The Red Shoes (1948): All she wants to do is dance...
Based on a story by Hans Christian Andersen, The Red Shoes introduces us to Victoria, a dancer who wants to join the theater company of famed producer and comical dresser Boris Lermontov. After a lucky break, everything comes together beautifully: she’s traveling the world, dancing for adoring crowds every night, has top billing on all of the posters… And then it happens. She falls in love. Now Boris tells her she has a tough decision to make…Will she choose love or dance? Ugh, They say you can’t have it all! I like this film for being a girly movie without being too twee or sweet. Sad Jen and Nicholas Sparks take note.
Actress Moira Shearer’s flame colored hair, porcelain skin and amazing costumes are only heightened by the film’s use of Technicolor®. And with her perfect dance posture and flawless execution, her performance jumps off of the screen in nearly every scene. Not to mention that the choreography, sets and costumes are equally impressive. I saw this film for the first time a few weeks ago at the Film Forum and it is definitely one that you should see on the big screen if you have the chance.
For Brittany and Nadia.
12:11 pm • 30 November 2009
Two-Lane Blacktop (1971): In Cars.
Remember that terrible song that said “If life is a highway, I wanna ride it all night long”? I hate to admit that it somewhat sums up Two-Lane Blacktop and that this Tom Cochrane character was onto something. Featuring little dialogue or music, it is all about the beautiful vintage cars, the drivers, and the journey. Though there were two (musical) elephants in the room (James Taylor and Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys) I fell in love with the supporting characters of Warren Oates and Laurie Bird.
With her floppy sheep dog like bangs, fine features and need for attention, Bird is perfect as “The Girl”, a hitchhiker who joins the men on their aimless road journey. And Oates’ character: “G.T.O.” being a well to do yet lonely liar was pretty charming. It’s also interesting that none of the characters are ever addressed by their names and even in the credits are listed simply as “The Driver” (Taylor) “The Mechanic” (Wilson) “The Girl” (Bird) and “G.T.O” (Oates). I’m guessing that this film is what Vincent Gallo’s The Brown Bunny aspired to be.
Here in my car
I feel safest of all
I can lock all my doors
It’s the only way to live
In cars
-Gary Numan
12:00 pm • 28 November 2009
Happy Thanksgiving!
Hope you’re enjoying the holiday! Watch Eli Roth’s trailer for Thanksgiving from B-movie homage Grindhouse (2007). Do not watch before you eat or if you are easily offended…
xx
I Love Hot Dogs
7:53 pm • 25 November 2009
Maîtresse (1975): Lace and Leather.
Maîtresse is not your typical boy meets girl love story…
Factoid: Karl Lagerfeld designed the costumes for this film.
7:39 pm • 21 November 2009
MORE: Pink Floyd The Wall (1982)
Can’t get this film or it’s music out of my head! Almost forgot how equally EPIC the poster is…
4:50 pm • 16 November 2009
Classics: Pink Floyd The Wall (1982)
Pink Floyd’s The Wall is one of the greatest musical films of all time. From the opening titling (which I am obsessed with) to the animation sequences by Gerald Scarfe to the music that the movie centers around, it is perfect. It changed the idea of the musical film as the characters rarely sing or break the fourth wall. And with little dialogue, it let’s the incredible music and imagery tell the story of Pink’s (Bob Geldof) despair, isolation and eventual undoing.
Download “Mother”, my favorite song from this album/film.
3:10 pm • 15 November 2009
