Monday Meltdown

The outpourings of a brain trying to forget what day it is. Live For Films accepts no responsibility for the nonsense contained within.

(As will become clear, I would be the spider on the bottom right.)

I may not be as in comedic form as usual this morning, but I haven’t slept since last Tuesday and this is affecting my outlook somewhat. As it should. So if I appear extra grumpy, then imagine this whole thing peppered with the hundred swear words that were edited out, delivered in a sweet natured voice using the vitriolic tone of Begbie from Trainspotting. I’m sure that at least will raise a smile.

Something has been both terrifying, and annoying the hell out of me this week.
I’m not saying his name, because I refuse to add to his pointless media circus. If I call him ‘Carlos’, I’m not straying far from the truth and you can catch my drift quicker than he can find ten hookers and some coke in the middle of nowhere. Without a signal.

What really pisses me off about the whole thing, is not only the fact that he’s clearly having some kind of breakdown and displaying his mental deterioration for the world to see, but also that his mistreatment of women and sheer lack of talent is lost in amongst a sea of publicity opportunities.

It’s not that I’ve never had much time for him, but…“Oh! Oh! I wanna change my name and do Vietnam too!” Do you? DO YOU? Why not grow a pair like your brother and do some real work, eh?

“He’s gone mental, and his show has been cancelled, so lets get in as many interviews as possible and grab an agent to secure a shitload of cameos!!”

Hmmm. How wonderfully mercenary of you, industry! Way to go.
Let us all see if you’re laughing as much when he’s dead, eh? When he shoots another woman or maybe batters another one senseless? Will that be as much fun? No, of course not. But I suppose that for now, while you ride the wave of ‘Apocalypse Me’ and bloody ‘Warlock Latin’, it doesn’t matter, does it?

The media of today see a breakdown as a promotional advantage. The whole thing makes me sad. Column inches matter more than actual talent. Real talent that should be seen, should be admired. Not replaced with quick cash-ins centred around the latest celebrity car crash. In a world where hotel heiresses can get famous for filming their sexual exploits and haircuts make the front pages, I shouldn’t really be surprised that real talent goes unnoticed and unrewarded, but still – I can’t help but find this shit annoying.

That I am so annoyed by stuff like this may be in part due to the fate of one of the finest performances on film I’ve seen in years.

Have you seen A Reckoning? Have you seen the astounding central performance? No?…thought not.

I only know a handful of people I can talk to about this film, but hell – I could go on about it all night. That A Reckoning goes unreleased, only further serves to justify my anger.
Yes. Deprive me of sleep long enough and I become a ball of pure rage.

Have you heard of Leslie Simpson?
Maybe you’ll be familiar with his name from modern British horror classics Dog Soldiers and The Descent? Doomsday? Believe me, even if you’ve seen these – you’ve seen nothing of Leslie Simpson. A trained stage actor, his finest role on film lies unreleased, and this is a travesty.

The details of why A Reckoning (formerly Straw Man) has yet to be released are sketchy, but having obtained my own illicit copy, I live in hope that it will see the light of day as soon as possible. The world NEEDS to see this film. Not only for its commentary on the human condition, and the stunning cinematography, but for some of the greatest acting I’ve seen in a while. By one man alone.

If you’ve watched Moon, you may have marvelled at Sam Rockwell’s one-man show. I did too.
But having now seen A Reckoning? Leslie Simpson could grab every one of those Sam Bells by the balls and knock them into next Sunday. Honestly. I’m not kidding. He captivates you for the whole running time. I’ve never seen anything like it. I’m rather hard-hearted with regards to having emotional reactions to film, but this pretty much broke me. Simpson, his straw companions, and the interactions with them? I’ve never felt as close to tears.

Ah stuff it. I was so blown away I’ve struggled to write a review of the bloody film for over two weeks now. I just stare at the screen and constantly delete everything I type as I’ll never do it justice. I hope to soon, but anything I write could never give A Reckoning and its star what they deserve – the world seeing this film, and taking notice.

Cinema with a deeper meaning, outstanding photography, and an actor who can show what real talent is.

So you can keep your column inches, your publicity coverage and your cameos feeding off mental collapse. Give me acting of this calibre any day. The world deserves it. And the next person who mentions “Two and A Half Men” gets the full wrath of me punching a mirror a la Daddy Martin, stripping naked, and weeping in a corner.

Hopefully, I’ll get some sleep tomorrow, but for now my caffeine-addled ramblings go out not only to the astounding Leslie Simpson, but the genius of director Andrew Barker and director of photography Adam Krajczynski.

Phil reviewed A Reckoning over here. I’m still struggling to turn eight pages of nonsense into a coherent train of thought. I’ll keep you posted though…

Interview with Leslie Simpson here. Interview with Andrew Barker here.