Shots by Don Walker‏

Ironically my first book for this blog is not a work of fiction at all, let alone metafiction. However, the writing is as mesmerising and surreal as any great novel. This memoir is by Don Walker, keyboardist and lead songwriter of Cold Chisel, who is one of the greatest storytellers in popular music.

In August 2011 I received a tip off from a friend that Walker would be making an in-store appearance at Basement Discs in Melbourne. Being unemployed at the time, I took my Catfish CD and caught the train into the city one afternoon. He performed a short set comprised of solo material, songs from Tex, Don and Charlie, and one or two Chisel numbers thrown in. I was in awe of him, and excitedly I lined up afterwards to get my CD signed. It was one of my most treasured memories, and he is one of my greatest influences both as a writer and a musician.

The book is captivating with its sense of place, beginning with his childhood in North Queensland and taking the reader through life on the road around Australia and the world.

The characters of his early life seem occupied and even the ambitious don't seem to be able to break the cycle of small town life, with work, booze and family. Walker is able to break through with his studies and work for the department of defence. Though as he travels and winds up in Adelaide he doesn't seem quite settled with this. Rock n Roll is more suited to his wandering personality, and he continues to observe his surroundings as moves to bleak Melbourne and finally settles in Sydney when the band is signed.

There isn't much focus on Chisel's success, more on what happens to Walker in the incidental moments of life. Coming across many dodgy characters such as landlords and managers as he hangs around the his apartment at the Plaza Hotel and wanders through the seedy Kings Cross, he observes with a sadness and sensitivity how ordinary people play out their lives in the face of continuous monotony. He also has various encounters with desperate women which end rather awkwardly.

Though he empathises, Walker is able to let go and just rolls with where life takes him. After the band's break up, he continues to travel to Paris and Siberia. Thoughts of his daughter back home keep him grounded and from falling into a meandering, transient existence. It is quite sweet and gives this story heart. It's like no matter who he has met through the years, whatever won or lost, he shares the experiences of the human condition and a mutual respect with others because he knows what is important to him.

"Goodnight sweet dreams, the world is well, that's all Danielle that's all."

Fans of Walker and Chisel will definitely be interested in this memoir, and those familiar with the history will recognise events, places and the origins of some lyrics worked into the reflections.

Amazing insight into this creative individual is what resonates with me. The stream of consciousness flow is reminiscent of his liner notes in the 1994 album Teenage Love. Whenever I sat down and read Shots I found it took a few pages to get back into book and then I was hooked by the word pictures of abstract imagery in run on sentences.

You don't have to be a music fan to enjoy this book, and I recommend it to general readers and lovers of memoir.

Shots is now available in E Book format.

Avengers: Age of Ultron

I haven't seen a blockbuster action film in a while so I gear up with the boys for the second Avengers instalment. The solo movies in between this and the previous Avengers movie have been okay, but the only one to really excite me was Captain America: Winter Soldier. It was well-paced with a good flow and the story was interesting, while still providing action and thrills and gut busting and some sarcastic quips thrown in.

Ultron, the villain of this Avengers, is a hoot. Voiced and motion captured by James Spader, one of my favourite actors, he's a killer robot with a killer sense of humour. He's all like "Oh, you're the Avengers. that's nice. I'm going to destroy all of humanity." He even bends his head slighty like Spader when he stands and talks. Tony Stark (Iron Man, played by Robert Downey Jr.) invents Ultron to be a peacekeeping program with the intention of taking the burden of the world off the Avengers. Of course things go wrong and Ultron becomes the threat to the world that causes the team to get back together and battle once more.

Stark and Bruce Banner (Mark 'The Hulk' Ruffalo) make a cool duo working out all the science in their scenes together. They have an interesting dynamic, as Stark is obsessive and wants to push all the boundaries, and Banner is more reluctant and careful but ultimately compliant with his partner's demands. Banner's character is used well, as there really is no need for a solo Hulk flick so they give him plenty to do here. He also has a romantic subplot with Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow, included for the general audience of non-comic book fans, as they each grapple internally and struggle to open their hearts to each other. How lovely!

Elsewhere the team is much the same. As Stark and Banner are teamed together, Captain America (Chris Evans) and Thor (Chris Hemsworth) are allied against them. Cap and Stark have the ego and personality clash again, setting up the next movie 'Captain America: Civil War', and Thor is pissed off at Stark's foolishness. Cap is fairly stoic is this, pretty much just disagreeing with Stark for the most part, and nothing is really developed in the character. Thor is much the same.

The true star of the show is Hawkeye, played by Jeremy Renner. I have now realised it is this lone bowman, I mean archer, who is my favourite Avenger. All the other guys are flashy or awesome heroes who have obvious characteristics and enhancements that make them cool. Iron Man is a "Genius Billionaire Playboy Philanthropist", Captain America has his badass shield and he's the pin-up boy for USA, Thor is a god, and The Hulk is a gigantic green monster. And even though Black Widow is an ordinary human like Hawkeye, she's played by Scarlett Johansson, so she could also be an easy choice for someone's favourite Avenger. But not Hawkeye. He's not special. They even give him his own subplot where he has a family that he is working as an Avenger to support. He's also given a great monologue in the climax of the movie where he proclaims "I'm in the middle of a war with flying robots and the world is falling apart. None of this makes sense."

I should really pitch an idea to the film studio for a sitcom based around Hawkeye. It'd be great. He has a conflict with local council over renovations to his house or something. So he shows up to their office with a bow and arrow and holds a siege. It also shows his daily life, doing laundry and going to his local coffee shop. I really think I'm onto something. One episode could be like an extension of the party scene in Age of Ultron, which I could tell the writers and actors had a lot of fun with.

Anyway, Age of Ultron has everything necessary for a superhero blockbuster. Lots of action and explosions, with just enough clarity to avoid a Transformers screen seizure, and smart humour to move things along. I have been getting weary of the length of these kinds of flicks, where I get tired in the cinema and it just goes on and on. I would like to see a tighter, 90 minute blockbuster at the movies these days, but I realise that I shouldn't hold on to any hope with that. These are big-budget blockbusters, and there's an obligation to make them on this scale now. Still, Age of Ultron kept me engaged all the way through, and it certainly surpassed my expectations. If I look back, the more superhero movies I've seen the less times I've watch each of the films again. It will be interesting to see how Age of Ultron holds up on a second viewing.

Her

Spike Jonze’s Her is an intriguing and genuinely touching romantic drama starring Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams and Scarlett Johansson. It received critical acclaim when it was released in 2013 and won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. Watching it again, I have no doubt this is much deserved.

My film tastes have skewed in recent years and I’ve found myself watching more films about romance and relationships. This was one that was on my list for ages. It’s a love story for the lonely and broken hearted, with a technological twist.

Theodore (Pheonix) is a man in his thirties who works writing personal letters for other people, and whose marriage has just ended. He falls in love with Samantha (Johansson), his new personalised Operating System with artificial intelligence.

Like always the relationship is satisfying to start with (they even have sex), but then problems emerge. Theodore has serious emotional baggage. I think his ex-wife Catherine puts it best: “You always wanted to have a wife without the challenges of actually dealing with anything real and I'm glad that you found someone. It's perfect.” Poor Guy. Samantha lacks a physical presence, and she’s grows more intelligent and sensitive by the day. It’s very conflicting to have a mind with endless possibilities when you don’t have a body.

The film strikes me for being very intimate and uncomfortable. There are lots of close-ups of people kissing and Theodore’s long face with his crystal-blue eyes.  It’s very unsettling but also revealing. Even his mustache on his face sits uncomfortably, left over like the painful emotions of his failed marriage.

In contrast the locations of broad cityscapes and mountains puts things in a universal perspective and are beautifully shot. The quick montages are effective in how they present flashbacks and give you context and emotion in a simple way.

The screenplay is superbly refined. Every line of dialogue and every interaction between characters is connected to the heart of the story. It provides a strong base for subtlety in the performances onscreen. The reliance on smart devices present in the film reflects greatly on modern society and scarily brings the relationship to life. The story has some similar elements to Ruby Sparks (also to be reviewed on this blog).  Both films present the idea of adapting to changes in relationships, and both protagonists are haunted by the shadow casted by their previous relationship.

Theodore and Amy (Adams) have undeniable chemistry and their friendship is very heartwarming. There’s a mutual respect and affection with how they treat each other. In a world with faster and more instant connection one can be left alienated and even paralyzed. This film brings comfort that real human connections can help one heal in times of pain. A simple visual of two people sitting together on a rooftop overlooking the city is enough relief for me right now.