Monthly Archives: January 2013

One Day More. Until the Next One.

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It has been brought to my attention that there are those who would rather watch Les Miserables than Django Unchained. Also that there are those who are more excited about which team Darren Bent will play for this week, than whether the Welsh Rugby Team can continue their wonderfully entertaining run of form this Saturday. It is, as you well know, a funny old world. Yes, Association Football’s transfer deadline is upon us again — with the added delight of the T’BBC Salford now joining the Sky Sports team in beaming us images of miserable and wet reporters standing outside Main Road or The Baseball Ground informing us that they spotted the Evian van arrive early this morning, but the driver was tight-lipped about the prospect of who was in or who was out.

So for those people who enjoy such things, here’s a timely piece— what the youth are calling a mashup— a MASH-UP— I believe. Pay particular attention to Marouane Fellaini‘s hopping between Italian, Welsh and Generic Johnny Foreigner accents. Mind you, ’tis a fine piece of work, even if I am none the wiser what a Belgian sounds like, and which has put me off even more (if such was possible)  from going to see the movie at the Kinema (is Ron Moody still in it ?).

Kickin’ and a Gougin’ in the Mud and the Blood and the Beer

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Just for a change, I’d like to talk about one of the good things in life.

djangounchained1212146

He’s back and at last he’s brilliant again. Probably his best movie since Pulp fiction, the great QT returns with this sensational epic. If you don’t like plot, edge, witty dialogue, then go ‘chase me, chase me’ down to middle earth and go see the Hobbit with the rest of your Dungeons & Dragon set. But if you can stomach barrels of blood, acres of character and the funniest Ku Klux Klan scene since Blazing Saddles, then go and take yourself along to see Django Unchained….just don’t take your mum.

Be prepared to hide behind your hands in scenes which give more than a passing nod to the the torture scene in Reservoir Dogs. The much maligned Tarantino has been accused of having lost his touch, with the spiffingly over-rated Inglorious Basterds taking most of the stick for an ailing career. Well now, even if you had no time for Basterds, and didn’t get the brilliance of Death Proof and it’s sensational soundtrack, take yourself along and see a proper movie.

Certainly not for the faint-of-heart, Quentin delivers big time, yet again. It’s a long movie at 2 hours 45 mins, and the longer it goes, the more outrageous is the action, and the more blood is spilt. Well before then, you’ve forgiven the director for everything he wants to throw at you, and allow any outlandish stunt or ridiculous scenarios to wash over you. It’s like Kill Bill, just with horses and six-shooters. And so, so much better.

And look! the erroneous poster above even gives you two more reasons to go see it: Sacha Baron Cohen (or Kurt Russell) never actually made the final cast of the film. Russell quit for ‘unknown reasons’ (like Kevin Costner before him —phew!)  and Baron Cohen had too many commitments to his project The Dictator. Having now seen both movies, Sacha should now be put on a 24 hour suicide watch.

So, welcome back Quentin. A world choked with the smug smog of smeg by Peter Jackson and James Cameron needed you back.

And why not, indeed ?

Good poster too.

And I Say: It’s All Right

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While the world reels under the pressure of a triple-dip recession — solely caused, as we all know, by all those scrounging poor people, teachers, students, health workers and single parents— it’s sometimes difficult to find anything to smile at, especially if you happen to be sitting in a queue in an unemployment office. Waiting your turn to be told they have nothing for you is a soul-destroying pastime. In Spain it must be a worse experience then most. Unemployment is currently running at 25% and it would be very easy to interpret any light at the end of any tunnel to be, as HMHB rightly said, the light of an oncoming train.

There are some, however, who are at least trying to bring a little joy into the lives of those who have been left on the scrap heap, waiting for jobs that just aren’t there. Take this Flash Mob in Spain which a Radio Station sent over to the local Job Centre to try to cheer up people. You will be shocked to hear that I am deeply sceptical of Flash Mobs, but this lot seemed to stir things deep inside me. Not always a good thing, I know. But having heard so many appalling cover versions of Beatles tracks by mono-browed, mancunian, misery-peddlers the Gallagher Brothers, this made a nice refreshing change.

Thanks go to Simon the Strine for sharing with us.

Westminster Food Hard to Swallow

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Sainsbury’s costing the earth ? Tesco bill soaring (serves you right for shopping there in the first place) Even Morrisons starting to get a bit toppy ? Don’t even mention Waitrose or M&S.

No worries: help is at hand: Get yourself a proper job and when you’re not claiming for the weekly shop for your lover’s second home, grab yourself a subsidised meal in this terrific little restaurant I’ve discovered in Westminster. You’ll find fiddling your expenses a lot easier job to do on a cheap, full stomach.  And you can always write off breakfast as a business expense too !

COMMONS FOOD