If you grew up in an African household like me, you may have been subjected to the horrors of relentless bad acting, horrific sets and insane story lines that make up African cinema.
If you were lucky enough to dodge what now makes up a small section in HMV or were in the same boat as me now is your chance to finally see some quality film making from Africa.
Between the 29th of November and the 8th of December a celebration of African cinema takes place around the capital with the annual London African Film Festival, featuring UK premieres, Q&A sessions with filmmakers, screenings of silent films and more. Venues include the ICA, the Barbican and the Rich Mix.
Baraka (1992) is a non-narrative film directed by Ron Fricke, the same cinematographer from the amazing, might send you a bit crazy, Koyaanisqatsi. Baraka was filmed using mostly time-lapse photography in order to capture the essence of what is... humanity.
Filmed in 152 locations in 24 countries, it's a must see film in my eyes. Hit play on the two minute trailer and see what you think.
I'd almost forgotten about this wonderful film, until just recently.
with standing ovations from Canadian audiences, where it inspired many audience members to write their Parliament in support of bail reform, this looks like a must see...
Based on the Cormac McCarthy book "The Road" you can expect to see Charlize Theron, Guy pearce and everyones favourite drug dealer mugger... Due early 2009 dude looks serious Thoughts?
Scientific advances get more miraculous by the day, but this story from Wednesday's Telegraph is the craziest development I've read about in a while:
"Neurobiologists believe they will soon be able to target and then chemically remove painful memories and phobias from the mind without causing any harm to the brain."
I personally like to wear all mine.....eventually. Although I might shed a tear when I wear a "never to be seen again" (especially in my size) pair to death and wish I had opted for back-up, but hey... there will always be others..... right?
Adam Deacon stars in Charlie Brooker's twisted story of Big Brother (the TV show) gone mad filled with Zombies and death. I have never really got the reality show it always seemed a bit too boring to really catch me but this could be amazing...
Is the new film from Charlie Kauffman (Eternal Sunshine, Adaptation) and stars the legend that is Philip Seymour-Hoffman. The film looks bizarre to say the least and during the trail I had points were I was wondering if it was too eclectic but when I saw the moment with the rose and the final line ... I'm in.
It's showing at the BFI Film Festival but all the tickets are gone already... have to wait for your local arthouse cinema I reckon.
After watching one of the most disappointing horrors last night it got me thinking about what makes a good horror. The Strangers was so bad it was almost comical. With Liv Tyler's bland acting and carrying around a butter knife for choice of weapon and the common horror mistakes...'no don't go in there!' The circa 80's ending 'I'm not really dead' is as bad as a desolate hand emerging from a grave. All acceptable in the eighties. There was a lot of unhealthy horror watching as a child and still to this day can be haunted by Freddy from my adolescent overdosing. Not to mention my clown phobia which I adapted after watching Stephen Kings It! Tim Curry has never been the same to me since.
My top four and half (although Freddy is funny to watch now it still messes me up. On the sly)
My 'shit scared' movies consist of:
Others are Clown House, Pet Cemetery, The Others, The Orphanage and Wrong Turn
What is the scariest movie?
Tried to deny it was The Exorcist, but it just does not sit right with my soul.
Every now and again i get sent a random email containing something that makes my jaw drop. A link i received this week led me to a barrel of images that did just that! I give you Polish Film posters. It seems as though in their corner of the world they understand a movie poster can be treated as a piece of art and more importantly timeless...
A clockwork Orange
Enter the Dragon
Fatal Attraction
Smokey and the Bandit
Weekend at Bernies
Radiers of the lost Arc
Raging Bull
Could you hang any of these on your wall? Thoughts?
Every now and again a show pops up that just screams buy the box set! If you have not seen Summer Heights High you are about to have a new found appreciation for Australian comedy. This award winning series is written by and stars Chris Lilley as the three central characters in this (at times) frighteningly accurate parody of high school life.
Director of performing Arts "Mr G", mean girl in training "Jamie King" and disruptive break dancer Jonah Takalula make up the central charictors and will by the end of the year have their most famous lines repeated by everyone. Never heard of it? well check out some of the best Jonah moments from episode one.
If you grew up in an African household like me, you may have been subjected to the horrors of relentless bad acting, horrific sets and insane story lines that make up African cinema.
