Winter Sampler

 The past two days have seen our coolest temps so far this season.  Tuesday it never got above 0 C, but today it managed to just sneak over the freezing mark.  However, predictions are for it to warm up again, through Solstice if we are lucky.  There is no snow; we had 3" early in the month but it is long gone.  We managed to get through an entire astronomy cycle with no clear nights suitable for dark sky work.  This is typical for late November and December, so I am not too surprised.

I'll begin with some art prints today, and move on later to movies.  The following two prints from the Detroit collection come from 1551 (earlier than Bruegel's signature works).  They make a pair, with confusing titles (see below).  These are fascinating works, though I have never seen them on display.

Two Pines and a Cabin Across From A River Town, 1551.  Hans Sebald Lautensack, German (1524-60).  Etching printed in black ink, 6 5/8" x 4 3/8".  Detroit Institute of Arts.  This is the left side of the pair.

Right half of the pair.  See above for info.  6" x 4 1/2".

Deb combined the two prints on her photo program for a full landscape view.  Detroit has two other prints by the artist, both in landscape format.  Of course even in the mid 1500s it was ideal to live alone in the forest, but near a city.  My dream. 

In film watching news, Deb chose two shorter films as her main selection last weekend, and another Robert Mitchum feature from a Chandler novel.  First up was a 62' documentary on Lotte Reiniger, the woman who made outstanding animated films using cut out silhouettes, made famous by her feature film The Adventures of Prince Achmed.  Next came a 62 minute animated feature by Don Hertzfeldt, called It's Such A Beautiful Day.  What a great little masterpiece of filmmaking this is, and I highly recommend it if it can be found anywhere.  Here is a cut from the Criterion description:  "It relates the experiences, memories, and hallucinations of Bill, a stick-figure everyman undergoing an intense psychological journey as he attempts to repair his shattered mind. What emerges is an at once profound and almost unbearably moving meditation on life, loss, death, and the human condition."  Not to be missed!

Now showing on Criterion. 

The Big Sleep is from 1978, directed by Michael Winner.  Though this Robert Mitchum remake has its good moments, it is a letdown after the previous Farewell, My Lovely.  For one thing, Philip Marlowe is in London instead of LA.  For another, there are much fewer of Chandler's quotes in this film, and the supporting cast, despite a list of brilliant names, never really seems to connect with the old school private detective.  And for another, the script just isn't as good, either.  Mitchum is perfect, however, and the movie is fun to watch, wondering when Marlowe will get hit on the head or shot at.

Showing through Dec. 31st on Criterion. 

Until next time...

Mapman Mike