The Blade Runner Unicorn

The origami unicorn in Blade Runner is an important part of interpreting the movie, playing a pivotal role in the overall message…which is why we spent a thoughtful hour swearing and attempting to fold one. AND SUCCEEDED! Giant purple unicorn folded by Tara. (DVD for scale.) Actual unicorn (slightly smaller than Tara’s unicorn).(Also, actual in … Continue reading “The Blade Runner Unicorn”

The origami unicorn in Blade Runner is an important part of interpreting the movie, playing a pivotal role in the overall message…which is why we spent a thoughtful hour swearing and attempting to fold one.

AND SUCCEEDED!

Giant purple unicorn folded by Tara. (DVD for scale.)
Actual unicorn (slightly smaller than Tara’s unicorn).
(Also, actual in the sense of being from the movie, not literally a unicorn.)


As you can see, it’s…basically exactly the same. Definitely a successful project.

The pattern is here: http://www.bladerunnerunicorn.com/Unicorn_Diagrams.html

Get folding!

On the Open Secret

This October, the Open Secret of Harvey Weinstein’s reprehensible behavior broke open. Namely, his harassment, assault, rape, and silencing of an astounding number of women. But as we follow this story, I did want to draw attention to the struggles of those women who do not face the camera: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hollywoods-female-crew-members-suffer-harassment-platform-stardom-1049766 It’s easy to forget just … Continue reading “On the Open Secret”

This October, the Open Secret of Harvey Weinstein’s reprehensible behavior broke open. Namely, his harassment, assault, rape, and silencing of an astounding number of women.

But as we follow this story, I did want to draw attention to the struggles of those women who do not face the camera: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hollywoods-female-crew-members-suffer-harassment-platform-stardom-1049766

It’s easy to forget just how many hands make the product of film. Like any industry, it has its own culture, traditions, policies, vocabulary, and so on. Does it matter if, for example, your favorite director is accused of statutory rape? Does it matter if, on the set of your favorite movie, a grip was a victim of sexual assault? How about an actress?

Part of analyzing film is, and should be, outside the frame. If you don’t like what you see outside that frame, how do you square that with a work of art that you love? Can you?

It’s a tough question. One to think about and live with, perhaps, rather than to answer.

Ocean’s 8: Will it be at least kind of ok?

As we hear more about Ocean’s 8, this fascinating post on heists might be of interest to  a few of you: http://www.davidbordwell.net/blog/2017/10/12/one-last-big-job-how-heist-movies-tell-their-stories/ What is a heist film? Bordwell quotes Westlake: Donald Westlake proposed a concise characterization: “We follow the crooks before, during, and after a crime, usually a robbery.” This indicates two things. First, the … Continue reading “Ocean’s 8: Will it be at least kind of ok?”

As we hear more about Ocean’s 8, this fascinating post on heists might be of interest to  a few of you: http://www.davidbordwell.net/blog/2017/10/12/one-last-big-job-how-heist-movies-tell-their-stories/

What is a heist film? Bordwell quotes Westlake:

Donald Westlake proposed a concise characterization: “We follow the crooks before, during, and after a crime, usually a robbery.” This indicates two things. First, the plot is structured around the big caper, though there might be lesser crimes enabling it, such as stealing weapons. Second, the viewpoint is organized around the criminals, not the detectives who might pursue them, as in a police procedural. By these criteria, High Sierra (1941), although allied to the bandit tradition, fits because most of the film concerns a single robbery, its preparations and aftermath.

He mentions quite a few movies we own in our collection…too many to list! But, to get you started, we do have the original Ocean’s Eleven: HU DVD 10483.

Films at the Freer|Sackler

This weekend marks the reopening of the Freer|Sackler here in DC. The films shown at this Smithsonian gem are always worthwhile, and there are a few coming up. Check out their website for the lineup: https://www.freersackler.si.edu/events/films/ …if we may be allowed to highlight, here’s the trailer for Neko Atsume House, a film based on the popular … Continue reading “Films at the Freer|Sackler”

This weekend marks the reopening of the Freer|Sackler here in DC. The films shown at this Smithsonian gem are always worthwhile, and there are a few coming up. Check out their website for the lineup: https://www.freersackler.si.edu/events/films/

…if we may be allowed to highlight, here’s the trailer for Neko Atsume House, a film based on the popular app, which will be shown Sunday, October 29, 2017 at 3:30. It’s free!!

 

WILSON!!!

From this cute interview with Tom Hanks: Maureen Dowd: You once wrote that Gary Cooper’s career could be summed up in one word: “Yup.” Your career can be summed up in one word, too.Tom Hanks: Ah, Wilson. That’s what people yell at me. (We got that. Of course.)

From this cute interview with Tom Hanks:

Maureen Dowd: You once wrote that Gary Cooper’s career could be summed up in one word: “Yup.” Your career can be summed up in one word, too.
Tom Hanks: Ah, Wilson. That’s what people yell at me.

(We got that. Of course.)

Muppets Take the Museum

As highlighted on Hyperallergic, The Jim Henson Exhibition is now a permanent feature of the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, NY. I find muppets incredibly strange, but was interested to learn about the Anything Muppets, which can become a variety of different characters. Read the article here to find about more about this … Continue reading “Muppets Take the Museum”

As highlighted on Hyperallergic, The Jim Henson Exhibition is now a permanent feature of the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, NY. I find muppets incredibly strange, but was interested to learn about the Anything Muppets, which can become a variety of different characters. Read the article here to find about more about this permanent exhibition: https://hyperallergic.com/404185/muppets/

And check out The Muppet Show (HU DVD 14055), The Muppet Movie (HU DVD 9705), or Labyrinth (HU DVD 13949) to get your Henson fix with Media Services.

Seriously these are pretty cool

Blade Runner 2049

Blade Runner 2049 comes out tomorrow, October 6th, playing basically everywhere.It’s supposed to be a not-awful sequel, which is easy to believe after watching the trailer: Naturally, the library has Blade Runner (HU DVD 1064), as well as Villeneuve’s Incendies (HU DVD 3563), Prisoners (HU DVD 11188), and Sicario (DVD 12919). Oh, and Arrival (HU … Continue reading “Blade Runner 2049”

Blade Runner 2049 comes out tomorrow, October 6th, playing basically everywhere.
It’s supposed to be a not-awful sequel, which is easy to believe after watching the trailer:

Naturally, the library has Blade Runner (HU DVD 1064), as well as Villeneuve’s Incendies (HU DVD 3563), Prisoners (HU DVD 11188), and Sicario (DVD 12919). Oh, and Arrival (HU DVD 13753), which I disliked but everyone else on the planet loved.

Incendies is definitely worth checking out! Very hopeful that this sequel will actually not be terrible.