Twilight Review

Went to see Twilight and enjoyed it. Sort of a "Lost Boys" update for the noughties (although the cool 80's soundtrack of The Lost Boys is a lot more guiltily enjoyable!)

Good performances and some good vampire moments (the baseball stand off and the van crush.) There are different kinds of vampires! Animal eaters and human eaters! Make the right choice! Liked the ending as well, no way that certain character would just "run away"! A little distracted by the heroine's Mum who was such a pain to Jack Bauer in the first 3 days of 24!!

I thought the direction was superb, Catherine Hardwicke really put her stamp on proceedings and totally agree with her when she decided to back out of the sequel. This second film has a release date of November 2009! Yes 2009! Less than a year away! Bizarre "only in Hollywood" kind of decision to rush proceedings to that extent. Twilight was so superb I say the studio should give this woman what she wants and set a more realistic 2010 release date. To now hire the guy who put together the woeful "Golden Compass" disaster is probably going to ruin another FX laden franchise. Oh well!

Quantum Of Solace Review

Quantum Of Solace is a great movie. But the question is, is it a great Bond movie? I'm not sure. I'm all for re-invention, and Casino Royale was a great re-invention, we all had had enough of invisible cars! But despite enjoying the action in the first 10 minutes of this movie, I was greatly distracted by the fact that there was no gun barrell! At the beginning of the movie. You know the bit I mean, chasing white circles on black background centre on 007 who shoots at us down a gun barrell!!

Well as those of you who have by now seen the film, you will know that this iconic moment occurs at the end of the film just before the credits, when we again, a la Casino Royale hear the Bond theme in all its glory for the first time.

Cone on! One of the most instantly recognisable themes in history relegated to end credit status once again! David Arnold I like you, you're from Luton after all, but really, you have some excellent themes but none will ever match the classic theme!

Daniel Craig is a superb, ruthless, steely eyed Bond, Judi Dench is a great M, but this film has become a lot more Bourne than Bond. We want Moneypenny, a couple of gadgets, something on a car slightly more interesting than a cigarette lighter. It felt great, but it didn't feel like Bond. It's like making a Star Wars without the opening crawl, lightsabers or the line, "I've got a bad feeling about this". To not have "Bond, James Bond", "Shaken not stirred" or any of our enjoyable Bond familiarities actually takes you out of the film.

The villian isn't evil enough and the whole thing seemed a bit rushed. I would recommend that Craig and co keep up the excellent work in the next movie but chuck us a couple of fan faves. Not Q or an invisible anything but at least the theme early on, and something at some point that is the tiniest bit more fantastic rather than this relentless drive into gritty realism. Connery's Bond had a sense of humour, this Bond seems to have sorely lost his. Craig shows great flashes of wit here and there, but he seems to be turning into Rambo! A ruthless, trained killing machine. M is Colonel Trautman brought in to try and stop him! Lighten up a little, guys. It's only a movie.

Ghost Town and stuff

Went to see Ghost Town with Ricky Gervais and Greg Kinnear last night. Well not with them, they didn't escort me to the cinema, it wasn't the premiere. But they were both definitely in the film as was the fantastic Tea Leoni. Just an excellent feelgood bit of fun.

Sure there are some similarities with Ghost and Groundhog Day, but it really works. I was particularly surprised by Mr Gervais who hasn't exactly impressed me with his big screen appearances so far. But he was excellent, a perfect part for him and anyone who's seen the final (so far!) episode of Extras knows he can do comedy and pathos in equal measure. He does the same here and I can't deny that I shed a tear in a certain redeeming montage near the end of the film.

I would highly recommend the film, particularly to couples as this is a romcom which is truly romantic and truly funny. I look forward to seeing it again, it's a shame more people didn't see it in the States, but it will be a classic for the future although I do hope that us Brits make it the number one film this weekend before a certain Mr Bond returns next weekend (I hope that is better than the reviews suggest, decidedly average-a Bond movie under 2 hours!!)

There Will Come A Day

Things going well. Accellerating somewhat since my move to Swansea.

I perform in a new comedy sketch in my new Church, The Elim City Temple, on evening of Sunday 19th October. Wrote it in 2 hours and is set in an A and E department, hopefully going to be good and funny. Certainly the fastest sketch I've ever written. As I was told about it in the morning service I wanted to get it handed out in the evening service. I actually work best under pressure!

Got the phone call offering me the part of "Detective Fix" in Around The World in 80 Days which will be performed at the Dylan Thomas Theatre in Swansea in January. A lovely theatre and a great part, not the lead, but definitely the comic element in the show which makes a nice debut for me with a new company.

Had to post the video below because it is one of my favourite gospel songs and performances of all time, I put it here because it's also the kind of song you wouldn't hear unless a friend reccommended it. Will that's what I'm doing!

Hadn't heard it in years, it's Faith Hill's version of "There Will Come A Day" which she performed with this marvellous gospel choir at the concert for heroes which was put together just 2 days after the september 11 attacks. Stop for 4 minutes and listen to this truly uplifting, inspiring song. I can find some Christian music cringey and offputting but this for me, is what gospel music should be all about. A fantastic song with the greatest message any human being could ever hope to hear. Enjoy, and Beverley Trotman I want this on your new album!!! And then as a single!!

Back To The Blog- Again!!

So here I am in rainy Swansea, having started my "new life". It's all going quite well so far, but I have to do important things like, make some friends!!

Just got back from seeing "How To Lose Friends And Alienate People" with Simon Pegg, which I quite enjoyed. Funny in places, and who knew, Simon Pegg as a romantic lead!? As always one wonders how the wonderful Kirsten Dunst or Megan Fox would fall for Mr Pegg, but they do!

The film has bombed in the States, and Mr Gervais hasn't fared that well over there either with his soon to be released here movie, "Ghost Town". Can't comment on that but Mr Pegg's vehicle probably alienated his audience with the swearing, anti American moments and weird she-man nudity! There was a real romantic comedy in there somewhere and it didn't really manage to get out. Like many films, tries to be two films and doesn't succeed as either, biting satire on celebrity or romcom. Though I will buy the dvd as the romcom side won on points in the last round.

Enjoyed a few movies over the Summer. Relly enjoyed, which surprised me, Death Race with Jason Statham! Really enjoyed it, more than Tropic Thunder and Taken. They were both okay, Thunder wasn't funny enough and fudged the film within a film plotline. Endured "Eden Lake", not in a bad way, but in a "I can't believe they did that" way. A superb British horror, that ending is still with me, shame more people didn't go to see it. Remember good box office does not mean a good film.

Been good to hang out with my family, spent last Saturday with my nephew Josh. He stayed over the night before, this turned into a frenzy of activity when he informed me that he has never seen E.T. I so wanted to munch on pizza and watch it with him. But couldn't be found anywhere, Blockbuster, supermarket's, nowhere! Of course my copy is in storage with my 900 other dvd's! So, just ordered it off Amazon, because every family should own that movie!!

Been doing a fair amount of writing. Also auditioned for the "Swansea Little Theatre" production in January, got a great part. I'm not used to 50 people auditioning for a production. They perform at their own theatre (The Dylan Thomas) which had a quarter of a million pound refurbishment recently!! They are spoilt compared with my beloved St. Christopher's in Luton who have such a tough production week with getting all the scenery up and stuff. Looking forward to seeing their production of Allo Allo at the end of November (I am back in Luton for a weekend!!)

Will blog more regularly (sorry Tom!) Up the Gunners, and my commiserations go out to all you poor Spurs fans!!

Back to The Blog!

Thought it was about time I blogged again!

So much has gone on in my life and thought it was about time I shared. By the way that is a picture of a cheesecake, and I really like cheesecake!

Where to begin, well, "Much Ado About Lauren" had its world premiere at the Cineworld Cinema in Luton. What a brilliant night, the first showing sold out and so we added a 9.30 showing which had around a 100 people. A great dream come true for myself, Tom, Simon, Paul and the rest of the cast and crew. We were on the big screen! People seemed to genuinely enjoy the film, which makes it even more worthwhile. Matt Adcock kindly gave us a great review and we raised around £1500 for Romanina Relief.

It was great finally making a full length feature film and now it is a matter of pushing it and trying to get it into as many film festivals around the country as possible.

We will be having another showing at Luton Christian Fellowship on Friday 5th September at 6.30pm with a suggested donation of 5 pounds a person, again, all money going to our wonderful friends in Romania.

Seen some great films, The Dark Knight was excellent, as was Wall E, though maybe not as perfect as I hoped, I enjoyed Kung Fu Panda! Saw that with my nephew and saw Mamma Mia with my sister and niece in Swansea. Enjoyed it! A great atmosphere, all singing along, a true feelgood movie, thought Pierce should definitely have been dubbed! Audrey Hepburn couldn't have been worse than him in My Fair Lady and she was dubbed!

With Abba Gold climbing back to the top of the charts, Abba should definitely get back together for one more album. Not necessarily tour but a new album by them would be massively enjoyed by millions (as long as the boys can still write, and the girls still sing!) They don't have to jump around in, well....jumpsuits but they could do a couple of gigs sitting sedately on stools!

Looking forward to the new U2 album in October and it would be great to hum along to some new Michael Jackson songs before Christmas (to think he used to be famous for recording music and creating amazing videos!)

With some changes in my personal life, I AM ON THE MOVE! I have resigned from staff at LCF and will be heading to Swansea in September. My life will be changing massively, which is actually an understatement. What am I going to do in the future? How will I earn money, where will I live long term? God knows......literally.

The End Of Filming!!!

Yes, at about 10 past 5 on Wednesday 21st May 2008, I shot the last piece of film (Hi def DV) for the movie "Much Ado About Lauren". Exactly 9 months to the day after filming began! In Tom and Simon's bedroom!

I can't say it was that emotional, we had been waiting ages for the right conditions to shoot in and the actors involved were in a big hurry to get away (as has been the pattern with almost every shot of this film!)

But I think that's what also gives it it's charm and sense of realism. Using actual A level students to play A level students in their own school. All have busy lives, jobs to do and exams to revise for!

The film is going to be around one hour fifty minutes including credits (we've now gone to Back To The Future Lengths, but we don't have a time travelling Delorean!!)

We shot the finale, took a while, and I discovered the mike battery, after 9 months had decided to pack up, but I looped the important dialogue last week and all is well.

So now it is time to refine, edit, fix and put in the music, songs by Steve Warner (possibly also a couple from Paul Wade) and the superb score penned by the legend that is Chris Bass.

This has been a pretty long road, but hey, we've made a movie. I think it's good! You live with something for so long, you can forget why you started to make it in the first place.

Well, I loved high school movies when I was a teenager, and I wanted to make one, I actually just wanted to make a film. Realising the talent available through my connections with Simon, his friends, his school and his family! Why not go for it!

Hoping to send it off to 5 film festivals next week. Let's let others decide if it's any good or not!

There's the small matter of the world premiere of my new play opening today, which I am so glad my family from Wales are coming across to enjoy, and the new Indiana Jones movie to see!

What a busy life, but what a good life.

The "Much Ado About Lauren" trailer!!!!

Yes, here is a sneak peek at some footage from the great new comedy that we have been working on since last September.

Filming continues but we are due to wrap on May 10th. A lot to do until then! We have a large number of film festivals to submit the film to at the end of May.

Choosing what makes it into the film and what doesn't will be tough. There is music to write etc. But it's looking good, and thanks to everyone who has been involved so far, we've had fun and we hope our audience will as well!

The Orphanage Review and other oddities

Thoroughly enjoyed this creepy masterpiece. A Spanish film with subtitles and totally riveting, with superb performances.

To tell too much about the film would spoil it, but try and see this film in the limited cinemas it seems to be showing at.

I hope a wider release is planned because it broke my heart to see such a brilliantly crafted piece of film-making debut at number 10 in the Uk charts having made less thn £400,000.

So many, so called, scary films these days are an excuse for the fx and make up boys to create the goriest most repulsive images possible but they are just that, fx whereas a film like this gets under the skin and is chilling in a much more effective way. Psychologically.

It's a great date movie because you'll definitely be clinging onto someone by the end! Heartbreaking, but a totally exhilerating cinematic experience, we see the desperation of a mother for her lost child and how the past comes back to haunt her.

Brilliant, 5 stars out of 5.

WE BE FIRE FIGHTERS!!

That's not true, but the filming of "Much Ado About Lauren" gathers pace. We now have a definite wrap date (10th May) due to several key film festivals having their submission deadlines by the end of May.

So in the Easter holidays we are wanting to complete all of our remaining "flashback sequences" for the film.

We're doing well. We filmed Tom on a digger and yesterday had tremendous fun filming at a graveyard (don't worry no plot points are given away!) and then we had the most fantastic time filming with the lads at the Stopsley fire station.

A few enquires, emails and phone calls meant that we were able to have Tom become a fire fighter for an hour.

The guys were so helpful, we had Tom go mad with a hose and we even got to ride around in the fire engine with sirens blaring to get the shots that we needed!

Good times, and all the footage looks great.

We then went to a local corner shop where Tom was given permission to comically steal lots of cans of beer! Again went very well.

The film is going so well, I couldn't be more pleased with how it's coming together and the efforts of my brilliant cast.

More reviews and stuff

So went to see There Will Be Blood yesterday, and Daniel Day Lewis does it again (although not that often!) and totally deserved his best actor Oscar (2nd for him)

What's the film like? I'm not sure! It was good, a little slow in places you could argue (although we had problems in our screening with the projector malfunctioning)but the film is so all about Day Lewis's character. We are watching the greed, life and undoing of a complex tragic figure.

People were twitching and fidgeting in the screening but if you just look at it as almost a documentary of an oil baron's life you will not be disappointed.

Day Lewis takes us on this epic 30 year journey and we follow him all the way, even when it is quite hard to watch.

I had similar feelings finally watching Juno. Pretty good film (don't honestly think it deserved best original screenplay) in regards to Ellen Page. She is superb in the film, and carries it. We watch her and all the emotions teenage pregnancy is bound to put you through. She was funny, but also touching and Ellen needs to face the fact that she will never have a role as good as this ever again.

She is in almost every scene and is the reason why this low budget film has been such a resounding success.

Another little movie slowly edging its way towards completion is "Much Ado About Lauren."

We now even have a title song, which I am enjoying playing in the car immensely, catchy and fun and composed by my good friend Steve Warner.

Shot two important scenes over the weekend, Paul, Abi and Simon joined us for a rehearsal scene in the chapel which is funny but also delivers a let down for the character of Greg. Took a while to get it, but really got some good stuff there.

Then on Saturday Simon, John Mitchell and Richard Sheridan filmed over at Simon's house for the reading of the newly written play within the movie and a fairly humorous misunderstanding that takes place!

The boys did realy well, a couple of long takes, but we got 5 pages shot in 2 hours which is unheard of! Going to do some bits and pieces this week, and this will require some careful editing but I am really proud about what we have and I know within the large amounts of footage shot we have a wonderful little 100 minute movie waiting to get out!!

Also really enjoying directing my new play "The Removal Firm" with the St. Christopher Players. Going really well, I am working with such talented performers and it is such a pleasure seeing situations I came up with a year ago in a lounge in Stopsley working so well on the stage and in the rehearsal room. Real collaborative process, and all the better for it!

Oscar predictions and stuff

Okay, after visiting Tom Wades blog, feeling a bit of pressure to do this!!

So here are some of my predictions for the biggest night of the filmgoers year!!

It's the Oscars! How I miss Billy Crystal, putting himself into all the big movies at the beginning and then singing an uplifting Oscar song!!

By the way, any would be stand ups out there must check out Billy's classic movie, "Mr Saturday Night" which I adore!

So to my least watched Oscar nods. Hardly seen anything up for an Oscar, so I will use my heart and mind!!

So, No Country For Old Men will win Best Picture, but I would love Juno to actually win and cause a bit of an upset with it being a comedy and all!

Best actor is a definite Day Lewis moment, can't wait!

Best Actress will probably be Julie Christie but I would like to see Marion Cotillard win for La Vie en Rose like she did at the Baftas (Ellen Page has no chance, Tom, but it would be cute to see her up there!)

Best Supporting Actor should definitely be Javier Bardem for No Country, mainly due to menace and originality.

Best Supporting Actress-I have no idea!! But like it to go to the young English girl in Atonement, jut as a surprise!

Best Director will go to the Coens, and deservedly so, cinema originals.

Best animated feature film of the year is Ratatouille

Original screenplay I would also like to see go to Ratatouille, but will probably go to the Juno writer.

That's it.

Filming has very much re-commenced on "Much Ado About Lauren", including re-shoots (the legendary shower scene!) See you at the Oscars 2009!

Cloverfield review

Saw Cloverfield today, and really enjoyed it. A true cinematic experience even though it is made to look like it's filmed on video. But so much about this film worked. You did get a sense and reason for the camera being in operation and the World the film-makers created which our protaganists "just so happened" to have stumbled upon was amazing. You felt New York was under attack.

The film was set up a little like "Blair Witch" or "Open Water" in the sense the footage is "found" and played to us all. Having seen the entire film you understand this and this is 100 times superior to the afore-mentioned films.

A monster attacks New York. At first I wondered whether some of the imagery was a little too close to the bone in regards to 9/11. I know it's over 6 years ago, but the scene when the group rush into the convenience store as the cloud envelopes them sent shivers down my spine as it was so like footage of 9/11 shot by the French brothers who were shadowing a New York City fireman on that fateful day.

One of the trailers before the film was for U2 3D which claims to get you right in the midst of the action (or drums and guitars and Bono!) and Cloverfield definitely does that. You were one of the gang because we were seeing what they were seeing and our perspective was limited to whoever was holdng the camera at that time. Godzilla and Independance Day have done the whole Worldwide perspective with army leaders and the President on the phone, but this film put a brilliant new spin on that. Made it a lot more personal and totally invigorating.

I haven't yelled out loud in a cinema for a long time, but I did tonight. On paying for my ticket there was a sign warning me of strobe effects and camera moves akin to the experience of riding a rollercoaster. I wonder if the PR people came up with this sign because it perfectly summed up the experience, a real cinematic rollercoaster in its truest visceral form. A superb piece of work.

I enjoyed the glimpses of the monster that we had, there was a perfect amount, and I totally bought into the "Maguffin" of Rob heading off to find the girl he loves, it kept the narrative moving and gave a good reason to run into Hell rather than away from it.

I also really enjoyed the fact that the film was 87 mins long. Why? Well it felt the perfect length, but of course a common or garden camcorder, filming on long play could shoot for a maximum of 90 mins! The details count! I liked the ending, it fitted, not particularly happy but justifiable and satisfactory. I thought the film had ended at 4 different points before the end, but there we go! I actually didn't want it to end.

When the monster attacks a helicopter we are in, and the little monsters attack in the tunnel (I'm glad that happened, because I was wondering why he would shoot material in pitch black.) I was in film Heaven, gripping my seat and laughing and screaming out loud! I also loved the demise of one of the female characters behind a screen.

So a great film, turned the monster movie on its head (literally!)
Proof that it's fine to shoot in DV, as long as what you are filming is interesting and holds the viewers attention!

4 and a half scares out of 5

Movies, Heath and the Oscars

Saddened to read of the death of young actor Heath Ledger.

I wonder how many millions of people died all over the world on Tuesday, but he's someoene I never met, yet somehow will miss and felt some sorrow at his untimely passing.

This Empire cover (which is the finest movie mag in the World without question) shows what will be his last onscreen role. The Joker in the Dark Knight (not sure how much he managed to complete of the Terry Gilliam movie he was working on in London, Gilliam, never has it easy does he-check out "Lost in La Mancha" to see what I mean.)

I guess this is the kind of publicity Chris Nolan and the Batman crew would never have wanted, but it will create added interest in what already looks like a brilliant, intelligent Summer blockbuster. The trailers show Ledger to be a lot more of the comics depiction of the character of the Joker, more than the portly Nicholson interpretation.

Watching The Dark Knight will now be a totally different experience, does the Joker die at the end of the movie? What lines will we shake our head slowly at, now seeing the unwitting irony? Will Nolan change anything about the film because of what has happened? We will wait and see, knowing we will never see this talented actor onscreen ever again will be hard, and certainly never seeing this Joker ever again. A little like watching "Studio 60" which I am currently consuming on dvd, knowing it was cancelled after one series and won't be coming back (not to everyone's tastes but certainly to mine, having watched "Saturday Night Live" for about 3 years every week when I was living in Canada-the Wade boys are ahead of me again!)

So goodbye Heath, I loved you in 10 Things I Hate About You, and A Knight's Tale, and I know I will be relishing every moment of your clown who likes to dance in the pale moonlight come July.

So, the Oscars, feeling very nonplussed about them this year. Sure, I hope they go ahead and I get to consume bad food with my film-making buddies in the Wade front room (always a quandry-do I pull an all nighter, or try and set the alarm clock so I get a few hours sleep, but then I always oversleep and miss the best supporting actor award!)

Would love Day Lewis to win so I can hear his self depreciating speech and I currently think he is the finest screen actor alive today. Great acting, total believability would be the most important attribute, but versatility? No-one has it like this guy. Totally different character in every movie.

Haven't seen Juno, but this year I am rooting for the underdog. I guess I am looking to very low budget quirky teenage romantic comedies to do well at the moment! Partly because I am in the middle of making one! You want to see quirky? Wait till you see our drama teacher, billiantly portrayed by the oldest Wade boy- Paul.

So that's it, living in a town which only presents popcorn and none of the best picture nominees can be annoying, why is that? Let's re-open the ABC and create a great art-house cinema!!

"Much Ado About Lauren" continues, really proud with what we are achieving and we need to start some serious publicity, as ideally I would like the premier to be in May (near the time I have the world premier for my new play called "The Removal Firm" at the Library Theatre, and some new Spielberg film comes out about an archeologist called Indy!)

My good friend Steve Warner (who's a Spurs fan so I'm not actually that keen on him at the moment!) has been working on original songs for the movie, hopes to record some of them soon. Gotta keep going! We started shooting back in September and we will finish this, and finish it well!

Thoroughly enjoyed most of "No Country For Old Men". Masterful story telling and movie-making. They don't really make films like this any more. So much so, I don't think I was paying enough attention! Need to see it again to understand some of the subtleties, and exactly why that is such a brilliant ending! Performances could not be faulted, the trouble was I was watching Fargo or Raising Arizona in my head when I should have been letting this new experience unfold before me.

Happy New Year!!

So here we are in 2008!!

A lot has been going on, I have been to see some movies!

Thought I Am Legend was quite good, but agree with the Wade boys and Empire about the terrible CGI on show. Will Smith was very good as was his K9 companion.

Thought Golden Compass was poor, didn't draw me in at all, cool polar bear scrap but that was it, and how embarressing was the last 5 mins which was there to set up the back to back sequels which will probably never happen due to the poor box office in the U.S.

Enchanted was all I expected it to be, good, but wanted a little more and maybe more edginess.

Disappointed with Bee Movie, I guess I was hoping for a cartoon 88 minute episode of Seinfeld, but it wasn't and I fell asleep! My nephew Josh liked it though, and here is a photo with his thumbs up approval to prove it after we left the theatre.


Great to go to Wales for New Year and see the family. Good times!




Much Ado About Lauren continues!

Got 66mins edited in "the can". Of course when we have finished filming everything, the film will be too long and have to be cut back, but that won't be for a few months yet.

At the end of last year we shot some audition footage which is fun. Hired a chicken costume and a superman outfit. But who'd have thought a £1.98 fake plastic knife would cause so much hilarity!?

We had a number of game people involved, including a great juggler and uni-cyclist (doesn't mean he cycles at a Uni, he rides a bike with one wheel!) called Dan, and I got to film my short cameo in the film. John ate marshmallows and we had puppets as well!

Filmed Becky's audition which took a while, but looks good after a bit of creaive editing.

We also filmed the scene which involved Tom, Simon, Gillian and Natalie. Greg learns how to woo women!! Went well.

Filmed the notorious "headmaster flashback" with 2 friends of mine from the St. Christopher players, Maggie and Steve Jones. Very funny.

In Wales I filmed, Josh and Charlotte in a flashback which involves the character of Greg being slapped round the face as a 9 year old! Many takes!

Into the new year, we were able to put Dylan into the movie (he is the adopted Romanian son of the Wade boys wonderful sister, Sarah.) He was great fun, and is very cute on screen working as Paul's (playing our drama teacher) PA.

The schedule will slow down a little now as everyone is involved with local plays but the film lives on! Even if we only film one scene a week, we are doing well.