Saturday, January 31, 2009

BEST FILMS OF 2008, TAKEN, and THE VISITOR by Frank Palmcoast

When he's not watching, with beads of sweat, his fellow, legally blind, senior citizens parallel park, Frank Palmcoast is catching seven dollar movies at the local multiplex from sunny Pompano Beach, Florida. He's retired, he's angry at the world, he can't spell to save his life, and he hates Hollywood almost as much as Hillary Clinton, but that will not stop our irreverent, dementia fightin', AARP card carrying everyman from giving us a fresh take on all things Hollyweird. Besides, how can he pass up that marvelous senior citizen discount?


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Special treat Palmcoast fans! Our veteran, crack film journalist not only reviews Liam Neeson's return to mainstream cinema, Taken, but also offers up his top films of 2008 and a capsule review of the Oscar nominated - The Visitor. 

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FRANK PALMCOAST'S TOP 10 FILMS OF 2008

Here is the Palmcoast's picks for the Ten Best Pictures for the year 2008 AD and in their order of importance: #1, Slumdog Millionaire. #2, Grand Torino, #3, Rightious Kill, #4, Yonkers Joe, #5, The Wrestler, #6, Doubt, # 7, The Bucket List, #8, Wild Hogs, #9, You Don't Mess with The Zohan and Last but not least #10, Rambo. Number Ten, Rambo reminded me of when I was in Nam fighten those commies and for everyones information, as we speak they are working on Wild Hogs 2 for 2009. It doesn't get any better than that!

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If you have has enough of these depressing Academy Award films you will be rescued and not by Bourne or Bond but by Liam Neeson. There are slim pickens this time of the year, no big block busters but you will be rewarded by this classic action flick. In Taken, Neeson is a revenge seeking missile as a kick-ass action father hero.Having recently seen "Quantum of Solace" this Liam guy puts the new Bond to shame.The rage, the determination, the vengeance of the father was cheered on by the viewers of my show. Even the torture of the very evil guy and the shooting of a woman in the arm demonstrates to this critic, "desperate times , call for desperate measures and sometimes the answer to violent people is violence, perhaps we can learn from this.The so called critics want Benjamin Button movies and Palmcoast's wants"mess with the best and die with the rest".Taken reminds me of say Jack Bauer's saving his daughter, then I feel sorry for the terrorist. A relentless thriller that never ends. This movie is without a doubt preposterous in every way and you know what, I loved it. My two favorite lines from this flick, "I will find you and I WILL kill you and If I have to I WILL tare down the Eiffel Tower". I would give this movie 3 thumbs up but I only have 2. Most movie critics as well as our congressmen have lost their creditability! Put that in your pipe and smoke it!

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Just caught The Visitor on On Demand, Movie & Events, All New Releases. Found it interesting, extremely subtle and engrossing. First time for me to see the work of Richard Jenkins. The story line really impressed me and most timely. It affords me a new and different outlook on what's going on today and the many injustices that must occur. More people should see this picture.

at 11:47 PM 2 comments

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Bedbugs LXV

Bedbugs LXV

Click here for an explanation of how Bedbugs is created.

Click here for the previous Bedbugs.


We here at BBF Central apologize for the tardiness of Bedbugs lately-
its creator was on an all-encompassing project; three chapters of Bedbugs
will debut this week in order to get back on track with weekly
Thursday installments. I'm sure the single-digit fans were worried,
but rest assured we will continue a little while longer.


Tell me a reason why since you didn't bother to
ten years ago. Each one will be good for a laugh in your
high contrast, victim-providing world. Don't publish it.
There's nothing good about it. I though I would have been
the one to save you too, but you were too busy hooking up
with your own twisted destiny that I can't be part of.
Lifting each one better dressed than the last manages to
blur the contrast in my retina twice in operfect sync. Last
warning you can get at this hour is the one that you've had on
you all along! Treat me like the angel I hope to be and you
might get a response. I hope to give one. I want to observe
and experience the outside. Forty to go? Unsure. Ask
the man on the phone. He will say something if you ask
him something! Try it when he calls. What's that sound?
You will catch up, can smell things in the next room that
I didn't bring home with me. Nightmarish? Hardly.
Just a slow sad crawl to the finish line. Nobody will
be there when you're done, infections are spreading.


Next chapter's seven phrases/groups of words:


-master of none
-waiting where it's warm
-she means well, I promise
-sleep while you can
-winter indoors and outdoors
-it picks up this year
-I knew it was here



-Adam

at 6:10 PM 1 comments

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE by Frank Palmcoast


When he's not watching, with beads of sweat, his fellow, legally blind, senior citizens parallel park, Frank Palmcoast is catching seven dollar movies at the local multiplex from sunny Pompano Beach, Florida. He's retired, he's angry at the world, he can't spell to save his life, and he hates Hollywood almost as much as Hillary Clinton, but that will not stop our irreverent, dementia fightin', AARP card carrying everyman from giving us a fresh take on all things Hollyweird. Besides, how can he pass up that marvelous senior citizen discount?

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Palmcoast ventures into very unchartered territory - India of all places!!!! Let's see what our senior reviewer has to say about the sleeper hit of 2008. 

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Slumdog Millionaire is a Million Dollar winner. The male lead Jamal Malik is the new Forest Gump.Bollywood meets Hollywood. I'm thinking of changing Hollyweird to Toiletwood.This flick simply stated is Oliver Twist and Great Expectations revolving around a TV show "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire unfortunately without Regis. Having seen the road conditions in Mumbai, I'll never complain about traffic conditions in America. This picture is exiting and suspenseful right till the very end.If any one has spoiled kids, take them to see this flick and show them how much of the third world kids live. After seeing Bombay, Pompano Beach is looking REAL GOOD! At times, Jamal and Latika reminded me of Stalone and Aaaaaaadrian. Before seeing this film Grand Torino was my choice but for me Slumdog Millionaire is a SLUMDUNK for Best Picture of The Year. Yes, Yes for Oscar and that's my final answer!

at 8:40 PM 0 comments

Monday, January 19, 2009

SIN-E-FILE (Not-Ten Films of 2008)

"I have the sin of the Cinephile" - Jean Luc Godard

When will critics finally stop the madness of making top ten lists of the best films of the year? I have either been reading critics’ top ten lists or reading critics making fun of top ten lists, who then make their own lists. But rarely do they actually refrain from the temptation of making one. (As of now, the only top ten list I anxiously await is Frank Palmcoast’s.)

When you really think about it, not only is it silly to place one film above another for whatever reason, (What possibly could place #9 above #8?!?!?!) but it is true madness to compile a list when you haven’t seen every single film of that year. And, honestly, what critic has seen every film that came out in 2008? It’s like crowning Miss America when some of the girls haven’t even made the stage yet. I remember reading one critic’s review, from a significant weekly paper last year, of There Will Be Blood. The critic loved it and was lamenting the fact that his “Top Ten Films of The Year” list had been published just one week before he saw P.T. Anderson’s epic, otherwise he would have placed it in the #1 spot!!!

As the Oscar nominations are announced later this week, and some people actually start to believe that the five films that are selected are actually the five best films of the year, I thought I would do my part to acquaint you or to remind you of the best work that I have SEEN SO FAR that happened to come out in 2008, without telling you too much, so as not to ruin your viewing experience.

Happy-Go-Lucky – Mike Leigh crafts real characters hand-in-hand with his actors, and the drama (or comedy) is born out of them. This makes for truly satisfying cinematic experiences. And this one is by far my favorite. Sally Hawkins and Eddie Marson are brilliant. Makes you smile without insulting you for even one second! SO RARE!

Synecdoche, New York – One man’s crazy, unfiltered, noncommercial, epic vision brought to life with a $12.4 million budget. This DOES NOT happen. See it now on the big screen. Kaufman will never get final cut again, folks.

Let The Right One In – Those who call this a horror film are incorrect; there is no “fright” in it. It is disturbing in an interesting, stylistic way, not in a…well…“disturbing” way. It is, however, not only a fascinating vampire film with an abundance of superb filmmaking and perfectly subtle performances by children, but it stayed with me for some time after the credits rolled.

Also: Man on Wire, Rachel Getting Married, The Wrestler

Don’t Believe the hype: Slumdog Millionaire, Silent Light, Frost/Nixon, Gran Torino, Revolutionary Road

-Peter Rinaldi

at 11:35 PM 5 comments

Sunday, January 18, 2009

The Boxpress Music Time Show with Brian Hughes

Show #18: Celebrating Frank Sinatra's 93rd birthday: "Ecstatically Sinatra - Part II."


Brian helps celebrate Frank Sinatra's birthday by concentrating on the singer's bipolar musical nature: Sinatra always considered himself a manic depressive, so why not concentrate on the extreme lows and exuberant highs of Ol' Blue Eyes? In the first two parts of this four part series, Brian will concentrate on the "saloon" or sad songs of Frank's repertoire. In the final two parts - the high flying, fast paced, world-on-a-string swing numbers.


If you think you might want to listen to some more of my podcasts - please click below:

Show#11: "ELVIS"

at 10:32 PM 1 comments

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Start Talking: Michael Bernstein

Every episode will have a different person sit in front of the camera as I announce their character name and a brief description of them as if they were a guest on my program via satellite, except the person has absolutely no idea who they are playing or what I am going to ask until the words come out of my mouth. At which point they have to, simply, Start Talking.

Guest: Michael Bernstein

Watch this episode in HD here
Watch other Episodes of Start Talking:
Timmy Cassese
Jonathan Roumie
Melissa King
Jeremy Frost
Matthew Schwartzer
Matt Kaplan

-Peter Rinaldi

at 4:56 PM 4 comments

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

GRAN TORINO by Frank Palmcoast


When he's not watching, with beads of sweat, his fellow, legally blind, senior citizens parallel park, Frank Palmcoast is catching seven dollar movies at the local multiplex from sunny Pompano Beach, Florida. He's retired, he's angry at the world, he can't spell to save his life, and he hates Hollywood almost as much as Hillary Clinton, but that will not stop our irreverent, dementia fightin', AARP card carrying everyman from giving us a fresh take on all things Hollyweird. Besides, how can he pass up that marvelous senior citizen discount?

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Fresh and rested from his Southern, California trip, Palmcoast returns with his highly anticipated review of Clint Eastwood's GRAN TORINO

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Just back from Hollyweird and saw a GRAND flick titled "Grand Torino" or Dirty Harry when He retires or Archie Bunker meets dirty Harry or the Karate Kid of 2008. And without a doubt, Eastwood is by far my favorite bigot. Eastwood's character Walt Kowalski manages to insult just about everyone, sorta like the front row of a Don Rickles show. This flick is a bad drama or a subtle comedy or perhaps both. This may well be the Last Temptation of Dirty Harry. I had at times had to laugh at Dirty Kowalski squinting and waving his 44 magnum at a bunch of kids or calling a young priest a "27" year old virgin. I found Clint Eastwoods face interesting; it no longer looks weathered as it has for decades but now seems like petrified wood. His Grand Torino was made by the same industry that begs Congress for a hand out, in a city that's bankrupt and a country that can't do anything right anymore except make a movie like this! Yes, Virginia, there is a Walt Kowalski. He exists as sure as Dirty Harry or Archie Bunker. What a dreary world it would be without them!
Palmcoast
PS: While in La La Land saw the premier of "Yonker's Joe"--Don't miss it!

at 11:32 AM 3 comments

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Bedbugs LXIV

Bedbugs LXIV


Click here for an explanation of how Bedbugs is created.

Click here for last week's Bedbugs.


The disaster that is your life is scraped
into every inch of your face missing the
date is disasterous, looking back only
my time's good to be wasted, it seems.
Whose thoughts are mine and whose are
the other ones I'm hearing? Solo is the best way
to go. Trust me. You'll be too numb knowing she's
upstairs waiting, to notice when it's too late.
Nobody knows the date. Diseases not invented
yet are manifesting in every surface in the room.
Three of them we think we'll get, coalescing
end with a lively dance because they asked.


Next week's seven phrases/groups of words:


-each one will be good for a laugh
-don't publish it
-each one better dressed than the last
-last warning you can get at this hour
-treat me like the angel I hope to be
-can smell things in the next room
-infections are spreading


-Adam

at 7:49 PM 0 comments

Monday, January 5, 2009

The Story Slice: Alex

This is the continuation of a story that began here:


Part 1: Maureen


by Brian Hughes

Alex was kind enough to reach out to Cahil in the middle of the night and real him in with her Saturn. They were heading back over the hill into Hollywood – back to his hotel. She was wearing her pajama bottoms. Cahil stared at her ankles and pretty, little feet in sandals. Alex was always the girl with the attitude – anti-man for the most part, but no lesbian.

“So what the hell are you doing out here?” Asked Alex.
“I have a big interview with Brenda Burgundy.”
“No shit.”
“Yeah … I’m playing with the big boys now, Alex – just as I always said I would.”
Alex had a prominent nose and an always sly look in her eyes. Her world was photography, human rights issues, Johnny Depp and Jack White.
“You’re not interviewing The White Stripes I’m guessing …”
“Nope. But you’ll be the first to know.”
She was another in a long line of gals that Cahil felt he let slip through his fingers. Why? He’s still unclear of that: Youth, perhaps - fear mostly. Fear ruled the long days in the bookstore he use to work in: Fear of hanging out, fear of meeting new people, fear of asking the big three if they’d go out with him; Alex was two in the hierarchy, Heather of course sat at the top of the pyramid, while Colleen took up the rear.
“Have you stayed in touch with Heather?”
“Yeah, why?”
“How is she doing?”
“She’s doing well. She’s in “events planning.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, she’s in a relationship with this really cool guy. He’s a private pilot with lots of big time clients.”
“Good for her.”
“You’re still hot in the pants for her, are you?”
Cahil stared out into the passing night – seeing the first moment he set eyes on Heather: She was casually walking into the back stockroom, having just come off a break, when Cahil was introduced to her by the stockroom manager. He couldn’t remember the stockroom manager’s name, all he could remember was that he was a big time sci-fi reader who hated The Doors: He hated The Doors because they sounded like carnival music. It was strange what the mind remembered.
“I’m just warning you that any moment I might pull over to the side of the road and take pictures of you. I’m feeling it … I’m definitely feeling it,” Alex said as she reached behind the driver’s seat for her camera bag.
“We ought to collaborate and do something together some time.”
“Yeah, that might be fun,” she said as she peeled around the winding roads in the canyon. “Are you planning on visiting Heather?”
“I might,” Cahil said. “Do you know where she is now?”
“Yeah, I do – I’ll send it to you. Do you still have the same email address?”
“I do.”
“You should really stay away. You shouldn’t go see her.”
“I can’t! It’s the damn internet: The goddamn, motherfucking Myspace, Facebook and all the rest…!”
“Aren’t you engaged?”
“Yes, yes … If it wasn’t for these sites I would have probably forgotten her, but no, her image lingers: It stays there, updating, provoking me to continue looking, to continue to be informed.”
“It can’t lead to anything good – you’re engaged and she’s serious about her relationship.”
“I adore my fiancé, I couldn’t have found someone more perfect, it’s just I feel there is unfinished business.”
“You should leave it alone – trust me – I’m pulling over.”
Alex pulled off the curve and parked the car at a rest stop that overlooked the dark, cavernous canyon.
“Sit up on the front of the car, look over here.” Alex kept the lights of the car on. She was working the lights and shadows to some type of affect and moved about the car like a real picture pro.
“You’re gonna send me these pictures, right?”
“Of course.”
“You’re so beautiful, you know that?” Cahil said.
“Thanks … lean a bit more to the left.”
“I should have asked you out.” Alex said nothing. “I think about you all the time.”
“How come you never email me?”
“I email you once in a blue moon, and you usually never respond.”
“There are so many guys to have to deal with … no offense, I don’t need any more drama.”
“I understand.”
“Oh! That’s awesome! Look this way.” The wind was blowing hard and all Cahil could think of was whether his weight was enough to send the car over the edge.

Alex was through getting her shots of Cahil. She peeled back onto the road with a screech and in the irony of all ironies, The Doors “Love Her Madly” came thundering from the speakers of her car. Cahil and Alex shared the vocals, he banging the dash, she slamming the steering wheel with her palm. Never had he wanted to fuck Alex more that in that very moment: The Doors, the California night, slinky roads and a curvy chick: what could be better to Cahil than this?
A message on his blackberry: Agatha Reece was in town:
“Heard we are staying in the same hotel. I’m in room 1004. Knock on my door tonight – we are demonstrating the latest Asian sex toys to hit the market.”
Agatha Reece was a sex writer who occasionally wrote for The City Savior and ran her own popular website called DeepVag.com. She had been on CNN and a bunch of other television programs. Cahil had a jones for her – had beat off to her site on more than one occasion. Going to her room was a definite possibility.
Alex pulled up to Cahil’s hotel.
“All right Cahil … nice catching up. Don’t be a stranger …”
“Would you like to, perhaps come up for a little bit, maybe …?”
“No way, I’m dead. I need some serious rest. Here – let me send you Heather’s address…”
“Oh, thanks …”
Cahil was thankful Alex came and got him. He’d have to remember to call Enterprise about the stranded car. He couldn’t even remember where he left it. He’d never fuck Colleen, nor would he ever get a chance with Alex. Perhaps that was best. As he stared down at Heather’s address, he was beginning to wonder whether he should take Alex’s advice and not go and see her after all: what was the point? He adored his fiancé, and perhaps Heather would always have a special place in his heart, but what was the use in seeing her? Disturbing her day? There was something so devious and ugly about going to Heather and spilling his guts to her, while Janeen was running around New York City with her mother trying to nail down a spot for their reception party.

Cahil was feeling down about himself as he knocked on room 1004. A large black guy in an expensive suit answered the door. Cahil told the guy who he was and was soon led in. The suite was surrounded by hip looking Asian people with layered, spiky haircuts and Soho duds. Agatha Reece was the ringleader, wearing a hot pink, Jacquard and lace corset. Always a bit on the big boned side, she filled out the lingerie with sexy opulence. The suite was awash in red light and dampness as trance bass music pounded the floor below his feet. Men and women were stretched out and strapped to various sex machines like The Thruster and The Missile Launcher, which was an industrial looking, steel cage contraption which drove a dildo into a young man’s anus. Everyone seemed to be having a rip roaring time though, with ball gags, chastity belts and medical gear – all except Cahil, who at once felt as if he should be punished hard for thinking he could get away with having sex with these California gals while engaged to the most wonderful woman in the world. The air was stifling and the longer Cahil stayed, the more he felt obliged to test one of these contraptions, but he knew, as with almost anything sexual in his life, he wouldn’t have the balls to go through with it.

Cahil’s interview with train wreck Brenda Burgundy was fast approaching and he hadn’t done a lick of research. With a bottle of Chivas Regal in his hand, he threw some headphones on and listened to her soulful, Motown-era sound. He stared at Heather’s address on his blackberry, through his tired, bloodshot eyes and wondered how in fuck’s sake would he ever get out to her?

at 9:31 PM 3 comments

Saturday, January 3, 2009

VALKYRIE by Frank Palmcoast

When he's not watching, with beads of sweat, his fellow, legally blind, senior citizens parallel park, Frank Palmcoast is catching seven dollar movies at the local multiplex from sunny Pompano Beach, Florida. He's retired, he's angry at the world, he can't spell to save his life, and he hates Hollywood almost as much as Hillary Clinton, but that will not stop our irreverent, dementia fightin', AARP card carrying everyman from giving us a fresh take on all things Hollyweird. Besides, how can he pass up that marvelous senior citizen discount?


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Frank Palmcoast + Tom Cruise + Hitler = a good time. Here is Frank's take on Tom Cruise's latest Valkyrie.

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The Palmcoast started out to see "Grand Torino" but it was sold out, so I reluctantly decided to see Tom Cruise's latest. I rightfully thought if the so called Critics panned it, it must be OK. I found Valkyrie to be both entertaining and historically educational. In the very beginning of this flick, I noticed all the Germans were mostly British and Tom with his American ascent playing Colonel Von Stauffenberg. I immediately thought of some better choices to play the main character;Colonel Klink, Val Kilmer or any one of Hogan's heroes but on the other hand I didn't want it done in German with sub titles.The budget I understand ran over and it cost $72 million. Perhaps a few dollars on German speech classes would have been appropriate. Any movie about people banding together for a cause worth dying for is appealing and Valkyrie is exactly that. The music and the cinematography was on target but I wonder how many film goers associate and think this music was pirated from Apocalypse Now and not the music composed by Hitler's favorite composer Rickard Wagner. Brilliant study in cowardice and courage and these Valkyries men were real heroes. For Mr. Mission Impossible he didn't for fill his contract on Hitler. An expensive movie to make but I believe it will be eventually financially sound.Valkyrie took flight and AGAIN most critics were wrong!

at 11:17 PM 0 comments

Friday, January 2, 2009

Bedbugs LXIII

Bedbugs LXIII


Click here for an explanation of how Bedbugs is created.

Click here for last week's Bedbugs.


Knowing soon there's going to be a reaction akin to
metal taste in both our mouths doesn't leave much
hope for reaction that is easily controlled through
not many syllables besides the one that's unpronouncable
and noticed by all at the worst possible time on the calendar
that's what's inside the body knowing the best possible solution
will be ignored and leave me the answer when you go is the best
thing you can hope for in times like these you created the worst of
it... Relative skin looks blemished in this lighting which is
unforgiving because it looks back on and lights your past.
How do I turn this off? I know who started it and I will
tell her its name before you leave.



Next week's seven phrases/groups of words:


-missing the date is disasterous
-only my time's good to be wasted
-solo is the best way to go
-knowing she's upstairs waiting
-diseases not invented yet
-three of them
-end with a lively dance because they asked


-Adam

at 10:03 PM 0 comments

Thursday, January 1, 2009

The Boxpress Music Time Show with Brian Hughes

Show #17: Celebrating Frank Sinatra's 93rd birthday: "Ecstatically Sinatra - Part I."


Brian helps celebrate Frank Sinatra's birthday by concentrating on the singer's bipolar musical nature: Sinatra always considered himself a manic depressive, so why not concentrate on the extreme lows and exuberant highs of Ol' Blue Eyes? In the first two parts of this four part series, Brian will concentrate on the "saloon" or sad songs of Frank's repertoire. In the final two parts - the high flying, fast paced, world-on-a-string swing numbers.


If you think you might want to listen to some more of my podcasts - please click below:

Show#11: "ELVIS"

at 9:04 PM 0 comments

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