We Sink (Live at Studio Q)

by: Chvrches

Cinema Master Class - How to film a christmas morning

"Slightly" late, but so worth it!

Behind The Candelabra (2013)

Classic example of a movie that I haven't seen in time to include on my "Top 10" list of 2013... but let me tell you now: This would feature pretty high in the list.

Behind The Candelabra (2013) is a movie directed by Steve Sodenbergh that depicts the last 10 years of musician / entertainer Liberace, played brilliantly by Michael Douglas. It is heavily based on a book written by Scott Thorson, who just so happened to be his lover. His role was assigned to Matt Damon, who also delivered a very strong performance, contributing to a wonderful on-screen chemistry between the two leads. But more than the strong roles that are featured in this movie, one of the key elements to its success is the story-telling... and it just so happens that this is no ordinary story. In my eyes, it's a dark, twisted, secret love story, centered in one of American's big pop culture icons.
Not only the movie can be perceived as funny and entertaining, it almost should be viewed as educational. I mean... I barely heard of Liberace until I saw this!

And to think it struggled to get produced because most Hollywood studios thought it was "too gay".

Really?

You say no to a film directed by Steven Soderbergh, featuring Michael Douglas and Matt Damon because you think its "too gay"?

Thankfully, HBO was able to recognize serious potential in this project and stepped up to make it happen. 

It just baffles me that several movie companies weren't able to finance something that featured one of the best directors out there, plus an ensemble cast led by two of the most charismatic and talented actors around. I always knew Michael Douglas was good.... but I was used to watching him play "the stud", so you can imagine how "strange" it was to see him play Liberace. Not necessary because he was gay, but because it was quite the opposite of the character stereotype he used to take on. But that's the ability of great actors... the power to metamorphose into whole different creatures. Mr. Douglas did just that...

Aside from those two, it was a pleasure seeing on screen names such as Dan Aykroyd, Rob Lowe (he's hilarious!) and Paul Reiser (who I haven't seen for years!!). Big fan of all three of them!

As Liberace famously said:

Too much of a good thing is wonderful!

Eusébio da Silva Ferreira (1942 - 2014)

Descansa em Paz

This Will Be Our Year

by: The Zombies

Best of 2013 - From my perspective

It's that time of the year where I compile my top 10 movies, albums and tracks of the year. Like previous years, I will make a list with no specific order...

As always, you should keep in mind that there's a lot of things that I haven't seen or heard... because I was lazy, because I didn't have the time, because I didn't know about it or simply because it hasn't been released in the UK, where I currently live... So feel free to make suggestions.

With that said, let's proceed...

TOP 10 MOVIES

Nebraska

La vie d'Adèle (Blue is the warmest color)

Blue Jasmine

Filth

Prisoners

Captain Phillips

Le Passé (The Past)

Gravity

Place Beyond The Pines*

Act Of Killing*

La Grande Bellezza (The Great Beauty)

*apparently released before 2013

TOP 10 ALBUMS*
 

Arctic Monkeys - AM

Vampire Weekend - Modern Vampires of the City

 Haim - Days Are Gone
The National - Trouble Will Find Me
White Lies - Big TV
Daft Punk - Random Access Memories
Kings of Leon - Mechanical Bull
Atlas Genius - When It Was Now

Foals - Holy Fire
Kurt Vile - Wakin on a Pretty Daze

* I wasn't really convinced with I've heard this year so far... out of the 10 albums, only 6 or 7 actually were great. The others, good, but in an "average way" if that makes any sense.

TOP 10 SONGS

Daft Punk - Get Lucky
Kings of Leon - Wait For Me

White Lies - Change

Atlas Genius - If So

Haim - Don't Save Me

Laura Marling - Where Can I Go

Woodkid - Run Boy Run
Klangkarussell  ft. Will Heard - Sonnentanz
Deerhunter - The Missing

The Strokes - Slow Animals

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