Thanksgiving | timotheories

Thankless, Think More (Thanksgiving)

Posted on October 13, 2016 by Tim Kuefler

Don’t get me wrong folks, I enjoy spending time with my family as much as the next Canadian, but I feel obligated to inform and remind you that just like many other holidays we enjoy and take for granted, this creative ritual is not one so simple as simply moving into a land of plenty and prospering.

Thanksgiving just might be akin to celebrating the Holocaust. Well, if you’re an American especially.

Yeah, I went a little dark with this one dear readers.

But for so many reasons that I cannot even begin to name, Thanksgiving is effectively an American holiday and we Canadians decided to ride the gravy train (read: intentional bad pun) right along with them in 1879, a mere 12 years after Canadians became self-governing.

Americans have been celebrating this event for over 200 years now, and yet the more time passes the less people realize how incredibly fucked up it is to partake in this event.

Now I know that we have the holiday because we are hoping to share in the harvest, count our blessings, and thank others for what they bring to the table (read: another intentional bad pun), it’s dangerous for us to forget what preceded this state. Because humanity is about caring for and supporting the collective, not just picking and choosing what makes sense in a particular moment.

Of course I’m not so naive as to admit that I understand the complete scope and scale of what happened in North America in previous centuries, however, I do know this – when we celebrate the holiday, we should focus on participating in Thanksgiving as a way to honour community and the lives of Native peoples who welcomed immigrants into their lands. However individuals and governments chose to exploit individuals, we cannot know that all European immigrants were evil, nor can we proclaim that all Native peoples were innocent in how things shook out, because of our lack of context. But, we can be thankful in Canada that many people continue to immigrate into this country and our government is always working towards a future that is rather multi-cultural, a celebration of humanity.

That is what we should give thanks for. That opportunity for those who come into this country exists, and my hope is that the next generation is even less tolerant of disparity amongst new citizens.

And God do I ever hope that’s not just a theory.

Tim!

Setting The Mood (timotheories October 2016)

Posted on October 6, 2016 by Tim Kuefler

I work for the largest national furniture retailer in North America, as my day job. Now I don’t work directly in a store, but the corporate office which effectively operates in service of the 200+ stores that comprise the retail fleet. I’ve had the distinction to work in a few areas of the business, but predominantly in the marketing department. And this is including, but not limited to print, broadcast, in-store signage, media buying, the online catalogue, and now photography.

I’ve gotten pretty good at predicting what the needs of the business are, and where the executive team is headed when it comes to major decisions. After all, my major strengths have always laid with project management, communication, negotiation, and creative problem solving.

Which means that I’m confident about how to set the mood in most settings, whether one-on-one or group orchestrated.

As you know, that means when it comes to timotheories, it’s important to me to build relationships with my local community, get involved in events that effect my city, and turn attention towards our burgeoning creative minds.

With that said, October is shaping up amazingly well. Let’s block off that disclaimer, first though.

*Disclaimer* As always, every week I purchase an album and movie one week ahead of the actual review release and while I have the best intentions, I don’t always get what I want… so if you follow me on instagram (@timotheories) you can actually see what’s coming.

timotheories summarized – October

Stimulating Sundays – (10/02) Cross Talk Ep. 10, (10/09) Cross Talk Ep. 11, (10/16) Megan Warkentin interview preview, (10/23) Megan Warkentin interview, (10/30) Just ‘n Time Games Ep. 1
Melodic Mondays – (10/03) Every Time I Die, (10/10) Bon Iver, (10/17) Green Day, (10/24) Kate Tempest, (10/31) Michael Jackson
Theatrical Tuesdays – (10/04) The Shallows, (10/11) Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, (10/18) Ghostbusters, (10/25) Cafe Society
Wisdom Wednesdays – (10/05) Bryan Lee O’Malley, (10/12) Exercise, (10/19) Posterconsumers.com, (10/26) Lucien X. Polastron
Timely Thursday – (10/06) timotheories October, (10/13) Thanksgiving, (10/20) 11 O’Clock Number pt. 2, (10/27) Halloween

Can’t believe it, but I only get to write out the phrase all killer, no filler only two more times. But it really is. If you can’t tell, I’m ramping up on the number of Cross Talk episodes released each month AND we’re finally going to see the first ever Just ‘n Time Games episode at the end of the month, so stay tuned for that!

And I can’t believe I have to write this for the third time, but Megan Warkentin will finally get to see the spotlight this month, and because I feel bad, she’ll get a preview interview too!

Wondering what we’re going to talk about on Cross Talk? Well episode 10 was The Global Film market, but episode 11 is a little bit different. We’ll get a bit more intimate and talk about what someone’s taste in film says about their personality.

And those are all of the theories I can come up with for now friends. Please leave some comments, to let us know what you want to see in coming months and subscribe to the blog too! Have a fantastic long weekend to my Canadians, and Happy Thanksgiving!

Tim!

One Of These Things Is Not Like The Other Ones (The Night Before review)

Posted on March 15, 2016 by Tim Kuefler

Christmas movies are an interesting topic, because what constitutes a “Christmas” movie can vary by opinion. But the general idea is that a movie has to open no later than November (American Thanksgiving) and the story has to take place inside of the holiday season.

Whether the story is about Christmas itself is where the debate opens up, but fortunately for us, this week’s review is safely within that criteria.

The Night Before (2015)

Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anthony Mackie, Jillian Bell, Lizzy Caplan, Miley Cyrus
Director: Jonathan Levine
released on blu-ray March 1, 2016
****** 6/10

IMDB: 6.6
Rotten Tomatoes: 67%, Audience Score 67%
The Guardian: **/*****

Jonathan A. Levine is an American film director and screenwriter. He has directed 6 feature films to date, and the one you’re most likely to have seen is 50/50, which also happens to star Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogen. It’s a great movie about the trials of cancer both from the perspective of the friend with cancer and the friend without.

And that movie wouldn’t exist if The Wackness hadn’t done so well at the Sundance, LA and Melbourne film festivals.

So what is The Night Before about?

Taken from IMDB and edited,

Ethan Miller (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) lost his parents in a car accident on Christmas eve 2001. His best friends Isaac Greenberg (Seth Rogen) and Chris Roberts (Anthony Mackie) start a tradition to hang out every Christmas Eve. In 2008, while at a bar, they learn about the craziest Christmas party ever – The Nutcracker Ball. Each year, the guys try to find the party, but never succeed.

In 2015, Chris is now a famous football player that secretly uses steroids while Isaac is married to Betsy (Jillian Bell) and is expecting their first baby. Ethan is a struggling musician that has recently broken up with his girlfriend Diana (Lizzy Caplan) and works at a hotel. While tending the coats, Ethan finds something in one of the pockets – three tickets to The Nutcracker Ball. He calls the number on the tickets and learns that the location will be announced at 10:00 PM.

Isaac is at a party hosted by Betsy’s sister Cindy (Helene Yorke). Ethan, already a little drunk, shows up before Chris arrives. Isaac and Chris want their yearly tradition to end now, but don’t think Ethan is quite ready. Before heading out, Betsy gives Isaac a box full of every drug known to man.

They take a Red Bull limo (Chris sponsors it) to Rockefeller centre where Ethan reveals the tickets. They kick off the night by going to FAO Schwartz and dancing on the piano like Tom Hanks in “Big” to Kanye West’s “Runaway”. Chris calls teammate Tommy Owens (Aaron Hill), who is attending The Nutcracker Ball and asks for weed. The guys call their dealer Mr. Green (Michael Shannon) who shares some weed with Chris and tells him to go to a party he’s throwing later, and to tell Isaac that he’ll see him later.

Next the guys sing “Christmas in Hollis” at a karaoke bar while wearing three festive sweaters that Ethan wants them to wear. They are met by Diana and friend Sarah (Mindy Kaling). Ethan and Diana make small talk while Isaac is already tripping. He runs into the bathroom to do coke and balance himself out, and then makes a video expressing fears over becoming a dad. He goes back to talk to Sarah, gets them both drinks but his nose starts bleeding and a drop falls into Sarah’s drink, which she drinks unilt Isaac’s nose bleeds harder and he admits he did coke. Outside the bar, Chris talks to a fan named Rebecca (Ilana Glazer), who admittedly hates Christmas. The two have sex in the bathroom.

Afterwards, Ethan call for the party address. Chris then realizes Rebecca stole his weed during sex. They contact Mr. Green again and wait at Chris’s mother’s house. Isaac gets the weed when Mr. Green shows up. He shares weed with Isaac and gives him a glimpse of the future where his daughter is a stripper.

When Isaac goes back inside the house, his phone’s ringtone goes off, waking up Mrs. Roberts (Lorraine Toussant). She feeds the guys while Isaac trips out and looks at his phone to find a dick pic from a guy named James. Confused, Isaac responds and is propositioned by James. Realizing he has Sarah’s phone, Isaac freaks out that Sarah while show Diana his video, which will get to Betsy. Meanwhile, Chris and Mrs. Roberts talk about Ethan and Diana, Mrs. Roberts suggest Ethan take the opportunity on Christmas to make it up to her.

This festive comedy is fun and entertaining, but a little bit mediocre.

Pros: The story is best when the nuances of the three friendships are tested and enjoyed, but the real comedy comes from Seth Rogen and Michael Shannon.

Cons: The scenes change constantly without ever really feeling necessary, and the plot can feel gimmicky, especially at the very end.

Runtime: 101 minutes

Points of Interest: Jonathan Levine admitted that the comedy elements of the story were mostly improvised but the dramatic ones were planned, and served as an outline. All three main actors have portrayed super-heroes.

The movie has its moments, particularly the vision into the past where the two friends become Ethan’s symbolic parents, and joke about James Franco and Seth Rogen’s character is very on point. Where I struggle with it, is that the movie never fully committed to Ethan as the protagonist and the plot had too many threads.

I will say this though, the movie is very entertaining for a Christmas themed one, and I can definitely picture it coming out occasionally for those times when you’ve got the Christmas jones.

The Night Before is definitely a Christmas movie, but whether it can be considered a prestigious one is unlikely. Having said that, that doesn’t mean you should avoid Christmas movies altogether, especially if you like comedy. Christmas Vacation, Elf, A Christmas Story, Scrooged and Home Alone are all excellent choices to consider.

Anyways, I’m all out of theories for today folks. I’ll see you tomorrow with some wisdom. Comment! Subscribe! Email!

Tim!

Friends That Play Together, Stay Together (Eagles of Death Metal, Zipper Down review)

Posted on October 12, 2015 by Tim Kuefler

Dear readers, have you ever wanted to be in a band with your friend? But you never got off your butt to make it happen?

Yeah me too.

Well I’m going to cut right to the chase with this week’s album review. I had an opportunity to listen to a couple of friends play music together this past week and let me tell you, it was a good time.

Eagles of Death Metal – Zipper Down
released October 2, 2015
******* 7/10

At this point in Eagles Of Death Metal’s career, they aren’t likely to drum up anything new in terms of the Rock scene and experimentation. Their 4th album is a solid fare into the arena though, don’t get me wrong.

To be honest, I had not listened to much of their discography before this outing, but after about a dozen listens, both consciously listening and daydreaming during a ride back into town during the Thanksgiving weekend, and an online education into their history, I’ve realized that this duo is a fun formula of a classic format.

My favourite track is probably their cover of Save A Prayer, but Josh Hommes and Jesse Hughes got me jumping with Complexity, crooning with Oh Girl, and laughing during Silverlake, Skin Tight Boogie, and the Reverend. In particular this lyric from The Reverend was fantastic.

Y’all can’t dance
What you need is a Reverend
To give you some boogie

Rock and roll has been around since the 1940s, so its incredibly difficult for us to appreciate how much impact it has had on music over the past 70+ years, but these guys not only get the importance of their message, they celebrate it in their music. Combining blues, garage, hard rock, and elements of satire, EODM has made their most rock-centric effort so far.

I especially enjoyed how Hughes is the frontman of the act and Hommes takes a background role more often, even though he is normally the frontman of his own incredibly successful rock band, Queens of the Stone Age.

Apparently it has been about 7 years since they released an album, but some of my more back-to-basics rock friends were excited to see these guys in the lineup at Sonic Boom 2015, so I’m not surprised to hear how fresh their sound is. These two are long-time friends, and as the old adage goes, it’s not how much time you spend with a friend, but how you spend it that really matters.

This is the kind of music you can listen to with friends over smokes, beer and mustaches. I would recommend it on a long roadtrip, at a campfire, or gearing up for a stadium event too.

The Zipper Down recording sessions took place in California, if that also helps give you sense of the pacing. And did you know that Hommes produced the whole album?

Okay one more piece of info about the band. Look at what I found on their website in the news section regarding this album release.

EODM was formed in 1998 in Palm Desert, California by best friends Jesse Hughes and Joshua Homme. Despite their band name, EODM (Eagles Of Death Metal) is not a death metal band. The story goes that a friend was introducing Joshua Homme to the death metal genre, and Homme wondered what a cross between the Eagles and a death metal band would sound like. With that, EODM was born. The band released Peace Love Death Metal in 2004, followed by Death By Sexy in 2006, and Heart On in 2008

All in all, this is a good piece of rock and roll, not particularly spectacular, either as an introductory album to the genre, a genre-defining record, or an album “you must hear before you die”. But fun nonetheless.

With that said, I hope you’ve all had a fantastic long weekend, and are gearing up for the rest of the month. Not too long from now it will be freezing outside, so enjoy the weather, your pumpkin spice everything, and come back tomorrow for a neat movie review and some more theories.

Tim!