Diary Of A Maverick Ledger: The Danger Zone

The One Where I Leave The Theatre Of Dreams

2011-04-09T07:32:00.002+01:00

Hometime. Don't make me go...

I'll be back soon.

The One Where It's My Party, And I'll Cry If I Want Too

2011-04-08T07:25:00.001+01:00

I'm 30 today. Many start to feel old. Contemplate life. Not me.

I have a brilliant life. I've been married for 6 years. Have an amazing 3 y/o Son/Heir To The Throne.

I have a house. A job I'm really good at, that is going places.

I have a 3D TV.

What else is there...?

Plus I'm going away for the weekend.

If you need me, I'll be right here...

Or maybe here...

Ha. And here.

The One Where We'll Always Have Moscow

2011-04-07T08:00:00.000+01:00

The One Where FB Does It's Job

2011-04-06T08:00:00.000+01:00

But Face Book does, too...

The One With Dr Thaddeus And I

2011-04-05T08:00:00.000+01:00

Twitter still has its uses, after all.

The One Where The World Got A Little Smaller...

2011-04-04T08:00:00.000+01:00

A while ago, I reviewed The Diamonds Of Metro Valley, HERE.

Now, one of the stars has been tweeting me, thanking me.

Awesome.

The One With Two Stars

2011-04-03T08:00:00.001+01:00

Mothers Day. Ethan and I have the best two in the world. Fact.

The One Where Machete Don't Text

2011-04-02T08:00:00.000+01:00

For Your Consideration: Machete Blu Ray

See what I thought... HERE.

The One Where LFF Looks Different

2011-04-01T07:13:00.000+01:00

So what's the coolest thing Phil could give me for doing 50 reviews for LFF?

How about full Admin rights on both the LFF FB page, like it HERE... But on the site itself, too.

GC will get what that means.

Anyone else? Try and imagine your favourite film site, not only asking you to write about the stuff you love, but trusting you with the key to the front door. Post yourself. Approve comments yourself.

You know. That sort of thing.

:-D

The One Where Lincoln Lawyer Is NG, Baby

2011-03-31T08:00:00.000+01:00

For Your Consideration: The Lincoln Lawyer

Read What I Thought... HERE.

The One Where We Wa-a-a-a-i-t Mr Postman

2011-03-30T19:53:00.000+01:00

The One Where Dragon Storm > Reign Of Fire

2011-03-29T08:00:00.000+01:00

For Your Consideration: Dragon Storm

See what I thought, HERE.

Seriously. The shit I watch for Phil and Live For Films...

The One Where MEGA PIRANHA Makes Me Want To Be A Better Man

2011-03-28T08:00:00.000+01:00

For Your Consideration: Mega Piranha

Read What I Thought, HERE.

The One Where Dad Didn't Realise He Was Gay

2011-03-27T08:00:00.000+01:00

Sorry. No ass shaking. Sony say No.

Assholes.

The One Where GC Hits 40 (Minus 2)

2011-03-26T08:00:00.001Z

Happy Birthday, GC. You miserable old git.

The One Where Limitless Makes Me Want To Score An 8th

2011-03-25T06:12:00.000Z

For Your Consideration: Limitless

Read What I thought, HERE.

Unbelievably, that's my 50th Review for LFF. How frickin' cool?

The One Where I Wish I Could Sing Like Jerry Maguire

2011-03-24T08:00:00.000Z

In My Top 100, despite looking like Buffalo Bill in Silence...

Also... My Mum paid 15 bucks for the Jerry Maguire OST, and this wasn't even on it!

Thank the Lord for Bruce Springsteen, eh?

The One Where G.I Joe Bonks His Head... And Daddy Had To Carry Him All The Way Home...

2011-03-23T08:00:00.005Z

The One Where G.I Joe Bonks His Head... And Daddy Had To Carry Him All The Way Home...*

*Bonking Of Head Happened Just After The Camera Stopped :-/

The One With Marwell 360

2011-03-22T08:02:00.000Z

The wind knocked out my amazing commentary. I just thought I would do a panoramic view of Marwell. 3 times in 3 months = Annual Pass already paid for. :-D

The One Where We Wait On That Graham Collins

2011-03-21T08:00:00.000Z

Sat. Waiting for that Graham Collins.

The One Where The Top 100 Continues, With...

2011-03-20T08:00:00.000Z

Really tempted to go with Go Wests version. Either way I wish I had written this song.

Eternally happy, even in Vietnam films.

Ref Go West... Fuck it. Decide yourself.

Actually. It must just be one of those songs, because I love this version too...

Overkill? Whatever. It's my Blog. I'll count it as 3 different entries in my Top 100, if you keep being a dick.

The One With Mighty Ducks

2011-03-19T08:00:00.000Z

Awesome day. Truly awesome. Have a gander at these vids first - which shows ET looking for that Grufallo (again), with Kelly and Charlie. After that, we went to Marwell. That Annual pass? One of my better ideas. Vids up tomorrow, for the broody amongst you... You know who you are!

Hunter Gatherer Extreme.

This Was Tame. In Two Mins He Jumped In A Massive Puddle...

...And Had Wet Socks For The Rest Of The Day

The Money Shot

Do You Ever Find You're Quoting TLC?

I Do. A Lot.

The One Where Jesse James Is Shot Down (In A Blaze Of Glory)

2011-03-18T07:26:00.000Z

LFF, the site I review films for, has had a brilliant idea. We name a film a week. Everyone that can watches that film. Then, on the Forum, at the weekend, we discuss it. First film suggested was one I should have revisited a long time ago...

See what I thought, HERE...

The One Where Battle Los Angeles Hits

2011-03-17T09:08:00.000Z

For Your Consideration: Battle Los Angeles

Read What I Thought, HERE

The One With URGH!

2011-03-17T08:00:00.000Z

Before there were Annual Zoo passes, there was pet shops.

And, to be fair, there still is.

Urgh!

The One With LUKE GOSS!!

2011-03-16T07:00:00.001Z

For Your Consideration: Princess Of Persia

Not a sequel. A screener I reviewed for LFF, HERE. I literally couldn't find an image of it, after like, 30 seconds of trying.

Read the review to find out why...

The One Where ET Likes Redrum

2011-03-15T08:00:00.001Z

Maow Nana calls him Damien, (unbelievably). I'm thinking more Danny from The Shining...

The One Where L.A Burns

2011-03-14T08:00:00.001Z

I'm taking that Graham Collins to see Battlefield: Los Angeles tonight.

Why?

Well, he likes spaceships and that. Plus it's his Birthday in a few weeks.

It's a good time to tell you about the vortex I've created on my Blog.

This review of the Battlefield: Los Angeles trailer has been viewed loads in the last month. Like, hundreds of times.

Sometimes if someone searches it, someone else will. But considering it was back in the day, and all I was doing was saying I thought the trailer looked better than Skyline? Well... there would be better things I've written for people to revisit.

Oh well.

I'm looking forward to this. Even if the script, "drops bricks down the toilet". Which may be my fave quote ever.

The One Where We Storm Porchie Castle

2011-03-13T15:00:00.000Z

So... Ball Park, Port Solent, Then A Castle...

The One Where Judge Gets Balls In His Face

2011-03-13T08:00:00.001Z

Then, on Saturday...

And then...

The One Where These Days Are Golden

2011-03-12T08:00:00.001Z

I'm posting this for you Dad, so pay attention. How good is this?

I only heard it a week ago. It's making the Top 100. No question.

The One Where Adjustment Bureau Changes My Course

2011-03-11T07:03:00.000Z

For Your Consideration: The Adjustment Bureau

Click HERE To See If Matt Damon Can Atone For Hereafter

The One Where I'll Get Over You

2011-03-10T08:00:00.000Z

If you asked me the best voice I'd ever heard live I'd probably say Peter Cox.

This song is brilliant. I don't even mind that it's in Pretty Woman. Crucially, it's probably not even in Go Wests Top Three best songs. Easily in my Top 100, though.

I've stopped numbering these, by the way. So I can juggle the order, and not faff. This would probably make the actual Top 10, though.

The One Where It's....

2011-03-09T08:55:00.000Z

And the magic number is....

The One With I Am Number Four

2011-03-09T07:02:00.000Z

For Your Consideration: I Am Number Four

Could "The New Twilight" Be The Most Fun I've Had In A Cinema In 2011??

Read HERE To Find Out

The One Where You May Just Be OK

2011-03-08T08:00:00.002Z

Hmm... Still undecided if I'll be able to listen to them sing this live at IoW. One year ago I listened too it, as we said goodbye to my Granddad.

Where the fu... hell has that year gone, by the way?

I'm not sure. But I'm proud of what I, and my Family has achieved.

As for the TV turning itself on and off... Ha. Gramps would love that people were even thinking he could be arsed to do that from the afterlife!

The One Where I Wish I Was Ageless

2011-03-08T07:55:00.001Z

Happy Birthday to my Mum, today. We didn't really get to celebrate that last year, due to the other thing.
Rumours persist that at our meal tonight, Dad is going to burst out of a cake and sing her this.

Happy Birthday Mum!

The One Where It's A Brilliant Disguise

2011-03-07T08:00:00.000Z

I know what you're thinking. He's like 15 songs into his Top 100 and there's no Springsteen...

Worry no more.

The One With Drive Angry

2011-03-06T07:38:00.000Z

For Your Consideration: Drive Angry... IN 3D!

What Could Go Wrong...?

Read HERE To Find Out.

The One With Marwell! (Continued)

2011-03-05T08:00:00.002Z

These are for ET, so indulge me..

The One With Marwell! (Again)

2011-03-04T19:16:00.000Z

The One Where There Aren't Enough Daddy Day Cares In A Week* *So We Made More...

2011-03-04T07:40:00.000Z

OK, so there has been a little change to Daddy Day Care. Only slight, but it's a good one.

For the last three months, I've taken ET swimming on a Friday. That may continue, but as of May 19th, I change my job role. No, I have no idea to what.

Essentially, that will mean a change of rota. Being the sort of person I am, I'm planning ahead so no one misses out.

So from Sunday, Mrs T and ET will come swimming with me, before I go to work. Chances are, on my new rota that would be a day off, but even if I do work, we;ll get a decent time together.

To get him realising this, today is all about a walk with my former Boss, who owes me a "career chat" anyway, (good timing!), and her son, Charlie. Through the woods, probably looking for that Gruffalo. Then feed the ducks, and a cheeky coffee.

Then, onto Marwelll. Our passes came through, and ET and I really want to see some lizards. (Urgh!)

In the mean time, heres last Friday, where Mrs T shows her mean side, by sneaking up on my boy in the pool. Don't worry, ET... we'll splash her Sunday...

x

The One With Denizen, Bitches!

2011-03-03T08:00:00.001Z

Know who that is?

"Linda Hamilton?"

Ha-Ha. Good one.

That be J.A Steel. Director of Denizen. Read more, HERE. You know you want too.

The One Where I Sing Your Songs Forever More

2011-03-02T08:00:00.000Z

Dad had a MoTown album. One of those that had 6 odd CDs. This was on it. I've probably played it once a day, ever since. Brilliant.

Also... Makes you want to grow a 'tache, doesn't it??

'It's how the hustle goes, see what the juke box knows' by @diaryofaledger

2011-03-01T20:00:00.000Z

First up, I fricking love this album. It's a bit lightweight at times, pretty throwaway in others and the world did not stop in awe at it's brilliance but it has its gems. Lots of them.

Back when there was a channel called MTV2 on your telly box that wasn't a pile of unadulterated drivel they played quite a lot of excellent music. Ok they'd still play the same ten songs in rotation but at least they were decent tunes. One of those was The Middle by Jimmy Eat World.

Bleed America Bleed came out in 2001, promptly caused an uproar with its title and was repressed in 2002 without it. The Middle got heavy rotation on MTV2 and that was about it in terms of interest over here. I was in some kind of, 'MUST HAVE ALL MUSIC EVER MADE,' melt down and went and got the album that was by then self titled.

The opening of Salt Sweat Sugar hooked me in big time, immediately heavy, although in that kind of gentle, non threatening way, with lyrics about top soil. That kind of mental always gets me.

I guess it is an album full of mid twenties American angst but it's a fun ride. There's sort of a 50s vibe in some of the words too, although musically it's indie lite and all about the jangle of guitars.

Top tracks? Well that opener is hard to beat but A Praise Chorus that follows it is a great rock song and The Middle will still make you smile.

But... Sweetness is my fave Jimmy Eat World song, all noise and harmonies. It takes me back to those early Queen albums with stuff like In The Lap of the Gods on them. And the words are aces too.

String from your tether unwinds,
Up and outward to bind,
I was spinning free,
With a little sweet and simple numbing me.

It goes through a little mid album slump as it descends into cheese. However things soon pick back up with the brilliant and uber feisty Get it Faster.

I wanna do right by you,
I'm finding out that cheating gets it faster.

After the rather cloying efforts at a few love songs mid album they nail it with the lovely Cautioners, one of the saddest break up songs I've ever heard. I won't put the lyrics up because someone will, inevitably, think they're aimed at them (which they really wouldn't be) but for the rest of you, go Spotify it. Lovely lovely song.

And then with barely a beat missed it's Authority Song. Probably the reason I fell in love with this album if truth be told. It's me at seventeen (I mean eighteen... obviously), gracing the pubs of the Isle of Wight putting coins into Jukeboxes in awful pubs.

For an album that's so full of life it's a shock when it ends with the slow and sad My Sunshine. But it fits perfectly after the energy of Authority Song.

It's not an album that's gonna change your world but hey, get it anyway. There's something on there for everyone to love.

The One With Cuckoo, Cuckoo...

2011-02-28T08:00:00.001Z

For Your Consideration: Cuckoo

Out Today On Blu Ray, And DVD.

I left the "cuckoo" bit on the picture deliberately.

Read HERE, to find out why...

The One With Dark Hour

2011-02-27T20:00:00.000Z

For Your Consideration: Dark Hour

Read What I thought, HERE.

The One Where I Get Into The KillZone3

2011-02-26T13:54:00.003Z

I haven't written anything on here for ages.

It's links to all of my Live For Films stuff, or reviews by GC. Some videos of ET,that are for Mum and him more than anyone.

But something is urging me to write again.

Kill Zone 3.

I love(d) Black Ops more than anyone. Being pretty good at it helped, but I love(d) the game so much. I love(d) turning on my PS3 and seeing that my mates (read: Ledgers) were on it.

Now, with the new maps due on Wednesday/Thursday/Whenever/Meh, I'm not sure I am even going to get them.

The deal was, get the new maps, then trade it in in a month when I get my Bonus/3D TV.

Things changed.

I read reviews.

I played the demo.

So I got it yesterday, and more importantly, have this (below) on it's way. That means I'll be able to play the game via the gun, (the second controller is on the handle - see?)

That, plus the 3D TV, means Black Ops is destined to gather dust.

I won't trade it in yet, as I probably will get the maps, plus it's 3D enabled, so I'm intrigued to see if that extends its life.

Kill Zone 3, though?

Special.

It's an adult shooter. You can change the controls to "COD" controls, but it's far more complex than COD. At one point you may hold L2 to "cover", L1 to zoom, plus R2 to throw a grenade. It's almost combo like. And it makes Black Ops loos really arcadey, and child like by comparison.

The running mode too sticks it's middle finger up at Black Ops. It's immense. Immersive, as the screen judders. Need ammo/grenades? Then, in first person, you'll lean into the ammo case and refill. Leaving you open to a melee. And when I say melee I don't mean a desperate lunge ala Black Ops... I mean a slit throat. Maybe even a gouge of the eyes. This is pure Verhoevan, and it works brilliantly.

Climb a ladder? Again, expect judder. This is all about making you feel like you are the person controlling your character. It's really made me assess whether Black Ops ever gave you that, or COD in general. Need to give your team mate a boost up? Again, first person, including a swivel of the camera as you reach out your arm Cliffhanger style to pull them up.

Don't even get me started on the "slide". Running? Need cover? In the words of Tyler Durden... sliiiddddddeeeeee.

Multi player is immense too. Hard as nails. A ranking system with points/credits similar to COD.

Plus levels that look like they are straight out of Avatar or Private Ryan. It. Looks. Stunning.

And I haven't even mentioned the level that is played entirely on a slant as all of the buildings are crumbling away.

Or that a player on the other team could be posing as a member of your team, and you only know when it's too late... or piss your team off by shooting them. Just. In. Case. It creates a sense of drama, and paranoia. Adult stuff.

I may be in love a little bit.

The One Where ET Is A Caffeine Junkie Too

2011-02-26T08:15:00.000Z

If ever there was a case of a 3 y/o picking up on what his Parents did, it's with our Coffee fixation.

Here, ET takes it upon himself to refill the swivel unit I got for Xmas.

The Green And Gold effect he goes for gets a thumbs up from me.

The One Where The App Store Is Sooooo Pretty

2011-02-25T08:08:00.000Z

Aw, nuts.

I'm addicted to the App Store on the MacBook.

I'm buying stuff just because it looks special. And pretty.

And no, I haven't missed twitter. (8 Days/0 Tweets)

The One Where Geordie Came "Home"

2011-02-24T16:06:00.000Z

A car with no key? ...No... Key?? Fascinating!

This "watch" was actually a cool helicopter.

We lost it an hour later.

Damn Spidey...

Beginners luck!

*looks at floor, looks at ceiling, looks at floor*

The One Where I'm Number Two

2011-02-23T08:00:00.000Z

Hmmm. No balloons for me.

But seriously... where has the time gone?

'If things get real promise to take me somewhere else' by @diaryofaledger

2011-02-22T20:00:00.001Z

Once in a while I stumble upon albums like this one. Albums that mean so much to me, that nearly got missed altogether. It's in my Top Ten... maybe....

Turin Brakes are two guys and two guitars. Modern folk apparently, whatever that is. What The Optimist LP is is something else entirely. It's a collection of some of the most well spun songs I know. The words are like honey, slowly dripping on a hot summers day. The guitars are a joy. As delicate, graceful and poignant as anything in my collection.

It's an album that doesn't connect to any relationship other than the one I have with myself which in itself is pretty unusual. I think I probably got it around 2002 a few months after release and I can remember listening to it loads in the car. Volume on 'excessive', as per usual, on hot summer days to and from work.

It begins with Feeling Oblivion, which opens with a few notes on a piano before the simple tune actually starts. The words are all over the place, but sit with in the song perfectly. That last chorus preceded by the haunting, 'So don't leave me here on my own.'

Underdog (Save Me) is about running away from everything. It nearly inspired me to get off my arse and go see the world again. There's a 'great little' guitar solo in it too.

The album is full of 'great little' songs, all warm and lush but my favourite comes towards the end. Mind Over Money has one of the best 'join in and burst your lungs' choruses I know. It's sort of anthem like without actually being an anthem.

That's alright I warned myself,
Keep blood on the inside and nowhere else

An album for warm summer nights for sure. Beach parties? Yes. But there's so much depth there within the light. There's a bleakness that sort of sat nicely with turning thirty soon after the turn of century (2003 fact fans), it is the sound of age catching up with me. Over ten years later and I still love the album. It can still make me smile and it still feels like a well kept secret. Which sometimes still feels like it means something.

The vocals throughout take you away to somewhere else and although sometimes slightly awkward and not compromised to fit the tunes, the harmonies are quietly pretty as each song places you in a different part of your world. I can imagine sitting and listening to it with someone pretty (maybe I have on occasion) but equally it works as dark room and headphones album. Just be careful with the singing along when you try that... sorry neighbours, I really should have closed the window.

Do you not have The Optimist LP by Turin Brakes? No? Fool.

The One Where It's All Smoke And Mirrors

2011-02-22T08:00:00.001Z

For Your Consideration: Dym, a.k.a "Smoke"

Read What I Thought, HERE.

The One Where I've Always Wanted To Be A Gangster

2011-02-21T08:00:00.001Z

For Your Consideration: Goodfellas

See What I Think Of It, HERE.

The One Where You Dig Out Your Green And Red Glasses

2011-02-20T12:00:00.000Z

SOLD!

New Black Ops maps March 3rd. Play for a month. 3D TV. Then trade Black Ops in for Kill Zone 3. Simples.

The One Where I Go Off The Grid

2011-02-20T08:00:00.000Z

WTF is that? I'll tell you what it is. That is "Enemy Mine" about to disappear off the Live For Films' "Recent Features And Reviews" page.

I should be sad, but the next pic means I'm not.

That is all of my Reviews for LFF so far*. It's meant undoubtably my own Blog has slowed down, but I'm fine with that.

I remember the day that "Enemy Mine" review went up. I was out with my fellow Ledgers. If they had said then, 39 would follow, I would have roundhouse kicked them, Roadhouse style.

Amen to that.

* In fact, it's not even all of them. They wouldn't fit in one screen grab!

The One Where I've Got Nothing Left To Lose

2011-02-19T14:52:00.001Z

No. I have no idea if they knew if the recording was out of focus.

Who cares. I'm well behind on My Top 100 songs of all time, and not only is this in there, but Maximo Park may have more songs than anyone in it, when I'm through.

The One Where Swimming/McDonalds/Football Are Usurped By... Diggers

2011-02-18T18:55:00.000Z

Nice nose, Rudolf... tell everyone what you spent the morning doing...

Looking for those rats. "That Mike Cheese" loves those rats apparently.

Not so... They scared the life out of us, actually.

He has a Berba aura about him on the pitch. Languid.

Freaking freezing. But no, you can't have my snood, Chief.

Coldest day of the year... And all he wants is an ice cream.

*sigh*

The One Where A Monkey Is Mayor

2011-02-17T08:00:00.000Z

For Your Consideration: The Diamonds Of Metro Valley

Is this the greatest movie of all time?

Read HERE to find out.

Then, when you've done that, buy it HERE. It's the greatest tribute to John Carpenter a website could ever be.

The One Where I'm Almost Famous On Face Book

2011-02-16T08:00:00.000Z

Remember this review, HERE?

Just About Famous is a great documentary on look alikes.

I really liked it.

They have used me review on their FB fan page, which is kind of cool.

Hit the link HERE to become a fan, and pray they make a feature out of it.

Their official site is HERE, for more information on screenings.

'And altogether it went well' by @diaryofaledger

2011-02-15T20:00:00.001Z

I was on the cusp of separation when Is This It by the Strokes came out in 2001 but I fell for it after.

It's still one of my favourite albums ever. The perfect blend of laid back slackers, talent and hipster cool, an album was just too good to be ignored. They didn't really live up to the hype post Is This It but the debut still lives up to all that attention that was thrown at it.

It screams of New York, of drugs chic and waif thin model girlfriends. The cover deserves to be borderline iconic alone but it's what's contained within that made everyone swoon. Every track is special. No filler just great tunes.

There's a wonderful simplicity to the album, in the playing and production. It all sounds like it was recorded in one hit which was exactly what The Strokes wanted, a back to basics approach that felt incredibly refreshing at the time.

Julian Casablanca's lyrics and voice are what all the songs hang off. It's a voice that can hardly be described as glorious but it fits with the music wonderfully well. The sound of a few too many cigarettes as he struggles to hit a high note and falls into a croak quite brilliantly captured. The words within the songs paint a picture of living in New York on the cusp of breaking through, urban cool as relationships start and then fizzle out.

See, alone we stand, together we fall apart - Someday

Everyone fell for Last Night. It's the one that rang out at Indie Disco across the land for about five years and probably still does (I got too old for that shit). It's still a great tune though, but there's others on the album that are easily it's equal. Hard to Explain, which follows it, it just, well, fuck awesome. It even has that little moment of silent perfection.

It was the sound of New York just prior to September the 11th. The sound of dirty bohemians making great music while they smoked weed and hung out with pretty girls.

One of those albums everyone should own.

The One With CZJ

2011-02-14T09:00:00.001Z

It's Valentines Day. I'll probably be made to watch a chick flick. At least if it's this one, I'll get to stare at CZJ...

Read the review, HERE.

The One Where ET Is The (Lion) King Of Foggy London Town

2011-02-13T19:38:00.000Z

Good things come in small packages

Knackered. And not even there yet.

That Jon McGlashan always says stick to the left... no right... no left...

She's so into me

Robin... Dun, Dun.... The Hooded Man

Gorgeous

He's anyones after Nuggets and Chippies

Perfect

The One Where I Put It All In My Rear View Mirror

2011-02-13T09:00:00.000Z

For Your Consideration: Bluey Of The Year?

Read The Review, HERE.

The One Where Ethan Just Can't Wait To Be King

2011-02-12T08:00:00.000Z

It takes something special for the Manc Derby to be number two on my list of things to do today.

Team Truscott are off to Foggy London Town, though...

The One With 4-3

2011-02-11T09:00:00.002Z

I've actually got other things on my mind, but remember this?

The One Where I'm Almost Famous

2011-02-10T10:43:00.000Z

For Your Consideration: Just About Famous.

A 15 Minute Documentary About "Lookalikies".

See Review, HERE.

The One Where I Do The Rain Man, Whilst Watching Sanctum

2011-02-09T08:53:00.000Z

I went to see Sanctum. It's about getting the bends whilst cave diving.

In 3D.

See what I thought HERE.

'A Song for our Fathers' by @diaryofaledger

2011-02-08T20:00:00.002Z

Sometimes music is just all about how it makes you feel. Classical music lovers will get that. Emotion and passion dripping from something that contains no words. This album is like that but different.

I first heard Explosions in the Sky four years ago, recommended by a friend at work who'd stuck this album (How Strange, Innocence) on the department iPods and I was immediately hooked. Their debut from 2000 is one of the most beautiful albums I own. Electric guitar, bass and drums but no words. At all. It's an instrumental rock album that works on so many levels.

At times it's incredibly mournful, quiet and pretty. At others it's uplifting and joyful. And there's noise too. Loads of it.

The four piece create something that you can live in over the seven tracks. With headphones on, lights off, it's a magical listen. Never pretentious, never forced, just slow and deliberate in its simplicity and all of its interwoven complexity.

The surprise for me was not missing lyrics at all in a rock album. There are moments when the guitars do enough of the speaking for you. Glittering Blackness, just past half way through, has some wonderfully timed moments as the song breaks from a wall of sound into a gentle refrain. You get utterly lost in where the songs go as they spiral and spin into different directions, the band clearly embracing the lack of words as a chance to push off in other directions mid track without deviating from a songs purpose.

So how does it make me feel? I discovered them at a rough time and there's some of that emotion residing in there when I listen to it now. But that's the beauty of it, because you're not being forced to accept that the songs actually about anything they take on new meanings each time you listen. And tonight as I type I guess what I get is hope. And that's a good thing.

Explosions in the Sky aren't a one off, but their beautiful delivery make them a very special band and there are another four albums since this one to immerse yourself in. Lovely.

The One With Hereafter

2011-02-07T08:00:00.001Z

For Your Consideration: Hereafter. The most WTF film of 2011?

Read about it, HERE.

The One With Super Bowl XXXXXX

2011-02-06T07:34:00.000Z

So it's the biggest game of the year... Chelsea versus Liverpool, with Torres pittin-... eh?

It's Super Bowl Sunday?

Oh.

That's kind of a big deal, isn't it?

Super Bowl. Biggest Sporting Event Of The Year, Or A Sport For Sissy Girls?Market Research

The One Where The Fighter Is A Contender

2011-02-05T10:00:00.001Z

For Your Consideration: The Fighter. Film Of The Year?

Find out, HERE.

The One Where Daddy Day Care Goes To The Zoo, Zoo, Zoo, You Can Come Too, Too, Too

2011-02-04T18:25:00.000Z

9:30. Bit early. Picnic in the car? Done.

Thanks for the snood, MC. Frickin' freezing out there.

Hippos. I'm a fan. Ethan thinks "they smell".

Two Owls in the background.

"Why don't they talk, Daddy?"

"Umm..." Nice one, Gruffalo.

Look at the size of his horn!

Yes, ET. That one is a buy.

Oblivious to my Son walking on a railway track... All I could see was that Monkeys ass.

Which was red.

And below, so begins the one long park sesh. Well, three parks to be exact. Worth the Annual pass, eh?

And below, two tiny vids. I ran out of memory to film the Giraffes. Oh well, I'd imagine we'll be going back next week!

The second vid is a disappointment. Yeah, I know he's adorable... but it looked a lot higher in real life.

The One Where The Director Calls "Cut!"

2011-02-04T08:00:00.000Z

The morale of the story on this one is simple. You never know who is watching/reading.

Click on the picture, or HERE, to see my Blessed review. A low budget film about James Nesbitt grieving.

Whose comment is that at the bottom? Only the bloody Director!

Haha.

The One Where Boardwalk Empire Treads The Boards

2011-02-03T09:00:00.001Z

Oh, Marty.

If I close my eyes and forget there are people going ga-ga over this, that have literally no idea what your next film is due to be, I could be in Heaven.

Why does that matter? Why does it bother me? Well, it doesn't. I refuse to let the Shawshank Sheep effect affect my views on this - because truth be told, if this was coming out at the cinemas this weekend, no one would care. And that does frustrate.

This is Scorsese's love letter to everything that has gone before. Is it right that people get to enjoy that with out having put any effort/time into the back catalogue? For me, no. That's the whole point.

That said, if watching this makes a generation check Mean Streets out, then it serves a purpose.

As a huge Scorsese fan, to see all of his trade marks visible in the pilot was a punch the air moment.

Michael Pitt stole the show for me. So good in Funny People, looking on IMdB, I see he is in Hugo Cabret. Again... Air punch.

This is brilliant, TV. A fantastic cast. Brilliant period setting. Iconic characters.

Sky Atlantic is going to justify my sky bill on it's own. So much so I'm going to invest.

Starting Here. Here. And Here.

The One Where I Sing In My Head As I Go Home (#7)

2011-02-02T20:00:00.000Z

The One Where G. Nev Retires

2011-02-02T19:24:00.000Z

Legend.

'First it giveth then it taketh away' by @diaryofaledger

2011-02-01T20:30:00.001Z

Remember when rock was dirty and fun? Back in the 1970s? No? Oh? This was a throw back to that younglings. Heavy, thunderous actually, but also tongue in cheek and one of the best rock albums of the last ten years.

No One Knows warmed us all up. Dave Grohl in the video, drumming like he used to (like a tub thumping madman) peaked the interest of Nirvana and Foo fans. If Dave was in, maybe we all should be.

They've always been a fluid band in terms of members but this had Mark Lanegan, Nick Oliveri, Grohl and of course Home who'd always been a noise merchant. They were all peaking. it's an album rammed full of talent, vocally and lyrically, and spilling out of the darkness of the unrelenting bass and guitar and weird harmonies is a sound unlike anyone else. I used to listen to it a lot in the car (back when I had one). Volume straining to cope with the bass heavy tracks as I'd try to catch any meaning in the at times impenetrable words.

It's one of those albums that's all about how it makes you feel. There's actually no point at all listening to this on any other volume level than loud. It loses something when the bass and drums aren't being felt through every bit of your flesh at high volume, almost like your being assaulted by the noise.

It's sexy as fuck too. Something about the pounding I guess, even on something like The Sky is Falling, where things are a bit quieter, it's still a throbbing mass of sound. Go With the Flow's video was hardly subtle about what the band felt the song was about.

That they fell apart so badly post this album was such a pity, drugs, women and more women, and then some more drugs all played their part but as an album it's a stunner. Grohl's best drumming ever. FACT.

The One Where I Swear A Lot To Prove A Point

2011-01-31T20:00:00.000Z

Hmmm.... Pretty overwhelming in terms of being anti-censorship.

Gray unfollowed a racist last week. Sky got rid of a sexist.

The question is, is it OK to say what you want, when others are listening?

I've said myself over and over that I resent the idea of someone telling me what I can and can't do. On twitter, though? And on Facebook? I think there may be room for it.

Look at the way twitter got engulfed in the Kenneth Tong story.

Was that healthy? Should he have been allowed to get his message across to so many people, in such a short time? (His story is HERE, for the unitiated).

I'm not sure.

I'm also not so sure how you would police that particular example. What I would suggest is maybe a few yellow cards from other twitter users to flag someone up as a concern?

I'm accutely aware I have a potty mouth. Especially on twitter. Is that right?

I guess if you don't like it, you can just unfollow.

But it may be too late by then.

Again, maybe have it so swear words can't be typed? Like on certain video games, where you try and put your username in as "cockjugglingthundercunt", and it won't let you.

Or again, for those days where you just need to say "Fuuuuuuuuuuccccccck you", maybe you could have an allowance? 3 a day? Maybe 5? Clearly it gets complicated, and wouldn't work. If society banned swearing in general, people would just find other words.

Plus what would I do? I'd be fucked.

Cheers for taking part. This weeks vote is on both my site, and GCs. So go take part, you daft fuckers.

Also... No one was brave enough to tick the third box? Arrogant fucks.

The One Where Ethan Zachs Hits The Big 3.... Oh

2011-01-30T21:04:00.000Z

I think as a parent you just want the best for your child, and always hope for them to get the most from whatever they do. Mr and Mrs T were Heros today. No question. Ethan Zachary Truscott turned three, and we've never been prouder. What a gorgeous, stunning young man.

I got back from a night out with a few seconds to spare. *phew*

Me. A broken man. HTF can there be so many pieces to a frickin' £20 Playmobil set?

I mean, seriously. WTF?

Zachs looking out for those "dirty fat rats", that that Mike Cheese and Daddy saw t'other day.

Daniel Craig can do one.

Works can't express how beautiful ET looks when swimming. He literally glows.

You know like that alien in that movie...

I think it was called... the alien that glowed.

Caught in the act. You'll get yours, Mrs T.

I have never seen so many kids in one place. Not even a full school, on a school day, with lots of kids at school.

The Ledgers totally need to hire this place out, though.

We had to do it again. True story...

...Then no one else was allowed a piece. True story.

The One Where We Vote On Sexism

2011-01-30T08:00:00.002Z

This weeks vote had to be this. Yeah, it's been done to death, but its been a week.

That's enough time for some reflection, right?

So the question is... Were Sky Right To Sack Andy Gray?

Undecided? Heres some evidence...

This is the first time I've posted the Vote on GCs site - so cheers letting me do that, mate.

The One Where Brentmeister General Is Back

2011-01-29T15:00:00.000Z

The One Where I Remember The Full Moon

2011-01-29T07:00:00.002Z

The One Where I Heart Manhunter, In Spite Of Its Cold, Cold Heart

“Heart beat, can you feel my heart beat, whooooaaaaaaaa.” Red 7, Heartbeat

I couldn’t believe my luck when Total Film had a 6 page Manhunter spread this month. Wait Total Film… Is that the same Total Film that has a vote for best Blog ever, and ever? Yes. It is. SO VOTE.

It’s my Dads birthday, and this would make his top 5, no question. It wouldn’t be far off mine, either.

I remember clearly going into what I think was MVC (remember those? Are they still around?) My Mum was desperately hunting for Manhunter. The name alone was enough to get a young lad into a tizzy about what that film may be about. It’s just a brilliantly evocative title. But then she dropped the bomb on me…

“What does it look like Mum?” (I possibly said Mummy, but that’s not important, right now.)

“It has a man looking right at you.”

“Oh. Pretty inspiring” (Even then I could do sarcasm.)

“Oh, yes. And your Dad said he’d probably have a massive full moon behind him

What? Was this a werewolf film? I had seen the VHS copy of American Werewolf, and knew Dad had The Howling too. Maybe. Kind of ruins my need for it to be a steely blue, stone cold cop thriller though.

We found it. There in all its glory, with its teasing 18 certificate. Like some sort of forbidden fruit. Except I’ve never like fruit, and I’ve always loved films.

Now, in situations like this, Dad didn’t really help me.

What he would do is tell me snippets of the film, knowing full well that a young lad would never be watching it any time soon. I think we’re in 1991, by the way. As a scene setter Silence Of The Lambs has just swept everyone away. I call that the Shawshank Sheep factor, which may well get me sacked as film reviewer on here. My theory is that certain films, people just say they love for no other reason than everyone else says the same. I pick on Shawshank because I’ve called people out on it, and they have never seen it. Plus The Green Mile is better.

I could name others but I risk alienating myself even more. And believe it or not, I’m not trying to do that. More, I’m trying to get across that Manhunter is like Silence’s bastard Son. (Or Father, whatever). If I keep that analogy, He’s been there, done that. Got the experience. Was first to do it. Arguably does it better. But Silence came along. Everyone loves a new born (nappies aside). So they “ooh”, and they “aah”. Everyone gives him presents (gold, bald statues). Everyone forgets the Dad. The person that made it all possible in the first place. Thankfully, he’s not a violent man, (apart from people being set on fire, and put in wheelchairs), so rather than lash out, he slopes off. Probably to a beachside hut. Where he’ll stand… looking out at the sea… probably with a mojito. On his own.

If I’ve lost you, let me bring you back in. What I’m saying is that Manhunter is the best Lektar (sp) film there is. Those that know me will know the “Ed Norton effect” messed with my head for Red Dragon. There was a brief moment where I may have flirted with the idea of him being a better Will Graham. I’d like to publicly apologise for that. I was drunk on mojitos.

Michael Mann is a bit of a hero. I’m not saying he hasn’t made any missteps. (Come on, the effects in The Keep are shit!). But I would go so far as to say that Manhunter might be him at the peak of his powers.

I only found out this morning that Red 7s “Heartbeat” featured in Miami Vice (TV show, not the underrated Farrell movie), before the end of Manhunter. That makes me giddy. Because its Mann tying all of his themes together again. Much like he did with L.A Takedown. (The TV movie bearing more than a passing comparison with Heat).

Mann has a great lead here, as I mentioned. And he’s clever enough to keep Lektar in the sidelines. When Brian Cox does turn up, far from a campy pantomime villain, he uses his wits to get at Will Graham. But it’s Grahams film. No question. This was back when William Peterson could have gone on to rule the world. This and To Live And Die In L.A meant he was the go to guy for intelligent cop thrillers. Except intelligent cop thrillers turned into Lethal Weapon 2 instead. Stupid diplomatic immunity.

Manhunter is chock full of classic scenes.

The man in the wheel chair is certainly one of them. Mann makes some brilliant decisions. For one, he plays it almost entirely from the guard’s point of view. We see that image flickering in the distance, just at the same time as he does. Then, Mann is brave enough to play it out in almost total silence.

Decisions like that mean that Mann has always lived his career on the sidelines. He’s made some stone cold classics. But they are exactly that. Cold. Tinged in Blue. Mann likes loners. He likes men being men. (Not like that). I totally appreciate that’s not for everyone. It’s why those song lyrics that start the review are so important. Mann does have a heart. This is about Graham protecting his family. You just need to dig deep to find it.

To make amends, Mann gives it all in the finale. Music playing in the background, as the cops surround Dollarhyde. Then, some shotgun action. With awkward jump cuts, as if the gun has mis fired. Dollarhyde threatening to steal the film. The music is louder now. A violent frenzy to finish an otherwise quiet thoughtful film.

So Mann can please everybody. Who knew?

Happy Birthday, old man.x

The One With The Car Wash!

2011-01-28T18:53:00.000Z

Ethan Zachs, sporting plasters on his face... Nelly, Nelly, Nelly... Uh-Oh!

Valet FTW. As soon as I did this yesterday, I knew ET would love it.

I'm thinking of starting a Car Wash appreciation Club... Are you in, @TwoSoups and @FypieFi?

Ethan Zachs definitely is...

**NB THIS VIDEO CONTAINS SCENES IN A CAR WASH THAT THOSE SCARED OF CONFINED SPACES, WATER, OR AIR BLOWERS MAY FIND DISTURBING**

There has also been swimming today, (again on his own, he's awesome at turning now, too). Plus a cheeky McDonalds. (Twice - we had to kill some time when the car wash being done, you know?)

I just realised that I didn't post any Gruffalo hunting pictures from our walk at the weekend, either.

So lets do that, too.

It's tempting to say, "Best place for them... But I won't"

My fave ever picture of Ethan and I

"You're move, Creep"

I would have genuinely forgone the 3D TV to have her fall in.

We had a race.

I won.

Mrs T. Still sulking after she almost fell in.

The One Where Black Swan Gets Spoilt

2011-01-28T07:00:00.000Z

I wish you could all watch this, but you really can't. So, you'll just have to toddle off, and keep yourself busy.

...

Eh?

Oh, those that can? Well, thats anyone that was clever enough to get up, off their sorry ass, to go see Black Swan.

Didn't see it? Don't watch.

The One With Green Hornet

2011-01-27T11:07:00.001Z

The One Where It’s Not So Much A Review, As A Plea To You To See It, So I Get A Sequel

OK, shit just got real. Phil over at LFF, (my second Home), is helping by posting this tonight... but I need a favour. I need you all to go see The Green Hornet. 2D/3D whatever. I want a sequel to this more than I want to break Eva Mendes' hip... Grandpa style.

The first five minutes of Green Hornet were appalling I turned to my cinema buddies and called it. “Worst five minutes to a movie… ever”.

Then, and I had managed to avoid this, there is a cameo. And everything felt like it was settling down.

Then, and I am pleasantly surprised by this, I ended up really enjoying it.

The best thing for me was that the comedy was pitched perfectly for me. There were bits where the three of us were genuinely laughing out loud (LOL!). But it dawned on me… not many others were. In fact, considering the films only a week old, and it was that most awful of things (*whispers* Orange Wednesday), things didn’t look great. I know that is just a tiny microcosm of a films performance, but unless there is something in Southampton’s water, (there is), then they just didn’t get it.

And that’s a shame.

Not a crying shame, mind. Most of the world didn’t get Observe And Report either. I’ll be honest, I didn’t even see it until Tarantino put it in his Top 10 of the year – but this film is very similar. Seth Rogen is someone I could happily watch. I love the way he pitches his comedy - there is sort of a Ricky Gervais vibe about it.

One bit where the Black Beauty gets to tour the streets, they put on a classic nineties tune, and it just blew me away. So tongue in cheek. So knowing that if they have fun making the movie they may help us have fun watching.

Most people’s issues with the film seem to be the mix of action and comedy not working. Again, it really worked for me. “Kato Vision”, which seems to be a love it it or hate it, was quite cool – like a mix between Sherlock Holmes and Bruce Lee, (who gets a nice tribute).

Kato deserves a huge amount of credit for making it all work, too. When he’s drunk and starts talking Chinese, you start to see another side to the character. Now, I can’t sell this as a character piece – the idea of the Hornets origin being partly down to how he was Fathered didn’t work for me. In fact, I still can’t believe the film recovered from the opening scene, which was a huge misstep.

The fact that it did is a credit to the two leads. Waltz is decent enough. I hope there is a 15 Bluey, as the suggestion of the two-barreled gun was never followed through. He shoots one guy, who falls, with two bullets holes and blood falling from the holes. It felt like it was from another film, or at least a harder cut of the same film.

So… has Gondry sold out? Well, personally, I think Eternal Sunshine was vastly overrated, but I totally appreciate he has style. There were four or five bits where he really expressed that. One, a Bennie hill style love scene, as Brett passes through his Dads garage with a lady friend works really well – and gives us an insight into his playboy lifestyle.

Secondly, he does the Kato Vision thing, and then finally… er… “Hornets Vision”. Both worked, but I can see how it will take some people out of the film.

Thirdly, he made the best use of split screen I’ve seen since Jackie Brown. It was really refreshing to see someone try something different.

So that’s that. Short but sweet. I need anyone that was 50/50 to go see this. I can’t be the only one to hate the idea of The Kings Speech on a Friday night… Can I??

The One With L.A Noire

2011-01-26T12:00:00.000Z

I'll be at the cinema tonight, so no post.

In the back of my head, I'll be thinking about these words...

"This trailer was made entirely from game play footage".

What. The. Fuck.

Oh, and...

Colour me excited.

'We don't talk about love' by @diaryofaledger

2011-01-25T20:00:00.000Z

I didn't really fall for the Manics until I saw them live at Glastonbury. They were still a four piece back then, all wearing balaclavas and full of energy and menace. Like so many others Richie Edward's 'For Real' self harming had captured something for me a few years earlier, a moment so full of proper punk rock and passion that despite the shock factor actually had you believing (that despite) the hype maybe just maybe there was a band here that really meant it.

The Holy Bible proved it. What followed, post Richie's disappearance, showed that it wasn't just him that drove the Manics, they were all for real.

When Everything Must Go came out there was so much good will out there for the band that it could have been awful and sold a shed load. That it wasn't was an achievement under the circumstances. That it went on to mean so much to so many was incredible.

Design for Life had already shook everyone up prior to the album. Shit, even now, what a song that is. It feels even more relevant than ever as a generation lives for the weekend and drinking through their lives. James Dean Bradfield's voice sounds like it's on the edge in the chorus, straining to make the notes, the orchestral backing fitting in perfectly with bombastic call to arms. Rarely has a song that talks about libraries been so powerful.

I think we all expected something morose. Something almost private that we'd be scared to look at. An album full of grief and loss, but it's so far away from that. There's songs about photo journalists, expressionist artists and Blackpool. No compromises, still a Manics album.

Highlights? Well obviously the singles, Australia and Everything Must Go, both great songs, but for me there's the beautiful Small Black Flowers that Grow in the Sky and Removables, both written by Edwards. One delicate and fragile one just a great rock song.

Of course Richie Edwards presence is there throughout but it heightens the experience knowing what circumstances the band recorded the album in. It took years before they could go back to Edward's words fully and make an album completely made up from his writing with 2009's Journal for Plague Lovers. That's the only album since that really hits home as much as this one does. Yes Everything Must Go is very different from the Holy Bible but it kind of needed to be.

It ends with the amazing No Surface All Feeling. Wonderfully written by Nicky Wire, who still has that knowing glint in his eye all these years later. It's just a great closer, noisy and poignant. Just the way Richie liked things.

What's the point in looking back,

When all you see is more and more junk.

Never bothered with the Manics? Start with this and work backwards. The Holy Bible is still my favourite album but then it has got Faster on it, but Everything Must Go was a great introduction to a brilliant band. Roll on Isle of Wight festival.

The One Where You Forgive Sean For LOXG

2011-01-24T20:00:00.000Z

Well holy shit for Sean Connery.

The vote is in, and unless Jax really did sit there hitting Connery over, and over, and over... well, it was pretty unanimous.

I'm not really surprised.

I have great memories of going to see The Living Daylights at Aldershots flea pit cinema, so I have a soft spot for Dalton. That said, Dad went to see Licence To Kill with out me, so fuck him. (Dalton, not my Dad. Obviously).

Then, I remember the re-launch of Goldeneye. Dad and I qued around the block to see it at Camberley. Great times, and for me, still up there as the best Bond film. Studying it during Media Studies at A-Level should have tarnished that. The fact it made me love it more speaks volumes.

Then Casino Royale kicked us all in the balls. QoS is underrated, (in a way similar to LTK, for me). And Bond 23 is green lit. Sam Mendes is in, which is awesome.

But lets not pretend we don't want a Tarantino Bond movie. Maybe with a Connery cameo...

Oh, and my favourite Bond film with Connery? Never Say Never Again. Deal with it.

The One Where We Vote On Twitter Censorship

2011-01-23T07:49:00.000Z

Ryan Babel fined £10,000 for a RT of the above picture.

Silly boy.

Bringing the game into disrepute? Being unprofessional? Or just having a bit of fun?

So this weeks vote is... Should Twitter Be Censored?

Pop back tomorrow for the write up on Who Is Your Favourite Bond.

The One Where Its @KJCollard's Birthday (#6)

2011-01-22T18:33:00.001Z

I was toying with launching this weeks (next weeks?) Vote tonight - but decided against it. Two reasons. One, the last few have done really well. They launched on a saturday night. If this one suffers, I'll learn something. (It's about twitter, so...). Secondly, somewhere over in the United States Of America, one of my favourite tweeters turns 21 (ish). Happy Birthday KJC.

*Raises JD and Coke*

This song reminds her of being a young toe rag in the 80's. She also has an unnatural obsession with John Cussack. If this extends to Hot Tub Time Machine I'll just pull this tribute.

Its also in My Top 100 Of All Time, which now has a handy link over there, somewhere on the right.

The One With MUFC Versus Brum

2011-01-22T15:00:00.001Z

The last time I went to Old Trafford was to see the opening game of last season.

It was pretty woeful. A lot of the problems that persist today were evident, actually. Still, the sausage rolls were nice. Cheers JMcG.

1-0 United win, that if we're honest, we'd take today.

But in reality, how long can we keep trundling on?

I thought the Spurs 0-0 was a great result. Incredible defensively.

But attacking wise we were inept. Rooney, after looking like he had turned the corner, was snarling away. We let it slip at Birmingham. In lieu of other games it looked a pretty good point. We need to blitz them today, no question.

Then, on Tuesday we get our rematch with Blackpool. Hopefully we make them pay for calling that game off.

The One Where Live For Films Lives Forever

2011-01-22T08:00:00.004Z

Several awesome things happened yesterday.

First, a total labour of love. All of my LFF reviews, re-sized, and grouped in the catagories I reviewed them in. No benefit to anyone but me, but it gives me an idea of how many I've done, and that I really need to watch more 70s movies...

Next, Phil asked me to review some screeners he had. I totally appreciate that I'm a member of LoveFilm, have an Unlimited pass at Cineworld, but that is the stuff of geek dreams. The fact he would even ask is the best bit. I should be begging to write reviews for my favourite film site, shouldn't I?

Then, during a chat with Phil, pretty much along the lines of "Cool... Do I have to pretend I like these movies so they send us more?", Phil throws in that adam@liveforfilms.com was up and running. Right. And that if I wanted to be bold, I could use it as a reviewer for LFF to see if there were press screenings etc. Again, whether anything comes of that isn't really the point. How cool is that?

Then, finally, as I'm sat there dreaming of reviewing Sex And The City 2 on screener... it hits... my name, along with the LFF crew on TotalFilm.Com.

HOLY SHIT. Amen to that.

I love all of that so much I'd shut this Blog in a flash if I thought that sort of dream would last forever.

If you like this Blog, or like the reviews on LFF, then go to Total Film, and vote for us. Lets keep this dream going a lil longer, shall we?

The One Where We Start Again...

2011-01-21T22:34:00.000Z

Nice one, GC. Finis.

The One Where ET Swims Faster Than A Shark

2011-01-21T16:20:00.001Z

You know when you crash your car, and are looking for some good news?

Well, today Ethan had me beaming.

We went to the swimming pool, and after what seemed like an eternity of him holding on to my hand, then four fingers... then three... then two... yep, you guessed it... then one... he decided today he wanted to cut loose.

My Son doesn't do things by halves. He sits back, takes it all in, then just says "fuck it", and goes all out.

He doesn't literally say "fuck it". I'm doing quite well with my whole cutting ~~out~~ down swearing for 2011.

So for reward we undid all of the hard work and went for a McDonalds. Except I really wanted a hotdog. So I said, "fuck it, ET... lets grab a dog".

I didn't literally say... oh, whatever.

So, for the princely sum of £2.65, let me tell you what we got...

One hotdog.
One fries. (eq of a Large at McDs).
One coffee. (Free refills).
Two doughnuts.
Two ice creams.

That's a lot of bang for your buck.

FFS, ET. What happened to not liking hot dogs?

Beautiful.

Unbelievably... this wasn't my worst bit of recent driving...

ETs other love is eating ice creams from the bottom up... then, when I'm trying to drive, saying I should take it as he doesn't want it anymore.

A few other things have had me beaming today too. I'll post all of that tomorrow. And no, it won't be saucy.

The One Where Black Swan Divides Opinions

2011-01-21T08:00:00.004Z

Romy Shiller writes great movie reviews. Her most recent was Black Swan. I've included it below, so you can see what inspired my review. Enjoy.

First, though... my take:

The One Where I Heart Black Swan, And Hope You Do Too.

Black Swan is one of those films that I shouldn’t really like.

For a start, everyone (bar the brave Romy Shiller), seem to have fallen for it. If it’s not a five star film, it’s a four star in most reviews. I haven’t seen many people fall too far in the middle.

Me? I loved it.

And I don’t say, “love” like I normally do. I mean true love. Maybe even love at first sight.

Part of that is with Natalie Portman. She’s incredible here. Vulnerable. Trapped in a life we come to realize she hasn’t actually chosen. Brilliant.

Clichéd, too. Romy isn’t wrong there. This part of the film is nothing we haven’t seen before. The film does have missteps. Winona Ryder is one of them. Almost turning up just to have an iconic moment later on, where she reinvents the wheel when it comes to nail files. (That, plus James Franco severing his nerves, have given me more winces in the Cinema already than I had in 2010) It was only when I looked away that I realized how engrossed I had become.

I think part of the reason I was sucked in was the setting. It took me right back to the first time I saw Susperia. There is something creepy, and unnerving about a dance school. Especially when the lights go out, when you’re still practicing. (And getting it wrong, wrong, wrong).

Darren Aronofsky is fast becoming one of my favorite Directors too. How people can say he “is a master of making beautiful films you don’t want to see again”, is beyond me. This isn’t the first time he’s done pretentious. But I loved The Fountain, too. The more I think about it, it’s for similar reasons. I get that people wouldn’t want to watch Requiem For A Dream every Sunday, but films like that exist for a reason.

The final fifteen minutes of this film go far further than I thought they would. Whether what we are seeing is actually happening of course is for another discussion. Aronofsky blurs the lines so much, that it’s never clear. Did that scene ever even happen? Maybe. Maybe not. There is more than a little fantasy at play here.

The way he pushes the final fifteen though is why I’ll always return to this film. I see it as a perfect double bill with The Fly.

Believe me, that comparison is not as stretched as it seems. You know from the trailer there are suggestions of a transformation. You know that Natalie Portman can’t get the role of the black swan, right. She’s frigid. She’s a little bit inexperienced. Maybe even a little boring. Clichés, for sure, in any other context. Here? Here it works brilliantly. Nina is forced to look at her lifestyle, and that home life, and re-assess whether there are elements holding her back.

She scratches where those wings should be, because it’s niggling away at her. Her Mum knows this, but still tries to hold her back. Tries to control her. So we have a coming of age drama, too.

Nina is growing up, experimenting, wanting perfection. All of the things most people do when growing up. Aronofsky is pushing those boundaries all of the time, though.

I’m disappointed to read that groups of lads are going to see it just for the Portman/Kunis scene. What I love about Aronofsky is he has fun with this. Anyone hoping to get a cheap thrill from that scene will be disappointed. There is at least two jump scares within it, and not in your typical noughties horror remake kind of way. We are talking images you might not be able to shake. Characters turning into other characters. Maybe even meaning that at times a character is talking to themselves. You will either buy that or not. For me, it was up there with David Lynch getting people to call themselves at their own home… and speak with themselves.

I think the point is, if you had seen the trailer, chances are you’ll know whether you’re in, or out.

I just hope you’re in.

I hope that Black Swan makes a ton of money, and means Aronofsky can carry on making whatever films he likes. Then maybe, one day, he can come back and do a sequel. Because that I would LOVE to see.

Black Swan was nominated for Best Movie, at the Golden Globes. It did not win.

Just another of lifes little tragedies…

I just wanted to stress that I love Romy’s reviews, especially her take on Black Swan. The analogy of Phil not liking Inception was spot on. He was wrong too, obviously, but how boring would the world be if we all agreed

Now Romy is here with her take...

Competition is a sin. – John D. Rockefeller

Director: Darren Aronofsky
Writers: Mark Heyman, Andres Heinz
Stars: Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis and Vincent Cassel

I imagined that I was the only person on earth ambivalent about Black Swan. However, when I told the movie-watcher with me that I thought the film was a cliché, she agreed. I was so surprised.

Plot: Black Swan is a 2010 American psychological thriller film directed by Darren Aronofsky, starring Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, and Vincent Cassel. Thomas Leroy (Cassel) is the director of a New York City ballet production of Swan Lake, in which he has cast Nina Sayers (Portman) as the Swan Queen and Lily (Kunis) as her alternate. The role requires a dancer who can play both the White Swan with innocence and grace, and the Black Swan, who represents guile and sensuality. Nina fits the White Swan role perfectly, while Lily is the ideal personification of the Black Swan. As the two young dancers expand their rivalry into a twisted friendship, Nina grows more in touch with her dark side, with a recklessness that threatens to destroy her.

I think that this film could have really pushed the envelope. It was already surreal but it wanted to be Dali-esque. It was conservative actually. Yeah, yeah, our lead (Natalie Portman as Nina) is frigid and crazy. Seen it, sorry. Her hallucinations are nightmarish? A psychological thriller?

Nina is obsessive and scratches herself where wings would be. She is cast as the lead ballerina in a dual role of white and black swan. She has trouble portraying the black swan but the darkness inside her is symbolized by a dark feather she plucks out of her skin. Yawn. She usually wears white to align her with the white swan. Her white scarf is feathered. Nice attention to detail but kind of obvious. This film takes itself seriously and is very committed to something. The hype…

Remember when Liveforfilms wasn’t impressed with Inception, well I’m not impressed with Black Swan. Because of that review, I feel like I was given permission to go against the grain.

No, I’m not ambivalent in the least. I absolutely do not believe that this film deserves acclaim. Sorry, but I kept thinking that I could have written a paper about it in high-school. If I were a teacher and needed a clear example of symbolism, I’d use this film. There was little mystery or intrigue here for me.

Okay, we’re going to talk about Natalie Portman’s character Nina. There is no question in my mind that Natalie Portman is a very good actor. There was only so much one could do with the character Nina. Nina had no arc, no development – she was the same from beginning to end. Also, I had little empathy for the character. This character required empathy – believe me! So, the character was flawed not the actor.

A review I came across says, “Darren Aronofsky is a master at making beautiful films you never want to see again. Part of this has to do with the inherently unpleasant nature of the obsessions and addictions he chronicles: the heroin chase of Requiem for a Dream, the eon-spanning pursuit of doomed love in The Fountain, the thirst for a dying fame in The Wrestler… The director’s earlier works are difficult to watch (let alone revisit) for the powerful emotional toll they exact on the viewer, but Black Swan earns the same fate for a far less satisfying reason: it’s just not worth it.” This is a film that I would not see again.

So, we’re dealing with a director who has made great films. It is hard not to give him the benefit of doubt here. His themes of obsession and addiction were prominent but they were lacking in my opinion. Portman says, “…it was absolutely a case of obsessive compulsive behavior. The scratching. The bulimia, obviously. Anorexia and bulimia are forms of OCD and ballet really lends itself to that because there’s such a sense of ritual — the wrapping of the shoes everyday and the preparing of new shoes for every performance.” It isn’t that Nina didn’t wrestle with her darkness it was just predictable to me and kind of flat. She was as intense as she could be.

Also, the virgin/whore duality has been done a lot and has been around for AGES. “Swan Lake is a classic ballet exploring light and dark, good and evil personified in white and black swan characters.” How unoriginal.

Darren Aronofsky said this at a recent screening of the film and it MAY have been directed to an elderly couple, “I’m really sorry. I want to apologize for what’s about to happen… I didn’t know what I was doing…” Okay.

This film will win awards and was nominated for a Golden Globe award – Best Motion Picture – Drama.

It should not win.

Romy Shiller is a pop culture critic and holds a PhD in Drama from the University of Toronto. Her academic areas of concentration include film, gender performance, camp and critical thought. She lives in Montreal where she continues her writing. All books are available online.
Website: http://romyshiller.com/
Twitter: RomyShiller
If you wish to contact Romy Shiller, feel free to email her at romy@romyshiller.com

Check out another review of Black Swan with a different viewpoint on the film.

Check out more reviews on Live For Films. Or just watch sweet, sweet Natalie Portman say fuck a lot, HERE.

The One Where Blue Valentine Crushes My Teeny Heart

2011-01-20T17:47:00.001Z

There are no words. Well, there's a few. HERE.

The One Where 127 Hours Makes Me Wince

2011-01-20T13:59:00.002Z

127 Hours is a brilliant film.

The energy from the opening credits alone is more than most films can muster - but lets be honest. This is Danny Boyle. One day he may get the credit he deserves. I know that sounds crazy after Slumdog, but not a huge amount of that praise was for him.

So why am I not sure if I'll ever buy the Bluey...?

Lets do the positives first.

James Franco is incredible. If it weren't for Blue Valentine I'd like a shiny statue for him. He embodies the role, and reminds us all that he acted Tobie Maguire off the screen in the Spidey films. (I stand by Tristan And Isolde being underrated, too!)

When he meets up with two hotties (sorry Ju), they dive into a cavern, straight into the bluest water you've ever seen. it reminded me of The Beach (underrated. Fact). So beautiful.

It looks stunning. Sunrises. Great scenery. Typical playful shots and decisions from Danny Boyle. It all feels very much like a film I'd want to watch again.

Then the hotties leave.

Then he falls down another hole. Not so much his choice this time, though.

Now, at the risk of contradicting myself, this is where Franco earns his plaudits - yet it's exactly where I stepped out of the movie.

Boyle knows Franco being stuck in a hole is going to take some serious acting chops. But he's also clever enough to realise that he can be creative.

Cue nightmares, and visions.

One in particular was thrilling. It starts to rain. And doesn't stop. So much so that Franco gets his arm released, and gets to run free. Have his little Shawshanke (Baaaaa) moment in the rain. Then he falls. Again. Jokes aside, its very clever, and works well.

Another, is that he sees his family, sat on a sofa, as if they are viewing the whole thing.

Then, with out spoiling things, after drinking his own urine to survive the 127 hours, he realises how he needs to get free. And, credit where it's due, I could barely watch. Not because of the gore. As far as lopping your own arm off goes, its very tasteful. But the sound when he cuts his nerves will live with me forever. It's easier to close your eyes than it is to close your ears, you know?

And for now at least, that's why I won't be buying the Bluey.

And why, when Davie Legend asked what I thought... I said I loved it, but that I would be happy if I never see it again.

The One Where Cool Guys Don't Look At Explosions

2011-01-20T08:00:00.000Z

I need more laughter on here. Especially after watching Hot Tub Time Machine. (One word review = Shit).

Davie Legend provides most of that on twitter, and has pointed me to some insane videos.

This one, though?

It's a great song, too.