Things I Missed

Wait, how did I miss this?

In 2002, Christopher Nolan directed a remake of Insomnia. Produced by George Clooney and Steven Soderbergh. Starring Al Pacino and Hilary Swank. Watching it now. I hope it’s good!

Also, things I missed:

The White Stripes released an album in 2000 called De Stijl. It rocks.

In 2005, Christopher O’Riley released another album of Radiohead covers (called “Hold Me To This”). (If you haven’t listened to “True Love Waits”–O’Riley’s Radiohead covers that he released to CD in 2003 … you owe it to yourself. You don’t even have to be a Radiohead fan. (Though, if you’re not a Radiohead fan … what’s the point?))

Also, Wilco has an album called Summerteeth that released in 1999 (which has the original “A Shot In the Arm” recording). I had no idea. Great album!

Am I the only one that missed these? If so … you bastards! You’ve been holding out on me. If not … you’re welcome!

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Edit: I didn’t actually “miss” the Nolan version of Insomnia. Sadly, it sucked. EVERYTHING that made the Erik Skjoldbjærg version great was absent in Nolan’s rendition.

Edit 2: And, come to think of it, I knew that Nolan had made another film (with a title like “Insomnia”) that I hadn’t seen. And, I knew I hadn’t seen it because it wasn’t supposed to be particularly worth seeing. Well … now I’ve seen it.

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Edit 3: Curious thing, though. I fell asleep straight-away after Skjoldbjærg’s version of Insomnia. I can’t seem to sleep after Nolan’s…

Some Movies

Watched and enjoyed Food, Inc–the latest in a string of new documentaries on the food (a.k.a “corn”) industry.

Great production values and engaging interviews (including Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma) make Food, Inc a rather more refined product than King Corn–though they’re essentially the same product: corn, corn, corn. The packing plant motif conjures scenes from Richard Linklater’s Fast Food Nation, sans the personal story / drama. If food activism is your thing, you’re sure to enjoy Food, Inc. If you prefer not to think about what’s in your food, may I suggest:

Insomnia (the 1997 Erik Skjoldbjærg original, not the 2002 Christopher Nolan remake) comes off as a tightly directed but dismal thriller. The film would be entirely forgettable–except for being so subtle and well crafted. Divulging the plot (or my speculations about the director’s intent) would be a disservice to any inclined to see it. Suffice to say that it’ll suite your mood if you’re looking for something light and fun–and it’ll suite your mood if you’re looking for something dark and ponderous. Not a common achievement.

Of course, if you’re looking for dark (though not particularly ponderous), you’re best bet is to make it to your local cinema and take in The Road. Imagine a zombie movie, told with all the seriousness of Requiem for a Dream. It’s scary as fuck–and, unlike a zombie film, it’s hard to shake. Check your Panglossean cheer at the popcorn stand and see this movie. You’ll likely regret it–but not in the sort of way that makes you want your money back. Just what you left at the popcorn stand.

Best 41 Albums of the Decade

I’m just going to throw this out there. My goal is sharing and discovery–but if you prefer to create controversy (no, I didn’t forget about Strawberry Jam…), go right ahead!

(*Hint* – One of these albums does not belong. Hrm… I wonder which one!)

Top 20
1. Wilco – Yankee Foxtrot Hotel (2002)
2. LCD Soundsystem – LCD Soundsystem (2005)
3. Justice – † (2008)
4. Born Ruffians – Red, Yellow & Blue (2008)
5. The White Stripes – White Blood Cells (2001)
6. The Tallest Man On Earth – Shallow Graves (2008)
7. Daft Punk – Alive 2007 (2007)
8. Califone – Roomsound (2001)
9. Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago (2007)
10. Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy and Matt Sweeney – Superwolf (2005)
11. Damien Rice – O (2002)
12. The Decemberists – Picaresque (2005)
13. Elliot Smith – From a Basement on a Hill (2004)
14. Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes (2008)
15. Destroyer – Destroyer’s Rubies (2006)
16. Wilco – A Ghost is Born (2004)
17. Radiohead – Kid A (2000)
18. Red Hot Chili Peppers – Stadium Arcadium (2006)
19. Modest Mouse – The Moon & Antarctica (2004)
20. Girl Talk – Feed the Animals (2008)

Bonus 10
21. Florence + The Machine – Lungs (2009)
22. The Format – Interventions + Lullabies (2004)
23. The Mountain Goats – All Hail West Texas (2002)
24. Gomez – How We Operate (2006)
25. Jimmy Eat World – Bleed American (2001)
26. Josh Ritter – The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter (2008)
27. Built to Spill – You In Reverse (2006)
28. The Shins – Chutes Too Narrow (2003)
29. Soulja Boy – Soulja Boy Tell Em (2007)
30. Spoon – GA GA GA GA GA (2007)

Runners Up
31. Kings of Leon – Only By The Night (2008)
32. Radiohead – In Rainbows (2007)
33. TV On The Radio – Return To Cookie Mountain (2006)
34. Sunjan Stevens – Illinois (2005)
35. Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion (2009)
36. Sunset Rubdown – Random Spirit Lover (2007)
37. Andrew Bird – Andrew Bird & The Mysterious Production of Eggs (2005)
38. Ben Folds – Rockin’ the Suburbs (2001)
39. Johnny Flynn – A Larum (2008)
40. Chad VanGaalen – Infiniheart (2004)
41. Band of Horses – Cease to Begin (2007)

some new year’s resolutions

An unordered list:

  • Learn to enjoy the company of strangers
  • Achieve greater levity
  • Smile longer
  • Make new friends
  • Be less self-conscious
  • Share more music
  • Consume less–and better–passive entertainment
  • Live prolifically
  • Be bigger (no, fuck that–be positively huge)
  • Use more profanity on the internet
  • Aestheticize simplicity
  • Drink less
  • Get drunk more
  • Crave healthier things
  • Think more
  • Douse the misanthropy
  • Burgeon with positivity–indomitable, overflowing, and contagious