Update

The Trevonation blog has reached 20 posts. That is quite the milestone wouldn't you say? I guess I have not written as many "commentary" posts as I would have liked. It has been mostly movie reviews. I just like movies you know. I did a few concert reviews OK so leave me alone.

There has been a serious lack in quality movies to review as of late. As such I have not had much to review. I shall soon be forced to start writing about my opinion on things other than movies and concerts. Let us hope that Hollywood kicks into gear soon and gives me something to write about before that happens.

Thanks to everyone who actually reads this. You are all so completely silent... I can only assume you are actually out there.

Here is something to watch while you are putting off writing your research paper. This 22-year old pre-med student has started posting his take on random news stories on YouTube. He is pretty funny/clever and has a better news voice than Tom Brokaw. www.phillyd.tv

Jimmy Eat World Concert

Arizona native rock band Jimmy Eat World played to a full house at UVSC's McKay Events Center Monday. The general admission area was full and almost every seat in the house had an occupant. After 15 years and 6 albums it seems Jimmy Eat World has finally achieved a decent sized fan-base.

The band played the same venue only about 3 1/2 years ago to merely half the amount of people. This time though they were able to virtually sell-out Orem's largest concert venue.

The songs the band played spanned their long career. They even dusted off some old gems sung by guitarist Tom Linton (who was the bands front man in the very early stages). The real highlights though were when charismatic lead singer Jim Adkins took over the microphone. They band played some classic radio hits like "A Praise Chorus" and "Sweetness" from 2001's Bleed American before moving into the well received new material from their latest album Chase this Light. Recent hits like "Let it Happen," and "Dizzy" had the crowd singing along in droves. Paramore lead singer Hayley Williams even sang back-up vocals during the song "Always Be."

Opening acts included fellow Arizona indie rock band Dear and the Headlights (no really that is how it was spelled) and the Grammy-nominated Tennessee pop rock band Paramore.

Dillinger Escape Plan Concert

"It's been a few years since we've been here," said Dillinger Escape Plan vocalist Greg Puciato Saturday night at the Avalon Theater. "It is good to be back." And oh how good it was.

Dillinger completely tore up the stage at their first concert in Utah in 5 years. With little or no introductions they blistered through a carefully crafted set list that satisfied fans new and old. Songs included "Baby's first Coffin" and "Setting Fire to Sleeping Giants" from their 2004 release Miss Machine and "Sugar Coated Sour" and "43% Burnt" from their 1999 debut album Calculating Infinity. The majority of the set list however was derived from the band's latest effort Ire Works. The intensity on stage multiplied when the band exploded into new songs like "Fix your Face" and "Milk Lizard."

Perhaps I can give you an image of how this concert went down. During the last song this was the placement of band members. Guitarist Ben Weinman headbanging atop a stacked amplifier and lighting fixture. Drummer Gil Sharone murdering his drums with relentless power. Vocalist Greg Puciato 20 feet in the air on top of the house PA system. Guitarist Jeff Tuttle mid-crowd facing his band mates. Bassist Liam Wilson... well OK he doesn't move around that much, but whatever he was doing I'm sure it justified the handlebar mustache he sports.

I would say this concert demolished ever other metal concert I have ever been to. Although the crowd was relatively small, it only made for a greater chance to experience Dillinger. And it was just that, and experience. I was extremely disappointed to see about 15 people walk out sporadically throughout the set. These losers obviously only came to see The Bled. Now don't get me wrong... The Bled put on a great show. They definitely did not even come close to the 10 year veterans in Dillinger though.

Other opening acts included Salt Lake local band And Embers Rise (pretty standard linear metal, very talented guitarist), and Heavy Heavy Low Low from San Jose. Heavy Heavy Low Low was a perfect opener for Dillinger. They were the only band that actually appealed to the style of music I had come to see. If you are a fan of Dillinger, Botch, The Red Chord type music... check them out.

(photo courtesy of www.myspace.com/dillingerescapeplan)

Happy Valley

Beautiful scenery. Low crime rates. Tons of Mormons. Doesn't this sound like a nice place? Well that's exactly what they want you think. Just don't pay attention to the fact that anti-depressant usage here is double the national average, and that there is a one teen minimum drug overdose death per week in "Happy Valley."

First time documentary director Ron Williams delves into the unseen but massive drug addictions that people refuse to acknowledge in Utah County. This idea came to him while trying to track down and rehabilitate his ex-wife and re-unite his daughter with her mother.

The film splices together a series of stories. Stories from the straight "A" students, the church leaders, and seemingly problem-less community. These stories involve addiction, denial, guilt, suffering, and often death. It is a unique and needed perspective that has been rightfully brought to light in hopes of creating awareness and getting help.

The film is little rough around the edges, and you can definitely see it is an independent film. It did win "Best Film" at the Breckenridge Film Festival in 2007 though... I think the story is so engrossing that the minor editing flaws go unnoticed.

Happy Valley will introduce you to people you never knew, and maybe even some you recognize. All of whom are intertwined in the world of prescription & street drug abuse. This world is definitely worth knowing about. "People need to stop looking through the window and start looking in the mirror." (my favorite quote from the movie.)

I am always a sucker for documentaries. I don't think I have ever seen one I didn't like... so maybe this will not interest you as much as it did me. This one is a little different though. Although it is set in Utah, Williams says it could have been filmed in any city. It's purpose is to educate people in hopes that it will help somebody. If you can sit through an hour and a half of drug addiction/abuse stories it is definitely worth a matinée ticket.

3/5 Stars

21

You may have heard the general story. A group of MIT students form a team to count cards and go to Vegas to win it big. Now that is all you should take into this movie. Although it is loosely based on the book "Bringing Down The House," that book was also loosely based on the true events. (For the comprehensive true story click here). So don't listen to everyone who is saying that the story is distorted beyond belief. It is... but that is not the point. Take this movie for what it is. It is not a documentary of the true events. It is not a word-for-word adaptation of the book. It is however an AWESOME movie that is inspired by true events.

21 follows MIT student Ben Campbell (Jim Strugess, Across the Universe) as he struggles to find a way to pay for Harvard Medical School. He is reluctantly recruited by a team formed by the manipulative, conniving, yet lovable MIT professor Mickey Rosa (Keven Spacy, Superman Returns among many other things). The team masters the art of card counting, forms a system of code words and gestures to avoid getting caught, and takes their "business" on the road.

The team flies to Vegas every weekend and makes a fortune. Their strategy however is slowly being caught onto by Cole Williams (Laurence Fishburne, you know.. Morpheus) a casino security manager who's job is steadily being phased out by new face recognition technology.

21 is extremely fun to watch with a fast paced story and excellent performances. The cinematography aint to shabby either. Especially the Vegas scenes. The dialogue is smart and cool. Flawless editing. There is a pretty unneccessary love story between Ben and another team member... and the ending seems just a bit contrived (but in a good movie-way)... but overall I thought it was definitely the best movie to hit the theaters in 2008 so far. Worth a full price evening ticket.

4/5 stars