I attended the opening gala of the Glasgow Film Festival last night. The GFT had a red carpet laid out on the way in and through to the foyer. There were several photographers in action, lifting their cameras when someone came across the red carpet and dropping them again when they turned out to be no one.
Glue's photographer of choice Heidi was one of them and I'm sure she'll have some pics up on her site soon.
There were sundry complimentary drinks on offer. More accurately complimentary fizzy wine, no soft drinks that I could see. When I got into the cinema there were goodie bags on every seat. At first glance it appeared that someone had gone round pubs in Glasgow and chucked all the free magazines and brochures they could find into a cloth sack, on closer inspection however there were a couple of all right things in there.
A miniature Auchentoshan whisky, two copies of The List magazine (one to read, one for the bin), several vouchers for two for ones in fancy coffee shops, free passes for some club or other, a promotional DVD on Glasgow and a bottle of still lemonade. There was also two free passes to visit the Auchentoshan Distillery and that I may well do.
Although the time on the ticket said 7.15 by 7.30 the film was still nowhere near starting and the folk in my row were repeatedly getting up to go and get more free wine. This of course meant that I was constantly lifting up my jacket, bag and free bag of junk.
By 8 o'clock we got the opening speeches from the festival directors, then by some dignitaries. Finally Armando Iannucci came up to the mic to introduce his film and reminisce about "Dogging maths to come in here to see Felicity Kendall do a talk."
The film that I was there to see was, of course, In The Loop. Although not strictly a film version of The Thick of It, it does share a couple of characters and several actors.
It was abolsutely brilliant from the first scene on. Peter Capaldi is outstanding in his role as Malcolm Tucker. The rest of the cast too are on form from Tom Hollander as the hapless, bungling minister to Chris Addison, David Rasche, James Gandolfini, Paul Higgins and Gina McKie.
With the story crossing over into Washington it was interesting to see Tucker come up against Americans who don't have the same fear for him that his colleagues in London do.
After the screening there was an entertaining Q & A with Iannucci, Capaldi and Addison along with the writers and producers.
This is Iannucci's Sundance film diary when the film premiered over there.
On my way out I stopped to listen in to a row between two men probably both in middle age. One of them was shouting to the other that he had ruined the film for him by talking all the way through it. There appeared to be a half-hearted challenge to 'Take it outside'. One of them nearly spilled their free wine.
Friday, 13 February 2009
Joaquin Phoenix on The Late Show with David Letterman
Joaquin Phoenix on the Late Show with David Letterman. Phoenix has recently announced his retirement from acting and a move into hip-hop. Some people think that his performance was a stunt for the Casey Affleck directed documentary about him. Other people think he's off his head. James Gray who directed his latest film as well as a couple of others, says he's baffled by his behaviour.
More great Letterman moments at this link.
More great Letterman moments at this link.
Thursday, 12 February 2009
Inglorious Basterds Trailer
Down below is a trailer for Quentin Tarantino's new film Inglorious Basterds.
Wednesday, 11 February 2009
Jon Stewart Nails Bill O'Reilly
You may have seen this elsewhere but it's too good a bit of on the money comedy to not link to. Jon Stewart and The Daily Show gleefully pinpoint nutcase Fox broadcaster Bill O'Reilly's hypocrisy.
The Onion News Network
A couple of goodies from the Onion News Network. A depressent for the annoyingly cheerful and then down below that and definitely not safe for work Sony releases a new piece of shit that doesn't work.
Thursday, 5 February 2009
The FA Cup Cock-Up
There was an FA Cup fourth-round replay played last night between Everton and Liverpool. It was on live on ITV, but not for viewers in Scotland. The reason for this is STV's eagerness to frequently 'opt-out' of network programming. When the BBC had the rights to the FA Cup the whole of Britain got to see it. I'd thought we were past the days when we were forced to watch 'a quiz about hills presented by Paul Coia' when the rest of Britain enjoyed football, Seinfeld or other quality programming. Apparently not.
What STV showed instead was a repeat of Foyle's War. Not what STV said they would do in this slot - broadcast locally produced output. Being involved in the Scottish entertainment industry myself I would be delighted if the decision allowed STV the opportunity to create and air new Scottish programmes at primetime. Except that doesn't seem to be what STV are doing. The suggestion all along was that they have taken the nip at paying what they perceive to be too much money for network programming.
So instead I watched the game online at ITV's website. The match itself was an utter borefrest, with I don't think one shot on target all throughout 90 minutes. When the game moved into extra time forcing the News at Ten to be delayed, STV the top drawer broadcasters they are, marked time for around 50 minutes by playing filler programmes such as Moviejuice Moments and a profile on Beyonce as well as showing repeated adverts for forthcoming shows.
It was little better on ITV and online however as with two minutes remaining in extra-time ITV cut to an ad break. When they returned Everton supersub Dan Gosling was celebrating with his team-mates having just slotted the ball into the net for the game's only goal (and shot on target). You can watch that debacle down below.
In the game's commentary this little beauty was reported by several people on online forums. Bear in mind that Phil Jagielka and Phil Neville are team-mates who were playing alongside one another last night.
"Phil Jagielka, with his versatility, he is a modern day Phil Neville."
What STV showed instead was a repeat of Foyle's War. Not what STV said they would do in this slot - broadcast locally produced output. Being involved in the Scottish entertainment industry myself I would be delighted if the decision allowed STV the opportunity to create and air new Scottish programmes at primetime. Except that doesn't seem to be what STV are doing. The suggestion all along was that they have taken the nip at paying what they perceive to be too much money for network programming.
So instead I watched the game online at ITV's website. The match itself was an utter borefrest, with I don't think one shot on target all throughout 90 minutes. When the game moved into extra time forcing the News at Ten to be delayed, STV the top drawer broadcasters they are, marked time for around 50 minutes by playing filler programmes such as Moviejuice Moments and a profile on Beyonce as well as showing repeated adverts for forthcoming shows.
It was little better on ITV and online however as with two minutes remaining in extra-time ITV cut to an ad break. When they returned Everton supersub Dan Gosling was celebrating with his team-mates having just slotted the ball into the net for the game's only goal (and shot on target). You can watch that debacle down below.
In the game's commentary this little beauty was reported by several people on online forums. Bear in mind that Phil Jagielka and Phil Neville are team-mates who were playing alongside one another last night.
"Phil Jagielka, with his versatility, he is a modern day Phil Neville."
Sunday, 1 February 2009
Dali on What's My Line
This is an episode of the game show What's My Line. The guest that the panel have to identify is Salvador Dali.
Important Things With Demetri Martin
Here is a trailer for Demetri Martin's new show 'Important Things With Demetri Martin'.
Mary & Bill Hicks on Letterman
Here is Friday night's appearance by Mary Hicks on Late Night With David Letterman.
Letterman apologises several times for cutting Hicks' performance from that 1993 show and admits that the decision was his and his alone. He now seems baffled as to why he took the steps that he did.
"What was the matter with me? What was I thinking?"
Here is John Lahr's profile of Hicks in the aftermath of the censorship.
Sunday Video Playlist
Here is a selction of videos for your pleasure. Hit play and they'll play one after the other. Or watch them individually.
First up is Last Call Cleveland and Duelling Stand-Ups.
Next it's the trailer for the forthcoming film adaptation of David Peace's novel The Damned United.
Then it's a sketch from this coming Tuesday's episode of Cowards on BBC4.
After that it's Chris Rock from the newly released on DVD Kill the Messenger talking about his rich neighbourhood.
Finally, my mum put me onto this one, it's Todd Carty hilariously skating off the ice on Dancing on Ice.
Friday, 30 January 2009
Chalkboards
The Guardian have launched interactive chalkboards on their football pages. These boards analyse Premiership games from this and past seasons showing you goals, passes, player movements and everything else you might want to know. Go to their Quick Start Guide to find out how to make the best of it.
Thursday, 29 January 2009
John Martyn 1948-2009
Singer-songwriter John Martyn has died at the age of 60. Although born in Surrey, Martyn grew up in Glasgow and was widely sited as an inspiration by many and varied popular musicians throughout the years.
Martyn was so much of an influence on Wet Wet Wet they nicked much of his stuff wholesale.
I only saw him perform live once, at Glasgow Green in 1989, where he was one of many support acts for Wet Wet Wet's free concert.
Down below is Martyn performing 'May You Never' on The Old Grey Whistle Test in 1973. This is an interview with him from November 2007.
Martyn was so much of an influence on Wet Wet Wet they nicked much of his stuff wholesale.
I only saw him perform live once, at Glasgow Green in 1989, where he was one of many support acts for Wet Wet Wet's free concert.
Down below is Martyn performing 'May You Never' on The Old Grey Whistle Test in 1973. This is an interview with him from November 2007.
It May Be Time
This is a commercial for Career Builder dot com. Watch it cos it's absolutely brilliant.
via.
If you liked that then you'll probably enjoy this 8 minute compilation of 16 of their monkey ads.
via.
If you liked that then you'll probably enjoy this 8 minute compilation of 16 of their monkey ads.
Wednesday, 28 January 2009
Flight of the Conchords Live
Here is a 50 minute show from Flight of the Conchords when they played at a record shop in April of 2008. It does take them about ten minutes to get started, but it's well worth a watch.
Doug Stanhope - Word of Mouth
You know this ain't safe for work. This is all 84 minutes of Doug Stanhope's 2002 DVD Word of Mouth.
Bill Hicks on Letterman
This Friday evening Late Night with David Letterman will air the infamous never before broadcast 1st October 1993 performance by Bill Hicks. One of the guests on the show that night is his mother, Mary Hicks.
It's a big deal, not only because the editing of his entire performance from the show, caused Hicks much consternation, but because it'll be the first time in a long while that his material will have reached this large an audience. Surprisingly Hicks isn't held in the same esteem in his home country as he is here and the airing of his performance should lead to him being discovered by a lot more people.
Hicks discusses the censorship in one of his last ever recorded interviews down below.
It's a big deal, not only because the editing of his entire performance from the show, caused Hicks much consternation, but because it'll be the first time in a long while that his material will have reached this large an audience. Surprisingly Hicks isn't held in the same esteem in his home country as he is here and the airing of his performance should lead to him being discovered by a lot more people.
Hicks discusses the censorship in one of his last ever recorded interviews down below.
Leary on Leary
This is funny stuff. Denis Leary talks about Denis Leary movies.
On Demolition Man - "Wesley Snipes was insane cos he insisted on doing all of his own action stuff. Then they'd wait until they wrapped him and then they'd have the stunt guy come in and re-do all the action stuff."
On Demolition Man - "Wesley Snipes was insane cos he insisted on doing all of his own action stuff. Then they'd wait until they wrapped him and then they'd have the stunt guy come in and re-do all the action stuff."
Denis Leary Remembers Denis Leary Movies - watch more funny videos
Wednesday, 21 January 2009
Minutemen Photograph
From Ain't It Cool News comes this 1940 picture of The Minutemen from the forthcoming Watchmen movie.
Tuesday, 20 January 2009
Obama's Inagauration
With George W. Bush packing his bags this afternoon and Barack Obama moving his stuff into the White House, here's a look at some of the things that are happening today.
First up a profile of Obama's chief speechwriter, Jon Favreau.
Favreau would be up most nights until 3am, honing the next day's stump speeches in a caffeine haze of espressos and Red Bull energy drinks, taking breaks to play the video game Rock Band. He coined a phrase for this late-night deadline surfing: "crashing".
A BBC report on the security measures in place.
A short video of Bush's belongings being removed from The White House, put in a van and then chucked in the river (hopefully).
Below is a video where Iraqis discuss their thoughts on Obama.
Read all the previous inauguration speeches.
The BBC has unearthed footage of Dr Martin Luther King predicting a "Negro president", although he was out by 20 years.
An article from The Times on the changes that are set to be made to The White House website when Obama's tech-savvy team comes in.
Dave Chappelle on the first black president.
Black comics talk about Obama.
Chris Rock supporting Obama.
From The Richard Pryor Show - The 40th President of the United States
Obama is urged to create a new tartan to celebrate his Scottish roots.
Originally uploaded by Gattoraffa
Flickr have an Inauguration 2009 pool and I'll post a few of those photos throughout the afternoon.
The New York Times have a live blog.
Not Quite Nigella has a recipe for the Barack Obama Inauguration Pizza and some photographs of the quite impressive finished product.
ObamaDrama163
Originally uploaded by SteveThornton
The Huffington Post have their own Obama Inauguration page.
Dick Cheney is at the inauguration in a wheelchair thanks to injuring his back moving boxes into his new house.
Here's a cracking picture of me all done up in Obama's style courtesy of Obamicon.Me.
Get your Obama gear on the streets of Washington here.
The Guardian has a report on Obama's swearing-in.
The FBI is investigating two "streams of intelligence" suggesting the "Somalia-based terrorist organization Al Shabaab" may have been plotting an attack timed to coincide with the event.
CNN has President Obama's just completed speech in full.
USA Today has a set of inauguration photographs on Flickr.
News that both Senator Ted Kennedy and Senator Robert Byrd have collapsed at the inuaguration lunch.
The Daily Show has plenty of stuff on the inauguration in their own inimitable style.
Ted Sorensen, speechwriter for JFK when he made his inaugral speech in 1961, gives The Guardian his view on President Obama's speech.
First up a profile of Obama's chief speechwriter, Jon Favreau.
Favreau would be up most nights until 3am, honing the next day's stump speeches in a caffeine haze of espressos and Red Bull energy drinks, taking breaks to play the video game Rock Band. He coined a phrase for this late-night deadline surfing: "crashing".
A BBC report on the security measures in place.
A short video of Bush's belongings being removed from The White House, put in a van and then chucked in the river (hopefully).
Below is a video where Iraqis discuss their thoughts on Obama.
Read all the previous inauguration speeches.
The BBC has unearthed footage of Dr Martin Luther King predicting a "Negro president", although he was out by 20 years.
An article from The Times on the changes that are set to be made to The White House website when Obama's tech-savvy team comes in.
Dave Chappelle on the first black president.
Black comics talk about Obama.
Chris Rock supporting Obama.
From The Richard Pryor Show - The 40th President of the United States
Obama is urged to create a new tartan to celebrate his Scottish roots.
Originally uploaded by Gattoraffa
Flickr have an Inauguration 2009 pool and I'll post a few of those photos throughout the afternoon.
The New York Times have a live blog.
Not Quite Nigella has a recipe for the Barack Obama Inauguration Pizza and some photographs of the quite impressive finished product.
ObamaDrama163
Originally uploaded by SteveThornton
The Huffington Post have their own Obama Inauguration page.
Dick Cheney is at the inauguration in a wheelchair thanks to injuring his back moving boxes into his new house.
Here's a cracking picture of me all done up in Obama's style courtesy of Obamicon.Me.Get your Obama gear on the streets of Washington here.
The Guardian has a report on Obama's swearing-in.
The FBI is investigating two "streams of intelligence" suggesting the "Somalia-based terrorist organization Al Shabaab" may have been plotting an attack timed to coincide with the event.
CNN has President Obama's just completed speech in full.
USA Today has a set of inauguration photographs on Flickr.
News that both Senator Ted Kennedy and Senator Robert Byrd have collapsed at the inuaguration lunch.
The Daily Show has plenty of stuff on the inauguration in their own inimitable style.
Ted Sorensen, speechwriter for JFK when he made his inaugral speech in 1961, gives The Guardian his view on President Obama's speech.
Sunday, 18 January 2009
Happy Birthday to Me!
Hello Tom,
So, you've made it another year, huh? Impressive. Well, impressive if you consider your festering stagnant life clicking over another year an accomplishment. I bet you woke up today feeling a little bit excited still, huh? Despite all your misanthropic bullshit, a little part of you - that little part that dime-store psychologists like to refer to as the "inner child" - perked up a bit. "Hey, today is my birthday!" you thought.
Well no one fucking cares. That's why this email is automated. It's completely impersonal just like every other relationship in your terrible, worthless, and now one-more-year past-it's-prime life.
So go ahead, eat your cake, play with your new iPod knockoff, try on your new fucking sweater while you add another notch on the social odometer of age that we use to validate your existence. You gonna go out and drink tonight? Shouldn't you put some of that money in savings? Fuck, you don't have many working years left, pal. The whole "Live Fast, Die Young" mentality doesn't fit into the picture so much anymore when you've got man-tits and you're putting Dr. Scholl's in your Crocs; your time to quit while you were ahead is over.
Anyhow, Happy Birthday.
Love,
Jesus Loves Doug Stanhope
So, you've made it another year, huh? Impressive. Well, impressive if you consider your festering stagnant life clicking over another year an accomplishment. I bet you woke up today feeling a little bit excited still, huh? Despite all your misanthropic bullshit, a little part of you - that little part that dime-store psychologists like to refer to as the "inner child" - perked up a bit. "Hey, today is my birthday!" you thought.
Well no one fucking cares. That's why this email is automated. It's completely impersonal just like every other relationship in your terrible, worthless, and now one-more-year past-it's-prime life.
So go ahead, eat your cake, play with your new iPod knockoff, try on your new fucking sweater while you add another notch on the social odometer of age that we use to validate your existence. You gonna go out and drink tonight? Shouldn't you put some of that money in savings? Fuck, you don't have many working years left, pal. The whole "Live Fast, Die Young" mentality doesn't fit into the picture so much anymore when you've got man-tits and you're putting Dr. Scholl's in your Crocs; your time to quit while you were ahead is over.
Anyhow, Happy Birthday.
Love,
Jesus Loves Doug Stanhope
Thursday, 15 January 2009
Hudson River Plane Crash
Amazing how quickly folk have their pictures of this accident up on Flickr. There are more photographs, being constantly updated, here. Or have a look at this photo on Twitter taken by a passenger on board the ferry that went over to rescue passengers.
Flickr user eddienyc has a great set of photographs of the rescue. This photograph by grego! is also pretty amazing.
Late night updates:
This is a photograph of Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger, III the pilot who steered the plane into the water, ensuring that there was no loss of life. Here is the article on him from Friday morning's Times.
This is The New York Times article on events.
From Flickr user Amazin Jane's photostream.
"Although the US Airways jet crashed into the Hudson River near the west 50's, they towed the airplane south and 'docked' it in near Battery Park and the World Financial Center. This is the wing sticking up over the height of the walkway."
Gothamist have reports, eye witness comments, photographs, videos, maps and everything else you could want on the story.
Here's Eddie Izzard's great bit on 'Bird strike'. And here's the wikipedia entry for it.
Flickr user eddienyc has a great set of photographs of the rescue. This photograph by grego! is also pretty amazing.
Late night updates:
This is a photograph of Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger, III the pilot who steered the plane into the water, ensuring that there was no loss of life. Here is the article on him from Friday morning's Times.
This is The New York Times article on events.
From Flickr user Amazin Jane's photostream.
"Although the US Airways jet crashed into the Hudson River near the west 50's, they towed the airplane south and 'docked' it in near Battery Park and the World Financial Center. This is the wing sticking up over the height of the walkway."
Gothamist have reports, eye witness comments, photographs, videos, maps and everything else you could want on the story.
Here's Eddie Izzard's great bit on 'Bird strike'. And here's the wikipedia entry for it.
Wednesday, 14 January 2009
Odds and Sods
So far we've spent this year on 'Pish trying to punt our wares to you all. And it ain't stopping yet. While you still have three days left to listen to The Magic Glue, the Glasgow Comedy Festival programme has just been announced. That's right your good muckers Tom and Fraser are in there.
Join us at the Ramshorn Theatre on Tuesday 24th March for Odds and Sods, a rehearsed reading of our new play. It's a mere four quid and should surely be a hoot. More details nearer the time.
Join us at the Ramshorn Theatre on Tuesday 24th March for Odds and Sods, a rehearsed reading of our new play. It's a mere four quid and should surely be a hoot. More details nearer the time.
Saturday, 10 January 2009
Glue on the IPlayer
I'm assuming no more than a few folk stayed up to after midnight to hear our show.
Here's how to listen to it at a more Godly hour.
I'm very pleased with how it sounded and listened to some of the other Zone stuff before hitting the hay and despite blithering a lot of fairly incoherent rubbish about Armando Iannucci at one point, I think we can off no' too bad. Who knew Tom had a posh telephone voice eh? :)
I know Tom said in his earlier post to head along to The Comedy Zone Site to listen to the show, but that seems from my experience to play the whole 330min(!) Zone on a constant loop, so if it's our show you want to hear, I'd recommend using the Iplayer instead.
Here's how to listen to it at a more Godly hour.
I'm very pleased with how it sounded and listened to some of the other Zone stuff before hitting the hay and despite blithering a lot of fairly incoherent rubbish about Armando Iannucci at one point, I think we can off no' too bad. Who knew Tom had a posh telephone voice eh? :)
I know Tom said in his earlier post to head along to The Comedy Zone Site to listen to the show, but that seems from my experience to play the whole 330min(!) Zone on a constant loop, so if it's our show you want to hear, I'd recommend using the Iplayer instead.
Friday, 9 January 2009
The Magic Glue on the Radio From Tonight
Head along to the Comedy Zone from half midnight tonight until next Friday (16th) night and listen to our sketch show The Magic Glue. You can also hear Fraser and I blethering about Glue and comedy.
Thursday, 8 January 2009
And Now, News of the Inevitable Cock-Up...
Hiya. Of course its us, so there's been some last minute Glue shenanigans. Nothing to do with us really but it all still somehow serves to make your tubby muckers Fizzy and T Bone look like right plums.
Our radio pilot "The Magic Glue" has been taken out of it's 11.30 am slot scheduled for Friday 9th January and as far as we're aware its also not going to be on as advertised in the 8.30pm repeat slot on Saturday 10th. No news on why or even if it will be rescheduled as yet.
The show WILL STILL BE ON (we're told...) in the Comedy Zone at half past midnight Friday Night/Saturday Morning and should be available on the BBC IPlayer and its listen again online facility thereafter.
So, it's a big hello to all you truckers out there...
Monday, 5 January 2009
Glue on the Radio
The wait is finally at an end. The Magic Glue, our radio pilot, is on Radio Scotland (92.4 - 94.7 FM and 810 MW) this Friday 9th January at 11.30am. Yes, that's right Friday MORNING. I've already had a few folk asking if I meant PM. I don't, I mean 11.30AM.That is not the only time you can hear the show however. You can also hear it repeated at 8.30pm the following day, Saturday the 10th.
But you don't have to listen to it on the radio. You can also hear it online. It's repeated as part of The Comedy Zone at 00.30am that night. This show is available online for a week afterwards. The Comedy Zone is about five hours long, but The Magic Glue should be right at the start of it. The rest of the shows in the section have been selected based on suggestions by Fraser and I. Plus we'll be presenting it, so even more chances to hear our voices on the radio.
You can listen to the show on digital radio, through freeview on your telly and probably for a week afterwards on the iplayer. The many ways to listen to Radio Scotland can be found at this link.
There's a Facebook event thing that you can add your 'attendance' and comments to if you're on Facebook.
We were delighted with the recording itself and we're pretty happy with the edit of the show. So we'll just sit back and see how it's received or not by the public at large.
Tuesday, 30 December 2008
Tom's Films of 2008
It's time for my annual round up of movies I've seen over the year.
1. Gone Baby Gone
My number one film of the year should really have been released in the UK in 2007. However, due to the Madeline McCann case its release was delayed by more than 6 months. Directed by Ben Affleck and based on the novel by Dennis Lehane the film follows two private detectives as they join the search for a missing girl.
Casey Affleck was excellent in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, but for my money this is a career best performance. Amy Ryan is also wonderful as the mother.
The film poses many questions along the road and the ending really blew me away. Perhaps Ben should chuck the acting in and stick to directing in future.
2. The Dark Knight
A rollercoaster from start to finish. Heath Ledger deserves every posthumous honour going for his outstanding performance. It played like a real horror movie and even although Ledger was by far the stand out the rest of the heavyweight acting talent Bale, Oldman and Eckhart were all on form too.
3. Man on Wire
The year's best documentary. The film looks at Philippe Petit's 1974 high-wire walk between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. Although there's no actual footage of the event the intensity of the film and the stills on show mean you don't even notice. Like all great documentaries looking at an individual, Petit is a complex character and even although he's likeable for the most part you're left wondering if he wasn't actually a bit of a dick.
4. Lars and the Real Girl
Ryan Gosling turns in a wonderful performance as a shy man in love with a blow up doll. It seems odd but it's a film that has real heart and depth.
5. Step Brothers
The funniest film of the year. Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly are 40 year olds who have been living the life of perrenial 13 year olds in their respective single parent families. Until that is their parents fall in love and they all move in together. The step brothers relationship is one hilarity after another. The bunk bed scene I could see coming from nine miles away, but I still laughed like a drain when it happened.
6. Juno
A smart, witty script and some crackling performances from Ellen Page and Michael Cera as well as great supprt from Jason Bateman, Jennifer Garner, JK Simmons and Allison Janey.
7. No Country For Old Men
Totally gripping throughout. Classic Coen Brothers. Well paced, stunning performances from Javier Bardem and Josh Brolin and a solid supporting cast. I was a little let down by the last 20 minutes or so but I loved it nonetheless.
8. There Will Be Blood
A powerhouse of a performance from Daniel Day Lewis, fantastic direction from Paul Thomas Anderson and a great score from Jonny Greenwood. A lot of people have found fault with the last 20 minutes, but I really didn't see anything wrong with it.
9. Pineapple Express
'Thug Life'. James Franco seemed to steal this one for most people but for me it was Danny McBride who put in the star turn. A great drug buddy comedy from the pens of last year's Superbad scribes Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg.
10. Let the Right One In
This Swedish romantic horror film is in turns sweet and sinister. A boy, bullied at school falls for the little girl next door who happens to be a vampire. The performances, cinematography and direction are all first class. There are several really shocking moments and it's a film that stays with you long after it has ended. There is of course an American remake currently in development. Cloverfield director Matt Reeves is directing and also adapting the source novel from scratch.
11. In Bruges
This tale of Irish hitmen laying low in Belgium really hit the mark. Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson and Ralph Fiennes all give performances that hold your attention throughout. Here's an article from the BBC on how the film transformed the tourist industry in Bruges.
12. Burn After Reading
The second Coen Brothers film on my list. This one seemed to get dismissed by a lot of people as 'not being about anything'. It's not as heavyweight as No Country.. or as engaging as Fargo, but it's a solid comedy thriller with fantastic turns from Brad Pitt, George Clooney and Frances McDormand. Richard Jenkins also provides a lovely line in pathos in his role as the lovesick fitness centre manager. Nice also to see David 'Sledge Hammer' Rasche in a movie role.
13. Charlie Wilson’s War
Directed by Mike Nichols, written by Aaron Sorkin, and starring Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts and the mighty Philip Seymour Hoffman. How could you go wrong?
14. The Savages
Philip Seymour Hoffman again, this time with Laura Linney as brother and sister trying to care for their ailing father. Two of the best actors in the business and a warm and funny script.
15. Iron Man
Robert Downey Jr. is at his best here as Tony Stark/Iron Man. There is a good supporting cast but it's the style and swagger of Downey Jr. that walks away with the movie.
16. Tropic Thunder
"Never go full retard." Robert Downey Jr. once again alongside Ben Stiller, Jack Black and a ridiculous Tom Cruise. This turned out to be controversial, although I couldn't really see what all the fuss was about. A solid comedy with a starry cast.
17. The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
Mark Herman serves up an understated gem. Based on the novel by John Boyne it centres around the 8 year old son of a Nazi officer and the boy he befriends in a concentration camp. This is an article from the BBC on the film's suitability for children.
18. Somers Town
Directed by Shane Meadows this tells the story of two teenage boys out of place in London. It's an enjoyable tale, by turns happy and sad.
19. Son of Rambow
An amusing British film as two boys attempt to make their own version of Rambo. The dialogue always seems like it's been written rather than actually coming from the children, but that's a minor complaint for an enjoyable film.
20. Cloverfield
An enjoyable monster-runs-wild-through-New York romp.
As for stinkers, well there were a few of those too, but the two that really stood out for me are below.
88 Minutes was one of the worst things you’re likely to see at the cinema this or any other year with Al Pacino apparently playing a grown up Ralph Wiggum in a Simpsons live action murder mystery. Righteous Kill was arguably worse because it sullied the reputations of both Pacino and Robert De Niro.
Feel free to stick your own films of the year in the comments.
Tom's Films of 2007
Tom's Films of 2006
Tom's Films of 2005
Tom's Films of 2004
1. Gone Baby Gone
My number one film of the year should really have been released in the UK in 2007. However, due to the Madeline McCann case its release was delayed by more than 6 months. Directed by Ben Affleck and based on the novel by Dennis Lehane the film follows two private detectives as they join the search for a missing girl.
Casey Affleck was excellent in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, but for my money this is a career best performance. Amy Ryan is also wonderful as the mother.
The film poses many questions along the road and the ending really blew me away. Perhaps Ben should chuck the acting in and stick to directing in future.
2. The Dark Knight
A rollercoaster from start to finish. Heath Ledger deserves every posthumous honour going for his outstanding performance. It played like a real horror movie and even although Ledger was by far the stand out the rest of the heavyweight acting talent Bale, Oldman and Eckhart were all on form too.
3. Man on Wire
The year's best documentary. The film looks at Philippe Petit's 1974 high-wire walk between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. Although there's no actual footage of the event the intensity of the film and the stills on show mean you don't even notice. Like all great documentaries looking at an individual, Petit is a complex character and even although he's likeable for the most part you're left wondering if he wasn't actually a bit of a dick.
4. Lars and the Real Girl
Ryan Gosling turns in a wonderful performance as a shy man in love with a blow up doll. It seems odd but it's a film that has real heart and depth.
5. Step Brothers
The funniest film of the year. Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly are 40 year olds who have been living the life of perrenial 13 year olds in their respective single parent families. Until that is their parents fall in love and they all move in together. The step brothers relationship is one hilarity after another. The bunk bed scene I could see coming from nine miles away, but I still laughed like a drain when it happened.
6. Juno
A smart, witty script and some crackling performances from Ellen Page and Michael Cera as well as great supprt from Jason Bateman, Jennifer Garner, JK Simmons and Allison Janey.
7. No Country For Old Men
Totally gripping throughout. Classic Coen Brothers. Well paced, stunning performances from Javier Bardem and Josh Brolin and a solid supporting cast. I was a little let down by the last 20 minutes or so but I loved it nonetheless.
8. There Will Be Blood
A powerhouse of a performance from Daniel Day Lewis, fantastic direction from Paul Thomas Anderson and a great score from Jonny Greenwood. A lot of people have found fault with the last 20 minutes, but I really didn't see anything wrong with it.
9. Pineapple Express
'Thug Life'. James Franco seemed to steal this one for most people but for me it was Danny McBride who put in the star turn. A great drug buddy comedy from the pens of last year's Superbad scribes Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg.
10. Let the Right One In
This Swedish romantic horror film is in turns sweet and sinister. A boy, bullied at school falls for the little girl next door who happens to be a vampire. The performances, cinematography and direction are all first class. There are several really shocking moments and it's a film that stays with you long after it has ended. There is of course an American remake currently in development. Cloverfield director Matt Reeves is directing and also adapting the source novel from scratch.
11. In Bruges
This tale of Irish hitmen laying low in Belgium really hit the mark. Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson and Ralph Fiennes all give performances that hold your attention throughout. Here's an article from the BBC on how the film transformed the tourist industry in Bruges.
12. Burn After Reading
The second Coen Brothers film on my list. This one seemed to get dismissed by a lot of people as 'not being about anything'. It's not as heavyweight as No Country.. or as engaging as Fargo, but it's a solid comedy thriller with fantastic turns from Brad Pitt, George Clooney and Frances McDormand. Richard Jenkins also provides a lovely line in pathos in his role as the lovesick fitness centre manager. Nice also to see David 'Sledge Hammer' Rasche in a movie role.
13. Charlie Wilson’s War
Directed by Mike Nichols, written by Aaron Sorkin, and starring Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts and the mighty Philip Seymour Hoffman. How could you go wrong?
14. The Savages
Philip Seymour Hoffman again, this time with Laura Linney as brother and sister trying to care for their ailing father. Two of the best actors in the business and a warm and funny script.
15. Iron Man
Robert Downey Jr. is at his best here as Tony Stark/Iron Man. There is a good supporting cast but it's the style and swagger of Downey Jr. that walks away with the movie.
16. Tropic Thunder
"Never go full retard." Robert Downey Jr. once again alongside Ben Stiller, Jack Black and a ridiculous Tom Cruise. This turned out to be controversial, although I couldn't really see what all the fuss was about. A solid comedy with a starry cast.
17. The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
Mark Herman serves up an understated gem. Based on the novel by John Boyne it centres around the 8 year old son of a Nazi officer and the boy he befriends in a concentration camp. This is an article from the BBC on the film's suitability for children.
18. Somers Town
Directed by Shane Meadows this tells the story of two teenage boys out of place in London. It's an enjoyable tale, by turns happy and sad.
19. Son of Rambow
An amusing British film as two boys attempt to make their own version of Rambo. The dialogue always seems like it's been written rather than actually coming from the children, but that's a minor complaint for an enjoyable film.
20. Cloverfield
An enjoyable monster-runs-wild-through-New York romp.
As for stinkers, well there were a few of those too, but the two that really stood out for me are below.
88 Minutes was one of the worst things you’re likely to see at the cinema this or any other year with Al Pacino apparently playing a grown up Ralph Wiggum in a Simpsons live action murder mystery. Righteous Kill was arguably worse because it sullied the reputations of both Pacino and Robert De Niro.
Feel free to stick your own films of the year in the comments.
Tom's Films of 2007
Tom's Films of 2006
Tom's Films of 2005
Tom's Films of 2004
Sunday, 21 December 2008
Musical Inspiration
This is a good article from last Saturday's Guardian about people who were the inspiration for famous songs. Down below is one of those songs.
Wednesday, 17 December 2008
Stereolab Live
I went to see Stereolab at Oran Mor last night. They were excellent. They played a really lively and upbeat set. Although their show was in support of their new album 'Chemical Chords', the songs that got the biggest reaction from the crowd were 'Ping Pong' (from 1994) and 'French Disko' (from 1993).
Singer Lætitia Sadier was probably even more gorgeous than I remember her from the band's heyday. Support act The Week That Was were also very good. Their self titled album has been featuring in many websites' best of the year lists.
More photos here. Down below is some footage of them playing Paris last month.
Thursday, 11 December 2008
Down the Wing's Old Firm Week
It's Old Firm week at my football blog Down the Wing. On Saturday I went to Ibrox to see Rangers demolish Hamilton Accies, after an early scare. Last night I was at Celtic Park to watch Celtic take on Villareal in the Champions League.
I'm now only 30 games short of my 50 game target.
I'm now only 30 games short of my 50 game target.
Wednesday, 10 December 2008
Kids' Interview on TSOYA
Dave Foley and Kevin McDonald from Kids in the Hall are interviewed by Jesse Thorn for the Sound of Young America at this link. Their chat covers the group's early days as well as their recent tour.
Thursday, 4 December 2008
Seinfeld Meets Steinberg
Jerry Seinfeld interviewed by David Steinberg in the LA Times.
"When you’re in comedy, people always come up and say, “Oh, it must be so hard.” It really isn’t hard unless you’re not good at it. If you can do it, it’s really kind of fun and easy."
"When you’re in comedy, people always come up and say, “Oh, it must be so hard.” It really isn’t hard unless you’re not good at it. If you can do it, it’s really kind of fun and easy."
Tuesday, 2 December 2008
New Kids TV Details
Dave Foley provides some more details on the Kids in the Hall's new TV series 'Death Comes to Town' in this interview.
Monday, 1 December 2008
Brand Hammers Hitler
Russell Brand points out in his Guardian column that he has been named the second worst celebrity football fan in history - behind Adolf Hitler.
"It is however somewhat surprising to see the Führer described as a celebrity as I'd always seen him as more of a fascist dictator but, as you know, a good many papers in England believe that to be a position worthy of celebration."
"It is however somewhat surprising to see the Führer described as a celebrity as I'd always seen him as more of a fascist dictator but, as you know, a good many papers in England believe that to be a position worthy of celebration."
A Winter Wonderland
I'm surprised the plums who organised this theme park didn't get some comedians on board to provide the entertainment. It sounds just the kind of half-arsed scam that comics would end up playing.
Carbona Not Glue
I can't make it, but I wish I could, this Saturday night Scotland's finest Ramones tribute act Carbona Not Glue play Henry's Cellar Bar in Edinburgh.
Down below you can see them perform 'The KKK Took My Baby Away'. There are more videos and audio on their website.
Down below you can see them perform 'The KKK Took My Baby Away'. There are more videos and audio on their website.
Tuesday, 25 November 2008
Scotland the Mental
Another cracking story from the BBC, reporting on the kind of thing that surely only happens in Scotland.
Developments?
Not exactly super solid news, but a chink of light for those of us keen to see more of the best television comedy of recent years.
Sunday, 23 November 2008
The Yeard
Will from Whiskerino has grown a Yeard. Have a look.
Year + Beard = Yeard from Will Jardine on Vimeo.
Year + Beard = Yeard from Will Jardine on Vimeo.
Kids in the Hall Backstage in Vegas
Some video of a Q & A Kids in the Hall did after appearing at Caesars Palace for The Comedy Festival. Via.
Friday, 21 November 2008
"This is Bullshit"
A cracking bit of stand-up about technology from Louis CK as he chats to Conan O'Brien.
Thursday, 20 November 2008
Oscar Roundtable
From The Hollywood Reporter six screenwriters sit around and discuss their writing methods. In their number is Thomas McCarthy writer/director of The Visitor and The Station Agent, but also known for his performance as journalist Scott Templeton in the final season of The Wire.
75 Comics Being Turned Into Films
The Den of Geek lists 75 comics currently being turned into movies.
Runaways (2011)
This Marvel comics original finds teenagers fleeing to make up the sins of their parents, who they have discovered to be covert super-villains. A finished script is expected by early 2009 and Runaways is said to spearhead Marvel's post-Avengers strategy.
Red (2010)
Warren Ellis's 2003 thriller - about a retired CIA assassin that a new administration feel is a threat - is the first DC property to leave the fold for other producers, and will be produced by Transformers/2's Lorenzo di Bonaventura, amongst others.
Runaways (2011)
This Marvel comics original finds teenagers fleeing to make up the sins of their parents, who they have discovered to be covert super-villains. A finished script is expected by early 2009 and Runaways is said to spearhead Marvel's post-Avengers strategy.
Red (2010)
Warren Ellis's 2003 thriller - about a retired CIA assassin that a new administration feel is a threat - is the first DC property to leave the fold for other producers, and will be produced by Transformers/2's Lorenzo di Bonaventura, amongst others.
Tuesday, 18 November 2008
Esquire's 7 Greatest Stories
To celebrate their 75th anniversary Esquire magazine have put their 7 greatest ever stories online to read in full.
Sunday, 16 November 2008
Shetland Stand-Up
Glue mucker and Shetland resident Sandy Nelson has set up an evening class in stand-up on the island of Unst. It sounds like it'd be a fun course.
There he is there at the right warming up the audience a treat at the recording of the Glue pilot in July.
There he is there at the right warming up the audience a treat at the recording of the Glue pilot in July.
Friday, 14 November 2008
The End of the Trailer Park
Sad news from the world of Candaian television as Trailer Park Boys is set to end.
Here's the first 8 minutes of season 1 episode 1. Thanks to Graeme for the heads up.
Here's the first 8 minutes of season 1 episode 1. Thanks to Graeme for the heads up.
What Obama Can Learn From The Wire
As we learned during the campaign one of Obama's favourite TV shows is The Wire. The Huffington Post looks at what the President Elect can learn from his favourite show.
I think I would just be happy if he went around saying "Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeet" in the style of Clay Davis.
Politics
Clearly Obama paid close attention to Mayor Tommy Carcetti's campaign against Mayor Royce. Both Obama and Carcetti were good looking, with excellent debate and oratory skills. Just like Tommy Carcetti, who woke up white in a city that wasn't, Barack Obama woke up black in a county that wasn't.
I think I would just be happy if he went around saying "Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeet" in the style of Clay Davis.
Politics
Clearly Obama paid close attention to Mayor Tommy Carcetti's campaign against Mayor Royce. Both Obama and Carcetti were good looking, with excellent debate and oratory skills. Just like Tommy Carcetti, who woke up white in a city that wasn't, Barack Obama woke up black in a county that wasn't.
The Greats of Football Manager
The new version of Football Manager (formerly Championship Manager) is out today. This blog from the Guardian's website looks back on half a dozen of the legendary names from the game.
"...it's a fact that more thirtysomethings remember the name of Tonton Zola Moukoko than the name of the bloke who sat next to them at school."
"Champo Manager has, of course, been cited in more than 35 divorce cases." Says it all really.
"...it's a fact that more thirtysomethings remember the name of Tonton Zola Moukoko than the name of the bloke who sat next to them at school."
"Champo Manager has, of course, been cited in more than 35 divorce cases." Says it all really.
Thursday, 13 November 2008
Patton's Top 5
A great blog post here from Patton Oswalt where he reveals he has a book deal, that he found Sarah Palin 'achingly sexy' and where he lists his 'Top 5 Female Nazis'.
"...How I'd attempt to turn them from their evil ways. Think of me as Kevin Bacon in FOOTLOOSE, and they're my Teutonic Lori Singer."
"...How I'd attempt to turn them from their evil ways. Think of me as Kevin Bacon in FOOTLOOSE, and they're my Teutonic Lori Singer."
Wednesday, 12 November 2008
Comedy Interviews
Here are a few comedy interviews. First of all Dave Foley and Kevin McDonald talk about Kids in the Hall playing a residency in Las Vegas and briefly mention their new 8 part TV series 'Death Comes to Town'. The link also includes a few Kids' sketches on YouTube.
In The Onion Jim Gaffigan talks about his 'Sexy Tour'.
It's funny, though, it's with Comedy Central, and there were these affiliates that do exchanges on ads, and supposedly in Tampa, one didn't want to do some promotion or something. They were like, [High-pitched voice.] "The Sexy Tour, that's dirty." And I'm a clean comic. It just proves that there's a lot of people who don't have any idea who the hell I am. I just thought it was funny, it's like, "The joke is that it isn't… it's not sexy." And they're like, "They don't get it."
A collection of writers from The Daily Show chat to an audience about their jobs.
In The Onion Jim Gaffigan talks about his 'Sexy Tour'.
It's funny, though, it's with Comedy Central, and there were these affiliates that do exchanges on ads, and supposedly in Tampa, one didn't want to do some promotion or something. They were like, [High-pitched voice.] "The Sexy Tour, that's dirty." And I'm a clean comic. It just proves that there's a lot of people who don't have any idea who the hell I am. I just thought it was funny, it's like, "The joke is that it isn't… it's not sexy." And they're like, "They don't get it."
A collection of writers from The Daily Show chat to an audience about their jobs.
Down the Wing
If you can't get enough of my patter here then you'll be delighted to know that there is another blog where you can read a lot more of it. Down the Wing is a football blog I've set up in order to document my attempts to attend 50 or more matches over the course of the 2008/09 season.
You'll read my reports on the games, which are geared far more to the patter of the fans and players than the nuts and bolts of football tactics. So far I'm up to 14 matches. This gives me a bit of an uphill battle to complete the 50 before the end of the season.
I have given myself very few rules to follow. I'm not trying to visit every league ground or anything like that. I'm taking in Junior, Amateur, Reserves and Ladies football matches as well as Scottish League games, European matches, friendlies and Internationals. Basically if there's a referee I can count it.
I've had a couple of offers of spare season tickets for the odd game and if anyone else wants to chuck that kind of action at me I'd be happy to take you up on it. If anyone has a suggestion for an obscure team to go and see I'd be happy to hear that too.
Sunday, 9 November 2008
Friday, 7 November 2008
Obama's Flickr
I only just discovered that President-elect Barack Obama has a Flickr account. There is over 50,000 photographs on it documenting his run to the presidency.
The most recent set shows him and his family watching the results on television before going out on stage to make his victory speech.
The most recent set shows him and his family watching the results on television before going out on stage to make his victory speech.
Thursday, 6 November 2008
Are You Kidding Me?
While there are encouraging signs that America's government is about to get smarter, here in the UK there are a couple of news stories to suggest that ours is just getting dafter.
The first one made me laugh out loud, the second just made me angry.
1.) The report says "in general Britain is a happy nation" with 70% expecting more positive than negative experiences.
2.) "I believe there is a demand, now, for cards - and as I go round the country I regularly have people coming up to me and saying they don't want to wait that long."
The first one made me laugh out loud, the second just made me angry.
1.) The report says "in general Britain is a happy nation" with 70% expecting more positive than negative experiences.
2.) "I believe there is a demand, now, for cards - and as I go round the country I regularly have people coming up to me and saying they don't want to wait that long."
Wednesday, 5 November 2008
"Well, You're One Up On Me"
Out of all the election coverage I watched last night and this morning, this was my favourite bit. Legendary political analyist Gore Vidal is as entertaining as ever as he crosses swords with the BBC's veteran broadcaster David Dimbleby, who appears slightly bemused by it.
Tuesday, 4 November 2008
Nae Offence Wee Sachs...
How wrong can you be? Just last week I said that in the wake of the Brand/Ross fiasco, BBC talent now knew they wouldn’t be backed in the event of a complaint. But lo! The bods have been all too quick to rush to the defence of Top Gear’s Jez Clarkson now he’s ruffled a few feathers with these, lets face it, much more genuinely offensive remarks. The Beeb say of Clarko’s joke:
“The vast majority of Top Gear viewers have clear expectations of Jeremy Clarkson's long-established and frequently provocative on-screen persona.
"This particular reference was used to comically exaggerate and make ridiculous an unfair urban myth about the world of lorry driving, and was not intended to cause offence."
The thing is, if the question is “how many dead prostitutes does it take to make one Andrew Sachs?” the answer, according to the BBC, would appear to be “more than five”.
It is morally and logically indefensible to throw performers to the lions one week for making jokes about shagging a lassie and to then defend a guy who makes a joke referencing five young women murdered in cold blood barely a year ago. Am I saying Clarkson should be sacked? No, of course not, a joke is a joke, but where's the consistency?
When Cari Mitchell of the English Collective of Prostitutes (great name!), says that the offence caused by Clarkson’s joke was: "…more serious than the Ross and Brand debacle" because he was "making light of murder", you have to say she has a point.
As for the BBC’s defence; if Jeremy Clarkson genuinely doesn’t wish to offend, he might want to steer clear of jokes about brutally (and very recently) murdered woman.
Will this escalate into the next celebrity witch hunt? I doubt it, but who knows? After all, we’re yet to hear as a nation what Kelvin McKenzie thinks of it all…
Like the Guy in China
With the US Election about to kick off here's a couple of election related funnies. Victoria Jackson used to be a cast member on Saturday Night Live. She had a nice line in dumb blondes. The reason, it turns out, is because she is one herself. The video on this link shows her on Bill O'Reilly's show as the Fox newsman attempts to drum up support for McCain. Even O'Reilly, a Grade A head-the-ball himself, seems a bit puzzled at her remarks. In the same 100 second video O'Reilly comments that Obama "...Seems to be a capitialist in the sense that he earns money and he buys things."From a couple of weeks ago here's Larry David counting down the days.
"Five times a day I'll still say to someone, "I don't know what I'm going to do if McCain wins." Of course, the reality is I'm probably not going to do anything. What can I do? I'm not going to kill myself. If I didn't kill myself when I became impotent for two months in 1979, I'm certainly not going to do it if McCain and Palin are elected, even if it's by nefarious means."
Get your Obama Os here.
Here are a couple of slideshows of the election from Flickr. First Vote and then US Election.
If you're from the west of Scotland you'll probably know that former Talking Heads mainman David Byrne is originally from Dumbarton, as such he can't vote, so he's encouraging his fans to get down there and vote themselves.
The Guardian look at the top 25 moments from the campaign.
Monday, 3 November 2008
More on the Brand/Ross Carry-on
One of the things to amuse me about the Russell Brand/Jonathan Ross carry on is that no one can quite settle on a name for it. I've seen Ross/Brand Gate, Brand Gate, Sachs Gate and Manuel Gate. Perhaps it's time to stop trying to shoehorn 'gate' onto the end of each new scandal.
As the fallout continues there's been a couple of funny articles on the subject. In yesterday's Observer David Mitchell wrote this piece.
"Because it's been a particularly lovely week for those 30,000 and rising who've found the time in their undoubtedly busy schedules to thank the BBC for taking the trouble to offend them. Obviously, 29,998 of them missed the broadcast, but thanks to the miracle of YouTube and our dispassionate, fact-printing media, they've all had the opportunity to catch up and get their fix of what offends them.
They're an odd bunch, these people who actually enjoy being offended. Some would call them perverts but I, in common with much of the media, think that in our new inclusive society, their fetish should be indulged. In fact, live and let live, it should be celebrated. It's harmless, if incredibly weird, and they're an important and growing demographic. In fact, I'm thinking of pitching a TV show specifically targeted at them called Why Don't You All Go and Fuck Yourselves!? I imagine it'll be a hit."
Then in today's Guardian there comes this insightful and amusing article from Charlie Brooker.
"Perhaps it's time to put a "Complain to Ofcom" button right there on the remote control: if enough viewers press it, the show gets yanked immediately, like a bad variety act being pulled off stage by a shepherd's crook."
As the fallout continues there's been a couple of funny articles on the subject. In yesterday's Observer David Mitchell wrote this piece.
"Because it's been a particularly lovely week for those 30,000 and rising who've found the time in their undoubtedly busy schedules to thank the BBC for taking the trouble to offend them. Obviously, 29,998 of them missed the broadcast, but thanks to the miracle of YouTube and our dispassionate, fact-printing media, they've all had the opportunity to catch up and get their fix of what offends them.
They're an odd bunch, these people who actually enjoy being offended. Some would call them perverts but I, in common with much of the media, think that in our new inclusive society, their fetish should be indulged. In fact, live and let live, it should be celebrated. It's harmless, if incredibly weird, and they're an important and growing demographic. In fact, I'm thinking of pitching a TV show specifically targeted at them called Why Don't You All Go and Fuck Yourselves!? I imagine it'll be a hit."
Then in today's Guardian there comes this insightful and amusing article from Charlie Brooker.
"Perhaps it's time to put a "Complain to Ofcom" button right there on the remote control: if enough viewers press it, the show gets yanked immediately, like a bad variety act being pulled off stage by a shepherd's crook."
Friday, 31 October 2008
Louis CK and Denis Leary
I'm a fan of Denis Leary's comedy and recently I've become quite a big fan of his show Rescue Me. Here however is yet another accusation of him stealing material from other comedians. Louis CK (who in the past has spoken out about his material being nicked by Dane Cook) tells the story in quite an anecdotal style and you get the feeling he's not all that bothered by it.
Thursday, 30 October 2008
Insane Reaction to Brand/Ross Gaffe
Every now and again, you get a glimpse of the real face of this country; the sad, mean, grotesque contortion of jealously, small mindedness and misdirected rage that lurks beneath the mask of spray-on decency and media prescribed civility.
This face was brazenly exposed in the series of events that have led to fans of an excellent entertainer being deprived of their radio show in an insane, media fueled escalation of an incident which as far as I can grasp involved a joke which suggested that a 23 year old Burlesque dancer may have had sex with someone.
Russell Brand has now quit the BBC and I would not be surprised if Johnathan Ross follows him out the door. I hope he doesn't, because he too in his context is an excellent entertainer and has been for years but really, why should he bother with us after this?
The BBC have behaved disgracefully during this entire idiot episode. Having paid Brand and Ross to be Brand and Ross, they have subsequently suspended them for being Brand and Ross, simply because a few morons whipped up into a fervor by professional bear baiters like the utterly vile Kelvin McKenzie have decided they are disgusted by something they have read about and not even heard.
Reacting to a situation they themselves have had a hand in developing, the BBC have looked like a lumbering, punch drunk fool, flailing aimlessly at anything that stays still long enough to look like a target. And the responsibility for the most important issue to emerge from this incident lies squarely with the BBC. In their reactive mishandling of this situation the BBC have allowed the talent at their disposal to be diminished and their output to be reduced in quality.
Worse, the BBC itself has been diminished by this, because it has backed down to bullying moralists and the gutter press without even the first hint of a fight. Their clear failure to get in front of what has happened means that the talent who remain in the BBC's employ know now that the BBC will fail to support them should they be unlucky enough to be the next "uppity celeb" targeted in some red-top engineered moral outrage publicity stunt.
The BBC's senior staff have allowed the corporation to be bullied and manipulated and a popular performer has been hounded from his job. Has anyone even mentioned where this leaves license payers who are fans of Russell Brand's show? Who is speaking for them in all this? The BBC would do well to remember that loudmouth moaners pay no more for their license than the next person - their obligation is to us all, not simply to those who, like spoiled children, shout the loudest.
In an atmosphere where hysterical reactions like this are allowed to pass unbalanced and, for the most part, unchallenged, the UK will end up with the utterly bland, worthless BBC the right-wing professional "decency" camp have dared only to fantasise about until now.
In short, we'll end up with the BBC we appear currently to totally deserve.
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Very interesting to see Georgina Baillie's dewy-eyed chops plastered all over the red tops today wasn't it? Also very interesting to note that Max Clifford is her publicist. What's the betting that once her round of "justice has been done" stories dies out a few weeks later we'll see her again but this time in her work clothes alongside headlines like "Pwarr! Look What All The Fuss Was About!". I'm all for folk making their way in life, but at the expense of another person's career? One wonders if this girl's FHM spread is already in the can.
Another ominous development I happened across today was some simpering lummox of an MP who sits on a broadcasting select committee speaking on BBC Radio Scotland speculating as to whether or not "...the BBC should really be involved in this kind of comedy" while apparently sticking with the erroneous assumption that every license fee payer in the UK wants Jonathan Ross to hang.
I find it unbelievable that, even in the mealy-mouthed cross examination this carpet-bagger received, no mention whatsoever has been made during this entire affair about the millions of license fee payers who tune in to hear Ross every week (on average 3 million per week). Of course in order for your opinion to be valid these days it has to be a moan or a gripe - simply being a member of one of the largest and most loyal radio audiences in the country is simply not good enough anymore.
And now this. How more utterly out of proportion will this get?
Sunday, 26 October 2008
Thursday, 23 October 2008
Rare Elliott Smith Footage
Elliott Smith died 5 years ago on Tuesday. His friend Mary Lou Lord has posted a lot of previously unseen footage of him playing live in 1995. You can see it all here.
Monday, 20 October 2008
Friday, 17 October 2008
That Sinking Feeling
On Sunday afternoon I went to see Righteous Kill. I had written a long post about how it’s an awful film, how director Jon Avnet should go get a job in a call-centre, how Pacino has fucking lost it (his ability to pick a decent script anyway) and how the filmmakers attempted to cheapen a great film like Heat by aping the climax. But I won’t post it. Instead I’ll focus on a much more positive cinematic experience on Sunday.
In the evening I went along to GFT’s Monorail Film Club screening of That Sinking Feeling. The 1980 film is the little seen forerunner to the much more popular Gregory’s Girl.
A comedy about unemployment and disillusionment in Glasgow it was much funnier than I remember it. There are a couple of scenes that displayed some misdirection worthy of The Simpsons at its best.
Sharp, witty and fun it shows Glasgow and its humour in a great light. It’s a film that they really don’t make anymore. Which is a great shame.
One of the film’s stars, Robert Buchanan, who was also in Gregory’s Girl, came along for a Q & A with Belle and Sebastian’s Stuart Murdoch afterwards. There was a great moment, when asked if he still kept in touch with any of the rest of the cast, two of them shouted from the back of the cinema. Eight minutes of the discussion are below.
In the evening I went along to GFT’s Monorail Film Club screening of That Sinking Feeling. The 1980 film is the little seen forerunner to the much more popular Gregory’s Girl.
A comedy about unemployment and disillusionment in Glasgow it was much funnier than I remember it. There are a couple of scenes that displayed some misdirection worthy of The Simpsons at its best.
Sharp, witty and fun it shows Glasgow and its humour in a great light. It’s a film that they really don’t make anymore. Which is a great shame.
One of the film’s stars, Robert Buchanan, who was also in Gregory’s Girl, came along for a Q & A with Belle and Sebastian’s Stuart Murdoch afterwards. There was a great moment, when asked if he still kept in touch with any of the rest of the cast, two of them shouted from the back of the cinema. Eight minutes of the discussion are below.
Saturday, 11 October 2008
Wasted is Oot!
I was through at Forbidden Planet in Edinburgh last weekend for the launch of Wasted, a new comic where pal of 'pish Iain Laurie and I have found a home for our strip Blackcape.
We had a great day. It was nice to see people giving a toss about something we had been involved in and it was nice to see all the different folk who had contributed to the comic, including head honcho Alan Grant and big names like Frank Quitely and Jamie Grant, thrusting aside their gazillions of awards to hang out with us little guys. Many fun hours were spent in the pub but my favourite bit was sharing a fish tea with Jamie Grant, Frank Quitely, Alan Kerr and Iain in the City Cafe. It's the first time I've seen the house red ordered in a greasy spoon style chip shop.
The comic itself looks great and reads well for an anthology which tend usually to be editorially fuzzy and massively variable in terms of the quality of strips inside. Its not a loftily ambitious collection of course, its purely looking for laughs but I think it hits the mark more often than not.
It's available now for £3.25 and you should be able to get it from Forbidden Planet (certainly the Edinburgh store had loads and on checking, the Glasgow FP has copies as well) or direct from our distributor here. You can also get it here.
I notice that you can order it from Amazon as well now.
If you can't find it, gimme a shout and I'll get a copy to you. It may also be worth mentioning that if you subscribe (4 quarterly issues for £17.50 - print off the slip, fill it out and just sent it in - your money covers your comics and your P&P) you'll get an exclusive t-shirt by Simon Bisley, who's also been signed up for the cover for #3.
Here's a nice review we got from The List.
Monday, 6 October 2008
David Simon at the GFT
I had intended to blog this a couple of weeks ago, but I waited until the GFT had it online. Fraser and I went to see David Simon, creator of The Wire at the GFT a few weeks ago.
The sold out evening began with a screening of episode two of the fifth and final season. This caused a few murmurs of complaints from people in the crowd who a) Didn't expect an episode they hadn't seen and b) Didn't like the fact it was episode two and not episode one. It was a great episode though and has a brilliantly dramatic ending.
The talk itself was alternatively amazing and annoying. The Sunday Herald sponsored the event and their journalist Alan Taylor was the man in the chair to interview Simon. He gave off the air of a guy who had speed-watched a couple of seasons on DVD. He wasn't quite sure what character was who and wasted Mr. Simon's time and ours with inane chatter like asking if Avon Barksdale was named after 'Avon calling.' He also made jokey references to Taggart. All of this going straight over David Simon's head as he had no frame of reference.
The questions were the usual mix of quite good and timewasting clowns mistaking a public Q & A for a chance meeting at a party. When the man was allowed to talk he was very entertaining. An interesting and intelligent guy who gave us a lot of the background as to how the show came about, the writing process and of the real life people the characters on the show are based on.
Seven minutes of the talk are down below.
The sold out evening began with a screening of episode two of the fifth and final season. This caused a few murmurs of complaints from people in the crowd who a) Didn't expect an episode they hadn't seen and b) Didn't like the fact it was episode two and not episode one. It was a great episode though and has a brilliantly dramatic ending.
The talk itself was alternatively amazing and annoying. The Sunday Herald sponsored the event and their journalist Alan Taylor was the man in the chair to interview Simon. He gave off the air of a guy who had speed-watched a couple of seasons on DVD. He wasn't quite sure what character was who and wasted Mr. Simon's time and ours with inane chatter like asking if Avon Barksdale was named after 'Avon calling.' He also made jokey references to Taggart. All of this going straight over David Simon's head as he had no frame of reference.
The questions were the usual mix of quite good and timewasting clowns mistaking a public Q & A for a chance meeting at a party. When the man was allowed to talk he was very entertaining. An interesting and intelligent guy who gave us a lot of the background as to how the show came about, the writing process and of the real life people the characters on the show are based on.
Seven minutes of the talk are down below.
Friday, 3 October 2008
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