Articles by Michael Bonner

First Look - the Coen brothers' Inside Llewyn Davis

Michael Bonner — Mon, 20 May 2013 11:07:44 +0000

Uncut contributor Damon Wise is at this year's Cannes Film Festival. Here's his first look review of the new Coen brothers film, set in Greenwich Village in the early 1960s: Inside Llewyn Davis...

First Look - David Bowie: Five Years

Michael Bonner — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:16:48 +0000

There are many delights on offer in David Bowie – Five Years, the BBC’s terrific new documentary focussing on five critical periods in Bowie’s career. Here’s a longhaired Bowie, sporting a natty fedora, at Andy Warhol’s Factory in 1971, miming being disembowelled. And here he is on The Dick Cavett Show in 1974, wearing a dark blue shirt, tartan tie and brown trousers, twirling a cane while he performs “Footstompin”, a cut that eventually became “Fame”.

First Look - Sofia Coppola's The Bling Ring

Michael Bonner — Fri, 10 May 2013 11:13:16 +0000

Sofia Coppola always seem to have had an uneasy relationship with celebrity.

The Man Who Fell To Earth! The Hunger! SpongeBob SquarePants! Our guide to David Bowie on film

Michael Bonner — Wed, 08 May 2013 11:32:11 +0000

The unveiling of Bowie's latest video earlier today prompted me to dig out this piece I originally wrote for our Bowie Ultimate Music Guide, about Bowie on film...

20 Fictional Bands In The Movies

Michael Bonner — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 11:56:30 +0000

A couple of weeks ago, I was chatting to a friend about fictional bands in films. Is there a list of the best names, or the worst?

Dexys, Duke Of York's Theatre, London, April 16, 2013

Michael Bonner — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 15:31:38 +0000

As you come up the escalator at Leicester Square underground station, you might notice the posters lining the walls advertising Mamma Mia!, Viva Forever! and We Will Rock You. You could be forgiven for wondering what place Dexys have in the heart of West End theatreland, especially here among these big karaoke musicals.

Coens' Dylan-inspired folk pic Inside Llewyn Davis set for Cannes Film Festival

Michael Bonner — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 10:31:15 +0000

Just a quick blog today, as I really just wanted to flag up the line-up for this year's Cannes Film Festival, which got announced this morning.

Armando Iannucci: "the CIA is just full of people who are a bit disorganised"

Michael Bonner — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 10:09:10 +0000

For the next issue of Uncut, I've reviewed Season 1 of Veep. In case you're not familiar with the show, it's basically Armando Iannucci's attempt to relocate The Thick Of It to the White House.

First Look - Beware Of Mr Baker

Michael Bonner — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 10:56:56 +0000

Hopefully, you'll have seen the new edition of Uncut by now. Among many, many good things in this month's issue, there's Nick Hasted's interview with Ginger Baker.

Bridget St John on Kevin Ayers: "He was a lovely, beautiful human being"

Michael Bonner — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 11:31:12 +0000

Hopefully, you'll have seen the new issue of Uncut by now, which includes a terrific cover story on The Who's early ascendancy, plus Cream, Matthew E White, Jeff Lynne, Kurt Vile, and more - including a piece by Allan on Kevin Ayers.

First Look - Olivier Assayas' Something In The Air

Michael Bonner — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 09:45:02 +0000

At the end of last week, I watched the new film by Olivier Assayas, which has been called Something In The Air in England, though its original French title – Après Mai – arguably feels a little more evocative.

First Look - Noah Baumbach's Frances Ha trailer

Michael Bonner — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 08:00:00 +0000

The IMDB lists Noah Baumbach’s credits since 2010’s Greenberg as a TV adaptation of Jonathan Franzen’s novel The Corrections and a co-write on Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted.

David Bowie Is... V&A, London

Michael Bonner — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 16:07:32 +0000

Towards the end of the V&A’s terrific David Bowie Is… exhibition, tucked away on a wall next to the handwritten lyrics for “Heroes” and a postcard from Christopher Isherwood, are a set of door keys that have evidently seen better days.

“Hectic Danger Day”: the Alan Partridge movie trailer unveiled

Michael Bonner — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 13:47:40 +0000

I suppose Alan Partridge is the, uh, albatross round Steve Coogan’s neck.

The Eagles, Steve Coogan, Muscle Shoals for Sundance London

Michael Bonner — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 13:09:00 +0000

It’s a busy day in the Uncut office, but I’ve just time to post about the line-up that’s just been confirmed for this year’s Sundance London festival.

Sam Raimi, Oz and A Simple Plan

Michael Bonner — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 13:05:43 +0000

It’s possible to view the career of Sam Raimi as one might a musician of a certain stripe. The successful early indie releases, followed by uneven attempts to navigate the mainstream landscape; a dedicated fanbase for whom those formative cult projects are sacrosanct.

"A folk singer with a cat": Bob Dylan, Greenwich Village and the new Coen Brothers film

Michael Bonner — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 13:11:54 +0000

I’ve been meaning to write about this for a week or so now, but pesky deadlines for next month’s issue of Uncut kept getting in the way. Anyway, here’s some thoughts on the trailer for the new Coen brothers film, Inside Llewyn Davis.

Terrence Malick's To The Wonder

Michael Bonner — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 11:56:51 +0000

It’s an odd week to release a film, I guess, as no one’s entirely paying attention. The usual brouhaha surrounding this coming Sunday’s Oscars ceremony has been chewing up a lot of film content in magazines and on websites, while elsewhere the internet seems preoccupied with Star Wars spin-offs, Star Trek and Sin City posters and whether or not Sam Mendes will direct the next Bond film.

Judd Apatow's This Is 40

Michael Bonner — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 11:06:12 +0000

Since Judd Apatow inherited the mantle of Hollywood’s king of comedy, one of the criticisms most frequently levied at him involves his willingness to promote those closest to him.

'A Walter Hill film'

Michael Bonner — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 13:21:59 +0000

It’s been a decade since the words ‘A Walter Hill film’ have graced the screen.

Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained

Michael Bonner — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 13:00:17 +0000

Quentin Tarantino came to a crossroads in his career when he made Jackie Brown in 1997. Coming after the lary carnage of Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction, his third film, adapted from Elmore Leonard's novel Rum Punch, was an unexpectedly poignant and subtle account of middle-aged people doing whatever they have to do to survive. The guns, double-crosses and gangsters were there, of course - but there were other things, too: warmth, character and nuance.

"I met Andy Warhol at Madonna and Sean Penn's wedding": An interview with Crispin Glover

Michael Bonner — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 12:19:40 +0000

Catching a relatively straightfoward performance from Crispin Glover in Tim Burton's Alice In Wonderland over the festive season reminded me to dust down this interview I did with the actor for Uncut back in 2005.

Jarvis Cocker reviews Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction

Michael Bonner — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 15:01:10 +0000

Following on from my blog about Quentin Tarantino's favourite records, I thought I'd post another QT-related titbit, from 1994. In a previous life, as film editor at Melody Maker, I commissioned Jarvis Cocker to review Pulp Fiction for us. Here, then, is Jarvis on Tarantino's early masterpiece...

Quentin Tarantino chooses his 10 favourite records

Michael Bonner — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 13:01:52 +0000

Seeing Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained the other night reminded me to dust down this interview I did with the director many moons ago. I think it first ran in Melody Maker, and then again in the first issue of Uncut.

Neil Young Journeys

Michael Bonner — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 10:31:30 +0000

In May 2011, Jonathan Demme filmed Neil Young on the three hour drive from the singer’s hometown of Omemee to Toronto’s Massey Hall, where he was scheduled to play the final shows of his Le Noise tour.

Interview: Peter Strickland on Berberian Sound Studio

Michael Bonner — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 11:35:16 +0000

You’ll hopefully have spotted Uncut’s Films Of The Year in our current issue. High up the Top 10 is the brilliant Berberian Sound Studio, director Peter Strickland’s spin on low-rent 70s Italian horror movies and a tribute to the Heath Robinson-style endeavours of foley artists and sound designers of a certain generation. Ahead of the film's imminent release of the film on DVD – and Broadcast’s score in the New Year – I caught up with Peter Strickland to chat about the film and his influences.

"People drifted off..." Bryan Ferry on Roxy Music's many bass players

Michael Bonner — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 11:32:55 +0000

In the current issue of Uncut, I spoke to Bryan Ferry for our An Audience With… feature. Among the reader questions was one from Rob Emery, who asked ‘Why do you think Roxy Music got through so many bass players?’

Ben Wheatley's Sightseers

Michael Bonner — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 21:12:17 +0000

Apart from a rather undignified search on secondary ticketing websites for Rolling Stones tickets, I spent part of my weekend listening to Jim Williams’ folktronic score for Sightseers, a terrific black comedy from Ben Wheatley.

Wes Anderson: A Life Galactic

Michael Bonner — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 11:36:30 +0000

I've given up pretending I'm not interested in watching a new Stars Wars movie.

Roger Waters. November 15, 2012, London. "The descent into tyranny is a very steep and slippery one.”

Michael Bonner — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 17:00:45 +0000

“Why so glum?” asks Roger Waters with a smile as he strides into a conference room in an elegant Mayfair hotel.

Interview: Crossfire Hurricane director Brett Morgen

Michael Bonner — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 11:17:05 +0000

As part of our current Rolling Stones cover story, I interviewed director Brett Morgen about his Stones' film, Crossfire Hurricane.

Argo and the return of Ben Affleck

Michael Bonner — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 12:34:19 +0000

Ben Affleck. Who'd have thought..? I remember going to a sparsely attended screening of Jersey Girl, Kevin Smith's laugh-free 2004 romcom with Affleck cast alongside his then girlfriend, Jennifer Lopez, and wondering what had happened to derail such a promising career.

The New Uncut: The Rolling Stones

Michael Bonner — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 11:15:49 +0000

Allan’s off today – something about a cat in the well, I think – so he’s asked me to write this week’s newsletter blog. It’s not an especially difficult task seeing as a new issue of Uncut goes on sale this week. You might have already caught some of our recent news stories on www.uncut.co.uk, in which case you’ll already know that our cover stars this month are the Rolling Stones.

Beasts Of The Southern Wild

Michael Bonner — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 13:44:43 +0000

In 2009, Uncut spoke to The Wire’s creator David Simon, shortly before the broadcast of his follow-up series, Treme. The show was set during the aftermath of 2005’s Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, a city that Simon felt had effectively been abandoned by the rest of America since the storm. “The only thing that brought this city back was the people who understand its unique culture and who participate in that culture refused to give that up,” he told us.

First Look - The Rolling Stones' Crossfire Hurricane

Michael Bonner — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 16:29:46 +0000

For those who are disappointed not to have scored a ticket to see the Rolling Stones in 2012, then there is some slight consolation.

First Look - Skyfall

Michael Bonner — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 14:44:44 +0000

James Bond at 50 seems in pretty good shape.

First Look - Tim Burton's Frankenweenie

Michael Bonner — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 14:15:33 +0000

Tim Burton's kid friendly Frankenstein opens this year's London Film Festival...

First Look - Stoker

Michael Bonner — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 11:41:56 +0000

Stoker arrives with some heavy expectations. It is the English language debut of South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook, the architect of the nerve-shredding Oldboy.

James Murphy and Shut Up And Play The Hits

Michael Bonner — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 10:22:36 +0000

I interviewed James Murphy in late 2006, for a preview piece about The Sound Of Silver, the second album by his band, LCD Soundsystem.

First Look - Looper

Michael Bonner — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 11:13:23 +0000

It’s a pretty auspicious day, according to my Twitter feed. No, it’s not just that Neil Young has joined Twitter – 21,300 followers and rising.

First Look - Led Zeppelin's Celebration Day

Michael Bonner — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 17:04:56 +0000

Here’s Jimmy Page, reminiscing about Led Zeppelin’s 2007 reunion show at the 02. “We wanted to go out there, stand up and be counted,” he said at a press conference held earlier today in London. “To show people who maybe didn’t know Led Zeppelin but had heard a lot about us why we were what we were. And not only that, we had had a really good time that night. We made a lot of people very happy.”

The London Film Festival: Big Star, the Stones and more…

Michael Bonner — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 10:46:16 +0000

This year’s London Film Festival opens for business in October.

John Hillcoat interview

Michael Bonner — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 09:49:12 +0000

As part of our Nick Cave cover story in the current issue of Uncut, I spoke to film maker John Hillcoat. Hillcoat and Cave’s friendship stretches back to Melbourne in the late 1970s, while their first professional collaboration came in 1981, when Hillcoat edited the promo video for The Birthday Party single, “Nick The Stripper”.

Alan Garner - Boneland

Michael Bonner — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 12:29:22 +0000

50 years is a long time to wait for a book. In September 1956, Alan Garner started writing his debut novel, a children’s book set among the landscape and folklore he’d known all his life – Alderley Edge in Cheshire, 12 miles south of Manchester. First published in 1960, The Weirdstone Of Brisingamen followed the adventures of 12 year-old twins, Colin and Susan, on the Edge – “a long-backed hill… high and sombre and black.”

Berberian Sound Studio

Michael Bonner — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 11:33:06 +0000

This is one film that's stuck with me since I first saw it a month or so back. Principally, it's a spin on low-rent 70s Italian horror movies; a film that both celebrates and mimics the tropes of murky gialli from filmmakers like Dario Argento.

Elton John - 5 Classic Albums (1970 - 73)

Michael Bonner — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 09:53:30 +0000

From humble ivory-tickler to global sensation - the singer-songwriter's rise chronicled...

Elizabeth Fraser, Royal Festival Hall, London, August 7 2012

Michael Bonner — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 11:12:28 +0000

The shouts begin in earnest around the first encore – most of them are calls for specific songs, accompanied by a smattering of “We love you”s, but the one that raises the biggest cheer is simply: “Where have you been?”

Luke Haines' Art Will Save The World

Michael Bonner — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 10:03:58 +0000

“I find it faintly ridiculous that anyone would want to make a film about me,” says Luke Haines at the start of Niall McCann’s documentary, currently touring film festivals. Haines has spent much of his career as both a musician and, latterly, an author, raging splenetically and repeatedly against Britpop and those musicians he considers of lesser creative stature – which is most of them.

Neil Young, Tom Waits and Lou Reed

Michael Bonner — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 10:00:44 +0000

Hi there. I hope you all had good weekends. Were you, like me, glued to the BBC for the duration of the athletics?

First Look - Rian Johnson's Looper

Michael Bonner — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 13:22:49 +0000

While I’ve been rather excitedly banging on this year about the return to active filmmaking of the class of 1990something – Wes Anderson, Paul Thomas Anderson, Whit Stillman, Todd Solondz – I should, in all fairness, spend a few moments on the new film by Rian Johnson, a veteran of the class of 2000something.