Science of Sleep
MOVIE
The Science of Sleep is an uneven but visually stunning film, created by the writer/director of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Keeping with the same whimsy and narrative distortion of Sunshine, Sleep tells the story of a young man named Stephan who cannot distinguish his dreams from reality. His love interest and neighbor, Stephanie, shares his strange delight in the paranormal.
Stephan's coworkers provide the wit and laughs in many of the film's surreal circumstances. The scenes where one co-worker tries to speak English are hysterical. Overall, the film is creative and funny but due to Stephan's childish nature and
Stephane's distrust of him, their coupling is hard to root for.
While Stephan is a sympathetic character, his overall lack of social courtesy and inappropriate comments make him unappealing. Even with an enthusiastic performance from Gael Garcia Bernal, the film lacks focus and the numerous dream sequences hinder the plot, despite their creativity.
Visually, The Science of Sleep is a masterpiece but narratively, it's a mess.
★★★
Running time: 120 minutes
Sarah Tucker
Knives Don't Have Your Back
MUSIC
Emily Haines
*Knives Don't Have Your Back* is the latest album from Metric frontwoman Emily Haines. Leaving behind the new-wave sound she's made popular with Metric, Haines opts for a more piano-heavy sound backed occasionally by a few musicians known collectively as The Soft Skeleton.
Four years in the making, Knives Don't Have Your Back has some good moments and some not so good moments. The high points include "The Lottery" in which Haines sings, "It's impossible. Like girls in stilettos, like girls in stilettos, like girls in stilettos trying to run." "Nothing & Nowhere" features some inventive piano playing and a nice vocal melody. The album closes beautifully with "Winning" as Haines soft voice lulls listeners into a peaceful state.
A lack of variety hurts Knives Don't Have Your Back. Eleven tracks of piano with occasional additional instrumentation can bore any listener after awhile. Haines does a good job writing some unique piano parts, but can't hide the fact that a little variety could've greatly improved the album.
This album doesn't quite live up to the albums Haines has released with Metric, but it proves that Haines is a versatile songwriter who deserves some attention.
Chris Brower
ALL RATINGS ARE OUT OF A POSSIBLE FIVE STARS.★★★★★
JAYPLAY SAYS
WATCH ASK A GAY MAN
Don't know what to wear this season? Search for William Sledd on youtube.com. Sledd hosts Ask a Gay Man and gives tips about fashion, hair and style. He includes trend alerts, an item of the week and discusses everything from new products to his hatred of overalls. Viewers can e-mail Sledd, and he'll answer their questions on his next show. Sledd's qualifications? He has worked in retail for almost six years and is a self-proclaimed "whore for product knowledge." Bonus: Pink cupcakes for Breast Cancer Awareness month — what's more fun than that? Sledd hosted a special baking edition on October.
Carolyn Tharp
GUIDE TO GETTING IT ON!
READ↓
GUIDE TO GETTING IT ON
Whether you're jumping in the sack or wondering what it's like, Paul Joannides's Guide to Getting It on has useful information. Complete with lots of pictures, this is the book of all sex books. With chapters like "What's Inside a Girl?,""Barbie the icon" and "Techno Breasts & Weenie Angst,"the book covers everything from anatomy to how to perform oral sex. Joannides describes graphically yet tastefully, and chapters include comments from readers of all ages, including 18 and 65. Bonus:The book includes a 51-page Glossary of Sexual Slang in Popular & Unpopular Culture.Did you know that a Circle Jerk(s) refers either to guys masturbating together or to a semi-notorious punk band from the '80s?
Carolyn Tharp
PIPELINE PRODUCTIONS presents THE BOTTLENECK 737 New Hampshire Lawrence, Ks
THURSDAY NEON
11-17
Static Lullaby I Am A Ghost / Classic Crime / So They Say
11-18
Big Metal Rooster Cosmopolitics
1-21 Poor Minors Union Bad Abbey
11-21
11-22
Brass n Grass 12th Street
Julia Peterson Grant Fitch
11-29
11-25 Ras Neville and the Kingstonians Yucca Roots
Juke Kartel featuring Toby Rand of CBS's Rockstar Supernova
Brandon Jenkins Hold Still
12-01
12-01 Flee The Seen
Super Black Market
Roanoke
Starboard Side
Pomeroy Zack Heksum
LIBERTY HALL
644 Massachusetts Lawrence, KS
12-08
Medeski Scofield Martin
&
Wood
www.ticketmaster.com
WWW.PIPELINEPRODUCTIONS.COM
11.16.2006 JAYPLAY <15