2nd Team Allstars: Albums of '08

2008 was such a good year for music (almost as good as 2007 was for movies) that I've decided to post the runners-up for the best albums released this year.

(10)The Black Keys, Attack & Release (9) Kanye West, 808s & Heartbreaks (8) Plants & Animals, Parc Avenue (7) Spiritualized, Songs in A&E (6) Foals, Antidotes (5) The Gaslight Anthem, The '59 Sound (4) Santogold, Santogold (3) Okkervil River, The Stand-Ins (2) Titus Andronicus, The Airing of Grievances (1) Bon Iver, For Emma Forever Ago.

Stay tuned for the 1st Team Allstars....

Wii Mamma!

More wii remote accidents here and here.

Though it's obviously a dangerous lifestyle, there's also proof that wii gamers can live a long and healthy life.

Shrimpies! Don't Be Afraid to Use It

Perhaps one of the funniest moments in television history:

Headline of the Day

Foot found in baby's brain

read article here

Toronto & San Francisco Let the Right Ones In

Film critics from my current home city and my former home city have both recently announced their year-end awards for motion picture excellence.

Now let's see who has the better taste... is it the poutine and veal sandwich types or the garlic fries and clam chowder in a breadbowl crowd (Toronto in blue / SF in orange):



BEST PICTURE
“Wendy and Lucy" / "Milk"

BEST DIRECTOR
Jonathan Demme, “Rachel Getting Married” / Gus Van Sant, "Milk"

BEST PERFORMANCE, MALE
Mickey Rourke, “The Wrestler” / Sean Penn, "Milk" & Mickey Rourke, “The Wrestler” (Tie)

BEST PERFORMANCE, FEMALE
Michelle Williams, “Wendy and Lucy” / Sally Hawkins, "Happy Go Lucky"

BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE, MALE
Heath Ledger, “The Dark Knight” / Heath Ledger, “The Dark Knight”

BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE, FEMALE
Rosemarie DeWitt, “Rachel Getting Married” / Marisa Tomei, "The Wrestler"

BEST SCREENPLAY
Jenny Lumet, “Rachel Getting Married” / Dustin Lance Black, "Milk"

BEST FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FILM
“Let the Right One In” / “Let the Right One In”

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
“Man on Wire” / "My Winnipeg"

I'm not sure, but I think it's a tie. The SFFCC loses points for making the obvious homer choices with "Milk", but the TFCA loses the same amount for loving the shit out of "Rachel Getting Married" (and boy, that movie is sure full of shit).

Toronto might get the edge in the Documentary category, since "My Winnipeg" can barely, barely be categorized as such. (Toronto also gets props for naming Jean Claude a runner-up for Best Actor in "JCVD").

All in all, they both got Heath right, and that's all that really matters this year. Check out the full Toronto list here and the full SF list here.

Trailer Park Tuesday: Wolverine!

Gambit! What? This actually looks pretty cool.

200 & Counting!

Voila! Pop Gunning's 200th post.

And to celebrate, I'm going to let you all in on the "Pop Gunning Secret" - it's kind of like the Caramilk secret, in that nobody really cares.

You've always been wondering about the origins of Pop Gunning, right? Keeping you up at night? No?




In any case, here it is. This is where the name for this blog comes from - Mister Edgar Allen Poe:

We now demand the light artillery of the intellect; we need the curt, the condensed, the pointed, the readily diffused—in place of the verbose, the detailed, the voluminous, the inaccessible. On the other hand, the lightness of the artillery should not degenerate into pop-gunnery—by which term we may designate the character of the greater portion of the newspaper press—their sole legitimate object being the discussion of ephemeral matters in an ephemeral manner.

I wholeheartedly agree with Poe. On the other hand, I completely disagree.

Here's to the discussion of ephemeral matters, ephemerally or otherwise!

Best Song Ever of the Week: Double Shot!

Welcome to the Special Year-End Preview version of "Best Song Ever of the Week".

Here are 2 tracks that might show up on Pop Gunning's best of lists:



The Gaslight Anthem - Old White Lincoln [right click link for MP3]
Maybe it's the bouncey Cure-ish bassline ("Just Like Heaven"), but this song caught me quick and hard with its irrepressible chorus and Springsteen via Killers world-weariness.
From the album The '59 Sound.

Chairlift - Evident Untensil [right click link for MP3]
Features some of the most awesomely hilarious lyrics I've heard in a while, and at the same time boasts a Brooklyn meets Miami (see Jan Hammer) sound.
From the album Does You Inspire You?

Listerical!

It's mid-December and the Year End Specials are upon us.

So if you're looking for a solid list of anything from music to movies to the Top 10 Worst Toys or the Top 10 Iphone Apps, then head over to Fimoculous' 2008 List of Lists.

It's the ultimate resource for that wonderful holiday pastime of arbitrary enumeration.

Speaking of which, Pop Gunning will release it's own Top 10 Lists starting next week. They'll include best-of lists for 2008 music, movies, movie trailers (and any other requests you might have).

Poster Farts

Each of these posters tell us exactly three things (and nothing more).


1) Will Smith is in a movie this xmas season
2) It is dramatic!
3) It will be bland and formulaic


1) Jim Carrey is in a movie this xmas season
2) It is comedic!
3) It will be bland and formulaic

My nose is running...

Cold season's got a hold of everyone these days... (I am the pupil, coo coo kachoo!)

The Banana Diet!

Are you on it?


She is. And I'm convinced.

According to an article in Time:

The Morning Banana Diet regime is simple: A banana (or as many as you want) and room temperature water for breakfast; eat anything you like for lunch and dinner (by 8 p.m.). A three o'clock snack is okay, but no desserts after meals, and you have to go to bed before midnight.

It's so huge, you'd be hard pressed to find a banana in Tokyo. God does it again.

New Raptors Coach = Huge Broadway Geek

According to an interview from a couple months back, the Toronto Raptors new head coach (former Team Canada coach) has seen Rent more than 10 times!

Here's what he says about his first time:

I was in awe of the talent, the story, and the professionalism. I couldn’t wait to get back to NY and every time I got back there I went and tried to get in again. The second and third time I couldn’t believe how much more I had missed, and walked away feeling the same excitement. I guess after the third time you become a “RENT HEAD”.

Astro Pop, I Miss You

Why would anyone ever discontinue this wonderful space age three flavour sucker?

Quick, someone write a haiku...

Read the whole delicious history here, complete with tales of punctured throats and business crippling lawsuits.