2010 In Memorium

airlockalpha has a post called Remembering Those We Lost in 2010 which covers everyone form Corey Haim to Peter Graves to Grant McCune. These are the sci-fi people we lost this past year.

Kill the Irishman Trailer

Falling Skies Trailer

Noah Wyle stars in TNT's summer series Falling Skies by Steven Spielberg & Dreamworks Television.

19th Century Japan in Photos

Some of these look to be the work of Kimbei Kusakabe.

Lego Twin Peaks

Yousuf Karsh

For Christmas I received a fantastic used copy of Yousuf Karsh's book of portraits.

Empire Lists 10 Films You May Have Missed

And I can say I've missed all but one of them. Its a slideshow with a trailer for each but here's the list:

1: The Secret in Their Eyes
2: The Arbor
3: Please Give
4: The Illusionist
5: Cyrus
6: A Town Called Panic
7: Certified Copy
8: Ondine
9: Restrepo
10: Black Dynamite

Propaganda Christmas Cards

For a collection of propaganda oriented Christmas cards from various 20th century wars click right here.

R.I.P - Bud Greenspan

Olympic documentarian Bud Greenspan has died. The 84 year old filmmaker died Christmas Eve from complications due to Parkinson's Disease. Greenspan made a couple of dozen films about Olympians as well authoring a couple of books on the topic. Above is one he did on diver Greg Louganis. Below is one of Japanese judo gold medalist Yasuhiro Yamashita.

Greenspan must have had about the coolest job in the world: making films that celebrate all that is good about humans, making inspirational stories about world class athletes. Hard to beat that job.

James Frano's Grandma has a few words for people who won't see 127 Hours

Christmas Greetings From the Franco's from James Franco

Wikileaks: Michael Westen

Merry Christmas

This Sums Up American Politics Nicely

Tron Legacy Review

Um... let's see... Tron Legacy was not good. All right, it was OK and it had cool effects and Olivia Wilde - which is really the only reason to see the film. Wait, there is another reason: Beau Garrett. She plays Gem. I don't know if she can act but she can wear one of those silly Tron suits quite well. Michael Sheen's in it too looking like he was alien reject from a Farscape episode. And there's gratuitous Cillian Murphy.

I've found that the older I get the less I like eye candy films if they don't have a compelling storyline. Inception was great. Avatar bored me. Tron Legacy bored me. Tron Legacy had a storyline but I'm not really sure what it was as the film didn't make a lot of sense.

Kevin Smith's Red State Trailer

Kevin Smith, director of movies like Clerks and Zack & Mire Make a Porno, has made a horror movie inspired by Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church.

UPDATE: Apparently, its not based on Fred Phelps but critics keep saying that it is.

A VERY ZOMBIE HOLIDAY (Instructional video)

New Image - Sepia Trail

Here's a new image of mine called Sepia Trail.

Ruthless Reviews Top 10 Films of 2010

Alex K at Ruthless Reviews as posted his Top 10 Films of the Year. I admit I've only heard of 3 of them: Black Swan, Animal Kingdom, and Four Lions. The latter two I only know from other Top 10 lists. In order they are:

1 - Agora
2 - Four Lions
3 - Carlos
4 - Point Traverse
5 - Black Swan
6 - Inside Job
7 - Don't Look Back
8 - Police, Adjective
9 - A Film with Me in It
10 - A Town Called Panic

I've just put Agora at the top of my Netflix queue. Its based on the story of Hypatia, a pagan woman who was ripped limb from limb by a Christian mob in 4th century Alexandria. Don't Look Back; Police, Adjective; A Town Called Panic; & A Film with Me in It are available on Instant Netflix.

Top Gear Christmas Special

No idea when it will be on BBC America but the Top Gear Christmas Special involves Clarkson, May, & Hammond retracing the steps of the Three Wise Men. It will also feature James May getting a severe concussion.

The Ramones to Win Gammy

In one of the more bizarre bits of irony I've seen in years The Ramones are to be given a Special Merit Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Recording Academy at the Grammies. They will join the likes of Julie Andrews, Dolly Parton, the Julliard String Quartet, and the Kingston Trio in receiving this award this year. The irony, of course, is that the only Ramones still living are a variety of drummers and a replacement bassist. All three principle members - Joey, Johnny, & DeeDee - died between 2001 and 2004. Irony aside, it's not too surprising that they're being given this award. The Ramones have gotten far more respect after their deaths then they did for most of their careers.

I saw The Ramones in 1984 and that show still ranks as one of the best I've ever seen. I met them that day as well. Here's my favorite Ramones song: I Wanna Be Sedated from Road to Ruin.

1950's Design

New Your Highness Trailer

Apple has a safe for work Your Highness trailer that removes the swearing and replaces Natalie Portman's thong with a bikini bottom. If you're interested watch it here. If you've been reminded of the original and would rather watch it click here.

Brett Weston - Son of Edward Weston

Brett Weston is the 2nd son of the photography legend Edward Weston. Brett died in 1993. There is currently an exhibition of his work at the Phoenix Art Museum. No idea what's there yet but I'm hoping some of the above will be. He shares the exhibition with Sonya Noskowiak, one of his father's lovers.

More Community Outtakes than You can Shake a Stick at.

1884: Yesterday's Future

Back in June of last year I posted info about a steampunk trailer called 1884: Yesterday's future. Shortly after that this test footage appeared. Today it was announced that Terry Gilliam will act as creative 'godfather' for.

Hanna Trailer

Remember Hit Girl from Kick Ass? This movie is what Hit Girl would be like if her dad was a spy who raised her in the Canadian wilderness.

Winter's Bone

Winter's Bone stars Jennifer Lawrence who can be seen above in The Bill Engvall Show. She went from a mediocre basic cable sitcom to what will likely be an Oscar nominated performance. If you haven't seen the film it's about a girl whose looking for her father after she finds out he has disappeared after having used their house as collateral when he posts bond to get out of jail. This takes place in the Ozarks and rivals Deliverance for its portrayal of messed up rednecks. It also stars John Hawkes from Deadwood and Sheryl Lee from Twin Peaks - to be fair Sheryl Lee is only a scene or two. Lawrence, who's now 20, carries the film.

It was recently picked by The Onion's AV Club as the best film of the year.

The Black Swan Sex Scene

This is it? Really? I've been hearing about this for months and this is it? Well, its better then that scene in Vicky Christina Barcelona. I've seen more convincing lesbian sex scenes in Misty Mundae movies.

Movie Review: Port of Shadows

Port of Shadows is a 1938 French film about a deserter who becomes involved in the underworld of LaHavre. By today's standards it a bit slow and the plot a bit thin. Its plot twists are either unbelievable or predictable. That isn't to say this is a bad film. Viewed with those warnings in mind, the film is good. In fact, this should be viewed by film noir fans as this is an early entry into the genre - or rather a god father of film noir. Many of the characters are familiar to noir: the anti-hero, the femme fatale, the gangster, etc... They're all here but not quite as defined as they would become a decade later. In fact, this film has to have one of the biggest wussy gangster ever to be on film.

RIP - Steve Landesberg

Steve Landesberg was best known for the role of Sgt. Dietrich on Barney Miller died today of cancer at the age of 65. He was recently seen as the Doctor in Forgetting Sarah Marshall. He was 65.

Tim Minchin - Storm

A beat poem by Britsh comedian Tim Minchin about an encounter with a hippie girl at a dinner party.

Edgar Wright's Top 10 Most Underrated Filmes of 2010

Indiewire has an interview with Scott Pilgrim & Shaun of the Dead director Edgar Wright. In it, amongst other things, he lists his top 10 underrated films on 2010. Here they are:

1. “Four Lions” – If this was a bigger hit, I’d worry for the safety of its makers. It’s a ballsy satire that never wimps out. Chris Morris made my favourite TV comedy show of all time, “Brass Eye” and his debut feature is no less ballsy and hilarious.

2. “Enter The Void” – The most stunning visuals of the year for me. A rewarding, if grueling experience where the viewer essentially takes the POV of a drug tripping ghost. This is an out of body experience in every way possible .

3. “Splice” – This film was awarded a Cinemascore of F on the basis of two audience losing sex scenes that caused audible ‘What the fuck’ cries when I saw it in the cinema. I applauded them. This is a great twisted little piece of science fiction that deserved to be lauded for its smarts and guts.

4. “Tiny Furniture” – This film announced a great young voice in Lena Dunham and its beautifully detailed look at New York’s directionless youth was fresh and funny. Unlike its mumblecore predecessors, the camerawork was nicely composed and thought out. Hugely impressive for its budget.

5. “Never Let Me Go” – This film did not get nearly enough credit for having the courage of its convictions. It’s rare to see a piece of science fiction this spare and intelligent in 2010. Mark Romanek made a haunting piece of cinema that was both emotional and brilliantly chilly.

6. “The Last Exorcism” – The TV spots did something of a bag switch with this one. The actual film is not what was advertised, it was better. It’s original title of ‘Cotton’ better sets you up for the mock documentary tale about huckster evangelist Patrick Fabian whose faith is tested by the deeply troubled Ashley Bell.

7. “MacGruber” – In 2007, Akiva Schaffer brought us “Hot Rod.” In 2010, Jorma Taccone directed “MacGruber.” Now Andy Samberg has to make another cult comedy in 2013 to complete the Lonely Island trilogy of underrated movies destined to become stoner classics. “MacGruber” is so fucking stupid, yet I cannot deny I watched it every night on the ‘Scott Pilgrim’ press tour in every hotel I slept in. The team up montage, the begging scene, Will Forte excruciating response to the accidental massacre of his team and the two aforementioned unforgettable sex scenes are comedy highlight of the year.

8. “Life During Wartime” – Todd Solonz’s sequel to “Happiness” barely got released and yet it was as sharp and as strong as any of his work. The theme is this is one of forgiveness and the film has a memorable haunted mood. It sometimes feels that you’re watching all the characters in some waking purgatory, so spooky are the performances of Shirley Henderson, Michael Kenneth Williams and Paul Reubens. While the complete cast swap of this sequel is probably down to not being able to bring back all the original actors, it actually seems meant. I’d like to see Solondz return to these characters in 2023. It can be like his very own [Michael Apted doc] “7 Up.”

9. “Please Give” – Somewhat overshadowed by the equally great “The Kids Are All Right,” Nicole Holofcener’s ensemble comedy is sprinkled with ace work from Oliver Platt, Amanda Peet and the brilliantly crabby Ann Guilbert.

10. “Frozen” – “127 Hours” and “Buried” made more festival noise, but Adam Green’s ski lift bound thriller was a just as worthy addition to the single location Lifeboat genre. Making the most of the tiny budget, the film gets maximum impact with its sickening twists. A great one to watch with friends and scream ‘Don’t do that!’ at the screen.

I've never heard of half of these. While I don't get to cinema as often as I'd like, I still try to keep up with what happening in movie - even independent ones.

How to Talk to Girls at Parties by Neil Gaiman

Neil Gaiman has posted his HUGO nominated short story How to Talk to Girls at Parties on-line at www.neilgaiman.com. It takes place in the late 70's and is about two teenagers going to a party. Click the quote below to read it - but there is also an audio version so you can listen to it. Scroll to the bottom of page linked to below to listen:

You wouldn't want to make a universe angry. I bet an angry universe would look at you with eyes like that.

Gratuitous Peter Stackpole

Peter Stackpole captures Cyd Charrise's best asset in this 1945 photo taken in Santa Monica. There's a long article about Charrise here.

Prophetic Words from a 1949 War Film

The above clip appears toward the end of Battleground. I found the words of the chaplain to be very eerie particularly looking at today's politics. This part in particular struck me:

We must never again let any force dedicated to a super-race... or a super-idea, or super-anything... become strong enough to impose itself upon a free world. We must be smart enough and tough enough in the beginning... to put out the fire before it starts spreading.

A Surpringly Deep Interview with Dolph Lungren

The Guardian has an interview with action star Dolph Lungren who is very much unlike the roles he plays in films. This interview gave me a new found respect for the actor:

Most people don't realise that I'm quite intelligent. I studied chemical engineering in Sydney, Australia, and then went on to a scholarship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. I decided to become an athlete and actor because I figured life as a chemical engineer would be less fulfilling.

Read it here.

Steven Meisel Goes Hollywood Glamour

Touch Puppet also showed me images by Steven Meisel of Viktoriya Sasonkina dressed as though she was a 40's film star. See all the wonderful images on Touch Puppet's Site.

Meisel did take one of my favorite photos of all time.

Sebastian Faena Like His Nuns Naughty

I stumbled on an old blog post on Touch Puppet documenting a photo shoot Sebastian Faena did with a naughty nun theme. Or perhaps evil is a better word. Check it out.

DOZE Magazine Issue #4

My image Drift is featured in the latest issue of the Italian on-line magazine DOZE. Its on page 272 of issue #4.

Today I Learned What Happened to Hannah from 28 Days Later

You remember Hannah, she was the daughter in that great family film 28 Days Later. Megan Burns played her. Brendan Gleeson played her father. Turns out she now calls herself Betty Curse and fronts a goth band. Here's a video:

Gratuitous Alexander Savushkin

I've covered the mysterious Alexander Savushkin before - or perhaps he's Savushkin Alexander as that seems to be how he's referred to on-line. Here's another great work of his.

Happy 64th Birthday to Steven Spielberg and 47th Birthday to Brad Pitt

Gratuitous Anita Ekberg

The Valley of Bees

The Valley of Bees is a Czech film from 1968 made by Franticek Vlacil. The film centers on a man who is given to a holy order of knights when he is a boy. When he is a man he decided he no longer wants to be a knight and leaves the order only to be pursued by his friend. Think of it as Logan's Run in the 1300's. Its a beautifully filmed film. The cinematography is excellent. The story itself is a little spare but the film holds up quite well. If you liked The Seventh Seal or The Last Valley you'll like this.

There's a lot of symbolism going on in the film. Some of it is quite obvious and quite sexual. One overly simplistic interpretation is that the holy order represented homosexuality and thus when the hero leaves the order he is pursued by his spurned gay lover. The film was made by a communist country so its no surprise the church doesn't fare well in it although this is far more complex a film then I've just lead you to believe beneath its minimal storyline.

You can watch it all on YouTube and its only 90 minutes long. Its well worth the watch

Tracy Morgan Explains Star Wars

Lady Wasteland

For more go to http://www.ladywasteland.com

Guillermo Del Toro Give his Top DVD Suggestions for Christmas

The Criterion Collection asked Guillermo Del Toro to list his Top 10 Criterion Collection DVDs. As is usual for Del Toro his suggestions are different then one would expect and there's a lot more than 10. But he does mention Onibaba - one of my favorites. Of course I should point out that I initially learned of Onibaba from some other list he did.

One of the Most Brilliant Moments from Being John Malkovich Explained

Tips for Focussing Your Digital Camera

Digital Photography School.com has a great post on different ways to focus on your subject. These will allow to get shots like the one above. Included are:

• Back Button Auto Focus
• Single Point AF
• AI Servo Point Auto Tracking
  

Farscape Clip #5

Film Essentials: Barbarella

I fear the remake of this. I hope it never happens.

Kirsten Dunst Sings Turning Japanese

According to Wikipedia:

Kirsten Dunst sang "Turning Japanese" in a McG/Takashi Murakami art music video called "Akihabara Majokko Princess" featured at 'Pop Life' at a Tate Modern 2009 exhibit in London, UK,^[5] a video which was displayed once again with the show during its showing at the National Art Gallery in Ottawa, Canada.

Water for Elephants Trailer

R.I.P - Blake Edwards

Blake Edwards died yesterday at the age of 88 from complications due to pneumonia.

Jeff Bridges and Olivia Wilde Interview Each Other

Modern Times Short Film

MODERN TIMES from BC2010 on Vimeo.

Carnival Strippers by Susan Meiselas

In the early 70's Susan Meiselas followed carnivals around the New England and elsewhere documenting the lives of carnival strippers. American Suburb X interviews the photographer.

German Sci-Fi Posters

Click here to see a whole bunch more.

International Copyright Infringement Lawsuit Underway

A US court is suing the UK's Daily Mail for copyright infringement:

Florida based celebrity photo agency Mavrix have filed suit against the British newspaper for multiple copyright infringements, and are seeking statutory damages of $150,000 per infringement. With up to 10 images involved the total sought comes to $1.5m plus attorney’s fees and “any such other and further relief as the Court may deem just and appropriate”.

What this refers to is:

• In April photographer Clive Flint discovered that an image from his flickr account had been lifted by the Mail and used in a pre-election piece attacking Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg.

• In May Emily James’ polling station images were swiped from TwitPic for a Mail “election night shambles” story. James billed the paper: Wagland tried to bluff his way out using the public domain defence, but later backed down.

• June was World Cup time, and the Mail were caught at it again, this time with the England WAGs.

• August provided a fine display of irony failure when the Mail ran a story on, of all things, copyright infringement and Russian spy Anna Chapman. The newspaper illustrated the story by lifting the very pictures that were at the heart of the dispute.

• In September the Mail ran a lavishly illustrated story on Conservative MP Mike Weatherley with images lifted from his flickr account, where they were all scrupulously labelled “© Mike Weatherley. All Rights Reserved”. The Mail also managed to introduce a novel legal concept by publishing them “©Flickr/The Internet”.

• In November it was Newcastle photographer Keith Pattison’s turn, when he caught the Mail using his 1984 picture of the miners’ strike to illustrate a story on public sector pay cuts in 2010.

• In December the Mail refined their novel net credit: an image of two year old Rhiya Malin was bylined “© The Internet”.

Read the whole article here.

I Didn't Know They Were Making a New Version of the Addams Family

And wow... Lurch is black - oh wait.... sorry, this is the Kardashian-Jenners Christmas card. That explains why there's so many Morticias.

The Tree of Life Trailer

This is Terrence Malik's new film. He's made films like Days of Heaven and The Thin Red Line. I'm not sure what this film is about but it stars Brad Pitt & Sean Penn and looks to be centered on a family growing up in the 50's and one of the children today.

Bruce Dale - 30 Years as a Nat Geo Photographer

30 Years of BAD Pictures from Bruce Dale on Vimeo.

Empire Magazine's Minimalist 20th Anniversary Photo Shoot

This link goes to a site in Russian but that shouldn't be a problem. Its mostly photos from Empire Magazine showing actors in minimal settings being their iconic characters. Here's the link to the Empire site, which is in slide show form.

Hugh Laurie Sings St. James Infirmary

The Return of Topher Grace

That 70's Show star Topher Grace is set to return in an 80's comedy called Take Me Home Tonight. From the preview it looks like Michael Cera was unavailable as was his future Oscar nominated clone Jesse Eisenberg. So in comes Topher to star as a recent college grad with no idea what to do with his life. For the record Topher is 32. Anyway, it's nice to see Topher starring in something. Yes, he was in Predators and he was good but the movie was only slightly above average. This film also stars Anna Faris and real 80's action hero Michael Biehn playing Topher's father. It also has what appear to be a Jonah Hill clone and a Jason Schwartzman clone.

This was filmed in Phoenix, partially at Metrocenter where a chunk of Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure was shot.

Lego Call of Duty Black Ops

Ian McQue Makes Cool Spaceship Art

Ian McQue makes some damn fine art. I love the put-together-out-of-scraps looks of these ships and how the settings all look to be some third world slum.

An Alternative to the Variable Neutral Density Filter

Over at Digital Boarding School.com is a post detailing how to mimic a variable neutral density filter using two types of polarized filters. Its worth a read but no one seems to have verified his results.

Massanet: Meditation de Thais - Performed by Josef Hassid

This piece was performed by Josef Hassid - a sort of Nick Drake/Syd Barrett of his day. He had severe mental problems and died of meningitis at the age of 27 after having spend a good portion of his short career in asylums.

Gratuitous No Face

Why Not Try the Necronomicon

Community - Modern Warfare

If you don't watch Community you should. Someone has recut an episode from season 1 to make it look like Battlestar Galactica. The particular episode used is one of the most epic episodes in the history of the sitcom.

Inexpensive High Tech Cameras

Wired has an interview with Linden Glenhill and Paul DeZeeuw, co-founder of Cognisys - a company that specializes in helping you capture the impossible shot. Before you stop reading and go on to some other blog understand that these people help you do this for a fairly inexpensive price. It's a few hundred rather a few thousand. How much do you think a pair of laser sensors that trigger the camera when something passes between them would cost? Wrong. $250 is what they charge. Read all about them.

The Assassination of Yogi Bear by the Coward Booboo

For an explanation of this video please go here.

POTC: On Stranger Tides Trailer

It made me misty eyed. It looks good.

Gratuitous Wellington Lee

This was taken in 1939 by Wellington Lee. There's a surprising number of people named Wellington Lee out there including a contemporary photographer but this appears to be correct Wellington Lee.

Ukrainian Sand Art

Times Square, 1931

Not sure who photographed this but it appears in someone's Flickr stream now.

It's a Man's World #6