Skating On Thin Ice

We started with a reference to Michael Jackson’s Smooth Criminal

And then an unfortunate Voltron and Super Twins analogy

  We spoke about Deadpool (2016, dir: Tim Miller) and its recent honor - Highest R Rated Movie

We don’t need R-rated comic movies, we need risky, heartfelt, faithful comic movies like Deadpool. Posted by Nerdist on Monday, February 22, 2016

And touched a bit on the Marvel Cinematic Universe + Netflix’s Daredevil, Jessica Jones and Luke Cage.

We shared our thoughts about a movie we saw together on a whim - The Last Witch Hunter (2015, dir: Breck Eisner)

Here’s the post on Vin Diesel’s Facebook page about the possible sequel. He’s keeping it real, fam.

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So the studio apparently is so excited by the Last Witch Hunter - The Axe and Cross franchise… that they are already… Posted by Vin Diesel on Wednesday, June 17, 2015

BONUS:

“You’re my fam” - Vin Diesel (probably)

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Posted by Vin Diesel on Wednesday, December 24, 2014

John Wick (2014, dir: Chad Stahelski, David Leitch) - Ahsan’s obsession of the moment

Which led us to a discussion about animal cruelty in films

Halloween (2007, dir: Rob Zombie)

That rat was a complete slut and totally deserved it. - Usman

Gummo (1997, dir: Harmony Korine)

The mention of Gummo led to the mention of its trailer.

I thinks its all sorts of amazing. - Usman

The craziness that is the Gummo trailer is scored to Madonna’s Like A Prayer. Ahsan was not aware that this song exists.

I mentioned Love in The Afternoon / Chloe in the Afternoon/ L'amour l'après-midi (1972, dir: Éric Rohmer).

I had seen it recently and was enamored by it. But not in a “Ahsan-has-seen-John-Wick-many-times” way.

French Theatrical Trailer

American Home Video Trailer

CHLOE IS BAE!

I also mentioned Ali Fear Eats The Soul / Angst essen Seele auf (1974, dir: Rainer Werner Fassbinder) because a) Fassbinder is bae b) Donald Trump’s tacit racism inspiring pretty explicit racism these days.

Here’s a fun video about Donald Trump’s crazy racist polemic

Since we were being classy, Ahsan spoke about the staging of Edward Albee’s 2002 play The Goat or Who Is Sylvia? at T2F by Syna Productions

The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia? The event that Ahsan was part of: The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?

[Happening now at #T2F] The Goat, or who is Sylvia?

A photo posted by T2F (@thesecondfloor) on Feb 19, 2016 at 6:37am PST

Happening right now: Artists engaged in the rehearsal of play The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? Do come and watch their performance on 19th and 20th February at #t2f

A photo posted by T2F (@thesecondfloor) on Feb 18, 2016 at 3:52am PST

BONUS: A plot summary and a critical analysis of the play The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?

This led to us talking about the play’s challenging staging - performing in the center surrounded by the audience

I recounted the time he saw a CAM copy of Kill Bill Vol. 1 (2003, dir: Quentin Tarantino) on pirated VCD which included a fight in the theatre. Too bad I can’t share it (for now, at least).

We spoke about Goosebumps (2015, dir: Rob Letterman) and RL Stine’s characterization in it (I’m not feeling it. See clip below.)

We discussed some of the classic titles in Goosebumps book series

 - Say Cheese and Die

 - Monster Blood

 - Night of the Living Dummy

 - Chicken Chicken - this is the one Ahsan couldn’t remember the name of but narrates the entire plot of.

Speaking of tongue-in-cheek horror  - Cabin In The Woods (2012, dir: Drew Goddard)

And Scream (1996, dir: Wes Craven)

I spoke about my love for Freddy vs. Jason (2003, dir: Ronny Yu) and one of my favorite players in the movie - Kelly Rowland of Destiny’s Child

We also touched on RL Stine’s Fear Street as well as Sweet Valley series of books taking a dark turn.

After closing that conversation, we turned to music

Grimes – Art Angels (2015)

I love this record. It is an unapologetic pop LP that shows layers and complexity pop music is not recognized for. So many great tracks that do not make a coherent sounding record but after many spins, this LP grew on me and I have found my own logic within its strange ebb and flow.

Grimes - Kill V. Maim

Such a great track. I can safely file this under “BANGER”. Also, THAT VIDEO! MAN!!!

Grimes - Venus Fly (feat. Janelle Monáe) (Live)

THE POWER OF THE MUSIC COMPELS ME TO LOSE MYSELF TO IT.

BONUS: Grimes gave an interview to Future Music and explained her process. LOOK AT ALL THAT GEAR!

Grimes interview on Future Music magazine

The Fader’s short documentary on Grimes for Art Angels

Very inspirational stuff.

BONUS: Grimes – Oblivion (from her previous LP Visions)

I brought up Kanye West’s The Life of Pablo (2016) and described it as a mix of the profane and the sacred.

I loved the album. Ahsan couldn’t get past Kanye’s verbal diarrhea.

30 Hours

  No More Parties in LA (feat. Kendrick Lamar)

BONUS: Here’s Taylor Swift’s rebuttal at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards

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Taylor Swift let the world know what she thought of that Kanye line.Background: http://mashable.com/2016/02/11/kanye-wests-taylor-swift/ Posted by Mashable News on Monday, February 15, 2016

We also spoke about Kanye’s Bill Cosby tweet.

BILL COSBY INNOCENT !!!!!!!!!!

— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest)

February 9, 2016

  I was of the opinion that he is echoing a very real sentiment within sections of African-American people who see this as an attempt to tarnish their icons. Personally, for me, it doesn’t matter what he thinks. What he did highlight was that even after Cosby’s media trial, people will believe what they want to believe.

35 women speak about being assaulted by Bill Cosby, and the culture that wouldn’t listen: http://t.co/H5dss5F2F4 pic.twitter.com/RCF0BWBrxA

— New York Magazine (@NYMag)

July 27, 2015

Is Kanye West collaborator Rhymefest concerned or just throwing shade? WHO KNOWS?!?!?

@JakeChatty my brother needs help, in the form of counseling. Spiritual & mental. He should step away from the public & yesmen & heal

— Rhymefest (@RHYMEFEST)

February 12, 2016

Ahsan brought up Hitler’s Anti-smoking campaign… Anti-tobacco movement in Nazi Germany and his hand in the making of Volkswagen, in relation to Kanye West (re: some good that bad people did). OKAY!?!?! The Real Story Behind The Nazis And Volkswagen

BONUS: Sarah Silverman - German Cars

Because I live for pop music, we also discussed Rihanna’s long-awaited LP, ANTI (2016). It’s her eighth full-length album, in case you were keeping count.

I spoke about its unfortunate roll-out and what it meant for Rihanna’s career and sound. The LP is embedded below for your listening pleasure.

Rihanna - Work (feat. Drake) [Music Video]

Rihanna- Consideration (feat. SZA) / Work (feat. Drake) [BRIT Awards performance]

Ahsan spoke about Parker Millsap’s Old Time Religion. Its blues and folk tune that is either about religious zealotry or deep dedication - depends on your reading of it.

“But what does it sound like, Usman?”

It sounds like one of those songs featured in True Blood.

BONUS

A Tame Impala song that Rihanna re-did on ANTI

A Grimes song originally written for Rihanna’s ANTI

A Madonna album which Rihanna tries to emulate in ANTI

Recommended

Ahsan

- Go out more, come to T2F, watch movies, do what you are passionate about

- Watching John Wick

Usman

- Watch Éric Rohmer’s Love In The Afternoon - a film that makes the reality of infidelity ALL TOO REAL

- Listen to Grimes’ Art Angels - for eargasm purposes and to expand musical palate (2016, bruh!) (The album is embedded in this post!!)

- Read Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights - get it for free here: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/768/768-h/768-h.htm

- Buying second-hand media (audio CDs, DVDs) - the capitalist in me loves acquiring/hoarding physical media

TUNE!! #ministryofsound #anthems

A photo posted by Usman Ahmed (@ahmed_usman) on Oct 14, 2015 at 5:17am PDT

A photo posted by Usman Ahmed (@ahmed_usman) on Nov 2, 2014 at 1:57am PST

 - Read Vikram Seth’s An Equal Music WHILE listening to its companion music compilation

An Equal Music