This Is Turning Into An Annual Ritual

Cease-Fire's

make me laugh.

Tripp

The irony meter is bursting as a result of this picture.


What kinda name is that?

My Favorite Albums This Year

1. TV on the Radio - Dear Science

Pretty sure I declared this a while back, but let's reiterate. This album is flawless, there's nothing much to say except they left off where Cookie Mountain ended. And it's all splendidly done live.

2. Portishead - Third

There's something eery and ominous about this album. It's beautiful.

3. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular

As positive I am I'd hate these 2 guys if I met them, and as positive as I am that I just about hate all of their fans (self-loathing is a personal strong point of mine), I have to give them the 3 spot. "Time to Pretend" was reckless and catchy as hell, the deadliest of combinations. And all throughout the album I heard the Jackson 5, Bowie, boy bands circa 1985, Daft Punk, New Order, and thensome. Both my childhood and everything I pictured the 80s to be in New York seemed to cross, causing me to enjoy this album despite my negative opinion of everything they represent in the present. But don't expect me to put a headband on with knockoff RayBan's and blindingly bright jeans.

The Informers

The Informers

Add One More

to the list of Most Anticipated. Quite surprised I left this one out.

The Limits of Control

I found a link to someone who worked on or was simply around the set who took a few pictures.

Ryan Gosling?

In The Room Where You Sleep

River

My Own Private Idaho

Criterion Collection.

Axis: Bold As Love

on vinyl.

Jackson 5

I knew a retired Marine vet who loved the Jackson 5. This stoic, and often guarded man, played their greatest hits CD straight through once when I had the opportunity of catching a ride from him. It was surreal due to all my preconceptions. To this day I remember his cauliflower ear and stern grin and how, yes, even him, knew what made him happy.

Top 5 Brad Pitt Roles

After making my Top 5 Most Anticipated Movies list, I noticed Pitt's in 2 of the 5 (Inglorious Basterds, The Tree of Life). Last night I watched True Romance, where Pitt's Floyd is bar none one of the funniest cinematic stoners I've ever seen (and he has maybe 5 minutes worth of dialogue), and thought, why not make a Top 5 list of Brad Pitt's best roles. Here it goes.

5. Tyler Durden (Fight Club)
As exploited as Fight Club was, what with all these Hot Topic types, it is a well made film. Durden has aspirations to put us back to the primatial times... and blow up buildings while attempting to do so.

4. Jeffrey Goines (12 Monkeys)
This mental patient eerily mirrors Depp's depiction of HST in Fear and Loathing, coincidentally both films done by Gilliam.

3. Floyd (True Romance)
As reported in a recent interview, Floyd is whom James Franco based his Pineapple Express character on.

2. Chad Feldheimer (Burn After Reading)
When your wife is Angelina Jolie and she tells you that this is the one time she doesn't find you attractive, well, you must be doing something right... acting-wise that is.

1. Mickey O'Neil (Snatch)
Fncking pikey, my personal fave and I barely understand his dialogue.

Honorable Mentions:
Jesse James (The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford)
Detective David Mills (SE7EN)

I don't care how huge this man is... he can act. One of the few mega stars that I can respect.

I Lived My Life

So genius in its simplicity.

I Lived My Life - Fats Domino

The Genius as An Asshole Theory

Is ongoing. But, really, is a straw so farfetched? Sure, it's not necessary... but a luxury item?

Top 5 Most Anticipated Movies of 2009

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
Public Enemies
Inglourious Basterds
The Tree of Life
Sherlock Holmes

There's tons more, but those are definitely my Top 5, at least until I hear about something better (doubtful).

Frank's Wild Years

Frank settled down in the Valley,
and he hung his wild years on a
nail that he drove through his
wife's forehead.

He sold used office furniture out
there on San Fernando Road and
assumed a $30,000 loan at
15 and a quarter percent, put a down payment
on a little two bedroom place.

His wife was a spent piece of used jet trash
Made good bloody-mary's, kept her mouth
shut most of the time, had a little Chihuahua
named Carlos that had some kind of skin
disease and was totally blind.

They had a thoroughly modern kitchen;
self-cleaning oven (the whole bit);
Frank drove a little sedan.
They were so happy.

One night Frank was on his way home
from work, stopped at the liquor store,
picked up a couple of Mickey's Big Mouth’s.
Drank 'em in the car on his way to the
Shell station; he got a gallon of gas in a can.

Drove home, doused everything in
the house, torched it.
Parked across the street laughing,
watching it burn, all Halloween
orange and chimney red.

Frank put on a top forty station,
got on the Hollywood Freeway
headed North.

Never could stand that dog.

Try These On For Size

If only we'd have the balls to do this in America. Better than the "don't tase me" kid.

Wes Anderson and Brad Pitt?

Yeah, it's like Bill Murray's character in Lost in Translation. Japanese company pays wads and wads of cash to get American, and therefore International, superstar actor to team up with visionary director (except this time the director's American, which spares the amusing exchange between the two) to advertise some product you've never heard of. I think it's good and all considering it's unfortunate 30 second length. You might remember Anderson's Am Ex ad a few years back. But what about a full length collab between these two in the future? Here's the commercial.


For relaxing times, make it Suntory time...

[Insert Christian Bale Movie with Kermit Pun]

The Dark Frog, American Frog, The Amphibianist, Kermit Begins, etc.

In early (very early) anticipation of Public Enemies, I figured I'd post this page my sister sent to me during one of her many dull work days. Here, Christian Bale and Kermit are juxtaposed next to each other with amusing, and sometimes scary, results. I really can't say where it all began, but apparently there's a conspiracy to be explored here. This is too suspicious. But, as I was saying, Public Enemies is coming out and I was wondering if anyone could find an adequate Kermit pic to juxtapose with the recently released stills from the Bale/Depp collaboration.

Howlin' Wolf

Meet You

If you don't like to be reminded of how you used to be, what you used to say, who you used to say it to, well, don't check your inbox on MySpace.  But if you're like me and get a kick out of it all, by all means, treat yourself to a nostalgic trip like no other (assuming you used MySpace messaging at any period of your social network upbringing).  My inbox dates back to September 2005, over 3 years ago.  While little has changed physically (lost the wee bit of body/baby fat I had when I decided to quit meat), it feels like I'm reading the messages of a stranger.

Well, I did it.  This entry has that mushy, coming of age tone that I warned myself of beforehand, swearing to prohibit and avoid at all costs.  But how could you when you're rambling on such a topic?  

Anyway, I definitely recommend it to anyone who may have some fun stuff to read.  Enjoy and let me know if it was as good for you as it was for me.  Excuse the perversity.  

Julian (the) Schnob-el

No matter what you think of the guy and his ways you have to, at the very least, recognize him as a power to be reckon with in regards to art.  Maybe not for his art itself (I, for one, generally approve of his stuff), but for his name and everything he has left in his trail.  He's been chums with Basquiat, nominated for several Oscars, won Best Director at Cannes, and built a pink palazzo in Manhattan that has caused both uproar and admiration.  His films include Basquiat, Before Night Falls, and The Diving Bell and Butterfly.  It seems as he makes more films they get better.  You see the painter in him through his directing and it is a unique delight.  His next film, reportedly, takes place in the Middle East.  The story is based on a book written by Rula Jebreal.  According to this article, Schnabel's smoozing with the author (now that's a pretty author).  I guess what this entry was supposed to be about (I'm really still not sure) was how much of an asshole Schnabel can be.  The discussion of what makes a great artist or great director or great writer or great anyone has come up on numerous occasions, and on many of those occasions this question arises: does an individual, who happens to be a jerk, take anything away from their work as a result?  Personally, I think it only adds for those who enjoy the work, and takes away even more for those who didn't like it to begin with.  Maybe I'm wrong, but that's how it goes for me.  He was on 60 Minutes Sunday night, only further convincing me of his assholeness, and I really couldn't get enough.  It's fantastic, really...

Linklater and Zac Efron

What happens when one of your favorite best-kept-secret directors makes a film about Orson Welles' Broadway production of Caesar starring Zac Efron.  I am genuinely scared.  Could the mere presence of such a horrendous actor make this film into some sort of companion piece to High School Musical, causing preteen girls who've grown tired of the Jack Nicholson and Edward Scissorhand love child gone wrong (because, really, a love child produced by those two would be better looking than Pattinson) to once again take refuge in the slightly disturbing porcelain doll-like face of Zac Efron? It is a conundrum of sorts, a reason to be concerned.  Granted, Linklater is known to do major studio productions (remember this?), but really, does he have to work with someone like Efron?  A living Ken doll, one of the myriad reasons why kids today will grow up even more shallow than past generations.  Maybe I'm just too attached.  Maybe I wish all too much that Linklater would solely commit to projects like this one, or keep down the road of unique inquiries on film of philosophical questions, like here, here, and here.  It's probably the stoner in me that wants more of this, less of this.  Honestly, I wouldn't mind as much except did he really sign up for this film aware of who was in it?  If he did, it makes me wonder.  This man is not dumb.  If you are familiar with his films, as well as him and his lifestyle (he did Fast Food Nation for a reason, as well as every movie he did that I appreciate immensely), you'd be curious as to why he made this one.  I'm torn because I'd never pay to see Zac Efron do anything... a-n-y-t-h-i-n-g.  But Linklater is a true inspiration.  I guess this is one to wait for on Netflix.

Watch the director himself in the opening scene of Slacker:

Desolation Row

It's a sad sad sad sad sad sad sad sad sad sad sad day when one finds out that My Chemical Romance will be covering "Desolation Row."  Sad sad sad sad sad sad sad sad day.

In Bruges

See this movie and be surprised that Colin Farrell can really act.

7.5/10

Closing

So, officially, Lethargy in Motion is all mine again. It always was, but now it's like prior to class. It's almost an unsettling feeling. What can I possibly write about? Well, after some thought, nothing will really change. I'll pick up a book independently and the same urge to question it, complain or rave about it, all those impulses will be present, and so, it's only right to have this blog here for my disposal. And disposal's a good word considering it's mostly garbage. Nonetheless, this blog will be updated just as much as it was during the semester and the summer preceding. I have a lot of nonsense waiting to be deemed important.

In other news: Exile on Main Street finally hit me. And it hit me hard.  The way this album flows, it's so smooth yet so damn sloppy.  It is pure rock n' roll and blues and just explodes with genuine character.  Jagger is swagger personified and lyrically you get a full dose of attitude.  Granted, I was on the F train stoned, night falling, drizzle speckling the windows, and anything nice under the dimming sky would have wondered me and put me in awe while I struggled to finish a Sudoku puzzle.  But in any setting this album would be more than sufficient.  This album goes by like the train itself:  rattling, slowing, speeding up, the occasional brass instrument in the background, the drugs - a bonafide subway album.  Songs like "Rocks Off," "Tumbling Dice," "Sweet Virginia," and "Ventilator Blues" all add to the grittiness while "Shine a Light," (never understood why this wasn't the closer) has you finding yourself in a ballad-like, organ drenched song, powerful and equipped with a choir.  It's just such a great sound all throughout Exile.  Legendary, and I am not hesitant in my decision to label it such a word.  And finally, fortunately, I've grown on it... it hasn't grown on me.

And in other other news: I watched Be Here to Love Me last night. Townes is the greatest songwriter who ever lived, just watch him make this grown man cry:

Songs from Presentation, If You Cared

Sorry, couldn't find "Failure33Object" by John Frusciante for free. But buy it anyway, it's amazing.

2 Page Blog Paper

It must have been over 5 years ago when I first found myself “blogging.” Prior to this I was writing in several journals, or some form of a journal, on and off. I could recall how some of these ancient notebooks looked. My first, or one of my first, was a hand-sized, light green hard covered book. I can only imagine what it contains. The years in which I turned to it in times of contemplation, angst, or mere boredom, were roughly during the ages of 12-14. These are primary years in embarrassing journal entries, but I’ll spare you the details. It wasn’t until high school that I began to use an online weblog instead of the traditional book.

I was introduced to Xanga.com by a former peer. In retrospect, it was the worst time to move on to a more public version of a journal. At that age, at least for me, it was no hold’s bar in terms of privacy. In other words, stoicism wasn’t anything particularly appealing for a sophomore in high school. My entries ranged from mundane events like how it rained and I couldn’t skateboard to surprisingly personal and epiphanic entries concerning my dad’s major heart surgery (coincidently my last Xanga entry).

Upon leaving Xanga, what I now consider blog training wheels, I moved on to MySpace. But not the empire we know MySpace as today, but the relatively small and exciting network it was in 2004. MySpace was a bit different than Xanga. It was free and more flexible. While Xanga was simple, stripped down and limited, MySpace gave me the opportunity to post pictures, list my interests, and still write entries. Granted, I didn’t miraculously learn to write more maturely, nor did I hold back from cathartic ramblings on my sappy, unproductive life. However, it was rewarding when I finally did learn to tone down some of my entries and express them in a more adult manner. In short, I’ve had an ongoing involvement with blogs way before this class.

Looking back on the semester, it is easy to see which works we did I took special interest in and which works, well, I couldn’t stand. The blog, in a twisted, almost Cronenbergian way, became me. At the risk of sounding dramatic, let me defend thyself. Teach anyone to use a blog such as Blogspot, tell them to write about anything current, passed, and coming soon, and check back in a month. If this person wrote daily, it is much like a 30 page story. Fragmented, sure, but revealing, regardless of their intentions.

The practicality of the blog is extraordinary to say the least. Now, without having to spend money, anyone could broadcast their voice to an audience basically unlimited. I want to know when John Frusciante’s next album is coming out: johnfrusciante.com. I could also, if my heart desired, read about a scale in 5’s that he recommends to musicians. I could read up on David Byrne on his blog, and find out merely everything important that happened in and to New York City on Gothamist.com.

Lethargy in Motion started pretty ambiguously. Something sparked, ever so slightly, in my head. As I explained on the blog itself not so long ago (http://lethargyinmotion.blogspot.com/2008/11/onward.html), this blog was a tongue in cheek response to overtly dramatic, and therefore annoying, activists. But what surprises me is its ability to voice my opinions and broadcast my concerns in a subtle enough matter, avoiding didacticism, but achieving coherence. The one thing I might have done differently, in retrospect, is maybe be more visual in my attempts to inform or question. Lethargy in Motion is the ship and I’m the captain, the net’s the entries and the audience the fish.