Film Review : The Fantastic Mr Fox

The world is made up of two types of people or, at least, two types of film fan. Those who "get" Wes Anderson and love his films and those who most certainly don't and who would rather watch X-Factor than suffer one of his films. (Mind you, that does suggest that a very large number of people form the latter category!). I fall into the former category although it would be fair to say that there's a sameness to his movies that has the potential to pall somewhat. (And that might be aimed at you, Jason Schwartzman!).

This films marks something of a break with his other movies in that whilst featuring many of his regular ensemble, the principle parts of Mr and Mrs Fox are voiced by George Clooney and Meryl Streep respectively. The other significant break is indicated by the use of the term "voiced" - this is an animated feature. Not just any old animated feature, mind you. In an era of photo-realistic digital extravaganzas, The Fantastic Mr Fox is made using good old-fashioned stop-motion animation which gives it a unique style amongst its' peers.

Ironically, this does provide something of a hurdle for the viewer - well, it did for me! - as we are now so used to the latest technologies lighting up our screens that the decidedly old school feel of the visuals take a while to settle in. That they do is as a result of the tale based on Roald Dahl's book which like all of his work reveals a more challenging world than the apparently childlike veneer.

The titular character is a charming and over-confident fox whose bravado sets his family and their community at peril to local farmers who seek to rid themselves of the pests who are ruining their business. Being a Wes Anderson movie, the family and other members of the community are an angst-riddled bunch whose various foibles both assist and restrain Mr Fox in his endeavours to defeat his foes.

Clooney is his usual charming, debonair self as Mr Fox, whilst Meryl Streep plays his loving but long-suffering wife to perfection. With a certain air of predictability, the aforementioned Mr Schwartzman plays the young Fox, and the playing out of his issues with both family and friends forms the moral core of this tale.

It's worth pointing out this isn't really a children's movie - there's nothing inherently problematic about the film being seen by youngsters, but it does play as reasonably hard-core Anderson may make it a little incomprehensible to some. Indeed, that may make it incomprehensible to some adults as well, but that's why I like his movies.

This is an extremely enjoyable movie, and one that I hope will allow Anderson himself to recharge his creative batteries after The Darjeeling Limited which I thought was little disappointing and showed him to be in danger of parodying himself.

Concert Review : Wishbone Ash - The Ferry, Glasgow

Fading a little into the distance, but Wishbone Ash played their second gig of the year at The Ferry on Thursday 22nd October. For the past number of years they have playing twice a year and although they are managing to retain the audience numbers you can't help but feel that the frequency might be a little too often.

I'd checked out the setlists from some of the earlier dates in the tour and had been disappointed to see that the numbers played were, with a couple of exceptions, pretty much the same as had been played at their last visit. I suspect that feedback of this nature may have worked its' way back to the band as we were treated to a reshaped set by the time they landed in Glasgow. Certainly, if they are going to make such regular appearances then continual recycling of the setlist is an absolute must otherwise there has to be a risk that both the band and the audience will get somewhat jaded.

New additions to the set from last time included Front Page News and Lady Jay whilst Vas Dis now took the opening slot. Runaway and Right Or Wrong were retained and these songs in particular allowed Muddy's funky rhythm playing to shine.

As ever, it's difficult if not impossible for the band to avoid Argus, but I would be glad to have a set that was devoid of Blowing Free. A great song it may be, but it's one I've heard just a time or two too often. Unfortunately, it was also combined with Bad Weather Blues - if I have to hear this song, I'd much rather hear it with its' own rather excellent ending than being contaminated with this workaday twelve bar.

On the guitar front, it was Muddy Manninen's turn to shine tonight. I've often found him to be too quite and a little too submerged in the overall sound. This was not the case tonight and he rather outshone Andy Powell who was solid enough but unable to match his partner's fire.

On the vocal front Andy Powell, who has never been the strongest of vocalists, seemed to struggle through many of the songs. Indeed, it was notable that Manninen seemed to mirroring some of the melody lines being sung as if to provide some further support. Anything that hit the higher register seemed to be a struggle. Perhaps he was carrying a cold but there was no indication that this might be the case.

I had been pleased to see that Errors Of My Way was marked down as one of the encore numbers, but unfortunately this wasn't played. I'd have been more than happy to have heard this rather than the Blowing Free/Bad Weather Blues combination mentioned earlier.

The issues between Powell and his erstwhile bandmate Martin Turner are well documented. One of Powell's claims is that he has been the one to have carried the band to this juncture including the recording of new music. He does rather undermine this claim by only having one song from any of the albums since Strange Affair. Also in the set is the extremely mediocre Engine Overheat from the execrable Twin Barrels Burning album. Powell seems to recognise in some way that the core of the band remains, as it always has, the series of classic albums from their debut through to Just Testing. Even taking into account the two reunion albums, it is always songs from these earlier albums that set the pulses racing.

That suggests a certain logical action. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like it'll be happening any time soon which is a shame

I've Been Away.....

Circumstances have meant that I've not been able to post as regularly as I would have wished but will be attempting to catch up over the next week.

Whilst my posting has been missing, my activities haven't so hope to be sharing my thoughts on The Fantastic Mr Fox and The Men Who Stare At Goats, as well as concerts featuring Wishbone Ash, Andy Fairweather Low and Deep Purple.