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”
Category Archives: Humour
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”
Overlooked Classics: How Do You Want Me?
When is a sitcom not a sitcom? When it’s a comedy drama. How Do You Want Me? (1998-9) written by Simon Nye, is a sad, droll slice of life programme that seems to have been forgotten about, in spite of the wonderful cast and writing. Dylan Moran is Ian, an Irish comic who’s left LondonContinue reading “Overlooked Classics: How Do You Want Me?”
The Trouble With Irony
In the first part of this millenium, it seems you couldn’t move for irony. Arched of brow,barbed of zinger, pop culture was dominated by irony. It gave us nu-rave, refurbished arcade games, vintage style, the Burlesque and cabaret revival, and- arguably most prominently – comedy that to many was just plain offensive. I get it,Continue reading “The Trouble With Irony”
Comedy Review: Dylan Moran- Dr Cosmos
Dylan Moran, the famously curmudgeonly connoisseur of misery, seems more playful on this recent stand-up show, Dr Cosmos. He’s almost even- whisper it!- quite relaxed here, where before his stage persona was somewhat more akin to his beloved perma-grump alter ego, Bernard Black. Yes indeed, here, he’s quite smiley, even if the targets remain theContinue reading “Comedy Review: Dylan Moran- Dr Cosmos”
Pee Wee V Letterman
Few comic characters were ever as fully-formed as Pee Wee Herman. Based on “the most annoying kid in my class at school”, Paul Reubens’ character was a kitsch mash-up of everything that makes children so fascinating and hard to box in. He was capricious, silly, smartass and extremely odd, existing in his own little bubble,Continue reading “Pee Wee V Letterman”
Thurston Last And Always
In a shock career U- turn, Thursday Moore is forming a Sisters Of Mercy tribute, Thurston Last And Always. This departure comes as a startling move so late in the legendary NY guitarist ‘s career. Swapping his shredding for a drum machine, a la Doktor Avalanche, Moore’s foray into goth rock has been derided byContinue reading “Thurston Last And Always”
Prince- The Lost Tapes
New footage has been unearthed on YouTube of late legend Prince’s producer DJ Wackjob with a recently discovered vault of lost tapes from the Minneapolis icon. Amongst the tapes is a rare gem , Wackjob has dubbed “The Floppy Dicks’ a double album ‘s worth of songs with intriguing titles such as ‘Sorry Babe, ThisContinue reading “Prince- The Lost Tapes”
Piers- The Movie
Interior . Bedroom. Pink castle. Princess Piers yawns, stretches and gleefully gets out of bed, ready to face the day. PIERS: Huzzah. Another scrumptious English morning, ready to be assaulted by a volley of my opinions, masquerading as facts. Princess Piers dresses in two seconds flat, slides down a pole and out into The MagicContinue reading “Piers- The Movie”
Hit The North 