Keep It Fresh

The ever amazing Anton Corbijn’s “Control” opened in the IFI today. Corbjin’s first feature film (having previously photographed the likes of U2, Depeche Mode and The Killers), Control is a biopic of late Joy Division front man Ian Curtis and is based on the book written by Curtis’s wife entitled “Touching From A Distance“. The film stars newcomer Sam Riley (who funnily had a small role in Michael Winterbottom’s 24 Hour Party People, a film which loosely follows the life of late Tony Wilson and his involvement with the Manchester music scene including bands Joy Division, New Order and the Happy Mondays) as lead man Curtis and Samantha Morton (In America, Minority Report) as Deborah Curtis, his ever suffering spouse. Shot in stark black & white the film has the added appeal of all it’s cast members playing their instruments live. This looks like a must see for both fans of music and cinema. I’ll hopefully get a chance to check it out over the weekend but until then here’s the trailer.

-phil

I’ve always had a soft spot for Michael Palin – in that older gent charm kinda way. It’s a rare commodity and he is the clear forerunner in this competitive league. (as an aside people of my, or any, age that have a thing for Sean Connery or Michael Douglas are sick and need help)
Sadly, due to varying prior arrangements (eh…drinking, gigging, drinking and…oh yes…drinking), I missed out on much of his new TV series “New Europe” on the Beeb. Basically it’s Palin being a complete darling and introducing all us stupid people to our new E.U. comrades in that customary dumbed-down-yet-altogether-delightful-and-easy-to-understand fashion.
Of course, in true money-scrounging style the BBC have thoughtfully (read: scavengingly) published the series in a handy book format complete with glossy photos of Serbian people looking happy and accepted. Bless.
All smart-arseness aside, it’s actually worth checking out. Anything that documents a man whose alter ego is Phileas Fogg is alllllright by me.

I like “something completely different”

I dislike actual pythons

_sarah_