Saturday, August 1, 2015

Just Like a Woman (2012)



Two women get on the highway heading to Santa Fe, one dreams of winning a contest held by a famous belly dancing company, while her friend has a secret: she's a fugitive from justice - accused of her mother-in-law's death.

Subtle, touching and at times exciting road movie reminiscent of Thelma & Louise, but less action-driven and with more feminist poignancy.

Who's That Girl?


Photographer: Gordon Parks

Alicia Medina


ph: Vivian Bellido

A day in the life, Jul 30


A day in the life, Jul 30, at the Schwarzer Hahn festival in Altdorf/Landshut

Sigrid Agren


ph: Horst Diekgerdes

New York


Barbara Palvin


ph: Mert Alas & Marcus Piggot

First Lines: Ruth Rendell - A Demon in My View


The cellar was divided into two rooms.

Kim Peers


A day in the life, Jul 29


A day in the life, Jul 29, at the Schwarzer Hahn festival in Altdorf/Landshut

Seung Mi Lee


The Blue Dahlia (1946)



An ex-bomber pilot is suspected of murdering his unfaithful wife.

Although scripted by Raymond Chandler this movie is handled less as a Noir thriller, but more like an average, but entertaining crime thriller with a surprising - and disappointing - resolution.

Halliwell**: "Hailed on its first release as sharper than average, this mystery suspenser is now only moderately compelling despite the screenplay credit; direction and editing lack urgency and the acting lacks bounce."
Maltin***: "Exciting Raymond Chandler-scripted melodrama...well-turned film."

Caroline Corinth


ph: Henrik Adamsen

Good Kill (2014)



A family man begins to question the ethics of his job as a drone pilot.

Well-intentioned drama with a great lead performance by Ethan Hawke does give some shocking insight into the drone warfare, but falls short of showing any political implications.


Julie Newmar


Ma vie en l'air (2005)



Will the fear of flying rob a man of his second chance for love?

Likable light romantic comedy,  but otherwise quite unremarkable.

Who's That Girl?


Art: Antonio Saura

Kasia Zachwieja


Friday, July 31, 2015

A day in the life, Jul 28


A day in the life, Jul 28, in our alley

Tanya Mityushina


New York


1901 Hester Street Lower East Side NYC

Rosie Tupper


First Lines: Scott Turow - Presumed Innocent


This is how I always start:
'I am the prosecutor.

Julia Almendra


Window faces


Regensburg, July 2015

Anne Sophie Monrad


ph: Tierney Gearon

A day in the life, Jul 27


A day in the life, Jul 27, objet trouvé

Marikka Juhler


New Stuff: Laibach


Laibach's debut from 1985.


Amanda Murphy


New Stuff: Lissabon

 
We booked our next vacation in Lissabon in October.

Jazzlyn Marae


The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976)



A humanoid alien comes to Earth to get water for his dying planet, and he starts a high technology company to get the billions of dollars he needs to build a return spacecraft.

Highly idiosyncratic science fiction tale with lots of pretension; wonderfully produced and photographed, with quite a few memorable scenes, but rather difficult to follow.

Halliwell*: "A weird piece of intellectual science fiction made weirder by longueurs of all varieties: obscure narrative, voyeuristic sex, pop music and metaphysics. Not an easy film or a likeable one, despite its great technical skill."

Maltin***1/2: "Highly original, fabulously photographed adaptation of Walter Tevis' classic fantasy novel is riveting for the first two-thirds, goes downhill toward the end. Still tops of its kind."

Nadine Naue


Thursday, July 30, 2015

New Stuff: Joey Alexander


11-year-old jazz genius from Bali, wonderful album!


Stephanie Lee


ph: Tae Woo

Ministry of Fear (1944)


A man is released into WWII England after two years in an asylum, but it doesn't seem so sane outside either.

Competent Hitchcock-like espionage thriller with great Noir photography and some surrealist moments.

On a new view: still enjoy this Noir thriller with a sinister, but quite unlikely conspiracy.

Halliwell**: "Little to do with the novel, but a watchable, well-detailed little thriller on Hitchcock lines, once you forgive the usual phoney Hollywood England."

Maltin***: "Atmospheric thriller...; good cast, fines touches by director Lang."

Susan Eldridge


New Stuff: Four Tet


Arguably Kieran Hebden's best album.