Review: Surface Detail

Surface Detail by Iain M. Banks

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



A fantastic science fiction novel with almost uncountable layers to it which made it feel like reading 5 different novels. A must-read for sci-fi fans



View all my reviews

Greatest Murders in Cinema

For me, a really great Film Noir is the best thing in the world. And what does that need? A great murder.. and there are so many ways to kill and to be killed so I decided to list, The Greatest murder scenes in cinema.

They Drive By Night, 1940

Lana Carlson - Ida Lupino
Lana Carlson,  Married to a wealthy business man and in love with Joe, an employe of her husbands. She have many times pursued Joe only to over and over again be rejected, and getting more tired of her husband Lana one day sees her opportunity to get rid of him and hoping to net Joe, who has pointed out her marriage when ever she made an approach. So, after an enormous office party held by the Carlson's, Lana's  husband get extremely drunk and falls a sleep in the car. And using the electronic sensors to open or closing the garage door Lana makes a decision.  The scene were she looks at him, steps out of the car, starts to consider and then.. is unbelievably powerful,  Ida Lupino happens to be one of the finest actresses ever existed so this scene is so convincing I get goos bumps just thinking about it. The whole movie is incredible with both tough guys Bogart and Raft in it, a great noir and one of my favourite films, specially when it comes to performances. 

Night of the Hunter, 1955

Harry Powell - Robert Mitchum

Robert Mitchum plays a minister just released from prison with knowledge of a large hidden amount of money from a bank robbery, who takes himself down to the bank robbers widow to woo and marry her, only to find out she knows nothing of her late husbands hiding place. However, her two children are showing strange behaviour when the subject emerge and soon he starts to force the information out from the children. Since he has no need for his newly found bride  he decides she is only dead weight for him so during a speech the wife is doing in bed while he is gazes out through the window he picks out a small knife and makes his way to the bed. This could be one of the most beautifully morbid scenes I have ever laid my eyes on, the whole movie for that matter, bewitchingly shot in black and white with contrasts not common in 1955. I have spoken about this film many times since it is by far one of my all time favourite movies. In story, filming, acting and lightning it is so beyond its time and it is such an important film in cinema. Robert Mitchum is probably the only one who could make this performance,  for the reason that in my eyes he is undoubtedly the finest actor ever lived.

Strangers on a Train, 1951

Bruno Antony - Robert Walker

Bruno Antony, probably one of the more fascinating characters in cinema. A spoiled socialite with little to do meets a tennis star on a train and knowing about the stars messy personal life with his ex-wife and getting tired of his father always nagging him he proposes an idea of swapping murders, hence not getting caught since there would be no motive.  The tennis star, named Guy Haines,  thinks Bruno is pulling his leg laughs it off and continues off with his daily routine.  When he later gets a phone call from Bruno saying he has done his bit and now it is his turn to do his part of the deal. The scene of the murder is quite spectacular, Bruno follows the ex-wife and two male friend in to a carnival, and when she is alone he strikes, everything is seen through the woman's dropped glasses and it is exceptionally shot. In this area Hitchcock was the one and only master, he truly knows how to make interesting and original shots and that is why he is in my eyes the absolute greatest director in existence. 


So, for all of you who has not seen these three amazing movies, DO. 
Not only are the murder scenes first rate in all aspects, the films are as well.  Enjoy!

Kubrick.

Well, We can all agree on that Stanley Kubrick was one of the greatest directors on this planet. And I am of course one of his biggest fans. To make a great list of favourite (somethings) it need to be thorough and well thought out.

So to make a top Three list of my favourite Kubrick films, it needs to be just that.

1. The Killing (1956)

The almost perfect crime, a greedy woman furnish the word 'almost' of cours

e. The Killing is a classic film Noir, with robbery, murder, love, passion and greed, and with a cast to kill for. I have seen this film many times and for some reason I know a lot of Kubrick Fans and film enthusiasts who haven't seen it. Which I find odd, my guess is because it's one of his first and pretty different from his other more peculiar or controversial films. This is my favourite just because it's so straight forward, a great plot and a fantastic 50's atmosphere.

2. Dr Strangelove or; How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)

A magical cast, Sterling Hayden, George C Scott, whom I Adore, he just makes one of his strongest performances in this film and Well, Peter Sellers..is a genius. one of my all time favourite scenes is in this film, The war room with all the important men of war and Sellers calls to Russia and speaks to Dimitri.. I read this scene was improvised and that doesn't surprise me a bit, one of Sellers biggest attributes is his subtle humour and it works so great with his surroundings. Dr Strangelove also holds one of my favourite movie quote of all time "Gentlemen you can't fight in here, this is the war room!"

3. Lolita (1962)

Just a captivating film that could hold anyones attention, So before its time in acting, story and filming. Again Peter Sellers show how great and different he is to other actors also the wonderful James Mason with the voice to die for. Shelley Winters is magnificent in the part as the desperate and quite pathetic mother of Lolita, I never liked her .. and maybe it's because she always plays that kind of woman and she does it SO WELL, so she was a fantastic actress to say the least. The theme of an older man falling in love with a twelve year old girl is highly controversial but at the same no one can deny how fascinating this story is.

It is actually very difficult to narrow down a kubrick-best-of-list to only 3, but I could sit here all day talking about his films. That is what makes him great, every film is different, strong, completely unique and stunning.

By the way, I have to add...

4. Paths of Glory (1957)

5. 2001, a space Odyssey (1968)

6. Spartacus (1960)

7. The Shining (1980)

as I said, a top 3 list of Kubricks' films is virtually impossible

Laughton

Ok, I've been raving about this on facebook but I just have to scream it off a little bit more..

One of the big perks of living in London is the cinema, not just any cinema. The one where you can watch old classic movies on the big screen, Aka a life long dream of mine. I know it's not a genuine reason to move to London but for me it is one of the big bonuses and attractions of living here. Since I moved here I've seen John Fords Red River, Truffauts Jules et Jim and Hughes The Outlaw and I can't describe it more than it's frakking heaven for me.

And NOW today I saw they were showing one of my all time big favourite movies Charles Laughtons the Night of the Hunter. An AMAZING film, so ahead of it's time it's ridiculous.

When it first came out in 1955 it was not well received, in fact the Director, the Great actor Charles Laughton, Of which this was his directorial debut, was so offended by the reviews he swore to never direct a film again, and he never did. And I can believe it wasn't popular when it first came, the lighting, the filming, the acting, the story and the dialog All where so ahead of it's time that I believe the audience just didn't understand it or wasn't used to it. Now the movie is considered a classic and I for one Adores it and it's on my prestigious top 10 list of my all time favourite movies.

And Robert Mitchum, you are for me a god and can do nothing bad.

Foundation, a classic for a reason.

"An atom blaster is a good weapon, but it can point both ways."

Just finished Isaac Asimovs Genius story Foundation. I am blown away.

Interesting is just one word to describe it, others is amazing , unconventional and groundbreaking.

The book was released in 1951 and I now 60 years in to the future still finds it seminal, groundbreaking and original.

Books like this one is the reason why I am a book worm first and foremost and why literature for me is the ultimate art form. To be able to write and create like Asimov is beyond amazing and his place amongst the masters of science fiction is evident.

early death

There are many many actors out there.. some great some not great some awful.

And some are really great, But those ones are scarce. Once in a while the tragedy of death pull away some of the really great ones way to early.. and you just know that if they' would've lived longer they would have done even more wonders.

The biggest tragedies in the film business for me was when we lost these actors

many many years too soon.

And what defines "too young" 20? 30? 40? well all those ages.. too young to have died

Tyrone Power.

Tyrone is probably the actor I have had as one of my favourites the longest, had The Mark of Zorro on VHS and saw it to pieces. he was handsome and sophisticated and the one I really associate with adventure film. I then discovered his comic side and his amazing acting ability in thrillers and dramas. Though for me he will always sweep me away the hardest as the hero he played so brilliantly, Zorro.

He died in 1958, 44 years old of a heart attack.

Rudolph Valentino.

Here's a man who's fame only grew because of his untimely death.

I adore this man, he has a screen presence like no one and can express every known feeling and emotion just through his eyes, which you also can drown in.. I understand why there were a 100 000 people on the streets of New York mourning during his funeral.

He was a leading man and the first hollywood heart breaker and sex symbol, and When he was on the peek of his fame in 1926 he died of blood poisoning, he was 31 years old.

Robert Walker.

I discovered this amazing actor as many others did in Hitchcock's Strangers on a train, where he play Bruno, the mentally disturbed man who wants to swap murders with a man he meets on the train.

A man with a really tragic life filled with personal problems amongst all, his wife leaves him for a big Hollywood Producer. When he get's his breakthrough and becomes a star in 1951 he overdose on prescription drugs. No one knows if it was an accident or not. 32 years old.

Montgomery Clift

This is probably the death that has sadden me most, this beautiful amazing actor who made unbelievable performances over and over again was through his entire career depressed and one of the "troubled" young stars. He struggled with closeted homosexuality and was dependent on prescription drugs for his depressions during his entire career. He is without a doubt one of the most talented actors that ever lived, and also one of the most beautiful ones, but unfortunately one of the most tragic ones. in 1966 he died of a heart attack due to his substance abuse and his death has been described as the longest suicide in hollywood history, he was 45 years old.

Jean Harlow

The original platinum blond bombshell. A beautiful young free spirited girl who swept everyone away through her roles who were the biggest name during the 30's. Married 3 times and engaged with William Powell at the time of her death. in 1937 during the filming of Saratoga with Clark Gable she was hospitalized for uremic poisoning and died.. 26 years old.

I chose people 45 and under, my list would be 3 times as long if I included every great actor who passed away in his fifties, as my big heroes Errol Flynn, Robert Shaw and Humphrey Bogart did.

Serling

You're looking at a species of flimsy little two legged animal with extremely small heads, who's name is man.

Twilight Zone Mania

I have seen a third of the 156 episodes of the amazing classic sci-fi-show The Twilight Zone. And it is by far one of the best tv-series of all time.

It took me one episode to get hooked and there have been so many great ones I just have to make a list of my favourite ones of what I've seen so far.

So. top 5 favourite Twilight Zone episodes. from ep 1-48.

1. Eye of the Beholder. ep 42.

My favourite episode. the whole episode besides 2 minutes in the end are filmed showing No faces nut only hands in a hospital. A woman with bandages all over her face are having plastic surgery to change her horrible appearance that makes her an outcast and a freak. Beautifully filmed and the suspense is unbelievable and the ending couldn't be more awesome when they take the bandages of.

2. The After Hours. ep 34.

Also one of my big favourites. A young woman shopping in a department store finds herself on a completely empty floor with only a mysterious acting sales woman. She tries to get away but ends up there again and you find out a starting revelation about her and the lurid people trying to approach her. Amazing story and ending! in true TZ spirit.

3. Lateness of the Hour. ep 44.

A perfect family, in a perfect house with perfect staff that waits on them, only the daughter finds this not normal and want the family to get rid of all the "perfectness" and start living like normal people. During the episode you find out that the father is an inventor and has built the whole perfect staff that does everything they're told and the secrets doesn't stop there.. incredible good and interesting episode.

4. Nightmare at 20, 000 feet. ep123.

One of the famous episodes, another one with my Shatner of course. A man returns home by plane after recovering from a nervous breakdown. During the flight he sees a monster on the wing that trying to make the plane crash. since his recent condition he believes it's just in his head and so does the people around him. A GREAT episode also with a real Twilight Zone ending.

5. Time enough at last. ep 8.

A man with a nagging wife trying to find peace to read his beloved books finds himself utterly alone after a nuclear war. He get himself to where the local library was to find a dreamworld of all the books he could ever want. But then.. tragedy happens. A great episode with an excruciating ending.

6. Nick of Time. ep 43.

A couple stops in a small city after their car breaks down and enters a café to wait. On the table a small napkin holder with fortune telling cards in it stands, and the man, slightly superstitious starts to ask the machine questions. The answers he gets becomes more and more eerily true and finally the man feels he have to follow everything the cards says. A really great episode and my hero Wiliam Shatner plays the man obsessed with the fortune teller machine brilliantly!

7. The monsters are due on Maple street. ep 22.

A really unusual episode where on a quiet street the people in the neighbourhood show their real faces when paranoia strikes them. The ending as Twilight Zone standard is really cool and unexpected, and really really clever.

8. People are alike all over. ep 25.

I saw this episode just the other day and when I read about it I thought it sounded a little boring. But it was Not, two astronauts crash lands on mars and only one of the survives. All of a sudden a knock on the door and some human-like martians welcome him in an environment similar to a earth home. All seems good until the end (of course) and you find out about the martians real intentions.

9. Nightmare as a Child. ep 29

One of the scariest episodes, A woman, Helen, coming home from her job as a teacher finds a young girl sitting in her stairs who knows intimate details about her life. The girl warns her about a stranger and then disappears and a man shows up. He says he knew Helens mother who were killed when she was a little girl and she starts getting back weird memories. As said, one of the most scary episodes of Twilight Zone, and how could it not be with a small..mysterious..spooky girl with a weird haircut.

10. Third from the Sun. ep 14.

When I first saw this episode I sat on pins and needles! It's not a typically scary Twilight Zone episode but it is beyond stressing and thrilling. Two families of government employees decides in secret to escape earth just before WWIII but a stooge tries everything to stop them.

Robert Shaw, My Hero

I could watch anything with you in it.

83.

The Oscars. Every year I look forward to it for months and watch the movies and do some careful speculations on who I think will win and who I want to win. This year I am very happy! I guessed right on 9 of the biggest categories, woh! The best thing was that King's Speech won best film and best Actor. No one deserved it more this year than Colin Firth who happens to be one of my all time favourite actors and I cried a little bit when he won.. His performance in the King's Speech was unbelievable, really one of the best performances I've ever seen.

So, biggest Oscar snubbs.

-That Ryan Gosling didn't get a nomination for his part in Blue Valentine

-That Andrew Garfield din't get a nomination for his part in Social Network

-That Christopher didn't get a nomination for Direction for Inception (scandal)

-Never let me Go didn't get any nominations at all

-That Christopher Nolan didn't win for original script for Inception

-That Hans Zimmer didn't win for his original score to Inception

Franco and Hathaway as presenters were quite boring, they're more suited for acting I guess.

A lot of great things happened during the show and The Peaks for me were

-Kirk Douglas.. when he came out as a presenter I cried.. he's one of my big heroes.

-Luke Matheny's acceptance speech, so charming I could die.

-Randy Newman's acceptance speech, funny and o grounded. loved it!

-Billy Crystal, still one of the funniest people alive

-The Star Wars intro music.. chills

the conclusion was that it was a great show and as said, Colin Firth, what an actor! he takes my breath away

came home at 4 last night after an amazing night at the Heavyload-club in The Phoenix, a club with just 60's and 70's rock music so it was frakking awesome. once a month and I will be there every time. Loved it.

When I got home my landlord where spewing his guts out and I felt so not bad for him. The whole apartment was upside down and everything was broken. If I were the guy owning the place I would throw them out.

Now breakfast then I'm gonna continue my Twilight Zone race, 90 something episodes to go before I've seen them all.

"Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! this is the war room."

probably one of the best movie quotes of all time, from one of the most fascinating and amazing movies I know.

Peter Sellers I love you.

My Oscars predictions

So.

London, I am thriving.

Feel very at home.

Have hung out at BFI Southbank a lot, seen Howard Hughes' The Outlaw, Howard Hawk's Red River and Francois Truffaut's Jules et Jim. M

AN what a feeling to watch old movies

in the cinema

.. have dreamt of being able to do that since I was a kid.

Valentine's Day today. man oh man. over a year ago since I had a boyfriend but still I feel newly single.

The most romantic day and I hardly noticed it.

Still, what I love is a genuine romantic movie and I want to make it clear I DO NOT approve of about 99% of all chick flicks. They do nothing for me. But romantic movies when they have depths, feeling, and a great cast, then they get on my best film list.

So, Top 5 best romantic movies ever.

1. Brief Encounter. David Lean-1945

A timid house wife meets a handsome doctor in one of her weekly ruts, at first she thinks nothing of it. but week after week when they meet again she starts to feel something s

he never felt before and gets tempted to cheat.

I almost cannot with words describe how much I love this movie. From beginning to end I am spellbound by the visual beauty, the spark between the actors, the dialog, the music, everything is just perfect. David Lean as director shows he is not only a master of epic adventure but also intimate portraits of love. It is by far the most romantic movie I know and it also have an exclusive place on my top 20 of all time favourite movies. The very last scene *spoiler alert* where they say goodbye is amongst the most emotional scenes I know. In their last moment together an annoying friend intrude in their final words, and since they're both married they have to pretend.. so all you can see is the glances of grief and longing to each other. And as he stands up to leave and to never to return he puts his hand on her shoulder and squeeze softly you can feel the anguish like arrows through your body. I have loved old classic movies since I was a kid and I feel sad for people who don't wants to give them a chance because they're missing out on masterpieces like this.

2. Pride and Prejudice. Joe Wright-2005

You have bewitched me..body and soul..and I love, love, I love you.

I've used that quote before because it is so powerful and really sets the level on how much more it is than a regular romantic film with typical clichés. Jane Austen of course, and she is the master of romance and wrote this amazing novel in 1813. Elizabeth Bennet is the heroine in this classic story of love, family, values and of course Pride and prejudice. Elizabeth is a strong, smart young woman who is sceptical of love but get her whole world crumbling when she meets the striking Mr Darcy. He is a man who falls for the independent Elizabeth but gets his hopes shot down when he through his judgements on what's right and proper goes against Elizabeths and her lower standing family. I have seen this adaption from 2005 so many times it's ridiculous. Keira Knightley completely swept me over in her unbelievably acting skills and made me love everything she does. The very last scene where this quote is being said is one of my favourite scenes and the chemistry between Mr Darcy and Elizabeth is to say the least electric.

3. Waterloo Bridge. Mervyn Leroy-1940

My grandmother Naima means more to me than any other person in this world. And through out my childhood (as she knew what a film buff) she talked about this movie she saw back in the 40's with her mother which she loved. She described it to me but only knew the Swedish title so it took years before I found out which one it was. When I finally found it I saw it and was I was mesmerized. I was so happy to finally have found the movie my grandmother had been talking about and when I told her I saw it and loved it she was so happy..And this movie was Waterloo Bridge. Vivien Leigh plays Myra a ballet dancer in London at the brink of WWI. During a bombing she meets a handsome officer, Roy, and they fall head over heels in love with each other. They decide to get married but Roy is the day after sent out in to the war and they both are heartbroken. Time passes and their love only grows until *spoiler alert* she reads about his untimely death in the news paper.. She falls into depression and despair and rely on a friend to help her survive. That time in England poverty and famine was not uncommon and Myra finally wonders were the money is coming from. Her friend confesses what kind of work she has been doing to support Myra during her illness and Myra is appalled but at the same time feels guilty of what her friend was forced to do for her sake. Myra then decides to do the only thing she can to survive and joins her friend in her profession, a lady of the night.. One day when Myra is out looking for "clients" she sees something she only dreamed about.. Roy. He is not dead..He sees her thinking she is there to meet him and is delirious and want to get married right away. A misprint it that news paper changed her whole life and now she lives with guilt and shame with the man she loves. I'm not going to ruin the ending for you but let me tell you.. It's such an unbelievably great movie and I'm so glad my grandmother remembered it for 60 years just to tell me about it.

4. Casablanca. MIchael Curtiz-1942

Well, how could I not have this movie on my list. One of the biggest love stories on film of all time. I have had a poster with this movie since I was a kid. Yeah I was a total square and loved movies like this.

Unoccupied Africa during WWII, a bar, a man and his old love steps in. Yeah we all know this story.. and if you do not you sure have missed something. It is a classic for a reason. In 1942 it was pretty unusual for a movie not end happily ever after. And for so many years people have wishing, wanting a alternate version of the ending of Casablanca just for the ease of a happy ending. But that's what makes it great, because it is one of the strongest love stories of all time and the do not end up with each other. I have seen this many times and I think everyone knows about it and knows what it is about.. but few of the people I know have actually seen it. it is a shame. This movie has a great cast, not only swedish pride Ingrid Bergman and tough guy Humphrey Bogart but two other of my personal favourites, Sydney Greenstreet who made 22 movies in his career which include the genius Maltese Falcon (which was his debut at the age of 63) sidenote: It was him in this movie that gave the designer inspiration for Jabba the Hut in Star Wars. The other favourite in this movie is one of my all time favourite actors. Claude Rains, he plays the corrupt police officer who share the last screen with humphrey Bogart in the end. Rains have played so many amazing parts, including Invisible man, Wolf man, phantom of the opera, Notorious, Lawrence of Arabia, Now Voyager and the list goes on.. So the cast alone are a Big reason for watching this classic film which will never go out of style.

5. Bridges of Madison County. Clint Eastwood-1995

Ok, here's my

first real..what's the word.. chick flick. I have known since I was a kid about this

movie and that it's a modern classic but It took me years to watch this movie because I generally Hate movies like this. I accidentally got stuck in front of the TV one day and this was on.. and 2 minutes in and I was sold. Let me tell you.. this movie is incredible on so many ways, and ok, if you don't want to se romance or drama, skip this one. But if you want to see a really amazing film, please put aside your prejudices for romantic movies (as I had to) and watch this. Based on the book by Robert James Waller (which I read after I was sold on this movie and it is just as great as the movie) Meryl Streep plays a house wife, Francesca, who have an encounter with a photographer Robert (eastwood) visiting her small town while her family is away for the weekend, and sparks fly. During four days, Francesca and Robert share the greatest love story of their lives. Streep and Eastwood.. they make it.. so real. the last scene *spoiler again* is so emotional you could die.. and I showed this movie for my then boyfriend and he Loved to. So you can be a guy or a girl who HATes movies like this and be proven completely wrong. because this movie aren't only an incredible love story with an ending to die for it is a real proof of actors and actresses who can take a part and make so alive you swear it's real.

Hm.. interesting that of my top five, only one ends in happiness.

So, one week in to my London Life and I like it.
I have moved in on Dod road in Westferry London and the neighbourhood is terrific. I live with the guys from Lithuania and one from Italy. Everyone is nice BUT, the standards in english apartments are low.. yes. to be coming from Swedend and it's standard to this is a huge difference. Everything looks or is dirty and or broken. Well, still London is worth it. It sure is an amazing city. My favourite location is by far BFI southbank where they show old classic films so I am thriving. Have now seen Howard hughes' The Outlaw and Howard Hawks' Red River and I soo happy! Have been wanting to live in a city where they have a cinema like that since I was a kid.

Today me and Kristin are going out on the town, on the hunt for a new pair of vans. :)