Movie Review: Public Enemies

Went to see Public Enemies last night, and partially this morning, it was such a late show. First I'd like to disclose that I am generally a big fan of Michael Mann's work. This one, I'm really on the fence about.

First, I like Johnny Depp, but for me, he does not scream masculinity, in the way that say Russell Crowe or Denzel Washington do. I just didn't feel that convinced that he was this cocky giant of a folk hero. I can only imagine how much better this movie would have been with a more viceral actor in the lead, hell even Christian Bale as John Dillinger would have been better. I like Johnny Depp, I just didn't think he was right in this role. That's just me.

Secondly, what a shitty story. I was looking forward to a biopic that lead me to understand the reason behind Dillinger's steel from the rich give to the poor ethos, but this film never really deals with that with the exception of a few throw away scenes to do more to briefly demonstrate this than explain it. Dillinger is a folk hero and we don't know why. The movie is also billed as a cat and mouse piece between Dillinger and FBI agent Purvis tasked with his capture. That certainly wasn't acheived. And there are so many throw away cameos that I can only believe that somewhere there is much, much better cut of this film that makes far more sense than what I saw last night. Which is shocking as the movie was 2 1/2 hours long already.

Thirdly, this film was shot on high definition video, which at times looked like the most beautiful, saturated film you've ever seen and others like the worst student video you've even seen. What the fuck Michael Mann! I can't understand those choices. I really hope that somewhere on the interweb there is floating around a rationale, because I can't figure it out. I know you used this interchange of look and feel of film/video in Collateral, but it worked there. There was motivation for it there, and it wasn't as starkly contrasted as it is here. You ever watch a British TV show? If you have, you know what I mean. It's shot of video not film and always looks cheesy, but also really feels small in a way that absolutely does not translate to the big screen. That's what much of this movie felt like to me. Like 2 1/2 hours of vintage Doctor Who from the 1970s. Especially what should have been the most engaging moments of action. There seemed to be no rhyme of reason for the switch between film look and video.

So those are my impressions. The movie really felt like a snapshot of a much better film that's out there somewhere. Definitely a failed experiment.

Weekly Music Shuffle Podcast

Hello! So we missed another week didn't we? Sorry about that. But we're back and better than ever. In fact, today was such a miserable day, I can think of little else I want more than to sink into a nice warm shuffle podcast, so here we go!

1. Rock 'n' Roll Lifestyle - Cake - Motorcade of Generosity
2. Wayward and Parliament - Amy Milan - Honey From the Tombs
3. Around This Corner - Sarah Harmer - You Were Here
4. Help! - The Beatles - Love
5. Kathleen - Josh Ritter - Hello Starling
6. The Day You Walked Away - Joel Plaskett & The Emergency - Truthfully Truthfully
7. Can't Sleep - Fivehead - Guests of the Nation
8. Jealous of Your Cigarette - Hawksley Workman - (Last Night We Were) The Delicious Wolves
9. Losing California - Sloan - Between The Bridges
10. Social Competence - Peter Moren - The Last Tycoon
    

First BlackBerry Tour review

Bonnie Cha at Cnet (my favourite reviewer!) has posted the first BlackBerry Tour review I've seen.



[via Cnet]

Telus lauching two more smartphones

Telus is on a role, which frankly they've neede given their rather stale smartphone lineup. Along with the BlackBerry Tour becoming available next Wednesday, Telus is apparently also releasing the HTC Snap, a WinMo qwerty smartphone, and on July 21st will be releasing the uber sexy HTC Touch Pro 2. This is one smoking piece of kit and looks like the touch phone HTC should have released instead of the clunky Touch Diamond and Touch Pro. So check out your local Telus retailer if you're looking for a fancy new smartphone in the next couple of weeks!

[via Boy Genius Report]

Cool iPhone case

My good pal CowgirlTara just got an iPhone, and has been talking about getting a case for it. I think I just found the lucky winner! She can even make this herself!

[via Gizmodo]

USB Microwave

The number of seemingly useless USB devices keeps growing. The latest one is a microwave, for those of us who really can't leave their desks for lunch I guess! I love the name of this particular device, the Heinz Beanzawave! That's great. I can see my colleagues being very unimpressed by my eating beans for lunch everyday, however. Check out the video!




[via Gizmodo]

CrunchPad internet tablet to be released soon

According to Gizmodo, Michael Arrington, founder of TechCrunch, has incorporated a new company to release the CrunchPad, an affordable internel tablet, which we've posted about in the past.

About a year ago, Arrington posted on TechCrunch about his desire to have a simple web browsing tablet, that was functional and affordable, and in record time he has brought one to market.

Based on the Gizmodo post, an annoucement is comin this month or next, and the CrunchPad will be available as soon as possible. No word yet on its availability, let alone availability in Canada. That said I'd buy this, nuke my netbook and forget about buying an eBook reader. This coupled with a Shortcovers account pretty much gives you everything you need.

Can't wait for more details.

[via Gizmodo]

Telus BlackBerry Tour, it's official!

This week Telus finally listed the BlackBerry Tour as coming soon. The phone is supposed to be coming next Wednesday. It seems that Best Buy is also has the phone available for pre-order at $229! Exciting times! Check out the details below by clicking the link.

[via Telusmobility.com]

iTunes offering HBO content in Canada

iTunes Canada has just addeda bunch of new content for us Canucks! HBO shows such as Entourage and Sex in the City are now available for download. Standarad definition episodes are available for $2.49 and high definition eps are available for $3.49, which is pretty reasonable for the upgrade in quality.

Let the downloading begin!

[via Canoe Technology]

Festival Weekend

Hello dear readers. As I mentioned in my last post, I was spending the weekend at the Northern Lights Festival Boreal and had a great time listening to some great music and hanging out (far too late into the wee hours two nights in a row!) with friends. Ate some great food, got sunburned and drank some cold beers.

All in all a pretty great weekend. Now? I'm exhausted! And owing you all a new Weekly Shuffle Podcast, which I promise I'll post tomorrow. In the meantime enjoy a few pics from this weekend's festivities.

Sunnyside Paris, on the right and Sarah Craig and Jim Matt on the left.

Local musicians and pals Dan Levecque and Matt Foy backing up Ryan Bishops

Sudbury singer/songwriter, Ryan Bishops. Played a really, really great set!

Nova Soctia's Joel Plaskett Friday's headliner.

Kevin Breit on a workshop stage. This guy's guitar playing will melt your face!
Has played with EVERYONE, in particular Norah Jones and toured with her when her
first big record broke. Not bad for a boy from McKerrow, Ontario!

Sault Ste. Marie's favourite sons, the Wild Turkeys,
one of the best country/bluegrass bands you could see or hear.

Friend Mike's frankentoes, or finger toes, whatever catches your fancy!

Sudbury songstress Angie Nussey. Always a great performer,
she had the crowd eating out of her hand.

Hawksley Workman, headliner for the Saturday night. Was great to hear him play again.

Elliot Brood played a killer set Saturday, twice!

Northern Lights Festival Boreal

It's NLFB weekend here in Sudbury. Hope you all come out this weekend, it's always a good time! Check out the website for all the info, artists, schedules, etc.

For me, I'm looking forward to Joel Plasket, Friday's headliner, and Hawksley Workman on Saturday. Can't wait! Hope you're all there.

I sense a beat down coming

You know you're a geek if you own this phone case. Don't try to explain it away, you're a geek. And not a good geek, the bad kind - the non-ironic, know-it-all weiner.

[via WMExperts]

Ancient messaging technology gets upgrade

Check this out! It's too cool. A little messenger bag for a carrier pidgeon! LOVE IT!

[via Gizmodo]

BlackBerry Tour 9630 unboxing

The BlackBerry Tour is supposed to make it's appearance next week in both Canada and the U.S. July 12th on Spring and Verizon, July 15th on Telus and the 17th on Bell. So it was exciting to see these unboxing photos yesterday. Apparently the unit is a real beauty. I'm on the fence for this phone or the Storm! Will at least wait until next week to test a unit at a Telus outlet. Click the link below to view the gallery.

The Tour next to the Bold, a slick handset!

[via Boy Genius Report]

Gift ideas for those who knit/felt

Okay, this is going out to anyone who knits/felts (CowgirlTara). I want these desperately! I'm pretty sure the frog can be felted.

[via CNET & BoingBoingGadgets]

Michael Jackson tribute

Better late than never, right? Well I came across this on BoingBoingGadget and thought I'd share it. Not the best video, but hey, it's Lego dudes all dancing to Thriller! Come on!



[via BoingBoingGadgets]