Here in the streets of American nights

This week's film review had an interesting beginning, given that my dad couldn't remember the name of the film he had gone to see (we don't worry too much about the names of the films we see, just whether or not we like them or not is the important thing). Once he told me that Colin Farrell was in it, we managed to work out that he had gone to see Pride and Glory. His verdict this time? "Pretty brutal, but our kind of film. Never seen a film with so much swearing in my life. It was eff this, mother eff that. Bit gratuitous. But I enjoyed the film. The acting was quite good, Jon Voight was good."

Apparently the film "got a turkey in the Daily Mail", but never let it be said that my dad takes notice of everything he reads in the Daily Mail. Unless it is about Russell Brand.

When worlds collide, said George Pal to his bride

I was listening to the Archers last night when one of the characters remarked to another "Forgetting Sarah Marshall!" (one had got a DVD for another).

See, there's always room for Jason. Even in deepest, darkest Ambridge.

Can't believe you're taking my heart to pieces

Number five of an occasional series.

Duran Duran have written some amazing pop songs. But their best ever song I think is Come Undone. Although it got to Number 13 in the UK when it was released, it is arguably not one of their most famous songs (at least amongst the uninitiated).

I has a gorgeous swirly guitar hook and one of best vocals Le Bon has ever done. Any lyrically it is just beautiful (apparently it was written for Yasmin as a birthday gift). It's one of a small group of songs that can bring me out in genuine goosebumps.

I've always thought it suffers as the lesser relation of Ordinary World, as that was their big comeback single. But I think this is even better - it's much more understated and therein lies its strength. Sheer perfection.

And we call this making history

I stayed up until 4am this morning (or last night, whatever you prefer) watching the US election results coming through (helped along with the way with some Jim Beam). I don't live in the States; I don't have a vote there, but I felt like I was part of history, something pretty momentous. It reminded me of the 1997 election in the UK, where there was just this great surge of hope, that things were about to change for the better.

When the states started to be called, it became clear reasonably quickly that something amazing was truly going to happen. Even although the polls had indicated this outcome, it wasn't until I saw it with my own eyes that I could believe it. Polls have been wrong before (2000 anyone?) and it felt like if I went to bed before the end result, then somehow I would wake up and it would all have gone horribly wrong.

Which is why I was determined to stay up to see it with my own eyes. At about 4am (my details may be a bit sketchy here; I'd been up a long time), California came through and then Washington, taking us through the magical 270. History had been made and I could go to bed for a few hours.

My head hit the pillow when McCain gave his speech once the result was clear. Before sleep overtook me, I was struck by how incredibly gracious he was. There is a very interesting article in the times online about him.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/article5084049.ece

Of course, it meant that I missed Obama's victory speech, but I read the text this morning (it gave me goosebumps) and that's what You Tube is for.

All in all, quite a night. And worth feeling slightly gritty and sleep for the whole of the next day. When people inevitably ask "where were you when Obama won", I can answer.

Because he's too cool for school He comes alive oh, when the sun goes down

NME have just published their Cool List for 2008. It's full of lots of the usual suspects, most of whom wouldn't know cool if it came up, introduced itself and handed over a large slice of cake.

http://www.nme.com/blog/index.php?blog=10&title=nme_cool_list_2010&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1

Still, at least the man who is quite possibly the coolest guy to walk the earth is on there, albeit at a lowly 33. And I love how they have described him. "The desert-rock James Dean possesses a classic charisma that ensures he'll always be a Cool List contender".

Now, that's what cool is all about.

Old as ancient skies, I've had these wandering eyes

I had the inevitable phone call at the weekend from my parents about the whole Russell Brand/Johnathan Ross debacle (I was amazed they had waited as long as they did). Safe to say they aren't fans, but know that I am. So they wanted to know what I thought of it all, and to tell me how disgusting/crude/unfunny they think they both are and what they would have done had it been my grandfather they had called.

Leaving aside any rights and wrongs (and I think far too much has been written about it already, so no need for me to add my thoughts, apart from it did make me wonder if his old mate Jason has got in touch to offer his support), it got me wondering about humour. Clearly it has nothing to do with genetics - neither parents thinks Russell Brand is at all funny, whereas he has me laughing out loud most of the time. My mum was trying to get me to tell her what was funny about him and I couldn't. This doesn't mean that he isn't funny, it just means that comedy is not something that can really be explained. You laugh or you don't.

And that's it.

He has a powerful weapon, he charges a million a shot

My dad went to see Quantum of Solace on Friday. I wasn't expecting him to like it (he went because his mate wanted to); he hasn't liked a Bond film since Sean Connery gave up, and even then we'll be talking about 1960s Bond rather than Never Say Never Again.

My suspicions were correct. He spent the first 10 minutes trying to work out what was going on (apparently seeing Casino Royale recently would help), and the rest of the time he was just a bit bored. "It doesn't have much of a plot, and how come he can take on 4 bodyguards in a lift and win with ease, yet he has trouble just after with one person, who isn't quite as brawny" (I suggested he might be tired after all the business in the lift".

Bottom line is he just doesn't think Daniel Craig is a very good actor. However, he was most impressed with Judi Dench and Tim Piggot Smith, so all was not lost.

I'm hoping he sees something he likes soon.