Evil Milk

I have been wanting to share this meme for a while now and thought, why not today. Now, I have only watched one movie of thee four featured here. It is, of course, A Clockwork Orange, my favourite film and based on a novel by my favourite author, Anthony Burgess. In both book and movie, milk represents purity, innocence and a certain barbarism, if not downright bestial savagery. My reflection on milk in fiction can befound in this post from 2010. So this meme is not new to me, but it's still worth sharing.

Dr Strangelove on stage

 You may know that I'm a fan of Stanley Kubrick. He is my favourite director. I recently found out, to my delight, that the National Theatre has made a stage adaptation of the Cold War dark comedy Dr. Strangelove. Maybe my favourite film comedy. generally, I am not keen on these kinds of remakes and re-adaptations and re-imagining, or whatever the name they give them. But I have seen the trailers and some videos and it looks promising. I also think that Kubrick's direction was often very theatric and stagy, in all his movies and this one in particular, so it makes sense to have the story adapted for the stage. So yeah, I will try to go and watch it.

Eyes Wide Shut: a summer blockbuster

 I read yesterday this article from digitaltrends, about Eyes Wide Shut,which has been released 25 years ago. The article made me discover one thing I had kind of forgotten about it: it was technically a summer blockbuster. I know it had been released during summertime of 1999, but since I discovered months later and I have always associated it with Christmastime due to its setting (not unlike another summer blockbuster, come to think of it), I never thought about it this way. I didn't know it was so successful at the box office. It's kind of a posthumous sweet revenge for Stanley Kubrick, given that the initial reviews were mixed at best when it was released. I personally consider it a masterpiece and I think it is finally getting the recognition it deserves. Anyway, I found some of the interpretations of the article questionable, but overall interesting, so I recommend you read it. Otherwise, I would generally find watching Eyes Wide Shut this time of year kind of out of season, but I might give it a shot. I might see the film in a new light.

A Clockwork Orange and... David Bowie

You know I am a fan of A Clockwork Orange, both film and novel. Iam howevernot a fan of David Bowie. I don't dislike him, I'm just not a fan or anything. I never cared all that much about his music. Well, I learned recently that David Bowie and I have a point in common: we are both fans the film. To the point that he even imitated the Yorkshire accent of Malcolm McDowell. Well, I once spoke nadsat, but I never went as far as trying to mimick McDowell's accent.

Women of Ireland

As it is Saint Patrick's Day Soon and I think we should get in the mood to celebrate, I am sharing tonight the beautiful and haunting song Women of Ireland, which I discovered thanks to Barry Lyndon. I get shivers every single time I listen to it.

Overlook Hotel, July 4th Ball, 1921

Well, I forgot to celebrate a very important anniversary yesterday: as it was July the 4th (as the Americans say), it was... the 100th anniversary of the July 4th Ball 1921 of the Overlook Hotel. Thankfully this meme reminded me. I don't know what happened then, but we can agree that it must have been a very special ball. And I hope that yesterday all my American friends partied like it was 1921. On a side note, Halloween is only 118 days away, so I have started reading horror stories.

A Sockwork Orange

As you know, I am since my teenage (and maybe before) a big fan of A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess and the movie it inspired. So I got quite excited when I learned of the existence of these socks, featuring one of the classic book covers of the novel. I find them real horrorshow. Burgess allegedly hated this cover, because it was directly inspired by the film and he wanted his novel to stand on its own. Be that as it may, I really want these socks now.

A birthday wish from Malcolm McDowell

I come back on my birthday, which was a week and a half ago already. My brother PJ got me a very special birthday present: a birthday wish told by actor Malcolm McDowell. If you don't know who he is, he playedthe Alex DeLarge in A Clockwork Orange. Incidentally my favourite movie. My bro managed to do this through Cameo, which provides the services of celebrities or semi-celebrities for birthday and special celebration wishes. I won't get into details of what he said, but he was very funny. It is kind of strange to think he knows I exist (although he'll have forgotten before long I'm sure) and to hear him speaking of his iconic role to me. Anyway, that was one of the most original birthday presents I ever had.

A toddler's Clockwork Orange

Today is the birthday of Anthony Burgess, author of A Clockwork Orange. To celebrate the birthday of my favourite author and the 50th anniversary of the release of the movie adaptation, I thought I would share something funny. No, this series of books (there are more covers to find, which I might uploadone day) does not exist, but I wished it did. I'd genuinely be happy to buy them. I think it would be a hit.

HAL 9000 and Google Assistant

Because I had a few minutes to waste this evening, I asked a few question to Google Assistant on my phone, trying sometimes to make it (her?) fumble. So at some point, I asked who she thought was the best actor, and she replied... HAL 9000. And she added that apparently, he's a real nice person in real life. I don't know if someone who is into Stanley Kubrick at Google made a joke, or if it is based on some algorithms and the Assistant knows what kind of movie I love, but I thought this was both funny and a bit scary.

Alex the Antichrist

As this is Good Friday, I thought I would give you film suggestion for the day: A Clockwork Orange, my favourite. I'm not kidding. It is fitting for Easter, if only for this scene (warning: there is not only violence but also nudity in it). Is A Clockwork Orange a Christian film you may ask? Well, the YouTube video below makes a pretty good argument for it. I found I don't agree with everything the YouTuber says (and he falls for too many myths about both Anthony Burgess and the genesis of A Clockwork Orange, mostly invented by Burgess himself), but I do agree that Alex is an Antichrist figure. Quite literally, in fact. You can read my own opinion on the subject in 2016. Anyway, so there you have it: it does not take much to add A Clockwork Orange to your list of Easter movies.

A real horrorshow loyalty card!

As you may know, the Anthony Burgess Foundation has its own café. I learned yesterday that it now has loyalty cards! And not just any loyalty cards. Viddy well the image on the card. If it isn't little o' Alex. It is a shame that I live so far away from Manchester, where the Foundation is. That said, I will most certainly stop at the café during my next pilgrimage in the city of my favourite writer and I will get myself one of these horrorshow loyalty cards. It will take a while for me to get my free drink, but it will be an excuse to go there more often.

Cate Blanchett and Eyes Wide Shut

Sometimes you learn things about your favourite film or work of fiction that makes you rediscover it and appreciate it even more, even if the new thing is of almost anecdotal level. So recently, I have been rewatching Eyes Wide Shut, as it is one of my Christmas movies (no joke, read this for more info). I learned recemtly that Cate Blanchett had a small part in it. She's only a voice, basically playing the voice of the masked prostitute/sex slave at the manor who warns the character of Tom Cruise of the danger he is puting himself in, then redeems him at the end. This is because the actress playing the part could not take a credible American accent. You can read more about it here. So it was a small part, only a voice, but that is really cool nonetheless. My favourite actress in one of my favourite films. And I didn't even know. For the record, I thought the voice sounded familiar, but I would never have guessed, being a masked role and all.I will enjoy the movie even more.

Masks for Christmastime?

I took this picture last year, right before Christmas (I believe it was literally the 24) in a nearby garden centre, right in the Christmas section. Masks. I have to say, they intrigued me, because one would not expect party masks, these kinds of party masks, for Christmastime. Then again, I thought, maybe you could. It reminded me of the scene in Eyes Wide Shut showing a, ahem, secret ceremony. I looked at them and wondered if there was such... special events, on invitation only, where masks and anonimity were de rigueur. Especially since the garden centre was very near the hotel where my brother PJ and parents stayed during their time here. A hotel which reminded PJ of EWS. Since I saw these masks, and as I associate the film with Christmas (see my post here), I can't help wondering how people with lots of money do to celebrate Yuletide...

"YOU are the caretaker"

For tonight's second countdown to Halloween's post, one of my favourite scenes from one of my favourite horror movies. Again it belongs to psychological horror: there is no gore, not even a jump scene (although the film has a good deal of both). From this post's title, you will of course recognised The Shining, and more particularly that scene in the gentlemen's room, when Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) talks to a butler who turns out to be the ghost of Grady, his predecessor, who committed suicide after murdering his wife and daughters. Grady is played by Philip Stone, a great underrated British actor. He is the one who really makes the scene work I think, making Nicholson's character more and more uneasy as the scene progresses, until he looks genuinely worried and maybe a bit scared himself. And I love how gradually and so seamlessly Stone turns Grady from a helpful butler into this pure malevolent figure, fanatically devoted to the Overlook. The reveal happening, of course, with the fateful line: "I'm sorry to differ with you sir, but YOU are the caretaker, you've always been the caretaker. I should know sir: I've always been here." It gets me every time.

Alex & Droogs (?)

There are silly things, sometimes, you wish were true, however ridiculous they seem. You can see here the cover of a comic book adaptation of  A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess. Or, to be precise, an adaptation of the movie. And yes, if you think it looks ridiculous and like the cover of an Archie comics, it is because this is a fake. Or rather, something fan made. Very well made too, it looks like a piece of a vintage, long forgotten adaptation, where the violence has been toned down, but the film's iconic imagery remains. All the same, I wish there has been an Alex & Droogs comics, it have been real horrorshow.

A Clockwork Orange banned in Florida?

I read this piece of news yesterday which really got me fuming: in Florida, a group of legislators and conservative lobbyists (well, of course!) are trying to ban books from public schools that they deem "pornographic", among other things. Among these books is A Clockwork Orange of Anthony Burgess. My favourite author and the novel that introduced me to him. ACO is actually more than that: it was the coming of age novel for me. It taught me a lot about the nature of freedom and art and was my true introduction to proper literature. It is one of these novels that makes a young man (or woman) think and grow. Trying to censor it is pathetic, it is cowardly, it is stupid, it is despicable.

Daisy Bell

"Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer, do
I'm half crazy, all for the love of you,
It won't be a stylish marriage,
I can't afford a carriage
But you'll look sweet upon the seat
Of a bicycle built for two"

I'm sure you all know the lyrics of the old song Daisy Bell. It's quite a catchy song, nice and upbeat, and it has been immortalized by computer scientists and a certain famous filmmaker in a certain movie. Well, it turns out that tonight it became very popular with a certain little boy, when I sang it a capella for him on a whim. He loved it. So here it is for your enjoyment, sung by Gerald Adam (don't know him). I hope you enjoy and it brings a smile to your face. It sure got Wolfie a few excited giggles:

L'Orange culturelle

Petite nouvelle apprise de la Fondation Anthony Burgess: il y a une nouvelle édition de L'Orange Mécanique, avec postface de l'auteur, tapuscrit enrichi de dessins de Burgess et bon, c'est un must pour tout fan du roman et de son auteur. Surtout pour ceux qui ne lisent pas l'anglais. Moi, j'ai déjà au moins deux copies du roman, alors j'hésite... Mais sinon, je le recommande à tous les nouveaux lecteurs potentiels d'un grand roman trop peu connu parce que dans l'ombre de son adaptation cinématographique.

Alex DeLarge, the action figure

Sometimes, someone invents something absolutely uber cool. Like this action figure for grownups. You can easily recognize Alex from A Clockwork Orange. The movie version of the character of course. It comes with cane, knife, different sets of head, with or without a hat, with or without a mask, and many different sets of hands. The only thing missing is a voice that speaks Nadsat. I found this in my news feed on Facebook, thought it was made up, but apparently it exists and you can buy it on Amazon. At nearly £85, it is a bit much, even for a fan like me. That said, it is a real horrorshow toy, the ultraviolent answer to both GI Joe and the Barbie doll.