Green Day: 21st Century Breakdown

15 years ago, I reluctantly plucked the new Green Day album off the shelves at Venture (poor man’s Target), which was “Dookie”. I hated this band. I was a teenager who was just discovering his musical roots, and had just fallen in love with bands like R.E.M. and They Might Be Giants, and resented this so-called “punk” band after really liking the Sex Pistols, Fugazi, Minor Threat, bands that had a little more meaning. Green Day, to me, was a sell out from the get-go.... Keep Reading...

Inland Empire

Within ten seconds of a David Lynch film, you know you’re watching a David Lynch film. He has a style and approach that is obviously one of the more unique of the past few generations of filmmakers. His latest film, “Inland Empire”, has been compared to “8 1/2″ among other atmospheric odyssies and it’s appropriate–however, it must be pointed out that Lynch had no idea what he was doing while shooting this film. He literally made it up as he went along. He’s... Keep Reading...

The Hangover

“The Hangover” did look a lot like “Very Bad Things”–but they are two completely different movies. Where “Very Bad Things” is a dark comedy about the depravity of humanity (who knew Peter Berg was so disturbed?), “The Hangover” is a light screwball comedy that, while it does have some “shock” moments, never lets up its shiny disposition that you should have fun with it. It’s a misadventure. And, probably one that I should’ve... Keep Reading...

Drag Me To Hell

I didn’t know this film was done by Sam Raimi at first. I have to admit my ignorance, and I will take the beating I deserve for not staying up on a genre that I typically pride myself being a connoisseur of. So, I apologize to everyone including myself for looking at this film at first and going, “Yeah. Right.” PG-13? Strategically placed by the studio as “The Strangers” was last year to generate a mid-season sleeper buzz? No thanks. That attitude completely changed... Keep Reading...