http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TwitchEverything/~3/-mKjLhtqayA/nuit-noire-review.php

http://twitchfilm.net/reviews/2009/11/nuit-noire-review.php

Belgians have a hard time recognizing their own talent. That's a fact of life. We're simply not good at promoting our own stuff, even when it's obviously quite awesome. We don't expect to make things that matter in the global view of things and somehow we can't seem to grasp the idea that someone outside our tiny borders would be interested in our products. Want proof? Check out Nuit Noire.

Smolders' film played some festivals and got some good reviews (check out the ones on Twitch), but locally this film did nothing. Until a couple of weeks ago I never even heard of the film. Which is strange considering it doesn't look like your everyday low-budget experimental flick. While watching I had to keep reminding myself that this was a film coming from within the confines of our little country.

Nuit Noire exists very much in a reality of its own, but some parallels to other directors and films can be made. The film is best summarized as a mixture of early Lynch (think Eraserhead and The Grandmother) and Cronenberg's Naked Lunch, while still retaining its very own unique style. And Smolders makes sure to do proud to his influences, as Nuit Noire manages to surpass his influences on several points.

The story is hardly coherent and mostly symbolic. As an audience, you simply have to go with the flow of the film, hanging on to whatever strands it throws your way. Multiple viewings are advised, but it probably works best with an audio commentary to get all there is to get. Oscar is a rather peculiar guy working in a museum. He loves insects and spends his whole day among them. In his spare time, he wrestles with his past and tries to paste back his memories of his lost sister. Those are the basics.

Visually Nuit Noire is almost impeccable, with superbly designed sets, smart color design and some very strange and inventive imagery. There is much symbolism hidden in the imagery, some very direct (plenty of bug shots), some a little harder to spot. Sadly there is also a downside. The dreams of Oscar are depicted in a very stage-like manner, almost resembling a theater play registration. A visually accomplished one, but the feeling of stage performances is carried over to the other scenes, creating a definite awareness that everything is played on set. This is a bit of a shame, as the film isn't trying to break through the 4th wall. A little disappointing.

The soundtrack on the other hand doesn't disappoint at all, with dark drones and eerie waves throughout the whole film. It brings the film tons of atmosphere which helps to build a rather unsettling feeling. Acting is stark and emotionally distant, but without a doubt intended to create a darker and edgier reality.

Around halfway through you'll be wondering what this film is all about, though the main themes come through rather well. Oscar's struggle with his lost past is at the core of the film, but those trying to find a coherent narrative will have a hard time following the film. Luckily the atmosphere remains consistently strong and some of the imagery is simply stunning to behold.

It's a real shame that the dream sequences weren't handled in a different way. It would've been the final touch to an already strong film. Now they distract a little and even hurt some of the other scenes, which could never have been Smolders' intention. It's definitely not a film for everyone as it's strange as hell and is rather impenetrable on the first viewing, but it's a very accomplished piece of cinema that should find its way to an enthusiastic fanbase. Check it out if you have the chance.

 

http://www.chow.com/topics/664763#5169363

House-made yogurt, sold in plastic foam cups, is also a don't-miss and great with a burek.

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http://wondermark.com/?p=4529

Tweet Me Harder Live, the first live on-stage comedy performance of Tweet Me Harder, the podcast I co-host with Kris Straub, is coming up this Saturday! A few details about the show:

We’ll be at The Complex, a theatre at 6476 Santa Monica Blvd, Hollywood, CA. Parking is always dicey in Hollywood; you’re welcome to seek out street parking for a cheap option, but we will also have valet available (they charge $5). The performance itself is free and no tickets are required, though it would be nice if you’d RSVP on our Facebook event page so we have an idea of how many are coming.

The theatre lobby will be open starting at 7:30 pm; the theatre doors will open at 7:45, and the show will start at 8. It’ll probably run about an hour and a half, and please feel free to hang out afterwards to mingle!

I’m very, very excited about this show and I can’t wait to lunge gracelessly into the performance I MEAN ROCK THE HOUSE WITH COMEDY. See you on Saturday!

Ever eat something at a restaurant and have that dish linger long in your memories? That's how it was when my sister took me to The Helmand in Cambridge, MA, for my birthday. I don't know what food from Afghanistan is supposed to taste like but I loved everything. In particular, I loved the appetizer, Kaddo Bourani, that my sister got. It didn't sound like the sort of thing I would like since it involved a yogurt sauce and pumpkin and I don't care all that much about either of those things. But when I tasted it, I was a convert. The sweet hot pumpkin mixed with the tang of the cold yogurt sauce and then melded with the hot savory ground beef sauce. (They also offered this as a vegetarian option by leaving out the meat sauce.) The blend of flavors, textures, and temperatures made me sigh happily. When I got home, I looked on the restaurant's website to see if they shared the recipe and they didn't. Alas. If you're in San Francisco or Boston, I heartily recommend making reservations to eat at The Helmand.

When I was looking for pumpkin recipes last month, I stumbled upon The Recipe! I read it eagerly and was surprised to see that it required baking the pumpkin for over 3 hours. Not something to make on a whim. Well I finally tried it and it was worth every moment of waiting. The hardest part was preparing the pumpkin. The rest of the recipe is fairly simple and straight-forward. But it did take a long time. I kept going over to check on things. By the time I was done cooking, eating, and cleaning everything up, I lay down and noticed, "Wow...my FEET are sore from all that cooking and cleaning." But you know what? I loved it. I couldn't believe that something that tasted so good had come out of my kitchen. I only regret that the stores around here seem to sell fresh pumpkins only for Halloween. So I guess I'll have to wait until next year to make this again.

(If anyone in Boston or Seacoast New Hampshire knows where I could buy some sugar pumpkins, please let me know!)

Recipe here:

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/apple-crisp-ii/Detail.aspx

 

http://www.chow.com/topics/663389#5168973

I spoke to him this evening and he was telling me about a goat brain dish he makes. I think it won't make it to the menu, but it sounds interesting. Brain is really pushing it for me, but if there is anywhere I would eat brain it would be here. I had the shark this evening and it was sublime. We have to be thankful for this place. Rare indeed!

http://www.chow.com/topics/237843#5168955

Rizzo's is the oldest and most famous pizzeria in Astoria. However, if you live in the Ditmars area, you need to have other alternatives. Rose and Joe's on 31st street under the train station and Alba's on Ditmars are the best. I do not like Frankie's which is also under the train.

http://www.chow.com/topics/660217#5168903

For specialty foods there is Blue Apron on Union and Divine on 7th Street for bulk spices and grains and other interesting things...

I am feeling like a very old New Yorker.

The news just had a story oh the fact that there were 4 muggings in Central Park in the past month. As I was thinking wow thats low the news started acting as if this was  horrid.

I grew up 3 blocks from the park (78 bway) we all knew it was dangerous and you never went there after dark, it was the big scary thing to go at 9pm it showed how brave you were. And now people were going "OH its dangerous I didnt know?" as if it was shocking, clean subways? nice cops? the LES a place people want to live, and walmart wanting to open a store here, this isnt the city i grew up in, yup old New Yorker.

ash

A response to Saturday's post:



Sadly, as I'm sure this anonymous commenter will attest, there are still many Christians who refuse to verbally confront and condemn the gay people in their workplaces, communities and families. My parents, for example, go to church every week yet I have never heard them criticize a gay person. Not even their out nephew! Let us pray for their souls, Anonymous!

As noted in the previous post, when he is not telling gay co-workers they engage in "bad stuff," the proudly heterosexual Mr. Vadala composes songs in the American musical theatre tradition. This is all well and good but I would suggest that young Mr. V explore hipper, more modern musical genres so as to reach more members of his generation. I offer herewith a humble "dance track" remix of his YouTube video to get the ball rolling. Sing unto Him a new song!


He was fired for your sins.

Cat with wings in Chongqing, China by Alpha-Landov.