Zebra katz – Ima Read from Mad Decent on Vimeo.

In the Q&A after the screening I asked the director why he wanted to tell this story (because it’s a dark one that really doesn’t have much meaning).

The ‘meaning’ is supposed to be that the protagonist crosses a boundary (by roughing up his last girlfriend, which we learn via her letter to him) and is then unable to get back to the more innocent person he was before. This ends in a slippery slope of increasingly poor decisions.

Except, it really doesn’t. He’s violent. It sounds like he was always violent. In the beginning he is hyper-sexual, then at one point he turns his girl down for sex. Very little character arc. He already had these traits from scene one.

Kudos to Brady Corbet for being able to handle those unending masturbation and sex scenes. That seems tough. I liked his acting as a whole. The main actress, Mati Diop, almost never changed expression or had any intonation in her voice. Flat.

This entire idea about Simon having studied eyes has very little relation to the story but it comes up probably 5 times. It’s a gimmick.

I found the entire film has no arc. The interesting idea would have been to follow this blackmail scam and leave the second Parisian love interest out of the story. Let’s follow Simon’s darkness somewhere new. Or possibly learn more about which people are dark enough to let Simon into their lives and learn the stories of their lives and understand how people so depraved and immoral tend to find each other and how that cycle keeps a constant, dark underbelly to the world.

Obviously these are all just my opinions but my opinion is that ‘shocking,’ sexual films like this have been done so much better; “American Psycho” and “Requiem for a Dream” being two, superior stories and films. “The Talented Mr. Ripley” would be a third.

If they wanted to tell the story of a Joran Van Der Sloot type I think they missed the mark. This film, as-is, will definitely not be winning the Sundance audience award this year. I would start with a severe re-edit. They have what could be an intriguing film on their hands; Someone, somewhere seems to have missed that vision.

On a positive note, great song selections!

Update — here is a much better film writer and his positive take.
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/sundance-review-simon-killer-loses-that-lovin-feeling-on-the-streets-of-paris

I too loved Martha Marcy May Marlene, my favorite film from the 2011 program. Different strokes.

Update 2 — This guy argues that the divisiveness is a positive.
http://www.movieline.com/2012/01/21/sundance-simon-killer-polarizes-but-maybe-thats-a-good-thing/

From the director:
“A shot-for-single-shot remake of LCD Soundsystem’s 2007 music video for ‘All My Friends.’ This is part exercise in lip-syncing and digital effects, part tribute to the band that no longer is.

Physical elements shot with a Nikon D50. Compositing and effects done in After Effects CS5. Face designed in Illustrator CS5.

Follow me on twitter @Close_watcher”

Grab the band’s latest “This Is Happening”

Or, grab the album that features “All My Friends,” “Sound of Silver.”

Apparently Chino Moreno and former Far guitarist Shaun Lopez are launching a new project tentatively named Crosses (represented as †††). Due to this, Ritualz is “SO FUCKING PISSED RIGHT NOW ” (via twitter).

Do you think Moreno is blatantly ripping off Ritualz and more broadly attempting to capitalize on the underground, emerging witch-house genre?

You be the judge:

More on this story…

More on †‡†…

When I heard that Beirut had a new album coming I got excited. I’ve loved all of the previous albums including Mr. Condons electronic explorations with the March of the Zapotech EP.

Anyhow, when I heard the lead single, “East Harlem,” from the new album, The Rip Tide, it felt instantly familiar. Where had I heard it?

Turns out it is the opening track to my favorite Beirut album –which is actually not even a legit album at all. July 1, 2009 I came across “Beirut – Live at the Music Hall of Williamsburg.” It is one of my very favorite Sunday morning albums and like I said, is my go to when I want to hear Beirut. It’s tough to believe an album this well recorded, mixed & produced was never officially released.

So, my friends, I am happy to present that concert in full for you here. I hope you like it.

Beirut – East Harlem
Beirut – The Shrew
Beirut – The Concubine
Beirut – Mimizan
Beirut – La Javanaise
Beirut – The Akara
Beirut – Cozak
Beirut – My Night With the Prostitute from Marseille
Beirut – Gulag Orkestar
Beirut – Forks and Knives (La Fete)
Beirut – Brazil

Check it out on Spotify.

There are a couple of tracks right now that are absolutely blowing my mind.

Dum Dum Girls – Coming Down
Girls – Vomit
Drake – Marvins Room

Drake ~ Marvins Room (Official Video) from OctobersVeryOwn on Vimeo.

How can I get this on Tosh.0? Tried tweeting @DanielTosh

INGREDIENTS
1.5 ounces black pepper simple syrup*
1.5 ounces Karlsson’s Gold Vodka or other vodka
3 ounces fresh grapefruit juice

INSTRUCTIONS
Combine the simple syrup, vodka, and grapefruit juice in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously for about a minute; strain into an ice-filled glass.

*To make the black pepper simple syrup:
1/4 cup crushed black peppercorns
1 cup water
1 cup sugar

Place sugar, water and peppercorns in a small pot and bring to a boil, stirring once or twice. Once sugar is dissolved take off the heat and let cool. Leave the peppercorns in the syrup to lend it a stronger flavor; strain them out when it is spiced to taste.