well, to end this post on a high note, I hope we can all agree to love Shania!
UPDATE: OMG, I almost forgot... Robin Sparkles! Wait for the Mulroney cameo!
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Creepy
(I posted this in the comments over at Rain in the Doorway, but thought I should put it up here, too.)
I came across this video (no embed, sorry) some time ago because I love old Russian songs, and it really creeped me out. Still does. Note how the spotlight isn't used to highlight anyone on the stage, but pans back and forth across the audience instead! Reminds me of when my dad was finishing up med school in Budapest right after the war, and said the Soviets took over classes to lecture on communism and videotaped the audience to make sure everyone was paying attention (my dad wasn't, he and the guy next to him were whispering the whole time, and he found out they were being videotaped since they were called in to get a talking to from the authorities and shown the tape of themselves!)
I came across this video (no embed, sorry) some time ago because I love old Russian songs, and it really creeped me out. Still does. Note how the spotlight isn't used to highlight anyone on the stage, but pans back and forth across the audience instead! Reminds me of when my dad was finishing up med school in Budapest right after the war, and said the Soviets took over classes to lecture on communism and videotaped the audience to make sure everyone was paying attention (my dad wasn't, he and the guy next to him were whispering the whole time, and he found out they were being videotaped since they were called in to get a talking to from the authorities and shown the tape of themselves!)
Friday, July 20, 2007
Great Links
Over at Rachel Lucas. The IMAO Condensed one is especially good.
As for the water in Darfur one, I just got back from a big Harry and the Potters concert in Harvard Yard (warm up act: Draco and the Malfoys, with the very memorable lyrics "My dad is rich, your dad is dead"). No, I'm not a Harry Potter fan, haven't read them, maybe I will one day, just had to be there on account of some friends. Anyway, the MC for the concert tells the audience, made up largely of wildly screaming young children, "Harry uses the power of love to fight evil, and we can, too! [crowd screams] We're our very own Dumbledore's Army [crowd screams], and we're gonna use all our love - to save Darfur! [crowd screams] Yeah!" I just thought that was a weird intrusion, considering the kids probably haven't a clue what he was talking about. And what is the deal with saving the world through rock concerts, anyway? Oh well, at least he didn't say "to bring our soldiers home"!
As for the water in Darfur one, I just got back from a big Harry and the Potters concert in Harvard Yard (warm up act: Draco and the Malfoys, with the very memorable lyrics "My dad is rich, your dad is dead"). No, I'm not a Harry Potter fan, haven't read them, maybe I will one day, just had to be there on account of some friends. Anyway, the MC for the concert tells the audience, made up largely of wildly screaming young children, "Harry uses the power of love to fight evil, and we can, too! [crowd screams] We're our very own Dumbledore's Army [crowd screams], and we're gonna use all our love - to save Darfur! [crowd screams] Yeah!" I just thought that was a weird intrusion, considering the kids probably haven't a clue what he was talking about. And what is the deal with saving the world through rock concerts, anyway? Oh well, at least he didn't say "to bring our soldiers home"!
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Friday, June 29, 2007
Be My Baby
Just trying out the youtube embed function, figured I would use this video, as I have watched it maybe twenty times today. I'm chaperoning a high school dance tomorrow, it's going to be full of awful modern teenage music (kids these days and their rock and roll!), so I'm seeking refuge in the great teenage music of yore!
Sunday, June 3, 2007
Squirrel on Fire, and other links
Sucked into the Althouse vortex, an old comment points me to this story (starts at 19:50). Hilarious.
Speaking of the vortex, how can you not love this post?
And as long as we're getting emotional, a friend sent me a link to this video about a four-fingered pianist. In his words, "heartrending and amazing." Her skill, to me, is even besides the point; I was most touched by her mother's love and the refusal to consider adoption. Anyway, maybe I'll get to go see her in concert when I move to Seoul.
Speaking of the vortex, how can you not love this post?
And as long as we're getting emotional, a friend sent me a link to this video about a four-fingered pianist. In his words, "heartrending and amazing." Her skill, to me, is even besides the point; I was most touched by her mother's love and the refusal to consider adoption. Anyway, maybe I'll get to go see her in concert when I move to Seoul.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Move over, Relapsed Catholic
Okay, okay, Relapsed Catholic is still my favorite blog. But Small Dead Animals just may have stolen my heart by linking mockery of Stephane Dion to what may very well be the greatest song of all time. Kate, Bonnie, I love you all.
Monday, May 14, 2007
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