I heard about Flying Lotus from my younger British/South African roommate while living in China. Appropriate then that this video showcases the Chinese zodiac.

Two examples of great 70′s rock out of Africa. First of all, both of these “videos” are only a vehicle to hear the tune, there is no additional visual. I first heard Witch on Pri’s The World. Great tune, and where do I get one of those magic rafts? I think the guy is operating it with his boots…

And tell me the chorus of this Chrissy Zebby Tembo song doesn’t have Ozzy written all over it…

If you like it, get more here. Props to Aesop and his Cosmic Hearse blog.

Twitch had me anxiously awaiting this film. So much so that while in China, I went to my Beijing source TWICE in hopes of a black market DVD. I wasn’t disappointed; it’s still a film I must own some day. And yet…

One thing reviews I’ve seen so far haven’t mentioned is how psychedelisugarpop the opening credits are. Here is everyone involved, essentially unreadable, at least to the conscious mind…and into the film.

*rather spot on depiction of a DMT experience, not exactly like my own in the early 90′s, which strangely also involved a painter, but it definitely worked.

*combined factors make Tokyo seem like the most tripped out city on earth: the neon and futuristic vibe, tiny alley like streets, ex-pat vibe created therein, well done, but definitely not a place to front on the cops

*the first portion of the film completely works, and but I now feel a compulsion to go off about Paz De La Huerta for a bit…

An actress who clearly loves to get naked and carnal in front of the camera, I first saw her in Season 1 of Boardwalk Empire where her Apple accent works perfectly. But after this I have to question her acting ability overall. And it might not be entirely her fault. Noe’s script has her bogged down in quasi-incestuous inappropriate lounging with her brother and only companion in a cruel world. But I am still tempted to blame her acting, especially in her big “break down” scene, which rings hollow. I’m really conflicted about this actress, she is sexy without being exotic somehow. Something about her feels “Chloë Sevigny” if that makes any sense, and indeed, it would be interesting to see her work with Larry Clarke esp. before she gets too old for his tableaux. She has all of this sexuality frontally presented, as if there were little inside, and yet a hint of another deeper level where much is hidden. I’ll be curious to see more of her work (haven’t seen the Jarmusch thing yet)- my verdict is still out. But since I’ve gone this kooky obsessive about it, I’ll further mention my sister and I have a running bet if her breasts are real or not. I say real.

What else to say about this film? It’s as abstracted as you’ve heard, yet in ways that make sense. There is nothing David Lynch’s ‘Inland Empire’ about it (in other words: “what the fuck am I watching here?”). There is something about spirits interacting with electric energy. There is something about the nature of expressed love. Mommy issues and sister issues and the search for love.

But one quote I must include, from a wasted girl who burst into the men’s room afterward looking for a friend and delighted me with a quote as they followed me into the frozen night from the theater. Apparently she had no idea what to expect from Gaspar Noe (who I still credit, along with Ms. Monica Bellucci, as capturing the most hardcore depiction of rape ever filmed), nor what she was getting into.

She said, “I mean what the fuck was that? That was a porno, Joey. A reincarnation porno.”

It wasn’t, but the quote was appropriate and hilarious. I would have liked to see more about some of the minor Japanese characters in the story: the painters roommate who build the amazing model of Tokyo; the girl with the glasses, who got with the main guy, but apparently had a thing for Mario. I guess I would have liked more of a film, shot in the same style, about naughty gaijin in Tokyo, than a film about this guy’s death.
I guess you’ve done it again Mr. Noe. Got me thinking about and liking a film I can’t entirely get on board with. Contrasting the brutality and the bliss. I still give you points for grit and balls, even with all the experimentalism.
And I don’t agree with those who say it was too long. The subject matter, style, presented in this way…just right.

When I first went into Alcove, it was in the back of the building where Bennett St. meets Peachtree. It had a lowbrow, outsider, cartoony thing going on. The place struck me as the least Buckhead-ish gallery in Buckhead. In time, H C Warner moved his gallery space to Decatur at the edge of Avondale. The great openings and shows continued. An Alcove opening is always guaranteed PARTY! Alas, after 10 years, Chris has decided to close the gallery and sell his work on a perpetual tour of festivals and shows around the country. The last opening is this Saturday 12-11-10 and the space will close soon after.
The following ran on PBA 30 a few weeks ago. Featured are Chris himself, Brian Colin (featured in the visual art links to the right), and Trish Chenard. You can see some of the gallery and what to expect.

There will also be bar-b-que for sale and live music. I plan to blow it out as never before.

I went to the High Museum yesterday to see some of the Dali exhibit. I shot some clandestine stills, didn’t have as much time as I’d like to – helping my niece check out Toddler Thursday, and catching up with other friends. But I did learn of the existence of this project, started in 1945 and completed in 2003: Destino.

*Also want to note two additions to the film link here: Love Train of the Tenebrous Empire,which I’ve been following for a while; and the amazing UbuWeb, which I’m still exploring and will certainly be reposting from in the near future*