So I’m a good 8 years behind; “Arrested Development” is hilarious, super spot-on smart hilarious. Husband and I have recently started watching all the episodes (thank you, thank you Netflix!) and we are addicted. It’s definitely not as pretentious as we initially thought (back in 2003), and definitely a million times funnier than the last 3 years of “The Office” (I can’t believe “AD” was only on for a mere 3 seasons when increasingly blah episodes/seasons of “The Office” are allowed to be made — sorry but that show should been axed after season tres.)
And we “discovered” this show just in time, it turns out, after years of rumors, an “AD” movie is actually in the works as well as (a few?) more episodes! YES!
I suppose my visit to Sweden this past summer helped pique my interest enough for me to actually read Steig Larsson’s novel, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. [Or maybe because this book is EVERYWHERE.] Usually I don’t have free time to read, or read books (apparently I can only muster enough free time to “read” my 3 fashion magazine subscriptions each month), or let alone read a book that didn’t resemble anything I had read before or ever had an interest in reading (a story with grisly rapes? wrought with despicable and intense sexual violence against women? featuring a promiscuous gothic hacker-crimefighter? (way off, by the way) no thanks!). And a part of me tries to buck trends and not be swayed by whatever pop culture deems is “cool” or “now”. (I’m still holding out on Twitter…). So when this book, and it’s Swedish movie, gained massive buzz the past couple of years, I just tuned it out, well as much as possible.
But then comes the footage of David Fincher’s movie rendition of the book which looked hauntingly edgy with meticulous perfection in only a way Fincher could produce. Then I learned that the story revolved around a “locked-room” mystery and I had to know the ending, and so I picked up a copy of the book and read it vehemently, cover to cover, in 2 days. I read the book with more voracity than any other book.
The grisly subject matter and intense violence was almost too much. That was not an easy read. Several passages in the book are deeply unsettling. I definitely don’t see how people could label the book, or create a movie that portrays the heroine, Lisbeth Salander, as “sexy”. A poignantly accurate article in Ms. Magazine (see here) clarifies that Salander “is a survivor of multiple sexual assaults, her gritty appearance crafted to deter, not encourage, men’s advances.” And she is not a badass. She follows her own code of morals because that is all she knows. It’s Salander’s vulnerability within society and how she copes with being stigmatized that “won” me over. Although her lifestyle and circumstances are totally otherworldly, she is still a somewhat relatable character. And she’s smart and not cliche.
{I love Rooney Mara’s portrayal of Lisbeth — she’s perfect!}
Up next: The Girl Who Played with Fire, and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest.
After perusing the AMC “Mad Men” website {a Monday morning ritual — amongst reading thorough commentary/analysis — after watching a new episode the night prior}, I noticed this MM book. Illustrated by Dyna Moe, who created the MM avatar, the book has humorous tidbits and factoids about the show, it’s characters and environment with, of course, playful illustrations. This will definitely feed my Maddiction, at least until season 5 {July 2011, you could not be farther away, sigh}. I wish they’d come out with a Style & Fashion File book for this show, I’d have my fix…maybe….
Can you believe there’s only ONE more episode left for this season?
I couldn’t help myself. I swear I don’t like movies that much but I had to post this awesome poster of Sofia Coppola’s upcoming film, Somewhere.
On a related note: Elle Fanning is so stinking cute + adorable! – loved her in TCCoBB.
I’m kind of digging the familiar Lost in Translation feel. Her trailers are more like concise mini-music videos — they always have the perfect song-to-film-clips ratio.
Admittedly, I didn’t know who Josef Frank was until I saw the google logo honoring his birthday last month, but, I did recognize his work / style influence {notably from my overexposure to Anthropologie and Ikea — thanks consumerism!}. After I did a little google-ing, I stumbled upon another Swedish modernist, Stig Lindberg. Both designers created eccentric, whimsical prints, as well as furniture and ceramics/pottery {reminiscent of the ’50s and ’60s}.
Josef Frank: his use of bright colors and organic shapes are almost dizzying — very energetic + vibrant, almost like looking at cellular matter through a microscope.
{Hawaii bomull}
{Himalaya}
{blue foliage}
{windows}
Stig Lindberg: his work often dappled in geometric shapes and were a little more subdued, but still playful.
I am absolutely enamored by this poster, and it’s not just because of my affinity for JP. Aesthetically, the composition, font, coloring, and feigned nonplus photo are moody and perfect . Side note: JP almost looks like a celebrity doppelganger of my husband {to his chagrin}, that is, if my husband vanquished his disdain for sunglasses — then they’d be identical {much like their rap skills}. That being said, I’m such an empathetic wimp I don’t think I could handle the formidable candidness of this film.
I can’t believe it either: two movie/film references on this blog, all within the same year.
It’s not often I get excited to go see a movie {Husband, on the other hand, is a movie/film.o.phile}, but wow, Christopher Nolan’s work reels me in every time. And Inception doesn’t disappoint: it’s complex, ambiguous, smart, with mesmerizing visuals, and a captivating storyline. And let’s be real here, how often does something intellectually original like this come about these days? {Movie critics: there are plenty of other movies (Sam Mendes) to get pretentiously snobby about.}
{Photos by Stephen Vaughn and/or courtesy of Warner Bros.}
I stumbled upon these black + white oil paintings by Howard Pyle {more known for his Americana genre illustrations; akin to Norman Rockwell’s style} the other day. Who knew a Realism painting of a cargo ship could be so surreal {awesome!}? and somewhat Impression-istic? {My art history/critiquing skills at its finest, yes}. Seeing this image reminded me of one of my favorite painters, James Whistler {part of the Tonalism movement}.
Ships Loading on Albemarle Sound
There is such a resonating brevity to his paintings…the atmospheres he creates are luminous and ephemeral; drifting from reality into subconsciousness….
Nocturne: Blue and Gold - St Mark’s, Venice
Nocturne: Blue and Silver - Cremorne Lights
Nocturne in Blue and Gold - Old Battersea Bridge
Nocturne: Black and Gold - The Falling Rocket
{Note: Although I admire his work, from what I remember reading about him, he was kind of a douche. Sorry, it had to be said.}
I don’t watch a whole lot of TV, but when I do, I am absolutely glued to the screen every Sunday MM is on. {Geek sidenote: I also love to read about and analyze each episode. My Husband definitely gets an ear-full of my theories and wtf? questions. I am probably the worst person to watch anything with because of my Mystery Science Theater 3000 like tendencies to provide running commentary}.
Can’t wait until Season 4! Just two more months {July 25th} of sub-standard television…
{Photos by Annie Leibovitz for Vanity Fair, Sept 2009}
Endless hours at a soul-crushing office job, wasted! I could have been making these amazing paper-clip + color-tape {MANU by Lauren Manoogian} necklaces instead. Now that I have some free time {so long Spring semester!}, I need to get my craft on-on…just need me some paper clips…
