Movies which get us thinking and wondering about what’s surrounding us. One may often have these conversations where everybody give their thoughts on their best movies ever and why others have to see them. Well, I here take the opportunity to post a few of mines for which the soundtracks also have a big part in the success of the film. Therefore watch the trailers and if you do not have them yet buy the DVDs and add them to your collection. Enjoy it.

1. Mr. Brooks

   Surprisingly and brillantly well shot movie of a killer’s point of view. Kevin Costner as never seen before.

2. Babel

   A master piece on human nature and on how simple things could get far out of control.

3. Coffee and Cigarettes

   11 short stories shot in black and white setting each characters in quite hylarious situations. You may feel like a coffe and a cigarette after it.

4. Antichrist

   An intense movie from begining to end on growing physical and sexual insanity after the lost of a couple’s son. A must see and must be talked about afterwards.

5. Survive Style 5+

   5 simultaneous, loosely linked plot lines, that intertwine and scramble together. In one of them a man keeps killing his wife and burying her in the woods only to find her alive, furious, and waiting for him when he returns home.

6. Central do Brasil

   I highly recommend to watch this emotive journey of two souls looking for different things while being together until they finaly find each other.

7. Tsotsi

   Six days in the violent life of a young Johannesburg gang leader in a beautiful yet disturbing film.

8. Crash

   A well chosen title describing what happens when we let our doubts and uncertainties get the best of us.

9. Into the Wild

   The adaptation of the life of a young tenager who eventualy decides to leave society behind for nature in an attempt to find who he really is.

10. Requiem for a Dream

    The film depicts different forms of addiction, leading to the characters’ imprisonment in a dream world of delusion and reckless desperation that is subsequently overtaken and devastated by reality.

11. Vicious Traditions by The Veils – Mr. Brooks Soundtrack

12. Bibo No Aozora / Endless Flight by Gustavo Santaolalla – Babel Soundtrack

13. Go! Go! Go! by Rob Laufer – Survive Style 5+ Soundtrack

14. Toada E Desafio by Antonio Pinto e Jacques Morelenbaum – Central do Brasil Soundtrack

15. Mdlwembe by Zola – Tsotsi Soundtrack

16. Maybe Tomorrow by Stereophonics – Crash Soundtrack

17. Guaranteed by Eddie Vedder – Into the Wild Soundtrack

18. Summer Ouverture by the Kronos Quartet and Clint Mansell – Requiem for a Dream Soundtrack

After winning the 1958 Olympic 200m final Tommie Smith (USA – gold) along with John Carlos (USA – bronze) and supported by Peter Norman (AUZ – silver) decided to pose in the stance of Black Power.  Using the “power to the people” salute, Tommie and John stood there with opposite hands raised in protest at American culture and support of Black Unity.  Peter helped the cause by suggesting that the pair should share the pair of gloves, thus the opposite hands raised and also taking a Olympics human rights badge from an American team mate (Paul Hoffman) that was also supporting the pair.

It was not only the gloved hands, they were also without shoes, raised socks and rolled up trowsers to protest for their fellow black Americans, beads around their necks to remind people of the lynching of blacks and an open jacket to support the blue collar workers of the world.  They were not just supporting blacks they were supporting freedom.

At the time Tommie and John were both ostracized from American lifestyle and culture to the extent of a front page bashing by Time Magazine.  This caused the pair to have to search hard for work there after in any form that they could find.  However in 2005 Tommie and John were honored with a statue at their University and commended by culture in general for being “Athletes involved in Politics”.

Now hailed as heroes of our time, we salute you Tommie Smith, John Carlos and Peter Norman.

There have been quite some skateboard videos over they years, here is a selection of my personal favourites. I am sure there would be more in this list if only they were on youtube… Anyhow enjoy what we have got.

1. Bones Brigade Video Show

   First skateboarding video from the legendary Bones Brigade. 80’s living rooms were packed with groups of skaters watching this one together, a proper crowd pleaser.
   This video really set the trend for skatboarding videos over the next decade with it’s cross of necessary destruction and killer tunes. Check out Steve Caballero, Tony Hawk, Mike McGill, Lance Mountain, Rodney Mullen and others rip and shred.

2. The End

   100% scripted by the skaters themselves, Birdhouse’s The End video is a class cross between humor, skateboarding and wanton destruction of trees. Crackign suff and some amazing skating

3. CKY2K

   Enter Bam Margera and bring on CKY. This is the 2nd edition that was subsequently discontinued for copyrights infringment, nudity of a minor and the hasseling of Bjork…. You have to see how they deal with the rental car and how well the insurance covers the damages. This really was the start of the Jackass with many of the crew in full effect in this 2000 video

this event is now over, we will get them again next time

Watch in English or French the winter X Games from Tignes in France. It’s live now so don’t waist any time and in HD. Womens Super Pipe just finished.

What a perfect way to deal with the withdrawal symptoms of Winter Olympic fever.

Program involves:

• Super Pipe (Snowboard/skiing)
• SlopeStyle (Snowboard/skiing)
• Snowmobile (Demo)

Started on Wednesday 10, Finishes Friday 12th of March at 7.30pm CET.     Program for the last day starts at 8.30 am.

One of Dublin’s favourite sons Oscar Wilde was an outstanding poet and play-write. Amongst other things, Oscar has a mountain of quotes to his name that outshine the most witty of people, was outspoken in the pursuit of his sexuality and picked a big fight with the Marques of Queensbury, the man who the boxing rules were named after. Yes, Oscar Wilde lived a wild life full of words, sex and defiance.

top Oscar Wilde quotes

• A little sincerity is a dangerous thing, and a great deal of it is absolutely fatal.
• Fashion is a form of ugliness so intolerable that we have to alter it every six months.
• Seriousness is the only refuge of the shallow.
• To disagree with three-fourths of the British public is one of the first requisites of sanity.
• Work is the curse of the drinking classes.
• We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.
• Only the shallow know themselves.
• The truth is rarely pure and never simple.

We’ve pulled together a bunch of movies for you, either by or about Oscar Wilde.

1. An Ideal Husband

   In the summer of 1893, Oscar Wilde began writing An Ideal Husband, and he completed it later that winter. At this point in his career he was accustomed to success, and in writing An Ideal Husband he wanted to ensure himself public fame. His work began at Goring-on-Thames, after which he named the character Lord Goring, and concluded at St. James Place. He initially sent the completed play to the Garrick Theatre, where the manager rejected it, but it was soon accepted by the Haymarket Theatre, where Lewis Waller had temporarily taken control. Waller was an excellent actor and cast himself as Sir Robert Chiltern. The play gave the Haymarket the success it desperately needed. After opening on January 3, 1895, it continued for 124 performances. In April of that year, Wilde was arrested for ‘gross indecency’ and his name was publicly taken off the play. On April 6, soon after Wilde’s arrest, the play moved to the Criterion Theatre where it ran from April 13-27. The play was published in 1899, although Wilde was not listed as the author. This published version differs slightly from the performed play, for Wilde added many passages and cut others. Prominent additions included written stage directions and character descriptions. Wilde was a leader in the effort to make plays accessible to the reading public.

   staring: Margaret Leighton, Keith Michell, Jeremy Brett, Dinah Sheridan, Susan Hampshire

2. The Picture of Dorian Gray

   The Picture of Dorian Gray is the only published novel by Oscar Wilde, appearing as the lead story in Lippincott’s Monthly Magazine on 20 June 1890, printed as the July 1890 issue of this magazine. Wilde later revised this edition, making several alterations, and adding new chapters; the amended version was published by Ward, Lock, and Company in April 1891. The story is often mistitled The Portrait of Dorian Gray.

   The novel tells of a young man named Dorian Gray, the subject of a painting by artist Basil Hallward. Basil is impressed by Dorian’s beauty and becomes infatuated with him, believing his beauty is responsible for a new mode in his art. Talking in Basil’s garden, Dorian meets Lord Henry Wotton, a friend of Basil’s, and becomes enthralled by Lord Henry’s world view. Espousing a new hedonism, Lord Henry suggests the only things worth pursuing in life are beauty and fulfilment of the senses. Realizing that one day his beauty will fade, Dorian cries out, expressing his desire to sell his soul to ensure the portrait Basil has painted would age rather than himself. Dorian’s wish is fulfilled, plunging him into debauched acts. The portrait serves as a reminder of the effect each act has upon his soul, with each sin displayed as a disfigurement of his form, or through a sign of ageing.

   staring: John Gielgud, Jeremy Brett, Peter Firth, Gwen Ffrangcon Davies, Nan Munro

3. The Importance of Being Earnest

   The Importance of Being Earnest, A Trivial Comedy for Serious People is a play by Oscar Wilde. It premiered on 14 February 1895 at the St. James’s Theatre in London.
   Set in England during the late Victorian era, the play’s humour derives in part from characters maintaining fictitious identities to escape unwelcome social obligations. It is replete with witty dialogue and satirises some of the foibles and hypocrisy of late Victorian society. It has proved Wilde’s most enduringly popular play.

   The successful opening night of this play marked the climax of Wilde’s career but also heralded his impending downfall. The Marquess of Queensberry, father of Wilde’s lover Lord Alfred Douglas, attempted to enter the theatre, intending to throw vegetables at the playwright when he took his bow at the end of the show. Wilde was tipped off and Queensberry was refused admission. Nonetheless, Queensberry’s hostility to Wilde was soon to trigger the latter’s legal travails and eventual imprisonment. Wilde’s notoriety caused the play, despite its success, to be closed after only 83 performances. He never wrote another play.

   Not our preferred version of this play but still excellent, we are in for the 2003 version.

   staring: Joan Plowright, Paul McGann, Rupert Frazer, Amanda Redman, Natalie Ogle

4. Wilde

   The film opens with Oscar Wilde’s 1882 visit to Leadville, Colorado during his lecture tour of the United States. Despite his flamboyant personality and urbane wit, he proves to be a success with the local silver miners as he regales them with tales of Renaissance silversmith Benvenuto Cellini.

   Wilde returns to London and weds Constance Lloyd, and they have two sons in quick succession. While the second child is still an infant, the Wildes are playing host to young Canadian Robbie Ross, and the houseguest seduces Oscar and helps him come to terms with his homosexuality. On the opening night of his play Lady Windermere’s Fan, Oscar is re-introduced to the dashingly handsome and openly foppish poet Lord Alfred Douglas, whom he had met briefly the year before, and the two fall into a passionate and tempestuous relationship. Hedonistic Alfred is not content to remain monogamous and frequently engages in sexual activity with rent boys while his older lover plays the role of voyeur. Alfred’s father, the Marquess of Queensberry, objects to his son’s relationship with Oscar.
   The elder Douglas eventually baits Oscar by publicly demeaning him shortly after the opening of The Importance of Being Earnest, and when Oscar makes a complaint of criminal libel against him, his sexual preference is exposed and he is arrested and tried for gross indecency. He opts to fight the charge rather than flee the country. Eventually sentenced to two years’ hard labour, he is visited in prison by his wife, who tells him she isn’t divorcing him but is taking their sons to Germany and that he is welcome to visit as long as he never sees Douglas again. Oscar is released from prison and goes straight into exile to continental Europe. In spite of the advice or objections of others, he eventually meets with Lord Alfred.

   Throughout the film, portions of the well-loved Wilde story The Selfish Giant are woven in, first by Wilde telling the story to his children, then as narrator, finishing the story as the film ends.
   Starting: Stephen Fry, Jude Law, Vanessa Redgrave, Jennifer Ehle

(The movie and play overviews have been adapted from Wikipedia)

It’s a word that is not often used but ‘Antipodean’ refers to anything Australian or New Zealand. It is quite staggering how much talent arises from the entertainment industry of both countries considering the small numbers that live in the region. During the Australian music, ‘boom period’, of the 80s and 90s, a bevy of great acts such as AC/DC, INXS, The Church and Nick Cave regularly topped the charts in countries never thought possible. It also provided the platform for talented New Zealand performers like Split Enz, Dragon and Mi Sex to showcase their product to the world. The result…a healthy, creative Australian music scene that became the epitome of sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll; oh yeah baby!!!

1. The Saints: Stranded

   First single for alternative Queensland band The Saints; it was independently recorded and distributed in 1976 inspiring fellow Aussie punk rockers to burst of the garage and into the live venues. A growing market forced commercial radio to slightly broaden its narrow playlists in order to cater to the demands. An amazing achievement for a Queensland punk outfit who had to contend with a political environment that exercised ‘zero tolerance’. Film clip shot in the band’s own apartment in Petrie Terrace, Brisbane.

2. The Saints: Know Your Product

   Classic example of the versatility of The Saints; constantly on the cutting edge of rock music, this track was recorded shortly after moving to the UK in 1977. With a distinct R&B rock feel to it, the haunting rhythm and heavy brass show just how talented and rapidly evolving the Saints were. How was this not a worldwide hit!!

3. Ed Kuepper: Also Sprach,the king of Euro Disco.

   In 1979 original Saints member Ed Kuepper left the band because of musical differences with lead singer Chris Bailey. Ed formed The Laughing Clowns which enjoyed moderate success. Ed’s solo career also gained a cult following and this was one of his finest solo efforts.

4. Go Betweens: Cattle and Cane

   Another great alternative rock band out of Queensland that failed to gain the recognition they really deserved. This song recorded in 1983 is one of their best however it gained no support from local media.

5. Nick Cave: Do you love me

   One of Australian music’s most successful figures but not at home! Nick Cave has enjoyed far more chart and touring success overseas than in Oz…go figure? Achieved worldwide number one status with his Kylie Minogue duet ‘where the wild roses grow, but this song released in 1994 is much better!!

6. AC/DC: If You Want Blood

   It took almost 10-years for AC/DC to break worldwide! The band first started gigging in 1973 and after serving a tougher apprenticeship that most bands gained international recognition in 1980 with the release of Back in Black: the black album cover a tribute to recently deceased lead singer Bon Scott. Bon, still regarded as being in the Ozzie Osborne league of lead vocalists, was at his best for this fine 1978 release.

7. AC/DC: Money Talks

   Have to be fair to Brian Johnson; one of his best vocals since replacing Bon. Still the best rock band in the world and at last check had shifted 85 million CDs!!!

8. INXS: Devil Inside

   Aussie band that sold more than 35 million albums worldwide; Lead singer Michael Hutchence is the best rock singer ever to come out of Australia; the band has clearly never recovered from his sudden death in November 1997.

9. The Church: When you were mine

   Another alternative rock band that enjoyed great success both at home an internationally. Recorded in 1978, received little airplay but one of their best.

10. Rose Tattoo: Bad Boy

    Heavy rock, heavy tattoos, heavy attitude; a recipe for one of the finest rock bands in the land. Lead singer Angry Anderson also gained notoriety thru his acting career playing a part in the moderately successful Mad Max 3 movie titled ‘Beyond Thunderdome’.

11. The Pretenders: Tattooed Love Boys

    The Pretenders were not Australian, they were from Akron Ohio, however lead guitarist James Honeyman Scott was from Down Under! The little known bronzed Aussie was an amazing guitarist having played on some of the Pretenders biggest hits. This is one of his finest moments, from ‘The Pretenders’ album which also featured Brass in Pocket.

12. Sunnyboys: Happy Man

    A Sydney band formed by the Oxley Brothers in the 80s that gained huge popularity because of this track and ‘You Need a Friend’.

13. The Stems: Tears Me in Two

    A Western Australian band that formed in 1983 and gained a strong cult following across the country. Surfaced same time as fellow Perth band The Lime Spiders and often gigged together. Fantastic live but failed to get the financial rewards they deserved.

14. Real Life: Send Me an Angel

    Melbourne based synthesized pop band that scored a worldwide hit with this song; very popular on the European dance scene

15. Pseudo Echo: Funky Town

    Another Melbourne based synthpop band that enjoyed great success during the disco dance craze of the mid-80s. This could be the best version of Funky Town!

16. John Paul Young: Love is in the Air

    Extremely popular singer of the 70s and 80s that enjoyed a worldwide top 10 hit with this track. Part of the Albert’s Music stable that nurtured The Easybeats, Flash and the Pan and AC/DC.

17. Mi Sex: Computer Games

    For a song released in the 80s this track displays the bands great vision and musical talent. Lyrics very relevant to today’s society!

18. Mi Sex: But you don’t care

    And now for something completely different from these NZ aces.

19. Split Enz: My Mistake

    A band featuring Tim Finn, one of the greatest musical talents ever to come out of New Zealand. Brother Neil Finn was also there and in later years sang Enz’s biggest ever hit ‘I Got You’. Neil went on to form well known band Crowded House.

20. Split Enz: I Got You

    This song was #1 for more than five months in New Zealand and Australia; a classic pop song that stands the test of time! The album was released in six different colour combinations for a short period and are still collector’s items today. Former Beatle George Harrison was a big fan of the Enz and the final tour ‘Enz with a bang’ was one of rock and roll’s finest moments.

21. Crowded House: Something So Strong

    The Brothers Finn, doing their own thing since the break up of Split Enz, saw Tim go solo and Neil form ‘The Mullanes’ who later became Crowded House.

22. Dragon: Rain

    From Dragon’s big budget album Body and the Beat; another great NZ act delivers with interest…went to #1 and stayed there for weeks, much to the delight of their record company Polydor who had just signed them for mega-bucks!!

23. The Swingers: Counting the Beat

    Great pop track from Swingers, a one hit wonder NZ band that always gets the juices flowing

24. Silverchair: Pure Massacre

    Little known three piece rock band from Newcastle NSW, that burst on the scene in the early 90s with its heavy metal repertoire that took the world by storm. High School buddies that were still students at Newcastle High when success struck! Looked like following in the footsteps of AC/DC until singer/guitarist Daniel Johns became very ill!

25. Angels: Am I Ever Gonna See your Face Again

    Music clips rarely did justice to the brilliance of this band, considered the greatest live rock act in the history of Australian music…The Angels! You had to be lucky enough to be around at the time. Vocalist Doc Neeson was the driving force of The Angels who packed every hall in the country for almost a decade. This track never failed to send the crowd crazy…it still remains a mystery as to the origin of the; “no way, get fucked, fuck off!” reply, that patrons still sing today immediately after the chorus??

26. Angels: Commin’ Down

    A video filmed at ‘Narara 83’, a three day Music Festival, staged near Gosford NSW, captured the brilliance of this band live. A ‘must see’ performance that totally stole the thunder of headlining act Men at Work! Men at Work riding high on the success of “we come from a land Down Under”, which sold 8 million copies, were no match for the ‘smokin’ Angels!!!! The band that preceded The Angels; none other that INXS; what a great weekend of music!!!

It’s brits time again and this time they are wanting to find out the best album of the last 30 years. The short list is

• Coldplay – A Rush of Blood to the Head
  • In my place
  • The Scientist
  • Clocks
  • God Put a Smile upon Your Face
• Dido – No Angel
  • Here With Me
  • Thank You
  • Hunter
  • All I Want
• Dire Straits – Brothers in Arms
  • So Far Away
  • Money For Nothing
  • Brothers in Arms
  • Walk of life
  • Your Latest Trick
• Duffy – Rockferry
  • Rockferry
  • Mercy
  • Warwick Avenue
  • Stepping Stone
  • Rain On Your Parade
• Keane – Hopes & Fears
  • Somewhere Only We Know
  • Everybody’s Changing
  • Bedshaped
  • This Is The Last Time
  • Bend And Break
• Oasis – (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?
  • Some Might Say
  • Roll With It
  • Morning Glory
  • Wonderwall
  • Don’t Look Back In Anger
  • Champagne Supernova
• Phil Collins – No Jacket Required
  • One more night
  • Sussudio
  • Don’t Lose my Number
  • Take Me Home
• Sade – Diamond Life
  • Your love is king
  • When Am I Going To Make A Living
  • Smooth Operator
  • Hang On To Your Love
• The Verve – Urban Hymns
  • Bittersweet Symphony
  • The Drugs Don’t Work
  • Lucky man
  • Sonnet
• Travis – The Man Who
  • Writing To Reach You
  • Driftwood
  • Why Does It Always Rain On Me
  • Turn

Above are all of the singles that were released from each of the albums lists. I’m putting my money on The Verve.