CHILLFILTR (46 KP) rated Will We Ever Change? by Joel Levi in Music
Jul 11, 2019
“I know the sun will rise,
and we both can’t win.
I want to see you smile again”
— Joel Jevi
Perfect pop instinct, a nice dry mix, great songwriting and a fantastic attention to detail makes this song the lead track on our upcoming playlist CHILL NEW Songwriters Volume 1.
CHILLFILTR (46 KP) rated Swallow by Ben Reneer in Music
Jul 11, 2019
“Have you sold your wisdom for glory
will you let me sell mine for youth
now you whisper the journey’s not over
I rattle my cage on the edge of the truth”
— Ben Reneer
Tag this one as Ryan Adams underwater.
Ben Reneer comes to us from Alpine, Utah. He considers himself more songwriter than singer but we beg to differ.
Gilded by Jade Jackson
4.0
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Album Watch
Gilded is the debut offering from California singer/songwriter Jade Jackson. It marks the arrival of...
indie alternative
Honest Life by Courtney Marie Andrews
Album Watch
After a decade spent at the height of the music industry, touring solo and with large pop bands,...
folk
Calling Me Home: Gram Parsons and the Roots of Country Rock
Book
On September 19, 1973, Gram Parsons became yet another rock-and-roll casualty in an era of excess, a...
But What If We're Wrong?: Thinking About the Present As If It Were the Past
7.0
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Book
New York Times bestselling author Chuck Klosterman asks questions that are profound in their...
Essays Politics Philosophy
Felony Blues by Jaime Wyatt
Album Watch
The title of Jaime Wyatt's newest release Felony Blues is a nod to records like David Allan Coe's...
country
The Torchwood Archive
Steve Foxon, Scott Handcock, Blair Mowat and Lee Binding
Book
A Special Feature-Length Anniversary Adventure Celebrating 10 Years For The TORCHWOOD team. The...
BankofMarquis (1832 KP) rated Vice (2018) in Movies
Jan 21, 2019
His follow-up to this film is another fascinating, terrifying and (at times) funny look at a serious subject - the life and career of former Vice President Dick Cheney, an unassuming bureaucrat that wields much power in the George W. Bush White House. I thought THE BIG SHORT worked on every level so was looking forward to this follow-up and this one works on MOST levels.
So..what does work? Let's start with the acting of the top-notch cast. Steve Carrell, Sam Rockwell, Lily Rabe, Justin Kirk and Tyler Perry all are terrific in smaller, supporting roles that depict real people (like Donald Rumsfeld, George W. Bush, Liz Cheney, Scooter LIbbey and Colin Powell, respectively). They all bring the necessary level of gravitas and ironic humor to their parts.
But...make no mistake...this film stars and IS ABOUT Lynne and Dick Cheney (Amy Adams and Christian Bale) and both of these two stars SHINE BRIGHTLY in their portrayal of a a Washington DC power couple who are always calculating the political angle of any issue and how they can benefit from it. I expect both of these two actors to get Oscar nominations.
What also works is the pseduo-documentary style that McKay brings to the screen (similar to THE BIG SHORT), the characters, at times, speak directly to the camera to explain something or (at one time) breaks into a Shakespearean scene to emphasize what's going on.
So...what doesn't work? I'm going to start with the Narrator of this piece, Jesse Plemons. He is a solid actor who can bring a wry sense of humor - or gravitas - to the proceedings. But, to be plain about it, Plemons narrator character (who we come to find out has a VERY big role in Cheney's life) is just not interesting enough to follow or listen to. In THE BIG SHORT, this role was filled by the charm and charisma of Ryan Gosling and, I'm afraid, Plemons just doesn't have that same level of charm and charisma.
Secondly, what didn't work for me was the people/events that were unfolding in front of me. There was NOT ONE character to root for on the screen. Every politician seen upon the screen was just out for themselves and were willing to screw (or stab in the back) anyone that is no longer any use for them. These are not very likable characters and I longed for someone to root for, which made this film fall short of "GREAT" status for me. It is a very good film - strongly acted - but not a GREAT film.
If you haven't seen it, I would recommend VICE to all if, for nothing else, the performances of Adams and Bale, they are mesmerizing, just don't expect to root for anyone.
Letter Grade B+
8 (out of 10) stars and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)
Wanderlust: Actions, Traces, Journeys 1967-2017
Book
Wanderlust highlights artists as voyagers who leave their studios to make art. This book (and the...