Film – Curious Bystander

Halloween is over so soon . . . Vegan Sweets & My Own Private Idaho

This is my first time in writing for some time, I can only say is, don’t buy another house and don’t travel too much, it’s so time consuming you don’t have much time to do blogging!

It’s only been a week since Halloween, but maybe that’s why I’ll start on this subject. And it’s interesting, as I live in a nice area called the West End of Glasgow and was asking someone the past few days, what if one of the brats here would actually ask for vegan sweets?

Vegan candy! And believe it or not, a person near and dear to me recently told me that this has actually happened (below).

Apparently, one of those person’s colleagues has children who were demanding it in a particular area in Glasgow in the West of Scotland; and when they were not provided with it, they proceeded to storm away from the specific house whilst trick-or-treating!

I don’t know if this is true, but good God can’t you file this case under first world problems?

Maybe so, maybe not.

But I digress. Halloween is actually a famous anniversary near and dear to me.

Because it’s 30 years to the day (Halloween 1993) when the late, great, River Phoenix, an actor from the 80s and 90s, actually died. The place of death being the infamous Viper Club in Los Angeles. That was or is now owned or at one time was owned, by Johnny Depp.

So several months ago, on this 30 year anniversary year, I decided to go to a screening of Phoenix’s greatest role, that of a male prostitute in My Own Private Idaho, to see just how good it was. Remembering that I actually saw this classic over 30 years ago in 1991 at the GFT (Glasgow Film Theatre).

I can only say that not only did this not disappoint, but was actually better from what I remember. Between him and Keanu Reeves, they did something that normally young actors don’t do – they didn’t posture during the film.

Anyway, anyone that hasn’t seen the movie should be told that it’s about two hustlers in Portland, Oregon & Italy, both male prostitutes who develop a friendship. One being very rich, the other being a grifter played by Phoenix.

The one part I had a problem with all those years ago, was the theme involving a Shakespearean storyline. I don’t know whether this was King Lear or whatever but I never thought that it worked. On second thought, it works perfectly, and sums up the dilemma that both of them must resolve.

In addition, Reeves was surprisingly outstanding (his character was caught between his lo-life style, and his soon to be rich life), but it was only a few years later, after he had made the dreadful Johnny Mnemonic, that the press and certainly the music press, started referring to him as Olivier. This being an obvious dig at his limited acting ability, which is utter nonsense, as only a few years later he then starred in the Matrix franchise.

The last scene involving Reeves was a fitting ending to the movie by Gus Van Sant. If you can see it, particularly on the big screen, go for it or if not, rent it or whatever on Amazon.

CB.

Dunoon – Final part – Burgh Hall café and OMOS Exhibition

Was told by the attendant here, that only a few years ago, this building, the Burgh Hall, was vacant and then purchased for £1.00 – what a bargain, and what an interesting inside here – with both an exhibition hall and a café – both work very well.

As for the exhibition area, at the time there was a film / projection on black history in Scotland. Don’t know if it was my thing, but on the other hand, I’ve always been a sucker for these type of avant-garde installations; normally on a wall or screen, with much space about.

It had a flow to it and an atmosphere that I adored.

Various shots from OMOS

As for the cafe, it had my favourite, being Coronation Chicken, that was a ten from 10!

Offensive (2016) – Film / TV of the Week (Horror Channel)

How do you feel about the old, “revenge” film? There’s been many of them, but they’ve ranged from OTT nonsense, to special effects laden borefests, that overpower any form of narrative or character; try this one instead.

Russell Floyd and Lisa Eichhorn in Offensive

One could say Offensive is cliched, and unrealistic; but I’d disagree. The premise is when an American couple inherit a mansion in the French countryside, and even this has given them a sense of insecurity and unsureness – that blends in well when a local group of teenage trash, start to intimidate and attack them.

Naturally, the local police are not bothered, the other neighbours are equally intimidated, and the older generation that the couple are a part of, has long been consigned to the dustbin of history; but then . . . they begin to fight back.

The anger and violence is to be expected and has a certain rawness that you don’t really see in other types of these movies.

Recommended – 4 / 5

Week Ahead / Film of Last Week!

Glasgow, churches, and “I ate it so you don’t have to!”

Another week approaches, and will delve into detail on certain churches here in Glasgow – a must for anyone wishing to visit.

Also, will start looking back at some travels, as current travelling is verboten! For those of you who don’t know, we’ve been locked down here in Glasgow for some time.

Finally, will resurrect an old idea; you know that stuff in Iceland or Tesco, that you simply would NEVER buy and eat! Well, we did, and will give our review of one of Bentos’ products here for your perusal. I’ve had one before and it was simply dreadful!

We plane forgot to do many things last week; one was our film or TV of the week, a brilliant piece on witchcraft, “Night of the Eagle”, with Peter Wyngarde (who would go on to be a superstar in the UK in the early 70s) from 1962, as an academic with a witch of a wife.

Low key, black & white and at times spooky, on a very low budget. Why can’t they make ’em like that any more? It was once again, on that more and more brilliant channel, Talking Movies, I believe channel 81 for those with Freeview.

If not, it can be viewed on Daily Motion, here.

Front Line (1972) – Film of the Week

This was actually on the Talking Pictures channel in the UK (they’ve actually been showing more and more from the seventies as of late), and to be blunt, I had never heard of it before. But in the summary, it said that the great Christopher Lee was in it (though it’s a small part). Need I say more

This and the fact that it was a 70s movie and based in England, made it a required watch. I’ve always had a more than nostalgic feel for this type of genre; that is gritty, real, basic, and contains a “look what London & the UK looked like in the 1970s”, before digital happened.

Subsequently, I’ve learned that it was one of the first “slasher” types of movie, and when combined with the London Underground and the smaller budget, it is highly effective at what it does.

The film stars Donald Pleasence, who would later star in Halloween .

Enjoy the styles, dialogue and feel from the 70s.

TV / Film – The Terror, The Elephant Man

Two things stuck out the last week, and it seems that to my tastes, filmed Britishness is still superior to other forms of entertainment as long as it doesn’t fall to the theatrics of a filmed play.

The best of TV, was my finishing (finally) watching 2018’s The Terror on the BBC iPlayer, that only recently finished on BBC1 (I believe).

Charting the ill-fated, mid-19^th century British expedition to find the Northwest Passage, the series suffered from, once again, overuse of colouring (brown and blue again!), a ridiculous sub-plot involving a polar bear from hell, and succumbing to a new-age, Jim Morrison type of mutineer character, in the final stages.

What could have been great, ie, show it like it was!; was in the end only quite good, except for the exceptional, even heroic acting of Jared Harris, as one of the ship’s captains. Though when compared to most, it’s a 10 out of 10.

The ten-part series, with each episode only about 45minutes, flew by.

For my film, I caught on BBC4, The Elephant Man, which I have seen several times before, both when it originally came out, and on several other occasions. Though I could have sworn that this version was longer? Is this so? Not sure. In addition, I had forgot that David Lynch had both co-written and directed it. Maybe the black and white, or use of a slight industrial score was a giveaway.

It’s a sad and moving piece; with the Doctor / Patient interchanges both subtle and moving.

FFS, they don’t make films like this anymore.

TV / Films of the past week – Le Mans (1971), Death in Paradise (BBC)

Le Mans (1971), BBC2, Sunday:

When I were a tot, I saw this on the big screen; it amazed me then and still does. Every trick that they could do and find, was done. Split screen, zooms (in and out), wide angle, slo-mo, etc, and to me, is the go to film for this type of style. Pity that Robbie Williams butchered it years later, for a pop video.

As so much slow-motion has been used the last few years, mostly poorly, please go to this film and see how it SHOULD be done. Not as a gimmick, but as something to augment emotion, action, and in this case – sheer terror; the scene when the driver knows he has to flee the car prior to an explosion, is outstanding. – A+

Death in Paradise, Season 10, Episodes 5 & 6, BBC1, Thursday / Friday:

It seems that after the initial two seasons, it lapsed, however enjoyably into what it thought it does best; pure escapism, hammed up acting, fun, nice people and during the winter, why not. But . . . someone decided to do a two-parter, and all of a sudden, it matured.

Gone were DI Neville Parker’s irritating allergies, scratching and other OTT mannerisms, and in came a genuine drama, suspense and even mystery. And with the return of the brilliant Detective Camille Bordey, from France to look after her attacked mother, Catherine, what more would anyone want. The touching scene where she imagines herself talking to the late, DI Poole (Ben Miller), the one love of her life, who she still imagines is here on Earth conversing with her, was wonderfully done and touching.

More of this please, you deserve it. – A