As Adele would say, "Hello."

Hello. I'm back. What did you think of the following films?

My Week With Marilyn
Zero Dark 30
Birdman
Gone Girl
12 Years a Slave
Hunger Games, all of them
Silver Linings Playbook
The Theory of Everything
Wild
Foxcatcher
The Imitation Game
Black Mass
Whiplash
Boyhood
Ida
Django Unchained
Lincoln
American Hustle
A Most Violent Year
A Most Wanted Man


That's just about how many great films we need to catch up on here. I have much work to do.

F.

Madonna- "I'm Breathless"

Have you ever heard of this album? In 1990, Madonna starred in the film, Dick Tracy, and released "I'm Breathless." As you can see from the album cover, it contains music "from and inspired" by the film. I have never seen it, but I have contemplated buying the album for years. Every used record store I know usually carries a copy, and every time I see it, I think two thoughts:

1. "This could be awesome!"
2. "Wow, this could suck!"

As much as I love Madonna, I questioned her voice could carry the retro style like Amy Winehouse or even Christina Aguilera could. However, when I bought her album, "Erotica," last year, her cover of "Fever" (famously done by Peggy Lee) stunned me. It's now one of my favorite Madonna songs.

Because of this experience with "Fever," when I saw "I'm Breathless" again today for a ridiculously low price, I decided to give it a shot. It's really good. It's not too retro, but still exhibits the style throughout. Also, "Vogue" is on it-- totally lovable. I would say more about it, but I have not listened to  the whole album yet.

Here is one of my favorite tracks so far:



Enjoy!

"... and I am a Material Girl"

Oh, fabulous, a new post! I was thinking how little I shared on my blog about my love for Madonna. I think only readers who have followed me for awhile may know how much I adore her. To me, she is a strong, creative, and talented woman. She also pushes boundaries, makes others uncomfortable, and refuses to apologize. However, she inspires many, like me. I think she's a fantastic role model. She has been one of mine since middle school.

Anyway, in early March, one of my biggest dreams came true. I bought a ticket to see Madonna in concert when her tour stops in St. Paul this November. Since then, my excitement has reached unbelievable heights. I have become a little obsessed, blasting her music every day, several times a day, pinning photos to Pinterest, and browsing her clothing collection, Material Girl. I usually skip celebrity brands, but this one just happens to mirror my own personal style so well I may have to brave Memorial Day shopping tomorrow to check it out in person.  I especially love this dress, because it stands out from the rest of the collection, and Macy's clothing in general.

I should not be surprised. Madonna has always been a fashion icon, and she has tried everthing. What do you think of all her looks? Do you have a favorite? I thought she channeled the "old Hollywood glamour" well, and she looked AMAZING opening her Sticky and Sweet Tour a few years ago.





I think I need boots, and my long blonde hair back.

New blog for YOU.

I'm not sure if many of you will be interested in this, but I am shifting my blogging focus a little bit. I guess I'm going to do more of the "lifestyle" thing here:

http://fmntimes.blogspot.com

Feel free to check it out. There may be a movie review from time to time just for kicks ;-)

Frances Farmer in Come and Get It (1936)

I have yet another Frances Farmer post. I finally found some footage of her acting via YouTube. Here are two short parts of her film, Come and Get It. I watched it last weekend, and while it's a bit slow, Frances' performance locked me in. I thought she rocked it. Her deep voice sounds so haunting, no?

A new girl crush

At first, I thought Frances Farmer was interesting. Now, it's become a full girl crush. First, she's beautiful. Second, her performance in Come and Get It was amazing. She reminded me of all sorts of actors I love, like Joanne Woodward, Mae West, and Clara Bow, but at the same time, there was something more unique. Third, this photo is boss:

I mean, come on now.

Frances

I recently watched Frances (1982), a biopic starring Jessica Lange as '30s actress Frances Farmer. Though the name seemed familiar to me, I did not know anything about Frances, nor had I seen her films. Her fall, as depicted in the film, impacted me. It seemed like she had a lot to say.

However, I am excited to receive her film, Come and Get It from NetFlix this weekend. Her work proves hard to find, but I am hoping she can become a new favorite actress. I think she's beautiful.



Oh, and Jessica Lange gave an incredible performance. She received an Oscar nomination for that year, along with a supporting nom for Tootsie. She won the latter.

Spring Wardrobe Ideas

I admit, I am kind of a celebrity personal style junkie.

However, with the exception of Carey Mulligan and Kirsten Dunst, I avoid stalking celebs via paparazzi photos. Those two dress too deliciously to resist a creeper-esque peep when inspiration itches. Instead, I comb my Google and Bing image searches for dressed down vintage stars. These often prove hard to come by, but they are there. Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, or Natalie Wood stripped from their iconic glamour in exchange for something more simple equals magic. Here, cropped trousers, cardigans, ballet flats, big sunglasses, and dresses appear, with some jewelry for kicks.

I love these looks. The make their point without fuss. They exude fashion without trying. Rather, they just are. I decided I should look like that this spring. My Minneapolis lifestyle rarely accommodates outfits decked with bells and whistles. For one, I rarely wear stilettos anymore. But I need to edit my wardrobe so it becomes more "me" and less faux-urbanista. I am Idaho. Let's be real.

This, however, I can handle.

Just ... minimal.

Simply pretty

My, it has been awhile, hasn't it? I have been busy working, seeing The Artist, working, building ideas for a new spring wardrobe, working, buying simple treasures like the above "f"-monogram mug from Anthropologie, paying respects to Whitney Houston by blasting her songs, working ... 

~F. 

Something silly

This is me, senior year of high school, receiving an award for being an outstanding American Government student. Though many others stand there, I believe it turned into my own fashion moment. I miss that skirt. And those shoes.

Seriously, January?

Carey Mulligan on W and Meryl Streep on Vogue. Top two actresses. Top two magazines. I like 2012 already.

BAM:

"Blackmail" (1929)

The first ten minutes of Alfred Hitchcock's  Blackmail begin as a silent, as Scotland Yard catches a criminal. One of these, detective Frank Webber, meets his girlfriend Alice later that night. Their awkward dinner conveys Webber's lack of interest in Alice, so her late night date with another man remains no surprise. However, Alice walks away from this secret date a murderer, and the plot twists from there.

I am a fan of early talkies, and this one is one of the best I have seen. When the film transitioned from silent to talkie, I literally exclaimed, "whoa!" It would have made sense either way. Furthermore, I am fascinated with what a consistent and quality filmmaker Hitchcock always was. His early work maintains the same standards classics like "Psycho," "The Birds," "Rear Window," etc. have that make him legendary today.

And, as always when I review a Hitchcock film, this review ends prematurely because of what I do not want to reveal. It remains worth seeking out.

~F.

Book: "A Killing in Comics"

New York City, 1948: a birthday party for the publisher of the most popular comic book super heroes of the day, Wonder Guy. 

Guests include savvy ex-striptease artist Maggie Starr, who heads her late husband's newspaper circuit, which includes the comics; her stepson, VP, and occasional private detective Jack Starr; Wonder Guy's original creators, who bear chips on their shoulders for getting cheated out of some of the profits; and Donny Harrelson, the publisher, who weaves drunkenly through the guests --- before he drops dead on the floor.

This opening to Max Allan Collins' novel, A Killing in Comics concludes, and then takes readers, in Jack's point of view, through the classic "who done it," case, with a few twists. These include a film noir moments here (Jack tempting information out of Harrelson's secretary, Honey), and some comic book art there. Terry Beatty, who illustrated the Batman comics, combines his art with Collins' prose. Even adults can get picture books.

The characters remain devious. Jack discovers they each have a motive to kill Donny. Collins' tight and witty prose is, like I mentioned, similar to film noir, and it keeps the tension throughout. It remains filled with short lines of dialogue, sarcasm, use of nicknames like"Jackie," and femme fatales who wear red nail polish and negligees with company. The conclusion spins from an unexpected climax (introduced, of course, with comic book panels), where the killer's identity seems obvious, yet clever.

Collins wrote another graphic novel, Road to Perdition, among others. However, A Killing in Comics marks my introduction to his work. I could not stop this one, and I wanted to pick up something else once I admitted I finished. This book remains unique, in my opinion, and I am hungry for more. 

Natalie Wood's Death: Case Re-opened

I feel I should report this rather HUGE classic film news. Natalie Wood who, is one of my favorite actresses, just made headlines! The case of her death has just been re-opened after thirty years. I heard rumors of this happening, but never thought it would become official. Her death has been well-documented, and is a rather complicated story, so Google it if you're not familiar. Here, also, is the article from The New York Times.


Natalie Wood's Death is Being Re-investigated

Let's Make it Legal (1951)

The opening scene of Let's Make it Legal reveals the old beauties of post-WWII suburbia: white houses, white fences, lawns lined with cars and dotted with rosebushes. Enter Hugh Halsworth (Macdonald Carey), who cares deeply about his own rosebushes. He makes special trips to the home he used to share with his soon-to-be ex-wife Miriam (Claudette Colbert) to tend them, much to her annoyance. Hugh and Miriam will soon see their divorce finalized. While Miriam feels elated, proclaiming several times she does not need a man, Hugh fights his grief. He "won" Miriam in a gamble years before, and considers it his luckiest moment.

Now, enter Hugh's competitor in the gamble and Miriam's old flame, Victor (Zachary Scott). Victor, a wealthy "businessman," spends the film pursuing Miriam, and convinces her to become engaged. To counter this, Hugh flaunts a blonde tart, Joyce, (Marilyn Monroe) in Miriam's face, but she does not convey jealousy.

Then there's the Miriam's live-in couple: the daughter, the son-in-law (Robert Wagner), and their newborn baby. The daughter refuses to grow up, as she asks Miriam to take care of the baby and keep house for her. While I admire how Wagner's character constantly calls her out for this while keeping so darn handsome, it remains an annoying subplot in this otherwise cute film.

And it boasts cuteness. I could not get over the happy ending. Claudette always gives a good performance, as does Marilyn (even though I always find it odd watching her early films where she plays smaller roles), but Macdonald Carey stole my heart. What a romantic.

At only an hour and sixteen minutes, Let's Make It Legal may not provide layers of depth, but I am always down for alternate retro worlds where nothing but the best persists. Wunderbar!

~F.

Beautiful Elizabeth Taylor

To make up for how lame I thought Blue Valentine was, I thought I would post this Elizabeth Taylor tribute I found via YouTube. She is, after all, the epitome of Classic Hollywood Glamour, in my opinion.

The dealio

Hey readers!

Well, if there are any readers anymore, ha! I feel awful I do not update anymore. I work over 40, sometimes 50 hours a week, and I am still adjusting to living in such a different city. When I have free time, there just seems to be so many other things to do besides blog (like, negotiate how much time I have to buy groceries).

But, anyway, Waterloo Bridge, and Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice are awesome, and is anyone else as excited for The Artist and My Week with Marilyn as I am?

Hopefully I will blog more in the future, and read all of your blogs again :-)

~F.

A Date with Judy (1948)

A Date with Judy is a fun, late 40's MGM musical starring Elizabeth Taylor and Jane Powell, among others. The trials of Judy, played by Powell, and her friend, played by Taylor, first came alive through radio programming, according to Imdb. I also stumbled upon an original broadcast via You Tube. It's adorbs! I need more radio stories and girly drama in my life. I also need a boyfriend named Oogie who I call "cad" and who calls me "pearl." Then we can see the "new Tyrone Power picture" together, yadaydayada. 

The film version most likely did its predecessor justice. The music and surprise technicolor (I missed the whole "MGM musical" aspect when I stuck it in my NetFlix queue) aside, I found a small detail delightful:

Carmen Miranda's shoes.

Seriously. They're sick. Wonderbar. You can see them in the trailer below around the two minute mark. Strappy platforms galore! 

HAHAHAHA!

I am probably a late viewer, but I totally love both of these! Fashion should always be fun.

Blonde (2001)

While pursuing my English undergraduate degree, I read Joyce Carol Oates' short story "Three Girls." The idea of spotting Marilyn Monroe perusing a used bookstore, clad in menswear, enchanted me. I never forgot the story, and respected Oates' interpretation of a generally oversimplified woman. This oversimplification became more clear to me after I read Marilyn's autobiography, and the much-publisized Fragments earlier this year. Like "Three Girls," these books transformed Marilyn from the "sex-symbol," and the "cute blonde," to someone I wanted to have coffee and discuss Michael Chekhov with. Or we could explicate poetry. I don't know. I just wanted inside her brain. This remains one reason "Three Girls" still counts as my favorite short story.

However, Oates did not leave Marilyn there. She also wrote a novel, Blonde, which I have not read. It seems to further chronicle Oates' interpretation of Marilyn. While not a biography, I have read it attempts to "get inside" Norma Jean Baker, even as she continues the transformation into Marilyn Monroe.  This novel also became a miniseries in 2001, starring Poppy Montgomery as Norma Jean Baker, Patricia Richardson as her mother, Ann-Margret, and Patrick Dempsey. I do not know if many would consider it an "excellent" film, but I appreciate it.

The film begins with a blonde woman in a red dress sprawled across an empty beach, the waves lapping against her. Viewers learn later she is, in fact, "washed up" at this point. But just at that moment, the contrast of her peroxide hair against the dull sand colors caught my attention. She seems so beautiful and out of place. I love visuals like this.

Montgomery fills the image. I find it scary how much she looks and talks like Marilyn. This film excludes scenes of her blown-up skirt during The Seven Year Itch, and instead shows her seeking affection from various characters: her mother (Richardson was also great), Joe DiMaggio, Arthur Miller, and Patrick Dempsey's bizarre, friend-like, character. I like these tender moments. I like seeing Marilyn in a cardigan, black pants, and ballet flats. I like her desperation for motherhood.

Just ... like, and love.

Blonde makes me more curious about My Week with Marilyn, which will release soon. Michelle Williams will probably give a decent performance, but now, I almost do not want a more biographical approach.

~F.