Design studio Dixon and Baxi have uploaded some new work to their portfolio with a familiar bearded face for Nic, Rob, Si and I featured amongst the case studies. Go Model J!

Hallam Foe is probably the best film I have seen this year.

It’s a ‘fucked up british teen movie’, well that was the genre the film was placed in by it’s director David Mackenzie at the post screening Q&A session I attended at the ICA on Tuesday night. Black comedy it is, this coming of age tale adapted from Peter Jink’s novel is hugely entertaining throughout.

The film tells the story of Hallam ‘Jamie Bell’ Foe’s journey of grief after his mothers recent death, a journey which forces him to escape his rural family home and step mother for the Scottish capital, Edinburgh. In the city he continues his peeping tom obsession, his liking for fancy dress whilst perfecting his rooftop climbing skills and romancing his new boss - who happens to be a deadringer for his late mother. The cast is rich, full of great characters, I especially enjoyed the efforts of Ewen Bremner (Spud from Trainspotting).

The sound track feels perfect, well I guess it was always going to when they had access to the Domino catalogue, I brought it the next morning and have been playing it far too much this week, Psapp’s ‘Tricycle’ is pretty special. David Shrigley illustrated credits and intro sequence are another good thing.

The film is released next Friday, August 31st, you should go and see it.

The London International Animation Festival starts Tuesday evening and runs through to Sunday. ‘The Pearce Sisters’ a new film from Aardman Studios opens the festival.

An amusingly bleak hearted tale of two weather lashed old spinsters. Lol and Edna Pearce live on a remote and austere strip of coast. They scrape out a miserable existence from the sea. The pearce sisters is a tale of love, loneliness, guts, gore, nudity, violence, smoking and cups of tea.

Hairspray has been out for a while, and you know what, Ive already been to see it five times! The last time being earlier today. Every time I went to see it, the particular screen in question was packed, and I bet you anything, some of those people must have seen at least seen it once already, judging by the noticeable pre-laughter chatter!

Hairspray is one of those rare films that stays true to its format, its comedic value manifests itself in a politically incorrect kind of way and very visually too, which naturally makes you smile all the way through. It has some excellent production values and it doesnt try to be anything other than what it is, which is a classic musical with really upbeat catchy feel good songs. The cast are spot on and have the underused talent of acting with their eyes. no doubt in years to come this version of Hairspray will be remembered fondly.

here are some reviews I googled:

“[…] the blend of John Waters’ anarchic weirdness, a star-studded cast and some splendid retro tunes creating a beguiling 1960s pastiche that’s an infectious delight from start to finish.” - Channel 4 Review

“Hairspray is ultimately one of the more engaging and fun movies of the summer…” Rotten Tomatoes (93%)

New York Times Review

Forget the frisbee, now we can now create our mini golf courses at the park. Link via design blog Dezeen, which is brimming full of great content.

Beard in a Box can do both these things for you. Great illustration.

Check out Ryan’s nice work