Films for the last 7 days

Just a quick one really, a quiet week on the film front as I’ve been busy at work, driving and all that kind of thing.  I feel drained after that third set in the Aussie Open final, unlucky for Murray.

So, without further ado some VERY brief thoughts on the films I have watched (and remembered watching) this week.

• There Will Be Blood (2007, dir. Paul Thomas Anderson)

Outstanding piece of cinema, the sound, music and visuals were spectacular and Daniel Day Lewis was an absolute monster.  There were a few surprisingly light moments as well, especially towards the end when Daniel Plainview reminded me of Mr. Dawes Sr Mary Poppins (only with a great blood lust).

• Son of Rambow (2007, dir. Garth Jennings)

Another really good film and one of those British comedies that does so much with so little, at least in terms of making characters and their relationships the central source of narrative and humour.  The cast is great and there is some great slapstick and fantasy moments as well.

• Gangs of New York (2002, dir. Martin Scorcese)

Scorcese has done better films and whilst I enjoyed this I never really got into it, I think just about everyone involved has done better.  But still, an average Scorcese film is better than most director’s good films.

• 12 Angry Men (1957, dir. Sidney Lumet)

An absolute cracker.  12 men in a room debating whether someone is guilty or not guilty of murder doesn’t sound like it would be too entertaining but it has a great cast of actors and it is gripping viewers.  I’d much rather a courtroom drama where it focuses on the jury than all the lawyers etc.  Having sat on a jury I could pick out similarities to my own experience and probably added to my enjoyment.

• Slumdog Millionaire (2008, dir. Danny Boyle)

Finally watched this and boy was it worth it, I can see why it won so many awards, made so much money and was so popular with the audiences.  Like 12 Angry Men the premise doesn’t draw you in but the movie is so perfectly balanced between flashbacks and the main narrative it works perfectly.

• Cinema Paradiso (1988, dir. Giuseppe Tornatore)

I think with Cinema Paradiso I have found one of my new favourite films.  Just like Slumdog there was humour, drama, strong bonds between characters and a great love story running throughout.  The love story with movies was something that you rarely see or really buy in some films, but I loved how the community was brought together by the cinema and you had a genuine sense of the passion both Alfredo and Toto had for films.  Right now I’m listening to the Ennio Morricone soundtrack on Spotify.

That is it, it has been a good week.  This week I’ll be watching Mesrine Pt1 & Pt2 and some other films.

Music To Waste Your Youth By (New Year edition)

I am in one of those periods where I am just ravenous for music and new music so I have been scouring on last.fm and the wider internet and this is some of what I’ve found.  Click the song titles for the mp3 links and names for a jump to their websites.

jj – Let Go

A track from this Gothenburg based band’s second album ‘jj n° 3‘ which is scheduled for release on March 9, 2010.

Francis - I Was Never Bored At All

Another Swedish band and another good song.  You have to provide an email to get this one, but it is worth it.

Fan Death - Reunited

You can always check the fabulous video out here and see if you like it before giving away your email, or come up with a phony email so you aren’t bothered.  I suggest dr_eat@hotmail.co.ck

Miss Kittin – Professional Distortion (Can You Feel My Soul Mix)

A remix from Can You Feel My Soul’s Roll It Up record (which is all free on last.fm), the original is from Miss Kittin’s 2004 album I Com.  Nice hat.

Metric – Help I’m Alive (The Twelves Remix)

This one was released back in April 2009 but it’s the first time I’ve heard it.  It’s an excellent remix by The Twelves of song from Metric’s most recent album Live It Out, you can get from RCRDLBL.com.  The Twelves were also responsible for another of my favourite tracks from last year, a remix of Fever Ray’s Seven, which you can hear at Pretty Much Amazing.

And finally… this isn’t free music but it is fucking awesome.  She’s great.

Waste Your Youth Desktop Wallpaper

I completely stole this idea off my good friend Heh NIC Cox.  Unfortunately for me I don’t like pugs or have a girlfriend so instead please enjoy this desktop wallpaper of me encased in carbonite (just like Han Solo in Star Wars).

Just click on the image and you’ll be whisked away to the full size picture, then all you have to do is a right-click set as wallpaper or ‘save-image as’ or whatever options are available on the browser you are using.

I think I’ll do a few more for as it is a laugh, any suggestions?

ENJOY!

I Passed My Driving Test Spotifty Playlist

So today I passed my practical driving test which means along with the theory I passed months ago I am now a fully licensed driving, only 10 years and 2 weeks after I was first eligible.

I went for my first solo drive and thought to myself “I like music”.  So I have thrown together a little Spotify ‘Driving Playlist‘.  I may throw this little compilation together on to a CD and give it a spin whilst actually driving, if I can drag myself away from the delights of Five Live, although that Richard Bacon is a little irritating.

It features many of these and more David Bowie, Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, Paul Weller, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Madness, Jay-Z, The B-52′s, The Source, Vitalic, The Fall,Duran Duran, David Hasselhoff, Huey Lewis & The News, Saint Etienne, Lady GaGa and is predictably predictable in places and quite fun and obscure in others (or not).  Make up your mind on that one.

If you don’t have Spotify then why did you read this in the first place?

In case you missed it (or that one didn’t work) here’s the link to the playlist —>>> <this is a link>

Let me know what you think.

another cool music clip

Reunited by Fan Death.  Taken from their EP ‘A Coin for the Well’ which was released on January 18.  From February to April they will be touring with Vampire Weekend and then Little Boots.

Staygold & Robyn, Spank Rock & Damien Adore – Backseat

This is awesome.

Have a nice Sunday. I will, it’s turkey for tea.