MONDAY DVD PICK..

Thumbsucker (2004)
Wrote & Directed by Mike Mills(Does Your Soul have A Cold?, 2007 . Also, Mike Mills is rather well known advertising director & graphic designer with a slew of commercials under his belt including NIKE, Levis, & Volkswagen to name a few..) based on the novel by Walter Kirn.

Thumbsucker was such a good movie. Not the 'good movie' you would give a standing ovation or you would even purchase(I did) but a movie you will finish with a slightly better inclination of being. Well Thumbsucker is not exactly that deep but their is a key story behind the actors and lights. I FELT was: Appreciation. Appreciation for what one has and understanding that what you think you want, is not necessarily what you need.
The movie is set in 2005 but touches on so many issues that are prevalent today; drugs, sex, adultery, misguided youth. The cast is quite the rounded and used well, at times the movie becomes quite dynamic.
I want to tell you more about the scenes but that my take away from the story and kinda spoil the movie. Its nothing crazy but a solid film.

Rainy Day DVD PICK

Released to much acclaim and notoriety, Born into Brothels(2004) directed by Zana Briski & Ross Kauffman (both won an oscar, Best Documentary for Born into Brothels), documents the lives of the children born into the endless cycle of prostitution and poverty in Sonagachi, Calcutta's red light district. The documentary based on the off time of photographer Zana Briski as she works on site to document the lives of the common prostitute. Zana finds an opportunity to teach photography at a local school. For most of the students, this was there first time actually seeing an camera so you can imagine how much of an eye opening experience photography was. Think about the first time you skated or played a sport you loved, very similar. Over time each student starts to develop their own distinctive style and slowly start to see a window out. I must state, this documentary does not shy away from much; sex, vulgar language,drugs, and ignorance. You will really get a feel for the lives of these "brothel" kids and the pressure from their community to carry their own weight.

I first heard of this movie about two years ago while I was shopping at ABC Carpet. I almost bought it but for some reason I didn't. I wish I would have. I caught this documentary recently on I.F.C. and have been looking for since. GREAT DOCUMENTARY but remember its a documentary there is sad stuff too. My favorite kid is Avijit, the kinda chubby kid avec grand smile in the back row on the cover. The kids a natural with the arts. I would never seriously use this term but youngin' was swagger splashin' throughout the film. I wonder where he is now?

Rainy Days

Is modern art really art?

My Kid Could Paint That (2007), director and producer, Amir Bar-Lev (Fighter 2001,crazy**) documents the whirlwind life of 4 year old proclaimed "art prodigy", Marla Olmstead. This documentary covers the course of Marla celebrity from her first masterpiece at the tender age of 3, painting on the dining table in diapers to becoming the talk of mainstream media for her shows all over the globe. The art community embraces this abstract prodigy with open-arms, comparing her colorful canvas to likes of Jackson Pollock and Pablo Picasso. Within months of her stardom, Marla sells up to $300,000 in painting, averaging $25,000 per canvas and everybody is trying to get a piece of her new found empire. The whole story comes to an interesting turn when "60 Minutes" airs a special questioning the authenticity of Marla's abstract genius and if indeed she was the actually painter of these M.O.M.A. worthy painting. Like most stories, Marla's possible scandal becomes the story with a media frenzy comparable to any major childhood star.

This documentary struck up a question for me.
I asked in the beginning of this post "Is modern art really art"
A gentlemen in the movie goes to say, "Abstract art is not some truth but some lie being foisted on the public"
That is exactly how I feel about fashion at this moment...

Marketing.Marketing.Marketing.
Food for thought...


I guarantee this movie will get your brain moving

Mid-Week DVD Pick

This being the first DVD pick, I thought I would go with a certified goody. French writer/director Loïc Prigent documents the times of American fashion designer, Marc Jacobs. This dvd examines Marc's design process for both his labels(Stinky Rat, Marc by Marc..) and his employer of-sort juggernaut, Louis Vuitton. Cameras unprecendently follow Marc Jacobs behind the scenes of his work studio in Manhattan to the uber-secure design offices of Louis Vuitton in France. Major design vibes are streaming throughout this video. There something for everybody in this dvd from runway shows, models, & tons of cameos including Sofia Coppola, Takashi Murakami, Pharrel Williams to name a few. I purchased this dvd at Marc Jacobs around November but unfortunately they our out-of-stock at the moment. This DVD is any designers "must-have"($25, tafw.com) or at worst case netflixin'.