The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)
Directed by Andrew Dominik
I watched this gorgeous film yesterday and the best treat was the stunning cinematography. Each scene was crafted like a carefully composed luminous photograph. Many shots were all about the way sunlight fills a room, or the way dust travels through air. I loved the use of blurry lens vignettes, an very Victorian effect that I rarely see anywhere anymore (other than in the timeless photographs of Sally Mann). The story was kind of slow but this beautiful film is well worth watching. The cast was amazing too. Highly recommended.
Sally Mann, Untitled from “The Motherland Series”
I am not quite sure why The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) directed by Cecil B. DeMille with Betty Hutton, Cornel Wilde, Charlton Heston won the Oscar that year. The film is way too long, over 3 hours, the plot gets a bit tiresome and the actors are better off doing acrobatic skits rather than trying to act. However, this movie is filled with tons of gorgeous circus eye candy, amazing costumes, well trained animals, and an overall incredible use of over-saturated color. It is even fun to watch even with the sound off. The Greatest Show on Earth reminded me of the days when my mom would take me to Madison Square Garden to see the circus when I was a kid. We would have so much fun watching the circus together, and it filled my six year old mind with endless inspirations.
My stepdad just gave me this cd randomly. I guess because he knows I like strange obscure music by women. The GTO’s are an all girl groupies group produced by Frank Zappa in the late 1960s. One of the group’s members Pamela Des Barres, wrote the memoir I’m with the Band. Their cd Permanent Damage is a weird mixture of strange theatrical songs and random interviews. It is very rough music but it does precede some later girl bands like Liliput, The Raincoats, Rasputina, CocoRosie, and they even remind me of my friend Dame Darcy’s music.
It is as if you gave the mischievous turn of the century girls from Picnic at Hanging Rock a recording studio in 1968.
One of my favorite films ever:
Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975)
Directed by Peter Weir
Picnic at Hanging Rock
A NYTIMES article on Pamela Des Barres
The_GTOs on Wikipedia
I have a hard time watching most musicals,
but here is a super cute song from
My Fair Lady (1964)
“Show Me”
Touch and my heart begins to crumble,
The heaven’s tumble, Darling, and I’m… Eliza Words!
Words! Words! I’m so sick of words!
I get words all day through;
First from him, now from you! Is that all you blighters can do?
Don’t talk of stars Burning above; If you’re in love,
Show me! Tell me no dreams
Filled with desire. If you’re on fire,
Show me! Here we are together in the middle of the night!
Don’t talk of spring! Just hold me tight!
Anyone who’s ever been in love’ll tell you that
This is no time for a chat! Haven’t your lips
Longed for my touch? Don’t say how much,
Show me! Show me! Don’t talk of love lasting through time.
Make me no undying vow. Show me now!
Sing me no song! Read me no rhyme!
Don’t waste my time, Show me!
Don’t talk of June, Don’t talk of fall!
Don’t talk at all! Show me!
Never do I ever want to hear another word.
There isn’t one I haven’t heard.
Here we are together in what ought to be a dream;
Day one more word and I’ll scream!
Haven’t your arms Hungered for mine?
Please don’t “expl’ine,” Show me! Show me!
Don’t wait until wrinkles and lines
Pop out all over my brow,
Show me now!
I recently watched two beautifully similar movies about young girls running away and traveling from home to escape from their problems. Both Morven Caller(2002) directed by Lynne Ramsay, and Somersault(2004) directed by Cate Shortland had luscious soundtracks full of sweet electronic melodies, gorgeous cinematography and excellent scripts.
Morven Callar contemplates her big problem in her kitchen…
Somersault (2004)
Heidi is lonely at the rave and everywhere else…
I watched the Oscars last night with a room full of very loud ladies and two boys, and I realized that The Oscars are the Super Bowl for women (and gay men). I was happy to see that the eternally handsome and amazing DDL won the best actor award for TWBB my favorite new movie by PTA.
I finally had a chance to see the lovely, super cute and smart film
Ratatouille (2007) Directed by Brad Bird
The Orphanage (2007) reminded me of
some of my favorite films The Others, The Omen,
and The 6th Sense.
Look at their beautiful official movie site.
Shrewd, Selfish Scarlett: A Complicated Heroine by Karen Grigsby Bates
Totally interesting NPR story that I heard today about one of my favorite (complex) characters of all time.
Necessary evils: Whether plotting a conquest at a picnic or engineering a comeback from poverty, Scarlett O’Hara (Vivien Leigh) had no qualms about doing what it took.
In mourning: Scarlett broods while Rhett Butler (Clark Gable) woos.
There Will Be Blood (2007) Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson
