Category Archives: Movies

The Camera Loves…

Posted on February 16, 2015 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: …Rita Hayworth Click on the image to enlarge.

Posted in Movies | Tagged Hollywood, rita hayworth | Leave a comment

Six Movie Posters for “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg”

Posted on February 14, 2015 by Fabrizio del Wrongo

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes: The French poster, by Chica, is a classic. Echoed, somewhat ineptly, in this Argentine design. The U.S. poster utilizes a couple sketch that appeared in a lot of international advertising for the movie. The American posters … Continue reading →

Posted in Commercial art, Movies | Tagged Argentina, catherine deneuve, Denmark, England, Film, Finland, France, Jacques Demy, Movie Posters, movies, Nino Castelnuovo, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg | 1 Comment

Fuck Clement Greenberg

Posted on February 12, 2015 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: In discussions of literature and architecture, I still come across would-be intellectuals who invoke art critic Clement Greenberg’s distinction between the avant-garde and kitsch. Of course, for such people avant-garde is doubleplusgood, while kitsch is one small step … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Books Publishing and Writing, Commercial art, Movies | Tagged ads, art critics, avant-garde, Clement Greenberg, Comics, Hollywood, kitsch, pulp fiction, tap dancing, Tin Pan Alley | 9 Comments

“Get On Up”

Posted on February 10, 2015 by Fabrizio del Wrongo

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes: “Get On Up,” the recent biopic about funk legend James Brown, tries to break all the rules. In this sense it’s a bit like Todd Haynes’ “I’m Not There,” which treated the life of Bob Dylan … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Music, Performers | Tagged biopic, Chadwick Boseman, Film, funk, Get On Up, James Brown, movies, Nelsan Ellis, soul music, Tate Taylor | 7 Comments

Depth of Field in “Kiss Me Deadly”

Posted on February 9, 2015 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: A while back I watched KISS ME DEADLY and was struck by the excellent composition by director Robert Aldrich and cameraman Ernest Lazlo, in particular the way they were able to draw your eye through the frame. Check … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Movies | Tagged Ernest Lazlo, Film Noir, Robert Aldrich | 3 Comments

Notes on “The Conquerors”

Posted on February 7, 2015 by Fabrizio del Wrongo

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes: Howard Estabrook came up with the story for this 1932 RKO production, and it plays a bit like the Estabrook-scripted “Cimmarron” of the previous year, though it’s been divested of the epic trappings that made the … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged Edna May Oliver, Film, Guy Kibbee, Howard Estabrook, movies, Richard Dix, Slavko Vorkapich, The Conquerors, William Wellman | 1 Comment

Movie Still Du Jour

Posted on February 6, 2015 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: John Dall and Peggy Cummins in Joseph Lewis’s GUN CRAZY (1950). Click on the image to enlarge.

Posted in Movies | Tagged John Dall, Joseph Lewis, Peggy Cummins | Leave a comment

Is It Time to Bring Back the Guilty or Shameful Pleasure?

Posted on February 5, 2015 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: Over at BoingBoing Mark Dery suggests that it’s time to get back in touch with our guilt and shame when it comes to certain things: Guilty pleasures are all about cognitive dissonance. When I say Thomas Harris novels … Continue reading →