Maybe it does takes the greatest wizard of our time to conjure up this much amazing Hamilton attention for us all in one week. Once again, Daniel Radcliffe does Houston proud by wearing another Hamilton Shirt– this time announcing the ‘BAFTA’ nominations on Tuesday in London. The ‘BAFTA Awards’ or ‘British Academy Film Awards’ are basically the U.K. equivalent of our Academy Award Oscars. Looking snappy in a John Varvatos suit, a Shipley & Halmos tie and a bespoke Hamilton shirt, Daniel looks put together and well rested after his successful gig hosting SNL in New York just two days prior.
Wes Anderson is back! In his first live action film since 2007, Houston’s native son has just delivered his new “Moonrise Kingdom” trailer to the world. With all his trademark flourishes in tact (perfectly framed shots, immaculately styled sets, funky Françoise Hardy tune, Bill Murray) this movie looks like it has it all. Lets just hope that “Coming Soon” means VERY soon. Can’t wait…
Bonus – A previous post from the 1883 blog about all the Houston locations used in his movie “Rushmore”: here and some cool shots of Wes Anderson’s unique personal style: here.
This looks great – a new documentary about band director Conrad Johnson and Houston’s Kashmere High School Stage Band circa 1970′s. I can’t wait to see it!
“Presented by Jamie Foxx, THUNDER SOUL follows the extraordinary alumni from Houston’s storied Kashmere High School Stage Band, who return home after 35 years to play a tribute concert for the 92-year-old “Prof,” their beloved band leader who broke the color barrier and transformed the school’s struggling jazz band into a world-class funk powerhouse in the early 1970s.”
Release dates and theater locations can be found here.
Besides cooler temperatures, leaves turning, and seasons changing…there is something else to look forward to this fall.
Premiering at the Toronto Film Festival on September 10th, opening in major cities on the 20th, and televised on PBS October 21st, comes Cameron Crowe’s documentary Pearl Jam Twenty. Filmed as part of the PBS American Masters series, this film will take a look at twenty years of live concerts, behind the scenes footage, and interviews with the band from over 1,200 hours of footage.
A new documentary called Bill Cunningham New York is making the rounds of all the film festivals, and if you have the opportunity to see it…do not miss it.
I recently was able to catch a screening of the movie at the Film Forum in New York City, and for anyone into style and fashion it’s a must see. I’ve written about Bill before on the blog, he is the 82 (!) year old photographer that shoots the ‘On The Street’ and the society parties for The New York Times. He is one of the most fascinating characters you’ll ever see on screen, his devotion to the world of high fashion borders on the monastic.
Living extremely simply and frugally — traveling everywhere by Schwinn, repairing the same raincoat with tape, owning very few possessions, working for virtually no pay — is a contradiction that even he laughs about. He explains at one point that the key to the whole thing is if “you don’t take money, they can’t tell you what to do“.
Its a fascinating film even if you’re not into fashion, the lesson of devoting ones life to the things you love will reward with the success of self-satisfaction can be applied to anyone in any field.
After an airline lost her luggage on her way to the Super Bowl, Hilary Swank took matters into her own hands and got herself a new outfit. Don’t Mess With Texas!
Every once in a while a certain book, a new band, or a movie comes along – and it seems like it inspires everyone all at once. The new Italian movie called I Am Love, does just that. This stylish romantic/drama has the film, music, art and fashion worlds all abuzz.
Directed by Luca Guadagnino, the movie tells the story of a wealthy Milanese wife and mother whose life changes drastically after a chance introduction. Starring the unique beauty Tilda Swinton (a friend to the Cinema Arts Society Houston) her look and performance perfectly epitomizes the meticulous, understated elegance of an Italian women of a certain age and class. The locations and wardrobe used in the movie are absolutely perfect.
Over the years I’ve had many friends that have moved to Milan tell me about how difficult it is live there – the ancient Italian city has a very closed off society and the levels of the social classes are very pronounced, especially to outsiders or foreigners. The movie portrays the contrasts between these worlds perfectly; how very attractive material things can be, and how false beauty combined with lies doesn’t lead to personal happiness.
The movie is photographed using very interesting different styles, and the dramatic score was assembled from music created by the minimalist American composer, John Adams. Even if this kind of movie isn’t your thing..it’s a great looking film, and the settings and fashions, are totally worth the price of admission.
