I wrote a short review of Warren Ellis’s graphic novella, Crécy, for GeekPlanet.
Went along to the Artbots exhibition at Trinity’s Science Gallery yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed it. There were fifteen works in all. Took a couple of snaps on my phone’s crappy camera.
Pictured below is What It Is Without the Hand That Wields It by Riley Harmon. I really liked the idea behind this one.
When players shoot each other in a live on-line game of Counter-strike, the valves release a dribble of fake blood. You can just see the Counter-strike screen projected onto the wall at the left of the photo.
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My favourite work of the show was this, Untitled by Chris Kaczmarek.
Four solar panels send power to capacitors which then dump the energy into small motors causing the eggs to pull apart, when the power is spent they spring back together producing an unexpectedly loud and intensely satisfying clicking noise.
Failed States: The Abuse of Power and the Assault on Democracy
Before this the only Chomsky book I’d (attempted to) read was Fateful Triangle. That was a bit bloated and dry but this one is excellent.
A close and worthwhile look at the smegma festering beneath the wizened patriotic foreskin of Imperial America.
Was up in Dublin on Saturday for a day of pints and films with my brother, Gerry. Went to the IFI to see an incredible 70MM print of Vertigo at 2.15. I’ll never understand why so many people hate Jimmy Stewart, he’s brilliant, and he’s really on top form in this movie. Was great to see the crazy, trippy, bad acid dream sequence on the big screen.
Went to JJ Smyths afterwards for a few pints, then a lamb shawarma in Iskanders (best fucking kebabs in Dublin), then a bit of a stroll to try and beat the bloat.
Back to the IFI at 7.00 for Sean Meadow’s new film, Somers Town. Wasn’t sure what to expect, had heard some dodgy rumours about blatant product placement in this one (it was entirely funded by Eurostar). Really enjoyed the film, had some genuinely hilarious moments, and never tripped over the bittersweet edge into cheesy saccharine territory. There was some product placement but to be honest, I don’t think I would have noticed if not for the rumours. The mid-afternoon pints and kebabs did mean I almost fell asleep at one stage but that was down to me being a greedy bastard, the film was thoroughly excellent.
A quick jaunt over to Reeds then for a few more pints. Not a bad Saturday all told.
It’s been a good couple of months at the IFI: got to see Dead Man’s Shoes with a Q&A by Paddy Considine, a 70MM print of the three and a half hour version of Lawrence Of Arabia, then Vertigo, Somers Town and in a few weeks we get the finest comedy available to humanity. . . Withnail and I.
The fucker will rue the day!