My big cat uses her sister as a pillow. The little one has long resigned herself to such indignities.
Pic of the Day: Superglam
Pic of the Day: Vines and Clouds
I liked how the trailing vines were heading up the palm to the clouds, like Jack and the Beanstalk.
Where was I?
Hmm, things got a little busy at year’s end, and blog entries were an early casualty. I’m going to do a few backdated entries to fill in some movies I saw over the holidays and some other stuff. Happy 2008!
I should add that the title is a line from one of my favorite movies… If you know which one, you can be in my new Cool Club.
Movie comment: Mr. Brooks
I saw this at a friend’s house the other day. I liked the look – clean and spare. I thought the Brooks/Smith relationship was great (though Strangers on a Train is still a better partner in crime story if you ask me). It was quite satisfying until the “it was only a dream” rugpull at the end. I cannot abide that cheap trick. A good thriller, though, besides the problem at the end.
All About Eve
Outfest Executive Director Stephen Gutwillig performed his last official duty last night before stepping down to join a new group. He chose to screen the 1950 classic All About Eve. Joseph L. Mankiewicz wrote and directed, and the equally legendary Darryl F. Zanuck produced. The dialogue holds up to this day, and I consider it one of the best movies ever about Hollywood and theatre. Bette Davis is Margo Channing, a fading actress of a certain age (OK, my age). She is eventually supplanted by Eve Harrington, whose character undergoes a remarkable transformation from mousy sycophant to conniving backstabbing competitor with the help of poison pen theatre reviewer Addison Dewitt (played to perfection by George Sanders). The movie is high camp and dripping with irony and cynicism. It also has a then-unknown Marilyn Monroe as an aspiring actress. The movie is framed by the award scene above, so viewers know that Eve is going to change from when we first meet her. The final scene is not only perfectly shot, but very chilling. I’d put this on my must-see list for everyone.
Persepolis
I saw Persepolis as part of the Film Independent members’ preview series tonight. It’s based on a French-language graphic novel by Marjane Satrapi that describes her childhood in Iran after the revolution. The animation style is really outstanding, and the story helps put a human face on the recent history of Iran. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how it won’t take much for this country to unravel into a theocracy as well.
The film is up for a number of awards, and just won an honor from the National Review Board. I’m not sure seeing it in the theater is required – the animation style probably translates fine to a small screen. It opens Christmas in LA in NY and in 2008 elsewhere.
Wages of Fear
Last night I watched the 1953 Clouzot film Wages of Fear (Le Salaire de la peur) as part of my ongoing project to fill in the gaps in my knowledge of canonical films. The first half is pretty slow going, but it gives a sense of the desperation that would lead the men in this desolate company outpost to risk their lives transporting explosives to an oil well fire. The second half is simply brilliant. There are several set pieces where they have to maneuver the trucks past obstacles, and they are so suspensefully crafted that you cringe the whole time. You feel as if YOU will explode with them if they make an error. It also has a lot to say about American imperialism and our thirst for oil that still holds true 50 years later. Worth a look if you like old films with a healthy heap o’ nihilism.
Pic of the Day: Lightspun 3
Lightspun 3. Holiday edition! Taken on 8 December 2007 in Van Nuys, California.
Pic of the Day: Holiday star
A friend of mine has the most amazing holiday decorations throughout his house. I snapped a few shots that do not do them justice. Taken in Van Nuys, California on 8 December 2007.