Archive for December, 2009

Top Ten Films of 2009

Thursday, December 31st, 2009

After much deliberation, here’s my favourite flicks of oh nine. It’s a bizarre mix of kids films and gut-punchers; arthouse and mainstream. Full contrast ahead.

10. The Hurt Locker

Too much shaky cam but still pulls off many a tense set piece of bomb disposal and the whole thing just feels hella authentic. Review here.

9. Where The Wild Things Are

The best movie without a plot all year. Jonze and Eggars have perfectly adapted a ten page childrens book into a feature length film without artificially adding some quest for treasure or some capitalist baddie who wants to knock down the hero’s neighbourhood. They’ve miraculously managed to just enlarge the essence of what was originally there, like some fractal experiment. And created their own individual work at the same time, something Watchmen perhaps should have strived for.

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Brighton Shock

Thursday, December 17th, 2009
Who's side are you on, son?

Who's side are you on, son?

Ah, another banging gig at Digital, Brighton last weekend. There’s a gallery of pics from the event HERE. The first Hospitality we did there was one of my all time fave shows. This one followed up nicely and got to meet new NHS signing Netsky for the first time. And whenever I play in Brighton I stay at the Hotel Pelirocco – the hotel equivalent of Revels. Each room is themed, from reggae to fetishism. The best one I’ve stayed in is the Pin Up Parlour dedicated to Diana Dors, trashy camp with frilly lampshades and garish gold fittings. This time I stayed in the equivalent of the coffee Revel, not my favourite. It was the Magic Room as designed by Jamie Reid, of Sex Pistols design fame. I wanted to stay in the Motown room as that’s got a record deck in it but it was already booked. Had to check my latest dubplates in the second room of the club, thanks Wah Wah 45s crew!

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