Okay, I'll admit it - I walked into Swingos expecting to be underwhelmed. Their brunch buffet failed to impress me the first time I was there. And I can't even give that a fair review because I was expecting it to be of similar quality to Pier W (which was undergoing remodeling when I last went to Swingos). My party's experience at this Cleveland culinary mainstay was far from underwhelming and totally engaged us in flavor, presentation, and service.
The meal began with complimentary cod roe on crispy croutons - light and smooth with a daring garlic bite that served as the perfect starter for the noteworthy Caesar salad. Available for $18 for two as a substitute for the dinner salad included with all entrées, this classic is prepared tableside - the dressing carefully mixed in a wooden bowl and the croutons lightly fried in butter before being served warm over crisp romaine hearts. Heavy on crushed garlic, freshly-ground black pepper, and lemon, the aromas wafting across your table pale in comparison to the outstanding flavor. The portions were extremely generous - we had it prepared for three and split for four people and were still left with plates that would have made a light lunch.
Two members of our party enjoyed the Steak Romano: twin filet mignons grilled and lightly coated with garlic and herb breadcrumbs served with a cabernet reduction. Side dishes available were roasted redskin potatoes with Parmesan and rosemary, potatoes Lyonnaise, and steamed broccoli. I ordered the featured entrée which was similar to the Steak Romano - the same two breaded filets served with angel hair pasta in a wonderfully creamy pesto sauce with tomato and mushroom. It was garnished with caramelized red onion in a fried potato basket - a playful and eye-catching presentation. The beef was delicious though a few degrees overdone in my opinion; if you prefer your steak medium rare, I'd suggest you order it rare at Swingos. The pasta was smooth and subtle and an excellent pairing for the beef. As with the salad, portions were generous - each meal at $38 was enough to make us consider skipping dessert, though after we saw the selections we ended up regaining our resolve.
The wine list read more like an almanac - Swingos is internationally known for its expansive wine selection, and to highlight some of the notable vintages is beyond the scope of my review as well as my expertise. It suffices to say that any oenophile will find something that impresses. Our knowledgeable server suggested wine pairings for our meal selections, and we settled on splitting a bottle of their house Swingos Grand Tavern Pinot Noir. Made with Oregon grapes and bottled at Ohio's Grand River, it carried a slight alcohol tinge in its aroma, but was at once fruity and earthy. At a reasonable $30 a bottle, it was a fairly easy choice, and could pair well with any steak.
Because we enjoyed the tableside preparation of the Caesar salad, we were drawn to the desserts which were served in a similar manner; we selected the cherries jubilee. Delightfully sour cherries drenched in Grand Marnier and brandy, flambéed with Bacardi 151 and served over delicious vanilla ice cream. $18 bought a portion easily satisfying for three. The Quill Coffee also comes highly recommended - fine dark roast coffee with cream, Kahlúa, Baileys Irish Cream and amaretto. Even the plain coffee was an experience. It was served with Belgian chocolate shavings, cinnamon sticks and raw sugar to accent it as you wish.
The atmosphere was simple and pleasing for the most part. Even though the restaurant is right on Lake Erie, the view of the Cleveland skyline isn't nearly as good as Pier W (just on the other side of the condominium complex). The music was almost too pop for the atmosphere. Some smooth jazz or even piano would have been very welcome, but we actually heard a Red Hot Chili Peppers song. Honestly, a minor complaint considering the excellence of the food and service. The entire meal was paced extremely well. The entrées came out after the salad had just enough time to settle, and we enjoyed our coffee beverages for about fifteen minutes before our dessert was made. Overall, our visit was about two and a half hours of relaxed dining.
The Swingos name has been a fixture on the Greater Cleveland restaurant scene for years and years and its easy to see why. Their dedication to excellent preparation of culinary classics is evident in everything on the menu, and you could go a lifetime without tasting everything on their wine list. With a menu ranging from chicken to veal to almost a dozen seafood choices, their entertaining tableside preparations and the staff's expertise and friendliness, Swingos is a dining classic not to be missed.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
merry christmas
On a Christmas Eve so freezing, I commenced my quest displeasing,
Through the crowded shops and busy stores of flashy Yuletide glee.
In I hustled quickly tiring, looks of hopelessness inspiring,
To the salesman inquiring, "Have you a Nintendo Wii?"
"Sorry, sir" was his reply "for I have no Nintendo Wii.
All that's left is PS3."
Through the crowded shops and busy stores of flashy Yuletide glee.
In I hustled quickly tiring, looks of hopelessness inspiring,
To the salesman inquiring, "Have you a Nintendo Wii?"
"Sorry, sir" was his reply "for I have no Nintendo Wii.
All that's left is PS3."
Monday, December 17, 2007
top ten albums of 2007
I don't think 2007 was quite as awesome for music as 2006, just because 2007 didn't have Boys and Girls in America. Not without its highlights, however, 2007 brought us plenty of solid listening from artists new and old. I humbly submit to you, dear reader, my ten favorite albums of the year.
10.) Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
I honestly don't even have much to say about this album. Spoon are at the top of their genre and constantly crank out some of the catchiest and well-crafted tracks that indie rock has to offer. The fact that it's so damn short is disappointing, but a testament to its resilience - it definitely stands up to repeated listens.
09.) Kanye West - Graduation
Kanye West has done a lot more for rap than teaching us that it's okay for white people to listen to it, and Graduation - while not as bombastic and hubristic as Late Registration - is the best hip-hop album of the year. 'Ye lays down lines like "I'm like the fly Malcolm X / Buy any jeans necessary" which, despite being a pretty solid representation of everything wrong with hip-hop today, is a freaking hot line, man. A real grower of an album - nothing hits you in the face like "Gold Digger" or "Touch the Sky", but every track sounds better and better the more you listen to them. And he won his feud with 50, so that's another feather in his cap.
08.) The Field - From Here We Go Sublime
Ambient techno isn't something one hears incredibly often unless they seek it out - and Axel Willner's debut opus is a fantastic reason to do just that. Quite possibly the most beautiful-sounding and hypnotic album of the year, Willner weaves together layers of stringy synths, pulsing bass, and ghostlike vocals into an utterly entrancing and ecstatic 65 minutes. Played over a 5.1 system or a great set of headphones, From Here We Go Sublime is especially atmospheric and ethereal.
07.) Jens Lekman - Night Falls Over Kortedala
Those familiar with the previous works of Mr. Lekman know that his boyish charm and sugar-sweet lyrics make him a fantastic choice to show a girl how sensitive you are (as long as you're sure they won't fall in love with him). The amazing Night Falls Over Kortedala maintains his typical romantic subject matter and pairs it with orchestral horn flourishes, 60s and 70s pop stylings, and Motown, to mention a few of the many disparate influences you'll hear. A witty and lovelorn lyricist demonstrating a mastery of unabashedly sunny melodies with splendid pop sensibilities? The girlfriend will love it, too.
06.) Sunset Rubdown - Random Spirit Lover
Honestly, Spencer Krug is in more bands than I can name, and how he manages to churn out so much incredible material is just beyond me. Combining dense and layered guitars with his cracked and wavering voice, Random Spirit Lover is at once elegant and staggering. The album doesn't lose any steam from the joyous opening of "The Mending of the Gown", pairing blissful piano and guitar interplay with Krug's trademark vocals. "Up On Your Leopard, Upon the End of Your Feral Days" is another absolute highlight, sounding like swaggering circus music. I no longer consider Sunset Rubdown a "side project" of Wolf Parade - this is better than anything they've ever done.
05.) LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
Cheap beer has nothing on James Murphy for getting white kids to dance. Sound of Silver is without a doubt the band's most mature release yet - nine exceedingly groovy, party-ready tracks that strangely capture the warmth and crispness of all the classic rock and electronic vinyls that Murphy sings about in "Losing My Edge". Switching between his freewheeling high-pitched delivery in "North American Scum" to a subdued and sweet techno ballad in "Someone Great", the bandleader is as versatile of a vocalist as he is a songwriter, and I really only see him getting better.
04.) Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
Neon Bible was released to enormous expectations on the heels of the band's 2004 offering, the grandiose, morose, beautiful Funeral - and while not quite living up to its predecessor, it shows a logical progression as these somber rockers (riding their internet-fueled wave of popularity) expound upon their strong suits - homaging Springsteen through expansive instrumentation and Win Butler's intense vocals. Not as likely to move you as Funeral - on the other hand, not as likely to depress you, and definitely one of the most ornately-crafted works of the year.
03.) Animal Collective - Strawberry Jam
The experimental psychedelic notions of Animal Collective are still rarely heard outside of stoners' iPods and college radio, but Strawberry Jam demonstrates the group blending their growing pop sensibilities with the, (okay,) inaccessible freak-folk noise-rock that's made up the remainder of their discography. The result is profoundly interesting and unpredictable tracks that manage to be loads of fun to listen to at the same time.
02.) Panda Bear - Person Pitch
That's right, two Animal Collective-related albums in a row at the 2 and 3 spots. I can do that. Noah Lennox's third release as a solo artist channels the choral harmonies of The Beach Boys and the distant emotions of The Velvet Underground through seven gorgeous, intricate tracks that defy shoehorning into a genre. From the canon-sounding "Comfy in Nautica" to the hauntingly upbeat "Take Pills" to the intense "Good Girl / Carrots" (one of the two 12+ minute tracks on the disc), expectations are shattered and new musical frontiers are explored.
01.) Radiohead - In Rainbows
Yeah, I know. Radiohead has the best album of the year? Real effing unexpected. But the long-awaited follow up to Hail to the Thief was absolutely worth the wait. The legendary band's latest album is much warmer and intimate than the alienation and somberness permeating most of the rest of their discography. Though not at all without Yorke's trademark lyrics of disillusionment and hopelessness, lyrical subject matter delves into people and relationships - who really expected to hear "I don't wanna be your friend / I just want to be your lover" kicking off a Radiohead track? The transition is welcome - Radiohead seem to have abandoned their search for the ultimate synthesis between rock and electronic music, as awkwardly attempted in Hail to the Thief - and the result is an incredibly natural feel, ranging from the near-danceable "Bodysnatchers" to the magnificent "Nude" that gives "How to Disappear Completely" a run for its money. It's still rock music, and it's the same Radiohead that we love - but it's a band at peace with itself and the world.
10.) Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
I honestly don't even have much to say about this album. Spoon are at the top of their genre and constantly crank out some of the catchiest and well-crafted tracks that indie rock has to offer. The fact that it's so damn short is disappointing, but a testament to its resilience - it definitely stands up to repeated listens.
09.) Kanye West - Graduation
Kanye West has done a lot more for rap than teaching us that it's okay for white people to listen to it, and Graduation - while not as bombastic and hubristic as Late Registration - is the best hip-hop album of the year. 'Ye lays down lines like "I'm like the fly Malcolm X / Buy any jeans necessary" which, despite being a pretty solid representation of everything wrong with hip-hop today, is a freaking hot line, man. A real grower of an album - nothing hits you in the face like "Gold Digger" or "Touch the Sky", but every track sounds better and better the more you listen to them. And he won his feud with 50, so that's another feather in his cap.
08.) The Field - From Here We Go Sublime
Ambient techno isn't something one hears incredibly often unless they seek it out - and Axel Willner's debut opus is a fantastic reason to do just that. Quite possibly the most beautiful-sounding and hypnotic album of the year, Willner weaves together layers of stringy synths, pulsing bass, and ghostlike vocals into an utterly entrancing and ecstatic 65 minutes. Played over a 5.1 system or a great set of headphones, From Here We Go Sublime is especially atmospheric and ethereal.
07.) Jens Lekman - Night Falls Over Kortedala
Those familiar with the previous works of Mr. Lekman know that his boyish charm and sugar-sweet lyrics make him a fantastic choice to show a girl how sensitive you are (as long as you're sure they won't fall in love with him). The amazing Night Falls Over Kortedala maintains his typical romantic subject matter and pairs it with orchestral horn flourishes, 60s and 70s pop stylings, and Motown, to mention a few of the many disparate influences you'll hear. A witty and lovelorn lyricist demonstrating a mastery of unabashedly sunny melodies with splendid pop sensibilities? The girlfriend will love it, too.
06.) Sunset Rubdown - Random Spirit Lover
Honestly, Spencer Krug is in more bands than I can name, and how he manages to churn out so much incredible material is just beyond me. Combining dense and layered guitars with his cracked and wavering voice, Random Spirit Lover is at once elegant and staggering. The album doesn't lose any steam from the joyous opening of "The Mending of the Gown", pairing blissful piano and guitar interplay with Krug's trademark vocals. "Up On Your Leopard, Upon the End of Your Feral Days" is another absolute highlight, sounding like swaggering circus music. I no longer consider Sunset Rubdown a "side project" of Wolf Parade - this is better than anything they've ever done.
05.) LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
Cheap beer has nothing on James Murphy for getting white kids to dance. Sound of Silver is without a doubt the band's most mature release yet - nine exceedingly groovy, party-ready tracks that strangely capture the warmth and crispness of all the classic rock and electronic vinyls that Murphy sings about in "Losing My Edge". Switching between his freewheeling high-pitched delivery in "North American Scum" to a subdued and sweet techno ballad in "Someone Great", the bandleader is as versatile of a vocalist as he is a songwriter, and I really only see him getting better.
04.) Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
Neon Bible was released to enormous expectations on the heels of the band's 2004 offering, the grandiose, morose, beautiful Funeral - and while not quite living up to its predecessor, it shows a logical progression as these somber rockers (riding their internet-fueled wave of popularity) expound upon their strong suits - homaging Springsteen through expansive instrumentation and Win Butler's intense vocals. Not as likely to move you as Funeral - on the other hand, not as likely to depress you, and definitely one of the most ornately-crafted works of the year.
03.) Animal Collective - Strawberry Jam
The experimental psychedelic notions of Animal Collective are still rarely heard outside of stoners' iPods and college radio, but Strawberry Jam demonstrates the group blending their growing pop sensibilities with the, (okay,) inaccessible freak-folk noise-rock that's made up the remainder of their discography. The result is profoundly interesting and unpredictable tracks that manage to be loads of fun to listen to at the same time.
02.) Panda Bear - Person Pitch
That's right, two Animal Collective-related albums in a row at the 2 and 3 spots. I can do that. Noah Lennox's third release as a solo artist channels the choral harmonies of The Beach Boys and the distant emotions of The Velvet Underground through seven gorgeous, intricate tracks that defy shoehorning into a genre. From the canon-sounding "Comfy in Nautica" to the hauntingly upbeat "Take Pills" to the intense "Good Girl / Carrots" (one of the two 12+ minute tracks on the disc), expectations are shattered and new musical frontiers are explored.
01.) Radiohead - In Rainbows
Yeah, I know. Radiohead has the best album of the year? Real effing unexpected. But the long-awaited follow up to Hail to the Thief was absolutely worth the wait. The legendary band's latest album is much warmer and intimate than the alienation and somberness permeating most of the rest of their discography. Though not at all without Yorke's trademark lyrics of disillusionment and hopelessness, lyrical subject matter delves into people and relationships - who really expected to hear "I don't wanna be your friend / I just want to be your lover" kicking off a Radiohead track? The transition is welcome - Radiohead seem to have abandoned their search for the ultimate synthesis between rock and electronic music, as awkwardly attempted in Hail to the Thief - and the result is an incredibly natural feel, ranging from the near-danceable "Bodysnatchers" to the magnificent "Nude" that gives "How to Disappear Completely" a run for its money. It's still rock music, and it's the same Radiohead that we love - but it's a band at peace with itself and the world.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
musings
Dreaming about being in love is the absolute worst. One minute you're in some fairy wonderland with the girl of your, well, dreams, and the next you're looking at your ceiling in your boxers, alone and unloved, the tinny tones of your cell phone alarm clock summoning you to a day of selling video games to angry parents.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
musings
If the joy of a walk in the snow is honestly overshadowed by the necessity to shovel your driveway or brush off your car, then you will never again be a happy person.
Monday, December 3, 2007
radiohead - in rainbows (bonus disc)
I started writing a review of In Rainbows for this blog, but I didn't finish it fast enough and would have gotten it done a week after the album came out, dooming it to irrelevance. Now the In Rainbows disc box has shipped out, so I may as well write something up on the bonus disc.
If the average unknown band could put together an album the quality of Radiohead B-sides, we'd be hearing them everywhere within a month. And Radiohead's unorthodox release of the beautiful In Rainbows left listeners wondering whether the bonus disc would just be a collection of tracks that didn't make the cut, or an actual second half of the album. While remaining disparate from disc one in that it rarely matches the ghostly string swells and silky guitar, the new tracks absolutely stand on their own, at times perhaps even more surprising and innovative than disc one.
The second disc kicks off with a track called "MK 1", with disorganized meandering piano and Thom's croons eventually descending into a reprise of "Videotape", the disc one closer. To my dismay, the track didn't expand into the gorgeous finisher that was played in the band's 2006 tour. Nevertheless, it serves as a suitable transition from the first disc to the second.
"Down is the New Up" begins with a beating grand piano in contrast to the drowsy opener. "Your services are not required /Your future's bleak, you're so last week" Thom sings, quickly bringing the band's typically dismal subject matter to the forefront. The track steadily crescendos and strings build intensity as Yorke belts the titular line with staggering power, one of the disc's (band's?) absolute high points. The orchestra and powerful vocals combine to sound something like a James Bond song done by Radiohead, and if that doesn't sound awesome to you, just listen to the track.
Crackly synth evocative of M83 begins "Go Slowly", which is then dotted with wintery glockenspiel before Yorke's ethereal voice enters as an instrument all its own. The track climaxes with an unexpected but not unwelcome acoustic guitar part as Thom sings "There's a way out", once again in line with the more uplifting themes (as far as Radiohead goes) of the first disc.
"MK 2" is next, creepy electronic noises playing what sounds like the chords from "Nude". I know Radiohead likes to be artsy and pretentious and they can pull it off better than any other band making music today, but the inclusion of both "MK" tracks brings the bonus disc down to six tracks worth serious listening. We've now really reached my only gripe.
A pretty piano part beneath Yorke's falsetto begins "Last Flowers", and the acoustic guitar enters shortly thereafter. The interplay between the two instruments is so evocative of "Karma Police" that I would wager the same chords were used. (This is a very good thing.)
"Up On The Ladder" brings distorted, jangling guitars with a pulsing bass drum that are later matched by synthesized strings and skittering digital percussion, creating the perfect uneasy soundscape to highlight "Up on the ladder /try to call out your name / up on the ladder / you're all the fucking same". Absolutely another highlight; one of the best post-Kid A integrations of electronics into the band's music.
Disc two's complement to "Bodysnatchers", "Bangers & Mash" begins with a groovy guitar part backed with heavy percussion that is strangely danceable for a Radiohead track. The listener can tell that Yorke isn't lying with "I want to thank you, thank you, thank you all / I'm having such a good time, a good time" - this track is proof that the band isn't afraid to do something a little more lighthearted than their typical faire.
The bonus disc culminates with "4 Minute Warning", beginning with a string swell that sounds a little out of place considering the rest of the song. A lazy bassline paired with what sounds like synthesized steel drums finally show off the dub reggae influences the band was talking about during recording. Despite the uplifting feel of the song, the lyrics are typical - "I don't wanna hear it / I don't wanna grow old / I just wanna run and hide" - though it finishes sounding like an admonishment to make the best of the time we've got. With all of disc one in mind, it feels like an exceedingly fitting album-closer.
The bonus disc of In Rainbows feels neither like the second half of the album nor a collection of B-sides to go with the first half. It's more like a companion EP - short, sweet, and clearly reminiscent of In Rainbows - and perfect to listen to immediately after. The gorgeous balance of the band's latest work remains, and the bonus disc elucidates on its themes and strikes high points of its own. To the lucky few with the disc box and the frugal many who will have alternate means of acquiring it, the second half of In Rainbows is more or less as captivating as the first.
If the average unknown band could put together an album the quality of Radiohead B-sides, we'd be hearing them everywhere within a month. And Radiohead's unorthodox release of the beautiful In Rainbows left listeners wondering whether the bonus disc would just be a collection of tracks that didn't make the cut, or an actual second half of the album. While remaining disparate from disc one in that it rarely matches the ghostly string swells and silky guitar, the new tracks absolutely stand on their own, at times perhaps even more surprising and innovative than disc one.
The second disc kicks off with a track called "MK 1", with disorganized meandering piano and Thom's croons eventually descending into a reprise of "Videotape", the disc one closer. To my dismay, the track didn't expand into the gorgeous finisher that was played in the band's 2006 tour. Nevertheless, it serves as a suitable transition from the first disc to the second.
"Down is the New Up" begins with a beating grand piano in contrast to the drowsy opener. "Your services are not required /Your future's bleak, you're so last week" Thom sings, quickly bringing the band's typically dismal subject matter to the forefront. The track steadily crescendos and strings build intensity as Yorke belts the titular line with staggering power, one of the disc's (band's?) absolute high points. The orchestra and powerful vocals combine to sound something like a James Bond song done by Radiohead, and if that doesn't sound awesome to you, just listen to the track.
Crackly synth evocative of M83 begins "Go Slowly", which is then dotted with wintery glockenspiel before Yorke's ethereal voice enters as an instrument all its own. The track climaxes with an unexpected but not unwelcome acoustic guitar part as Thom sings "There's a way out", once again in line with the more uplifting themes (as far as Radiohead goes) of the first disc.
"MK 2" is next, creepy electronic noises playing what sounds like the chords from "Nude". I know Radiohead likes to be artsy and pretentious and they can pull it off better than any other band making music today, but the inclusion of both "MK" tracks brings the bonus disc down to six tracks worth serious listening. We've now really reached my only gripe.
A pretty piano part beneath Yorke's falsetto begins "Last Flowers", and the acoustic guitar enters shortly thereafter. The interplay between the two instruments is so evocative of "Karma Police" that I would wager the same chords were used. (This is a very good thing.)
"Up On The Ladder" brings distorted, jangling guitars with a pulsing bass drum that are later matched by synthesized strings and skittering digital percussion, creating the perfect uneasy soundscape to highlight "Up on the ladder /try to call out your name / up on the ladder / you're all the fucking same". Absolutely another highlight; one of the best post-Kid A integrations of electronics into the band's music.
Disc two's complement to "Bodysnatchers", "Bangers & Mash" begins with a groovy guitar part backed with heavy percussion that is strangely danceable for a Radiohead track. The listener can tell that Yorke isn't lying with "I want to thank you, thank you, thank you all / I'm having such a good time, a good time" - this track is proof that the band isn't afraid to do something a little more lighthearted than their typical faire.
The bonus disc culminates with "4 Minute Warning", beginning with a string swell that sounds a little out of place considering the rest of the song. A lazy bassline paired with what sounds like synthesized steel drums finally show off the dub reggae influences the band was talking about during recording. Despite the uplifting feel of the song, the lyrics are typical - "I don't wanna hear it / I don't wanna grow old / I just wanna run and hide" - though it finishes sounding like an admonishment to make the best of the time we've got. With all of disc one in mind, it feels like an exceedingly fitting album-closer.
The bonus disc of In Rainbows feels neither like the second half of the album nor a collection of B-sides to go with the first half. It's more like a companion EP - short, sweet, and clearly reminiscent of In Rainbows - and perfect to listen to immediately after. The gorgeous balance of the band's latest work remains, and the bonus disc elucidates on its themes and strikes high points of its own. To the lucky few with the disc box and the frugal many who will have alternate means of acquiring it, the second half of In Rainbows is more or less as captivating as the first.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
musings
The adjective "gay" does have an acceptable and unique meaning in modern English, and people who don't like using it to mean anything besides "homosexual" are liberal-for-the-sake-of-liberal, more-sensitive-than-thou sticks in the mud.
And this is coming from someone who watches Project Runway, so...
And this is coming from someone who watches Project Runway, so...
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
musings
Pierre Bayard's How to Talk About Books You Haven't Read is a blissfully eloquent and profound survey of literature and the vast majority of such that will inevitably remain unread. I only wish I had known how to talk about books that I hadn't read in high school.
Pushing Daisies is the perfect show. It's totally unlike anything else on TV, and it matches a brilliantly colorful cast of characters with razor-sharp writing and subtlety that generously rewards attentive viewers. This is to say nothing of the swoon-inducing love story and heaps more originality than any other old procedural forensic romp. Here's to hoping in earnest that the strike doesn't end up hurting this one.
Pushing Daisies is the perfect show. It's totally unlike anything else on TV, and it matches a brilliantly colorful cast of characters with razor-sharp writing and subtlety that generously rewards attentive viewers. This is to say nothing of the swoon-inducing love story and heaps more originality than any other old procedural forensic romp. Here's to hoping in earnest that the strike doesn't end up hurting this one.
Friday, November 9, 2007
musings
If I ever start a pretentious post-rock or shoegaze band, one of our songs is definitely going to be called "Peak Leaf-Viewing Time Always Slips Away Unnoticed."
I walked past a fast food restaurant today and the smell was distinctly that of Cedar Point fried food, and now I'm jonesing for a couple laps on Maverick.
It snowed a few days ago and I was happy for that, but there was no accumulation, and, fittingly, it descended into a miserable cold sleet that was fun for no one.
I walked past a fast food restaurant today and the smell was distinctly that of Cedar Point fried food, and now I'm jonesing for a couple laps on Maverick.
It snowed a few days ago and I was happy for that, but there was no accumulation, and, fittingly, it descended into a miserable cold sleet that was fun for no one.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
musings
Last night I dreamt of snow, so it only makes sense that today was full of gloomy rain.
The scariest part about Halloween is that its other name is NaNoWriMo Eve.
The scariest part about Halloween is that its other name is NaNoWriMo Eve.
Friday, October 19, 2007
the darjeeling limited
EDIT: THIS REVIEW SUCKS AND I HATE IT, GOD ONLY KNOWS WHY I'M LEAVING IT UP, DON'T READ
Ask any hipster what you get when you blend distinct quirkiness, family issues, and the Futura font and you couldn't possibly get a reply other than Wes Anderson. Crafter of critical darlings Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaums, the filmmaker's unmistakable style and creative flair have driven some of the most revered dark comedies of the past several years. And with each successive film came growth - not necessarily in quality or storytelling or wit (many would argue quite the contrary) - but in scope and ambition. The Darjeeling Limited - a story of estranged brothers bonding on a journey across India - follows in the footsteps of its predecessors, with a few key twists to the traditional Wes Anderson dramedy. (can I say that word?)
Most notably, the cast of characters (riddled with Wes Anderson alumni) isn't nearly as expansive as in his previous films - no Tenenbaum family or Zissou crew here - instead, most of the film is centered around the relationships between the three Whitman brothers. Consequently, each character's lines had plenty of room to breathe, and the relationship between Wilson, Schwartzman and Brody becomes alive and nuanced and real. When you set this to a backdrop of the gorgeously-shot country of India and a soundtrack melding Anderson's typical British rock with perfectly-fitting Indian music, you have the recipe for one of the most striking films of the year.
Missteps are few and far between - Anjelica Huston (despite being used to great effect in previous Anderson flicks) had a part so brief and cut short that one must wonder if she only had one hour open to film. It also could have used another fifteen minutes. Less dialog-heavy than one would expect from Anderson, a lot of development and message was not the vocal kind - but I found myself craving more of the auteur's trademark off-beat witticisms. Most unforgivable, though, is the heavy-handed symbolism near the end with all the subtlety of a Michael Bay film. For being a small portion of screen time, it does manage to leave a bittersweet taste in the viewer's mouth.
The voyage in The Darjeeling Limited is an enjoyable voyage for the viewer - melancholy, bittersweet, and oft saying to hell with the itinerary. Anderson (and writers Roman Coppola and Jason Schwartzman) wove love and loss and time into a touching and sincere journey that matches great actors with great characters. The result is the director's most heartfelt and mature movie to date - as beautifully imperfect and incomplete as all our dearest relationships.
Ask any hipster what you get when you blend distinct quirkiness, family issues, and the Futura font and you couldn't possibly get a reply other than Wes Anderson. Crafter of critical darlings Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaums, the filmmaker's unmistakable style and creative flair have driven some of the most revered dark comedies of the past several years. And with each successive film came growth - not necessarily in quality or storytelling or wit (many would argue quite the contrary) - but in scope and ambition. The Darjeeling Limited - a story of estranged brothers bonding on a journey across India - follows in the footsteps of its predecessors, with a few key twists to the traditional Wes Anderson dramedy. (can I say that word?)
Most notably, the cast of characters (riddled with Wes Anderson alumni) isn't nearly as expansive as in his previous films - no Tenenbaum family or Zissou crew here - instead, most of the film is centered around the relationships between the three Whitman brothers. Consequently, each character's lines had plenty of room to breathe, and the relationship between Wilson, Schwartzman and Brody becomes alive and nuanced and real. When you set this to a backdrop of the gorgeously-shot country of India and a soundtrack melding Anderson's typical British rock with perfectly-fitting Indian music, you have the recipe for one of the most striking films of the year.
Missteps are few and far between - Anjelica Huston (despite being used to great effect in previous Anderson flicks) had a part so brief and cut short that one must wonder if she only had one hour open to film. It also could have used another fifteen minutes. Less dialog-heavy than one would expect from Anderson, a lot of development and message was not the vocal kind - but I found myself craving more of the auteur's trademark off-beat witticisms. Most unforgivable, though, is the heavy-handed symbolism near the end with all the subtlety of a Michael Bay film. For being a small portion of screen time, it does manage to leave a bittersweet taste in the viewer's mouth.
The voyage in The Darjeeling Limited is an enjoyable voyage for the viewer - melancholy, bittersweet, and oft saying to hell with the itinerary. Anderson (and writers Roman Coppola and Jason Schwartzman) wove love and loss and time into a touching and sincere journey that matches great actors with great characters. The result is the director's most heartfelt and mature movie to date - as beautifully imperfect and incomplete as all our dearest relationships.
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