I vitelloni - dir. Federico Fellini

I vitelloni was one of Anthony Minghella's favourite films so a while ago I borrowed a copy of the film from Petrarch's Muse to watch it for myself.

The film is set in a small Italian town in the 50s and follows the lives of four young men, Moraldo, Alberto, Fausto, Leopaldo and Riccardo, as they wander aimlessly through the days of their lives. The film opens with a thunder storm. This sets the scene for Moraldo and, especially, Fausto, whom the film follows most closely.

Fausto is a serial womaniser. After getting his girlfriend pregnant he is forced into a shotgun marriage with her. But after their honeymoon, it is not long before he is coming onto a woman in the cinema - while his wife is resting on his arm and his boss's wife. When he is found out, he makes his situation worse by blaming her for the episode. Matters come to ahead when Fausto's wife, Sandra, almost runs away with their baby. He eventually finds her at the home of his father who gives him a good beating for his behaviour. Despite that, Fausto goes home with home with suggesting that she was the one who caused him trouble! 

Alberto's is a sad story as his sister runs off with her boyfriend. Alberto and his mother are distraught. Unfortunately, we do not see much more than their reaction to this event before the film moves on.

Leopaldo is a would be playwright whose big moment comes when he meets the famous actor Sergio Natali. Natali listens to Leopaldo's hurried read through of his latest play before heading off down to the beach during another storm. Leopaldo's parochial (or common sense) tendencies come to the fore. Natali may be a star but he is also quite possibly mad. Leopaldo does a runner.

Perhaps the real heart of the story is Moraldo. The quiet, thoughtful member of the gang of friends. He has outgrown his home town but appears to have no idea as to where he should go next. At the end of the film, he jumps onto a train. His destination? Anywhere, it would seem.

I vitelloni has a hard edge to it but is otherwise a gentle film. It appears that it was, at least in part, a biographical picture with Moraldo being Fellini. Perhaps although Fellini had to leave his home behind him he retained a great deal of nostalgia for it. Either way, this was a really good film. The plot is simple but it has some great characters. A poster on IMDB says he thinks it is one of the best character study films around. If only because I don't know what the competition is, I can't agree to that, but what I can do is recommend I vitelloni to you highly. It is a poignant but kind hearted film.

Barcelona 2 Manchester United 0 - Champions' League Final

Barcelona 2 Manchester United 0

9:36pm

There's the final whistle. Barcelona are the new Champions. All congratulations have to go to them. After United's first ten minute flourish, Barcelona take a hold of this game and never relinquished it. Sometimes, United were left chasing shadows. What do United do? Answer: Pick themselves up and make a vow to get to next year's final and win the great European Cup back. In the meantime, what is Congratulations Barcelona in Catalan or Spanish?   

9:25pm

Well, with five minutes left I feel that I can relax a little. Manchester United, I'm afraid to say, are just not showing like they will even score let alone twice. Of course, we all know how they are in the last few minutes of games, though. But tonight, I just can't see it...

9:21pm

Finally, Ronaldo does get a yellow card but for a nothing foul. Barcelona players backchatting him. Gamesmanship to wind him up.

9:16pm

Ronaldo scythes into a Barcelona player. A free kick from near the corner flag... great header from Poyol but straight into Van Der Sar's hands. Ronaldo has to be careful or he'll cop it from a so far indulgent ref. Scholes is on.

 

9:13pm

Another piece of poor United defending leads to a great header from Messi. 2 - 0. This is very disappointing but you can't fault Barcelona. They have what United don't - the finishing touch. 

9:08pm

Park goes off and Berby comes on. Manchester United now have four up front!

9:06pm

As time moves on, United are gradually getting back into the game with a couple of half decent chances. Watching this game invites the same kind of tension that Roman generals must have felt as they watched their armies doing battle. Hoping for the best but not knowing how things were really going. Of course, the lack of wholesale slaughter is a slight change.

8:54pm

Good grief. A Barcelona free kick within the D of the penalty area. United are dicing with death right now... Xavi shoots, past the wall and it hits the post! Barcelona should be two up. They have blown it. We are going to win! If they won't take their chances, we, er, will...!

8:53pm

Two more chances - Eto'o and Messi. This is actually good news. Barcelona are playing us off the pitch at the moment, but this is what we were doing when the Catalans scored! Blind faith, eh?

8:51pm

Ooooh. A great run by Thierry Henry who beats Ferdinand but is stopped by Van Der Sar. We are still in this match - just.

8:49pm

And I am back! Not because I went away but the internet connection failed me. Well, Tevez has now come on. I wonder if Sir Alex is reading this blog? 

8:31pm

Half Time. After a bright start, United faded. Without being spectacular, Barcelona have more or less controlled the match since. What should United do? They need to score to renew their confidence. Or else one of the team has to step up Roy Keane like to take the team and match by the scruff of the neck. 

What about substitutions? A terrier like Tevez would surely be a great asset with his high octane energy. Or maybe Berbatov who won't get back but is a great goal scorer.

8:23pm

With seven minutes till half time, Barcelona are worth their lead. They are playng with confidence. United are skittish. I could see Barcelona scoring a second before United get their first.

8:18pm 

Barcelona playing with a very flat back four - hoping to catch United offside. A nice idea, as long as it works. When it doesn't, the striker has a free run.

8:10pm

The way some people talked about Barcelona's midfield / defence, it was like they were a team of cripples but, of course, even their second string players are good. Now they have a free kick outside the penalty area. Dangerous times.

Barca line up the free kick. They go for goal but the ball sails just wide. Phew!

8:05pm

Yet again Ronaldo shoots and misses by just a few feet. Come on guys! 

Barcas goalkeeper (Valdes) injures himself in covering his goal. He is able to continue though not to take the goalkick. Could his fitness become significant?

8:03pm

Berry is back, satisfied after some biscuits. He has settled down on the coach next to me. I can carry on blogging! Oops, I sneeze and the myrmicat takes flight. Meanwhile, Messi fires a shot of his own over the crossbar. Van Der Sar had it covered. Honest injun.

8:01pm

Pique of Barca bodychecks Ronaldo just outside the penalty area. A yellow card to the former United player. Hmm. I wonder who will take the free kick. Giggs is there too. But its Ronaldo. He gets ready... shoots, just over the crossbar! If they can keep their compsure, United are a goal waiting to happen.

7:58pm

United nervy now. Barcelona invigorated by their goal. These are going to be some dangerous minutes for the Reds.

7:54pm

Oh no! No sooner do I write that than Barcelona take the ball up front and score! Poor defending by United.

7:53pm

Ronaldo shoots across goal from within the penalty box. How much longer will United keep missing? Will Barcelona catch them on the break?

7:52pm

Ronaldo shoots for goal from 50 odd yards - and is not too far off the target either! The commentators continue the talk about Barca's midfield and defence being unpractised - injuries and suspensions hurting them. United dominating the possession so far.

7:50pm

Muggins here dashes through to the kitchen and, lo and behold, finds that Berry's food bowl is filled.

7:48pm

Berry has just come into the living room - mewing. He either wants food or my lap.

7:46pm

Some neat passing by United earns them a free kick 40 yards out. Ronaldo to take... my heart is racing... boom! The ball thunders in and out of the goalie's hands before flying over the goal. A corner. And out by Barca. Phew!

7:45pm

And we're off! Barcelona kick off.

7:44pm

The commentator says the referee had an audience with Pope Benedict today!

7:42pm

The Barca fans have cards in blue and red - the club colours. Manchester have red and white. Also seen is a seat mural 'For Sir Matt'. Sir Matt Busby, legendary United manager, who won the club her first European Cup in 1968, would have been 100 today.

 

7:40pm

The players have lined up and are about to enter the stadium. Gladiators! Half an hour's walk (ish) from the Colloseum. And the music to accompany the trophy's entrance? Now We Are Free from Gladiator!

7:38pm

A big shout out to SisterHevs who has left a kind comment underneath the Meme post. Hey, Hevs! United! United!

7:26pm

While writing the post at 7:19pm, I checked my Constantine date at Wikipedia. Earlier on I was reading the Ptolemy I Soter entry. Is it me, or are the busts of Ptolemy and Constantine really similar?

7:23pm

Eric Cantona will be interviewed after the break. Ooh-ah Cantona, ooh-ah Cantona! From his latest film, Looking for Eric: "I am not a man, I am Cantona." He remains a god of cool. 

7:19pm

The match is being played at the Stadio Olympico in Rome. I went to that stadium to see Lazio play Bologna a few years ago. I almost ended up in the Ultras section by accident. That would have been an experience. The Olympico is near the Milvian Bridge, where Constantine the Great defeated Maxentius in AD 312 to become Emperor of the Roman Empire.

7:17pm

Religious believers are usually accused of having blind faith but if the truth be told it is football fans who have a faith blinder than a bat. Just look at Newcastle United fans. And me. I am predicting a 1 - 3 win for United tonight - by half time. Rooney and a Ronaldo double. 

7:16pm

And indeed, I did mention it! See the very first entry of the post!

7:13pm

And no sooner do I upload the first entry than I see that I have committed the same grammatical error as UEFA. The League of Champions requires an apostrophe. I bet I said that when I live blogged the United - Arsenal game too. The title of this post has been amended, but the mistake remains in the first entry as a warning to self.

7:09pm

Hello all, here we are for the final of the Champions League (nee European Cup). I shall be live blogging between now and the glorious or bitter end. For any not in the know, I support Manchester United. When (ahem) we win tonight, it will be United's fourth European Cup triumph. In the unlikely event that Barcelona win, it will be their second.

1979 and John Smith Memes

I owe Mars Hill two memes. I fear that my answers for neither will be very good. The first one is the 1979 Meme. 

How old were you?

It is impolite to ask a dunadan his age so I am not telling you. More interestingly, as I write this, Berry the Cat has just jumped onto the headrest of my bed in search of cat biscuits. Alas for him he will not get any as I have run out and, today, lost my wallet so will not be buying anything before tomorrow.

What are your personal political memories, if you have any?

As far as age is concerned, I will say that I was very young, thus, I'm afraid I don't really remember the political situation in '79 at all. 

Political Views Held?

I'm sure I liked the Queen. I know this because my school had a Silver Jubilee party in 1977 and I took part in it!

Where did you live?

If the Shire is Oxford then where I am is around the South Downs.

School/College/Workplace?

Depends what time of the year it was. Properly speaking I was at junior school but that summer had a little accident, which meant that I spent the next three months in hospital and at home.

Favourite TV Programmes?

None that I now recall.

Favourite Band/Music/etc..?

I don't think I was really interested in music then. My first single purchase was still two or three years away. Although, now that I think about it, I think we had Father Abraham and the Smurfs by then!

And now the John Smith Meme.

Where were you when you heard John Smith had died?

In 1994 I was at university, although by (12th) May I was probably back home. I know that I was in Avignon with the family when Robin Cook died.

How did you view John Smith when he was leader and how do you view him now?

I was never fond of Neil Kinnock. But that was more to do with buying into the media portrayal of him than my own assessment. I'm afraid I can't remember what I thought of John Smith. Perhaps a bit dull and a no doubt worthy man. What do I think of him now? If I am being honest, not much because I don't really know him.

Do you think he would have made a good Prime Minister?

Perhaps he would have been. He would have sacked Gordon Brown ages ago and stopped him from mucking up the economy.

What do you think is his lasting legacy?

Ooh, I am really the wrong person to ask this. I just don't know. I suppose the New Labour project must owe its further development (taking Kinnock as its starting point) to him.

St. Mary's and St. John's, Hampstead

Yesterday was the Sixth Sunday of Easter and, in England and Wales if nowhere else, Ascension Day. Or, rather, the transferred Holy Day of Obligation for the feast of the Ascension. I went to Mass at St. Mary's church in Hampstead. It is an absolutely lovely little Italianate church and I am very sorry not to have any photographs of it.

The church is very thin, making communion a very interesting (for which, read squeezy) experience. A baldacchino stands over the altar which cuts a rather lonely presence due to the lack of tabernacle. It is in one of the side altars that form separate rooms (rather than being built into the main body of the church).

***

The Mass that I attended was the Family Mass so naturally the sound of children was strong! My sole ambition in terms of Mass attendance is to be at one that meets the Hilaire Belloc test - twenty minutes or less. Due to confirmations taking place at the following Mass, this one was truncated in length, ending up at 45 minutes. Not bad but could be better. 

At the end of the Mass, the priest pointed out a fact strangely missed out by the BBC during a recent TV programme on the development of English classical music, namely, that Haydn had a patron who was a Catholic prince. His name was Esterhazy. One year, he stayed so long at one of his holiday residences that Haydon composed a symphony in which the musicians leave the stage one by one until only a sole violinist is left!

Leaving the church, I visited the graveyard of the nearby Church of England church of St John the Evangelist. Some notable figures are buried there. For example, Hugh Gaitskell who died in 1963. He was the leader of the Labour Party between 1955 - 63. These were years when Labourwas in opposition. Thus, like John Smith thirty or so years later, Gaitskell is regarded by some as the greatest Prime Minister Labour never had.

***

Also buried at St John's is the actor Herbert Beerbohm Tree and Gerald Du Maurier, son of George and father of Daphne. Du Maurier had a sister named Sylvia who married one Arthur Llewellyn-Davies. Their sons, George, Jack, Peter, Michael and Nicholas became friends with J. M. Barrie and were the original Lost Boys. But as Peter Llewellyn-Davies notes in Finding Neverland, however, he was not Peter Pan. Barrie himself was. Anyway, Sylvia Llewellyn-Davies in buried just a few feet from Gaitskell, alongside her husband and one or two of her children.

When he contracted tuberculoses, the poet John Keats moved to Rome, but before then, he lived in Hampstead. Thus, in St. John's the Evangelist, there is a memorial bust to him. As he was a radical, however, I wonder if he would have appreciated the gesture. 

St. John's is over the road from the graveyard, but is surrounded by the original. Walking through it is like being in the country. Buried there are John Harrison, who invented the chronometer that allowed sailors to measure longitude while at sea for the first time, and - I think - the painter John Constable. If he isn't (the inscription seems also to suggest that he is buried in Cambridge), other members of his family certainly are.

St. John's itself is a lovely church. It looks like something out of the regency period. If a Jane Austen production has not filmed there yet, it jolly well ought to!

Angels and Demons - dir. Ron Howard

Angels and Demons is the sequel to 2006's The Da Vinci Code, which achieved notoriety for its perceived anti-Catholicism. I don't think it was anti-Catholic, just a rather clumsily told story. Angels and Demons is similar. In fact, in watching it one cannot but help feel a sense of deja vu as Angels and Demons contains all the faults of The Da Vinci Code. Namely, weak plot, bad characterisation and poor acting. Amazingly, however, the film still holds together and for all its faults, I quite enjoyed it.

Weak Plot

A phial of anti-matter has been stolen from the Large Hadron Collider in Cern, Switzerland. In Rome, the pope has died and the cardinals of the Catholic Church are about to enter the conclave to elect his successor. On its eve, however, four cardinals are kidnapped. They are described as preferiti. I haven't heard this term before, but insofar as it means 'favourites to become pope', it seems analogous to the term papabili.

The theft of the antimatter and papal election would be of no interest to Professor Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks), but it turns out that both outrages have been committed by a secret society called the Illuminati. They were last heard of three or four hundred years ago when the Catholic Church persecuted its members and destroyed the organisation. The Illuminati was comprised of scientists and other learned men who believed that science more than religion had the answers to the mysteries of the universe. Now, they are back for revenge. Langdon is asked by the Vatican Police to solve the mystery of where the four preferiti are being held; rather helpfully, the Iluminati have left clues to their whereabouts for the police to follow.

When Langdon arrives in Rome there is a slightly surreal though amusing scene between him and Commander Richter (Stellan Skarsgård), head of the Vatican Police, as they allude to Langdon's lack of popularity in the Vatican after the Da Vinci Code affair. It could almost be a meeting between the Church and Dan Brown.

Once Langdon has arrived in Rome, the film follows his pursuit of the cardinals. The plot is comprised of a bit of exposition, a fast car ride, then an action sequence before repeating itself. As for the exposition, there is too little showing and too much telling. 

Bad Characterisation

Or rather, the lack, thereof. In however small or large a way, a good film should give an insight into the principle character(s) that helps us to see who they are beyond the immediate story. We get nothing of this in Angels and Demons. They exist only to service the story.

On the subject of poor acting, Tom Hanks really does look like he sleepwalks through the film. And no surprise as he has such little to do except decipher the clues and run along to the next one. The script in this respect is very lazy. Langdon has a beautiful young woman (Vittoria Vetra played by Ayelet Zurer) as his partner, but there is too little interaction let alone sexual chemistry between them. Granted that the type of film that this is does not allow for it, but if The Terminator could manage it, I think Angels and Demons could at least have tried.

As the characters are at the mercy of the story, this means that their lives are sold cheaply. Once in Rome, Langdon is guided around the city by Inspector Olivetti (Pierfrancesco Favino) who has the screen presence to become a principle character. But first he, and then two police men who take his place, get killed by the Illuminati assassin, far too quickly and easily.

On the subject of the Catholic Church, the Church is represented far more equitably in Angels and Demons. There are bad priests but also good ones. If anyone tells me that this film is anti-Catholic, I will reply that it is merely anti character and all plot. The Church is pretty much a plot device. The truth is, any organisation could have fulfilled its role. It is Dan Brown's genius (if one may call it that) that he has seen the creative possibilities of using the Church to launch an action - adventure story and written it in such a thrilling way. And for all its own flaws, The Da Vinci Code is a very exciting book, a real page turner. I would expect the book version of Angels and Demons to be no different.

To continue the positive theme, is there anything else that makes the film good? Yes. Its moments of high tension. Unfortunately, Angels and Demons is not consistently tense, but when it gets into its stride, it excels. There is one particularly good scene when Langdon and the police enter a church in search of the cardinals and the camera pans upwards behind them. We see a pair of boots on some scaffolding. It is the assassin who kidnapped the cardinals! Not so; they are just a pair of boots left behind by a workman.

Of course, the shots of Rome are all fantastic. Seeing the Catholic Church in action was also entertaining. The film doesn't always get its facts right - sometimes, as in the case of the Illuminati, this will be deliberate - but there are no offensively bad howlers.

It is extraordinary to think that I could care about what happens to the characters in a film that treats them so poorly, but there it is. I did. Coupled with the well executed action scenes, they create a picture that - albeit you must switch your brain off to enjoy - is an entertaining couple of hours. I recommend it.

Star Trek - dir. J. J. Abrams

Just over a week ago, I went to see the new Star Trek film. Not being a Trekker, Trekkie, or any other sub division of Star Trek fan, I bought no baggage to the picture, which no doubt aided my enjoyment of it. 

Star Trek takes us back to the beginning of the life of Captain James T. Kirk - literally. In the opening scenes, we see his birth take place as his father dies heroically fighting a Romulan commander. We then jump forward a few years to see Kirk as a rebellious young boy and man. So far, so very Marlon Brando.

The film is sensitive to the expectations of both its new audience and Star Trek fans. There are nods and tips to the original series with some great action sequences. The story itself is light. General Nero is a Romulan Commander who has been sucked through a black hole created by Spock. In revenge, he determines to destroy Spock's homeworld of Vulcan. It becomes for Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise - including a young Spock - to stop him.

This storyline services the coming together of the famous Enterprise crew. Bones McCoy, Uhura, Chekov, Scottie they all turn up. Lest it be thought otherwise, the crew turn up at different times and in diverse circumstances. This allows the story time to breath and develop at least a little.

The acting performances are all good. Karl Urban as Bones and Zachary Quinto as (young) Spock are the outstanding players. Chris Pine is fine as Kirk but given the limitations of his character does not really have a great deal to do except look moody, rebellious, smug or determined. There is also a star turn by Leonard Nimoy as the aged Spock. He did not really need to be there, but it undeniably helps root the film in the original series.

And that is the cleverest thing about this picture. Unlike the other 'reboots' that have come to the cinema (Batman Returns, Casino Royale etc), Star Trek does not deny that the original series took place, but changes the future - allowing for further films - by altering the past. Neat.

It has been a long time since Star Trek was cool, but this film (if one may paraphrase another Enterprise captain) makes it so. A good, fun film. Recommended. 

Expenses and the Papers

As the MPs' expenses scandal rumbles on, Conservative Party MP Nadine Dorries gives a lionness's reply to the Telegraph regarding her expenses here. From time to time, Private Eye comments on the fact that the newspapers have a kind of code of omerta when it comes to printing stories about other newspaper proprietors. That is, of course, very convenient in respect of avoiding questions about the conduct of those proprietors and their staff. I wonder what their expenses forms would like like if published?

Quins fall short

Harlequins 0 London Irish 17

Woe. Harlequins crashed out of the Premiership play offs by losing without scoring a single point to London Irish. To say I am disappointed would be an understatement. Still, at least I wasn't at the Stoop. I did try to get a ticket earlier in the week but the Quins web site failed to process the booking. The problem was widespread and the club sent an e-mail apologising to all and sundry afterwards.

While losing in the play offs is disappointing, one has to say that this season was still a success. Since the club was promoted back to the Premiership after the 2005 - 06 season, this is how they have finished:

2006 - 07 Seventh

2007 - 08 Sixth

2008 - 09 Second

2008 - 09 is also significant because Harlequins also excelled in the Heinken Cup, beating Stade Francais home and away and progressing to the quarter finals of the tournament before losing ever so closely to Leinster, who may end up winning the trophy. Only the small matter of the Leicester Tigers behemoth stand in their way!

A bonus arising out of this season is the fact that two Harlequin players won awards at the end of year awards ceremony. Flanker Chris Robshaw won the Best Player of the Year award and Jordan Turner-Hall Discovery of the Year.

So, that's it from Harlequins until next September when, who knows, we may begin the season that sees the club ending its campaign a year from now at Twickenham stadium.

Guns N Roses - Chinese Democracy

I am going to do something new - 'liveblog' an album and I am starting with Guns N Roses new album Chinese Democracy which came out last November following a gestation period of over a decade.

Chinese Democracy

The first song on the album is the title track. Axl Rose screams into view after a short introduction. The lyrics are short and thunderous. Lots about things not really mattering. The guitar solo sounds dangerously close to a keyboard. Axl Rose is the only member of the original band still in GnR. He is, in effect, Guns N Roses, which means that for me, this album should really have released under Rose's own name. 'You're out of time' Rose sings, as the song comes to a climactic end. 

Shackler's Revenge

This is my favourite song on the album. Very punchy opening before a grizzly voice tells us about a funny feeling he is having. Shackler appears to be someone who is about to go out on a shooting spree. The chorus for Shackler's Revenge is really simple but addictive, 'I don't believe there's a reason... I don't believe in' represents the song's nihilism perfectly. The guitar solo is again a bit techno sounding for my tastes but it leads into a great segment of the song 'No one is stopping you from doing what you want to do' shouted into the microphone just like Shackler's inner demons would.

Better

I think it is a strangled guitar that opens this song before Rose sings in a really curious high pitched voice about never being told how things could be better (I think - I am not going to rewind the ipod to check the lyrics). The myrmicat has just appeared in the room. I know what he would like better. The guitar solo is again all techno sounding. Awful. Fortunately, it is quite short. A minute later, another solo begins. I wonder if the first one was actually another instrument? This is what happens when you have no musical education. The lyrics of Better flow really well - until the end when the song ends quite suddenly.

Street of Dreams

A piano opens this song. Axl Rose doing his November Rain thing? Certainly the singing is reminiscent of that song from Use Your Illusion I. I remember when I bought Use Your Illusion I & II. I was at college and without means to listen to the tapes until I got home. A friend who had a walkman lent it to me so that I could listen to them. Very kind of her - especially since she was a bigger rock and roll fan than me. A standard guitar solo takes off. The lead guitarist on this album is called Buckethead. Can you guess why? I miss Slash, though.

If The World

A rather odd opening to this song. Some drums, vaguely sounding guitar (?) and strings going on. Here comes Axl asking what would happen if the world went away. Well, Atlas would get a rest, I suppose. Speaking of which, I wonder if anyone caught the classical reference on The Apprentice the other week, when one of the contestants was compared to Cassandra. When asked if she knew who Cassandra was, said contestant's face was a picture of blankness.

Better is a slow kind of song as suiting its reflective mode. If The World is also quite laid back. When singing the title, Rose does sound like he is saying 'if the war...' which puts me in mind of the brilliant GnR song from Use Your Illusion II 'Civil War'. 

There Was A Time

Angelic voices open this song. As with Better, the lyrics flow really well. I must try and focus on the lyrics. There is a reference to cocaine - old days for Rose. I think the song is about an old girlfriend who may now be dead ('You're sleeping like an angel'). A word on Axl Rose's voice. It hasn't changed much. He still also has the ability to change it from screechy to more rounded and muscular according to need. I strongly suspect a bit of manipulation though, for example, in Shackler's Revenge, to represent the tormented protagonist.

At work the other day I was speaking to someone about the Ptolemaic dynasty (323 BC to 31 BC) and I was saying that all the male rulers had nicknames (they were all called Ptolemy I, II, etc). For example, one of the early Ptolemies was nicknamed Thunderbolt. A later Ptolemy was called Auletes which means Flute Player. Not very hard, is it? 

Catcher In The Rye

This may be based on the J D Salinger book of the same name but, since I have not read it, I don't know. The song is a bit middling. Listening to the lyrics I think this is a reflective song, talking about how the singer might have done things differently if he had had the chance. I am beginning to think I should have the CD case in front of me for reference.

Scraped

Interesting Queen-like opening with high pitched voices talking back to each other. Then appears Axl singing 'don't try to stop us now' in the manner of a young tearaway. That's more like it. Of course, this kind of rebellious song would be more convincing if the signer wasn't nearly 50 but perhaps we just say that Mr Rose is not singing as himself. 

Riad N the Bedouins

Great opening with Rose doing a fair impression of Tarzan. 'I am f***ing crazy' says Rose. Compared to the amount of swearing on the earlier GnR albums, Chinese Democracy is very restrained. A snappy number this one. It comes, it bellows, it goes.

Sorry

Very. Slow. Opening. Melancholic all over. After a long while, we get to the chorus which is actually quite good. 'I'm sorry for you, not sorry for me...'. I imagine this song was written over a half empty bottle of Jack Daniels. The lyrics go downhill from there. Not the quality, mind, just in their mood. All very depressing.

I.R.S.

I believe the I.R.S. is the Inland Revenue Service of America. Not a likely subject for a song. Still, the lyrics are quite compulsive, 'Gonna call the President, gonna call the I.R.S'. Axl Rose meeting Barack Obama would be quite interesting. Despite the title, this appears to be some sort of love song. Oh, there goes the techno guitar again. GET RID OF IT ROSE.

And indeed, here is the IRS's website.

Madagascar

A solemn opening that is reminiscent of old Soviet parades. This solemn mood is kept for the song. Ah, but hold on, there is Martin Luther King and Strother Martin from Cool Hand Luke. Interestingly, the Martin quotation is the same one used at the beginning of Civil War. My knowledge of Madagascar isn't great, so I am not sure where it fits into the song.

This I Love

More piano work at the beginning. Amazingly, it is a rather soppy love song. 'I hope to God she hears me!' our hero bawls. Mercifully, the guitar solo is a proper one. No techno based nonsense. I suspect that's why the woman in question left Axl to begin with. Ah, a nice little touch at the end - a couple of notes from the piano sparkling and then going out.

Prostitute

The title to this song does not give one hope that it will be a terrifically happy number, however, in defiance of expectation, it seems fairly gentle. I spoke to soon. The drum has kicked in big time as has the guitar. But then, they quieten down again. Listening to the lyrics, I hear very few actual references to prostitutes. In fact, it appears this is a love song. Clearly the title is not literal. Probably to do with the singer's heart. Or something. The song fades out with the strings and piano taking centre stage. It turns out that this is probably the kind of song that the Midnight Caller would have played at the end of his show.

And that is that. So, having listened to the album a little more carefully than I would otherwise have done, I can honestly say that I have been surprised by it. Chinese Democracy is not as aggressive as Guns N Roses' earlier works. Axl Rose's voice may not have changed much but the album is more mature; reflective is a good word to describe it. That said, I do no regret not having all the lyrics to hand. Without them, I have only got a sense of what the songs (with he exception of Shackler's Revenge) are about. But, if the lyrics match the music, I doubt I would be too far out in what I have said above.

Rating: Seven out of Ten

Summary: Play this and prepare to see a new Guns N Roses

MP's Expense Scandal

Rather typically for the United Kingdom, the expenses being claimed by our MPs are not particularly exciting or glamorous. If the honourable member for Chiswick had bought a Kalashnikov rifle or a crate of Brut champagne for some 'friends' whose names are known to the Flying Squad, that might be interesting, but household items are not. We just don't do scandal very well in this country, do we? 

What makes the expenses scandal really awful, though, is the drip-drip nature of the revelations. As the expenses are published over the course of days, people will cease to care for the detail of the story (which may show them that the MP concerned did not cheat after all) and just look at the headline and make up their minds there and then that the MP or MPs are corrupt so and so's.

And in the meantime, while we in the UK are fretting over our MPs, another scandal - and a proper one at that - continues to unfold in Brussels, as it has done for many years: that of MEPs playing the EU system for all it is worth. Donal Blaney has a very interesting video here.

The EU itself has many questions to answer about how it conducts itself. Someone correct me if I am wrong, but haven't auditors refused to sign off the EU's accounts for over a decade due to financial irregularities. CAP is a (very bad) joke. Goodness knows what goes on in its various dark euro-holes. At least in China you know that if the Government knocks on your door, you are screwed. The EU likes to pretend it is a credible body. The Daily Telegraph ought to turn its attention eastwards next.

Arsenal 1 Manchester United 3 (1 - 4 agg)

9:33pm

That's it. United are through. A disconsolate Arsene Wenger shakes hands with him and disappears into the tunnel. A great, great win although tinged with a little sourness due to the sending off. Let's hope United get the pope's blessing and visit the Roman Forum when the Manchester Utd bandwagon hits Rome! 

9:30pm

We are into the 90th minute. Three minutes for four goals!

9:24pm

Notwithstanding the fact that it is the ref's, but I do like his jersey - cool colours. Dark silver with red lines. Never seen a referee's shirt on sale though.

9:22pm

Adebayor sticks his boot studs into Carrick. Gets a yellow card. Should have been red. The ref clearly wants to liven the last ten minutes up!

9:19pm

The TV commentators are saying the referee got the Fletcher decision wrong. Can United appeal the red card like in the league? Poor Darren Fletcher. TV says there is no appeal process. Why not!  

9:14pm

Sudden drama. Darren Fletcher fouls Fabregas in the penalty area and is sent off. A penalty to Arsenal... which he buries in the net. Fletcher got the ball but in so doing he wrapped his leg around Fabregas. Arsenal 4 - 1 down.

9:03pm

Theo Hamilton goes off. Giggsy comes on for United. He doesn't need to tear them apart again though - Ronaldo has already done it.

9:01pm

Goal Number Three!! A wonderful charge upfield by United following an Arsenal corner. Park breaks out of the United half, he crosses across the centre of the field to Rooney who passes it back to Ronaldo who puts the ball away. Brilliant. Some Arsenal fans are now leaving. 

8:54pm

Massive miskick by Arsenal. Ref takes pity and gives them a free kick!

8:51pm

Ronaldo strides across the penalty area. Shoots... Almunia tips it behind for a corner. Ooooh.

8:48pm

An unwelcome kind of excitement as the TV cameras show police officers with sniffer dogs checking some seats in the stadium. Are they looking for Arsenal's last chance?

8:45pm

Arsenal start the second half. Death or glory time for them. Have they been reading their Anglo Saxon texts?

8:30pm

Half Time Arsenal 0 Manchester United 2. A wonder start for United has almost killed the game stone dead. Wenger will have to deliver a heck of a half time talk.

8:29pm

The myrmicat is curled up on the couch but with his eyes half open, SisterEvs thinks he is plotting to take over the world! 

8:26pm

Not much to report. The heart seems to have gone out of Arsenal for the time being. This week we are celebrating / commiserating the 30th anniversary of Maggie Thatcher coming to power. The blues are winning again tonight.

8:16pm

United free kick 40 yards outside the Arsenal goal. Ronaldo to take... he thumps it straight into Almunia's arms.

8:10pm

On another note, I stayed overnight at the casa of Our Man of the Antonii last weekend - to watch Ricky Hatton v Mannie Pacquiao. It was a great night until the big fight started. Whatever Hatton could do wrong, he did. That the bout last two rounds was a marvel.

8:07pm

John O'Shea looks like Ben Affleck.

Theo Walcott is surely Lewis Hamilton's brother.

Nemanja Vidic is such a legend I am going to found a religion called The Church of the Living Nemanja. Attention to detail, grit and a good head for the ball are our chief tenets.

 

8pm

Arsenal fans bravely singing on. Arsenal stroking the ball about a bit. They'll need every ounce of cool in order to recover from 0 - 2 down. Arsenal will have to score 4 to win this tie now. Blimey.

7:55pm

Goooaaallllllllll!!!!!! Ronaldo from thirty yards. Scorcher. Good lord that was good! This is a dream start for Manchester.

7:52pm

Goooaaaaalllllllllllllllll!!!!!!!!! Terrible Arsenal defensive error allows Ji Park Sun in. Legend!

7:50pm

Arsenal dominating possession. I am not liking this. But they are not yet getting too close to the goal...

7:47pm

Early half chance for the Gooners as they fire the ball across goal. United clear but it goes for a corner.

7:45pm

We're off! Manchester Utd splendid in Marian blue. Arsenal in their usual red and white.

7:40pm

First shots on ITV of lots of deluded Arsenal fans waving their flags. Poor things.

7:36pm

As mentioned below Manchester Utd won the first leg 1 - 0 but Arsenal won the League fixture at the Emirates earlier in the season. If Utd play as well as they did last week, however, the game is theirs to win. I predict a 0 - 2 Manchester United win. Rooney and Scholesy to send us through.

7:34pm

This game is the first of two big uns that I will be watching on TV. On Saturday, Harlequins play London Irish in the Rugby Premiership play off. I tried to buy a ticket at the Quins website - only for it to fail to process my booking. Oh well, £40 saved.

7:30pm

Tonight Manchester United take on Arsenal in the second leg of the European Cup - also called the Champions League by those with a sense of irony and no grammatical ability. United are 1 - 0 up after the first leg at Old Trafford last week. I will be live blogging the game.

Tim Eriksen

I'm trying to learn about American folk music and - via Cold Mountain - have come across a musician named Tim Eriksen. 'Am I Born To Die' features in Anthony Minghella's American Civil War film. Here is Eriksen singing it at a special Cold Mountain concert.

That concert is one of the extras on the DVD. This next video features Eriksen singing a song I had never heard before - 'Hicks Farewell'. It is very beautiful to listen to.

And here is a rather different version of 'Amazing Grace'.