Transgressed

Le Chat qui fume, a French distribution company of experimental cinema and erotica, are releasing their first DVD in the US through Music Video Distributions. Angélique Bosio's Llik Your Idols, a documentary about underground and transgressive cinema, will be released on 15 May. Llik Your Idols features interviews from Richard Kern, Nick Zedd, Lydia Lunch, Bruce LaBruce, Richard Hell, Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore, author Jack Sargeant and artist Joe Coleman. Also featured on the disc is Nick Zedd's War Is Menstrual Envy, which was previously only available through his website; only a clip of the film, which stars Zedd, Annie Sprinkle and Kembra Pfahler, shows up on the Abnormal: The Sinema of Nick Zedd disc. Zedd's short Police State is also on the disc.

César Winners 2009

Séraphine appears to have been the big winner at yesterday's César Awards, taking home the Best Picture, Actress, Original Screenplay and Cinematography, as well as for Art Direction (Décors) and Costume Design (Costumes). Séraphine depicts the life of painter Séraphine de Senlis, played by Yolande Moreau. Music Box Films will release the film within the coming months. Both Mesrine, a two-part biopic on gangster Jacques Mesrine, and Le premier jour du reste de ta vie, a family drama starring Jacques Gamblin and Zabou Breitman, went home with two awards apiece. According to the IMDb, Mesrine will be released in the US by a company called Senator, and though Le premier jour du reste de ta vie is without US distribution, the DVD was released on Region 1 in Canada from Séville Pictures on 3 February. Waltz with Bashir took home the Best Foreign Film prize, a category often dominated by American films; previous winners include Little Miss Sunshine, Million Dollar Baby, Mystic River, Lost in Translation, Bowling for Columbine and Mulholland Drive, as well as non-American films The Lives of Others and In the Mood for Love. Agnès Varda was awarded with the César for Best Documentary for Les plages d'Agnès, which will be released by Cinema Guild in the US sometime this year. Like all award shows, the Césars have their strengths and weaknesses. Awarding a director for their first feature film adds a nice touch, even if their choice this year (Il y a longtemps que je t'aime) was pretty awful; previous winners in that category have included Persepolis, Quand la mer monte... [When the Sea Rises...], Depuis qu'Otar est parti... [Since Otar Left...], Darwin's Nightmare, No Man's Land and Ressources humaines [Human Resources]. However, the usual gray area arises in their "newcomer" category, of which I couldn't find any set regulations. Doesn't it kind of defeat the purpose when this year's winner, Déborah François, has already been nominated in that category twice before (for L'enfant and La tourneuse de pages [The Page Turner])? I've reposted all the nominees below with the winner in bold.

Meilleur film français [Best French Film]

Entre les murs [The Class] - dir. Laurent Cantet
Il y a longtemps que je t'aime [I've Loved You So Long] - dir. Philippe Claudel
Mesrine (Mesrine: L'instinct de mort; Mesrine: L'ennemi public n° 1) - dir. Jean-François Richet
Paris - dir. Cédric Klapisch
Le premier jour du reste de ta vie [The First Day of the Rest of Your Life] - dir. Rémi Bezançon
Séraphine - dir. Martin Provost
Un conte de Noël [A Christmas Tale] - dir. Arnaud Desplechin

Meilleur réalisateur [Best Director]

Rémi Bezançon - Mesrine
Laurent Cantet - Entre les murs
Arnaud Desplechin - Un conte de Noël
Martin Provost - Séraphine
Jean-François Richet - Mesrine

Meilleur acteur [Best Actor]

Vincent Cassel - Mesrine
François-Xavier Demaison - Coluche, l'histoire d'un mec
Guillaume Depardieu - Versailles
Albert Dupontel - Deux jours à tuer
Jacques Gamblin - Le premier jour du reste de ta vie

Meilleure actrice [Best Actress]

Catherine Frot - Le crime est notre affaire
Yolande Moreau - Séraphine
Kristin Scott Thomas - Il y a longtemps que je t'aime
Tilda Swinton - Julia
Sylvia Testud - Sagan

Meilleur acteur dans un second rôle [Supporting Actor]

Benjamin Biolay - Stella
Claude Rich - Aide-toi, le ciel t'aidera
Jean-Paul Roussillon - Un conte de Noël
Pierre Vaneck - Deux jours à tuer
Roschdy Zem - La fille de Monaco

Meilleure actrice dans un second rôle [Supporting Actress]

Jeanne Balibar - Sagan
Anne Consigny - Un conte de Noël
Edith Scob - L'heure d'été
Karin Viard - Paris
Elsa Zylberstein - Il y a longtemps que je t'aime

Meilleur premier film [Best First Film]

Home - dir. Ursula Meier
Il y a longtemps que je t'aime - dir. Philippe Claudel
Mascarades - dir. Lyes Salem
Pour elle - dir. Fred Cavayé
Versailles - dir. Pierre Schoeller

Meilleur scénario original [Original Screenplay]

Séraphine - Marc Abdelnour, Martin Provost
Le premier jour du reste de ta vie - Rémi Bezançon
Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis [Welcome to the Sticks] - Dany Boon, Alexandre Charlot, Franck Magnier
Il y a longtemps que je t'aime - Philippe Claudel
Un conte de Noël - Arnaud Desplechin, Emmanuel Bourdieu

Meilleur scénario adaptation [Adapted Screenplay]

Deux jours à tuer - Eric Assous, Jérôme Beaujour, Jean Becker, François d'Épenoux
Le crime est notre affaire - François Caviglioli, Pascal Thomas
Entre les murs - François Bégaudeau, Robin Campillo, Laurent Cantet
Mesrine - Abdel Raouf Dafri, Jean-François Richet
La belle personne - Christophe Honoré, Gilles Taurand

Meilleure photographie [Best Cinematography]

Séraphine - Laurent Brunet
Mesrine - Robert Gantz
Un conte de Noël - Eric Gautier
Home - Agnès Godard
Faubourg 36 [Paris 36] - Tom Stern

Meilleur film étranger [Best Foreign Film]

Eldorado - dir. Bouli Lanners - Belgium
Gomorra [Gomorrah] - dir. Matteo Garrone - Italy
Into the Wild - dir. Sean Penn - USA
Le silence de Lorna [Lorna's Silence] - dir. Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne - Belgium
There Will Be Blood - dir. Paul Thomas Anderson - USA
Two Lovers - dir. James Gray - USA
Valse avec Bashir [Waltz with Bashir] - dir. Ari Folman - Israel

Meilleur film documentaire [Best Documentary]

Elle s'appelle Sabine [Her Name Is Sabine] - dir. Sandrine Bonnaire
J'irai dormir à Hollywood [Hollywood, I'll Sleep over Tonight] - dir. Antoine de Maximy
Les plages d'Agnès [The Beaches of Agnès] - dir. Agnès Varda
Tabarly - dir. Pierre Marcel
La vie moderne [Modern Life] - dir. Raymond Depardon

Meilleur espoir masculin [Best Male Newcomer]

Ralph Amoussou - Aide-toi, le ciel t’aidera
Laurent Capelluto - Un conte de Noël
Marc-André Grondin - Le premier jour du reste de ta vie
Grégoire Leprince-Ringuet - La belle personne
Pio Marmai - Le premier jour du reste de ta vie

Meilleur espoir féminin [Best Female Newcomer]

Marilou Berry - Vilaine
Louise Bourgoin - La fille de Monaco
Anaïs Demoustier - Les grandes personnes
Déborah François - Le premier jour du reste de ta vie
Léa Seydoux - La belle personne

Meilleur court métrage [Best Short Film]

Les miettes - dir. Pierre Pinaud
Les paradis perdus - dir. Hélier Cisterne
Skhizein - dir. Jérémy Clapin
Taxi Wala - dir. Lola Frederich
Une leçon particulière - dir. Raphaël Chevènement

Suzuki, Lang, an untalented actress' cans can't justify a theatrical release and some talking dinosaurs for good measure...

Apologies for not updating the blog sooner, but my Internet connection has been a hot mess all week. Hopefully yesterday's schizophrenic day will be the last of those woes. Also, I must have written a DVD release update blog in one of my dreams, because I seem to recall mentioning some of these releases on here before... but a quick search provided those thoughts false. So whoops... or maybe I forgot to publish that particular blog. Alas... here are some DVD updates.

Two Seijun Suzuki will make their U.S. DVD debuts in the coming months. The first, Detective Bureau 2-3: Go to Hell Bastards, will be released through Kino on 19 February. The second, A Tale of Sorrow (also translated as Story of Sorrow and Sadness or A Tale of Sorrow and Sadness), will be out from Cinema Epoch on 2 June. Also upcoming from Kino is Tan Ida's action flick 3 Seconds Before Explosion on 19 May, as well as the critically acclaimed Momma's Man from director Azazel Jacobs, on 5 May. Jacobs' previous feature The GoodTimesKid is slated to be Benten Films' next release sometime this summer.

Kimstim, who released DVDs through Kino, are boxing together their four Alain Resnais films for a 28 April release. The titles are Life Is a Bed of Roses [La vie est un roman], Love unto Death [L'amour à mort], Mélo and I Want to Go Home [Je veux rentrer à la maison]. I would doubt any new material has been added to the discs for this release. Image Entertainment are bringing Woody Allen's first directing foray What's Up Tiger Lily? out from the vaults on 16 June (helpful suggestion: sell your old copy now, as it goes for about $40 used on Amazon.com). Fritz Lang's Man Hunt will make its DVD premiere from 20th Century Fox on 19 February as well. Magnolia is putting their two recent Wayne Wang films out on 26 May. They are A Thousand Yeard of Good Prayers and The Princess of Nebraska and will be available together or separate. Magnolia also moved the date for James Gray's Two Lovers to 30 June.

MGM has announced a handful of action/western/war flicks for 12 May. The choice pick of the five titles (though I haven't seen any of them) is Frank Perry's Doc, the much-disliked western with Faye Dunaway and Stacy Keach. The other four are: Raoul Walsh's The King and Four Queens with Clark Gable, J. Lee Thompson's North West Frontier with Herbert Lom and Lauren Bacall, Karl Malden's Time Limit with Richard Widmark, Rip Torn, Richard Basehart and June Lockhart (nice cast, eh?) and Burt Kennedy's Young Billy Young with Robert Mitchum, Angie Dickinson and David Carradine. Also look for a 50th Anniversary Edition of Pillow Talk from Universal on 14 April.

There's also a good number of films you've likely never heard of starring people you have lined up. Morgan Spurlock's distribution company, formerly Arts Alliance America and now Virgil Films, set a 12 May date for M. Blash's Lying, starring Chloë Sevigny, Jena Malone, Leelee Sobieski and Meryl Streep's son Henry Grummer. Also on tap from Virgil is Richard Ledes' The Caller, with Frank Langella, Elliott Gould and Laura Harring, on 7 April. Kim Basinger and Lukas Haas star in While She Was Out, a thriller produced by Guillermo del Toro, from Anchor Bay on 28 April. Michelle Pfeiffer should pray that her performance in Stephen Frears' Chéri is as good as everyone was claiming it would be last year, because another film of hers is heading straight-to-video. Personal Effects, which also stars Kathy Bates and Ashton Kutcher, will hit shelves on 12 May from Screen Media Films (who have a tendency to release 'doomed' films with big stars like Smother with Diane Keaton and Battle in Seattle with Charlize Theron).

Brittany Murphy is an American in Tokyo in The Ramen Girl, a romantic comedy from director Robert Allan Ackerman that will be out through Image on 26 May. The film also stars Sohee Park (Big Bang Love). Daniel Barnz's directorial debut Phoebe in Wonderland, which premiered at last year's Sundance Film Festival, will be out from ThinkFilm/Image on 23 June. Felicity Huffman, Patricia Clarkson, Elle Fanning, Campbell Scott and Bill Pullman star. Image will release yet another star-studded (but apparently ill-fated) film, Powder Blue on 9 June. The film, which will be better known as the film a couple of straight dudes mentioned to me last year where Jessica Biel takes her top off, also stars Kris Kristofferson, Lisa Kudrow, Ray Liotta, Eddie Redmayne, Forest Whitaker and two Swayzes (Patrick and brother Don)! Those guys forgot to mention whether any of the other actors were doing the same.

Howard Hawks' El Dorado and John Ford's The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (one of my personal faves) will be the two latest releases in Paramount's Centennial Collection. Anchor Bay will release Elie Chouraqui's almost-unwatchable O Jerusalem, which laughably chronicles the religious struggle for Israel and stars Saïd Taghmaoui, JJ Feild, Patrick Bruel and a hammy Ian Holm, on 12 May. The week prior to that, Anchor Bay will release Adam Rifkin's Look with Giuseppe Andrews. Miramax is releasing their first catalogue title in over three years with Mike Newell's Enchanted April, which stars Joan Plowright, Miranda Richardson, Polly Walker, Jim Broadbent and Alfred Molina. Let's hope they don't wait as long to get their other films out there. Menemsha Films are releasing Sam Garbarski's (Irina Palm) Rashevski's Tango [Le tango des Rashevski], starring Hippolyte Girardot and Jonathan Zaccaï on 28 April.

I was unaware (and likely unwilling to notice) that the Steven Spielberg-produced animated film We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story won't make its official DVD debut until 26 May. Funny story about that film... When I was about 10 or 11, my parents signed me up for some lame, populist cartoon animation after-school class. The teacher was a total dolt who looked like Dom DeLuise. His talents at teaching and "drawing" were limited, so he was basically an overpaid babysitter. Among the fellow "students" was the classic brown-noser, a portly mouth-breather who'd taken at least three other classes with Dom. Thanks to both of those morons' love for John Goodman, we got to spend our entire class session "drawing" while being visually "inspired" by watching We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story. It was the continuation of the John Goodman lovefest that had begun earlier with that hideous live-action Flintstones movie, which I remember Dom had rented from Blockbuster the day it was released on VHS. The fucking movie hadn't been on home video for more than twenty-four hours and that parasitic brown-noser had memorized at least three-fourths of the entire movie! I remember him being particularly amused by something about John Goodman's toes during a bowling scene. I also strangely remember a barefooted Elizabeth Taylor being a terrifying sight. Anyway, I don't plan to relive that experience by picking up We're Back when it makes its overdue(?) premiere to DVD, but hey, if John Goodman isn't enough for you, the vocal talents of Rhea Perlman, Jay Leno, Julia Child (!), Walter Cronkite, Yeardley Smith and Martin Short are also on display!

I digress... rounding up this DVD update are three titles unavailable in the US coming on Region 2. Jack Smight's action/comedy Kaleidoscope starring Susannah York and Warren Beatty comes on 20 April from Digital Classics. They're also putting out Mel Ferrer's Green Mansions, which stars Audrey Hepburn and Anthony Perkins, on 6 April. Mary Lambert's Siesta is its European DVD premiere in Germany from Concorde 16 April. I actually haven't seen it, but I remember thinking the word siesta meant something really slutty after walking past the box at Blockbuster nearly every time I rented a video. After looking at the cast, it appears to matter even less whether it's good or not. How could I say no a film with Ellen Barkin, Julian Sands, Isabella Rossellini, Gabriel Byrne, Grace Jones, Martin Sheen and Jodie Foster? That's all for now.

How to Have Sexy Hair

How to Have Sexy Hair - Summer 2009 Tips

If you have a big date coming up then you may be looking at different hairstyles to achieve that sexy look to bowl your date over. It doesn’t matter what kind of hair you have whether it is long or short, curly or straight, black or blonde, there is a sexy look out there that will suit your face shape and hair type.
Spring Summer 2009 Hair Edition - Sexy Hair

One of the sexiest things about long hair is wearing it loose and free. Hair that is long and worn up can look too fussy and especially with lots of hair styling products which can ruin the moment when your date is running their hands sexily through your hair.

Spring Summer 2009 Hairstyles Edition - Sexy Hairstyle

If you have bangs with your long hair and they are long enough to do it, side swept bangs add an instant amount of sex appeal but if they are not long enough to do this, you can always wear them straight just brushing the eyebrows which is also sexy. The impression of having the eyes slightly hidden is sexy as it adds an air of mystery.
Spring Summer 2009 Hairstyles Edition - Short Sexy Hair

Short hair looks incredibly sexy with these side swept bangs as well but for an instant amount of glamour and sex appeal, add a couple of accessories such as pretty grips.
Spring Summer 2009 Hairstyles Edition - Sexy Curly Hair

You could always try curling your hair so that it gives off the 50’s sex kitten look and with smoky eyes the look can be almost breathtaking.
Spring Summer 2009 Hairstyles Edition - Sexy Blonde Hair

There are so many ways that you can add sex appeal to a hairstyle and as long as you are willing to put in a little bit of effort, the date will be a hit!

Pictures by Stefie Jones

Beyonce Hair at 2009 Oscars

Beyonce Hair at 2009 Oscars

There has been a lot of speculation over Beyonce’s hair at this year’s Oscars with a lot of people complaining that not enough effort went into the hairstyle for such a prestigious red carpet event. She did look beautiful as she always seems to look, but the hairstyle was very plain compared to the beauty of her dress and makeup but nevertheless, she still looked every inch the Hollywood beauty queen.
All of her hair was pulled tightly back from her face which for some people may have caused a problem but with Beyonce’s wonderful skin and picture perfect makeup, she pulled it off well. It was all tied into a low ponytail at the back of her neck and just to jazz things up a little, the hair was curled into tight ringlets as so not to make the look too plain.
Beyonce Hairstyle at 2009 Oscars

Overall the hairstyle was simple yet breathtaking and surely did not deserve the criticism that it was exposed to? With such a natural beauty as Beyonce, intricate styles of hair and makeup are simply not needed which is perhaps why she went for such a simple and easy style?
Beyonce Pulled Back Hair at 2009 Oscars

There are not a lot of women in the world that can deal with such tightly pulled back hair without looking as though they have had a rather bad facelift but this gorgeous singer manages to do it with all of the poise and elegance that you would expect from such a well received artist.

Pictures Copyright of PR PHOTOS

Christina Ricci Latest Hairstyle

Christina Ricci at the Montblanc Signature for Good Charity Gala

Christina Ricci is already a world famous actress with classic films such as “The legend of Sleepy Hollow” under her belt. As well as this, the young Ms. Ricci is on her way to becoming a world class style icon and especially after such appearances at the Montblanc Signature for Good Charity Gala earlier on in the week.
Christina Ricci Latest Hairstyle

With a stylish haircut and a classic clothing design, Christina look very elegant in nature but with a slight hint of “power woman” about her given off by the 50’s inspired bright red lipstick and the red hair with the straight and short bangs. Falling just at eyebrow level, the bangs gave Christina Ricci a chance to play around more with her eye makeup, something that isn’t really available with the longer bangs that have been in fashion of late.
Christina Ricci Latest Hairstyle

Despite the full on makeup and the choppy bangs, the rest of Christina’s hair was actually pretty simple; pulled back into a neat updo that left her frilly topped dress to do all the talking.
So, with a simple hairstyle and 50’s inspired makeup, you would expect the Christina Ricci look to be somewhat old fashioned in nature but surprisingly, it was all pulled off very well showing that Christina Ricci is no longer the young actress but more like the budding lady with all the glamour and poise that a Hollywood actress should have!
Photos/PR PHOTOS

2009 Notebook: Vol 7

I promise a full round-up tomorrow night! I'm on a Woody Allen/Pedro Almodóvar kick at the moment, and it's treating me well. I couldn't resist watching Isabelle Adjani in all her carnal glory in Possession, which is the first film I've viewed twice in 2009. I didn't count Zack and Miri Make a Porno as it was the most inspid ten minutes I've endured in a long time before ejecting it from my DVD player. I know plenty of people whose opinions I respect that "didn't mind it," so perhaps it improves, but I can no longer tolerate the nauseating mix of fourth-grade boy potty humor and earnest romance.

The New Favorites

In the City of Sylvia [En la ciudad de Sylvia] - dir. José Luis Guerín - 2007 - Spain - N/A - with Xavier Lafitte, Pilar López de Ayala

Revisited: The Old Favorites

All About My Mother [Todo sobre mi madre] - dir. Pedro Almodóvar - 1999 - Spain - Sony Pictures Classics - with Cecilia Roth, Marisa Paredes, Penélope Cruz, Antonia San Juan, Rosa María Sardá, Candela Peña, Toni Cantó, Eloy Azorín

Deconstructing Harry - dir. Woody Allen - 1997 - USA - Fine Line Features - with Woody Allen, Hazelle Goodman, Judy Davis, Bob Balaban, Elisabeth Shue, Billy Crystal, Kirstie Alley, Eric Lloyd, Robin Williams, Demi Moore, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Stanley Tucci, Richard Benjamin, Mariel Hemingway, Caroline Aaron, Amy Irving, Julie Kavner, Tobey Maguire, Stephanie Roth

Fat Girl [À ma soeur!] - dir. Catherine Breillat - 2001 - France/Italy - Criterion - with Anaïs Reboux, Roxane Mesquida, Libero De Rienzo, Arsinée Khanjian, Romain Goupil, Laura Betti

Possession - dir. Andrzej Żuławski - France/West Germany - 1981 - Blue Underground - with Isabelle Adjani, Sam Neill, Heinz Bennett, Margit Carstensen, Michael Hogben, Johanna Hofer

Talk to Her [Hable con ella] - dir. Pedro Almodóvar - 2002 - Spain - Sony Pictures Classics - with Darío Grandinetti, Javier Cámara, Lenor Watling, Rosario Flores, Mariola Fuentes, Gerladine Chaplin, Lola Dueñas, Chus Lampreave, Paz Vega, Fele Martínez, Elena Anaya

Revisited: Les Autres

Basic Instinct - dir. Paul Verhoeven - 1992 - USA/France - Tri-Star - with Michael Douglas, Sharon Stone, George Dzundza, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Dennis Arndt, Leilani Sarelle

The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things - dir. Asia Argento - 2004 - USA/UK/France/Japan - with Asia Argento, Dylan Sprouse, Cole Sprouse, Jimmy Bennett, Jeremy Renner, Marilyn Manson, Peter Fonda, Ornella Muti, Kip Pardue, John Robinson, Ben Foster, Lydia Lunch, Jeremy Sisto, Michael Pitt

Mighty Aphrodite - dir. Woody Allen - 1995 - USA - Miramax - with Woody Allen, Mira Sorvino, Helena Bonham Carter, F. Murray Abraham, Peter Weller, Michael Rapaport, Olympia Dukakis

Wild at Heart - dir. David Lynch - 1990 - USA - MGM - with Laura Dern, Nicolas Cage, Diane Ladd, Willem Dafoe, J.E. Freeman, Harry Dean Stanton, Isabella Rossellini, Grace Zabriskie, Calvin Lockhart, David Patrick Kelly, Sherilyn Fenn, Crispin Glover, Freddie Jones, John Lurie, Jack Nance, Sheryl Lee

But where will their library go?

Oh no! New Yorker bids farewell. What's going to happen to Céline et Julie??

Faggy-licious

Why I bother reading user comments about the Oscar show is an issue that I should address with my analyst, but as I did again this year, hearing people bitch and moan about Hollywood's "liberal agenda" being thrown out in acceptance speeches just annoys me to no end. "I want escapism," I heard one person say... well, fine, go see Taken again. The Oscars are, and have always been, self-congratulatory, so unless that's your idea of "escapism," I'd suggest going elsewhere (although Slumdog Millionaire being named the Best Picture of the year does suggest that the commenter isn't alone in his thoughts). However, what people fail to mention is how the Academy Awards are the perfect platform for such "liberal agenda." Sean Penn isn't wrong in calling Hollywood a bunch of "homo-lovin', commie bastards," but emphasis should be on homo-lovin', not actually "homo." As much as I reject earnestness in most of its forms, Dustin Lance Black's acceptance speech actually struck a chord with this cynic. People fail to recongize that for a young homo, there's really no one to look up to. Sure, they've got plenty of support, with GLAAD commercials with Rachel Griffiths and celebrities like Ricki Lake, Rose McGowan and Drew Barrymore marching for their equal rights, but who do they have to look up to? Hollywood's still so gay shy that outside of Ian McKellan, who can they even look up to? I'm not saying that having support from the heterosexual community isn't sufficent enough, but when you've got your pick of Boy George, Rupert Everett, Clay Aiken and some guy on Gray's Anatomy, it's still a pretty sad state of affairs. The Oscars, thus, form the perfect media outlet to spread Hollywood's "liberal agenda." I suppose things are heading in the right direction (albeit slowly), but I'll take that "liberal agenda" any day of the week. PS: Can Tina Fey and Steve Martin host the Oscars next year? And yeah, I can never resist posting photos of Tilda Swinton.

Why doesn't this happen any more?

I know people bitch that we don't have Hollywood stars like we used to, but if only a moment like Marlon Brando's refusal to accept the Oscar for Best Actor for The Godfather had happened last night... then we might actually have something to talk about the following day. Hell, I didn't even hear anyone boo when Jerry Lewis got on stage.

How to Look After Blonde Hair - Spring Summer 2009 Blonde Hair

How to Look After Blonde Hair - Spring Summer 2009 Blonde Hair Tips

Gentlemen prefer blondes, blondes have more fun; two phrases that are well known among women of all hair colors but especially those that have blonde hair. However, looking after your blonde hair is the only way that you can stand up and enjoy these phrases and there are a few specific hints and tips for blonde hair that you can make use of to make sure that this is so.
First of all, the right color blonde is essential!
Spring Summer 2009 Hairstyles Edition - Blonde Hair 2009

Bleached blonde can look cheap and tacky whereas dirty blonde can just look… well dirty! The right shade for your coloring is important and the first time you go blonde, it should be done so at the hair salon. After this you can get the same color and then dye your hair at home but a hairdresser will be able to advise you on the best shade first and foremost.
Spring Summer 2009 Hairstyles Edition - Blonde Hair 2009

Once you have gone blonde it is especially important that you maintain the look. Dark roots do not look good on anyone so highlights or touch ups every six to eight weeks are important to make sure that the hair still looks good.
Spring Summer 2009 Hairstyles Edition - Blonde Hair 2009

However, this continual maintenance can strip the hair so make sure that you use a conditioner and shampoo that has been designed for colored hair or those for blonde hair. Deep conditioning with hot oils should also be kept up to make sure that the hair does not look dry or brittle.

Pictures by Stefie Jones

Well, it's over now...

You can jazz the Oscars up and put Beyoncé in as many red outfits as you want, but the sad fact will still remain: the Oscars are still a bore and another unmemorable film has been declared the best by the Academy. Kate Winslet has finally won her deserved Oscar for easily the worst of her six nominated performances, and the night's only surprise win came in a category where I didn't want to be surprised: foreign film. (Keep in mind, I haven't seen Departures). Congratulations to Penélope Cruz and Sean Penn.

Strand in May

Strand has announced two DVDs for the month of May, most excitingly Claire Denis' Nénette & Boni, which stars Grégoire Colin, Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, Vincent Gallo, Jacques Nolot and Alex Descas, for the 16th. The other is Terence Davies' Of Time and the City on the 12th. Hopefully 2009 will be the year of Claire Denis!

Oscar Pixxx

I'm not posting this to aid anyone in their own office pools or whatever, but as Mike from Heteroerotica and I have our own friendly bets going, I thought I'd follow his lead and post my ill-informed, half-assed Oscar predictions on the blog. I posted who I thought deserved to win earlier, so here is who I think will probably take the Gold. These are probably the expected choices, but who knows... maybe this year the Academy will throw us some exciting winners, as the nominees were anything but.

Best Picture: Slumdog Millionaire [or Milk]
Director: Danny Boyle [or David Fincher]
Actor: Sean Penn [or Mickey Rourke]
Actress: Kate Winslet [or Anne Hathaway]
Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger [or Robert Downey, Jr.]
Supporting Actress: Penélope Cruz [or Amy Adams]
Original Screenplay: Milk [or WALL·E]
Adapted Screenplay: Slumdog Millionaire [or The Reader]
Foreign Film: The Class [or Waltz with Bashir]
Animated Feature: WALL·E [or Kung Fu Panda]
Documentary Feature: Man on Wire [or Encounters at the End of the World]
Cinematography: Slumdog Millionaire [or The Curious Case of Benjamin Button]
Editing: Slumdog Millionaire [or Milk, which really should win]
Art Direction: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button [or The Duchess]
Costume Design: The Duchess [or Revolutionary Road]
Make-up: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button [or Hellboy 2]
Original Score: Slumdog Millionaire [or Defiance]
Original Song: Slumdog Millionaire, "Jai Ho" [or Slumdog Millionaire, "O Saya"]
Sound: The Dark Knight [or Slumdog Millionaire]
Sound Editing: The Dark Knight [or Iron Man]
Visual Effects: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button [or The Dark Knight]

As for the short subjects, I didn't see any of the nominees, so I'll decide haphazardly the night of the show. I'll be watching the Independent Spirit Awards tomorrow afternoon...

2009 Notebook: Vol 6

God, I'm watching films faster than I can write about them. Again, I'll have longer rundowns of the films within the week. And, yes, I've been on a Parker Posey kick lately.

The Bad

Antarctica - dir. Yair Hochner - 2008 - Israel - here! Films - with Tomer Ilan, Yiftach Mizrahi, Lucy Dubinchik, Guy Zoaretz, Rivka Neuman, Noam Huberman, Liat Ekta, Yael Deceklbaum, Dvir Benedek, Dina Limon, Yuval Raz, Ofer Regirer, Oshri Sahar, Shirli Salomon

Revisited: The Old Favorites

Hannah and Her Sisters - dir. Woody Allen - 1986 - USA - MGM - with Barbara Hershey, Mia Farrow, Michael Caine, Dianne Wiest, Woody Allen, Max von Sydow, Carrie Fisher, Maureen O'Sullivan, Lloyd Nolan, Daniel Stern, Julie Kavner

Rachel Getting Married - dir. Jonathan Demme - 2008 - USA - Sony Pictures Classics - with Anne Hathaway, Rosemarie DeWitt, Mather Zickel, Bill Irwin, Debra Winger, Tunde Adebimpe, Anna Deavere Smith, Anisa George

Volver - dir. Pedro Almodóvar - 2006 - Spain - Sony Pictures Classics - with Penélope Cruz, Carmen Maura, Lola Dueñas, Blanca Portillo, Yohana Cobo, Chus Lampreave, Antonio de la Torre

Revisited: Les Autres

Adam & Steve - dir. Craig Chester - 2005 - USA - TLA Releasing - with Craig Chestor, Malcolm Gets, Parker Posey, Chris Kattan, Sally Kirkland, Julie Hagerty, Kristen Schaal, Melinda Dillon, Michael Panes, Noah Segan

Desperate Living - dir. John Waters - 1977 - USA - New Line - with Mink Stole, Liz Renay, Susan Lowe, Jean Hill, Edith Massey, Mary Vivian Pearce

Personal Velocity: Three Portraits - dir. Rebecca Miller - 2002 - USA - MGM - with Parker Posey, Kyra Sedgwick, Fairuza Balk, Lou Taylor Pucci, Leo Fitzpatrick, Tim Guinee, Patti D'Arbanville, Seth Gilliam, Wallace Shawn, Ben Shenkman, Ron Leibman, David Patrick Kelly

Polyester - dir. John Waters - 1981 - USA - New Line - with Divine, Tab Hunter, Edith Massey, David Samson, Mary Garlington, Ken King, Mink Stole

Savage Nights [Les nuits fauves] - dir. Cyril Collard - 1992 - France - Gramercy - with Cyril Collard, Romane Bohringer, Carlos López, Corine Blue, Claude Winter, René-Marc Bini, Maria Schneider

Revisited: Shit

The House of Yes - dir. Mark Waters - 1997 - USA - Miramax - with Parker Posey, Josh Hamilton, Tori Spelling, Freddie Prinze Jr., Geneviève Bujold