Dinner with Murakami is a 2007 documentary directed by Yan Ting Yuen about the life and work of legendary Japanese author Haruki Murakami.
“Largely structured round Murakami’s enigmatic absence, the film dramatizes Murakami’s impact on his readers and takes the camera into the hinterland to determine what is “Murakamian” in the Japanese landscape. The resulting film has a beautiful sense of form and poetic structure.” [Indie Flick Pick]
In the film everybody from groupies who hang outside Murakami’s old jazz club to schoolchildren, share their piece on the publicity shy writer. Norwegian Wood has been likened to the Nippon equivalent of J.D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye; so it is unsurprising most Japanese people have a story to tell about their relationship with Murakami’s work.
I’ve had various drafts on the work of Roger Dean sitting in my to edit folder on my computer for years. He has been one of my favourite artists since my Dad first introduced me to his work as a kid. Not only is Dean a prolific fantasy style painter/illustrator, he is a champion of eco-architecture. This guy has imagination A+ when it comes to creating new worlds!
Here in an assortment of Dean works I really like, starting with his 1989 cover design for the Amiga game Shadow Of The Beast:
An illustrated logo for Virgin Records:
If you like any of these pieces, be sure to check out Dean’s 1975 book Views. It’s heavy, the size of an LP and a intriguing mix of design concepts and finished artwork. I treasure my copy and think it’s worth tracking one down for a look.
Finally, look at these Dean illustrations – his ‘Floating Islands’ and dragons:
If you’ve seen Avatar, these might look familiar. People the world over are speculating that James Cameron took more than a little inspiration from Roger Dean’s fantastic work. I for one enjoyed seeing them come to life!
You never thought you would see the world Twilight on Code For Something*, did you? Well today is a special occasion. I’ve found the music.
Here’s a listing of for New Moon – The Soundtrack… It’s kind of amazing – as hard to believe as that is. Indie darlings Bon Iver and St Vincent! Thom Yorke with a brand new song! Swedish hottie Lykke Li! Brooklyn babes geniuses Grizzly Bear!
Death Cab For Cutie – “Meet Me On The Equinox”
Band Of Skulls – “Friends”
Thom Yorke – “Hearing Damage”
Lykke Li – “Possibility”
The Killers – “A White Demon Love Song”
Anya Marina – “Satellite Heart”
Muse – “I Belong To You (New Moon)”
Bon Iver and St. Vincent – “Roslyn”
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – “Done All Wrong”
Hurricane Bells – “Monsters”
Sea Wolf – “The Violet Hour”
OK Go – “Shooting The Moon”
Grizzly Bear – “Slow Life”
Editors – “No Sound But The Wind”
Alexandre Desplat – “New Moon (The Meadow)”
Go, download it (or stream the entire thing on Myspace) and listen. I think it’s rather lovely that because of this, so many fantastic bands are going to get the mainstream popularity they deserve. It’d be an awesome album to play while opening presents under the tree.
*Unless I was making extremely disgusting jokes. Requests for these awful jokes will be taken in the comments section.
Teen vampire romances and pale faced virgins are all the rage right now. In case you need any more confirmation of this fact, I read an article a little while ago (and checked it just now) that stated there are 69,400,000 google results for vampire. Holy Robert Pattinson. I started to wonder, when did this all start? How did vampires become the ‘it’ folkloric beings?
I haven’t found a truly satisfying answer yet, but I did discover that 25 years before Twilight, True Blood and all the other fangbangers, there was Once Bitten.
In brief; a 400-year-old vampire Countess (Lauren Hutton) needs to drink the blood of a virgin in order to keep her eternal beauty. It seems that all is hopeless, until she bumps into Mark Kendall (a very young Jim Carrey).
Thus begins a classic 80’s teen comedy romp, peppered with leotards and Ray Bans. Highlights for me included the snaky comments of the Countess’s companion Sebastian (played by Cleavon Little, who you’ll remember from Blazing Saddles), and Mark’s pimply hormonal sidekicks. The interiors of the Countess’s house also make a star turn.
Perfect viewing for a lazy Sunday morning when you can’t be bothered to change out of your pyjamas.
Two Midwestern nerds. On a couch. In a basement. Who woulda thought.
Wayne’s World is the my favourite movie. Ever. And I think I’m about the only person I know who has seen it in the cinema. As I recall, I was hanging out with my friend Melissa during the school holidays. Mum decided that we should go to the movies or something and as I recall, called the local theatre and asked them what was a good film for kids. So that’s how I ended up being one of the 6 year olds in the world who caught Wayne’s World.
In the years (good lord, such time wasted) that followed I watched at least once a week on a shitty VHS copy that someone recorded off the TV. I still don’t have it on DVD, but I don’t really need to invest in it, seeing as I have all the dialogue memorised. I don’t even own a gun, let alone many guns that would necessitate an entire rack.
I could tell you many intriguing facts (filmed in 2 weeks!), figures (grossed over $100 million) and important cultural references, but I’m sure you’ve all heard it all before. If not, get thyself to a video store and smack yourself in the face with one of the most essential films of the early nineties. You’re wearing the goddamn denim, so watch the film.
So, tell me – what’s your favoruite film?
P.S. In case you’re wondering what happened to your favourite long- tendriled babes, check out their appearance at the 2008 MTV Movie Awards. They may be in their 40’s (and Garth has pubes) but it’s still party time. Excellent.
When Harry Met Sally is a 1989 film directed by Rob Reiner. And this is the infamous faked orgasm scene. This important piece of cinema history (a total precursor to Sex and The City, I say) took place in the real life Katz’s Delicatessen. The staff there are surly – “Naw you can’t keep your ticket”, the coffee will decompose your spoon faster than you can stir it and the sandwiches are the size of your forearm. It’s a bit of a classic… “Senda salami to your boy in the army!”
In the film Tokyo Pop bleached haired goddess Carrie Hamilton plays Wendy, a rock singer from America. She moves to Tokyo on a whime and, as the stories always go, meets a boy. Hiro and Wendy form a band; finding stardom and love. It’s also story about American customs confronting the Tokyo lifestyle.
My friend Sarah reckons when Aggy Deyn was reinventing herself, she just trotted down to her local video store and rented a copy of Tokyo Pop. Other people reckon Sofia Coppola took a good hard look at the film too, before embarking on the Lost In Translation journey.
From what I’ve seen, I’d agree! Except.. I’m incredibly grumpy because unfortunately I haven’t managed to track down a copy yet, even on VHS. If you ever come across a copy (or if you’ve seen it), pipe up, let me know!
It looks amazing; a cheesey pop love story with candy coloured cinematography, set against a retro Tokyo backdrop. Here’s the trailer:
A few months ago I wrote an article entitled Girls On Film: Style Brands & Video about the plethora of labels now using video to communicate their messages and peddle their wares. Lately there’s been a couple more New Zealand brands getting in on the act.
Last week I attended a show at Plaything Gallery. It was no ordinary art opening, rather it was a dual film screening and launch of Stolen Girlfriends Club’s latest collection: Weapons Of Mass Seduction.
The film, shot by photographer Derek Henderson, depicted a collection of awkward moments, SGC’s friends, family and clothes. We gathered on a rooftop, glass jars of wine in hand, to watch it projected on a wall across the way. It was raw, cool, funny and certainly touching in some places.
Above all, it made me want the clothes. I saw how they looked on a living, feeling human. Perhaps if I had one of those sweet Old News button up denim shirts I’d be just as charming? Sadly I can’t embed the film but if you go to the Stolen Girlfriends site it’s on the homepage.
Cybèle, my favourite New Zealand designer, has also released a video to celebrate her new SS 09/10 collection, Serpentine.
According to fellow Kiwi blogger Isaac Likes, the film is inspired by dancer Loie Fuller’s 1896 ‘Danse Serpentine‘. Take a look – it’s a gorgeous number, with a mesmerizing hand painted effect. Then check out Cybèle’s smokey, kaleidoscopic showcase:
I think these both of these films are great introductions to their respective brand – someone with an interest in film is likely to watch these videos without needing an intimate knowledge of fashion, while clothes ponies can pursue their interests with a different perspective.
The next steps for the fashion and video relationship? Well live broadcasts from Fashion Weeks already get a look in, and fashion houses are making features, a la The September Issue and Karl Lagerfeld’s 2007 film. In my opinion, it’s only a matter of time before fashion bloggers start producing their own DIY clothes dramas, seeing as most seem to have photo shoots on par with professional look books. We’ll also soon be able to go to the cinema, watch a film and then shop the film at the accompanying site – something along the lines of an easily accessible 2010 Sex & The City.
What do you think is going to happen next?
Cybele is in Tokyo right now (like right now as we speak) launching the above film – made for her new S/S 09/10 collection Serpentine – at American Rag Cie’s Aoyama Tokyo store. Inspired by a clip of Loie Fuller’s Danse Serpentine, found on YouTube, the film features Derya Parlak writhing in a smoke filled box. Says Cybele, “I love how the shapes and fabrics of the collection move and flow – like they do on the body when worn, it’s always exciting to see the clothes in motion. Mediums outside of fashion (art, sculpture, design) are always a constant inspiration for my work.” Cybele joins a growing force of fashion designers (like Gareth Pugh, Stefano Pilati for YSL and Stolen Girlfriends Club) who have begun presenting their collections as films. No doubt it eliminates the stress of a full scale runway show. That said, Cybele will be showing once again at New Zealand Fashion Week this year – in the opening time slot.
The most common request in advertising and design… so prevalent in fact, that one art director I know recorded a song about it. Anyway, I’m excited to see this film – despite the fact I only counted 2 women in the line up of talking heads. Let’s just hope it’s a unbalanced trailer – because there’s a lot of girl geniuses in advertising.
3 of my favourite childhood books are coming to life in film, and I for one am excited like a small child.
For your viewing pleasure, here are the trailers for them all. Best served warm, in large doses, topped with cream and raw cocoa nibs!
Where The Wild Things Are. Pyjamas, monsters and an Arcade Fire soundtrack? Where do I sign up?
Fantastic Mr Fox! Directed by the swoony Wes Anderson, based on the book by the genius Roald Dahl.
Alice in Wonderland – don’t be late! Mr. Depp does crazy so well, it’s very admirable.
Seriously, if you don’t get shivers down your spine after watching at least one of these, please advise and we will do our best to unearth your sense of joy – starting with a reading list.
She doesn’t smile much (romantically entwined with Tony Montana, would you?) but Elvira is a fox. An ice-queen with perfect hair, a couple of dirty habits and an awesome wardrobe.
Get the look with an Alexander Wang slim fit dress or a slinky baby doll nightgown from your local vintage store. Beauty wise, you need a banging fringe, thickly lacquered eyelashes and perfect french polished nails. Accessorize with over sized glasses with a gradient tint and waterfalls of diamonds. Throw bored looks everywhere, powder your nose.
A simply magical short film reflecting the state of synesthesia: an alternate sense impression through the stimulation of another sense or part of the body.
It reminds me of a journal entry I wrote last year:
Lovely knowledge – Sep. 1st, 2008
Jerm was teaching me how to tell a first edition record by the smell… they smell like libraries. New presses smell like chemicals.
So we spent a good 5 minutes sniffing all the different records in his room.
You might appreciate this tip if you’re ever out vinyl hunting!
I remember first watching the 1975 Grey Gardens cult documentary when I was 15. Edith Bouvier Beale and Edith “Little Edie” Bouvier Beale made such an impression. The film is mostly awash with eccentric style and dilapidated lives; but every so often you could see a touch of refinement flare in their eyes. It’s really worth watching, beyond being a study in human relationships; as many designers and photographers have used the film as a visual reference.
Of course, I’m mad about animals, but raccoons and cats become a little bit boring.
Now Jessica Lane and Drew Barrymore have starred in a 2009 telemovie based on the Edies’ lives. Reports say Barrymore really committed herself to this role – staying in character and withdrawing from family and friends.
