Half-arsed film reviews

Exactly as the title says I shall review, briefly, because a) I’m lazy and b) who wants to read my jawn for too long.

The first one was Midnight Cowboy the Oscar winning film from 1969.  Cannot quite believe I have never watched this before but I’m very happy I did cause it is a cracking piece of cinema.  Quite dark, lots of sex (for the time) and a cast that seems strangely small – only really Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffmann – have any really great screen time.  If you have never watched this then I recommend you do.

Away We Go is the Sam Mendes romantic comedy from 2009 and it is a massive breath of fresh air.  Compared with the repulsive 500 Days of Summer from the same year which had people fawning over it like smack-heads over a needle.  Essentially the story of a couple who are expecting their first baby – how John Krazinski’s ‘Burt’ works Maya Rudolph’s character Verona is pregnant is one of the best on-screen “you’re pregnant” moments ever.  At times it feels as though Sam Mendes is trying to make the perfect twee-indie-movie with the soundtrack in particular but at the end of the day he pulls it off very well.  One thing I especially lied was that there’s no up-and-down-back-up in the relationship, yeah there are problems but they work them out together and you’re never left thinking will-they-won’t-they stay together.

The cast are the best thing John Krasinski always makes me laugh and Maya Rudolph is a great surprise, I’d seen her on Saturday Night Live (I think before) but she is great in this.  The supporting cast have their moments too, in particular Maggie Gyllenhall, Melanie Lynskey but ESPECIALLY Jeff Daniels and Catherine O’Hara who play Burt’s parents.

I’d go as far to say that this is my favouite Sam Mendes film.

I can’t remember what the other one was…

However I have since watched Sunrise: A Song for Two Humans by the epic winner F.W. Murnau the German director best known for Nosferatu, however I prefered Sunrise and one of his other great films Faust.  The story about ‘The Man, a farmer, who starts having a fling with the calf exposing hussy The Woman from the City’,  said Woman convinces Man to kill ‘The Wife’.  So The Man takes The Wife on a boat ride where he plans to drown, she gets wind of his intentions and they arrive at the city themselves and she legs it.  He chases after and eventually convinces her to forgive and they go gallivanting around the city together.  A really great film and a real treasure from the silent era, just thinking about the use of dialogue makes you realise how much it would ruin the film.  You’ll have to watch it to find out who dies and who doesn’t and whether or not The Man ends up with the The Woman… or The Wife.  Nice one F.W..

Actually, since Lovefilm came to the PS3 I have also watched Poseidon (the remake) which was unsurprisingly atrocious.  I am Legend (again) which is still a great film until the monsters show up.

Neil Hannon is a genius

The latest evidence:

This song and video (more below).

For further proof see these five links:

one
two
three
four
five (I know it's a cover, but what a cover.)

I really MUST see The Divine Comedy soon.

The Adventures of Interfero

Because I’m too lazy to do something new, here are some MS Paint cartoons I did whilst at university.

It stemmed from a night of creative with my pal European Rob sat on the stairs of his block at uni is Charles Brap-Brap-Bradlaugh halls.

Here is Part 1 and Part 2.  Don’t be surprised if it makes little sense as it was usually done when hungover and contains a huge amount of in jokes.

Just click on the image to get the full size version.

A playlist for those folks who have Spotify

Step 1: CLICK

Step 2: Listen

Step 3: Enjoy (if Step 3 doesn’t apply proceed to Step 5)

Step 4: Have a nice day

Step 5: Fuck Off

If you don’t have Spotify, and you’re a friend or want to be my friend, then email me as I have a load of invites because I have not many friends (or too many that are cool enough to have Spotify already).

If you can work out the three big inspirations for this playlist then let me know and I’ll give you a prize.

!!! – Jamie, My Intentions Are Bass

A new video that could one day be considered amongst my favourites.  It’s a new’un from !!! who are one of the best live acts I’ve seen  As beefy0010 said on the YouTube page comments “3:49 = the greatest moment in music video? history.”  ’Jamie, My Intentions Are Bass’ is from !!!‘s latest album ‘Strange Weather, Isn’t It?’ which I didn’t even know was out.  That’s how much work has ruined me, I can’t even pay attention to new music releases.  *emo-face*

Please add some colour to my sky

I love this song and I have loved it for years.  I’ve never known the lyrics but obviously The Radio Dept. have updated there websites and put them up.  They were the first Swedish band that got me all into the indie music of Sweden and they’re still my favourites.

“I can’t relate
to the level of faith
In your self,
its hard to come by but

I’ve tried to create
some kind of place
To pull me out
to get some space

Can we be in
My hide away
Will we be in
Somewhere some stay
And waist of horses
He don’t stay
It makes me fade
into the grave

I can’t depict
‘Cus I can’t reclaim
I warned them
Where to unpacking
In my life I’ve tried
To fail with pride
Tried again
never ever again

Can we be in
My hide away
Will we be in
Somewhere some stay
The waist of horses
He don’t stay
It makes me fade
into the grave

When all this nonsense
turns nothing calm
My feet are safely
on the ground
The sound of planes
they make me high
Please add some colour
to my sky ”

Apologies for the rather emo post, it’s the sort of thing you’d usually see here.