A mind-bending film. Lots of funny little David Lynch-isms to keep you amused – I liked Angelo Badalamenti as the Coffee Nazi. And lots of fun to sit around after wards and figure out how it all fits together.
Journal articles
The Man Who Wasn’t There
What a great film. What a great performance from Billy Bob Thornton. What great cinematography. And what a strange ending.
Empyrean Islands — Herbie Hancock
I find it difficult to get into jazz because, well, there’s so much of it. So thanks to Justin for turning me on to this groovy piece of plastic. It’s slow, funky and really interesting to listen to and absorb. And completely different from my other Hancock albums, Head Hunters and Future Shock.
A Closed Book — Gilbert Adair
The air of menace isn’t as, well, menacing as I would have liked, and there are a few implausible plot points. But the different voices in the book work well together, even if things get a bit banal towards the end. Or do they?
I’m Waking Up to Us — Belle & Sebastian
Another melodic pop gem from Belle & Sebastian. Not much more to say about it other than that it’s not as good as the previous one, Jonathan David, but it’s still stellar.
The Fellowship of the Ring
Breathtakingly exciting, and breathtakingly beautiful. And it took my breath away too.
Inside the Dub Plates — Salmonella Dub
Great for dusting out those speakers. A really nice album, with soul, a bit of melody and a boatload o’ bass. I’ve never even heard the earlier album Killervision, but I think I should.
New Zealand
Such a nice place. Wellington was strange though — I’d never been there over new year before, when the university and the parliament are both empty. It was like a ghost town (albeit a very pleasant, if windy, ghost town).
Harry Potter
Well, it was exactly like the book, so not really worth watching. Still, nicely put together – the casting was pretty good, the special effects were good (Lord of the Rings comparisons are probably unfair), and the overacting performances were just right.