Last Night in Soho

Posted on December 27, 2021 by Craig M

Viewed – 27 December 2021

I’ve kept an eye on the careers of both Thomasin McKenzie and Anya Taylor-Joy in recent years, both having impressed in ‘Jo Jo Rabbit’ and Netflix show ‘The Queens Gambit’ respectively. So when I heard that the latest from director Edgar Wright starred both of these talents, I was certainly appealed. McKenzie plays Eloise, an aspiring fashion designer who moves to London. There she finds her love for the sixties era come to life when she experiences visions that follow the escapades of a young wannabe singer named Sandy (Taylor-Joy). Somehow the two girls lives become entwined as the glitz and glamour take a sinister turn.

Edgar Wright has always been one of the more inventive and stylish directors, first coming to fame with zombie-rom-com Shaun of the Dead, and that creativity is on fine form here, inventively jumping back and forth from past to present, whilst bringing to life sixties London with a top notch soundtrack. Both lead actresses deliver great performances but this is especially a showcase for McKenzie who carries the movie in a demanding yet effective turn.

This just held my internet throughout. For what on paper is a sort of horror thriller, this wasn’t as scary as it might have intended but was still a joy to watch and get mesmerised by the atmosphere, the twisty-turny plot and visuals. Is it Wright’s best movie to date? Possibly, and also proves a great showcase for two of the most watchable and talented young actresses currently working. A must see.

Verdict: Essential

A weekend to remember

Posted on September 17, 2018 by Craig M

I wouldn’t say I’m a massively outgoing person as far as venturing far and wide, but in recent years I’ve tried to broaden my horizons, at least when opportunities arise. Two such opportunities arrived the weekend just gone, not entirely planned as such but I jumped at the chance to go and see my favourite band once again … and then another opportunity came around to see a personal favourite TV sketch show’s live tour.

Probably over a year ago I booked tickets to see Garbage again in London as well as meet up with a friend I’d made last time I went. Some months later VIP meet & Greets were announced, and so yeah, once again I was going to meet the band and get a photo taken. The whole experience this time around was even better than I’d experienced in 2016 at The Troxy. For starters at Brixton Academy, the meet & greet q&a part of the VIP experience was in the same room where the photos were to be taken and it was a small, intimate affair with me sitting amongst 50+ fans within touching distance of the band (!!). It was so surreal as it wasn’t as if I was sitting before my favourite band, but almost like old friends … it all felt so nice and relaxed and really f’ing cool. I didn’t say much, as I knew I’d clam up (again) but did get a chance to say how fantastic I thought they were and that Version 2.0 (of which the tour was celebrating it’s 20th anniversary) was my favourite album of all time, by any artist. I got my photo taken which turned out to be more of a fun thing, with me posing with the band and all pretending to be zombies, with outstretched arms etc. lol.

The VIP experience also meant early entry so I was pretty much at the front (one short girl in front of me, so I had an awesome view) and what was the actual concert like? In short Garbage (Shirley Manson, Butch Vig, Duke Erikson and Steve Marker) were on electrifying form, belting out the hits as well as more obscure b-sides both word-perfect and with an energetic response from a sold-out Brixton Academy crowd. It was intense, heart-pounding, utterly feel good and the best I’ve seen them perform. Garbage are such a skilled and talented band and once again delivered an evening of rockin’ good entertainment that didn’t disappoint.

Two night’s later I was heading off to Liverpool to see The League of Gentlemen at the Echo Arena and this British sketch comedy four-piece that started out on radio before creating a cult TV show of the same name were utterly brilliant. They went through a plethora of their most famous sketches and iconic characters to deliver a 2hr+ show of bonkers humour, one-liners, political satire and toilet humour with no end of imagination and charisma. Reece Shearsmith, Steve Pemberton, Mark Gattis and (behind the scenes / co-writer) Jeremy Dyson are one of the best comedy groups Britain has spawned since Monty Python and that … is not said lightly. Translating the sketch-based comedy of the show worked well on stage and the sets and costumes were all very well done and seemed to go off without a hitch, aided by what appeared to be some funny ad-libbing and natural glimpses of the guy’s personalities. This show was partly a celebration of their 20th anniversary as well as a hinted at farewell to the characters unless this talented four-piece find a way to work together again at some stage … we’ll see. For now though, me and a couple of friends as well as the sold out crowd had a ball.

As far as my usual weekends go, this was pretty intense, rather exhausting but utterly fulfilling, creating memories I’ll look back on for years to come. So a big shout-out to Garbage and to The League of Gentlemen for making the past few days so very special.

Craig.

Beyond a fan boy’s wildest dreams

Posted on June 15, 2016 by Craig M

I can’t believe I’m typing this and NOT making it up. On Monday night of the 13 June 2016…I got to MEET my favorite band in-the-flesh and tell them how much I love their music and even have a photo taken. That’s not to mention the fact I also got to watch them rehearse and eventually perform a full concert at the Troxy in London.

Front row … what an amazing view

Yes I just typed all that and it really happened. I am looking back on it now in disbelief. Lead singer Shirley Manson was everything I could have hoped and more and on getting to actually speak to her, I almost lost it emotionally, but with her assistance I didn’t cry – but it came worryingly close. She was a real gem and so nice and genuine. In fact the same can also be said for Duke Erikson and Steve Marker, who were so lovely and I shook their hands and well, just wanted to press pause on the moment and wallow in it. It was simply one of the greatest night’s of my life thus far. Sadly drummer and producer Butch Vig couldn’t make the gig as he’d been signed off sick with a sinus infection.

Shirley Troxy.jpg The concert that followed this was incredible, spanning the full gamut of their 20+ year career and every song was performed with such energy, enthusiasm and power that I was totally floored. Personal highlights were the rarely sang ‘So Like a Rose’ which Shirley performed aided by her guitar and was a tribute to photographer friend Matt Irwin who had recently passed away. Also my favourite Garbage song ‘Why Do You Love Me?’ was delivered as a thankyou to the loyal fan-base, and it was also great to hear several new tracks from the new album, including ‘Blackout’ and ‘Empty’. I had purchased a VIP package for this event and as well as what I mentioned above, I also got early entry and was right at the front. In comparison to the last time I saw them at Brixton Academy, I found the sound although very loud, much better and I didn’t come away with the ringing and deafness I experienced last time. So it was such a better experience and with all the trimmings I can safely say this was a dream I never even considered would be realised … but it was!

Yes at one stage Shirley Manson sang directly to me

The pictures above were taken by myself so you can get a good idea of the view I had. What an experience which I fully recommend if you get the opportunity. I conquered several fears and personal obstacles to achieve this and feel so proud of myself for doing so. Also few front women in the industry have the sheer charisma, likeability or stage presence of Shirley Manson and I tell you now, she delivered 100%.

Not just a band … but a way of life.

Thank you Garbage for such an amazing experience!

Legend

Posted on January 27, 2016 by Craig M

Viewed – 26 January 2016 Blu-ray

I loved the 1990 British biopic of The Krays starring former Spandau Ballet brothers Gary & Martin Kemp which for me had long been one of the best gangster movies I had seen. However I haven’t seen that rendition in a long time so the prospect of a new adaptation of the famed East End mobsters’ story was exciting. Also the fact current hot property Tom Hardy (Mad Max Fury Road) was taking on the roles of both Ronnie & Reggie Kray meant this couldn’t fail … or could it?

Set during the height of the gangster’s reign over the criminal underworld in the 1960s, Reggie and his rather unstable brother Ronnie have London eating out of their hands; rubbing shoulders with celebrities, owning nightclubs and about to go into business with the Italian Mafia. Told primarily from the perspective of Reggie’s wife Francis (Emily Browning – who somehow still has a career after the god-awful Sleeping Beauty) this promises to be another mob classic to stand alongside movies such as Goodfellas. Yet in the hands of director Brian Helgeland (A Knight’s Tale), we get anything but that. His direction is plodding despite decent production value and eye-catching photography, but for a mob movie there is a total lack of menace. I didn’t feel like these people were all that intimidating or scary, and in a decent gangster yarn, I’m usually always a bit nervy of something kicking off any second. This is not helped by the focus on Reggie & Francis’ relationship where the casting of the porcelain pretty Emily Browning once again proves her as one of the most uninteresting actresses currently working, not helped by her snore-inducing narration. This needed much more of the criminal lifestyle and the enforcing of that lifestyle … yet mob hits come out of nowhere, and famous murders just happen with no build up. Trying his damndest is Tom Hardy but although charismatic as Reggie, his apparent control and intimidation of Francis is bizarrely glossed over, making a certain turn of events later on come out of nowhere. On the flip side his portrayal of Ronnie is borderline farcical, the legendary gangland mobster reduced to an absurd caricature rather than particularly threatening (the trumpet blowing scene almost had me giggling in embarrassment).

So the tone and pacing and everything other than the look was totally off, and important characters to the Kray’s story such as their mother or infamous names like Jack ‘the hat’ McVittie are little more than ‘just there’ when their inclusion could have helped with the movie’s authenticity (which has to be said, it takes liberties with). The Krays were fascinating and pretty scary in real life by all accounts – but this interpretation failed to capture hardly any of what made them famous or ironically, legends.

Verdict: 2 /5

Assassin’s Creed Syndicate – impressions

Posted on December 13, 2015 by Craig M

It’s taken me a few entries in this popular franchise to really appreciate what it does. The only Assassin’s Creed game I ever completed was the last, somewhat controversial entry ‘Unity’ set in Paris which I’ll admit was the soul reason I gave it a go. I loved it however and unlike other entries, it held my interest.

This latest game is set in the very appealing setting of Victorian London and was initially to be called AC: Victory (although not a great title I’ll say). You play as twin brother and sister assassins Jacob & Evie Fry who are out to track down the Templars and in Evie’s case find the legendary pieces of Eden. Now it has to be said I never play these games for the story as they are convoluted and lacking in focus at the best of times (I still don’t really know what was going on in Unity). But what I do play it for is the detailed, highly atmospheric setting and the industry defining climbing and exploring and the excellent stealth mechanics. This game is no different and seems to have further developed both the parkour / free running and the stealth to make the game a real joy to play. The addition of a grappling hook is also very welcome and makes ascending tall structures a breeze. Graphically it is also a stunner – very detailed, tons going on on the cobbled streets, a welcome addition of a day-to-night cycle sorely missing from the previous games and decent weather / rain / particle and lighting effects throughout. It also helps that London has been realised fantastically with several large districts full of things to do and find. I was puzzled at the absence of Tower Bridge or The Tower of London, but I am only a little way into the game so maybe these areas open up later?

Screenshots taken directly from my PS4

The fact its very easy to get spotted by the wealth of gang members around the city gets annoying quickly and their cut & paste repeated appearances seems rather lazy. I think I’ve killed the exact same thugs now dozens of times and they tend to yell and complain with the same lines of dialogue also. The game isn’t without it’s bugs either as it has frozen on me during loading and had the odd cut-scene with missing / invisible characters in it (!). However with the usual implementation of key historical figures such as Charles Dickens and in forthcoming DLC, Jack the Ripper – this is a setting that is instantly attractive and intriguing. I love exploring the city and with two characters to play with, upgrading their abilities and swapping between the two for a slightly different feel to the game is a great idea. I hope to see this through to the end, and with very little on my gaming horizon until next year I’m sure I will.

Recommended.