Guillermo Del Toro, the mind who brought the world, the visually disturbing Pan’s Labyrinth was the highly publicized producer behind this frightener. If you’ve seen just a little of the aforementioned film, you know that he is an expert in unnerving imagery. The same caliber of terrifying graphi
#20: Frequency (2000) There is something strongly sentimental and deeply disturbing about this cross-time story. Dennis Quaid and Jim Caviezel play a father and son separated by death but brought together through a short-wave radio. Their goal is to stop the death of Quaid’s character in the pas
Introducing, the Top 25 Film Thrills and Chills , a list of unorthodox thrillers or “scary” movies, that should leave you on the edge of your seat. This list is not composed to reflect the all-time scariest movies, rather an eclectic guide through both the more notoriously frightening fare and s
Reign arrives hot on the heels of the success of HBO's Game of Thrones and Starz’s recent broadcast of The White Queen . Both shows have done well for their respective networks, and have garnered quite a passionate fanbase. The White Queen has been at the forefront of a lot of female viewer
Dead Sea Navigators have a definitive voice and their songs are sparked with a fever of melodic foreboding. You can currently listen to 2 songs off of their recent EP Uncharted on Bandcamp. Among the tracks is “Actors”, a wily piano ballad masked in a dark, foreshadowing energy. “Crellin” is an
The Avett Brothers are back with their 8 th studio album, it’s a follow-up that builds from the foundation of their previous album, The Carpenter . This album is more upbeat, a melodic splendor with grander sentiments of joy and more explorations into the trials and tribulations of being a musici
“The Master” is dumbfounding. Paul Thomas Anderson’s almost 2 and half-hour film is a tour de force in the closest avant-garde filmmaking that American cinema has seen in some time, all the while maintaining some semblance of mainstream appeal. Anderson (the director of “Boogie Nights”) has long
A good movie entertains you. A great movie challenges you. A phenomenal movie makes you forget you’re watching one. A movie that accomplishes all of those feats is a must-see. “The Daytrippers” captures the genuine comedy that springs from the antics of a family. The adventure of the film begins
When “Wicker Park” was released, the trailers had hinted it was a taut sexual thriller, in the vein of Adrian Lyne's wheelhouse. Well, this was not that kind of movie and to be fair, it could not compete on that level, given its PG-13 rating. All of the provocative illusions are actually noth
#21: Philomena Steve Coogan stars as a journalist trying to help a woman (Judi Dench) find the son she was forced to give up for adoption many decades ago. Coogan is always a treat as both a comedian (“Alan Partridge”) and a dramatic actor (“The Look of Love”), his charisma is capable of buoyin
Haunting, poignant and with just the right amount of soul, “Stars”, from the stupendous album The Lion The Beast The Beat , is an all-encompassing portrait of grief over a profound loss. Grace Potter’s vocals are rich in intoxicating, sorrow and triumph.
Never before has an affair seemed more nonsensical. The connection between the protagonists is completely devoid of any passionate chemistry and the overall story lacks any highly palatable stakes. Dealing with the fallout of two rich people as they engage in an affair for no real personal reas
Where “ Once Upon a Time ” is quirky, “…Wonderland” is simply bizarre. The show is so out there that a better title would’ve been “Once Upon a Time on an Acid Trip”. The imagery is mind-bendingly wacky and so distractive that getting to the heart of the story seems a hectic impossibility.
The pilot was sharp and struck all of the vital components that surround an origin story for a supernaturally based series. The lead character, Stephen (Robbie Amell), is highly likable as an everyday guy with bigger than life problems. Those problems are boiled down in a relatable fashion for v
Going in, I knew this episode would be tough to watch. Tough isn’t the word that came to mind when I saw it though. The word was heartbreaking. The send-off/tribute to Finn was a necessary moment that we all knew was coming after Cory Monteith’s untimely death in July. No stranger from shying aw
The new pilot or (pilot 2.0) was a refreshing way to go about reintroducing the characters while, sidestepping a complete rehash of the backdoor pilot. The reason this worked so effectively is because it allowed the show to focus on its most valuable asset, Elijah (David Gillies). Seeing things fr
As frigid and clinical as the lead character it portrays, this show is filled with untapped potential. Since the premiere of its teaser, the show had hinted it would titillate viewers with the sexual research of Masters and Johnson, the revered scientists whose research provided a scientific bre
Truly one of the best new shows of the fall season. The pilot was fantastic and James Spader delivers a performance that is edgily brilliant, keeping you on the edge of your seat. Spader is in a rare league, an actor capable of spinning an elaborate web of such convincing charm that it is impo
Courrier breaths the fiery embers of life into this indie rock tune that’s slow build, escalates into an amazing crescendo of sound. “Love is a Fire” is off of Courrier’s album Cathedrals of Color . This song really captivates you from the moment its opening beats begin. The chord progression
This slow, dreamy ballad has dominated the European charts and rightfully so. “Let Her Go” is a soliloquy of sweet melodic yearning with a folk edge that holds back on over-sentimentality. There is an acoustic quality that allows the vocals to be heard and take center stage with lyrics that are th
Hello Readers! I am excited to announce that I will be a guest on the Dr. Bones' Show tonight at 9 p.m est. We will be discussing music and Eclectic Pop. Dr. Bones always picks out the best in underground, emerging music talent and gives them a platform to be heard. His podcast featu
The Cornerstones will transport you to the golden era of music with their latest album, “Stand In Line”. The album is a culmination of a time where music mattered. The Cornerstones successfully hearken to the touchstones of music’s most prolific moments; with “Stand In Line” you will find the phi
Performing a show where you cover the legendary Journey is no easy task. Journey has one of the most iconic legacies in arena rock, a perennial favorite among many music fans with a catalog that spans a myriad of smash hits. Journey's legacy is expansive and their sound is so recognizable that
When it comes to series finales, both satisfying and not, it is easy to get lost thinking through the ones that have missed the mark. When thinking of this topic, one particular finale quickly rises to the top of the heap, the finale of “Gossip Girl.” Yes, I watched the outlandish soap about sno
For two Sundays in a row, viewers have had to say goodbye to two of cable’s most talked-about shows. “Breaking Bad” and “Dexter” both ended their respective runs with fanfare galore. In the case of “Breaking Bad,” they had to follow-up the panned “Dexter” finale, and expectations were high.
The excitement in the air was more than palpable as a cool night breeze gave way to an exhilarating evening, filled with high energy performances, endearing crowd interaction, and a generally celebratory mood. The message of Fun’s signature song “We Are Young” definitely captured the spirit o
For years I’ve been meaning to see this movie, and after several attempts, the goal was finally accomplished recently. The lack of ambition to actually see the critically adored and audience raved indie “Splice” for all of these years can now be seen, in retrospect, as being a possible instinctiv
Earlier this month, September 1 to be exact, would have been my grandfather’s 93 rd birthday. This year, his passing hit harder than it had in recent years. His presence has been one of the most significant and influential throughout my life. As a musician, act promoter and manager, he inst
When it comes to making movies that break the mold, director Luc Besson has been at the forefront. With “The Family” he bridges the gap between foreign and American film-making, bringing the best from both styles into with this edgy and unpredictable film. “The Family” stars Robert De Niro a
Overview: An invisible force field, otherwise known as “the dome”, covers the small town of Chester’s Mill, thus cutting the citizens off from the outside world. Storyline Direction: Slow from beginning to end. They tried to stir some action into the mix but it was too late. The momentum o
LEAD ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE: Michael Douglas , Behind The Candelabra, HBO Matt Damon , Behind The Candelabra, HBO Toby Jones , The Girl, HBO Benedict Cumberbatch , Parade's End, HBO Al Pacino , Phil Spector, HBO Who Will Win: Michael Douglas . His performance as L
LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES: Hugh Bonneville, Downton Abbey , PBS Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad , AMC Jeff Daniels, The Newsroom , HBO Jon Hamm, Mad Men , AMC Damian Lewis, Homeland , Showtime Kevin Spacey, House of Cards , Netflix Who Deserves to Win: Bryan Cran
COMEDY SERIES: The Big Bang Theory, CBS Girls, HBO Louie, FX Modern Family, ABC 30 Rock , NBC Veep , HBO Who Deserves to Win: Modern Family . I’ve never watched some of these shows (“Louie”, “Veep”) so I can only judge from what I’ve seen. Whenever I catch “Modern Fa
There are moments in life when there is literally no silence and the little sounds, like flicking the light switch on or turning a faucet off can take on an almost rhythmic quality. On Grim’s latest EP, “Digital Throw-Up”, it feels like all of the nuances of such moments have been melded into its
Eclectic Pop has sifted through and read all about TV’s new series that are being introduced this season. After looking through them, the best bets have been narrowed down into an easy to follow list, categorized by network.
"The Originals" The spin-off of the hit show “The Vampire Diaries”, viewers already have a hint as to what this show will be like if they caught the backdoor pilot last season. There are potential hazards for the series as it centers on the dreadful Klaus (Joseph Morgan), an antagonist
"Agents of SHIELD " If you’ve seen any of the Marvel movies since, “Iron Man”, you know about the elite agency that is tasked with keeping the superhuman working for the not-so superhuman agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. so if you loved “The Avengers” you will more than likely like this. The ca
"The Blacklist " When one of the FBI’s most wanted men, Raymond Reddington (James Spader), turns himself in, he announces his full co-operation with authorities, under the terms that he will only communicate with Special Agent, Elizabeth Keen (Megan Boone). Reddington’s leverage is a
"Hostages " Toni Collette (“The United States of Tara”) and Dylan McDermott (“American Horror Story”) go head to head in this cat-and-mouse, political thriller. Collette plays a doctor, whose family is held hostage by terrorists who threaten to kill them if she doesn’t fatally operate
"Sleepy Hollow" Already debuting, it is a modern retelling of Washington Irving’s classic “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”. In this version, Ichabod Crane has traveled through time ala “Doctor Who” so he has to deal with the culture clash of past and present. The premise sounds intrigui
#16: The Counselor Based on an original screenplay by Cormac McCarthy, ‘The Counselor’ finds a lawyer (Michael Fassbender) caught in the crosshairs of a drug trafficking crisis. It is an interesting premise given the often saintly presentation of the law profession. As with " Prisoners &q
Chances are that if you’ve been watching your favorite TV show and noticed an enchanting melody playing against the backdrop of one of your character’s most enthralling moments, you have been listening to the masterful work of Rosi Golan.
The biggest compliment you can give a comedy is to say that it is funny. “Clear History” deserves a greater compliment than that. It is absolutely hilarious, with on the point comedic timing, crucial scene duration and incredible improvisational dialogue.
For the past few weeks, Hollywood has been in a firestorm after unleashing one controversial casting decision after another. First with Ben Affleck being announced as Batman, an announcement that was met with derision, outrage and to put it mildly, dissatisfaction. Then on Labor Day, the announc
As the entertainment world and fandoms everywhere chatter in anticipation for “The Hunger Games” sequel “Catching Fire”, a sad but unspoken trend continues its course into Hollywood glamorization, child soldiers. For a lot of countries around the world, the reality of child soldiers is not the e
When it comes to horror films, there are two fundamental elements that go into making a decent offering: being scary and entertaining. As far as the scare factor of “The Conjuring” is concerned, it does not personally offer up many effective frights.
It is rare to have happen but sometimes, a movie can make you forget you are watching one. The experience can feel so real and authentic that it transcends the dim theater lights and familiar faces in front of the camera.
In 2010 audiences were treated to the wickedly dark and satirical ‘Kick-Ass’ . Three years later, Jeff Wadlow has taken over directing duties from Matthew Vaughn for the sequel. Based on the graphic novels written by Mark Miller; ‘Kick-Ass 2’ picks up rather briefly after the last film. Kick-Ass
"Lawless" is the tale of three brothers who make their living running an illegal moonshine operation during the height of prohibition in America and what a tale it tells. Based on the book “The Wettest Country in the World” by Matt Bondurant whose grandfather and great-uncles are depicte
Overview: The sixth season of "True Blood" found Sookie and Jason trying to find the person who killed their parents, Bill dealing with morphing into Bill-ith and Eric trying to stop the persecution of vampires who have been imprisoned. There was a lot happening this season and the HB
