I am tweeting on the Oscars all night, if so inclined, follow me:
@thescreendoor
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Bring back the Skylon
I was looking up information on the new landmark that is being built on the Olympic grounds when I come across a rather strange old landmark. Before looking for it I had no idea this thing even existed but what I found out about it really amazed me! It was a very slender and modern sculpture that was erected in London in 1951. It looks like an alien space ship for anorexics but I am so surprised that people loved it back then. The sculpture is something that would stand out and lap up the attention in 2011 so I can only imagine the reaction that it received back then in 1951. Sadly the sculpture was demolished in 1952 (I am under the impression that it was never designed to last) by orders of Winston Churchill who saw it as a symbol of the Labour government. there are many rumors as to where the parts of it are now but there is a campaign to re-erect the Skylon again (many locations but clearly it should only be resurrected in London, I voted for City Hall as I think it would be the best new home for this amazing work of art) Please take a look at the website. I think the while idea is amazing and I really do hope to see this art standing proud in London very very soon. WE NEED MORE ART!
Link to the Skylon website:
http://www.voteforskylon.com/vote.php?votefor=11
Friday, February 25, 2011
Bon Jovi @ Madison Square Garden 2/24/2010
My friend Adam has come all the way from Australia to take in some US sights and sounds over the next month. On his travel blog, he gave his impression of the first night at Madison Square Garden last evening.
It's not your typical review, but you can feel the words leap off the page. That's all I am going to say. Read the rest of the review HERE.
It's not your typical review, but you can feel the words leap off the page. That's all I am going to say. Read the rest of the review HERE.
JUELZ SANTANA BDAY & MUCH MORE..
HAPPY BDAY JUELZ
MARCH 5TH AT THE PRUDENTIAL CENTER IT'S GOING DOWN ZAB & MABUZA
THE BEST VIDEO OUT RIGHT NOW!!
Thursday, February 24, 2011
The Best Films of 2010
The Best Films of 2010
By Anthony Kuzminski
Films are reflections of our lives, what we hope them to be and sometimes what they’ve failed to become. No other art form can transcend and open worlds for people like cinema. A song can be elegiac, a novel rippling, but a film, it has the power to not just inspire, but to show us upfront the horrors of the world, but unlike the nightly news, they can poetically take us out of our comfort zones. Below is my list of the bet films I saw in 2010. There are a few documentary and foreign films released in 2009 in foreign territories or were only in limited release. I include them on the list below not because I saw them this year, but because you need to see them.
There are still a half dozen or so films I didn’t manage to see (Rabbit Hole, Another Year, Inside Job, Never Let Me Go and Get Low) but my deadline for each year’s list is the Oscar weekend. I estimate I caught over 200-films in 2010 and below are my top 35. Regardless, this was a year full of great films and you can’t go wrong seeing any of the films below.
If you're looking for more information on the films, check out these links:
Netflix
The Internet Movie Database
Wikipedia
Amazon.com
1) Inception
Christopher Nolan is the best filmmaker working today. From Memento to The Prestige to The Dark Knight to Inception he captures the attention of the viewer in a way no one else can. Despite complex and challenging stories, he creates wholly original characters. The world of Inception is unlike any other I’ve ever seen and the multifarious layers of the script are revelatory. Whether he’s writing from an original script or taking a legendary character and redefining it, he masters the art of cinema. No other film from the last few years has demonstrated as much invention or audacity as Inception. It took Nolan a decade to finish the script and you can see why. This wasn’t a rushed project but a carefully scoped story with breathtaking special effects, superb acting all around (including standout performances by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tom Berenger and Tom Hardy). All I know is that the second the film finished, I wanted to see it again. No other film gave me a greater sense of adventure and intrigue than Inception. It’s a wholly original work that will still be discussed and dissected years from now.
2) Toy Story 3
I honestly didn’t see how the team at Pixar could even come close to capturing the heart of the first two films, but they did themselves one better by adding a level of sentiment not in the first two. Andy is on his way to college and the toys need to come to terms with their lot in life. There are metaphors for life and growing up here and no other film in 2010 pulled at my heart strings more than this. My daughter has now seen the film quite a few times and despite the continued repetition of it being played, it still gets me every time.
3) The Social Network
In a mere 7-year period, Facebook was created, hundreds of millions use the service and a book and film have been produced about it. There’s no way this film should be engaging as it is, but it’s a perfect snapshot of our time and our lives. Like the internet, I’m not sure if anyone who uses Facebook could imagine life without it. Aaron Sorkin’s dialogue is snappy, David Fincher’s direction is sturdy and the performances by Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield and Justin Timberlake are nothing short of fiery. Eisenberg relishes his role as the creator of Facebook. He goes from simple college student to cutthroat CEO. The transformation is startling. Justin Timberlake is equally impressive where he lit up the screen with each scene he appeared in. He was worthy of an Oscar nomination and sadly didn’t make the cut, but his work here shows he’s more than a pretty face.
4) The King’s Speech
While this film will likely sweep the Oscars, I don’t feel it’s necessarily as inventive as Inception, but it’s a story I actually wish was longer. Virtually everything about this film was pitch-perfect from its direction to screenplay to all of the acting. But what elevates the film to that next level is Colin Firth. Firth should have won last year for A Single Man and without him, The King’s Speech doesn’t have the same emotional weight. This performance is as compelling as any accent, make-up or physical transformation. To take a professional who makes their living speaking the English language with grace and to have the stutter and make it believable is a gargantuan undertaking that Firth mastered. One wishes we had a politician alive today who could overcome obstacles and embrace their inner greatness.
5) Solitary Man
Michael Douglas received a ton of press for the Wall Street< sequel, which is a shame, because in Solitary Man he gives his greatest performance. In the beginning, we see the confident and suave Douglas we’ve grown to love, but as the film progresses, we see a faulted man who despite all his conquests and confidence, it falling apart on the inside. Douglas owns this role and will pull you into his world. Despite being a man who makes one horrendous decision after another, you still root for him wanting him to come out on the other side.
6) Black Swan
A dark and vicious look at what one does for power. A brutal look at the world of ballet led by Natalie Portman who gives a performance no one will soon forget. Director Darren Aronofsky created a world of paranoia for not just his characters but the audience as well. We’re not sure where the delusions begin or end. Mila Kunis gives an equally evocative performance that brings out the best and worse of Portman.
7) Winter’s Bone
A sobering look at what pain, suffering and sacrifice truly is. Overlooked amidst the sobering performance by Jennifer Lawrence is director Debra Granik. She didn’t merely cast guide this mystery with a fierce grip, but she created a world that is sobering and utterly authentic. The word of the Ozark’s is terrifyingly real and no other film will provide you with a better wake-up call than this one.
8) Shutter Island
Scorsese is still the master of cinema and this murder mystery takes him in new directions. It is powerful film best appreciated upon a second viewing. Trapped on an island for the criminally insane, Leonardo DiCaprio (and the audience) is trying to piece together a puzzle.
9) The Fighter
David O. Russell takes you inside a family where everything hinges on the hopes and failures of two brothers; the elder (Christian Bale) and the direction of the younger (Mark Wahlberg). Russell’s direction is buzzing from the opening moments until the credits role. But what truly differentiates this film from standard boxing fare is the reality of the performances. Wahlberg, Amy Adams, Melissa Leo and Bale all knock it out of the park. Never once do you question the authenticity of Bale’s performance. For all you know, you are watching a documentary on Dicky Eklund. This was one of the year’s great surprises for me.
10) The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo/ The Girl Who Played with Fire/ The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest
The three films count as one in my book. Based on the best selling books of the same name, I couldn’t keep my eyes off the screen for each film. Lead actress Noomi Rapace is electrifying. I wish David Fincher well on his remake of the film and Rooney Mara luck trying to encapsulate the same emotions and grit that Rapace brought to Lisbeth Salander. Besides the searing performance by Rapace, the filmmakers do a noble job of never losing the viewer. This is no easy feat as the film has many detours and side stories that come to fruition at the end of the third film. I was electrified by all three films and you will be as well.
11) Cyrus
This is the type of film that was deserving of Oscar attention. A wholly original film that is charming, heartbreaking and downright quirky. John C Reilly is down and out on his luck until he meets Marissa Tomei, who gets better with every role she tackles. Despite their chemistry, she plays it safe. He later learns she has a grown son still living with her, Joan Hill. The three actors savor these roles and bring more than humor to them, but humanity as well.
12) The Town
This is a great crime drama directed and written by Ben Affleck. To every critic who wrote him off about 5-years ago, he has come back with a vengeance with two films showing his gift for storytelling. The Town is more than a well crafted thriller but an audience pleaser as well with a sprawling cast that does the material justice.
13) Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage
Much like last year’s Anvil: The Story of Anvil, Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage is a revelation into the history of one of rock n’ roll’s greatest and most durable bands. The progressive rock trio has forever been a staple for the arena circuit despite very few hit singles. Walking into the film completely devoid of their history, it tapped into my heart. Directed and produced with refined care by Sam Dunn and Scot McFayden, they play to the audience telling Rush’s story in a chronological manner that is thoroughly absorbing. Dunn and McFayden have previously collaborated on Metal: A Headbangers' Journey and Iron Maiden: Flight 666. Both films have revealing interviews with its subjects and as they slowly peel off layers you find yourself becoming more engrossed to the point of turning you into a fan. You don’t have to be a fan of Rush to enjoy Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage but it’s unlikely you’ll watch it and not fall under their spell.
14) Somewhere
Sofia Coppola is a director whom I will follow anywhere. Somewhere is a film delivered in a hush and to many observers, it will be about nothing. To those who feel that way, I am envious, as these are people who have never been lost in their life. Stephen Dorff gives an Oscar worthy performance as a film star living in the Chateau Marmont in LA. We see his daily life unfold from moments of loneliness to other times of heartbreak. His daughter, played by Elle Fanning, is the center of the film. It’s his time with her that helps him come to the realization he is amiss. The film is full of cinematic metaphors and graceful beauty. It may not be apparent in his mundane day-to-day existence but by the film’s final scene, we see he has clearly found what he is looking for.
15) The Ghost Writer
Say what you want about Roman Polanski, but damn can he direct a film. Pierce Brosnan and Ewan McGregor have never been better in this story of former Primer Minister and ghost writer. There’s a high sense of tension throughout the film that keeps you on the edge of your seat. More importantly, McGregor and Brosnan flew their dramatic muscles in ways not always seen.
16) Blue Valentine
Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams give all of themselves in this film. Set in present day and in flashbacks, the film dissects their relationship from a time when all was right with their love to a time where it’s all but extinguished. It captures the daily grind of life and how work, children and chores can dash love out quicker than a burning match.
17) Mother
Hye-ja Kim gives a performance of a mother trying to find justice for a mentally challenged son who was incorrectly put in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. She shows such extreme emotions and vulnerability you can’t help but be pulled into the downpour of emotions she experiences. If you’ve ever loved someone unconditionally, you will be engrossed. Director and writer Joon-ho Bong (who had previously wrote and directed The Host and Memories of Murder) has crafted a film that will challenge your faith. It may not be an easy film to watch, but the characters and their struggle with remain with you long after the film has ended.
18) The American
Anton Corbijn has created a great European noir that is slow, steady and sinuous. George Clooney is a professional assassin hiding out in a small town in Europe. As he builds a weapon for his employer, we see him transform from a cold and heartless man to someone seeking redemption and the belief in a higher power. Corbijn’s direction is masterful in its subtleties and nuances. He makes the viewer feel as isolated as Clooney’s assassin. He creates mood and setting that solidify over the course of two hours of scenic European locales that will enrapture anyone who has ever wanted to disappear.
19) True Grit
I have never been a devout Coen brother’s follower. But with every film, I become more enraptured in their world of crooks, criminals and corruption. True Grit is superior to the original in every way imaginable. The original feels like a caricature compared to this film. The gritty authenticity of the film would be enough for it to stand apart from the 1969 film, but with the addition of Hailee Steinfeld as the 14-year-old Mattie Ross, the film takes on dimensions previously unseen. It’s her sharp tongue and determination which makes the film truly authentic.
20) I Am Love
The Recchi family has been successful in the textile industry in Italy. One of the sons married a Russian woman (Tilda Swinton) and becomes one of them. This is the type of film some may stick their noses up against saying it is pretentious, but I found myself swooped up into their world. The cinematography of the film is luxuriant and Swinton’s performance is dynamite. She finds herself having fallen into the world of her family and as her children have grown, she begins to question her life, her needs and her ideals. She is restless and with the introduction of a young cook, her son’s friend, the story takes you places you can’t foresee. I saw the film with two audiences and both gasped at the twists and turns. Even if this film isn’t for you from a narrative structure, you should appreciate the glistening cinematic beauty of the Italian countryside.
21) Collapse
A 2009 release I didn’t see until its video release last spring, this is a documentary film about controversial conspiracy theorist Michael Ruppert. I am not sure if any work of art has terrified me to my core as this one. Are some of his ideas “out there”? Yes. With that being said, he digs into the brutal facts of the oil crisis and watching this film will provide you with the most sobering of wake-up calls.
22) The Art of the Steal
Another documentary about the Barnes art collection housed in Philadelphia. This is an art collection worth over $25-billion and about how the powers that be attempt to distort it, make money from it and destroy the wishes of Albert C. Barnes. You will be aghast when you see what has happened.
23) The Disappearance of Alice Creed
Gema Arterton (best known for her work in the James Bond flick Quantum of Solace) plays a kidnapped woman in this British thriller. The films minimalism makes your mind work overtime as you try and make sense of a story that involves only three people and one small apartment. The script is anything but simple and has layers and depth to all three characters. Especially effective is Eddie Marsan as one of the kidnappers. He has moments of such viciousness paired with ache that you can’t help but feel in some way that he is the victim.
24) Catfish
This documentary is downright uncomfortable to watch. That being said, the less you know about it, the better. People are not always what they seem on the internet, so be warned. You may see films with movie stars that are nowhere near as good, but I promise you, Catfish will stay with you and disturb you long after the lights come back on. The only thing I can say about the film is that, from all information gathered on the film, I can say that it is authentic and true and not fake.
25) Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work
I’ve never liked Joan Rivers. In fact I’ll go on the record as saying she makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. This film changed that for me. In an eye-opening exploration into a year of her life, you quickly realize that despite her quirks, she works harder and gives more of herself than any entertainer on the planet.
26) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I
I am not sure if I am giving this film enough credit. I bet if I could have seen both films a few months apart this would have ranked higher. One of the greatest film franchises of all time and the barometer for quality is astoundingly high.
27) Easy A
A rare teen movie that isn’t just entertaining, but smart; Emma Stone shows the world she’s not just a star but can carry a film on her own.
28) Get Him to the Greek
Jonah Hill and Russell Brand may be on the poster to this over-the-top comedy of a has-been rock star with a chance at redemption, but it’s Sean “Diddy” Combs who takes the film to that next level with a series of quotes you’ll remember more than the plot of this film.
29) Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
This isn’t for everyone, but the wholly original film (adapted from a comic) is a pleasure to watch and wholly inventive. Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz) delivers the film with great enthusiasm and Michael Cera is cast perfectly as the geeky bass player who is torn between two women.
30) Waking Sleeping Beauty
People may not remember it now, but in the 1970’s and 1980’s Disney animation wasn’t all that impressive and a venture that lost the company money. So how did it reclaim its place? This is the story of a decade long journey that helped bring about their best animated films in over four decades.
31) The Kids Are All Right
I “liked” this film and feel Mark Ruffalo gives a perfect performance of a man who is flawed. I just didn’t feel it was as earth shattering as many others. It felt a bit far fetched to me, but when the characters discuss their lives, their dreams and their pain…the film works.
32) Youth In Revolt
Sick, twisted and misunderstood by everyone; if you doubt Michael Cera has talent, look no further.
33) Harry Brown
Michael Caine is a bad-ass taking revenge on the criminal underworld wreaking havoc on hiss neighborhood. Need I say anything else?
34) Hot Tub Time Machine
This is an imperfect film with great heart. Lots of inside jokes and if you love the 1980’s, I defy you not to smile ear-to-ear throughout the whole film.
35) She’s Out of My League
Savaged by critics for its plainness but I enjoyed it. I laughed at quite a bit of it and then there’s Jay Baruchel who is more than just a geek but a guy with a good soul, a good heart and someone we root for to win over the girl. It may be predictable, but it works.
Anthony Kuzminski is a Chicago based writer and Special Features Editor for the antiMusic Network. His daily writings can be read at The Screen Door. He can be contacted at thescreendoor AT gmail DOT com and can be followed on Twitter
By Anthony Kuzminski
Films are reflections of our lives, what we hope them to be and sometimes what they’ve failed to become. No other art form can transcend and open worlds for people like cinema. A song can be elegiac, a novel rippling, but a film, it has the power to not just inspire, but to show us upfront the horrors of the world, but unlike the nightly news, they can poetically take us out of our comfort zones. Below is my list of the bet films I saw in 2010. There are a few documentary and foreign films released in 2009 in foreign territories or were only in limited release. I include them on the list below not because I saw them this year, but because you need to see them.
There are still a half dozen or so films I didn’t manage to see (Rabbit Hole, Another Year, Inside Job, Never Let Me Go and Get Low) but my deadline for each year’s list is the Oscar weekend. I estimate I caught over 200-films in 2010 and below are my top 35. Regardless, this was a year full of great films and you can’t go wrong seeing any of the films below.
If you're looking for more information on the films, check out these links:
Netflix
The Internet Movie Database
Wikipedia
Amazon.com
1) Inception
Christopher Nolan is the best filmmaker working today. From Memento to The Prestige to The Dark Knight to Inception he captures the attention of the viewer in a way no one else can. Despite complex and challenging stories, he creates wholly original characters. The world of Inception is unlike any other I’ve ever seen and the multifarious layers of the script are revelatory. Whether he’s writing from an original script or taking a legendary character and redefining it, he masters the art of cinema. No other film from the last few years has demonstrated as much invention or audacity as Inception. It took Nolan a decade to finish the script and you can see why. This wasn’t a rushed project but a carefully scoped story with breathtaking special effects, superb acting all around (including standout performances by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tom Berenger and Tom Hardy). All I know is that the second the film finished, I wanted to see it again. No other film gave me a greater sense of adventure and intrigue than Inception. It’s a wholly original work that will still be discussed and dissected years from now.
2) Toy Story 3
I honestly didn’t see how the team at Pixar could even come close to capturing the heart of the first two films, but they did themselves one better by adding a level of sentiment not in the first two. Andy is on his way to college and the toys need to come to terms with their lot in life. There are metaphors for life and growing up here and no other film in 2010 pulled at my heart strings more than this. My daughter has now seen the film quite a few times and despite the continued repetition of it being played, it still gets me every time.
3) The Social Network
In a mere 7-year period, Facebook was created, hundreds of millions use the service and a book and film have been produced about it. There’s no way this film should be engaging as it is, but it’s a perfect snapshot of our time and our lives. Like the internet, I’m not sure if anyone who uses Facebook could imagine life without it. Aaron Sorkin’s dialogue is snappy, David Fincher’s direction is sturdy and the performances by Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield and Justin Timberlake are nothing short of fiery. Eisenberg relishes his role as the creator of Facebook. He goes from simple college student to cutthroat CEO. The transformation is startling. Justin Timberlake is equally impressive where he lit up the screen with each scene he appeared in. He was worthy of an Oscar nomination and sadly didn’t make the cut, but his work here shows he’s more than a pretty face.
4) The King’s Speech
While this film will likely sweep the Oscars, I don’t feel it’s necessarily as inventive as Inception, but it’s a story I actually wish was longer. Virtually everything about this film was pitch-perfect from its direction to screenplay to all of the acting. But what elevates the film to that next level is Colin Firth. Firth should have won last year for A Single Man and without him, The King’s Speech doesn’t have the same emotional weight. This performance is as compelling as any accent, make-up or physical transformation. To take a professional who makes their living speaking the English language with grace and to have the stutter and make it believable is a gargantuan undertaking that Firth mastered. One wishes we had a politician alive today who could overcome obstacles and embrace their inner greatness.
5) Solitary Man
Michael Douglas received a ton of press for the Wall Street< sequel, which is a shame, because in Solitary Man he gives his greatest performance. In the beginning, we see the confident and suave Douglas we’ve grown to love, but as the film progresses, we see a faulted man who despite all his conquests and confidence, it falling apart on the inside. Douglas owns this role and will pull you into his world. Despite being a man who makes one horrendous decision after another, you still root for him wanting him to come out on the other side.
6) Black Swan
A dark and vicious look at what one does for power. A brutal look at the world of ballet led by Natalie Portman who gives a performance no one will soon forget. Director Darren Aronofsky created a world of paranoia for not just his characters but the audience as well. We’re not sure where the delusions begin or end. Mila Kunis gives an equally evocative performance that brings out the best and worse of Portman.
7) Winter’s Bone
A sobering look at what pain, suffering and sacrifice truly is. Overlooked amidst the sobering performance by Jennifer Lawrence is director Debra Granik. She didn’t merely cast guide this mystery with a fierce grip, but she created a world that is sobering and utterly authentic. The word of the Ozark’s is terrifyingly real and no other film will provide you with a better wake-up call than this one.
8) Shutter Island
Scorsese is still the master of cinema and this murder mystery takes him in new directions. It is powerful film best appreciated upon a second viewing. Trapped on an island for the criminally insane, Leonardo DiCaprio (and the audience) is trying to piece together a puzzle.
9) The Fighter
David O. Russell takes you inside a family where everything hinges on the hopes and failures of two brothers; the elder (Christian Bale) and the direction of the younger (Mark Wahlberg). Russell’s direction is buzzing from the opening moments until the credits role. But what truly differentiates this film from standard boxing fare is the reality of the performances. Wahlberg, Amy Adams, Melissa Leo and Bale all knock it out of the park. Never once do you question the authenticity of Bale’s performance. For all you know, you are watching a documentary on Dicky Eklund. This was one of the year’s great surprises for me.
10) The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo/ The Girl Who Played with Fire/ The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest
The three films count as one in my book. Based on the best selling books of the same name, I couldn’t keep my eyes off the screen for each film. Lead actress Noomi Rapace is electrifying. I wish David Fincher well on his remake of the film and Rooney Mara luck trying to encapsulate the same emotions and grit that Rapace brought to Lisbeth Salander. Besides the searing performance by Rapace, the filmmakers do a noble job of never losing the viewer. This is no easy feat as the film has many detours and side stories that come to fruition at the end of the third film. I was electrified by all three films and you will be as well.
11) Cyrus
This is the type of film that was deserving of Oscar attention. A wholly original film that is charming, heartbreaking and downright quirky. John C Reilly is down and out on his luck until he meets Marissa Tomei, who gets better with every role she tackles. Despite their chemistry, she plays it safe. He later learns she has a grown son still living with her, Joan Hill. The three actors savor these roles and bring more than humor to them, but humanity as well.
12) The Town
This is a great crime drama directed and written by Ben Affleck. To every critic who wrote him off about 5-years ago, he has come back with a vengeance with two films showing his gift for storytelling. The Town is more than a well crafted thriller but an audience pleaser as well with a sprawling cast that does the material justice.
13) Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage
Much like last year’s Anvil: The Story of Anvil, Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage is a revelation into the history of one of rock n’ roll’s greatest and most durable bands. The progressive rock trio has forever been a staple for the arena circuit despite very few hit singles. Walking into the film completely devoid of their history, it tapped into my heart. Directed and produced with refined care by Sam Dunn and Scot McFayden, they play to the audience telling Rush’s story in a chronological manner that is thoroughly absorbing. Dunn and McFayden have previously collaborated on Metal: A Headbangers' Journey and Iron Maiden: Flight 666. Both films have revealing interviews with its subjects and as they slowly peel off layers you find yourself becoming more engrossed to the point of turning you into a fan. You don’t have to be a fan of Rush to enjoy Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage but it’s unlikely you’ll watch it and not fall under their spell.
14) Somewhere
Sofia Coppola is a director whom I will follow anywhere. Somewhere is a film delivered in a hush and to many observers, it will be about nothing. To those who feel that way, I am envious, as these are people who have never been lost in their life. Stephen Dorff gives an Oscar worthy performance as a film star living in the Chateau Marmont in LA. We see his daily life unfold from moments of loneliness to other times of heartbreak. His daughter, played by Elle Fanning, is the center of the film. It’s his time with her that helps him come to the realization he is amiss. The film is full of cinematic metaphors and graceful beauty. It may not be apparent in his mundane day-to-day existence but by the film’s final scene, we see he has clearly found what he is looking for.
15) The Ghost Writer
Say what you want about Roman Polanski, but damn can he direct a film. Pierce Brosnan and Ewan McGregor have never been better in this story of former Primer Minister and ghost writer. There’s a high sense of tension throughout the film that keeps you on the edge of your seat. More importantly, McGregor and Brosnan flew their dramatic muscles in ways not always seen.
16) Blue Valentine
Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams give all of themselves in this film. Set in present day and in flashbacks, the film dissects their relationship from a time when all was right with their love to a time where it’s all but extinguished. It captures the daily grind of life and how work, children and chores can dash love out quicker than a burning match.
17) Mother
Hye-ja Kim gives a performance of a mother trying to find justice for a mentally challenged son who was incorrectly put in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. She shows such extreme emotions and vulnerability you can’t help but be pulled into the downpour of emotions she experiences. If you’ve ever loved someone unconditionally, you will be engrossed. Director and writer Joon-ho Bong (who had previously wrote and directed The Host and Memories of Murder) has crafted a film that will challenge your faith. It may not be an easy film to watch, but the characters and their struggle with remain with you long after the film has ended.
18) The American
Anton Corbijn has created a great European noir that is slow, steady and sinuous. George Clooney is a professional assassin hiding out in a small town in Europe. As he builds a weapon for his employer, we see him transform from a cold and heartless man to someone seeking redemption and the belief in a higher power. Corbijn’s direction is masterful in its subtleties and nuances. He makes the viewer feel as isolated as Clooney’s assassin. He creates mood and setting that solidify over the course of two hours of scenic European locales that will enrapture anyone who has ever wanted to disappear.
19) True Grit
I have never been a devout Coen brother’s follower. But with every film, I become more enraptured in their world of crooks, criminals and corruption. True Grit is superior to the original in every way imaginable. The original feels like a caricature compared to this film. The gritty authenticity of the film would be enough for it to stand apart from the 1969 film, but with the addition of Hailee Steinfeld as the 14-year-old Mattie Ross, the film takes on dimensions previously unseen. It’s her sharp tongue and determination which makes the film truly authentic.
20) I Am Love
The Recchi family has been successful in the textile industry in Italy. One of the sons married a Russian woman (Tilda Swinton) and becomes one of them. This is the type of film some may stick their noses up against saying it is pretentious, but I found myself swooped up into their world. The cinematography of the film is luxuriant and Swinton’s performance is dynamite. She finds herself having fallen into the world of her family and as her children have grown, she begins to question her life, her needs and her ideals. She is restless and with the introduction of a young cook, her son’s friend, the story takes you places you can’t foresee. I saw the film with two audiences and both gasped at the twists and turns. Even if this film isn’t for you from a narrative structure, you should appreciate the glistening cinematic beauty of the Italian countryside.
21) Collapse
A 2009 release I didn’t see until its video release last spring, this is a documentary film about controversial conspiracy theorist Michael Ruppert. I am not sure if any work of art has terrified me to my core as this one. Are some of his ideas “out there”? Yes. With that being said, he digs into the brutal facts of the oil crisis and watching this film will provide you with the most sobering of wake-up calls.
22) The Art of the Steal
Another documentary about the Barnes art collection housed in Philadelphia. This is an art collection worth over $25-billion and about how the powers that be attempt to distort it, make money from it and destroy the wishes of Albert C. Barnes. You will be aghast when you see what has happened.
23) The Disappearance of Alice Creed
Gema Arterton (best known for her work in the James Bond flick Quantum of Solace) plays a kidnapped woman in this British thriller. The films minimalism makes your mind work overtime as you try and make sense of a story that involves only three people and one small apartment. The script is anything but simple and has layers and depth to all three characters. Especially effective is Eddie Marsan as one of the kidnappers. He has moments of such viciousness paired with ache that you can’t help but feel in some way that he is the victim.
24) Catfish
This documentary is downright uncomfortable to watch. That being said, the less you know about it, the better. People are not always what they seem on the internet, so be warned. You may see films with movie stars that are nowhere near as good, but I promise you, Catfish will stay with you and disturb you long after the lights come back on. The only thing I can say about the film is that, from all information gathered on the film, I can say that it is authentic and true and not fake.
25) Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work
I’ve never liked Joan Rivers. In fact I’ll go on the record as saying she makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. This film changed that for me. In an eye-opening exploration into a year of her life, you quickly realize that despite her quirks, she works harder and gives more of herself than any entertainer on the planet.
26) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I
I am not sure if I am giving this film enough credit. I bet if I could have seen both films a few months apart this would have ranked higher. One of the greatest film franchises of all time and the barometer for quality is astoundingly high.
27) Easy A
A rare teen movie that isn’t just entertaining, but smart; Emma Stone shows the world she’s not just a star but can carry a film on her own.
28) Get Him to the Greek
Jonah Hill and Russell Brand may be on the poster to this over-the-top comedy of a has-been rock star with a chance at redemption, but it’s Sean “Diddy” Combs who takes the film to that next level with a series of quotes you’ll remember more than the plot of this film.
29) Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
This isn’t for everyone, but the wholly original film (adapted from a comic) is a pleasure to watch and wholly inventive. Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz) delivers the film with great enthusiasm and Michael Cera is cast perfectly as the geeky bass player who is torn between two women.
30) Waking Sleeping Beauty
People may not remember it now, but in the 1970’s and 1980’s Disney animation wasn’t all that impressive and a venture that lost the company money. So how did it reclaim its place? This is the story of a decade long journey that helped bring about their best animated films in over four decades.
31) The Kids Are All Right
I “liked” this film and feel Mark Ruffalo gives a perfect performance of a man who is flawed. I just didn’t feel it was as earth shattering as many others. It felt a bit far fetched to me, but when the characters discuss their lives, their dreams and their pain…the film works.
32) Youth In Revolt
Sick, twisted and misunderstood by everyone; if you doubt Michael Cera has talent, look no further.
33) Harry Brown
Michael Caine is a bad-ass taking revenge on the criminal underworld wreaking havoc on hiss neighborhood. Need I say anything else?
34) Hot Tub Time Machine
This is an imperfect film with great heart. Lots of inside jokes and if you love the 1980’s, I defy you not to smile ear-to-ear throughout the whole film.
35) She’s Out of My League
Savaged by critics for its plainness but I enjoyed it. I laughed at quite a bit of it and then there’s Jay Baruchel who is more than just a geek but a guy with a good soul, a good heart and someone we root for to win over the girl. It may be predictable, but it works.
Anthony Kuzminski is a Chicago based writer and Special Features Editor for the antiMusic Network. His daily writings can be read at The Screen Door. He can be contacted at thescreendoor AT gmail DOT com and can be followed on Twitter
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
ZAB JUDAH EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW ON MOST HATED RADIO
WITH SHADYVILLES OWN DJ MOESKIENO, SUERIOR, POPS, EVY & JUELZ
March 5th Make Sure You Catch Zab Judah Return To The Ring
With Avengeance! A Fight You Don't Want To Miss...
Carmelo Anthony shoots just 10-of-25 from the floor in his Knicks debut at the Garden,
but he still scores a team-high 27 points,
Listening To Our Hearts
How often have you had a discussion with someone, looking for advice from them, and you’ve heard them say, “Just follow your heart.” If you haven’t heard this personally then perhaps you’ve heard it in a movie or a song.
I used to think that such an answer was flaky and unstable, and therefore without much merit at all. I thought it sounded too fairy-like. But things have changed.
There is a song by The Ragamuffin Band that says the following: “If I ever learn what my heart already knows, and not feel the hurt that I wear on my sleeve, but the laughter that burns inside my soul. Let the child come alive and drive away these ghosts. You know my head ain’t even close to what my heart already knows.” In another spot, they sing “With your hand you wrote upon my heart, what my head has yet to believe.”
Can we trust our feelings? Can we trust what our heart is telling us? For a few years I have heard of the concept of having your mind “descended into the heart” but I think I need to recommit to this, to listening to how I’m feeling.
You can only truly do this if you accept yourself and give your heart room to breathe. You can not listen properly to your heart if you’re always suspicious of it.
A question must be asked, “Am I my beliefs, or does my identity lay somewhere else?” Rich Mullins, a singer who headed up The Ragamuffin Band before his passing in 1997, wrote the following in his song Creed: “And I believe what I believe is what makes me what I am.” For me, this rings hollow, to think that what I am at my core is a set of beliefs I hold. In an earlier song, he speaks against listening to your heart: “Boy you just follow your heart? But my heart just led me into my chest.”
I think that there is a suspicion of the heart among many people for probably centuries. It goes along with a frowning upon of the body and sexual experience. I think the big question, or at least one of them is: “What is humankind’s condition at his/her core?” I used to believe that each of us was sinful and fell short of what we were supposed to be. Even though there was a belief system that was supposed to make up for this (for me, the system was Christianity and the death and resurrection of Jesus) I always seemed to be looking for a way out of my sinful self. I found myself cut off from my heart and my body. And what resulted? I began to live firmly entrenched within my mind. This is one of the big reasons why I found myself riddled with depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses. My mind was overworking when really my heart has been trying to talk to me.
I now believe that we are naturally good, that we are original blessings. Therefore our hearts and bodies are also good things, wondrous things.
How do we learn to rediscover our hearts all over again? I suggest two ways. Firstly, by taking a few moments each day to simply sit still with yourself and breathe, trying to not think of anything. This can seem daunting at first - I myself find this hard - but as thoughts pop up in your busy mind about what you “should” be doing, or about the days events, simply let the thought go and concentrate on your breath. Perhaps, if it helps, you can place your hand over your heart. I suggest doing this at least once a day, even for 5-10 minutes. Or perhaps doing it at the beginning of your day and at the end before curl up with your Snuggie and go to bed. Secondly, another way to reconnect with your heart is to do something creatively or immerse yourself in beauty. This may involve taking a walk and looking at the trees, looking at a full moon, singing your favourite song. It may involved making love with your partner.
If you’re like me, your mind could use the break. I believe the mind can also be a beautiful thing but it’s in the heart where true life resides and where we meet God, or Spirit, or Divine Mother (which I prefer). Just as our minds can become sick, so can our hearts. Perhaps yours has been broken as you’ve travelled through life. But there is help, and there is healing available for you.
Wherever you are at this point in your life, I hope that you can take time to listen to your heart.
In Memory of Howie Epstein (July 21, 1955 – February 23, 2003)
Howie Epstein of Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers died 8-years ago today (February 23, 2003). It was something many people saw coming and yet when Epstein passed onto another world, it was an incalculable loss. Despite not being with the band when they started, Epstein was recruited for Long After Dark after the departure of original (and current) Heartbreaker bassist Ron Blair. It was one of those rare occurrences where the replacement had a positive effect on the band. Before Epstein joined, the band was in need of a commanding backing voice, which Epstein provided with bluster.
“Deliver Me” and “Change of Heart” from Long After Dark fully demonstrated his prowress. Those two songs wouldn’t be the same without Epstein’s husky voice going up against Petty’s. Epstein was initially a rhythm guitar player and attacked his bass playing with the Heartbreakers the same way. The Heartbreaker’s were never a flashy band where individuals stood out, but if you relished the songs enough you can hear the subtleties which were huge. Epstein’s voice doesn’t soar to the front of the track, but is almost hidden, adding warmth and clarity when needed. In concert, he complimented Petty’s voice the same way Lennon and McCartney did.
When Epstein died 8-years ago, it seemed almost anticlimactic, as he had been replaced by Ron Blair the year before. However, when I caught he 2007 film Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Runnin' Down a Dream it brought the tragedy into focus. Having someone slowly died right in front of you is a tough thing. It didn’t happen overnight but over a period of several years. He was so late for the cover shoot for Echo in 1999 that Petty went ahead without him. One would think that would have woken him up, but it didn’t. He continued down a path of destruction. I didn’t realize it when I saw the band in 1999, his playing was unsullied and still connected the dots for the rest of the band. In the documentary, Benmont Tench offered up the most. I think Petty was saddened by the loss of his friend, but somehow came to terms with it, but Tench, he offered that human touch. You can see the emotions brewing on Tench’s face. He’s holding it back and as we watch him, our hearts break with him. He simply looks down and holds back tears from appearing, but I couldn’t.
One thing Tench pointed out was about how Howie Epstein could still hit those notes in concert even as he battled his addictions and when they showed a clip of “Swingin’”, there he is, flawlessly complimenting Petty and bringing the song to life. Echo is an interesting but hard Petty record to digest. Written and recorded under the strain of a divorce from his first wife, the album lacks focus. Despite the minimalist nature of the recordings, produced by Rick Rubin, the band seems to coast through most of the songs. Don’t get me wrong, there is a lot to like within the context of the record, but “Swingin’” is a last hurrah for the Heartbreakers. They would never sound this good again on record. Epstein adds lush harmonies beneath the monotonous chorus. The same way a tie or colored shirt can bring out your best in an otherwise bland suit, Epstein’s vocal chords take the band into the sunset. He takes what may have been otherwise a all too plain recording and elevates it to what may be the best track on the record. He’s fleshes the song out; adds colors and pulls you inside of it where you appreciate the song for something more.
Side men and studio musicians never get the credit or respect they deserve, but Epstein was a immense talent who gave so much to the Heartbreaker and several other artists he helped produce. It’s so sad to see someone with so much talent to be given the gift to share it with the world, only to have obstacles overtaken them. Epstein is no longer here to hear the screams, feel the intensity of the music, share the warmth or embrace of a friend or lover. That breaks my heart, because here was a man with inestimable capacity who added grand colors to the music of Tom Petty. The best we can do learn from his life, not waste it and smile when you hear his voice side-by-side with Petty’s. That’s one thing no one can ever take away, because the records are here with us forever.
“Deliver Me” and “Change of Heart” from Long After Dark fully demonstrated his prowress. Those two songs wouldn’t be the same without Epstein’s husky voice going up against Petty’s. Epstein was initially a rhythm guitar player and attacked his bass playing with the Heartbreakers the same way. The Heartbreaker’s were never a flashy band where individuals stood out, but if you relished the songs enough you can hear the subtleties which were huge. Epstein’s voice doesn’t soar to the front of the track, but is almost hidden, adding warmth and clarity when needed. In concert, he complimented Petty’s voice the same way Lennon and McCartney did.
When Epstein died 8-years ago, it seemed almost anticlimactic, as he had been replaced by Ron Blair the year before. However, when I caught he 2007 film Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Runnin' Down a Dream it brought the tragedy into focus. Having someone slowly died right in front of you is a tough thing. It didn’t happen overnight but over a period of several years. He was so late for the cover shoot for Echo in 1999 that Petty went ahead without him. One would think that would have woken him up, but it didn’t. He continued down a path of destruction. I didn’t realize it when I saw the band in 1999, his playing was unsullied and still connected the dots for the rest of the band. In the documentary, Benmont Tench offered up the most. I think Petty was saddened by the loss of his friend, but somehow came to terms with it, but Tench, he offered that human touch. You can see the emotions brewing on Tench’s face. He’s holding it back and as we watch him, our hearts break with him. He simply looks down and holds back tears from appearing, but I couldn’t.
One thing Tench pointed out was about how Howie Epstein could still hit those notes in concert even as he battled his addictions and when they showed a clip of “Swingin’”, there he is, flawlessly complimenting Petty and bringing the song to life. Echo is an interesting but hard Petty record to digest. Written and recorded under the strain of a divorce from his first wife, the album lacks focus. Despite the minimalist nature of the recordings, produced by Rick Rubin, the band seems to coast through most of the songs. Don’t get me wrong, there is a lot to like within the context of the record, but “Swingin’” is a last hurrah for the Heartbreakers. They would never sound this good again on record. Epstein adds lush harmonies beneath the monotonous chorus. The same way a tie or colored shirt can bring out your best in an otherwise bland suit, Epstein’s vocal chords take the band into the sunset. He takes what may have been otherwise a all too plain recording and elevates it to what may be the best track on the record. He’s fleshes the song out; adds colors and pulls you inside of it where you appreciate the song for something more.
Side men and studio musicians never get the credit or respect they deserve, but Epstein was a immense talent who gave so much to the Heartbreaker and several other artists he helped produce. It’s so sad to see someone with so much talent to be given the gift to share it with the world, only to have obstacles overtaken them. Epstein is no longer here to hear the screams, feel the intensity of the music, share the warmth or embrace of a friend or lover. That breaks my heart, because here was a man with inestimable capacity who added grand colors to the music of Tom Petty. The best we can do learn from his life, not waste it and smile when you hear his voice side-by-side with Petty’s. That’s one thing no one can ever take away, because the records are here with us forever.
Anthony Kuzminski is a Chicago based writer and Special Features Editor for the antiMusic Network. His daily writings can be read at The Screen Door. He can be contacted at thescreendoor AT gmail DOT com and can be followed on Twitter
Skins UK Vs. US Plus Season 5? Yay Or Nay?
Okay now there are two versions of the same program either side of the pond! Has America outdone the British version and what about series 5 of Skins? Well, there are so many questions to ask and so many to answer! After watching four seasons of British Skins I did not hold much hope for season 5. Seasons 1&2 were amazing with the original characters and the dark, gross disturbing lives that they lead. Well, seasons 3&4 completely ruined the skins legend. Its not because of the change of characters, well to be honest with you...it is. I have no problem with them changing the cast but the cast and story lines were awful. Everything was exaggerated and the best bits of the first two seasons seemed to be erased and made bigger to keep the public watching. Skipping over to the US version, It is completely awful. Watching season 1 of US skins sadly makes me really like seasons 3&4 here! Skins is a program that America simply cannot remake. It is too dark, grimy, disturbing and “real” for America to have a decent shot at reproducing it. The version is too glamourous, happy, sweetened and just had everything that Skins is really about sucked out of it. I usually like American programs & remakes but this is one that I just simply HATE. Swimming back to the UK, Season 5 was surprisingly good! I love the new characters and I love the order that they have been placed in. Clearly some thought has gone into this season and I look forward every week to watching the program. It was always going to be a make or break for season 5 because if it was awful it was guaranteed that people would start switching off. This seasons cast simply erase the fact that seasons 3&4 ever existed and to me continue off from season 2 where the program was great. If you are from America and you have not seen the UK (ORIGINAL) version then I strongly recommend watching it because once you see the original version you will never switch on to the crap that you were watching before. Yes, I will give the US version a chance and will watch the whole season but its just simple ... it will never be as good as the first. The attitude and darkness would just get banned in America. Love skins and keep on watching Season 5!
Zab Judah Next Fight
TUNE IN TONIGHT FOR THE EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH ZAB JUDAH, ON MOST HATED RADIO WITH DJ MOESKIENO FROM 9-11 PM WWW.INTHEMIXXRADIO.COM
What else it means remains to be seen.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Has Britney done it?
When it comes to Britney spears I really have no hope. I know it sounds harsh but I think she has been clinging onto the one thing that has been keeping her famous, being mad and having comebacks ever album. When I heard that Ms Spears had a new song coming out I did not think “oh I better write this one on the calendar because it is a brilliant buy” and I have to agree, now that I have heard the song I still do not think it is a must buy... However I think it is a pretty good damn song for her so it has re-lit theI had for this woman. I do not want to talk about the song though, Its the video that has got me looking!There was so much hype over this video that I expected it to be awful. I find that most music video that get so much promotion and hype end up just being plain, cheap and boring. Well, I take this back for ms Spears video. I saw a link to the video from friends profile so I thought I would have a little lookie and when I did I was very pleasantly surprised! There has clearly been some money spent on this video, and so there should be because I am almost certain that if this song and video failed then so would Spears. She has had so much time to rebuild herself and her performances that this was the final straw. It is also great to see that Britney Spears has also finally admitted that she is an alien. The video is colourful, catchy and entertaining. The part that really attracts me to this is her dress when she is spraying it with paint. it is absolutely beautiful and if you watch i on Vevo where the quality is very good then you can see just how much colour and creativity has gone into this video. now i am not saying that this is the best music video, i think she has a long way to go before she can claim that title but this is a very good direction and improvement on anything else she has done. I will be intrigued to see if the next song has the same quality added to it as this song has done.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Learning To Give Yourself Freely
I’m thinking today about giving ourselves away and what can help us to do that and what can hinder us.
Recently I have been feeling the desire to give of myself more genuinely and more freely. What do I mean? I mean being fully present when I am talking with or relating to my friends, indeed anyone I meet. I have been fortunate enough to have good friends throughout my life, and if you were to ask many of them, they’d probably say that I’m a good guy and a good friend. But I must confess that often I have not been present. You see, I couldn’t truly be fully present with and for them. I would try to listen to what they were saying but often my mind would be a thousand miles away. Why is this? Why couldn’t I give myself freely?
The answer is because secretly I was crying out, yelling out inside for them to “fix me” or “help me.” You can have all the best intentions in the world of being present and truly listening to someone that you care about, but if you are a wounded child inside who is crying out for them to fix or help you, it’s impossible to do.
Here’s my point, or at least one of them:
You can not give yourself away freely if you don’t already own yourself or aren’t comfortable with who you are.
This is something that has thwarted friendships and relationships of mine in the past and has left me feeling worse than before, not to mention the hurt others have experienced.
As hard as it is, no person and no thing can make you complete, make you whole. Hollywood and pop music would tell you otherwise, that once you meet “the one” all your problems are over and you’ll live happily ever after. I must admit I’m a sucker for these movies, but really, they’re unrealistic.
So how do we own ourselves, how do we give ourselves away freely? How can we become an even better friend or partner and be truly present when we’re around those we love?
I believe the answer is that we must stop expecting so-and-so to heal our pain and we must release it to God. Now hold on, hold on. Perhaps you’re rolling your eyes now and saying to yourself “Here we go, he’s gonna go on about God when really I don’t believe in Him.” Well, ok my friend, tell me about the God that you don’t believe in. Is it the Man-In-The-Sky God who judges people to be good or bad and sends some people to Heaven and some to Hell? Guess what…I don’t believe in that God either; I haven’t for years. The God that I am talking about is a spiritual presence that lives both within you and I and in everything around us. This is not a judgmental, harsh God. This is a loving, quiet presence that lives within us.
What I am suggesting is that you and I need to release whatever pain and hurt that we have been carrying around for far too long. As long as we expect our friends or lovers to take our pain away, our friendships and relationships will be needs-based and frustrating, and probably eventually ending. And it’s not their fault! It’s not their job to fix us! The only thing that can truly help us, I believe, is if we connect to the God presence within each of us and consciously release our pain and hurt to Him/Her. I’m not saying this is easy to do, it’s not sometimes. That’s why therapists are there to help, it’s their job. It’s not easy, but when we do this, when we “let go and let God,” we can learn to walk freely and openly and truly show up in our friendships and relationships. Without the burden of our pain and hurt, we can truly listen to what other people are saying and be a good friend to them.
I encourage you to, in the words of author Henri Nouwen, learn to “cry inward” instead of outward. Nouwen suggests that we need to both cry out to God, and find a community that can truly hold us. I’ll leave you with this piece of writing of Nouwen’s that I find very powerful. Blessings.
"Cry Inward" by Henri Nouwen
“A split between divinity and humanity has taken place in you. With your divinely endowed centre you know God’s will, God’s way, God’s love. But your humanity is cut off from that. Your many human needs for affection, attention and consolation are living apart from your divine scared space. Your call is to let these two parts of yourself come together again.
You have to move from gradually crying outward – crying out for people who you can think can fulfil your needs – to crying inward, to the place where you can let yourself be held and carried by God, who has become incarnate in the humanity of those who love you in community.
No one person can fulfil all your needs. But the community can truly hold you. The community can let you experience the fact that beyond your anguish, there are human hands that hold you and show you God’s faithful love.”
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Motörhead to Rock Congress Theater Saturday, February 19th with Clutch & Valiant Thorr!
Motorhead has a new album, a series of reissues and a wonderful new documentary about their fearless leader, Lemmy. If all of this wasn't enough, they are on tour now. They hit Chicago this weekend at the Congress, a metal venue that will do wonders for their sound and image. Not to mention to rather intense moshing. For a mere $25 this is a steal...go, go, go.
BUY TICKETS HERE
Motörhead to Rock Congress Theater Saturday, February 19th with Clutch & Valiant Thorr!
Motörhead have never just been the best rock'n'roll band in the world. They've never just been the loudest. Or the hardest. Or the toughest. Or the bad-ass-est. No... Motörhead are also a lifestyle. Motörhead are a mindset, a belief, a way to live your life, a way to both survive and beat a society that sometimes seems intent on trying to grind you down.
In celebration of their latest album, The World Is Yours, out February 8th and the new documentary, Lemmy, Motörhead hit the road and will thunder into the Congress Theater on Saturday, February 19th with Clutch and Valiant Thorr on board. There are those who feel that Motörhead is the essential influence for all modern metal - the live show is an electrifying must-see.
Motörhead have chosen in what might be some of the most tense times in recent global history, to release a hell-raising, rebel-rousing rock'n'roll statement known as The World Is Yours.Written and performed by Lemmy Kilmister, Philip Campbell and Mikkey Dee in both Los Angeles, CA and Wales, with production once again by Cameron Webb, The World Is Yours serves to remind everyone that you should never stop questioning or critiquing a society that would surely chew you up and spit you if given half a chance. And with 10 soul-scorching testaments to the unbridled power this world-famous trio continually maintain, The World Is Yours delivers some of the finest, most important Motormusic yet.
On instant classics such as 'Get Back In Line', Kilmister thunders that 'The way we are is not the way we used to be my friend', and 'We are trapped in luxury, starving on parole, no-one told us who to love, we have sold our souls' , whilst on 'Brotherhood Of Man' Kilmister roars 'You cannot hide the truth from me I know what's in your heart, greed and jealousy each equal, all your days now dark'. And with the defiant, uproarious 'Rock 'n' Roll Music' , Kilmister and co remind everyone that 'rock'n'roll music is the true religion' and 'rock'n'roll even gonna set you free, make the lame walk and the blind see'...
With The World Is Yours the band have triumphed over adversity to produce an absolute stormer in this, their 35th year as THE greatest, loudest and just plain goddam coolest band around.
If that isn't enough, the critically-acclaimed documentary about Motörhead's iconic founding-frontman, titled LEMMY, which has been tearing up the worldwide film festival circuit from New York to Melbourne to London and beyond, will premiere nationally in January. “We don't fit into anything!” roars founder and heartbeat Lemmy Kilmister,"the only thing we fit into is 'Motörhead' because we are Motörhead music and that's what we do!"
The World is Yours Tour
MOTORHEAD - CLUTCH - VALIENT THORR
SAT FEB 19
2135 N Milwaukee
Chicago, IL - 773-276-1235
All Ages - Doors 7pm - $25
http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=3406715
BUY TICKETS HERE
Motörhead to Rock Congress Theater Saturday, February 19th with Clutch & Valiant Thorr!
Motörhead have never just been the best rock'n'roll band in the world. They've never just been the loudest. Or the hardest. Or the toughest. Or the bad-ass-est. No... Motörhead are also a lifestyle. Motörhead are a mindset, a belief, a way to live your life, a way to both survive and beat a society that sometimes seems intent on trying to grind you down.
In celebration of their latest album, The World Is Yours, out February 8th and the new documentary, Lemmy, Motörhead hit the road and will thunder into the Congress Theater on Saturday, February 19th with Clutch and Valiant Thorr on board. There are those who feel that Motörhead is the essential influence for all modern metal - the live show is an electrifying must-see.
Motörhead have chosen in what might be some of the most tense times in recent global history, to release a hell-raising, rebel-rousing rock'n'roll statement known as The World Is Yours.Written and performed by Lemmy Kilmister, Philip Campbell and Mikkey Dee in both Los Angeles, CA and Wales, with production once again by Cameron Webb, The World Is Yours serves to remind everyone that you should never stop questioning or critiquing a society that would surely chew you up and spit you if given half a chance. And with 10 soul-scorching testaments to the unbridled power this world-famous trio continually maintain, The World Is Yours delivers some of the finest, most important Motormusic yet.
On instant classics such as 'Get Back In Line', Kilmister thunders that 'The way we are is not the way we used to be my friend', and 'We are trapped in luxury, starving on parole, no-one told us who to love, we have sold our souls' , whilst on 'Brotherhood Of Man' Kilmister roars 'You cannot hide the truth from me I know what's in your heart, greed and jealousy each equal, all your days now dark'. And with the defiant, uproarious 'Rock 'n' Roll Music' , Kilmister and co remind everyone that 'rock'n'roll music is the true religion' and 'rock'n'roll even gonna set you free, make the lame walk and the blind see'...
With The World Is Yours the band have triumphed over adversity to produce an absolute stormer in this, their 35th year as THE greatest, loudest and just plain goddam coolest band around.
If that isn't enough, the critically-acclaimed documentary about Motörhead's iconic founding-frontman, titled LEMMY, which has been tearing up the worldwide film festival circuit from New York to Melbourne to London and beyond, will premiere nationally in January. “We don't fit into anything!” roars founder and heartbeat Lemmy Kilmister,"the only thing we fit into is 'Motörhead' because we are Motörhead music and that's what we do!"
The World is Yours Tour
MOTORHEAD - CLUTCH - VALIENT THORR
SAT FEB 19
2135 N Milwaukee
Chicago, IL - 773-276-1235
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Don't Pray For Me
This post is not aimed at one person. I've had several experiences which have led me to write this.
"I'll be praying for you." Are these comforting words for you to hear? They should be. Hopefully they come from a friend or loved one who has your best interests at heart and who are concerned for you.
There are certain things that people pray for which are not very controversial at all, such as healing from an illness, that someone will find a job, etc. But there are other prayers which I do not appreciate at all. Let me explain.
Ever since I have made my way out of Christianity (probably 8 years or so now) there have been numerous people who, after hearing of my change, responded by saying - among other things - that they'll "be praying for me." This has often come after they have read some of my writings on religion and spirituality, or after I have commented with a differing view on their status updates.
If I was doing poorly spiritually I would say "Thanks! I appreciate your prayers!" But I am doing better spiritually than I ever have. I have a relationship with the Divine that is more personally authentic and true than it ever was.
My problem with people who say that they'll be praying for me is that they are not saying "I see you, I respect where you're at." What they are really saying is "You don't believe the same things that I believe, therefore you are on the wrong path. I'm praying that you'll come back to the truth."
To me, this is quite offensive, because it suggests that "you" know what is right for me and that you presume I am wrong.
I would never, while praying, pray "God, Jennifer doesn't believe the same things that I do anymore, therefore she is lost. Please bring her back to my way of thinking." Never.
This is the big difference, and I understand it. I believe that each person is on their own spiritual journey and that there are many many ways that we experience God. Evangelical Christians believe that there is one way to God - Jesus - and we all must accept him as Saviour. I understand it, I do. I used to believe it. I was the one praying for so-called "lost souls."
But I have given up my need to be right. I have given up thinking that I know what is truly best for other people's lives. I don't want to convince anyone to believe what I do.
My only job is to love. Catch that? My only job is to love. I realize that that is probably what Christians are claiming to be doing when they say they'll pray for me, but really, if you dig down deeper, they are more concerned that I fit into their belief system.
If I thought it would net results I would say "don't pray for me." But that's most likely futile. So go on and pray for me if you wish, because I know you probably will anyway. I understand where you're coming from. But consider for a moment, if you will, that I truly am doing great just as I am, and i don't have to fit into your belief system.
Mark Andrew
"I'll be praying for you." Are these comforting words for you to hear? They should be. Hopefully they come from a friend or loved one who has your best interests at heart and who are concerned for you.
There are certain things that people pray for which are not very controversial at all, such as healing from an illness, that someone will find a job, etc. But there are other prayers which I do not appreciate at all. Let me explain.
Ever since I have made my way out of Christianity (probably 8 years or so now) there have been numerous people who, after hearing of my change, responded by saying - among other things - that they'll "be praying for me." This has often come after they have read some of my writings on religion and spirituality, or after I have commented with a differing view on their status updates.
If I was doing poorly spiritually I would say "Thanks! I appreciate your prayers!" But I am doing better spiritually than I ever have. I have a relationship with the Divine that is more personally authentic and true than it ever was.
My problem with people who say that they'll be praying for me is that they are not saying "I see you, I respect where you're at." What they are really saying is "You don't believe the same things that I believe, therefore you are on the wrong path. I'm praying that you'll come back to the truth."
To me, this is quite offensive, because it suggests that "you" know what is right for me and that you presume I am wrong.
I would never, while praying, pray "God, Jennifer doesn't believe the same things that I do anymore, therefore she is lost. Please bring her back to my way of thinking." Never.
This is the big difference, and I understand it. I believe that each person is on their own spiritual journey and that there are many many ways that we experience God. Evangelical Christians believe that there is one way to God - Jesus - and we all must accept him as Saviour. I understand it, I do. I used to believe it. I was the one praying for so-called "lost souls."
But I have given up my need to be right. I have given up thinking that I know what is truly best for other people's lives. I don't want to convince anyone to believe what I do.
My only job is to love. Catch that? My only job is to love. I realize that that is probably what Christians are claiming to be doing when they say they'll pray for me, but really, if you dig down deeper, they are more concerned that I fit into their belief system.
If I thought it would net results I would say "don't pray for me." But that's most likely futile. So go on and pray for me if you wish, because I know you probably will anyway. I understand where you're coming from. But consider for a moment, if you will, that I truly am doing great just as I am, and i don't have to fit into your belief system.
Mark Andrew
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
The Brit Awards 2011... Rocked!
well what a brilliant night at the Brits!!! I am so happy that they decided to move the ceremony to the O2 even though there was one negative thing... it was so BIG!!!! but I think that gave it such a great atmosphere! (and I love all the complaints about how far people had to walk to get from A to B!) Apart from it being an amazing venue it was actually a brilliant show they put on. I am surprised to say that I loved Rihanna’s section (yes I am not the biggest fan of this woman at the moment) and Take That!!! There were a few people however that I am sorry to say that I have NO idea who they were!? That blonde girl thing that walked up on stage and said something like “mum here you go” and then showed the bottom of the award!? I am sure she did not even know who she was and I am so glad her speech (if that is what you call it) was short because she needed to get off that stage! (drop her from the ceiling! (sorry that was harsh!)
PS I hate the host! he is such a nob!
I am impressed and will wait fondly for the next show.... lets see what the reaction is soon!
(Pictures from Big Top 40 Show http://www.bigtop40.com )
Sunday, February 13, 2011
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