Richard Case, who is not related to the comic book artist of the same name, was a pulp illustrator who was active in the 1940s. Though he worked in all genres, he’s best-known for his work for western pulps. Below are a few covers from the 40s, all portraying the wild west of Richard Case.
Today is the birthday of German filmmaker Tom Tykwer. Tykwer directed one of my favorite films of all time, 1998’s Run, Lola, Run! As such, it only seems appropriate that today’s scene that I love should come from that film.
In this scene, Lola shows us all how to win at roulette. Do not try this in Vegas.
Holy Cow! On Twitter, Christopher McQuarrie dropped the teaser trailer for Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning – Part One and there’s just so much to unpack here. Lorne Balfe reunites with McQuarrie on the score and I’m loving the piece that plays in this trailer. It looks like almost everyone from Mission: Impossible Fallout are back, and some new faces are present with Haley Atwell joining the fray. It’s also interesting to see Henry Czerny back in the mix. If the Fast and Furious movies have taught us anything, it’s that you can always find a use for a character you thought you shelved. Wow, it’s just a teaser, and it’s only Part One! I’m pretty excited for this.
4 Or More Shots From 4 Or More Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films lets the visuals do the talking!
Today, the Shattered Lens wishes a happy birthday to director Ryan Coogler! With just three feature films and a handful of shorts, Ryan Coogler has made a star out of Michael B. Jordan, redeemed the acting career of Sylvester Stallone, introduced the rest of the world to Wakanda, and changed the way that film viewers talk about race in cinema. With all that in mind, it’s time for….
4 Shots from 4 Ryan Coogler Films
Locks (2009, dir by Ryan Coogler, DP: Francisco Kosterlitz)
Fruitvale Station (2013, dir by Ryan Coogler, DP: Rachel Morrison)
Creed (2015, dir by Ryan Coogler, DP: Maryse Alberti)
Black Panther (2018, dir by Ryan Coogler, DP: Rachel Morrison)
Artist Unknown
This is from 1959, a story about a man who is very busy.
Today’s music video of the day was directed by Zalman King, who would have turned 82 years old today. King started his career as an actor and appeared in some fairly strange films in the 70s but, in the 80s, he reinvented himself as cinema’s number one purveyor of extremely pretentious yet oddly sincere erotica.
This video came out a year before King’s death in 2012 and everything about it — from the visual style to the star of the show — is easily identifiable as having been done in King’s signature style.
Enjoy!
Most of this week has been spent up at Lake Texoma. After five months of working, I took a week off and got even more work done than usual. Seriously, though, it was good to relax. I’m proud of the reviews I wrote this week and I’m looking forward to giving you more next week!
In other news …. CANNES! Yes, the Cannes Film Festival has begun. Cannes is always kind of fun to follow because the big hits at Cannes hardly ever seem to become big hits once they’re released in the U.S. That said, I usually find myself agreeing more with the Cannes jury than with the American audiences.
Anyway, here’s what I watched and listened to and wrote about this week!
Films I Watched:
Television Shows I Watched:
Music To Which I Listened:
News From Last Week:
Links From Last Week:
Links From The Site:
More From Us:
115 years ago today, Laurence Olivier was born in Surrey. The son of a clergyman, Olivier would go on to become one of the greatest stage actors of the 20th Century. He would also have a distinguished film career, one that led to him frequently being described as being the world’s greatest living actor.
He is perhaps best-known for his Shakespearean performances. He won multiple Oscars for directing and starring in 1948’s Hamlet. Before his turn in Hamlet, he was similarly nominated for his film version of Henry V. That said, for me, his best cinematic Shakespearean performance was as Richard III in the 1953 film of the same title.
Though acclaimed, Richard III was not quite the Oscar favorite that Olivier’s previous two adaptations of Shakespeare had been. Henry V was released at a time when its portrayal of a determined British ruler could be viewed as a metaphor for the UK’s role in the second world war. Hamlet was released at a time when the world was still rebuilding and trying to adjust to the new atomic age and its dark, noirish style captured those anxieties. Richard III was released in the 50s, at a time when Americans perhaps weren’t as receptive to films that suggested that leaders should not be trusted. As a result, Richard III received only one nomination, for Olivier’s performance in the title role.
Today, in honor of his birthday, here is a scene that I love from 1953’s Richard III:
by J. Allen St. John
This exciting cover is from 1944. I’m trying to figure out which one is Jongor.
Today’s music video of the day is the latest from Upsahl. Monica Lewinsky is not so much about Monice as its about wanting to be famous like Monica …. and Lindsay …. and Britney. It’s all about wanting to make history. Who doesn’t want to do that? With this video Upshal and her director create a viral video about wanting to star in a viral video.
Enjoy!
LYRICS:
I wanna make, wanna make history (like who?)
Like Britney
Like Lindsey
Stunna like Monica Lewinsky (so cute)
No really
That stone cold hot girl feeling
Unapologetic with a fucked up mind
Doing all the crazy like it’s lady like like woo
History
I wanna make, wanna make history
On the year that I was born
Girls were fucking presidents in the residence
Then when I was four
Shaving all their heads and toying with the press
Yea I just gotta know where’d bad bitches go
Who’s gonna do it like they did back then?
1 2 3 check
Wanna make, wanna make history (like who?)
Like Britney
Like Lindsey
Stunna like Monica Lewinsky (so cute)
No really
That stone cold hot girl feeling
Unapologetic with a fucked up mind
Doing all the crazy like it’s lady like like woo
History
I wanna make, wanna make history
All of these songs gone viral
But when’s the last time you saw a pop star spiral
Too many tits with a blurred out face
I just dropped an album, so I think I’ll drop a tape
Hannah raised me, Miley made me
Pulled some psycho on the daily
I’ll make you love me till you hate me
Cause baby lately
I wanna make, wanna make history (like who?)
Like Britney
Like Lindsey
Stunna like Monica Lewinsky (so cute)
No really
That stone cold hot girl feeling
Unapologetic with a fucked up mind
Doing all the crazy like it’s lady like like woo
History
I wanna make, wanna make history
Through the Shattered Lens 