MY HIT LIST #52 Arbogast gets it in PSYCHO

Psycho is truly a phenomenal movie. It's trademark sequence, that has gone down in film history, is the shower scene. Seen a myriad of times, rightly celebrated and studied. However, the scene where Martin Balsam's Private Detective Arbogast enter the Bates House is a masterful piece of cinema and has always been in the shadow of Janet Leigh's shower death.

From the slow suspense of climbing the stairs, the use of music, the overhead shot, the door slowly opening, Norman Bates brisk yet unrushed approach, the angle of Arbogast's fall downwards, and the surreal plummet to the raised and falling blade, this scene is a masterpiece

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvPqSRLO5Ms
Arbogast

Big Fat Gypsy Weddings

I was prepared for Victorian style bear baiting when I switched on to Channel 4’s Big Fat Gypsy weddings, not from the titular Gypsies but from the programme makers. There was much to find humour in; the massively disproportionate dresses, the notion that the dresses weighed more than the wearer, although the crude ‘custom’ of grabbing, where the boy who has an interest, physically grabs a girl who takes his fancy with the intention of stealing a kiss under duress, is a concern. The over the top weddings and holy communions where on show in all their glory as were the gatherings and occasions of mingling.

What surprised me was the fun that they seemed to be having. The highly moral community appeared to be at odds with the provocative Beyonce influenced dancing and skimpy outfits worn by the young girls. Sleeves were obviously seen in a dim light for the boys, as they preferred to stroll around in vests and other singlet styled garments.

The main subjects were a couple, Josie and Swanley who, engaged after 1 month married after 4, took us through their wedding day with frank openness. Josie the oldest of nine went to Lanzarote on her alcohol free Hen Weekend and the site of her and her entourage kitted out in ‘Spanish ‘ style was a sight to behold.

Yes it was funny, but more laughing with than laughing at for me. The over the top clothes were put in context when we found out that a brother and sisters communion outfits were inspired by the Eddie Murphy movie Coming to America. Ideas of style and decorum may have differed but toeach their own I say. The sheer scale of the girls’ dresses bought to mind the Expo Centre of the 70s.

Their world seemed to have fixed ideas about gender and expectation and though one couldn’t help but wonder if the young people we saw would like more freedom, I felt that as a way of life it had the same sort of restrictions that other cultures have.

I look forward to seeing how the series pans out as we find out more about this community.

Links to programme

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CltZaG67NVY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqJx2OX__Q0

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/big-fat-gypsy-weddings/video/series-2/episode-1

Those infernal wasps again

The café for a coffee. The corner shop for a pint of milk, the post office for a stamp, the hardware shop for a plug everywhere I go my ears are besieged by the buzzing of wasps!

Buuuuuuzzzzzzz Buuuuuzzzzz Buuuuuzzzzz

The insipid generic electronic bass line, the Na Na  Na, Hey nonny no, the bibbidy bobbidy boo lyrics the unstructured excuse for a song delivered with a high pitched vocal style that is as tuneful as a hive (nest?) of wasps. The modern pop music world is full of music that is produced to be heard on tinny mobile phone speakers, low quality PC speakers and cheap headphones. It’s like aerosol cheese going up against a full bodied double Gloucester. A pint of watered down Carling up against a bottle of Heineken.

When will it end.

Oh my god please stop!

Buuuuuuzzzzzzz Buuuuuzzzzz Buuuuuzzzzz

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xubvyQSFJxE
two iritants in one

Buuuuuuzzzzzzz Buuuuuzzzzz Buuuuuzzzzz

MY HIT LIST # 51 (part 2) Sidney Poitier as Virgil Tibbs

 As much as Richard Roundtree as Shaft was a defining character and movie, Sidney Poitier's performance as Virgil Tibbs was a groundbreaking moment in cinema. Great movie with  a great performance from Poitier's co star Rod Stieger, superb soundtrack from Quincy Jones, featuring Ray Charles. Poitier stole the show as Tibbs; dignified, cool,authoritative and not taking any bullshit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LsoG2H_aek

"There was a time when I could have had you shot"

A Scene that somehow encapsulated the changes in civil rights

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOOrtKIYyS0

theme from Ray Charles

The follow up They Call Me Mr Tibbs, was more blaxploitation than indictment of racism, it had it's moments and also led to a so so TV series (without Poitier). The last Hurrah for Virgil Tibbs was the Organization which had a similar plot to the Dirty Harry movie The Enforcer. Throughout these inferior follow ups Poitier's Tibbs retained his cool.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zklu9zyFlv4

They call me Mr Tibbs

MY HIT LIST # 51 Richard Roundtree as SHAFT

Cool. That's the word for Shaft. Iconic. Sexy. Tough. But above all cool.

A character of huge cultural significance. The movies; not bad. The first being the best. The style the attitude the music; cool. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFlsufZj9Fg

Shaft-Isaac haye

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5NWZKc1JYc

Shaft in Africa-The Four tops

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JX2N9YfgBH8

shafts big score

SUPER SWEDES

Let’s not pretend, an actress has to lean on her looks to get ahead, that’s just how it is, but getting ahead with looks and talent is the trick.The land that gave us Ikea, Lego and ABBA has made something of a contribution in this respect

There have been many beauties amongst Swedish actresses such as Anita Eckberg, Julie Ege, Britt Ekland, Maud Adams and Malin Ackerman. There have also been Swedes whose beauty matches their acting ability given Sweden’s relatively small size they have managed to produce quality actresses who have the natural looks and the talent. Super Swedes indeed.

Greta Garbo

Ingrid Bergman

Liv Ullman

Bibi Andersson

Lena Olin

Noomi Rapace

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWePxwk8vnM


 

RIP-Susannah York

(9 January 1939 – 15 January 2011)

A Great British Actress who appeared in roles as diverse as a Queen, and Superman's mother. She appeared in a number of well known British films such as A Man for all seasons, The killing of Sister George,The battle of Britain and Tom Jones.
 Her greatest moment was probably in 'They shoot horses don't they'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrEc8ZiMyVc

 

COVER to COVER 3 - Tim Sale special

None to some for his work on the TV show Heroes, Tim Sale has collaborated on a number of comic books with writer Jeph Loeb. He has handled most of the heavy hitters at DC and Marvel. His style that involves painting renders beautiful covers that have a nostalgic tinge and unprecedented compositional style. His greatest work is probably on Batman: the long Halloween; a masterpiece in 13 issues themed around Mothers Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and other notable dates in the calender. His 13 covers are an amazing gallery

http://www.vacuumboy9.com/tlh/

link to The Long Halloween

GREAT THR33S-FINCHER SINGER NOLAN

Fincher Singer & Nolan sound like a firm of solicitors however they are three directors who arrived on the scene at the same time and set the standard for new mainstream cinema.

All arrived on the banal nineties movie landscape making their mark with movies that were both complex and accessible. All three directors have gone on to show a depth to their talents. Quality in the mainstream is a hard nut to crack but these three bring that quality. Some failures along the way, but a reminder of the power of a good director in most of their work. I certainly look out for their new offerings more so than any of the younger mainstream helmsmen.

Extremely original material, remakes of European movies, Comic books, Cult books, Stephen King all taken on and handled with panache.

 

David Fincher

The breakthrough-Se7en

The under rated-The Game

The undervalued-Panic Room

The Hit-Fight Club

Bryan Singer

The breakthrough-The Usual suspects

The under rated-Valkyrie

The undervalued-Apt Pupil

The Hit-X Men

Christopher Nolan

The breakthrough-Memento

The under rated-Insomnia

The undervalued-The Prestige

The Hit-The Dark Knight

The trailers have multiplex all over them but there's much more once you're in the cinema
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kqQNBR09Rc
The Game

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGt4pPK6Zak
Apt Pupil

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbeKqA36j6A
Insomnia