Above, is this Tarantinos next film?
Arnie now talking about 'Cry Macho'
Guy Pearce in 'Prometheus'? Yes Please!
Channing Tatum for male striptease
The Buzz: 30/04/11
Above, is this Tarantinos next film?
Arnie now talking about 'Cry Macho'
Guy Pearce in 'Prometheus'? Yes Please!
Channing Tatum for male striptease
Cemetery Junction
Gervais and Merchant should do this more often
Lover: Taken from IMDB
“Though I knew Ricky Gervais and Steve merchant directed it, I had no prior expectations about this movie. I did not know what it was about nor did i read any reviews before watching. Trust me, that is the best way to watch Cemetery Junction. Don't listen to the reviews of jaded film critics who over-analyze and complain about other movies being similar. This is a movie that make you feel good without explicitly being a feel-good movie. I came out feeling nostalgic for 70s Britain though I grew up in 90s USA. The dialog is witty, smart, often funny and sometimes touching. It deftly touches on themes of loss, regret, friendship, love, and following one's dreams. This is my favorite British film in quite some time. You will not regret watching this movie.”
There’s nothing here to back up their points however they are completely right.
Hater: Taken from IMDB
“This film isn't funny. It's just not. And without the excuse of comedy, it's simply lame. In the September issue of The Word, Andrew Harrison, discussing the way popular culture eats itself, describes yesterday's cutting edge as "...impossibly tame and in fact cloyingly wholesome, the components of Heartbeat." And that's exactly this movie. Bland nostalgia, the trappings of kitchen sink reality and none of its truth. Twee love wins out and the lovers eventually escape the deadening boredom of their hometown existence (which isn't so bad really, so their ambitions are fuzzy and vague). Nothing we haven't seen before, and no drama to make it interesting. Cemetery Junction is just an episode of Heartbeat - the easy view, rose-tinted version of a bygone era churned out in inoffensive weekly installments for a family audience who want reassurance rather than insight. A few laughs would have made it bearable. Pity that Gervais and Merchant should squander their opportunities on inconsequential twaddle like this.”
Describing it as an episode of Heartbeat is very wrong, all it really has in common is the era its set in. The point of cemetery junction I like to think is that life and that particular moment in time was mundane, hence no big drama this would-be critic clearly wanted. Just think of The Office, apart from the superbly written and performed comedy its actually just a mundane series about life in an office and look how that turned out.
What I thought:
What I like most about Cemetery Junction is that Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant have only a bit part and cameo respectively. The reason I like that is because the performances of Gervais and Merchant (Gervais more so) are just getting plain dry and repetitive. After his trips to America in which he played David Brent in some shape or form in EVERYTHING, it was important that he wrote material for someone else. To prove me right just watch the moments he’s in, exactly the same!
His usual spiel works fine for stand up but when you start using that as a crutch when you’re trying to act; it’s best left alone. So that aside what are you watching, well a coming of age tale set in Reading, Berkshire. Reading or more precisely Cemetery Junction home of a fine music festival, Gervais himself and my sister-in-law is a great setting for this. Whilst there is nothing quintessentially wrong with the place (I love visiting) It’s one of those places that if your born and raised there you’ll spend half of your youth moaning about getting away from it (I empathise as I’m from Croydon another place like this). That’s basically what this film is about, going through that stage in your life where it feels that if you don’t get away now you never will.
That’s What Cemetery Junction is about and the way it does it so well is in its casting, our three heroes are unknowns who take on the rebellious young upstart roles with brilliant gusto. They are also brilliantly written, Gervais and Merchants usual humour coming from some you up and coming actors is brilliant and fun to watch. In those respects its refreshing and hopefully will usher both to move behind the camera more often.
The Buzz: 29/04/11
Above, New photo from Breaking Dawn
Gavin Hood to Direct 'Enders Game'
Brett Ratner takes on Hercules
Full Trailer for new Transformers land, Michael Bay has had enough of my money I'm boycotting this one
Transformers 3 Dark of the Moon by teasertrailer
NVR Texture...
Stone
Weathered Wood
Industrial Metals_____
Just a few inspiring photos via littlebluedeer (sources unknown) to get me on track for an upcoming project. Needless to say, these textures will be playing a very important part.
Design Museum Denmark
This is one cool exhibition that I would love to check out - Jasper Morrison has curated and designed this 'Danish Design - I Like it!' exhibition for Design Museum Denmark in Copenhagen. This has been conceived to celebrate the name change of the museum (previously known as 'Kunstindustrimuseet' - that was a good move) as well as the cool design history that Denmark has. Love the use of textiles on the back panels as well as the colours. I'd also want to leave with most of furnishings too...
Photographs via Wallpaper.
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| Danish Design - I Like it! exhibition at Design Museum Denmark. |
Photographs via Wallpaper.
I Like...
I like...these cool recycled solid cedar furnishings from Canvas. The solid cedar wood is salvaged from New York City rooftop water tanks, which means they have a great natural aged patina finish. It's always great to see sustainability done so well and so stylishly. Photographs via Canvas.
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| Reclaimed wood bench and dining table from Canvas. |
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| Reclaimed wood mirror. Cute dog. |
More Designer Royal Wedding Tea Towels...
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| Kate 'n' Wills by Charlotte Farmer for New House Textiles. |
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| Cath Kidston Royal Wedding tea towel. |
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| Corgi Royal Wedding from To Dry For. |
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| Right Royal Knees Up from Ted Baker. |
Some more Royal Wedding commemorative tea towels from several designers - it's no surprise that most of these are now out of stock. Enjoy the Royal Wedding tomorrow - hope you're wearing your tiara and pearls.
Royal Wedding Tea Towels
Well, thank goodness the Royal Family belatedly approved to have tea towels allowed as souvenirs for the Royal Wedding - previously they were off the list of commemorative items as they were considered 'too disposable'. There have been many designs and it's great to see that not all of them are stuffy. I like these ones from John Lewis - classic and simple.
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| C&W Royal Wedding tea towel |
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| William & Catherine Royal Wedding tea towel |
Cages...
Antique Thai birdcages hang from planks of reclaimed oak at Revel Spa. The reception desk has been made from the same weathered oak.
Another point of view shows the brilliant design._____
via Interior Design magazine
The Buzz: 27/04/11
Above, clever photo from the set of The Avengers which has officially started production
Bill and Ted 3 script finished (this is a twitter account, so you'll need to scroll down)
Transformers full trailer to hit the net this Thursday
Green Lantern needs more money
The Home of Finn Juhl
Here is the home of the late Danish Architect and designer Finn Juhl - now fully re-installed in Ordrupgaard, the French Impressionist museum in Northern Copenhagen. Juhl's home acts as a portfoilo of his vast range of design work - he designed the house and the furniture as well as many other details - there are even prototypes for his cutlery designs. It is a great narrative of 1950's Danish design as well as being an interior that many aspire to create these days. I'm impressed how modern it still is.
Photographs via Metropolis Mag
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| The home of Finn Juhl |
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| Art by Vilhelm Lundstrom. |
Photographs via Metropolis Mag
FOUNDRY Candles Coming Soon...
Bin no. 142. Palmarosa. Wild-crafted Palmarose oil has been distilled since the 18th century and is known as an exotic stress reliever. Herbaceous and grassy with a lemony green scent and hints of rose geranium.
Bin no. 719. Holy Basil. Known as the royal remedy, Tulsi roots and petals are given to raise departing souls to Heaven. Vaguely anise-like. Minty and smoky, yet sweet and warm.
Bin no. 25. Branded Leather. Deep, dark, masculine and sensual. Smoky middle notes of frankincense and myrrh, enhanced by top notes of genuine leather oil. Like a vintage motorcycle jacket, an aphrodisiac at its best.
Bin no. 978. Ancient Calamus Root. A tonic to the mind, Calamus root is a holy anointing oil from Biblical times. Calamus root oil is an essential blend of roots and stems with an intense infusion of grass, bamboo and rain. Extremely earthy, Calamus has been called the closest thing to a sex stimulant that nature has to offer.
Bin no. 653. Orange Tinder. Oakmoss and soft musk notes mingle with orange blossoms and enhance veiled smoky layers of burning tinder wood. Tisane Coming Soon...
Raindrops + Moss
Freshly Cut Grass + Swaying Daisies
Rain Soaked October Earth + Musky Leaves
Lemon Rose + Earth
Chimney Smoke + Dried Vines + Brick Walls Fireplace Required.
Photograph via Remodelista.
My first ever book review: Nighmare Movies by Kim Newman
Nightmare Movies
I’ll be honest when Bloomsbury offered to send me a book to review, I was little apprehensive. Of course Beeonfilm only reviews films and DVD’s, however Kim Newmans updated labour of love Nightmare Movies is an exceptional case. Not just because it is film related albeit the horror genre, but that it is also so concise and chock full of interesting facts and obscure movies you’ve never heard of.
That was my first thought, my second was a little unfair I’ll be honest. I’m a writer and I love writing about films, if I were to be doing a dream job it would be the job that Kim Newman has now, writing books like this and writing for Empire magazine. So jealousy is an issue and may affect my opinion of this book, I say this now because I do have some criticisms and I think the reader deserves to know that they may be a little biased and nit picking.
As I have said before Nightmare Movies is a concise history of the horror genre right from the classis monsters through the glory days of the slasher film to recent years of torture porn and found-footage. It’s a heavy read, spread out through 650 pages but like Newmans writing for Empire it’s full of wit and dry humour that does make it a little less laborious.
My biggest criticism is one that is really only an issue for people who aren’t avid fans of horror films, so saying this may be a bit pointless as everyone else would never think to read it. During the reading time, (it took me over a month to get this finished!) There are a few paragraphs, pages and even chapters that are full of not just films I have never heard of but films I have no invested interest in at all. These chapters are tough and the temptation to pick up something else is huge, getting towards the end was immensely easier. Because I’m a little younger than Newman I’m of a different generation, for one I am immensely cynical about the horror genre. Unless it has something interesting to say like Romeros social commentary in the ‘Dead’ films, the majority of them can only do two things; make you jump or make you paranoid.
I’m a fan of the latter, films like Blair Witch and Paranormal Activity stayed with me long after I watched them and I love them for that reason. Everything else is full of jumps, false jumps and gross out scenes of blood and guts. My point being that the later chapters which are the updated part of the book were a lot more fun for me. It didn’t matter if I disagreed with some of the things Newman wrote, what mattered was that I had heard and in most cases seen the films he mentions
This book is an essential for anyone who loves horror films, it cannot just give you great insights from a man who clearly knows what he’s talking about but also give you a basis for a superb DVD collection.
Thomas O'Brien's Perfect Mix...
I sat down with one of my favorite decorating books this lazy Easter day and rediscovered the many reasons Thomas O'Brien is one of my favorite designers.
O'Brien's American Modern is filled with genius touch after genius touch.
I am totally stealing the photocopied hand. 
Burke and Hare
More Silly killers than Serial Killers
Lover: Taken from IMDB
“Can't believe some of the negativity on here and in the press. And I really don't why people are saying that it isn't funny. This is a very funny, charming film in the tradition of the old Ealing comedies. The cinema I went to see it in was packed and was laughing all the way through. How anyone can say that Landis has delivered a turkey is baffling. It's witty, well shot, got great performances and it has Ronnie Corbett! Hilarious. I think this is a film that has suffered from all of the expectation and the mass marketing. I don't think it is consistently laugh out loud movie but it is consistently funny. I'm so glad that I got the chance to see something different, other than all of the franchise crap on offer at the moment. Two thumbs up to Landis, Pegg and Serkis and of course, Mr Ronnie Corbett, long may your career continue! 4 stars!”
It was a very funny film and some of the negative press was horribly over the top, Burke and Hare is an essential for anyone who has an appreciation for British comedy.
Hater: Taken from IMDB
“what a load of 'fookin sh*%e' man'. My wife and i are both in agreement, this is without doubt the worst film we've seen this year, and almost the worst ever. Utterly awful, dreadfully dreary tale with zero soul, passion or enthusiasm. Avoid like the hangman's noose or you'll just be wasting an hour of your life. I can't believe this website is actually forcing me to write 10 lines - it's just not worth it IMDb - you're being cruel to me man, rubbing my face in it - this is adding insult to injury - I only wanted to warn the world that plague lies within this tosh, masquerading as a serious film - you' should be encouraging this.”
IMDB forces you to write 10 lines for a good reason, in the vague hope that you might write something productive. It is not so that you can un-ashamedly rip a film to pieces without thought or indeed reason! Ignore these kinds of reviews like the plague, if a film isn’t for you then you’ll know before you see it, otherwise we all know that every now again we get a turkey but by the same rule we also may stumble upon a film that becomes an instant favourite.
What I thought:
As a HUGE fan of Mr Pegg myself I was looking forward to this film, honestly it did disappoint me and that’s solely because of the press beforehand. Even Simon Pegg himself was guilty of singing the line about “daring you to like two despicable people”, It is true that mesas Pegg and Serkis are superbly likeable as Irish Entrepreneurs come serial killers. However it’s not them that are the problem, whilst understandably the body count is quite high; none of their victims even a cameo from Christopher Lee are really that likeable or given any screen time.
What that means is a complete dis-association with their crimes, the people they ‘knock off’ to make a living you don’t really care about and because every time they do take a life they do it quite ineptly it’s all a bit silly. So once again the press has over played the film a bit, you’re not dared to like despicable men your dared to take their crimes with a pinch of salt (even the lines on the screen at the beginning tells you that this is a true story apart from the parts that are not).
There are however some great performances from some of the cream of British comedy talent, clearly when word was around that John Landis was coming back to the UK to make a “Dark Comedy” they were queuing up. Simon Pegg and Andy Serkis excel at those Irish accents and excel at making two of the UK’s biggest serial killers actually likeable, they do that by playing them just a little bit on the dim side which I thought was a bit disappointing I thought they would be less bumbling more calculating. Jessica Hynes joins her Spaced co-star to play Lucky, William Hares wife? I don’t know? She is great and gives massive laughs to possibly the funnies sex scene I’ve ever seen. They are also joined by more Spaced alumni Bill Bailey, Michael Smiley and British thesps like Tom Wilkinson, Christopher Lee, Tim Curry, David Schofield and of course Ronnie Corbett. The shorter half of the two Ronnies is the cherry on top and his usual bumbling schtick fits into this story near perfectly, The rest flesh out a story that is as silly as it is macabre.
Those expecting An American Werewolf in London should look away now but those with an appreciation for the sillier side of traditional Ealing comedies should lap it up.
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