WATCH: HER

(one, two, three, four, five, six)

I realise I'm a bit late on the bandwagon here, but there's just about Her that demands to be shared. It's been a couple of months since I first watched the film but it's one that has stuck with me. I've spoken about my appreciation of all things media and interconnectedness and how technology is changing the way we live and interact, and I adore how these ideas - and a commentary on them - are integrated into picturesque, dreamy film. 

Joaquin Phoenix masterfully leads the film, while Amy Adams, Rooney Mara, Olivia Wilde and Scarlett Johansson drive the story forward within their respective roles. The storyline itself feels fresh and inspired, and it's impressive how the film, though set in the future, can strike such a chord with the emotions and events we encounter in our lives today.

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GIRL CRUSH: JENNY CAVILLERI

 

one, two, three, four, five, six

Aside from 'love means never having to say you're sorry' being one of the least true affirmations on love from a film, I unapologetically adore Love Story. It's one of the easiest films to get swept up in and I'm not sure if there is anything better than wailing over Jenny and Ollie under the doona with a hot cocoa in the middle of winter. 

It goes virtually without saying that the character of Jenny Cavilleri is one of the best part of the movie. Brought to life by the beautiful Ali MacGraw, Jenny is one of my favourite heroines of all time. Intelligent, hilarious and sassy, Jenny carries herself through life with a sense of fearlessness I can only dream of.

"Listen, I need that goddamn book."

"Wouldja please watch your profanity, Preppie?"

"What makes you so sure I went to prep school?"

"You look stupid and rich."

"You're wrong, I'm actually smart and poor."

"Oh, no, Preppie.  I'm smart and poor."

"What the hell makes you so smart?"

"I wouldn't go for coffee with you."

"Listen, I wouldn't ask you."

"That, is what makes you stupid."

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WATCH: RENOIR

one, two, three, four, five, six

Last week I finished uni a few days before my friends, so I put to use a few movie pass I received a couple of months ago for the fancy Palace Cinemas. 

Renoir tells the story of the triangular relationship between Pierre-Auguste Renoir, his last model, Andree Heuschling, and his son, film maker Jean Renoir, over the final years of the artist's life. I have a definite affinity for French films, biopics and Impressionist art, so there was never really much chance of my finding fault in Renoir. As it so happened, the film was also visually stunning, engaging and funny. This is one I can see myself watching again.

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GIRL CRUSH: SKY FERREIRA

all images from here

Can we just take a few moments to appreciate how amazing Sky Ferreira is?

Her style is grunge-meets-high-fashion perfection and there is absolutely no denying that my recent foray into all manner of bright red and dark wine lipsticks was directly brought about by Miss Ferreira. 

Beyond aesthetics, however, lies a wealth of talent and intelligence. Please read one of these amazing articles. Following last year's Ghost EP, Ferreira's debut album Night Time, My Time will be released on October 29. The release of of a full-length album has been several years in the making, and Ferreira has spoken candidly about her experiences in the industry, and the sexism and ageism she's had to deal with. 

Speaking to Stereogum, Ferreira notes that:

"Whenever I do something good, it’s because some guy did it for me supposedly. Or that’s what a lot of it usually says. It’s always someone else. It’s very clear that I couldn’t do it by myself. But everyone has producers, males too. It’s not just a girl who has that."

This Rookie article goes further into the challenges facing women in the music industry, and the very prescriptive type of sexuality female pop musicians are expected to adhere to:

"There’s an unspoken rule. You’re supposed to be sexy, but not in a very forward way. It has to be in a cutesy way."

Whilst there's nothing wrong with 'sexiness' - I have no issue with the overt sexuality of Miley's recent forays as, so far as I'm able to tell, it's been very much her decision (though the racism is another issue for another time) - it's the double standards that exist in the expectations and treatment of males and females in the industry that is frustrating and, well, downright wrong. Tavi adds that:

"You’re supposed to look sexy, so other people can benefit, but you’re not supposed to actually be sexual so that you benefit." 

A couple of weeks ago, The Guardian published this piece by Lauren Mayberry, of CHVRCHES, calling out on the online misogyny she and other female musicians are subjected to, and earlier this year Solange and Grimes posted their frustrations online. Although it's totally gross that these are even issues to begin with, and it seems overly optimistic to expect drastic and/or rapid changes, hopefully the discussion of these problems might lead to something down the track - or just make some of those people in positions of power to think twice.

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INSPIRE: PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK

I meant to do a post on Picnic at Hanging Rock a while ago but I never got around to it. I watched the movie for the first time on Christmas Day. It was amazing - so haunting. Not to mention the beautiful imagery.

I bought my mother the book for her birthday last year and, once I get through the rest of my book pile, I'm looking forward to reading it. I also want to read The Secret of Hanging Rock, the separate chapter that reveals what really happened.

Has anyone else read/seen Picnic at Hanging Rock?

Anyway, my life this Sunday can be summed up:

• My mother has requested forced me into going through aaaaalllllllllllllllllllllllllll of my old-ish magazines and deciding which can be thrown out - it's pure torture :-(
• Uni goes back in just over a week and I can't decide if I'm looking forward to it or not! 
• I was given a bunch of vintage fabric last year, so yesterday we bought a couple of simple patterns - shift dresses and the like - to turn the fabric into something! 

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WONDERFUL ELECTRIC

I have really been enjoying getting back into sketching and filling up my scrapbook (totally misspelled that as 'crapbook' about fifteen times just now) with lists and cut-outs and other inspiring odds and ends over the past few months.

I am by no means a great talent at drawing but I thought I'd share a few of the things I've done lately. When I draw, I get so totally immersed in what I'm doing that time seems to disappear. It's such a great release. I have always been very scared of tackling faces and hands but I'm slowly conquering that fear. I'm not sure if it's 'cheating' but I find using a grid to be very useful in getting my proportions right. Then I trace my initial sketch and slowly fill in the detail.

Daphne was my first drawing using this method, and I was really happy with the end result. I'm finding it really hard to translate the Gemma one off the grid - it's got a lot more detail!

I'm also scared of using colour, especially for people, so I've started slow using things like perfume bottles. Maybe one day I will be brave enough to add some colour to my sketches of people!

I like recording lists as well - 'Most Attractive Males Ever', 'Reasons I Like Fashion', 'Songs I Have Obsessed Over' - and gluing in photos of artwork, fashion, places etc. that strike a nerve with me.

Last night I saw Les Miserables. It was amazing! I haven't read the book (Yet! It's just been added to my must-read-list!) or seen the stage show, so I only had a very basic understanding of the storyline, so I'm not sure if that affected my opinion or not! I was really impressed by the casting though. Hugh Jackman was so impressive. I managed to make it through with no tears but I'm sure once it comes out on DVD and I can watch it by myself in my bedroom, I'll be bawling the whole way through. And, on a far more superficial note, Eddie Redmayne and Aaron Tveit = HNNNNNNGGGG.

I cannot believe that 2012 is almost over. I don't have anything big planned for New Years, but I am going to advance screening of Hitchcock which I am very excited about! Then I'll be heading to a friends house for  a bit of a shindig. Should be good!

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PS: I've been listening to Goldfrapp all afternoon and all I can say is 'WHY DIDN'T I DO THIS SOONER!?' Amazing!

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MIDNIGHT IN PARIS

(sources: one, two, three, four, five)

I've been wanting to watch Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris for quite an extensive period of time, and on Sunday evening I finally got around to it. It was worth the wait though, I loved it. Quirky, clever, and funny, it was the perfect antidote to a seemingly endless day of study.

Without giving too much away, the story centres around Gil (Owen Wilson), a Hollywood screenwriter, who is on holiday in Paris, with his fiancée Inez (Rachel McAdams). One night, after a little too much to drink, Gil finds himself wandering the streets of Paris, and at the stroke of midnight, finds himself being transported back to the 1920s.   

Alison Pill and Tom Hiddleston were the Zelda and Scott Fitzgerald of my dreams, Corey Stoll's Ernest Hemingway was simply perfect, and Adrien Brody's cameo as Salvadore Dalí was hilarious.

Marion Cotillard's gorgeous 1920s clothing was another highlight, not to mention that inimitable French style. It's unfair that Carla Bruni and Léa Seydoux should be able to make jeans and a simple shirt look so good!

This movie definitely gets a thumbs up from me!

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