|
| ||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Film reviews......2010
Friday, July 10, 2009
TRICKS AND TREATS.......
DVD Review:
Derren Brown - An Evening Of Wonders (2008)
Go on, pull the other one.......
5 out of 5 Stars
Recorded 'live' at Drury lane Theatre, London in July 2008 this is Derren Brown's second attempt at translating his one-man stage show onto DVD. His first, released in 2007, was a disappointment on many levels and, to this devotee, failed to capture the essence of this man's brilliance.
In this year's performance, wonders never cease! In what was just a side-show to many a drawn-out escapade in the first DVD, Brown expands on many themes paranormal this time around and the effect is a veritable gob-smackingly awe-inspiringly how-did-he-do-that kind of show. I won't spoil a thing by even trying to explain any one item of his performance.
You have to see it to believe it!
Go on, pull the other one.......
5 out of 5 Stars
Recorded 'live' at Drury lane Theatre, London in July 2008 this is Derren Brown's second attempt at translating his one-man stage show onto DVD. His first, released in 2007, was a disappointment on many levels and, to this devotee, failed to capture the essence of this man's brilliance.
In this year's performance, wonders never cease! In what was just a side-show to many a drawn-out escapade in the first DVD, Brown expands on many themes paranormal this time around and the effect is a veritable gob-smackingly awe-inspiringly how-did-he-do-that kind of show. I won't spoil a thing by even trying to explain any one item of his performance.
You have to see it to believe it!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
MELBOURNE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, 22 JUNE 2009
Programme:
Debussy: Printemps
Elgar: Cello Concerto
Prokoviev: Symphony No. 5
Conductor: Yan Pascal Tortelier
Soloist: Matthew Barley - Cello
3 out of 5 stars
Sorry, was I clapping too loudly?
There was a time when it was de rigeur for an audience to clap (or cheer, or boo, or hiss or gesticulate in an ungracious manner) after each movement of a symphony or concerto or some such. Considered bad manners now, it was somewhat surprising then that at the end of the rousing first movement to Prokofiev's Fifth some members audience burst into enthusiastic applause! Traditionalists perhaps? Fervent Red Army supporters bearing hands in solidarity for their fallen comrades maybe? Or philistines mistakenly believing that this was the shortest Symphony in history - a one movement wonder?
This was, mostly, a rousing performance from the MSO of a particularly difficult piece to both perform and, at times, to listen to. That Tortelier was such a student of this work was evident in his enthusiasm and gymnastic gyrations throughout - indeed, quite mesmerising and entertaining in itself that one became quite distracted during the mostly discordant second and third movements.
The programme opened with Debussey's Printemps but fell well short in all sections. the sound was muddied and at times bung notes and sloppy play were quite audible. Overall, the effect was like listening to a feature length Disney cartoon but without Bambi and Thumper.
Elgar's Cello Concerto was outstanding and Barley was nothing short of majestic.
I gave him a huge hand!
Programme:
Debussy: Printemps
Elgar: Cello Concerto
Prokoviev: Symphony No. 5
Conductor: Yan Pascal Tortelier
Soloist: Matthew Barley - Cello
3 out of 5 stars
Sorry, was I clapping too loudly?
There was a time when it was de rigeur for an audience to clap (or cheer, or boo, or hiss or gesticulate in an ungracious manner) after each movement of a symphony or concerto or some such. Considered bad manners now, it was somewhat surprising then that at the end of the rousing first movement to Prokofiev's Fifth some members audience burst into enthusiastic applause! Traditionalists perhaps? Fervent Red Army supporters bearing hands in solidarity for their fallen comrades maybe? Or philistines mistakenly believing that this was the shortest Symphony in history - a one movement wonder?
This was, mostly, a rousing performance from the MSO of a particularly difficult piece to both perform and, at times, to listen to. That Tortelier was such a student of this work was evident in his enthusiasm and gymnastic gyrations throughout - indeed, quite mesmerising and entertaining in itself that one became quite distracted during the mostly discordant second and third movements.
The programme opened with Debussey's Printemps but fell well short in all sections. the sound was muddied and at times bung notes and sloppy play were quite audible. Overall, the effect was like listening to a feature length Disney cartoon but without Bambi and Thumper.
Elgar's Cello Concerto was outstanding and Barley was nothing short of majestic.
I gave him a huge hand!
Friday, June 5, 2009
MORE BOOK REVIEWS.......
The Great Terror - A Reassesment
By Robert Conquest
4.0 out of 5 stars
It's just a step to the right........
A totally scary book!
But is it perverse of me to be have been found giggling during some memorably darker passages of Conquest's famous tome? If the Great Terror wasn't such a mounumental disaster that fell upon both citizen and officialdom and of such tragic proportions it would have made a brilliant synopsis for a 'Keystone Cops' caper.
The mind cannot comprehend the awfulness that was life during the 1930's in Russia; when perpetrators became victims and victims became martyrs and families of perpetrators, victims and martyrs became victims and villains at once themselves.
The many twists and turns of Stalin's paranoic rule become confusing admist the maze of sub-plots and sub-sub plots, but Conquest reminds us often of the stories of the ghosts that haunt this masterful book; and so that we need to worry little if we confuse Bukharin with Zarkov, Beria with Yagoda or Yezhov with Rykov. Suffice to say, it is simply the awfulness of the Great Terror and the banality of the oppression within a totalitarian society that concern us most. The almost tragic-comedy of those revolting perpetrators, whose existence straddled every stratum of the regime and who in turn were dragged off to have great horrors inflicted on them in return for their 'confessions' is simply awe-inspiring and almost unbelievable in its scope and reach.
My only criticism would be that Kruschev's role in all this fine mess was still as mysterious to me at the end of this book as it was at the beginning.
A magnificent education.
Groucho - The life and times of Julius Henry Marx
By Stefan Kanfer
4.0 out 5 stars
"There aint no Sanity Claus....."
Whilst I hate lists, this fine biography is rated at the top of my all-time favourite book list! There is a review on Amazon that fairly debunks the reputation of Kanfer's chronicle of the life and times of Groucho, and one which i took great exception to, whereas normally the opinions of others worry me little.
This is a well researched and well told tale of the brothers Marx and their rise and rise during the heady years of vaudeville as well as a crafted piece of biography of one of its most famous brothers.
Replete with many anecdotes and takes from various scripts, Kanfer delivers a gentle picture of a very flawed and complicated superstar. One that we miss very much even 35 years after his passing.
Lovers of Marx, unite!
By Robert Conquest
4.0 out of 5 stars
It's just a step to the right........
A totally scary book!
But is it perverse of me to be have been found giggling during some memorably darker passages of Conquest's famous tome? If the Great Terror wasn't such a mounumental disaster that fell upon both citizen and officialdom and of such tragic proportions it would have made a brilliant synopsis for a 'Keystone Cops' caper.
The mind cannot comprehend the awfulness that was life during the 1930's in Russia; when perpetrators became victims and victims became martyrs and families of perpetrators, victims and martyrs became victims and villains at once themselves.
The many twists and turns of Stalin's paranoic rule become confusing admist the maze of sub-plots and sub-sub plots, but Conquest reminds us often of the stories of the ghosts that haunt this masterful book; and so that we need to worry little if we confuse Bukharin with Zarkov, Beria with Yagoda or Yezhov with Rykov. Suffice to say, it is simply the awfulness of the Great Terror and the banality of the oppression within a totalitarian society that concern us most. The almost tragic-comedy of those revolting perpetrators, whose existence straddled every stratum of the regime and who in turn were dragged off to have great horrors inflicted on them in return for their 'confessions' is simply awe-inspiring and almost unbelievable in its scope and reach.
My only criticism would be that Kruschev's role in all this fine mess was still as mysterious to me at the end of this book as it was at the beginning.
A magnificent education.
Groucho - The life and times of Julius Henry Marx
By Stefan Kanfer
4.0 out 5 stars
"There aint no Sanity Claus....."
Whilst I hate lists, this fine biography is rated at the top of my all-time favourite book list! There is a review on Amazon that fairly debunks the reputation of Kanfer's chronicle of the life and times of Groucho, and one which i took great exception to, whereas normally the opinions of others worry me little.
This is a well researched and well told tale of the brothers Marx and their rise and rise during the heady years of vaudeville as well as a crafted piece of biography of one of its most famous brothers.
Replete with many anecdotes and takes from various scripts, Kanfer delivers a gentle picture of a very flawed and complicated superstar. One that we miss very much even 35 years after his passing.
Lovers of Marx, unite!
Saturday, May 30, 2009
SOME FOOD REVIEWS (this is Melbourne after all!)
LA PETITE FRANCAISE - CREPERIE ET CAFE (that's yer actual french)
307 Toorak Road, Sth Yarra.
Everso slightly creped out......
4 out of 5 stars
Finally! This was a miracle find; the laws that govern eating out for us poor punters normally err on the side of mine hosts and we invariably exit falling somewhere between sensations of nausea and/or being slightly or mightily ripped off.
But not this time, so yay for us!
We did venture inside this little cafe with boundless trepidation but decided to fore go our exploration of Chapel Street and take a punt on our gut-feeling and hoped our guts wouldn't get punished too severely. As luck would have it the coffee was great and the crepes were astonishingly good!
The fillings were superb, cooked deftly and with care. For the record I had 'Popeye' which I heartily recommend again to myself one day, and Mrs B had plain crepes with lemon. Both dishes served with the coffee (I know, it seems so silly to write that) and within a few short minutes of our order.
Why can't life always be like this?
FITZPIZZA
450-452 Nicholson Street, North Fitzroy
Always wondered where leftover pizza ends up.....
This place is not for the faint of heart: if you love your pizza base thick and tomatoey and topped with scraps from assorted garbage bins then this is most definitely the place to eat!
I'm not a huge fan of takeaway pizza - save for those brilliant slices served up in Rome - but if ever I needed an excuse to be excused from ever trying one again, then Fitzpizza handed me one, or two, on a plate (actually, served in a pizza box).
I ordered 'Morroccan Lamb' and expected, err..Moroccan Lamb, but what i got was this: pizza base freely schmeered with thick tomato sauce, topped with unidentifiable cheese, at least 3 cm thick, followed by some scraps from some random bins and topped with bits of inedible and alarmingly greyish 'meat' which may have been lamb but could have been last weeks roast beef.
Second pizza ordered was the 'Pecorino' which was: pizza base freely schmeered with thick tomato, topped with 6 cm of cardboard impression of cheese (well drawn I thought) followed by the contents of someones bin.
Expect food poisoning.
GROSSE FLORENTINO - CELLAR BAR
Bourke Street, City.
Hopefully, the dining room is better....
Love this place: wonderful ambiance, like being anywhere in Italy, waiters with attitude but everso attentive and an atmosphere which is slightly, but not alarmingly, snobbish. Being dressed in a suit helps I think. In this, I could be rich - who could tell?
Unfortunately, the meal did not live up to either expectation or reviews: spaghetti bolognaise was adequate (just) - this is one dish that defines many restaurants in my eyes - and the lasagne fairly bland.
A disappointment.
307 Toorak Road, Sth Yarra.
Everso slightly creped out......
4 out of 5 stars
Finally! This was a miracle find; the laws that govern eating out for us poor punters normally err on the side of mine hosts and we invariably exit falling somewhere between sensations of nausea and/or being slightly or mightily ripped off.
But not this time, so yay for us!
We did venture inside this little cafe with boundless trepidation but decided to fore go our exploration of Chapel Street and take a punt on our gut-feeling and hoped our guts wouldn't get punished too severely. As luck would have it the coffee was great and the crepes were astonishingly good!
The fillings were superb, cooked deftly and with care. For the record I had 'Popeye' which I heartily recommend again to myself one day, and Mrs B had plain crepes with lemon. Both dishes served with the coffee (I know, it seems so silly to write that) and within a few short minutes of our order.
Why can't life always be like this?
FITZPIZZA
450-452 Nicholson Street, North Fitzroy
Always wondered where leftover pizza ends up.....
This place is not for the faint of heart: if you love your pizza base thick and tomatoey and topped with scraps from assorted garbage bins then this is most definitely the place to eat!
I'm not a huge fan of takeaway pizza - save for those brilliant slices served up in Rome - but if ever I needed an excuse to be excused from ever trying one again, then Fitzpizza handed me one, or two, on a plate (actually, served in a pizza box).
I ordered 'Morroccan Lamb' and expected, err..Moroccan Lamb, but what i got was this: pizza base freely schmeered with thick tomato sauce, topped with unidentifiable cheese, at least 3 cm thick, followed by some scraps from some random bins and topped with bits of inedible and alarmingly greyish 'meat' which may have been lamb but could have been last weeks roast beef.
Second pizza ordered was the 'Pecorino' which was: pizza base freely schmeered with thick tomato, topped with 6 cm of cardboard impression of cheese (well drawn I thought) followed by the contents of someones bin.
Expect food poisoning.
GROSSE FLORENTINO - CELLAR BAR
Bourke Street, City.
Hopefully, the dining room is better....
Love this place: wonderful ambiance, like being anywhere in Italy, waiters with attitude but everso attentive and an atmosphere which is slightly, but not alarmingly, snobbish. Being dressed in a suit helps I think. In this, I could be rich - who could tell?
Unfortunately, the meal did not live up to either expectation or reviews: spaghetti bolognaise was adequate (just) - this is one dish that defines many restaurants in my eyes - and the lasagne fairly bland.
A disappointment.
Monday, May 25, 2009
A CONCERT REVIEW.....................
MELBOURNE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, 23 MAY 2009
Programme:
Copland: 'Billy the Kid' Orchestral Suite
Bruch: Violin Concerto #1
Dvorak: Symphony #6
Conductor: Gerard Schwartz
Soloist: Sasha Rozhdestvensky
Sorry dear, who's symphony is this again?
2 out of 5 stars
Having emptied most of the retirement villages into Melbourne's Hamer Hall in some kind of keen anticipation for this matinee performance, the MSO launched into a tight and well-polished production of Copland's 'Billy the Kid.' An odd piece, nevertheless, and not a particularly well known Suite from the New World but well performed and fairly rousing for the oldies to get their collective teeth into.
Bruch's sublime Violin Concerto followed on, beautifully crafted and almost faultlessly played by Rozhdestvensky, although there were times when I wished I could have tweaked the volume knob up to 11 just to catch the lighter, softer notes. Otherwise, sheer joy.
The oddity of this programme was in its title: 'To the New World.' Having failed to notice the inverted number '9' in the programme, I settled down after the interval and waited, vainly as it turned out, for the that motif so familiar to us of English stock, and known famously as the 'Hovis' music.
Dvorak not being my most favourite of composers, I was even less than impressed at having to sit through the whole of his number 6 when it was supposed to be 'From the New World!' Number 6 is a searing, soaring and boring collection of movements that promises so much and fails to deliver at almost every level. A nod to Brahms here, a nod to Brahms there. I wanted just to nod off.
Don't want to labour this point, but why was there reference to the New World? Copland I get; Bruch had an American friend whilst Dvorak's connection to America was non-existent until circa1890, many years after his number 6.
The MSO marketing people did a number on me!
Programme:
Copland: 'Billy the Kid' Orchestral Suite
Bruch: Violin Concerto #1
Dvorak: Symphony #6
Conductor: Gerard Schwartz
Soloist: Sasha Rozhdestvensky
Sorry dear, who's symphony is this again?
2 out of 5 stars
Having emptied most of the retirement villages into Melbourne's Hamer Hall in some kind of keen anticipation for this matinee performance, the MSO launched into a tight and well-polished production of Copland's 'Billy the Kid.' An odd piece, nevertheless, and not a particularly well known Suite from the New World but well performed and fairly rousing for the oldies to get their collective teeth into.
Bruch's sublime Violin Concerto followed on, beautifully crafted and almost faultlessly played by Rozhdestvensky, although there were times when I wished I could have tweaked the volume knob up to 11 just to catch the lighter, softer notes. Otherwise, sheer joy.
The oddity of this programme was in its title: 'To the New World.' Having failed to notice the inverted number '9' in the programme, I settled down after the interval and waited, vainly as it turned out, for the that motif so familiar to us of English stock, and known famously as the 'Hovis' music.
Dvorak not being my most favourite of composers, I was even less than impressed at having to sit through the whole of his number 6 when it was supposed to be 'From the New World!' Number 6 is a searing, soaring and boring collection of movements that promises so much and fails to deliver at almost every level. A nod to Brahms here, a nod to Brahms there. I wanted just to nod off.
Don't want to labour this point, but why was there reference to the New World? Copland I get; Bruch had an American friend whilst Dvorak's connection to America was non-existent until circa1890, many years after his number 6.
The MSO marketing people did a number on me!
MY $6 FILM FESTIVAL...........
When we arrived in Melbourne last year, the International Film Festival was underway. Ticket prices were ridiculous, so I took advantage of Carlton's Nova Cinema $6 Mondays and treated myself to a 2 month binge of film festivalling of my own making.
Here are a few I saw:
YOU, THE LIVING (Sweden)
1 out of 5 stars
The unbearable lightness of boring......
Forgoing my film mantra - no swedish films shall pass thine eyes - I took myself off to catch this cinematic voyage on the recommendation of almost every critic I could lay my hands on.
To the former, I wish I hadn't and to the latter I wish I really had.
Here are some words that best describe my feelings to this film:
Pseud - unfunny - dull - swedish - cliched - turgid - wasted a perfectly good $6 note.
New note to self: imprint first sentence onto brain.
THE BANK JOB (UK)
0 out of 5 stars
Cor blimey guv, its the old bill.......
Having all but pulverised any remaining fillings through copious teeth grinding during this lame 'boys-own' adventure, and all within the first 20 minutes, it occurred to me that I may have missed the point. This film's title and synopsis, masquerading as a 'real-life' story, was actually a clever misnomer for the long overdue theatrical release of 'Minder' but without the clever script and the understated acting of Waterman and Cole in the guise of Terry and Arthur. And then it occurred to me that perhaps it wasn't; this was actually a theatrical version of 'Life on Mars' but without the clever and witty script, attention to 70's detail and understated but believable characterisation. Then again, maybe not. Perhaps this was actually another Carry On film but with serious intentions.
Then I got bored with my mind games and instead focused on the real mission I had set myself: sit through the excrement and get some worth for my money; suspend disbelief and go along for the ride. Or be taken for a ride.
Drivel.
THE EDGE OF HEAVEN (Turkey/Germany)
5 out of 5 stars
Strap yourself in.......
At some point in your cinematic experience there comes a film that simply wraps itself around you and takes you to places uninvited and unexpected. This is one of those experiences.
Absorbing and gut-wrenching, I couldn't help but wonder why there was such little fanfare for this gem. I can find little evidence of it making the slightest of blips on the critics' radar and wonder how many have missed this brilliant piece because of that.
My film of the year.
THE BAND'S VISIT (Israel/Egypt)
3 out of 5 stars
A very nice, gentle film. Unheralded around the world and with limited release here in Oz. Such a shame.
KATE BUSH:UNDER REVIEW
Minus 10 out of 5 stars
Wow...unbelievable
I added this film into my list to get back at the organisers of the Melbourne Film Festival. A ridiculous amount of money ($25) for a 'made for tv' doco that was so poorly made and so far up its own arsehole it beggared belief that any right thinking film buff actually believed it good enough to be part of a film festival.
I wont waste too much time reviewing this tripe, except to say that anyone who recalls Kenny Everett's (and, come to think about it, Kate Bush's) take on the phenomenal rise and rise of Kate Bush way back in the late 70's will completely understand where I'm coming from.
The only reason I gave the film minus 10 is because the festival screened a Patti Smith short music film on the same programme; the song was amazing (Smells Like Teen Spirit) but the close-ups were truly scary.
Sorry Patti!
IN BRUGES (UK)
2 out of 5 stars
The beer's not bad either...
Cannot recall ever seeing a film where all the action is based anywhere in Belgium! I still don't have any inclination to ever visit Bruges after seeing this film even though it certainly looks like a very interesting place to visit.
I hate violence, so I watched most of the film through squinty eyes. Stupidly, I should add, because the violent scenes announced themselves well in advance. Also, I'm not even sure if I was supposed to take the film seriously or not and therein lay the difficulty.
A good film that could have been a whole lot better.
THE SALUTE (Australian)
2 out of 5 stars
Disgraceful treatment dished out over the years to an Aussie hero. This doco lays bare the utter hypocrisy of the Olympic spirit.
Quite welll made, but the interviews became irritating at times andf the story tended to jump around a fair bit.
Glad I made the effort to see it though.
Here are a few I saw:
YOU, THE LIVING (Sweden)
1 out of 5 stars
The unbearable lightness of boring......
Forgoing my film mantra - no swedish films shall pass thine eyes - I took myself off to catch this cinematic voyage on the recommendation of almost every critic I could lay my hands on.
To the former, I wish I hadn't and to the latter I wish I really had.
Here are some words that best describe my feelings to this film:
Pseud - unfunny - dull - swedish - cliched - turgid - wasted a perfectly good $6 note.
New note to self: imprint first sentence onto brain.
THE BANK JOB (UK)
0 out of 5 stars
Cor blimey guv, its the old bill.......
Having all but pulverised any remaining fillings through copious teeth grinding during this lame 'boys-own' adventure, and all within the first 20 minutes, it occurred to me that I may have missed the point. This film's title and synopsis, masquerading as a 'real-life' story, was actually a clever misnomer for the long overdue theatrical release of 'Minder' but without the clever script and the understated acting of Waterman and Cole in the guise of Terry and Arthur. And then it occurred to me that perhaps it wasn't; this was actually a theatrical version of 'Life on Mars' but without the clever and witty script, attention to 70's detail and understated but believable characterisation. Then again, maybe not. Perhaps this was actually another Carry On film but with serious intentions.
Then I got bored with my mind games and instead focused on the real mission I had set myself: sit through the excrement and get some worth for my money; suspend disbelief and go along for the ride. Or be taken for a ride.
Drivel.
THE EDGE OF HEAVEN (Turkey/Germany)
5 out of 5 stars
Strap yourself in.......
At some point in your cinematic experience there comes a film that simply wraps itself around you and takes you to places uninvited and unexpected. This is one of those experiences.
Absorbing and gut-wrenching, I couldn't help but wonder why there was such little fanfare for this gem. I can find little evidence of it making the slightest of blips on the critics' radar and wonder how many have missed this brilliant piece because of that.
My film of the year.
THE BAND'S VISIT (Israel/Egypt)
3 out of 5 stars
A very nice, gentle film. Unheralded around the world and with limited release here in Oz. Such a shame.
KATE BUSH:UNDER REVIEW
Minus 10 out of 5 stars
Wow...unbelievable
I added this film into my list to get back at the organisers of the Melbourne Film Festival. A ridiculous amount of money ($25) for a 'made for tv' doco that was so poorly made and so far up its own arsehole it beggared belief that any right thinking film buff actually believed it good enough to be part of a film festival.
I wont waste too much time reviewing this tripe, except to say that anyone who recalls Kenny Everett's (and, come to think about it, Kate Bush's) take on the phenomenal rise and rise of Kate Bush way back in the late 70's will completely understand where I'm coming from.
The only reason I gave the film minus 10 is because the festival screened a Patti Smith short music film on the same programme; the song was amazing (Smells Like Teen Spirit) but the close-ups were truly scary.
Sorry Patti!
IN BRUGES (UK)
2 out of 5 stars
The beer's not bad either...
Cannot recall ever seeing a film where all the action is based anywhere in Belgium! I still don't have any inclination to ever visit Bruges after seeing this film even though it certainly looks like a very interesting place to visit.
I hate violence, so I watched most of the film through squinty eyes. Stupidly, I should add, because the violent scenes announced themselves well in advance. Also, I'm not even sure if I was supposed to take the film seriously or not and therein lay the difficulty.
A good film that could have been a whole lot better.
THE SALUTE (Australian)
2 out of 5 stars
Disgraceful treatment dished out over the years to an Aussie hero. This doco lays bare the utter hypocrisy of the Olympic spirit.
Quite welll made, but the interviews became irritating at times andf the story tended to jump around a fair bit.
Glad I made the effort to see it though.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)