Is the title character in the forthcoming Neil Jordan film a mermaid, a “selkie”, or just some lady who got lost between pier #5 and pier #6? In “Ondine”, fisherman and father Colin Farrell catches a soaking wet Alicja Bachleda in his nets, prompting mystery, intrigue, and some interesting turns toward Irish mythology. While we’ll all have to wait ... Read More »
Author Archives: Gabriel
Setting The Mood With Five International Valentine’s Day Tunes
The countdown has begun to what is either the most romantic or most depressing holiday of all—Valentine’s Day. If you’re currently attached, well good on you—it can be tough out there. To help you enjoy this special day all that much more, we’re offering five songs perfect for a little one-on-one time with your someone special from all around ... Read More »
Before and After “Views on Delft” Offer Different Takes on a Vermeer Classic
Without a doubt, Johannes Vermeer’s painting “View on Delft” (above, 1659 – 60, courtesy of The Mauritshuis in the Hague) is the most famous vista of that Dutch city which was home to the artist, and the school of light-infused, painstakingly rendered school that both supported him and grew in fame and influence due to his contributions and guidance. ... Read More »
The King and Queen of Bad Vacations Are Back in “Hotel Hell” Super Bowl Ad
Is it a commercial short film, or a long-form advertisement? Dunno. Don’t care. Whatever it is, the “Hotel Hell Vacation” mini-movie not only sees the couple of Clark and Ellen Griswold of the “National Lampoon’s Vacation” franchise (played, as always, by Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo) but the HomeAway commercial reminds us of some of our better (or is ... Read More »
“City of Life and Death” Pulled From Film Forum, Sigur Rós Singer’s Vid, Star Wars Tourism, and Cycling Across India
National Geographic Entertainment has decided to pull “City of Life and Death” (above, courtesy of National Geographic Entertainment), a dramatization of Japanese “Rape of Nanking” from a coming screening at Film Forum due to ongoing skirmishes with the Chinese ministry of foreign affairs. [NYT] DreamTours is offering a 46-day cycle tour across India in 2011. It’s 2,050 miles ... Read More »
In Search of Verona, Zeffirelli’s Star-Crossed Lovers Take a Tour of Italy
The approach of St. Valentine’s day only reminds us that as much as love can light up your life, it can also be a real downer. One day you’re meeting a nice young girl at a party and the next thing you’re committing suicide next to each other in the family crypt. It’s a familiar story, but no director ... Read More »
Want Fries With Your Travertine Marble? The Golden Arches Loom Over The Spanish Steps
In their ongoing noble quest to chart the strangest locations of McDonald’s franchises on this busy little planet of ours, Jaunted has reminded us of an old gem that had been completely buried under socks and sweaters in the closet of our minds—the existence of a Golden Arches near Rome’s beautiful, famous Spanish Steps. As you can see by ... Read More »
What if Anderson, Tarantino, Goddard, or Lynch Directed The Super Bowl?
As we finalize our chips-and-dip plans for Super Bowl XLIV, we were pleased today to see SlateV’s nifty little vid offering speculative takes on what it would look like if some of our favorite filmmakers directed the “big game”. Here, classic tackles are given that extra Tarantino crunch a la “Kill Bill”, Eli Manning has a Lynchian freak out ... Read More »