Spinning Platters – Page 200 – Reviews of albums, films, concerts, and more from the Bay Area Music and Movie Nerds

Film Review: Neighbors

It’s a very funny movie. What more do you need to know?

Zac Efron and Seth Rogen in Neighbors, in a scene chosen by me to get traffic if someone searches for "shirtless Zac Efron" — Zac Efron and Seth Rogen in Neighbors, in a scene chosen by me to get traffic if someone searches for “shirtless Zac Efron”

Comedy is subjective. What’s funny to you isn’t necessarily funny to me. There’s absolutely no way I can tell you that a movie is hilarious, and a must-see, and have it necessarily be the case for you. All that said, if you don’t think Neighbors is a very funny movie, I probably won’t take comedy recommendations from you in the future. It’s OK if you give me the same treatment. I’m guessing you won’t, though; this is as good as it gets in modern movie comedy. Continue reading “Film Review: Neighbors”

SFIFF Spotlights #8: The One I Love/Coast of Death/Night Moves

Spinning Platters brings you even more spotlights from the 57^th San Francisco International Film Festival (SFIFF), which ends today, May 8th. Program notes and tickets available here. There are only a few screenings left, so hurry to catch the last showings, and you can also see many of the films as they open widely throughout the year.

The One I Love
(USA, 2014, 91 min)

Elisabeth Moss and Mark Duplass stand agape in THE ONE I LOVE

Romantic comedy meets The Twilight Zone, Charlie McDowell’s obscure relationship dramedy is a wonderful piece of bizarre metaphorical fiction. The story focuses on an unhappy married couple, Elisabeth Moss and Mark Duplass, who go to a beautifully secluded rural home to rekindle their love. Immediately, anomalies involving the adjacent guest house occur, and the film starts toying with our minds, offering continuous scenarios that beg the question, ‘how would I handle this?’ A quirky tone keeps the film upbeat, but the twists lead the characters down varied emotional routes, resulting in a whole new meaning to “couples therapy.”

The One I Love SFIFF Page: http://www.sffs.org/festival-home/attend/film-guide/the-one-i-love

Continue reading “SFIFF Spotlights #8: The One I Love/Coast of Death/Night Moves”

Album Review: The She’s – Dreamers EP

I’m a little burnt out and cynical at the age of 37 (in a row), and I often find things that used to be interesting to me (slot machines, the NBA) feel absolutely pointless. Next thing I know, I feel like Stan does after his 10th birthday in the South Park where everything sounds like shit to him. Luckily for you, the She’s single-handedly prevent me from being an asshole, at least while listening to these six new tracks. Continue reading “Album Review: The She’s – Dreamers EP”

Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 5/8/14-5/14/14

Opening for Holly Golightly at Thee Parkside

Thursday, May 8th Continue reading “Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 5/8/14-5/14/14”

SFIFF Spotlights #7: Boyhood/Pioneer/Freedom Summer/Little Accidents

Spinning Platters brings you more spotlights from the 57^th San Francisco International Film Festival (SFIFF), which continues through this Thursday, May 8th. Program notes and tickets available here. There is still plenty of time to catch some screenings, and you can also see many of the films as they open widely throughout the year.

Boyhood
(USA 2014, 162 min)

Life awaits young Mason (Ellar Coltrane) in Boyhood.

Stunning, remarkable, and amazing don’t begin to do justice to Richard Linklater’s new movie. Filmed over the course of 12 years using all the same actors, the picture follows young Mason (a captivating Ellar Coltrane) from the ages of six to 18; in one scene he’s maybe 8, and maybe 30 minutes later, he’s 12, in seamless transitions that will leave you astounded. The film could have just as easily been called Childhood or Parenthood (Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette are equally terrific as Mason’s parents), as it’s about nothing less than the ephemeral nature of time and the meaning of life itself. Is life just a series of events – marriages, divorces, birthdays, graduations? What can we count on in life besides change? Breathtakingly original and achingly poignant, Boyhood is sure to be on many critics’ top ten list at year end; I know it will be on mine.

Screenings:

Opens July 18^th at the Landmark Embarcadero Cinema

Continue reading “SFIFF Spotlights #7: Boyhood/Pioneer/Freedom Summer/Little Accidents”

Spinning Platters SFIFF Interview: David Zellner, writer/director — Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter

Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter has been spreading buzz around the festival circuit. The Zellner brothers’ new modern fable is a sight to see, a surreal experience to witness, and a cinematic treasure to behold. David Zellner, who co-wrote, directed, and plays a crucial supporting character in the film, sat down with me outside the theatre in which it was screening to discuss the film:

Can you give us a brief history of Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter?

Yeah, my brother and I heard about it [the urban legend] in 2001. The urban legend began circulating online and this was before Twitter and Facebook, so it was through message boards. It was very cryptic, basically saying ‘Japanese woman went from Tokyo to Minnesota for this mythical fortune’. It was so mysterious to us because of the limited information and because the idea of someone going on a treasure hunt in the modern day world was such an antiquated notion. It’s something from the age of exploration. Especially in a time now where there’s less mystery in the world. Information is more readily available. Everything is mapped out, no uncharted land. So we liked the idea of someone on this antiquated quest, but set in the year 2001.

Is that why ‘conquistadors’ are such a prevalent theme in your film?

Continue reading “Spinning Platters SFIFF Interview: David Zellner, writer/director — Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter”

SFIFF Spotlights #6: Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter / Fed Up / Stand Up Planet

Spinning Platters brings you more spotlights from the 57^th San Francisco International Film Festival (SFIFF), which continues through Thursday, May 8th. Program notes and tickets available here.

Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter
(USA, 2014, 105 min)

Rinko Kikuchi in David Zellner's KUMIKO, THE TREASURE HUNTER — Rinko Kikuchi in David Zellner’s KUMIKO, THE TREASURE HUNTER

Based on rumors, urban legends, and some odd, tragic headlines from the early 2000s, Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter is a modern fable that mixes an assortment of thought-provoking themes into a tonally masterful picture. The Zellner brothers, David and Nathan, direct Babel veteran Rinko Kikuchi in the story of an emotionally lost, socially awkward, and solitary woman (aside from her closest friend, an adorable pet bunny named Bunzo) who journeys in search of the briefcase full of money that was hidden in the North Dakota snow by Steve Buscemi in Fargo. Weird premise, yes. Fascinating character piece, you betcha!

SFIFF info about the film here.

Continue reading “SFIFF Spotlights #6: Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter / Fed Up / Stand Up Planet”

Spinning Platters SFIFF Interview: Yoav Hornung, Writer/Director, Deserted (“Nivut Golem”)

Screen Shot 2014-04-29 at 9.50.28 PM — Yoav Hornung’s DESERTED

In the lounge of the 57th San Francisco International Film Festival (SFIFF), Yoav Hornung sips a cocktail. Yoav is a young Israeli filmmaker who has his tense and reflective dramatic short film, Deserted, showing in one of the shorts programs. I sat down with him to discuss his new film, its controversy, its funding process, and some details on his recently co-founded start-up, Veed.Me:

(Warning: Contains spoilers)

Are you enjoying bringing your film around the festival circuit?

It’s very exciting. I worked very long on the film and it’s probably the most rewarding experience. To see it on the big screen with other people watching it, so far it’s been amazing.

The premise is something you’re personally familiar with, can you touch on how you came up with the story for Deserted and for those who don’t know, how military obligations work in Israel?

Continue reading “Spinning Platters SFIFF Interview: Yoav Hornung, Writer/Director, Deserted (“Nivut Golem”)”

Show Review: Eric Hutchinson with Saints of Valory at The Fillmore, 5/1/2014

Eric Hutchinson brings Pure Fiction to the Fillmore

You can’t believe a word Eric Hutchinson says. Don’t believe me? See for yourself: his new album even admits it’s all Pure Fiction. Tall tales or no, I wanted to hear just what Mr. Hutchinson’s been up to since I saw him last, so I rounded up a couple girlfriends last night and headed out to the Fillmore to give him a listen. Shortly after we arrived, the “Tell the World Tour” support act Saints of Valory took the stage to kick the evening off. Continue reading “Show Review: Eric Hutchinson with Saints of Valory at The Fillmore, 5/1/2014”

Film Review: Amazing Spider-Man 2

The attempt to add meaning to a meaningless story drags down what could have been a fun movie.

The Amazing Spider-Man explains to Jamie Foxx that his character is a one-note waste of time.

When you make a summer movie, the one thing you don’t want to do is find the middle ground between mindless popcorn flick and a well-scripted quality film. This is what Mark Webb’s Amazing Spider-Man 2 does, and because of this, it’s a complete bore with a couple of good bits thrown in.

Continue reading “Film Review: Amazing Spider-Man 2”