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I Graduated But…

The job search. This has been going on since the beginning of time. I wonder what cavemen put on their resumes? Job skills: Quick fire making and a unique ability to compete in a team environment in the execution and and acquisition of buffalo.
Ability to take full advantage of social media to communicate effectively with tribe using Mycavedrawings and Huntingstoriesbythefire.com.
So here is a lovely film from Ozu-San about the job search in 1929 Japan.
I Graduated But..

Because it’s all about the clothes

So the Oscars are coming up. Lots to say about that. I still have to see many of them so I’m waiting to hear what you have to say. Everyone says how wonderful Precious is. So that one is top of my list.
I’m a little peeved though about the sheer number of nominees this year. I mean if you had a film last year that could have been nominated but just didn’t make the cut, wouldn’t you be upset that the net was cast wider this year?
But let’s talk about the most important part of the Oscars, the reason why we watch the whole event to begin with. The Fashion!
So to prep you for the knock off fest and the red carpet show down, do a little stretching before the oscar party and watch Fashions of 1934 (1934). This little cupcake of fabulousness stars Bette Davis and William Powell. I mean who doesn’t love the charming, fast talking Mr. Powell and the driven,
swift thinking of Bette Davis. It’s all about how to make a buck in fashion design. Good stuff!
Have fun and can’t wait to chat with you about the Red Carpet!

Peeing on Pancho

Charles Rangel is stepping down on ethics violations,

Gov. Patterson they are asking to step down due to ethics violations. Eliot Spitzer had to step down due to his addiction to prostitutes. Is it impossible to stay in office if you are a New York Democrat? I’m sure it really doesn’t matter who holds office next in New York, if it’s New York and your in power, you are going to do something crazy stupid to screw it up no matter how talented and loved you are.

I’m starting to think it is impossible to be ethical in New York simply due to the political environment. It’s a bad time to be a New York Democrat. So I give you in the spirit of blowing it Viva! Villa! (1934)a film based on the life of Pancho Villa.
What made me think of the democrats, was the famous story of Lee Tracey who was fired from the film for relieving his “Pancho Villa” on a military parade from a balcony. Give’s new meaning to “don’t rain on my parade”.

Enjoy Viva! Villa! (1934) and if you are from New York, and are in public office, please, don’t pee off the balcony.

Pointed Heels and Inflatable Beavers

Oh my, those closing ceremonies for the Olympics with the inflated mounties and beavers with the big inflated sharp pointed teeth. The disorganized looking snowboarders. Oh, my.

So if you are an armchair critic like me you may find some enjoyment and nourishment from “Pointed Heels” (1929).

Featuring Helen Kane (the inspiration for Betty Boop).

I love the dialogue between the producer and William Powell in the seats during rehearsal.
“If I’ve ever seen a turkey this is it…you’ll never get your money back from this show”.

That’s how I felt watching the closing ceremonies…all that money, all that bad show…so many inflatables.

But you will love “Pointed Heels”(1929).

Lindsey’s Mont Blanc

After yesterday’s skiing crash with Lindsey Vonn due to difficult conditions

I want to recommend
Stürme über dem Mont Blanc(1930) by the notorious Leni Riefenstahl.

Talk about a woman who thrived in difficult conditions and exploited them. Ssheeesh.

This is the Night to be yourself

Is heartbreak inevitable? Where would we be without all this pain and self-loathing? I’m not sure if I would want to be self-loving and irresistibly lovable. What would life be like if I received the appropriate credit and praise for all of my hard work or apathy for that matter? What would it be like to succeed at everything I tried and supported by everyone I loved? What would it be to have a night of utter perfection?

I would be Evan Lysacek. But as much as everyone seems to love Evan I don’t identify with him at all. I listened to his perfect responses to Plushenko’s talking smack about him last night. His answers were so perfectly choreographed and rehearsed. So honorable, so noble. So high ground. His hero told him he wasn’t worthy and he showed no amount of pain or acknowledgment of Plushenko’s point. Do I think he deserved the gold, of course, but the Russian did have a point and I wanted to see him struggle with that.

So as the endorsements rush in, I just want to say something to all the products looking for a spokes person. I would not buy something that Evan endorsed simply because I don’t identify with him. Nor do I particularly care to be a flawless, tall man in spandex and feathers. Boitano had a sweet awkwardness to him. He looked kind of goofy. Goofy people can win too was the message I got.

Weir’s interview with Bob Costas about the whole Plushenko experience was mesmerizing. Johnny seemed to have a clear understanding of the history of Men’s Figure Skating and the expectations and culture. He said, without saying, that Evan won the Image of Men’s Figure Skating Gold. I loved it. Weir is so compelling in his passion for the sport and his passion for bringing everything he has to it.
He knows his image and who he is pushes peoples feelings around. But he wants that, he wants to move you with his sport, he wants to as he said, “Take you on a journey”. And that got me. With all that has been going on with stupid television programing, idiotic scandals and daily economic pressure it was great to hear that someone cared that I was transported out of all of this. And not with blue people in 3D that are depressingly fake. He was going to skate me to another place where all of my life’s disappointment didn’t matter for a few minutes. It wasn’t going to win, but it was beautiful and it was for us.

If Plushenko in his brashness transported you to the highs of the sport, Weir took you on a journey of it’s beauty. And that’s what I love. The one’s who don’t hide anything about who they are for the image of a sport. They say Evan won because of the total package. Well fuck that. Fuck the package. I’m tired of buying packages. I want the real thing. I want to buy something that is going to take me on a journey and transport me into the glories of who they are and not into another monthly plan for $19.95 with a two year service contract and a $130 cancellation fee.

I want an ego maniac who is painfully insecure in his artistic contribution and a delicate little angel on ice who rejects the pressures of masculinity. This is what I identify with as a consumer, being in touch with my flaws, not divorcing myself into an unsustainable lifestyle. All image and no self, I give you Tiger Woods. Remember Michael Jordan? Remember what was so great about him? He was kind of a jack ass. You could see him struggling to hold his ego in check and for the most part he did. But it was hard for him. The baseball attempt was a fantastic disaster, but it was all him. That was greatness.

Which makes me think of Cary Grant. A great icon who transported you and was more than the sum of his parts.
Once told by an interviewer, “Everybody would like to be Cary Grant,” Grant is said to have replied, “So would I.”

My point being that we shouldn’t buy into the package. Cary didn’t and that’s what made him great. We always understood that we were in on the joke. He was an image and he knew how to wink and let you know it was just and image. You still saw him. And that was important.

So dear advertisers:

Please think about your endorsements. Make sure that your product is being endorsed by someone who is representing your product. If your product is the essence of a journey Wier is your man. If your product is the essence of boldness and unapologetic ego and athleticism Plashenko is your man (although I doubt an American company is going to go after a Russian endorsement). If you are looking for Cary Grant, Evan is not him. He is a guy who killed himself to be what everyone wanted him to be, topped off with a Vera Wang costume, red carpet ready. He’ll be perfect for a first guest on the new new Tonight Show with Jay Leno and is ripe for a scandal or a “coming out”. I mean seriously who is his audience? Closeted men? I’m not saying he didn’t deserve to win, I’m just not sure he works as an endorsement. What would he endorse?

So in celebration of the genuine article I recommend Cary Grant’s film debut in which he ironically enough plays an Olympic Athlete.
This is the Night (1932)

Tiger Woods and the cross he bears

Ah! Forgiveness. What does that really mean anyway. We let it go? We move on? Closure? Ratings? I hate golf so he never lost me as a fan.

I must admit though, it does make good drama. What I would like is to get one of those CGI programs and super impose ex-boyfriends faces over Tiger Woods’ face. That way the ex of your choice can hold a press conference and apologize publicly for being a stupid moron to you. What would it be like if average people were able to apologize publicly in press conference format with their family and pets standing next to them? Instead of Reality TV we could have Apology TV. What if we all could appear on Oprah and have her forgive us?
So since we are approaching Lent and in the spirit of public humiliation I recommend for this evening Sign of the Cross (1932) (Sorry I couldn’t resist) Tiger, I hope you enjoy it.
After burning Rome, Emperor Nero decides to blame the Christians, and issues the edict that they are all to be caught and sent to the arena. Two old Christians are caught, and about to be hauled off, when Marcus, the highest military official in Rome, comes upon them. When he sees their stepdaughter Mercia, he instantly falls in love with her and frees them. Marcus pursues Mercia, which gets him into trouble with Emperor (for being easy on Christians) and with the Empress, who loves him and is jealous.

There is supposed to be some nice girl on girl in this too, so Tiger will enjoy that. Here’s Claudette in the bath of milk. She looks good. The kittens are a cute touch as well.
Here’s my favorite line, ” Take off your clothes, get in here and tell me all about it.”

Polly of the Circus in Brooklyn

I saw this article today in The New York Times about an event/performance space in Brooklyn called “The House of Yes”. You should check it out, looks really interesting.
With the advent of Cirque de Soleil their seems to be a growing population of circus type performers. A new burlesque & aerialist movement seems to have permeated Brooklyn.

Kae Burke performs at a House of Yes party in Bushwick, Brooklyn.

Snow White before Disney got a hold of her

It is snowing like crazy where I am. I hope I can find my car tomorrow. Looks like the kids may get off tomorrow for a snow day. Maybe your kids will go out and play tomorrow, maybe they will sit on the couch and watch every Disney DVD you own. They might even pick up Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) to watch again. You may not be able to take another viewing, so here’s a suggestion.

The lovely Ms. Betty Boop did Snow White before Disney. It’s a bit risque, but you’ll love it.
Here’s a bit of life before the Hi Ho.
Here is Snow White from (1933) starring Betty Boop.

Downhill

These Olympics are not going well. First the fatal Luge accident, the weather which has caused delays in the skiing competition and although the opening ceremony was a nice try and I did enjoy the whales, the opening ceremonies were very underwhelming. This is not Vancouver’s fault though, anyone who had to follow China was doomed to fail.

Those opening ceremonies, as controversial as they may be were spectacular in every way. I cannot imagine how one would ever be able top the sheer display of numbers, organization, discipline and creativity. It was jaw dropping and disturbing, a once in a lifetime experience.

I am in awe of these insane athletes who dedicate themselves to challenging death. These sports are dangerous and thrilling. They are a wonder of athleticism, technique, sheer nerve and artistry. Love ‘em think they are great. These Olympics seem to have a quality about them that captures the spirit of all that were are currently going through in the economy. As the Beijing Olympics were a symbol of the height of a world on economic steroids, these Olympic games seem to be a hang over, a wake up, the reality of where we are all heading. Downhill.

I found a great little Hitchcock film to enjoy in the Olympic Spirit of these games. In the spirit of death on the opening day, in the spirit of an underwhelming amount of participants from India, Pakistan, Japan, Jamaica and other parts of the globe who never see snow and in the spirit of global warming and a global economic meltdown I give you: Downhill (1927).
I hope you enjoy this film about being falsely accused of impregnating a waitress, losing your inheritance, getting kicked out of Oxford and becoming a Gigolo. Good stuff.