Film Review: “Napoleon”

A few odd choices can’t keep Napoleon from conquering the screen

Sir Ridley Scott, the legendary director of Blade Runner, Alien, and Gladiator, is eighty-five. In an impressive stretch for his age (or any age) and profession, he has directed eight feature films in the last decade, with Gladiator 2 slated for next year. Who can blame Scott for working so prolifically — he loves making movies! It’s a treat to have a talented filmmaker churn out a steady flow of films, covering a wide range of genres. His latest, Napoleon, adds another historical epic to his filmography. Despite a few off-kilter artistic choices, Napoleon is an astounding visual achievement, a throwback Hollywood epic that only a few directors, like Scott, can still deliver.

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SF SKETCHFEST 2024 LINE UP!

Way back in 2019, I ended up seeing Phil Collins with SF Sketchfest founder David Owen, and I told him that all I wanted at SF Sketchfest was to get a reunion of The State. Well- in 2024- WE ARE GETTING THE STATE DOING A WHOLE SET OF NEVER BEFORE SEEN SKETCHES AND “MIS-FIRES”!!! WHOA! 12 year old me is SO STOKED!!!! We are also getting two different shows from The Kids In The Hall, as well as an evening with Monty Python’s Eric Idle. So the “Sketch Comedy forever warped my pubescent brain” trifecta WILL BE REPRESENTED! 

On top of that, we will also get an Amber Ruffin Tribute, Paul Giamatti’s CHINWAG Podcast, Actor Michael Shannon alongside Jason Narducy doing REM’s Murmur and Reckoning albums (!), Pylon Reenactment Society which is pretty much as close as we are ever gonna get to a Pylon reunion, a return of kid’s programming with Mo Willems doing a story time with W Kamau Bell, Dulce Sloan, and Weird Al Yankovic (!), Tim Capello doing the music from The Lost Boys with the Red Room Orchestra and too much more for me to even begin to highlight. As usual, we will get our Nerd’s Guide up in early 2024. Tickets for all shows are on sale Sunday, November 19th at 10 am. 

Here’s a full list of all the wonderful stuff they’ve got in store. I literally haven’t been able to take in all of it: Continue reading “SF SKETCHFEST 2024 LINE UP!”

SIngle of the Week: “Lounge Lizard’ by Molly Lewis

Originally, I was 100% on board with making the single off Andre 3000’s instrumental flute record by single of the week. BUT- He didn’t drop a single by press time. So how do we one up a record where all the leads are flute? How about this fire of an exotica jam from Molly Lewis, where the primary instrument is… WHISTLING! Holy crap! This song is genius, and I don’t want to stop listening to it! 

“Lounge Lizard” is the first single from On The Lips, coming your way on February 16th! You can always learn more about professional whistler Molly Lewis here. (No snark there. I legitimately think this is super rad) And, of course, if you need some wind TODAY, Andre 3000’s New Blue Sun is available to you immediately. 

Show Review: Switchfoot with Ben Goldsmith at Ace of Spades, 11/10/23

What’s better than a three-day weekend thanks to those who have fought to keep America safe? Getting to see a band you love on the Friday night of said three-day weekend, giving me a full weekend after a fun night out, of course! That was my good fortune this Veterans Day weekend as I drove to Sacramento to catch Switchfoot at Ace of Spades. For one reason or another, I have had to miss several Switchfoot tours, and then the next thing I knew, it’s been over a decade since I’ve caught them live. Suffice it to say I couldn’t wait to get to the venue to catch them again, finally! Continue reading “Show Review: Switchfoot with Ben Goldsmith at Ace of Spades, 11/10/23”

Show Review: John Mayer with JP Saxe at Chase Center, 11/7/23

Does everyone else have artists they will see over and over forever, or is it just me? Sometimes, this is because I want to see what’s new in the artist’s/band’s set (as is the case with someone like Pink, who will change much of her songlist, set, costumes, etc, every time she hits the road). On the other hand, sometimes this is just because I’m such a fan of the artist’s voice, lyrics, and music that I’ll see them every single time I have an opportunity, regardless of whether or not things have much changed since the last time. Such was the case this week with John Mayer’s Solo tour, which arrived at Chase Center on Tuesday. Continue reading “Show Review: John Mayer with JP Saxe at Chase Center, 11/7/23”

Single of the Week: “Dominoes” by Mary Timony

It’s been 15 years since Mary Timony last graced our ears with a solo record. In that time, she’s been very busy, showing off her mad guitar skills in her own band, Ex Hex, as well as out-shining fellow guitar heroes Carrie Brownstein in Wild Flag and Mark Cisneros in Hammered Hulls. The fascinating thing about “Dominoes,” the lead single from her upcoming Untame The Tiger? It’s a tight, catchy, pop-rock song. There isn’t a blazing guitar solo. It’s warm and catchy and, dare I say, hit-worthy?  It’s a great song. 

Untame The Tiger is due to hit your eardrums on February 23rd. Preorders are available here! She also puts on an amazing show, and tour dates can be found here! 

NOISE POP 2024 PHASE 1 LINEUP!!!

SOUND THE ALARM! It’s time to start planning your 2024 ALREADY!!! Noise Pop dropped their Phase 1 lineup, and it goes on sale TOMORROW! Highlights include two nights of Snail Mail at Great American Music Hall (including one night with The legendary Softies opening!), The Mountain Goats are doing a stripped-down, solo acoustic set (at Grace Cathedral, of all places!), Nine Inch Nails’ (and first ever Italian to get inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, in case you were wondering) Alessandro Cortini is playing Gray Area, and many other Spinning Platters favorites like Cherry Glazerr, chokecherry, Kendra Morris, Thee Sinseers, Roman Candle and more! Full lineup below! Tickets for single shows are on sale 11/10 at 10am here. A limited number of badges remain and you can grab those here! 

Film Review: “The Holdovers”

The Holdovers is a comical, instantly rewatchable holiday treat

Filmmakers who take big swings deserve appreciation for taking the risk, even if the swing results in a miss. Director Alexander Payne (Nebraska) took such a swing six years ago with Downsizing, a polarizing if not much-maligned film. Thus, it was refreshing to hear the promising news that Payne was reuniting with his Sideways star, Paul Giamatti, for a new dramedy. The Holdovers is as sad, clever, and intelligent as the best of Payne’s work, but with a surprising lighthearted touch that places it firmly amidst some of the most classic holiday films, and amongst the filmmaker’s best work. Continue reading “Film Review: “The Holdovers””

Film Review: “What Happens Later”

When Meg imitated Nora: Ryan’s rom-com falls flat

Bill (David Duchovny) runs into his college girlfriend Willa (Meg Ryan) while traveling on business.

Meg Ryan, star of such classic Nora Ephron-penned rom-coms as When Harry Met Sally, You’ve Got Mail, and Sleepless in Seattle, tries her hand at directing, co-writing, and starring in her own rom-com, and the results are disastrous. What this picture is is debatable, but one thing’s for sure: it’s neither rom nor com. The fact that Ryan dedicates the film to the late great Ephron only serves as a reminder of those halcyon days of far better Ephron-Ryan helmed vehicles. 

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Single of the Week: “Make It Up” by King Isis

My first thought, before I even took a chance with an artist called “King Isis,” was, “That’s an awfully brave name!” Digging deeper and learning that King Isis is named after the ancient Egyptian goddess and adding the gender play to that would definitely deeply offend that other organization that ruined the word. So, yeah, I’m already impressed. And the song? It’s a guitar-driven, slightly sludgy, yet incredibly catchy song that doesn’t remind me of anything, and it’s great. And the video is dark and weird and clearly filmed in Oakland, so it’s a bonafide win all around. 

“Make It Up” is available in all the usual places. More to come, of course… And you can find all that out here!