In suburbia, it seems, everyone can hear you scream. Sally Potter’s 2018 film makes ‘Abigail ‘s Party’ look like ‘The Teletubbies’. It’s brutal. Janet (Kristin Scott Thomas) has been appointed shadow minister for an unnamed political party (I think we’re fully aware which one, though) and is throwing a dinner party. Add her guests, rowingContinue reading “Film Review: The Party”
Category Archives: Humour
Dear Billy Is Back!
Gary McNair returns with his big hearted show celebrating the inimitable Billy Connolly, Dear Billy: A Love Letter to The Big Yin. Following on from its successful run last year, the show, which is a patchwork of stories McNair has collected from people all over Scotland, is back for another tour, including the Edinburgh Festival.Continue reading “Dear Billy Is Back!”
My Favourite Comedy Sketch…Ever
In December 1976, Queen were scheduled to appear on an early evening TV show, Tonight With Bill Grundy. But they couldn’t make it, so instead Sex Pistols were invited, along with their pals, The Bromley Contingent. This included a young Siouxsie Sioux. Grundy, already a little drunk and not au fait with the zero fucks givenContinue reading “My Favourite Comedy Sketch…Ever”
And …Cut!
I kinda miss The Marx Brothers. Their beautifully crafted slapstick was matched only by the witty one-liners. Vaudeville performers who emerged during the Depression era in America, they epitomised freewheeling anarchy and sight gags like few others. Laurel and Hardy are great, but the Marx Bros kicked it up a notch. They each brought somethingContinue reading “And …Cut!”
The Joy of Black Books
The real anti -Friends With its Tom Waits style theme tune, Surrealist lunacy and cast of three who were like a late nineties, UK based version of Jules et Jim, Black Books remains one of my favourite TV shows of all time. Written by Dylan Moran alongside Graham Linehan, it was cut from a differentContinue reading “The Joy of Black Books”
Lost In Music: The Rutles
Where would we be without them, the Prefab Four? Just four cheeky lads from Rutland who changed our culture, they were ” of no fixed hairstyle”, but full of ambition and creativity., but far more importantly, “their trousers”… Funny too, how their music and image changed, following “the pleasant effects of tea”… “I’d like toContinue reading “Lost In Music: The Rutles”
Vintage Films: Carry On Screaming (1967)
A bit of a departure from the usual British saucy seaside postcard romps, Carry On Screaming took the formula of both Hammer Horror and spooky American sitcom favourites The Munsters and The Addams Family, and created a weird hybrid with an actual storyline. Wait… Sophistication creeping in? Not quite. It’s still Carry On, after all.Continue reading “Vintage Films: Carry On Screaming (1967)”
Film Review: Cat Nation
This quirky documentary, created by film maker Tim Delmastro and You Tuber Chris Broad, an Englishman who has lived in Japan for over five years, follows the Japanese fascination with the domestic felines. From a station master’s cat (below, in jaunty hat) to a temple festooned with Neko beckoning lucky cats, to a slightly OTTContinue reading “Film Review: Cat Nation”
Everybody Loves A Double Act: The Trip
We all have our favourite comedy double acts: Vic and Bob, French and Saunders, Laurel and Hardy, Trump and Pence..The list goes on. But one I return to time and time again is Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon in Michael Winterbottom ‘s The Trip. It’s perfect autumnal fare: the pair play exaggerated versions of themselves,Continue reading “Everybody Loves A Double Act: The Trip”
New Release: Idles- Dancer
Apart from their track about degrees, reggae and jobs (Well Done) the appeal of Idles somewhat passed me by. I always felt they ripped off The Ruts a bit. But this new single has a bit of a groove and swagger, and you have to like a video that pastiches the silly, macho strut ofContinue reading “New Release: Idles- Dancer”
Hit The North 