New Romance - some of my favorites

I love films, absolutely love films. They're my favorite form of escapism. I also love romantic films more than every other genre, but I have a very specific taste in what kind of these romances I love.

I may seem like an idealist, but I'm a realist at heart. I don't actually believe in true love and all of that hulabaloo. But, I love seeing love unfold realistically, naturally. 

So, I wanted to make a list of these "new romantic" films that have left an impression on me...

The Five-Year Engagement

I chose this film because although it starts out on a chipper note, it quickly leads into something many couples are dealing with in modern times: sacrifice. 

Favorite moment:

Alison Brie and Emily Blunt channel Sesame Street for a sisterly heart-to-heart

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Blue Valentine

All I can say is, duh!

~

The Way We Were 

This movie is my guilty pleasure. It has everything I need in life: Robert Redford and Barbara Streisand (playing one of my favorite female character, like, ever!) Katie and Hubbell were doomed from the beginning, but - oh! - they were so good together in the meantime.

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Punch Drunk Love

This movie is my most hopeful. I love it. Everyone is adorable. And weird.

~

Before Sunrise (and its sequels)

Celine and Jesse forever! 

Also, this:

I want to be Julie Delpy being Nina Simone

~

Take This Waltz

Actually, this sums it up. 

This scene - although simple - really struck me for some reason. 

~

The Umbrellas of Cherbourg

I was 13 when I first stumbled across this film and it still remains one of the best finds of my lifetime and my introduction to French cinema. Also, did I mention it's entirely sung?!

Genevieve (I used to want to name my future progeny this and move to France, just so I could listen to the true melodic ring that this French name has)

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Comment with your favorites!

I HAVE CURED MY SKIN

There comes a time in every woman's life where she takes control, she embraces her freedom and individuality. At 23, Laura Marling has already done that.

 She's been involved in two somewhat-publicised relationships with Noah & the Whale's Charlie Fink (whom she was in the band with) and also with Mumford & Sons' singer Marcus Mumford (who she left Fink for and who's the inspiration behind the song, "New Romantic").

Mumford and Marling

In her new album, Marling discusses this independence she's found following such consuming relationships and has created a work of music that creates a new kind of love to explore: self-love. Sure, she's self-depricating at times, but she's also extremely strong as a woman.

Above is the video for one of my favorite songs off of all five of her albums: "Master Hunter".

You want a woman because you want to be saved,
 Well I’ll tell you that I got a little lot on my plate, 
Well if you want a woman who can call your name, 
It ain’t me babe, 
No, no, no, it ain’t me babe.

this is an example of the brilliant visual biographies by artist Giorgia Lupi and Accurat. 

Klimt is easily one of my favorite artists and I believe this one is exceptionally interesting.

Have a look!

Here's a link to a higher-quality version.

the unknown

I was recently led to the fantastic website, Brain Pickings, by one of my other favorite sites, Rookie. It contains sordid articles in many topics, all of which are entertaining. 

A recent article sparked my interest and included a quote from Anais Nin that led me to an epiphany:

It is possible I never learned the names of birds in order to discover the bird of peace, the bird of paradise, the bird of the soul, the bird of desire. It is possible I avoided learning the names of composers and their music the better to close my eyes and listen to the mystery of all music as an ocean. It may be I have not learned dates in history in order to reach the essence of timelessness. It may be I never learned geography the better to map my own routes and discover my own lands. The unknown was my compass. The unknown was my encyclopedia. The unnamed was my science and progress.

I can say I'm often guilty of always wanting to know. I search these things out like no other and this quote made me realize that you don't always have to know, to leave some mystery. I think it's a beautiful sentiment and I hope that maybe this quote resonates with others as well.

livin' in a dreamworld

for anyone out there interested, I've made my first mix for this blog. It includes artists like Mr. Little Jeans to Cocteau Twins to Grizzly Bear.

I'm a music person above all and I hope some of you may listen to this and hear tunes you love or are growing to love.

Happy listening,

Andrea

Pause

I'm currently watching Take this Waltz, another Michelle Williams film that makes me wish I was as talented as she.

Like many films I love, the plot revolves around the unattainable.

I paused the movie and it stopped here.

They're close, so close.

The unattainable is always somehow attainable in the end.

At least, that's what I like to think.

Colorado

Fires are destroying various parts of my state, over 40,000 people have been displaced in my city, more than 350 families have lost their homes, and 2 people have lost their lives. 

These are photos of  the Royal Gorge suspension bridge, one of the most beloved 

attractions Colorado has to offer and the whole park has been lost and 200 people have lost their jobs. 

I just want my readers - if I have any regular ones - to keep these people in your thoughts. This is the second devastating fire we've experienced and the one in my city is now the most devastating in my state's history. 

Stay compassionate

Andrea

Latch

Disclosure ft. Sam Smith - "Latch" 

I have such high praise for Disclosure's debut album Settle. 

This song doesn't remind of love, but lust. Sometimes it's the first time you get as close as two humans can that's the most special and somehow, this song encapsulates that. 

Madame D'Ora, a photographer

1881-1963

self-portrait, c. 1925

dancer Anita Berber, 1923

Tamara de Lempicka, 1929

Josephine Baker, c. 1925

"Queen B", c. 1926

T U S K

Fleetwood Mac's Tusk

This song is such a song. I have no idea why I love it so much, but it's so enthralling in the strangest way. 

Don't say that you love me, 

just tell me that you want me,

Tusk, just say that you want me.

Oh, brotha'...

The more this day drags on the more I desire a binge-fest of My So-Called Life, even if it does lack Claire Danes crying more than some of her other work. 

And this, of course...

Oh, Jordan/Jared, I always want to move those stray hairs from your eyes in the worst ways...

Oh, well, I s'pose I'll just have to wait until time travel happens.

Last Resorts

I have finally decided to stop spending money before I officially go broke. 

Until then, I am going to make a Pinterest board that is going to include the things I want to purchase in the future:

http://pinterest.com/goldiemcneil/boards/

Also, the first thing that's going to go on is this robe thing from free people

P.S. I also keep a Polyvore

http://gradymcneil.polyvore.com/

Summer Crossing by Truman Capote

are there words to describe my love for this story?

no, i can't find enough.

first, there's copper-haired 17-year-old grady who wants so badly to be loved and to love. she's terribly misunderstood. her mother loves her without really liking her. 

and then there's clyde manzer, the 21-year-old man grady loves but who can't really decide if he loves her back. you see, he's a rough-and-tumble guy from brooklyn who's pretty much engaged to someone else.

...and they're crazy together, but their scenes are somehow madly romantic in the way they're simple yet confusing. intentions are always blurred and as the reader, you get to decipher everything clyde says to his future teenaged bride and interpret it as you wish. 

but alas, shit always happens and this book's ending is somehow flawless and works, even if it does make the reader want to bang their face into a wall repeatedly. 

favorite passage:

A long while: and Clyde too much a part of it: she wished him dead. Like the Queen of Hearts, forever shouting off with their heads, it was all in her fancy, for Clyde had done nothing to warrant the severity of execution: that he should be engaged was not criminal, he was within his rights absolutely: for what in fact were her claims on him? There were none she could present; because, unadmitted but central in her feelings, she'd had always a premonition of briefness, a knowledge that he could not be sewn into the practical material of her future: indeed, it was because of this almost that she'd chosen to love him: he was to be, or was to have been, the yesteryear fires reflecting on snows soon enough to fall. Before she quit the mirror she'd seen that all weathers are unpredictable: the temperature was dropping, snows were already upon her.

Pgs 68-69