_"CAM ARCHER%^

I heard about him because his film Wild Tigers I Have Known received some buzz when played at festivals and in the latest issue of Interview Magazine there's a small portrait on him as he is about to finish his second feature film. It's kind of stupid but what interests me the most or what has attracted me towards him is actually his name. It's just real cool. Cam Archer. Sounds good. But also the title of his first feature film Wild Tigers I Have Known I just really love. It just one of those titles which makes you wonder because in a way they don't make any sense. I guess, not until you've seen the movie. So that's a really good title 'cause it makes you want to see the film and figure out why it's called this way. Also, Gus Van Sant is one of the executive producers of the film. So yeah, more reason to start loving Mr. Archer. But of course his work is most important. I haven't seen Wild Tigers I Have Known though. I did get so far as once watching the trailer, though I don't really remember it. Only thing that stuck by me was that the film's cinematography seemed pretty awesome. And I also saw this video directed by Mr. Archer by songstress Emily Jane White who wrote a song for the film which has the same title. Now I just Googled the guy and ended up on his website. Of course he also takes pictures. He also did some music videos. The one I want to share is the video for Six Organs of Admittance's song Goodnight. Aaron Platt who works a lot with Mr. Archer it seems is the director of photography. So I guess the pretty images are Mr. Platt's doing. Or at least of them both as I assume as a director you would interfere in all decision makings.

_}KEEPS GETTING BETTER#!

Friendly Fires started out as just another one of those bands, but lately I feel like obsessing over them. Their album has been growing on me and now I LOVE it. It keeps getting better and better. It's so fun, funky and danceable. I know I know, I still love Foals as well and all thsoe other bands. But right now I'm all for Friendly Fires. Recently I discovered the greatness of two tracks Lovesick and Photobooth after already realizing Skeleton Boy, Jump In The Pool, and of course Paris are great. Also, On Board is starting become a real favourite, thanks to this incredible stripped down version they did for Stereogum which just launched these video sessions thingy called Decomposed. It truly proofs that Ed MacFarlane who does lead vocals in the band has a great voice and is an awesome singer. Some singers in bands don't seem that great but Ed is a real exception as the video from the Decomposed sessions shows. Enjoy it below!

_%RELEASED AND SEEN IN 2008"+

Soon I'll also be making a best of 2008 film list. As you can see it seems as if I haven't seen that many films in 2008. But I have based this list below on Imdb and the year of release which is stated on their site. So a film like Boy A was really amazing and was released here in The Netherlands not too long ago. However, its official release date was in 2007 already. So this complicates everything a bit. A lot of foreign films like for instance Le Fils De L'épicier are released here a bit later than in their own country. So that's one from 2007 even though it found a release date in cinemas here somewhere in July. I could have said, lets just add that one too 2008 as well. But then I have to base everything on the Dutch release date. And then a film like Towelhead has to wait until next year as it will be released here officially next month, so Januray 2009. But I already saw it in October! And a film like In Search Of A Midnight Kiss hasn't even been released here yet officially. But Imdb lists both of them as having been released in 2007. So I will therefore see them as films of 2007. I could also just base my list on films I saw at the cinema this year, but then that would include a film like The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford as well which I saw January the 11th, but which was already playing in the cinema some time earlier, but I just didn't see it before. Plus, at that time I was living in the UK. So not to complicate things, here is my list of films I saw that were released in 2008 according to Imdb. It includes documentaries as well! Soon a best of list will follow with acting categories etc.!:


Il Y A Longtemps Que Je T'Aime
Iron Man
Wall-E
Caos Calmo
The Dark Knight
Elegy
Lake Tahoe
Body Of Lies
Quantum Of Solace
Hunger
7915 KM
Project Kashmir
Pray The Devil Back To Hell
Afghan Star
Entre Les Murs
RiP - A Remix Manifesto
Dear Zachary: A Letter To A Son About His Father
Burn After Reading
Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Hope to see these before the end of the year:

Changeling
Un Conte De Noël

_)HAPPY HOLIDAYS@~

First day of Christmas is almost over. Enjoy the second one! Listening to Sufjan Steven's Songs For Christmas-album right now.

&@THE NEW KANYE SHADES#+

B has a new video, two actually. One is for Diva in which she can be seen wearing that thing on her nose. She even walks while carrying them. Don't tell me you are able to see through those things, unless you keep shaking your head so they start to move and some light can come through. It's ridiculous. I guess these are the Kanye glasses for the girls.

(>MANDELBROT SET^%

I was reading about science-fiction and therefore happened to read about the Mandelbrot set named after Benoît B. Mandelbrot. It's all a bit complicated, but in an animation it looks like this. From one part you move into another part and then another one. If I understand it correctly, the Mandelbrot set isn't infinite, but bounded. So it kind of gets stuck in a sort of loop. It's finite and keeps on happening again. Maybe I'm completely wrong though. Well, enjoy this animation thingy.

&@FOALS - CASSIUS"}

Can't get enough of this band or their videos. This is the one for the song Cassius. It's really random, probably doesn't make any sense, but it just looks a lot of fun. I almost feel like reconsidering my number one album of 2008.
Apparently the lead vocalist and I have the same kind of hairstyle going on.

&@EMIR KUSTURICA"}

Wow I had no idea Emir Kusturica was such a comedic genius. Yesterday I saw my first Kusturica film. I had heard about him, but apparently had no clue what his movies were like. At all. Black Cat, White Cat (Crna Macka, Beli Macor) was on Tv last night so I decided to stay at my parents' 'cause I don't have TV myself and I felt I could not miss out on this opportunity to see a Kusturica film. It was about time that I saw one. I absoultely loved it. This entire film is hilarious. I kept thinking throughout the film, how is someone able to write all this?! The screenplay for it must have been crazy. Just to imagine all those scenes, all those characters. And then to direct it with so many people present, so many things happening at the same time. Must have been a very tough job, but Kusturica has managed to somehow do it all. Another thought I kept having was how the guy who played the son, Zare, would have looked so well in a black and white film. He just has that look of these characters in classic films. That boyish-ness you find in characters from films like Les Quatre Cents Coups or Ladri Di Biciclette. Strange that the actor, Florijan Ajdini, hasn't made a film after this one which also was his debut. At times also the mise-en-scène reminded me of a Fellini movie. Anyway, I'm happy I finally got the chance to see a Kusturica film. Definitely want to see more.

_+IN SEARCH OF A MIDNIGHT KISS"|

All wannabe filmmakers take notice. You got to see this film as it will truly inspire. In Search Of A Midnight Kiss is shot in black and white and shows that as long as you have a good script and good actors, it won't matter if you don't get that film look. In Search was filmed on HDV cam to which I must admit it takes some minutes getting used to as the look has this really amateur feel. But the script is so great and the actors, especially Sara Simmonds who plays Vivian, perform as well as the actors you find in films with a much bigger budget, that you easily forget that the film was made on a small budget. So only imagine this film having been made by this big studio, I'm sure it would have been an even bigger hit. Now it's one of these small idnependent films which has received lots of buzz. I wanted to see it for a while already and I was lucky to see it at SMART where I work. We got a sneak preview, 'cause the film isn't released here yet. It's a very funny film, very recognizable and just very authentic. The characters are very believable and I like that their lives don't end up being picture perfect. They're all flawed, but they do their best to work on it, like we all do. But really for everyone who want to make a film, but believes a film which doesn't have the look of that of a film with a bigger budget won't be able to compete with other films or won't find any real recognition, has to think again. For Alex Holdridge this is his third feature length film and it's a real success. Like for instance Once, which also was made on a low budget, the film just works, 'cause it's good. And that's what it's all about. If you tell a good story and just execute it well you don't need anything else. So go see it and start working on your own film! Just get a group of friends together, 'cause that's basically what Holdridge does who works with the same group of people on all his films. As a result his cinematographer plays one of the characters and I believe even contributed to the film's soundtrack. In sum, watch this film and be inspired.

&^FOALS ARE IT#$

If you haven't listened to Foal's Antidotes yet then do so now! Forget about everything else. This album is brilliant! I can't believe I only started listening to it just a couple of days ago. I should have done it waaaaay earlier. Electric Bloom was in my head all day. Red Sock Pugie probably is my favourite though, that's the one song which really got me into them first. Olympic Airways is great as well so is the video for it. So again, of all albums you need to hear, this is the one you really MUST listen to. Sub Pop the record company in the US which signed them definitely knows good music. These guys could give me a concert which would match Wolf Parade status. Too bad they already played in Paradiso in April. You see, that's how long it took me to listen to this album. Nope, they're not just another one of those British bands. Anyway, in April I wouldn't have been able to see them as I was in the UK. But if I had known them back then I would have at least kept my eyes and ears open in case they would have been performing in London.

P.S.: Band pictures are so random.

Oh, and isn't the cover art pretty? I'd say YESSS

+Î LISTENED TO ALL OF THIS?!

Yep. I did. All of the albums you see below are the ones that were released in 2008 and that I listened to in full! From Sigur Rós and Kyte to Kanye West,Santogold and even Scarlett Johansson. From MGMT and Crystal Castles to Coldplay, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds and the lesser known Beach House. All of them released albums this year. Of some I had even forgotten theirs was released in 2008 and not before 'cause it seems I've been listening to those for forever! Lots of debut albums as well. There were over-hyped bands such as Vampire Weekend, probably the most over-hyped one out there, with MGMT coming shortly after. Only time will tell what will be left of those two new bands. Will they please their fans with another great record or will they fail in the way as The Killers have. Not that The Killers have failed, at least I don't think so. But Day & Age is no Hot Fuss. But does it have to be? I'd day no, but lots of people think otherwise. Lots of albums I only listened to lately after having lost all my music. Yes, all these albums were in my playlist with lots more even. More than 5200 songs went up into smoke! :(

But yeah, after having listened to so many records during this year only (I can't hardly believe it myself!) I think I'm more than allowed to present my own top 10 or top 50 or whatever best of/favourite album list. It will be hard to say which ones were the best. Though I know which is my number one record of 2008. I've known which one that is for a very long time already. But to say which album was the best is tough. So that's why my list will be a best of/favourite list of 2008. 'Cause I might really like Ra Ra Riot's album, but does that mean it was one of the best? And there might be a really great album out there like for instance Dear Science by TV On The Radio, but did it end up up as being one of my favourites? Perhaps this is due to not having played some of the albums enough. Most albums take some time to grow on me before I can really appreciate them. Anyway, soon I'll present my best of/favourite albums of 2008 list. I just started to listen to Foals today. Like their album Antidotes a lot and that after one listen. I will also start listening to Portishead's Third and The Raconteurs second album before the year ends.
I can say though that 2008 was a great year in music and there are still some records I haven't even heard yet. Who knows, this list might even get longer.
Well, here it is, my list of all the albums I listened to in 2008 that were released in 2008! (soon there will be a best of/favourites list!):

Foals – Antidotes
Women – Women
Air Traffic - Fractured Life
Santogold – Santogold
Death Cab For Cutie – Narrow Stairs
Coldplay – Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends
Radiohead – In Rainbows
Beck – Modern Guilt
British Sea Power - Do You Like Rock Music?
Throw Me The Statue – Moonbeams
Born Ruffians - Red, Yellow and Blue
Crystal Castles – Crystal Castles
She & Him – Volume One
The Teenagers – Reality Check
The Dodos – Visiter
Kyte - Kyte
Bowerbirds – Hymns For A Dark Horse
Sun Kill Moon – April
Man Man – Rabbit Habits
Cloud Cult – Feel Good Ghosts (Tea-Partying Through Tornadoes)
The Kooks – Konk
M83 - Saturdays = Youth
James Morrison – Songs For You, Truths For Me
Yoav – Charmed & Strange
MGMT – Oracular Spectacular
Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend
TV On The Radio – Dear Science
Sigur Rós - Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust
The Morning Benders – Talking Through Tin Cans
The Last Shadow Puppets – The Age of the Understatement
Scarlett Johansson – Anywhere I Lay My Head
Bonnie “Prince” Billy – Lie Down in the Light
The Cool Kids – Bake Sale
Hercules & Love Affair - Hercules & Love Affair
Albert Hammond Jr. - ¿Como te Llama?
Ratatat – LP3
The Academy Is – Fast Times At Barrington High
One Night Only - Started A Fire
Black Kids – Partie Traumatic
Ra Ra Riot – The Rhumb Line
Noah and the Whale – Peaceful, the World Lays Me Down
Mogwai - The Hawk Is Howling
Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes
Lykke Li – Youth Novels
Lambchop – OH (Ohio)
Of Montreal – Skeletal Lamping
Bloc Party – Intimacy
Megapuss – Surfing
Wolf Parade – At Mount Zoomer
Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago
The Killers – Day & Age
Kanye West – 808s & Heartbreak
Robyn - Robyn
Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head – Glistening Pleasure
Friendly Fires – Friendly Fires
The Mae Shi - HLLLYH
Little Joy – Little Joy
Dido – Safe Trip Home
The Dø – A Mouthful
Cansei De Ser Sexy – Donkey
Conor Oberst – Conor Oberst
The Walkmen – You & Me
Brendan Canning – Something For All Of Us
Shearwater – Rook
Deerhunter – Microcastle
Cut Copy – In Ghost Colours
Dr. Dog – Fate
The Black Keys – Attack And Release
Lightspeed Champion - Falling Off The Lavender Bridge
Cold War Kids – Loyalty To Loyalty
Cat Power – Jukebox
Tokyo Police Club – Elephant Shell
Islands – Arm’s Way
Silver Jews – Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea
Mountain Goats - Heretic Pride
Keane – Perfect Symmetry
No Age – Nouns
Frightened Rabbit – The Midnight Organ Fight
We Are Scientists – Brain Thrust Mastery
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!
Destroyer – Trouble In Dreams
Beach House – Devotion
SiA – Some People Have Real Problems

Plus soon:
The Raconteurs – Consolers Of The Lonely
Portishead - Third
Blitzen Trapper – Furr
Margot & The Nuclear So And So's - Not Animal
The Pigeon Detectives - Emergency
Glasvegas - Glasvegas
The Apples In Stereo - Electronic Projects For Musicicans
Tindersticks - The Hungry Saw
Gang Gang Dance - Saint Dymphna
Late Of The Pier - Fantasy Black Channel
Fuck Buttons - Street Horrrsing

'?NOW I REALLY WANT TO SEE SWEET SIXTEEN%$

So the kid playing the boy from Scotland Mike is the kid from Sweet Sixteen whom I believe at that time didn't have any acting exprerience. Now I want to see that film even more, I think we still have it on VHS somewhere recorded from TV! His name, btw, is Martin Compston and he makes acting look so easy. I looked him up 'cause I was surprised by him as he looked so real, as if he wasn't even acting. You can see he's just so at ease in front of the camera.

_(A GUIDE TO RECOGNIZING YOUR SAINTS + BORN RUFFIANS AND THOM YORKE;]

Some days ago I was in this book shop where they sell DVD's for like 5 to 7 euros so I couldn't resist buying some. One of them being Fur which I saw some days ago and I very much enjoyed. Critics weren't too crazy about it, perhaps of the fact that it's an imaginary portrait of photographer Diane Arbus rather than a real bio-pic. But I liked it, a lot actually, and I was reminded again of how great Robert Downey Jr. is. He is so charismatic, lights up the screen with his presence and charm. His eyes just have this boyish spark. There's a light there. I like that. Well, he also plays in one of the other films I bought and which impressed me so much. I have to say that sometimes I'm surprised by myself as I feel I keep buying really nice films even when I take a risk because most of the time I know so little about these films. It's like with some films I want to see badly, but that desire only based on a movie still. And I have to say that lately, as I have been placing some stills here a lot as well when talking about a certain film, I really come to like those stills, those screenshots, as they just bring this small part of the film, this split second to the forefront. When seeing a film for the first time there's so much you don't see. When you freeze it, so much is revealed. I find love in so many details which I only really realize when putting the film on pause and just look at a movie still. It reminds you that films are actually made out of photographs. Every second of a film is one of them. Anyway, A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints. I just saw that one. And it's goooood. It's nice. With more heart than I expected. It's funny as well. A bit raw, bold. But colourful. Very emotional. It's a blend, a mix. And it feels so warm as well as you can feel the rush of the city, either by day, with the sun, or by night with the city lights. The young cast is a real delight to watch. It must be real cool to be able to be part of such a film at that young age playing characters who explore, are in that period in their lives still full of dreams and hope to one day get out of this town and who aim for something higher. Melonie Diaz, remember her. She's the indie queen. Has played in a lot of small films, but also some bigger ones like Be Kind Rewind. She's a real fire bulb. She got it. I can imagine millions of girls thinking, I want to be that girl, when they see her. She's that kind. But the film is really nice and I can see it being loved by all kinds of people. It is very layered. So much to enjoy. Dito Montiel writer of the film's screenplay and the director, who first published the book, a memoir, of which the film is an adapatation, so he's a real author as well, has done a really good job directing this young cast. Talented. Dianne Wiest playing Dito's mother, does so really well, even though having only little screentime. You can see the years of experience in her performance. Same for Chazz Palminteri. Who also impressed me was Channing Tatum whom I had never seen in a film before, but I know he was doing films like Step-Up so never had any real interest in following his career. But this film definitely is a turn for him, breakthrough. So see it if you want. It's really wonderful.


On music, Born Ruffians, they're really cool. I checked them out many times before coming across their name many times, but concluded I didn't like them. Once I did a reboot and lost all my music I thought let's listen to one of their albums. So I listened to Red, Yellow & Blue and it's fun. Barnacle Goose so far definitely is my favourite. So much spunk. And of course they're from Canada.


Also, Thom Yorke The Eraser. Had it in my playlist but never paid too much attention to it. These last couple of days I have listened to it many times. Such a gem. I have to admit I like this much more than any Radiohead album I've listened to so far. And I really do like Radiohead.

*~NEW BON IVER+_

Justin Vernon & Co. aka Bon Iver have released a new EP, or actually not yet. It can be purchased in the US from January 20, but it has already found its way onto the internet. The EP features the already live performed Blood Bank and three new songs. Just like the album the songs are great and recall that same mood. I really love this band.

%^HEALING PROCESS)&

All my music got deleted from my pc after doing a reboot :( And I had A LOT of music! It will take me ages to get it all back. And probably in the process of retrieving whats been lost I'll probably add a lot of more music as I stumble across albums/bands I always wanted to check out but didn't take the time for yet. But my photos and everything. Gone. Some forever lost. Have to work on an essay...

+(BRANDO SCREENTEST%~

There's something about the way he blinks with his eyes that is just amazing. Legend.

:>JUST FOUND OUT$*

So Frank Gehry designed this building I saw in Prague. I already tought it looked way too interesting to have been made just by a regular someone :)

^@Dag för Dag_&

Wolf Parade didn't come alone. As their supporting act they brought Dag för Dag whom I had not heard about at first until I found out they were going to be the support act and I checked them out. But I wasn't impressed when i heard one of their songs via Last.fm. But on Tuesday they were great live. They brought a drummer who went all out. He made their performance so good. So as soon as I can find more music from them I will go and listen to it. I'm real bad though 'cause I was thinking why can't I find any music of them online to download?! And then I reminded myself of the fact that on Tuesday night they actually sold copies of their EP real cheap. Should have just bought one, but no, of course not :)
So here some more pictures from Wolf Parade as well as Dag för Dag!
And just so you know, I didn't take these pictures I was too busy dancing to the music :)

Wolf Parade





Dag för Dag

}+WOMEN~!

They were playing in Paradiso tonight for only 7 euros. But I didn't go. Too tired. Too cold. Needed to work on essays and stuff 'cause deadlines are getting nearer. I may regret it one day yes, but let's not think about that. But their album, their self-titled debut is GOOD. First listen I wasn't sure, but it's a real grower. It's a strange kind of album as well. It kind of has this instrumental feel and sometimes reminds me of the chaos Animal Collective is able to create. But I keep listening to it and I enjoy it. A lot. So go check them out if you want. It's nice. Why are they called Women? I have no idea.
Oh, and they're from Canada. Just sayin' ;-)

(#EPIC)"

They were amaaaaaaaaaaaaaazing!!! They were greaaaaaaaaat! I went Crazzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzy! I went WILD!!!! I didn't hold back at all. AT ALL! I cant believe that there were people there just standing, not moving, just looking up. I felt bad for them that they just couldn't let themselves go and get wild and into it like I did and the people around me. I knew it was going to be crazy, I knew people would go wild and I knew I would join. And I'm so proud of myself for not holding back. 'Cause sometimes you feel a bit uncomfortable when you're the only one who moves to the music when everyone else is standing still. So then you kind of hold back. But this time, like with Cold War Kids, but this time even more, waaaay more. I went all out. I was completely into it from the very start every song. And some guys around me as well. I didn't care I came all by myself. I just threw my own party. It was the most amazing thing. I would kill to see these guys again. They're the best. THE BEST. I'm not overreacting here. There are other bands I love but none of the bands I know got that punch that Wolf Parade has. Their music is made to go crazy on. Some bands have upbeat tracks, but there's something about these songs by Wolf Parade that make their songs major, huge. I love these guys. They made my week, my year. Highlight, definitely. At the end some people around me started to really jump which was a bit dangerous as it was a bit slippy because of the beer on the ground which people kept spilling. But fortunately I didn't fall, and yes I jumped with them :) I jumped. And at the end, 'cause I knew the setlist. At the end Fancy Claps came on and I knew it. I had my hands up in the air from the very start. I was throwing my arms around, clapping, everything. I went for it. It was the most amazing thing. And again, I can't believe people went to this gig standing still for all these minutes. How could you? This was the gig I wanted to see the most, the most anticipated. Before they started I had these feelings in my stomach, I felt a bit nervous. I couldn't wait any longer. And it took a while before they came on stage, because they later explained in the small room someone else was playing (Citizen Cope I believe) and that performance was a bit silent so Wolf Parade couldnt play yet, cause Wolf Parade are LOUD. So therefore we had to wait a bit but it was soooooo worth it. It was epic. And they sound so good live. The guitars, everything. I feel like talking about this all night. If I'm ever able to see these guys again, I sooooo need to go. I loved it, every second. I surrendered myself to them completely. Oh do I love their music. I will say it, and there's no longer any doubt, they are my favourite band. I love Bon Iver, The National, Beirut etc. etc. but I'm 100% sure none of those bands will get me as crazy and wild as Wolf Parade can get me. And I thank them for that. Best gig ever.

)^TONIGHT: WOLF PARADE@#

I'm extremely excited, 'cause the wolves are in town! Tonight will be one of the best nights, watching one of the best bands perform live, one of my favourites. I can't wait. It's going to be the best concert I've been to so far. The crowd will go wild!
Apparently this will be their setlist with Fancy Claps as their last song! Best choice as it is the one song that really got me into them in the first place. I love this band.

You Are A Runner and I Am My Father’s Son
Soldier’s Grin
Call It A Ritual
The Grey Estates
Dear Sons and Daughters of Hungry Ghosts
Language City
An Animal In Your Care
Shine a Light
Grounds for Divorce
Fine Young Cannibals
California Dreamin’
This Heart’s On Fire
Kissing the Beehive
-----Encore------
It’s a Curse
I’ll Believe in Anything
Fancy Claps

>:SEE YOU NEXT YEAR#!

Last day of IDFA, I'm working from 2 pm until the last film finishes. It has been the coolest thing, I'm definitely going to miss it. If I'm able to I will be back next year for my second IDFA, can't wait! I didn't know film festivals were this cool. RiP: A Re-mix Manifesto which I saw yesterday while working has won the audience award. I can see why. It's a fun documeentary which deals with something that really is part of our time, namely, sharing music illegally by downloading and making own songs by doing mash-ups. During the screening people yelled things, applauded, they were completely into it. Today I will watch Dear Zachary: A Letter To A Son About His Father, which is said to be a good one.

&$THE DARK KNIGHT LEGO FIGURES}=

Look at these Lego figures, aren't they cool. I love the Joker one and the one with the orange hair and mask. Not exactly child friendly though :)

#!ENTRE LES MURS*{

I just saw it, Entre Les Murs, and I really enjoyed it as did most of the audience from what I could see by looking at their response. I definitely can see why it won the Palme D'Or at Cannes early this year. I like how different it is from last year's winner 4 Luni, 3 Saptamâni Si 2 Zile, but then again, maybe it isn't that much. Both films really focus on a certain issue which at the period of time that the film is situated in is very much alive. Where 4 Luni dealt with abortion in Romania of the '80s, Entre Les Murs deals with contemporary issues of France by looking at it from the perspective of the youth. Presenting a class of 14, 15 year olds and the everyday tension between these kids and their teacher, Entre Les Murs really centres on this particular moment in time. A class of kids from different nationalities, a class of kids who seem bored, not at all interested in school, Entre Les Murs shows issues which are going on today not only in this class but at a much larger scale. It provied a nice example of today's youth, the way they act to their teacher, to each other. It really succeeds in giving a realistic view of today's youth and what goes on inside the classroom. If this film was made in Hollywood you probably would have had this story of a teacher who would change his class and would have made a difference with all of the kids eventually arriving on the right side of life, overcoming all of the issues. A film a la Dangerous Minds which starts with a class of no good, but ends up with the kids really looking up to their teacher and all of them doing better. Entre Les Murs takes a complete different path and even its teacher doesn't always know what to do and you can even question if how he acts is correct or not. I thought this was one of the most wonderful aspects, that instead of showing this picture perfect teacher, he also has flaws and struggles in finding the right approach for addressing these kids and he too makes mistakes. Entre Les Murs shows issues which exists in society at large, but showing that these already are existent in an everyday class room filled with kids of different backgrounds. At one point one of the kids speaks of how during the African cup some of the African people don't have any team to support when they don't qualify, which has one of those kids saying that he actually does has a team to support, the French team, 'cause he insists, he is French, though his parents might have a different background. Entre Les Murs really manages to kind of let the bigger issues seep through unnoticed, without putting too much emphasis on them. But through everyday issues that a class deals with issues at large come to be addressed. I really enjoyed it. It's very thought provoking and leaves you with enough content to discuss. Go check it out if you can!

%~I ♥ IDFA(#

I've been working at the IDFA for three days since the opening on Thursday as an usher in Pathé De Munt, now have two days off, and I have to say I already kind of miss it, so I don't want to even think about next week's Sunday when it'll be the end of the festival :( I spoke to a guy who sat next to me during the screening of Nikolaus Geyrhalter (who did Our Daily Bread) new film called 7915 Km (it was the premiere so he was there for a Q&A, cool cool cool) who told me he had been going to the IDFA for about five years now and is completely addicted to it which I can totally understand. It's my first film festival ever (if you don't count my participation in this review writing competititon thing of the Leids Film Festival, which I didn't win btw) and I'm loving every minute. The people I'm working with are fun and nice, the atmosphere is so good. I love to help out and they make you really feel part of the festival. Can't wait for Tuesday when I'm working again. Might go check out a film tomorrow. I already signed up for the film festival in Rotterdam! :D It's my new hobby! How come I didn't do this before?!

)#BOY A"{

Just saw it. It's very strong, and really gets under your skin. I like this type of film which really makes you feel uncomfortable. It's a very solid drama with a very impressive performance by Andrew Garfield who plays the film's main character. You so come to feel for him, it's all very affective and hits all the right notes. It must be tough taking on a topic like this, it's not something I myself would like to tell, or at least I don't think so, wouldn't be my first choice. But John Crowley, the director, handles the film so well. It slowly sets up everything and at the end you really feel kind of trapped just like the main character. It even gave me some chills at certain moments. You really undergo the entire process with him. Again, Garfield is excellent. From small mannerisms, to the sound of his voice, he gets it all right. No doubt that he isn't the main character, which I know sounds pretty weird. But he really is. You could not tell who he is in real life, what he's like as a real person, the actor. He's so convincing in every aspect. It's one of the strongest performances I've seen so far this year. The character asked for it, yes, but Garfield really takes it on and nails it. Strange though that from only looking at that one picture of him standing at the beach with his hoodie on I already kind of made this whole idea up in my mind of how the film was going to be and how that guy in the picture looked like and would behave. The film just took all of that away from the second it started. My expectations crushed and replaced by a strong thoughtful film which really got to me. I was so immersed and now still it lingers on in my head. That's how a night out at the movies should be like. Tomorrow waking up early to go to this meeting where I will be informed about the calamity plan of Pathé Tuschinski in Amsterdam (a cinema) as I will be volunteering there from the end of next week, because of the IDFA (International Documentary Festival Amsterdam). I'm volunteering as an usher and hopefully get to see some documentaries as well! :p

&_ACROSS THE UNIVERSE§!

When I first saw its trailer it immediately skyrocketed to the top of my must-see list. Now, finally, after buying the DVD on eBay and having listened to the soundtrack many times already, I saw the accompanying visuals. For everyone who doesn't know, Across The Universe is a film which story derives from songs by The Beatles, those songs being featured in the film thus with the characters singing. So yes, it's a musical, but a much cooler one because The Beatles are cool and I love their songs and the actors who sing them in this film do so very well. I love Jim Sturgess's voice who plays Jude (of course) and Evan Rachel Wood who plays (again, of course) Lucy. People should stop bashing her for having dated Marilyn Manson and trying to copy Dita Von Teese, the girl's very talented which should be the focus, not her personal life. It has to be said that the film does lose momentum, but overall it's really fun. It's one of those films that make you think, wow, I wish I could have been part of this film, filming it seemed to have been such a nice experience. Julie Taymor who did Frida and Titus makes for a visual feast with great looking colourful sets. Sometimes the film looks more like an art installation. It's a really cool film and what's very important is that the two main characters have chemistry and I think they really do. They make for a very believable couple and at the end I found myself really caring for them, which was a bit cheesy of me. :)

One of my favourite scenes takes place at a bowling alley. Love it when they jump and run near the end:

?)MONDAY GIG|^

Seems noone took pictures from Monday night while Cold War Kids were on stage. I don't need them though, 'cause I witnessed it all myself. I did bring my camera along, but didn't use it. Can´t take pictures and enjoy the performance completely at the same time. So I left it in my backpack and didn´t take it out. There wasn't much stage light anyway. I was standing up at the front. I was at Paradiso like an hour before they were supposed to show up which was 20.30, but they took a while before coming on stage. When they eventually did they gave a very vibrant performance. They had fun and it showed. It was cool to watch them going completely up in their music. It's important a band still enjoys doing gigs, having to play the same songs over and over and sound fresh to a new and different audience every night. Nathan Willett's voice, the band's frontman, sounded as bluesy live as on the albums. Highlight was the last track of the show after they already left the stage but came back to do two more songs. I knew what the setlist was going to be so I was already expecting Saint John, one of my favourite tracks from their first album Robbers & Cowards. And as can be heard on the album one of the band members brought an empty bottle and hit on it with a stick, which at times made me just a little bit afraid it would shatter into pieces with pieces of broken glass flying my way. It made their performance very energetic though. The dimmed lighting really fitted all that the band stands for, being known for singing not so positive songs, especially on their last album which sounds a bit darker and more bluesy than their first. Their first one being a bit more soulful. I was wondering how the songs from their latest album would sound live and I'll be honest in saying that I expected them to be a bit boring and tough to go through. But to my surprise they sounded very danceable and thus I was moving almost the entire show and the longer they played the more I lost myself in the music. So I was very happy with the way they performed their tracks live. I do really like their new album and found it to be very funky, but yes, most songs don't have that commercial appeal and are less expected to be singles than some of the songs of their first record. So overall it was an amazing night and a great warm-up for Wolf Parade who I will see December 2nd. That one is really going to rock my socks and I expect the crowd to go completely crazy including me. I can't wait!

>"UNKNOWN WHITE MALE%$

I just came back from working at SMART some minutes ago. Yesterday I went to see Cold War Kids, I know, will tell about that later. But, have to tell about this film I saw tonight. Like with the Lynch one I was allowed to watch a film. This time I saw Unknown White Male a documentary which has affected me deeply. Every human being needs to see this film. Why? Because it tells you all about who we 'are', about what identity is. It's a amazing documentary about this guy who one day loses his memory while taking the New York underground. Memory loss just all of a sudden kicks in. When it happens you're not even aware of it immediately. By the time this guy realized he didn't know who he was anymore, it was already the next day and he was somewhere he didn't know. It really is the most fascinating thing. Once he is found by someone who knows him and taken back home he has to face his past. A past only the people who know him hold. He himself has no memory of past events. He doesn't know who he was and has no sense of identification with the person he sees on photos, the guy he used to be. Watching this film suddenly you become aware of how things which seem so normal become strange and really receive meaning. When you would walk into my room you would go like, haaaa, yep, that's Danilo, typically him. But think about losing your memory and than enetering your own room which tells everything about you. You come to rediscover yourself, you come to face the person you are, were, or are supposed to be. It's the craziest thing. You basically have all these things, objects, saying this is you, this is all yours, this is part of you, you bought these things, choose them, but you yourself have no recollection of it, no memory. These things belong to that person you're supposed to be but are no more. And while this guy tries to find out who he is he gets the chance to start all over again. He is able to reinvent himself. He's like a newborn baby who doscovers life but from an adult perspective. He became so fascinated about everything, had to rediscover things like the ocean, snow, eating a hamburger. Everything. It is incredible to watch. It's scary but also such a beautiful thing. I think a lot of people would love to get the chance to start over, though it's a huge sacrifice, 'cause you won't remember your closest friends, your family. And for them, you suddenly have become a stranger. They will be afraid what you will come to think of them, will you still like them as your friends? You might have changed, your dad doesn't recognize you anymore, or there have been character traits you now have but didn't in the past. You've changed and you might never go back to being the same. Like a child you are formed again by all you see and experience, you start completely anew, from the start. This film, ughhh, see it. SEE IT! It's incredible. You will get the urge to write things down while watching, call friends to tell them they NEED to see this film. It's that kind of movie. It's remarkable. There are skeptics out there though who say the film is a hoax and is all staged, fake because the director has provided so little real proof. I don't know if that's true, but nomatter if it is or isn't the questions it comes to raise and which you leave the cinema with are what are the most important and makes all this so fascinating and affective. The questions are the core of the film, the idea of what if this all would happen to you, you could start life over again, really anew, fresh and the way identity is formed, how much we know about our friends, or actually how little. Noone knows everything about me, only me. So if I lose my memory of my past I might not be the same person anymore, I might become interested in complete different things. And my friends and family will realize what our friendship really consisted of. This guy was a supporter of Chelsea and with one of his friends he always talked about cricket. These were things they shared in common, both liked, now all that was gone and the guy didn't even know what cricket was. Crazy things like that. This film had a similar effect to the effect The Matrix had on me when I first saw it, that one raised so many questions and this film does as well. It's a fascinating piece.

:_TONIGHT I'LL GO TO WAR$#

Cold War Kids will be in Paradiso tonight and I'm going to be there! Can't wait :)

(*FINALLY, REPRISE!@

It was never so much about what I missed, story-wise, but the way what I missed was shown. How it ended, the story, was less important than how it ended visually. I remember being really annoyed by not having seen the ending. It was the main reason and the real eye-opener, of why nowadays I never, but really NEVER, go drink something before the start of a movie. At least, not when I'm about to see it at a cinema. When I'm at home playing it myself I can put it on hold and start it again whenever I want. I love Reprise. I really do. It's a film which shows how important the wrapping of something is, the way the product is presented. I mean, every story almost is the same or is about the same things. Boy, girl, in love etc. But it's the way how you tell it that makes it special and different from the rest. Joachim Trier achieves just that. He has made of Reprise this perfect atmospheric film by the way he edits, mixes up images with dialogue coming from different scenes, having characters move their lips, but the conversation being heard taking place at a different time. Reprise feels so fresh and so daring. It's so full of details. Yesterday after watching C.R.A.Z.Y. I watched the making-of of the film and I realized again how everything you shoot, the images, all of it, is just only to have content. There's a story in your head that you want to tell. But in order to do so you need content, you need the visuals. Those thoughts in your head translated into filmic images. Once you have your content you can start telling your story by editing it. That's what all of this really is about. All these directors want to do is tell a story and the way they want to tell it depends on the content they shoot. Between the writing down of the story and the editing process is this large gap. Without content the director can't tell anything. You need those images.

Here are some words by Mr. Joachim Trier himself, showing all the different layers which Reprise contains. It's about two young wannabe writers trying to write in fresh ways and being different in order to be able and distinguish oneself from the rest, while the film itself is so cut up and kind of questions this whole idea about what real writing is about. Also, the idea of the artist who goes mad, the mad scientist in a way, who suffers because of his art, his creative yearnings. Oh, and Mr. Trier is a former skateboarding champion. Coolness.

(@CRAZY 'BOUT C.R.A.Z.Y.<{

Just finished watching C.R.A.Z.Y., I finally got to see it. It has been one of those movies I really wanted to see for a long time and lately the thought of buying it crossed my mind many times. So when I found Reprise, the film of which I missed the ending because I had to pee BADLY(!) for 8 euros in the DVD Valley (great DVD shop in Haarlem) and which I took from the shelf without any hesitation, I decided to buy C.R.A.Z.Y. as well, which had the same price. As expected it easily lived up to my expectations. It's such a cool film and the main character Zac is so easy to relate to, he's a great example to every kid growing up. The best scene I wanted to share plays to David Bowie's Space Oddity. If only I had seen it on the big screen, would have been magical. The screen of my laptop is alright too though. The actor who plays the father in the film, Michel Côté, is brilliant in this. So well played. Loved his performance. The only negative thing about this movie I can think of is that it makes smoking look majorly cool! :D

But right now I present to you, youth coming of age captured in 2.32 minutes (Recommend you to turn up the volume!):



+ I LOVE my job at SMART, can't say it enough! :-)

$&LATE NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY SESSION?|

I took some quick photos last night after working at SMART. It was already something after 1am I think, but I just needed to take pictures of this graffiti on the wall of this tunnel just behind the building where I live. I didn't care about lighing, angle, taking a good shot as I was tired and wanted to crawl into my bed. But I just needed to have it photographed. So I took my camera and shot these while sitting on my bike. Next time I will try and take some more interesting ones and some that are less shaky. :D

$!MR. LYNCH HAS BEEN MEDITATING FOR OVER 33 YEARS|}

Last night I had to work at SMART cinema and got to watch my first movie there for free. Because my colleague Carina didn't mind me leaving early as all movies were already playing and those would be the last ones for the day, instead of leaving I asked if it would be alright to watch the movie that was playing in the big cinema. She was alright with that, so therefore I ended up seeing this documentary about David Lynch, called Lynch, or Lynch (One) by blackANDwhite. I have to say I feel so cool showing the movie for the people and then getting to watch the movie myself. It's so fun to work at this place. I love this job. So what I learned from the documentary. Well, firstly, Mr. Lynch meditates. Funny. He loves visiting old factories. And started making photographs dogitally. I already knew he shot his last film Inland Empire digitally, so nothing new there, but stil it was nice to see some footage of him at the set of the film. I learned how he works with his actors like Laura Dern, how he directs. I love him for the fact that he´s very involved and does a lot of things himself. That's something I can really appreciate. I love artists who are really in control of their work. I once again realized how it has to be like working on a film set as an actor and how fun it is to act and really be able to be busy with it and get directions from the director you are working with. It´s really fun. Lynch is also a sound engineer and used this old gramophone player to get some freaky sounds. The guy loves France and celebrates the 14th of July, Bastille day. I guess there was more, but so far this is what I could remember right now of all the things I found out about the guy. I also loved his appreciation of a good photograph, it's nice to see someone so passionate about something. And of course his hair, so fun this guy must be.