Belongings

by: Clock Opera

A Lion's Heart

by: The Tallest Man on Earth

McBain

Probably my favourite Simpsons character!

In here a compilation of moments taken from various episodes throw ut the years, leading up to the face
 off between McBain and senator Mendonza!



Somewhere (2010)

Somewhere (2010) might strike some as dull and repetitive… The first scene of the movie clearly points that out, but for me it has a lot of depth and offers an interesting insight on the life of a Hollywood star while he tries to figure out something more to his own existence.

Stephen Dorff’s character is emotionally deprived and lives in isolation most of his days. You could assume that he has access to everything money can buy, living a bohemian life and spending his time at the Chateau Marmont, one of Hollywood's most well known escape points. But all seems pointless if you don’t find passion in what you do or if you don’t have any love in your surroundings. Without those, Johnny Marco is lost… and he seems just fine with it. He looks to have settled with that idea and shows no desire to struggle and give his life any purpose or meaning. All and all, that comes to change when he is required to take care of his daughter, after her mother decided to run off. This represents a big emotional challenge for Johnny. Something that opens new gates for him, as he changes his perception on life and discovers there’s more things to it, than fame and success.

Dorff is an excellent choice for the role and I’m glad to see him involved in interesting projects under good directors. His chemistry with Elle Fanning (playing his young daughter) is all over the movie, giving a genuine (or so it seems) look at the ups and downs of a Hollywood career and the consequences it might bring your way.

To be honest, the film didn’t stroke much of an impact right away, but after thinking and researching about it, some very interesting points came clear and brought a whole different light into Sofia’s vision. But truth be told, even though I enjoyed the movie, I had higher expectations. I remember watching the trailer for the first time and even posting in on my blog, praising Sofia Coppola as a wonderful director/screenwriter and stating that Dorff is an underestimated actor. Oh and I also took notice of the soundtrack that makes presence in the trailer, opening with Phoenix and closing with The Strokes (I'll Try Anything Once seems like it was written on purpose for the film). In fact, talking about soundtrack, that was left to the capable hands of Phoenix to be done. It’s good with plenty of tracks from their last project Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (2009), one of my favourite albums!

Nonetheless, I've enjoyed quite a lot the acting, the writing, the visual aspect of it all in which you could see the attention to detail!

Over The Sun/Under The Water

by: You Can't Win Charlie Brown

Portuguese band with a lot of potential!

 

Meanwhile, I can't seem to find the album, so any tips on where to get it are welcome!

Jeff Buckley on Film

It looks like they have given the green light to make a Jeff Buckly biopic and it will start Penn Badgley in the lead role!



Can't really say I'm that excited! Don't know nothing about this actor besides the fact that he is very popular on the TV show Gossip Girl. Anyway, it will be good to get Buckley's name out there. He was gifted with a great high pitch voice and good skills as a musician. One of my favorite artists and a cultural pop figure in the music scene that went unoticed by some...

Meanwhile, can't really remember if I spoke before of Buckley as an artist... and if not, I'm sure not to write about him right now, because it require a minium amount of attention and research to try and do his name some justice. Nonetheless, I will leave here one of his best tracks: Grace



Dance Dance Dance

by: Lykke Li & Bon Iver

Lykke Li & Bon Iver doing 'Dance Dance Dance' in L.A from Lykke Li on Vimeo.

Limit to your Love

Although being an original from Feist, this version belongs to James Blake

Flashing Red Light Means Go

by: The Boxer Rebellion

What’s the use in my advice that you just turn down?
Swaying to a serenade, you never hear a sound
But I know you know now

Generate the false alarms
The verdict: counterfeit
Flashing lights to bring you back from who you’re running with
But I know you know now

Tell me why you’re leaving us

Moving to a caged mistake
Expression isolates
Owing up for deals you struck
For deals you can’t replace
But I know you know now

And you can’t say no
You can’t say
And you can’t say no
You can’t
You can’t say

Tell me why you’re leaving us
(Why’d you want to leave so bad?)

Obrigado Nuno Gomes!

Dei tudo por esta camisola

For all of my international readers (if I have any) I would like to apologize for the following post that will be written in Portuguese. But just so you know, it's about the official goodbye from Benfica's captain Nuno Gomes, who just announced that he will not proceed his last season as a player playing for the Eagles.

É com muita pena que vejo anunciado online a saída do Nuno Gomes do plantel do Benfica. Sabendo que isto era um cenário possível e até muito provável, não deixa de ser uma decisão que me cai bastante mal... Por todos os motivos! Mas é principalmente de um ponto de vista emocional que faço esta observação. É que o Nuno Gomes era tão somente a minha grande referência naquele que é o clube do meu coração!

Certamente não serei o único a olhar para o nosso #21 desta forma...

Ele é visto como um símbolo do clube da mesma forma que os adeptos hoje em dia olham para o Rui Costa ou o João Vieira Pinto (apenas para citar jogadores da mesma geração e de uma história recente), sendo este último um caso diferente pela sua recta final, no entanto, continua a ser um dos grandes nomes associado à história do clube, bem como um favorito entre os simpatizantes dos encarnados. Seja como for, e concordem com as minhas comparações ou não, o Nuno Gomes é um dos mais apreciados pela massa associativa e embora sejam muitos aqueles que o criticam de tempo em tempo (porque o que reina mais em Portugal é a memória curta), nas alturas de maior aperto tanto a nível de clubes como a nível de Selecção, temos a marca do nosso capitão em alguns dos golos/momentos mais cruciais na história do futebol Português (ficam na memória jogos como contra a França e Espanha no Euro 2000 e 2004 respectivamente).

Acredito que ele continuasse a ser uma mais-valia pelo contributo que iria oferecer tanto no campo, como no balneário. É um jogador com grande experiência, grande espírito de sacrifício e entre-ajuda... Para não falar que é um líder com grande peso na equipa... e de uma inteligência entre as quatro-linhas como pouco se vê.

Pode não ser um atleta de instinto matador como se pretende para a sua posição, mas apresenta qualidades que sempre fizeram dele uma escolha regular nos "onzes" titulares do Benfica. A sua capacidade para jogar de costas para a baliza e a sua qualidade no passe e nas denominadas "tabelinhas" são as suas armas mais fortes, aliadas ao seu posicionamento táctico e, claro está, a inteligência na forma como aborda cada lance. Naturalmente a sua idade acaba por o condicionar, sabendo também que há causas "extra-futebol" que o impedem de dar o seu contributo... mas estou convicto que haveria sempre forma de contornar esta situação, embora pudesse não ser de todo a solução mais agradável para a sua carreira, visto que o Nuno pretende jogar com regularidade!

É engraçado porque apenas agora me apercebi que todo este caso remonta um pouco para a mesma situação que o Raul atravessou no Real Madrid!

Espero apenas que o Nuno possa continuar a brilhar noutro clube, sem nunca deixar de ser apreciado e respeitado por todos aqueles que aos seus ombros andaram... 

Muito se brincou com o anúncio do McDonalds onde o Nuno prometeu pagar a refeição em golos... 

...  Eu cá digo que a divida dele há muito está saldada!

Apresento-vos agora informação retirada do site Record referente à carreira de Nuno Gomes. Nesse mesmo site poderão encontrar muito mais artigos sobre o antigo internacional Português!

Números no campeonato português 

1997/98 - 33 jogos/18 golos 

1998/99 - 34/24 

1999/00 - 34/18 

2002/03 - 27/9 

2003/04 - 21/7 

2004/05 - 23/7 

2005/06 - 29/15 

2006/07 - 24/6 

2007/08 -25/7 

2008/09 - 24/7 

2009/10 - 13/3 

2010/11 - 5/

Datas Marcantes

Primeiro troféu 

22 de Junho de 1997 - Ganha o primeiro troféu na carreira. No Boavista, já depois de ter assinado pelo Benfica, conquista a Taça de Portugal (3-2) e marca à futura equipa.

Estreia no Benfica 

24 de Agosto de 1997 - Estreia-se com a camisola encarnada no jogo entre Benfica e Campomaiorense, que acabou num expressivo 4-0. A estrela em ascensão entrou aos 68 minutos da partida.

Primeiro golo na Selecção

16 de Junho de 2000 - No Campeonato da Europa, disputado na Holanda e Bélgica, faz o primeiro golo pela Seleção, e logo aquele que nos dá a vitória (3-2) sobre a Inglaterra.

Taça de Itália 

13 de Junho de 2001 - Na Fiorentina, ainda com Rui Costa, ergue a Taça de Itália, depois de marcar ao Parma (1-1) o golo que valeu o troféu.

Campeão pelo Benfica 

22 de Maio de 2005 - Torna-se, finalmente, campeão nacional, o que por coincidência, sucedeu no Estádio onde se lançou para o futebol: no Bessa o Benfica empatou e ganhou a Liga.

Últimos golos 

24 de Março de 2011 - Marca os últimos golos de águia ao peito. No Estádio da Mata Real, em jogo entre o Paços de Ferreira e o Benfica a contar para 24ª jornada da Liga Zon Sagres, o capitão encarnado entrou aos 77 minutos e teve tempo suficiente para marcar dois tentos, um aos 82 minutos e outro aos 92.

Último jogo 

14 de Maio de 2011 - Realiza a sua última partida, tendo entrado nos últimos 5 minutos da partida entre Benfica e U.Leiria a contar para a 30ª jornada da Liga Zon Sagres e que terminou num empate a 3 golos.

We are equals, aren't we?

 Interesting  caimpagn lead by no other than 007 himself:

Mr. James Bond



Two of the latest albums that I heard...

... and I really enjoyed!

Bon Iver - Bon Iver (2011)

Out of the two albums that I chose to mention, Bon Iver's is the one who stands out!

If any doubts remained with the first album (which I don't believe so), then this second project just wipes them out! Call it "the confirmation", whatever! These guys are very good and hopefully... more works like this are bound to come!

Adele - 21 (2011)

As for Adele, she presents herself more mature as two years went by since her début album 19 ! 

21 seems like the same formula... and works impeccably! The talent is all there... be it in her vocal skills, her piano notes or in her lyrical stories and tales of experience!

While I don't listen to their new album (already released)...

I'll stick with this track from their previous one!

Pete and The Pirates - I'll Love

J' attendrai le suivant



Allo Darlin' - Allo Darlin' (2010)

This Allo Darlin’ post begins with another of my London stories…

Almost every weekend I take a walk down Bricklane to enjoy some of the best food, markets and pop culture London has to offer…

In that routine walk of mine, one place that I always make a point of stopping is Rough Trade! For those of you who aren’t familiar with Rough trade, basically it’s a popular english franchise of music shops.

This shop is probably one of my favourite spots in all of London, due to it’s music selection and “ambiance”. It’s also considered an attraction over it’s photo booth that takes very cool personalized pictures.

Getting back to the main story…

I was alongside with a couple of friends of mine, taking the usual tour around the store, when a track caught my attention. As I slightly hesitated if I should get out of the cue for the photo booth… the track increasingly gathered some rhytmn clapping as we tried to keep up with the melody.

Obviously, I ended up at the balcony asking to the person in the counter what was playing. It turns out, the group was from Bricklane and their name was Allo Darlin’.

Eventually I got the album, uploaded it to my iPod and on my way to work got to listen to it, repeating the same dosage at the end of the day.

Have to say... it’s pretty good!

The quartet made of from Elizabeth Morris, Paul Rains, Bill Botting and Mikey Collins, compose simple but elegant tracks with a Spring/Summer feel in to it!

Dreaming stands out as my personal favourite in a quality playlist! It's one of many tracks that I've been listening to recentely that remind me of Summer and good times, with a special connection between London and Cascais. 

Also Let’s Go Swimming get’s me thinking of London, much due to it's constant references of the city. In fact, the whole lyrics are so close to my experience here, that it's almost impossible not to bond with the track.

It’s with those two that I will conclude this post, along with a request:

Share this! It’s worth listening to!



Ronaldo: O Fenomeno (The Phenomenon)

One of the best players in the history of football

One that could even have been the best of them all, had not been for so many injuries in is career...

... made his last game for the Brazilian squad...

... probably the last of his career!

Ronaldo / R9 / Fenomeno

Remember some of his best moments...

Soundtrack to the End

by: Communist Daughter

One of those tracks that I picked up by watching Grey's!

Don't know anything about the group, but that didn't stop me from posting this song!



X-Men: First Class (2011)



When the first teaser came out, it was already highly anticipated from my part!

Since I was a little kid, the X-Men have been one of my favourite Marvel creations, going beyond the comic strips of which I was a big fan. There were also the 90’s cartoons, video-games and toys contributing to my growing affiliation to the “mutant gang”.

Fast forward a few years later, the movies came out in the early 00’s! Also good, adding different perspectives to their background source material, but remaining faithful to their core essence. Then X-Men Origins: Wolverine came and ruined it… and even though it consisted on its title character, I think the whole X-Men franchise was affected. So basically, they really needed X-Men: First Class (2011) to do good, so it would gave them a huge boost… otherwise their future projects around Professor X and his pupils might not have the same impact in times to come. And I don’t say this in a financial point of view (as almost every Marvel production does well at the box office), but more in terms of reception by critics and fans all around.

Fortunately it did! The reviews and iMDB reaction were so good that it became impossible for me to resist going to a screening room in London.

Matthew Vaughn does an excellent work behind the camera by giving his work an exceptional well timed pace, plus perfectly drifting from action sequences in to an exploitation of the history (a prequel to the trilogy), the characters and their developments from an emotional stand.

Other decisions on this movie making: The option of going to the vintage costumes was excellent and even the sets (derivate from a James Bond classic era) effectively demonstrate the time and age that we are witnessing, adding more positive sides to create a suitable environment for the story.

Also credit is due to the team behind the screenplay. They added a lot of rich elements to the narrative, giving the storyline a darker and a more real feel to it, something that I thought it was proper to stimulate an adult audience, especially in some of the Erik Lehnsherr/Magneto scenes.

And it’s with Erik as a young boy that we begin the film. In a very drama fashion opening scene, it reminded me some of the great movies reflecting the Holocaust times, such as Schindler’s List (1993) or The Pianist (2002). I thought it was remarkable how a blockbuster like X-Men could evoke so easily some of the same feelings I got when watching those movies. It felt so intense… so real! And while we see Erik grow up in to the man we follow until the end credits, we can feel his pain and anger. Although knowing up front he his to be considered the villain in the X-Men saga, we sympathize! We almost support his cause and we become more understanding! To certain extent we even support his quest for vengeance. That is definitely an interesting point for those you don’t follow the comic books, because their immediate reaction his to dislike Magneto because he’s just labelled as “the bad guy”. But one of the things that make X-Men a success is their vast, complex and interesting backgrounds.

But, even though having the right story or the right character is half way through… you still need the right casting. And how right could they be when they chose Michael Fassebender for the role? This actor of German Irish descendentcy is quickly becoming one of the most promising lead actors in Hollywood after establishing himself in both indie and mainstream pictures. 300 (2006), Hunger (2008) and Inglorious Basterds (2009) stand as his milestones, before landing in one of the leads in X-Men: First Class. His performance is nothing short of outstanding, with particular emphasis for the first 25 minutes that, in my opinion, out shadows all of the other casts contribute.

But wait!

James MacAvoy, the other lead in this movie is also very good as Charles Xavier, the man later on to be known as Professor X, leader of the X-Men.

MacAvoy, also a young but accomplished actor in the Hollywood scenario, came to prominence with The Last King of Scotland (2006), then going on to act in other movies such as Atonement (2007) or Wanted (2008). In this particular movie he goes so far as to give body to an unknown side of Xavier, a side that I also wasn’t really aware. A young man that passed as ambitious, womanizer and even (in some occasions) arrogant! The combination of all these attributes made it more fascinating to see how the character would unveil and MacAvoy did a wonderful job guiding the audience through that path, making sure we would always stand by his side no matter what.

Well… this actually brings a good point of discussion! Something that I even think it’s worth bringing up in scholar debates (for instances).

The friendship established by the two main characters sets a different course when they begin a conflict over their different ways of dealing with problems in hands.

If on one hand Charles thinks that mutants should be the better man and turn the other cheek, Erik believes they should fight back. And it’s in this conflict of interests and personalities that we see resemblances between Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcom X, two of the biggest freedom fighters in the history of mankind.

One sided for acts of peace, the other wanted to “reply” in the same measures.

The X-Men doesn’t go too far from that! In the real story of MLK and Malcom X they would fight for equal rights between the black and white communities, in the comics/movies is more about the differences between humans and mutants. The struggle seems the same… a society that doesn’t pass judgment on difference, but allows them to live together in peace and equal terms. But history has proven than acceptance doesn’t come cheap nor without effort! People don’t make it easier as they should. They build barriers, they create demons and they find excuses to provoque some of the most horrible events that man has ever seen. 

Anyway... (trying to wrap it up), the movie stands out for a lot of reasons:

It has plenty of action, drama and humour... Great crew, great actors (especially Fassebender and MacAvoy, who show great chemistry), great story and surprise cameos!!!

By far the best from all the X-Men movies and maybe the best Marvel movie yet!

(you can quote me on that!)



Background Noise

Have been through this so many times in my life... going for a walk... minding my own business... and abruptly (out of the blue), just getting absorbed by a background track! Sometimes I know the track, sometimes I don’t… but this time was just cool to hear two of my biggest hip-hop references sharing the mic!

Beastie Boys and Q-Tip nailing down Get It Together, as the store clerk would “bust a move” while working.

I’m not really surprised! Even I would be all over the place with my crazy (lame) steps!



The Idiot

New video from...

Life in Film



The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo: The American Remake

From time to time there comes along a remake...

Most of them come from an American perspective… and usually they get it all wrong!

But every so often, a good remake emerges, meeting the same quality criterion or even surpassing it…

I have a hunch it might be the case with this remake of the original Swedish version of the Millennium Trilogy. (my personal view on the three swedish movies here - in portuguese)

In other words, this David Fincher’s take on The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009) looks promising!



Georgia

by: Yuck

Another track with that Summer flavor!



2011 Farewell

We have seen some sporting legends retire this year...

Gary Neville

 

Phil Jackson

 

Edwin van der Sar

Paul Scholes



and today...

Shaquille O'Neal

I had the privilege to watch all of the mentioned above…

Saw Gary Neville and Paul Scholes coming up from Man United’s youth squad to their main team…

Saw van der Sar move on from Fulham into a Champions League elite group…

Saw Phil Jackson create a legacy of his own with the Bulls and then with the Lakers…

And saw Shaquille O’Neal winning championship rings and establish himself as one of the best players of the game. A centre to be feared by many disliked by some but respected by all!

Curiously enough, all of the names mentioned belong to two of my favourite teams in both Football and Basketball world. Aside from my home team in Portugal (Benfica), Manchester United is the only team in the world that I am keen on. Never knew why… would guess it has something to do with my older brother, who was also a fan of the Red Devils. But I guess it was impossible not to enjoy a club that had guys like Beckham, Peter Schmeichel (two personal favourite while growing up), Ryan Giggs, Roy Keane, Eric Cantona, Dwight Yorke, Andrew Cole… going through different generations and bringing others like Ferdinand, Van Nistelrooy, Veron, Cristiano Ronaldo and Rooney.

Meanwhile, as for the Lakers… Also with influences from family, as my other brother introduced me to the Showtime Lakers, one of the most prominent teams ever in the league! A team that ruled the 80’s with legends in the likes of Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy and Michael Cooper.

So having a degree of attachment with both teams, it is only natural that I have a more emotional reaction with the end of this season. The departure of these players and manager left an emptiness that can never be fully filled…

Sure the memories remain! Specially the ones that I witnessed in packed stadiums…

Or live in television... The lifting of trophies… The emotional hug between Jackson and Jordan… the champagne showers in the locker-room… and finally their retirement announcements.

Still we can rejoice with moments of sheer genius in a list of epic accomplishments…

A list too big to be enounced…

For their talent and skill, their sense of leadership and their charisma they will remain eternally magical and mystical… even beyond the sports universe!

One of the biggest jokes televised in recent history

61 FIFA Congress

Articles

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Nature of The Experiment

by: Tokyo Police Club

So addicted to this song! The guitars coming up near  the end are gripping as hell!