XLrator Media will release Duff McKagan‘s (Guns N’ Roses, Velvet Revolver, Hollywood Vampires) authorized documentary ‘It’s So Easy And Other Lies’ in theaters on June 3, 2016.
Check out the trailer:
Based on Duff McKagan’s New York Times best-selling autobiography, It’s So Easy And Other Lies opens by capturing one of Duff’s book readings at the Moore Theatre in Seattle and from there, takes the audience on an incredible cinematic journey from the driven Seattle teenager’s meager beginnings to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The film opens theatrically on June 3, 2016 with event screenings taking place around the country on May 26 and June 1.
TITLE: IT’S SO EASY AND OTHER LIES
IN THEATERS: June 3, 2016
DIRECTOR: Christopher Duddy
WRITER: Christopher Duddy
CAST: Duff McKagan, Slash, Mike McCready
SYNOPSIS: Based on his New York Times best-selling memoir and featuring exclusive archival footage, this authorized music documentary of Duff McKagan – founding member and bass player for Guns N’ Roses, Velvet Revolver and other bands – chronicles his meteoric rise to fame and fortune, his near-fatal struggles with alcohol and drug addiction, and his remarkable life transformation.
GENRE: Documentary
On June 24th (June 25 in North America), Help! makes its eagerly awaited Blu-ray debut in a single-disc package pairing the digitally restored film and 5.1 soundtrack with an hour of extra features, including a 30-minute documentary about the making of the film, memories of the cast and crew, an in-depth look at the restoration process, an outtake scene, and original theatrical trailers and radio spots.
The Beatles’ Help! coming to BLU-RAY on June 25th
The Beatles‘ second feature film, 1965’s Help!, is on the way on Blu-ray.
On June 24, 2013 (June 25 in North America), Help! makes its eagerly awaited Blu-ray debut in a single-disc package pairing the digitally restored film and 5.1 soundtrack with an hour of extra features, including a 30-minute documentary about the making of the film, memories of the cast and crew, an in-depth look at the restoration process, an outtake scene, and original theatrical trailers and radio spots. An introduction by the film’s director, Richard Lester, and an appreciation by Martin Scorsese are included in the Blu-ray’s booklet.
Help!‘s Blu-ray edition follows the 2012 release of The Beatles’ digitally restored Yellow Submarine and Magical Mystery Tour feature films on Blu-ray, DVD and iTunes with extensive extras.
Help!‘s restoration for its 2007 DVD debut wowed viewers, earning five-times platinum sales in the U.S. and praise from a broad range of top media outlets around the world, including USA Todayheralding the DVD as “a grand re-release,” The Guardian‘s appreciation of the film’s director, Richard Lester, saying “Lester matches The Beatles’ ‘star’ power with smart, colourful visuals and casual surrealism,” The Los Angeles Times‘ restoration rave: “With dynamic compression that was standard in the 1960s lifted for the digital age, the full range of the group’s musicality comes through – it’s like several coats of dust have been cleaned off an old master’s painting,” and four-star reviews from Rolling Stone and MOJO with the latter saying, “They really don’t make them like this anymore.”
Directed by Richard Lester, who also directed the band’s debut feature film, 1964’s A Hard Day’s Night, Help! follows The Beatles as they become passive recipients of an outside plot that revolves around Ringo‘s possession of a sacrificial ring, which he cannot remove from his finger. As a result, he and his bandmates John, Paul and George are chased from London to the Austrian Alps and the Bahamas by religious cult members, a mad scientist and the London police.
In addition to starring The Beatles, Help! boasts a witty script, a great cast of British character actors, and classic Beatles songs “Help!,” “You’re Going To Lose That Girl,” “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away,” “Ticket To Ride,” “I Need You,” “The Night Before,” and “Another Girl.”
“Help! Is On The Way On” Blu-Ray Trailer – video:
Help!’s Blu-ray package pairs the digitally restored original film with these extra features:
• “The Beatles in Help!” – a 30-minute documentary about the making of the film with Richard Lester, the cast and crew, including exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of The Beatles on-set.
• “A Missing Scene” – a film outtake, featuring Wendy Richard
• “The Restoration of Help!” – an in-depth look at the restoration process
• “Memories of Help!” – the cast and crew reminisce
• 1965 Theatrical Trailers – two original U.S. trailers and one original Spanish trailer
• 1965 U.S. Radio Spots (hidden in disc menus)
“Absurd, delightful and exuberantly messy, Help! is a pure pleasure to watch.” – The New York Times
Help! Synopsis:
‘Help!’ follows in the great tradition of classic comedy chase movies.
In this instance, John, Paul, George and Ringo, find themselves being pursued across the world by not one but two groups of fanatics with separate agendas.
Ringo possesses a ring with a large red stone set in the middle, sent to him by a fan. Unknown to him this artifact is the sacred sacrificial ring of Goddess Kaili: the deity of an Asian religious cult led by Swami Clang (Leo McKern).
The younger sister of High Priestess Ahme (Eleanor Bron) has been selected by Kaili’s thuggish followers as a human sacrifice. However, panic breaks out when, as she is about to be dispatched by the ceremonial-sword wielding fanatic, Swami Clang, he realizes that she is not wearing this religious bauble.
The human sacrifice is promptly placed on hold. Clang, Ahme and a bunch of bumbling henchmen organized by Blutha (John Bluthal), set about tracking down the wearer with the aim of retrieving the ring by covering Ringo in bright red paint and sacrificing him in the process.
Even before he realizes he is the object of these fanatics attention, Ringo finds that he can’t slip it off his finger. It’s stuck!
Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Clang, the lovely Ahme is a secret Beatles fan with a shine for Paul.
These cult followers of Kaili frantically pursue The Beatles first, through London, then up the snow-covered Austrian Alps, followed by Buckingham Palace across Salisbury Plain and finally along the sandy beaches of the Bahamas.
Amidst this turmoil, two scientists named Foot (Victor Spinetti) and Algernon (Roy Kinnear) have become involved, being called in by the Government to try and remove the ring from Ringo’s finger. Algernon is a harmless fool, however, Foot is a megalomaniac and sees the ring as a means to “rule the world!” and is prepared to go to extremes to get his hands on the ring. Following up the rear is dapper Scotland Yard Police Superintendent (Patrick Cargill),
Fortunately, all attempts to remove this religious artifact from Ringo’s hand are thwarted at every turn often by John, Paul and George. This wild chase eventually culminates on a beach in the Bahamas when the ring suddenly falls off Ringo’s finger and those in pursuit are suddenly afraid to pick it up in case they themselves become splattered with red paint and selected as the sacrificial victim!
7 BEATLES TRACKS ARE FEATURED IN THE MOVIE
• Help!
• You’re Going To Lose That Girl
• You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away
• Ticket To Ride
• I Need You
• The Night Before
• Another Girl
CAST?
The Beatles:
John………..……John Lennon
Paul………………………Paul McCartney
George……….…………George Harrison
Ringo……….……………Ringo Starr
Clang………………………………………………………………….Leo McKern
Ahme…………………………………………………………………Eleanor Bron
Foot……………………Victor Spinetti
Algernon………………..Roy Kinnear
Superintendent…….Patrick Cargill
Bhuta………………………John Bluthal
Jeweller………………………………………………………………Peter Copley
Doorman…………………………………………………………………Alfie Bass
Abdul…………………………………………………………..…Warren Mitchell
Lawnmower…………………………………………………………Bruce Lacey
Cross channel swimmer………………………………………………Mal Evans
Women in street……………………Dandy Nichols and Gretchen Franklin
PRODUCTION
Director ……………………………………………………………Richard Lester
Producer …………………………………………………………Walter Shenson
Screenplay…………………………………..Marc Behm and Charles Wood
Story by………………………………………………………………..Marc Behm
Director of Photography…………………………………………David Watkin
Production Manager……………………………………………….John Pellatt
Art Director………………………………………………………Raymond Simm
Colour Consultant and Titles…………………………………Robert Freeman
Costume Designer…………………………………………………….Julie Harris
Musical Director………………………………………………………Ken Thorne
Songs composed by…………………..John Lennon and Paul McCartney and by George Harrison
Songs performed by…………………………………………………The Beatles
Songs produced by……………………………………………..George Martin
Singer/songwriters Jenny Lewis and Johnathan Rice are confirmed as the songwriting team for new musical/romantic drama Song One starring Academy Award Winner Anne Hathaway.
Jenny Lewis and Johnathan Rice Combine Talents For Forthcoming Movie
Singer/songwriters Jenny Lewis and Johnathan Rice are confirmed as the songwriting team for new musical/romantic drama Song One starring Academy Award Winner Anne Hathaway.
Song One is the story of a young woman who strikes up a relationship with her ailing brother’s favorite musician, played by British musician Johnny Flynn.
Lewis and Rice have written a collection of original songs specifically for the film, and will score the picture as well.
Long time collaborators Jenny Lewis and Johnathan Rice released a critically acclaimed album together – I’m Having Fun Now – as Jenny & Johnny in 2010.
The film is produced by Jonathan Demme and Marc Platt alongside Hathaway and Adam Shulman.
Kate Barker Froyland wrote the screenplay and will direct. The movie begins filming in New York City later this month.
Shwayze is set to release the highly anticipated album ‘Let It Beat’. This will be the sophomore release for the hip-hop duo and Malibu partiers Shwayze and Cisco Adler.
The album features hit single “Get U Home”, also featured in the movie Sorority Row starring Audrina Patridge and Rumer Willis.
Many fans in the US will already be familiar with Cisco Adler from his recent stint on MTV reality show “Buzzin'” …
Shwayze is set to release the highly anticipated album ‘Let It Beat’. This will be the sophomore release for the hip-hop duo and Malibu partiers Shwayze and Cisco Adler.
The album features hit single “Get U Home”, also featured in the movie Sorority Row starring Audrina Patridge and Rumer Willis.
Many fans in the US will already be familiar with Cisco Adler from his recent stint on MTV reality show “Buzzin'” – about the misadventures of Shwayze and Cisco, with cameras following the unlikely pair – Shwayze, the self-described “only black kid in Malibu” and singer/producer and sometimes tabloid “bad boy” Cisco, on their path to stardom.
Although known for his partying ways and celebrity girlfriends, Cisco is also a hardworker and talented musician, and it shows in his music. I’ve been listening to their single, “Get U Home” – it’s a great track, worthy of being cranked up to the max!
Exclusive interview with Cisco Adler:
Jenny May: What kind of things would have to be happening at a party that would make you drop everything to be there?
Cisco Adler: The Rolling Stones playing live and a slew of naked models…other than that, a party is just a party.
When recording, do you always mix your own tracks or do you work with an engineer? Which do you prefer and why?
I work the board when we record. As far as mixing goes, it depends what the song calls for. On this record I mixed half and my buddy Dave Pensado mixed the rest…the song determines all of this. I like mixing but for some tunes I want to have someone with a different ear and background mixing.
What was the last movie that you watched?
Lars and the Real Girl.
Did you like it?
It was Amazing!
If given the opportunity to write a movie script, what would be your ideal genre?
Comedy…and best believe I have a few already written.
Where is one of your favorite places to go to just chill out?
I’m not so good at that. I hate being away from my studio. So I guess I’d say my studio…
Who would be a dream guest to feature on one of your tracks (still alive, that you haven’t had yet)?
Anthony Kiedis, Andre 3000, Rivers Cuomo.
If you have friends over with mixed musical tastes, what would be the first album that you would grab to play for your guests (other than yours)?
F*** em…they are at my house and I’m the DJ. I’d play what I want and hopefully they can dig. Bob Dylan is always good with whatever ur drinkin’…
What is your daily routine when on tour – from morning to night?
Wake up, take a shot, get on stage, take a few more shots, go to sleep…
Can you break down the writing and production process of “Get U Home”?
Well I wanted to do an uptempo tune with a big pop rock chorus. It started with a sample, but after I threw on all the guitar and drums and synths I took out the sample and liked it better. I spent a few days perfecting the chorus lyric melody and after that Shwayze came in and we hammered out the verses. It’s one of those catchy melodies that sticks in ur brain. It’s sort of an anti-pop song and it’s dirty and clever but still has a huge melody and a pop progression.
Who wrote the lyrics, music, mixed, musicians involved etc.
I wrote the music and the chorus lyrics and made the track. It took a few days to get the chorus vocals right. It’s a catchy pop melody and sometimes those are the hardest to get perfect, but when u do they are magical. I dropped a couple guitar tracks and then had a friend of mine named Beardo (check out his music!) come in and do some more to really fill the chorus up. Then Shwayze and I wrote the verse lyrics together and he got in the booth and layed em down.
Was there anyone in particular that inspired the story behind “Get U Home”?
A gentleman never tells…But it’s a play on words. It’s not that I can’t wait til we get home. It’s actually I cannot wait and we need to go into the bathroom and make love now!
Chicago band Inchworm’s latest release ‘Sheep in Wolf’s Clothing’ has been in my iTunes player for awhile now, and the tracks continue to shine with each listen. Inchworm is a band that I feel quite passionately about, as I really like their music, with endearing vocals, top notch songs, quality musicianship – and they seem like a cool group of people …
Chicago band Inchworm‘s latest release ‘Sheep in Wolf’s Clothing’ has been in my iTunes player for a while now, and the tracks continue to shine with each listen.
Inchworm is a band that I feel quite passionately about, as I really like their music, with endearing vocals, top notch songs, quality musicianship – and they seem like a cool group of people!
Someday I’d like to see them play live, but in the meantime, it was a treat to have the opportunity to interview them.
Last Sunday night I went to see InLight at The Bullingdon Arms in Oxford. After watching two members of the band play an “acoustic” set last month at The Jericho Tavern when they supported Baskery, I was looking forward to seeing them as a full band …
Last Sunday night I went to see InLight at The Bullingdon Arms in Oxford. After watching two members of the band play an “acoustic” set last month at The Jericho Tavern when they supported Baskery, I was looking forward to seeing them as a full band.
It’s quite interesting hearing the stripped down version of a band first – with limited instrumentation. With InLight, when I saw them the first time, I was able to get a clear feel for their songs, and how the songs have the ability to hold their own without the need for ‘more’. Then, to go and see them as a full unit, songs colored in with drums and bass and more energy exuding from the stage, was even more of an uplifting experience. An enthralling performance.
I’m Not There, a daring and innovative film inspired by Bob Dylan and directed by Todd Haynes (Velvet Goldmine, Far From Heaven), takes various stages of Bob Dylan’s life and career and reinterprets them to the soundtrack of his music …
I’m Not There, a daring and innovative film inspired by Bob Dylan and directed by Todd Haynes (Velvet Goldmine, Far From Heaven), takes various stages of Bob Dylan’s life and career and reinterprets them to the soundtrack of his music. Unlike Factory Girl, in which a character apparently based on Dylan forced his lawyers to threaten to sue the makers, this movie received his blessing. It’s easy to see why: Haynes shows a respect for his subject and the shape-shifting and multiple identities Dylan has undergone over the years, by re-enacting this tendency in film and employing a variety of actors to portray aspects of Dylan’s persona over time.
Each of the actors is given their own narrative loosely based on actual events and interviews from Dylan’s past: Marcus Carl Franklin plays a young black version of Dylan who calls himself ‘Woody’ and thus represents the beginning of the artist’s career, when he styled himself on folk singer Woody Guthrie; Ben Whishaw plays the ‘poet’ Dylan styled after Arthur Rimbaud; Heath Ledger plays Robbie Clark, a Hollywood actor estranged from his wife Claire (Charlotte Gainsbourg) and children, representing Dylan the star refracted through his personal life; Christian Bale plays Dylan as a young, politicised folk singer and later becomes ‘Pastor John’ (Dylan the born again Christian); Cate Blanchett plays Jude Quinn, or Dylan at the height of his fame in the 60s, when his original fan base rejected him as a sell-out for going electric; and Richard Gere plays the older Dylan as a Billy the Kid figure in a surreal and haunting Wild West town. All stories are filmed in a style unique to each character and are informed by cinematic history: from cinéma vérité to Fellini, Goddard and westerns.
Narratives are spliced throughout, taking you from Woody to Billy in an unpredictable but oddly fitting manner. There are many beautiful set pieces which could easily be extended and beautifully directed music videos – notably those in the Billy the Kid story, which features some stunning moments set around the bandstand, where Billy stands up to his nemesis Pat Garrett in a rustic, circus style setting. Revisiting the movie upon its DVD release I was struck anew by what seems to be perfect casting – particularly that of Cate Blanchett, Heath Ledger and Charlotte Gainsbourg.
Much has been said about Blanchett’s performance, which really captures Dylan as he was in the 60s (see D.A Pennebaker’s documentary Don’t Look Back). Choosing a woman with Blanchett’s luminous beauty was a risky strategy but it pays off. Her performance illustrates just how alien Dylan appeared to people in the 60s: androgynous, full of riddles. Her every move, gesture and even the timbre of her voice is uncannily and inherently Dylan – culminating in a memorable confrontation between Jude and a journalist in the back of a car.
Heath Ledger’s performance is shot through with pathos given his recent death; already ensconced in the more emotive parts of the film, his scenes were even more moving given the circumstances and it was difficult not to feel choked seeing him so young and fresh on the screen. He and Charlotte Gainsbourg offer us a more personal, intimate story than the rest, portraying the start and finish of a relationship very movingly. Their naturalistic performances give the impression of a couple’s life together in what constitutes only a segment of the film’s wider whole, and they deserve praise for their success in realising this in so short a space of time.
The rest of the cast also acquit themselves well: as usual Christian Bale performs with intensity and integrity and Marcus Carl Franklin is impressive as a man-child searching for an identity. Even Richard Gere was less smug than usual. Ben Whishaw delivered some powerful monologues but the character of Arthur was less tangible than the others and only seemed there to provide some way of knitting together the disparate stories.
In all, this movie does well to emulate the slippery nature of Dylan’s own self-mythologizing and delivers a series of unforgettable stories strung together by his music.
And the DVD extras? They include a passionate and intelligent commentary from Todd Haynes that gives an account of how much research and dedication went into the movie. Given the restraints on location (the movie was shot entirely in Montreal which had to stand in for London, Greenwich Village and the wild west) and time, the sense of commitment from everyone involved is clear from Haynes’ words.
There’s also a set of informative interviews with Haynes and a lovely video tribute to Heath Ledger. A mini documentary on the making of the soundtrack is also worth a look. It features an interview with Sonic Youth’s Lee Ronaldo, who produced much of the album. Considering the film itself features a mesmerising reworking of “Going to Acapulco” from My Morning Jacket’s Jim James and Calexico, a discussion with the guy who had the fearsome task of reinterpreting a selection of Dylan’s songs for contemporary artists simply had to be on the cards. However, it was a shame that there weren’t more interviews with other artists involved in the soundtrack, such as Eddie Vedder or Richie Havens (who is also in the movie). It would have been nice to hear their thoughts on the project. On that note, I’d have liked to have seen some cast interviews as well.
I won’t split hairs. There’s a written contribution from Greil Marcus for goodness sake! And it’s the movie that’s the thing. I’m Not There stands up to and becomes even more enjoyable on repeat viewings, and supplemented with the background information currently available in the Extras, is something I would advise Dylan and movie fans alike to invest in. Although you come away with no greater knowledge of the legend himself, your appreciation of Dylan’s work is all the greater for stimulating creative and original endeavours such as this.
on amazon.com
on amazon.com
on amazon.co.uk