Sunday, August 29, 2004

Democracy at its finest...



ABC News Article on the protest

What a beautiful sight, folks. Thus begins the week long RNC onslaught of centrism masquerading as the Republican Party platform. Such noted party loyalists as Sen. John McCain, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, and former New York mayor Rudy Guiliani among others will put on a Halloween mask and pretend to be their party's go-to guys, when nothing could be further from the truth. So get ready for Zell "I'm A Republican But I Get More Press Attention By Still Saying I'm A Democrat" Miller and the whole motley crew of n'er do wells and raging hate-mongers. Why do I subject myself to this? Because I like to see the comedy that is Bush and his ilk, and you've got to be prepared when they come out with some ludicrous crap this week (The DNC will be setting up a war room to refute any RNC claims, much like the RNC did during the Democratic National Convention) BTW, don't forget to head over to http://www.declareyourself.org to find out how to register to vote. VOTE. I'm personally voting for Kerry (duh) but just VOTE. I'm tired of the slack-jawed morons my age who'd rather dial up an 800-number to cast their vote for the glorified karaoke contest that is "American Idol" than spending some time getting to know the issues, how said issues will effect them in the long run, and taking an active part in the political process. It's sad and appalling! Inform yourself, take a van full of your best buddies, and VOTE!

Air America Radio http://www.airamericaradio.com will be adding Denver and Albuquerque on Monday. They added KLSD 1360 AM in San Diego last Monday and rumors have them coming to Philly and Atlanta very soon. Congrats to all those at Air America Radio and Piquant Media, LLC! Their shows (all except Mike Malloy who broadcasts from Atlanta) will be broadcasting LIVE from the "Heart of Darkness" at the RNC in Madison Square Garden. Joy! I can't wait for their coverage and look forward to an infuriating and, thanks to AAR and The Daily Show, hilarious week of RNC coverage!

Writer/director Kevin Smith has finally announced his smaller-budgeted flick that he plans to write and direct (He may still write the screenplay for Miramax's planned The Green Hornet.):

Clerks 2: The Passion Of The Clerks

Click here - http://tinyurl.com/4wdro - for all of the pertinent info.

I finished watching 13 Going On 30 last night and found it to be a sweet, charming film. I'd pay to watch Jennifer Garner read a phone book or for her to spend a night cuddled up on a couch watching a movie with me, so I'm biased. And yes, I was one of the eleven people that enjoyed Daredevil, so of course I'll be seeing her in the spinoff film that hits theaters this January, Elektra. General Growth Properties - http://www.generalgrowth.com - is a company that owns almost all of the malls in North America. They own Oglethorpe Mall here in Savannah - http://www.oglethorpemall.com - and have signed a deal with Twentieth Century Fox to promote their 2005 slate of movies, with Elektra being the first. So be on the lookout for giant posters and constant trailers featuring her in your local mall very soon. Alright enough of this before I sound like a stalker (oops, too late)

From Netflix yesterday I received two films: Dogville, acclaimed Danish director Lars Von Trier's allegory on small-town America starring Nicole Kidman, Paul Bettany, Chloe Sevigny, Jeremy Davies, Lauren Bacall, and James Caan. The other was the Luke Greenfield-directed The Girl Next Door, starring "24"'s Elisha Cuthbert and Emile Hirsch (The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys). Hirsch plays a nieve, akward, and unpopular high school senior who comes out of his shell when the free-spirited Danielle moves next door and teaches him how to live. Then Hirsch discovers Danielle's former profession was as a porn star. I've heard reviews of this film state that it combines American Pie and Risky Business, and that it has alot of heart along with humor. So I'm anxious to see both films.

Well, I need to clean up the kitchen so I'll leave you to return to your Sunday activities, whatever they may be. Enjoy the rest of your weekend and get ready to chuckle at the laughfest at Madison Square Garden this week. Also, wish me luck in dealing with the onslaught of not-our-regular-customer customers when The Passion Of The Christ streets this Tuesday. Anyway, have a great evening and I'll be back later!

Jason

Wednesday, August 25, 2004

you are who you can be...



Actor Zach Braff put pen to paper and then proceeded to commit to film a haunting, lyrical valentine to uncertainty, loneliness, and confusion, interspersed with quirky humor. He plays Andrew Largeman, a medicated since childhood actor/waiter who travels from Los Angeles to his home state sans pills for the funeral of his mother. He reconnects with those he left nine years ago and meets Sam (Natalie Portman), a free-spirited (are there any other type in this kind of movie?) overtly hyper young woman who allows Large to awaken his senses and realize that life's out there and to experience it can be a truly wonderful thing.




Natalie Portman and Zach Braff star in Garden State.



As a director, Braff uses all of the majesty that widescreen will allow. His camera is never flashy but instead complementary to the film. Good diverse songs from Coldplay, Thievery Corporation, Frou Frou, Simon & Garfunkel, and more are used to great effect and while they may seem intrusive to some, they were not to me.
Natalie Portman is breathtaking as Sam and while yes, the "like"s and the "man"s that pepper her conversation are a bit much at times, they luckily lessen throughout the film. Her character is yet another in a litany of achingly sweet, wonderfully witty muses that have streaked through arthouse fare as of late, but she's a welcome addition. She provides a counter to Large's disaffected attitude and is one of those people who we'd love to meet, if only they were real.



"Garden State" is a quiet little movie, one that hums along on its own charm and dreamy path. It presents a man who is taking his first tenative steps at being and finding it exhilarating and true. Zach Braff has established himself as an heir to Hal Ashby and I look forward to watching his next film. "Garden State" is one of the best movies of the year.



Head on over to MoveOn PAC at http://www.moveonpac.org to see the 18 new ads against Bush, featuring some of Hollywood's best and brightest

Tonight I have Starsky and Hutch and Lars von Trier's 1991 film Zentropa from work. I am eagerly anticipating seeing his latest film, the Nicole Kidman-starrer Dogville (http://www.dogvillemovie.com)

Remember for all of your Firefly/Serenity needs, head on over to either http://www.fireflyfans.net, http://www.serenitymovie.net, or Universal's official movie website, http://www.serenitymovie.com

That's all from me tonight, gang. I saw Napoleon Dynamite Monday night so I may just post a review of that in the very near future. Until then, good nite to all.

Jason

Sunday, August 22, 2004

Lameness begins again...



What's Old



Is New (I use that term VERYloosely)



Is Old Again


Music can be a creative, inspirational force in one's life. Goodness knows The Beatles helped me make it through the many isolated periods of high school I wandered aimlessly through. However, there is a difference between intelligent, well-made music and lame, overbearing crap. Or on the other hand, you've got the same twelve classic rock songs you've always heard. Yet here they are again, trotted out like you've never heard them before. If I'm sounding vague, I'm sorry. Here in Savannah we have had a rather lame new rock station - WFXH - Rock 106.1 - Savannah and Hilton Head's New Rock Station -http://www.rock1061.com.

This wasn't always the case. We had a rather decent alternative, Wave 106.9. (It turned to Modern AC, then leapt over to 104.9 where it's actually a damn good Adult Album Alternative - http://www.wave1049.com;
106.9 is now a country station) 106.1 was a satellite-fed classic rocker ("Fox 106.1 - The Classic Rock Station").

In February 2001, WFXH flipped to Active Rock as "Rock 106.1 - The Only Station That Really Rocks!" Want to hear tons of Ozzy? You got it! Want the same seven Van Halen songs ad nauseum? Done! Well, WFXH flipped again in 2002 to the aforementioned new rock; now with the new ratings book out, Cumulus's lame-ass WIXV 95.5 ("I-95 - The Rock Of Savannah"- where you're never thirty seconds away from Molly Hatchet or Lynyrd Skynrd!...it's like deep frying your radio, folks) and since I-95 apparently grew a few points, WFXH has decided to revert back to its rather lame Active Rock beginnings. What a crock! I'm looking forward to an actual format flip. A flip that makes you go, "Wow...I sure wasn't expecting that!" They can keep their overplayed Linkin Park & AC/DC. I'll stick with Wave 104.9. They're my only source of joy in this city's otherwise staid and lame radio roundabout.

Why the hell can't Triad Broadcasting just kill Star 103.1 - The '80s Channel (http://www.star1031.com)? It's barely registered in the ratings! Let's put Air America on there, folks! (http://www.airamericaradio.com) C'mon! Let's get some talk going. Anyway, there's my rant for the early AM, folks...take care and sleep tight. I need to get the hell off of this computer as I've been vegetating on this damn thing *ALL* day long. I need rest and TV to fall asleep to, so more blog later...film at eleven...am....maybe....

Jason

Saturday, August 21, 2004

black market wit

black market wit

The Low-Fidelity All-Star: he was born with the cool, and it's totally natural.  He runs the gamut from Hipster Supreme (only they can ingest as much coffee as he) to the geeky hipster%
You are the Low-Fidelity All-Star. You were born
with your cool, and it's totally natural. You
run the gamut from Hipster Supreme (only they
can ingest as much coffee as you) to the geeky
hipster (Mario Kart, anyone?).


What Kind of Hipster Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Friday, August 20, 2004

friday...

Well, our computer's been acting like a little shit apparently, so the very nice, long detailed post I'd made went bye-bye.

If I seem a little blase, it's because I need to see a doctor. (personal reasons). I'm just waiting on my insurance card from work to come in the mail. Hurry the hell up please!

I'm done eating spaghetti right now and irate at not saving my post in WordPad.

New
Dead Like Me Sunday. Click the show's title for more info. I need to watch the last 2 episodes on Showtime On Demand.

Also, the brilliant Wes Anderson's "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou" has its trailer online at
http://movies.yahoo.com

The film stars Bill Murray as the pot-smoking head of a group of dysfunctional deep-sea divers. I am so there when it opens on Christmas Day!

Also at the same URL above, you'll find the trailer for John Sayles's Silver City. It stars Chris Cooper as a "gramatically-challenged" candidate for Colorado's governership and the way he and his Karl Rove-like advisor deal with the appearance of a dead body during a campaign commerical shoot. Hmmm...gramatically challenged...who does that sound like? BTW, you can visit Cooper's character's official campaign website at
http://www.dickiepilager2004.com

At
http://www.apple.com/trailers you'll find the trailers for Alfie, Sideways, and I Heart Huckabee's. Alfie is a remake of a classic Michael Caine comedy starring Jude Law, Sideways is the newest movie from the great team that brought us Election and About Schmidt. It stars Paul Giamatti & Thomas Haden Church. Church is taking a road trip with Giamatti right before his wedding day and the film deals with the quirkiness they experience along the way. I Heart Huckabee's is an existential comedy with Jason Schwartzmann, Dustin Hoffman, Lily Tomlin, Jude Law (yes, again!), Naomi Watts, and Mark Wahlberg.

Also, hit
http://news.google.com to see that, yes, the "Countdown to Obscurity" has begun! (Craiggers words himself) Craig Kilborn has decided to step down after five years as host of CBS's "The Late Late Show". Hopefully, CBS will pick a host who's charismatic, sharp-witted, and a terrific comedy writer. **crosses fingers**

Speaking of those movies above, I like to call films of that nature "divisive". Whenever a movie that requires more than a static charge of brain activity to enjoy floats onto the ether, you get to hear the Wal-Mart shopping mouth-breathers who when confronted with this, go, "Fuck this! Gimme that titty movie instead!" When did this happen? Who knows. I work at a video store, and when The Royal Tenebaums was released, you'd have thought someone's mother was being raped graphically on a grainy Super 8. The response was close to that. True, there are many out there who enjoy intellectual entertainment. But for the "American Idol" losers, one microsecond of applied thought is tantamount to fingernails on a chalkboard. I get to experience this once again when The Passion of the Christ is released on the 31st of August. One person starts quoting Scripture and I'll have to promptly remind them that they're standing in a place of business. If it's not that, then it'll be (cue twangy-accented voice)"WHAT THE HELL? YOU MEAN I GOTTA READ THIS DAMN MOVIE?!" Yes, sir. You do. And no, there's no dubbed version, genius. Or the other group when I tell them "while technically proficient, I didn't particularly care for the movie." And contrary to some reports, the Jewish high priests *ARE* portrayed as blood-thirsty in the film. Don't attempt to stare google-eyed when I say this, folks. You get the same look whenever I recommend something that doesn't star Freddie Prinze, Jr. or Brittany Murphy.

Another gripe: Stop asking for help picking out a movie when you're not going to rent it! Jeez!

No "Real Time with Bill Maher". Instead HBO is running an
Entourage marathon. It's a funny, funny show so do yourself a big favor and tune in.


http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/index.php?id=134

Michael Moore has 2 new books on the way.

We've done our Open To Buy at the store. Among the titles on there are Aqua Teen Hunger Force Vol. 1 & 2, *several* Mystery Science Theater 3000 episodes, the documentary that exposes Fox News as a Republican shill machine, Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism. We're also replacing Dopamine a somber romantic movie starring Sabring Lloyd (Sliders) that premiered at Sundance.

I still have a movie pass for Regal Entertainment Group. I need to go see
Napoleon Dynamite before it leaves Savannah 10. Arthouse titles never last long here. Also, Garden State started playing locally yesterday at Carmike Cinemas Wynnsong 11 but I'll have to wait until next week to see it.

I'll be back with more later everyone. Enjoy your Friday!

Jason

Sunday, August 15, 2004

another post begins...

I worked from 6-10 tonight and the evening was pretty uneventful. EXCEPT a girl that I'd wished I kept in contact with from high school (the only one who was cool and spoke her mind, in my opinion) came into the store and it was really great seeing her. She's at school in Statesboro now and only comes into Savannah on the weekends so we exchanged numbers and hopefully we can hang out from time to time. It's funny how high school makes people lose touch with one another. This story is extra cool because I was just wondering whatever happened to her the other day. It was wonderful to see her again and I look forward to catching up on old times. And yes, she reminded me that I'm smart and as such, I should be in school. I know this yet I can't force myself to go to college yet. Call me lazy, call me lame, but I still feel unready to commit myself.

Ladies and gentlemen, please set your video toasters to pick up the new episode of Aqua Teen Hunger Force tomorrow night at 11PM Eastern on Cartoon Network.

Also, The Horror Channel launches on October 31st. I'd start pestering your cable company right about now. Another company called Blue Orchid Entertainment and movie producer Joel Silver are starting The Scream Channel, with Joe Bob Briggs as a consultant but that won't start until January 2005. The Horror Channel will have an advisory board of many directors, writers, and others of the genre. I just hope Comcast gets off their ass and adds it, pronto!

Today's Doonesbury. Kinda says it all, doesn't it folks?

Inside Clear Channel - It's a pretty good article.

Mad Dog - a FANTASTIC article on Bill O'Reilly from Rolling Stone

Well, it's time to go doze off to either Firefly or the 1953 Marilyn Monroe crime drama Niagara that TiVo has snagged for me off aMC. Nite all...

Jason

Friday, August 13, 2004

hurricanes and aural things...

Charley, the hurricane, is heading our way. Our area here in Savannah is under a Hurricane Warning. He'll get here tomorrow A.M. and we're expecting winds of 60-80 MPH, and heavy, heavy rain which will begin early this morning. So stay indoors and don't go out, unless you've already committed yourself to working a mid-shift (like myself). Hell, I got a free movie pass out of it so what do I care. I think I'll shower in a little bit. ZZZ....is anyone even reading this? Yellow matter custard...



The Sound of Sincerity


I have in my hands the soundtrack to one of the most highly praised and critically acclaimed movies of the year. Actor Zach Braff of NBC's off-kilter and greatly dark comedy Scrubs writes and directs Garden State, an ode to his native New Jersey and a quirky movie from all accounts. The film, released domestically by Fox Searchlight and internationally by Miramax, will open nationwide on August 20th. I've heard great things about Braff's hand-picked selection of songs for this soundtrack so I decided to pick it up. I greatly anticipate seeing his movie and hope to enjoy a refreshing new filmmaker's first burst of shimmering artistic aplomb.

Here is the tracklist for the Garden State soundtrack:

1. COLDPLAY Don't Panic
2. THE SHINS Caring Is Creepy
3. ZERO 7 In The Waiting Line
4. THE SHINS New Slang
5. COLIN HAY I Just Don't Think I'll Ever Get Over You
6. CARY BROTHERS Blue Eyes
7. REMY ZERO Fair
8. NICK DRAKE One Of These Things First
9. THIEVERY CORPORATION Lebanese Blonde
10. SIMON & GARFUNKEL The Only Living Boy In New York
11. IRON AND WINE Such Good Heights
12. FROU FROU Let Go
13. BONNIE SOMERVILLE Winding Road

Zach also was the executive producer of the soundtrack. With a sterling cast, a precise wit, and alot of precise music, Zach Braff's Garden State, both on film and on disc, looks to be the much-needed first flame of brilliant creativity and passionate daydream that signals the return of autumn. Not with a change of foliage, but a change of film genre. From the overblown spectacles of summer to intimate character studies in the autumn, Garden State will hopefully be the first in a litany of the new season's best and most real cinema. And I can't wait one bit. Don't forget to head over to Zach's Blog at the movie's official website. It's pretty darn cool.



Old Logo



New Logo & Station Slogan

The Media General-owned NBC affiliate here in Savannah unveiled a very modern, very sleek, very cool looking set during their 5PM newscast side. Along with this was new imaging & voiceovers. Their former positioner/slogan was "News 3 - Coverage You Can Count On". That's now been replaced with "WSAV 3 On Your Side". This can be seen at the station's website, http://www.wsav.com/Scroll down to find the New Set! New Look! icon.
Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe I've seen several other NBC affiliates with this logo recently. I think I read an article a little while ago that stated many affiliates would be converting to this type of logo before the new fall season started. Can anyone confirm?
With WSAV doing this, WTOC needs to step up. They look like they're broadcasting out of a college campus. But when you're excited to air Brooklet's Peanut Festival and are bound and determined to avoid being labeled as the CBS affiliate you are, I guess a silly little thing like presentation doesn't matter much, huh? But I digress. Don't get me started on WTGS (FOX 28).

Kilborn Leaving "Late Late Show"

Well, I enjoyed him every now and then but Conan's always been my favorite. Did anyone see the "infomercial" episode last night ("INCREDIBLE VIEWABLES!")with Bruce Jenner & Conan doing a hard sell on the 10th Anniversary and Triumph DVDs? So does anyone think CBS might open up the old Viacom wallet to lure Conan over? His contract isn't up until December 2005 but things change. And if not, where does this leave CBS? Jon Stewart's locked at Comedy Central; he just signed a lucrative, long-term deal through 2008, although Viacom owns CBS & Comedy Central so never say never. Stewart has publicly stated that he and "The Daily Show" writers have alot of freedom that a network would never give them, so him on CBS might be a moot point. Any thoughts? Remember Letterman owns that 12:35 spot that follows his show via his production company Worldwide Pants Inc as part of his contract. The next few months should be very interesting indeed.

I have a few movies from work that'll be coming out in a few months: Mario Van Peebles Badassssss!, a movie that he wrote and directed about his father Melvin's ordeal making the very first blaxploitation movie, Sweet Sweetback's Bad Assssss Song! I also have Young Adam starring Tilda Swinton and Ewan McGregor, and Walking Tall, the remake with The Rock. Walking Tall will release on DVD 9/28; the others release on 9/14.

On tonight's Real Time with Bill Maher Michelle Malkin will be on. Hopefully Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd (whose new book is Bushworld: Enter At Your Own Risk) and Bill will verbally smack her down.

Sunday's Dead Like Me is as follows: The Shallow End NEW EPISODE: Sunday, August 15 at 10pm ET/PT George reflects back on her childhood and decides that the secret to popularity is being mean to people. Enjoy.

Call me crazy but HBO's new show Entourage is incredibly funny and well-written. A semi-autobiography of Mark Wahlberg's (he executive produces) inclusion of his childhood buddies when he makes it big in Hollywood (living in the same mansion), it lays bare the shallowness of agents and the whole scene for all to see. Jeremy Piven is especially good as the lead (Adrian Grenier)'s agent, Ari, a nasty asshole who knows more than you and if you don't like it go fuck yourself. Catch it Sundays at 10PM Eastern.

HBO's first season of Carnivale streets the first week of December. Since I was unable to watch all of it (I'd yet to discover the joys of TiVo) this will make a great birthday (December 2nd) present.

Head on over to GreenDay.com and listen to the first single off their forthcoming album, American Idiot. It's good stuff.

Also, here are the trailers for Mike Nichols's Closer starring Jude Law, Natalie Portman, and Julia Roberts. Word on the street is that this is Sony's Oscar bait and I can't wait to see it. In other news it looks like Adam Sandler's going to try to continue his streak of acting in good movies that started with Punch Drunk Love. He's in James L. Brooks's Spanglish with Tea Leoni, Cloris Leachman, and the breathtaking Paz Vega. Follow that link to the movie's trailer. I simply cannot wait for winter and the intelligent movies that come with it. Enough Catwoman-like crap! Bring on the cerebral!

Well, I'm going to go do something productive like...ah hell who am I kidding? Take it easy and if you're really good I might blog before bed! Aw yeah! That's almost as good as $240 worth of pudding!

Laters not nows,

Jason

Wednesday, August 11, 2004

'Cause there's beauty in the breakdown...



I. Want. To. See. This. Movie.

However said movie will not be released here in Savannah until the 20th. You can visit the official movie website at http://www.gardenstatemovie.com.

Collateral was pretty good except for the denouement. I'm tired of the same old, same old from movie with marquee stars. It's tres uncool. I have to work Saturday from 6-10...PM! This is because we are uncertain if a girl will be coming in or not. And somewhere in this weekend I'll try to fit in a screening of Napoleon Dynamite and my mother wants to see Alien Vs. Predator so I guess I'll do the son-ly duty and oblige. Hey, it'll be free so I can sleep if Paul W.S. Anderson's "direction" gets too lame, which is very often the case. Word around the campfire is that Fox has scrapped the movie's world premiere at Grauman's Chinese Theatre and Anderson's still feverishly working on locking down the final print. I'm uncertain if any of this is true but I still hold my firm beliefs that any Alien Vs. Predator that's rated PG-13 will be extremely truncated. But on the other hand, it's not like Fox is waiting to release an "UNRATED SPECIAL EDITION" when this thing hits DVD, right?...Hmmm...

I'll be heading off to le bed in just a little bit. 7AM is my wake-up call, folks. Nite all.

"The first thing I do in the morning is brush my teeth and sharpen my tongue." - Dorothy Parker

Jason


Friday, August 06, 2004

Friday falls all around us...

Well, well, well...It's Friday! I need to shower and be productive. I'm listening to Unfiltered on Air America Radio right now and will be surfing the net for a while but first, breakfast! I saw The Village the other night. Contrary to some beliefs, I thoroughly enjoyed it and found it haunting and actually quite compelling. I'll be seeing Collateral tomorrow. New episode of Real Time with Bill Maher tonight! And Dead Like Me on Sunday! Exclamation marks!



Please, please, please go and take seven friends to these concerts if you live in a battleground state. Artists such as Pearl Jam (whose 2002 album "Riot Act" was DAMN good and all those asses who say "Pearl Jam just isn't as good as they used to be!" are idiots), The Dixie Chicks, R.E.M., Bruce Springsteen, The Dave Matthews Band, and many, many more. Go rock out and enjoy some progressive politics!

For more info, visit http://www.moveonpac.com/vfc

More later, I promise!

Jason