Moonrise Kingdom...what kind of bird are YOU?

I finally experienced Wes Anderson's latest film, Moonrise Kingdom. This film has absolutely brightened my summer. From beginning to end, I was mesmerized by the intentionally crafted details. The costumes and props are impeccable, the music score is enchanting, the hysterical script - addicting, and the ensemble cast is a work of art. Prepare to be captivated by the two young actors: Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward - playing Sam & Suzy - their bios will leave you speechless! 

If you grew up living with a boyscout (like I did, hola hermano) you will enjoy it even more - but really - it is a film that celebrates the beautiful purity of that summer love - that last unforgettable sweet crush one experiences right before the teen years hit and ruin it all. . .ok maybe I'm rambling from personal experience. 

It is a film for all ages. . .A few seats away from me, sat an adorable 3 year old girl with her father, and while he laughed (almost every time I did), she gazed at the screen with complete admiration. 

For those of you who have not seen the film, when you go, I recommend you stay until the credits stop rolling - they are accompanied by the beautiful piece, Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, Op. 34: Themes A-F  (by Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic). You will leave the theater humming it and wishing you could play an instrument! 

Moonrise Kingdom was filmed on location throughout Newport County, Rhode Island.

Photo Credits

+ The handwritten ephemera, the picture of Sam with Khaki Scouts of North America uniform, the shot of Suzy with a fuchsia béret, and photo of The Narrator (played by Bob Balaban) were borrowed from the film's official website and interactive map here. 

+ All other photos were borrowed from ANTWRANGLERS flickr's page here.

Oh, if only...

My friend Luisa pointed out this film to me. . .I'm sooooooo jealous of YOU, Lucy Chadwick!

These vagabond shoes, are longing to stray...

The most captivating scene (and personally...the ONLY absorbing scene) in Steve McQueen's, Shame is Carey Mulligan singing New York New York.  In my opinion, it would have been a more unique script, if Carey's character, Sissy had possessed the so called sex addiction instead of her angry brother Brandon, played by Michael Fassbender. The clip above is just a short teaser, but the actual scene in the film is longer and lovely. FYI, Sissy's complete version of the song is part of the film's soundtrack.  When she sings the words "these vagabond shoes" it's heartbreakingly masterful and the way she says New York...it's impossible not to feel that longing with her. . .

Sissy's version. . .

Start spreading the news, I'm leaving today. I wanna be a part of it New York, New York.

I wanna wake up in a city, That doesn't sleep, And find I'm king of the hill  Top of the heap.

These vagabond shoes  Are longing to stray, right through the very heart of it New York, New York.

If I can make it there,  I'll make it anywhere  It's up to you, New York, New York.

I wanna wake up in a city, That doesn't sleep, 

And find I'm king of the hill, Head of the list, Cream of the crop At the top of the heap

These little town blues  Are melting away  I'll make a brand new start of it   In old New York. 

If I can make it there,  I'll make it anywhere  It's up to you, New York, New York.

After Sissy concludes her doleful performance, she chats with her brother's (married) boss. . .see clip below.
NOTE: I love the conversation about living in Los Angeles. That used to be me. . .I was that cute artsy girl with a giant black leather portfolio case, waiting at the dilapidated L.A. bus stops (plural), on my way to those art & architecture classes...hmm, memories.

EAMES: The architect and the painter...

Their story is truly inspirational. They make it look so easy. The trailer alone makes me feel all tingly inside. . .have any of you seen this film? Official site. I love the ironical title.  
Image borrowed form here.

If ever there was a city designed to distract us from our troubles, it would be Paris...

...says Thomas Jefferson, played by Stephen Dillane, to John (Paul Giamatti) and Abigail (Laura Linney) Adams in the HBO series John Adams. 

This past weekend, I stumbled upon this HBO series while walking the aisles of my favorite movie rental spot here in Montreal (Boite Noire) and so far I'm enjoying it very much. Laura Linney's portrayal of Abigail Adams is brilliant. I don't know how historically accurate it is (can anything really be 100%?), but the acting is exceptional. The Paris scenes are delicious.


Image borrowed from here. 

If you lose your purpose. . .it's like you're broken.

Creativity can feel like a curse when you stop craving inspiration, when you find the work of your peers "better" than your own, when you no longer sense that itch to create anything. It's not depression, its more like dissatisfaction, but with who or what?
Brian Selznick personifies this feeling of absence beautifully through his character, Hugo Cabret: 

  "Did you ever notice that all machines are made for some reason?. . .
They are built to make you laugh. . .or to tell the time, like clocks, or to fill you with wonder, like the automaton.  Maybe that's why a broken machine always makes me a little sad, because it isn't able to do what it was meant to do. . .Maybe it's the same with people. . .
If you lose your purpose, it's like you're broken."  

If you're a fan of the French film, Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain, you will love Scorsese's, HUGO.  It has that same spark of wonder + Paris.  The story originates from a 500+ paged book, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, written by author and illustrator, Brian Selznick.  I went into the theater expecting to see a children's film, but it was really so much more: A busy train station in Paris, an enchanting music score, gorgeous costumes, an incredible cast, an automaton that draws, hysterical dogs, antique toys, an inspirational representation of books...and a fabulous homage to Georges Méliès  - the magician/filmmaker responsible for the first science fiction film, Le Voyage dans la lune (A trip to the Moon), realized in 1902. 
Scorsese and Selznick should team up and give a talk about their creative collaboration for this project.  I'm fascinated by Selznick's ability to piece together such a real yet wondrous story.

And so I ponder, when we feel like we've lost our purpose, what then?  Can a conference, an inspirational speaker, a sacrificial pilgrimage etc...break the spell? 

Images below were borrowed from official site, click here. The bubbly display was created by me.

  
Topic No.1: Innovative Conferences, Cosmo THIS! 

silencio...

Ever time I watch the trailer for this upcoming film, the Artist, I nostalgically sigh, it highlights breathtaking scenes!  
Hollywood in the late 1920's when silent films begin to transition into films with audible dialogue . . . yes please. 

The last movie that left me speechless was La Môme (La Vie En Rose) where Marion Cotillard's portrayal of Édith Piaf was peerless.  The leading lady in the Artist is Argentinian born French actress, Bérénice Bejo, who happens to be married to the French director of the film, Michel Hazanavicius, hmmm...stunning wardrobe!  Isn't the image below surrealistically yummy?  


Photos borrowed from the official French site, click here.

Café de flore...

If the film, Café de flore, (by the Québécois director, Jean-Marc Vallée) comes to your local theater, I strongly recommend you go see it. I recently made time to watch this film and Vanessa Paradis completely blew me away.  The film has two parallel stories; one takes place in present-day Montreal and the other in 1969 Paris.  To be honest, I wish Vallée had just focused on the Paris script, because even though the Montreal scenes were beautifully shot, they are distracting.  BUT, Vanessa Paradis's performance makes the film completely worth it and unforgettable.  She plays, Jacqueline, a mother who is wholly devoted to her son with down-syndrome. . .an intense and cathartic mother-son relationship. WOW! 

PART 2: La piel que habito..."Art is a guarantee of sanity"

(Quote by Louise Bourgeois, 1911-2010)


for Part 1: La piel que habito...click here.


I experienced Almodóvar's latest film, La Piel Que Habito (The Skin I live In) last week and it left me in a pensive mood for days.  I read the synopsis, saw the beautiful trailer, and was lured by the gorgeous publicity shots for months. . .but nothing prepared me for the skillfully gruesome masterpiece.  Almodóvar is a genius.  I'm particularly glad he didn't cast Penelope Cruz for the part of Vera, because Elena Anaya portrays her beautifully.  This film is not for everybody, but if you're already an Almodóvar fan, you'll be in awe for days. FYI: Antonio Banderas is fiercely good. 


I'm most elated with Almodóvar's respectful homage to the French/American artist, Louise Bourgeois, who recently passed away at the age of 98. If you are familiar with her work,  you'll understand the leading female character, Vera, with great richness.  


After you watch the film, I invite you to come back to this post and study how I've grouped the selected images below. . .

Quien me quiera amar,  
amará tambien lo peor de mi, con ardor. 
(Buika, "Por el amor de amar")

Why Have You Run So Far Away? 
(Louise Bourgeois, head with pink fabric,1993)

Arch of Hysteria 
(Louise Bourgeois, 1993)

Image credits (from top to bottom)
1. Elena Anaya as VERA with "healing" mask. Image borrowed from here.  
2. Louise Bourgeois UNTITLED, 2002.  Image borrowed from the Cheim & Read Gallery website.
3. Close-up of VERA borrowed from here.
4. Image of Spanish actor, Jan Cornet, as VICENTE.
5. Louise Bourgeois sculpture: Nature Study, 1984.
6. Louise Bourgeois, The Couple (detail) 2007.  (Gouache on paper, suite of 18, Collection Louise Bourgeois Trust, courtesy Cheim & Read Gallery, New York and Hauser & Wirth Gallery, London. © Louise Bourgeois Trust. Photo: Christopher Burks.)
7. Image of Spanish actor, Jan Cornet, as VICENTE.
8. Louise Bourgeois head with pink fabric: "Why Have You Run So Far Away?" (1999).
9. Close up of VERA. 
10. Louise Bourgeois black head with flowers, credit details unknown.
11. Elena Anaya as VERA in arched position borrowed from here. 
12. Louise Bourgeois sculpture, Arch of Hysteria, 1993. Bronze, polished patina, hanging piece, 83.8 x 101.6 x 58.4 cm., Courtesy Cheim & Read and Hauser & Wirth, Photo: Allan Finkelman.


A climactic piece of the story is revealed through a scene where the Spanish singer, Concha Buika, sings the songs, Por el amor de amar (For the love of loving), and Se Me Hizo Facil (I found it easy), which can be found in her latest album, adequately titled, En Mi Piel (In my Skin).  Watch the clip below.

One Day...Rainy Day

Rainy day in Montreal today. . .

Lone Scherfig did it again.  Her latest film, 'One Day' is perfect for a rainy day. (Photos by Giles Keyte).

After watching the movie, I contemplated, hmm...One day, I will be the person (the artist) I promised my 3 year old self I would be.  What is your one day phrase?  We all have one, right? or two.

 . . .

And then there is the video of the song Low Rising by Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova.  It's not a new video, but it's also perfect for a cathartic day.

It's a melancholically sweet day.

PART 1: La piel que habito...

Part 2: Pedro Almodóvar, Louise Bourgeois, Jean Paul Gaultier, and a Tarantula, click here.

 

Pedro Almodóvar's upcoming film, La Piel que Habito (The Skin I Live in) was presented at the Cannes Festival this past May. From what I've read online, it's terrifying, beautiful, and very Almodóvar...all in the name of the underlined theme: IDENTITY. Which is why it doesn't surprise me that Louise Bourgeois is a symbolic character in this film. 'Identity in the home' is a re-occuring theme in her work.  Louise passed away last May at the age of 98, and this tribute to her by Almodóvar is a beautiful gift to those of us who have been mesmerized by her and her œuvre for years. Hmm, I can just imagine the conversations between Pedro and Louise, two truly visionary talents. 


Leading female: Elena Anaya as Vera.
Leading male: Antonio Banderas as the plastic surgeon, Doctor Ledgard in search of a "strong skin..." 
Plot: Loosely based on the novel, Tarantula, by the French writer, Thierry Jonquet.  For an informative review read here.
Additional details: 
(1) Costumes designed by Jean Paul Gaultier. 
(2) The work of the French-American artist, Louise Bourgeois is a source of inspiration to the main character, Vera.


The film opens in NY and LA October 14, 2011. 

 

Image Credits:

* All images of the film, borrowed from here.

* Louise Bourgeois sculptures: Nature Study, 1984 and Femme Maison, 1994.

* Louise Bourgeois signed drawing found here. (Original drawing owned by The Estate of Louise Bourgeois).

* Louise Bourgeois face drawing borrowed from this book by Marie-Laure Bernadac.

* Jean Paul Gaultier images shot during my visit to the exhibit, From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk, currently on display in the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts until October 2, 2011. NOTE: These JPG creations do not appear in the film (as far as I know), but I found them visually relevant to this post.

Bill Cunningham New York...I cried.

Bill Cunningham New York has finally come to Montréal.  Mark and I saw the film last night and it was absolutely inspirational.  To my surprise, it was showing at a tiny theater (Cinema Du Parc) and very few people were in attendance. This film should be projected on a big wall somewhere in the city...for everyone to see.  I am not going to summarize the film, watch the trailer here and check out your local theaters. 


New York has a magical way of fostering ardent artistry.  Merci beaucoup, Bill Cunningham. Thank You New York! Thank you Richard Press and Crew + Zeitgeist Films!


He is a living Don Quixote; his bicycle, his Rocinante.  His understated blue coat, his armor.


Image Credits: Images in color borrowed from the film's official site. B/W photos: (left) borrowed from here. (right) borrowed from here.  Newspaper:  Bill’s first spread for The New York Times, December 30, 1978. (Borrowed from the film's official site).

Elizabeth Taylor...

There is really not much to say. . . 
It is crazy to think of a world without Elizabeth Taylor: February 27, 1932 – March 23, 2011.


Images above: left: Photo by Richard Avedon, 1964  /  right: Shot from the film, Suddenly Last Summer, 1959
Images below are from the 1964 epic film, Cleopatra.

for Philippine Bausch...

I was just thinking about Pina Bausch yesterday and today I stumbled upon the trailer for the film, pina by director Wim Wenders.  It was unveiled last month in Berlin's 61st International Film Festival and it will be touring throughout Europe this Spring.  Read more HERE.  I can't wait to see this film!


Images were borrowed from the film's official site.

"PINA is a film for Pina Bausch by Wim Wenders. The feature-length dance film was shot in 3D with the ensemble of the Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch and shows the exhilarating and inimitable art of the great German choreographer who died in the summer of 2009, inviting the viewer on a sensual, visually stunning journey of discovery into a new dimension: right onto the stage of the legendary ensemble and together with the dancers beyond the theater, into the city and the surrounding industrial landscape of Wuppertal – the place that was the home and center of Pina Bausch's creative life for more than 35 years."

Bastille Day. Paris. 1970.

Until about a month ago, I had never heard of Rufus Wainwright.  I stumbled upon one of his songs one evening while listening to KCRW's Eclectic24.  I wrote his name in my sketchbook an then put him aside for later.  A few days ago, Mark and I were at Boite Noire scouting around for films to rent for the week and I came across the documentary, Rufus Wainwright PRIMA DONNA, the story of an Opera.  I rented it out of curiosity.  Seven days later, I realized that we had yet to watch the film and it had come time to return it...well I played it for about five minutes and then I stopped it.  I called Mark at work and told him that I was not going to return the movie because he just had to watch it with me.  We didn't mind paying the late fee the next day because it turned out to be a fabulous film.   I am not going to summarize the film...but believe me...Rufus is a character! (As some of you might already know).  And yes...this "pop" (I use this word loosely) singer did create an OPERA..the real thing...not a music video or movie about an Opera...AN OPERA...rent the documentary.  Better yet, start saving now and let's go to the New York City Opera in the Spring of 2012...hint hint Kelly. I am now a Rufus fan.  If Wikipedia's facts about Mr. Wainwright are correct, we share the same birth date...so he is probably moody, gregarious when he wants to be...but phenomenally an ARTIST...Today I purchased his 2002 album, Poses from itunes...it is lovely.

Synopsis: An opera (with a French libretto) about the diva, Régine Saint Laurent, a soprano who loses her voice and six years later attempts a return to the stage. It is set on Bastille Day in 1970 Paris. 

NOTES

: Rufus Wainwright was born in Rhinebeck, New York but grew up in Montréal. 

: Prima Donna first premiered in Manchester's 2009 International Festival.  NOTE: Why didn't Prima Donna premiere in Montréal?

: Read Interview's article, "Rufus Wainwright, Curtains Pulled"

: Read article from The New York Times, "The Diva has Issues"

: Photos by Clive Barda.  Billboard by I want design.