This and That
A few Monday morning tidbits to chew on.
Sideways (movie) -- If you live in a city presenting Sideways, don't miss it. The dramedy about two guys -- one a burnt California actor, the other a middle school English teacher and full time wine aficionado -- hitting the road for a mid-life bachelor's party is hilarious, poignantly melancholy, and rich in character. It's a story about fulfillment, love, friendship, and of course, wine. Lots of wine. Bottles and bottles of wine. There's also plenty of wine education, trivia, and snobbery. It's one of those movies with characters so well casted and portrayed they leave an indelible mark on your memory.
Beyond the Sea (movie) -- A trailer popped up for Beyond the Sea before Sideways, and based purely on the costumes, set design and music it looks quite interesting. The editing of the trailer is magnificent with sharp juxtapositions between the elation of the stage, backstage illness, and technicolor dance numbers in the park. Plus, it's just bizarre seeing Kevin Spacey as Bobby Darin, and I fear it could be more of a Spacey Oscar vehicle than a real biopic, but we'll have to see.
MoMA (web, architecture) -- New Yorkers, you lucky bastards. The new MoMA opens on November 20, and it looks astounding. CBS Sunday Morning presented a long segment yesterday about the re-opening, the museum's eclectic history, and the selection of Japanese architect Yoshio Taniguchi to carry MoMA into the next century. The design may not be everyone's cup of tea, but in the Gehry-age of using museums as elaborate civic statements, the lack of adornment and focus on content is very satisfying. I can't wait to see it in person. And...oh yeah, they have a very nice web site too.
Isaac Tobin (web) -- Designer Isaac Tobin has a beautiful portfolio site, with lots of original book covers, interiors, posters, packaging, and all the rest. I'm especially intrigued by Ferdinand, his original typeface and bastard stepchild of Futura and Clarendon.
Proportion, Scale, and the "Row" (essay) -- Found doing a random Google search for architect Rudolph Schindler, this essay is a little verbose, but has tons of interesting information about mathematics, scale, proportion and form in architecture.
Blue States - The Soundings (music / iTMS link) -- I can't stop listening to this. UK band with a very Talk Talk / Roxy Music atmospheric vibe that (ironically) sounds very fresh. Videos and extra stuff at the band's web site.
