Friends With Benefits Directed by Will Gluck
Film Review by Samantha McQueen
(B+)
I’d forgive those of you who instantly shied away from this flick; after all, didn’t this exact movie come out in February – and wasn’t it bad? But Friends With Benefits, the latest offering from Easy A’s Will Gluck, has something that has been sorely missing from rom-coms of late: comedy. Trailers for this flick made it seem like Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis’ characters have been friends forever, but that’s not the case. The first time Timberlake’s Dylan meets Kunis’ Jamie, she’s hopping over luggage at an airport carousel, chasing a sign written in lipstick. He’s in New York from LA interviewing for an art director position at GQ, a job he apparently doesn’t want. Head hunter Jamie, whose bonus is on the line, uses her foul-mouthed charm to sell Dylan on New York, complete with hot dogs and flash mobs, and soon he’s moving into a flashy apartment and taking doors off hinges (really). The two soon start sharing lunches and details of their relationship woes (Dylan is “emotionally unavailable” and Jamie is “emotionally damaged”) and after watching a cheesy rom-com they make a pact to make love without falling in love, sealing the deal in the bedroom – and on Jamie’s Bible app. It starts off well enough, with perfectly tangled sheets, fast-paced post-coital quips and even first dates with other people, but of course, emotions – the F word in this flick – get in the way. The plotline is predictable, but unlike many romantic comedies, any trite declarations of love are said in jest by the leads or on their television screens (there’s even a cliché-ridden fake movie starring Jason Segal and Rashida Jones that pops up at various points of the film). The snappy dialogue perfectly suits Timberlake’s suave personality and Kunis’ feisty temperate. They rebound off each other’s quips with ease and a pace so dizzying by the middle of the film you wonder how they’ve managed to get a breath in. There are also plenty of witty references for the rom-com buff to try and pick up. Rom-com queen Nora Ephron gets a shout out, as does George Clooney, Nicholas Sparks and Katherine Heigl. Pulling this film to even greater heights is
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a stellar supporting cast. Patricia Clarkson is superb as the flaky, inappropriate mum and Woody Harrelson’s larger than life portrayal of a sports editor with a penchant for another set of balls is bound to have audiences grasping their stomachs with laughter. And then there’s Dylan’s family – his sister Annie (Jenna Elfman), hapless magician nephew (Nolan Gould) and father (a touching performance by Richard Jenkins), who has recently started to show the effects of Alzheimer’s. At the end of the day Friends with Benefits is a romantic comedy, no matter how much it tries to tell you otherwise. But the refreshing thing is that it’s actually good, a rare gem that has just as much laughter as is does love.
The Jayhawks
Mockingbird Time Album Review by Ksenia Khor
(B+)
The Jayhawks have been around for a while. Originally from Minnesota, USA the quintet formed in 1985 and since then released eight records that became classics in country and folk music. The secret to such longevity probably lies in the band’s authenticity. It is really hard to bind them to a certain movement; they have developed their own distinctive sound. Mockingbird Time is a delightful result of their creative endeavours. The record is a wonderful collection of tuneful acoustic melodies. It is quite eclectic. Various styles and influences from folk rock to the 60s allow each song to sound a bit different from the other. This creates an interesting diversity. At the same time the album is very consistent because the Jayhawks’ signature harmonies and style permeate each composition. Fantastic vocals and ardent lyrics create a romantic mood. The whole atmosphere made me think about travelling the endless prairies of North America, sleeping under the stars and singing nostalgic songs near the fire. The album starts with a melodic Hide Your Colours, reminiscent of the Beatles. With its subtlety and charming harmony of strings, piano and Mark Olson’s distinctive voice this track is a perfect opener establishing the mood of the whole record. Then the band’s music palette expands. Tiny Arrows is an edgy blues song that adds an irresistible flash of melancholy. It is quite slow
but not at all boring. The lyrics reflect sombre themes of shallowness of human existence and nostalgia for the past. It’s one of those tracks that contains some heart-wrecking moments. My personal favourite is Standout in the Rain. The voices of Mark Olson and Gary Louris blend exquisitely creating a very powerful effect. It is a kind of emotional ballad with some intense sparks of bass. The record doesn’t reveal its best moments from the first take; it might seem a little too slow and plain. However, Mockingbird Time deserves to be listened more than once. In that way it will be possible to appreciate the subtlety and various textures of the songs. The Jayhawks’ have proved that they still have something to sing about.
Nicki Minaj
Pink Friday (Deluxe Edition) Album Review by Melissa Low
(A-)
I’m not one to ever listen to hip hop or rap music, let alone choose to review an album of that genre. But I am fascinated about what makes Nicki Minaj different. She’s eccentric, a bit quirky, bold and dresses like she’s the hip hop version of Lady Gaga. And with this 19 track deluxe version release of Pink Friday, there are more tracks to reflect the unique character that is Miss Nicki Minaj. The album begins with the less than humbly named track, I’m the Best. Although having a song about an artist’s journey from ‘pain to fame’ seems to be turning into a massive cliché, Nicki Minaj makes it somewhat amusing. With a solid beat and playful electric violins, the repetitive lyric of the chorus of her saying “I’m the best” establishes her identity in a playful yet obvious brag of her successes. Nicki Minaj has a large collection of collaborating artists on this album, ranging from Kayne West to Natasha Bedingfield. One of the most successful collaborations is with the always angry Eminem, featured in the song Roman’s Revenge. In this track, Nicki Minaj plays up her eccentric characteristics by taking on the personas of Roman Zolanski and Roman’s British mother Martha, while Eminem’s angry alter ego, Slim Shady, raps with her. Though I am a bit tired of always hearing Eminem wanting to angrily beat women up, some of the nonsensical rap (such as “Rah rah, like a
issue 22 2011