Smile – It’s Thanksgiving November 26, 2009
Posted by judylobo in Animal Stories, Animal Videos, Dogs and cats, Links, Photo Archives, Photography, Videos, Zoos, art, wildlife.Tags: smiles, Thanksgiving
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A very Happy Thanksgiving from my house to your house. Nothing political today. Just some fun. Everyone needs a break. Click here. And Here.
For those that like games – try to guess whose claws, paws, fingers and toes are whose (answers below the montage).
Claws, Paws, Fingers and Toes -
Left to right:
Row 1: Black bear foot, Lace Monitor hand(?), Capybara foot
Row 2: Puma feet, Monkey hands, Chimpanzee hand
Row 3: Tapir feet, Malaysian Flying Fox, Meerkat hands
Row 4: Cotton-top Tamarin feet, Baboon feet
Row 5: Eagle Talons, Elephant foot
Row 6: Saki MOnkey fot, Turtle Foot, Snow Monkey Hand and Foo
Movie Review: The Road November 26, 2009
Posted by judylobo in Movie Reviews, Movie Trailer.Tags: Cormac McCarthy, Movie Review: The Road, post-apocolyptical world
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 Movie Review: The Road
Alternate Title: No Country for Anyone Story: The Road’s less traveled because there aren’t any people left to travel. Due to an unspecified worldwide cataclysm, we meet a man and his son as they travel south in a post-apocolyptical world. This powerful adaptation of the novel by Cormac McCarthy was directed by John Hillcoat and written by Joe Penhall. The world is devoid of sun, has lost it’s wildlife, it’s forests are denuded and life seems to have been drained. The planet is dying. It is a frightening place where everyone you do meet is most likely a predator, murderer, rapist or cannibal. In this horrific backdrop we find a man devoted to his young son and is trying desperately to keep the flame of hope alive by teaching his son the techniques to survive. Every day is a struggle to find food and shelter. There are unseen dangers everywhere. This strong film deals with enormous subjects such as loss, isolation, fear, death and the very fine line between good and evil. Earth’s color has been desaturated. The only time we see color is in a few flashbacks before the catastrophe. Not your typical holiday fare you say? I am not sure who the audience will be for this film, but if you have the stomach to sit for two hours you will see images that will stick with you for days, terrific acting, fantastic cinematography by Javier Aguirresarobe and pitch perfect production values by Chris Kennedy.
Acting: Viggo Mortensen as the Man should be expecting some nominations for Best Actor in his future. His performance has economy and smolders. Kodi Smit-McPhee as the Boy is terrific and believeable. In cameo roles we meet Robert Duvall as the Old Man, Guy Pearce as the Veteran, Molly Parker as the Motherly Woman, Michael Kenneth Williams as the Thief, Garret Dillahunt as a very scary Gang Member and Charlize Theron as the Boy’ Mother. Trivia: Director John Hillcoat directed music videos for Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, Einstürzende Neubauten, Siouxsie & the Banshees, Manic Street Preachers, Bush, Placebo, Suede, Atari Teenage Riot, Depeche Mode, HIM, Alec Empire, Muse, AFI and more. At a young age, his paintings were featured in the Art Gallery of Hamilton (Ontario, Canada). Cormac McCarthy’s novel “All the Pretty Horses” won a National Book Award in 1992 and his ovel “The Road” won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2007. Viggo Mortenson speaks fluent English, Spanish, Danish, and French, but he also speaks Swedish and Norwegian reasonably well. Born in NYC he lived in South America from age 2 to age 11. He has been photographing for years, recently debuted with an exhibition at the Robert Mann Gallery in NYC. — American Photo, July/August 2000. He writes poetry in his spare time. and is also a jazz musician – he has released three CDs so far. Predilection: None Critters: A horse, beetle and a dog. Food: Food is scarce. Spam, beans, slop, gruel, crackers and canned fruit cocktail. Sex Spectrum: No sex. There are a few scenes showing Viggo Mortenson in the nude (from the rear). Blatant Product Placement: It is somewhat funny to see which product survived the nightmare. Guess what? You can still drink Coca Cola if you can find it, drink a bottle of Vitamin Water, eat Cheetos, Spam and canned Dole Fruit Cocktail. Soundtrack: At times a bit too sentimental but mostly appropriate by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis; Opening Titles: An opening scene before the cataclysm and then the film’s titles. All other credits are at the end. Visual Art: Shot in Louisiana, Pennsylvania and Mt St, Helens the visuals are a major player in this film. Theater Audience: Pretty crowded for the first show on opening day. Mostly filled with 20 or 30-somethings, a few Goths and me. Weather: If accu-weather still existed the forecast would be the same each day – rain, clouds, lightning, fire and earthquakes. Sappy Factor: 0 Quirky Meter: 0 Squirm Scale: 3 – Some of the images are quite disturbing. Drift Factor: I did not drift at all. Predictability Level: High Tissue Usage: I welled up a bit towards the end. Oscar Worthy: Yes Big Screen or Rental: Absolutely, the big screen Length: Two hours. LOBO HOWLS: 9
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Movie Review: Broken Embraces November 25, 2009
Posted by judylobo in Movie Review Archives, Movie Reviews, art.Tags: Movie Review: Broken Embraces, Pedro Almovodar, Penelope Cruz
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 Movie Review: Broken Embraces
Alternate Title: Love is Blind Story: A mediocre film by writer and director Pedro Almodóvar is better than most other films you might see in your local multiplex. Almodovar once again challenges his audiences with a contemporary painter’s flare, plot twists in the story, characters with more than one identity and distortions in the time line. Ready for the challenge? We meet blind screen writer Harry Caine as he tumbles on the couch with a beautiful woman who has helped him cross the street. Harry is no ordinary man. He used to go by the name of Mateo Blanco, as a film director, before he lost his sight in an accident 14 years ago. This is the type of movie where revealing too much of the plot would spoil the movie experience – so suffice it to say that almost every character is not quite who you think they are and everyone is tangentially connected to everyone else. With instant transitions, we find ourselves moving through the story line from present day, back to 1994 and forward to 2002 and on and on. The sets are awash in marvelous color and your eyes dance through the film. The camera adores its actors and we are the recipients of these rewards. Almodovar is a film maker that is not afraid to make a movie that in complicated and multi-layered and often just plain fun. I would not miss one of his movies and neither should you.
Acting: This is the fourth film Almodovar has made with Penélope Cruz (Lena). Penelope Cruz is stunning. She gets better with each film she makes and the camera adores her – as does the audience. Lluís Homar as Mateo/Harry Caine, plays his part with a straight face and pulls it it off. Blanca Portillo as the long suffering Judit, is wonderful as is the comically evil José Luis Gómez as Ernesto Martel. Rubén Ochandiano as the loony Ray X is terrific as is the innocent, young and Tamar Novas as Diego. Trivia: Pedro Almodovar is most internationally acclaimed Spanish filmmaker since Luis Buñuel was born in a small town (Calzada de Calatrava) in the impoverished Spanish region of La Mancha. He arrived in Madrid in 1968, and survived by selling used items in the flea-market called El Rastro. Almodóvar couldn’t study filmmaking because he didn’t have the money to afford it. Also- the filmmaking schools were closed in early 70s by Franco’s government. Instead, he found a job in the Spanish phone company and saved his salary to buy a Super 8 camera. From 1972 to 1978, he devoted himself to make short films with the help of of his friends. Predilection: I love Pedro Almodovar films. Critters: A dog on the beach. Food: Tomatoes, garlic, gazpacho, muffins and lots of drinks. Sex Spectrum: Casual and non-casual sex with tumbling, fumbling and plenty of boobs. Blatant Product Placement: Canon Soundtrack: Delightfully soap opera-ish. Opening Titles: Other than the title – all credits are at the end. Visual Art: Almodovar is an artist through and through. Theater Audience: About 50 other Almodovar fans. Weather: Spain is lovely throughout. Sappy Factor: 0 Quirky Meter: 0 Squirm Scale: 0 Drift Factor: I paid attention throughout. It is subtitled so drifting is not a good idea. Predictability Level: Moderate Tissue Usage: 0 Oscar Worthy: Probably not. Big Screen or Rental: Big screen for sure. Length: A bit over two hours. LOBO HOWLS: 8
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Movie Review: Four Seasons Lodge November 24, 2009
Posted by judylobo in Jewish Stuff, Movie Reviews, Movie Trailer, Politics.Tags: Catskills, Holocaust, Movie Review: Four Seasons Lodge, survivors
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| Movie Review: Four Seasons Lodge
Alternate Title: Lust for Life Story: A spirited, upbeat film about Holocaust survivors is not your usual fare. However, director and writer Andrew Jacobs has sensitively delivered us such a film. Ably supported by director of photography Albert Maysles we meet a group of survivors who share a lust for life that is contagious. The survivors are all from Poland, Austria and Hungary. When they somehow found themselves in the United States after WWII, they also somehow slowly found one another. Their common thread was the unspeakable horror they all shared. To enjoy life to the fullest, though dark memories haunt them all, they gather each summer at one of the last bungalow colonies in New York’s Catskill Mountains. They collectively bought shares in the place and in their 26th year (which could be their last) as owners we catch up with them. Well into their late 70’s and 80’s these once hearty people are now the invisible Grandparents we do not notice in the streets. To one another, they are still vibrant and share their joy. They dance, they eat, they laugh, they play cards and they get entertained by some of the last of the Borscht Belt entertainers in the evening. We get to meet only a handful of the survivors and get to hear bits and pieces of their stories. Some refuse to discuss the past. I got hooked by this group of people and left the theater with a little bounce in my step as I tried to emulate their zest for life.
Acting: This is a documentary so this category does not apply. Here are some of the major players in this film and you can read more about some of these happy campers here. Hymie Abramowitz, Tosha Abramowitz, Aron Adelman, Basie Adelman, Olga Bowman, Eugenia Boyman, Tobias Buchman, Carl Potok, Cesia Popk, Lola Wenglin. Trivia: From the film’s web site: Andrew Jacobs has been a staff writer at the New York Times for the past 8 years, where he has covered a wide variety of beats, from the American South and the aftermath of Sept. 11, to New Jersey politics and the New York City Police Department. The idea for “Four Seasons” grew out of a six-part series Jacobs did for the Times about summer life in the Catskills. A graduate of New York University, Mr. Jacobs spent a year teaching and writing in China during the pro-democracy movement. He also owns an old dairy farm in Ulster County, NY, not far from the Four Seasons Lodge. Albert Maysles is a pioneer of Direct Cinema who, along with his brother David, was the first to make nonfiction feature films (Grey Gardens, Salesman, Gimme Shelter) where the drama of life unfolds without scripts, sets, interviews or narration. With his first film, Psychiatry In Russia (1955) he made the transition from psychologist to documentary filmmaker. In 1960 he co-created Primary. His 36 films include What’s Happening: The Beatles in the USA (1964), five films of the projects of Christo and Jeanne-Claude (1972 to 1995), and three documentaries for HBO. He received a Guggenheim Fellowship (1965), a Peabody, an Emmy, five Lifetime Achievement Awards, the award for best cinematography at Sundance (2002) for Lalee’s Kin, which was also nominated in 2001 for an Academy Award and most recently, the Columbia Dupont Award (2004). In 1999 Eastman Kodak saluted him as one of the 100 world’s finest cinematographers. Predilection: I like documentaries and I am drawn to films about Survivors. Critters: A gopher. Food: It is a bungalow Colony filled with Jews? Is there food? Vu den? White fish, lox, onions, bagels, tomatoes, lettuce and on and on. Yummy. Sex Spectrum: Sex is joked about quite a bit. Soundtrack: A delightful mix of ethnic, Broadway and other tunes including ‘I Will Survive.’ Opening Titles: A landscape shot of the changing seasons and the opening of the Colony for the summer months. Visual Art: Albert Maysles is a master photographer and his handiwork is visible throughout the film. I especially liked his subtle passing of the seasons at the opening and closing of the film. Theater Audience: Less than a minyan. Weather: Mostly filmed in the summer but we do catch shots of the symbolic passing seasons. Sappy Factor: 0 Quirky Meter: 0 Squirm Scale: Seeing those horrifying arm tattoos from the concentration camps is very hard to accept. Drift Factor: I thought the beginning was a bit slow. Predictability Level: High Tissue Usage: I welled up a few times. Oscar Worthy: No Big Screen or Rental: If you can find it I always recommend the big screen but rental would be fine too. Length: Under two hours. LOBO HOWLS: 7.5
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Here’s to Your Health! November 22, 2009
Posted by judylobo in Animal Videos, Photography, Politics, Videos, Zoos, wildlife.Tags: Frank Rich, health care, Sarah Palin, Stupak
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I believe all of the Sturm und Drang over this seemingly never ending health care debate has damaged my own health. When the storm first broke about health care reform, I actually understood the breadth of ideas. With the wrangling, horse trading, giving up long held tenets of the Democratic party (see Stupak amendment) to get to this stage of the debate – I not only am sick over the debate – but sick and tired of the politics and utter bullshit.
Between the media insanity over Sarah Palin’s book tour (which is reminiscent of the coverage of Michael Jackson’s death) to the media coverage of health care – I am afraid I have developed a pre-existing condition called chronic nausea. Every opinion column is now devoted to the Palin death march book tour and her importance or lack thereof. Even Frank Rich chimes in today.
It seems to me that Sarah Palin’s motto should be ‘Take the Money and (Not) Run.’ She is enjoying every second of the theater and the money she is raking in. By the way – do her children ever go to school?
The vote to actually debate this morphed health care bill was settled down party lines last night (60-39 with Ohio’s George V. Voinovich (R-Ohio) missing the vote). Can anyone tell me why we are even having a discussion with the Repugnants when it is clear that they are in lock-step as the party of ‘NO’ as an agenda?
Sadly, we have many more weeks of all-Sarah/all-healthcare before we can turn to the most important things for the re-election Democrats in 2010 – the economy and jobs. If the Dems can figure out how to make those employment figures look better, the free-floating rage across the land (or at least the land that the media is covering) will abate. It was true then and it is true now – ‘it’s the economy, stupid’.
One more thing – how about getting out of Afghanistan, Mr. President?
When times get tough – there is nothing like a fun video to ease the pain. My pal, Mary has made a video about an adorable little orangutan.
I wonder if the Pearly Gates are tinted Orange today November 20, 2009
Posted by judylobo in Politics, art.Tags: Christo, Jean-Claude, The Gates
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Goodbye to Jeanne-Claude, artist, muse and partner of the artist Christo. I was lucky enough to work at The Gates Project when they created their fabulous site-specific work of art in 2005. The artists installed 7,503 vinyl “gates” along 23 miles of pathways in Central Park. From each gate hung a panel of deep saffron-colored nylon fabric. The exhibit ran from February 12, 2005 through February 27, 2005. Even though the exhibit officially ran for two weeks the installation and deinstallation of the project stretched out this work for almost two months. I believe this community work of art, was the beginning of the recovery of our wounded City from the devastation of 9/11.
As a Gate Watcher, I held a long pole with a tennis ball on the end of it so that I could unfurl the saffron curtains if the wind wrapped them around their stanchions. I had the good fortune of speaking to thousands upon thousands of visitors from all around the world about the project, about New York City, about life, art and politics for two weeks. It was an experience I will never forget. Most of you on this list came to visit me at my post to share the experience.
The knitted orange Gates scarf you see in my photo was created by a friend – Jennifer – who was inspired by the work of Jean-Claude and Christo.
Every morning that we worked we would meet Jeanne-Claude and Christo at the Boat House for breakfast where they would talk to us, both individually and as a group. They also were generous enough to take the time to sign our souvenir posters, books or whatever – every Friday afternoon – with their signature orange crayons. I have my signed posters proudly hanging in my living room. Rest in peace, dear Jeanne -Claude.
Movie Review: William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe November 18, 2009
Posted by judylobo in Movie Reviews, Movie Trailer, Politics.Tags: Movie Review: William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe
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| Movie Review: William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe
Alternate Title: David v. Goliath Story: Hero, menace and revolutionary are just three of the terms that directors and writers Emily Kunstler and Sarah Kunstler, say of their father, the infamous lawyer, William Kunstler. Watching this un rose-colored documentary about their father allowed most of my own youth to flash through my mind. Name the big issues of the day and William Kunstler was front and center, fighting the good fight, battling the Government, standing for truth, justice and the right of everyone to have their day in court. He became radicalized in the 60’s while fighting for Civil Rights in the South as a lawyer for the ACLU. He became a national celebrity during the antics of the Chicago 8 trial after the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. He defended the Catonsville Nine, Roman Catholic activists and Vietnam protesters. He then made more history with his defense of American Indians vs the US Government at the trial of Wounded Knee, SD. He was also there for the disgrace that occurred at Attica Prison. He was lionized for his work by liberals and libertarians across the board. It all changed when he began defending, what many believed were the indefensible such as Larry Davis, a Bronx drug dealer who was accused of shooting six NY policemen. He also defended Egyptian born terrorist El Sayyid Nosair, accused of killing Rabbi Meir Kahane and more. I have always supported the ACLU and the right that everyone deserves as good a defense as possible even when the crimes are heinous. Our Constitution is not a sometimes thing and Willam Kunstler personified that belief.
Acting: This is not a category in a documentary. The many talking heads include: William Kunstler, Herman Badillo, Dennis Banks, Harry Belafonte, Clyde Bellecourt, Father Daniel Berrigan, Phil Donahue, Jimmy Breslin, Alan Dershowitz and Elizabeth Fink. Trivia: The Kunstler Sisters won the Charles E. Guggenheim Emerging Artist Award – Honorable Mention in 2009 for this film and Nominated for Grand Jury Prize at Sundance. The sisters founded Off Center Media in 2000, and have produced, directed, and edited a number of short documentaries, including Tulia, Texas: Scenes from the Drug War (2002), which won Best Documentary Short at the Woodstock Film Festival, and was instrumental in winning exoneration for 46 wrongfully convicted people; and Getting Through to the President (2004), which has aired on the Sundance Channel. Predilection: I like documentaries and a big fan of William Kunstler. Critters: In May of 1989 Kunstler represented Tyrone the Cat for ‘crimes against humanity’ in a televised mock trial on Fox TV’s The Reporters. Opening Titles: I missed the first five minutes of this film because they sent me to the wrong theater. Grr. Theater Audience: About 20 other card carrying members of the ACLU. Quirky Meter: 0 Squirm Scale: Reliving some of the bad times was squirmy. Drift Factor: I was riveted. Tissue Usage: 0 Oscar Worthy: Probably not Big Screen or Rental: I always recommend the big screen whenever possible but this would be fine as a rental. Length: 90 minutes LOBO HOWLS: 8
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Movie Review: The Messenger November 17, 2009
Posted by judylobo in Movie Reviews, Movie Trailer.Tags: Movie Review: The Messenger
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| Movie Review: The Messenger
Alternate Title: Casualties of War Story: Don’t Shoot the Messenger would be the obvious Alternate Title choice, but I thought that the subject matter in this hard hitting film cried out for a more sober Alternate Title. Polar opposites in nature, Army Officers Will and Tony have the difficult task of knocking on doors, as part of the Casualty Notification Office, to inform next of kin that their wife, husband or child has been killed in action. The raw emotions come screaming off of the big screen as director Oren Moverman gets directly in your face while these officers deliver the bad news. The film was written by Mr. Moverman and Alessandro Camon. These are two men to watch. How both Will and Tony cope with the emotional armor they carry to protect themselves as the news is delivered could have been sloppy and sappy but this film never goes to either of those addresses. The topic is not one that most people think about and it is not easy viewing. My major criticism is that the film would have been better at 90 minutes rather than close to two hours. There were some unnecessary scenes that did nothing to further the story or the characters. That said – this is a film that should be seen. You will be moved.
Acting: Ben Foster as Staff Sgt. Will Montgomery, is someone to watch. His previous film 3:10 to Yuma also displayed his talent. Woody Harrelson as Capt. Tony Stone, delivers another in a series of fine performances. Samantha Morton as the recent widow Olivia Pitterson, does not lose character for a second. She is a rare talent. Jena Malone as Kelly has grown up but is still pouting. and Steve Buscemi as one of the grieving is just fine. Trivia: Ben Foster has been practicing Transcendental Meditation since four years old. At 12, he Won second place in an international competition for a play that he wrote and directed. He dropped out of high school his freshman year to move to Los Angeles. Woody Harrelson is a vegan. He is an activist for the legalization of marijuana. His father, Charles Harrelson, was sentenced to two life sentences for the murder of Federal Judge John Howland Wood on the orders of drug dealer Jimmy Chagra, who reportedly paid him $250,000. Harrelson has claimed to be one of the “hobos” taken away from “the grassy knoll” right after the shooting of John F. Kennedy. Predilection: None Critters: A distant kitty cat in the street Food: Pizza and lots of beer Sex Spectrum: Sex is part of the opening scene and is a bit player throughout. Blatant Product Placement: Pepsi Soundtrack: Eclectic Visual Art: Many of the scenes are reminiscent of Edward Hopper paintings. Fabulous. Theater Audience: About 30 other saddened viewers. My movie buddy was not as pleased with this film as I was. He said he thought it was cookie cutter and shallow. I told him I thought he was shallow. We both laughed. Weather: It is a hot Jersey summer. Sappy Factor: 0 Quirky Meter: 0 Squirm Scale: Delivering this news is very squirmy. Drift Factor: It needed editing. Predictability Level: High Tissue Usage: I welled up a few times. Oscar Worthy: I don’t know. There cold be a nomination in the mix. Big Screen or Rental: I always vote for the big screen when possible. Length: A bit under two hours. LOBO HOWLS: 8
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Crime and Punishment November 17, 2009
Posted by judylobo in Animal Stories, Photography, Politics, Zoos, wildlife.Tags: Central Park Zoo, Dostoyevsky, House of the Dead, Jon Stewart, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, Lou Dobbs, Metropolitan Opera, Rudy Giuliani, Snow monkeys, Stephen Colbert
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I went to see House of the Dead at the Metropolitan Opera last night. Yes, the opera. I like to fill my life with a bit of highbrow culture to balance out the lowbrow stuff that fills my life. To clarify, an opera loving friend (yes, one of those Ring Nuts you hear about) chooses the operas for me each year. She knows I only like operas that are dark, depressing where lots of people suffer and/or die. No fluffy stuff for me. The House of the Dead is based on the writings of Dostoyevsky, a guy who knew a lot about crime and punishment.
There is much ado about bringing the masterminds of the 9/11 attacks to the Big Apple to stand trial. For a change, I scratch my heard at the fuss. Has our Constitution been so shredded that people do not think that the legal system can stand on its own and mete out justice according to our laws?
As soon as motor mouth Rudy Giuliani starts banging the drum I know it is time to see what’s going on. Rudy still lives with a 2001 calendar. He is one annoying dude who refuses to move along. He has made a fortune off his moments of 9/11 fame and sounds the drum of ‘Danger, Will Robinson, Danger’ whenever someone will listen.
I am going to watch this trial (which might take two years to get to court) closely. I only hope that it is not my turn to serve on the Jury. Or then again, maybe that would be a good thing.
He will not wake up and see that the country is trying to move along. His disastrous run for Repugnant nominee in the last round should be proof enough. But, alas, he just cannot help himself. He forgets that in 2009 we have video of his double speak.
Watch Jon Stewart skewers Rudy here. “We’ve all heard that 9/11 mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed will be tried in New York. Would you believe that Rudy Giuliani expressed conflicting opinions about trying terrorists on American soil before and after he learned he would never be president”?
Speaking of loudmouths – Stephen Colbert says ‘adios’ to Lou Dobbs: http://rawstory.com/rawreplay/?p=4294
If you missed my Sunday photo montage, check out the Central Park Zoo snow monkeys. They were given a mirror as part of the Zoo’s ongoing enrichment program. I happened to be at the habitat when they discovered this new addition to their home and watched their reactions.
Movie Review: Pirate Radio November 16, 2009
Posted by judylobo in Movie Reviews, Movie Trailer.Tags: Movie Review: Pirate Radio
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 Movie Review: Pirate Radio
Alternate Title: The Day the Music (Almost) Died Story: It is 1966 (one of my favorite years) and the British Government is not happy about the raucous sounds and ideas of Rock ‘n Roll. They limit the music to one hour a day on their Government owned radio stations. So what happened? Pirate radio stations began to broadcast in International waters off the coast of Britain allowing 24 million listeners to rock on throughout the day and night. Based on a true story, this light hearted, rambling film was written and directed by Richard Curtis (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Love, Actually, Bridget Jones’ Diary). If you just sit back and listen to the music and not be too critical about the lack of a story or script you will have a pleasant cinematic experience. The movie is a love story dedicated to the Rock ‘n Roll pioneers who fought the British Government and in the process won the hearts and minds of the people. It is not a hard hitting, character driven tale. It actually has too many characters and too little story. That said – if you want to watch a series of vignettes with no surprises, listen to some fabulous music, watch some Oscar winning actors have fun – then this film is for you.
Acting: If you are looking for any female participation in this movie you will be out of luck. It is 1966 – and girls are simply (and simple) pretty little sex objects. Philip Seymour Hoffman as the Count looked like he was enjoying this walk in the park. Bill Nighy as Quentin is always enjoyable to watch. Rhys Ifans as Gavin manages to always make me laugh. The ensemble cast were all fine including: Nick Frost (Dave), Kenneth Branagh (Sir Alistair Dormandy), Tom Sturridge (Carl), Rhys Darby (Angus), Talulah Riley (Marianne), January Jones (Elenore), Katherine Parkinson (Felicity) and Emma Thompson (Charlotte). Trivia: When director Richard Cutis was in college, his girlfriend left him for a man named Bernard. In each of his screenplays, there is a fairly unpopular character named Bernard. He invented Comic Relief. Bill Nighy, has Dupuytren’s Contracture, a hereditary condition which causes the ring and little fingers of each hand to be permanently bent inwards towards the palm. Tom Lodge, who now makes his home in Santa Cruz County, was the first program director of the first rock radio station in England that spawned the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and countless other musical demigods. It’s a story being told — albeit in highly stylized fictional form — in the new film “Pirate Radio.” Lodge said he sent his book and a screenplay based on it to writer/director Curtis but was told that the filmmaker was not interested in working with him. He hopes that the forthcoming publication of the book might one day spark another film to tell the “real” story of Radio Caroline. The main thing that “Pirate Radio” does get wrong is the age of the principal players, Lodge said. “The movie has the owner of the station played by actor Billy Nighy, who is 60. Ronan was 24 years old. We were all just kids. We all had 32-inch waists or less. I don’t think there was a waist in the film under 40.” Predilection: None – except for the fact that I have been watching this preview in the movies for over a year and was curious why it took so long to open in the States. Critters: None Food: The cook was a female. She was allowed on board because she was a lesbian. I am not sure what she cooked. Sex Spectrum: Sex, or the discussion of sex was a large part of the film. Soundtrack: Marvelous Opening Titles: A short sequence showing the stiff upper lips Government guys who want to shut down these pirate radio ships. Visual Art: The inside of a ship is not very visually exciting. Theater Audience: About 20 other AARP rock ‘n rollers like me. Weather: The weather was just fine considering they were in the North Sea. Sappy Factor: 0 Quirky Meter: 0 Squirm Scale: 0 Drift Factor: I drifted, like the ship, a bit in the middle. Predictability Level: High, like the tide. Tissue Usage: 0 Oscar Worthy: No Big Screen or Rental: Rental would be fine. Length: Under two hours. Apparently the British version is way over two hours but the film was edited for US audiences. LOBO HOWLS: 7
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