Dramedy is a word that makes me cringe. It reeks of desperation. I imagine it to be the word a pitch man uses when trying to convince a studio executive that dramas can be comedic or that a comedy can be dramatic. "You know... a damedy!" With a TV history that includes shows like M*A*S*H and Scrubs, it would seem that such a desperate word would be unneeded. Drama is often better with the lightening aspects of comedy, and comedy can be kept from being frivolous by the weight of drama. Unfortunately, "dramedy" is used and The Unusuals was stuck with the label.
Set in NYC, The Unusals presents a homicide division filled with ecentric characters that specializes in not-straight-forward cases. At the center is Detective Casey Shraeger (Amber Tamblyn, Joan of Arcadia), who is trying to shed her socialite past, and Detective Jason Walsh (Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker), a former baseball player and current diner owner. Other characters include a very Frank Burns-like "top" detective, a man who believes he will die before he turns 43, and other that has a brain tumor and may die in the near future.
The Unusuals premiered in April of 2009. ABC touted the show as the next M*A*S*H and had hopes of it being the next big crime drama. The first episode, like many pilots, is somewhat rough around the edges. It perhaps tries too hard to be funny given absurd situations. The performances are impressive though, especially Renner's. By the third episode, the show settles down. Audiences didn't give the show that long and it was quickly canceled.
All ten episodes of The Unusuals are currently available (as of 1/25/10) online at Hulu and Crackle.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
Movie: Strange Days
With a certain Kathryn Bigelow movie coming out on DVD on Jan. 12th and a rather prominent James Cameron movie in the theaters, I felt it apropos to visit a little-seen collaboration of the two: Strange Days.
Released in 1995, Strange Days is set on the day before and the day of New Year's Eve 1999. As a near-future cyberpunk film, the technological advances are modest. The highlighted technology are SQUID decks and clips. SQUID is the ultimate in immersion entertainment. Not only does "playback" visually put you in the action, it sends feedback to your body to make you feel like you are there. Since the inevitable application of playback involves porn and vicarious crime sprees, SQUID devices are extralegal. Sleazy ex-cop Lenny Nero (Ralph Fiennes, The English Patient) deals in decks and clips, buying from the questionable and selling to the uptight. When a mysterious playback is left for Nero and his contacts end up dead, Nero has to unravel the truth before a race war erupts at turn of the millennium.
Strange Days pulls no punches. It is rated R and deservedly so. It is also a well-told mystery that puts its small amount of sci-fi tech to good use. The writing, provided by Cameron and Jay Cocks (Gangs of New York), is good. While the technology isn't as integrated or ubiquitous as it should be, the fictional 1999 martial-law Los Angeles is well made. Realizing that hand-held cameras would be too shaky and steady cams too bulky to capture true 1st person point of view, Bigelow and Lightstorm Entertainment innovated a new sort of wearable camera.
Despite the action and acting pedigree (the film also features Angela Basset, Juliette Lewis, Vincent D'Onofrio, and Tom Sizemore), it received mixed reviews and a cool audience reception, making only $7.9 million during its short theatrical run. It is currently available on DVD.
Released in 1995, Strange Days is set on the day before and the day of New Year's Eve 1999. As a near-future cyberpunk film, the technological advances are modest. The highlighted technology are SQUID decks and clips. SQUID is the ultimate in immersion entertainment. Not only does "playback" visually put you in the action, it sends feedback to your body to make you feel like you are there. Since the inevitable application of playback involves porn and vicarious crime sprees, SQUID devices are extralegal. Sleazy ex-cop Lenny Nero (Ralph Fiennes, The English Patient) deals in decks and clips, buying from the questionable and selling to the uptight. When a mysterious playback is left for Nero and his contacts end up dead, Nero has to unravel the truth before a race war erupts at turn of the millennium.
Strange Days pulls no punches. It is rated R and deservedly so. It is also a well-told mystery that puts its small amount of sci-fi tech to good use. The writing, provided by Cameron and Jay Cocks (Gangs of New York), is good. While the technology isn't as integrated or ubiquitous as it should be, the fictional 1999 martial-law Los Angeles is well made. Realizing that hand-held cameras would be too shaky and steady cams too bulky to capture true 1st person point of view, Bigelow and Lightstorm Entertainment innovated a new sort of wearable camera.
Despite the action and acting pedigree (the film also features Angela Basset, Juliette Lewis, Vincent D'Onofrio, and Tom Sizemore), it received mixed reviews and a cool audience reception, making only $7.9 million during its short theatrical run. It is currently available on DVD.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Movies You Probably Haven't Seen
At my regular journal I reviewed a slew of recently watched movies, but kept it in the realm of more widely released flicks. Here are four others that were seen on 500 screens or less:
The Merry Gentleman (2008) - Michael Keaton (Batman) directs and stars in this character drama about a depressed hit man befriended by a woman on the run from domestic violence. The film is quirky and slow in parts, but contains great performances.
25th hour (2002) - This was Spike Lee's first full-length film post-9/11 and it is a strange sort of love story to the city of New York. Edward Norton (The Illusionist) plays a convicted drug dealer that has one day of freedom before being sent to jail for seven years. The character's love of NYC is balanced against his impending lack of freedom and the option to avoid incarceration.
Bottle Shock (2008) - Simply put, Bottle Shock is a sports movie...but with wine. This movie is the underdog story of California wines versus wine "snob" Steven Spurrier at the Judgment of Paris in 1976. It's an amusing movie with a cast including Alan Rickman (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone), Bill Pullman (While You Were Sleeping) and Chris Pine (Star Trek).
Population 436 (2006) - Jeremy Sisto (Waitress) is a census taker that discovers a disturbing trend in population of Rockwell Falls. This is a fairly decent horror movie in the vein of Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" or The Wicker Man. Not high art, not flawless, but a good addition to the creepy-small-town genre.
The Merry Gentleman (2008) - Michael Keaton (Batman) directs and stars in this character drama about a depressed hit man befriended by a woman on the run from domestic violence. The film is quirky and slow in parts, but contains great performances.
25th hour (2002) - This was Spike Lee's first full-length film post-9/11 and it is a strange sort of love story to the city of New York. Edward Norton (The Illusionist) plays a convicted drug dealer that has one day of freedom before being sent to jail for seven years. The character's love of NYC is balanced against his impending lack of freedom and the option to avoid incarceration.
Bottle Shock (2008) - Simply put, Bottle Shock is a sports movie...but with wine. This movie is the underdog story of California wines versus wine "snob" Steven Spurrier at the Judgment of Paris in 1976. It's an amusing movie with a cast including Alan Rickman (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone), Bill Pullman (While You Were Sleeping) and Chris Pine (Star Trek).
Population 436 (2006) - Jeremy Sisto (Waitress) is a census taker that discovers a disturbing trend in population of Rockwell Falls. This is a fairly decent horror movie in the vein of Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" or The Wicker Man. Not high art, not flawless, but a good addition to the creepy-small-town genre.
Monday, December 14, 2009
One-Hit Wonder: White Town
In 1997, Jyoti Prakash Mishra's band White Town joined the ranks of the one-hit wonders with "Your Woman." The song reached #1 on UK charts and topped at #23 on Billboard's Hot 100.
A follow-up from the album Women in Technology was not forthcoming.
Unlike many other albums that spawn a one-hit wonder, Women in Technology contains other good tracks. Mishra's vocals are solid and the mixing on the more techno-aspected tracks, like "Thursday at the Blue Note," is pleasantly melodic and complex. One detriment to the album is that it is uneven in sound. While "Your Woman" is powered by a fairly driven beat, the remainder of the tracks are soporifically laid-back. The album's eponymous track is only a subtle synthesizer track from being a capella. While EMI UK backed Women in Technology, the relationship between the label and politically out-spoken Mishra was strained and EMI UK dropped White Town after just one album.
"Undressed" also from Women in Technology:
Women in Technology was not White Town's only album. It was preceded by Socialism, Sexism & Sexuality (1994) and followed by Peek & Poke (2000) and Don't Mention The War (2006). All were released independent of a major label. All three latter albums are available for download via Amazon.com and through other retailers. Peek & Poke and Don't Mention The War share many qualities of Women in Technology and also adds a measure of punk influence.
"Make the World Go Away" from 2006's Don't Mention The War:
A follow-up from the album Women in Technology was not forthcoming.
Unlike many other albums that spawn a one-hit wonder, Women in Technology contains other good tracks. Mishra's vocals are solid and the mixing on the more techno-aspected tracks, like "Thursday at the Blue Note," is pleasantly melodic and complex. One detriment to the album is that it is uneven in sound. While "Your Woman" is powered by a fairly driven beat, the remainder of the tracks are soporifically laid-back. The album's eponymous track is only a subtle synthesizer track from being a capella. While EMI UK backed Women in Technology, the relationship between the label and politically out-spoken Mishra was strained and EMI UK dropped White Town after just one album.
"Undressed" also from Women in Technology:
Women in Technology was not White Town's only album. It was preceded by Socialism, Sexism & Sexuality (1994) and followed by Peek & Poke (2000) and Don't Mention The War (2006). All were released independent of a major label. All three latter albums are available for download via Amazon.com and through other retailers. Peek & Poke and Don't Mention The War share many qualities of Women in Technology and also adds a measure of punk influence.
"Make the World Go Away" from 2006's Don't Mention The War:
Monday, November 30, 2009
OMM Anniversary & Updates
Obscure Media Monday celebrated its anniversary somewhere in the haze of November. There were around 32 entries of content in that year, slightly better than an every-other week average. To kick off year two, here are some updates on previously featured artists:
Abney Park has a new album, Aether Shanties, coming out Dec. 1st. Captain Robert has posted a two of the tracks for download.
Tapping the Vein's second album, Another Day Down, is available from Amazon.com and is as solid as their first.
Die Warzau's excellent, Convenience, is currently available from Pulseback Records.
Nouvelle Vague's third album, Nouvelle Vague 3, was released in June in Europe and is now available in the States via Amazon.com.
Finally, if you missed it during its short theater run, The Hurt Locker will be available on DVD and Blu-Ray on Jan. 2nd. OMM will cover another Kathryn Bigelow movie, Strange Days, in the near future.
Abney Park has a new album, Aether Shanties, coming out Dec. 1st. Captain Robert has posted a two of the tracks for download.Tapping the Vein's second album, Another Day Down, is available from Amazon.com and is as solid as their first.Die Warzau's excellent, Convenience, is currently available from Pulseback Records.
Nouvelle Vague's third album, Nouvelle Vague 3, was released in June in Europe and is now available in the States via Amazon.com.
Finally, if you missed it during its short theater run, The Hurt Locker will be available on DVD and Blu-Ray on Jan. 2nd. OMM will cover another Kathryn Bigelow movie, Strange Days, in the near future.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Music: Nosferatu
It's the Halloween season, and when in the mood for quintessential gothic rock, Nosferatu is the perfect fit.
Formed in the UK in 1988 during the second wave of goth music, Nosferatu does not shirk its heritage. Named for the king of the undead? Check. Low, wailing vocals? Check. Relentless guitars counterpointed by organ and harpsicord-like keyboards? Check. Enough vampire, witch and ghoul-themed songs to fill an entire album? Double check.
"The Haunting" from 1996's Prince of Darkness:
While moderately successful in the UK and Europe, most of Nosferatu's popularity in the US stems from Cleopatra Records various goth anthology records. Regardless, Nosferatu has continued to record, with an ever-changing line up of musicians, for over twenty years. Only lead guitarist Damien DeVille is an originating member.
As is the case with many obscure or near-obscure bands, Nosferatu has embraced digital distribution, taking advantage of all that MySpace, SoundClick and Amazon have to offer.
Formed in the UK in 1988 during the second wave of goth music, Nosferatu does not shirk its heritage. Named for the king of the undead? Check. Low, wailing vocals? Check. Relentless guitars counterpointed by organ and harpsicord-like keyboards? Check. Enough vampire, witch and ghoul-themed songs to fill an entire album? Double check.
"The Haunting" from 1996's Prince of Darkness:
While moderately successful in the UK and Europe, most of Nosferatu's popularity in the US stems from Cleopatra Records various goth anthology records. Regardless, Nosferatu has continued to record, with an ever-changing line up of musicians, for over twenty years. Only lead guitarist Damien DeVille is an originating member.
As is the case with many obscure or near-obscure bands, Nosferatu has embraced digital distribution, taking advantage of all that MySpace, SoundClick and Amazon have to offer.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Music: Jill Tracy
Jill Tracy is the Edward Gorey of music. Whether it's only Tracy's smokey voice as counterpoint to broken piano melodies or backed by The Malcontent Orchestra, her neo-cabaret sound is gray-scale simple and yet, lyrically, wickedly baroque. Firmly tongue-in-cheek, the sensibility of Gorey and Tracy is the same. "I'll hold your hand while they drag the river / I'll cuddle you in the undertow" is what passes for a Jill Tracy love song.
Obviously, the "horror genre" of music isn't anything Tracy shies away from. After 1999's Diabolical Streak, Tracy and The Malcontent Orchestra provided an original score to the 1922 silent film version of Nosferatu which later debuted live. She has also performed in the past with San Francisco's modern Grand Guignol troupe, Thrillpeddlers.
From 1999's Diabolical Streak:
From 2008's The Bittersweet Constrain:
Tracy's most recent effort, The Bittersweet Constrain, offers slightly more mainstream accessibility, but by no means sellout the ethos that sets her apart from a piano songstress like Fiona Apple or a Victorian goth act like Rasputina. Jill Tracy's albums and singles are found through the typical online vendors such as Amazon.com and CDBaby.
Obviously, the "horror genre" of music isn't anything Tracy shies away from. After 1999's Diabolical Streak, Tracy and The Malcontent Orchestra provided an original score to the 1922 silent film version of Nosferatu which later debuted live. She has also performed in the past with San Francisco's modern Grand Guignol troupe, Thrillpeddlers.
From 1999's Diabolical Streak:
From 2008's The Bittersweet Constrain:
Tracy's most recent effort, The Bittersweet Constrain, offers slightly more mainstream accessibility, but by no means sellout the ethos that sets her apart from a piano songstress like Fiona Apple or a Victorian goth act like Rasputina. Jill Tracy's albums and singles are found through the typical online vendors such as Amazon.com and CDBaby.
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