La Video Juste

Gordon!

2010-10-20T11:59:00.000-07:00

Ascendant young star Gordon Pinsent reads from the biography of a tired out hack. The bow tie is so saucy. And pizza is delicious! But I didn't really need a book to tell me that.

NY crime and zoo scene investigators: Fantasy unit

2010-10-12T17:57:00.000-07:00

"Looks like they were mauled... by a lion!"

Por Favor! Feel all sideburnsy.

2010-10-08T18:37:00.000-07:00

Glad to see he is still using the same backing singers! They are rad.

Sometimes there is actual crying and you just don't know why.

2010-10-07T17:40:00.000-07:00

TALL, Ipanema tall

2009-05-27T11:58:00.000-07:00

The number of things I only vaguely get in this video is staggering. Nevertheless, I have watched it six times today already.
I miss old-times MuchMusic so freakin bad.

welcome to the end of your day

2009-03-04T10:23:00.000-08:00

Kutiman is apparently a genius of both video and audio editing. It's a good thing to be! (via videogum)

Brazeeeel

2008-02-21T10:30:00.000-08:00

The part of 'Brazil' that sticks in my mind is definitely not the dream sequences, but they're beautiful, no? Terry Gilliam's attention to/obsession with detail is really the main reason I keep watching, and re-watching. The idea of the man in the metal suit who nonetheless has giant bird feathers at the ends of his wings, it's so... I don't know. There's meaning there, but I'm not getting at it very well. He's organic, then artificial, then organic again, in layers, like a delicious (Jonathan Price) cake. It plays well into the overarching theme of the film.

And I want that phone, no matter how impractical, you know?

Terry is headed to Vancouver soon, along with a cast and crew of what should by rights be thousands. If I see someone on the street next month covered in ink and looking fairly close to nervous collapse, it will probably be his production assistant, and I will probably buy her a beer and tell her not to worry, it will all be worth it in the end.

Where are you, TV

2008-01-25T16:01:00.000-08:00

When you come home from a long day of filling in the blanks in a worksheet about Mesopotamia, or whatever it is you do, you need to unwind while watching some televsion that you don't find guilty about and that is slyly amusing. PBS 1992, shout out!

Elvis "swept my halls"

2007-09-25T17:09:00.001-07:00

Oh sure. Also possibly the best (only?) live Peanuts party reenactment ever.
The improbable Elvis impersonations really are the best, aren't they?

That bit.

2007-09-06T19:05:00.001-07:00

That bit where the laser beam's goin' up his jaffers. Is that the correct spelling?
Alan Partridge loves James Bond, and so do I.

He just don't look well. Also, he's Scotch.

2007-08-30T20:52:00.001-07:00

Steve Coogan plays both Tommy Saxondale and the "gay mancunian heroin addict." And you get to see his ass crack. So, you know, enjoy.
The kid is delightful too.

Only the lonely.

2007-08-22T00:23:00.001-07:00

Largely, I prefer the stage performances. Since this is basically a stage performance relocated to a bedroom, I'm more than satisfied.

Battle Royale (with cheese)

2007-08-20T16:49:00.001-07:00

"Chak de! India", currently playing at select Canadian theatres (and all the heck over the eastern hemisphere). You too can go be amazed by twelve-foot-high award-winning hair. Gives new meaning, and syllables, to the word 'lustrous' Grr.
This, of course, is the infamous and groundbreaking scene wherein 15 girls beat the ever-loving crap out of about ten guys in a McDonald's dining room. Genius.

Magnum P.E.I.

2007-08-02T14:36:00.001-07:00

If you happen to be in Charlottetown this summer, be on your toes. The potatoes are counting on you.

"Ch-check it out, they're babies!"

2007-07-24T09:22:00.001-07:00

Hilarious Ryan. But seriously, if they were any more fresh-faced it'd kill me. That green wind breaker, there's an 80s fashion classic, no?

The cuddliest rapper.

2007-07-09T13:42:00.001-07:00

New fantasy movie night: watch Spinal Tap with the Beatsie Boys. Or even just Yauch, because my apartment's not that big. Cheezies and vodka would be involved.

the girl can't help it

2007-07-05T10:56:00.001-07:00

Oh no she can't. Sweater vest ATTACK!

Grrrroovy.

2007-07-01T17:44:00.001-07:00

It can't be overstated. Evil Dead II is amazing.
And it was a complete crime when they took Reboot off the air, it was an amazing show.

France, underpants.

2007-06-24T16:42:00.001-07:00

A clip from Jhoom Barabar Jhoom, now playing at the big Mission multiplex (we saw a fabulous matinee just this afternoon)!
Our story so far:
Rikki is telling the story of how he met his fiancee. He's in Paris, he has no money to pay his hotel bill, he leaves his bags and lottery ticket with the (hot hot!) hotel manager to go back to England and get the money. *gasp* While in London, Rikki finds out he won the lottery (second prize: ticket to hollywood!), and speeds back to Paris, having solemnly promised his boss that he'll bring back the prize. Meanwhile, hotel manageress has fallen in love with him and is very disappointed that all he wants is a ticket to hollywood, rather than a ticket into her pants. He then sings a hilarious song, the gist of which is "Please love me, hot lady, or at least give me my ticket to hollywood!"
As you can see, she's very sassy about it.

Addicted to Pinatas

2007-06-21T09:04:00.001-07:00

The Ray-Bans, they slay me. But it's the sweater vest that really puts me over the edge. Sweater-vest? Sweatervest? Whatever it is, it's fabulous.

slo-mo violence

2007-05-16T16:56:00.001-07:00

It's good to see the old board get the sendoff it deserves. And that laugh - that laugh haunts my dreams.

Happy Mother's Day

2007-05-10T19:52:00.001-07:00

This video post is especially for mum, who loves Steely Dan so much she almost named me Aja, but was vetoed. Sad.

Mum loves Walter, she loves Donald, and she loves them best when they combine forces to funk their way into all of our hearts. This particular selection is a Donald only, though, because there's a slight chance she's never heard it before.

There's an even better chance she's never seen this totally awesome miniature robot nightmare video, which is by Michel Gondry (that part of the post is for me - I love that little French dude with everything I've got).

jog for global harmony

2007-05-10T01:26:00.003-07:00

My walkman (!) is so bulky. I prefer the mix my brain provides as I run down the street in the morning. For whatever reason (probable reason: AWESOMENESS), I've had this song on infinite loop for the past week or so, and it's done wonders for my motivation.

I do not look nearly as bitchin' as the Pointer Sisters do, but I still feel like I could run forever. The only flaw: it is very difficult to do the funky hip-and-shoulder shimmy while jogging. I recommend trying anyway, because if you accidentally succeed, can world peace be far behind?

Goldfish

2007-04-23T15:06:00.001-07:00

We watched a few episodes of this while on vacation last week, and boy was it terrific. Apart from Mitch, the most annoying ape of all time, and Jimmy, the depressed woman disguised as a little boy. Other than that it was fan-effing-tastic.

Explaining Tuesday

2007-04-05T16:01:00.001-07:00

My favourite rhyme here is "tequila" with "disappeeah".

Odd how this little cautionary tale carries that unmistakeable mood with it - you know, the one that says "hey, let's all go get hammered."

Ed, I'm looking at you.

2007-04-03T13:44:00.001-07:00

Arsinee Khanjian would look hot in a paper bag.

2007-04-02T17:00:00.001-07:00

So what I'm saying, I guess, is the whole thing is not exactly fair.

Ordinarily I wouldn't post some interview, but would wait for an actual clip. However, this being a Canadian film, upon production it was quickly whisked away to the appropriate black hole.

This is a very good Canadian film though. I'm trying to make the effort, cultural support, right?

My only beef: Grandma and her daughter look pretty damn close in age. I am not fooled by the sleek white hair, lady.

That 'Spawn' guy knows nothing, nothing!

2007-03-01T22:30:00.001-08:00

Last week on Granville St we spotted a set of Freddie dolls. And a Kurt Cobain. Dull. Anyway, Freddie of course is not dull, and they had him both long haired and smooth, and short haired and bemustached. BUT, they did not have awesome vacuuming Freddie, nor did they have weird naked dalmatian Freddie.

Seriously, facial hair Barbie - I would have that pre-ordered so fast my credit card would gasp in alarm.

How to never annoy me

2007-02-15T00:05:00.001-08:00

Whacked out Hitchcock imitations and men in dresses, blended heavily with Jennifer Jason Leigh.

Faith No More is sort of the Jonathan Richman of the fun metal world, in that they have massive amounts of integrity and cred. Also their frontman is kind of adorable. This never hurts.

Why didn't this song become a more enduring hit? It should have been on every '90s weekend the local rock radio station ever did. Instead they're playing 'Epic', and only 'Epic'. This is what can only be described as a gross injustice.

It's possible my math is off

2007-02-15T00:00:00.001-08:00

This came on in the car a couple of hours ago and I got all excited and reached for the volume knob. Almost instinctively.

"Why do you love this song so much?"

Hey, that's a good question. I don't know... is it the rap video full of long-hairs? The princess leia guy? Twiggy Ramirez? The bleeped swearing and gratuitously cranked-out guitar riffs? I take it back, your question is stupid.

A Valentine's Day Warning

2007-02-14T13:19:00.001-08:00

When they're that hot, they WILL kill you. By accident if necessary. What she's doing there is a passive aggressive thing where he eventually has a massive heart attack. Sneaky. But he deserves it for the smack. It's an unfortunate relic, that smack.

Will anyone else ever have legs that fabulous? Probably not. Nobody trains to be a dancer for 14 hours a day anymore. Don't look at me either, I have a job and rent to pay, and that sort of thing. Nobody pays top-dollar for sharp choreography anymore.

And I'll tell you another thing, that hairdo may have been stylish, but it was obviously annoying - proving that not everything was better in the old days. Sexier maybe, but not better.

Birds! Humans! Birds!

2007-02-05T16:00:00.001-08:00

Part of the Judge/Hertzfeldt Animation Show, which we watched more of this weekend. Available remarkably cheaply on DVD "all over" according to an operative.

I like how everyone sings along to the universal soundtrack, no matter their species/predicament. If real life went this way I'm pretty sure we'd all be happier people.

This is one you can show your mother. I know, because I did, and she liked it quite a bit.

All things are possible

2007-02-01T10:36:00.001-08:00

Even if you are Belgian, you can wear a pink coat and be amazing.

What am I even saying? I love the Belgians. For all I know this is just their natural state, all pleather-pants and, uh, horribly damaged neck muscles.

I think I saw a Quebecois woman do a cover of this in the mid-90s, and that's where I heard it first. I love you Quebec, with your independent culture. I just wish you weren't so exclusive about it.

I also wish I could travel back 25 years, to when frighteningly flashy computer animation was still fresh and new. No seriously, I'm feeling honest nostalgia for that. It really was unabashedly cool and not tacky at all. Can you imagine?

When in doubt, shake yer damn jewelry!

2007-01-17T02:02:00.001-08:00

This movie deserves some serious attention, it is rad.

After three hours, I'm pro mustache. That's how rad it is. You should be gasping right now. That's better.

And gratuitously, one more.

2007-01-16T00:34:00.001-08:00

I don't know why it's funny for 2 and a half minutes... it just is.
I like watching the puppets for the way the elements are combined. The mouths on the pink furry cow aliens are the same as the eyes on the... cave man? But because you stick them somewhere different it makes a whole new character.
I also want to know how they made such expressive orange hair. It's all feathers I guess, but you'd think they'd have to spend loads of time refurbishing it every night. In this way I suppose being a muppet is much like being a woman.
Oooh.

Feeling good about yourself.

2007-01-16T00:33:00.001-08:00

It's underrated. I know that self-loathing will allow you to write successful rock music and wacked-out poetry, plus the girls like it when you look pissed and your hair gets in your eyes, but come on. It's got to be easier to be green than to be pissed, let's put it that way.

le monde ENTIER

2007-01-03T21:13:00.001-08:00

1971, and it rocks my world so hard. Sad to say there's very little pertinent information (in English) online. What I can tell you is that she's still around. Or something. Not sure in what capacity, maybe she's an air hostess, but guaranteed she's still completely rad, no matter what the circumstances.

It's always time for 90s nostalgia

2007-01-03T16:45:00.001-08:00

Actually, maybe I'm sick of 90s nostalgia. But who could ever get tired of those hand-dance moves? Only a complete cretin, that's who. Damn, I love Shirley, she's at least eleven shades of sassy.

Octoman

2007-01-02T14:10:00.001-08:00

"These are the Good Old Days" by Socalled, from Montreal. There are some weird bits where the shirt-merge doesn't quite work, but I love the accordion, the approaching baldness, the song, and the concept (but not necessarily in that order). I also love the NFB.

Gloriously animated TP

2007-01-01T20:04:00.001-08:00

From the desk of YouTube:

Can you do better than this clip? If you are between the ages of 9 and 20 and live in Canada, then grab your digital camera and show us your talent as a budding filmmaker! Deadline to registrer and to submit your film: January 15, 2007! For more info, visit http://www.nfb.ca/animation.

I wish I was young and had some sort of artistic talent. As it is I'm completely mesmerized by the moving inanimate objects. Drool.

dooo... doooDOOOdoo dooooo...

2007-01-01T20:01:00.001-08:00

Why don't we still get these between episodes of Mr. Dressup and Passe-Partout? A couple of these would nicely balance out the commercials for cheese doodles.

As an added challenge, I dare you to write to the Canadian Wildlife Service, Ottawa, asking them for their 'wolf information packet', containing who knows what. Or even better - try to get someone on the phone. And try to get them to tell you about wolves in French, whether you speak it or not. Basically choose your level of difficulty, on this one.

Ick, what the hell is wrong with you Rossini?

2006-12-21T09:50:00.001-08:00

This song is charming and comical when sung by two professional sopranos. Now shrink those women, give them a sex change, and put them in fuzzy masks. Eeee. Somebody's parents should be monitoring them much closer than this.

Lamenting the loss

2006-12-21T09:35:00.001-08:00

of good video game music! The one thing I have noticed most overwhelmingly while playing this game (which is beginning to take over my life... this usually only lasts for a week or so and then I get bored, so don't worry) is that the music is AMAZING. I wouldn't buy the album, per se, but I would maybe download it.

If you're unfamiliar, you get to be the tiny green man - you see him standing on the giant purple king's knee while he plays the guitar. I'm not going to try to explain it, because I'm still not sure I understand it myself. Catchy though, right?

Talkin bout politics

2006-12-18T13:48:00.001-08:00

Finally SNL does something funny and I've stopped watching. In fact, as far as I've seen, pretty much everything on Saturday was hilarious. Meh. Proof that there's nothing funnier than song and dance. Because I'm a notorious Jilly-come-lately, here's the Gibb Compendium:

Oct 11, 2003

Timberlake can't keep it straight. Like the hair, though. The kicking and the flower destruction is good for me.

Apr 9, 2005

Drew Barrymore is great, Cameron Diaz is quite lame. The set is the star. Dancing at the end, the four kicks - there's a reason this kid is a pop icon, and some of it has to do with dance intuition. He's neck deep in it.

Dec 16, 2006

I'm not heartless, their obvious deep man-love for each other is captivating. I think JT gets better with time - his discomfort, especially after his little singing rejoinders, is very enjoyable. The hand to the ear is automatically funny. The talk show portion is still really just cursory. The song is this sketch's raison d'etre.

Best concert video ever

2006-12-14T23:21:00.001-08:00

Weirdly, Paul Simon caught alot of flak for this project. Exploitation or some such. I never really understood it myself - but then I think I was 6 years old at the time.

Every time I watch this I feel a bit sad, because this can never, ever happen again. The feeling peaks when Hugh Masakela does 'Bring Back Nelson Mandela' and it is the most unbelievable protest song ever written or performed, ever. Sheer ridiculousness.

I would have every one of these musicians' babies, that's how good they are. However, what with being so blindingly talented, I'm sure they took care of that themselves.

My heart bursts with nostalgia

2006-12-13T20:41:00.001-08:00

I miss the Local Rabbits so much, and I never even got to see them play. But they used to be on the Much all the time, back when it was somewhat good. I bought this album because the Globe and Mail told me to - that's a very Canadian thing! Regardless, it was the right decision in every respect. 'This is it here we go' is just plain genius. They're so sweet, why did they break up? It's a mystery.

Are You Ready?

2006-12-13T20:30:00.001-08:00

The Mountain Movers, a delightful group from the South.

They are fabulously unironic. This is proof that finally, everyone (yes EVERYONE) has a video. Thankfully, this video is actually pretty good, despite the terror.

Man, if this rapture thing actually happens, I am going to have all kinds of apocalyptic egg on my face.

It must be French video day.

2006-12-13T17:21:00.001-08:00

Quebec's Jean Leloup recently changed his name back to Jean Leclerc. He also made a big show of killing his old persona off, weeping on his grave and so forth. Now he has a new album, called Mexico, and it sounds quite good, actually, even if you have a low tolerance for that sort of thing.

He also has the weirdest website known to man. If you delve deeply enough you may stumble across the golden vagina video, done entirely in plasticine. Shudder.

The angriest dance band.

2006-12-13T00:20:00.001-08:00

First heard this song several years ago and decided to look it up again. Hm. Bizarre bit of news on this guy via Wikipedia:

In 2003, Bertrand Cantat beat his girlfriend Marie Trintignant unconscious during an argument in a hotel room in Lithuania. She died a few days later. A Lithuanian judge sentenced Cantat to 8 years in prison after he was found guilty of manslaughter. He is serving his sentence in a prison near Toulouse, France.

Noir Désir's members have not ruled out the possibility of re-forming once Cantat is released from jail.

How could anyone who collaborated with Manu Chao be violent? The world is weird.

Thinking like Rain Man

2006-12-12T22:25:00.001-08:00

My favourite video of all the Michel Gondry videos. This would be a very cruel way to teach children to read music, and therefore I approve.

Jeremy Irons scares the life out of me.

2006-12-11T22:04:00.001-08:00

However, you can't go wrong with English schoolboys. Why don't ours wear capes? It's a true shame. The whole country would be more thoroughly Christmasy if we could just institute more formalwear for the under-12s.

Also, don't sweat it Jeremy, I still love you.

Mystereeee

2006-12-09T13:59:00.001-08:00

He's a very talented musician in fact, don't you think? Also charmingly goofy. It's 'estuary' that gets me every time.

la meglio gioventù

2006-12-08T20:16:00.001-08:00

Alessio Boni: fantastic actor, delicious mediterranean dish... UNICEF Goodwill ambassador? Come on man, this is ridiculous. Oh FINE, I'll think about going out with you. GEEZ.

Hold the phone, this seals the deal.

Chaiyya Chaiyya

2006-12-08T19:41:00.001-08:00

Shah Rukh Khan and Malaika Arora duke it out on a train, headbanger style. Then (spoiler alert!) he blows himself up but good, I believe.

Don't let his incredible dance moves and all of that under-filming fool you - that dude is five feet eight inches tall! No lie!

Mmmm bbbbrrrrbbbbbbb!

2006-12-08T19:38:00.001-08:00

The way he eats leaves makes me feel all tingly. There's very little else to say.