Thursday, December 30, 2010

The Six Best Gigs of 2010

I'm getting to the point where going to Brisbane by myself for gigs doesn't hold the appeal it once did. Maybe because for the last couple of years a lot of the bands that have come out are recycled, and as good as they once were seeing them now just isn't the same. Then there's Soundwave. The greatest thing about that festival was its ability not only to cater for all genres but for bands who probably wouldn't have ever made it out here without such an offer. That isn't the case anymore, and for me that was a big blow.

Regardless, this year delivered some of the best gigs I have ever been to. Each had their own specific value, but the following six shows were definitely highlights for me in 2010.

6. Kevin Devine @ The Tivoli


He's one of the most poetic songwriters of his generation, but it takes more than pretty words to make a good performance. Fortunately Kevin Devine's radical range of delivery and style is rather unique outside of the folk scene, and raise him above the title of 'hippy playing acoustic guitar in his lounge room'. Kevin played with Brand New, who this time around (my third time) left no impression on me whatsoever.

What I would have done better: Kevin Devine would have headlined.

5. Jonsi @ Palace Theatre



You know it was a great year when you have this guy at fifth position. There is no denying that Jonsi is a genius who has created some of the most beautiful music ever. So what made this gig so special? Everything. The lighting, the costumes, the rest of the band and the unfathomable range of talents they possess, not to mention the people I saw this with. Jonsi's performance is like no other, and objectively speaking I don't think any other performer could have such an impact. Plus, the drummer had a monitor attached to his kit because he had so much going on. Suck on that, drummer from Rush.

What I would have done better: played the entire show dressed as Indians.

4. Sunny Day Real Estate @ Palace Theatre



Another gig I went to in Melbourne, and featuring a band I never thought I'd have the honour of seeing. Most of the band is probably used to playing larger shows, seeing as how everyone but singer Jeremy Enigk is part of the Foo Fighters, but still there was an undoubted feeling of appreciation emenating from the band. It was their first ever tour outside of the US, and since their disbandment they have become music legends. It showed. Four other bands appeared at this gig - RX Bandits, Motion City Soundtrack, Glassjaw and Jimmy Eat World - but it was clear Sunny Day Real Estate caught the attention of everyone in the venue. Jeremy Enigk's voice, a musical style that has influenced so many bands over the last decade, and a simply enjoyable atmosphere made seeing these guys a great experience. Jimmy Eat World and Motion City Soundtrack were also pretty good.

What I would have done better: Sunny Day Real Estate should have stayed as headliners before the addition of Jimmy Eat World. Not that it made much difference in the end.

3. Revival Tour @ The Zoo



Herein lies everything that a gig should be: a great atmosphere, a general feeling of fun, anticipation and excitement and good music. Overall, a celebration. What Chuck Ragan, Frank Turner, Ben Nichols and Tim Barry delivered was extraordinary. Often sharing the stage to share the singing during the more popular songs, seeing all four on stage together was something incredibly unique and thrilling. I was most excited for Nichols, who in the end was the most disappointing, but I left as a fortified fan of Tim Barry. I knew nothing of his work when I entered, but his heartfelt, southern-style ballads were the songs of a man who loves what he has to say, and the audience certainly felt that. I hope we get Revival Tour 2011.

What I would have done better: Ben Nichols should have been more into it. People were shouting out for The Kid but he refused to play it. Disappointing.

2. Silversun Pickups @ Brisbane Convention Centre
I've been waiting. I've been waiting for this moment all my life. But it's not quite right. That's because some morose promoter decided it would be a good idea to have a sensational international band support a mediocre local radio-rock group. Nevertheless, Silversun Pickups performed one of my favourite sets ever. Brian Aubert's energy pulsated through the room as he delivered songs I've been waiting to hear live for fve years, and even Birds of Tokyo fans loved it. Swoon really gave this band the attention they deserve on an international level, but hopefully when they return whoever handles their tour gives them a bit more respect.

What I would have done better: They should have headlined! The Convention Centre was half full when they played and half of the crowd left as soon as they'd finished. Many people were angry because the show started early so they only saw 1-2 songs. I can't blame them. They didn't play Kissing Families. 

1. Porcupine Tree @ The Tivoli



So of course I was expecting something great from Porcupine Tree. They've been around for twenty-three years and they have 61 releases which are all of high quality. What I didn't expect was this. The band came out and played the first disc of their latest release The Incident, a disc which features one 76 minute song, in its entirety. That's something special in itself, but what was even more amazing was that the band had a video accompanying their performance. Often lyrics would appear in the image, and no matter how far into the song the band was they were always in synch. There lies the definition of talent. They then took a quick break and returned to play some older songs, including a b-side which I had hoped to hear but never imagined I would: Half Light. This was my first gig of 2010 and nothing even came close to the level of brilliance and excitement presented here.

What I would have done better: I wouldn't have let them stop playing.

2011 is looking to be a great year for gigs. Bands such as La Dispute, Andrew McMahon, Gaslight Anthem, Polar Bear Club and This Town Needs Guns will be playing, and I'll also be going to Laneway. Will any of them come close to the performances seen this year? Time will tell.

Happy new year, everyone. I'll be watching the Gaki no Tsukai batsu game online tonight, and I hope you all have fun too.



Tuesday, December 28, 2010

The Six Best Films of 2010

The type of films in my list for 2010 varies greatly for several reasons. I didn't see many mainstream releases this year at the cinema, a lot of the films I am keen on aren't released in Australia until 2011 and, frankly, I've watched so much Mystery Science Theater 3000 this year that I haven't had time to watch good features. Now without further adieu I give you the six best films of 2010 (that I saw).

6. The Road


Beyond the fact I'd read the novel and am a big fan of Cormac McCarthy I had little hope for the quality of this film about a father and son traversing the post-apocalyptic USA as they looked for refuge. It didn't matter whether Hillcoat stayed true to the source material or not, I just didn't know how this film could keep people interested. The answer was dynamic visuals, supporting actors whose two/three minutes on the screen breathed new life into the film every time without fail, and two of the strongest leads in a film this year. What's more is the atmosphere: unrelenting, desolate and realistic, it was the very backbone of The Road.

What I would have done better: Less Charlize Theron. The strength of this story is its complete focus on the present, so the flashbacks were nothing more than distracting.

5. Aftershock


Feng Xiaogang is renowned as a comedic director, so the fact that he made the most emotional movie of 2010 is quite surprising. When I saw this there was not a dry eye in the cinema. Literally. Except for mine. Barely. Alright, they may have teared up once or twice. Besides a third act that is at times lacklustre Aftershock tells a personal story with the culture of China setting the perfect backdrop. The earthquake itself is the best ever depicted on film, so it is no surprise that the film was met with controversy in China, where it is taboo to portray national disasters for profit. More than any other film on this list Aftershock is one everybody can enjoy.

What I would have done better: Hired a better Western actor for the scene in Canada. Who was that guy, seriously?

4. Agora


Agora deals with a lot of themes: the rise of Catholicism in Egypt, the value of science and of man, and the position of women in society. How fortunate are we then that Rachel Weisz gives the performance of her career as Hypatia, the female philosopher and atheist whose words, regardless of her gender, were some of the most valued in her time. It's a great historic film that looks fantastic while never becoming epic, which works in the movie's advantage, as the belief that every film of this kind must be large in scale is a false one.

What I would have done better: Made it longer. The subplot that focuses on Hypatia's science ended too abruptly, I felt.

3. Summer Wars



Mamoru Hosoda is steadily becoming my favourite anime director. While the quality of the traditional anime is not quite as good as that seen in the likes of Miyazaki films it is the complexity and emotion found in Hosoda's films that set him apart. A parable that warns of the dangers faced when society relies too much on technology, Summer Wars takes place on two planes of existence. The first, our reality, is portrayed in classic 2D animation with all the vibrancy and depth you'd expect, but the highlight of the film is certainly on the second plane, in the virtual community known as OZ. Incorporating elements of 3D, CG, and 2D on an amazing scale it really is a sight to behold. The plot is engaging, often funny or sad but never slow. All anime fans must see it.

What I would have done better: The start is very sudden and could have used some slower pacing.

2. Inception



I'm sure you expected this. Inception is the only blockbuster I've seen this year, and I believe it is the only 2010 film I actually own. Nolan's film is exceptionally well told, plot holes aside, and though it's only one step up from mindless action (especially in that third act) the acting, the visuals and the awe-inspiring CGI make you feel like you're watching something incredible. Unlike Nolan's other films once the hype dies down the resonance of this film is still strong, hence why it is my number two.

What I would have done better: The plot holes are ridiculous. I was willing to forgive Nolan because I enjoyed the film so much, but if even a few of the smaller ones had been resolved this would have been a much better film.

1. Best Worst Movie

Best Worst Movie is a documentary about Troll 2, often considered the worst film of all time (which it really isn't), brought to us by Michael Stephenson, the guy who played the kid, Joshua, in the film. The documentary mostly follows George Hardy who played the father as he comes to realise the film is a cult phenomenon. The mixed reactions from cast members is a real thrill to see, but it's director Claudio Fragasso's blind belief that he made a great film, that the cast and critics alike are idiots, and that the public has finally realised Troll 2's brilliance that makes this the best film I've seen all year. Underneath it all is a powerful story about how hard it is to make films, but the seriousness of the matter never takes away from the hilarity of watching George Hardy shout at a crowd "And you can't piss on hospitality! I won't allow it!"

What I would have done better: More Claudio! That man should have a whole movie featuring his insane, Italian ramblings.

The Six Most Disappointing Films of 2010

Every year sees terrible films released, and they usually make a lot of money. Fortunately I managed to avoid the real insults of the year - films such as The Last Airbender and Cop Out - so my list features six films that may not have been terrible, but nevertheless were entirely disappointing.

6. Monsters


The director of Monsters, Gareth Edwards, referred to the film as a romance...that just happened to be set in a quarantine zone filled with aliens. From that alone I expected something completely original at best, or at least a modern adventure tale. What we got can only be described as an art-house creature feature that couldn't actually afford to show the creatures more than two or three times. Which is ridiculous, seeing as they are the about four stories tall. The two lead characters make this a decent film, but calling the movie Monsters is nothing more than a tease, so it's my number six.

What I would have done better: If you can't show these giant creatures all the time at least have their presence felt more often. A sound effect, smoke in the distance, anything!

5. The Human Centipede


I know what you're saying. Now shut up and hear me out. I didn't expect The Human Centipede to be good in the regular sense, but as a fan of exploitation films I thought this film had great potential. The end result was boring, scandalous for the sake of being scandalous, and worst of all it was sensationalised. I can understand when bad films with big marketing budgets get more attention than good films with small marketing budgets, but when an abysmal stain like The Human Centipede is treated like the first film of its kind because it gets a decently sized, undeserved release I just get angry. This is one of the two films on this list that would appear in a list of the worst films of 2010 for me.

What I would have done better: Set the film in the 50's and made the doctor a Nazi. It's exploitation cinema after all.

4. Savages Crossing


This is the second of those films. Want to know the definition of embarrassed? Me at the Gold Coast premiere of this film. John Jarratt managed to pull together a decent budget for this film, and he blew it completely on, I assume, the actor's paychecks. Is his character recently out of jail or rehab? Does he want $10 million or half the value of the house? The script is bad, most of the actors play like they're on Home & Away, and what's worse is that this film is only going to make it harder for Australian film makers to get independent financing. I respect what John tried to do, but this is a bad film.

What I would have done better: Not been so self indulgent with the script and focused on actual continuity.

3. Hot Tub Time Machine


How do you fuck up a homage to the teenage comedies of the 80's with John Cusack in it? I bet that's how the pitch went too. "They go back to the 80's and everything is like it is in those old teen comedies. It'll star John Cusack." Bam! Here's your money! How can you go wrong? Well you can have all of one decent reference, which is to a film Cusack was in as a co-star and not a lead. The rest of the jokes are tired and boring. Crispin Glover is brilliant as always, and Chevy Chase has a decent cameo, but this film was completely ruined by failing to use one of the greatest actors from the films they are paying tribute to and by delivering one of the worst endings seen this decade.

What I would have done better: Actually incorporated jokes relevant to the theme of the film instead of trying to make a standard, mediocre comedy.

2. I'm Still Here


This could have been fantastic. It could have been in the same vein as Borat or Bruno without having to resort to base, offensive bullshit. But Phoenix and Affleck failed. Watching I'm Still Here is uncomfortable and rarely funny. The worst part was that both men came out the night before the premiere and said that it was fake! That's like when Tony Abbott said you can't always believe what politicians promise: of course not, we all know it, but you're not meant to say it.

What I would have done better: Made the film fun instead of a character analysis. Oh, and I wouldn't have TOLD EVERYONE IT WAS FAKE BEFORE THE FILM WAS EVEN RELEASED!

1. Scott Pilgrim VS The World


I've never read the graphic novels. I've always thought Edgar Wright was overrated. I haven't liked Michael Cera since Juno. So it's surprising that this is the most disappointing film I've seen all year. However, I'm pretty sure that if you play the film in rewind you can hear a voice begging you to find the film cool, but in a geeky way. The art style is fantastic but unless you knew the background of the film you'd wonder just why the hell you can see soundwaves emanating from the guitar or when a door slams why the word 'Bang!' appears. Scott Pilgrim VS The World knows what it wants to be and tries to be it a little too hard. Combined with the fact that the third act feels rushed means this film certainly didn't live up to its potential. Regardless, the acting is great and the theme is pretty clever and original, so it certainly isn't a bad film.


What I would have done better: Contextualised the art style, and not tried so damn hard to be cool.

That's that for now. The list of top six best films of the year will be here tomorrow, so keep an eye out.

I'm Why We Can't Have Anything Nice.

Hello, readers.

Whenever I review a film, music, game etc. there's always someone who disagrees with me to the point where I'm sure I'd have been physically assaulted by now if I didn't have an avatar absorbing the blows for me. They tell me my reviews are 'why we can't have anything nice' and that my dislike of something not only means I have poor taste but that I am a poor human being in general.

I'm not in a position to judge, but I do know that I get as many people asking me to start a blog as I do asking me to die. Up until recently I haven't been a fan of either idea, but with the year coming to a close and the inevitable best/worst lists starting to emerge I thought I'd use this place as somewhere I could voice my opinion. I appreciate all positive comments as much as I do negative comments so long as you stick around to tell me what else I'm wrong about. This page isn't here for me to tell you what to watch but to spark discussion. 

I plan to do something different though. I have embraced the perception of myself as an insensitive douche who doesn't like anything, so every review, whether good or bad, will end with a note on one thing I would have done differently/better if I'd made the film/game/whatever.

Since I have come to the conclusion that this year I will not be watching any more films from 2010 (for various reasons) my lists for the top five films of the year and five most disappointing films of the year will be up tonight.

Enjoy.