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Holy #$%!

Will Blue Like Jazz the movie be full of profanity?

Steve Taylor speaks out!

You may remember my interview with Andrew Stanton, the director of Finding Nemo and WALL-E. If you do, you know I’m a huge fan. So you can probably guess that I’m enthusiastic about Stanton’s first live-action fantasy feature, John Carter of Mars. Details are emerging… (more…)

Zooey insists on PBS.

Mel Gibson returns.

This is… unexpected.

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy is happening again. (more…)

Roger Ebert: (more…)

Ron Reed’s review of the riveting Andrei Rublev really resonates, reminding me to revisit it.

This post has been brought to you by the letter

Should I go see Away We Go? Wait, let me explain. (more…)

Here are a few words from Aaron Strumpel, the guy responsible for Elephants, my favorite record of ’09 so far… (more…)

Remember Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova?

Maybe this will nudge your memory.

Andy Whitman just posted this press release at Arts and Faith:

The Swell Season, the Oscar-winning duo of Frames frontman Glen Hansard and Czech ingÈnue Marketa Irglova, are putting the finishing touches on ‘Strict Joy,’ (Sept 29/Anti- Records), the follow-up to their beloved, surprise hit 2007 film and gold-certified soundtrack ‘Once.’ The twelve new, original songs on ‘Strict Joy’ were recorded last year and document a time of great change and tumult.

‘Strict Joy,’ which borrows its name from a work by Irish poet James Stephens, a work by Irish poet James Stephens, was co-produced by Hansard and Peter Katis (The National, Interpol), and recorded mostly at Katis’ Tarquin Studios in Bridgeport, CT. In addition to Hansard and Irglova, the album features Frames members Colm Mac Iomaire (violin), Joe Doyle (bass), Rob Bochnik (guitar), plus guitarist Javier Mas (Leonard Cohen), pianist Thomas Bartlett (Doveman), percussionist Chad Taylor (Chicago Underground Duo), horn players Steven Bernstein and Clark Gayton from Levon Helm’s band, and others.

The Swell Season generated a wave of acclaim during the 2008 awards season including two Grammy nominations and an Oscar win for Best Original Song, for their hit single “Falling Slowly.” The duo performed the song on the Oscars telecast, and Irglova provided one of the most memorable and poignant moments of the evening when host Jon Stewart called her back to the stage after a commercial break to give her acceptance speech.

The success of ‘Once’ also led to a sold out world tour for The Swell Season which was captured for an upcoming documentary. Hansard and Irglova will tour the U.S. extensively again this fall with dates to be announced soon.

‘STRICT JOY’ TRACK LISTING
1. Low Rising
2. Feeling the Pull
3. In These Arms
4. The Rain
5. Fantasy Man
6. Paper Cup
7. High Horses
8. The Verb
9. I Have Loved You Wrong
10. Love That Conquers
11. Two Tongues
12. Back Broke