moonrise kingdom

Quirky, I love a quirky movie and it looks like this one will have it all. I think I've watched this trailer at least 10 times... the music, the visuals, the framing, the actors, the '60s and the lovely font used in the credits designed by Jessica Hische. I can't wait.

Moonrise Kingdom - Movie Trailer: Set on an island off the coast of New England in the summer of 1965, "Moonrise Kingdom" tells the story of two twelve-year-olds who fall in love, make a secret pact, and run away together into the wilderness. As various authorities try to hunt them down, a violent storm is brewing off-shore -- and the peaceful island community is turned upside down in more ways than anyone can handle. Bruce Willis plays the local sheriff. Edward Norton is a Khaki Scout troop leader. Bill Murray and Frances McDormand portray the young girl's parents. The cast also includes Tilda Swinton, Jason Schwartzman, and Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward as the boy and girl.

Cast: Bruce Willis Edward Norton Bill Murray Frances McDormand

Director: Wes Anderson

Genre: Comedy, Romance

movies

we use to see a lot more movies. But then we lived in cities with much less to do. We love movies and here are our latest.

Harry Potter, a must see. I did re read the last book which was very helpful. This movie jumps right in where the last one left off and was every bit as enjoyable as the books and other movies.

Possibly the best Woody Allen since Annie Hall. Owen Wilson was great in it and I am not usually a fan. I think I like him better when he is channeling Woody Allen. And of course it is Paris. I really need to see this a second time because there was too much to get the first time.... references to artists, Paris scenes I wanted to look at more... It is on our Netflix list and it will make a great cold Winter night movie.

This is a documentary that I watched this week as I worked on London Doodles. Alice Neel was an amazing portrait artist. It is the story of her life and art and told by in part her sons. She was certainly a bohemian artist in her day. I do think her children suffered for her art. And she seemed to feel she needed to suffer for her art too. Certainly being a woman and a single mother in addition to an artist was not an easy life. It was a good movie to have playing as I worked.

I enjoyed all of these and all are or will be available on Netflix.

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Art:21

Iam spending this very hot week in our basement TV room drawing London Doodles. Above are some very rough initial sketches. I then scan these and manipulate them on the computer... but this is drawing week.

And I like to have something on TV while I draw. And since I am drawing it is fun to have something art related on. I am enjoying this series.

2001-2009 TV-PG Seasons 1-5

The experience of viewing art moves from static to dynamic as this PBS series takes its audience into the studios of contemporary American artists to witness their processes, hear their thoughts and see their art outside a gallery setting. With each episode focused on a single theme, viewers are treated to everything from sculptor Jeff Koons on the topic of fantasy to photographer Cindy Sherman on transformation.

OK... break is over back to drawing London Bridge... and FYI I stream this from Netflix.

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bill cunningham documentary

New York City, fashion on the street and the New York Times.

Bill Cunningham is 82 years old and rides his bike everywhere to photograph fashion on the street in NYC for the New York Times. I so enjoyed this documentary. Bill is interesting, so is how he lives and how he has photographed fashion for the last 40-50 years. I am so glad I saw this.

Synopsis "We all get dressed for Bill," says Vogue editrix Anna Wintour. The "Bill" in question is 80+ New York Times photographer Bill Cunningham. For decades, this Schwinn-riding cultural anthropologist has been obsessively and inventively chronicling fashion trends and high society charity soirees for the Times Style section in his columns "On the Street" and "Evening Hours." Documenting uptown fixtures (Wintour, Tom Wolfe, Brooke Astor, David Rockefeller--who all appear in the film out of their love for Bill), downtown eccentrics and everyone in between, Cunningham's enormous body of work is more reliable than any catwalk as an expression of time, place and individual flair. In turn, Bill Cunningham New York is a delicate, funny and often poignant portrait of a dedicated artist whose only wealth is his own humanity and unassuming grace. - iTunes

For a little peak go here for the trailer http://zeitgeistfilms.com/billcunninghamnewyork/trailer.html

(Thanks Jane for making sure I saw this movie!)

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micmacs, a movie...

Micmacs was a trailer for another movie we were watching. I immediately thought it 'looked' like Amelie which is a favorite of mine. Amelie was shot in a very interesting way,  it had a blue/green cast to it. I like how the shots were framed. I've watched Amelie several times just to look at the patterns in things and the props used. Not only do I enjoy the movie I delight in the details. After a little research we found that Micmacs was done by French filmmaker Jean-Pierre Jeunet who did Amelie. We got it on disk from Netflix and were not disappointed.

Micmacs

(Micmacs à Tire-Larigot) 2009 R 104 minutes

French filmmaker Jean-Pierre Jeunet takes a satirical look at the global arms trade with this foreign-language comedy starring Dany Boon as Bazil, who rallies his friends to take down weapons manufacturers responsible for his father's death. Bazil also discovers a dump into an underground haven for cool tools and sculptures crafted from discarded junk. Dominique Pinon, André Dussollier and Jean-Pierre Marielle co-star.

If you have not seen Amelie it is a must see. I even own it which is rare as I don't own many movies. Again love the color and quirkiness and Audrey Tautou is just so darn cute. Plus it is shot in Paris and who doesn't like a film shot in Paris?

Amelie

(Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain) 2001 R 122 minutes

When impish gamine Amélie (Audrey Tautou), who lives alone, finds a long-hidden trove of toys behind a baseboard in her apartment, she's inspired to repatriate the items, an impulse of generosity that sparks more benevolent acts. A celebration of life and love, French director Jean-Pierre Jeunet's Oscar-nominated charmer stresses the importance of small wonders that surround us, if only we paused to look.

I have put Delicatessen on my Netflix list. An earlier movie done by the same director. So I am hoping it is equally fun. The premise appears to be dark and quirky...

pete seeger, the power of song...

Pete Seeger: The Power of Song

2007PG 93 minutes

Filmmaker Jim Brown blends archival footage, interviews and home movies to paint an affectionate portrait of pioneering folk singer and political activist Pete Seeger, best known for the classic anthems "If I Had a Hammer" and "Turn, Turn, Turn." Highlights include candid conversations with legendary artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan and Joan Baez, who weigh in on Seeger's far-reaching influence.

Since I work from home I have the luxury of watching movies as I work. I enjoyed this a lot both from the familiar music as well as learning more about Pete Seeger. For all of you who work in your pajamas I recommend this.

milton glaser: to inform and delight...

Milton Glaser: To Inform and Delight

2009NR 73 minutes

His name might not be very familiar, but the works of graphic artist Milton Glaser -- whose prolific output includes the "I Love NY" ad campaign, as well as album covers for Townes Van Zandt and Nina Simone -- are recognizable to many. Revisiting the famed paintings, drawings, logos, prints, posters and other works by Glaser, filmmaker Wendy Keys creates a rich and engaging mosaic of a key figure in American iconography. - Netflix

I am of course familiar with who Milton Glaser is. Both John and I found this documentary to be great fun and of course a flash from the past. The '60s and '70s we such a visual delight. Glaser is so talented and interesting and such a visinary. This is a must-see for all graphic artists, or those in advertising. I enjoyed this as much as I enjoyed Art & Copy.

This is correctly titled as it did inform and delight!

the girl who played with fire...

We caught The Girl Who Played With Fire at the cheap theater here in town a couple weekends ago. We both enjoyed it and found it as close to the book as possible. Some things are always simplified to make it into a movie. I liked the subtitles and hearing it in Swedish. It is quite violent but so were the books.

Apparently the 3rd movie The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest is just out... that will make a good Winter night outing. After John reads the third book that is.