A FEW OF THE WOMEN I FELL IN LOVE WITH THROUGH THEIR ART (AND THEIR ACTIONS) FROM AFAR (OR IN SOME CASES UP CLOSE)

ANOTHER OLD FAVORITE QUOTE

"Everything is perfect on the street again, the world is permeated with roses of happiness all the time, but none of us know it. The happiness consists in realizing that it is all a great strange dream."  —Jack Kerouac (from Lonesome Traveler)

BIRDMAN or THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE

This could have been one of the greatest movies of forever. It certainly is a tour de force on many levels. The cinematographer should win an Oscar, as should the editor(s). (The illusion of the film being shot in one extended steady cam shot is precedent-setting.) There's a lot of the cast that deserve nominations and awards as well, especially Michael Keaton and Edward Norton. And the direction too.

The script is full of remarkably fresh moments of revelation and insight, and often displays multiple layers of meaning and resonance. But. The ending did not, for me, fulfill the amazingly brilliant entire movie that led up to it. Interpreted one way it's deeply disappointing if realistically possible, interpreted the other possible way, it's just plain unsatisfying.

Although, the build up doesn't leave room for much more, except an anti-climactic realism that too probably would have disappointed. It created a conundrum and took the easy way out, from my perspective.

Nonetheless, it is a powerful movie experience, most powerful, with an amazingly powerful performance from Keaton. Worth seeing for that and/or the cinematography alone.

LUISE RAINER R.I.P.

Just found out Luise Rainer passed, one of my favorite movie actors who unfortunately had her career in Hollywood cut short by various factors including studio politics and her unbending independence.

Here's a pic of her in THE GOOD EARTH (still in her twenties playing an old Chinese peasant) back when Hollywood let non-Asian actors play Asians and she pulled it off beautifully by becoming the character not the make up (part Hollywood glamour part actual old Asian lady):

And here she is in THE GREAT ZIEGFELD, her other Best Actress win (playing a character that couldn't be further away from the one above but was made the year before THE GOOD EARTH):

And here's a good obit that tells her story better than I could and has some great photos etc..

FIRST FEEL GOOD STORY OF THE NEW YEAR DISCOVERED YESTERDAY ON FACEBOOK

Here.

END OF YEAR SOME FACEBOOK FAVORITES ROUNDUP