‘Compulsion’ opens in New York, Los Angeles, London

April 6, 2012 by

1:18pm, Silverlake Drive, 2012, by Alex Prager

Los Angeles native Alex Prager is a self-taught artist whose stunning, subversive images are steeped in cinematic references. Influenced by silent, surrealist and noir films as well as the photography of Weegee and Enrique Metinides, Prager started shooting after seeing William Eggleston’s work in a show at the Getty Museum.

Through the construction of scenes inspired by media tragedies, her new collection investigates the complexity of observation in a society inundated by compulsive spectators. The exhibition will also feature Prager’s new short film, “La Petite Mort,” starring French actress Judith Godrèche.

“Compulsion” opens this weekend at the Yancey Richardson Gallery in New York and M + B Gallery in Los Angeles; it opens later this month at the Michael Hoppen Gallery in London.

For more of Prager’s story, read Leslie Camhi’s interview in Vogue.

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‘Damsels in Distress’ director Whit Stillman to the rescue with doughnuts, deadpan humor

April 6, 2012 by

Damsels in Distress/2011/Sony Pictures Classics/99 min.

“Damsels in Distress” marks the return of writer/director/producer Whit Stillman (“Metropolitan” 1990, “Barcelona” 1994, “Last Days of Disco” 1998) after a 14-year hiatus. Stillman’s milieu is upper-middle-class young people – educated and privileged, often naïve and neurotic – and the complications of their friendships and romances.

He brings his distinctive, dryly funny stamp to the sagas of preppy angst, in this case a group of girls at an East Coast college who attempt to live well amid their smelly male coeds. One of their pet projects is cheering up depressed kids via coffee and doughnuts, divinely scented soap and the shuffle steps of tap-dance routines.

Leader Violet (Greta Gerwig) is sweet, smart and well intentioned, if a bit self-deluded. Violet’s dating philosophy is to bypass the cool men and instead “take a guy who hasn’t realized his full potential, or doesn’t have much, then help him realize it or find more.” She also yearns to make her mark on the world by starting a new dance craze.

From left: Carrie MacLemore, Greta Gerwig and Megalyn Echikunwoke

Her pals are the chaste, regal Rose (Megalyn Echikunwoke) and the dainty, Barbie-like Heather (Carrie MacLemore). New to the group is transfer student Lily (Analeigh Tipton), who is, gasp, unfazed by an unwelcome whiff of body odor.

Cute boys on campus include solicitous Jimbo (Jermaine Crawford), student newspaper editor Rick (Zach Woods), sexy French grad student Xavier (Hugo Becker), doltish frat brothers Frank (Ryan Metcalf) and Thor (Billy Magnussen), and businessman wannabe Charlie (Adam Brody).

When Violet’s heart is broken – she insists she is not depressed but merely in a tailspin – her idealistic ambitions take a backseat to her emotional recuperation.

With smart material and an appealing cast, “Damsels” is entertaining. Stillman’s low-key, reserved comedic style gently reveals his characters’ foibles and affectations. But, though the groundwork has been laid with likeable female characters, romantic entanglements and unraveling identities, the story ultimately feels a bit half-baked. Also, some of the character’s quirks seem strangely tacked on rather than uniquely charming. For example, Lily, randomly, has never seen an artichoke.

Lily is set up as the rebel of the girls’ group and, though she does gently challenge Violet early on, that dramatic tension fizzles out fairly quickly. What propels the story after that, for the most part, is wondering who will end up with whom. The clever and whimsical dialogue engages us but rarely do we sense that there is much at stake during these quaintly amusing discussions.

And beneath their grimy exteriors, the men tend to be disappointingly bland, sometimes downright moronic. Zach Wood as the editor of the paper is the most promising of the lot but unfortunately, after a promising introduction, he’s relegated to the sidelines.

Still, “Damsels” does offer witty humor and endearing performances. And a bonus: if your inner-grammarian has ever fretted about properly using the plural of the word doofus, “Damsels” provides helpful counsel.

“Damsels in Distress” opens today in New York and LA.

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Nanni Moretti, Italy’s Woody Allen, prays for laughs in ‘Pope’

April 6, 2012 by

We Have a Pope/Habemus Papam/2011/Italy, France/IFC/104 min.

By Michael Wilmington

It begins beautifully, with a recreation, or creative imagining, of a Catholic election for a new pope, inside the Holy See, as the world awaits outside, done with a rare mixture of realism and whimsy. This brilliant scene culminates with the choice of a gentle soul, one Cardinal Melville (the great 86-year-old Michel Piccoli), a humble man who, just as he is about to be introduced to the masses outside St. Peter’s, howls with agony and confesses to his fellow churchmen that he feels unworthy and unready.

Desperate, the Vatican insiders (especially the smooth church spokesperson played winningly by Poland’s Jerzy Stuhr) try to cover up this huge problem. They hire an agnostic psychotherapist, Bruzzi (writer/director/star Nanni Moretti) to help the new Pope over this rather large spiritual hump, then hamstring Bruzzi with religious do’s and don’ts.

The cardinals, trapped together, take up volleyball. Melville wanders the streets and the city incognito, becoming entranced with a theater troupe playing Chekhov’s poignant masterpiece “The Seagull.” We await the word of God, or at least of Moretti.

The second half of “We Have a Pope” is not as mesmerizing as the first, and the jokes begin to get a little strained. But the ending is strong, and this is a unique work (from the often-excellent creator of Italian comedy classics such as “Red Lob” and “Dear Diary”), that at least is about something – about problems and people, and this world and (maybe) the next.

“We Have a Pope” was nominated for the 2011 Cannes Film Festival’s Palme d’Or, and his Cannes popularity is a measure of Moretti’s artistic stature – as opposed to, oh, say, Adam Sandler’s or Will Ferrell’s.

Can comedy, that old devil, get you into heaven? If that’s the case, all I can say is: Bless me father, for I have sinned.

“We Have a Pope” opens today in New York and LA.

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Free stuff from FNB: Win ‘Criss Cross’ and a TCM mug!

April 5, 2012 by

This month, I am giving away a copy of Robert Siodmak’s “Criss Cross” from 1949. Quintessential noir viewing, the film stars Burt Lancaster, Yvonne De Carlo and Dan Duryea. “Criss Cross” plays on the big screen next Thursday in Hollywood at the TCM Classic Movies Festival, kicking off a fine slate of noir films.

So, in addition to the movie, I am adding a souvenir TCM coffee mug as part of the prize. (More on the TCM fest’s noir lineup and a review of “Criss Cross” in upcoming posts.)

(Marya is the winner of the March reader giveaway, a Criterion DVD set of “Anatomy of a Murder.” Congrats to Marya and thanks to all who entered!)

To enter the April giveaway, just leave a comment on any FNB post from April 1-30. Or, if you are on twitter, retweet one of my giveaway posts. We welcome comments and RTs, but please remember that, for the purposes of the giveaway, there is one entry per person, not per comment/RT.

The winner will be randomly selected at the end of the month and announced in early May. Include your email address in your comment so that I can notify you if you win. Your email will not be shared. Good luck!

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Bobbi Brown Long-Wear aims to go the distance

April 4, 2012 by

Bobbi Brown Long-Wear cream eyeshadow is $24.

April looks set to be super busy so I’m excited to check out Bobbi Brown’s new Long-Wear eye collection – cream eyeshadow, eyeliner and mascara that’s designed to take you from coffee to cocktails. First on my wish list: the eyeshadow, $24, which comes in 21 shades including Berry Noir.

From April 6 to May 26, Bobbi Brown is hosting Long-Wear events (makeup lessons and samples) across North America.

Also, if you buy $50 in Bobbi Brown from Barneys New York, you’ll get a free sample of hydrating eye cream (while supplies last).

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Honey, your April noir horoscope is here …

April 1, 2012 by

Peck: April 5, 1916-June 12, 2003

Nicholson was born April 22, 1937.

Fate reigns supreme in film noir, but that doesn’t mean we don’t love us some zodiac fun. Hope your April is full of sunny days, sparkling jewelry and sensual delights. And happy birthday, Aries and Taurus! A special shout-out to amazing Ariens Bette Davis, Spencer Tracy and Gregory Peck (April 5), Francis Ford Coppola and Russell Crowe (April 7), Julie Christie (April 14), Maria Bello (April 18) and Taurus mega stars Jack Nicholson (April 22), Al Pacino (April 25) and Penelope Cruz (April 28).

Aries (March 21-April 20): Let nothing stand in your way this month! Yes, there may be setbacks but that will make your ultimate success so much sweeter. If in doubt, consider this quotation from Aries legend Bette Davis (April 5, 1908-Oct. 6, 1989): “Acting should be bigger than life. Scripts should be bigger than life. It should ALL be bigger than life.” Jump in and make it happen. As for your love life, forget the past and focus on fun. If single, channel your femme fatale to turn on the allure. If attached, allow your man to indulge you – any Aries worth her salt enjoys a little (OK, a lot of) worship.

Taurean Bettie Page is the subject of a new documentary.

Taurus (April 21-May 21): Embrace your unique insight and abilities this month, and avoid any tendency to compare yourself to others. As iconic pinup model Bettie Page (April 22, 1923 – Dec. 11, 2008) reflected: “I was not trying to be shocking, or to be a pioneer. I wasn’t trying to change society, or to be ahead of my time. I didn’t think of myself as liberated, and I don’t believe that I did anything important. I was just myself. I didn’t know any other way to be, or any other way to live.” (A documentary called “Bettie Page Reveals All” releases this month in Vegas.) Around the 19th, your success on a project calls for a stylish celebration, in addition to any b’day festivities in the works.

Gemini (May 22-June 21): If something irks you midmonth, go on, get riled up. Anger in small doses is not a bad thing. Remember though, anger is a secondary emotion – it stems from hurt or fear. So be sure to examine and assess the root of your feeling. With a new work project, you may feel that you are cast against type, but don’t let that drain your confidence. You can rock any role that comes your way and get rave reviews. On the romantic front, let instinct and intuition guide you, especially on the 21st.

Cancer (June 22-July 23): You’ve been a supportive friend and a good listener for someone who keeps falling into the same futile pattern. To put it bluntly, this story is worn out. Time to speak your mind, choosing your words carefully, of course. Don’t overthink things with your Man du Jour – after all, what’s sexier than a relaxed, confident vibe? If you sense that a rival is attempting to undermine you around the 12th realize that she/he is likely threatened by your prowess and verve.

John Cusack was born in Evanston, Ill., on June 28, 1966.

Leo (July 24-August 23): Being in the right place at the right time is key to productive communication this month and you’ll find that, without too much effort, you are making valuable connections. You know, like when that sweet security guard at the bank gave you his access code. A chance to collaborate on a creative venture means that you may have to surrender some control to another’s vision. This requires trust, humility and flexibility. Are you game? You’ll be admired (yes, yet again) on the 7th, 19th and 29th.

Virgo (August 24-September 23): Dreamers and dandies and their pie-in-the-sky plans leave you feeling exasperated. Grounded, practical Virgo wants details, fleshed out facts and a thought-out gameplan. Better to divert your energy to projects that are attuned to your bottom-line way of working. Meanwhile, extra, uh, demands in your love life spur you to look your best – one more yoga class, skipping dessert, a facial and massage. One thing leads to another in more ways than one. Flirt like crazy on the 6th. And any other day you feel like it.

Libra (September 24-October 23): Enough! If you’re up to your eyeballs in someone else’s drama, it’s time to save yourself. Instead of commiserating, put the problem back on the drama king or queen. Besides, you’ll have your hands full with your own noir narrative – midmonth, you may have a seduction to engineer or a clever plot to weave. Let logic take a backseat to imagination and you’ll be surprised at what you accomplish. A day of full-on frivolity is in order on the 21st.

Scorpio (October 24-November 22): Every once in a while, Scorpio’s intensity gets a tad over-the-top. So, this month, make a point of living in the moment and living that moment up! Be spontaneous and don’t waste time on guilt. On the romantic front, if single, throw out your checklist – you might see sparks fly with someone who seems incompatible on the surface. If attached, throw out expectations. As usual, relish your talent for making the first move. Magic awaits you around the 14th.

Actress, director and writer Julie Delpy exemplifies Sag charm. She was born in Paris on Dec. 21, 1969.

Sagittarius (November 23-December 22): Recently, you may have noticed that your love life seems off-balance – for example, the guy you have fun with isn’t the one you want to kiss. Or, if you’re in a LTR, scheduling conflicts may be prevailing over romance of late. Relish your power, take charge and be the aggressor. Oh, again? Fret not, you’ll be glad you did. In other realms, resist any temptation to take a cheap shot with an ex or former associate who frankly is just not worthy of your time or energy. You’re better off doing something meaningful like getting your hair blown out.

Capricorn (December 23-January 20): Remember that while generosity is gorgeous, giving too much to an ingrate can be disastrous. As a bad girl, you’re supposed to be the taker, right? Boundaries, though sometimes hard to set, can be mighty important in terms of improving relationships. Your amazing ability to make the most of every day, even in the face of a disappointment, inspires those around you. You may uncover an extra source of income; the 16th is a good day to take a little chance.

Aquarius (January 21-February 19): “Flowers, candy, and current books … are the classic gifts which a woman may accept from a man without hesitation,” explains Vogue’s Book of Etiquette, 1948. But honestly what self-respecting seductress would turn down a big old sparkly rock? Never stand on ceremony if there’s more than half a carat involved. And be sure to celebrate spring with fresh, fun color – Chanel’s Coco Blue nail polish, perhaps? By the end of the month, an old contact may be in touch with an interesting proposition.

Pisces (February 20-March 20): It might be high time for a spring shopping spree. But before you whip out your wallet, consider the singular beauty of a big fat bank balance; it is a sight to behold. Perhaps you could get by on last year’s haul or restrict yourself to one frugal purchase. A change of scene midmonth gives you much-needed perspective and may help you make a major decision. Be bold with your man the week of the 18th. Come to think of it, why wait till then?

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Valentino opens doors on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills

March 28, 2012 by

Onlookers and paparazzi filled a stretch of Rodeo Drive Tuesday night for the opening of the Valentino store in Beverly Hills. Guests included Kim Kardashian, Rose McGowan, Molly Sims, Rachel Zoe, Minka Kelly and several other celebrities.

To celebrate the Valentino design house’s 50th anniversary, creative directors Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli have launched a collection of ready-to-wear and accessories in animal prints, such as giraffe, jaguar, tiger, cheetah, zebra and panther.

A few of my shots from the event … you can see pix of the full celeb roster at HuffPost/Style.

Valentino is one of the world’s best known fashion brands.

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Actor Jason Lewis poses with fans on Rodeo Drive Tuesday night.

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Guests mingle at the party for the Valentino store opening.

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COL•COA French film fest in Los Angeles announces lineup

March 28, 2012 by

François Truffart announces the COL•COA program.

With five Oscar wins by “The Artist” still fresh in people’s minds, Los Angeles is gearing up to welcome more French film talent to the city. The City of Lights, City of Angels (COL•COA) festival, a week of French film premieres in Hollywood, runs April 16-23.

Last night, at the French Consulate in Beverly Hills, the Franco-American Cultural Fund announced the program for the fest, now in its 16th year.

“The historic triumph of ‘The Artist’ reflects a remarkable year for French cinema and we are glad to introduce a broad spectrum of new films to Hollywood that reveal both the quality and diversity of recent French productions,” said François Truffart, COL•COA executive director and artistic director.

COL•COA will feature 34 features and 21 shorts. It opens on Monday, April 16, with the North American premiere of “My Way” (“CloClo”), a biopic about French pop star Claude François, directed and co-written by Florent-Emilio Siri. The film, already a critical and commercial success in France, stars Jérémie Renier (“The Kid with a Bike”).

Closing the fest on Sunday, April 22, is a hit comedy called “The Intouchables” by writing/directing team Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano. François Cluzet and Omar Sy star.

Of course I am most looking forward to the film noir series on Friday, April 20, which will include “Paris By Night” (“Une nuit”) by Philippe Lefebvre; Olivier Marchal’s “A Gang Story” (“Les Lyonnais”) and “Early One Morning” (“De bon matin”) from Jean-Marc Moutout.

More on the fest later; meanwhile be sure to check the COL•COA site and snag your tickets – they will sell quickly!

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‘The Raid’ a disappointing swoop into neo-noir territory

March 26, 2012 by

The Raid/2011/Sony Pictures Classics/100 min.

The central character of “The Raid” (Iko Uwais) aims to complete a SWAT team’s covert mission to remove a crime lord from a dilapidated apartment building in Jakarta. This is particularly challenging once their cover is blown, their leader (Joe Taslim) falls and they are trapped inside.

Fans of martial-arts action flicks might find this (and the Mike Shinoda/Joseph Trapanese score) good fun. The choreography of the fight scenes was top-notch. But I’d been hoping that a bit of intrigue and noir storytelling would be layered into the mix; instead “The Raid” was ridiculously, relentlessly, stupefyingly violent. Yawn.

Perhaps Welsh-born writer/director Gareth Evans (who teamed with Uwais on 2009’s “Merantau”) sums it up best: “I’m the guy that makes stunt performers take multiple kicks to the head for the pleasure of what I hope is a captivated audience. … I deal in blood and mayhem.”

“The Raid” opened in New York and LA on March 23.

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Billy Wilder superbly skewers Tinseltown in ‘Sunset Blvd.’

March 24, 2012 by

Sunset Blvd./1950/Paramount Pictures/110 min.

Joe Gillis (William Holden) is found dead in Norma Desmond’s pool.

Without a doubt, Billy Wilder’s “Sunset Blvd.” is one of the greatest movies ever made about Hollywood, perhaps one of the greatest movies ever made.

Aging Hollywood star Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson) is admittedly a little cut off from reality. She fawns over her pet monkey, has rats in her pool, autographs pile after pile of 8 x 10 glossies for her fans, even though she hasn’t made a picture in years. But, like so many women of film noir, the “Sunset Blvd.” heroine was ahead of her time. She was a veteran movie star who wanted to create her own roles, look her best and date a younger, sexy man. Anything wrong with that?

Unfortunately, though, she spins out of control and winds up shooting this boy toy in a jealous pique. There’s always a downside to being a visionary, I guess. By mentioning the murder, I’m not spoiling anything because the movie opens with Joe Gillis (William Holden) floating lifelessly in Norma’s pool, having stumbled in after she plugged him. He then narrates the movie via flashback, a favorite film-noir technique, but Wilder was the first to let the voice belong to a dead guy. In fact, there are two (perfectly merged) narratives – dead Joe reflecting on the past and in-the-moment Joe, unaware of his fate.

Norma (Gloria Swanson) tries to keep Joe entertained.

An Ohio newspaperman, Joe has come to LA to be a screenwriter but his career has stalled and he’s short on money. Looking for a place to stash his car so that the finance company won’t repossess it, he spots an old mansion on Sunset Boulevard.

It’s an old home, but it’s not deserted – Norma lives there with her butler and former director, Max von Mayerling (real-life director Erich von Stroheim). Once she learns Joe is a writer – a tall, buff, gorgeous writer – she asks him to collaborate on a screenplay that she hopes will relaunch her career. They seal the deal over a glass of champagne and Norma decides he should move in with her. Joe agrees but occasionally sneaks away to slum it with his young, aspiring movie-maker friends, including earnest, ambitious and fresh-faced Betty Schaefer (Wisconsin-native Nancy Olson).

Aspiring writer Betty (Nancy Olson) connects with Joe at a party.

Betty and Joe decide to co-write a script in their free time, but Norma isn’t one to share her man. In her final dramatic encounter with Joe, Norma ironically achieves her long-held dream of hearing “Lights, camera, action!” once more.

“Sunset Blvd.” is rich with irony. Von Stroheim is just one of many Hollywood greats playing parts that were very close to their own lives. (Von Stroheim, a major silent-film director most renowned for “Greed” from 1924, directed Swanson in 1929’s “Queen Kelly,” a few frames of which are shown in “Sunset Blvd.”) Famed director Cecil B. DeMille and gossip columnist Hedda Hopper play themselves as do actors Buster Keaton, H. B. Warner and Anna Q. Nilsson as Norma’s friends from her glory days.

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve watched “Sunset Blvd.” but each time I view, it seems fresh, funny and contemporary, which is the mark of a truly classic film. From the rich, shadow-laden visuals (I love the first time we see Norma – coiled like a viper, clutching her antique cigarette holder, peeking out from behind Venetian blinds) to the perfect, snappy pacing to the outstanding score by Franz Waxman, Wilder left not one detail to chance.

Butler and driver Max (Erich Von Stroheim) takes Norma and Joe to a meeting at Paramount with legendary director Cecil B. DeMille.

Most importantly, Wilder elicited tremendous performances from his actors – Swanson is not only deluded and desperate and vain, she’s funny (especially when she impersonates Charlie Chaplin) and determined and strangely endearing. Holden wins us over, even though there’s very little to like about his character. Of course, a big part of great acting is precise casting and Wilder was lucky on that front.

There was of course no way he could have foreseen how indelibly Swanson and Holden would stamp their parts on the pop-culture landscape. Mae West, Mary Pickford and Pola Negri reportedly turned down the Norma role. Montgomery Clift and Fred MacMurray passed on the chance to add Joe Gillis to their list of credits. (Marlon Brando and Gene Kelly were also considered.)

Wilder and his longtime creative partner Charles Brackett wrote the first-rate script with help from D.M. Marshman, Jr. Relentlessly cynical and unforgiving of Hollywood’s callous, cruel and exploitative side, the story ruffled studio- exec feathers but resonated with critics and audiences.

“Sunset Blvd.” received Oscar noms for best picture, director, actor (Holden), actress (Swanson), supporting actor (Von Stroheim) and supporting actress (Olson) as well as for editing and cinematography (John F. Seitz). It won three – for story/screenplay, art direction and score.

Though perhaps not quintessential film noir, Gloria Swanson as Norma Desmond is nonetheless an unforgettable femme fatale, whose life might’ve unfolded very differently had she but Botox enough and time.

“Sunset Blvd.” plays tonight at 7:30 p.m. (in a double bill with David Lynch’s “Mulholland Dr.”) at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica.

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