The Hump: No. 30

MMM: I'm Back on a Boat!

Not technically a boat, more like "I'm back in a theater." After three weeks of weddings, road trips, and various other odds and ends, I was finally able to once again plant my ass in the dark and stare at that luminous screen. You may be wondering what brought me into theaters after all this time. It was Phillip Seymour Hoffman's directorial debut, Jack Goes Boating.

The Jack Goes Boating soundtrack worked very well with the story, but I don't think I'd enjoy every selection were I to hear them out of the film's context. Of them all, there is one song that I've liked for over two years. That tune, White Winter Hymnal, was the first single from the self-titled, debut album of the Fleet Foxes. Fleet Foxes are a Seattle folk band on the rise. It's a short, but infectious tune that's sure to stick in your head. Consider yourself warned.

Fleet Foxes - White Winter Hymnal

Now that I've dipped my toes back into movie-watching waters, it shouldn't take me long to get back into proper, stargazing shape.

To Be Totally Random

As I sit here, dreading the work week ahead I just realized that it's the tenth of October in 2010 or, to be more exact, it's...

10/10/10 10:10!

How about that?! I guess technically it's 10/10/10 22:10 in military time and that had I realized this at 10:10 in the morning. it may have been even cooler, but still.

By the way, I was asked to Bitch About It by Blake over at Bitchin' Film Reviews. If you get a chance, check out the answers my fellow bloggers and I gave to the following question:  

You’re stuck on a desert island and before your plane (a plane full of every movie ever made) crashes, you have time to pick three that you’re stuck with the rest of your life.  What are they and why?

.

Trailer Trash: The October 8th Quickie

Welcome to the second week of October where apparently, all the turds settle out. Oops, I'm getting a little ahead of myself. According to IMDb, this week offers three major releases along with the usual handful of limited fare. Even though I've spoiled my attitude for these films, why don't you humor me?

Secretariat This looks to be the triple crown jewel of the weekend. Hollywood trots out a sentimental, horse drama every few years and today is post time. Diane Lane's 'do is freaky-frightening, but I'm more bothered by seeing John Malkovich playing, apparently, the tallest ex-jockey ever! I'm not rushing out to see this, but if I were a betting man, this will be the only movie of the weekend to place. Okay, I'll stop the puns now.

Reel's Title: Equus Caballus Dominus Weekendus

Verdict: It's Friday, I Don't Want to be Alone.



My Soul to Take This is the latest offering of horror by Wes Craven and I couldn't care less (and not just because it's offered in horrifying 3D). Nothing from the trailer compels me to the theater. The only interesting scenes remind me of his earlier, superior films. I wonder if it isn't just a lame promotion to remind fans that Wes Craven's next installment of the Scream franchise will be out in a few months.


Reel's Title: My Cash to Take

Verdict: Exercise the Right to Cinematic Celibacy

Life as We Know It Months and months of waiting and finally I will be rid of this craptastic trailer. If I'm really lucky, the movie will vanish in a couple weeks. This would break box office records if audiences were watching Heigl and Duhamel make a baby, but raising a baby, not so much. Hopefully, this concept won't evolve into a poor-man's Look Who's Talking trilogy.



Reel's Title: You, Me, and that Shit-Ass Baby Our Two Dead Friends Left Us 

Verdict: Exercise the Right to Cinematic Celibacy

Another week and three more reasons not to visit the theater. Lucky for me, the limited release It's Kind of a Funny Story opens at my favorite art house theater. I also have four other must-see movies that my recent busy-ness has kept me from seeing so no worries. What will it take to get you into theaters this weekend?

.

The Hump: No. 12

MMM: Hakuna Matata Mutha...

Good Monday to you! I know you've probably come looking for a Monday Mood Music, but today I want to do something a little different.

As you may have heard, comedian Greg Giraldo passed away on September 29, 2010 as a result of an overdose of prescription medication. Just the week before I had been having dinner with friends and telling them how they should check out his hilarious act. His very adult, many times offensive comedy wasn't the most TV-friendly, but he was a regular participant in the Comedy Central Roasts. You could always count on his roast being one of the funniest of the evening.

I was lucky enough to see him perform here in Raleigh, a show which had me crying from laughing so hard. I am thankful I was able to meet him afterward and let him how much I enjoyed it, but I am saddened I will never get to hear his spin on all the future silliness the world has in store for us.

In honor of his recent passing, here's a clip from a live performance at Virginia Tech he did one year ago. Take a moment to appreciate Greg's NSFW comedy.

In Memoriam: Greg Giraldo

1965 - 2010

Thanks to Greg, the word half-a-tard will forever be in my vocabulary. He will be missed.  

.

Trailer Trash: The October 1st Quickie

That's right, stargazers. By popular demand (as in one person requested I keep doing it), the Trailer Trash will continue to get the Quickie treatment. Yay for me since another week has seemingly taken my life by storm. Reviews promised still lie about unfulfilled and new theatrical releases go unwatched. There must be a cure, some formula...

Until that day comes, I can still skim the interwebs for my local listings to see what new releases have my heart all a twitter. According to IMDb, there are three major releases with another three limited releases in tow.  None of the limited releases are opening in my area, so let's focus on the week's big three.

The Social Network Jesse Eisenberg has come a long way since filming stinkers like The Village and Cursed, hasn't he? Fincher's Facebook movie has piqued my interest since trailer number one and unless you're shock critic Armond White or the two other dicks currently dogging this out on Rotten Tomatoes, I expect if you see this, you'll give its fan page a big 

Verdict: Moist With Antici...Pation!  

Let Me In The interwebs has been all a buzz about the remake of the Swedish thriller Let The Right One In for longer than I care to remember. Now that it's finally here I've got to say, meh. I like Chloe Moretz and Richard Jenkins has made a nice career shift into the estranged old man with emotional baggage, but I shudder at the thought of how badly this version will mutilate my fond memories of the original. My advice to you is deal with the original's subtitles and see why this story was worth the undoubtedly inferior rehashing.

Verdict: It's Friday, I Don't Want to be Alone.
 
 Case 39 I hadn't heard of this until I read the IMDb entry. The trailer reminds me of dozens of other mediocre-to-subpar-to-pure-shit thrillers about a mysterious something that seems incidental to the hero until they and their loved ones are waste deep in 'oh fuck.' To make this movie worse, Renée Zellweger and Bradley Cooper get to flaunt their relationship to the world. That prospect is more horrifying to me than the premise.

Verdict: Exercise the Right to Cinematic Celibacy
 

Looks like a muddled start to October, folks. Right now, I'm wishing I lived in Los Angeles or New York so I could go see Barry Munday. Of all this week's trailers, the thought of watching Patrick Wilson lose his balls has me the most excited. I must still be carrying around some bitterness from Hard Candy. Just kidding; Judy Greer in full-on, freak mama mode is a must-see reason to seek out this limited release.