So we watched Contraband. It’s currently running, so you can catch it too if you want. And it’s really worth the trouble! Plus the amazing soundtrack, so it’s double the fun! J. Roddy Walston and The Business Don’t Break the Needle in a live session for your pleasure! Enjoy, and enjoy your fabulous weekend too!

Contraband first! You know me: I’m no spoiler, so if you made it this far, after the jump, you won’t read no spoil fun backstage movie facts from me! I will say this much, though: it’s a great movie! Action packed, suspense filled, great entertainment! Also, an American remake, people! How about that? 2012 barely wrapping its first month, we went to the movies just a couple of times and we can already count two Hollywood remakes among the movies we’ve seen!

So what’s behind Contraband? Reykjavik – Rotterdam (Iceland’s biggest budget movie up to date, also their official submission to 82nd edition of the Oscars, in 2010)! Wait, it gets better – Contraband is directed by Reykjavik – Rotterdam’s lead actor, Baltasar Kormakur! We haven’t seen the Iceland – made one (and I doubt we will after seeing the Hollywood remake) so if you did, please be so kind and share your feelings about the original?

Now about the Original soundtrack of the said remake? It’s really rock’n’roll! I loved it! Sadly, I couldn’t locate a video version for Boom Boom Boom Boom as interpreted by Big Head Todd & The Monsters (with a little help from the great John Lee Hooker – the closing title song – you can hear it here; my third favorite is Ryan Shaw’s Mama May I – listen to it here) so I included my second favorite song “Don’t Break the Needle” only in a live set. I love the gospel rock, all rough, all old school from J Roddy Walston and his Business! It makes me think there’s still hope for the unsettled spirits who love the good ol’ rock’n’roll! (there’s more about J Roddy Walston and The Business here and Contraband’s OST is available here)

Contraband Soundtrack: J Roddy Walston And The Business Don’t Break The Needle

You know I openly declared I will be seeing the TwtDG remake. One of the reasons to do so was the movie’s soundtrack – signed and performed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. One song I was particularly in love with was The Immigrant Song as covered by Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross and Karen O. (The song was originally performed by Led Zeppelin.) Important: if the video below becomes unavailable, it shouldn’t surprise you – it’s the actual opening scene of the actual movie The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (the US version, 2011). So do enjoy it while it lasts! (oh, and I almost forgot, caught in this Dragon mess: have a wonderful weekend! wink)

So we finally did it! Just the other night, we watched David Fincher’s much awaited remake of “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo”. I knew almost nothing of it, refraining myself from reading any review, any specialty column talking about the US interpretation of Stieg Larsson’s first volume of the Millennium Trilogy. However, we did watched the original movie, with Noomi Rapace only days before. And, without being a (complete) spoiler, this is all I have to say about the remake: I want my 150 minutes back! Even as we speak, I’m still amazed at how the original scored only 7.7 while the US version was ranked as high as 8.2!

The best thing from the entire movie? The opening scene, with Trent Reznor’s cover of Led Zeppelin’s Immigrant Song (which you can watch here). The worst part? The end – literally – the last few scenes were awfully conceived and left us with an awfully bitter taste. After watching both versions, I can safely declare that the only good thing that came out of watching David Fincher’s version is a vivid desire to read the books. I don’t know where the truth is anymore! I tend to believe that the Swedish version of the film is accurate and that it followed the written story. However, David Fincher twisted and turned so many ideas in the 2011 movie plot, I need to see for myself which is which.

Is thee anyone like us out there? Anyone who watched the two and cares to comment? Please do step forward and share your thoughts!

Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, Karen O Immigrant Song. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo Opening Scene Song

Zooey Deschanel singing with Joseph Gordon Levitt What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve? It’s a cover, biensur, the original was written back in 1947 by Frank Loesser (and the first version appears to be this one here). Anyway – I love them both, I think they’re brilliant (especially together, wink) and their song is twice as charming because of them covering it.

I think some of you have made preparations for New Year’s Eve and I think it would be safe to start wishing you a wonderful New Year’s Eve celebration! I hope 2012 will be your best year yet! Stay hungry, stay foolish but always stylish (wink)! Love you all dearly, have a wonderful party!

Zooey Deschanel, Joseph Gordon Levitt What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?

It’s such a great thing, being surrounded by your loved ones, I can’t even begin to express how thankful I am because I have my wonderful family and my amazing Frizz family too! You’re such a great bunch and I love you all dearly! May the Joy and Light of Christmas be with you now and every day, blessings to you and your dear ones!

Each Christmas we, the Frizz home family love our Christmas playlist. And each year we add more treasures to it. I can’t really decide which are the songs I love most so I just picked this and that, a handful of merry songs. I hope, from the very bottom of my heart, you’ll enjoy listening to this tiny Season’s playlist – please add your favorite (or simply the one that crosses your mind when reading this!). Love you all, have a Merry, merry Christmas, everyone!

I started with Happy Holidays from Bing Crosby (and Fred Astaire) and remixed by Beef Ellington. Now allow me a moment of sheer delight while listening to the mighty Mahalia Jackson doing the Silent Night.

A little moment with Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby performing Happy Holidays together and then Eartha Kitt’s Santa Baby.

For a little fun, try the Snowmen’s Hokey Cokey or John Denver and The Muppets singijng 12 Days of Christmas.

You can always try Dean Martin’s Baby It’s Cold Outside (here), Aaron Neville’s Let It Snow (here), Brenda Lee’s Rockin’ around the Christmas Tree (here) or even Michael Buble’s Santa Claus is Coming to Town! Either way, have fun this Christmas and share the love!

My Christmas Playlist. And More

I really hope and cross my fingers for more great movies like this one! Have you any suggestions? What I should try other than this? Oh, enough with the small talk, let’s give it to Bill Nighy.. ahem Billy Mack for a good round of Christmas is All Around!

The song is obviously a cover of Love is All Around performed by The Troggs in the late sixties. You may be familiar with the song from its numerous covers (R.E.M. and Wet Wet Wet – this one was even included on another famous British movie’s soundtrack “Four Weddings and a Funeral”), but the truth is that Bill Nighy’s character from Love, Actually was such a candid, close to reality rock star trying to gain his life as a sober act, I can’t do otherwise but consider this piece of silly Christmas song as one of my favorite. I do hope you’ve enjoyed it. Remember, I’m always eager to find out about your Christmas playlists!

Billy Mack Christmas Is All Around. Love Actually Soundtrack

Throughout December, we’ll be having Christmas Fridays. And this is the first – Christmas Lights from Coldplay. A dream like video filled with sparkling lights and fireworks bonus Coldplay, one of my favorite bands. I hope you’ll enjoy the little Christmas tunes I’ll be playing this month – if you have any preferences and ideas, please don’t hesitate! Share the joy and the love! (oh, and after the jump, Chris Martin Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas!)

So the song is from 2010 and it was released on the very first day of December (last year). The video is impressively theatrical, with dream – like inserts. The Elvis impersonators playing the violins in the background are especially disturbing (okay, so there were some rockets flying by, but not as odd as the coming and going Elvis guys!). You’d be surprised to find out that Simon Pegg was among them! Yep, that Simon Pegg! (I couldn’t tell which one, but I suppose he was the one in the middle? Can you tell?)

And you saw there were some words in Latin written above the stage? “Credo Elvem Etiam vivere” – don’t worry, it’s not philosophical at all – it means “I believe Elvis lives”. Pretty non traditional, eh? Check out Chris Martin surprise act below:

Christmas Playlist: Coldplay Christmas Lights

What we’re celebrating? Life! Yeah baby, life! Wonderful life! Take it as a pre – Hump Day thing, take it as the Friday Break we didn’t have the week before. Take it as you wish, the simple truth remains: we have to remember to be thankful, hopeful, respectful and trustful and celebrate the life you’re living!

Because I shared the torment and the worries, I now am more than happy to share the good news – our lil’ daughter is fine. She responded well to the medication and we just have to wait 2 – 3 weeks for her hearing capacity to turn back to normal.

She’s a brave, sweet little girl and she took it all with audacity, innocence and hope. Thank you so much, to all of you, for your kind words and wishing well thoughts! It worked! Let’s press play again! IZ, I’m sure you’re in that magic place, Somewhere over the Rainbow! (you can find out more about IZ here)

IZ Kamakawiwo’ole Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Hence, I can’t do otherwise but love Bottega Veneta’s musical initiative with French DJ Michel Gaubert. A truly fashionable playlist, picked from the Bottega Veneta’s catwalk music that comes with photographs by Robert Longo from Bottega Veneta’s Fall Winter 2010 2011 ad campaign (the disk itself shows the dark woven pattern we’re used to seeing in Bottega Veneta’s creations). After the jump, you can get a taste of the actual mix (which is available in Bottega’s stores across the world). Don’t you just love it when one of your favorite songs comes with high couture recommendations? (yep, I’m talking about Lindstrom’s Lovesik)

Intreccio Uno Mini Mix by bottegaveneta

Music From Fashion Shows: Bottega Veneta’s Intreccio One With Michel Gaubert

Johnny Cash’s version of God’s Gonna Cut You Down will always be my favorite rendition of the popular song! I realize the message can come as pretty radical for this special time, however, I’m hoping you’ll still appreciate the song for its musical value and also for the famous faces that were brought together for the video! Ladies and gents, Johnny Cash!

Have you recognized the faces? Can you make a short countdown of the participants? Around 40, give or take! Forty stars in their own right, mainly from the musical field. Johnny’s version was included on the American V: A Hundred Highways from 2006 and was awarded with a Grammy Award in 2008 for the Best Short Form Music Video and most recently you may have heard it on True Grit’s trailer soundtrack. (if you’re already familiar with the movie, you can watch the trailer here)

You know I was saying that I will get to the “finally” part of the celebration spirit getting a hold of us? A week ago, today, we had some troubles with our daughter – she wasn’t feeling well. We went to the hospital with her and discovered she couldn’t hear us well anymore (despair!) because she was suffering from Otitis Media (which is mainly an inflammation / infection right behind the ear drum). Although it’s pretty common in children, it’s the first one in our four – kids household (crossing our fingers and praying for it to be the last we’ll ever deal with again!). Anyway, after a couple of dark, desperate days, we were back on track Monday, hoping and religiously following the doctor’s orders and prescriptions. Now we’re supposed to check back next week, see how the treatment went, but she’s much better now. And so are we. And very thankful for that! So you see, Johnny Cash isn’t all that random choice after all! (wink)

Johnny Cash God’s Gonna Cut You Down

Duran Duran’s Girl Panic video gets a hold of you! There’s so much going on in that video, I can’t look elsewhere and pretend it’s just a song. The girls? The clothes, the setting? I just watch it. Again. And Again. Let’s watch it together! (and discuss it after)

Supermodels Do Duran Duran’s Girl Panic