Shaun in the Land of the Dead

Available to buy as print, and other stuff, at: http://gastongrimsdyke.deviantart.com/gallery/

A post for Halloween, just made it. "Shaun of the Dead" is a modern classic, created by some of my favourite people in the World. 

I've been a Simon Pegg fan since laughing, unexpectedly, at a "Buttercup Syrup" ad and wondering who the frenetic young actor was bunking off work. Nick Frost, and everyone else, in "Spaced" was fantastic...and I'm sure "Cuban Fury" will catapult him into the comic stratosphere. Edgar Wright is a genius storyteller who will come of age with "Ant-Man" for Marvel provided he casts Simon as Hank Pym and, my mate, Sally Bretton as Janet, his "Wasp-ish" wife.

Sterling work all round gentlemen...bring on another Cornetto!

Excelsior Out!!

The Thick, and thin, of it!

Now it's not like me to get political, my pencil isn't savage enough, but with BBC's "The Thick of It" bowing out with an excellent, sweary, finale i've been moved to create this tribute.

Actor, writer, director & Oscar Winner, Peter Capaldi has always been a quality turn but, in Malcolm Tucker he's found his "Magnificent Octopus". Tucker, in Capaldi's hands, is a Tour-De-Force of Political Nature...tearing down idols and battering subordinates with all the gleeful, violent, prejudiced abandon of a two legged tornado. 

Reportedly based on Alastair Campbell, his foul mouthed, splenetic poetry (courtesy of Armando Iannucci, Ian Martin, Simon Blackwell, Jesse Armstrong and a host of brilliant writers) is the stuff that TV gold is spun from. 

The movie spin off "In the Loop" pushed the idea onto a bigger stage, while losing non of the bite. It is well worth seeking out should you not have seen it.

Genius work all round, ladies and gents

Excelsior Out!

   

Battle of the Bonds!

Available to buy as print, and other stuff, at: http://gastongrimsdyke.deviantart.com/gallery/

In trembling anticipation of the imminent release of "Skyfall" here's my take on a "Battle of the Bonds" theme.

My thoughts are: All the Bonds have their own qualities: Connery: louche, violent & great Iconic movies. Lazenby: action packed and Diana Rigg. Moore: colourful characters, light comedy and grand spectacle. Dalton: hard nosed, splendid take on the character. Brosnan: slick combination of Connery/Moore, marvellous updating of the concept. & then came Daniel.... Craig OWNS this character now. His furious, bustling Bull-Like take has reinvented the canon for a new generation. The first guy, since Connery, who actually looks like he CAN do all the things his character can do.

We're locking into "Skyfall", in I-Max, this Sunday and excitement is at fever pitch. The key ingredient this time, I feel, is Sam Mendes. He is, arguably, the best director EVER to get his hands on Bond. We can only speculate what Hitchcock (offered it but turned it down) and Spielberg (wanted it but never offered it) would have done...while salivating as to what Nolan WILL do with it in 2014!

Excelsior Out!  

What a Night-Mayor!!

Clearing out old files and stumbled across this one of our..ahem... "esteemed" Mayor. I think it captures his essential...erm...bumbling idiocy, but I could be wrong.

The true horror of this image is that this loon could, one day, be Prime Minister of this country. A thought to curdle the blood!!

Excelsior Out!

BusW**kers

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A bit "after the event" I know but worth mentioning: "The Inbetweeners" is the highest grossing British comedy movie in years...in more ways than one.

Fearless, many laughs, great gusto and beautifully observed...10 out of 10 from me. 

Excelsior Out!

Wanderin' Star

Just a quick tonal study of one of the toughest men ever to kick down Hollywood's door. A real war vet, he came to acting late...but boy did he make up for it.

Never less than brilliant, my five favourite performances are: "The Dirty Dozen", "Point Blank", "Hell in the Pacific","Emperor of the North" and "Gorky Park.

For our younger viewer's...it's the incomparable Lee Marvin.

Excelsior Out!

Hello, to Jason Isaacs...believe it or not!

Available to buy as print, and other stuff, at: http://gastongrimsdyke.deviantart.com/gallery/


Having recently made Twitter contact with the majestic Mark Kermode i'm throwing my hat in the ring for the most unusual "Hello, to Jason Isaacs" of all time...in that it's not spoken it's ILLUSTRATED!! 

AAYYTTHHAANNQQUEW!!

Hopefully it will merit a mention on 5Live's splendid film review show this Friday. Maybe even by...the Co-Host?

Excelsior Out!

Well, it is only a theory...

Available to buy as print, and other stuff, at: http://gastongrimsdyke.deviantart.com/gallery/

Here's number two in my series of "Greatest Current American Sitcoms"...the majestic "Big Bang Theory". Perceptively written and beautifully played it speaks to the geek in me (that would be me then) with every line.

It's finely crafted pop-culture references and kooky characters make it a "must-see" in our house. With a new series about to burst onto our screens I urge you to see it at all costs. Once it takes a bite out of you addiction ensues.

"BAZINGA!"

Excelsior Out!

Empire vs The BattleSheep

Ladies and Gents, I give you the completion of my "Three Colours Critique" trilogy...the staff of Empire Magazine. Beginning with Messrs Kermode and Mayo, then the mighty Kim Newman, the trilogy is...ahem...my life's work realised, and combines my love of cinema with my facility for caricature.

To judge the accuracy of my work I suggest you visit Empire's excellent magazine/website (see what I did there) and check out these wondrous writers, and their terrific prose. 

I think they're decent likeness' corralled in a reasonable in-joke.

I hope all concerned are flattered rather than appalled. I know, from Twitter, that Olly Richards was a little apprehensive at being given the "Excelsior" treatment.

It is meant in good natured tribute and, hand on heart, it's from an "Empire" reader who has been with the magazine from issue one. More power to your keyboard pounding lady and gentlemen, it's never less than a compelling read.

Excelsior Out!