What do you use as a bookmark(s)?

The question is to everybody who visits.

I tend to use postcards...either movie poster postcards or art postcards.

'Sin City' DVD

'Sin City' Dir: Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller Starring Mickey Rourke, Bruce Willis, Clive Owen, Benicio Del Toro, Rosario Dawson, Jessica Alba, Devon Aoki

I missed this in the cinema for various reasons and I joined a DVD rental service when the film was released on DVD. Finally I got a copy from my rental company.

I'd read some of the graphic novels back when they first came out in TPB form and I remember the distinctive art that was unlike anything else around then and now.

Its always interesting to see how what started as 2D would look brought to another medium. Batman, Superman, Spiderman, The X-Men, Fantastic Four...

What Robert Rodriguez achieved is very clever in bringing Frank Miller's vision to life and the distinct look of the original graphic novels is recreated cleverly and somewhat faithfully.

The performances are uniformly good and it is indeed Mickey Rourke that steals the show as 'Marv' battling Frodo (Elijah Wood) gone very very bad!

I'm surprised that the visual tricks employed here have not been used for flashbacks or dream sequences because the hyper retro reality does give an other wordly sensation.

Arguably I feel this is one film made prinmarily using green screen techniques that does work but real physical sets are not in danger of disappearing entirely yet.

So, yes I am glad I saw it and would recommend film fans see this for its use of technology and its realization of another visual medium.

'Haunted' by Chuck Palahniuk

This a novel made up of short stories, each story is a story by a group of strangers who are all on an 'artist's retreat' in an abandoned theatre.

What follows are stories that will horrify, amuse you and apall you.

There are some very quotable turns of phrase and some of these stories would make fantastic short films.

Overall though it was quite difficult to get involved with some of the characters and to feel for them.

I must admit to labouring over reading this unlike 'Motherless Brooklyn' which I read in just over a week.

Back to 'Haunted' there are some standout stories but overall it wasn't as good as I had hoped it would be.

Michael Corleone: Just when I thought that I was out they pull me back in.

The only decent line from (we shouldn't have made this film) 'The Godfather Part III'

'Just when I thought was out they pull me back in.'


I never wanted to get out but it had crossed my mind that I might be out without having a say in the matter.

Well it was never quite that conclusive that I was ever out, I've just been very uncertain about where I stand in the world of work.

This year has been very curious in terms of work but if I ever needed any assurances that there may well be a place for me on future projects, I got an early Christmas present on Saturday that said there's still potenially a place for me.

It left me speechless and was a very big surprise that former and future colleagues would have a whip around for me...

I look forward to seeing them all...in the future.

'Fear & Trembling' DVD

'Fear & Trembling'/'Stupeur et Trembleme'(2003)Dir: Alain Corneau, starring Slyvie Testud Kaori Tsuji

Set in Japan this follows Amelie, a young Belgian woman who having been born in Japan and lived there until she was 5 has set her heart on returning one day to be Japanese.

Unfortunately the Japan in her mind is far different from the reality of trying to work in Japan where her Western ways are at odds with the Japanese way.

The performances are terrific and the film is engrossing despite taking place pretty much in an office block! There are no shots of Mount Fuji, or geisha or priests or any of the usual travelogue montage money shots...here we have office politics.

This is a link to the US site for the film:

www.cinemaguild.com/fearandtrembling/

Self analysis

'Because the worst thing about being shy is when people mistake shyness for aloofness or arrogance.'

by Chloe, Athens, Greece

I stand guilty of this and have also been told that I sometimes appear as totally and utterly disinterested but those that have taken a chance on trying to get to know me have found me to be totally and utterly disinterested...just kidding.

Apparently my first impression is not always a good one but once people get to know me I seem to get on with nearly everybody but I sometimes feel like I'm holding back.

I can be very good at office banter and taking the 'piss'...I'm not sure how best to explain that phrase to my non UK visitors...affectionate joshing? teasing?

But take me to a party and unless I'm introduced to others I'll probably say hello to the people that I know and then eat all the celery and leave.

Yet I have this nagging sense of isolation as if I'm on the outside looking in.

Anyway that's all very deep and serious...

Lightness and frivolity to come...

Things to do

At the suggestion of others I am now thinking about making CDs (Cover versions CD or Cherry Picked Soundtrack Songs)or suggesting a movie scene or movie for the day or week.

Please bear in mind at present this is only the THINKING, PROCRASTINATING about it phase and NOT the DOING it phase.

So don't get too excited that I will be doing all of the above that quickly but just know I am aware of the possibilities...

No big news, nothing shocking

No big news, nothing shocking.

Am still around but have nothing to report.

No existential dilemnas other than those you've already heard.

Trying to make a sausage casserole should be ready in another 45 mins.

Nothing happened at the weekend, Liverpool won 3-0 against Portsmouth as they should and Peter 'he's a nice boy and works hard in training' Crouch didn't score again.

That's all I have to say.

Sorry nothing clever or witty to say today.

Edvard Munch By Himself, Royal Academy of Art

I have started going to exhibitions again. Last week was Rousseau and today was the patron saint of wallowing in self pity and mistrusting women.

I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of work on show and they had a selection from youth to old age of Munch's work and not just oils on canvas, there were lithographs, woodblock prints, drawings and photographs.

The predominant subject of the work as you may guessed was Munch himself, having studied Art History I still find its methods of analysis both educational and at times stuffed up its own rectum for want of a beter phrase. Some of the information boards were informative but then closed with paragraphs suggesting that certain images and motifs were there to highlight and accentuate his misery, I'd agree and also disagree. This was my problem with Art History that sometimes imagery that is there is not there...what if the artist genuinely painted it because he liked the shape or colour, certain symbols yes, certain objects as a symbol of this or that...I say hell no! (bit of a rant there...apologies!)

I preferered the black and white work that Munch did and the canvases with limited palates but overall worth seeing. So yes, Munch was self indulgent, self absorbed and mistrusting of women but I didn't leave feeling down...he would have had an interesting Blog...or not...

Went to the exhibition with my friend S. who asked to hold her bag for most of the exhibition, no wonder her back hurts...it wasn't exactly light. I need to stop trying to cram stuff into my jacket pockets though...

Winter has descended upon London the only colour you see on people is their scarves otherwise everybody is in a black coat of some sort.

Dinner: Vietnamese food - Pho Special...mmm it was good!!!!

Just what does Bob Harris say to Charlotte?

At the moment I go to bed late and I rise late hence posting at such a ridiculous hour.

I have jet lag from normality.

Yesterday I watched '25th Hour' and then late or early depending on your perspective 'Lost in Translation'.

So what does Bob (Bill Murray) say to Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson) before he leaves? Maybe it doesn't really matter.

All I could think was I wish I wasn't feeling 'Lost in London' or 'Lost in Limbo' or 'Lost in Life'. I guess winter has truly descended to cast its spell.

And I am reminded of another acquaintance every time I see Scarlett Johansson on screen...who I wish I could see more of...the acquaintance as well as Scarlett Johansson!

It's also been 12 years since I went to Japan...

And despite not being that old yet I could identify with the relationship that Bob and Charlotte share as something that I know with girls at least 12 years my junior.
There is a certain understanding and trust that will never go beyond a platonic surface friendship yet its still more than friends without being a full blown affair.

And maybe one day the request to 'Lip my Stockings' will be there.

Not really sure what this post is but I did it anyway because I felt like it.

Maybe its just my way of trying to be found or working out what I'm supposed to be...

Funny how the film didn't impress me in the cinema but has grown on me since...

Just looked back and i've been very busy posting here since August...quite surprised.

4.44 p.m

I don't get it...

I don't get it...'Lord of the Rings' is on TV, the second one, I know its supposed to be good but I've fallen asleep three times in the first hour so I have come to attend to my Blog instead.

I saw the first one in the cinema but didn't see the next two.

'Star Wars' I ve seen all the films more than a few times...do people fall into a 'Lord of the Rings', Middle Earth or a galaxy far, far away category?

Me...I'm most definitely looking for a ship that will the Castle run in 12 par secs and I'm going to make the jump to hyper space.

Alternating days of action.

At the moment I am fortunate enough to be able to spend one day out being sort of active then spend the next sitting quietly in my cave.

Today was the cave dwelling day after the activities of yesterday.

So no film or gallery reviews today...might watch a DVD though...

The rock n roll days continue...decaff and four cookies tonight for dessert!

That spark, that 'je ne sais pourquoi', the skip in your step...

I haven't found that extra step, that 'je ne sais pas pourquoi', that (snaps fingers) in any girl, lady, woman...the inspiration that makes a muse, that 'x factor', that moment that makes your heart skip a beat...

I saw two female friends today both are very attractive in their own ways and I enjoy their company but I have no feelings of desire for either them.

I used to for one of them, she was my Estella to my Pip but no longer. The idealized romanticized version was better than the reality.

Sometimes I wonder does that make me weird? Shouldn't I fancy them? Or have I truly locked up my heart and thrown away the key that I won't let it be touched by lust or love? But I don't fancy them and there was no spark of physical attraction or have I lost my libido?

Not really sure what I'm saying but its out there now!

In the meantime I shall continue to perceive of myself as the cliched conflicted man against the world...Heathcliff, Hamlet, Wolverine, Batman...;)

'The Consequences of Love' DVD

'The Consequences of Love' -'Le Conseguenze dell'amore'
Directed by Paolo Sorrentino Starring Toni Servillo, Olivia Magnani

A fifty year old man has resided in a Swiss hotel for the last 8 years. He keeps himself to himself. Why?

We start to learn the whys as the film progresses, there is a strange stillness and quietness to the film that is aided by its sense of style and an intriguing performance by its lead.

My favourite piece of dialogue:

'Shy people notice everything but they don't get noticed'

A Cardboard City?!

Tick Tock to be delayed

:(

'The Beat That My Heart Skipped'

'The Beat That My Heart Skipped'/'De Battre mon coeur s'est arrette'

Directed by Jaques Audiard. Starring Romain Duris

First things first this a French remake of an American film! Yes you read that correctly. Zut Alors! Mon Dieu! What is ze world coming to that ze French remake the American feelm?!

The American film was 'Fingers' made in 1978 which I haven't seen, somehow the French have given it a longer more poetic title!

This is a very well acted character study and the lead actor Romain Duris (he looks like a cross between a young De Niro and Richard Ashcroft!) gives a compelling performance as a man at odds with working for his father as a low level thug and the dreams left by his mother.

The ending felt a bit tacked on but it was most definitely worth seeing.

Saw this at The Barbican which was £5.00 entry! (don't think that's everyday though!)
£5.00 for a movie is cheap in London for my international visitors.

Henri Rousseau at Tate Modern

I went to the Tate Modern's new exhibition on Monday - Henri Rousseau, Jungles in Paris.

I enjoyed it, the pictures are disconcerting because they do not obey rules of scale and nor light and shadow. There was a playful yet strange quality that made every picture interesting.

When does a piece of work become 'art' or an 'illustration'?

You can see the subsequent influence of Rousseau upon those that followed in illustration and painting.

Hiding out

I spent the weekend hiding out from the world.

Saturday, I sneezed and I sneezed and then blew my nose and started moaning how I must be getting a cold so promptly drank some lemon, ginger and honey concotion and stayed firmly in the house. Immovable.

Sunday, it was dark, gray and wet outside, intended to at least walk to get my Sunday paper...nah, got a lift and came back.

Did read 'Catwoman: When in Rome' from DC Comics in hardback by Jeph Loeb & Tim Sale though, Tim Sale's art is unlike other artists of the genre in that there's a fluidity of line in his work which I find very pleasing.

Doodled again in my sketchbook.

No DVDs watched...so rock n roll...

Too noisy&crowded for me...

I have finally returned after the train journey from hell...I still want to know where the train I was waiting for actually went. It was on the information board with the time it was supposed to arrive and where it was going. At the time no train appeared, no voice came out over the platform with an explanation, no information appeared on the dot matrix board...the train disappeared. Was it in a parallel universe? Was it a ghost train? Was it abducted by aliens?

Last night I went to Soho, it was a small red basement bar, very noisy, very crowded and not for me at all. It was good to see familiar faces and to shake hands and get and give kisses...but I couldn't stand having to shout to talk and drinking water is not that fun either.

I just didn't have the heart to party and so it was I left early to face my train journey nightmare. The British invent the railway but they can't run a system that is on time!

On the plus side I received a most excellent package from Boston on Friday morning!

'About Schmidt' DVD

'About Schmidt' DVD starring Jack Nicholson.

Another film about male aimlessness, I seem to be watching alot of them recently.
This is the retired version of the male aimlessness film and just how important a woman was to a man. And yes he does take a road trip...

Its very interesting to see Jack Nicholson dressing down his personality, this is an actor who's flamboyance outside of his work was at one time the zenith of cool despite his portly appearance. Here he is not larger than life and its a pretty amazing performance that captures the weariness in the character.

Sometimes we have to act our age but not always...

Maybe I should go on a roadtrip across America...

Today I feel...

tired and tetchy.

Do other people have one friend who seems to suffer from 'honesty Tourette's'?

They mean no harm but their blunt and honest way of talking can be a bit too much sometimes. I'm not saying everybody should baby me or be overly sensitive or compliant to my wishes...its just sometimes tact is the order of the day.

How do you point this out to somebody without offending them or getting a blunt object actually phsically making a point on you?

Despite not meeting up, I did think I might call my 'honesty Tourettes's' friend up for coffee but then decided I couldn't cope with the anticipated bluntness.

Does that make a coward or a bad person?

November - the countdown begins.