Bowie bonus

As anyone who knows me will attest I'm a huge David Bowie fan so I just couldn't resist in sharing this wonderfully camp clip from The Cher Show originally broadcast in 1975. They perform Young Americans which segues into a delerious medley of classics from Motown and The Beatles. It takes a while to load up and the picture isn't too great but its quality entertainment!

Latest News

I’ll be interviewing two more of Russ Meyer’s leading ladies; Kitten Natividad starred in Beneath the Valley of the Ultravixens and appeared with Raven De La Croix in Russ Meyer’s Up! Both actresses will be chatting about the forthcoming Australian DVD release of the films and the pre-production of the new documentary Bosommania: Herstory - The Women. Check out http://www.bosommaniathemovie.com/ for details. The interviews will appear in a forthcoming issue of Filmink.

In other news Ra Choi will now also be screening at the Rome Independent Film Festival and the Worldfest in Houston. For Australian readers, director Michael Frank will also be interviewed by Megan Spencer on The Movie Show on SBS broadcast on March 22nd.

My second preview of my Superman Returns set visit will be the cover feature in Starburst #334. It will feature excerpts of my interviews with Bryan Singer, Kevin Spacey and Brandon Routh.

RA CHOI world premiere in London

We are proud to announce that the World Premiere of Ra Choi will take place in London at 20:30 on March 6th as part of the prestigious London Australian Film Festival. The screening will take place at The Barbican and will be introduced by director Michael Frank. He will also be holding a Q&A session after the film. Other films being shown include The Proposition, Three Dollars and Little Fish.

Literally "coming out to play" in Vietnamese, Ra Choi follows four homeless kids struggling for a life worth living on the mean streets of a Sydney suburb. Teenagers Dac Kien, Lahn, Trinh and Lucy are the most modern and tough of 21st century urban families, in this raw feature debut from M. Frank, whose experimental shorts have reaped awards and critical praise on both sides of the equator. (Excerpt from Australian Film Festival website)

For ticket details and availability please go to http://www.barbican.org.uk/

The film’s European tour will also take in the Cinemasia Festival in Amsterdam on April 8th where Ra Choi closes the event. For festival details and screening times please check http://www.cinemasia.nl/.

As I have previously mentioned I am handling the publicity on Ra Choi, if any media publications are interested in covering the film, interviews with the cast and crew or any other details please do not hestitate in contacting me on davemichaelbrown@yahoo.co.uk. Also check http://www.rachoi.com/ for new screening announcements.

Nightmares and Dreamscapes set visit

I’ve just returned from a brief sojourn to Melbourne visiting the set of Stephen King’s Nightmares and Dreamscapes. Having walked around the set of the Battleground episode starring William Hurt and seen Melbourne’s Prince’s Park transformed into London’s Crouch End I must say the series looks like it may well be a winner. My report on the eight episodes based on short stories by Stephen King will run in Shivers later in the year. Thanks as always to Fiona Searson for arranging the trip.

Tommy DVD review

Visually stunning and full of fantastic music Tommy brings new meaning to the phrase directorial tour de force. Director Ken Russell was no stranger to musical biographies; Mahler, Elgar and Tchaikovsky had all been given the Russell treatment and anyone familiar with The Devils and the rest of his work knew that Tommy was going to be something special.

Based on the rock opera Tommy by The Who the film stars lead singer Roger Daltrey as the titular Tommy, the deaf, dumb and blind kid who sure plays a mean pinball. The rest of the members of the band make small appearances, but it’s the late great Keith Moon who shines as the sleazy Uncle Ernie. The cast is a who’s who of rock and film legends. Jack Nicholson, Oliver Reed, Eric Clapton, Tina Turner and Elton John all make memorable appearances although Reeds singing voice does leave a little to be desired at times. Reed was a regular collaborator of Russell’s also starring in Woman in Love, The Devils and The Debussy Film amongst many.

The musical numbers have become iconic to say the least, Elton John’s rendition of Pinball Wizard clad in giant bother boots and glasses and Tina Turner’s Acid Queen are exceptional. The music from the Who’s album has been re-recorded for the film and sounds wonderful in this new restored print. There are some great touches like the toy trumpets during Tommy Can You Hear Me the church of Marilyn Monroe during Eyesight for the Blind and the guitar as Tommy breaks loose during I’m Free. It’s a musical that will draw in even the most cynical of viewer.

The films use of flash frames, animation and strange abstract imagery pre-dates the pop video by years. Russell’s directorial style is perfectly suited to Townsend’s epic muse. The resulting film is a very British affair, Robert Powell, Ann Margaret, Paul Nicholas and Reed all support Daltrey with aplomb. Margaret in particular hurls herself at the role in one classic moment writhing around in gallons of baked beans. Russell and Daltrey worked so well together that the singer was given the lead in Russell’s next film, the much maligned Liztomania.
This reviewer wholeheartedly loved every second of Tommy. As a huge fan of The Who and the work of Ken Russell it’s a marriage made in heaven. Its exuberant style may alienate fans of the gritty scooter filled thrills of Quadrophenia but there is still much acid fueled delirium to be enjoyed.

For full review see www.cinephilia.net.au