"Van Goch! Did you hear that? She saidToday marks the 156th anniversary of the birth of one Vincent Van Gogh. Strangely I've never seen any of the film versions of his life. Neither Robert Altman's Theo and Vincent (1990) nor the César lauded French biopic Van Gogh (1991). Not even the Oscar winning Lust For Life (1956) with Kirk Douglas. Have you? The only time I've seen him portrayed onscreen was by none other than Martin Scorsese in Akira Kurosawa's Dreams (1990). Kurosawa began as a painter so perhaps the affinity was born there. Dreams was my first Kurosawa and I saw it, believe it or not, in Japanese with Norwegian subtitles. Not that the language barriers mattered with such a visual film... Oh and don't freak -- I've since rectified my former Kurosawalessness.
'Van Goch'. Like an Arab she spoke."
-Woody Allen Manhattan
What were we talking about? Oh, Van Gogh. I'm of the opinion that we don't have enough crazy artists any more... particularly in the movies. Which movie people do you think are crazy enough to cut off an ear?
Some suggestions in the comments include Uwe Boll and Joaquin Phoenix (naturally), Harvey Weinstein (good call!), Terrence Malick's agent (ha!), Brad Pitt (hmmm. even missing an ear the beauty would be undiminished), Kathleen Turner (hey now! Leave my Kathleen alone) and these two...
Paul Outlaw thinks Vincent Gallo might inspire fears for ears. Alexa disagrees. And Wayne B's evil thoughts go straight to Dakota Fanning (?!?)
I could see [her] cutting off an ear as long as it'll guarantee her an Oscar before she turns 20; that way she'll beat Marlee Matlin's record.Dakota's focus apparently freaks Wayne out. Does it freak him out enough to...
I promise this is the last birthday post of the day. I'm tired of March. I need a fresh start. Be over March! Be over.
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17 comments:
I think that Matthew Barney or Bjork could do a his-and-hers earlessness, but they aren't really movie people.
Maybe Terrence Malick's agent?
I definitely think Uwe Boll would be crazy enough to cut off an ear. If it would be his own or someone elses is another story... ;-)
John T. -- Ha! (on the Malick's agent)
Michael W. -- true. I'm guessing he'd just make a collection...
I like Brad Pitt. I do. However, if he ends up being in a ton of Oscar like movies for years to come like he has been and no wins...ear cutting time.
Well, seeing that Van Gogh cut off his ear because he was a "little bit" sick mentally and also after a big art fight with Gauguin I'd say that Harvey Weinsten would do it, especially when presented with a
Katana . He would put it in an envelope with the message "Guard this object carefully".
This has nothing to do with the post. I just want to say I LURVE the pic of Pfeiffer on the banner. She's a dead ringer for Debbie Harry.
Joaquin Phoenix is crazy enough to cut off an ear, once his "rap career" has hit the skids. Wait, I guess it has to get off the skids first.
I saw Theo and Vincent when came out. I had no idea it was an Altman film, then again, I don't think I had heard of Altman in 1990. I don't remember much about it, except that it was, um, not a fun movie.
That line from Manhattan always amuses me because the American tendency to pronounce it as "Van Go" is so blatantly wrong. But then, I grew up with Dutch and Afrikaans, so the guttural consonants come easily to me.
Maurice Pialat's film is absolutely gorgeous, even by my biopic-wary standards. The others I can take or leave, though Minnelli's is awfully pretty.
Ears to Fear for (or Fears for Ears):
Vincent Gallo
Kathleen Turner
Crispin Glover
No! March can't be over yet... we still have one more day to live this march ok? And is my birthday so don't rush march to it's end.
I could see Dakota Fanning cutting off an ear as long as it'll guarantee her an Oscar before she turns 20; that way she'll beat Marlee Matlin's record. It's such a totally evil thought but Dakota Fanning's focus freaks me out a lil' bit sometimes.
Fernando. today or tomorrow your birthday?
Nat: Tommorow (31st).
and
Wayne: Yeah I can see Fanning doing that... and cutting the other one if she doesn't win ;)
Lust for Life is campy fun...and Kirk Douglas is a dead ringer for him. And I could have seen Vincent Gallo cutting off an ear before he started pimping for Belvedere vodka.
Total side note...Cronenberg is working on a followup to Eastern Promises!
creative pics Nathaniel, i like 'em :) Dakota Fanning was just fresh in my mind because of a recent talk about youth in arts and I mentioned that a 13-yr. old got a Best Actress nomination a few years back. "Who was that, Dakota Fanning?"
"Pshaw! Girl wishes.", I replied.
I apologize to all the Fanning lovers but I just find her acting distant and at times one-note; not a fan at all basically. But hey, hopefully she'll do the Jodie Foster route, go to college and come back stronger than before.
I do remember being impressed by Elle Fanning in "The Door in the Floor" though, I'm looking forward to her maturing work.
An article on Akira Kurosowa's DREAMS(1990)
http://passionforcinema.com/akira-kurosawa’s-dreams/
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