Best of 2009...So Far: Music

The second half of 2009 may turn out to be quite disappointing. After all, it's only once in a blue moon that the best album of the year (and maybe even the decade) gets released in the first few weeks. But that's what happened with my #1 pick. For more on that, and the other tracks that provided the soundtrack from January 6-June 30.

ALBUMS

1. Animal Collective, Merriweather Post Pavilion (Domino)

Everything changed on Jan. 20. Now we'll all have to reevaluate what the best album of the 2000s is. Kid A? Think again. Heartbreaker? Nah. Yoshimi? Jury's still out. What's truly incredible: Avey Tare, Panda Bear, Deakin, and Geologist have delivered not only their most accessible and successful album, but die-hard fans even consider it among their best. No alienation here. Just a mind-blowing experience.

2. Bon Iver, Blood Bank (Jagjaguwar)

After Justin Vernon dropped his haunting debut For Emma, Forever Ago, he followed it up with this sunnier (but no less ethereal) EP featuring four knockout tracks. It's short but sweet, but it's perhaps the best 17 minutes you'll spend listening to music this year.

3. U2, No Line on the Horizon (Interscope)

Five years after their Grammy-winning How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, Bono and co. return with yet another powerful set. More introspective than their past releases, No Line is a meditation on hitting the other side of 50, and who will be by your side when the dust settles (hint: it's not the fans).

4. Phoenix, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (V2)

Though I doubt they'll ever top the inescapable "Consolation Prizes," but this is the French band's most accomplished album yet. From the bittersweet "Lisztomania" to the buoyant "1901" to the beautiful two-part "Love is Like a Sunset," this is indie pop at its finest.

5. various artists, Dark was the Night (4AD)/Heroes (Astralwerks)

Compilations seem to never go out of style, but while the NOW series seems to remind us of how horrid the Top 40 charts have become, along come two charity albums that are more than hardly an amalgamation of heart-tugging "please donate" singles and half-hearted covers. Red Hot Organization's double album Dark was the Night features some of the indie world's best and brightest (like Grizzly Bear and Kevin Drew), while War Child's Heroes features artists (The Hold Steady, Duffy) hand-picked by the originals (Springsteen, McCartney) to cover some of their best tunes.

SONGS

1. Anything from Merriweather Post Pavilion

A sign of a truly great album: when there's no track you could single out as the best. I've tried, but each week a new song takes the top spot. First it was "My Girls," then it was "Summertime Clothes," then just about every other track. I've recently landed on "Guys Eyes," but I know there'll be another song to take its place.

2. Bon Iver, "Blood Bank"

From the EP Blood Bank

Like a great short story, Vernon transports us to a frozen locale, where love blossoms at donation centers, but as the snow melts, so do hopes of a long and happy romance. Bloody brilliant.

3. Dirty Projectors & David Byrne, "Knotty Pine"

From the Dark was the Night compilation

An infectious little jam from the somewhat heavy 2-disc set, this song, featuring gorgeous vocals from Amber Coffman, is bound to get stuck in your head. But you'll be OK with that.

4. Phoenix, "Lisztomania"

From the album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

One of the many pop gems from the French group's latest album, the song tells the tale of a disastrous love affair, but you'd never know the singer's bitterness. This track is undeniably giddy on the surface, but underneath there's layers of pain.

5. Coldplay, "Life in Technicolor II"

From the EP Prospekt's March

The instrumental intro to their 2008 album Viva la Vida gets wonderfully expanded here into a soaring arena rocker, and stands among the band's best tracks. You'll be lifted so high, your "feet won't touch the ground."

VIDEOS

1. Animal Collective, "My Girls"

Directed by Jon Vermilyea

Certainly not for the kiddos, this bizarre animated video is creepy but utterly mesmerizing, and not even half as trippy as their video for "Summertime Clothes."

2. The Lonely Island feat. T-Pain, "I'm on a Boat"

Directed by Akiva Schaffer

Best. Boat ride. Ever. "Don't you ever forget!"

3. Camera Obscura, "French Navy"

Directed by Blair Young

Matching the band's wistful tune is this home movie-style romance that feels authentic, despite its jewelry commercial appearance. It'll make you feel warm inside, but in the best way.

4. Pink, "Please Don't Leave Me"

Directed by Dave Meyers

From the Matthew McConaughey in Reign of Fire school of performance, Pink stars in this video as a woman who kidnaps her boyfriend and tortures him a la Misery. But I don't think she was acting. She really did kidnap and torture a guy.

5. Coldplay, "Life in Technicolor II"

Directed by Dougal Wilson

Marionettes act as the British band, complete with pyrotechnics. A big budget video on a small scale. Simply wonderful.

Best of 2009...So Far: Film

The first half of the year is usually devoid of greatness, but here's the best of what's been released from January 2-July 1.

MOVIES

1. Up

Directed by Pete Docter and Bob Peterson

Pixar's 10th feature is its best yet, an especially incredible feat considering the studio's never made a bad movie. Ringing much more true than a good 99% of movies in the last decade, this surely has a legitimate shot at not only being nominated for Best Picture, but winning it as well.

2. Public Enemies

Directed by Michael Mann

The thinking man's action flick, Michael Mann (Heat, Collateral) completely rebounds from his disastrous Miami Vice adaptation to deliver an introspective, romantic, highly stylized gangster picture with an duo of Oscar-worthy performances from Johnny Depp as John Dillinger and Marion Cotillard as his faithful lover.

3. The Hangover

Directed by Todd Phillips

Brilliantly told, this summer's breakout hit made stars of its trio of lead actors (see below) and never let up with the laughs. A rowdy, ingenious comedy, it's everything Wedding Crashers wanted to be but wasn't.

4. Star Trek

Directed by J.J. Abrams

In a world where every week brings yet another remake, here's a relaunch that fires on all cylinders. It's everything that a summer movie should be: sharp, visually stunning, and tremendously entertaining.

5. Drag Me to Hell

Directed by Sam Raimi

It was just a few short years ago (October 2005, to be exact) when American horror died, shortly after the release of Saw II. And so the American public has been forced to be stuck with horror movies with no scares, no sense of humor, no real story, just gallons of blood and hundreds of bare breasts. But master Sam Raimi has triumphantly returned to the genre that made a name for himself, completely recovering from the overblown Spider-Man 3. The film delivers scares and laughs with equal measure. A real cinematic treat.

PERFORMANCES

1. Johnny Depp, Public Enemies

Portraying John Dillinger

After years of going brilliantly over the top in three Pirates films and Tim Burton's adaptation of Sweeney Todd, Depp again proves his impressive range by going introspective, showing us the complexities of a simple man.

2. Marion Cotillard, Public Enemies

Portraying Billie Frechette

But Depp's performance wouldn't be quite as impressive were it not for his character's anchor throughout most of the film, his faithful girlfriend Billie. Cotillard already has an Oscar for La Vie en Rose, but I wouldn't be surprised if she picks up another nomination here. She simply captivates the screen in every scene.

3. Ed Helms, Bradley Cooper, and Zach Galifianakis, The Hangover

Portraying Stu, Phil, and Alan

While they're the "three best friends that anyone could have," this brilliant comic trio really makes this comedy work, as they desperately try to search for their missing compatriot Doug through the impound lots and seedy motels of Las Vegas. Each gives a distinctive performance: Helms as the hen-pecked dentist, Cooper as the douche-y schoolteacher, and standout Galifianakis as sweet-natured possible pedophile Alan. Together, they create one of film's greatest comic teams.

4. Rachel Weisz, The Brothers Bloom

Portraying Penelope Stamp

While the entire cast (including Adrien Brody, Mark Ruffalo, and the always intense Rinko Kikuchi) gives textured performances, it's Weisz, playing the perpetually sunny Penelope, that makes this con-man comedy sing. Having resided as a shut-in for most of her life, she's bursting with life and ready to go out and experience the world. It's a downright joyous performance.

5. Sam Worthington, Terminator: Salvation

Portraying Marcus Wright

Christian Bale may have had top billing, but it's the Aussie heartthrob who's the real discovery here. In his first U.S. feature, he proves to possess some serious acting chops. As the death row inmate-turned-robot prototype, he's desperate to learn his true nature. He makes this hunk of metal human.

TRAILERS

1. Where the Wild Things Are (Oct. 16)

Directed by Spike Jonze

Set to the wistful score of Arcade Fire's "Wake Up," the tease of Spike Jonze's adaptation of the beloved children's book brings a tear to one's eye. Not because it's sad; it's just that beautiful.

2. Bruno, red band trailer (July 10)

Directed by Larry Charles

On the other end of the spectrum, the completely unsubtle creator of Borat returns to wreak havoc and reveal the darkest of human nature, but does it while splitting your sides with laughter.

3. The Hangover, teaser trailer (now in wide release)

Directed by Todd Phillips

The perfect trailer: just enough information to make you pay attention and say "I gotta see that." And Mike Tyson singing "In the Air Tonight"? I'm there.

4. The Hurt Locker (now in limited release)

Directed by Kathryn Bigelow

First thought: "Oh, great. Another Iraq movie." But once the focus shifts on the real people serving overseas as well as the tense action sequences, you quickly realize this isn't your typical war (or anti-war) movie, the kind that can't be ignored.

5. District 9, teaser trailer (Aug. 14)

Directed by Neill Blomkamp

The interviews seem to be pulled from any news report, and the testimonials about racism and immigration certainly seem real, but it's all about the sucker-punch at the end of the trailer for South Africa native Neill Blomkamp's faux documentary: the unwanted aliens are actually aliens.

Long Live the King of Pop: Michael Jackson's 10 Best and 5 Worst Songs

The shocking and untimely death of Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, sent shockwaves around the globe. Despite having released only one album in the last decade and surviving two separate trials, nothing could undo the success he built with greatness like Thriller, the best selling album of all-time. So, here in, is a warts-and-all tribute, counting down the 10 best and 5 worst songs of his career.

(Note: Be sure to hit "HQ" where available for the highest quality picture and sound.)

THE BEST:

1. "Billie Jean" (1983, Thriller)

As if there could even be a debate. This is simply 5 minutes of pop perfection. It went to #1 in four countries, and Top 10 in six more. It introduced a generation to the iconic "Moonwalk" dance, and it broke down racial barriers as Michael became the first black artist to be played on MTV. And when Blender magazine picked the 500 best songs of the last 25 years in 2005? Yup, it was this song.

2. "Rock with You" (1979, Off the Wall)

I've always been partial to Michael's breakout album, the one that established him as an adult performer. It's one of the first albums I remember listening to and it's always stuck with me more than the hit-packed Thriller. In short, I think it's his best album. And here is the creme de la creme: a smooth jam for the ages, a disco track for people who hate disco, a song so incessantly happy you can't help but smile and "feel that beat."

3. "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough" (1979, Off the Wall)

Released in the summer of '79, this is arguably the easiest of Michael's songs to dance to. Kicking off with a spoken word intro about an unstoppable force, once he gets to his signature "ooo," you'll already be up out of your seat and ready to groove.

4. "The Way You Make Me Feel" (1987, Bad)

From the turning point in his musical career, this is the secret weapon on his 1987 album. While the title track had the most enduring success and the epic 16-minute video directed by Martin Scorsese, this simple song will floor you every time it's played, and probably the only MJ song you could pull off singing to your love interest--and have it be 100% guaranteed to work.

5. "Beat It" (1983, Thriller)

With a rockin' guitar riff courtesy of Eddie Van Halen, this was the ultimate crossover hit, earning Michael an even wider audience and enduring legion of fans. Synonymous with songs about courage like Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger," but so much better, someone is probably listening to it right now to get pumped up before a game.

6. "Thriller" (1984, Thriller)

Though most serious (read: cynical) critics deride this as a "silly diversion" from an otherwise perfect album, it's survived thanks to its iconic dance (seen at weddings and prisons the world over) and groundbreaking, widely-seen music video, and chilling laughter from the one and only Vincent Price, here to "terrorize y'alls neighborhood."

7. "Black or White" (1991, Dangerous)

Talk about your comebacks. After doggedly fighting rumors about everything under the sun in the late '80s, Michael burst back onto the scene with this ode to racial harmony, sticking it to the man, and of course, catching the attention of a lady. The monstrously expensive video featured a multi-cultural cast and (still) mind-blowing "morphing" technology. But then there's also the extended version where MJ crotch-grabs his way through an anti-racism rant, but what would he be without controversy?

8. "Say Say Say" with Paul McCartney (1983, Pipes of Peace)

Following the immensely popular but terrible (see below) duet "The Girl is Mine," the Beatle and the King of Pop collaborated again, and this is how you do it. Incredibly catchy (and definitely more Paul's style than Michael's), it's no wonder it went to #1 to close out the year.

9. "Smooth Criminal" (1988, Bad)

Any doubts as to whether or not Michael still "had it" were resoundingly shut out with this funk-infused track. The mind-blowing video certainly had something to do with its inclusion on this list (fast forward to 7:16 for the antigravity lean), but this is one of his best regardless. Smooth indeed.

10. "Remember the Time" (1991, Dangerous)

You'll definitely remember the first time you heard this, about as romantic (without veering into sappy territory) as Michael ever got. Recalling his first love, you can't help but feel nostalgic for simpler times, a track that sums up Michael quite well.

THE WORST:

1. "Heal the World" (1992, Dangerous)

This spot could really be held by any of his maudlin hits, from 1984's charity single "We are the World" to HIStory's "Earth Song," this represents MJ at his sappiest and least effective. His desire to go straight for the heartstrings even threatened to ruin some of his biggest hits like "Man in the Mirror."

2. "2 Bad" (1995, HIStory)

Even the greatest artists recycle their past successful material, so you can't hold that against him. But a guest rap from Shaquille O'Neal (fast forward to 3:45)? That's unforgivable. And really, nearly any track from HIStory could hold this spot. It's easily his worst album.

3. "The Girl is Mine" with Paul McCartney (1982, Thriller)

The first collaboration between these guys was a monstrous hit, and also an atrocious back-and-forth about Paul and Michael's giggly fight over a girl ("I told you: I'm a lover, not a fighter"). It's about as lame as they get.

4. "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" with Siedah Garrett (1987, Bad)

Romantic? Nah. Just pathetic. A big swelling string arrangement covered in syrup. Gag.

5. "In the Closet" (1991, Dangerous)

A horribly misguided attempt to stave off rumors that he was gay (or something else), this slinky and downright gross jam (and its accompanying NSFW video) about "our love/woman to man" is just depressing.

The Amazing Kiplin

It's time for a new segment on this blog:

The Amazing Kiplin, where I, guru of all movie knowledge will make random predictions (usually about movies) that are completely unfounded, just based on my observations and street smarts (the street being Hollywood Boulevard).

• Sasha Grey will win Best Actress for The Girlfriend Experience from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association.
• Morgan Freeman will win Best Actor for Invictus at the Oscars, no contest.
• Depending on who invites me (which lady), I will actually go see the incredibly clichéd, likely unfunny romantic comedy The Proposal.
• I will, for the first time ever, voluntarily pay to see TWO horror movies this summer: Orphan, starring Vera Farmiga and Peter Sarsgaard; and The Final Destination (in 3-D!).
• Unfortunately, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen will be the highest grossing movie of the summer, with approximately $300 million domestic gross. *sigh*

Mooney at the Movies: The Hangover

Galifianakis: So manly it literally hurts.

The Hangover (A-)
Starring Ed Helms, Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis
Written by Jon Lucas & Scott Moore
Directed by Todd Phillips

Read my full review here.

Photo courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures and Rotten Tomatoes

Mooney at the Movies: Land of the Lost

"I think we lost him. The ghost of Jack Valenti won't find us in here."

Land of the Lost (B)
Starring Will Ferrell, Anna Friel, Danny McBride, Jorma Taccone
Written by Chris Henchy & Dennis McNicholas
Directed by Brad Silberling

Adapting a television series can be awfully cumbersome. After all, it's the most tailor-made for our ADD generation (made even worse thanks to MTV) and getting the average person to sit through a 90-minute or two-hour movie after ordinarily sitting through 22 minutes plus commercials can be quite difficult.

Usually, the faithful efforts end up as the best, in both action (i.e. The Fugitive, Mission: Impossible) and comedy (The Naked Gun, The Simpsons). And occasionally directors score with an off-kilter adaptation or outright parody like The Brady Bunch Movie), but usually they end up as horrific mismatches of the two (Charlie's Angels, Wild Wild West).

So it's actually kind of refreshing that Land of the Lost doesn't even seem to have (or care to have) a plan.

The film opens with an appropriately crazed-looking Dr. Rick Marshall (Ferrell), plugging his new book on the Today show, angering host Matt Lauer (a great sport here) with his every word, claiming travel to parallel dimensions is possible through extensive research and trials of "tachyon accelerator." When Lauer attacks his credibility, Marshall storms off the set, only to come lunging back. Flash forward three years where Marshall's been reduced to a YouTube-fueled joke.


"Any requests? Stop? As in 'Stop in the Name of Love'? Oh, you just want me to stop."

He now gives "wonders of science" presentations to school groups visiting the La Brea Tar Pits, only the youngsters are more vicious than his peers or Matt Lauer. "How come I saw you crying in the bathroom before this presentation?" one girl asks. Drowning his sorrows in chips, ice cream, and late-night Arby's runs, Marshall is surprised to see lovely British grad student Holly at his office door, announcing herself as a disciple of his "quantum paleontology" research.

She convinces him to fix his "tachyon accelerator" and off they go into the desert to perform a field test. They ask lecherous Will (Danny McBride) to give them a tour of his amusement park, but first he tries to shill fireworks (with interesting, homemade labels like "The Mexican Vasectomy") and mammary-shaped coffee mugs. And on the water ride he warns his two passengers they "may get wet." Marshall demands to know if his equipment will get soaked, to which Will responds, "I wasn't talking to you. I was talking to Mary Poppins."

And at this point, let me remind audiences everywhere that the presence of Danny McBride is a sure-fire sign that you shouldn't bring kids into theater.

This is one of the film's fatal flaws. It's being marketed as family-friendly entertainment, and parents will probably take kids under age 12 (which is a bad idea for any PG-13 movie) here, expecting an action-comedy everyone can enjoy. Boy, are they in for a surprise. Between constant groping, drug use, and an F-bomb or two, it's enough to make parents want to stay home and rent Paul Blart: Mall Cop again. Heaven help us.


I don't think this is quite the shot in the arm you wanted for your film career, Jorma.

So for whom is this movie? Well, obviously Ferrell and McBride fans, who still imagine to be hilarious in neutered PG-13 form. But it's more for those who remember the series (either the original, trippy '74 incarnation or the terribly awesome '90s version) as a source of campy laughs or the Most Awesome Thing to Watch While High (the latter title applies to any Sid & Marty Krofft production).

When the movie adheres to this premise, throwing gag after gag at the screen, the movie works. But when it tries to focus on a plot (something about retrieving the "tachyon accelerator" for a lizard in a tunic and he'll get them back home, it loses all momentum.

It's almost like a rip in the time-space continuum: when the film's focus is nothing, this film roars.

(Photos courtesy Universal Pictures and Rotten Tomatoes)

The May Review Round-up

I didn't keep up with this blog like I should have over the month of May (most of 2009, really), so here's a few mini-reviews to get us call caught up and ready to kick this blog into high gear over the summer.


X-Men Origins: Wolverine (B-)
Starring Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Danny Huston
Written by David Benioff and Skip Woods
Directed by Gavin Hood
I went in expecting the worst only to discover that this prequel wasn't quite that bad. Most critics derided it as boring, but I was riveted throughout. And while the Oscar-winning South African director (Tsotsi) isn't quite the right pick to tell the origin story of one of the comics' most iconic characters, it's not a total mess (though there is a bit of heavy-handed commentary on the U.S.'s mistreatment of Africa--it's important, but not relevant here). Bonus points for the scene-stealing Ryan Reynolds as sarcastic superhero Deadpool.


Star Trek (A-)
Starring Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Eric Bana
Written by Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman
Directed by J.J. Abrams
Now here's a prequel (ahem, relaunch) that really takes off. The Abrams-Orci-Kurtzman team (arguably the greatest creative trio since the ZAZ days) have once again taken a franchise desperately in need of some creativity (see also: Mission: Impossible III) and produced the nearly unthinkable: a summer blockbuster with a brain. The entire crew of the USS Enterprise are perfectly cast, and the special effects are actually, well, special. But beneath all that is a compelling story with a whole lot of heart, and that's why it's been the only summer movie with legs thus far (as well as the first 2009 release to surpass $200 million at the box office).


Terminator: Salvation (B)
Starring Christian Bale, Sam Worthington, Anton Yelchin
Written by John D. Brancato & Michael Ferris
Directed by McG
In what's hopefully the first part of a new trilogy, the formerly terrible McG (the unfortunate Charlie's Angels movies) brings us into the future of the Terminator universe, where Skynet has blasted most of humanity to bits, and hunt down the survivors in order to craft more menacing machines. The action (including a frighteningly realistic helicopter crash) pops onscreen, and the acting (something not exactly notable in the first trilogy) elevates the so-so script. New talent discovery/heartthrob Sam Worthington truly impresses, stealing the movie right out from under Bale as the half machine-half human yearning to understand more about his condition. It's his moments onscreen (as well as the spiritual undertones) that separate this from this summer's other machines vs. humans flick. It actually has a brain and a heart.


Drag Me to Hell (A-)
Starring Alison Lohman, Justin Long, Adriana Barraza
Written by Sam Raimi & Ivan Raimi
Directed by Sam Raimi
The big problem with summer movies (and movies in general) lies in the lack of originality, and horror movies especially suffer from this absence. These days you get stuck with sickening "gorenography" (Hostel) or a dreadful remake of a much more effective original scarer (Friday the 13th). So how refreshing a little movie called Drag Me to Hell. After elevating the comic book movie to new heights with Spider-Man 2 (and then dumbing it right back down with the overblown part 3), Sam Raimi has returned to his low-budget scary-funny roots (which reminds me, if you haven't seen any of the Evil Dead trilogy, get on it), devilishly delivering an A-list B movie. The lovely Alison Lohman plays Christine, the fat farm girl turned petite loan officer who denies a phlegmy gypsy woman (Lorna Raver) a third mortgage extension. The shame the old lady experiences turns to unholy anger, and she places a curse on poor Christine, damning her to hell. While the events grow more ludicrous, terrifying, hilarious (and even a bit predictable), it becomes apparent that Raimi is in complete control of this movie, crafting every scene to elicit the audience response he wants. It all adds up to the most unique movie-going experience of the year.


Up (A)
Starring the voices of Ed Asner, Jordan Nagai, Christopher Plummer
Story by Pete Docter, Bob Peterson, Tom McCarthy
Screenplay by Peterson and Docter
Directed by Docter and Peterson
After last summer's magnificent WALL•E, it's obvious that Pixar is no longer content with being the best in the animation game, the want to make the best movies period. And they've staked they're claim with Up, their elating 10th feature. Throughout the film you'll laugh, cry, and stare in awe at the majestic tale of the curmudgeonly Carl and his overeager stowaway Russell. While Disney marketed the film as an adventure, it's more about relationships than anything else. And while it could have easily gotten maudlin, the astute writing team masterfully control the tone of the picture, adding just the right touches at every stop. It's still early, but I doubt any film this year will rise higher than Up.