My new favorite blog is with the self-explanatory title Awful Library Books, just ahead of the fantastically brutal Awkward Family Photos. It puts a spotlights on the unintentional gems that slide under the radar in history that in retrospect seem ridiculously funny. Teen Alcoholism... not funny (depending on what you consider alcoholism). This picture and that girl's hair hysterical. It makes me think Reefer Madness of the 80's and I wonder if their is a companion video I can watch to learn about the evils of this dirge to teenage American society. And here's a shot of a burgeoning classic sport that needed a book written about it:
What a Family Photo!
(via AwkwardFamilyPhotos)
The persistent question of "Is the Joaquin Phoenix quitting acting to become a rapper a hoax?" is still not answered. EW is reporting more on the documentary that is being filmed by Casey Affleck, who is married to River and Joaquin's sister Summer. I don't trust anyone with the last name Affleck, usually very shiesty fellows. To be honest, I don't think anyone should believe this is for real unless you consider method actors like Brando as other people when they are performing.
The sad thing about this whole affair is that Joaquin Phoenix is not on the big screen. Outside of his Oscar nominated turn as Johnny Cash in Walk the Line, most of his best performances have gone overlooked such as a fantastic turn as a soldier working the borderline of legality in the excellent Buffalo Soldiers (got buried because it was supposed to be released around 9/11), the weird drama Clay Pigeons,as well as Two Lovers, his last on screen performance.
Phoenix plays Leonard as the wide eyed, fragile Jewish Brooklynite who is trying to pick up the pieces of his life. An excellent performance opposite Gwyneth Paltrow, in her best performance in years, as a kind of ditsy, club loving dream girl. His career has been full of these interesting roles that have filled quality films but his full potential has not really been met with the perfect challenging role to showcase his excellence in full.
Micheal Crichton's very expensive flag
Michael Crichton has one valuable art collection according to a Fast Company piece. When an article about it features the sentence, "Other highlights of the sale include works by Jeff Koons, Andreas Gursky, Roy Lichtenstein, and Andy Warhol" you want to know what the real highlights are. At Christie's on May 11, an auction was held features Jasper John's Flag, and some Rauschenberg's & Picasso's estimated to fetch in the area of $5-$10, see what mass market mostly schlock filled with mild intrigue ("Jurassic Park", "Congo") that gets turned into some huge movies and co-creating ER can get you.
NYTimes Arts Beat Blog just updated that the Johns ended up fetching $28.6 million although that doesn't touch the $106.5 million that a Picasso went for at another Christie's auction last week.
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Quick Notes:
Ever wonder where the world's most humane prison is? Norway, of course. (Time)
Need another reason to hate the Yankees? DirecTV & YES (the Yankees Empire Propaganda Network) will broadcast the first 3D Baseball Game against Seattle in July. (Paste)
According to the UK's the register, Bill Gates is now helping a cloud that does not involve computing. He is helping a guy make fake clouds to try and save the earth.
The 'stache loving Nazi-esque Carlos D of Interpol has left the band. Sad Day for people who still think Interpol is on the brink. (Paste)
Jeff Mangum (recluse of Neutral Milk Hotel fame) pops up for benefit in NYC and performs some classics including "Oh Comely" & "In the Aeroplane over the Sea". Videos on Youtube via Stereogum.
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