LUCIDMEDIA

Lucid News – August 14th

Written by Nadine Bachan Friday, 14 August 2009 16:35

The headlines from this week in pop culture

Radiohead honours a war vet while Kraftwerk return to their past

When Harry Patch, the last surviving soldier of World War I, died at the age of 111 on July 25th, his passing marked the end of a generation, and maybe the end of an era. He was dubbed “the Last Tommy” and was also briefly the oldest man in Europe. In tribute, the British alt-rockers Radiohead released a song last week to honour Patch’s life and remind us of the horrors of war. The song is simply titled “Harry Patch (In Memory of)” and the lyrics are Patch’s actual words of his recollections of WWI. Just £1 per download at the band’s official website, all proceeds from the single with go to support the British Legion.

Meanwhile, Kraftwerk have decided to blow the dust off of some their oldies. The German synthpop band, which has been on the scene since the 1970s, is planning to remaster eight of their albums for the coming fall. The album to be re-released are: Autobahn (1974), Radio-Activity (1975), Trans Europe Express (1977), The Man Machine (1978), Computer World (1981), Techno Pop (1986), The Mix (1991) and Tour De France (2003). The collective will apparently be called “12345678 The Catalogue” and will available as individual records or in a box set. This will surely bring on an onslaught of fanboys lining up at Dancecentrum in Stuttgart (an obscure Simpsons reference for all us nerds).

Posthumous screen time for a country star and the creator of teenage complexity

The tale of the country singer who died in 1953 at the young age of 29 is one almost too clichéd for the big screen – women, alcoholism, drug abuse, and legendary music – all the elements are there in the story of Hank Williams’ rise to stardom. No word yet on who will get to play the ill-fated singer, but reports that the film will only use original recordings of Williams’ voice, which will mean less pressure on the actor who (luckily) won’t have to practice any scales.

The untimely passing of John Hughes brought attention back to his noteworthy films (Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles) and to the man himself. It wasn’t surprising to hear that the recent documentary about Hughes, Don’t You Forget About Me, will soon be distributed by Alliance Films, release date To Be Determined. The project focuses on a group of filmmakers who seek out Hughes (who became reclusive due to his decline from success) and includes interviews from several actors who worked with the writer-director during his (and their) peak, including Judd Nelson, Mia Sara, and Ally Sheedy. Movie critic Roger Ebert and the band Simple Minds also appear in the film.

More updates from TIFF headquarters

As September draws near, more films and events are constantly being confirmed for the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival. This year’s TIFF schedule is definitely shaping up with free screenings and performances being organized at Yonge-Dundas Square, so there will be something to entertain anyone. The no-cost events will include performances by Neil Young and Joan Baez who will be in town to promote the films The Neil Young Trunk Show and American Masters – Joan Baez respectively. Yes, the screening for both flicks will also be free of charge. Horror director George A. Romero will be showing his 1968 classic Night of the Living Dead, but not before a Toronto Zombie Walk, which will lurch its way from Trinity Bellwoods Park to the Square on September 12th. Even if Young and Baez don’ pique your interest, you have to admit that walking corpses will make for a memorable Saturday.