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Nostalgic Drawings of Strangers’ Mixtapes

Alison Nastasi — Sat, 18 May 2013 16:00:33 +0000

The heyday of mixtape trading has passed, but Portland artist Kate Bingaman-Burt has revived the vintage format in her drawings that we spotted on Beautiful/Decay. Several of the referenced cassettes were found at thrift shops for mere cents, which is a little depressing considering that most people slaved over their conceptual compilations to create a deeply personal selection of songs. (At least they did if they were us.) Other tapes were sent to the artist at her request. The notebook-style drawings capture every detail that tapeheads miss about the format — including the miniature spools that threatened to snap and unwind from overplaying. Feel all the nostalgic feelings in our gallery.

Image credit: Kate Bingaman-Burt

The Most Controversial Moments at the Cannes Film Festival

Alison Nastasi — Sat, 18 May 2013 15:00:43 +0000

France’s Cannes Film Festival has seen its share of controversies since it started in 1946. Blame the Riviera sun or the filmmaking iconoclasts that gather on the red carpet each year, but various high jinks and bizarre publicity stunts have often dominated the festivities. Bold action isn’t always required to shake things up, however. Often times it’s just the movies themselves that cause a scene with audiences and the Cannes jury. With the current 66th annual festival underway, we wanted to take a look at ten of Cannes most controversial moments.

Lars and Hitler

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room, shall we? While it’s no longer shocking to see Lars von Trier’s name pop up when controversies abound, the polarizing Danish director had the biggest foot-in-mouth moment during the 2011 Cannes Film Festival. Von Trier made an uncomfortable comment about “sympathizing” with Hitler during a press conference with Kirsten Dunst to promote Melancholia:

“I understand Hitler. I think he did some wrong things, yes absolutely, but I can see him sitting in his bunker in the end. I think I understand the man.”

A few awkward glances and nervous murmurs from the crowd later, Von Trier found himself banned from the festival, despite an official apology (several, actually). He was pursued by the French authorities for criminal charges, which were later dropped. Von Trier vowed to never make a public statement again and is absent at this year’s Cannes. Festival officials insist the filmmaker simply missed the deadline to submit his upcoming Nymphomaniac for consideration and that he’s not actually banned from the fest.

Several years before that, Von Trier’s Antichrist caused a stir amongst Cannes audiences, some who reportedly fainted from shock. The ecumenical jury called it “misogynist.”

Official Trailer for the Final Season of ‘Dexter’ Promises a Pitch Black End

Alison Nastasi — Sat, 18 May 2013 14:43:59 +0000

Things are looking mighty dark and dreary for the cast of Dexter as the show enters into its final season, premiering on June 30. After several teasers, an official trailer for the serial killer drama has arrived. Jennifer Carpenter’s Deb seems to be struggling to come to grips with the tragic and intense season seven events that forced her hand. Michael C. Hall’s Dexter has a new problem in his life – this time in the form of a neuro-psychiatrist and author who specializes in child psychopaths, Evelyn Vogel (played by Charlotte Rampling). The clip closes with drunk and drugged out Deb possibly revealing Dexter’s “dark passenger” to the police. Does anyone have a drink to calm our nerves? [via Deadline]

‘Game of Thrones’ Producer Breaks Hearts by Discussing Series End

Alison Nastasi — Sat, 18 May 2013 14:23:46 +0000

Game of Thrones producer Frank Doelger decided to break a few hearts at the BAFTA Awards where he discussed the HBO series end. “[The number of series] is being discussed as we speak. The third season was the first half of book three, season four will be the second part of book three… George R.R. Martin has written books four and five; six and seven are pending,” he revealed. “I would hope that, if we all survive and if the audience stays with us, we’ll probably get through to seven seasons.” Meanwhile, what the hell is Martin doing developing new shows for HBO when he should be giving the people what they need. Sigh.

David O. Russell Wants to Direct Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro in a JFK Assassination Story

Alison Nastasi — Sat, 18 May 2013 14:15:23 +0000

Silver Linings Playbook director David O. Russell is already lining up his next project. Slash Film reports that he’ll write and direct the long-gestating JFK assassination story Legacy of Secrecy, with the previously attached Leonard DiCaprio and newly added Robert De Niro. The film is based on a novel of the same name by Lamar Waldron and Thom Hartmann, and suggests that mafia boss Carlos Marcello orchestrated the murder of the 35th President. While the theory has mostly been blown off as conspiracy paranoia, it’s worth noting that Marcello said some pretty damning things to several FBI informants. If Russell pushes forward, Legacy of Secrecy will be one of three movies about the JFK assassination — along with Tom Hanks’ Parkland, David Mamet’s Blackbird.

An Adaptation of Joyce Carol Oates’ Marilyn Monroe Novel ‘Blonde’ is Underway

Alison Nastasi — Sat, 18 May 2013 14:13:18 +0000

Joyce Carol Oates’ heart-wrenching novel Blonde is a fictional memoir from the viewpoint of the legendary Marilyn Monroe. The author has said that the book is one of her works she thinks she’ll be remembered for most. An adaptation of the story has been on the horizon for several years, but a press release indicates Blonde has officially been optioned for the big screen. The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford and Killing Them Softly filmmaker Andrew Dominik will direct the portrait of Monroe’s emotional inner world. Casting is underway, though we’re wondering what happened to Naomi Watts who was originally rumored to play the starlet. Michelle Williams recently played the blonde bombshell in Simon Curtis’ 2011 film My Week with Marilyn. She captured Monroe’s vulnerability and magnetism so effortlessly that we wish we could cast her twice.

Contemporary Film Noir with Smiths Soundtrack by LA Bands Coming Soon

Alison Nastasi — Sat, 18 May 2013 14:12:50 +0000

A contemporary noir set to a soundtrack of Smiths covers, performed by LA bands, is looking for a buyer at Cannes this week. Mark Boone Junior (Sons of Anarchy) and Sam Hazeldene (The Monuments Men) would star in the film directed by LA-based British filmmaker Trevor Miller and London musician, promoter, and label owner Sean McLusky. The duo would reach out to bands to join them for the soundtrack, particularly those that frequent The Smell club in downtown LA. The film “tells the story of a surveillance contractor who drifts through Los Angeles at night photographing ‘cheating couples’ and their illicit sexual acts. Crippled by loneliness and alienation, he falls for a jilted wife and unwittingly photographs her husband burying the body of dead girl in the high desert plunging him into a morass of intrigue, deception and murder.” Does the promise of Smiths songs, underground bands, and noir thrills intrigue you?

Christoph Waltz Rushed to Safety After Shots Fired and Real-Life Bling Heist at Cannes Film Festival

Alison Nastasi — Sat, 18 May 2013 14:12:18 +0000

Oscar-winner Christoph Waltz was being interviewed for French television during the Cannes Film Festival, along with French actor Daniel Auteuil, when a man fired several shots in the area, THR reports. Chaos ensued, and the stars were whisked away to safety. Police arrested the man who apparently had a gun, dummy grenade, and knife on him. Thankfully there were no injuries and the show carried on.

This is the second security breach at the festival. While Sofia Coppola’s The Bling Ring was getting ready for its premiere, a safe full of Chopard jewelry was stolen from a hotel room. The estimated value was reported to be $1.4 million, but Chopard later said the cost was exaggerated and the bling was not intended for the red carpet. We’re getting some Truman Show vibes and wondering if Cannes attendees are really in a movie. Stay safe, everyone.

Joy Division-Inspired Street Art Around the World

Alison Nastasi — Sat, 18 May 2013 14:00:16 +0000

Thirty-three years ago today we lost one of England’s finest, Ian Curtis. Despite Joy Division’s short career and the singer’s tragically fleeting life, the influence of the post-punk pioneers is unmistakable. Curtis may have immortalized himself in the most devastating way possible, but fans across the world have done so through various tributes — like the street art we’ve gathered for your perusal. Fragments of the band’s album art and Curtis’ own somber image add a ghostly, poetic resonance to the urban milieux — and while we’re rather exhausted with the bazillion Unknown Pleasures copycats, we’ll gladly make an exception for these black-and-white sound waves on this day.

Photo credit: e_alnak

Batman meets Joy Division at Seine-et-Marne, Île-de-France.

For Your Calendar: Cocktails, Pork, and Philip Glass

Jason Diamond — Fri, 17 May 2013 21:30:23 +0000

You know that summertime is closing in when you can’t keep track of all the things New York has to offer over a weekend. Thankfully that’s what we’re here for, and this weekend is full of so many great things, we had to boil it down to three that you really can’t miss.

The Manhattan Cocktail Classic is one of the biggest draws this weekend: not quite a conference, not quite a festival that takes place in one designated spot, the Cocktail Classic is almost 100 cocktail-themed parties, tastings, and just about everything else you could want in a weekend filled with booze, and people that love booze. Try and make it to at least one of these events, and if your liver can handle it, go to a few.

If you think you can get a seat, you should maybe consider a trip to Bushwick on Saturday for Roberta’s Hawaiian Underground event, which will feature Daniel Delaney of Delaney BBQ roasting an entire pig for you to enjoy. Roberta’s promises that there will be enough pork to go around, but if there isn’t, at least you’re stuck at the best pizza place in Brooklyn.

You know who definitely will not be at Roberta’s on Saturday? Philip Glass. But even though the vegan composer won’t be hanging out at the Bushwick institution, that doesn’t mean you can’t catch him in Brooklyn this weekend. He’ll be playing a pretty epic show at Music Hall of Williamsburg as part of the Big Sur Brooklyn Bridge festival that also includes the legendary Van Dyke Parks (he helped Brian Wilson compose Smile, among many other things), and Real Estate will do an all-acoustic set.

So there you have it: booze, pork, and a vegan composer will make your weekend great.