Monday 30 November 2009

Album Review: Muse - The Resistance


*****
In a world where the most popular acts play it safe with pseudo-meaningful lyrics and formulaic guitar driven drivel, Muse's Teignmouth trio are a breath of fresh air in an otherwise stale and pallid pantheon of bands proclaimed the 'greatest rock acts in the world today'.

Their ambition knows no bounds and for this reason alone they must be championed. Critics often disregard their work as pompous, bombastic and even a little silly but this in itself is why Muse should be so cherished.

Take single 'United States of Eurasia' and consider its component parts - an Arabian influenced bridge and a piano led classical coda each bookending a movement of choral chanting. It sounds absurd but when you actually hear it on record it is joyous.

'Uprising' has an intro which sounds like the theme tune to 'Dr Who' on speed and even wackier still, the riff from 'MK Ultra' recalls 80's quiz show classic 'Treasure Hunt'! Kenneth Kendall would no doubt approve.

Frustratingly, for such an eclectic musical feast, Matt Bellamy's lyric writing never reaches the same heights. Worthy themes abound but lines such as, "They'll keep us apart/they won't stop breaking us down" are all too often symptomatic of his problem.

Who exactly are 'they'? Give me some specifics. My old history teacher would often say the same when we answered questions in class. It became a kind of catchphrase. Not that we'd care obviously. While he hung his head in exasperation, we were busy humming the theme tune from 'World at War'.

However, regardless of the umbrage I take at this, I can't possibly hold it against them for long - I've already reached the album's defining 'Exogenesis' suite and its galactic pomposity is just too wondrous to ignore. In 'Redemption', the final part of the symphony, Bellamy wails about the human race starting over again.

It's almost naive and childish in its simplicity but somehow that's also what evokes the song's great sadness and desperation. As a child might ask of his grandparents in years to come, "Couldn't you stop what was happening? Couldn't you just go back and start over?" Something which at first seems so simple, often isn't and an album that could have played it simple....well it didn't.

Gentleman's Aggrievement


"My game is fair play" - FIFA

'Fair', 'Justice', 'Cheat' - If I were to create a word cloud representing the comments on blogs, forums and sports news pages over the past few weeks, I reckon those three words would be emblazoned across it, font size 72, bold type, surrounded in the ether of linguistic clutter by the slightly smaller words - 'Henry', 'French' and 'Git'.

Thierry Henry's handball (x2) in the World Cup playoff against the Republic of Ireland leads me to question the whole concept of 'fair play', that notion so dear to the hearts of Messers Platini and Blatter.

Is there truly such a thing as 'fair play' in sport, has there ever been, or is it just a Utopian concept as unobtainable as a mirage? After all, there's a certain element of our collective psyche that champions cheats.

Of course in today's world of multiple cameras, media furores and increased fiscal reward, cheating is more debated than ever. That doesn't mean however, that it wasn't also prevalent years ago.

Wasn't William Webb Ellis, merely a cheat trying to gain an advantage by illegally picking up the ball and running with it!? His name graces the Rugby Union World Cup for goodness sake! What kind of an example are we trying to set here people?!!

Maradona, that most notorious of cheats, may well personify an eroding of principles but lambast him not so much for his 'Hand of God' misdemeanour, but for following it up with such a ridiculously sublime moment of inspiration. You wonder how much damage must have been inflicted on the then young and impressionable minds of present day professionals, to witness greatness and devilish deception in such close proximity?

If we were ever to maintain the concept of 'fair play', those playing/spectating would have to accept that occasionally laws will be broken unbeknown to us competitors and fans alike. The more the game is dissected, recorded from every angle, slow-mo'ed and re-run, the less the game becomes about the spirit of competition, instead encouraging us to consider where rules can be bent.

If we aren't willing to accept that referees make mistakes, much like we aren't willing to accept that players play with honour, then regrettably we must turn to technology.

Thankfully, it can be done successfully as proven in tennis and the NFL. In the latter case, head coaches are allowed 3 challenges. Should, after video review, the decision of the officials be upheld, that team loses a 'time out' (a considerable punishment in American sports). This forces coaches to consider the worth in challenging and tends to limit appeals to 'game turning' decisions. If anything it adds to the drama, a certain 'will they, won't they?' suspense arising.

Of course by enforcing the correct decisions in this way, it truly will mean the end of the road for 'fair play'. They'll be no need for honesty, sportsmanship, ethics, the technology will render them redundant qualities. Some of the magic of sport will be lost forever. As much as the words stick in my throat, perhaps, just perhaps, FIFA have a point?

If we forgo our quest for this higher plain of 'fair play', however unobtainable it may be, those who are so quick to cry 'foul', shall never again have the right to complain about a lack of humanity and character in sport. They will only have themselves to blame.

Tuesday 24 November 2009

Head in the clouds

Most bloggers do this at some point (so my recent surfing seems to indicate) but despite the risk of repeating thousands who have gone before me, I couldn't resist entering my twitter feed into Wordle to see what I could see.

For those of you who don't know, 'Wordle' is a website which produces 'word clouds', graphical representations to show the frequency of words used on a web page, in a blog or indeed a twitter profile. The larger the word in the word cloud, the more frequently it's been used.

You can see the results below. There's something a little disconcerting about the fact that the name of my son only just beats the name of my football team in the frequency stakes. Ho hum.


Just for the sake of it, I also did the same thing with all the hash tags I'd used on twitter over my last 200 tweets. I'm quite proud of this one.


So there you have it. My conscious mind splurged onto a page. Meaningless probably, yet something about the concept seems a little sinister. If nothing else they remind me of the cover of Radiohead's 'Hail to the Thief' album and I like that.

Tuesday 17 November 2009

Top 75 Films Of All Time: 5-1


5) Pulp Fiction (1994)

Arguably Tarantino's finest film, 'Pulp Fiction' forgoes chronology, interweaving its numerous tales of gangster life into a collage of colourful characters and masterly dialogue.

So many scenes are memorable, Samuel L Jackson's 'Ezekiel 25:17' soliloquy, Christopher Walken's Gold Watch, even a non-consequential conversation about hamburgers is transformed by the director's artistry.

A wondrous farce and an eclectic mish-mash of pop culture references, this film manages to achieve the unlikely paradox of feeling thematically substantial whilst ultimately being utterly meaningless (see the opening definition of 'Pulp Fiction').

If there is a moral to be found, it could be argued to centre around a sense of honour or code. Butch and his father's legacy, Vincent and his boss's wife and finally, Jules and his reaction to what he sees as a divine intervention.

A postmodern masterpiece which Tarantino may never better.




4) Back To The Future (1985)

'Back To The Future' combined a fire-trailing DeLorean with a vertically challenged guitar wielding hero. No wonder it ranks so highly on my all time film list.

Placing Michael J Fox's 'Marty' in the unenviable position of having to set his Mother and Father on an unlikely road to love, it elaborated on the growing pains of adolescence, the delicacy of making life decisions and the expectancy of modern youth.

Although extended to a trilogy based on this film's success, neither the 2nd nor 3rd installments match the original for comic effect, nor recreate the glamorous drama of a speeding sports car channeling the power of a lightning bolt strike.

Spielberg at his finest, this was a perfectly pitched piece of comedy sci-fi adventure which captured my imagination to the point of obsession. A timeless classic.




3) Easy Rider (1969)

"A man went looking for America and couldn't find it anywhere..." - A superb tag line which captures the spirit of this 'road movie' perfectly.

Seeking freedom and with drug money stashed inside the tear drop gas tank of a 'Stars and Stripes' adorned Harley Davison, our hero 'Wyatt' rides off across the country with his companion on their way to Mardi Gras celebrations and ultimately 'a retirement in Florida'.

As they cross the states they gain an insight into various people's own version of 'freedom', from a farmer working the land to support his family, to a commune of city kids who've fled home, desperately trying to set up new lives based on the virtues of 'peace' and 'free love'.

None have more impact on Wyatt however, than small town lawyer and drunkard George Hanson - another wonderful turn from Mr Jack Nicholson - who's sage words in the face of hostility from local 'long-hair' haters, force Wyatt to reevaluate his beliefs.

Beautifully made on the most meagre of budgets by its stars Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda, 'Easy Rider' has perhaps become the archetypal cult classic.




2) The Godfather Part II (1974)

The second part of the Godfather story is where all starts to unravel for the Corleone family. After Vito and Sonny's death, Al Pacino as Michael is installed at the head of the family business, a position he had previously promised he would never adopt.

The tragic downfall of this once innocent character into the bitter, twisted and paranoid man portrayed here is sad yet intoxicating. Many a shocking twist unfolds and the finale is chilling to the core.

However, it's the flashbacks that really set this film apart from the original 'Godfather'. Robert De Niro is excellent as the young Vito, arriving in New York from Sicily and establishing himself in the Italian community.

From generation to generation, a vicious circle of duty, expectation and responsibility. Drama of the highest quality and a truly exceptional film.




1) The Empire Strikes Back (1979)

Revealing the single premise around which all subsequent Star Wars films ultimately revolve, the discovery of Darth Vader as Luke Skywalker's father is the most inspired moment in the career of George Lucas.

In today's world of piracy, spoilers and the Internet it would be impossible to keep under wraps, yet back 1979 it appears this unexpected plot twist left people leaving the cinema in a genuine state of shock.

Darker than its predecessor, there's a tangible sense of desperation as the rebels toil in the face of an ever tightening Imperial grip on the galaxy.

Wonderful new characters are introduced too, most notably 'Master Yoda', who's teaching of Luke is equally fraught with setback and failure, Luke's unexpected encounter at the cave truly setting hearts racing, its surprise conclusion a weighty portent of what is to come.

The perfect interplay of fantasy, tragedy and mystique, 'The Empire Strikes Back' sets itself apart from all other episodes in the saga and it's this magical blend that makes the film such an enjoyable and memorable cinematic experience.

Wednesday 11 November 2009

Top 75 Films Of All Time: 10-6


10) 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Frankly, it takes a lot of patience to watch this film, there being many a long scene of soundless space flight to bear, but not only was '2001' a step forward in terms of special effects, it presented an unerringly realistic representation of space travel, sinister and lonely, 'personified' memorably by HAL the cycloptic, super computer.

Based on Arthur C Clarke's novel, themes include humanity's place in the galaxy, the possible existence of alien life, the existence of God and man's relationship with technology, culminating in a mind-bending sequence of kaleidoscopic colour that ends with the birth of the 'Star Child'. If you think that sounds crazy, just try watching it!

9) Apocalypse Now (1979)

The ultimate statement on the madness of war. Adapted from Joseph Conrad's novel 'Heart of Darkness', its atmospheric, dream like quality is evident from the opening scene as helicopter rotor blades poetically mirror the ceiling fan in our hero's Saigon hotel room, and all set to Jim Morrison's aching lilt from 'The End'.

As we follow Captain Williard on his quest to assassinate the rogue Colonel Kurtz, we begin to question, as does Williard, the sanity of the mission. Is Kurtz, worshipped like a God by his legion of followers, really the mad one in this scenario? Marlon Brando is mesmeric in one of his last film roles.

8) Return of the Jedi (1980)

The final installment in the original Star Wars trilogy, this was the film that truly cemented the saga's legacy.

Elaborating on the previous installments good versus evil theme, uniquely for a sci-fi blockbuster, we see inner conflict not only in lead character Luke Skywalker but also iconic villain Darth Vader, a battle of wills culminating in eventual enlightenment for both.

Add to the melting pot a thrillingly conceived spaceship attack inside a space station, plus a gold bikini clad Carrie Fisher and you have a fabulous conclusion to the most successful movie trilogy of all time.

7) One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (1975)

Impossibly charming, life-affirming and poignant, this is a film for which the phrase 'a joy to watch' should have been coined. Starring many a soon to be 'household' name, a group of patients in a mental institution have their world turned upside down by the arrival of Jack Nicholson's, 'R P McMurphy'.

As he rages against the authoritarian regime enforced by Nurse Ratched, we're graced with a tale of oppression, mans fight against 'the machine', and the perrenial lure of institutionalisation. "I tried though goddamit", spits McMurphy, "at least I did that much."

6) Star Wars (1977)

It was in 1977's 'Star Wars' that we were first treated to the sight of a lightsabre, grown men weakening at the knees on hearing that wonderful electric crackling and throbbing.

Alec Guinness, as the wise old Jedi Master, was perfectly cast as the mysterious harbinger of magical forces, tipping just the right amount of knowing looks to leave us debating Jedi powers for decades to come, "If you strike me down Darth, I become more powerful than you can possibly imagine." - Quite simply, brilliant!

With the film culminating in the now famous 'trench run' on the 'Death Star', millions left the cinema elated, their imaginations running wild with images of space battles, light sword fights and the words of Obi Wan Kenobi still ringing in their ears.

Tuesday 3 November 2009

Top 75 Films Of All Time: 75-11


Don't ask me why I've chosen to do this now (other than to show off my cultural prowess of course) but having come across this Empire countdown of the Top 500 films of all-time, inevitably I started to think about what would be my Top 500?

Have I even seen 500 films in my lifetime? Probably, I'm not sure but I was struck with the following thought....'Wouldn't it be great to list every film I've ever seen and give them a ranking order?'

Well, obviously the logistics of such an endeavour are a little against me. However, after some meticulous thought, list making, crossing out, cutting, pasting, swapping about, rehashing and eventual exasperation, I have finally come up with a Top 75.

The one thing it has made apparent, is the numerous holes in my personal cinematic tapestry. I've not, for instance, seen such supposed greats as 'Goodfellas', 'Raging Bull' or 'Alien', and my viewing of 'Citizen Kane' amounts only to a couple of drunken, aborted attempts after nights out at Loughborough University's Student Union.

Nonetheless, it excites me that there's still so many top films for me to seek out in the future and, if nothing else, at least this exercise has given me a few ideas for my next trip to 'Blockbuster'.

So here it is, my top 75 in reverse order up to 11 (the Top 10 I shall give a little more attention to). Please be gentle with me as I'm sure to many there will be some glaring omissions. Let battle commence....

75) Frost/Nixon (2008)
74) Shaun Of The Dead (2004)
73) The Bourne Supremacy (2004)
72) Rope (1948)
71) Ghostbusters (1984)
70) Airplane! (1980)
69) The Damned United (2009)
68) The Bridge On The River Kwai (1957)
67) Rebel Without A Cause (1955)
66) Saw (2004)
65) The Time Machine (1960)
64) A Clockwork Orange (1971)
63) Smokey And The Bandit (1977)
62) The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
61) Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)
60) The Blair Witch Project (1999)
59) Batteries Not Included (1987)
58) Scent Of A Woman (1992)
57) This Is England (2006)
56) 24 Hour Party People (2002)
55) Mike Bassett: England Manager (2001)
54) Grease (1978)
53) Jaws (1975)
52) WALL-E (2008)
51) Se7en (1995)
50) The Departed (2006)
49) The Italian Job (1969)
48) Schindler's List (1993)
47) The Good, The Bad And The Ugly (1967)
46) Toy Story (1995)
45) Halloween (1978)
44) Harry Potter And The Half Blood Prince (2009)
43) Control (2007)
42) Jurassic Park (1993)
41) This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
40) The Godfather Part III (1990)
39) The Birds (1963)
38) The Shining (1980)
37) Saving Private Ryan (1998)
36) Rear Window (1954)
35) Trainspotting (1996)
34) The Great Escape (1963)
33) Vertigo (1958)
32) The Man With The Golden Gun (1974)
31) No Country For Old Men (2007)
30) Fight Club (1999)
29) Fargo (1996)
28) Kill Bill Vol. 2 (2004)
27) The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
26) Casablanca (1942)
25) Full Metal Jacket (1987)
24) Casino Royale (2006)
23) Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade (1989)
22) The Exorcist (1973)
21) Forest Gump (1994)
20) Dr No. (1962)
19) Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban (2004)
18) Resevoir Dogs (1992)
17) The Godfather (1972)
16) Taxi Driver (1976)
15) Psycho (1960)
14) Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
13) The Life of Brian (1979)
12) Goldfinger (1964)
11) American Beauty (1999)