Straight To Video @ The Garage, London

The Freelance Hellraiser & The 20th Century Fox will be playing soundtracks, re-edits of scores and that kinda shit at the snazzy new GARAGE in Islington on SATURDAY 4 JULY.
We've been entrusted with our very own room.

We're hoping we'll be able to offer you the following:
• Some new music*
• The premiere of our new Straight To Video film-based visuals**

*This depends whether The Freelance Hellraiser has done the edits he was talking about a few weeks ago.
**This depends whether The 20th Century Fox has actually made them. (She started, but then got distracted by Wimbledon. And there's loads of Celebrity Masterchef to catch up with on Sky Plus. And she hasn't checked if there's anything to play them on. She's a bit shit all round really.)

Straight To Video @ International Hi-Fi
Saturday 4 July
The Garage
20-22 Highbury Corner
N5 1RD
(beginning of Holloway Road,
opposite Highbury & Islington tube station)
10pm-4am
£7

Buy Tickets: http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/user/?region=gb_london&query=detail&event=330475&interface=garage1
Map: http://www.thegarage.co.uk/cms/index.php?id=75

John Williams would be proud

The Jacknife Lee sent us this last week:

Beauty Pageant Star Wars Trumpet - Watch more Funny Videos

There are so many quite obviously amazing things about our Stacy - her camel toe, her musical prowess and her Leticia Dean circa 1985 barnet, to name but a few. But her massively inelegant stance during the trumpet-playing portions of the sterling choreography has to be the best bit though, right?

I hope she won. She'd kick Susan Boyle's arse on Britain's Got Talent any day of the week. Fact.

In other news, we've got some new dates to announce very soon. Stay tuned...

We've been busy making new music and new websites and things. Have a listen to the latest Straight To Video mixtape on our Podcast below.

You can subscribe to the Straight To Video Podcast on iTunes. Just visit our profile, click the iTunes button et voila...

www.straighttovideo.podomatic.com

STR82VID

STRAIGHT TO VIDEO - The Podcast

Mixtape - The 20th Century Fox's Favourite Tracks

In no particular order and off the top of my head because I have cakes in the oven...

Kenny Loggins :: ‘I’m Free (Heaven Helps The Man)’ – from Footloose

‘Footloose’ would be the obvious track to put in a movie Top 10, but ‘I’m Free’ just pips it. It features in the climax of the movie, where the ban on music and dancing (yes, really – but it is set in Utah. John Lithgow is essentially the Taliban) is lifted, and the kids can hold their dance. Victory for Kevin Bacon.

M.I.A. :: ‘Paper Planes’ – from Slumdog Millionaire

I’m a fully paid-up member of the Slumdog bandwagon, but I liked this the first time round. And the second time. And now the third time.

The Who :: ‘Baba O’ Riley’ – from the trailer for Frost/Nixon

Musical wizardry from start to finish. It almost made me want to see Frost/Nixon, but then I remembered I can’t bear Michael Sheen.

Feist :: ‘We’re All In The Dance’ – from Paris, Je T’aime

Simple and sweet; I love Feist’s voice. I can't wait for New York, I Love You.

Sha Na Na :: ‘Born To Hand Jive’ – from Grease

We have a ban on Grease songs at Straight To Video because we don’t want it to sound like a hen night. But I like to sneak this one into every set. I defy anyone to listen to this song and not smile.

Cyndi Lauper :: ‘Goonies R’ Good Enough’ – from The Goonies

If my memory serves me correctly, you see Cyndi Lauper singing this on the TV while Josh Brolin works out in the living room. Plus she had a cameo role on Gossip Girl - what's not to love?

Rolling Stones :: ‘Gimme Shelter’ – from The Departed and Adventures In Babysitting

My favourite Stones track ever. I should probably act cool and say I love the way this track is used in the opening scene of The Departed… But it actually came to my attention when it was used in (the brilliant) Adventures In Babysitting.

The Smiths :: ‘Please Let Me Get What I Want’ – from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and Pretty In Pink

Ferris Bueller has a beautiful instrumental version of the song by The Dream Academy.

America :: ‘Horse With No Name’ – from Hideous Kinky

Hideous Kinky is the little indie film Kate Winslet chose to do after the mammoth success of Titanic. It’s an adaptation of my favourite book of the same name, by Esther Freud. I love the gentle, folky quietude of this song.

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers :: ‘It’ll All Work Out’ – from Elizabethtown

Worst. Film. Ever. Cameron Crowe is overrated, but as an ex-Rolling Stone writer, what he does know how to get right in his films are the soundtracks. And Elizabethtown is no exception.

We thought Awards Season was over...

But it ain't over till Katherine Jenkins sings.

The Classical BRITs had a glitzy ceremony to announce nominations in grotty London's posh Mayfair last night.

Up for Soundtrack Of The Year are:
I Am Legend - James Newton Howard
The Dark Knight - Hans Zimmer & James Newton Howard
The Other Boleyn Girl - Paul Cantelon

James Newton Howard won last year for his composing genius on the brilliant Blood Diamond, and our money's on him and Mr Zimmer scooping this year's gong for The Dark Knight at the Royal Albert Hall on 14 May.

Elsewhere, Jonathan Ansell (ex-G4 and last seen making a tit out of himself on Hell's Kitchen) scored an Album Of The Year nomination for Tenor At The Movies. As much as we love film music here at Straight To Video, we'll be giving this one a body swerve - soz Jonsy.

Hail Gallaxhar

It appears 3D movie technology has come on a bit since I saw Michael Jackson’s Captain EO at the Epcot Centre in 1987 (yep, The 20th Century Fox is late to the 3D party – soz).

Monsters Vs Aliens 3D is officially AMAZING. Well, the film itself would have scored a ‘pretty good’, but the 3D-ness turned it right up to 11.

As you know, Straight To Video is all about scores and soundtracks, so our favourite scene has to be this really, doesn’t it:

A bit of Williams and a bit of Faltermeyer. Amaze. In fact, ALL of the President’s scenes were amaze. He’s the most ridiculous - thus hilarious - political figure since Sarah Palin.

We don’t ever want to see a 2D film again now - sad face. But we draw the line at watching The Jonas Brothers Live in 3D. Thanks anyway though Jonaseseses.

Ummmmmm...

Why are you reading this when Monsters Vs Aliens 3D is currently showing at your friendly local multiplex?

While you're here, you may as well have a gander at this. It's kind of amaze:

Ps. Maurice Jarre (score maestro of Lawrence Of Arabia, Ghost (amazing), Cocktail (amazing), Dead Poets' Society) is brown bread.

CORRECTION

On Sunday 29th March 2009, Straight To Video published a blog suggesting the bastardisation of AR Rahman's 'Jai Ho', from the Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack, was the work of the Pussycat Dolls. We accept this was misleading as the song is credited in the charts as 'The Pussycat Dolls feat. Nicole Scherzinger'.

Straight To Video apologises unreservedly to Nicole Schwarzenegger and her family for any upset which may have been caused as a result of this blog posting.

What Straight To Video fails to understand is why Nicole Schwarzenegger gets her own special mention when she is, and has always been, a member of the group?

Dear The Freelance Hellraiser,
We have a new name:
Straight To Video feat. The 20th Century Fox
Ok? Ok.

When Bad Things Happen To Good Soundtracks Pt III

Why would anyone allow this to happen?

It's No.3 in the iTunes Top Songs charts too :(

Apologies for not being able to post the proper video - YouTube and the PRS are still being petty twats. I believe the Pussycat Dolls perform a Bollywood routine similar to the one in Slumdog's closing credits (while bogling seductively into the camera, probably).

When Bad Things Happen To Good Soundtracks Pt II

Christ in a proton pack. Is there some kind of free for all with the Ghostbusters theme in advertising world at the moment?

When Bad Things Happen To Good Soundtracks Pt I

Oh Ray Parker Jr. We know there's a recession on and everything, but did you really have to reduce yourself to this?

Until now, the worst thing to happen to commercial television in recent years was the Diet Coke advert starring Duffy (whoever is responsible for that needs to take a long, hard look at themselves). But then the people at 118 118 said 'Do you know what? I think we can out-shit Duffy.'

So they pulled Ray Parker Jr, or 'Ray' as his friends call him, out of a cupboard, dusted him down, dressed him as a postman, bus conductor and waiter, and just when you think it couldn't get any worse, they told him to sing 'I ain't afraid of no goats'.

We hope Ray was:
a) paid a lot of money for this
b) able to apologise to his dignity before it disappeared into the ether

And don't even get us started on this:

'Somehow it ended up in Ray Parker Jr's hands.'
I think what he meant to say is:
'118 118's PR company told us to do this so we could get their shit advert on the news'.
Not exactly a mystery, is it.

It's a little known fact that Huey Lewis (and his News) were asked to write and record the Ghostbusters theme, but he refused. So they gave Ray a song which sounds a loooooot like Huey's. Huey concurred and took them to court (he won). Have a little listen to 'I Want A New Drug' and see if the judge in this court case was right to rule in Huey's favour:

We think you'll agree, he was.

But the question remains, would Huey have been afraid of goats?

Straight To Video is on holiday this week

Normal service will resume shortly

*muzak*

Straight To Video is THIS SATURDAY!

London's original film soundtrack night is BACK!

PHILL JUPITUS is our guest DJ and we'll bringing you the best in the music from the movies.

We're not talking any old shit, and if you're looking for Grease and Dirty Dancing, we suggest you go to a hen night, or one of the rubbish Straight To Video supermarket-own-brand immitations which have sprung up, instead.

We only bring you the the good stuff - from the obscure to the obvious. And Straight To Video is the only place you'll hear exclusive re-edits of scores and soundtracks by the mash-up maestro himself, The Freelance Hellraiser.

As if that wasn't enough, there's also 10-pin bowling, free karaoke, free badges and free popcorn.

Buy your tickets at the link below and you'll save £3 on the door price.
Saturday 28th February

The Kingpin Suite :: Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes :: London

Starring Phill Jupitus + The Freelance Hellraiser
+ The 20th Century Fox + Guests

Buy tickets for Straight To Video here:

BE THERE, OR BE SQUARE...

Straight To Video Exclusive Interview: Edgar Wright

Listen to Straight To Video's exclusive interview with director Edgar Wright (Shaun Of The Dead, Hot Fuzz) live from the Toronto set of his new film, Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World.

Find out what the new film is about, who's in it, what Edgar's got coming up (including the third instalment of the ice cream trilogy with Simon Pegg) and who he's going to be rooting for at the Oscars this Sunday.

Straight To Video does... EDGAR WRIGHT

STRAIGHT TO VIDEO - The Podcast

Ps.

We weren't wholly sold on the stripped back nature of the Oscars, although it did seem a bit pacier. But Hugh Jackman did a mighty fine job of hosting and the presenters' autocue jokes were actually quite funny (thanks to a team of writers, including Ricky Gervais).

We LOVED the traditional opening montage of the Best Pic noms, which this year was live and put together by Baz Luhrmann:

And the Musical bit was good too (even though the sight of Zac Ephron makes a bit of sick come up and Dominic Cooper and Amanda Seyfried are the spawn of the devil for their part in Mamma Mia):

It's another Straight To Video (non)Exclusive

That's right readers, we're bringing you more exclusive news (which we've seen on the telly).

Sarah Jessica Parker, Robert Downey Jr and Ron Howard told Straight To Video (Ryan Seacrest) live on the Red Carpet (inside the television) at the Oscars (on the E! channel) that the rumours are true:

• Sex & The City's sequel is currently being written by Michael Patrick King and SJP says she has no idea what the story will be yet.

• Iron Man 2 is also in the writing stages.

• And, the most exciting news, a movie version of Arrested Development, the greatest television show on Planet Earth is looking extremely likely. But Richie Cunningham wasn't allowed to give too much away.

In other news, we were flicking between Sky and E!'s coverage until we decided to stay with Seacrest. Because people actually want to talk to him - poor old Fearne Cotton was basically a commentator on who was walking straight past her. But with questions like "Do you like playing diverse roles?' to Amy Adams, who can blame them? "No Fearne, what I really want is to be typecast and pigeon-holed for the rest of my career."

Straight To Video: Watching Telly So You Don't Have To

Being AR Rahman

School children in India celebrate Slumdog Millionaire score composer AR Rahman's double-Oscar triumph yesterday by donning Being John Malkovich-esque face masks. Incidentally, 'Jai Ho' (the title of Rahman's Best Song winner) means 'may you win'. Which he did. So there you go.

And the winners are...

Sooooo... the 'leaked winners' (previous blog below) were way off the mark. In fact, Straight To Video's own predictions were more accurate. Except The Freelance Hellraiser predicted The Sun's headline would read 'Kate Wins It', but they went for 'Kate Win-A-Lot'. The Freelance Hellraiser's is loads better though isn't it. The Sun's sounds like canned dog food.

Enniooooo (that's 'anyhoo' in movie score world FYI)...

Slumdog Millionaire cleaned up, winning EIGHT awards.

Kate 'Wins It' Winslet won it and she gave a composed and endearing speech (we may have cried a bit on her behalf) with just the right amount of thank yous balanced with some personality, humour and emotion (people who take to the stage with bits of paper and read out boring lists- take note).

As anticipated, Heath Ledger received the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his inspired turn as The Joker in The Dark Knight. The only real surprise came when Sean Penn beat Mickey Rourke to the Best Actor post for his role in Milk. It was a deserved win, but Mickey had the edge if you ask us.

And finally, here at Straight To Video Towers, we've been rooting for AR Rahman and the Slumdog Millionaire music all through awards season and he got the double last night - Best Score and Best Song (for the amazing film-closer, 'Jai Ho').

An amazing night for the Brits all round... in addition to the Slumdog Sweep and Kate Winalot Prime's victory, Man On Wire took home Best Documentary and The Duchess won Best Costume design. Rule Brittania etc.

Here are the winners in full:
Best Picture - SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
Best Directing - DANNY BOYLE (Slumdog Millionaire)
Best Actor In A Leading Role - SEAN PENN (Milk)
Best Actress In A Leading Role - KATE WINSLET (The Reader)
Best Actor In A Supporting Role - HEATH LEDGER (The Dark Knight)
Best Actress In A Supporting Role - PENELOPE CRUZ (Vicky Cristina Barcelona)
Best Original Screenplay - MILK
Best Adapted Screenplay - SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
Best Cinematography - SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
Best Visual Effects - THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
Best Art Direction - THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
Best Costume Design - THE DUCHESS
Best Makeup - THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
Best Film Editing - SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
Best Original Song - JAI HO (Slumdog Millionaire)
Best Score - SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
Best Sound Editing - THE DARK KNIGHT
Best Sound Mixing - SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
Best Animated Feature - WALL-E
Best Animated Short - LA MAISON EN PETITS CUBES
Best Documentary Feature - MAN ON WIRE
Best Documentary Short - SMILE PINKI
Best Foreign Language Film - DEPARTURES
Best Short Film - SPIELZEUGLAND (TOYLAND)

Are these really the winners?

Zane Lowe Vs James King on Radio 1

VS

Movie critic James King finally managed to get himself on a decent BBC Radio 1 show last night. Zane Lowe invited him to be his Versus guest for a movie soundtrack Oscars special. You can listen again HERE.

And here's the tracklisting (we've corrected the spelling mistakes on Radio 1's behalf - we must look into the work of 'Tarrentino' some time...):

Round 1- Songs from an 80s movie
JK - Kenny Loggins - 'Danger Zone' (Top Gun)
ZL - Yello - 'Oh Yeah' (Ferris Bueller's Day Off)

Round 2 - Song from a Tarantino movie
JK - JK - 5,6,7,8s - 'Woo Hoo' (Kill Bill)
ZL - Stealers Wheel - 'Stuck In The Middle With You' (Reservoir Dogs)

Round 3 - Tune from a comedy
JK - Dr Evil - 'Hard Knock Life' (Austin Powers)
ZL - Will Ferrell - 'Afternoon Delight' (Anchorman)

Round 4 - Song from any teen movie
JK - The White Stripes - 'We Are Gonna Be Friends' (Napoleon Dynamite)
ZL - Radiohead - 'Talk Show Host' (Romeo and Juliet)

Round 5 - Instrumental from any movie
JK - Pink Panther Theme Tune
ZL - Road To Perdition Theme

Round 6 - Song from a musical
JK - John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John - 'Grease Megamix'
ZL - The Rocky Horror Show - 'The Time Warp'

Round 7 - Song from an animation
JK - Team America - 'Montage'
ZL - The Simpsons - 'Spiderpig'

Round 8 - Song from a movie you watched as a kid
JK - Bugsy Malone - 'Fat Sam's Grand Slam'
ZL - Vangelis - 'Chariots of Fire'

Round 9 - Closing track to a movie
JK - School of Rock - 'It's A Long Way To The Top'
ZL - Rage Against The Machine - 'Wake Up' (The Matrix)

The next Straight To Video night is upon us...

Saturday 28th February
The Kingpin Suite :: Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes :: London

Starring Phill Jupitus + The Freelance Hellraiser
+ The 20th Century Fox + Guests


Buy tickets for Straight To Video here:

It's someone else's score, actually

On 20th January, we Twittered this:
'would like to know why the trailer for The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button is using the score from Love Actually.'

We've also seen the trailer for Young Victoria at the cinema and they're bloody using it too. WHY?

Composer Craig Armstrong must be raking in the royalties. Especially as it's also a favourite for X Factor VTs when a contestant is playing the sympathy card and telling viewers about their dead mum/wife/hamster to cover up the fact that they have absolutely no chance of winning based on ability alone.

Ps. Twitter. Literally the most boring load of old shit ever, right?

This week's UK cinema releases

Confessions Of A Shopaholic

Chick-flick fluff by numbers starring Isla Fisher as a woman who can't stop spending. Based on the pastel-coloured chick-lit book by Sophie Kinsella, the action has moved to New York (instead of London). A lightweight, shallow story but worth watching for the strong cast, which includes John Lithgow, Lynn Redgrave and Joan Cusack. Isla Fisher's natural flair for comedy makes Shopaholic watchable, and her slightly pathetic character, likeable. Directed by Muriel's Wedding's PJ Hogan.

Anvil! The Story Of Anvil

A touching and funny story about a Canadian 80s hair metal group who won't give up. This documentary should finally give them the stardom they've craved. Featuring interviews with Slash, Lemmy and loads more.

Gran Torino

Clint Eastwood directs and stars in this gang drama, which also features his son Scott in a bit-part role while his other son, Kyle, provides the score.

Also released this week:

20th Century Boys - Japanese manga comic adaptation
Cadillac Records - musical biopic about Chess Records with Adrien Brody as the label's boss and Beyonce as Etta James
Franklyn - British film with Ryan Phillippe, Eva Green and Sam Riley (Ian Curtis in the masterpiece biopic, Control) as the leads
Push - Action film featuring characters with paranormal abilities
Che: Part Two - Second installment of Steven Soderbergh's Che Guevara biopic, starring Benicio Del Toro

Update

Last month, we told you about a movie location up for sale - Sleddale Hall from Withnail & I:
http://stvblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/location-location-location.html

Well, Kate Moss must have been reading as she reportedly tried to buy the ramshackle farmhouse, but was gazumped by local pub owner Sebastian Hindley, who bought it at an auction in the Berkeley Hotel, London, for £265,000.

So there you have it.

EDGAR WRIGHT :: Straight To Video Exclusive Interview

Listen to Straight To Video's exclusive interview with director Edgar Wright (Shaun Of The Dead, Hot Fuzz) live from the Toronto set of his new film, Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World.

Find out what the new film is about, who's in it, what Edgar's got coming up (including the third instalment of the ice cream trilogy with Simon Pegg) and who he's going to be rooting for at the Oscars this Sunday.

Peter Gabriel Pulls Oscar Show

Peter Gabriel has pulled out of performing his Oscar-nominated track from Wall-E at the ceremony next Sunday, after his stage time was cut to 65 seconds.

'Down To Earth', co-written by Thomas Newman, is nominated in the Best Song category and will be one of three shortlisted songs to be performed as part of a medley at the Kodak Theatre.

Gabriel, who was hoping to perform the track in full, said, 'It's a bit unfortunate', before adding he's 'an old fart' who can afford to 'make a little protest'.

And the world shrugs in unison.

This week's UK cinema releases

Happy Friday 13th everybody

Here's the 411 on what hits the screens this weekend...

Friday 13th

Pretty people being terrorised by a man in a hockey mask. The director of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake brings you a fourth instalment of the slasher franchise.

Bolt

Hmmmmmm... Monsters Vs. Aliens looks WAY better. And even though it's just her voice, and not her chipmunk teeth, we can't stomach Miley Cyrus in anything.

Hotel For Dogs

Unsubscribe x1 billion.

Notorious

This is the story of Notorious B.I.G. Only in this version, Biggie isn't a crack-dealing, gun-toting gangster. A glorified TV movie which belongs on Channel 5.

Pink Panther 2

"The world's greatest detective isn't what he used to be."
i.e. Funny. Oh Steve Martin, why would you do this? And why would you do this twice?

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Fiiiiinally, something actually worth seeing this week. I don't like Woody Allen films as a rule... I know this is tantamount to sacrilege, especially on a movie blog, but this one gets off to a good start by not having Woody Allen in front of the camera. Instead, there's a very pretty ensemble of Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz, Scarlett Johansson and Brit newcomer Rebecca Hall sharing the screen with an equally pretty Spanish setting and soundtrack.

Also released today:
Ayan
Billo Barber
Moscow, Belgium
F*CK
Three Monkeys
Tyson