movieguyjon

Ten Things In 2010: Music Videos

Posted on December 21, 2010 by movieguyjon Blather Music Youtubes 4

There’s a picture in a family album somewhere of me as a diaper-clad youngster dancing around the TV whilst in cowboy boots. That’s probably the earliest memory I have of MTV. Growing up, music videos were always something I would turn to whenever I had the chance. These days I turn to the internet for my music video needs and I thought I would share my top ten with you.

HERE WE GO!

10. I Want The World To Stop from Belle & Sebastian on Vimeo.

Whether or not this is technically a music video is up for debate. Frankly, the song is good enough to where I don’t really care. It’s cut from a larger video which features at least two performances from Belle & Sebastian’s album Write About Love. I like seeing the visuals of the band playing and the song is way too distracting to do much in the way of nitpicking. This is just a great song!

9. She & Him In The Sun from rhivanz on Vimeo.

If you hadn’t heard, or were maybe just living under a rock, Zooey Deschanel is in a band. She sings and dances around while her cohort, M. Ward looks cool and plays his guitar. That’s essentially the plot to this music video and I’m quite fine with that. While the album itself has fallen some from my interest, this song remains a favorite and this video complements it nicely!

8. Warpaint “Undertow” from maudegone on Vimeo.

I never gave the new Warpaint album enough of a chance to give it a place in my top album list, but their music video for Undertow is top notch. Directed by Shannyn Sossamon, the video elicits a kind of whimsical dreamy state that’s fitting for the music. Definitely a favorite. Plan for 2011: Get acquainted with Warpaint!

7. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs from Merge Records on Vimeo.

A good video for a good song. Directed by Spike Jonze. I have a feeling you’ll like this one too.

6. Los Campesinos “Romance Is Boring” from Alanedit on Vimeo.

I’m not entirely sure if this is the “official” video for the song, but I’m going to assume it is and continue watching. You should too. It’s Los Campesinos!

5. The New Pornographers: Crash Years from Rockonlelkek Staff on Vimeo.

While this won’t go down as my favorite New Pornographers music video ever, it’s a nice complement to the Neko-fronted song and features a bunch of cool umbrella choreography! Don’t know about you, but I imagine that the entire band is down there twirling the umbrellas around. WAVE TO DAN BEJAR!!!

4. Broken Bells “The Ghost Inside” from Jacob Gentry on Vimeo.

What’s better than a Broken Bells music video? How about a Broken Bells music video featuring Christina Hendricks in a sci-fi setting, selling her body parts to make her way across the galaxy?

3. Gorillaz – Stylo from Mario Ucci on Vimeo.

This music video from Gorillaz is a rather striking departure in that it ditches the 2D animation from the band’s previous outings in favor of creepy-CGI. Bruce Willis joins the fun as an antagonist with a great car and a huge gun. The result is a really fun and engaging music video.

2. Vampire Weekend – Cousins (Official MV) by. Garth Jennings from JOOONAE LEE on Vimeo.

This is perhaps my favorite song off of Contra, and as such is my favorite music video thus far for this band. There’s a low-fi quality to the video that’s endearing and the editing is smart. I much prefer this video to “Giving Up The Gun,” which relied WAY too heavily on slow-mo and a slew of cameos.

1. Mates of State: True Love Will Find You In The End from Amplified on Vimeo.

I love love love Mates of State, which makes having their music video at the #1 spot on my music video list a bit of a given. The idea behind the video is fun and the husband and wife team can’t help but exude adorableness as they prance around the city projecting themselves onto other people, places and things.

Ten Things In 2010: Albums

Posted on December 20, 2010 by movieguyjon Blather Music My Life 0

This is it. The year is winding down. Everyone is declaring their most favorite things of the year and preparing their new year’s resolutions, knowing full well that they won’t keep them past January. I’ve had this blog for a few years and each year I’ve tried to do something along the lines of a best of or a list of some kind. This year I thought I would up the ante a bit and give you a couple days’ worth of posts about the top ten things I really really liked in 2010. Let’s start with the top ten albums of the year.

HERE WE GO!

10. Contra – Vampire Weekend

The sophomore effort to Vampire Weekend’s self-titled debut. Very peppy music set to great guitars. There were many a day spent singing along to “Cousins” or “Holiday.”

9. Imaginary Friends – Freezepop

I found Freezepop kind of by accident. I had played their game Amplify way back in college, but didn’t really pay them much mind. Fast forward to my time in Chicago. I was in a bit of a dark place and not in much of a music-enjoying mood. But at the behest of a co-worker, I went to The Subterranean to see his band open. They were special. Anyway, I stuck around after and decided to see what this headliner Freezepop was all about. I’ve been a fan ever since. Their newest album sees them with new bandmates and a mature sound. I quite like it.

8. The Suburbs – Arcade Fire

I’m sure a lot of people started liking Arcade Fire after hearing that one song of theirs on the Where The Wild Things Are trailer. I say this because I admittedly fall in that category. Their latest is perhaps my favorite entry in their discography and I like the theme they stick with in each of their songs.

7. Broken Bells – Broken Bells

I love The Shins. I’ve been jonesing for a new album from them for quite some time. Broken Bells came at just the right time and gave me the Mercer fix I needed. While it lacks much of what made The Shins so great, it’s a great direction for Mercer and his lyrics really fit the stylings of Danger Mouse.

6. Crushes (The Covers Mixtape) – Mates of State

A cover album made my top ten list. I generally wouldn’t consider an album of covers or even a mashup album (*cough*girl talk*cough*) but Mates of State bring such a love and warmth to these songs it’s hard not to find yourself at the end of the album before you get a chance to say “Hey I liked that!”

5. Romance is Boring – Los Campesinos!

Los Campesinos! deserve their place on my list for A) their awesome music stylings, B) their gloomy lyrics set to poppy music and C) the fact that they work so FUCKING hard at what they do. I barely had time to breathe with their last album and suddenly Romance is Boring hit. Granted, it could just be that I’m really not much for paying attention to music news, but having this album come out was like finding a $20 bill in a wallet you had packed away. SCORE! Missed out on seeing these guys this year, but I have hopes for the next.

4. Together – The New Pornographers

Wasn’t a huge fan of Challengers when it first came out, and then each song kind of found it’s place in my psyche, especially Myriad Harbour. When I heard that they were coming out with a new album, I got super excited. Let’s just say I wasn’t disappointed in the least by this latest outing. It’s a much more subdued and mature sound than Twin Cinema and the other albums before it, but it still has the energy of them and this time everything worked in perfect harmony.

3. The Five Ghosts – Stars

Stars was kind of an accidental find for me. NPR had a “First Listen” segment with them and I gave it a try just to see what all the jazz was about. I became quite hooked and instantly messaged my girlfriend about this GREAT NEW BAND I’VE DISCOVERED, only to find that she’d heard of them before and that this band was an off-shoot from Broken Social Scene. Let’s just say that my mind was blown. This album is great, and it’s a really focused effort on the band’s part.

2. I’m Having Fun Now – Jenny And Johnny

Jenny and Johnny are number two on my list, but they were number one a few weeks back. I’ve been undecided until recently and you can hear why when you sample the music below. This new effort from Jenny Lewis and Johnathan Rice is addictive. You finish listening to the album and you want more. The lyrics are strong and the music is memorable. It’s hard not to crush on either Jenny or Johnny after hearing this album. Still haven’t washed the hand that Johnny shook, either.

1. Write About Love – Belle & Sebastian

I’ve had a relationship with Belle & Sebastian for as long as I can remember, which is right around the early college years. Their new album is amazing and it was just good enough to usurp Jenny and Johnny for the number one spot for me. I wish I could just beam to you over this hear internets the way in which this album makes me feel. This is the album to define the year for me.

HONORABLE MENTION

There were a bunch of albums that vied for a spot on my top ten list, and these were the ones that deserve a shout out for being better than the rest. In no particular order:

Realism – The Magnetic Fields

Out Of Our Minds – Auf Der Maur

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World – Various Artists

Plastic Beach – Gorillaz

The Fakeout, The Tease and the Breather – Canasta

Junior – Kaki King

I Heart California – Admiral Radley

Diagnosis: Film–Weekend of Dec. 17

Posted on December 17, 2010 by movieguyjon Blather Film Trailers 4

TRON: Legacy comes out this week, as does Rabbit Hole and a couple other films I don’t really give a shit about. Kind of a small weekend for films, but that’s good considering it gives me a chance to catch up with the other films I’ve missed. How about you? What are you seeing this weekend? Are you actually going to go see the crap-fest that’s Yogi Bear? God, I hope not.

	How Do You Know Directed By: James L. Brooks Written By: James L. Brooks Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Paul Rudd and Owen Wilson Release Date: December 17, 2010 (2,483 screens) Synopsis: Feeling a bit past her prime at 27, former athlete Lisa Jorgenson finds herself in the middle of a love triangle, as a corporate guy in crisis competes with Lisa’s current, baseball-playing beau. Thoughts: A love triangle between Paul Rudd, Owen Wilson and Reese Witherspoon. Diagnosis: Yawn.
	Tron: Legacy Director: Joseph Kosinski Written By: Edward Kitsis, Adam Horowitz Starring: Jeff Bridges, Garrett Hedlund and Olivia Wilde Release Date: December 17, 2010 (3,451 screens) Synopsis: Sam Flynn, the tech-savvy 27-year-old son of Kevin Flynn, looks into his father’s disappearance and finds himself pulled into the same world of fierce programs and gladiatorial games where his father has been living for 20 years. Thoughts: Jeff Bridges and Daft Punk. Sure, there’s 3D but…JEFF BRIDGES! Diagnosis: Seeing it!!!
	Yogi Bear Director: Eric Brevig Written By: Jeffrey Ventimilia, Joshua Sternin Starring: Dan Aykroyd, Justin Timberlake and Anna Faris Release Date: December 17, 2010 (3,515 screens) Synopsis: A documentary filmmaker travels to Jellystone Park to shoot a project and soon crosses paths with Yogi Bear, his sidekick Boo-Boo, and Ranger Smith. Thoughts: Hey kids, do yourselves and your parents a favor and watch the original cartoons instead of this crap heap. More fun to be had there too, I’d wager. Diagnosis: 500% pass.
	Casino Jack Director: George Hickenlooper Written By: Norman Snider Starring: Kevin Spacey, Barry Pepper and Jon Lovitz Release Date: December 17, 2010 Synopsis: A hot shot Washington DC lobbyist and his protégé go down hard as their schemes to peddle influence lead to corruption and murder. Thoughts: Not my cup of tea, but it might be worth checking out if you like Kevin Spacey Diagnosis: Pass.
	Rabbit Hole Director: John Cameron Mitchell Written By: David Lindsay-Abaire Starring: Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhart and Dianne Wiest Release Date: December 17, 2010 (5 screens) Synopsis: Life for a happy couple is turned upside down after their young son dies in an accident. Based on a play by David Lindsay-Abaire. Thoughts: The trailer is a little oscar-baity, but it’s not offensively so and you can hear James Mercer croon in the background as people are really gloomy. I’m actually kind of curious to see this one. Diagnosis: Curious to see.

My Week In TV: Dec. 5-11

Posted on December 12, 2010 by movieguyjon Blather TV 0

I’ve still got to write up that wrap up for Terriers, so expect that soonish. In the meantime, here’s the scoop. Two shows ended their seasons this past week and one had a Christmas special. All were pretty good this week. Shame that Fringe will be gone for another six weeks. SERIOUSLY, FOX, what be the hell, yo?!

Fringe: S3 x 09 – Marionette ★★★★☆

A really good episode dealing primarily with Olivia’s return to the regular universe. She copes with the damages caused by Bolivia while trying to solve a mystery of organ theft. Yet another example of why you shouldn’t watch this show before or during a meal. The effects were pretty good and the creepy factor was raised to eleven. I mean, seriously, rebuilding someone just to have them dance around for you? Oy!

Community: S2 x 11 – Abed’s Uncontrollable Christmas ★★★★☆

Community is easily my favorite comedy show since Arrested Development. Lots of fun in each episode with just as much meta humor as one can stand. This time, the students of Greendale find themselves stuck in a winter wonderland via Abed’s altered reality. They play out his fantasy, which finds them galavanting about in humorous stop motion versions of themselves. Jeff is a jack in the box, Troy is a little drummer boy and Pierce is a teddy bear. While I’m not a huge fan of musical numbers, the ones in this episode are humorous and poke fun at holiday specials. Props to the Cave of Frozen Memories.

No Ordinary Family: S1 x 10 – No Ordinary Sidekick ★★★★☆

The sidekicks get the story in this episode as George gets credit for Jim’s rescue and Katie struggles with not getting the respect she needs from Stephanie. It’s a good episode with some nice character moments. Daphne starts to suspect Katie’s boyfriend and gets a rather shocking visit from him while the rest of the family is away. It’s nice to see that the Powells are finding out their weaknesses as the show progresses, and J.J.’s is particularly creative.

Boardwalk Empire: S1 x 12 – A Return to Normalcy ★★★☆☆

It’s election time in Atlantic City and truces are called. There’s some nice “mobster stuff” near the end of the episode and it’s nice to see Capone again after a few episode absence. Nucky and Margaret work through their issues and we get a really nice moment between the two in regards to their deceased children. Jimmy Darmody and Eli start plotting against Nucky and that’s pretty much where things end. A little on the underwhelming side in terms of finales, but considering the show has been great so far, it’s a small complaint.

The Walking Dead: S1 x 06 – TS-19 ★★★☆☆

The season finale to The Walking Dead was good, but a few things bothered me. The first thing that didn’t quite sit right was the CDC storyline. While it was nice to see everyone get a reprieve from the apocalypse, the reprieve didn’t feel earned from a thematic standpoint. Can’t really explain it better than that other to say that them getting to safety felt too easy, especially since going to the CDC in the first place was not very well planned out. The bits with patient TS-19 were really well-done, however, and are what drew me to this episode the most. All in all, The Walking Dead was a fun and engaging show set in a zombie apocalypse. I think the TV format suits this genre well.

Diagnosis: Film–Weekend of Dec. 10

Posted on December 10, 2010 by movieguyjon Blather Film Trailers 0

How did I miss that The Tempest was going to be a thing? Seriously. MovieguyFAIL. Anyway, what are you planning on seeing this weekend? We’ve got a nice little variety of movies this week, ranging from fantasy to oscar bait…I mean…sports dramas.

	The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader Directed By: Michael Apted Written By: Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely Starring: Ben Barnes, Skandar Keynes and Georgie Henley Release Date: December 10, 2010 (3,500 screens) Synopsis: Lucy and Edmund Pevensie return to Narnia with their cousin Eustace where they meet up with Prince Caspian for a trip across the sea aboard the royal ship The Dawn Treader. Along the way they encounter dragons, dwarves, merfolk, and a band of lost warriors before reaching the edge of the world. Thoughts: I’ve been meaning to catch up with this series as they seem to be getting better with each film that comes out. I was less than impressed with The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe but the trailers for Dawn Treader have rekindled my interest. Diagnosis: Curious to see.
	The Tourist Director: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck Written By: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck Starring: Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie and Paul Bettany Release Date: December 10, 2010 (2,600 screens) Synopsis: Revolves around Frank, an American tourist visiting Italy to mend a broken heart. Elise is an extraordinary woman who deliberately crosses his path. Thoughts: Oh look, it’s Johnny Depp and he’s not a pirate. I’m mildly intrigued, but will probably wait for this bad boy to hit netflix. Diagnosis: Netflixing it!
	And Everything is Going Fine Director: Steven Soderbergh Starring: Spalding Gray Release Date: December 10, 2010 (1 screen) Synopsis: From the first time he performed Swimming to Cambodia – the one-man account of his experience of making the 1984 film The Killing Fields – Spalding Gray made the art of the monologue his own. Drawing unstintingly on the most intimate aspects of his own life, his shows were vibrant, hilarious and moving. His death came tragically early, in 2004; this compilation of interview and performance footage nails his idiosyncratic and irreplaceable brilliance. Thoughts: This could be an interesting documentary, actually. Diagnosis: Curious.
	The Company Men Director: John Wells Written By: John Wells Starring: Ben Affleck, Chris Cooper and Tommy Lee Jones Release Date: December 10, 2010 Synopsis: The story centers on a year in the life of three men trying to survive a round of corporate downsizing at a major company – and how that affects them, their families, and their communities. Thoughts: cough OSCAR BAIT cough Diagnosis: Pass.
	The Fighter Director: David O. Russell Written By: Scott Silver & Paul Tamasy Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale and Amy Adams Release Date: December 10, 2010 (4 screens) Synopsis: A look at the early years of boxer “Irish” Micky Ward and his brother who helped train him before going pro in the mid 1980s. Thoughts: Not my kind of film, but an interesting trailer. Diagnosis: Pass.
	Hemingway’s Garden of Eden Director: John Irvin Written By: James Scott Linville Starring: Jack Huston, Mena Suvari and Richard E. Grant Release Date: December 10, 2010 (14 screens) Synopsis: A young American writer completes his service in WWI and travels across Europe with his wife and her attractive Italian girlfriend. Based on the novel by Ernest Hemingway. Thoughts: The trailer you’re about to see is full of Mena Suvari and that one guy from Boardwalk Empire. They dye their hair white and try to have a threesome. Can you tell I haven’t read the source material? Diagnosis: Curious.
	The Tempest Director: Julie Taymor Written By: Julie Taymor Starring: Helen Mirren, Felicity Jones and Djimon Hounsou Release Date: December 10, 2010 (5 screens) Synopsis: In Julie Taymor’s version of ‘The Tempest,’ the main character is now a woman named Prospera. Going back to the 16th or 17th century, women practicing the magical arts of alchemy were often convicted of witchcraft. In Taymor’s version, Prospera is usurped by her brother and sent off with her four-year daughter on a ship. She ends up on an island; it’s a tabula rasa: no society, so the mother figure becomes a father figure to Miranda. This leads to the power struggle and balance between Caliban and Prospera; a struggle not about brawn, but about intellect. Thoughts: What? This is a thing? How did I miss that this was a thing? I want to see this. Diagnosis: Want to see.

My Week In TV: Nov. 28-Dec. 4

Posted on December 4, 2010 by movieguyjon Blather TV 0

Fringe and Community came back this week, which made me very happy. Terriers ended it’s first season, which made me sad. No Ordinary Family once again rose to the challenge and Boardwalk Empire brought us a little of the old style. I’d say don’t take my word for it, but if you didn’t watch any of these shows this week you will probably have to. Let’s get into it, shall we?

Terriers: S1 x 13 – Hail Mary ★★★★☆

Terriers finished up it’s season with a solid episode. It didn’t have as much of the punch of the Tim Minear episode awhile back, but it saw it’s main arc through and wrapped up all the loose threads in a satisfying manner. I was reminded to some extent of the first season of Dexter. Both shows’ first seasons could stand on their own and didn’t feel incomplete should they be canceled. Hopefully Terriers sees the same fate of Dexter and gets many more seasons.

Fringe: S3 x 08 – Entrada ★★★★☆

And we’re back again with another episode of Fringe. It seems like a year in between each break this show takes. Seriously, FOX. You guys need to cut that shit out. I don’t think I can take much more time away from Olivia and company. This week saw a dual-universe episode, bouncing back and forth between the other world and ours. Even the opening credits reflected this. It’s nice to see the showrunners’ dedication to point of view and to structure. Kudos. One point of contention: Peter HAD to know that Bolivia was not who she claimed to be. If he were genuinely surprised by this turn of events, then what was the point of that flirtatious exchange earlier on in the season.

Writers…you have some ‘asplaining to do!

The Walking Dead: S1 x 05 – Wildfire ★★★★☆

There were a lot of good character moments in this episode, and we finally got to watch someone in this world succumb to the effects of zombification. A very bleak episode, but that’s really not saying a whole lot. The bit with the CDC worker at the end was a great touch and I hope that more of those moments can litter the next season when it eventually airs. Sure, the episode wasn’t without it’s flaws (I mean, really, no backup plan should the CDC not work?!), but it was still good despite it and worth watching. I’m quite interested to see where the last episode of the season takes us.

No Ordinary Family: S1 x 09 – No Ordinary Anniversary ★★★★☆

We get another villain-of-the-week this week and he shoots FIRE! But more importantly than that, Mr. and Mrs. Powell become a super-team. It’s here that we get a glimpse of things to come as the family starts to feel their calling to be heroic. Some of the fighting between Mrs. Powell and Fire Dude was kind of awkward, but they really nailed his creepiness-factor. Kudos on that. Another interesting bit involved Daphne attempting to read Will’s mind. I would be lying if I said that I didn’t scream “DON’T DO IT GIRL!!!” at the screen.

Boardwalk Empire: S1 x 11 – Paris Green ★★★☆☆

This episode should have been titled “Agent Van Alden Goes Bonkers and Kills A Guy!” There wasn’t a whole lot here apart from the scene shown above and a spat between Margaret and Nucky and Nucky and Eli. We find out that Jimmy’s father hasn’t been feeling all that great due to poisoning and that Jimmy’s home life has crumbled way beyond repair. Onward to the finale!

Community: S2 x 10 – Mixology Certification ★★★☆☆

Community seems to bounce back and forth between laugh out loud episodes and character development episodes this season, oftentimes finding a good balance. This episode couldn’t quite decide what it wanted to be and the result was a rather uneven episode. Troy shines through as the main character in this episode, but Annie pops in throughout with her rather abrupt identity-crisis. I think the episode could have been stronger if they had picked a character and stuck with them, but at the same time I still enjoyed what I saw. Jeff? Britta? Please to be getting it on now. Thx. Pierce? You are still wonderful.

Diagnosis: Film–Weekend of Dec. 3

Posted on December 3, 2010 by movieguyjon Blather Film Trailers 4

It looks like Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis will be in my near future with Black Swan. Probably could have seen it during the AFI Fest if I had REALLY concentrated hard enough, but I decided against it and saw a whole lot more throughout the festival. There are a few other films out this weekend that might be worth checking into, but I’m not sure if they’re “must-see” or even “must-see this week.”

*mimics Geoffrey Rush* Films. Damn.

	Warrior’s Way Directed By: Sngmoo Lee Written By: Sngmoo Lee Starring: Kate Bosworth, Danny Huston, Geoffrey Rush Release Date: December 3, 2010 (1,500 screens) Synopsis: A warrior-assassin is forced to hide in a small town in the American Badlands after refusing a mission. Thoughts: This is the type of film that will be so bad it’s good, be Netflix Party fodder and yadda-yadda Diagnosis: Definitely a rental!
	All Good Things Director: Andrew Jarecki Written By: Marcus Hinchey and Marc Smerling Starring: Ryan Gosling, Kirsten Dunst, Frank Langella Release Date: December 3, 2010 Synopsis: All Good Things is a love story and murder mystery based on the most notorious unsolved murder case in New York history. The original screenplay uses newly discovered facts, court records and speculation as the foundation for an imaginative spellbinding story of family, obsession, love and loss. Thoughts: Looks like an interesting enough film. Just not my cup of tea. I’d rather see Blue Valentine, instead. Diagnosis: Right actor, wrong film!
	Bhutto Director: Duane Baughman, Johnny O’Hara Release Date: December 3, 2010 (2 screens) Synopsis: A riveting documentary of the recently assassinated Benazir Bhutto, a polarizing figure in the Muslim world. Following in her father’s footsteps as a pillar for democracy, Bhutto was expected to dominate Pakistan’s 2008 elections but the assassination sent Pakistan politics into turmoil. This major event sent shock waves throughout the world and transformed her from political messiah into a martyr for the common man. Thoughts: This could be an interesting documentary, actually. Diagnosis: Curious.
	Black Swan Director: Darren Aronofsky Written By: Mark Heyman and Andres Heinz Starring: Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel Release Date: December 3, 2010 (19 screens) Synopsis: A thriller that zeros in on the relationship between a veteran ballet dancer and a rival. Thoughts: Yeah. This. Definitely going to see this. Diagnosis: Yeah. This.
	Dead Awake Director: Omar Naim Written By: Johnny Harrington and Justin Urich Starring: Rose McGowan, Amy Smart, Nick Stahl Release Date: December 3, 2010 (50-75 screen) Synopsis: Dylan, a young man working at a funeral parlor, is trying to unravel a mystery that shattered his life ten years earlier. After faking his own funeral to see who will show up, he befriends a mysterious street junkie and is reunited with an old love from his past. The lives of these three characters are transformed by supernatural forces as Dylan discovers that no one is who they seem to be. Thoughts: The synopsis alone…… Diagnosis: I got nothing.
	I Love You, Phillip Morris Director: Glenn Ficarra, John Requa Written By: John Requa and Glenn Ficarra Starring: Jim Carrey, Ewan McGregor, Leslie Mann Release Date: December 3, 2010 (6 screens) Synopsis: Incarcerated at the state penitentiary, con artist Steven Russell (Carrey) meets the love of his life: Phillip Morris (McGregor). As a free man, his passion results in a series of improbable cons to bust Phillip from jail and build the perfect life together. Thoughts: Normally I’d pass up a Jim Carrey film for…a better one. This one seems like it might be a better one, actually. Diagnosis: Curious.
	Meskada Director: Josh Sternfeld Written By: Josh Sternfeld Starring: Nick Stahl, Rachel Nichols, Kellan Lutz Release Date: December 3, 2010 Synopsis: Small-town detective Noah Cordin is called to solve a juvenile homicide that occurred during a home burglary in his affluent town of Hilliard. The dead boy’s mother, Allison Connor, is a member of the Meskada County Board of Commissioners, and a powerful woman in Hilliard; and the entire township rallies together in solidarity – to support her and Detective Cordin’s efforts to find the killers. Thoughts: Another film with Nick Stahl in it. Kind of a big weekend if you are a fan. Diagnosis: Pass.
	Night Catches Us Director: Tanya Hamilton Written By: Tanya Hamilton Starring: Kerry Washington, Anthony Mackie, Wendell Pierce Release Date: December 3, 2010 Synopsis: In 1976, complex political and emotional forces are set in motion when a young man returns to the race-torn Philadelphia neighborhood where he came of age during the Black Power movement. Thoughts: This seems like a pretty straight-forward film about the time. I’d like to see this if I can. Diagnosis: Want to see.
	Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale Director: Jalmari Helander Written By: Jalmari Helander Starring: Per Christian Ellefsen, Peeter Jakobi, Tommi Korpela Release Date: December 3, 2010 Synopsis: In the depths of the Korvatunturi mountains, 486 metres deep, lies the closest ever guarded secret of Christmas. The time has come to dig it up! This Christmas everyone will believe in Santa Claus. Thoughts: Hot damn! I want to see this. Had a chance earlier, but another awesome show conflicted. Guess I’ll have to see this ASAP. Diagnosis: Must see!

My Week In TV: Nov. 21-27

Posted on November 29, 2010 by movieguyjon Blather TV 0

Been playing catch up this whole week, as I haven’t really wanted to watch my shows. I usually get this way around the holidays. And with the whole internet and DVR being a thing, I can always watch my shows later. That said, apologies on this being a later post than usual.

The Walking Dead: S1 x 04 – Vatos ★★★★★

Perhaps the best and most tragic episode of the series yet. There’s one particular scene that plays out fairly matter-of-factly in the comic and is done very well here. The filler has weight and never feels like filler. It’s the kind of episode that makes you take pause after as you digest all the shit that just hit the fan. I can’t wait to see how the last two episodes of the season play out.

Terriers: S1 x 11 – Sins of the Past ★★★★★ & S1 x 12 – # ★★★★☆

Wow. Just wow. By the end of episode twelve I’m on the edge of my seat. Thanks a lot, cliffhanger ending! What a damn good show this has been so far. Episode eleven was written by Tim Minnear, and as such was rather poignant. Episode twelve brought the main arc back in full swing and left me wanting more by the last frame. Here’s a show that’s not afraid to get rid of characters. I always warm to these for some reason.

Boardwalk Empire: S1 x 10 – The Emerald City ★★★★☆

Richard Harrow has the best moments in this episode and manages to teach Margaret, perhaps the most humble character in this tale, some lessons on acceptance and prejudice. That scene alone is worth the price of admission and it really stands out in what’s a rather bleak episode. Agent Van Alden takes an unlikely turn in his holy quest for Margaret’s soul and Jimmy Darmody is finding his own as Nucky’s personal hit squad. It all looks to be building toward an upcoming election, so we’ll see if that factors into the finale any.

No Ordinary Family: S1 x 08 – No Ordinary Accident ★★★★☆

They should have named this episode “No Ordinary Frustration At Being Unable To Help People” as we dance around the ethics of using powers and what the actual responsibilities of having these powers entails. “With great power comes great responsibility” hasn’t been told so well in television as it was here in this episode. Not only that, we’re starting to unravel the foils to our super heroes, which will no doubt come into play as the villains become more prevalent. Oh look. I see all the haters coming back. How ya been?

Weeds Season Six Recap

Posted on November 22, 2010 by movieguyjon Blather TV 0

Weeds Season Six Overall Score: ★★★ 1/2

I’ve had kind of a hit or miss relationship with Weeds since season three ended. After everything moved out of Agrestic, I wasn’t quite sure if I would be as into the exploits of Nancy Botwin and her family of ne’er-do-wells as I was in their initial outing. True to my theory of three, the show floundered a bit and just was’t all that interesting until about the end of season four, when Esteban became a major player in the Botwin family.

Fast forward to season six and Nancy is on the lamb from her estranged husband, complete with illegitimate love-child in tow. What followed was a very erratic season with brilliant character moments oftentimes being overshadowed by some insanely meandering plots. Richard Dreyfuss was quite underused as Nancy’s smitten high school teacher, and the revelation that Silas had a different father came out of nowhere and felt like it was a thing “just because.” It was nice to see Silas fighting against this criminal lifestyle, but the season ended with him STILL being dragged along by the family and not quite able to break free. Personally, I think Silas’ tipping point had been reached much earlier in the season and it would have been nice to see him try and run off to find himself while the Botwins hit up their side quests in Michigan.

That’s not to say that I didn’t like this season. There were a couple episodes that were really good and gave us some strong and memorable moments. I just wish the show had been a little bit more steadily paced instead of dancing around being engaging. What a finale, though. If there is one thing every season of Weeds has excelled at, it’s their season finales. Every single finale has managed to leave me wanting more, and this season was no exception.

Is this season worth watching? For the most part, yes. The world of Weeds is still rich and full of dark humor that remains entertaining to this day. Mary Louise-Parker is way easy on the eyes with a mother’s ferocity to boot. It’s fascinating watching her evolve from the frappe-sipping suburban mom to the drug-dealing kidnapper and master manipulator she is now. Still, I wonder if some of the soul of this show burned down with Agrestic.

Here are the ratings I gave this show on a weekly basis, whether or not you care. Since my Week In TV posts started five episodes in to Weeds, I’ve gone back and given the previous episodes their proper ratings. Enjoy.

S6 x 01 – Thwack ★★★★☆
S6 x 02 – Felling and Swamping ★★★☆☆
S6 x 03 – A Yippity Sippity ★★★☆☆
S6 x 04 – Bliss ★★★☆☆
S6 x 05 – Boomerang ★★★★★
S6 x 06 – A Shoe For A Shoe ★★★★☆
S6 x 07 – Pinwheels and Whirligigs ★★★☆☆
S6 x 08 – Gentle Puppies ★★★☆☆
S6 x 09 – To Moscow, And Quickly ★★★★☆
S6 x 10 – Dearborn-Again ★★★☆☆
S6 x 11 – Viking Pride ★★★☆☆
S6 x 12 – Fran Tarkenton ★★★☆☆
S6 x 13 – Theoretical Love Is Not Dead ★★★★★

My Week In TV: Nov. 14-20

Posted on November 22, 2010 by movieguyjon Blather TV 0

Still a little behind on getting these posts out, but I think this week I’ll be able to catch up. Here’s a recap of last week’s episodes and what I thought. Weeds finished up season six so I’ll probably write up a recap of the whole season and detail the bests and worsts of the whole shebang. So, without further ado, let’s get through last week’s episodes!

Fringe: S3 x 07 – The Abducted ★★★★★

Perhaps the strongest episode yet this season. Olivia makes an attempt at escaping the other side while trying to solve the Candyman kidnappings that have been plaguing the denizens there. We get to take a look into alternate Broils’ life and get more of his backstory. I kind of wish we’d get that for Real Broils at some point in this season. The taxi man makes a comeback and it’s nice seeing an ally on this side of the universes. The way things are shaping up, we’re getting close to the end of the first major arc this season. I expect we’ll see Olivia heading home at some point. Kind of pissed that I have to wait two weeks until the next episode airs. W-T-H Fox!

Weeds: S6 x 13 – Theoretical Love Is Not Dead ★★★★★

What a finale! Not sure what else I can say other than DO ANYBODY NO WHERE SEASON 7 is?! This show, despite it’s varying flaws, still knows how to wrap up a season and make you want more. I really hope they are able to stabilize the pacing a little bit more next year. But then again, maybe the erratic pace is kind of the point. Am I the only one who noticed that Kevin Nealon backed out of the story way too quickly? I hope he comes back next season as his shenanigans provide a much needed comedic balance to the story.

Boardwalk Empire: S1 x 09 – # ★★★★☆

A solid episode that manages to blend the slice-of-life period-piece aesthetic and the mobster shenanigans well. Michael Pitt’s character returns to Atlantic City on a murderous quest and shows how much he’s grown from the first episode of the show. I’m anxious to see how this plays out, especially given the episode’s rather startling ending.

The Walking Dead: S1 x 03 – Tell it to the Frogs ★★★★☆

This show continues to impress and give us strong character moments. Episode three is an improvement on two and it’s worth watching just for the family reunion alone. If you’ve read the first volume to the comic, you’ll know how things play out overall, but the show manages to keep things surprising with the subplots that aren’t in the book.

Community: S2 x 09 – Conspiracy Theories and Interior Design ★★★★☆

Greendale is a place I want to go to, especially since the world of night classes are straight out of a paranoia thriller and there exists the probability of blanket forts. There’s really not much more I can say other than the multiple shoot-out at the end is hilarious.

Terriers: S1 x 11 – Sins of the Past ☆☆☆☆☆

Missed the episode last week. Will catch up on both this week.

No Ordinary Family: S1 x 07 – No Ordinary Mobster ★★★★☆

The stakes are higher for the Powells now that we get a glimpse of what the Big Bad knows. Even though there’s no real danger to the family in this episode, the sense of foreboding is strong here and it feels like only a matter of time before the family is presented with their first real challenge. I like the character work in this episode as well as the darker tones that permeate throughout. It’s nice to see that these characters are being lightly shoved in the direction of heroism instead of being completely thrust into the action. Given the suburban family aesthetic of the show, it makes sense. Amy Acker guest stars in this episode, although she’s not given a lot to do (DAMNIT!).