Here’s a look at my major motion picture debut. I’m the blob on the right, between those two bigger blobs. It’s from the ‘Changeling’ trailer. If you wish to receive my autograph to cherish while sipping a malted milkshake and listening to records, dizzily dreaming of seeing your own visage on the big screen one day, send a photo of this still, or any grade school portrait of myself to my Los Angeles residence.
supastar
Please enclose twenty dollars for processing and furtherance of my oeuvre.
A documentary short on the influential Brazilian band Os Mutantes is playing at the Silent Movie Theater at 8pm tonight in the city of angels. Ricodinho has provided a brief history and quick crit of the band in his native tongue as well as a translation for us gringos. Snaps for Ricodinho!
Quando todos no Brasil estavam apaixonados pela bossa nova, e queriam ver e ouvir o trio banquinho, voz e violão, Os Mutantes vieram com suas fantasias, guitarras elétricas e sons pra lá de esquisitos. Enquanto a ditadura reprimia, censurava e prendia, Os Mutantes faziam seu rock e tomavam seus ácidos. O carisma de Rita Lee, a habilidade de Sérgio Dias na guitarra e as letras inspiradas de Arnaldo Batista foram aos poucos conquistando o público jovem, o adulto, o Brasil e o mundo. Até hoje, quase 30 anos depois da fim da banda, devido a separação amorosa de Arnaldo e Sérgio, Os Mutantes continuam conquistando fãs pelo mundo. Entre seus fãs mais famosos estão Beck, que nomeou seu álbum Mutations em homenagem aos Mutantes, e Kurt Cobain, que pediu para os Mutantes se reunirem e abrirem os shows do Nirvana no Brasil nos anos 80. Infelizmente, isso não aconteceu.
O filme do Jeff McCarthy é sério e correto sobre os fatos e envolvente dentro do idéia de que os mutantes viviam em um mundo a parte, animado, infantil e psicodélico. Enquanto o pau quebrava, e os militares batiam, os Mutantes tocavam e encantavam.
When everyone in Brazil was in love with the Bossa Nova, and wanted to see and listen to a trio of voices and acoustic guitars, the Os Mutantes showed up with their weird cotumes, eletric guitars and strange sounds. While dictatorship repressed, censored and arrested cultural liberties, Os Mutantes would play rock’n roll and take LSD. Rita Lee’s charisma, Sergio Dias’ skills playing the guitar, and Arnaldo Batista’s inspiring lyrics slowly conquered the youth, adults, Brazil and the world. Among their most famous fans are Beck, who named one of his albums “Mutations” after the Brazilian band, and Kurt Cobain, who asked the Mutantes to reunite and open Nirvana’s shows during a South America tour in the mid 80’s. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen.
Jeff McCarthy’s film is serious, factual and very evolved in the story telling. The Mutantes lived in a separate world, animated, childish and psychedelic. While the generals tortured, the Mutantes played and charmed.
What is it about black bobs and bangs that the hairstyle reappears continually in films, crowning the think tanks of spirited characters? I submit for evidence the following images:
The original and our favorite, Louise Brooks. Still inspiring citizen gals to chop it off.
Chantal Goya. Ye-Ye chanteuse and star of Masculin, Feminin. she. is. so. cute.
Audrey Hepburn in LOVE IN THE AFTERNOON. Curly-cue bob. Perfect for luncheon with Gary Cooper.
The Grease 2 cheerleader twins. Annoying? Yes, but those kicky bowl cuts scream 'don't mess.'
In honor of the recent Independence Day holiday, I bequeath unto you WE WERE STRANGERS, a lesser seen film from the oeuvre of John Huston.
WE WERE STRANGERS takes place during the Cuban political uprising of 1933 in which (dictator) Gerardo Machado was usurped by the forces of the Cuban people. The United States kept rather mum on the matter, seeing as the government had a sweet contract that allowed them to operate a massive military base on the island, among other favorable measures. The base was and is located on Guantanamo Bay.
So China Valdès (the sublime and, I guess, Asian-y Jennifer Jones) is the sister of an assassinated revolutionary law student. She decides to take up the cause by joining forces with Cuban ex-pat Tony, a hardened tough from the streets of Spanish Harlem, as he molds together an ambitious plot to lure every major politico in power into a cemetery so he can promptly blow them away. Fleshed out by a poetic melange of supporting revolutionaries the film is tense, suspenseful and poignant. Even if the pacing is a tad labored, Huston and cinematographer Russell Metty have provided us with gorgeous, slightly deviant images. The smothering confinement of the group’s hideout is reconciled with certain shots that are so epic they might have been spliced from TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE.
I especially appreciated the quiet tone of dissidence in this film. It speaks of it’s time, bravely produced during the McCarthy era, and for us now; a country trapped in a flailing legacy of nation-building.
Salud!
Cuba Libre: 2 oz. Light Rum, juice of 1/2 a lime, Coca-Cola. Pour lime juice into a highball glass over ice cubes. Add rum, fill with cola, stir, and serve.
A high summer heat wave has swept into Los Angeles. This delirious weather tends to inspire strange desires.
One. A baby pool, bucket, or largeish salad popcorn bowl filled with cold, cold water and ice. Refreshes swollen footsies, cools the rest of the body whist leaving one’s hands free to finagle a cold brew, wine spritzer, margarita, caipirinha.
Two. Highly underestimated quasi zombie movies. This weekend, let us all enjoy my personal favorite NIGHT OF THE COMET. Two sisters from the Valley survive a comet that has proved devastating to the human race. Together with fellow survivor and dashing Latino, Hector, they brave the concrete desert of Los Angeles avoiding the dead, the decomposing and the pseudo scientist evildoers along the way. The dialogue is quick and clever and intentionally hilarious. Today’s headline quote comes courtesy of one of my all time favorite characters, Willie, from one of my all time favorite scenes from this film. So listen to me, and to Willie, “Hello out there in television land!” Turn off your regularly scheduled program . . . and tune in to NIGHT OF THE COMET.
