pop*creep

Goings-on-matron

2008-05-14T08:13:00.000-07:00

Oh wow, an update!

Movies!
-Hey kids, can't afford the good drugs? Go see Speed Racer! I guarentee that after watching two hours straight of images thatwontfuckingstaystill you won't be able to walk straight. For serious. I recommend focusing on Matthew Fox for the duration of the film. There is something oddly soothing about his head-to-toe black leather ensemble.

-Did you enjoy Billy Elliot? Me too! I get a kick out of precocious British kids doing wacky things. That's why I vaguely enjoyed Son of Rambow which is currently playing at Kendall Square Cinema. It isn't a masterpiece, and I doubt I'll still remember much about in a few weeks, but it is a good way to kill an afternoon. Also, I've now added the slang term "skills" to my vocabulary. It might even replace "boss".

-There's a new Narnia movie coming out on Friday! Skills!

Concerts!
-I saw Death Cab For Cutie at the TD BankNorth Pavillion on Saturday. They played a few songs from Narrow Stairs which came out on Tuesday (it is really swell). They also played a few tracks off of Transatlanticism which is easily one of my most favorite albums of ALL TIME. The show was about an hour and a half and I'm going to go ahead and rank it right up there with the Eels show I saw earlier this year.
You should really read this AV Club feature that popped up today. Good shtuff.

-I got free tickets to the Symphony last night (skills!) and saw Garrison Keillor. It was really swell. That's pretty much the best way to describe it. My guest and I were probably the youngest people there, and I'll guarentee you I was the only one with visible tattoos. A good time was had by all though. Nothing really beats the one-two punch of old-time folksy story-telling and one of the worlds greatest orchestras playing in a historic landmark. Can't wait to see the Pops play with Amanda Palmer next month. It will probably be one of the most bizarre evenings of my life. If I go.

Oh yeah, this post was brought to you by Enviga. Can you tell?

Teen Sex and Super Heroes

2008-05-04T13:28:00.000-07:00

We're on the cusp of Summer Blockbuster Season! Can't you just FEEL the excitement in the air?

No?

Yeah, me neither. I've never been a huge fan of blockbusters. Generally I'm big on sleepers, but whatever. I'm easily coerced into watching shoot-em-ups on occasion.

Luckily for me I've always been pretty avid reader of graphic novels. This is good because the suits in Hollywood have caught on that nerds like myself will pay to see their favorite mutants and super geniuses save the world time and time again.

So, I saw Iron Man. I'm sure you've all heard the praise for Robert Downey Jr., and I heartily agree. Really, if you're going to see this film you're probably going to agree that he is the best part. Go ahead and see the damn thing if only because everyone will think you're a loser if you don't.

---

Have you seen this? Probably. This image has been shoved down my throat by the media all week and all I can think is... so? Haven't I seen this picture 5 1/2 BILLION fucking times?

I'm not EXACTLY saying that Annie Liebowitz is a modern-day Vermeer, but she IS just another artist in a very, very long tradition of depicting young women in provocative ways. Defamer has said it best (so far) with their assertion that teenagers can and DO have SEX. SHOCKING. So why is everyone so bent out of shape over a VERY MODEST picture of a young girl? Because she doesn't look so innocent? She's not. I may have been a virgin at 15 too, but I had access to MTV and movies. I'd been skinny dipping. I'd taken art classes. I'd read Lolita.
The uproar over Daniel Radcliffe's nude photographs was much more subdued, perhaps because he was 18 when they were taken... But shouldn't it be just as traumatizing to Harry Potter's junk as it is seeing Hannah Montana's half-naked body covered in a sheet (actually it is a "stole", but I'm not that fashion savvy)? Why is it OK for Daniel Radcliffe to be viewed as a sexual being at a young age, and not Miley Cyrus?
Look, I'm not saying that I approve of old lecherous farts like you guys gawking at young Ms. Cyrus, but I AM saying that at 15 she clearly knows what she's doing. She knows she can say "no". And Annie Liebowitz knew what she was doing too.

Everyone is so up in arms about this girls loss of innocence... but she already lost it as soon as she signed that Disney contract. For every girl that made it out of the Disney machine without going batshit (like Haley Mills, Christina Aguilera, Hilary Duff and Raven Simone) there are those who didn't (Britney, Lindsay). It is a GIANT cliche at this point, and certainly one I've written about before. I'm not saying that Miley is going to lose her shit. What I am saying is that we expect her to, don't we? We see that picture and we think "here we go again".

pop*creep suggests/wants

2008-04-22T13:37:00.000-07:00

Oh hi there.
I was wondering if it would be cool with you guys (I use the plural perhaps a tad prematurely) if I posted an update.

Yeah?
Boss.

Alright then.
These are things I like and/or want.

Like:

FILM
Forgetting Sarah Marshall: Most of you were probably too busy watching The Forbidden Kingdom this past weekend to catch the new Apatow-produced vehicle. That's fine, I understand your desire to see Jet Li FINALLY tear Jackie Chan a new one (I hear you, and submitted to the same desire). What you missed out on was a clever, sweet, crude and thoroughly entertaining film. To be honest I haven't liked the last few Apatow movies. Knocked Up left me thinking "You know... in real life Katherine Heigl would have had an abortion" (I know, I know. That wasn't what the movie was "about", but whatever) and Superbad's post American Pie sight-gags left me a little cold (though I am a huge fan of the cast). Sarah Marshall on the other hand was a great return to the 40-Year Old Virgin blend of gross-out humor and tenderness that made me love Judd Apatow films in the first place. Stellar cast, great one-liners, and gratuitous male nudity. It'll make you want to B your L on someone's Ts.

BEVERAGE
Enviga: Yeah... it is a glorified energy drink. Yes, it is manufactured by the Coca-Cola Company and is probably Satan's elixir. But DAMN I love this stuff. It comes in three varieties: Berry, peach, and green tea. The berry is my favorite. It gives you a nice boost without the jitters you get from Red Bull or Rock Star (and it tastes much MUCH better). It is being marketed as a "Calorie-burner" which I don't give a shit about... I just like it as an alternative to coffee.

Arizona Green Tea Red Apple: While we're talking about green tea, let's discuss Arizona Green Tea Red Apple briefly. Delicious.

Snake Bite: 1/2 lager, 1/2 cider... all tasty.

EVENT
Recod Store Appreciation Day: ...was this past Saturday. I know, I know... but better late than never. I dropped more bank than I should have at four different Newbury Comics locations on records and CDs. There were in-stores and free swag. "Lucky" customers got to watch Amanda Palmer of the Dresden Dolls paint at the Harvard Square Newbury Comics, and folks on Newbury Street saw Mates of State. Regina Spektor played at a shop in Brooklyn and everyone got sweet deals. Hopefully RSAD happens again next year.

MUSIC
Constantines + Feist "Islands in the Stream": Kids born in the early '80s like me are likely more familiar with "Ghetto Superstar" than they are with the classic recorded and made famous by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton (and written by the Bee Gees). Hell, the song is the same age as I am. At any rate, the Constantines and fellow Canadian Feist do the song some sweet and smooth justice on their new album "Kensington Heights" and I heartily suggest you check it out. Slow, sexy, and haunting. Do the right thing and drop some change on it.

PLACES
The Arnold Aboretum: I recently spent an evening strolling around the Arboretum. It was gorgeous and relaxing. There are fabulous views of Boston and cool trees and plants to look at.

Forest Hills Cemetary: Another great place to take a walk, especially now that the flowers are a bloomin'.

Want:

THINGS
Absinthe Lollipops: First the US prohibition on Absinthe was lifted, then some wacky candy makers in San Fransisco had a brainstorm. I haven't tried these, but the former Gawth in me is intrigued. The closest retailer is in Providence, but hell... these little babies might be worth a mini car trip.

And that is all.

I'm back

2008-03-30T11:35:00.000-07:00

So, I disappeared for a while. Sorry about that, avid reader. Apparently it took me longer than expected to settle in after my move.
Here are some highlights from the months I didn't post:

Shows
-Magnetic Fields at the Somerville Theater: The show was on Valentine's Day and was absolutely delightful. Who wants to listen to songs about people who are happily in love?

-Daniel Johnston at the Roxy: Awesome! Just an all-around fun show that let out just in time for me to catch sight of a full lunar eclipse over Boston.

-Luminescent Orchestrii at the Amazing Things Arts Center in Framingham: The more I see them, the more I love them. I'm a sucker for gypsy music and Lumi puts on a fantastically warm and welcoming show. The space was a converted firehouse.

Film
-Ratatouille and Horton Hears a Who: I'm always a bit skeptical when it comes to "children's" movies. I think that most of what is being made for the under 4-foot set is generic crap. On the contrary, these films give me hope. Rataouille is just a sweet, whimsical tale of "don't dream it, be it!" and Horton is just... oddball, surrealist fun - which is exactly what Dr. Seuss SHOULD be when it is adapted for the screen.

- Run Fatboy Run: In some ways this is a generic redemption tale, but it gets a pass because it was written by Micheal Ian Black and Simon Pegg. Simon Pegg stars and as always delivers a strong comedic performance. Hank Azaria co-stars as Pegg's competition to douche-y perfection. And the film is well-directed by David Schwimmer which will hopefully not scare you all away.

- Young at Heart: I cried on average about once every ten minutes at this screening.
This is a simply lovely documentary about Northampton's Young at Heart Choir, a group of senior citizens who sing songs by modern artists like Talking Heads, Sonic Youth, and Coldplay. Here's a clip from one of the most moving parts of the doc (and you need to see the film to understand why it is so moving):

Books
-Love is a Mixtape by Rob Sheffield: Rolling Stone writer and Boston Native Rob Sheffield's quais-memoir is out in paperback and I highly suggest picking it up. It is an easy read, but it is full of heart. Rob writes about his all-too brief relationship with his wife Renee who passed away five years into their marriage. When she died she left behind hundreds of mix-tapes that tell the story of their love affair. They are also a document of what was going on musically in the early-to-mid 1990s which is an era I find fascinating, at least literally speaking.

-Woman's World by Graham Rawle: Collage artist Graham Rawle took on the seemingly impossible task of writing a story entirely out of found words. He found the words in early 1960s women's magazines, snipped them out, and arranged them to create coherent story. The book is not only fun to read, but it is beautiful to look at.

-Y: The Last Man by Brian K. Vaughn: I waited for this much lauded Vertigo title to end its run before diving in because I knew it would be like comic-crack. I have trouble patiently waiting each month for my favorite titles to arrive at the comic store. I've only read the first trade, and I am SOLD. There are so many things I already love about the series, but I don't want to ruin anything for those of you who haven't started. Also, please no spoilers for me.

Blogs
-Modish: I'm pretty into DIY and this is a great blog if you are too. There are countless pictures of hand-made items. There are also spotlights on artisans and eco-friendly creations. I'm really not doing it justice. If it helps, the blogger updates WAY more than I do.

And that's all I've got for now.

We're closer to this than you might think....

2008-02-04T07:42:00.000-08:00

I moved to a new apartment in Cambridge last week. Because I'm anal retentive, I changed my default location on Google Maps to reflect my new address. In doing so, I noticed that one can actually SEE MY APARTMENT in Google Maps. Which is creepy. Because I'm in a highly residential area now.

Apparently, these guys feel the same way I do:

I actually have no reason for posting this...

2008-01-29T15:34:00.001-08:00

...other than the fact that I am a giant nerd.

cred: Stereogum,b3ta

I don't usually post about politics....

2008-01-24T15:19:00.001-08:00

...because I don't have the mind for it. Obviously... I mean, I pretty much just post about movies and music. But I DO give a shit, and I do think actual news like this is important. Seriously. If you haven't read about the study I just linked to, do now. You'll be even more anti-Bush than you were before (if at all possible).

And for the record, I probably won't be jumping on the political train any time soon, but I am 100% pro-voting, and I urge you to be as well. If you're curious (you probably aren't, but this is my blog) I'm Green Party so I'll pretty much vote for whichever candidate shares my views on the environment (uh... we should probably, like... do something about it). Otherwise I'm not huge on talking politics. I think the president is a lying, sexist, hatemonger (ps Dan Savage... maybe you should update the site a little).

So anyway, this is likely one of the last times you'll be seeing something political here, but don't mark my words. I'll probably have more to say come October.

Until then, I'll go back to doing what I do best (well, at least marginally better): Watching movies.

An Open Letter to My Generation

2008-01-22T18:21:00.000-08:00

Dear Peers:
Get your shit together.

Brad Renfro died of an overdose last week. He was 25. Amy Whinehouse got caught on camera smoking CRACK this week. She's 24. Heath Ledger died today. He was 28.
And we all know what Britney, Lindsay and Paris have been up to.

I hate to lump Heath in with the rest... he seemed to have his shit together, at least until recently. He seemed "normal". He was a gifted actor. He was a dad.

It makes me sad. I don't know these people, and the cynic in me questions why I even give a shit... But I'm 24. These are my peers. I probably won't ever meet them. I know that in every generation there are fuck-ups and idiots and tragedies. James Dean. Janis Joplin. River Phoenix. Kurt Cobain.

We all want to be remembered. I think Britney knows what happens to nice girls like Debbie Gibson: They end up on Broadway. And then we forget about them. Britney is essentially burning out so as not to fade away.

I'm sure people have always gone batshit... but now they're doing it for the cameras. Anna Nicole. Whitney Houston. Amy Whinehouse.

We debate who is "tortured" versus who is "pathetic". If you're tortured you're an artist. If you're pathetic. you're a pop tart.

Do you think Britney was hurt when she found out that the Associated Press had already prepared her obituary? She's 26, by the way. I don't know what to think. I shouldn't even have an opinion. I could give a shit about what Ms. Spears does. Thing is, I'm bombarded with news about her every day.

What's making them all go so crazy? Who do we blame? Is the internet making egos more fragile? Are fat pasty nerds who want pretty people to crash and burn actually being heard?

I do think that all of this is sick, though. I learned about Heath's death. I went to Defamer to figure out if it was a prank. It wasn't. A half hour later, I went back to Defamer. There were SIX posts about Heath. Video of the NYPD removing his body from his apartment building in SoHo.

So, Peers... let's say we take a nice long look at ourselves. Let's get off the drugs, stop being so fame-hungry, and take care of our children. Let's take some fucking responsibility. It may be a cliche to say so, but there are younger kids looking at us thinking the shit we're doing is cool.

I look at Britney and Paris and Lindsay and Amy and I think: Is this how I am supposed to be? Comatose in some club, malnourished with my twat on display? These girls are sick. It isn't funny. We need to stop laughing. We need to stop enabling them.

In fact, about a year ago, Craig Ferguson said it a lot better than I ever could:

Oh Wow... sad news.

2008-01-22T14:11:00.001-08:00

According to Defamer (via page six) Heath Ledger is dead.

Wild Speculatin': OSCAR Edition

2008-01-22T11:38:00.000-08:00

You probably know this, but the OSCAR nominations are out! You also know what a movie nerd I am.

Of course with the Writer's Strike still in effect, there is no guarantee that the Jon Stewart hosted telecast will go on. I personally hope that some sort of agreement can be reached with the WGA because I really, really love that tribute they always do for dead Hollywood types. Also, the Globe press conference made me twitch.

So, without further ado: Wild Speculatin'

Actor in a Leading Role:
I want: Johnny Depp to win...
Gold Guy Goes To: Daniel Day-Lewis
I'm Pissed Because: Where's James McAvoy for Atonement?

Actor in a Supporting Role:
I want: Casey Affleck because he was BRILLIANT in Assassination.
Gold Guy Goes To: Javier Bardem (though a case can be made for Phillip Seymour Hoffman)
I'm Pissed Because: Where is Paul Schneider for Assassination? I mean, yeah, no one has heard of him, but he was most certainly a stand-out both in that film, and as Ryan Gosling's older brother in Lars.

Actress in a Lead Role:
I Want: Ellen Page. Not because I think she's all that great, but because she's the one I can stand.
Gold Guy Goes To: Marion Cotillard because she got the Globe.
I'm Pissed Because: I HATED La Vie En Rose.

Actress in a Supporting Role:
I Want: Saorise Ronan (Atonement).
Gold Guy Goes To: Cate Blanchett because she played a man.
I'm Pissed Because: Where's Kelly Macdonald for No Country? She was adorable and subtle.

Animated Feature Film:
I have yet to see any of the nominated films in this category, but I'm rooting for Persepolis.

Art Direction:
I want: Sweeney Todd
Gold Guy Goes To: There Will Be Blood
I'm Pissed Because: Where's Assassination?

Cinematography:
I Want: Assassination
Gold Guy Goes To: No Country
I'm Pissed Because: -

Costume Design:
I Want: Sweeney Todd.
Gold Guy Goes To: Sweeney Todd.
I'm Pissed Because: There's another nod for La Vie En Rose.

Directing:
I Want: PTA
Gold Guy Goes To: The Coen Bros
I'm Pissed Because: No Atonement? No Assassination? JUNO got nominated in THIS category?

Documentary Film:
I Want: Sicko
Gold Guy Goes To: No End In Sight
I'm Pissed Because: King of Kong didn't even make the short list.

Documentary Short
I did not see any of the nominated films.

Film Editing:
I Want: There Will Be Blood
Gold Guy Goes To: No Country
I'm Pissed Because: -

Foreign Language Film:
I did not see any of the nominated films.

Makeup:
I want: Ugh.
Gold Guy Goes To: La Vie En Rose
I'm Pissed Because: Norbit seriously got nominated. Also, where's Sweeney Todd?

Music (Score)
I want: Atonement
Gold Guy Goes To: Atonement?
I'm Pissed Because: Nothing for Nick Cave and Warren Ellis for Assassination.

Music (Song)
I Want: Enchanted (I guess)
Gold Guy Goes To: Enchanted. Come on, the odds are with Alan Menken on this one.
I'm Pissed Because: I sort of liked that Eddie Vedder song from Into the Wild

Best Picture:
I want: Atonement
Gold Guy Goes To: No Country
I'm Pissed Because: Where's Assassination?

Short Film: Animated and Live:
I did not see any of the films nominated in these categories.

Sound Editing:
I Want: There Will Be Blood
Gold Guy Goes To: Transformers
I'm Pissed Because: Sunshine got shut out in the one category it would have cleaned house in.

Sound Mixing:
I don't care. No Country will get it, Sunshine deserved it.

Visual Effects:
I Want: Golden Compass.
Gold Guy Goes To: Pirates
I'm Pissed Because: Sunshine?

Writing (Adapted Screenplay):
I Want: Atonement
Gold Guy Goes To: No Country
I'm Pissed Because: While There Will Be Blood is a fantastic film, I don't think it is fair that it was nominated in this category. PTA only loosely based his screenplay on OIL! the Sinclair Lewis novel. Also, where's Assassination?

Writing (Original Screenplay)
I want: Lars and the Real Girl or Juno
Gold Guy Goes To: Micheal Clayton
I'm Pissed Because: Lars won't win.

Things I saw, did, and slept through this weekend

2008-01-20T11:56:00.000-08:00

January is the time of year when movie studios tend to unload their worst fare. There are of course exceptions to the rule... but so far this season is shaping up to be pretty much like clockwork.
I didn't have much going on on Friday evening, so a friend and I decided to head out to Revere to see a movie. Long story short, we tend not to have to pay for films in Revere, which in the case of the film we ended up seeing was a blessing from the corporate cinema gods.

I just want to preface my next statements with a very important point: I am a HUGE fan of Mystery Science Theater 3000. One of the main reasons I have any interest in film at all is my love for that show. Possibly sad, but very true.

Anyway, the only film playing when we got to the theater at around 11:30 was "In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale".

We thought: What is this film? Why have we heard nothing about it? Ooooh, Leelee Sobieski is in it... she's cute, right?

So, we picked up our tickets at the box office and made our way to the very last theater in the darkest corridor of the cineplex. I'm pretty sure bats flew out of the theater when we opened the door to enter.
The film, if one can really call it that, began with Ray Liotta smooching Leelee Sobiesky affectionately... and honestly, that's where I got lost. Seriously. NO idea what was going on. Then I fell asleep. Then there were trolls and tree-ninjas. And I fell asleep again. More trolls, Evil Ray Liotta. More sleep... and then possibly the Greatest Song Ever over the credits. Oh, and apparently it was directed by Uwe Boll. Also, 124 minutes long. Seriously.
King would definitely be in the running for worst movie of the year had I actually been awake for at least a third of it.

On Saturday the previously mentioned friend and I took in the Puppet Showplace Theater's
bi-monthly PuppetSLAM. This was my third, and I still find it hard to describe these events. Basically about 12 performers present brief skits with puppets. Many forms of puppetry are showcased, but last night shadow puppets were representing. My favorite was a piece on the history of LeRoy New York, the birthplace of Jell-O. I know I'm not doing much justice to the PuppetSlams, but they are events I highly recommend. The next SLAM is on March 15th. You should really go.

When the PuppetSLAM was over, friend and I decided to take another trip out to Revere. We recently discovered that the cineplex has a bar and grill in the lobby. No lies. We thought it would be a great idea to get a little festive and then take on 27 Dresses. Part of that plan was a great idea.
Film critics throw the term "by the numbers" around quite a bit when referring to Romantic Comedies. The term 100% applies to Dresses. There isn't a single thing that makes it stand out, or even makes it worth watching. The two women behind us (and this was at 12:30 AM) seemed to genuinely enjoy the film. I have to wonder if they'd seen a moving picture before. I also have to wonder if I have a soul. Probably not.
I also fell asleep a third of the way into the film, and woke up sometime around the climax. I was also able to predict the final line of the film which, is not a good thing.
I'm not going to get into how degrading Dressed is to women... that fact is probably self-evident.

My goal is to find a winter film I can stay awake for,

Puppets: 1
Movies: 0

Cloverfield

2008-01-17T23:13:00.000-08:00

I just caught a midnight screening of Cloverfield at the AMC Boston Common.
There's been a lot of hype surrounding the film, which isn't shocking due to cryptic trailers and somewhat unsettling NYC metro posters.

Thing is, it's good.
Or, I think it's good. It could be the Enviga and TERROR speaking.
I'm not going to be an asshole and spoil it all for you.

I will say though that you KNOW the characters in the movie. They are your friends. They talk and act in a way that your friends would. Be that a credit to Drew Goddard or some sweet improv skills on the part of the actors, I don't know.

Sure some of the film is pretty out there as far as logic goes. And a lot of it is tough to watch.

I have to wonder, contextually speaking, if Cloverfield would have caused me to have such a visceral reaction had 9/11 not happened.
I have to wonder if the film would have been made had 9/11 not happened.
Just so you know, this isn't a film ABOUT terrorism...

I guess just see it.
Especially because Lizzy Caplan from Mean Girls is one of the main actors. She is also the most recognizable and actually gets top billing which is great for her. Go Lizzy!

Oh, and skeptics? Yeah, my advice to you is just see the damn thing before some asshole ruins it for you. Remember how you felt watching the first ten or so episodes of LOST? If you liked the show, you were probably petrified. That's how Cloverfield will make you feel.

And you'll never want to ride the subway again.

Arcade Fire tribute guy strikes again

2008-01-08T19:53:00.000-08:00

This has been up for awhile, but I felt like this was a decent day to post it:

This guy is pretty amazing. He has a blog which is also a sort of portfolio.

New Media Tuesday: Radiohead, Sunshine. Goldfrapp

2008-01-08T18:21:00.000-08:00

Don't count on me to make a habit out of this because I don't actually buy CDs and DVDs every Tuesday BUT: I just picked up In Rainbows at Newbury Comics and got a free drinking glass. Which is great because I don't have a lot of cups.

The packaging for In Rainbows is sort of like a folio with a sleeve for the actual disc that reminds me of what CD singles used to come in. There are some glossy inserts as well that I assume are meant to be used in a jewel case (not included). They even have instructions for how to adhere them to a jewel case. I guess. Interesting. Definately not the disc box to be certain, but certainly amusing.

I've yet to watch or even read the back of Sunshine, but I assume it will be pretty rad. I already have ideas for a tribute video set to Muse's "Starlight". Seriously, think about it. It works creepily well. Or, someone else could just make it for me and link to it here... I'll give you a veggie dog.

Finally, the music blogs are abuzz with opinions on Goldfrapp's new single and video for "A&E". The video (sorry kids, embedding is disabled) is certainly adorable, but the song ain't no "Ooh La La":

And, in local WTF news: The ABP in Brattle Square is no more. Not that I'm a huge fan of ABP, but it was right near my Tues/Sun job and was reliably quick. Today I was forced to finagle a bagel, and my stomach has been hating me ever since.

Resolution/There will be no country for old men

2008-01-07T22:45:00.000-08:00

I bet you're probably wondering what I have resolved to do this year, beloved solo reader. I bet it has been keeping you up at night, nagging you like an unfortunate case of poison sumac.

Rest easy dear friend for I have the antidote to your irritated flesh: My New Years Resolution.

I resolve to write more.
I know CRAZY. Especially for someone who spent five hard years in college studying away for a degree in writing ( to be fair, two of those years were spent studying Art and Music - lot of good that did me).

That said, I've seen two films in the past three days: No Country For Old Men and There Will Be Blood by The Coen Brothers and P.T. Anderson respectively. Both are heavy dramas with subtle touches of the absurd. Both films filled me with dread and unease. Both were period pieces that utilize desolate landscapes to showcase the greed and insanity of the main characters.

And of course, both have already gotten critical acclaim up the wazoo, so everything I'm saying is just another drop in the bucket.

I'm not sure how much longer these films will be in theaters, but I do recommend seeing them. I take no responsibility for any loss of sleep relating to Daniel Day Lewis's mustache or Javiar Bardem's hair.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to the release of Be Kind Rewind, Michel Gondry's latest effort just to lighten my mood. Seriously, I think 2007 was the year of the Sweeping But Unsettling Epic.

Or just the year of the slow-talkin Texan:

Friend Blog

2008-01-04T21:36:00.000-08:00

You know what you should read? My friend Cullen's blog: http://www.cinema-journal.blogspot.com/

I love this kid.
Seriously, thanks again for putting me up on NYE, and for introducing me to one helluva diner. I owe you one.

The First Annual pop*creep Year-End Best Of

2007-12-21T18:20:00.000-08:00

Hello, this is your friendly neighborhood pop*creep dropping by for what has turned out to be one of my very rare visits. The rarity of said "visits" may in fact be a gift bestowed upon you, dear (and likely to be singular) reader by the Internet Gods.

Be that as it may, I have decided to crawl from beneath the protective covering of my favorite red hoodie, cuddle deep within the cushions of my couch, crack open some containers of delivery curry, and present to you the First Ever pop*creep Year End Best Of.

____________________________________________________

Let's start this thing nice and easy with:

The Written Word

I didn't read many books in 2007, and the books that I did read were published before 2000. That said, there shall be no "best book" this year.

I did however read Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Season 8 religiously this year. It may not have been the Snooty McSnooterson Best Comic EVER, but it has consistently been enjoyable, most notably a four issue series written by Y's Brian K. Vaughn (he also writes for Lost). The series may not be 100% enjoyable for non-Scoobies, but it is certainly worth a peek.

I spend a lot of time waiting for phones to ring at one of my jobs. This means I spent a lot of time on the internet reading blogs (which, unlike pop*creep are generally updated on a daily basis).

These were the blogs I visited most frequently in 2007

Jezebel
Go Fug Yourself
Defamer
The A.V. Club
Idolator

Yes Gawker Media, you win again.

Webcomics of Note

Married to the Sea
Questionable Content
American Elf

Best Tribute Video

Film

I see a lot of movies. I mean, a lot. Usually about two a week. The fact that 2007 was an exceptional year for film doesn't make narrowing things down all that simple.

Let's go by genre:

Drama

Atonement: This adaptation of Ian McEwan's novel is nothing short of haunting. It is sexy, gorgeous and brooding. Actually, no... that's just James McAvoy. Let's face it, no one could quite match his brood-osity this year (seriously, here he is in Becoming Jane ... I watched so you didn't have to). You've come a long way, Mr. Tumnus. I digress. I DID enjoy the film for non-McAvoy reasons. Joe Wright is able to turn a brief tryst in a library into the hottest love scene of the year - even though Mr. McAvoy has gone on record as saying it was the most uncomfortable sex scene he'd ever filmed. Ah, celluloid... how you make the lies so very pretty.

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford: Another adaptation done astoundingly well. The film stars Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck as the titular assassinated and assasin respectively. I actually saw this film twice - all 160 minutes of it. Everything is just spot on, and I really can't say enough about this film. You need to see it, if only because Nick Cave has a hilarious cameo...

Control: A fine film about Ian Curtis and Joy Division rendered in marvelous inky black and white. Heavy, poetic, and redolent of sorrow. Tough to watch if you've lost someone to such circumstances.

Comedy

Lars and the Real Girl: When I first read that this film was being made, my jaw hit the floor. I have a strange fascination with Real Dolls, and I have for a few years now. I couldn't believe that someone had written a screenplay on the topic, let alone that people seemed to be taking it SERIOUSLY. When the film finally opened in Boston in October what I saw was by far one of the most touching stories of the year. If Ryan Gosling isn't nominated for an Oscar for this film, it is a damn shame. His portrayal of Lars is nothing but sensitive and genuine.

Juno: A lot has already been made of Juno. I know that it will inevitably become dated and over-quoted, but for now let's just enjoy it for what it is: A great, hilarious comedy about what it is like to be 16, cynical, and knocked up. Finally, there's a teen girl in film I can relate to ( at least the cynical part) - too bad she popped up a decade too late. Yes, a lot of the film is "precious", but it is worth seeing just for how it portrays aging gen-Xers.

Documentary

SiCKO: Oh Micheal Moore... there you go again with the provocation and the selective fact-sharing. Except for this time you're doin' it for a good cause. We all know that the American healthcare system is nothing short of a joke, but you've made it more apparent, and more urgent. Good on you. Keep it up.

The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters: This is actually probably my favorite film of 2007. I don't really care about arcade games... but I care about Steve Wiebe. This film did not make the shortlist for the Oscars. Seriously, what is the Academy smoking?

Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Sunshine: Danny Boyle is a genre-hopping genius. Some folk had bones to pick with this somewhat flawed film. Yeah, the science wasn't sound. There were plot holes. But fucking hell, what a gorgeous film. Underworld did a wonderful job with the score as well. I am looking forward to the DVD release so I can figure out how the hell the FX were pulled off.

The Golden Compass: You know what? It wasn't that great... but I loved every second of it. It is a shame that the Church had to go and get up in everyon'es grill about the God stuff... we all know they're just not down with Phillip Pullman's outspokenness on his atheism. Whatever, Fun movie. Will look great next to my Narnia special edition.

Bad FIlms
La Vie En Rose: Over-rated crap-fest of a movie. BORING.
Interview: Painful to watch, horrid characters. Let's hope Buscemi's next effort is more appealing.
I Am Legend: I got food poisoning and almost passed out half-way through the film. I chose to blame it and not the broccoli I consumed beforehand.
The Ten: Really just not that funny. I expected more from you, Paul Rudd and former cast members of the State.
Spider-Man 3: Oh, that one just hurt.
Evan Almighty: I saw this on a bus. 'Nuff said.

Music

Albums
1. Arcade Fire Neon Bible
2. Blonde Redhead 23
3. The National Boxer
4. Nine Inch Nails Year Zero and Year Zero Remixed
5. Patrick Wolf The Magic Position
6. Modest Mouse We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank
7. PJ Harvey White Chalk

Live

Arcade Fire: Boston, Orpheum
Neil Young: Boston, Orpheum
Aqueduct: Cambridge, Middle East Upstairs
Modest Mouse/Man Man: Boston, Orpheum
Sxip's Hour of Charm (week two): Cambridge, Zero Arrow Theater
Mew: Boston, Paradise

And: I assume that the Decemberists would have been fucking incredible. I had tickets to both nights of the Long of it and Short of it tour, but it was canceled due to illness. I hope that whoever was ill is on the mend.

TV
I do not have cable - I have rent! I did however get some television viewing in before the WGA strike.
-Heroes sort of blew this year, but Tim Kring (creator) agrees, and he promises to try harder next time. Yay!
- PBS's The War was pretty awesome. Not that anything Ken Burn's does is short of awesome. Except for his hair. Seriously.
-Remember when Lost was on? You know, aside from that whole fertility plot line, it wasn't that wretched.
-You know what show was amazing? Andy Barker, P.I.. Obviously it was destined for cancellation from the get-go. Come on, anything produced by Conan O'Brien and starring Andy Richter is way too good to be true. Let's hope for a DVD release.

That, thankfully, is all I've got dear exhausted reader. Hopefully 2008 will bring me more time for writing projects like this one.

How the hell are ya?

2007-09-09T18:30:00.000-07:00

Ahem...
Well this place has fallen into disuse...
My only excuse is that I currently work three jobs and tend to be so tired by the time I limp home at night that I am just too far gone to write in this thing. That said, here is a massive update:

You probably don't know who this is, but I can assure you, he is 100% awesome. This is Steve Wiebe. He is a junior high science teacher from Washington. I don't actually know him, but if I ever meet him, I am going to give him a firm handshake and a pat on the back. You can learn all about Steve and one of the greatest rivalries of all time by catching a showing of "King of Kong: A Fist Full of Quarters". This is a film about video games, the people who play them, and above all, human nature. It'll warm your heart and split your sides. It is easily the best film I've seen this year, no lies.

Hey, did you know that On The Road is 50 years old as of about a month ago? You did? Alright then. Well, I somehow managed to get through high school and college without ever reading it. I'm currently in the middle, and I guess I understand the hype. Kerouac had this crazed, stream of conscious as-it-happens style which can both grate and delight. I actually haven't decided which side I'm on. I do know that, every time someone catches me reading the book at work they have something to say about it. That could be because I live in Massachusetts and Jack lived in Lowell. Hometown heroes and all of that. I keep thinking "this defined a generation? Ok..." We'll see how I feel at the end of it all. I'm sure it will end up being a lifelong favorite. Maybe.

Avacado sandwiches. Oh man.
How to make the best avacado sandwich evar:
1 ripe avacado
2 slices of swiss cheese
2 slices of focaccia bread
2 tbs of Newman's Own Honey Mustard
whole leaf spinach
1/2 ripe tomato
optional: two slices of tofurkey

Alright... I think you can figure out how to construct a sandwich...

This is Louis Theroux.
I'm basically in love with him.
Yes, he's a British documentarian. You can see a great example of his work here: The Most HAted Family In America
The subject matter is close to my heart as the Phelps family actually wrote horrible things about my late friend Corey on their website and threatened to protest at his funeral in March of 2006. I digress... that isn't the reason I'm in love with Louis. Come on, look at the guy. And watch his work. DROOL. He's like British Colin Meloy... except for being lead singer of British Decemberists he's...uh...
Fuck, I'm twitterpated.

And finally:

Alright, a part of me hates to see summer end... but that part of me is easily silenced by the part of me that LOVES autumn brews, my favorite of which is Sam Adams Oktoberfest. Yes, this brew basically tastes like the smell of fall. Smooth, woody, with a nice hint of pumpkin.

That's all I got, kids.

pop*creep recommends

gofugyourself: This is my current guilty pleasure blog.
well, that and
Jezebel: I admit it, I like me some celebrity and fashion gossip now and then, and I defiantly prefer it from these ladies. They might be 100% against airbrushing and unrealistic ideals... but they aren't too proud to admit it when they see a cute pair of shoes.

Good Movie/Bad Movie

2007-07-23T15:19:00.001-07:00

On Sunday I saw two limited release films.
The first was the new Danny Boyle science-fiction feature Sunshine

I could talk to you about special effects (they are present and fantastic) or acting (formidable) but really I am just going to express my love for the sounds in this film. Many reviewers will tell you that Sunshine is a feast for the eyes, but this one will tell you that the sounds are "where it is at". Underworld supplies some great electronic blips and scratches here and there that perfectly compliment the bombastic sounds of metal expanding and contracting and... well... human screams.

This is a film to see on the big screen not simply just because it is visually stunning (it is) but for the sound. The explosions in this film rattle the entire theater.

OK, yes, there are plot holes, and not enough exposition... but there is no drippy love story. No exploitative sex. Nothing that generally mars most decent action films.

Sunshine is currently only showing on 10 screens in America. Good luck finding it before it disappears. Cambridge is the only place in New England currently showing it.

OK, now for the Bad Movie.

Oh Steve Buscemi, how I love you. How I wanted to love your latest foray into directing. How you failed me.

Interview is a depsicable film about despicable people. I don't understand how this has been getting good reviews. Alright, I do. Steve Buscemi is in it! We love him! He's swell.

Guys, Steve Buscemi's presence does not a good movie make. Ask Adam Sandler.
I see what he was trying to make: an in-depth character study. Yes, yes. Very nice, sir.
But what I discovered while watching this film is that Steve Buscemi and Sienna Miller are to "character study" what Steve Vai is to "subtle guitar solo".

This is character wank.

Perhaps this film would have been better had I given a shit about either one of the horrid people depicted... but I didn't. Couldn't stand them. They made my skin crawl. And not in an amusing way. In the "boy am I ever glad that that I work here and didn't have to pay for this ticket" way.

Man, I feel guilty even writing bad things about such a beloved guy, I do.

Sorry Steve. Your film blows. No one wants to watch Sienna Miller fake-cry, or you try to have sex with her. Ew.

EW.

--------------------------------------------------

pop*creep recommends:

1.The Gill Aharon Trio
These guys are swell. I saw them play on Saturday at the lily pad in Inman Square (aka "my 'hood"). Yes, Brian Viglione of Dresden Dolls plays drums, and that is their main selling point, but come on. Gill plays the piano in the most innovative way I have seen in the past few years.

2. Let It Blurt by Jim DeRogatis: Yup, good ol' Jim is a total tool, but his biography of Lester Bangs has kept me steadily amused for the past two weeks (what, between two jobs and having a life, I don't get much time to read). Sure, I haven't finished it yet, and it is currently making a somewhat decent couch-coaster for my half-empty can of Coke... but I KNOW I'll finish it. And for me... that's saying something. This is a horrible review,

3. Letting someone else tell you the ending of the last Harry Potter novel. Because really, I don't give a shit, but I know what happens. And I'll save you the $20.

4. Woodchuck hard cider on draft at Charlie's kitchen: Oddly pleasant.

5. Mehron Starblend face makeup: SOOOOOO much easier to use than the greasepaint I've gotten so used to. And it doesn't smudge.

6. 3AM frisbee: I am horrid by day, and worse by night. Much much worse in sprinklers during the wee hours.

Peaches fans take note

2007-07-10T12:17:00.000-07:00

I just saw this on the Av Club news wire.

Seriously Avril... this is the second time in about a month that you've been accused of plagiarism. If you can't write your own songs, maybe you should just throw in the towel.

Welcome/4th of July/Etc.

2007-07-07T15:02:00.000-07:00

Hello there, and welcome to pop*creep.
I've been thinking about starting this for quite some time. I finally got a spare moment, so here we go.

I moved to Cambridge, MA from rural Maine about three months ago. So far I have managed to land a quirky but amazingly enjoyable job at a puppet theater and another less-exciting job at a cinema that shows mainly foreign and independent films. When i am not working, I am wandering around the city looking for weird signs, shows, and street performers. I moonlight as a mime and singer-songwriter... so really, I am a busy girl. Why not add a blog to the mix, right?

I recently experienced my first Boston Fourth of July. Rather than braving the 500,000 strong crowds on the Esplanade, I climbed up the back staircase to my roof. Surprisingly, there was no one there. To be fair, it was raining.

I shot this shitty video with my camera phone. The fireworks were MUCH more impressive in person. Trust me.

A few days ago I went to a Polyphonic Spree show at the Avalon (across the street from Fenway Park) it was AMAZING. After the show I found this sign:

I have never seen such a sign. I was told that these are pretty common in the area... but it brings to mind roving see-saws. This is something I never considered when re-locating. Thank goodness I don't drive.

pop*creep recommends:

SiCKO
Michael Moore may be more famous for his antics and habit of ignoring hard facts in order to tell a more entertaining story... but SiCKO is still a film that every American should see and be pissed off by.
Hazyland Soap Company
Wonderful veggie-based home-made soap from Maine. All natural scents and dyes. They also make unscented and color-free soaps. Cruelty free and fantastic.
Christina's Ice Cream
Located in Inman Square, Christina's makes some awesome ice cream. Generous servings for not-so-much cash. My current favorite is their Fresh Mint.