Musical Memories

My name is Chris Bowser and I have a terrible memory. I’m not sure why it is so bad, could be all the head injuries, genetics, general disinterest, any number of things really. What I do know is that I have a hard time remembering times, dates and important detail based information. The only thing that I am good at remembering is pop culture facts and figures. It’s a strange block for me, ask me any of my kids birthday’s and I will have to check my phone for the information (google calendar is a god send). Ask who directed an obscure film from the 70’s or the band who recorded a one hit wonder from the 80’s and I’ll come up with the answer right quick. With that being said I have an acute memory for just about every song, artist or album that I have ever heard. These memories could range from the first time I have heard the songs or a story that goes along with them. It’s strange to me because not only do I have a bad memory but the senses that are commonly tied strongest to memory (taste and smell) are also dull, leaving me with this all around void revolving around describing memories. With that said my memory regarding music and sounds is spot on. Hopefully some will find these post interesting, funny or insightful. Mostly I am recording them so that I can get these down before I start to forget them.

So how this will work is I’ll write down songs that I hear and the memory that comes up with them in detail. These are in no particular order and it’s up to you as the reader to place things together. I will provide the estimated years, month and day of it. I will do no additional research on these bands or songs outside of very basic information. These posting will be my memories and what that means is that the truth I say will be subject to my remembering of the truth. I will do minimal editing of each of my posts so that I can get a more honest memory. I will use names and describe their relation to me, if the same name comes up over multiple posts than I will not repeat the relation. If I want to give some song listening advice about a certain thing that comes up, I will put it at the end of the post.

First some info about me to make the reading process easier. I am a 31 year old man. I was born in 1985. I have a wife and 3 kids, my oldest is 4 years old and my youngest will be born in May of 2016. I have been in the Army reserves since 2008 and I was married once before. My primary musical taste is Rock (classic, Nu, modern, hair, what have you), Punk (classic, modern, 90’s, pop, ska), Pop (modern, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s). There’s much more, but you’ll have to read my posts to see what I mean. Thanks for reading and come back for updates frequently.

Creep (2014)

I hate found footage films. I can understand why movie studios and consumers like them though, in theory they immerse you into the film in a way that otherwise couldn't be done. They normally run cheaper to make and sadly people expect less from them in terms of CGI, story and overall effort. In contrast, I have a certain level of understanding with independent films. They are created on a lower budget, typically have no star power and are normally written, directed, staring and produced by one person. This is called a passion project and can easily lead to the creation of a terrible movie. When you combine independent and found footage genres it’s rare that what results is any good. I don’t think before today I had ever seen a good independent found footage film.

We can blame this piece of trash for the whole crap sub-genere.

The movie opens with Aaron (Patrick Brice) and his video camera. He is driving into the mountains to meet a client to do some video recording for him. The Craigslist ad said it would pay $1000 for 8 hours of work, only those who can use discretion should apply. When he arrives we meet Josef (Mark Duplass), his client and all around energetic and slightly off kilter guy. We quickly learn that Josef has a brain tumor the size of a baseball and he is projected to die in the next 2-3 months. He has a wife of 6 years and unborn child whom he will not meet before he dies. Josef explains this is why he has hired Aaron, to do a video recording for his son, Buddy. The story progresses and as it does we are treated to various scenes of Josef being creepy and Aaron being a little weirded out. There is some comedy relief, strange occurrences, long takes of blank expressions and lots of double talk. Josef seems weird but there’s never enough evidence to set off warning bells. It’s only just enough to get you to say “I think I would be leaving if I were him”. Still there is always a reason to stay and keep recording. In this aspect it does more than most in the found footage genre, it explains in a real and smart way why he still records everything.

Look at how my friends are dying, I better get this all on film.

It's too bad that Creep is just another drop in a pool of the already over saturated found footage market because it is a really well done movie. It uses its meager budget and the found footage style to its advantage. It shows you more than you need to see to understand the story but just enough to get a feel for the characters. The movie takes a few twists and turns, but never gets into serious scare territory, this is more of a creepy, unsettling style of film. It made me shift in my seat more than once because I was physically uncomfortable for Aaron. The intent of the film is never to shock or even make us jump in our seats its goal is to make us feel like something is just always slightly askew. It accomplish this in spades, long lingering shots, no background music and a set that is unsettling in itself. To add to the film’s sense of isolation, there are only 2 people in the whole movie. There are two more that we hear on the phone, but never see. This makes the movie feel small and intimate, like these are the only two characters in the world.

Also, PeachFuzz is heavily featured throughout.

If you like more of a traditional Hitchcockian style of horror, this movie is for you. It’s slow, but I never looked at my watch. It feels improvised, yet methodical. Everything gets paid off by the end of the film. In a time when horror films are more about what you see and less about the feelings you feel, this is a breath of fresh air. I highly recommend this movie to horror fans and avid movie goers.

I give it 9 out of 10 peachfuzz masks.

Let's Be Cops (2014)

Let's Be Cops is one joke. The entire film is one joke over and over again. You see there are lots of movies that follow this rule, it's fairly common among the lower brow comedy films. Actually, one of my favorite comedies follows this logic, Dumb and Dumber. The joke is "look at how dumb these guys are" everything revolves around that one joke but man does it work. In Let's Be Cops the joke is "look at how they aren't cops.... but they're wearing uniforms!" honestly it works at first.... then it very quickly starts to drag on. I'll get into more detail lower but I want people to know that I will be having spoilers in this so if you care don't read on. If you have not seen it, but really, don't.

"Look! They're cops and they are chasing women! So funny"

The film starts with Justin (Damon Wayans jr.) and Ryan (Jake Johnson) in a diner talking. We learn through boring exposition that they have moved to L.A. to try to make it in the entertainment world and have yet to make any head way. Justin works at a video game company as an intern and Ryan was in a herpes commercial that payed 11,000 dollars which he has been living off of. Justin has been working on a game called "Patrolman L.A.". He of course bought some LAPD uniforms to do research with. After having his video game idea shot down, in a scene that people who know anything about current video games will find funny, he returns home to find out that he and Ryan will be going to a party that night and need costumes. They debate costumes and after a minute of debate we have a title... "Let's Be Cops!" Ryan yells.

"But we don't know how to be cops!"

The concept could be funny with a powerful script but as they go through the movie the novelty of guys dressed as cops smoking weed and telling people to stop walking because they can wears off.  Granted, this type of comedy isn't really in my wheel house but I swear I only laughed once every few minutes and it's not like they weren't trying, jokes and visual gags were a plenty they just never really hit. A scene that stands out is Justin, now called Officer Chang, searching people by making them dance. People in the audience were laughing as he instructed them to twerk. Still an unfunny comedy, not that rare, no this film goes beyond that. It attempts to be an action comedy.

The action is awful. It's really some of the worst, unnecessary, boring action I have seen on film. What makes it worse is that the action kicks in during the last 10 minutes. It, of course, starts with the obligatory "suit up" scene. What baffles me is that there are tons of guns shown yet they each only bring one pistol with one clip, both run out of ammo instantly. A perfect example where this is done right is in Hot Fuzz, which I would have much rather watched.

The cast in Let's Be Cops is strong and the acting is pretty good. It's just to bad that the director and editors must not have known what they were doing. Scenes go on for to long and sometimes feel like they were completely unneeded. It's a poorly crafted film. It's not very funny. The action is awful. So what's the good?

Rob Riggle

I give this film 4 real bullet proof vests out of 10.