Watched Cadillac Records over the weekend. Relatively gritty story of Muddy Waters getting hooked up with Leonard Chess, and the saga of Chess Records in Chitown (Chicago) late 40's early 50's. Little Walter, Howlin' Wolf, Etta James, Chuck Berry.  Considering, quite well done, and definitely worth a few hours of no graphs history with stunning music.

But this comment is really about Francis Coppola's Godfather. I've mentioned it before here, but I'm going to place the accent on it again.

If you have not seen the 2007 restoration, you have not seen the film.

Unless you vividly remember the original screening mid 70's, everything you've seen since VHS and DVD has been based upon very damaged copies.  A labor of love used the most modern tech to restore the original, with some new edits.

This version restores The Godfather series to its rightful place as one of the greatest films of all time.  Nothing i can write would convey the stunning difference, which allows sinking into some of the moodiest filmmaking in history.

The version i have even has two discs of supplemental material.  That i've seen when i first bought the package, but this weekend i began listening to Francis' commentary alone as the film reels. For those who love film, it doesn't get any better.

(My little Francis story:  i went to a reading - script trial - for Bram Stoker's Dracula.  8 actors sitting onstage doing a dramatic reading of the then script version.  i spent some while talking with Francis' son Roman, so missed the first round of wine from the family winery. When i went up to the bar Francis apologized that the only bottle left had been by a warm water heater, and was a bit too warm. I looked him in the eye, said, "Warm blood, warm wine, tonight i'll drink it all." or so. He did his big bear laugh, knowing i got the script, and we talked some  details with really warm Coppola wine.)

Skennah Kowa

My twittering Europarliamentarians tell me that there's elections in some small EU-administrated former Serbian province. They are monitoring.

As predicted the CEO of Vattenfall has been fired. Replacement to be announced tomorrow, intense rumors believes Øystein Løseth has been appointed.

A vote for PES is a vote for EPP! A vote for EPP is a vote for PES! Support the coalition, vote EPP-PES in 2009!

 Important recent documentary on Aljazeera by Dom Rotheroe, ex Uni of Westminster student, some people taking great risks to help get it made, and the makers having to flee the country as the authorities get to hear about it:

People & Power - Ingushetia: A second Chechnya - 28 Oct 09

Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner - that I moved to Nice. Blog - Nice Experience