Heath Ledger

Ummed & aahhed about adding anything about the passing of any actor but did wish to express sorrow over the loss of a talented, young, Australian actor and man - Heath Ledger.
A shame that an Australian free-to-air television station felt it necessary to 'cash-in' on his death by playing a double bill of his films on Saturday night. A slight pause would have been nice!
that's all for now!
Cat noir

Sweeney Todd

"Sweeney Todd" has a long history, Stage, musical, film. Staged in various manifestations by Hal Prince etc. Sweeney Todd is an unlikely, yet crowd-pleasing story based on a book. If you are a Johnny Depp and/or/also Tim Burton fan you will love this dark ride. Stephen Sondheim's beautiful music/lyrics evoke the feeling perfectly and what better director to showcase a dark, seething, seedy London than Mr. Burton?
Johnny Depp sings in his cultivated English accent (think Inspector Abeline in "From Hell") and does a reasonable job, Helena Bonham Carter slightly less so. While she does a sterling job of playing the dark, lusting pie-maker, Mrs. Lovett I do tire of Tim Burton's constant casting of her due to their relationship.
The sets and costumes are wonderful and Alan Rickman is a restrained malignant nemesis (Judge Turpin) for Johnny Depp. Timothy Spall is excellent and sinks his teeth into his scheming, foppish, sidekick role (Beadle). Spall's eyes positively glint when sadistic pleasures are on the menu.
Sacha Baron Cohen is excellent in his 'short-lived' role and reinforces his verstility.
I loved this dark, poignant re-telling of a wonderful tale.
bfn
Cat noir

American Gangster

Caught American Gangster last week, interesting, yet somehow devoid of depth. It is based on "true events" (in the pure Hollywood sense) so it washes over you, leaves you enlightened and entertained but wanting to know the real story. In that sense it does the job. Starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe - both do wonderful jobs with rather two-dimensional characters. It is a shame that there wasn't more character development, the script sets up the past signposts in terms of 'need to know' for future events.
Russell Crowe does a wonderful job but can forget Hollywood nods and awards (they just don't like our Russ!) Denzel Washington is very effective and has been nominated for an Academy award. While wonderful news for him, I would argue that he has the more meatier role and the nasty characters chew scenery and always get the attention.
bfn
Cat noir

Night of the Giant Squirrel

Catch this truly terrifying film, giant gnashing teeth, a rodent film like no other!!- pray for Summer!!
created at
http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/poster.php
bfn,
cat noir

RSS Feeder

Have become part of the "Topix" community. This service seems to meet my requirements. I don't wish to be innundated daily by thousands of news items but I am eager to receive feeds from my chosen areas of interest. Film & Literature info feast guarenteed. Lots of free article sites out there that could also be useful for research.
bfn,
cat noir

Technology blab

I'm having fun on Flickr, but have decided to limit photos to places and my cat family. Not sure if everyone needs to see what I look like and I prefer some anonymity.
Also done same about contacts with email.
Feel free to rave on on my blog though!!!
bfn,
cat noir

cat noir

I am Legend

Finally caught "I am Legend" with my co-viewer. Being a Sci-Fi film fan (albeit, one starved of decent tidbits) I was looking forward to it.
I have the book by Richard Matheson and this is the third filming of the story. The first The Last Man on Earth (1964 ) was lacklustre and lets face it, really hokey!. The second film The Omega Man (1971) was well acted and vsually alluring in a seventies kind of way. It like the latest version, I am Legend (2007) was 'tweaked' by Hollywood.
Purists of Mathesons' stories will be slightly annoyed but will go with the flow and the times.
Will Smith does battle with the mutant humans in a post-apocalyptic survival/vampire movie. The most enduring things for me were the original plot, the relationship between the Richard Neville character ( Will Smith) and his dog Samantha ( a beautiful, talented canine), and the special effects portraying the take-over of 'civilization' by nature and animals. Visuals portraying Neville's anti-viral filled blood ebbing wasted to the ground were in sync with the futility portrayed in the 1971 version when Neville's blood (the cure) was squandered in a similar fashion.
All in all a satisfying morsel, the dog should be nominated for an Oscar.
bfn
cat noir

Feline cinema critic

Express Yourself with Gizmoz Video Clips

Golden Compass

Have yet to see Golden Compass, but have heard that while screenplay is a little weak, visuals and special effects are gorgeous.
bfn,
cat noir

Atonement

Must see film is "Atonement", this lusciously beautiful film is a relatively faithful representation of Ian McEwan's book by the same title. The film stars James Mcavoy & Keira Knightley. Mcavoy is a blue-eyed Scotsman with a talent for conveying emotion("Becoming Jane").Set in England pre & during WW2, the film is at once empathatic, visually sensual, and sumptuous in it's ability to evoke the feeling of the period. Ian McEwan's heavily descriptive style is perfectly represented by the beatiful visuals and cinematography. - go forth and wallow!
bfn,
cat noir

Across the Universe

Movied over Christmas break, but not as often as would have liked due to illness. "Across the Universe" was a wonderful, nostalgic ride for baby-boomers and post baby-boomers.Film featured loosely woven story of American angst and growing -up against back-drop of 1960's change and turbulance. Plethora of strategicly placed Beatles songs, young talented actors with great voices and cameos by Bono, Joe Cocker and Eddie Izzard - a treat!

bfn,
cat noir