The Essential John C. Reilly Youtube Collection

The Essential John C. Reilly YouTube Collection

This is a companion piece for my feature on John C. Reilly. He spoke with fans at the Chicago International Film Festival on October 12. His latest film, We Need To Talk About Kevin, debuted at the festival.

South Side native John C. Reilly began acting at age eight, when he participated in “dram-ma” workshops, which led to a prolific output in high school productions throughout town, and his time at DePaul’s Theatre School. From there, it has snowballed into a rich career that has resulted in one of the most impressive filmographies ever complied on IMDB. Here are some of Reilly’s most memorable roles.

Boogie Nights (1997)
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson

This deleted scene, which appears on the DVD, was largely improvised, among several other scenes in which his character, the coke-fueled porn star Reed Rothchild rambles on about stealing back tapes, pumping iron at the gym, and Satanists.



Chicago (2002)
Director: Rob Marshall

Reilly earned an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor as the husband of accused murderer turned overnight celebrity Roxie Hart (Renee Zellweger). Here he is singing his heart out with “Mr. Cellophane”.



Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007)
Director: Jake Kasdan

This parody of musical biopics that often become awards-baiting movies was ironically up for some awards, including two Golden Globe nods for Reilly (Best Motion Picture Actor in a Musical or Comedy and Best Original Song).



Step Brothers (2008)
Director: Adam McKay

According to Reilly, there has been talk of creating a sequel to this bizarre and hilarious comedy about two middle-aged men who become step brothers and their adventures on this unique journey. “It would give us so much extra space in our room for activities!” This is a sequel that should happen.



“Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!” (2007-2010) and “Check It Out! with Dr. Steve Brule” (2010)

“I met them in a bowling alley,” said Reilly, “which is where I meet all the important people in my life.” The idea of improvising for Tim and Eric fascinated Reilly. “(Adult Swim) don’t ask for a script AND you have a green screen?! I’ll do it!” He created the role of Dr. Steve Brule, a public television personality who is just as awkward as he appears.

Wine country



Health segment



Sushi



Cedar Rapids (2011)
Director: Miguel Arteta

When Tim (Ed Helms) goes to Cedar Rapids for an insurance convention, Reilly’s hedonistic Dean takes him under his wing and opens his eyes on how to take in a life on the wild side.



Carnage (2011)
Director: Roman Polanski

Reilly had to turn down the Broadway production of God of Carnage due to scheduling conflicts. When Polanski offered him the role, he flew to Paris and shot this adaptation, which is already generating awards buzz. This highly anticipated movie hits theatres on December 16.

CIFF winds down

Film Festival winds down: Highlights

As the Chicago International Film Festival (CIFF) enters its final days, many cinephiles have enjoyed themselves with dozens of films from around the globe, as well as some domestic and English-language fare that are generating awards buzz. Like Crazy, We Need to Talk about Kevin, What Love May Bring and A Dangerous Method, are the biggest movies that have screened.

One of the most exciting parts of the festival has yet to come. On October 19, the second-to-last night, moviegoers are invited for the Surprise Event. The festival will present a world-premiere feature, which could either be a blockbuster or an awards-bait film. “Every year, we love to surprise our audience with a top-secret film that will keep them talking for days,” says the schedule for the Festival. “What will that film be this year?” The festival concludes on October 20, with a presentation of The Artist, which won at Cannes (Best Actor for star Jean Dujardin).

CIFF is not as flashy as Cannes or Toronto, which suits it just fine with most attendees. “(CIFF) can concentrate on what’s important: genuinely searching and screening films all around the world,” commented John N., a Chicago native.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/chicago-international-film-festival-chicago-2

http://www.chicagofilmfestival.com/

Puppet Humor

What is the first thing that came to mind when you read the title of this blog? Did you say the Muppets? They have been receiving quite the hype thanks to a new movie.

Felt is no Muppets show. This mature-adults comedy show with a cast of puppets is not your family fare . Every Wednesday night, puppets take center stage at the iO Chicago (3541 N. Clark). Felt, which was created and realized by Cesar Jaime, premiered in 2006. Every show has a different group of improvisers. The show serves as a stepping stone for the performers and comedians. Many of them graduate to other iO shows and other venues. One of Felt's alumnus, Vanessa Bayer, can be currently seen on "Saturday Night Live."

It’s not often people can get belly laughs from pieces of cloth. "Audiences quick to join the cast in suspending their disbelief will be rewarded handsomely," writes Matt Byrne, in a review of the show for AV Club Chicago. “The fundamental joy of watching puppets onstage is enough to melt the heart of even the most hardened comedy snob, and the well-crafted scenes stacks up against even the best human-based improv.”

http://www.avclub.com/chicago/articles/felt,63444/

http://chicago.ioimprov.com/io/shows/10

Like Crazy hits the screen

Fans are going "Like Crazy" for this new drama, which has just premiered at the Chicago International Film Festival on October 9. Tickets sold out quickly for the screening, which was attended by the stars and director/writer.

Like Crazy focuses on the romance between Jacob, an American teaching assistant (Anton Yelchin) and Anna, a British undergrad (Felicity Jones). They soon realize that Anna's student visa expires after graduation as well as the complications when Anna is deported. Directed by Drake Doremus, who also wrote the script and allowed the actors to improvise their dialogue, the film debuted at this year's Sundance, where it won the Grand Jury Prize for Drama. Jones also won a best actress prize.

"Like Crazy is an exquisite, beautifully acted gem of a film," praised film critic Andrew Barker . "It's one that should serve as a prelude to bigger things for Jones and Yelchin, as well as director Drake Doremus."

http://www.likecrazy.com/

http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117944354?refcatid=31

Wilco: The Whole Love

After months of anticipation, Wilco released their new album on September 27th. The Chicago alt-rockers's "The Whole Love", is vastly different than any album they have recorded in their 17-year history. For one, this album is mostly what one reviewer described as "Wilco-sounding". This is a strange term. This ideology is usually reserved for an artist who has a vast (and often overrated) influence on the field of art he is in. ("This is a 'Metallicaseque' debut", "The 'Warholian' exhibit did not impress me.") It had me thinking. What does Wilco sound like, overall? They experiment with so many styles over the course of 56 minutes (or 74 if you purchase the deluxe edition, which I highly recommend). The first track, "Art of Almost", blends many instruments and styles, from eerily-sounding synthesizers and the cimbalom to both electric and acoustic guitar. I had no idea that a seven-minute song with all those instruments (and more) could sound so awesome. I am tempted to declare this their best work, but that might sound premature. Plus, "Yankee Foxtrot Hotel" (2001) is so outstanding ten years later. "The Whole Love" is a close second for the best Wilco album ever.







http://www.redeyechicago.com/entertainment/redeye-review-wilcos-the-whole-love-20110926,0,4014986.story

http://wilcoworld.net/#!/home/

http://www.avclub.com/articles/wilco-the-whole-love,62309/

R.I.P. R.E.M.

R.E.M. is no more. On September 21st, they announced online that they have “decided to call it a day as a band.” The band formed in 1980 in Athens, Georgia, a college town seventy miles east of Atlanta. Not only did they become one of the most significant American alternative bands of the past half century, but they were one of the first bands to achieve success thanks to college radio and for the first few years of their career, on an independent record label. In 1988, Warner Brothers Records signed them up, allowing Michael Stipe and Co. to sing songs about political and environmental injustice (as well as shiny, happy people) to sold-out stadiums and festivals around the globe. When they renewed their contract in 1996, Warner ponied up a record-breaking $80 million. Yes, record companies once had that much money to give to a recording artist or band just for creating music.
But R.E.M. was more than a band worth paying a ton of money or selling platinum records and singles. The band, especially Michael Stipe, raised awareness about issues that mattered to them, including the environment, human rights, equal rights for women, and voter registration. They were one of a handful of artists (along with Sonic Youth and Violent Femmes) responsible for the advancement of alternative music, a diverse and incredible genre that would later spawn bands such as Red Hot Chili Peppers, Weezer, Foo Fighters, Muse, Coldplay, and Chicago’s own Smashing Pumpkins, Local H, and Wilco. They showed that it was possible to achieve your goals and dreams without selling out or trading your values and artistic vision.
While the band is no more, their music and passion for doing good will live on. Here is a list of some of their best songs, along with a few interesting facts.

Note: The songs are listed in chronological order.

“Radio Free Europe”
From the Hib-Tone single release (1981) and later the album Murmur (1983)

Their first single, released one year after their union, was recently added to the National Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry. The citation the song received is equally impressive: “(Radio Free Europe) set the pattern for later indie rock releases by breaking through on college radio in the face of mainstream radio’s general indifference.”





“(Don’t Go Back to) Rockville”
From the album Reckoning (1984)

The second single from Reckoning was written by member Mike Mills, who wrote it as a plea to his then-girlfriend to not return to her hometown of Rockville, Maryland.




“The One I Love”
From the album Document (1987)

Their first big single, this song has strangely become a romantic love song. I mention strangely because this song has the following lyrics: “This one goes to the one I left behind/A simple prop to occupy my time”. Clearly, someone is being used here. That doesn’t sound too romantic, unless you enjoy being in a one-way relationship.




“It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)”
From the album Document (1987)

Released during the waning days of the Cold War, this track references four men who share the initials, L.B. (Music composer Leonard Bernstein, Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev, shock comic Lenny Bruce, and rock critic/writer Lester Bangs)




“Losing My Religion”
From the album Out of Time (1991)

The phrase “losing my religion” is a Southern expression that means to lose one’s temper. This is often considered their signature song.




“What’s the Frequency, Kenneth?”
From the album Monster (1994)

The track title was taken from an incident in which former CBS newsanchor Dan Rather was mugged and beaten several years prior to the single’s release. One of the assailants asked him “Kenneth, what is the frequency? numerous times.




“Everybody Hurts”
From the album Automatic for the People (1992)

A British suicide hotline once used the lyrics to this song for an ad campaign. Guitarist Peter Buck mentioned that the song was aimed for teenagers, as a way to address them that while life is often tough and unjust, you can’t give up. And everyone hurts at one time or another.




“At My Most Beautiful”
From the album Up (1998)

According to Stipe, the origins of this song were from a line he wrote while stuck in traffic (and late for an appointment): “I found a way to make you smile”




“Bad Day”
From the album In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003 (2003)

This track had been around in another form, as a never-released b-side titled “PSA”, since the mid-1980s. When a single was needed for their “best of” retrospective, the band decided to update the lyrics and shoot a humorous music video spoofing the media.




“Supernatural Superserious”
From the album Accelerate (2008)

I came across a (no-longer updated) message board where several fans were trying to figure out the meaning behind this song. One person stated that he was upset when people demand to find out what the musician was trying to say with the song. “It kills songs for some people and I think all songs have a different meaning for everyone than they do for Michael Stipe,” wrote William Cardno. “There's something beautiful about that.”

Good Tunes for a Sunday Afternoon

This is a new single from Chicago's own Wilco.



Here's TV on the Radio performing on Letterman.



Here is the number one song in America (according to Billboard, the recorder of popular music since '58), with a music video to show you how to shake that.