Jenny Lewis (singer/ songwriter of Rilo Kiley fame) has a new album, titled Acid Tongue in stores Sept. 23. In anticipation for the record, I thought I would review the title track, which is now available online.
Though Lewis is only 32-years-old, she sings the song like she has been worn out and hung up to dry, reflecting on the past. Acid Tongue is a simple song, consisting of Lewis' twangy vocals, a backing chorus, and an acoustic guitar. While the title may imply that Lewis has a harsh demeanor, or a sleazy vocabulary, the song takes a more literal approach. The lyrics are actually about putting LSD on the tongue. The lyrics have a homespun quality, and Lewis' voice is better-than-ever, taking a memory and making it seem far more meaningful and passionate.
The song seems like the type that would grow on you with each listen. And while the impending album has garnered mixed reviews, I'll wait till its release to pass judgment, because I'm impressed by what I hear.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Jenny Lewis: Acid Tongue [Song Review]
Friday, September 19, 2008
Zack and Miri Make a Porno [Movie Review]
Kevin Smith’s latest comedy, Zack and Miri Make a Porno, takes a seemingly formulaic plotline, mixes it with the adult film industry, and creates a laugh-out-loud comedy.
After many of the jokes, the roar of the audience was so loud it completely blanketed the sound of the film. The film owes its comedic success to good casting, and great dialogue.
With Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks in the leads, Smith managed to blend the comedic styles of Rogen and other Judd Apatow success stories featured in the film, with his own blend of humor.
The plotline is solid but predictable as far as the romantic storyline between Rogen and Banks goes, but it does not detract from the hilarious scenes this foul-mouthed comedy has to offer. The story may not keep you at the edge of your seat, but the dialogue will have you falling out of it.
A-
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Fantastic Fest Opening Night
Well, I've blogged about it a few times over the last couple of weeks, but tonight it was finally here--the Zack and Miri Make a Porno premiere & opening night of Fantastic Fest:
The historic Paramount Theatre, built in 1915, has been entertaining Austin audiences for nearly a century. As the oldest screen in the capitol, the Paramount has been graced by screen and stage acts throughout the decades and from across the globe.
Yet, Fantastic Fest’s opening night film, Zack and Miri Make a Porno, and the Air Sex World Championships that followed on Sept. 18, may have been a new level of debauchery for this classic art-deco theater.
This is the fourth year for Fantastic Fest. The weeklong film festival sponsored by the Alamo Drafthouse and Aint it Cool News, is the largest genre festival in the country. Fantastic Fest screens films that are usually overlooked by other festivals, concentrating on specialty genre, fantasy, cult, science fiction, horror, Asian, animation and crime films.
Zack and Miri Make a Porno is a new comedy from fan-favorite director Kevin Smith. The Austin screening served as both the Opening Night Gala Film for Fantastic Fest, and the film’s US premiere.
The film, starring Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks, is the story of two friends who decide to make a pornographic film together when they get strapped for cash.
Smith, who rose to fame for writing and directing films like Mallrats, Dogma, and Clerks, was present along with producer Scott Mosier to introduce the film and conduct a Q&A session.
During the Q&A session, Smith revealed that he was inspired to become a filmmaker at 21-years-old, after seeing the film Slacker for the first time. Richard Linklater's Slacker was shot here in Austin, and Smith acknowledged this connection.
“I owe a great debt of gratitude to Austin” he said, “I’m a member of the Austin film society.”
According to the Austin Film Society, Smith serves on the advisory board along with other prominent directors like Guillermo del Toro and Quentin Tarantino.
Unlike many of Smith’s films, Zack and Miri Make a Porno does not feature Smith’s usual crossover characters like Jay and Silent Bob. However, Jason Mewes, the actor who portrays Jay, does have a role in the film.
Smith acknowledged that in addition to Mewes’ performance, the new film does have a Clerks inspired vibe. He said that stripped of romance and sex, it was loosely inspired by his experience making Clerks.
“It just wouldn’t have been interesting to make a Clerks biopic,” he said. Hence Smith’s motive for choosing to depart from his classic characters.
After the premiere, festival director and owner of the Alamo Drafthouse, Tim League took the stage to remind the audience to stick around for the next event on the agenda—the Air Sex World Championships.
If unfamiliar with the sport, think air guitar, except with sex.
After 13 months of qualifying rounds, and dozens of competitors, the top ten Air Sex aficionados took to the stage to show off their best moves.
Each competitor came prepared with a choreographed routine, a song of choice, and in many cases costumes.
The top five were invited to compete in the final round, an impromptu routine to one gloriously unsexy song. The choice—“Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport" written by Australian singer-songwriter Rolf Harris in 1957.
The winner was a competitor going by the stage name of “Sad Larry” who did unspeakable things while lamenting a breakup. Larry’s heartbreakingly raunchy choreography was a suitable mate for the song about an Australian rancher on his deathbed.
Larry’s prize will be a trip to the world-famous Moonlite Bunny Ranch in Nevada. All of the competitors’ routines will be available for streaming on the Fantastic Fest website.
A short review of the film to follow in the morning.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Project Runway
Tonight on Project Runway, the designers had to create a look for recent college graduates to wear as they entered the workforce. The result--some of the best, and most tragic outfits to come out of this season.
With all of the girls going into different fields, the designers were supposed to create a design that was suitable for their new position, and inspired by their talents.
Houston native Jerrell was the winner, creating a stylish 3 piece outfit for his client.
The two worst designs came from Suede and Joe. Suede draped his client in a trashy, swirly nineties fabric, and paired it with a brown jacket with pink detailing and flared sleeves. Joe made a dated blazer and top with a pencil skit. The outfit was ill fitting, dated and poorly sewn.
Spoiler Alert!!
Joe went home.
A wise decision. While who's design was worse was a virtual toss-up, as far as this episode goes, Suede has been consistently better than Joe. Plus, Joe's bad attitude was getting annoying, not entertaining.
Jarrell's winning look:
Joe's losing look:
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Diez y Seis [Event Review]
Today, St. Edward’s celebrated Diez y Sies de Septiembre, Mexican Independence Day, with an event to kick off Hispanic Heritage Month. The festivities began at noon, featuring performances by the Ballet Folklorico and the Mariachi Relampago.
Tex-Mex cuisine was served, and attendees were invited to participate in a grito competition. The competitors included both St. Edward’s students, and a pair of participants from Dawson Elementary School. Crowd participation was high, and audience members were particularly vocal in cheering for the young boys.
The sounds of the mariachi radiated through campus, and the bright decorations put the crowd in the mood for merriment. The traditional dances and music had a joyous and authentic feel, at least from an outsider’s perspective.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Blogs to Watch
If you like reading my blog, take some time to check out the blogs of my classmates in Michael Barnes' Entertainment Journalism class. You're bound to find something new and different.
And they are....
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Burn After Reading [Movie Review]
The plot is simple--yet complicated. A host of characters are brought together when an ousted CIA analyst's memoirs are intercepted by a pair of gym employees. The film's tone is part comedic-part satirical thriller.
Like The Big Lebowski, the story unfolds as a product of a series of misunderstandings. The plot itself is a loosely connected sequence of events that come together in a neat package in the film's conclusion.
But, from Clooney to Malkovich, the characters are what really make this film shine.
Brad Pitt is a scene-stealing moron with a bad hairdo, exercise obsession and a healthy affinity for his iPod and earbuds, delivering only one of the stellar performances this film has to offer. Who knew Pitt could be so funny?
Frances McDormand lights up the screen as well, as a desperate woman looking for romance and financial assistance for a series of cosmetic surgeries.
Though its filled with laugh-out-loud moments, a few in particular caused the theater to erupt into a chorus of never ending chuckles.
Ambiguity in the plot line may cause the average audience member to feel like they may have missed something, but it seems the Coens meant it this way. And its hard to achieve perfect cohesion in such an ensemble cast. After all, Burn After Reading is a delightful journey into the lives of "a league of morons."
I think, just maybe, The Dude would approve.
*A-
