May 16 2012

Off Topic: Garbage – Not Your Kind Of People


This isn’t a music blog.  I don’t review music.  Yet when it comes to my favourite band of all time … I am willing to make an exception.

Not Your Kind Of People is the long-awaited latest release from the alternative electonic-guitar rock combo that is Garbage, consisting of music producers Butch Vig, Steve Marker, Duke Erikson and singer Shirley Manson.  It has been seven years since their last album Bleed Like Me, and the band chose to take a hiatus due to the pressures of touring, studio interference and general fatigue.   Yet now they are back, and boy, am I glad they chose to return.

I got myself the deluxe version of the CD with four extra tracks, and overall this is a solid, confident and varied listen, consisting of anthemic tunes like ‘Big Bright World’ and ‘I Hate Love’ to more dream-like tracks such as ‘Bright Tonight’ (with more than a hint of Julie Cruise) and the hypnotic title track ‘Not Your Kind Of People’.  Personal faves are the opening, intense ‘Automatic Systematic Habit’ and the hard rocking ‘Battle In Me’ as well as the sultry-sexy Sugar.  Manson is on superb form vocally, and the boys have produced a quality experience full of samples, loops, warped effects and great riffs (especially in current single ‘Blood For Poppies’).  There seems no limit to the imagination in each track, and although I feel a couple of the tracks boarder on self-indulgence – for a band that have done nothing together for years, this could have been an out-dated mess.  Thankfully though, its a brilliant return to form, building on the sound I fell in love with all those years ago.

Welcome back guys, we missed you!

Verdict:  5 /5

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May 10 2012

Contagion


Viewed – 09 May 2012  DVD

This was compelling.  With the memory of virus outbreaks like bird flu, swine flu etc causing much furor at the time, the idea of a virus that spreads across the globe, quickly infecting and killing millions seems wholly believable, and to be honest … terrifying.  Yet this is not a horror movie, more so a convincing portrayal of an epidemic and the people whose lives it affects, some tragically.

Directed by the acclaimed Steven Soderbergh (Traffic, Oceans Eleven) this has an ensemble cast of recognizable names including Kate Winslett, Jude Law and Matt Damon that all deliver very real performances, and is shot in a semi-documentary fashion, that replaces Hollywood glitz and action with human drama and emotion.  I especially liked how it not only showed the government and scientists tackling the outbreak, but also how the general public can turn on each other in their desperation.  And although it could be easily compared to Dustin Hoffman hit ‘Outbreak’, this proved the more earnest and thought-provoking.  Granted the pace drops a bit in the middle, and the ‘vaccine’ seems to come out of nowhere … but overall this has it where it counts.

So to conclude, this was a refreshing drama that didn’t need to rely on thrills and spills to tell an absorbing story filled with character and social commentary … and I thought it was excellent.

Verdict:  5 /5

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May 7 2012

Revolutionary Road


Viewed – 07 May 2012  DVD

I am a big fan of Leonardo DiCaprio, with some of my favourite movies having stared this gifted actor.  Now when you think of what leading ladies he has been pared with, you’d be forgiven for immediately coming up with Kate Winslet and their on-screen love affair in James Cameron’s Titanic.  Now for the second time, they are paired again as Frank and April Wheeler, who at first glance seem the perfect suburban couple.  They have the big house, the lovely children, the nice neighbours and the perfect existence.  Yet bubbling under the surface is resentment and despair.  Both yearn for something more, something their relationship isn’t giving them and so decide they are going to give up everything and move to Paris.

Based on the novel by Richard Yates and directed by Sam Mendes, ex-husband of Kate Winslet … this like his earlier American Beauty is again holding a mirror up to the suburban dream (albeit in the 50s), with all the cracks and unhappiness that might lurk in the shadows.  It made me think of David Lynch, how his Blue Velvet and Twin Peaks showed us that not all is perfect in that picket-fence image, and although this movie doesn’t delve into Lynch territory freakiness, it felt similar and in some ways had the same atmosphere of impending doom.  DiCaprio again is solid and believable, at times typical American blue-collar, other times a ticking time bomb.  Winslet whilst equally as good sports a somewhat sketchy American accent that distracted me and her character came across less sympathetic.  Also at times the arguing felt forced and unnatural, almost like they were playing it up to hammer home that this couple don’t get a long – but it wasn’t necessary.

As an exploration of a relationship however, I found this absorbing, helped by good support from the likes of Kathy Bates and Boardwalk Empire’s Michael Shannon, and as a vehicle to reunite Winslet & DiCaprio, this was a good alternative to the ice berg movie.

Verdict:  3.5 /5

May 5 2012

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol


Viewed – 04 May 2012  Blu-ray

Despite what some may say regarding actor Tom Cruise’s much publicised private life and Scientology beliefs, I have always considered him the very embodiment of a movie star.  He has the looks, the charisma, the acting ability and presence of a true Hollywood talent, and I personally have enjoyed many of his movies.  So naturally this latest instalment in the hit action franchise was a tantalising prospect … the only question remains, has Cruise, now approaching 50 still got what it takes to be a credible action star?

When a mission to Moscow goes wrong and the IMF team are accused of terrorism, Cruise and his band of agents are forced to go underground in order to track down the real culprit and prevent a nuclear threat.  Cruise is super-agent Ethan Hunt, this time joined on his mission by computer expert Simon Pegg, fellow agent Jeremy Renner and token hot stuff bad ass babe Paula Patton.  Directed by Brad Bird in his live action debut following animation hits The Iron Giant and The Incredibles this is slick and exciting stuff, with several stand-out action sequences including a veritgo-inducing sequence on the worlds tallest building in Dubai, as well as car chases, fist fights and lots of cool gadgets.

Unsurprising for a Mission Impossible film, the plot gets a touch complicated, and the villains are little more that stereotypical Russian nutjobs.  That being said, it was nice to see Michael Nyqvist in the lead bad-guy role following his turn in the Swedish The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and it’s sequels, but he doesn’t add much to proceedings other than look menacing.  Jeremy Renner on the other hand is quickly becoming one of my favourite actors and is again more than just hired muscle, adding some much-needed depth.  Simon Pegg also delivers in the comedy department with his usual one liners and lovable charm.  Brad Bird directs the action well with a few funny nods to franchise clichés such as a telephone that fails to self-destruct and to top it all, Cruise has lost none of his physical ability or screen charisma over the years.  I’d have loved the Mission Impossible theme to have been better implemented (why do they keep remixing it?) but overall this was a satisfying experience and a great addition to a great franchise.

Verdict:  4 /5

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May 1 2012

Marvel Avengers Assemble


Viewed – 30 April 2012  Cinema

This has to be one of the most anticipated movies of the year.  With Marvel Studios prepping the big screen mash-up of some of their best-loved comic book creations through movies like Iron Man to Captain America: The First Avenger, this is one concept that has promised the near-impossible … so the question on all our lips remains, can this even hope to deliver?

When vengeful God Loki (Tom Hiddleston) steals a powerful source of energy right from under the nose of government agency S.H.I.E.L.D. its up to Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) to finally launch his Avengers Initiative, and sets about calling on Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Hawk Eye (Jeremy Renner), The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and finally Iron-Man (Robert Downey Jr).  Loki has teamed up with a violent race from another dimension to rage war on earth, and it’s up to the Avengers to stop them … and all I could say was BRING IT ON!  Directed by Joss Whedon (Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Serenity) this colourful and thoroughly entertaining movie has the words ‘blockbuster’ running through it like a piece of Blackpool rock (U.S. readers, google it!), with over-the-top special effects action, lots of destruction and big personalities going toe to toe in-between kicking more ass than an ass-whooping contest.  Thankfully though holding it all together is a razor-sharp script penned by Whedon and Zak Penn that is full of great lines and a surprisingly amount of comedy that is so well-timed and perfectly judged that it just about stops things descending into farce.  Whedon has always been good with an ensemble cast, and despite the egos on display here, the script wisely allows every character a moment to shine.  Also considering Scarlett Johansson is the only female, she impressively (and gorgeously) manages to hold her own despite the testosterone on display.

The story lets things down a tad, borrowing it seems from the first Transformers movie for its cube-like macguffin, and apart from Loki the enemy are personality-free punch bags for our heroes to look good battering.  Also considering the movie is set in New York, and it’s the Marvel Universe we’re dealing with, Spider Man’s omission seems somewhat jarring.  But when pondering such issues, there is usually another breathtaking action sequence, witty line or cool looking character around the corner.  If when sitting down to this you intend on being entertained – then believe me, you can’t go wrong with The Avengers.

Verdict:  4 /5

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