In Memoriam…

It was with sadness that I read of the passing of Dame Elizabeth Taylor. There will be much written and spoken about her now that she has died and I won’t attempt to compete here. I can say only that I found her to be a true master of her art and a great and cherished humanitarian.

To this day, I find myself riveted by some of her film performances. In particular of these is her well deserved Best Actress Oscar winning performance as Martha in “Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf”. I have seen that film so many times that I have literally lost count. It is a timeless piece of movie mastery that will live in the halls of honor of film making.

I think I will honor her life this weekend when I am back at the shore with some good scotch and another screening of that astounding film…

Another brilliantly performed scene…

In Memoriam
Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor
February 27, 1932 – March 23, 2011

De Niro helps to end Art Fraud.

Courtesy AFP/Getty Images

The actor Robert De Niro, who last year created a new art prize in honor of his late painter father's legacy, appeared in a packed courtroom on Friday to testify in the trial of Leigh Morse, a dealer who worked for Larry Salanderduring the notorious swindler's multimillion-dollar spree of art fraud. Appearing in the Manhattan court in a green corduroy blazer and white shirt, the actor — recently labeled a "post-empire" icon by Bret Easton Ellis— related how he had a deal to evenly split the sale of commissioned works with the gallery, but then failed to see any proceeds while noticing that Salander was flying around the world in a private jet. "It didn't seem to add up," the actor testified. MORE HERE - [Bloomberg].

The nude men clock - Huh?!

Who would want to see scores of tiny animated nude men in your browser telling you what time it is? The real question is – who wouldn’t?!

This cute and clever flash app was sent to me by my dear friend Denise. It does actually tell you the correct time, at least as shown on your computer. Click to switch back and forth between an analog clock and a digital read out. Check it out here:

http://lovedbdb.com/nudemenClock/index2.html

Oh those crazy 60’s….

I’m going to file this one under the WTF category. While it must have been fun while it lasted, this just seems like a game with, ultimately, disastrous results - or at least - an unpleasant throbbing headache hued sunrise search for a taxi the next morning. . .

The Associated Press: Pompeii exhibit in NYC shines light on buried city

NEW YORK (AP) - A new exhibition from Italy that opens Friday at New York's Discovery Times Square captures the last gasp of the ancient city of Pompeii before it was buried under volcanic ash, mud and rock when Mount Vesuvius erupted 2,000 years ago.

Copies of body casts that researchers made from the skeletal remains of residents buried alive are an eerie part of the exhibit - a crouching man covers his mouth, a chained dog appears contorted, a family of four huddle together.

A short film recreates what Pompeians might have felt as they tried to escape. The museum's floor vibrates as the volcano's furor grows; a movie screen rises and a double door opens to reveal a funereal scene of 20 "bodies" hardened in poses from their final moments.

Pompeii existed for 700 years before it was snuffed out in just 24 hours.

"Pompeii The Exhibit: Life and Death in the Shadow of Vesuvius" also chronicles life in the vibrant mercantile city before and after Vesuvius erupted. Colorful room and garden frescoes, mosaic floors, pottery and gold jewelry are among the artifacts featured.

Located on Italy's western coast, Pompeii's rich volcanic soil produced wine grapes, wheat and other crops. Both a river and sea port, the city exported goods throughout the Roman Empire and imported such items as lamps, pottery and olive oil from northern Italy, France and Spain.

Its 25,000 inhabitants were well-to-do farmers, bankers, ship captains and traders whose thriving city boasted 200 wine bars, inns and restaurants, 33 bakeries, and Thermoplia, the fast food shops that ladled hot foods from big terra cotta pots.

"The exhibition provides a complete picture of life in an ancient city. No archaeological excavation gives the totality of life like Pompeii," said Judith Harris, ...
http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2011-03-04-Pompeii Exhibition/id-c49b4de85f334b1a8b114e86d79470f7
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Fab Fun Florida. . .

I've been in fabulous, sunny, Fort Lauderdale, Florida since Sunday afternoon and l'm loving every second of it. One lovely excursion yesterday was to the Coconut Grove Art Festival in Miami. It was a massive collection of some truly outstanding work by hundreds of talented artists and I'm glad I was able to attend on the last day of the event.

One sculptor in particular whose work was particularly compelling in a kitschy, voyeuristic manner was Marc Sijan. His works are startlingly lifelike poly-resin casts of live models which he sculpts and paints to an uncanny level of realism. I've either seen his work, or similar, somewhere before as it rang familiar, but nevertheless, it packs a whalop upon close inspection. Here are a few snaps I took of his work on display. . .

A cherry lover no doubt.

This model seemed to be popular with the artist

This work was particularly unsettling/amazing. Every pore seems to be accounted for. Of course, that is to be expected with a cast from a live model, but the artist truly has enhanced these works to add new dimensions to their lifelike appearance.

See this happy-go-lucky bald chap. He's not real.

By the way, the next time you find yourself in Miami, and are in the mood for something with a touch of European/Latin infused Bohemia - head over to 412 Espanola Way and Cafe Nuvo for a brilliant Mojito and an the outstanding "Europe's Favorite" platter for two. You'll be ever so happy you did. Plus, the people watching is fab. You'll never know when a Cuban model may show up for a photoshoot.

Keith Haring–on this day, Feb. 16. . .

Keith Haring was a visionary visual pop artist whose work seemed to be everywhere in the 1980’s.



In 1982, Haring had his first New York one-man show at the Shafrazi Gallery.

Untitled, 1982
marker ink and acrylic on found canvas
86 x 86 inches
218.44 x 218.44 cm

Untitled, 1982
vinyl paint on vinyl tarp
72 x 72 inches
182.88 x 182.88 centimeters



Haring opened Pop Shop in New York City in 1986. The store sold posters, t-shirts, and other items baring his artwork and designs. He was also interested many social causes, painting an anti-drug mural that same year. In all, he did more than 50 public works and held numerous workshops for children. In 1988, Haring discovered that he had AIDS. The next year he created the Keith Haring Foundation to support AIDS organizations and children’s programs.



Sadly, Keith Haring died on this day, February 16th in 1990 at the age of 31. Click on this link to read more about the fascinating life and brilliant, though sadly short-lived, career of this influential artist here.

Rest In Peace Betty Garrett

Somehow, the news of the passing of Betty Garrett three days ago slipped under my radar. I first became aware of her as a child growing up in the 70’s. She was a regular on television portraying Archie Bunker's liberal neighbor Irene Lorenzo in All in the Family and landlady Edna Babish in Laverne & Shirley. I was a fan of both of those programs and it was difficult not to notice the vitality, spunk, and fiery charisma Betty Garrett infused into those roles that certainly would have been missed had they been portrayed by a lesser actress.


Betty Garrett, lower right, in the cast of Laverne & Shirley

While she was quite good in those roles, her career consisted of far more than the sitcom sessions. She had a long and glorious career as a dancer, singer, Broadway star and musical film star. 

Though she and her husband Larry Parks had to suffer through the indignities of the Black List in the 1950’s she still managed to find work, she managed to land on her feet leading her to a career that only ended when she passed. According to to this LA Times obit, just last Wednesday, she “went to dinner with friends and afterward taught a weekly musical comedy class at Theatre West, the nonprofit theater she helped found in North Hollywood half a century ago.”

Now that’s what I call an artist.

In Memoriam
Betty Garrett
May 23, 1919 - February 12, 2011

Al Pacino to play Henri Matisse

Henri Matisse and Al Pacino … Photograph: Carl Van Vechten/Corbis and Frederick M Brown/Getty

This is intriguing – one of my favorite actors will portray one of my favorite painters on screen. Academy award winner Al Pacino will play the French artist Henri Matisse in a film about the painter's relationship with his nurse, model and muse, Monique Bourgeois, Variety reports 

Producers are still searching for two female leads for the film, titled “Masterpiece”. In 1941, Matisse, who lived most of the year in Nice in the south of France, developed cancer and underwent surgery. During the long recovery he was particularly helped by a young part-time nurse, Monique Bourgeois, who had answered his ad seeking "a young and pretty nurse" and who took care of Matisse with great tenderness.

Matisse asked her to pose for him, which she did. Several drawings and paintings exist. She later became a Dominican nun, and the pair re-encountered each other in Vence, France, where she inspired him to decorate the Chapelle du Rosaire, often known as the Matisse chapel and one of the most important works of art of the 20th century.

Bourgeois, or Sister Jacques-Marie as she was later known, died in 2005. She insisted her relationship with the painter had always been purely platonic. "I never really noticed whether he was in love with me," she told an interviewer in 1992. "I was a little like his granddaughter or his muse, but he was always a perfect gentleman."


Henri Matisse and Sister Jacques-Marie

The Indian-Canadian Oscar-nominated film-maker Deepa Mehta is set to direct a script by Donald Martin.

While thievery sucks, Art Thievery REALLY sucks…

It seems some unscrupulous person literally lifted a stunning eight-by-ten, black-and-white Polaraid snapped by photographer Jason Lee of the late actor Dennis Hopper  from a Los Angeles art gallery following the opening of a new exhibit, Friday night. 

Not only as a  professional visual artist who has had work stolen myself but also as someone who owned and operated a successful art gallery in Washington, DC for 11 years, I can tell you how reprehensible this is and how much it sucks.

This work is described as “extremely sentimental” to the photographer. So much so that Jason Lee has offered a no-questions-asked, no charges pressed, anonymous return of the work  reward of $25,000.

It is my sincerest hope that the perpetrator/s return the work, and if they have any self-respect at all (doubtful), they will refuse the generous reward.

More on the crime here - WE NEED YOUR HELP. Please spread the word.

Google Art Project: 'Street view' technology added to museums

Preview of the Google Art Project

Here’s some exciting news for all of you museum and gallery lovers out there (myself included). It seems that Google is bringing its "street view" technology indoors. With the launch of the Google Art Project, announced at a press conference in London this morning, Google jumps into the online art arena with tools that will allow web surfers to move through 17 of the most prominent art galleries in the world, with the option to look more closely at individual art works, including some that will be digitized so exhaustively that individual paint strokes and hairline cracks in the surface will be visible.

I think this is a brilliant and innovative idea that will only help bolster interest in the visual arts, especially for students around the world who have no access to these masterworks. It’s better to have an experience with the work on a computer than not at all.

For a complete article regarding the event, read about it in the Washington Post’s ArtsPost here:

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/arts-post/2011/02/google_launches_the_google_art.html?hpid=moreheadlines

“The world is life, fun, and energy.”

No matter what your stance on the validity of horoscopes, the following is of interest. The folks at www.informationisbeautiful.net wondered if horoscopes really all just say the same thing? They scraped & analyzed 22,000 predictions to see the results.

Frankly, I find the meta-horoscope composed of the most common words from 4,000 star sign predictions may be the only horoscope that I will ever need. . .



Words to live by no doubt. . . More  here -

www.informationisbeautiful.net/visualizations/horoscoped

A collection of work. . .

I’m in the process of updating some of the work on my visual artist website at www.sprouseart.com. Coupled with the fact that I recently was commissioned to create a “Narrative Portrait” work, I found myself revisiting some works that I’ve not examined in a while. I created an album on my Facebook page for the process and I found the synchronistic manner in which FB’s album app situated the works so that the eyes of each subject of the paintings are the main focus of the thumbnails rather uncanny.

You can see the full treatment, as well as the large version of each thumbnail plus a description of my “Narrative Portrait” process here - http://www.facebook.com/#!/album.php?aid=279568&id=767354227 

Feel free to share!

Crazy Cat Animation…

It’s Friday and the perfect time for this silliness…

Enjoy your weekend!

Xtras Café In Richmond’s “Carytown”

A couple of months ago, I became aware of a new hot spot in the “Carytown” section of Richmond called “Xtras Café” that just opened last September.

The place is off to a great start getting rave review after rave review in the Richmond press, including being named one of the best new restaurants in Richmond”  in the January issue of Richmond Magazine.

The reason that Xtras came across my radar is the fact that they have practically designed their phenomenal deco themed interior around one of my large-scale paintings entitled, “The Farewell”  which was purchased from The Chasen Gallery – a wonderful gallery with whom I have been represented for a number of years now.


(interior shot of Xtras Café with “The Farewell” center wall)

(detail of interior shot of Xtras Café with “The Farewell” center wall)

I’ve not had a chance to get to Xtras yet, but I have an artist friend who will be traveling to Richmond soon who plans to stop in and check it out. Based upon the reviews, I’ll make sure and do the same when I’m there next. I mean, after all, I already admire their great sense of taste! –

Recent reviews online:  

Dining Out Review: Xtras Café

and

Xtras Cafe impresses with design, patio

The Amazing Work of Brad Elterman

I’m not sure how the work of Brad Elterman, the phenomenally gifted photographer with a golden eye who visually documented some of the most iconic entertainers of the 70s and 80s, managed to slip under my radar for decades. I find his work incredible.

These are not just random paparazzi fluff photos – it takes a keen eye to capture these moments and an highly skilled artistic eye to select the best of the myriad frames to release.

“I did several photo session with Cherie Currie of The Runaways. One day in 1977 I drove out to the San Fernando Valley to photograph Cherie at home. She was rather carefree during a tour of the family kitchen, placed a lollipop in her mouth and I took the photo. It is incredible how you can accessorize a photo session with a lollipop!” 
Photo by Brad Elterman

Visit his website and review his amazing work from his book “Like It Was Yesterday” here :

www.bradelterman.com.

You won’t regret the visit…

“75, 25, 51”

Simply to make a rather blah January Monday fade a bit faster – a bit of digital collage to spark creativity…

Make of it what you will. Enjoy…


”75, 25, 51” Digital Collage, 2011 ©Michael Sprouse

William Dyce painting reappears…

While I’m glad that this work has reappeared, what I’m most curious about is the story behind its being lost for the last 100 years. Where had it been?

The current story here -

LONDON.- A stunning William Dyce painting that has been lost for over a century is to be offered for sale at Sotheby’s next week. The Meeting of Jacob and Rachel is expected to fetch between £100,000 – 150,000 when it is offered for sale in Sotheby’s Victorian and Edwardian Art sale on Wednesday 15 July 2009. The painting illustrates the Biblical text ‘Jacob kissed Rachel and lifted up his voice, and wept’ - Rachel’s father had tricked Jacob into working for him without payment on the understanding that he could marry Rachel. The work has been untraced since it was exhibited in the 1850s – first at the Royal Academy in 1850 and later at the Manchester Art Treasures exhibition in 1857. The discovery was made when an image of the work was sent to Sotheby’s specialists who were later able to identify it as the original by a small part of torn label on the reverse that identified it as having been in the Manchester exhibition.

Discussing the work Grant Ford, Senior Director and Head of Victorian Paintings at Sotheby’s said: “This is one of the most important pre-Raphaelite paintings to appear on the market for some time. It is thrilling to have uncovered the whereabouts of this striking Dyce work, especially as it was just last autumn that we set a record William Dyce, The Meeting of Jacob and Rachel, Est. £100,000 – 150,000 for a work by the artist at auction with Welsh landscape of two women knitting which was included in the sale of the Scott Collection at Sotheby’s London.”
The painting illustrates the Biblical text ‘Jacob kissed Rachel and lifted up his voice, and wept.’ Rachel’s father had tricked Jacob into working for him without payment on the understanding that he could marry Rachel. However, after fourteen years he insisted that Jacob should first marry his elder daughter Leah before eventually allowing him to marry Rachel. This theme must have been particularly meaningful to the artist as he had been forced to delay his own marriage until January 1890 – maybe on account of the 27 year age difference between him and his 19 year old bride.

Other highlights of the Victorian and Edwardian Art auction include Liverpool Docks, by John Atkinson Grimshaw, an atmospheric night-time depiction of 19th century Liverpool estimated at £250,000-350,000 and Wind and Sun by Dame Laura Knight – a light-filled costal scene painted in Cornwall expected to fetch £200,000-300,000.

More on Dyce here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Dyce

New home for Degas painting

Congratulations Saint Louis Art Museum for your recent acquisition, Edgar Degas’ phenomenal painting, The Milliners (Les Modistes).

Degas has long been one of my personal favorites of the late 19th and early 20th century European artists. I remember clearly the first time I saw his tremendous work in person the first time I ventured into the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC in the summer of 1990.

I was in my early twenties and I had just moved to DC from a small university town in Kentucky. It was a pivotal and life changing move and that summer presented the expected torrent of discoveries and new experiences that naturally accompany youth and transition.

As an young artist in Kentucky, I had only read about the splendors of the famous museums and galleries during Art History class. Then, as if floating through a blur of a hundred fast forward buttons, one day I found myself standing in front of Degas’ astounding work, “Four Dancers” in the National Gallery Of Art in Washington, DC.

It was a mesmerizing moment and I became completely lost in it. Though, “moment” isn’t the correct word, and frankly, I’m not sure what would be. It wasn’t a moment as much as it was a cloak of eternity that enveloped my artistic psyche. My senses became one with the masterpiece – the colors, the composition, the flow, shapes, texture, expressions, form, movement and so much more. Each second of awareness of something extraordinary brought others that exploded like super-novae exponentially across the canvas and my mind.

I left the gallery a changed man and and artist.

So, I was quite pleased to learn of the purchase of The Milliners (Les Modistes) by the Saint Louis Art Museum – in particularly - for the following reasons

1. This is the first Degas to join the museum’s collection
2. The work had been in private hands since it was first sold after Degas’ death in 1917
3. If I ever get to Saint Louis, I now know one place to put on my “must see” list.

Details of the major acquisition can be found here - Saint Louis Art Museum Acquires Important Painting by Edgar Degas

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face…

Whether the claims made by the Italian researchers are true or not, I don’t know. It is intriguing nevertheless.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Still mysterious after 500 years….

Personally, I can’t think about the Mona Lisa without remembering the time that I first saw the masterpiece during a trip to Paris in the autumn of 2001. The tickets for the trip were purchased in the summer of that year prior to the fateful 9/11.

My partner and I, plus a mutual close friend, would be  traveling together. After the events of 9/11, we had a brief discussion between us as to whether we should go ahead with the trip or not. (our trip was scheduled for the last week of November). Based upon the idea that security would more than likely be at an all time high, we decided to go ahead with the trip.

It turned out to be the perfect decision resulting in a marvelous trip to Paris. One of the unexpected outcomes of traveling internationally within 2 months after 9/11, was the effect on tourism. Basically, at least in Paris, trips had been canceled left and right leaving the entire splendor of the city available without crowds or lines.

This was most noticed during our day trip to the Louvre. The three of us had practically the entire museum to ourselves. As you’ll see in the video above, there are usually mobs of tourists surrounding the Mona Lisa. The day we were there, there literally only the three of us in the room, plus a few security guards.

I was amazed and I asked our friend who had been to the Louvre several times in the past whether it was normal for us to be the only ones in the room. “Absolutely not” was her reply.

It was a rather magical moment to say the least…

HAPPY NEW YEAR ONE AND ALL - ♥

A very happy New Year to each and every one of you who may come across this post today! Cheers and joy to you and yours!

Year End/New Year Original Art SALE

Hey folks – I finally took the plunge whilst snowed in over the last few days and I opened an etsy.com online shop. I think it’s a good way to feature original small-scale works from my private collection and studio.

While these paintings are usually from a different body of work that I exhibit in gallery shows, they are all artworks that I am quite fond of and they make excellent works for beginner collectors or for those looking for an original Sprouse, but not quite ready to commit to a higher-end price. Because of the smaller size, the prices are kept lower – making them quite affordable.

So, in honor of the new online shop and the end of 2010 and the start of 2011, I’ve created a MASSIVE Year End/New Year Original Fine Art SALE! If you've ever longed to own an original Sprouse - here's the perfect opportunity to do so!

These are great prices on recent, colorful, smaller works that will fit perfectly in your collection or on that overlooked wall that so desperately longs for that extra sparkle in your home!

Proud ownership of an ORIGINAL SPROUSE can be yours, but act now, as these will only be available a these prices for a few short weeks. You can visit the Sprouseart Etsy.com shop by following this link: http://www.etsy.com/shop/Sprouseart?ref=pr_shop

Happy New Year All!

I’ve been a bit busy with the holidays and the unwelcome blizzard and I apologize for being off the radar for the last few days. I’ll be back on track soon – until then. . .

Target on homophobia….

Did you get a great deal on holiday gifts this season from your local Target store? Did you save room in your cart for  homophobia?

It seems that the late last summer/early fall’s  brouhaha stemming from the revelation that the ever so chic discount shopping mega-chain Target had been throwing money into the campaigns of some very outspoken right wing and anti-gay politicians did nothing to stop them from continuing with the same bad behavior.

Though Target’s Chairman, President and CEO Gregg Steinhafel released a statement in which he apologized for how the company's decision had affected many "in a way I did not anticipate" , the chain has still funneled money into the campaigns of these politicians. In fact, After Steinhafel's August 5 letter, Target's Political Action Committee, helmed by the former right hand of Senator Thune, Matt Zabel, recorded $41,200 in federal election activity. Of that total, $31,200 went to anti-gay rights politicians or PACs supporting those candidates!

Hold on one second, is this the same Target whose commercials look as if they were created and produced by some sun streaked blonde, sparkly-eyed,  20 something design student with a Martha Stewart complex and her two best gay friends?! Why, yes, that’s the one… 

I think it’s time for all of us to reveal the ugly and hypocritical face of Target and stay out of their stores until their support of homophobic and anti-gay inspired politicians ends!

And, on a more personal note, I also want to know why they feel the need to continue with this action and why they felt the need to do so in the first place? Who behind the corporation is so fueled by this hatred that they green light that out of the  $41,200 recorded (meaning only that which they have allowed us to be aware of) dollars of contributions given to politicians that almost 85 per cent of that go to the homophobes?

What possible good could that do for them? And in doing so, why continue with the obviously gay friendly advertising campaign that we all know so well?

Really, Target WTF? The eye-opening article can be found here - http://www.theawl.com/2010/12/the-anti-gay-donations-that-target-apologized-for-they-never-stopped

Net Neutrality Headache...

Am I the only one confused by the imminent FCC rules concerning net neutrality? This article in the NYTimes begins with “The Federal Communications Commission appears poised to pass a controversial set of rules that broadly create two classes of Internet access, one for fixed-line providers and the other for the wireless Net.”

This doesn't seem like good news, though it does seem to stop the evil Comcast from blocking access to sites and applications. But, on the other hand, it does allow wireless companies more latitude in putting limits on access to services and applications. And therein lies the issue.

Alex Wong/Getty Images
The chairman of the F.C.C., Julius Genachowski, introduced his net neutrality proposal at the beginning of the month.

According to Senator Al Franken, Democrat of Minnesota and a personal favorite of mine, said over the weekend that the F.C.C. was effectively allowing discrimination on the mobile Net, a fast-growing sector. “Maybe you like Google Maps. Well, tough,” Mr. Franken said on Saturday on the Senate floor. “If the F.C.C. passes this weak rule, Verizon will be able to cut off access to the Google Maps app on your phone and force you to use their own mapping program, Verizon Navigator, even if it is not as good. And even if they charge money, when Google Maps is free.”

And he’s right, and Verizon does suck. And, Google Maps is better then Verizon Navigator (I have used both) and it is free. One day, in the not too distant future, I will be free from the evil claws of incompetency, greed, and apathy that is Verizon. Until then however, the Android operating system, which I have yet to purchase, is featured in several of their phones and was created by Google. The Android OS used in many phones available via Verizon features as an app – you guessed it – Google Maps. And thus the headache of confusion. The article is here for you to figure out. Let me know if you do…

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/21/business/media/21fcc.html?_r=1&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=a2

Fascinating discovery. . .

Step aside Pythagoras. . . not that your spotlight in history is undeserved, but it does seems that scribes in the Old Babylonian period knew your theorem 1,000 years before you did.

Here’s the story on CNN - Pythagoras, a math genius? Not by Babylonian standards

Don't Forget To Bring The Vodka. . .

Fear not - my obsession with uber-fun xtranormal.com will end soon. Until then, why not enjoy my latest flick where the office manager Larry questions the appropriateness of Isabelle's e-invitation that she created for the office Christmas Party. . .

Busted

I find myself addicted to creating scripts and making these fun little movies at xtranomral. Here's my latest. . .

Rudolph (You Don't Have To Put On The Red Light)

Love, love, love this!

Alfonso Velez - "The Weather" -CD title track

This tune may be a couple of years old - but I just heard it this morning and I love it. So - it's my new song of the day!

An imperfect, but not-that-bad, deal on the tax cuts – perhaps. . .

(Photo credit: By Dennis Brack-Pool/Getty Images)

Am I happy about Obama’s compromise with the greed driven Republicans, no. But, I do feel like I understand the logistics with a bit more clarity thanks to Ezra Klein’s explanatory article in the Washington Post. . .

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2010/12/an_imperfect_but_not-that-bad.html

Ascenseur pour l'échafaud (Elevator to the Gallows)

I had the distinct pleasure last night of watching a brilliant modern film noir French classic that I streamed via the praise worthy Netflix entitled “Ascenseur Pour L'Echafaud” (English translation – “Elevator to the Gallows”).

This was the feature-film debut of famed director Louis Malle (amazingly only 24 at the time) staring the stunning Jeanne Moreau (this is film that launched her into stardom) and Maurice Ronet.


Jeanne Moreau in the opening scene from “Ascenseur Pour L'Echafaud”

The film is majestically scored by Miles Davis and it has been described by jazz critic Phil Johnson as "the loneliest trumpet sound you will ever hear, and the model for sad-core music ever since. Hear it and weep."

Netflix describes the film as such, “When the bewitching Florence (Jeanne Moreau) and her lover, Julien (Maurice Ronet), plot to kill Florence's unsuspecting husband (Jean Wall), they don't count on a technical glitch -- a broken elevator -- getting in the way of the perfect murder. Louis Malle directs this haunting French thriller in his feature film debut, an impressive achievement heightened by the film's memorable improvisational score composed by jazz legend Miles Davis.”

While the description is valid, it is only a whispered hint of the many dramatic  twists and turns in the storyline of this prodigious thriller.

Visually, the film is simply stunning as cinematographer Henri Decae makes extensive use of Paris at night, giving the film the feel of claustrophobia and desperation reminiscent of the classic noir films.

The following scene offers a perfect example of the film’s power visual impact. Here, Florence (unaware that her lover Julien is trapped in an elevator and suspecting that he may have abandoned both their murderous plot and her) has been desperately walking the streets of Paris for hours searching his favorite night spots in the hopes of finding him.

The astonishing actress Jeanne Moreau plays the role perfectly. She is lost in a somber and dark world of paranoia and anguish stumbling through the rain slickened streets like a zombie searching for the clarity that can only be found in the embracing arms of her lover. 

Pay attention to the way she walks directly into the path of an oncoming car in the scene (and again into the traffic at the end) – astounding! No special effects here – just a very brave actress dedicated to her art.

Despite the fact that this film is close to 55 years old, the visuals still seem fresh and contemporary and the artistic echos of the imagery from this classic can still be found today in film, fashion, music video and more.

A sublime scene from “Ascenseur Pour L'Echafaud”

While I know that this film is available via Netflix (both as a DVD and streaming) you may also be able to find it in your public library or the foreign section of your local video store (if you still have any in your area, I no longer do). Or, consult with the local Art Cinema house, museum, or university (again, some of you may not have access to such) and inquire about adding this film to the line-up.

Enjoy!

SHeDAISY - Jingle Bells

I was turned onto this unique and lovely contemporary version of Jingle Bells last night at a tree trimming party. It's by a group called SHeDaisy. Thanks Lori!

Here's another video of the trio performing Deck The Halls. It's surprisingly sultry (especially with the sexiness of the hot blond - who seems particular titillated by the fact that Santa has a "brand new bag" which she breathlessly mentions at the very end of the video).

I could do without the cheesy Disney touch which, I presume, is there to balance out the steam heat offered by the joyous and randy Christmas vixens.

Happy Holidays!