Katie's Rants

Second post in a day? WHAT! I know, but I was just too damn excited to not exclaim this somehow….

THE NEW STROKES ALBUM IS COMPLETED! It still needs to be mixed but a March release is on the horizon. Does that mean a spring tour? I hope so.

I remember hearing Julian talking somewhere about how the new album will sound a lot like the last album. However, according to various other articles I just read they scrapped all the work they had done without Julian… I’m REALLY hoping they go back to the Lo-Fi sound they used to have. I do like the last album, but I really miss the Lo-Fi sound that you cannot really find anywhere now. The Strokes brought it back in 2001, and now it’s somewhat disappeared. Whatever, I have faith that it will be a decent album. I wasn’t disappointed with the three previous albums or Albert Hammond Jr. and Julian Casablancas’ solo stuff.

Welcome back, The Strokes. Please don’t leave me again.

Like a drunken mother, I’ve been neglecting this blog. I apologize. School has been insane this semester, and I’ve found other ways to procrastinate. (Mainly watching shitty TV shows)

To make it up, I’m going to do a half-assed review of “Love and Other Drugs”

Love and Other Drugs (2010)
Director: Edward Zwick (Blood Diamond, Glory)
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway, Hank Azaria, Oliver Platt

Synopsis:
In 1996 a 20-something-would-be-doctor- Lothario, Jamie Randall, (Jake Gyllenhaal) gets fired from his job as a salesman at an electronics store, which is where the audience sees his art of seduction working well in sales. His younger brother who hit it big in the software industry sets Jamie up with a job as a Pfizer (pharmaceutical company) representative. After climbing the ladder there by utilizing his natural charm, he meets Maggie, a young woman with Parkinsons. (Anne Hathaway) This is where the plot loses it’s direction. Jamie is somewhat put in a quandary by trying to balance both of his worlds, the one he created with Maggie, and his desire to succeed in this field after he lands a new account he could sell like hotcakes, Viagra.

This movie left me bewildered; not because of the crazy plot turns, but because I had no idea what the movie was supposed to achieve. Perhaps it’s my own fault, maybe I was distracted by Jake Gyllenhaal being naked half the movie. I don’t think it’s the case, though. I feel we weren’t brought into either world enough to truly care what he decided to do in the end. Was this a movie about a charismatic salesman? Was this a movie about a Man-Whore who finally found someone he cares about? Was it a story about trying to find out what you want to do with your life? I really have no clue. I suppose a weak argument could be made for any one of those. The director needed to chose one to go with and create a more cohesive story with a linear plot. Strong acting by all characters, nice bit parts by Azaria and Oliver Platt. I felt bad that I wasn’t thrilled with the story, because I felt all of the actors put a lot into their respective roles.

See this movie when you’re not in the mood for a fast paced 2 hour movie, or if you truly want to see almost all of Anne Hathaway and Jake Gyllenhaal.

6/10

If you’d like to hear my weird attempt at a podcast, feel free to give it a listen and give me feedback! My editing skills are something I need to work on, but it’s a first attempt.

I discuss The Pet Shop Boys, Joy Division, and The Smiths.