Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Cultural Review of the Year 2007

In the time honoured tradition (i.e. I did it last year), here is my Cultural Review of the Year. I realise it is a bit early but doubt anything is going to make a last minute bid for a place.


Film
A pretty good year mainly due to Raindance Festival and film club. Favourites were In Search of a Midnight Kiss, Control and Zodiac. On DVD I loved Lives of Others and Little Miss Sunshine (even though I sobbed my way through the latter)

Music
Better than last year in that I did actually get out to see a few bands and in particular the Connect Festival, but my interest in new music is still waning. Reading The Observer Music Monthly’s Top Albums and Singles of the Year, I knew shamefully few. Anyway, my album of the year would be Malcolm Middleton’s A Brighter Beat or Maximo Park’s Our Earthly Pleasures. Live act of the year would go to the Jesus and Mary Chain, followed by the Polyphonic Spree.

Theatre
Without a doubt the best production I saw this year was Rock and Roll. The best production I’ve ever seen at all in fact.

Television
The final series of the Sopranos was better than the one before but ‘Homicide Life on the Street’ was my favourite show of the year, even though it is very old and we were watching it on DVD so is possibly cheating.


So what were your highlights of 2007?

11 comments:

M said...

Ah...did you get to the final episode of 'The Sopranos'? Thoughts?

SandDancer said...

I did get to it. I'm still not 100% sure what it all means but thought it was interesting. I did feel that after years of being on his side and being charmed by him, that the final series did unglamourise things somewhat and start to show him as less sympathetic.

I really hope they don't make a film though - I definitely feel it should be finished with and any attempt to bring it back will sully the memory.

M said...

I agree. No movie required. I thought it was a fitting, very smart ending. Kudos to the writers.

Sophie said...

ever got into the Sopranos myself, is it worth watching. I think i'd rather see a film about gangster i.e The Godfather or Good Fells, both brilliant films in their own right.

http://www.spacesophie.blogspot.com

M said...

The Sopranos was worth watching. Some of the best television ever, IMHO. The subtlety of the writing was brilliant and reflected so much about human nature and modern culture, ugly as it can be.

SandDancer said...

I would also say though that I think it is best watched on DVD so you can watch a few episodes at once - I found it harder to get into when it was on the television as one episode never seemed enough and it was on a bit late for me!

It is closer to film than most television in terms of the quality of writing and production too.

Roses said...

Changing the subject somewhat:

Blessings of the Winter Solstice to you and yours. May your Yule be filled with love, laughter and light.

Thanks for being there for me in the dark times of the year.

cogidubnus said...

Cultural review? Culture?

Gawd awmighty, unless you mean the stuff wot grows on a Petri dish (or any horizontal surface in my home), I'm not sure I belong here...

But thereagain, Sir Les Patterson is supposed to be the Australian Cultural Attache (how DO you get an acute accent on here?), so perhaps that'll make me feel more at home...

Happy Christmas to you, and thanks for keeping me alert and entertained this year...

Anonymous said...

er...best bits of 2007? Been pondering this for a week or so and either can't even stretch my mind back further than the last few weeks or the last book/tv show/film and everything else I thought of the OH reminded me didn't actually come from 2007! (I've just been watching season 1 of the wire so I'm a bit behind things..). Anyway have a good one and wishing you all the best for the new year - see you in 2008!

NM x

Roses said...

Hope you have a brilliant 2008 sanddancer, filled with loads of fun, dosh and culture!

cogidubnus said...

Happy New Year SandDancer