Category Archives: Homme Movies

by | 16 January 2012 · 6:57 pm

Beautiful Photography / Melancholia & Gregory Crewdson

Dear Kirsten Dunst,

I loved your work in the film ‘Melancholia,’ which I just got around to seeing last week. While your acting was quite amazing, the thing that struck me most about the film was its opening sequence. The first eight minutes of the film are so beautiful and enthralling they could stand alone as a short film.

The imagery in these opening scenes will probably seem familiar to anyone who has seen the work of Gregory Crewdson, a photographer who specializes in dramatically lit, color-rich, surreal images. I didn’t really make the connection until a friend of mine (who has an incredible memory for artists’ names, which I totally don’t) mentioned how evocative the cinematography was of the photographer’s work. To my knowledge, Crewdson was not actually involved in the making of this film. However, his influence is quite evident in the work of cinematographer Manuel Alberto Claro. You can see the aesthetic connection below in this collection of some of my favorite Crewdson photographs.

I’ve always loved Crewdson’s images so it was exciting when the film (and my artist dictionary friend) reminded me of their existence. A fun fact about myself is that I spent four years of my life studying photography in college. Whenever I see things like ‘Melancholia,’ I’m inspired to make photographs again. Someday…

Love,
Orlando

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by | 17 November 2011 · 7:06 am

Drawingtimez: Martha Marcy May Marlene

Dear Movie Lovers,

I forced a friend to go see Martha Marcy May Marlene recently. It was probably the most despicable act I’ve ever committed in my life. Every review I saw for the film was positive. However, this is actually what the film did to my friend and me:

If you’re interested in viewing the trailer, here you go!

In conclusion, I must acknowledge that Martha Marcy May Marlene is a great movie. It is completely well-made and gorgeous and haunting (Sidenote: awesome production design and cinematography). I just wish that I’d never, ever seen it because it traumatized me irreparably and caused my friend to hate my guts. Don’t go see this movie. Unless you have a friend you’re trying to get rid of.

Love,
Orlando

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by | 3 October 2011 · 7:08 pm

Oh My Good!: Chipotle Commercial

Dear Diary,

Last night I went to see the film Weekend. It was a pretty awesome movie if you like to watch gay British hipsters fall in love. But that’s not what we’re here to talk about. Before the main feature played, a short film was screened. The soundtrack to this short film is a Willie Nelson cover to Coldplay’s “The Scientist,” which was the soundtrack to my very first breakup after my very first time falling in love in college. Naturally, because I had such a strong connection with the song and because this little short film was so somber, I got hysterical and ran out of the theatre, ugly-crying all the way to the bathroom. Ok, I didn’t actually do that. I did almost cry though, which is a lot for me because I believe everyone should hide their emotions as much as possible. It’s a perfectly healthy thing to do. You can imagine my slight disgust when I realized that this incredible little film was a Chipotle commercial. Not that I have anything against Chipotle (after all, the did break free from McDonalds, which is laudable). There’s just something creepy about getting all emotional and then realizing that you were watching a burrito commercial. Just the word “burrito” makes you feel silly. Say it to yourself three times right now. BURRITO! So here’s the film:

And here’s how they made it. Pretty fun to watch. So much artistry, time, and attention to detail went into this project.

In conclusion, I still feel like a dork for crying at a Chipotle commercial, but it was really good, so leave me alone.

Love,
Orlando

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Filed under Homme Movies, Homme Videos!

by | 27 September 2011 · 4:46 am

Cinespia: Outdoor Cinema & Fashion Show

Dear Cinespia,

Why did you have to leave me? It’s too soon. Oh how I loved ye… For those of you who don’t know, Cinespia is a seasonal film series that plays each weekend over the romantic summer months in Los Angeles. What sets it apart from other film series is that it takes place in the beautiful Hollywood Forever Cemetery. This year, Cinespia celebrated its 10th year and played a bunch of classic crowd pleasers. The final screening of the season was ET, which, like Oprah, everyone is morally obligated to love. These film screenings are see-and-be-seen events, filled to the brim with creative clothing and ugly sweaters. Everyone who attends dresses like it’s 1991 and they are getting ready to audition for the original 90210. It’s pretty much my dream world.

All photos by Cinespia’s adorable photographer Kelly Lee Barrett. 

I can’t believe this picture was taken this year. There is nothing current about these lovely looks. Radical.

I like this dude’s sweater.

Oh, to be these people. So aloof and thin. I hate my life.

Left to right: Perm? Check! Fun colorful t-shirt? Check! Hairband? Check! I love these people.

Not sure what I like more, those awesome hats or that lovely patterned blouse. Totally gorgeous girls.

Who let these bozos in? (My shirt is totally unbuttoned! Loser).

I like that guy’s red sweater. And by “red sweater” I mean face.

I’m scared of these people. And that makes me happy.

These cuties were in front of us in line. I knew I loved them when I saw her awesome stonewashed denim jacket.

Naturally, Drew Barrymore introduced the movie. People in Los Angeles get annoyed when they go to a movie and it isn’t introduced by a celebrity.

I’m pretty sure Drew Barrymore is the cutest person in the world. If I were to kidnap any celeb and keep it in a cage so that I could stare at it forever and make it tell me jokes, that celebrity would be Drew Barrymore.

This is how the films are shown, projected onto the side of a mausoleum.

How fun is this girl? I want a glowing hula hoop!

These kids totally escaped from a Hedi Slimane fashion shoot. Their life is more fun than yours.

The moral of the story is that if you go to Cinespia, you better bring your fashion. Because no one actually goes to watch the movie. They go to watch your outfit. Which is really how it should be.

Love,
Orlando

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Filed under California, Californiatimez, Hollywood Diary, Hollywoodtimez, Homme Movies, I Love LA

by | 11 June 2011 · 6:51 pm

Cinespia, Sweaters, and Sweethearts

Dear Los Angeles,

My two favorite things about you in the summer are: 1. The Hollywood Bowl and 2. Cinespia (AKA cemetery screenings). I found out about the screenings at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery just after moving to LA and it was love at first sight. For those of you who haven’t had the pleasure of attending a Cinespia screening, it’s a series of films shown in the cemetery throughout the summer. All the films are good ones (Last week was Harold and Maude and I had to miss it. So sad). People bring wine and food and picnic while the movie plays and half the time they’re not paying attention to the movie but rather to their captivating friends. Which is okay with me because I love being captivated by my friends. Anyway, here are some pictures of how pretty and fun the screenings are:

I love my friend’s sweater. Don’t you? I guess it’s Club Monaco from a few years ago.

But my sweater is even more exciting:


When the sun sets it get’s crazy pretty:

I highly recommend a Cinespia screening to anyone who likes movies, fun, people, wine, food, or being outside. If you don’t like any of those things I’m worried about you.

Love,
Orlando

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Filed under Californiatimez, Hollywood Diary, Hollywoodtimez, Homme Movies, I Love LA

by | 31 January 2011 · 6:04 pm

Homme Movies: True Grit

Dear True Grit,

You are a good movie. I enjoyed watching you. The other evening, my beautiful friend ActorWriter Brian asked me if I wanted to see you, and I was like “Not really.” But I changed my mind (out of sheer desperation to see a movie) and we went with our pretty friend NotQuiteSureWhatHeDoes Jonny, who left halfway through the film because he got, like, totally bored. The plot of the film is as follows (spoiler alert: I give away the ending!):

1. Someone kills Hailee Steinfeld’s dad.

2. She enlists the help of Cartoon-Texan Matt Damon and Gurgle-Voice Alcoholic Jeff Bridges to find her father’s murderer.

3. Everyone they come into contact with dies. In totally long, gratuitous scenes with tons of close ups of everyone’s fingers getting cut off.

4. After everyone in the whole world is murdered, they finally kill the dude that killed Hailee’s dad.

5. Hailee turns into an old woman and the whole audience is simultaneously reminded 0f their own mortality and everyone cries.

I know it sounds like I didn’t love you that much, True Grit. But I really did. Even during the boring middle 1.5 hours, I was captivated by how gorgeous the film is. The production design (by Jess Gonchor) is stunning. Because I am obsessed with the West, all the beautiful wide shots of dry, sweeping landscapes kept me happy when the plot got boring. Even the typeface used on the closing credits was impeccable and cohesive with the style of the film. True Grit is definitely one of those movies that you don’t really enjoy until after you’re done watching it. And then it sticks with you and you want to see it again.

Love,
Orlando

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