Salmon Fishing in the Yemen - Movie Review

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (PG-13) 111 minutes B-
Fishes with Feelings

Starring Ewan McGregor, Emily Blunt, Amr Waked and Kristin Scott Thomas

This is a slow moving film that is worth sticking around to the end if you like romantic drama.  It was a little hard to give a damn about the sheik with a heart of gold, his passion for salmon fishing, blah blah blah...  All I really want to know is, will Emily Blunt and the sour-faced Ewan McGregor ever get together?  She has a war hero boyfriend, he has a business driven wife and lifeless marriage.  The film keeps you guessing a little, and I have to admit that it won me over in the end.  Salmon Fishing also stars Kristin Scott Thomas, who I usually cannot get enough of.  But here she is used for comic relief, and I was not impressed.  Based on a novel by Paul Torday. 

The Art of Noise (Concert Review)

Xiu Xiu @ the Bluebird 5/23/12 w/ Father Murphy and Dirty Beaches B-

via my cell phone

Tonight's show was not for everyone, as evident by the 100 people (give or take a few) who attended.  The show opened with the Italian trio, Father Murphy, who performed their horror film inspired songs to a crowd of about 30.  Followed by Dirty Beaches, who wowed the sparse audience with an intriguing noise filled set that featured lead singer Alex Hungtai's Elvis style crooning amongst a sea of distortion and feedback... it was quite beautiful.  Finally, the experimental art-rock band from San Jose, Xiu Xiu, took the stage and played a blistering set of about 12 to 13 songs.  The duo (Jamie Stewart and Angela Seo) didn't cracked a smile all night, and Stewart seemed to be suffering from a slight illness.  Between songs he was sure to take a swig of water, and at one point he fell and left the stage.  Upon his return, he uttered something about dying and thanked the crowd for coming.  Despite the aforementioned mishap, Xiu Xiu still put on a great set, albeit, one that was too short for my liking.

Stranger Danger & the God Lovin' Man (Book Review)

The Stranger by Albert Camus B

Publication Date: January 1942

I really wanted to like Meursault (the protagonist), but eventually I realized that he was fatally flawed. I had to read this book for an existential film and literature class, and I am so glad I did.     

Original Publication Date: 1843 

Fear and Trembling by Soren Kierkegaard D-

Had I known a little more about Kierkegaard before reading this book I would've had a different perspective. As it was, I thought it was preachy and repetitive…I hated it. 

For A Good Time... (Concert Review)

Katie Herzig @ the Bluebird Theatre 5/16/2012 w/ Matthew Perryman Jones B

I have seen Katie Herzig and her talented band three times, at three different venues around Denver.  The locales include: pizza bar, dive bar, and most recently, the Bluebird Theatre.  The thing I like most about Herzig is that where ever she performs she sounds phenomenal. My girlfriend is the real fan here, but whenever I go to a Katie Herzig show I can always count on some good clean fun.

Family Ties (Book Review)

The Mistress's Daughter by A.M. Homes B

Publication Date: April 2007

This book surprised me. I knew it was about adoption, but I was also hoping it was about her writing life. Having little knowledge of the adoption process, I didn't expect that aspect to interest me as much. But, to my surprise, the journey of finding her biological parents was totally strange, heartfelt and intriguing.