arts / 8 theotherpress.ca Ring 1n the New Year with Radin » ‘Onward and Sideways’ album review Cheryl Minns Arts Editor Marts @theotherpress.ca OOOO oshua Radin is back with his sixth studio album, featuring a series of love songs written to win over a reluctant love interest. Onward and Sideways, released January 6, was written by Radin while lying sideways across a bed ina Stockholm hotel room, having travelled to Sweden for a break from music. “I had met this woman six years ago and we were friends for the last five, but we started dating a year ago. At first it was long distance—she was living in Stockholm and I was living in Los Angeles—and she was : very wary of getting involved. : Essentially I wrote this album to convince her to fall in love with : me,” Radin explained in a press : release from Wax Records. Onward and Sideways is filled with upbeat songs that will make listeners smile— especially “Belong,” which is : sure to get listeners’ tapping : their feet to the beat—as well as slower songs like “One and : Only” that are perfect to listen to at the end of a busy day. The fifth track on the : album, “In Your Hands,” : features the line, “Two days : since Auld Lang Syne,” which : gives the album a timely feel : with its release shortly after : New Year’s Day. It’s followed by : a line that many people who : make New Year's resolutions can relate to, “You don’t like the : shape youre in.” The first single from Onward and Sideways, : “Beautiful Day,’ is a remake : with Sheryl Crow of Radin’s : song from Wax Wings in 2013. : The song matches the album's : sound and fits well as the third : track. While the original version : would have sufficed, turning : the song into a duet helps drive : home the idea that the album : isabout a relationship between : two people, emphasized by the “beautiful day” they have. Onward and Sideways is currently in the Top 20 : bestselling albums on iTunes : this week, with “Beautiful : Day,’ “Belong,” and “We'll : Keep Running Forever” as the : bestselling tracks from the album. Radin will be touring across Canada in February, performing : at the Rio Theatre in Vancouver : on February 27. Shenanigans in North Korea » ‘The Interview’ review Mercedes Deutscher Staff Writer OOOO y now, you have no doubt heard about The Interview, a controversial comedy starring James Franco and Seth Rogen. Directed by Rogen and Evan Goldberg, the film tells the fictional story of celebrity tele-journalist, Dave Skylark (Franco), and his producer, Aaron Rapaport (Rogen), who are longing for more serious stories than Hollywood gossip. The two men discover that Kim Jong-un (Randall Park), the supreme leader of North Korea, is a fan of their show and would like to have an interview with Skylark. They arrange to fly to North Korea to conduct this interview, but, prior to their departure, the two are placed ona mission by the CIA to assassinate the leader. The film’s style relies on dark and vulgar humour, satire, and stereotyping. While funny through most of the movie, it becomes rather excessive towards the end. As well, very little of the movie’s comedy can be considered original, and follows suit of most comedies produced in the past decade. That is not to say that : The Interview leaves viewers : unfulfilled. When I left the : : theatre, I couldn't stop thinking : : about North Korea and its : : regime. The producers doa : good job of weaving stories : from the accounts of former : North Korean residents with : comedy, making the film : more approachable than : either a slapstick comedy ora documentary. Rogen mostly portrays his character believably, yet : at times it was hard to draw : the line between Rogen’s : personality and that of his : character. Overall, a good : performance by Rogen, but not : his finest work as an actor. Lizzy Caplan, who plays Agent Lacey, gives a rather disappointing performance, as her character seems to be played in a dull fashion, and her performance is easy to forget. On the other side of the spectrum, both Franco and Park do memorable portrayals of Skylark and Kim Jong-un. Both actors bring hilarity into every scene they are in, especially together. These two actors have some great on-screen chemistry, and it wouldn't be hard to see this dynamic duo as best friends. North Korea’s top propagandist, Sook, is played by Diana Bang, and of all the The film’s style relies on dark and vulgar humour, satire, and stereotyping. While funny through most of the movie, it becomes rather excessive towards the end. : supporting characters in the : film, she is my favourite. Bang : balances acting serious in times : of hilarity well and does an excellent job of portraying her character without falling into stereotype. The Interview has some great cinematography, especially the wide and broad shots that really help maximize the action, particularly towards the climax of the story. In retrospect, I enjoyed the film, yet I found that its publicity added more to the movie than it deserved, and without said publicity, the film may have soon been forgotten. Still, if you want a couple hours of cheap laughs while acting particularly patriotic, The Interview is a good way to pass the time.