300 (or, SparrrttaaaZZZzzzzzz)

I know Shamil has been waiting for this review to pop up because he mentioned he was going to mention my delay on his blog. He didn't, of course, because his blog has fallen into an even greater state of disrepair than mine...

So, 300, a movie I'd been hanging out for for 8 months or so, one of the few hype machines I bought into. And once again, a massive let down.

It was fun for about 15 minutes, but let's face it, two hours of abdominal muscles in slow motion quickly becomes tedious. The plot is thinner than the character development, and that is saying something.

All body styling, no substance.

Dylan Moran @ Melbourne International Comedy Festival

Dylan was grand. Funny in his acerbic way. I've spent the last few weeks repeating his jokes about Catholics and biscuits so i am going to shut up and show you this photo of a Gremlin I took before the show.



Scary!

Gig: Pet Shop Boys, Groove Armada, Gnarls Barkly and The Rapture @ Sydney Myer Music Bowl 3/4/07

I imagine there are a few punters in Melbourne pissed at Virgin's entre into the festival circuit. Firstly they didn't bring the whole kit and kaboodle down from up north even though they charged for the kit and two kaboodles. Secondly, they chose to fence the drinkink area into a corner of the music bowl that afforded little music. And finally, they locked most of the ticket holders far from the madding bands.

That didn't bother us because we had VIP tix, thanks to Don, and the wherewithall to outwit the gatekeepers and sneak the fest of our crew in.

Now, the music:

The Rapture was apparently good but we missed them for the most part. 'House Of Jealous Lovers' greeted us as we crested the hill and then it was all over. Pity.

Gnarles Barkly were interesting enough. Rather manufactured, as to be expected, all schoolgirls and shorts. CeCe was admirably frank about the revenue the album has brought him, which is obviously keeping him in hamburgers. I don't remember all that much about the music. Typical.

Groove Armada were enjoyable but surprisingly subdued. When they finally pulled their fingers out at the climax it was like looking into the show that could have bee. I did live the way the crowd cheered every time the boys pulled out a different instrument. I'd hate to see this crew seeing a symphony orchestra. Sheesh.

As soon as the Pet Shop Boys' dancers stepped on stage it was clear who the crowd had come for. They may wear funny clothes, they may not be able to sing, they may be heavy on the blips and have a rare fondness for spelling, but boy did they steal the show. In the absence of a Kylie concert, this was definitely the gayest thing I'd ever seen. E.N.J.O.Y.A.B.L.E.

I'd say more but the one handed typing thing is getting to me.

Segunda piel

The only things recommending this film are Javier Bardem's buttocks, Jordi Molla's eyes and Cecilia Roth.

The music is appalling, the emotions overwrought, the characters annoyingly one dimensional and the ending a massively deflating cop out that allows little closure on the films themes.

Still, it has Javier Bardem's buttocks, Jordi Molla's eyes and Cecilia Roth.

Steer clear.

Lucia y el sexo

A personal fave of mine.

Paz Vega is gorgeously endearing. Sex and Lucía is like three movies in one and it twists around and in on itself like a Mobius strip. Some people complain that the film is a little literary but that is what you get when one of the main character is a writer and the film is falling into a novel.

Julio Medem has a painterly eye. His palate drifts from washed out, sun bleached beach scenes to robustly sensual leather soaked interiors.

And the sex, lots of it, in many different forms. It's frank and explicit but in a grounded and recognisable way.

See it.

Death Of A President

Okay, you've probably guessed the posts are still banking up, so I am going to wizz through them. Death Of A President. It was bizarre (and scarily satisfying) watching Bush die but little was made of the fact that the world would be a nightmare with Cheney in charge (I DON'T want Cheney in charge of me!).

High on verisimilitude but low on political insight. Interesting use of news footage. The mockumentary fell down in the wind up.

A little meh!