Read my reviews of opening U2 Chicago shows last September here and here.
Dear U2:
You have done a damn fine job of documenting your history (both good and bad) and almost never purposely hide something (including Bono's mullet from 1983, you can see it in all of its glory on the Under A Blood Red Sky DVD which came out a few years ago). It's incredibly admirable from every tour since 1983 (with the exception of the 1984-1985 The Unforgettable Fire tour) has been documented in a visual format and with the release of the Rose Bowl DVD, every tour will be available for purchase on DVD. But can you please tell us why every release seems to have at least one song missing? The Slane DVD from 2001 added "Mysterious Ways" as a bonus track, the Chicago Vertigo DVD omitted "Party Girl" even though it was performed during both shows that were filmed. The Zoo TV DVD omitted "Tryin' to Throw Your Arms Around the World", four songs were cut from the Boston 2001 dvd, the Vertigo Milan show was cut in half and paired with a special edition of an album that was difficult to find and the 1987 concert included in The Joshua Tree box set omitted the opening song, "Stand By Me".
For a band of your size and stature, you have handled your legacy and your recorded output better than anyone. However, it's frustrating to see you come so close to perfection and then blow it. Now with the release of the Rose Bowl DVD, it's come to our attention that the show's opener, "Breathe" will be omitted from the DVD but available on a deluxe (and more expensive) 2 disc version. Why?
I understand that some DVD's get shifted and songs get dropped for the 5.1 sound, alas, it's cutting up your legacy and leaving an imperfect and incomplete document for the remainder of time to be viewed. Plus, over 10-million people watched the YouTube broadcast of this show, so it's not like people won't realize that a song is missing. More importantly, "Breathe" is one of the better songs on your last album. If you had to cut a song for the 5.1 sound, why not "Boots", easily one of the worse singles of your career.
I love you guys and you come so close to perfection, why not go that extra step and secure history the way it happened? You wouldn't cut out a family member from pictures, would you?
Brian Vander Ark crooned and wailed an anthem for a whole generation a little over a decade ago with the wonderfully heartrending and philosophical “The Freshman”. Released in 1997, the song became more than a song, but a prayer to a world hoping to find solace in it or at least a diversion from a callous world that didn’t care. It was an overwhelming accomplishment so early in the career of Vander Ark’s band, The Verve Pipe. Despite making two first-rate follow up albums (a self-titled album in 1999 and Underneath in 2001), the band went on hiatus and Brian Vander Ark released a series of excellent solo albums including 2003’s superb Resurrection. Pulling from within and expunging his own personal demons, Vander Ark is an artist in the truest sense of the word and is anything but a one-hit wonder, but an ever evolving and notable musician. 2009 saw the Verve Pipe reunite and they did more than just reform for reunion shows, but recorded a new record, one no one in their wildest imagination could ever have imagined; a children’s album. The band was asked to contribute to a song to a compilation album, Calling All Kids. What began as one song blossomed almost immediately into ten songs that became A Family Album.
A little more than a year ago, I may have very well dismissed this record, but with a daughter who just turned one, when the disc arrived in my mail, I took an interest, loaded it into my iPod, where it has stayed and continually been played for weeks. Bridging middle ground between Sesame Street albums and the Beatles, the Verve Pipe has created a record that both children and parents can listen to and enjoy. The ten songs that encompass the record are full of bright choruses and contagious melodies that will swim inside your mind after one listen. “Wake Up” is full of serendipitous harmonies, as are all of the album’s eleven songs. “When One Becomes Two” is soft-hearted yet the band’s delivery is spot on. There’s a childish sense of wonder to sing-a-long songs exemplified on “Cereal”, “Suppertime” and “Go To Sleep Now” and yet it’s their experience with writing melodic gems that allows them to get away with a record that induces a smile at every turn.
The Verve Pipe and Brian Vander Ark have created visceral music that flourished with voices and guitars that speak to and resonate strongly with their audience for nearly two decades. While the Verve Pipe is in the process of recording a new record, they’re calling their own shots. They are not tied to a major label at this time and just want to create the best music they can. While A Family Album was a detour I am not sure anyone saw coming, it’s a welcomed collection of songs. It’s the first step in what will hopefully be a flourishing and vital second act. Until those new rock songs appear, A Family Album can keep you company with its insanely fun, playful and memorable songs that will turn your smile upward.
Anthony Kuzminski is a Chicago based writer and Special Features Editor for the antiMusic Network and his daily writings can be read at The Screen Door and can be contacted at thescreendoor AT gmail DOT com.
It's been a while since I have done one of these and this one is long overdue. Here's a list of great entertainment pieces you should read and check out:
Rolling Stone has a rather incredible acoustic performance by Butch Walker at this link. It includes three tunes from his latest (read album review here).
Just when you think people aren't buying music anymore, a company out of Atlanta is finding an audience for long forgotten and lost gospel recordings with brilliant remastering and creative packaging. Read the full article here
I have only written briefly about a wonderfully eccentric band called Los Campesinos!, but you should check them out. They have created a few of the most memorable albums of the last few years and the best review of their latest was done by NME, check it out here.
A few friends came back from SXSW raving about J Roddy Walston, who drew comparisons to Jerry Lee Lewis, check out his music and his webpage here.
NJ.com has a interesting article about the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame showing who will be eligible in coming years and who is still awaiting induction here.
Bon Jovi piano player Dave Bryan has made a name for himself with his Broadway play, Memphis. He gives some great insight in an interview at this link.
Being a film fan and one of Ain't It Cool News, there is a great article about the reviewer known as "Capone", which is fascinating and revealing. If you aren't reading Capone's interviews and reviews at AICN, you should, they are some of the most insightful around.
The Onion A.V. Club did a wonderful piece entitled The Philosophy of Bill Murray. Read it, your existential life will never be the same again (:-))
The aforementioned Capone sat down with Wes Anderson months ago while he was promoting Fantastic Mr. Fox. It's a great read, check it out here.
Lastly, Matthew Ryan who has made a great music career for himself did a really incredible piece on Bruce Springsteen for Blurt not too long ago, read it here.
John Mellencamp: Walking Tall The MetroCentre: Rockford, IL, April 9, 2005 By Anthony Kuzminski Photos by Paul Stinsa
Writer's note: Originally written in 2005, here is a concert review of John Mellencamp's Words & Music tour. I'm leaving the mistakes warts and all on this one.
Grace, mercy and forgiveness Will help a man walk tall -Walk Tall, 2004
A little over thirty years ago no one could have imagined that a young and rough around the edges singer named Johnny Cougar would become one of the defining voices of his generation. Unlike most artists who peak early and spend the rest of their careers on a constant decline creatively, John Mellencamp has continually pushed the envelope, never settling into success and losing his creative edge. In the last fifteen years alone, his output has been passionately remarkable, arguably the strongest track record of any recording artist during this time. "Big Daddy" (1989), "Whenever We Wanted" (1991), "Human Wheels" (1993), "Dance Naked" (1994), "Mr. Happy Go Lucky" (1996), "John Mellencamp" (1998), "Cuttin' Heads" (2001) and "Trouble No More" (2003) have all been steadfast albums thrusting sonic and creative boundaries, confirming that Mellencamp is a man who is still a relevant and a vital musical figure. John Mellencamp’s music attempts to have people dream big, think outside of their world. However, one would never know this by seeing him live as he usually plays no more than two or three new songs off any new album. In the last decade, amazing numbers such as "To Live", "Brothers", "Gerry", "Miss Missy", "Crazy Island", "The Family" and "To The River" have all gone unaired in concert or played less than a handful of times. It's a shame to see such insightful poetry disregarded. When I hear a classic album cut from one of my favorite artists, it makes me reevaluate their entire catalog. I have a John Mellencamp bootleg from the early 80’s and on it is a song I had overlooked, “Thundering Hearts”. The muscle, drive and energy given in this performance were like a kick to the gut. It made me dig out my “American Fool” album and I realized I probably never listened to side two of the album (back in the days of cassettes). If not for scorching performance on this bootleg, “Thundering Hearts” would still be lost to me.
While his recorded output continues to evolve and soar, his concerts during the same time frame have lacked the energy and drive his 80’s and early 90’s shows had, which lasted from 120 minutes to 150 minutes. Then in ’94 the shows were reduced to 100 minutes. Since then, I’ve never seen a performance go over 105 minutes and some have been as short as 80 minutes. In turn, I almost always walk away dismayed knowing I did not see John Mellencamp at his best. When you are paying four-times the ticket price (in 2001-02) than you did in 1992 and he’s playing half as long, you are going to walk away disillusioned…plain and simple. Mellencamp fans have been known for being overly critical of his set list choices and lengths of his sets; this is not because we're being difficult or snobs, but because we know one of our favorite artists is capable of being so much more. When I see him play a shortened show skipping many classic songs (hits and deep album cuts) I am aggravated, because I know that these words and music have been a source of comfort to me in my life and I hope that they would heal and comfort others on the same journey. Is it bad to want your child to reach for the stars and reach the highest heights? I say "no". For a man who has taught me about racial tolerance, love, peace, hope and being open minded, I would hope that he would be unbiased to criticism of his shows. While he’s still a viable performer people should walk away from his shows, feeling he is one of the greatest entertainers to ever live, much the same way they did in 1992 after seeing the "Whenever We Wanted" tour, which showcased the man pushing 150-minute sets nightly. Is it bad to want so much from those who can make such a difference in our world and culture?
Last fall, I was fortunate to witness one of the Vote For Change concerts. The performances of the Dylan covers "Seven Days" and "In My Time Of Dying" were commanding, but it was "We Are The People" a track I had forgotten about off of 1987's "The Lonesome Jubilee" album that took the performance into another stratosphere. I saw a man sing the chorus of "We are the people...and we will forever" and mean it. There is nothing greater than seeing an artist go into their back pocket and pull out a ace in the hole that may even surprise a die-hard fan and even shed a new light upon the song. Why won't John Mellencamp do this more often? I'm not sure, only he can answer that question, it's sad to see him overlook some of his best work. It's the equivalent of having a student who has high test scores but consistently comes home with B's and C’s. Some may say “C’s mean degrees”, but it's disheartening when you know your child is capable of so much more. John Mellencamp still rocks with the best of them but I wish he would push his audience and himself a little further in the hopes of expanding our minds and horizons.
The 2005 tour has brought about a hope and promise not felt in a decade. Launched in support of his greatest hits disc, “Words and Music”, this tour is arguably his best since 1992. This is his longest tour and his cheapest since then as well (with tickets priced between $20 and $45, a steal for an artist of Mellencamp’s stature). The stage set up was minimal, but from the opening notes of “Small Town” to the “Check It Out” and “Cherry Bomb” finale, the crowd stood, sang their hearts out and had open arms for their local hero as his just shy of two-hours show was a reminder that when at his best, John Mellencamp can be a enthralling performer rarely outmatched.
Opening the show was “Small Town”, Mellencamp slowly emerged from the side of the stage playing a black Stratocaster and was decked out in a tightly knit blue suit, slicked back hair and white opened collared shirt. The first four songs were all about keeping pace, as “Human Wheels”, “Key West Intermezzo”, “Minutes to Memories” and “Lonely Ol’ Night” all followed. Only for the latter did he discard the guitar, but he looked like a kid up there on the stage as he appears to be at least a sold decade-plus younger than he really is.
After a speedy opening, a chair was placed in front of the stage, the band gathered near the front for what would be an acoustic set. While some people may frown on this, all I can tell you is that it kept our attention and showcased a side of the man I see far too little. “Rain on the Scarecrow” (a song played far too often in the past but invigorated here) and “Paper in Fire” were great revelations showcasing Mellencamp can still reinvent his songs with new arrangements but make them immediately recognizable and give them new life. “Big Daddy of Them All” was the evening’s lone surprise with a sped up arrangement that eclipsed the album version from 1989. This is a crucial illustration of why he should not hesitate to dig deeper into his catalog. A song I always loved was elevated to new creative heights. One can only wonder what other tricks he could potentially pull off if he would only dare to attempt them. “Authority Song” was drastically different from its studio counterpart but it still rocked with Mellencamp even getting off the chair to engage the crowd.
The song with the most genuine and heartfelt message was “Walk Tall”, one of two new songs on his new Greatest Hits collection, “Words and Music”. Every Mellencamp album has a career defining song on it and for the hits package; “Walk Tall” is it. The accompanying video is one of the best I’ve ever seen demonstrating with simple images how ridiculous ignorance can be. This is yet another example of how John Mellencamp is not just writing pure pop tunes, but songs with a message and a meaning. John Mellencamp has grown in ways most never thought imaginable. He’s more than just a rock star but a preacher teaching not the word of God, but merely effortless life lessons we all neglect from time to time.
Instead of a proper show opener, Mellencamp has opted to bring out one of his influences, Donovan, to play a few numbers with his band as he takes a breather in the middle of the set. Mellencamp joined in on “Sunshine Superman” which was followed by a swift twenty-five minute set that showcased both old and new Donovan hits, climaxing with “Mellow Yellow”, which to my surprise, most of the 10,000 in attendance knew. As Donovan exited, the driving beat of the drums hit full force as “I Need A Lover” was resurrected for the first time since 1994. John Cougar’s first major hit, has largely been absent from most of his shows over the last two decades. However, it was a welcome return which led right into arguably his biggest hit- “Jack & Diane”. Over the years Mellencamp has worked the song up in a wide variety of new arrangements, however, the current tour incarnation is arguably the closest it sounds the to studio version. Mellencamp barely had to sing the song as the crowd, in unison, sang it back to him.
Oh yeah life goes on Long after the thrill of livin is gone Oh yeah say life goes on Long after the thrill of livin is gone, they walk on
"Jack & Diane" is merely one of a few dozen songs Mellencamp has etched into the hearts minds and souls of the American public over the last thirty years. Even when his shows are shorter, you usually see a show where you know 90% pf the songs by heart. A song, not as well know as "Jack & Diane" raised the bar as Mellencamp's spirited edge put “What If I Came Knocking”, from his underrated masterpiece “Human Wheels”, into another realm as it was delivered full of fervor and rage. Because of his deliverance and ability to connect, this song is also etched into our psyche's if for no other reason than he has been performing it at every show since 1993 with passion and vigor. As I watched him from the second row I was immediately taken with the concentration he was giving the performance of the song. When he hit the line “What if I cam crying after just a few weeks” from the third verse, I thought a vein was going to burst from his neck as he executed the song with the same dynamism you would anticipate from a twenty-year old. This is another case in point of a song that was not a hit but because Mellencamp has stuck with the song it is now a staple of his live performance and one that shines as brightly as any of his top-ten hits. The remainder of the set; “Crumblin' Down”, “ROCK In The USA”, “Wild Night”, “Hurts So Good” and “Pink Houses” were delivered with intensity I have not seen in Mellencamp since Kenny Arnoff was behind the drum kit. None of the newer band mates outshined one another but as a force they drove the Rockford hopeful into a tizzy with one driving beat after another. Individually they may be gifted musicians but as a whole unit that are the driving force behind one of the preeminent songwriters of the last thirty years.
For the encores, “Ain’t Even Done with the Night” was dusted off for its first airing in over twenty years, whose sound was driven by the violin and mandolin. “Night” is merely another song in the line of great pop tunes often overlooked by Mellencamp on each tour. I believe in the force and passion of the man's words and music and I yearn for the day when he will look outside of the fans with short attention spans and deliver to those die-hard fans and convert the others in the process with songs like "The Big Catastrophe", "The Family", "Crazy Island", "Now More Than Ever", "To Live", "Between A Laugh and a Tear" and dozens others Mellencamp has turned his back on. “Check It Out” and “Cherry Bomb” were not classic tunes upon initial listens, but because of the lyric and proficiency of the performances, these songs both became modern day sing-a-long classics.
There are no words that can convey my love and veneration for John Mellencamp. He’s a hero of mine and not just for his music. He consistently puts himself in the line of fire when it comes to politics and doing what is right. He’s one of the founders of Farm Aid and in 1993 when storms ravaged Midwest towns; he rose close to a million dollars by performing charity shows. His music has always taught peace, love and understanding. Look at his multi-cultural band, his progressive thinking videos where a black boy and white girl slow dance together raised a lot of eyebrows and Mellencamp even received a few death threats, but he stuck to his guns because he knew it was the right thing to do. John Mellencamp took a cue from the Crosby, Still and Nash song “Teach Your Children” and did just that, except his children expand to everyone who buys one of his records. With each lyric and musical note he is striving to make the world a better place for his children, all of them. He may hail from a small town, but he thinks big. Like Dylan and Springsteen before him, John Mellencamp is continuing the great American songwriting tradition with stylishness all his own.
This may be a greatest hits tour, but anyone that will be privileged to behold the spectacle will see and hear more than words and music, but a legend and arguably one of the greatest American rockers...ever. The tour is his best in well over a decade showcasing a vast selection of hits, new arrangements, very reasonably priced tickets, a nearly two hour show, an acoustic set and even treasures like “Biggest Daddy of Them All” and for that one song alone, I'd like to say "thank you". Let me say thank-you to those who love many Let me say thank-you for those who still play fair Hallelujah, the meek shall inherit Let me say thank-you to all you folks out there -“Thank You” 2004
It looks like this will be the month with the least amount of writing posted since December of 2006. I'm chalking it up to some family obligations and an overall lack of disenchantment with a slew of things.
I have a half dozen DVD reviews half completed, a bunch of almost done music reviews and yet when I have free time, I just can't seem to focus. I hope to get everything completed and up and running in the coming weeks.
This is a sad day. Alex Chilton passed away yesterday from a heart attack. It's entirely possible you haven't heard of Alex Chilton, if that's the case, go here. I'll fully admit I didn't know too much of Chilton until the Replacements immortalized him in the song "Alex Chilton" from their 1987 record, Pleased To Meet Me. If you have ever seen That 70's Show, then you heard "In the Street" by Cheap Trick, but it's really a cover of a Big Star song (co-written by Chilton) from the early 70's. Throughout his whole career, Chilton walked just outside of the mainstream, but one listen to the power-pop goodiness of his songs, well, it's hard to imagine wy he wasn't a household name.
Just last year, Rhino Records put out a incredible box set by Chilton's most famous group, Big Star. I would highly suggest buying it and if it's too costly, check your library. There are other writer's more talented than myself to write about the man and his career, so I will leave it to them, but I highly suggest you check him out yourself.
Rolling Stone's Rob Sheffield has a wonderful tribute that should be read here.
The following email was received today in regards to this post.
Well Tony, it looks like Jon didn't listen to you after all.
They started at they promised, but I guess after fans rushed to buy more tickets, to catch the oldies, now it's back to the same cookie cutter set lists, changing 2/3 songs per show, don't cut it.
I must admit to being floored by seeing a full tribute to John Hughes. The Oscar ceremonies (as much as I love watching them) can be stuffy and difficult for the non-movie lover to watch. But this tribute jumped off the screen at me. I always viewed tributes like this to people who spent fifty-years in the industry or to someone on the level of Charlie Chaplin, Kurosawa, Fellini, Hitchcock. I never imagined they would do such a heartfelt, lengthy and emotional tribute to a man who never won an Oscar, heck he wasn't even nominated (from what I can find and recall).
As always, Roger Ebert in doing his review of the awards show nailed the Hughes tribute:
Director John Hughes was too great a legend to be simply included in the traditional "In Memoriam" tribute. The special clip package of his work stirred desires to see his films again. They seemed good at the time, and in these dreary days, they seem miraculous. As the stars he made — his "children" —strode forward, it became one of the greatest moments in Academy Award history.
Read Ebert's full commentary on the awards and show here.
A great film, regardless of its content, invigorates and soothes your body, mind and hopefully your soul. One of the reasons I’ve never become a TV junkie is because there are simply too many films in this world I’ll never see. Films can simply provide an escape from the outside world where you forget about everything and other times, you may see or witness something that haunts you, stays with you, eats you alive inside and changes your view of the world. The latter are what I deem great films. Each year has its fair share of pretty great films; you just need to seek them out. I didn’t think 2009 was shaping up to be a great year for the movies, but as I began to make my list, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed and can’t wait to see again. I missed a few big ones (Precious and The Messenger) that I’ll have to catch up with later this year (having my first child cut into week night screenings). Alas, here it my list of the forty best films of 2009 you should check out, any of which I am guessing passed by you when they hit theaters, but hopefully you can check them out now. Just because a movie is animated or a documentary doesn’t mean it’s any less engaging that The Blind Side or Avatar. I often am asked how one ranks films and ultimately it’s a fruitless (yet fun and debateable) exercise. In the end, I choose the films that stayed in my memory bank the longest due to a great performance, an emotional reaction or it may have simply reminded me of the overall beauty of life. Hopefully you’ll see a bit of that same beauty in a few of the forty below.
xT
Read my best films of the decade from 2000-2009 (done in early December) here
And without further adieu, here are the Top Forty Films of 2009...
1. Up
Only in an alternate universe could a story where the lead character is a senior citizen gross $700 million worldwide, but that is the translucent beauty of Pixar. They find a way to tell the most one-dimensional stories against passionately ingenious backgrounds. The first fifteen minutes of this film alone are so emotionally absorbing that it automatically ranks it as one of the most affecting films ever. The relatively silent feature tells the story of a couple’s journey through life and despite being animated; it was something I wouldn’t expect from any film from Hollywood let alone an animated one. If you don’t well up during this opening sequence, then I am sorry…you have no soul. The animation is dreamlike, but what differentiate Pixar films from standard animated fare are their scripts. They have a way of appealing to both a three-year old mind and an eighty-three year old mind. That is a rarity in the film industry and with each film Pixar creates, they defy expectations. These are more than pieces of animated created for diversion and entertainment, but stories for generations of people to share with one another and more importantly, they’re life lessons embedded within. The adventure aspect of Up is gripping and full of awe. They manage to take you to another world and you never have to leave your seat. Ultimately the film teaches us a important lesson; whether it’s an old man who yearns for a lost love or a young boy who yearns for love from his father Up teaches us that our partners in crime come in all shapes and sizes and love does as well. I’ve seen Up four times and as my daughter ages and begins to watch films, I know I will never tire of this one when she demands it on repeat.
2. Anvil: The Story of Anvil
I was emotionally drained when I first saw this film. There are two things that differentiate this film from most music documentaries; heart and soul. Music documentaries (which I love) are usually PR puff pieces or chronological stories encompassing an entire career, both can be engaging in their own ways, but the Anvil film is neither. It’s harsh, depressing, and scary yet a ultimately uplifting story of two men who have remained dedicated not just to their vision and their art…but more importantly to each other. Directed by Sacha Gervasi, who was a fan of Anvil when he was a teen befriended the band, and they took him under their wings. Nearly two decades later, he looked them up after writing the Steven Spielberg/Tom Hanks project The Terminal. After meeting with Robb and Lips, he re-mortgaged his house to finance the film. A fascinating aspect is that if the Anvil guys had blown off this teen fan, then there would never have been a movie. Anvil spent the better part of three decades swimming in the pool of obscurity despite making a few highly influential metal albums and this film shows us their struggle, warts and all. The film is so brutally surreal you can’t help but root for Lips and Robb, they feel like family and inside them, the audience see’s their own struggles. Documentaries usually are about extreme events or people, but Anvil relates to the viewer in a way that’s indescribable. There is a scene in the film where the lead singer/guitarist Lips is pouring his heart and soul out to the camera about their struggle to “make it” and he mentions that if nothing ever happens, (jokingly but with tears welling up in his eyes) he can go jump off a cliff. Robb turns to him and says “No you won’t because I’ll stop you”, which he delivers with a gleeful smile, but when the two lock eyes with one another, you see their history, you feel their pain, your root for them and well…I think we all see ourselves and our struggles in this one scene. Aside from the aforementioned opening fifteen minutes of Up, no other film has opened my tear ducts as wide as this one scene. It’s not manipulative because it’s real. Watching it may not provide you with a history lesson about the holocaust, teach you about the toxins in our food or be about something written in history books, but it will enliven your spirit in ways a psychologist could only dream of. (Read my full review here).
3. A Single Man
Fashion designer turned director Tom Ford created a masterpiece on his first outing and I’m being humble with that statement. Every frame of this film is awash in attentive detail and hidden meanings. From the way a drawer may be shot to the light patterns when bringing the characters into focus, there is more going on in this film than anyone could ever imagine. I’d love to compare it to a classic film it emulates but this one is an animal of its own with a story about a single man (Colin Firth) who is devastated by the loss of his lover. The film takes place over the course of one day in the life of this man and despite the fact he is drowning in his own pool of pain, Firth brings great humanity to the performance, so much so, that no other lead male performance came close to his all year. I know it is Jeff Bridge’s year (and rightfully so, he’s been underestimated for decades), but no one was more subdued than Firth. In the end, it’s more than just a story, but one where something in the universe comes along to us at our darkest moment and saves us. Just when you think you are truly alone and there is no hope, you are blessed (and sometimes cursed) with the grace of God.
4. Inglourious Basterds
Post Pulp Fiction Quentin Tarantino’s work has divided audiences, but with Basterds he once again found universal acclaim with a re-writing of World War II history. It’s a rare film that isn’t too short, too long or miscast. I have loved everything Tarantino has graced the world with, but Basterds is a perfect combination of writing, acting and swift directing. The pacing of the film is spectacular as is the entire cast. Even my wife (who is not a fan of gory violence) when I asked her for her favorite films from last year, this was the third one she mentioned. Trust me, if that isn’t a ringing recommendation, then nothing is.
5. Fantastic Mr. Fox
I usually separate the animated films from my overall list, but this year the offerings were too good and in truth, they not only stood up to the live-action fare but surpassed it. Wes Anderson has a romantic way of setting up his films, which usually take quirkiness to the utmost degree, but with Fantastic Mr. Fox/i> he found a way to weave his quirky charm with a child’s tale that all ages could enjoy. Its lack of performance at the box office was a sore spot for me, because when I see a animated film about special agent rodents surpass $100-million and an intelligent, humorous and downright enchanting stop-motion animation picture fall to the wayside, well, let’s just say it questions my faith in the movie going public. But it comes out on DVD later this month and you need to see it. Besides the now novel stop motion animation, the voices (George Clooney, Willem Defoe, Meryl Streep, Owen Wilson, and Bill Murray) breathe such life into the characters I promise you, you will want more time with them once it ends. Plus, the truth is, as good as Up in the Air is, this is really George Clooney’s best performance of the year.
6.(500) Days of Summer
The best non-linear film of the year, (500) Days of Summer is captivating as it is sprawling. There are a handful of romantic comedies that make major money and to see this film not find its audience (until video) was disappointing. It wasn’t as quirky or cold as your typical independent film could have been. Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel give performances that are not just charming but completely vulnerable as well. The emotions are heightened by a tight script and an eclectic soundtrack that pulls you in every direction imaginable. We see both of them at different ends of the spectrum showing us what great joy can be and simultaneously what great pain can bring about. This film will be talked about for decades to come and being a college campus classic. (Read my review of the soundtrack here).
7.In The Loop
This film is wickedly funny with a performance by Peter Capaldi that is Oscar worthy. It may have only scored an Oscar nomination for “Best Original Screenplay” but make no mistake, the tone and overall execution of this film is marvelous. I need to buy the BBC television series that inspired the film because I can’t get enough of this witty writing and Capaldi. Wildly satirical and in-your-face, In the Loop is bloody brilliant. Shadowing events that occurred in the lead up to the invasion of Iraq in 2003, it shows what occurs behind closed doors and the hilarity and chaos that ensues. James Gandolfini even makes an appearance, but the film’s lynch pin is Capaldi who makes the words on the page of the script leap off at you.
8. The Informant!
How did Matt Damon get nominated for Invictus and not this film is beyond me. This should be a drama, but director Stephen Soderbergh and Damon took an alternate path and play this one as an absurd comedy. Conversations that should make you uncomfortable turn into laugh fests for their charm. Damon should come across as a corporate whistle blower who could win an award for biggest weasel, but instead his nuanced performance is one for the ages. There is great irony in this film and in the hands of lesser talent it could have gone horribly awry.
9.Ponyo
Miyazaki is the master of all animation and the man all of Pixar bows down to. If you have never taken part in the magic of his work, you should it is a wondrous and eye-catching experience. Ponyo at its core is a simple childhood film, yet the way you are taken in by the innocence and love. A young boy falls for a creature from the sea. His journey and hers are nothing short of magical. Miyazaki brings you into worlds one never knew existed and every time I watch one of his films, I am witnessing something I have never seen before. If you want to see the genesis of Pixar and how many of their straightforward stories are told against a magical backdrop revisit all of Miyazaki’s films.
10.The Hurt Locker
This film is all about tension, putting the viewer in the thick of the action and trying to drain them over the course of two hours. It works miraculously. You sit on the edge of your seat and almost feel as if you’re right there dismantling bombs among a group of people who are just as confused as you.
11.Gomorrah
My vote for the year’s best foreign film; the world doesn’t need another gangster film, but like City of God it’s an enthralling look at the Camorra (their mafia) in Naples. This deals mostly with low level thugs, but the characters pull us in and eventually set us up for heartache. The most involving is Pasquale, a haute couture tailor who is working double duty for both the Chinese and Italians. He risks his life playing for both teams and the tension ill feeling one gets watching it all goes down comes to a head towards the album’s finale. Melding numerous characters and stories, it’s a gripping look at the underbelly of a world we knew existed but one we probably hoped to not look into.
12. District 9
I may never watch this film again because it left such a scarred impression on me, that I’ll never need to see it again. 2009 was a great year for science fiction and director Neill Blomkamp creates a world that we all can relate to despite the fact it’s filled with aliens. However, the film lives and dies in the hands of lead actor Sharlto Copley (who will be seen later this year in The A-Team movie), whose transformation in the film unsettled me to the extent that I am not sure if I can ever sit and watch the film again. That being said, his performance and the ending will remain forever entrenched in the memory bank.
13.Avatar
I was really hoping to see James Cameron finally misfire, but at the end of the film, I couldn’t deny that it was unlike anything I had ever seen before. Unlike other directors who put the action first and story last, Cameron finds a human element to place side-by-side with the mouth gaping special effects.
14.Up in the Air
Jason Reitman created a story that is not just timely, but human as well. Whether or not you have lost your job, you can feel the pain, confusion and isolation these characters experience. Even if you are still employed, the economic effects of the world economy have affected you in some fashion. George Clooney and Vera Farmiga are wonderful to watch but it’s not their looks that entrance us, it’s their vulnerability. No matter how together someone may have it, as we learn, they are often to ones at sea without a compass just braving the storm because death is an easier alternative than the adventure of life.
15.Where the Wild Things Are
This book means so much to me, I won’t bore you with any psycho analysis of my life, but I was super hesitant about this film when I heard it was being released. To my great surprise, director Spike Jonze and writer Dave Eggers have magnified the original ten sentence story from the book with delicate care. At the heart of the story was family and Jonze and Eggers delicately balanced this against the backdrop of a fantasy world. For children who have experienced the pain of a divorce, this film is essential viewing. The emotional pain and confusion Max experiences is placed up against a back drop that is devastating as it is beautiful. Towards the end of the film, we take away some important lessons as to how to control the rage…and the love and to hopefully always take a close look in the mirror at ourselves and see what we have become.
16. The White Ribbon
A film drenched in a repugnant details, it leaves you with more questions than answers. The aesthetic of the film evokes Ingmar Bergman. However, the fastidious narration and striking black and white cinematography are unforgettable. Director Michael Haneke has made a career of teasing his audience with tiny clues and hints as he peels away the story revealing more mysteries with each frame. Taking place in a small but highly religious village in Germany on the eve of World War I, the characters, events that take place and overall feel of the film is downright spine-chilling, beguiling and etched in your mind. Despite taking place nearly a century ago you feel as if you’re a member of the village witnessing these events as a not too distant voyeur. I’ll be floored if any other film wins the Best Foreign Film Oscar.
17. Star Trek
I always admired the Star Trek universe more than I loved it, but J.J Abrams re-boot is nothing short of extraordinary and dangerously alive. This is what the franchise has needed for well over a decade. The fresh face lift had pitch perfect casting, a great story and enough of an homage to the original to appease new and old Trekkies alike.
18. An Education
A wonderful coming of age story with actress Carey Mulligan playing the role of a inquisitive, bright yet naive sixteen year old who falls for a man more than double her age, performed with just enough slimy bravado by Peter Sarsgaard. The script is by none other than Nick Hornby (author of High Fidelity, About A Boy) and it’s lean and direct with witty dialogue that feels perfectly in place in a pre-Beatles England. Mulligan anchors the film with her performance where she must choose a path for the remainder of her life. Little does she realize that life isn’t as easy as one may suspect. The ninety-five minute running time is perfect and it leaves you wondering what Carey Mulligan will do to follow this up.
19. Adventureland
It’s funny how when we are younger we yearn for independence and freedom. However, as we get older, we realize our teen years were full of more wonderment than anyone knew. Greg Mottolla (Superbad) wrote and directed this film which takes place in the summer of 1987. Jesse Eisenberg plays the lead role of a just graduated college student who gave up his back packing trip to Europe due to his families finance issues. To add insult to injury, he can’t seem to find a job anywhere else than the local amusement park, Adventureland. Ryan Reynolds, Kristin Stewart, Bill Hader and Kristin Wig flesh out the ensemble piece as the lead James (Eisenberg) discovers the pitfalls of summer jobs and the humor and humility that comes with them. Infused with a top-tier soundtrack full of nostalgia, this film should resonate with anyone who was ever young and dreamed big dreams.
20. Funny People
Beneath the raunchy and (at times) childish behavior from Adam Sandler is a dramatic actor screaming to be let free. His work in Spanglish and Punch Drunk Love has shown us alternate sides to the man, but Judd Apatow’s Funny People really shows him at his most vulnerable. Being faced with death at a young age, he questions his past mistakes, what he should have done and with his limited time left, what he can put right. Minor spoiler…stop reading now if you don’t want to know more. But here’s the twist, he recovers from the medical scare…but what then? Will he continue down the path of redemption or be succumbed by the devil and temptation and go back to his selfish ways. Funny People is one of a kind and even though it didn’t set the box office afire, it will set a fire inside you.
21.Sex Drive
Ok, I’m cheating, this is a 2008 release but it was released on DVD in ’09 and it made me laugh…hard. The title basically speaks for itself, but what differentiates this film from other teen romps is the uniqueness of the situations the characters find themselves in and the fact the script is laced with a bit of heart. Plus it’s a road trip movie, and last time I checked, all road trip movies not starring Vincent Gallo are damn fun. If you’re looking for a good laugh, then queue this one up.
22. Fired Up!
Sometimes a film doesn’t need to be original, courageous or even ingenious to be good. A good film is like a good song, it’s blind to genres and labels. Fired Up! is the story of two football players who skip out on football camp before their senior year to join the cheerleading team so they can attend cheerleading camp. Sound stupid? That’s because it is, but still, there’s plenty of scenes that will leave you in hysterics and the lead performances by Nicholas D'Agosto and Eric Christian Olsen are right in tune with the comedy of the film. They deliver their lines like it’s a form of iambic pentameter from the John Huhges school of comedy.
23. It Might Get Loud
A musical summit meeting between three guitarists starring a legend (Jimmy Page), a innovator (U2’s The Edge) and a purist (Jack White) showing not just their chops, but expressing their art. The results are a spellbinding watch as we learn how these three men create their art and how they came to bring it to life. You see where each came from, how they became who they became and what music means to them and how they try to share it with the rest of the world.
24. Watchmen
I loved this adaptation of the graphic novel, found the world and the characters entrancing and have watched the film a few times since. Don’t let the superhero garbs distract you, deep down this is a fantastic noir thriller.
25.Hunger
Irish activist Bobby Sands believed in his cause so vehemently that he refused to eat when he entered prison in 1981. The film lays out the beliefs that drove him to his action (in a masterstroke of filmmaking with a extended conversation in the middle of the film). British artist/director Steve McQueen creates an atmosphere that is anarchic for the beginning, magnetic in the middle and bloodcurdling in its conclusion. The Criterion Collection just released a splendid DVD, you won’t forget this one.
26.Waltz With Bashir
This animated film was released in late 2008 but I wasn’t fortunate enough to catch it until its DVD release this past spring. The animation and story will haunt you. Taking place during Israel’s 1982 invasion of Lebanon, this animated film recounts, from firsthand accounts, why thousands of innocent people died because those in power chose to look the other way. This film will ravage your faith in the world, yet the animation is so engrossing, it’s essential viewing.
27.Away We Go
This film snuck up on me and charmed me. Sam Mendes follows a couple (John Krasinski & Maya Rudolph) as they try and find a home on a cross country trip before the birth of their first child. Om their adventure they encounter humor and heartache but in the end, they find themselves. The twists and turns of the film are not entirely predictable yet Krasinski and Rudolph make us care as they encounter a new age couple, another yearning for their own child and finally one in the midst of divorce. Ultimately, it is the extreme circumstances the two find themselves in that force the climax of the film and it’s a rewarding one.
28.Crazy Heart
The honest to God truth is that every time Jeff Bridges appears on the screen, he’s enthralling. One could be in awe with him through a variety of films including The Big Lebowski, How To Lose Friends & Alienate People and The Door in the Floor, the latter of which finds Bridges playing a similar character to the one he does in Crazy Heart. Both are men of great talent, who numb themselves from the pain of life through booze. Bridges brings the character to life and will earn his long overdue Oscar.
29. The Hangover
This film was barely on my radar and then the word of mouth forced me to go. I’m glad I went. The extreme situations and fresh casting made this one you won’t forget anytime soon, even with mind altering drugs.
30. A Serious Man
If you feel like you’re having a bad day, watch this film Larry Gopnik (played with humor and grace by Michael Stuhlbarg) is a man truly down on his luck. The story of a simple (yet serious) man who appears to have had every bad break imaginable is typical Coen Brothers fare. Laced with humor, it’s also devastating real and brutal and as the final images disappear into the credits, you only then grasp that despite how challenging life is, living one full of challenges is better than not living one at all.
31. The Blind Side
I stayed away from this film for over three months and succumbed to it just this past weekend and you know what, its popcorn filmmaking at its finest. Just because the film pulls at your heart strings with manipulative situations and it’s a big studio film doesn’t mean that it’s not good. Bullock centers the film with her brash don’t-mess-with-me attitude. Why I don’t think it deserves to be one of the ten pictures of the year, the film does remind us that as much as we complain about our current situations they are better than most.
32. I Love You Man
Paul Rudd’s character (Peter) gets engaged and realizes he has no close male friends. In a rather side-splitting series of events be befriends Jason Segal (Sydney), become friends and their friendship is tested. But like any good comedy, the film has a dozen-plus jokes that make you smile and the two leads infuse the characters with their personalities that ultimately make the film gratifying.
33.Whip It
Drew Barrymore’s directorial debut is all about girl-power. Ellen Page owns the role of a girl trapped in the hell of beauty pageants and when she discovers roller derby. This film elicits pure joy and it’s one of those rare movies where you will smile from beginning to end.
34. Assassination of a High School President
This is one of those films that get lost in distributor hell. Bruce Willis has a bit role as the school principal, but the real story is tied up with its mostly unknown cast (Mischa Barton aside) who are witty and unfurl their lines, attitude and dialogue like adults. While it doesn’t touch the brilliance of 2006’s Brick it’s a damn fine film that deserved a better fate.
35. Goodbye Solo
I saw 2008’s Chop Shop and well, it didn’t provide that connection I was hoping for. Many critics were heralding it and well, I just felt disconnected from it and couldn’t wrap myself around the characters. However, director Ramin Bahrani’s follow up is an alluring story of two men searching for their place in life. One drives a cab and the other makes a visit to his town and hires the man to drive him around. A movie of hope, dreams, regrets and a few secrets, the film unfolds and you watch solemnly as the pieces of the puzzle come together. Ultimately, the relationship is inspiring to both men and brings about change neither could have foreseen.
36. Brüno
Sue me…I was not just insulted but saw things on the screen I never imagined would be allowed. Sacha Baron Cohen took everything to the nth degree and while many were put off by it, I still found hilarity here. The film alone is worth seeing for the adopted baby episode and Brüno’s interview with Paula Abdul.
37. The Cove
A disturbing documentary about the abuse whales endure so we can have them in theme parks. Director Louie Psihoyos and former dolphin Ric O’Barry and what they do to free them and fight for their rights. The film that will probably win the Best Documentary Oscar.
38. Julie and Julia
This film is all about Meryl Streep and the ever reliable and underrated Stanley Tucci. The heart of the film comes from Tucci, we love Julia Child is because of her husband and his dedication to her. Proof there can be soul in a big-budget Hollywood film.
39. Katyn
In 1940, the Soviet Union mercilessly killed ten thousand Polish soldiers in a massacre that wasn’t uncovered until decades later. Nominated for Best Foreign Film last year at the Oscars, the film is now on video and the way it unwinds is riveting. You won’t want to leave your seat for any reason as families hold out hope and search for their husbands, brothers and sons. The brilliance of the film and that despite what we think we know will happen, we hold out hope too.
40. Food Inc.
If you think you know what goes into the creation of our food, think again. Robert Kenner does a brilliant job of researching and gathering explosive interviews that will make you think twice about your current diet.
Also worth seeking out: The Girlfriend Experience, Coco Before Chanel, Drag Me To Hell, The Invention of Lying, Sherlock Holmes, Management, Nine, My Sister’s Keeper & The Great Buck Howard
Anthony Kuzminski is a Chicago based writer and Special Features Editor for the antiMusic Network and his daily writings can be read at The Screen Door and can be contacted at thescreendoor AT gmail DOT com.
