127 Hours (Boyle, 2010)

One of the most amazing stories of human will and survival in recent history, Aron Ralston's tale gets a very just treatment by Danny Boyle whose usual dynamic directing and pop-culture sensibilities for once seem appropriate. But this effort would be naught without James Franco's incredible performance. Looks like the Oscar race for Best Actor is over already (sorry Firth, again)
***

Black Swan (Aronofsky, 2010)

Astounding work all around, from the acting to the directing and the editing (especially during the virtuoso dance sequences). Natalie Portman gives her all in a career performance, and Aronofsky makes an inspired decision to alternate between different genres without really committing to one.

****

Skyline (The Brothers Strause, 2010)

Like a much more stupid version of Cloverfield, but still managed to keep things entertaining thanks to a deft blend of arresting visuals and well-constructed action scenes. This is where it helps to have (very) low expectations when going into a movie.

*1/2

Due Date (Philips, 2010)

Tough to see this one and not compare it to last year's comedy smash The Hangover, seeing as they share a star and a director. But Due Date is a much more minor effort, saved in large part by some great scenes sold by both Downey Jr's awesome deadpan and Galifianakis' weirdo routine (although he is much more grating than appealing in this one compared to The Hangover). If nothing else it confirms what I wrote in my previous review: we need more of Juliette Lewis in movies.

**1/2

Seventh Heaven

A few reasons why MTV's upcoming remake of Skins sounds like a really really bad idea;

1. It's a remake
2. Judging from the previews the first episode is a scene-by-scene remake. Gus Van Sant's Psycho, anyone?
3. The original premiered in the UK less than 4 years ago. It's not like watching it makes you feel like you're staring into a time capsule. OK, so Twitter was a non-entity back then, but this show isn't one to name-drop tech trends anyway (why do I feel like the US version will be different...)
4. The MTV-casting looks severely underwhelming. No Hannah Murray in that group, for sure.
5. At no point so far has there been confirmation in previews that the fantastic theme song by Fat Segal will be re-used. Granted, the garage and DnB musical elements on the UK version might go over the heads of most viewers on this side of the pond, but one would hope they still manage to re-use the opening song, which by the way is one of the all-time greatest ways to start your day when you wake up feeling exhausted.
6. There's no way MTV will allow the same level of cussing as on the British version, creating yet another sanitized offshoot while supposedly going for maximum edginess.
7. Because I said so

against the tide

very good piece in The Guardian yesterday about men who've noticed some of the negative effects of pornography and as a result have turned away from it

cliches

I still can't decide whether the commentary on this Big Picture post is ironic (Lady Gaga cancels gigs!!!) or just plain old-fashioned lazy writing. Oh well, at least the pictures are nice. Where's Super Frenchie when you really need him?

Conviction (Goldwyn, 2010)

there is very little in this movie that doesn't scream LOOK AT ME OSCAR, but when the performances are this good (Swank just dives into the role with ferocity, and Rockwell is as amazing as he's ever been. Please tell me he'll finally get the acting nod he deserves with this one) it really doesn't matter. The story is dealt with in a strong-hearted manner that avoids pathos where it can, at least by Hollywood standards. And at the very least this movie reminds us why we need more Juliette Lewis in our lives.

***

you mean you can leave the office before 6pm on a Friday?!?

and leave the rest at arm's length

3 words of advice if Frightened Rabbit ever come to your town: GO GO GO

pacifico

adding some refreshing tropical fever to the jangles of 2010's breakthrough genre Surf-pop, LA band Lord Huron are young, laid-back yet punchy, and deserve much more acclaim than the timid reactions they've garnered so far. The Vampire Weekend comparisons are right around the corner, but their reverberating sound, reminiscent of El Guincho, really takes a life of its own on the few songs they have put out. Tracks like "We Went Wild" or "Mighty" are what people from the future might listen to while seeing Endless Summer for the first time, and feel that very human emotion: nostalgia for something they've never known.

It's Kind Of A Funny Story (Boden/Fleck, 2010)

sometimes I wish Zach Braff had never made Garden State. I mean, I liked it at the time, but I was young and foolish, so what did I know. The main problem with it is that it jumpstarted the whole cute indie movie movement about young people having problems which they could overcome in 90mins. You've seen them 1, you've seen them all. This one's not that different, but thankfully Boden and Fleck imbue it with enough soulfulness that it doesn't just feel like a rehash. And comedy god Zach Galifianikis is a revelation as a depressed man trying to teach young Keir Gilchrist the ropes of life.

**1/2

Never Let Me Go (Romanek, 2010)

truth be told, there was little chance I was not going to be disappointed by this adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro's tremendous novel. Books have this unassailable advantage over movies when it comes to describing characters' inner lives, and as such the cinematic versions can feel incomplete. However this one, while no masterpiece, has tremendous acting and densely thought-out visuals which helps connect to the source material. A dour and somber tale, for sure, but still one focused enough on sentiments that it remains true to the universal themes of the book.

***

hubba hubba

this post brought to you by the letter A

in honor of a series of biking firsts today (1st commuter seen, 1st time being honked at, 1st close-call because of an over-eager driver), I thought I'd list a few observations made so far on my commuting adventures:

- the roads of Houston are horrendous. Anyone who's driven on them knows this, but on a bike, that horrendousness goes to a whole new level. In particular there is a stretch between Taft and Montrose that I would politely define as the anti-cat's pajamas.

- drivers here are much better behaved than I thought. I do avoid many interactions and thus potential for conflict by being out there before 6:30am, but even when coming home from work when the streets are busier I haven't had too many problems so far.

- in the morning hours, many River Oaks runners prefer to jog in the opposite direction to traffic, on the street. That would be dangerous enough, more so when you consider that many of them do not wear lights or distinctive clothing. I have yet managed to establish the "thinking" behind this behavior, but I might just ask the next few individual who I see doing this for pointers.

- while cycling, one should try to adhere to the same rules governing motor vehicles. That is something you stick to the first two days of biking, before the ninja in you tries to take over. So far I've gathered from my short experience that it is better to completely stop at a red traffic light when cars are involved, and stay in a regular lane as opposed to the cycling shoulder (when there is one). Another good tip is to get going when the light turns from orange to red, as long as the cars from intersecting streets are stopped or in the process of completely stopping.

- the negative aspects of cycling are few, especially if you're lucky enough to have a fairly danger-free route, but the rewards are ever-so bountiful, and tend to reveal themselves more with passing time. Getting to work awake, feeling energized and ready to tackle the day is a feeling I had not often experienced in my working life. Now, it's pretty much a daily occurence.

But as new-agey as I might sound about the journey of bike commuting so far, I have to admit to one very negative event that almost counters everything listed above: that older guy with his fuddy-duddy bike (and panniers!) who overtook me this morning downtown. I'm gonna get some extra sleep tonight buddy, just you try to do the same thing tomorrow should we meet again...

ACL 2010

stay there

by Jove I think we've got it

via HuffPo

The Social Network (Fincher, 2010)

sizzling writing and stellar acting make this one a strong contender to Inception's title of best movie of the year so far. Funny how with so much attention being paid to action in movies nowadays, that when one comes along that focuses on human interaction it can feel like the most exhilirating work in ages. Beyond whether all the facts are true or not (this isn't a documentary, but the heart of the story still seems very real), this is a brilliant portrayal of a man creating change, and through it, changing us all.

****

you don't get to 500 million miles without making a few flats

2 weeks in, the bike commuting is going swell as can be. The logistics were a little trying at first, but now that I've transferred about half of my worldly possessions to the office, there's less need for daily preparation and packing. Which is always good when you're trying to leave for work within 5 minutes of waking up at 6am. Roads are in as bad a state as I expected them to be, but that's where the thicker tires of my Honky Tonk come into play.
The whole experience has been extremely satisfying so far, with the best part probably being how much I look forward to the commute now, as opposed to the semi-annoyance I felt toward a chore I had little control over. Now I understand why bike commuters sound so much like Brazilian tele-evangelists when you get them started on the subject of their daily trips. Although seeing as how I haven't seen a single such individual other than myself so far, seems like I have a whole lot of proselytizing to do in this fair city of Houston, TX.

hurry hurry

Plans be damned, I have started commuting by bike as of this morning. Let's give this a few days before I process my impressions, although they have been (very) positive so far...

can.not.wait

Oh, yeah, the concerts should be good too

3+3+3

kingaspain

Reaching your goals is pretty simple really:

- download the new EP by that artist you love
- realize that you still haven't seen him live
- find out that he's playing a show next week
- book a ticket online

The rest*, as they say, is just details


*: the gig being a 3-hour drive away, working all day before going, having another full day of work the next day,...

Hopes And Dreams

Labor Day Wkd - rooooaaaad trip

Labor Day 2010 from Matt on Vimeo.

too far gone

at around 5pm today, my bike commuting project has officially made its way from chimera to almost certain reality, as I have ordered a Kona road bike from the fantastic folks at West End Bicycles. It will take 10 days or so to get here, so for now I will still be part of the motorized masses, but the transition is now tantalizingly close. Scouting of potential commuting routes has started, hopefully the mostly awful hurricane season weather we've been having recently will disappear by then. Well it probably won't, but after 3 years in London I'm not gonna start worrying about a few raindrops. And if there's one thing I've acquired from running during that time, it might not be excessive mental fortitude, but it's definitely a trove of all-weather gear.

balance?

second day of bikexperementing, second ridiculous fall. At least it happened near the end of my ride, not halfway-through like yesterday, although the fact that I fell less than 100 yards from my building entrance can't be good for my street cred. Not to worry though, the bike is fine, my leg got the brunt of it. Other than that the ride was great, just a chance to explore some neighborhood streets that my runs haven't taken me through. Definitely still excited about the commuting project right now, although it will probably involve non-clipless pedals...

round and round

if there's one thing that life in Houston is defined by, it's the primordial importance of cars over any other form of transport. Living in Western Europe for 10 years had made me forget this fact somewhat, so accustomed had I become to walking everywhere and using public transportation. One major trend in that time was clearly the rise of bicycles as a personal transport mode, to the extent where Paris launched its vaunted Velib public bike rental system, with London following up this year with its own scheme. Bikes became more and more prevalent in building lobbies and in street traffic, with the growth of their use being closely tied to the increasing visibility of environmental concerns.
Being lucky enough to be able to walk to work every day, I never considered getting a bike for my commute. Then moving here I got a car, and got used to driving it 10-15mins every day to get to my office in downtown Houston. Driving just makes sense when you consider that public transportation is limited at best (one tram line, a few bus lines), the weather is generally hot and humid, and last but not least how cheap gas is compared to Europe. But making sense is no fun, so inspired by a few people at work I've been looking at possibly getting a bike and commuting the Dutch way. I'm looking to take it slowly, no need to get over-equipped and then realize I'm not cut out for it. So tonight I made my first foray into the twilight zone that is biking in Houston. Borrowed a road bike from a coworker, so I can spend a little time riding it around my area and get a feel for the road. First impressions:
I knew the roads where bad from driving, but riding a bike on them has given me a whole new appreciation to how shameful they really are. If you're a fan of potholes, do move to Houston
A road bike is what I want to get, but I might have to go with a steel frame. The one I'm trying out is made of carbon-fiber, which is great weight-wise but makes the afore-mentioned potholes feel resonate through every last one of your nerves
Before I even think about commuting regularly I will have to get used to basic safety rules. Houston drivers are pretty bad in general, and because there are so few bikes out on the roads, I'm not sure many of them would pay attention to bikers

Overall I'm pretty happy about this first day, and looking forward to more testing in my fairly quiet neighborhood. I even managed to achieve my (asininely ridiculous) first fall today, so I got that out of the way.

relax, move your arms

at this point the term chillwave has become a bit stale in the hipster music world, maybe almost as tired as How I Met Your Mother's plot twists. So let's move on, call it dream pop, or super-floaty-pop or what have you, and focus on the fact that some of these bands put out some excellent stuff regardless of the labels. One such band is Memoryhouse. Yes, they seem like they've watched Virgin Suicides and Pretty In Pink a few too many times, and yes, they are awesome. In fact they followed-up on something Jeremy Larson did a few years ago, which is write a song based on one of Jon Brion's fantastic skits from the Eternal Sunshine soundtrack. For them it's Phone Call, and they like it so much they've recorded two versions (so far):






Lovely, hypnotic, and yes, so totaly chillwavey. This duo is performing next week (Aug 24) at Walter's on Washington with fellow dreamers Twin Sister. If you enjoy this sort of thing, I do suggest you come on down. Because as much fun as it is, you can't always stay home to watch vintage Cusack movies with the shades drawn.

late night

danger zone

Today the temperature in Houston reached 100°F (that's 38°C in ye olde Metric System), not that unusual for this time of the year but still hot enough for the National Weather Service to issue a heat advisory warning. According to this the official recommendations for behavior to follow were:

IF YOU PLAN TO BE OUTSIDE... AVOID PROLONGED EXPOSURE OR STRENUOUS PHYSICAL ACTIVITY. YOUR BODY CAN LOSE UP TO A GALLON OF WATER AN HOUR THROUGH PERSPIRATION. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS TO AVOID DEHYDRATION. ALCOHOLIC AND CAFFEINATED BEVERAGES CAN INCREASE THE RATE OF WATER LOSS IN YOUR BODY... INCREASING THE RISK OF HEAT EXHAUSTION OR STROKE. WEAR LIGHTWEIGHT... LIGHT-COLORED... LOOSE- FITTING CLOTHING. WEAR A HAT TO SHIELD YOURSELF FROM THE SUN... AND USE A SUNSCREEN TO REDUCE POSSIBLE SUNBURN

(why does the NWS feel the need to scream at us btw? It's hot enough, I think we can do without the shouting)

Or, to put things more succintly, just look at what I do when I go running, and do the exact opposite. You do get used to it somewhat though. Which is what I'm sure every heatstroke victim thought before they faltered. But after 3 years of London "summers", it still feels quite exciting to feel the dampness in the air every morning when I set foot outside.

life, interrupted

after hearing French tonight (at my local Costco, of all places) for the first time since moving to Houston, I figured now was a good time as any to resume "writing" on this small piece of the blogosphere. Making things short:

• moved to Texas
• walked to work my first day
• realized only crazy people do that here
• tried the light rail for a few days
• realized that wasn't that much better
• bought a used beauty from Carmax, a 2003 Dodge Neon
• rented a 950 sq. feet apartment...on my own (for about the price of two movie tickets in London)

And pretty much having a good old-fashioned nice time all around here in the Southwest. People are nice, if different (which is exactly what's interesting about moving to new locations), the lifestyle is very enjoyable, and the weather is so nice I might create a new tag for it.

more to come later (?)