Monthly Archives: January 2013

End of the Road (Aram Avakian, 1970)

Posted on January 8, 2013 by Sax von Stroheim

Sax von Stroheim writes: My list of “Films that Belong to an American New Wave that Didn’t Really Exist” includes De Palma’s Greetings and Hi, Mom!; Norman Mailer’s Maidstone; Robert Downey, Sr.’s oeuvre; Shadows, Faces, and Opening Night; Robert Kramer’s Milestones; Mickey One, The Connection, Dusty and Sweets McGee, The Swimmer, and David Holzman’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged 1960s, American New Wave, Aram Avakian, movies, robert downey sr, stacey keach, Steven Soderbergh | 3 Comments

Kirsten Mortensen’s New Novel

Posted on January 8, 2013 by Paleo Retiree

Paleo Retiree writes: “When Libby Met the Fairies and her Whole Life Went Fae” by friend-of-this-blog Kirsten Mortensen is like a chicklit version of a Tom Perrotta or Nick Hornby novel — a likable, touching and appreciative seriocomic look at … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Publishing and Writing | Tagged chicklit, Comedy, humor, kirsten mortensen, light entertainment | 11 Comments

Thom Mayne Must Be Stopped

Posted on January 7, 2013 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: Last weekend, I was finally able to get up close and personal to Thom Mayne’s Pritzker prize-winning (i.e. the “Nobel of architecture”) CalTrans 7 District Headquarters located across the street from City Hall in the heart of … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Photography | Tagged CalTrans building, concrete, crimes against good taste, crimes against style, Los Angeles, Pritzker Prize, scaffolding, steel, Thom Mayne | 26 Comments

Two Sports Movies From The 1970’s

Posted on January 6, 2013 by Sax von Stroheim

Sax von Stroheim writes: One’s a masterpiece, one’s an interesting-if-not-exactly-good little movie. First the masterpiece: Slap Shot (George Roy Hill, 1977) A vulgar, American comedy from one of the 70’s most underrated filmmakers. (Considering the “classic” status of Butch Cassidy and … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Sports | Tagged George Roy Hill, hockey, movies, Paul Newman, sports, women's wrestling | 9 Comments

The Honey of Ikaria

Posted on January 6, 2013 by Paleo Retiree

Paleo Retiree writes: Remember that New York Times article from a few months ago about the world’s longest-lived people? They’re the inhabitants of Ikaria, a small Greek-owned island in the Eastern Aegean, just off the coast of Turkey. After gathering … Continue reading →

Posted in Food and health | Tagged food, Greece, health, honey | 4 Comments

The Future and Magical Realism

Posted on January 5, 2013 by Fenster

Fenster writes: While waiting for Crank 2 to come in to my local library, I thought I’d go to Netflix streaming and see something along the same lines. I ended up with Miranda July’s second feature, The Future. What, you … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | 2 Comments

Quiz o’ th’ Day

Posted on January 5, 2013 by Fenster

Fenster writes: On April 13, 1945, the Berlin Philharmonic played Bruckner’s Fourth Symphony. At the exits, members of the Hitler Youth handed out: 1. an early version of the nicotine patch 2. Eva Braun inflatables 3. small anti-gravity devices 4. condoms … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Notes on “Crank 2: High Voltage”

Posted on January 4, 2013 by Fabrizio del Wrongo

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes: I think “Crank 2” is better than the original. It may also be one of the best slapstick comedies of recent years. (It suggests Frank Tashlin on speed or “Pee Wee Herman’s Big Adventure” as recounted in pantomime … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged Brian Taylor, Crank 2, Jason Statham, Mark Neveldine, Neveldine/Taylor | 15 Comments

Inserts

Posted on January 4, 2013 by Paleo Retiree

Paleo Retiree writes: A pet theory of mine is that our health-care crisis would be 90% solved if people would 1) lose some weight, 2) quit the cigarettes, 3) knock off the packaged foods, 4) take a daily walk, 5) … Continue reading →