"Tokyo: The Movie"

3 international directors (Michel Gondry, Leos Carax, and Bong Joon-ho) converge to create this new film about the imaginative chaos that is Tokyo. "Tokyo: The Movie" has one engagement at the Nuart in West LA on March 20th. See you there. Here's the trailer..



This collaborative approach reminds me of one of my favorites films of all time, "Paris Je T'aime", which combines the incredible talents of the world's greatest auteurs. The Cohens, Tykwer, and Van Sant were the standouts for me. The most striking element of this film to me was how teams of different directors/DP's managed to conform all their styles/looks to create a film that seemingly appears as if it were directed by one. A wonderful achievement in cinema. It even makes Parisians seem likable! Here's the trailer if you've never seen..

The Twittersphere

How ridiculous are we getting as a species? This parody pretty much sums it all up.

The Comeback Theme

Last night I finally paid my $28 and caught Darron Aronofsky's "The Wrestler". If you're in a cave you may not know he's the same helmer who created the painfully exquisite "Requiem for a Dream". "The Wrestler" was f*****g amazing. Mickey Rourke paints the most likable character I can think of in recent times. He goes by Randy "The Ram" Robinson, but he's more like the sacrificial Ram. Ram fell from grace, and now to support himself has been reduced to small ballroom matches where he lets himself gets abused on by his opponents for the sake of the spectacle. What a performance, Mickey isn't back, he's here. And the guys are probably happy to know that Marisa Tomei is naked in half of the film. Here's the trailer if you've never seen..



And this comeback theme where character parallels the actor is nothing new. Have you seen "JVCD"? It stands for Jean-Claude Van Damme. If you were a fan of early 90's action flicks like "Bloodsport" and "Double Impact", you might find it interesting. JVCD is a mock-retelling of his rise/fall, all wrapped up in a stylish, parodic narrative film. Here's the trailer..

Melrose in Despair

Took a leisurely stroll down Melrose West and noticed a new trend - "Out of Business" signs. I counted about 39 total between La Brea and Fairfax, give or take. For some good shops like Kendo and Workmen's, it's sad. For others like "Avi's Biker Fashion", it could be a blessing. Either way, here's some of the proof...


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Kendo..



















Hints to the lessors that they've long needed to bring down rent. The old Jamba Juice..







Did you know that Melrose in the late 70s was LA's original prostitute thoroughfare? The old Workmen's Outlet..





Sophie demonstrating..









But people often fail to notice who the real victims of this recession. It's this poor little orphaned palm tree. Somebody please, find the golden inside of your heart. Unroot and adopt him..



Let's get this economy moving and not let the media further perpetuate this recession. Make it rain!

"This Is The Life"

My friend Omid (Beneath The Surface) hipped me to this doc months ago when it had a small screening at the Silent Movie Theatre. Sadly, I had prior engagements. It's a rare visual glimpse into my favorite hip hop movement of all time, the Good Life era of the late 80's/early 90's grown right here in Los Angeles. The movement gave birth to such luminaries as Freestyle Fellowship, Cut Chemist, Volume 10, Ellay Khule, Pigeon John, Busdriver, etc. The doc is playing a one week engagement in Downtown starting tomorrow..



Here's the trailer..



Here's also an old promotional video I dug up with Freestyle Fellowship. It's a bunch of vignettes, strange air in the room, eerie..

Korean Konkords!

Yeah boy!