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DVD: The Aviator (2004). 170 min. w/ Leonardo DiCaprio (Howard Hughes), Cate Blanchett (Katharine Hepburn), Kate Beckinsale (Ava Gardner). Directed by Martin Scorsese (Gangs of New York, Kundun, The Age of Innocence, The Last Temptation of Christ). Life of the Hollywood filmmaker and aviator Howard Hughes. Won 5 Academy Awards in 2005, including Cate Blanchett for Best Supporting Actress. Story too long. Acting okay, but not always great. Blanchett seems awkward in her role during the first few scenes, but gets better later on. Film takes many historical liberties. Some poor special effects. Overall rather disappointing. Overall rating 5 out of 10.
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Art: John Tallis was a London publisher, and one of the most popular cartographers of the 19th Century. He became famous for the very accurate and visually appealing maps that featured the extensive use of vignette views from around the World and ornamental perimeter engraving. Principal engraver and mapmaker to John Tallis was John Rapkin, renowned for his extraordinary artistic and engraving skills. Between them they produced many books of travel and exploration.
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Video: Down By Law (1986). 107 min. Tom Waits (Zack), John Lurie (Jack), Roberto Benigni (Roberto). Written and directed by Jim Jarmusch (Night on Earth, Broken Flowers). Music by Tom Waits. Cult movie about three characters who break out of prision. Intentionally slow at times. Funny moments. Good acting. Overall rating: 6 out of 10.
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Art: Fitz Hugh (Henry) Lane, 1804–65, American painter and printmaker, mostly ships and coastal panoramas. Painted 'New York Harbor 1852'. Some additional info at Engines of our Ingenuity No. 1804. Lane was a leading figure of luminism, an American art movement of the 19th century. and an outgrowth of the Hudson River school. Luminism wanted to capture the effects of light and atmosphere. It is sometimes linked to impressionism. Besides Lane, its practitioners included Frederick E. Church (in his early career), John F. Kensett, Sanford R. Gifford, and Martin Johnson Heade.
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DVD: Master and Commander (2003). 138 min. w/ Russel Crow (Capt. Jack Aubrey), Paul Bettany (Dr. Stephen Maturin, Surgeon) . Directed by Peter Weir (Green Card, Dead Poets Society). After the novels by Patrick O'Brian. Won two Academy Awards (Best Cinematography and Best Sound Editing). The British war vessel 'Surprise' chases the French 'Acheron' off the coast of South America. Capt. Jack Aubrey demonstrates leadership to keep the crew together. Great cinematography. Story is straightforward. Overall rating: 6 out of 10.
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Music: Dewey Redman (born 1931): Free jazz saxophonist. Collaborations with Ornette Coleman (1968-1972) and Keith Jarrett (1971-1976, e.g. on 'The Impulse Years, 1973-1974'), and member of 'Old And New Dreams' led by Don Cherry. Also on '80/81' by Pat Metheny Group. Father of tenor saxophonist Joshua Redman.
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Book: Richard Green Parker (1798-1869): A school compendium of natural and experimental philosophy. Editions 1850 and 1856. Comment on the 1871 edition by George Plympton in 'Engines of our Ingenuity'.
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DVD: Basic Instinct (1992). w/ Michael Douglas, Sharon Stone. Directed by Paul Verhoeven (RoboCop). Evil woman (Stone) plays games with adventurous detective (Douglas) who is trying to reveal her as a murderer. Suspenseful balance of crime, violence, sex, and trust. Sharon stome plays her role as a temptress well. However, plot moves too slowly at times, and some things are made too obvious. Overall rating: 7 out of 10.
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Music: Jal Tarang: Indian classical instrument. Essentially a water-xylophone. Made up of a series of china bowls of varying sizes filled with varying levels of water. Played with two light sticks.
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DVD: City of God (Cidade de Deus, 2002). Brazilian film. w/ Alexandre Rodrigues (Rocket), Phellipe Haagensen (Benny). Young man dreams of becoming a photographer while trying to survive drugs, crime, and gang violence in the favela (slums) of Rio de Janeiro. Spans three decades (60s, 70s, and 80s) and brilliantly crystallizes each main character. Contains some extreme violence. Many of the actors are actually from the favela. Most memorable is the scene where Li'l Ze chastises the Runts. Overall rating: 7 out of 10.
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DVD: The Fast Runner (Atanarjuat, 2001). Directed by Zacharias Kunuk. Written by Paul Apak Angilirq. w/ Natar Ungalaaq (Atanarjuat). Retelling an Inuit legend with Inuit actors, in Inuktitut with English subtitles. Inuit tribe in the Arctic ice struggles with a magic spell that brings disord and murder. The hero Artanarjuat runs for his life naked over the ice but later returns for his revenge. Rather slow plot, but very unusual, exotic film. Overall rating: 5 out of 10.
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Life: Customer Service: Get Human is a database that lists tips and tricks how to get a human being on the phone quickly when calling custumer service.
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DVD: For A Few Dollars More (1965). 132 min. w/ Clint Eastwood (Monco), Lee Van Cleef (Col. Douglas Mortimer), Gian Maria Volonte (El Indio). Directed by Sergio Leone. Original Music by Ennio Morricone. Bona fide Western about two bounty hunters who decide to capture the most vicious gang in the area. Cool movie. Overall rating: 5 out of 10.
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