BOOKS LAST READ
Ray Bradbury - Fahrenheit 451 (1953)Philip Roth - The Breast (1972)
Don DeLillo - The Names (1982)
Nick Hornby - Juliet, Naked (2009)
Anais Nin - Spy in the House of Love (1954)
Raymond Carver - Cathedral and other stories (1983)
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
MOVIES LAST SEEN
Zero Dark Thirty (2012) - 7.0
Cheap Smokes ("Ftina Tsigara") (2000) - 6.0
South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999) - 8.0
Fish Tank (2009) - 8.0
The Proposition (2006) - 8.0
Nymphomaniac vol.I (2013) - 7.0
Nymphomaniac vol.II (2013) - 5.5
The Runaways (2010) - 6.0
Inside Lewyn Davis (2013) - 6.0
Philomena (2013) - 7.0
The Perks of Being a Wallfower (2012) - 7.0
Charlie Bartlett (2007) - 6.0
Smoke (1995) - 7.0
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
I listen to the wind: the music in Wes Anderson films (part 3 - final)
"Needle in the Hay" - Elliott Smith (The Royal Tenenbaums, 2001)
A choice from Anderson's masterpiece in the scene where troubled retired tennis prodigy Richie Tenenbaum (Luke Wilson) is attempting suicide, after having heard some ugly news for his step-sister (played by Gwyneth Paltrow) with whom he's in love for a long time. Sadly, just two years later, Elliott Smith's own self-demise would permanently make this scene and this song a tragically foreboding match.
"These Days" - Nico (The Royal Tenenbaums, 2001)
One of my favourite songs from the 60's is this wonderful Nico's song from her debut album Chelsea Girls, a composition of Nico's sometime lover Jackson Browne who wrote it at the tender age of 16 and later recorded it himself.
Nico's version is arranged with baroque taste including strings and flute alongside Browne's fingerpicked electric guitar, and plays in The Royal Tenenbaums in a tender scene where Luke Wilson, having just escaped the hospital he's in after his suicide attempt, reunites in a bus station with his step-sister and declares his love. Warning: more Anderson-style slow-motion follows.
"Staralfur" - Sigur Ros (The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, 2004)
Famous oceanographer Steve Zissou (played by Bill Murray) is on a quest to find and terminate his very own Moby Dick: a notorious shark which killed his work partner. However, when Zissou after various misfortunes and adventures finally sees the shark for the first time in the film's arguable best scene, he's not vengeful anymore but awed: it's a surprisingly magical moment, thanks to the Icelandic post-rock band's heavenly strings.
"Search and Destroy" - Iggy and the Stooges (The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, 2004)
Iggy provides the necessary rebellious cacophony for the sequence where Zissou decides to take control and seize back his ship from the pirates who have hijacked it. Priceless.
"Le Temps de l'Amour" - Francoise Hardy (Moonrise Kingdom, 2012)
Anderson makes legendary French chanteuse hip again in his latest film. This 60's pop gem managed to sneak in the movie soundtrack amid Benjamin Britten operas, Hank Williams country standards, and the Alexander Desplat score. We can only wonder what Anderson has next up his sleeve.
Monday, February 24, 2014
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Monday, October 28, 2013
Five Lou Reed moments in cinema
Lou Reed passed away yesterday October 27th, 2013. He was 71 years old.
His music was the soundtrack to many people's lives; it helped also form the emotional core of quite a few cinematic moments. My favourite are listed below and-coincidentally or not- all are a type of either drug-induced psychosis or a love scene. Or both. R.I.P.
A scene from the Gus Van Sant film largely inspired by Kurt Cobain.
Nothing particularly happens in this scene (and of course in the movie itself): we're at the musician's reclusive mansion; someone puts on the records player an album and the Marquis de Sand-inspired tale of s/m starts playing; people pass by; others are dancing. Then the song is abruptly cut.
Another film loosely based on actual rock artists, Velvet Goldmine tells the story of two musicians who were rock stars in the 70's, only to have disappeared from the public eye today. The portrayed musicians are most likely David Bowie and Iggy Pop, played here by Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Ewan McGregor. Director Todd Haynes is clearly a big music fan -his filmography includes the Bob Dylan biopic I'm Not There and the controversial, banned short film Superstar: The Caren Carpenter Story.
The stately piano figure introduces the soft-as-ever voice of Reed. The verses consist only of the piano motif but the chorus explodes as the strings usher in. It's such a perfect day while Renton (Ewan McGregor in one of the most impressive breakout performances of all time) overdoses and lays helpless on the ground in the middle of the road. Rarely such a powerful but subtle, ironic but bitter contrast between lyrical and filmic content have been achieved.
His music was the soundtrack to many people's lives; it helped also form the emotional core of quite a few cinematic moments. My favourite are listed below and-coincidentally or not- all are a type of either drug-induced psychosis or a love scene. Or both. R.I.P.
5) Velvet Underground - "Venus in Furs" in Last Days (2005)
A scene from the Gus Van Sant film largely inspired by Kurt Cobain.
Nothing particularly happens in this scene (and of course in the movie itself): we're at the musician's reclusive mansion; someone puts on the records player an album and the Marquis de Sand-inspired tale of s/m starts playing; people pass by; others are dancing. Then the song is abruptly cut.
4) Lou Reed - "Satellite of Love" in Velvet Goldmine (1998)
Another film loosely based on actual rock artists, Velvet Goldmine tells the story of two musicians who were rock stars in the 70's, only to have disappeared from the public eye today. The portrayed musicians are most likely David Bowie and Iggy Pop, played here by Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Ewan McGregor. Director Todd Haynes is clearly a big music fan -his filmography includes the Bob Dylan biopic I'm Not There and the controversial, banned short film Superstar: The Caren Carpenter Story.
3) Lou Reed - "This Magic Moment" in Lost Highway (1997)
David Lynch's Lost Highway ranks amongst the greatest cinematic experiences I've ever had. Its soundtrack is simply perfection, a master in variety and creativity. With the use of only Lou Reed's song and slo-mo and with no dialogue whatsoever, Patricia Arquette instantly becomes the mysterious, dreamy, sinister, sexy, elusive creature of desire for the main hero. Not coincidentally, these adjectives can perfectly describe the whole movie.2) Velvet Underground - "Pale Blue Eyes" in Adventureland (2009)
One of the great indie romantic comedies waiting to be discovered, Adventureland boasts performances from Jesse Eisenberg (pre-Social Network) and Kristen Stewart (post-Twilight). It takes place in the late 80's. He is the new kid in town, geeky but smart and kind. She is aloof and mysterious and cool. They're workmates in the local amusement park and have become sort of friends. He is hopeleselly in love with her. Then they go together for a night ride. Romantic moment alert: the Velvets' ballad starts playing - one of the most tender, sweet love songs ever written. That was Reed's genius: the man wrote both "Venus in Furs" and "Pale Blue Eyes".1) Lou Reed - "Perfect Day" in Trainspotting (1995)
This is of course a regular in 'best use of rock music in cinema" lists and rightfully so. Director Danny Boyle throughout the scene expertly shows the consequences of addiction, cleverly -and thankfully- avoiding any sort of moral preaching.The stately piano figure introduces the soft-as-ever voice of Reed. The verses consist only of the piano motif but the chorus explodes as the strings usher in. It's such a perfect day while Renton (Ewan McGregor in one of the most impressive breakout performances of all time) overdoses and lays helpless on the ground in the middle of the road. Rarely such a powerful but subtle, ironic but bitter contrast between lyrical and filmic content have been achieved.
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