The Decline Of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years (1988)

When I finally watched The Decline Of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years (1988), I understood clearly why director Penelope Spheeris was hired for Wayne’s World, and to understand even the head-banging culture that Wayne’s World was parodying. This was a decade where pop music was defined by metal’s popularity, from glam rock to […]

The Lure (2015)

In 1980s Poland, two mermaids hear their own siren song: a fair haired boy playing an indie ballad on the shoreline. Leaving the water for the world of humans, the mermaids eventually front their very own synth pop band. Welcome to the horror-musical-fantasy world of The Lure (2015; Córki dancingu), which revolves around a nightclub […]

The Decline Of Western Civilization (1981)

I grew up as a Wayne’s World fan and always intended to explore the director Penelop Spheeris pre-Wayne’s World career, especially their trilogy of music documentaries under the banner title, The Decline Of Western Civilization. For the first film, The Decline Of Western Civilization (1981), Spheeris captures a time and place, the punk movement in […]

One From The Heart (1981)

I used to love Tom Waits. When I was younger, I bought up most of his discography. At some point, I grew a bit tired of the barroom drifter persona and the sound; I still like him and his music, but I think I moved on from it at a certain point. Even with his […]

Sound Of Metal (2019)

Every time I watched the trailer for Sound Of Metal (2019), I would just well up and want to cry. There’s something about Riz Ahmed as a performer and the vulnerability he expresses in this role. He plays a noise metal drummer Rueben Stone in a touring band with his partner, vocalist/guitarist Lou (Olivia Cook). […]