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Show •^''Wt-mcrw* '-.•*.Vt'!'"y*;?-*-•*'••:. *•"•; , - ',• C4 MONDAY • AUGUST 20 • 2007 Hickman and Pyles' top 10 contemporary movies * ' UVSCs movie guys name the 20 greatest modern flicks Luke Hickman and Jason Pyles M o v i e critics often lose their credibility when constructing "Top 10 Movies" lists, but we'll risk it. We admit, up front, that LifeeditorandUfemiter w e h a d t 0 re grettably dis" miss genres, international films (for the most part) and the so-called "classics." We have not seen every movle ever mad ?; and o f course, we had to leave some fantastic movies off our lists. OASON'S PICKS LUKE'S PICKS THE DEPARTED (2006) - Who saw that ending coming?! I sure didn't. And if you haven't seen the this, the best crime drama of all time, you'll be blown away at this elaborate, memorable film that finally earned Scorsese an Oscar. GROSSE POINTE BLANK (1997) - Everyone loves John Cusack. You can't go wrong with one of his flicks. He always plays a guy that you feel like you know. And in this one he feels like an average guy that you might run into at your ten-year reunion that just so happens to be a hired killer. n rtton vm i -DUSK DAWN FROM DUSK TILL DAWN (1996) - What made this movie so great for me was that I was completely unaware of what it was about when I walked into. the theater. It seemingly begins as one thing and becomes an unseemly other. Note: The R rating is well deserved. JAWS (1975) - Spielberg's monster movie achieves excellence with building suspense by taking so long to show us the shark. (By the way, JAWS is loosely based on an actual shark.) JWS Photo credit: The New Nervous Local band makes debut recording. The New Nervous gets frantic on debut EP Local band's first album makes social issues listenable and danceable The local music scene in Utah Valley is Assistant Life editor hit or miss most times. One of the times when a direct hit occurred was when The New Nervous formed in late 2005. Another direct hit was when The New Nervous released their debut EP, Frantic Is The New Nen'ous, earlier this year. Frantic is a solid, seven-song effort accompanied by a couple of bonus tracks (practically SE7EN (1995) - Let's be honest: Most making it a full-length release). According to horror movies ultimately suck, while the band, the idea of the record stems from the SE7EN is intelligent, creepy, atmofact that "in a world overwhelmed by sensaspheric, disturbing and haunting. If you're tionalism, being nervous is no longer enough." skeptical, just remember what's in the box? Being nervous may not be enough to get a point across, but Frantic gets its message across loud and clear. An album full of social commentary on hot issues and fresh takes on often-abused thematic elements, Frantic is sure to GERRY (2002) - People either hate or strike a fancy with listeners from all walks of life. love Gerry, and for good reason. It is Opening the album is the catchy, fastan experimental film about two friends, paced "Hum." This track appears to be chroniboth named Gerry, who get lost in the desert. And cling the ups and downs in a relationship packthat's it. Gerry is exceptional cinema because aged in a symphonic vocabulary full of new this movie doesn't have to tell us; it shows us. catch phrases and one-liners that could easily grace an infinite number of MySpace profiles. "Hum" also hits some of those bumps and smooth spots in the music, as well. As the song opens with THE TERMINATOR (1984) - If a pounding introduction, it immediately slows down you don't get nervous jitters while as it begins the first verse. Then it speeds up again watching The Terminator, then and takes several twists and rums that weave a beauyou must be a cyborg. This is an effectiful story, punctuated tive, involving, sci-fi thriller. Arnold still by phrases . . ... .... ...,...-_.,..,, like "I hear makes me (and many Califomians) uneasy. my heart in rhythmically re W ALIEN (1979) - Of course Star 8."" Wars deserves to be on this list, but ™™ Alien deserves it more as it is the best alien movie ever made. Name a better one. And, it has the most unforgettable scene in movie history. Name a better one. 28 DAYS LATER (2002) - Nobody believes me when I say that this zombie-esque thriller could be beautiful and surreal while being tense and violent. Until they see it. I've even gotten old people to fall in love with it! THE MATRIX TRILOGY (19992003) - Forget all the naysayers that claim the first Matrix was the only good one. They just don't understand the complexities of Reloaded and Revolutions. The complete story ends up being a string symbol representing all religions in tightly woven into one sci-fi action series. THE FOUNTAIN (2006) - Man vs. God vs. science. This film makes all three work together. And the packaging can't be beat. Great acting, beautiful cinematography and emotionally driven music make it an unforgettable experience. LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE (2006) - A road trip, a dysfunctional family, and a yellow VW bus. What a better way to relive, remember and appreciate the craziness of your own quirky family? One of the best feel-good movies of all time! Chad Hunt - ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND (2004) - Would it be worth it to erase painful memories from your mind if you had the chance? As the saying goes, you don't realize what you've got until it's gone. BILLY I D B THOfUfTOR SUNG BLADE SLING BLADE (1996) - Wow. Who doesn't love Sling Blade! Directed, written and starred by Billy Bob Thornton, this endearing (albeit predictable) story somehow makes us feel really good about something really bad. LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA (2006) - Unlike its companion piece, Flags Of Our Fathers, Letters is a memorable tale about several naturally good Japanese men defending the doomed island during World War II. Instead of focusing on the war itself, this beautifully told story is driven by intimate relationship you build with each character. INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE (1989) - If I could only watch one movie over and over again, this would be my choice. The Last Crusade has all of the elements you'd want from a movie and is, quite possibly, perfect entertainment. GARDEN STATE (2004) - This film should appeal, most of all, to our audience. What a fitting story for us! A EuE guy who's been out on his own, who's struggling to make it in life, and is forced to learn who he is and go through the experience all on his own. How many of us haven't gone through that, if not going through it now? THE GODFATHER (1972) - What makes TheGodfatherapure masterpiece is that it gives us, the audience, an inside-look at the plotting of profoundly powerful, evil characters. Somehow, we like what we see. i rVANILLA SKY (2001) - I love this film because, as odd as it may be, it captures the essence of human life love, the need to be loved, passion, emotion, aesthetics, beauty, and what really matters. I can't see how anyone cannot connect with the film immediately and be carried through until the beautifully executed bittersweet end. THE VILLAGE (2004) - Most people totally miss the point of M. Night Shyamalan's masterpiece. V When the secret of the woodland creatures is revealed, audiences are outraged. But remember, this isn't a horror movie as much as it is a social-psychological thriller. SUPERBAD = super good time New comedy redefines teen movies Luke Hickman Life editor Summer wouldn't be complete without at least one teen movie, right? Superbad takes the genre in the best direction and makes it suitable for adults only. Superbad invites you into the teenage lives of Seth and Evan (which are also the names of the movie's two writers, Seth Rogan from Knocked Up and Evan Goldberg) on the day of their last high school party and the eve of becoming "men." Seth is a boisterous fat kid who thinks that if he can score booze for the party, t he'll get some action from the drunken thrower of the party. His wingman, Evan, is the opposite ~ a timidly awkward fan of '70s fashion who's finally making a move on his longtime crush. Only there's a problem: His personal ethics Photo credit; Sony Pictures won't allow him to make things Jonah Hill and Michael Cera in Superbad. happen with her if she's drunk. In order to score the alco- of the biggest slacker cops. ing up while continuing The writing and style of this to harbor the child inside. hol needed to make the party Superbad is in no way a happen, they employ the help comedy mirrors that of Superof their super geeky friend, bads producer Judd Apatow's movie for all audiences. It's Fogell, and his obviously fake other flicks, Knocked Up and highly offensive and vulgar. ID that claims he's a 25-years- The 40-year-old Virgin. It's But for those who can handle old Hawaiian organ donor vulgar. It's gross. Yet it's intel- that, you're about to see the simply named "McLovin." ligent and absolutely hilarious. teen comedy of all time. For Superbad perfectly cap- more fun and R-rated extras, Their well-planned scheme turns on them from the get- tures the essence of being a be sure to check out the super go. Seth and Evan end up in teenage boy: the misunder- awesome 18-and-older Web the middle of an Odyssey-like stood idolization of alcohol page at areyousuperbad.com trek, and Fogell gets caught and sex, finding out who you up in a drunken haze with two are and holding true to that person, and simply grow- Fran fie the middle bum, "Our Statement" lapse Your stand out as make bold about social "Our Mission Statement" feels like a social deconstruct ion on the entertainment industry's stranglehold on the American public at large, and how the public sits back and soaks it all in ("Hollywood dictates, you take the notes, on the very paper designed to slit our throats"). "Collapse Your Lungs" takes on the issue of obsessing over body images as they are portrayed in the media. This story of someone chasing a "perfect" body image is noted in phrases like "pain is pretty," "your enchantment with enhancement leaves you inadequate," and a line from the title of the track, "collapse your lungs, not enough room in your body." Scott Shepard's (vocals, guitar) lyrics are thought provoking and immediately relatable to today's society, while maintaining a sort of timeless quality that gives it staying power. And he takes one last jab at a hot social issue in the last track (not counting the bonus tracks) of the EP with "Pharmacadia." Most easily The New Nervous' most danceable song, "Pharmacadia" addresses the topic of a societal dependence on prescription medications, as the title implies. The song sets up a scene in the town of Pharmacadia, where everyone "thrives on what the doctors prescribe." But then the song turns to the chant of "let's burn this temple down," and "I've got this body full of chemicals, and I want out," which seems to reference a desire to escape the dependency of drugs and live life without that chemical attachment. Rounding out the Frantic experience, The New Nervous toss listeners a couple bonus goodies starting with a bare bones, guitar-and-piano version of "Hum," which superbly showcases the actual talent that stands at the core of The New Nervous. The other bonus track, "Deathcare Industry" feels like it is deserving of only being a bonus feature on the album. The bass-heavy, Deftones-esque song feels very forced and cliche. It definitely doesn't fit with the rest of Frantic and doesn't really seem to fit in with what anyone would expect from these local dynamos. No matter the spin you take on Shepard's points of view purveyed in his songwriting. Frantic is a unique experience with each and every listen. Each song envelopes the overall idea of "being frantic" to attack social issues in a manner that makes people want to hear about them. It addresses what people often choose to overlook without shoving it in your face. Frantic Is The New Nervous is one of the most impressive and powerful debut releases I've ever encountered. It's highly recommended for anyone who is interested in, or a fan of, the local Utah Valley music scene. |