Author: chimesfreedom

Editor-in-chief, New York.

Will Forte Takes a Serious Turn in “Nebraska”

Nebraska Will Forte Will Forte used to make me laugh on Saturday Night Live. With a certain goofy look or inflection in his voice, he can crack me up. Even though I grew tired of the repeated “MacGruber” segments on the TV show, when I found myself watching the movie MacGruber he made with Kristin Wiig in 2010, I could not help laughing at some of the ridiculous scenes.

Now, I find myself looking forward to a Will Forte performance in a movie that is not a comedy. Nebraska, which will be released in the U.S. on November 22, 2013, features Forte and Bruce Dern in a film directed by Alexander Payne (The Descendants (2011), Sideways (2004), About Schmidt (2002)).

In the movie, Dern portrays a character with mental issues who believes he has won a million dollars. Forte plays Dern’s son, traveling with the older man on a trip to get the imaginary cash. The film has received Oscar buzz since it debuted at Cannes. To get an idea of Forte’s dramatic turn, check out this scene from the black and white film.

On the other hand, the newly released trailer for Nebraska reveals a quirkiness and humor that appear in Payne’s other films. It looks like Forte will fit in just fine with the legendary Bruce Dern.

What is your favorite Will Forte character? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    Volkswagen Salutes A-ha’s Famous “Take on Me” Video

    aha

    If you were around in 1985, you could not miss the Norwegian band A-ha and their video for “Take on Me.” The cutting edge animation by Michael Patterson and Candace Reckinge in the video directed by Steve Barron is still amazing even after decades of technological advances. The video won six MTV Awards.

    More recently, Volkswagen incorporated the song and the animation style in a new commercial “Feeling Carefree.” The animated story features a Volkswagen Passat winning a race and then it goes into its own twist ending of sorts. David Shane directed the new ad. Check it out.



    What is your favorite animated ad? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    “Jungleland” Makes Louis C.K. Sad

    On Conan, comedian Louis C.K. talked about the importance of being alone. He explained how the constant presence of cell phones removes us from the existential feeling of sadness, an experience he wants his daughters to understand.

    Previously, we discussed how Bruce Springsteen similarly wanted his children to understand a certain sadness in life as revealed in his song “Racing in the Street.” Louis C.K., however, used another Springsteen example for his existential crisis, “Jungleland,” even singing a few bars.

    So if you are the mood for that kind of sadness, put away your cell phone and sit back and listen to Bruce Springsteen and the E Street band live.

    What is your favorite song that makes you feel alone? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    Is Chipotle’s “The Scarecrow” Pure Imagination?

    chipotle animated commercial

    Like its earlier animated ad featuring Willie Nelson singing a Coldplay song, the restaurant chain Chipotle‘s new ad uses animation and music to attack the evils of factory farming. Of course, they do so in the context of highlighting their own commitment to fresh food.

    The new ad, “The Scarecrow,” features a factory-employed scarecrow discovering a new way of living, set to Fiona Apple singing “Pure Imagination” from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971). The short film was co-directed by Brandon Oldenburg and Limbert Fabian and created by Moonbot Studios. Check it out.

    The ad, which also has a tie-in phone app game, is getting a lot of attention. Salon argues that the ad featuring the vegan Fiona Apple is not just anti-farming but anti-meat. Others like AdWeek are praising the Chipotle ad, saying it is “magic.”

    Funny or Die takes another approach with its parody of “The Scarecrow.” The new words to the song argue that the original ad is not pure imagination but “pure manipulation.”


    What do you think of “The Scarecrow” and the parody? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    The Head and The Heart’s Josiah Johnson in a Parking Garage

    Josiah Johnson Parking Garage
    Anyone who has had to split up with friends to search for a car in a parking garage and then had to call out knows what great acoustics those places have. Apparently, so does Josiah Johnson of The Head and The Heart. In this video he sings a new song in a parking garage. Nice.

    The song is untitled on YouTube, but it is possible the song might appear on the band’s upcoming album, Let’s Be Still, which will be released on October 15 as the follow-up to their self-titled debut album released in 2009. The previous album featured the beautiful “Sounds Like Hallelujah,” so we are looking forward to the new CD. The Head and The Heart formed in Seattle, where the new album was recorded, and features songwriters Johnson and Jonathan Russell as well as drummer Tyler Williams, keyboard player Kenny Hensley, vocalist/violinist Charity Rose Thielen, and bassist Chris Zasche.

    What is your favorite song by The Head and the Heart? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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