New Movie Reviews

The Buzz NEW MOVIE REVIEWS

Word On The Web

Be sure to check the Web for a review and interviews with creators of “Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story.”

‘Why We Fight’ is powerful

“Why We Fight” is the fi lm “Fahrenheit 9/11” should have been. While Michael Moore’s subjective style ambushed his point, Eugene Jarecki’s much more objective fi lm drives the same point right through the heart.

After main character, Wilton Sekzer’s, son was killed in the Sept. 11 attacks, he e-mailed military personnel to get his son’s name on a bomb headed for Iraq. After certain facts came to light, Sekzer, a New York City cop and Vietnam veteran, was forced to refl ect on whether he avenged his son or defaced his name.

Jarecki uses a few Moore-like tactics, such as exposing debatably immoral documents, but the movie never feels irresponsible or fabricated. He starts the fi lm with Eisenhower’s 1961 farewell address, in which he warns against the rise of a “military-industrial complex.”

Most of the interviews draw a connection between the American government and the capitalist phenomenon of industry’s profi ts from war. Fascinating people from around the globe give surprising testimonials, especially the witnesses to the Baghdad bombings.

They all add strokes to the bigger picture Jarecki creates, one that paints America as a war-mongering, capitalist society where no one is willing to stand up and say no.

But the best part about “Why We Fight” is that it doesn’t focus solely on America’s war with Iraq. It sets out to fi nd the trends that ignite war. History plays a big part here.

The wider scope of the fi lm gives it a deeper, more permanent feel, which is why it won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance this year.

Even though “Why We Fight” won’t be in theaters until January, the relevance of this fi lm to America and its looming “military-industrial complex” is profound and timeless.

By BRYAN BARNETT

Daily Titan Staff

FOX SEARCHLIGHT PICTURES Johnny Knoxville and Leonard Flowers star in “The Ringer.”

‘Ringer’ set

full of pranks

By CARMELLIA MUNGUIA

Daily Titan Staff

Peter Farrelly raises his arms, his shoulders sway and his pelvis jolts forward. He tells the story of one of his funniest moments while making “The Ringer.” During fi lming, Johnny Knoxville pulled a prank on co-producer Marc Fischer.

On the set, Knoxville takes a cattle prod, comes up to Fischer from behind and sticks “it up his ass.”

While Farrelly tells the story, Ricky Blitt, “The Ringer” screenwriter, also known for the series “Family Guy,” listens and Knoxville secretly pokes his head in the room at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills. Knoxville knocks the hat off his head and runs away. Farrelly, accustomed to such antics, continues with his story. Knoxville shrugs his shoulder and laughs.

“The Ringer” is the story of a modestly competent, but nice character, Steve Barker (Knoxville) with a dull job. Bored Barker works up the courage to ask his boss for a promotion that is unexpectedly granted. Barker’s fi rst assignment is to fi re the longtime

janitor, Stavi (Luis Avalos), who he befriends. Barker, afraid to hurt Stavi’s feelings, offers him a job mowing his lawn. While mowing the lawn, Stavi accidentally loses his four fi ngers and lands in the hospital with a $28,000 bill that must be paid immediately.

Barker, feeling responsible for Stavi’s misfortune assumes the responsibility to pay for his surgery. Barker’s uncle Gary (Brian Cox), who has gambling debts to resolve, talks a remorseful Barker into joining the Special Olympics as a mentally challenged athlete.

During his two-week stint Barker’s mentally challenged competitors wise up to his scam. However, they go along with it in order to beat the arrogant longtime winner.

Although the movie pokes fun at, and indelicately handles stereotypes, it also shows “normal” people with their fl aws.

This inspirational movie shows competent, witty and cynical people with mental challenges. After the fi rst 20 minutes of the movie, viewers aren’t sure whether to laugh, but it becomes apparent that this crew pulled a well intentioned fi lm together.

The Buzz NEW MUSIC REVIEWS

WWW.SYSTEM OF A DOWN.COM Hard-rockers System of a Down released Hypnotize.

System of a Down Hypnotize

Were we mesmerized seven months ago? Yes. Are we hypnotized now? Not really. Hypnotize, the highly anticipated second CD from System of a Down’s double album Mezmerize/Hypnotize, perhaps the band felt it simply had too much great material to release all at once. Or perhaps waiting six months was just brilliant marketing.

A single CD with half the songs and a snazzy title would have suffi ced. In fact, had the rockers and producer Rick Rubin edited Mezmerize/Hypnotize down to one solid CD, they could have claimed ownership of the best rock album of 2005 with Mezmerize.

Instead of continuing where Mezmerize left off, with brilliant mind-shattering songs, Hypnotize sadly seems more like fi ller. Songs like “Kill Rock ‘N Roll” and “Lonely Day” are average at best. Hypnotize manages to do what Mezmerize somehow did not do – expose vocalist Serj Tankian and guitarist/vocalist Daron Malakian’s song-writing formula.

The good news is that Hypnotize – in keeping with the band’s reputation – still has a few hardhitting songs that mean something, with politically and socially conscious lyrics far beyond the trash commonly heard on popular radio.

Perhaps the greatest problem with Hypnotize is that after Mezmerize, fans simply expected another great album. Sadly, the band fell short this time. Maybe next time they’ll stick to making one great record at a time. – Gabriel Fenoy/Daily Titan Photo EditorDaily Titan Photo Editor

Power Lloyd World Cowboy

It starts out clever enough. With a prelude that evokes a 1950s fl ight attendant coolly saying “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the album. Sit back and enjoy,” one would expect a medley of equally clever songs. Unfortunately for Power Lloyd, the songs on their new album World Cowboy, never really take the listener past any high school garage band practice.

For the most part, Power Lloyd sounds like a band that is about two years shy of making it on mainstream rock radio. The band obviously takes note from bands like The Strokes and Jet

There are a few bright spots. “Matching Luggage” is enjoyable, though the listeners never really fi nd out what the song is about. With ska elements thrown in, the song could easily provide the background music for any teen movie’s “big party” scene.

“Dish” is another highlight on the album. With an interesting intro that mimics new wave bands from the 1980s like Missing Persons, the song also provides though inducing lyrics.

Power Llyod’s main problem is that almost all of their songs sound the same. Maybe they found one style that they liked and were too afraid to venture out, but almost every song leaves the listener wishing that they had just tried a little harder. – Ashley Majeski/Daily Titan Staff

Flyleaf Flyleaf

Flyleaf, a new punk band on Octone records. The band’s music is reminiscent of punk and hardcore rock bands from the early 1990s, with heavy drums and guitar behind screaming vocals.

In the band’s fi rst full-lenth album, common problems of fl edgling bands arise. They have not quite found a signature sound yet.

The band has a sound reminiscent of Evanescence, with female vocalist, Lacey Mosley on the microphone.

Flyleaf does have potential with its heart-felt lyrics, which speak far beyond amateur level.

The quality of a piece of music is not always gathered from the music alone; solid passionate words can revive dying sounds.

With time, this band has potential to branch out and separate itself from other would-be punk bands. When Flyleaf brings its musicianship up to the same level as the lyrics, it might just be a hit.

Check out www.fl yleafmusic.com for more album information. – Stephanie Park/Daily Titan Staff