white men can't jump (1992) - ron shelton

This film brings back soooooo many unhappy memories, which for me must be pretty damn bad. The reason?  I saw it while on honeymoon, so it brings back the hideous and long lasting memory of that.
Only joking (of course).
The honeymoon was great, and  'White Men Can't Jump' is a pretty funny film, with some great performances, especially by Wesley Snipes as the wise cracking basketball hustler, who treats Woody Harrelson's character as a chump he can exploit, until they pair up to hustle money together.
It deals with the racial preconceptions each of them have, and the issues they have with their gambling, their environment, and their women.
It's just a shame that they had to show so much basketball, which would have gone down well in the USA market, but it is a game that leaves me cold (although it looks as though both of the stars can play a bit).
If only it had been about football  (and l mean football - not American football)

toodle pip

kathy burke / helena bonham carter and class

As people who know me might say, l do sometimes mention (in passing) the class system, and have been known (on the odd occasion) to utter the odd profanity.
I therefore agree wholeheartedly with this piece that l tore out of The Observer newspaper.
As is obvious, Helena Bonham Carter had been moaning about her hard deal in life, and the great Kathy Burke (the only funny woman) answered back in her own distinct (and thoroughly working class) way.
Top marks to her and Viva la Revolucion brothers and sisters!

toodle pip

the waddle remover

One of the ongoing jokes in our household, is when l try to grab under the FPO's chin, like Richard used to do in Ally McBeal many years ago, looking for 'waddle' (as you can tell, the hours fly by in our house).
What l need to buy her is one of these. I can just picture the look of infinite delight and uncontrollable joy as she rips open her birthday present to reveal one of these magical little contraptions smiling back at her, just begging and a pleading to be used.

The only trouble is, she'd probably throw it back in my face and tell me to use it myself.
Women! Pah! They don't appreciate the thought, time and effort that goes into hunting down this sort of stuff.

toodle pip

the daily mail corrections

If only this apology was true....

toodle pip

the genius that was jack kirby

After the post with the Jack Kirby / Inglorious Basterds covers, here's the follow up.
I said l would post some of his real covers, so feast your eyes on these little beauties.
You can't go wrong with a bit of Jack Kirby (or Steve Ditko), and comics, no matter what anybody says, are not just for kids.

toodle pip

deep end (1970) - jerzy skolimowski

This film should have been just up my street (old git that l am).
Deep End features a young and attractive (even in a yellow raincoat) Jane Asher,  a cameo by Diana Dors, music by Cat Stevens and Can (billed as 'The Can' in the opening credits),  and it is set in 1970's London (and features some nudity by Asher!).
The trouble is,  it is crap.  Poorly acted,  with unbelievable scenes,  bad dubbing,  and boring.
A young lad gets a job at a swimming pool,  where he meets (and falls in love with) an older assistant (Asher).  Instead of slapping him because he was an annoying little twat,  she toys with his emotions,  and he ends up accidentally killing her.  By then, l was just bored and annoyed (a lethal mixture).
This film was thought to be lost at one time,  and, although l am up for seeing period pieces from that era,  it wouldn't have been a great loss.
The best bit for me (apart from seeing Asher naked),  was 'Mother Sky' by Can being played while the young lad bought hotdogs.  That's how bad this film is,  and not in a 'so bad it's good' kind of way either.
It was just bad.

toolde pip

brothers in leeds

There is an ongoing joke around these parts that 'my brother lives in Leeds'.  This is indeed true, and after l had finished work today, l drove him to Northallerton station to catch the train back there (he has been staying since last Thursday).  Peace and quiet at last (and a day off work tomorrow!).
But thinking about brothers, Tub's (our idiot house rabbit) brother died a while ago. Maybe though, he has another one, as the misserable and stupid looking git above sure looks like him, just a (slightly) fatter and lazier version (and the bloke looks like my brother nowadays).
I'll have to quiz the bunny about it later on tonight over a carrot or two while we watch the footie.

toodle pip

robert sherman has died

One half of The Sherman Brothers, Robert Sherman has died today.  Even if he is remembered for only one thing, this would be enough.
I love it.

toodle pip

davy jones audition / screen test

Here's the screen test that Davy Jones took to become part of The Monkees.
You can see why they hired him (all those many many years ago).
The charming little git - he was 19 at the time.


toodle pip

the statue of liberty

It's iconic, it's impressive, and it certainly looks cool, but at one stage, The Statue Of Liberty had to be built, and build it they did, albeit in stages.
The face kind of looks familiar though.

toodle pip

and talking of foreign film posters.....

Here are some more classic foreign film posters.
All l need now is lots of money, lots of space, and lots of time.
Sadly, all three of those are sadly lacking.

toodle pip

unknown polish film poster

I don't know what film this is advertising, but l sure do like the poster.
Now if l could only find my Polish phrasebook, l'd have it sussed in no time.

toodle pip

frank bruno, jimmy saville and...

Three people who you would not expect to see together.
Jimmy Saville is in the middle, Frank Bruno is on the right, but who is the chappie on the left, wearing the crazy coloured tracksuit?
Why it's only Mr Sutcliffe himself.
Unsure who he is still? The old memory playing up?
Look here - you won't be disappointed.

toodle pip

the letter to be read if the moon landing went wrong

How history could have been all so different, and the risks that were involved in the Moon landings. This is the letter that was to be read if the Apollo 11 Moon landing went pear shaped in 1969, and the astronauts couldn't leave the Moons surface after landing there. That would have been one hell of a way to go and meet your maker, but l would still rather have come back, even if it was just to annoy everyone else who hadn't been up there. And let's face it, l certainly would have.
Now if only l had been an astronaut..... (I, naturally,  blame my parents)

toodle pip

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?

toodle pip

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