TD: Bono offers an Op Ed piece to Spin

I went to Spin.com this afternoon and noticed an article, entitled "Bono: Ten Ways to Improve the New Decade." I've always been very anti Bono for his self proclaimed effort at becoming the President of the World. Helping people is obviously something a billionaire musician should strive towards--but it'd be nice if Bono did it without millions of people drooling all over his ridiculous Dolce and Gabbana sunglasses. He WAS a good musician in a band that USED to be good. In the past fifteen years they've had one good album, All That You Can't Leave Behind. For some reason their albums always find their way to the top of yearly lists--even their embarrassing 2004 disc, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. Yes I know several critics praised it but I'm convinced Bono and company bribed them.

So why does anyone care what Bono has to say about the future? Is he a prominent political figure? Is he a well renowned scientist, sociologist, or philosopher? Nope. Bono wants us to be able to teleport from place to place like in Star Trek and drive in "sexier" cars..abandoning mini vans. I'm all about efficiency and bettering the environment with Hybrid vehicles but sexier cars? Yeah Bono? Not to mention he's a bit behind the curve on the idea of preserving the environment and oh yeah, stopping illegal music downloading (another topic he mentions).

One day, hopefully sooner rather than later, Bono will wake up, put on his diamond studded sunglasses, step on his step stool and look in the mirror. Until then we have to continue to answer to President Bono.

JG: While on the Subject..

i'll keep this short. seeing as everyone's on a movie tip and they seem to have similar taste as me, figured i'd throw this out there.

best movie you've probably never heard of (esp. if you're really into dialogue): Igby Goes Down.

starring: The Culkins not named Macauley, Susan Sarandon, Bill Pullman, Amanda Peet, Jeff Goldblum's crazy ass, & Claire Danes.

effing brilliant.

MM: Graffiti Appreciation

In an attempt to add some more variety to this blog and break up the Pat Taylor DeBoer music/movies monopoly that is currently taking place in the new year, I am going to introduce all you TSTLN readers out there to a very talented and mysterious British man I came across a couple years ago by the name of Banksy. I was introduced to him by my friend Kaela, who thought I might take interest in him when I told her about my fascination with graffiti after a train ride through New Jersey.

Banksy, whose identity has never been discovered, uses walls, streets, sidewalks, and anything else in sight to dress up cracks and holes or address controversial topics via what some consider art and others vandalism. Whatever you think it is, you cannot deny it is significantly more interesting and imaginative than the illegible bubble letters and incoherent scribbles of most graffiti “artists.”

Here are some of my favorites:













And last but not least...


If you want to check out more of Banksy's work, go to http://www.artofthestate.co.uk/Banksy/banksy.htm which has pretty much every Banksy creation ever. Also, his official site is http://www.banksy.co.uk/

Peace out!
Meag

PT: My Top Ten of the Decade (Unbiased and in Order)

Because Taylor DeBoer is too big of a vagina to do a real top ten, I'm here to save the day. Here's the Pat Taylor's Top Ten of the Decade.

1) There Will Be Blood: Who thought a film about an oil tycoon that's over two-and-a-half hours long could be so...I don't know how to describe it. Daniel Day Lewis proves that he is the best actor around with his tremendous work as Daniel Plainview. When you combine DDL with one of the best up-and-coming actors of our time, Paul Dano, you're garunteed a real treat. Oh yeah, and P.T. Anderson directed it, one of the most acclaimed directors around today.

2) Children of Men: Clive Owen is a force in this film from 2007. In the not too distant future, the world looks to be heading toward demise. There hasn't been a child born in eighteen years, and there's chaos all over. An interesting storyline that only gets better as you delve deeper. Armed with a great supporting cast (including Michael Caine and Julianne Moore) this film deserves the number 2 spot.

3) No Country For Old Men: This has one of the best villains of all-time in Anton Chigurh, played to perfection by Javier Bardem. It also includes great acting from Woody Harrelson, Tommy Lee Jones and Josh Brolin, creating one of the best ensembles in movie history as far as I'm concerned. It's the Coen brothers' best film to date, and they do a great job keeping a nice, steady pace throughout, mixing in small bits of action and some of the best dialogue I've ever heard in film.

4) Up: I'm serious. I never get taken in by animated movies, but Pixar struck pure gold with this one. It was heart-wrenching and warming throughout, and it's the one animated movie that I've ever seen where I felt a connection to the characters. Easily the best Pixar has come up with.

5) The Pianist: This cemented Adrien Brody as an A-List actor, perfectly playing his part as a Jewish musician set during WWII. It's a shame he had to follow it up with a role in The Village and King Kong. He did, however, salvage himself with Darjeeling Limited.

6) Shaun of the Dead: It's a curveball, I know, but before this movie came along, the zombie genre was dead. This mixes great visual comedy with fantastic dialogue while maintaining the gruesomeness of a real zombie film. It's wit and creativity propel this movie, and, who knows, maybe Zombieland wouldn't have been made without it.

7) Royal Tenenbaums: "You're true blue." Gene Hackman, Bill Murray, Luke and Owen Wilson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Danny Glover, Ben Stiller, Anjelica Huston and narrated by Alec Baldwin. Wes Anderson is a top three director, if not number one, and it shows in this film. For proof, watch the part when Paltrow steps off the bus to meet Luke Wilson. It's magical. Also, any soundtrack that includes Velvet Underground, Nico and Elliott Smith deserves attention.

8) Requiem for a Dream: Drug addiction is always powerful, and it's easy to see why after viewing Requiem. This movie includes great cinematography and an ending that will leave you wishing you hadn't watched the movie late at night because of all the bad dreams to follow. Haunting and brilliant.

9) Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind: This movie has so many bad actors (Elijah Wood, Kirsten Dunst and Jim Carrey) that it makes me wonder how they can be so good in this film. Written by a pure genius and acted to perfection by the cast, this movie is one everyone needs to see. Relationships are tricky and leave us broken, so why not just forget all the bad ones?

10) Milk: The campy movie that Gus Van Sant always wanted to make ended up to be a pure masterpiece. Sean Penn, James Franco and Emile Hirsch are terrific, and if this doesn't make you see how fucking stupid it is to be prejudiced against someone, than go jump off a cliff. Diego Luna was the only downside, but he offs himself so it all works out. Loved the cuts of real footage added in, which I know my Friendo disapproves of.

Honorable Mention:
Into the Wild, The Wrestler, Gone Baby Gone, Ratatouille, Hotel Rwanda, and Wicker Man. (kidding on Wicker Man)

TD: Best and Worst Films of the Decade

TD:
I'd say, overall, the 00's has been a pretty good decade for film. We've seen revolutionary special effects, a resurgence of Disney flicks via Pixar, and a plethora of superhero films--some outstanding and others ridiculous.

Instead of doing a countdown of the top ten, I'm going to just include a list of what I think are the best and worst.

I'll start with a director/film that has changed independent cinema in America. Wes Anderson's The Royal Tenenbaums. Somehow, Anderson is able to take dark, obscure ideas and fill it with mainstream actors and still manages to maintain integrity--receiving acclaim from both big budget and low budget film buffs alike. And I'd certainly call the Tenenbaums the most interesting fictional family of the decade hands down. If you haven't seen it, rent it. Anderson's all about imagery and his films are as much of an art project as they are a movie.

Ok now to the next film. What do you get when you combine aspects of James Bond, gangster films, Traditional Superhero films, and Silence of the Lambs? The answer: The Dark Knight. It is certainly the best superhero film of all time. Christopher Nolan is a genius and it's obvious with this picture. It appealed to practically everyone and it was evident on its release day (I saw so many people dressed as The Joker when I stood line...outside of the movie theatre!!) The mystique surrounding Ledger's legendary performance and mysterious death just add to what is going to be very long lasting appeal. RIP Heath

Charlie Kaufman has a busy head. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a magical film. Jim Carey is brilliant as a shy loner in search for his antitheses. He finds it in Clementine (Kate Winslet). Just when you think your watching a realistic love story, your tossed into Joel's mind as his memory of Clementine is being erased. The absurd story line is what makes Kaufman's screenplay so great, because it works. So many directors have tried to rip of the surreal style of Eternal--don't let the posers tarnish the real champ. Carey should have watched Eternal Sunshine before he agreed to do Fun with Dick and Jane.

Who would of thought that a kid from Scrubs would write such an outstanding film? Not me. Don't get me wrong, Scrubs is great, but I never would of thought Zach Braff was capable of making a film like Garden State. What a fucking film. I consider it a modern day Graduate. Not to mention, "New Slang" is a great song. Oh yea, Natalie Portman=my fantasy.

Star Wars Revenge of The Sith. Not one of the best films of the decade, but it deserves an honorable mention as the best out of Lucas' recent three Star Wars films--the only good one. I'm a Star Wars geek. May the force be with you.

There Will Be Blood. If you haven't seen it, crawl out of your hole and watch it. And have patience, it's not a Michael Bay film. P.T. Anderson doesn't account for American's 5 second attention span. Daniel Day Lewis might be the best actor around right now.

There have been a lot of great films about Boston over the years, Good Will Hunting, Gone Baby Gone, Fever Pitch...ok not that one but...

Mystic River. Sean Penn is unbelievable. He's a craftsmen. This film is gut wrenching and raw. Every actor is outstanding, every scene necessary. The story line appears had at first but keep watching because it becomes very original. Clint Eastwood has made some good movies in the 00's bu this one stands tall above the rest.

Kate Winslet's name has already appeared. That's because she's fucking great. Little Children is her best film...in fact, she is the film. Normally I wouldn't choose a film as being one of the best of the decade when one actor/actress carries it but Winslet is just that good. Watch this film alongside American Beauty--their depressing nature compliment each other. Watch a Michael Bay film as a night cap to lift your spirits.

Here's a sleeper that might shock a few of you. Catch Me if You Can. I love DiCaprio and I was debating between this one and The Departed. The controlled chaos of Catch Me forced me to put it on the list. Tom Hanks ain't half bad either.

Ok...I know I've left a bunch of great movies off the list and if I think of more I'll definitely add them. So now to my favorite film of the decade:

No Country for Old Men.

From outstanding, simplistic dialogue, to incredible landscapes and cinematography, The Coen Brother's attacked an outstanding novel with incredible ambition. What a film, Friendo. I'm speechless about this one, if you haven't seen it, punch yourself in the face and then rent it.

Honorable Mentions: Into the Wild, Donnie Darko, Memento, Traffic, Talk to Her, Slumdog Millionaire, Adventureland, Brokeback Mountain, Half Nelson, Darjeeling Limited, The Departed, Children of Men, Michael Clayton, Old School, Control, The Strangers, The Lives of Others.

Ok so here are the worst or MOST OVERRATED films, they're getting limited explanations:

(Oh, and I'm leaving the obviously bad films off the list like Knowing and Catwoman. Nick Cage and Hallie Berry don't even like those films. I'm trying to concentrate on films that people seem to actually like...for some reason.)

Crash. Overproduced piece of Hollywood garbage presenting a fictitious world that is made to represent modern day Los Angeles? Crash should pick the fleas off of Brokeback Mountain, what a sham for winning Best Picture.

Forest Gump. It came out in 1994 but it sucks.

Kill Bill volume 1 and 2 and Grindhouse.
Between Pulp Fiction and Inglorious Bastards Tarantino should have taken a break.

Gangs of New York
Certainly not one of Scorsese's finest, even with Daniel Day Lewis as his anchor.

Boondock Saints
Not a terrible film...not worth the hype.

The only good Pirates of the Caribbean film was the first one. Let's not forget these movies are based on a two minute ride at Disney World.

(Lord of the Rings)I'm a Star Wars fan. 16 hours of walking just doesn't do it for me. Sorry Peter, your films are highly overrated. Then again, I'm biased.

ps: The Fellowship of the Ring is a really well done movie. If any of them should have won best picture, it should have been that one.

Little Miss Sunshine
Anytime I watch it, I get really tired. It's just bland.

Well....I'm done.

PT: To New Beginnings (Insert Fart Noise)

Ben Gibbard said it best when he sang, "So this is the new year/And I don't feel any different."

Why do people have this idea that because the calendar goes back to January 1st it's a grand moment of change? It's absolutely baffling to me. The slate isn't wiped clean. Whatever mistakes or regrets you made or had at the end of the year still carry on to the next year. First off, time is made up. When the world was created, it wasn't put into 24 hours a day, 60 minutes an hour and so on. It was light and darkness and that was it. Flipping the calendar to January from December doesn't mean you get to leave everything you don't want to take with you on December 31st the previous year.

As I think about this more, I find this is why I have such a problem with a lot of modern society. We have such a lack of responsibility it's dumbfounding. How are you ever supposed to grow as a person if you leave your problems behind and use the excuse, "It's a new year." Are you fucking serious? People grow based on how well they handle problems and situations that come up in their lives. If they all get left behind, we're filled with a world of immature douchebags who look forward to every December 31st because it gives them a false sense of hope they created. If you're one of these people, there's a high probability that you're going to continue making the same mistakes until you get some courage and face the problem head-on. Not doing so is baffling to me.

How about this, America (or the ten people that read this, ie: contributors); let's be accountable for our actions, not just from this year, but from all the years that have passed since the clean slate bullshit excuse came in to play. If you fucked up in 2006 but we're too afraid to face it, do so now. If you don't you're just creating a world where it's okay to live and make mistakes without really getting to the root of the problem because January 1st is always just around the corner, and that means you can start over and be whoever you want. That's not a world I want to live in. That's not America. That's not even Mexico.

TD: The Cover of All Covers

I have to share this cover of Tiger Mountain Peasant Song by The Fleet Foxes. The cover is performed by First Aid Kid in the woods somewhere.

It's amazing.