3
Let’s Go Away for Awhile
I’ve been waging war on the SKY + back log I have. Although in reality I can’t remember what I’ve been watching…
Actually I can. Today I finished True Blood season 3, the guy continuity announcer at the end of some episodes kept saying “is this the best series yet?” and I’m kind of inclined to say ‘Yes’. The fact it was somewhat pared back on the all out bizarre nature of the second season helped. The werewolves were frankly a little lame and Jason’s story drifted from good for the first half into quite dull, he’s one of my favourite characters and it felt like he was too much in his own show romancing panther girl.
I did love Russell Edgington the 3000 year old vampire king of Mississippi who was played by Denis O’Hare wonderfully. A completely OTT and extravagant villain. I thought Anna Paquin was great, her comedy timing is brilliant (or the editing is good but that’s quite cynical), I probably laughed more at Sookie than most of the other characters – aside from Russell.
I didn’t like Sam’s storyline, I find him a pretty boring character and the whole thing with his family was pretty boring. Eric and Pam are great, so glad there was more of them. I’m hoping season 4 will have more of Queen Sophie-ann, although from the cliffhanger ending that might be unlikely, she’s great.
My mate, who has hardly watched any True Blood, did describe it wonderfully via text ‘never more than 15 minutes from a pair of ace tits”, which, as a male viewer, is of course another voyeuristic plus point.
I’ve also been watching The X-Files which has been showing from the start on SKY Atlantic and it has mostly renewed my teenage love affair with Gillian Anderson.
What else…
Oh, Arrested Development has been on FX – two episodes per week – and it’s great watching that all over again.
That’s been a terrible ‘review’.
I’m going to Northampton next week for pool and drinks with the Ariba boys. CANNOT WAIT. Haven’t had a day off (bar weekends) since my birthday and the end of my Christmas break in early January.
At the end of the month I have plenty of time off, cannot wait for that. If I can find the time to look for a flat between now and then my plan would be to get in at that point. Easier said than done though.
20
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.
2
el pingüino loco
A short clip I stumbled upon whilst reading about Aguirre, The Wrath of God. This clip is actually from Werner Herzog’s documentary Encounters at the End of the World, it is an excellent film about Antarctica. This is a scene about penguins, I love how terse Herzog is with the final sentence. You don’t get that on Pingu.
With Herzog being German the post title should probably be German, but the Spanish is far more fun to say.
31
The Expendables
This should have been for action movies what Scream was for horror movies. Sadly Sly Stallone either doesn’t understand irony or can’t poke fun at himself. Considering this was basically his baby he’s gotta take the blame for the faults; lack of fun, plot and coherence being the main things.
I had such high expectations but even Jason Stafam, Dolph Lundgren, Terry Crews and Eric Roberts couldn’t make up for it being somewhat of a let down. There wasn’t enough for Jet Li to do and there was far too much ‘banter’ between Stafam and Stallone, which was fine apart from Stallone not being funny (see Stop or My Mom Will Shoot). Mickey Rourke’s character was fucking stupid as well, providing the emotional heart and expositionary backstory to give The Expendables a reason to kick ass. The film REALLY didn’t need it. I enjoyed the cameos from Bruce Willis and Arnold who I really wish wasn’t hamstrung by his responsibilities as a Governor and could unleash his old self and shoot some people. They were both delightfully hamming it up, something the film needed more of.
Kind of reminded me of Inglourious Basterds where The Basterds are meant to the be central figures yet all the supporting characters are far more interesting, in this case Sly was The Basterds and everyone else was Hans Landa (although only Dolph Lundgren came close to being as much fun as Christoph Waltz).
Looks like they’ll be a sequel, keep the explosions, keep the action, get in someone for Jet Li to have a full on scrap with rather than just a little whippet vs. a big lug and please please please lighten up Sly.
13
TV and Film Jawn
Reviewing things like off of the telly and from the pictures. That is what I’ll do. First films and as brief as I can be.
Inception
Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. Tom Hardy is great.
Entertaining. Brutal. Great Music. Tom Hardy is great.
Pleasant. Good to look at.
Fun. Great puppets. Not The Princess Bride.
Shite. Stupid. Annoying.
Compelling. Max Von Sydow.
Enjoyable. Leonardo & Max Von Sydow. Miles better than The Departed.
Not bad. Tim Olyphant = Good.
Using a few more words I’ve also watched a few good TV shows lately. Rev on BBC 2 is one of the funniest shows of the years so far, Tom Hollander is great as Reverand Adam Smallbone and he is ably supported by Steve ‘Eric from Looking for Eric’ Evetts and Olivia ‘Sophie from Peep Show’ Colman. Shooting Stars has been hilarious and had me in fits of laughter each week. It’s reminded just how much I love Vic and Bob too. Angelos is fucking hilarious as well and a lot better doing the scores than on a team. Watch this:
Justified on Five USA has been very good, the last couple of episodes were fantastic. Tim Olyphant is great as is Walter Goggins, if you can I’d recommend you give it a watch. It is basically like they’ve taken Olyphant’s character from Deadwood and put him into the 21st century, but it works so well.
The IT Crowd has been brilliant again and I had to double check that it had ended. The final episode was outstanding with Matt Berry’s character taking centre stage. It was completely bonkers but I loved it. Watch it on 4OD if you have the inclination.
Oh and I watched the first episode of the new Channel 4 comedy with Rafe Spall called Pete Versus Life, I really suggest you catch up. Rafe Spall is such a good actor, he’s been great in everything I’ve seen him in and this show was really funny.
That’s about it, or at least all I can conjure up from my head.
Carry on.
2
Was that my stomach or yours, Ambrocious?
I was railroaded into watching Labyrinth on Saturday night for the first time and it was a cracking bit o’film. It ain’t The Princess Bride – which I was berated for loving on Friday night by people who hadn’t even seen it – but it is at least better than The Neverending Story, as far as 1980s fantasy films go. Sir Didymus the ridiculously brave fox was my favourite character, which you can see in that little picture there. The Henson puppetry was quite brilliant throughout and although it obviously looks a little dated it is at least 100 times better than the crap puppertry in The Neverending Story. If you ain’t seen it yet, perhaps you were dreadding Bowie’s massive crotch or just don’t want to watch a silly 1980s films then ignore that.
It is actually showing at The Electric Cinema in Birmingham this Friday, I’d be quite tempted to go but I ain’t on my own. Anyway, I have two days off and I’m wasting them in bed.