STILL WATER

STILL WATER

Still water commonly refers to natural water, but literally means water that is not moving.

We can make our minds so like still water that beings gather about us that they may see, it may be, their own images, and so live for a moment with a clearer, perhaps even with a fiercer life because of our quiet.
William Butler Yeats

Stillwater is also the name of a town in the United States that inspired the title of a 2021 film starring Matt Damon and Abigail Breslin.

Stillwater

 

 

Have you seen it?

As the trailer clearly shows, it is the story of a father who arrives in France from Stillwater to help his daughter who is in prison.

When the film was released, Amanda Knox sparked a heated controversy by writing:
Does my name belong to me? My face? What about my life? My story? Why does my name refer to events I had no hand in? I return to these questions because others continue to profit off my name, face, & story without my consent. Most recently, the film #STILLWATER

Still water

Right? Of course.

I saw the film and honestly didn’t notice any correlations or references, apart from the fact that an American girl was in prison.

Furthermore, the film’s plot reveals an unexpected twist, and frankly, the fact that Amanda Knox strongly insists that this is her story surprises me, because it leads to a very specific consideration.

You know I never reveal details that could be spoilers, but if you’ve seen it, I’d love to hear your opinion.

Regardless, it happened again.

The Rip, the new film starring Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, was recently released, and they are promoting it.

During an interview for his podcast, Joe Rogan asked the two actors for their opinion on cancel culture.

Definition of cancel culture: an attitude of blame, usually expressed through social media, towards public figures or companies who have said or done something offensive or politically incorrect and who are therefore stripped of support and approval.

In short: media pillorying to achieve oblivion.

We know it well, would you like to give some examples?

Matt Damon responds by expressing his opinion:
I bet some of those people would have preferred to go to jail for 18 months or whatever, and then come out and say, ‘I paid my debt. Like, we’re done. Like, can we be done?’” The thing about that getting kind of excoriated, publicly like that, it just never ends. And it will just follow you to the grave.”

First of all, it’s an opinion.

And it refers to prison as the place where one pays their debt. It’s also a strong concept, undoubtedly, precisely to reinforce the comparison with the consequences of cancel culture.

But Amanda Knox once again felt compelled to attack Matt Damon, this time writing:
Another thing Matt Damon could have run by me about before putting out inyo the world.

Still water

Well… so Matt Damon should consult her before doing anything?

I would say that the water has become stagnant.

By now you know that I occasionally repeat Evelyn Beatrice Hall‘s quote. 

Am I too harsh on Amanda Knox?

Perhaps, you tell me.

Or is it just another case of “all publicity is good publicity”?

On January 26, a documentary entitled Mouth of the Wolf: Amanda Knox Returns to Italy, edited by Amanda Knox, will be released. It was filmed during her return to Italy, in Umbria, where she met again with Giuliano Mignini, who coordinated the investigation into the murder of Meredith Kercher.

MIRANDA IS BACK!

MIRANDA IS BACK!

Miranda is back!

Rumours have been circulating for some time now: the iconic success of The Devil Wears Prada has placed it among the films that film producers are considering investing in for a remake or sequel.

We will therefore see Meryl Streep reprise her role as Miranda Priestly.

Miranda is back

Surprisingly, during Milan Fashion Week, Miranda and Nigel arrived together with the other guests to attend the Dolce & Gabbana fashion show. 

Gabbana with two b’s 😉 😀

Miranda is back

In particular, for this fashion show, the two famous designers were inspired by the idea of pyjamas.

What do you think?

Since we are at the beginning of autumn and, although the days are still beautiful and pleasant, the temperature drops significantly during the night, I ask you:

pyjamas yes or pyjamas no?

Classic pyjamas or fancy pyjamas?

Returning to Miranda, we know that, unlike her alter ego in the real world she retains her position as editor-in-chief of Runway.

Miranda is back

I find this image, which depicts the two of them almost as mirror images, very amusing.

But Andy?

We left her in jeans and a very casual jacket, about to embark on a new editorial project. How will she fit into the glamorous clothes of Emily 2?

Miranda is back

JULIA IN VENICE

JULIA IN VENICE

Julia in Venice for the first time at the Film Festival

Julia returns to Venice after Woody Allen’s Everyone Says I Love You.

I have always liked her and therefore follow her with admiration.

Among other things, as you know, I adore Venice, so her presence at the Film Festival is a very special combination for me.

Once again, she has graced us with her smile, framed by her unique, personal and ironic, or simply iconic, style choices.

Julia Roberts is not known for her glamorous appearances, and in Venice she is showing her true self: a combination of simplicity and elegance, practicality and refinement.

Here she is in black and white, with the trendiest bag of the moment: the Celine tote, the luggage phantom bag paired with a pair of Superga trainers like the ones we could all have.

Julia in Venice

 

Minimal sporty = chic

But there’s more: the completely unexpected cardigan featuring Luca Guadagnino’s face.

Julia in Venice

 

This version of the outfit shows us ballet sneakers that have already gone viral.

Julia in Venice

 

Is that all?

Absolutely not!

Of course, we all saw the splendour of the blue dress on the catwalk, but I would rather focus on a secondary outfit, if we can call it that, also by Versace, because in this case too, in addition to the dress, there is a message: sharing is caring.

There was a time when two women wearing the same dress to an event could be considered a tragedy.

Julia Roberts and Amanda Seyfried, on the other hand, appeared like this:

Julia in Venice

 

What do you think?

Absurd or brilliant?

Have you ever shared your clothes?

I cannot conclude without mentioning Julia’s look for the 1990 Golden Globes ceremony: history, and I will say no more.

APPLICATION FOR A JOB

APPLICATION FOR A JOB

I wonder if you have ever applied for a particularly coveted position.

Even when faced with the impossible, do you think it is worth taking a chance, perhaps hoping for a stroke of luck, confident in the idea that “one in a thousand makes it”?

Are you a dreamer even in the concrete act of sending a CV?

I ask you this because in August, Condé Nast published an advertisement for an Executive Assistant to the Global Chief Content Director. The salary was up to 125,000 usd.

The end of June brought us the sensational news of Anna Wintour‘s  “resignation”, although in reality she left her role as editor-in-chief of American Vogue to take on the role of Global Editorial Director of Vogue, as well as being responsible for Condé Nast’s global content.

This is not fiction: Andy Sacks‘ candidacy is really required! 🙂

And all this while 20th Century Studios tells us that The Devil Wears Prada 2 is in the works…

The recruitment campaign, i.e. the search and training of staff, a neologism according to Treccani, was launched on August 13,

Who will now be bringing hot coffee to Mir… oops, to Anna?

And you? Will you tell me about your special application?

Have you ever had to face a difficult challenge at work?

THUNDERBOLTS*

THUNDERBOLTS*

Thunderbolts* released in cinemas, will the MCU succeed in electrifying audiences?

My husband, my son and I went into the theatre hoping to see a Marvel movie that could interrupt the drift of recent years.

Thunderbolts* name inspired by an anecdote told in a scene.

But the asterisk?

The asterisk brings the film full circle, as if it were a palindrome.

Originally in fact the title of the film was *The New Avengers

Thunderbolts*

But *The New Avengers become Thunderbolts* by their very nature, they are not actually classic superheroes.

Not Super Not Heroes

Yelena Belova = Black Widow
James Buchanan Barnes = Bucky – Winter Soldier
Alexei Shostakov = Red Guardian
John Walker = U.S. Agent
Antonia Dreykov = Taskmaster
Ava Starr = Ghost

and then Bob i.e. Robert Reynolds = Sentry

Bob encompasses strength and fragility, simplicity and complication, naughtiness and goodness, with a nerdy air about him.

The actor who embodies Bob is Lewis Pullman.

Yes: Pullman son of Bill, memorable performer of various loser roles.

Do you remember any of the films Bill Pullman starred in?

The resemblance made me smile

But Bob embodies the dark abyss of the burden of life that deflects the movie into something extremely difficult to portray.

I particularly liked Florence Pugh for the way she mixed depression and irony.

On the other hand, David Harbour is pumped, as well as businesslike 🙂

So is Thunderbolts* electrifying?

My husband is not entirely convinced, for my son it’s a yes, and what do you think?

THE TASTERS

THE TASTERS

The tasters Le assaggiatrici is the film directed by Silvio Soldini released in cinemas last week.

I went to the cinema with Monica and this is one of the times I see the film before reading the book.

Cristina Comencini and Ilaria Macchia, who I am always curious to discover, among others, collaborated on the screenplay.

The tasters Le assaggiatrici is based on the novel written by Rosella Pastorino, inspired by the story of Margot Wölk who only at the age of 95 revealed that she was the only survivor of a group of women selected to check that their food was not poisoned.

Tony’s blog published a list of ten distressing films, there and then I had no idea, but now I can definitely mention The tasters: an hour and I don’t know how many minutes of distress.

 

 

To emphasise even more the sense of ineluctability, at times the images are interspersed with cuts in black.

The soundtrack music looms just as effectively.

The director chose to work with German actors, precisely in order to remain as faithful as possible to every single detail.

But what emerges is that people, of whatever nationality, of whatever colour, of whatever origin, suffer during the war.

I know I have written a platitude, yet it seems that everything that happened in the Second World War, as well as in all the other wars in the history of mankind, has served no purpose.

We have learnt nothing.

And we feed on the venom of the powerful.

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