'Control' DVD Coming March 25; Engaging, Exciting Film Not Included

"Control,"Anton Corbijn tedious mournful kitchen-sink drama debut, about the life and untimely death of Joy Division's misanthropist Ian Curtis is coming to DVD via the Weinstein Company on March 25.

While no details on the North American version are out yet, the British version which comes out Feb 11 - and which we can cavalierly assume contains the same features - includes the 25-minute featurette "Making of Control" (interviews with Corbijn, star Sam Riley and writer Matt Greenhalgh), directory commentary - covering the Dutch director's experiences making "Control" -, extended scenes, full performances by the Joy Division actors performing the songs "Transmission," "Leaders of Men" and "Candidate," plus JD's "Atmosphere" '88 video also famously lensed by Corbijn.

Many people, including us, incorrectly assumed that the documentary about the Mancunian post-punk depressives "Joy Division" would be bundled with the DVD, but seeing as it hasn't even come out in theaters proper (it will screen at SXSW), that's not gonna happy you silly twits [ed. yeah, jackass]. In case you didn't know how we felt about "Control."
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Photos: NYTimes Magazine Features Pretty Breakthrough Performances Shots By Ryan McGinley

So this weekends New York Times magazine has its annual Oscar-themed photo issue and year it's a "Breakthrough Performances on Film" photo spread shot by VICE magazine chum Ryan McGinley, whose raw, confessional-styled amateur snaps finally seems to be resembling the quality of real photographers.

Arty shots of current "breakthrough" actors include Seth Rogen, Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Sienna Miller, Marion Cotillard, Paul Dano, Julie Christie, Jennifer Jason-Leigh (this photo is admittedly amazing) and more.

The magazine-scanning keeners at OhNowTheyDidn't have them all. Read more...

Paramount Vantage Sucks Up To Press With After-The-Fact 'Milkshake' Publicity Stunt

Slashfilm, who has bragging rights on the photos says, they give credit to Paramount Vantage for finally embracing "the cult popularity of the “I Drink Your Milkshake” quote from Paul Thomas Anderson’s "There Will Be Blood."

We say, welcome to three weeks ago. It was cute and all, but in Internet years, the 'Milkshake' thing is about as relevant and funny as 'All your base are belong to us."

So PV is basically giving away free milkshake from Cold Stone Creamery to people who can't even vote for the Oscars (like Slash).

C'mon, people. [ed. cynical fucks]
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Four For Friday: All The Real Girls, Motorcycle Diaries, Masked & Anonymous, Laurel Canyon

Another Friday, another very-infrequent installment of "Four For Friday": we pick four random soundtracks and four not-so-random songs we happen to love from said disc.

Today we pick, David Gordon Green's "All The Real Girls," Walter Salles' "The Motorcycle Diaries," "Laurel Canyon" and the ill-fated Dylan-penned/Larry Charles directed ('Borat') film, "Masked & Anonymous."

We've blogged about "All The Real Girls," and its excellent soundtrack many times, it's one of our '00 faves. But we wanted to shout out the disjointed and fractured, but lugubrious track by Mark Olson and the Creekdippers, "Cactus Wren." The song is like the three-legged down in the movie: wounded, sad, hobbling, but containing its own special charms.

Jorge Drexler's beautiful nylon-string Spanish-language acoustic ballad, "Al Otro Lado Del Rio" (The Other Side Of The River) from the "'Motorcycle Diaries" is so damn gorgeous it always bring us to our knees. "Shade & Honey" from "Laurel Canyon" was actually written by Sparklehorse's Mark Linkous years before it was released by the band. Two S-horse songs are featured in the 2002 film and the movie's fictional band (that features Sebadoh's Lou Barlow and lead actor Alessandro Nivola as the band's singer) are shown struggling to record a version of and old Vivadixie-era track, "Someday I Will Treat You Good." Linkous also has a quick cameo in the film at a party sequence. "Shade & Honey" actually made its debut in the film and wasn't properly released on a Sparklehorse album until2006's Dreamt for Light Years in the Belly of a Mountain.

Dylan's "Most Of The Time" is one of our all-time favorite Zimmy tunes, so Sophie Zerere can't really stand a chance at matching its marvelousness, but it's still one of the more enjoyable Dylan covers on the pre-"I'm Not There," Dylan covers album "Masked & Anonymous" soundtrack.

Download: Mark Olson / Creekdippers - "Cactus Wren"
Download: Allesandro Nivola - "Shade & Honey"
Download: Jorge Drexler - "Al Otro Lado Del Rio"
Download: Sophie Zerere - "Most Of The Time" Read more...

More Proof That Darren Aronofsky's Next Films Is About Randy "Macho Man" Savage? Oh YEEEEAH!!!

All four of the faithful Playlist readers will recall an article we did on the upcoming films of tenebrous auteur Darren Aronofsky and the uncharacteristic-sounding wrestling comedy, "The Wrestler," starring the leathery worn Mickey Rourke.

Some may remember we basically asked aloud if the film was one big send-up/tribute to the life and times of gruff, sun-stroked and vein-bulging WWF pro-wrestler Randy "Macho Man" Savage (the synopsis is: an over-the-hill grappler who returns to the ring for one last shot at glory). Well, if the first-look photos from the film - over at SlashFilm - are any indication, it appears like our posit was right on the money.

We wrote: "This project seriously sounds like a thinly disguised pseudo story of wrestler Randy "Macho Man" Savage (who Rourke doesn't look unlike; the character he plays is named Randy 'The Ram' Robinson... uhh)"

Let's remind everyone how bizzaro-world this project sounds for Aronofsky: it's been written by Robert D. Siegel - the guy that was supposed to write 'The Onion Movie' that never actually happened. Rememeber the unpredictable wrestling duo The Wild Samoans? One half of the duo - the now retired Afa - is apparently Rourke’s trainer on the film, and was at ringside for the shooting (pictured above). This film could prove to be amazing.

Watch: Macho Man on Arsenio Hall
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Glorious Douchebag Vincent Gallo Retiring From The World Of Film?

Is the gloriously arrogant and boorish renaissance man Vincent Gallo planning to retire from the world of film? (much like Julian Schnabel, Gallo is insufferable in the most awesome of ways).

The filmmaker /musician /artist you love to hate is apparently doing his best to get out of appearing in Dario Argento's new film "Giallo" because he detests the horror masters' daughter Asia Argento, who he dated in the late '90s and is well-known for flashing her cooze on screen every chance she gets* (and evidently it ended poorly, surprise, surprise with gentleman Gallo).

*[ed. classy, classy]

"I've been trying to get out of it. I'd rather not be in a movie with her. I'm not a fan. I was a fan of her father's. I am retiring," Gallo apparently told the always-reliable StarPulse (who probably read it elsewhere and reported it as their own).

"Retiring" is probably just his excuse, but we would be rather sad if Gallo didn't make another self-indulgent and completely entertaining film. Especially one like his debut "Buffalo '66" which is still a near-masterpiece in our minds. Seriously, it makes us shit our pants laughing still to this day. The dinner scenes with Ben Gazzara, Christina Ricci and Anjelica Huston is painfully uncomfortable funny.

And we wouldn't be us if we didn't love the movie for its awe-inspiring use of music; specifically all the sublime use of '70s prog rock by the likes of King Crimson and Yes. Remember the dream sequence scene where Billy (Gallo) tries to hunt down and kill the inept Buffalo Bills field-goal kicker Scott Wood (a reference to real-life inept Buffalo Bills kicker Scott Norwood), whose inability to perform costs him years in jail on a misguided bet? Soundtracked to Yes' amazing "Heart of The Sunrise," this might be one of the most amazing music in film moments of the last 10 years.

In fact, there's two drop dead amazing music in film moments in this film. The scene where - for no apparent reason - Ricci tap dances in a bowling alley to King Crimon's melancholy "Moonchild" is nothing short of absurdist cinematic heroin. Fuck, while we're at it, the scene where Ben Gazzara sings along to an instrumental version of "Fools Rush In" (which is actually a recording of Vincent Gallo Sr. singing to an instrumental version of the song that a very young Gallo Jr. recorded surreptitiously) is also nothing short of jaw-dropping.

Plus the guy had the cojones to film Chloë Sevigny fellating him onscreen. Vince, please don't go.

Download: King Crimson - "Moonchild"
Download: Yes - "Heart Of The Sunrise"
Download: Yes - "Sweetness"
Watch: Christina Ricci's tap dance scene in "Buffalo '66"

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It's A Lez Zeppelin: Scarlett Johansson & Penelope Cruz To Dyke Out; Woody Allen Officially Christened Biggest Perv In Cinema History

Ok, so Woody Allen just cast Larry David (as himself naturally) in a film where David presumably pines over the incredibly younger and jailbaity Evan Rachel Wood (who is already banging someone about 15-years her senior in porno trapeze artist Marily Manson). That's creepy and pervy enough as it is, right?

But in Allen's newest film "Vicky Cristina Barcelona," he's cast Scarlett Johansson & Penelope Cruz in the film the two apparently have a steamy lesbian love scene in the film according to the New York Post. The scene will apparently "leave the audience gasping." Later in the film the ladied evidentely have a threesome with Javier Bardem.

Ok, as a red-blooded male you can't get mad at that, but seriously: Is Woody Allen's career always devolving into his sexual fantasy wishlist before he dies? Or has it always been this way and as he gets older and his films get shittier he's just saying, "fuck it" and aiming for the sky?

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Scorsese To Direct Bob Marley Documentary For His 65th Birthday

Maybe it's time to officially christen him the new rock director (or at least documentary rock ace). While he's always flirted with rock music in his movies, Marty Scorsese apparently plans to live out the winter of his career making documentaries on iconic rock figures.

After completing documentaries on Bob Dylan ("No Direction Home") the Rolling Stones ("Shine A Light") and an upcoming untitled doc about "quiet" Beatle George Harrison, what's subject will the estimable filmmaker tackle for an encore? None other than reggae legend Bob Marley according to Variety.

The as-0f-yet untitled film will be produced by the same team that produced "Shine A Light," which will debut in North American theaters April 4. The Marley doc is already being set for release on Feb. 6, 2010 - the day that what would have been the singer's 65th birthday.

"I am thrilled that the Marley family will finally have the opportunity to document our father's legacy and are truly honored to have Mr. Scorsese guide the journey," son Ziggy Marley said.

The uber-prolific director's next project is "Shutter Island", "Ashecliffe," based on the Dennis Lehane novel, "Shutter Island," that will feature Michelle Williams, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Patricia Clarkson and lead star Leonard DiCaprio who is evidently contractually obligated to star in every Scorsese feature film for the rest of eternity (god, cast someone new for once; someone who can act would be nice).

Watch: Bob Marley on "Herb" and Prohbition

Watch: Bob Marley on roots and faith

Watch: Bob Marley - "Africa Unite"

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Writers' Strike Over? So Says Michael Eisner

Former Walt Disney chief executive Michael Eisner says the strike is ovah. A deal has apparently been struck between the major media companies and the Writers Guild of America.

"It's over," Eisner said. "They made the deal, they shook hands on the deal. It's going on Saturday to the writers in general." Eisner, speaking live on CNBC's "Fast Money," seemed to hesitate initially about whether it was possible that the writers could still reject the agreement, but finally suggested the deal's acceptance was inevitable.

"A deal has been made, and they'll be back to work very soon," Eisner said, adding, "I know a deal's been made. I know it's over."

Nikki Finke over at Deadline Hollywood, who has done a great job of covering the strike so far, says Eisner's doesn't know jackshit and insists the strike isn't over yet, and says she'll be following the WGA's confabs and votes over the next few days (there's a WGA board vote on Sunday). Maybe she's just incensed she didn't break the news officially herself? Could be...

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'Fight Club' Musical To Feature The Music Of Trent Reznor?

So we just finished making fun of the idea/news of a "Fight Club" musical and its chances of ever actually hitting the screen (which we assumed were zero; we laughed out loud when we first heard of it) when we realized that more news came out today that sees the idea moving slightly closer to a reality.

A few weeks back while promoting "Zodiac" on DVD (it's even fucking looonger), notoriously fussy and fastidious "Fight Club" alpha-male director David Fincher told MTV, "I want at the 10-year anniversary to do 'Fight Club' as a musical on Broadway. I love the idea of that." First off, the 10th anniversary of the film is 2009, so you better get your ass in gear if you actually want that idea to come to fruition.

Then "Fight Club" author Chuck Palahniuk was asked about the subject by MTV a little while later and his amazement at Fincher's disclosure about the idea made it seem like an actual real project. "So he's now publicly talking about it?" Palahniuk marvelled. "If it happens, it would be extraordinary."

Then, Palahniuk revealed that Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor's name was actually discussed and our skepticism started to evaporate.

"The last I heard from David was that Trent Reznor was going to do the music," the author revealed (representatives for Reznor had no comment by press time).

And then we went, "wow." So this sounds like more than idle wishlist talk to us. We still doubt in a million years that this will actually happen and we'd put large sums of money down that this would never be ready for 2009, but ok, now we're officially intrigued and removing the shoe from our mouths. The author admitted he probably wouldn't have anything to do with the musical. "I might write the book or the script," Palahnuik said, "but [a musical is] a whole different animal for me."
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Rolling Stones Soundtrack TBD Tracklist; DVD Set For July 1

While there's no date for the Rolling Stone Shine A Light soundtrack disc yet, a list of songs shot in the film under consideration have been released. Also, the "Shine A Light" film is evidently already being scheduled for a July 1 release according to a press release about the film.

The film that just had its big debut in Berlin is all the press rage at the moment (or at least for the next 24 hours).It features special guests in Buddy Guy, White Stripes’ Jack White and Christine Aguilera joining the Stones onstage.

When you're Martin Scorsese and you're shooting two Rolling Stones concerts with 17-friggin' cameras, you apparently can call on the finest in the biz to work on your film. The estimable cinematographers that oversaw all those camera operators? Just a few include, Paul Thomas Anderson's photog and"There Will Be Blood" Oscar nominated shooter, Robert Elswit, legendary cinema verite documentarian Albert Maysles, Oscar nominated "Children of Men" lenser Emmanuel Lubezki, Mitchell Amundsen (he made Hannah Montana look great in 3D), Declan Quinn (he shot 1984's "U2: Unforgettable Fire" documentary) and "No Direction Home" cinematographer Ellen Kuras who was personally hand-picked by Bob Dylan himself to shoot his interviews for the film, among others.

Kuras also shot "Lou Reed's Berlin" for Julian Schnabel, "Neil Young: Heart of Gold" for Jonathan Demme and is being dubbed the rock star cinematographer of late.

One things for sure, even if the crusty old Stones sound like decrepit farts, this movie is sure gonna look pretty. "Shine A Light" hits regular theaters April 4, and will make its North American premiere at the SXSW Film Festival in March.

Shine A Light master list (*Final track list of soundtrack is still TBD.)
Jumping Jack Flash
Shattered
She Was Hot
All Down The Line
Loving Cup (with Jack White)
As Tears Go By
I'm Free
Undercover Of The Night
Some Girls
(Just My) Imagination
Shine A Light
Far Away Eyes
Champagne & Reefer (with Buddy Guy)
Tumbling Dice
You Got The Silver (Keith)
Little T&A (Keith)
Connection (Keith)
Sympathy For The Devil
Live With Me (with Christina Aguilera)
Paint It Black
Honky Tonk Women
Start Me Up
Brown Sugar
Satisfaction
Trailer: "Shine A Light"

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James Bond Producers To Amy Winehouse: Stay In School Say No To Drugs And You Can Contribute Soundtrack Song, Otherwise...

It's only February, but Amy Winehouse already has a strong lock on taking home the Hot Mess of the Year award come next Decemeber (Pete Doherty will really have to fall off the wagon hard to take that one back).

Apart from the myriad drug busts, bad dye jobs, boyfriend bustups, incarcerations and caught-smoking crack paparazzi snaps, Winehouse was just denied her U.S. Visa to perform at Sunday's Grammys (no one's gonna watch that thing anyhow; though she will be performing via satellite, whatever, just another form for her to phone it in).

To make matters worse, the producers of the upcoming Bond film - ambiguously and pretentiously titled "Quantum Of Solace"; it's evidently a unrequited love story about scientists - have apparently given Wino an ulimatum of sorts: clean up your fucking piss-poor excuse for an act, or no fucking Bond theme for you.

That's a fucking throwdown, huh? So basically she has until April to get clean or she can't write the Bond theme or sing the one that's been canned for her or whatever the fucking deal is. "That’s when [April] the Bond people make a final decision on who sings the theme. If Amy is clean then, it’s hers,” a source told the tabloid rag the UK Sun.

The Daniel Craig-starring Bond film is supposed to be dark and moody which would apparently be perfect for Winehouse who leads a dark and moody life filled with despair and substance abuse. “It’s another fantastic carrot being dangled to encourage her to give up drugs.” Seriously, to be recognized among the modern pantheon of greats that have been lucky enough to sing the Bond theme like Chris Cornell, Garbage and Sheryl Crow??

Hell, for that we'd give up sex permanently [ed. fat fucking chance].
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ShortCuts: Sonic Youth, Kurt Cobain, Shine A Light, U2, Gorillaz; More

The title of Sonic Youth's seminal avante-noise alt-rock record Daydream Nation, has been appropriated and appropriated by a Hayden Panettiere film vehicle no less. Kieran Culkin is also in talks to star in the film that has nothing to do with the downtown New York noiseniks. No they can't sue. Titles are not copywritable in the United States. [Variety]

The documentary "Kurt Cobain: About a Son," is coming out on DVD February 19 via ShoutFactory. Feb 20 would have been the departed grunge rocker's 41st birthday. Extras include commentary by generally pleased-with-himself director A.J. Schnack, and the features "The Voices Behind About a Son" and "On Location: Scouting Video to Scene Comparison." [Pitchfork]

The tracklist (songs performed) for U2's 3D movie - ingeniously and imaginatively titled "U2 3D" - has been revealed by people that care. Egomaniac Bono joked at Sundance that he would rather not see himself on the bigscreen. “It's bad enough on a small screen. Now you get to see the lard arse 40 foot tall," he joked self-deprecatingly while lighting his cigar with a flaming $100 bill. We only have so many "Captain Eo" jokes in us so we hope this film finally goes away. [NME]

Marty Scorsese unveiled his Rolling Stone concert film, "Shine A Light" at the Berlin Film Festival yesterday. The documentary was filmed with 17 cameras at two concerts at the intimate Beacon Theater in 2006. In a press conference Mick Jagger joked that the movie was the only Scorsese one "I know that doesn’t have ‘Gimme Shelter’ in it!” (Marty has recycled the song three times in "Mean Streets," "Goodfellas" and "The Departed"). The Italian American director and rock enthusiast is already thinking about his George Harrison movie, and said it's going to be a “straight documentary.” According to Spout, some quick twittering insta-reviews said the 'Shine' movie sucked. [Rolling Stone/Reuters/ SpoutBlog]

Another music-related film set to debut at the Berlin Film Festival is the Gorillaz documentary "Bananaz," directed by Ceri Levy, which is scheduled to premiere next week [Feb 9, 13-15]. The doc will also screen at the SXSW film festival in March. [Pitchfork]

Oh and finally, there was some very-preliminary and tentative talk of a "Wet Hot American Summer" musical, which probably has as much chance of happening as a "Fight Club" musical does. And so we're not being vague, we mean zero to none.[MTV]
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David O. Russell Penning 'Playbook' Script; Getting Prepped For Political Satire 'Nailed'

Who woulda thunk that after his I Hate Huckabees YouTube fiasco that loose cannon David O. Russell would ever work in Hollywood again?

Then again, memories are pretty selective in Tinseltown. Anywhoo, the notoriously difficult director (George Clooney famously punched him out on the set of "Three Kings") has been tapped to write an adaptation of "The Silver Linings Playbook" for the Weinstein Company according to Hollywood Insider.

The script is based on Matthew Quick's upcoming comedic novel about a delusional man who discovers his wife has remarried and moved on once he's been released from a mental facility after a nervous breakdown/collapse. It's somewhat unclear if O. Russell is expected to direct, but it seems his maverick wackiness is right up the subject's alley (there's also some meta-movie parts to the story, see the Quick link).

O. Russell's next film is apparently in pre-production too. It's evidently a political satire called, "Nailed," that's to star Jessica Biel and Jake Gyllenhaal. The film is apparently supposed to start shooting April 15. The screenplay for "Nailed" was written with Al Gore's daughter, Kristin. The film is about a socially awkward, uninsured receptionist (Biel) who accidentally gets a nail shot into her head. The woman goes on a Washington crusade to fight for the rights of the bizarrely injured and meets an immoral congressman (Gyllenhaal) who takes advantage of her sexually and politically.
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Eminem Not Going To Star In Grand Theft Auto Movie Despite Reports

Is Eminem going to appear in a movie based off the "Grand Theft Auto" video game? Nope, waring MTV game writer gives the smackdown to a Variety game writer who had evidently reported that the apparently tumescent rapper, was in talks to possibly star as far back as a year ago.

Not so says a Rock Star Games veep, who claims a film version was never on the table. "Some movie producers were trying to put something together to entice us to make a movie, as studios and production teams frequently have done in the past. This proposal was no more interesting than the numerous others we receive. We never entertained proceeding with the project."[MTV]
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David Spade: 'There Will Be Oscars' Spoof

Ok, David Spade isn't normally very funny, but his send-up of "There Will Be Blood," on Funny or Die.com as a plea for the Oscar ceremony to actually happen is pretty damn amusing. "Johnny Depp can sing, who gives a fuck? I sing in the shower, no one's throwing awards over the curtain."

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'Arizona Dream': Vincent Gallo Does Carey Grant In 'North By Northwest'

So yeah, we're on an homage kick, sue us. The Vanity Fair Alfred Hitchcock photo portfolio salute reminds us of one of our favorite scenes in a little-seen film by one of our favorite and underrated directors Emir Kusturica. The kooky Serbian director is perhaps most well-known internationally for his very excellent epic Yugoslavia historical satire, "Underground" which won the Palme d'Or at Cannes in 1995. In the early '90s, Kusturica's madcap and often wildly silly, but intensely enjoyable sensibilties was drawn in by Hollywood for his only U.S. made feature, "Arizona Dream." The cast was stellar: Johnny Depp, Jerry Lewis, Faye Dunaway, Vincent Gallo, Lily Taylor and Paulina Porizkova.

The plot was ridiculous: A young New Yorker's dream about an Innuit hunter a rare halibut circuitously prompts a trip to Arizona. The dreamer (Depp) is coaxed by his cousin (Gallo) to leave his fish tagging job to attend his Uncle's (Lewis) trophy-wife wedding in Arizona as a ruse to have him run the family business, but from there he become romantically involved with two different women (Taylor and Dunaway).

Sound bizarre? It is. The film is deeply eccentric, odd and farcical and sadly, it hasn't been readily available on DVD for years (hint, hint). The soundtrack was composed by well-known Balkan musician Goran Bregović and featured the lyrics of Kusturica and Iggy Pop's vocals on four different tracks.

But back to our point. One of the film's strangest and most memorable scenes was during a talent show where Gallo's character decides to play Cary Grant's role from North by Northwest with the famous crop duster scene. It's basically done completely silently in a mime-like way with Gallo running in place and then hitting the floor whenever he imagines the plane flying overhead. Perhaps you need the full context of the movie to appreciate it, but it's a wacky scene that always had us in stiches. If you can track this film down, do so. It's fantastic (we should add this to our impending "Come Out On DVD Already" piece we're planning).

The film was shot in 1991, released in 1993 and finally made it to the U.S. in 1994 where its release was totally botched (it grossed just over $10o,000, which probably explains the reason it's not out on DVD in North America). Kusturica recently made the soccer documentary "Maradona" about bloated, coked-out Argentinian futbol washout Diego Maradona. Manu Chao appeared and contribute songs as did Kusturica's long-time musical contributors, Yugoslav-era'd rock band The Smoking Orchestra (he used to play in an earlier offshoot of the group). Kusturica also directed the video for Chao's "Rainin in Paradize."

Watch: Scene from "Arizona Dream"
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Vanity Fair's Photo Portfolio Salute To The Films Of Alfred Hitchcock

As you may have heard, Vanity Fair's upcoming Movie/Oscar issue will contain a homagistic photo portfolio to the films of Alfred Hitchock. Our favorites - a combination of the best execution and our fave Hitch films are below. They include Marion Collitard ("La Vie En Rose") portraying Janet Leigh's famous shower scene in "Psycho," Charlize Theron about to get strangled in "Dial M For Murder," James McAvoy and Emile Hirsch as the respective psychotic con man and sap of "Strangers On a Train," and Seth Rogen as a stand-in for Carey Grant during an iconic moment of "North By Northwest."

We included the original photo context within VF's photos just cause (except for the Cotillard one cause it speaks for itself and you never want to cover up her body). For more photos, check out Oh No They Didn't!, the livejournal bloggers thingy. VF also has some behind the scene video of the photo shoots.



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Cinematic Homage: Paul Thomas Anderson, The Transformers Animated Movie and Stan Bush's "You've Got The Touch"

Slow news days around here makes us look at another cinematic quote/reference and salutation. Now we never thought as much about "Boogie Nights" as some people who went apeshit for it when it first came out (in fact, we thought it was a QT-like pop-culture flick knock-off and dismissed it inititally). We grew to like it, but when we found out where director Paul Thomas Anderson appropriated the Dirk Diggler cheese-rock power anthem, "You've Got The Touch" we flipped.

"Do you think the bass is taking away from the vocal?"

If you remember the scene in PTA's film, Diggler (Mark Wahlberg) and his buddy Reed Rothchild (John C. Reilly) are coked-up, porn-star losers trying to break into the music industry with their self-penned rock tune. Aimee Mann's husband, Michael Penn (who composed the film's score) plays the studio producer that has to record and put up with their god awful song (Mann of course would go on to provide songs for PTA's "Magnolia," never forget the connections). At the time - similar to the feeling we had during 'King of Kong' - the song provoked that, "where have we heard this before?" sensation.

"The magic that is on those tapes. That fucking heart and soul that we put onto those tapes, that is ours and you don't own that!"

Years later we discovered the song was jacked from the 1986 "Transformers" animated movie; using the anthemic cock-rocker track by Stan Bush (the song was the big single from the film and a cheesy video with clips from the movie was made, see below). When we realized this, we freaked and our respect and admiration for PTA soared. That was a good lookin' out trainspot on his part if we ever did see one and our hats will be permanently off to him for that moment (we also love that the "Transformers" movie was basically the last film "appearance" of a washed-up, bloated and drunked Orson Welles who lent his voice to Unicron - the planet eating destroyer - shortly before he died).

We also found the DVD bonus clip on YouTube that features the extended scenes with Wahlberg and Reilly recording in what were scenes originally intended as a birthday gift to Michael Penn, but some of the moments were so good - many of them improvised by Reilly - that they were actually included in the film. Watching Reilly play the heavy, trying to force Penn to "turn up the bass" and mask Wahlberg's poorly-pitched vocals is definitely one of the highlights of this film. Comedy gold.

Download: Stan Bush - "The Touch"
Video: Stan Bush - "You've Got The Touch" video (with "Transformers" blue-screen footage)

Watch: "You've Got The Touch" From "Boogie Nights"

Watch: Outtakes And Extended Scenes From the "Touch" Recording Sessions of "Boogie Nights"
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Video Homage: Elliott Smith, La Jetée And 'La Ballon Rouge'

So last week we wrote about Blur's video homage to the glacially paced abstract classic, "Last Year At Marienbad," by Alain Resnais. It seemed fairly popular (two people read it), so it got us to thinking about all the videos that were homages to film which made us realize most of them were shit songs and or garbage bands and the whole idea imploded.

But then we remembered Elliott Smith's homage to Chris Marker's 28-minute experimental science-fiction film, "La Jetée " which was also was the specific inspiration behind Terry Gilliam's "12 Monkeys." There is no dialogue and the short is just presented as a collection of still photographs while a narrator tells the post-apocalyptic tale (it finally came out on easy-to-find DVD via Criterion bundled with Marker's "Sans Soleil" in June of last year).

The film was also the inspiration behind Elliott Smith's last video, "Son of Sam," that was directed by Autumn De Wilde who has become the go-to indie-rock photographer in recent years shooting Beck, the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs, the Strokes, Jenny Lewis, etc. etc. Told (mostly) in stills, the video uses the same concept of photographs informing the narrative augmented with other homagistic nods to "Le Ballon Rouge" (The Red Balloon), which recently made its way back into repetory theaters (and DVD). Like the cute little kid in the original, Elliott is followed around by a balloon, so it's basically merging the two ideas together. This is what we would call a good homage. Wish more videos had this much thought put into them.

Watch: Seven whole minutes of La "Jetée"

Watch: "The Red Ballon"

Watch: Elliott Smith's "Son of Sam"
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