h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

No, they talked quite a bit about Gogol Bordello and Eugene Hutz.

But their songs were used for the character, Eugene's music.


They talked about trying and failing to get Curt Cobain on the soundtrack and were glad that in the end they didn't because that would have been to obvious.

From IMDb :"The soundtrack features songs from a number of famous suicides: Del Shannon, Ian Curtis, Nick Drake, and David Sutch. Gram Parsons, whose drug overdose is paralleled by Mikal's OD, is also featured."

So, obviously not ALL of the songs. Just the ones that us blindered Westerners might recognize.

Hm. I suppose. I didn't have the privilege of a commentary track, since I saw it in a thatre (during last year's Jerusalem Film Festival), I just know that I recognised Gogol Bordello's sound right away. I guess the confusion about the singer playing there was because he's name Eugene, like the character.

Anyway, this is a cool concept, soundtrack-wise.


Speaking of music, I've been curious... apparently, a very cool band that I like, the Phenomenauts, had been to a VIP visit + concert at a NASA base. Any chance it's the one you work in?

Not that I know of. But it is possible. I usually just briefly scan the daily email I get that tells us what's happening here at the Johnson Space Center and then promptly delete it. But I haven't noticed anything like that.

Oh, apparently that really is where they were: http://www.punknews.org/article/29055

So I guess you missed it. Too bad, kinda, they're a very fun band. I'm still hoping to catch a show myself (for some strange reason it doesn't seem like they're planning a tour in Israel any time soon)...

Anyway, I'll stop spamming your Netflix thread.

I was looking at their website and they seem to bounce between Texas and California quite a bit. I might get a chance to see them at some point in the not-too-distant future, maybe.

Ooh, just watched a really fine flick.

The Man from Earth
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0756683/

It's one of those great discussion films, like Mindwalk or My Dinner With Andre. No action, just a film of characters talking.

This time it's about immortality. What if you met someone 1400 years old. He's kept this hidden for good reasons. You can't disprove his story and he can't prove it.

It is a fascinating story, very well thought out, very intellectual.

The Fall
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0460791/


WOW!

This is just an amazing movie. It's absolutely beautiful but it also is very painstakingly crafted.

As I was watching, it felt very familiar. Basically if you combine elements of The Princess Bride, Pan's Labyrinth you might have a dream very similar to The Fall.

The film this most resembles is Terry Gilliam's Tideland. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0460791/

The Fall would actually make a good primer film for watching Tideland. I think if The Fall had been released first, Tideland would have been much more well accepted and reviewed.

I saw snatches of this film on the flight to Britain last month and knew that I had to add it to my Netflix queue as soon as I got back. Considering that some of the other film choices were along the lines of Meet Dave, Hancock, Swing Vote and Forbidden Kingdom (which wasn't bad), I thought it was nice of United to show something that's far, far above the lowest common denominator.

I quite enjoyed Hancock too, actually

Tonight was "Special".

No, really, tonight I watched a film called "Special: (Specioprin Hydrochloride)"

Michael Rappaport stars in one of his best roles ever. He's just a nobody parking enforcement guy who decides to enroll in a drug trial. The drug gives him super powers... Well, no, but they do give him hallucinations that make him think he has super powers.

Very well written, very well acted. Quite enjoyed this one. Great twist on the super hero genre. Very human (as opposed to superhuman).

But what made it extra "special" was because of the trailers included on the disc I found out that BIG MAN JAPAN is available from Netflix. I've been wanting to see this since Gosho featured the trailer in his movie thread, like, a year ago.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozRYgw6Nlpk

Bumped it to the top of my queue. Ebert gives it

Big Man Japan Triffic film. If you like that sort of thing.

Watched it last night.

It was... not quite as minding as I expected. (I've seen some seriously MESSED up films from Japan.)

I knew I'd like it and I did. I wasn't expecting it to be quite so... I don't know if 'poignant' is the correct term.

The ending lost me for several minutes but then I got it. How could they make a movie like that without a good dose of KAIJU*.



*Looking this term up will spoil the ending, but chances are very few of you will ever see it.

Dang, now you've got me wanting to see it again

Netflix says it'll be available for streaming soon. As soon as it is, I'm watching it

I'm watching it again tonight before shipping it back.

Oh, and the Wikipedia entry for Big Man Japan is almost as as the film!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Man_Japan
"This article or section has multiple issues."

That's an understatement

Here's the entire article (for posterity in case its "issues" ever get resolved).

"Dai Nipponjin is a Japanese film."


It did have a link to Roger Ebert's glowing review.

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090624/REVIEWS/906249984

Meantime

Gary Oldman, Tim Roth, Phil Daniels.

Pretty good. I had a very hard time with the dialog though. The sound quality on this disc is 'orrible.

The U.S. version also comes with a 'trailer' that was obviously made much later than the film as it lists the actors other films, such as Bram Stoker's Dracula and Pulp Fiction.

It's voiced by one of those "Voices" with the capital V.

"A bitter sweet comedy..."
"Just when you thought life couldn't get any worse... Meantime."
"One Big Happy Family"



This is all said with an upbeat rock song overlaid and jump cuts of all the slaps, kicks and odd little bits to make you think it's a lark.

So glad I watched the film before seeing this trailer.
I don't think I've seen worse marketing since I saw the poster and video case for Swimming With Sharks that declares it "Hilarious".

Mike Leigh can be tough to watch unless you're in exactly the right frame of mind. Last time I tried to watch Meantime (I think I have a VHS copy as well as one I downloaded) I couldn't get more than about 30 minutes into it before I switched it off. Same thing with Grown Ups, and I watched both of them all the way through with no problem when they were broadcast. I'd like to watch Abigail's Party and Nuts in May again but I really don't think I could.

Vera Drake, on the other hand, I had no problem with a few years ago. Bloody good film. Mike Leigh's a bit like LSD - it's very easy to have a bad trip.

Except for the terrible sound quality (and only being able to make out every fourth word with the accents) I enjoyed it. The dialog wasn't where the acting was anyway. The characters had few memorable things to say (or maybe they did and I just missed them) but their expressions were momentous. Tim Roth especially. Even Gary Oldman got my sympathy playing a skinhead. He so wanted to be a tough but... "Sorry I 'it you with that cushion. I dint mean ta."

Wait, was that Dr. Octopus I saw?

Have you seen 'Naked'?

I've seen Naked in New York...

I haven't, no, but I just added it to my flix.

Next is The Hit. I'm looking forward to this one. I do love a good London mobster flick. With Tim Roth again and Terrence Stamp.

I also finally rec'd my DVD copy of Tideland so it should be coming out on BluRay any day now.