The Pop Culture of Gus Lequerica

Even if the movie it’s just a date and there is a brief idea about what this movie could become, Harold Ramis the co-writer and co-star (Dr. Egon Spendler) of the Ghostbusters first two movies has confirmed that the 3 instalment will be release in time for 2011.

In an interview for Heeb Magazine Harold said “Dan [Aykroyd] did write a spec GB3 screenplay a few years ago, but no one was motivated to pursue it. Now, 25 years after the original, there seems to be some willingness to proceed and apparently a substantial public appetite for a sequel.” Also the actor said “We’ll introduce some new young Ghostbusters, and all the old guys will be in it, too. Think Christopher Lloyd in Back to the Future…GB3 is progressing with plans to shoot next summer and release in 2011.”So will those “old guys” include the famously wary Billy Murray? Ramis seems confident. And we know Sigourney Weaver’s getting a script in the next few weeks, so we can count her in”.

But who will play these new young ‘Busters?

Geek boy of the moment Michael Cera has already admitted it would be his “dream job” to suit up and kick slimy butt, but he has yet to be approached with anything solid. What about Justin Long? He’s a pretty dependable geeky, too.

Or would you prefer a young cast of unknowns? Give us your ‘Busters suggestions below.

There was something cool about James Victor “Vic” Chesnutt as well as controversial; it’s difficult to describe Vic as a person in an individual way but as many artist he could be described through the message of his songs who often were dark but they were so interesting as they offered an unique perspective of life that many people don’t have regarding about how hypocrites we can be but maybe Vic lived what he professed and he died in the same way he lived with an overdose of muscle relaxants because he was another victim of society.

Analyzing it Vic lived an interesting life and I apologize for the dark comment but he died as an artist as well, long before his time and becoming a legend in the process, but life wasn’t easy for Vic from his beginning to his end because there was tragedy all the time from his accident that left him paraplegic and to his drug related death & his hospital bills but Vic always composed music no matter what up to his very end.

The life of Vic started in Jacksonville, Florida but he grew up in Georgia right after his adoption; his early days were relatively quiet and peaceful; early in life Vic discovered that he loved to compose music and to sing but in 1983 where he suffered an accident that left him paraplegic and depressed because he thought the possibility that he wasn’t going to play music anymore due the injuries, many months later after healing Vic discovered that he could continue playing his guitar after regaining mobility in his torso. Around 1985 Vic moved to Athens and joined the band, The La-Di-Da’s.[3] After leaving that group he began performing solo on a regular basis at the 40 Watt Club; it was there that he was spotted by Michael Stipe of R.E.M.; Stipe produced Chesnutt’s first two albums, Little (1990) and West of Rome (1991).[3]

In 1992, Chesnutt was the subject of a PBS documentary, Speed Racer. He also had a small role in the 1996 Billy Bob Thornton movie Sling Blade which he later described self-mockingly as a poor performance.[4]

In 1996, Chesnutt was exposed to a wider audience with the release of the tribute album Sweet Relief II: Gravity of the Situation, the proceeds from which went to the Sweet Relief Fund. The album consisted of Chesnutt covers by famous musicians including Garbage, The Smashing Pumpkins (with Red Red Meat), Madonna, R.E.M. and Live.

He recorded with other groups and artists. Most notably he made two albums with a fellow Athens, Georgia group Widespread Panic, under the name of brute. Chesnutt’s album The Salesman and Bernadette (1998) was recorded with alt-country group Lambchop as the backing band. The album Merriment was a collaborative effort between Chesnutt and Kelly and Nikki Keneipp, with Vic writing and singing the songs, and the Keneipps playing the music. The 2005 album Ghetto Bells featured famed guitarist Bill Frisell, whom Chesnutt met in 2004 at the renowned Century of Song concert series at the German festival RuhrTriennale. Ghetto Bells also featured the legendary eccentric lyricist and composer Van Dyke Parks on accordion and keyboards. Chesnutt’s wife, Tina Chesnutt, would frequently play bass on his albums. His niece, and fellow songwriter, Liz Durrett also appeared on the Ghetto Bells album.

Chesnutt’s first four albums were released on the independent Texas Hotel label. He then recorded About to Choke (1996) for Capitol Records, which was his first and only major record label recording. The Salesman and Bernadette (1998) was on PolyGram; Merriment (2000) was on the Backburner Records label; spinART was the label for the self performed and recorded Left to His Own Devices (2001). Vic then found a new home at the New West Records label, who released two albums for him. In 2004 New West also re-released the early Texas Hotel recordings, including expanded liner notes and extra tracks.

In the winter of 2006, he recorded North Star Deserter at the Hotel2Tango in Montreal. It was released on September 11, 2007 by Constellation Records. The record included contributions from Constellation artists Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band, members of Godspeed You! Black Emperor, as well as Fugazi’s Guy Picciotto. The album was produced by documentary filmmaker Jem Cohen. [5] He also appeared as a guest musician on Cowboy Junkies’ 2007 album Trinity Revisited, a 20th anniversary edition of their classic album The Trinity Session.

Chesnutt was also a supporter of medical marijuana[6], which he claimed helped with his medical problems. He contributed the track Weed to the Rescue to the 1998 Hempilation II charity album, with proceeds going to NORML, the national organization for the reform of marijuana laws.

Elf Power (also from Athens, Georgia) collaborated with Chesnutt on the album Dark Developments, released under the name Vic Chesnutt, Elf Power, and the Amorphous Strums. The “amorphous strums” refers to Curtiss Pernice and Sam Mixon, who also played on the album.

Vic died on Christmas day of 2009 because of an overdose of muscle relaxants that left him in a coma days prior; the reasons that led Vic to his premature death were a lawsuit from a hospital in Athens, Georgia and the bad finances that basically ruined his career.

Wild Horses will drive me away… it was such a good and amazing song to start a romantic journey with superstar Susan Boyle; I Dreamed a Dream truly reflects the amazing journey that Susan Boyle took so the world could hear her talent. It’s interesting that one year ago Susan was practically unknown, a single woman from a small town in Scotland living with her cat Peebles and occasionally singing in bars and in local karaoke contest until by request of her late mother she sent her audition tape to the producers of Britain’s Got Talent and the rest is history.

Now Susan is one of the top singers in the world with one single “I a Dreamed a Dream” that has been listened in Youtube more than 100.000.000 times, a debut CD that has broken records in pre-sales worldwide and large fan base around the world (including myself) that waited anxiously for the debut of Susan Boyle. I Dreamed a Dream takes us through a twelve song going from ballad, jazz and Broadway in which Susan sings to the love, hope and faith and in the same time teaching us a lesson that we have to believe in ourselves and in our talents no matter what and no matter what other people say because if you have the talent the looks are the less. I Dreamed a Dream is truly one great album that should be in everyone’s collection and by 12 dollars the acquisition of the album is something possible.

Susan debut album I Dreamed A Dream includes:

1. Wild Horses
2. I Dreamed A Dream
3. Cry Me A River
4. How Great Thou Art
5. You’ll See
6. Daydream Believer
7. Up To The Mountain
8. Amazing Grace
9. Who I Was Born To Be
10. Proud
11. The End Of The World
12. Silent Night

I know this is a children movie but being a child in the 80’s, the 70’s and the 60’s you’ll probably remember that the Chipmunks were really nice and enjoyable to watch opposite to the valium that are today for one simple reason Ross Bagdasarian Sr was alive and the quality of the show/ franchise was really fresh but maybe because of the public interest with fads the franchise had to find ways to be renovated even if that mean that the Chipmunks had to become fashionable and fans of the Hip Hop.

The evolution of the Chipmunks has been strange, from their origins as 50’s artist to young preteens during the 80’s and then back to small rodents losing all human characteristics except for their opposite thumbs but as we can get from the sequel or like the executives at FOX like to call it the Squeakquel is that FOX found a small golden mine which they know they can exploit to a tween market that is love with high school and musicals, so what the hell three rodents have to go to a high school? To get a diploma? For what if they can’t perform the basic functions in a job because of their limited height with the exception of their bleed ear singing which right now is extremely annoying because all the singing is made by Janice Karman (and Ross Jr himself) the wife of Ross Bagdasarian Jr and the heir of the Chipmunk. The second movie doesn’t have a plot at all and is only a rip-off of the highly acclaimed Disney movies High School Musical; at least the first movie offered a story which was a little bit faithful to the episodes but this one is just a boredom.

True that everyone has spoken about Avatar but the expectation was too much and maybe at the end that can be a reason that could flush on the ticket sales of this movie in a long term because the movie is being promoted as the next big thing but sometimes too much promotion can make the viewers to loose interest on the advertised product. My brother says that this movie is being promoted as too much win but it can be an epic fail at the end.

The midnight ticket sales sold roughly around 3.5 million dollars in ticket in the United States territory and Canada; Twilight (even if I’m not a fan) it’s still beating Avatar by a huge difference of almost US$8 million dollars in the United States only. But the movie to be original and not based on a preexisting brand like Twilight was with the books by Stephanie Meyer is going relatively fine but for a movie that the budget exceeded more than US$400.000.000 thus by consequence and with the inflation making it the most expensive movie ever made the earnings so far can be considered as a lost to the studios but we have to guess that the executives are playing the game of hopes and speculations to keep the interest alive and maybe to avoid realizing the mistake they made.

Fox is expecting to gross US$50 Millions and US$60 Millions on America but that is a really big number for a movie that can appeal to a certain demographic group or to the fans of James Cameron I say that the FOX executives to start searching for another job because the decision of making Avatar has put your employments in jeopardy; and to know if Avatar can be a top player? We have to wait at least the first month because right now it’s soon to speculate.

In the best tradition of Quentin Tarantino the DVD release of Inglorious Basterds played a homage to another movie of Tarantino during the release; the theater right now is privately owned but it serves now as the monthly Grindhouse festival in which Q’s movie Grindhouse was based. The festival usually shows Grindhouse movies from the past decades and let fans to discuss about the movies. Tarantino right now is one of the key players in the survival of the Grindhouse genre by giving elements of this genre to his fans in almost every movie but specially in the double feature with Robert Rodriguez but also the location of the cinema as a key to let the fans enjoy Inglorious Basterds and compare with what movies inspired that movie.

“Obviously, the movie is primarily modeled on tough-guy World War II mission movies like The Dirty Dozen or Guns of Navarone,” Tarantino said. “But anyone who knows my movies knows I love to include references to different genres. You can always pick them out of there.”

Grindhouse stars Brad Pitt as Lieutenant Aldo Raine who is on the rampage to kill Hitler and torment him by systematically killing his troops and collecting their scalps; the movie is set in an alternative timeline where the Americas troop kill the Nazi dictator but more than a fantasy film it’s a movie that contains several references to old slaughter movies of We’re No Angels but also in my opinion it shows old movies of Les Enfants Du Paradise and a few other French and Italian movies.

“Leone’s movies were a jumping-off point, but I think there are touches of Georg Wilhelm Pabst, some Ernst Lubitsch - amongst others.”

When asked how all those elements managed to blend together to make a film now nominated for a Best Drama Golden Globe, Tarantino said: “All I know is it’s like Elvis. Three million Quentin Tarantino fans can’t be wrong.”

There is something amazing about James Tissot, probably in the world of art he can be considered one of the first modern photorealistic paintings because is mixed uses of details as photography and details in the body movement as well as expression. His maximum work “The Life of Christ” is being exposed at the Brooklyn Museum but not completly, only 124 of the 350 paintings are being exposed in a rotative exposition across the States where Tissot after a revelation decided to renew his vows with his Catholic Faith and travel to Jerusalem during the mid 1800 to paint the life of Jesus in what it became one of the most controversial but also one of the most praised because of the realism in the scenario; I had the chance to see some of the paintings a few years ago and they are truly fantastic but rather than evoke a religious or spiritual feeling the show more of a chronic based on the reconstructions of details much of a photojournalist or a archeologist work rather than a painter motivated by faith.

The exposition was bought by the Brooklyn Museum during the 1930 and periodically it’s exposed due the fragility of the canvas by the Directors of the Museum decided to take out the paintings and they are going to be running until January 17th of 2010.

Director Fede Alvarez is celebrating really nice after his US$300.00 short Panic Attack (Ataque de Panico) landed a US$30 Million deal with Spider-Man director Sam Raimi. It seems the video got the attention of many Hollywood power houses who are searching for the next big thing and Fede got his deal after Sam Raimi offer the best contract to turn the 4 minutes short into a full action film.

The video who shows a full scale invasion to Urugay going from Robots and to Alien received praises and his inbox was full with offers of potential buyers. The video has got more than two million views since it was uploaded a few weeks. There’s also a music video of the clip made by Urugayan band Snake which they provided the music soundtrack for Ataque de Panico. 

On a new short note check below the new video of one of our favorite Colombian musicians Vrian , Una Nueva Oportunidad or as is translated in English a New Opportunity; remember that music can transcend the barrier of the language and even if you don’t understand you can enjoy the melodies. If you want to add Vrian just hit on the previous link at the beginning of the article which will lead you to his facebook, Vrian always when he have time replies to his fans in English and Spanish.

Thanks,
Gus

Here are 3 new pics of Tim Burton Alice in Wonderland, they look really and I can’t wait to see this movie. By the way Helena Bonham Carter looks amazing with little make-up.

Somebody need to explain a few things about the Nominations of this year of the Golden Globes, I can understand why Inglorious Basterds is on the list because Quentin Tarantino rules but Avatar? Is one of those movies that everyone praise about it that is so good but at the end is just a Fail; but beside the Best Motion Picture in the Drama Category everything else seems just fine and the nominations couldn’t be better because Sandra Bullock were nominated as well George Clooney.

Below is the list; I think the voters made a really good job this year but I don’t like the idea that much of the actors of this year are nominated in different categories.  

Best Motion Picture — Drama
Avatar
The Hurt Locker
Inglorious Basterds
Precious
Up in the Air

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture — Drama
Emily Blunt, The Young Victoria
Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side
Helen Mirren, The Last Station
Carey Mulligan, An Education
Gabourey Sadibe, Precious

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture — Drama
Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart
George Clooney, Up in the Air
Colin Firth, A Single Man
Morgan Freeman, Invictus
Tobey Maguire, Brothers

Best Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy
(500) Days of Summer
The Hangover
It’s Complicated
Julie & Julia
Nine

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy
Sandra Bullock, The Proposal
Marion Cotillard, Nine
Meryl Streep, It’s Complicated
Meryl Streep, Julie and Julia
Julia Roberts, Duplicity

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy
Matt Damon, The Informant
Daniel Day Lewis, Nine
Robert Downey Jr., Sherlock Holmes
Joseph Gordon Levitt, (500) Days of Summer
Michael Stuhlbarg, A Serious Man

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Mo-Nique, Precious
Julianne Moore, A Single Man
Anna Kendrick, Up in the Air
Vera Farmiga, Up in the Air
Penelope Cruz, Nine

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Matt Damon, Invictus
Stanley Tucci, The Lovely Bones
Christopher Plummer, The Last Station
Christoph Waltz, Inglorious Basterds
Woody Harrelson, The Messenger

Best Animated Feature Film
Coraline
The Fantastic Mr. Fox
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
The Princess and the Frog
Up

Best Foreign Language Film
Barria
Broken Embraces
A Prophet
The White Ribbon
The Maid

Best Director — Motion Picture
Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
James Cameron, Avatar
Clint Eastwood, Invictus
Jason Reitman, Up in the Air
Quentin Tarantino, Inglorious Basterds

Best Screenplay — Motion Picture
Up in the Air
It’s Complicated
District 9
The Hurt Locker
Inglorious Basterds

Best Original Score — Motion Picture
Michael Giacchino, Up
Marvin Hamlisch, The Informant
James Horner, Avatar
Abel Krozeniowski, A Single Man
Karen O. and Carter Burwell, Where the Wild Things Are

Best Original Song — Motion Picture
“I Will See You,” Avatar
“The Weary Kind,” The Crazy Heart
“Winter,” U2, Brothers
“Cinema Italiano,” Nine
“I Want to Come Home,” Paul McCartney Everybody’s Fine

With many a-cappella groups that are in today market is difficult to know which are the best; we have the classical Rockapella to the Voca People all of them that in certain ways they look alike but with some minor differences but there is something about Club for Five that is so appealing that is hard to describe; maybe are the covers but maybe the deal is the approach that they take to the music they made that is so different from the rest of acapella groups. Their cover of Sweet Dreams from the band Eurythmics is truly fantastic specially on the beat-box solo where Tuomas Ahola emulates a guitar from his mouth, it’s strange that a band who is more versatile than many new talents is not the international charts.

Below is their cover of Sweet Dreams are Made of This, enjoy.