Film Review: Room 237 (15), (U.S.A. 2012) (Director: Rodney Ascher), Sunday 28.10.2012 15:30, The Filmhouse, Screen Three, Edinburgh

This is a documentary film that gives voice to nine people's differing interpretations of what Stanley Kubrick's 'The Shining' (1980) is actually about. The proposed allegories range from it being about the genocide of the native American Indians, to the Holocaust to Kubrick's admission to having been involved in faking footage of the moon landing. There are also other oddities noted about the film, including how the hotel has an impossible layout, etc.

The people speaking about what they see in the film admit their views have arisen from obsessive viewing, and in my mind too much time on their hands. Some of what is suggested is preposterous, though conveyed with such certainty, that it becomes intriguing rather than annoying. The film is highly amusing in parts and due to it's soundtrack is quite hypnotic.

The voices are played to footage of scenes being discussed, which seemed quite obvious, though it works very well and therefore also there is the added bonus of no talking heads. Clips from other Kubrick films are used in the background, along with clips from other well known films, all of this is used well to assist with understanding what the people are speaking about. Due to the footage used, I would say that I would expect that even if you had not seen 'The Shining', you may still enjoy this as a film about obsession and the absurd. Very enjoyable.

Rating: 08/10.

Live Performance Review: The Tallest Man On Earth, Saturday 27.10.2012, 19:00, H.M.V. Picturehouse, Edinburgh

(For information about the album the tour is in support of, 'There's No Leaving Now', please see the review written in June 2012.)

Support: Crooked Fingers; nothing to write home about.

The Tallest Man...was a sell out, which I had not anticipated. It appears as though he is more well known and liked than I had been aware of. There was a lot of younger people in the audience, who gave a typically young fevered reaction. The performance itself was quite something. The man is young, very charismatic, and is very skilled at guitar. He is quite a quirky performer, which added to the charm.

What I find odd is that there are songs that can definitely draw parallels in tone and vocal inflection with early Dylan, yet the young at the gig treated this with reassuring reverence, going so far as to get the older drinkers to shut up in the intro to songs. Also the fact that he is Swedish, which now even more oddly seems an irrelevance, as he is so fluent in speech between the songs, that if you did not know where he came from, you would have no cause to wonder.

There was a good breadth of songs from across his albums and E.P.s, the finger-picked songs working better. If the whole concert had been the guitar-chord songs, then the gig would not have been as memorable. One of the finger-picked songs that particularly stood out was 'Criminals' from his most recent album; the performance of that was a transfixing beauty.

There were two songs that were performed on keys. One of these, the final song in the encore, was 'The Dreamer' which is also at present my favorite song of his. The original of this song is on guitar, and I would have probably have preferred to have heard it performed on that instrument, though then again it was nice enough to have heard it. Between the first song of the encore and 'The Dreamer', he performed a reworking of Paul Simon's Graceland, which was charming. The performance was for approx 90 minutes. It was very enjoyable and I am glad I went.

One note - how many times should a performer tell the audience that they appreciate them? This became such a frequent refrain between songs, that it did not annoy, as appeared genuine, though it did appear odd.

Rating: 08/10.

Film Review: Skyfall (12A), (U.K./U.S.A. 2012) (Director: Sam Mendes), Saturday 27.10.2012 15:00, The Cameo, Screen One, Edinburgh

Lets not beat about the bush, in my view this is the finest Bond film there has been, and it has set a bench mark for future Bond films. It also confirms for me, that Daniel Craig is the best Bond to date. I've heard various people say that your favorite is usually he first one you knew when you were young. I disagree, though then the first I was introduced to was Roger Moore. I have time for many aspects of Sean Connery's portrayal, less so Roger Moore, I find both to be too sexual. Pierce Brosnan I feel to have done nothing with the character that is praiseworthy and was also partial to low level smut of a similar vain to Moore, though not as pronounced.My preferred performances in the role, aside from Daniel are from Timothy Dalton and George Lazenby.

Within the genre of action, this could be seen as a classic, not just in Bond terms. There are good performances from across the cast, and Javier Bardem does make a very good and righteous baddie. There is good depth in terms of plot and performances. It felt quite untypical Bond in some respects, which may be what made it feel to be so good.

There is again as in the other Craig Bond films a reassuring lack of reliance upon gadgets, culminating in the build up to the final battle, Bond prepares as though he were a member of the A-Team. Again, as in the other Craig films, he does not fall into bed with a lady at the end, another aspect I like about Daniel's bond films, sex is not treated as a reward for a successful mission. There are nods to the past; references to exploding pens, the car from Goldfinger and Bond stepping on the backs of Komodo Dragons in a similar vain to how Moore did with Crocodiles. Despite this it never felt nostalgic, always remaining rooted in the present.

The film is based on the threat posed by cyber terrorism, how cyber technology can keep us exposed, and therefore how by disconnecting from cyber technology, can help keep us safe. Relaying upon our wits and knowledge is always the more secure way to live.

The cinematography is beautiful, particularly in Scotland. The title sequence was very good (again an aspect I have been impressed with in all of Daniel's films) and even the theme song is fine (I'm not generally into Adele, and although I won't be purchasing the song, it is going some for me to admit liking one of her songs).

The running time is just shy of 2 & 1/2 Hours, and the plot requires attention. I don't think it is really one for the young kiddies, although it is a 12A some parents may wish to try it. It shows London effectively under terror attack, this is portrayed in a potentially real world way which may make it more distressing for the very young, in a way that the fantastical world of the batman films (also 12As) is less likely to. For those who can keep attention for over two hours, I think this is a very enjoyable film of an, in terms of Bond, exceptionally high standard.

Rating: 10/10. (Never expected to say that of a Bond film.)
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2012: Ten Flawless Films To Date In Order Of Release:
Magic Trip (Documentary)
Once Upon A Time In Anatolia (Turkish) 
Goodbye First Love (French)
The Dark Knight Rises
Searching For Sugar Man (Documentary) 
Anna Karenina
About Elly (Iran) 
Tabu (Portuguese)
Frankenweenie
Skyfall    

Film Review: About Elly (12A), (Iran 2009 - Released in U.K. 2012) (Persian and German with English Subtitles) (Director: Asghar Farhadi), Saturday 20.10.2012 20:40, The Filmhouse Screen Three, Edinburgh

This is a film by the same director who had made the brilliant 'A Separation' (2011). It was the success of this more recent film which has allowed for this older gem to be released here. As with A Separation, About Elly in very realistic terms shows how there are many similarities of behaviour and custom shared by our cultures, though is also clear in displaying what is particular to Iran. The story concerns a social trip of a group of friends; couples and their children with two (what are believed to be) single adults, male and female to introduce to one another. A tragedy occurs, the female single adult goes missing, and the fallout from this is superbly handled with fine performances from across the cast.

As with 'A Separation' it is hard to see any elements to detract. They are both finely portrayed and engaging dramas centred around very real everyday situations. For the majority of the film, the cinema, which was packed, was still, as the film clearly held the patrons attention. As means of getting to know more about a culture from a country which is much maligned in 'the west', apart from going there, these films probably offer as good a means as there is. There is something mesmerising about the drama of everyday life being portrayed with such subtlety and realism. I could not recommend more highly. This applies to both 'A Separation' & About Elly.  

Rating: 10/10.
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2012: Nine Flawless Films To Date In Order Of Release:
Magic Trip (Documentary)
Once Upon A Time In Anatolia (Turkish) 
Goodbye First Love (French)
The Dark Knight Rises
Searching For Sugar Man (Documentary) 
Anna Karenina
About Elly (Iran) 
Tabu (Portuguese)
Frankenweenie

Film Review: Rear Window (P.G.), (U.S.A. 1954) (Director: Alfred Hitchcock), Saturday 20.10.2012 13:15, The Filmhouse Screen Three, Edinburgh

My favorite Hitchcock film. Photographer played by James Stewart is recuperating in his flat after an accident, and is tended to by his girlfriend Grace Kelly. His flat looks onto the rear of another block of flats. The film revolves around the relationship between the photographer and his girlfriend & the allure and thrill of voyeurism. The film also has much to do about the dangers of assumptions and how deal with concerns raised by peeping. As more and more clues build and the photographer's suspicions appear to have weight, the tension builds in a satisfying way. There is a neat twist of an ending to the film, the various residents of the viewed flats are revealed to be other than what had been assumed  by the photographer. Meaning the only one he was right about was the murderer. It feels difficult to explain quite why this Hitchcock film I place above all others including Vertigo and Psycho, though if you have not seen it, I obviously highly recommend. 

Rating: 10/10.

Film Review: Frankenweenie (2D) (P.G.) (U.S.A. 2012) (Director: Tim Burton), Wednesday 17.10.2012, 20:30, The Cameo Cinema, Screen One, Edinburgh

I was looking forward to this film due to liking the aesthetic quality of Tim Burton's previous stop-motion animation 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' (1993) and 'The Corpse Bride' (2005), and this did not disappoint. It is the tale of a boy called Victor reanimating his pet dog Sparky with electricity and love. Visually the look of the film and the animation was striking and quite beautiful in a Gothic sort-of-way that you would expect with it being a Burton production. There are elements of homage to Burton's previous films, his childhood and classic horror films, all of which I feel fit well into the film. The imposing physics teacher who inspires Victor's ventures is like a classic horror character in his facial detail and some of Victor's classmates have eyes that make them look like junkies, though details like this fit fine in this distorted world.

The Heath Robinson contraption used to reanimate 'Sparky' is reassuringly quirky and inventive. Victor's fellow classmates get wind of what Victor has managed to do and find their own ways of reanimating creatures, though due to their ventures not being fueled with love, like Victors, they go horribly wrong. Then the town is under attack prompting the necessary panic and rescue. Towards the end it looked as though Sparky may not make it after his efforts to rescue Victor. I had wanted Sparky to die, as don't think endings need to be overly happy. Though Victor had already learned that things don't last forever. Victor had proclaimed that he was okay with Sparky passing as he was alive in his heart, this is what then made me okay with Sparky living. The film is charming, I had a grin on my face for most of it. In terms of animated film, I cannot find fault.

Rating: 10/10.
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2012: Eight Flawless Films To Date In Order Of Release:
Magic Trip (Documentary)
Once Upon A Time In Anatolia (Turkish) 
Goodbye First Love (French)
The Dark Knight Rises
Searching For Sugar Man (Documentary) 
Anna Karenina
Tabu (Portuguese)
Frankenweenie 

Film Review: Psycho (15), (U.S.A. 1960) (Director: Alfred Hitchcock), Saturday 13.10.2012 18:00, The Filmhouse Screen One, Edinburgh

What can be said about Psycho, one of the most known films there is. Again it is one of my favorite Hitchcock films. It is the score that I find most impressive, which I had forgotten is unsettling and foreboding from the off. Without the final two scenes where Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) is being discussed by the authorities who have apprehended him and a psychologist is offering insight from having 'spoken with Norman's mother', I don't think the film would have worked quite so well.

A line I had not picked up upon on previous viewing was 'a mother is always a boy's best friend'. This is spoken by Norman in response to a question from Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) about whether he ever gets lonely and occurs not long after Marion arrives at the Bates Motel. This suggests still viewing his self as a 'boy', and detachment, as gives a universal statement as opposed to talking about his own mother. The performance by Anthony Perkins is subtle and finely balanced and it is understandable (though regrettable) as to why this hung over the rest of his career.

Rating: 10/10.  

Film Review: Strangers On A Train (P.G.), (U.S.A. 1951) (Director: Alfred Hitchcock), Sunday 07.10.2012 18:00, The Filmhouse Screen Two, Edinburgh

I went to see this as it was one of my preferred Hitchcock films. The plot revolves around a tennis player and  a fan who have a chance encounter. The conversation they have comes to them discussing people they would each like out of their lives. The proposition is offered up by the creepy and slightly camp fan Bruno Antony (Played by Robert Walker), as being the perfect crime as for each of them there is no motive in regard to the person they kill. Bruno then takes the liberty of assuming they had come to an agreement in regard to the matter, acts to remove the annoyance from the tennis player Guy Haines (Played by Farley Granger), and then harasses for Guy to fulfill his side of the arrangement.

The film was not as good as I had remembered. The performance from Robert Walker, although very impressive, felt overpowering within the film. Also I had forgotten the clearly sped up footage of the fairground ride at the end, which leads to the conclusion feeling compromised. The film is still very good and I feel serves as a warning about the potential dangers of casual conversation with someone you don't know.  

Rating: 08/10.

Live Performance Review: John Cale, Friday 05.10.2012 18:00, H.M.V. Picturehouse, Edinburgh

I got a ticket for this performance as am a big fan of The Velvet Underground, and having seen Lou Reed twice, I was interested in seeing the other linchpin of the early velvet sound. Although I am a bigger fan of Lou Reed, I had heard some earlier John Cale solo recordings and liked what I heard.

Sadly the gig was very poor. The doors opened at 6, no support and John came on at 8; a long time to wait when nothing is happening. When he came on he appeared to be rushing between the pieces and disinterested in what was happening. The musicians he had with him on guitar, bass and drums appeared very average, John himself was on keys. I understand the new album to have received very poor reviews and there were a lot of songs from the new release and they did nothing to impress. All of the new songs also appear to have half finished lyrics, all at some point descending into dum-de-dum mode, to me a further sign of having lost the spark. Sadly he was also guilty of taking older songs, which are good pieces and performing them in the style of the new album, making then hard to listen to. I have only been to one concert where taking old songs and playing in a new style has worked well, and that was Iron and Wine in 2011. It worked because of the caliber of musicians performing and clearly they had taken time to practice to get to know how each other performs and how to perform the pieces. To compound matters further, John's keyboard was having technical problems and he would at limes literally give up even trying. I suspect the sound engineer was not good as the amount of times he guitarist was having to signal to increase or decrease levels was disruptive.

All in all, sadly, a very poor show.I would not return to see John again.. (Whereas both times I have seen Lou, I've greatly enjoyed and would gladly see again.) That is also two poor concerts in a row at the Picturehouse, I have one more booked in. I see how it goes, though if it is not good then I will put a block on returning there, as I have already with the Edinburgh Corn Exchange.  

Rating: 01/10.

Live Performance Review: Bosnian Rainbows, Sunday 30.09.2012 19:00 Stereo, Glasgow

This was the first time in this venue, and I was impressed, it is a decent size and does not feel sanitised in any way. The Ticket and advertising was for the 'Omar Rodriguez Lopez Group', he was involved in the performance, and explained towards the end that this is a separate project going by the name 'Bosnian Rainbows'. If it had been advertised as Bosnian Rainbows I suspect the audience would have been somewhat smaller. For the uninitiated Omar is one of the most highly regarded, skilled and progressive guitarists working in contemporary music. He is the lead guitarist/musician in 'The Mars Volta' and was in 'At The Drive-In' prior to that. He is also a prolific solo artist, whose range can be astonishing and perplexing. Bosnian Rainbows intend to release an album in 2013, I will be looking out for this.

The group consisted of three musicians; I'm not quite sure of the range of instruments being used. The musicians melded well together into a pleasing sound/noise. Omar was astonishing. I've seen him before with The Mars Volta though this was better. The other musicians were also extremely good, though it is clear that Omar is still the one who adds the wow.

On top of this there is a quite remarkable and disarmingly beautiful Mexican singer, called Teri Gender Bender, formally of  the Mexican Punk Band 'La Butcherettes'. She is a very able singer, whose voice fits well with the music, and whose stage presence is transfixing. Now for a funny anecdote; In the introduction to a song about half way through the set, she was saying something about missing 'Old Mr. Turtle Head', and then walked across the stage to stand in front of me, knelt down, clasped a hand on my left shoulder, staring into my eyes and speaking into the microphone asked me with her sexy Mexican accent 'How have you been Old Mr. Turtle Head', to the amusement of the audience. Later she came and sang among the audience and stood singing next to myself before getting back on stage. I do like it when performers appear to behave in their own engaging way. (I am considering changing the name of this page to 'Old Mr. Turtle Head's Reviews').

On a lesser note the support Mono/Poly, an urban sampler guy who was completely unremarkable - don't  bother.

Bosnian Rainbow did a hugely enjoyable performance, and entertaining throughout.
The whole set was greatly received and I would happily go to see them again.  

Rating: 09/10.