Crazy Heart: Blu-ray (2009)

Jeff Bridges is awesome. He's been awesome since his debut in 1971's The Last Picture Show. He was awesome in the 80's (Starman, The Fabulous Baker Boys), 90's (The Fisher King, The Big Lebowski) and 00's (The Contender, Seabiscuit). Even with all the great things he has done Bridges has never been as awesome as he is in Crazy Heart - except for The Dude but that's a given.

Bridges plays Otis "Bad" Blake an alcoholic, former country star who refuses to write new material and is now reduced to playing small gigs in local dive bars and bowling alley's. He has no money, no family and no real career. During a tour he meets Jean (Maggie Gyllenhaall), a small town reporter and divorced mother and they start up a relationship. As their relationship grows Bad shows signs of creative spark but can he overcome his demons and attain redemption both in his personal life and with his music?

Bridges won the Best Actor Oscar for his performance here and it was very well deserved. He embodies a broken down alcoholic in ever movement and every breath. This is one of those roles that after seeing the movie there is no way to ever picture another actor as Bad Blake. Gyllenhaal is very good as well but her part is a bit underwritten ( it's never really clear why she would fall in love with Bad in the first place). The rest of the supporting performances (Colin Farrell, Robert Duvall) are all very good as well and make the most of their limited screen time.
 
Obviously in a story about a country music singer, country music is going to play a huge role in the film so I'm going to preface by saying I hate contemporary mainstream country music with a passion. It's fake, manufactured and has no soul. Luckily Bad Blake's music - and the rest of the music in the film - is in line with 1970's "outlaw" country music and is excellent. Bridges (and Colin Farrell, who knew?) can really sing and the original songs (written by a bunch of artists and supervised by T-Bone Burnett) are all very enjoyable. The music scenes are the best aspect of Crazy Heart and a great reminder that not all country music sucks.

Unfortunately the love story never really clicks. As I mentioned before the reasons that Jean falls in love with Bad are never really clear and it just doesn't always ring true. Crazy Heart also doesn't exactly break new ground in it's story of redemption and love. Everything is a bit familiar and it always feels like we've seen this story before. These issues don't prevent the movie from working but they do hold it back from being a classic.

Much like the movie itself, the blu-ray is solid but unspectacular. The video transfer is crisp, with fine colorization and excellent detail. Crazy Heart just isn't the type of movie that is going to provide a big visual "wow" factor but it looks good and suits the story perfectly. The audio is strong as well. The movie is almost entirely dialogue driven and that aspect is always clear and easily understandable. There isn't much to speak of as far as low end support and surrounds are basically used only for ambiance but anything different would seem very forced. The track does open up significantly during the concert scenes and the music sounds fantastic. Guitars are crisp, drums are tight and the vocals are strong.

Crazy Heart is a very good movie but it's story is nothing groundbreaking. Bridges deserved the Best Actor Oscar he won as his performance is fantastic. I also enjoyed the soundtrack much more than what passes for country music these days. Bridges and the music make the film worth watching but I'm not sure if the overall film will warrant multiple viewings.

Ratings:
Movie: 4/5
Blu-ray: 4/5

Avatar: Blu-ray (2009)

Ever heard of some little movie called Avatar? I think it did OK at the box office. It's apparently so amazing that there were people who suffered from post-Avatar depression because their lives weren't nearly as awesome as the world in the film. That alone must make it among the best movies of all time!

Anyway, I'm not gonna pretend that anyone really cares what I think about the movie itself but here we go. The story is incredibly unoriginal, the acting ranges from adequate to laughably bad, the films message is shoved down your throat at every possible moment and finally it's too long and fairly slow paced for an action flick. Does any of that matter? The answer is a resounding NO! The level of visual innovation alone makes up for almost everything that's wrong with the rest of the movie. Add in a bunch of exciting action scenes, special effects that are a new standard in filmmaking, and flawless CGI images and the movie is still a total winner. While I don't think it was one of the best movies of last year it was definitely the best theatrical experience.

Now to the important part, how does the blu-ray look? Do you get the same sense of awe that you experienced in the theaters? Yes and yes. Even being in only 2D (the 3D version will probably be available around the holidays and drive sales of 3D television's insanely high) the video is glorious. I originally thought that without 3D the flaws in the movie would be much more apparent and hinder the viewing experience. I was wrong. There is no way to describe how amazing the picture quality is. Colors pop like crazy, blacks are deep and effective. Detail is outstanding, etc. etc. etc. This is going to be playing on displays at Best Buy for a long, long time. The audio is just as fantastic as the video. The DTS-HD track is expectedly loud and powerful. Low end is some of the deepest I have ever heard, surrounds are constantly active in both action scenes and during the quieter moments. Directionality is perfect, nothing seems out of place or unwarranted. Dialogue is never lost in the mix and always easily understood. The only downside (and a clear sign of numerous versions of Avatar being released eventually) is that there are no extra features included.

Despite a number of flaws, Avatar is a rousing success. Anyone in fear that it wouldn't hold up well without the 3D experience does not have to worry. The blu-ray has perhaps the most technically impressive transfer seen on the format yet. The double-dipping factor is the one thing that keeps this from being a must buy, (unless of course you don't want to suffer from post Avatar blu-ray depression) but if you can't wait for a more fleshed out release you will surely not be disappointed in this one.

Ratings:

Movie: 4/5
Blu-ray: 5/5

Minority Report: Blu-ray (2002)

There aren't that many Stephen Spielberg movies yet available on blu-ray (Close Encounters, Indiana Jones and the Crappy Aliens, Saving Private Ryan next month), so anytime one is released it's a pretty big deal. Minority Report isn't usually considered among Stephen Spielberg's best work but it's right there on the second tier of his films along with Catch Me If You Can and Munich.

The movie is a mix of sci-fi, action and noir that asks an intriguing question about foreknowledge and free will. Is the future set or can we as people alter it? My biggest complaint with Minority Report is that the film never really digs deep into that question. It instead opts for a enjoyable and superbly directed chase movie. It's viscerally exciting and well acted by the cast (Tom Cruise, Colin Farrell, Max Von Sydow being the main parts) but there's just not as much under he surface as there could have been. With that and a few other minor nitpicks (the comic relief can be pretty painful and the movie runs a tad too long) aside, it's easy to focus on all the good things Spielberg presents us with. The visuals are impressive, special effects are seamless and the set design is wonderful. Characters seem real and there is some heart at the center of it a well. In the end Minority Report is really just a fun, exciting and fairly intelligent popcorn flick and while there's nothing wrong with that, it could have been more.

The blu-ray is technically terrific. While the color scheme is fairly muted, with everything tending to blacks, grays and blues, it looks fantastic. Shadows are of great importance for the film's style and thankfully black levels are very strong. They really helps set the noirish look and feel of the film. Detail as well is outstanding. Facial features are readily apparent and the shots of scenery reveal things I had never noticed on DVD. The audio as well it great. Low end is powerful, surrounds are put to great use in the action scenes and there is plenty of ambiance in the quieter moments. Dialogue is never lost in the mix, rounding out an all around excellent experience.

While there are a couple things that hold Minority Report back from being a true classic, it's a solid and entertaining flick nonetheless. The blu-ray is fantastic and worth the upgrade for fans.

Ratings:

Movie: 4/5
Blu-ray: 5/5

Weekend Video: Gorillaz (Feat Bobby Womack, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon): Stylo

I generally hate fake bands but I actually like Gorillaz. I really do but my bias against electronic music makes them very difficult to get into. The original video for the song "Stylo" is pretty cool but I just don't like the sound of computerized instruments. I guess that's why the version they played last night on "The Colbert Report" is far superior. Live instruments just sound better and that's a fact. While it's too bad Mos Def wasn't there but Bobby Womack still has the goods. Add in Mick Jones and Paul Simonon of The Clash and you're gonna win my heart. Anyway here's the aforementioned video.

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Gorillaz - Stylo
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The Box: Blu-ray (2009)

Richard Kelly made his name with 2001's Donnie Darko. After the success of that film Kelly took 6 years to deliver it's follow up Southland Tales. Darko was a serious examination of teenage angst and instability with little humor. Kelly tried mixing in comedic aspects with Southland but it's 2.5 hour runtime was far to long to hold up all the way through. Obviously he learned from some of his mistakes and with his 3rd full length picture The Box, Kelly has finally given the world the comedy classic we've been waiting for.

The Box is based on the Richard Matheson short story "Button, Button." While on the surface it would appear to be an odd source for comedy, Kelly's genius as a writer and director, along with the casts impeccable comedic skills, really make the movie work. The premise is simple, in 1976 Norma and Arther Lewis (Cameron Diaz and James Marsden) are presented with the opportunity of a lifetime by a mysterious stranger calling himself Arlington Steward (Frank Langella). Steward gives the couple a box with a button and tells them if they push said button they will receive one million dollars. The other consequence is that someone in the world, who they don't personally know, will die. If they do not push the button nothing will change for them and life will go on as is. The Lewis' are in financial trouble and could really use the money but are they prepared to deal with the consequences of their actions?

The true genius of The Box is that it's an amazing comedy that does not rely on jokes. Instead Kelly relies on his excellent cast and an array of visual gags to deliver the laughs. Diaz gives her best performance since There's Something About Mary. Her intentionally terrible southern accent is sure to put a grin on everyones faces every time he speaks. Marsden's performance isn't as showy but the complete lack of emotion he gives vocally and in his facial expressions can only be an homage to Buster Keaton. Langella serves as the straight man in the film and he portrays the role with excellence Even with all the insanity happening around him he never breaks from his steely, half-faced gaze. Kelly shows a great knack for comedic casting with his choices in supporting characters. The mix of familiar faces and fresh newcomers steal most every scene they are in. The blank and hilariously menacing stares they give throughout the film are eerily reminiscent of the actors from any Ed Wood film, they are simply priceless. Kelley's screenplay is fantastic as well. He throws so many implausible situations and circumstances into the mix that the writers of 30 Rock will inevitably be picking his brain for inspiration in the near future. Kelly also gets the biggest laugh of all with his amazing directorial choice in a pivotal party scene. Having multiple characters dance, what can only be described as a spastic jitterbug, to the Marshall Tucker Band's classic song "Can't You See" is the best visual gag in the flick.

Technically the blu-ray is serviceable but unspectacular. The color scheme is generally muted but when they do appear they are strong. Black levels are represented well and detail is perfectly fine but nothing spectacular. Audio wise, as with most comedies, The Box is a dialogue driven affair so there's not much room for the audio track to stretch it's muscle. When it does open up, usually for it's classic rock soundtrack, it does so with excellent clarity and presence.

The Box must be seen to believe. With the source material and Richard Kelly's track record I was expecting another sci-fi/thriller of varying success. Instead I got a laugh riot from start to finish. Rarely does a film come together this well on all fronts. The writing, direction and acting are all top-notch and hilarious and the entire 2 hours just flies by. The Box is a comedy classic for a new generation!

Movie 5/5
Blu-ray 4/5

The Slackers: The Great Rocksteady Swindle (2010)

I'll just start with a full disclaimer: I love the Slackers. They can do no wrong in my book and The Great Rocksteady Swindle is no exception. There aren't many bands playing ska these days and even less that do it in a traditional style without mixing in punk influences. The Slackers are such a band but they also branch out into rocksteady and reggae with equal skill, all the while mixing in a heavy dose of soul. This is also the most collaborative record the Slackers have ever made, with all 6 members getting at least 2 writing credits.

"How It Feels" kicks the album off and does a fantastic job of setting the tone for the rest of whats to follow. "Because," "Cheated," "A Long Way Off" and "Don't Look Back" all are in same vein, with laid-back rhythms and keyboardist Vic Ruggerio's spoken/singsong vocals that fit the music perfectly. While those laid-back rhythms are the norm, there are some excellent exceptions as well. The soul stomp of "Thank You" could easily fit on a Stax record from the late 60's and the album closing "The Same Everyday" could be the best song Toots Hibbert never wrote. Trombonist Glen Pine takes the lead on 3 songs and his soulful style is a nice contrast with Ruggerio's rougher vocals. "Anastasia" and "Daddy" are both beautiful tracks with great melody's. "Bo Evil" is the most rockin' tune here and Pine really gets to let loose, giving the album a nice change of pace.

The entire band has been together for quite a while now and it really shows in their musical interplay. Pine and saxophonist David Hillyard make up one of the best horn sections in ska today with Hillyard's solos being constant highlights. The rest of the band (guitarist Jay Nugent, bassist Marcus Geard and drummer Ara Babajian) keep the rhythms tight and the beats flowing extremely well without being overly flashy.

While most of the the music sounds like it could have been recorded in Jamaica circa 1968, the lyrics are thoroughly modern. "Sabina" tells the affecting story of an abused woman who starts a new life in Iraq. "Tool Shed" is directly related to today's American economy and "Mr. Tragedy" is a darkly comic look at a melodramatic person who's always threatening to commit suicide. Most of the rest of the tracks deal with relationships and the inevitable mistakes we all make in them.

The Great Rocksteady Swindle might not add anything new to the Slackers canon but it's another rock solid and thoroughly enjoyable album. There's nothing even resembling a bad track included and it flows remarkably well. It's a perfect soundtrack for a warm summer day with a cold beer and good tunes.

Rating: 4/5

Track Listing:

1. "How It Feels" - 3:38
2. "Because" - 2:53
3. "Mr. Tragedy" - 3:48
4. "Sabina" - 4:18
5. "Cheated" - 4:20
6. "Daddy" - 3:10
7. "A Long Way Off" - 3:35
8. "Bo Evil" - 3:02
9. "Tool Shed" - 3:15
10. "Ain't No Sunshine" - 3:55
11. "Don't Look Back" - 4:23
12. "Anastasia" - 3:51
13. "Thank You" - 2:47
14. "The TV Dinner Song" - 3:20
15. "The Same Everyday" - 3:44

Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings: I Learned the Hard Way (2010)

There isn't a better retro-soul band in the business today than Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings. While they may not bring anything new to the table there is no better place to go for fantastic channeling of 60's soul and some 70's funk. It's easy to get caught up in the sound of the band but that would mean overlooking the actual songs and the songs on I Learned the Hard Way are uniformly superb.

"The Game Gets Old," and the title track are sweeping soul numbers. "Better Things," "I'll Still Be True" and "Without a Heart" show off the bands funk influences. "Give it Back" and "Window Shopping" are both excellent slow tunes that add some balance. Album closer "Mama Don't Like My Man" ends the proceedings on a basic Sam Cooke feel and is my favorite song on the album.

While the band is tight and relays their vintage sounds in superb  fashion, Jones is the star of the show. Her singing has always been extremely powerful but she adds a lot in terms of variations and subtlety this time around. While previous albums found her relying almost exclusively on the force in her voice, she shows more restraint on songs like "If You Call" and the result is beautiful. Lyrically they never stray too far from the heartbreak theme that has dominated all their work. Lyrical genius this is not but it's hardly offensive and suits the music perfectly.

You pretty much know what you're going to get going into I learned the Hard Way and there are no new revelations here but that's not the point. It's very enjoyable from start to finish. Anyone with an affinity for 60's soul is missing out by not listening to this band.

Rating: 4/5

Track Listing

1. "The Game Gets Old" - 3:55
2. "I Learned the Hard Way" - 3:47
3. "Better Things" - 3:40
4. "Give It Back" - 3:22
5. "Money" - 3:22
6. "The Reason" - 2:20
7. "Window Shopping" - 4:35
8. "She Ain't a Child No More" - 2:35
9. "I'll Still Be True" - 3:48
10. "Without a Heart" - 2:45
11. "If You Call" - 3:00
12. "Mama Don't Like My Man" - 2:31