Cruzin'

By Tim Whitaker
Add Comment Add Comment | Comments: 1 | Posted Feb. 20, 2009

A scene from Oliver Herring's work.

1. Pen�lope Cruz

Without Cruz, Woody Allen's Vicky Christina Barcelona would have been just another navel-gazing-slightly-creepy relationship flick for alte cockers. Cruz's portrayal of jealousy and madness overpowered even the commanding presence of Javier Bardem and left Scarlett Johansson appearing out of her league. In the recently released Elegy, based on a Philip Roth novel, Cruz plays a much younger lover to Ben Kingsley. We're still trying to process that one.

2. "Terror keeps you lean," Richard Price

In an interview on Santa Monica's KCRW, Price--who wrote for The Wire and is the author of numerous screenplays and books, including The Wanderers, Clockers and Lush Life--rendered the above quote when asked how he approaches writing. It's a sentiment anyone who writes for a living best embrace these days.

3. Oxford American Magazine, "3 Years After: New Orleans and the Gulf Coast"

Here's a magazine that editors and writers adore, and for good reason: the stories are thoughtful and provocative, and the graphics are top notch. They mine the best of the South in every issue, whether it's Dolly Parton or Memphis Minnie or an ode to southern heavy metal. This issue focuses on New Orleans three years after Katrina. There's a story by Ernest J. Gaines about growing up in Louisiana, a meditation on New Orleans sausage by Sara Roahen and a State of the Union address by controversial Times-Picayune columnist Chris Rose. And there's more. You can buy an issue at deeply stocked bookstores, but best to subscribe and take no chances.

4. The Futuristic Left Coast Architecture of Los Angeles

Maybe you've contemplated a move to L.A., but lots of things stop you. Like having to live in some god-forsaken hovel in and among the lost tribe of the broken hearted far away from the beach and the Pier and the lifestyle of the detached cool. You move to LA, you want the fantasy.  And boy is that fantasy captured in the architecture of John Lautner, who in the '50s designed space age houses that defined the hope and wonder and promise of Los Angeles. Lautner's work is being honored with an exhibition titled "Between Earth and Heaven: The Architecture of John Lautner" at the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles. But time is running short; the exhibit only goes until Oct. 12. You can even take a tour of Lautner's houses through the Hammer Museum so check out these photos and at least imagine the dream.

5. Ximena Sari�ana

Frightening when a kid like this, just 23, comes out of nowhere and suddenly gets lots of notice and near reckless comparisons to Billie Holiday. Sari�ana's sound jumps out of speakers; her sounds and lyrics are passionate, clear and inventive. You don't need to know the language to feel her music. Sari�ana, the daughter of a film directing father and a screenwriting mother, began as an actress and is already known throughout Mexico. The singer's debut album--Mediocre--is helping transform the music scene in her home country. How long before we see her here?

Add to favoritesAdd to Favorites PrintPrint Send to friendSend to Friend

COMMENTS

Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Report Violation

1. sergal said... on Sep 11, 2008 at 09:05PM

“I would like inform you that Scarlett Johansson (actress)actually is a clone from original person,who has nothing with acting career.Clone was created illegally by using stolen biomaterial. Original Scarlett Galabekian last name is nice, CHRISTIAN young lady.I'll tell you more,those clones(it's not only one)made in GERMANY-world leader manufacturer of humans clones,it is in Ludwigshafen am Rhein,N. Bavaria, Mr. Helmut Kohl home town.You can't even imaging the scale of the cloning activity.But warning. H. Kohl clone staff 100% controlling their clones spreading around the world,they are very accurate with that, some of them are still NAZI type disciplined and mind controlled clones,be careful get close with clones you will be controlled too.Original family did not authorize any activity with stolen biological materials,no matter what form it was created,it all needs back to original family control to Cedars-Sinai MedicalCenter in LA.Original Scarlett is not engage,by the way.”

ADD COMMENT

Rate:
(HTML and URLs prohibited)
User Guidelines