Being a contrary sort of person, I thought I’d post a slightly contradictory photo of a single bird. It’s a clear blue November sky but there’s menace in the bird’s posture. You could almost imagine that his talons, just visible below his tail feathers, are bomb clusters. He’s loitering with intent, if you will, and somebody’s day is about to be ruined.

Across 110th Street: Although it’s often lumped in with so-called ‘blaxploitation’ movies of the early 1970′s, director Barry Shear’s minor classic is actually a gritty police procedural with a strong element of social commentary.

Electra Glide in Blue: Boasting stunning wide-screen cinematography by Conrad Hall, this overlooked gem of 1970′s American cinema is a striking one-off by former record producer James William Guercio.

The Last Detail: A Jack Nicholson feast: one of his finest films, and one of his most accomplished biographers. Nicholson’s biographer Patrick McGilligan gives a talk after the film.

The Page Turner: This tightly-coiled thriller is the director’s highest profile celluoid accomplishment to date, yet it’s utterly redolent of the compellingly sprung intimacy of great chamber music. Must avoid the special screening on Nov7 for ‘parents with babies’.

Red Road: With its stomach-tightening foreboding balanced against biting Scots wit, this is quite an achievement on many levels, not least its evident intimacy with the persuasive cast. Essential viewing.

In other news, a fire broke out in the R&H Hall flat grain store on Alexandria Road at about 9pm Monday night. It was still smouldering at lunchtime today. A similar fire occured in their Cork store a few weeks ago. Arson was suspected in that incident. This won’t do much for Dublin-Cork relations.

R&H Hall have four such storage stores around the country. I bet the night watchmen on the other two sites won’t fall asleep on the job for the next few months.
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The SWAN approaches!
Astronomy Ireland is holding public events around the country this evening to look at the Comet SWAN which, apparently, has had an outburst and brightened by a factor of 5 to magnitude 4! In addition, the moon is as close to Uranus as it ever gets so it’s a fun night for all. I was tempted to go with my shiny new camera but I decided against it. Why?

Stargate SG-1 is on Sky One at 8pm and it’s followed by Atlantis. Both, of course!!, are science fiction programmes based in space. What were Astronomy Ireland thinking? I’m such a hypocrite because I constantly berate those (never to their fat faces) who watch soap operas and reality TV programs. Frankly, if I were king for a day, I’d ban ITV. Get out and live a real life, I mutter under my breath.

In my defence, Astronomy Ireland’s second line on their home page reads, ‘join thousands of others on Astronomy Ireland’s FREE emailing list‘. That’s either desperation or poor marketing. And I know what my defence is…

And finally, saw this in Ballygall the other day. I know the council is always playing the poor mouth but, come on, three benches does not a social club make.
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* Film descriptions are taken from the IFI’s November brochure.
** Bacause on the title, I’m really looking forward to what Google searches tempt people here.

I can see clearly now the rain is gone, well
I can see all obstacles in my way, yeah
Gone have the dark clouds that used to make me blind
It’s gonna be a bright, (bright) bright, (bright) sun shiny day
Oh I can see a bright, (bright) oh a little bright, now (bright) sun shiny day

That song made me think of a favourite movie of mine from way back. And that movie made me think of a French woman I know. Would she have seen that French film (one of my favs) from the mid-80′s that starred that french guy with bleached blonde hair? Think I was 14-years old at the time. I couldn’t remember the name of the movie right then but it was set in the Paris metro and, sitting in the car, I remembered the sooo cool actors and sooo cool music and sooo cool alternative livestyle. I couldn’t remember the film or the male actor’s name. But the female lead was Isabelle Adjani… and I wasn’t going to forget her! Rather embarassingly, I remembered he’d starred in a film called ‘Fortress’, though I’ve never seen it. Honest!

Once home, a quick search on google turned up…

The film was Subway while the actor was Christopher Lambert. One thing I hadn’t known at the time was that Luc Besson was the director. And he’s directed or produced lots of my favourite films over the years. Movies like The Big Blue (major fav), Nikita, Leon and Fifth Element are brilliant. I even liked The Transporter (I and 2)!

It’s funny how the mind works.
Twenty years ago, I was failing French at school, watching French movies after school and thinking lewd thoughts about French women. Twenty years later, I still can’t speak French but I am still watching French movies and thinking about French women!!

Besson even wrote an early screenplay for the American movie, Taxi, starring Queen Latifah and Jimmy Fallon. I’ve seen the trailer and it’s movie trash but I think it would be a good movie for a Wednesday night when football is the only thing on TV. Here’s the plot summary:

Belle Williams (Queen Latifah)is a speed demon. Flying through the streets of New York in her tricked-out taxi, she’s earned a rep as New York’s fastest cabbie. But driving a hack is only a pit stop for her real dream: Belle wants to be a race car champion. And she’s well on her way–until she’s derailed by overeager cop Andy Washburn (Jimmy Fallon), whose undercover skills are matched only by his total ineptitude behind the wheel. Washburn, whose lack of vehicular skills has landed him in the precinct doghouse, is hot on the heels of a gang of beautiful Brazilian bank robbers, led by Vanessa, their cold, calculating–and leggy–leader. To nab the evasive crooks, drivers license-less Washburn convinces Belle to team up with him to pursue Vanessa and crew. Belle has carte blanche to drive at any speed and break any law. The car-less cop and speed-demon cabbie–New York’s unlikeliest partners– begin a high-speed game of cat and mouse with the robbers. That is, if Belle and Washburn don’t end up killing each other first.

Random funny filler to end…
I was channel-hopping on the telly and hovered briefly at a re-run of Friends. I never really liked it but the writing was very sharp…

Phebs: I’m think of getting a new job. Could you see me working a benchdrill?
Joey: I dunno, what are you wearing?