Mesrine

Over the holiday I saw two of the best films of the year. Mesrine: Killer Instinct and Mesrine: Public Enemy #1, two parts of one story, released separately. Mesrine: Killer Instinct (part one) was released abroad in 2008; the French film received the highest honor, the César Award, for both director Jean-Francois Richet and lead actor Vincent Cassel. Finally distributed to the USA, the upside is that we can see both films without waiting so long for part two like the international audience. Two films, two tickets, nearly five hours but yes, well worth it.

Jacques Mesrine was a notorious international bank robber and kidnapper who managed to escape prison four times. Part idealist, part revolutionary, part rebel with a healthy dollop of sociopath, Mesrine makes no apologies for his behavior. Despite his brutality and his recklessness, women fall for him and partners in crime treat him with affection and respect. It is not a matter of being misunderstood; he is a restless, gregarious and ambitious guy who enjoys attention and validation, that has chosen a lifestyle that creates a fundamental separation from most people. It is not easy to like this brute. It may not even be possible. But you won't, you can't forget him.

Reproduction

Marcel Duchamp was a chess player, which is interesting to think about when looking at the work for which he is most famous. Although he began his career as a painter, his departure from traditional applied art to the conceptual realm was revolutionary. His keen eye, and curatorial finesse in selecting objects such as a boxed comb, bottle rack and urinal as readymade art, turned the world upside down by questioning the definition of art and the powers that determine greatness.

Move it on over

Why don't you spark me like you used to do

And say sweet nothins like you used to coo

I'm the same old trouble that you've always been through

So, why don't you love me like you used to do?

--Hank Williams

In Los Angeles, at a stoplight, idling next to a snazzy car with music blasting is fairly typical. Yesterday, I had to look over because it was Hank Williams I heard. The driver, swaying and jutting his head like a turtle--it's what you have to do with Hank's music. Great stuff.

Edward McKnight Kauffer

Stunning work by Edward McKnight Kauffer. Whether creating a book cover for classic literature, an ad for a familiar product or a poster for a noble cause, his design takes immediate, even hypnotic precedence.

The science of life

A few images from the out-of-print (Giant) Golden Book, Biology, An Introduction to the Science of Life, illustrated by Charlie Harper. Combining science with minimalism for children, what's not to love? The antiquarian book dealers are pricing this treasure in the neighborhood of $550, and on Ebay a hefty $250...I'm hoping for a reprint...and SOON!

Assemblage

The succinct, evocative assemblage of James Michael Starr.