Reading / watching / listening to...

Reading: 

* So, Anyway by John Cleese. I'm a big fan of John Cleese, especially of his work on Fawlty Towers, but his autobiography wasn't what I expected it to be. The main focus is on Cleese's childhood, college years, and early work in theatre. Sometimes he touches interesting parts - such as his survival techniques as a teacher, his reveries about how life could have been easier if he'd become a lawyer or a banker, and his complicated relationship with Connie Booth – but he always returns to the bare facts and most of those aren't very absorbing. He rarely mentions Fawlty Towers and his movies, and only addresses Monty Python in the last chapter as if his editor obliged him to put it in after the book was already written.

* Billson Film Database: Short Reviews Of Over 4000 Films. If you enjoy reading the capsule reviews on my blog, then there's no reason you won't enjoy Anne Billson's collection of movie reviews, all of which have been previously published in The Telegraph and other publications. It's not the kind of book to read in one go, more something to leaf through whenever you're looking for a movie to watch. The author covers every genre, every era, every taste, and does so with both knowledge and humor. It's an inspiring read that will make you want to sit down and (re-)discover films all day long. Fun fact: being a cat lover, Anne Billson makes a special mention of movies with kitties. 

* Globule: Une vie de lapin by Mamemoyashi. Since I have just welcomed a rabbit to the family, my boyfriend now buys me rabbit mangas on top of cat mangas. Globule: Une vie de lapin is the true story of author Mamemoyashi and her rabbit Globule. Books like this have to be recognizable, and Globule: Une vie de lapin definitely is. It's impossible not to recognize your rabbit's special quirks, positions, and behaviors. Gift this book to someone who owns a rabbit, and they will be eternally grateful. 


Watching: 

* The Slayer. It's funny how opinions change depending on when and where you watch a movie. The first time I saw The Slayer, I felt ripped of. Nothing happened in the story, and when the monster finally arrived, he was gone in a matter of seconds. I just saw it again after fifteen years, and I was surprised to discover several efficient murder scenes, some great beach locations, and an addictive vintage atmosphere. It's not as boring as I thought it was. Don't get me wrong. We're far from a horror masterpiece here, but if you're into the eighties slasher genre, The Slayer is actually enjoyable. Just do yourself a favor and skip the last two minutes of the film. 

* Dogs. In a sleepy American town, all the dogs band together to hunt down their former masters. This results in several memorable scenes (such as the canines at a dog show going wild), but, overall, the story is too slow, and definitely not scary or suspenseful. 

* Before I Go To Sleep. I almost forgot to add this one to the list. That's how forgettable Before I Go To Sleep is. Based on the bestselling book by S.J. Watson, Before I Go To Sleep follows a woman (Nicole Kidman) who, after a traumatic incident, can't remember her past, including her husband. Not one second of it is believable, definitely not the so-called twist ending that you can guess just by reading this review. A big miss. 

* Daughter Of Darkness. The first thing that struck me about Stuart Gordon's Daughter Of Darkness was how reminiscent its design was to Roger Corman's The Pit and the Pendulum. Then it dawned on me that Gordon actually remade The Pit and the Pendulum one year after releasing Daughter Of Darkness. It's the atmosphere, as well as the seedy Romanian locations, that make this nineties horror movie worthwhile. On the other hand, the story about the girl (Mia Sara) who goes looking for her lost father (Anthony Perkins) and encounters a clan of vampires, is wooden and silly. 

* Slaughter High. Nothing is plausible in this eighties slasher movie about a nerd who seeks revenge for a prank gone wrong. Should the viewer think it's normal that a girl takes a bath in a closed-down high school after several of her friends have been murdered? Or that the killer is able to put poison in a closed beer can? Or that there's a bed with clean sheets in an abandoned building? Or that the former school janitor is still doing rounds at night? But no matter how silly it gets, I've watched Slaughter High numerous times before and it still stands as one of the coolest slasher movies in film history. It's fast, it's fun, it's gory, and it's great. Strange fact: Simon Scuddamore, who played the nerdy Marty, committed suicide even before Slaughter High was officially released. 

* Birdman. I still think Whiplash should have won the Oscar for best movie, but I certainly enjoyed Birdman. As a writer, I could identify with the idea of being more true to yourself in your art than in real life, and that when you try to please an audience you end up being invisible. I could also go on for hours about the double meaning of the dialogue, the symbolic undertones, the technical stunts, etc. It's a smart film, the kind that has so many undertones you can discover new things with each additional viewing. 

* The Theory Of Everything. Eddie Redmayne, who won the Oscar for his performance, is convincing as Stephen Hawking in this biopic based on Jane Hawking's second memoir Travelling To Infinity. The Theory Of Everything is a cute film, but too sweet and inoffensive. Surely, Hawking accomplished great things despite his disease, but the film was oddly lacking a sense of struggle and inner torment which would have made it so much more interesting and real. 

* Still Alice. I've always mistakenly assumed that people with Alzheimer's aren't aware of their fate and therefor never really suffered. Thanks to Still Alice, I now have a more realistic understanding of the disease. Based on a novel by neuroscientist Lisa Genova, the film shows the degenerative process from the victim's p.o.v. We are confronted with her feelings of being misunderstood as her husband denies her initial diagnosis, with her shame as she realizes she is no longer the intelligent and articulate woman she once was, with her sense of being lost when she can't even find her way to her own toilet, and with her fear of what the future has in store. I shed more than a few tears with Still Alice, but, most of all, it has turned me into a more considerate person regarding those who are suffering from the disease.


Listening to: 

* It Follows (original motion picture soundtrack) by Disasterpeace. This indie game music composer, known for Fez, manages to reproduce the vintage synthesizer sound of the eighties. Just like the movie, there's a strong Carpenter vibe to it. 

* Lost Themes by John Carpenter. The title is misleading, because all the tracks are new. Made in collaboration with his son Cody, the album is in the same vein as Carpenter's earlier work.

What are you currently reading, watching, and listening to? Anything here that piques your interest? 

You can take a peek at all the other books, movies, and music I've blogged about under the "reading / watching / listening to..." tag.

Reading / watching / listening to...

Reading:

* The Insecure Writer's Support Group Guide to Publishing and Beyond edited by Alex J. Cavanaugh is a collection of essays on writing, publishing, and marketing by more than one hundred independent authors such as L. Diane Wolfe, Chrys Fey, S.A. Larsen, Crystal Collier, and Lexa Cain. The advice itself is basic, but the book excels in explaining how insecure most writers feel, and in the encouragement to keep on writing and improving.

* Horror 101: The Way Forward edited by Joe Mynhardt is similar in concept as The Insecure Writer's Support Group Guide To Publishing And Beyond, except that the essays are by household names in the horror genre (Ramsey Campbell, Graham Masterton, Jack Ketchum, Harry Shannon, Edward Lee, etc). The essays are rarely focused on horror alone, though, and Horror 101 covers everything from character development to finding additional sources of income through screenwriting and ghostwriting. “I've seen authors lose their way, authors doubt themselves, when all they need is a push in the right direction,” the editor says in the beginning of this book. However, insecurities are hardly a topic here. Most authors of Horror 101 believe it's possible to make a living as a writer, even if you don't necessarily know what you're doing, and, even more importantly, they show us the way forward.

* How Not To Run a B&B: A Woman's True Memoir by Bobby Hutchinson. Romance author Bobby Hutchinson recounts her experiences of how she turned her Vancouver house into a B&B to supplement her writing income, and introduces us to all the weird people she met along the way. How Not To Run a B&B is a fast-paced and entertaining read; definitely recommended if you're looking for something light to pass the time. The only downside is the author's arrogance and lack of compassion towards people that are less fortunate.

* On Writing: A Memoir Of The Craft by Stephen King. On Writing has a strange structure; it reads like two different books that have accidentally been thrown together. It starts as a memoir in which Stephen King attempts to show some of the incidents and life-situations which made him into the writer he turned out to be. Then he gives some straight-forward (and obvious) writing advice, and ends the book with another autobiographical part. But I did enjoy reading this book. King just knows how to keep the reader's attention. But, most importantly, On Writing awoke in me the desire to sit down and start writing a new book, not knowing where the story and characters will lead me. That in itself is an accomplishment.

* Baking Bad: A Parody In A Cookbook by Walter Wheat. Do you know any Breaking Bad fans? Then make sure you buy them this hilarious little cook book. Baking Bad is a collection of recipes inspired by the Breaking Bad TV series. What do you think of Ricin Krispie Squares, Blue Meth Crunch, pink bear bites, a jell-o representation of Jesse's acid tub, or hot dogs resembling Saul Goodman? Don't give the book to someone who hasn't finished the series yet, though, because there are spoilers. Otherwise, let's cook.

* Poussy: l'intégrale by Peyo. Poussy (Pussycat in English) was my favorite comic strip as a kid, and a major inspiration for my Avalon cartoons. I haven't been able to find them ever since, but now they just released in a complete edition containing ALL the comics (including the ones that have only appeared in newspapers), as well as preliminary sketches and background information on Peyo's career. Poussy may be Peyo's least known comic (he's the creator of The Smurfs), but it's doubtlessly his best.


Watching:

* [REC] 4: Apocalypse. Right after her adventures in [REC] 2, Manuela Velasco's character wakes up on a ship and is soon chased by zombies. [REC] 4: Apocalypse was much better than [REC] 3, but only mediocre compared to the first two installments. Luckily, Jaume Balaguero brings enough visual flair to the project to lift it to a higher level.

* The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies. It's still as beautiful to look at as the previous films, but our hobbit is way too passive for the story's good. He's an observer, and has hardly any control over what happens. That makes us as viewers passive as well; we don't really care about who'll vanquish or not. Still, having seen all the previous Ring and Hobbit movies in the cinema around Christmas time, The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies gave me a feel-good vibe out of nostalgia.

* Home Alone 2: Lost In New York. Kevin finds himself accidentally lost in New York City, just when the same criminals from Home Alone 1 are visiting as well. The first two Home Alone movies were among my grandfather's favorites, so I couldn't help but watch this one again with my grandmother on Christmas Eve. It's pretty funny, though. Almost as good as the first one.

* The Interview. The host of a celebrity TV show lands an interview with an unexpected fan - North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un - and the CIA wants to turn their trip into an assassination mission. I started watching The Interview half-heartedly to see what the buzz was about (Kim Jong-un prohibited the screening of the movie because he was made fun of), but I didn't expect too much of it as most people thought it was silly and too easy. However, I was sold after a few minutes. Actually, this was one of the most hilarious films I've seen in a long time. Seems like Seth Rogen and James Franco are the perfect combination to make me laugh.

* Penguins Of Madagascar. This one is almost embarrassing to have on here. I loved Madagascar and The Christmas Caper, so the least I could do was to give Penguins Of Madagascar a try as well. Big mistake. The first few scenes are cute, but as the movie trundles on, the more it gets silly and chaotic.

* Anthony Zimmer. American readers will probably be more familiar with its Hollywood remake: The Tourist, starring Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie. Anthony Zimmer is the original French version from 2005. The basis of the story is the same: the international police force and Russian mafia are chasing a man responsible for laundry of dirty money. His mistress (here played by Sophie Marceau) lures his pursuers into believing that a man she met on the train (Yvan Attal) is the one they're looking for. Despite a few slow moments, Anthony Zimmer works much better than The Tourist. Reason for that is its more natural approach, especially when it comes to the look of the actors and the portrayal of the action. Whereas Angelina Jolie made The Tourist look ridiculous, parading like a diva with too much make-up, Sophie Marceau uses her natural charm to create an image of a strong woman that lingers on long after the movie is over.

* Paddington. Holy cuteness. This must be the most magical feel-good movie I've seen in years. Based on Michael Bond's children's books about an unusual bear's life with the Brown family, Paddington is utterly charming, hilarious, produced to perfection, and written in a more original voice than other similar movies. To top it off, London never looked so good. Could this be my new favorite winter movie?

* Whiplash. A promising young drummer enrolls at a music conservatory where his willingness to stop at nothing to become the best in his profession is tested by an instructor who believes that mentally abusing his students is the only way to drive them to greatness. The basis of the story is something we've seen before, but Whiplash is done so much better than others in the genre. Every single element oozes intensity and brilliancy. What stands out, though, is the acting. J.K. Simmons may be nominated for best supporting actor at the Oscars, but it's headliner Miles Teller who makes your skin crawl with emotion.


Listening to: 

* Forest Swords (trip hop with Japanese influences).

What are you currently reading, watching, and listening to? Anything here that piques your interest? 

You can take a peek at all the other books, movies, and music I've blogged about under the "reading / watching / listening to..." tag. 

Reading / watching / listening to...

Reading: 

* Not That Kind Of Girl by Lena Dunham. I didn't relate with Lena Dunham's essays about growing up and finding oneself. I enjoyed the parts where she touches on her fear of death and liking a 'normal' job whereas society wants us to be more ambitious, but overall she came across as immature, full of herself, and sex-obsessed. If I finished the book, it's mainly because of her open and engaging writing style and because her behavior is strange enough to make you curious. But unlike Lena Dunham I don't use the words 'vagina' and 'tampon' in nearly all my sentences, I don't think that 'the blood of animals makes me strong', I'm not obsessed with my weight, and I don't invite men in my bed for the sake of turning them on so I can feel better about myself. In fact, the only thing I thought while reading this book was: I'm not that kind of girl. 

* The Year Of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion. Joan Didion wrote The Year Of Magical Thinking right after her husband died of a stroke while their daughter was lying in a coma. It's her account of what happened and how she tries to come to terms with the loss (or rather denying it). Many readers blame her for being detached of any emotion, but I don't agree. The way Joan Didion writes is how the brain works when it grieves; it goes over the same facts over and over in an attempt to understand and process the events; emotions seem far because the brain is numb. Reading The Year Of Magical Thinking is to understand grief, whether it pleases or not. 

* A Gift From Bob by James Bowen. James Bowen goes Scrooge. He recounts his last miserable Christmas as a busker, and encounters 'ghosts' that represent his past, present, and future, thus turning him into a happier, more stable person capable of enjoying the holidays. I'm such a fan of James Bowen that I'll probably be reading every single one of his future books without even glancing at them beforehand. They awake in me a sense of happiness that most other books never will. Yes, he's rehashing the same subjects, he could do with a better editor, and he hasn't written the most intellectually stimulating memoires ever; but who cares? I'm sitting here with a broad smile on my face just thinking about his stories. I believe that's reason enough to keep on reading them. 

* Chi's Sweet Home Volume 11 by Konami Kanata and Plum: un amour the chat volume 4 by Hoshino Natsumi. I'm taking these two cat mangas together because they are so similar. If you've read my previous reading, watching, listening to posts, you already know how much I love them. If you're a fan of cat books, I oblige you to put these on your TBR list. 


Watching: 

* Gone Girl. When Nick's wife goes missing, it becomes the focus of a media circus in which he has to prove his innocence. But is he really innocent? I already knew the answer after half an hour, so the rest of the movie was a little pointless. But I suppose Gone Girl can be enjoyable if you don't pay too much attention to detail, and if you don't get annoyed with the absurd twist in the end. I have to admit that I never got bored, though the film lasts two and a half hours. If you like movies such as Final Analysis and Side Effects, I'd say, go for it. 

* It's All About Steve. I watched It's All About Steve on the plane to The Gambia. What a mistake. Sandra Bullock headlines as one of the most neurotic and annoying women in film history. She falls head over heels with Steve (Bradley Cooper), stalks him across the US while he's trying to do his job as a cameraman, screams and runs like a madwoman, and wonders why he's not reciprocating her feelings. If Sandra Bullock ever plays another character like this, she risks getting bombed. 

* Sharknado 2: The Second One. Sharks literally fly their way through New York and nibble on everything that crosses their paths. Sharknado 2 is almost exactly the same as Sharknado 1. It can be fun if you watch it with friends, but I wish it could have been more inventive.

* Der Samurai. A man dressed in women's attire and carrying a samurai sword wanders through an isolated German village at night and takes on gargoyle-like postures. His movements are like choreography. His mission: to kill, to transform, to seduce. The entire film feels like a dream, with nightmarish colors and a soundtrack that pushes the story to yet another level of mystery. Der Samurai is as unconventional as it is accessible. The film may be small in scope and budget, but its impact is the opposite. A mesmerizing piece of debut cinematography. 

* The Babadook. My first reaction to The Babadook was: disappointment. The beginning was okay; but what was that silly ending all about? I wanted to forget about the film and move on to better ones. But then friends started to send me text messages like these: “Babadook: one of the best movies of the year”, “Not sure what to think of The Babadook. What's your opinion?”, “How do you interpret the ending of The Babadook?” Little by little, I started to see that there was a little more to the film than I originally thought. (spoiler alert) I like for example that in the end, feeding the 'monster' means that the mother has tamed her own madness. I'm still not a fan of The Babadook, but at least I can appreciate it a little more now. 

* Wolf Creek 2. Eight years after the release of Wolf Creek 1, Australian serial killer Mick Taylor is back to butcher more unsuspecting tourists. Wolf Creek 2 may be less realistic than its predecessor, it's also faster paced and more suspenseful. I didn't like the quiz at the end, but it mingles well with the rest of the film's humor. Good sequel. 

* Nightcrawler. Because I was so looking forward to this movie, I was convinced that I'd be disappointed, but Nightcrawler has even surpassed my expectations. Jake Gyllenhaal is brilliantly disturbing as the mantra-spouting sociopath who manipulates his way into LA crime journalism, and nothing beats the atmospheric and colorful camerawork by Robert Eswit. Fans of the film compare Nightcrawler to Drive, Network, and Taxi Driver. It's only a matter of time before the audience will start quoting Nightcrawler as an example. 

* The Counselor. Michael Fassbender plays a lawyer who gets involved in drug trafficking, and has to learn the hard way that life is about being responsible for the choices you make; once the mistake has been committed there's no turning back. I heard The Counselor was boring, pretentious, and overly philosophical. While I can understand the criticism, there's just no denying the originality of the characters, the bleakness of its plot, the importance of its philosophical rants, and the impact of its most salient scenes. I just wish I could wipe that bolito from my memory. 

* Grumpy Cat's Worst Christmas Ever. “Why are you even watching this?” Grumpy Cat asks the audience in her movie. I asked myself the same question. How could I watch a movie that is so by-the-numbers, so obviously made for commercial reasons alone, and so effortlessly dumb? I know I'm forgiving when it comes to Christmas movies and cat flicks, but still... Why did I watch something this bad till the end, and still kind of enjoyed it? 

* Stars 80. Typical French comedy about two concert organizers who set up a tour with famous singers from the eighties. The story and jokes are almost non-existent, and the movie consists mainly of the real artists singing their songs. However, everyone seems to have enjoyed themselves tremendously while making Stars 80, and that enthusiasm rubs onto the audience as well. I bet you can't stop singing French eighties classics after seeing this movie. 

* Stonehearst Asylum. Also called Eliza Graves, Stonehearst Asylum is based on Edgar Allan Poe's short story The System of Dr Tarr and Professor Fether. It starts with a terrific idea (a recent medical school grad takes a position at a mental institution, having no idea that the patients have taken over the asylum), but it fizzles down because of wrong directorial choices that make the movie tame and on-the-nose. Thanks to an unexpected twist and many talented actors (Jim Sturgess, Michael Caine, Ben Kingsley), I still enjoyed the movie. Stonehearst Asylum has potential, but it never quite makes it to the top.


Listening to: 

* Soundtrack for the TV series The Leftovers by Max Richter. This is my favorite music of 2014. It even inspired me to write my short film script Next To Her. Just the perfect mix of sadness and tenderness that mixes so well with my story. 

* Soundtrack for Under The Skin by Mica Levi. The music is unsettling and might not be everyone's taste, but for me it's another favorite soundtrack of 2014. I'll definitely listen to this when writing another supernatural thriller.

What have you been reading, watching, and listening to lately? Anything here that piques your interest?

Reading / watching / listening to...

Adorable Books

 Reading:

* Snowblind by Christopher Golden. Claustrophobic snowstorms, monsters, people disappearing... I was hooked from the very first page. But once the exciting set-up was over, I got bored. The action and character development melts away at the same pace as the snow from the story, and while Golden attempts to build-up a return of events in the third act, he never really succeeded in making me curious enough to finish the book. Snowblind is currently been turned into a TV-series by Universal TV.

* Vampires, Bones, and Treacle Scones by Kaitlyn Dunnett. A woman organizes a Halloween party in a haunted house and weird things happen: objects disappear, secret rooms are discovered, and someone is found dead. Who is the killer? I read Vampires, Bones, and Treacle Scones based on the cover alone and it delivered exactly what I expected: a fun Halloween atmosphere, a few animals, and an easy to follow story. Perhaps the writing and story were a bit too easy. And, if I'm being completely honest, I was never really invested in finding out who the killer was either. But Vampires, Bones, and Treacle Scones got me into the Halloween mood early on and definitely made my autumn a little better.

* Chats Chats Chats (Cats Cats Cats) by Lapuss', Larbier and Rabarot. Cats that indulge in typical feline mischief is what this French comic is all about. Funny, highly recognizable and well-illustrated, Chats Chats Chats doesn't need any text to be effective. Recommended to all cat addicts, children included. Unfortunately, chances are slim it will ever be turned into a series.

* Cath et son chat volume 2, Cath et son chat volume 3 and Cath et son Chat volume 4 by Cazenove and Richez. Not all jokes in Cath et son chat are equally funny. Sometimes Cazenove and Richez try too hard to be original, and their jokes just fall flat. The authors' best gags are those where you recognize typical cat behavior, albeit presented in a new light. While not perfect, it's definitely entertaining and funny enough to read the rest of this comic series about a little girl and her problem-causing cat.


Watching: 

* The Leftovers. As soon as I knew this was going to be about sects and 2% of the world's population disappearing, I knew I was going to like The Leftovers. The best part about this HBO series based on the novel by Tom Perrotta wasn't the mystery, though. The characters were fleshed out, the soundtrack by Max Richter one of the best I heard in a long time, and the silent, chain-smoking sect members fascinating. Fun fact: there's a scene in the third episode (where Christopher Eccleston nurses his disabled wife) that inspired me to write my short film script Next To Her.

* Game Of Thrones Season 1, 2, 3 and 4. I'm a bit late to the party with this one, but now I'm OBSESSED. First I thought Game Of Thrones wouldn't be my thing, but when I heard about all the different plot twists and the majority of the cast being slaughtered in a single episode, it was time to check out what the buzz was about. I loved every single second of it. Season three and four are my favorites.

* Thief. Michael Mann's first feature film Thief (1981) bears the characteristics of later blockbusters like Heat. The story isn't all that original (a thief wants to lead a normal life, but has to do one last job for the mafia), but thanks to well-researched realism, an involving soundtrack by Tangerine Dream, and an in-depth, touching performance by headliner James Caan, Thief may be considered one of Michael Mann's very best.

* Jeune et jolie. After losing her virginity during a holiday in the south of France, Isabelle explores her sexuality even further by voluntarily working as a call girl. I really liked that prostitution was presented in such a different way here. For Isabelle, it was a way to test the boundaries of life, a path to growing up. An exciting movie with a good vibe, though I didn't like the ending.

* Palo Alto. I can't decide whether to find James Franco's stories touching or detached. There's this brilliance and beauty in his work that speaks to me profoundly, but his characters are generally the kind I'd steer away from in real life. In the case of Palo Alto (which is based on his book and directed by Gia Coppola), they're too infantile, too irritating, too reckless. I'm just unable to identify with any of them, no matter how well-constructed they are. For that reason alone, I feel like an observer instead of being into the movie. But is it well-done? Absolutely.

* The Purge: Anarchy. While the first installment of The Purge sported an intriguing premise, the execution was largely lacking. The sequel revolves around the same concept – during one day of the year, every crime is left unpunished – but improves upon its shortcomings. Instead of keeping the action indoors, the film follows a young couple trying to survive on the streets after their car breaks down when the annual purge commences. The result is a chase of life and death that doesn't leave the viewer much room to breathe. Despite some lower-tier actors and an ending that didn't quite do it for me, The Purge 2: Anarchy is definitely a step up from the first one.

* Spring Breakers. Four bored college girls hold up a restaurant in order to fund their spring break vacation and befriend a drug dealer (an almost unrecognizable James Franco, with rasta hair and silver teeth) who brings them into contact with a world of sex, drugs, and murder. As spring break is like a dream for these girls, the film is made in such manner as well – dreamy images, repetitions, and lots of bright colors that clash with the decadent nature and violence of the film. We're far from the intensity and weirdness from Harmony Korine's early projects such as Gummo and Julien Donkey-Boy, but it's still an enjoyable film is you manage to see its second-degree nature.

* Horns. The film adaptation reflects the novel rather well, so I had the same issues with both of them. The beginning is highly original, with a young man (Daniel Radcliffe) discovering he has grown horns over the night and realizing that these horns make those around him say the truth. It's only when he starts using this gift to find out what happened to his dead girlfriend for whose murder he's accused, that the movie becomes common. Overall, Horns reminded me of The Lovely Bones, both in terms of tone and story. There is one scene near the end (in which Daniel Radcliffe uses his sudden power to control snakes to seek revenge) where I thought Horns was going to become more exciting, but it ended just like you'd expect most such stories to end.

* This Is The End. You know the concept, right? A bunch of celebrities (Jonah Hill, Seth Rogen, Rihanna, Emma Watson) play themselves. They gather for a housewarming party at James Franco's and then the apocalypse sets in. The entire movie is one big joke, but an incredibly good one. Without the gimmick of the actors playing themselves, the story wouldn't have been efficient at all. But in the context of this being 'real', it's absolutely hilarious. I loved how they are backstabbing each other and that they all die in the most horrible of ways. The actors had visibly a lot of fun making This Is The End and that fun flows onto the viewer. Not sure what to expect? Consider the dialogue: “A huge earthquake happens, who do they rescue first? Actors. They'll rescue Clooney, Sandra Bullock, me. If there's room, you guys will come.” / “I fucked Lindsay Lohan at the Chateau Marmont. She kept knocking on my door, she was high. She kept calling me Jake Gyllenhaal. I said: just call me your prince of Persia.” / “Shoot her in the head!” “I'm not killing Emma Watson.”

* The Houses October Built. This new found-footage horror movie is slightly superior from others in the genre. It takes place during Halloween with a group of friends going on a road trip to visit the most notorious backroad haunted houses. The film consists, for the most part, of visits to these Halloween haunts and generally has the feel of a documentary where the crew takes the camera with them inside the attractions. Unfortunately, The Houses October Built is a bit feeble story-wise, but it has enough creepy scenes and Halloween atmosphere to be recommendable for this time of year. The film won the award for best midnight movie at this year's Sitges Film Festival.

* Killer Legends. This was the perfect documentary for Halloween. Delving into the true killer stories that have inspired some of the most terrifying urban legends such as poisoned Halloween candy, the hook, the babysitter in danger and the evil clown, filmmakers Joshua Zeman and Rachel Mills have concocted a fascinating documentary, backed up with so much research that they even shed new evidence onto certain criminal cases. What makes Killer Legends so ideal for Halloween are the vintage Halloween images and the many scenes from classic horror movies such as When A Stranger Calls, The Town That Dreaded Sundown, Halloween, Urban Legend, and Candyman.


Listening to:

* Music For Insomniacs by Matt Berry. Best known for his role of Douglas Reynholm in the IT Crowd, Matt Berry might not be the person you'd expect a new-age influenced, ambient album from. But it's actually beautiful and moody, and also quite different compared to his previous albums.

* Zombie Playground by Shawn Lee. This soundtrack for a zombie game reminded me a lot of the many zombie movie soundtracks from the seventies. Not quite the best of the bunch, but nevertheless pleasant and captivating. By the way, did you know that Shawn Lee has worked before with singers such as Lana Del Rey and Amy Winehouse?

* Soundtrack for The Double by Andrew Hewitt. I'm as much in love with the soundtrack as with the movie. Andrew Hewitt's music blends score and sound design elements. It's rich, utterly engaging and perfectly matches the visual artistry and musical editing of the picture. The album also includes classics such as Sukiyaki by Kyu Sakamoto, East Virigina by Danny & The Islanders and the credit song The Sun by Kim Jung Mi.

* Last but not least, I also went to the World Soundtrack Awards which included a philharmonic interpretation of several soundtrack scores by Cliff Martinez (Only God Forgives, Contagion, Wicker Park, Solaris, Kafka, A l'origine, and Espion). Given the many celebrities that attended the awards (Brett Easton Ellis, Gabriel Yared, etc) I expected something exceptional, but the end result was lifeless and too short. Also, though Cliff Martinez was present at the concert, he didn't play or conduct music himself.

What have you been reading, watching, and listening to lately? 
 

Reading / watching / listening to...

 Maiedae

Reading:

* Miss Mabel's School For Girls by Katie Cross. Set in a school for witches, Miss Mabel’s School For Girls combines the vibes of Harry Potter, Suspiria, and American Horror Story 3: Coven, but sets itself apart thanks to the creativity of the writing. Katie Cross never goes for obvious words or descriptions, but is always on the lookout for a more challenging way to bring her story to life. A treat if you’re into Ya, magic and witches.

* The World Of Wanderlust Story and How To Create A Successful Blog by Brooke Saward. You know Brooke Saward from her successful travel blog World Of Wanderlust, right? As the title suggests, The World Of Wanderlust Story is about how Brooke started traveling solo, first as a normal tourist and later as a professional for World Of Wanderlust. Very little about it is revelatory, but as it’s a fast read, written in an engaging style, The World Of Wanderlust Story got my interest all the way through. I definitely wanted to read her other writings, so that's exactly what I did. How To Create A Successful Blog fell behind information-wise, though. I hoped to discover the secrets on how Brooke Saward made her blog as successful as it is, but I already knew her techniques and thought she could have explained them more in-depth. That being said, How To Create A Successful Blog is an excellent step-by-step guide for starters, but there's so much more to know about blogging that I wouldn't recommend this as your sole read.

* Cath et son chat by Christophe Cazenove and Hervé Richez. This French comic was one of my birthday presents. It's a collection of funny and recognizable anecdotes featuring a young girl and her cat. Both adults and kids will love it.

* Cats Are Weird and Other Observations by Jeffrey Brown is comparable to Cath et son chat, though children might find its style and humor difficult to comprehend . It's part of a series of books of which I already reviewed Cat Getting Out Of A Bag in my Reading / Watching / Listening to-post of May 2013.

* Heads In Beds: Hotels, Hustles, and So-Called Hospitality by Jacob Tomsky. Since I’ve read this tale about a man’s career in the hotel industry, I’ve already mentioned quite a lot of anecdotes from this book to friends. Yet, I can’t fully recommend Heads In Beds, mainly because Jacob Tomsky’s style oozes pretentiousness. He bashes about how much money he made and how easy it was to fool customers and such things. I couldn’t finish Heads In Beds for this reason alone.


Watching:

* Night School (Terror Eyes). I watched Night School at the Cinematek in Brussels during a double bill on 80s serial killer movies. The story is highly predictable, but the forceful opening scene, giallo atmosphere, and mounting suspense are such huge fun they make up for that predictability in a big way.

* Fear City. Abel Ferrara is a master in portraying the gloomy sides of New York, but apart from that, this segment of the 80s serial killer double bill was an unhandy genre mix that gets very little right. Special mention goes to the murderer who, by continually showing off his karate techniques, becomes one of the most ridiculous in serial killer history.

* Kiki's Delivery Service. Such a sweet Ghibli movie. The main character, a child witch, is so cute it's hard not to be glued to the screen. Add to this the cozy German-like homes and the witch's talkative black cat, and you almost forget that the film misses punch. Do not confuse with the inferior live-action remake that I watched at Cannes this year.

* Next To Her. This new Israeli movie involving a young woman in charge of her mentally disabled sister has so many merits I couldn’t possibly mention them all. Dana Ivgy, who plays the sister in need, is so outstanding that I had to google if she was mentally challenged in real life or not (she isn’t). Based on the real-life relationship between lead actress/co-writer Liron Ben-Shlush and her sister, Next To Her is the most precise portrayal of a mental disorder I’ve seen in a long time. So much hard truth is uncovered here, such as how tiresome it is to take care of someone in need of constant supervision, how caring can become compulsive, and how worrying too much can lead to wrong decisions that endanger everyone's well being. I had a hard time getting into Next To Her because it was so depressing, but thanks to its realism and emotional honesty, I became completely absorbed. I not only cried during the punch-in-the-gut ending, but even on my way back home.

* Tess. I read Thomas Hardy's novel Tess of the D'Urbervilles in my early twenties and absolutely loved the negative spiral the main character was in. This element is precisely what I preferred about Roman Polanski’s adaptation as well. But there's so much more to Tess than that. The most impressive was the cinematography and set design as every single shot looked like a painting. All the actors were particularly admirable, especially Nastassia Kinski. Also, the movie is very much representative of the book, and there’s a good reason for that: Hardy’s novel was the last one Polanski’s wife Sharon Tate read and loved just before she got murdered, and Tess was his way of paying homage to his late wife.

* Zombie Holocaust. This Italian cannibal/zombie movie from the eighties has plenty of fake-looking special effects, bad acting, and lazy dialogue. But it does a lot right in terms of entertainment value, hence the reason of my second viewing. Fun fact: try and watch Zombie Holocaust and Zombie Flesh Eaters one right after the other if you're in the mood; you'll realize how similar they are.

* How To Train Your Dragon 2. You’ve probably seen the trailer, so you already know the main reason why you should watch his film: dragons. They’re probably too cute for your own good, so be prepared.

* The Fault In Our Stars. I loved the book. There’s just no denying it’s well-crafted and full of quotable lines. But when I watched the trailer, I expected nothing but mellowness from the movie adaptation. In fact, the only reason I gave it a try was because my sister would love it. And, yes, The Fault In Our Stars was everything I feared it would be: mellifluous and teenage. Yet, I left the theater with a broad smile. Despite my prejudice and its confirmation, I have to admit that The Fault In Our Stars works and that it gives a whole new meaning to the term 'feel good movie'.

* Lost After Dark. When I saw the eye-catching movie poster for Lost After Dark at the Cannes film market, I immediately wondered if this might be a vintage slasher film I hadn’t heard of. Nope. Just a modern movie imitating the feel of a good old eighties horror. The poster, however, is by far the best part of the film. While Lost After Dark doesn’t come out completely bruised (we do get the feeling of an eighties horror flick thanks to the use of filters), it would have benefited from a creepier killer and worthier death scenes.

* Ping Pong Summer. In contrast, another film that attempts to imitate the eighties, Ping Pong Summer, succeeds far better in portraying this era. The nostalgia-factor is pretty high thanks to lots of recognizable props. While Ping Pong Summer is ultimately too easy to fully recommend, I was charmed by its intentions and, in the end, the parts the film gets right linger longer than those it doesn’t, making it a charming and unique portrait of teenagers in the eighties.

* The Legend Of Billy Jean. How could I not have heard about this eighties gem before? This virtually unknown movie about a good-natured teenage girl (Helen Slater) who becomes an outlaw martyr with her brother (Christian Slater) and friends, is like a Thelma Louise for teenagers, topped with an enormous amount of feel-good sparkles.

* The Other Woman. There's some potential in this story about a cheated-on wife who befriends her husband's mistresses, but Cameron Diaz and Leslie Mann are so hysterical it's impossible to sit through The Other Woman without sighing.

* Jennifer (The Snake Goddess). This was already the third time I watched this horror film and there's a good reason for that. For a copycat of Carrie (which came out two years before and also deals with a girl being bullied in school), this was actually surprisingly fun, the main point of value being the ending in which Jennifer uses her paranormal talents to manifest giant snakes that attack her schoolmates. Definitely worth a watch if you love vintage horror and don't mind bad special effects and cheesy acting.

* Once Upon A Hit Girl (short film). Lots of gorgeous kickass hit girls and Tarantino-esque scenes. Lots of horrible actors, too.

* Août 1914 (short film). Août 1914 was everything a short film should be: smart, touching, surprising, and beautiful. It's a true story about a boy who tries to save his dog from the war and the absurd events that happened because of this.


Listening to: 

* Various songs by Georgio Valentino. I met Georgio Valentino earlier this year at a press conference and was immediately curious about his music that he described as weird and inaccessible. With a voice like Bowie and tunes reminiscent of Calexico and Friends Of Dean Martinez, Georgio Valentino got my interest from the very first second. I can imagine this being the perfect background music for a road trip. He just released a new vinyl record if you're interested: Mille Morceaux.

* Kill For Love by Chromatics. It took me a while to get into the new Chromatics album (you probably know them from the Drive soundtrack), but because my boyfriend has been playing this silly, I got used to it and now I even like Kill For Love.

* Nearly everything by Max Richter. This has been my go-to music whilst writing my latest screenplay as most songs mingle perfectly with the emotion of the script.


If you're looking for more to read, watch, and listen to, you can check out my old "Reading / Watching / Listening to..." posts.