Marlene Dumas - Beautifully Ugly

"My best works are erotic displays of mental confusions (with intrusions of irrelevant information)." she says about her work

One of the best painters I have seen in a while. She is really pushing the boundaries of what is disturbing, what is beautiful and what is aesthetically disturbing that you can't stop looking. I think a few decades ago, she would have been a strong dadaist. Critics call her an intellectual expressionist.

Her art is sincere, naked, primal, smothered in seduction and has no reservations. It is a repelling child, a mother, a confused girl, naked boy... Daily mundane images that we do not stop to look or can't stop looking...

She may very well become one of my favorite artists... Someone to pay attention to...

Lars and the Real Girl

I am on a roll people. I have seen another movie this weekend! I can't I am actually listening to good music, making an effort to see a movie a week... Wow! This is crazy with a "k" (almost).

So less about me, more about how great an actor Ryan Gosling is....

Lars and the Real Girl, unlike my expectation is not a comedy. It is about a delusional young man who hopes to find love in a real doll that he orders on the internet.

It has multiple awkward scenes that push your moral and social boundaries at times but overall, the dosage of drama is well balanced and the acting as I would like to reiterate here, is exceptional.

The movie is not exploring the recently talked about real doll phenomenon but more exploring the psyche of a young man with broken family ties and emotionally absent father and lonely upbringing. It is a sweet story of love and support. The ties between Lars and his brother are well depicted.

It still made me question our social prejudices despite how Lars' situation was well compensated in his small town. I want to ask everyone, why is there no real man dolls? If there were real man dolls, would a small town like Lars' handle that the same way? I don't know.

But one thing I do know is that this movie had a huge potential to be just awkward and bad. Congrats to Gillespie for making this movie just right. This movie had a lot of mainstream buzz despite its unconventional plot.

The Golden Age of Iron & Wine: The Shepherd's Dog

My new obsession is Iron & Wine's new album: The Shepherd's Dog. Finally after 2 wonderful EP's, Sam Beam released a full length album. Like Women King, this album is really soulful, rhythmic and hazy but a lot more progressive and rich. Some songs make you want to dance, and all really make you smile.

Sam Beam is a one man band. He writes and sings and plays his songs. This is his first album where he actually sounds like a band, with rich sounds, multiple vocals, jazzy elements and exotic instruments. The contributors (Joey Burns and Paul Niehaus of Calexico, as well as jazz musicians Matt Lux and Rob Burger) make the album rich without shifting the essence of Iron & Wine.

For those of you who do not know Iron & Wine, there are a couple of things that make Iron & Wine so addictive: Beam's voice is soooo soothing and luring. The percussion in the songs is so clever, unique and catchy. And his style is jazzy, lo-fi and a little bit of alt-country.

This album to me is one of Beam's most elaborate and mature works. If you love Iron & Wine you will not be disappointed. If you do not know Iron & Wine, you really have to get this album. You will feel like it will fill the void in your music collection.

The Darjeeling Limited: A Fun Train Ride

Darjeeling limited starts with three brothers going on a "spiritual" journey in India (but only in a Wes Anderson sort of way). Owen Wilson, Jason Schwartzman and Adrian Brody are three dysfunctional brothers who have not seen each other since their father's death a year ago. It is a fun ride with wonderful images of India and a lingering question: Will this trip make the brothers get close again?

Whether or not this trip helps the brothers turn back time and heal their wounds is a question you can ask yourself at the end of the movie. I will tell you why you should go see it.

I normally do not like Anderson's whimsical and bittersweet humor. I usually find it contrived. I think with Darjeeling Limited, he is able to make his characters a lot more comfortable and real, less dramatic, stiff and contrived (think Royal Tenenbaums). There are some genuinely hillarious black humor moments, well done and extremely unique. It still has the deliberately uncomfortable moments but that's Wes and I think we have to accept him for who he is.

The super trio (Owen Wilson, Jason Schwartzman and Adrian Brody) are well casted. The cinematography is also very impressive. You really feel like you are in India.

So if you like Wes Anderson's style, I think this is one of his best films, with the most mature style. He is so unique that I think it is unfair to compare him to other directors in this genre.

Overall, good laughs, beautiful scenes, interesting movie. I would recommend...

Pretty in Pink

I think we should all remember that october is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and do something special to support the cause...
Even if it is picking up pink m&m's or something...

Patrick Wolf among the Sheep

I was just looking through Bazaar and saw this Burberry ad and I was sooo surprised

Why?

for those of you who do not recognize the bloke in this picture, let me introduce you to one of the most talented young musicians I have ever met (not literally but figuratively speaking of course): Patrick Wolf

I would highly recommend all of his albums (his latest, The Magic Position came out within this year). He is barely 21 (if that) and he writes his own music. He has a very unique style. He is melancholic, a little pissed off. His music is dancing with violins and pops in your head reminding you, demanding you... Oh so great!

Anyways, what is he doing in the Burberry Fall 07 Campaign I do not know. He's quite the fashionable guy I guess... I like it though... He is not trying to look like a Prada model - he is very much his pissed off aloof self.

Yup buy The Magic Position... Or Wind in the Wires...

Wanted: Bad Posture

This is one dilemma I have with fashion photo shoots. Why is it that we grow up thinking good posture is so important yet all these designers make their models slouch in their ads?
The PR explanation was that new styles are more care free and fits everyone and models need to show that they are not perfect. It is supposedly an attempt to connect these designs with the real world... (What???)
I just don't buy it... I think it is a fashion trend... Some artsy thing none of us can explain.

America's next top model loves it too... I hear Tyra and the crew directing their models to hunch, thrust their pelvis back and slow more collar bones...

I think it looks kinda artsy and cool but why did this trend start? I do not know

Knocked up - From a Gal's Perspective

Knocked up was one of this summer's most talked about movies and finally I saw it (Victory!!!)

The movie is about Ben (Seth Rogan) and Alison's (Katherine Heigl) one night stand where a drunken misunderstanding causes them to be parents together. Ben is an overweight, immature post college dude who lives with a post frat house kind of arrangement with the typical bong hitting roommates who are into porn. Alison is a determined, career driven E! News reporter. This seemingly unmatched duo try to see whether they can become a couple for the baby they are about to have.

Well, I have a lot to say about the movie. Unfortunately, I had ridiculously high expectations and I was not entirely let down but the movie did not fully meet my expectations either.

First the good things:
Trying to share the responsibilities of an unexpected pregnancy etc. was handled extremely sincerely, maturely and without slapstick comedy elements all-the-while catching the naturally funny aspects of the situation.

The cast was well chosen and everyone, literally everyone was relate-able and real. All actors fit their characters like a glove. One character that I especially loved was Ben's dad, despite his brief appearance. All characters were enriching the story line. They were so approachable. I felt like at the end of the movie, I could go to the set and hang out with these guys.
The film is also well balanced between the two main characters. Both Katherine Heigl and Seth Rogan are equally strong and carry the story line together. And it is not a male dominated comedy.

Having said that though, that leads me to the bad thing about the movie: I think it was written too much from a guy's perspective. It is exactly what I think guys think when we get mad at them. We freak out for no reason!!! The complexity of why Alison was frustrated with Ben is so overlooked. I think in part because the director, Apatow still cannot figure out why his wife freaks out on him. He just knows women do that and men probably did something to start it...

Overall though, Knocked up was very funny and delicate in analyzing a sensitive social issue. Not just a pointless comedy... I was not expecting such a mature point of view.

An Unlikely Discovery: Christopher Denny

I am not really into country music unless it is so alternative that it is just melancholic good music, like Iron & Wine or Magic Numbers. But I just found a closer to traditional alternative music that is as refreshing as Loretta Lynn.
And without further ado, (not like you haven't read the title of the post but whatever), I would like to introduce Christopher Denny and his amazing album Age Old Hunger.
His lyrics are full of love and his music is stripped from all impurities. It is just heart-felt. He is freakin' 23 people. He has that Devendra Banhart kind of pitchy whine that just makes him so cool. It just really touches you, makes you aware of how urbanly jaded you are. Makes you go back to the days of drive in movie theaters in the summer and root beer floats with a cherry on top.
You need to get this album... It is so good. This guy is going to be Johnny Cash one day... In his own way.

Tapeo - The Tapa Central

Today, I went to Tapeo on Newbury Street, Boston. You can find decent tapas at decent prices at this very authentically European feeling/looking restaurant. They have the spanish rustic look nailed.
Their wine menu is actually brief but definitely satisfactory. And their sangrias are very famoso and delicioso.
I really enjoyed their garlic shrimp and heard that their seafood paella is excellent. However, I do not think they have the same consistency of taste with all their dishes.
I thought the vegetable crepe was very blah and prune & goatcheese wrapped in bacon was just not quite right. The wine and decor were so perfect though, I just could not help but enjoy the moment. The service is excellent. Fast service and polite waiters. Some dishes might be a little too authentic for me such as the tiny octopus which came with the octopus head and all... Left too little to imagination...
Overall, the location, decor and service is unbeatable and extremely convenient. And naturally, it is overflowing with people. so make reservations peeps. the wait can be hours!!!

Not Your Ordinary Bodega

I have discovered about the coolest thing in Boston. I think it may just about be one of the coolest boutiques I have ever been to. Bodega is a cult classic, hidden on Clearway Street and Mass Ave, a few blocks from Berklee School of Music.
You feel like you are walking into a cheap and cheese new york deli.


Then when you walk in, you see this hipster bingo dude that looks nothing like your ordinary deli manager, checking email on his MacBook. He completely ignores you. If you know the drill, you know what to do. You go in front of the vending machine. And an automatic sliding door opens and you enter this cool shoe store.

Hiphop is blasting through the stereos. The selection of men's sneakers are amazing. Vintage looking Nike's, Asics, Vans and Converses and a bunch of cool brands I have never heard of.
Just the pseudo vending machine looking sliding door is enough of a gratifying experience. And the cool sneakers are just a plus.
Just a cool cult thing to do... Loving it!

Earlimart releases Mentor Tormentor

I haven't written much about new music lately. Partly because I have been lazy/busy which kept me from venturing and reading about music. (Hey I only blog part time...)
But also, I felt like there was a music lull especially in the type of music I was secretly craving lately.
And Earlimart's new album Mentor Tormentor hit that spot for me.

They are from the LALAland, and I think hail from Silverlake, a haven for musical genius!!! I think sunshine and broken dreams are the nectar of inspiration for west coast bands such as Snow Patrol, Modest Mouse, Death Cab, Elliot Smith and the such...

Well back to Earlimart's album. I think the way I would describe it is an LA version or a more kicked back and whimsical version of Radiohead... I am not sure whether you will see the connection but strangely I do... It is ethereal and has that deep sullen melancholy that does not take sadness so seriously. And I think more importantly, as it gets rainy and grey out, this band will pump that lush pop through your ears that does not clash with the mood but gently elevates you from whereever you are... Yup highly recommended...

Staple Scarves

As fall fades to winter, I feel the urge to go scarf shopping. And this fall/winter, scarves are bold, colorful and really make the outfit stand out. I think the leopard and paisley prints are this season's hottest!!! Like so...



such a cheap way (2 for $15 @ every street corner) to look stylish...

Metropolis - The Brunch City of Boston

This weekend I ventured out to South End and discovered a local favorite: Metropolis. It seemed like everyone who came there for brunch was a "frequenter" of Metropolis.
The brunch menu had all the essentials, it was comfort breakfast food done well. The decor was perfect for sunday brunch, cosy and intimate with tons of sunlight seeping in. The coffee was Lavazza at its best (bad coffee to me is a deal breaker sometimes - brunch coffee should be yummy... not dinery/watery).

The big windows, comfy booths and decor give a french twist on an american classic feel.

The french toasts are fluffy and yummy. The eggs benedict seemed to be a favorite among Metropolis citizens, which I did not try.

I would highly recommend... But call ahead of time to make reservations: At peak hours the place gets super crowded - a tad bit beyond the cosy place can handle.

Ps. I heard acquitaine across the street (see my dinner review) has amazing brunches as well. So hopefully will try that next week...