Understanding Spider-Emo, Bernard Black and Stephane-TV
Lots to rave about tonight:
1. Dylan Moran - Monday 23rd April 2007. Oh, what a night! That man knows what the crowd wants: a wine-swilling, cigarette-fondling grumpy old bastard insulting their home town and country. And he delivered. Plus, the link in my mind between Dylan Moran and Jarvis Cocker was further cemented by the fact that Dylan Moran also threw chocolates at us from the stage! (Albeit in a much angrier manner than Jarvis, but still.. Maltesers!) I count myself incredibly lucky, having seen both Jarvis Cocker and Dylan Moran live in the same month. I feel I could die satisfied about now.
2. Spiderman 3. Speaking of satisfaction, Sam Raimi certainly didn't disappoint. It was a silly, overblown, gratuitous, heartily enjoyable mash up of everything we love about popcorn movies. It had everything - people being dangled/falling from great heights, a parade in someone's honour, a wonderful token "Spidey-in-front-of-gently-blowing-American-flag" shot (receive hearty applause in our sold out screening), alien goo, three great villains (though I do agree each of these should have had a film of their own - especially Topher Grace's Venom, who didn't receive nearly enough attention!) and of course, most importantly, Spider-Emo! Whoever came up with the idea of giving Tobey Maguire an emo fringe, some dark eyeliner and a ridiculous dance scene should be richly rewarded for the wonderful emo-mocking that resulted. There's no doubt that this franchise wouldn't be half as much fun without Tobey Maguire in the Spidey suit, but it's really Sam Raimi behind the wheel making sure that no-one takes themselves to seriously that makes this film so incredibly ace. Of course, I'm sure there are certain writers and directors out there who could make a real, gritty, dark, intelligent, thought-provoking Spiderman film. But I'm not complaining about what we've got! I do sincerely hope this isn't the last of the franchise, as long as Raimi and his team can keep providing the most fun we can have with a superhero in the cinema.
3. The Science of Sleep. No complaints here, either. It may not be Eternal Sunshine, but it is just the most adorable film I've seen in a long time. I'm sure many males would not find it quite so, but ask any female with a shred of sense and they would tell you that Gael Garcia Bernal is beyond adorable in this film. But it's not all about Gael, though he was definitely an integral part of the success. Michel Gondry's extraordinarily imaginative direction just makes you want to go home, grab a pile of cardboard and just go nuts the way you haven't done since you were in preschool. It's one of those films with images that just stick in your mind long after you've left the cinema. The script contains so many beautiful, witty, heartbreaking moments between Stephane and Stephanie, as well as the talented supporting cast, that even in the absence of a linear narrative the film still manages to achieve such emotional resonance. Or at least it really resonated with me, I suspect it all comes back to personal experiences. And Stephane & his coworkers covering The Velvet Underground's 'After Hours'? No words can describe it.
4. Finally, I just want to express my immense excitement about recently hearing the news that some scientists believe Brisbane could be the first city in the western world to completely run out of water. Finally we have a claim to fame! Something to put us on the map! Even if, by the time we make it onto the map we've all moved away and abandoned our wonderful city because, to leave you with the wisdom of Dylan Moran:
"I know you've been having some problems with the water here. The reason for this, you see, is that you are not supposed to be here. You live approximately 3 and a half metres from the sun."
1. Dylan Moran - Monday 23rd April 2007. Oh, what a night! That man knows what the crowd wants: a wine-swilling, cigarette-fondling grumpy old bastard insulting their home town and country. And he delivered. Plus, the link in my mind between Dylan Moran and Jarvis Cocker was further cemented by the fact that Dylan Moran also threw chocolates at us from the stage! (Albeit in a much angrier manner than Jarvis, but still.. Maltesers!) I count myself incredibly lucky, having seen both Jarvis Cocker and Dylan Moran live in the same month. I feel I could die satisfied about now.
2. Spiderman 3. Speaking of satisfaction, Sam Raimi certainly didn't disappoint. It was a silly, overblown, gratuitous, heartily enjoyable mash up of everything we love about popcorn movies. It had everything - people being dangled/falling from great heights, a parade in someone's honour, a wonderful token "Spidey-in-front-of-gently-blowing-American-flag" shot (receive hearty applause in our sold out screening), alien goo, three great villains (though I do agree each of these should have had a film of their own - especially Topher Grace's Venom, who didn't receive nearly enough attention!) and of course, most importantly, Spider-Emo! Whoever came up with the idea of giving Tobey Maguire an emo fringe, some dark eyeliner and a ridiculous dance scene should be richly rewarded for the wonderful emo-mocking that resulted. There's no doubt that this franchise wouldn't be half as much fun without Tobey Maguire in the Spidey suit, but it's really Sam Raimi behind the wheel making sure that no-one takes themselves to seriously that makes this film so incredibly ace. Of course, I'm sure there are certain writers and directors out there who could make a real, gritty, dark, intelligent, thought-provoking Spiderman film. But I'm not complaining about what we've got! I do sincerely hope this isn't the last of the franchise, as long as Raimi and his team can keep providing the most fun we can have with a superhero in the cinema.
3. The Science of Sleep. No complaints here, either. It may not be Eternal Sunshine, but it is just the most adorable film I've seen in a long time. I'm sure many males would not find it quite so, but ask any female with a shred of sense and they would tell you that Gael Garcia Bernal is beyond adorable in this film. But it's not all about Gael, though he was definitely an integral part of the success. Michel Gondry's extraordinarily imaginative direction just makes you want to go home, grab a pile of cardboard and just go nuts the way you haven't done since you were in preschool. It's one of those films with images that just stick in your mind long after you've left the cinema. The script contains so many beautiful, witty, heartbreaking moments between Stephane and Stephanie, as well as the talented supporting cast, that even in the absence of a linear narrative the film still manages to achieve such emotional resonance. Or at least it really resonated with me, I suspect it all comes back to personal experiences. And Stephane & his coworkers covering The Velvet Underground's 'After Hours'? No words can describe it.
4. Finally, I just want to express my immense excitement about recently hearing the news that some scientists believe Brisbane could be the first city in the western world to completely run out of water. Finally we have a claim to fame! Something to put us on the map! Even if, by the time we make it onto the map we've all moved away and abandoned our wonderful city because, to leave you with the wisdom of Dylan Moran:
"I know you've been having some problems with the water here. The reason for this, you see, is that you are not supposed to be here. You live approximately 3 and a half metres from the sun."