French 80's Musical in Recent Movie version

LES MISÉRABLES

Musical written by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boubil
first performed 1980

to movie via Tom Hooper and William Nicholson
USA /UK 2012

based on novel by Victor Hugo
about some years after the french revolution





my SnowBlack Movie # 1338


Happy role: COSETTE (Amanda Seyfried /Isabelle Allen)

Grumpy role: JAVERT (Russell Crowe)

Crazy role: MONSIEUR & MADAME THÉNARDIER (Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter)

Shy role: JEAN VALJEAN (Hugh Jackman)


Explosive role: GAVROCHE (Daniel Huttlestone)

Exhausted role: FANTINE (Anne Hathaway)

Wise role: BISHOP (Colm Wilkinson)

Beautiful role: ÉPONINE (Samantha Barks)



5 Characters
6 Scenery
4 Camerawork

5 Thrill
6 Conflict
2 Humour

5 Psychology
5 Philosophy
1 Fantasy

4 Composition
7 Music
4 Concept

= 54


I now give 1,2,3,4,5,6,7, where 3 is good
and total possible 7 X 12 = 84 never exist(?)




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La Folie with The Stranglers

from late -81

Stranglers' music continues to slowly fascinate me more and more... This record keeps growing (ain't so lame as some claim), especially if we take the bonus songs in same grip.

Caught between the super-creative sharpness of The Raven and more immediate convinceful pop of Aural Sculpture, LA FOLIE melts punkish material further down to synthish things. Makin' their obscure kind of new wave...

It happens in a quite cosy but still definitely not easy-listened way (which is very good here). Similar sounding music makers : early Elvis Costello, Lou Reed, Depeche Mode, The Undertones, Talking Heads, Siouxsie & The Banshees, Wire.




my Autumn Album 13 : 33


most Amusing song: NON STOP

most Beautiful song: GOLDEN BROWN

most Sexy song: PIN UP

most Loving song: THE MAN THEY LOVE TO HATE

most Growing Strong song: EVERYBODY LOVES YOU WHEN YOU'RE DEAD

most Smart song: VIETNAMERICA (bonus)

most Mysterious song: LA FOLIE (in french)


best of them all : STRANGE LITTLE GIRL (bonus single -82)



Overall Album

7 sound

3 melodies

6 accompaniment

6 rythms

3 singin' feeling

5 playin' dynamics

3 concept

5 variation

4 lyrics

4 titles

3 order of tracks

5 cover picture

5 historical importance

= 59


I now give 1 to 7 in thirteen cathegories
where 3 is good
and total possible 7 X 13 = 91 never exist(?)




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Museum Universeum (my first time in, but not their)

Imperial Bedroom with Elvis Costello

Costello's most acclaimed album from 1982, emotionally a bit deeper and darker than the six before, void of the very catchiest pop singles he spitted out so freneticly in the latest 70's. Still these actual "classical" arrangements, based on piano rather than guitars, makes some pieces sound the most happily expansive Elvis ever has done, even when his voice is bitter.

Produced by Geoff Emerick, who had a hand in Beatles' post-Pepper records. Cover picture is playing with Picasso's "three musicians", which may represent the band members = The Attractions.



including Bonus disc
with similar material and versions

my Autumn Album 13 : 32



most Amusing songs:
AND IN EVERY HOME
I TURN AROUND
MAN OUT OF TIME (demo stomping version)


most Beautiful songs:
THE LONG HONEYMOON
YOU LITTLE FOOL
SECONDS OF PLEASURE


most Sexy songs:
(What would) THE LOVED ONES...
PIDGIN ENGLISH
REALLY MYSTIFIED


most Loving songs:
HUMAN HANDS
BOY WITH A PROBLEM
(Wouldn't) KID ABOUT IT (alternate version)


most Growing Strong songs:
MAN OUT OF TIME
LITTLE SAVAGE (special to Mr. Average)
THE WORLD OF BROKEN HEARTS


most Smart songs:
BEYOND BELIEF (in this almost empty gin palace //Through a two-way looking glass you see your Alice)
TOWN CRYER (fast version)
THE TOWN WHERE TIME STOOD STILL


most Mysterious songs:
SHABBY DOLL
TOWN CRYER
IMPERIAL BEDROOM



a Little Savage in portrait




Overall Album

7 sound

5 melodies

7 accompaniment

4 rythms

5 singin' feeling

5 playin' dynamics

6 concept

6 variation

6 lyrics

4 titles

3 order of tracks

5 cover picture

7 historical importance

= 70


I now give 1 to 7 in thirteen cathegories
where 3 is good
and total possible 7 X 13 = 91 never exist(?)



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Both movies of Mr. Bean and another with Agent English

TriangleDrama # 91

including the second Bean movie of how to go to Cannes film festival, as well as his first one with restoring a big little american painting, completed by the second mission of agent Johnny English





MR. BEAN'S HOLIDAY

directed by Steve Bendelack
written by Rowan Atkinson, Richard Curtis, Robin Driscoll and Simon McBurney

UK /France 2007


5 Characters
5 Scenery
4 Camerawork

4 Thrill
2 Conflict
6 Humour

3 Psychology
3 Philosophy
5 Fantasy

5 Composition
3 Music
3 Concept

= 48





JOHNNY ENGLISH REBORN

directed by Oliver Parker
written by William Davies, Hamish McColl and more

UK /USA /France 2011


5 Characters
5 Scenery
4 Camerawork

5 Thrill
3 Conflict
5 Humour

2 Psychology
2 Philosophy
5 Fantasy

3 Composition
2 Music
6 Concept

= 47





BEAN - THE MOVIE

directed by Mel Smith
written by Rowan Atkinson, Richard Curtis and Robin Driscoll

UK /USA 1997


3 Characters
3 Scenery
4 Camerawork

2 Thrill
3 Conflict
6 Humour

3 Psychology
4 Philosophy
4 Fantasy

3 Composition
2 Music
5 Concept

= 42



I now give 1,2,3,4,5,6,7, where 3 is good
and total possible 7 X 12 = 84 never exist(?)










comprised in
my SnowBlack Movie # 1335


Happy role: ACTRESS SABINE (Emma de Caunes)

Grumpy role: FILM MAKER CLAY (Willem Dafoe)

Crazy role: MR. BEAN (Rowan Atkinson)

Shy role: AGENT TUCKER (Daniel Kaluuya)


Explosive role: JOHNNY ENGLISH (Rowan Atkinson)

Exhausted role: ART EXPERT LANGLEY (Peter MacNicol)

Wise role: AGENT AMBROSE (Dominic West)


Beautiful role: MADELEINE (Joséphine de La Baume)






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Madness Presents The Rise And Fall with Madness

their fourth and biggest album from 1982
about living in a british city

most similar songmakers : Kinks, Stranglers, XTC, Dexy's Midnight Runners




my Autumn Album 13 : 29


most Amusing song: MADNESS (IS ALL IN THE MIND)

most Beautiful song: RISE AND FALL (These are the streets)

most Sexy song: CALLING CARDS (naughty boy)

most Loving song: OUR HOUSE

most Growing Strong song: PRIMROSE HILL (from this sill)

most Smart song: THAT FACE

most Mysterious song: TIPTOES (standing on the rooftop)



Overall Album

6 sound

4 melodies

7 accompaniment

5 rythms

2 singin' feeling

5 playin' dynamics

6 concept

3 variation

4 lyrics

2 titles

3 order of tracks

4 cover picture

7 historical importance

= 58


I now give 1 to 7 in thirteen cathegories
where 3 is good
and total possible 7 X 13 = 91 never exist(?)






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Woody Allen goes Black & White 1980

STARDUST MEMORIES by Woody Allen

Reminds me most of : Fellini's 8 1/2, except in the dialogue (which you cannot do without in a work of Woody, but maybe in a Fellini film).




Quoted dialogue//monologue which I think captures this movie most. Beside the humour, I would have an idealistic view contrasting much to Woody's role portrait here, but I think he says what he says in an spiritual manner. Interesting how he pressumes God's existence anyway! And captures the two true fields of creativity :-)


Woody /Sandy: -Who is this guy anyhow to rewrite the end of my movie? And sice when are all these guys involved? ... Every six months I meet a new group of studio heads.

some producer: -It's very disconcerting to me too, but you know, the mortality rate in this business is unbelievable.

Woody /Sandy: -I'll say it's like the Black Plague. Jesus!

(someone else: -I think you're wonderful! Can I have your autograph?)

Woody /Sandy: -I don't want anybody going to Jazz Heaven. That's a nitwit idea. The whole point of the movie is that nobody is saved.

some producer: -Sandy, this is an Easter film. We don't need a movie by an atheist.

Woody /Sandy: -To you I'm an atheist. To God I'm the loyal opposition.......

some producer: -I think you're being a little paranoid.

Woody /Sandy: -No, do you know what I'm being. I'm being realistic. You know, and that's why you don't like the movie.

some producer: -It's not a matter of what I like... Too much reality is not what people want.

Woody /Sandy: -Jazz heaven, that's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. You can't control life, it doesn't wind up perfectly. Only art you can control, art and mastubation, two areas in which I am an absolute expert.






my SnowBlack Movie # 1333


Beautiful role: ISOBEL (Marie-Christine Barrault)

or Daisy or Dorrie


Wise role: Everyone or no one, could have been Sandy's analyst (Leonardo Cimino)

Exhausted role: SANDY (Woody Allen)

Explosive role: DORRIE (Charlotte Rampling)


Shy role: DAISY (Jessica Harper)

Crazy role: Everyone or no one, especially SHELLEY (Amy Wright)

Grumpy role(s): PASSENGERS ON THIS TRAIN (incl SANDY himself)

Happy role(s): PASSENGERS ON THE OTHER TRAIN (incl kissing girl)



6 Characters
4 Scenery
6 Camerawork

3 Thrill
5 Conflict
6 Humour

7 Psychology
5 Philosophy
5 Fantasy

5 Composition
5 Music
4 Concept

= 61


I now give 1,2,3,4,5,6,7, where 3 is good
and total possible 7 X 12 = 84 never exist(?)




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Wedding close to Naples with danish people + Pierce Brosnan

LOVE IS ALL YOU NEED
[BRÖLLOP I ITALIEN]

directed by Susanne Bier
written by Anders Thomas Jensen

Italy /Denmark 2012

with the tremendously flexible actress Trine Dyrholm




my SnowBlack Movie # 1332

Especially in this movie everyone changes alot between the states. They who really shine of smiles can be less willing or less forgiving than the colder appearances. But I try to see what they're most in my experience:


Beautiful role: ASTRID (Molly Blixt Egelind)


Wise role: PHILIP (Pierce Brosnan)

Exhausted role: IDA (Trine Dyrholm)

Explosive role: KENNETH (Micky Skeel Hansen)


Shy role: PATRICK (Sebastian Jessen)

Crazy role: LEIF (Kim Bodnia)

Grumpy role: THILDE (Christiane Schaumburg-Müller)

Happy role: BENEDIKTE (Paprika Steen)



5 Characters
6 Scenery
3 Camerawork

6 Thrill
6 Conflict
3 Humour

6 Psychology
2 Philosophy
3 Fantasy

5 Composition
4 Music
2 Concept

= 51


I now give 1,2,3,4,5,6,7, where 3 is good
and total possible 7 X 12 = 84 never exist(?)






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The Who by Numbers 1975

by Who? Pete Townshend mostly! With his own song voice on at least two compositions, about people's habits, especially putting an end to alcoholism...




my Autumn Album 13 :30


most Amusing song: (Mama's got a) SQUEEZE BOX (Daddy never sleeps at night)

most Beautiful song: BLUE, RED AND GREY

most Sexy song: THEY ARE ALL IN LOVE

most Loving song: IMAGINE A MAN (and you will see the end)

most Growing Strong song: HOW MANY FRIENDS (have I really got?)

most Smart song: HOWEVER MUCH I BOOZE (there is no way out)

most Mysterious song: IN A HAND OR A FACE (Round and Round)



Overall Album

4 sound

5 melodies

5 accompaniment

3 rythms

6 singin' feeling

6 playin' dynamics

6 concept

4 variation

5 lyrics

4 titles

2 order of tracks

4 cover picture

3 historical importance

= 57


I now give 1 to 7 in thirteen cathegories
where 3 is good
and total possible 7 X 13 = 91 never exist(?)







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Dance Movies working on both superficial and deep levels

I haven't seen many dance movies
especially not newer ones
but some good classics will however
be presented on this list
of films I was gladly and/or sadly moved by
much about teaching + learning
often ballet schools
those careers like life + death
containing fine dance numbers
even if they aren't completely "dance movies"
some more close to musical
others showing most of spoken drama




1

BLACK SWAN
by Darren Aronofsky 2010

with Vincent Cassel & Natalie Portman


2

THE RED SHOES

based on H.C. Andersen
by Powell & Pressburger 1948

with Anton Walbrook & Moira Shearer


3

BLACK ORPHEUS [ORFEU NEGRO]
by Marcel Camus 1959

with Breno Mello & Marpessa Dawn


4

BROADWAY MELODY OF 1940
by Norman Taurog 1940

with Fred Astaire & Eleanor Powell


5

'SWING IT', MAGISTERN!
[SWING IT, TEACHER!]
by Schamyl Bauman 1940

with Adolf Jahr & Alice Babs


6

FAME
by Alan Parker & Chrisopher Gore 1980

with Lee Curreri & Irene Cara


7

SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER
by John Badham 1977

with John Travolta & Karen Lynn Gorney


8

FLASHDANCE
by Adrian Lyne 1983

with Michael Nuori & Jennifer Beals


9

FOR ME AND MY GAL
by Busby Berkeley 1942

with Gene Kelly & Judy Garland


10

FUNNY FACE
by Stanley Donen 1957

with Fred Astaire & Audrey Hepburn


11

SINGIN' IN THE RAIN
by Gene Kelly & Stanley Donen 1952

with Gene Kelly & Debbie Reynolds


12

WHISPERING CORRIDORS 3 : WISHING STAIRS
by Jae-yeon Yun 2003

with Ji-hyo Song & Han-byeol Park


13

SUSPIRIA
by Dario Argento 1977

with Jessica Harper & Stefania Casini






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Gothenburg Biennale Carnevale

Fool On The Hill with Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66

Bossa nova album made -68
easy to return to time again...
This sextett band should be a very good introduction for them who don't know bossa yet?




my Summer Album 13 : 22


most Amusing song: UPA NEGUINHO [Lobo & Guarnieri]

most Beautiful song: WHEN SUMMER TURNS TO SNOW [Bergman & Bergman]

most Sexy song: CASA FORTE [Lobo]

most Loving song: LAPINHA [Pinheiro & Powell]

most Growing Strong song: FESTA (The Carnival Started Today...) [Lani Hall]

most Smart song: FOOL ON THE HILL [by Beatles]

most Mysterious song: SCARBOROUGH FAIR [by Simon & Garfunkel]



Overall Album

4 sound

3 melodies

6 accompaniment

7 rythms

4 singin' feeling

6 playin' dynamics

5 concept

6 variation

4 lyrics

3 titles

5 order of tracks

7 cover picture

6 historical importance

= 66


I now give 1 to 7 in thirteen cathegories
where 3 is good
and total possible 7 X 13 = 91 never exist(?)




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Animation with Jon Anderson

May be Jon's most digital record ever? Anyhow he handles the synthetic landscape with warm curiousity, not with some too cool coldness. In same piece post punk can be intertwined with samba. Even humour seems to spin around the over-technifying tendencies he saw in 1983.

To be able to make a masterpiece of still quite progressive music with that early 80's equipment, is amazing in itself. Jon's joy and wonder of life remains the serious essence, ultimately focused in the long title track Animation about a child (his own?) taking her first breaths in this world.




including Spider and Spell as bonus tracks

my Summer Album 13 : 21


most Mysterious song: THE SPELL

most Smart song: UNLEARNING (THE DIVIDING LINE)

most Growing Strong song: ANIMATION (I could see it was her first day)

most Loving song: SURRENDER

most Sexy song: MUCH BETTER REASON

most Beautiful song: BOUNDARIES (O'er the mountains)

most Amusing song: OLYMPIA

Computer Casio Overdrive







Overall Album

7 sound

4 melodies

5 accompaniment

6 rythms

7 singin' feeling

6 playin' dynamics

5 concept

7 variation

6 lyrics

4 titles

3 order of tracks

1 cover picture

6 historical importance

= 67


I now give 1 to 7 in thirteen cathegories
where 3 is good
and total possible 7 X 13 = 91 never exist(?)





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Life And Death by Powell & Pressburger

These director pair still seems so splendid and powerful

plus sometimes quite funny, just enough comic to avoid losing grip of the great seriousness.

Same goes for The Red Shoes and Black Narcissus, also from late 40's

while this A Matter of Life and Death
is more maximized with really good sci-fi ideas.

[labled Romantic Fantasy]



A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH

by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger
UK 1946

made just after the WW II
about some soldiers potential "journey up to afterlife"
or one of them finding a possibility to stay on earth

in America the movie is called STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN




watched it three times within the last two months
and then talked every scene through with a friend

my SnowBlack Movie # 1337



Happy role: BOB THE ALREADY DEAD PILOT (Robert Coote)

Grumpy role: CHIEF RECORDER (Joan Maude)

Crazy role: FRENCH CONDUCTOR 71 (Marius Goring)

Shy role: MRS. TUCKER (Betty Potter)


Explosive role: PROSECUTOR FARLAN (Raymond Massey)

Exhausted role: MAIN PILOT PETER CARTER (David Niven)

Wise role: PSYCHOLOGICAL DOCTOR REEVES (Robert Coote)


Beautiful role: JUNE (Kim Hunter)


4 Characters
7 Scenery
6 Camerawork

3 Thrill
3 Conflict
5 Humour

3 Psychology
6 Philosophy
7 Fantasy

6 Composition
4 Music
7 Concept

= 61


I now give 1,2,3,4,5,6,7, where 3 is good
and total possible 7 X 12 = 84 never exist(?)





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Swedish Castle LÄCKÖ (including garden and church)

41 nice songs from -82

Songs from 1982, in some aspects the worst music year ever ;-) continues to fascinate me now. Trying to get a grip of what "I missed" when I was six-seven years and rather occupied with good oldies...

Here I present 41 songs from -82 (some released late -81 or early -83) that I feel strongest for and/or think is most creative for music history.

This list will change a bit, as I've updated my small experience into bigger, and probably later expand to 82 pieces.




1
Dexy's Midnight Runners : COME ON EILEEN

2
Supertramp : IT'S RAINING AGAIN

3
Elvis Costello & The Attractions : MAN OUT OF TIME

4
ABBA : THE DAY BEFORE YOU CAME

5
Irene Cara : FAME

6
Barry Manilow : LET'S HANG ON
[original from -65 with The Four Seasons]


7
Jon Anderson : OLYMPIA

8
Kim Wilde : CAMBODIA

9
Nicole : A LITTLE PIECE [EIN BISCHEN FRIEDEN]

10
Yazoo : ONLY YOU
[or even more next year's cover in complete a capella by Flying Pickets]


11
Charlene : (I've been to paradise but) I'VE NEVER BEEN TO ME

12
F.R. David : WORDS

13
Chicago : HARD TO SAY I'M SORRY

14
Captain Sensible : HAPPY TALK
[original from 1949 musical South Pacific]

15
Go-Go's : OUR LIPS ARE SEALED

16
Toni Basil : MICKEY
[or swedish version with Carola next year]

17
The Stranglers : STRANGE LITTLE GIRL

18
Paul McCarney : TAKE IT AWAY

19
Billy Joel : ALLENTOWN

20
Madness : OUR HOUSE

21
Donna Summer : STATE OF INDEPENDENCE
[by Jon Anderson and Vangelis -81]


22
Human League : OPEN YOUR HEART

23
Secret Service : IF I TRY

24
Frida Lyngstad [composed by Gessle] : THRENODY

25
Mia Martini : BAMBOLINA

26
Dionne Warwick : HEARTBREAKER

27
The Kids From Fame : STARMAKER

28
Ottawan : HANDS UP! (GIVE ME YOUR HEART)

29
Duran Duran : HOLD BACK THE RAIN!

30
Roxy Music : (NOTHING) MORE THAN THIS

31
Alan Parson's Project : SILENCE AND I

32
Steve Miller Band : ABRACADABRA

33
Trio : DA DA DA

34
Kim Wilde : VIEW FROM A BRIDGE

35
Eurythmics : SHE'S INVISIBLE NOW

36
Soft Cell : TORCH

37
Siouxsie & The Banshees : SHE'S A CARNIVAL

38
Toto : AFRICA

39
Tight Fit : FANTASY ISLAND

40
Fleetwood Mac : CAN'T GO BACK

41
Phil Lynott : OLD TOWN







Came across now an australian list of which singles sold best there
http://top100singles.blogspot.se/2011/06/amr-top-singles-of-1982.html
which you can play in a great jukebox down on that site.

Almost half of them becomes same as for the british top selling list
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1982_in_British_music#Top-selling_Albums_of_1982
Scroll down to see them in order!





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First Five episodes of FAME

the tv-series version created by Christopher Gore

New York 1982

which would have been very interesting if I had watched (more of) in those days it was aired. I remember almost every face, but nothing of the intrigues or how this world works. If a seven/eight year old person could understand... all the kinds of LOVE presented as subtle and passionate as in Fame.





Happy role: TEACHER ELIZABETH SHERWOOD (Carol Mayo Jenkins)

Grumpy role: DANCER LEROY JOHNSON (Gene Anthony Ray)

Crazy role: ACTOR DANNY AMATULLO (Carlo Imperato)

Shy role: KEYBOARDIST BRUNO MARTELLI (Lee Curreri)


Explosive role: ACTRESS DORIS SCHWARTZ (Valerie Landsburg)

Exhausted role: DANCE TEACHER LYDIA GRANT (Debbie Allen)

Wise role: MUSIC TEACHER MR SHOROFSKY (Albert Hague)


Beautiful role: CELLIST JULIE MILLER (Lori Singer)
and/or DANCER COCO HERNANDEZ (Erica Gimpel)




= my SnowBlack "Movie" # 1335


7 Characters
2 Scenery
2 Camerawork

5 Thrill
6 Conflict
5 Humour

7 Psychology
5 Philosophy
3 Fantasy

3 Composition
7 Music
6 Concept

= 58


I now give 1,2,3,4,5,6,7, where 3 is good
and total possible 7 X 12 = 84 never exist(?)






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