This is the End, dir. Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen (2013)
There’s something delightful about actors playing themselves as complete assholes, and the guys (and a few girls, including Emma Watson) in this movie are truly over-the-top — cursing, flailing, selfish, obtuse, wildly egotistical maniacs. If you see one movie all year with Michael Cera playing a coked-up version of himself getting a blow job in a bathroom, make it this one. Oh, and seeing LA erupt in apocalyptic flames was also rather fun. — Lisa Parrish
Ian F. Svenonius’ Supernatural Strategies for Making a Rock ‘n’ Roll Group (Akashic Books, 2013) is an entertaining, provoking, and ultimately profound deconstruction of American popular music. In fact, this may be the best book about modern music I’ve ever read. Beginning with a ridiculous fictional premise, Svenonius humorously touches on almost every subject imaginable: cold-war propaganda, interpersonal relationships, socio-political conspiracies, sexual identity, Marxist theory, astrology…
Plus, how may authors have made a music video to promote their book? — John Wood
Old-school regulars of this South Philly establishment — a small bar with live dancers — might not recognize it after its recent makeover. Mom died, the place sold, and suddenly it’s reborn as a slightly ironic, sexually ambiguous indie hangout. The pool table and Ms. Pacman are gone, but the dancers are still there — though classed up a little, and a token male dancer has been added to the lineup some nights. The music has decidedly improved: Belle and Sebastian used the place for an afterparty following their Philly show last week. This might be what it was like when CBGB flipped from a Hell’s Angels/Bowery bum dive bar to the ground zero of New York cool in the mid-’70s. — Literacy H. Dogfight
New Dolphin: more patrons, more patrons with all their teeth.
John Wood! I leafed through Svenonius’s book in a store recently, and it looks amazing. Thanks for the reminder to pick it up!
Am I the only Whatsitteer never to have gone to the Dolphin before the makeover? I heard so many tales, but never made it. Alas and alack.
I liked “This Is the End” too. It’s crude, but there are tons and tons of jokes and most of them are funny.
Interesting about the Dolphin. They should have kept Ms. Pacman.
Best music video I’ve seen in years. Let’s get that book!
Oh, how I love the Weekend Recs. It’s the most delightful thing to be surprised every Friday by old adored TGW staff coming back for a minute to tell me to do something important and fun. Is that really you Lisa??!! John!!?? Literacy!! What a delight, I’ve been meaning to see that movie for weeks. Thanks for the push I needed Lisa. And John, that video is awesome. Even though I can’t read I am totally buying a copy. Thank you! And thank you New Dolphin for making my life even better than it already was. Please come visit with me someday Tim (and Jen) and all you who haven’t visited before!
Hey, Lisa P. Thanks for that rec. Farrell and I watched the film yesterday and we both agreed that we hadn’t laughed that hard in a movie in ages.
5, 6: Ha! Excellent. I’m glad you guys saw it and liked it. My face hurt afterward – I was smiling like a goon throughout. So ridiculous.
Of course, Sharknado was rather amazing, too, but not as funny.
Wait. What?! Ms Pac Man is gone? You never told me that. Fuck that gentrification casualty. That’s bullshite.