Monday 9 November 2009

SONNET: COUNTING TIME

-
My first brush with death:
aged nine,
I saw Daniel Day Lewis
in Last of the Mohicans.

It was the last day of
first school,
and as the credits rolled,
my eyes streamed.

'So life is that
short, and then you die?'
'Yes' said my Dad.

'But that is also what makes it
so
worth while'.

KEATS BIOPIC: BRIGHT STAR

 

The best thing about this was the pared-down ordinariness of the portrait.

Keats has suffered more than most because of some hysterical, not to say excessive, admirers. So it was good to see him here as a pretty average guy able to evoke a world of magic in his writing.

There was a great line that went something like 'the poet is the least interesting thing about a work'. I think starting from this sceptical premise and then trying to create your own core of interest stands as a good methodology for any biopic.

With some pretty spot-on cinematography ('poetic-visual'?), and some brilliantly nuanced acting from the three leads, the poetry could be sprinkled on top in a nicely subtle ancillary way, obviating any capital K Keats bullshit.

Wednesday 4 November 2009


Despite having enjoyed the odd Weezer tune back in the day, I doubt I'll ever get around to listening to Raditude.

But this is surely either greatest, or the most spectacularly risible album cover I've ever seen.

By some way.

Monday 2 November 2009

AN EDUCATION

  -


The Graduate in reverse?

Education and self-abnegation win out against individual freedom, hedonism.