shane (1953) - george stevens

Alan Ladd stars as Shane, the mysterious stranger who is trying to give up his gunfighting past.  He befriends a family and tries to settle down, but (of course), the family and Shane are hassled by the baddies (including an impressive Jack Palance). Shane is worshipped by the families young boy, and avoids any confrontation with the bad guys, until he eventually cracks, goes into town, and sorts them all out (naturally).
A classic.

toodle pip

elton's copying our décor

Watching a documentary on Elton John the other day, and was surprised by this. By this, l mean the Damien Hirst painting in the background. After Homer stalking me, it also turns out that Elton is copying the décor in our humble abode, as we have the same in our living room. Rather sadly, his will be the real thing, and ours is definitely a print.

toodle pip

it's official - homer is copying me

Watching 'The Simpsons' last night, Homer behaved like me. He appeared with a Vodka bottle and a jar of mayonaisse, mixed them together, drank them, and then fell over. I'm sure he must be stalking me.

 toodle pip

crappy bloody stinking snowy weather

After the rather excellent January we had, the snow that fell at the beginning of February is taking some time to shift. Although l have been indoors 99% of the time while l have been off work, it's still annoying. Then again, it doesn't take a lot to annoy me.
There had better not be any more snow tonight, as l am planning to go to the Boro tomorrow to watch the Manchester United v Liverpool game with Robbo (and maybe see the baby).

toodle pip

mystery computer artwork for sale

Go on, try and guess who's artwork this is. It's a famous man, and some have sold out already.
You can sell anything when you are well known, as you are either 'talented in other fields', or any kind of crap produced by you becomes collectable, good or bad.

If you want to find out who it is - go here.

toodle pip

toodle pip

bananas (1971) - woody allen

One of the classic early Woody Allen films, Bananas has Woody (as Fielding Mellish) falling for Nancy (Louise Lasser), losing her, and then going on holiday to San Marcos to get over it.
Unfortunately, he is set up to be killed as a patsy, but escapes and joins a gang of rebels, becoming their leader (as the old one let power go to his head).
He comes back to the USA, where he is recognised, put on trial, but still gets the girl in the end.
Some classic dialogue and physical comedy, but l preferred watching it years ago, when it still seemed fresh, not as it is now (dated).
Nowadays l prefer the 'Annie Hall' type films of his, but l would still rather watch this than most of what passes for American 'comedies' these days.
And yes, it did feature a young Sylvester Stallone bullying Woody on the subway.

toodle pip.

breakdowns - art spiegelman

I must have been drunk or hallucinating or something recently, as this book arrived in the post, and l can't remember ordering it. Hurrah! An excellent surprise for me, as l didn't have it already, and l love Art Spiegelman's cartoons.
Breakdowns covers his early years, the start of Maus, and his various issues (he ended up in a mental institution), using different comic styles.
There is also a fair bit about how comics work, but a lot of this was in Metamaus, so l had prior knowledge of that.
Still, an unexpected bonus, that l read in one sitting.
Let's hope there are some more on the way that l also don't know about.

toodle pip

outrageously gay beer advert

For Grain Belt Premium beer, which is based in Minnesota. It might be an old advert (from 2007), but it sure as hell is gay.
Mmmmmm   I'm feeling thirsty




For beer.

toodle pip

pavel 183 artwork

Very similar in style to the Banksy artworks (some would say a rip off), Pavel 183 is based in Moscow, but has also produced some great stuff. His website is here, and there's a BBC report (with video) on him here. The top one (when it is lit up) is my favourite.
Banksy's website is here.
Now where's my bleeding spray can........

toodle pip

the killing (forbrydelsen) - series 2

Because l have been off work, there has been time to catch up on some of the Christmas time TV series, so, after ploughing through a couple of episodes a night, this has just been ticked off.
Once again Sarah Lund (Sofie Grabol) is back to investigate a killing, and then it all gets a bit complicated. The first series of  The Killing was up there as of the best things l have ever seen on TV, and this series can also be placed on such a high pedestal.
Afghanistan, punishment killings, false leads, racism, corrupt (and idealistic) politicians, romance, back stabbing and power games, madness........It's all there, and every episode manages to end on a cliffhanger.
Apart from the odd moment of shouting at the TV because leads weren't followed, or Sarah taking too many risks by herself (again), this was brilliant throughout. However, it's certainly not good for my dodgy ticker, as some of it was edge of the seat stuff (and squeaky bum time).
Brilliant - and Morse and the like can bugger off, there is no comparison at all to this kind of quality.
Time for a lie down, before series three comes out.

toodle pip

policeman chases himself for 20 minutes

An undercover policeman in Sussex chased himself for 20 minutes, before it was realised that the man he was after was himself.
How?
You may well ask, as it does sound unbelievable, but he was being directed by a CCTV operator who thought he had spotted somebody dodgy. The operator then described where the person was, and  the officer kept thinking he was just behind him, until the mistake was noticed (amid much laughter, thigh slapping and piss taking).
Coppers!
Just as gormless as the one l know above (and yes, they are getting younger).

toodle pip

fabio walks and 'arry is innocent

Who would have believed it?

toodle pip

antony sher - primo (2005) - richard wilson

 Victims in the concentration camps

 Antony Sher

Primo Levi

It's all joy and happiness around this house while l have been off work, as l am not back into work now until the 14th Feb. Hurrah!
On the other hand, after all the Auschwitz stuff in Maus and Metamaus l have just read, l have also re-watched Antony Sher in 'Primo', which is film of his one man play about Primo Levi's time in Aucshwitz, based on Primo's book 'If this is a man'.
One of the main things l like about Levi, is that he went into the camp as an unbeliever, and stayed true to his beliefs, although it must have been tempting to wish for some kind of consolation in faith. To stay true to yourself in such abysmal circumstances, must take fortitude and inner strength of the highest kind, as he says himself of Lorenzo Perrone, who shared some of his rations and gave Levi some clothes, thus saving Levi's life, and remaining as a man, while the Germans tried to dehumanise them all.
Sheer is fantastic in the role, and is totally believable on stage, even though he only uses minimal props (a chair) plus some lighting and music, to get the story across. He certainly gives a master class in how to act, and makes you despair at the idea that you could ever do the same, as the gravitas he projects, albeit in a controlled and calculated way, is unbelievable. Git.
There's also a possibility myself and the FPO may visit Auschwitz later this year, as we are thinking about going to Poland for a short break. More fun and laughter on the horizon to look forward to.

toodle pip

mia at the super bowl (rebel rebel)

There has been a lot of (overblown and exaggerated) fuss about M.I.A  giving the bird finger while she was performing with Madonna during the break in the Super Bowl this year (instead of singing 'shit').
Yawn.
It's just what M.I.A and more importantly, the sponsers would have wanted really, loads of publicity all around the world, even if they may protest (in an unbelievable fashion) about how offended they are.
As for M.I.A, she also won't do badly out of the episode, and she would have entered the general public's consciousness a lot faster than she would have done by the usual route of album/tour/publicity.
A clever move by her really, but, much as l enjoy her music (Arular and Kala are great), the rebel/outsider pose is pretty crap as far as l am concerned. She wants fame and money (ker-ching ker-ching) like most other stars. That is why she agreed to perform, with Madonna, at The Super Bowl, in front of  a world wide audience. Taking the moolah when she can, and good luck to her. She is also married to Benjamin Bronfman, who's father is #261 of the worlds richest people.
Jammy bastard - yes.
Rebel - no.

toodle pip