Movie Review: The Skin I Live In

Every once in a while, I will go into a movie without preparation, I won't know much about the plot, the actors nor will I read the Wikipedia synopsis beforehand. Basically, I'll go into the theater the way that movie directors had originally intended. The last time this happened was with I Heart Huckabees. Luckily for me, I was enrolled in a philosophy class and understood it.

This time, the blind side film would be The Skin I Live In.

It is a Spanish 2011 film directed by Pedro Almodovar and it stars Antonio Banderas, Elena Anaya and Marisa Paredes. It is loosely based on the French novel, Mygale, by Thierry Jonquet. It made its debut in May 2011 at the 64th Cannes Film Festival.

I went in expecting a thriller, based on what I saw from the trailers, and there would be an emphasis on synthetic skin.

It really was a thriller. And it did deal with skin. Unfortunately, that's where my expectations ended.

I won't ruin the movie for everyone else, so I won't write a full synopsis. All I can say is, is that this movie was somewhat disturbing, even more than The Human Centipede. I haven't been quite this uncomfortable with a film since A Clockwork Orange. It was along the lines of The Crying Game, a movie I've only read about. That being said, it wasn't a bad film. This is what separates The Skin I Live In from mediocre shockers like The Human Centipede.

Almodovar touched so many issues in this movie, such as identity, human rights...I want to tell Tom Six (director of The Human Centipede) that this is how you really shock people with substance and this is why Almodovar is Cannes calibre.

Did I enjoy this film?

Not on the same level as I would with The Dark Knight or Inception.

Would I recommend this film?

Only if you're used to bizarre works, like A Clockwork Orange.

Would I see this film again?

I'll take this like I took Requiem for a Dream. I'll agree it's critically acclaimed but this will be a film I never intend on seeing ever again!

It's a one and done deal with me.

But will I ever forget it or stop talking about it?

Never.

And that my friends is what makes a movie so memorable.

My Experience from 97X Next Big Thing

97X Next Big Thing was only the third concert I've ever attended and it would be the first one I've had in this atmosphere. My previous experiences were a Nickelback and Saliva show at the USF Sun Dome in 2001 and earlier this year, the 97X Backyard BBQ show at Vinoy Park in St. Petersburg, FL. This time, I would go the "The Amp". It used to be the Ford Amphitheater and now it's the 1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheater. But I'm just going to call it The Amp for short. I've heard and read mixed reviews about this venue, so I had been a little cautious.

Getting to the Amp was another issue in itself. I overslept and ended up stuck in the off ramp traffic for an hour, due to 2 lanes converging into one and the wrap around convoy leading into the entrance. Not the Amp's fault. Unfortunately, I did miss GROUPLOVE, a band I had been looking forward to seeing. By the time I arrived inside, Manchester Orchestra began playing on the side stage and I believe I could hear an acoustic performance by Cage the Elephant off in the distance. Regardless, I wanted to get in line for The Pit.

This would be the area I would practically handcuff myself to for ten hours. This would be by far the closest I have ever been to a stage. And I will have to say, the security guards at the Amp were top notch, on top of everything, I felt completely safe in The Pit and I would gladly go back with complete confidence.

Sorry for the poor lighting, I just wanted to take a photo of the rest of the venue. You have your general seating areas and then the lawn behind that. Somewhere in the middle would be the VIP area, a place I would very much like to experience in the future!

This is most likely my best photograph from that day, as I was able to zoom in on Ritzy Bryan, lead singer of The Joy Formidable. I heard their single "Whirring" on 97X several months ago and I've seen them perform on Conan.

Ritzy was very energetic that day. She and the rest of her bandmates did not disappoint me!

This is Young the Giant doing their sound check ahead of their performance. During this time, AWOLNATION played at the side stage, but I did not want to lose my place in The Pit, so I remained in place.

This is Sameer Gadhia, the lead singer of Young the Giant. It was a very good performance and I absolutely loved "Cough Syrup".

The next band was an old favorite of mine, Taking Back Sunday. This is lead singer Adam Lazzara'

Taking Back Sunday played every single one of my favorites, such as "Make Damn Sure" and "Cute without the E".

Cage the Elephant was perhaps the most energetic act I had seen that day. I wasn't afraid to bop my head during their songs. Had it not been for holding the camera, I may have even fist pumped the air.

Cage the Elephant's lead singer, Matthew Shultz, was all over the place that day, including several crowd surfing moments and even standing up as he crowd surfed. I wish I had been able to take a photo of that moment, but I did get this iconic shot of Shultz.

My new favorite band, Foster the People, had just been amazing. This was a band I had seen through Youtube streams of Coachella, Lollapalooza and ACL. I had missed their performance in Orlando in September and I was more than thrilled to have them come back to the Sunshine State. Unfortunately, it was during their performance where my digital camera died on me and I was forced to use my cell phone the rest of the night.

Mark Foster was several feet away from me quite a few times.

Bush really took me back to nostalgic times as a teenager. When I was about 13 or 14, I always wondered what it would be like to attend a live performance of Bush and thanks for 97X, my little boyhood dream had been fulfilled. This is guitarist Chris Traynor.

I wish I had my digital camera during Bush. Gavin Rossdale ran by me as he ventured through the Amp, going all the way up to the lawn section and back. I almost lost my voice singing my favorite, "Glycerine".

A Day to Remember may have been the loudest band of the night. Things got wild with toilet paper being thrown around, beach balls flying all over and Gumby throwing out t-shirts.

Like Matthew Shultz, Mark Foster and Gavin Rossdale, A Day to Remember's Jeremy McKinnon had been all over the stage.

And in a moment where I needed a real digital camera the most, this was the only photo I have of Sublime with Rome. Rome Ramirez wore a light shirt, which made him appear angelic to my cell phone camera. It was a great way to end the show and closed out on Sublime's old hits.

All in all, I had a blast at 97X Next Big Thing. Would I go again? Definitely? Would I go back to the Amp? Only if I can get back in the Pit! Will I get a better digital camera and batteries? It'll be a requirement for me in 2012!

In closing, I'd like to thank Carey and Leisure for making this concert a reality, the staff at the Amp for making my time there quite enjoyable, all the bands that were there, including the ones I unfortunately missed, such as FUN, Sleeper Agent, GroupLove and Manchester Orchestra and I would like to thank 97X for giving me a great experience.

Don't forget to check out my other post of where these bands are headed to next!

Can't wait until 2012!

For more, please check out the 97X website!

Where do they go now? Bands from 97X Next Big Thing 2011

I had an amazing time last night at the 97X Next Big Thing show. I will try to post photos later but for now, I will track down where all the bands are headed to next.

NOTE: Today, December 4, Sleeper Agent, Taking Back Sunday, Manchester Orchestra, GroupLove, Fun., Young the Giant and Sublime with Rome join Switchfoot and Middle Class Rut for the Big Ticket Show in Jacksonville, FL.

Sleeper Agent:

12/7 Crystal Ballroom, Portland, OR

12/13 The Pageant, St. Louis, MO

12/15 The Rave, Milwaukee, WI

12/16 The Vogue Theatre, Indianapolis, IN

12/31 Aragon Ballroom, Chicago

1/19-1/23 Weezer Cruise, Miami, FL

fun.

12/12 The Landsdowne Pub, Boston, MA

GROUPLOVE

12/6 Neumos, Seattle, WA

12/7 Key Arena, Seattle, WA

12/8 New Parish, San Francisco, CA

12/10 Crystal Ballroom, Portland, OR

12/30 The Falls Festival, Melbourne, Australia

GROUPLOVE will start 2012 in Australia and then head to Europe. 2012 dates will be posted later this month.

Manchester Orchestra

Manchester Orchestra doesn't have any US dates posted for the remainder of 2011. They will be in Australia in March, 2012.

The Joy Formidable

12/6 Lunario, Mexico City

12/7 The Joint atHard Rock Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas

12/8 The New Parish, Oakland

12/10 Crystal Ballroom, Portland, OR

12/12 North Star Bar, Philadelphia

12/13 The Pageant, St. Louis, MO

12/14 Metro, Chicago

12/15 The Rave, Milwaukee

12/16 The Vogue Theater, Indianapolis

AWOLNATION

Today, AWOLNATION is in Tulsa.

12/7 Crystal Ballroom, Portland, OR

12/10 The 104.1 Nightmare Before Xmas, Frenso, CA

12/15 1o2.1 The Edge 2011 Jingle Bell Rock, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

12/17 The Night 89X Stole Christmas, Detroit

12/19 Music Farm, Charleston, SC

2012, AWOLNATION will be in Alaska and head towards the Winter X Games in Aspen, CO.

Young the Giant

12/5 Crystal Ballroom, Portland, OR

12/7 Key Arena, Seattle, WA

12/9 The Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA

12/10 Gibson Amphitheatre, Universal City, CA

12/16-12/17 Galaxy Theatre, Santa Ana, CA,

Taking Back Sunday

12/17 The Night 89X Stole Christmas, Detroit

12/27 Paramount Theater, New York

12/29 House of Blues, Atlantic City

12/30 Crocodile Rock, Allentown, PA

Taking Back Sunday will head to Brazil in January, 2012.

Cage the Elephant

Today, Cage the Elephant is in Tulsa along with AWOLNATION.

12/7 The Key Arena, Seattle, WA

12/9 Ace of Spades, Sacramento, CA

12/10 Valley View Casino Center, San Diego, CA

12/11 Gibson Amphitheatre, Universal City, CA

12/13 The Pageant, St. Louis, MO

12/15 The Rave, Milwaukee, WI

12/31 Aragon Ballroom, Chicago

Cage the Elephant will be in Australia in 2012.

Foster the People

Today, Foster the People is at First Avenue in Minneapolis.

12/6 Crystal Ballroom, Portland, OR

Foster the People will be in Indonesia, Singapore, Japan, New Zealand, Australia and Hawaii in early 2012.

Bush

12/7 Celebrity Theatre, Phoenix, AZ

12/9 Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA

12/10-12/11 Gibson Amphitheatre, North Hollywood

12/11 House of Blues, San Diego

A Day to Remember

12/8 The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas

12/10 104.1 Nightmare Before Xmas at Selland Arena, Fresno, CA

A Day to Remember will remain in the United States in early 2012.

Sublime with Rome

As far as I can see, it appears that Big Ticket in Jacksonville is their final show of 2011. If I see new dates, I will post them.

As for every other band and act, I will try hard to post tour dates as much as I can.

The bands of Next Big Thing 2011

From Bowling Green, KY, Sleeper Agent

From New York, FUN

From Los Angeles, GROUPLOVE

From Atlanta, Manchester Orchestra

From North Wales, UK, The Joy Formidable

From Los Angeles, AWOLNATION

From Irvine, CA, Young the Giant

From Long Island, NY, Taking Back Sunday

From Bowling Green, KY, Cage the Elephant

From Los Angeles, Foster the People

From London, Bush

From Ocala, FL, A Day to Remember

And the closing act, hailing from California...Sublime with Rome

Concert: Next Big Thing 2011

Tomorrow, I will be in attendance of the 97X Next Big Thing concert at the 1-800-Ask-Gary Amphitheater.

The line-up:

NBT Local Band 10:00AM-10:20AM at the Side Stage

Sleeper Agent 10:30AM-11:10AM at the Side Stage

FUN 11:30-12:00PM at the Side Stage

GROUPLOVE 12:20PM-12:50PM at the Side Stage

Manchester Orchestra 1:10PM-1:40PM at the Side Stage

The Joy Formidable 1:45PM-2:20PM at the Main Stage

AWOLNATION 2:25PM-3:00PM at the Side Stage

Young the Giant 3:20PM-4:00PM at the Main Stage

Taking Back Sunday 4:20PM-5:00PM at the Main Stage

Cage the Elephant 5:20PM-6:00PM at the Main Stage

Foster the People 6:20PM-7:00PM at the Main Stage

Bush 7:20PM-8:20PM at the Main Stage

A Day to Remember 8:40PM-9:25PM at the Main Stage

Sublime with Rome 9:45PM-10:50PM at the Main Stage

There is also 5 bands who will play acoustic sets throughout the venue.

I will be in the Pit area, therefore, I will most likely not be able to see the Side Stage up close, but I should still be able to hear the music.

If anyone is going, I will see you there!