Thursday, May 29, 2008

This week in entertainment.

For Memorial Day, Carrie and I were planning on catching the new Indiana Jones movie, but after giving it a little thought, we decided going to a matinee would just waste an entire afternoon (and after our action-packed weekend with the Zeilers anything later was pretty much out of the question). Our fall-back plan was to just do exactly what we normally do—hang out with all of the other losers at Borders and Blockbusters.

Usually our weekly trips to these two places are relatively unproductive. But this week was a little different. While we would normally just leave Borders with the undying need to find out what in the hell Manga is, this time we went crazy—well at least Carrie did, picking up a book titled "Go Green, Live Rich" —which I think has something to do with wandering the turnpike picking up aluminum cans—and the equally intellectual People.

High on our score, we hit Blockbusters. First, let me say we had great luck a couple of weeks ago when we rented The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. While it's extremely slow, it's a really good slow. Each frame is beautifully shot and the performances are great. Anyway, based on that past experience, along with the aforementioned Borders success, we took a chance on another movie—Lars and the Real Girl. Not to give anything away, but it's basically about a lonely guy who orders and life-sized doll online and convinces himself she is real. It was pretty odd. I'm not saying it's bad, just really "different." We have to take it back tomorrow, but it was interesting enough that I'm planning on checking out the extras.

If that wasn't enough to satisfy your entertainment craving, here's what I've been listening to recently.

The Kooks "Konk"
The Helio Sequence "Keep Your Eyes Ahead"
Death Cab for Cutie "Narrow Stairs"
Wilco "The Best of Wilco Winter Residency" --thanks Todd

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

todd and I watched Lars and the Real Girl on an international flight. Really odd. Unfortunately I feel asleep before the end, so I will never know what happens. But he is a really good actor. glad you like the wilco!!

S

Anonymous said...

You guys should also check out the latest Sun Kil Moon album ("April"), the new Centro-matic/South San Gabriel double-disc, "Dual Hawks", (drops on 6/3), Shearwater's latest album, "Rook", (also drops on 6/3), and Great Lake Swimmers' 2007 release, "Ongiara", one of my favorites of last year -- stuff I think you'd both really groove to...Also, if you don't already know of it, visit www,daytrotter.com for scores of great sets from great bands recorded on the shores of the Mississippi in Iowa (truly, a fantastic site and resource).
Thanks for the shout out,
Todd

Craig, Carrie, Luka and Zoe Lindeman said...

I'm heading to iTunes right now. I've been meaning to check out that Sun Kil Moon album "Tiny Cities" is one of my all-time favorites.

Anonymous said...

Also check out the new self-titled Fleet Foxes EP (we saw them about 2 months ago)...We will be seeing Sun Kil Moon (actually, M.Kozelek acoustic solo) in Milwaukee this Saturday, one day after our 4th row(!) floor seats to R.E.M./Modest Mouse/The National show Friday night. A good weekend of music.

Craig, Carrie, Luka and Zoe Lindeman said...

Holy crap, fourth row? How was it?

I'm interested to hear how the Sun Kil Moon stuff translates to a live show, it can be a bit of a downer.

Anonymous said...

We see REM et al. this Friday night and SKL Saturday night in Milwaukee and then we (actually, prob just I) see Centro-matic back in Chicago Sunday night...