A Brit a Day [#402]

This is currently my favorite picture of Henry Ian Cusick. It's about a year old--it was taken at the LOST Live event at UCLA that preceded the end of the final season. A small printed copy of this picture is marking my place in the book I'm now reading, Kurt Vonnegut's "Welcome to the Monkey House.'' It's a book of short stories mostly written in the 1960's.

Vonnegut, ever the philosopher, makes us question who and what we are aside from our physical being. One of the protagonists lives in a future where bodies are just seen as a nuisance. People can live separately from their bodies, bodies are completely interchangeable, and in fact only the finest bodies have been kept, warehoused like formal wear for occasional rental.

In that case, the body pictured above would definitely be a keeper.

A Brit a Day [#401]

A room full of nervous Brits! At first I thought it was the scene from 'Mary Poppins' where Mr. Banks gets fired from, um......the bank. But no, it's HP&TDH's Deatheaters convened at Malfoy manor. This picture gets really big if you click on it, and you can then enjoy lovely Lucius Malfoy near the center of the table as well as his impeccably dressed son and beautifully blazed wife.

A Brit a Day [#400]

Above, a detail from the photoshoot for 'Equus' before it opened in the West End.

There's a passage in Patti Smith's memoir 'Just Kids' in which she describes the moment she became something more than a poet. She was rehearsing for a poetry reading with the musicians who were going to accompany her. As she recited 'Jesus died for somebody's sins, but not mine', the guitarist played a chord progression. Patti asked if those were the chords to a real song. It was indeed--it was the opening of Van Morrison's 'Gloria.'

In a short time, her band would go on to record the album 'Horses', the album that would change the possibilities of rock 'n' roll, with Patti's reinvented cover of 'Gloria' as the first track.

A Brit a Day [#399]

Here at the blog, we've seen enough of the hirsute Christian Bale lately, though his soft brown beard is lovely. I say it's time to bring back Bruce Wayne. Bring back the bat! Man, I can't wait until 2012.

A Brit a Day [#398]

My teenage daughter plays a game with her friends that goes roughly like this--they each have their laptops and start on a webpage with headlines like Yahoo! News. The game is to see who can get from that page to a reference to Hitler in the least clicks. They can't use a search engine, just mouse clicks. It's a tasteless premise, but kind of amazing because it never takes very long.

I bring this up because, as one of my friends says, I need you to walk with me here. The lyrics of a passage from '3rd Planet' on Modest Mouse's the moon and antarctica are the only words that will speak for me today, but Modest Mouse is a thoroughly American indie band. '3rd Planet' was written by Isaac Brock, portions of whose life sound like a Thomas Hardy novel.....

When his mother's house flooded she was forced to move in to her new husband's trailer where there was no room for Brock, so he stayed behind. He lived on the second floor of the flooded home until he was evicted by the police. After a period of living in a friend's basement, he moved into a shed he built on the land next to his mother and stepfather's trailer. [wikipedia]

.....but otherwise, there's no British connection.

That's Isaac Brock the living. Major General Isaac Brock, who died from a bullet to the heart in upper Canada in the War of 1812, was born in Guernsey and died a hero of the British Army. You can read more about him here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_Brock

THAT Isaac Brock is our Brit of the Day. The rest is just a device for me to be able to make you read this bit of [American indie] poetry by the other Isaac Brock--

Your heart felt good.
It was drippin' pitch and made of wood.
And your hands and knees,
Felt cold and wet on the grass beneath,
While outside naked, shiverin', looking blue,
From the cold sunlight that's reflected off the moon
And baby cum angels fly around you,
Reminding you that we used to be three and not two,
And that's how the world began.
And that's how the world will end.

Why is this verse speaking my heart's song today? You won't learn that just by walking with me, for I can't quite explain it. I can tell you this--The daughter I mentioned above is leaving home on Thursday for her first major adventure away from us. She's going to Europe for 9 days. I'm excited for her, I'm scared for her, I'm in denial that I'm scared or that she might be scared. I just want everything to be great. I want her to be there and be totally in the moment, and at the same time, I want her to be back home, safe, with the trip as just a fantastic memory. I want to stop worrying about Libya and remembering Pan Am Flight 103. '3rd Planet' is one of those songs that just hurts so good, and it's good to hurt a little, just for today.

A Brit a Day [#397]

This description is from Wikipedia:

Fenrir Greyback is a werewolf who is involved with the Death Eaters but does not rank highly enough to carry the Dark Mark. He is known as the most savage werewolf ever to live and is greatly feared throughout the wizarding world, even by his natural allies.^[11] He positions himself close to his victims when the moon is almost full. To fulfil his agenda of creating as many werewolves as possible, Greyback has infected scores of people including the young Remus Lupin, future teacher to Harry Potter and member of the Order of the Phoenix, when Lupin's father had angered Greyback. Greyback is known for targeting young children. Unlike most werewolves, Greyback thirsts for blood even in his human form. Fenrir is the name of a powerful wolf in Norse mythology.

A Brit a Day [#396]

I found this snapshot of a magazine page on the internet. Once upon a time, Eddie Argos was this magazine's Boy du Jour [see upper right corner]. Awww. Whenever I'm listening to Art Brut, which is rather frequently, Eddie is my boy du jour. Here at the blog, he is always our Friday boy du jour.

A Brit a Day [#395]

I have a request of photographers in the downtown LA area: You need to get and post a photograph of Henry Ian Cusick on the set of 'Damage Control'. He doesn't have to be doing anything special--he could just be on his way to work like in this photo from last summer when he filmed his episode of L&O:SVU in New York. Come on, pros and amateurs alike, you can do this for the Sistahood!

A Brit a Day [#394]

Jason Isaacs in a plain white T is a winner every time.

A Brit a Day [#393]

Dan Radcliffe rehearsing for "How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying." The show is currently in previews--I can't wait for opening night, this Sunday 3/27, to read the reviews.

A Brit a Day [#392]

The many beards of Christian Bale.

A Brit a Day [#391]

Lindsey Duncan, Alan Rickman, and Fiona Shaw recently appeared together at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Fiona, who is Irish, is known to all as Aunt Petunia of the HP films, but her riskiest role to date may be that of Richard II--yes, the title role in the Shakespeare play. Here is a link to an interview she did at the time:

http://www.salon.com/11/features/shaw1.html

A Brit a Day [#390]

A break from the routine for promoting Irishmen. Gabriel Byrne is NOT British. He is, however, awesome opposite Kevin Spacey [also not British] in 'The Usual Suspects.'

A Brit a Day [#389]

It's 1938, and isn't that Governor Stark shootin' craps with the boys down by the state limosine? No, it's Eddie Argos on tour with Art Brut in Chicago a few years ago wearing a second-hand suit. Oops, I did it again.....

You'll be happy to know that I finished reading 'All the King's Men'. So the flow of literary references should stop following Eddie every time he appears in a Brit-a-Day post.

A Brit a Day [#388]

Hiya, this post is for Thursday.

Making screen captures is an art. Lost-media.com has provided the most evocative caps from all seasons and episodes of LOST on their website's gallery. Making a still picture from a moving image takes a good eye and better than average reflexes, and they've given us literally thousands of caps. I love this one from 'Happily Ever After' that freezes the moment that Desmond begins to question his sanity.

A Brit a Day [#387]

The lively layered locks of Lucius Malfoy.

A Brit a Day [#386]

Here is a striking and beautiful companion to the HP7.1 promo picture/poster I posted on Sunday.

A Brit a Day [#385]

Christian Bale by Zack Wallenfang.

A Brit a Day [#384]

I've always wondered how Prof. Snape's pants terminated up under all those layers of wizard's robes, and this screen cap seems to address just that. The answer would seem to be: None too sexily. Lest we have the image of Grandpa Snape with a Sansabelt waistline burned into our minds, I'll add a promo pic that reminds us of why we came to love the Master of Potions in the first place [including hand porn] --

A Brit a Day [#383]

I am reposting this from Michele's blog in case you missed it. I have a lot of friends who are big fans of Daniel Craig--honestly, until now, I could take him or leave him. But this PSA took a lot of guts, and as a woman, I can only say that I really appreciate the support.

A Brit a Day [#382]

It's almost time for Art Brut's new album to come out, and as a bit of a teaser, one new song is available for free download at Pledge Music. You can get it by clicking here:

http://www.pledgemusic.com/widgets/972

A Brit a Day [#381]

Henry Ian Cusick has been cast in a new series called 'Damage Control', and the pilot is shooting in Los Angeles this week. His character is described as a lawyerish type, so we are expecting plenty of this:

But, never having shied away from objectifying leading men, we're hoping for some of this, too:

A Brit a Day [#380]

In the context of 'A Brit a Day,' Ralph Fiennes as Voldemort doesn't really do anything for me. But Jason Isaacs as a scruffy, anxious Lucius Malfoy--he can stick around.

A Brit a Day [#379]

Another production shot from 'The Woman in Black' with Daniel Radcliffe. In this image, he could be Cass Mastern, a character in 'All the King's Men' [which I'm still in the middle of reading] who is an ancestor of main character/narrator Jack Burden. We learn the main themes of the novel through Jack's exploration of his Civil-War-era journals:

Cass's story, as revealed through his journals and letters, is essentially about a single betrayal of a friend that seems to ripple endlessly outward with negative consequences for many people. In studying this fragment of Civil War–era history, Jack begins to suspect (but cannot yet bring himself to accept) the idea that every event has unforeseen and unknowable implications, and that all actions and all persons are connected to other actions and other persons.

So says Wikipedia. Amazing how every great story arc comes back to the notion of connectivity and personal responsibility.

A Brit a Day [#378]

The Esquire photo shoot that Christian Bale did in support of his work in 'The Fighter' is the gift that keeps on giving. Here is a companion shot to one I posted two weeks ago in which Christian was floating in the pool.

A Brit a Day [#377]

Alan Rickman has agreed to kindly step aside today so that I can introduce you to my favorite author of crime fiction, Denise Mina. Ms. Mina caught my eye and ear when I read her novel 'Garnethill.' I had been trolling the internet for pictures and information about Glasgow, and specifically Garnethill because that was the neighborhood we stayed in when we were in Glasgow. I bought a used copy of 'Garnethill' that day, devoured it and went on to read the other 2 books in that trilogy as well as a stand-alone novel of hers called 'Deception'. If I had to describe her style, I'd say she has Stephen King's attention to the voice of the character with a touch of Alan Moore's knack for crafting a scene.

Credit to Colin MacPherson for the photo of Denise in her home.

A Brit a Day [#376]

I really shouldn't like Thom Yorke at all. He's an overly-sensitive, often pretentious front man for Radiohead who sings in a whiny counter-tenor, and he wears skinny jeans. No man over the age of 3 months should wear skinny jeans, in my opinion, ever. Yet, given the chance to see him perform, I can never take my eyes off him.

If this video for "Lotus Flower" doesn't make you love/hate/love him, you are already in the grave, or at least still very sleepy, or something.

A Brit a Day [#375]

Here's Eddie Argos wearing the 'I heart Dan Radcliffe' button I gave him a few years ago at Cane's in San Diego. I heart Dan Radcliffe too for introducing me to such an amazing band. You've seen that picture before so here's another one.

Eddie is still my vision of Willie Stark.

A Brit a Day [#374]

The latest installment in the online comic 'Previously on Lost,' below.

A Brit a Day [#373]

Leather jackets, plain white T's, and intensely gazing into the distance never go out of style. Jason Isaacs, top; Ian Cusick, above.

A Brit a Day [#372]

Here are 2 of my lads in a single post. A few years ago, Dan Radcliffe was the primary guest on a talk show--Letterman, I think--and Art Brut was the musical guest. I wouldn't be surprised if Dan had a hand in choosing the musical talent since I know him to be a fan. In fact, I first heard Art Brut--and experienced the epiphany of hearing Eddie Argos' voice for the first time--on an internet radio station dedicated to the cutting-edge tastes of Dan Radcliffe. AB were in NYC for a string of gigs at the time of the Letterman invitation, and I remember Eddie blogging about the band being holed-up in their hotel room speed watching all the Harry Potter movies so as to be polite.