Recently Viewed: Darjeeling Limited, directed by Wes Anderson.
WA's films are always worth seeing, it seems to me. This feels more in the vein of its predecessor, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, than his first three, though it probably doesn't hold together quite as well as LASZ. Even so, WA is a highly skilled filmmaker and story-teller who can create characters with real psychological depth and develop compelling plots built on their needs, desires, hang-ups, what-have-you. And here's what I like best about WA: He gives a shit about death. Is there any other American filmmaker who explores the power, meaning, and wonder of death more sensitively? I know WA is often criticized for his "quirky" approach to story-telling and characterization, and I agree that at times he borders on the precious, but his quirky (I hate that word--how about "idiosyncratic") angles of approach allow him to access the human condition in ways more formulaic story-tellers usually don't. In other words, he risks preciousness in order to get into the nooks and crannies of the psyche that we often don't find our way into, and I applaud him for that. Grade: B+.
~Yes, the heat will be brutal today, tomorrow, and the day after that, but remember these 5 air-conditioned havens: (1) Ikea. What better place to shop for cheap Swedish products you probably don't need and will replace in 6 short months? What other big box store offers you meatballs and lingonberry sauce? (2) The Portland Art Museum. Love that Bronzino. (3) Trader Joe's. No better reason to hang out in their fab freezer section. Buy a few tamales while yer at it. (4) Rejuvenation. Do I ever buy anything here? Almost never. But I'll wander around with a coffee and drool to my heart's content. (5) My office at Clark College. With my books, my computer, my coffee, my tunes, and my A/C blasting, what better place to be?
~Agnolo Bronzino (1503-1572). Madonna and Child with John the Baptist.
Ciao,
JBF
1 comment:
I may be putting words in his mouth but as I recall, Bob thought this played like a parody of a Wes Anderson movie. I liked it. I didn't love Steve Zissou the first time I saw it but I did the second time. Rushmore is still my favorite.
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