Pop Culture Buzz

I never would have guessed that Santogold’s & Lykke Li’s voices would meld together so well, but the funky laid back beat spun by NASA added to Kanye’s cocky rap, is pretty impressive. NASA’s debut album “The Spirit of the Apollo” is crammed full of hot guest vocals that are truly inspired. Check out the trippy and futuristic “Gifted” music video below and judge for yourself.

House-party guru Calvin Harris is releasing his highly anticipated second studio album sometime this year. The first single from the Scotsman’s still-untitled effort is “I’m Not Alone.” Below is a message from Calvin Harris’ MySpace page talking about his new “sound”:

Pete Tong had the first play of I’m Not Alone on friday, that’s my new single, it’s on my music player now. In an attempt to delay piracy i have given it an “I’m Your Nan” remix, so i hope you enjoy that. Obviously I hope you like it, it’s had some interesting reactions so far - a lot of them good, some of them bad! For those hating, please be aware that what i’m trying to do is make memorable music, and given that i have already made songs that sound like “Acceptable in the 80s” and “The Girls”, and indeed “Dance Wiv Me” it’s time to move on and keep it interesting, which involves taking risks, one of those risks being that perhaps nobody will like it…! But i would much rather that be the case than i make some cut up distorted blog house tune, i think there is enough of that around at the moment. So give it a chance won’t you?

Thanks
Calvin x

LISTEN TO A NON-STOP MIX OF OVER 200 OF MY FAVORITE POP SONGS FROM THE LAST 20 YEARS!!

(SONG PLAYLIST IS SET ON RANDOM SHUFFLE AND ARE IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER)

*** 1/2 STARS

In “I Love You, Man”, Peter Klaven (Paul Rudd) is a successful real estate agent who, upon getting engaged to the woman of his dreams, Zooey (played by Rashida Jones from “Parks & Recreation”), discovers that he has no male friend close enough to serve as his Best Man. Peter immediately sets out to fix the situation by embarking on a series of side splitting “man-dates”. Peter eventually meets a laid back single guy (played by Jason Segel) who shares his passion for the band Rush and they both fall head first into a serious friendship.

I have to say that romantic comedies are my least favorite genre of film. There are some exceptions of course but as a theory I will always avoid any film that stars Sandra Bullock, Kate Hudson or Matthew McConaughey. A newly recent trend in cinema has been the male romantic comedy or “bromance” film. This new perspective from the sensitive “every day” guy has not only been effective in comedies such as “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” and “Pineapple Express” but I think it adds a much needed mature side to funny testosterone driven films.

Paul Rudd has become the new hot male star of these modern day forward thinking comedies because he comes off as authentic and real. With “Role Models” he showed us his stubborn stereotypical male side without becoming grating or down right piggish. In “I Love You Man” you can’t help but fall in love with his awkward and clumsy character. In any other film Rudd’s character would have been portrayed as being gay or weak, but good writing and great performances show that male relationships can be sincere. The same can be said for the brilliant supporting acting by Jason Segel who steals every scene that he is in.

Sure one of the jokes in this film is two guys saying “I Love You Man”, but nowhere does the screenplay show any hints of homophobia, which has always been a problem in male buddy flicks. This film doesn’t talk down to the audience, it actually has a lot to say about how men share their emotions with eachother (so ladies make sure you see this movie!). I rarely use the term, but this may be one of the best “date movies” ever created. I laughed a lot in this movie and at times I was genuinely moved, and in a male romantic comedy what else can you ask for?

In “Imagine That”, Eddie Murphy stars as a successful financial executive who has more time for his blackberry than his seven-year-old daughter (Yara Shahidi). When he has a crisis of confidence and his career starts going down the drain, however, he finds the solution to all his problems in his daughters imaginary world.

The trailer below offers up nothing too original or exciting, but it might be entertaining, or at least fun for the kids. Let’s just hope that this Eddie Murphy film is better than “Meet Dave”, “The Haunted Mansion” or “Pluto Nash”.

“Fame” is the upcoming 2009 musical remake of the 1980 hit film that was also spun off into a hit TV show. The remake is scheduled to be released on September 25, 2009 which is just in time for back to school. With the popularity of shows like “Dancing With the Stars” and “So You Think You Can Dance” this film may have the potential to be huge like the original did. I guess we’ll see at the end of the summer, until then watch the trailer below:

Hate it or love it, Eminem is back. His latest hilarious single “We Made You” will be dominating your radio waves for the next few months, so get used to it. His album won’t be released until May 19th, but Slim Shady already has everyone talking about his new video “We Made You” after he took stabs at Kim Kardashian, Jessica Simpson, Lindsay Lohen, & Ellen Degeneres. Whatever your verdict may be, it has certainly brought Eminem back to the forefront. Check out the “We Made You” music video below:

*** STARS

With references to “Attack of the 50 Foot Women”, “The Fly”, “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”, “The Blob” and “Creature from the Black Lagoon”, “Monsters vs. Aliens” makes it clear that the filmmakers are huge fans of early sci-fi/horror atomic age films from the early 50’s and late 60’s. This vibrant action packed new cartoon feature chooses to go the nostalgic route to entertain audiences instead of rehashing pop culture references and poop jokes, and it works.

The story centers on Susan (Reese Witherspoon), a bride whose wedding goes spectacularly wrong when she she’s hit by a meteor outside the church and proceeds to grow 50 feet tall. Immediately after her transformation, the military swoops in and whisks her away to a detention center for monsters. Witherspoon hasn’t sounded so youthful and refreshingly over the top in ages.

Among her fellow inmates are the gelatinous, blue B.O.B. (Seth Rogen at his side splitting best); the half-insect, half-mad-scientist Dr. Cockroach (voiced by the perfectly cast Hugh Laurie); and the part fish, part human Missing Link (the always funny Will Arnett). It is obvious the voice performers are having tons of fun in their roles but it is Stephen Colbert who steals every scene as the voice of the U.S. president.

This movie is visually awesome, action packed and eye-popping, particularly if you catch it in IMAX 3-D. The most spectacular part in the film was the brilliant staging of a monstrous battle scene at the Golden Gate Bridge. “Monsters vs. Aliens” effectively balances humor and action, as well as small character beats with big set-pieces. In the end I found this film to be a big, silly spoof of an animated film that was fast, hilarious and perfect for the kids and big children at heart!

Sony Pictures Animation has finally released the movie trailer for “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs”. Inspired by the beloved children’s book (one of my favorites), the film tells the story of a scientist named Flint Lockwood, who while trying to solve world hunger who encounters a problem of global proportions, as food begins to fall from the sky like rain. The voice cast is comprised of Bill Hader, Anna Faris, Andy Samberg, James Caan, Bruce Campbell, Tracy Morgan and Mr. T. This creative little film has some serious potential to be a sweet charmer stuck in the middle of a summer full of tent pole productions, let’s hope it doesn’t get lost in the shuffle!

“The Hangover” is an upcoming R-rated comedy directed by Todd Phillips, who also directed “Starsky and Hutch”, “Old School” and “Road Trip”, among others. With “The Hangover”, it looks like Phillips has taken the frat comedy to its next logical step: a guy who is about to get married falling back into a mess of drunken antics with his buddies the night before.

The movie stars Ed Helms (The Office), Zach Galifianakis and Bradley Cooper (Wedding Crashers, The Midnight Meat Train) in the lead roles, which means Phillips is working with some new faces. I’m looking forward to seeing how well these guys gel, but if the trailer is any indication, I think the results are going to be hilarious.

I probably only need seven words to get you excited about this: Mike Tyson air drummming to Phil Collins. “The Hangover” hits theatres on June 5th; watch the trailer below:

“Brüno” is the follow up mockumentary comedy film to “Borat” by brilliant comedian Sacha Baron Cohen. It is produced by, co-written by, and stars Baron Cohen. The character “Bruno” originates from Cohen’s previous HBO series, “Da Ali G Show”. This film is the third based on characters from the show, following “Ali G Indahouse” and “Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan”, but the latter and this film occurs in real-life situations unlike the “Ali G Indahouse”.

In the film, which opens on July 10, British comic Cohen plays a gay Austrian TV presenter called Bruno. The movie is facing an adults only certification in the US due to the sexually explicit material. Some scenes might have to be cut so Bruno can be seen by a wider audience. According to early reviews, part of the plot involves Bruno drawing inspiration from people like George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Angelina Jolie to, as he says, find a “new shithole to save”..and…”Clooney has Darfur, I need to find my Darfur…”.

In his quest to become a big time celebrity, Bruno feels that the only way he can accomplish this is by giving back. He even flies to the Middle East to negotiate peace between Israel and Palestine by telling them “Why are you all so mad at Hamas, Pita bread is the real enemy, yes?”. The best part? Apparently there’s a giant charity song at the end of the movie featuring Bono, Coldplay, Elton John and Snoop Dogg. Any other movie and I’d call bullshit — but this is Sacha Baron Cohen, so expect it. Can’t wait. I also hear “Bruno” attends a “Yes on 8″ rally in California (see the picture below), that should be very interesting to watch also! This is my most highly anticipated film to watch in 2009, hands down!

LISTEN TO A NON-STOP MIX OF OVER 50 NEW SONGS FROM THE YEAH YEAH YEAHS, PETER BJORN & JOHN, PET SHOP BOYS, JUNIOR BOYS AND MORE!!

(SONG PLAYLIST IS SET ON RANDOM SHUFFLE AND ARE IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER)