tyrannosaur (2011) - paddy considine

Not exactly a feel good movie, but Tyrannosaur is one of the best films l have seen for a long time. It's gritty, believable, and really drags you into it, so you can empathise and care about the characters.
Peter Mullan is always excellent, but l was surprised at how good Olivia Colman was, playing the victimised, religious, do gooder of a wife.
It's a story that involves violence, redemption, belief, companionship, a funeral, and lots of alcohol, which certainly gets my boat a floatin'.
Joseph (Mullan), is a violent self destructive character who meets and falls for Hannah (Colman), who works in a local charity shop. Joseph helps her leave her violent marriage, but discovers she has a secret back at her house.
Written by first time director Paddy Considine, and filmed in Leeds (probably on my brothers estate), everything about it is great, apparently based on Considine's childhood (but not autobiographical).
If you can get past the early killing of a dog, and you enjoyed 'Nil by Mouth', this film is for you.
Stick around for the end credits, as there's this. Magic.



toodle pip

t.rex - electric warrior

My love for Marc Bolan and T.Rex  has not waned over the years, and l was listening to Electric Warrior for the trillionth time earlier on. Still one of my favourite albums (only 39 minutes long!), and the sleeve still looks fantastic and iconic, but a it's a bit disconcerting that it was released over 40 years ago. Where the Hell does the time go?

toodle pip

george best vs northampton

I was talking to old Joe about football earlier on today, and how it has changed so much since the time when l started watching (and loving) it.
It's an old story to be banging on about how the players earn too much, the ticket prices are too high, and the fan base is being eroded as more middle classes have taken up going to the games, but that is because it is true.
Youngsters are being priced out, so they will have to find their enjoyment elsewhere, such as in Play Station games (the new rock n roll) or the Internet (which l certainly wish l had when l was a nipper - l would never have left the house).
Although they will probably watch football on the TV, and support a (usually already successful) team, going to a game will be an occasional treat, and not have the chance to become an addiction. Also, because it costs so much nowadays, it is treated more (especially by the middle classes) as entertainment, so they are more likely to complain and desert a team if they start doing badly, like the fly by night characters they are (hello Arsenal fans).
Players, although well paid in the past, used to have a lot of contact with ordinary fans. Living in the community with them, frequenting normal shops and drinking in local pubs (and buying them when they retired). Even a superstar like George Best used to get hounded by the fans, whereas today he would be hermetically sealed off in a mansion somewhere with extra large gates (and probably a built in bar). The protection they have from the fans and everyday life nowadays is unbelievable.
Remember Kevin Keegan falling off his bike on Superstars?  Imagine Fergie  allowing Wayne Rooney to participate in something like that.
The picture above is from 1970 when Best was already in the last stages of being a God, and he still managed to score six goals (in a 8-2 victory) for Manchester United away at Northampton Town in the FA Cup (his first game back after a suspension).
Check out the fans by the pitch, the lack of advertising and branding, and the tiny ground.
A magical day for everybody, as even the Northampton fans admitted they were privileged to see a genius at work.
Happy memories of when the game wasn't full of arrogant,  gangsta lovin', big earphone wearing,  multi millionaire tossers who couldn't care less about their clubs if they can get a heftier pay packet and flashier cars elsewhere.
And yet l still love it.

toodle pip

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