Best Sci-Fi film I’ve seen in years.

Sunshine is the latest film from director Danny Boyle (Trainspotting, 28 Days Later).  The film is a gripping, intense, sci-fi odyssey which is heavily indebted to great works such as Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, Ridley Scott’s Aliens, John Carpenter’s Dark Star, and Andrei Tarkovsky’s Solaris (the original).  The movie is not without its flaws but Boyle has created a film that is engrossing and intelligent sci-fi filmmaking at its very best.

Here is a brief synopsis from the Rotten Tomatoes website. 

“In a mere five decades in the future, the sun is dying, and Earth is running out of time. After the failure of a previous mission, it’s up to the crew of the Icarus II to reignite the star with a stellar bomb. But the crew faces more than just the blistering heat of the sun and the freezing cold of space as they grapple with the limits of the human mind and heart.”

Watched a Cool Flick Last Night

The Science of Sleep

I somehow never got around to watching this movie when it first came out in 2006.  Michel Gondry’s latest work of imaginative surealism is full of mind bending, low-tech set pieces and special effects that bring to life the dreams of the central character Stephane, played by Gael García Bernal.  Once again, I will let you read a full synopsis of the film on one of the million internet movie review sites out there but I highly recomend this movie.  One other note…the film bounces between French, Spanish and English and moves from reality to dreamstates quite frequently.  You will need to spend time with this film to absorb it and take it all in.

The Besnard Lakes – Are the Dark Horse

The second full length from The Besnard Lakes comes in a close second on my best of 2007 so far. Bandleader Jace Lasek produced two of the best albums in recent years, Wolf Parade’s Apologies to the Queen Mary and Sunset Rubdown’s Shut Up I Am Dreaming. He now takes on songwriting, singing, and guitar duties on Are the Dark Horse with stunning effect.

The album combines the haze of Spiritualized, the harmonies of Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys, and the psychedelic excursions of early Pink Floyd. The album clocks in at a mere 45 minutes but somehow still manages to sound spacey, interstellar and epic.

Menomena – Friend and Foe

So far this is my favorite record of the year. Portland, Oregon’s Menomena have crafted a brilliantly executed, highly crafted, cerebral listening experience. The band employ an innovative songwriting technique using custom built software to develop compositions from improvised loops. The result is a creative, layered, collage-like work of art. Highly recommended for fans of The Flaming Lips, Arcade Fire, Super Furry Animals and Radiohead.

It’s been a while.

Well I’m finally getting back in the swing of things after a long absence.  My class schedule proved to be a real bitch last semester so I got away from keeping up the blog.  I will be posting new stuff regularly from here on out.  I will start with some of my favorite music of 2007 so far.  Check back soon for updates.

Pan’s Labyrinth…another wonderful film

Pan’s Labyrinth, the latest film from Mexican director Guillermo del Toro, is as heartfelt as it is horrific. The production design and cinematography are stunning as del Toro creates a parallel fantasy universe set against the backdrop of the Spanish Civil War and Francisco Franco’s fascist regime. Please check out www.imdb.com or www.moviefone.com for a synopsis of the film.

Best Record Store

I thought since I am using this blog to spout off about what I consider to be the best in music and film, I would also mention the best place to purchase these items.  Shake It Records is an independent record store located in a wonderful neighborhood called Northside, just outside of Cincinnati, OH.  Shake It specializes in independent music and film. They stock a large selection of compact discs, vinyl and DVD’s and also independent/underground books and magazines.  The staff is extremely knowledgeable and friendly, these folks have a true passion for what they do.  So please, if you live in the area or are just passing through, screw Best Buy, Circuit City, Wal-Mart and all the other corporate monsters and spend your hard earned cash at a true independent.

www.shakeitrecords.com

Best Film of 2006

Children of Men, the latest film from director Alfonso Cuaron (Y Tu Mama Tambien) is my run away choice for best picture of 2006. Cuaron has created a futuristic dystopian masterwork ranking along side the likes of Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange and Terry Gilliam’s Brazil. I won’t bore you with a synopsis of the film, you can get that from a million Internet sources, but I will say that I have not been this moved by a film in a long time. Cuaron’s vision of the world in the year 2027 is a disturbing, logical extension of historic atrocities and the horrors of present day society. With a stellar cast including Clive Owen, Jullian Moore and a brilliant Michael Caine, this film will provoke, inspire and scare you all at the same time. Bravo!

www.childrenofmen.net

Other Favorites from 2006:

Little Children

The Proposition

Babel

V for Vendetta

The Good Shepard

A Scanner Darkly

The Departed

Little Miss Sunshine

Borat

Thank You for Smoking

Best of 2006

Over the next few days I will post my top albums of 2006. Check back periodically for updates. Just click on the Best Albums of 2006 tab at the top of the page.