Marlon Brando Gave Johnny Depp the Best Advice Ever
Now, when Johnny Depp recently gave an interview to Details magazine, you might have expected a lot of things – after all, Depp is a pretty renowned bon vivant and general eccentric – but genuinely touching life advice probably isn’t one of them. Especially since that same advice comes not direct from Depp, but from acting legend […]
Channeling the ’40s with a half-moon manicure
If I do say so myself, I’m terrifically talented at wasting time. And so I recently whiled away an hour or three on a half-moon manicure, a ’40s look that has become popular again. The “half-moon” at the base of the nail is left plain or painted in a color that contrasts with the rest […]
‘Farewell, My Lovely’ quick hit
Farewell, My Lovely/1975/Embassy Pictures/97 min. Raymond Chandler once described a noir hero as a knight in tarnished armor. Robert Mitchum, playing Philip Marlowe, illustrates the point in “Farewell, My Lovely” from 1975. Sylvia Miles and Charlotte Rampling also deliver excellent performances.
‘Chinatown’ mixes classic intrigue with ’70s cynicism
Chinatown/1974/Paramount Pictures/131 min A nervous femme fatale with a slight stutter. A stocky PI with a hot temper and a bandage plastered on his face. Perhaps not the most promising characters at first glance; in fact they are among noir’s finest. Faye Dunaway and Jack Nicholson deliver knockout performances in 1974’s “Chinatown,” a neo-noir that […]
The Wild One
“What are you rebelling against?” asks someone. “What’ve you got?” responds surly, leather-jacketed motorcycle punk Marlon Brando. It comes as a disappointment to discover that The Wild One, the quintessential Brando “rebel” film, is at base a traditional “misunderstood youth vs. the nasty system” effort, with a particularly banal finale. Based on a true incident, […]
My quest for the perfect eyeliner: Part Two
Despite my long-standing devotion to classic black eyeliner, I’ve recently become smitten with midnight blue. It still defines and opens the eye, but gives you a slightly softer, lighter look that’s perfect for summer. Yves Saint Laurent’s Eyeliner Moiré liquid liner in No. 8/Marine Reflections, $34, is a great color to try. Deep blue and […]
‘Blood Simple’ quick hit
Blood Simple/1984/River Road, Foxton Entertainment/97 min. How FNB would love to meet those darling Coen brothers and probe their diabolical little minds. And of course I’d gush about “Blood Simple,” their first baby, a fast-paced, taut thriller that will keep you guessing till the end. When a husband (Dan Hedaya) confirms that his wife (Frances McDormand) […]
COL•COA Festival offers first-rate lineup, mais oui!
Tickets are going fast for the 15th annual City of Lights, City of Angels (COL•COA) Film Festival that runs today through April 18 in Los Angeles. # In addition to 26 shorts, the festival will present 34 features, including several premieres. “The relationship between COL•COA and our audiences has evolved into a genuine love story […]
New Brando Biography “BRANDO’S SMILE” Continues to garner great reviews
[scroll down for links to reviews] When Marlon Brando arrived in Manhattan in the spring of 1943, he was a Nebraskan by way of Illinois with a knack for mimicry. Just four years later, he would transform himself into one of the most important American artists of the twentieth century, originating […]
Remembering Hollywood legend Elizabeth Taylor
Elizabeth Taylor, 79, one of the world’s most famous actresses, died today in Los Angeles. Her stunning beauty, charisma and wealth along with eight marriages, 50 movies and tireless advocacy efforts on behalf of those afflicted with HIV/AIDS ensure that her legacy will endure. To that end, I’ve pulled a few of her memorable quotations: […]
Documentary Listen To Me Marlon Coming to Theaters
Listen to Me Marlon, the documentary feature film largely constructed from Marlon Brando’s personal archives, will arrive in theaters at the end of this month in New York and Los Angeles, followed by a multi-city roll out across the US and around the world. Check out the official trailer for the documentary: marlonbrando.com/videos New York details: […]