Thursday, September 20, 2007

The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie

A big change is a-coming, I can feel it: (social) revolution in the air.

First choice for today: Fernando Rey (Fernando Casado D'Arambillet, 1917-1994). The Spanish actor makes a big splash in The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie / Le charme discret de la bourgeoisie (1972), among other memorable surrealistic films by Luis Buñuel Portolés. He also plays the villain in The French Connection (1971). His mixture of charm and smarm is perfect. In fact, he reminds me of a guy I knew quite a little while ago. I love The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie -- it's got soldiers smoking pot during military exercises in an upscale neighborhood, a bishop who loves to pretend he's a lower class gardener, restaurants where no food is ever served, and interspersed footage of our antiheroes wandering down a road on foot -- plus terrorists and would-be assassins. Rey is at the center of it all, both dapper and devious.


Second choice: Asia Argento (Asia Aria Anna Maria Vittoria Rossa Argento, b. 1975), the tattooed actress, director, etcetera, etcetera. I think it's time for an Asia Argento film fest, in fact. Will report back later, starting with The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things (2004), based on the "fact-based" J.T. LeRoy novel (actually complete fiction, and scandalously so -- LeRoy's been ordered to pay a huge fine, in fact). Kind of funny, given the title. But I digress -- Asia Argento is certainly worth checking out. Thank Rolling Stone for this particular image, tattoo prominently emerging into sight.


A good day for Italians. Here's the cover of Sette featuring Mariacarla Boscono. In other shots, she bears a resemblance to Uma Thurman. Viva Italia!


Old school Italian Job. Sophia Loren having fun with Marcello Mastroianni. Wow. I'm pretty sure this shot is from Matrimonio all'italiana (1964).

Today's Rune: Wholeness.

Birthdays: James Duwar, Upton Sinclair, Maxwell Perkins, Fernando Rey, Joyce Brothers, Sophia Loren, Leah Pinsent, Victoria Dillard, Asia Argento, Mariacarla Boscono.

Ciao, Roma!

5 comments:

JR's Thumbprints said...

There won't be any charm from some of us state employees when we over take the capital and demand Mike Bishop's hyde. You got some fine lookin' babes pictured, as usual.

the walking man said...

I wonder if Asia Argento realizes that her tat looks like an erect penis in this photo until you look closer....ha hah ha gotta love her balls for having her angel where it is.

Peace

TWM

Joe said...

Now that post put me in a good mood. I'm off to put some Bunuel movies on my Netflix list.

Charles Gramlich said...

Your eclectic tastes continue to amaze me.

Cup said...

Sophia Loren is still one of the sexiest beings on this planet. And Asia Argento one of the most intriguing.