My Kingdom for a Pick

I wonder how many guitar picks my dog has ingested. I bet it's a lot. Either that, or gnomes exist.

Early Morning Movie: The Insider

I've been doing something kind of strange lately... getting up at 5 a.m. and watching half of a movie before I get ready for work. I then watch the 2nd half the next morning. Is this odd?

Anyway, today's early morning movie is The Insider, starring Russell Crowe and Al Pacino. I only have one thing to say about this movie (at least until I watch the 2nd half) and that one thing is HOT FAXING ACTION!!!1111.

We just got done watching Half Nelson. Let me start by saying I can really appreciate the great performances by Ryan Gosling and Shareeka Epps in the movie. I appreciate the fact that Gosling's character is not a stereotypical Christ-figure teacher who has no vices and has come to save the inner-city children from ignorance. I appreciate the writing and the Broken Social Scene soundtrack.

But dear Lord is this movie depressing. Oddly enough, the movie's "Consensus" on Rotten Tomatoes describes it as "inspirational." The movie does start out showing Gosling's Dan Dunne to be an effective, engaging teacher, but it is all downhill from there. The scene where his thirteen-year-old student Drey (Epps) discovers him smoking crack in the locker room bathroom is a punch to the stomach. At one point, Dunne discusses how "God's creation is imperfect" with the class, and it feels like the movie is ramming that idea at my brain the entire time. The writers try to throw the viewer a hopeful bone at the end when Dunne shaves his wild-man beard and shares a corny joke with Drey, but it just isn't enough for me.

Bleeps

I had a friend tell me recently that he was getting tired of all the electronic music that is popular these days, and sometimes I feel tired of it too. Animal Collective has had a lot of attention this past year, and I am a fan of their stuff. I was listening to Four Tet on the way to work today, and it reminded me what kind of electronic music I appreciate. Four Tet’s Rounds manages to sound textured and organic despite being mostly electronic. The bleeps, sweeps, and creeps all sound frayed and burnt around the edges. I like electronic music that is wool and not nylon. I like the notes to be shorn from musical sheep, not woven on a sterile industrial loom.




I'm pretty sure Four Tet has a new album out soon as well.