Movie: The Movie

OSS 117

When talking about Jean Dujardin and his performance in The Artist (2011) with a French friend of mine, he told me that I should try and see two of his earliest comedies to get a flavour of his comical performance but also to gather more French comedies, since he knew I'm a big fan of the European approach of the genre.

Those two comedies were OSS 117: Le Caire nid d'espions (2006) and OSS 117: Rio ne répond plus (2009), both revolving around a French secret agent (acted by Monsieur Dujardin), who seemingly looks like a European parody of James Bond. If the story interests you, I think it will add up to your curiosity the fact that both features are directed by Michel Hazanavicius, who reached out to the big audience with his most successful movie,  The Artist.

After watching the first, I was completely convinced the Jean Dujardin is probably one of the most funniest and most charismatic guys in showbiz. The movie was really well written in great humorous lines and great slapstick sequences, however, Dujardin alone makes it worth it! Other French friends of mine, including the one who initially made the suggestion, said the sequel was their favorite, however, it was made of a very typical French humor, perhaps not "accessible" for most audience.

After watching it this weekend, I found that to be completely inaccurate. I do agree its better than the first (and that alone is a big accomplishment), but I don't feel like other nationality might not appreciate the same as French. The format is the same, but more edgier... The jokes are more outrageous and they come with a big bang. It will make you laugh really hard, even if you realise seconds later that it might be inappropriate.

All and all, I consider to be one of the best spoofs I've ever seen. And guess what? I thought this was related to Ian Fleming's James Bond, but it turns out OSS 117 was actually a series of novels that began even before Fleming came up with his character. The difference is that the 2006 and 2009 movies came out as direct spoofs to those popular French novels. I did not see that coming...

If you have a sense of humour and are a fan of "The Artist" (the actor, not the movie) I promise you will have a great time following the adventures of OSS 117.

Someone Purer

by: Mystery Jets

Ultimate Jordan

I was searching for some Jordan gear on Amazon when I came across a Michael Jordan DVD entitled Ultimate Jordan. I've never seen it so, as a big MJ fan, I had to get my hands on it...

Dropped the name on YouTube and there it was... An hour and half special of his best plays, career highlights and many testimonies from fellow colleagues within the sport of Basketball. 

I couldn't help myself to get emotional while watching the video... 

Yes, I can be very sensitive at times, but this is a guy who played a big part in my life. He is not just the biggest basketball icon of all-time, but also one of the most inspirational people who will ever hear about... and keep in mind this is a sports figure who has a tremendous level of influence all over the world. There aren't enough adjectives to describe the legend, a man who I had the privilege of following his early career, all the way to his final game with the Washington Wizards, almost ten years ago. Ten years! That's a long time, but still feels like yesterday...

I guess that's one of the most beautiful things about this... and for sure one of my biggest life highlights... to have watched Michael Jeffrey Jordan going to work and performing what I can say - without even flinching - at the best level I've ever seen, not only in basketball, but  in any sport!

The Drummer

Saw this short movie by Bill Block, after being highly recommended by my dear Mother. It was in fact worthy of my time and I would advise all of you to watch it. It is deep and beautiful, yet very simple and modest...

Best of 2012 - From my perspective

And so it is... Another year is coming to an end and as usual I share with you my "best of" list, which consists of my top 10 movies and albums of the year.

For 2012, I've decided to go the extra mile by compiling another top 10... which will consist of my favourite tracks heard over the last 366 days (yes, that's right. It's a leap year).

I have to warn you though... I've struggled to make each of these lists because a lot of the names below didn't appeal to me like other projects in previous years. There was plenty of quality to go around for everyone, regardless of their particular taste, however, it did not fit the standards that I believe to be used to.

Evidence of that is the fact I won't be able to complete my top movies, simply because I don't think there are enough films worthy of making the cut. A vacant spot was left, almost like a sign of protest...
Sure I've enjoyed the likes of The Hobbit, Lawless, Prometheus, Arbitrage, Killing Them Softly, 21 Jump Street... but not enough to be "rewarded" on my top 10 and I missed watching some movies such as Amour, Les Miserables, Flight, Cloud Atlas, Django Unchained, Lincoln, End of Watch, Rust and Bones, among many others (many of these haven't been released in the UK)... therefore, don't be surprised with the absence of some of these names. 

Having said this, please take some time to see my list, which by the way, are not in any particular order.

Top 10 Movies

Dark Knight Rises

Looper

Argo

The Hunt

Skyfall

Moonrise Kingdom

Ruby Sparks

The Avengers

Chronicle
- vacant spot -

Top 10 Albums

Hot Chip - In Our Heads
Twin Shadow - Confess

The Walkmen - Heaven

Tame Impala - Lonerism

Delta Spirit - Delta Spirit

Alabama Shakes - Boys and Girls

Lotus Plaza - Spooky Action at a Distance

Alt-J - An Awesome Wave
Frank Ocean - Channel orange

Passion Pit - Gossamer

Top 10 Songs

Twin Shadow - Five Seconds

Fanfarlo - Deconstruction

Santigold - Disparate Youth
Hacienda - Don't turn out the lights

Delta Spirit - Money Saves
Clock Opera - Belongings

Alt-J - Breezeblocks

The Walkmen - The Line

 Lotus Plaza - Strangers
Mumford and Sons - I Will Wait

* Bonus tracks *

Tame Impala - Feels Like We Only Go Backwards
Mystery jets - Someone Purer

2012 Filmography

It's that time of the year where a lot of really cool edits displaying the best movies in 2012 start to surface

Not very accurate as there are a lot of movies from 2011 in the list (such as the crowd favourite "Intouchables")

But still very good to watch...

It's The End of the World

by: REM

Hollywood meets Fashion

Celebrities Read Mean Tweets

Movie 43 - Trailer

Ok... you got my attention!

The One (Live KCWR)

by: Twin Shadow

(the song is actually called The One and not The Ones as the YouTube clip suggests)

The Hunt (2012)

Intense, provocative and sometimes emotionally disturbing, this Thomas Vinterberg Danish film called The Hunt (2012) has just guaranteed his spot on my top 10 list of 2012, which I'll soon be releasing.

Mads Mikkelsen gives out an amazing performance - awarded in Cannes for "Best Actor" -  as a kindergarten teacher who's wrongfully accused by a child to have done what "is meant for only adults to do".

I recommend watching it with two or three friends so that you can discuss it by the end of the movie. I'm sure it will lead you to some serious thinking.

A Verdade (@ Terraço do Colaço)

by: Capitao Fausto

Portuguese wonder kids going at it!

Man of Steel - trailer

For personal reasons, probably the movie I'm looking forward to the most in 2013...

"My name is Jay"

Loving this guy even more...

On a class of his own

In the day he broke the record for most goals scored in a year...

... I salute you Messi!

Civilian

by: Wye Oak

People

Written by Alan Bennett, People is bound to make you laugh and also think... 

A reflection of the most important things in life to the most trivial ones.

It's a great, great play!

★★★★★
The Times

★★★★
City AM, Daily Telegraph, Evening Standard, Guardian, Independent, Sunday Express, Sunday Times, Time Out

‘Wonderfully funny... a grand evening. Dorothy is Frances de la Tour, in the best part Alan Bennett has written for her.’ The Times

‘Outrageously funny and provocative.' Independent

‘A richly enjoyable evening. Provocative fun... entertaining, funny and touching. Frances de la Tour is on wonderful form. Top notch performances, too, from the splendid Linda Bassett and Selina Cadell.’  

Daily Telegraph

‘Moments of tenderness and droll social insight that show Bennett at his best.’ Independent

Lover of The Light

by: Mumford and Sons

All Over It

by: Jamie Cullum

Comptine d'un autre ete: La Demarche

Yesterday I heard it about 30 times in a row and I'm still going at it!

Comptine d'un autre ete: La Demarche is one of Yann Tiersen's most beautiful compositions taken from the movie Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain (2001) soundtrack. Even though this is one between four bonus tracks on the album, it is certainly one of the main highlights for anyone to hear.

Meanwhile, I couldn't find Yann Tiersen's version online, so had to settle with a cover. With plenty of these available all over YouTube and DailyMotion, I chose this one, not only because it came up first in my search but also because it pretty much sounds like the original.

Hope you enjoy the beauty that is Yann Tiersen's fabulous work.

UPDATE: Actually, I found it... but just under a different name.

Argo (2012)

If you thought Gone Baby Gone (2007) was beginners luck and The Town (2010) was a fluke... there is no way you can ignore Ben Affleck's directorial skills after watching Argo (2012).

The Boston actor turned director is easily becoming a serious candidate to one of the best in his field of profession. Yes, he has made some dodgy movies in his career... maybe one too many, but you can't create misguided preconceived ideas based on the little you know - specially in an area that has nothing to do with his achievements behind the camera. I even go far as saying he is a great actor with great creative skills... Just go on iMDB and check his "resume" from 2006 onwards. Either great/likeable movies or great roles. Hollywoodland (2006) is just an example of how great is acting is.

But forget all that and focus on Argo, in my opinion one of 2012 finest.

You get warned from the get go that the film is based "in true events" and somehow I seemed to forget that half way through due to how unbelievable the storyline was and how things progressed. Never-mind the absurd idea... "so crazy that it just might work"... How they were able to put it in to action... it's just mind blowing.
You can take a series of conclusions and anticipate how the end will unfold, but that still doesn't help you to control your levels of anxiety. Argo beholds a killing suspense, with refreshing and superb moments of humor to lighten the mood. The reenact action of what went down back in looks amazing and according to critics it also looks accurate.
Finally, casting was spot on with a list of TV old school talent stepping in. Names that might not ring a bell, but their faces certainly will.

I advise you to watch it asap.

"Shy Ronnie"

by: Lonely Island feat. Rihanna

Shy Ronnie



Shy Ronnie 2: Clyde and Ronnie

Fanfarlo @ Union Chapel 22.11.12

 As any year, 2009 was populated with great tracks and artists coming up. Fanfarlo with their debut album Reservoir were one of them and Ghosts was by far one of my favorite tracks of that same year. It reminded me a bit of Arcade Fire with traces of folk... and by today its still one of the songs that I take most pleasure listening to.

Fast forward a few years later and in 2012 Rooms Filled With Light came out, having De.con.struc.tion as the single who would introduce their sophomore studio project to the audience. In fact, the song actually came out a year before the album, almost working like a teaser and that certainly did the trick. After hearing that track for the first time, my expectations went sky-high. De.con.struc.tion was - and still is - my top Fanfarlo song and one of 2012's best (or should I just label it as 2011?).

So, obviously, this would be a gig that I would not want to miss out and specially knowing it was on my doorstep. Their live performance took place just around the corner from where I live in Highbury & Islington. The venue is called Union Chapel and as you can guess from the name... its a very old chapel that occasionally throws in a musical show.

It's a magical place I tell you! I've been there before when I was still living in Portugal and came in to London with a group of friends - not even dreaming that one day I would have my life in the English capital. What lead me to go to that chapel back in the day were Au Revoir Simone (if you still haven't heard, please check it out). I remember being highly impressed and surprised that a place like that would be used as a venue. Maybe it was a London thing... I don't know. What I do know is that I was happy just for being part of that whole experience, which is quite different not only because of the environment but also the way the set-up is made. For instances, there are only seated places.

So, back to Fanfarlo...

They started around 9'ish and played for about 1h30m, going through both albums and also introducing some of their newest work, looking to get some feedback from the audience, which they did to certain extent, but for some reason, even though the venue was a lot more intimate - easy enough for the audience to establish an ongoing conversation with the band - people were very shy, despite Fanfarlo's best efforts to engage those present.

All and all it was great show, even baring in mind I was disappointed with the line-up, since it only provided 1 out of my top 3 songs (Ghosts and Shiny Things were left out) and even that one track - De.con.struc.tion didn't exactly reached the level I was expecting live - but still, great to listen to making it's way easy to the list of highlights.