And that little black dress worn by Catherine Deneuve is as much an idea as a dress – the quintessential modernist fashion statement reduced to its absolute essentials. Its tidy collar and cuffs evoke both the modest office dress and the schoolgirl’s (or maid’s) uniform, but they are not white – the cuffs and collar are of delicate ivory satin, advertising not the wearer’s cleanliness, but her distance from labor of any kind.

This article is filed under Art, Art & Design, Fashion.

Now, this is the premise of the episode. What it asks us to accept in order for the story to get going. So it seems unreasonable to carp. But am I the only one who feels that if you can use a mobile phone to break into three of the most secure places in Britain in the first five minutes, then we should probably all pack up and go home?

This article is filed under Mystery, Television, The Fourth Wall.

A recap/review of The Killing Sayonara, Hiawatha (Season 2, Episode 9)

This article is filed under Television, The Fourth Wall.

To those unacquainted with Iggy Pop’s vocals let it be known that they are not merely idiosyncratic, they are bewitching – a feast of aural mesmerism that groans, quavers, and wavers with bass-driven emotion.

This article is filed under Blog-Music, Music.

My final thoughts on the 2012-2013 fall season.

This article is filed under Television, The Fourth Wall.

A look at CW’s 2012-2013 schedule.

This article is filed under Television, The Fourth Wall.

What differentiates Sacha Baron Cohen from the vast majority of his contemporaries is his willingness to take on taboo subjects. Despite the rise of R-rated comedies over the past decade or so, it’s difficult to say that many of them tackle the issues that most people are uncomfortable talking about. Their sexual content and foul language might be funny, but they lack the edge that only comes when you parody something that our “open” society prefers to leave alone.

This article is filed under Movies, Movies & TV.

Rod Steiger offers one of the best portrayals of the legendary “Scarface” in this straightforward account of the life of perhaps the most fascinating underworld figure in American history.

This article is filed under 100 Greatest Gangster Films, Movies, The Fourth Wall.

Considering how “casual” the work is in its approach, you could, I suppose, call it a mere glimpse into the turmoil and tragedies that overcame Naples. Yet, in some ways, this technique proves far more vibrant than the traditional presentations of historical events which most of us have experienced in the course of our schooling. Not to say Taylor hasn’t studied his subject or done his extensive research.

This article is filed under Books, Italy, Non-Fiction Reviews.

A Look at the CBS 2012-2013 Television Season

This article is filed under Television, The Fourth Wall.

In a moment of madness I cared too much about finding everything, about doing everything, and it was to the detriment of my gaming experience. It’s in moments like these that achievement-oriented gamers need to be reminded that their Gamerscore doesn’t mean anything and that they run the risk of turning a fun experience into a chore – and turning one’s hobby into work is a risky business indeed.

This article is filed under Blog-Video Games, Video Games.

When last we left the historie of the consoleflict, two houses arose in the land of gaming. One, house Magnavox, entering into the untamed wilderness with their host of Odysseys, the other, house Atari, had stolen the fire of tennis and ignited the imagination with Pong, the progenitor of gaming nobility. The first battles over [...]

This article is filed under Blog-Video Games, Video Games.

A look at the ABC 2012-2013 fall season

This article is filed under Television, The Fourth Wall.

Sometimes the worst thing about being a pessimist is how often you’re right. I would have been much happier if the hopeful commenters on last week’s recap who said House’s reaction to Wilson’s scan could mean any number of things were right. But they’re not. Wilson is dying; without chemotherapy, he’s got about five months, and he’s refusing chemotherapy.

This article is filed under Television, The Fourth Wall.

A look at the 2012-2013 schedule for FOX.

This article is filed under Television, The Fourth Wall.