Ozzy @Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

"You can't kill Rock'n Roll. "

Just as Paul Di'Anno died at 66

Ozzy Osbourne was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame y-day in Cleveland, for the 2nd time, 1st as a member of Black Sabbath in 2016. Jack Black said his introduction, naming Ozzy "the jack Nicholson of rockn'roll". Various musicians played afterwards three songs (Crazy Train, No More Tears), featuring Chad Smith, Robert Trujillo, Zack Wylde, Billy Idol, Wolfgang Van Halen. Ozzy mentioned in his speech Randy Rhoads and his wife, Sharon. 

Ozzy is 75 and retired, his last album to-date was the 2022, Patient no. 9.

"ALL ABOARD!"

The whole thingie here (til it lasts ...)

RIP Paul Di'Anno

Communique from Iron Maiden:

We are all deeply saddened to learn about the passing of Paul Di'Anno earlier today. Paul's contribution to Iron Maiden was immense and helped set us on the path we have been travelling as a band for almost five decades. His pioneering presence as a frontman and vocalist, both on stage and on our first two albums, will be very fondly remembered not just by us, but by fans around the world.

“It’s just so sad he’s gone,” comments Steve Harris. “I was in touch with him only recently as we texted each other about West Ham and their ups and downs. At least he was still gigging until recently, it was something that kept him going, to be out there whenever he could. He will be missed by us all. Rest in peace mate ⚒⚒.”

We were very grateful to have had the chance to catch up a couple of years ago and to spend time with him once more. On behalf of the band, Rod and Andy, and the whole Iron Maiden team, we extend our deepest sympathies to Paul's family and close friends. Rest In Peace Paul.

Paul Di'Anno was 66...he was supposed to come to Cluj in 2009 but that concert was cancelled... :(((

Never Let Go (2024)

Never Let Go (2024):  I'm quite puzzled by the ratings, they're like for a mediocre film/ or were people's expectations too high ? It seems that is a "way too much thinking and speculation" film, that's why it flopped.

Halle Berry was before in horror in Gothika (a bad thriller, d. by Mathieu Kassovitz, 2003), this is the second time she works with a French director.

Alexandre Aja is a very stylish horrormeister, he shot two films in Romania, Haute Tension and Mirrors, then he made it to the big league in the US with creepy remke to The Hills Have Eyes, the fun fun Piranha 3D remake, the crocodile fare Crawl, the weird one Horns, He is the son of director Alexandre Arcady. His last film before NLG, Oxygene, shot during the pandemic, went on to stream on Netflix.

NLG is also a gimmicky film, sure you got that, and I'm not gonna spoil anything here but the gimmick it's in the style of mr. Twist and Shout M. Night Shayamalan, (The Village, Knock on Cabin), just that the drama and it's subtler and darker.  The writers, Ryan Grassby and KC Coughlin wrote  The King's Tide, which is still on my "to see" list. The film was then titled "Mother Land". Woud've loved that title much more.

A big plus of NLG is the superb acting of Halle Berry (again taking on a risquee part, it's her film after all, she produced it too) and the two kids, Samuel (Anthony B. Jenkins) and Nolan (Percy Daggs IV). There is a twist on the Abel and Cain story here too. And on Hansel & Gretel, for all that matters. References to Grimm and Anderson's dark fairy tales are on the screen for you to see. And judge. 

Opening credits roll a la The Shining, the music score by ROB is dense and thrilling (his third score for Aja after Horns and Oxygene) and you'll never hear "The Big Rock Candy Mountain" (the 1928 bluesy song by Harry McClintock, that was also in O Brother Where Art Tho ?), again the same way. 

Aja's old collaborators are there, Maxime Alexandre as DOP  (in widescreen 2.11.1 by Alexa digital), and Gregory Levasseur (his buddy screenwriter), now as the director of the Second Unit. NLG was shot in British Columbia, in the wilderness of the woods.

And the dog, Koda (Brass), is worth a Palme Dog ;)

To be seen in a theater (the soundscape is fantastic and the photography it's just beautiful).

7 out of 10 / 3 1/2 out of 5 

Joker: Folie à Deux (2024)

Folie à Deux is the curio of the year

flop of the year, more so than Furiosa

cost 200 mil . $, three times more than Joker (2019)

least sequel ever

most divissive film of 2024

musical of this year

dysfunctional love story 

opening animation says it all there (done by Sylvain Chomet no less)

and how about that ending ? 

Tarantino loved it

"The Joker directed the movie. The entire concept, even him (Phillips) spending the studio’s money — he’s spending it like the Joker would spend it, all right?” Tarantino said. “And then his big surprise gift — haha! — the jack-in-the-box, when he offers you his hand for a handshake and you get a buzzer with 10,000 volts shooting you — is the comic book geeks. He’s saying fuck you to all of them. He’s saying fuck you to the movie audience. He’s saying fuck you to Hollywood. He’s saying fuck you to anybody who owns any stock at DC and Warner Brothers […] And Todd Phillips is the Joker. Un film de Joker, all right, is what it is. He is the Joker.”

and Hideo Kojuma says in 20 years it will be considered a masterpiece.