Monthly Archives: October 2009

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Adventureland

adventurelandHow the hell did this movie get past me when it was in theaters? Writer/director Greg Mottola, who directed (but didn’t write) Superbad, has delivered a funny poignant coming-of-age film that feels like a cross between Cameron Crowe and John Hughes. And somehow I was almost completely oblivious to this fact.

No matter, though. I’m thrilled to have discovered it on DVD, where I imagine I’ll return to it more than once in years to come.

Adventureland follows James Brennan (Jesse Eisenberg), a recent college grad whose plans to tour Europe over the summer are derailed by financial complications. Instead he finds himself looking for a job to help pay his Fall tuition at the Columbia School of Journalism.

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Song of the Day #434: ‘Broken’ – Tift Merritt

merrittTift Merritt is the only artist in my collection who I’ve actually spoken to in person. At least I think so… and I guess if I met somebody famous and it made so little an impression on me that I can’t remember it anymore, it probably shouldn’t count anyway. But I certainly remember my encounter with Merritt, brief and innocuous as it was.

That momentary proximity to her is no doubt the biggest reason I find her so sexy. It makes her real in a way no other woman in my collection is real… and real is sexy. It also has a lot to do with the energy she brings to live performances and even more to do with her voice. She really is the total package in terms of songwriting chops, vocals and stage presence. I have no idea why she isn’t a big star.

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