Wanting More From Marriage (A Book Review)

Publication Date: April 2012

An Amateur Marriage by Jessie Carty C

I really liked The Wait of Atom, Carty's 2009 poetry chapbook.  I love the cover of An Amateur Marriage, and I am intrigued by domestic poetry and fiction. But many of these poems just didn't evoke the level of emotion I was hoping for. That being said, my favorites were; "To the Boy in the Lobster Sweater," "Ars Poetica" and "First House, First Summer."

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World - Movie Review

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (R) 101 minutes C+
The end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine.

Starring Steve Carell, Keira Knightley, Adam Brody, Gillian Jacobs, Melanie Lynskey, Connie Britton, T.J. Miller, Rob Corddry and Derek Luke

Keira Knightley is a nice actress, but she just doesn't do it for me.  By this I mean, I have never seen her in a film in which she resonates above the material (your recommendations are welcomed).  She stars in one of my favorite films, 2003's Love Actually, but even there I tend to forget about her among all of the talented actors and actresses.  However, Seeking a Friend for the End of the World does boost her up a notch on the likability scale.  Here she is terminally cute and whimsical, the perfect remedy for a depressed Steve Carell, whose wife has recently left him. 

This film was a little different than I expected, the first quarter of it felt a little hokey.  But it got better, and the ending was strong.  Carell is very high on my likability scale.  This is not his best work, but he is good enough.  Written and directed by Lorene Scafaria, this romantic dramedy is worth seeing.  Though, I recommend renting it, or catching it at your local second-run (discount) movie theater.

Your Sister's Sister - Movie Review

Your Sister's Sister (R) 90 minutes A-
Wanna get away

Starring Emily Blunt, Mark Duplass, Rosemarie DeWitt

The premise of this film might sound cliche - boy loves girl, girl loves boy, boy bonks girl's sister.  Yet, this quiet film speaks volumes.  It is tremendously real and heartfelt.  One of the year's best offerings. Seek it out & enjoy.  Highly recommended.

Prometheus - Movie Review

Prometheus (R) 124 minutes C
Hallo Space boy

Starring Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Guy Pearce, Idris Elba, Logan Marshall-Green, Charlize Theron, Sean Harris and Rafe Spall     

Prometheus is a so-so fantastic voyage. Initially, it was meant to be a prequel to Alien, circa 1979, but director Ridley Scott decided that this latest reincarnation was strong enough to stand on its own. It’s not as good as the aforementioned Alien film, but it does have some interesting (if not fantastical) meditations on theology.

The first half of the film felt pedestrian, yet sufficient enough to keep me curious. The second half was more engaging, due in large part to Michael Fassbender. He was absolutely magnificent as the unemotional android.

Prometheus might be worthwhile for sci-fi fans, but everyone else should proceed with caution.
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Bonus DVD Review

Red State (R) 88 minutes C
On with the body count

Release Date: October 2011
Starring Michael Parks, Michael Angarano, Kerry Bishe, Nicholas Braun, Kyle Gallner, John Goodman, Melissa Leo, Kevin Pollak, Stephen Root and Cooper Thornton

Red State is an intriguing film and departure from the norm for writer/director Kevin Smith.  But the film has an uneven feel.  Some of the scenes tend to drag on much longer than necessary.  The story follows three horny teenage boys who are kidnapped and torched by a religious cult.  File under Tarantino-lite.

Rock of Ages - Movie Review

Rock of Ages (PG-13) 123 minutes D
Aside from a few toe tappers, forget about it

Starring Julianne Hough, Diego Boneta, Russell Brand, Paul Giamatti, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Malin Akerman, Mary J. Blige, Bryan Cranston, Alec Baldwin, Tom Cruise, Will Forte, Erica Frene and Angelo Valderrama

Believe me, I really wanted to like this film.  But, this piece of over-produced fluff is gag worthy.  Hey, I got nothing against the hair bands of the 80s, some of that music plays like the soundtrack to my middle school years.  Yet, Rock of Ages is like a bad SNL skit set to music.  Film critic Rex Reed called it the worse film he has seen since "Battlefield Earth and Howard the Duck," and he went on to say that Rock of Ages is so bad it makes Burlesque look like an under appreciated masterpiece."  Maybe I should've paid $8.50 to read Rex Reed's review, it was much more entertaining than the film.

Crooked Arrows - Movie Review

Crooked Arrows (PG-13) 105 mins C-
Straight & Narrow: Exploring heritage through lacrosse

Starring Brandon Routh, Gil Birmingham, Crystal Allen, Chelsea Ricketts

Native Americans and lacrosse are two things we rarely see featured on the big screen, let alone together.  Joe Logan (Routh) is a mix blooded Native American and former high school lacrosse star who has become a fancy pants entrepreneur.  In order to close his latest blockbuster business deal, the native son must win the approval of the reservation's tribal council.  The only way that is going to happen is by coaching the reservation's high school lacrosse team- a ragtag bunch of underwhelming underdogs.  Naturally, turning this team around will also restore pride and help him rediscover his roots.

The film is uplifting, in an after school special sort of way.  It's very family friendly; however, it is predictable, cheesy and cliche.  It would be better suited as a television movie, rather than a full length feature film.

King of Laurel Canyon (Music Review)

First Impression Music Review
John Mayer - Born and Raised B+

Released May 2012 

A friend recently asked me, "is the new John Mayer a covers album?"  It is not, but it does have a certain familiarity.  On Born and Raised Mayer channels his inner CSNY with a dash of Ryan Adams.  The album is produced by music vet Don Was, and is full of catchy folk-rock that sounds honest and heartfelt.

His public screw-ups make this album all the more interesting because of its confessional nature.  Some of the juicy bits suggest that "Shadow Days" is a response to Taylor Swift, the "Queen of California" is about Jennifer Aniston, and the title track is about his parents divorce.  Regardless what/who the songs are about, Mayer has constructed an impressive piece of Americana.  The album isn't perfect, but it speaks to me.  It has been a fixture in my compact disc player since I got it.
  
Favorite tracks - Shadow Days, Born and Raised, Queen of California, Walt Grace's Submarine Test January 1967

The Dictator - Movie Review

The Dictator (R) 83 minutes D-
A candidate for worst film of the year 

Starring Sacha Baron Cohen, Anna Faris, Ben Kingsley and Jason Mantzoukas

Jason Mantzoukas is the only reason I didn't give this an F.  The Dictator is disastrously unfunny and stupid.  I walked out of the theatre feeling like, "I could do that!"  A complete waste of time.              

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.