Thompson Brand Partners

British Sea Power - Man of Aran

In London Thursday for a couple of client meetings, which had been conveniently arranged around the one off sceening and live scoring of the legendary docudrama 'Man of Aran' by renowned film maker Robert Flaherty. The live score was courtesy of British Sea Power, no stranger to this blog...

Tickets were courtesy of our friends at the Southbank Centre (as I missed the on sale date...d'oh) and as I settled down for the one-off performance I was looking forward to seeing something completely unique. A silent 1930s film scored by one of the UKs most unique and innovative bands? Pass the popcorn.

I wasn't disappointed. The film depicts the epic struggle of man against nature on a desolate island off the coast of Ireland and although it was only filmed around 70 year ago, it might well have been 300 years ago with so little of their existence changing over time. The music was a perfect accompaniment to the film - lush, powerful, sumptuous, moving. At times you really did forget that it was a silent film and there was a full band on stage.

I can't think of many bands who'd attempt something as ambitious as this (some might say pretentious, but I'd challenge that) and actually pull it off. Outstanding.

Who watches the watchmen?

Well, me for a start.

I have an interest to declare on The Watchmen. First published in 1986, it was the first 'graphic novel' of it's kind and pretty much revolutionised not only the genre, but superheroes in general. And I loved it.

I firmly believe that without Alan Moore's and Dave Gibbon's creation, we would never have had the dark re-imagining of superheroes and in conjunction with Frank Miller's Dark Knight, changed the world of fantasy film making forever. Never has so much been owed to so few etc.

So it was with some nervousness that I approached Zack Snyder's attempt to put on screen what had been widely thought to be 'unfilmable'. Moore of course has disowned it (as with all his previous movie versions, quite rightly in some cases) but he needn't have done that.

I think the film is very game attempt at capturing the rich complexity and incredible ambition contained in the original book. It was a book that always wanted to be more that a comic book and challenge the notion that serious and adult storytelling could be told through this medium. 

The film captures this beautifully and because of the 18 certificate it doesn't seem beholden to creating a 'superhero blockbuster' by filling it with action, dumbing down the layers of complexity, cutting back on the violence and toning down the very adult themes. It's a very grown up film and I imagine hard for modern audiences to get to grips with (for starters, its almost three hours long) in particular the existentialist heart of the film and quite unpalatable structure by modern standards.

Visually, it's a joy to behold and the art direction is straight out of the book which is quite remarkable given its age. Non superhero fans will find much to enjoy in this but may find some of Moore's cod philosophising a little hard to swallow. All in all though, well worth seeing on the big screen before it scuttles off to the inevitable Blu Ray special edition.

Best of British

We asked everyone what their favourite British film was as part of a pitch we're pulling together...

Let us know if you think we've missed anything obvious.

This is England

It contains the best chat up line ever heard by a 12 year old... “I just wondered if you’d like to be my girlfriend. I think you’re lovely” 

Sam

 

Withnail And I

Simply one of the funniest films ever made. Fact. “Look at that. “Accident Blackspot”? These aren’t accidents. They’re throwing themselves into the road gladly. Throwing themselves into the road to escape all this hideousness.”

Martin

 

The Wicker Man

A brilliant combination of sinister pagan murder and almost over the top jaunty folk music. A great combination in anyones book. Lord Summerisle: “Do sit down, Sergeant. Shocks are so much better absorbed with the knees bent.”

Adam

Sexy Beast

For me this is British film making at its very best. I love the storyline, the characters and the setting of sweaty Malaga which is portrayed so brilliantly. I think Don Logan one of the best British villains of all time! A good British film is always tongue in cheek and a bit quirky, a bit weird - Sexy Beast certainly fits the bill and it gets better every time I watch it.

Chloe

The Italian Job

For the minis buzzing around the streets of Turin and for Michael Caine’s legendary quotes.

Paul

If

I saw it at a particularly formative time in my life. I was about 13-14. The film is essentially a story about a riot in a public school. It totally fitted my attitude and emerging politics at the time. The style is definitely weird and idiosyncratic – Lindsay Anderson does things his way – uncompromisingly so. I still watch it from time to time when I feel that age might be mellowing me.

Ian

 

Pride and Prejudice

I love romance in books or film and this is my favourite of all time.

Liz

 

A matter of life and death

A film completely ahead of its time. Modernist and dramatic with one of the best openings to any film. The sense that David Niven is about to die any moment and the conversation he has with KIm Hunter packs an enormous punch still to this day. There's something new every time you see it and the sense of other worldliness is palpable.

Phil

 

Trainspotting

One of the most controversial films of its time and will always be one of the greatest made in my opinion.

Lynn

 

Rebecca

A timeless classic. Brilliantly written, brilliantly made. The opening line is awesome... "Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again"

Nat

Great Expectations 

I love Dickens and I love this film. With dama and comedy it has everything that a film can offer, simply wonderful.

Cynthia

 

Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels

An innovative film of its time with a great cast and soundtrack and its one of those films that you can watch again and again and always find something new you didn’t really notice before.

Anna

 

Lawrence of Arabia

This film is crammed full of amazing scenes which I will never forget. David Lean's cinematography is absolutely ravishing and a feast for the eyes. If you haven’t seen it you really should!

Clare

 

A genial nutcase.

Watched ‘Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden’, recently and it did the business for me. Morgan’s missus is pregnant so he goes in search of the world’s most wanted man to secure a safer world in time for the birth. It didn’t do well critically – most critics don’t like his gimmicky approach, just as they don’t like Michael Moore’s confrontational worthiness. I think his geniality works a treat though, just the way it does with Louis Theroux. He seems to be able to diffuse the most incredibly serious subjects right where they’re most sensitive, by asking very direct, but seemingly innocent questions. The film does a brilliant job of removing some of the mystery that surrounds the Middle East. Couldn’t help thinking that it was pretty irresponsible going to what were obviously really dangerous places just before the birth of your child. Kinda wished I had the balls though. The film ends with a great montage of all the protagonists trying not to smile at the camera but giving in. This alone did a lot to humanize some of the people who’d delivered some seriously anti-western polemics.

Somers Town

On one of last week's trips to London, we managed to squeeze in a late night showing of Somers Town. Directed by Shane Meadows (This is England), it's a beautifully told tale of friendship set in a part of London most of us probably don't know exists.

It really has a lot going for it. Running at around 75 minutes, it certainly bucks the trend for backside numbing blockbusters and it's certainly non the worse for that. Starring the brilliant Thomas Turgoose (first seen as the would be skin in This is England), it has a cracking cast of unknown actors.

Shot almost entirely in black and white, it's a perfectly realised independent British film that will only be in the multiplexes for a nanosecond. so blink and you'll miss it. Well worth hunting out if you can catch it at your local arthouse cinema and most certainly on dvd.

Special mention has to go the soundtrack - there are some genuinely moving songs written and performed by Gavin Clark and Ted Barnes. You can hear them here http://www.somers-town.com

Although the film's running time is short, it definitely doesn't feel inconclusive or unsatisfying - on the contrary, this is a funny, wistful, and poignant film that delivers a rich, satisfying and very human experience which is often lacking at the cinema these days.

Kung Fu

A few of the Thompson team made the journey to Bradford last night to enjoy the awesome Kung Fu Panda movie in superbig size, courtesy of the IMAX screen and our pals at the National Media Museum. If you think you are intellectually superior, or far too sophisticated to enjoy a movie about a noodle selling panda being selected as the Dragon Slayer- you're wrong. Animation is officially cool again.

Sex...

...And the City

So last night we gathered, women of Thompson, and participated in the long awaited girlie ritual of the SATC movie. The cinema crowd was made up of the entire female population of Leeds under 35, three gay men, one under-the-thumb boyfriend and one extremely kind Dad. You felt for the men, you really did.

It felt good to be reunited with the four gals, NYC and of course, those incredible clothes. It didn't feel so good to see that Carrie was still involved with the hideous Mr Big but we did finally discover his name...

A must-see girlie movie, not to be missed!

Persepolis

Persepolis is a warm and touching story of a young girl growing up in 1970's Iran and her story is told against the backdrop of revolution and war.

It's not as grim as it sounds - in fact it's probably the funniest film I've seen for some time.

Adapted from the autobiographical graphic novel of Marjane Satrapi's life, the film is beautiful to look at and the animation is simple and powerful.

Go see it if you get the chance.