500 Days of Summer RS Review

After watching the best film of summer, I realized I wasn't sure how to sell people on watching it. I found this review at Rollingstone.com and thought it really captured everything great about the film. Enjoy.

Boy meets girl, boy loses girl. It’s been done to emo death. That’s why the sublimely smart-sexy-joyful-sad (500) Days of Summer hits you like a blast of pure romantic oxygen. It turns the genre on its empty head and sees relationships for what they are — a bruising business. Someone’s heart always gets ripped out. Meet Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt, letting his charm flag fly), a would-be architect idling in L.A. as a writer of greeting cards. In strolls his boss’s new assistant, Summer (the glorious Zooey Deschanel), and Tom’s a goner. For her, prizing independence, their affair is a lark. For him, raised on sappy Brit pop and a total misreading of The Graduate (he thinks the ending is happy), it’s love. So when she walks away, firmly but with kindness, you feel the pain, the kind that evaporates quickly only on sitcoms.

Marc Webb is a debuting feature director with style to burn. With a seriously funny and touching script by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber, the movie spins a variation on Memento, shuffling through Tom’s 500 days with Summer in a random order that lets us see the fun times and the fault lines. A gimmick? Maybe. But Deschanel and Gordon- Levitt are star-crossed lovers to die for. They play it for real, with a grasp of subtlety and feeling that goes beyond the call of breezy duty.

This knockout of a movie expertly blends bliss (a dance number complete with an animated blue jay after Tom spends his first night in bed with Summer) and the blues (a split-screen segment in which Tom’s expectation of winning back Summer clashes with reality). The ending is tidy and way too cute, but (500) Days is otherwise a different kind of love story: an honest one that takes a piece out of you.



PETER TRAVERS

"The Informant" Trailer

The latest collaboration between Matt Damon and Steven Soderbergh (Traffic, Ocean’s trilogy) is the political comedy/thriller entitled The Informant!, that (according to the poster and the trailer) comes equipped with its very own exclamation point. Based on a true story, the plot is of a company vice president-turned informant, Mark Whitacre (Damon), who helps the FBI to take down the company he works for that’s being accused of pricing-fixing tactics. Check out the poster and trailer for the film that is sure to get great reviews and produce Oscar buzz (now that up to 10 movies will be nominated for Best Picture).

Ghostland Observatory - Sad Sad City

I am not sure if this is the official music video for the band but, it's fantastic. Ghostland Observatory can be purchased on Amazon and iTunes. Ghostland Observatory - Sad Sad City.

WEEDS mid-season review.

Nancy Botwin is in over her head more than ever this season. Her boyfriend is only keeping her alive because she's pregnant with his offspring. She told the FBI about his smuggling of drugs/people through tunnels and that ruined any trust the once head. Shane (15) is beating up his teacher and using a gun. Her oldest son is opening his own medical marijuana center. Andy is finally growing up and not letting Nancy do everything for him. This season has brought back the comedy that the show lost last season. Kevin Nealon and Elizabeth Perkins are brining the laughs in full force this season. The season has added Nancy's sister played by Jennifer Jason Leigh with great angst and humor. This seasons' every episode feels like Nancy could die at any moment. It would be terrible if they killed the most lovable drug dealing mom in Television history. If you stopped watching last season, please start up again with the most enjoyable episodes of 'Weeds' since season 2. Nancy has lost control of everyone around her and it's great watching her struggle. "Weeds" can be seen on Showtime, Monday's at 10pm followed by the very fresh show "Nurse Jackie."

Song of the Week: The Kills- Sour Cherry

The Kills bring a terrific song and beat together for their new single "Sour Cherry." Check out the unofficial video below and enjoy your week.

BRUNO Review

Sacha Baron Cohen film reveals that there is no limit to his dedication to shock. The film is less about making fun of homosexuals and more about pointing out the intolerances of others. Bruno is more in your face than Cohen's 'Borat' character. The film doesn't have the funny sidekick of his last movie but unlike 'Borat', 'Bruno' doesn't need one. 'Bruno' is only 82 minutes but it doesn't have a moment without something hilariously offensive happening on screen. It's very funny and you've seen a lot in the trailer, but you have no idea about how graphic the film really is.
'Borat' was more family friendly and 'Bruno' is more for an age group of 20-40 that is very open to sexual humor. The adoption of an African American baby is one of the movies' least shocking moments. Without giving anything away 'Bruno' is hilarious and moves very quickly through it's scenes. A particular scene during the focus groups stint is perhaps what will stay with you after it's over. Larry Charles (Seinfeld, Borat) does a great job of not staying too long on any one scene. 'Bruno' might not be as funny as 'Borat' but definitely stands alone as a great comedy. With the past month being the one of the worst summer months in years, 'Bruno' is worth the price of admission. Check it out and appreciate the sacrifices Cohen makes to keep you laughing.

Coeur De Pirate - Fondu Au Noir

I came across this song while scanning hundreds of songs over the weekend. I don't speak French but there is something haunting about the opening and closing piano. I have a 'French for Dummies' book and want to learn just so I can fully understand the meaning of this song. Please give it a listen and enjoy this beautifully tragic tune.

Invention of Lying Trailer

One of the smartest comedic scripts in years is finally coming out this fall. From a screenplay written by Ricky Gervais comes a great premise, centered around a world where everyone tells the truth and one loser discovers the act of lying. The all-star cast includes Jennifer Garner, Tina Fey, Louis C.K., Rob Lowe and Jonah Hill. The original title was "The Other Side of the Truth," I prefer the original title but studios always have their ways. Check out the trailer and post some feedback.

Raaaaaaaaandy from Funny People

Aziz Ansari has created the funniest fictional stand up comedian in comedy today. The character I have been raving about for six months, has finally posted his videos to his new website. You can watch all videos including an amazing soundboard at www.LaughYourDickOff.com. If that's not enough the film (FUNNY PEOPLE) in which Aziz's character Randy is featured comes out July 31st from Universal Pictures. Check out Aziz as www.azizisbored.com or on Parks and Recreation this Fall on NBC @ 8:30. Hope you enjoy these videos.