Category Archives: Notes

Interview with composer Maurice Jarre, who has died at 84

Posted on March 30, 2009 by admin

  By Ray Bennett Maurice Jarre, the great French composer who has died at 84, deservedly won Academy Awards for his scores to three David Lean films – “Lawrence of Arabia,” “Doctor Zhivago” and “A Passage to India” – and … Continue reading →

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MUSIC REVIEW: Elbow make it a beautiful day at Wembley

Posted on March 15, 2009 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Mercury Prize and Brit Award winners Elbow are the best band in the land. London’s Wembley Arena on March 14 was jammed to the rafters for a two-hour concert that showed the Bury lads at … Continue reading →

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The ruins of Detroit captured in beautiful photographs

Posted on March 14, 2009 by admin

Detroit has long been a city in trouble but living across the river in Windsor, ON, from 1969 to 1977 left me with a great fondness for the sad old place where I covered political gatherings and peace demonstrations, reviewed … Continue reading →

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BERLIN: Great Cajun music in Tavernier’s ‘Electric Mist’

Posted on February 7, 2009 by admin

By Ray Bennett BERLIN – There are several reasons to like French director Bertrand Tavernier’s handsome and atmospheric feature “In the Electric Mist,” which had its world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival tonight, not least the sumptuous cinematography … Continue reading →

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Director Robert Mulligan dies at 83

Posted on December 23, 2008 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – American director Robert Mulligan, who has died aged 83, never matched his 1962 classic “To Kill a Mockingbird” but he was always able to draw out fine performances from his actors. Not only that, but … Continue reading →

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Oscar winners and wannabes in February film releases

Posted on December 22, 2008 by admin

By Ray Bennett Everything comes in pairs in the United Kingdom’s February film releases. Two Oscar-winning veteran filmmakers show how it’s done with Clint Eastwood’s “Gran Torino” and Woody Allen’s “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” (pictured above). Two famous characters from the … Continue reading →

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Movie star Van Johnson dies at 92

Posted on December 13, 2008 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Colourful and self-deprecating American character actor Van Johnson, who has died aged 92, was never a great actor but he always gave good value when he stopped by the American TV talk shows. He gave … Continue reading →

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We shall not cease from exploration …

Posted on December 11, 2008 by admin

We shall not cease from exploration and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.                         … Continue reading →

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Ry Cooder at home in the California desert

Posted on November 23, 2008 by admin

There are nearly 100 Ry Cooder tracks on my iPod, just ahead of Randy Newman, including songs, film scores and his last three releases, the superb trilogy “Chávez Ravine” (2005), “My Name Is Buddy” (2007 ) and “I, Flathead” (2008), … Continue reading →

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Recalling Renee on her birthday

Posted on November 21, 2008 by admin

‘Your sweet and shiny eyes are like the stars above Laredo, like meat and potatoes to me. In my sweet dreams we are in a bar and it’s your birthday, drinking salty margaritas … ‘  

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