Curio: Matryoshka Movie Night

Alexa here. The other night, as I watched my daughter play with a set of nesting dolls while watching Ponyo, I realized that it would be great to have a set inspired by the film (with all the characters inside Granmamare, naturally), and the artist to make them would be Irene Hwang.  Irene lives in Queensland, Australia (lucky lady) and spends her free time painting extremely detailed matryoshka dolls with a pop culture theme.  She is also something of a film buff, as these eclectic selections reveal. What makes these so special is her attention to detail, how she includes appropriate accessories for the characters. It is unsurprising that she is Wes Anderson acolyte. You can buy some here; she even accepts custom orders.

Click for more including Audition and The Princess Bride...

Click to read more ...

Curio: Sunday's Special Oscar Foods

Alexa here. My annual Oscar tradition of theme food took a detour this year, primarily because the most anticipated part of the show for the members of my household under 5 was hearing Idina Menzel sing the song that launched a million YouYube viewings.  

So, instead of a meal made of clever puns I made a "Let It Go" cake, complete with swirly snow icing.

Appropriately enough, our meal beforehand was some rather uninspired pizza, which we enjoyed sharing with Brad and Meryl. [More from the menu after the jump...]

Click to read more ...

Curio: And The Nominees Are

Alexa here with your weekly art appreciation post. This being Oscar week, all the alternative poster designs for the nominated films are making the rounds: see the nominated films posterized as Legos, or as one-liners!  I prefer a less gimmicky, graphic-artist-inspired approach myself.  Unlike last year, the Oscar site does not feature alternative poster designs; I do wish the Academy would follow the lead of the BAFTAs on this.  

To fill the void here are my favorite designs for each of the nominated films.  Happy Oscars everyone! 

Click to read more ...

Curio: Legos Legos Everywhere

Alexa here. Our local multiplex conveniently exits right next to a Lego store. So, our weekend plans were pretty much set: see the movie my daughter has been begging for since seeing the trailer months ago, then buy the related merchandise.  I will admit that I was all too happy to help her build her Cloud Cuckoo Land palace after soaking in the glorious amalgam that was the movie. But, in search of some alternative merchandise, I've picked these possibly trademark-infringing goodies for sale that celebrate the film as well. They are, as is everything, awesome! (Mark Mothersbaugh ate my brain.)

Cake, clothes and more after the jump...

Click to read more ...

Curio: Philip's Creations

Alexa here. Like Amir, I can't see past the loss of Philip Seymour Hoffman this week.  We'd become complacent about his greatness: his presence was one you counted on to keep returning, to keep elevating everything he touched.  I am so glad that I flew to New York just to see him perform with John C. Reilly in the revival of Sam Shepard's True West in 2000; he was, predictably, a dynamo.  While immersing myself in written tributes I've also sought out visual ones; here are some that celebrate a few touchstones in his too-brief career.

Click to read more ...