One thing I've been flirting with for a while is the idea of writing regular posts. It seems to be all the rage, this idea of constancy. One thing I'm going to try out is a Pop Culture Weekend, wherein I go through all the pop-culturey goodness that I experienced over the weekend. Since I spent this weekend with Guest Blogger Square Peg, I thought she should come along for the ride.Saturday, 2:15 pm
The Kings of Summer (film)
in which a boy and his two friends leave home to form a new life in the woods. Bonds are tested, pubescent love is thwarted, and lessons are learned.
Tableau: I thought this movie was wonderful. Really cute and quaint.
Square Peg: It was a perfect mix of funny and serious and heart-warming
T: When I saw the teaser, I thought that the movie
was going to be sort of a naturalistic
coming-of-age story, and it is that at times, but it's also strangely surreal.
coming-of-age story, and it is that at times, but it's also strangely surreal.
SP: Sure, it's not always realistic, but it's not supposed to be. It's
really trying to recreate a feeling of adolescence. And in that, I think it was
more than successful.
T: The dream-like world doesn't really make sense in the
realistic atmosphere of the rest of the world. It is super depressing, though,
which I liked.
SP: I just thought it was great.
Saturday, 7:30pm
The Girls (w/ Jones Street Station)
in which a band, quasi-fronted by pixie dream-girl Alison Brie (Community, Mad Men), plays a show of bluegrass-lite covers of contemporary hits and classics
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| The Girls (Alison Brie, Julianna Guill, and Cyrina Fiallo) |
T: It was a part of our Alison Brie-vening (Brie has a small part in The Kings of Summer). I was surprised that the group was a collaboration,
despite the fact that internet-darling Alison Brie was 1/3 of the group.
SP: It was a solid group, to be sure, but the second she stepped out on
stage people were shouting at her. She can't escape her popularity.
T: She's so charismatic and likable. She's like everyone's most
beautiful friend.
SP: It's disgusting how wonderful she is.
T: The musical harmonies were really tight. They had a good presence,
and I liked the set-up of the band, where each girl took turns to be the lead on a song while the other two harmonized on backup.
SP: They each had distinct voices and styles, which worked with their set-up. And I normally don't like when actors try to be singers.
T: You never get over the fact that it's an actor performing music.
SP: Strengths aside, it did fall apart a little when they all sang together on songs with their back-up band, but the songs that they arranged themselves were great. And the band was great. Jones Street Station.
T: I wasn't expecting to like them. I dug their bluegrassy style.
SP: Now I didn't love the venue. Maybe it was because I was tired or
because it was so hot outside, but I didn't want to stand next to a bunch of sweaty
people fighting for a closer view of the stage.
T: Yeah, it's more of a winter venue.
SP: Still, I wanted to go and have fun, and I did have a lot of
fun.
Saturday, 10:30 pm
The Pop Culture Barbecue
in which we are exposed to new and old music.
T: So, the barbecue involved people singing Smashing Pumpkins
songs without a hint of irony, and it was glorious. I never realized that that
was a band that people glommed onto.
SP: I think it was the people at this barbecue specifically, not culture in
general.
T: But they knew the words to multiple songs from the Smashing Pumpkins repertoire by heart!
SP: Well, everyone in the 90s knew their music.
T: I guess I missed that.
SP: Like they missed LFO.
T: Nobody missed LFO. And nobody misses LFO.
SP: Ouch.
T: We also heard Daft Punk's new album, which was pretty good.
SP: It's great background music.
T: Good to dance to.
SP: But I lost interest when people started talking about the craft that goes
into creating their music. Like, I don't like the CD more because it was
elegantly put-together.
T: Right, It's tangential to the enjoyment. Which is maybe why
I find the new album just "okay." I don't care what went on behind
the scenes. I'm more worried about how sweaty they get in their helmets.
Sunday, 11:00 am
Galaxy Quest (film)
in which a gang of intrepid actors fight evil with the help of hapless but well-meaning groups of aliens and super-fans.
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| Alan Rickman and an alien in Galaxy Quest |
T: Sunday was a much more slow day, pop-culturally speaking. We
watched Galaxy Quest.
SP: Which is really a lot of pop culture contained in one small
package. It's a movie that's a parody of Star Trek and also looks at fan
communities and how those are structured. And Sigourney Weaver was great.
T: Sig Weaves!
SP: Great breasts.
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| Sigourney Weaver in Galaxy Quest |
T: Top knockers. I didn't really appreciate what Tim Allen was doing until
now, after having watched the new Star Trek films and going back and watching the original series. I didn't realize that he was doing this whole Shatner thing, but the brilliance of his performance lies in the fact that it's not really an impersonation.
SP: Exactly! Nobody is accusing him of being a great actor, but his acting really sells the balance of the movie. It's not quite a parody, but it's not a straight action comedy either. That's what makes it work. It's better if it's viewed
with Star Trek knowledge, but it works without that knowledge as well; it makes sense
without knowing the references.
T: And it pays homage to fans. It's very pro-fan.
Sunday, 2:10 pm
Frances Ha (film)
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| Frances Ha |
in which an aging dancer (27 years old) loses the love of her life (her best friend) and must figure out her personal and professional life amidst economic turmoil.
T: And then we saw Frances Ha. Which was honestly lovely. It
was incredible.
SP: I liked it a pinch less than I liked The Kings of Summer.
But it was still great.
T: It was delightful while also being one of the most
depressive movies I've seen in a good long while. It might be my favorite movie of 2013 so far.
SP: I'm just so sick of and annoyed by movies with starving
artists who act like there is no way out of their situation.
T: Get a damn job, hippies!
SP: Now, I know that I'm sounding too pragmatic, especially
after I praised the dream-like qualities of The Kings of Summer, but I wished
that the movie had been more realistic in regards to that.
T: But the movie doesn't give Frances any breaks. In fact, it really showcases her failings as
a person. Greta Gerwig, who I really hated in Lola Versus, really gets a chance to shine. Writing the movie with the director (and her lover, Noah Baumbach) really let her focus on what she does best.
SP: She's a delight.
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| Square Peg |
T: Honestly, it's a movie about a bunch of people failing in very specific ways, and I appreciated the honesty. It's also very funny, and it has a Gummer in it.
SP: Meryl Streep's kid.
T: Right. I also liked that the movie doesn't fall into easy trappings
of a romantic comedy. There's no "and then he saves her" moment.
SP: I hate when that's in movies. And in this one it wouldn't have
worked. It's too easy.
T: She is still able to have an awakening without going all
Kate Chopin and drowning herself in the sea.
SP: You keep referencing that novel. Should I be worried?
T: I should probably stay away from the ocean, just to be safe. "Not Penny's Boat" and whatnot.
SP: High culture to Lost in 5 seconds flat.
END WEEKEND
And that was my weekend. So filled with pop culture, so filled with fun.
