Netflix Review: 11:14 [2005]
Five seemingly random story lines intersect at precisely 11:14 p.m. in this innovative drama-thriller written and directed by newbie filmmaker Greg Marcks. Even though they’re strangers, Buzzy (Academy Award winner Hilary Swank), Mark (Colin Hanks), Cheri (Rachel Leigh Cook), Jack (Henry Thomas) and Eddie (Ben Foster) will become a part of one another’s lives — even if it kills them. Patrick Swayze and Barbara Hershey co-star.
First off, Netflix classifies this movie as a thriller. Halfway through, I realized there’s nothing thrilling about it. I liked this movie simply because I like movies that play with time. That’s one reason I loved the Back to the Future series. Why I liked the repeating-day stories of 12:01 (tough as it was to like) and Groundhog Day.
It’s why I liked Go, Vantage Point, and Pulp Fiction, which is similar in its storytelling style in that indie film 11:14 jumps around the same half-hour span, telling different parts of the same story from—for lack of a better term—different vantage points.
Patrick Swayze plays a caring father, even if his actions are misguided. His daughter, played by Rachel Leigh Cook (who doesn’t get a link on Netflix, though I don’t know why), is an out and out bitch. Shawn Hatosy and Hilary Swank have a wonderful chemistry as convenience store employees, one of whom wants to rob the place.
Overall, this movie is nothing new. It’s not very groundbreaking, and its scope is such a tiny microcosm of time—20 minutes tops. And despite good performances by the cast and some cool directing by Greg Marcks and Bree Sharp covering Nancy Sinatra way before Jessica Simpson did, I can’t in good conscience recommend watching it.
Rating: 3/5
Taylor Swift as Supergirl?
Comicbook.com is reporting this yesterday. The one whose music this year was better than Beyonce (though she had the best music video of all time) is apparently at the top of Warner’s list to play Superman’s cousin. I don’t have very high hopes for this, though I still plan to see the movie.
thx to newageamazon for the notice
The Perfectly Sane Show – Episode 7
Its time for a road trip….
In this episode we attempt to talk about … umm…. I’m not sure but we do try to answer some listener questions.
Music in this episode:
Once Bitten, Twice Shy – Great White
Dammit – Blink 182
Like a Prayer – Monkey Bus
E-mail comments (or questions) to pefectlysaneshow@gmail.com or friend us on the IGN Blogs.
It’s the end of the world as we know it
It’s been nice knowing you all, for this short period. It appears that aliens have decided to make themselves known to us via a strange spiral above the skies of Norway. Video is also available of this thing. Check it out.
My Music Monday: Journey
Welcome to My Music Mondays. I haven’t done one of these in a while but the basic premise is that each week I will be delving into my music collection and looking at a new artist going somewhat randomly currently but eventually from A to Z. I’ll examine why I first started listening to them, my favorite album and my top 10 songs for the artist. As my music collection is pretty extensive and I have a lot of one offs, I have set a qualification to be featured here. That is that I have to have at least two albums of the artist’s music before they can be considered. This week I look at Journey.
I remember the first time I heard Journey, I mean really heard them and paid attention. It was Memorial Day weekend 1989 and the local rock station was running down a top 300 (or 500) countdown of the greatest songs of all time as voted on by its listeners. I was in a daze as it was early morning (OK not so early, maybe 9AM or 10AM) and I’m not sure what the exact number was but it was pretty high (top 10 maybe because the countdown ended shortly thereafter with “American Pie” topping out over “Free Bird” and “Stairway to Heaven”) but the Jon Cain’s piano intro to “Don’t Stop Believin’” started and I perked up a bit and then Steve Perry’s voice kicked in followed by Neal Schon’s guitar and I was enraptured. At the time I did not know who they were but I quickly found out, followed by picking up a cassette of their recently released Greatest Hits album and for the last 20 years I have been a fan.
I’ve seen the band live four times, although sadly never with Perry on the stage. When I saw them their lead singer was Steve Augeri, who replace Perry after he left the band for a second time in 1997. Augeri was a dead ringer vocally for Perry and he had a wonderful stage presence. The 2001 album with Augeri, Arrival, is my second favorite Journey album and my top 20 list is littered with a few choice cuts from that album. Unfortunately, after nearly a decade with the band, Augeri became ill and parted ways with the band, who brought on the former vocalist for Yngwie Malmsteen’s Rising Force, Jeff Scott Soto, to replace him. Soto was with the band very shortly though, despite having a fantastic voice and wonderful range, arguably better than Augeri’s, and the band replaced him with Filipino vocalist Arnel Pineda. I have yet to see the band since Pineda took over the vocal reigns but I have heard him sing and vocally he is spot on for the band. In anycase, Perry is still my favorite of the Journey vocalists and I still view him to be the true singer of Journey. And yes I know about original vocalist Greg Rollie and no I have never really been a fan of band’s work before Perry took over in 1977.
Overall I love the fact that Journey has such a strong presence of my two favorite instruments, piano and guitar (Schon is probably one of my five favorite guitarists), and that their songs are just so much fun.
Favorite Album: Escape
If I had to pick only five albums that were not greatest hits compilations “Escape” would be on that short list. It is a solid album from top to bottom that really showcases the band when they were at the top of their game. It also includes more than a few of my favorite Journey songs.
20 Favorite Songs (I couldn’t decide on just 10)
20. Loved By You
19. Open Arms
18. Higher Place
17. Precious Time
16. Still They Ride
15. Only the Young
14. Girl Can’t Help It
13. Message of Love
12. Raised on Radio
11. Who’s Crying Now
10. Ask the Lonely
9. Be Good to Yourself
8. Send Her My Love
7. Nothin’ Comes Close
6. To Be Alive Again
5. Faithfully
4. Any Way You Want It
3. Don’t Stop Believin’
2. Stone In Love
1. Separate Ways (World’s Apart)
