Contraband Cinema at BAM: I Will Crush You, I Will Krush Groove 7/8

Two films (not Miracle at St. Anna) will be playing next week as part of BAM's current Contraband Cinema series that are toward the top of my favorites in respective categories. It just so happens, these two films are playing on July 8th. The series examines a wide range of films that are politically charged in different ways: personal, imagined, proposed, social. I'm just surprised a few more well known films such as Harlan County USA wouldn't be on here. Anywho, BAM does it again and I'm glad I'm about a 10 minute walk from it.

Sound and Fury, an extraordinary documentary about a deaf family and their internal debate about cochlear implants and deaf culture, is on the early bill on the 8th. It's heartbreaking and the frustration of the father is so incredible to witness because it comes from pureness of heart.

And for the main event of the evening, Rocky IV. Before you laugh, consider that it is the most pleasurable of the 6 films in the series (not the best, just the most touch-yourself one) and the undercurrent of 80s propaganda along with other mainstream films such as Superman IV and any Chuck Norris movie makes it an excessive and really interesting movie. It's not that it should be given a gold star for merit, but it also comes from a pure purpose it seems, even if it's subconscious. That and Sylvester Stallone slurring through an epic speech in English to a Russian audience that realistically doesn't understand him is hilarious. Those crazy Russians, just in time for all that hobknobbery about spies.

In other news, I enjoyed the new Karate Kid (I own the original on VHS).

I would give you the training montage to Rocky IV. It's insanely awesome. However, I'll just give you a scene from Gorky Park.

New President Means New Excuse to Party - Dekalb Ave. Inaugural Celebration Jan. 16th to the 20th

I love good deals on assorted merchandise and alcoholic beverages. Since it'll be cold as shit this weekend, why not stay local and get your butt to Dekalb Avenue in Fort Greene (from Ashland to Vanderbilt), where Barack Obama = discounts and even free stuff all along the way to the White House. This starts tomorrow and ends on the night of inauguration on the 20th, which I'm sure will start the constant headache in Obama's head and possibly see some conception action with several couples in the neighborhood.

Oh and this "event" (more like week-long binge) is happening on Facebook here. Not that anyone is counting, but show love anyway and pretentiously tell people that you'll be there like I did.

You really don't want to miss some of these deals, there's two for 1 drink specials, affordable restaurant prix fixes, discounts on merchandise, and on the night of the inauguration, places to watch history happen for the forty-something'th time. There are 29 businesses participating, and the full list (with locations and their specials) can be seen at this link here. It's a PDF, so your computer will undoubtably slow for a second.

I have an idea where my Saturday afternoon into evening will be spent, and then walk home easily schnockered.

From the Facebook invite:

"FORT GREENE'S DEKALB AVENUE MERCHANTS CELEBRATE HISTORIC
INAUGURATION WITH PROMOTIONS ALL WEEKEND LONG
Obama-inspired special menus, drinks, discounts and other offers.
Friday, January 16-Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Brooklyn, NY-January 8, 2009 Twenty-eight restaurants, cafes, boutiques and retail
stores of the Dekalb Avenue Merchants' Association in Fort Greene, (a Brooklyn
neighborhood long known for its multi-cultural diversity) invite you to "Celebrate the
Inauguration on Dekalb" and continue the electrifying celebration that began in the streets
on election night and continues right through Inauguration Weekend, Friday, January 16-
Tuesday, January 20, 2009.

Participating Dekalb Avenue businesses will be offering discounts, coupons, reduced-
price prix-fixe menus, drink specials, vouchers for discounts on return visits or 2-for-1
specials all weekend long. Plus on the day of the Inauguration, locations with big screen
TVs will be opening early to broadcast the ceremony and will have live music, DJs and even
more specials throughout the day.

The list of participating merchants and their offers include... 20% discounts to celebrate
the 20th of January, 2009... 44% discounts to celebrate the Inauguration of our 44th
President... special menu creations reflecting President-elect Obama's multi-cultural
background... plus coupons, vouchers and other special offers.

ALSO: "Obama" posters created by students at Dekalb Avenue's Ronald Edmonds Learning
Center, Middle School 113, will be exhibited in windows up and down Dekalb during the
celebration weekend. Come see the work of these young artists who have been so
profoundly inspired. Plus students from the school's Academy of Performing Arts Choir
and Band will be performing at select locations on Inauguration Day.

This event re-launches the Dekalb Avenue Merchants' Association (DAM). The Association
covers Dekalb Avenue from Washington Avenue to Ashland Place, plus businesses on
intersecting side streets. The association is about businesses working together on issues
of mutual interest, connecting with the community and promoting this vibrant strip in the
heart of one of Brooklyn's great neighborhoods."

Red State Update...not as good as Gashouse Gorillas (shameless plug)

From the press release regarding their upcoming comedy album:

"The uncouth Tennessee two have created quite a niche acting as comedic political pundits during the current presidential campaign season. Jackie and Dunlap’s first big shot at mainstream celebrity happened last July when CNN chose their video to feature during the YouTube Democratic debate. Since then, Red State Update comedy shorts created for You Tube and MySpace have attracted thousands of subscribers. Total online views between YouTube and MySpace is over 10 million—and several of their videos have been featured on YouTube’s main comedy page, including one of their most current sketches entitled, “Hillary Wins, McCain Clinches, Huck Out.”

Red State Update's political satire comes from the minds of two comedians, Jonathan Shockley and Travis Harmon. They've gained a fanbase and YouTube homepage fame over the past year as the 2008 presidential campaign has heated up. Basically, their videos are comprised of the two of them, one an old-fogey, bearded fellow Jackie Broyles, and the other, a younger but no less brash and slightly more comprehensive redneck Dunlap with a sly knowledge of pop culture.

I've seen a couple of their updates, and I have to say it's not horrible. There's a genuine charm and a sort of swagger that they carry with just enough wit to get them by with the casual viewer.
I don't know if their aim is to make it look as natural or unscripted as possible considering their Budweiser-fueled format, but I think it's what deters them from getting my full attention. The speed at which they run through the subject is not as effective I feel as it could be; if they slowed down and especially focused on creating more contrast between the clearer Dunlap and the fast talking Jackie. The show is at its best when they raise tempers with each other; it escalates and builds towards a slight sense of outrage and provides some of their better quips. While I feel Jackie's character plays it more straight, Dunlap is given some real opportunity to ham it up; his earnest delivery makes for some funny dumbfounded facial expressions.

The show isn't exactly "sensitive", which is refreshing but also lacks the timing and depth of something like the Colbert Report. Granted, it's from a decidedly different "red state" culture, but I wonder if it really is funnier than say, Jeff Foxworthy, or Larry the Cable Guy, both of whom I don't particularly like. It's certainly not as funny as Ron White, who is the only talent among the whole Blue Collar Comedy Tour.

It's frustrating, because there is a certain amount of Southern-tinged wisdom that they bring to the table, a sly and plain logic, but then again, their focus and ideas feel rehashed instead of something subversive (such as their clip on gay marriage, see below) which would really make a bit like this interesting.

Red State Update's first comedy album, "How Freedom Sounds", will be coming out on July 22nd on Dualtone Records.

Visit their official website for more information.