Author: Marie Carney

SF Sketchfest Review: Comedy Film Nerds Podcast on 1/25/2014

comedy film nerds

While preparing to go to the live Comedy Films Nerds show at Punchline today I came to the strange realization that I’ve been listening to the podcast for three years. Almost every episode. So you can say that I feel like I know the podcast hosts Graham Elwood and Chris Mancini and I was a bit apprehensive about how it would feel watching instead of listening to the action. Podcasts feel so personal, making you feel like the comedians are talking straight to you. But could it still feel like that in a theater full of people? I was about to find out. Continue reading “SF Sketchfest Review: Comedy Film Nerds Podcast on 1/25/2014”

SF Sketchfest Review: Iron Comic with Nato Green and Moshe Kasher on 1/24/2014

Iron-Comic-289x300

This was my second time watching Iron Comic with Nato Green at Sketchfest, and I was surprised at how different this time was. Some of it made it better (more well-known comedians) and some was worse (lukewarm audience). Overall though this is a fun show that I seem to leave thinking, “I need to go to this more often” then not doing that. But maybe I’ll go again this year. The concept is pretty simple. The audience suggests topics for the comics to write three minutes worth of stand-up material on. They get about 10 minutes to work out the material while someone else does some of their more scripted work with the audience. At the end the top two have a face off and one comic is crowned the Iron Comic, which really just means they get bragging rights and a big round of applause. Continue reading “SF Sketchfest Review: Iron Comic with Nato Green and Moshe Kasher on 1/24/2014”

Spinning Platters Presents The Official List of the Top 10 Albums of 2013

Though this album is great (and my favorite of the year), it just wasn't good enough for this list. It came in at unlucky number 11.
Though this album is great (and my favorite of the year), it just wasn’t good enough for this list. It came in at unlucky number 11.

 

If there’s one thing Spinning Platters does differently, and especially nerd-ish, it is our Album of the Year list. All the contributors get to nominate their favorite albums of the year (there were 53 nominees this year) then a grueling listening/voting process starts until we have it narrowed down to the top ten. While not everyone may agree with the final list, it is democratic and popular opinion that must rule. So without further ado, here is our top ten!

Continue reading “Spinning Platters Presents The Official List of the Top 10 Albums of 2013”

Film Review: The Heat

Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy in The Heat
Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy in The Heat

Is it possible for The Heat to be anything other than what you expect? Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy join together as the most lovable pair of odd couple style cops. Of course it’s going to be cheesy and predictable and, if everything goes as well as hoped, thoroughly entertaining. In the hands of director Paul Feig I don’t know how it could be bad. Continue reading “Film Review: The Heat”

Film Review: Before Midnight

Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy in Before Midnight
Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy in Before Midnight

I was excited to see Before Midnight, the third film in the series directed by Richard Linklater that, in a way, I felt like I grew up with. The characters of Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy) have always been so strong in my closet-romantic pseudo-intellectual imagination. I’m not going to pretend for a minute that I’m not a sucker for a good romantic movie, especially ones like the Before series where the characters feel so real and the dialogue is more like a true conversation than a planned script. I couldn’t wait to see what insights and ideas the newest film would bring me. Continue reading “Film Review: Before Midnight”

Film Review: The Incredible Burt Wonderstone

Steve Carell and Steve Buscemi in The Incredible Burt Wonderstone
Steve Carell and Steve Buscemi in The Incredible Burt Wonderstone

starring: Steve Carell, Steve Buscemi, Jim Carrey, Olivia Wilde, Alan Arkin

screenplay:  John Francis Daley & Jonathan M. Goldstein

director:  Don Scardino

MPAA:  Rated PG-13 for sexual content, dangerous stunts, a drug related incident and language. Continue reading “Film Review: The Incredible Burt Wonderstone”

Midnight Music Movies at The New Parkway: Hedwig and the Angry Inch

hedwig-and-the-angry-inch

For our second month of Spinning Platters’ Midnight Music Movies we are presenting the fabulous Hedwig and the Angry Inch at The New Parkway in Oakland. When compiling our list of music movies Hedwig flew to the top of my list. Not only is it full of amazing music but the humor, camp and punk-ness was just made to play at midnight. Hopefully you already want to buy your tickets, but if you aren’t sure give me five minutes to convince you. Continue reading “Midnight Music Movies at The New Parkway: Hedwig and the Angry Inch”

SF Sketchfest Review: You Made it Weird with Pete Holmes at Cobb’s Comedy Club, 2/2/13

You+Made+It+Weird+with+Pete+Holmes+34343

Pete Holmes’ podcast You Made it Weird is funny, deep and as the title suggests, weird. The greatest thing about it though is how the podcast can be so funny and so personal at the same time. Since all my favorite parts of the podcast are the little personal moments, I was a little apprehensive that the deep moments might be dropped for more humor with the live audience there. Continue reading “SF Sketchfest Review: You Made it Weird with Pete Holmes at Cobb’s Comedy Club, 2/2/13”

Show Review: Matt & Kim with Oberhofer at The Fox Theater, 10/26/12

Matt & Kim

I decided to see Matt & Kim on a whim and a general sense that it would be a good show.  I’ve seen them once before and remembered it being full of fun and positive energy, which is exactly what I needed after a sucky week at work. I just hoped I remembered them correctly. Continue reading “Show Review: Matt & Kim with Oberhofer at The Fox Theater, 10/26/12”