Public Image Limited -PIL Live in Dublin 12.06.2025

My piece on a fabulous concert, Johnny Lydon & co. aka PIL for Sunete Live here

https://sunetelive.ro/de-la-pil-la-nin-in-dublin-cu-alin/

also they got a new great logo 

The Phoenician Scheme (2025)

 The Phoenician Scheme (2025) is Wes Anderson's 12th feature (out of 12, 2 films are animations), presented at the 78th Cannes film festival in the Official Competition. 

The New Yorker review here

It's supposed to be a film dedicated by the writer-director to his daughter, a more emotional relationship of characters and less parodic as in his other films.

A lot of in-house references and cyphres, even more and obscure than before. From the name of the character, Zsa Zsa (Gabor), Korda (the famous filmmaking brothers), to Casablanca, Orson Welles' Mr. Arkadin, Max Ophuls shots, Igor Stravinski & Mussorsky-Ravel, Pierre-August Renoir's painting (that was owned by Greta Garbo). Black Narcissus nurse included ;) The score is again by the great Alexandre Desplat, on his seventh collaboration with WA, in a synchopatic sound and beat very similar to the music from The Grand Hotel Budapest (the best Wes Anderson film for my money).  What is new is the cinematographer, Bruno Dellbonnel's first film with WA. Top set & production design (done again at Babelsberg studios, where the Grand Budapest Hotel was shot) by Adam Stockhausen and cool costumes by the legendary Milena Canonero.

Za-Zsa Korda (genius name !) Benicio Del Toro chews scenery, actually he machetes it, in a part half inspired by Howard Hughes, part Groucho Marx. Matthieu Amalric (Marseille Bob !!! -Bob le flambeur ?) plays Peter Lorre and Jeffrey Wright (Marty- "man") is the epitomy f cool !

IMO Benedict Cumberbatch (uncle Nubar) looks like from Feulliade's Fantomas or any silnet films villains, with a fake beard and diabolic eyes (Jack Lemmon in Blake Edwards' The Great Race too?). Also Michael Cera's Bjorn accent is far far out. The Monty Python affiliation is automatic.

If you know Wes Anderson's favorite films and directors, you know there is not much Americanism in him. He might be the most European Art-house American director. Also he is starting to live completely in his own MU (movie universe), like latter Fellini, Roy Andersson, etc. Is that a good thing, or a Phoenician scheme ;) ?

All in all, 7 out of 10 /3 1/2 out of 5 (could've been 10 mins. shorter) and the Black and white Bunuelian mocking Bergman (or Pasollini ?) sequences (except the Bill Murray cameo as God). Too much of mannerism, tends to deja-vu/veja-du ?. 

RIP Brian Wilson

Just on my first day in Ireland, the evening of July 11th, while stopping on a gas station I got the X notice, from Keith Richards, "goodbye Brian Wilson"...Then the news and the social media were flooded, the next day's newspaper in Dublin had a one page obituary, all my facebook, even the radio played his songs...Took me 5 days to get to write this...(adapter/charger/chord problems plus 1 PIL & 1 NIN)

I saw Brian Wilson in Lyon in July 2017, at Théâtre Antique de Fourvière (Les Nuits de Fourvière Festival, avec Toubib Mishu). I cam all the way from Grossmann Fest in Slovenia, via Zagreb and Milan, and left afterwards to Geneva for Sardegna. It was a detour and a stop I wanted to do and I am so happy I did. It was a magical, wonderful evening, filled with uplifting songs. 

Here's the setlist , he played Beach Boys songs and then Pet Sounds live, ending it with Love and Mercy, the title of his biopic picture from 2014 (as Love & Mercy), where he was played by Paul Dano (young) and John Cusack (old).  That film dealt with his recovering from psychosis and forced medication, a very dark long chapter in Brian Wilson's life. He was, as his song says, not a man on his times. The dark side of Genius. Cos' Wilson is one of the greatest genius in XXth century music, admired by his peers, McCartney, Lennon, Dylan, Neil Young, etc. If The Beach Boys wouldn't put out Pet Sounds in 1966 (and the lost 1967 Beach Boys unfinished album, updated and completed by BW in his master Opus, SMILE, in 2004), there wouldn't have been no Beatles' Revolver, then Sgt. Pepper, then no Their Satanic Majesties, and maybe no Tommy and no Dark Side of the Moon. God Only Knows ...

Good Bye Brian...it was an honor to see you live and I thank Uncut magazine for introducing me to your work, on Smile era.

RIP Sly Stone

Sylvester Stewart aka Sly Stone (leader of legendary funk-soul group Sly and the Family Stone) went away to the other side... He was 82. He is the godfather of funk (adelik), soul master, Uber rockstar in hiss day and a raw model for Prince. Also for Nile Rodgers, George Clinton and many others, black or white. He upped James Brown's game to a a musical level of perfection. His band played Woodstock in 1969, one of the high(er!) acts of the monumental event. And I mean, who ever married on Madison Square Garden and Live ? (in 1974!).

There's a great documentary about him, that just premiered in Sundance Fest. this January and was streamed by Hulu (in Ro on Disney+) in Feb. 2025. Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of the Black Genius), directed by Questlove, musician on his own. See it and you'll get why Sly was the slyest ;) He did a big big thing for Black musicians way back when segregation was All Time(s) Nigh !

Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin ;)

Iron Maiden – The Tenth. Budapesta, miercuri, 28 mai 2025

Recenzie concert: Iron Maiden – The Tenth. Budapesta, miercuri, 28 mai 2025 – Papp László Arena

Text de Alin Ludu Dumbravă

30 mai 2025 SUNETE 

De fiecare dată când Iron Maiden pornește din nou la drum, hop și noi – la concert sau pe urmele lor.

„People should know when they get old… and wise? Not so much…” – scriam după ultimul concert Iron Maiden de la București, în mai 2022 👉 Review complet aici

Anul trecut, când s-a anunțat noul turneu aniversar de 50 de ani, „Run for Your Lives”, am început prospecția de locații și bilete. Și, desigur, discuțiile cu prietenii fani fideli Maiden, cu care să pornim iar la drum.

În decembrie 2024, legendarul baterist Nicko McBrain s-a retras – la venerabila vârstă de 72 de ani! În locul lui, trupa l-a cooptat pe Simon Dawson, care a cântat cu Steve Harris în British Lion. Deși nu este înconjurat de atâtea tobe precum Nicko (care era practic înecat în ele), Dawson s-a descurcat excelent la Budapesta. Poate de aceea trupa a programat două show-uri acolo (27 și 28 mai). Ambele au fost sold out în timp record – probabil pentru a perfecționa acest nou live show, foarte dens și solicitant.

Am nimerit la al doilea spectacol, pe 28 mai – și se pare că a fost chiar mai reușit decât cel din seara precedentă, unde s-au raportat unele glitch-uri tehnice.

Un spectacol aniversar

Show-ul 2025 este complet nou și inedit – cel mai performant din punct de vedere audio-vizual al trupei până acum. Doar e aniversarea a 50 de ani! Iron Maiden est. 1975, England!

S-au cântat piese niciodată abordate live până acum, sau din vremuri demult uitate – „Killers”, „Murders in the Rue Morgue”, „Phantom of the Opera”, „Wrathchild” – toate de pe primele două albume (1979/1980). Decoruri schimbate pentru fiecare piesă, costume speciale pentru Bruce Dickinson și un fundal high-tech, ediție 2025. Eddie, mascota iconică, a apărut doar la două piese – în rest, totul a fost dominat de proiecții animate 3D, probabil cu ajutorul AI-ului.

Foto: Zoltán Havran www.Magyarnemzet.hu

Sunet impecabil – beneficiind de spațiul indoor. Spectacolul a fost aproape operatic, grație lui Bruce și a vocii sale rămase incredibil de puternice.

S-a cântat de pe primele 8 albume, inclusiv cele cu regretatul Paul Di’Anno și cele șase clasice cu Dickinson: „The Number of the Beast”, „Piece of Mind”, „Powerslave”, „Somewhere in Time”, „Seventh Son of a Seventh Son”, „Fear of the Dark”.

Piesa de rezistență: „Rime of the Ancient Mariner” – 14 minute, pe vremea aceea cea mai ambițioasă piesă a trupei (de pe albumul Powerslave, 1984), după balada lui Coleridge, acum prezentată vizual în stilul Tales of the Black Freighter din Watchmen. Am mai prins-o live la Cotroceni, în 2008, la turneul „Somewhere Back in Time”.

Cea mai „nouă” piesă din repertoriu: „Fear of the Dark” (1990), scandată energic de cei 12.000 de fani prezenți. Media de vârstă – 40+. Am văzut chiar și doi copii. Fericiți.

Boldog gyermekek! Cam toți, de pe la 70 în jos.

Foto: Zoltán Havran www.Magyarnemzet.hu

Iron Maiden 2025: Steve Harris – 69 ani, Dave Murray – 68 ani, Janick Gers – 68 ani, Adrian Smith – 67 ani, Bruce Dickinson – 66 ani, Simon Dawson – 66 ani.

Eu, din 1982. Fan. 🙂

📄 Setlist complet aici

Nice trip all in all.

41 de ore dus-întors. Concert: 2h05. În deschidere Halestorm, dar nu se pune 😉

Echipa de șoc, alfabetic: Alin, Bogdan, Dinu, Emese. O singură mașină.

Bilanț: 5 Unicum (dintre care unul Barrista), un Matyas Keserű (Unicum diluat, 28°), cava, roze, pălincă de struguri (grappa maghiară), Hungarian sparkling brut. 6 espresso. La concert: overpriced gin tonic la 70 lei – fără lime, lămâie sau gheață (!)

When in Budpaest: egyél chinese, egyél turk, ne(m) egyél KFC, singurul loc de mâncat deschis după 12 noaptea! Gulașul l-am mâncat în mod paradoxal lîngă Sibiu (haiducesc).

Unde e viața, flora și fauna de altădată din jurul gării Keleti… și ea închisă cu lanțuri pe dinăuntru, mai trist chiar ca la Brașov…

România a ratat, din nou, cel mai bun show al anului

Turneul european „Run for Your Lives – Iron Maiden: The First 50 Years” se întinde pe durata a 4 luni, din 27 mai (Budapesta) până pe 2 august (Varșovia). Aveți timp! Prieteni de-ai mei merg la Viena, Stuttgart, Belfort.

Apropo de Belfort – ne vedem acolo pe 3 iulie.

Acum am pe toate degetele de la mâini, trecem la picioare ? 

This time it will really go to Eleven!

Text de Alin Ludu Dumbravă pentru Sunete

Alice Cooper - Wild One ( The Original A.C. Group)

The Revenge of Alice Cooper, the new album by Alice Cooper featuring his original group after more than 50 years off (Muscle of Love in 1973), will be out on July 25th 2025 !!! The 1st single was Black Mamba (out on youtube in April), fearturing Robby Krieger (The Doors).

Inspired by the iconic 1953 film The Wild One starring Marlon Brando, the track captures the same defiant spirit that once shocked middle America and defined a generation. Reuniting five decades after their rise to fame, the band channels the chaos, danger, and cool of their early days, a time when rock was feared, eyeliner was scandalous, and every show felt like a revolution. "Wild Ones" is the sound of the Alice Cooper Group with their engines roaring, still loud, still dangerous, and still not asking for permission. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Wild Ones We are the wild ones crashin' through the night Livin' in the shadows, hidden from the light Revving up our engines, sharpening our claws Cause baby when you're hungry, the jungle is the law Oh, runnin' with the wild ones Yeah, baby we're the wild ones Yeah, we're the wild ones, we live in every town We own the city streets, we rule the underground, There is no cagin' us, you'll suffer if you try We got the rage in us, cause it makes us feel alive Oh, runnin' with the wild ones Yeah, baby we're the wild ones Wild ones, wild ones, wild ones Can you feel it, rolling thunder, Lose your mind and drag you under Can you see it, getting' higher Cause it's burning, burning like a fire We are the damned ones, this is the life we choose There's no redemption and nothin' left to lose. If you see us coming, you won't have time to pray When you hear the motors gunning, just get out of our way Yeah, runnin with the wild ones Yeah, baby we're the wild ones Wild ones, wild ones, wild ones Can you feel it, rolling thunder, Lose your mind and drag you under Can you see it, getting' higher Cause it's burning, like a fire

LMA Clint @95

The Clint is 95 today. Wow !!! Health and vigor !!!

Also he announced that he will shoot a new film !!!

Iron Maiden live 2022 Bucuresti (my review)

 Atunci am scris pentru revista Golan. Acum am fost din nou. Link aici. si pe blog aici.

 Între timp The Bruce (D.) a mai fost la Bucuresti cu participare in Deep Purple-ul simfonic și anul trecut concertul său cu The Mandrake Project / Afterglow of Ragnarok s-a anulat cu 20 de de ore inainte...îl promovasem intens aici :(, 

8 ½ Aces High -(Cum era să nu îi văd pe) Iron Maiden la București în A.D. 2022

de

Alin Ludu Dumbravă

Toamna trecută, în plin relapse pandemic vine și o veste bună. Se anunță un nou concert Iron Maiden, după 6 ani de la ultimul la București. Ar fi Iron Maiden a opta oară pentru mine, unul cu altfel de peripeții, 8 1/2 de fapt, pentru că l-am văzut pe Bruce Dickinson cu spoken word în februarie 2020 la Sala Radio ”What Does This Button Do?”). Dar e una din puținele trupe (singura?) pe care le-aș vedea oricînd/ mereu.

Bilet nu mi-am luat în avans, deh, scuuump, 500 de lei/100 de euro în față (Aces High), în altă parte nu mă ineteresa, acreditare nu am, neobișnuit pentru mine pentru că în afară de cele văzute afară am avut mereu. Toți prietenii mei și-au luat bilet din timp (mai puțin cei mulți, foarte mulți, prea mulți, care m-au dezamăgit zicînd -păi i-am mai văzut...who the F**k cares, really?), anyhu eu eram sigur din prima că nu va fi sold out. Pe iabilet tot apăreau într-una bilete în plus, de la ”mai sunt 10 bilete” la ”mai sunt...”. Mai sunt. Cu scuzele de rigoare pentru organizatorii de la Metalhead, eram sigur că nu o să îmi dea acreditare pe blogul meu, și să îmi reciclez istoria Maiden pe care am scris-o și publicat-o pentru trei concerte diferite mi s-a părut penibil să o mai fac acum. Era doar de completat un album, cel de anul trecut, Senjutsu. Dublu album cu panache, de rit japonez :).

Cut to:

Luni 23 mai, T minus 3 zile.

Întrebările mele la Radio și alte zone penru invitații au rămas fără rezolvare. Amicul Mihai îmi spune să intru pe olx, nu am cont dar îmi dă el contactul pentru un bilet în Brașov dar la preț prea sus. Sun și negociez. Rămîne ca la gară. Dau numărul de telefon în caz de răzgîndire.

Marți 24 mai, T minus 2 zile. Sunt sfătuit să mă mai uit pe olx. Găsesc un preț superb la un băiat din Lovrin,Timișoara Cristian, îl sun, e foarte fain la vorbe, nu poate să mai ajungă dar zice că nu apucă să mai trimită biletul fizic. Bummer. Îl sfătuiesc să vină oricum, mai ales că nu i-a văzut niciodată pe Maiden. Dar seara mă resună și zice că pune biletul pe curier, că vrea să mi-l dea mie, chiar și gratis. Îl sfătuiesc să îl trimită direct la București la prietenii mei de la Intercom Film, că acolo e cineva toată ziua. Și să îl recuperez eu de acolo.

Miercuri 25 mai, T minus o zi.

Cristian confirmă a trimis biletul, prin Cargus, a venit curierul la el în comună și a plecat spre Timișoara. Sună și fata cu biletul din Brașov. Prețul e acum ok dar eu ce fac, aștept biletul de la Lovrin. Doar așa ne-am vorbit...Îi zic no, thanks. Încep să mă stresez, deși îmi dau sema că e inutil și cam penibil. Merită stres? Între timp am văzut pe youtube imagini cu concertul din Belgrad, primul din turneu și prima cîntare Maiden în aproape 4 ani. Și un vlog cu niște fani care s-au sculat de la șase dimineașa și au stat toată ziua la porți ca să ajungă primii în față cănd se deschid. Nah, ca la 20 de ani...Încep să fiu și mai psyched. Între timp, un schimb lung de sms-uri cu Cristian care îmi zice că nu garantează că ajunge biletul la timp.

Ziua Zero, joi 26 mai.

Up and running. Fructe și ceai verde. La 12,30 aflu că nu va ajunge curierul. De fapt biletul nci măcar nu a plecat din Timișoara. Whaaat? Peste o oră trebuie să plec cu prietenii mei cu mașina spre București. Idee. O sun pe fata din Brașov (Ana). Mai are biletul. Iau un taxi, mă duc să îl iau și mi-l dă printat. Taxi în continuare, și ride to Bucharest la 14.30 cu Dinu&Emese. Sun pe vecinul de la Intercom, Victor. Și el și colegul lui Relu au o întrebare, de ce nu a scanat omul biletul? Beats me. Întreb-avea cod QR? -Probabil. Nu. Da. -Ok. Nu ne-a dus capul. Dar între aceste interacțiuni și-au dat expertiza vreo 10 oameni și nimeni nu a avut ideea asta. Old people, do I feel stupid​ Yes, I do...

Îl sfătuiesc pe Cristian pe sms să facă reclamație la Cargus. Zice că n-are ce face. Io aș fi făcut...

București 17.30, rush hour.

Dinu mă lasă înainte de Obor. Plin de lume. Pare anormal. Apatici, amorfi. O altă planetă. Not mine. Iau un tramvai, apoi pe jos pînă acasă. Ajung leoarcă. ”Căldură mare, mon cher.” În mai? Global what? Sunt 30 de grade.15 grade diferență față de acum câteva ore în Brașov

Trebuie să mă văd cu prietenul Mișu care a venit de la Lyon special pentru concert. Cu el i-am văzut prima oară pe Maiden la Budapesta în 2003, apoi la Milano în 2006, la Cluj în 2010 și la București în Piața Constituției în 2013 și 2016, ultima dată cînd au venit aici pînă acum. Eu am mai fost singur în Germania la turneul Dance of the Dead, pe Cotroceni la Somewhere Back in Time (9 beri!!! și un tricou!), 2013 la Piața Constituției și cu Dinu la Plovdiv, în 2018, în care în mare erau aceleași piese, un best of, The Legacy of the Beast. Este al cincilea concert cu Dickinson în România (nu îl voi pune niciodată la socoteală pe cel din 1995 cu Blaze Bayley cu ”Hello Budapest”, dar, norocul meu, oricum nu eram în țară. Amintirile traumatizante ale acelui concert de la Sala Polivalentă bîntuie unii fani Maiden chiar și acum, l-am văzut pe Blaze și chiar am vorbit cu el la defunctul Silver Church, dar Maiden nu e Maiden fără Bruce:)

Cut to:

Eo zi cu tripletă de morți, Alan White (72 de ani), bateristul de la Yes pe care l-am văzut acum 20 și de ani la București, Andy Fletcher (60 de ani), keyboardistul de la Depeche Mode, pe care l-am văzut pe Arena Națională și Ray Liotta, actorul din Goodfellas, la numai 67 de ani :(

mesajele au început să vină înainte de concert și după. Cine-mi știe blogul ”cu morți”,

https://aldmovieland.blogspot.com

știe de ce zic...trebuia să fie chiar azi....

Cut To:

Avionul lui Mișu a întârziat, ne tot comunicăm traseul lui cu busul, finally ajunge la mine. Avem Project fromages, are un rucsac cu goodies cu care nu poate intra la concert. Al cărui subiect face alt predicat :)

Bem un pahar de vin alb sec, abia cumpărat de mine, el zice că e ”oțet”. Nu-s de acord, dar el stă de 20 de ani în Franția, poate știe mai bine. Apel Freeride. Și alte aplicații, dar taxiuri nema, coborîm în stradă poate găsim acolo. În fine, găsim. Traversăm orașul pentru Bulevardul Expoziției. Cam ambuteiat, dar am ajuns însă la timp, in the nick of time, Tminus 10 min, timp pentru ca să ne salutăm prietenii prezenți în Aces High, chiar și să îmi iau un overpriced gin onic (two limes please...) și apoi, la apus deja dus, pe Doctor Doctor (intro-ul legendar, piesa UFO care deschide concertele Iron Maiden), am străbătut sectorul pentru a ajunge în partea dreaptă, unde era, normal, mult mai lejer, fără toaletele de rigoare (care erau în stînga).

Concertul, 20.50-22.45.

Sunet bun, cald. N-am mai văzut 10.000 de oameni la un loc de la Metallica în 2019. Aud că au fost 12.000, pînă în zare. Toată parcarea Romexpo. Rock pe asfalt. Încins...Mosh, putea să plouă...dar nu. The gods of Maidens forbid. Big intro. Pagode, Bruce cu coadă, a la Mifune. La început am avut parte de trei piese de pe noul album Senjutsu (al 17-lea album de studio IM), piesa-titlu, Stratego și primul single, Writting on the Wall.

Ne regasim cu alți maidenști, prietenii din Brașov. Încă un gin tonic, este cel mai sober pour moi concert Maiden probabil. Sau sigur! Ultima dată, la bulgari am băut Aperoli șpriți.

Se (în)cîntă. Chorus Line. Fanii. Cei mai loiali, părerea mea. Plus neofiți. Noi știm fiecare piesă, fiecare riff, fiecare schimbare de decor, cum alfel? Scenografia, operă, pentru că despre asta e vorba, Maiden e rock operatic la cel mai (aces) high nivel, de la avionul Spittfire la zburătorul din Flight of Icarus, la funia din Halloweed by the Name, capul diavolului penumatic din The Number of The Beast, la Revelations, Blood Brothers, la Eddie samurai sau The Trooper, la un moment dat în piesă cu steagul României, la Fear of the Dark (care mi s-a părut acum cam telegrafiată). Turneul Legacy of the Beast cuprinde piese de pe toate albumele more or less, acum încheindu-se cu piesa care înainte deschidea concertele, Aces High. Și înaintea lui, normal, discursul lui Churchill. Mult înainte de Gary Oldman :)

Cert este că la 50 de ani + te poți simți mereu ca la 14 ani, momentul cînd eu mi-am cumpărat day to date pe casetă albumul Powerslave de la un centru de înregistrare (normal că erau toți pirați”oficiali”) și 2 Minutes to Midnight era rifful care se dădea la TVR (în alb/negru) de închidere or so. Și să te simți la fel de bine ca Bruce, care dă tone de ture, și se vede că îi place...și lui Janick Gears, pe care mereu trebuie să îl văd dându-se în stambă în partea unde stau eu la concert. Cmon....

Setlist integral aici

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/iron-maiden/2022/romexpo-bucharest-romania-73b756c9.html

Cut to:

Doppo. Am evitat mulțimile (ohoho) și am ajus în marș la Piața Domenii, pe niște străzi pe care nu am mai fost. Thanks to Cristi! Acolo am găsit ușor un taxi și am fost să mîncăm ceva. La Legere. Bruschete, bulz (Mișu, pour l”exotisme) și mici, liniștiți și un pic de vin la carafă. Ou sont les walks d”antan? Am umblat prin noapte doppo Maiden nopți întregi, acum a fost 2 easy. ”People should know when they get old”...and wise? Not so much...

Cut to: Vineri după amiaza, la o zi de la concert, a ajuns și biletul la București. Bravo Cargus (not!), great speed de curierat. De melc, co-dobelc. De evitat. Sorry Cristian. Mi-a scris că și-a luat bilet la Maiden la Budapesta. Mult noroc.

Aceste memento-uri răzlețe își sunt dedicate ție. Up the Irons!

Fade out.

'til the next gig....da, io zic că mai mergem! It always goes to Eleven!

Dead Letter (2024)

Dead Letter in ingles means a lost letter, without good address on it, etc, that gets returned to the sender or gets back to the post office (see here). 

Dead Letter is also a small, one-of-a-kind curio film, thriller and horror but also experimental, in story form and execution, but mostly on score and sound design. First act is the best, as you don't really understand what is happening. Then you're set back in act 2. Also it's presented in grainy resolution, as it's a documented thing. 

Distyributed by SHRUDDER, this indie gem opened at  South by Southwest Film Festival last March, toured all the genre festivals for the past year. Written and directed by Joe DeBoer & Kyle McConaghy (BAB), starring cult actor John Flack, Dead Mail is a story about a synthesizer sound, a keyboard maudit, a kidnapping gone wrong, all happening in the mid 80's small American town. 

The score uses synth sounds and recordings of famous classical pieces, Henry Purcell, JS Bach, with the sound of Moog, Isao Tomita, JMJ, Vangelis, Keith Emerson and other maitres emerits du clavier modern ;)

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

Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning (2025)

When you have a 400 mill. $ budget you can make the best and bigger film ever made. 

But instead you make a bloated overbearing part 2 to an enuff bloated Mission: Impossible 7: Dead Reckoning (my review here), film that came out in 2023 and disappointed bigtime performing. Keep in mind that movie cost 300 Mill. $ to make. That film was 2h43, this one is 2h49. Add the running times, 'cos basically it's the same film, and it's an almost 6 hours film which could've easily be told in 2hrs. 

so, part 8 it is. No more Dead Reckoning part 2 but A grand finale, as they promised to spare us to do more. The Final Reckoning.  hopefully last.

It's all Tom Cruise. Tom cruise on a plane, TC running (doing what he does best!), TC underwater, TC fighting, TC, TC, TC. 1st Mission was a masterpiece, done by Brian De Palma with the help of 4 screenwriters working their heads off. Then John Woo made TC the coolest there is. Then the next two films, meh. When Chirstopher McQuarrie, screenwriter of The Usual Suspects and attached director to Tom Cruise, took the Mission on its fifth installament it was a cool update. Hitchcock, opera set-up, more paranoia and a lot more running. Rogue Nation was good, Fallout (the 6th) was even better. Plus they were linked. But M:I 8 wants to link all Missions, especially to the original. So, Kitteridge is now the chief of CIA and you get to see that Shea Wigham is the son of Jon Voight (c'mon) and Rolf Saxon shows up 29 years later as William Donloe, from M:I 1996. Actually that was cool, cos it takes a funny line which is a Brian De Plama trademark wink and puts it into the film's reality. In act 3 the film looks like a poor pastiche of Indiana Jones, all geared up in a cave looking to kill The Entity (worst villain of 'em all if you ask me). The plot is ludicrous and it's repeated every ten minutes, every person speaking one at the time, no ever overlapping, like you're in grade A in school. Also an over-the-top pounding soundtrack which replaces Lorne Balfe with his disciples, two eager newcomers (Max Aruj and Alfie Godfrey), and they fill the space completely, no scene should not have music and booming sound effects. Plus ADHD editing and curved camera shots. And TC running , oh yeah, did I mention that again? 

Well the world's fate depends on him more than it ever did of James Bond, Indy or Jack Ryan. He's the JC figure, the only one that can saves it. "It is written" (in the script I guess in Italics...)

Also a film made with the support of Department of Defense that gave these people airplane carriers so they can quote from Tom Gun, doesn't impresses me. The dooming feel these days it's not from AI but from the top of the White House and his omonim in Moscow. 

3 out of 5, 6 out of 10 !

*the rating would be even lower if it wouldn't be for the impressive underwater sequence and the plane stunt. Remember, a movie star acts and entertains, we don't go to the movies to see them doing superhuman stunts we don't care about. It's called Moviemagic and movie tricks are doing that, you don't have to sell every film you're in piloting your own, driving fast motorcycles. You're no Steve Mc Queen...

a good review writing what I think also in The Detroit News: Mission Failed. 

RIP Joe Don Baker

He was sheriff Bufford Pusser, Walking Tall. He was Bond's enemy (in The Living Daylights), then he was Bond's friend (GoldenEye and Tomorrow Never Dies). He played mostly tough guys. Last time I re-saw him in Charlie Varrick (Don Siegel, 1974), where he played a ruthless psychotic killer. 

Joe Don Baker was 89.  He died on May 7th 2025.  

Obit in The Hollywood Reporter. 

Cannes 78: Palme d'or to Robert de Niro !!!

 Such are the moments of Cannes !

Honorary Palme d'Or to Robert De Niro !!!

At the peak of the evening, a standing ovation greeted Leonardo DiCaprio’s entrance. The American actor, who owes his breakout and his encounter with Martin Scorsese to Robert De Niro, expressed his admiration before presenting him with an Honorary Palme d’or:

 

“Tonight, I have the immense honor of standing before you to pay tribute to someone who is our model. Robert De Niro’s legacy lies in how he inspired actors to treat their craft not just as solo performance but as transformation. Robert De Niro is not just a great actor—he is The Actor. With Martin Scorsese, they told some of cinema’s most legendary stories, uncompromising stories. They didn’t just make movies—they redefined what cinema could be. They elevated the actor-director relationship into a crucible of risk-sharing.”

 

In response, the cinema legend addressed the Grand Théâtre Lumière with a call to action—for freedom and democracy, without delay:

“My sincere thanks to the Festival de Cannes for creating this community, this universe, this ‘home’ for those who love telling stories on the big screen. The Festival is a platform for ideas, a celebration of our work. Cannes is fertile ground for new projects. (...)

In my country, we are fighting tooth and nail to defend democracy—something we once took for granted. This concerns everyone. Because the arts are, by nature, democratic. Art is inclusive; it brings people together. Art is a quest for freedom. It embraces diversity. That’s why art is a threat today. That’s why we are a threat to the autocrats and fascists of this world.

We must act—now. Without violence, but with passion and determination. The time has come. Everyone who believes in freedom must organize, protest, and vote in elections. Tonight, we reaffirm our commitment by honoring the arts—and liberty, equality, and fraternity.”

To conclude this opening ceremony and launch twelve days of screenings for the 78th edition, American director Quentin Tarantino took the stage and, with full voice, declared: “IT’S MY HONOUR TO DECLARE THE 78TH FESTIVAL OPEN!!!”

Mimì - Il principe delle tenebre (2023)

Mimì - Il principe delle tenebre / Mimi-Prince of Darkness is the debut feature film of Brando De Sica (Italian film Royalty, son of Christian-De Sica and nephew of il grande Vittorio), which was shown in the competition of Dracula film Fest last October in Brasov, Romania. It also won in Sitges. The premiere was in the Locarno film fest in the summer of 2023. Other awards followed.

It's a very spcial film, in the vein of  George A. Romeo's Martin, Nick Cage's Vampire Kiss,  a bit of Les Morsures de l'aube, a bit of  Låt den rätte komma in, etc. The genre he proposes is self-titled Napoletano Gomhorror neomelodico. A very specific Napoletan (including lots of pizza) film, very stylish with nods to the vampire genre, Nosferatu F. W. Murnau film, Hammer pics, giallos.

It's a combo of comedy, drama, doomed teenage love story and  coming-of-age horror. The protagonist Mimi is a misfit with a  handicaped foot, a (Tim) Burtonesque character,  coming straight from Tod Browning's Freaks box (here a Pizza box ;) mixed with Italian realism and mostly surrealism. And pizza ;) 

Great sound design by the director himself. And score (by Pasquale Catalano) and soundtrack (songs from Fabrizio de Andre to Four Tops, Halloween House, etc) . Reminded me a bit of the feel of the new horror wave by Tilman Singer, Cuckoo, from last year fodder.

It streams now on MAX worldwide. Also in Romania. 

4 out of 5, 8 out of 10 !!!

Sinners (2025)

"Dance with the Devil"

Sinners is an unexpected mix of black Americana, Southern Gothic horror, vampire fare, legends and racial tale told on Blues rhythms and chords. With a twist of folk-lore, religion and superstition. And Blues. Did I say Blues ?

It's also an epic western (epic on scope and duration, 2hr. 17 min.), the deal with the devil, Robert Johnson's style, KKK and moonshine in 1932's Louisiana.

Shades of Walter Hill (stylistically lots of his films, his style -think Last Man Standing, and major plot point: Crossroads), Tarantino & Rodriguez (From Dusk' Til Dawn and Coogler says The Faculty was an inspiration), John Carpenter (The Thing, Vampires), Kathryn Bigelow (Near Dark), 

Beautfully shot in Super 70 Panavision by Autumn Durald Arkapaw (Wakanda Forever) and presented in IMAX (shot on a ratio of 2.76 : 1), Sinners is acted with intensity and seriousness (Michael B. Jordan in a dual role, Delroy Lindo as Delta Slim,  Hailee Steinfeld as the white hottie, brit Jack O'Connell as Remmick) and scored magnificently by  Ludwig Göransson in his 4th collaboration with Ryan Coogler (after Black Panther, BP: Wakanda Forever and Creed).

Miles Caton mesmerizes as Sammie Moore, the made-up kid musician played in his old age by none other than Mr. Legend, Buddy Guy. Reason enuff for any blues aficionado to see the film !!! On the BIG Screen, brother, and if you live close to an IMAX environment, pls. go there !

Add to this a grand soundtrack companion.

And a pulsating original score by  Ludwig Göransson-who admires the blues since a kid in Sweden, did his homework seriously and this represents a tribute to his father. His credits are on banjo / music / musician: banjo / musician: resonator guitar / resonator guitar / score producer.

The Sinners Band:

Cedric Burnside -drums

Lester Snell-piano

Lars Ulrich-drums

Eric Gales-guitar

Alvin Youngblood Hart-guitar

Christophe "Kingfish" Ingram -guitar

Bobby Rush-harmonica

Buddy Guy-resonator guitar

Miles Caton-resonator guitar

Rave reviews, powerful BO, makes this a rare bird. Act one is slow, so give it time to warm up, it'll stay with ya afterwards. 

4 out of 5, 8 out of 10 !!!

RIP James Foley

New Yorker James Foley started in the Biz with Reckless, a rom com, in 1984. Sean Penn takes him to direct At Close Range in 1986. Great noir drama, featuring a magistral Chris Walken part. Penn, then Madonna's husband, tintroduces him to the music diva. He directs music videos for her, then he directs Madonna in Who's That Girl, a catastrophy. 

Then Foley does another film noir, based on the book by Jim Thompson, After Dark, My Sweet in 1990, one of his best flicks.

Then in 1992 came the adaptation of David Mamet's play, Glengarry Glen Ross, with a superb cast of actors, from Al Pacino to Alec Baldwin, Jack Lemmon, Ed Harris, Alan Arkin, Kevin Spacey and Jonathan Pryce, as an all male ruthless salesmen in an existential piece. Unebeliavable, the film was nominated for only One (!) Academy Award. 

Pacino gave him his next project, Two Bits, in 1995. 

Next on, Fear and The Chamber, with Gene Hackman, after John Grisham's novel, both in 1996.

And Confidence, a flawed con men movie in 2003.

Then nothing much, routine thrillers, a lot of TV. Like he lost his enthusiasm for good projects. 

James Foley died on May 8th, 2025. He was 71. RIP. 

Obit in Variety here. 

Warfare (2025)

Warfare, Alex Garland's follow-up to last year Civil War, team him with Iraq war veteran Ray Mendoza, his military advisor on Civil War, to tell the story of a f**ked up Navy Seals mission in 2006's Ramadi, Iraq. It's the grittiest battle of that war and this is a small vignette of an isolated team stuck in the chaos. The film plays in real time !

Tough, gritty, realistic, treated as a documentary, Warfare is a standalone piece of cinema, on the footsteps of Black Hawk Down and The Hurt Locker. Also it had 1/3 of their budgets. 

No music on 90 minutes of carnage and chaos, just an end credits song by Low ("Dancing and Blood", from 2018. Fantastic sound design from Glenn Freemantle (Oscar for Gravity). 

To be played Loud !!!!

4 out of 5, 8 out of 10 !!!

Luke Winslow-King & T.R.E.S. LIVE at Rockstadt for Transilvania Blues Nights / 23 Mai 2025

 🎸 Luke Winslow-King & T.R.E.S. LIVE @ Rockstadt

🗓 23 mai 2025, ora 19:30 !🎸

Bilete aici

sau https://rockstadt.ro/event/luke-winslow-king-t-r-e-s-live-at-rockstadt-23-mai-2025/


🎶 O seară specială marca Transilvania Blues Nights!

Pentru prima dată în România și în exclusivitate la Brașov, Luke Winslow-King urcă pe scenă alături de Roberto Luti și trupa T.R.E.S. (Tres Radio Express Service), într-o combinație de blues autentic american mixat cu energia de power-blues a uneia din cele mai speciale grupuri italiene.

🔵 Concertul va dura trei ore si va avea pauzå între recitalurile Luke Winslow-King, Roberto Luti și trupa T.R.E.S .
🔹 Luke Winslow-King (USA)
Originar din Cadillac, Michigan, chitarist, vocalist și compozitor de excepție, cu peste 15 ani petrecuți în New Orleans, muzica sa e o fuziune rafinată de Americana, delta blues, gospel și jazz.
În 2008, a fost numit de Gambit Magazine „Cel mai bun artist de blues”.
The Luke Winslow-King Band s-a format acum peste 15 ani și a avut concerte în toată lumea. Secundul lui Luke Winslow este Roberto Luti, chitarist și cantautor extraordinar originar din Toscana dar cu 10 ani petrecuți în New Orleans, cunoscut mai ales prin aparițiile sale din proiectul ”Playing for Change”.
🔵 Luke a fost prezent în premieră în România, la Brașov, la Rockstadt pe 26 aprilie 2024 în cadrul seriei de concerte marca Transilvania Blues Nights!

🔹 T.R.E.S. (Tres Radio Express Service) (IT)
Un trio italian cu o chimie scenică explozivă, format din frații în muzică Roberto Luti, Simone Luti și Rolando Cappanera. Povestea lor începe încă din adolescență, cu trupa First Experience, și continuă prin cariere individuale impresionante, colaborări internaționale și participări în proiecte de talie mondială, precum Playing for Change.

T.R.E.S. s-a înființat în 2010 într-un proiect muzical sincer și dinamic, unde blues-ul, funk-ul, rock-ul și psihedelia se unesc într-un sound vibrant. Pe scenă, T.R.E.S. (acronim de la Tres Radio Express Service) înseamnă intensitate și libertate artistică!

🎙 Eveniment prezentat de: Transilvania Blues Nights cu sprijinul Institutului Italian de Cultură București

✅ Recomandat de: Rock FM & Zile și Nopți
🤝 Sponsori: BCR, Butan Gaz, Dräxlmaier Group, Tehnic Mihor, BitDatamining
🛎 Partener de ospitalitate: Brașov Old Town Apartments
🍴 Parteneri culinari: A-Ha Bistro, Coliba Haiducilor

Let There B. Blues!

Psycho Therapy: The Shallow Tale of a Writer Who Decided to Write About a Serial Killer (2024)

A cute little film, which I found by total accident. Never heard of, more (Woody) Allenesque than Jarmuschian (as read in the reviews). An a bit of Mamet plays.

Tough to deal with the title tho. The Shallow Tale of a Writer Who Decided to Write About a Serial Killer. The Psycho Therapy: I guess, was added later. 

The writer-director Tolga Karaçelik is Turkish, arthouse fares and this is fis first English language film. Shot in New York, cool locations.  There's plenty of Turkish backers & producers on the credits.

A pleasure to see Steve Buscemi tho, in such a nice quirky part. Great name to, Kollmick. He's a retired serial killer that liked the writer's first book, about Mongolians ;)

The Protagonist is the lamest, Keane as John Magaro, a whinny loser writer, we know it's intended but it's hard to see why such a woman as Suzie (Britt Lower, from the Severance series) will still put up with him after so much time.

There's also a cool Tom Waits song and moment. 

Slovenia 40.000 BC is a cool pun. In black and white. "they move together".

 and the Llama, any film with llamas since the credits on Holy Grail...

Cannes 2025/ #78 Poster-s

Announced now. From Claude Lelouch's legendary Un homme et une femme (1966).

Pas un, mais deux ;)
Un Homme. Une femme.  

A man.

A woman.

A deserted beach.

A turbulent sky.

Intoxicating music.

A 3-month-old idea.

A 3-week shoot.

A 20-second scene.

Eternity lasts but a moment in the end.

It was 60 years ago. In 1965, two damaged beings played by Anouk Aimée and Jean-Louis Trintignant met, charmed each other, resisted, and finally twirled under Claude Lelouch's incandescent camera. The Palme d'or in Cannes in 1966, the two Oscars in Hollywood in 1967 and the dozens of awards around the world pale in comparison to this grandiose moment of tenderness, simplicity and beauty.

Because it is undoubtedly the 7th Art’s most famous embrace ("étreinte" in French, the anagram of "éternité"), because you can't separate a man and a woman who love each other, because you can't separate that Man from that Woman, the Festival de Cannes has chosen for the first time in its history to present a double official poster. A Man and a Woman. Side by side. Back together.

— He: When something’s not serious, we says it’s like a film. Why aren’t films taken seriously, do you think?

— She: Maybe because we only go to the cinema when all is going well?

— He: So you think we should go when all is going wrong?

— She: Why not?

During times that seem to want to separate, compartmentalize or subjugate, the Festival de Cannes wants to (re)unite; to bring bodies, hearts and souls closer together; to encourage freedom and portray movement in order to perpetuate it; to embody the whirlwind of life to celebrate it, again and again.

This man and this woman who both won awards in Cannes —Best Actor (Z, 1969), Best Actress (A Leap in the Dark (Salto nel vuoto), 1980)— are no more. These two posters also pay homage. Magnificent heroes of delicacy and seduction, Anouk Aimée and Jean-Louis Trintignant forever illuminate the film of our lives, like these two posters, whose colors express the intensity of a passionate love that triumphs over despair. This light no longer comes from the heavens, today troubled on all sides by dark clouds; it emerges from the radiant fusion of two beings who reconcile us with life.

78th Festival de Cannes official poster credits: © Les Films 13 - A Man and a Woman, Claude Lelouch (1966) / Graphic design © Hartland Villa

Muscle (2019)

Muscle is a bleak Noir mindf**k twisted story from writer / director Gerard Johnson, his follow-up to the dark violent Hyena (2014), very close to the estethics of NWR (Nicholas Winding Refn)'s Pusher trilogy. A very risquee film, also because it's  shot in gritty black and white, it's violent and with graphic sexual scenes and filled with toxic homoeroticity.

Set and filmed in Newcastle, it's the story of an alpha male and a wanna-be alpha, told through the means of bodybuilding in the local gym (Atlantis). And a gradual and slow descent into hell. 

With a great soundtrack by Gerard's brother, Matt Johnson from the cult group The The, including the Manfred Mann's 1969 song, Mister You're A Better Man Than I, and on the end credits a great The The song, I Want 2 B U.

The performances are stellar, Craig Fairbrass, B muscle actor as Terry and Cavan Clerkin as Simon. Johnson's attired actor, Peter Ferdinando (Tony, Hyena) and the upcoming Odyssey, has a supporting small part. 

Not for the faint at heart ;)

Empire review here

4 out 5, 8 out 10 !

Life, Death and Dennis Hopper by The Waterboys -Out now !!!

 Finally ! On April 4, the most expected album (in any sense, and for me in special) by Mike Scott's The Waterboys is out. I announced here on Jan. 8 2025.

What a Treat !!! 25 songs (you can find 'em all on Youtube here, spotify and other patforms), featuring an array of guests, from Steve Earle to Bruce Springsteen and Fiona Apple. 

Vignetes about Golf (Hooper's latter passion), The Last Movie (his doomed film), Andy (Warhol), Michelle (Phillips), Frank Booth (from Blue Velvet), Terry Southern (who wrote Easy Rider), etc. Including a fake trailer for a biker movie, "Freaks on Wheels", a la Tarantino's latest films. 

Post-modern, cool, eclectic, funky, groovy, mad -as Sir Dennis was ;) A wonderful heartfelt tribute, about the times and of Wild Pop Americana and one of True Legends of the Movieland (und more). 

Reviews here:

MOJO -4 stars

Uncut -4 stars

Under The Radar  -75 %

Rolling Stone 

Metacritics -78 %

**** 1/2 out of FIVE. 

Life, Death and Dennis Hopper Track List 

(where there are links you find the videos). 

1. Kansas (featuring Steve Earle)

2. Hollywood’55

3. Live In The Moment, Baby

4. Brooke / 1712 North Crescent Heights

5. Andy (A Guy Like You)

6. The Tourist (featuring Barny Fletcher)

7. Freaks On Wheels

8. Blues For Terry Southern

9. Memories Of Monterey

10. Riding Down To Mardi Gras

11. Hopper’s On Top (Genius)

12. Transcendental Peruvian Blues

13. Michelle (Always Stay)

14. Freakout At The Mud Palace

15. Daria

16. Ten Years Gone (featuring Bruce Springsteen)

17. Letter From An Unknown Girlfriend (featuring Fiona Apple)

18. Rock Bottom

19. I Don’t Know How I Made It (featuring Taylor Goldsmith)

20. Frank (Let’s Fu*k)

21. Katherine (featuring Anana Kaye)

22. Everybody Loves Dennis Hopper

23. Golf, They Say

24. Venice, California (Victoria)/The Passing Of Hopper

25. Aftermath

 

RIP Val Kilmer

First time I saw him in Top Secret back in the early 80's video days (& nights).

My favorite Val Kilmer part is in Mann's masterpeice of American Noir- Heat

with a soft spot for Mamet's Spartan.

He was blamed for the catastrophe that was Island of Dr. Moreau, with a mad Marlon Brando and a Mini me. Richard Stanley is over that one, John Frankenheimer is gone, like Marlon and Val now.

Val was cool in Ron Howard's Willow (sword & sorcery way before LOTR & epigons la GOT).

He was Iceman, "the wingman" in Tony Scott's seminal Top Gun. Also his last part on screen was in Top Gun 2, a cameo where he became Admiral Tom 'Iceman' Kazansky.

He was a beautiful crazed Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone's The Doors

Val did a Batman (Forever)

A Simon Templar-The Saint (in Moscow)

Doc Holiday (in Tombstone).

-also Kill Me Again & Thunderheart (thx, Andrei ;)

A great comeback film, with Robert Downey jr. was Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, that me and Andrei saw in the world premiere in Cannes in 2005. And we loved it !!!

and a great parodic part in McGruber (2010) as the evil baddie ;) Cunth. 

Long suffering from throat cancer he made a comeback in the headlights with the intense documentary VAL (2021) , in the official Selection in Cannes Film Festival. He died, age 65, on April 1st 2025.