Saturday, May 05, 2007
With barely any effort whatsoever, actually, yer Pynchon has managed to obtain two tickets for the Stones at the O2 stadium at the end of August. It has cost an arm and a leg, but to say I am excited would be a definite understatement. The Stones are one of those bands that I have never seen live that I have always really wanted to see. It has just occurred to me that by the end of August I will have seen at least one member of the five greatest bands of the sixties playing live.
You know who they are.
The Beatles. (I have seen Macca twice.)
The Rolling Stones. (Roll on August.)
The Who. (The week after next I will have seen them 6 times.)
The Kinks. (I have seen Ray Davies live.)
The Small Faces. (Ian McLagen is Rod Stewart's musical director and plays keyboards in his band. Also, and I'm sure you know this, the first Small Faces album cut post Steve Marriott's departure features Rod Stewart on lead vocals. I have seen Rod Stewart and Ian McLagen live. Ergo, case proven.)
Call me a smug git. I don't care.
What was that? You bought two tickets, you say?
Yes I have. After thinking about it overnight, Lorraine said that she would like to see the Stones with me. A bit of a surprise, it must be said, although whether she actually chooses the trip over work remains to be seen. I hope she does. The gig is on the Sunday before the August Bank Holiday, so I have suggested that we go down on the Saturday, see something in the West End on that day, go to the gig on the Sunday, see something else in the West End on the Monday and then go home on the Tuesday.
Lorraine is not sure. She says I am rushing her.
Pain in the arse. There is holiday time to be booked at work, especially since we are losing staff left, right and centre, it might be difficult to get the time off. Hotel to be booked. Transport arrangements to be made.
Am I rushing things? I don't think that I am.
(By the way, none of this will make any difference to my plans for a West End trip before that. I intend to go as soon as funds are available.)
Today I went to see Shane Meadows new film, "This Is England".
I blow hot and cold on Shane Meadows. I thought that "TwentyFourSeven" was boring. I thought that "A Room For Romeo Brass" was amazing. I thought that "Once Upon A Time In The Midlands" was not what it could have been and relied too much on the gimmick casting of too many well known British character actors. I thought that "Dead Man's Shoes" was a masterpiece.
And so to "This Is England".
In 1983 a lonely bullied young boy Shaun, who's Father has been killed in the previous years' Falklands conflict, makes friends with a group of skinheads. They are not cliched skinheads. In the main they are nice, decent and even kind people. Shaun is made welcome. The group become a surrogate family to him. When a tough, racist, hardcore skinhead called Combo gets out of prison and reintroduces himself to the group, Shaun finds a Father Figure and the family starts to splinter.
You know who they are.
The Beatles. (I have seen Macca twice.)
The Rolling Stones. (Roll on August.)
The Who. (The week after next I will have seen them 6 times.)
The Kinks. (I have seen Ray Davies live.)
The Small Faces. (Ian McLagen is Rod Stewart's musical director and plays keyboards in his band. Also, and I'm sure you know this, the first Small Faces album cut post Steve Marriott's departure features Rod Stewart on lead vocals. I have seen Rod Stewart and Ian McLagen live. Ergo, case proven.)
Call me a smug git. I don't care.
What was that? You bought two tickets, you say?
Yes I have. After thinking about it overnight, Lorraine said that she would like to see the Stones with me. A bit of a surprise, it must be said, although whether she actually chooses the trip over work remains to be seen. I hope she does. The gig is on the Sunday before the August Bank Holiday, so I have suggested that we go down on the Saturday, see something in the West End on that day, go to the gig on the Sunday, see something else in the West End on the Monday and then go home on the Tuesday.
Lorraine is not sure. She says I am rushing her.
Pain in the arse. There is holiday time to be booked at work, especially since we are losing staff left, right and centre, it might be difficult to get the time off. Hotel to be booked. Transport arrangements to be made.
Am I rushing things? I don't think that I am.
(By the way, none of this will make any difference to my plans for a West End trip before that. I intend to go as soon as funds are available.)
Today I went to see Shane Meadows new film, "This Is England".
I blow hot and cold on Shane Meadows. I thought that "TwentyFourSeven" was boring. I thought that "A Room For Romeo Brass" was amazing. I thought that "Once Upon A Time In The Midlands" was not what it could have been and relied too much on the gimmick casting of too many well known British character actors. I thought that "Dead Man's Shoes" was a masterpiece.
And so to "This Is England".
In 1983 a lonely bullied young boy Shaun, who's Father has been killed in the previous years' Falklands conflict, makes friends with a group of skinheads. They are not cliched skinheads. In the main they are nice, decent and even kind people. Shaun is made welcome. The group become a surrogate family to him. When a tough, racist, hardcore skinhead called Combo gets out of prison and reintroduces himself to the group, Shaun finds a Father Figure and the family starts to splinter.
Despite, and I'll be charitable, some variable acting (there were a lot of people who had never acted before in this movie), "This Is England" is a good film. I liked it very much. A strong performance from Thomas Turgoose as Shaun and a very powerful and blistering performance from Stephen Graham as Combo. He really is very frightening indeed. Just a brilliant piece of acting. I hope he was acting...
"This Is England" is well worth seeing.
Lorraine and I are out tomorrow. Sister 3 has invited us to lunch, along with the rest of the family. Depending on how that goes, I may not be blogging again until Monday.
Enjoy the weekend, all. Don't do anything I wouldn't do.
I love you all.
Labels: Lorraine, Movies, Music, Theatre
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
I've asked Lorraine if she would like to go to London to see something in the West End. She said that she didn't have the time, blah, blah, blah, and that I should go by myself. Bit scary, that. I don't think I have ever been around the smoke on my own before. I've always had Lorraine with me.
But I'm going to do it. Don't know when, but probably next month when I have a bit more money. It's an adventure, kids.
I've added links to the last couple of posts. I would have done it last night, but my headache defeated me and I had to go bed. It didn't help. I woke up with the same headache.
I've been listening to a lot of music by these wastrels. Once upon a time they were the greatest looking band in the world. Maybe I'll make the effort, spend a ridiculous amount of money, and finally go to see them this year?
40 years and a few months ago, these two songs were their new double A sided single. Classics. Enjoy.
But I'm going to do it. Don't know when, but probably next month when I have a bit more money. It's an adventure, kids.
I've added links to the last couple of posts. I would have done it last night, but my headache defeated me and I had to go bed. It didn't help. I woke up with the same headache.
I've been listening to a lot of music by these wastrels. Once upon a time they were the greatest looking band in the world. Maybe I'll make the effort, spend a ridiculous amount of money, and finally go to see them this year?
40 years and a few months ago, these two songs were their new double A sided single. Classics. Enjoy.
Labels: Illness, Lorraine, Music, Theatre
Monday, April 30, 2007
I have decided that less is more. Quick reviews of "Straightheads" and "Hysteria".
"Straightheads".
Gillian Anderson is an arrogant, driven, career woman who picks up working class oik Danny Dyer for a night of fun. After a stupid accident in the countryside, they are brutally attacked. After recovering, and after a chance meeting with one of the attackers, their thoughts turn to that of revenge...
I thought "Straightheads" was terrible. Violent, brutal, misogynistic and unpleasant. If I didn't dislike the phrase a great deal I would call "Straightheads" a video nasty. Certainly it was the kind of film that would have had a no budget release straight to video during the dark days of the 1980's. Frankly I don't know how "Straightheads" got a cinema release.
I am not a prude. I don't mind sex and violence in the movies, but they have to be married to a movie with a) a good plot or b) good characterisation or c) preferably both. "Straightheads" had neither. No progression in the plot or the characters and too much left unexplained and unsaid. Luckily "Straightheads" went nowhere fast. It was only 80 minutes long.
It was a shame, because there was the germ of an interesting film here, with an especially interesting turn in the plot in the last third. How often do I say this, but it could have been good if it had been done properly. What a shame. I really like Gillian Anderson and Danny Dyer, but they were on a hiding to nothing with this film. She, especially, is very underrated (and is still particularly fit).
If you want to see a good British revenge movie, rent or buy Shane Meadows' "Dead Man's Shoes". It is a little masterpiece. Last weekend I should have seen his "This Is England" instead. Ce sera sera...
"Hysteria".
In 1938 the young Salvador Dali meets with the aged and dying Sigmund Freud. "Hysteria" is a play about what happens at that meeting. Or is it? Nothing is ever really that simple in a Terry Johnson play.
"Hysteria" has been billed as a farce and I suppose that some of it is. There is running in and out of rooms. A man loses his trousers. A semi clad lady hides in a cupboard. (There is a completely naked lady in Act 2! But that isn't really part of the farce.) A staid and serious gentleman walks in on two men in a completely innocent but compromising position. It is energised, exhausting to watch and very funny.
"Hysteria" is also challenging and profoundly intellectual, tackling themes as diverse as a Doctor's responsibility for his patients, Nazism, denial of Judaism, Atheism, Euthanasia and Surrealism.
I thought that "Hysteria" was spellbinding. Absolutely amazing and brilliant. I love Terry Johnson's work. "The Lorelei", "Hitchcock Blonde", "Insignificence". Lots of others. You can look them up. He is a fascinating writer.
There is an amazing sequence late in the play when Freud's study becomes a Dali fantasy. Or is it a Freudian nightmare? It is the most amazing technical transformation I have seen in a theatre since the collapsing house at the end of a production I saw of "An Inspector Calls" at the Birmingham Rep, a couple of years ago. Knocked my head off.
"Hysteria" at the Birmingham Rep is a great production. If you can see it, do so.
"Straightheads".
Gillian Anderson is an arrogant, driven, career woman who picks up working class oik Danny Dyer for a night of fun. After a stupid accident in the countryside, they are brutally attacked. After recovering, and after a chance meeting with one of the attackers, their thoughts turn to that of revenge...
I thought "Straightheads" was terrible. Violent, brutal, misogynistic and unpleasant. If I didn't dislike the phrase a great deal I would call "Straightheads" a video nasty. Certainly it was the kind of film that would have had a no budget release straight to video during the dark days of the 1980's. Frankly I don't know how "Straightheads" got a cinema release.
I am not a prude. I don't mind sex and violence in the movies, but they have to be married to a movie with a) a good plot or b) good characterisation or c) preferably both. "Straightheads" had neither. No progression in the plot or the characters and too much left unexplained and unsaid. Luckily "Straightheads" went nowhere fast. It was only 80 minutes long.
It was a shame, because there was the germ of an interesting film here, with an especially interesting turn in the plot in the last third. How often do I say this, but it could have been good if it had been done properly. What a shame. I really like Gillian Anderson and Danny Dyer, but they were on a hiding to nothing with this film. She, especially, is very underrated (and is still particularly fit).
If you want to see a good British revenge movie, rent or buy Shane Meadows' "Dead Man's Shoes". It is a little masterpiece. Last weekend I should have seen his "This Is England" instead. Ce sera sera...
"Hysteria".
In 1938 the young Salvador Dali meets with the aged and dying Sigmund Freud. "Hysteria" is a play about what happens at that meeting. Or is it? Nothing is ever really that simple in a Terry Johnson play.
"Hysteria" has been billed as a farce and I suppose that some of it is. There is running in and out of rooms. A man loses his trousers. A semi clad lady hides in a cupboard. (There is a completely naked lady in Act 2! But that isn't really part of the farce.) A staid and serious gentleman walks in on two men in a completely innocent but compromising position. It is energised, exhausting to watch and very funny.
"Hysteria" is also challenging and profoundly intellectual, tackling themes as diverse as a Doctor's responsibility for his patients, Nazism, denial of Judaism, Atheism, Euthanasia and Surrealism.
I thought that "Hysteria" was spellbinding. Absolutely amazing and brilliant. I love Terry Johnson's work. "The Lorelei", "Hitchcock Blonde", "Insignificence". Lots of others. You can look them up. He is a fascinating writer.
There is an amazing sequence late in the play when Freud's study becomes a Dali fantasy. Or is it a Freudian nightmare? It is the most amazing technical transformation I have seen in a theatre since the collapsing house at the end of a production I saw of "An Inspector Calls" at the Birmingham Rep, a couple of years ago. Knocked my head off.
"Hysteria" at the Birmingham Rep is a great production. If you can see it, do so.
Saturday, April 28, 2007
I had some things to say, but the moment has kind of passed. Probably it's because I am a bit tired. It's been a busy day.
Today I went to see a film called "Straightheads" and a play called "Hysteria". One of them was great and one of them was terrible. If I may (as if anybody cares) I will write about "Straightheads" and "Hysteria" tomorrow. If I do it now, it will be drivel.
I can manage a joke, though.
A man came home from work, sat down in his favourite chair, turned on the TV and said to his wife, "Quick! Bring me a beer before it starts."
She looked a little puzzled, but bought him the beer.
When he had finished it, he said, "Quick! Bring me another beer. It's gonna start."
This time she looked a little angry, but bought him a beer. When it was gone, he said, "Quick! Get me another beer before it starts."
"That's it!" She blows her top.
"You fucker! You waltz in her, flop on your fat ass, don't even bother to say hello to me and then expect me to run around the house like your fucking slave getting you beer after beer. Don't you realize that I cook and clean and wash and iron for you all day long?!
The husband sighed sadly and said, "Oh dear. It's started."
Today I went to see a film called "Straightheads" and a play called "Hysteria". One of them was great and one of them was terrible. If I may (as if anybody cares) I will write about "Straightheads" and "Hysteria" tomorrow. If I do it now, it will be drivel.
I can manage a joke, though.
A man came home from work, sat down in his favourite chair, turned on the TV and said to his wife, "Quick! Bring me a beer before it starts."
She looked a little puzzled, but bought him the beer.
When he had finished it, he said, "Quick! Bring me another beer. It's gonna start."
This time she looked a little angry, but bought him a beer. When it was gone, he said, "Quick! Get me another beer before it starts."
"That's it!" She blows her top.
"You fucker! You waltz in her, flop on your fat ass, don't even bother to say hello to me and then expect me to run around the house like your fucking slave getting you beer after beer. Don't you realize that I cook and clean and wash and iron for you all day long?!
The husband sighed sadly and said, "Oh dear. It's started."
Labels: Humour, Movies, Theatre
