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Here’s the Spike Jonze-directed music video for Arcade Fire’s mid-tempo rocker “The Suburbs.” Shot in Texas and featuring a bunch of kids in their formative teens, if you don’t watch the “short film” here, give yourself three or four clicks and you’ll probably get another chance (it’s plastered all over the net at this point). Oh and funny enough, it doesn’t take place in a major city. Watch the fairly solid clip below.
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In 1984 John Landis and a man who was definitely the largest pop star at the time set out to make a music vid that encapsulated the feel of a movie while still visualizing the concept of a little known title track for his album, Thriller. Resulting in a 15 minute assault on the senses, Michael Jackson and Landis confused MTV, changed the red and black leather jacket market forever, and frightened small children everywhere. Twenty-six years later Kanye West, a man who is arguably the largest male pop star of his time, followed Jackson’s famous steps with a feature piece for his album’s lead-single. Read More…

No frills rapper Freddie Gibbs details out life growing up Gary and the hardships faced in this new clip from the folks over at Yours Truly. Lately they’ve really done a superb job shooting/editing as all their mini-films have been hitting hard. Spot on. Get Gibbs’ new mixtape Str8 Killa No Filla for free right here.

Epic graffiti artist Blu is back with another stop-motion graffiti video and this one is even more awe-inspiring than his last. Painting both the beginning and ending of the world, Blu tackles multiple mediums and terrains. Using buildings, fences, trash cans, and more; his ten minute video of large scale animated paintings is definitely worth the watch. What’s amazing is the amount of time ‘BIG BANG BIG BOOM’ must have taken to complete (guessing broad strokes were in abundance). That, and the territory tackled. Downright expansive. Keep an eye out for the evolution of weaponry sequence too. Around the eight minute mark, it’s a pretty slick use of a silo. Clever bastard.

Ever since it was commandeered and overused by that whole ‘FAIL’ craze a few years back, I’ve tried limit my use of the word ‘epic’. But after watching NIKE’s new promo for this year’s FIFA World Cup, I feel it’s an adequate adjective to bring back into my argot. Cuz that’s just what this campaign is, epic.

The three minute spot was directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu and features several of today’s biggest football (soccer to us Americans) stars in action, contemplating various World Cup ‘what if’ moments during the match. You’ll recognize Ronaldo (duh) and Wayne Rooney (maybe), other than that there’s a short Simpson cameo and one from everyone’s favorite Mexican thespian, Gael García Bernal. NIKE even gets Kobe! to show up (of course). With editing that’s very characteristic of Iñárritu‘s previous work (Babel, 21 Grams), the commercial really comes across like a short film. If you don’t watch it here, I’m sure by the time you read this it’ll be all over the goddamn place (including its TV debut tomorrow during the European Club Final).

‘Epic’ might not be the right word, but it’s the first that comes to mind.

Yoshiro Nakamatsu is indeed a real person. A quick Google search verified this. His patents total well over 3,000 (including the floppy disc) and apparently the man can only invent the moment before death. Which is why all his ideas are conjured up and subsequently recorded while submerged under water. With a personality that easily stands in line with Steve Zissou or any of the Tenebaums, Dr. NakaMats just might be as interesting as he claims to be.

Oh, and the eccentric has photographed and analyzed every meal he’s eaten for the past 34 years (and counting). A feat that nabbed him the Nobel prize for nutrition a few years back. Impressive seeing as I barely recollect drunken 3am Taco Bell runs. And that’s only after the crumpled Chalupa wrappers are spotted on the floor.

Couldn’t find a release date, but The Invention of Dr. NakaMats is currently being screened on the festival circuit.

Expanding on a fabricated trailer that preceded the Robert Rodriguez directed Grindhouse, Machete finds mustachioed bad-ass Danny Trejo leading a bloody, revenge laden, Mexican revolt. And with an aptly timed release, Machete cuts through all that political Arizona bull shit with what very well could be Trejo’s best role since 2001′s Bubble Boy. This is going to be pure popcorn eating, gore-boner fodder.

Directed by Rodriguez (who is also Trejo’s cousin), Machete features a huge cast (DUI chick from LOST, Deniro, 1/2 of Cheech & Chong, Lilo, Steven Seagal, Jessica Alba, plus more) and is set for a September 3rd release. Jump down for the flick’s latest trailer. Read More…

PIXELS (directed by Patrick Jean) is a chill little video that has been making the rounds the past couple of days, capturing the hearts and imagination of adults reared on 8 bit glory. Retro video-game celebrities get all blocky and storm modern day NYC wreaking havoc on 2010.  Somewhat reminiscent of that scene in Ghostbusters when all those busted ghosts escape the Ecto-Containment Chamber and go nucking futs. Don’t cross the streams!

Let nerds rejoice.  MYST, the successful early 90′s computer game, is finally getting a reboot.  Not really, but the work of Alex Roman is pretty damn amazing.  With great locations and beautiful shots, the work is visually stunning.  What really blows us away though is that it’s completely computer generated.  As in 100% CGI.  As in virtually indistinguishable from reality.  Crazy right?  The team at Third and Seventh certainly has an eye for detail and they’ve made a tasteful little film.  Real classy and beautifully done. Watch the video in full screen because it deserves it.  And look for the shout out to Brew City near the end.

This was plastered all over the interweb a few months ago, but definitely deserves a revisit.  Easily the best CGI in a while. (via)

Chicago is experiencing the remainder of winter this week. The icy season’s last breath is exhaling throughout the city streets and signs of spring are showing up. Snow has went the way of Obama fever, gone except a few spots here and there, and hip girls shiver outside bars in skimpy outfits smoking thin cigarettes. I know, I know, it’s hard to look trashy under a giant down jacket, but come on. It was only 45 today.

Pretty soon though, the sun will shine all day long and blue birds will sing. So what should you do? Get all your movie watching in now. As in, watch this movie. FIX by director Tao Ruspoli (available today on DVD).  It’s about drugs, girls, family, and road trips.

What a coincidence, that’s just what summer is about. Jump down for our review, plus the film’s trailer. Read More…