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Men In Black 3
Time travel thrown into the MIB template, Josh Brolin makes a good 60s Tommy Lee Jones.
23rd Dec 2012
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Mountain gorilla numbers rise by 10% (786 to 880) http://t.co/7ujTYRL2
14th Nov 2012
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War Horse
Plodding, formless WWII drama with Spielberg in full schmaltz mode. Blackadder IV meets Black Beauty.
10th Nov 2012
Read more 2.5 star reviewsRT @RichardVine: Hoping Dana's hit'n'run date isn't going to be \#Homeland's mountain lion
5th Nov 2012
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Argo
(dir. Ben Affleck)
Trenchcoats, crazy CIA plans, beards and a gripping true life hostage situation - there's a lot to enjoy in Ben Affleck's latest. Following The Town and Gone, Baby Gone, this is another assured directorial job from Affleck, here channeling the spirit of 70s classics like All The President's Men and Klute to craft an intelligent, grown-up thriller that doesn't have to resort to shoot-outs to ratchet up the tension. Bonus points for Van Halen and Led Zep on the soundtrack.
Tehran 1979: Ayatollah Khomeni's revolution is in full swing, the US embassy is stormed, 52 hostages taken - but six staff members manage to escape in the confusion and seek refuge in the Canadian embassy. Back in Washington, Carter-era spooks concoct "exfiltration" plans - with "the best bad idea" being a fake Hollywood production company scouting middle eastern locations for a Star Wars rip-off.
The film keeps the potential for any "Hollywood - so CRAZY!!" stuff to a minimum - managing to contrast it with the intensity of 70s revolutionary Tehran without resorting to Get Shorty wackiness. Max graininess in the cinematography (shot with an Arri Alexa, fact fans, as well as "on film, cut in half, blown up 200%" according to IMDB trivia) combines with actual news footage to build convincing period atmosphere.
Affleck plays Tony Mendez, the CIA agent leading the plan, a role that plays to his strengths. The rest of the casting is spot on - Bryan "Breaking Bad" Cranston, Tate "Damages" Donovan, John Goodman as Hollywood make-up expert John Chambers (responsible for Planet Of The Apes' apes and Spock's ears), Alan Arkin, Victor Garber, Rory "Dazed And Confused" Cochrane, Titus (Lost's Man in Black) Welliver, Scoot (Monsters) McNairy and a cameo from Adrienne Barbeau in the goofy Argo cast's table read.
For more background, here's the Wired article on the actual CIA operation and the real-life fake movie. It's a great read, though obviously it's pretty much the entire plot. One nice detail that gets a little lost in the film - Captain America co-creator Jack Kirby did the original comic strip-style production drawings.
24th Oct 2012 - Add Comment - Tweet
Read more 4 star reviews\#Clava. Like it RT @blackscore_: “ @katelawson_: @blackscore_ Tom Hardy in a 'clava, and not much else ;-)†Black Score is not Jim'll Fix It.
30th Sep 2012
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Promo Promo: Tame Impala - Elephant
Heavy Syd-era Floyd / T-Rex / Black Mountain riffing from Aussie psych-masters here. The album Lonerism is out Oct 8
20th Sep 2012 - Add Comment - Tweet
Nemo: Heart Of Ice Cover
@GoshComics have got the first look at the League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen spin-off from Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill. Enjoyed the series so far, glad they're moving it on with some of the other peripheral characters. Due Feb 2013
It’s 1925, fifteen long years since Janni Dakkar first tried to escape the legacy of her science-pirate father, only to eventually take on his mantle and accept her destiny as the new Nemo; the next captain of the legendary Nautilus. A thirty year-old Pirate Jenny, tired of punishing the world with an unending spree of plunder and destruction, is resolved to finally step from her forebear’s lengthy shadow by attempting something at which he’d conspicuously failed, namely the exploration of Antarctica. In 1895 her father had returned from that ice-crusted continent without his reason or his crewmen, all of whom appeared to have mysteriously perished or to otherwise have disappeared. Now Captain Nemo’s daughter and successor plans to take her feared and celebrated black submersible back to the world’s South Pole in an attempt to lay her sire’s intimidating ghost forever.
4th Sep 2012 - Add Comment - Tweet
Good read: Black Flag's Keith Morris: why I formed Off! http://t.co/jv9KLkZz via @guardian @OFFofficial
6th Jul 2012
Read on TwitterBallotelli is the first black player to represent Italy in a major tournament, and the first to score for them. WTF!? \#EURO2012
1st Jul 2012
Read on TwitterA Book Of Beards
"@justinarei ... Fighting cancer, one beard at a time." We're no strangers to the joys of the beard here at Chimp HQ, but even our best mountain-ready full winter efforts look like Miami Vice trims compared to the dudes in this book by Justin James Muir. Inspired by a friend who had cancer, all profits go to the Leukemia and Lymphona Society
13th Jun 2012 - Add Comment - Tweet
Promo Promo: OFF!
@OFFOfficial channel the intensity of Black Flag classic "Wasted" with their new single Wiped Out. The video is suitably agro.
18th Apr 2012 - Add Comment - Tweet
Party? RT @blackscore_: TV Party by Black Flag or TV Casualty by The Misfits?
12th Apr 2012
Read on TwitterAC/DC - Fine Rock, Finer Wines
Like us, you probably love rock. And you probably love wine. Wait! What if - I KNOW! - we could somehow combine them into one awesome package? Too late - AC/DC are one step ahead of you... I'll sure be chugging down some Back In Black Shiraz, Highway To Hell Cabernet Sauvignon and Hell’s Bells Sauvignon Blanc next time I'm headbanging in Napa. Available here in the UK
#chimp71
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#Stupido
20th Mar 2012 - Add Comment - Tweet
Black Mountain
Year Zero OST
5 unreleased tracks make this unmissable. Mary Lou will blow your socks off
1st Mar 2012
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85 Films Martin Scorsese Thinks You Should See
Fast Company magazine has an interesting list of films mentioned by Martin Scosese as influentual to him. He's certainly consistent, as he's been talking a lot of these up since I was at film school - directly prompting me to check out Faces, Duel in the Sun, Gun Crazy, Kiss Me Deadly, The Leopard, A Matter of Life and Death, Peeping Tom and The Red Shoes ...amongst others. Pretty sure he put me onto Black Narcissus too - my favourite Powell & Presseburger movie.
27th Feb 2012 - Add Comment - Tweet
Trailer Park: Year Zero ...with added Black Mountain
Trailer up for the epic surf movie 'Year Zero' from Globe. The movie itself looks pretty tasty, shot around the world on 16mm film ....but the real reason to get excited is the Black Mountain soundtrack.
The album features a few old classics (including 'Tyrants' - featuring my all time favourite drum licks) and a handful of unreleased tracks such as 'Phosphorescent Waves', 'Embrace Euphoria', 'In Sequence' and 'Mary Lou' - which you can download over at Jagjaguwar and listen to below.
The album is out April 2nd in the UK, April 3rd elswhere.
Via Stereogum.
23rd Feb 2012 - Add Comment - Tweet
Trailer Park: Beyond The Black Rainbow
about time someone picked up that Cronenberg video-terror / mad scientist ball and ran with it... (bonus points for the VHS poster here)
17th Feb 2012 - Add Comment - Tweet
Wayne's World - Partying On for 20 Years
It's the 20th Anniversary of the Wayne's World movie. Ouch. Here's a then/now comparison of the cast. And while you're there, check out the cast of Dazed & Confused ....though Wooderson is cheating a bit thanks to that recent Black Widow promo.
16th Feb 2012 - Add Comment - Tweet
Battle Los Angeles
Stylish, directionless, underdeveloped video game shoot 'em up. Black Hawk Down with aliens.
11th Feb 2012
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Promo Promo: Wooderson is back in business
Dazed and Confused legend Wooderson is back in business, for this promo for the Butch Walker and the Black Widow's track - Synthesizers. Quite the coup.
He's looking a little out of shape since his epic slow-motion entrance to Hurricane, but it's good to have him back. I get older ....he stays the same age.
Via AICN
#CSF
#Film
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#PromoPromo
24th Jan 2012 - Add Comment - Tweet
Black Bananas from RTX
Royal Trux/RTX singer Jennifer Herrema is back with Black Bananas - a new version of the band (yes, it's full of scratchy 70s Stones riffs, distorto-vox and Prince-ish songs called Hot Stupid). Pitchfork have got an MPFree. Album Rad Time Xpress IV is out in Jan with other thoughtful numbers like Acid Song, Killer Weed and Foxy Playground. That party train is not stopping any time soon. Still love Trux's Waterpark:
5th Dec 2011 - Add Comment - Tweet
First time I've given half a shit about a Ridley Scott film since Black Rain. And that didn't hold up. http://t.co/IPV3ECrv
24th Nov 2011
Read on TwitterThey're back ... Black Sabbath reunite to release new album and tour
http://t.co/tFLyRl3E
12th Nov 2011
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Cyrus
Mumblecore goes mainstream, though this black comedy still keeps it dark and indie.
11th Oct 2011
Read more 3 star reviews!!! RT @robinderrick: @NMENewsFeed: Ozzy Osbourne: 'There is a very, very strong possibility Black Sabbath will reform' http://t.co/lGeN8hDn
8th Oct 2011
Read on TwitterSchool of Rock still stands as Jack Black's career highlight. Genius.
5th Oct 2011
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Four Lions
Edgy, challenging black comedy from Chris Morris that doesn't quite deliver, but certainly provokes.
5th Sep 2011
Read more 3 star reviewsWhat a combo, No Flag (No Age & Black Flag) http://bit.ly/pe3p0g
22nd Jul 2011
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Trailer Park: Contagion
Trailer up for Steven Soderbergh's star-studded new thriller Contagion, dealing with the effects of a global pandemic. Nice to see him return to making films on a large scale. Next up is his black-ops-super-soldier movie Haywire.
Via AICN
18th Jul 2011 - Add Comment - Tweet
The Crimson Rivers
Gripping French thriller as two cops investigate some mountain murders. Better than Wexford.
25th Jun 2011
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Winter Kills
A star studded bizarro blip on Jeff Bridges CV. Possibly a black comedy. Definitely inexplicable.
Halliwell says: Heavy-going and confusing melodrama with much flashy editing. Despite its cast, it was never satisfactorily released.
#JustWatched
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#Halliwell
12th Jun 2011
Read more 0.5 star reviewsAppy Talk: Silent Film Director Free
the Silent Film Director iPhone app is still free today (in case you want to shoot in black and white without sound). Comes w "Evil Plan FX"
#chimp71
#Film
#IPhone
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#Tech
2nd Jun 2011 - 1 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
RT @snaxhanso: 2 eps into BSG & no sign of token black person. 1 asian girl and a couple of hispanics is all we get? And which one's gay??
21st Mar 2011
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Black Swan
Amazing cinematography and art direction style out this hammy horror romp. White = good. Black = bad.
21st Mar 2011
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New J Mascis: Is It Done
ever since I spent three days thinking I'd finally blown my hearing after standing a bit too near the speakers at a Dinosaur Jr gig, I've kind of preferred it when J Mascis keeps things quiet... so I'm looking forward to this acoustic-ish album he's got coming out, with loads of guests (Kurt Vile, A Silver Mount Zion’s Sophie Trudeau, Kevin Drew, Ben Bridwell, Black Heart Procession’s Pall Jenkins, Matt Valentine etc). great primer track over at PFork and if you hand over your email Sub Pop will give you another
5th Mar 2011 - Add Comment - Tweet
Best of 2010
CSF
Just because most of our 2010 reviews have been happening on Twitter doesn't mean quality music hasn't be coming in thick and fast this year. Here's my top 5 for 2010:
Abe Vigoda - Crush
Probably my most unexpected favourite for 2010, Crush finds LA Smell regulars Abe Vigoda moving up a notch to make their most accessible album yet. If a band like this can ever hit the mainstream, this is certainly great prep - like Interpol with more ideas and better beats.
The Soft Pack - The Soft Pack
The San Diego post-punkers graduate from community college with straight A's in 'chorus'. After a lot of hype and a fairly average live sighting, I was surprised to find myself so engaged with this first album proper. Side A rules.
LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening
The bubble may have burst as LCD Soundsystem set to disband, but there was still time for one last go-around. Not quite as ace as Sound of Silver, but with tracks like 'All I Want' and 'Home', it's still stuffed with classics.
Spoon - Transference
Harnessing all their studio 'accidents' into another masterfully produced masterpiece, Spoon yet again deliver a five star album. So consistent I almost forget about them. Some great slow burners on here.
Black Mountain - Wilderness Heart
Almost forgot this one ...which is a surprise considering how bombastic it is. After the note perfect In The Future, Black Mountain had no hope of topping getting even better just yet, but the least they could do was shore up their legend. Old Fangs and the title track cruised into their best-ever playlist.
DULY NOTED: Weezer - Hurley / Pinkerton Deluxe
With their departure from a major label, it seemed certain that Weezer would put aside all the contractually-obliging crap they're been churning out and finally release a great record again. Nope. Hurley crawled back up to a 3, but luckily the time had come for a deluxe edition of 90's classic Pinkerton. A re-release shouldn't be anyone's best album in a decade, but this one is stuffed full of long-lost tracks, b-sides and oddities - plus it's getting a five star rating for being overlooked the first time round.
Monsters was a great movie. Somewhere one of the worst ever. Kings of Leon, The National and Band of Horses all disappointed. Roll on 2011.
1st Jan 2011 - Add Comment - Tweet
Read more 5 star reviewsThe 1930's in Colour
Been meaning to put this up for a while: a great set of early colour photos from the Library of Congress. It's so strange to see an era we are so accustomed to seeing in black and white represented in such vivid colour. For the first time, you feel that these are real people that you can relate to as humans. So real that the photos look magically art directed.
Via Vincent Laforet
30th Dec 2010 - Add Comment - Tweet
Black Swan
Masterfully crafted, pretentious but compelling horror from Aronofsky. The Force is strong with this one.
27th Dec 2010
Read more 4 star reviewsJack Black is looking bemused by Justin Bieber on the Graham Norton show.
7th Dec 2010
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