"Don't be a coconut," and other words of wisdom.
Multiple-choice quiz time.
Read and identify the following passage:
Some people think they're always right.
Others are quiet and uptight.
Others they seem so very nice.
Is the passage:
a) observations from my magazine?
b) lyrics from the new Strokes album?
c) an example of my middle school poetry?
d) a Jessica Simpson quote?
The correct answer is b. They are lyrics from "You Only Live Once," the first song on First impressions of the Earth.
Now let's see if you can apply acquired knowledge.
Read and identify the following passage:
I hate them all.
I hate them all.
I hate myself for hating them.
Is the passage:
a) a quote from a Dr. Phil mentee?
b) lyrics from the new Strokes album?
c) an example of my high school poetry?
d) Lindsay Lohan's thoughts on paparazzi?
Answer? B again. So as you can see, the lyrics on this album are atrocious. The songs aren't bad, though. ("Juicebox" is one of the best names for a song I've ever heard.) It's just that when you separate the words from the music, they sound like complete morons. And that is how the year in pop culture, 2006-edition, kicks off in terms of music.
Speaking of the year in pop culture, this is a little late.
Aeon Flux: C+
Guess whose idea it was to see this movie in the first place? (Hint: not mine). I used to watch Liquid Television, but I never really got into the full cartoon because I couldn't understand what was going on. At least being confused was interesting.
Pride & Prejudice: B
It's not really fair for me to judge this movie because I'm not its intended audience. I never take to "bonnet movies," especially if they're about girls flitting about and chirping about marriage. And double-especially if it's the type of thing were women refer to other women as being "handsome." As far as these types of movies go, though, this one was well acted and directed, except that the director chose to lengthen the space between scenes at the end when he should have sped things up (a lot of shots of Kiera Knightly pondering). But I didn't hate it, which is as good as this movie could have hoped for.
Breakfast on Pluto: A-
Cillian Murphy is always good times. Even moreso when the movie he's in is incredibly, incredibly Irish (see also: Intermission). I don't think he can pass for a woman as easily as John Leguizamo, but it's not his fault. Bonus performance: Brendon Gleeson!
Brokeback Mountain: B+/A-
I have to say, I'm a little disappointed. There was some filler, the ending fizzled, and Michelle Williams got stuck with a one-note character (and the most miserable babies to ever grace a movie screen). But the performances were amazing, and so was the kissing. Aow!
King Kong: A-/A
I talked too much about this movie already. But did I mention that they dangled Naomi Watts above a dinosaur and below another dinosaur?
The Family Stone: B+
Since The Royal Tenenbaums is my favorite movie ever (a family dramedy which stars Luke Wilson), I was genetically predisposed to like this one. Pros: Diane Keaton (my favorite performance of hers), Rachel McAdams, Luke Wilson, Paul Schneider, and sibling tussling. Cons: Dermot Mulroney and his whole storyline (who cares who he wants to marry?). I was very satisfied, but I didn't love this like McAdams loves Gosling.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: The IMAX Experience: B+/A-
Seeing the movie again wasn't really any different. But getting loaded up with candy and hitting up the IMAX in the Palisades mall is always a fantastic evening.
Rumor Has It: B
It has some clever lines, some good moments, and a couple of nice scenes. It's no Princess Bride, but it was a nice way to pass the day with my mom.
The Ringer: B-
In a way, I wish it were meaner. Does that make me a bad person?
Munich: A-
Eric Bana: totally the man. The way it was shot: brilliant and beautiful. The story felt messy to me, but every time I started to feel ire there was one of those awesome, long tracking shots to calm me down.
Match Point: B+
The middle was long and trivial, and there was certainly not enough Emily Mortimer. Every character had a babbling monologue, and some handled it better than others (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, not so good). But I really like the last 1/3 of it, which is probably the best thing I've said about a Woody Allen movie in five years.
Read and identify the following passage:
Some people think they're always right.
Others are quiet and uptight.
Others they seem so very nice.
Is the passage:
a) observations from my magazine?
b) lyrics from the new Strokes album?
c) an example of my middle school poetry?
d) a Jessica Simpson quote?
The correct answer is b. They are lyrics from "You Only Live Once," the first song on First impressions of the Earth.
Now let's see if you can apply acquired knowledge.
Read and identify the following passage:
I hate them all.
I hate them all.
I hate myself for hating them.
Is the passage:
a) a quote from a Dr. Phil mentee?
b) lyrics from the new Strokes album?
c) an example of my high school poetry?
d) Lindsay Lohan's thoughts on paparazzi?
Answer? B again. So as you can see, the lyrics on this album are atrocious. The songs aren't bad, though. ("Juicebox" is one of the best names for a song I've ever heard.) It's just that when you separate the words from the music, they sound like complete morons. And that is how the year in pop culture, 2006-edition, kicks off in terms of music.
Speaking of the year in pop culture, this is a little late.
Aeon Flux: C+
Guess whose idea it was to see this movie in the first place? (Hint: not mine). I used to watch Liquid Television, but I never really got into the full cartoon because I couldn't understand what was going on. At least being confused was interesting.
Pride & Prejudice: B
It's not really fair for me to judge this movie because I'm not its intended audience. I never take to "bonnet movies," especially if they're about girls flitting about and chirping about marriage. And double-especially if it's the type of thing were women refer to other women as being "handsome." As far as these types of movies go, though, this one was well acted and directed, except that the director chose to lengthen the space between scenes at the end when he should have sped things up (a lot of shots of Kiera Knightly pondering). But I didn't hate it, which is as good as this movie could have hoped for.
Breakfast on Pluto: A-
Cillian Murphy is always good times. Even moreso when the movie he's in is incredibly, incredibly Irish (see also: Intermission). I don't think he can pass for a woman as easily as John Leguizamo, but it's not his fault. Bonus performance: Brendon Gleeson!
Brokeback Mountain: B+/A-
I have to say, I'm a little disappointed. There was some filler, the ending fizzled, and Michelle Williams got stuck with a one-note character (and the most miserable babies to ever grace a movie screen). But the performances were amazing, and so was the kissing. Aow!
King Kong: A-/A
I talked too much about this movie already. But did I mention that they dangled Naomi Watts above a dinosaur and below another dinosaur?
The Family Stone: B+
Since The Royal Tenenbaums is my favorite movie ever (a family dramedy which stars Luke Wilson), I was genetically predisposed to like this one. Pros: Diane Keaton (my favorite performance of hers), Rachel McAdams, Luke Wilson, Paul Schneider, and sibling tussling. Cons: Dermot Mulroney and his whole storyline (who cares who he wants to marry?). I was very satisfied, but I didn't love this like McAdams loves Gosling.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: The IMAX Experience: B+/A-
Seeing the movie again wasn't really any different. But getting loaded up with candy and hitting up the IMAX in the Palisades mall is always a fantastic evening.
Rumor Has It: B
It has some clever lines, some good moments, and a couple of nice scenes. It's no Princess Bride, but it was a nice way to pass the day with my mom.
The Ringer: B-
In a way, I wish it were meaner. Does that make me a bad person?
Munich: A-
Eric Bana: totally the man. The way it was shot: brilliant and beautiful. The story felt messy to me, but every time I started to feel ire there was one of those awesome, long tracking shots to calm me down.
Match Point: B+
The middle was long and trivial, and there was certainly not enough Emily Mortimer. Every character had a babbling monologue, and some handled it better than others (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, not so good). But I really like the last 1/3 of it, which is probably the best thing I've said about a Woody Allen movie in five years.