Friday 29 September 2006

Pinchuck’s Law

Here’s another new short story from Woody Allen in The New Yorker.

“It’s amazing,” my partner Mike Sweeney said as he strung the usual yellow bunting around the crime scene. Mike is a bear of a man who could easily pass for a bear, and has in fact been contacted by zoos to fill in when the real bear was ill. “The tabloids are saying it’s a serial killer. Naturally, the serial killers are claiming bias and that they’re always the first ones accused when three or more victims are killed the same way. They’d like the number raised to six.”

Monday 25 September 2006

Little Miss Sunshine

Over the weekend I saw Little Miss Sunshine. It tells the story of an unconventional, but loving family who go on a road trip so that their youngest member can enter a ‘Little Miss Sunshine’ contest.

It’s really very good, warm and funny, without being cringeworthy. The characters are all very good and even although they’re not all very nice, they are all likeable.

The ensemble cast work well together. Toni Collette is pretty much good in whatever she’s in. Here she’s the Mother of the family, gamely trying to support everyone in their own personal endeavours.

Steve Carrell, who is more noted as a wacky comic lead, plays against type as a miserable Proust scholar recovering from a failed suicide attempt.

Greg Kinnear is a would be life coach trying to get his dream off the ground.

Alan Arkin is probably the star turn though as the rebellious grandfather, raking drugs, swearing and insisting that his introverted grandson, get himself ‘some young ass, cos that’s the best kind of ass you’ll ever get’.

Although there are a few unbelievable coincidences that drive the plot along, it’s a feel good movie without there being any sugar sweet moments.

The website is interesting as it’s a collection of blog like links to pieces about the film, including what looks like specially created sites.

It’s well worth seeing before it disappears from the cinema.

Friday 22 September 2006

Roshambo you for it...

You don’t often get a post from me these days but this is well worth the risk of a work-related wrist slapping.

All 10 seasons of South Park available to view online. Suck my balls.

Thursday 21 September 2006

What About the Hundreds of Survivors?

I’m currently listening to a Sound of Young America special on Beyond the Fringe, so for that reason here’s a sketch.

This is from their 1964 West End farewell performance, which is out on DVD.

Alonso From Inside His Own Half

In Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Newcastle last night Xavi Alonso scored the second goal from inside his own half. Here it is.

Beck Talks

Here’s a good interview in The Guardian with Beck. He discusses the puppets he has on stage with him and his life as a Jewish Scientologist.

Wednesday 20 September 2006

Benn on Robeson

Here’s a good piece on the BBC website as Tony Benn remembers Paul Robeson.

Tuesday 19 September 2006

The King Stay The King

For those of you who haven’t seen it, here is a taster from the first season of The Wire.

A Couple of Quickies

A couple of quickies. TV Squad has a short interview with Arrested Development main man Mitchell Hurwitz.

Final Fantasy won the Polaris Music Prize. Final Fantasy plays Glasgow ABC2 in October.

The Conversaton - The Series

Lee Goldberg has an interesting post on the possibilities of a TV series based on Francis Ford Coppola’s 1974 film The Conversation. It’s amazing to think now that Coppola managed to squeeze this compelling film into his schedule in the same year as he made The Godfather Part Two.

Let it Bleed

Ben Kweller had to put a tampon up his nose to quell a nosebleed at a recent concert. Brooklyn Vegan has the story, plus photos and a link to a video.

Monday 18 September 2006

The Black Dahlia Verdict

OK The Black Dahlia. You won’t be surprised to find that I thought it was awful. De Palma has turned a great book into a horrible pot boiler and a terrible parody of a 40s film noir.

Aaron Eckhrat is wasted in it and his temper tantrums seem slightly laughable. Josh Hartnett does well considering he’s not a very good actor, though his voice over is woeful and actually detracts from the action on screen.

Fiona Shaw is cringeworthingly over the top and Scarlett Johnasson only offers a believable period look, but forgets about the performance.

De Palma’s direction baffles belief in places. He seems to insist on extreme close ups all through the film. He mixes ECU with mid-shots in the same frame, for no logical reason. One scene is shot form the POV of Hartnett’s character, causing me to wonder ‘Why’s this turned into Peep Show?’ The constant use of swipe cuts, just added to the parody feel the film had.

Hilary Swank is about the only actor to come out of this with any credit, though Mike Starr does well with his limited time on screen.

It was horrible to come out of the cinema listening to so many people saying how terrible they thought it was. I heard a handful of people say they found it confusing as well. If you haven’t read the book a lot of the plot will seem slightly baffling, what with the flashbacks and the broken structure.

I just wish that David Fincher could have directed this. In his hands it would have received the treatment due to it.

Don’t go to see The Black Dahlia. Read the book instead. It’s so well written a page will grip you more than 90 minutes of a Brian De Palma movie ever will.

Friday 15 September 2006

This Better be Good Mr. De Palma

So the time has come finally for The Black Dahlia’s cinema release. As I documented here some time ago (I can’t be bothered looking for the post) I have little faith in Brian De Palma delivering a film anywhere near as good as the book.

However, Aaron Eckhart is not only perfect casting, he’s a guy I’ve been suggesting for that role since In the Company of Men. I’m less enthused about Josh Hartnett. Although Scarlett Johansson seems like another good choice from the casting director.

I have to say, from the trailer, I fancy Hilary Swank something rotten.

So I’m looking forward to seeing it this weekend, though I’m slightly apprehensive, as to what sub-Hitchcockian direction De Palma has taken it in.

There will be a full Tom review come Monday.

Thursday 14 September 2006

The Wire Set For a 5th Season


The Wire has been picked up for a 5th season. Let the handful of people in Britain who have seen it rejoice.

David Simon says he would have written the last season as a novel if it didn’t get picked up. He also says here that it can’t be a big hit, because the cast is too black.

If you’ve not seen it you won’t know what the hell I’m talking about, but I’m thrilled that Roland ''Prez'' Pryzbylewski is now a schoolteacher in this series. Although he seemed incidental back at the beginning he was a character who grew through the show’s history, so it’s nice to see him obviously playing a bigger part in this season.

The writers on this season include Richard Price and Dennis Lehane in addition to George Pelecanos, who's been there since the start. Agnieszka Holland and the director of ‘The Machinist’ Brad Anderson, are among this season’s directors.

It’s ‘cable that can’t be touched’ according to the Washington Post.

Stephen King says “The Wire keeps getting better …It's the sort of dramatic cycle people will still be writing and thinking about 25 years from now, and given the current state of the world and the nation, that's a good thing.”

As far as I’m aware the third season still isn’t available on DVD in the UK. You can buy it on Region 1.

EDIT:I've been reliably informed that season 3 is out on Region 2. Thanks Nicola.

DVDs Now Out

Here’s some DVD news, there are a couple of shows out that are worth some of your cash.

First up following on from Alan Bleasdale’s GBH, Jake’s Progress and Melissa, Scully is now out on DVD. If you don’t remember it, it was about a young Liverpool fan’s dream of turning out for the Reds. Starring Andrew Schofield as Scully he got himself into a few scrapes along the way.

This was also the time Elvis Costello was trying his hand as an actor and he plays his brother. Who says very little.

My favourite character was Scully’s daft mate Mooey. “Come on baby light my fire.”

Scully began life as scripted stories on Radio Merseyside before appearing as Scully’s New Year’s Eve, a 1978 BBC Play For Today.

I think the synopsis in the picture is misleading however.

Another shgow now out on DVD with not quite as long a wait from broadcast is The Armando Ianucci Shows. An original look at the world, it has some smart satire and some very funny sketches.

Finally there is a preview of the Simpsons movie on the X-3 DVD, not out in America until 3 October.

You Daft Racist

While reading through Dave Gorman’s website I read a bit he posted on blogs. He highlighted this entry from the blog of one Paul Daniels. You have to go a few paragraphs down to get to the good bit.

Wednesday 13 September 2006

"They're Very Good, Have You Got Any ID?"

Dave Gorman has a run in with the police. For taking photographs in London. Dave was alright with the situation, though a few folk commenting on the post were a lot more up in arms about it.

While we're on comedians. Patton Oswalt is interviewed, it’s six pages and is mainly about comics.

Tuesday 12 September 2006

I Agree With Patton

Over on Patton Oswalt’s blog he’s encouraging his readers to watch season 4 of The Wire. Now here we can’t do that, cos it’s not on. And even when it will be on it’ll be on an obscure cable channel.

But you can buy seasons one and two on DVD. Or borrow them from some generous soul you know. Then not watch them.

But anyway Patton says, “I’m flat-out begging you, all of you, to watch this season. PLEASE. In fact, even if you DON’T watch it, could you tune your TV to HBO at 10pm Sunday night? Just for an hour? Just to give this show the ratings?

Yes, I’m asking you to do this for selfish reasons. I want to see season 5. And I promise you, if you go back and watch the first three seasons (only 13 episodes each!) you’ll want this to go five seasons.”


Apparently season 5 depends on this season getting good ratings. It’s an awesome show, it’s original premise, was like Patton talks about, to be a novel on television.

I can’t wait for season 5 to start here.

"I’ll say this: The Wire is one of the few times you’ll watch TV and not feel like the people making TV think you’re a fucking idiot."

Sunday 10 September 2006

Farewell Dorothee I Hardly Knew Ye

There was a leaving night for This Place is Dead's Tommy's good lady Dorothee last night. She's away back to Switzerland soon. A good night in Mono, there's a selection of photographs below.
















Friday 8 September 2006

Miami Twice

Finally I saw Miami Vice last night. I’d been intending to go for about 6 weeks. I thought it was good, but probably not as good as it could have been.

The relationship with Crockett and Tubbs was never built through the film, it was just there. Unlike the TV show there was also no moments of tension between the two of them. They were pretty much best pals all the way through it.

There were also too many sexy bits for my liking. It was very dark, which I expected, and there were no moments of comic relief in it.

I really think more could have been done with it. When it was good it was excellent though. It’s very violent in parts, which was entertaining, but on the whole I think it’s a missed opportunity.

I had my reservations about Colin Farrell as Crockett, but for the most part he was pretty good. To be honest I didn’t think Jamie Foxx really got going as Tubbs. It was nice to see Domenick Lombardozzi, ‘Herc’ from The Wire in a very similar role here.

I watched the original TV pilot when I got home and thoroughly enjoyed that.

Thursday 7 September 2006

Giacinto Facchetti 1942-2006

This is turning into Talking Pish obituaries. I caught the end of this on a rolling news banner on Sky Sports, I forgot to check until this morning.

A real shame, Facchetti was a legend of the Italian game and indeed of European football.

Facchetti was born in Treviglio, province of Bergamo, on July 18th 1942. He had been president of the football club since January 2004, after Massimo Moratti's resignation. Facchetti, already vice-president of the club since the death of Peppino Prisco, had always been an Inter supporter. He played in the club as a defender from 1961 to 1978 playing 634 matches and scoring 75 goals.

He won four Scudetti championships, I Coppa Italia, 2 European Cups and 2 Intercontinental Cups.

He was also part of the Italy squad who won the 1968 European Championship and made the final of the 1970 World Cup. He won 94 caps for Italy, 70 of them as captain.

Under his presidency Inter won the Coppa Italia twice and the Supercoppa Italiana and a Scudetti if you want to count their award of last season’s title due to the match fixing scandal.

Monday 4 September 2006

Steve Irwin 1962-2006

Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin has died after being stung by a stingray while filming a documentary. I always enjoyed Irwin’s show The Crocodile Hunter. I guess one of the reasons it was so entertaining was because he always put himself in situations no one else would have.

"The world has lost a great wildlife icon, a passionate conservationist and one of the proudest dads on the planet," John Stainton, Irwin's friend and producer who was on board Croc One said in the statement.

"He died doing what he loves best and left this world in a happy and peaceful state of mind," he said. "Crocs Rule!"