Film Review: Total Recall (2012)

When I heard that they were remaking the 1990 film Total Recall, I was pretty suspicious. I didn't think the film would be more loyal to Philip K Dick's original short story, and I thought it would be another pointless reboot. 

Ten weeks later, as I watched the beginning of Len Wiseman's Total Recall (2012), I was ever more doubtful as we learn that this film is not set on Mars but a dystopian Earth.

I was prepared to hate it but loved it instead.

The difference between Total Recall and this one is that while I loved the former for its quirkiness and so-bad-it's-good cult appeal, I actually think Total Recall (2012) is a pretty great film with fantastic world-building, brilliant special effects and breath taking fight scenes.  Oh, and it stars a pretty fine-looking Colin Farrell too.

Total Recall (2012) is loosely based on Philip K Dick's short story "We Can Remember It For You Wholesale", more loosely so than the 1990 version. 

In this version, chemical warfare at the end of the 21st century reduced the Earth to two habitable areas: the United Federation of Britain (formerly UK and Europe) and the Colony (formerly Australia). In typical imperialist style, the UFB colonised what remained of Australia and reduced the population to working drones.  Workers are transported through the core of the Earth to UFB each day so that they can work on production lines assembling the robotic, synthetic police force that maintains order in UFB (which I’m going to call Synths because I think that’s what they were called).

 

Colin Farrell is Douglas Quaid, a Synth assembly worker who dreams of fantastic, adrenalin-filled fight scenes each night and eventually goes to Rekall to have memories of being a spy implanted in his brain.  There’s only one problem – he already is one.

What I Loved About Total Recall (2012)

Writers and filmmakers seem obsessed with dystopian worlds these days but I still quite liked the idea of the Colony and the UFB getting back to her imperialist roots.  I loved the concept of The Fall, the gravity elevator linking UFB and the Colony.  Sure, the science behind it was completely dodgy considering what would actually happen if you travelled through the centre of the Earth from Britain to Australia in 17 minutes, but I’m not deducting any points for that.

I loved the conceptualisation of the Colony.  Originally intended to be called New Asia, the Colony was a clash of Steampunk, Russian and Asian influences with bright lights, perpetual darkness and fabulous fashions.  The Colony was overpopulated, crazy and futuristic with creepy, box-like, disjointed apartments and general chaos. If the vertical and horizontal slum-style development ever came into style, with towering hulks of buildings constructed upon buildings, the Colony would be it.

In contrast, the United Federation of Britain which was daylight where the Colony was dark, again with towers upon towers but this time full of modern, London-chic style buildings.

I have always loved the idea that highways will expand vertically in the future with grids of traffic flows both horizontal and vertical and this was no exception.  I loved the magnetic powered vehicles weaving around all that remains of the Houses of Parliament, the clock tower.

I really liked the Synths.  Part Stormtrooper, part marionette with incredible agility, I just loved the way they looked, acted and moved.  I guess they had human actors inside and I liked that.

Colin Farrell was surprisingly good. That's not really fair to say. I was a massive Colin Farrell fan about ten years ago until he turned out to be a drunken lout and was photographed walking unwashed, unshaved and barefoot around a Cape Town store with tracksuit pants and a horrendous beany covering his oily, unwashed hair. But now he's back and he's lovely and I remember now why I liked him so much - he is a damn fine actor.

I really liked Kate Beckinsale and her smoky psychotic eyes, so much so that I want to watch her Underworld films now. Of course, it got to a point where I just wanted her to die but think that was kind of the point.

What I Thought Was Okay

I kept waiting for a twist but it never really came. There are no massive reveals here as I guessed precisely who Doug Quaid was and what had happened to him. That didn't detract at all from my enjoyment of the film and I enjoyed piecing it together as much as I enjoyed the fast pace and non-stop action.

Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) played Cohaagen, the main protagonist of the film.  I thought he was okay but I wasn’t too impressed by his plot.  But hey, when did we ever let a weak plot ever get in the way of a good film?

Melina (Jessica Biel) was certainly pretty but her role in the film was pretty much limited by Quaid’s inability to remember her.  Maybe I’m just not ever going to get Jessica Biel.  For some crazy reason, I always mix her up with Elizabeth Shue and Elizabeth Berkley.  And Jennifer Grey. 

Then again, maybe it was the fact that they only named her Melina, with no surname or concrete backstory.

What Melina lacked in character though, she more than made up with in agility, weapon-control and fighting skills.  And patience.  If my boyfriend woke up one day and couldn’t remember me anymore, I’d freaking give him a black eye.

What Missed the Mark

Half a point off for the depiction of the London Underground. It was definitely filmed elsewhere and everything from the platforms to the tiles to the trains was more likely to be American (perhaps filmed in the Mexican Metro system, like the original?)  It was a real pity but for a Tube-phile like me, it was slightly distracting.  I would have liked to have seen more rounded tunnels, rondels and red-and-grey carriages.

So, while the rest of the critics slated this film and it scored a rotten 29% on RottenTomatoes.com, I loved it and give it a healthy 4.5 stars out of 5.  And please, Mr Farrell, more films please.

All images ©2011 Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc

 

 

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Book Review: Before I Wake by Rachel Vincent

Kaylee Cavanaugh has had one hell of a year, if you’ll excuse the pun.  It has been less than a year since she discovered she was a bean sidhe (banshee), cursed by the compulsion to scream blue murder whenever confronted with death.  In just one year she has battled the hellions of greed, envy and vanity while coping with her ex-boyfriend’s addiction to Demon’s Breath and the occasional nerve-wracking journey to the Netherworld. 

She has encountered reapers, deranged incubi and a walking nightmare, retrieved stolen souls from the hellions that collect them, and resurrected her best friend from the dead.  If life was a never-ending rollercoaster for Kaylee, it surely isn’t going to slow down in death.

Kaylee is the star of Rachel Vincent’s Soul Screamers series, a young adult series that stands out above all of the other paranormal series.  Well written and dramatic, Vincent has created a strong, powerful and noble protagonist and consistently kept readers hooked on her books. Before I Wake is the sixth Soul Screamers book in the series and is the penultimate book in the series.

Before I Wake begins less than a month after the devastating events in If I Die.  There is no easy way to say this but readers who have not read the previous book might want to stop reading now because the sheer fact that there was another book is a spoiler in itself.

Kaylee has barely had time to deal with her own death when she must return to school and maintain an appearance of life and normality.  Well, as normal as it gets in the Cavanaugh household.  She discovers that it is not exactly easy to pretend she is alive when her humanity is draining from her and she has to fight to remain visible.  The only thing that keeps Kaylee grounded is her relationship with her equally dead reaper boyfriend, Tod.

Kaylee has agreed to work reclaiming stolen souls in exchange for her reprieve from true death.  But as the Reclamations Department begins to lose its agents, Kaylee comes face to face with an old enemy and realises that more is at stake than ever before.

Before I Wake is absolutely thrilling and impossible to put down.  It is impressive that Vincent is able to maintain such momentum this far into the series but what I admired the most was the focus that she placed on character development and relationships.

The relationships, not only between Kaylee and her boyfriend Tod but also with Sabine (the nightmare) were very well portrayed and captured the tentative truce and rebuilding of trust stemming from any massive teen fall out.  Following her Netherworld escapades in novella Never to Sleep, Kaylee’s cousin Sophie is far more developed than before and I appreciated that she was no longer a two dimensional nemesis.

The greatest development was in Kaylee, with her struggle to maintain her humanity.  In the process, she becomes a better friend, leader and heroine which is just as well because the fight is far from over.

Vincent captured the contrasts between the adult bean sidhes in the novel and Kaylee and her friends.  This highlighted the flaws in the teen's thinking as the adults were often the voice of reason, but what they lack in maturity, they more than make up for in bravery.

What is not as easy to understand is why Avari pursues Kaylee relentlessly. After five books and three novellas, I was expecting some depth to his motives and plots.  Ultimately I realise that he needs no reasons, there are no deep-seated motivations behind his plans.  He is simply the hellion of greed and, just like the other hellions, that is all he needs to keep coming back time and time again.

I thoroughly enjoyed Before I Wake and would recommend the entire series to all fans of paranormal fiction and fantasy.  I would like to see a slightly more inventive plot in the final novel as I have no doubt that the hellions will be back to finish their work. 

I would give Before I Wake 4.5 stars out of 5. 

Before I Wake will be released on June 26, 2012 and is available from Amazon.com. Readers in the UK will be able to purchase the Kindle version of the book from June 26, 2012 but the paperback will be released on Amazon.co.uk on July 6, 2012.

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Book Review: The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa

Meghan Chase should be turning seventeen in twenty-four hours time but things are a little complicated. One year ago, on her birthday, her brother Ethan disappeared and an evil, violent changeling was left in his place.  Meghan learned that he had been snatched by faeries and she ventured into Nevernever, the land of the Fey, in order to save him.

What she discovered was the stuff of nightmares, a dark and sinister place full of malevolent and calculating Fey.  She also discovered that she was the daughter of Oberon, king of the Summer Court.

In the space of twelve months, Meghan has fought and defeated the Iron King Machina; rescued her brother; become indebted to the Winter prince Ash and then fallen in love with him; discovered and then forgotten her long-last human father; reclaimed the stolen Spectre of Seasons, thus preventing war between the Summer and Winter Courts; and angered the Summer King sufficiently for him to ban her from Nevernever.

Of course, it doesn't take much to anger Fey royalty, and Ash too has been banned from Nevernever by his queen and mother, Mab of the Winter Court.

So technically, Meghan won't be turning seventeen because time moves differently in the Nevernever and Fey don't age. The Iron Queen begins with the promise of peace and normality for Meghan and Ash as, banished from Nevernever, they have no option but to return to Meghan's home and pursue life in the normal realm.

I have to admit, I was quite looking forward to seeing how faery prince Ash adjusted to high school and teenagers but it was not to be because no sooner had they arrived at Meghan's home, were they attacked by spider hags sent by the false king of the Iron Realm.  Realising that she will never see peace until the Iron King is defeated, Meghan decides to fight him once and for all. 

The Iron Queen sees Meghan return to Nevernever to engage in the ultimate battle for Faery.  The creeping iron and resulting death of Faery, the impending battle, and the sense of doom were beautifully captured as was the fear, bravery and grim determination of the faery soldiers.  As Meghan, Ash and Puck enter the Iron Realm, we meet The Clockmaker and the introduction of time into the timeless realm.  One of the most interesting aspects of the Iron Fey series has always been the steam punk appeal and The Iron Queen certainly didn’t disappoint. 

The Iron Queen consumed me and the total battle at the end of the book was on par with the battles of Hogwarts and Narnia.  I simply could not put the book down and am happy to say that I was completely taken surprise by the ending.  Thank goodness next and final book in the series, The Iron Knight, is already available as I would not want to wait to continue the story!

I would recommend The Iron Queen and the whole Iron Fey series to all fans of young adult fantasy fiction, especially fans of Richelle Mead’s Vampire Academy or Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series.  The Iron Queen is published in the UK by Mira Ink. 

I give The Iron Queen four-and-a-half stars out of five.

The Iron Queen is the third book in Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series. 

Buy The Iron King (book 1) from Amazon.co.uk ¦ Amazon.com

Buy The Iron Daughter (book 2) from Amazon.co.uk ¦ Amazon.com

Buy The Iron Queen (book 3) from Amazon.co.uk ¦ Amazon.com

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Article first published as Book Review: The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa on Blogcritics.

A copy of this book was provided to me for the purposes of this review and all opinions contain herein are my own. This review contains affiliate links.

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Book review: The Island of Thieves by Josh Lacey

The Island of Thieves is a stunning treasure story complete with a mysterious manuscript and hidden chests of gold and silver. While firmly rooted in the perils and dangers of modern day life in Peru, the real magic of the story lies in the tales of plundering pirates, majestic galleons and legendary sea voyages contained in the manuscript.

When Tom Trelawney plays with matches and burns down the garden shed, his best friend's mum says that he can no longer go and stay with them for the summer holidays. This poses a bit of a problem for Tom's parents as they are about to embark on their first overseas holiday in several years. With no other options available, Sarah and Simon Trelawney reluctantly drop Tom off with his Uncle Harvey in London.

Harvey is not exactly known for his mature or responsible demeanour and he soon lives up to that reputation when he announces his intention to abandon Tom in his London flat while he flies out to Peru in search of a lost manuscript. Desperate for some mystery and excitement in his life, Tom manages to convince Harvey to let him join him on his trip to Peru and the pair embark on a dangerous and perilous adventure.

As soon as Harvey and Tom arrive in Peru, they find themselves in trouble with the powerful and ruthless local crime boss, Otto Gonzalez, who Harvey had the bad judgement to defraud on his previous trip to Peru.   What ensues is a desperate and dangerous game of cat and mouse as the Trelawneys race to find the manuscript, locate the hidden treasure and escape Gonzalez’s murderous pursuit.

The Island of Thieves is fast-paced, exciting and very realistic .  Perhaps the best part of the story is that Harvey's enemies were not stereotyped caricatures of hoodlums but authentic, terrifying and believable criminals with modern links to corruption, murder and extortion.

Another great aspect of the book is that it was based on the real events of Francis Drake and his voyage on the Golden Hinde. It was amazing to learn about the history of the voyage, the experiences aboard the ship and the encounters along the shores of South America and it certainly didn't feel like a history lesson!

My only complaint about the book is that we didn't seem to gain insight into Tom's mind. We certainly came to know Tom through his decisions and actions and came to respect his maturity and strong sense of both morality and ethics, but we learned little else of his personality and motivations. Nevertheless, his steadfast and brave actions contrast strongly with those of both his uncle and the gangsters and that is what makes this such a great book for the pre- and early teen market.

I had the opportunity to chat briefly to author Josh Lacey about The Island of Thieves and he is exploring the idea of writing more books about Tom Trelawney.  I would personally love to see more books in this series and would love to see the unique combination of history, adventure, exotic locations and Tom’s strength of character that made this book so enjoyable.

The Island of Thieves is highly recommended and I give it 4.5 stars out of 5.

The Island of Thieves yet another fantastic children’s novel published by Andersen Press.  It was released in the UK in July and will be released in the US on August 23, 2011.

Buy The Island of Thieves by Josh Lacey at Amazon.co.uk ¦ Amazon.com

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Article first published as Book Review: The Island of Thieves by Josh Lacey on Blogcritics.

A copy of this book was provided to me for the purposes of this review and all opinions contain herein are my own. This review contains affiliate links.

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Music Review: Susan Boyle - The Gift

Artist: Susan Boyle Album: The Gift Label: Syco/Columbia  Release date: 8 November 2010 Genre: Christmas  Rating:  4.5/5

 

Susan Boyle is the talent show sensation that took the world by storm when she appeared on Britain's Got Talent in April 2009.  She was presented as yet another desperate but clueless hopeful, one of the unfortunate that are relentlessly ridiculed by both judges and the audience and the effect was completed by the use of slapstick music as she entered the stage.  There was much laughter and eye-rolling as Susan stated that she was trying to be a professional singer, one as successful as Elaine Page.  Susan Boyle had the last laugh.

Within a couple of weeks, videos of Susan Boyle’s audition had reached over 100 million views and although she did not win Britain’s Got Talent, she went on to release her debut album I Dreamed a Dream in 2009 to record breaking sales.

Susan Boyle returns in 2010 with her Christmas album The Gift.  The album opens up with a (dare I say) perfect rendition of Lou Reed’s “Perfect Day” followed by a searching and low-key version of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah”.  The next track isthe first Christmas song on the album “Do You Hear What I Hear?”  This song features Amber Stassi, the winner of the Susan’s Search competition which was a global search to find a guest to duet with Susan on her new album.  Susan wanted to impart some of the fortune she has found since appearing on Britain's Got Talent and chose the paramedic and mother from America as her winner.  It is not hard to hear why Amber won as she has a lovely, rich voice which really complements Susan’s voice.

Many of the remaining songs on the album are traditional Christmas songs and include versions of “The First Noel”, “”Away In A Manger” and “O Come All Ye Faithful” but Susan’s version of the Crowded House classic “Don’t Dream It’s Over” is a stand out track.  With a mixture of lesser known Christmas carols, a couple of popular songs and some Christmas favourites, The Gift is not a typical Christmas album.  For me, it relieved the rush of anxiety that one feels in the run up to Christmas as we scramble around to find gifts for our family and plan the perfect Christmas dinner.  This album reminds me of long evenings spent relaxing before a fire, cocoa or brandy in hand, reflecting on the year that has passed and the joy up ahead.  It is an understated album but most certainly one that has become one of my favourite Christmas albums to date.  My only complaint is that I am unlikely to listen to it for the rest of the year and so I give it four-and-a-half stars out of five.

Article first published as Music Review: Susan Boyle - The Gift on Blogcritics.

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Music Review: The Chemical Brothers - Further

 

Artist: The Chemical Brothers  Album: Further Label: Freestyle Dust / Parlophone Release date: 14 June 2010 Genre: Big Beat  Rating:  4.5/5

 

They are the big beat masters that burst onto the dance music scene in the mid-nineties and changed the face of dance music forever.  Together with acts like The Prodigy and Fatboy Slim, The Chemical Brothers brought their manic yet superior brand of electronic music to audiences worldwide and they return in 2010 with their seventh studio album Further.  The Chemical Brothers are more popular than ever at the moment and their gigs at the London Roundhouse in Camden in May 2010 are famous for having sold out in two minutes.  With explosive and festival defining gigs at Sónar Festival in Barcelona, Spain and Exit Festival in Novi Sad, Serbia, it seems that The Chemical Brothers can do no wrong but does Further deliver?

The album kicks off with “Snow” which jars from the outset with a series of analogue dots and dashes.  I waited for it to get better and was momentarily heartened by the introduction of a menacing bassline before Stephanie Dosen’s vocals start about a minute into the song.  It is not a good start to the album and while the lyrics were quirky, “your love keeps lifting me, lifting me higher”, I found the track grating and almost painful. 

“Snow” flows into “Escape Velocity” which is the first single from the album.  As the track begins, you can’t ignore the influences of both Pink Floyd and The Who as the song breaks free of its cloying predecessor and explodes into a psychedelic soundscape.  “Escape Velocity” is twelve minutes of pure bliss and it is surely testament to the calibre of this song that it has been played so extensively by radio stations in the UK.  The Chemical Brothers wanted to explore the boundless possibilities of their sound with this album and to produce an album that simultaneously journeyed through the history of music and the infinity of space.  They have achieved these aims with “Escape Velocity” as this complex, layered track takes you to dizzying heights and by three-quarters of the way in, it is just time to sit back and get lost as the song descends into sublime chaos.

Having forgiven The Chems for the first song on the album, I took note of the closing statement as “Escape Velocity” finally came to an end:

“Well, that was some experience.  Now just let me adjust the spatial controls and we’ll move to another observation point”. 

“Another World” begins and immediately slows down the tempo.  If “Escape Velocity” took us into orbit then “Another World” is that first feeling of weightlessness.  This is beautiful and lush and is best enjoyed really loud and in stereo.  The song has ethereal traces not unlike Cocteau Twins and it is certainly one of my favourite songs on the album.  “Another World” was the third single from the album and was released as a digital download on August 16, 2010.  The next song “Dissolve” speeds up the tempo again with another progressive and psychedelic song.   The song has a massive big beat hook and great drums towards the end. 

“Dissolve” blends into “Horse Power” which is six minutes of classic Chemical Brothers brilliance.  The urgent, frenzied beat reaches fever pitch and the acid house samples remind me of some of Moby’s early tracks.  The song breaks about half way through with a fantastic synthesiser line.  “Horse Power” reminds me a lot of “Music: Response” from their 1999 album Surrender.  Next up we have the menacing opening beats of “Swoon”.  Thirty seconds in and the track introduces an incredible synthesiser loop.  The title says it all as “Swoon” is an uplifting and beautiful song that breaks into a lush and sweeping frenzy as Tom tells us “just remember to fall in love, there’s nothing else, there’s nothing else”.  “Swoon” is the second single from the album and remixes of the song appeared on the “Another World” single. 

“K + D + B” takes the tempo down a notch from the lush perfection of the previous song.  It is an upbeat song that is still pleasing despite not having a real hook or beat.  It is a good filler before the next track which is the last song on the album.  “Wonders of the Deep” is a swirling and epic track that pretty much sums up the fantastic journey that this album has been. 

The CD might end there but iTunes users purchasing the full album can get access to two further bonus tracks which fans might not want to miss out on.  “Don’t Think” is an absolutely banging track that is perhaps the hardest song that The Chemical Brothers have ever produced while “Pourquoi” is a funky, quirky song.  The songs are slightly removed from the themes and music journey of the main album release and I am unsure as to whether they should have been included as bonus tracks or rather as b-sides. 

Despite an unsteady beginning, Further proves to be the best Chemical Brothers release in years.  It is the closest they have produced to a full concept album and I think that the space journey themes and the concentration on music instead of collaborations has produced an absolute hit.  This album is best enjoyed loud and as a whole and I give it an easy 4.5 stars (less half a star for “Snow”).

Buy The Chemical Brothers Further at Amazon.co.uk ¦ Amazon.com ¦ iTunes

Article first published by me as Music Review: The Chemical Brothers - Further on Blogcritics.

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DVD Review: Invictus (2009)

Mid-nineties South Africa was both a charming and frightening place to be. There was the joy of having toppled the nationalist government of the National Party and formally moving past Apartheid once and for all but there was also fear. The African National Congress were not the only political party that had stood opposed to the National Party in the elections and there was fear that other, less moderate parties would mobilise to seek revenge for the years of oppression and inequality under Apartheid. There was also a concern that right-wing extremists might stage attacks or insurgencies and this was not unfounded either. The right-wing, neo-Nazi party Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging had staged an armed attack on the multiparty talks between the NP, ANC and other parties in December 1993 and they assured the public that they would violently oppose the new regime.

It was a time of confusion and uncertainty. People did not know what to expect and were frightened of reprisals or at least radical reparations. Yet in the aftermath of the democratic elections, the first in South Africa to feature universal franchise, the lone voice of Archbishop Desmond Tutu rose above the chaos and said that the people of South Africa must draw together as one rainbow nation. This was repeated by former President Nelson Mandela on his first month in office when he uttered the immortal words "Each of us is as intimately attached to the soil of this beautiful country as are the famous jacaranda trees of Pretoria and the mimosa trees of the bushveld - a rainbow nation at peace with itself and the world".

It seemed inconceivable, impossible even that a man imprisoned for 27 years for treason against a brutal, racist regime could emerge and speak not of revenge, hatred and reprisals but of unity, tolerance and peace. Yet here was Nelson Mandela preaching exactly that and he began the process that would leave a mark on the life of every South African.

Invictus was directed by Clint Eastwood and stars Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela and Matt Damon as the captain of the South African rugby team, Francois Pienaar.  The film begins with two boys’ rugby games divided along racial lines.  It is the day Nelson Mandela was released from prison on 11 February 1990 and in the first five minutes of the film, we move swiftly through the events leading up to the elections and Mandela’s inauguration as president.  Actual news footage from the time is used and gives an authentic feel to the massive change that was sweeping across South Africa in that time. 

Invictus tells the story of Mandela’s first fourteen months in office and how he used the game of rugby to unite a divided country.  I would not say that this is strictly a historical or political story but neither is it just a film about rugby.  It the the true story of how the South African rugby team beat all odds to become the winners of the 1995 Rugby World Cup and how rugby itself went from being a pariah, an Afrikaner sport to a game that the whole country supported.

Several creative liberties were taken in the making of the film and indeed, Mandela did not give Francois Pienaar the poem “Invictus” by William Ernest Henley but rather a portion of a speech by Theodore Roosevelt.  On the whole though, the film is extremely authentic and the fashions, attitudes and accents of the time are all really well done.  They used a large South African supporting cast in the film and shot in several locations across South Africa.  Morgan Freeman was good as Nelson Mandela and he seemed to capture a lot of Mandela’s mannerisms.  He made a good effort at Mandela’s unusual accent too although his own American accent seemed to dominate.  Matt Damon was superb as Francois Pienaar and I could not fault him in his performance.  He played with conviction and passion and accurately portrayed Pienaar’s slightly reserved yet powerful persona. 

The rugby scenes in the film were extremely well done and several famous plays were depicted.  The fever pitch of the final on 25 June 1995 was conveyed brilliantly from the Boeing flying over the stadium with the good luck message to the Springboks (although it wasn't quite as illicit as the film made out) to the people hugging in the streets afterwards.  That kind of reaction is not unknown in South Africa and people once again left their cars and took to the streets in celebration when South African won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1996 and in May 2004 when it was announced that South Africa has been voted host nation of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Critics have questioned the accuracy of the film and whether one sports game could have made such a difference in a country divided for years. I believe that the film does go some length to showing that it wasn’t just the game of rugby or the ambition of Nelson Mandela.  It was a time of reconciliation and forgiveness and was in fact followed in 1996 by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission into human rights violations under Apartheid. 

 

Invictus is an incredibly inspiring film based on an equally inspiring man and true events.  Through great actors and his hallmark attention to detail, Clint Eastwood has brought a magical moment in history to our screens.  This is a touching film and certainly deserved the several best actor, best supporting actor and best director wins and nominations, most notably the Black Reel Award for Best Actor in 2010 for Morgan Freeman.  Francois Pienaar stated in an interview this week that he cried the whole way through the first screening of the film and I can certainly understand that.  The film is emotionally charged throughout and extremely powerful.

While the film is excellent, the extra features on the film are mildly disappointing.  They feature an Invictus music trailer and a six-minute featurette “Matt Damon Plays Rugby”.  The features on the Blu-ray release are far greater and given the superior audio and video quality of Blu-ray, it might be worth moving over to that format.

Deducting points only for Freeman’s slight difficulties with Mandela’s accent, I give the film four-and-a-half stars.

Article first published as DVD Review: Invictus on Blogcritics.
Images: Copyright © Warner Bros. Pictures

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Music Review: Jonathan Sakas - Albatross

Jonathan Sakas – Albatross Label: Jonathan Sakas Release date: 30 March 2010 Genre: Synthpop / Indie Rock Rating:  4.5/5

 

Jonathan Sakas has been described as “Talking Heads meets Lady Gaga”; he is not too sure what that means but he’ll take it as a compliment.  While many artists are turning to electronic, synth-driven sounds reminiscent of new wave and synthpop, not all of them experience the success of bands like The Killers or Franz Ferdinand.  Far too often they land up sounding dated and tired and I was keen to find out whether Jonathan Sakas would stand out as an electronic rock artist.

Albatross is Jonathan’s debut album and it is the follow up to the 2009 EP Death of the Iceman.  After taking a quick listen to the EP, it is immediately clear that Albatross has a far more polished and bolder sound.  This is quite an accomplishment really as not only did Jonathan write the music and lyrics on the album, he also played all of the instruments, did all of the electronic programming and produced the album too. 

Albatross begins with the pleasing “Striker” which is solid, upbeat pop number.  The song has lively electric guitars that are the trademark of indie rock and is sure to be a crowd pleaser.  “Driver” is more downbeat and it is the first taste of something new yet unmistakeably familiar.  It is a flawless song that puts me in mind of the sweeping soundscapes of mid-eighties synthpop.  For a limited period of time, “Driver” is available free to download from Jonathan’s website.

By the time the third song “Porridge” rolls around, you start to feel quite comfortable with the album.  This is another upbeat song that reminds me of Depeche Mode, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark and a-ha but not in a stale or outmoded way.  That feeling of comforts fades however as “Hindu” packs a bit of a surprise.  It is an edgy song that definitely steers the album away from the realm of popular music and into the alternative music arena.  Suddenly, there are parts of the album that are closer to Nine Inch Nails or bands like The Mission or Love and Rockets than bands from more popular genres.  “Hindu” is too dark and slow to be a hit but it is definitely one of my favorite songs on the album.  Jonathan’s strong vocals really begin to stand out on this track too and he sounds not unlike Dave Gahan.

Jonathan Sakas starts to channel Visage and Human League with “Fall”, the fifth song on the album.  “Fall” has sweeping, driving synthesisers and a great electronic sound.  My only complaint about this track is that it is too short as sometimes you just wish a song would go on for a little longer.  The next track “Oysters” is another firm favorite of mine with a dark and dramatic introduction on organ and emotional lyrics about the end of a relationship.  “Marie” is set to be one of the most popular songs on the album and was released on the Zia Records compilation You Heard Us Back When, Volume 4 which features some of the best local bands from Arizona and Navada.  It is a lively song but once again, I prefer the slower, more downbeat sounds of the next track “Lion”. 

The penultimate song “Grapes” confirms the success of the album as an outstanding example of electronic rock with a definite nod to influencing artists.  The final song “Stay” deserves special mention though.  It is a masterpiece of a song with deep and haunting beats and more than a healthy dose of anger and resentment.  It is definitely on a par with Trent Reznor’s most warped songs and has one of the boldest lines I’ve heard in years.  It kind of makes me want to ask the artist if he really said “I should have killed you when I had the chance”. 

Albatross is not in any way dated or average.  It is a powerful debut and an album that is sure to occupy a premium position in my playlist over the next year.  I would certainly be interested in hearing more from Jonathan Sakas and am pleased to hear that he is currently working on his follow up album.  You can find out more about Jonathan on his MySpace and Facebook pages.

This is an excellent debut and I give Albatross 4.5 stars.

Article first published as Music Review: Jonathan Sakas – Albatross on BlogCritics.org.  Jonathan sent me a copy of the CD to review and all opinions expressed in this review are genuinely my own.

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Music Review: Gorillaz – Plastic Beach

Damon Albarn could have done two things when his reign as the King of Indie Music ended with Blur dissolving amidst creative differences and Graham Coxon’s alcoholism.  He could have matured and followed in the footsteps of great artists such as David Bowie, bringing out clever and well received albums for the next twenty years or so.  Or he could have become the Peter Pan of the popular music realm and dreamt up a virtual band that runs around the world kidnapping journalists and selling arms to third world dictators in order to raise money to make albums.  He chose to do the latter.

Gorillaz is a band made up of four animated characters drawn by Tank Girl creator Jamie Hewlett.  There is Murdoc Niccals on bass guitar, Noodle on guitar and vocals, Russel Hobbs on drums and percussion and my personal favourite, 2D on lead vocals and keyboards.  They are officially the most successful virtual band ever (which is not hard considering they are competing with Crazy Frog) and have sold over 15 million copies of their first two albums Gorillaz (2001) and Demon Days (2005).  They are most famous for the genre-defying hits such as “Clint Eastwood”, “19-2000”, “Dirty Harry”, “Feel Good Inc” and “Dare” and they return in 2010 with their third studio album, Plastic Beach.  Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett are pretty much the only constants in the Gorillaz line up but the cast of collaborating artists is impressive once again and includes great names such as Mos Def and Bobby Womack. 

 

The album begins with the instrumental “Orchestral Intro” and you hear the sounds of waves and seagulls as you head out to sea.  You’re met on the Plastic Beach by none other than Snoop Dogg as he tells you about how pollution in the ocean has created the island in “Welcome to the Plastic Beach”.  This is a laid back song with a classy vibe.    Grime rappers Bashy and Kano, and The Lebanese National Orchestra for Oriental Arabic Music are up next as the tempo picks up for “White Flag” and Albarn’s increasing interest in African and Arabic music shows through.  This is the first of my favourite songs on the album, the type that you’re inclined to play over and again on repeat.  Hip-hop is not my genre of choice but the beats in all of the songs so far are enough to enable this album to cross genres and appeal to a wide audience.

Themes of pollution and ecology continue with “Rhinestone Eyes” which is a return to that classic lazy Gorillaz sound that we first heard in “Clint Eastwood”.  This song has a wicked bass line and backing vocals that come up to the chorus and is definitely the best song on the album.  The legendary Bobby Womack and Mos Def make their entrance next with “Stylo” which is the first single from the album.  This laid back and stylish song has the most incredible video featuring Bruce Willis.  We unfortunately can’t embed the whole video but check out the trailer below.

 

“Superfast Jellyfish” is the next single from the album and is due out for release on 9 May 2010.  Featuring Super Furry Animals’ Gruff Rhys and De La Soul, it starts off with a wonderfully retro sample advertising microwave breakfast and has a funky, cheeky beat.  It is a silly song and certainly a load of fun.  “Empire Ants” starts off really slowly with a piano background and beach vibes as Damon Albarn (as 2D) describes the banality of every day life.  The song then explodes into an electronic carnival of sound as Little Dragon enter to state how our dreams of a better life simply work the machine.  This is a brilliant song and is another one to play on repeat.  “Glitter Freeze” features The Fall’s Mark E. Smith and it has a driving, chaotic beat.  Like “Empire Ants” before, it moves the album closer to the dance and electronica genre and it is a strong, energetic song.

“Some Kind of Nature” features the superstar Lou Reed.  This song is a break from the somewhat lunatic beats of the previous two songs but there is still something about it as Lou’s vocals are distorted.  The song is about the distortion of nature and how people become phony and nothing lands up in the form that it originally was.  “On Melancholy Hill” is intended to be the third single on the album which is strange as I think it is one of the weaker songs on the album.  It is definitely poppy and may appeal to the masses but I think it doesn’t really do much.  There is a post-apocalyptic feel that comes through in the album and this is increased by the cartoon landscape of the Plastic Beach and the feeling of being stuck in a video game.  With its mention of ‘the light of plasma screens’ and space and broken love, “Broken” continues this theme with its slow, eerie sound.

“Sweepstakes” picks up the tempo again and features Mos Def on his second appearance on the album and Hypnotic Brass Ensemble.  With an insistent almost menacing beat the song is about how everyone is a winner when in reality, nobody is winning at all.  This song is an absolute winner!  Once again, it is a definite rap song but it is funky enough to appeal to a wider audience.  Damon Albarn denied that this album was a green album but the title track “Plastic Beach” definitely refers to the floating landfills in the oceans when it speaks of ‘It's a Casio on a plastic beach, It's a Styrofoam deep sea landfill’.  This is a trippy song that leads into the equally trippy “To Binge” featuring Little Dragon again.  This song features perhaps the best line on the album ‘That shattered feeling, well, the cause of it's a lesson learned’.

"Cloud of Knowing” features the last collaboration on the album with Bobby Womack and sinfonia ViVA.  This is a really downbeat song but Bobby Womack’s vocals make it quite ovely.  He sings of himself as if he is up in the sky looking down and wondering when he will be close to his love again.  The album ends with the cheeky and upbeat “Pirate Jet”.  This is an optimistic song yet speaks of leaving the taps running for a hundred years.  It pretty much sums up the whole album and then all too soon, it ends.

Plastic Beach is a fantastic album and I sincerely hope that the rumours about this being Gorillaz’ last are false.  It is a crazy and inventive album that should appeal to younger audiences without being condescending but certainly appeals to the child in me.  Simply put, it is a load of fun and will certainly occupy a valued spot in my iPod over the year to come.  You can visit the Gorillaz website and play their new online game Escape To Plastic Beach for more mind bending fun.

 

For being an absolute gem of an album, I give Plastic Beach 4.5 stars

All artwork by Jamie Hewlett © EMI Music Ltd / Jamie Hewlett

This review first appeared on Blogcritics.org.  I was given a copy of the album to review and all opinions here are absolutely my own.

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