New this week on Popshifter: Best Of 2012 lists from Danny, Emily, Paul, Jeffrey, and Chelsea; Jemiah reviews the Django Unchained soundtrack; and I come up with ten more holiday tunes that won’t make you sick.
New this week on Popshifter: I provide a Krampus primer and talk about what works and what doesn’t in V/H/S; Paul puts together a playlist for “Music To Make You Human”; Chelsea recommends the reissued A Charlie Brown Christmas for listening and gift-giving; Danny is stoked for Dave Grohl’s upcoming documentary Sound City; and Lisa recommends 666 Park Avenue if you’re not already watching it.
As a fan of rock ‘n roll and music in general, many recording studios are deserving of the documentary treatment: Electric Lady (NYC), The Quonset Hut (Nashville) Abbey Road (London), Sun Records (Memphis), Ardent Studios (Memphis), Electric Audio (Chicago), and Motown (Detroit). Now, for those of us that love history and happen to be music nuts, Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters, Nirvana, a thousand other projects) has made his directorial debut with film on a studio that has a storied history of its own: Sound City.
The Los Angeles recording studio has borne witness to some of the greatest albums in the history of music. The roster of talent that has walked through its doors and blew up the soundboard is staggering: Nirvana, Fleetwood Mac, Rage Against The Machine, Bad Religion, Evel Kneivel, Nine Inch Nails, Neil Young, Cheap Trick, Carl Perkins, Elvis Costello, Johnny Cash, Joe Cocker, The Breeders, the list could go on for days.
Sound City is Grohl’s love letter to a place that means so much to him and to anyone that has ever dropped the needle in a vinyl groove or obsessed over a CD. Sound City is one film I cannot wait to experience.
Sound City will debut at Sundance 2013 in January, but you can pre-order a copy in advance of the film’s February 1 premiere on HD digital download and stream at the movie’s official website. Sound City will open theatrically via Variance Films on February 1. Like the film’s Facebook page and stay tuned for cities and dates to be posted in the near future.
New this week on Popshifter: I give thanks and praise to “Echoes From The Sleep Room,” the last lecture in The Black Museum’s series and explain how shaking off the movie Excision is a lot harder than I thought it would be.
New this week on Popshifter: I take a look at the excellent Jay Reatard documentary Better Than Something and the upcoming What The Brothers Sang album by Dawn McCarthy and Bonnie “Prince” Billy; Cait provides a beautiful review of Bert Jansch’s recently reissued Heartbreak and encourages music lovers to check out the latest single from the Explorers Club, “No Good To Cry.”
New this week on Popshifter: Cait has the scoop on the newest Marshall Crenshaw single and subscription service, reviews the reissue of 1985’s Romance from David Cassidy, and is delighted by The Edie Adams Christmas Album; I have good things to say about School of Seven Bells’s new EP Put Your Sad Down as well as The Barrens on Blu-Ray; and Elizabeth outlines your options if you’re thinking of ditching your cable TV subscription.
Wrong: An absurd crime thriller about a man and the very strange things that happen to him as he tries to track down his kidnapped dog.
Written and directed by Quentin Dupieux, also known as Mr. Oizo.
If you remember Rubber, the movie about a serial killing tire, you’ll want to catch Wrong. If you know of Quentin Dupieux from his Mr. Oizo music and videos, you’ll also want to catch Wrong. The film was declared the Most Innovative Feature at Fantasia Fest. For a three-week film festival, this is huge praise.
The trailer is hilarious and the cast is impressive, including Jack Plotnick (who was also in Rubber), William Fichtner (one of the most diverse character actors around), and Steve Little (from Eastbound and Down). If you’re still not convinced, watch the trailer again.
Wrong makes its Toronto premiere on Thursday, October 24 at 9:45PM.
Bloor Cinema, 506 Bloor Street West.
Resolution: In a cabin by the woods, a junkie is visited by his estranged best friend in a desperate bid to rehabilitate him. As they rekindle their friendship in the dilapidated abode, they soon find themselves accosted by increasingly sinister neighboring forces, while stumbling upon a series of interconnected media (from diaries to VHS tapes) that surreally begin to embroil them in a supernatural plot that pervades both the cabin and its surroundings. (Synopsis from the Toronto After Dark website)
Directed by Justin Benson (who also wrote the script) and Aaron Moorhead (who is the director of photography).
One of my most cherished horror film premises is when realistic yet awful situations transform into something extraordinarily terrifying. Resolution seems to meet these criteria, and also points to quasi-conspiracy theories. It also seems to be the kind of horror that doesn’t splatter you with gore but rather lingers, which is the scariest kind of real-life fear. IMDB’s entry for Resolution includes no special effects, which makes its premise all the more intriguing. The trailer varies between uber-gritty realistic settings and disjointed edits and jarring noises.
The film is another Toronto After Dark first feature, this time for Justin Benson, who shares directorial credit with DP Aaron Moorhead, who also shot the rather amusingly titled Dating A Zombie. Resolution screened at Tribeca and Fantasia Film Festival this year.
Resolution makes its Toronto premiere on Tuesday, October 23 at 9:45PM.
Bloor Cinema, 506 Bloor Street West.
Citadel: Following an unprovoked attack by a mysterious group of hooded thugs, a young father finds himself paralyzed by fear and unable to leave his home. To compound his nightmare, the local priest warns him that the hoodies will be back one day to claim the child. (Synopsis from the Toronto After Dark website)
Written and directed by Ciarán Foy.
Citadel is the first feature from writer/director Ciarán Foy and based on his real life experiences “of being attacked, and the fears and agoraphobia he was left dealing with in the aftermath of the incident.” Anything that intense and personal immediately sparks my interest. It’s also intriguing that it’s a male lead character experiences paranoia instead of the often-used horror trope of the “hysterical woman.” Citadel won the Audience Award at SXSW earlier this year.
Visually the trailer reminds me of David Cronenberg’s The Brood (one of the most memorable horror films I’ve ever seen) as well as Heartless, a film from a couple of years ago which I just recently watched and adored. I love films set in apartment buildings and high rises (have you seen La Horde?) because they lend an air of realism and claustrophobia.
Citadel‘s Toronto premiere takes place Monday, October 22 at 9:45PM.
Bloor Cinema, 506 Bloor Street West.
After: When two bus crash survivors awake to discover that they are the only people left in their small town, they must form an unlikely alliance in a race to unravel the truth behind their isolation. As strange events begin to unfold, they start to question whether the town they know so well is really what it seems. (Synopsis from the After website)
Written and directed by Ryan Smith.
This is one of the most fascinating trailers I’ve seen all year. It’s got that creepy, mysterious Twilight Zone vibe, but also reminds me of The Mist (one of the best horror movies ever, in my opinion). After seems to have an interesting mix of real life tragedy, supernatural scares, and nasty creatures. I’m also a sucker for creatures with rows of sharp teeth; they really freak me out.
This is Ryan Smith’s first feature, which is always a little bit exciting. After looks to be a pretty DIY affair, with story co-creator Jason Parrish serving as associate producer and art director. I’m always on the lookout for new talent in indie horror films and Toronto After Dark is ready and willing to provide it.
After‘s Canadian premiere takes place on Sunday, October 21 at 9:45PM.
Bloor Cinema, 506 Bloor Street West.