What is CBGB you ask? Well as the hilariously grungy Alan Rickman (yes, that’s Alan Rickman) tells us early in the trailer, it stands for “Country Blue Grass Blues“. Never heard of it? While it ain’t The Whiskey Bar it has been the spring board for some of the music world’s most iconic entertainers. This film tells the true story of Hilly Kristal (Alan Rickman) and how he turned his sleazy low-rent club into the stuff of legend. So if names like the Talking Heads, Blondie, The Ramones, The Police, and/or Iggy Pop mean anything to you, you have to check this out. Enjoy!! In addition to Rickman nearly disappearing…
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Off the Shelf…'Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy'
For years I have been a huge (and yet still increasingly interested) fan of British comedy. I much prefer the subtle and quasi dry humor to the slapstick and over-the-top humor that dominates American cinema. There’s just something about a joke when it can be done with less animation but still evoke gut busting laughter. Growing up with Life of Brian, I guess I could call that (and other Monty Python creations) the “School of Dry Knocks”. Moving on to A Bit of Fry and Laurie, throw in some of The Office, a dash of Guy Ritchie and finish up with a huge helping of Little Britain, I am completely…
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Off the Shelf…’Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’
For years I have been a huge (and yet still increasingly interested) fan of British comedy. I much prefer the subtle and quasi dry humor to the slapstick and over-the-top humor that dominates American cinema. There’s just something about a joke when it can be done with less animation but still evoke gut busting laughter. Growing up with Life of Brian, I guess I could call that (and other Monty Python creations) the “School of Dry Knocks”. Moving on to A Bit of Fry and Laurie, throw in some of The Office, a dash of Guy Ritchie and finish up with a huge helping of Little Britain, I am completely…
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Off the Shelf…’Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves’
Due to a very pleasing viewing of the recent Robin Hood film, I thought I’d re-evaluate the previous Mr. Hood, the one whom I’ve held on a pedestal for so long. Comparatively, they are different sotries and given that the newest Ridley Scott film is a production that throws out most convention, looking back it seems more apparent that Costner’s did so as well (just to a lesser degree). Was it a bad thing? No. It, just like Scott’s film, just fit well in the time it was made and like history has shown us, change, sometimes, an inevitable part of storytelling. As far as Kevin Costner’s film, does it stand up? Nostalgia aside, I…
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Off the Shelf…'Galaxy Quest'
This past weekend I was watching Star Trek on Blu-Ray (which is jaw-dropping btw). While I just love that movie I couldn’t help but think, more than a few times, of how spot on the Galaxy Quest spoof was to the entire Star Trek franchise. After the movie ended, and I swore that I was a confirmed ‘neo’Trekkie’ I put Galaxy Quest in for a spin and laughed my ass off. For starters, this was no spoof in the vein of Airplane! or even those abysmal “Scary”, “Date”, “Disaster” Movies that studios term as spoof either. Not this was almost an outright homage sprinkled with witty humor and fine acting. I have…