Fun film and TV bits (with special science guests at the end of the post):
◊ TRAILERS!
Anne Fontaine’s Adore looks to be intense and uncomfortable, as well as intensely uncomfortable and uncomfortably intense. The subject matter may put off some viewers, but I’m completely intrigued by the unexpected situation in which Naomi Watts and Robin Wright find themselves (and, after having watched the trailer a couple times, I have to wonder if there’s any plot point left to be revealed). Check out the trailer!
“Families come in all shapes and sizes, even rectangles.” I suppose that tagline might apply somehow to Adore, but it is indeed for The BoxTrolls from Laika, which looks pretty darn adorable.
◊ FILM THOUGHTS.
Cameron Cook on Andrei Tarkovsky, Nuri Bilge Ceylan, and Finding an Aural Balance—a thoughtful essay about the use of silence in films.
The Weinsteins can’t call Lee Daniels’ new movie The Butler because we’ll confuse it with that 1916 short film. Say what now?
Directors who fell out of love with film.
Still from David Lynch’s Inland Empire
The title alone probably give you enough heads up, but 10 great movies in which the heroes are doomed is awfully spoilery.
A history of plagiarism claims against James Cameron. So. Much. History!
Definitive proof that James and Dave Franco are brothers. Yep, pretty darn definitive.
◊ THE ELVES HAVE IT.
◊ DUSTIN HOFFMAN on TOOTSIE.
This clip from an interview AFI had with Dustin Hoffman in 2012 has surfaced recently and has been all over the place (via). Hoffman “shares how the film Tootsie came to be and why he had to play the role of Dorothy Michaels.” It’s a really great revelatory moment.
◊ JOAN CRAWFORD.
One in a great series of GIFs from Joan Crawford’s 1931 film Possessed; well worth checking out Francesca Ramos’s post to see the entire “scene.”
◊ FOR THE WHOVIANS.
Alisa Stern’s second video on The Making of the Doctor Puppet. If you’re interested in stop-motion animation puppets, Stern walks you through how to make your own. Great stuff!
From The Mary Sue:
The identity of John Hurt’s Doctor Who character may have been confirmed.
Dame Helen Mirren has very specific suggestions for the 12th Doctor.
◊ SHE BLINDED ME … WITH SCIENCE!
Just sneaking these tidbits in here!
Biology: If you can’t taste sugary foods, you could be at risk for sterility (why does this article title make me want to eat a bowl of buttercream frosting?); What causes morning breath?
Entomology: Hawkmoths use their genitals to scare off bats.
Geology: Where is the True North Pole?
Herpetology: Watch a baby King Cobra devour another snake. Yum? Here’s a great line, despite the grammar: “Though only a week old, already his hunting skills are perfect.”
Invention: Ann Makosinski’s Hollow (Thermoelectric) Flashlight for Google Science Fair (via).
Here’s another video of Ann explaining her flashlight, but with more visual demonstration (I followed this explanation a little more easily!):
Lepidoterology: Inside a butterfly farm.
Medicine: Whoa! I’d totally be happy breaking a bone if I got to wear a 3D-printed cast like this one!
Jake Evill-designed 3D-printed cast
Neuroscience: Sterling, you’re safe—Lifetime of reading slows cognitive decline (via).
Ornithology: These super slow-motion clips of birds flying are awesome—awesome is exactly the right adjective.
Psychology: What makes creepy things creepy?
