L'auberge espagnole (Pot Luck)

First saw this a couple of years ago and evidently it made an impression on me then; second-time round I still enjoyed it. Not really sure why this is a likeable film though, certainly full of vitality and fun and vivaciousness. Maybe, sometimes that's all we need.
 
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M

Wow! this is cracker!
Directed by Fritz Lang in 1931 and staring Peter Lorre as the despicable murderer. This was Lorre's first major role and he plays it brilliantly especially his impassioned monologue toward the end.
The version I watched was assembled from archive material held in Netherlands, Germany & Switzerland to make 110 minutes of the original serial killer film. This was Lang's first "talking" film, in German of course, and Lang is so inventive in marrying sound & vision. Some spectacular innovative techniques are in use including the first example of leitmotif, borrowed from Opera, in film; Peter Lorre's character can be identified on & off-screen by whistling In the Hall of the Mountain King - bizarrely, Lorre was incapable of whistling so we actually hear Lang himself.
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Isobel Anderson: In My Garden

Made the album release last week in the Crescent Arts Centre where Issy and friends entertained us mightly with some superb music mostly from "in My Garden" but with some very new pieces, a music video and some older tunes.
The first set opened with the lights down and an abstract a cappella tune rendered with the help of members from a couple of local choirs. Apart from being spectacular in itself, set the mood wonderfully for the rest of the gig.

Issy's music has really matured in the past few years. Her vocals have mellowed, her music has strayed from its folk roots picking up at times a jazzy lilt and even a retro 70's style. But the lyrics are as sharp and modern and personal as ever. Some wonderful violin accompaniment from Gascia Ouzounian. After a cool, arty music video by way of a break, the second set featured tracks off the new album. Ruby Colley accompanied Issy on many songs with other friends joining her on stage from time to time.

Get the album and look out for more to come.

The local BBC arts programme gave Issy some air time...

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Beat the Devil

Allegedly created as a parody of his own film Maltese Falcon by Howard Hughes and featuring Lorre, Morley as well as Bogart.
Bit of a romp with such a stellar cast; wonderful to see these greats again with Bogie in particular being hard-boiled,cynical and a thoroughly dissolute good guy.
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800 Bullets

Quite bizarre and unbelievable even as an entertainment.
Like as not, too clever for its own good.
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