Walk Hard

This post isn't about the movie, which was very enjoyable but certainly not last year's strongest comedy (I'm sorry, but that honor goes to Hot Fuzz).

Instead, I'd like to take a moment to recommend that everyone who reads this post immediately stop reading, walk to your motorized transportation vehicle, drive to your nearest music retail outlet, and purchase the Walk Hard soundtrack.

The songs are gloriously funny. They are not parodies in the way we tend to think of parodies, but rather the conventions of several musical eras taken to the extreme. What do I mean by this? Listen to this take on the typical 60's Bob Dylan song: Royal Jelly.

There perfect versions of the stereotypical Harry Chapin ("Let Me Hold You"), Buddy Holly ("Take My Hand"), and LSD-era Beatles ("Black Sheep") songs. And of course there are multiple takes on the prototypical Johnny Cash songs (the standouts being "Let's Duet" and "Guilty As Charged").

So go out right now and buy this soundtrack (or illegally download it online if you are a filthy pirate who wants to rob the RIAA....sorry, I mean the artists....of their hard earned cash).

Not a pimp, so suicide is still an option

I just watched Southland Tales.

I have no idea what to type.

If you've seen the movie, you'll surely identify with me on this one.

As per my brain's typically simplistic style of coping with things I've just seen, I shall make the following analogy:

Watching Southland Tales is like standing at the end of a line of all the most attractive, desireable males in all of existence, and having the Roman goddess Venus walked dismissively past all of them, kiss you on the cheek, and then hit you in the nuts with a bowling ball.

This analogy works on 2 levels.

1. When you try to explain what happened to others, no one will believe you.
2. While you can no longer reproduce, there's no doubt you were kissed by a Goddess.

So you might ask, "Is the film good or bad?"

My answer: "I have no fucking clue."

I actually watched Southland Tales 5 days ago, and it's taking me this long to write a blog that can even make this much sense.

Here, one last way to describe it, perhaps more accurately: Southland Tales is a movie that abducts you from your home and returns you several days later with a nice manicure and a glass of the finest liqueur you've ever tasted, but no memory of what occurred and a suspiciously sore left ankle.

The Last 2007 List, I Swear

After making my initial Best Of list for 2007, I then had to make an amendment. Now, weeks later, I shall be making more. I've seen a few more 2007 releases that have left me greatly impressed, while I have also re-watched some of my earlier choices and found that their quality fades upon second viewing.

And now, for the last time, I will present my choices for the best films of 2007 (in Top 15 form this time):

15. Seraphim Falls
14. Knocked Up
13. The Lookout
12. Sunshine
11. The Bourne Ultimatum
10. Hot Fuzz
9. Wristcutters: A Love Story
8. Juno
7. There Will Be Blood
6. Grindhouse
5. Rocket Science
4. Michael Clayton
3. Gone Baby Gone
2. Zodiac
1. No Country For Old Men

I really liked Dedication the first time I saw it, but the second time through I couldn't help but notice how cliche and vapid it was. I call this phenomena "The Garden State Effect."

The absence of such critically-praised films as Atonement, Into The Wild and Sweeny Todd are not a result of my not having seen them, but by my not really liking them.


Best DVD of 2007: Knocked Up (2-Disc Collector's Edition)
The special features are even better than the movie. From the 45-minute long documentary showing the original actors hired to play Seth Rogan's role (Justin Long and James Franco are particularly good) to the hilarious 5 minute featurette detailing how the studio hired Capote director Bennett Miller to hang out on set and second-guess all of Judd Apatow's directing decisions, this is a great amusement value for your home video dollar.