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velvet.goldmine.

nobody@vox.com(.tiff) — Fri, 16 May 2008 14:15:05 -0700

Last night Kat and I watched Velvet Goldmine, a film loosely based around the story of David Bowie's concept character Ziggy Stardust. Featuring a beautifully androgynous blonde Jonathan Rhys Meyers as the star Brian Slade, and paired alongside Ewan McGregor and Christian Bale, the film is saturated with the glittering life of the glamrock scene in the 70's and lined with colorful musical interludes and performances. The soundtrack beautifully compliments the film, and now I'm sitting here this afternoon, spring fevered and starry eyed to the album. Here are a few of my favorite tracks so far:

Ballad Of Maxwell Demon

Shudder To Think

Satellite Of Love

Lou Reed

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wild.zero.

nobody@vox.com(.tiff) — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 15:50:16 -0800

Wild Zero

A lot went on this weekend, but the weather and the worst parts of it have left me particularly grumpy and displeased this Sunday afternoon. To battle this disquietude, I fondly pull from my memory the moments of the movie Wild Zero that I loved best. The film, starring the Japanese Rock and Roll band Guitar Wolf, is an all encompassing testament to some of the best things you can find in a movie: gangsters, rock and roll, scooters, cute rockabilly Japanese boys, zombies, weapon dealer mullets, aliens, and transsexual love affairs. In other words, it's a must see.

Since I can't find any photos of the hotty weapons dealer chick in a high cut jumpsuit, I'll just swoon a bit over this precious screen shot of Ace:

Ace

UPDATE: Francz V kindly snapped a few more memorable shots from the film... including one of my favorite moments. Ace questions the nature of his newfound love, but Guitar Wolf appears quickly to remind him that Love has no borders, nationalities or genders!!!

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the.poughkeepsie.tapes.

nobody@vox.com(.tiff) — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 10:13:43 -0800

Looks like some filmmaker saw a buck or two to be made in exploiting the prostitute murders that happened in Poughkeepsie in the early 90's with this horror film The Poughkeepsie Tapes. The Internets seem to go back and forth between being over the whole 'shaky-cam' horror experience or being totally creeped the f*ck out. Those who went to see it at the Tribeca film festival this summer however say that its pretty damned scary.

With efforts to build up my horror film resume, I will probably see this when it comes out in February 2008. Let's just say I'm thankful that I've finished my time at Vassar before watching this movie. If it proves to be a decent flick, Poughkeepsie will finally have two good things to its name: The Poughkeepsie Tapes, and Soul Dog.

The Poughkeepsie Tapes

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gwoemul.

nobody@vox.com(.tiff) — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 14:24:13 -0800

Gwoemul or The Host is an excitable yet quirky Korean horror film who's rights have already been purchased by Universal Studios for an American remake. Years after an assistant in a Korean morgue is forced to dispose hundreds of bottles of formaldehyde into the Han river, a gigantically slimy catfish-like monster appears causing havoc by the Korean riverside.

Gwoemul attacks!

The movie focuses predominantly on the story of a family, an elderly father who runs a snack shop to serve river goers, his three children (an unemployed college graduate, a world renowned archer, and a useless fumbling son who helps him at the shop), and his grand daughter. When the grand-daughter is abducted by the monster, the four set out to rescue her while battling the Korean and American forces that are surveilling the monster.

The film takes a refreshing approach to the typical monster movie. The monster is not presented as the clear antagonist, as the characters are often found battling the political forces that prevent them from pursuing the grand daughter. Within the scope of the movie, the hype of an alleged virus that the monster 'hosts' creates viral frenzy within the city and interestingly enough the American representatives are the ones eliciting the fear. Thus, it is not directly clear whether the citizens are more afraid of the actual monster, or the viral monster that the government mediates.

The Host (Gwoemul) International Trailer

Meanwhile, the tone of the movie jumps back and forth between Horror, Drama, and Comedy. While the scenes with the monster are action packed, the rescue adventure of the family is sometimes comedic and often strangely so. Dramatic and serious monologues and scenes are often paralleled by laughable acts. I thought that perhaps this unique narrative was built off of a manga or anime-style of story and presentation. Anyone have any insight into this?

Either way, the film was entertaining, refreshing, and a good step out of the typical horror genre movie. It will be interesting to see what the American studios will do with it.

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little.miss.sunshine.

nobody@vox.com(.tiff) — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 01:23:48 -0700

Endearing, hilarious, painful, and rich. Do yourself a favor and see Little Miss Sunshine. The film follows a disjointed American family, the Hoovers, on a road trip filled with humorous mishaps, emotional revelations, and quirky epiphanies.

The Hoovers

The casting was masterfully done, each actor swelling with character and tactfully working together to create a family that appears outlandish yet familiar in the same moment. Little Miss Sunshine is complete, and will keep you engaged and empathetic for each of the characters. From the dejected ex-scholar Uncle Frank (Steve Carell) to the overwhelmingly charming miss sunshine-in-training, Olive (Abigail Breslin), there is a good chance that you will fall in love with at least one, if not all, of the Hoover family. The soundtrack, in addition, is also incredible.

I give this movie at least a 9/10. I'd give it a 10/10, but I'd have to see it again to make sure. But really, go see it. I think you would be missing out if you didn't.

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