Don’t say I hold back on the goodies.

If you head over to the Facebook page of the fantastic Toronto band Metric, you can hear a sneak preview of a song they recorded for the soundtrack of ‘Scott Pilgrim Vs The World’.

The track in question is the amazing ‘Black Sheep’. It was written during the sessions for their recent ‘Fantasies’ album and has been part of their live set of late.

I was thrilled that they agreed to record it for use in my film. It’s a monumental tune.

Here’s what Metric have to say about it.

Last year our genre smashing director friend Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz) told us he was working on a new movie called “Scott Pilgrim vs. The World” starring Michael Cera and asked us if we’d be Interested in working with him and legendary Radiohead producer Nigel Godrlch on some music for the film. Of course, we said YES!

It just so happened we had the beginnings of a song at suited the project perfectly from our early “Fantasies” recording sessions at Bear Creek, and that song became a pivotal track in the movie, which centers around a young group of musicians.

Become a fan of METRIC on Facebook to unlock an exclusive sneak preview stream of the final version called “Black Sheep”.

~ From Metric’s Facebook page.

Artwork by Sam Gilbey – http://samgilbeyillustrates.com/

Okay, this is the penultimate plug for tomorrow night’s epic midnight movie meltdown.

DEATH WISH 3!

Now with Cliff Notes for those of you who haven’t seen the previous installments.

And also featuring the above spiffy quad version of Sam Gilbey’s limited edition poster.

Fri 19 Feb 11:30pm | Curzon Soho, 99 Shaftesbury Avenue W1D 5DY 0871 703 3988 More details on their site.

Previously on Death Wish…

Death Wish (1)

In the original and really rather good instalment, mild mannered architect Charlie Bronson has his family wiped out by NYC scum. With grim results.

Death Wish 2

In the second and really quite repellent instalment, hard bitten architect Charlie Bronson has his new wife, daughter and housemaid wiped out by LA scum. With exceptionally grim results.

Death Wish 3

And showing tomorrow, the third and really quite ghetto fabulous instalment. In this one, tough as nails, former architect Charlie Bronson avenges some friends of friends that have been wiped out by Lambeth-doubling-for-NYC scum.

With mind bogglingly violent results.

You simply have to be there.

Although do not attempt a drinking game whenever a goon is shot. You will die.

More about the Curzon’s Midnight Movies listings

Midnight Movies
sponsored by Jameson Irish Whiskey

Once a month we bring you the best in cult classics, trash beauties and art house jaw droppers alongside exclusive previews. Saunter down to the Curzon Bar from 10.00pm for live music, visuals and a party atmosphere plus a complimentary Jameson cocktail, before taking your seats for our very special feature.

To be the first to know about forthcoming Midnight Movie events, join our mailing list by sending an email with ‘listme’ as the subject to midnightmovies@curzoncinemas.com or be our friend on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

This is some serious ink.

I’ve seen some incredible Shaun Of The Dead tattoos in my time and this is just as impressive.

Check out this amazing tattoo taken straight from Bryan Lee O’Malley’s artwork in Scott Pilgrim’s Precious Little Life.

(via Robot6 – And the tattoo pics keep on coming | Chris Mautner)

Ty Tyner shares his Scott Pilgrim tat (done by Joe Kennett):

This tattoo is on my left leg in between my knee and sock line. Its from the fight between Scott Pilgrim & crew vs Matthew Patel (the final fight in book 1 of the Scott Pilgrim series). It wraps around 60% of my leg so it was hard to get just 1 shot of it looking right. Here is a panoramic styled mock up taken just soon after it was done (hence the redness).

My congrats go out to Mr. Kennet for his inkage.

And my sympathies go to Mr. Tyner for his sore leg.

I am guessing there must be some more SP tattoos out there. Love to see them.

Thanks to the amazing Alex Chenery of @DarkBunnyTees for this.

Am speechless.

Here’s some amazing poster art by the very talented Sam Gilbey for my Curzon Soho show on Feb 19th.

Please note that:

1) Bronson is twice as badass in black and white.
2) Osymyso is set to DJ on the night.

You need no further encouragement to come.

For those jonesing for more Wright Stuff presentations, I offer you a temporary and quite awesome salve.

I haven’t been able to schedule anymore double bills at the Prince Charles due to my quite insane schedule and print availability in the UK of some of my favourite cult items, but…

The good folks at Curzon Soho have asked me to do one of their Midnight Movies so I would like to cordially invite you to a Michael Winner classic.

DEATH WISH 3!

Fri 19 Feb 11:30pm | Curzon Soho, 99 Shaftesbury Avenue W1D 5DY 0871 703 3988 More details on their site.

Now, it’s easy to rag on Michael Winner, but there’s more than a couple of his films that I would applaud. ‘The Mechanic’ is a great 70’s thriller, the original ‘Death Wish’ is strong stuff and my beloved ‘The Sentinel’ is just insane.

But ‘Death Wish 3′ is…is…something else.

Come along on Feb 19th and witness the majesty of this 1985 epic.

It is shot in London doubling for New York…

It features a mail order rocket launcher…

It is the quintessential Cannon Film…

It is DEATH WISH 3. See you there.

Trailer

More about the Curzon’s Midnight Movies listings

Midnight Movies
sponsored by Jameson Irish Whiskey

Once a month we bring you the best in cult classics, trash beauties and art house jaw droppers alongside exclusive previews. Saunter down to the Curzon Bar from 10.00pm for live music, visuals and a party atmosphere plus a complimentary Jameson cocktail, before taking your seats for our very special feature.

To be the first to know about forthcoming Midnight Movie events, join our mailing list by sending an email with ‘listme’ as the subject to midnightmovies@curzoncinemas.com or be our friend on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

I don’t know how I’ve haven’t seen this before and don’t quite know who made this amazing mash up, but…

Thank you. Fuck yeah.

This is a tad late, but I wanted to share my Top 30 tracks of 2009 with you people. I was very busy for all of last year, so I didn’t get as much time to listen to whole albums as much as I’d like.

Given how crazy busy I’ve been working, this is almost a Top 30 list of songs that permeated my brain even during the insanity of production last year.

Not all of these are singles with music videos and indeed some of these singles don’t even have official videos. So have a peruse below at my very favourite tracks of 2009 and enjoy the videos that were available on the internet for them. I’ve tried to do a proper High Fidelity list and not repeat any artists too.

I also, obviously, didn’t include any older numbers on this list, even though I could honestly say Ennio Morricone’s ‘Rabbia e Tarantella’ from the ‘Inglourious Basterds’ album soundtracked many a walk to work back here in London.

Either way, here’s my 2009, starting with this catchy little number.

30  >  15 to 20 | The Phenomenal Handclap Band

29  >  Tropical Disease | AIR

I loved Air’s LOVE 2 album and along with this track, I also especially liked ‘Be A Bee’, ‘Eat My Beat’ and ‘Sing Sang Sung’. Well worth checking out the whole album.

28 > Starting Over | The Black Lips

I love The Black Lips. I got to see them live a couple of years back and meet them all. I particularly like their commitment to writing a great melody and then recording it sounding completely hammered.

27 > Dead Bees | Graham Coxon

Always been a fan of Graham Coxon’s solo work, so great to have another excellent solo effort in the same year at Blur’s triumphant reunion tour (which I missed entirely while in Toronto).

26 > The Girl and the Robot | Röyksopp

This is maddeningly catchy, there’s an official video over on YouTube too.

25 > I Think I Like It | Fake Blood

I loved me some Mars by Fake Blood last year and this too is, to use the parlance, a ‘banger’.

24 > Mary Jane | Major Lazer

Another great album; I almost put Major Lazer’s Pon De Floor on this list, just to embed a clip of Eric Wareheim’s absolutely insane video. For that, head over to YouTube and have your mindeyes blownfried.

In the meantime, listen to this addictive little ditty. (*cough* about drugs).

23 > Mind Eraser, No Chaser | Them Crooked Vultures

Haven’t had a chance to listen to all of this album from the Grohl, Homme, Jones supergroup, but this single was a hard rocking earworm for me.

22 > Animal | Miike Snow

This is a great track that I first became aware of at Adam Buxton’s great BUG night at BFI Southbank. This very interesting video is by Anthony Dickenson with amazing effects achieved mostly in camera.

21 > Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat | Beck

An awesome Bob Dylan cover from Beck for the War Child album.

20 > Let’s Go Surfing | The Drums

Tipped to be huge in 2010, let’s hope their first album is all as catchy as this.

19 > Go Bananas | Joe Goddard

Joe Goddard from Hot Chip released a fruit based solo album ‘Harvest Festival’ which featured this fantastic dance track. Love his Bryan Ferry styling on the ‘whoa-whoa’ vocals.

18 > Surf Solar | Fuck Buttons

This is one of the few albums I listened to in full many times this year. Fuck Buttons’ second album Tarot Sport is just immense. Contact high music.

17 > High Together | Siriusmo

Speaking of contact highs, here’s another great piece of electronica that tickled me this year. Found this on one of the always great Kitsune compiltations, it sounds like a blissed out Blade Runner out-take, but with more five year olds singing on it. Love it.

16 > The Key | Speech Debelle

Haven’t had a chance to hear the whole of her Mercury award winning ‘Speech Therapy’ but this is joyous.

15 > White (Adem Remix) | Charlotte Hatherley

My good friend Charlotte Hatherley had a great year touring with Bat For Lashes and the best reviews of her solo career with her ‘New Worlds’ album. The remixes on her ‘White’ single from great too, my favourite being this one by Adem.

14 > Glass | Bat for Lashes

Bat For Lashes second album ‘Two Suns’ is just a great, beautiful piece of work. Saw her live in Toronto during filming with most of the cast and her voice was just incredible live. Loved the single ‘Daniel’, (check out the Official video on YouTube.) but this is my very favourite track from the album.

13 > Lisztomania | Phoenix

Have loved Phoenix since their United album ten years ago. Was very pleased to see them have their biggest hit last year with the brilliantly titled ‘Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix’.

The whole album is great; with special mentions to ‘Fences’, ‘1901′ and this, the first hit single to be named after an obscure Ken Russell film.

12 > 11th Dimension | Julian Casablancas

This track is way too much fun. I’m pleased to hear Mr Casablancas having such a ball. He revealed a goofy side as guest vocalist on The Lonely Island’s ‘Incredibad’ album and then released a solo album with tracks as poppy and awesome as this. I doff my cap to you sir.

11 > Anna | Charles Spearin

This is from The Happiness Project album, a side project from Broken Social Scene member Charles Spearin. On this album he recorded interviews with friends and neighbours, then played music in time with the cadence of their speech. It’s something like a music version of the techniques employed in Aardman’s ‘Creature Comforts’ shorts. Like the following track, its frequently beautiful and life affirming.

10 > Punch You In The Jeans | The Lonely Island

I am not going to lie, this is actually my most played song of 2009. I bought The Lonely Island’s ‘Incredibad’ album in January and listened to it in the car on the way to work many, many times.

I also have to give props to the following tracks that I know off by heart; ‘On A Boat’, ‘Who Said We’re Wack’, ‘Santana DVX’, the aforementioned ‘Boombox’ with Julian Casablancas and ‘Dreamgirl’ with Norah Jones singing about Chexmix.

This track is just great, like a Beastie Boys track that never was.

9 > Robbing Banks (Doin’ Time) | The Slew

This is a great track from the album ‘100%’ a scratch-rock collaboration between the amazing turntablist Kid Koala and Dynamite D. The whole album is fantastic, so if you like this, buy it. With immediate effect.

8 > Demons Out! | Art Brut

Some of my favourite lyrics of the year and a epic rhyming of ‘entertainer’ and ‘detain ya’. Eddie Argos is as witty as ever in this brilliant track from the also amazingly titled ‘Art Brut Vs Satan’.

7 > Bonkers | Dizzee Rascal & Armand Van Helden

Many of you will know this very well. It was huge last summer. But what a track. And what a video.

Non UK readers, please enjoy the national institution that is Dizzee Rascal.

6 > Actor Out of Work | St. Vincent

I was late to the party on this song. In fact I had bought it on iTunes and not listened to it until the end of the year. And now it stormed its way into the Top 10 as I’ve played it on a loop of late.

5 > Angela | Jarvis Cocker

Love this glam single from Jarvis’ ‘Further Complications’ album. I haven’t had a chance to fully dissect the lyrics, but there would seem to be much filthiness. All power to that.

4 > My Girls | Animal Collective

Many people made ‘Merriweather Post Pavillion’ their album of the year and this track the song of 2009. I too adore ‘My Girls’ and being a big fan of Noah Lennox’s side project ‘Panda Bear’, I was pleased to see the neo Beach Boy vibes from that album carry over into the new Animal Collective disc.

3 > Zero | Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Tough to pick from all the great tracks on YYY’s ‘It’s Blitz’ album. It’s full of killer tracks like ‘Heads Will Roll’, ‘Little Shadow’ and this glorious anthem.

2 > Two Weeks | Grizzly Bear

So beautiful. I was already a big fan of their ‘Friend’ album, but this track and their new album is stunningly good. Love this video too.

Much like the next track, I was in love with this track before even the first chorus had kicked in.

1 > Help I’m Alive | Metric

Was already a big Metric fan before I got to work with them this year on Scott Pilgrim. The new album ‘Fantasies’ is their best yet, with amazing tracks all the way; ‘Sick Muse’, ‘Stadium Love’, ‘Front Row’, ‘Twilight Galaxy’ and more.

This, their first single, is my favourite track from the album and my favourite of the year. Many a trip to work was soundtracked by me yelling out ‘beating like a hammmmmmerrrrrr’.

So for that alone, it’s my song of 2009.

And there you go. Will try and update with clips for those that have none, if I can find something good.

Okay, this is astonishing, mindblowing and deeply flattering.

Last year, I posted a picture a day every day.

Truth be told, I posted 525 Photos and 1 Video in 365 days.

It was as much a great exercise for me as it was fun to blog them for you on this site.

I’ve never taken many mementos of my film-making before, indeed I took next to no photos during SHAUN OF THE DEAD and HOT FUZZ. Or SPACED. Which in retrospect, saddens me.

I was determined to record the whole of last year and the production of SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD, in painstaking detail.

Finishing it on Dec 31st was bittersweet. Part of me was happy to not have to think about posting something cool, interesting or facetious every 24 hours. But part of me also misses just taking photos on a daily basis.

So I have to thank regular poster Joel Vallie for this equally painstaking video that covers my entire 2009 in 8 minutes flat.

Every single one of my 525 photos, plus all the other material I posted on here – blogs, retro blogs, music videos, is featured in this incredible piece that Joel edited.

See my life flash before my eyes in high style in the clip below.

Joel, you’ve outdone yourself. Thank you so much.

You ended my 2009 blog in a way I could not have dreamed of.

Bless you forever for this.

Joel Vallie
http://joelvalliefilms.com/ | http://twitter.com/joelvallie

(p.s. Bonus points for anyone who knows what the first track is from…)

Many film sites covered the first official stills of ‘Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World’ this week.

Much of the response was very exciting and very funny.

But only one website closed down its operations for the day and brought their coverage to a halt for our photos.

www.ultraculture.co.uk, I salute you.

6 January 2010 – Photo by Photo Credit: Kerry Hayes – © 2010 Universal Studios. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

6 January 2010 – Photo by Photo Credit: Kerry Hayes – © 2010 Universal Studios. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

This is not my photoblog. This is for real!

Above are the official first stills of Scott Pilgrim Vs The World from Universal.

And here’s how it was covered…

• First Official Photos: Edgar Wright’s Scott Pilgrim vs. The World | /Film
• HOLY CRAP! AWESOME NEW SCOTT PILGRIM IMAGE | Chud
• Scott Pilgrim with a flaming katana! | AICN
• SCOTT PILGRIM. FLAMING SWORD. RANDOM BACK FLIP. | Twitch Film
• First Official SCOTT PILGRIM Image Features Michael Cera Wielding A FUCKING FLAMING KATANA | Collider
• First Still From Scott Pilgrim Is Online, Michael Cera has a flaming sword! | Empire Online
• New ‘Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World’ Image Hits The ‘Net — Here’s What We Know About It! | MTV Splashpage

Among many others too. Thanks for all the positive feedback.

Thank you for all your lovely comments on my 6music show yesterday.

For the many of you who asked, here’s my full Month Of Matinees Playlist…

BARRY GRAY – THEME FROM SPACE 1999
DADDY MAXFIELD – RAVE ‘N’ ROCK
JARVIS COCKER – ANGELA
METRIC – STADIUM LOVE
BRENDAN CANNING – CHURCHES UNDER THE STAIRS
HANDSOME BOY MODELLING SCHOOL – THE TRUTH
BECK – MIXED BIZNESS (CORNELIUS REMIX)
FRANK BLACK – I HEARD RAMONA SING
ART BRUT – DEMONS OUT
THE SLEW – ROBBIN’ BANKS (DOIN’ TIME)
SIRIUSMO – HIGH TOGETHER
FAKE BLOOD – MARS
SUPERGRASS – SITTING UP STRAIGHT
EAGLES OF DEATH METAL – SOLID GOLD
QUEEN – KEEP YOURSELF ALIVE
FOCUS – SYLVIA
THE KINKS – TWO SISTERS
LEE HAZLEWOOD – MY AUTUMN’S DONE COME
FRANTIQUE – STRUT YOUR FUNKY STUFF
LIQUID GOLD – DANCE YOURSELF DIZZY
YOMANDA – SYNTH & STRINGS (excerpt)
BONZO DOG DOO DAH BAND – CANYONS OF YOUR MIND
MADNESS – THE RETURN OF THE LOS PALMAS 7
ENNIO MORRICONE – DEEP DOWN
HERB ALPERT & THE TIJUANA BRASS – CASINO ROYALE
PAUL WILLIAMS – THE HELL OF IT
PAUL WILLIAMS – SO YOU WANNA BE A BOXER
JOE CORNISH – ALL NIGHT GARAGE
PAUL GIOVANNI – WILLOW’S SONG
QUINCY JONES – THEY CALL ME MISTER TIBBS

Listen to it on iPlayer (here).

Edgar

Further pimping of my festive 6music MONTH OF MATINEES show, this Sunday, Dec 20th at 3.30pm!

Will be playing tracks by…

BARRY GRAY
DADDY MAXFIELD
JARVIS COCKER
METRIC
BRENDAN CANNING
HANDSOME BOY MODELLING SCHOOL
BECK
CORNELIUS
FRANK BLACK
ART BRUT
THE SLEW
SIRIUSMO
FAKE BLOOD
SUPERGRASS
EAGLES OF DEATH METAL
QUEEN
FOCUS
THE KINKS
LEE HAZLEWOOD
FRANTIQUE
LIQUID GOLD
YOMANDA
BONZO DOG DOO DAH BAND
MADNESS
ENNIO MORRICONE
HERB ALPERT & THE TIJUANA BRASS
PAUL WILLIAMS
JOE CORNISH
PAUL GIOVANNI
QUINCY JONES

You may guess the tracks if you like…

You will not get them all…

You will enjoy. Do tune in or listen to it live on iPlayer (here) or after it’s aired on iPlayer (here).

Edgar

A Month of Matinees continues with the British film director Edgar Wright. Making his name as the director of the cult British comedy TV show Spaced Edgar has gone on to direct the two biggest British comedy films in recent years – Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz. Today he plays tunes from his record collection and explains how certain music comes to be used in certain parts of films. There’s also an insight into his favourite work in other soundtracks. For further info click here.

Had an overwhelming response to my tribute to Edward Woodward that I wrote on Monday. It was very heartwarming to see that many of you felt the same way about him.

I’d like to include a couple of responses here.

This is from the director Joe Dante.

Very nice, Edgar. Reminded me about how I felt about John Carradine and Slim Pickens, especially the part about only hearing the stories just before a take.

And this is from director Peter Jackson, a fellow Woodward fan.

Fantastic actor. Huge loss. There will never be another Callan.

Well said Mr Wright.

RIP Edward Woodward.

Thank you to all your responses on this site that showed just what a beloved actor Edward was.

For those who haven’t seen it, I’d like to post a link to Simon’s shared memories of Edward from the Hot Fuzz shoot.

I’d also like to thank @samclements on Twitter who sent me this link to Alex Cox’s Moviedrome introduction that preceded my first viewing of ‘The Wicker Man’ on BBC 2 way back in 1988.

This takes me way back.

I bring explosive news.

I am one of the judges of the most amusing “Done In 60 Seconds” competition for the 2010 Jameson Empire Awards.

I shall judging entries from around the globe with the EMPIRE team next year and presenting the award to the winner.

I saw some of these very amusing 60 second epics when I was last at the awards in 2008. That year the award was won by a minute long TITANIC. Which film will win next year?

Get filming you little herberts!

See below for some rambling tips by yours truly and details of how to enter.

I must preface this clip by saying that if it looks like I just rolled out of bed…well…

Edgar Wright’s guide on how to re-create a movie in 60 Seconds

The Finalists

Congratulations to this year’s winner Jerry Maguire by Stephen Power and Conal O’Meara.

Highly Commended

View videos of this year’s entries that didn’t quite make the final shortlist.

I am deeply sad today as we’ve lost the great Edward Woodward.

He was very dear to me and a dream to work with, as I hoped he’d be.

I was first aware of Edward Woodward not as The Equalizer or even as Sergeant Howie in The Wicker Man, but as the lead of the espionage TV series Callan.

Callan (1967-1972) was one of the first real tough guys on TV. The show was repeated in the early eighties on British TV and while I was perhaps too young for it, I recall three things about it.

One is my mother pretty much singing Edward’s name. It’s an amazing name and she would seem to have so much fun just saying it. It’s a testament to how famous this man was and how he’s ingrained in our culture, not just for three legendary characters, but even his name gave birth to at least three classic and oft repeated jokes.

My other memory of Callan is this classic opening credit sequence with the swinging lightbulb. These titles were seared onto my brain as a child.

My other dim recollections of Callan mostly revolved around Woodward’s character beating people up, but also getting beaten up. Couple this brutal action with that amazing poker face and he was one of the most intense actors on TV. I could see that even as an eight year old. Edward Woodward was badass.

Like Simon Pegg also, I had faint childhood memories of seeing the Callan movie (1974) on TV, where Woodward has a psychedelic fight with David Prowse whilst on an acid trip.

(Several years later, after Hot Fuzz was released, Quentin Tarantino showed me, Simon and Paddy Considine his own personal print of Callan the movie and we amazingly got to see that fight on the big screen.)

After Callan, Woodward later became famous to me as The Equalizer (1985-89) another TV show that thrilled me with a great title sequence, great theme tune (by Stewart Copeland) and another terse, intense performance by Woodward.

This credit sequence, again, was a huge part of my childhood and I remember being terrified by it.

Later I saw The Wicker Man for the first time on BBC2 in 1988, as part of Alex Cox’s Moviedrome series.

Needless to say, as Hot Fuzz should attest, it had a huge effect on me. It’s quite astonishing given how little known and under seen the film was on its first release, that it now has such a huge cult reputation.

I remember remarking to Edward on the set of Hot Fuzz how amazing it was that the film’s fame continued to grow, even passing into the language as a go-to term for any creepy countryside activity. (“It’s all a bit Wicker Man”)

The film is a masterpiece and quite unique in the annals of British horror due to it’s folky vibes, which were at odds with much of the gothic horror output at the time. One of my favourite things about the movie is that Woodward’s Sergeant Howie is almost the villain of the piece and arguably a lot less likable than Christopher Lee’s Lord Summerisle.

It’s a film I returned to again and again. The soundtrack too is something quite beautiful and it may not surprise some that me and Simon wrote a lot of Hot Fuzz to the sound of The Maypole Song.

Click here to play The Maypole Song from The Wicker Man

On the set of Hot Fuzz, when I talked to Edward about how much I loved the soundtrack, he remarked that he had never owned a copy and would love to hear it again.

When editing Hot Fuzz, I went to see the unnecessary 2006 remake at the cinema. I knew Edward had mixed feelings about it, even though he was flattered that they had named a character after him.

One of many things that baffled me about the remake was the choice to dispense with the folk music element completely. I’d even read an interview with Neil LaBute where he disparaged the folks songs in the original. I swear that’s one of the best parts of the film. Its status as a horror movie is equal only to its place as the oddest of musicals.

After seeing the remake, I then sent Edward a vinyl LP version of the re-released Wicker Man soundtrack with a note attached saying…

“Just seen the Wicker Man remake. Do not fear, your place in film history is unassailed. Edgar”

I received a letter back from Edward saying how much he loved hearing the soundtrack again and how it took him right back.

Sadly I fear that the sentiments of my letter have been proven partially wrong. While the original Wicker Man (hell, it pains me to even have to preface the title with “the original”) still has a great cult following, there is a generation growing up that only know The Wicker Man (2006) as a camp classic thanks to internet mash ups of Nicholas Cage screaming about bees. When occasionally I hear people talking about the ‘bees’ version without having ever heard of the original film, it depresses me. This is why this endless trend of remakes is very bad indeed.

I digress slightly, but let me say that if you wanted to pay tribute to Edward today, then simply watch the original version of The Wicker Man. It is a film that he was very proud of and I think that it ranks as one of the best British films of all time. It certainly has an indisputably harrowing ending.

I cast Edward in Hot Fuzz in 2006.

We had a very funny first meeting where he regaled me with anecdotes. His opening gambit about the script was this. “I read the script. I thought… It smells a bit Wicker Man”. He was very happy to be involved and very happy to be cast in a comedy too. I had remembered last seeing him in the BBC series ‘Common As Muck’ which had utilized his little known knack for comedy.

I also remember telling him that Quentin was a huge fan of his film ‘Sitting Target’ (another great soundtrack – btw) and he looked shocked. I’m not sure anyone had ever complimented him on it. He replied “Well, you must tell your friend he is very strange indeed”.

Edward was full of stories about every production he’d ever been on. One of major regrets about the shooting of the film was that I was so busy physically shooting the film, I missed out on what all of the other actors got in the make up trailer: ‘anecdote time’ with Edward.

It would pain me that in-between takes, Edward would start telling me a story about the Wicker Man shoot and then halfway through I would be called back to set as we were ready to shoot. Simon and Nick heard all the stories. I was most envious.

This was such a shame to me that I rectified it in two ways. One was to ensure there was a commentary track on the Hot Fuzz DVD that featured all our film’s elder statesmen and greatest raconteurs. If you’ve heard it already, you’ll know that Edward Woodward is very funny on it.

The other instance of making up for lost time with Edward came after the release. We had a UK premiere in Leicester Square on the 13th of Feb, 2007 and even though all the cast were in attendance – it was impossible to speak to anyone. The after party (as is usually the case) was quite a noisy affair and the chance of catching up with anyone properly, Edward included, was zero.

While it was great to have such a big premiere and good turnout, it was sad not to be able to chat to the cast. It bothered me so much that when the film opened at Number 1 in the UK, I asked Eric Fellner at Working Title if we could have a ’second premiere party’ that would be a lot smaller, more intimate and where I could actually talk to the cast and crew.

A week and a half later, at Soho’s Union Club, this is exactly what we did.

I actually contrived to sit, not with Simon and Nick, but next to Edward and his lovely wife Michelle Dotrice, along with Paul Freeman, Ken Cranham, Jim Broadbent and Anne Reid, some of the actors whose amazing stories I’d missed during the shoot.

Needless to say, my plan for more anecdote time paid off and I got to hear many of Edward’s amazing stories. This includes the one where while filming in Australia for Breaker Morant, a man walks up to him during a hike in the outback and introduces himself. As ‘Edward Woodward.’ He met his Australian namesake in the middle of the desert.

At the end of dinner Eric Fellner stood up to make a speech and congratulate us all on the film’s success. When he sat back down a voice called out.

“Now, I’d like to make a speech too”

And lo, Edward Woodward stands up and begins a good fifteen minute monologue about his career and the fun he had on our film. It was one of the sweetest and funniest things that occurred during the whole production.

That was the last time I saw him.

Rest in peace Edward. My thoughts go out to his lovely family.

On Monday night I saw a superb documentary which is still reverberating in my head.

It concerns a lost film by the great French director Henri-Georges Clouzot, he of The Wages Of Fear (1953) and Les Diaboliques (1955).

In 1964 he intended to make his masterpiece with the psychological drama with L’Enfer (Inferno).

We will never know whether it was Clouzot’s masterpiece, because his version of the film was never finished. They only got through 2 and a half weeks of an 18 week shoot, when the lead actor left the set and Clouzot had a heart attack.

Now, 45 years later, director Serge Bromberg has made an amazing documentary about the aborted film that not only includes much of the footage that was shot, but also some truly hypnotic camera tests.

Anyone with even a passing interest in the trials and tribulations of film making would do well to check this out. This is as fascinating as Hearts Of Darkness or Burden Of Dreams as a document of a hugely ambitious undertaking. And as heartbreaking as Lost In La Mancha as a tale of the film that didn’t make it.

Like I said, I am still thinking about the film days later. There’s something quite haunting about seeing the silent rushes of a troubled shoot with a clapperboard that literally reads ‘hell’ in French (“L’ENFER”).

And the glimpses of the footage and montages cut together from some 15 hours of camera tests are so mesmerizing.

How mesmerizing?

Play the clip below and see Romy Schneider getting slinky with a slinky. Lucky slinky I say.

The film is out now in limited release. I saw it at the ICA and would recommend seeing it on the biggest screen you can find.

More info at TheAuteurs.com

I feel compelled to not only wish Devin Faraci at CHUD.COM a belated happy birthday, but thank him profusely for mentioning Shaun Of The Dead in his top ten movies of all time.

The following quote is a very sweet thing to say. And I feel the same way about people’s responses to Raising Arizona, Evil Dead 2 and a few others. Basically, if you don’t like Bugsy Malone, I am not sure we could ever be friends.

I’ve found Shaun of the Dead helpful in life, as every person I have ever met who didn’t like the movie isn’t worth knowing. It’s an unbelievable litmus test and it’s never failed me.

Read the rest of his article and list (which includes my all time favs, Duck Soup, Annie Hall and the 1978 Dawn Of The Dead*) below.

Thanks Devin. Much appreciated. Great company to be in.

- THE DEVIN’S ADVOCATE: MY TEN FAVORITE MOVIES by Devin Faraci | CHUD.COM

(*It kind of annoys me that I have to specify which version these days.)

Editing on a Sunday again. With today’s paper to prove it. Click the phot and use FLICKR to zoom in Blade Runner style for hidden sight gags.