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DVD Review: Martyrs

Last year, the horror community was treated to an unexpected surprise with the taut, gory thriller Inside. The movie confirmed the French as the new masters of current horror. Personally, the film scarred me senseless and I have seen it three times since. This year's so called "Inside" is Martyrs, another uber-violent French horror flick. However, the comparison should end at the origin of the film's creators. The films couldn't be more different in intention. While Inside delights in scares and thrills, Martyrs is out to sear itself into your psyche. To call it a psychological horror film doesn't surmise it enough.

The film centers around two women, one has escaped from some torture scenario only to be haunted by viscous hallucinations. The other is madly in love with the first one and is trying to help her carry out revenge on her captures. The first half features a mix of scares and intrigue, however once the revenge is carried out at the mid-way mark, the film veers into territory few other horror films have. The comparisons will be likely to Hostel or Saw but make no mistake, Martyrs is working on a different plain. The extreme torture and violence that comes past the 40min mark all has a purpose. It is not played at all for thrills or chills but to leave you battered and numb. I can't say I enjoyed it, but I admire it. The film tries hard to make the violence not be in the vain of pleasure and excitement but of purpose. Oddly the film could be said to have a happy ending even.

I cannot begin to ever recommend this film, but if you do see it then we should talk cause I imagine you must have a lot to say about it. I know I do.

Bat For Lashes

Bat For Lashes came out with a highly praised album a couple of years ago. I dismissed it as a Bjork wannabe and didn't give it nearly enough of a chance. The new album just dropped and "Daniel" the first single is on repeat on my iPod. I really dig her performance on Letterman(see below). I think she has a Siouxsie thing going on. Check it out.

Too Funny!

April Showers Mix

New Mix Out!!!!

http://www.sendspace.com/file/v3p1w2

Now We Can See- The Thermals- Now We Can See
Track 03- Mazes- Mazes 1
Poem Party- The Strange Boys And Girls Club
Maint Title Blow Up(1)- Herbie Hancock- Blow Up Soundtrack
Motown Bizarre- WhoMadeWho- The Plot
Ballskin- DOOM- Born Like This
Cher Chez La Ghost- Ghostface Killah- Supreme Clientele
Hang You from the Heavens- The Dead Weather- The Dead Weather - Single
Lay it Down- Peter Bjorn and John- Living Thing
Vacationing People- Foreign Born- Person to Person
Bayonets- Amazing Baby
Perfect Fit- Apostle Of Hustle- Eats Darkness
Blue Tears- Cryptacize- Mythomania
Red Light- The Vibrarians Red Light b/w Modern Walker & Woods
Gun In The Sun- WAVVES- WAVVVES
Compulsion- Doves- Kingdom Of Rust
Tea Leaf Dancers- Flying Lotus- Reset EP

After Thoughts on "I Love You, Man"

For me I usually form two opinions about a movie I see. There is the immediate reaction walking out of the theater. This is usually a gut reaction that can be convoluted with expectations I had going in or the need to pee. Days or weeks later my opinion of the film usually changes and becomes well thought out. This opinion factors in all my knowledge of film and storytelling.

When I walked out of "I Love You, Man" I was entertained by it, if not a bit underwhelmed having hoped for a new comedy classic being a big fan of both stars. However over the last few days many of the moments in the film I found a bit formulaic have revealed themselves as something unique. I started to appreciate the films themes of having a good male friend in your life. There is a special quality to how the film avoids machismo and stereotypes of male bonding. Instead it chooses to champion the rarity of a great friend you love and made me thankful for my great friend Kevin.

What the...? Sean "Larry" Penn

Casting is finally being announced for the Farrelly Brothers‘ The Three Stooges. Jim Carrey is in talks to play Curly. Carrey is planning to gain 40 pounds for the role so that he can more closely match the physical look of Jerome “Curly” Howard. Sean Penn is set to play Larry, and Benicio Del Toro is currently in talks to play Moe. This is the exact opposite of a movie that makes me go ga ga over it. This sounds troubled and could be disastrous, and not in that good bad way I love. Sean Penn as a Stooge. It just seems to odd of a thought for me to handle. On the bright side, I usually enjoy the Farrelly Brother's movies to some degree so maybe it will just sort of suck.

Where The Wild Things Are? Trailer!!!!

Few movies make me giddy with excitement at the thought of seeing them anymore. Perhaps I have seen to many movies, according to Netflix I have seen over 3000, or maybe it's just part of growing up that you anticipate less and less. However, this film makes me giddy just thinking about seeing it. And now that the trailer is out for it I feel more justified. Set to one of the decades most powerful songs, The Arcade Fire's Wake Up, the trailer features beautiful, mesmerizing images. I had full confidence in Spike Jonze's abilities before this, but this takes it to a new level. Thanks for getting me to act like a kid again over a movie Spike.
Watch it here

Jason Segal And Muppets on Fallon

Vampire Weekend Play New Song on Fallon!!!

Hardly a new song. I saw then perform this at Coachella last year but it's such a great song. Check it people!

Windertech!!!!

Windertech - watch more funny videos

Kutiman From Isreal!!! Way cool!!!

The premise is that Kutiman samples and arranges clips from YouTube musicians to create new compositions. Kutiman took the scattered talents from dozens, if not hundreds, of individual musicians and funneled them into one cohesive brilliant opus.

I can't wait for this film!

Spike Jonze's Where The Wild Things Are Poster!

Public Enemy and The Roots On Jimmy Fallon

The Flaming Lips cover Madonna!

Check out the video here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/mpd/permalink/m386YV2CNSD51Y

New Mix Out!!!

New mix everyone! Hope you like it. It's called Soft Diamonds. Enjoy...it's kind of an odd one.

Matt

http://www.sendspace.com/file/mjx9bb


Happy Up Here Röyksopp
White Diamonds Friendly Fires
The Trees Grew Emotions And Died Cold Cave
1901 Phoenix
Hazel Junior Boys
Say No Go De La Soul
Girls Like Me Bonnie Hayes & Wild Combo
The Wheels - Bad Little Woman
Ponta de Lança Africano (Umbabarauma) Jorge Ben
A Minha Menina Os Mutantes
Inspiration Information Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
For What It's Worth Staple Singers
Firestation Towers Close Lobsters
The Sonics - Have Love Will Travel
Always Wanting More Jay Reatard
Soft Shock Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Dark Was The Night - Red Hot Charity Album

Everyone should go out and buy this great compilation. It's terrific! Amazing new songs by Jose Gonzalez, Arcade Fire, The National, Andrew Bird, Feist, and Grizzly Bear plus so many more. Here is a video about the album and a performance by The National. Pick it up. Its 2 cds and only $12.

Dogs are hysterical!

Lost Sock: Jorge Ben "Africa Brasil"

I can't say I know a great deal about Jorge Ben. Wikipedia says this album was one of his more prolific and experimental. He is known all over the world. Of course none of this would matter if the music weren't an amazing mix of bossa nova and African beats. Apparently one of the songs on here was the focus of a lawsuit against Rod Stewart for his song "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy." Just get this album as soon you can if you are a fan of Brazilian music.

This is nuts!

BRAZILLIAN MAN HOLDS WOMAN HOSTAGE FOR 10 HOURS WITH A SEGA LIGHT GUN

A man looking to collect on a debt broke into the house of 60-year-old woman in Brazil's Federal District, holding her hostage for ten hours on the business end of a Sega Light Phaser. Fortunately, the man released his hostage, unharmed, after negotiating with police.

Lost Sock: Video: Röyksopp: "Happy Up Here"

This reminds me of Air's Moon Safari. Seems like it's been ages since this band made an album. I can't wait to hear the rest of it. Check out this catchy song and rather fun video.

Lost Sock: Cool Andrew Bird Video

Andrew Bird with Mucca Pazza - "Fitz & The Dizzyspells”

The Japanese are so weird. I like the way they think.

A middle-aged slacker living in a rundown, graffiti-ridden slum, Daisato’s job involves being shocked by bolts of electricity that transform him into a stocky, stick-wielding giant several stories high who is entrusted with defending Japan from a host of bizarre monsters. But while his predecessors were national heroes, he is a pariah among the citizens he protects, who bitterly complain about the noise and destruction of property he causes. And Daisato has his own problems -an agent insistent on branding him with sponsor advertisements, an Alzheimer-afflicted grandfather who transforms into a giant in dirty underwear, and a family who is embarrassed by his often cowardly exploits. A wickedly deadpan spin on the giant Japanese superhero, BIG MAN JAPAN is an outrageous portrait of a pathetic but truly unique hero.
Check out the the preview.

Kanye West on VH1 Storytellers

Kanye will appear on VH1's "Storytellers" this Saturday evening, and here is a sneak peak performance of "Stronger". If this preview is any indication, this should be the first "Storytellers" I've gotten excited about in a while.

Lost Sock: Demetri Martin's 224-Word Palindrome Poem

So what is so amazing about this. In case you are not sure, it reads the same backwards as it does forwards. Pretty genius and fun if you ask me, but I am nerd.

"Dammit I'm Mad"

Dammit I’m mad.

Evil is a deed as I live.

God, am I reviled? I rise, my bed on a sun, I melt.

To be not one man emanating is sad. I piss.

Alas, it is so late. Who stops to help?

Man, it is hot. I’m in it. I tell.

I am not a devil. I level “Mad Dog”.

Ah, say burning is, as a deified gulp,

In my halo of a mired rum tin.

I erase many men. Oh, to be man, a sin.

Is evil in a clam? In a trap?

No. It is open. On it I was stuck.

Rats peed on hope. Elsewhere dips a web.

Be still if I fill its ebb.

Ew, a spider… eh?

We sleep. Oh no!

Deep, stark cuts saw it in one position.

Part animal, can I live? Sin is a name.

Both, one… my names are in it.

Murder? I’m a fool.

A hymn I plug, deified as a sign in ruby ash,

A Goddam level I lived at.

On mail let it in. I’m it.

Oh, sit in ample hot spots. Oh wet!

A loss it is alas (sip). I’d assign it a name.

Name not one bottle minus an ode by me:

“Sir, I deliver. I’m a dog”

Evil is a deed as I live.

Dammit I’m mad.

Best on Conan

Martha Stewart eating Taco Bell and drinking a 40oz.

Be

Arnold meets Arnold!

Best on Conan

Conan O'Brien 1864 Baseball
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Best on Conan

The Best of Conan - watch more funny videos

Best of Conan

First up is this awesome Led Zeppelin parody back when Andy was still on the show. Enjoy.

GOODBYE CONAN!

With Conan O'Brien moving to The Tonight Show, something's going to change. I expect a water-downed version of his usual comic genius. Already he has said goodbye to many of his edgy characters and skits. So in honor of who I think is one of the funniest men alive, I will be posting my favorite Conan moments until I feel satisfied.

Video: Ra Ra Riot "Can You Tell"

Love this song but the video is so-so. Not really sure why I am posting it but if you don't know this song, LISTEN!

The Decemberists New Song

Hey all,

Check out the new song by the Decemberists streaming from their MySpace page. Pretty good stuff. http://www.myspace.com/thedecemberists

New Tarantino flick!

The trailer for Inglorious Bastards, Tarantino's new film, is out. This marks his first remake film. The original film, from the 70's, followed a group of criminals as they escape from and hunt down Nazis. Check the trailer out here and let me know what you think. I think it looks fun but am interested to see if its just a "kill all Nazis" movie or if there is something more to it. Either way it looks bloody and stylish in the way only Tarantino knows how to make.

Beirut on Letterman

So to add in my growing excitement over this year's Coachella festival, it seems like most of the bands playing there are currently making TV spots. To add to the questionable live performances of TV on the Radio, another highly anticipated band I can't wait to see played on Letterman. Beirut, led by Zack Condon, performed a road-tested version of A Sunday Smile. Condon's voice sounds great and how often do you get to see a flugelhorn being played.

TV on the Radio on TV

If any of you witnessed Saturday Night Live last week, then you saw one of the most disappointing musical performances I have ever witnessed. A band I truly love and admire, TV on the Radio, gave a horrendous performance of two songs "Dancing Choose" and "Golden Age." The mix was muddled and the singing was out of tune. Aside from that, the band did seem to be trying but also aware that the performance was going South. A few days later they appeared on The Colbert Report and in my opinion sounded a good deal better. Check it out.

Frozen River

Just watched this film last night and it wrecked me. A rare look into a side of American life where popcorn and tang counts as dinner until the next paycheck comes in. Melissa Leo's performance rivals Mickey Rourke's in the Wrestler in terms of honesty. She adds depth to a character that could easily be misunderstood or overplayed as pathetic or sad. Instead she shows a woman with courage that becomes desperate over a desperate woman who finds courage. For me, there is something missing from so many American films that this gets right.

Awesome Peter Bjorn & John video!

Plus the song kicks ass. The video is beyond quirky but a lot of fun.

Peter Bjorn and John "Nothing To Worry About"

Lakeview Terrace

I am or should say was a huge fan of Neil Labute back in the mid-nineties when he hit the seen with the uncompromising In the Company of Men. He followed that up with the equally good Your Friends and Neighbors. Then something happened that led Labute to remake The Wicker Man with Nicholas Cage. A move that can only be described as idiotic. Now he seems to be back but bridging some gap with his new film Lakeview Terrace between mainstream tastes and his biting satire for which he gained attention for. While this film isn't great, it is pretty entertaining thanks to a spirited performance by Samuel L. Jackson and a few decent comments on race in today's society. Overall its still crap in comparison to his first two features but its a turn in the right direction.

What I am watching...

God I haven't posted since October. I suck! However if anyone still reads this I vow to post more often. I will begin by making it easy on myself. Anytime I watch a movie, I will post it on this site with some thoughts. Cool? Hope so.