Steve Jobs — THE Biopic … !

23rd March, 2016.

You know, it’s not that often I get to watch a film, these days.

In point of fact, I’ve been discussing that with a few friends, over the past few days.

Between work, writing the Teasers, and a column for the Gazette?

I don’t get as much time as I’d want.

Actually … ?   Most of the conversations centred on me subscribing to Netflix.

From what I’m told, it’s services are pretty good.

But even at its cheapest?

It’s something I’m still thinking is … uneconomical: I usually only get the equivalent of one movie a month, and, while I’m aware there’s some damn good TV on there, as well?

It’s still not necessarily the first thing I’m going to be spending money on.

At ANY rate … ?

At ANY rate, this month’s unusual.

For recent times.

I‘ve managed to see three films.

Dad’s Army.

The Martian.

And tonight’s film: one I’ve been meaning to catch for a while.

The biopic that is … 

Steve Jobs.

~≈Î≈~

Jobs: About That Biopic … …

5th February, 2015.

You know, just for once … ?   Just for once … ?

Just for once, I’m going to put the poster on the left hand side.

No, really.

Normally, when I write about the films I watch, I tend to put the posters on the right hand side of the post: and write the text down the left.

Tonight … ?

I thought I’d swap.

A bit.

Frankly … ?

I’m in something of an odd mood, to be honest.   And felt the change would be a good thing: however actually minor the change may be.

At ANY rate … ?

At any rate, I had a quiet night in, tonight.

A quiet night in … and a few films in the collection I’d not actually sat down and watched.

Including the one I’ve just finished watching, not twenty minutes ago.

The 2013 biopic that is … 

Jobs.

And yes: much as I’m a fan of both Apple — as a maker of rather good products — and of the man himself — very few CEO’s are that charismatic — I’m not sure the film managed to hit the mark …

~≈Ê≈~

Bronson: Blood, Guts and serious aggro

You know, I've got to admit that every-so-often, it's nice to have a change of operating system.

Just very occasionally, I should add.

Which is why I thought I should tell you about the film I managed to catch, last, on the family desktop, that's running Ubuntu 12.04 Precise Pangolin.

I wouldn't get too excited, though: it's going back home on Sunday!

At any rate ... ?

At any rate, let's get moving on, shall we ... ?

~~~

And let me tell you that I had something of the night to myself.

But I did have the company of a certain Mr Charles Bronson.

Or, at least, the movie about him.

And BEFORE I confuse my overseas readers, I'm talking, here about the 2009 Nicholas Winding Refn directed movie, Bronson: all about Charles Bronson, the man described as Britain's most violent prisoner.

Bronson sees Tom Hardy - who I'd last seen in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy - as the film's (real-world) central character, Micheal Peterson: a man who changes his name to that of the movie star to follow a career in bare-knuckle boxing.

Only to have this interrupted, when, after robbing a post-office of just over £26, being sentenced to 7 years in prison.

Ending up serving quite a bit longer, as a result of being - as he, himself puts it - somebody nobody want's to f*ck with.

~~~

Now ... 

Am I going to tell you this is a good film ... ?

You BET I am.

While I can't tell you if Hardy's portrayal of Bronson is in any way true to life, I AM certain his performance as the main character is one of the most riveting thing I've seen on a DVD in years.

On top of that ... ?

On top of that, there's ALSO the fact that Refn's direction and framing of shots - as with the other film of his I've seen, Valhalla Rising - is absolutely amazing.

The combination of the two make Bronson a violent, but worthwhile watch.

Enjoy it, when you get it ... !

Bronson

★★★★

Great Balls Of Fire: What MORE do I say … ?

You know before I go any further, can I make a confession, or two … ?

One of them … ?

Is simply that I’ve opened up one or two posts like that …

The other … ?

Is that I find the iTunes 10•1•1 Dock icon very similar to the Mac App Store icon.

I’m not complaining too much.

Firstly … ?

Because I can always move the two icons further apart, just to make sure I don’t get them mixed up.

And secondly … ?

I’ve found a freebie on there, called Pangea Arcade — Pangeasoft’s take on three old arcade games — that’s an absolute stunner.

Especially the one called Nucleus.

Shoaib, Myles, don’t go near it, trust me, you’ll get really distracted!!!!!!!!

Actually, if it was a movie … ?

Well …

I’m tempted to burble, I really am …

If you’ve got a Mac, complete with Snow Leoprad 10•6•6 and up … ?

GO GET NOW ★★★★

»»•««

Lets get moving on, shall we … ?

Yes, lets … !

I actually meant to tell you that Movie Night Adrian, Squeaky and I got a touch retro last night.

Depending on how you define retro, of course …

You see, Adrian managed to wonder over with the 1989, Jim McBride directed biopic that is — was … ? — Great Balls of Fire.

You’ve not seen it … ?

You can probably tell who it’s about, given the title …

Great Balls of Fire charts the early rise of Rock & Roll icon, Jerry Lee Lewis, played by Dennis Quaid.

Going from his early childhood friendship with his cousin, Jimmy Swaggart, it shows us how the pianist — and noted early hellraiser — is signed by Sam Phillips of Sun Records: and shows us the Killer’s career rapidly going up …

And almost as rapidly hitting the rocks, when, touring England a few years later, news that Jerry Lee has married his cousin leaks.

His thirteen year old cousin …

»»•««

You can understand why there was a bit of a rumpus, can’t you … ?

Granted, I know they did things differently in the southern US, back then …

»»•««

At any rate …

At any, rate, Great Balls of Fire, is a very entertaining film entertaining film, well worth catching.

Especially given the soundtrack.

I think we can leave the man himself to comment, can’t we … ?

Great Balls O’ Fire … ?

Keeper ★★★☆

Cast Member	Rôle
Dennis Quaid	Jerry Lee Lewis
Winona Ryder	Myra Gale Brown
Trey Wilson	Sam Phillips
Alec Baldwin	Jimmy Swaggart

Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll … !

Do you remember, back in January, I told you about the rite de passage movie that was The Boat That Rocked?

The Richard Curtis penned filmed, loosely based on the story of Radio Caroline, was and is a wonderfully up-beat film that had those of us watching it, that night, laughing outright.

Tonight’s film didn’t …

Tonight’s film — the independently produced and funded biopic of Ian Dury, Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll — was an altogether different kettle of musical fish.

Very different, actually.

Because, for a start, it’s a very decent attempt* to tell the story of the life of Blockheads frontman, disability campaignerº, actor and poet, Ian Dury.

Very decent: after all, how on earth are you supposed to sum up the life of one of Britain’s most fluent songwriters and performers … ?

Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll does it by getting Dury himself to tell it, from a stage.

You notice I said ‘Dury’?

When I could well have said Andy Serkis, as Ian Dury … ?

I think that’s possibly the correct way to do it.

Now, I personally think that Andy Serkis should have got at least an Oscar nomination for his work as Gollum, in Peter Jackson’s The Lord Of The Rings trilogy, as — given the way the films were made — it would have been impossible to show Gollum without his contribution.

And I’m thinking it would be a shame if Serkis doesn’t get one for his convincing portrayal of one of British music’s most inspiring figures.

•••••

Now, I could tell you all about the plot for Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll.

I could.

I’m not.

In part, because, as you well know by now, other people do that a lot better than I.

But mostly … ?

Mostly because I think you should see this film.

If nothing else, for Serkis’ frighteningly good stage performances as the late great Ian Dury.

So good that — according to one comment on IMDb, about the film — he’s been asked to tour … with The Blockheads, themselves … !

How the hell do you argue with that … ?

* I’m going on the fact that I read Dury biography — also called Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll — many years ago. Fascinating stuff.

º The film also features, in various flashback forms, various events from Dury’s life in of the schools for the disabled that were run during the 1950s: and a nightmare performance of Spasticus Autisticus …