Category Archives: Performers

“Rust and Bone”

Posted on May 25, 2013 by Fabrizio del Wrongo

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes: This movie might have been something had director Jacques Audiard bothered to give it a shape and some conciseness. I love Marion Cotillard; she reminds me a bit of Nadia Sibirskaia, though there’s a smidge of … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Performers | Tagged at first I thought it was called Rusty Trombone, Film, Jacques Audiard, Marion Cotillard, Matthias Schoenaerts, movies, Rust and Bone | 2 Comments

De De Mollner’s Sunset Strip (With a Few Detours Along the Way)

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: After reading Paleo Retiree’s ultra-groovy interview with De De Mollner about her days as a go-go dancer in 60s L.A., I couldn’t help but wonder about some of the Sunset Strip locations she mentioned. A few of … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Music, Performers, Photography, Travel | Tagged Amoeba Music, Capitol Records building, Chateau Marmont, Cinerama Dome, Ciro's, Crossroads of the World, Dan Tana's, Falling Down, Hollywood, Hollywood & Vine, KHJ Studios, Los Angeles, Lucy's El Adobe, Martoni's, Mel's Drive In, Musso & Frank Grill, Nickodell's, Pandora's Box, Paramount Pictures, Sunset Sound, Sunset Strip, The Brown Derby, The Comedy Store, The Trip, The Troubadour, The Whiskey, Tower Records, Trocadero, West Hollywood | 8 Comments

“Footnote”

Posted on May 18, 2013 by Fabrizio del Wrongo

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes: I found this Israeli movie, which is like a family tragedy played as half-farce, to be messy and precious in ways that don’t really suit what’s best in it. But the characterizations — mostly of egotistical … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Performers | Tagged Film, Footnote, Israel, Joseph Cedar, Judaism, Lior Ashkenazi, movies, Shlomo Bar-Aba | Leave a comment

Notes On Two Early Films by Masaki Kobayashi

Posted on April 27, 2013 by Fabrizio del Wrongo

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes: “A Sincere Heart,” from 1953, demonstrates that Masaki Kobayashi’s gift for staging was evident very early on. In particular, his ability to invest spaces with emotional meanings, and to link them to other spaces via subtle visual … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Performers | Tagged A Sincere Heart, Criterion Collection, Eclipse, Film, Hideko Takamine, Hulu+, Japan, Masaki Kobayashi, movies, Somewhere Under the Broad Sky | 2 Comments

Shakin’: An Interview With De De Mollner

Posted on April 22, 2013 by Paleo Retiree

Paleo Retiree writes: Yesterday I expressed my enthusiasm for ’60s go-go dancing, which I consider to be a majorly underappreciated popular artform. Who doesn’t love the girls who dance behind rock acts? But how much do you know about them? … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Music, Performers | Tagged 1960s, De De Mollner, go-go dancing, Los Angeles, popular culture | 40 Comments

Go-Go Dancing

Posted on April 21, 2013 by Paleo Retiree

Paleo Retiree writes: As far as giddy, pure-pleasure culture-activities go, there hasn’t been much that’s given me more pleasure over the years than watching go-go dancers. They’re a lot more than just cute, skillful and energizing eye candy — although, … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Performers | Tagged Dance, De De Mollner, go-go dancing, Hollywood A Go Go | 7 Comments

Open Mic Night

Posted on April 18, 2013 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: When was the last time you attended a comedy open mic? Recently I went to one and it was a strange and interesting experience.

Posted in Performers | Tagged Big Trouble, bombing, Comedy, Dan O'Shannon, grinding, Holy Fuck, Los Angeles, stand-up | 4 Comments

“Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai”

Posted on April 14, 2013 by Fabrizio del Wrongo

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes: “Hara-Kiri,” the latest from Takashi Miike, has met with tepid reviews, perhaps because it’s 1) a remake of a classic, and 2) defiantly short on action. But I thought it was largely riveting — aside from … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Performers | Tagged Film, Hara-Kiri, Harakiri, Koji Yakusho, Masaki Kobayashi, movies, Takashi Miike | Leave a comment

Notes on Two Early Films by William Wyler

Posted on April 12, 2013 by Fabrizio del Wrongo

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes: In 1929 William Wyler directed a treatment of Peter B. Kyne’s “Three Godfathers,” a Western story of redemption which has been filmed several times, notably by John Ford in the 1940s. Where Ford emphasizes the spiritual … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Performers | Tagged Charles Bickford, Film, Frances Dee, Francis Lederer, Hell's Heroes, John Ford, movies, Romantic Comedy, The Gay Deception, Three Godfathers, Warner Archive Collection, westerns, William Wyler | 1 Comment

Overlooked Oeuvres: Stacy Peralta and American Skateboarding

Posted on April 4, 2013 by Fabrizio del Wrongo

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes: I’ve been catching up with the film work of Stacy Peralta. Are UR readers familiar with Peralta? He’s a notable figure in the world of surfing and skateboarding who has recently turned his attention to making documentaries. … Continue reading →