FILM: Not Quite Hollywood
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0996966/
An extremely-entertaining documentary detailing the 40 year history of "Ozploitation", an Australian-based film movement known for it's edgy and over-the-top content. There is not a dull moment as filmmakers and artists from around the world tell the story of this genre, showcasing some of the weirdest and most insane moments from films that very few have seen. At the very least, you'll leave this film with a long list of other movies to track down and experience, most notably (to me) Razorback, Long Weekend, Mad Dog Morgan, Roadgames, Stone and Turkey Shoot. Check out the trailer:
TV: Ideal
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0417332/
With the fifth series now beginning, it's never been a better time to discover or get caught up with Graham Duff's bizarre British TV show Ideal. The show follows the daily life of Moz (Johnny Vegas), a small-time pot dealer who rarely leaves his apartment. Instead, the insane and surreal world he lives in comes to him, in the form of a quirky (and at times terrifying) cast of characters with names like Cartoonhead, Psycho Paul, F.I.S.T. and Stemroach. Although it can be classified as a "comedy", this is clearly not a show for everyone. It goes to very dark places, doesn't pull a single punch, and will make you uncomfortable as often as it makes you laugh. As with a lot of British TV, the humor is very dry and subtle, but well worth a look. Check out a couple of sample scenes below (out of context, of course):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9-mIt7BV1k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXGCCEj45oI
BOOK: A Dirty Job (by Christopher Moore)
This one is simple: you have to give Christopher Moore a try. He writes like a mutant combination of Douglas Adams and Kurt Vonnegut, if they both had a more-than-average taste for the supernatural and the occult. A Dirty Job is a great place to start. After Charlie Asher's wife dies, his life changes forever. He's left to raise his daughter as a single parent, people suddenly begin dying all around him, and sinister voices start to speak to him from the sewers. Somehow, Charlie has become Death. The book is generally funny and exciting, but balances the humourous with moments of deep personal loss and emotion. It's a great read, and should drive you to track down the rest of his books (there are 10 more).
MUSIC: Opeth
http://www.myspace.com/opeth
This Swedish metal band has been around since 1990, having written nine albums to date. Clear classical music influence and beautiful melody mixes with crushing riffs and growling vocals, creating a highly-dynamic experience for the listener. Most of the songs clock in at an epic 10 minutes, and are composed with both high technical skill and a truly progressive mindset. All of their albums are worth a listen, with Blackwater Park and Ghost Reveries being my personal favorites. If you aren't a metal fan, you should still check out their entirely melodic album Damnation.
UP AND COMING: Doghouse
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1023500/
This looks like pure fun, plain and simple. I really liked director Jake West's film Evil Aliens, and greatly look forward to this upcoming British horror-comedy. Check out the trailer below:
YOUTUBE: Prison "Thriller" & Japanese Nic Cage Commerical
This week the Youtube section is a double-feature. First up, we have a "classic" that most people have already seen:
Second, we have a trippy Japanese commercial starring Nicholas Cage:
While we're on the topic of things better than being shot in the face, how about this: American Dad........... no, wait..... this is a tough one. Probably the closest call we've had to date. Come to think of it, that bullet is looking better by the second.
Until next week, stay projectile free!
AWSOME!!!
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