Too Hot for Blogger

[The things I do for Head...]

So here I sit in my short shorts and wifebeater, trying to drum up some things to post about while wondering how much heat this monitor is giving off -- it feels like too much; and maybe I should go back to the living room and watch a couple Mr. Shows or Stranger With Candys and call it a night. But I pour a frozen Cape Cod and go forth... What's happened?

Went to Virginia -- the first things I saw in Viginia once we made a pit stop off the highway? A military base and this:



Heady advice. And from that time since, I have indeed rocked steady. And all the while supporting the troops, natch.

Did I just type natch. Didn't think I ever would, but hey, let's move on. I needed some practice, so I rocked steady at Steve Malkmus.



No Pavement played. I'd heard he dipped into the back catalog in the past but I guess that was during his first tour when he didn't have that many Jicks songs to play. But it was still a good show. Couldn't say the same for the opening band Picque, or whatever they were called... too much heroin going on there.

And for the first time I struck out at Suffolk Downs. A shame really. I've always been able to win at least one race. Guess it's good I only go once a year. But M'lady went out on a winning note -- so all wasn't lost.

A bit of a Netflix roundup?

Trouble Every Day -- Been waiting a while for this one to get out on DVD - or maybe just for Netflix to get it. Anyway, it's basically a quietly disturbing vampire movie. I've been meaning to check out Claire Dennis' movies and wanted to start with this one. She'd been the AD on movies like Down By Law and Paris, Texas - a couple of personal favorites. And so this may not have been the best of introductions but I was entertained and not disapointed. I may be one of the dozen or so out there waiting for the DVD release of Brown Bunny and Vincent Gallo was in some fine grime method acting action in this. I swear, the man has some chops - ever seen Palookaville?

Machinist -- Wanted to take a look at this before Batman Begins comes out. I've always liked Christian Bale, ever since the underapreciated Empire of the Sun. I still think American Psycho is a great date movie, and even enjoyed the muck and mired Reign of Fire as a weekend afternoon movie to drink heavely spiked egg nog to. So much had been made of his dilapidated form in this one. I forget the actual number of pounds he dropped for this movie - I'm guessing 70 or 80. I thought one of his ribs might poke Jennifer Jason Leigh's eye out at one point (you know which point). Anyway, his dedication is not lost on this movie. Towards the end it gets a bit unhinged but it had my interest the entire time - way past my bedtime, and was thuroughly impressed with the performace... which may in fact overshadow the movie itself, but nonetheless this is a recommendation.

Ken Park -- I'm a wicked man now. I've downloaded a movie. Don't arrest me! The only reason I downloaded this movie was, well, it seems it ain't ever going to be gracing our screens here in America. It recieved one showing in Australia and was promptly banned... Looking at that poster I can't wonder why? I'm not too sure where this movie was shown otherwise [Europe] but I rather enjoyed it. I guess as I've perversely enjoyed all of Harmony Korine's movies. Or is it Larry Clark's movies? Ahh, what's become indistinguishable... There's a bit of difference I suppose in Mr. Clarke's two previous movies without Harmony - Bully and Another Day in Paradise. And Harmoy's two without Larry - Gummo and Julien Donkey-Boy. But this is another joint venture between the two auteurs and it feels just like home. That is, if your home is a disturbing suburban nightmare. On display here is your usual skateboarding teens just trying to get by by alternately killing themselves, killing their legal gaurdians, killing their brain cells... Or reversely their parents doing the same thing/causing them to do the same thing... You know! The thing about these movies is that you can write pages about them and still not get the point. What is the point that I got? It's Kids on the west coast -- with parents, and even more unsavory results.

DiG! -- The story of The Brian Jonestown Massacre and The Dandy Warhols. Two bands I couldn't really give two shits about when I saw this. More on point it's the story of their relationship together as growing bands and the steady rise of the Warhols and the steady insanity of the BJM, or rather it's leader Anton. And this window into Anton is really the beauty of the movie. What if the leader of your band was bringing you to the cusp of greatness and notoriety was bipolar and constantly drug addled? But he's also quite charismatic and a bit of a musical prodigy... The movie seems a bit heavy handed on the side of the Warhols while your watching it. The lead singer of that outfit is playing the part of the narrator, and you get to watch their eventual success via that annoying Stones rip-off 'bohemaian' song, while all the while watching Anton drag his band into eventually quitting one by one through on-stage fights and drug frenzies until he's playing solo with his sister (and that doesn't end pleasently either). But this is a fascinating movie. [There's even seperate commentary tracks - one by the Warhols on by The BJM.] And upon listening to random songs by these two bands after watching the movie, The Brian Jonestown Massacre wins the battle hands down. And they're playing TT's in couple weeks - oh to witness a band meltdown on-stage...

So Nicole Kidman's drunk On Letterman to ease the pain of losing one of her best friends and the Kieser Chiefs are on Leno doing a decent job...

Oh... I watched DiG! (i Don'T kNoW what's up with the title either) as a double feature with End of the Century: Story of the Ramones. I can't believe that I'd be debating which would be a better documentary but it's close -- though as a genuine documentary I'd have to give it to The Ramones. It's a more focused and genuine story and rather than making a forced pick and choose perspective on it's subject, it compiles great footage and unexpected interviews to make a great closing statement on a lasting legacy.