Stranger Than Paradise

Farewell Mr. Peel



Physical State: achey
Mental State: leaden
Music: Stars of The Lid - The Tired Sounds of...
Fashion sense: black t-shirt, grey sweats

It goes without saying that a true era in music has ended with the recent passing of John Peel. I listened to John's BBC show on the internet as often as I could and I was never disappointed by anything I would ever hear on it. His show was like a pair of old shoes, scruffy at times but the fit was perfect. In a world where programmed crap radio and the marketing of schlock seems to be trend, Peely was a true original. He'd often play records at the wrong speed (one of his hilarious trademarks) but you know those songs sounded great at any speed. Its because Peel had that certain talent for isolating the song that actually had value (even if it was by that unknown little indie band from Luton). Many bands that he ushered into the world with his Peel Sessions have gone on to incredible respect from the music industry and fans alike. I know some Toronto musicians who have said that in meeting him they found he had a quiet charm with a smart sense of humour matched only by his encyclopedic knowledge of the last 50 years of music history. His comments on music were often hilarious, witty and informed. It is just an incredible loss for music when someone who played one of the largest parts in its history is now silent. On a personal level I think that his radio show shaped a lot of the choices I make in picking up cds (and playing them on my show).

I hope that the BBC will continue his show with guest djs who no doubt will have very large shoes to fill. In the afterlife if there is a soundtrack, Peel will be its programmer. I know that may sound hokey but this guy was the best DJ that radio and the world has ever known. A man of humility and respect for music which I think is sadly lacking these days. I'll miss you John.

The as of yet non-DVD'ed
Double Life of Veronique



Physical State: achey
Mental State: circular
Music: The Vinyl Cafe on CBC Radio2 with Stuart McLean (am I the only one who think his show sounds unmistakeably like Garrison Keillor's radio show, really weird)
Fashion sense: blue t-shirt, blue sweats

I smell a crusade here, so it's business as usual for me I guess. I would like to comment on one of the true travesties of film culture that exist today. No its not the colorizing of the classics, virtual actors, the if it ain't on the page it shouldn't be on the stage debate or the fact that my local rep theatre seems to have more dumb-ass comedies than true art lately. No these are all valid discussions but I want to speak about something that is very true and dear to my heart which I think is really sad. Polish director Krzysztof Kieslowski better known by most people as the creator of the Red, White and Blue series or the Decalogue has seen all of these films and other works released on DVD. But one of my all-time favourite movies—often included in a handful that I suggest that people should see if I'm ever asked—is the captivating and mysterious adult fairy-tale The Double Life of Veronique. I could give you my interpretation of what this film is about if it was easy but it's not. This is one of the reasons I still find it interesting. There is no shit blowing up, no product placements nor annoying catch-phrases marketed on tv ad infinitum. It is simply a small but sublime foreign film that I think is long overdue in deserving a re-mastering and digital transfer to DVD. Maybe more so because it is a cineaste's favourite (and in my opinion the most intimate work by Kieslowski). Why is this still a VHS only release? There seems to be no justice in this fact. Irène Jacob has never done another film, in my opinion, that so distinctly captures her Ingrid Bergman-esque qualities and such an expressiveness with so little dialogue. In my mind it is a classic. I think its time to petition Alliance to get off its ass and get this re-release in gear. It's time has definitely come. Veronique deserves a suitable tribute by allowing film enthusiasts and students to see it clearly as a minor masterpiece that I think it is. It has a thought-provoking story, the beautiful cinematography of Slavomir Idziak and film-composer Zbigniew Preisner's haunting, albeit at times Zamfir-like, score. Here is a quick description from allmovie about what this movie is about (but merely scratches the surface). I direct you to check it out on VHS (if you can find it) and tell the rental store that you wished you could have seen it on DVD. At least see it if you can and tell me what you think. I've spent more than 10 years trying to understand this lovely film and I find it changes as you change. There's a quietness, contemplation about life and an enigmatic quality in it that I think is important to pass on.

The Double Life of Véronique is the story of two young women who are -- in some mysterious and irresolvable way -- the same woman leading two different yet interconnected lives. Those familiar with Polish director Krzysztof Kieslowski's later "Three Colors" trilogy of Blue, White, and Red will recognize his fascination with accidental happenings and chance encounters, as well as Irène Jacob (from Red) whose performance as both Veronika and Veronique won the 1991 Cannes Film Festival award for best actress. Veronika and Véronique are born on the same day in 1966, one in Poland, the other in France. They grow up separately, unaware of each other's existence, but with the vague and rarely expressed feeling that they are "not alone." The story begins in Poland, where Veronika (like Véronique) is a talented vocalist and music student who wins a prestigious singing competition and is given the chance to perform with a local symphony. On the night of the concert, while singing a duet onstage, Veronika loses consciousness and dies. Véronique is emotionally wounded by the loss of her double and decides to end her singing career. The film charts the effect of Veronika's death on Véronique and on her dispassionate and unsatisfying relationships with men, especially her father. She is led to puppeteer and children's book author Alexandre Fabbri (Philippe Volter), whose puppet shows and stories are dramatic variants on her own mysterious problem. While looking through photographs of Véronique's trip to Poland, Fabbri discovers a picture of Veronika walking through a student demonstration in Kracow. He shows the picture to Véronique, who intuits the significance of Veronika's perfect likeness to herself. ~ Anthony Reed, All Movie Guide

Ever have a word that pops into your head and you all of a sudden have a whole song to go with it? Maybe it's called Weird Al syndrome or something I dunno but this has been in my head all day:

Ennui and apathy
(sung to Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney's "Ebony & Ivory")

Ennui and apathy, live together in perfect harmony
Side by side on my unswept floorboard, oh lord, can this be?
We all know that people are lame where ever we go
There is nothing and sad in everyone,
We learn we're bored, we learn there's more
Of the same crap we don't need to survive together anymore.

Ennui and apathy live together in perfect harmony
Side by side on my unswept floorboard, oh lord can this be?

Ennui, apathy living in perfect harmony
Ennui, apathy, ooh

Ah skip it, who cares. I'm hungry, let's get a taco.

Maybe boredom creates brilliance...uh, yeah.

Mmmm...Funniest Book, Ever!



Physical State: cold cold COLD
Mental State: 10 km/ph
Music: Schroeder on RadioIndieRock
Fashion sense: black sweatshirt, blue sweats

Here you thought I was gone for good but the good news is that I am still here (and now able to tip you off to even more cool stuff and useless information to amaze and delight your friends and enemies).

One thing that is definitely cool is the new book from the stable of talented writers who work with Jon Stewart on his Emmy-winning, always relevant and undeniably hilarious television program The Daily Show. The new book called America: A Citizen's Guide To Democracy Inaction is page after page of laughs for anyone who follows American culture, history and politics (a bestseller in Canada at present not suprisingly). Nicely designed and layed-out, this book will keep you coming back for more. People in the bookstore must have thought I was insane chuckling under my breath as I was looking through it. There is absolutely no coincidence (not) that this book has come out on the eve of an new US presidential election, ha ha. Buy, borrow or steal this book and you'll thank me (ok stealing is wrong...maybe you can get on the 500+ person hold list that this will no doubt have at the local library). A great extension of the show's brilliance into book form.

Another thing that I did over the weekend was check out the DVD version of a cult horror film I haven't seen since I was in my late teens and watched often. Franklin, Michigan native Sam Raimi's The Evil Dead from 1981. The story goes that a bunch of friends go to an abandoned cabin for a weekend (Horror 101 says it must be so). "One by one they are taken" after the release of evil spirits from playing a recording of recitations from The Necronomicon. Bruce Campbell has gone on to lifetime cult-status as his character Ash (and starred in two other Evil Deads: Evil Dead 2and Army of Darkness). Campbell then went on to do the equally campy and bizarre Bubba Ho-Tep and published an autobiography If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B-Movie Actor. I had forgotten how G-O-R-Y the first Evil Dead was but also darkly hilarious in its low-budget effects and acting style. It is easy to see why this is a classic because it is at times bloody but also because of its incredible silly dialogue (almost borderline SCTV at times). Its interesting to see how Raimi, the man who now makes Spiderman (and is producer for the new English remake of The Grudge), got started. Not the best horror film ever but certainly still interesting and a classic. How come they don't make tons of these kinds of films anymore. Totally indie and low-budget but incredibly addictive.

Feel free to leave comments people, that space is there for ya! I'd love to hear from you. I need some movie ideas for Halloween. Give me your favourites.

Album of the week - The Arcade Fire - Funeral