mutual benefit.

A beautiful song from one of my favorite albums of the year.  So good.  Check out Love's Crushing Diamond by Mutual Benefit if you haven't already. 

the grand budapest hotel.

The trailer was just released for Wes Anderson's next film, The Grand Budapest Hotel, and I could not be more excited.  Inevitably, any time he releases a new movie it becomes one of my favorites of the year (if not all time - I'm looking at you Royal Tenenbaums), and this one looks to be no different.   The film seems to cover the usual themes - murder, friendship, drama, romance - with the requisite absurdity and attention to detail and style that Anderson is known for.  Aside from what promises to be a stellar cast, story, and soundtrack, I'm loving the rich, jewel-toned colors too. Since it doesn't come out until March of next year, I now have to wait several months in anxious anticipation, but in the meantime I may have to pick up The Wes Anderson Collection to get my fix.  

anna karina.

there are some girls in this world who just have a certain special something going on, and for me that has always been the danish actress, anna karina.  best known as the muse of french director jean luc godard, she exemplifies french new wave cool with her chunky bangs, winged eyeliner, colorful dresses and quirky personality. if you've watched her, you know she's hard to take your eyes off of.  she's also the star of one of my all-time favorite dance scenes, from godard's band of outsiders.  

beauty is embarrassing.

i've been a fan of tennessee artist wayne white since i saw his work in miami several years back, although i suppose i was subconsciously a fan much earlier in life when i was obsessed with peewee's playhouse, a show for which he was the set and puppet designer.  throughout his career he has been successful in a number of fields including illustration, sculpture, film, comics, set design, and more recently, painting.  it was his word paintings that caught my eye years ago - i loved the way he imposed colorful sarcastic statements over traditional vintage landscapes - therefore i'm stoked that a documentary is being made about his very interesting life.  the film beauty is embarrassing, narrated by white himself, chronicles his life and work, as well as the highs and lows that come with pursuing art as a career. as somebody else who doesn't like to take things too seriously, i really appreciate his focus on making fine art fun.  can't wait to see it!  learn more about white here. 

moonrise kingdom.

there are few films i look forward to more than a new release by director wes anderson, and it looks like i have something to get excited about - moonrise kingdom.  if anderson's upcoming film is even half as spectacular as his previous movies then we're all in for a real treat.  a new england summer camp?  check.  1960s setting?  check.  francoise hardy on the soundtrack?  double check.  i'm counting down the days til it comes out in the spring! 

marwencol.

aside from werner herzog's cave of forgotten dreams, there is one other documentary i've seen in recent history that completely blew me away: marwencol.  the film is about a man named mark hogancamp, who after being savagely beaten outside of a bar learns to deal with his trauma and memory loss by escaping into his fantasy world, a small WWII-era town that he built and photographed himself.  this movie was incredibly heartbreaking, moving, and inspiring all at the same time, and you'd be missing out if you let it pass you by.  learn more about mark and the magical world of marwencol here.

you're just my type.

beautiful, bold, and simple type courtesy of the always inspiring jean-luc godard.  if only my day started and ended just like this.