One Nine Nine Four: a 90's punk documentary

One Nine Nine Four is a documentary about the birth, growth and explosion of the SoCal 90s punk scene. Featuring nineties trademarks such as Rancid, NOFX, Pennywise, Bad Religion, Offspring, Warped Tour, Epitaph, Fat Wreck Chords, Lookout records, among others.

S.E.V.I.L.L.A. City

SFDK's first video clip from their highly anticipated sixth album, Siempre Fuertes 2, is called S.E.V.I.L.L.A, an ode to their hometown, the andalusian capital. Featuring cameos from Jesuly, Dogma Crew, El Límite and the Malviviendo guys. Album comes out November 24th.


Also from Sevilla, Tote King is releasing his documentary "Tengo que volver a casa" (I have to return home) on December 11th. Done by Xclusif & Conflict Films and filmed in Sevilla, Barcelona, Madrid, Bilbao, Valencia and Alicante. Features appearances by La Mala Rodríguez, Juan Solo, Ernesto Sevilla, Pachama Crew, La Excepción, Dive Dibosso, Shotta, Felipe Reyes, Chico Ocaña and Antonio Orozco.

Some piece of the history of Puerto Rican Punk

Here some late 80s-early 90s video gems from Puerto Rico's pioneering punk bands. Intro to doc "La Decandencia del Cuchifrito", Abuso Legal (Oi/Punk from SJ), Sham Pain (Hc/Punk from Carolina), Rechazo Social (Punk Rock from Bayamón), Hypocrite Solution (Hc/Punk from Sábana Grande) and Corrupted Society (Hc/Punk from Isabela).

Then, via Boricuas Bestiales, an interview with Puerto Rican descent-Connecticutian Jeff Spaz, founder of Computer Crime Records.

This label released in 1991 the seminal "V/A House Arrest" featuring Frontside Generation, Sham Pain, Subculture Underground and Hypocrite Solution. They also released the first recordings by Sham Pain, Golpe Justo and Hijos de Nadie.

In 1993, CCR released the first Puerto Rican punk documentary "La Decadencia del Cuchifrito" featuring Volcanic, Hijos de Nadie, Fobia Estatal, No More, Resistencia, Descojón Urbano, Sham Pain, Golpe Justo and Abuso Legal.

Intro "La Decadencia del Cuchifrito"


Abuso Legal Live 1989


Sham Pain-No Más


Rechazo Social Live 1991


More Vids:
Hypocrite Solution Live 1988
Corrupted Society Live 1988

Interviews/Articles: (In Spanish)
Jeff Spaz from Computer Crime Records
Computer Crime Records Discography

The Limits of Control by Jim Jarmusch

Jim Jarmusch's new film is called The Limits of Control. Starring is Isaach De Bankolé with supporting roles by John Hurt, Bill Murray, Gael García Bernal, Tilda Swinton, Óscar Jaenada and Paz de la Huerta.

The loner (De Bankolé) travels throughout various Spanish cities meeting with strange characters in Cafés who exchange with him matchboxes containing instructions in codes. Several vignettes with repetition of sequences, stunning photography and minimalist dialogues.

The mysterious characters talk to the loner about music, art, bohemian life and other themes that reflect Jarmusch's view. It is constructed very smoothly but without the unity of his prior work, although the nudity and the multilingual scenes is a reference to this other films. Overall is an art film that has a lot of abstract messages, with non-acting performances that are followed by the camera. Definitely, his most incoherent film and not for everybody (specially those not familiar with his other work).

Defensa Personal Release Party

The release party of Correa Cotto's album was in La Respuesta (Santurce, Puerto Rico). It started at 1:00 am with Velcro in the turns. The first mc was Profound, from New York, who rapped in english and one song in spanish. He forgot the lyrics on one of his songs and the crowd did not respond after that. Next was The Kings of Mic, J'Rebu, Guajiro and Embajador, who rocked the stage with their energetic set. These puertorican hip hop pioneers were dressed in camuflage resembling their No Mel Syndicate days.

Correa Cotto was presenting every mc while Velcro was at the control putting the beats. Then came Babalú Machete from barrio La Marina in Isabela, Puerto Rico (West Side). A veteran of the local scene sang his gangsta-rap hits "Gángsters de Borinken" and "Cosa de Borikua", as well as some english tunes from the Infinite Clip recordings. This mc can truly flow in both languages perfectly and the crowd was singing along excited. Definitely the highlight of the show.

The west side invasion continued with Mayaguez/Añasco's own, Desde el Campo. Only 2/3 of the group came on stage but rapped very tight. They began with their hit "Me Gusta" and followed with "Puerto Rico", "No creo en promesas", featuring Shaggy from Absoluto Independiente, among others. In their set, they invited a spoken word guy who recited a poem. The set ended with a freestyle/improv by the two mc's, Fico and Souldier.

It was quite late and we left without seeing the remaining acts (Velcro, Nébula and Correa Cotto) that we have seen in other occasions. Very good show but it began rather late for my taste.

Pictures vía Hip Hop Boricua Blogspot.com

Inglourious Basterds by Quentin Tarantino

The latest flick by writer/director Quentin Tarantino is Inglourious Basterds, based on the italian movie "Quel maledetto treno blindato". Starring are Brad Pitt, Christoph Waltz, Eli Roth (horror movie director), BJ Novak (The Office), Mélanie Laurent and Julie Dreyfus (Sophie Fatale in Kill Bill). With cameos by Mike Myers and Sam Jackson's voice.

To Nazi-occupied France is sent a US guerilla command led by Lt. Aldo Raine (Pitt) to kill as many nazis as possible. The Basterds are blood-thirsty jew mercenaries who terrorize SS and Gestapo soldiers because of their out of control manners of killing them.

Like prior Tarantino's films, the storytelling is divided by non-linear chapters and the dialogues prime over all. Gory, funny and entertaining as only the eccentric director can make it happen. Also, with references to his prior films and a twisted take on the Nazis (From Minister of Propaganda, Goebbels to the newbie nazi officer). Superb performance by Waltz as nazi Col. Hans Landa, who dominates the screen entirely and speaks perfectly in german, french, italian and english. Two-hour and a half tour de force film, who is definitely one of his best films yet. Run to see it!

Funny People by Judd Apatow

The third film by comedy writer/director, Judd Apatow, is named Funny People. Starring are Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, Jason Schwartzman, Eric Bana and Leslie Mann. The story of the comedian, George Simmons (Sandler), who after being diagnosed with a terminal illness decides to hire up-coming comedian, Ira Wright (Rogen), as his personal assistant and ghost writer. Both of them have failing careers, Wright's roommates Leo Koening (Hill) and Mark Taylor Jackson (Schwartzman) have better gigs than him and Simmons lives a lonely superficial life while still loving his ex-fiancee Laura (Mann), now married to aussie business man Clarke (Bana) and with two girls (both played by the real-life daughters of Apatow and Mann; Maude and Iris Apatow).

Apatow's proves himself again as a comedy genius. Original stories with an actual entertaining plot to it. Mixing romance and drama with those jokes for laughing-out-loud. Sandler and Rogen complement each other very well on-screen. Sandler's unforced jokes with a serious face makes jokes funnier and Rogen's witty punchlines are off-the-hook. Overall great acting by the ensemble cast and great cameos by rappers RZA and Eminem, and comedians Paul Raiser, Sarah Silverman, Andy Dick and Ray Romano. Good soundtrack, real video footage from Sandler's beginnings, fake movies made just for the film , pop-culture references and unconventional storytelling makes this film, Apatow's best effort yet. If you wanna laugh your lungs out, run to the big screen right now.

Tetro by Francis Ford Coppola

Tetro is the latest film by acclaimed writer/director Francis Ford Coppola. Starring Vincent Gallo as Tetro, Maribel Verdú as Marina, Carmen Maura as Alone, Leticia Brédice as Josefina and Alden Ehrenreich as Bennie.

Bennie goes from New York to Buenos Aires to visit his long-lost brother Tetro, who is living a very pathetic life as a failed playwright. Tetro's girlfriend, Marina, helps Bennie as she gives him Tetro's unfinished play. Bennie decides to finish it and discovers the real reason why Tetro left. Bennie prepares the play and it gets into the hands of literary critic, Alone. She invites them to participate in the important Patagonia Festival. While there receiving the prize, their famous orchestra conductor father dies.

The film has the typical themes of Hollywood films like family relationships, opposed siblings, love or tragedy. But Coppola's film is very minimal aesthetically, shot in black and white but with color flashbacks. Inside this simple history, Coppola combines weird theater plays, cinema references, argentinean tango, female nudity and absurd dialogues. Gallo's and Ehrenreich's performances help the film throughout the end, because it clocks past the two hours.

Is not a masterpiece but seems like a personal and low-budget film that the director would do thirty years ago, prior to his hit saga (The Godfather). Although it is predictable at times and too lengthy, it is fun to see mid-level and unknown actors do an unconventional film penned by an established Hollywood director.

Limp Wrist at Madrid

Limp Wrist, the legendary queer hardcore punk band, played at the madrilean venue, Sala Boite (looks like a strip club without the poles). The opening act was the local punk band, Muletrain. I have seen them a couple of times (opening for The Adolescents, twice) and it was their best performance so far. They get me bored easily because their songs are too long, they sang in a very bad english and every song sounds the same.

Almost an hour later, Martín (former Los Crudos frontman), Paul, Andrew and Scott came on stage. Hot pants, vests and biker hats were part of their wardrobe. They played a lot of songs from their discography with a tremendous energy. Martín crowd-surfed and sang in the pit with the young spaniard "moshers". He dedicated the song "Ode" to Darby Crash (Germs), Gary Floyd (The Dicks) and other pioneer gay punks. The last song was their classic "I love Hardcore Boys, I love Boys Hardcore". Overall was a good show but kind of short. Anyhow was worth it, only for the main act.

Pure Hell

Prior to the Bad Brains, there were a few all-black punk bands in the late 70s. Pure Hell, began in Philly in 1974 then move to NYC and the UK. They released a single called "These Boots and Made for Walking" b/w "No Rules". Here's a short documentary on them.

Hip hop in spanish

Hip Hop music was created by African-American New Yorkers in the late 70s and early 80s. But in that early scene a couple of puertoricans like DJ Disco Wiz, Prince Whipper Whip, Prince Markie Dee and Wise from Stetsasonic made their contribution to the growth. By 1985, the first rap in Spanish arrived with Vico-C, born in New York and raised in Puerto Rico. His influence in the spanish-speaking world is undeniable in the late 80s and early 90s. All latin american countries as well as Spain by the 90s developed a hip hop scene in their own kind of way.

In Spain, hip hop evolved into a popular genre between their youth with major acts like Violadores del Verso, Nach, SFDK or Tote King along with minor acts like Los Chikos del Maíz, Jesuly, Shogun XL or Dogma Crew. These acts are not millionaire celebrities like the major north american rappers or the reggaeton artists but have the respect of the entire spanish-speaking community with their good lyrics, great beats and non-gangster attitudes. Any of these spaniard acts goes to Latin America and sold-out their shows to loyal fans.


In Latin-America has remained very underground. Events like Red Bull Batalla de los Gallos or the Hip Hop Summits/Festivals in Venezuela, Colombia or Dominican Republic have created a sense of unity between the countries in the Caribbean, Central America, South America and the latinos in the US.

Puerto Rico is a unique case because of three reasons:
1-Reggaeton's huge impact in the population helped Hip Hop became a reactionary underground movement rebelling against the status-quo in the late 90s with rappers like Ovrdoze (Tek-1 and J-Mo), Conciencia Poética (Luís Díaz, 79 and producer Yall'zee), EA Flow, Ciencia Fixión (Dr.Who, Centro, Dreuxifer and DJ Nature from the Texas), Mad Steelo, Velcro, Welmo, Nebula, No Mel Syndicate, Gunzsmoke, etc.
2-The majority of these rappers grew up on Cable TV (Yo! MTV Raps for example) as the same time of stateside americans.
3-The constant flux of puertoricans between New York and Puerto Rico because of the US citizenship of puerto ricans helped create an understanding of hip hop culture very early on unlike the rest of spanish-speaking countries.

The result is a tight scene of great mc's/producers/dj's with an US/Early spanish rap pioneers like Vico-C influence who can flow well in both spanish and english. Their lyrics are intelligent as most of them are middle-class and college-educated (Velcro is a Harvard grad and Luís Díaz has an MA degree, for example) or self-educated in socio-political themes. Also, most of them have communication with stateside puerto ricans who are involved with hip hop in their own states (Babalú Machete, Joell Ortiz and Thirstin Howl III from New York, Yeyo of "The Dey" from Miami, Temperamento from Rhode Island, Chino XL from New Jersey or Termanology from MA, for example). These stateside puertoricans collaborate with the islanders (Tropical Storm compilation of the late 90s made by Babalu Machete, for example) very often helping to create a sense of unity between puerto rican rappers in both places.

Cuba is another unique case because of their socio-political status. They have created the most fierce, well-read and real hip hop since the glory days of hip hop in the late 80s and early 90s. Acts like Randy Acosta, Papá Humbertico, Los Aldeanos, Los Paisanos and Anónimo Consejo are praised by fellow spanish-speaking rappers around the world. Their most famous export is Orishas, who moved to Europe and gained success in countries like Spain and France although their style is more commercial. Hardcore-Rap icon Randy Acosta, now living in Finland, with two great albums under his wing like "Jodido Protagonista" and "Zangre, Zudor y Lagri+" made huge impact in latin america. Other notable export is Mahoma from Explosión Suprema, married to andalusian rapper La Mala Rodríguez, and one of her hypemans. In all, Cuban hip hop is mostly underground, political and very real.

Other countries like Chile (Makiza, Tiro de Gracia, Némesis and ZicutaEjecuta)
and México (Boca Floja, Cartel de Santa and Control Machete) have big rap artists. Also there's hip hop culture in Dominican Republic (led by Lápiz Consciente, Espadasofia, Circuito Negro, etc.), Argentina (Frescolate; winner of the Red Bull battle in 2005), Colombia ( the most famous being Tres Coronas and La Etnnia) and the rest of latin america.

To conclude, hip hop in spanish began in Puerto Rico in 1985 but did not evolved into a full fledged culture because of the reggaeton virus. It remain underground with high-level artists with no media exposure. Stateside puerto ricans have helped the scene but not that much to compete with the radio-friendly reggaeton. In Spain, it became a great youth culture with major acts that can live from the music and are icons in Spain and Latin America. Cuba remains as the purest form of the genre and mainly reflects the reality of cuban life. Mexico and Chile have greater hip hop scenes but don't transcend to the whole lot of spanish-speaking countries. And the rest of the countries have small scenes but serves as the outlet for the youth to fight against their social inequalities.

Post Scriptum: Highlighted are the most important artists but feel free to lookout for any of these spanish-speaking rap artists through their official webpages or myspaces. Very recommended.

Zatu from SFDK acting

Zatu, mc from sevillian hip hop legends SFDK, has a couple of lines in the hit independent web-series Malviviendo. Check it out. Hilarious!

The International by Tom Tykwer

The International is the latest feature film by German director, Tom Tykwer (director of Run Lola Run and The Perfume: The story of a Murderer). Starring are Clive Owen and Naomi Watts with a little cameo by Ben Wishaw (The Perfume and I'm not There).

An action-thriller that follows Interpol agent Salinger (Owen) with the help of NY D.A.'s officer (Watts) attempting to uncover an arms deal scheme by a International bank based on Luxembourg. They travel through Berlin, Milan, New York and Istanbul following the bank's greedy manners to control arms deals in Third World African and Asian countries.

Tykwer's take on international action-thrillers (think Bourne's series) is actually very good. It has an intelligent social commentary on how these international banks control governments, corporations and individuals by generating an infinite debt. The photography throughout the European, Asian and American cities is stunning. The camera shots and the editing construct a suspense storytelling that keeps you wondering how it's going to end.

Owen's performance is very credible but Watts' role seems like an excuse to add a female character to an entire testosterone driven cast. The NY Guggenheim scene exceeds the shots-fired barrier for my taste but one thing I sure like was that it did not end in an Owen-Watts romance like a predictable film of this type will end. Kudos to Tykwer for an enjoyable social-awareness feature that stands alone in that sort of modern Hollywood genre.

III Urban Fest at Torrejón

The third annual Urban Fest was celebrated in the Madrid municipality of Torrejón de Ardoz. The venue, "Recinto Ferial", held various activities related to the hip hop culture like breakdancing, freestyle battles and a couple of rap acts. As the event was totally free it was full of youngsters and rappers from the entire Madrid community. The weather was a bit cold for our taste making a weird atmosphere of the Sunday afternoon.

It began with the b-boys making their stage antics to a crowd of clueless youngsters who only cheered the "windmills" or the "flares". The crews did not have any organization or coordinated pieces like all b-boy crews have. Any of the b-boys stand out that much and the majority were very sloppy. But the winners were a crew called "Madrid King Vandals". After that, the mc freestyle battle who was a little wackness. The only one with inventive, flow and punchlines that did not seem previously written was the winner, a chubby mc which name I can remember.

Then came the rap acts starting by Primizia, who played a lot of time and I did not like at all. After that, Torrejón local mc, Artes, enter the stage to sang some tunes from his last album "La Banda Sonora de Nuestra Vidas". He was accompanied by Frank T and Rob Vendetta in a couple of songs. After that, we left because the event was getting monotonous and the weather didn't help. We missed Rapsusklei, Xhelazz and Falsalarma, the latter two we have seen them live before so its no big deal.

Rudo y Cursi by Carlos Cuarón

Rudo y Cursi is the first feature film directed by mexican screenwriter Carlos Cuarón. The movie is produced by Cha Cha Cha, a company integrated by fellow mexican directors Alfonso Cuarón, Alejandro González Iñárritu and Guillermo Del Toro. Starring are Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna with supporting roles by puertorrican actress Jessica Mas and argentinean actor Guillermo Francella.

The story of brothers Tato "Cursi" Verdusco (Gael) and Beto "Rudo" Verdusco (Diego) who work in a plantation in their poor Mexican town. They also play in the local soccer team. One day a scout, Batuta (Francella), arrives and watches them playing. Tato is the first who is drafted to play at a soccer club in DF called "Deportivo Amaranto" but he also wants to be a singer. Rudo eventually is scouted to another team in DF to play as the goalie. They both become famous players but Cursi falls for a beautiful model (Mas) who is a social climber and Rudo becomes an avid gambler. Both brothers are against each other at the final soccer game of their lives.

Cuarón's debut as a director is very-well accomplished. The photography is great because of the contrast between the poor coastal mexican towns and the urban life at the DF. The story flows very smoothly without flashbacks or any goofy camera tricks that enhances a non-linear storytelling. His brother's camera work, like long takes are seen a couple of times throughout the film as well as the use of a voice-over narrator who explains the context. Gael and Diego's acting complement very well the kind of funny but very real story that Cuarón tries to tell. The script resembles his shorts like "Me la Debes" (You Owe Me One) and his famous movie "Y tu mamá también" in the sense of being a simple, funny, sexy and thought-provoking drama that can be enjoyed anytime.

Carlos Cuarón along with brother Alfonso, Guillermo del Toro, Alejandro González Iñárritu, Guillermo Arriaga and Carlos Reygadas are the new generation of mexican filmmakers who are making spanish-speaking cinema stand for itself nowadays.

Bad Brains documentary.

Trailer for the documentary on the hardcore-punk pioneers from DC/NYC, The almighty Bad Brains.

Puerto Rico is not important

During the recent Summit of the Americas, The Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega expressed in his speech that the event cannot be called of "The Americas" because two countries like Cuba and Puerto Rico, did not participated in it. President Obama in his speech forgot completely about Ortega's mention of Puerto Rico. I ask myself: It was deliberate or just forgot? Who knows.

Also, some of the leading news agencies in the world (AP, EFE, etc) and as a matter of fact the major newspapers (NY Times, Le Monde, SF Chronicle,etc) only quoted Ortega as saying Cuba, they omitted the other Caribbean island. Only a local Trinidad paper reported on this. It's a shame, the misinformation.

I'm aware of the "great news" it is Cuba because of the 40 year plus US embargo on them and the non-existent relationship between the US presidents and the Castro brothers. But Puerto Rico is still the oldest colony in the world. Where human rights are being violated to 4 million US citizens who are treated as second class citizens who neither can vote for the president of the US nor received decent incomes compared to the 50 states of the union (our per capita is lower than the poorest state which is Mississippi).

Puerto Rico's status has to be resolved as soon as possible. But Obama and the media have to put our problem in the international forums and not omitted it like they did. Our commonwealth is a transitional status and it should be changed. Our society is composed of politicians who only want to perpetuate the colonial status to continue robbing the federal aid and a dormant population who only likes to "party" and not to think. The chances of independence were undermined as the nationalist movement was erased with Pedro Albizu Campos and such who where the ones who really fought for a free nation.

So, in the 21st century it's either a Hispanic statehood to the US or a territorial disposition by the US Congress as stated by political analyst Juan Manuel Garcia Passalaqua. A Hispanic statehood is more viable now as the Hispanic population stateside is rapidly growing each year. The US was created as a melting pot, a nation of immigrants. With Obama, part of a minority, as President is possible. Now or never.

Zack and Miri make a porno by Kevin Smith

Zack and Miri make a porno is the latest film by indie writer/director,Kevin Smith(View Askew Productions). Starring are Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks, Traci Lords and Craig Robinson (Darryl from The Office).

The story of Zack (Rogen) and Miri (Banks) who are roommates that run out of money to pay the bills so they decided to film a porno movie to raise money. Their friend Delaney (Robinson) has a little extra money so Zack borrows it to film their new adventure. They began looking for actors and actress (i.e. Bubbles played by Lords) for a couple of extra scenes besides their "first time" having sex. After several events, Zack and Miri realize they are more than simple roommates.

Kevin Smith's trademark humor is there and combined with Apatow's usual suspects like Rogen, Banks and Robinson make a heck of a good funny tour de force film. It is a very simple story, more about love and finding something you like to do than actually making a porno. The film is making fun of that over abundant celebrity sex tapes but uses it to tell a good and funny story about finding love.

On a side note, the film also used an alternate poster because the title caused some controversy for having the word "porno" in it.

Control by Anton Corbijn

Control is the biopic about Ian Curtis, late vocalist of English post-punk band Joy Division. The film is based on Deborah Curtis book "Touching from a distance" and is directed by acclaimed rock photographer Anton Corbijn. Starring are Sam Riley (Ian), Samantha Morton (Deborah) and Alexandra Maria Lara as belgian mistress Annik Honoré.

It presents Curtis' troubled short life that ended in May 1980 by the way of suicide. It covers from his early days as a Manchester lad in love with Bowie, his early marriage with Deborah, his absent parenthood to Natalie, the forming of Joy Division (first named Warsaw), his epilepsy and seizures during concerts, his affair with a Belgian groupie, his depression, his problems with Deborah and finally his struggle with fame in the verge of their first USA tour.

The film shows also contemporary bands like Buzzcocks, Sex Pistols and even a cameo by punk poet John Cooper Clark that gives a real edge to the film. It is very well photographed with Corbijn's trademark black and white shots. The soundtrack, full of the band's classics, was played by the real actors. And Riley's performance was outstanding. He portrayed Curtis was a depressed young adult who felt so much guilt by his actions that decide to end his life and become a rock n roll martyr.

Agent Orange at Madrid

Agent Orange, the surf-punk legends from Orange County, played at the Wurlitzer Ballroom in the spanish capital. The opening act was The Shitty Limits from the United Kingdom who played energetic hardcore-punk ala Surf Nazis Must Die. Their singer was within the crowd roaring the fast skate-punk blasts as the rest of the band lay on stage to play rapid fire guitar riffs and out-of-control drums. Very impressive band. After this good set, came the spanish heavy rock/punk band Zero 5 who played a couple of tunes reminiscent of Motorhead, but not that good.

At last, came the southern california power trio lead by vocalist/guitarist Mike Palm. They sounded tight and powerful even though the venue's sound is not the best. Their usual instrumental surf tunes were between the faster punk songs. Some of the songs played were "Bloodstains", "Too young too die" (dedicated to the late Lux Interior of The Cramps), "The Last Goodbye", "No Such Thing", "Living in darkness", "Pipeline" and "I kill spies". Also they played two covers: "Police Truck" by the Dead Kennedys and "Message from the Underworld" by The Weirdos. Great set overall, energetic as it gets but with some chill out surf tunes to listen.

Picture by MCJ Photography (c).

A new kind of TV series

Well, certainly you have heard the expression that nowadays "tv sucks" or the so-called "junk-tv". For the most part is true but there are exceptions to the boring television programs that you are accustomed to see. Also, the most famous tv series (in the US) are either medical or police/agent related themes that are kind of always the same.

The "good" tv series (like classic Lynch's Twin Peaks) have good storytelling, great direction, well-develop characters, suspense and all those things we love from cult or indie cinema. They are in channels like ABC, NBC, AMC, CBS, HBO, Showtime, just to name a few. Here are my favorite ones and I would recommend you all get into it.


1-Lost (ABC)-Created by JJ Abrams. Currently in its fifth season (ends in May 09') and the final season its due on May 10'. It follows the lives of plane crash survivors on a mysterious tropical island, after a commercial passenger jet flying between Sydney and Los Angeles crashes somewhere in the South Pacific. See this if you like suspense, mystery, mythology, science, flashbacks, flashfowards and well-develop characters. With Lost you will never know what's going to happen next.


2-Weeds (Showtime)-Created by Jenji Kohan. Season 5 begins in May 09'. About a widowed housewife (Mary-Louise Parker) from an affluent California suburb who becomes her neighborhood's marijuana dealer to make ends meet after the death of her husband. Its a comedy filled with irony, sarcasm and the real stories behind those "Little Boxes" (nice suburban homes) and its sometimes hypocritical and pretentious inhabitants. It has suspense, crime and hilarious moments. An all-around good series.


3-True Blood (HBO)-Created by Alan Ball. This golden-globe winning series begins its second season in June 09'. Based on the Sookie Stackhouse book series. It centers in the co-existence of vampires and humans in Bon Temps, a fictional small northern Louisiana town. The series centers on Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin), a telepathic waitress at a bar, who falls in love with vampire Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer). What a good combination has this series: Vampires and the southern culture of the US. Romance, mystery and suspense all the way.


4-Jericho (CBS)-Created by John Turtletaub. Unfortunately it got canceled after two seasons only (the second season has only 7 episodes). Centers on the residents of the fictional town of Jericho, Kansas in the aftermath of nuclear attacks on 23 major cities in the contiguous United States. Starring are Skeet Ulrich and Lennie James, as Jake Green and Robert Hawkins respectively. Well-told action filled apocalyptic drama with good character development about an inside job nuclear attack on almost half of the states of the country, resulting in a corrupt government and corporation alliance that plans to control what they are calling "Allied States".


5-Sons of Anarchy (FX)-Created by Kurt Sutter. The second season will begin in September 09'. About the lives of a close-knit outlaw motorcycle club operating in Charming, a fictional town in Northern California. Starring Charlie Hunnam (Children of Men), Ron Perlman (Hellboy), and Katey Sagal (Married..with Children). Club antiheroe members primarily make money by importing illegal weapons and selling them to drug gangs in the East Bay, along with protection runs for local businesses by protecting valuable truck shipments from hijacking. It is based on Shakespeare's Hamlet as Clay (Perlman) represents King Claudius, his wife Gemma (Segal) represents Gertrude and her son Jax (Hunnam) represents Prince Hamlet.


6-Lie To Me (Fox)-Created by Samuel Baum. Currently in its first season that ends in May 09'. The main character, Dr. Cal Lightman (Tim Roth), aided by some colleagues detects deception by observing body language and microexpressions using this talent to assist clients like law enforcement. The character is based on Paul Ekman, notable psychologist and expert on body language and facial expressions. This X-files type show has mostly two cases per episode where the experts try to know if the parts involved are lying or why are they lying.


7-Breaking Bad (AMC)-Created by Vince Gilligan. The second season currently on the air until May 09' (the first seven-episode only season was cut short by the writer's strike). Staring Bryan Cranston as Walter White, a struggling high school chemistry teacher with a handicapped teenage son (RJ Mitte) and pregnant wife (Anna Gunn). When the already tense White is diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, he breaks down and turns to a life of crime, setting up a meth lab with his former student Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) in a desire to secure his family's future financial security. This show, one of the best shows currently airing, is full of drama, crime, suspense and comedy. You can laugh, learn about chemistry, feel pity, see a lot of action and great dialogues all in a span of an episode. Brilliant!


8-The Office (NBC)-Developed by Greg Daniels from an original british series of the same name. Currently in its fifth season until May 09'. Starring Steve Carell as regional manager Michael Scott, this series depicts the everyday lives of office employees in the Scranton, Pennsylvania branch of the fictional Dunder Mifflin Paper Company. The Office is made in the form of a documentary. Hilarious comedy about employees in a failing paper supply company with a wannabe-funny boss (Scott) and other notable acting by John Krasinski as smart-ass salesman Jim Halpert, Rainn Wilson as freaky salesman/assistant to the RM Dwight Schrute and Jenna Fisher as receptionist Pam Beesly. The rest of the cast is funny as hell too. Some of the actors write episodes. The Office is pure good fun.


9-Fringe (Fox)-Also created by JJ Abrams. Currently in its first season ending in May 09'. Follows the exploits of FBI Special Agent Olivia Dunham, scientist Walter Bishop, and his son Peter as they investigate aspects of fringe science (telepathy, levitation, invisibility, reanimation, genetic mutation, psychokinesis, teleportation, nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, precognition, dark matter, cybernetics, suspended animation, transmogrification, etc). All over the world, a series of apparent experiments collectively referred to as "the Pattern" are occurring for reasons unknown. Olivia, Peter, and Walter are in charge of investigating these strange events to determine their source. This X-Files type series goes through a different case very episode. See this if you like this type of show or any pseudo-science related themes.


10-Malviviendo (Internet)-This series is created by unemployed students from southern Spain and only airs through their site (and youtube). These fresh take on spanish-speaking television uses good cinema techniques. Every episode is a concept episode (i.e. backwards as Gaspar Noe's Irreversible or as spanish tv reportage adressing only the problems from Andalusia). Drugs, fun, crime, laughs, good acting, cheap settings,etc all make this series different but very enjoyable.

If you don't have tv and want to watch any of this series go to:

Project Free TV
TV Shack
Surf The Channel
Yidio

Towelhead by Alan Ball

Towelhead is the first feature film directed by Alan Ball, writer of American Beauty and creator of HBO's hit series Six Feet Under and True Blood. Starring are Aaron Eckhart, Maria Bello, Toni Collete, Peter Macdissi and Summer Bishil. The alternate title of the film is Nothing is Private because it caused controversy between some middle eastern anti-defamation groups.

It is the story of Jasira (Bishil), a 13 year old lebanese american girl, who lives with her mother (Bello) and her boyfriend in New York. After her mom's partner becomes interested in her sexually, she is send to live with her dad (Macdissi) in Texas. There, she will experiment sexually with one classmate and an adult neighbor (Eckhart) resulting in fights with her dad and being protected by a pregnant neighbor (Collete) and her husband.

First-time big screen direction by Ball is a tour-de-fource film of sexual experimentation, pedophilia, politics and racial discrimination. It is reminiscent of Solondz's Happiness and Clark's Ken Park in the way the themes are presented. Although not that visually graphic than the aforementioned but it suggests all that shocking and disturbing stuff that candy-coated mainstream cinema avoids.

Jasira struggles between her father strict ways and her sexual desires, her parents constant egoistical behavior towards her and each other, the pedophile neighbor who only wants to satisfy his sick appetite, her school boyfriend wanting to sleep with her and all that suburban environment who wants to control her life. Bishil and Eckhart's performances are outstanding and the rest of the cast contributed for the sake of the great storytelling. All in all, Ball proved with his feature debut that he can be a great director in television series as well as in films.

The Burning Plain by Guillermo Arriaga

The Burning Plain is the first film directed by acclaimed mexican screenwriter, Guillermo Arriaga (Amores Perros, 21 Grams and Babel; all directed by fellow mexican director Alejandro González Iñárritu. And also wrote, The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada directed by actor turned director Tommy Lee Jones). Starring are Charlize Theron, Kim Basinger, Jennifer Lawrence and Joaquim de Almeida.

The story of Mariana (Lawrence) who lives with her family in a mexican border town. Her mother (Basinger) is having a clandestine affair with a mexican man (Almeida). After several events, she meets the mexican man's son with whom she later had a little girl, Maria. Time passes, Sylvia (Theron) has a tormented life as a restaurant hostess in Portland who has promiscuous sex with several men. Her ex teenage lover, Santiago, has a plane crash resulting on him asking a friend, Carlos, who along with his daughter go and look for Mariana so that they can see each other for the first time.

Arriaga still uses his trademark multiple stories that are connected but with a little change, is only one story in different times and spaces. There is an "accident" that connects the characters and storylines (the plane crash) as in his previous movies (Amores Perros and 21 grams; car crash and Babel; the gun shot). For a first time director is very well told, it runs back and forth between the three stories and reveals the facts gradually as it evolves.

The photography and the music fits perfectly with the great performances by Theron and Basinger. The use of both spanish and english language gives a more realistic tone to the film. Arriaga proved that he can be a good writer but also can direct a good complex and entertaining film.

El Chojin at FNAC

El Chojin, the veteran rapper from Torrejón de Ardoz(Madrid), presented his tenth album "Cosas que pasan, que no pasan y que deberían pasar" at FNAC Leganés. Accompanied by his DJ and two back-up singers, Chojin performed various tunes from his newest recording like "Un paso atrás", "No importa lo que me cuenten", "Superheroes" (the first single and videoclip) and "Odisea". He is a great master of ceremonies and in between songs controlled the crowd of youngsters with his humor and charisma. It was a short set of 30 minutes but totally worth it, to see one of the best mc's Spain has to offer.

Picture courtesy of MCJ Photography (c)

Los Abrazos Rotos by Almodóvar

Los Abrazos Rotos is the latest work by castilian-manchego writer/director Pedro Almodóvar. Starring are usual collaborator and Academy award-winning actress Penélope Cruz (as Lena), Lluís Homar (Mateo Blanco/Harry Caine), Blanca Portillo (Judit García) and Lola Dueñas (Lip reader).

Mateo Blanco is a film director who went blind and becomes his alter-ego Harry Caine to forgive his past. In his final film "Chicas y Maletas" he tried to do a comedy and met the love of his life, Lena. Lena has a relationship with an old rich man who is the producer of the film. He, as an act of jealousy, uses his son to film every step of the filming and a lip reader that can translate every word said during the set. The story goes back and forth from Madrid 1994 to Madrid 2008, where Mateo is telling the story to Diego, one of his employees.

The film, the 17th feature for the Spaniard director, is very well edited, directed and told. The scenes are joined perfectly in true Almodóvar style, the use of different camera shots to see the storytelling as unconventional as possible and the colors are mind-blowing. The usual themes are there: love, betrayal, homosexuality, lies, secrets, etc. You passed from laughing out loud with his witty humor to feel pity because of the way things finally turned out. He point outs references to the Spanish political arena, his previous films and even a fake vampire movie named "Dona Sangre".

One downgrade is that lacks the sick twists his previous films had. The clock stops at more than two hours but is at-large an entertaining film, as everything "El Deseo" does. Is not a masterpiece like "All about my mother" but worth checking out.

Rapeando en Rojo

In the center of the Malasaña neighborhood, in Sala Taboo, the event "Rapeando en Rojo" took place to a full venue of punkies, rappers and "commies". Featuring Los Chikos del Maíz from Valencia and two other hip hop groups from Madrid. The first act was Mentenguerra who sang a couple of tunes accompanied by one hypeman, NoGobal, and one hypewoman, Greta from hardcore punk band Antitedax (in which Mente also plays the guitar). His stage presence was ok but the flow was kind of generic. One bad thing is that the two hypemans don't help the mc standout much.


Then came madrilean hip hop group, Aire & Humo, who definitely impressed me a lot. Three mc's (Punki, Koah and Lío) who have great flow and politically-charged lyrics with catchy punchlines. During their set, they were joined by Moha from "Arte de Liar". They are very underground and compromised with the socio-political causes, but worth checking out.


At last, came the headliners from Valencia, Los Chikos del Maíz (Mc's Tony and Nega), with EZLN-type masks to sang their hits to the crowd. Songs like "S.O.S. Mc's de Combate", "Spain is different", "Estilo Faluya", "El Gobierno lo niega", "Trabajador@s", "Sultanes del Funk" and "B-boy Parade" from Nega's album were sing-alonged by the attendees. During "A Dios le pido", they changed their clothes to some Maradona's soccer jerseys. Although Nega was a bit wasted, their set went very well as the public responded great to their ironic, sarcastic and anti-capitalist songs. It was a different rap show but very entertaining because we got the chance to see political rap acts who are very underground and of course, The Children of the Corn from Valencia.















Pictures by MCJ Photography (c)

Blindness by Fernando Meirelles

Blindness is the latest film by brazilian director, Fernando Meirelles (City of God and The Constant Gardener). It is an adaptation of the novel, "Ensaio sobre a cegueira", by portuguese Nobel Prize winner Jose Saramago. Starring are Julianne Moore (Doctor's Wife), Mark Ruffalo (Doctor), Alice Braga (The Dark Glasses), Danny Glover (The Black Eye Patch) and Gael Garcia Bernal (King of Ward Three).

An epidemic of white blindness attacks the city and its first victims are quarantined without much food nor help from the authorities. The Doctor's Wife is the only one able to see but keeps it a secret from the rest. Mayhem overcomes as one of the three wards (Ward Three led by a self-proclaimed king and a previously blind man) imposes the other two wards, selling food for the valuables and having sex with their women. The people from the outside world eventually gets the blindness and the world falls into an apocalyptic stage where chaos and destruction overcomes civilization.

Meirelles adapts this literary classic very outstandingly. Through the images we feel how the characters struggle with their sudden blindness. The white color is abundant in all the shots as well as the light that gives this atmosphere of hopelessness. Rare camera shots as in his previous movies (City of God-esque shots in the rape scenes). The storytelling is unconventional and the use of some characters as narrators apart from the main storyline give richness to the story. We get suspense, violence, dramatic and feel-good scenes throughout the entire movie.

The themes presented are human relationships and how they remain the same although we cannot see each others differences. Some people try to control others and others gather to live better. The politics where the government handles disasters in a not humanly way. Also when humans don't have the power to do something they understand more how is to live without a disability. The movie as well as the novel is a critique on the human flaws that divide us and make us vulnerable when major things occur.

This movie was very under looked in this past film award season because of the social commentary or the artsy way Meirelles presented it. But it was a good flick, well acted, written and directed, that can make us think about life and the course that has taken civilization.

Hip Hop contra el Olvido

Hip Hop Contra el Olvido was a benefit concert celebrated in the madrilean Sala Heineken to remember the murdered video reporter, Jose Couso, in hands of several US soldiers back in 2003. The host for the evening was Doble Ache from Hip Hop Nation's fame. The first two acts were totally forgettable, Menteguerra and Acqua Toffana, and didn't do any notable songs. Then came the legendary madrilean hip hop outfit, Duo Kie, to cheer up the crowd with their tunes "Nosotros lo hicimos", "Yeah" and "No me cogereis vivo". After this great and short set, Frank T arrived in stage to sing his hymns "Exito en un tomo", "Optimista y Soñador", among others.

In between acts, some family members of the dead reporter like his mother and brother (Javier Couso, the ex-drummer of madrilean anarko punk band, Sin Dios) talked to the crowd about how the money from the benefit was going to be used and criticized the spanish government for not accusing the soldiers who killed Couso. Kamikaze, ex-member of pioneer spanish rap group CPV, came next to sang a couple of tunes, one featuring Kase-O. The headliners, Rap Solo rapper's Doble V, Xhelazz and Sr. Rojo, was the reason why it was so packed the venue. The highlights were"Solo importa el rap" (Xhelazz with Doble V), "Una Mirada" (Xhelazz) and "Vicios y Virtudes" (Doble V). It was a good show but was too crowded and some of the sets were too short, but just seeing Duo Kie, Frank T, Xhelazz and Doble V in one night was worth it.

Pictures courtesy of MCJ Photography.

Stiff Little Fingers at Madrid

The infamous northern irish punk rock band, Stiff Little Fingers, played at the madrilean venue Joy Eslava. The opening act was Delincuencia Sonora, an early 80s punk rock band from Madrid, who were kinda disappointing. Music-wise they are ok but the frontman does not have any kind of energy and his voice sounds too monotone.

At ten o'clock, the legendary band from Belfast came on stage. Their frontman/lead guitarrist, Jake Burns, had an accident after their previous show in Bilbao but that did not stop him of performing. Along with original bassist, Ali McMordie, the SLF rocked the stage with energy. Jake's voice is still sounding great and the music was tight and powerful.

They played classics like "At The Edge", "Suspect Device", "Barbed Wire Love", "Nobody's Heroes", "Tin Soldiers" and "Alternative Ulster". Also, two covers: "Johnny Was" by Bob Marley and "Doesn't Make It Alright" by The Specials. And some of the newer songs like "Liars Club" (dissing Bush and Blair) and "Guitar and Drum" (making fun of American Idol) proved that their politically-charged punk rock has not lost its edge. In "Strummerville" they paid homage to The Clash's leader, a band they have been compared to in the past. Their catchy pop hooks and energetic punk rock, that have influenced later generations of punks like Screeching Weasel, Blind Pigs or Rancid, is still relevant and fresh as in 1977.

Picture by MCJ Photography.

The Limits of Control Trailer

The Limits of Control is the new flick by acclaimed indie director, Jim Jarmusch.

SFDK Records Tour

SFDK Records Tour presented their concert, featuring artists from the label, in the valencian venue, Sala Greenspace. The opening act was Puto Largo, Legendario and DJ Lazer (3/5 members of Dogma Crew) that rapped songs from Largo's album and a few of Dogma's like "Nacen de la bruma". The crowd helped them in the choruses and they interacted very well between songs. Then, newcomers El Limite went on stage but in my opinion were good but not great, the crowd slowed down a bit when they performed.

Jesuly featuring hypeman Chukky came next and pumped the crowd to the extreme. They rapped their fierce punchlines in songs like "La Ventana", "Nada", "Venimos Fuertes" and "Parto Natural" with Legendario, to name a few. After this great performance, the headliners SFDK, Zatu, Accion Sanchez and hypeman Barrabas, came on stage. They did songs from their five albums and controled the crowd like a professional group who have been playing for over 15 years can do. Songs like "Liricista en el Tejado", "En la oscuridad", "Donde esta Wifly", "Fumar Cagando", "Original Rap", "2005", et al were chanted by the whole venue full of loyal fans. During "Pruebalo" all the previous artists came on stage to sing with Zatu the single from their last studio album. A highlight was Zatu rapping acapella a part from the old song "Querer es Poder". As the four hours of sevillian hip hop ended, they put "Jump Around" from House of Pain to say farewell to the atendees.

Pictures courtesy of MCJ Photography.

HP Squad at FNAC

Andalusian hip hop masters, Hablando en Plata Squad, presented their new double album "Libertad/Hambre" at FNAC Leganes (Madrid). It was a little showcase but very powerful as the group's three MCs (Capaz, Sicario and Rayka) roared their witty horror-inspired punchlines to the crowd. They rapped various tunes like "Criminales", "El Castigo de los debiles", just to name a few. Their DJ/Producer, Sr. Narko, and acclaimed producer from Malaga, Big Hozone, were in the turntables and sound, respectively. After their short set, they stayed to sign a couple of albums to their loyal fans.

The Buzzcocks at Madrid

As part of the "Another Bites" 2009 Tour, the almighty Buzzcocks, from Manchester, played in the infamous venue "Sala el Sol"(from "La Movida" days) in Madrid to a capacity crowd of punkers, rockers and old-timers. The opening act was the punk rock outfit from Seattle, Cute Lepers (formed by Briefs' guitarrist/vocalist, Steve E. Nix). They played a quite energetic show with some good rocknroll tunes with catchy choruses, accompanied by two female background vocalists. In their repertoire they did "Fall in Love" by The Vibrators.

After this good start, the pop-punk pioneers from the 77' UK Punk Class came on stage. Main vocalist, Pete Shelley, with lead guitarrist/singer, Steve Diggle, began their performance with the intro of their classic "Boredom", which they played only the music(this song was originally sang by original line-up singer, Howard Devoto, that after their first EP, Spiral Scratch, left the band). In their first set, they performed classics like "I Don't Mind" and "Ever fallen in love" along with some lesser-known songs. After a short break, they came back to play all their hits like "Orgasm Addict", "What Do I Get", "Promises" and "Oh Shit". The Buzzcocks, after 33 years playing, are one of the best pop-punk outfits ever.

Picture courtesy of MCJ Photography.

Che Part Two: Guerilla

Guerilla is the second part of Steven Soderbergh's film about argentinean revolutionary , Ernesto "Che" Guevara. Benicio del Toro plays the role of Che's final months (1967) in the bolivian andes where he formed a small guerilla to overthrown the bolivian military government. In this second part, as well as in the first part, we have Demián Bichir (Weeds) as Fidel Castro, Rodrigo Santoro (300 and Lost) as Raul Castro and Catalina Sandino Moreno (Maria Full of Grace) as Aleida March de Guevara. Also we have actors like Gaston Pauls (Nine Queens) as argentinean painter/guerillero Ciro Bustos, Lou Diamond Phillips (La Bamba) as Secretary General of Bolivia's Communist Party Mario Monje, Franka Potente (Run Lola Run) as only-female guerillera Tania, Óscar Jaenada (Noviembre) as bolivian guerillero Darío and Matt Damon as parish priest Father Leo Schwartz.

In general this part of the film has more action but does not have any good character development other than Che's character. Also, the editing sometimes made it difficult to differentiate between who was from the guerilla or who was from the bolivian army. Del Toro's performance was great as he transformed literally to become the charismatic leader. The other actors were ok, some did not pull out the correct accents (i.e. puerto rican actors speaking like puerto ricans instead of cubans) but Franka Potente stand out in a perfect argentinean accent (she is german) and puertorican actor Norman Santiago (Maldeamores) spoke a good cuban accent. The story was a bit sloppy in occasions but overall was not boring. At least, we got to see the final months of Che's struggle to bring communism to latin america. Not Soderbergh's greatest piece of work but one of the best performances by the puertorican actor, Benicio del Toro.

Benicio del Toro recently won the spaniard award Goya for best actor for the first part of the film, The Argentine. As well as the best actor award in Cannes 2008 for both parts of the movie.

Lexicon Devil: A Germs Documentary

Lexicon Devil: A Germs Documentary is the new documentary about the infamous late 70's punk/hardcore band from Los Angeles, California, The Germs, and it's singer/leader, Darby Crash. The film is scheduled to be released in 2009 and in the trailer we see never-before-seen footage of the Germs live performances. The documentary has all the usual suspects like Keith Morris, Mike Watt, Alice Bag, etc. Also has appearances by Fat Mike and Flea. After, the germs biopic (which was not so good) this seems like a good piece of work. Can't Wait.

The Wrestler by Darren Aronofsky

The Wrestler is the new film by acclaimed indie director, Darren Aronofsky (PI and Requiem for a dream). Starring are Mickey Rourke as old-school wrestler Randy "The Ram" Robinson, Marisa Tomei as aged-stripper Cassidy and Evan Rachel Wood as Randy's daughter.

Randy, a legendary wrestler from the 80s, is wrestling 20 years later because is the only thing he knows and is his life support. He struggles to pay the rent and to stay in shape, so he also works in a supermarket deli and fixes himself with some roids, respectively. He frequents a stripper bar for cheering his life up and flirts with his favorite stripper, Cassidy. He has no relationship with his daughter, Stephanie. After a hardcore match, Randy has a heart attack, resulting in not being able to wrestled again. He looks for his daughter to tell her, but she does not want to relate to him. Randy's life goes downhill when he cannot even get company nor love from his favorite stripper and only "friend". So he returns to wrestling, the only good thing he does, no matter what are the consequences.

Aronofsky's look at the decadent life of an old school wrestler who is trying to revive his old illustrious career. Visually is the simplest of his films (no cool shots and no fast editing), but is a closer look to a simple story of having to live with your circumstances, having to endure the rough life of being alone and not being able to at least do what you love. A good element of the direction is that at first, you don't get to see Randy's face (a lot of back shots of Rourke's big body and long blond hair) for the sake of good storytelling. The emotions of decadence and pain are well presented with the camera shots of dirty places, the quiet trailer home, the dressing rooms and the strip clubs (as in Requiem for a dream when you feel that emotion of sickness, pain and decadence all in once).

Rourke's role is very well-done as he was himself a wrestler for a couple of time and the looks are there. Tomei's performance as the stripper who feels old for the job (the same as Randy) but still is doing it because is her only income, is greatly performed as well. But the important thing about everything is the story itself and the emotions it provokes as you watch it (the pain in the hardcore match, the sadness in Randy's attempts to get back his daughter and the pity for that wrestler who in the outside world can't make it). Great film overall, unconventional but very good.

Mickey Rourke won the Golden Globe and Bafta for Best Actor and Aronofsky won the Golden Lion in the Venice Film Festival. Rourke and Tomei are nominated for the Academy Awards for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress, respectively.

Slumdog Millionaire

Slumdog Millionaire is the latest film by versatile english director, Danny Boyle (Trainspotting, 28 Days Later, Sunshine, etc). The screenplay, adapted by Simon Beaufoy (The Full Monty), was based on the novel "Q&A" by Vikas Swarup. The story of Jamal Malik (Dev Patel), an orphan from the slums of Bombay, who is playing the indian version of the game show "Who wants to be a millionaire". He earns 10 million rupees by answering all the correct answers but when the final question comes, only the destiny will tell if he is going to win.

Boyle created one of the best films of the new century. A visually striking and deeply moving story of the destiny of a young orphan who is in search of the love of his life, a girl named Latika (Freida Pinto). It evolves around the development throughout the years of the city of Bombay in India, when a pair of brothers, Jamal and Salim, grew up alone and having to survive the tough life in the streets. The game show serves as focal point to tell the story of Jamal as a homeless kid who learn from life itself, the things to survive. These things learned are luckily the answers for the game show, for him the destiny was written.

The storytelling is original, told from the point of view of Jamal, in the game show and in the police station, explaining how he knew all the answers and how was his life prior to appearing in the show. It is constructed as a journey through the colorful streets of India. From the Taj Mahal to the dirtiest slum from the poorest house to the wealthiness of today's indian economic growth. It has a City of God-esque feel to it with the violence of the streets but with comedy elements and the feel-good scenes of a good "Bollywood" film. The music goes great with the images and the story is well-connected in every sense. It is a celebration of living without fear, never giving-up and hope, that any human being can relate to. Boyle proves being a great film-maker who can adapt to any kind of story or environment.

The movie won 4 Golden Globes (Best Movie, Best Screenplay, Best Music and Best Director) and is nominated for 10 Academy Awards.

Inglorious Basterds Trailer

Tarantino's new film, Inglorious Basterds, starring Brad Pitt, BJ Novak (The Office), Eli Roth (Hostel's Director) and Mike Myers.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is the new film by acclaimed director, David Fincher (director of Fight Club and Seven). It is an adaptation of the short-story written by F.Scott Fitzgerald, author of the classic 1920's novel The Great Gasby, who is part of the "Lost Generation" of american writers of The Jazz Age or Roaring 20's. The script was written by Eric Roth of "Forrest Gump" fame, starring are Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett with supporting roles by Tilda Swinton and Elias Koteas.

Fincher is one of the greatest american directors of our time and with this film he proves it once more. The storytelling is very original and creative. The story of Benjamin Button (a man who ages backwards) is told from a diary written by Button, who is readed by his daughter, who is in the hospital because her mother is dying. The main character at the beginning is an old and fragile man (marvelously played by Pitt) who does not fit anywhere, he lives in a home full of old people but he is merely a kid with an old man's look. He experiences things in life (first kiss, first drink, first love, etc) as an old man. He grows but gets younger every year and so on, until he dies as a recent-born like child. Anyhow his life is a normal one but very sad because he cannot experience things others do at the same time and he cannot relate to almost anyone. He loves Daisy (Cate Blanchett) but they can't stay forever together because as Daisy grows like an old woman, Benjamin keeps getting younger.

The story is based in New Orleans, Louisiana and it covers from the time World War I ended throughout the recent times when hurricaine Katrina was attacking the city. It is the time as seen by a man who grows differently from the norm but still experiences the same human feelings. Benjamin lives through the Pearl Harbor attack, The Jazz Age, The Great Depression, The Beatles prime, Racial discrimination times, among others. It is similar to Forrest Gump being "different" and having accomplished so many things in his life. The essence of life without barriers is told by this incredible story. It is a very moving and deep story that anyone can relate no matter how old or young they are.

The movie was nominated for 5 Golden Globes (no wins) and has been recently nominated for 13 Oscars (including best film, director, lead actor and adapted screenplay).

Pop-Punk in the spanish capital

Pop-Punk is one of the most popular punk sub-genres in Spain. Madrid also has its share in the pop-punk scene of the Iberian Peninsula. Two madrilean groups, El Caso de la Habana and Viernes 13, and a basque one, Nasti de Plasti, played at Gruta 77 their interpretation of the genre popularized by The Queers and Screeching Weasel. The opening act was the power trio, Nasti de Plasti, from Bilbao who played a fast pop-punk similar to Lillingtons with catchy hooks and melodies, they also played "Do you wanna dance" (The Ramones version of the Bobby Freeman classic).


Then came the infamous pop-punkers from the outskirts of Madrid (Móstoles), El Caso de la Habana, formed in the early 90's, who were presenting their new ep, "Six Punk Rock Songs". They played a very tight and catchy 77' punk rock ala Ramones with fast punk songs here and there. They played "Nunca Volveré a Nueva York", "Di que me quieres", "Sal mi vida", among others. Their vocalist/bassist, Mariano, sounds a lot like Joey Ramone and they end their set with three Ramones' tunes: "Do you remember Rock n Roll Radio?" and versions in spanish of "California Sun" and "Do you wanna dance"; they said goodbye as the Ramones also did in their concerts when a friend came on stage with a monster mask and a sign with the words, "Gabba Gabba Hey", as they sang the same words from the final of the Ramones classic, "Pinhead".


The last group of the night was Viernes 13, a female fronted pop-punk outfit who also were presenting their new album, "Rockaway Hits". The crowd was a lot less when they played and that affected their performance. They played songs like "Mi novio es un hombre lobo", "Pizza y pelis de terror", "California", among others. As the other previous groups they played some covers too like Green Day's "Jesus of Suburbia" and Groovie Ghoulies' "Till death do us party". In general the show was fun but not the greatest.

Pictures by M.Cabrera.