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movie review // 'THE IMAGINARIUM OF DOCTOR Hollywood hits, indie flicks and everything in between. PARNASSUS'
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus is a movie that doesn't defy comprehension so much as invites it. It's a bright, fanciful whirligig of a movie that harkens back to director Terry Gilliam's conceptual glory days, with films such as Time Bandits, Brazil and The Adventures of Baron Munchausen.
Gilliam's latest foray into the fantastical introduces audiences to Doctor Parnassus (Christopher Plummer), who runs a traveling show in which audiences can enter into his mind and achieve either salvation or damnation based on the choices they make there. Parnassus is a troubled soul himself. Many years ago, he made a deal with the devil (Tom Waits) to achieve immortality. Now the devil wants to collect his due: Parnassus' daughter, Valentina (Lily Cole). Along for the ride is a new, shady addition to the group: the mysterious Tony Shepherd (the late Heath Ledger), who may or may not be the key to saving Valentina from the underworld.
The way Gilliam handled Ledger's death is quite interesting, and serves to give the film another interesting layer. Every time Tony enters Parnassus' mind, his appearance is different. He's played, at various points, by Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell. It's a movie that gives Tony's already curious character even more intriguing facets.
The Imaginartium of Doctor Parnassus is the kind of film that perhaps takes two viewings in order to take everything in. As with most of Gilliam's other movies, it's visually amazing, chock-full of immaculate costumes and sets designed to the last detail. It's full of messages, too — good versus evil, selflessness versus greed and personal gain versus integrity. It's a lot for one movie to handle, and perhaps because of this, "Parnassus" trips over its own feet a couple of times, but it still an admirable feat to attempt.
ABBY CLCESE //
music review // VARIOUS — 'CASUAL VICTIM KJHK's weekly guide to sonic consumption. PILE: AUSTIN 2010' (MATADOR)
"Casual Victim Pile," Matador's latest compilation of Austin, Texas, bands, is, rather cleverly, an anagram of "Live Music Capital." Although I have never personally witnessed a live show in Austin, I do know they have an extended history of great music. This compilation only reinforces that they've still got it.
I'm delighted to kick off the new year with music as good as this, and there's something for everyone pop, psychedelic, punk and new wave.
I thought compilations of unknowns from a specific region were only reserved for 30 to 40-year-old soul, punk, garage and psychedelic artists, but this is not so. Matador provides us with some of the best up-and-coming underground acts from the heart of the Lone Star state.
★ ★ ☆ // MATT SOENER
music review // STEDDY P. — 'STYLE LIKE MIND'
KJHK's weekly guide to sonic consumption.
Kansas City emcee Steddy P. didn't drag his feet releasing a second album on the heels of Dear Columbia ... PS, his first album and an homage to his Missouri stomping grounds.
Locally, he may be remembered for his solid opening performance at the Talib Kweli show at The Granada, 1020 Massachusetts St., awhile back and for various other appearances in Lawrence hip hop shows.
Somewhere between all the live performances, Steddy P. kept up with production, banging out Style Like Mind in a hash of daily-life rhymes and classic hip hop bravado. In the beats department, there is plenty of funky urban-laced hip hop production, while a few tracks are interestingly jazz-oriented.
The album takes an interesting approach in representing classic hip hop without sounding dated.
In addition to the scratches by DJ MAHFJ, the album doesn't go without some good old battle record rap quotes. Hip hop followers
might also recognize vocal samples dropped in from the Scratch documentary, nodding to that late 1990s to early 2000s era.
As far as regional hip hop goes, Style Like Mind is quite a speaker-worthy disc that certainly pulls its weight in Midwest hip hop.
★★★☆ // PETER ADANY
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