Michael Nyqvist
Shaun Ryder
If Mikael Blomkvist does need a new sidekick, he could always call Bez
Thursday, 26 January 2012
Wednesday, 18 January 2012
Review: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
This remake of the Swedish crime thriller does most things bigger and better, but not that much is different to make it worth going out of the way to watch for fans of the original.
The main difference this time around is that this feels more like a film instead of TV episode (though when US TV whore Alan Dale pops up you could be forgiven for being mistaken), thanks to Fincher's eye for cinematography and another pulsating soundtrack from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.
As always, Fincher can always be relied on for an excellent title sequence, but in the case the Bond-esque take on Immigrant Song feels totally out of place with the rest of the film, unlike his previous efforts which complement the existing material.
However, what this film can't fix are the problems with the source material, suddenly swapping from crime thriller to Mission Impossible style chases and heists towards the end still mean things don't ever wind down satisfactorily - and there are times during the two and half hours that feel like like you're watching an Apple advert with the amount of product placement.
Monday, 2 January 2012
Films of 2011: 50/50
It's a shame those involved in making this film couldn't write a decent female character to save their lives and this chauvinism is the one black mark on a comedy that manages to be poignant and uplifting as well as most crucially - funny, for the rest of the time its on screen, despite the presence of Seth Rogen.
Films of 2011: Attack The Block
As my default response to most things is to go home, lock the door and play FIFA, there's a lot for me to like about this film.
People might've been expecting something more comedic from one half of Adam & Joe, and its certainly no Shaun of the Dead or Hot Fuzz - but as a throwback to 80s sci-fi and 70s action thriller Attack the Block excels.
Films of 2011: Black Swan
Who would've thought that when Darren Aronofsky made The Wrestler, featuring spandex, steriods and the Necro Butcher, that it would look positively restrained compared to the madness that is Black Swan.
Films of 2011: Blue Valentine
When a film starts with a dog dying, you know its not going to be a barrel of laughs...
Films of 2011: Bridesmaids
Showing things from a female perspective this time around really does freshen up the stale US comedy frat pack formula.
Films of 2011: Drive
Ryan Gosling, scorpion jackets and a soundtrack drenched in synths. Films don't any cooler than this.
Films of 2011: Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes
ROTPOTA was the surprise success of the year and a near flawless example of how to reboot a franchise. It's just a shame that several of the minor CGI apes got more character development than Freida Pinto.
Films of 2011: Senna
There's a line in 24 Hour Party People where Tony Wilson says "If it's a choice between the truth and the legend, print the legend", Senna follows this maxim focusing on the legend that became Senna and his rivalry with villainous Alain Prost.
It might not be the entire truth, but it remains one of the great sports movies of our times.
Films of 2011: Source Code
Even though it's the same eight minutes over and over again, Source Code never gets boring. The ending is a disappointment though as the happy ending smacks of Hollywood test screenings.
Films of 2011: Thor
Okay, so you won't be able to look at it the same since that South Park parody, but Thor still remains ridiculously good fun and miles ahead of other wannabe epics like Clash of the Titans.
Sunday, 1 January 2012
Albums of 2011: Foo Fighters - Wasting Light
Don't believe all the stuff about going back to basics and recording an album in a garage - if you've seen Back & Forth you'll know Dave Grohl's garage is nicer than most people's houses. Still what we got from Wasting Light was the most consistent Foo Fighters album for ages, and in White Limo a song that harks back to the classic sound of the first album that really was true to keeping things simple.
You can listen to my Top 10 Albums of 2011 on Spotify by clicking here
Albums of 2011: Fucked Up - David Comes To Life
If you've ever wondered what Bruce Springsteen making a hardcore punk concept album would sound like, this is probably the closest you'll get to finding out.
David Comes To Life is arguably the forgotten album of 2011 and deserved much higher praise in the usual end of year lists - which is even more baffling when compared to the universal praise dished out for the overrated Mastodon, who performed a clean sweep of Kerrang!, Rock Sound and Metal Hammer polls.
You can listen to my Top 10 Albums of 2011 on Spotify by clicking here
Albums of 2011: Gruff Rhys - Hotel Shampoo
Like most Super Furry's albums, there's a lot of different styles throw in. But Gruff's ability to write a chorus for anything means things always seem natural.
You can listen to my Top 10 Albums of 2011 on Spotify by clicking here
Albums of 2011: The Horrors - Skying
Moving on from the Krautrock of Primary Colours, the latest album from The Horrors wanders into dreamlike, synth territory with great effect - even if singer Ferris sounds a little bit too much like him out of Simple Minds at times.
You can listen to my Top 10 Albums of 2011 on Spotify by clicking here
Albums of 2011: The Joy Formidable - The Big Roar
The Joy Formidable manage to create epic soundscapes that are reminiscent at times of Arcade Fire, which is quiet the achievement for a three piece.
You can listen to my Top 10 Albums of 2011 on Spotify by clicking here
Albums of 2011: Kurt Vile - Smoke Ring For My Halo
Kurt Vile's 4th album draws comparisons to other great US singer-songwriters like Springsteen, Petty and Dylan, but with with a lo-fi stoner haze that surrounds this collection of mainly acoustic songs.
You can listen to my Top 10 Albums of 2011 on Spotify by clicking here
Albums of 2011: REM - Collapse Into Now
With their final album, REM managed to nail the mix between their classic sound of the college rock years and the Automatic For the People stadium fillers that they became.
You can listen to my Top 10 Albums of 2011 on Spotify by clicking here
Albums of 2011: Rival Schools - Pedals
Its been well over a decade since the last Rival Schools album, but Pedals sounds like they've never been away - Walter Schreifels' wisdom and melody blow away anything else within the genre.
You can listen to my Top 10 Albums of 2011 on Spotify by clicking here
Albums of 2011: Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks - Mirror Traffic
Malkmus cuts out the jams and experimentations that made most of his solo work hard going and makes his best album since the Nineties.
You can listen to my Top 10 Albums of 2011 on Spotify by clicking here
Albums of 2011: Yuck - Yuck
It may sound like it was made in the early 90s, but the simple, catchy songs means the Yuck album always sounds fresh and modern.
You can listen to my Top 10 Albums of 2011 on Spotify by clicking here
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