this blog is a visual notebook of inspirations for a group of bandit bloggers. we post things we see and like. our lives don’t revolve around singular topics and neither does our blog. sorry! nothing is in-or-out of context here. enjoy xx
all this talk about films and we haven’t said a word about the recent passing of perhaps the last surviving old hollywood starlet, lauren bacall. known to her friends as betty, ms. bacall’s career spanned decades. a tough, no-nonsense, downright lady with that immersing, smoky voice and carnal gaze. going through the archives, i finally watched written on the wind, douglas sirk’s film starring bacall and rock hudson, the satirically pleasing look at big business and the destructive families oftentimes behind them. the film is playing at the museum of the moving image’s see it big!: hollywood melodrama series tonight, if you’re in the new york city area. if not, you can read more about it here. by sv
silvia penal sits at the bottom of the pillar, taunting simon of the desert, temptress that she is! bunuel’s succinct mockery of religion (one amongst many) is a must-see for all you i-don’t-know-what-i-believe-rs. learn a lesson from the surrealist master! by sv
ah, ruth elizabeth (bette) davis as the terrifyingly succinct regina in william wyler’s the little foxes is playing at BAM this weekend. no better place for a retrospective, no better time than a sunny new york weekend. read more about the film here. by sv
starting this evening, our wonderful friends at BAM will feature a retrospective of the seven collaborations between director josef von sternberg and the german goddess marlene dietrich. the series begins with morocco and shanghai express (which i am fortunate enough to be attending) and will continue through the next week. if you’re in the new york area, do yourself a favor this week and pay a visit. by sv
thirteen edward hopper paintings are brought to life through various eras in american history in gustav deutsch’s extraordinary film. follow shirley’s journey through myriad social and political crises as she remains a strong and determined woman. this was internationally released last year, i am crossing my fingers and toes for a united states release in the nearest future. read more about the film here. by sv
julie delpy and ethan hawke in richard linklater’s 1995 before sunrise. the first film in what is now probably my favorite trilogy. consider them, to say the least. by sv
here’s the trailer from abel ferrara’s 1981 exploitation film about a beautiful mute girl, and the tumultuous events surrounding her over the course of a few days in the pre-Giuliani-sex-ridden new york city. starring the late zoe tamerlis-lund, she gives a hilariously awkward and sexy performance. ferrara can be a bit too gritty for me sometimes, but having the pleasure of seeing this over the weekend with great company was certainly a night of joy. by sv
hide your mothers. the film involves seduction of friends mothers by best friends. daring and curious. adore is a 2013 australian-french drama directed by anne fontaine staring naomi watts and robin wright. the film is based on a novella by british writer doris lessing. worth a watch. by ars
anyone with two eyes and even the teensiest morsel of a brain was/is a fan of chris cunningham and his tremendous and often off-putting music videos for such artists as madonna, aphex twin, bjork squarepusher, and portishead amongst others. cunningham’s wife, jenny lee lindberg is the bassist of warpaint, an extraordinary musical act with whom he’s been working on this documentary for nearly two years. here’s the teaser trailer for love is to die. can’t wait to see the rest. by sv