He has a radio program on WXOU out of Oakland University
Wild At Heart
What an mixed up day. Started off oversleeping when I originally wanted to get up by a few hours. Hoped to enjoy the jacuzzi at my apartment to relax my foot but the water was ice cold despite my having reported 2 days earlier that it wasn't hot. So I didn't get to enjoy it which added to my disappointment that by noon the person who was supposed to unlock the pool area hadn't done so yet and I had to jump the fence which at my age isn't something I want to do. I managed to check out the parade in Hamtramck this afternoon which was enjoyable and got to hear some Polish music favorites before I left. Got downtown for the jazzfest and Kierra was about 30 minutes behind schedule which was added to by the light rain that started to come down. I had dinner at Greektown thanks to all the pop bottles I picked up the previous 3 days and the buffet is still decent though still not a lot to write home about. I got back and heard some decent jazz though TS Monk's band was superb and well worth the trip down. I also finished a book I started weeks ago (Mary Gentle's "Golden Witchbreed") which was excellent despite taking me forever to read it. Now the weekend is officially over and I start a part-time job this week which lasts a week. As weird as it sounds, I have always enjoyed working and it annoys me when so many people I know hate their jobs while I can't seem to get hired. I was hoping to hear back from a full time job last Friday but no one called and the depression is very overwhelming at times when that happens. Hopefully I will find out Tuesday where I stand. All I know is that if hired I will be the happiest worker on the planet and will be able to afford those new tires which are getting ready to burst. At least I'm getting my blog out as promised:)
Anyway, this week I have a bunch of movies to talk about which is always annoying when the movies are already three days old in the theatres by the time I do my reviews which is the typical length of most movies tenure in the theatres these days. So let's start off with a movie I really liked but wasn't invited to a screening for and which might be one of my top ten movies of the year and definately my favorite horror movie of the year (hopefully it will still be in theatres by the time you read this). The film is "Thirst" and is the latest film by Park Chan-wook (directed one of my favorite revenge films in "Oldboy"). It is loosly based on the novel Thérèse Raquin by Émile Zola and tells the story of a priest, Sang-hyun, who while trying to something for the good of mankind is turned into a vampire through a failed medical experiment which was designed to find a cure for the deadly Emmanuel Virus. The only survivor of 50 test subjects, he soon goes back to the hospital he works at only to relapse back into his illness and wakes up to find himself experiences heightened senses and extreme sensitivity to light. He enjoys his new vigor at first but soon finds himself sucking the blood of the hospital patients but he tries to avoid actually murdering anyone. At this time he also starts to fall in love/lust with an old childhood friend's wife who eventually learns of his disease but still carries on and plots to kill her husband which creates further problems which I won't get into as not to ruin the ending of the film for anyone. I love the fact that we have a vampire that is truly conflicted by his plight and shows the real issues involved it holding back one's urges for fear of not being able to stop. Being a truly religious man plays very well in the movie's atmosphere esp one scene where a blind priest he works with tries to convince him to change him into a vampire in hopes of regaining his sight. It really annoys me that the US hasn't produced a great vampire film in years and only the TV series Buffy The Vampire Slayer really stacks up (sorry Twilight or True Blood fans). This year has seen two great vampire films from overseas (the first being "Let The Right One In") and this one plays heavily with vampire lore and produces moments which are extremely fun ranging from Sang-hyun showing off for his girlfriend by jumping across buildings to a wonderful fight scene between two vampires which includes trashing cars and other objects in a great kung fu style. If you are serious about vampires, this is the movie you should be rushing out to see and should make you forget about the next Twilight sequel. My grade for this movie is an A. Don't confuse it with the 1979 Australian vampire film of the same name.
Next is a film that re-examined our portayals of Middle-Eastern women in film and that is the movie "Amreeka" by first time director Cherien Dabis who has based the story on real-life events that affected her growing up in a small town in Ohio. I will have an interview with her soon on my radio show which will go into more detail but events of the Gulf War affected her family deeply when she saw her father lose patients that no longer trusted a Middle-Eastern doctor to heal them due to their ignorance and fear. This got Cherien interested in the news and the way people from the Middle-East are portrayed in film. This project was her answer as a Middle-Eastern woman which is struggling to raise her child in an military-occupied West Bank receives notice that she has been chosen in a lottery for a US Green Card. She and her son make
the decision to move thinking America (Amreeka in Middle-eastern) will be better. However, she finds herself in a world that is not easy as she and her son face predujice at almost every turn. Years of banking experience has her working a White Castle job she is embarassed by but she needs to make money to make ends meet. Her son gets bullied by classmates and finds himself getting into trouble as he navigates the halls of the school much as he did the roadblaocks back home. Her sisters family is also having issues as her husband's Doctors practice is losing patients in today climate (art imitating life). The saving grace of the family is making it's lead character played by Nisreen Faour a woman of uncompromising strength and love for her son that we don't overly focus on her being Middle-Eastern but just a woman who loves her family and will sacrifice everything to make his life better. The film screened very well at the Arab Museum and hopefully it will find a larger audience. This is a feel good movie and while at times doesn't feel complete, Nisreen Faour makes this a wonderful experience (she reminds me of the character of Mrs Goldberg in the way she transends stereotypes). I give the film a B+.
Next is a couple of comedies which are easy to forget but I think are enjoyable for what they are. The first is "Extract" be beavis and Butthead Mike Judge and stars Jason Bateman. By definition, an extract is a substance made by extracting a part of a raw material and this film tries to extract laughs and manages to do so if unevenly. Joel (Bateman) owns an flavor extract factory but is not happy with his life. Their are problems at work and home (he hasn't had sex with his wife in a long time) and he fills unfulfilled in his life. He gets advice from his friends including his slacker friend Dean (Ben Affleck) whose advice usually involves getting drunk or doing drugs. When con woman Cindy (Mila Kunis) targets an employee at the factory who stands to get a large sum of money, she also turns Joels head. Joel is infatuated with Cindy and Dean talks him into setting up his wife Suzie (Kristen Wiig) with a male gigalo thinking if she cheats on him he can cheat on his wife. However, he eventually realizes Cindy is a con and he needs to straighten himself out to save his marriage and his factory. While not great, the films has some nice performances by the cast which I found entertaining, even the annoying neighbor played by David Koechner. My favorite is Affleck as the stoner bartender friend who just seems to fit his part nicely and Bateman is excellent at playing loveable losers like Joel. This film is basically going to appeal to the type of person who enjoy films like "New In Town" which has a similar feel. I give the film a B-.
Last is the new Sandra Bullock film "All About Steve" She plays crossword puzzle constructor Mary Horowitz who is basically a grown up nerd with no social life. She is set up on a blind date with TV news cameraman Steve (Bradley Cooper) and falls heavily. he finds her annoying and bails quickly telling her that he needs to leave on assignment and wishes she could be with him on the road. After losing her job, she actually does follow a nervous Steve who feels like he is being stalked. His partener, journalist Hartman Hughes (Thomas Haden Church) however likes her and encourages Mary's infatuation, taking pleasure in Steve's torture. As Mary follows the news team across the country, she becomes embroiled in the biggest news story of the year when a group of hearing impaired children are caught in a hole leading to an underground mine. Workers believe they have saved all children when in fact one is left behind, which Mary discovers after she falls in trying to catch up to Steve. The film is wacky at times and I feel the movie hinges on wether or not you like the Mary character. She is socially dumb which really grates on a number of her collegues and people she meets. This could rub off on the audience though I actually liked her quirkiness and thus was able to enjoy this film which brought some laughs to my depressing life. I feel that the movie has some nice witty dialogue and somewhat touching at times. This might put me in the minority but so be it. For me this is a nice film and worth seeing esp if you need a laugh. My grade is a B-.
Lastly, here ar esome concert choices for the week. Enjoy! Not much takes my eye this week so while Wednesday (9/09) is blank, we got Thursday (9/10) with Loggins & Messina @ Ceasar's Windsor. Friday (9/11) see Mustard Plug @ Blind Pig or Liz Larin @ Vernor's Room (Crofoot). Saturday (9/12) has School Of Rock doing Rolling Stones tribute @ Emerald Theatre (also Sun) or the Hard Lessons @ Bling Pig. Sunday (9/13) has the punk rockers Casualties @ Blind Pig and Monday (9/14) has either the Snow Patrol w/Plain White T's @ Fillmore or Matt & Kim @ Magic Stick.
Enjoy your week and hopefully next week I'll be happily employed or sadly planning my move out of state. Take care.