I watched two movies this weekend (somehow, in between all the basketball), both centered around music:

Lightning In A Bottle (imdb | rotten tomatoes) is a must-see if you like the blues. Antoine Fuqua filmed a pile of blues artists — some old, some new, some not blues artists at all but covering old songs — for one night at Radio City Music Hall. It was at the film festival way back when, so I put it on my zip list…then it arrived and sat by my TV for a month. I guess I just had to be in the right mood to watch it but I wish I’d gotten in the mood sooner…it was amazing! My favourites were Robert Cray and Shemekia Copeland doing “I Pity The Fool” and Solomon Burke doing…well, anything, even talking…but really it was all great. Plus watching David Johansen sing Howlin’ Wolf, and seeing Chuck D and Chris Thomas King freak out the old folks was entertaining.

Even if you don’t like the blues it’d be pretty hard to dislike this movie. And really…who doesn’t like the blues?

.:.

Greendale (imdb | rotten tomatoes) was a very different animal. Another film festival entry that we missed (seriously, I think we need to get the 30-pack), it was Neil Young’s vision of a story told through song in a fictional American town. All rookie actors (some of whom were members of his band) with no dialogue, but rather lip-synching along with Neil’s lyrics as the music plays over the scenes. Strong pro-environment, anti-war and anti-Bush overtones (and other popular lefty causes) permeate the whole film. It was very, very weird, and probably unwatchable for most people. I didn’t like it, but at least it was interesting.

.:.

As the West Wing winds down, I have some advice for Josh: Goddammit, man, next time you PICK UP THE KEY IMMEDIATELY!!!!!!

Ahem. Sorry.