Bastarden (2023)

Easily the best Danish film in years and a Career Top for Mads Mikkelsen.

Bastarden in original Danish, Promised Land in English, and Bastardul now in Romanian theaters.

It was proposed by Danmark for the Oscars but The Zone of Interest happened...

It opened in Venice last fall in the competition but won only a SIGNUS award.

Nikolaj Arcel's return to filmmaking in his own home after the disastruous Dark Tower (why?..). His previous films in his homeland and Scandinavia were all very good (Royal Affair, Kongsgame and the original Girl with the Dragon Tattoo). 

Based on the book "The Captain and Ann Barbara" by Ida Jessen. And loosely on a true story. In 1780 and so. In Jutland, the windy wasteland of the Danish kingdom. Captain Ludwig Kahlen is on a mission, to colonize and fertilize the empty fields of Jutland.

It plays like a classic western, epic drama, but done with a very felt naturalism.

Something that got to do with potatos. cartofeln ("decât cartofi" ;).  Fistful of potatos. With a cold shiver of Danske cinema realism. 

Great atmospheric score by Dan Romer.

Brilliant and exquisite widescreen cinematography by Rasmus Videbaek (Arcel's aquired DOP).

Strong performances all over, esp. by Amanda Collin ('Mother' in Raised by Wolves) as Ann Barbara.

About Mikkelsen, I know him (as an actor) from his first film Pusher (in which he was Tony-he was also in Pusher 2), which I saw in Prague in 2000 from the Terminal Bar Video Collection. Saw him in Refn's follow-up Bleeder,Bleeder, in Valhalla Rising, in the cannibal comedy The Green Butchers, in TIFF in Flame and Citron, in B-EST in The Hunt,  showed at Cinemateca Patria A Royal Affair (his 1st film with Arcel), enjoyed at home during the "pandemic" Another Round / Druk. He was impeccable in all his American/Hollywood fares, from King Arthur on to the Hannibal series, in Casino Royale-a brilliant Le Chiffre,  SW-Rogue One, up to his latest baddie, in Indiana Jones V.

soft spots for Riders of Justice, Arctic, even Polar. 

Even high-end commercials like Le Fantome.

He won best actor on Danish Oscars (Robert prize) for this, and best European Actor of the Year 2023.

To be seen in theaters !

9 out of 10/ 4 1/2 out of 5

Lucero-Bikeriders (SOTD)

Now in the film The Bikeriders (my thoughts here)

Lucero is Ben Nichols' band and the song is from 2005's Nobody's Darlings album. Based on photojournalist's Danny Lyon book The Bikeriders (1968).  See the photos in the video below.

Kathy met a girlfriend at a place around Grant,

Swore if she got out alive she'd not go back again,
Fellas didn't know her and they scared her half to death,
Hand prints on her jeans, she would have just got up and left,
That's when she saw Benny standing over by the bar,
Sat back down, and waited 'til he came over to talk,
Later on that night as she was walking out the door,
Benny started up his bike, and the boys came out for more

Ooooh...

They picked her up and put her on the back of Benny's bike,
Now Kathy's been with Benny Bauer ever since that night,
She's tried to leave him many times, can't quite get away,
Seen more jails and courts and laywers than she'd like to say,
Benny's always been a fighter, that'll never change,
Kathy takes him home and heals him up, it's all the same
He made it from the club room all the way out to the street,
They beat him with the barstools but he made it on his feet

Ooooh...

Kathy's runnin' to her boy, picks him up and takes him home,
And Benny's crying "Kathy please, I'm sorry don't you know?"
I'm sorry don't you know, I'm sorry don't you know?
At a bar they call Stop Light the fellas drink their beer,
Women with their hair done up, they make it very clear,
Which one of the fellas is all theirs and can't be touched,
They're tellin' me that motorcycle rider just give up,
They're talkin' to the pretty ladies, everyone they can,
I never seen the trouble caused all by just one dance,
If Benny don't get himself shot tonight I wish he did,
When he gets home

Ooooh...

Now Kathy's datin' Benny and he keeps her by his side,
Kathy's still the cutest girl these boys will ever find,
Riders line up BSA's out on the scrambler's tracks,
Levis jeans and a leather jacket numbers on their backs,
Benny's bike is too big to race up 250 class,
They make him start way up the hill, up by the railroad tracks,
Tomorrow they'll all ride across the Illinois state line,
Motorcycle Blessing at the St. Christopher Shrine

Ooooh...

Kathy's walking out the door leavin' Benny all alone,
And Benny's crying "Kathy please, baby don't you go"
Baby don't you go, baby don't you go
Kathy you mean it this time, just leave in the middle of the night,
His wallet's on your table, boots on your floor,
The car is parked right outside your back door,
So leave him asleep in your bed and,
You're halfway to Chicago before good-bye is said

Ooooh...

Bluesferatu@Bran Castle 6.07.24

 Not 2 be Missed, our show of the Year ;)

event here

&

https://www.facebook.com/events/1470842583640074

tickets on @iabilet.ro

Communique:

"Nosferatu - Eine Symphonie des Grauens", de F. W. Murnau (1922), este unul din cele mai importante filme mute.
Muzica originală s-a pierdut, așa că s-au făcut nenumărate partituri pentru el și este un favorit live al festivalurilor de film și nu numai.
Dar niciodată nu s-a cântat Blues pe el. Un blues mai psihedelic, dar ce blues, Bluesferatu!!!
Muzica originală este compusă și interpretată live de muzicieni brașoveni, Robert Watzatka ”Watzzy” - chitară, Ionuț Constantin ”Yokko”, Costi Popescu - tobe, Ilyes Botond ”Boti”- chitară , Mihai Nedea - keyboards, Ovidiu Mihai - bas, anume: Proiectul Bluesferatu!
Anul trecut l-am prezentat pe 28 septembrie în premieră mondială la Brașov, în cadrul Transilvania Blues Festival - și în avanpremieră la Banca de Cultură Apollonia și la Hub 2068.
Acum va fi proiectat pe un ecran în curtea castelului Bran (exterior), cel mai potrivit spatiu pentru Bluesferatu & Co să se dezlănțuie - în aer liber, la lumina lunii. Muzicienii vor cânta live în fata ecranului pe toată durata filmului - 95 de minute!
Un concert - eveniment: Bluesferatu 2.0. sau Bluesferatu Comes to Bran!!!

Biete: 100 RON in pre-sale si 120 RON in seara concertului !

Un proiect produs de Alin Ludu Dumbravă și Vlad Popescu pentru Asociația Arts & Events.

Partener principal – Castelul Bran
Powered by BCR.
Partener enologic: Stoker Wines
Parteneri media: Rock FM, Hit FM, Zile și Nopți

B. There and Let There B. Bluesferatu !!!

Announced just now the trailer for Roger Eggers' Nosferatu,null out this Xmas, it's a good preparation for it

The Bikeriders (2023)

"They felt undesirable. They felt unwanted. And that's why they ended up together." 

(Jeff Nichols)

In cinemas now The Bikeriders, Jeff Nichols' sixth film. Was not a big fan, but saw them all, from Shotgun Stories in Bucharest BIFF to Mud even in Cannes in Bunuel, ,Take Shelter, Midnight Special to Loving (which somehow left me unloved)...

This was supposed to be released last summer but the studios had no faith in it. Went to Mill Valley Fest, won directing, sat a bit, now it's out. See it on the big screen, it's widescreen, (2.39.1) & the sound  is awesome (as is the soundtrack)!

Based on a photo-book that looks great, by Danny Lyon who documented the life and runs of a bike gang (the Chicago Outlaws MC, name changed in the film to "The Vandals"), first published in 1968 and republished tons ever since. 

It's like  Goodfellas on bikes. No Pesci character tho. Tom Hardy was great, found an inner space for the part. Jodie Comer's accent drove me nuts, Austin Butler (elvis) too young and rough for the part. Supporting wagon- but they could've handled more. Michael Shannon-Nichols doppleganger, in his every film, Damon Herriman-one of my faved aussies (Mr. Inbetween, Quarry, Justified, OUATIH, Mindhunter), Boyd Holbrook, Norman Reedus. And mind the "Benny Blanco from the Bronx" syndrome 

Anyway, for Nichols kudos for the atmosphere and reconstruction of that era, his best and most ambitious flick yet.

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

With this heard about a new band (new for me that is), LUCERO, Nichols' brother, Ben Nichols' band and on the closing titles, his/their song from 20025, Bikeriders (from his band's album Nobody's Darlings) . Pretty punk, reminded me of Wayne Kramer, Dropkick Murphy's and Headstones.

Ben was the one who told his brother about the book and pushed him into doing this film. BTW, Jeff dropped out of the A Quiet Place prequel in order to get this done. Great idea ;)

*****

The soundtrack of Jeff Nichols’ The Bikeriders:

“Lonely Room” by Mickey Murray

“I Wanna Holler But the Town’s Too Small” by Gary U.S. Bonds

“Declaration of Independence” by Count Five

“Talkin Bout You” by The Animals

“Come and Get It” by Leroy Tooks

“Out in the Streets” written by Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich, Performed by Adrienne Pedrotti, Michelle M. Kahan & Leila Louise Henley

“Out in the Streets” by The Shangri-Las

“My Babe” by Dale Hawkins”

“Get Up and Get Out” by Clint Stacey

“Chino” from “The Wild One” by Leith Stevens

“Raunchy” by Bill Justis

“That’s All I Need” by Magic Sam

“Mama Talk To Your Daughter” by Magic Sam

“Road Runner” by Bo Diddley

“Mannish Boy (Electric Mud Version)” by Muddy Waters

“I Feel Free” by Cream

“New Orleans” by Garry U.S. Bonds

“Hush Little Baby” by Deon Jackson

“Baby Please Don’t Go” by Them feat. Van Morrison

“Master of War” by The Staple Singers

“Bet You’re Surprized” by Aaron Neville

“I’m Going Home” by The Sonics

“I’ll Never Learn” by The Shangri-Las

“I Can See” by Liberty Bell

“Oh Love” by Brother T. and Family

“I Don’t Know Who to Blame” by Pugsley Munion

“Down On the Street” by The Stooges

“Treat Him Right” by Mickey Murray

“I Don’t Worry Myself” by Johnny Adams

“Vandalize” by Ben Nichols

“Come Softly To Me” by the Fleetwoods

“Bikeriders” by Lucero