bottoms

My review of Bottoms is now up at Film-Forward!

mutt

Mutt is a well-drawn, acted day in the life of a young trans man. My review here at Film-Forward.

talk to me

My review of the rowdy, occasionally piercing Aussie horror film Talk to Me is now up at Film-Forward.

kokomo city

My review of the bold, irreverent and vital doc Kokomo City by D. Smith is up at Film-Forward.

what was i made for?

Billie Eilish releases a pretty little piano-driven ditty from Barbie.

Just something you paid for

earth mama

My review of Savanah Leaf's debut picture Earth Mama up at Film-Forward. Really liked!

barbie dreamhouse mix

New set, Barbie Dreamhouse Mix, unlocked at Mixcloud!

Some mash-ups of mine + everything from Bach to Santigold.

indiana jones & the dial of destiny

Indiana Jones doesn't seem to fit in here anymore. In the landscape of animated fare, shiny-toned superhero movies and funereal-toned superhero movies, Indiana Jones is quaint. The series' smattering of cultural insensitives are passé. Its most recent predecessor, a rare dull output from Steven Spielberg, featuring a pretty annoying performance by Shia LaBeouf, was fifteen years ago. So Harrison Ford, at a spry 80 years old (not even a Boomer, but of President Biden's Silent Generation, who happen to be abstaining from theaters as of late), swooping in to cross continents, and thwart Nazis and creepy crawlies in caves, seems to pose economic risk. 

In this incarnation's prelude, set in 1944 Europe, Indy (filmed in eerie, not always plausible de-aging tech), and his fellow archeologist comrade Basil Shaw (Toby Jones) are entangled in a slam-bang action night fight against Nazi Jürgen Voller (well-cast, chiseled-faced Mads Mikkelsen), atop a locomotive. Indy then wakes up twenty-five years later, to confetti-strewn New York, as the city celebrates the return of the Apollo 11 astronauts. He slips liquor in his tea. The Beatles' "Magical Mystery Tour" blasts from the apartment below. Indy is about to retire from Hunter Collège, and his class is clearly disinterested in plowing through ancient history as turbulent new history is being created all around them. Unbeknownst to Jones, Shaw's daughter Helena (Phoebe Waller-Bridge), is suddenly among the pupils. Everyone has their own agenda--Jones, Helena, and Voller--for the coveted "Dial of Destiny"--a fantastical solid gold dinner plate-sized puzzle--at the center of the story, that can change history's course.

James Mangold's directorial efforts on this elaborate picture seem vast--from the time period and globe-hopping details--to providing high-octane spectacles which, while ludicrous, mostly work as popcorny entertainment, especially distinct ones like Jones attempting to outrun subways on horseback. When these set pieces end, the film's energy bottoms out, like caffeine highs and lows. The loopy action is not far off from last year's pretty terrible video game-adaptation Uncharted. But perhaps there's an earnest good time to be had here, with its touches of whimsy and nostalgia. Waller-Bridge's performance is uneven, especially her character's one note, false-feeling initial antagonism of Jones, but she is more compelling and plucky as the film moves along. Ford, still one of our longest-running enduring movie heroes, is charming per usual, and Mikkelsen's hambone turn is persuasive. There is simultaneous grit and golden sheen in Phedon Papamichael's cinematography. The rampant CGI effects, which are usually almost always an issue in contemporary action films, are sometimes disengaging. But much credit should be given to John Williams, who is still a force at 91. After the pearly delicacy of his score for last year's The Fabelmans, he returns to this series with lavish, rigorous music interplaying with his romantic old themes--its grandeur, sweep, and sneaky complexities is what ultimately separates Destiny most from of today's branded summer escapes. ***

-Jeffery Berg

calling your name

Jon Batiste releases a catchy & ebullient new single "Calling Your Name" from his next record, World Music Radio, the follow-up to the Grammy-winning WE ARE.

nicole holofcener movies!

Meep & I casually discuss the films of one of our favorite filmmakers, Nicole Holofcener on the Retro Movie Love Podcast. 

Not a writer / director's whose work is subject to hyperbole, but one whose churned out a lovely & amazing group of films so far!

asteroid city

My review of Wes Anderson's Asteroid City here on Film-Forward.

I wasn't as over the moon (so to speak) as some. But there definitely elements of it that were quite strong.

odyssey

 

Yay! Polo & Pan just dropped this bouncy and breezy mixtape including some choice remixes of Jungle Book songs. 

falcon lake

 My Film-Forward review of coming-of-age, Quebec-set summer fling tale Falcon Lake here.

range

Plaintive, meditative new single, "Range," from Texas-based minimalist music outfit Balmorhea from their forthcoming LP Pendant World.

Balmorhea's last record, The Wind, made my Top 10 Albums list for 2021.

Looking forward to hearing more of their new work!

some art by dave muller

Here is some art from American artist Dave Muller.

Of course I was struck first by the mirror ball & then found detailed paintings of albums / record labels.

Dave Muller via Anthony Meier

Dave Muller via The Approach

the narcissist

Blur is BACK after 8 years!

The next album, The Ballad of Darren, drops July 21st.

The latest single "The Narcissist" is a deceptively sunny, guitar strummy tune.

 

america has a problem

 Beyonce and Kendrick Lamar team up on Renaissance single "America Has a Problem."

sanctuary

My review of Sanctuary on Film-Forward.

monica

My review of Monica is now up at Film-Forward. I really liked the movie, especially Trace Lysette's performance alongside the per usual excellent Patricia Clarkson. 

Here are some stills from the film. The movie was shot by Katelin Arizmendi.