Cleo From 5 to 7: December 2008

Monday, December 29, 2008

Former Publicists do good things

you will start a band.
you will start a magazine.
you will start a family.
you will finish nothing.
--Nicole Blackman

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Alec and Yves

THIRTY-THREE THEATERS AND A FUNERAL HOME - Alec Soth

PS how amazing is this The Things Yves Loved and The Treasures of Yves. How is that for inspirational home decorating?

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

When its hot in Melbourne we go to the movies or at least I do. I'm well accustomed to the self devised double header just to stay in that sweet, sweet air conditioning. Last year was quite a fruitful one for crap indie movies and amazing blockbusters - this year looks a bit more promising on the art house front anyway. Here's my pick of the up and coming flicks - I've seen most of them on tvokay already though - shame.

The Wrestler - saw this in a freebie sneak preview thingie - thanks Hopscotch - they've done about 5 I wonder what the marketing tactics behind that is? Anyway this is Aronofsky's return to form and Mickey Rourkes. Stop thinking about The Fountain and start thinking how about the NW spread on Mickey Rourke - Wrestler diet, losing and gain and tanning for the Wrestler etc etc. So its pretty cliched story wise but this is really an actors vehicle and Mickey Rourke lives up to that thus it works. I know its no excuse but look no one complains that Rocky was cliched right?
Thu, Jan 15, 2009

Revolutionary Road - haven't seen this yet but am currently reading the book 3/4s of the way (its long OK?), and its incredible (seriously amazing). I'm currently getting Mad Men the movie vibes in anticipation of this flick - but maybe thats because I've been watching too much Mad Men lately. The (unholy) re-uniting of Kate and Leo (i grew up on that couple) post-Titanic with the (holy) Sam Mendes - whose track record is pretty amazing - i think will actually make a great flick. Adaptions are hard though - ask Charlie Kaufman!
Thu, Jan 22, 2009

Vicky Cristina Barcelona - I love Woody Allen I really do. Lately I've also been loving Penelope Cruz - it took a while to get over Cruise and Vanilla Sky. Its got 81 on Rotten Tomatoes - not that it matters because everyone will see it and love it anyway.
26 December 2008

Milk - yes so I hate Sean Penn - but uh, Emile Hirsch, James Franco and Diego Luna - well done Gus Van Sant! Good looking and talented? Incredible! It manages to combine the romance of Brokeback with the politics of Philidelphia and yes it is mainstream Oscar bait but its still a really good film and Josh Brolin is incredible that man has been been doing well lately!
29 January 2009

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Manic Pixie Dream Girl

A slight detour from my movie men cataloguing - I was catching up on my reading over at Onion AV Club and I discovered to my delight they've coined a term for annoying female movie character: The MPDG - Manic Pixie Dream Girl.

DEFINITION - MPDG has no inner life of her own and her sole purpose is to bring out the best in her brooding mon amour. She exists simply as a muse through which her object of affection discovers his own dreams and sense of self. Aided through her non threatening good looks and not quite crazy but quirky eccentricities.

There have been an increasing number of these irritating character fantasies in the last few years but possibly the most offensive is Natalie Portman in Garden State (her nonsense talk, that giggle, the tap dancing - the fact that she was in love with Zach Braff).

Just to see if the playing field is even I want to see if I can find some Manic Pixie Dream Guys films or the equivalent offensive character type.

(BTW has Natalie Portman made a good film since The Proffessional? Shes so affable and seems quite talented (even though it was a dog of a film she was great in My Blueberry Nights) and intelligent (she's at Harvard right?). She just keeps making these awful film choices e.g. Closer, Garden State, Star Wars 1-3, The Other Boleyn Girl. Why Natalie?!)

Sunday, December 14, 2008

The cinema substitutes for our gaze a world more in harmony with our desires

Yet another of my favourite couples (though they never appeared together in a film - technically). I love how cheeky and free spirited Karina looks in all these photos - they are such a beautifully matched couple they compliment each other so well.

Persona

"“Sonata for Two Instruments” (work in progress) is an installation of video, photographs and sculpture centered around a large 2-channel video projection in which two women passionately read the script of Ingmar Bergman’s legendary film “Persona” while in bed. "

Jeannie Simms

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Bill Murray at Parties

Yet another reason to move to NY - Bill Murray just may drop in at your next party to hang out with you! Apparently he's been making appearances at random hipster bars and parties in Brooklyn. True he's a little older than his SNL days, and he looks a little sad - but its Bill Murray if you want a lonely eccentric guy to hang around you want it to be Bill Murray right?

(from Cup of Jo)

Obsessed

I can't stop looking at images of Diane Keaton and Woody Allen, perhaps in anticipation of the new Vicky Cristina Barcelona which is supposed by incredible. They are the most perfect couple in all their incarnations in filmic life.