Try ‘em, you might like ‘em

So I have been very very bad when it comes to my movie watching this summer. Sorry, but I have been focusing a lot more on music as it is the soundtrack to my life. Spent most of the summer listening to pre ‘Hard Candy’ Madonna, Macy Gray’s first album and Nelly Furtado’s second. However new music to love has kind of eluded me this summer. Until now!

I was just given Emiliana Torrini’s latest album ‘Me and Armini’. I whole heartedly recommend it to you all (Andra – This one is for you!). True she sounds like Bjork, but they are both Icelandic so the accent is where the similarity ends. She is one of those talents that should really be a lot bigger than they are. I would give a nice long review of the album, but this is something you need to discover for yourself. For me it is like sitting on a beach at dusk, watching the waves turn the sand, and letting your mind wander. Someone did a fantastic album sampler on You Tube, so check it out.



I shouldn’t love The Streets as much as I do. This is simply because I have this shallow little thing about bad teeth. It really skivs me out. But I am able to look past this every time Mike Skinner comes out with a new album. I have already sung my praises over ‘The Escapist’ which so far could actually be my song of the year. Now you must check out his album. The lead single is below and it is called “Everything is Borrowed” (like the album). Buy it!! The album tackles religion, life and death with his trade mark simple poetry. I always find the simplest things so profound.



Andra always comments when I talk about new music turned me onto this little bit of fierceness. VV Brown describes her music as “do wop indie, whilst travelling on a rocket, all the way up into the deepest part of outer space.” And did I add she is just fierce. Santogold, Janae Monroe and VV Brown so refreshing to me, black female artists not getting trapped in the current popular but uninspired R-n-B box. I hope we see a lot more of these ARTISTS, because that is what these woman are, everything about them, music, performance and image is all art. Check out her upcoming single ‘Crying Blood’ and check out her myspace page



Add to that above list there is the enormous talent on Ebony Jones. As NME put it “"EBONY BONES! Writing, producing and standing over her show-tune electro, the anti-diva's potty-mouthed Notting Hill carnivore creations
are a mish-mash of punk and party. Quite simply, her records could cause X-rated strip-show races in a dusty morgue.."
Now that is some big praise indeed. Luckily her music lives up to the praise, just check out her myspace page.
She is also courtesy of Andra who saw her at a Grace Jones concert recently and in a state of shock and awe of not only seeing one of his idols live, to then see a new obsession, he left a very breathless and I swear, tear stained, voice mail message for me.



This is why I love movies and music, they can get this amazing reaction out of me. Please check out these artists and give them a chance. They all deserve to be huge.

Actress-sexuals

Stinky Lu Lu and Nathaniel are worshippers of the female actor. And today, on my Birthday I just realised that I am as well.

Not only did I get episode 2 of Buffy season 8, but I got on DVD ‘Sex in the City: The Movie’ (you gotta have the set) ‘Juno’, ‘Waitress’ and ‘A Mighty Heart’. There is a distinct lack of cock in my DVD collection it seems. Lets just face it, a powerful female performance out does a powerful male performance every time.

I do think it is time to finally say that women are better, even if the media constantly makes you think otherwise.

I am back (ish) !

Hello y’all. Sorry for the lack of postings. I have taken some time off to try and decide if I am going to keep on blogging.

I am sad to announce that I am.

Writing a blog is a difficult thing to do, especially since it seems everyone has one. How do you make yours a unique voice? How do you stop repetition? How often do you need to post to keep up interest?

Well all these are questions I have been milling over in me head. Lately I have suffered from lazy posting syndrome. Just chucking up movie posters and trailers with little dialogue, so my new focus is basically to get my voice across. I have my strong opinions, so why not voice them more often. I have an overly critical eye, so let me share it, even if it against the grain.

Also I have been struggling with the whole movies love versus music love. Should I concentrate on one and not the other? Well no. I will continue to talk about both as this past summer the films out were not my cup of tea (I have seen nothing!!!) but the music being released excited me to no end. So expect a lot more of me talking/sharing the music I love.

Tis my Birthday today, so I will be celebrating over the next few days (when you get as old as me you need to string it out a little) but will resume normal posting soon thereafter!

To my glorious readers: Thanks for sticking with me!

Janelle Monae - 'Many Moons'

Well. Arjan Writes has been singing her praises for months and months, and although I hate being late on the band wagon, I must jump on and say there is nothing like her out there - Thank God.

The 'Notorious' 'W'

Well as far as bio pics go, this is certainly the year from them. I mean there is enough fodder here to keep the bip pic happy Academy joyous for years!

This is the first time I have chatted about 'W'. There was so much negative press about this film, as early as the script phase that it almost seemed to have been killed dead right then and there. Reports that the dialogue was unbelievable made me chuckle. Have they never heard the President of the United States speak? You just can't make up that sh*t.
I am not thinking this is going to be a huge awards magnet, simply because in recent year Oliver Stone has lost his sparkle. This probably won’t be a bow at his foot career comeback, but I am sure it is going to be entertaining none the less.




As for the ‘Notorious’ trailer. Well all I need to hear are the words Angela Bassett in a Bio Pic and I am excited.

Trailers, trailers, trailers

3 in fact!

Firstly we have the highly praised ‘Balast’ which caused a huge splash at Sundance and won it’s director the top award.




Then we have Best Animated Feature hopeful ‘Waltzing With Bashir’ which does look amazing.

Waltz with Bashir - Kinotrailer



And lastly we have that movie you may have hear about. You know the one staring those two young things from that movie about the sinking boat? Yes it is the trailer for ‘Revolutionary Road’.

Here is your chance!

Keira Knightley has spent the last couple of movies tressed up in period costumes: 'King Lear' (2010), 'The Duchess' (2008), 'The Edge of Love' (2008), 'Silk' (2007), 'Atonement' (2007), 'Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End' (2007), 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest' (2006), 'Pride & Prejudice' (2005). Phew....that's a lot of period. (ew..sorry, that does sound off)


Anywho it seems she is being cast in 'Last Night' a MODERN day story about a married couple who are spending a night apart while hubby goes on a business trip with a woman that he’s attracted to. While hubby is deciding whether or not to sleep with his co-worker, the wife meets a past love and may be the one to cheat.

The rest of the cast includes Eva Mendes, Sam Worthington and Guilluame Canet (yum!). Before you get too excited, it seems the writer of the Keira starer 'The Jacket' will be making her directing debut with this film. Who know she may be able to pull it off, I am just one of those people who hears that Eve Mendes is in a film and assumes it will not be all that good.

Here is hoping Knightley can break out of her self a little and start really digging deep into her characters. What most people forget is the girl is young (23) and has plenty of time to find her place. Plus you all know she will be that beautiful for a long long time!

'Another Way to Die'

No, the producers of the 'Saw' franchise are not holding think sessions to keep their franchise alive. It is in fact the new Bond song!
Since Amy Winehouse is far too much up her own arse these days to actually work, Alicia Keys and Jack White stepped up with this ditty.

What you think?

'Synecdoche, New York' Trailer

Something tell me this is not going to light up the Academy as some have thought. I am sure the reviews will be a mixture of 'baffled', 'ok's' and 'genius' which hardly ever translate into Oscar, which is a shame as it looks like the actors get to have some fun with this (possible Hoffman, but 'Doubt' id more likely there). There is also this whole 'Woody Allen' vide coming off the trailer....then again it does involve a man surrounded by a bunch of women.
Still it has sparked my curiosity at least....any thing with Samantha Morton will spark my curiosity.

Synedoche, New York - Trailer
Uploaded by hawkbcn

The Oscar Race and will it change this year?

Slowly the ratings for Oscar have been doing down like Samantha Jones on New York, and you know ace girl goes down a lot. No one is pressing the on botton on their remote to watch the show aside from us lot.
It seems the Academy has sort of got itself into a predicament. Should they continue to reward the smaller critically acclaimed and more artistic films (as they have been of late) or should they celebrate what the populous love?

This is a question that needs an answer that walks a fine line. ‘The Dark Knight’ is critically acclaimed, has huge box office and the people love it. Can it score a best picture nomination even though it is a Super Hero movie? At this moment in time I am thinking it will miss out of BP, but Christopher Nolan will pick up a directing nom, then again the MASSIVE box office could be enough to get it in (out of the top five US domestic grosser’s, 3 (not including TDK) have gotten Best Picture Oscar noms. This is not saying the Academy are money grabbers, in fact they have seemingly been embracing the notion of actually awarding the ‘best’ films of the year, but in these hard times a big earner could sway the vote.

Last year ‘Juno’ was the biggest hit of the bunch, but was also critically acclaimed, so this could in fact be a good sign for ‘The Dark Knight’. However there are a bunch a films that have yet to be seen: ‘Australia’, ‘Doubt’, ‘Revolutionary Road’, ‘Frost/Nixon’, ‘The Soloist’, ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’, ‘The Reader’, ‘Body of Lies’, ‘The Road’ and ‘Milk’. You have to plan on at least 2 or 3 of these films making the short list.

Then you have the films that have been screened to extremely positive reviews: ‘The Wrestler’, ‘Changeling’, ‘Slumdog Millionaire’, ‘The Hurt Locker’, ‘Happy-Go-Lucky’ and ‘Rachel Getting Married’.
These all have a chance at making the final 5 as well.

To be honest this is one of the most exciting years for B.P. I can remember. Even the films that have had poor to ok reviews on ‘AICN’ could be re-edited and stand a chance: ‘Valkyrie’, ‘Nothing but the Truth’ and ‘Defiance’ are a few of these.

Plus there are always those films that are never on any ones radar that come out of nowhere.

I am going to have to seriously think about what to put in the top 10 this time around. A top five is near impossible at this time considering every film you put in there, you can also easily see falling out. There is no front runner emerging yet, and that is good news for those of us who like an exciting race.

In fact there is not one of those films I have mentioned that I am willing to put money down and say “It will be nominated”. Perhaps I am overly cautious, or perhaps 2008 is going to be a great year for movies. What do you think?

I do think the Academy needs to nominate the more popular movies to gain audience ratings for the ceremony, but not at the expense of the best films of the year. Will ‘The Dark Knight’ and ‘Wall-E’ still be able to stand up at year end as the best of the bunch, or will 5 better films take over the slot? If that happens I will be one happy movie goer.

"My One and Only" Trailer

I only like to post good movie trailers on here, or trailers with possible awards merit....but I saw this, the latest offering from lemon face and I just had to post it, because it kind of made me sad. The woman is not a vamp. She does not look like a vamp, and unless Angelous has bitten her the closest thing to a vamp she will ever be is along side Nicole Kidman's 'Satine' as an Oscar nominee. Nor do I think of her as glamorous, and in the type of glamor and stature she is trying to depict here....it seems just so out of place.
Lets face it, there are some actresses who are more limited than others in the roles they can play. So they play to their strengths.
Sure she can do period (ish) but usually succeeds when she plays dowdy. To Quote Peter Griffin from Family Guy "Sexy leading lady no...cute best friend maybe".

Madonna Get Stupid

Sometimes one of the best things about her shows are the back drop videos.

Like this.

Trailer park

Firstly we have 'Hunger' which got great reviews at Cannes, and could possibly see some awards love for Michael Fassbender as the hunger striker.



Then we have.. 'Milk'. This looks more promising then I expected. Sean should be a shoo in!

Milk - Trailer
Uploaded by hawkbcn

And nothing like a British costume comedy. anything with Scott Thomas will get my interest.

'The Soloist' Trailer

The Soloist - Trailer HD #1 [VO]
Uploaded by Lyricis

As good as he was in 'Iron Man', and however much critics are raving him in 'Tropic Thunder' I think this is the one he will be recognized for come year end.
Possibly in Lead with co-star Jamie Foxx.

'Changeling' Trailer

This looks like a winner. Jolie so impressed last year that I am sure she will be welcomed back in the fold, however she won 't win for this. Not sure on BP prospects as there are some major underdogs coming out of Toronto.

'Doubt' Trailer

Wow....so excited about this. Will have to re think my predictions again as Amy Adams looks like she is going to nail this. Plus how exciting was it to see Meryl and Viola in a scene together! Heeeeeeee! Is the Meryl role so comic on stage? Threw me a little.