Rest

Ugh, I'm so happy for you! I wish I could go back and watch Cherbourg for the first time again. It's absolutely brilliant and so is The Young Girls of Rochefort (with a Gene Kelly cameo, if you're into Singin' in the Rain). Haven't seen Lola, but I'll try to, given your recommendation!

Completely agree re: Martin Short. If/when you get around to Inherent Vice, he's essentially playing the same character. Very disconcerting. My main thoughts about the show are in the C&M thread, but I think it might be better spread out, rather than binged like I did. Maybe I'll go back in a few weeks and rewatch at a more leisurely pace.

Well, I just listened to Illinois, and it was certainly substantial! There were definitely some tracks that I liked a lot, but I completely understand the Bon Iver comparison (which isn't a selling point to me). Think I'll need to give it another listen when I'm less tired.

The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt theme, however, I could easily listen to on repeat for the same time as Illinois (like 70 minutes or something) and never get bored: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYNbp0u8WjA. Females are strong as hell!

FUCK I just saw that you've downloaded Carrie & Lowell but haven't listened yet. it is absolutely fucking monumental. I loooove Sufjan in the first place so maybe I'm a tad biased but it's definitely my favorite album of his and probably will end up my AOTY even though it's only March. it's devastating and beautiful. aaaaaaaaaaaaa

Ah, you and me are complete opposites in our musical love. I cannot stand most traditional ones; especially stage adapations. Sound of Music drives me up the wall, the opening sequence of West Side Story annoys the shit out of me etc. (Although I do like Chicago, but more as a guilty pleasure than anything else.) Ones made especially for the screen, however, I tend to like more. The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, A Star is Born, New York, New York, All That Jazz, and the aforementioned DotD (which you should definitely check out for all of its Bjorkiness; I run very hot-and-cold on von Trier but love this one and Dogville) are all some of my favourite films of all time.

Is it bad that I've never heard a Sufjan Stevens song? I always got him confused, until fairly recently, with Cat Stevens/Yusuf Islam so never really explored his musical ouevre. The Tame Impala song is good, though. Not a massive fan of theirs but this one was nice to listen along to at work.

I'm so glad I'm not at university any more. Although, even still, we only had exams at the end of the academic year (so, May/June), so I guess I count myself lucky in that regard.

Re: MttS: I loved Julianne Moore. I loved Mia Wasikowska. I loved how ugly everyone looked. I loved the score. I haaaaaaaaaaaated everything else. Absolutely hated. When I left the cinema, I thought to myself "at least it wasn't as bad as Cosmopolis" but then as I walked back to my hotel (I saw it in Austria), I kinda reconsidered my opinion. It just seemed to really strike a nerve with me, for reasons I can't really explain. At least it's never boring; I'll give it that.

I would not have had you pegged as a musical fan! I guess you like music and film so it sort of makes sense, but even still, the styles of something like Sondheim et al are quite removed from Trophy Scars and whatnot. What are your favourite musicals!? Are you more of a traditionalist (Sound of Music, My Fair Lady etc.) or do you like the more avant-garde ones (Dancer in the Dark, Hedwig and the Angry Inch etc.) or both?

You seem to have exams all the time! Didn't you have some a few weeks ago!?

Ray is getting some story but Shosh is retreating as a character, unfortunately. It's definitely becoming The Hannah And Friends Show, however, instead of Girls. Honestly, I'd recommend Broad City before Girls; that shit is great! Just started Kimmy Schmidt this afternoon and it's very watchable, even if it's not yet at the heights of 30 Rock.

And your list is hella interesting! I detested Maps to the Stars, but I appreciate it's very polarising so understand how people can love it. I'm so glad you liked American Sniper but am really surprised that Jersey Boys is there! I didn't see it, but I also didn't read anything good about it in the slightest (which led me to not see it), so I'd be fascinated to hear what you liked about that. I had an opportunity to see Jauja at the LFF but passed it up for something else (can't remember what); when it gets generally released, I'll be sure to see it. But yeah, fascinating list!

Didn't hear anything great about Lilting, so I didn't see it. I'm also not a big Ben Whishaw fan, so I guess I'm glad I didn't miss anything, even if it meant you had to be subjected to it!

Jake Lacy was on the latest episode of Girls and as soon as I saw him I thought "Rest is going to be so happy!" It's a brief stint, but he's very good in a small role.

that whole song is full of stunning lyrics really. probably my favorite song of theirs now, tbh. "Heated Swimming Pool" is wonderful, I'm partial to "Christmas Card" and "Catalina Fight Song" personally. let me know what you think of it on this next go.

"Your Deep Rest" is one of the most affecting songs ever lyrically as far as I'm concerned, it's absolutely heartbreaking; there are literally no weak tracks on that album. I used to think "In Framing" wasn't great but I was so wrong.

no good emo releases this year as far as I've heard; however TWIABP will probably be putting out their next record sometime soon so I'm so excited for that. new Viet Cong was good; personally (and this is weird for me) my favorite release of the year so far is the new Drake type. I don't even know why. I'm so so so so so excited for new Sufjan Stevens, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and Mountain Goats stuff tho. that's gonna be great. never listened to the new of Montreal, actually! only albums I've heard of theirs are Hissing Fauna and The Gay Parade.

I like Birdman. I understand why people hate it so much but I just can't muster up that level of vitriol for a kooky comedy about the theatre/Hollywood/art and all that. It wouldn't have been my first pick in any category (I'm still on the Dick Poop train when it comes to cinematography) but it's better than an Imitation Game sweep or something like that. Silver linings! If there was one that slightly irked me, however, it was the screenplay award, as Birdman was good in spite of, rather than because of, its screenplay! And it would have been a perfect opportunity to recognise Wes Anderson.

Thank you for the very kind words but, especially for the next few months, I'm just going to be too busy to do any serious writing. I'll only probably see about one or two films per week (including repertory ones like Punch-Drunk Love and Blow-Up) in any case, and when I do log them, it's more a case of word vomit than anything else.

I was really disappointed in Kumiko, as I'd heard good things about it and Fargo is one of my favourite films of all time. I knew the brief outline of the true story upon which it was based, and the film didn't illuminate anything new, nor did it make what I did know remotely interesting. If it were challenging or doing something against the grain, I'd recommend seeing it in spite of my lack of enthusiasm, but the worst thing about it is that it's so boring!

And yeah, I'd already seen the rule changes. Interesting. That is, until OITNB/Shameless/Jane the Virgin successfully campaign to be reclassified, then it all becomes the exact same as it was before! I guess we'll wait and find out. I love a good entertainment judicial arbitration!

Here's the best picture I could take. Was pretty far back.

If you ever get to see him, get as far to the front as possible and he will touch your hand many, many times! He went into the crowd at least twice, split the set roughly equally: half Black Messiah, half Brown Sugar/Voodoo (which I don't know as well, but 'Brown Sugar' was definitely a highlight). Two encores, the latter of which was an extended 'Untitled (How Do You Feel)' where he gave props to all of The Vanguard, which was a really nice touch. Only bad part was he kept us waiting a lot: started about 40 minutes late, and reeeeeeeally pushed it with the length of time waiting for encores; people next to me were a bit pissed. Other than that it was fucking amazing!

Also, before I left, I put some - very wrong - Oscar predictions up on the ol' blog. You should check 'em out if you have time. They will be wrong, but I guess I'm sticking with them...

man I have no idea what changed but now it just feels so full of life, and "Falling in Love Again" kind of fucks me up every time I listen to it now. "thanks for showing me around last night I hope you don't think I don't care" is such a great line to me for some reason, and the synth line that goes through like 30 seconds of it towards the end is just golden. and everything else on the album is so full of emotion too. I thought it had kinda been sapped of its emotion because of the production when I'd first heard it but the production is actually really good, it's very dynamic and Loud which is pretty much what this shit begs for. when I get my license I'm gonna drive around with it a lot.

and The Hotelier live is such a fucking experience. "An Introduction to the Album" was religious. I was screaming along the whole time. they were opening for The World Is a Beautiful Place so it was just an extraordinary gig, I myself would kill to go back there.

I saw St. Vincent last year, hence the date: 25th October 2014. She didn't do any crowdsurfing, unfortunately, but was her tripped-out weird self between songs.

Will let you know about D'Angelo on Sunday. Should be good! And I'm well aware of how much scum I am!

Funny you should mention that, FKA twigs is actually playing London on Thursday and I tried to get tickets but they're all sold out and I'm not paying £200 for secondary market tickets.

St. Vincent, on the other hand...

Also, not to make you too jealous:

Yeah, I know Hong is prolific; I've just never seen anything of his. I'll try Oki's Movie and give it a shot.

Glad you like my picks. I will do descriptions as to 'why' for each of them; I wrote some for the first three categories (including one in which I liken Mark Bridges to Roger Deakins) but then work started and I had precisely 0 time. And congratulations on finishing your exams! Now be a good cinephile and watch all the films on my lists that you haven't, yet!

Happy Valentine's Day. Descriptions will have to come later when I'm not swamped with work!

You posted your most recent VM to your own profile so I've just seen it now when profile stalking! And I've just started a new job this week and it's been hella busy on my end so my blog thing will have to wait until the weekend. I'll put up the actors then because I know you want those first, and then do the rest at some point.

I've never seen a Hong film before. I've heard that if you've seen one you've seen them all, but I haven't seen any so I guess can't really comment. You a fan? And yeah, The Tribe is absolutely amazing. I was a bit skeptical going in: how good can a film told entirely in un-subtitled Ukrainian sign language be? My fears were alleviated within 5 minutes and my jaw was practically on the floor throughout. It's utterly mesmerising. See it as soon as you can!

I'm DYING to want to go to a festival. I've been searching for films to see but apparently the ones I'm keen on are all still in the festival circuit, namely The Tribe (Your Film of 2014 which honestly looks fantastic), Hill of Freedom by Hong Sang-Soo, Hard to Be a God by Aleksey German and Lav Diaz's From What Is Before). So many good stuff coming out!

Anyways sorry for the late reply! Exams season right now and I've been cramming to death this past week. Pray for me ;; Will probs return to my old film-binging-till-the-mornin' ways come Friday! And don't be such a tease! Update your dead blog already ;)

Also, given its guild showings so far, maybe Birdman for Best Picture isn't such a pipe-dream after all!