February 2012
5 posts
7 tags
Music Videos: David Fincher for Madonna ('89-90)
I’m about to put you on to some good trivia. Did you know that David Fincher directed Madonna’s videos for Vogue and Express Yourself?! Yes, that David Fincher who made Kevin Spacey super creepy and Brad Pitt edgy. I wish I could queue that NBC The More You Know rainbow right now because this is a magical little revelation.
The video for Vogue is pure eleganza. Madonna’s polished black and white...
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Found Stills: The Dark Crystal (1982)
OMFG. This lil’ guy.
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BONUS: Swept Away (1974)
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Loves of a Blonde (1965): I Wish He Was My...
In a small town in Czechoslovakia, a shoe factory owner is looking to give his staff a boost. And how do you solve a problem like boosting company morale with an all female staff? Free mani-pedis with a complimentary quick dry topcoat? A subscription to In Touch or Us Weekly? Sample sale passes? No. He thinks, let’s get the People’s Army to send some soldiers our way. That’ll do it! Too...
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See this film: Paradise Lost 3, Purgatory (2012)
It’s almost hard to believe that I saw the first Paradise Lost film when I was only thirteen. My family has always had HBO: sometimes legally, sometimes illegally and their late night documentaries were an early obsession of mine. Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills introduced us to a small town murder and a tale more engrossing than a six hour marathon of Law and Order: SVU. On...
January 2012
3 posts
4 tags
BONUS: Láska (1973)
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You deserve a Golden Globe: Michael Fassbender in...
I saw Shame and it made me want to take a shower. I mean that as a huge compliment to director Steve McQueen as his film succeeds in making the viewer feel the sad, dirty depths to which one man will stoop. Shame is a meditation in sex addiction and the dysfunctional relationship between two distant siblings. Michael Fassbender (M. Fassy if you’re nasty) is fearless here as Brandon Sullivan,...
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You deserve a Golden Globe: Rooney Mara in The...
It all started sometime last February when a new copy of W landed on my desk. The cover featured then unknown actress Rooney Mara’s striking transformation: A new found hardened gaze, raven toned locks, bloody knuckles, and a large winding chest piece. I quickly flipped through the pages desperate to find the ajoining spread. And there she was: a cigarette pressed between her lips...
November 2011
17 posts
5 tags
Found Stills: Se7en (1995)
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See This Film: The Muppets (2011)
For a few misguided minutes over the holiday weekend I almost considered watching Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 1 in hopes of getting a glimpse of this half breed vampire baby that has been the talk of my office for months. In a moment of clarity I opted for The Muppets instead. Monday Morning Water Cooler Spoiler: No demon baby yet and Breaking Dawn sucks even by Twihard standards. Is that a blow...
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TYPE: Diner (1982)
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People: Gwili Andre by Cecil Beaton (1932)
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BONUS: The Pace That Kills (1935)
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Daisies/Sedmikrásky (1966): What's a Girl to Do?
Two girls both named Marie are bored, beautiful, and they don’t give a shit. The Maries, much like the Coreys get themselves into all kinds of shenanigans. In this case batting the eyelashes on their heavily lined lids, sulking around in bikinis, setting small fires, and breaking the hearts of naive sugar daddy’s all over the Czech Republic. If it all sounds a little self indulgent it...
3 tags
Hubba Hubba: Ursula Andress (1967)
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I have a lot of respect for people who make good music. My friend Christian Banks, who goes by the alias Walrus Ghost makes music that is a mix of sampling and live instruments creating a beautiful and ethereal wall of sound that attacks the senses. It’s the kind of music you want to close your eyes to, lay on your back in the grass and get lost in. One might even suggest enhancing the...
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See This Film: Being Elmo, A Puppeteer's Journey...
It’s hard not to smile when you think of Elmo. One of the most recognizable residents of Sesame Street but more importantly one of the sweetest. Being Elmo introduces us to Kevin Clash, the man, voice, and heart behind the fuzzy red monster that created stampedes of desperate (read: rabid) mothers seeking Tickle Me Elmos and who is beloved by children all over the world. Kevin tells his...
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Titling: Patty Hearst (1988)
Really liking these simple chunky clean letters on black. Nothing fancy, just perfect.
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Found Stills: Breathless (1960)
(via cinemasquid)
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Things to Do: This is Spinal Tap at BAM tonight...
When This is Spinal Tap came out in 84’ not everyone was laughing. This pitch perfect satire on the rockumentary, rock and roll excess, and absurdity ruffled a few feathered boas. Mainly those of Eddie Van Halen, Ozzy, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, and Dee Snider to name a few. But to be fair Dee, your band is called Twisted Sister and you were basically banshee drag queens back then. Just...
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Best of Netflix Watch Instantly: Paris is Burning...
I’ve sung the praises of Paris is Burning more than once on this here blog, and even printed mugs to commemorate it’s greatness. My love for this documentary borders on obsession and I’m hoping that one day I’ll have half of the quick wits and realness of any of these ladies. Then it happened. A little gift from the Netflix Watch Instantly Gods: blinding light shone from my ...
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Hubba Hubba: Elizabeth Taylor (1963)
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BONUS: Chelsea Girls (1966)
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See This Film: Giorgio Moroder presents Metropolis...
In 1984 Giorgio Moroder, man of a magnificent mustache but more importantly of Grammy and Oscar winning chops set out to add some modern flare to Fritz Lang’s pivotal Sci-fi film Metropolis. Originally made in 1927, the film went through several edits after it’s German premiere until it was chopped and screwed down to an incohesive albeit technically and stylistically brilliant film....
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Titling: You Were Never Lovelier (1942)
It’s true. (via annyas)
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Film Tees: Pulp Fiction (1994)
I’m having a Pulp Fiction moment. “Bitch be cool” and let me ride it out. Banana Slugs!
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Found Stills: Videodrome (1983)
I reviewed Videodrome a few years ago (man time flies!) but somehow missed these brilliant stills. Better late than never! Cronenberg sure loves an exploded head. Possibly NSFW.
October 2011
32 posts
5 tags
Happy Halloween (!!!)
Boo! A still from It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966).
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Rumble Fish (1983): Yo, Little Brother.
Rumble Fish is the handsome companion to The Outsiders. And I’m pretty sure that’s exactly what Francis Ford Coppola wanted. Released the same year and also based on a novel by Outsiders’ author S.E. Hinton, what it lacks in the boyhood nostalgia of Ponyboy et al, it adds in rich visuals. Coppola’s choice to shoot in high contrast black and white gave the film at...
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Type: The Comedians (1967)
I love that these letters look like they have been cut out of construction paper.
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“That’s a pretty fucking good milkshake. I don’t know if it’s...”
– Vincent Vega (John Travolta) in Pulp Fiction (1994)
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BONUS: Simon, King of the Witches (1971)
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The Miss Piggy Calendar '82: Bride of Frankenstein...
Another gem from the 1982 Miss Piggy calendar where she and Kermy take on Great Lovers of the Silver Screen. I love Rizzo as Fritz, the devoted assistant. Need this calender in my life.
6 tags
Vampire's Kiss (1988): She Drives Me Crazy.
If there is one movie with which to introduce the crazy that is Nicholas Cage, I’d like to nominate his masterpiece Vampire’s Kiss. I cannot stress enough how much I adore this movie but I will say that my metal armor of hatred for Nick Cage now has a little ding in it. Cage plays Peter Loew, a literary agent turned lunatic and possible vampire in this black comedy penned by Joseph...
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People: Faye Dunaway by Terry O'Neill (1977)
A beautiful image of Faye Dunaway on the morning after winning an Oscar for Network, taken by then boyfriend and famed photographer Terry O’Neill.
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BONUS: Andy Warhol's Flesh for Frankenstein (1973)...
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Things to Do: Halloween Movies Edition 10/22-10/31
I’ve got a chicken wing sized bone to pick with my local theater programming directors: Halloween should be playing ever year, on Halloween day, everywhere. Forever, and ever, amen. The Exorcist too! And as much as I love you BAM, The Warriors does not count as a Halloween movie, no matter how scary grown men in overalls on roller skates is. Fine, you’re offering beer, you’re...
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I met Emahn a few summers ago at a mutual friends’ rooftop BBQ. Our conversation probably began the way most do in New York social situations: through the topic of real estate (“Where do you live?”) or careers (the always abrupt “What do you do?”). Come to think of it, I still don’t know what Emahn does for a living and I like that. Mystery is underrated....
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BONUS: Poltergiest (1982)
Love this trippy Japanese poster for Steven Spielberg’s Poltergiest: a movie that I still haven’t seen due to my self diagnosed Phasmaphobia. Maybe it’s time.
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Found Stills: The Exorcist (1979)
Only eleven days till Halloween (!!!)
Editor’s Note: Regan’s head turning puppet is part of the permanent collection at the Museum of the Moving Image. The museum itself is a must see for film and tv fans of all ages. Perfect Sunday afternoon in Queens.
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Hubba Hubba: Diane Lane in Interview Magazine...
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Dressed to Kill (1980): Cuts Like a Knife.
Brian De Palma isn’t afraid to open with a slow-mo shower scene. And God bless him. Four years prior we met Carrie in a locker room shower suddenly experiencing the horrors of a girl’s first period. We quickly learned of her character’s isolation when the soft music was broken by the shrieks of her cruel classmates hurling maxi pads at her. It’s an interesting way to...
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BONUS: Une femme douce (1969)
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Type: Raising Arizona (1987)
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Leon, the Professional (1994): How I Could Just...
Leon is a loner. Making friends isn’t exactly part of the life of a seasoned hit man, though he prefers the gentler term “cleaner”. His spends his non killing time in a modest tenement apartment caring for a houseplant, drinking lots of milk and taking in Gene Kelly matinees. All of that changes when his neighbor Matilda lands on his doorstep after her family is brutally...
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In the Realm of the Senses (1976): Wicked Game.
In the Realm of the Senses is an arty excuse to watch two people having lots and lots of sex. Note: unsimulated sex. I knew going into it that the film was controversial, but I didn’t realize exactly how much bumping n’ grinding I would be witness to. Despite this fact, somehow I never found the film to be vulgar. I found it strangely romantic. Maybe it was all of those pretty silk...
3 tags
Books: The Film Snob*s Dictionary (2006)
Despite an off-putting title, The Film Snob*s Dictionary is an informative and hilarious read. A CliffsNotes of film for those looking to deepen their movie related conversations or get a quick refresher course. Chock full of directors and actors from Kenneth Anger to Steve Zahn, behind the scenes factoids, terms, and etiquette every “snob” should know. Did you know that Martin Scorcese has...
5 tags
People: Jack Nicholson in Chinatown (1974)
(via TheGoodFilms)
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Classics: John Carpenter's Halloween (1978)
It’s almost that time of year (!!!)
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Found Stills: Dead Calm (1989)
The beauty of this still lies in it’s editorial feeling. The clean line of Kidman’s stretched neck against the seeming peacefulness of the sea until that bloody ‘lil hand creeps into frame.