Sunday, August 03, 2008

So I made it out the door. How about that? Never gave myself the chance to hum and haw, maybe that's the secret... Cnyway, caught 3 movies in 2 cinemas in 6 hours. A mini film festival all to myself. The Cameo double of "Old Joy" and "Junebug" had a notable tie up because Will Oldham is in both and Yo La Tengo score the two. YLT's soundtrack work is really something. Particularly in "OJ". The film itself is about two guys who go out to try and reclaim their closeness in the Oregon woods. Nothing much happens. they go to Bagby Hot Springs and return home. The scenery looks like the drive up to Loch Ness.

I'd forgotten much of "Junebug" despite having seen it at a previous EIFF. It's a nice little film and the fact that it doesn't have a happy ending in conventional terms makes it all the more special. So all that finished in nice time to cut along the road to catch "Berlin". There were 4 people in the theatre watching this including me.

The album material itself is amazing. "Caroline Says II" and "Sad Song" being particularly moving. I don't know if it was just my mood but I was thinking along the lines that these two songs in particular might be among the best concert film I've ever seen. And Steve Hunter's guitar - what a treat. Took me back to The Apollo and the "Rock'nRoll Animal" tour.

There is a flaw though, from the highs of the main event - the encore starts with Antony Hegarty caterwauling through "Candy Says". I was reminded watching this of a description offered up my one Doctor H of Montana some time ago on the subject. I'll leave it at that. Almost is bad is something called "Rock Minuet" that follows it. Redeption is at hand though with a great version of "Sweet Jane" that unwraps during the end titles. Lou himself was looking uncharacteristically chuffed throughout to the point of an actual smile cracking his face on a couple of occasions.

It begins a run in Glasgow next week and I'd recommend the main concert sequence. As a production goes, it's pretty amazing. Bob Ezrin and Hal Willner did a great job as did Julian Schnabel getting this to the screen.

Where do you stand on artists playing their albums like "pieces" these days? It certainly aids some who otherwise couldn't pace a set supposing their lives depended on it but I'm not convinced it's the way ahead.

So anyway, this thing is about to be switched off for the evening. Goodnicht.

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