Tuesday 29 January 2008

Films to See

When that coveted trophy Tom's Film of the Year comes around again in December 2008 No Country For Old Men will surely be among the front runners. It may well be the greatest film The Coen Brothers have made, and that is high praise indeed.

As you all know it's based on the Cormac McCarthy novel of the same name and features several outstanding performances. Josh Brolin turns in the performance of his career, and I know it's not saying that much but so too does Scotland's own Kelly McDonald.

Javier Bardem is nothing less than intense in every film he appears in, but his special brand of menace just leaps off the screen here.

There's a nail-biting shoot out at a hotel midway through the film that had me completely mesmerised. I can't say that I found the ending 100% satisfying but a small quibble for such an electric film.

The Savages is well worth seeing too. Again, a couple of great performances from two of my favourite actors in Philip Seymour Hoffman and Laura Linney. Playing siblings whose messy lives are put on hold to look after their elderly father, the pair of them offer realistic portrayls of children disconnected from their father, clumsily attempting to do the right thing.

The script is clever and touching and with these two in the lead roles you can't help but be swept along with it.

Sunday 27 January 2008

Where in the World?

Since I saw Morgan Spurlock's Super Size Me, I have literally never set foot inside a McDonald's restaurant. I haven't visited a Burger King, KFC or any other fast food restaurant for that matter.

Spurlock's new film is called Where in the World Is Osama bin Laden? Here he talks to The Guardian about it.

"After Super Size Me, I remember sitting down in 2005 and thinking about what to do next," says Spurlock, in his sing-song timbre. Then he noticed a resurgence of media interest in Bin Laden. "People were asking why we couldn't find him," he says. An idea was planted. When Spurlock ran into a like-minded venture capitalist called Adam Dell, who became executive producer on the film, the adventure began, with $3m in backing from French financiers.

Down below Spurlock speaks to the Wall Street Journal at Sundance.

I Remember My First Beer

I recently finished reading Steve Martin's autobiography, Born Standing Up. It's not a very long book, telling the tale of Martin's early love for performing as a child right up until he walked away from stand-up at the height of his powers filling 45,000 seater areanas.

It's quite a dry book. There are very few funny stories from life on the road, although I suppose that's down to the solitary nature of stand-up. If you're a comedian there are some good hints and tips as Martin makes discoveries along the way.

Here's a review from The Times and down below is footage of him in his golden period in the white suit making balloon animals.

Saturday 26 January 2008

The Best TV Show Since the Invention of Radio

I've had innumerable complaints, no hang on, one complaint, about lack of posts on this blog. So here's a new one. Charlie Brooker continues what appears to be a career for him of championing The Wire. Here he is in today's Guardian with a feature on the fifth and final season where he interviews a few of the cast. Season five is due on British telly (FX) in July.

"How good is it? Put it this way: The Wire's so good, I've lost count of the number of people who've approached or emailed me just to thank ME for convincing THEM to watch it. The Wire's so good, I'm jealous of anyone who hasn't seen it yet, because they get to discover it anew. The Wire's so good, it's come to an end. Because that's what good things do, the bastards."

Tuesday 22 January 2008

Heath Ledger 1979-2008

So this week's dead actor is Heath Ledger. I always liked him as an actor, ever since the surprisngly good Ten Things I Hate About You. I also enjoyed him in the Australian crime caper movie Two Hands.

Simply a shame to see a talent chucked away like this. I'm not the only one who was looking forward to his Joker in the forthcoming Dark Knight.

Sunday 13 January 2008

There Will Be Blood

While I'm speculating about potential films of the year, here's another one sure to be a contender. Even in just viewing the trailer below it's obvious that Daniel Day-Lewis is turning in a powerhouse of a performance.

There's a big feature on him in today's Observer.

The director Jim Sheridan, with whom Day-Lewis made My Left Foot, The Boxer and In the Name of the Father, once reported him as saying that he hated acting. 'I dare say I did when I said it,' he retorts good-naturedly. 'Who doesn't hate the thing that they most love? Acting is an impossibly illusive trade to ply, but the prevailing sense I have when I go to work is one of joy. It is always represented as a kind of self-flagellation for me. It couldn't be further from the truth.'


Film of the Year

So far at least. Charlie Wilson's War, as I'm sure you all know is the story of a Democratic Texas Congressman, who conspired with a rogue CIA operative to launch an operation to help the Afghan Mujahideen during the Soviet war in Afghanistan.

Tom Hanks puts in his usual solid performance, but Philip Seymour Hoffman steals every single scene he's in. It comes over like a play on the big screen with a witty, but politically complex script.

Unsurprising as it was written by West Wing creator Aaron Sorkin, one of the best writers of sharp political drama around. And it kind of makes up for him chucking away the last 5 episodes of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip on a needless political cliffhanger.

This is a link to the first of a ten part History Channel documentary on The Real Charlie Wilson. The trailer for the film is below.

The Dad's Army Side of Terrorsim

Chris Morris is interviewed in the Sunday Times today about the movie he's about to shoot.

“I don’t plan for this film to be offensive, but I do want it to be very funny,” Morris said. “I accept, though, that some may find poking fun at terrorists is offensive."

Tuesday 8 January 2008

Down to The Wire

Television's greatest show, The Wire, began its fifth and final season last Sunday night. Creator David Simon says he doesn't care that the show is regularly ignored during Hollywood award season. Here's CNN's preview of the last season, which takes a look at the media.

The Kansas City Star provides a guide for the uninitiated. The North Star Writers Group provides its take on the series. Democratic Presidential Nominee Barrack Obama tells TV Guide what his favourite TV show is. Finally, the Baltimore Sun provides its round up of Wire stories.

Down below are a couple of previews.



Thursday 3 January 2008

Starting the New Year Off With a Bang


If this news story doesn't make you laugh then check your pulse.

A man set off a "barrage of fireworks" in Alloa police office on Hogmanay because he thought it would be amusing.

The story features a familiar yet hilarious phrase 'The 42-year-old, who had been drinking all day'.

Wednesday 2 January 2008

SPL Blunder Over Postponements

The SPL has once again managed to make itself look quite foolish by refusing to postpone Dundee United's match today following the tragic death of Phil O'Donnell. We're left in the ridiculous position of having 3 games postponed and 3 matches going ahead. Once the decision was made to call off the Old Firm game they should have went all the way and postponed all 6 SPL games scheduled for today.

SPL secretary Iain Blair has attempted to explain the situation, "The games that have been postponed are games where there has been a direct link to Phil and to Motherwell.

"What we want to do with the games that are going ahead is to provide an opportunity for Scottish football to come together and show its respect and honour for Phil.

"We've asked for a minute's applause to be held before each of the games today. All of the players will be wearing black armbands.

"We want the games themselves to be a mark of respect for an excellent professional footballer."

"In situations like this, there are no easy answers. If there are people who feel we should have made a different decision, then I fully respect their right to hold that view.
"

First of all, explain to me why Dundee United's game doesn't fall under the banner of 'games where there has been a direct link to Phil and to Motherwell'. Eleven United players were on the pitch when O'Donnell lost consciousness. Several of them attempted to do what they could to save his life. Their club doctor treated him on the pitch. Their fans fell silent as they sensed something was seriously wrong. Their players made their way home from Fir Park numb after hearing one of their opponents that day had died. How on earth is that not a direct link to Phil O'Donnell?

As a club Celtic have more of a direct link to O'Donnell, with him being a former player. But as individuals the Dundee United players have been affected more than anyone with the exception of O'Donnell's Motherwell team-mates.

Secondly the SPL attempt to make out that they are letting these games go ahead so that a tribute can be made. Had all SPL teams played their first game since the tragedy on Saturday, tributes would be made then, and would be no less emotional or sincere had they waited a further 3 days.

Lastly the comment that emphasises the bullshit corporate speak this all is - 'If there are people who feel we should have made a different decision, then I fully respect their right to hold that view.' This is a sentence that means nothing. 'People are entitled to their opinion,' is what this means. Thanks SPL, but we don't need your permission to disagree with you.

It's not too difficult a decision to call off all 6 games yet the SPL seem to have gone out of their way to make it a confusing and awkward situation. For a tragedy that's brought together football all over Britain and the world, trust the SPL and their petty bureaucracy to create the first divide.

Here are some more views on the matter from current and former players.