The World’s Worst River Cruise Looking for a relaxing boat trip up a scenic river? Then maybe skip Captain Benjamin Willard’s (Martin Sheen) journey into the heart of madness during the Vietnam War. His mission, should he choose to accept it (spoiler: he does, because apparently he’s never seen a war movie before): sail upriver…
Love, Loss, and Lots of Cocaine Released: February 4, 1977 If you’ve ever wondered what happens when two couples break up, another relationship crumbles, and everyone involved has to keep working together while having access to unlimited studio time and a blizzard of cocaine, well, “Rumours” is your answer. The miracle isn’t just that this…
When I was younger I worked in various restaurants as summer jobs and really enjoyed the experience. I know it’s probably the naivete of youth but for a while I considered trying to stage at some fancy restaurants in NYC to build a career as a chef (this was before the food network and the…
When Prince Turned Minnesota Purple Released: June 25, 1984 In 1984, while everyone else was worried about Big Brother watching them, Prince was busy creating an album so monumentally sexy that it made George Orwell’s dystopian predictions seem quaint by comparison. “Purple Rain” isn’t just an album—it’s what happens when unstoppable ambition meets unlimited talent…
This one wasn’t actually that difficult in concept. I’m just not a big meat eater. I do enjoy beef (in all it’s glorious varieties) and chicken and eat them often but only a few times a week, trying to balance them with vegetable heavy meals. I enjoy pork in sausage or bacon form but that’s…
Dylan’s Beautiful Bummer of a Breakup Album Released: January 20, 1975 If heartbreak had a sound, it would be Bob Dylan’s voice cracking on side one of “Blood on the Tracks.” Following his separation from his wife Sara, Dylan created what might be history’s most eloquent version of the “It’s not you, it’s me… but…
A Masterclass in Soul, Hip-Hop, and Raw Honesty Released: August 25, 1998 Sometimes an album comes along that doesn’t just capture a moment—it defines an era. “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” isn’t just Lauryn Hill’s solo debut; it’s a testament to what happens when an artist bares their soul without compromise, when commercial success and…
Sitting down and trying to come up with 50 goals for a year is not as easy as you think it would be. Once I got up to 30 or so I started to slow down and really struggle to come up with goals that were interesting and actionable (something you can measure with experience…
Ever had insomnia so bad you decided to become a taxi driver and slowly descend into violent psychosis? Meet Travis Bickle (Robert De Niro), a Vietnam vet whose idea of a self-improvement program makes Fight Club look like a mindfulness retreat. Travis takes a job driving a taxi on New York’s night shift, which in…
When a Wandering Samurai Decides to Play Chess with Human Pieces Ever have that moment when you walk into a town and think, “This place could use a good old-fashioned gang war”? No? Well, meet Sanjuro (Toshiro Mifune), a masterless samurai who does exactly that, though admittedly with more style and a better sword than…