keane (2004) - lodge kerrigan

Damian Lewis is excellent as 'Keane', a man going off the rails (that's a technical term) as he searches for his young daughter who had been abducted. The film mainly just follows him and his deteriorating state, but he then develops a friendship with a young girl he was asked to babysit (not exactly good parenting). In the end, you are left unsure as to whether he had a daughter at all, or if that is a by product of his mental state, plus what is he is going to do with the girl left in his charge. I never heard of this film when it was released, but l am glad l caught it, as it's the opposite of the fast moving (or predictable) Hollywood blockbuster that is so often churned out. Plus, much as l despise Lewis's privileged background and education (another posho from Eton), l must admit, he sure can act. The bastard.

toodle pip

the boris's bike protest

Much as l approve of the Boris bike scheme, (actually Barclay's bicycle hire) this sabotage and protest idea is excellent. The stickers could have been a slightly lighter blue, but that's just me. I'n  a fussy bastard.

toodle pip

drugs l should be taking

I was awake at 4.30am this morning, as l have a dry ticklish cough that meant l couldn't stop coughing and settle down again. Then, just as l started to nod off, the bloody alarm went off, as l was at work. Damnation and buggery all around. As it is just annoying, l have been taking Paracetamol today, to try and numb it and make myself drowsy, otherwise the FPO will be booting me all night to try and get me to shut up. Maybe l should have gone straight for the Thorazine instead, it would probably have worked better.

toodle pip

a banana alien

It's an alien carved out of a banana. What more do you want?

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ronnie montrose is dead

Ronnie Montrose has died today.
Damn!
I used to love Montrose, and their first album is still one of the all time rock classics (for sad bastards like me).

Time to dig out the old air guitar and crank it up to 11 in tribute.

toodle pip

paul and linda, family and the past

It's all go at the moment, as l am back at work this afternoon, visiting Joe in hospital, and entertaining my brother Paul, who has come up from Leeds for a few days. Myself, the FPO, Paul, Linda and Shane all went out to The Wine Bar last night, which unfortunately for our wallets and my health, let us stay until about 1am.  I had been out with my brother to J.T's the night before, so l am certainly putting the hours in (as well as doing what seems like hundreds of CD's for him). No wonder l can't get rid of my bleeding cough - l'm knackered.  I need sleep, drugs, and time off work (not necessarily in that order). It's been interesting quizzing Paul and Linda about our childhood though. Paul's happiest memory is playing in a swing park (non with our parents). Linda said hers was going back and staying in Liverpool with our grandparents (non with our parents). Mine is going to the football with my uncle Ray (non with our parents). Paul also remembered a time when he wasn't sure if our dad was going to attack him with a hammer he suddenly produced when calling round the house. That was a pretty barmy situation, but it all worked out fine in the end. He just attacked the TV, washing machine, radiogram etc with the hammer, smashing everything up (he was getting divorced from our mother). He then threw the budgie cage across the room (with the budgie still in it). Happy days indeed (and that's just a small taster of the madness).   At least we all still get on, even if we probably all have different fathers (mummy was no angel).  l also managed to dig out an old photograph of Paul with his dad, just after he had been born. How cute - he hasn't changed much.

toodle pip

kalifornia (1993) - domonic sena

The story of a road trip that goes horribly wrong, Kalifornia gives leading roles to both Brad Pitt and David Duchovny, who both (obviously) went on to become pretty big stars.  Pitt is the threatening, earthy, scumbaggy trailer park trash that Brian Kessler (Duchovny) and his girlfriend agree to share a ride to California with, as they want to cut down on the fuel costs. Early Grayce (Pitt) and his girlfriend, Adele Corners (Juliette Lewis), are sociable at first, but things soon change as the trip progresses (and not for the good).  Kessler is writing a book about serial killers, and also visiting the sites of killings, but ultimately, although he thinks he understands how a killers mind works (he is a graduate student of psychology), he eventually realises he doesn't.  I'd forgotten how good this film was, but the only downside for me, is l couldn't stop comparing it (unfavourably) to the overblown nonsense that is Natural Born Killers, in which Lewis plays a similar role. Despite that, it's still enjoyable. If you like tension and violence that is (and l do).

toodle pip.

tha japanese tsunami - one year on (nearly)

It is nearly one year on from the Tsunami that hit Japan. Here are some images that show before and after shots. An amazing thing, that's for sure.

toodle pip 

the amazing larry griswold

l posted about Larry Griswold just over a year ago, but this clip of him performing on the Frank Sinatra show is well worth repeating.

A genius.

toodle pip

the mid sussex times are strapped for a story

At the Mid Sussex Times, this is the sort of thing that passes for a story.


“War Horse” tribute mystery disappearance shock


Published on Monday 20 February 2012 01:01

 A tribute inspired by the film “War Horse” has been stolen. Former nurse Cynthia O’Neil from Burgess Hill put the pot plant by the Burgess Hill War Memorial. She told the Mid sussex Times: “I was impressed by the beautiful unusual film. Having researched the plight of the innocent horses I placed a pot plant together with a placard. “Some person’s removed all evidence. Who did it, and please tell me why?”

On the other hand, it's not as dire as this scoop.

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movie - the movie

Great stuff. - an excellent piss take of all the movie genres.

toodle pip

the wasted ladies of middlesbrough and catterick

While we were at Robbo and Kerry's the other night after visiting little Jamie (Damn! l meant Cairon) , Robbo dug out some photos while Kerry was busy (doing what - l cannot say).
Anyway, as is my wont, l swiped a few of the pics (they'll get them back the next time l see them) to do some scans, of which, this was one.
Our wasted ladies.
Altogether now..."All you need is love.."

toodle pip

a dragon made out of plastic knives, forks etc

This was created by DeviantARTist toge-NYC , and is made out of plastic spoons, knives, cups etc.
Pretty good eh?

toodle pip 

how to advertise melons

They knew how to advertise melons back in the old days.

toodle pip

the inbetweeners (2011) - ben palmer

I never got around to seeing The Inbetweeners movie at the pictures, after all, I'm a busy man, things to do, fish to fry etc.  The DVD arrived this evening, and myself and the FPO watched it while we were having our tea (because we are pretty classy people).  If you have ever seen the TV series, you know what should be in store and what to expect, and this film certainly doesn't let you down.  The boys go on holiday, act as they usually do back home, but all (somehow) manage to cop off with the ladies. Plenty of laughs all the way through, and the film just flew by. You can see why it was such a success at the old box office, as l bet the approving word of mouth afterwards would have bought plenty more punters in. Apart from the fact Will managed to pull his girl (Alison, played by Laura Haddock), it was all sooooooo believable. Funny, gross, sad, and with plenty of nudity, it even has a stripper who performs autofellatio ferchristsakes. The film has got something for everyone. That is, if you are not easily offended. Thankfully, l most definitely don't fall into that particular category.


toodle pip

bunny and the bull (2009) - paul king

From the same team that bought to the world 'The Mighty Boosh', Bunny and The Bull is about an agoraphobic called Stephen Turnbull (Edward Hogg), who is still traumatised by a road trip to Europe he undertook with his best friend 'Bunny' (Simon Farnaby). The trip is shown in flashbacks and hallucinations, with some outstanding use of various mediums, and (naturally) they get drunk, have hilarious escapades, and meet a girl.  Although there were moments in the film that felt a bit flat and (worst of all), unfunny, l really enjoyed it.  There were some real laugh out loud moments, and it was also an unexpected treat, as l came to the film unaware of it's 'Boosh like' qualities. I had only taped it as the synopsis sounded interesting, and that did indeed, prove to be the case, as it was one of the most original looking films l have seen.
One thing that was bugging me during the film (and afterwards), was where l had seen Simon Faraday before. Then it hit me while l was at work - 'Horrible Histories'. Another fine programme, and more importantly, it meant l could sleep at night. Hurrah!

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