the illusionist / le illusionniste - (2010) - sylvain chomet

From an unfilmed Jacques Tati (who is shown on a movie screen) script, The Illusionist tells the story of Tatisfcheff, (Tati's real name) a magician trying to get bookings and generally survive, as the twin forces of rock and roll and television take over (it's set in 1959). Similar in style to Chamot's earlier The Triplets of Belleville / Belleville Rendezous, but at a more relaxing pace.  Tatisfcheff  gets a booking in the Scottish Highlands, where he befriends a young  girl called Alice, who runs away to Edinburgh with him, believing he can really perform magic. There's nothing sexual between them, and they are like father and daughter, staying in separate rooms while he performs in theatre. It's basically a Cinderella story, as the girl transforms from rags to riches (sort of), as the illusionist buys her clothes and shoes. She however, does not realise he is down on his luck, working odd jobs to make ends meet (and eventually pawning his magic stuff). He then sees her with another man more her age, obviously in love, and so decides to leave her with him, as she has now blossomed into a young woman.
It's about changes in life, and father / daughter relationships, probably based on Tati's own, hence the photo at the end. It's also about friendships, keeping up a cheerful façade no matter what life throws at you, and whether you really know someone when you are only presented with what they wish to reveal. Brilliant animation throughout, and Edinburgh looks fantastic in the way it is portrayed (as does the white bunny).
I loved it (hence all the photographs).

toodle pip

the singing detective's belief system

Re-watching 'The Singing Detective' tonight reminded me (as if l needed reminding), what a great series it was. I've only just seen episode one again, but there was plenty in that to hook you straight away, and in fact there were scenes l thought featured later in the series. One of my favourite scenes in part one (apart from when he is getting greased up), is when he states his belief system as Malthusianism (from 2.30m to 3.10m). Pure class indeed, with great acting, and it's also superbly written (Michael Gambon and Dennis Potter).
Looking forward to the rest of them already.

toodle pip

baby time in the boro and the state of kfc

The small bladdered fool had to visit the toilet

The mother (Kerry) has left the ward. 

Went to James Cook with the FPO yesterday evening to see Robbo, Kerry and the no longer little Jamie (but still little, Ciaran). There was some hassle getting there, as the A66 was closed, so after a long detour around Darlington and up the A1, it was past visiting time to see the baby. Luckily Kerry went with along with Mandy pushing her wheelchair, so a disaster was avoided, as they both managed to get in. Meanwhile, myself and Robbo went for a man to man chat about the changing ways of the world, and the great responsibility now bestowed upon him (a bit like Spider-man).
We're saving the champers until the Manchester United v Chelsea game on Sunday, as we're going up to their place to watch it.
Decided against a KFC on the way home, as the place looked so grotty, and they were taking ages to serve.
Why is that often the case? It must be advantageous to them if they hired extra staff to work or clean up, as it would encourage more custom and profits. I love KFC food, but the outlets do not compete with the cleanliness of a McDonald's, and they are certainly making loads of money (and l don't even like burgers).
Colonel (or his modern day counterpart) - get it sorted, as l had to settle for some Morrisons fajitas instead.

toodle pip

watching you tube while l'm off work - the 1960's

This is NOT about Vietnam (it's about the Sunset Strip riots).

Rare performance without the cartoon (The Archies) that it came from

Alex Chilton was 16 when he sang on this.

Featuring the marvellous pipes of  Tony Burrows

To recover from my great disappointment with the two films below, l have been watching some 1960's stuff on You Tube, as the Edison Lighthouse track was featured in 'The Most Fertile Man In Ireland' (the best thing about the film).
Hurrah! It's great being off work! My mood has improved! All is right with the world once more!
Spring will soon be here (when life is skittles, and life is beer) and l've got crisps and dips for tea (the healthy diet). Spot on.

toodle pip

she's out of my league - the most fertile man in ireland

I really don't know why l keep persevering with these type of (so called) comedy films, as they just wind me up.
She's Out Of My League is an American movie with the standard bunch of loser mates in dead end jobs, until one of them (an everyday, average,  nice guy) get's to cop off with a beautiful (and yet intelligent and down to earth) woman, despite fierce competition. What a load of crap. A standard, run of the mill film, that looks as though it could have been written on the back of a fag packet in under ten minutes, with an added 30 seconds to write the funny bits. I assume there are funny bits, as l certainly didn't come across any, but then again, l switched off after about 40 minutes, so maybe the second half was a rip roaring roller coaster of a fun festival (although I very much doubt it).
The Most Fertile Man In Ireland was like a crappier version of a Richard Curtis project, just set in Belfast. By Richard Curtis project, l am referring to Love Actually, Four Weddings and Vicar of Dibley, not the class that was Blackadder (which ended up having a lot of imput from Ben Elton, which made it funnier).
Anyhows, back to the tripe.
The men of the country become infertile, but one (guess what's coming up!) ordinary loser finds he is outrageously fertile, so he starts getting paid to impregnate the ladies. Of course he also manages to get the girl of his dreams to fall for him, and gets involved with 'the troubles', but this is.....
That's as much l can say, as this was also switched off way before the end, with me dejectedly trudging away from the TV, kicking the cat, and cursing the film industry that produces such tosh. Starring Kris Marshall, it was so bad, it made me pine for the BT ads, and they are a bunch of crap as well.
At this rate, l'll also be pining to go back to work (I'm off with a sprained ankle for a week).
I can only take so much.

toodle pip

hideous looking tardigrades

Sometimes l think it's best not to know too much about stuff (I'm quids in then).
These little bastardos are called Tardigrades. They are very small (up to 1.5 millimetres) and can be found pretty much everywhere. And by everywhere - l mean everywhere.
It's the last time l lie around on the beach, that's for sure, as l won't be able to relax, now l know that these critters will be all over it.
Damn you! science and double damn you! microscopes.

toodle pip

bomb damage in liverpool city centre

I was thinking again about the tornado in Alabama that l had blogged about earlier, and knew l had a similar photograph stashed away that it was reminding me of.  Now l remember what it was (at long last - my brain cells have been destroyed).  It's the above one of Liverpool city centre after a bombing raid during the Second World War, when the Germans tried to get my grannies chip shop (copyright - Stan Boardman).
And l thought Bootle looked bad.

Actually, it did.

toodle pip

sunken moses bridge in the netherlands

Although l reckon this will definitely flood at some stage, l do think it's a great design, and it looks fantastic. It's for crossing the defensive fortress in Halsteren (The Netherlands), and was designed by Ro Koster and Ad Kil. Because of the parting of the waters, it is known as the Moses bridge, and more pictures and information can be found here. Great stuff.
Saying that, although l really do like the look of it, never trust an architect (as my mother used to say). What is the point of designing something like this if it does end up flooding all the time. I'll have to check up on it in the future and maybe re-assess my verdict then. Time will tell.

toodle pip

the kids are alright (2010) - lisa cholodenko

I kept seeing 'The Kids Are Alright' listed on sky, and then being disappointed when it wasn't The Who film. Eventually though, l crumbled, and decided to give it a go, as it had received such good reviews.
A married lesbian couple, Nic and Jules (Anette Benning and Julianne Moore) get into difficulties when their children contact Paul (Mark Ruffalo), their sperm doner father, as he then starts to influence the children, and falls for Jules (who sleeps with him) when she is landscaping his garden (that's not a euphemism). Drama unfolds when the deception is uncovered, and there are plenty of tears shed (some, l admit, shed by me - l think l may have an allergy).
Not the best film l've ever seen by any stretch, but it's enjoyable enough.
More drama than comedy though.

toodle pip 

what the hell is tony curtis wearing?

Here's a cool photograph of Sidney Poitier, Tony Curtis, Sammy Davis Jr and Jack Lemmon, but what stands out for me is Tony Curtis and his choice of clothes. I really hope they are being worn for a film, but even so, just look at the long sock and tight short combination he has got going on. He wouldn't have lasted two minutes around these parts.

toodle pip

men magazine fashion

What the stylish man about town should be wearing, according to Men Magazine, back in the day.
Nice - keep it sweet.

toodle pip

satyricon (1969) - federico fellini

Wow, Fellini really goes to town on this film. Set in the time of Nero, Satyricon follows the exploits of  Encolpio (Martin Potter), his love for Gitone, and his travels and adventures throughout ancient Rome (including being involved in the death of a hermaphrodite with healing powers).
It's an outrageously gay film, and Fellini has taken a lot of liberties with the story, adding in scenes wherever he felt like. The colouring of the film, the strange characters, the surreal settings, the mad feast, and the weird story, make it seem like a hallucination or a disturbing dream, but that is no bad thing as far as l am concerned.
 The book by Petronius is vastly different (although l haven't read it for years), with many missing sections. These are the parts added by Fellini, and l think he did a good job it.
A very strange film indeed, but right up my street.
I knew l should have been gay.

toodle pip

giant ant hill excavated

This is pretty amazing. A giant ant hill is excavated by pouring a load of concrete into it, and then digging away all the surrounding earth. The size, scope and planning of the structure built by the ants is staggering.
Clever little sods, they'll be taking over the world if they keep on like this.

toodle pip

I sell the dead ( 2008) - glenn mcquaid

I Sell The Dead is a black comedy about two grave robbers, one of whom, Willie Grimes (Larry Fessender) is guillotined at the start of the movie. The other, Arthur Blake (Dominic Monaghan) is visited in his cell by a priest, Father Duffy (Ron Perlman), and recounts his life of crime to him.
The trouble is, the film is not at all scary, even though it features vampires, zombies and killings. It is also not funny, and l couldn't relate to either of the main characters, although Ron Perlman was his usual excellent self.
Pretty rubbish really, another hour and a half of my life wasted. Lucky l am off work at the moment.

toodle pip