RocknRolla will never die

Movie review of "RocknRolla".
Published on facebook.com, 10th November 2008.

Definitely a pleasant surprise, particularly when the choice to see this over 'whatserface gets married' (sic) was decided by a coin toss.

Like The Matrix and The Game, RocknRolla was one of those movies I knew nothing about before seeing it (thanks Terri). Snatch seemed a little like 'more of the same' when I saw it, and I won't mention the effort with Madonna in-between, but this movie feels as if Guy Ritchie went for the safe bet and then directed the s**t out of it.

The cast is a nice mixture of known actors, for example a much more charismatic character for Butler than his stiff (pun intended) mythological king in "300". Also Newton's character has a bit more zip about her than the doe-eyed and dappy Tom-Cruise-beard in Mission Impossible 2.

Of course, Wilkinson's gangland boss is also a far cry from the tormented and redundant pressganged stripper in "The Full Monty", although a pair of Ray-Bans, colourful language and a teaspoon of cockney rhyming slang isn't quite enough to make his character go down in the most delightful way as Mary Poppins would say.

I guess there's a lesson for straight men here in that Butler's charm, ultimate desire to get Newton into bed, and knack for luring her into underestimating his grit - if nothing else - demonstrates how Ritchie can make an armed robber seem like Casanova. This, chaps, could be what women mean when they say they can't help but like bad men.

It's really the newbies that shine though. We have a convincingly closeted gay, but that just has the women cooing all the more. There are various ensemble actors and henchmen, and Quid as both the elusive plot lynchpin and deus ex machina-cum-narrator nailing his various scenes. However, it would seem that Ritchie teases the most considered performances from his cast and this, along with the Beluga of irony and seminal East/West-end London sets, glues everything together nicely. All in all it's a gangster flick without the gore, sufficient swearing and pyrotechnics to keep things ticking over nicely, and while - yes - it does seem to sag a little in the middle, Ritchie manages to escalate each of the passing minutes enough to hold the attention.

In the end I think it's more than just brain candy and, dare I say it, not just a 'guy' movie, so I hope there will be a follow-up as the final scene alludes. Can Ritchie stay consistent though?

Jacqueline Parker, consultant, DDB Public Relations

Jacqueline Parker, Consultant, DDB Public Relations (worked indirectly for Glyn at DDB Public Relations):

“I worked with Glyn for a year at DDB Public Relations. During that time, while I did not report to Glyn, I often went to Glyn for advice on direction and to have him proof read materials I had written for clients. Glyn was not only a great mentor, his knowledge of the industry was immensely helpful to me in my own position. Glyn was always very strategic and had a firm grasp of his clients need and how to manage them.” 26th August 26 2008.

Richelle Gillett, senior consultant, DDB Public Relations

Richelle Gillett, Senior Consultant, DDB PR: worked indirectly for Glyn at DDB Public Relations:

“Glyn is organized, conscientious and enthusiastic, a pleasure to work with. A good leader and team-mate. He's a sharp ideas-man, has lots of initiative and is motivated to get the job done & done well.” 21st June 2008

"Balls" is right, all else is just plain wrong

Movie review of "Balls of Fury".
Published on facebook.com, 20th June 2008.

I'm not going to spend much time reviewing this - it's not worth it. Spoof of one of the Bruce Lee movies (Game of Death?) where table tennis replaces Kung Fu. Even Christopher Walken couldn't save it, and I didn't laugh much despite being wasted when I watched it. Avoid.

Heather Boissoin, director of Sales & Marketing, Org Matters Solutions Inc.

Heather hired you as a Agency in 2006 (DDB Public Relations)

Top qualities: Great Results, Personable, Creative

“Glyn was wonderful to work with as a Manager at DDB in Public Relations. He had some very good "out of the box" ideas and came up with a very creative approach to our business problem. He completed a business proposal on time and within the budget discussed during the briefing. I would work with Glyn again and found him to be extremely detailed and task oriented with a better than average personality.” 17th June 2008.

Disadvantaged, alas

Movie review of "Vantage Point".
Published on facebook.com, 17th April 2008.

A good idea, poorly executed and hammily directed one must say. Chances of a chubby American tourist, clutching a digicam, keeping up with two secret service agents as they pursue an assassin through Madrid? Unlikely.

Likelihood of two secret service agents firing off handgun rounds in a busy Spanish street like it's the Wild West? Pretty low I'd say.

Likelihood of a secret service agent marching out to presidential protection duty without even a bulletprooof vest, particularly after being shot by a would-be assasin in the recent past? You be the judge.

All in all there are fair performances from the actors involved, though Whittaker's performance is a long way from his brilliant portrayal of Idi Amin, and poor Dennis Quaid has a permanent scowl that nothing seems to remove. It is the director, however, that should probably foot most of the blame though. 11.59 and 58 seconds...AGAIN?! "OH MY GOD" exclaimed one cinema-goer in the theatre where I saw the film, and he's probably right.

No fish out of water here, except the director

Movie review of "Lady In the Water".
Published on facebook.com, 11th April 2008.

Well, it's not BAD I suppose. Doesn't have the epic "Eureka" moment of The Sixth Sense, that's for sure. But, think along the lines of Pan's Labyrinth or even The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe in terms of kiddy-esque suspension of disbelief and you're on he right track.

Strong screenplay and good performances all round, though the director's cameo I found a little annoying, similar to Tarantino not only relentlessly popping up in the middle of the Grindhouse double bill, but also blatantly copying George Clooney's mannerisms expressed in "From Dusk 'Til Dawn".

Suspense is kept simmering away as the various tenants - and the viewer - try to figure out who has which 'other world' role and the lack of bad language or gore, though not necessarily adult themes, make it innocuous enough for family viewing. Giamatti is, as ever, a real pleasure to watch.

One way to make ironing fun

Movie review of "Iron Man".
Published on facebook.com, 2nd April 2008.

Wow. Yeah, I know what you're thinking: "Isn't this just another Marvel/DC Comics cash-in?" Well, I have to say that this movie fills the void between the last Batman and the next (Dark Knight) one quite nicely.

Equal measures of action, plot, character and screenplay, this is a very smartly- formed package of a summer blockbuster.

Excellent casting too, by the way. Downey is superb as an authentic immoral playboy, and there are no highbrow, Batman or Fantastic Four-esque moral issues at play here. He's flawed, he's selfish, egotistical, and more of an anti-hero for the majority of the film. And, whilst all the high-tech requires suspension of disbelief, his character does not. The same can be said for Paltrow, who plays his long-suffering assistant. This is not your regular, fall-at-the-feet of the hero bimbo role, but a punchy portrayal of a modern, intelligent woman in full control of her emotions and urges. The fact that they DON'T get together is another credit to Favreau. It's also nice to see Bridges in a villain role rather than his typecast bla bla do-gooder variety.

The script too is above average, with a fair smattering of laughs and some real zinger lines. My own favourite is Paltrow's, "Sometimes, I even have to take out the trash". More witty dialogue comes about with Downey, who in the absence of any friends builds an almost human relationship with the various powerful IT devices around him.

All in all it's an excellent value package of entertainment, and the effects et al make the trip to the cinema well worth it - don't wait for DVD on this one.

Key To Life: "Find Our Way (Breakaway)" (The Elusive Peppermint Jam Remixes) 12" single

What starts as your basic deep house, 4/4 time, bla bla turns into something far more luscious. Well, I say basic but you're only a few bars in when you realise the snappy percussion has had your feet moving for several seconds. String stabs followed by the "Punch it out!" sample already have you grooving, when everything stops for the chord stabs.

Note you may have experienced goose pimples by now. You may be smiling and nodding your head in time. This is quite normal.

I won't dwell on the detail and spoil all the surprises but safe to say, this will be a tune I will keep for a very long time. The dub on A2 has all the above less the full lyric and some of the goosepimples. It does a good job of separating the mid-range from the top end and bass enough to accentuate both, rather than making it sound hollow. Think Boris Dlugosch meets Kathleen Murphy, they have a drink, one thing leads to another...

more images

Label: Sub-Urban Catalog#: SU-23 Format: Vinyl, 12" Country: US Released: 1996 Genre: Electronic Style: House Credits: Producer, Mixed By - Tommy Musto Remix, Producer [Additional] - Boris Dlugosch , Mousse T. Vocals - Kathleen Murphy Notes: Produced & mixed for Northcott Productions. Additional production & remix by Boris Dlugosch for Elusive Productions & Mousse T. for Peppermint Jam Productions, Germany. Rating: 4.6/5 (18 votes) Rate It Submitted by: moogman.de

Tracklisting:

A1		Find Our Way (Breakaway) (Club Path Remix) (6:35)
A2		Find Our Way (Breakaway) (Club Path Dub) (6:14)
B1		Find Our Way (Breakaway) (Jazz Path Remix) (7:02)
		Bass - Jürgen Attig
B2		Find Our Way (Breakaway) (Jazz Path Dub) (5:32)
		Bass - Jürgen Attig

More fleeting than Fleet Street

Movie review of "Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street".
Published on facebook.com, 28th January 2008.

Typical Burton in tone and gloom, though with all that pantomime it's surprising between them that Depp and Bonham-Carter couldn't seem to make it black comedy so much as, well, just black really. Good if you know and love the songs (and can live without the narration from the stage version), and worth a visit if you're a Burton fan.

Otherwise, one to wait for on DVD and see what the bonus extras are like.

Atone for Seeing a Chick Flick

Movie review of "Atonement".
Published on facebook.com, 26th January 2008.

They say it's better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. Well, having seen the trailers and heard a little of the soundtrack I knew I was pretty much in for a tear-fest with this film. That said, I think enough of McEwan's writing translates into the movie version for this to be a sublimely heart-aching experience.

Pretty good performances from all actors concerned, with McAvoy and Blethlyn probably coming out on top. Knightley also does a good job but the problem with her is that I can't watch her on screen - despite her stunning looks - without wincing. The poor girl is practically skeletal and I'd mail her a cheeseburger or two if I only knew where she lived.

Anyway, the movie manages to extend and hang on a simple premise that stretches excruciatingly for nearly two hours having been set up close to the start of the film. It's not without humour either, though if you're like me and prefer a happy ending then find something else to watch.

Great screenplay and special effects used with restraint give an excellent backdrop of pan-European warfare principally in France and London to the romance, remorse, guilt and ostricisation in the foreground.