8 - Tuesday, October 25, 2011
The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
8 - Tuesday, October 25, 2011 The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom
ALBUM REVIEW
Coldplay cashes in
FILM COLUMN
Films on film, not phones
Consistency and
cohesiveness reign
on 'Mylo Xyloto'
By ELLIOT ALPERN
Daily Arts Writer
"I don't think bands should
keep going past 33," the now
34-year-old Chris Martin once
told Britain's
Daily Express. *
But io and
behold, "old Coldp~y
man" Mar-
tin and his Mylo Xyloto
merry quartet Parlohone
have churned p
out their fifth
album since 2000, and another
shoo-in to go platinum - make
it five for five. Mylo Xyloto is a
fairly obvious departure from
2008's Viva la Vida, ditching
the French Revolution-inspired
strings for a bright palette of
electric uppers and cushioned
floaters. And as surely as the
record will spawn its share of
hits, Mylo Xyloto will be lam-
pooned by its haters as one more
step toward a pop-fueled sellout.
In fact, it's fairly easy to
point out where Martin (or his
producers) tried to inject some
popular demand into his work.
"Princess of China," the second
single scheduled to be released,
is overarching and sincerely cap-
tivating - until Rihanna bursts
in (and won't leave until the song
ends). Though the single is sure
to be popular among a variety
of crowds, it becomes hard to
stomach upon the realization
that it could've been a veritable
classic without the cameo.
However, that's not to say
Coldplay has left its dedicated
fan base as an afterthought.
On the contrary - Mylo Xyloto,
underneath the thin concept of
love in a gritty, graffitied world,
is still your average Coldplay
album (and really, aren't they
all?). "U.F.O.," the modest two-
minute interlude between the
behemoth sounds in "Major
Minus" and "Princess of China,"
harkens back to the band's ori-
gins in Parachutes. "Lord, I don't
know which way I am going,"
sings Martin, and the delicate
guitar couples with his vulner-
ability to create a surprising
contender among the best tracks
in the entire work.
Few bands can achieve the
most redeeming aspect of Mylo
Xyloto: a record-wide consisten-
cy of content. This achievement
is even more pronounced when
considering the dependability
revealed in the British outfit's
four prior releases. Immedi-
ately after the album's prelude,
Coldplay reels off a three-round
burst of heavyweights with
"Hurts Like Heaven," the even-
tual single "Paradise" and the
recent crowd favorite "Charlie
Brown." While the latter has a
straight path to the top of the
charts, Mylo Xyloto rounds itself
out appropriately with the delib-
erate and heavy "Up in Flames,"
and the contrastingly elated "Up
with the Birds."
Longtime Coldplay fans
received their first taste of the
new material earlier this sum-
mer in the incarnation of "Every
Teardrop Is a Waterfall." The
single is tremendously represen-
tative of the record as a whole
- it isn't afraid to turn to the
synthesizers, but neither does it
build around them. Inevitably,
the listener is left with Martin's
soaring vocals and the impres-
sively cohesive talents of the
other band members.
Mylo Xyloto's flashy, colorful
cover isn't a falade - the rain-
bow of graffiti seems to stem
directly from the quality of its
tracklist. And though Coldplay
has taken a supposedly different
course from its norm, such is the
case with every work the band
has completed since Parachutes.
Eventually, one must realize
that it's almost always the same,
be that favorable or abrasive. As
much as the band, changes, it
never really differs. It's Coldplay
- don't overthink it.
n a popular YouTube video,
acclaimed filmmaker David
Lynch ("Mulholland Dr.")
says, "If you're playingthe movie
on your telephone, you will never
in a trillion
years experi-
ence the film.
You'll think
you've expe-
rienced it,
but you'll be
cheated. It's
such a sadness PHILIP
that you think CONKLIN
you've seen a
film on your
fuckingtelephone. Get real."
Lynch, along with his vehe-
ment hatred of cell phones with
video capabilities, clearly has
strong opinions on how we expe-
rience cinema. It's an issue that
seems particularly relevant now-
adays. Advances in technology
provide new, ever-easier ways to
watch movies. Video-on-demand'
services like Netflix and iTunes
allow us to watch whatever we
want, at any time, on anything
with a screen. Meanwhile, Blu-
ray and high-definition televi-
sions have made home viewing
look better than ever. But are any
of these substitutes for the the-
ater experience so revered by the
likes of Lynch?
Historically, films were
always seen ina movie theater.
From the birth of cinema to
roughly the 1950s, the only way
to see a movie was to go to athe-
ater. Then, with the rise of net-
work television in the early '50s,
one could see movies at home,
but only movies the networks
would show. Starting around
1980, home viewing became pop-
ular, first with LaserDiscs, then
VHS, DVDs and finally Blu-ray.
Today, non-theater viewing
has become the norm. Though
it's true that when certain visu-
ally spectacular movies come
out, you might hear thatyou
"have to see it in theaters," it
is assu
see the
repertc
Intern
Trat
all film
Since t
they w
actuall
must b
with s
audien
experi
don't s
haven'
Butt
and pr:
sugges
differe
a novel
you wa
phone(
ThE
Ilk
On t
with D
to expe
phone,
on the
viewin
mediu:
Hov
is not t
from w
In fact
enhanc
home.
mentar
viewer
film in
before.
The
is the C
pany t
ers clas
Criteri
directo
feature
films o
ity imp
med that viewers will These supplements allow for an
majority of their film individual's total immersion into
oire on Blu-ray or on the a film, something theater view-
et. ing - in all its cinematic glory
ditionalists maintainthat - can't do.
s must be seen in a theater. And home video is the only
hat's the venue for which way to see many classic movies
ere designed, in orderto today. The days of the '70s art
y experience the film, it houses are over. Apart from a
e seen on a large screen monthly midnight showing of a
urround sound and an cult film at the State Theater, or
ce. Cinema is a communal the odd art house revival theater,
ence, they claim. If you great, old movies are impossible
ee the film in a theater, you to see on the bigscreen. Compa-
t really seen the film. nies like the Criterion Collection
the increasing portability are the only platform for such
ivacy of movie watching releases.
t that consumers are of a Though the Internet mostly
nt opinion. If you can read provides the quick and dirty way
on the subway, why can't to see amovie, it isn't solely a
tch a film on your cell vehicle for the lowbrow. There
on the subway? are now "online cinematheques"
poppingup on the Internet.
One of these is MUBI, a sortof
n place Netflix for art films, which also
ere S flO p programs film festivals online.
e the theater. The website allows you to stream
great movies online thatyou can't
see in theaters.
Websites like MUBI prove that
his question, I would side the Internetis notjust a medium
'avid Lynch. It's impossible by which to watchilow-quality
erience a film on your cell films quickly, but that it can be
or from a low-res bootleg useful in the advancement of tin-
Internet, or any other ema as art. It uses the Internet's
g method that dilutes the immediacy and mobility while
M. maintainingthe quality ofthe
Never, the movie theater films' artistry. The Internet, it
he only legitimate venue seems, is becomingthe art house
hich to experience a film. of our generation.
, your experience can be While there is no substitute
ced when you see a film at for seeing film in a theater full
With the advent of com- of people, the movie theater is
ry and special features, not the only platform to experi-
s can now interact with a ence a great film. While you may
a way that wasn't possible miss the thrill of laughing as a
large group, or the completely
paradigm of home viewing immersive experience of the big
riterion Collection, acom- screen, there are other ways to
hat releases what it consid- experience a film - ways that are
ssics on DVD and Blu-ray. becoming better and more acces-
on essentially invented sible all the time.
I
I
E
6
Dr commentary and special
es, besides presenting great
ften with picture qual-
roved from the original.
Conklin should only be viewed
in theaters. To debate him on this
point, e-mail conklin@umich.edu.
TV REVIEW
'Last Man' can't find footing
Another trivial night of pursuits at Ashley's.
Local pride is'Answer'
ByADITI MISHRA
For theDaily
It takes a lot to get accepted
into the University of Michigan,
but every student knows get-
ting accepted
is not enough.
Each day here
represents an A werThis!
excruciating
battle between At the
working hard Michigan
and playing
hard, both of Wreckin Hill
which come
with their fair share of troubles.
Working hard means sacrificing
the one time in our lives when
doing something crazy is actu-
ally acceptable, and playing
hard means sacrificing every-
thing else. "Answer This!" is a
hilarious tribute to the every-
day dilemmas that elude even
the greatest minds on the planet
- us, ladies and gentlemen, the
leaders and best.
"Answer This!" is essentially
"The Breakfast Club" of college.
While the latter was a coming-
of-age story about one's identity
as a high school student - Am I
a nerd? A jock? A loner? - this
movie explores everything that
comes after, when the nerds and
jocks go to college only to find
that being a nerd or a jock really
doesn't matter. Identity becomes
a more profound term encom-
passing a lot more than clothes
and hairstyles; it represents the
ambitions and goals that will
shape our future.
Ask Paul Tarson (Christopher
Gorham, TV's "Covert Affairs") title best valued by the boxes of
about the future and he'll prob- wine and flavored condoms they
ably flinch. Paul, the protagonist win. To the three of them, how-
of "Answer This!," is the son of ever, it's not about the rewards.
renowned University professor It's about identity, winning and
Dr. Elliot Tarson (expertly and beingthe best at something.
humorously played by former What pub trivia lacks, Naomi
Prof. Ralph Williams). Paul's life (Arielle Kebbel, "Vampires
is defined by decisions taken by Suck") makes up for. Paul's non-
his legendary father, including his chalant crush embodies the soul
choice of major and his decisionto of every Michigan freshman
become a teaching assistant. - nerd in high school, party
It becomes clear there's not animal in college. But it's the
much to like about Paul's life. freshman who ends up show-
He's a 30-year-old graduate stu- ing the grad what it means to be
dent who's never left Ann Arbor a Wolverine. It's exciting to see
and hates teaching, despite his Paul and Naomi spin the Cube,
try to have sex in the stacks,
stand amid the crowds at the Big
Pub trivia and House and walk past the "Free
Hugs" guy on the Diag. Ann
Ralph W illiams Arbor finally gets the spotlight,
as it should.
make A2 film To director and 'U' alum
Chris Farah, these experiences
a success. serve a greater purpose. This
movie could have been success-
ful simply because of its comedic
premise and outstanding acting,
position. His only solace is an old but it dares to go one step fur-
game of Trivial Pursuit he plays ther by going behind the com-
with his friend James (Nelson edy and exploring the emotions
Franklin, "Scott Pilgrim vs. the that define a student. There's
World"). So what does he do to no doubt "Answer This!" will be
alleviate the pain of his monoto- remembered as one of the most
nous existence? He plays pub accurate portrayals of college life
trivia. And for a true Ann Arbor in film history. It makes us laugh,
soul, that's when the movie real- but most of all, it shows us the
ly gets going. little things that shape our iden-
From Ashley's to The Full tities as Michigan graduates.
Moon, Paul, James and their As Paul finds out, it's the
obnoxious friend Izzy (Evan events we experience in college,
Jones, "8 Mile") visit every bar and not trivia, that help answer
in the city in an attempt to be some of the biggest questions in
the best trivia team in town, a life.
By BRIANNE JOHNSON
Daily Arts Writer
"Does everybody know what
time it is?"Sadly,yes. Itisn't Tool
Time. It hasn't been Tool Time
for 12 years.
But imagine
the joy of aspir-
ing handymen Last Man
everywhere
when news Standi
hit that one pilot
of Ameri-
ca's favorite Tuesdaysat8p.m.
dads, Tim ABC
Allen ("Home
Improvement"), would soon
return to television. However, in
true "Home Improvement"/Tim
Taylor fashion, not everything
goes as planned. In a display of
unapologetic intolerance and
lackluster humor, ABC's "Last
Man Standing" twists Holly-
wood's beloved father figure into
an unlikable epitome of all that
is (supposedly) "man." How's
that for a family reunion?
The dynamic may sound
familiar: Mike Baxter (Allen) is
a working father, providing for a
wife and three children - none
of whom are Jonathan Taylor
Thomas (so slide that'96 issue of
"Tiger Beat" back under the bed
where it belongs). As a direc-
tor of marketing for outdoor
Man, a fictional outdoor sport-
ing goods store, Mike attempts
to modernize his approach to
attracting customers through
several online video rants, most
of which end in a critique of the
fallacies of the "modern man."
Unfortunately for Mike -
and for ABC - his portrayal of
a "real" man is equally disap-
pointing. His resistance to mod-
ern technology and marketing
strategy is matched by a resis-
tance to a modern attitude, free
of misogyny and homophobia.
Allen, a family-oriented Holly-
wood icon known for his roles
as the bumbling Tim Taylor,
Buzz Lightyear and Santa Claus,
is awkward and unnatural in
the position of unapologetical-
ly macho and oblivious "man's
man."
4
I
I
"Yeah, somehow ,#occupypreschool doesn't have the same effect."
He's insensitive: "Do I look questioning the need for a job
like your diary?" He's intoler- when "isn't it just easier to give
ant: "The only time men should (Mandy) money?" The majority
be dancing is when other men of her scenes feature a declara-
are shooting at their feet." He's tion of her desire for wine, soon
anything but the typical, loving leading to shots of her camped
Hollywood Dad that audiences out on the couch, glass in hand,
have grown to expect, falling finding solace in television's lat-
into the fatherly ranks of char- est reality dating competition.
acters like Red Foreman of "That Her character is restricted to
70's Show," whose apathy and doing nothing significant, pre-
unorthodox parenting were at sented as "just another" indul-
least foot-up-your-ass fun. gent woman rather than an
active care-giver. When does the
actual "mothering" come into
Tim Allen P?
"Last Man Standing" forces
should stick to viewers to question for what
kind of audience the Baxter fam-
playng S nta. ily is intended. The show lacks
the wholesome charm of most
family-oriented programs -
where are the heart-to-hearts
While Mike occupies himself and moral revelations?! - yet it
with preserving the essence (or doesn't accomplish the wit or
odor) of "man," wife Vanessa edge of recent Emmy winners.
(Nancy Travis, "So I Married an Think of Tim Allen's returnto
Axe Murderer") does nothing television as a family reunion -
to refute the show's dominat- the one you pleaded and begged
ing theme of "man power." Van- and offered a month's worth of
essa babies her spoiled, shallow allowance to skip because Aunt
daughter Mandy (Molly Ephraim, Bertha's intolerable and that one
"Paranormal Activity 2"), whose cousin doesn't understand your
intensely over-exaggerated ges- disinterest in her new pair of
tures and facial expressions are Ugg boots and frankly ... potato
more appropriate for a reboot of salad is just disgusting (but of
"Hannah Montana." course, with a mother like Van-
As a mother, Vanessa is con- essa, a little wine might make it
fusing, for she expects little bearable). Sorry, Tim. Someone
independence from her children, had to say it.