To be read after previous post!

Releases I'm looking forward to in 2009:
02/03 - Zack and Miri Make a Porno (DVD)
02/06 - Fanboys
03/10 - Role Models (DVD)
03/13 - Miss March
03/20 - I Love You, Man
03/20 - This Side of the Truth
03/20 - The Great Buck Howard
03/27 - Adventureland
04/10 - Observe and Report
05/15 - The Brothers Bloom
06/05 - Land of the Lost
07/10 - I Love You, Beth Cooper
07/31 - Funny People
10/16 - Where the Wild Things Are
TBA - Big Fan
TBA - The Mother of Invention
TBA - Mystery Team
TBA - Paper Heart
TBA - The Slammin' Salmon
TBA - Spring Breakdown
TBA - Visioneers

Commentary is Dysentery

That title is a stretch... I'll explain as I don't think that the homophone is obvious here. What that title means to express is that commentary is decent-ary. Now, onto today's post:

I made the venture to West Des Moines yesterday to pick up a DVD at Best Buy. If you know me, releases for Tuesday, January 6th, 2009, or both me and releases for Tuesday, January 6th, 2009, then you could infer that DVD is/was Pineapple Express. Pardon that "is/was." It's deceiptful for me to suggest the DVD "was," as that would entail the movie dieing - at least this is my understanding of the English language. The whole animate versus inanimate argument is lost on me as an Agnostic. BIG WHAMMYS! NO JESUS! Anyyyyyhow {WHY THE Y's!?! [allow me to side-bar here: is there a DJ YY yet? DJ Two Y's. DJ TOO WISE! (It's me now.)]} Anyhow, having watched the movie roughly fifty times over the last couple months (thanks Internets!), one might think I'd be sick of the film... If it were any other movie of 2008, that I had access to watch at any time, and that I had also loved, this may be true. Having very little chance of guessing that, I will only judge you based on your willingness to assume. If you've seen the red band trailer for "The Slammin' Salmon," you've seen and heard Michael Clarke Duncan say "when you assume, you make an asshole out of you'self."

OK, I'll get on with it. The whole point of this entry is that I am a fan of DVD commentaries, specifically on comedy films. Listening to guys like Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, Paul Rudd, Andy Samberg, etc. chat is like having ultimate-Gawker-ears. I'm stoked to hear these guys who I admire, shoot the shit with their buddies. Sure, they're plenty aware that people like myself will hear their conversation; that doesn't take away from it to me. I enjoy the stories that led to the scenes, the random side-bars, listening to Jason Segel call out his director for not knowing what coverage is... and then hoping they'd explain it 'cuz I had no idea what they were talking about. Now, I know. It gives a guy like me, with my interests, motivation to press on in those interests. These guys' chats don't sound much different than the chats me and my friends have. Perhaps, I could write and shoot sketches and have some success at it? Neato.

This is all not-to-mention, additional special features. Gag reals, ftw.

After watching the disc-one bonus features and the movie with commentary once, I can justify the $25 I spent. I still have a whole second disc of features to watch! Srsly though, $25 is a bit ridiculous considering in three months it'll cost $15... and three months after that? Only $9. Oh welllllll [don't count these l's (no clever DJ name there)]. A couple less Chinese buffets for me. Bummer. There's only a couple other films from 2008 that I'll probably picking up my own DVD copy of. Step-Brothers and Zack and Miri Make a Porno. Oh, and Role Models! Now, to see when the last two of those come out... also, to find the release dates for The Slammin' Salmon and Land of the Lost (Will Ferrell can do whatever he wants here; he has Danny McBride and Jorma Taccone behind him).

DWS @ the Mews, January 30th!

Do Germans agree it's 2009?

"Hello, German acquaintance. Happy 2008!"
"NEIN!"
"Oh, right! I keep forgetting! Happy 2009!"
"NEIN!"
"Wow, you're really jazzed about it, huh?"
"NEIN!"
"Well you could've fooled me, German acquaintance. You have any big resolutions for the big new year?"
"NEIN!"
"Yeah... I don't know why I do. Nobody ever keeps 'em anyways! Am. I. Right. Slap me five!"
"NEIN!"

(Re:) Resolutions 2009
I. Operation FSB (Fat Shit Billy)
     A. NO MORE MEAT!
         1. This excludes chicken, turkey, and fish.
     B. NO MORE SODA!
         1. Unless you're sick and want Sprite, 7Up, or a refreshing Fresca.
         2. Unless you're dieing and the only thing to drink is soda.
     C. EXERCISE BIKE!
         1. Got one.
             a. Makes my balls fall asleep... really weird sensation.
         2. Use it to ride a couple miles every couple days... IT HAS AN ODOMETER!
II. Operation $S [pronounced "s dollars" (short for "save dollars")]
     A. Get a full-time day job.
         1. Good idea, huh?
     B. Get tax return.
         1. We'll see about that...
     C. Vacation to Los Angeles, CA.
         1. The future home of Billy.
             a. Scout the area for harmful bacteria?
             b. Scout the area for possible employment!
             c. See: The Ocean.
             d. Visit PrrrrtyFood
III. Operation AA (Associate of Arts)
     A. Take remaining courses to complete AA.
         1. File with other useless paperwork.
             a. Assume another $2k in debt.
IV. Operation ABDS (Always Be Doing Something)
     A. WonderTaint/Short Shorts
         1. More YouTube mash-ups for editing practice and random LAWLing.
         2. Writing, Shooting, and Editing Some Short Sketches (Erroneous Capitalization Necessary).
     B. Driving While Stupid
         1. Writing some new songs for a new EP, already named.
             a. It is hilarious.
         2. Play Skappleton 2009!
             a. Moving Mikey did it having only played one prior show.
             b. Moving Mikey did not fare well at Skappleton 2007.
     C. Shroommates
         1. Shoot first episode!
         2. Finish writing second through sixth episodes!
         3. Shoot those episodes!
     D. New Music Review Blog
         1. This idea makes me giggle.
             a. An atypically typical music blog.

Some early results? I've already eaten some beef. It was hidden in the beef/turkey chili that J&K made. THAT ESS IS DELICIOUS! Srsly. Worth it. Otherwise, I've written the first episode of Shroommates, finished a new DWS song (sans lyrics), and managed to lose a couple pounds so far in 2009. I've also managed to have a cold. Boo cold. Boo not breathing through ya' nose.

...more like bitchfork, amirite?

No post today [yesterday (Friday)].

Two new projects in the works?

Maybe only one...

THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE!!!

(This has absolutely nothing and everything to do with The Highlander)

i3109 - i1100 = 2009

Before listing my choices for the best films of 2008, I'll write a bit about me and movies. Over the last year, I've begun learning more about movie-making and trying to create my own projects... I've been pretty unproductive this far (something that WILL change in 2009). My interest in movies in the past has been purely based on video as a medium for entertainment... I've never cared what went into the making of a movie, just that the end result would be entertaining in some respect. This is why I've thought and continue to think Citizen Kane is a piece of shit (srsly). What's my favorite movie of all time? It's really hard to say. Although it probably erases any of my credibility on the subject, I might suggest Hot Rod (a movie that I find to be endlessly entertaining). The more I get into making my own videos, the more I start to take into account things like cinematography and the performances on screen versus the overall effect of a movie. This new appreciation certainly has a footprint in this year's list. I'm glad that I work at the Fleur Cinema & Cafe, as it has really opened a door to a lot of films that I would've never watched in the past. As it is, my list this year is comprised mostly of films I watched at work... despite my age and the ridiculousness of me making my primary income from a movie theater, I can't help myself but to be kinda stoked about his facet of my life. Best Billy Employer of 2008: Teh Fleur!

MY FAVORITE MOVIES OF 2008
Action/Comedy: Pineapple Express
(I love movies with Seth Rogen. This one just happens to be hilarious while packing some very respectable action)
Comedy: Role Models
(Absolutely hilarious; nothing made me laugh more all year)
Comic Adaptation: Iron Man
(While The Dark Knight was a great movie, I think Favreau's film was a much more entertaining adaptation of the comic it's based on)
Documentary: Man On Wire
(An amazing story in such a well-done documentary)
Drama: Slumdog Millionaire
(Barely topping Synecdoche, New York and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; chosen because it's so incredibly well done and lacking at no point in the film)
"Indie" Indie: In Search of a Midnight Kiss
(Probably the best indie film I've seen in recent memory; obviously well written, performed, and shot within my future home, Los Angeles, California)
Music Documentary: Joe Strummer: The Future is Unwritten
(I'm certainly not the biggest Clash fan, but this is a quality doc. featuring really great archive footage of Mr. Strummer and interesting interviews with his former bandmates)

Worst Movie Ever: Happy-Go-Lucky
(I've honestly never been so miserable in my entire life)

Biggest Surprise: The Promotion
(This would've been my "Indie" Indie pick if not for Midnight Kiss's charm; the performances are as great as the style throughout the film and has me looking forward to Chad Schmidt in 2010)
Most Disappointing: Hellboy II: The Golden Army
(Not only a bastardization of a great comic, but a shitty film relying on the giant plant fight completely)

Best Director: Charlie Kaufman
(Truly brilliant stuff; Synecdoche, New York)
Best Actor: Sean Penn
(A fantastic portrayl in the most socially relevant movie of 2008; Milk)
Best Actress: Anne Hathaway
(Not only incredibly beautiful, but able to portray an incredible range of emotions; Rachel Getting Married)
Best Soundtrack: The Wackness
(1994 featured some GREAT hip-hop)

"Fantastic!" -- Billy Short (DarthAlgar.Blogspot.com)

I was finally able to see Slumdog Millionaire today and it is absolutely great. I originally intended to see The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, but couldn't wake myself up early enough to get it in before work this morning. Luckily, I do not work until 7:00pm tomorrow evening, so I will be able to watch TCCoB, followed by Doubt tomorrow day. DOUBLE FEATURE, FTW! After this, I probably won't be seeing anything until The Wrestler arrives at the Fleur. Revolutionary Road and The Reader (both starring Kate Winslet... yeck!) aren't registering any interest at this point... both looking incredibly boring. Wednesday will be my "Best Movies" List; possibly some other "Bests" of 2008 and what I'm looking forward to in 2009. Hooray! Goodnight!

Timesnake 2, Geneapagos.

I have to be at work in a half-hour, so no entry today! HOORAY! I have some catching up to do in filmtown... Slumdog Millionaire, Doubt, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button are all at the theater and I haven't seen any of them... Until I do, I can't put up my favorite films of the year. I'm already going to have to post it sans viewing of The Wrestler and JCVD, which aren't going to be in Des Moines until mid-January (the latter maybe not at all). I'm pretty sure JCVD will be the best movie of all time though.

Billy's Best of 2008 (MUSIC)

#10
Artist: Girl Talk
Album: Feed the Animals
Label: Illegal Art
Favorite Track: 02. "Shut the Club Down"
Notes: I'm a big fan of the track featuring samples of Avril Lavigne. Srsly.


#09
Artist: Ra Ra Riot
Album: The Rhumb Line
Label: Barsuk
Favorite Track: 05. "Dying is Fine"
Notes: This is one of the only albums featuring stringed instruments (beyond guitar and bass) that I've enjoyed. A great tone to the whole album.

#08
Artist: The Knux
Album: Remind Me in 3 Days...
Label: Interscope
Favorite Track: 05. "Roxxanne"
Notes: This is exactly what all Hip-Hop should sound like. These dudes have a really cool mix of songs here, which keeps every track super fresh fresh ya'll... you don't stop?

#07
Artist: Department of Eagles
Album: In Ear Park
Label: Beggar's Group
Favorite Track: 02. "No One Does It"
Notes: Another album with a fantastic tone and seemingly limitless listenability.

#06
Artist: MGMT
Album: Oracular Spectacular
Label: Sony/Columbia Records
Favorite Track: 02. "Weekend Wars"
Notes: These fellas remind me of the record snagging hoodlums from High Fidelity. I want to hate them. I look at them and I know that I don't like them. Unfortunately, they make really good music...

#05
Artist: My Morning Jacket
Album: Evil Urges
Label: ATO Records
Favorite Track: 13. "Touch Me I'm Going to Scream Part 2"
Notes: The range from "Highly Suspicious" to my favorite track is pretty great, yet all of these songs fit so well together. Jim James' voice is too perfect for their sound.

#04
Artist: Dr. Dog
Album: Fate
Label: Park the Van
Favorite Track: 04. "Army of Ancients"
Notes: Great, classic sounding tracks borrowing from previous generations' sound perfectly.

#03
Artist: TV on the Radio
Album: Dear Science
Label: Interscope
Favorite Track: 07. "Red Dress"
Notes: The horns were a great addition... a sexy great addition.


#02
Artist: Blitzen Trapper
Album: Furr
Label: Sub Pop
Favorite Track: 03. "Furr"
Notes: Can we get a blood test to confirm that Eric Earley wasn't switched with Jakob Dylan at birth?


#01
Artist: Fleet Foxes
Album: Fleet Foxes
Label: Sub Pop
Favorite Track: 03. "Ragged Wood"
Notes: An album for the times... just fantastic.

HOE-MA y MOGOMRA!

Best Breakfast of Today, 2008: Strawberry Pop-Tarts! (I'm eating a pair right now; srsly)

No blog entry of any substance (no firsts!) today as I'm going to begin the task of finishing my 'best of' lists (I'm worried that if I don't, Blogger will disable my account). Enjoy Pop-Tarts.