Photobooth Beauty Queen

I am a huge Andy Warhol fan. Though he could be rather aloof to many and a dick to some I still appreciate the works he created with both film and paint. I even named my photo "company" Pink Cow Photography after my second favorite Warhol creation. So what is my first favorite?

By and large I am not a fan of Warhol's portraits. Yet if I were a billionaire I would buy this painting. I love everything about it. The vibrant colors, the goofy poses, the patchiness of the silk-screen. In spite of the mechanical apparatus(es) used to create it (ie: a photo booth and silk-screening) it contains more life than many/most expressionist works.

So why am I writing about this painting? Because it's subject, arts patrol Ethel Scull, died today at the age of 79. As sad as that news made me - looking at this painting makes me happy.

You can read more about Ethel here.

You came, you saw, you conquered

The music industry has lost 1/3 of a legend. Estelle Bennett, one of the three Ronettes, died on Wednesday at 67.

Before I'd ever heard the term "wall of sound" I knew I loved the Ronettes. Those voices. And now one of them is forever silent.

My personal favorite track is an easy and predictable one. Sure it's been used over and again in crap like Dirty Dancing, but it's also been used for one of the greatest openings in film history. Rest In Peace.

100 Nazi Scalps!

I am so excited for this movie! Love the Leone style intertitles. Majorly bummed that Morricone isn't going to be doing the score but oh well. There's still a whole lot to love here. I'm drooling with anticipation for the black & white sequences. Robert Richardson is a cinematography GOD! AND HE'S WORKING WITH DAVID & SANDY WASCO AGAIN!!!

The trailer's gonna be showing before Friday the 13th. Could this be the film that reunites Tarantino with mainstream audiances? You be the judge:

Comrade Queen

For the second day in a row fate has seen fit to present me with an absolutely insane left of field story about a public figure. This one might out-do yesterdays.

Putin denies mystery ABBA concert!!!

Come on Vlady. Don't be shy. I know you like to maintain this macho image (what with all the shirtless fishing shots and such) but come on. Everyone loves ABBA. Maybe you're just ashamed that you could only get the cover band Bjorn Again and not the real deal. It's cool.

My only fear is that the band members who blabbed to the press are gonna turn up dead from radiation poisoning.

Go here for the full details.

Billionaire Gone Wild!

OK. This story is simply to weird/funny to not pass on. While addressing a crowd at a technology confrence about the dangers of Malaria -

BILL GATES UNLEASHED A SWARM OF MOSQUITOS!!!

Of course the bugs in question didn't have the deadly virus. SHUCKS! Anyhow, this still totally wins Bill Gates a special place in my heart and absolutely made my day. Even thought it's only 8:30 AM I don't see how anything short of The Smiths reuniting for a private concert in my house will be able to top this.

You can read MORE!

Prescious Little Life

Scott Pilgrim makes me happy. Sure the character is wickedly immature and insensitive but the comic book he stars in is one of the most vital titles of the aughts.

AND IT'S GOING TO BECOME A MOVIE!!!

Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead & Hot Fuzz) is exactly the right person to be doing this adaptation. Scott Pilgrim is the sequential art extension of what Spaced did on television. Characters who view themselves through a pop culture prism. They don't just talk about films and old video games - they live them.

Wright has also lined up one hell of a cast consisting of young Hollywood's finest and according to one of said cast members: THERE ARE GOING TO BE ANIMATED SEQUENCES!

Though I am extremely eager to see The Watchmen, I think this is the comics to film project I am most anticipating. It's the perfect melding of artist and subject. Should be plenty reverent but also not slavish.

SCOTT PILGRIM Vs. THE WORLD

coming soon

In the mean time you can pick up the just released Scott Pilgrim vs. The Universe. Book 5 of 6. At the moment it's available only in comic shops (I know you're scared). Soon it'll be everywhere.

Time to catch up.

Behold!

Look what the Academy has deprived themselves of by denying The Boss another nomination. This all could have been yours...



Sure his snubbed song "The Wrestler" isn't really conducive to power sliding. But that's beside the point. Let's just hope M.I.A. has recovered enough from having her kid to at least show up and liven the place up.