Sir Ben Kingsley's Minor Threat
September 19, 2008 12:05 PM Subscribe
Sir Ben Kingsley's got the straight edge.
A short film tribute to Minor Threat from Mean Magazine [via].
A short film tribute to Minor Threat from Mean Magazine [via].
Ghandi, Ghandi, if it isn't me old mate Ghandi.
posted by Artw at 12:18 PM on September 19, 2008 [3 favorites]
posted by Artw at 12:18 PM on September 19, 2008 [3 favorites]
First thing I thought about when I saw this clip was his performance in Sexy Beast. He was scary in that movie...
posted by rpn at 12:19 PM on September 19, 2008
posted by rpn at 12:19 PM on September 19, 2008
In what respect, Charlie?
posted by uaudio at 12:28 PM on September 19, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by uaudio at 12:28 PM on September 19, 2008 [2 favorites]
No. No no no no no no no no no! No! No no no no no no no no no no no no no! No!
posted by Astro Zombie at 12:32 PM on September 19, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by Astro Zombie at 12:32 PM on September 19, 2008 [1 favorite]
After The Wackness I see what Ben Kingsley is starting to do... he's trying to AGE BACKWARDS. Ghandi>gangster>druggie>punk
posted by Lacking Subtlety at 12:38 PM on September 19, 2008
posted by Lacking Subtlety at 12:38 PM on September 19, 2008
DON'T SMOKE!
DON'T DRINK!
DON'T FUCK!
YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!
posted by spoobnooble at 12:40 PM on September 19, 2008
DON'T DRINK!
DON'T FUCK!
YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!
posted by spoobnooble at 12:40 PM on September 19, 2008
Oh! My dear boy!"
(Imagining Olivier's reaction).
posted by Jody Tresidder at 12:48 PM on September 19, 2008
(Imagining Olivier's reaction).
posted by Jody Tresidder at 12:48 PM on September 19, 2008
AZ, keep a weather eye out for Cate Blanchett doing one particular Misfits song. I think you know the one.
posted by mwhybark at 12:54 PM on September 19, 2008
posted by mwhybark at 12:54 PM on September 19, 2008
No kidding, rpn, I was terrified of bald guys for a week after seeing that! One of my all-time favorite examples of how to be scary as hell without ever even doing anything... he was just so... so mean!
posted by Squid Voltaire at 12:56 PM on September 19, 2008
posted by Squid Voltaire at 12:56 PM on September 19, 2008
He was mean in various movies, but he's a pretty anemic hardcore kid. Especially when compared to the real thing.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 1:18 PM on September 19, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by Potomac Avenue at 1:18 PM on September 19, 2008 [1 favorite]
Why would you hire Ben Kingsley for this and then go out of your way not to show him in any edit longer than a second? I would have snarked that lip syncing isn't straight edge, but fuck, you can't even tell if Kingsley is moving his mouth. I guess he moves well enough.
Minor Threat: still awesome
Major Threat: the editor of that video
posted by GuyZero at 1:19 PM on September 19, 2008 [1 favorite]
Minor Threat: still awesome
Major Threat: the editor of that video
posted by GuyZero at 1:19 PM on September 19, 2008 [1 favorite]
Oh yeah? Well, David Wilcox's got The Natural Edge!
posted by The Card Cheat at 1:20 PM on September 19, 2008
posted by The Card Cheat at 1:20 PM on September 19, 2008
Ah, David Wilcox. Who can forget the timeless classic, Layin' Pipe?
posted by GuyZero at 1:26 PM on September 19, 2008
posted by GuyZero at 1:26 PM on September 19, 2008
Sure, you always hear about Kingsley's Ghandi, or Itzhak Stern, or Don Logan, and I suppose that he was ok in those. I think the term "adequate" probably applies. But really, I think we can all agree that he really peaked with his Kagan in the tour de force film BloodRayne.
I'm certain that when he talks about his body of work, it's still his proudest moment. (well, that or Species.)
posted by quin at 1:30 PM on September 19, 2008
I'm certain that when he talks about his body of work, it's still his proudest moment. (well, that or Species.)
posted by quin at 1:30 PM on September 19, 2008
GuyZero: Major Threat: the editor of that video
I think the premise of the video is by far its strongest point and based on what little you can see of Kingsley's performance...well, let's just say that he's not the most convincing hardcore singer. So with that in mind, I'd say this is actually an example of excellent editing - namely, obscuring a mediocre performance.
posted by dhammond at 1:31 PM on September 19, 2008 [1 favorite]
I think the premise of the video is by far its strongest point and based on what little you can see of Kingsley's performance...well, let's just say that he's not the most convincing hardcore singer. So with that in mind, I'd say this is actually an example of excellent editing - namely, obscuring a mediocre performance.
posted by dhammond at 1:31 PM on September 19, 2008 [1 favorite]
Wow, punk really is dead.
What're they selling? Doc Martins?
posted by loquacious at 1:34 PM on September 19, 2008
What're they selling? Doc Martins?
posted by loquacious at 1:34 PM on September 19, 2008
Next up: Dame Judy Dench as Poly Styrene! OMG, she's like TOTALLY OLD and POSH but she's SINGING PUNK ROCK!
meh.
posted by xthlc at 1:36 PM on September 19, 2008
meh.
posted by xthlc at 1:36 PM on September 19, 2008
*gets all wound up, starts kicking in the suspended ceiling tiles while hanging from the beams, drops like a sack of lead shit right in front of the stage, hits head on the floor, gets stomped on, throws up, bleeds all over Ben's white shirt*
posted by loquacious at 1:39 PM on September 19, 2008
posted by loquacious at 1:39 PM on September 19, 2008
> But really, I think we can all agree that he really peaked with his Kagan in the tour de force film BloodRayne.
Well, that was great, too, but don't forget his immortal turn in Thunderbirds (the best part's at 1:51, if you can stomach the seizure-enducing editing).
posted by The Card Cheat at 1:58 PM on September 19, 2008
Well, that was great, too, but don't forget his immortal turn in Thunderbirds (the best part's at 1:51, if you can stomach the seizure-enducing editing).
posted by The Card Cheat at 1:58 PM on September 19, 2008
Kingsley, to me, will always be the bad guy from Sneakers.
posted by chudmonkey at 2:06 PM on September 19, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by chudmonkey at 2:06 PM on September 19, 2008 [2 favorites]
That editing was unbelievably idiotic and it renders the whole thing completely unwatchable. For some reason, this has made me incredibly angry.
posted by ghastlyfop at 2:08 PM on September 19, 2008
posted by ghastlyfop at 2:08 PM on September 19, 2008
Did anyone notice off to the side another short video by Mean in which Kate Beckinsale plays Anna Karina dancing to a French 60's hit?
posted by Rashomon at 2:09 PM on September 19, 2008
posted by Rashomon at 2:09 PM on September 19, 2008
Like I needed another reason to love Ben Kingsley. Come on.
posted by katillathehun at 2:14 PM on September 19, 2008
posted by katillathehun at 2:14 PM on September 19, 2008
guy's got big ears
posted by From Bklyn at 2:19 PM on September 19, 2008
posted by From Bklyn at 2:19 PM on September 19, 2008
ghastlyfop, what if they'd kept the camera on his face for any appreciable time, how unwatchable would it be then? He did yank off the buttondown, though. Big points for that.
posted by gorgor_balabala at 2:37 PM on September 19, 2008
posted by gorgor_balabala at 2:37 PM on September 19, 2008
Eh. It made me about as clenchy and uncomfortable as watching David Bowie and Moby suck the life out of a Pixies cover.
posted by grippycat at 2:39 PM on September 19, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by grippycat at 2:39 PM on September 19, 2008 [1 favorite]
I thought it was more traditional to do this with "Anarchy in the UK".
posted by Pope Guilty at 3:20 PM on September 19, 2008
posted by Pope Guilty at 3:20 PM on September 19, 2008
This might've at least worked on some level if Kingsley had bothered to learn the gaddam song well enough to actually lip synch it. Weak sauce, Ben.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:38 PM on September 19, 2008
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:38 PM on September 19, 2008
Seriously, no offense to Sir Kingsley or the post itself, but that was vapid. I was actually hoping to see an experienced actor do something intense, or maybe actually sing or something. For fuck's sake - it's supposed to be punk rock! ANYONE can do it. That's the whole damn point. Grab the fucking mic and scream into it or something, let at least something hang out for a moment.
But that was like watching an accountant with a headache try to be a mall punk. The opening shot of him in a button-down holding his head didn't help this at all. Lipsyncing wasn't wise, either.
posted by loquacious at 4:43 PM on September 19, 2008
But that was like watching an accountant with a headache try to be a mall punk. The opening shot of him in a button-down holding his head didn't help this at all. Lipsyncing wasn't wise, either.
posted by loquacious at 4:43 PM on September 19, 2008
I'd love to see Helen Mirren, Meryl Streep and Judy Dench do L7 covers. That would fucking rock.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 4:51 PM on September 19, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 4:51 PM on September 19, 2008 [1 favorite]
My willing suspension of disbelief was further shattered by the super dry recording of the song. If they couldn't find a live version, they should at least mix in some reverb or something.
posted by exogenous at 4:54 PM on September 19, 2008
posted by exogenous at 4:54 PM on September 19, 2008
I like Kingsley and I like Minor Threat but that was downright horrible.
posted by paddysat at 5:03 PM on September 19, 2008
posted by paddysat at 5:03 PM on September 19, 2008
It looks like that site is being hammered because all I get is stop-and-go video with audio that sounds like it's going backwards.
posted by panboi at 5:34 PM on September 19, 2008
posted by panboi at 5:34 PM on September 19, 2008
It was better in theory.
posted by uri at 5:47 PM on September 19, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by uri at 5:47 PM on September 19, 2008 [2 favorites]
all I get is stop-and-go video with audio that sounds like it's going backwards.
That, in all likelihood, is much better than having this thing play normally.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:52 PM on September 19, 2008
That, in all likelihood, is much better than having this thing play normally.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:52 PM on September 19, 2008
My daughter took guitar lessons from Ian MacKaye's sister. That means me and Ben Kingsley are, like, best buds, or something, right? Cool!
posted by MrMoonPie at 6:20 PM on September 19, 2008
posted by MrMoonPie at 6:20 PM on September 19, 2008
That was pretty awesome. What a strange pairing. It could be an SNL skit as is.
posted by damn dirty ape at 6:48 PM on September 19, 2008
posted by damn dirty ape at 6:48 PM on September 19, 2008
I kept thinking Patrick Stewart. That guy has a wacky sense of humor.
(on a tangent - I SO miss mosh pits *sigh*)
posted by Smedleyman at 6:56 PM on September 19, 2008 [3 favorites]
(on a tangent - I SO miss mosh pits *sigh*)
posted by Smedleyman at 6:56 PM on September 19, 2008 [3 favorites]
loquacious: The opening shot of him in a button-down holding his head didn't help this at all.
Really?
posted by dhammond at 7:29 PM on September 19, 2008
Really?
posted by dhammond at 7:29 PM on September 19, 2008
Wow. That's the lamest thing I've seen in quite a long while.
So, um, why did they do this? And why so poorly?
posted by Sys Rq at 7:33 PM on September 19, 2008
So, um, why did they do this? And why so poorly?
posted by Sys Rq at 7:33 PM on September 19, 2008
So, um, why did they do this?
I reckon they were going for that certain type of cred (and attention) that you get with, say, Christopher Walken dancing in a Fatboy Slim video. You know the one.
And why so poorly?
Kingsley obviously spent about 2 minutes listening to this song, and tossed this "performance" off on his way between planes or something.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:08 PM on September 19, 2008
I reckon they were going for that certain type of cred (and attention) that you get with, say, Christopher Walken dancing in a Fatboy Slim video. You know the one.
And why so poorly?
Kingsley obviously spent about 2 minutes listening to this song, and tossed this "performance" off on his way between planes or something.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:08 PM on September 19, 2008
Kinda reminds me of King Midas In Reverse.
...even if it ends up badly, ya still feel like a bastard.
posted by aramaic at 12:47 AM on September 20, 2008
...even if it ends up badly, ya still feel like a bastard.
posted by aramaic at 12:47 AM on September 20, 2008
GROSVENOR, YES!
posted by chuckdarwin at 2:05 PM on September 20, 2008
posted by chuckdarwin at 2:05 PM on September 20, 2008
Really?
dhammond, if you really want to argue that the aesthetics of the opening shot of this video (white button-down shirt, head and face in hands like he's scared, worried or has a headache) and the aesthetics on the album cover (black on red, black clothes in disrepair, beat-up half untied boots with his head down in his arms as though carrying too much weight of the world) are similar beyond surface effects - be my guest. The tone and feel are vastly different in each.
posted by loquacious at 4:25 PM on September 20, 2008
dhammond, if you really want to argue that the aesthetics of the opening shot of this video (white button-down shirt, head and face in hands like he's scared, worried or has a headache) and the aesthetics on the album cover (black on red, black clothes in disrepair, beat-up half untied boots with his head down in his arms as though carrying too much weight of the world) are similar beyond surface effects - be my guest. The tone and feel are vastly different in each.
posted by loquacious at 4:25 PM on September 20, 2008
The tone and feel are vastly different in each.
Agreed, agreed. And it's this supreme dichotomy that Kingsley was no doubt pondering, deeply, in that opening shot, with his head in his hands. This is obviously a tortured artist, grappling with the perplexing issue before him, and his own inner demons. It's as though the weight of this conundrum was about to crush his very soul.
Either that, or he was thinking about the plate of beans that was just off-camera...
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:37 PM on September 20, 2008
Agreed, agreed. And it's this supreme dichotomy that Kingsley was no doubt pondering, deeply, in that opening shot, with his head in his hands. This is obviously a tortured artist, grappling with the perplexing issue before him, and his own inner demons. It's as though the weight of this conundrum was about to crush his very soul.
Either that, or he was thinking about the plate of beans that was just off-camera...
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:37 PM on September 20, 2008
I just looked up Ian MacKaye's Wikipedia entry, and the most recent news about him is that he's become a proud daddy for the first time with his girlfriend/drummer, Amy Farina. The weird thing is that Amy Farina used to go to elementary school with me. Her older brother, Geoff Farina, who founded the band Karate, used to be Mom's paperboy too.
Metafilter: I played recess with Ian MacKaye's baby mama.
posted by jonp72 at 9:33 AM on September 21, 2008
Metafilter: I played recess with Ian MacKaye's baby mama.
posted by jonp72 at 9:33 AM on September 21, 2008
I don't know what you punks are bitching about, I fucking loved it.
posted by psmealey at 10:16 AM on September 21, 2008
posted by psmealey at 10:16 AM on September 21, 2008
Hey, psmealey, nice to see you round!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:39 PM on September 21, 2008
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:39 PM on September 21, 2008
Also: Hey, hip, trendy media-savvy people at Mean Magazine! "De-interlace = YES"! Learn it, live it, know it!
posted by kcds at 6:47 PM on September 21, 2008
posted by kcds at 6:47 PM on September 21, 2008
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posted by krautland at 12:13 PM on September 19, 2008