My Favourite Movies of 2007

Few people seem to like Lou Ye's SUMMER PALACE. Personally I think it's the most beautiful movie of the year. Even a second screening yesterday didn't change my mind. Here are my favourite movies of 2007:

1. SUMMER PALACE
2. IKLIMLER (CLIMATES)
3. LADY CHATTERLY
4. STELLET LICHT
5. 4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AND 2 DAYS
6. THE MOURNING FOREST
7. I DON’T WANT TO SLEEP ALONE
8. INLAND EMPIRE
9. OPERA JAWA
10. EXILED
11. DARATT
12. SYNDROMES AND A CENTURY
13. CALIFORNIA DREAMIN'
14. LITTLE MOTH
15. THE HOST
16. MEDUZOT
17. BLIND MOUNTAIN
18. A BITTERSWEET LIFE
19. KHADAK
20. STILL LIFE

I also enjoyed Control, La Marea, Les Anges Exterminateurs, Tuya's Marriage, Le Papier Ne Peut Pas Envelopper La Braise, Hamaca Paraguaya, Time, Walking on the Wild Side, Prendre Femme, Koorogi, The Journey (Yatra), The Optimists, Jardins en automne, Ca brule, Bamako, Half Moon, Bes Vakit, Weed, Scream of the Ants, Rain Dogs, Nue Propriété, Our Daily Bread, Letters from Iwo Jima, Body Rice, Yumurta, La Influencia, Pas Douce, Persepolis, Desert Dream, Familia Tortuga, Auf Der Anderen Seite, Woman on the Beach, Nacido y Criado, El Baño del Papa, El Otro, Riza, Las Vidas Possibles, Takva, La Leon, Rome Plutôt Que Vous, We Own The Night, Elle s'apelle Sabine, Nos Vies Privées, Paranoid Park, Les Témoins, Manufacturing Landscapes, Election 2, You the living

Mission accomplished!

Thanks to all the people who came to the Dan Sartain/Nathaniel Mayer double bill in my hometown! I am very glad my intense publicity campaign has paid off well since the house was packed! Muchas gracias amigos!

I really like the Dan Sartain Vs. The Serpientes CD from 2003 but on stage in Eeklo, Dan didn't really live up to my expectations as he looked rather indifferent and tired. The set was OK but OK isn't enough in my book. A missed opportunity!

Top of the bill was Nathaniel Mayer who turned out to be a very funny but sex-obsessed old man. "As long as the pussy smells, I take it" was his favourite one-liner during the short talks I had with this Detroit legend. Nathaniel also told me that he finally receives royalties for his brilliant Fortune recordings now that the Vampisoul label has issued a wonderful and legitimate 2LP/CD compilation. So please get yourself a copy of 'I Want Love and Affection (Not the House of Correction)' which is an absolute must for any serious 60s soul/R&B fan! The show itself was really great. Some people got annoyed by the sloppy backing band but since I am a big King Uszniewicz fan, I really loved the sound: garage soul, taken literally! Mr. Mayer was at his best during the deep soul ballads. "You give it to him, why don't you give it to me?" for example was mind-blowingly good since he passionately sang the song to a middle-aged fan in the audience who was dancing sensually with his partner. I heard different opinions afterwards, some liked the set while others didn't, but I myself, was impressed by this raw and sincere performance. Afterwards, I played some of my favourite records for all of my longtime friends and we had one hell of a good time (not in the least because of the delicious draft Blonde Grimbergen!). A terrific Saturday night for sure!