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The tropical storm, whose name I forget (have enough problems remember the names of the people I work with - I'm supposed to remember tropical storms now too?) has arrived and is drenching us with rain.

Sent work home to myself, so will most likely be frying my brain working this weekend, off and on. Remainder will be spent doing well other things.

Read a few Much Ado Reviews...most of the reviewers appear to love it to pieces, the few that don't either aren't Whedon fans and/or appear to prefer their Shakespeare done by well people who know how to do Shakespeare really well. Apparently nothing is safe from nitpickers in this day and age....but Whedon has become the "cool dude" or "it" guy of the pop-cultural moment. Pop culture being dependably fickle, don't expect this to last all that long. Bask in the glow while it lasts. Which if you are lucky will be longer than a second.

The reviewer in Metro cracked me up, but I wouldn't recommend his review to die-hard Whedon fans. Actually neither would he - he states as much:

Those who would follow Whedon anywhere are advised to ignore these harsh words and head to the theater. The rest can take solace in knowing there’s already another “Ado” film, from 1993, that is strong enough to survive Keanu Reeves doing Shakespeare, and which features, in Emma Thompson and Kenneth Branagh, a Beatrice and Benedick for the ages. This is just for Whedonites.

http://www.metro.us/newyork/entertainment/movies-entertainment/2013/06/06/joss-whedons-much-ado-about-nothing-is-a-fans-only-endeavor/

[Oh prior to this review, earlier in the week - they stated that: the success of Much Ado would depend greatly on whether there is any chemistry between Amy Acker and Alexis Denisof. (No) Bwahahha. Bad reviews can be a lot of fun.]

Not to fret, 81% of the Rotten Tomatoes Critics thought it was the best thing evah. Also, it should be noted that the same Metro Reviewer thinks the Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawk movie triology Before Midnight is scary. Yet wasn't bothered by Hawk's latest film Purge which he considered brilliant. Also this guy loves the Hangover films. So...I'm not entirely sure he's all that reliable.

In other news? I can't seem to find a good trashy novel to save my life. Maybe they don't exist? Maybe the point is to be paint by numbers, with repetitive porn? The one's I've been reading lack humor and fun plots. May go back to Dance with Dragons or try Mists of Avalon or Magic Bites. OR something else entirely.

Bran Nue Dae (Brand New Day) - Film Review

Just finished watching a rather unique and relatively unknown Australian independent film based upon the popular aboriginal musical Bran Neu Dae. (Well, popular in Australia at any rate. It hasn't quite made it's way across the pond.)

In 1969, an aboriginal boy, named Willie, has been sent away by his mother to a Catholic boarding school in Perth to become a priest. He gets in trouble with Father Benedict (played by Geoffrey Rush) and decides to follow his dream, which is to live in his home town of Broome, with the girl he is crushing on, and fish. Along the way he meets an old aboriginal hobo and drunk, who tells him that he's his uncle - "Tadpole", and a pair of hippie wannabees. The story features aboriginal music and songs including the rather catchy and satirical song - Nothing more than I'd rather be and Bran Nue Dae.

Here's the original movie trailer:

Watch on YouTube

And the satirical song - There's Nothing I'd Rather Be:

Watch on YouTube

It's not at all what I expected. I went into this one blind. And it is admittedly slow in places, the boy playing Willie sort of walks through his role. But Uncle Tadpole is quite good in places...particularly in a dream sequence in the middle of the film which discusses the history of the aborigini and what will their future be - which is shown in faded black and white. Up until that point, my attention wandered, so I had to rewind and re-watch.
The movie grew on me and I found it rather haunting in places with a garish raw energy.

By no means a great film, but an unique one - which sort of stands out from most movie musicals. In some respects it reminds me a little of the raw energy of some of the bollywood musicals. Although that is admittedly a stretch. At any rate it is definitely unique and positive in its overall outlook - a rarity these days, where pop culture seems to be getting increasingly smug and cynical with its own self-importance. Also don't be fooled by the plot synopsis of the boy going back to be with his girl...it's not that much of a romantic flick.