To Watch A Deadman.
Portishead are one of those bands that like to mess around with film-making. For a lot of musicians, this can be a rather dodgy area. Making music is one thing, but managing to create a half-decent movie is a very different matter. You think that’s harsh? Then you obviously don’t remember Vanilla Ice. Actually, his music and his film were both crap so that is perhaps a bad example… But if you do manage to get it all right then it will certainly impress your fans; and probably bring you a lot of new ones at the same time.
If you are a lover of Portishead’s music then you have maybe heard of their short movie; it is called, ‘To Kill a Deadman’. But what you may not realise is that it’s available to watch on YouTube! And any connoisseur of their work really should take the eleven minutes of running time to check it out.
It is, essentially, a spy film. The retro ‘crime movie’ sound that is so evident in their songs has been successfully transferred onto celluloid. It’s grainy, moody and shot in an arty black and white. All three members of the band star in the film and play their parts really well. However, for me, it is Geoff Barrow who steals the show. The role of a hitman just seems to suit him so well.
It never ceases to amaze me what you come across on YouTube. Whatever rarity you can think of, you always seem to be able to find it on there.
I have just updated the illustrations on the site for kerosene oil, I know that it might surprise you that I am working for an oil company; but I don’t think they are as environmentally unfriendly as I once surmised. Plus, I’ve sold out, I need the pay!
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