Jeff Garlin’s I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With

Fuzzy Bits:

Released October 26, 2007

Last Film: None, directorial debut.

Directed by: Jeff Garlin

Written by: Jeff Garlin

Starring: Jeff Garlin, Sarah Silverman

Overall Rating: 71

Like a tourist roaming around admiring the tall buildings and wonderment– attempting to take everything in all at once but simultaneously being overwhelmed by that same scene, Garlin’s I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With is an interesting love letter to the city of Chicago. It tries to capture the beauty of the city, and sometimes pulls it off, but too often it fails, and it fails miserably. So far lost in the wonderment of a hapless loser trying to find love in a lovely city, the plot and film as a whole becomes a meaningless puzzle of nuances that doesn’t even bother resolving. There’s no real resolution to any of Garlin’s immediate problems, characters have been rendered to extended cameos, and when the credits begin to roll the film becomes a really tough pill to swallow. So what makes the film stay afloat? Well, for one, every single actor in this movie is great, even if they had little or nothing to work with. Amy Sedaris, Sarah Silverman, and Bonnie Hunt in particular are all incredibly good and bring a much needed vibrancy to the film. Meanwhile there are a number of other famous Chicago acts that appear in the film which keep things interesting, furthermore, seeing Chicago showcased the way it should be was a very pleasant experience on its own. Truthfully, in principal the entire movie was a very good idea, its just that the freewheeling dialogue led to an incredibly slow and torturous pace that hinted at something better but never got there, so instead of Manhattan, we’re stuck in Dullsville. Maybe if Garlin had spent as much time focusing on the film than whining about Marty remakes, it could’ve gotten somewhere. It’s a tough recommendation, but I do know that this is the kind of film that will pop up on IFC or some indie film channel later on and in that setting, it’s worth seeing. It’s a cute movie to be sure, but I don’t know if it’s a movie worth paying for.

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Wes Anderson’s The Darjeeling Limited

Fuzzy Bits:

Released October 26, 2007

Last Film: The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)

Directed by: Wes Anderson

Written by: Wes Anderson, Roman Coppolla, Jason Schwartzman

Starring: Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, Jason Schwartzman

Overall Rating: 88

 

While the plot and cast are somewhat familiar, particularly those well acquainted with the world of Wes Anderson, perhaps the biggest surprise came from a guy who, going into the film, I thought would be a liability, Adrien Brody. Where Life Aquatic seemed to fall apart, The Darjeeling Limited succeeds, and where it succeeds most is with the chemistry that is presented on screen. With the slow, steady pace that Anderson has become known for, not to mention the abundance of subtlety that lies within his films, it is almost a necessity that the actors bring out the best in Anderson’s work. When it works well, the results are something along the lines of Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaums, and when it doesn’t, you end up with The Life Aquatic, which was a movie that, despite its humor-filled quirks ultimately never got going. The Darjeeling Limited fits in somewhere in between, it certainly does not have the tightness of the earlier films, but it more than makes up for that in the liveliness of characters in this film. This is most notable with the three brothers. Brody, Wilson, and Schwartzman are all very good, and while I wish it weren’t necessary to watch Hotel Chevalier in order to get the full scoop on the background of Schwartzman’s character, the film still strikes a chord regardless. The film functions in somewhat of a unique way in that it’s a forced road movie, and the force isn’t fate or anything like that, but rather it is forced on by Francis’ (played by Owen Wilson) desires to reunite with his brothers and embark on a spiritual journey. Along the way through this journey, the brothers attempt to find meaning in every little occurrence– the significance of which is certainly debatable– are they making fun of the viewers or simply evoking the essence of cinema? With each of them carrying more than their share of baggage, there is certainly a lot of dysfunctionality to go around. Of course, like Anderson’s earlier films, the dysfunction that occurs in this film is done in a very endearing way, and the character depth is stunning, arguably deeper than any other of his films. That being said, each moment is delicately and vividly shot, as Anderson takes full advantage of the on location setting, so even when there doesn’t appear to be much going on, you’re still enthralled by the stunning backdrops. Overall, The Darjeeling Limited is a lot of fun, but moves at the speed of life. If you can’t handle that, then be weary, otherwise prepare yourself for a journey where meaning has unexpected significance.

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Bruce Springsteen Magic

Fuzzy Bits:

Released October 2, 2007

Last Album: We Shall Overcome- The Seeger Sessions (2006)

Sounds Like: Another fine album from The Boss.

Overall Rating: 90

 

 

 

 

 

Bruce Springsteen has got his anthems down, doesn’t he? Just about every album with him and the E Street Band has at least one, and they all somehow work. "Radio Nowhere" is no different, with great energy, a crunching riff, and a "stomp your feet, clap your hands" kind of beat that is sure to win over fans of the Boss as well as the kids that waste their lives on MTV. Almost like the upbeat sibling of The Rising, Magic isn’t as cheerful as the music would lead you to believe, as the seemingly gleeful "Livin’ in the Future" contains lyrics like "Woke up election day/Sky’s gunpowder and shades of grey." That being said, because Magic isn’t nearly as heavy handed in politics and bleakness, it is somewhat more palatable, especially so for casual listeners. Songs like "You’ll Be Coming Down" and "Livin’ In The Future," and "Girls in Their Summer Clothes" will undoubtedly remind listeners of Springsteen’s earlier albums, which is too bad because the production of Magic leaves much to be desired. For all of the prowess that Springsteen and the E Street Band possess, it is completely lost in translation on this album. It’s as if producer Brendan O’Brien took the music and put it through a funnel until it sounded as thin and lifeless as it possibly could. The production miscues are especially noticeable on the title track, which takes what really should have been a edgy, haunting piece and turns it into a hokey, half-assed effort, with Springsteen’s voice being echoed throughout as if he decided to sing background vocals from a cave. I guess the album was meant to be so nostalgic though that it is supposed to sound like you’re hearing it on your AM radio. That aside, Magic is chockful of good songs, and is still enjoyable, production faults notwithstanding. In addition to the single, the aforementioned "You’ll Be Coming Down" and "Livin’ in the Future" as well as "I’ll Work For Your Love" are all highlights. I’m sure die-hards pre-ordered this album months before the release, but if you’re sitting on the fence about it, go ahead and buy it– it’s got staying power.

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Fuzzy Live: Interpol @ Aragon Ballroom (10/11/07)

Slinking through one song after another with a ravenous pace, the guys from NYC left a very good and long lasting impression upon those in attendance at the Aragon. This was my third time seeing them in concert, and was probably the best form I’d seen them in of the three shows. While Interpol has hardly ever been the flashy type, they had some interesting segueway jams in between some of their songs, while bassist Carlos Dengler continued to impress with not only his solid play but of the bunch, he is the best in terms of showmanship. Perhaps what I enjoyed most about their performance was that, unlike many other bands who perform in support of their latest album, Interpol did not jam the new stuff down fans’ throats, but instead put out a very well-executed set list that sprinkled in probably some of the best songs from their new album along with other fan favorites. This is almost always a recipe for success, and even though they never play for long (about an hour and thirty minutes), they make the most of their set.

Setlist below:

Pioneer in the Falls
Obstacle 1
C’mere
NARC
Say Hello to the Angels
The Scale
Mammoth
Take You on a Cruise
No I in Threesome
Slow Hands
Rest My Chemistry
The Heinrich Maneuver
Evil
Not Even Jail

Encore:
Untitled
Stella Was a Diver and She Was Always Down
PDA

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New Review: Radiohead In Rainbows

Fuzzy Bits:

Released October 10, 2007 (Digitally)

Last Album: Hail to the Thief (2003)

Sounds Like: The best Radiohead album since OK Computer, an instant classic.

Overall Rating: 100

With the digital release of this album, I would like to consider it something of a preview of the full on In Rainbows experience. The cost of that experience is completely up to you, as I indicated earlier, but for the record, a price really cannot be put on In Rainbows. Every track on the album is spectacular, with "15 Steps" leading as a suitable introduction, taking us from the world that Thom Yorke occupied in his solo effort as well as Kid A/Amnesiac and bringing the listener to a whole ‘nother realm that had yet been uncovered. There are elements that sound familiar in just about all the songs, but Radiohead has pushed the envelope to the point that they’ve just about outdone everything they’ve released since OK Computer. "Nude" is absolutely stunning, with Yorke’s vocals gliding beautifully over the sparse arrangements. Elsewhere, on the opening "15 Steps" as well as "Weird Fishes/Arpeggi," drummer Phil Selway is probably the most prominent he’s ever been– as he plays an integral part in these songs due to  the drum and bass underpinnings. Meanwhile, the piano-driven "All I Need" and bittersweet "Faust Arp" counteract the heavier tracks with their lush arrangements, particularly the balance between the strings and guitars on "Faust Arp." "Reckoner" is also hauntingly beautiful, as it almost constantly evolves and undergoes the strange yet familiar kind of metamorphoses that can only happen in the world of Radiohead. "House of Cards" is another intriguing piece, and relies on a stellar riff and beat, with growing underlying tension that makes the overall sound not too far off from something that would be heard on a Massive Attack album. There are two rockers on this album, something that I sorely missed from Radiohead’s earlier days. The first rocker, which is probably the only true rocker on the album, is "Bodysnatchers," which sounds like something that was left off of The Bends. With its fuzzy bass and blazing licks from Jonny Greenwood, this is something that should make fans of the louder Radiohead songs somewhat happy. The latter one, "Jigsaw Falling into Place" isn’t so much a rocker in the OK Computer or The Bends sense, but rather something that is in the same vein as Amnesiac and Hail to the Thief except much better in execution. Yorke’s waterfall vocals coincide perfectly with the guitar work and haunting "oohs" in the background. The most barren track on the album is the closing "Videotape," which could very well be the saddest song Radiohead has ever recorded. Despite that, it contains such an outstanding glimmer of beauty in its music, that between the arrangements and Yorke’s powerful lyrics, you cannot help but enjoy the song. Tight, polished and compelling, this is the Radiohead album I’ve been waiting for. Not only have they met my expectations but they thoroughly exceeded them with this album. In Rainbows is a masterpiece from start to finish, and if it sounds this good on MP3, I can’t imagine how it must sound on disc. The time away from the record label has done Radiohead a lot of good, and has seem to have given them a tremendous amount of energy as they have created not only their best album since OK Computer but also their most focused effort. If you’re reading this review, I’m hoping you already have the download in your possession at the very least, because you deserve to know what perfect music sounds like, and it won’t even cost you a thing. So what are you waiting for? The wicked and wonderful world of Radiohead has come for us once again, and it’s a trip well worth taking.

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Walk Hard: The Trailer

Ordinarily movies do not get a lot of mention here, especially as of late, but this is a project for which I will certainly make exception for. Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Sotry looks to be this generations Spinal Tap, a spoof of the ever popular musical biopic genre that has been flooding the box office lately. Written by Judd Apatow (who’s en fuego lately) and fellow “Freaks and Geeks” writer Jake Kasdan (who’s also directing), the premise can basically be summed up as Forrest Gump meets Walk the Line where the title character overcomes adversity and essentially follows the typical rock and roll arc while meeting every rock legend along the way. With John C. Reilly playing the lead, Paul Rudd playing John Lennon, Justin Long as George Harrison, and a laundry list of other guys and gals (Jack White as Elvis Presley should be interesting), this movie has all the makings of a surefire hit for when it comes out in time for Christmas. Trailer is embedded below:

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Radiohead fans rejoice!

In Rainbows coming October 10 for as much as you want

Yes, you read that correctly. You can pre-order the digital version upcoming album for as little or as much as you wish (so if you don’t want to pay squat, you don’t have to). Of course there’s a catch (there’s always a catch right?), in that there will also be a “discbox” version offered that pretty much puts the download to shame. Probably considered to be the most desired of the two for die-hards, the “discbox” features In Rainbows on CD, vinyl and also comes with a bonus disc, and additional photos/artwork. Before you start to head over to Radiohead’s site to purchase, be warned that it will cost you– £40 to be exact (that’s about $80 for us in the USA). Furthermore, the “discbox” version won’t reach your home until December 3rd. My suggestion would be to pick up the download for x amount and hope that the “discbox” is released in stores– or wait for the ebay bloodhounds to get their greedy hands on it. Either way, you can order the latest release here.

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