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Josh TimmermannFeatures
The Way of All Flesh: Notes on the 2009 Victoria Film FestivalIn non-Hollywood cinema, there’s less emphasis placed on svelte figures and chiseled cheekbones. But that doesn’t mean the physical form can’t play just as significant a role on-screen. [17 February 2009] The Man Who Wasn’t There: Wrestling with Oliver Stone’s W. and the Enigma of George W. BushStone doesn't "get" Bush’s true historical legacy (any more than the rest of us do in 2008), but he cannily realizes that, warts and all, Bush is an undeniably pivotal figure. [6 November 2008] Not Fade Away: Notes on the 27th Vancouver International Film FestivalThe films at this year's VIFF were dominated by the idea of memory -- how it works, why it works the way it does, why certain events linger in our brain or come back to haunt us. [24 October 2008] The Best Pop-Country of 2007Purists may turn up their noses at pop-country, but it produced more top-shelf music this past year than the stricter formal traditions on which it draws. [14 December 2007] Not a Saint (Just a Living Legend)Lil Wayne is the best rapper in the game, and through a brilliant proliferation of mixtapes and guest spots, he's proven to be the definition of finding treasure in the journey on the way to a proper album destination. [5 December 2007] Too Young to Let Go: Jay-Z, Medicare, and YouJay-Z's evolution into the bridge between hip-hop and mainstream popular culture has been a long one, but his nostalgic turn worked to make him a figure whose mythos will likely endure into the old age of a generation. [19 November 2007] In Defense of BritneyThere’s nothing but guilt surrounding Britney -- guilt for secretly enjoying “Gimme More”, guilt for tuning in to see what sort of trouble she’s gotten herself into today, guilt for not having the balls to use the word “misogyny“. [5 November 2007] Coping Strategies: Notes on the 26th Vancouver International Film Festival - Part TwoLike Jarhead, Sam Mendes's underappreciated Gulf War film, Brian De Palma's Redacted clearly understands pop culture's real-life effect on soldiers serving in the post-Vietnam era. [10 October 2007] Coping Strategies: The 26th Vancouver International Film Festival - Part OneMost of the films we saw, in one way or another, are about coping -- with guilt, with war, with torture, with disease, with unrequited love, with social perception, with political change, with death, with history. [8 October 2007] ReviewsKathleen EdwardsPerfect, or about as close to it as I’ve ever seen. [30 January 2009] 
Miley Cyrus: BreakoutHannah Montana is a squeaky clean cipher of mega stardom – a perfect dream of pop, if you will, as seemingly removed in lifestyle and behavior from real pop singers as, say, Batman or Superman are from your run-of-the-mill city cop. [31 July 2008] 
Master P: Featuring…Master PGangsta rap stumbled somewhere between Biggie and Jeezy. This collection is a lumbering reminder of that dry spell. [14 December 2007] 
Bonde do Rolê: With LasersRegardless of the state of baile funk in the North American blogosphere, Bonde do Role is soldiering on and they deserve a fair shake. [13 December 2007] 
Deborah Harry: Necessary EvilDeborah Harry's first solo album in 14 years is mostly awful, a depressing example of an artist failing at the very things she used to better at than anybody else. [10 December 2007] Puffy AmiYumiJust two years ago, the expansive, wonderful world of East Asian pop was mostly a mystery to me I’m embarrassed to admit, I didn’t know Ayumi Hamasaki from Hitomi Shimatani. [28 November 2007] 
The NamesakeWhatever else you get out of this movie -- a give-take equation that depends largely on your willingness to follow Nair’s lead -- it’s worth watching for Tabu’s superlative turn alone, which would earn her an Oscar if there were any justice in the First World. 
Sarah Johns: Big Love in a Small TownCountry music done right, with one foot planted firmly in classic Nashville and the other (two-)stepping toward Gretchen Wilson-style girl power. [9 November 2007] 
Carrie Underwood: Carnival RideCarrie Underwood will probably never record a better song than "Before He Cheats", but she comes closer than you'd expect on her superb sophomore effort. [8 November 2007] 
Yung Joc: HustlenomicsYung Joc enlists big-name producers and guest-rappers for his passable, but generic, sophomore album. [1 November 2007] 
Brooks & Dunn: Cowboy TownCountry's most famous duo tries to return to '90s form and can't quite get there, but comes up with a pretty good album anyway plus one bona-fide classic. [31 October 2007] 
El CantanteEvery bit the camp classic that Gigli was supposed to be. El Cantante is nothing if not a generously budgeted, extended music video. [30 October 2007] 
The Boss of It AllThe Boss of It All is the sort of middling, sporadically funny, sporadically dull art-house comedy that you keep wishing would ditch the art-house qualifier and just go for it, already. [18 October 2007] 
Chamillionaire: Ultimate VictoryAt its best, Chamillionaire's sophomore effort provides convincing evidence that there might, after all, be life after "Ridin'" for a rapper who previously seemed bound for one-hit wonder status. [2 October 2007] 
Foo Fighters: Echoes, Silence, Patience, and GraceOn their sixth studio album, Grohl and Company sound like Bob Seger fronting for your garden variety modern hard rock group. [24 September 2007] 
Elvis Presley: Elvis: Viva Las VegasAn essential document of some of the King's strongest Vegas-era recordings, featuring more soul than schmaltz. [20 September 2007] 
September 11The shorts in this international, 9/11-inspired collection range from masterpieces to messes. [19 September 2007] 
Alan Jackson: 16 Biggest HitsIs Alan Jackson his generation's premier country artist? This collection makes a compelling case in his favor. [18 September 2007] 
Various Artists: Kurt Cobain: About a SonThe soundtrack for the new Cobain documentary features a mostly uninspired collection of music and interview sound bites. Oh, and nothing actually by Nirvana. [17 September 2007] 
Ha Ha Tonka: Buckle in the Bible BeltClever but never smug about it, melodic yet pleasingly rough around the edges, reasonably diverse and cohesive, and smart enough not to wear out its welcome. [13 September 2007] 
Kenny Chesney: Just Who I Am: Poets and PiratesThe country superstar makes a great half of a record, slips up and then ends his latest on a high note. [12 September 2007] 
50 Cent: CurtisAside from a few tracks, there isn't much to love on 50 Cent's latest outing, but there's still plenty to like here. So, go ahead, make him a little bit richer. [11 September 2007] 
Mandy Moore: Wild HopeMandy Moore, survivor of the late '90s teenpop boom, tries her hand at the singer-songwriter gig. [4 September 2007] BlogsMixed Media: Top 5 Videos of 2008: Josh Timmermann [2 December 2008]Consuming Consumables: Ha Ha Tonka: Buckle in the Bible Belt [$13.98] [28 November 2007] |
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