Cloud Atlas - Incredibly Profound and Beautiful

Cloud Atlas was a cinematic masterpiece with an all-star cast, remarkable score, and one of the most original storylines I’ve ever seen.  Based on the Sci-Fi novel of the same name, Cloud Atlas was met with both extremely positive and extremely negative reviews, but I would say that the film was exquisite.  Jumping through time, the film follows 6 unique story lines from 1849 to 2321 which can be confusing at first.  The characters each play their own role in each time period which then directly affects whoever they are in the future.  With Tom Hanks, Hugo Weaving, Halle Berry, and Jim Sturgess (just to name a few) the movie has some of the best acting I’ve seen in a long time.  To try and summarize the plot would be pointless as the subtle details are what make the movie so great to watch.  Trying to pick up on who the characters are in each time period is fun but distracting at times as the plot moves at lightning speed.  As the movie progresses it’s easier to start to notice the connections between the different characters and time periods as the development of a love story across multiple centuries unfolds.  Also a story of redemption, the film focuses heavily on choices surrounding life, love and death and how those choices directly affect us as human beings.  The theme of reincarnation and the idea of life as a continuous cycle is at the heart of this film which makes the viewer question their own actions making for a profound and meaningful ending, something I find is extremely rare in films; let alone science fiction films.  Space and time are so much vaster than the average human can even begin to comprehend and Cloud Atlas touches on this in a film that is a cinematic work of art.  Incredible costumes, effects, and locations round out the long list of success’s that make Cloud Atlas one of my favorite movies of all time and a film that is so beautifully complex that it must be viewed more than once.    

The Passing of a Legend

The world of rock and roll will never be the same after the recent loss of one of the greatest men to ever tackle the genre.  Lou Reed, front man for the revolutionary group The Velvet Underground passed away of liver disease on October 27 and left behind him a legacy that is both incredibly influential and unlike anything that came before or after.  Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996, and ranked at number 19 on Rolling Stones list of the 100 Greatest Artists of all time, the Velvet Underground was punk before there was punk, and alternative before it was even an idea.  After such great, albeit short lived success, the band broke up in 1973 and Reed went on to have an illustrious solo career with amazing songs like the David Bowie produced “Walk on the Wild Side”.  Fusing elements of almost every music genre there is, Lou Reed was a driving force behind turning music back into what it’s meant to be, true art and a free form of expression.  Thank you sir, and may you keep on rocking with the greats that have passed before you.  Read the full Rolling Stone Obituary below.

Lou Reed - Rolling Stone Obituary 

Franze Ferdinand - Keeping 80's New Wave Alive and Kicking

Franz Ferdinand are not only continuing in the vein of their previous releases, but perfecting them in a way that proves they are one of the greatest indie bands of the last decade.  I first heard their single “Take Me Out” from their self-titled debut album as part of the set list for the first Guitar Hero game.  It was so fun to play and blew me away that it had just come out barely a year before, unlike many of the other tracks.  Their latest release Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action is not only a great album, but one that spans multiple decades and genres.  Their sound remains largely 80’s New Wave based with some punky guitar riffs and indie pop beats that produce a sound both diverse and unique.  Their fourth studio album and first since 2009’s Tonight: Franz Ferdinand, the record is fun to listen to but hints at the possible end of the band in the final track “Goodbye Lovers and Friends” which we can only hope is a ruse considering the success and following the band has achieved.  Songs like “Right Action” and “Love Illumination” (both singles off the record) are great and remind you of 80’s stalwarts like Joy Division, The Smiths, or The Cure, with a faster tempo.  Still other tracks like “Bullet” are destined to become dance floor favorites.  With its poppy sound, the track makes you want to jump up, down, and all around.  Critics have given the album mostly positive reviews with most agreeing that the record is an overall success.  Franz Ferdinand are one of those bands that haven’t really put out a bad record and that has to tell you something, not only about their musical style but also about the bands chemistry.  With a great stage presence and songs that make you dance and smile, what else could you ask for?  Definitely a group everyone should hear.