This French film adaptation of Ambrose Bierce's short story "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" won both an Oscar and a BAFTA for short film in the early 1960's. It is amusing to see French actors re-enacting the U.S. Civil War—as if they didn't have enough wars of their own to re-enact. However, I don't think the film is as good a the original short story. Bierce's writing style is very descriptive, and you would think that would be easy to translate onto film. A good deal of the power of his stories comes from his tight focus on detail, and that might not be so easy to recreate on film.
In three parts.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Monday, August 16, 2010
King Tut’s Family Secrets
If Queen Elizabeth thought she has problems with her family, she should read this article from National Geographic about King Tut's family. Mores might have been different thousands of years ago. Still this family seems a bit dysfunctional to me. Of course the archaeologist haven't determined if any of Tut's relatives every had to declare bankruptcy.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Glass Microbiology
Luke Jerram makes glass sculptures of viruses, including the swine flu shown below. The link below goes to his web site which has more images and video.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Perseid Meteor Shower
I live in the city where there is too much light to see meteors, but here are some pictures from the Guardian that are pretty spectacular.
Coco Chanel Trilogy
I saw Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky couple weeks ago. This is the third film about Coco Chanel to be released recently. I had seen Coco Before Chanel, with Audrey Tautou, when it was out last year, but I rewatched it on DVD. I also watched the DVD of Coco Chanel, the Lifetime Television film in which Shirley MacLaine played the older Chanel.
Before I go into those movies here is a pretty good short documentary about Chanel
It was interesting to see a character played by three different actresses. Of the three actresses portraying Chanel, Audrey Tautou gives the most reserved performance. Her restrained acting is part of what creates her charm, and it worked well in this film. They only part of this film that I did not like was the portrayal of her earlier lover, Étienne Balsan. His is portrayed so boorishly, that it is hard to see why she would have taken up with him.
Here is the trailer for Coco Before Chanel.
The younger Chanel is played by the Slovakian actress Barbora Bobulova. Her depiction of Chanel is a bit more fun loving and carefree than the portayal in the other two films. Of the three characterizations, I think this is the one I would most want to meet in person.
Also the portrayal on Étienne Balsan is a little more sympathetic and has a little more depth in this version.
Of the two films that cover the earlier part of Chanel's life, this one provided more historical context. World War I figures more prominently in this film than in Coco before Chanel.
The later depiction of Chanel by MacLaine is a minor part of the film, most likely added to attract and American audience, since a European cast is used for all of the characters from the earlier yesrs. It also serves to show Chanel's tenacity throughout all the years of her life. While not one of MacLaine's meatiest roles, she gives a good performance.
For good measure here is a clip of Shirley Maclaine discussing her role.
This film begins at Boy's death, and portrays Chanel's relationship with Igor Stravinsky. So in a sense this is a sequel to the other two films. I am not sure how historically accurate the portrayal of the relationship between Chanel and Stravinsky is, but most of the other events in the film are fairly accurate. Chanel did help Stravinsky financially, and did allow him and his family the use of one of her houses. Whether the torrid romance depicted between them actually happened I am not so sure of.
Near the beginning of the film there is a long sequence that recreates the premier performance of Stavinsky's ballet The Rite of Spring. This is one of the most famous—or infamous—performances of the 20th century, notorious because the dancers could not keep time to the music, and the audience erupted into a riot. In 2006, Radio Lab did a segment on brain chemistry and what caused this riot, which you can listen to here.
Often considered one of the earliest pieces of modern classical music, The Rite of Spring survived this disasterous reception to become one of the most populat pieces of classical music, even included in the Disney film Fantasia. Just the recreation of this original concert makes the film worth seeing.
Regardless of how accurate the portrayal of the Chanel/Stravinsky relationship is, the characters seem very authentic. The Cinematography is outstanding, and of course the music is great. This is basically the story of three people Chanel, played by the French actress Anna Mouglalis, Stravinsky, played by Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen, and Stravinsky's wife, played by Russian Actress Yelena Morozova. So what you have is a love triangle with great acting, great sets and great music.
The other advantage this film has is that by 1920 most vestiges of the Victorian Era have been vanquished, and everything that Chanel had fought for in the previous decades had come to fruition. Thus the sets and costumes for this film are very different from the previous two, making Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky an account of the dawn of modernity, rather than a Victorian period piece.
Here is the trailer for Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky, but I must say the trailer does not do justice to the film.
Before I go into those movies here is a pretty good short documentary about Chanel
Coco Before Chanel
Coco Before Chanel covers Chanel's life up until the death of her lover "Boy" Capel, in December 1919. From a cinematic point of view this was a very convenient time for him to die, since it was shortly after WWI ended and just days before the Roaring Twenties began. So this date is a focal point in all three films. Also by 1920 Chanel had established her dress shop, and was well on her way to becoming a dominating force in world culture.It was interesting to see a character played by three different actresses. Of the three actresses portraying Chanel, Audrey Tautou gives the most reserved performance. Her restrained acting is part of what creates her charm, and it worked well in this film. They only part of this film that I did not like was the portrayal of her earlier lover, Étienne Balsan. His is portrayed so boorishly, that it is hard to see why she would have taken up with him.
Here is the trailer for Coco Before Chanel.
Coco Chanel
This is the film with Shirley MacLaine portraying Chanel rekindling her career in her later years. Most of the film, however, consists of flash backs that cover Chanel's life, from when she was abandoned to an orphanage by her father after the death of her mother up until the death of "Boy".The younger Chanel is played by the Slovakian actress Barbora Bobulova. Her depiction of Chanel is a bit more fun loving and carefree than the portayal in the other two films. Of the three characterizations, I think this is the one I would most want to meet in person.
Also the portrayal on Étienne Balsan is a little more sympathetic and has a little more depth in this version.
Of the two films that cover the earlier part of Chanel's life, this one provided more historical context. World War I figures more prominently in this film than in Coco before Chanel.
The later depiction of Chanel by MacLaine is a minor part of the film, most likely added to attract and American audience, since a European cast is used for all of the characters from the earlier yesrs. It also serves to show Chanel's tenacity throughout all the years of her life. While not one of MacLaine's meatiest roles, she gives a good performance.
For good measure here is a clip of Shirley Maclaine discussing her role.
Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky
Of the three films Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky is my favorite, but at the same time it may be the least historically accurate.This film begins at Boy's death, and portrays Chanel's relationship with Igor Stravinsky. So in a sense this is a sequel to the other two films. I am not sure how historically accurate the portrayal of the relationship between Chanel and Stravinsky is, but most of the other events in the film are fairly accurate. Chanel did help Stravinsky financially, and did allow him and his family the use of one of her houses. Whether the torrid romance depicted between them actually happened I am not so sure of.
Near the beginning of the film there is a long sequence that recreates the premier performance of Stavinsky's ballet The Rite of Spring. This is one of the most famous—or infamous—performances of the 20th century, notorious because the dancers could not keep time to the music, and the audience erupted into a riot. In 2006, Radio Lab did a segment on brain chemistry and what caused this riot, which you can listen to here.
Often considered one of the earliest pieces of modern classical music, The Rite of Spring survived this disasterous reception to become one of the most populat pieces of classical music, even included in the Disney film Fantasia. Just the recreation of this original concert makes the film worth seeing.
Regardless of how accurate the portrayal of the Chanel/Stravinsky relationship is, the characters seem very authentic. The Cinematography is outstanding, and of course the music is great. This is basically the story of three people Chanel, played by the French actress Anna Mouglalis, Stravinsky, played by Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen, and Stravinsky's wife, played by Russian Actress Yelena Morozova. So what you have is a love triangle with great acting, great sets and great music.
The other advantage this film has is that by 1920 most vestiges of the Victorian Era have been vanquished, and everything that Chanel had fought for in the previous decades had come to fruition. Thus the sets and costumes for this film are very different from the previous two, making Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky an account of the dawn of modernity, rather than a Victorian period piece.
Here is the trailer for Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky, but I must say the trailer does not do justice to the film.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Up on the Roof
The Guardian's Clip joint has a post with film clips of some of the best scenes that take place on a roof, including the scene from Oliver Twist below. I think that is supposed to be St. Paul's Cathedral in the background.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Monday, August 9, 2010
The Scandal Survivor Flowchart
Click on the link below to see the rest of the scandal survivor flowchart on Slate.
A flow chart illustrates when your political scandal costs you your job.
RIP Patricia Neal
A clip to mark Patricia Neal's passing. A scene from The Homecoming with Patricia Neal and Richard Thomas.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Embrace of Life
After my last post I wanted something a little more uplifting, so here is a video of the Vigeland Sculpture Park. Just about all of Gustav Vigeland's work remains in Norway, so it is impossible to see it anywhere else. There is a large coffee table book with pictures of his sculptures titled Embrace of life, which is where I am familiar with his work from. The first minute or so of this video is just directions to get to the park, but after that there are some great shots of the sculptures in the Park.
Strange Fruit
Eighty years ago today—August 7, 1930—two African-Americans where lynched in Marion, Indiana. A photograph of the lynching inspired Abel Meeropol to write the song Strange Fruit, which was subsequently made famous by Billy Holiday's recording. I have previously posted a video on Holiday's performance of the song on my music blog.
NPR has a radio segment including an interview with a third man who narrowly escaped lynching that day, as well as people who witnessed the event.
NPR has a radio segment including an interview with a third man who narrowly escaped lynching that day, as well as people who witnessed the event.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Picture ot the Day - 8/5/2010
This is the Wisconsin Avenue Bridge crossing the C & O Canal in Georgetown. Reflected in the water behind the bridge are the windows of Filomena Ristorante. They have the best lunch buffet in Washington, plus you can sometimes see ladies making pasta inside the Wisconsin Avenue window. Maybe I will get a picture of that someday.
Archaeology in the News
Two recent archaeological finds. The boat from the World Trade Center site has been brought to the Maryland Archaeological Conservation Laboratory in St. Leonard, Maryland, for conservation and study. Not sure what has become of John the Baptist.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Food from the 40's
Following yesterday's photographs from the 30's and 40's, here is Mark Kurlansky discussing his book The Food of a Younger Land: A portrait of American food—before the national highway system, before chain restaurants, and before frozen food, when the nation's food was seasonal. This book is collection of essays on American food created as part of the Federal Writers Project just prior to the start of WWII. Like the photographs from yesterday's post, the essays in this book are from the Library of Congress. I was in the audience for this talk.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Pie Town and Beyond
From the Denver Post's Photo Blog:
These images, by photographers of the Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information, are some of the only color photographs taken of the effects of the Depression on America’s rural and small town populations. The photographs are the property of the Library of Congress and were included in a 2006 exhibit Bound for Glory: America in Color.Several of the photographs are from Pie Town, New Mexico. A couple years ago Smithsonian magazine published an article on these Photos and the current Pie Two, Savoring Pie Town. I am not sure that I would have remembered this for any other town, but how can you forget a place called Pie Town.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Picture ot the Day - 8/1/2010
Taken from Fells Point this past weekend, a sugar cane ship docked for unloading in front of the Domino Sugar Factory.
Movies
Saw two films this weekend.
I went to the theater to see Cyrus with two great actors, John C. Reilly and Marisa Tomei. The trailer says that it is a comedy, but it is not a comedy in any traditional sense. It is worth seeing just for the performances.
I also watched the DVD of My Boy Jack, the PBS film about Rudyard Kipling and his son. Daniel Radcliffe plays Jack, the son, and his performance is very good. My only criticism of the film is that I think the portrayal of Rudyard was a little too cheery. I don't know the much about Rudyard Kipling, but even if he did think his son should go off to war, I find it hard to believe that he would have been so damn happy about it. I thought he come off as a bit of a buffoon in the film. It would have been better if his character had been given a little more depth. Here is the final scene with Rudyard and King Edward, who has also lost his son John.
I went to the theater to see Cyrus with two great actors, John C. Reilly and Marisa Tomei. The trailer says that it is a comedy, but it is not a comedy in any traditional sense. It is worth seeing just for the performances.
I also watched the DVD of My Boy Jack, the PBS film about Rudyard Kipling and his son. Daniel Radcliffe plays Jack, the son, and his performance is very good. My only criticism of the film is that I think the portrayal of Rudyard was a little too cheery. I don't know the much about Rudyard Kipling, but even if he did think his son should go off to war, I find it hard to believe that he would have been so damn happy about it. I thought he come off as a bit of a buffoon in the film. It would have been better if his character had been given a little more depth. Here is the final scene with Rudyard and King Edward, who has also lost his son John.
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