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fight breakdown

Singer/Song Writer v. 6

Okay so my latest blog is about a small independent singer/song writer by the name of Eric Peters. I ran sound for this guy sometime around '02-'04(sorry i was busy back then). And from the moment i heard him play 'Bus 152' I knew i had to buy his latest album at the time (Land Of The Living).
Subsequently i have bought all of his albums, even the ones b/f LOTL, like his EP and the only LP from his former band Ridgley, and i love every one of them. He is such a talented writer that i have a hard time understanding why he hasn't got a record contract yet. Sure his 1st EP was an artist finding himself but so was Copeland's split w/ Pacifico or even their Beneath Medicine Tree album, not to mention Pedro the Lion's debut EP, Whole. David Bazan went on to create great & ground braking music thru PTL, Headphones, PaperBack, and now as David Bazan; but so has Eric. Its easy to understand why act such as Bazan or Copeland have gained such a following after sub-par debuts; their music speaks for it self. And so does Eric's! He is too talented and too good of a songwriter to go unnoticed.
My point is that he, Eric Peters, has progressed just as much as Copeland or Pedro/Bazan but w/o the critical or commercial success that they have had. And frankly this upsets me tremendously!
I went to see Eric play what i thought was show in Baton Rouge a few days ago; only to learn that he had only a 30 min time slot @ a coffee shop w/ no cover. I loved the performance but felt bad for an artist i admire to the utmost, he deserves better, and anyone reading this should check him out.
My favorite album from Eric is Land Of The Living, but The Miracle of Forgetting, and Scarce are equally as great. Please make time to check out his myspace; if you are fans of the Normals/Andrew Osenga, Matthew Perryman Jones, Andrew Peterson, Derek Webb, the Decemberists, Wilco, Lucinda Williams, etc. please check him out! I want nothing more than for Eric Peters to get signed to a record deal, he deserves it tremendously.

Why? Cause he has money and makes her sandwiches?

With Gone Baby Gone director Ben Affleck has created a beautiful & haunting picture that details the kidnapping of a young girl & the subsequent search for her; which involves the cops, their higher ranking officials and 2 PI's(Michelle Monaghan & Casey Affleck.)
This dramatic picture focuses on doing the right thing in a situation that deems the right thing to be debatable; but "the right thing" in question can be debated for years upon years. I don't wanna give anything away, but please check this movie out. It got passed over in the oscar hunt for unknown reasons but its a wonderful film that seems to pit the male psyche vs. female psyche. It splits the male/female ideal better than any film i've seen in multiple years. Its great cinema, and like great cinema should do it will keep u talking and debating far after you view the film.

Open Up Your Ears v.5 Singer/Song Writer

Derek Webb- The Ringing Bell
So old school Caedmon's Call fans might remember Derek Webb, he played guitar and sang backing & lead vocals most notably on My Calm//Your Storm, 40 Acres, and Long Line of Leavers. He left the band in 2003 to pursue a solo career that has seen him release 4 albums that touch on subjects such as politics, commerce, social justice, economy, and war.
Many Christian music stores refused to carry his music b/c, as we have come to know, Derek speaks the truth; something the American Christain Church doesn't like to hear nowadays.
His latest album. The Ringing Bell is a quick 35mins of 10 sing-along songs that range from blues, folk, pop, and out right rock n roll.
Webb's music is still politically themed to a fault; "you can always trust the devil or a politician to be the devil or a politician, cause we've never had a savior on Capital Hill," but man you cant help but sing along. Very fine album from a leader in the independent music scene.
Long time trusted music magazine Paste gave this album its highest possible 5star rating.
For more on Derek Webb check out the Square Peg Alliance and NoiseTrade.com

How Do You Like Your Copeland?

With the release of "Eat, Sleep, Repeat" today Copeland has dropped a completely different album for the 4th time in a row(Not counting that split with Pacifico before they were signed to The Militia Group).
First was Beneath Medicine Tree- a tragic love song that spanned 11 tracks about lead singer Aaron Marsh's hospitalized girlfriend who was on the other side of the country in a hospital in California. This was one of my personal favorite albums of 2003; I couldn't take it out of the cd player, Marsh just writes gut wrenching lyrics and sings them so beautiful(His Falsetto is phenomenal) I was hooked from the first spin.
Next came a covers EP that was delayed months b/c they got picked up on Switchfoot's tour for Beautiful Letdown, Now Nothing Stays the Same; an album where the band tackled acts such as Berlin, Billy Joel, Phil Collins, and the incomparable Stevie Wonder. They do a great job covering eighties classics, even out Carly Simoning Carly Simon on "coming Around Again"; and they actually stick "Part Time Lover" by Stevie amazingly well...this song let me know Marsh's singing chops were second to none, he actually hit every note Stevie hit!
After Now Nothing Stays The Same they came back with In Motion, a happy upbeat shot at a regular, non-emotional, album from Aaron Marsh. They did not blow me away but they did make me sing every line of every song, sans "Kite" which could possibly be the worst thing I've ever heard. In Motion plays like Brandtson's Death and Taxes, but in LP form. I love this album, but Beneath Medicine Tree tops it hands down; I was just too involved with Medicine Tree to get deep into a regular album from an emotional powerhouse.
Their latest release Eat, Sleep, Repeat is the work of an insomniac lead singer/writer who isn't fully at grips with the possibility of his potential. It is dark and self loathing, while holding onto the pop reigns that made In Motion so pop. This album is sad, detached, lonely, aggravated, and completely genius. I love this album, I hate this album; Copeland is becoming my sweet tooth, my secret obsession.
They caught me with the Pacifico split, and then reeled me in with Beneath Medicine Tree, and put me in the cooler with the covers EP Know Nothing Stays the Same. So In Motion and Eat, Sleep, Repeat are very different albums; they are both great and listening to them can only make your day better...go out pick up any one of their cd's and thank me later. Copeland is one of my top five bands recording today, check 'em out.

A Descent into Horror

So I just saw the British low-budget horror film The Descent and it was, unexpectedly, well above average. It was the best scary movie I've seen since I caught Texas Chainsaw Massacre (the original) for the 5th time about 6 months ago on DVD...all other recent horror films pale in comparison to The Descent . The thing I loved most about it was the two-pronged horror tactics the film makers used. First they preyed on the audiences fear of the dark, or being trapped in the dark. And the 2nd tactic the film makers used was to throw in human-eating creatures while the characters were still stuck in the seat gripping pitch-black. This is NOT a typical blood and gore horror flick, it has teeth and those teeth grip into you while you watch in horror.
Obviously there will be some cheesy moments, it's a low budget British Horror film...do you expect anything else. But the tension that mounts during the first half of the movie and the shear terror that permeates the second half of this movie make it a joyfully scary addition to this summer's good movies.
If you like horror films, PLEASE see this you will love it.

O.M.G.

I just did a Google search for 2 of my favorite artists at the same time; hoping to find a site that sells both of their new albums in order to buy them at the same time; my blog was the 4th hit on Google!!!!!
Does that mean I'm weird and only listen to weird music or that I'm super cool and have a taste for music untouched by my fellow music snobs?
Search for Andrew Osenga's (now with Caedmon's Call) and Brandtson's names on Google, at the same time, and you tell me.

December Underground

It's July 24th and I have been listening to the best album of the year, so far, for about 3 straight weeks...something I never do. The album is AFI's December Underground and it is absolutely phenomenal. Everything about it is accessible, but with that dark, edgy, industrial style they toyed with on Sing The Sorrow.
If you heard Sing The Sorrow and dug its style then this might be your favorite of all time. It took some serious convincing for me to take it out of the cd player(Thursday's A City By The Light Divided convinced me to pull it out); but every song on December underground is great. Check it out if you get a chance, you won't be disappointed.

Today, my heart is broken

So I was talking to a friend at the gym today, a fellow music snob like myself. He was flipping through my cd collection when he came to Further Seems Forever's latest album Hide Nothing;"Dude I love them, you know they broke up huh?"
My heart sank.
Further Seems Forever is one of my favorite bands, and unfortunately they could not keep a lead-singer for anything. 3 albums and 3 lead-singers; The Moon is Down- Chris Carabba (of Dashboard Confessional fame- he left the band after they recorded their first album, but before it was released) How to Start a Fire Jason Gleason(great vocalist, but could not enunciate to save his life, I still don't know what the meaning of How to Start a Fire was) Hide NothingJohn Bunch (nothing great, nothing not great about this lead-singer, his style fit the bands message on Hide Nothing).
So if you get a chance to checkout anything they've done, please do. I know they have a myspace page and you can get to their website @ furtherseemsforever.com.
They were great, and I will miss them tremendously- smartypants walks with his head down today.

Americans and Soccer/Futbol

So what's up with the overwhelming majority of Americans not giving a crap about the World Cup. Seriously, it's the WORLD CUP, not the USA NBA Finals, or the NHL Stanley Cup; it is the best in the World going at it for 30 days.
These are the 30 days I look forward to more than any other; and that includes the Summer & Winter Olympics, American Idol, March Madness, and what seems to be the year long NBA playoffs.
But I think I figured it out; even in Baseball the littlest of stats gets recorded and that player is judged on it. In soccer the only thing Americans judge is the score. But baseball, that's a different story- "Did you see Nomar today he had three hits." Lets not dwell on the fact that all three hits were singles, and that he didn't score all game- what matters is that he got on base.
WTF.
Soccer doesn't record great individual moves, assists, or even corner kicks; only goals.
But there is so much more to a soccer game than the final score.
I watched Brazil play Croatia last night, a 1-0 match, that kept me on the edge on my seat. Not b/c goals were scored every other second, but b/c the quality of soccer was so high- hell Togo kept me on my knees and the Ukraine even made me cry.
I beg of you, fellow Americans, to watch Ronaldinho, Beckham, Kaka, Henry, Zidane, Rooney, or the emerging world power USA play a 90 min. match. If then you don't get the fever, then by all means consider yourself a stubborn American.

Anberlin @ the House of Blues

So I just saw my first show in over 6 months a few days ago; it was Anberlin: reigning Smarty Award winner of the Guilty Pleasure Award.
I've got be honest they really didn't blow me away like Copeland or Explosions in the Sky did; but one could chalk that up to some serious technical difficulties. Their lead guitarist didn't play until the third song because his amp was jacked up, and their sound man couldn't hold a conversation with Jay Taylor. And Stephen Christian, the lead singer failed to warm up his vocals and sounded like absolute crap on the first handful of songs.
But once they got all the glitches fixed they started to put on a show. Naive Orleans, Paperthin Hymn, and dance, dance Christa Paffgen were enthralling and actually had me singing along.
Considering the circumstances I'd say it was a good show and would recommend that if Anberlin stops within and hour of your home town you should definitely check them out.

Open Up Your Ears v.4: Instrumental Rock

Explosions in the Sky- The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place
So it took me weeks to get up the nerve to write about an instrumental band, especially this one, because I thought they were so far from the mainstream; them not being on the radio and not using lyrics and all. But when Relevant Magazine does a piece on them, when Jason Lee(My Name is Earl, Almost Famous, Clerks) has their album cover as a poster over his office desk, and when they are THE soundtrack for Friday Night Lights that tells me they might have finally reached the mainstream.
-There sound is just so captivating despite not being hook laden, top 40 junk.
There newest recording The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place is a collection of well toned guitars and crashing drums all coming together in huge but fragile crescendos.
Forget all the "post-rock" nay-sayers, because this is not "post-rock"- and oh by the way what the hell is "post-rock" any way; some contrivance Rolling Stone uses when they can't explain a bands sound, when a band doesn't sound like Three Doors Down or NickelBack.
Forget all of that, this album is great, it is serene and it is loud, it is melodic with out a melody, it is for that rainy day while you sit on the couch, that sunny Sunday drive, etc. etc. God I love this album.

Open Up Your Ears v.3: Indie Rock/Pop

Imagine being an emotional wreck because the love of your life is so sick they must move away for medical treatment and then imagine not being able to do anything about it.
Now realize you have a phenomenal voice highlighted by a falsetto to die for and an ability to make your emotions come to life by way of music; you would be singer/songwriter/pianist/guitarist Aaron Marsch of Copeland.
On Coepland's debut album Beneath Medicine Tree Marsch lets his listeners peer into his aching soul on each and every song.
The album is directly related to his girlfriend's illness and the role it plays on their relationship.
Beneath Medicine Tree was by far the most emotionally raw album of 2003; album standouts include Testing the Strong Ones, California and When Finally Set Free. You should also check out the acoustic version of Testing the Strong Ones;a truly moving album.
If you listen to any album I ever review this is the one to get, you will not be disappointed.

Say Your Prayers and Take Your Vitamins

Wanna complain about why I don't blog alot; see below:


Ain't my girl ripped!!!
Check out those guns!



Smarty would like to give a shout out to BSN for their NO-Xplode & CellMass.
I would also like to thank Cytosport for making Muscle Milk taste like a milkshake.

Open Up Your Ears v.2: Rock

AFI- Song the Sorrow- You think you know A.F.I.(A Fire Inside)- dark punk rock with a cult following and a slew of lo-fi recordings that only college radio plays- well think again. Guitarist Jade Puget has brought a whole new sound to the A.F.I. experience since his 1999 debut with the band; his synth and drum programming takes their sound to the masses(which obviously tunred away hoards of adoring, and selfish long time fans). Sing the Sorrow is exactly what a major label debut should be; a step above everything a band has ever done. Anthemic choruses with dark lyrics set off by backing strings and pianos- every song is a serene scene of pop goth beauty.
The only albums that came close to Sing The Sorrow in 2003 were Copeland's Beneath Medicine Tree, The Postal Service's Give Up, and Death Cab For Cutie's Transatlantacism- all of which will be featured in Open Up You Ears in the coming months.

Open Up Your Ears v.1: Singer/Songwriter

Open Up Your Ears will be my weekly, or probably monthly, post about an album or artist that you have just got to hear. So no matter if it is punk, folk, rock, or soul do yourself a favor and check out each weeks highlighted artist/album- you'll thank me later.

Andrew Osenga - Photographs- First solo release from former Normals lead singer/guitarist and current member of Caedmon's Call is wrought with storytelling that Dylan would be proud of. Andrew's ability to make the audience re-live his songs is ever present on Photographs. Recorded in his basement with multiple Christian indie musicians dropping in for sessions, Photographs is a treat for today's 20something Christian and just about everyone else too. This album is a lesson on life; the joys, the ups, the downs, the hesitation, and the regret- simply put: Photographs is one of my favorite albums of all time.

awe man, that stuff is Jarmusch

Just a quick note: Jim Jarmusch's Broken Flowers is amazing. That's all you need to know for now- so go rent it and enjoy. smarty

Smarty Awards

Here is my take on this years music scene:

Most Disappointing/Great Albums of the year(All of these albums would normally be considered great releases, except they have followed stellar previous albums that they might not ever be able to top) -
Plans by Death Cab for Cutie -They will never top Transatlanticism, seriously.
In Motionby Copeland -Beneath Medicine Tree was so raw and emotional that I wasn't ready for softpop without the tragedy.
Takk... by Sigur Ros -Languages aside, ( ) was just too groundbreaking; Takk... never had a chance.

Song of the Year-
Gas and Matches by Headphones -Seattle indie rocker David Bazan, a.k.a. Pedro the Lion, teams up with T.W. Walsh to top anything done this year.

Best "it" Album of the Year-
Hot Fuss by The Killers - I hate all things MTV, VH1, BET, etc. and this album was all over that scene this year; but it lives up to the hype exceptionally well.

"Guilty Pleasure" Album of the Year-
Never Take Friendship Personal by Anberlin -Fist pumping, speakers blaring rock that you can only listen to by yourself.

Top Albums of the Year-
Z - My Morning Jacket
Demon Days - The Gorillaz
Hot Fuss - The Killers
Silent Alarm - Bloc Party
Digital Ash in a Digital Earn - Bright Eyes
I Am A Bird Now - Antony & The Johnsons
Illinois - Sufjan Stevens

Friedman - Who Do You Believe?

As far as documentaries go Hoop Dreams was by far the creme-de-la-creme; that was until Andrew Jareki thought he would make a film about party clowns in New York City. He never got to make that movie but what he stumbled on was, perhaps, the most unlikely of stories; and that story is riveting from open to close.
Jareki wanted to do a short film on what drives party clowns, what makes them tick you know. He set up interviews with dozens of New York's top clowns and came across the troubled David Friedman, who just happened to be New York's top party clown.
During these interviews David refused to talk about his childhood and left a lot of information about his family out. Well the truth finally fell out one day; his father and brother were convicted of child abuse, sex with minor children, sodomy, and multiple other charges.
And as one could imagine this ruined the Friedman household, as it would any one of us. What is so enthralling about the situation is that both Arnold Friedman (father) and Jesse Friedman (brother) claim nothing ever happened.
From that point on Jareki dropped the clown short film to focus on making a full feature documentary about what happened to the Friedmans; Capturing the Friedmans. After realizing that Jareki was going to make this film no matter what, David reluctantly gave Jareki around 100 hours of film he recorded during the arrest and trail of his father and brother inside the Friedman household.
The film from within the walls of the Friedman house is unequivablly the most raw and shaking material I have ever seen.
Ultimately Jareki presents both sides of the case and lets the viewer decide what really happened at 17 Piccadilly Ln, Great Neck, New York.
The special edition DVD has further evidence that promotes one side of the case due to the overwhelming evidence, or lack of evidence.
Sure this is a very troubling film to watch; it covers one of the most heinous crimes on earth in mass amounts. But what is intriguing and unforgettable about this film is the reality of it all- this really happened and it sucks, and we have a front row seat to this catastrophe.
Read up on the Friedmans and if the subject matter doesn't scare you away I recommend this film as highly as any other film I recommend. Absolutely riveting in every way.

The Militia Group Steals Another One

O.K. The Militia Group is now officially my favorite indie music label. Not only do they have Copeland (their Beneath Medicine Tree album is in my top 10 ever), Acceptance, Lovedrug, Brandtson, Anadivine, Blue Print Car Crash, Cartel, The Beautiful Mistake, Rufio, and about 10 other great bands; but now they have signed The Appleseed Cast (the second group they've signed from North Carolina's Deep Elm Records, Brandtson was the first.)
If they put out a compilation album I highly suggest you pick it up.
And oh by the way, Brandtson is the reigning winner of "Album you can only play by yourself or The Guilty Pleasure Award" with there 04 release Send Us a Signal.
Anberlin's Never Take Frienship Personal is the leading favorite for this years award, but we are still a few months away from The Smarty Awards.
If you decide to check out a few of these bands, here is how I rate them: Copeland, Lovedrug, Brandtson, Appleseed Cast, The Beautiful Mistake, Cartel, and Acceptance.
And if anyone can tell me what an Appleseed Cast is you win $25.00.

Prequel to the Prequel?

Foolish as I am, and anti-Hollywood as you all know I am I figured I would watch the studio-dumped prequel to The Exorcist, Dominion.
The scoop on this movie is that Morgan Creek Studios hired Paul Schrader to direct the long awaited horror film prequel. And this seemed a great choice until they saw his final version; a psychological horror that lacked blood, guts, and gore most studio execs and the financial backers wanted. They decided to fire Schrader and scrap the entire film; they then re-wrote the script and brought in Renny Harlin to direct the "new version" of the new version of the Exorcist.
Absolutely the worst start for any movie I've ever heard, aside from the fact that they were making a prequel- which in itself hurts a film before it gets started.
The studio then released Harlin's version with minimal financial success and eventually let Schrader show his film at a few festivals and then gave it a small theatrical release, mostly in other countries.
So to the actual movie, Schrader's version is titled Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist and was possibly the biggest waste of time in movie history (although I hear Harlin's version is worse). A slow pace, mediocre acting, horrible story-line, and oh by the way it wasn't scary were some of the reasons this movie failed.
Normally I'm against anything a studio does to hold down a movie, but this time I got it wrong, flat-out wrong. This film was horrible from the opening scene. Please don't waste your time.

Punching Drunk

I just watched Paul Thomas Anderson's (Boogie Nights, Magnolia) brilliant film Punch-Drunk Love; starring an incredible Adam Sandler and a delightfully cute Emily Watson.
And let me say that this film is absolutely genius, I was blown away by 1) Sandler's acting, 2)Anderson's indie film-style and 3) the incredibly original story line.
Everything I want in a movie was abundantly available in Punch-Drunk Love- I highly recommend this film.
Sandler plays Barry Egan, a quirky, temperamental toiletry salesman who is hounded by his seven sisters because he is flat-out strange. He is lonely and seems to have some psychological problems that present themselves when his anger gets the best of him.
Emily Watson's character Lena Leonard sees a picture of Barry from one of his sisters and takes an initiative to meet him. What evolves is raw and moving and worth the whole 95 min. This movie will be in my dvd collection soon, and I advise everyone to see it.

My Name is...what, My Name is...who

Just a quick note about NBC's My Name is Earl, starring Jason Lee (of Chasing Amy, Mall Rats, and Dogma fame). This is one talented guy; former pro skateboarder, we activist, actor, and someone who firmly believes The Earth is Not A Cold Dead Place. Risen Magazine did a piece on him - it's really good, pick up a copy.
Now back to "Earl," it's a fun, cute little comedy; not the best thing going but something new. Check it out Tuesday @ 8:00.

It Really Isn't Millions

Danny Boyle, the director of Trainspotting, The Beach, and 28 Days Later has ventured away from what we have come to know him for with his latest movie Millions.
Forgive me if you think I'm aggrivated; but I honestly expected so much more from Boyle on this one. Of course we get new camera angles and crazy visual effects we always get from Boyle's films but the trailer absolutely ruined this movie for me. I went into this movie thinking I was going to see one thing and ended it having seen something else.
I'm tired of trailers ruining films for me; "Millions" isn't bad and it isn't great, it falls somewhere in the middle with really good camera shots, but it's a family film- yes a family film. I didn't think I was sitting down to share a heart to heart with two little kids, I thought I was getting Boyle's best movie yet.
I was watching it and Rone ty walked in and asked me how it was; "Good to look at most of the time, but the storyline won't hold you."
Rent it and see for yourself.

The Witch is Back

So I watched The Blair Witch Project last night with Mr. Twelve Inches himself. Just wanted to remind all you that this movie was very well done; especially when we think of the 35000.00 price tag they used to make it. An original, eventful, scary film. If you haven't done it yet, check it out.

one up, two down

So I got sick this week, my customary winter cold, and seeing as I was immobile I was blessed with movie night three days straight - or so I thought.
-First on the menu was Jean-Pierre Jeunet's latest film, "A Very Long Engagement." As some of you may remember Jeunet's previous film, "Amelie," was nominated for 5 Academy Awards and should have brought home more than the 0 it did.
Well Jeunet does not disappoint in the slightest with "A Very Long Engagement;" his art direction, his cinematography, and his lighting were absolutely perfect. Nothing about this film was mediocre.
Gaspard Ulliel (Manech) and "Amelie" star Audrey Tautou (Mathilde) shine in this World War I epic search for lost love. This film is not to be missed, an absolute treasure.
-The second day of my sickness was made just a bit worse when "Batman Begins" was popped into the DVD player. I normally don't fall into the whole Hollywood blockbuster hype, but this one was supposed to be better than the normal riff-raff, plus Christian Bale,Morgan Freeman, Liam Neeson, and Cillian Murphy. Come on, it's got to be good right...Wrong.
Granted this was the best Batman film since Tim Burton got behind the camera, but that still doesn't make it good. The plot was horrible, the acting was suspect at best, and Katie Holmes was the love interest- I'm done.
This was, flat out, a bad movie.
-The third viewing was none other than Ridley Scott's newest film, "Kingdom of Heaven." And frankly I've got a bit of a sour taste in my mouth after watching this film. It was made in the "Gladiator" mold that brought Scott such great success, but it failed to captivate the viewer the same way. And the not-so central theme of 'living according to one's conscience' was but a mere backdrop to the bloody fights; so much so in fact that in a pivotal scene Balian Baron of Ibelin (Orlando Bloom) makes what seems to be the worst decision in the history of the world because of his conscience. But it is readily apparent to the viewer that a decision the other way would have stopped the movie and hour short of it's eventual end.
From my perception it seems that the conscience part of the movie only serves as a 'passing point' to further the movie along; without it Scott has no movie. Normally I wouldn't have such a problem with this except that theme of conscience in the movie only seemed to be in the distance until it was called for to further the plot.
Add that to so-so acting and decent fight scenes and you have a decent movie that I will never see again.
- A Very Long Engagement - 9.0
- Batman Begins - 4.5
- Kingdom of Heaven - 6.5

me and you and a bad movie

What's up with movie critics; those high profile, low intelligence pair of eyes minus a brain are absurdly incorrect about 80% of the time. Take Ebert and Roeper for example; they both went carzy about the indie flick and Sundance darling "Me and You and Everyone We Know." The guys over on Cinecast did exactly the same thing; and to that I say WTF.
I tried "Me and You" a few nights ago, and despite my intial reaction of - 'I'll never get those 92 min. back,' I've tried to stay optimistic while contemplating the nuances and quirks of Miranda July's(Writer/Director/Co-Star) try at creating a movie that acts like life is actually lived. But despite my hope that I missed what she really saying, or maybe I misunderstood where she was going; the second viewing proved even more fatal.
I can take the bad lighting, horrible sound, and even bad editing that we've grown used to from today's independent films, but I cannot take a director throwing a few stories sloppily together and trying to tell me that if I don't like it's because I didn't get it. I got it and it was horrible. None of the stories can stand alone and together they don't keep the viewer enetertained.
I may be in the minority but "Me and You" was not a good movie, it was average at best.