Wildsville: The Art of Derek Yaniger

WILDSVILLE: THE ART OF DEREK YANIGER (Korero Books)
Retro illustrator Derek Yaniger is not just adept at recreating the vibe of the Jim Flora / UPA-era, he’s also a master of color, lettering and design. Yaniger’s passion for all things Beat is infectious and inspiring rather than forced and tiring (ala the overrated Shag). Cast thy peepers, Clyde!

I Love You, Man

I LOVE YOU, MAN
Answering the question, “Does the world need a Bromantic Comedy” with a firm “Not really,” this movie needlessly follows every cliché of the genre it apes, right down to the third act conflict that’s resolved at the climax. A strong cast (led by the always-funny Paul Rudd) helps a lot.

Jersey Shore

JERSEY SHORE
Yes, it’s funny, yes, it’s addictive and yes, they’re all vapid, dopey, narcissistic and orange. But fighting, “creeping” and the word “Guido” aside, what’s most offensive about JERSEY SHORE is that these people are going to have far more than their Warhol-allotted 15 minutes. IDOCRACY inches ever closer…

Secret Country: Women, Whiskey and Nightlife

Secret Country, WOMEN, WHISKEY AND NIGHTLIFE  (Killing Horse Records)
Straight outta Kearny NJ, it’s a rollicking country and western free for all, rife with equally indelible hooks and bathroom-graffiti-worthy lyrics about hot dogs, cold beer and more loose women than you can shake a…. well, you get the idea (the artwork’s not too bad, either).

The Art of Harvey Kurtzman

THE ART OF HARVEY KURTZMAN: THE MAD GENIUS OF COMICS by Denis Kitchen and Paul Buhle (Abrams Comic Art)
A fascinating, inspiring, and sometimes heartbreaking tale of a true pop culture genius, one of the fathers of modern satire. Kurtzman was living testament to the sad truism that artistic brilliance is often trumped (no pun intended) by canny business acumen. Read it, laugh and weep!

Watchmen: the Ultimate Cut

WATCHMEN: THE ULTIMATE CUT
The integration of TALES OF THE BLACK FREIGHTER is nice for fans of the comic and the commentaries and bonus features are pretty good (especially “Under the Hood”) but with the superfluous Motion Comic and digital download disc supplanting the theatrical and director’s cuts, this set is hardly “Ultimate.”

Up in the Air

UP IN THE AIR
So… a non-commercial, ambiguous ending begets a masterpiece these days? Maybe I’m overly film-literate, but I saw the twist coming pretty early, and found both characterization and narrative too lackadaisical to be either moving or meaningful. I don’t need a fairy tale ending, but I do need a fleshed-out story.

The Road

THE ROAD
Despite an aversion to dystopian visions of the future, I had high hopes for this film. But ultimately, its bleak message was better elucidated in THE DARK KNIGHT: “You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain.” I’d rather visit PLANET OF THE APES.

Paul F. Tompkins: Freak Wharf

Paul F. Tompkins, FREAK WHARF (ASpecialThing Records)
One of our finest voices of comedic disdain lets loose with another slab of hilarious (oft poetic) social commentary. FREAK WHARF tackles church (“Still hanging in there!”), dogs, new dads, energy drinks and more. One weak bit about pie vs. cake cannot dull the shine of 2009’s best comedy album!

Avatar

AVATAR
Yes, it’s very nice to look at. But everything you’ve heard about the cardboard characters, predictable storyline and wooden dialogue is true to the point of making the spectacle as hollow as a really nice fireworks show. Sorry, it’s inexcusable for a $300,000,000.00 movie to have a crappy script.