NOVEMBER09

Muse – The Resistance

It’s getting harder and harder to sound different these days. Most bands just get by sounding like everybody else. A few bands manage to do the unthinkable by finding an identity in an art form where everything has literally been done already. This is the hardest thing to do as an artist, to find a balance between what you are trying to say and how you are trying to say it. The real talented artists find a way to recycle the best elements in music and make them their own. Muse is one of these bands; they have taken the genre of rock and rewritten its boundaries.

You can hear that their sound is laced with elements from Queen, Depeche Mode, Queens of the Stone Age, The Beatles, Radiohead, Rachmaninoff, Chopin, Andrew Lloyd Webber, John Williams and Ennio Morricone. So how is taking bits and pieces from all of these artists something original? In music everything has been done, every chord has been played, every progression has been tried and every instrument has been mastered hundreds of times. The only constant for creation is in the combinations, there are an infinite number of combinations but only the very skilled know how to combine the right ingredients to make something new and great.

To take all of these amazing bands and find some way to combine them without becoming a tribute band, while still infusing your own creative input is as close as we can come to something original in a time where there is little originality left. Muse is the real deal, both in the studio and live, this English band delivers the power and energy you would not expect from a three piece band. I was fortunate to see them open for U2 during the 360° tour. And I have to say that I enjoyed them more than the big boys from Ireland. The Resistance is the fifth album from Muse and the first one to be produced entirely by the band. It’s filled with all of the great rock elements from their previous albums plus a new symphonic twist that unites all of the tracks. It has taken five albums for them to perfect their sound; I can’t wait to se what the future has in stored for this band.

NOVEMBER09

Paramore - Brand New Eyes

I’m turning thirty-two in about a month and although the whole generational thing might be starting to kick in, I’m trying really hard to be open minded when it comes to new artists. But let me tell you, it’s hard; most of the rock bands that formed around the middle of 2000 up to now seem to have the same sound and formula. Current popular bands like Fall Out Boy, Kings of Leon, My Chemical Romance, Panic! At the Disco, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Kelly Clarkson and Katie Perry don’t really stir anything in me. Like I said, it could be the generational factor or it could be that this new wave of pop rock kind of sucks. Not to say that there wasn’t a fair amount of crap between the mid-90s and mid-2000 but I feel that there were so many different styles of rock happening at that time that it kept things interesting.

Of course the only people to blame for this current trend are the record labels and radio stations using their skill for over-saturating the market. In other words if you are a new rock band coming out right now then you better sound like the next Kings of Leon or Katie Perry, otherwise you will not be given a chance. So here is the part where I’m being open minded, recently a friend of mine that is clearly in tune with this current generation gave me Paramore’s new CD Brand New Eyes and I have to admit that I like it. Not to say that the elements from some of the previously mentioned bands aren’t there, but it’s just that these guys seem to do it better. I’m not sure if it’s the sexy girl singer Hayley Williams, and her great vocal chops or the songs themselves. There is clearly a lot of talent there and I think you might agree if you give them a chance. This is the third album for the Grammy nominated band from Franklin, Tennessee. And although they are still very young, I feel that if they manage to stay together long enough Paramore will become the next big band. All I can say is that this band has planted a seed of hope and I might just start paying attention to what’s playing on the radio. NOT!!!

OCTOBER09

Photo Courtesy © The Weinstein Company

Inglourious Basterds (2009)

Directed by: Quentin Tarantino.

Written by: Quentin Tarantino.

Starring: Brad Pitt, Mélanie Laurent, Christoph Waltz, Eli Roth, Michael Fassbender, Diane Kruger, Daniel Brühl, Til Schweiger, Gedeon Burkhard, Jacky Ido and B.J. Novak.

Some of you hardcore Tarantino fans might think that I must be crazy for writing the following review. Unfortunately I have to stand by what I believe in so here it goes. Sadly I thought Inglourious Basterds was a big let down, not in the worst movie of the year category but certainly one that I could have lived without. So where can I begin? I’ll start with the power of the marketing campaign. Lately I’ve been getting the distinct impression that the movies that have the bigger marketing campaigns do so because they are not really that good. I guess at some point during the screening process the heads of the studios realize that the movie is not going to carry its own weight so they pull out all of the stops and employ psychological tactics to bring the people to see the film. Yes, if you see a movie poster enough times it will spark your curiosity. This is the case with Quentin Tarantino’s new flick as has been the case with hundreds of others.

I love Tarantino and I think he deserves all the respect of the movie Gods not only for creating a new genre of film but for bringing his love and knowledge of the seventh art form to millions of people. I haven’t seen the original Basterds movie, but I’m pretty sure that Tarantino has taken a lot of liberties to make the new version radically different from the original. Not to say that the original was that original, director Enzo G. Castellari and his team borrowed their inspiration from the sixties film, The Dirty Dozen. I have to admit that the first fifteen minutes of Inglourious Basterds had me hook, line and sinker, and when they introduced “The Basterds” I was giddy with excitement, but all of a sudden the story made a drastic turn away from the most promising elements of the film and frankly the whole reason why I paid the $12.50. I wanted to see “The Basterds” kick ass, and for some strange reason that still puzzles me Tarantino decided to focus his time and energy on two separate story lines.

One long sequence in a bar that while entertaining goes nowhere. And another equally long sequence that follows a plan to kill the Nazi high command in a movie theater. Unfortunately the plan was not planned and executed by our Inglourious Basterds but by a young French woman seeking revenge for the murder of her family. I feel that in the end our Basterds were left with nothing more than cameo appearances in their own movie. Not to mention the introduction of great characters only to be killed moments later in what seemed to be silly circumstances. The classic Tarantino elements were all present and visually the film was stunning. Unfortunately, he dropped the ball when it came time to write a cohesive script. The acting was superb and there were some good times along the way, but overall the film was unsuccessful at doing what it promised to do, show us why they call themselves the Inglourious Basterds.

OCTOBER09

Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

So you say that you’re tired of the same old playlist? Well I’ve got the perfect cure for those stale music blues. How does French pop rock with a dash of Strokes, a hint of Killers and bit of Franz Ferdinand sound? Not interested? Well neither was I until I saw the preview for the upcoming film New York, I Love You. The song featured in the trailer is “1901” by the French band Phoenix. Needless to say as soon as I was done Googling the trailer info, I headed for the iTunes store and purchased the last two Phoenix albums. All I can say is amazing, especially the last album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, which was released earlier this year. Oddly enough I had heard the band years earlier on the Six Feet Under, Vol. 2: Everything Ends soundtrack.

Of course that Phoenix sounds nothing like the Phoenix of today. They got their start as the backing band on a remix for the Air single “Kelly watch the stars.” The first two albums United and Alphabetical have heavy pop, R&B, rock and electronica influences. You could compare their early sound with bands like Zero 7, Beck, Justin Timberlake and Jason Mraz. The songs were well produced and very catchy, but it took a total makeover of their sound for me to take notice. By the time It's Never Been Like That was released in 2006 their new sound was starting to take shape. So why should you give Phoenix a chance? Because they are at the top of their game and they make retro pop rock sound good. Did I forget to mention that they are French?

SEPTEMBER09

Photo Courtesy © TriStar Pictures

District 9 (2009)

Directed by: Neill Blomkamp.

Written by: Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell.

Starring: Sharlto Copley, Vanessa Haywood and Greg Melvill-Smith.

The Kiwis have done it again. I don’t know what they put in the water over there but WETA is making the American special effects studios look like a bunch of amateurs. District 9 utilizes all of the latest filming and special effects techniques, some of which include the ever popular shaky cam for realism and the best use of CGI special effects since Iron Man. Neill Blomkamp is the writer director chosen by Peter Jackson to helm this monster of a project and I feel that he did a hell of a job. District 9 is the story of what happened to earth’s first true illegal aliens and what humanity did to fuck them over. After a massive alien ship suddenly appears over the city of Johannesburg, South Africa, the people of the world can only wait in anticipation to see what fate has in store for humanity. To everyone’s surprise three months go by and nothing happens, the ship just sits there hovering over the city. When the government decides to send a military team to board the ship and investigate they find thousands of malnourished, sick aliens.

Left with no way to return home the aliens find themselves getting relocated from the mother ship to a slum in Johannesburg called District 9. The non-humans also known as “Prawns” a derogatory reference to a sea creature that they resemble, live in constant turmoil with the citizens of Johannesburg. For twenty years these “Prawns” live off human trash dumps, stealing and trading alien technology for what they need in order to survive - cat food. The movie was shot in documentary style with a mix of present day footage and a series of interviews of all the people involved in the relocation incident. Relocation is the idea of the Multi-National United, their plan is to take all Non-Humans and place them miles from the city in a high security prison. It’s during this initial relocation phase that Wikus Van De Merwe is introduced to the story. He is given the task of coordinating this relocation, little does he know that he is about to get genetically closer to the very aliens he is trying to get rid of. It’s at this point in the story that things really get grim for the aliens.

The MNU gets hold of the fuel need by a “Prawn” scientist named Christopher Johnson. He needs the fuel to power the mother ship and bring back help. Along with the fuel the MNU captures Wikus Van De Merwe and discovers just how valuable he is. After managing to get away from the MNU lab both Wikus and the Christopher Johnson join forces and take it upon themselves to save the stranded aliens and stop what could potentially become the ultimate human weapon. The film is not shy about showing just how cruel governments can be with illegal immigrants regardless of where they come from. This is a well written story with a stunning backdrop, an amazing action packed fun ride that could never be topped by a Hollywood production. District 9 is by far my favorite film of the year. I think this is a beautiful beginning to a new director’s career. I can’t wait for the sequel, because you know there’s going to be one.

SEPTEMBER09

[rec] vs. Quarantine

So here it is ladies and gentlemen, the reason to renew your Blockbuster membership and update your Netflix Queue. Are you ready for the scariest movie monster since Pan’s Labyrinth’s Pale Man? I know you can’t wait for me to tell you about both of these films. So I figured that I could make everybody’s life a whole lot easier by doing a comparison of the classic and the remake. [REC] is the original, written and directed by Spain’s Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza. The film takes place in Barcelona as a television crew decides to follow a team of firefighters on what should have been just another routine night on the job. Of course things take a drastic turn when they respond to a call from a lady trapped in an apartment building. All of a sudden the movie switches to fifth gear throwing all of the best elements of terror, suspense and reality at the viewer.

Strange things have been happening in this building and as the TV crew, the police and the firefighters are all about to find out they might not survive the night. The film has a Blair Witch Project meets 28 Days Later feel, but its original storyline and well-written script will not disappoint. And now to the best part of the film, the glorious finale with one of the creepiest monsters I have ever seen. WOW, I still get the willies just thinking about it. All and all this is a fantastic horror flick that will force you to sleep with the lights on for at least a week. The American remake of [REC] is called Quarantine. It is set in Los Angeles and follows the story of the Spanish version pretty much word for word. Now before you start assuming that it’s just another pointless remake, I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that it’s not a bad movie.

I feel that Quarantine is the remake equivalent of what The Ring was to Ringu. Even though I thought [REC] was scarier than Quarantine I felt that the American version had done a better job with the casting and the overall production. The American writer/director John Erick Dowdle also did a better job of explaining why all hell had broken loose inside the apartment building. The American version stars “Dexter’s” Jennifer Carpenter, Johnathon Schaech, Jay Hernandez, Greg Germann and Dania Ramirez. My only real complaint with the American sequel was that they dropped the ball when it came time for the grand finale monster. So my verdict is watch [REC] first then if you still want more like I did then check out Quarantine. By the way, the Spanish sequel to [REC] is about to premiere in Spain, so you know that the first one had to be good.

AUGUST09

Incubus – Monuments and Melodies

The latest release from the band Incubus is a 2-disc greatest hits collection that will turn even the newest listener into a fan. The first disc includes 13 previously released singles from their top grossing albums Make Yourself, Morning View, A Crow Left of the Murder… and Light Grenades. Also included in this disc are two new tracks "Black Heart Inertia" and "Midnight Swim.” The second disc is a collection of rarities, imports, B-sides, soundtrack cuts, alternate versions, three previously unreleased songs, and a cover of Prince's "Let's Go Crazy.”

As far as greatest hits go this one is not bad, mostly because of the second disc of rarities. But in order to truly do their career justice I would have instead released a three-album set: One with the rarities and the other two would be a collection of songs covering their entire seven album catalog rather than just their best selling albums. For whatever reason their first three albums Fungus Amongus (1995), Enjoy Incubus (1996) and S.C.I.E.N.C.E. (1997) were completely ignored. Regardless of the songs they decided not to include, the selection of hit singles they did choose will keep you rocking until the early hours. So if this is your introduction to Incubus make sure to buckle up, crank the volume to ten and go crazy with the air guitar.

JULY09

Dave Matthews Band - Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King

The new DMB album Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King is a beautiful musical tribute to the late saxophonist LeRoi Moore. He was one of the founding members of the DMB that died tragically from complications stemming from injuries he received in an ATV accident on his farm near Charlottesville, Virginia. LeRoi “GrooGrux” Moore was a central figure in the arrangement and performance of the songs. He brought a melodic foundation to the music and energy of the band. His contributions both as a member and motivator will be missed.

Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King is the seventh album from the DMB and the first studio album since 2005's Stand Up. I have to admit that at first I was a bit disappointed with this release, mostly because Stand Up was such an amazing album. But after a couple of weeks of digesting the work I feel that it’s starting to grow on me. This album reunites guitar extraordinaire Tim Reynolds with the DMB, and you can distinctively hear the edginess he adds to the songs. Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King is produced by Bob Cavallo (the Goo Goo Dolls, Green Day, Alanis Morissette, My Chemical Romance) and was recorded entirely in the city of New Orleans. In comparison to their previous works however I feel that this album is not as well produced and has an unfinished quality to it. It’s almost as if they left it unfinished as a tribute to LeRoi. But it could also be the gap left by the departure of keyboardist Butch Taylor, who had toured with the band since 2001.

In recent interviews the band has made it clear that with this album they were trying to capture the magic and spontaneity of their first albums. (Of course if this is what they wanted in the first place then they should have just reunited with legendary producer Steve Lillywhite.) I still don’t understand why they should be looking back but I know that after all was said and done this was LeRoi’s album. He is the GrooGrux King and we as fans will never truly understand how much of an impact he had on the music and on the lives of the remaining members. My favorite tracks so far include: “Funny the way it is,” “Lying in the hands of God,” “Why I am,” “Dive in,” “Spaceman,” “Seven,” “Time Bomb,” “Baby Blue” and “You & Me.”

JUNE09

Green Day – 21^st Century Breakdown

Green Day—the band that always manages to surprise me. Just when you think that they couldn’t get any better, they release their next album. 21^st Century Breakdown is the eighth album by the punk rock California band. I don’t know about you but I can’t believe that it has been 15 years since they released Dookie; it seems like only yesterday I was jamming to “Basket Case” thinking that it was the coolest, catchiest song ever.

21^st Century Breakdown was recorded in the same Rock opera style of American Idiot. The album is split into three parts, "Heroes and Cons,” "Charlatans and Saints,” and "Horseshoes and Hand grenades.” Its loose narrative follows a young couple named Christian and Gloria through life in the United States following the presidency of George W. Bush, as they "deal with the mess our 43rd President left behind.” Green Day and Garbage’s Butch Vig produced the album, and it’s interesting to hear how he influenced the album by adding an in-your-face pop rock edginess to the songs.

In my opinion there is a clear distinction between this album and Green Day’s previous efforts. 21^st Century Breakdown seems to be leaning more towards the current pop rock movement rather than sticking to the more traditional punk rock structure. So far my favorite tracks from the album include: “21^st Century Breakdown,” “Know Your Enemy,” “!Viva la Gloria!” “Last Night On Earth,” “Peacemaker,” “Last of the American Girls,” “Murder City,” “Restless Heart Syndrome,” “Horseshoes and Hand grenades,” “21 Guns” and “See the Light.” Green Day continues to mature both lyrically and musically taking punk rock into realms that have never been explored.

JUNE09

The Promise of Bruce Springsteen

Every young musician dreams of making it big, getting a record deal, fame, girls (or boys), money, thousands of people shouting your name and singing along to the words you wrote on that miserable night when your girlfriend left you because you quit your job to write songs and play guitar. As I’ve gotten older I find that I still have those same childhood dreams and ambitions but my interpretation of some of those things has changed. Now I don’t mind if I don’t make it big as long as I can make enough money playing music to support my family and myself. The other thing I want is to be able to play in a band with musicians that share my philosophy and love for making music. This leads me to an experience I had two weeks ago at my first Bruce Springsteen concert.

Although I’m just starting to become familiar with Bruce Springsteen’s music, it only took one show for me to understand why his fans call him “The Boss.” I have to admit that I’m envious of what the man has accomplished. I’m not just talking about his fame and successful musical career, I’m talking about the message he has worked so hard all of these years to teach us, the very thing that I want: his philosophy and love for making music. If you want to experience what I mean then buy a ticket to his next show, even if you are not familiar with his music I promise you that you will witness real love, friendship and music hard at work, as close to a religious experience as you can get without meeting the Maker himself. So do what I did, go to the concert with an open mind and enjoy one of the last great performers as he shows you what live music should sound and feel like.

MAY09

Doves – Kingdom of Rust

“I longed to feel that winter in my heart, so I went looking but I couldn’t stop. Now I’m waiting for you, I know it takes an ocean of trust in the kingdom of rust.”

With these words the trio from Wilmslow, England introduce their fourth full-length album titled Kingdom of Rust. This band holds a special place in my heart; maybe it’s because they are totally awesome or maybe it’s because they are the best kept secret in Brit Rock. Since the beginning they have always been critically acclaimed yet very few people outside of England know about them. (I’ve always made it a point to introduce people to their music, so I hope this review inspires you to give them a try.) Their albums are always put together like a beautiful tapestry of sound, full of complex arrangements, a uniting theme and dreamy, spiritual, melancholic melodies.

In order to talk about the history of the band I have to begin with the sequence of events that changed their lives forever. Before the band was known as Doves, Jez Williams, Andy Williams, and Jimi Goodwin had a successful dance-oriented project called Sub Sub. On the birthday of the twin Williams’ brothers their studio caught on fire and burned down. They lost everything in the fire; it was at that point that they were forced to make the decision to either end it all or to start from scratch. The band Doves was born out of the fire that changed their musical paths back in 1996.

Unlike their previous albums, Kingdom of Rust does not feel like it follows a single theme. The lead singer/guitarist Jez Williams describes the album as “schizophrenic, but... also strangely cohesive.” I completely agree with his description as the album is filled with such diverse rhythmic and lyrical content that you cannot help but get lost in the music. Right from the opening Kraftwerk-inspired song “Jetstream,” the great country flavored title track “Kingdom of Rust,” the drum and bass driven “Compulsion” to the beautiful rock ballad filled with the signature Dove sound “Spellbound,” Kingdom of Rust is destined to become a rock classic. After four years of writing, recording and experimenting they have put together their most daring and satisfying album to date.

APRIL09

Happy-Go-Lucky (2008)

Written and Directed by: Mike Leigh

Starring: Sally Hawkins, Alexis Zegerman, Eddie Marsan, Samuel Roukin, Kate O'Flynn, Caroline Martin and Sylvestra Le Touzel.

What has one “Oh! What-chu-ma-call-it ding dang dilly dilly da da hoo hoo!” two inseparable best mates, three fallen angels that are part of the triangle of car mirrors, a homeless man, a crazy driving instructor, a dysfunctional family and more than 50 reasons why you will fall in love with Poppy? Would you like a hint? One word “Enraha.” Nothing yet? Okay two words, Mike Leigh. Now if you are still scratching your head wondering what the hell I’m talking about, then may I suggest that you go to Netflix and look up Mike Leigh then rent Naked, Secrets & Lies, Career Girls, Topsy-Turvy, All or Nothing and Vera Drake. (Sure you can see Happy-Go-Lucky without watching his other films but I promise you that you will be missing out.) Even though this film is by far the most accessible of Leigh’s films I feel it’s important to see where his characters have come from.

Happy-Go-Lucky follows the life and adventures of a carefree, happy, optimistic primary school teacher named Poppy as she learns that a bicycle might be the best form of transportation, finds love when she least expects it, dances flamenco in her cowboy boots, fights to save one of her students and promises to stay “Happy-Go-Lucky” in a not so happy world. This time around Mike Leigh has replaced the famed, troubled, and eccentric lead character with Poppy the optimistic angel. But don’t worry—the rest of the elements he is known for are still there: You have the obsessive, paranoid, anti-social, religious driving instructor Scott, played brilliantly by Eddie Marsan. The loving, understanding flat mate and partner in crime Zoe (Alexis Zegerman) and the two dysfunctional sisters Suzy (Kate O'Flynn) and Helen (Caroline Martin). We also can’t forget the seemingly perfect love interest that makes Poppy’s smile that much bigger, Tim (Samuel Roukin).

This leads me to Miss Poppy herself, Pauline Cross, played by Golden Globe-winning actress Sally Hawkins. Although her never ending smile and her eternal cheerful disposition might annoy some people I found her optimism and charisma to be refreshing and uplifting. I truly got a kick out of seeing what she was going to do next. The only real criticism I have is that the film ended right when things were just starting to get good. Mike Leigh could have continued for another two hours and I would have loved every minute of it. I almost feel like they should make a TV show from Poppy’s life and it would be a guaranteed hit. I guess what I’m trying to say is that if you love Mike Leigh’s films then I’m confident you will love Happy-Go-Lucky as well.

APRIL09

Star Trek: The Legacy

Sci-Fi has always been a big part of my life. My earliest childhood recollections are of watching shows like “Planet of the Apes: The Series,” “V: The Series,” “The Greatest American Hero,” “Knight Rider” and “The Incredible Hulk.” But the show that had the greatest impact on my young psyche was Gene Roddenberry’s “Star Trek.” I consider myself to be a trekkie, and as you might already know there are several degrees of trekkie-madness. For example, I love the “Star Trek” franchise but you would never catch me dressed up as a Borg, Vulcan or Klingon at Comic-Con or any convention for that matter. (Seriously, I took the “Are you a trekkie?” quiz at nerdtests.com and I got a rating of “Lieutenant” which means that “You watch one or two series, but you don’t try to impress your neighbors with your trivia knowledge. You’re a fan but you try not to take it too far.”)

The “Star Trek” franchise is made up of six television series, ten feature films with the eleventh about to be released next month, dozens of computer and video games and hundreds of novels. Not to mention the yearly “Star Trek” conventions, a themed attraction in Las Vegas, “Star Trek” Online and a tsunami of merchandizing. So as much as you would like to ignore the phenomenon, “Star Trek” is here to stay. The show’s contribution to film and television has made it possible for the Sci-Fi genre to survive in the cutthroat mainstream film and television markets. The road for other drama-driven Sci-Fi shows to follow was paved by the quality of the writing, the always improving special effects, and the fan base of each new series in the “Star Trek” franchise.

My present day obsession with the updated version of “Battlestar Galactica” would not be possible without the efforts made years ago by the legendary Gene Roddenberry. His life story is filled with both failure and success. He will always be known to the world as the man that created “Star Trek,” but few people know that he had to struggle for years before finally making it in Hollywood. For seven years he worked as an LAPD Police officer, until the day came when he resigned to try his luck and become a writer fulltime. While working as a police officer, Gene Roddenberry started developing the idea for a television show that combined Buck Rogers, Flash Gordon and “Wagon Train.” Eventually this idea would turn into “Star Trek.” Sadly, after only three seasons on the air, NBC decided to cancel the show due to poor ratings. Surprisingly the show reached its peak in popularity years later while in syndication; it was thanks to this newly found interest in the show that Gene Roddenberry was given a second chance to bring back the Enterprise and his beloved characters. This second attempt to revive “Star Trek” would eventually lead to the transition from television into feature films.

Although many of the feature films have proven to be both critically and financially disappointing, it is important to acknowledge their presence and significance to our culture and the Sci-Fi community. During the late seventies Paramount realized the potential of the syndicated show and turned the “Star Trek” name into a money making franchise. Unfortunately something very important was lost in the process. After the disappointing reception of the first film, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Roddenberry was removed by Paramount from all future “Star Trek” feature film projects. He was given the title of consultant but was powerless to do anything to prevent the franchise from spiraling down due to poor writing and sequel fatigue. (Gene Roddenberry would later return to television to create and produce my second favorite “Star Trek” series, “Star Trek: The Next Generation.”)

Among the ten “Star Trek” films there are a few good ones and the rest are forgettable to say the least. My favorites include: The Wrath of Khan, The Search for Spock, The Voyage Home, Generations and Nemesis. The first three were written as a kind of trilogy that revolved around the death and resurrection of Mr. Spock. The fourth one was the transition from the original “Star Trek” cast to the “Next Generation” cast, co-written by “Battlestar Galactica’s” Ronald D. Moore. The fifth one doesn’t have much of a story line; it seems like the writers just decided to steal the successful elements from the previous films. However Nemesis does offer one of the best action packed finales of any “Star Trek” film. In about a month the latest installment of the “Star Trek” franchise will be released. Star Trek is directed by J.J. Abrams and it promises to be the much needed makeover that the fans have been waiting for.

For years the “Star Trek” franchise has reminded us of the beauty of our universe and inspired generations to keep looking up. The show is a mirror of our society, giving us insight into God, man, the environment, social issues, technology and our possible future. Characters like Mr. Spock, Captain Kirk, Scottie, Sulu, Uhura, Data, Worf, Commander Riker and Captain Picard have taken scenes from our wildest dreams and made them a reality. For one hour every week the show has done the impossible and transported millions of people into the far reaches of space. Who would think that a TV show has the power to make your dreams come true? For me “Star Trek” symbolizes man’s ultimate achievement, the ability to conquer space, time and the social economic issues that plague our civilization. To sum up, I would like to end with a line from the movie Star Trek Generations. Captain Picard is pleading with Captain Kirk for him to help him save a planet from destruction. Captain Kirk jokingly replies, “Let me guess, the odds are against us and the situation is grim.”

MARCH09

Danny Boyle

October 20th, 1956

As we come back from a commercial break the unmistakable silhouette of Reese Witherspoon appears from nowhere, dressed in sapphire blue like a princess on her way to a masquerade ball she walks from behind the curtain onto the Oscar stage. She then proceeds to introduce her category and name the outstanding nominees for the second most coveted prize in the award show, Best Director. “And the Oscar goes to, Danny Boyle…” Those seven words represent the culmination of a lifetime of hard work, sacrifice, passion and devotion. As Danny Boyle takes the stage and makes good on a bet that he made years ago with his children, he bounces his way to the highest achievement a filmmaker can hope to accomplish in his career.

Danny Boyle was born in Radcliffe, England on the 20^th of October 1956. When he was fourteen years old he tried to transfer to a seminary school but a priest advised him against it. It’s a good thing he listened to the man otherwise only God would have known about his tremendous talent. Boyle began his artistic career in theater with the Joint Stock Theater Company and later became an Artistic Director with the Royal Court Theater. At the same time he was also working in television as a producer for BBC Northern Ireland. Following a successful run directing several hit shows, he decided to put television on hold and set his eyes on feature films.

His first feature film was the dark comedy Shallow Grave written by long time friend and collaborator John Hodge. The film deals with the pros and cons of finding a suitcase full of cash, and what it really means to have to share it with friends. (So lock your door, turn off the light, and make sure your share of the stash is hidden somewhere safe. Then just sit back, relax and wait to be killed by your best friend.) Although this is not one of my favorite Danny Boyle films I do feel that he was successful in building the suspense and providing just the right amount of violence to make it a memorable viewing experience. We also can’t forget that this film is our introduction to an unknown Scottish actor named Ewan McGregor.

His next project, Trainspotting, is still one of my favorite films of all time. As if by some divine inspiration Danny Boyle manages to create one of the most realistically shocking films about drug use and the world inhabited by the drug users. Everything about this film is painfully brilliant--from the amazing soundtrack to the endless roster of talented actors. This movie defined my generation, we couldn’t look away from the screen, and it forced us to take responsibility for our actions and to choose life. Trainspotting is a beautiful, funny, romantic, scary, happy, sad, suspenseful and even sinfully pleasurable film to watch. You will be drawn into Renton’s vein even before you realize that Mr. Boyle has already made you an addict.

A Life Less Ordinary was the eventual dip in an otherwise steady climb for Danny Boyle. Not a bad film, but not exactly what you would expect as a follow up to Trainspotting. This film would also prove to be the last time that Mr. Boyle collaborated with screenwriter John Hodge on a feature film. In order to avoid offending those people that did like the movie I will try to limit my criticism and just say that A Life Less Ordinary is a cute romantic comedy with a predictable heavenly twist that made me wish somebody else would have directed it.

The Beach was the much-needed step in the right direction. For this film Danny Boyle partners with a new screenwriter and begins working on the formula that will one day lead him to Oscar glory. Based on the novel by Alex Garland, The Beach is a sobering reminder of the price you might pay to live in a utopian society. The film will leave you wondering how far you would go to protect your perfect piece of paradise. This would become the first of many film collaborations between Alex Garland and Danny Boyle. (Personally, I think that this partnership becomes the catalyst for a new direction in his career that will lead him all the way to his most critically acclaimed project Slumdog Millionaire.) This film is the first in a series of Danny Boyle films that try to show how we are all connected and that our actions do have consequences.

28 Days Later… is the ultimate zombie movie. Not because of the carnage or the violence but because at the heart of it there is a well-written suspenseful survival story. Most films in this genre never have the budget or the desire to shoot something that’s well written. So you could say that Danny Boyle has accomplished what no director has done before. He made the first intelligent, refined, artistic zombie film. I love this movie; it has everything you could ask for and more. Without a doubt 28 Days Later… is the perfect example of the risks that Danny Boyle is willing to take as a filmmaker. Any other director would have dismissed even the thought of getting into this genre, especially if nobody else was doing it. I think the fact that this movie was so well received among audiences of all ages clearly illustrates the skills and talent that Danny Boyle has achieved as a director.

In Millions Danny Boyle tones it back down a bit. Millions is the story of two kids that find a bag of money that has to be spent in a week’s time. The kids try to make everyone happy by spreading the wealth around, but in the end they realize that money is as much a burden as it is a blessing. Overall this is a good movie with an even better message, but I just couldn’t stand the younger of the two brothers. That freaking little kid drove me crazy throughout the movie; everything he did would bring nothing but trouble for himself and his family. He was cute and all but by the end of the film I wished that zombies would suddenly make a cameo and take the kid out for dinner.

Sunshine is a supernatural sci-fi thriller, a beautifully shot and well-written film that questions our right to play God. Fifty years into the future as Icarus II races to the sun on a last chance mission to save our dying star, the brave crew is now entering unknown territory unable to shake the constant reminder of the failure and disappearance of the first mission Icarus I. Sunshine is a non-stop thrill ride with an unforgettable climax played brilliantly by a superb international cast. I truly hope that Danny Boyle continues to explore this genre, especially since nobody else wants to. Once again Boyle shows us that he can take on a risky project and make it pay off. This leads me to his latest and riskiest project of all, a modern day rags to riches story set in the slums of Mumbai.

Slumdog Millionaire, winner of eight Academy awards including; Best Cinematography, Best Director, Best Editing, Best Score, Best Original Song, Best Sound, Best Adapted Screenplay and the most important prize of all, Best Picture. So you could say that it has all finally paid off for Danny Boyle. This modern day rags to riches story is living proof of the bonds that hold us together. If you persist and if you stay true to yourself your time to shine will come. Even during the darkest moments you can always be sure that light is just about to break through. Danny Boyle has a special sensitivity to the human condition; this is why I believe that he is the only filmmaker that could have made this story work. The choice to go with the young unknown Indian actors was also a key decision that proved successful in making the film feel as authentic as possible. Slumdog Millionaire will break your heart and fill it up again. So don’t be surprised if you leave the theater asking yourself, What can I do to help?

Ever since I got hooked during Trainspotting I have been unable to stop watching Danny Boyle’s films. He is a man on a mission; he wants to make the world a better place one movie at a time. Using only his camera, his heart and his big beautiful smile, Danny Boyle will show us that we are all brothers and sisters and we share the same love and passion for life. I can’t wait to see what Mr. Boyle has in store for us in the future, and I’m pretty sure that this will not be the last time that we will hear: “…And the Oscar goes to… Danny Boyle.”

Select Danny Boyle Filmography:

Shallow Grave (1994)

Trainspotting (1996)

A Life Less Ordinary (1997)

The Beach (2000)

28 Days Later... (2002)

Millions (2004)

Sunshine (2007)

Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

FEBRUARY09

Photo Courtesy © Miramax Films

Doubt (2008)

Written and directed by: John Patrick Shanley

Starring: Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams and Viola Davis.

Doubt is based on a successful stage play written by John Patrick Shanley. The critically acclaimed Broadway show ran from November 2004 until July 2006 for a total of 525 performances. The play won several awards including the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, the 2005 Drama Desk Award for Best New Play and four Tony awards including Best Play of 2005. So you could say it’s no surprise that the film was nominated for five Oscars and five Golden Globes. Unfortunately, Doubt finds itself in a tight race against a lot of great films. (It had no luck at the Golden Globes, so I find it hard to imagine that it will have any success at the Oscars.) Regardless of the outcome of these award shows, I still think that this is a superbly well-written and entertaining film. Right from the opening credits you feel the suspense building onscreen just like a pressure cooker. At any moment the tension and drama could escalate into a full scale Hoffman/Streep acting war.

The film takes place at the St. Nicholas Church School in the Bronx during the fall of 1964. The story revolves around four main characters: Father Brendan Flynn, Sister Aloysius Beauvier, Sister James and Mrs. Miller. Father Flynn (Philip Seymour Hoffman) is a seemingly progressive, caring and loving individual that welcomes change but hides a terrible secret. He is unaware that the school’s principal, Sister Beauvier (Meryl Streep), is keeping a close eye on him. Sister Beauvier believes that the use of fear and discipline is the only way to run a school. She trusts no one, and is determined to prove a theory that could ruin the lives of several people. Sister James (Amy Adams) is a loving, passionate teacher with an innocent sometimes naïve nature, unaware that she is about to fall victim to one of Sister Beauvier’s modern day inquisitions. Mrs. Miller (Viola Davis) is a hardworking African-American woman that would do anything to avoid a scandal involving her family. She just wants her son to finish the school year regardless of the price he might be paying.

The pivotal scene in the story happens when Sister Beauvier confronts Mrs. Miller regarding the inappropriate conduct of Father Flynn towards her son. Mrs. Miller understands what’s going on but she begs Sister Beauvier not to act. She feels that the only way that her son can have a chance to be accepted at a good high school is if no one says or does anything. Unfortunately this is the same attitude that a lot of families and people of authority within the Catholic Church have taken when faced with this problem. The families allowed the abuse to continue because the priests represented authority, status in the community and a future for their children. The church allowed this abuse to happen because they knew that a life of celibacy encouraged this behavior. In their eyes, sex with a woman is an unforgivable act, but sex with a child, well, that only becomes a problem depending on who knows about it. As long as the sex did not involve a consenting woman or man, any child abuse scandal or accusation was just swept under the rug.

Even though the direction of the story is no surprise, it’s the acting and the tension created by the actors circumstances that make this film a must see. Both Philip Seymour Hoffman and Meryl Streep are fabulous in their roles but it’s Meryl Streep that steals the show. Her portrayal of a cold, methodical, disciplined and unforgiving Sister detective sets the pace and convinces us that she is right and everyone else is wrong. Can experience and suspicion be enough to prosecute and convict someone, even when there is no concrete evidence to prove the guilt of an individual? This is the question that resonates throughout the film. There will always be some doubt since very few things in life are truly certain.

FEBRUARY09

The Beach - OST

Slumdog Millionaire has just been nominated for ten Oscars, including one for best score and two for best song. But rather than discuss the music from this film which I enjoyed but wasn’t crazy about, I want to take this opportunity to revisit one of Danny Boyle’s most underrated yet totally brilliant soundtracks. Danny Boyle is the ear behind two of my favorite movie soundtracks of all time. (Just in case you are wondering, my other all time favorite Danny Boyle soundtrack is Trainspotting, but you already knew that.) This month I want to praise the director’s excellent taste in music and share with you a classic that always takes me back to The Beach.

The Beach is based on a novel written by English author and screenwriter Alex Garland. For all of you out there that don’t know who he is, Mr. Garland is the writer behind two other Danny Boyle classics: 28 Days Later and Sunshine. The Beach is a sobering reminder of the price you might pay to live in a utopian society and will leave you wondering how far you would go to protect your perfect piece of paradise. The soundtrack is an eclectic mix of electronic, pop and world music performed by some of today’s top artists. Featuring Moby, All Saints, Leftfield, Underworld, Sugar Ray, Asian Dub Foundation, Blur, Faithless, New Order, Orbital, Mory Kante, Barry Adamson, Angelo Badalamenti & Orbital, Dario G (Featuring Vanessa Quinones) and U.N.K.L.E. (Featuring Richard Ashcroft).

A great compilation of songs for any adventure, The Beach soundtrack is guaranteed to expand and energize your travel experience. I remember playing the shit out of this CD back in 2000. It was during a journey of personal discovery and adventure through the cities and towns of beautiful Colombia. The songs comforted me during many lonely nights and encouraged me to continue living every day to the fullest. I will never forget listening to the song “Beached” featuring Leonardo Dicaprio reciting his best lines from the movie:

“Trust me, it’s paradise. This is where the hungry come to feed. For mine is a generation that circles the globe in search of something we haven't tried before. So never refuse an invitation, never resist the unfamiliar, never fail to be polite and never outstay your welcome. Just keep your mind open and suck in the experience and if it hurts, you know what? It’s probably worth it. You hope, and you dream but you never believe that something is going to happen for you, not like it does in the movies and when it actually does you expect it to feel different, more visceral, more real, I was waiting for it to hit me. I still believe in paradise but now at least I know it's not some place you can look for. Cause it's not where you go. It's how you feel for a moment in your life and if you find that moment it lasts forever.”

This became my mantra during that period of my life. Now it’s part of a collection of mantras that make up my life. Nine years later the songs still sound as fresh and as relevant to me as they did back then. Nine years later a soundtrack inspired by Danny Boyle’s latest work is in line to win three Oscars. In a way this is what makes Danny Boyle such a great director—he is truly in tune with the world. He is a man that wants to share a message with you, through a story, visually, and with the most powerful tool of all, music. The message is simple: we are all connected and we are all responsible for each other so let’s not fuck it up, people. The Beach is a perfect blend of genres and artists brought together by a shared fascination of world exploration through music. This was after all the theme of the book and the film—go out there and explore because you never know what you might find. So read the book before watching the movie, see the movie then listen to the soundtrack while you book a flight to anywhere in the world you haven’t been before. Then when you get back from the trip don’t be surprised if you find yourself buying The Beach Motion Picture Score as well. I know I wasn’t.

JANUARY09

Sukiyaki Western Django (2007)

Directed by: Takashi Miike

Written by: Takashi Miike and Masa Nakamura

From the opening scenes of Sukiyaki Western Django, you start getting an uneasy feeling in the pit of your stomach. You know what I’m talking about—the feeling that this is going to be either really good or extremely bad. The latter seemed to be the case with this one, a painful disappointment from the cult Japanese film director Takashi Miike. Originally, I was expecting this film to be something along the lines of Stephen Chow’s hilarious Kung Fu Hustle (you can thank the preview for that). Instead, I found myself watching a bad spoof of Kung Fu Hustle meets High Plains Drifter.

If you were to mix a cheesy Spaghetti Western, a samurai movie with no samurais, and an Anime feature that’s not really animated, in a bucked filled with unfunny, poorly written, plot-less crap then maybe you would come close to describing the film. (Yes, Quentin Tarantino is in the film and yes, he’s quite funny, but it’s not enough to save the movie.) Sukiyaki Western Django is based on characters created by Sergio Corbucci, a pioneer of the Spaghetti Western. The film’s poor excuse of a plot revolves around a lone gunfighter that comes to a remote western town called Nevada. The town of Nevada is run by two warring clans—the reds and the whites—each looking to strike it rich mining or stealing gold. Initially the lone gunfighter offers himself and his skills as a killer to the clan who will give him the largest share of the gold. Instead the gunfighter decides to help the remaining townspeople get their town back from the clans.

One of the things that really bothered me about the movie was that Japanese actors who clearly have no idea what they are saying speak every line in English. But the thing that actually broke the camel’s back for me was the character of the schizophrenic sheriff; I have never seen anything more annoying. Even though the film is nice to look at, it’s the flaws in the story and the sheer absurdity of the situations that make this movie a must miss.

JANUARY09

Kanye West – 808s & Heartbreak

I initially hesitated embracing 808s & Heartbreak when it came out a month ago because I just can’t stand the auto-tune vocal effect that Kanye West uses in every song. I know that right now it’s popular to use this effect in Hip-Hop but years from now everybody will be making fun of all the artists that thought it was cool. Much like what happened with Disco, the talk box, synthpop or that hit song from Cher that everyone chose to forget (yes, I know you know it but please keep it to yourself). With this album Kanye West has made it very clear that he wants to do more than just rap, but we all know that his singing voice isn’t the greatest.

Unfortunately, in order to overcome this minor setback, Kanye decided to use the auto-tune vocal effect as a way to make his crooner-wish come true. Well, here’s a suggestion for your next album, Mr. West: You’re already an incredible artist both as a producer and as a rapper, there is absolutely no need for you to be the next Usher, Justin Timberlake or R. Kelly. I mean, Puffy got it. So with that out of the way I feel it’s only fair that I give you some insight into the album and why I think that it’s worth buying. (So far my favorite tracks are “Say You Will,” “Love Lockdown,” “Paranoid,” “Bad News,” and “Coldest Winter.”)

808s & Heartbreak deals with loss and heartbreak, specifically with the loss of his mother Donda West and of his long-time girlfriend Alexis Phifer. You could say that this is his most personal album to date but this is always subject to interpretation. Throughout the album Kanye chooses to use live drums, the electronic beats of the Roland TR-808, various synth sounds and live orchestration. I feel that in the making of 808s & Heartbreak Kanye took a minimalist approach in order to highlight the lyrics and arrangements. This album is a change of direction from his traditional Dance, Hip Hop and R&B inspired tracks. Most of you will embrace 808s & Heartbreak right away, but for many Kanye fans (myself included) this will be the album that grows on you. Overall, I have to agree with most critics and give this album the praise it deserves. I just wish that I could go back in time and steal the auto-tune effect from the studio the day before they decided to start recording vocals for the album.