House of Gerrish International » Film

The Awkward Truth

ricky — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:45:22 +0000

In years of financial depression, people turn to the cinema as a source of diversion, and often what they are seeking most is a laugh. One need only look at Charlie Chaplin’s successes following the Wall Street Crash of 1929 in classics such as ‘City Lights,’ (1931) ‘Modern Times’ (1936) and ‘The Great Dictator,’ (1940) to see how when the wheels of despair turn, comedy shines its head and lightens the mood. Apart from anything, comedies are generally cheap to make. The 2008 economic collapse has called for a new wave of comedy. But modern audiences, more cynical and jaded…

I’m a cultural snob but I really enjoyed 2012

miguel — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:38:24 +0000

My ex-girlfriend would always accuse me of being a cultural snob. Ham-fisted efforts to read Proust on the beach, pig-headed plans to visit the Renoir in Bloomsbury, well-meaning yet ill-fated constructive criticism on her choice of Toxic Bachelors as holiday reading, were always met with a sneering: “You. are such a fucking pseeeeeuuudo chin-stroker.”

In a way she was right. I think people into the arts who aren’t Tolstoy or Brian Sewell will always feel slightly insecure about the sum of their cultural clout, and thus the need to tell everyone that they’ve got the arts locked down, sealed off, noone else can enter, cau’ I run this bloodclaat perimeter anyone test Dead…! if you see what I mean.…

The Third Dimension has arrived

ricky — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:21:56 +0000

My initial response to the 3-D revolution hitting our cinemas today was that it was just another money-making gimmick and inevitably would be a failure. If it’s been with us for such a long time, why hasn’t it taken off yet? Most film historians have wisely forgotten the 1960s ‘revolution’ of ‘Smell-o-Vision,’ the bizarre development by film producer Mike Todd Jr. which literally pumped different scents into the cinema via pipes installed in the back of audience’s seats in its attempt to ‘transport the audience to another world through their sense of smell.’ A 2000 Time magazine article listed it…

Lord of the Ringpieces

Matt — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:24:26 +0000

A moment of reflection:

Back in 2003 we were up at Edinburgh University. Each morning we would leave Pollock Halls and head up South Clerk street into George Square. We’d pick up a sandwich at Twigs and buy a £5 album from Fopp. At night we’d hit Crags and then on to Why Not to be told, ‘Your night’s over pal’ by a grim bouncer. The North Sea winds would accompany us back home.

Back then the university years were spread out before us. Life on the other side was a distant thought. I often think about those times with…

Theophilus London

hugh — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:55:19 +0000

He’s not from London but don’t let that put you off, this is the real deal. Looks set to be a big album.

Theophilus London- Enjoy The Sun (Prod. By Machine Drum) from GFCnewyork on Vimeo.