Art, Film Review, Films, pictures, reviews, Video

Classic Film Review: Punch Drunk Love

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Full Title: Punch Drunk Love
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Year: 2002
Comments: Ever since I was a little kid I have been a fan of Adam Sandler as a comedian, but after watching this film I have gained more respect/appreciation for him than ever before. For years people told me to see this film and I put it off for whatever reasons (now, I’m kicking myself in the teeth for waiting so long!). I have seen Sandler in “serious” roles in Reign Over Me (2007) and Funny People (2009), but neither of these films convinced me that Sandler was (or could be) a terrific actor. PDL has done just that for me and so much more. Firstly, the story tells the tale of Barry Egan (Sandler), a businessman that suffers from severe social issues and has yet to make any real connection with anyone in his life, particularly a romantic relationship, which he clearly desires. Soon, he finds his sister hooking him up with a sweet friend from her work, Lena (Emily Watson), whom oddly takes a liking to Barry (and vice versa) and attempts to understand his peculiar, little world. Now, it is time for the timid, introverted Barry to obliterate his defense mechanisms and for once actually live his life. All in all, this is a top notch flick, Paul Thomas Anderson is a master raconteur: the story is slow, but purposefully slow, if that makes any sense. It revels in its characters, letting them develop, so when they finally ACT it is all the more meaninful. Also, the music is incredible and nicely complements what is happening on screen. We hear a loud, pounding score that perfectly corresponds to the mayhem occuring in the paranoid, disturbed brain of Barry’s. Without a doubt, one of the finest films of the last decade. I plan on revisiting this in the future.

Grade: A- (9/10)

Comedy, Entertainment, humor, TV, Video

Remember This Show?: Freaks and Geeks

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Classic TV show that sadly I never tuned into; I hope at least some of you did. I can’t believe I just started watching this now, man I didn’t know what I was missing! Freaks and Geeks will appear in my upcoming “Chris’s Top TV Shows” list.

Music, music video, Who Did It Better?

Who Did it Better? “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”

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Back with another song and this time I am going to put the Rolling Stones up to task against Otis Redding and Cat Power using their classic “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”

First up: The Rolling Stones

Next up: Otis Redding

Lastly: Cat Power

I am sticking with the Stones hands down on this one, I dig Ottis and Cat Power but when they were in their prime, in my view The Rolling Stones was the greatest rock band of all time.

CD Review, Music, The Beets

CD Review: Stay Home [2011]

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Band: The Beets
Release: 1/2011
Label: Captured Tracks

1. “Cold Lips” – A-
2. “Dead” – B
3. “Hens and Roosters” – A-
4. “Watching T.V.” – B
5. “Pops N’ Me” –  A-
6. “Floating” – A-
7. “Eat No Dick 2” – C
8. “Let It Dim” – B-
9. “Knock On Wood” – B-
10. “Just A Whim” – A-
11. “Your Name Is On My Bones” – A-
12. “Young Girls” – B+
13. “Flight 14” – A-

Comments: The Beets of Queens, New York (word to Queens — the best borough in NYC), a staple in the NYC DIY community, have followed up their first collection of songs with Stay Home, thirteen new songs about staying home. The coy, stripped down nature of these tunes are typically inviting and catchy. Stay Home is definitely meritorious of better acclaim than it will probably get. The more ‘professional’ music personalities will most likely brush this to the side given its home recording quality. The songs themselves have a Beat Happening feel to them, driven by neat vocal harmonies (“Floating”) and puerile topics (“Hens and Roosters,” “Pops and Me”). What separates The Beets from the rest of them is the singer Juan Wauters…his accent and delivery, specifically.

Grade: B (86)

Music, music video, Tours, Video

Who to See: Neko Case or Tapes n’ Tapes

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I was as going to go to the Tapes n’ Tapes concert at the Paradise on February 3, but instead I am considering going to go see Neko Case at the Wilbur. It is a tough decision actually I never saw either of them live and you never know what can happen, bands break up, Neko Case could not tour for another 5 years, stuff happens. I remember the first concert I was going to see was Elliott Smith, I ended up missing the show which turned out to be his last tour before he died. So I figured I would take this oppurtunity to occasionally take a look at who is playing at various places in Boston in a new feature “Who to See” . The idea is simple, you listen to a song from a couple of artist playing in the area on that date (date will be chosen based on who’s playing and how far in advance) and you decide who you would rather see.

First Up: Neko Case “People Got A Lotta Nerve”

Next: Tapes n’ Tapes “Insistor”

So let me know what you think!

Boston based shows/fests – DIY, punk, noise