wtorek, stycznia 31, 2012
what's up newbies? (part two)
niedziela, stycznia 29, 2012
"Black swan" remake
This week has been fully packed with figure skating as two major
competitions: European Championships and US Nationals have just ended
today. There were as always ups and downs, kisses and cries, jumps and falls etc. and I must admit that
personally I'm not so into it any more (at least comparing to my state
of mind just a few years ago). Still there were moments to enjoy and
definitely one of them was this adorable performance of newly crowned
US Ladies' Champion - Ashley Wagner.
I always say that great pick of music is at least half of the final success in this sport - judges are people after all - and here music's choice was really great giving all every decent skating performance needs: growing tension, drama and grande finale. It's not enough of course, but if you add some nicely detailed elements to mark that you are actually skating in accordance with this great music you picked, you'll hit the nail right on the head. And she just did it by attaching for example this super original arms' movement during her spiral sequence or performing 'en pointe'-like little steps in the middle of the program.
For me this program seems to be also a bit "from the past" (and for the record I'm mentioning about it as its big advantage) being composed in a way to give the skater some moments to have a deep breath. Under the new judging system it means simply that there are less points to gain so it's quite unusual these days but thanks to that loss you gain something else. I would describe it as a certain glowing lightness (I know how it sounds but this is figure skating vocabulary so just bear it;-) which prevents you from being tired with the performance and helps you truly enjoy it. I'm sure that some judges might still have huge craving for that as well.
EDIT 14/02/2012: Ashley Wagner's lucky star keeps shining as she just won The Four Continents Figure Skating Championships gaining the international recognition with the best score of the season for the female skater and unexpectedly but evidently becoming one of the favourites to grab the world title.
I always say that great pick of music is at least half of the final success in this sport - judges are people after all - and here music's choice was really great giving all every decent skating performance needs: growing tension, drama and grande finale. It's not enough of course, but if you add some nicely detailed elements to mark that you are actually skating in accordance with this great music you picked, you'll hit the nail right on the head. And she just did it by attaching for example this super original arms' movement during her spiral sequence or performing 'en pointe'-like little steps in the middle of the program.
For me this program seems to be also a bit "from the past" (and for the record I'm mentioning about it as its big advantage) being composed in a way to give the skater some moments to have a deep breath. Under the new judging system it means simply that there are less points to gain so it's quite unusual these days but thanks to that loss you gain something else. I would describe it as a certain glowing lightness (I know how it sounds but this is figure skating vocabulary so just bear it;-) which prevents you from being tired with the performance and helps you truly enjoy it. I'm sure that some judges might still have huge craving for that as well.
EDIT 14/02/2012: Ashley Wagner's lucky star keeps shining as she just won The Four Continents Figure Skating Championships gaining the international recognition with the best score of the season for the female skater and unexpectedly but evidently becoming one of the favourites to grab the world title.
piątek, stycznia 27, 2012
what's up newbies? (part one)
Remember my article
about two lovely newbies stepping boldly onto the stage? Interested in
getting back in touch with them and checking out how their performances
keep going? I am.
Holly Fulton still stands for extremely original Art Deco-esque patterning but this time (Spring 2012) combined nicely with zebra, checkerboard and oh-so-trendy this season ocean motifs. All this variety of forms was shown off on simple shapes with top-notch miniskirts waving the flag for the brand as one of its trademarks. Fulton also keeps herself on a very high level with the exquisite jewellery she produces and tries to experiment with fabrics - as you might have not noticed the zebra pattern on strapless top (second pic) is actually intarsia knit - the result of special collaboration with a Scottish textile mill.
My affection for the colours she tends to use is widely known.
For some people it might be too much. But even if, this is probably the best possible kind of "too much" you have chance to wear nowadays.
to be continued...
Holly Fulton still stands for extremely original Art Deco-esque patterning but this time (Spring 2012) combined nicely with zebra, checkerboard and oh-so-trendy this season ocean motifs. All this variety of forms was shown off on simple shapes with top-notch miniskirts waving the flag for the brand as one of its trademarks. Fulton also keeps herself on a very high level with the exquisite jewellery she produces and tries to experiment with fabrics - as you might have not noticed the zebra pattern on strapless top (second pic) is actually intarsia knit - the result of special collaboration with a Scottish textile mill.
My affection for the colours she tends to use is widely known.
For some people it might be too much. But even if, this is probably the best possible kind of "too much" you have chance to wear nowadays.
to be continued...
niedziela, stycznia 22, 2012
we need to talk
Tilda Swinton has got all the stuff she needed to deliver this
outstanding performance - there is no doubt about it. The problem is
that I'm still not so sure whether in case of the movie "We need to talk
about Kevin" that kind of performance was ever needed. Wouldn't it have
been more appropriate for the story to have kind of plainer actress to
pull it off? I believe so. And with all due respect, Swinton is probably
capable of anything except being plain. And she would definitely
frivolously admit it, if someone asked, I bet.
What we get here is the amazingly well built up character of a sophisticated woman who thanks to the massive, overwhelming work of Tilda Swinton's body (with the whole face - eyes, lips and even cheeks being involved) is intricate, attention grabbing and anything but plain. And as much as I'm happy to have another opportunity to appreciate Swinton's excellence and brilliance, I would prefer to appreciate them in other movie. This story, not giving any answers, maybe not asking any questions either, but definitely touching certain taboo, requires on the side of the actors as much plainness (even transparency) as possible. In that sense John Reilly did his job much better than Swinton. Nevertheless her hard work might be rewarded anyway since The Academy likes rewarding hard work (no matter you are a ballet dancer or a killer's mother). So far Swinton has lost the Golden Globe Award to Meryl Streep but being conquered by The Iron Lady shouldn't be a shame really;-)
Except Swinton's approach to the movie who does try hard to prove again how great actress she is (which she is indeed so she might stop proving it so vividly) I consider the movie as a very successful and accomplished project which leaves us with quite a few unpleasant, uncomfortable thoughts, what was (or at least should be) its main goal.
Highly recommended.
What we get here is the amazingly well built up character of a sophisticated woman who thanks to the massive, overwhelming work of Tilda Swinton's body (with the whole face - eyes, lips and even cheeks being involved) is intricate, attention grabbing and anything but plain. And as much as I'm happy to have another opportunity to appreciate Swinton's excellence and brilliance, I would prefer to appreciate them in other movie. This story, not giving any answers, maybe not asking any questions either, but definitely touching certain taboo, requires on the side of the actors as much plainness (even transparency) as possible. In that sense John Reilly did his job much better than Swinton. Nevertheless her hard work might be rewarded anyway since The Academy likes rewarding hard work (no matter you are a ballet dancer or a killer's mother). So far Swinton has lost the Golden Globe Award to Meryl Streep but being conquered by The Iron Lady shouldn't be a shame really;-)
Except Swinton's approach to the movie who does try hard to prove again how great actress she is (which she is indeed so she might stop proving it so vividly) I consider the movie as a very successful and accomplished project which leaves us with quite a few unpleasant, uncomfortable thoughts, what was (or at least should be) its main goal.
Highly recommended.
sobota, stycznia 21, 2012
po godzinach
"Nogi - super" powiedziała pierwsza solistka Teatru Wielkiego Opery Narodowej na warsztatach z baletu klasycznego;-)
niedziela, stycznia 08, 2012
piątek, stycznia 06, 2012
środa, stycznia 04, 2012
Patterns of London (part one)
London 29/XII/2011-2/I/2012
from the top left: underground, sky above Tottenham Hale Station, plates in Selfridges, underground, big bird up a tree in Hyde Park, underground, ceiling in Harrods, sofa in one of Camden Town's pubs, facade of a building close to Abbey Road Studios, weeping willow (I was almost copletely sure;-) in St. James's Park, underground, facade of a building close to Camden Market, underground again you might think but it was in a bus acctually ;-), bark of a tree in St. James's Park, bag in Harrods, underground
from the top left: underground, sky above Tottenham Hale Station, plates in Selfridges, underground, big bird up a tree in Hyde Park, underground, ceiling in Harrods, sofa in one of Camden Town's pubs, facade of a building close to Abbey Road Studios, weeping willow (I was almost copletely sure;-) in St. James's Park, underground, facade of a building close to Camden Market, underground again you might think but it was in a bus acctually ;-), bark of a tree in St. James's Park, bag in Harrods, underground
Subskrybuj:
Posty (Atom)
LinkWithin
