DECEMBER08

Jennifer Connelly

December 12^th, 1970 –

Jennifer Lynn Connelly was born on December 12^th, 1970 in the Catskill Mountains of New York. She is the daughter of Gerard Connelly, a clothing manufacturer, and Eileen Connelly, an antiques dealer. Connelly grew up in the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn just across from the famed Brooklyn Bridge. When she was ten years old, her parents took her to a modeling audition. This was the beginning of a short-lived modeling career that featured her in newspaper ads, magazines and T.V. commercials. These modeling opportunities opened the door for her to start pursuing movie auditions and launch a career in acting that has spanned over twenty five years and is still going strong. Most of you know Jennifer Connelly from Career Opportunities or that famous-yet-creepy David Bowie movie Labyrinth. Unfortunately, I can’t really talk about all of her twenty nine feature films for this spotlight, so I have decided to talk about those films that best represent the diversity of roles in her career and also demonstrate her sheer talent as an actress. Throughout her career Connelly has been able to jump from genre to genre in a seamless fashion. From sci-fi to fantasy, comedy to horror, drama to adventure, romance to suspense, Connelly has done it all and each and every role stands out from the last. She is truly one of the most influential actresses of my generation.

Her first film role was as young Deborah Gelly in Sergio Leone's 1984 gangster epic, Once Upon a Time in America. In the film Connelly plays a sweet and innocent Jewish girl with ambitions of becoming a ballerina. Even at such a young age Jennifer Connelly has the ability to capture the audience with a look, a smile and the bewitching spell that she holds over the young David 'Noodles' Aaronson’s played by Scott Tiler. She is the angel amidst the turmoil, violence and tragedy of the film. (As some of you may know I’m not a fan of the gangster genre but Sergio Leone’s classic is truly the exception to the rule. Recently I saw The Hot Spot for the first time and let me just say that I was hooked.) At first glance this film might seem like something that should be playing on the Lifetime Network. But don’t be fooled—this little gem is worth watching, especially for Jennifer Connelly and her Lolita-esque performance. Even though the film revolves around Don Johnson and Virginia Madsen’s characters, Connelly ads an extra bit of mystery and sexual tension to an otherwise predictable storyline.

I have always considered Jennifer Connelly to be the thinking man’s dream girl. Probably because she’s a brunette that doesn’t shy away from doing sci-fi or maybe it was because her character was married to John Nash in A Beautiful Mind. I still remember the first time I saw Jennifer Connelly on the big screen; it was in the action adventure film The Rocketeer. She played the voluptuous and sexy Jenny Blake. (Did I mention she was voluptuous and sexy?) This was my introduction to the beautiful brunette. Even though her role in The Rocketeer did not challenge or highlight her acting skills, Connelly made quite an impression on this young man. It wasn’t until I saw Dark City however that I realized how much Jennifer Connelly had to offer as an actress. Even though she had done several films since The Hot Spot and The Rocketeer, it was this film that stood out from the rest. To this day Dark City remains my favorite Jennifer Connelly film. Maybe it’s because Dark City is one of the great sci-fi classics of our time and she’s great in it, or maybe it’s because she made you want to be Rufus Sewell so bad that you didn’t care if you had to spend an eternity in the dark as long as you had her to sing you to sleep every night. Regardless of the reasons, Jennifer Connelly uses everything she learned in her previous roles to lure you into a world where what seems real might just be a lost memory.

Connelly’s next three films Waking the Dead, Requiem for a Dream and Pollock are all serious dramatic roles. Requiem for a Dream stands out from the three and has got to be the toughest role of her career. In the film she plays Marion Silver, the cocaine crazed girlfriend of Jared Leto’s character, Harry Goldfarb. Requiem for a Dream, much like Trainspotting and Leaving Las Vegas, is a realistic take into the world of drugs and addiction. Even though Ellen Burstyn steals the show it’s Jennifer Connelly that shocks you with her performance. Her desperation and willingness to do whatever it takes to get high leaves you feeling dirty, guilty and numb all at the same time. This movie is not for the faint of heart but it’s worth watching just to see how much Jennifer Connelly has grown as an actress.

A Beautiful Mind won Connelly her only Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. The film is the story of John Nash, a mathematical genius that received the Nobel Prize late in life after overcoming obstacles with his mental health. In the film Connelly plays a crucial supporting role that not only helps to carry the film but also gives us insight into the importance of Alicia Nash in the life and work of John Nash. There is no doubt in my mind that without her performance the film might not have been the best picture that year.

In December of 2003 House of Sand and Fog was released. The film stars Jennifer Connelly as Kathy Lazaro and Ben Kingsley as Behrani. This is another hard film to watch as it shows us tragedy and humanity in a way easy for us to understand. Connelly’s character is a severely depressed recovering alcoholic that has just lost the house she inherited because of back taxes on a non-existent business. She is evicted and the house is put up for sale, which is where the new owner, Colonel Behrani, comes into the picture. He bought Kathy’s house in an auction and hopes that the purchase will improve his family's future prospects in the U.S. What follows is a fight for the property that lasts the length of the film. Both Jennifer Connelly and Ben Kingsley give unforgettable performances, and once again Connelly is able to tap into a desperation and madness that makes this film a must see.

Dark Water is the American remake of the Japanese horror film Honogurai mizu no soko kara. Even though the film does not seem like much of an acting challenge for Jennifer Connelly, I still enjoy her performance in the film. She manages to keep me in suspense even during those scenes that seem a little hard to believe. My favorite thing about Dark Water is the mood created by the Roosevelt Island locations, but Connelly comes a close second.

Little Children is another brilliant film in with Connelly plays an important supporting role. The leads are played by Kate Winslet and Patrick Wilson. Each is incredible in their role but it’s thanks to the character that Connelly plays and her dominating presence in their lives that the movie works. She becomes the guilt in both the viewer and the protagonists. You feel sorry for her but at the same time you kind of understand why Patrick Wilson’s character is looking for love in the arms of another. Little Children is another great example of the quality roles that Jennifer Connelly picks. She might not always be the lead but she is always well aware of how great the story is.

Blood Diamond is definitely in keeping with this. The film stars Jennifer Connelly as Maddy Bowen, an idealistic American journalist that gets caught up in a civil war in 1990's Sierra Leone. Connelly plays a supporting role and the love interest to mercenary smuggler Danny Archer, played by Leonardo DiCaprio (Djimon Hounsou also stars in the film; he is incredible in the role of Solomon Vandy). The three of them must try to reunite Vandy’s family; after they were ripped apart by the civil war and the illegal diamond trade. Although DiCaprio and Hounsou take up most of the screen time, Connelly manages to create a character that reflects the sense of urgency and the desperate need to help a struggling people. She becomes the buffer between greed and compassion in the film.

With a film career that would make even the Hollywood gods jealous, Jennifer Connelly has proven to all of us that she is more than just another pretty face. She has become a force in the acting world, choosing roles that challenge both her acting ability as well as the direction of her career. She is an actress that has never been afraid to tackle a demanding or controversial role. She will continue to test the waters and expand our horizons with her talent and ability. On a personal note, I’m glad to see that Connelly is doing sci-fi again; I can’t wait for the remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still. She can also be seen later next year in the independent drama Creation alongside her husband Paul Bettany, and opposite Drew Barrymore in He's Just Not That Into You.

Jennifer Connelly Filmography

Creation (2009)

9 (2009)

He's Just Not That Into You (2009)

The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008)

Reservation Road (2007)

Blood Diamond (2006)

Little Children (2006)

Dark Water (2005)

House of Sand and Fog (2003)

Hulk (2003)

A Beautiful Mind (2001)

Pollock (2000)

Requiem for a Dream (2000)

Waking the Dead (2000)

Dark City (1998)

Inventing the Abbotts (1997)

Far Harbor (1996)

Mulholland Falls (1996)

Higher Learning (1995)

Of Love and Shadows (1994)

The Rocketeer (1991)

Career Opportunities (1991)

The Hot Spot (1990)

Some Girls (1988)

Étoile (1988)

Labyrinth (1986)

Seven Minutes in Heaven (1985)

Phenomena (1985)

Once Upon a Time in America (1984)

NOVEMBER08

Citizen Ruth (1996)

Directed by: Alexander Payne

Written by: Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor

Starring: Laura Dern, Swoosie Kurtz, Kurtwood Smith, Mary Kay Place, Kelly Preston, M.C. Gainey, Tippi Hedren and Burt Reynolds.

Get ready dear P&F readers because this month I have a blast from the past. My story begins a couple of weeks ago when I set my DVR to record Hard Eight, Paul Thomas Anderson’s first feature film. I finally found some time last night to watch the movie so I pressed play and to my surprise the opening credits for Citizen Ruth started to flash on the screen. I moved my thumb in the direction of the delete button but decided to let the scene finish before I moved on to something else. Of course that something else never happened—right from the opening sequence Laura Dern grabbed me, hook, line and sinker.

After I finished watching the film I thought to myself, “Well, I guess DirecTV is calling Citizen Ruth Hard Eight in order to show the film without pissing off any customers.” You see, Citizen Ruth deals with the taboo subject of abortion. There are very few films that deal with this controversial subject matter and Citizen Ruth accurately portrays the ridiculous obsession that pro-life and pro-choice fanatics are caught up in. This is Alexander Payne at his best; if you liked Election, Sideways and About Schmidt then you will love Citizen Ruth.

The film begins right at the moment when everything in Ruth Stoops’ life comes crashing down. Ruth Stoops, played by Laura Dern, is a poor, indigent, drug-using mom that loses everything, hits rock bottom and faces jail time for endangering the life of her unborn child. Yes, so far this might sound a bit melodramatic, and even I was convinced that Citizen Ruth was heading for that not-so-comfortable Lifetime channel place. Surprisingly, right when you think Ruth’s story has nowhere to go but down, she’s bailed out from jail by a group of Christian fanatics that call themselves “the Babysavers.” This is the point where the film switches from a serious drama to a satirical comedy.

After an unsympathetic judge tells Ruth that an abortion could keep her from going to prison the Babysavers realize that this is the perfect opportunity to use his comment and take revenge on the pro-choice judge. The head Babysavers, brilliantly played by Kurtwood Smith and Mary Kay Place, take Ruth into their home to try and convince her not to have the abortion. At the same time they are using her to get media attention and further their cause. This is when the pro-choice group makes a move of their own and takes Ruth hostage hoping to convince her to have the abortion and make a statement of their own. Eventually money starts being offered from both sides to persuade Ruth to choose one way or the other. This leads to a surprise ending and the moral to our story: It’s not always a good idea to try and solve other people’s problems by selling them some of your own.

NOVEMBER08

Ben Folds – Way to Normal

Ben Folds, the man, the legend, the music, quite possibly the greatest songwriter of my generation. I still remember the first time I heard Ben Folds Five—it was the video for “One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces” (that’s the one where the band is playing underground underneath a golf course). I remember thinking that the video was pretty clever and that the song was very catchy. But it wasn’t until I bought two copies of Whatever and Ever Amen to sell at the used CD store where I worked that I realized the genius that is Ben Folds. I remember playing the CD over and over for months on end. One of the copies came home with me and the other stayed in the store but never got sold. Not because of the lack of offers but because I wouldn’t sell it; Whatever and Ever Amen was my go-to comfort album during shitty days and lonely nights.

It’s been nearly eight years since Ben Folds Five called it quits but Benjamin Scott Folds is still going strong. Way to Normal is Ben Folds third full-length album, his second using the successful trio lineup. Currently the trio features Ben Folds on vocals and piano, Jared Reynolds on bass and Sam Smith on the drums. Way to Normal will forever be known by Ben Folds fans as either “the fake one” or “the real one.” You see, before the real album was released a month ago a fake version of the album with the same name was leaked online by the band. The fake album featured nine new songs which everyone assumed were from the real album. A month later it was revealed that a couple of the songs were reworked fake versions from songs on the upcoming album.

These fake versions on the fake album are just as good if not better than those on the real album. (So be sure to get both the fake and the real Way to Normal.) Some of the highlights on both the fake and the real Way to Normal include: “Cologne,” “The Frown Song,” “Errant Dog,” “Free Coffee,” “Hiroshima (B B B Benny Hit His Head),” “Bitch Went Nuts,” “Brainwascht,” “Kylie from Connecticut,” “Dr. Yang,” “Lovesick Diagnostician,” “Way to Normal” and “You Don't Know Me (featuring Regina Spektor).”

Ever since Ben Folds went solo he has grown both as a musician and as a storyteller. Way to Normal, much like Rockin’ the Suburbs and Songs for Silverman, is a personal album that uses both Folds’ real life experiences along with stories taken from the headlines. In “Hiroshima (B B B Benny Hit His Head)” he tells us about the time he fell off the stage and landed on his head during a concert in Japan. In “Cologne” Folds makes a reference to former astronaut Lisa Nowak who “put on a pair of diapers and drove 18 hours to kill her boyfriend.” Humor plays a big part in both the fake and the real versions of Way to Normal. But as Ben Folds puts it, “This new album is really about me being free, which is why it feels cathartic and expressive. It’s about me coming back to being myself.” (Hence the title). I agree with Folds; this is a fun and enjoyable album in two parts. “The real one” is Ben Folds highest-charting debut ever in the U.S. reaching number eleven on the Billboard Charts. Personally I still prefer “the fake one” but both albums really do compliment each other.

(Link to the fake version of Way to Normal)

OCTOBER08

The Verve - Forth

Forth is a truly disappointing album from a band that I never thought would ever be disappointing. Turns out that Forth is the perfect collection of background music for your next alternative psychedelic rock party, and I don’t mean this in a good way. But before I continue with any more Forth bashing, here’s a bit of Verve history for those of you out there that don’t remember who they are.

The Verve formed back in 1989 in Manchester, England at a time when grunge was taking off in America, and Britpop bands like Oasis, Blur, Pulp, Bush and Radiohead were starting to make waves around the world. The Verve perfected the Spector-esque “wall of sound” effect, turning obscure psychedelic delay driven rock into a mainstream commercial sound. Their debut album A Storm in Heaven went mostly unnoticed in the U.S and in the UK. Unfortunately, what did get noticed was their heavy drug use and the escalading band turmoil.

This was the beginning of a troubling trend that would lead them to their inevitable break up in 1999. Three months after the release of the bands second album, A Northern Soul, lead singer Richard Ashcroft broke up the band only to reunite it weeks later. A Northern Soul was better received than their previous attempt but it was their third album, Urban Hymns, that brought fame and critical acclaim to this underappreciated band. Urban Hymns is a true rock classic, filled with uplifting ballads and beautifully crafted pop rock anthems. "Bitter Sweet Symphony” became the bands biggest hit of all time, reaching number twelve in the U.S. charts. (Oddly enough however, much like the title of the song suggests, the success of "Bitter Sweet Symphony” was bitter sweet. The song contained a sample of the Rolling Stones’ song “The Last Time.” Although they obtained permission to use the sample from the company that represented the Stones catalog ABKCO Records, the owner decided that The Verve had sampled more than was originally agreed. This turned into a legal battle that ended with all of the profits from the songs writing royalties going to ABKCO Records.)

The continued fighting between the band members along with the pressures of success forced the band to break up for good. Leaving us with three albums, three EP’s and a collection of unforgettable songs like: “The Drug’s Don’t Work,” “Lucky Man,” “Sonnet,” “Bitter Sweet Symphony,” Space and Time,” “This Time,” “Slide Away,” “History,” “Blue,” “Gravity Grave” and “Monte Carlo.”

In June of 2007 the band announced that they were reuniting. This of course was great news and when I heard that they were also releasing an album, well that was just the icing on the cake. Which brings us back to Forth, a slow, monotonous disappointment that leaves so much to be desired. With the exception of one or two tracks the entire album seems scattered and put together without much attention to the quality of songwriting. My advice is to skip the Forth and wait and see if the band stays together long enough to make the redeeming Fifth.

SEPTEMBER08

Photo Courtesy © DreamWorks Distribution

Tropic Thunder

Directed by: Ben Stiller

Written By: Ben Stiller, Justin Theroux and Etan Cohen (Not to be confused with writer/director Ethan Coen)

Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Jack Black, Jay Baruchel, Brandon T. Jackson, Ben Stiller, Eric Winzenried, Steve Coogan, Bill Hader, Nick Nolte, Matthew McConaughey and Tom Cruise.

As Tropic Thunder opens you feel compelled to laugh uncontrollably. Could it be that you are watching Ben Stiller’s latest comedy masterpiece? Or did you mistakenly walk into Hot Shot’s Quest for the Missing Sheen? Only time will tell, for now I suggest that you prepare yourself for a dangerously funny and uncomfortable excursion into the Vietnamese jungle.

So what can you expect from this highly anticipated comedy? A hilarious first twenty minutes. Then things start to get a bit dumb. Not to say that all of the best lines or funny moments are in the beginning of the film, but it’s the introduction of the characters and the set up for the story that’s worth the price of admission.

The star of the film is Kirk Lazarus played by Robert Downey Jr. His portrayal of Sgt. Osiris is by far one of the funniest characters I have seen in a long time. Sadly, after about half an hour into the movie, things take a bad turn and you find yourself watching another installment from the Hot Shots series, with an absurd kid villain and cheesy war movie spoofs. (And just wait until Tom Cruise starts to dance.) The lack of a concrete story ruined what could have been a very original and funny film. It’s almost like the writers gave up right after the first half. The cast keeps the movie afloat during the second half writer meltdown but unfortunately, bad jokes, a lack of plot and the creepy Tom Cruise force you to wonder what could have been. The movie is not as funny as I expected, but it’s still worth watching. For now just wait until it comes out on DVD and watch it in the comfort of your home.

SEPTEMBER08

Photo Courtesy © VanityFair.com

“Mad Men: Season One”

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to join corporate America back in the late 50’s? Well, here’s your chance to find out. I would consider “Mad Men” to be the perfect introduction to one of America’s most interesting and controversial periods. Set at a time when sexual and racial discrimination in the workplace was encouraged, the show pushes the envelope by realistically portraying the struggles of both women and minorities in a changing society.

Winner of one Peabody award, two Golden Globes and nominated for sixteen Emmys, the show was initially passed over by both Showtime and HBO only to be picked up by the basic cable network channel AMC. Originally conceived back in 2000 by Matthew Weiner, famed writer/producer of HBO’s hit series “The Sopranos,” “Mad Men” gives us an all-access pass into the inner workings of a fictional Manhattan advertising agency called Sterling Cooper. Our hero and all around king of the “Mad Men,” Don Draper, (Jon Hamm) is the main focus of the show. Each episode brings us closer to understanding more about his life and the life of those around him.

John Hamm is incredible in the role of Don. His character is a slick mysterious god of advertising whose life would make even the biggest playboys and heartthrobs jealous. This show could easily be mistaken for an Aaron Sorkin creation, with smart and funny characters, a believable story line and a touch of heart and soul in each episode. As the show develops you get to know several very interesting high-powered executives, their secretaries and the wives that make their lives possible. “Mad Men’s” raw honesty and the detail taken to make the 50s come to life are some of best things about the show.

My favorite character so far is Don Draper’s secretary Peggy Olson (Elisabeth Moss). She personifies ambition, hard work and bravery. You could even say that she is the next Don Draper in training. “Mad Men” is shot on movie quality film, which gives it a bigger-than-life feel. Right from the first episode you will feel like you’re a part of Sterling Cooper, just waiting for your chance to join along in the creative meetings, office parties and nighttime rendezvous. Fueled by a great opening theme song and a catchy soundtrack, this show proves to have all of the elements needed for a classic TV show.

AUGUST08

Bajofondo – Mar Dulce

Formally know as Bajofondo Tango Club, Bajofondo recently decided to shorten their name to make a statement: They wanted the world to know that they have more to offer than just electrotango. For those of you unfamiliar with the term, electrotango is part of a movement know as “nuevo tango,” a fusion of various genres with traditional Argentine Tango. Electrotango mixes the elements of French house, trip-hop, chill out, drum and bass and tango. The father of nuevo tango is Ástor Piazzolla, who revolutionized tango by combining his Jazz and classical influences, creating a brand new genre that sounds like nothing you have ever heard before. Piazzolla is one of my favorite composers/performers of all time; his music is innovative, passionate and stunningly beautiful. His work was the beginning of nuevo tango, a movement that has shown endless musical possibilities.

Bajofondo takes the best elements of electrotango and adds the traditional nuevo tango feel combining pop, rock, hip hop, electronica, jazz, classical and tango in a creative and seemingly flawless manner. Headed by two-time Oscar and eleven-time Grammy winner Gustavo Santaolalla, along with seven other incredibly talented musicians, Bajofondo is both a culturally and musically diverse band of artists from Argentina and Uruguay. Their first album Bajofondo Tango Club won a Latin Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Album. Six years later Bajofondo brings us their second studio album titled Mar Dulce, which features performances by Elvis Costello, Nelly Furtado, Julieta Venegas, Gustavo Cerati, Ryota Komatsu, La Mala Rodriguez, Santullo, Juan Subira and the final recorded performance of the legendary Uruguayan tango diva Lagrima Rios. To use the phrase “larger than life” is an understatement; press play and you will be transported to a chic nightclub in downtown Buenos Aires. Listen while the sultry vocals, a sensuous bandoneón, flying string lines and sampled drum beats romance the dance floor. So order your favorite drink, get comfortable and enjoy the tango of our generation.

JULY08

Coldplay – Viva la Vida or Death and All his Friends

“Viva la Vida” literally means, “Here’s to life.” Although the title might seem a bit Ricky Martin-esque. you should feel a great sense of relief to know that there are no “Vida Loca” inspired tracks anywhere on the album. What you will find when you listen to Coldplay’s fourth studio release is a surprisingly grand achievement that will have you singing and dancing from beginning to end.

A tribute to life brushed on a musical canvas with sounds and colors from Madrid, Tokyo, Paris and London, the title song from the album Viva la Vida has been playing over and over on my computer for the past week. Yes, the song is that good, but so is the album. Produced by the prolific Brian Eno, Viva la Vida takes us on a new direction away from the traditional sounds of Coldplay’s previous three albums. With challenging vocals from Chris Martin, dirtier guitar riffs, great hooks, plenty of orchestration and an overall larger than life feel, the album possesses a musical maturity that can easily be compared to the groundbreaking achievements of U2’s Achtung Baby, Radiohead’s Ok Computer and Smashing Pumpkins’ Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness.

I can honestly say that this album has changed the way I feel about Coldplay. For years I’ve thought of them as an extremely overrated band. I liked their music but I just couldn’t justify the hype that they were given here in the U.S. I also remember being very disappointed when I saw them in concert during the Parachutes tour. I admit that over the years they have started to grow on me but it has taken a couple of albums and several hit singles for me to acknowledge that Coldplay has matured into an impressive band. This album is their crown jewel, their greatest achievement in my book. Here’s to life or death and all his friends.

JUNE08

Photo Courtesy © New Line Home Video

Thirteen Days (2000)

Directed by: Roger Donaldson

Written by: David Self

Starring: Kevin Costner, Bruce Greenwood, Steven Culp, Dylan Baker, Bill Smitrovich, Michael Fairman, Elya Baskin, Lucinda Jenney.

It’s scary to know just how close we came to ending humanity. Thirteen Days is the true story behind the Cuban missile crisis. Featuring all of the key players responsible for what could have been mankind’s greatest disaster, the story is told from the point of view of Kenny O'Donnell, played by Kevin Costner. He was a White House Aid with a close relationship to both President John F. Kennedy and his brother Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy.

The date was October 15, 1962 and photographs from an American U-2 Spy plane on a reconnaissance mission have just revealed that missile bases are being built in Cuba. This will be the beginning of the thirteen days that forced the U.S. and U.S.S.R. into a virtual standoff. A sick game of chicken that proved one thing: the quest for ultimate power will lead us all to destruction. Of course, the missile crisis wouldn’t have happened without the help of the U.S. and their policy towards Cuba at the time. The Russian missiles brought into Cuba were Fidel Castro’s retaliation over secret plans by the U.S. to invade Cuba and overthrow him. The Bay of Pigs invasion was one of several attempts made by the U.S., culminating with the C.I.A. led mission Operation Mongoose that was also unsuccessful, in bringing down Castro. So you could say that the guy was only trying to protect his interests. But as we all know the crisis wasn’t really about Cuba, Turkey or Berlin; it was all about who had the balls to pull the trigger.

Over the course of the following days the U.S. planned a full scale invasion of Cuba, instituted a blockade of all Russian ships headed for Cuba, resorted to secret negotiations with unconfirmed sources and ended the crisis with a secret deal between Kennedy and Khrushchev. This film does a great job in building and sustaining this tension. You will spend two and a half hours virtually glued to your seat wondering how in the world this could have happened.

My only complaint with the film has to do with the choices the director makes in regards to the cinematography. For some reason Donaldson chose to give certain scenes a documentary feel by switching to black and white but then all of a sudden he goes back to color. Personally I think this adds nothing to the film but you be the judge. Overall, the cast gives a great performance, with notable mentions for Kevin Costner, Steven Culp and Bruce Greenwood. It’s scary to see the similarities that the decision makers back in 1962 share with key figures in today’s administration. Unfortunately most of the latter would not hesitate to bring the U.S. into a nuclear war if they could justify the action. But there are no winners in nuclear war, only survivors.

JUNE08

Photo Courtesy © ABC Studios

“Lost: Season 4” (Or: “The how long does it take to get of a freaking island season.”)

So it’s finally over: that feeling of numbness, boredom and confusion has ceased to overwhelm your body. Ladies and gentlemen, I was warned but I did not listen. But how can a great show like “Lost” make us feel like the joke is on us? Well, season four has just wrapped up and that’s exactly how I feel.

Before you assume that it’s all over between me and “Lost” I just want to say that I’m open to the idea of future viewing if somebody at ABC studios decides that quality should replace quantity. Yes, we all know that the big boys at ABC want to keep milking that tropical cow. But have they considered that if things keep going the way they are there won’t be any audience left to milk? If you, dear reader, are surprised by my sudden change of heart, that makes two of us. I still remember a couple of issues back when I could not stop raving about the show. In that February 08 P&F article I declared my love and attention to “Lost” and all things J.J.Abrams. (Of course I had just come off a marathon of back to back seasons that plunged me into a foolish declaration of love for “Lost.”) After nearly four months of pointless episodes I share an uneasy feeling with much of the “Lost” community.

After thirteen episodes of cheap melodrama we can all agree that we were cheated. Fillers—that’s all they are, much like the stuff that soap operas are made of. It’s sad to see a show with so much potential get lost along the way. If you ask my opinion “Lost” should do what “Battlestar Galactica” is doing and end on a high note. Four seasons’ is more than enough time to tell the story of flight 815. Regardless of what I think or say there will be two more seventeen-episode seasons. So let’s just hope that these next two seasons don’t become the reason why everyone else and I stopped watching “Lost.”

JUNE08

Photo Courtesy © 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

Hitman

Timothy Olyphant has to stop doing these types of roles; I’m starting to think he has really bad hemorrhoids. This is another example of video game plots gone bad—not to say that video games really have plots.

Photo Courtesy © MGM

Rocky Balboa

A nostalgic Stallone, how touching. At least this time around he manages to lose the big fight.

Photo Courtesy © Universal Pictures

American Gangster

Overall an entertaining film. Of course, the black man really gets fucked in this one.

MAY08

Flight of the Conchords – Flight of the Conchords

After months of listening to the same songs on the Flight of the Conchords EP The Distant Future, I can finally say that I own a copy of the new self-titled full-length album Flight of the Conchords featuring all of the best songs from the hit TV show. I think the last time I enjoyed a musical comedy album so much was Adam Sandler’s What the Hell Happened to Me?

What’s the formula that makes these two albums so good? Well, both albums share two important factors that make them stand out in my book: the lyrics are hilarious and the musical arrangements are good enough to stand on their own. After all, if your songs don’t sound good then it doesn’t matter how funny the lyrics are. I first discovered the Kiwi duo last year when the TV series “Flight of the Conchords” premiered on HBO. Although initially the premise of the show seemed a bit silly (an unknown New Zealand Folk Rock band trying to make it in New York City), Bret and Jemaine manage to pull it off. The combination of great songs and lovable characters makes “Flight of the Conchords” a uniquely honest and fresh style of comedy that provides an original twist to a very repetitive genre.

By recreating the feel and style of popular sounds Flight of the Conchords adds a layer of complexity that shines in the music. Their lyrics find funny and creative ways to talk about serious subjects like love, city pressure, French culture, long legged blondes, Mutha’uckas and politics. The album opens up with “Foux Du Fafa” an ode to all things French, followed by the song we can all relate to “Inner City Pressure.” Next we hit the hip hop track of the album “Hiphopopotamus vs. Rhymenoceros”: “Who’s the motha flippin’? I’m the motha flippin.” The next track, “Think about It,” feels like Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” with a new sincere and funny spin. “Ladies of the World” is Flight of the Conchords taking on R&B. “Mutha’uckas” is pretty much self-explanatory. “The Prince of Parties” sounds like it should be included in the next Austin Powers movie.

Flight of the Conchord’s tribute to a “Leggy Blonde” is a soulful ballad with a surprise booty-shaking ending. “Robots” is the Sci-Fi track of the album: “Finally robotic beings rule the world.” “Boom” is what happens when Shaggy meets Jemaine Clement. “A Kiss is not a Contract” but it’s very nice—another one for the ladies. One of the nicest melodies on the album is “The Most Beautiful Girl in the Room.” Lookout Barry White—the boys from down under are about to hit you with my favorite track off the album: “Business Time.”

“Bowie” was one of the most memorable song sequences of the show’s first season and it is impossible to listen to the song on the album without picturing Jemaine in drag. (If you haven’t seen the episode, Jemaine plays ghost of David Bowie past, truly priceless.) And just like we started, the album ends with a simple but sweet “Au Revoir,” offering more than 15 reasons for you to give Flight of the Conchords a try.

APRIL08

Photo Courtesy © HBO

Deadwood (R.I.P. 2004 – 2006)

“Deadwood, a hell of a place to make your fortune.”

As the credits in the last episode start to roll, a sense of loss mixed with anger grabs a hold of me. I begin to wonder what I could have done to save this show and what I should do now. Unfortunately, the only thing I can do now is wonder why this incredible show shared the same fate as most of my favorite shows on television. Why HBO decided to cancel Deadwood will always remain a mystery since the show was critically acclaimed and managed to maintain high ratings on a weekly basis. Not to mention the fact that it won eight Emmy Awards, and one Golden Globe.

Production was stopped at the end of the third season and the two movies that were supposed to be in the works to finalize the series remain on hold. So should I write to HBO and demand an explanation as to why they decided not to continue the show? Can I convince them that 3 seasons is not enough time to tell “Deadwood’s” story? Of course, my words are not going to do any good at this point. So I must deal with the fact that all is not right with the world and that networks will continue to cancel great shows for unknown reasons. With that out of the way, it’s time to tell you, dear reader, why this show is so good.

For starters “Deadwood” is not your ordinary cowboy’s and Indians, western frontier storyline. Don’t expect beautiful shot out sequences set to a wonderful Morricone score. “Deadwood” is much more than that: A collection of complex stories brought to life by the most unexpected characters. The beginnings of a new town that gives insight into the spirit that gave birth to the other half of this country. As we all know, it’s not goodwill and charity that creates cities, towns and countries. There has to be an economic element in order to justify the sacrifice and risk of inhabiting a new land. In the case of Deadwood, South Dakota, gold is the driving force, and yellow fever is the cause for both life and death.

“Deadwood” is not for the faint of heart—full of brutal realism, sex, obscene language and killing—lots and lots of killing. But underneath its tough exterior lies a sincere, passionate, smart, exciting, suspenseful and well-written masterpiece that will forever change the way you look at the Old West. The manner in which the show is presented is very reminiscent of a Shakespeare play, especially with Ian McShane's character Al Swearenger, the most complex individual in Deadwood. His role as one of the founding fathers of the town can best be described as the puppet master. He is the one that pulls the strings, offering the inhabitants of Deadwood good, evil, death, prosperity, deception, knowledge and survival.

Ian McShane's performance is exhilarating to watch. Even in his silence you sense that everything is in motion because he wants it to be. Timothy Olyphant plays an unforgettable Seth Bullot, a flawed individual with a passion for the law. He is the element of surprise and justice that keeps the town from turning on itself. The other key figure in the show is George Hearst played by ex “Simon & Simon” star Gerald McRaney. He is a rich and powerful man willing to do whatever is necessary to advance his interests and increase his fortune. The tension created by these individuals throughout the various seasons sets the tone for the show and its dramatic conclusion. Without a doubt the characters of this show are truly the biggest reward for me. Watching historical figures such as Seth Bullock, Al Swearengen, Wild Bill Hickok, Sol Star, Calamity Jane, Wyatt Earp, E. B. Farnum, Charlie Utter, and George Hearst brought to life by an incredible cast is priceless. So feel free to give the show a chance and I guarantee that you won’t be disappointed, unless, of course, you’re a Cocksucker.

I’ve decided to end this review just like HBO chose to end the show—suddenly and with no explanation.

APRIL08

Counting Crows – Saturday Nights and Sunday Mornings

Man, it must be nice to be a Counting Crow right now. After more than five years since their last studio album Hard Candy, the Counting Crows are back and they are sure making it look easy. With a sound that takes me back to the time of 1996’s Recovering the Satellites, Saturday Nights and Sunday Mornings shines with all of the melodic poetry and lyrical genius of Adam Duritz and the Crows. It’s clear that there are few front men that can do what Duritz does.

Known for his energetic live performances, Adam Duritz contributes both creatively and emotionally on the stage and in the studio. When asked about the meaning behind the title of the new album Saturday Nights and Sunday Mornings, the Counting Crows front man explained that, "Saturday night is when you sin and Sunday is when you regret. Sinning is often done very loudly, angrily, bitterly, violently."

Listening to the album I can sense that the time off from the studio has reenergized the band, not to say that these guys haven’t been working hard. Between albums they released a Greatest Hits, a live album and performed plenty of sold out shows around the world. With over 20 million albums sold worldwide, eight Top 5 singles, and 5 studio albums, there is no doubt regarding the impact the Counting Crows have had on me and the world. Counting Crows’ music is full of heart, soul, great songwriting and rocking melodies, a combination that is hard to find in music today. I raise my glass to a job well done guys, and I can’t wait to see you this year on tour.

MARCH08

Photo Courtesy © Lions Gate Films

The Weight of Water

There’s always a good chance that the title might be the best thing about a movie, which is just one more reason why you shouldn’t watch a movie solely based on a cool title. Kathryn Bigelow’s murder mystery film The Weight of Water is a good example of good movie titles gone bad.

The Weight of Water is a modern day exploration into a brutal crime committed back in 1873. Based on the bestselling novel by Anita Shreve, half of the novel is fiction and the other half deals with the true events of the Smuttynose Island murders of 1873. I kept seeing this movie being played on both Showtime and HBO as of late, and since both the title and the cast seemed to spark my interest I thought, ‘Hey why not?’ Well, after seeing it I wish I hadn’t.

The Smuttynose Island murders took place on one of the Isles of Shoals, located six miles off the coast of New Hampshire but which are actually in the state of Maine. On March 6, 1873, two Norwegian women, Karen and Anethe Christensen, were strangled and one struck with a hatchet. A third woman, Maren Hontvet, escaped and hid on the island at a place now called "Maren's Rock." Maren, the only witness to the murders, identified a German fisherman, Louis Wagner, as the killer. Wagner was tried, convicted and, although he maintained his innocence, was hanged.

As you can see, there is potential to be found, but unfortunately the parallel story formula did not work for me. Honestly, I could have lived without the present day tale of four individuals in search of drama. The actual events of the Smuttynose Island murders provide more than enough material to make a very interesting film. But the use of present-day-characters-that-search-through-historical-evidence-and-at-the-same-time-learn-something-about-themselves bit is just cheap melodrama. I haven’t read the novel so I can’t say if the director fucked up the story but what I can say is that the film is slow, melodramatic and depressing. The director is not exactly a newcomer to feature films, with movies like Point Break, Strange Days and K-19: The Widowmaker, Kathryn Bigelow has shown that she can handle action but I’m afraid she has much to learn when it comes to drama and suspense.

Overall the casting is good but there are some questionable performances from both periods. Personally, I’m not really a fan of Sarah Polley and I feel that she should stay away from doing any more depressing roles. Elizabeth Hurley as a desperate and mysterious bimbo also does not work for me. As for everyone else, the lousy script brings their performances down.

So there you go. Now you know the story, and you won’t have to see the film.

MARCH08

Lenny Kravitz – It Is Time for a Love Revolution

He’s back ladies and gentlemen, the great champion of psychedelic rock, the man that brought funk into my life. Nine albums later, Lenny Kravitz has returned with an R&B/Funk/Rock-inspired album that’s politically, spiritually and emotionally charged.

A collection of soulful ballads and rocking tunes, It Is Time for a Love Revolution is a return to what I consider to be Kravitz at his best. Even though his last three albums, Greatest Hits, Lenny and Baptism, were all commercially successful, they disappointed me as a fan. I feel that something was lost in Kravitz’s last two albums: a sense of musical direction or the need for something important to say. I consider the first five albums of Kravitz’s career musical masterpieces. One after another the man that did it all on his own showed me and the world why he deserved to carry the Olympic torch of rock and roll. Finally, after nearly 10 years of waiting for the true follow up to his two-time Platinum album 5, I can sit back, relax, listen and enjoy a new masterpiece by Lenny Kravitz.

It Is Time for a Love Revolution reminds me a lot of Circus, Lenny’s themed fourth album about the life of a rock star. Full of spirituality and catchy guitar licks, you can feel the music and lyrics overflowing with love and soul. If you listen carefully you can also hear the influence of some of the best work he has done—past and present—re-worked into the new album. After more than a decade it feels nice to be right back were we left off. So far my favorite tracks from the album are: “Bring It On,” “Love Love Love,” “If You Want It,” “I’ll Be Waiting,” “Will You Marry Me,” “I Love the Rain,” “Dancing Til Dawn,” “This Moment Is All There Is,” “A New Door” and “I Want To Go Home.” Which, considering the fact that the album has 14 tracks and I’ve just named 10 of them, says it all.

FEBRUARY08

Photo Courtesy © ABC Studios

“Lost” (and found)

It’s been more than four years since Oceanic Flight 815 crashed on a deserted island somewhere in the pacific. Of course, it’s really only been a couple of months for the 48 survivors of the accident. But for you and me season number four has just started and it’s promising to be an intense ride full of twists, turns and, plenty of flashbacks.

Now, before you assume that I’m an experienced “Lost-head” I should confess that I’ve only been a fan of the show for about three weeks now. For reasons I can’t quite explain I avoided the show all of this time and focused my TV viewing attention elsewhere. Maybe it was the fact that it was on ABC, or maybe it was because the commercials made the show seem way too confusing to start watching without seeing it from the beginning. Regardless of my reasons not to see the show it was thanks to the persuasion and persistence of P&F’s own Brooklyn Gang that I finally decided to give the show a try. A week later my wife and I completed all three seasons in a “Lost” marathon that left us exhausted, sleep deprived and wanting more. Just like drug attics going clean the withdrawal hit us hard, but there was some comfort in the knowledge that there would be three more seasons with sixteen episodes each. That is if the writer’s strike ever ends.

So why should you watch “Lost”? The simple, short answer would be, “Because it’s fucking awesome!!!” But if you need a better reason than that then here it is: 48 survivors of a deadly plane crash are faced with the reality that they just crashed on a deserted island, and that rescue is not coming any time soon. To make matters worse, there is something in the jungle that is killing them off one by one. Together they must use what they can salvage from the plane as well as the skills they each possess to keep them alive long enough to be rescued. But as the days go by, the island’s mysteries are slowly revealed, giving us a glimpse into a failed scientific colony and an ancient race of inhabitants, whose descendants called “The Others,” are terrorizing the survivors. Will they be rescued or will they die waiting? Only the island knows, after all it was the island that brought them there. Now if that doesn’t motivate you to give the show a try then I guess nothing will.

The cast on “Lost” is also another reason to watch, pay attention and enjoy. Featuring both unknown and veteran actors, “Lost” uses flashbacks to reveal each character’s past along with their possible connections to the island and each other. Combined with a great script and some powerful acting the cast brings both diversity and complexity to each performance. The significance of time is very important in the show since the creators use it to their advantage—and as a reference point for the flashbacks, flash forwards and present day.

The events in every episode take place during 48 hours of elapsed time on the island. The pilot for the show first aired on ABC on September 22, 2004. In the show this is the same date the plane crashes on the island. Season 3 ends with a flash-forward to 2006 that makes the cliffhanger of their ultimate rescue pale in comparison. Numbers also play a significant role in the show so keep a look out for 48, 108, 42 and the unlucky combination of 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42. Here’s my advice for those people that have not seen the show yet—take advantage that season’s 1,2 and 3 are available on DVD. There is no better way to see “Lost” than back-to-back. As my wife and I discovered a few weeks ago, once you are “Lost,” you won’t want to come back.

FEBRUARY08

Soda Stereo - Comfort y Música Para Volar

Originally released October 29, 1996, Soda Stereo’s grand MTV Unplugged album was not your typical unplugged record. First of all, only seven of the 11 tracks on the album are from the unplugged concert. The other four tracks are previously unreleased and unedited studio recordings leftover from the Sueño Stereo album (my personal favorite Soda Stereo album). Also, in the actual unplugged concert, or should we say anti-unplugged concert, Soda Stereo convinced MTV to allow them to perform using electric instruments, reworking their hits with slower arrangements and a variety of new takes on the songs.

Regardless of how plugged or unplugged their performances were, the music is fabulous, and hearing the classic Soda Stereo songs reworked is a testament to how amazing they are. This new re-release of the album is the entire MTV Unplugged performance minus the four studio tracks from the previous release. (The DVD companion of the concert is also being released along with this new audio version.) Previously unreleased, like many of MTV’s great unplugged performances, the Comfort y Música Para Volar DVD is a real treat that until now only the people that attended that night’s performance were able to enjoy.

Not long after the first release of the unplugged performance Soda Stereo decided to call it quits, making the significance of this release both sentimental and historic. If you do not own either CD, I recommend that you buy the original release and download the new songs not included on the CD from iTunes. Soda Stereo is Latin America’s greatest rock band and this album demonstrates why.

(On a personal note, Comfort y Música Para Volar was my introduction to the Argentine rock band that, along with Mexico’s Café Tacuba, opened my eyes and ears to Spanish Rock.)

JANUARY08

Daft Punk – Alive 2007

The follow up to their first live album Alive 1997, Daft Punk’s new collection of live songs will keep your body and soul rocking until 2017. Alive 2007 was recorded at the Palais Omnisport Paris Bercy, on the 14^th of June of this year and it features a beautiful hardcover packaging that includes pictures from the concert as well as two CD’s. One is the audio portion of the concert and the other one has additional audio tracks plus a bonus video.

Featuring the hits from all of their previous albums, Daft Punk shows us all why they are still the Robotic kings of the dance floor. I have to say that this time around Daft Punk dramatically improved upon their first live release: Alive 1997 felt more like a concert bootleg that happened to have wide release rather than an official album from the band. Not because the sound quality was bad but because no time was spent on the packaging—and instead of keeping each individual song on a separate track they chose to include the entire concert on a single track. That can be annoying, especially if there is a particular track that you want to hear.

Alive 2007 is definitely a step up from their previous release but I have to say that my favorite thing about both albums is that you get to hear how the band has evolved in the past 10 years. Some of my favorite tracks of the album include: “Around the World/Harder Better Faster Stronger (which was the basis for Kanye West’s hit single “Stronger”),” “Television Rules The Nation/Crescendolls,” “Burnin’/Too Long,” “One More Time/Aerodynamic,” “Superheroes/Human After All/Rock’n Roll” and the bonus track “Human After All/Together/One More Time (Reprise)/Music Sounds Better With You.” I’m not sure if they will plan to release their next live album in 2017 but if they do you can bet that I will be one of the ones in line with my very own copy of Alive 2017.