THE LAST PICTURE SHOW

NEW BLOG IN TOWN

2011-05-03T20:23:00.002+01:00

I discovered a brand new blog earlier today, and it's certainly one I'll follow with relish. Johnny Vincent - author of the wonderful "An Alternative Derby" - has decided to start a blog that continues his love affair with the music scene in Derby.
Early posts include mention of The Clash, The Damned and the Sex Pistols, which should give you an idea where Johhny's coming from.
My own relationship with live music began in 1977, and I look forward to following Johnny's coverage on what still is a very lively city as far as music is concerned.

Just click HERE!

THE GHOST

2011-05-02T16:09:00.003+01:00

Scotland, 1910. As a storm rages outside, the house of Dr. John Hichcock (Elliot) plays host to a seance, increasing the Doc's obsession with the paranormal and causing further unrest among superstitious locals. Back in the cold light of day, it's the complicated, bustling arena of life before death that occupies the mind of this wheelchair-bound ex-practitioner as Dr. Charles Livingston (Baldwin) administers regular shots of curare; a brand of poison which Hichcock believes will re-awaken his dormant limbs. Throw unfaithful wife Margaret (Steele) into the mix, and we have a classic, cliche-ridden pot boiler where the husband is bumped off, only to return seeking vengeance fromn beyond the grave.

While it's true that Freda's sequel to THE HORRIBLE DR. HICHCOCK often treads a predictable path, it's an eventful journey as Freda juggles signposted plot twists with genuine surprises; particularly during a delicious closing act where Margaret attempts to turn the tables on her tormentor. Barbara Steele is simply terrific here, conducting a love affair with the camera lens in a manner approaching the late, great Soledad Miranda, and going through the full range of emotions to devastating effect. With solid support from Elliot, Baldwin and the excellent Harriet White Medin (who plays a housekeeper with a devious agenda), Steele consistently hits the high notes, suggesting Black Sunday may not be her finest hour after all.

It's worth pointing out THE GHOST is a little-seen and little-read about film, and while it's not representative of Riccardo Freda at his best, there's more than enough to satisfy even the most jaded fan of Gothic cinema. Look out for:
a bloody razor attack; a spine chilling exhumation; Harriet Medin's gut-wrenching possession and, best of all, a wonderful scene involving a wheelchair with a mind of its own which must have inspired Peter Medak's superior spooker, THE CHANGELING.

A TRIBUTE TO POLY STYRENE

2011-04-29T16:13:00.004+01:00

I've always regarded certain bands as unsung heroes in the Punk movement. The Adverts, Chelsea, UK Subs, 999 and The Lurkers are just a few of the groups who delivered some great vinyl and exhilarating live performances while never quite receiving the recognition they deserved. X-Ray Spex were another of those bands, led by the wonderful Poly Styrene.

Marianne Elliot was born in 1957, and burst onto the music scene some 19 years later. Like many of our most revered punk artists, Poly became inspired to form a band after witnessing a Sex Pistols gig, and so X-Ray Spex were born.
In September 1977, their first single lit up the airwaves. "Oh Bondage Up Yours" with its wild, wailing saxophone and Poly's call-to-arms vocals, Bondage was a thrilling declaration of intent from what would turn out to be one hugely important band.
You name the event, and Spex seemed to be there. The Roxy, Front Row Festival and Rock Against Racism were just a few of the events graced by the group who picked up a loyal army of fans.

November 1978 saw the eagerly awaited debut album, "Germ Free Adolescents". Happily, this album lived up to expectations, with bags of attitude and some blistering music: just listen to "Identity" some 33 years on and it still packs a devastating punch.
In 1979, the band split up, with Poly releasing a solo album before joining the Hare Krishna movement. X-Ray Spex did reform a couple of times in the '90s, and released an album - "Conscious Consumer" - but an accident put paid to Poly's hopes of recording a trilogy of records based on her beloved theme of consumerism.
Happily, it was damn nigh impossible to quell her spirit, and a new album - "Generation Indigo" - came about as a result of a collaboration with former Killing Joke member Youth. It's an excellent album, too, with musical contributions from Youth,Culture and former Slits guitarist Viv Albertine.

Sadly, Poly Styrene lost her battle against cancer on 25th August. Like Joe Strummer, Poly was exactly the kind of person you think will go on forever. She was a true pioneering woman, and will be so very sadly missed and so very fondly remembered.

RIP and thanks for some great gigs and vinyl.

2011-03-23T16:21:00.000Z

15 FAVOURITE LIVE ACTS #4 (WTF?)

2011-03-13T09:12:00.004Z

Yep, this is one of my WTF moments (there will be another later on).
While Lydon and his cohorts were declaring Anarchy In The UK, I have a sneaking suspicion that many of us listened to Abba on the fly, and for me, they were the perfect pop group with catchy tunes wedded to lyrics that at times could be devastating. Like millions of others, I never got to see them live, but was lucky enough to catch tribute band Bjorn Again on two occasions. They were the next best thing to the real deal, and I hope you enjoy this clip.

ON THE RADIO

2011-03-04T09:47:00.002Z

Music lovers could do a lot worse than check out Blip.fm where you'll find a vast library of online music. There's something for everyone, whatever their tastes.

I opened a new radio station last week, including such bands as Joy Divison, Velvet Underground, New York Dolls, David Bowie, Sex Pistols, The Jam. Flamin Groovies, The Clash, Talking Heads, Television, Wire, Elvis Costello, The Banshees, Stiff Little Fingers, The Cramps, The Fall, Bauhaus and lots more.

You can check out my station by clicking HERE

EUGENIE DE SADE

2011-02-11T08:36:00.001Z

"Pleasure is always at someone else's expense."

The late, great Soledad Miranda is joined by Franco regular Paul Muller for what is often cited as the most faithful celluloid adaptation of a Marquis De Sade tale. Based on the novella "Eugenie De Franval", Franco's take involves a most unsavoury relationship between Eugenie and her stepfather, Albert Radeck. In De Sade's story, their status was actually father and daughter, with a real sea change occuring on Eugenie's 14th birthday when Albert made her his mistress. Although Franco changed much of the original narrative - therefore falling well short of any claim pertaining to that 'most faithful' tag - his version is most certainly alive with the spirit of De Sade

The film begins as Atilla Tanner (Franco) sits at the bedside of Eugenie, who promises to relate her story on condition that Tanner kills her on completion. Tanner, an author who aims to write a biography on the Franval's, agrees and sits back to hear every sordid detail of their life and crimes.

Although Eugenie De Sade runs for less than 90 minutes, Franco crams an awful lot into his film; particularly during a remarkable first act, sowing the seeds of disgust as Albert introduces Eugenie to the delights of pornography, making it clear there are to be no boundaries. As the pair grow ever closer, Albert announces a business trip to Paris, where the couple will commit the 'perfect crime'.

Although Franco steered clear of replicating De Sade's father and daughter partnership, he undoubtedly succeeds in creating an unsettling air of familial perversity, with shots of Eugenie's teddy bear reminding us that a hitherto innocent young girl is now approaching the dark side of human nature; an entrance that is marked by Albert's confession that he was forced to kill Eugenie's mother, in order to raise and groom his intended one true love (Albert's wife, and a third party named Valmont, both figure strongly in De Sade's novella).Soon, Eugenie is a willing accomplice in Albert's quest for the ultimate in erotic entertainment, though his demands will eventually lead to the realisation of his worst nightmare.
The subsequent downwards spiral is, perhaps, too brisk to really catch fire - particularly during a most unlikely courtship between Eugenie and one of her intended conquests (musician Paul, played by weakest link Andre Montcall) but Miranda and Muller never miss a beat en route to the tragic conclusion.

As with most Franco films, there are a couple of scenes that really do linger in the memory: the De Franval's first murder is captured on camera as a young model (Alice Arno) takes part in a photo shoot that will culminate in her death. It's here that Eugenie makes her killer's debut, taking the part of make-up artist, producer and executioner. As Albert's camera approaches a frenzied climax, Bruno Nicolai's lyrical score suddenly mutates into disorientating free-form jazz; a head-spinning combination that will surely wipe the smile off the face of any Franco detractor. The second inspired set-piece occurs when the De Franval's develop a taste for hitchhikers; this time, it's Greta Schmidt (playing terminal chatterbox Kitty) who joins the ranks of Franco's 'slaughtered broads', taking centre-stage in a party game that must figure as one of Franco's most erotic creations. The man himself also plays a significant part in front of the camera, emerging as a directorial detective who loathes and admires his quarry.

Eugenie De Sade was the first major starring role for Soledad Miranda who, to avoid shaming her parents, used the pseudonym 'Susan Korday' (aka Korder): this disguise would be used again for Spanish language prints of films where Miranda was required to appear nude, and the name was a combination of novelist Jacqueline Susann and the great Alexander Korda. While it's a real pleasure to witness one of her most affecting performances, it's also a genuinely moving experience as one is rarely more than a minute away from remembering that her time amongst us was all too short.

Thanks to the wonderful medium of DVD, Eugenie De Sade has joined a growing library of choice cuts from the Spanish maestro. The Region 1 release - from Wild East Productions - apparently contains an acceptable transfer of this low budget film, with the added bonus of an "Unfinished Franco" supplement, comprising of 18 minutes of footage from 3 aborted projects shot in b&w between 1978-80 (one segment featuring Susan Hemmingway). While Oracle Entertainment's Region 2 UK release does not include this footage, their presentation of the main feature is nice and sharp, with strong colours. By all accounts, this is a far superior transfer though Franco completists may well look beyond this delicately balanced trade-off and purchase both.

POSTER MAGIC

2011-02-06T09:57:00.002Z

15 favourite live acts #3

2011-02-06T09:24:00.001Z

Wembley Stadium. The home of English football and a venue I'd already experienced on 2 occasions, prior to this special concert.
Like all fans of The Who, I was saddened by the passing of Keith Moon and wished I'd had the chance to see him pounding the skins onstage. Still, when news came through the band were to play Wembley, I knew I had to bag a ticket and travel to London for what promised to be a top day and night of music.

So, on 18th August 1979, I joined 93,000 people to watch a trio of bands perform and lead us to the main event.
First up was Nils Lofgren who entertained the crowd for just under an hour and even threw a few somersaults. Next up was AC/DC who - as usual - provided great value for money. I'd already seen this band on 3 occasions in Derby, and while I preferred watching them in smaller venues, they certainly raised the roof here.

Just before dusk, The Stranglers took the stage and proceeded to play a large part of their forthcoming album "The Raven", which was released one month after this gig. Bit disappointing for those who wanted a 'greatest hits' set but they set things up nicely for the band we were all waiting for.

So, the scene was set. It was now dusk, searchlights swept round the arena and the band took to the stage and blasted straight into "Substitute" as the crowd went crazy.
Of course, Mooney was sadly missed but this was one hell of a gig with the crowd singing along to every word. Indeed, when the line "It's only teenage wasteland" came up, I swear just about everyone in England could hear the Wembley choir.
A memorable concert and easily one of my favourite live experiences for a ticket price of £8.

EUGENIE... THE STORY OF HER JOURNEY INTO PERVERSION

2011-02-03T13:51:00.001Z

Written in 1795, the Marquis De Sade's 'Philosophy In The Boudoir' continues to court controversy to this very day, leaving a mark in the sand that no filmmaker could cross with regard to a completely faithful adaptation. Spanish auteur Jess Franco took De Sade's book and, together with Harry Alan Towers, made a film that, out of all his considerable filmography, he" hates the least".

Eugenie opens in suitably sordid mode when the titular character (Liljedahl) takes a telephone call from Marianne Saint-Ange (Rohm) who is part of a devious scheme to lure Marie to an island retreat owned by Mirvel (Taylor), her stepbrother. After seducing Maria's father (Muller), offering her body in return for his daughter's, the path is clear for Marianne and Mirvel to turn normality into a nightmare of Sadean excess. It's here on a beautiful island that Franco's film really catches fire, as drug-induced sexual abandon leaves Marie in a in a halfway-house, between reality and the black veils of sleep. When sinister narrator Dolmance (Lee) arrives with a colourful band of followers straight out of Jean Rollin's The Demoniacs, events accelerate Marie's downwards spiral, leading to a bloody crime of passion.

Liljedahl, best known for her role in Joe Sarno's Inga where a young woman is also corrupted by her elders, acquits herself admirably as the lead , while Taylor, Muller and Lee - all previous Franco players - excel in their respective roles. Best of all, however, is Maria Rohm whose cruel, seductive character tracks the spirit of De Sade in suitably outrageous fashion, whether she's making love or laying out the pain while Bruno Nicolai's score drones in the background quite superbly; doubtless influenced by the seminal debut album from Velvet Underground. Regarded by many as a career best for one of Franco's finest actresses, Marianne Saint-Ange provided Rohm with a wonderfully evil character, and is a fitting showcase for her considerable range; certainly, her partnership with Taylor and Lee demonstrates that De Sade was just as misunderstood by his own followers as by 'outsiders.'

Blue Underground's DVD release is a perfect home for this 'Holy Grail', offering refreshingly candid interviews with Franco, Towers, Liljedahl and Lee; the latter explaining why he chose to have his name removed from the credits. Still, that's another story. For now, potential customers should be aware this film looks fabulous, thanks to a sharp, colourful transfer with only intermittent grain. Sit back and drink in some gorgeous colour schemes that are often character-related, whether it's Rohm's green-for -jealousy dress or those colour-coded cigarettes which really are the stuff of nightmares.

UK Francophiles should note that Anchor Bay's Region 2 release is identical to its Region 1 cousin.

POSTER MAGIC

2011-02-02T16:39:00.002Z

COMING SOON

2011-02-01T16:37:00.002Z

Dario Argento fans should look out for this forthcoming release of PHENOMENA, on SD and Blu-ray.
THIS AMAZING EDITION CONTAINS:
- 4 panel reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork
- Two sided fold out poster with new art work
- Exclusive collector’s booklet featuring brand new writing on Phenomena by Alan Jones, author of Profondo Argento
- High Definition transfer of the Italian cut of the film
- Original English* & Italian Stereo Audio
- Brand new subtitle translation of the Italian and optional English subtitles of the English audio
SPECIAL FEATURES:
- Introduction by special effects artist Sergio Stivaletti (1080p)
- Dario's Monkey Business: The Making of Phenomena - A 50 minute long documentary featuring interviews with key talent behind the film including director Dario Argento, star Daria Nicolodi, underwater photographer Gianlorenzo Battaglia and more! (1080p)
- Music for Maggots - An Interview with composer with Claudio Simonetti (1080p)
- Creepers for Creatures - Sergio Stivaletti lives Q&A sessions from Dublin and Edinburgh (1080p)

Original art by Rick Melton

Presented in original 1.66:1 (16x9) Aspect Ratio with English & Italian Stereo Audio options

*The English Audio track has some portions of English audio missing. This was either never recorded or has been lost. Scenes without English audio automatically revert to the Italian audio with English subtitles.

Blu-ray Region ABC

IAN SMITH'S BLU-RAY PODCASTS

2011-01-30T13:38:00.004Z

Blu-ray collecters really should check out Ian Smith's weekly Blu-ray podcasts.
Here, you'll find beautifully presented reviews containing always honest - sometimes damning - opinion and all the info you need to best inform any potential purchase. Ian goes into the nuts and bolts of weekly releases, using snippets from interviews to provide a complete picture of the film in question. This really is well worth half an hour of your time, so join the rest of us and click HERE!

15 FAVOURITE LIVE ACTS # 2

2011-01-28T16:31:00.001Z

Siouxsie And The Banshees. The first time I really connected with the name was in 1977, when I began travelling to London's world famous Marquee club. There, sprayed on an entrance wall, was the legend: "Siouxsie And The Banshees. Sign them up. Do it now!" Before long, I'd heard their beautifully fractured sounds on the John Peel show and began a long assocation with the band, seeing them live on many occasions.
The Royal Albert Hall gigs (recorded for a video), the memorable Juju tour (where I caught them on 3 occasions), a bad tempered affair in Nottingham where Sioux and Severin whacked over-zealous bouncers with a crutch and base guitar, and a manic gig at Sheffield Top Rank where Calire Grogan's Altered Images played an admirable support set.
Just a few personal highlights from a golden period where the late John Mcgeogh and Robert Smith weaved their guitar magic with a stack of wonderful 45's which - along with The Jam - established the band as one of our finest singles outfits.

After a few years, the Marquee graffiti disappeared and it seemed like a small part of the club's spirit had gone with it. Happily, band and venue continued for some years to come, ensuring their place in history.

This is one of my favourite Banshees tracks, and I hope you enjoy it

15 FAVOURITE LIVE ACTS

2011-01-19T15:13:00.000Z

Over the years, I've been lucky enough to see some wonderful bands performing live and thought I'd share my top 15 with you, plus 'The One That Got Away' (which will be reserved for last).Some of my choices include groups who I've seen on many occasions, while one or two are just based on one performance that blew me away.
I'll be doing one each week, and my first choice are a group that achieved legendary status.
Years after their demise, Joy Division are still attracting new admirers and stirring affectionate memories for those who were there at the time.
My first encounter with JD was at the Derby Assembly Rooms where they played support to The Buzzcocks. Both bands were excellent, but Joy Division shaded it for me, with the icy beauty of their music casting a spell on the audience. The late Ian Curtis was both physically and mentally exhausting to watch, thrashing and contorting to the at times savage rhythms of his colleagues. Months later, I caught them again at Derby's Ajanta Theatre; a gig which would turn out to be their penultimate. I left the concert on a high, full of admiration for a band that had reached new heights before my eyes and ears. The Ajanta was never the best as far as acoustics were concerned but this didn't seem to matter. It was our club. The place where I caught such bands as The Only Ones, Bauhaus, Stiff Little Fingers, The Pop Group, Throbbing Gristle, The Damned and many others. Here, Joy Division excelled and it was the last time I saw them. Later on, I'd witness New Order playing live but that's another story...

15 FAVOURITE LIVE ACTS #1

2011-01-19T13:51:00.004Z

Over the years, I've been lucky enough to see some wonderful bands performing live and thought I'd share my top 15 with you, plus 'The One That Got Away' (which will be reserved for last).Some of my choice reflect groups who I've seen on many occasions, while one or two are just based on one performance that blew me away.
I'll be doing one each week, and my first choice are a group that achieved legendary status.
Years after their demise, Joy Division are still attracting new admirers and stirring affectionate memories for those who were there at the time.
My first encounter with JD was at the Derby Assembly Rooms where they played support to The Buzzcocks. Both bands were excellent, but Joy Division shaded it for me, with the icy beauty of their music casting a spell on the audience. The late Ian Curtis was both physically and mentally exhuasting to watch, thrashing and contorting to the at times savage rhythms of his colleagues. Months later, I caught them again at Derby's Ajanta Theatre; a gig which would turn out to be their penultimate. I left the concert on a high, full of admiration for a band that had reached new heights before my eyes and ears. The Ajanta was never the best as far as acoustics were concerned but this didn't seem to matter. It was our club. The place where I caught such bands as The Only Ones, Bauhaus, Stiff Little Fingers, The Pop Group, Throbbing Gristle, The Damned and many others. Here, Joy Division excelled and it was the last time I saw them. Later on, I'd witness New Order playing live but that's another story...

WHISTLE AND I'LL COME TO YOU

2011-01-19T10:30:00.004Z

Christmas Eve. A perfect time to curl up in front of the fire and read a good old fashioned ghost story. M.R. James was probably the numero uno when it comes to creating literary spine-chillers,and the small screen has been graced by several worthy adaptations of his work The BBC had previously broadcast a fine translation of WHISTLE AND I'LL COME TO YOU, starring Michael Hordern, which hit all the right notes. Now, we have a modern re-working of this tale and once again BBC did the honours, possibly resulting in a split between hard-line James buffs and those who were not averse to some significant plot revision.

Here, John Hurt takes centre stage as James Parkin; a recently retired academic who leaves his catatonic wife in a nursing home and travels to a coastal resort in search of a few days break. When Parkin finds an old ring on the seemingly deserted beach, all manner of strange sights and sounds come forth, installing an atmosphere of dread and a longing for life to be as it once was.
Consumed by guilt at having to leave his sick wife behind, Parkin is haunted by a body that has outlived its personality, which is probably even more frightening than any supernatrual manisfestation. Indeed, this is very much a tale for our times, highlighting the pain of having to let go, with the nursing home (like the hotel) boasting a single member of staff like some gatekeeper who has always been there.

I was surprised to learn this is the first ghost story featuring John Hurt's involvement and, as you might expect, he's perfect for the role truly conveying the air of a disturbed man.
While this particular version may upset some with its script liberties, I found WHISTLE AND I'LL COME TO YOU to be worthwhile viewing, and a nice companion to the previous, slightly superior take.

PETER POSTLETHWAITE RIP

2011-01-03T20:10:00.003Z

i was absolutely gutted to hear the sad news that Peter Postlethwaite passed away yesterday evening.
Of course, Peter was one of our national treasures, and started his love for the creative arts as a drama teacher, before moving on to the stage.
Roles with The Royal Shakespeare company became a stepping stone to highly acclaimed work in television and feature films, where Peter matured into one of the finest actors of his generation.
THE USUAL SUSPECTS and BRASSED OFF are just two of the films he'll be remembered for, demonstrating real range and an ability to get right inside his characters.

Peter left us at the age of 64, and will be sadly missed by the world of cinema and beyond. RIP big fella.

A YEAR TO FORGET

2010-12-31T17:09:00.002Z

2010? Most certainly a year to forget, punctuated by illness and severe financial problems. Unfortunately, Meniere's Disease has continued to dog my every step right up to the end of this year, with new medication certainly helping stem the tide, while at the same time sapping any strength that remained from my day job.
Like many folks, we found the effects of the recession extremely hard to shake off, and just managed (by inches) to avoid financial meltdown. During that worrying period, most of my DVD collection had to be sold: the Argento's; the Fulci's and the Franco's. All gone now.

While I didn't get to the point of never wanting to see a film again, my leisure activities took a good few bullets, with even a trip to the cinema out of bounds due to lack of cash. To be perfectly honest, a blog was often the last thing on my mind.
But, we have a new year on the horizon and while I appreciate that 2011 is going to be just as tough, one of my resolutions is to get this blog moving once again.

I'd like to thank everyone who visited in 2010, left comments and kindly offered their support. I greatly appreciate this, and would like to wish everyone a happy and healthy new year.

RIP ARI-UP

2010-10-22T13:52:00.003+01:00

Greatly saddened to read that Arianna Forster (aka Ari-Up) passed away on Wednesday after a battle with cancer. Ari is justifiably highly regarded for her time with The Slits who were one of the best of the British punk bands. I first encountered The Slits in the '70s at a small club, after hearing a session of their music on the late, great John Peel's radio show. Of course, their debut album "Cut" was eagerly anticipated and did not disappoint, emerging as one of the very best slices of vinyl of the decade. Later, I was lucky enough to see The Slits supporting The Clash at Derby's Kings Hall in '78, and the presence of Budgie on drums helped elevate their performance into something truly special

Ari had real stage presence; something you are born with and not something to be cultivated. Ian Curtis, Joe Strummer, Iggy, Pete Murphy, Siouxsie, John Lydon... they all had that certain something and like them, Arianna was absolutely mesmerising to watch.
Now, she's free from pain and doubtless enjoying a drink with dear old Joe in that great bar upstairs.
Thanks for some great music and wonderful memories.

SHUTTER ISLAND BLU-RAY

2010-09-26T13:03:00.003+01:00

Based on Dennis Lehane's novel, Shutter Island follows two US marshalls who are dispatched to Ashcliffe Hospital; an institute for the criminally insane, which is located on a remote island. Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo) are charged with the task of investigating the disappearance of one Rachel Solano (Emily Mortimer) who vanished from her cell some 24 hours earlier. Solano - incarcerated for drowning her three children - left no clues as to her whereabouts, save for a cryptic message found by Daniels. Before long, our intrepid duo encounter solid opposition from the medical wing of the institute, as Dr John Cauley (Ben Kingsley) and Dr Jeremiah Naering (Max Von Sydow) refuse access to documents which may contain fragments of evidence. Add to this Daniels' grief-stricken past and the use of psychotropic drugs on already unhinged patients, and the scene is set for a debilitating excursion into a world haunted by the past and fuelled by the present terrifying locale.

If Shutter Island is really a B-Movie with A-list ingredients, it succeeds on both levels, working as a loving homage to '40s/'50s noir cinema, and as a glowing testament to the skills of an exceptional cast and crew.
Here, DiCaprio excels with what may just be his best performance to date, battling the ghosts of his part in a World War II liberation of Dachu alongside unbearable personal loss, whilst Kingsley and Von Sydow present a formidable barrier to exactly what is going on in their institute.
For Martin Scorsese, this is territory that suits his directorial skills down to the ground, full of Hitchcockian sensibilities and - fittingly - a love not just of noir-ish nightmares, but also of the inky black horror from a genre he greatly admires. Indeed, Shutter Island is often reminiscent of Sam Fuller's Shock Corridor and Brad Anderson's bone-chilling Session 9, with less out-and-out shocks than the former, but perhaps a greater sense of depth and purpose.

By combining a series of flashbacks, hallucinations and real-time terror, Scorsese has fashioned one of his best films since that golden '70s period, and is even audacious enough to leave a liberal sprinkling of clues before our eyes and ears.
With a high replay value, Shutter Island will doubtless prompt many return trips, whether or not you believe the mystery has finally been solved. One major criticism relates to the secret becoming obvious far too early (a problem many of us encountered with the likes of THE SIXTH SENSE) but this should in no way impair your enjoyment of how they get there in the end.

The Blu-ray transfer looks impeccable, with a fine film of grain, deliciously inky blacks and colours verging from vibrant to subdued while always well rendered.
With just a couple of featurettes, we're infuriatingly light on the extras front and the inclusion of least a director's commentary track would have been a step in the right direction. I guess that will happen with the inevitable 'special edition'

POSTER MAGIC

2010-09-26T12:59:00.002+01:00

Always been a big fan of movie posters, so thought I'd post some of my favourites every now and then.

Here's the Russian poster for SHUTTER ISLAND.

MOVIE MEME: FILMS I COULD HAPPILY WATCH OVER AND OVER AGAIN!

2010-09-13T18:50:00.005+01:00

The basic idea is that you post the films you can happily watch multiple times. The rules are as follows:

1. Provide a non-exhaustive list of films you’ll happily watch again and again.
2.There is no rule 2.
3. Reprint the rules.
4. Tag three others and ask them to do the same.

Ian Smith tagged me, so here are my own choices.

THREE COLOURS: RED
Irne Jacob and Jean Louis-Trintignant at the top of their game in this intricate tale of lives governed by fate and numeracy. Possibly the most magnificent directorial swansong ever. Watch it and weep at the fact that Kieslowski left us way too soon.

HEAVEN'S GATE
The film that sunk United Artists, and attracted massive criticism inside and outside the industry. Happily, time has been kinder to 'Cimino's Folly' and quite right too. Full of great performances, glorious visuals and heart-rending dialogue, HEAVEN'S GATE doesn't drag for a minute and you'll love David Mansfield's celestial score.

DEAD RINGERS
David Cronenberg's absorbing tale of brotherly love and terrifying separation has long haunted me, and each viewing strengthens its spell. Jeremy Iron's has never been better, and it remains a disgrace he didn't get the Oscar he so richly deserved.

ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA
My favourite De Niro, whose performance is almost matched by James Woods. A sprawling tale of love, jealousy and betrayal, AMERICA is sometimes almost unbearably brutal and yet it's a film with almost unrivalled heart and soul. Do make sure a hankie is within reach.

HANNIBAL
Oh my!! Red face here, as I had hardly anything good to say about this film when I caught it at the cinema. Since then, Ridley Scott's continuance of the Lector saga has grown on me to the point where I rate it as his best to date. For me, Julianne Moore upstages Jodie Foster as Starling and the script - throwing in a renegade cop and a disfigured Gary Oldman - is a constant delight. Love everything about it, including that firework display which you just know Lector arranged, coldly confident about the outcome.

INFERNO
Dario Argento's follow-up to SUSPIRIA moves from Witches in Frieburg to alchemy in New York, with Leigh McCloskey on the trail of 'The Three Mothers'. By turns, poetic and bloody in the extreme, INFERNO is so much more than a triumph of style over substance. A horror masterpiece, no less.

KILL, BABY... KILL!
Mario Bava's sublime ghost story has lost none of its power down the years, taking the unquiet spirit of Melissa Grapps and embarking on a journey through mist-shrouded locales where the line between the living and the dead is wafer thin. Unfortunately, a big-screen airing of this classic was let down by a less-than-stellar print, but the existence of an excellent DVD does convey much of its power to chill.

LOST IN TRANSLATION
Bill Murray does Tokyo, with a luminous Scarlet Johansson in tow. Grab a bottle of hooch, sit back and savour every moment, right up to that scene where the two leads grab a heartfelt farewell... or do they? As with Lynch's THE STRAIGHT STORY, it's not for our ears.

ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST
Two from Leone? Well, this hymn to the power of cinema has made me break my usual meme rule of not including more than one film from a particular director. Gorgeously shot, and laced with some terrific performances, WEST is often spellbinding in its beauty. Just like AMERICA, we have another swirling Morricone score which suggests the music surely came from someone/somewhere other than mortal man.

THE HOUSE OF MIRTH
Terrence Davies' stately production features an outstanding cast, lead by Gillian Anderson's amazing turn as a woman in search of a wealthy husband and the social standing such a position will bring. As Edith Wharton once wrote, "Next to death, life is the saddest thing there is".

MAGNOLIA
For me, this is the one of the best American films of the last couple of decades. Multi-layered, beautifully acted and it's a genuine privilege
to watch its story unravel. My favourite scenes/performance and lines of dialogue change with every viewing. A considerable achievement from a director at the top of his game.

THE HAUNTING
Robert Wise's take on Shirely Jackson's novel is - like stablemates THE INNOCENTS and THE LEGEND OF HELL HOUSE - delightfully ambiguous on the posibliity of supernatural phenomena. The director's less-is-more approach pays dividends here, and I still go away thinking I've seen more than I actually did.

DAY FOR NIGHT
Not Trauffaut's finest, but Bissett has rarely looked so beautiful and has never been so well cast. This is a splendid film-within-a-film experience. Watch it with Ferrara's DANGEROUS GAME for an entirely different take on what can happen when cameras are whirring.

VENUS IN FURS
Jess Franco's wonderfully delirious jazz-infused trip, and the film which will almost certainly force detractors to admit he can make great cinema when the mood takes him.

THE ADDICTION
Once again, Chris Walken comes alive for Abel Ferrara in a vampire film for the ages. Feral, and often extremely moving, THE ADDICTION puts most bloodsucking movies well and truly in the shade.
"To find rest takes real genius".

Many thanks to Ian for tagging me in a meme which was kicked off by Good Dog

Due to pressure of work, Ian hasn't had much time of late to work on his excellent Shiny Discs website but make sure all you Blu-ray owners bookmark his site. Ian has some exciting additions to introduce in the near future. Just click HERE

Finally, I'll tag Michael over at Lazy Thoughts From A Boomer

Nigel at Italian Film Review

Keith over at Sugar And Spice

2010-09-10T20:01:00.001+01:00

2010-09-10T19:50:00.001+01:00

JUST RELEASED

2010-09-10T17:45:00.002+01:00

Review to follow.

SEX AND DRUGS AND ROCK AND ROLL

2010-07-24T19:32:00.003+01:00

Born 12th May 1942, Ian Dury contracted polio at the age of 7, and went on to academic success after spending time in hospital and a school for disabled children.
Matt Whitecross' film takes us through Dury's formative years via a series of flashbacks, intermingled with the twin chaos of his stage act and personal life.

Shot in the style of BRONSON via 24 HOUR PARTY PEOPLE, this is an entertaining and thought provoking account of a tortured artist who had the punk attitude coupled with genuine music hall appeal. Dury always saw himself as a "lurker", rather than a pop star, and his 'tough love' upbringing encouraged him to stand up for himself and create an example for a group of people who are most assuredly capable of great things. Here, Andy Serkis becomes Dury both in sight and sound, alienating his nearest and dearest, pissing off the establishment throughout his life and fashioning some wonderfully memorable tunes. By turn, moving, infuriating, fast paced and funny, SEX AND DRUGS AND ROCK AND ROLL rarely misses a beat, painting a colourful and haunting picture of someone I'll always remember as a national treasure.

With Olivia Williams, Naomie Harris and Ray Winstone as wife, lover and father, the cast is always solid but it's Serkis who really delves into the extraordinary, taking me back to the Stiff Records tour and Dury's gigs with the likes of Elvis Costello and Lena Lovich (unfortunately absent here). Happily, Dury's Kilburn & The High Roads days are also chronicled, culminating in a true punk rock gig at a dingy London pub before the Blockheads were formed a little later.
Fans will lap up the live stuff and be taken back to those heady days when "Sweet Gene Vincent" soared out of concert halls and into the streets where it belonged. Credit to Serkis who does an amazing job, leading the old Blockheads band without lip- synching and delivering a mesmerising performance.

Ian Dury left us on 27th March 2000. His songs live on and this film will undoubtedly bring a new generation of fans to some great music.

THERE'S ALWAYS VANILLA

2010-07-22T13:04:00.002+01:00

A determination not to be pigeonholed as a horror director, coupled with the success of low-budget fare such as Hi, Mom!, prompted George A. Romero to follow up Night of the Living Dead with this almighty blot on his otherwise impressive cv.

There’s Always Vanilla started life as a half hour promotional vehicle to highlight the 'talents' of Ray Laine; a would-be actor who stars here as an irritating boy-in-a-man’s-body. Rudolph J. Ricci wrote and directed the short film, and fell out with Romero over the latter’s plan to expand the script to feature length.

In this 94 minute version, Laine and Judith Ridley fill out the roles of Chris and Lynn, who meet when Lynn is on the way to a tv commercial shoot for toilet bowl cleaner. Following an exchange of views regarding her suitability for such exposure, the pair become an item for a season but drift apart when Lynn discovers she’s pregnant.

Previously glimpsed as a 15 minute clip on the Night of the Living Dead laserdisc and DVD releases, There’s Always Vanilla is now one half of a Romero DVD double-bill with Season of the Witch. Anchor Bay's Region 1 disc includes a featurette – Digging Up The Dead: The "Lost" Films of George A. Romero – where the great man admits he doesn’t really care for this film and declares it worked better as a short. I’m sure he’s right because this extended version of what was, after all, a promotional short is a long haul, full of dire acting, though not without its moments.

The opening resembles a Sunset Boulevard-like narration where a dead man tells his story, just as a member of the living dead might do. There’s a clever scene which jumps between Chris and Lynn making love and a tv commercial shoot, anticipating Nicolas Roeg's Don't Look Now; a hilarious job interview where Chris includes pimping on his short cv, and a tense chase sequence during which Lynn flees from the advances of a backstreet abortionist. There’s Always Vanilla points the way ahead for future Romero projects where the world in focus is heavy on consumerism and light on self-awareness but it’s a distance from being the 'lost' gem that many of us were hoping for.

Prior to the main feature, Anchor Bay state the transfer is below their usual high standards due to the quality of existing elements. I’ll concur with that, although the film looks way better than it deserves. At any rate, you should see it if only for the fact that the better half of this double-bill really is a must-see

COMING SOON TO BLU-RAY

2010-07-21T09:03:00.005+01:00

I'm sure many genre fans were eagerly awaiting the first Mario Bava film to hit Blu-ray. Thanks to the enterprising Arrow, BAY OF BLOOD will make its hi-def debut late September in the UK. Hop over to their forums where you'll find a friendly and knowledgeable bunch of like-minded individuals, and make sure you vote in THE BEYOND poll while you're there. Arrow are seriously considering a Blu-ray release for Fulci's classic, providing the elements pass muster. Just click HERE

You can also vote for cover artwork for both of the aforementioned releases.

A WEEK OFF.

2010-07-16T20:16:00.003+01:00

In just under 24 hours from now, I'll be starting a week's holiday from work.
A break from the daily haul is always nice, and getting away from your hometown to somewhere different can be a valuable added bonus. Unfortunately, my health has been poor of late, so straying even as far as nearby Derby for our 1st movie experience in over a year would perhaps not be advisable. In any event, the next few years are riddled with doom and despair as our new government seem hellbent on laying waste to the UK while telling lie after lie as they do so. That's another reason for not spending money we'll almost certainly need a little later on so that seaside holiday will just have to wait.

So, I aim to view the entire contents of Arrow's wonderful CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD Blu-ray and listen to both commentary tracks; finish reading THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATOO; rent the aforementioned movie; start reading THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE and read a study of Dario Argento by James Gracey. All this and the company of my wonderful wife will make for an enjoyable week. Health permitting, I'll accomplish all of the above and share my thoughts with as soon as possible.

COMING SOON

2010-07-15T20:49:00.001+01:00

Terrific news that SPIRITS OF THE DEAD will be released on UK Blu-ray at the end of August. Enjoy this trailer!

THE RED SHOES BLU-RAY

2010-07-12T14:32:00.004+01:00

"Dreaming is a luxury I've never permitted in my company."

Boris Lermontov. THE RED SHOES.

Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger collaborated on 22 films, but their most creative period came via The Archers production company. From 1942 - 1951, The Archers were responsible for some of the finest British films; A CANTERBURY TALE, THE LIFE AND DEATH OF COLONEL BLIMP, I KNOW WHERE I'M GOING, BLACK NARCISSUS, A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH and, of course, THE RED SHOES which marked the film debut of Moira Shearer, the rising star of The Royal Ballet.

THE RED SHOES script, written by Pressburger and based on Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale, spins a cautionary tale of just what can happen when life imitates art as two men unwittingly help to destroy the most precious thing in their lives. The gal in the middle is Victoria Page (Shearer), a young ballerina who seems to love dance more than life itself. To her left stands Julian Craster (Marius Goring), the young composer who will eventually steal her away from the stage and also from this film's most imposing figure. Boris Lermontov (Anton Walbrook), a cold manipulative impresario is the other man in Vicky's life, though for entirely different reasons. Lermontov is only concerned with the pursuit of excellence, forbidding his dancers from enjoying a life outside the stage. There are times when we almost believe that Lermontov may be carrying a torch for his star performer but, ultimately, the cruel side of Andersen's tale holds sway.

Overall, THE RED SHOES cannot be termed a 'feel good' film, but there are several performers who will surely bring a huge smile to your face: Leonide Massine, Robert Helpmann and the entirely wonderful Ludmilla Tcherina (the latter being another victim of Lermontov's obsessions) are a real pleasure to watch, along with some delightful ballet sequences.
You don't have to be a 'Balletomane' to love this film - just sit back and marvel at the style and imagination of Powell & Pressburger; at the startling images guaranteed to haunt you for months after; at the mesmerising use of colour, beautifully captured by Jack Cardiff's magisterial photography. Then frame-by-frame, the superlative presentation of The Red Shoes Ballet will surely engulf your senses and convert even the most hardened sceptic.
At least, that's how it usually swings with TV and DVD screenings. Now, we have a wonderful presentation, courtesy of ITV's Blu-ray disc, which brings THE RED SHOES to life in a way we could only have dreamt of.

Here, the colours truly pop, and the exquisite detail of this production is reproduced to a staggering degree. There's a point during the extras of the UK SUSPIRIA Blu-ray where Dario Argento explains how he watched THE RED SHOES prior to shooting his nerve-jangling exercise in terror:another disciple of this endlessly inventive film.
Criterion have just released THE RED SHOES in the USA on Blu-ray but for those of you in Europe with no all-region hardware, I strongly suggest you move with due haste to bag yourself a copy of this superb ITV release. Mumblings on the net indicate that copies are in extremely short supply.

COMING SOON

2010-05-31T19:26:00.002+01:00

Hers are the specs for Arrow's forthcoming Blu-ray release of Dario Argento's INFERNO which will also be available in SD.

Reversible sleeve with original and newly commissioned art work

- Double-sided fold out Poster

- Collector’s Booklet featuring brand new writing on Inferno by Alan Jones, author of Profondo Argento

- High Definition Presentation of the film (1080p)

- Optional 7.1 DTS-HD/2.0 Stereo Audio

SPECIAL FEATURES:

- Introduction to Inferno by star Daria Nicolodi

- Dario's Inferno (16 mins interview with Dario Argento)

- Acting in Hot Water: An Interview with Daria Nicolodi (18 mins interview)

- The Other Mother: Making the Black Cat (16 mins) In 1989 director Luigi Cozzi (a long time friend and collaborator of Dario Argento) decided to make the unofficial follow-up to Inferno and 'complete' the Three Mothers legacy. This feature looks at the torrid history of The Black Cat, with plenty of clips too!

- Dario Argento: An Eye for Horror (57 mins) Mark Kermode narrates this documentary on Argento’s career including interviews with George A. Romero and John Carpenter

- The Complete Dario Argento Trailer Gallery [18 films]

- Easter Egg (5 mins of Dario Argento in English, with random memories of Inferno)

VOTE FOR THE BEYOND

2010-05-31T19:12:00.004+01:00

Euro cult movie buffs should head over to The Cult Lab Forums where aficionados are invited to vote for their format(s) of choice for a release of Lucio Fulci's THE BEYOND. The forums are packed with a friendly and enthusiastic fanbase, and here you will get the lowdown on the latest DVD and Blu-ray releases from the wonderful Arrow who have just released a feature-packed Blu-ray of CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD which is already shaping up to be one of this year's finest.

Why not sign up and cast your vote for one of Lucio Fulci's finest films. Just click HERE

HAPPY 2OTH ANNIVERSARY VIDEO WATCHDOG

2010-05-21T18:56:00.002+01:00

It was 1990 when I first caught sight of Tim & Donna Lucas' VIDEO WATCHDOG. I was in London's Forbidden Planet, killing time before some gig/football match/ film, when I found myself picking up a magazine in the movie section. Three minutes later and I exited FP, clutching the very first issue Of VIDEO WATCHDOG. I recall settling down in one of London's watering holes, and read this debut issue from cover to cover, enthralled by Tim's article on a Spanish filmmaker named Jess Franco. I'd previously viewed 3-gen boots of the likes of VENUS IN FURS and SUCCUBUS, and promised myself I'd devote more time to Franco's wonderfully perverse world.

Although I never got round to becoming a VW subscriber, I began to collect this magazine on a regular basis, obtaining copies from various UK stores and specialist indie retailers.
From VHS to Laserdisc, from DVD to Blu-ray, from monochrome to full colour issues. It's been one hell of a ride and still is. Tim and his wonderfully gifted band of reviewers offer informative and entertaining reviews and features, which are graced by Donna's layout and design expertise.

Along the way, we've enjoyed special editions, a VW book and Tim & Donna's Mario Bava tome, "All The Colours Of The Dark". This is simply the finest book on film I've ever read (it's much more than a study of the great man), and I'm proud to see my name included amongst its patrons.
While every single issue has much to enthuse over, like anyone else I have my favourites. For me, the following are 10 of my firm favourites.

1/ Issue # 1. Franco and Venezuelan Video.

2/ Issue # 6. The Exorcist special!

3/ Issue # 13. Manhunter and Rampage. We need a loaded spec ed DVD for the latter.

4/ Issue # 19. A marvellous Dracula special.

5/ Issue # 29. Robocop.

6/ Issue # 38. Living Dead Dawn/Night.

7/ Issue # 81. If you doubt the greatness of Ridley Scott's HANNIBAL, you should read this!

8/ Issue # 121. Terrific Renfield article.

9/ Issue # The Wallace Krimis.

10/ Issue # 142. The Prisoner.

For devotees of Fantastic Cinema, VW is not only a publication that increases appreciation of the films we love, but also for discovering new delights.
Tim and his writers share the ability to engage the interest of their audience about films they may have previously dismissed after just one viewing, or maybe even highlight a genre that may have held little interest. It's the way they write about film that seduces their readers into giving movies, books and soundtracks a second (or maybe first) chance.

So, as we await the publication of issue # 157 which marks the 2oth anniversary of VW, we can reflect on the enormous changes that have taken place regarding how we watch films and how we see them.

Let's raise our glasses to Tim & Donna.

MARTIN

2010-05-07T16:21:00.004+01:00

Now, how does the song go? "No Elvis, Beatles or Rolling Stones in 1977". Well, some of you may be tempted to add vampires to the list when considering George A. Romero's Martin. Here, the titular character (played by John Amplas) is a young man who becomes a victim of his deranged uncle Cuda (Maazel). Forced to work in Cuda's store and placed under a night-time curfew, Martin is befriended by cousin Christine (Forrest), who spends her time railing against Cuda's outdated beliefs and dealing with her unreliable boyfriend (fx supremo Tom Savini). Cuda believes Martin is one of nine family members marked by the curse of Nosferatu: a theory substantiated by his predeliction for female flesh and blood. As Martin slowly gets into character, he exhibits a greater degree of confidence when dealing with his (mostly) female victims, and becomes a regular caller to a late-night radio chat show, claiming he's an 84 year-old vampire. As the body count increases, Martin begins to harbour very real doubts regarding his ability to continue evading the law.

So, where does fantasy end and reality begin? Romero's film is peppered with stark monochrome flashbacks showing Martin being welcomed by his victims and hunted by those who wish him dead.While it's open to debate whether these are replays of past events or simply feverish daydreams, the latter seems far more likely, given the somewhat (intentionally?) fractured staging of some of the scenes.

Romero originally pitched a running time of 135 minutes for this film, which leaves us some 40 mins adrift for this truncated version. Unfortunately, the gaps show. Martin's relationship with an attractive older woman (Nadeau) simply cries out for extended screen time, making his transformation from a virtual necrophiliac into a capable lover seem more like an eleventh-hour re-write, rather than a considered character development. Similarly, Cuda's meeting with a priest schooled in 'the old ways' and their subsequent attempted exorcism are too close together to really gel, and leave one yearning to see the director's original cut: a disconcerting state of affairs, because there are moments when Martin comes very close to representing Romero's best work. The opening scene where Martin creates terror on the tracks - attacking a young woman (Middleton) in her train carriage - works wonderfully well, combining past and present by imaginative use of the flashback device. Martin's encounter with an unfaithful housewife and her lover scores even higher, with Romero stoking up on suspense and letting the scene run to a dramatic conclusion. This particular set piece, coupled with a scene in a children's playground, is the flip side of Carpenter's Halloween, but coming several months earlier: one can't help but wonder what would have happened if Romero's film had enjoyed the same breaks as Carpenter? Martin VIII: 'Blood On The Net'? Maybe not, but this slow-burning account of mental illness and its cause and effect remains an important work. If the hugely under-rated Jack's Wife is Romero's feminist film, then Martin explores the male psyche with just as conviction.

Arrow's Region 2 DVD is a huge shot in the veins for those who missed out on Anchor Bay's Region 1 disc (now OOP). Although Arrow's disc does not include the Romero/Amplas/Forrest commentary track, it remains an absolutely essential purchase for any self-respecting Romero buff.From a presentational viewpoint, this is the best looking version of Martin I've seen though it's never been a film that's stood out in terms of eye-popping colour. In 2003, there's still a grainy look to the film ( due to the photography, rather than any failing with the disc) but colours look a lot more stable than we're used to.

Arrow have also included a 14 minute documentary - with German audio and English subtitles - which contains footage from Night Of The Living Dead, Dawn Of The Dead, The Crazies and Martin, together with Romero's thoughts on the aforementioned films. While we don't learn a great deal that's new, it's nice to watch Romero at work on his Dawn set and the picture quality of the clips offer a nostalgic glimpse of life before DVD. Also included are a couple of radio spots, and the splendid original theatrical trailer shot from a different perspective than is normally the case for these '3 minute wonders'.

Romero's legendary 3 hour director's cut - stolen from him many years ago - will likely never be seen, leaving us with an uneven film which, nontheless, does hit the heights on several occasions. Maybe it's best to let the 'real' Martin rest in peace and attempt to make sense of what's left.

At the beginning of June, we have a new release of MARTIN to look forward to from Arrow Films here in the UK;

Features include: the original theatrical cut of the film with 5.1 and Stereo audio options plus a choice of 16:9 and 4:3 aspect ratio presentations; ‘Wampyre’ – the Italian cut of the film, featuring Italian dialogue (with optional English subtitles) and musical score by Goblin; ‘Making Martin: A Recounting’; Documentary on George A. Romero; TV and radio spots; original theatrical trailer; photo gallery; four sleeve art options; double sided poster; exclusive collector’s booklet; six original poster art postcards.As far as I'm aware, the Wampyre cut has some scenes shuffled round. Unfortunately, the materials aren't good enough for a Blu-ray release, but this loaded DVD will do nicely.

LET THE WRONG ONE IN

2010-05-07T14:46:00.002+01:00

So, it seems we are on the verge of 'enjoying' either a minority government, or an administration borne out of deals struck with Nick Clegg; a man whose political party failed to build on little more than optimism.

Welcome to David Cameron: a man who believes that Great Britain was the only country in the world to be struck by recession, and who clearly intends to look after the wealthy and to hell with everyone else. I'll certainly add my voice to those who believe our electoral system needs a major overhaul and lament the fact that -for some - things are going to get a whole lot worse.

HARRY BROWN

2010-05-05T19:01:00.003+01:00

England 2009. Gangs of feral teens rule our streets, with guns, knives and alcohol-fueled acts of violence creating abject misery for those unlucky enough to merely breathe the same air.

Meet Harry Brown: ex Marine and old aged pensioner who visits his comatose wife in hospital, and enjoys a pint with close friend Leonard (David Bradley) just to remind himself he's still alive.
We're in the East End of London here, and it soon becomes apparent that the low life scum who see the area as their 'manor' are making life hell for the residents of a squalid council estate.

When Brown (beautifully played by Michael Caine) receives an urgent call summoning him to his wife's bedside, his decision not to take a shortcut through a nearby subway costs him the chance to bid his spouse one last goodbye.
Soon, Harry's life is blighted a second time and something inside him snaps, compelling him to wage a one-man war on the hoodlums who frequent the shadowy depths of the subway, and regularly invade the homes of frightened citizens.

HARRY BROWN has, inevitably, drawn comparison with Clint Eastwood's powerful GRAN TORINO and it's a worthwhile comparison with Eastwood's film more measured but not necessarily more passionate. Scorsese's TAXI DRIVER may also be a nostalgic line of reference; particularly the scene where Brown is shown an array of weapons during a tense encounter in a drug dealers den.
While some of the characters in this film are none too well drawn - particularly the forces of law & order - HARRY BROWN is ultimately a hard-hitting account of the way things are in a country crying out for a drastic change in the way we deal with what are quite simply monsters. Michael Caine excels as the OAP vigilante, inspiring a whole range of emotions and, I strongly suspect, a widespread fervent wish that more Harry Brown's would rise up and conduct a much-needed spring clean of our streets.
Yes, the violence is explicit at times and the language is way past industrial but there's a real humanity in evidence that is extremely moving.

BACK SOON (HAHA)

2010-04-19T07:40:00.002+01:00

Even lighter on posting than usual at the moment.
Unfortunately, Meneieres Disease has been up and about lately doing its absolute worst, and a back injury sustained at work makes doing pretty much anything very painful.

Just when things seemed to be improving very slightly, Meneiere's struck again. This time, a dizzy spell knocked my off my feet and sent me toppling backwards into the bathtub. Ouch!! End result being my back is even more f***** than it was before.

So, I'm still managing to go to work but that's about all. Back here soon as I heal up a little.

RIP Malcolm McLaren

2010-04-08T19:43:00.003+01:00

Born on 22nd January 1946, Malcolm McLaren had his fingers in a good many pies, ranging from retail to music, television and even considered throwing his hat into the ring for the Mayor Of London 'contest'.
Of course, Malcolm will be best remembered for his role as the former manager of the Sex Pistols. In the 1970s', the music scene in the UK had become stale and monumentally boring. Without really knowing it, we were crying out for some excitement. For someone to stand up and deliver the rallying cry of "Fuck You" to politicians, musicians and the bosses who ripped us off in search of yet another holiday in the sun. A few kindred spirits sensed the mood, did the decent thing and formed bands. Others followed. Cue "Anarchy In The UK". First time I encountered this call to arms was on the late, great John Peel radio show and it damn near took my head off. A rabble-rousing introduction to one of the greatest bands ever to come out of the UK.

History records that McLaren and one John Lydon ended up in court, following accusations of unpaid revenues and sundry misdemeanours.
There'[s no doubt that McLaren was an expert at building up the hype and seemed to take pride at the fact that many local councils actually banned The Pistols from playing, thereby denying punters the chance of seeing the group onstage. Yes, he was a canny businessman - a bit to canny, I'd say - but he seemed to have a sharp mind, always searching for the next big thing and then moving on when a project went belly up. Love him or hate him, MM was there at the start and played an important part in a true musical revolution.

Malcolm died earlier today in New York and will be buried in London's famous Highgate Cemetary.

RIP I'll miss you.

DRAG ME TO HELL. BLU-RAY

2010-03-24T18:40:00.005Z

This frenetic, endlessly entertaining film sees Sam Raimi going back to his roots and having an absolute ball doing what many would say he does best.
DRAG ME TO HELL opens in Pasadena, where a Mexican couple take their young son to a medium. Following the theft of jewelry from a band of gypsies, the little boy has been plagued by sights and sounds of a demonic nature, and the power from beyond the grave is sufficient to defeat his would-be saviour.
40 years later, ambitious loan officer Christine Brown (Alison Lohman) is vying for promotion with her backstabbing co-worker, and hopes to demonstrate she's as tough as nails by turning down a mortgage extension by a down-on-her-luck gypsy who begs her for another chance. Christine just about survives a terrifying assault when the gypsy mounts a revenge attack, and finds her problems have only just begun as a series of physical and visual manifestations propel her towards the medium who must once again do battle with the forces of darkness.

With a multitude of 'JUMP' moments, and a nice mixture of gross-out horror and pure slapstick, DRAG ME TO HELL scores highly on entertainment with its breathless style rampaging through a remarkably quick 99m running time. Depending on your mood, you'll either be rooting for the main players or hoping they get their just deserts as almost every member of the cast is driven by greed and self-advancement. I have to say I enjoyed every minute, and we even get a nice old school nod to the classic NIGHT OF THE DEMON towards the end.

Lionsgate's Blu-ray contains 2 versions of this film, including the 'Unseen'version which adds several snippets not seen at the cinema; mostly extra blood during the scenes where she squirts blood from her nose, and is covered by the gypsy's brain matter.
Overall, this is one of the best Blu-ray transfers I've seen to date, and it's hard to find any problems regarding picture quality. Fleshtones are wonderfully vivid, and colours repeatedly pop, while night-time scenes reveal bags of detail.
Fingers crossed it won't be too long before Raimi hooks up with horror again.

THE HURT LOCKER BLU-RAY

2010-03-15T12:45:00.006Z

Kathryn Bigelow first came to my attention by way of NEAR DARK: a modern day interpretation of things that go bite in the night that - for me- is right up there with other genre heavyweights from Ferrara, Romero and Jordan.
Since then, she's moved onto far more populist areas of cinema, en route to the ultimate accolade for any director.

Set in Iraq, THE HURT LOCKER centres on bomb disposal in one of the most dangerous places on earth, with Bravo Company facing one more month in their tour of duty.
William James (Jeremy Renner) arrives to replace a colleague he never knew,who died attempting to diffuse an explosive device. James quickly demonstrates his ability and courage, whilst also exhibiting a reckless spirit that may well put more than his own life at risk.

Of course, just about every Oscar success story has its own band of detractors and while Bigelow's film has received much critical acclaim, there have been a good number of pointed fingers signaling this film is over-hyped and delivers a disappointing ending.
For me, THE HURT LOCKER is absolutely solid on the acting front, and beautifully paced with nerve-shredding situations punctuating the comaderie and tensions that exist between the troops: just like the hell hole it depicts, an attack can come at any time in Bigelow's film and careful deployment of the savage fire of conflict or the carnage caused by explosions make them hit home all the harder. As far as the ending is concerned, all the information you need has played out in the preceding 2 hours and makes perfect sense.

Having reluctantly missed this film during its theatrical run, I plumped for a rental copy of the UK Blu-ray release, and found the transfer to be first-rate. Skin tones are realistic, there's bags of detail in the night-time scenes, while colours pop when they should. In fact there's little or nothing to criticise here, but the same cannot be said for the paucity of additional material. One would hope that a more loaded special edition will surface in the not-too-distant future, and I'm sure that will indeed be the case.

More artwork from Arrow

2010-03-12T13:44:00.005Z

Takes you back to the golden age of UK video sleeves.
Nice job, Arrow.

CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD: CHOOSE YOUR OWN DESIGN

2010-03-12T09:00:00.003Z

Arrow's forthcoming CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD Blu-ray will offer 4 alternate cover designs. The above is my current favourite.

THE FIRM REMAKE

2010-02-17T14:34:00.005Z

Released in 1989, THE FIRM would prove to be Alan Clarke's most personal film, and would also turn out to be his last. This is a hard-hitting portrayal of a group of football hooligans who contemplate joining forces with rival gangs for the upcoming European Championships. With a fine central performance from Gary Oldman, THE FIRM certainly raised a few hackles from the authorities who were considering the introduction of id cards for those attending games, as well as providing an authentic account of the so-called 'Hoolie Wars' that took place all over the country.

Now, we have a remake on our hands - directed by Nick Love - which was recently released on DVD & Blu-ray. Here, the role of gang leader Bex is played by Paul Anderson, who acquits himself well in Oldman's role. Once again, the possibility of rival firms teaming up takes centre-stage, though there's also a very strong message concerning the dangers of hero worship that should ring warning bells for those engaged in similar pursuits.
Dom (Calum McNab) first encounters Bex in a nightclub and after being firmly put in his place, makes strenuous attempts to get noticed and gain acceptance by West Ham's notorious 'Inter City Firm'. Before long, Dom finds himself on the front line of violent confrontations, but a series of pre-arranged meets and violent off-the cuff ambushes leave him on the back foot in an attempt to get out.

Overall, THE FIRM captures the 80s' with a high degree of accuracy, bolstered by Love's own experiences, with the rival gangs' 'face-offs' recalling the sort of things that occurred every weekend in every city. Those who simply write this film off - sight unseen - as just another mindless hooligan flick should be aware that Love has delivered a film that's as much about friendship - lost, regained and ill-advised - as football violence.

The Blu-ray release is as image-sharp as one would expect for a recent release, and some worthwhile extras are included, together with a director's commentary track.

COMING SOON

2010-02-01T21:02:00.003Z

Both Blue Underground and Arrow will be releasing CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD in April.
Stay tuned for a review.

ITALIAN HORROR IS ALIVE AND WELL

2010-01-29T12:49:00.003Z

As a keen supporter of Italian Horror, it's always nice when new DVD releases and rare cinema screenings are announced. In the last two days, a trio of Italia-related news items have come to my attention ; the first concerning Lucio Fulci's CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD.
Fulci's wonderfully atmospheric film will be released in the UK on both SD and Blu-ray formats, in April. Extra features will be announced shortly. I know Blue Underground will also be releasing a Blu around the same time, in the US, which will be region-free.

Staying with Fulci, and moving onto the Glasgow Frightfest bash which will be held Feb 26th/27th. Fulci fans will surely be excited by the promise of fully-restored, re-mastered and LONGER cut of A LIZARD IN A WOMAN'S SKIN.

For me - a lot closer to home - the news of SUSPIRIA on the big screen is just as enticing as the above news. 26th Feb sees Argento's classic playing at Derby's excellent Quad Cinema just 13 miles from where we live. This screening will be introduced by my good friend Darrell Buxton. Unfortunately, an 11.00pm start time and the prospect of a costly cab ride back means we won't have the money to attend, but will be there in spirit.
Good indie cinemas are few and far between, so if you are lucky enough to have one nearby and can afford to visit, I do urge you to support them.

SUSPRIA BLU-RAY

2010-01-24T19:53:00.006Z

American student Suzy Bannion (Jessica Harper) arrives at The Tanz Akademie school of dance in Frieburg, Germany, during a torrential rainstorm. Before she's even got inside the door, a frightened young woman exits the building uttering words that are mostly drowned out by the thunder. The next day, Suzy's induction is blighted by news of a murder. Soon, Bannion must face the powers of darkness who use the Akademie as a front for witchcraft.

Right from the word go, SUSPIRIA drags us headlong into a fairytale world, punctuated by bloody murders, and the terrifying thought that there truly is "magic all around us". Of course, Argento detractors often label this as a case of a little style over no substance, but many of us have never had a problem buying into this eye candy world of bright lights and the darkest of shadows. Bolstered by the presence of such luminaries as Joan Bennett and Alida Valli, SUSPIRIA benefits hugely by the presence of Jessica Harper who impressed Argento with her performance in PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE. Harper - an iconic image of 70s' cinema - is perfect as the wide-eyed heroine whose very existence is threatened by the legend of 'The Three Mothers'.

Up to now, the Anchor Bay R1 DVD has been the most faithful home viewing version of this classic film but does the release of a UK Blu-ray mean we can put the old Anchor Bay set into retirement? Actually... no!
While parts of the Nouveaux disc look simply wonderful (witness the opening minutes as Bannion exits the airport and takes a cab ride to the Akademie), there are numerous problems related to colour timing, contrast levels and footage that displays a huge drop in picture quality. Unfortunately, there are several scenes blighted by the aforementioned problems and it's hard to know where the blame lies. While its acknowledged that Nouveaux had no control over the master they were given, we were led to believe this would be a new HD transfer.
Happily, the sound has been restored to the former glory of the old Image Laserdisc (my copy went the way of ebay a few moons ago) and damn is it strong? While stories of the music being played on the set of this film are somewhat exaggerated, I've always adopted the mindset that Goblin's awesome soundtrack was not only designed to totally disorientate the viewer, but also the actors and prefer to imagine that thunderous score playing to thoroughly rattle Jessica Harper and co: an extra weapon in the armoury of Helena Markos.

Those of you who own THE BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE DVD will already have been privy to a superb commentary track from Alan Jones & Kim Newman. The good news is that the pair are back in harness to take the mic for another enjoyably informative talk. With nary a pause for breath, Jones and Newman give us the lowdown on this film, offering a proper historical perspective and great insight with regard to the reputation this film continues to enjoy. There's also a great documentary - "Fear At 400 Degrees" - which takes an academic look at SUSPIRIA, with Norman J Warren, Claudio Simonetti, Xavier Mendik, Patricia McCormack and Argento himself amongst participants, plus "Suspiria Perspectives" which consists of extensions of the same round of interviews as 'Fear'.

While there are undoubtedly major gripes over parts of this transfer (a bright pink Tanz Akademie?), I would urge Argento buffs to hand over their hard-earned for this release. There really is much to enthuse over, and I seriously doubt we'll see a truly definitive release anytime soon.

For those of you residing outside of Europe, you should be aware this release is region-locked.

ANTICHRIST BLU-RAY

2010-01-22T19:04:00.004Z

For some, it may be decidedly uncomfortable to admit to being hugely impressed by this much-maligned film, given the widespread outrage directed at Lars Von Trier's latest work.
Unfortunately, several extremely stomach-churning scenes have prompted many critics to jump on the bandwagon, with walkouts at Cannes and calls for the film to be banned outright. No matter that this film contains two exceptional performances and deals with the grief experienced following what can only be described as every parents worst nightmare.

Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg - He and She in the credits - play a couple who retreat to a cabin in the woods, following the death of their only child.
While She attempts to find solace through sex, He decides exposure therapy may well be the answer; a method which comes crashing down following discovery of his wife's thesis paper, written during her last summer at the cabin. As the forces of nature gather - most memorably in the guise of 'The Three Beggars' - ANTICHRIST moves from grief, pain and despair to a truly gruelling sequence of events that will test even the most jaded viewer. These highly controversial scenes have been talked about enough elsewhere, which is a good enough reason for not focusing on them here, though I will say that, for me, the most harrowing scene occurs right at the beginning. The death of a child is just about the worst thing that can happen to a family, and the tragic death in ANTICHRIST - shot in monochrome while a beautiful score from Handel's Rinaldo accompanies the falling snow outside - will haunt you for weeks after.
It's inspired filmmaking, yet so damnably hard to watch, and the same can be said for Von Trier's direction of his two leads and their performances.
Although Gainsbourg's descent into violence becomes astonishingly brutal, it's entirely possible that her character will be viewed as more sympathetic than her husband who reacts to their son's death in an entirely different way, as is so often the case with the death of an infant. Here, Gainsbourg reaches incredible heights and Dafoe also excels with looks, gestures and actions that are so strong and yet ultimately helpless. Dafoe and Gainsbourg both carry the huge weight their director placed on their shoulders and deserve way more credit than they've been given.

The UK Blu-ray transfer of this film is a thing of savage beauty, and it's hard to find any area that falls short. Colours are bright and bold, with bags of detail and this disc stands as the perfect home viewing vehicle for Anthony Dod Mantle's stunning cinematography.
Those interested in knowing more about the making of this film will find a more than worthwhile bounty of extras, with valuable input from cast and crew: do look out for the Cannes footage, which includes a laughable self-styled 'friend of the stars' journo who makes a complete prat of himself.

ANTICHRIST offers cinema of the most challenging kind. Look deep inside, and it will stay with you for the right reasons.

KREATIVE BLOGGER

2010-01-15T15:48:00.004Z

Many thanks to Kimberly over at the wonderful Cinebeats for awarding me a Kreative Blogger award. In order to follow the rules, I need to:

1. Thank the person who nominated you for this award.
2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
3. Link to the person who nominated you for this award.
4. Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting.
5. Nominate 7 Kreativ Bloggers.
6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.
7. Leave a comment on each of the blogs letting them know they have been nominated

So, here are 7 things about me that you probably won't find interesting, but here goes.

1/ I married my American wife just 3 days after we'd met for the first time.

2/ It's approximately 5 years since I last had a beer. An ongoing battle with Meiniere's Disease means medication and hooch just don't get on.

3/ I once had a ticket to see a Sex Pistols gig, only for the local council to play a large part in the gig being cancelled. After that, nearest I got was a Public Image gig where John and the boys did 'Anarchy' as a encore.

4/ I was present at the penultimate Joy Division gig at Derby's Ajanta. All too soon, poor Ian was gone.

5/ I don't drive. Never have, never will.

6/ My ideal place to live would be London. Spent a ton of time there, and love the place. Have a feeling my wife and I will probably end up in America at some stage, which is fine by me.

7/ My nickname as a young lad was 'Spike'. Nowadays, I'm known as 'The Butcher' at work. An English version of Malcolm Tucker? Nah, not me.

Now, this is the one where I nominate.

Lazy Thoughts From A Boomer
Beautifully varied blog, and one to visit daily.

Radiator Heaven
This time, JD casts his eye on Criterion's CHE 3 discer. An essential stopby, always.

Moon In The Gutter
Now, this one is responsible for launching many of us into blogdom and remains an imformative and friendly blog with a wonderfully electic mix of reviews and so much else.

Italian Film Review
For films Italiana, this really is a must-visit.

Fascination: The Jean Rollin Experience
Essential for fans of the French auteur. Another one from the man who brings you Moon In The Gutter.

Only The Cinema
Great writing, great screenshots. THE COMFORMIST is amongst this weeks treats.

Out1
Another proflific blog, laced with quality writing. Check them all out, if you don't already.

IN THE LOOP

2010-01-15T14:31:00.004Z

Could Armando Iannucci's tv series successfully translate into a feature-length vehicle? The answer is a resounding "yes", as THE THICK OF IT is transformed into a hugely enjoyable big-screen gem that ranks as one of the very best British comedies in recent years.
Once again, spin doctor Malcolm Tucker (Peter Capaldi) finds himself bang in the middle of another political shit storm, as British and American governments edge ever closer towards conflict with the Middle East.
Following an off-the-cuff remark that "war is unforseeable", Secretary Of State Simon Foster (Tom Hollander) is courted by the US administration who - just like the Brits - have both pro and anti war factions within. When Foster is dispatched to Washington on what he is led to believe is a fact-finding mission, the scene is set for a non-stop bombardment of political chicanery and the foulest of language as Tucker joins his colleague in America.
Those of you yet to encounter this Scottish sultan of spin will surely find IN THE LOOP to be a magnificent introduction. Here, Tucker goes into expletive meltdown, handing out 24 carat bollockings to Hollander, the exquisite Gina McKee ("This is a government department, not a Jane fucking Austin novel!")and anyone else within earshot, including the US contingent who match their British counterparts stride for stride.

From James Gandolfini's hilarious Lt General to Mimi Kennedy's Dep Secretary Of State, the cast are uniformally excellent, trading insults, leaks and red herrings in a winning formula.
Of course, the subject matter is uncomfortably close to home for both countries - particularly during the final act - but if the main point of this film is to make us laugh and think, then IN THE LOOP certainly succeeds.

The Blu-ray is pretty much what one would expect from a recent release, boasting a sharp-as-a-tack transfer. Extras include several interviews (including Capaldi and McKee) and 25 minutes of deleted scenes. Given that the original cut ran for some four and a half hours, it's a matter of regret that further outtakes were not included; particularly as the additional footage is of such high quality.

MY TOP TEN FILMS FROM THE NAUGHTIES

2010-01-10T13:26:00.004Z

A little bit late, but it's the thought that counts...

10/ SESSION 9
This supremely unsettling gem got under my skin from umpteen different directions, taking us on a terrifying tour of the Danvers State Mental Hospital where a group of men are charged with the task of asbestos removal under strict time constraints. As the hospital's evil past is slowly unravelled, Brad Anderson ramps up tension and suspense en route to a truly chilling finale.

9/ ALMOST FAMOUS
Cameron Crowe's wonderful coming-of-age tale about life on the road and the relationships between musicians, fans and the press. An absolute joy from start to finish and still one of my fave big-screen treats from The London Film Festival.

8/ LOST IN TRANSLATION
For me, this film did not miss a beat, right up to the beautiful ending which kept a private moment private in the same way as Lynch's superb THE STRAIGHT STORY.

7/ IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE
Exquisite, hypnotic and featuring two captivating performances, ITMFL goes far beyond its simple plot to capture period and situation with a delicacy that slowly envelopes the senses. Always gorgeous to look at, and a triumph for all involved.

6/ CONTROL
This one brings back so many memories, and it's good to report that Anton Corbijn's absorbing biopic is a resounding success on every level. At the time, we all recognised just how good Joy Division were, and this heartbreaking look at a life that ended way too soon has brought a new generation of fans to some sublime music.

5/ HIDDEN
Michael Haneke's multi-layered film encroaches on private lives in the most terrifying way. One to admire ,even as it nudges many deep-seated fears.

4/ TALK TO HER
For me, Almodovar hasn't experienced a drop in form for years (and years) so one of his films was always going to end up on this list. I chose TALK TO HER because it came over to me as possibly his most challenging script and laced with some great performances.

3/ THE LIVES OF OTHERS
A remarkable feature debut which focuses on the German Democratic Republic's secret police, and the involvement of a Stasi captain played by the late Ulrich Muhe. Book this with HIDDEN for a most disconcerting double-bill.

2/ UNDER THE SAND
In which Charlotte Rampling slowly falls apart following the disappearance of her husband at a local beach. An astonishing career-best turn from Rampling who inhabits damn near every frame.

1/ MULHOLLAND DRIVE
If a film totally knocks me for six, I tend to wait a long time for my return visit, just in case the film in question fails to cast its spell a second time round. Not so with MULHOLLAND; a dizzying affair that mixes dreams with reality and demand multiple viewings to even attempt to decipher. 4 cinema screenings and several DVD sessions later, and this film still throws up fresh delights.

COMING SOON: THE DOUBLE LIFE OF VERONIQUE BLU-RAY

2010-01-08T19:09:00.004Z

On 25th January, Artificial Eye will release THE DOUBLE LIFE OF VERONIQUE on Blu-ray.
The disc will include:

■Conversation with Kieslowski
■Interview with Irène Jacob
■‘Kie´slowski, Polish Filmmaker’ Documentary
■Short Films:
■‘The Musicians’ (1958)
■‘Factory’ (1970)
■‘Hospital’ (1976)
■‘Railway Station’ (1980)

All the above extras will be in SD, and this release will initially be an HMV exclusive until 22nd March.
This beautifully directed film concerns two young women who, despite never having met, are aware of the other's presence and share physical, artistic and emotional traits. THE DOULBE LIFE OF VERONIQUE is one of Krzysztof Kieslowski's finest works, and I'll be reviewing the disc here.

TOP TEN BLU-RAYS OF 2009: Number One. LE MEPRIS

2010-01-08T18:22:00.003Z

Jean-Luc Godard's LE MEPRIS is a fine addition to the famous Criterion Collection, delivering a features-packed special edition of this absorbing tale of a disintegrating marriage.
The relationship between a scriptwriter and his wife (Michel Piccoli and Brigitte Bardot)conflicts with a project concerning a celluloid version of Homer's Odyssey, and Picolli's character is forced to battle betwixt reality and fiction as his life slowly falls apart.

Full marks to Optimum for their reverential treatment of this important work. Although the Blu-ray does not include all the features that can be found on the Criterion release, it does feature over 2 1/1 hours of extras (including the 8-part conversation between Godard and Lang and a 20-page booklet.
While there are some problems with the image quality (mostly due to the film stock, and varying colour palette), it's the best home video incarnation currently available and well worth an upgrade.

The forthcoming Blu-ray releases of BREATHLESS, UNE FEMME MARIEE and PIERROT LE FOU promise to be real treats for Godard buffs in the next few months, destined to stand proudly alongside LE MEPRIS on your shelf.

TOP TEN BLU-RAYS OF 2009: THE ONES THAT GOT AWAY

2010-01-01T14:49:00.002Z

There's a ton of stuff that I've yet to see, for various reasons. Unfortunately, the likes of THE HURT LOCKER eluded me via cinema screenings and are still on my 'soon come' rental list. Then we have David Fincher's FIGHT CLUB which would possibly have made it into the top ten if either one of two copies would have actually played in my 'no firmware update' Bush Blu-ray player.
Sam Raimi's breathlessly entertaining DRAG ME TO HELL just missed out, as did STAR TREK XI and HANNIBAL (great film, could do better transfer).
GLADIATOR? copious extras but the transfer... this one has inspired wars on various forums. Guess it's in the eye of the beholder, and possibly bearable if you have a smaller size screen. My own take is that those responsible did a poor job, and I'm still surprised there wasn't a recall.

So, here's a rundown on my top ten Blu's of the year:

10/ THE DAMNED UNITED

9/ THE BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE

8/ NORTH BY NORTHWEST

7/ DAWN OF THE DEAD

6/ THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE

5/ WATCHMEN

4/ FRANKLYN

3/ MOON

2/ LET THE RIGHT ONE IN

And number one on my list is...

TOP TEN BLU-RAYS OF 2009: LET THE RIGHT ONE IN

2010-01-01T14:17:00.003Z

And so we come to the other vampire love story, and a film that actually exceeds all the positive word-of-mouth reports and critical acclaim.

On Blu-ray, LET THE RIGHT ONE IN benefits from an outstanding transfer. The snow-laden landscape looks of the purest white, while the colour ranges from vibrant to dull reflecting the narrative shifts. As much of the film takes place at night, solid blacks are important and that's just what we get. A worthwhile commentary track is included, together with 4 deleted scenes. While it's likely their addition would not have significantly improved the film, it's good to be able to watch them here.
of course, a remake is underway and that's good news if it prompts newcomers to watch this beautifully told tale.

TOP TEN BLU-RAYS OF 2009 PART EIGHT: MOON

2010-01-01T13:36:00.003Z

Featuring a terrific shift by Sam Rockwell as an astronaut whose three-year stint on the moon is coming to an end.
Set in a future where fuel is mined from outer space, MOON is of the old school sci-fi canon but constantly belies a £5 million budget to amaze with the director's sheer creativity. There is a spoiler I don't intend to give away, except to say that I don't believe it came too early in the film; indeed, it's so refreshing to encounter a film that doesn't rely on the 'big reveal' and instead goes on to examine its implications with a generous amount of running time.

The Blu-ray transfer is sharp and colourful, and you'll find a nice selection of extras to enjoy.
Another great directorial debut.

TOP TEN BLU-RAYS OF 2009 PART SEVEN: FRANKLYN

2010-01-01T13:14:00.002Z

Set in the parallel worlds of contemporary London and the futuristic fantasy locale of Meanwhile City, Gerald McMorrow's feature debut has inspired many derogatory comments ("losing the plot" is one that springs readily to mind) but this one stood out for me as a brilliantly conceived tale of four individuals whose personal crises connect in a stunning final act.

I'm pleased to see the Blu-ray release - though light on extras - delivers a crisp transfer, with different colour schemes for each of the four main characters.
Full marks to McMorrow for his ambition, guts and talent which make this a film to savour over multiple viewings.

TOP TEN BLU-RAYS OF 2009 PART SIX: WATCHMEN

2009-12-28T19:26:00.003Z

Regret missing this one at the cinema, but an excellent Blu-ray presentation made up for the disappointment.
I'd read the graphic novel before seeing the film and thoroughly enjoyed the breadth of vision employed by both artist and writer. When the US region-free Blu-ray was announced in the form of a director's cut, I took the plunge and ordered sight unseen. Happily, the film fulfilled all my expectations and grabbed me right from the word go.
Set in an alternate timeline, WATCHMEN begins with the killing of costumed vigilante 'The Comedian', and moves into a wonderful opening credits sequence which provide character history before weaving a tale of paranoia and imminent nuclear war.

The transfer is a thing of beauty, with shadow detail particularly well rendered.
The famous 'Maximum Movie Mode' - where Zack Snyder hosts the film next to side-by-side comparisons of scenes, pages from the graphic novel and more - works very well, and the release of this edition in the UK is a real bonus in itself for import-shy fans of the film.

Now, we have another release to consider in the form of WATCHMEN ULTIMATE CUT: THE COMPLETE STORY, which loses the MMM, but adds a commentary track, the complete motion comics movie and TALES OF THE BLACK FREIGHTER edited into the DC.
Up to now, I haven't had the cash to double-dip but not an immediate concern, as I'd bet hard cash on there being yet another 'Ultimate' release in the not-too distant future. For now, this one will do admirably.

TOP TEN BLU-RAYS OF 2009 PART FIVE: THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE

2009-12-27T17:21:00.002Z

It's testament to the power of this film that, on each viewing, I depart thinking I've seen more than I actually have.
Some 35 years on from its release, Tobe Hooper's disturbing essay in terror continues to find new audiences, and influence up-and-coming genre directors.

Second Sight's 'Seriously Ultimate Edition' should mostly delight Blu-ray afficianado's, with a transfer that retains the grain and also boasts bold, bright colours, with bags more detail in the night-time scenes I can understand and respect the opinions of those who claim this transfer looks, well, too good and goes against the legendary 'down and dirty' home video editions we all know and love. However, Hooper always intended this film should look as good as it possibly could, so full marks from me for this superior edition.

As with DAWN OF THE DEAD, THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE extras do include a fair amount of material that many will be familiar with, but there are some additional interviews which help earn the 'ultimate' tag.

TOP TEN BLU-RAYS OF 2009 PART FOUR: DAWN OF THE DEAD

2009-12-27T16:34:00.003Z

A nice three-discer featuring the theatrical cut in HD format, with the Argento cut and director's cut in SD. The theatrical version is a big step-up from previous home video incarnations and will surely please its legion of fans. Apparently, the other two cuts were in too poor condition to elevate them above standard def treatment, due to time and money available.

Those of us who purchased the Anchor Bay US 4 -disc SD box will be familiar with most of the additional material, though it's nice to have them on the UK set, together with some new featurettes. Look out for Nicolas Garreau's Fan of The Dead, taking us on a pilgrimige to locations used in the filming of DAWN.

Although we lose the commentary tracks that were present and correct on the European and Director's cuts via Anchor Bay, this UK Blu-ray gives solid reasons to upgrade.

TOP TEN BLU-RAYS OF 2009 PART THREE: NORTH BY NORTHWEST

2009-12-27T16:10:00.002Z

Not my favourite Hitch film by a long way, but the marvellous restoration on this Blu-ray transfer compelled me to enjoy this movie like never before.
Yes, the crop-dusting plane and the chase across the stone Presidents on Mount Rushmore look spectacular, but damn near every second of this film showcases what Blu-ray should be all about.

Add to this some valuable featurettes for Hitchcock buffs, and you have one stunner of a release.Just sit back and feast your eyes on those eye-popping colours and the detail in both interior and exterior scenes.
Now, can we please have a Blu VERTIGO sometime soon?

TOP TEN BLU-RAYS OF 2009 PART TWO: THE BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE

2009-12-26T09:04:00.004Z

For me, this is middle-tier Argento, but still a wholly impressive work.
Here, Tony Musante - a novelist living in Rome - winesses a violent attack at an art gallery and becomes haunted by a sliver of visual information that remains just out of reach.
While the plot is nothing out of the ordinary, Argento's orchestration of suspense and atmosphere made this film a more than worthwhile declaration of intent, peppered with some great set-pieces containing an abundance of visual ingenuity; many of which have been reused in subsequent genre movies.

Blue Underground's Blu-ray release - while hardly reference material - has kept the film's grain intact to deliver a beautiful film-like transfer. Indeed, taking into account the faded Eastman film stock, it's a remarkable piece of work.
The extras from the Blue Underground SD release have been ported over to this Blu-ray,including the rather wonderful commentary track from Alan Jones and Kim Newman.
The expert duo return in January to once again take the mic for commentary duties on the SUSPIRIA Blu-ray that will be available in the UK on 18th January. Stay tuned for a review!

MY TOP TEN BLU-RAYS OF 2009: Part One: THE DAMNED UNITED

2009-12-23T19:23:00.005Z

Although I've been unable to buy many Blu-ray releases this year, I've had a great time renting various titles and remain thankful that my wife managed to win a Blu-ray player in a competition. While there remains a good many titles that I've been unable to see, I count myself very fortunate to have been able to enjoy some stunning transfers.

Over the course of the next week or so, I'll be blogging on my own top ten Blu-rays of 2009. Of course, I'll be very pleased to read everyone's selections in the comments box.

So, to kick things off, here's my opening choice.

10/ THE DAMNED UNITED.

Having been a Derby fan since 1968, the events and characters in Tom Hooper's film took me a trip down memory lane. When Brian Clough and Peter Taylor arrived at Derby County, the club was well and truly in the doldrums and no-one would have believed that just a few years later The Rams would be proudly sitting on top of the league above such famous names as Liverpool, Spurs and... Leeds United.
Derby and Leeds had a fierce rivalry between players, fans and management, so it was like a bolt from the blue when Brian Clough took the manager's job at Elland Road after all he had said about the Yorkshire club. Cloughie's infamous stint at Leeds is well chronicled here, along with his clashes with Derby chairman Sam Longson who quickly became the most hated man in the city for the part he played in Clough and Taylor's departure.

Hooper's film is a pleasure to sit through, for its grasp of the events, mood and motivation of an amazing period in English football. Michael Sheen and Timothy Spall are both excellent as the dream team in this winning partnership - Taylor brilliant at identifying the players needed, with BC getting them to play - and Jim Broadbent (Longson) and Colm Meaney (possibly 'Man Of The Match' for his portrayal of Don Revie)both excel. That Clough didn't succeed at Leeds boils down to two things: the absence of Peter Taylor, and the fact that the Leeds players were determined his tenure would be short and fruitless.

This Blu-ray release treats us to a beautiful transfer, together with a quartet of featurettes and some deleted scenes. My thanks to all concerned for bringing this absorbing tale back to life.

GREAT SITE FOR BLU-RAY BUFFS

2009-12-21T19:52:00.003Z

Those of you with a yen for the latest Blu-ray releases will do no better than to addthe excellent SHINY DISCS in your favourites.
Here, Ian Smith has devised a wonderful Blu-ray release carousel, which shows off the latest releases to great effect.

Ian promises detailed reviews of individual titles AND weekly video podcasts from around the end of March 2010. Ian is a gifted reviewer, so make sure you bookmark his site. Just click HERE

AWAYDAYS

2009-12-20T12:47:00.003Z

Rule #8 If this is your first night at Fight Club, you have to fight.

November 1979. Margaret Thatcher had been elected several months earlier, and already the gloomy outlook was already edging towards pitch black.
So, what's a boy to do in times like these? We had our music, which spewed out a ton of exciting bands and we also had our great national game. Football. For me, this particular obsession-bordering-on-religion kicked in around 1968, and led to me travelling the length and breadth of the country, following my local team. It was pretty much the same for the disaffected youth in Pat Holden's AWAYDAYS.

Based on Kevin Sampson's cult novel, AWAYDAYS drags us into the organised - often disorganised - world of football violence, focusing on 'The Pack': a small gang of Merseyside youths who actively seek confrontation with firms from other parts of the country.
Opening with a graveside family gathering, AWAYDAYS quickly moves into flashback mode, going back some three months earlier to a fight at a match, where onlookers include teenage Carty (Nick Bell) and his father. Carty is determined to become a member of this 'elite' club, and sees his chance after bumping into Pack member Elvis (Liam Boyle) at a gig.
Despite Elvis' warning that 'The Pack' are way out of his league, Carty elects to get himself noticed by participating in some savage fighting; an act that leads to a serious beating from a rival mob.
Although Carty is initially welcomed with open arms by the Pack leader, jealousy soon rears its ugly head, with potentially fatal repercussions.

With a plethora of violent scenes - including the cowardly use of stanley knives - AWAYDAYS packs pretty much the amount of punch one would expect from a film centering on football violence, though it's far from being a mindless hooligan flick.
Here, you'll find a film that captures the bleakness of '70s Britain where friendships buckle and break under the strain of everyday life and death. Check out the scene where Carty first enters Elvis' pad and is confronted by a noose hanging from the ceiling: "An everyday reminder of the absurdity of life and the absolute certainty of death. Heavy stuff, and yet an accurate depiction of the despair felt by many who turned their backs on a harsh political regime and simply waited for Saturday to come around.
While many will find AWAYDAYS to be a thoroughly depressing affair, those who engaged in terrace warfare will recognise a series of snapshots capturing how things were, and the two lead actors benefit from Holden's unjudgemental direction to deliver performances laced with anger and an understandable sense of unease.

While football violence has seen a decline for the last several years, firms still exist and attempt to evade the authorities crackdown by organising fights via mobile phones.
Just like the characters in this film, they don't appreciate bright lights in dark places.

MUSIC FROM THE NOUGHTIES: KAISER CHIEFS

2009-12-20T12:46:00.000Z

COMING SOON: SUSPIRIA BLU-RAY

2009-11-20T18:48:00.003Z

It was just the same when SD DVD hit the racks. Fans of Horror cinema asking just where the hell are our favourites? Argento, Fulci, Bava, Hammer.... and now we have the same situation with Blu-ray.
Well, I've recently added most special editions of DAWN OF THE DEAD and THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE to my small Blu collection, joining such gems as Blue Underground's simply fab BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE and John Carpenter's HALLOWEEN.
Of course, there are still many gaps to fill but we're beginning to move in the right direction, with Fulci's CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD, Larraz's VAMPYRES and Kumel's stately DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS all set to go Blu next year.

For many, the best news of all concerns the UK Blu-ray release of Dario Argento's SUSPIRIA. Thanks to Nouveaux Pictures and Cine- Excess, this classic slice of Italian Horror will see light of day 18th January, and we're promised a brand new high definition transfer, digitally remastered from HD. Advance word-of-mouth includes such comments as "a stunning makeover for one of the greatest horror films ever made", and "Suspiria has never looked better. It has never sounded as good, either".

Special Features include: "Fear At 400 Degrees: The Cine-Excess Of Suspiria" documentary featuring director Dario Agento and composer Claudio Simonetti; audio commentary by leading Dario Argento experts Alan Jones and Kim Newman; "Suspiria Perspectives" featuring Claudio Simonetti, Norman J. Warren and Patricia McCormack.

Sounds a great package, and I for one am greatly looking forward to listening to Jones and Newman, who treated fans to one of THE great commentary tracks for the BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE release.

I'm currently unsure as to whether this release will be region-locked, so stay tuned for further details on here and on Twitter.

HE UNDERSTOOD THE CRAFT OF ACTING

2009-11-16T19:42:00.000Z

I was greatly saddened to learn that Edward Woodward passed away at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro. Famous for his Sergeant Howie character in THE WICKER MAN, and for his starring roles in CALLAN and THE EQUALISER, Woodward was last seen onscreen in the BBC soap EASTENDERS where his character died in April.

He is survived by his second wife - the lovely Michelle Dotrice and four children.
We mourn the passing of a great actor who truly understood his craft.
RIP

LEST WE FORGET

2009-11-07T19:21:00.000Z

"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them."

SPOTLIGHT ON THE BLOGS X 2

2009-11-06T16:44:00.000Z

Head over to RADIATOR HEAVEN for a great write-up on Criterion's WINGS OF DESIRE DVD .just click HERE

You can also check out the new ITALIAN FILM REVIEW from Nigel who did some great stuff on I SPIT ON YOUR TASTE. You'll find it HERE

ATTENTION EUROCRIME BUFFS!

2009-11-02T19:55:00.000Z

My friend and fellow blogger Nigel has exciting news of a new project, which centres on Eurocrime. This exciting subgenre gave birth to many terrific movies, and the aim is to make a feature-length documentary featuring interviews with top actors and directors, plus a bevy of clips.

Please click on this LINK to read more about this venture.

HALLOWEEN ALL-NIGHTER

2009-10-31T19:12:00.000Z

An advert in the local paper caught my eye, concerning the listings at our nearest cinema. Tonight, the fab Cinema Delux in Derby will play host to a special Halloween all-nighter comprising of the six SAW films.If the prospect of sitting through every film is a little too daunting, there is an option to bag a ticket for the midnight screening of AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON.
Now, if I had the fortitude to sit through six genre movies on this most special of nights, I can think of a slightly more varied selection than the continuing adventures of Jigsaw.
Ok, here goes.

CASTLE OF BLOOD .You can read my review HERE

KILL, BABY..KILL! Up there with LISA AND THE DEVIL as my favourite Bava film. Read my review HERE

SESSION 9.
This may seem an odd choice to some, but Brad Anderson's chiller has all the trappings and moody content of an accomplished genre flick.
Set in the abandoned Danvers State Hospital, Peter Mullen leads a group of men who are charged with removing asbestos within a one week time frame.
As the men set to work, the eerie asylum affects the men in different ways, leading to a truly haunting finale. If you have yet to see this film, check out the trailer below and do your utmost to catch what is a remarkable study in terror.

THE LEGEND OF HELL HOUSE.
Another old favourite that used to regularly haunt UK late-night TV. You can read my review HERE

THE HAUNTING.
Great book, great film. My thoughts on this superior spooker can be found HERE

INFERNO.
Although I've long held the opinion that DEEP RED represents Dario Argento's finest hour, INFERNO is certainly my favourite in the Argento canon.. I've seen this wonderfully stylish film at the cinema, on video, Laserdisc and DVD and eargerly await a Blu-ray release. Enjoy the trailer below and remember that golden age where Argento unleashed the forces of darkness right inside your door.

Of course, there are so many films vying for a place in this top six: HORROR HOTEL; NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD; BLACK SABBATH; THE BEYOND; SUSPIRIA... the list goes on.
I'll be pleased if you can find time to compile your own choices in the comments.
Whatever you're doing and wherever you are, have a Happy Halloween.

SOMETHING FOR THE WEEKEND

2009-10-30T15:54:00.000Z

As it's Halloween tomorrow, I thought I'd despense with the usual punk-orientated music video and instead give you a few clips and some valuable commentary on one of the finest ghost stories on film. Hope you enjoy the following video in praise of THE STONE TAPE. You can read my review HERE

The DVD is currently out of print in the UK, so ebay may be a good bet for those who wish to track down a copy.
Look out for video of London's National Film Theatre amongst the clips; a great venue where I caught many screenings.

HALLOWEEN HORRORS: REQUIEM FOR A VAMPIRE

2009-10-30T11:53:00.000Z

Two gun-toting girls on the run burn the body of their former partner in crime and following an attempted rape and Fulci-esque premature burial, end up at a suitably spooky chateau. It's here they meet the last vampire on earth (Gaste) and his small band of wannabes, who seek to perpetuate a dying race by adding a couple of virgins to the waiting list.

For most of the opening hour, Requiem For A Vampire is bereft of any meaningful dialogue, instead using a succession of dreamlike encounters and imagery as a prelude to a final act that's thought provoking and genuinely moving. The two female leads (Castel and Dargent) are perfect for their respective roles, conveying the tragic elements of this story in the grand tradition of the silent movies of years gone by. Credit to them and Gaste that when the dialogue kicks in, later in the film, their contributions become even more impressive as moods, motivations, and beliefs are changed - for better or worse. I suppose it's possible to dilute the positives on offer here by focusing on apparent directorial misjudgements: there are times when Rollin trades his customary brand of stylish eroticism for a combination of Benny Hill meets Killer's Moon - wildly out of place, given the overall tone of this film. It's also irritating when eerie night-time scenes are suddenly disrupted by constantly changing the timeline from dusk to dawn and back again. Budgetary constraints associated with this type of production, or simply haphazard direction with scant regard for continuity? I prefer to view this as a continuation of Requiem's general theme, where the characters' convictions change like, well, night moves into day. Nothing is as it seems in the dream life of Rollin, though there's no mistaking the raw emotion on display when Dargent is whipped by her best friend in order to reveal the whereabouts of an 'outsider' who threatens this practically extinct race. Here, the pain and angst shared by the two girls approaches the poetic horror of The Living Dead Girl which is, I believe, Rollin at his very best.

For the uninitiated, it's no easy task to lend a helping hand and point to any one Rollin film as the ideal introduction to his work. Pick a title yourself and you'll either fall in love or dismiss the film in question as the work of a hack, though the excellent Region 2 disc containing Requiem and Fascination offers a marvellous introduction to the man and his movies. This enticing double feature disc was the debut release from Allan Bryce's Darkside magazine, and includes three superb featurettes, containing over 100 mins of clips and interviews: the excellent Eurotica programme, "Virgins And Vampires"; another documentary, "Bloody Lips And Iron Crosses" and, finally, interviews with Rollin and Eurofox Brigitte Lahaie. A perfect start for would-be Rollinades, and a real treat for long-time afficianado's, too. To be fair, though, there are a couple of problems you should be aware of: firstly, Requiem is cut, though no blame can be attached to Bryce who had to adhere to BBFC requirements. In this case, the scissors were taken to the infamous 'Caged Virgins' scene; no great loss, perhaps, but completists will no doubt double up on Requiem by adding Image's uncut Region 1 disc to their collections. The other minor gripe relates to the transfer. While this is the best UK version I've laid eyes on, there are occasions when exterior scenes suffer with regard to dull colours and a slightly soft image. There are also several instances of horrible chroma noise and moire patterning. A real shame.

HALLOWEEN HORRORS: I VAMPIRI

2009-10-30T11:44:00.000Z

When police find the body of a young woman floating in the river Seine, journalist Pierre Lantin (Michaelis) embarks on a personal crusade, aiming to solve the mystery of the so-called 'Vampire Murders.' The latest in a series of blood-drained corpses leads our intrepid newshound to a castle owned by the Duchess du Grand, whose neice, Gisele (Canale), adds further to a troubled history shared by the Lantin family and her own flesh and blood.

Often referred to as the first Italian horror film, I Vampiri started life as a bet between Riccardo Freda and two Italian film producers who wagered that Freda would not be able to shoot his proposed feature inside 12 days. The rest, as they say, is history. With 2 days left and only 50% of the script translated into film, Freda asked for an extension and was duly turned down. Freda walked, Mario Bava stepped in and managed to complete the film, courtesy of major script changes, the inclusion of stock footage and some truly inspired photography. The end result may occasionally reflect the rather bizarre production deal, but it's still a fascinating and visually impressive film which is strong enough to carry the weight of two great directors.

Freda's love of the macabre is well to the fore here, rubbing shoulders with Bava's already considerable talents to deliver suspense and shock in equal measure. As Bava's grand design unveils eerie candlelit tombs, hidden passageways leading to corpse-ridden rooms and, best of all, a remarkable transformation scene, the excellent cast grow in stature: Micahelis, promoted by Bava from supporting actor to major player; Canale, impossibly gorgeous as the cold-hearted beauty harbouring a dark secret; Antoine Balpetri's harrassed scientist, who is in just as much of a hurry as his director - in this case to produce results for a less-than model patient - and Paul Muller as a drug addict who exists on a supply-and-supply basis. Although Muller's character suffers from the directorial switch (the ligature marks on his neck are, literally, from another film entirely), this should not detract too much from a stylish study in terror which thoroughly deserved its promotion to DVD. While Image's disc presentation looks way too bright and washed-out in places, it generally provides a sharp, stable picture with bags of detail in those wonderfully spooky castle interiors. B+ for the transfer and the same for the film which marked the formative steps of a golden age.

HALLOWEEN HORRORS: THE LIVING DEAD AT THE MANCHESTER MORGUE

2009-10-28T19:39:00.000Z

During a video introduction on Anchor Bay's DVD, Jorge Grau expresses the hope that viewers will be scared by this blood-splattered account of ecological mayhem.

Fast approaching its 30th anniversary, The Living Dead At The Manchester Morgue proves rather adept at increasing the number of beats per minute, with some fairly explicit gore and several set-pieces that are brimming with tension.

The fun really begins when the Department Of Agriculture unveils an ultra- sonic sound machine designed to drastically reduce the insect population. Luckily for us, Grau and his team of pen-pushers had other ideas, sparing us the horrors of 'Farming Today' and instead standing us lunch by using this less-than cutting-edge technology to resurrect the newly dead. Soon the titular crypt and surrounding area - actually based in the Lake District (and shot mostly in the Peak District) - are awash with zombies and it's up to George and Edna (Lovelock & Galbo) to save the day. These two central characters gain in stature as their predicament grows ever worse: Galbo being the sensitive, vulnerable half of this 'odd couple' pairing, but still offering steadfast support to the initially irritating Lovelock, whose inner strength comes to the fore as their situation intensifies.

Probably the most colourful character aside from undead down-but-not-out Guthrie - is the gloriously stupid Sergeant McCormick (Kennedy) who must have been a great inspiration to a certain self-styled ''God's Cop' during those heady days of 'Video Nasties.' Indeed, one can't help but wonder if Grau's less-than respectful portrayal of the police may well have contributed to some pretty heavy interest in suppressing video distribution of his film. Quite possibly, though a certain Gianetto de Rossi did his little bit by providing fx for some delightful 'dining' sequences that would resurface to even greater effect a few years later in Fulci's Zombie Flesheaters.

Die-hard fans of the aforementioned classic may scoff at even the tiniest comparison with Grau's movie but Manchester Morgue is well worthy of inclusion in your list of top 'Living Dead' flicks.

Watch out for: breast munching, the disembowelling of a brave, but foolhardy police constable, and the wonderfully stomach-churning scene where Lovelock and Galbo attempt to escape from a crypt full of living dead.
A Blu-ray release will soon be unveiled by our friends over at Blue Underground

A SAD DAY.

2009-10-26T19:44:00.000Z

I received a phone call at work mid-afternoon today from my wife, with the sad news that her mother passed away this morning.

Phyllis had been unwell for some time, and was admitted to hospital at the end of last week. Although I only spent a few days in her company, it was enough for me to realise she was (and always will be) a very special lady.
You see, my wife and I first met on the Internet, with 4,000 miles between us.
We kept in touch every day - by keyboard, phone and webcam - for 18 months before we decided to get married.
So, I flew to America and, 2 days after meeting in person, we were married in the garden of a friend with a chainsaw whirring away in the background at a neighbouring house.
Our biggest decision would be where to settle. Susan had her mother, 2 brothers and a sister in America. My mother lived in England, but has no surviving relatives, other than myself. My father had been dead for some years, my brother and sister died when they were infants. So, Susan decided we must locate in England so my mother had help and support at hand. An enormous sacrifice for Susan and her family.
I would not have blamed her family if they had given me the cold shoulder. After all, I was whisking their daughter & sister away across the ocean to a new life. As it turned out, they all received me with warmth and affection; a truly humbling experience. Phyllis was an absolute delight, and I feel so very lucky to have been in her company; if only for a short time.

Susan and I are best friends as well as husband and wife, and are happier with every passing day. I guess we are soul mates and while we regret we couldn't have met years earlier, feel so lucky to have found each other.
Tonight, we remember Phyllis for her love, kindness and her support for our relationship.

PEKIN, Ill. -
Phyllis M. Larimore, 82, of Pekin, passed away at 8:45 a.m. Monday, Oct. 26, 2009, at Pekin Hospital.

Phyllis was born July 7, 1927, to Carl and Madge S. Hyatt Hoffman. She married Robert L. Larimore on Oct. 19, 1967, in Missouri. He died on May 17, 1991.

Also preceding her in death were two brothers, Neal Hoffman and Richard Hoffman.

Surviving are two sons, Mike (Kristina) Cook of Pekin and Tom Cook of Shelbyville; two daughters, Valarie (David) Ripper of Pekin and Susan (Stephen) Langton in England; one sister, Vera Damarin of Pekin; six grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; four stepchildren; and 10 stepgrandchildren.

Phyllis was a member of St. Paul United Church of Christ.

She enjoyed crocheting. Her children and grandchildren brought her great joy.

Memorial services will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, at Henderson Funeral Home. The Rev. Dwight Borden will officiate. Burial will be at a later date in Lakeside Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 5 to 6 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul United Church of Christ, 101 N. Eighth St., Pekin, IL 61554.

To offer online condolences, visit www.hendersonfuneralcare.com.

SOMETHING FOR THE WEEKEND: THE FALL

2009-10-23T19:04:00.000+01:00

August, 1978 saw the first vinyl release by a Manchester band named The Fall.
"Bingo-Masters Break-Out!" was just that little bit different to make me sit up and really take notice, and compel me to pay the most earnest attention to this group. With Mark E. Smith's sing/speak/shout vocal style and often incomprehensible lyrics, The Fall covered many musical bases.
Their magnificent "Live At The Witch Trials" debut album is a real landmark but, with over 50 albums (not counting compilations), it's hard to pick their finest work.

Hope you enjoy this video from 1988.

SUPERIOR SCRIBBLERS

2009-10-21T18:57:00.000+01:00

The bloggers Superior Scribblers award has just come to my attention.
Here are the rules:

•Each Superior Scribbler must in turn pass The Award on to 5 most-deserving Bloggy Friends.
•Each Superior Scribbler must link to the author & the name of the blog from whom he/she has received The Award.
•Each Superior Scribbler must display The Award on his/her blog, and link to This Post, which explains The Award.
•Each Blogger who wins The Superior Scribbler Award must visit this post and add his/her name to the Mr. Linky List. That way, we'll be able to keep up-to-date on everyone who receives This Prestigious Honor!
•Each Superior Scribbler must post these rules on his/her blog.

Here are my 5 choices:

Radiator Heaven

Moon In The Gutter

Sugar And Spice

Only The Cinema

Lazy Thoughts From A Boomer

Now, I'm familiar with the opening quartet of blogs (which continue to excel), but Lazy Thoughts is a new one on me. Having checked out this blog, it's crystal clear we have some quality writing which will amply reward continued visits.

Thanks very much indeed to JD over at Radiator Heaven.

SOMETHING FOR THE WEEKEND

2009-10-16T14:38:00.000+01:00

Taken from one of the finest debut albums ever, Patti Smith's 'Free Money' is, for me, the standout track on the legendary 'Horses' album.

Hope you enjoy this version recorded in 1976. I was lucky enough to see her gig at the Birmingham Odeon in 1978 and rate it as one of my all-time top 10 gigs.

LET THE RIGHT ONE IN

2009-10-10T19:21:00.000+01:00

Based on 'Let Me In' - a 2004 novel by John Ajvide Lindqvist - Tomas Alfredson's splendid feature film has been attracting rave reviews all over the world since its release in 2008. With Lindqvist on board for the screenplay, Alfredson creates a troubled winter wonderland where 12-year-old Oskar makes friends with a young girl named Elie who declares "I've been 12 a long time". Suffering bullying at school on an almost daily basis, Oskar eventually confides in his new acquaintance, initially unaware that her nocturnal habits include a dependence on human blood in order to survive.

As her watchman Hakan proves himself not up to the task of supplying her essential nourishment, Elie must fend for herself while Oskar battles against the bullies and his own concerns regarding just who or what Elie really is.
Here, Oskar's pain of growing up in the real world is contrasted by the plight of a vampire child who will never change physically, with both of them forced to survive in harsh, unforgiving terrain.
While LET THE RIGHT ONE IN contains moments of feral savagery, there are many instances of sheer poetry in dialogue and imagery; a gesture here, a sentence there, all propelling this story into a fantastique world where childlike innocence mutates into something altogether different.
This really is an extraordinary work, standing proudly alongside genre greats of recent years. Indeed, for my money, it's up there with Abel Ferrara's THE ADDICTION as one of the most challenging vampire films of the last few decades, though for entirely different reasons.

On Blu-ray, LET THE RIGHT ONE IN benefits from an outstanding transfer. The snow-laden landscape looks of the purest white, while the colour ranges from vibrant to dull reflecting the narrative shifts. As much of the film takes place at night, solid blacks are important and that's just what we get. A worthwhile commentary track is included, together with 4 deleted scenes. While it's likely their addition would not have significantly improved the film, it's good to be able to watch them here.

Here's a trailer to whet the appetite of any of you yet to see this remarkable coming-of-age tale. Please, don't miss it.

SPOTLIGHT ON THE BLOGS

2009-10-09T20:18:00.000+01:00

Head on over to Radiator Heaven

JD is celebrating Halloween in style, with a series of reviews taking us us up to the 31st October.
He's already covered SILENT HILL, FROM DUSK TILL DAWN and THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS. Get your popcorn, pumpkins and candy and join us!

SOMETHING FOR THE WEEKEND

2009-10-09T15:34:00.000+01:00

Recall seeing The Only Ones a few times; the first being a gig at Derby's Ajanta Theatre back in (I think) 1977. This , I'd venture to suggest, is their finest offering.
Enjoy.

AH, THE FESTIVAL SEASON

2009-10-09T13:52:00.000+01:00

The latest issue of the essential Sight & Sound magazine arrived today, with its front cover proclaiming 'Film Festival Special'.
Inside, Nick James' editorial reminds us that Venice and Toronto have barely finished and then we're straight into The Times 53rd London Film Festival.
James' excellent piece remarks that film festivals are perhaps victims of their own success, owing to the numerical surge that sees even the older established fests duking it out for the films of real artistic merit. The London bash will screen 191 feature films and 113 shorts, but how many of those will stimulate and how many will disappoint?
Having viewed roughly half the programme, the Sight & Sound team have found 30 films to recommend which is just about the number of titles on my would-love-to-see list (although all my own choices are made sight unseen). Of course, every festival contains precious gems that surprise and delight from the most unlikely source and, tragically, many of those titles will likely never receive either theatrical or DVD releases.

I've been lucky enough to attend the festival in London for many years, always managing to book three days off work during what is invariably a very busy time of year. I'd receive the programme and simply book for as many films as possible during my three-day stay. This enforced method of selection worked well for the most part, though inevitable disappointment always reared its ugly head when I discovered the latest from Woody Allen or Claire Denis were being screened the day I started back to work.Sure, I saw some clunkers but, for the most part, was amply rewarded with a ton of memorable events.
It was at the LFF that I caught the UK premiere of David Cronenberg's CRASH; a screening made even better by an introduction and post-film Q&A by the man himself. That England's gutter press almost managed to get the screening (and the film) banned via a series of absolutely worthless articles (Daily Mail, take a bow), made this event one for the history books (the screening was in doubt right up to almost the 11th hour). THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION; a restored NOSFERATU; Ferrara's SNAKE EYES (soon to be known as DANGEROUS GAME); Ang Lee's wonderful EAT DRINK MAN WOMAN; ETERNITY AND A DAY; ALMOST FAMOUS; THE FUNERAL; I CAN'T SLEEP; AUTOFOCUS; KILLING ZOE (with one of THE most downbeat endings you'd never wish to see); REQUIEM FOR A DREAM; GOSFORD PARK; FAUST; THE LOST WORLD; SHANGHAI TRIAD; MIGHTY APHRODITE; HORESMAN ON THE ROOF; EARTH; THE MAGDALENE SISTERS; BURNING SKY (a German take on Thelma And Louise that I'd love to see again)... just a few of the movies I was lucky enough to catch in my breakneck visits that often took in ten films in a 3 day period.

Unfortunately, my wife and I are again unable to attend this year but I hope the festival isn't hit too hard by the debilitating world recession. It's a wonderful event staged in one of the most vibrant cities in the world, and my festival memories include sharing some great times with some great people. The CRASH screening will stay long in my memory as it was there that I had the pleasure of meeting Dan Auty and Ben Howard. Dan & Ben run the excellent Mondo Movie site, which includes a long-running series of podcasts. I do highly recommend you check it out .
Just click HERE

NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD IN HD

2009-10-08T12:25:00.000+01:00

George Romero's NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD is set for its second Blu-ray release in the UK, this time from Network.
We're promised a brand-new transfer taken from original 35mm film elements.
Check out this Blu-ray clip posted on youtube, which bodes well for this release.

NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD is slated for release on 26th October.

THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE BLU-RAY

2009-10-08T09:44:00.000+01:00

Tobe Hooper's savage, unrelenting nightmare has a chequered history here in the UK.
THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE was refused a cinema release back in 1974, and was only granted certificates for cinema and home video in 1999. The retirement of BBFC head honcho, the late James Ferman, opened the door for many previously outlawed films: indeed, Ferman had found the whole Chain Saw experience to be so intense that he declared it was impossible to make any cuts to this film and make it available for public viewing.
So, Hooper's film simply gathered dust here, though the thriving UK fanzine community ensured those who really wanted to see the film could do so, courtesy of third-gen bootleg tapes which were always at the top of most peoples 'swap lists'.
Now, the Blu-ray format has caught up with Chain Saw in the form of the 'Seriously Ultimate Edition'. Thanks to Second Sight Films, this 16mm journey into darkness looks as good as one could hope for. Happily, this transfer retains the grain 'n' grit but also looks sharp and colourful in places, echoing Hooper's intention that his film should no longer be the victim of heavy, heavy grain Ala the early theatrical screenings.

With an impressive roster of juicy extras, TCM comes over as an even greater accomplishment, with the excellent 'The Shocking Truth' documentary giving us the low-down on exactly what went into the making of this film, and the heavy toll it took on those involved; particularly Marilyn Burns who deserved some kind of medal for her participation. With tales of The Mafia and reminiscences from the heat of on-screen battle , Dave Gregory's doc acts as a valuable record of the filming and the legend that simply refuses to lay down and die. Of course, there are cast and crew members sadly no longer with us and they are remembered in the moving 'In Memoriam' segment of the 'Flesh Wounds' featurette.

The film itself still holds up as one of the most enduring in Horror Cinema. I find it every bit as difficult to sit through as my first Chain Saw experience many years ago. It's a relentless, in-your-face production and it's testament to the power of this film that many of us still go away thinking we've seen more than was actually shown. There's only a modicum of blood spilt onscreen, but the charnel house atmosphere and endlessly imaginative set designs combine with committed performances to fashion a true genre heavyweight. With just an 80 minute running time, Hooper's film seems a lot longer, and I offer that observation as a compliment.

With Blu-ray releases for DAWN OF THE DEAD and NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD on the horizon, Blu-ray is starting to become a fitting home for some of our favourite movies. For the target audience, these are the sort of releases that sell Blu-ray players and it's nice to see THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE receive such reverential treatment.
Initially, this will be a HMV exclusive here in the UK, but will be more widely available early next year.

DAWN OF THE DEAD BLU-RAY

2009-10-02T11:30:00.000+01:00

Here are the spec for the forthcoming DAWN OF THE DEAD UK Blu-ray release from Arrow Films.

Disc One (Blu Ray):

Theatrical Cut in High Definition
DTS HD and Stereo Audio.
Commentary 1 with George A Romero, Tom Savini and Chris Romero.
Commentary 2 with Richard P. Rubinstein
Document of the Dead - the classic documentary
Document of the Dead: The Lost Interview and Deleted Scenes
Fan of the Dead (mad French dude goes to visit the locations!)
Disc Two (DVD):

Director’s Cut of Dawn of the Dead
The Dead Will Walk Documentary (the stunning 2004 documentary)
Disc Three (DVD):

Argento Cut of Dawn of the Dead
Scream Greats (brilliant Tom Savini documentary)
Publicity Vault containing:
US and German Trailers
TV and Radio Spots
Reviews
Giallo Trailers (Macabre, Sleepless and House by the Cemetery)

DAWN will be released on 19th October, and will initially be a HMV exclusive.

SOMETHING FOR THE WEEKEND

2009-09-18T20:22:00.000+01:00

Ah, Anti-Nowhere League! Saw this band on many occasions, ranging from small capacity sweaty clubs to London's Lyceum. This is the one they'll be remembered for so enjoy the show as Ralph McTell's song gets a serious kicking.

HANNIBAL TURNS BLU

2009-09-13T12:10:00.000+01:00

Florence, Italy. Hannibal Lector, now masquerading as Dr. Fell, continues to haunt the dreams of Clarice Starling (beautifully played by Julianne Moore)and soon attracts the attention of local cop Pazzi who has an eye on the considerable reward being offered for Lector's capture.With a high maintenance wife in tow, Pazzi resolves to obtain the necessary fingerprint required to bag the cash, while deformed peadophile Mason Verger (the excellent Gary Oldman doing his best James Stewart impersonation) pulls the strings that he hopes will eventually ensnare his quarry.

For my money, HANNIBAL is easily the best of the Hopkins Lector flicks, and is pretty damn close to being Ridley Scott's best to date. Here, the beautiful city of Florence appears dark and menacing, stained by the presence of Lector who holds sway throughout the entire film, even though some 30 minutes elapse before we first set eyes on him. With a heady mixture of scholarly insight, gallows humour and a palpable sense of menace, Anthony Hopkins locks horns with his pursuers while any romantic aspect is delivered by "suggestion rather than assault".
Sad to say, HANNIBAL received pretty short shrift from many SILENCE OF THE LAMBS devotees; some of whom felt that HANNIBAL was worlds away from their expectation of a sequel, and Jodie Foster's absence may have been to big a pill to swallow for those who found a 'newcomer' too big a jump. Maybe those same people have now got a little more time for Moore as, like the film, her performance gains with age and moves like a symphony through the rich script.

The standard definition DVD - laden with extras - has long been an essential part of my collection, and another in a line of Scott on disc that really increases understanding and appreciation of the film in question. The release of HANNIBAL on Blu-ray seemed to good to turn down, so is the hi-def version a worthwhile upgrade?
This region-free Blu-ray is easily the best I've seen this film look, though the detail seems less than sharp in certain instances. Overall, it handles colours and black levels very well, enhancing Scott's painterly approach to this film.
Happily, most of the extras from the SD DVD have been ported over, though the multi-angle fish market shoot-out and title sequence design have gone missing, together with the marketing gallery and trailers. With Blu-ray boasting such impressive storage capacity, the inclusion of the aforementioned would not have hurt, so someone clearly dropped the ball on this occasion. Apart from that, HANNIBAL comes highly recommended.

SOMETHING FOR THE WEEKEND. PRIME TIME JAM

2009-09-11T20:03:00.000+01:00

Lucky enough to see The Jam on many occasions, and never saw them deliver anything other than a great gig. They always used to close the show with this one, leaving us gasping for air before they came back on for the encores.
This, I believe, is very close to being their finest song and always reminds me of the hundreds of tube trains I've taken on London's famous underground network. Some of them at midnight.

LONDON FILM FESTIVAL 2009.

2009-09-11T13:25:00.000+01:00

Just got word of the 2009 programme for the Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival and, as usual, it's a real corker.

Over 14 days, the festival will be screening 191 features and 113 shorts with the promise of many guests and special events. I've already mentioned the opening night film previously on this blog, but it's worth highlighting again. Wes Anderson's FANTASTIC MR. FOX will open the fest, and will be presented by cast members including Meryl Streep, George Clooney and Bill Murray. The closing night film will be Sam Taylor-Wood's NOWHERE BOY, which will certainly be a must-see for all you Beatles fans out there.

There's so much to look out for during the course of 14 frantic days, but here are a selection of films I'll certainly be interested in catching up with in the very near future.

A BFI restoration of Anthony Asquith's UNDERGROUND with live musical accompaniment.
Michael Haneke's Palme d'Or winner, THE WHITE RIBBON
Steven Soderbergh's THE INFORMANT
Gasper Noe's ENTER THE VOID
Ang Lee's TAKING WOODSTOCK
Jane Campion's BRIGHT STAR
Harmony Korine's TRASH HUMPERS
Julien Temple's OIL CITY CONFIDENTIAL
Claire Denis' WHITE MATERIAL
Todd Solondze's LIFE DURING WARTIME
Jim Jarmusch's THE LIMITS OF CONTROL
Joel & Ethan Coen's A SERIOUS MAN
Andre Techine's THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN
Patrice Chereau's PERSECUTION
Atom Egoyan's CHLOE

Festival-goers can also look forward to personal appearances from: Clive Owen; Julianne Moore; Ray Winstone; Aaron Johnson; Nick Park; Catherine Breillat; Carey Mulligan, Alfred Molina, Rosamund Pike, Emma Thompson, Matthew Beard, Olivia Williams, Dominic Cooper; Nick Hornby; Lu Chan; Juno Temple; Alex Etel; Eliza May Bennett; Hugh Bonneville; Pauline Collins; Kwyedza Kureya; Federico León; Anurag Kashyap; Tarik Saleh; Josh Harris and James Schamus with many more still to be confirmed.

Unfortunately, we're once again unable to afford to attend any of the screenings, but hope the festival is another resounding success. Look out for further updates before and during the festival.

You can check out further details by clicking HERE
The festival beings 14th October.

SOMETHIN FOR THE WEEKEND: MAGAZINE

2009-09-04T20:10:00.000+01:00

It's a great pleasure to include a clip from Magazine on this blog.
The band have started touring again and, according to a friend via Twitter, are on great form.
Sit back and watch and listen to this classic, and lament the fact that the late, great John McGeoch is no longer with us.
You can read my tribute to John by clicking HERE

SPOTLIGHT ON THE BLOGS

2009-09-04T17:22:00.000+01:00

Check out this really nice piece on David Lynch's WILD AT HEART, over at RADIATOR HEAVEN.

Just click here

DEATH OF A GHOST HUNTER

2009-09-04T15:20:00.000+01:00

I've always been a sucker for haunted house movies. THE STONE TAPE, THE HAUNTING,THE INNOCENTS, THE CHANGELING... golden oldies that have been joined by more recent fare such as THE OTHERS and THE ORPHANAGE. Sad to say, those good old fashioned spookers have always been a bit thin on the ground, perhaps relegated to also-ran status by populist box office hits that go for the jugular rather than subtle chills.
So, the release of a relatively recent film bearing the title DEATH OF A GHOST HUNTER immediately made me sit up and take notice.

Shot in 2007, Sean Tretter's second directorial project appeared on a UK DVD rental site with the minimum of fanfare, and it was available for free streaming as part of my rental package.
The film concerns a renowned ghost hunter named Carter Simms (Patti Tindall)who will be paid $5,000 to investigate a house that once played host to murder and suicide. Simms is contractually obliged to share house space with a cameraman and a reporter, who will attempt to bring balance and accuracy to any manifestations that may occur.
The trio are soon joined by a bible-thumping young woman, who turns out to have a vested interest in the house and its bloody history.

For most of its running time, DEATH OF A GHOST HUNTER does a more than reasonable job of detailing the science of paranormal investigation, with a clutch of believable characters staying well in tune with the script. Taking into account the nine day $10,000 shoot, the end product is a credit to all involved, though some aspects of the production fall a little bit short a little too often.
While some of the ghostly effects certainly convey the necessary chills for this genre, there are a number of instances where the supernatural imagery is anything but scary and this does impact on proceedings.
There's also a key scene early on that may render the finale less-than surprising, although the last 10 minutes are still a powerful experience, even if you got the 'twist' way ahead of time.

With nods to THE AMITYVILLE HORROR, THE EXORCIST and a cringe-inducing BLAIR WITCH piss take, DEATH OF A GHOST HUNTER is a mostly absorbing low-budget entry in the haunted house stakes, and its 'true story' tag did (I'll admit)compel me to search online for further details.

Tretta's film can be found to view online at http://www.lovefilm.com/welcome/beta.html and has just been released on DVD in the UK for just £2.99. Also available on Netflix.

NOWAYSIS: BAD NEWS FOR FANS

2009-08-29T07:37:00.000+01:00

Just learned that Noel Gallagher has quit Oasis, declaring he's unable to continue working with his brother, Liam. It remains to be seen whether this really is the end, so we'll just have to hope that things work out.
Here's a clip of classic Oasis, as a small tribute to a band who consistently delivered.

SOMETHING FOR THE WEEKEND: THE REZILLOS

2009-08-28T14:05:00.000+01:00

Prime-time Rezillos, from 1978.

ONE FOR YOU BEATLES FANS

2009-08-26T08:11:00.000+01:00

Recently received an email revealing the choice of the closing night film at this year's London Film Festival.

The Closing Night Gala of The Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival will be the World Premiere of Ecosse Films' Nowhere Boy, the highly anticipated debut feature from British artist Sam Taylor-Wood.

Imagine John Lennon's childhood... Liverpool 1955: a smart and troubled fifteen year-old is hungry for experience. In a family full of secrets, two incredible women clash over John. Mimi, the buttoned-up aunt who raised him and Julia, the prodigal mother. Yearning for a normal family, John escapes into rock n' roll. His fledgling genius finds a kindred spirit in the teenage Paul McCartney. Just as John begins his new life, tragedy strikes. But a resilient young man finds his voice - and an icon explodes into the world.

Nowhere Boy is written by Matt Greenhalgh (Control) and stars newcomer Aaron Johnson as John Lennon, Kristin Scott Thomas as Lennon's Aunt Mimi, and Anne-Marie Duff as his mother Julia. They are joined by Thomas Brodie Sangster playing the young Paul McCartney and newcomer Sam Bell as George Harrison alongside a strong supporting cast that includes David Morrissey and David Threlfall. The film was produced by Robert Bernstein and Douglas Rae for Ecosse Films and Kevin Loader, with cinematography from Seamus McGarvey.

Nowhere Boy is an Ecosse Films production in association with Film4, the UK Film Council's Premiere Fund, NorthWest Vision and Media, Lip Sync Productions and Aver Media. The script was developed with the support of the UK Film Council's Development Fund and Icon Film Distribution will release the film in the UK on 26 December 2009. HanWay Films are selling international rights and The Weinstein Company have US rights.

Sandra Hebron, the Festival's Artistic Director comments: "We're delighted to be closing our festival with the world premiere of this first feature by Sam Taylor Wood, who brings her customary sensitivity and visual flair to this story of the formative years of one of the UK's cultural icons. Less a biopic and more a love-story, Nowhere Boy is as accomplished as it is moving, and will ensure the festival ends on a high note."

On having her film invited to close the London Film Festival, Sam Taylor-Wood comments: "For the past year I have lived and breathed this film. It's been one of the most transforming experiences of my life. For Nowhere Boy to chosen to close the London Film Festival, in a city I grew up in and which continues to inspire me is truly amazing."

The full programme for The Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival will be announced at the Press Launch on Wednesday 9 September. The Opening Night film is the previously announced World Premiere of Fantastic Mr. Fox.

The full programme for The Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival will be announced at the Press Launch on Wednesday 9 September. The Festival runs from 14-29 October 2009.

SOMETHING FOR THE WEEKEND

2009-08-21T13:37:00.000+01:00

999 were one of my favourite punk bands. Remember seeing them at the Birmingham Odeon in the 70s when they were down to support The Runaways. On that particular evening, England was in the grip of rolling power cuts and Birmingham was expected to have its power cut off from 9.00pm that very evening. So, The Runaways elected to take the stage first with the aim of playing their full set, leaving 999 to run the risk of not being able to play. Happily, the blackout didn't happen and 999 delivered a real stormer of a gig.

The above video was shot at a 999 gig at London's Clarendon Hall in 1984. I think it provides a great indication of how good they were. I hope you enjoy it. Don't forget to check back next Friday for another musical clip.

SOMETHING FOR THE WEEKEND

2009-08-14T20:17:00.000+01:00

A little musical something for the weekend. I'll be doing this every Friday, so don't forget to stop by. My first offering is a classic anthem from Oasis.