Film Review: “Empire of Light”

Bright spots transcend cliched moments in new Mendes picture  

Hilary (Olivia Colman) works the ticket booth at the Empire Cinema. 

Hollywood loves to make movies about itself. My last review was on The Fablemans, a movie about the magic of movies. This review is about Empire of Light, a movie about the healing power of movies. And my next review will be about Babylon, a movie about, you guessed it, the good and bad of the movie industry. If Hollywood wants to get folks back into theaters, maybe making a bunch of narcissistic films about itself isn’t the best way, but nevertheless, here we are, with three releases within a month that basically say, “Movies are awesome! Go to the movies!!” This week’s offering makes its case mightily, and somewhat succeeds in spite of the pervasive layer of schmaltz that covers the picture.

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Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 9/26/13-10/2/13

I remember the video was all austere and stuff.
It’s going to be like 1990 all over again at The Shoreline tonight, y’all.

October is nearly here. Match pre-Halloween candy sales with some concert-going and that’s a recipe for general happiness.

Here’s what’s coming up this week.

Continue reading “Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 9/26/13-10/2/13”

Film Review: Sound City

Dave Grohl, director of the new documentary Sound City.
Dave Grohl, director of the new documentary Sound City.

Directed By: David Grohl

Written By: Mark Monroe

Starring: Trent Reznor, Tom Petty, Mick Fleetwood, and a cast of musical legends

The movie ‘Sound City’ started as a movie about a location but evolved into the raw internal disclosure of the emotional soul of a musician and the music industry. It allows a peek into the behind the scenes non-glamorous side of an album recording, opening insight to the controversy of analog verses digital methods.

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Spinning Platters Podcast — Episode 1 (The Pilot)

D.P. kept reminding us to talk into the mic.
D.P. kept reminding us to talk into the mic.

What we’ve got here is a podcast!  Dakin, D.P. and I recorded a podcast at the 10th Floor Studio on New Montgomery last night, and we’re presenting it here to you!  I’m working hard to get this going on itunes, but it’s not as simple as all that.  We have to apply and be approved.  Well, rather than wait for that approval, you can always just listen to the podcast right here and now!  Once we have an itunes subscription link, we’ll be sure to send it along.

The show notes and the podcast follow below. Continue reading “Spinning Platters Podcast — Episode 1 (The Pilot)”