Okay 2017, let’s cut to the chase. I don’t like you and you don’t like me. Maybe we can find common ground here. Do you like music? You don’t? Well shit. Anyways here are ten albums I liked, five more I liked almost as much and all the memories made along the way.
You better watch out
You better not cry
Better not pout
I’m telling you why
Rokk Talk is coming to town
They’re making their lists
of Christmas rock songs;
Gonna find out Which list is wrong
Rokk Talk is coming to town
They see you when you’re listening
They know when you’re into it
They know when it is time to rock
So come check out this shit
Oh! You better watch out!
You better not cry
Better not pout
I’m telling you why
Rokk Talk is coming
Rokk Talk is coming
Rokk Talk is coming to town
I saw My Friend Dahmer on a rainy Sunday in Seattle last month. Appropriate weather for the dreary story of one of the most sadistic killers of the modern era. The usher tore my ticket, pointed me in the right direction and said “Have fun” before I made my way into the dim theater. They probably didn’t realize what film they had told me to “have fun” watching but it struck me. The printing on the ticket cutoff before Dahmer. Meaning all the ticket said was “My Friend” which in a way helped put this film into perspective. This isn’t an effort to paint Jeffrey Dahmer as an antihero or a figure we should root for. It’s a film about somebody’s friend, somebody’s child, a student, a kid. Even monsters have to come from somewhere.
I’ve heard a lot of people attempt to label Yorgos Lanthimos. I’ve heard “Kubrick-esque” due to Lanthimos’ cold disposition toward humanity. Or the way he points a camera with wider shots than a museum diorama. I’ve also heard comparisons to Wes Anderson based on Lanthimos’ visual perfectionism and the way his characters act like props in a dollhouse as opposed to real people. I believe we’ve reached the point where we can say Lanthimos style is his own, as opposed to a mélange of his influences. And it’s a style that is rich with grandiose imagery, morbid humor, and pulsating with sinister intentions.
Now that you’re finally done blowing up your grandma’s outhouse courtesy of the good folks at Butterball, how about you blow out your ear-drums? Can you believe it’s been 40 years since Rocket to Russia hit record shelves? 40! That’s a whole Maggie Gyllenhaal. But gabba, gabba hey, have the years been good—as they have also been to Ms. Gyllenhaal—and Rocket to Russia is as explosive as ever.
I wasn’t sure what to expect from a “Polish Horror Musical” turns out that’s a very accurate description. The Lure or “The Daughters of Dance Party” is the story of two mermaids who join a small-time electronic pop band only to find themselves disenchanted by the selfish desires of mankind. It also has rock and roll sing-a-longs and the devouring of human flesh. It’s a well-rounded film.
SPOILERS
When I studied film in college there were certain films that would come up more than others. Memento and Inception, Fight Club (of course), and for whatever reason, Antichrist. Maybe it was only once or twice but you don’t forget an Antichrist conversation. On one hand, it’s a film lover’s wet dream with rich visuals, deep earthly colors and even deeper themes. On the other hand, its a nightmare porn film ravaged by sorrow and misery. Either way, it’s not a fun time, but is it a rewarding experience?
