Reviews of albums, films, concerts, and more from the Bay Area Music and Movie Nerds
starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Devin Brochu, Rainn Wilson, Piper Laurie, Natalie Portman, John Carroll Lynch
written by: Spencer Susser, David Michôd (screenplay), Brian Charles Frank (story)
directed by: Spencer Susser
MPAA: Rated R for disturbing violent behavior, sexual content including graphic dialogue, pervasive language, and drug content – some in the presence of a child.
starring: Kristen Wiig, Rose Byrne, Maya Rudolph, Ellie Kemper, Melissa McCarthy, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Jon Hamm, Jill Clayburgh, Matt Lucas, Rebel Wilson, Chris O’Dowd
written by: Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumulo
directed by: Paul Feig
MPAA: Rated R for some strong sexuality, and language throughout.
Reading my Weekly Guide to Bay Area contest can be very beneficial… You always know what great shows are coming to town, and every great once in a while, we get you into one of those shows. This week, we will get one loyal reader into see Montreal-born DJ & producer A-Trak playing with one of the finest MC’s to come out of Chicago, Kid Sister rocking the Mezzanine stage this Monday Night, May 16th! All you need to do is email us at promo@spinningplatters.com before Monday, May 16th at noon! Just leave your full name and phone number so we can let you know you won, and remember that this show is 21+, so we can’t get you in if you are under age. And if you don’t like taking risks, you can always buy tickets here.
Continue reading “Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 5/12/11 – 5/18/11”
Tearist’s debut record, Living: 2009-Present, is one of the riskiest debut records in the history of the medium. Instead of taking the traditional route of going into a recording studio, or even bringing a laptop into the rehearsal space to make a solid, consistent sounding record, this band opted to make a record that consists entirely of audience recordings of live shows. The end result is, although a mixed bag, one of the most interesting records that I have heard in a long time.
Continue reading “Album Review: Tearist — Living: 2009-Present”
starring: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Anthony Hopkins, Stellan Skarsgard, Kat Dennings, Tom Hiddleston, Clark Gregg, Idris Elba, Rene Russo, Colm Feore
written by: Ashley Miller, Zack Stentz, Don Payne (screenplay); J. Michael Straczynski, Mark Protosevich (story); Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Jack Kirby (comic book)
directed by: Kenneth Branagh
MPAA: Rated PG-13 for sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence.
starring: Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster, Anton Yelchin, Jennifer Lawrence, Cherry Jones
written by: Kyle Killen
directed by: Jodie Foster
MPAA: Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material, some disturbing content, sexuality and language including a drug reference.
starring: Ginnifer Goodwin, Kate Hudson, Colin Egglesfield, John Krasinski, Steve Howey, Ashley Williams
written by: Jennie Snyder (screenplay), Emily Giffin (novel)
directed by: Luke Greenfield
MPAA: Rated PG-13 for sexual content including dialogue, and some drug material.
starring: Michelle Williams, Bruce Greenwood, Will Patton, Zoe Kazan, Shirley Henderson, Paul Dano, Neal Huff, Tommy Nelson, Rod Rondeaux
written by: Jonathan Raymond
directed by: Kelly Reichardt
MPAA: Rated PG for some mild violent content, brief language and smoking.
Continue reading “Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 5/5/11 – 5/11/11”
If you read Spinning Platters with any regularity, you know I love Donald Glover, so let’s just get the personal stuff out of the way now. I spent all day with an increasing sense of agitation waiting to see if I was going to get a pass for the IAMDONALD show at the Fillmore tonight. I got stuck in some angry self-righteous critic reel where I actually thought I deserved a ticket. Well, I did write this review of the preview show. Then I campaigned hard for Donald Glover/Childish Gambino’s album Culdesac to win album of the year in 2010. Then I gave his fans a SXSW award (and missed The Dead Milkmen to see him!). Is it possible this makes me his biggest fan? And is it possible for a show to live up to expectations after all that? Continue reading “Show Review: IAMDONALD tour with Donald Glover/Childish Gambino at The Fillmore, 4/28/11”