from CollegeHumor, thanks Erin
Update, November 27, 2007: According to a commenter at Laughing Squid named Nikolaas, this is the magic of Daniel Chesterfield, an alter-ego of Belgian comedian Chris Van den Durpel.
Orson Welles: F For Fake
A film review by Shane Lavalette /Journal, November 10, 2007:
Orson Welles is generally known for his 1938 radio broadcast of the science fiction novella War of the Worlds. If not for that, then for co-writing, directing, producing and starring in Citizen Kane (1941), commonly referred to as “the greatest film ever made.” Orson Welles is, however, not so known for his last major film, F For Fake (1974) – a pseudo-documentary and playful meditation on “art, experts and fakery.” Here”s a quick synopsis taken from The Criterion Collection (released the film on DVD in 2005):
Trickery. Deceit. Magic. In Orson Welles” free-form documentary F for Fake, the legendary filmmaker (and self-described charlatan) gleefully engages the central preoccupation of his career””the tenuous line between truth and illusion, art and lies. Beginning with portraits of world-renowned art forger Elmyr de Hory and his equally devious biographer, Clifford Irving, Welles embarks on a dizzying cinematic journey that simultaneously exposes and revels in fakery and fakers of all stripes””not the least of whom is Welles himself. Charming and inventive, F for Fake is an inspired prank and a searching examination of the essential duplicity of cinema.
Magical Movies
Two wonderful stop motion short animation videos via Scott Beale at Laughing Squid:
Paper Darren, by Goodwin Films, featuring the Mute Math song Noticed:
Borrachos, stop motion tribute to avant-garde animator, filmmaker and painter Oskar Fischinger by Sam3 with music by Little Dragon:
Oedipus (with vegetables)
The story of Oedipus in 8 minutes performed by vegetables in the tradition of Ben-Hur. Featuring a potato, a tomato, broccoli, garlic, and Billy Dee Williams as the bartender. Written, produced, directed & edited by Jason Wishnow.
Above It All
From Angstrom at Timeshard, October 23, 2007:
This rather stoned looking dutch man “levitated” in Times Square and outside the White House this week. Although it is a magic trick his stated reasons are very pranksterish, specifically that he wants people to think about things in a different way.
According to News.com.au: Dutch magician Ramana has been doing his best to freak out American people…
The illusionist, real name Wouter Bijdendijk, hovered several feet above the pavement with apparent ease. His only “prop” was a stick that he held with his left hand.
A household name in his native Netherlands, Ramana has performed for Queen Beatrix and has been honoured in India with the Golden Cloth award, the highest cultural honour ever given to a westerner, metro.co.uk reported.
“This is an art,” he said. Continue reading “Above It All”