Kluth Von Reuter

Two of my most brilliant friends, the multi-talented Bay Area artists Mary Anne Kluth & Bryan Von Reuter make up just about the most culturally perceptive couple around, sponging up all that is interesting, thought-provoking, annoying, or plain amusing in the world. When they tell me about something, I usually want to hear about it. For the past several months they have been offering this service to the world at large on their blog Kluth Von Reuter which they describe as "what we looked at on the internet today." It's a worthy perch to rest an elbow on during your daily travels on the internet: go check it out.

One of today's entries was on the try-outs for a (possibly) upcoming Bravo reality show--like Project Runway for art kids. My "Best postironic conceptual gambit in under a minute?": call the show "15 Minutes" and literally give every contestant fifteen minutes of screentime with which to do whatever they wish. No competitions, no prizes, just FAME.


Images: top by Kluth, above by Von Reuter

Man Ray (#2)

24 Words Per Film (#55)

A certain ambiguity of emotion deepens the slowburn plot of Down in the Valley. The wonderful cast holds its own amidst much visual symbolism.



Down in the Valley (2005); written&directed by David Jacobson; starring Edward Norton with Evan Rachel Wood, David Morse, Rory Culkin, Kat Dennings, Bruce Dern, et al.

Man Ray (#1)

For no other reason than that your humble Projectionist is in awe of the Man (and has the necessary access), I will be presenting a Man Ray photo every so often, on the same haphazard schedule as the Polish Film Poster of the Moment.

Polish Film Poster of the Moment

Saddle the Wind (1965); artist: Maria Syska

Below: another poster by the artist from the same year, for the Cary Grant film Monkey Business.

24 Words Per Film (#54)

Contempt’s characters aren’t much like real people. Bardot’s not as captivating as Karina. However, these are some of Godard’s boldest images. Viva Jack Palance!

24 Words Per Film (#53)

Using Rowlands as his surrogate generally delimited Cassavetes’ mysogyny. Chinese Bookie has no Rowlands, no female p.o.v., much fragmentation/objectification of the female body.




The Killing of a Chinese Bookie (1976/1978); written/directed by John Cassavetes; starring Ben Gazzara, with Timothy Carey and Seymour Cassel.

24 Words Per Film (#52)

A defense of the D&D/Ren. Faire lifestyle--with Paul Rudd, children cursing, State cast cameos, jokes about Kiss galore, and a climactic swordfight.

24 Words Per Film (#51)

Sublime moments amidst (somehow adorably) bleak romantic comedy: from a heart-attack, cut to a stray dog running; and Ilona’s smile after Nikander’s darkest comment.



Shadows in Paradise (1986); written/directed by Aki Kaurismaki; starring Matti Pellonpaa, Kati Outinen.

24 Words Per Film (#50)

To great effect, the darkest—and most focused on romance—of the series. (And, Harry, I would’ve taken Luna Lovegood to the party, too.)

24 Words Per Film (#49)

Perfectly illustrates Eve Sedgwick’s triangle: Thurman is capital in an exchange of male friendship. Deniro balks, resorting to ‘chivalrous’ fistfighting to win the girl.

24 Words Per Film (#48)

Match Factory Girl: Wonderfully concise compositions depict world's quietest revenge fantasy, punctuated by a total lack of conversation, great tunes, and some ink-black comedy.