Friday, March 19, 2010

Returning to Sender (Dexter and I)


Last summer ago I started watching Dexter (the Showtime series). And it was fantastic. But for some reason I stopped watching it around episode seven. Why? I don’t know; it’s just one of those things that happen.

(Side note: during the title sequence, I would always started craving eggs because of the high detailed and close-up shots of breakfast being made, so I started catering to my cravings and it became a ritual to make myself some eggs, pour a ton of pepper on them, and then start an episode of Dexter; it was one of the most satisfying things I’ve ever experienced in my life.)

This summer, I convinced my girlfriend to buy seasons one and two for college (Ah... I’m a tricky, tricky man). Anyway, she only recently started it, so I’ve started re-watching the first season, and I’m an episode away from the season finale. And man, as I said before, this show is freaking fantastic! Yes. The show is so good it warrants an exclamation point; it is really that good.

I know. I’m behind the times.

The first season? Man, you mean back when the Ice cream truck killer was still around? Geez, Joel. You really are behind.

Yes, this might be true, odd-speaking alter ego of Joel that only comes out in late night ramblings after prolonged viewings of Dexter, but that is not the point. The point is this; I think the ice cream truck killer is my favorite character on the show…

But you know he’s going to die…

Yes, it’s kind of anticlimactic…

But you still are deeply in love and involved with the show…?

Yes.

Well, then it’s all cool my brother.

Why are you talking like that now?

Like what?

Like William Baldwin in The Squid and The Whale.

My brother, I don’t know if anyone who reads this blog will get that reference… I think it’s time for you to get to bed.

But there’s Dexter to be watched!

But there’s work in the morning my brother…

Right, Right… damn your logic.

Say goodnight to the pretty folks my brother.

Goodnight.

Joel Samson Berntsen (Gouge Away- Pixies)

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Party in the Castle Commons

We’re in the Shakespeare unit of College Composition. I’m enjoying it, mostly because how easily Shakespeare invents plausible conflicts and character motivation. I mean, almost every character goes through some sort of emotional dramatic character change that radically changes the plot or motivation in some important way.

My problem is the movies, the ones that have castles in them. There’s never anybody in them! In the climax of Hamlet, Hamlet, his mom, his uncle, and a friend turned enemy all are killed by getting stabbed, drinking poison, or getting stabbed with poison. And there’s only like fifteen people watching. Wouldn’t a giant dual with the most loved royalty of the land attract at least a couple more people than that? I’m sure this isn’t really realistic in a play because of the general lack of paid actors, but a feature film could easily fit at least fifty into a giant castle commons.

Anyway, that’s all I got for now. Here’s a clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Z9Ismh1elM

Joel Samson Berntsen (Meadows of the Sea - T.REX)

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Gene Kelly & Jay-Z present: The Ascending A’s


While writing a couple papers, I listened to these albums in listed order:

Merriweather Post Pavilion – Animal Collective

The Grey Album – DJ Danger Mouse and Jay-Z

Begin to Hope – Regina Spektor

I threw some singles from Annie, April March, and The Animals in between each album. I guess I just really liked the letter A today.

Also, I threw a Jay-Z quote in my film analysis paper explaining why everyone loves Gene Kelly:

“Lockwood’s a liar, and the audience clutches onto that. They grasp at it and they love it, because he’s like them, he lies. He’s made it, and he’s made it big. In the flash of mere minutes, the audience is enthralled by this charismatic, sexy man because, once again, he reminds them of themselves, only he’s actually made it to the big time. He’s actually a silent film star. Just like Jay-Z once said in lyric, “all the hustlers love it / just to see one of us make it / came from the bottom to bottom to the top of the pot,” and that’s exactly why there’s an immediate liking to Lockwood.”
Etc, Etc, Etc.

Joel Samson Berntsen (My Girls –Animal Collective) one last time before bed

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Top 5 songs that I keep playing

5. (Samson – Regina Spektor] It’s personal.

4. (Psycho Killer – Talking Heads] It’s a hell of a song, and I can’t stop singing it. Let’s hope I actually know how to sing it properly…

3. (Better- Regina Spektor] I’ve recently gone on a stint of loving her again. Not that I ever stopped loving her. The play count on That Time is at forty seven. The rest of the songs are severely under played, so now I’m listening to them. I don’t know why I didn’t listen to them earlier.

2. (White Heat / White Light – The Velvet Underground] WHITE LIGHT! WHITE LIGHT GOING MESSING UP MY MIND! WHITE LIGHT! AND DON CHA KNOW IT GOING TO MAKE ME GO BLIND! WHITE HEAT! IT TICKLE ME DOWN TO MY TOES!

1. (Dirty Harry – Gorillaz] I’m gearing up for Plastic Beach, so the Gorillaz are getting played an outrageous amount of times. And there’s just something about the first minute of Dirty Harry. Man.

Joel Samson Berntsen (Sunday Morning - The Velvet Underground)