The Day of the Jackal (2024)

 the new version got me hooked

Eddie Redmayne that's why

some woke s*it but I got over it..

waited for it to be over to comment

Nicko Mc Brain retires

 at 72 and after being ill a lot these last two years, Nicko Mc Brain, Iron Maiden's drummer for the past 42 years announces his retirement, just when the 50th Anniversary Tour starts in a giffy...

Simon Dawson, from Steve Harris' band, British Lion will be the new Maiden drummer.

The Universal Theory/ Die Theorie von Allem (2023)

Die Theorie von Allem /The Universal Theory is a very strange little film. Deutsche Timm Kröger s third feature, after The Trouble with Being Born (2020) and The Council of Birds (2014).

Premiered in Venice 2023 fest and won Bisato d'Oro award, won the Jury Prize in Sitges and best visual effects and cinemtography at German Film Awards 2024.

Gorgeous black and white cinematography in 2.35.1 widescreen (shot in SudTirol by Roland Stuprich, in the splendor of a white majestic winter) 

and beautiful score, a pastiche of classical Hollywood thriller & drama music from the 40s raise the bar. Diego Ramos Rodríguez, composer, with David Schweighart.

Found the whole soundtrack on youtube here. 

Though there is terrible boredom in between and the film has no rhythm, could've been 15 mins. shorter, would've helped. A lot, IMO. Even flawed, it's a unique kind of film and deserves to be seen on the big screen (which in very limited release happens now in Romania, brought by Cay Films (Red Rooms, Oddity, The Apprentice), in what it is the most Curio of the year!-well, when I saw it there was no one in the theatre, so hurry up).

Mixed reviews complain about the third act mostly, which I think was the best. 

Mixing quantum physics with a Multiverse plot thriller its not easy. 1962 feels like 1930s here, the atmosphere is very in the inbetween wars (interbelique). The actors might be the week link, or such are they supposed to be (the lead, Jan Bülow as physician Johannes Leinert is like an alien, French Olivia Ross as Karin, the pianist, is like a Nouvelle Vague apparision (Karina?). There are the two scientists, dr. vs prof., Hanss Zischler (Munich), acting at his most severe and Gottfried Breitfuss, a grotesque character. The two cops (kommisaren) are out of a Billy Wilder picture. 

References,  subliminal or on purpose: Hitchcock, Lang, Wilder, Orson Welles The Trial, The Third Man, best B & W compared with Schindler's List, Cold War, Mank and Kafka (Soderberg's). People mention Lynch and Polanski, but all there it's way older. I bet. 

Thomas Mann's Der Zauberberg / Magic mountain  (obvious reference of the hotel Esplanade) mixes with The Lady Vanishes and Orson Welles' The Trial, Reed's The Third Man, reminded me also of 1964' odd thriller 36 Hours.

                                                ”A strange place between nostalgia and paranoia” (Timm Kröger)

interview with Kröger here: 

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

Rob Tognoni @Transilvania Blues Nights

 13. 12.24, Rockstadt club, Brasov, Transylavnia !!! Rob Tognoni, the Tasmanian Devil is Back !!!

Friday the 13th belongs to the Blues !!! A bit heavy blues, punk blues, rockin' blues, but nevertheless the Blues !!!

event:

https://www.facebook.com/events/582638714216754

The Tasmanian Devil Returns to Brașov!!!

Am avut plăcerea și onoarea de a-l aduce pentru prima dată în România pe însuși Diavolul Tasmanian, mr. Rob Tognoni. În Brașov, vineri 1 iulie 2022 la Transilvania Blues Nights! Chitarist exceptional de power blues-rock, cel mai bun din Australia, Rob T. se întoarce la clubul Rockstadt pentru un concert unic, vineri 13 decembrie, ora 20.00!

Rob Tognoni e originar din Tasmania, Australia și e cunoscut sub numele de "The Tasmanian Devil" / Diavolul Tasmanian.
Rob are un stil energic, inventiv și exploziv, proaspăt deși este sexagenar, supranumit acum și ”Errol Flynn al blues-rock-ului”. Rădăcinile sale sunt blues, blues rock și classic rock și influențele sale sunt variate, de la Cream la Jimi Hendrix, B.B. King și AC/DC.
Cariera sa acoperă peste 40 de ani, a scos 27 de albume, a cântat pe scenă alături de Peter Green, Sting, ZZ Top, Bo Diddley. Concertele sale sunt speciale, de la Cupa Mondială FIFA, la pușcăriile de maximă securitate din Australia sau Sala Mozart din Viena.
Rob vine la Brașov alături de trupa sa, Rob Tognoni Trio pentru a promova noul său album ”Rebel” (2024), descris de revista de specialitate Eclipse Magazine: ”Asskicker”.

https://www.robtog.com

Un eveniment marca Transilvania Blues Nights recomandat de Rock FM și Zile și Nopți.
Sponsori: BCR, Butan Gaz, BitDatamining, Tehnic Mihor.
Parteneri culinari: A-HA Bistro, Coliba Haiducilor 

The Master and Margarita/Master i Margarita (2023)

The new cinematic version of Mihail Bulgakov's masterpiece, The Master and Margarita (in ingles), Margareta in romanian, Master i Margarita in original Russian. The novel was a closet one, written between 1928 and 1940 when Bulgakov died, and kinda unfinished, published only in 1966-and that was censored-and in 1967 in Paris. It's considered one of the most importnat novels of the Xxth century, and it is. And more.

There were various try-outs, from an Italian film in 1972 to TV series to other Russian versions in 1994 and 2025. It was considered unfilmable and there was a project in the 90's that fell apart because of budgetary reasons, Roman Polanski (!) was supposed to direct it and he said he had the best script he read in all his life !! I wished he would've done that, even flawed it surely would've been an interesting take on Bulgakov and a subversive political anarchic one. I read the novel when I was in high school, in Ceausescu's Romania, and made a huge impression on me. Was day-dreaming to make a film with Jack Nicholson as Woland, Michelle Pfeiffer as Margarita and Max von Sydow as the Master. The cat Azaello was problematic :) that was 1986 or 87. That was befoe Bowie became Pilate but I would've chosen him, or someone like Orson Welles ;) It read like a very spectacular extrvaganza, with effects and epic filmmaking. And then I saw on video, in glorious black and white, The Witches of Eastwick. Jack was the Devil, alright. That was before Tim Burton's Batman, ok? About Witches, was hugely dissaponited when I read John Updike's novel, in the early Nineties. I stick with the movie and its grand guignol finale...

The cast is eccelctic with two foreign additions *that in the Russian version are horribly dubbed over by a Ruski male voice ;(

Deutsch August Diehl (Inglorious Basterds, A Hidden Life, Plan A), as Woland (reminded me of a cool young Chris Walken!) 

Dane Claes Bang as Pontus Pilates (Bang was an exceptional Dracula in the series of 2020, streaming on netflix).

Yulia Sigir as Margareta, a spellbinding beautiful woman with the bluest eyes

Evghenyi Tsiganov as the Master 

a cool Behemoth (voiced by Anora's Yura Borisev !)and a cooler Azazello /Azazel.

Co-written (with Roman Kantor) and Directed by Michael Lockshin (his second film after his debut, Silver Skates), a Russian-American director that now is persona non grata in Russia, under crime & punishment for defaming the country's BS. He even received death threats !

17 mill. $ that look like 100 !!! shot in Russia and Croatia with post production in the US. 

1930's Moscow looks like Hitler's Berlin designed by Speer if the nazis would've won. This is Stalin's Megalopolis, a monumental grandeur, Big and massive, making people like pygmeys. 

And then the Russian scandal started. And they took off Lockshin's name from the film and all promotional markets in Russian cinemas and from all materials, and he was banned from Russia sine die. The film tho made 26 mill. $ in the Russian Box office and people who could see it then loved it. International distribution is a problem still, just heard it was selling at AFI market now. Hopefully some streaming service will get it, eventually it will but I think they are afraid to upset Putin & co these tense moments.

Amazingly the film played at Bucharest International Film Festival this fall, with the director attending. Would've loved to see it on the big screen.

About the production and the censorship and the debacle: 

BBC here 

https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20240430-the-master-and-margarita-the-russian-box-office-hit-that-criticised-the-state

LA Times here  including an interview with Lockshin.

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-04-10/russia-michael-lockshin-putin-master-margarita 

The film has drawn 5.5 million people to date, making it the top-grossing film in its 18-plus ratings category in Russian history. People email Lockshin to say they’ve seen it two or three times.

A Good Year (2006)

 A Good Year - O comedie romantică

Alin Ludu Dumbravă 

Re:publik / noiembrie 2006  (scos acum de la naftalina re: Ridley and his old good ones).

Pitch: Sir Ridley plus Russell Crowe. / Adică Gladiator 2?/ Nu. O comedie romantică. / Ce? E o glumă? / Nu. Aşa am crezut şi eu, dar trebuia să am încredere. 

Nu îmi place Ridley Scott necondiţionat, G.I. Jane e o vomă, iar White Squall e şi plictisitor şi inegal şi întotdeauna am urît finalul la Someone to Watch Over Me. Dar acesta e cel mai light / upbeat film pe care l-a făcut şi pe care se vede şi simte că i-a făcut reală plăcere. Care-i şpilul? Ridley are o vie în Franţa, în Provence şi vecinul său este scriitorul Peter Mayle, specialist în istorii provensale, udate cu vin roşu şi delicii gurmande. 

Împreună au brodit un plot şi un vehicul pentru durul Russell Crowe, pe care Ridley îl consideră un sensibil. Şi iată filmul, o comedie romantică care se petrece în Provence, despre o casă, o podgorie, vin şi amintiri, mai concis, povestea unui om care se redescoperă pe sine. Max Skinner (Crowe) se ocupă cu producerea banilor la bursa londoneză, e un tip cinic, dur şi nemilos. El primeşte moştenire vila şi podgoria unchiului său Henry, cu care n-a mai comunicat de când era copil. Henry este un minunat Albert Finney în flash-back-uri în culori glorioase (amintind de rolul din Big Fish, la prima colaborare cu Ridley Scott de la debutul acestuia, Dueliştii, 1977). 

A Good Year nu arată ca un film din ziua de azi, ci mai mult din anii '60-'70, e un tribut Franţei şi filmului francez, dar mi-a adus aminte mai ales de Avanti de Billy Wilder şi de atmosfera toscană din Stealing Beauty al lui Bertolucci). Pe lîngă citatele Jacques Tati, prezenţa lui Didier Bourdon (unul din Les Trois Freres), cote-ul romantic e asigurat de ingenua Marilon Cotillard (decorativă în seria Taxi). Un film cu un buchet special, despre vin, cum să-l bei, să-l faci, să-l trăieşti, la joie du vivre, dragoste, prietenie, căldură. Problema e că şi tu vrei să-şi laşi slujba şi să mergi în Provence, dar cine oare îţi lasă moştenire un conac şi o vie? "Some Guys Have All the Luck", cînta Rod Stewart. Ridley Scott şi Russell Crowe sigur au. Dacă spectatorii se vor simţi măcar pe jumătate la fel de bine ca ei, pariul e cîştigat. Oricum vinul s-a băut. 

*** 3 din 5, 6 din 10 !

A Good Year, SUA 2006 Regia: Ridley Scott Scenariul: Mark Klein după cartea lui Peter Mayle, Imaginea: Philippe Le Sourd, Cu: Russell Crowe, Marilon Cotillard, Albert Finney, Abbie Cornish, Didier Bourdon, Tom Hollander, Freddie Highmore. 

# primul score al lui Marc Streitenfeld, anterior music editor (la RS via Tony Scott de la Gladiator, Hannibal, Black Hawk Down, Kingdom of Heaven, Matchstick Men), care a recidivat cu Sir RS la inca 4 filme, American Gangster, Body of Lies, Robin Hood, Prometheus si serialul Raised by Wolves.

Ridley's Favourite Flicks & LMA @87 !!!

Today Sir Rid is 87 !

Seems that not even Gladiator II is not the much expected BO hit he wanted to have. After the vain and bloated Napoleon and 3 flicks that didn't make much waves (The Last Duel, House of Gucci, All the Money in the World), plus the self-destruction (implosion) of the Alien franchise (Prometheus & Alien: Covenant), and a series that went nowhere in season 2 and was cancelled -Raised with Wolves, it seemed he recently fared better as a producer (Alien: Romulus).

This here is an unexpected list of Ridley Scott's favourite films, or the films who influenced him. Of course there are on top 2001-A Space Odyssey and Lawrence of Arabia, but there are also unexpected choices.

LMA/ Happy Birthday, and pls. give us one more movie we should care about ! Not You should Be Dancing, the Bee Gees biopic, you should be better dancing 4 real instead...

I already revisited recently Body of Lies and now I will watch again American Gangster, and might see again The Counselor, which I loved when it came out...Gladiator I revisit too much whenever I am on a binge of sorts..

MadS (2024)

MadS is the horror genre surprise of the year and might as well be the horror film of the year !

There is a bit of Gaspar Noe's Climax in David Moreau's one-take, shot in real time (by Philip Lozano, a veteran cameraman and cinematographer of velocity as in The transporter, Banlieu 13, check here his nnarative of MadS) crazy (Mad!) feature, that had a very tiny time also on Romanian screens (under the title Noapte de cosmar). 

David Moreau shot his 1st film, ILS /Them (2006), in Romania, a gimmicky  thriller, then did a remake of Korean The Eye, an apocalypse thriller (Seuls) and a film about a lion cub (King). This is a zombie apocalypse drugged techno fueled Trip that doesn't stop for 1hr28. Kind of a very bad bad trip....The actress that plays Anais (Laurie Pavy) is really overdoing it, living the scenes like raving insane, well, MadS. Great sound and pulsating score. Shudder is streaming it.

An interview with Moreau about how they shot it. "Victoria with zombies". Someone wrote,"Romero's Run Lola Run"./ And some More ;)

Nominated for best film in Sitges 2024.

**** out of 5, 8 out of 10 !!!

Gladiator (2000)

 INTO THE ARENA*

Alin Ludu Dumbrava / Art & Roll, 2000.  Pus acum aici pentru comparatie cu Gladiator II. 

Filme de acest gen nu se mai fac de 35 de ani incoace. Costul unor asemenea superproductii (numite de italieni Peplum si de americani Toga and Sandals movies) era imens -figuranti, costume, decoruri, staruri, cai, pirotehnie. Lovitura de gratie a dat-o Cleopatra (1963), un urias esec de public, cel mai scump film al vremii sale, cel care si-a falimentat producatorii in asa hal incit Hollyood-ul a pus definitiv sub cheie genul. Cele mai bune mostre ale acestui gen de spectacol cinematografic sunt Ben-Hur (William Wyler, 1959), Caderea imperiului roman (Anthony Mann, 1964)si Spartacus (Stanley Kubrick, 1960). Asta pina la Gladiator. Pentru ca filmul lui Ridley Scott este mai mult decit un simplu peplum si se ridica net peste ele.

"Are you not entertained? "

Scott este un regizor baroc, acuzat mereu de detractorii sai pentru simtul sau acut vizual in detrimentul actorilor si al naratiunii. Dupa o cariera furtunoasa, plina de esecuri de public si certuri cu producatori lipsiti de viziune, Scott revine in forta cu un film care incheie mileniul in ideea ca de doua mii de ani incoace nu s-a schimbat mai nimic pe pamint. Colosseum-ul lui Scott este arena eterna, cea in care publicul spectator vrea senzatii tari, adrenalina, piine si circ. Este si ceea ce a ajuns cinematograful azi, o disfunctie intre arta si industrie, menita sa recupereze cu orice pret banii investiti si sa scoata din amorteala si rutina zilnica rontaitorii de popcorn. Lectia lui Scott din 2000 A.D. este ca se poate face un film pe care sa-l aclame publicul mic si mijlociu dar si criticii si cinefilii impatimiti. Pentru ca Gladiator este spectacolul pur, epic, maiestuos, cinema 100 %. Si mai mult, o sarja mascata a artistului impotriva unui sistem de mercenariat, in care intri in arena, te umpli de glorie si apoi multimea te uita imediat. La fel ca in Hollywood, unde esti vedeta pina la urmatorul film. Daca acesta e un esec, esti deja o glorie trecuta. Intreaga cariera a lui Scott a stat sub acest semn, fara premii, fara elogii, fara libertatea de a crea liber. Ridley Scott este Russell Crowe, gladiatorul care sta in arena si urla multimii insetate de singe, “acum sunteti multumiti?”. In arena realizezi ca poftele umane sunt mereu aceleasi de la prima caverna la primul pas in cosmos, sex si violenta, cit mai mult sex si cit mai multa violenta. Lumea in care traim a uitat definitiv maximele lui Marcus Aurelius (un Richard Harris in amurg), visele, nobletea. “Ce e Roma? -Un vis…” Replicile din film l-ar face invidios si pe Shakespeare. “Ceea ce facem in aceasta viata dainuie in eternitate”. Asta e si menirea artistului, a creatorului de cinema adevarat, ce va rezista mai mult decit o vara in box-office-uri. Oliver Reed primeste un ultim rol extraordinar, simbolic- Proximo, simbolul actorului care stie care e pretul gloriei. El stie cum poti sa-ti cumperi libertatea-trebuie sa cistigi multimea. In arena. Orice fel de arena, fie ea o scena de concert rock, un miting electoral, un ecran de cinema. Gladiator este o meditatie asupra a ceea ce se numeste showbusiness, punind accent pe mirajul pe care il exercita orice scena luminata asupra multimii.

Daca in martie 2001 Gladiator va lua sau nu cel putin cinci Oscaruri, (NA: si a luat exact 5, dar Scott nu, si asta eramarea lui sansa, da, as always, some movies direct themselves..) aceasta se va datora nu mesajului filmului si nici calitatilor sale cinematografice, ci faptului ca a fost un succes extraordinar, de public si apreciere generala. That’s showbiz, and there’s no business like showbusiness. Odata in viata Ridley Scott a iesit cistigator. In arena. Pe acordurile cele mai simfonice pe care le-a compus vreodata Hans Zimmer. Lights, camera, action: Give’em Hell! Pina la urmatoarea lupta: Cut!

ALD

*titlul vine de la o piesa de Michael Shenker, which I love(d).

5 stele din 5 !  (azi, NA, 2024 m-as duce la 9, pentru tot mambojambo-ul cu acel complot debil)

DVD director's cut, nu merita pentru ce in plus. More like deleted scenes. 171 mins vs. originalul la 155. L-am dat la Cinemateca Patria in 2014. 

American Gangster (2007)

 O poveste adevărată - American Gangster

Alin Ludu Dumbravă / Şapte Seri / decembrie 2007

O poveste adevărată despre America, American Gangster este biografia lui Frank Lucas, regele heroinei din Harlem, temut şi apreciat de mafia italiană din New York, subtextul fiind despre capitalismul american la fel de mult cât era The Godfather despre familie. Organizaţia lui Lucas era familia sa, în întregime neagră, iar Lucas avea un creier admirabil, de mare afacerist, care s-a manifestat în acest domeniu infam, al distribuţiei de droguri. Dar este şi povestea poliţistului incoruptibil şi instopabil, Richie Roberts, care l-a prins pe Lucas şi a creat istorie. Denzel Washington este impecabil şi irezistibil în rolul lui Lucas, aşa cum ştie să o facă chiar şi cînd joacă bad guys. Este primul film pe care-l face Denzel cu Ridley Scott, după cele 4 care le-a făcut cu fratele său Tony. De cealaltă parte a legii, Russell Crowe este Richie Roberts, din nou un rol de tip Method, pentru care s-a îngrăşat, şi a căpătat accent, à la Serpico. Crowe este al treilea film cu sir Ridley (după Gladiator şi A Good Year, vor urma Body of Lies si Robn Hood ca sa faca un cvintet-NA 2024) şi mai au două pe ţeavă. Amuzant, Denzel şi Russell Crowe au mai jucat împreună în thrillerul s.f. debil Virtuosity (1995) şi tot de părţi opuse. Partiturile secunde sunt asigurate de actori excelenţi; Ted Levine, Armand Assante, John Hawkes, Ruby Dee, RZA, Cuba Gooding jr., dar revelaţia filmului este Josh Brolin, sosia brunetă a lui Nick Nolte (cu al doilea rol major de anul acesta, după No Country for Old Men). 

Este cel mai american film pe care l-a făcut Ridley Scott până acum. Respiră aerul locaţiilor sale, filmat în New York, New Jersey şi Tailanda, de Harris Savides (colaboratorul lui Gus van Sant şi al lui David Fincher). Este o reconstituire minuţioasă şi scrupuloasă a epocii (de către scenograful ataşat al lui Scott, Arthur Max), din 1968 pînă în 1976, perioadă în care New York-ul era cel mai murdar şi corupt oraş din lume. Ambiţiosul proiect, numit anterior True Blue, a trecut pe la Brian De Palma, Terry George şi Antoine Fuqua, dar Ridley Scott a reuşit să-l aducă pe ecran într-o formă perfectă. La o durată epică de 2 ore şi jumătate, nu plictiseşte şi nu are scene în plus de virtuozitate stilistică, nici urmăriri, nici shoot-out-uri tipice genului. Plusuri sunt muzica excelentă a lui Marc Streitenfeld, şi piesele din epocă, care adaugă atmosferă. Ridley Scott se află aici pe teritoriul lui Michel Mann, regizat în maniera lui Martin Scorsese şi Sidney Lumet. Nu se pot anula comparaţiile cu Scarface al lui Brian de Palma, dar sunt mai aproape Carlito's Way al aceluiaşi regizor, Prince of the City sau Serpico ale lui Lumet, The French Connection al lui Friedkin, The Godfather al lui Coppola, Goodfellas şi The Departed de Scorsese, Heat de Mann şi Year of the Dragon al lui Michael Cimino. O companie selectă, ceea ce încearcă filmul lui James Gray, We Own the Night, dar nu reuşeşte. American Gangster e un clasic, unul din cel mai bune filme ale anului şi intră direct în categoria celor mai bune filme cu gangsteri făcute pînă acum. Sper să-i aducă lui Ridley Scott mult aşteptatul şi binemeritatul Oscar de regie.

NA 2024: și nu i-a adus nimica. A fost nominalizat la 2 Oscaruri, Ruby Dee pentru rol secundar si scenografie....la Globurile de aur au fost nominlizati Ridley, Denzel si best film. 

****patru stele din cinci / 8 din 10

# Revazut in varianta EXTENDED (de ziua lui Ridley, 30 noiembrie 2024!), si se tine exceptional filmul, acum dupa 3 sezoane de Godfather of Harlem (in care Forrest Whitaker e mentorul lui Frnak Lucas, Bumpy Johnson, acum se face sezonul patru in care va aparea Lucas ca personaj). Scenele extinse sunt bine montate in intreg, la 175 de minute e la fel de alert si poate chiar mai intens!)

Gladiator II (2024)

Out Today.

Gladiator Keto, a film that shouldn't have existed, IMO.

First things first, I loved the original Gladiator (2000), saw it 5 times in a cinema, Ridley Scott used to be my favorite director (well, one of them, these days I go with Tony), and it's one of favorite youtube binges. So I was appalled ever since this project originated back in 2001 (if only they would've done the crazy Nick Cave script...;). In 2006 they sold the property to Paramount and then Rid came on board back in 2018. No worries or why , worry, me ? there's plan for a Third one. Yes, it shall be the Gladiator trilogy, eyeing The Godfather, well, we all know how well the third Film fared.

Gladiator II rips off &  pillages the original big time, and its sucks completely. It's just a repetition and a shameless knock-off, with e a double budget & in excess (210 mill. $ repoterd, word of mouth of 350 mill. pff), super bad CGI (those monkeys man, oh, and how about'em sharks?) and uncharismatic leads. Mescal and Pascal look more Dacians than Romans. The two punk emperors and a small monkey (did u say Minky? ;) can't make for a Caligula knock-off.   I wouldn't even bother writing about the historical anomalies and the weak script (which I bet was re-written as the movie was shot). 

Don't get me wrong, its shot effectively (again by John Mathieson, see on the comments his opinions about this production, he said it was not so brilliant...), and how can you get it wrong when you have eleven (!!, yes it goes to Eleven !) cameras shooting at the same time ? The set design is even better (Arthur Max again), costumes, yes production values galore.

well, Denzel rulez, but he chews the screen like there's no tomorrow, they would've better made the film about him. And for my money, he was better in Equalizer 3. he worked with Rid in American Gangster (2007). Denzel will be 70 in December this year. 

Also the music by Harry Gregson-Williams (2nd time around for Ridley, after Kingdom of Heaven) is lame and the only good cues are from the original (by Zimmer, Lisa Gerard, etc), that at the time were absolutely on point ! 

Strength & Honor it ain't....

No more movies Sir Rid,...you will be 87 soon (30 November), so pls. let others some space...just heard he's doping a Bee Gees biopic, WTF ? Did he get replaced by a Replicant ???

5 out of 10, 2 1/2 out of 5

Fred Sunwalk @Transilvania Blues Nights

Duminica 17.10.2024 @rockstadt, Brasov !

Bilete pe www.rockstadt.ro

https://www.facebook.com/events/1069325954580000

The Second coming of the Brazilian Hurricane !!!

Direct din Sao Paulo, Fred Sunwalk - guitarrista straordinario do Brazil, "the Brazilian Hurricane" se întoarce la Brașov în seria concertelor marca Transilvania Blues Nights!

For One Night Only - duminică 17 noiembrie 2024 la Rockstadt!

Fred a cântat în premieră și exclusivitate in România pe 29 septembrie 2023 la Transilvania Blues Festival ediția V în formula de trio.
Va fi un recital de calibru și intensitate maximă, cu un aer și atmosferă de Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Carlos Santana & more, much more!

Guitar & Vocals: Fred Sunwalk
Drums: Mike Horne
Bass: Roger Innis

B. There and Let There B. Blues!

Un concert-eveniment marca Transilvania Blues Nights.
Sponsori: Butan Gas, BCR, AHA Bistro, Coliba Haiducilor, Brasov Old Town Apartments, Bit Datamining, Tehnic Mihor, Bistro AHA

Bilete: 100 lei pret pre-sale pana pe data de 16 noiembrie, 130 lei in ziua concertului.

Powered by Rock FM, Zile și Nopți
 Open door: 16:00
 Concert: 20:00

************************************************************************************************

iata si concertul de anul trecut de la Transilvania Blues Festival editia V  (29.09.23) !!!

Rip Tony Todd

The original "Candyman", Tony Todd was 69. He died on November 6th 2024. I thought he was younger... Although he was in hundreds of films Tony Todd will remain forever The Candyman (Clive Barker's iconic horror character directed by Bernard Rose in 1992), that spawned two sequels and a remake in 2011. Last time I saw him this year when I re-saw Dennis Hopper's Color, wher he had a bit part as a Vietnam Vet (1988). He played militaries also in Platoon and The Rock.

Billy Wilder homage: Adios & Ola Billy !

 Acest articol a aparut in defuncta revista art & roll in 2002. L-am republicat acum, cu ocazia intrarii filmului Anora in cinema, care mi-a adus aminte de old Billy W. 

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Adios & Ola, Billy !

“Billy nu vedea lumea in mod comic sau in mod tragic. El vedea pur si simplu LUMEA. Asa ca lumea l-a acuzat de cinism. Din acest punct de vedere, cel mai mare compliment pe care mi l-ar putea face cineva ar fi sa-mi spuna ca sunt un cinic.”

Walter Matthau-AFI 1986

“Mr. Death, I’m ready for my close up”. Un ultim film, finalul film al mortii de la al carui turnaj nu poti lipsi.

Trebuia sa moara ca sa fie din nou pe “Prima pagina”. Asa mai auzim de el. Desi in ultimii ani a fost omniprezent pomenit, de 20 de ani n-a mai intrat pe un platou de filmare. 2002 este anul Billy Wilder si lumea e deja mult mai trista…

N-a mai suportat sa stea dupa ce prietenii si actorii sai, Lemmon si Matthau, fatete ale personajului Wilder, au plecat si ei de aici. Probabil ca acum stau cu totii la o parola undeva deasupra norilor si dupa cum spune titlul unui film de Lubitsch, e “Trouble in Paradise”.

Stau intr-un hotel in Sevilla si ma uit la seara omagiala de pe Arte. Pe Canal + s-a discutat in emisiunea de cinema ca despre evenimentul major, filmele sale s-au dat mereu si se dau incontinuu; doar in ultima luna pe Arte s-a nimerit “Foreign Affair” si “Viata particulara a lui Sherlock Holmes”, (ambele in seri tematice nelegate de Wilder) chiar si romanii au dat “Lost Weekend”! Oare s-a uitat Wilder la Oscarurile de acum 2 ani, cind autorii lui “American Beauty” i-au multumit in public si au recunoscut inspiratia din “Sunset Boulevard” si “Apartamentul”. Tocmai mi-au dat lacrimile pentru ca in cadru a aparut Billy, un batrinel minunat, exuberant si jovial, la fel cum mi-au dat lacrimile cind m-a sunat un prieten la 00,20 in noaptea de miercuri spre joi, 27 martie 2002 pentru a-mi da o veste pe care o asteptam, crispat, de un timp incoace. 95 de ani, o virsta previzibila pentru o plecare definitiva. Cum glumea Wilder: “Un om se duce la doctor si se plinge ca nu mai poate urina. <<Citi ani aveti>>, intreaba doctorul? <<90 de ani>>, raspunde pacientul. <<A, pai nu-i mare scofala>>il consoleaza doctorul.<< Nu credeti ca ati urinat destul pina la virsta asta?>>)

Billy vorbeste acum la televizor intr-o germana amestecata cu engleza pestrita, despre Marylin Monroe. Abia s-a terminat “Unora le place Jazz-ul”, dar l-au dat in franceza. Deh, nimeni nu e perfect. In librariile spaniole, a aparut tradusa, cartea lui Cameron Crowe, “Conversacion con Billy Wilder”, pe care am rasfoit-o si n-am cumparat-o anul trecut pe vremea asta, in Amsterdam. Personal, am mereu aceiasi problema, as fi vrut sa mai fi facut un film, doua, trei…“one, two, three”…

Am prezis acum citiva ani ca lumea se va detepta si va urla cu surle si trimbiti cind Billy va disparea complet. Pina atunci l-a inconjurat valul tacerii, al trecutului devenit prezent continuu, pina la trecerea permanenta intr-un trecut definitiv.

Abia acum 3 saptamini am reusit sa vad primul sau scenariu pus pe pelicula, “Oameni de duminica”(1927), regizat de Robert Siodmak si Edgar G. Ulmer, primul film amestec de documentar si fictiune, pasaportul lui Billy spre UFA, apoi Paris, apoi New York, apoi Hollywood.

Vienezul Billy Wilder a fost mereu legat de vechea Europa, de relicvele fostului imperiu austro-ungar, chiar de Romania. A fost prieten cu unul, I.A.L. Diamond (Izzy), totodata co-scenarist. A creat cel mai frumos personaj romanesc de pe ecran, barmanul suprarealist din “Irma La Douce”.

“The Ace in the hole” al unui domeniu disfuctional (arta / industrie), care te poate face sa devii cinic, Wilder este o combinatie de Balzac (Comedia umana), Goya (Capriciile), Paganini (tot capricii), Strauss (valsuri pe Dunarea albastra) si mult espresso (italian coffee, very strong).

Sau, cum spunea Caragiale, acest anti-roman convins, “Simt enorm si vaz monstruos”. Plusez: “Nimic din ce mi-e omenesc nu mi-e strain” , “errare humanum est”, “iarna nu-i ca vara”, lui Billy i-ar fi placut poanta…

Billy traieste…aici, linga mine, in camera de hotel, unde termin sticla de Jack D’s in onoarea lui…cred ca Billy ar fi preferat Schloss Chateau o mie noua sute vara…seamana putin cu Mickey Rooney in “Principiul dominoului”, n-am mai auzit o germana mai amuzanta in viata mea… se ride, se fumeza, se bea si nu mai sunt singur demult, stau cu Billy la o sueta, el dinauntrul televizorului, eu dinauntrul pasiunilor mele. Uimitor cit este de viu si real si probabil e singura moarte care nu ma afecteaza atit de tare in mod real, pentru ca Billy s-a retras din 1982. Viata e trista, viata se termina la un moment dat. Modelul perfect: sa fii, sa vezi, sa descrii lumea cu dulcele/ amar dozat unic de Billy, made in Billy Wilder’s world. Nobody’s perfect dar nici viata nu e perfecta. Cred totusi ca, intr-o zi senina, pina si Dumnezeu ar vrea sa fie putin Billy Wilder.

La intrarea in rai parola e “Avanti !”. Si pina la urma tot pe Sunset ajungi. Adios & Ola, Billy & OLE !

7.04.2002, intr-un lost weekend la Sevilla,

Alin Ludu Dumbrava

& her ia a real treat, a new found interview (extensive) with Billy Wilder, published last year (2023) by Kevin Lally, who had 6 conversations with Billy in 1993 !

https://kevinlallyonfilm.com/2023/06/16/my-first-encounter-with-billy-wilder/

Megalopolis (2024)

Megalopolis is kinda Miniopolis...

I went with my fingers crossed but no, hey, got the intentions but great filmmaking this not iz (Yoda said)

Coppola's dream project for over 30 years, inspired by Ann Raynd's The Fountainhead, Rome's & ancient Greece republics, architecture and philosophers, Goethe's Hold the Time, and a lot of Shakespeare, as well as New York's dirty townhall politics an construction shenanigans.

The Baddies:

-too pretentious

-too literary

-too naive too

-too megalo

-too Shakesperian, but like bad Shakespeare, done by juvenile people

-a teenager film done by a very old man, lecturing about the world

-lost plots (the Russian satellite, the megalon subplot)

-philosophy on the screen-does not work (talking in quotes certainly sucks)

-Adam Driver doing Hamlet

-some of the effects -really bad- statues doing stuff, backgrounds and such (there is a budgetary reason)

-Dustin Hoffman character wasted (James Caan was supposed to play this...)

-not impressed by the cinematography which I expected to be brilliant, sorry Mihai Malaimare jr...(his fourth film with il suo Maestro. Francis "discovered" him in Romania in 2006, giving him the chance to do Youth Without Youth, then he took him to Argentina to do Tetro, then kept him for Twixt). Meanwhile MM jr made a career in Hollywood (A Walk Among the Tombstones, The Master, The Harder They Fall, Jojo Rabbit !!!).

-the score (again by Osvaldo Golijov, his 4th film with FF Coppola) 

ok, the goodies:

the ending

the message

Jon Voight (Crassus) -The "Robin Hood" scene

the editing & the montage

-the Tryptich (Homage a Abel Gance ?)

-the Metropolis & other German expressionism influences in the Caesar's trip on the Madison Sq G banquet

-the Theda Bara homage (Aubrey Plaza)

-the sex scene with Auntie Wow (Platinum) & Shia 

-Nathalie Emmanuel looking hot & fresh (half the film was wondering what's her name and where I saw here before, oh yes, John Woo's The Killer remake)

-The end song -The The -Lonely Planet (from Dusk -1993)

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

-Flawed as it isit needs to be seen in a cinema, on the big screen !!!

----------------------------------------------

& a wonderful Coppola interview on the film, the meaning of life and cinema. If only his film would've been like this ...:(

Anora (2024)

Anora is in Romanian Cinemas starting Today. So, run to the theaters, 'til it's there...

Absolutely Fabulous ! One of the year's best if not The One (haven't seen yet all the Cannes fares). Frsh, raw, relentless (act one just sets up the film, so bare for the first thirty minutes). 

The stripper Ani aka Anora (Mikey Madison) meets Ivan, the half-baked young son of a Russsian Oligargh and thinks she struck gold. Cos' he wants to marry her. Und they did ! But then the family finds out about this....trouble ensures.

Palme d'Or -the first American film to win this since 2011's The Tree of Life ! 

And certainly one of the top favorites for the Awards Season. Mikey Madison deserves an Oscar !

I was thinking all the time where did I see her before, and yes, Mikey was Sadie in Once Upon A Time in Hollywood.

Yura Borisov as Igor is a blast ! Also Karren Karagulian (who's been in every Sean Baker film, and that's his eight !) is extraordinary as Toros. I am following Baker since The Florida Project which was OK, wasn't impressed by his previous, Tangerine (2015), but Red Rocket was one of my top films of 2021 (I think it streams on Netflix these days/& nights;). Anyway, this is Baker in Major League now, bigger, better, more ambitious in scope and story. Up to now Baker's characters are misfits, low-lifes, prostitutes, strippers, pimps, white-trash and junkies, destitute people who in his view get a warm personality and a glow. A peripheral Americana micro-cosm of its own.

For me it was like Cassavetes and some early Jarmusch (but in vivid colors and widescreen), directed and shot a la Safdie bros. (Good Time, Uncut Gems). And a bit of After Hours (Scorsese, 1984). 

And the Billy Wider Touch. I felt so much starting act two, from all the losers getting 2nd hand shots (The Apartment, Kiss Me Stupid, Irma la Douce-she 's a prostitute, see -oups, a sex worker, etc.)

Though Sean Baker dedicates his film to Jess Franco & Soledad Miranda (his actress that died in an accident at 27) !!? He also mentions Fellini's Notte di Cabiria as an inspiration for Ani/Anora. 

Only Incidental music in the soundtrack (songs that is...)

9 out of 10/ 4.5 out of Five 

('cos it's too long like 99 % of the films 2day, 2h18 min. !!!), but totally Tuș ;)

-but all in all, could be the most Fun Palme d'Or (also Triangle of Sadness is close as fun factor ;)

I predict it will be nominated for a lot of Oscars (editing & cinematography too), Mickey Madison & Karren Karagulian. I sure hope it wins also, maybe too Indie to its core and not very mainstream.

*Great interview with Sean Baker on his favourite films on Video Konbini. You'll be surprised what kinds of films the guy likes ;) like, it's the first time I heard about Miami Connection (1987) !!! A alot in common with Tarantino too. 

One Million views BC !!!!

1001015 views now. Over one million. Felt like sharing ;)

This blog, beaten, heavy, conflicted, controversial and ridiculed ("blogul cu morti"/ dead people's blog) never made any $ and I kept coming back to it just because it felt like a maligned child -was born when i was tricked to do it  at Mediapro (see Old blog) and then Ndgu suggested I did my own _July 2008-such eons lifes ago....and then (and then ? ) yes, IT Lives, and Lives Again, it lived, noh...til any moment when it can be erased, disappear, etc. 

This year it seems, I spent more time on it, it's like coming back home, an empty home, a poor home, a dear home, so many lost friends, so many heroes, so many great films and fun moments. None pushed me to write stuff I ddi not want to write, I promoted my activity, being that film festivals from TIFF to Cannes, got even accredited on Sitges with it (!!!), my years at the Cinemateca Patria, my short run of Bohemian Mondays (aldmovieLight), my Transilvania Blues Nights. 

It's random and it has tags for things most important and loved, from Keef to Iggy to Alice (Coop), to His Bobness, Leonard Cohen Ozzy, Iron Maiden, Steve Vai and VH in Rockland. 

On movieland it's BDP and Scottfree, QT and Jack (De Palma, Ridley and Tony Scott, Tarantino and Jack (Nicholson, not Daniels), giallo and Mickey Rourke. Und more.

It's trips and alinland, and SOTD (song of the day), and it's all been random into a design that fits or unfits. Why switched in English from original Romanian It's done good with imdb and anyhu, more than half of my life is in Ingles, so, why not ?

"Cent'anni !!!"

-...well, we live for much longer, kiddo ;)

RIP Quincy Jones

Quincy Jones gone...91 years old. A Legend's Legend and a whole world gone. Described as a Titan, and yep, it's a good word to describe his whole work.

Just talked about him re Eddie van Halen's Involvement on Michael Jackson's Beat It from Thriller (#1 selling album of all time still, that he concieved and produced), that is a controversial story.

Seminal Jazz album and song: Soul Bossa Nova -1964. Re-made popular by Austin Powers. Same year Quincy Jones became the first Black vice-president of a record label (mercury). He did humongous things for his community and his people. 

There is a fabulous documentary on him, QUINCY, made by Netflix in 2018. Still streaming. Do yourself a favor and see it. Then listen to the Man's music.

Also on Netflix there is a doc about how Quincy put together USA for Africa's 1984 "We Are the World"  (brilliant stuff, esp. some of the backstories). 

His music scores are brilliant, from his debut in Sidney Lumet' s The Pawnbroker (1965), to Joahn and Mary, Norman Jewison's In the Heat of the Night, to the original The Italian Job, Peckinpah's The Getaway (all great Jazz there), The Hot Rock, The Wiz  (1978) !!! Lumet directed, Quincy arranged the score, even plays an Emerald City musician, Michael acted as The Scarecrow and the film flopped (big time), to Roots on TV, to Spielberg's The Color Purple (that he also produced), 7 times Oscar nominated and no award :( 

well, he had 28 Grammys out of 80 nominations, more than any other musician in history :)

        "With the power of music, I reach the hearts and minds of millions of people."

                                       (Quincy Jones -1933-2024)

Edward and Alex Van Halen-Unfinished

Alex Van Halen wrote about a book about him and Eddie VH, entitled BROTHERS.

The Audio book includes the final song of Eddie and him, Unfinished. It's a nice elegy to the genius to Edward Van Halen.

the song is available for download from van-halen.com. 

Lance Lopez @Transilvania Blues 25.10.24

LANCE LOPEZ is in town next Friday -25.10.24 !!!! The town of Brasov, that is The first gig of his new Tour, "Trouble is Good" !!! the band, same as in the video below.

event here:

Lance Lopez @ Transilvania Blues Nights.

@LANCE_LOPEZ_TX

Lance Lopez is a name that often comes up when discussing the greatest blues guitar players in the world. Mentored by ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons, blues legend Johnny Winter, and Jimi Hendrix drummer Buddy Miles, Lance has an old soul and blues in his blood. He’s been a professional musician since the tender age of just 14 years old, being a member of Johnnie Taylor’s band as well as a member of the Buddy Miles Express. He has opened shows for icons like BB King, Steve Vai, and Jeff Beck, and played with greats like Eric Gales, Walter Trout, Warren Haynes, and dozens more. Lance has a new record out called Trouble Is Good on Cleopatra Records, and it features guests like Brian Tichy, Gregg Bissonette, and a bunch more.

B. There & Let There B. Blues !!!

Tickets/Bilete pe Rockstadt.ro

Friday tix at the door will be 150 lei.