The Office: Japonese Version (The Original)

Justin Timberlake - Medley

Justin Timberlake - Medley (Late Night With Jimmy Fallon) from Macken Entertainment on Vimeo.

Hamm and Buble

I'm a big Jon Hamm fan. 

Despite being known to the wider audience as Don Draper in the TV show Mad Men, his talent for comedy is impressive (and I'm not saying that just based on this SNL sketch)

The Act of Killing (2013)

Must see documentary!

I Ain't Superstitious

by: Santana feat. Jonny Lang

Gary Clark Jr.

Outro

Things are changing

Nebraska (2013)

The best movie I've seen this year.

Simple as that.

Jimmy Fallon and Jason Statham Arm Wrestle

Hilarious!!

Le Passe (2013)

 So I did!

After getting tremendously pumped with the trailer, I ended up seeing Le Passe (2013) two days after I published my previous post.

Directed by Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi, known for bringing us in 2012 the Oscar winning A Separation (2011), this new venture of his was able to emulate - to a certain extent - his previous success, by being nominated for the Palme d’Or at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, having lost to this year’s sensation Blue is the warmest color (2013).

Despite coming short in the race for the coveted award, Le Passe is deserving  of high praise. Story is well written and very gripping, the directing is great and acting is at a very high standard… although I must say, I felt that in certain occasions the actors could have stepped up just a little bit, however, this terrific cast lead by Berenice Bejo, Tahar Rahim and Ali Mosaffa is in great form.

I highly recommend it! 

I need to see this, I need to see this, I need to see this...

The Problem is Civil Obedience

Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul read out the last scene of Breaking Bad

The Ambiguously Gay Duo is back!

The Chain

by: Fleetwood Mac

(I Wanna) Channing All Over Your Tatum - Official Music Video

Some 2013 albums for you to hear

White Lies

Big TV (2013)

Ellie Goulding
Halcyon Days (2013)

If So

by: Atlas Genius

Gravity (2013)

After hearing and reading so many great reviews, I finally watched Gravity (2013) and I can confirm: 
It is definitely one of the best movies to have come out this year.

From start to finish you can’t help but commit to every scene... Either because it’s visually stunning, because Alfonso Cuaron’s takes (some of them pretty long) are gripping and fantastically well executed (the guy is a pro... Have you seen Children of Men?), because the musical score just hypnotizes you or because Sandra Bullock’s acting is so engaging, you end up getting emotionally involved. Having all of this together (and then some) just makes it one of the most remarkable cinema experiences you can ever have. It is, without a doubt, an instant classic, which I'm sure people will talk about in years to come. It’s that good!

I should also add that 3D actually works on this one. I’ve seen plenty of 3 Dimensional movies since Avatar (2009) came out and maybe one or two were able to impress me, but you could always argue if it’s entirely justifiable to use that technology. I mean, does a movie actually gain from it?

In this case yes! 

For the first time, I can actually say, this movie was a lot better because 3D was used. This not to say you needed that element as almost a distraction of sorts... Not at all! The scripting, the editing, the (fantastic) direction... it’s all there! It all works! But the 3D is undoubtedly a great addition to this great contemporary piece of art.

I urge you to see this in a proper cinema room.

You won’t regret it!

Timestreched

by: Alif Tree

Sonnentanz

by: Klangkarussell feat.Will Heard

Sirius / Eye In The Sky

by: Alan Parsons Project

Gimme Shelter

by: The Rolling Stones

Movies to keep an eye on

The Secret Life of Walter Minty

Charlie Countryman

Captain Phillips (2013)

Captain Phillips (2013) is based upon the book A Captain's Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALs, and Dangerous Days at Sea, which entails the story of merchant mariner Captain Richard Phillips, who was taken hostage by Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean during the Maersk Alabama hijacking in 2009 led by Abduwali Muse.

It's one of those films that goes beyond the mere storyline... If you remember watching it on the news or even if you just followed the marketing campaigns around this long-feature, you pretty much know the final outcome. The "good guy" (read my side note below the trailer) lives to tell the story (and write about it as well). And even knowing what will happen ahead, you can't avoid but be consumed by the anxiety... you are always waiting for the moment where the Captain will finally be safe. I love that! I love how the direction, scripting and acting can lead someone into experiencing a nerve wrecking situation, despite knowing how it all ends. And you can watch it as many times as you want, but the build up will always take the best out of you. That's pure magic!

This film is another successful venture by director Paul Greengrass, known to bigger audiences for his involvement with The Bourne Ultimatum (2007). His name alone is becoming more synonymous with quality, but if that won't take you to the cinema, then add to the mix two-time Oscar winner Tom Hanks.

Despite being somehow away from those vintage performances that have granted him five nominations, you know exactly what he can bring to the table. And believe you me, he has delivered an outstanding performance that will surely be acknowledged by the Academy next year.

But there's more...

Opposite Tom Hanks, we have Barkhad Abdi who makes his début in the big screen with a terrific performance, which has been applauded by the audience and critics, however, I actually don't think it's enough to earn an Oscar nomination... but that's just my opinion. Nonetheless, the Somali-American actor deserves a lot of credit, specially considering his lack of experience in the art of acting.

Within the 2 hours and 14 minutes that make this movie, there are times where you will become impatient,  thinking: "Just get on with it!"... but after watching it until the end, I came to realize the build up was necessary for the final scenes to have a bigger impact. The last 20 minutes or so will put you on the edge of your seat, culminating with a mesmerizing Hanks master-class that on it's own would make the movie worth it.

* In this case, good guy is kind of a loose term. Since the film was released, a lot of the original crew members came out to the media saying that Richard Philips was the one to blame for the events that happened in 2009. It is said that he ignored several warnings not to take his ship around those waters due to high risks of being hijacked by Pirates. Adding to that, they've called him reckless, "a loose canon" filled with arrogance and contempt for the men he was supposed to lead. Nonetheless, that's an extra bit of information that I leave you to do... There's a couple of nice articles and a piece by CNN which includes interviews with not only members of the crew, but the Captain himself. 

Links:
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYEM6NnUmeU
- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/piracy/10368163/Crew-seized-by-pirates-say-Tom-Hanks-movie-has-got-hero-Captain-Phillips-wrong.html 
- http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/captain-philips-lawsuit-claims-hero-20441868

Superman 75th Anniversary

 by: DC Comics

From the creative minds of Zack Snyder (Man of Steel) and Bruce Timm (Superman: The Animated Series) and produced by Warner Bros. Animation, this short follows Superman through the years, from his first appearance on the cover of Action Comics #1 to Henry Cavill in this year's Man of Steel...all in two minutes!

Filth (2013)

Directed by Jon S Baird, Filth (2013) is based on IrvineWelsh’s novel that revolves around Scottish detective Bruce Robertson, played by a superb James MaCvoy – who in my eyes deserves at least an Oscar nod.

Alongside McAvoy, the likes of Jamie Bell, Jim Broadbent, Imogen Poots and Eddie Marsan gave huge contributions to the film… specially the latter, who was involved in some of the best scenes (from now on Darude’s  Sandstorm will always bring me to tears of laughter).

I was told to expect graphic and intense scenes, so to a certain extent I felt prepared to what was coming… and the truth is… those scenes were delivered, but they felt almost "easy to watch" due to its contribution to the storyline and to its task completing to a full extent the personality of the lead character and those around him. In other words, the most intense scenes weren’t there to shock. They were there for its artistic value in the storytelling process.  

It’s no surprise Filth was written by the same guy who brought us Trainspotting. Even though they tell two completely different stories, they share a lot of similarities. This leads me to suggest “if you liked one, then you will like the other”. At least, I hope so… Both are deserving of tremendous praise.

Brand New Day

by: Kodaline

Wait for Me

by: Kings of Leon

- Taken from their (amazing) latest album Mechanical Bull -

Prisoners

"Haunting, suspenseful, and masterfully acted, Prisoners has an emotional complexity and a sense of dread that makes for absorbing (and disturbing) viewing."

(In a nutshell)

Josh Groban Sings Kanye West Tweets

GBZ ROCK FORTE: Um festival de musica por uma causa maior

Após o sucesso de 2009 e 2011, a Associação Gambozinos volta a organizar, em conjunto com a Câmara Municipal de Cascais, o seu maior festival de angariação de fundos: o GBZ RockForte. João Só, Capitães da Areia, Asterisco Cardinal Bomba Caveira e Ciclo Preparatório irão dar música ao Parque de Palmela, em Cascais, no dia 28 de Setembro. A noite começa às 20h e irá ainda contar com a primeira atuação da banda Gambozinos, após o lançamento do primeiro CD, em 2012.

“Da primeira para a segunda edição do RockForte houve um grande salto”, realça a diretora do evento, Joana Pessoa Jorge. Com início em 2009, no Forte de S. Bruno, em Caxias (que dá o nome ao evento), onde estiveram presentes cerca de 300 pessoas, rapidamente se foi expandindo. “Em 2011, o RockForte cresceu, quer em termos de espaço (Parque de Palmela), quer em número de pessoas, contando com mais de 700.” Este ano, a expectativa é conseguir dar continuidade aos resultados dos anos anteriores.

E para que servem esses resultados? Para ajudar a Associação Gambozinos a custear os seus diferentes projetos com crianças e jovens de meios sociais, económicos e culturais distintos. Projetos que promovem a justiça social e envolvem grupos de formação durante o ano, explicações, campos de férias, acompanhamento a famílias, entre outros, em bairros no Pragal, Peniche e Braga e cidades como Lisboa e Porto, entre outras.

OS bilhetes, que custam 10 euros (ou 15 euros, no próprio dia), já se encontram à venda na Bilheteira Online (internet, Fnac, CTT, El corte inglês e locais habituais). Destinam-se a todas as pessoas, de qualquer idade, que queiram ter uma ótima noite de pop e rock português, num anfiteatro ao ar livre, celebrando o final de mais um Verão.

Mais informações podem ser consultadas no site da Associação (www.gambozinos.org) ou como na página de divulgação do evento no Facebook (www.facebook.com/gbzrockforte). 

(Source: newsletter Gambozinos)

Yellow Bricks

by: Arctic Monkeys

Run Boy Run

by: Woodkid

We Disappear

by: Jon Hopkins

‘American Psycho’: Ten Years Later/Twenty Years Later

If you are a big American Psycho fan just like me, then check out this Vice article written by James Franco

Zaytoun

Coming out soon...

Side note... loved this song on the trailer

I Forgot My Phone

The Memory Remains (Live)

by: Metallica feat. San Francisco Symphonic Orchestra

Taken from one of my all time favorite albums - S&M

What a show this must had been!!

Overacting

Ansioso para o comeco da serie Overacting com estreia marcada para 2 de Setembro na SIC Radical

Enfase para o meu grande amigo Luis Filipe D'Almeida Eusebio com a sua personagem: Meu Puto

Dead Hearts

by: Stars

It Never Entered My Mind

by: Miles Davis

The Missing

by: Deerhunter

Who Knows Who Cares - A Take Away Show

by: Local Natives

Antidotes

by: Peasant's King

Really worth watching...

... Dustin Hoffman talking on his experience doing Tootsie (1982)

Dazed and Confused

by: Led Zeppelin

23 Fears

by: Tigers That Talked

One of the highlights...

... of my recent stay in Portugal.

Helicopter

by: The Branches

Rambo + Terminator + Jesus Christ

Escape Plan

 

Pavement

Stereo

 Spit on Stranger

Mumford & Sons... and friends!

Man of Steel (2013)

 I will try and keep this short... but we all know that's almost impossible.

Saw the long waited Man of Steel (2013), a reboot of the Superman series owned by DC Comics. 

My expectations were incredibly high for a lot of different reasons... 

Trailer, director (Zack Snyder) and producer (Christopher Nolan), cast (Henry Canvill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, Kevin Costner, Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne and Russell Crowe), "time & age" in which it was released with so many different special effects and other resources to be used and abused... 

This and much more... but even with all of what was just mentioned (more than enough motivation for me to have gone and watch it), the main reason was obviously the lead character: Superman. 

It's someone that I've grown almost alongside with, despite being created around the 30's. 

I have followed the "Man of Steel" from a very early age, reading most of his comic books, watching all the cartoons and movies... doing research by reading "history books" or watching documentaries. It was impossible to escape the obvious influences...
To a certain extent, through my parents - who allowed me to consume as much as I could from the "man in the blue suit" - I was even partially educated through his moral and ethic values. 

With all of this, I've always considered myself to be sort of an expert on Kal-El (if there's such a thing), which led me to become dramatically critic of anything that is done around Superman.

So, with all this in mind, what's my take on this Man of Steel? 

Disappointing is one of the (many) words that come up to mind.
 I didn't hate it... far from it, but there are key components that either were missing or given the "screen time" it should have never seen. 

From his young days to the death of his "Earth Father" (this is no spoiler... or at least it shouldn't be), the introduction and development (or lack of) of the "Fortress of Solitude", going through his relationship with Lois Lane, and ending with his integration in the Daily Planet (and much more) was poorly constructed, developed... and some of it was heavily distorted.

Despite all of this, there are plenty of good things... Most of the casting was good, liked the villain and visually it's magnificent. There is a lot of "eye candy" to go around, all of it done with finesse and creativity. This is as close as Superman has ever been portrayed... becoming tangible... believable - almost real to our eyes and in our minds.

Nonetheless, the rest felt pretty empty. 

Poor scripting... just shallow and superficial almost at every end. What I thought Christopher Nolan was brought in to avoid/make happen... didn't! For me, it's nothing more than a showcase of what money and technology can do. 

People complained that Superman Returns (2006) - the previous Superman directed by Bryan Singer and portrayed by newcomer Brandon Routh - was missing action sequences. 

So what have production companies have learned from it? That Superman needs to blow up things and have tremendous fighting scenes. 

No doubt about it... they have delivered that. Too much in fact!

So if I had to sum up all of this in a couple of lines?

I would say this is not the movie to educate people on who Superman is, where he comes from and what he is all about. This is a modern day adaptation based on current comic book editions, that fail to deliver the real core of the greatest super-hero of all-time.  If you are able to set aside from the story and just want your money's worth on entertainment... then Man of Steel is a good bet! Otherwise... it will just disappoint you - especially if you are a true die-hard Superman fan like myself.

You are better off still watching the Richard Donner movie Superman filmed in 1978 (trailer) starring the then unknown Christopher Reeve who portrayed Superman on-screen just as much as off it.