Video of the Day: The Go! Team, “Ladyflash”
From the British band’s wondrous 2004 debut, “Thunder, Lightning, Strike,” “Ladyflash” is pure happiness, a mixture of ’70s AM radio pop, marching bands and double-dutch hip-hop.
Staticblog Afternoon Movie: “Hoop Dreams”
It’s hard to believe that it’s been 14 years since this landmark documentary arrived and, in many ways, redefined how many of us see the make-or-break nature of basketball in the inner cities. Presented by Hulu, this is highly educational, which might help when the boss comes by.
DVD Review: “In Bruges”
Rating: 82
It’s hard to imagine the Belgian Tourist Office being thrilled with “In Bruges,” a magnificently coarse, pitch-black comedy about hitmen hiding out in what is portrayed as the most boring city in Europe. Playwright Martin McDonagh, who won an Oscar for his short film “Six Shooter,” makes his feature-length debut with a film that doesn’t stop with its host city — by the time the credits roll, nearly everyone has a shot at being offended, so if widely cast insults and buckets of blood are your cup of Stella Artois, “In Bruges” is the ideal destination.
Experienced killer Ken (Brendan Gleeson) takes Ray (Colin Farrell) into hiding after the first-time hitman’s debut assignment goes terribly wrong. The two Brits wind up in Bruges (pronounced “Broozh”), a backwater with tons of Medieval architecture but little else of interest. Ray grouses interminably until he runs into Chloe (Clemence Poesy), a gorgeous local who might be as crooked as he is. But Chloe is mainly a distraction: Ray is destined for very bad things thanks to the designs of Harry Waters (Ralph Fiennes), a crime boss back in Britain with the worst onscreen temper since Ben Kingsley’s Don Logan in “Sexy Beast.”
Never mind the Belgians — “In Bruges” spares no one, all the way to its bitter, bitter end. But it isn’t always a laugh-a-minute at the expense of humanity. Farrell imbues Ray with a true sense of desolation — that botched hit was enough to scar even the most callous killer — and Gleeson is typically great as Ray’s consoling father figure. See “In Bruges” for many reasons, but a key one is Fiennes’ scenery-chewing performance as “’Arry.” The British heartthrob who became Lord Voldemort seems to be relishing his bad guy streak, and it comes through with “In Bruges.”
Music Review: Miley Cyrus, “Breakout” (Hollywood)
Rating: 50
A Disney acquisition currently more precious to the Magic Kingdom than Mickey Mouse himself, Miley Cyrus and her “Hannah Montana” character dominate pre-teen culture, and just as Cyrus’ series enters its third season, Cyrus has an eye on a future after “Hannah.” Much as Kelly Clarkson distanced herself from cheesy “American Idol” grandstanding with “Breakaway,” Cyrus intends for the similarly emancipation-themed “Breakout” to be the launch pad for her post-teen career. No chances are being taken: “Breakout” has something engineered for every pop taste, and while she’s partially put away “Hannah,” it doesn’t mean she isn’t still trying on personas.
The title track breezes along on an updated New Wave sheen reminiscent of the Go-Go’s, and that’s no surprise — “Breakout” was co-written by Go-Go’s drummer Gina Schock. From there, Cyrus hits all the necessary marks: Avril Lavigne-style brat-punk (“7 Things,” “Simple Song”), synth-rock (“Fly On the Wall”), a twangy ballad (“These Four Walls”) and a selection from Mom’s old mix tapes (“Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”). There’s even a ready-made dance mix of “See You Again” planted at the end, just to cover all bases except maybe Afrobeat and opera.
“Breakout” is currently the No. 1 disc in the U.S., but that should be no surprise — Cyrus was also the biggest concert draw of 2007, so “Breakout” needed to be pristine and tightly engineered to appeal to that massive and demanding base. Better executions of all this music can be found easily, but that hardly means “Breakout” won’t serve its purpose: the sound track for a girl’s bedroom, circa late-2008.
Staticblog Afternoon Movie: “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-A-Long Blog”
From “Buffy” creator Joss Whedon comes this online musical spectacular starring Neil Patrick Harris. It’s legen — wait for it! — dary.
Random 10 for July 29, 2008
1. The Spongetones, “Every Night Is a Holiday”
2. Death Cab for Cutie, “The Sound of Settling”
Clever video, brilliant band. Never has melancholia and tragic compromise sounded so damned hooky.
3. Toad the Wet Sprocket, “Hey Bulldog”
4. Bruce Springsteen, “Racing in the Street”
If the Boss isn’t the greatest storyteller in the annals of rock ‘n’ roll, he is at least in the top five. One of his more somber ballads, “Racing in the Street” (captured here in a 1980 performance) is familiar Sprinsteen fodder, but that makes it no less heartwrenching. Choice lyric: “She just sits on the porch of her daddy’s house / But all her pretty dreams are torn / She stares off alone into the night / With the eyes of one who hates for just being born.” Raymond Chandler, meet car culture. Car culture, meet Raymond Chandler.
5. Fun Lovin’ Criminals, “I’m Not in Love”
6. The Mavericks, “To Be with You”
7. Tears for Fears, “Mad World”
Long before Gary Jules’ version captured its chilling essence, Curt Smith and Roland Orzabel scored with the mesmerizing song in 1982. “The dreams in which I’m dying are the best I’ve ever had” – poignant line, and it’s weirdly fun to sing along to.
8. Nick Lowe, “You Inspire Me”
9. Beck, “Devil’s Haircut”
10. Aretha Franklin, “The House that Jack Built”
Video of the Day: Estelle, “American Boy”
The British singer and her American sponsor, Mr. West, deliver slick, sleek and shiny R&B that sounds like the soundtrack for creatures of leisure cruising Rodeo Drive in their Bentleys.
Shia LaBooze
OK, Ellen Page: I’m counting on you not to wind up a screwup.
Looks like bad luck continues to dog onetime “It” guy Shia LaBeouf. The 22-year-old actor is recovering from major hand surgery after an apparently alcohol-related car wreck.
The DUI comes only a few months after LaBeouf was arrested for being drunk and refusing to leave a Chicago Walgreen’s.
Who knew that the star of “Transformers” would himself end up transforming … into Lindsay Lohan.
– Chase
Dubya at the Cineplex
I will say one thing for Oliver Stone — the guy ain’t boring. The new trailer for “W.,” his film chronicling the travails of the nation’s 43rd president, points to a movie that looks more like a Michael Moore wet dream (now that’s a pleasant image) than an ostensibly balanced biopic.
The casting alone is inspired. I love it that Barbra Streisand’s stepson, Josh Brolin, will play the title role (Brolin’s daddy, James, you might remember, played a dottering Ronald Reagan in CBS’ ill-fated 2003 TV movie on the Reagans). Never let it be said that “left-wing Hollywood” shuns the label of “left-wing Hollywood.”
The Bush loyalists are certain to gnash their teeth and wring their hands, but I, for one, look forward to what promises to be a steamy gumbo of unsubstantiated anecdote, free-floating paranoia, psychoanalytic drivel and okra (mmmm … okra). Stone mined similar territory in his 1995 picture, “Nixon.” I suspect “W.” will capture that same pitch of near-hysteria. Say what you will about Oliver Stone, but I’ll be first in line to the opening of “W.”
– Chase
Staticblog Afternoon Movie: “Raising Arizona”
Mind you don’t cut yerself, Mordecai! This Staticblog Afternoon Movie is courtesy of Hulu, which doesn’t care if you get cited for dereliction of duty. It’s self-contained and fairly explanatory.
