A Dangerous Method | Film Review

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This film about the birth of psychoanalysis is a triumph. An intelligent and though-provoking film with wonderful performances by Michael Fassbender, Viggo Mortensen and Keira Knightley. Fassbender plays Jung when he was 29 and just married to a wealthy women called Emma. He was working at a hospital in Zurich in 1904 when he met Sabina Spielrein, an 18-year-old Russian Jew who is admitted in a deeply distressed condition.

Jung is attracted and fascinated by Sabina and after Freud sends him Otto Gross, (Vincent Cassel), as a patient, Jung comes under his influence and enters into an unprofessional relationship with Sabina. Gross was himself a psychiatrist in his 20s and suffered from dementia praecox (as schizophrenia was then known).

Jung cures Sabina with the “talking cure”, or psychoanalysis, then being used in Vienna by the 48-year-old Sigmund Freud (Viggo Mortensen), a well-established but highly controversial figure.

Sigmund Freud thought of Carl Jung as his natural heir, but relationships between the two men became strained.

This film is a very good historical film from David Cronenberg. I believe this film is the best Cronenberg has ever made.

Freud sees himself as the father that Jung wishes to destroy. Jung believes that psychoanalysis may save the world.

As the film ends Jung tells Sabina about dreams of the apocalypse. This film ends just before the first world war so Jung was accurate about an apocalypse. The legacy of Freud and Jung is evident in the film. They still affect not only psychoanalysis but our everyday lives. Sabina becomes a celebrated psychologist in the Soviet Union, but, sadly, becomes an early victim of the holocaust along with her two daughters.

A Dangerous Method is available on DVD and Digital Download from June 25th.

WIRELESS THEATRE COMPANY WIN SILVER OGLE AWARD FOR BEST FANTASY AUDIO PRODUCTION

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WIRELESS THEATRE COMPANY WINS THE SILVER OGLE AWARD FOR ‘BEST FANTASY AUDIO PRODUCTION OF THE YEAR’

The Wireless Theatre Company’s first-ever audio serial, ‘The Strange Case of Springheel’d
Jack’, is to receive the Silver Ogle Award for Best Fantasy Audio Production Of The Year, 2011.

Set in 1837, the first series in the on-going Springheel Saga follows the exploits of Jonah Smith, a
brilliant young police constable who finds himself investigating a series of mysterious attacks by a
devilish monster that stalks the streets of London. Having already been nominated for two Radio
Production Awards*, this fantasy serial has been a smash-hit with listeners all over the world
since it’s launch as a free download on the Wireless Theatre website last year.

“We’re thrilled and delighted. This news was the most awesome way to have started production on
our second Springheel’d Jack serial. This is for everyone involved, who all pushed themselves so
hard and made it something extra special. They’ve all been acknowledged in such wonderful style.
My thanks to the Mark Time judging panel,” said Jack Bowman (actor, co-writer, producer).
“It’s brilliant that Springheel’d Jack has been recognised. We’re so happy that all our hard work has
culminated in this award,” said Mariele Runacre Temple (producer).

“This project has been a labour of love for all of us, so it was a happy day and a great honour to
learn that The Strange Case of Springheel’d Jack is to receive this wonderful award. I’m extremely
proud to have worked on such a great project with so many extraordinary people, and it’s going to
be a hell of a lot of fun converging on CONvergence and waving the flag for the Wireless Theatre
Company,” said Robert Valentine (co-writer, producer, director).

The Strange Case of Springheel’d Jack was written by Robert Valentine and Gareth Parker**.

It stars Christopher Finney (Dead Ringers), Matthew Jure (the award-winning The Diary Of A
Madman), Jessica Dennis, David Benson (One Man, Two Guv’nors, The Scarifyers) and Julian
Glover (Games Of Thrones, Doctor Who, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, The Empire Strikes
Back), all leading a cast of over thirty actors.

Artwork is by Jamie Egerton. Casting was by Leoni Kibbey and Andrew Swann. Music was
composed and performed by Francesco Quadraroupolo.

It was edited and sound designed by Andrew Swann and produced by Jack Bowman, Mariele
Runacre Temple and Robert Valentine, and directed by Robert Valentine.

The Wireless Theatre Company has commissioned two further serials in The Springheel Saga;
The Legend of Springheel’d Jack, which has just concluded recording with it’s distinguished
guest star (see below), and The Secret of Springheel’d Jack, due to enter production in June.
All three episodes of The Strange Case Of Springheel’d Jack are available to download free via the
Wireless Theatre Company website, or on iTunes.

Listen to The Strange Case of Springheel’d Jack as a free download here:
Episode One: STREAM / DOWNLOAD
Or on the Wireless Theatre Company’s iTunes page
.
Robert Valentine and Jack Bowman will be flying to Minneapolis, MN, USA, to collect the
award at CONvergence on July 5th, 2012 on behalf of the entire production team.

*Mariele Runacre Temple, Robert Valentine and Jack Bowman; Radio Academy Radio Production Awards, 2011,
nominated for Best Drama Producers (The Strange Case Of Springheel’d Jack). Jack Bowman; Radio Academy
Radio Production Awards, 2011, nominated Best Radio Creative.
**Gareth Parker is the pen-name of Jack Bowman.

NICHOLAS PARSONS JOINS ‘THE LEGEND OF SPRINGHEEL’D JACK’

Photo (left to right): Silas Hawkins, Josephine Timmins, Robert Valentine, Adam Hall, Jack Bowman, Mariele Runacre, Julian Temple, Nicholas Parsons, Sue Casanove.

Hot on the heels of Stephen Fry joining the Wireless Theatre Company last week, comes the
exciting news that radio legend Nicholas Parsons, currently celebrating the 45th anniversary of
‘Just A Minute’, has been in the studio to take a major guest-role in the next installment of their ongoing Springheel Saga, as well as taking a cameo role in We Are The BBC.

“A legend for The Legend! I couldn’t have been more thrilled to welcome Nicholas Parson into the
Springheel family,” said Jack Bowman (co-writer, producer). “While he’s the colossal figure that
has driven Just A Minute to the top of it’s game for 45 years – and think about that, to be top of
your game for 45 years – it’s been a delight to see him return to his roots as a dramatic actor.
Years ago he broke my heart as the doomed Reverend Wainwright opposite Sylvester McCoy in
Doctor Who. And here he is, joining the cause – and just in time – as the world of the Springheel
Saga is about to get darker, and far more dangerous…”

“For The Legend of Springheel’d Jack we’re incredibly lucky to have the great Nicholas Parsons
guest-star as Cuthbert Leach, a Victorian stage magician with more to his magic act than meets
the eye. It’s not every day that you get to work with a national treasure, and his performance is
quite simply spellbinding,” said Robert Valentine (co-writer, producer, director).
The Legend of Springheel’d Jack takes place in London, 1845, and sees the return of
Christopher Finney as Jonah Smith, now promoted through the police ranks to Detective
Inspector. When 13-year-old Maria Davis is brutally murdered in Folly Ditch – supposedly killed by
Springheel Jack himself – Smith leaps headlong into action. However, while still as obsessed as
ever, he has his doubts as to the true identity of the attacker, observing grimly, “Jack’s never killed
before…”

What connects the murder of this young pick-pocket to a travelling theatre troupe? Why has
Charlotte Fitzrandolph, played by the returning Jessica Dennis, finally come back? And can it be
true – has the infamous, unstoppable terror of London returned, with murder on his mind?
The Legend of Springheel Jack also features another epic cast that includes Nicholas Parsons
(Just A Minute), John Holden-White, Andrew Shepherd (ASC Random, currently directing A
Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Chelsea Theatre), Neil McCormack (Taggart), Josephine
Timmins, respected stage actor Jeremy Stockwell, Ashley MacGuire (Harry Potter, Coronation
Street, Dead Boss), Philip Lawrence (Action Figure Theatre), and Silas Hawkins and many
others.

It was produced by Jack Bowman, Mariele Runacre Temple and Robert Valentine, and directed by
Robert Valentine. The Legend of Springheel’d Jack is written by Robert Valentine and Gareth
Parker.

The Legend Of Springheel’d Jack will begin release via the Wireless Theatre Company website and iTunes from early 2013.

Meanwhile, casting has now begun on the final instalment of The Springheel Saga – The Secret
Of Springheel’d Jack.

Tom Williams & The Boat – Too Young | Music Review

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When a band puts out an animated video it usually means the record company has made a commercial decision that they’re far too busy with the day job of playing shows and general touring to spend a couple of day piddling about under a motorway flyover, playing their future hit 58 times whilst looking longingly at the hired model acting as the love interest, who has been hired in for a couple of days. It doesn’t generally involve the lead singer “tracing over 1500 stills on a lightbox, putting in about 4-6 hours work a day for a couple of weeks”. The result of those 70 hours (i averaged it at 5 hours over the 2 weeks) spent doodling are superb.

 

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ug5tPc5MZas&w=560&h=315]

The song itself is one of the more upbeat and “pop” songs on their ‘Teenage Blood’ record (my album of the year so far), which had a certain darkness, especially lyrically but the track is upbeat from the off. Great guitar riff, nice vocal harmonies in the chorus and just at the end they throw in a cheeky bit of violin. It’s splendid, shimmering summer folk. B-side ‘Right Side of My Head’ is an altogether more darker affair and could easily have suited the album. Dark, brooding and shimmering but retaining a beautiful melody. Two more tracks, two more reasons why Tom Williams & The Boat are one the best, most unique bands in Britain in 2012.

 

 

 

Nguzunguzu unveil stream of ‘Delirium’ | Music News

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LA electronic duo Nguzunguzu, pronounced en-goo-zoo-en-goo-zoo, have unveiled a sneak preview of their forthcoming ‘Warm Pulse’ EP, released on 3rd July, in the form of a track ‘Delirium’ on their soundcloud page. Have a listen below:

 

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/49371327″ iframe=”true” /]

 

 

Davey MacManus: fundraising show ahead of Africa nursing trip | Music News

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Davey MacManus, singer in The Crimea, has announced a solo show at the Enterprise in Chalk Farm on 21st June. The gig is a fundraiser ahead of a 2 month trip to Soweto, to nurse at an HIV orphanage, and follows a similar trip to Kenya in 2011. Tickets for the show are available here. With the money raised Davey will buy harmonicas, guitars and other musical instruments. Here’s a video explaining:

 

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaCbMFEGIm0&w=560&h=315]

 

Following the Kenya trip in 2011 MacManus wrote a short eBook, ‘Fear of Sky’, which gives a detailed and unique insight into his life as a volunteer nurse at Nyumbani orphanage and includes photos, poems and related short stories. You can get a copy, including a free song ‘Out of Africa’ from The Crimea’s Limited Pressing site.

External Links:

Tickets for The Enterprise show

Davey’s Facebook page

 


Ben Howard – new single precedes sold out tour | Music News

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London-born, Devon-raised folk singer Ben Howard has announced the release of his new single ‘Old Pine’ on the 6th August through Island Records.  The release comes ahead of a sold out month long jaunt around the UK that culminates in three sold out show’s at London’s Brixton Academy.

It’s been quite a year for Ben with over 200,000 sales of his debut album ‘Every Kingdom’ in the UK alone, two sold-outs tours of the US as well as a hectic summer of festival appearances. All this coming before his biggest UK tour to date in November. His UK tour later this year has now sold in excess of 50,000 tickets alone.
Have a listen and watch the video for ‘Old Pine’ below:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzzCthKw_C0&w=560&h=315]
Ben’s UK dates:
16th June – Goldcoast Oceanfest, Devon
24th June – Radio 1 Hackney Weekend, London
7th July – T In The Park, Kinross
15th July – Latitude Festival, Southwold
18th August – V Festival, Chelmsford
19th August – V Festival, Stafford
6th September – Bestival, Isle of Wight
2nd November – Brighton, The Dome SOLD OUT
3rd November – Plymouth, Pavilions SOLD OUT
4th November – Cardiff, University SOLD OUT
5th November – Bristol, Colston Hall SOLD OUT
7th November – Dublin, Olympia SOLD OUT
9th November – Belfast, Waterfront SOLD OUT
10th November – Glasgow, O2 Academy SOLD OUT
12th November – Manchester, O2 Apollo SOLD OUT
14th November – Leeds, O2 Academy SOLD OUT
16th November – Newcastle, O2 Academy SOLD OUT
17th November – Aberdeen, Music Hall SOLD OUT
19th November – Cambridge, Corn Exchange SOLD OUT
20th November – Lincoln, Engine Shed SOLD OUT
21st November – Leicester, O2 Academy SOLD OUT
22nd November – Nottingham, Rock City SOLD OUT
24th November – Birmingham, O2 Academy SOLD OUT
25th November – Bournemouth, O2 Academy SOLD OUT
26th November – Southampton, Guildhall SOLD OUT
28th November – London, O2 Brixton Academy SOLD OUT
29th November – London, O2 Brixton Academy SOLD OUT
30th November – London, O2 Brixton Academy SOLD OUT

Wot Gorilla? unveil new video + free download | Music News

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Halifax band Wot Gorilla? “combine elements of math, pop and progressive rock with heavy melodic breakdowns” according to the press release. Basically fun metal with a few math time changes. They want you to like them so they’ve unveiled this new video. Have a watch. 

 

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yj1jl-iQ2YM&w=560&h=315]

 

They really, really want you to like them so they’re also giving away a free download over at their bandcamp page.  Watch the video, like them on facebook and download the free tune at bandcamp and catch them live. This is a band to watch, listen to and enjoy!