Cedar Rapids (2011) it's a great flick! Great cast and script... A delightful quartet with Ed Helms, John C. Reilly (5 star performance like always), Anne Heche and Isiah Whitlock Jr., plus a wonderful supporting cast... Kurtwood Smith (actor that I quite enjoyed watching as the father figure in That 70's Show), Sigourney Weaver and Rob Corddry.
A very smart, innocent, sweet and insightful buddy movie that will go down in history as a cult classic!
Yes! It is a bold statement, but mark my words! Apart from the recognition this film will obtain in these early years upon it's release, it will even gather more appreciation in the long term.
I sort it compare Cedar Rapids to Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)... Not so much in terms of content, but in terms of significance.
It's one of those things that only time will tell...
Meus amigos, venho por este meio apresentar-vos ao Festival ROCK FORTE2011!
Este festival aparece numa altura, diria eu, bastante apropriada visto que estamos a atingir o final do Verão e nada melhor do que festa, animação e RockNRoll ao melhor estilo Português para uma despedida em grande!
A ser realizado dia 10 de Setembro, no Auditório F. Lopes Graça, no Parque de Palmela (Cascais), este projecto é levado a cabo pelo grupo Gambozinos em parceria com a Câmara Municipal de Cascais, com o intuito de angariar dinheiro para os vários projectos dos Gambozinos.
Por uns meros 15 euros (normal) ou 10 euros (estudantes) - já à venda na bilheteira online, Fnac e CTT - podem ter uma noite fantástica de música portuguesa e outras actividades ao mesmo tempo que contribuem para uma óptima causa!
After the huge success that Slumdog Millionaire (2008) made a few years ago, Danny Boyle returns yet again with another critically acclaimed movie!
127 Hours (2010) stars James Franco in what you can call a solo effort, one that has certainly added more star power into his already strong reputation. It is in fact a tour de force as Franco delivers a powerful performance through almost one hour and half, assisted by an excellent style of directing from Boyle's part.
I have to say... after one or two editing sequences that (in my humble opinion) weren't very appealing (to say the least, but this is me being extremely rigid) I was worried with Boyle's performance...
Nonsense! Never doubt the capabilities of a genius like this Englishman! Great montages aliened and perfectly synced with A. R. Rahman soundtrack, giving the script and acting all it needed to go all the way.
Based on the amazing true story of mountain climber Aron Ralston, 127 Hours is very entertainment in spite of it's premise which has a man trapped between the moutains.
Inspiring in so many ways, it's also a reminder of how we need to cherish certain people or moments in life because we never know how things might go down...
Once upon a time there was a Portuguese boy named Miguel Simões...
He dreamed of becoming a musician and experience all the great things that come with it...
Eager to learn more, Miguel decided to come to London seeking ways for him to master the guitar...
Throught those initial weeks, while practising on his instrument and looking for something else to keep him occupied, Miguel had the idea of posting an ad requesting for a, let's say... "musical soul mate"!
And so, after a few replays and a casting session, Mike meet an English girl by the name of Zara (Yes! Like the Spanish brand!)!
Right away by the sound of her voice and the chemistry he felt he knew right away that she was "the one", requesting her to immediately join him so they could begin their rehearsals together!
As time went by, from jam sessions to ordinary conversations and planning, from cover to cover until they started unleashing their own originals, Zara and Miguel began to bond! And with their bonding, came future projects... ones that would be faced as challenges with their new start as a musical duo.
And so we arrive to this point of the story in which the main characters are looking to set their careers with an auspicious beginning, enlisting themselves into a competition promoted by the Pizza Express franchise in association with Jamie Cullum (who actually rose to stardom by singing at that specific restaurant)!
I invite all of you to follow my lead and take part in this story by listening their track Moments on YouTube and placing your like on the website, plus spreading this link (blog or video, really doesn't matter) to family and friends!
Don't forget! Like Like Like! It will be placed as a vote!
Also, go to the website to have a sense of the competition and read the request from Zara and Miguel themselves:
Zara & Miguel's original song 'Moments' - our entry to 'The Big Audition with Jamie Cullum' competition.
The judges will be reviewing all the entries in the next few days...there are two things you can do to help our entry stand out: - open the youtube link and press like (this is if you have an account on youtube and if you do like it!) - share the video and copy this text!
Today marks the 65 anniversary day of Freddie Mercury, the iconic front man of Rock&Roll legends and one of my favourite groups: Queen!
As most of you know, Mercury died of AIDS-related causes in 1991 leaving the world in total shock...
Yes, there was still a lot of prejudice towards people infected with AIDS, a disease that left people wondering about people's personal life. But, I think that shock wasn't much of a reaction related to his illness, but more to the fact that they lost at a relatively young age, one of the biggest musical geniuses to ever walk this planet!
Gifted with a tremendous voice and a personality to match, Farrokh Bulsara later known as Freddie Mercury became a symbol! Not only of the 70's and 80's where Queen rose to prominence, but to every music lover!
His music is universal and eternal. His contribution is without a shadow of a doubt one of the biggest legacies to be left in the world and that is just one of the reasons why he is still highly remembered!
The tributes to mark this occasion are a simple proof of that...
From musicians in the likes of Billy Corgan, Taylor Hawkins, to fictitious characters like Miss Piggy and even Google... Everyone leaves their mark as a sign of respect and admiration!
Came accross this right about the time I first moved into London, but only know I'm sharing it!
It's a great mashup album, one that crosses the worlds of indie rock-pop with Hip-Hop!
That's right! Featuring Phoenix and Lil Wayne, the little album contains 5 tracks that will certainly delight both genre fans! All without exceptions are awesome tracks, to which is hard for me to point out one... so I will not only leave all of them in this post, but also highlight a link in which you can download this EP!
I've listen back and forward Portamento (2011) from the American indie band The Drums and I guarantee you it's amazing!
After a terrific début - which a wrote about many times in this blog [1][2] but at the time, in Portuguese - they were expected to raise their game.
And so they did...
I think it's fair to say that after recently coming in to the music scene, with just a few years as a group they've established themselves as a big reference! At least according to my book...
You see... even though at the time with just one album, it was crystal clear they would go a long away, if nothing major happened to them (like having a feud).
Especially in a time and age where New Wave is becoming increasingly popular with a sort of vintage revival (like many other things that are coming up from the 70's and 80's), The Drums are a safe bet in a terms of musical choice. This second project of theirs just comes to show that with danceable tunes and summer beats... with catchy choruses and the use (and abuse - like we say in Portugal) of bass lines and synthesizers.
And yes, you can sense influences of groups in the like of Joy Division or The Smiths (Money has Morrisey's band written all over it), but at the same time you can't deny they acquired a identity of their own! It's not something that common' for a band only on their second album.
I took the liberty of uploading some of their tracks into YouTube just so I could share it with you guys, but I advise you to get your hands on Portamento so you can be ready to their live gigs!
Great cover of Coldplay's "The Scientist" by country legend Willie Nelson
Not only the track is outstanding but the video is superb!
Description:
Coldplay's haunting classic 'The Scientist' is performed by country music legend Willie Nelson for the soundtrack of the short film entitled, "Back to the Start."
The film, by film-maker Johnny Kelly, depicts the life of a farmer as he slowly turns his family farm into an industrial animal factory before seeing the errors of his ways and opting for a more sustainable future. Both the film and the soundtrack were commissioned by Chipotle to emphasize the importance of developing a sustainable food system.
This Ukelele Songs (2011) just comes to show how versatile Eddie can be... also giving reinsurance on his colossal ability to write songs. Even though its far from the same quality of the soundtrack he wrote for the movie Into The Wild (2005), it's still very mellow and soft, shifting from what Pearl Jam are used to do... It goes easy on the ear and it provides a "zen" feeling to the listeners.
Here are two distinguished tracks out of his 2nd solo project.
It took me some time, but I finally watched The King's Speech (2010)!
Even with my high expectations, I managed to be surprised with the perfect execution of this film in almost every single aspect! Not saying it's my favourite movie of all time, I'm just stating that it's almost flawless.
The script is wonderful, the scenery is very rich and enlightening, showing a different view of London, a city that like most of you know by now, I became very fond of.
Direction is superb and the three main leads are magnificent!
Colin Firth is once again outstanding, as it is Geoffrey Rush! Helena Bonham Carter comes as a revelation of some kind... Never did I enjoyed so much one of her characters... and even though the Duchess of York is very likeable, I have to give credit when credit is due!
Tom Hooper, the main conductor of this historical drama shares the spotlight as well. Didn't know much about him... still don't! Aside from The King's Speech, I've never seen none of his work... but I have to say I'm looking forward to see him in the future!
To recreate such a time and age accurately while providing depth and interest to the characters is unquestionably a hard task, one that Mr. Hooper was able to perform in a very good fashion! The opening scene is a clear example of that, as it grips you with a excellent moment by Colin Firth addressing the audience, something that created even more of an impact by the context it was inserted!
And speaking of scenes, another one of my favourite is the dialogue between the Duchess (H. Bonham Carter) and Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush). That just comes to show how good they are and how well the script is written! It's intense, moving... but also funny as their personalities distinguish both performances!
A third one (and please forgive me for handing out a few spoilers) is the "because I have a voice" scene, one that most people are aware due to it's presence in the official trailer! Knowing of it's existence and when it would appear, it felt completely different when watching to it's full extent, in which Firth and Rush "take a go at it"... Captivating acting from both, one that certainly gave me the "goosebumps".
All and all, it's not a surprise any more that this movie did so well in the Oscar ceremony! A must see!
Rock is made by people and instruments! Our record was made in my garage! (Dave Grohl on Wasting Light during a gig in Portugal)
It's sort of refreshing when I see a live gig in which the band plays a lot of the tracks from their latest album and you are just clueless! That's what happened when the Foo Fighters went to Portugal. Among the great classics, they played several songs from Wasting Light (2011), which only now I'm taking time to listen.
As I go through the tracks, my memory starts uploading moments from that amazing night, July 7th, in which FF played for over two and half hours. Rope and Walk standout as probably the two new singles that I liked best!
The album is pretty good! A more intense Rock&Roll aura surrounds it, with Grohl stating proudly that no electronic devices were used in the making of the album!
I think it's fair to say that it certainly feels like it!
Coming from work, depressed because of this awful London weather! But while, I entered the bus and scrolled through my iPod I came to the Fool's Gold debut album.
Clicked on their first track, Surprise Hotel, and instantly I was transported to this tropical beach, with a Caribbean flavor to it. It was time for a bit of party in the sand, then to chill for a while near the ocean! Life looks pretty good with my headphones on!
As soon as the music ends, it's back to reality!
I wonder how's the weather back in Portugal and if those amazing days at Guincho are on...
Can't really remember how Louis C.K came to my attention!
I remember seeing him playing the part of Ricky Gervais best friend in the movie Ghost Town (2008) but other than that, nothing special...
Anyway, it's not so much of his actor skills that I want to write about (although I hear his new show Louie has been getting a lot of attention)...
I want to point out how great of a standup comedian he is!
Like most comedians, they usually pick up day-to-day routines to discriminate how funny certain situations can be... where are a few examples (most of them taken out his HBO Special: Shameless)...
