Il sol dell'avvenire/A Brighter Tomorrow (2023)

Il sol dell'avvenire/A Brighter Tomorrow, in Romanian Un viitor luminos (cum numai Partidul stie sa prezica ;), the title is of course Ironic. I mean, Nanni Moretti (now 70!!!) is a leftie and a socialist but this is his Nuit Americaine, or 8 1/2, a Meta film, with most of the fun from him in many years. Reminded my of his earlier films, Palombella Rossa (1989) and Caro Diario (1993). It was much funnier and warmer than his big Cannes fares (he has a Directing award for Caro diario and a Palme D'or for La Stanza di Figlio-2001). Habemus Papam (2011) was also funny, but here's there's a lot of more things Cinema to be enjoyed. Of course his new film was part of the official competition in 2023's Cannes Fest.

It's about a director in a very long mislife and creative crisis, making a film no one would like to see, about the events in Hungary 1956 seen through the eyes of the Italian Communist party. The title comes from a resistance song from WW2, "Fischia il vento". Add to that the circus of Federico F., plus the songs and musical fantasies, and some woodyallenesque soliloquies plus psychotherapy, life lamentations and narcissism to the max. The soundtrack is great, features belli canzoni, from Joe Dassin to Franco Battiato (Voglio vederdi danzare), Aretha Franklin  with "Think" from The Blues Brothers, Faure & Beethoven, and Fabrizio de Andre (La canzone dell'amore perduta). Featuring classic Moretti collaborators, Margherita Buy, Polish director and actor Jerzy Stuhr and a premiere, Mathieu Amalric as the fou producer. And surely Moretti as Giovanni, the tormented director. 

It's Moretti meets Fellini with bits of Demy (Lola and la Dolce Vita are even on the screen).

It's almost a miracle this film is in cinemas, very limited release. The scene with Netflix must be seen to be believed. It's like that, really, the WTF...

American Star (2024)

Ian Mc Shane. Impeccable Actor. Unbelievable, the man is 81. And he looks at least 20 years younger in American Star, an existential hitman thriller drama about aging and solitude. And nostalgia. And loyalty, maybe most of all.

Takes a movie for me to find about about the real crash of the luxury ocean liner, American Star (SS America), on Fuerteventura, Canary Islands. And it's metaphor on top of the title of the film.

The director. Gonzalo Lopez-Gallego I know from El Rey de la Montana (2007), film that I liked and was about to present when we did he little experiment called Bohemian Mondays/ aldmovielight at The Light cinema (then), in 2010, in Rahova, Bucharest. I think I translated the whole film, luckily there were very few lines of dialogue on that one.

Anyway, Gallego went on to the US to do Apollo 18 (a horror spoof/mockumentary), Open Grave and The Hollow Point. And now this, American Star, which I really liked. Mostly because McShane is mesmerizing. And the island. And it has a slow pace, a dreamlike quality. Arthouse European thriller. Would've loved to see it in a cinema.

7 of out 10/ 3 1/2 out of 5

LMA Alice @76 !

“I know you’re looking for a real good time. So, let me introduce you to a friend of mine. I’m Alice.

I’m the Master of Madness; the Sultan of Surprise…so don’t be afraid, just look into my eyes.”

Vincent Damon Furnier aka Alice, the Coop, is 76 today ! La multi ani, hope to see ya again soon ! 

Just mentioned him on Wayne Kramer's obit cos Wayne played and contributed with songs on Alice's album Detroit Stories (2021). Like this one:

Go Man Go

Also on the album is Sister Anne, the MC5 song, composed by Fred "Sonic" Smith. 

Alice's albums, esp. the ones I'm day and date with, the last 20+ years (mostly from The Last Temptation -1994, his return to form, onward) are always on my Top albums of that year. And last year it was ROAD, a great Meta Alice album about the Life on the Road. 

RIP Wayne Kramer

One of the greatest musicians and guitarists, gone but not forgotten? Unfortunately not many know his name and work today.

A musician's musician, Wayne Kramer was one of the founders of MC5, a very ephemeral but iconic group, proto-punk, and more political than the whole rock scene of the day. They put out three albums forever to "Kick Out The Jams". That was the title of their first, a live album in 1969. Then Back in the USA and Hight Time, 1970 and 1971. They disbanded in 1972.

Kramer was radical, he was political, a leftie of course, he became a junkie, did time in jail for selling drugs, converted, played free jazz, punk, put very deep meaningful lyrics to rock and roll. His solo work I love most, from The Hard Stuff  to Dangerous Madness, Citizen Wayne and Adult World. 

He played last on Alice Cooper's album, Detroit Stories. He was planning for an album of new music, produced by Bob Ezrin. Wayne Kramer was 75. LLMF...

Auto-biography here.

                     "Wayne S. Kramer 'PEACE BE WITH YOU' April 30, 1948 – February 2, 2024."^[

 "His band the MC5 basically invented punk rock music... Wayne came through personal trials of fire with drugs and jail time and emerged a transformed soul who went on to save countless lives through his tireless acts of service." (Tom Morello)