Sunday, 5 July 2009
TV
Starting four years ago in Israel and two years ago in the United States, Be'Tipul (In Treatment) is recounting the analysis sessions of five patients, one of them being the main protagonist: the analyst himself.
Be'Tipul credits
Sharing the same title (In Treatment being the literal translation of the Hebrew Be’Tipul), the same concept, the same format (30-minute long), the same airing schedule (a patient/episode a day, 5 days a week), the same characters and the same creator, In Treatment pushed the limits of television immersion and character development by revealing the pathos of few people the same way a real doctor would do.
Be'Tipul season 1 trailer
Originally created by Hagai Levi, the show started its second season in Israel at the same time the first one got aired under its American form. Critically and publicly acclaimed, HBO's In Treatment got renewed for a second season, even though, couple of key changes made it slightly branching out from its roots.
Hagai Levi was highly involved in the HBO adaptation, guaranteeing an accurate development over the other side of the globe. The already successful Stephen Levinson and Mark Wahlberg put their Entourage aside, leaving the realms of wannabes to go deep inside the conscious and subconscious, creating the In Treatment executive producing team.
In Treatment season 2 trailer
The casting is almost perfect: Gabriel Byrne plays Dr. Paul Weston, the family troubled shrink who will listen successively to Laura (Melissa George), Alex (Blair Underwooed), Sophie (Mia Wasikowska), Jake (Josh Charles) & Amy (Embeth Davidtz), Mia (Hope Davis), April (Alison Pill), Walter (John Mahoney), Bess (Sherri Saum) & Luke (Russel Hornsby) & Olivier (Aaron Grady Shaw) to finally end up on Gina’s couch remarkably played by Dianne Wiest.
In Treatment requires a lot of commitment: with 78 episodes mainly composed of conversations out of which, eventually, the most embedded issues will be revealed to the patient, the analyst and the viewer, at the same time and same intensity level.
Wednesday, 1 July 2009
Music
Post Christmas 2008, as announced here, a flow of quality albums started hitting our music players. This was just a sparkle compared to the firework 2009 has been so far. The good news is: it's not over!
It would be probably impossible to compile all the eclectic sounds that emerged amongst the months, especially if we want to satisfy all the ears out there, but we will try our best to glaze over the independent branch and offer a safe snapshot guaranteeing you wise purchases.
First, Veckatimest. The Brooklyn four stars Grizzly Bear is pursuing its career at Warp Records and released the probable best folk album of 2009. The lead singer of 2008’s reference of the genre (Robyn Pecknold of Fleet Foxes) once said that Veckatimest might be the folk masterpiece of the 00’s. Heavy statement, still believable. Plus, we tend to agree.
Listen to it once, you will quickly indentify the main tracks (Two Weeks, Cheerleader and While You Wait For The Others). A second listen will bring you the sweetest Ready, Able and get you hooked for at least ten more. The virtuosos Edward Droste, Christopher Bear, Daniel Rossen and Chris Taylor seduce by dropping elaborated melodies, various rhythms and mesmerizing voices throughout a wide range of modern folk sub-genres.
Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks
from Veckatimest released May 26 on Warp
A funny premise contributed to the loudly resonating buzz accompanying the album: long story short, Edward Droste was weirdly (and gently) accused to be at the origin of a leaked Animal Collective track (from the acclaimed Merriweather Post Pavillion), which ended up on a French podcast. Couple of acknowledgements/apologies later, the incident seemed closed for good. In February 2009, a very early but complete low-quality Veckatimest hits the Internet. Edward Droste interrupts his healthy food tweets to perform the move that will grant him of the cheers from connected indie music lovers: “Veckatimest got leaked, Oh well… We’ll give you a better quality link along with pre-sales. Thanks for the early good feedback tho!”
Their majestic North-American tour just ended. Dry your tears and purchase the vinyl version so you can enjoy the magnificent cover.
Accelerating the rhythm and getting slightly more surrealistic, Tulsa’s Annie Clark (also known as St. Vincent) delivers her second opus: Actor. We have always developed some sort of automatic crush towards chicks-with-guitars, but when these are gifted of the sweetest voices, crushes tend to turn into adorations. Straight out of a dream, Mademoiselle Clark performs, as a maestro, sharp strokes to set the tone, gather and stimulate her band to unify in this grandiloquently noisy cloud of rock music. Another stroke, and calm reappears, leaving the needed room for the magical chants of Annie. Run to your favorite music store and ask for Actor, one of the hottest records of 2009.
St. Vincent - Actor Out Of Work
from Actor released May 4 on 4AD
As summer usually rimes with dancing on popular music, we want to deviate your attention onto the Frenchies behind Phoenix and their pretentiously entitled Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. Surfing on their usual sophisticated pop-rock wave, Phoenix amazes with an appetizer cooked with two of their best-produced tracks: Lisztomania and 1901. The entrees and deserts are as delicious and maintain a constant level of energy.
If you can't catch them up during their mind-blowing tour, make sure, at least, to hijack all your summer dance parties with a drop of Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix!
The Gossip - Heavy Cross
from Music For Men released June 22 on Columbia
Keep moving your feet and fade in the new Gossip, called Music For Men. The latest from the eternally astonishing Beth Ditto backslaps after her previous Standing In The Way Of Control. A rollercoaster of punchy rhythms in unison with the catchiest songs, Ditto affirms her presence and stands right next to James Murphy as heavy rock revolutionists (pun intended.)
Not enough? Worry not, the latest Kitsune Maison Compilation (the 7th one) offers no less than 19 tracks covering the realms of dancing genres, revealing new talents and enforcing their catalog. In which, Phoenix makes its cameo with a remix of the previously mentioned Lisztomania by Classixx.
More got released and more will come along the rest of the year: Regina Spektor, Chris Garneau, Sonic Youth, Fanfarlo, Major Lazer, the awaited Florence and the Machine debut, etc. Keep pointing your ears out, check the numerous music blogs out there, and support your favorite concert venues; we are sure their line-ups are inspiring.
Wednesday, 15 April 2009
TV
Once, a simple right management network became a high quality production provider. Jumping in a market almost entirely owned by HBO and Showtime, AMC slowly extended over the last two years the list of TV networks that dare and care.
Mad Men trailer
Slick opening credits, spotless cast, remarkable cinematography and stunning sets bringing an extraordinary production value, Mad Men just appeared before our eyes. 1960's, New York City, Don Draper is the creative director of a massive advertisement company. A genius premise giving brilliant opportunities to talk about post-war American sociology viewed from multiple angles; The emergence of communication businesses in the background, the sharp portrait of a white men's world still dominates the purpose.
Created by Matthew Weiner (writer and producer on The Sopranos), the weekly dose of sexism and adultery will return for a third season in Summer 2009.
Putting aside New York, Draper's sophistication and mid-century sociology, AMC heard the pitch of an ex-X Files writer, Vince Gilligan.
Breaking Bad trailer
Set in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Breaking Bad recounts the story of Walter White, a middle class chemical teacher, recently diagnosed of a deadly lung cancer. Keeping the trauma from his family (a pregnant wife and a son with cerebral palsy), he decides to make quick loads of money using his science knowledge to cook crystal meth. A former student of his, Jesse Pinkman, handles the sales.
Even though appearances would lead to expect nullity wrapped in shocking paper, fatality stands as the main subject of the truly amazing Breaking Bad. Every desperate act Walter initiates serves the only purpose of leaving inheritance. In addition to the dirty money, lies, crimes, and sketchy deals surely maintain his stimulated mind. Firstly shown through Walter's decupled libido, the drug trade seems to slowly provide him a sort of existential rejuvenation. The end (as we know it) seems eminent, however, the depth of the characters is definitely what keeps the audience high.
Betting on a third and very expected production, AMC is about to unleash the remake of the TV masterpiece The Prisoner. Considering their ability to develop remarkable concepts, adapting such a show remains extremely risky. Simply for that, AMC has our infinite respect.
Wednesday, 15 April 2009
Music
Get ready for a new trend! Even though, this would probably disappear as fast as it emerged, datamoshing offers something fresh to the crystal clean music video vibe...
Wednesday, 15 April 2009
Movie
Gathering TV-quality international banking plot, modern thriller rhythm, rather talented cast and stunning cinematography, The International surprises by spoiling your eyes...
Wednesday, 15 April 2009
Movie
America is changing. Even though it is no news for nobody, the reality is here and goes beyond the long awaited joyful political twist. It was mandatory to carry this change, in a way or another, to the yearly celebration of (American) cinema...
Page 1 of 2
More than just a critique blog, A Finger on the Pulse is here to analyze past, present or upcoming media trends using examples collected in the worlds of Music, Film and Television.