Meryl Streep

En estos tiempos de speed-dating, myspace y las interminables competencias sensacionalistas de Brangelina, Bennifer y Vaughnanniston es importante reconocer que aún contamos con verdaderas figuras del séptimo arte.

Después de ver a diario los tabloides, y las portadas de revistas con jóvenes musas "multidisciplinarias" como Hillary Duff, Ashley y Jessica Simpson, Lindsay Lohan, y Nicole Richie uno no puede evitar la pregunta Quién actuá/canta/conduce/se viste mejor? Esas son las grandes estrellas del mañana... quizá las de ahora eran como estas, no?

Sinembargo, en esta temporada de verano vuelve a aparecer la gran actriz Meryl Streep. Proveniente de Nueva Jersey, Streep ha filmado más de 50 películas en las cuales se ha distinguido como una de las mejores (2 Oscares, varios homenajes, 1 Oso de plata, varios globos de oro y muchos premios más).

Esta mujer no para, -para deleite de muchos-. Se mantiene en el top of mind de todos los que acuden con periocidad al cine. Basta con verla en A Prarie Home Companion, la nueva alegoría de Robert Altman, para saber que pese a la lentitud de la trama, Streep "salva" el filme.

Por otro lado, y a diferencia de la mayoría de las películas de este verano- Streep es la estrella principal de la tan anticipada The Devil Wears Prada, basada en el bestseller de Lauren Weisberger. Su interpretación de Miranda Priestly, la directora de la revista de modas RUNWAY se saca un 10, opacando a la joven Anne Hathaway (también originaria de Nueva Jersey y mejor conocida por The Pricess Diaries).

Antonioni and Jacquot

On Friday The Film Society opened it's Benoit Jacquot series and I watched Seventh Heaven. I enjoyed it and felt empowered. I loved the fact that the main character (a woman) was liberated and felt an orgasm after some hypnosis therapy that a mysterious doctor provided after he saved her from a shoplifting spree.

After work, I went to BAM to see The Zabriskie Point in the continuing Antonioni series. Not what I was expecting and certainly not his best (in my most humble opinion). Still, I appreciated the music (by Pink Floyd, Grateful Dead, Rolling Stones and Patti Page), the ridiculously good looking youngsters, the smart alec moments (when a cop didn't know how to spell Karl Marx, and typed Carl), the Sunnydunes commercial with those mannequins, the way the film is shot and how it showcases architecture, design and fashion, the contrast of desert and Americana Billboards and the final explosion.

Of course he wanted to mock American society of those times. It was too bad that MGM had to censor his real ending sequence; an airplane flying with a banner that read "Fuck you America". That would have made more sense to me.


To shake that off, I will go watch Red Desert tonight!

Not exactly Top of Mind

Joining the list of "actors" that become musicians...
"See Steven -Seagal- on his tour Sunday June 25th at BBKings Blues Club."

www.stevenseagal.com

Featuring Selma Fernandez

Sin titulo. Feria de Guadalupe, Monterrey, N.L. Mexico
Selma Fernandez 2006

Summer Occupations

Now that it's summer and some people are out of school or have a vacation, it is always nice to keep busy in a creative way.

Apart from reading, watching movies, going swimming and listening or playing music, I recommend visiting these websites:

Free Italian Classes on-line. Listen to your ipod when commuting or during your cardio workout.
learnitalianipod.com

Start working on cool DIY crafts that will look good in your house.
instructables.com

Italian Sunday

For those of us who love Italian Cinema and watching beautiful people...

BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music) is still showing Michaelangelo Antonioni's films. It's always a pleasure to see them on the big screen, you get a whole different feel. Last week I watched Blow Up and this past saturday I watched La Notte (Marcello Mastroiani, Monica Vitti and Jeane Moreau).

I had not seen La Notte before, but it was an excellent treat. I immediately recognized those long takes on hypnotic desolate landscapes, or those slightly tilted semi bird's eye shots of the characters. I appreciated the smart and concise dialogue and I adored the love letter in the last sequence.

It is crazy how many can act and pretend but then believe their act and become.
Antonioni admires youth and beauty, but also looks up to experience and maturity.


Afterwards I walked down Atlantic Avenue towards Court Street. I was in the mood for Italian Food and for the first time tried Frankie's 457. We ordered a watercress, apple and blue cheese salad as an appetizer. It took them almost 30 minutes to bring it. Afterwards, we had Ricotta Cheese Gnocci in Marinara Sauce and Buttermilk Squash filled Ravioli. I did like the ravioli, but the gnocci needed a little bit more pep... Ohh and dessert was Ricotta Cheese Cake, which was light, but not the greatest.

Frankies 457 www.frankies457.com

Renegade Saturday

On Saturday afternoon, we went to the 2nd annual renegade craft fair
at the McCarren Park in Williamsburg. I think the name of the fair does not fit the description at all. Most of the stuff was DIY cutesey, cheesy and not original. Nevertheless, I did find two booths that I liked:
Timber (I bought a brown wooden pin with a carved white face of a dog) http://www.timberhandmade.com/
and Moonblood had cool silk printing designs on T-shirts and totes...
the rest was ^&%^$.

Afterwards, we went to the River to River festival... to listen to this awsome band:
Saturday Looks Good to Me
Quite a show, especially when some hip-hopper dude climbed the stage stairs and started talking to the lead singer while he was still playing and singing a song. Security (or some fat dudes in green t-shirts) struggled to kick him out, until a very gutsy girl made him leave.

After the song was over, the lead singer said "My man here wanted to listen to some reggae, but we don't have reggeae songs." Nevertheless in the end of the show, he started playing some reggae tune... many cracked up.


http://www.slgtm.com/

Cine Mexicano -lo que viene-

cast y crew de Drama/Mex dirigida por Gerardo Naranjo

Esta es una lista de los projectos que se han mostrado a nivel internacional o que quizá están por mostrarse pero ya están sonando.

Un Mundo Maravilloso
Luis Estrada * Este film ya lo pasaron en México, es del mismo creador de La Ley de Herodes, y por supuesto con casi los mismos actores...


Malos Hábitos
de Simón Bros
Lo que yo tengo entendido es que Simón Bros es un director de comerciales y videos musicales. Es una gran sorpresa que haya decidido dar el paso. No sé de que se trata pero entre el reparto se encuentra Claudia Ramírez y Patricia Reyes Spíndola.


Dos Abrazos
de Enrique Begné


Búfalo de la Noche
de Jorge Hernández Aldama
Basado en la novela El Búfalo de la Noche escrita por el multi-premiado Guillermo Arriaga. Esperen un triángulo amoroso, moteles y muertes. Diego Luna va incluído en el projecto junto con Hugo Albores y Camila Sodi.

Conozca la cabeza de Juan Pérez
de Emilio Portes
Esta comedia me suena a Bring me the head of Alfredo García... Me alegra que traigan de vuelta a actrices como Dolores Heredia.

Mi vida dentro
de Lucía Gajá
Este documental narra la historia de tres mujeres que fueron encarceladas en Austin, Texas por cargos de infanticidio.

Morirse en Domingo
de Daniel Gruener
Este director se tardo años en volver y aunque no soy fan de Arjona, hizo unos videos excellentes -algo preciocistas- en Barcelona. Morirse... es una comedia negra sobre la muerte. Y para los que se preguntan que qué pasó con su projecto de Frankenstein en Catemaco...ahora se titula Viva Frankenstein y pronto saldrá a la intemperie. Por supuesto que sale Susana Zavaleta...


Niño Inmigrante
de Patricia Riggen
Esta directora joven que ha tapizado las revistas culturales y sociales de nuestro país con temas de interés social, nos presenta la historia de un niño Mexicano que cruza la frontera para buscar a su madre, después de que su abuela fallece. Me extraña que en el casting esté Carmen Salinas y Eugenio Derbéz.

Párpado Azules
de Ernesto Contreras
No sé nada acerca del argumento, pero el reparto es muy bueno. Angélica Aragón, Cecilia Suárez,Laura de Itta, Rafaél Inclán, Cecilia Suárez entre otros. Ojalá no tenga nada que ver con La Ventana Azúl...

Desierto Adentro
de Rodrigo Plá

Los Laberintos de la Memoria
de Guita Schyfter

La Ultima Mirada
de Patricia Arriaga

Las Vueltas del Citrillo
de Felipe Cazals

Dramamex
Gerardo Naranjo
Hasta la fecha, esta es mi favorita... y no cuento de que va, ni nada, pues seguro la verán pronto. Los actores no son famosos, pero seguro van a llegar muy lejos.

Dazzle Ships at Heathers

It was a couple of months ago, when Josh invited us to the Dazzle Ships party at Heathers. Of course, he was spinning what I heard during a whole week at home when he was "practicing".

The bar is cozy and fun. On the wall next to the bar there's a 16" flat screen monitor looping a video of a close shot of someone's hand, writing Heathers on cursive with a pencil and then erasing it to then start over again. Just like Napoleon Dynamite's credits.

Yes, the party was named after the 1983 OMD album titled Dazzle Ships


Dazzle Ships
Heathers 506 e13th near A (and tacos)
8pm-ish. 2 for 1 drinks till 9. 2$ Tecate till 10pm.

Dan Selzer and Jeremy Campbell are the DJ's behind this, but there's always guest DJ's as well.

For more info, playlists and downloads of their playlists, check:



http://www.tropicalcomputersystem.com/

La Vamos a Rescatar?

Después de escuchar la melodía de "La vamos a rescatar... Beatriz pa gobernar el Distrito Federal" al ritmo de Danzón o Cha Cha Cha... solo me pregunto si la candidata para gobernador del Distrito Federal por el Partido Social Democrata podrá realmente rescatar la ciudad.

Lo interesante es que su propuesta es progresista -para un país conservador-. Al apoyar la legalización de la mariguana, quizá obtenga más votos de los jóvenes -que fuman y que son muchos-. Sinembargo, al gobierno no le conviene esta legalizacion, pues el contrabando es cosa de dos y sin prohibición no hay ganancias. Por otro lado, Paredes promueve el matrimonio entre homosexuales y la legalización del aborto. Estos dos temas son controversiales entre los círculos eclesiásticos y sociales. La diversidad sexual, no es respetada en el país -a pesar de que los más grandes empresarios de este sean gays-. Y ni se diga del aborto, ya que grupos como ProVida y el presidente Fox han luchado y promovido incansablemente la prohibición de este.

En conclusión, es de esperarse que estas propuestas -progresistas e inteligentes- provengan de una mujer.

Viernes Mexicano

This past Friday June 16, my friends and I decided to make it a Mexican day. We got together at 3:00PM to watch the soccer match in the delicious Mexican Restaurant DOS CAMINOS (Houston and West Broadway). The game was a tad disappointing (0-0) but the guacamole and the Margaritas were delicious.

Afterwards, we all went to see Jack Black's new film Nacho Libre. We all were skeptic about it being good because lately almost all the rated PG films have sucked and this was rated PG. Plus it's from the creators of Napoleon Dynamite... (Jared Hess) and not everyone liked it. Nevertheless, we all were laughing at the top of our lungs -we were not the only ones because the whole theatre was doing the same-. Bottom line, Nacho Libre is the same Jack Black act but with a Mexican backdrop. BTW Ana de la Reguera looks beautiful and perfect.

Deeper into analysis expect to see:
Double Morals (priest insinuating to beautiful and young nun)
Machism ("If you come in my room, people are going to think that you are a floozy")
Explotation of Children (the naivitee of cute fat kid "Chencho", tears of skinny boy)
Sexually ambiguous sidekick (Esqueleto and his femenine mannerisms, his lack of interest in the opposite sex)


Overall, excellent portrayal of Lucha Libre's multiple characters. I loved the fact that they included two Ewok-like wrestlers, it was the perfect homage for Alushe.

Hacking Couture

Giana Gonzalez, a talented Panameñan friend of mine, just presented her thesis on Hacking Couture. As an Interactive Telecommunications Program graduate from NYU, she decided to incorporate fashion and technology and voila.


http://hacking-couture.com/

NEW YORK ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL 2006

June 16-July 1 at Anthology Film Archives and the ImaginAsian.

I loved the poster! Thanks Lia, let me know your picks.


http://www.subwaycinema.com/frames/nyaff06films.htm

Wordplay

This Friday June 16, the documentary Wordplay will open in a theatre near you.

An in-depth look at "The New York Times" crossword puzzle and its editor Will Shortz, and the wonderfully unique and loyal fan base he has built and nurtured during his 12-year tenure at the paper.

I really recommend it. Susy and I weren't going to go in the theatre after the delicious catering that the donors - and ourselves- were scarfing... But we decided to give it a shot and it turned out to be a very entertaining documentary. Lot's of nerds (not cute nerds, but nerd nerds). I enjoyed Bill Clinton's comments on the Sunday Times crossword puzzles.

Programación nocturna para imigrantes -o expatriados curiosos-

Las 12:00 AM en Martes. Me encontraba en casa de Susy, pero ella ya estaba dormida en su cuarto. Después de navegar por los 1000 canales de cable, me estacioné en mun2 uno de los derivativos de MTV. Esta fue la programación de los videos que pasaron en 30 minutos...

Mi Dulce Niña - Kumbia Kings
Mi funeral - Victor García
Miedo - Pepe Aguilar
El mojado - Arjona e Intocable
Cumbia sobre el Río - Celso Piña y Blanquito Man

Esta programación es demasiado específica... y me hizo pensar en los diferentes mensajes que esta transmite... Mi Dulce Niña, es para el hombre conquistador y seductor...Mi funeral es del hombre orgulloso y valeroso que le baja la novia a otro hombre, Miedo, es del hombre sensible, que se da cuenta de quen o puede vivir sin la mujer y El mojado, no lo tengo que explicar... (demasiada carga política) demasiado obvio.

Open Roads: New Italian Cinema

Hace dos semanas, The Film Society of Lincoln Center presento un ciclo de cine con 12 peliculas del nuevo cine Italiano. De estas, seleccioné tres. Y de esas solamente pude ver dos.

Anche Libero Va Bene dirigida por Kim Rossi Stuart, es la historia de Tommi, un niño que vive con su papá y su hermana. Su madre los abandonó hace años y reaparece. Después de gritos, llanto, y ruegos, el padre de Tommi la acepta de nuevo en casa. Sinembargo, Tommi desconfía y justo cuando se logra acercar a ella, ella desaparece de nuevo. Excelentes actuaciones (el mismo director actua como el padre), magnífico argumento y mucho mensaje.



Cuore Sacro dirigida por Ferzan Ozpetek, nos muestra el cambio radical que se da en Irene Ravelli, una guapa y joven heredera que después de ser nombrada presidenta de la compañía de sus padres sufre de "filantopitis". Al darse cuenta de que no tiene nada en la vida, y que le gusta dar, decide convertir la casa de su difunta madre en un comedor para gente de bajos recursos en lugar de convertirlo en condominios de lujo.


Curiosamente, en BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music) se está llevando a cabo una excelente retrospectiva de todos los filmes de Michelangelo Antonioni. Con mucha emoción y anticipación acudí a ver Blow-Up en pantalla grande. Me gustó más, me reí más y la disfrute mucho. Esta retrospectiva seguira hasta el 29 de Junio. www.bam.org

Tags

Stickers on street light (Bergen and Smith, Brooklyn, NY)


Brett in Fontana's (Eldrige St. NY, NY)

Anglomania

I know it's not a new exhibition anymore, I waited too long to write about this that now "it's so 2 weeks ago". Still, I went as soon as it opened... I walked in a world of fetishisticly elegant mannequins. Every room was fully decorated and it followed themes. My favourites: the bird woman and the S&M bed (S/FX included). Go visit -very sober- before they close.

http://www.metmuseum.org/special/se_event.asp?OccurrenceId=%7B8CBD9694-C547-4DB3-A0AE-1CA0F88BED16%7D
AngloMania focuses on British fashion from 1976 to 2006, a period of astounding creativity and experimentation. Over the past 30 years, British fashion has been defined by a knowing and self-conscious historicism. In their search for novelty, designers have looked to past styles with an appetite that is as audacious as it is rapacious. Focusing on their postmodern, historicizing tendencies, this exhibition presents a series of tableaux based on Britain’s rich artistic traditions. The irony of satirical prints, the romance of landscape paintings, and the glamour and bravado of grand manner portraits are evoked through a wide spectrum of British designers. The exhibition is set in the Metropolitan Museum’s English period rooms—the Annie Laurie Aitken Galleries—to create a potent dialogue between the past and the present.

The exhibition and its accompanying book are made possible by Burberry.

Additional support has been provided by Condé Nast.

Summer Sales in NY

My type of sales! Totally in my budget.

Homage to:

Homenaje a Manuel Alvaréz Bravo




Homenaje a Gabriel Orozco


Images are so powerful that if they have a perfect/imperfect composition, they remain in your mind forever. True photographers call the shot when it comes to framing an image of life. They freeze time but at the same time make it eternal and ever-transcendent.

As I walked in Brooklyn Heights, these two images caught my eye. I bet I'm not the only one thinking that... and not only that, but they are thinking that someone is thinking the same as they are.