the stars on 45

I am loving these picture sleeves!  More at vinyloid.

rags to riches to less rich but still rich

There have already been a few great documentaries (Inside Job and Client 9: The Rise and Fall of Elliot Spitzer) that have examined and exposed the cause and effect of the 2008 economic crisis, but Lauren Greenfield's The Queen of Versailles may be one of the most offbeat and intimate. The film follows David Siegel, a billionaire owner of Westgate Resorts, and his wife Jackie and the construction of a 90,000 square foot home -- the largest in America -- at the foot of a Florida lake, the architecture modeled after Versailles. For the time being, the couple make do in an extravagant 20,000 square foot mansion of eight children, pets (two of the beloved dead dogs are stuffed in glass cases), and things galore (the Siegels have a Trumpy taste in decor and aesthetics).   But Greenfield goes beneath the tacky, gilded surfaces of David and Jackie and reveals their humble origins.  Jackie grew up in Binghamton, New York, did some modeling, worked for IBM then married David, becoming Mrs. Florida.  Ironically, David's parents lost all their money in Vegas -- his rise and his mammoth resort comes across in the film as a tribute to them.  David's shifty timeshare business, co-run by his son (he tells us there is no emotional connection between him and his father, everything is strictly business), is booming off of "cheap money" until the economic collapse.

There are some stagy moments (Greenfield has admitted that some things were shot out-of-sequence) but Greenfield's background in photography is a luminous asset to this film.  The cluttered rooms, gleaming limos, and dusk and night shots are full of eerie and ironic touches. Greenfield gives us some insight into the lives of children and the help (one of them has to dress up as Rudolph for a Christmas party -- in a scene that's both sad in its degrading implications and amusing).  Ultimately the Siegels seem unable to take care of everything they've collected and made including those around them; the death of a pet lizard is a stirring symbol of neglect.  Even when things get a bit repetitive in the film's somber final act, everything in Greenfield's picture, and its thematic obsession with rooms -- big and small / messy and clean -- is distinct and interesting.  David is surprisingly candid for someone who comes off in the doc as crooked and loveless; in one scene he describes his timeshare clients as "moochers" (though it's unsaid and understood that he's the biggest predator and moocher of all) and brags that he is the reason that George W. Bush became President. These are the sort of crazy moments you can't believe someone would admit on film (not surprisingly, Siegel has since sued Greenfield for defamation) and for that, Queen of Versailles is maddening and also an essential and sprawling portrait of these American times. ***1/2

-Jeffery Berg

the party's over

"Turn off the lights / the party's over / they say that all good things must end."  The Willie Nelson lyric from "The Party's Over" is an apt description of the parents in Jennifer Westfeldt's disappointing comedy Friends with Kids. It begins with a snappy title sequence, centering upon a group of yuppies having dinner in downtown Manhattan. The film suddenly skips four years where one of the couples: Maya Rudolph (an actress with such presence and immediacy) and Chris O'Dowd (lovingly scruffy and believable) are now parents to a rowdy child and who live in -- o, the horror of horrors -- Brooklyn. Westfeldt plays Julie, consistently caustic and dating the wrong guys, who decides, for some reason, to have a child with her bosom buddy from college, Jason (Adam Scott). The two share a lot of in-jokes like which way would they would prefer to die. The movie skips along again to them as platonic co-parents of a kid named Joe.  But then Jason meets Mary Jane (Megan Fox) in the park and they start dating and... I kept wondering, is this plot any better than The Back-Up Plan (that J-Lo has a baby movie that's frequently on Showtime) or The Next Best Thing or any other romcom where kids are treated like props?

Whether or not you have a tolerance for these kind of characters, blissfully unaware of their privilege, will likely inform your opinion on the flick from the get-go. As evidenced in her Kissing Jessica Stein, Westfeldt has a wry way with dialogue and the ensemble cast here is certainly appealing (many from the far superior screwball comedy Bridesmaids).  But Westfeldt consistently goes for a sitcom "How I Met Your Mother"-style (obvious scene set-ups, lame bathroom humor, unfunny dialogue) that wastes her ensemble.  It's a shame because there are some scenes that are wonderfully played by the cast (a small elevator scene for example, which feels like one of the few natural moments in the flick) but in the end, we barely get to know these characters -- surely they could be more interesting than what we get at their irritating surface levels. *1/2

-Jeffery Berg

emily blunt: a guest post by dan braun

It’s the first time. You can’t forget it. It’s that combination – the talent, the beauty, the presence. You’re pulled in immediately. You’re intrigued and you want to learn and see more.

Emily Blunt arrived on Stateside cinema screens in June of 2005 and has rapidly built an impressive resume of film performances, establishing herself as an actress always worth watching. Below are some of her most notable roles.

My Summer of Love (2004) – Blunt’s first major film role. She co-stars opposite Natalie Press as one of two women – working-class (Press), the other wealthy and privileged (Blunt) – who develop and discover powerful, passionate bonds which draw them closer and closer together, and threaten to drive them apart.

The Devil Wears Prada (2006) – Stealing from a master is a bold challenge – said challenge intended or otherwise – which is something Blunt nearly accomplished in David Frankel’s adaptation of Lauren Weisberger’s 2003 best-selling novel, as the senior assistant to Runway magazine editor/boss-from-hell Miranda Priestley (Meryl Streep).

Sunshine Cleaning (2008) – Two sisters – one a classic underachiever (Blunt) who’s just been fired from her waitressing job, the other a single mother (Amy Adams) working as a maid – and both strapped for cash, start their own biohazard removal/crime scene clean-up service.

The Adjustment Bureau (2011) – A young, up-and-coming politician (Matt Damon) and a ballet dancer (Blunt) fall in love, but find themselves confronted by mysterious organization determined to drive them apart.

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (2011) – A British government fisheries expert (Ewan McGregor) assigned  to realize the ambition of a Yemeni sheikh (Amr Waked) to bring salmon fishing to his homeland , overcomes his initial skepticisms of the project, while falling in love with the sheikh’s consultant (Blunt).

Your Sister’s Sister (2012) – Iris (Blunt) extends an invitation to her friend Jack (Mark Duplass) for a respite at her family's cabin in the aftermath of his brother’s death. Taking up the offer, Jack discovers an unexpected occupant – Iris’ sister, Hannah (Rosemarie DeWitt) – and, when Iris arrives suddenly the next day, a series of complicated emotions are revealed.

i confess!

Check out my review of Twin Shadow's new LP Confess on Frontier Psychiatrist!




Video for "Five Seconds"


and "Patient"

2012 film favorites... so far: a guest post from michael of cinema dumeep!

Michael from the incomparable Cinema Du Meep selects his favorites so far from 2012.

2012: So far, so sweet. It has been a pretty good year so far for Movies thus far (I've battled my wills and actually avoided sure-to-be dreck like John Carter, MiB3, Wrath Of The Titans, Battleship, The Three Stooges, Mirror Mirror, Rock Of Ages etc.) Will the second half hold up? Time will tell. Until then, I really enjoyed...

Haywire - Director Steven Soderbergh and Writer Lem Dobbs last teamed together for The Limey (1999) and the result was one of my Favorite Films from that rather prolific Director. He's been on a bit of a bumpy path since, directing mostly lame (at least in my eyes) mainstream favorites (Erin Brockovich, Traffic, The Ocean's 11 Movies), a slew of Indie Films that not many cared about, mostly because they weren't very interesting (Full Frontal, Bubble, The Girlfriend Experience) and some Movies that tried hard (Solaris, The Good German, Che, The Informant, Contagion) but failed to fully capture what makes the best Soderbergh Films work so well.

He's been a busy guy, sometimes threatening to retire (he's since made a couple of Films--clearly he's not going anywhere anytime soon, me thinks) and I think he's always on the verge of making something great. Haywire, for the most part, fits that bill. It's a lean, mean, fairly straight forward (at least for Soderbergh) Action Film, but it's filled with style and wit. Soderbergh and his writer Dobbs make a great team, and I look forward to any future projects they might make together. Casting a mixed martial artist in the leading role was also a stroke of genius. Star Gina Carano kicks ass along with the best of Action heroes past and present, and she's mesmerizing to watch. The Action scenes are done so well, I nearly rivited out of my seat with joy. Haywire also has a great supporting cast, and even a fantastic ending. My favorite Film of the year so far.

Soderbergh also directed Magic Mike, and I really enjoyed that one. Again, the premise here may be slight, but Soderbergh makes the most out of his story, and gets good performances from people you might not expect (Channing Tatum, Matthew McConaughey in a hilarious/creepy mentor role) It's a Movie about big dreams and hot moves. Very 80's-ish, and complete with an old Warner Brothers Communications logo in the start to set the tone. Soderbergh also served as a DP on this Film (under the pseudonym Peter Andrews) and he brings a fresh perspective with each scene. It's a good looking film shot pretty inexpensively on the digital Red camera. Soderbergh proves on a mainstream level that you you don't really need to throw tons of money at the screen to produce something audiences can really enjoy. Last time I checked, this $7 million dollar Movie has grossed over $80 million dollars and counting. Kudos to him. And kudos to Star/Producer Channing Tatum for breaking the mold of the merely good looking Action star into a pretty fun and charming screen presence.

Channing Tatum was also in another surprise favorite this year... 21 Jump Street. I would have never guessed that a reworking of that 80's TV Show could actually produce such a fun Movie as this one. I won't say too much about this one other than expect some real laughs and smarts in between all the silliness. Tatum and writer/star Jonah Hill make a great team. I've watched this crows pleaser 3 times now with friends & family.

Julie Delpy wrote/directed/produced/composed the music/edited and starred in the hilarious 2 Days In Paris in 2007. She's back again with the follow up, 2 Days In New York. This go 'round finds Delpy dealing with her visiting family, which strains her relationship with live-in boyfriend Chris Rock and their respective children.

2 in New York is almost as funny as the Paris, and a very much a worthy follow-up. Delpy is a fairly idiosyncratic person, and she lets it all hang out in these Films, drawing from her real life, her real family and her real fears. Her father (Albert Delpy) is such a joy to watch. He's so funny. Love that guy. 2 in New York is currently available On Demand and will be in Theaters later this summer. Check it out.

Alex Ross Perry directs the dark and funny independent Film, The Color Wheel. Beautifully shot in super grainy black and white, Wheel is a road Movie about siblings who toss verbal jabs at one another, almost in a 30's screwball Movie like manner, while trying to deal with the issues that are bubbling to the surface with one another.

It's a very funny, squirm inducing kind of Movie, and I can't wait to see what Mr. Perry comes up in the future. He's very talented, with a great eye for details... The Film's poster even has a font that was inspired from a novel by Phillip Roth.

The Loved Ones is an Australian Horror/Thriller that, though produced in 2009, hasn't gotten a theatrical release here in the states until just now. I was really surprised by this Movie. Though it might not be scary, there's a lot of suspense, and it has a villain you really want to see put down. Good stuff. I recommend you seeking it out.

More that I enjoyed so far:

The Grey... Liam Neeson vs. Wolves. What's not to love.

Friends With Kids... Now that I'm a new parent, I get it even more. Yes, people with kids can be total dipshits.

A Bag Of Hammers... Surprisingly sweet Indie Film about 2 con artist friends who take in the neglected boy next store. I was afraid it was going to be a Wes Anderson clone, but the Movie has some nice surprises. Co-stars the always lovely Rebecca Hall.

Darling Companion... Lawrence Kasdan's latest Film seems mostly aimed for the AARP set. I actually rather enjoyed it.

Return... Linda Cardellini plays a Veteran back home from the War, and the Film focuses on the adjustment back to her life. Though the Movie employs a bit too much hand-held camerawork for my taste, there's a really strong, moving story here, and Lina Cardellini turns in a great performance. She'll more than likely be ignored when awards season comes around, and that's a shame. Co-stars the naturally creepy Michael Shannon as the husband who doesn't quite get her.

Goon... Seann William Scott is disarmingly sweet as a brute hockey player in this charming Canadian Film. A nice little surprise. Currently streaming on Netflix.

The Dictator... Is a fun piece of silly-yet-subversive work from Sasha Baron Cohen. I've seen it twice now, and it was even more fun the second time.

Also of note: The Avengers, The Innkeepers, Thin Ice, Jeff Who Lives At Home, God Bless America, Take This Waltz, To Rome With Love, Hysteria, Contraband, Bernie and Why Stop Now. The Filipino Horror Movie The Road was super creepy, though the ending was a bit lackluster. And yes, I enjoyed Piranha 3DD. Even more than the overrated Cabin In The Woods and Prometheus. Sue me!

I also didn't mind: American Reunion, Chernobyl Diaries, The Giant Mechanical Man and The Five-Year Engagement. Though they could have been better, I found them to be pleasant enough diversions at the Picture Shows.

I still need to see: Moonrise Kingdom, Safety Not Guaranteed, Ted, Savages, Your Sister's Sister, Brave, Beyond The Black Rainbow, Paul Williams Still Alive, Dark Horse and a few others I think I might like.

pretty pettyfer

I still haven't seen Magic Mike! What's taking me so long?