Yes kid, this is real life

Remember David, the kid who's dad filmed him post-dentist visit? Here he is 20 years later, after his divorce.



God bless the UCB.

Portland Cello Project signs to Kill Rock Stars

Wow, the story of the Portland Cello Project just keeps getting more and more outlandish.

First, the collection of classical music nerds starts getting street cred by playing with local indie artists, then they become a completely unlikely musical force in their own right and now they are (to my knowledge) the first "band" of their kind to sign to Kill Rock Stars. It's unlikely, to be sure, but the Cello Project's entire history has been anything but predictable up to this point and I can't think of a more deservedly talented group to join the roster of one of the region's finest labels.

With the forces of Slim Moon and the coolest classical music ensemble in the known world combined the sky is the limit.


Builders and The Butchers with The Portland Cello Project: "Bottom of the Lake" from Douglas Jenkins on Vimeo.

Michael Cera Loses His Shit

Although almost certainly a joke (considering the brief title of the movie at the end), this video is of Michael Cera on the set of his new movie Youth In Revolt, flipping his shit over something or other. It's quite convincing, but is likely just viral marketing capitalizing on Christian Bale's recent freak out on the set of Terminator (mp3).

Let's not forget this isn't the first time Michael Cera has done the fake freak-out. He joked around on the set of Knocked Up with Katherine Heigl. For more Michael Cera hilarity, I recommend his hilarious Impossible is the Opposite of Possible.

"The International" Mini-Review

The International tells the story of Clive Owen's INTERPOL Agent Salinger. Like all of Clive Owen's characters, Salinger has a perpetual 5 o'clock shadow and looks like he wears his suits to bed. Salinger is on a mission to take down the IBBC (the International Bank of Business and Credit).

And we don't need this movie to tell us, but we know, big multi-national banks are eeevil. The IBBC is behind all sorts of nasty dealings and anybody with any concrete information to move against them winds up dead. 

It's rather fortuitous that this film hit theaters now. I imagine it was probably produced before last year's financial fuck-all and it's ending is surprisingly realistic with respect to what ultimately becomes of the bank. Anybody looking for a searing end where the IBBC goes up in flames will be disappointed, the ending is far more in line with what would actually happen.

But that's not to say that villains don't get what's coming to them. The International surprised me. The movies released between January 1st and May 1st tend to be where studios either dump films they know are schlock or use the time as a testing ground for potential franchises. The International is actually not bad. It's not great, but it's a decent thriller and while not super-realistic, it does have it's moments, divulging disturbing truths about the way of the financial sector.

Three stars for a decent thriller plot without too much unnecessary fluff.

"Coraline" Red Carpet Video

Vanguard links:

Coraline review

Dakota Fanning interview

Neil Gaiman & Henry Selick interviews

Red Carpet Premiere photos

Joaquin Phoenix on Letterman, real or staged?

Watch the video, then weigh in your opinion on whether or not you think Joaquin's behavior on David Letterman's show was authentic or a Kaufmanesque stunt.

If you've ever thought of messing with the squirrels at PSU...

Don't.

OK, this squirrel isn't from Portland, but DAMN. She's got some moves.



Click the picture for all the images.

More awesome weird shit @ http://www.kontraband.co.uk/