So, yes, there's a WGA strike and no Golden Globes - however, the winner of Best Director was Julian Schnabel - shout out to Montauk! Everyone expected the Coen brothers to win for "No Country for Old Men", but Julian won for his completely brilliant directorial turn in "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly".
If you are not familiar with this film, it's in French and it's burned me with the heat of a thousand suns with it's power; based on the book by Jean-Dominique Bauby, who dictated the book, after a stroke, by blinking his eyes. It is beautiful, poetic, fantastic, moving, sad, triumphant! Max von Sydow plays Bauby and he is incredible.
Those of you who are not familiar with Julian - well, he's an artist of great note, a champion of music, a fantastic film director (have you seen "Basquiat" with David Bowie (as Warhol), Jeffrey Wright (as Basquiat), Dennis Hopper, Claire Forlani, Courtney Love, Tatum O'Neal and Gary Oldman as Schnabel himself - those scenes filmed in Schnabel's own loft)? Julian's daughter Stella (who once dated Viggo Mortensen) plays herself in the film, which features amazing music by so many great artists and vintage surfing footage. "Basquiat" is one of my favorite movies and I am very lucky to own a tiny, tiny drawing by the artist. I mean, tiny.
Speaking of surfing, Mr. Schnabel is an accomplished surfer who lives much of the time in Montauk and surfs Ditch, as do I. He is married to the beautiful Olatz, a textile designer and actress. She is also in "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly".
So congratulations to the auteur, artiste, musician, directoire, Monsieur Schabel! He deserves it.
2 comments:
Yes! Bravo, Julian!
Having worked for the independent record label he co-owned (he plays music too--"Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining" anyone?) with my dear friend Brian Kelly, I spent my days promoting the heck out of the Basquiat soundtrack. Brian's heartbreaking "She's is Dancing" plays while Stella dances with Dennis Hopper. It's a beautiful scene. And our fav Dlisted's Hot S-ut of the Month, Shane McGowan is featured on the same soundtrack. I had tons of those Basquiat posters with JM and the lucky duck. Of course zero remain.
I also transcribed pages of "Before Night Falls" from Julian's pages to a computer screen. Doesn't mean much but for me it was pretty special to be around such artistic electricity.
He's exactly what you've seen, and more of that.
What does specifically relate to your blog is that his brother and once business manager Stephen called me in my time of distress.
Every person who called me the days following will never be forgotten.
Marnie:
Wow! Just, wow. Not only are you connected to the Schnabel family through your art (so envious!), but they have shown themselves to be kind and loving as a family.
"DUCKMAN" - I think there's a new one, a poseur, but I don't care. Duckman is back, probably waiting outside Barbetta for Warhol and Bruno.
My favorite Basquiat track (and trust me, I am obsessed with it - who knew you worked on it? Isn't life just the most joyous?) is "Summer in Siam"...there is that gorgeous scene when Benicio Del Toro, as his friend, takes the drug-addled Jean-Michel and drives him around the West Village, past the UPS Depot and Jean-Michael is standing in the Jeep dancing victoriously.
Of course, who isn't partial to John Cale's "Hallelujah"? I wish every sitcom and medical drama stop playing the crap out of it.
PS - I loved "Before Night Falls". That is so very very special.
Also, off topic, I totally love the hot pink building Julian designed and I don't care that the neighbors are pissed. It's fantastic!
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