Assemblog: March 8, 2013
Published on March 8th, 2013 in: Assemblog, Film Festivals, Horror, Movies, Science Fiction, Trailers |
The Monk
New this week on Popshifter: My review of the “gently sobering” film California Solo; an exclusive first look at the second semester of Toronto’s lecture series, The Black Museum, and a retro new video from Purling Hiss; Chelsea admires new releases from Helado Negro and Bajofondo; J thinks that Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds’ Push The Sky Away is a “beautiful record;” Emily recommends the new compilation of Otis Redding soul music, Lonely & Blue as “essential listening” for music fans; and Elizabeth gives five reasons why you really should ditch your cable TV subscription in the latest installment of “TV Is Dead, Long Live TV.”
Assemblog: March 1, 2013
Published on March 1st, 2013 in: Assemblog, Film Festivals, Horror, Movies, Science and Technology, Trailers |
Simon Killer
New this week on Popshifter: John is in love with the Paul Williams: Still Alive documentary now on DVD; Chelsea explains how the reissued 1972 solo album from Emily Bindiger “transcends its time period” and delights in the “unexpected rewards” of Las Acevedo; I share new remixes and videos from Parenthetical Girls and David Bowie and recommend the new Skyfall Blu-Ray as “a huge leap forward as well as a return to Bond’s roots.”
Assemblog: February 22, 2013
Published on February 22nd, 2013 in: Assemblog, Books, Copyright/Piracy, Feminism, Film Festivals, Gaming, Horror, Legal Issues, Movies, Science and Technology, The Internets, Trailers, TV |
Inside Llewyn Davis
New this week on Popshifter: Paul takes Men’s Rights Advocates to task in his article on Women in Gaming and tells tales of pro wrestling redemptions; Chelsea loves Lady Lamb the Beekeeper’s first full-length album RiPLEY PINE; I fawn over new releases from Parenthetical Girls, Dawn McCarthy & Bonnie “Prince” Billy, and Iceage, share the latest from Big Black Delta, and review French Horn Rebellion’s newest EP Love Is Dangerous; and Hanna admires both the humor and scientific methods found in The Marriage of True Minds from Matmos.
Assemblog: February 15, 2013
Published on February 15th, 2013 in: Assemblog, Film Festivals, Horror, Movies, Music, Science and Technology, Science Fiction, The Internets, Trailers |
Kiss of the Damned (full poster)
New this week on Popshifter: I reveal a behind-the-scenes video on the making of the upcoming What The Brothers Sang album by Dawn McCarthy and Bonnie “Prince” Billy and weigh in on Suede’s new single and video; Paul praises Spotify but has stern advice for Prince; Cait has the scoop on the terrific new Omnivore Recordings George Jones United Artists singles compilation; and Elizabeth reassures us we can still call television “television.”
Assemblog: February 8, 2013
Published on February 8th, 2013 in: Assemblog, Film Festivals, Horror, Movies, Science Fiction, Trailers |
Europa Report, photo from the film’s Facebook page.
New this week on Popshifter: Chelsea finds Richard Thompson “still relevant” on his new album Electric and introduces us to the beautiful protest music of Víctor Jara; Cait praises the “warm, intimate solo collection” of songs on Chris Stamey’s Lovesick Blues, calls the two new Townes Van Zandt discs of demos and rarities “close to perfection,” and says Mary Gauthier’s long-anticipated Live At Blue Rock was “worth the wait”; Emily describes Hayden’s Us Alone as “recommended listening”; I suggest Goblin’s The Awakening box set for fans and not-yet-fans, and review this Wednesday’s wonderful Ty Segall show in Toronto.
Assemblog: February 1, 2013
Published on February 1st, 2013 in: Assemblog, Feminism, Film Festivals, Movies, Science Fiction, Trailers |
Vanishing Waves
New this week on Popshifter: Paul examines “Wrestling’s Dark Heart” and reviews the game Cart Life; Maureen recommends The Sessions as “a gem of a film;” I get excited about new music and videos from Parenthetical Girls, Iceage, and Jesca Hoop and review the excellent but troubling film Compliance; and Elizabeth talks about Netflix, Wall Street, and why televangelism means we can’t have nice things like a la carte cable in this week’s installment of “TV Is Dead, Long Live TV.”
Assemblog: January 25, 2013
Published on January 25th, 2013 in: Assemblog, Feminism, Film Festivals, Horror, Trailers |
Evil Dead
New this week on Popshifter: Paul gives reasons to care about the upcoming Bioshock Infinite and ponders choice in the virtual world of gaming; I recommend the new Ty Segall reissues (The Traditional Fools, Reverse Shark Attack) from In The Red Records; Melissa loves Hard Core Logo, but not the sequel, and is over the moon for Don Rich and Buck Owens; Cait praises Rosie Flores’s new album Working Girl’s Guitar; and Julie describes the “exquisite collection of songs” on Wildlife, the new solo album from Gudrun Gut.
Sundance 2013: Top Ten Picks
Published on January 16th, 2013 in: Film Festivals, Listicles, Movies, Top Ten Lists, Upcoming Events |
Il Futuro
It was nearly impossible to narrow down the films at this year’s Sundance into a Top 20, much less a Top Ten. I tried to pick my top choice from each category to give the best indication of the diversity of films screening at this year’s festival.
Information on this film is scarce, but Sundance’s website description, taken directly from the film’s website, is captivating: “Seven young women. A mansion perched on a Cycladic rock. A series of lessons on discipline, desire, discovery, and disappearance. A melancholy, inescapable cycle on the brink of womanhood—infinitely.” The Capsule is a French production with a Greek cast from director Athina Rachel Tsangari, who produced both Alps (2010) and Dogtooth (2009). Read more …
Sundance 2013: What’s It All About?
Published on January 10th, 2013 in: Film Festivals, Movies, Upcoming Events |
Although the Sundance Film Festival has only been around since 1978, it’s become synonymous with both indie filmmaking and “the next big thing.” Originally it was called the Utah/US Film Festival; the awkward title reveals the festival’s initial goal: to bring more filmmakers to the US; show older, well-regarded American films; and provide a place for filmmakers operating outside of the Hollywood system to screen their films.
Initially held in Salt Lake City, the festival moved to Park City in the hopes of attracting more people. Who wouldn’t want to spend a few days at a ski resort in January watching good movies, right? Despite the festival’s popularity and success over the next few years, it remained in an astonishing amount of debt. Thus in 1985, Robert Redford’s still-newbie Sundance Institute took over sponsorship and financial backing and the awkward name was scuttled in favor of what we all know now as the Sundance Film Festival. (At one point it was known as the even-more-awkward title of The US Film and Video Festival.)
Sundance has premiered an incredibly diverse selection of independent films throughout its 35 years. If there’s an indie film you know and love from the past three decades, chances are it has premiered at Sundance: sex, lies, and videotape; Reservoir Dogs; El Mariachi; Clerks; The Blair Witch Project; and documentaries like Hoop Dreams, Super Size Me, and Man On Wire all premiered at Sundance and went on to critical acclaim, massive financial success, or both.
Assemblog: January 4, 2013
Published on January 4th, 2013 in: Assemblog, Feminism, Film Festivals, Movies, Trailers |
The Place Beyond The Pines
New this week on Popshifter: We’ve got Best Of 2012 lists from me as well as Megashaun. You can also peruse all our Best Of 2012 lists, if you’re so inclined.