Friday, May 24 2013
Julianne Moore Is in Class in ‘The English Teacher’
Linda's (Julianne Moore) misreading of herself and her surroundings allows her some measure of solace and also structures The English Teacher.
‘Fast & Furious 6’ Is Bigger and Better, Again
If its action is what you expect, what with all the screeches, gear changes, and "Oh shit"s, Fast & Furious 6 also does something else, as a movie, rendering relationships in reds and blues and yellows, accelerating speeds, and all manner of camera angles. As cinematic storytelling goes, this is close to pure.
Greta Gerwig’s Frances Is Not a Real Person, Yet, but She’s Working on It: ‘Frances Ha’
Noah Baumbach’s deft romantic comedy spoons a nice helping of sugar into a dark premise.
Although Visually Splendid, “Epic’s” Story Is As Generic As Its Title
Epic's screenplay keeps piling on mystical narrative contrivances rather than taking the time to develop the characters who most need it
Searing Color into Cultural Memory: Tenosuke Kinugasa’s ‘Gate of Hell’
Gate of Hell has the sensuality of a movie produced by someone excited by the texture of cinema. One can look back to early Fritz Lang films to see such devilish manhandling of the medium.
The Bottlerock Napa Valley Festival - Day 1
Napa Valley music festival offers yet another boost to Northern California's already thriving music scene.
It’s a Merciless World in ‘Metro: Last Light’
Last Light slow pace is always building towards something, whether in the gameplay or narrative, and in this, way the game strikes a better balance between action and horror than the Dead Space series. .
The Technicolor Revolution: ‘Comandante: Hugo Chávez’s Venezuela’
While Hugo Chávez preached and promised, ruling with media savvy but blind indifference to details from the obfuscating labyrinth of Caracas ministries named ‘El Silencio’, Venezuela itself rotted.
‘American Masters: Mel Brooks: Make a Noise’ Is a Fitting, Funny Salute to the Masterful Comic
This is a fitting tribute to our greatest living comic mind. Prepare to laugh.
Four Tet: Rounds (10th Anniversary Edition)
The original Rounds may very well be Four Tet's greatest achievements, a truly classic album. This slapdash re-release, however, featuring only a halfway decent live set tacked on, doesn't do anything to enhance its legacy.
Rory Storm: Old Songs Sung in Wolves’ Tongue
Nature can be horrifyingly violent, and human nature doubly so. Rory Storm seeks to explore rather than exploit that reality on Old Songs Sung in Wolves’ Tongue, documenting the unease we all feel when dealing with overwhelming emotions.
Various Artists: The Rough Guide to Latin Psychedelia
That 'p' word is arguably false advertising — most of this stuff is fairly conventional South American salsa or cumbian dance music, just with some fuzzed-out guitar. Doesn't mean you won't still dance like hell to it.
Emma Louise: vs. Head vs. Heart
Louise’s music itself works like a mind-altering drug. Each cut takes the listener to different places that seem to crumble beneath one’s feet. The cuts seem unfinished in a way, but that is how the songs are meant to be.
Vondelpark: Seabed
London trio offers grooves and hooks to spare on its debut LP, rising to the top of the post-xx fray.
Lost Society: Fast Loud Death
Fast Loud Death is a modern thrash record that’s good enough to compell old school fans to squeeze into their well-worn Overkill t-shirt, shotgun ten beers, and thrash like a maniac. What more could you want?
Various Artists: Classic Celtic Music from Smithsonian Folkways
This folk singing pays attention to stories and endings, the completion of sentences and the news presented in the lyrics.
Thursday, May 23 2013
‘The Hangover: Part III’: Enough Already
The idiot manchildren remain as such -- during their onscreen adventures anyway -- no matter the suggestions by their wives, fiancées or one night stands that they are responsible, generous, or even vaguely mature individuals.
There’s More Than a Touch of Irony In ‘Gregory Crewdson: Brief Encounters’
Gregory Crewdson's photographs are so packed with visual information that they reward minutes and even hours of scrutiny, and the fact that you must be an active participant in the process of creating meaning makes them that much more memorable.
‘How to Fake a Moon Landing’ Re-Examines Attitudes and Beliefs About Science
If you have ever doubted science, Darryl Cunningham's clever graphic exploration of controversial theories and ideas will set you on the course to realizing that ideology, not facts, create controversy.
Quirky and Endlessly Romantic: ‘A Fine Romance: The Complete Collection’
Judi Dench and her late husband Michael Williams shine as the ultimate oddball romantic couple.
