Sure, this stuff would have probably gone great with your kid’s Halloween costume, but I guess I’m a day late and a dollar short for that. (I’d imagine it could still be part of a pretty good Chanukah present, but I digress.) In any event, if we went to Walmart today*, some of this Where The Wild Things Are merch might be 50% off, but I’ll one up the evil empire of everyday low prices and give it all away to you, my loyal readers (and random people trolling the Internet for free stuff), for free. OK, enough suspense, here’s what’s up for grabs:

1 Copy of the Where The Wilds Things Are Original Soundtrack on Vinyl;
1 Carol Mask;
1 Carol Tote Bag, and
1 Where The Wilds Things Are Crown.

To enter the contest, fill out the entry form after the jump. A random winner will be notified and selected on November 9, 2009. Contest is only available to US residents.

Where The Wild Things Are is in theatres now, the original motion picture soundtrack featuring Karen O and the Kids is available now on Interscope Records, and you can still purchase the award winning Maurice Sendak book that started it all in fine bookstores everywhere.

* Who’s kidding who, you can’t get quality schwag like this at Walmart.

The Hebrew Hammer (Adam Goldberg) is back on the big screen this weekend and this time he’s not playing an Orthodox private dick, but rather a composer of “unlistenable” music who becomes romantically involved with an art gallery owner (Marley Shelton). His new film has the Google friendly title of (Untitled) and it opens in New York and other selected cities today (Oct 23). I haven’t seen it yet, but the trailer looks pretty funny, and Marshall Fine of the Huffington Post seemed to be pretty jazzed about it:

A laugh-out-loud satire with a dry-martini wit, (Untitled) manages the neat trick of poking wicked fun at the worlds of experimental music and art — from all angles — even as it gives a humorously sympathetic look at the plight of the serious artist working far outside the commercial mainstream. [HuffingtonPost.com]

Last but not least, because I haven’t done this in a day or two, I’m giving away a couple of movie related items to one lucky reader who emails me at contests@bumpershine.com and tells me the name of their favorite Adam Goldberg movie. You could win the following:

1) A copy of the official movie soundtrack by David Lang, and
2) A full size movie poster.

US residents only please, a winner will be chosen on Friday, October 30. Please include your name and address if you want to have a chance at winning.

Check out the (Untitled) movie poster and trailer after the jump (keep your eyes peeled for Dean & Britta’s Dean Wareham).

I would imagine this will sell out faster than you can “Fantastic Mr. Fox“.

Talk | A CONVERSATION WITH WES ANDERSON AND JASON SCHWARTZMAN
Tue, Nov 10, Doors 7:30 pm, $18

Get a sneak peek of Fantastic Mr. Fox before it’s out in theaters! 92YTribeca and Borders are proud to join forces with Twentieth Century Fox to present an evening of conversation with Wes Anderson and Jason Schwartzman about the new stop-motion animated adaptation of the famous Roald Dahl novel. The bar will be open, and books will be for sale, including The Making of Fantastic Mr. Fox by Wes Anderson and the original Dahl novel.

www.92YTribeca.org/Talks

So they’ve hired Anthony Daniels to host the show, but shouldn’t this gig really have gone to Bill Murray?

Star Wars: In Concert is a unique event that combines John Williams’ unforgettable music, performed by a live symphony orchestra and chorus, with specially edited footage from all six Star Wars films. Through each musical piece, audiences will experience the key themes, characters and story elements of the epic Star Wars saga from a new perspective. Taking a remarkable excursion into the heart of a galaxy far, far away.

A true multi-media experience, Star Wars: In Concert features a giant, specially constructed LED screen – one of the largest screens ever taken on tour – onto which the newly edited film sequences will be projected and synchrnoized to a live performance from John Williams’ thrilling scores. Anthony Daniels, the actor who portrays C-3PO in all six films, will introduce each segment of the two hour show, guiding audiences through the Star Wars story in a fresh and exciting way.

Tickets for Star Wars: In Concert at Nassau Coliseum (11/21/09 – 2 shows) and the Izod Center (11/20/09) go on Amex presale starting Monday, October 5 (today) at 10AM. On a side note, the absence of an MSG date is a little surprising… are we too good for Star Wars in this town?

Some classic SNL video featuring “Nick The Lounge Singer” after the jump.

via videosift.com

In celebration of the October 6 release of The Mountain Goats new album, The Life of the World To Come, Housing Works, 4AD and Other Music present a free screening of:

THE LIFE OF THE WORLD TO COME: A FILM BY RIAN JOHNSON
The Mountain Goats in solo and duo performance at Pomona College. In this film by Rian Johnson (Brick, the Brothers Bloom), John Darnielle performs The Life of the World to Come on piano and guitar. Shot in the same building where, as an eight-year-old piano student and new transplant to Claremont, he performed Bach minuets for the state examiner, THE LIFE OF THE WORLD TO COME takes the songs from the album and restores them to their raw original states: skin, blood, and bone.

This special screening will be followed with a discussion/Q&A portion with director, Rian Johnson and John Darnielle (the Mountain Goats)

Date: Sunday, October 04, 2009
Location: Housing Works – 126 Crosby St.
5:45 PM – Doors
6 – 7 PM – Film Screening
7 – 7:30 PM – Q&A/Post-screening discussion with John and Rian
7:30 – 8:30 PM – Cocktail Hour
Admission is free / open to the public / first come, first served
Album will be on sale early at this event

The new Mountain Goats album will be released on October 6, 2009 and John Darnielle and his friend Owen Pallet (aka Final Fantasy) will be playing Webster Hall on December 1 (Buy Tickets) and The Bell House on December 2. Also, you can catch The Mountain Goats national TV debut on The Colbert Report on Tuesday, October 6, 2009 (the same the album is released). Last but not least, The Life of the World To Come is streaming on ColbertNation.com right now!

More Mountain Goats tour dates after the jump.

Mountain Goats 2009 Tour Dates
Oct 09 2009 Paradiso Amsterdam*
Oct 10 2009 Queen Elizabeth Hall London*
Oct 11 2009 Ruby Lounge Manchester*
Oct 13 2009 Point Ephemere Paris*
Oct 15 2009 Magnet Club Berlin*
Nov 04 2009 Ladies Literary Club Grand Rapids, Michigan#
Nov 05 2009 Metro Chicago, Illinois#
Nov 06 2009 High Noon Saloon Madison, Wisconsin#
Nov 07 2009 Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, Minnesota#
Nov 10 2009 Showbox at the Market Seattle, Washington#
Nov 11 2009 Wonder Ballroom Portland, Oregon#
Nov 14 2009 Fillmore Theatre San Francisco, California#
Nov 15 2009 Henry Fonda Theatre Los Angeles, California#
Nov 18 2009 Antone’s Austin, Texas#
Nov 19 2009 Granada Theatre Dallas, Texas#
Nov 20 2009 Mercy Lounge Nashville, Tennessee#
Nov 21 2009 Variety Playhouse Atlanta, Georgia#
Nov 23 2009 The Social Orlando, Florida#
Nov 24 2009 Cafe 11 St. Augustine, Florida#
Nov 27 2009 9:30 Club Washington, Washington DC#
Nov 28 2009 Theatre of the Living Arts Philadelphia, Pennsylvania#
Nov 29 2009 Wilbur Theatre Boston, Massachusetts#
Dec 01 2009 Webster Hall New York City, New York#
Dec 02 2009 Bell House (SOLD OUT) Brooklyn, New York#

* JD solo
# full band, with Final Fantasy

Symphony Space has some excellent concerts and events lined up for their 2009-2010 Family Season including mega kiddie acts like Ralph’s World and Brooklyn favorites such as, Randy Kaplan, Astrograss and Gustafer Yellowgold, just to name a few. The new season kicks off on Saturday, October 3 with the Woodstock based folk-rock singer Elizabeth Mitchell who will charm both children and adults alike with her renditions of songs by artists ranging from Bob Dylan to Bob Marley. In celebration of the new season, (and because I love giveaways), I’m giving away family four-pack of tickets to Elizabeth Mitchell at Symphony Space to one lucky reader who emails me at contests@bumpershine.com and tells me the name of their favorite family/kids album. A random winner will be chosen and notified on Wednesday, September 30. View the entire 2009-2010 Symphony Space season of family programming over here.

It’s officially fall now, and not only does that mean back to school, but it also means that there is a bumper crop of children’s fare available on home video, at the movie theatres and even at the record store (if they still have a record store where you live, that is). This Tuesday (September 22) marked the release of The Fine Friends Are Here, the latest DVD from venerable Brooklyn entertainer Dan Zanes (his first DVD in four years, and his first release for Razor and Tie). The new DVD, recorded live at The Jalopy Theatre in Red Hook, Brooklyn, contains 13 live tracks, 3 new videos and a four-song bonus cd of late-night (read “lullaby”) music. The songs and videos on the new disc draw from Zanes’ fine back catalog, with over half the tunes coming his most recent albums, Catch That Train and Nueva York and the rest being drawn from Family Dance, and a few of his various older releases. The new DVD is a huge step up from his previous wildly successful video release, All Around The Kitchen (which I watched until it was etched in my brain) in terms of production quality. The transitions between songs are seamless and clever, the band is well lit for the entire performance (a real fault of the first video if you ask me), the direction is well thought out, the camerawork is solid (not shaky), and the image you see on your screen just looks about 100 times better than the last DVD, in fact, it looks like the show was captured on film (though I suspect it was probably some form of HD video). Sure it’s a much slicker package this time around, but when all is said and done, it’s really the songs and the performances that make this new video a winner. Though Dan has assembled an almost completely new band since Kitchen was released (long time drummer Colin Brooks remains), the new players can still “bring the party”, and the joy and enthusiasm taken in the rendition of each song is directly reflected on the faces of the audience members at the Jalopy and should carry over to those viewing at home too. On a final note, it was nice to see that they got rid of the cookie cutter Noggin videos that were included in the last DVD and created some cute original videos for this new release. Like you might expect, Dan has a few DVD release shows lined up in the near future, he’ll be playing on Friday, September 25 (tomorrow) at the Housing Works Bookstore and Cafe and then again at the 92Y Tribeca on September 30 at 4PM. View all of Dan Zanes upcoming tour dates and the track list for the The Fine Friends Are Here over here.

In TV soundtrack news, on October 20, 2009 the gang from Yo Gabba Gabba, one of the most indie savvy kids programs on TV, will release a new album full of songs from the show as performed by some of your favorite artists including: Of Montreal, Mark Kozelek, The Shins, The Roots and many more artists you wouldn’t expect to find on the Nickelodeon Channel. In celebration of this release, the YGG stars (DJ Lance Rock, Lance Robertson; Brobee, the little green one; Foofa, the pink flower bubble; Muno, the red Cyclops; Toodee, the blue cat-dragon; and Plex) are headed out on a small three city tour which will make its way to the Beacon Theatre in NYC on November 21, 2009, tickets for that show go on sale on October 9. View the track list for Yo Gabba Gabba! Music is Awesome! over here. One last thing, YGG Live isn’t DJ Lance’s only upcoming local appearance, he’ll be appearing this Saturday, September 26 at Riverside Park as part of the RBC Race For The Kids, and then again on Sunday, October 4 at the New York Times Great Children’s Read at Columbia University.

Last but not least, Spike Jonze’s long delayed, yet much anticipated movie adaptation of Maurice Sendak’s beloved children’s book Where The Wild Things Are will be released in theaters nationwide on October 16, with the official soundtrack dropping on September 29. The soundtrack features original songs by Karen O and The Kids (”The Kids” includes Tristan Bechet, Tom Biller, Bradford Cox, Brian Chase, Dean Fertita, Aaron Hemphill, Greg Kurstin, Jack Lawrence, Oscar Michel, Imaad Wasif, Nick Zinner and an untrained children’s choir) and to celebrate the new release in style, Karen O and her other band, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs will be performing an intimate show at The Music Hall of Williamsburg on September 29, 2009.

Tons more fall and winter family events from The New York Times, 92Y Tribeca, New Victory Theatre, The Bell House, Brooklyn Center For The Performing Arts, The Jewish Museum, Symphony Space, Kidrockers and other fine NY institutions after the jump.

Housing Works Bookstore Cafe Family Events
09/25/09 at 4 pm Dan Zanes DVD Screening with Live Dan Appearance

Riverside Park (72nd St & Riverside Drive)
09/26/09 RBC Race For The Kids (4K Run/Walk) w/ Nick Cannon, DJ Lance Rock, the Cast of Degrassi Junior High, Sponge Bob, Dora The Explorer and Tiki Barber

Columbia University (Broadway & 116th Street)
10/04/09 10 am – 5 pm The NY Times Great Childrens’ Read featuring Justin Roberts & the Not Ready for Naptime Players, Peter Yarrow, Playhouse Disney’s “Choo-Choo Soul”, John Carter Cash, Hip Hop Harry, and DJ Lance and Brobee of Yo Gabba Gabba, Bernadette Peters and more

Symphony Space 2009-2010 Season
10/03/09 at 11 am Elizabeth Mitchell
10/04/09 at 1 pm Judy Blume’s The Pain and the Great One series
10/10/09 at 2 pm Bubble Do Beatles: Magical Mystery Tour
10/17/09 at 11 am Randy Kaplan
10/18/09 at 1 pm Trenton Lee Stewart’s The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner’s Dilemma
10/24/09 at 11 am Ezra Jack Keats in Story and Song
10/25/09 at 1 pm Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson’s Peter and the Sword of Mercy
11/07/09 at 11 am and 2 pm Cats Paying Dues
11/08/09 at 1 pm Scott Westerfeld’s Leviathan
11/14/09 at 2 pm National Dance Institute’s Celebration Team
11/21/09 at 11 am Brady Rymer and the Little Band that Could
12/11/09 at 8 pm The Christmas Revels
12/12/09 at 2 pm and 8 pm The Christmas Revels
12/13/09 at 3 pm The Christmas Revels
12/26/09 at 11 am and 2 pm The Muppets Christmas Carol
01/02/10 at 11 am and 2 pm The Muppets Take Manhattan
01/09/10 at 11 am and 2 pm Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny
01/16/10 at 11 am The Jimmies
01/24/10 at 1 pm Jon Scieszka’s Robot Zot
01/31/10 at 1 pm Walter Dean Myers’ Riot
02/06/10 at 11 am and 2 pm Secret Agent 23 Skidoo
02/13/10 at 11 am Key Wilde and Mr. Clarke
02/20/10 at 11 am and 2 pm Ralph’s World
02/27/10 at 11 am Astrograss
02/28/10 at 1 pm Kristin Cashore’s Fire (the companion to Graceling)
03/07/10 at 1 pm Mary Pope Osborne’s Magic Tree House series
03/27/10 at 11 am The Sippy Cups
04/10/10 at 11 am and 2 pm Justin Roberts and the Not Ready for Naptime Players
04/11/10 at 1 pm David Levithan and John Green’s Will Grayson, Will Grayson
04/17/10 at 11 am The Gustafer Yellowgold Show

New Victory Theater 2009-2010 Season
09/18/09 – 09/27/09 Cinderella (Ages 4 – Adult)
10/02/09 – 10/18/09 My House (18mo – 3yrs)
10/02/09 – 10/11/09 The Man Who Planted Trees (Ages 7 – Adult)
10/15/09 – 11/01/09 Hansel and Gretel (Ages 8 – Adult)
11/13/09 – 11/29/09 Peter and the Wolf (All Ages)
12/04/09 – 01/03/10 Chestnuts Roasting On The Flaming Idiots (All Ages)
01/08/10 – 01/17/10 Once and For All We’re Gonna Tell You Who We Are So Shut Up and Listen (13 – Adult)
02/05/10 – 02/21/10 The Enchanted Pig (Ages 7 – Adult)
03/05/10 – 03/14/10 The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)
03/19/10 – 04/04/10 46 Circus Acts in 45 Minutes
04/09/10 – 04/18/10 Time Step (Ages 6 – Adult)
04/23/10 – 05/02/10 Elephant (Ages 7 – Adult)
05/07/10 – 05/23/10 Pagagnini (Ages 6 – Adult)
05/14/10 – 05/23/10 The Butterfly Garden (Ages 3 – 8)

92YTribeca B.Y.O.K. Events
09/30/09 4 pm Dan Zanes: The Fine Friends Are Here!
10/11/09 11 am Astrograss Country Bluegrass Brunch
10/18/09 11 am The Dream Jam Band
10/25/09 11 am Robbi K & Friends present Lumpy Bumpy Pumpkin Rock! A Storytelling-Dance Party
11/01/09 11 am The Suzi Shelton Band
11/08/09 11 am Shana Barry And The Fofers
11/15/09 11 am Billy Kelly & The Blahblahblahs
11/22/09 11 am Elizabeth Mitchell
12/06/09 11 am Rani Arbo and Daisy Mayhem
12/13/09 11 am Princess Katie & Racer Steve
01/10/10 11 am Asylum Street Spankers

Little Orchestra Lolli-Pops Fall Series at Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College
10/03/09 10:30am & 12 pm Peter and the Wolf
10/04/09 1 pm & 2:30 pm Peter and the Wolf
10/24/09 10:30am & 12 pm Animal Tales
10/25/09 1 pm & 2:30 pm Animal Tales
12/05/09 10:30am & 12 pm Things That Go Bang!
12/06/09 1 pm & 2:30 pm Things That Go Bang!

Little Orchestra Lolli-Pops Spring Series at The Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College
02/06/10 10:30 am & 12 pm The Orchestra A Happy Family
02/07/10 1 pm & 2:30pm The Orchestra A Happy Family
03/06/10 10:30 am & 12 pm A Musical Toy Store
03/07/10 1 pm & 2:30pm A Musical Toy Store
05/15/10 10:30am & 12 pm Music Tells a Story feat. Guest Artist Peter Reynolds
05/16/10 1 pm & 2:30pm Music Tells a Story feat. Guest Artist Peter Reynolds

Little Orchestra Happy Concerts at Avery Fisher Hall
12/19/09 11 am and 1 pm Babes in Toyland
01/30/10 11 am and 1 pm Magic, Music and Mystery feat. Guest Artist Lyn Dillies
04/17/10 11 am and 1 pm Aerialists, Athletes and Arpeggios feat. Guest Artists AntiGravity

Jewish Museum Fall Family Concerts
10/18/09 Funkey Monkeys 11:30 am and 2 pm (Ages 2 – 6)
11/15/09 Gustafer Yellowgold 2 pm (Ages 3+)
12/13/09 Chanukah Concert: Shirlala 2 pm (Ages 3 – 8)
12/25/09 Family Celebration 11:30 am – 3 pm (Ages 3+)

Brooklyn Center For The Performing Arts
10/11/09 2 pm Harold and The Purple Crayon (Ages 4+)
12/13/09 4 pm The Colonial Nutcracker (Ages 4+)
03/14/10 2 pm Sleeping Beauty (Ages 6+)
04/11/10 2 pm Dirty Sock Funtime Band (Ages 4+)
04/25/10 2 pm Tap Kids (Ages 6+)

The Bell House Family Events
10/24/09 11 am Ralph’s World (under age 2 FREE)
Sundays in Jan & Feb 2010 – The Bell House Rocks (Schedule TBA)

Kidrockers at The Living Room
10/25/09 1 pm Neon Indian and Real Estate. Hosted by Seth Herzog and Craig Baldo.

“Yo Gabba Gabba Live: There’s A Party In My City” Tour Dates
11/14/09 Yo Gabba Gabba Live, Shrine Expo Hall, Los Angeles, CA (Buy Tickets Oct 9)
11/21/09 Yo Gabba Gabba Live, Beacon Theatre, New York, NY (Buy Tickets Oct 9)
12/05/09 Yo Gabba Gabba Live, Rosemont Theatre, Chicago, IL (Buy Tickets Oct 9)

Yo Gabba Gabba!: Music Is Awesome! Track Listing:
1. Yo Gabba Gabba! Theme
2. Yo Gabba Gabba! – Party In My Tummy
3. The Shins – It’s Okay, Try Again
4. Yo Gabba Gabba! – I Like To Dance
5. Money Mark – Robo Dancing
6. Yo Gabba Gabba! – Get The Sillies Out
7. Biz MArkie – Biz’s Beat Of The Day #1
8. Chromeo – Nice ‘N’ Clean
9. Yo Gabba Gabba! – Try It, You’ll Like It
10. The Roots – Lovely, Love My Family
11. Yo Gabba Gabba! – Don’t Be Afraid
12. I’m From Barceleona – Just Because It’s Different Doesn’t Mean Scary
13. Yo Gabba Gabba! – Bubbles
14. Of Montreal – Brush Brush Brush
15. Yo Gabba Gabba! – Nice & Easy
16. The Little Ones – Hey, Won’t Somebody Come And Play
17. Weird Science – Go Crazy Remix
18. Yo Dazzlers – You Can’t Always Get What You Want
19. Mark Kozelek – Bedtime Lullaby
20. Yo Gabba Gabba! – Goodbye Song
21. Yo Gabba Gabba! Closing Theme

Dan Zanes 2009 Fall Tour Dates
09/25 new york, ny housing works bookstore cafe
09/27 des moines, ia every family rocks!
09/30 new york, ny 92y tribeca
10/03 asbury park, nj paramount theater
10/04 westbury, ny capital one bank theatre at westbury
10/10 newark, nj nj performing arts center
10/11 roanoke, va shaftman performance hall
10/23 amherst, ma umass fine arts center
10/24 boston, ma halloweentown
10/25 boston, ma halloweentown

Fine Friends Are Here Track Listing:
Let’s Shake *CTT
Fine Friends *CTT
Wabash Cannonball *HP
Water For the Elephants *FD
Jump Up (with David Alan a.k.a. Cyclone) *FD
Cape Cod Girls *SM
El Canario *NY
The Welcome Table (with Caridad de la Luz a.k.a. La Bruja) *CTT
Thrift Shop *FD
Monkey’s Wedding *FFAH
Catch That Train *CTT
Colas *NY
Walking the Dog (with David Alan a.k.a. Cyclone) *CTT

Music Videos:
Wonder Wheel *FD
Pollito Chicken (with Caridad de la Luz a.k.a. La Bruja) *NY
Night Owl *NT

The track list for the Twilight: New Moon soundtrack was announced today and aside from having some top indie acts on it, here’s why it’s kind of a big deal:

For the music industry, though, its soundtrack is practically a miracle. According to Nielsen SoundScan, the [Twilight] soundtrack has sold 2.2 million copies, a once-routine quantity that in an age of depressed sales has become tantalizingly rare. So like vampires drawn to the scent of blood, record labels, publishers and artist managers have spent much of the last year aggressively pursuing “The Twilight Saga: New Moon,” the second in the series, which will open in theaters on Nov. 20.

Alexandra Patsavas, the music supervisor on both films, was hired for “New Moon” in January but said in an interview this week that the pitches for the soundtrack started coming in even before then. And although the list of songs for “New Moon” is still being completed, music executives say they have already begun pushing to have their artists included in the third film, “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse,” scheduled for release next June. [NYTimes.com]

The MySpace Music Blog (I’m as surprised as you are) exclusively posted the TNM track list earlier today:

1. Death Cab For Cutie – Meet Me On The Equinox
2. Band Of Skulls – Friends
3. Thom Yorke- Hearing Damage
4. Lykke Li – Possibility
5. The Killers – A White Demon Love Song
6. Anya Marina – Satellite Heart
7. Muse – I Belong To You (New Moon Remix)
8. Bon Iver and St. Vincent – Rosyln
9. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Done All Wrong
10. Hurricane Bells – Monsters
11. Sea Wolf – The Violet Hour
12. Ok Go- Shooting The Moon
13. Grizzly Bear – Slow Life
14. Editors – No Sound But The Wind
15. Alexandre Desplat – New Moon (The Meadow)

The Twilight: New Moon soundtrack will be in stores on October 20th.

For the cineastes in the audience, I’m happy to bring back semi-irregular movie correspondent (in frequency, not disposition), Alberto DeSouza, for a review of a movie I thoroughly enjoyed, Robert Siegel’s directorial debut, “Big Fan“.

Big Fan Film Review
By Alberto DeSouza

“If you think you’re a sports fantatic, whether as a viewer, participant, or both, you ain’t seen nothing like Paul from Staten Island (Patton Oswalt), the seriously psychologically damaged goods in this very sharp and well-done independent flick on a super-low budget.

Here’s a guy who eeks out a living as a parking garage attendant (and who’s quite happy to remain as he is) but who has a profound obsession with his NY Giants team and is a regular on one of the sports radio programs. For the current season, he has an on-going feud with his nemesis, an almost equally twisted grown-up with no life, who’s an Eagle fan.

By chance, Paul and his sidekick spot the Jints superstar quarterback, Quantrell Bishop (hence the initials QB for quarterback – obvious but clever) somewhere in Staten Island. They follow him to Manhattan into a posh nightclub where a Bud goes for $9. An altercation breaks out when they approach QB and Paul ends up in the hospital. His idol QB is suspended pending an investigation.

But the obsessive fan that he his, he refuses to testify against QB to allow him to continue playing. Even his brother who wants to sue is pissed off and screams, “How does one get a concussion with no fucking brain?”

This is less of a story about twisted football fans, rather about a deeply disturbed and introverted individual who is incapable of communicating with other people who don’t share his passion for sports, particularly football. He has found his subculture of equally lost souls, who’s probably on the very bottom rung, and becomes its demented prisoner despite the masochocist punishment, physically and psychologically from his hero icon QB. He has no other interests: women, sex, drugs, whatever. His church is Giant Stadium and worships his team in the parking lot with a portable TV with his buddy every Sunday. Think of a short, pudgy Travis Bickle Lite from Taxi Driver.

His family, who genuinely loves him and tries to help him, tries the Good Guy approach and the tough love approach. But Paul is unmoved, detached and possibly lost permanently. His ‘family’ is the NY Giants, win or lose, and his father figure is QB since there’s no mention of his father in the movie.

There’s a screamingly hiliarious scene between Paul and his mother in the car. It was so funny and unexpectedly, I practically choked on my dessert.

With respect to films depicting real-life damaged characters, this flick is superb and a must-see.”

“Big Fan” is currently playing in NY, NJ, and PA and is opening in more theaters across the nation every weekend. Check this link to help locate a theatre near you.

JHud and The Wizard of Oz in Central Park, umm, does it get any better than this? Also, if you read the last paragraph closely, you’ll notice that Netflix will be serving up free streams of the 70 year old classic film at netflix.com/wizardofoz on October 3, 2009.

We’re proud to present a 70th anniversary celebration of the classic movie The Wizard of Oz later this month in New York City.

We’re hosting a free outdoor screening of the movie in Central Park, preceded by a free, live concert featuring special performances of songs from the movie by: Jennifer Hudson, Julianne Hough and ?uestlove of the Roots.

Date: Tuesday, September 29th
Concert: 7:30 pm
Screening: 8:30 pm
Address: Rumsey Playfield, Central Park, New York

For more details please visit: www.netflix.com/wizardofoz

As part of the celebration, Netflix will also be inviting the general public to instantly watch The Wizard of Oz for free online on Saturday, October 3rd, at the website noted above. Be sure to tell your friends not to miss this classic movie and try out the Netflix service.

If you’d like to find out a little more about the lore of Oz, you can check out the August 28 episode of Kurt Andersen’s Studio 360.

Folks, in the business, they call this an “underplay”. Tickets for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs at MHOW on September 29 go on sale Friday, August 28 at noon. (Tickets will sell out at approximately about 12:01 PM.) Incidentally, September 29 is the same day that the soundtrack to Where The Wild Things Are comes out which features Karen O and The Kids. The lead single off of the movie soundtrack, “All Is Love” came out digitally this Tuesday.

YYYs are also playing Radio City Music Hall on September 23, 2009. All Yeah Yeah Yeahs tour dates over here.

Full press release and album art for Where The Wild Things Are soundtrack after the jump.

Inside Karen O is a Wild Thing – as singer for the Grammy-nominated Yeah Yeah Yeahs, her wild thing is in your face, vulnerable, obnoxious, tender, exciting… a self-proclaimed “spazoid.” However, to Oscar-nominated Where the Wild Things Are director Spike Jonze, Karen O and her music possess a child-like innocence, a guileless charm that put her exactly on the right emotional wavelength to sonically capture the highly-anticipated film.

To compose music for the film, O enlisted friends and fellow musicians she believed had the musical intuition that would bolster her intent to marry sound to vision. Dubbed Karen O and the Kids, the kids include Tristan Bechet (Services), Tom Biller (co-producer with Karen O and member of Afternoons), Bradford Cox (Deerhunter), Brian Chase (YYY), Dean Fertita (The Dead Weather), Aaron Hemphill (Liars), Greg Kurstin (The Bird and the Bee), Jack Lawrence (The Dead Weather), Oscar Michel (Gris Gris), Imaad Wasif (New Folk Implosion), Nick Zinner, (YYY) and an untrained children’s choir.

With a screenplay co-written by Jonze and author Dave Eggers, Where the Wild Things Are, is ultimately a story about the places we go to figure out the world we live in – with a soundtrack that encompasses all levels of childhood antics.

Artist: Karen O and the Kids
Album: Where The Wild Things Are Official Soundtrack
Release Date: September 29 2009
Label: DGC/Interscope

I’ve been keeping track of these kind of events for a few years now and this is the first time I can recall Robert Redford doing a Q & A after a film (though he probably has done a few). In any event, ticketholders to the September 13, 2009 Redford: Film & Conversation screenings are invited to a panel discussion afterwards in the BAM Harvey Theater with Robert Redford and special guests.

On Sun, Sep 13, BAMcinematek presents Redford: Film & Conversation, four simultaneous screenings of Robert Redford classics followed by a panel discussion with Mr. Redford and special guests in the BAM Harvey Theater at 6pm.

Films to be screened:

Out of Africa
A sweeping romance that recounts the experiences of European colonists in Kenya during the early 1900s.

The Natural
A middle-aged baseball rookie leads a losing 1930s baseball team to victory with a magical talent and a bat forged from a lightning struck tree.

The Electric Horseman
A washed up rodeo star and corporate shill who, disillusioned with his life, steals a horse during a publicity stunt and heads into the desert to release it into the wild.

The Way We Were
Redford and Streisand are a pair of star-crossed lovers who meet in college: she’s a Marxist Jew and he’s a WASP-y jock with a knack for writing. More

UPDATE: The Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein will join Redford on the Q&A panel after the screening of All The President’s Men on September 12.

At what point do you score a movie?

In three stages. I pick a lot of music as I’m writing, some of it even before I write. I have a vinyl room, like a record store, in my house—that’s one of the perks of being me. I dive into my record collection, I have a turntable already set up to make tapes, and I’m trying to find the rhythm, the beat of the movie. For instance, I wanted to set Jackie Brown in a more black world than the book took place in—even if it’s not a blaxploitation movie, it will have that energy or vibe. So then I go diving into ’70s soul music. Usually, I’m trying to find that opening credit sequence and once I find that, then I’m like, “OK, I can do this now,” ’cause that gives me enough to be excited by it. Also, if I get tired writing, or whenever I just need enthusiasm, I go into that room, play those songs, and imagine watching the movie with my friends and everyone’s oohing and aahing, and that gets me going again. I might even play those on the set. Then I’m always looking for music while I’m doing the movie, and then that last thing is in the editing, I’m diving for more stuff. And Harvey [Weinstein] always wants me to put more music in. I’m like, “Harvey, the reason it works so good is that there’s not wall-to-wall noise, [so] when it comes on, it’s cool.” [It's] the last little thing before we lock picture—because Harvey pays a lot of money for my movies so let me give him a little respect. I dive in, and if I find something [else], it’s good, and if I don’t, I don’t. But I know that if I look hard enough, I’m going to find something. [VillageVoice.com]

Inglourious Basterds, the new film by Quentin Tarantino is out in theatres this Friday, August 21 and as you’ve probably heard, the Weinstein Company has a lot riding on this release.

“The ship’s riding on the slate,” Harvey says, sounding remarkably buoyant, all things considered. “If by February, when we release ‘Hoodwinked 2’ ” — he playfully thumps a hand on the table, dramatizing the sound of failure — “I’ll be driving you, or making cheap hamburgers, or selling trailers, or refrigerators, or something. If the slate works, we’re right back to plan.” [NYTimes.com]

In celebration of the film’s release (or really just because I like contests), I’m giving away the following Inglourious Basterds items:

• One special edition David Bowie 7″ vinyl edition edition of “Cat People”
• One copy of the official soundtrack on CD
• Two Inglorious Basterds movie posters

To enter the contest, send your name and address (US residents only) to contests@bumpershine.com and tell me the name of your favorite Tarantino movie. Winner will be randomly chosen on August 28, 2009.

Movie trailer, Inglourious Basterds Soundtrack track list and album art after the jump.

Inglourious Basterds Tracklist
The Green Leaves of Summer – Nick Perito
The Verdict – Ennio Morricone
White Lightning – Charles Bernstein
Slaughter – Billy Preston
The Surrender (La Resa)- Ennio Morricone
One Silver Dollar (Un Dollaro Bucato) – The Film Studio Orchestra
Davon Geht Die Welt Nicht Unter – Zarah Leander
The Man With The Big Sombrero – Samantha Shelton and Michael Andrew
Ich Wollt Ich Waer Ein Huhn – Lilian Harvey and Willy Fritsch
Main Theme From Dark of The Sun – Jacques Loussier
Cat People (Putting Out The Fire) – David Bowie
Tiger Tank – Lalo Schifrin
Un Amico – Ennio Morricone
Rabbia e Tarantella – Ennio Morricone

Tonight’s Schedule:
* Open Bar – Liquor (Vodka) Mixed Drinks from 6:30PM-7:30PM
* Drink Special from 7:30PM-9:30PM: 1 Rolling Rock + 1 well liquor shot for $6

6:30 – 7:30 Open Bar
7:30 – 8:00 Watch Me Fall album playback
8:00 – 8:20 Waiting For Something documentary screening
8:20 – 8:50 Album playback again

RSVP to watchmefall@lpr.com

At 29, Jay Reatard, whose real name is Jimmy Lee Lindsey Jr., has been a public figure in Memphis for nearly half his life, though he only began attracting national attention after the release, in 2006, of “Blood Visions” (In the Red) and a barrage of shows at the South by Southwest Music Festival in 2007 and 2008. His first album billed as a solo artist — he played almost every note on the record himself — “Blood Visions” revealed Mr. Lindsey’s talent for distilling punk songwriting to its most elemental form, a mix of adrenaline, testosterone and sugary hooks. Delivered in an ersatz English accent, songs like “My Shadow” were reminiscent of late-1970s British punk, particularly bands like Wire and the Adverts, whose former leader, TV Smith, was tapped by Mr. Lindsey as the opening act for his recent tour.
…
“Watch Me Fall,” Mr. Lindsey’s new album, out on Tuesday from Matador Records, expands his influences to include the ’80s kiwi pop of the Flying Nun label from New Zealand and bands like the Clean and the Tall Dwarfs. Acoustic guitar features in nearly every song, and his nihilistic lyrics — “All is lost, there is no hope,” goes the la-la-la-like refrain from “It Ain’t Gonna Save Me” — now waft over wispy choral clouds as well as dissonant feedback peals. “I’m becoming more open-minded,” Mr. Lindsey said, “and allowing myself to absorb different things that before I probably wrote off out of ignorance.” [NYTimes.com]

Interview and archival clips are interspersed with a summit meeting, half jam session, half graduate seminar in guitar metaphysics, on a soundstage loaded with all kinds of cool equipment. The guitarists trade riffs and thoughts and at the end make their way through an acoustic rendition of “The Weight.” It is both stirring and amusing to see three superstars strumming along to this song, originally recorded by the Band, which has long since become a staple for desultory buskers and late-night dorm-room singalongs. It’s a serviceable ballad, hard to butcher and tough to make your own, and thus a safe meeting ground for these three thorny individualists. [NYTimes.com]

Ponyo by Hayao Miyazaki

“Ponyo” is the latest masterwork from Mr. Miyazaki, the influential Japanese animator who has advanced the art with films like “Princess Mononoke,” “Spirited Away” and “Howl’s Moving Castle.” The new film, despite the initial distractions of the recognizable voices crammed into the English-language version (a subdued Matt Damon, a fine Betty White), shares thematic and visual similarities with his earlier work, notably its emphasis on the natural world, its tumults and fragility. (As Mr. Miyazaki once put it, “All my animation and comics involve land, sea and sky — they all revolve around what happens on earth.”) But “Ponyo,” which takes some inspiration from “The Little Mermaid,” Hans Christian Andersen’s macabre fairy tale, has a narrative simplicity, or rather the clarity of a distillation. [NYTimes.com]

Rediscovering John Cazale, the John Cazale film retrospective continues now through August 2 at BAM.

The seventies-era golden age of American film has been so exhaustively romanticized that it’s hard to believe anything, or anyone, has been overlooked—until you consider the actor John Cazale. You likely recognize his face, but if his name proves elusive, that only strengthens the case for I Knew It Was You, a 40-minute HBO-produced documentary from director Richard Shepard that’s the centerpiece of BAM’s upcoming retrospective “Rediscovering John Cazale.” The classic tidbit of Cazale trivia is that he appeared in only five films, all of which (The Godfather, The Godfather Part II, The Conversation, Dog Day Afternoon, The Deer Hunter) were nominated for a Best Picture Oscar. The films are all landmarks, of course, and so Cazale—best known as the frail Fredo Corleone—may be vaguely familiar. I Knew It Was You makes a convincing, even moving, argument that he’s been severely underappreciated as well. [NYMag.com]