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.
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

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...

✔✔✔✔✔

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.
♥ ♥ ♥

800 Bullets

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

Tie me up! Tie me down!

Goodness this is an odd film. Not surprising it has courted controversy at various times and places; explicit sexuality, lewd photography, abduction, bondage, drug abuse, "being Spanish" (check wikipedia on that one) and goodness knows what else.
It is sort of a cross between a romcom and a horror thriller though you are never sure if it is actually one or the other - till the end. The soundtrack is often very dark, full of foreboding, Hitchcockian; but the film never delivers any horrific content more often flirting with farce, softening the implicit violence with innocence and surrealism, even pathos at times.
The tension from this ambivalence is what makes it watchable; there is something here for everyone and will certainly get folk talking and more than likely laughing. Not surprisingly it was a blockbuster in Spain when it was released.
Watch it with friends
♥ ♥ ♥

Swimming Pool

Quite an elegant film. Mostly in English but large parts in French - since it takes place mostly in the south of France.
The plot develops slowly, just like a relationship when two people are thrown together unexpectedly; trying to be civilised because of a mutual friend but not really succeeding. Mysterious events from the past are hinted at and suddenly a bloody murder is exposed bringing the two lead characters together in a perverse bond. And that would be that, except for the head-spinning twist in the tail.
A cleverly worked psychological melodrama full of artifice and a beguiling performance from Charlotte Rampling.
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

The Cave of the Yellow Dog

A gentle story told with superb style.
Populated by real people and the spectacular plains of Mongolia.
Prepare yourself before watching, make sure you are relaxed and ready to savour the pace of this glorious film.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥