It’s peaceful here…
Another Saturday, another short film. This time it’s Silent City, a (short) epic war movie directed by Ruairí Robinson.
Robinson also directed the Oscar nominated Fifty PerCent Grey. Silent City features Don Wycherley and Cillian Murphy and is produced by Nick Ryan (who has been hailed in previous dispatches on this blog). Well worth 7 odd minutes of your time.
Silent City features some stunning FX & visuals and there is an interesting “making of” vid here which gives a view on how some of the imagery was created/realised. Worth a look for those interested in such technical matters.
Funderland meets Ryanair
Saw an interesting story here. It goes like this…
An elderly woman misunderstood instructions while checking in at Arlanda, Sweden’s main airport and was whisked down a baggage chute after she placed herself instead of her luggage on the belt.
The 78-year-old woman, who was not named, was preparing to fly from Stockholm to Germany on Tuesday when she lay down on an unmanned baggage belt in the belief she was following check-in instructions, a local daily reported on its website.
She was quickly swept off to the baggage handling centre, where staff members helped get her back on her feet.
The woman suffered no serious injury and caught her flight as planned.
I wonder is Michael O’Leary getting any ideas from this? I suppose if you can charge for priority boarding just so people can have the pleasure of sitting on a Ryanair flight longer than everyone else, then maybe people would pay for some thrills and spills on the way? Funderland meets Ryanair, coming soon to an airport near you.
Come on progeny…
Summer always seemed too short when school beckoned and a new term dawned. I remember every time I had to put back on my moth-eaten uniform at the start of a new term one thing was for certain…. the sun would be splitting the stones.
This summer as the biblical rains fell and floods swelled I consoled myself, and anyone who’d listen, with the fact that once the kids are back at school the sun will finally come out. It’s karma. Universal cosmic forces make it so. “We’ll have an Indian summer” I said, with certainty in my voice. The schools have now re-opened and, I ask, where the fuck is the sun? Overcast, greyness abounds and I’m rightly pissed off. Did we endure all that rain for nothing?
Admittedly the ark has been put on hold, for now, but I foresaw glorious sunshine, bermuda shorts and thirst quenching Coronas. But no it hasn’t transpired.
Time, I reckon, for something uplifting. Something like Lambchop’s “Up With People”…
Thanks Kurt, I feel better already. Fuck it, time for some Corona I reckon. Now where did I leave those bermuda shorts?
Crinkly Links….
Poetry is the new rock’n'roll – The Independent on Sunday
Ireland’s Olympians return home – The Irish Times
Boxers offer a window into our marginalised society - Article by Fintan O’Toole in The Irish Times
I was at Lovebox at the weekend, courtesy of the good folk over at State. It really was a poxfest. MCD should be ashamed. I doubt they give a fuck tho. Moreover, Groove Armada should be disgusted to be associated with something so amateurish. That said N*E*R*D were fantastic. Some reviews of Lovebox here, here and here.
Grammar Vigilantes – The Independent on Sunday
RyanScare – rte.ie
And one for B’Dum… The Killers reveal new album title - NME
And for those of you lucky enough to be going to the Electric Picnic. May the sun shine and may you go see Sigur Rós. Here is a gig from Reykevik, the concluding part of their stunning doc Heima. It could well change your life…
A tale of two John Joes…
So the Olympics are over. And I must say I enjoyed them more than I thought I would. And as predicted our boxers did us proud. All five of them. And all were beaten by guys who were eventual gold medalllists. A shame we don’t have a gold medal to celebrate ourselves but sport can be both unfair and cruel. Kenny Egan found that out the hard way but he can hold his head very high. If I ever meet him I’ll gladly buy him a pint. One of my favourite moments of the whole shebang was, when on the podium, Egan, smiling cheekily, turned to his Chinese conqueror, grasped his gold medal and gave it a kiss before shaking the guys hand. A classic moment.
So all in all a great achievement by a small but well prepared and determined boxing team. Disappointing to see Darren Sutherland come away with just a bronze. I thought he could, and wished he would, achieve the ultimate but it just wasn’t to be. I hope he now gets the chance to show the world his talent in the pro ranks (but mostly I hope he gets a chance to knock out the cocky James de Gale).
Fair play also to Paddy Barnes for being gracious in accepting his medal and smiling with pride despite his post-fight disappointment and disapproval.
I was delighted to see John Joe Joyce carrying the Irish flag at the closing ceremony. I’m sure the travelling community must be extremely proud of his (and John Joe Nevin’s) achievements. Vincent Hogan wrote a great article here on that very topic.
So we Irish learned that we’re still not very fast or very strong but we can throw a dig with the best of them. A few personal bests but admittedly most of our competitors were just happy to be there so they can tell their grandkids of their Olympian adventures. And there’s no shame in that.
Maybe we should ask the Jamaicans for some of what they’re smoking? But please don’t give it to our equestrian team or our horses will be so high they’ll float over the jumps.
I really enjoyed Gearóid Towey’s posts about competing and coping in Beijing. Superb insights, very well written with admirable integrity and no shortage of honesty.
I was concerned before it all began about RTÉ’s gargantuan coverage but in hindsight it must be commended. A few glitches here and there but that’s unavoidable with so many hours of live output. I particularly enjoyed the banter between the boxing experts. Andy Lee is a natural on TV but wears some questionable shirts while Micheal Carruth and Bernard Dunne really looked to be enjoying themselves in studio. They all gave some great insights into Irish boxing. Katie Taylor definitely has a face for TV but unfortunately a voice for airport announcements. Jimmy Magee’s passion for boxing is also very worthy of comment. And Colm Murray is slightly mad.
The dudes commentating on the basketball were fantastic. I couldn’t even begin to place their accents but they really got into it and livened it up no end. Hats off to those guys.
I also realised that Adrian Chiles (on the Beeb) annoys me. He’s probably a very nice guy in reality but there’s something about him that rubs me up the wrong way.
Pleasant surprises of the Games:
- BMX racing is an Olympic sport! And it’s brilliant to watch. Pure carnage at every turn. So fast and fearless.
- Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps eat lots of crap food like Chicken McNuggets but yet are the fastest men ever.
- Spain are very, very good at basketball. Just not quite as good as the Americans.
- The Dutch women’s hockey team are, ahem, very talented!
Disappointments of the Games:
- The Irish equestrian fiasco continues
- The crazy system of scoring in amateur boxing
- Having to listen to / read all about Britain’s record medal haul. Great achievements in fringe sports granted but, yawn, enough already.
- Getting to see very little beach volleyball action
So all in all a qualified success. And China can now get busy taking over the world.
And I see the Brits are now shitting themselves after the spectacle that was Beijing. Talking about going back to basics. Good luck with that! They’ll need more than Jimmy Page, Leona Lewis and a convertible red bus to raise the bar set by the Chinese.
Post-Modern is an anagram of Stoned Romp…
Another Saturday morning, another Irish Short Film… This time it’s the narrative deconstructing PoV. It’s designed to wreck your head but it has an interesting concept behind it. A short film that uses a credit roller to tell its story. It should annoy me but somehow it doesn’t.
It’s not the kind of short that wins awards but it’s interesting all the same. Think Memento. Kind of. Directed by Heroes For Zeroes, aka John Kennedy and Ruairí O’Brien (who was also Director of Photography).
PoV was produced by John McDonnell.
Nicely done with a lovely weighted Steadicam shot at the end. Hats off.
ps. Post-Modern is also an anagram of Modest Porn. So there.
Live and Dangerous…
In an otherwise excellent post Positive Boredom recently had a rant about certain band’s live reputations. He/She particularly refers to The Killers and the Kings of Leon, and states they don’t cut the mustard live. I beg to differ. I’ve seen both bands on a number of occasions (both at festivals and at smaller venues) and have never been let down. On the other hand I’ve seen Bob Dylan (someone praised for live performance in the post) and been seriously disappointed. Even a band capable of live brilliance are capable of the odd sub-par performance (nb Arcade Fire @ the Phoenix Park last Autumn).
Also mentioned in the rant are the Flaming Lips who, admittedly, put on a unique and brilliant live show. However, I feel, they punch well above their recorded weight. Their albums are sub-par but live they rock. In my own experience, particularly of bands/acts I’ve seen multiple gigs of, only Sigur Ros nailed it every time and raised the bar for themselves only to scale it significantly.
And it must be said that festival sets (particularly main stage ones) are often lower in standard than indoor gigs for a variety of reasons (time constraints and technical issues being the main factors). A band’s own tour is where they should be judged.
I was at The Killers gig on Wednesday night in The Academy. There were only a few hundred tickets and it was a real opportunity to see such a huge band in a small, intimate setting. And I really must say they didn’t disappoint. There wasn’t a dud song in their set-list (although the couple of new ones need repeat listening I’d say) and the energy and enthusiasm of the band (and particularly front man Brandon Flowers) were infectious. Their sound and playing were of an extremely high standard technically and the band really got stuck in to their performance. In fact I would wager that The Killers at times achieve higher standards live than on record. Their anthemic choruses are designed for the live setting with a willing crowd being brought along for the ride. I left the gig with adrenaline rushing and a real sense that I’d been present at something special. Miss Rocks has more on it here.
In relation to The Kings of Leon. I’ve seen them live 4 times and 3 of those 4 gigs were rockin. The RDS one last year wasn’t amazing but not necessarily disappointing. The venue wasn’t (and never is) up to scratch and the sound wasn’t top class. That said they are a great rock band who can play. Maybe not as anthemic as the Killers but they exude coolness and have a great presence. I did however catch their set from the V festival on TV last weekend and their lead singer Caleb Followill’s voice was shot to bits. There were vocal phrases from each verse that he just couldn’t reach. A once off I reckon as I’ve never had reason to doubt his voice when I’ve seen them here. Admittedly KoL don’t say a lot or prance around and there is much posturing and rockstar coolness but the music should speak for itself, and usually does.
Now I’m not suggesting that Positive Boredom should bow at the altar of these bands. I’m just stating that I feel they offer more live than he/she suggests. I also feel, in relation to KoL in particular, that they have a lot more to offer on record than the one song suggested (“On Call”). There really is more to their albums than singles and filler. And so what if they are poster boys signed to major labels? That’s surely not their fault. Music matters more.
And gigs by the likes of My Morning Jacket are better off being a well guarded secret by those in the know. Besides more intimate venues tend to suit that band’s style and sound.
Box of Love…
Much thanks to the good folk over at State towers. They had a giveaway on their site for tickets to Lovebox this Saturday. And I am delighted to have won 2. So cheers State. And thanks especially to the dude. Tá an áthas orm an ticéadí sin a glacadh.
So to celebrate here’s the link I sent them that was deemed funny enough to win the tickets…
Darth Vader in the Death Star canteen as seen through the warped mind of Eddie Izzard via some lego goodness.
Link before you think…
The silent movie makes a comeback - A really well written article by Fintan O’Toole.
Why are beach-volleyball players always patting each other on the bum? – Slate
Green-Clad Olympic Archer Steals Gold Medals From Rich, Gives Them To Poor - The Onion
Irish band The Script knock Abba off the top of the UK album chart - BBC
Happiness brings up to 10 years longer life – RTÉ
A late addition:
Great article from the Independent on Sunday about Padraig Harrington. Under-appreciated, under-valued, under-rated.
Farewell Ronnie Drew
I hear breaking news that Ronnie Drew has passed away. A true Dublin legend. May he rest in peace.
Image by Niall O Loughlin (c)
From a few months back here is The Late Late Show tribute to the great man. It features the Ballad of Ronnie Drew, including U2 and a motley crew of Irish singers and musicians, including the Dubliners.
Oh Boy…
Everyone’s been talkin’ up Lykke Li recently and she is undoubtedly worth a listen. But today I’m all about a similarly monikered Swedish artist… and that being the bundle of energy that is Miss Li. Here’s a live version of her best track, Oh Boy…
Imagine The Coral with a more ballsy singer and lots of Swedish style. She’s a gem. I saw her live last night at an outdoor gig in Sweden and she rocked the place. Lots of jaunty rythyms and Stray Cat Strut-like tempos.
Here’s the animated video for another swingtastic belter of hers called Gotta Leave My Troubles Behind…
If you like these 2 tracks, may I also recommend Ba Ba Ba.
But moreso, this duet with Lars Winnerbäck (the Swedish Bruce Springsteen!) is stunningly beautiful. It’s called Om Du Lämnade Mig Nu. It translates as “If You Left Me Now”.
Go. Now.
Poem for a rainy day.
Rain
I opened my eyes
And looked up at the rain,
And it dripped in my head
And flowed into my brain,
And all that I hear as I lie in my bed
Is the slishity-slosh of the rain in my head.
I step very softly,
I walk very slow,
I can’t do a handstand–
I might overflow,
So pardon the wild crazy thing I just said–
I’m just not the same since there’s rain in my head.
A Saturday morning short film…
Directed by James Mather & Stephen St. Leger, Prey Alone is a high-octane Irish short film that pushes the limits of computer-generated animation to the cutting edge.
Agent Cain is on the hunt for an elusive unidentified killer. His only clues: an uncooperative witness and the words P.R.E.Y. A.L.O.N.E..
Take a look, it really is a stunning, blockbuster Irish short film.
Beijing-a-ling…
So today is officially Day Zero of the 2008 Olympics.
Olympic Rings
I wasn’t really looking forward to it all but I guess I am moreso now. I think the opening ceremony stirred something in me. I guess it is heartening to see the likes of Rafa Nadal, Kobe Bryant and Lionel Messi sharing the same goals as our own John Joe Joyce. National pride and glory do go a long way. Way beyond paycheques. So despite the doping concerns and political issues I guess I do have some faith in the Olympic spirit. I hope it’s not misguided.
Opening Ceremony
The opening ceremony was on earlier and it was mightily impressive.
Fireworks
I know there are political, social and human rights issues at stake when it somes to this Olympics but that said it’s happening so I guess we’d better get on with it. China has come of age and there’s nothing we can do about it now. The social and economic implications from this day forward are huge but that’s for another day.
The staging of the first part of the ceremony was (cliché and superlative alert!) spectacular. I expected fireworks and the like but the thought and co-ordination of the set pieces was astounding. Technically and creatively it was immense. The logistics of it all were huge but it worked a treat. So major hats off to the Chinese lads. There were incredible displays of choreography, lighting, and costume. The printing blocks piece was particularly unbelievable.
Bird's Nest
As regards us Irish folk, we have a few medal hopes, particularly our boxers. It’d be great to have a medal or two on the way home so we promote eternal optimism!
Irish Olympian Boxers
I’m just afraid now that RTÉ are showing so much that there’ll be overkill coverage-wise. We’ll see I guess.
Update: Irish rower Gearóid Towey , gearing up for his third Olympics, is writing a blog from the Olympic village about his Games experiences. Should be very interesting. Maybe not as dramatic as this though! I wonder if he did boycott the opening ceremony as he suggested he might?
Also OutsideIn has a piece about the onset of the games here. Talks about China’s coming of age. Ends on a note of optimism for social change to match the economic and political shift. Certainly worth a look and a comment.
Something Irish. But not Something Happens…
Does exactly what it says on the tin.
Video for Irish band Dark Room Notes, “Love Like Nicotine“. Apparently the video is inspired by the 1964 classic “Bande à part” by Jean-Luc Godard. And sure why not?!
There’s a great live version available on The Tubridy Tonight website too. Checkitout.
Also worth a gander is Readers Wives’ “Home Sweet Home“. It’s the first track from the self-titled album released this year. Speaking of inspiration and influence, it stomps all over The Wizard of Oz. I like.
Over and out.
I’m feeling the need for some triple Cat Power goodness…
I Don’t Blame You live on Jools Holland
From Jukebox (2008), Metal Heart (Live on Canal +)
The Greatest live on Jools Holland
