British Progressive House Under Neon: "Music Is the Answer (Brother Brown Mix)" by Celeda (2009)

California Smooth Jazz Under Neon: "Steady as She Goes" by Walter Beasley (2009)

NYC Glam Rock Under Neon: "Cause I Sez So" by New York Dolls (2009)

Jazz/Blues/RnB/Funk/Soul/Latin Under Neon: "Time to Say Goodbye" by Shawn Lee (2009)

Under Neon Movie Reviews: "Paper Man" (2009)

Movie: Paper Man (2009)
Year: 2009
Rating: 3/5 Stars ***

So this was definitely a different movie, and really not so much a comedy like I expected. A middle-aged couple rents a vacation home in a new town. Jeff Daniels has an imaginary friend still as an adult, who helps him get through things, and he is a struggling author. An unexpected friendship is developed with a local teen girl (Emma Stone), and they find they have a lot to learn about one another, and not in a creepy way. Check this one out if you are looking for something a little different and too heavy.

Movie Reviews: "Extract" (2009)

Movie: Extract
Year: 2009
Rating: 2/5 Stars **

This comedy movie has a star-studded cast with Bateman, Kunis, Affleck, and others you will recognize but the movie itself doesn't quite deliver the punchlines as well as other similarly well-casted comedy movies do. Don't expect much from this one.

Under Neon Movie Reviews: 'Micmacs' (2010)

Movie: Micmacs (Micmacs à tire-larigot) (2009)
Year: 2010
Rating: 6.8/10 Stars ******'

Micmacs in French means something like 'shenanigans' or "mayhem,' which fits the movie rather well. I like the message of the movie about the unconsciousness of the defense/military industries, and would say this movie is worth watching once. It is a little 'Willy Wonka-ish' in a way, but it has some important messages and social commentary that should not be ignored, check it out.

DJ Akhu's Daily Shuffle: 'Chase That Feeling' by Hilltop Hoods (2009)

Song: Chase That Feeling

Artist: Hilltop Hoods 
Year: 2009

Akhu's Movie Reviews: 'Lunopolis' (2009)

Movie: Lunopolis

Year: 2009

My Rating: 6.3/10 Stars ******

This was well done for a fake-documentary or as they say 'mockumentary', almost as good as a real one would be. A group of independent mystery enthusiasts decide to investigate the location of a supposed base for Moon People to discover a time machine and that it the so-called hoax is actually real.

Sneaks' Movie Reviews: 'Ricky' (2009)

Movie: Ricky (2009)

Director: François Ozon

Rating: 6.1/10 Stars ******'

French foreign film,  and for sure not your typical plot-line. Actually the movie isn't all that unusual, nor are the relationships or interactions in the movie except the one element of fantasy which is when the baby-boy develops wings and starts flying around. Although, were something like this were to happen, the way that the tabloids and press treat the family and situation is probably realistic to what it would be if it happened in real life. I watched this one because it was on Netflix streaming. Check this one out if you are looking for a different kind/oddball  movie.

Sneaks' Book Reviews: 'The Big Burn' by Timothy Egan (2009)

Book: The Big Burn (2009)
Author: Timothy Egan
My Rating: 9.2/10 Stars *********'
I just want to start by saying that I highly recommend reading this book! The Big Burn is a well-researched and historically-accurate account of the biggest forest-fire in US history, the establishment of the US Forest Service, and the National Parks system under President Teddy Roosevelt, Gifford Pinchot who faced fierce opposition from the land baron's and politicians of the industrial era. If you want to learn a little bit about US history in the early 1900's and the origination of progressive politics in America then this book is definitely for you, and the best part of the story is that all of it actually happened. Check this book out, you won't regret it. The video below is from Youtube.com, and is an interview with the author done by Borders.

Sneaks' Movie Reviews: 'Here and There' (2009)

Movie: Here and There (2009)

Director: Darko Lungulov
Rating: 6.9/10 Stars ******'
Quite an interesting film about a depressed, down and out, as well as broke American saxophonist from New York who goes to Belgrade, Serbia to marry his friend's girlfriend (for money of course) so that she can come to America to be with him. Gives one a fresh look at world travel and what post-war Serbia is like now. There is more to the movie than that I won't go into, but know I say its worth watching at least once. 

Song of the Day: 'Blood' by The Middle East (2009)

Today's feature song is Blood, by Australian indie-folk-post-rock band The Middle East. The Middle East are a musical collective from Townsville, Australia, consisting of members Jordan
Ireland, Rohin Jones, Bree Tranter, Joseph Ireland, Mark Myers, Jack Saltmiras, Mike Haydon, Tim Barwise, Javed Sterritt, and Jarrad Jones, and who have been active on the music scene circa 2005. The song Blood, can be found on their 2009 EP release titled The Recordings of the Middle East. Click on that last link to go to their website as well if you want more music or info on the band. 

Brief Movie Review: 'Life During Wartime' (2009)

Movie: Life During Wartime (2009)
Director: Todd Solondz
Rating: 2.3/5 Stars **'
Life During Wartime is about a deeply troubled family (3 sisters and their families) that is filled with have many serious psychological and abuse problems. Some of the different family issues include a pedophile in the family, a delusional sister, a socio-path, loneliness, and of course the children that have to deal with having parents and relatives that are chock-full of drama. Interesting movie, although I am sure there were undertones that I didn't quite pick up. I would not watch this again, although it may be worth watching once if you haven't seen it. 

Brief Movie Review: 'Daybreakers' (2009)

Movie: Daybreakers (2009)

Directors: Michael Spierig, Peter Spierig

Rating: 2.3/5 Stars **'
Thaaats right folks, another vampire/end of humanity film. The human species has gradually been infected with a virus that turns them all into vampires, and the power structure now serves the vampires ends of providing them with fresh blood (which is diluted due to shortages) for the new vampiric population. Again, seems to be some commentary there about rampant consumerism of a malignant society and how it uses the lifeblood and energy of others to continue onwards despite the impending doom and un-sustainable nature of its activities. This film is entertaining enough though if you tend to like vampire movies, which are always "so hot right now."

Brief Movie Review: 'Zombieland' (2009)

Movie: Zombieland (2009)
Director: Ruben Fleischer
Rating: 2.8/5 Stars **'

This movie was actually kind of funny, and as others have mentioned, it was funnier than Shaun of the Dead, and I think Bill Murray's cameo may of had something to do with that, as it for sure made the movie for me ;-) Check this one out if you are looking for some good old-fashioned gory-zombie-comedy-fun time. 

Brief Movie Review: 'Nine' (2009)

Movie: Nine (2009)
Director: Rob Marshall
My Rating: 2.5/5 Stars **'
This movie is really more of a musical than I expected it would be. I don't really fancy musicals that much so I can't say I am going to be a very good reviewer of it. Basic story is about a famous Italian director who has seen his hey-dey and struggling to make another big hit. He also just happens to be a Don Juan sort of character who sleeps with lots of different beautiful women, most of whom are the actresses in his movies/musicals. Cast includes Penelope Cruz, Daniel Day Lewis, Nicole Kidman and more. I don't recommend this to you if you aren't a big fan of musicals as you will probably find it boring in that case. 

A Brief Movie Review: 'Everybody's Fine' (2009)

Movie: Everybody's Fine (2009)

Director: Kirk Jones

Rating: 3/5 Stars ***

Quite a cast in this movie including stars Robert Deniro, Kate Beckinsale, and Drew Barrymore, and ultimately is a good movie about familes. Deniro, finds himself shut-out and avoided by his 4 children all of whom lead busy lives and in live in various parts of the country. After a failed get together in which every single child backs out of he decides to hit the road against his physicians orders to go visit each one of his kids. Truths are revealed and the family is challenged to stay in touch. A bit emotional, but a good movie.

A Brief Movie Review for 'The Hangover' (2009)

Movie: The Hangover (2009)

Director: Todd Phillips

Rating: 3.9/5 Stars ***'

Allright, so after many people telling me how good this movie was, and then hearing that the sequel is already old hat, I decided to finally watch the first one. I must say that this movie was funny and worth watching once, although I doubt I will watch the sequel as its been reviewed by others as a just quick and easy money-maker for Hollywood, and just a poor re-make of the first one. What makes this movie funny really isn't the situations or the formulas, but the actors and their ability to play off of each other well, which I think most people would find funny. So, watch the first one at least, its good to have a dose of humor once in awhile.

Your Daily Feature: 'When They Fight, They Fight' by Generationals (2009)

Your Daily Feature is the 2009-release track When They Fight, They Fight, by American indie-rock duo Generationals. The New Orleans-based Generationals have been making music circa 2008 and are duo Ted Joyner and Grant Widmer. When They Fight, They Fight comes off of their 2009 release debut EP Con Law. Check out the band website HERE for more music and info. Where has my creativity gone...seriously??