The Big Bamford House

It's grim up north!

It always gets us a little upset when people assume that beyond a small, rather unpleasantly over-populated patch of South East England the UK is a cultural wasteland. Not true we say! The Yorkshire Sculpture Park is a great example. It has a internationally important collection of Henry Moore and Hepworth art works, four excellent indoor exhibition spaces and the huge parkland.

Then, if by any chance you get fed up of all that you've got the unique attractions of Saltaire with its world-leading Hockney collection and the best art bookshop I've ever seen (and a damn good cafe!) you can then round off the day at the Crucible in Sheffield, arguably the most innovative and exciting production house in the country at the moment.

London Road Revival

In our student days we used to live in and around London Road. It was a bit of a scary place to be. Lots of empty shops, pubs that you would never visit and a shop that just sold non-branded nappies, staffed by an old man who wore a white doctors coat.

Today the place looks and feels very different and has developed a 'little china town' atmosphere, with its Asian supermarkets, community centres, dim sum and noodle bars. The latest edition to the revival is 'Mao' a contemporary Chinese restaurant.

We went for the first time on Monday night and had a great meal. It was great Chinese, in great surroundings. The owners had clearly taken a lot of time and money to create the right look. We particularly liked the variety of Asian spirits and Asian cocktails on offer, but didn't sample them as we had the car - maybe next time.

Have to admit for outright taste, atmosphere and authenticity the little Chinese place near Adelaide Central Market takes a lot of beating.

Birthday Girl

Sorry about the lack of news from the Big Bamford House but life has been getting in the way a little bit lately. Anyway here we are back with a bumper edition.

We have recently celebrated a birthday! Amanda was the birthday girl on the 25th. As is the usual custom one celebration was not enough and a series of events were planned over a festival-like weekend.

Thanks to everyone who came along, thanks to everyone who sent lovely cards and gifts. our new photo album has lots of photos of the weekend.

A prize will be awarded for the best suggestion for what Amanda is thinking abut here!

C'mon England!

Poetic odds

W. Eugene Smith
American , 1918-1978

Another in the series highlighting my admiration for that generation of American photographers who worked from the 1930's to the mid-1970's. Smith's work is summed up by this this quote:

"I am constantly torn between the attitude of the conscientious journalist who is a recorder and interpreter of the facts and of the creative artist who often is necessarily at poetic odds with the literal facts."

This image from the Second World War in the Pacific shows this artistic conflict perfectly. The image is cinematic in its approach, reveling in the grandeur of the scene, making the subject matter appear un-worldly. However this is photojournalism during wartime, it doesn't get more real than that.

Click image to see full size

Friends of Yugo

Following a number of positive responses to the Yugo Nakamura link within our favourite things lists, I have dug out another little play thing from an artist working in the same field.

http://www.play-create.com/

Some of its a little inaccessible at first, but just have a play around...

BFG 2 - The Life Aquatic

The Life Aquatic is this particular director's third film, I'm sorry for the laziness but I cannot be bothered to look up his name, can someone let me know? His other efforts were Rushmoor, The Royal Tenumbaums (sp?) and now The Life Aquatic. You cannot talk about this new movie without referencing his earlier work. In short, if you 'get' the other two you'll 'get' this one. The film is populated by some great characters, full of hinted-at back stories, fasinating personalities and strange motivations. I won't try to describe the plot, as this is a minor factor in the film overall and accounts for the major flaw in the film. The production design is amazing, with everything looking as if it has either come straight out of a 1970s French documentary or an experimental stop-motion animation film.

Despite really wanting to love this film, in the same way that I think the Royal Tenumbaums is one of the warmest, most touching films I've ever seen, I did not quite connect with The Life Aquatic. Whilst having the same characters and feel to the previous work, The Life Aquatic's plot lets it down. You just don't experience the same journey as you do with The Royals, you just don't care as much about Steve Zissou as you did with that strange family living in the New York Brownstone.

The BFG still gives it a thumbs up though!

A little funny

Not very clever (especially the dodgy photoshop effects) but quite funny none the less. Who said anything abut being smug?

Originaly seen at www.al4ie.com
Click on image to see full size

Sauna

It's 33 degress in our office today - phew what a sauna!

Bamford Film Group 1

Batman Begins

We saw the new Batman Film the other week and quite simply we thought it was great. At first glance it seemed like an unusual choice for Chris Nolan to direct a mainstream comic-book blockbuster. But this is not your usual brainless summer movie. For what seems like the first hour there is not a single scene with the dark knight, and precious little action. This is not a film for the under 10s pumped up on sugar.

The main focus of the first half of the film is devoted to answering the questions; why does Bruce become the dark knight and why choose a bat as his alter-ego. The answers to these questions are on the whole pretty convincing and satisfying.

The second half of the film is really where the action kicks in and when it arrives it delivers. The scene featuring the new bat mobile is great. Very little CGI, extremely believable technology (the vehicle was designed to be a military bridge-builder) and very exciting.

The supporting cast, as well as the lead actors all did very well, especially Bale who at times re-created his manic Patrick Bateman best. I also liked Caine as Alfred. I'm not a big fan of Caine who often comes across as a bad impression of himself. But here it works well. The only slightly weak area is the baddies, while the scarecrow is frightening the film does lack a big bad guy. Another great character is Gotham itself. The design looks great, especially the longer shots, there has not being a better looking city on film since Bladerunner.

Anyway, what did you think of it?