Death of the Reprobate.

Movie "Rei"-commendation: The Long Goodbye (1973)

2009-12-15T17:15:00.004-05:00

The Long Goodbye

The first image you think of when you hear the name Philip Marlowe is the fedora-clad, gruff and tough P.I. so indelibly manifested by the Bogie back in 1946's "The Big Sleep". Several other notable actors have worn the skin in other film and TV adaptations of Raymond Chandler's novels with similar approaches and varying degrees of success.

Certainly not as the unemployed soft spoken, cat loving, neurotic Jewish P.I., as masterfully interpreted by Elliott Gould at the height of his early career.
But that's why it works.

This dude spends the first 10 minutes of the film trying to find something to feed his picky cat at 3 a.m. and lives next to an apartment full of half baked and fully naked chicks to whom he poses no threat to.

The film has a surprising amount of winning factors going for it among the cast and crew - many who had yet to make their mark on cinema:
1. Screenplay by Leigh Brackett.
This bitch actually wrote the 1946 The Big Sleep film adaptation as well [I guess she really likes Chandler] and possibly, more famously also wrote "The Empire Strikes Back" [with Lawrence Kasdan].
2. Film score composed by John Williams.
Yeah, JOHN WILLIAMS. Only a few years away before hooking up with some little known Jewish television director on some movie about a shark; who would, in effect, go on to run his name to his homeboy George Lucas for his movie about a space opera. Yeah, I wonder whatever happened to him...
3. Cinematography by Vilmos Zsigmond.
Well, no one really pays any attention to cinematographers so for the uninitiated, this guy basically defined the look and feel of films in the burgeoning New Hollywood scene of the 1970's. Partial list of film credits to his name: Deliverance, Close Encounters of the Third Kind [Academy Award'd!], The Deer Hunter, De Palma's Obsession and Blow Out. Rage on.
and last but certainly not least...
4. Early uncredited on-screen appearance by Arnold Schwarzenegger!

Shortly after this scene, he is instructed to strip all his clothes - which he dutifully does to reveal his yellow Hulkamania briefs. No lie. Way to make your film debut! I see a bright future ahead for you, AHNOLD.

26 years later and it still stands the test of time.
-Rei

Great Lesser-known Beatles tracks, pre-1966.

2009-09-07T01:03:00.003-04:00

The Beatles seem to have a polarizing effect on people - you either love them or hate them.
Even within Beatles fans, you have a) Beatles fans that love their early material at the height of Beatlemania; pre-1966 or b) the fans that really only embrace their experimental studio output once they gave up on touring; 1966-1970.

However, their studio output seems to get more critical praise than their early material. In the shadows of the massively popular Please Please Me's, She Loves You's and I Want To Hold Your Hand's lie truly great and largely overlooked gems from 4 dudes riding a massive wave of creativity way before their egos were inflated beyond repair.

This is a compilation of The Beatles most underrated album tracks, B-sides and EP songs that deserve a second listen:

1. I Should Have Known Better
- "A Hard Day's Night"
One of the last times they used harmonica on a record.

2. Any Time at All
- "A Hard Day's Night"

3. All I've Got To Do
- "With the Beatles"

4. This Boy
- "Past Masters"/B-side to "I Want To Hold Your Hand"
One of few songs to have all 3 singers sing in close harmony.

5. Don't Bother Me
- "With The Beatles"
One of the first songs written by George Harrison.

6. Rain
- "Past Masters"/B side to Paperback Writer
First song to feature backwards vocals and guitars.

7. She Said She Said
- "Revolver"
The only Beatles song that McCartney does not play on.

8. I'll Be Back
- "A Hard Day's Night"

9. I Call Your Name
- "Past Masters"/"Long Tall Sally EP"
Lennon originally gave this song to Billy Kramer & The Dakotas but hated the way they recorded it so he took it and re-recorded it.

10. The Night Before
- "Help!"

11. I'll Follow The Sun
- "For Sale"

"FREE PBR"

2008-09-08T12:15:00.002-04:00

It seems like this town can't find enough ways to hand out PBR (or "Peebers", as I like to call them). Every Tuesday night and Thursday night, The Atlantic gives them out for free; Karaoke Mondays at The Porch have free PBR from 9-10pm and if not, Peeber drafts are only $1. I also saw that Tijuana Flats offers $1 Yeungling drafts too. It's no wonder UF is the #1 party school in the nation, you could inundate the town in beer for a month straight!

Doom Town.

2008-08-25T13:25:00.002-04:00

Wipers forever.

I saw this at ABC the other day:

2008-08-22T14:12:00.004-04:00

Probably tastes like bongwater but the novelty makes up for it.

Keep It In.

2008-08-22T13:14:00.002-04:00

What's the deal with guys preemptively whipping out their Johnsons before reaching a urinal in public restrooms? It only takes a little willpower to hold it in for 2 seconds more while you reach the stall to discreetly unzip and proceed with business. Have a little decency for fuck's sake.

First post.

2008-08-15T15:36:00.002-04:00

Well bullocks, here it is: my blogger.
However, this might ACTUALLY get updated as time progresses out here in The Swamp, Gainesville. Today marks my first official week of residence in this lovely little town and I'm spending it the best way possible: staying in the night as an awesome show is happening ten blocks away at The Atlantic(As Friends Rust/Mehkago NT); accompanied by my favorite Boston Terrier ever(Roscoe) while I'm fighting a cold and listening to Lucero.

As I surmised, it did not take long to get used to living up here. In contrast to Miami, driving to Point B does not take ~20-30 min. around here. The summer heat is a LOT more bearable and nowhere near as humid. I could write on and on about the good stuff. However, simply put: I miss home. I'm surrounded by all these artifacts that can pinpoint very specific memories of home. Every time I walk into my room, it's like being stabbed by a thousand daggers. I can't let that cloud my senses though. I like it here alright and that's what should matter most. Maybe I should have gone to that show tonight to get my mind off of shit like this. Oh well- bottoms up!