Dangerous Minds | Photograph of Jesus

Dangerous Minds | Photograph of Jesus

One of the best shorts films I have seen in a very long time. Who would have thought that making a 5 minute film in a photo archive could be so entertaining?

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Motorcycle Parking Raises Ire

My battle with the DCC over their senseless approach to parking solutions for two-wheeled transport took another turn this week with an artcile in the ODT.
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An Environmentally Friendly Version of Star Wars

Spinnerette: The girl's got rhythm...and Josh Homme

Artist: Spinnerette Title: Self-Titled Label: Shock Right from the opening bars of the stomping Ghetto Love, Brody Dale announces talents that extend way beyond snaring Mr. Joshua Homme. Infamous for her high-profile musician beaus, and some eardrum shattering screams, Ms Dale carries with her a little baggage from her previous outfit ‘The Distillers’. However, after only a few tracks, it’s pretty evident that Spinnerette is a whole lot more diverse that crushing power-chords and raspy rawk. Saddled with ex-Homme sidekick Alain Johannes, Distiller Tony Bevilacqua and Chilli-Jam drummer Jack Irons; Dales’ new found love of bass escorts the lads into an enclave of femme-fuelled hook ridden late-night groovers. Sultry, sassy and downright seductive; Spinnerette frees Dale’s inner vixen from the shackles of testosterone charged angst. Single Download:Ghetto Love For Those Who Like: Blondie, The Distillers, The Cardigans, Eagles of Death Metal. Rating: 4 stars Reviewed By: Mark Orton

The Cove-Activists Made Good

Film Title: The Cove

Directed By: Louie Psihoyos

Cast:

Richard Barry, Joe Chisolm, Louie Psihoyos, Mandy-Rae Cruikshank, Charles Hableton, Simon Hutchins, Kirk Krack, Isabel Lucas, Roger Payne, John Potter

Rating: M

All too often, films with a strong activist agenda flounder due to inadequate resources, poorly conducted research, and annoying zealots. The Cove is most definitely an exception to all of these conventions.

In the late 1960s, ‘Flipper’ the Dolphin was a household name across The United States. Lassie’s aquatic counterpart was actually five Dolphins all trained by Richard O’Brien, an aquarium worker with a penchant for fast cars and celebrity.

Fast forward to 2007 and we catch up with O’Barry skulking about in Taiji, Japan. Convinced that he is being tailed by police, O’Barry has one hell of an expose, but only he can find someone willing to listen. Enter National Geographic photographer Louie Psihoyos who with the help of some shrewd techie mates, takes on O’Barry’s quest to expose the annual Japanese harvesting of Dolphins for captivity.

Interspersed with wonderful archive footage of O’Barry and his 38 year quest to protect the creatures that he unwittingly set-up for globally-sanctioned abuse; is one of the best espionage capers ever staged. The Japanese code of secrecy is such, that for all we know Osama could be dining with Elvis ‘The Cove’, a tiny inlet harbouring a sickening secret.

As some very cool surveillance equipment gets installed, the filmmakers maintain a relentless pace. Frequent confrontations with surly Japanese fisherman and caricature-like law enforcement notwithstanding; the injection of farcical coverage from an International Whaling Conference is scarcely believable. Like getting hit solidly between the eyes with a blunt object, The Cove is outstanding filmmaking.

Best thing: The drama. Fortunately the filmmakers have skilfully addressed the balance between making an issues film both entertaining and downright provocative.

Worst thing: Learning about animal-rights activists who have knocked the film because it ‘only’ deals with Dolphins and Whales.

See it with: A falafel sandwich; even a diet high in Omega 3’s should be treated with caution.

Rating: 4 Stars

Reviewed By: Mark Orton

Les Paul - Inventor, Innovator, Overdubber, Looper

I don't want to go all Michael Jackson on this, but the passing of Les Paul forced me to put down my acoustic and dig out my sunburst classic. For pure rock n roll raunch, there is nothing quite like it and unfortunatly for my beloved Stratocatser, it doesn't get much of a look now that I have the growl and snarl of the Paul's humbucker crunch.

But, Mr Paul was so much more than just a mere shaper of Mahogany. Check out this timeless clip from the days when multi-track recording was just a glint in ol Les' eye. He's not half bad on the guitar either, in fact he's smoking...