These days, Angelina Jolie is better- known as a mother, humanitarian, sex symbol, tabloid target, style icon and- possibly- superhero, so it’s almost a surprise to be reminded that she occasionally does movies as well. Salt is her new release, a science fiction- flavored spy thriller which positions her as an action star.

She is Evelyn Salt, a CIA syperspy who may or may not be a double agent and goes on the run, while her former colleagues (played by the always entertaining Liev Schreiber and Chiwetel Ejiofor) try to bring her down. There isn’t much to say about the plot really. We have seen it all before, but it’s reasonably well- executed stuff. Phillip Noyce directs and (while he is no auteur or anything) his slick style succeeds in showcasing his star. And she delivers. Whatever your opinion about Jolie, she seems to be enjoying herself immensely escaping from the authorities, playing with impossible gadgets and kicking ass with relish. The script was written by Brian Helgeland and Kurt Wimmer and its Wimmer’s influence that’s more evident here. Wimmer is the director of preposterous but fun sci- fi / martial arts hybrids like Equilibrium and Ultraviolet and his futuristic, pulpy sensibilities form the backdrop of Salt.

It all comes back to Jolie though. Salt was supposed to be a star vehicle for Tom Cruise and it’s a good thing that he didn’t end up starring. The material is simply too derivative to stand on its own and casting The World’s Most Boring Scientologist wouldn’t help things. Jolie is the only reason to watch this. Her career plan seems to be to alternate between “serious”, oscar- worthy roles and action stuff. And frankly, that is a pity. Years after she burst on the scene, we are constantly told what a great star she is, but Hollywood still has no idea what to do with her. For better or for worse, she is too sensual and larger than life to play ordinary roles (which is why a film like Changelling- where she plays a poor, descent mother- was worthy and dull). On the other hand, the action- adventure roles that she gets are usually a waste of her talents (the unwatchable Tom Raider franchise is a case in point). What’s the point of being a tattooed, omnisexual icon, if you appear mostly in garbage like Beyond Borders or Wanted?

For a popcorn movie, Salt is perfectly OK. But I suspect that Jolie would be better served by working with visionary directors and taking edgier roles than this harmless fluff.

(-Dimitris Kontogiannis-)

A Rational Solution or what I call a proper title A Fucked Up Situation.

Now before I start I have to say this: this movie darkened my soul by giving me shots of misery just like Requiem For A Dream did years ago. Don’t expect to see people die here or toxic problems of any kind. What dies here, is LOVE. This movie is all about the end of a relationship, is all about unanswered questions – about what love is, how can we define it, why love isn’t just boobies, sculptured bodies, tight asses and toothpaste smiles – is all about us – can we be bigger that emotion or can we forgive?

So Fifty-year-old Erland lives in an industrial town, works in the local paper mill, and manages a seminar about marriage problems with his wife. Everything looks fine until his  friend and co-worker Sven-Erik introduces him to his wife Karin. Erland and Karin share some feelings from their first glance and situation soon becomes weird when Erland offers a kinda open minded solution to his wife and Karin’s husband. So they move in the same house (all four of them) and create a temporary commune by obeying to some rules of behavior until this passion will reach an end. Unfortunately, that doesn’t quite work as planned. As civilized as they are trying to be, sadness and anger comes front while some schizophrenic behavior doesn’t seem so out of place at all.

The Swedish way:

Lets be honest here. I don’t think that any one from the rest of the world would ever think a solution of that kind in a situation so complex. These Scandinavians here really share some creativity, while -for sure – if something like that happened among Greeks there would have been some murdering involved.

I don’t know. Some years ago my sweet friend Lise (also from Sweden) shared some childhood story that I couldn’t understand, summarizing at the end that I have a square mind – who knows maybe I do.

The film is superb!

-manoc-

I heard of Film School while listening to another sampler (compilations being my preference lately) of French Talitres Records, featuring also the kinds of Calla, Hood and iLiKETRAiNS. Interesting, vaguely monotonous, dreamy, hushed sound, i thought then. So to YouTube i go, and find some clips, but frankly speaking, none caught my attention, apart from the fact that i didn’t like the face of the (bearded) singer much. Leaving stupid thoughts behind, when I next saw the above album in Metropolis low-price stall, it caught my attention partly due to nice and quirky front cover artwork, which in itself is a work of art (wish it was a vinyl so i could hang it on my wall) – i would imagine it somewhere between the pages of some bleak melancholic fantasy book. So out with it I go.
The music. Noisy multi-layered guitars, catchy melodies, a bit heart-stricken, a bit far-off vocals, mostly male backed by female ones. The songs, although atmospheric and dreamy, have distinctive driving rhythm and a certain liveliness. They follow mostly the classic four-piece formula, plus some synths/samples, and enough of backing vocals, which are never intrusive and are very tastefully placed. A few other bands come to mind – My Bloody Valentine of course, A Place To Bury Strangers, add the whole dreamy shoegazing flock of artists. The all in all atmosphere is pretty romantic, nostalgic, the lyrics mostly deal with love (again) and relationships in general (or at least i like to think of them that way). My personal favourites : the romantic “Two kinds” (there are two kinds of love, and one we used to have), “Florida” (very My Bloody Valentine-ish, with those breathy female vocals, plus some killer electronic samples), “Sick hipster nursed by a suicide girl” (you can’t ignore a song with such title! – Syd Barrett-ish refrain, stoned bassy vocals and then those backing piano parts are absolutely awesome).

hello_earth

Are we ever gonna grow up? Hell no! Especially now that our childish dreams are coming true. And what I am talking about? Well shoes company Nike is currently patenting the Power laces from Back to The Future 2. Yeah!!! Sorry I can’t pretend that I not fucking excited even at my 33. Can someone please patent the flying skate board too…..pleeeease!

This is the article from Nike:
An article of footwear with an automatic lacing system is disclosed. The automatic lacing system provides a set of straps that can be automatically opened and closed to switch between a loosened and tightened position of the upper. The article further includes an automatic ankle cinching system that is configured to automatically adjust an ankle portion of the upper.