A story tangentially related to Diplo:

My friend and I went to see Diplo spin at the Guggenheim in January of 2006, and when we arrived at the museum, the line was around the block. We stood in the freezing cold for an hour, bitching about New York, and by the end of the night we made a pact to go to Miami. We never made it in to the show, but we spent the Valentine’s Day blizzard of ’06 partying in South Beach.

See Diplo rep the sixth borough at Studio B tonight. Maybe MIA will show up.

Details: Fri 3/30 10:00 PM Diplo, Bonde do Role Studio B 18+ $12

mp3s: http://www.myspace.com/diplo

-Cortney Harding

Posted by at 10:29 AM | Permalink

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 10:10 AM | Permalink

Tonic, pre-condo towers

Brooklyn Vegan (via Time Out New York) confirms it.

It'll be gone in just over two weeks. This is all happening in the wake of the death of Sin-e.

-Cortney Harding

Posted by at 04:09 PM | Permalink

Photo: RJ Mickelson/Veras for New York Magazine

Anybody been? Let us know what you think.

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 12:12 PM | Permalink

We haven't been this uncomfortable since Bush waved at Stevie Wonder.

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 10:20 AM | Permalink

Yet another mid-nineties Sub Pop band reunites and makes me feel old:

Sebadoh, “Rebound

PS- If anyone can get me clips of Lou Barlow on MTV’s “Sex in the Nineties” (he was on the “Heartbreak” episode), I will be forever in your debt. Email clh322(at)nyu(dot)edu.

Show details: Sat 3/31 6:30 PM Sebadoh, The Bent Moustache Webster Hall 18+ $20

-Cortney Harding

Posted by at 08:51 AM | Permalink

image c/o World's Best Ever

There's a new BBQ joint in Williamsburg, from the owners of Spuyten Duyvil. Let us know if it's any good.

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 10:37 PM | Permalink

If the thought of hearing “Pop Goes the Weasel” every time you step outside to grab an ice cream sandwich this summer makes you want to weep, take heart: Michael Hearst, of lit-rockers One Ring Zero, has crafted an album of alternative ice cream truck anthems. You can hear some tracks and order the record via his myspace page (www.myspace.com/songsforicecreamtrucks), and cross your fingers and hope like hell that some of the hipper sno-cone salesfolks in your hood pick up copies.

-Cortney Harding

Posted by at 09:11 PM | Permalink

The last time we checked, The Gap was referring to the horrible, yet omnipresent skinny jean cut as "hipster." Currently, we refuse to go to The Gap—those horrible Claire Danes ads are inexcusable—but a tipster sent us the above image from the Gap on 5th Avenue. Apparently, in the world of fashion Williamsburg now officially means "annoyingly trendy," "androgynously thin," and/or "should never, ever be worn by adult males who aren't Lou Reed." Look for the Webster's inclusion next year.

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 09:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

If you want to see two dudes making the noise of twenty men, go check out Lightning Bolt and be sure to bring earplugs. One of the noisier noise bands around, Lightning Bolt pay tribute to the Boredoms and the Ruins, and manage to get some free jazz in amongst all the cacophony. I reviewed opener Barr’s new record a while back and found it to be a little bit of a disappointment, but maybe his spoken word rants will sound better live. Make sure to show up early for the crazy, spastic genius of former The Planet The front man Charlie’s new solo act, Panther.

Details:

:: Lightning Bolt
:::: BARR
:::::: Marnie Stern
:::::::: Ecstatic Sunshine
::::::::::: High Places

:: SPECIAL GUEST
::
:: Panther ------> x the Planet the

[ 3RD WARD ]
195 Morgan Ave @ Stagg | East Williamsburg, Brooklyn
L to Morgan | 9pm till late | $10 | all ages | 3rdwardbrooklyn.org

-Cortney Harding

Posted by at 09:22 AM | Permalink

Ellen Allien’s DJ sets often last well past last call – when I saw her a few years back in Portland, she was still spinning as the bar staff booted people out. Allien spins an experimental blend of techno and electro music that somehow manages to be danceable, and radiates calm, German cool from behind her laptop and decks. Opener Miss Kittin comes across as a less-hokey version of Peaches; she certainly likes talking about fucking, but manages to be more than a one-trick pony. I still haven’t managed to make a dance party at Studio B, but I can only imagine the fog machine will be in full effect.

Details: Sat 3/24, 10:00 PM, Studio B in Greenpoint, 18+, $12.50a/$15d

-Cortney Harding

Posted by at 08:52 AM | Permalink

A couple blasts from the past to get your week off to a good start:

Hazel, "Comet"

Velocity Girl, "Sorry Again"

-Cortney Harding

Posted by at 08:07 AM | Permalink

This is hilarious. A dead-on spoof of Dylan singing songs with Dr. Seus lyrics. Download 'em all at Dylan Hears a Who. [via WFMU]

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 10:16 AM | Permalink

If the above cover of "You Shook Me All Night Long" by Celine Dion and Anastasia doesn't make you vomit blood, you're stronger than us. See the whole, horrible list here. We especially *enjoy* the Duran Duran cover of P.E.'s "911 is a Joke."

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 09:57 AM | Permalink

First there was Conservapedia. Now there's GodTube.

If this is what happens when you get old, kill us now:

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 11:11 AM | Permalink

The incomparable WFMU blog has an interesting out-of-print blues record by Ram John Holder available for download.

From WFMU

"Black London Blues" was an LP recorded by the acclaimed British stage, screen, and TV actor Ram John Holder in 1969. I bought it as a youngster (my copy is on the US Phillips label) for 47 cents in a Woolworth's cutout bin. The cover is a moribund B&W photo of a gussied-up Ram in an abject ghetto; no liner notes, no personnel listing. Every cut is titled the "(something) Blues", and the track playing times on the label are different than those on the cover by several seconds, and I think neither is correct. My pre-pubescent friends and I used to howl with laughter listening to it (even though the cover scared the hell out of us), and, as with many things you hear when you're too young to understand them, it wasn't until years later that I was able to see the musical virtues of it.

Check it out here.

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 10:23 AM | Permalink

O' Death

tonight, Friday March 9, at ASTERISK
258 Johnson Ave @ Bushwick | EastWilliamsburgIndustrialPark, Brooklyn
L to Montrose | 8PM | $7 | ALL AGES | no phone

O' Death: http://myspace.com/odeath
"Righteous growl-stomp and roots-infused beauts, sometimes compared erroneously to Tom Waits (except for a few percussive and guttural moments) in a few music blogs, O'death is really more Will Oldham meets the Holy Modal Rounders with a splash of the drunken sprawl of the Pogues and the youthful energy of early Violent Femmes -- the association is unavoidable on "Nathaniel" -- tacked on for good measure. A lot of the material consists of knee-slapping, banjo-and-fiddle fueled stomps that throw sparks in every direction imaginable, but the haunting ballads really shine, too. So often current alt-roots/country music tends to slide into the abyss of mediocrity, assuming that a slide guitar run or a few plunks of a banjo can cure just about any ill, but this NYC six-piece knows full well how to kick that shit in the áss (maybe breaking a bottle or two over its head on the way) and breathe life into a genre that's often seen slow-choking under a cardboard apple tree. Yee fúcking haw! O'death done good. Real damn good." --Kevin K.

The Boggs: http://www.myspace.com/theboggs

More info here

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 03:11 PM | Permalink

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 11:39 AM | Permalink

We loved the first Panda Bear record and are delighted to report that the first single from the new record, Person Pitch, has even exceeded our expectations. We know Beach Boys comparisons are tired, but this new track, "Bros", sounds like the soundtrack to one of Brian Wilson's flashbacks. [Hat tip Aquarium Drunkard.]

VIDEO: Panda Bear : Bros
MP3: Panda Bear : Bros [Via Nialler9]

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 10:25 AM | Permalink

If you don’t like Matt and Kim, you have no heart and probably kick puppies. I wrote a piece in them in the Village Voice a few months back and don’t feel like reinventing the wheel, so just click the link and read about frikkin’ cute they are.

Mp3s: http://www.myspace.com/mattandkim

-Cortney Harding

Posted by at 11:19 AM | Permalink

So yeah, he might be all hip and cool now, but when I knew Jona Bechtolt in high school, he had frosted tips, braces, and played in a power-pop band (full disclosure: I had purple hair, braces, and wrote naughty words in magic marker on my arms). Anyway, Jona has grown up quite nicely, and in addition to doing the crazy laptop-noise project YACHT, he’s also one-half of the Blow. “Paper Television” was one of my favorite records of last year, and they manage to make poppy girl vocals and synth beats equal way more than the sum of their parts.

Show details: NYU - Shorin Auditorium
60 Washington Square South - 8th, New York, New York
Cost : free; w/Mirah

mp3s: http://www.myspace.com/theblowus

-Cortney Harding

Posted by at 11:16 AM | Permalink

a Town Hall meeting in Newfane, Vt

Not that this matters, but its an hilarious story nonetheless. Now we want to move to Vermont. From The Nation.

When Vermont Governor Jim Douglas, a Republican with reasonably close ties to President Bush, asked if there was any additional business to be considered at the town meeting he was running in Middlebury, Ellen McKay popped up and proposed the impeachment of Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney.

The governor was not amused. As moderator of the annual meeting, he tried to suggest that the proposal to impeach -- along with another proposal to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq -- could not be voted on.

But McKay, a program coordinator at Middlebury College, pressed her case. And it soon became evident that the crowd at the annual meeting shared her desire to hold the president to account. So Douglas backed down.

"It became clear that no one was going home until they had the chance to discuss the resolutions and vote on them," explained David Rosenberg, a political science professor at Middlebury College. "And being a good politician, he allowed the vote to happen."

By an overwhelming voice vote, Middlebury called for impeachment.

So it has gone this week at town meetings across Vermont, most of which were held Tuesday.

Late Tuesday night, there were confirmed reports that 36 towns had backed impeachment resolutions, and the number was expected to rise.

In one town, Putney, the vote for impeachment was unanimous.

In addition to Governor Douglas's Middlebury, the town of Hartland, which is home to Congressman Peter Welch (news, bio, voting record), backed impeachment. So, too, did Jericho, the home of Gaye Symington, the speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives.

Organizers of the grassroots drive to get town meetings to back impeachment resolutions hope that the overwhelming support the initiative has received will convince Welch to introduce articles of impeachment against Bush and Cheney. That's something the Democratic congressman is resisting, even though his predecessor, Bernie Sanders, signed on last year to a proposal by Michigan Congressman John Conyers to set up a House committee to look into impeachment.

Vermont activists also want their legislature to approve articles of impeachment and forward them to Congress. But Symington, also a Democrat, has discouraged the initiative, despite the fact that more than 20 representatives have cosponsored an impeachment resolution.

"It's going to be hard for Peter Welch and Gaye Symington to say there's no sentiment for impeachment, now that their own towns have voted for it," says Dan DeWalt, a Newfane, Vermont, town selectman who started the impeachment initiative last year in his town, and who now plans to launch a campaign to pressure Welch and Symington to respect and reflect the will of the people.

It is going to be even harder for Governor Douglas, who just this month spent two nights at the Bush White House, to face his president.

After all, Douglas now lives in a town that is on record in support of Bush's impeachment and trial for high crimes and misdemeanors.

For the record, Middlebury says:

We the people have the power -- and the responsibility -- to remove executives who transgress not just the law, but the rule of law.

The oaths that the President and Vice President take binds them to "preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States." The failure to do so forms a sound basis for articles of impeachment.

The President and Vice President have failed to "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution" in the following ways:

1. They have manipulated intelligence and misled the country to justify an immoral, unjust, and unnecessary preemptive war in Iraq.

2. They have directed the government to engage in domestic spying without warrants, in direct contravention of U.S. law.

3. They have conspired to commit the torture of prisoners, in violation of the Federal Torture Act and the Geneva Convention.

4. They have ordered the indefinite detention without legal counsel, without charges and without the opportunity to appear before a civil judicial officer to challenge the detention -- all in violation of U.S. law and the Bill of Rights.

When strong evidence exists of the most serious crimes, we must use impeachment -- or lose the ability of the legislative branch to compel the executive branch to obey the law.

George Bush has led our country to a constitutional crisis, and it is our responsibility to remove him from office.

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 09:58 AM | Permalink

Including a 7-night stint at Town Hall. Dates after the jump

Sun-Apr-22 Milwaukee, WI Pabst Theatre
Mon-Apr-23 Chicago, IL Riviera Theatre
Tue-Apr-24 Chicago, IL Riviera Theatre
Wed-Apr-25 Minneapolis, MN State Theatre
Thu-Apr-26 Omaha, NE Holland Performing Arts Center
Sat-Apr-28 Denver, CO Temple Hoyne Buell Theatre
Sun-Apr-29 Salt Lake City, UT Kingsbury Hall
Tue-May-01 Seattle, WA Paramount Theatre
Wed-May-02 Portland, OR Crystal Ballroom
Fri-May-04 Berkeley, CA Greek Theatre
Sat-May-05 Santa Barbara, CA Arlington Theatre
Sun-May-06 Los Angeles, CA Walt Disney Concert Hall
Tue-May-08 San Diego, CA SOMA
Wed-May-09 Tempe, AZ Mesa Amphitheatre
Fri-May-11 Dallas, TX Palladium Ballroom
Sat-May-12 Tulsa, OK Cain's Ballroom
Sun-May-13 Austin, TX Bass Concert Hall
Mon-May-14 New Orleans, LA Republic
Wed-May-16 Tampa, FL Tampa Theatre
Thu-May-17 Orlando, FL Hard Rock Live
Fri-May-18 Atlanta, GA Fox Theatre
Sat-May-19 Nashville, TN Ryman Auditorium
Sun-May-20 Columbus, OH Wexner Center for the Arts
Mon-May-21 Detroit, MI Royal Oak Music Theatre
Tue-May-22 Toronto, ONT Massey Hall
Thu-May-24 Boston, MA Wang Center for the Performing Arts
Fri-May-25 New York, NY Town Hall
Sat-May-26 New York, NY Town Hall
Mon-May-28 New York, NY Town Hall
Tue-May-29 New York, NY Town Hall
Wed-May-30 New York, NY Town Hall
Thu-May-31 New York, NY Town Hall
Fri-Jun-01 New York, NY Town Hall

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 10:27 AM | Permalink

David Lynch's banned bovine

We loved Lynch's criminally under-the-radar Inland Empire, so we're delighted to hear that a new Lynch project is in the making. A new documentary:

Over the course of two years we were allowed to film David Lynch as he worked on his latest film INLAND EMPIRE. Over 700 hours of footage was gathered both on location and in David's home. This film will give the most current perspective on one of cinema's greatest directors and will bring to life his creative process and joy for living life to its fullest potential.

The director began filming David in December 2004 when he went to Lodz, Poland to work on INLAND EMPIRE and photograph abandoned factories. In February of 2005, the director travelled to Los Angeles where he lived at David's residence and filmed him on a daily basis for seven months, documenting not only David's filmmaking process but also each of his other creative interests. After primary filming was completed, the director spent the next year isolated in a mountain home in Guffey, Colorado. He would leave twice to film David, first travelling to Lodz in January of 2006 and then to New York City in October of that same year. In December of 2006 the director returned to Los Angeles to complete the film.

No word yet on a release date, the film is still in editing, but given the amount of access the director appears to have been given the film will undoubtedly be fascinating.

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 10:17 AM | Permalink

This week has a theme: cute boy/girl pairs. OK, so the Thermals are technically a foursome, but Hutch Harris and Kathy Foster have always been the heart and soul of the band. Their latest record is a concept album about an oppressive Christian regime, and it’s one of the smartest and most engaging indie rock albums to be released in recent years. The band manages to avoid being didactic while still scaring the holy bejesus out of everyone who listens to the lyrics, and their live show is energetic and inspires plenty of pogoing.

Mp3s: http://myspace.com/thethermals

Show info:
[ STUDIO B ] -> totally superclub style! now w/ friendlier bouncer dudes!
259 Banker St @ Calyer | Greenpoint/Williamsburg, Bklyn | 718.389.1880
L-Bedford/G-Nassau | -ALL AGES- | $12 advance / $14 @ the door | 8PM

-Cortney Harding

Posted by at 08:44 AM | Permalink

The Spinanes were one of the most criminally underrated bands of the nineties. Although they’ve long since parted ways, you can check out lead singer Rebecca Gates doing her solo thing at Union Pool tomorrow night.

-Cortney Harding

Posted by at 11:05 AM | Permalink

Rob Crow’s latest solo record, “Living Well,” will surprise his fans for one huge reason: it’s really good. While Crow has always put his best efforts in to his work with bands like Pinback and Heavy Vegetable, most of his solo albums have been slapdash affairs; he’s been up front in the past about how they serve as venues for him to be goofy and blow off steam. The new record is stripped down, simple, and intensely personal, chronicling Crow’s relationship with his wife and child. But don’t fret, math rock fans – there are still plenty of weird time structures for your nerdy enjoyment.

Mp3s: http://www.myspace.com/robcrow

-Cortney Harding

Posted by at 11:02 AM | Permalink

by Dave Thomas

Malkovich in Color Me Kubrick

Finally, a month worth looking foward to. At least the first half.

March 2

WILD HOGS

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Middle-Aged Rider

WILL IT SUCK?
This actually looks pretty good. Director did the underrated (or so I'm told) Van Wilder and the writer's done his fare share of Arrested Development. Travolta, Lawrence, Allen and Macy look like they'll work surprisingly well together. Keep an eye out for cameos by Kyle Gass and Drew Pinsky.

Early buzz, however, is not good.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Will pretty much own the comedy spotlight and pool the admittedly diminished followings of its leads. $75mil.

-----------------------------------

ZODIAC

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
The story of the Zodiac Killer, as told by David Fincher.

WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is gooood and why not? Well, because sometimes David Fincher makes The Game or Panic Room or Alien 3 which, while not sucking (okay, maybe Alien 3 sucked) aren't Fight Club or Se7en.

Cast looks awesome, too, with Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Edwards, Robert Downey Jr., Brian Cox, Chloe Sevigny, Elias Koteas, Dermot Mulroney, Donal Logue, Philip Baker Hall, John Mahoney, Adam Goldberg and James LeGros.

The writer did the surprisingly good The Rundown and the unsurprisingly bad Basic and Darkness Falls.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
The only problem is that this film is out for one week before 300 obliterates everything in its path. $43mil.

-----------------------------------

BLACK SNAKE MOAN

(Moved from February)

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Sam Jackson chains up Christina Ricci in his shack. Yeah, I know what you're thinking. About fucking time.

WILL IT SUCK?
It's kind of hard to tell just how seriously writer/director Craig Brewer (Hustle & Flow) wants us to take his latest opus. There's the over-the-top grindhouse style posters, the tounge-in-cheek trailer, oh, and it's about a guy who chains up a woman to cure her of her nymphomania/drug addiction (and, to play the race card, a black man chaining up a white woman in...wait for it...the deep South).

That having been said, the early buzz is good, with critics suggesting that if you can get past the premise, it's quite entertaining (which, arguably, could be said of Hustle & Flow).

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Not exactly a date movie. $23mil.

-----------------------------------

FULL OF IT

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Every lie the new kid in school tells becomes true.

WILL IT SUCK?
From the writers behind Rebound. Yes, it took more than one person to write that. Very preliminary buzz is actually good.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
If New Line lies about the grosses, will that come true? $14mil.

-----------------------------------

TWO WEEKS

(Moved from December)

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Four siblings get stuck together when they arrive to say goodbye to their ailing mother. Guess for how long.

WILL IT SUCK?
Sally Field plays the dying mom. Tom Cavanaugh is one of ths siblings. Early buzz is mixed, with audiences liking it way more than critics.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
My guess is, people will stay home and get their Sally Field fix on Brothers & Sisters. $1mil.

-----------------------------------

WILD TIGERS I HAVE KNOWN

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Artsy coming-of-age story.

WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is mixed with critics more in favor than lukewarm audiences.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Will be overshadowed by The Namesake the following week. $500,000.

-----------------------------------
March 9
-----------------------------------

300

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
300 vs. 1,000,000.

WILL IT SUCK?
300 isn't even out yet, and it's already on the IMDB Top 250.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
No other film is opening wide this week. How often does that happen in March? $115mil.

-----------------------------------

THE NAMESAKE

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
The story of one Indian family's heritage, father to son.

WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is good. Here's your chance to see if Kal Penn can break out of Kumar/Taj comic relief prison. From Monsoon Wedding helmer Mira Nair.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
The Wind That Shakes the Barley might be a little bit of an issue the following week, but not by much. $7mil.

-----------------------------------

(The trailer is fantastic)

THE HOST

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Family struggles to save its members from a sea creature attacking Seoul.

WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is fantastic. I haven't been this psyched for a horror film since The Descent.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Two problems. One, the film needs more awareness, and Magnolia isn't known for producing that (except with Jesus Camp). Two, even if there were greater awareness, most of this film's audience is out at 300 this week. $4mil.

-----------------------------------

NOMAD

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
A Kazakh story that does not involve a fat man's genitals on Borat's mouth.

WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is mixed, but generally positive. Still, you have to wonder, how did Jay Hernandez end up in here? Also keep an eye out for CSI regular Archie Kao as well as Jason Scott Lee and Mark Dacascos. Kazakhstan's entry for Best Foreign Oscar, and got a Golden Globe nod for Best Score (no, I don't remember that either).

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Needs more buzz. $500,000.

-----------------------------------

EXTERMINATING ANGELS

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Guy decides to make a movie about female pleasure. Mature themes ensue.

WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is good, and the phrases "authentically arousing" and "erection-inducing" have come up in reviews.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
If audiences watch the international trailer, quite well I imagine. $2mil.

-----------------------------------

BEYOND THE GATES

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Another True Rwandan Story. This one focuses on a white priest and schoolteacher who have to decide whether to bail or stick around when their refugee friends start getting slaughtered.

WILL IT SUCK?
Other than getting some flack for telling a black story from a white perspective, the movie's garnering some good buzz. Sort of like a harsher Hotel Rwanda.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Needs a bigger push, and a less crowded weekend. $750,000.

-----------------------------------

THE ULTIMATE GIFT

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Guy gets an inheritance but has to do a bunch of stupid tasks to get it. Stupid dead grandfather.

WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is mixed, with critics liking it less than audiences, but the same can be said for the director's last film, One Night With the King. Abigail Breslin's up in here, which may explain the timing of the release.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Don't think this will quite hit the level of One Night. $2mil.

-----------------------------------

MAXED OUT

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Doc on credit card debt.

WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is good, and certainly a ripe topic.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Again, crowded weekend, not much press, and the aforementioned Magnolia problem. $500,000.

-----------------------------------
March 16
-----------------------------------

SHOOTER

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
If you're a sniper, and someone asks you to use your sniping skills to protect the President, you're being set up. And not for nothing, but if you tell somebody something and their response is "Have you told anyone else?" say "Yes. I told my friends, my book club, I posted it on my blog and I just finished telling my mom."

WILL IT SUCK?
From Training Day (and nothing else good) director Antoine Fuqua and based on a novel by film critic Stephen Hunter (why didn't he write the screenplay?). Screenplay from the guy who wrote Lethal Weapon 4 (not terrible, but most of that was Jet Li) and Red Planet (for which there is no excuse).

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Caught between the considerable b.o. appeal of Mark Wahlberg and the complete overcrowding of this and next weekend. $47mil.

-----------------------------------

PREMONITION

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Sandra Bullock wakes up one morning and her husband's died in a terrible accident. She wakes up the next and he's still alive. And back and forth. Make up your mind, lady!

WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is decidely mixed. Writer did Blast From the Past, which is such a non-sequitor credit that I'm just going to throw it out.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
I'm thinking not even Lake House numbers here. $33mil.

-----------------------------------

DEAD SILENCE

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Killer ventriloquist dummies.

WILL IT SUCK?
I don't know man. Those are some pretty creepy fuckin' puppets. From the writing/directing team behind the Saw flicks.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
How many people can get drunk before they decide what movie to go see? $17mil.

-----------------------------------

I THINK I LOVE MY WIFE

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Remake of will-he-or-won't-he infidelity flick Chloe in the Afternoon with Chris Rock as the potentially philanderous hubby.

WILL IT SUCK?
Given that Chris Rock is on the short list for World's Funniest Human, you'd think his writing/directing credits on a film would be a guarantee, but unfortunately that just gives you Head of State. Nice to see Gina Torres get more work, though.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Not much else in the way of comedy this month. $38mil.

-----------------------------------

THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Black and Tan vs. guerrilla Irish in 1920.

WILL IT SUCK?
If you ever want to see narration just kill a trailer, watch this. That having been said, won the Palm D'Or at Cannes and if you love Cillian Murphy and/or Ken Loach, this is probably a must-see.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Have you even heard of Ken Loach? I'm going to guess less than half of you are raising your hands. $1mil.

-----------------------------------
March 23
-----------------------------------

REIGN OVER ME

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
It's Adam Sandler! And he's being serious!

WILL IT SUCK?
This comes from writer/director Mike Binder who created the surprisingly good Upside of Anger in '05. What's interesting is that the grief Sandler's character is dealing with (with some help from old buddy Don Cheadle) is from losing his family on 9/11. Strangely, there's no mention of this in the trailer. Can't tell if that's admirable or confuzzling.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Probably not any worse than Spanglish. $43mil.

-----------------------------------

TMNT

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Reboot of the popular - well, for one film at least - franchise about turtles who kick ass.

WILL IT SUCK?
Nice voice cast. Kevin Smith, Ziyi Zhang, Patrick Stewart. Sadly, doesn't look like they got Vanilla Ice or Corey Feldman to reprise their roles from II and III respectively. The cartoon was nice and the comic was the harshness so if they can tap into that, good on 'em.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
As far as CG goes, Meet the Robinsons will be an issue the following week, but that doesn't have any fanboy following. $79mil.

-----------------------------------

THE HILLS HAVE EYES 2

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
The National Guard vs. mutants.

WILL IT SUCK?
First of all, there was already a Hills Have Eyes 2, but that was bikers vs. mutants. Wes Craven writes here with his son, and newcomer Martin Weisz, already a hotshot for directing a cannibal film that got banned in Germany, directs.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Sort of obliquely dealing with The Last Mimzy this week and definitely up against Skinwalkers the next, but ultimately in a class by itself. $42mil.

-----------------------------------

PRIDE

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Black Men Can Swim

WILL IT SUCK?
First off, read what may turn out to be my favorite MPAA story of the year. Of the four screenwriters, the only one with a deep resume looks like he did Beauty Shop and Roll Bounce. That having been said, early buzz is good.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Crowded weekend doesn't help. $19mil.

-----------------------------------

THE LAST MIMZY

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Toys from the future give kids strange new powers.

WILL IT SUCK?
Quite an involved background here. Based on a Lewis Padgett (actually Henry Kuttner and C.L. Moore) short story, "Mimsy Were the Borogoves" (title inspired by Lewis Carroll's "Jabberwocky") and adapted by four screenwriters with everything from Jacob's Ladder to Deadly Friend to their credit (actually, that's just one guy) and directed by new Peter Jackson nemesis Bob Shaye. What was the question? Early buzz is mixed.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
TMNT will crush this family-wise, and anyone looking for its scarier genre attributes will be more attracted to Hills. $34mil.

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FIRST SNOW

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Guy hears fortune teller's prediction. Loses his shit.

WILL IT SUCK?
From two of the five writers of Children of Men. Guy Pearce, J.K. Simmons and William Fichtner are all up in this. Pretty cool lineup, although I feel like after watching the trailer I can already call the twist. Early buzz is good.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Probably the hottest cast of any indie this week. $2mil.

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OFFSIDE

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Women try to sneak into an Iranian soccer match (they're not so much allowed to watch sporting events with men there). Iran, you so crazy!

WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is quite good. Tied for the Silver Bear at Berlin and won the Amnesty International Film Award. Didn't know they had one. But they won it.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Has a little bit of advance buzz, but Sony Pictures Classics has got to dial this up. $500,000.

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COLOR ME KUBRICK

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
John Malkovich plays a guy pretending to be Stanley Kubrick. Based on a true story.

WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is mixed, but it's interesting to note that both the writer and director were assistants to Kubrick on several films. Malkovich is supposed to be awesome (big shock) and Hustle fave Marc Warren lends a hand.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Nobody knows about this film. $500,000.

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March 30
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MEET THE ROBINSONS

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Dude, the villain is called Bowler Hat Guy. What more do you need to know?

WILL IT SUCK?
The second non-Pixar CG animated Disney flick, although they did get "additional story material" from Monsters, Inc. and Cars contributor Daniel Gerson. The main writer used to scribe Will & Grace, so I'm curious.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Not much competition, but I can see things like TMNT from the week before or Are We Done Yet? from the week after nipping at its heels. $73mil.

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BLADES OF GLORY

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Will Ferrell and Jon Heder as figure skaters.

WILL IT SUCK?
Ferrell has done occer, NASCAR, figure skating and, next, basketball. But you know what? The NASCAR was funny. No guarantees here, as virtually everyone is a newcomer. I find it hard to believe, however, that it took two people to direct this. Supporting cast is great, with Will Arnett, Amy Poehler, Jenna Fischer, William Fichtner, Craig T. Nelson, Andy Richter, Rob Corddry and a host of skating legends from Dorothy Hamill to Brian Boitano.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Are We Done Yet? is a little bit of an issue the following week, but Will Ferrell can take Ice Cube. $80mil.

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SKINWALKERS

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Kind of like Underworld without the vampires. Or 1/12 the budget.

WILL IT SUCK?
From the director of Jason X. Wait. Where are you going?

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
With Grindhouse coming out the following weekend, I'm thinking this will go the way of Blood and Chocolate. $4mil.

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AFTER THE WEDDING

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Guy gets more than he bargained for when he agrees to attend a wedding with a potential business partner.

WILL IT SUCK?
After seeing Mads Mikkelsen in Casino Royale, I'm curious to see if he can do more than bleed out his eye and pummel Daniel Craig in the ball sack. International kudos and a slot alongside the other Best Foreign Film nominees this year indicate the answer to that question is "yes."

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
My guess is most audiences are content with the eye-bleed ball sack thing. $1mil.

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BLIND DATING

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
The 20-Year-Old Blind Virgin

WILL IT SUCK?
This is the kind of movie you wish were directed by the Farrelly brothers. Early buzz is good, though the trailer looks awful.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Indie romantic comedies are hard to pull off without stars. And no, Eddie Kaye Thomas does not count. $500,000.

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LIVE FREE OR DIE

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Bottle Rocket in New Hampshire.

WILL IT SUCK?
I'm just trying to get over the fact that in one year we're going to have a movie called Live Free or Die and a movie called Live Free or Die Hard. Early buzz is mixed with critics trashing it while audiences seem amused and SXSW and Seattle give it awards. Written and directed by two former Seinfeld writers with the likes of Judah Friedlander, Aaron Stanford, Michael Rapaport, Kevin Dunn, Zooey Deschanel and Kim Director in the ensemble.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Better on DVD. $500,000.

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THE LOOKOUT

WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Caper with Joseph Gordon-Levitt as a mentally handicapped janitor at a bank.

WILL IT SUCK?
After Out of Sight and Minority Report, screenwriter Scott Frank is my boy (we'll ignore Heaven's Prisoners) and here he directs as well. Also a big Levitt fan, and curious to see if Isla Fisher can deliver on the promise of Wedding Crashers. Early buzz is very good.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
If it can capitalize on the success of Brick, okay. $2mil.

Next Month: The movie whose ad campaign shut down Boston.

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 09:52 AM | Permalink

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 10:05 AM | Permalink

Bellyboats (the second best Wesleyan band ever, after the legendary Lady Kenmore) are two girls who layer strange vocals over super lo-fi piano and guitar tracks. Fans of CocoRosie and Joanna Newsom will go absolutely crazy for these lasses, who started playing together as high school students in Santa Cruz. Their first full-length, "Dear Robert Hanoy," is out now on Not Not Fun Records and features fourteen tracks of overwhelming tweeness. Fun fact: one of their songs was in a Volcom commercial!

Mp3s: http://www.myspace.com/bellyboats

They're playing March, 2 2007 at MICHELINE'S (1124 Broadway in Brooklyn) with Michael Leviton and Snowblink.

-Cortney Harding

Posted by at 07:58 AM | Permalink