No spoilers, just a few impressions that survived a night’s sleep.
+ I liked it. It’s a light, playful, but sophisticated crime caper. It feels like it was written and directed by a hipster with a fine arts degree re-wrote Ocean’s Eleven after watching too many Wes Anderson and Coen Brothers flicks. Hmmm.
+ Best line of dialogue in a long time: “That’s my new favorite camel.” There are others.
+ Bang Bang was my favorite character and I hope she wasn’t paid by the word.
+ In keeping with the slight of hand theme present throughout the film, there are lots of little things to notice in the peripheries – some clever, some cute, many meaningless – but all interesting enough to keep you engaged. Why do they have digital cameras, but not cell phones? Why are they all dressed like they’re in a White Stripes video? What the hell kind of booze bottles are those?
+ I normally don’t care for Adrien Brody, but he’s very good with Mark Ruffalo. Rachel Weisz is great and clearly had fun trying to play an American.
+ Literature majors will have a time with this one. Tons of references to dead Russian authors and fruity British lit peppered among aloof exchanges.
+ It looks like writer/director Rian Johnson was having some fun paying tribute to what I can only think are some sources of inspiration. Playing card affectations among the characters reminds you of The Sting. Cat Stevens playing over a halcyon romp through a field recalls Hal Ashby. And there was a pretty good attempt at a pose from the album art for “The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan” (with Bob Dylan’s, “Tonight I’ll be staying here with you” playing over top. sheesh.)
+ I thought for sure it was narrated by Paul Giammati, but turns out it was Ricky Jay, a man you don’t often see outside a David Mamet cast listing. The plot of Rian Johnson’s inspiration plot thickens.
Pretty good movie, but in the end, it made me want to go home and watch Rushmore and The Big Lebowski.
I know “I’m Yours” is not a new song, but I just saw the clip below tonight. I’ve heard the song all over the place for some time, but I’ve never actually heard Jason Mraz speak. Now I can’t sleep because I have one of my famous sarcasm ice cream headaches.
Songs like this serve a purpose. Hollywood needs them to play during the credits of Kate Hudson and Sandra Bullock movies. Guys need to learn how to play them so they can get laid on camping trips. And the singers themselves need them so they don’t need to resort to male prostitution to buy Bed Head hair gel and wool toques to wear in southern California.
But these vapid male singer-songwriter types shouldn’t talk. They shouldn’t open their mouths and let words like this come out:
“I know I close my eyes sometimes when I sing. That doesn’t mean I’m shutting you guys out. It just means I’m going to someplace in my imagination for a while. “
Shit, I’ll bet even Stevie Wonder would want to clock him after hearing that. But he continues:
“As soon as we can get some technology to broadcast what that image is in my head, we will. Don’t worry. We’re working on that.”
Cool. I’m down As long as the thing they invent right before that is a douchebag detector/disposal unit.
Watch the clip and decide for yourself. Oh, and Jack Johnson can get fucked too.
Joel Plaskett put on a clinic in rocking asses off at the Wild Horse Saloon in Calgary last night. It was great show, especially since it wasn’t even supposed to happen. Plaskett was a last minute fill-in at the downtown Stampede bar tent after Technotronic cancelled late last week.
I can’t really blame Technotronic. You see, here in Calgary we’re in the middle of Stampede. a western celebration of over-sized livestock. Many Calgarians try to duck and cover during this rodeo week, myself included, lest ye be made sick by free pancake breakfasts and overpriced Kokanee ($7.75/can, WTF?!). But this show was a welcome change from the regular cow molestation and ripoffery that happens at the main Stampede grounds.
Here some highlights
+ Plaskett was a good sport. Drunk cowboy wannabes and oil executive douchebags are not his usual audience, but he seemed to take the cowboy hats and tacky rodeo shirts in stride.
+ He did not participate. There were no cowboy hats, boots or any other western accoutrements on stage. Other artists might have donned the duds, but not the good ones.
+ Plaskett was joined by the Emergency, the electric outfit that backed him on his first few albums. They covered a lot of the same material that Plaskett brought to town a month ago during a more sedate acoustic tour (which was also awesome) for his latest album, 3. It was great to hear a lot of those songs played loud and fast.
+ Though completely predictable, the set list was a perfect tour of Plaskett’s discography. “True Patriot Love” and “Nowhere With You” remain perennial crowd favourites, while new tracks like “Through and Through and Through” are on their way.
+ Mid show, someone tossed him a cowboy hat. He tried it on for sec and quickly tossed it away like it was made of bat turd.
+ Ending the show with “Fashionable People” injected a dose of irony that I don’t think most of the cowboy hats and bolo ties got.
Low lights
+ Alternating between beer and vodkar tonics was not a good idea. This morning I felt like I was bitten by a vampire.
+ “Sailor’s Eyes”. It’s a song off his latest album and I don’t like it.
+ Country western hip hop dance party. Once the show ended, the country music started and instead of going home like smart music fans, we hung out and pretended like we were listening to Tribe Called Quest.
+ Face planting while attempting a freeze during an ill-planned breakdance throw down. I don’t know whether to blame the beer or the vodkar But it’s like I say. if you don’t wake up with some sort of mystery pain, you’re doing something wrong.
Here’s a Joel Plaskett video for a great song off his latest album:
Just got Joel Plaskett tix for surprise Stampede show. surprise to me anyway. anyway, w00t! #
@Rebelle1 I’m gonna need a review of the new Loose Canon bar on Argyle. Sounds like it has a nautical theme, which is pretty fresh. in reply to Rebelle1#
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