#paintingsandcinema

[cinemassociations]

On Glass Onion (2022)

1. Glass Onion (2022), directed by Ryan Johnson

An Entertaining murder mystery with an up-to-date depictions of an exentric millionaire Miles Bron played by Edward Norton, instagram influencers and wealthy "distruptors", people in power. Who does not love Daniel Craigs Detective Benoit Blanch and a "come back" for Kate Hudson. It is crystal clear that this movie is about entertainment but it also tries to sort of critique the 1% lifestyles. I don´t think it does it very well but it tries.

Like the first Knives Out film this one has interesting use of paintings and art work in the back ground as sort of easter eggs for the viewers. First of all there is a terrifically tasteless shirtless portrait of Edward Norton/ Miles Bron (more on the subject here). Next to it a painting that looks as if Francis Bacon would have painted a triptych of Ronald MacDonalds. Then some Mondrian and Picasso... Money money money... And Kanye West? We get to solve the riddles and mysteries at the same time with Detective Blanc. 2. Icarus, Matisse, image from here

Flying too close to the sun, Icarus got his wings burned. Also kind of a portrait of Miles Bron. This depiction also looks like a bang-bang-bullet- to-the-chest.

3. An upside down Mark Rothko painting! This is a clever way to show how little Millionaire-Miles knows about the art works he owns. Mark Rothko´s 207, spotted here

4. Tomlinson court park 1, Frank Stella, image from here

Abstract minimalism that looks lika a puzzle, a maze. Also hangs on its side, just behind Daniel Craig.

5. Still life with mandoline and galette, Pablo Picasso, image from here. Nothing quite like a Picasso piece to signify that you are filthy rich

6. Untitled (Bacchus 1st Version IV), Cy Twombly, image from here

Blood red, cool abstraction sold at Sothebys for $15.4 million

6. Nichols Canyon, David Hockney, image from here

Last but not least the glass sculptures

RIP

[cinemassociations]

On Dolor Y Gloria

The mise-en-scene of Dolor Y Gloria (2019, Pedro Almadóvar) is fabulous! Especially the apartment of the films main character, director Salvador Mallo (a self portrait of Almadóvar, played by the fantastic Antonio Banderas). The set is based on Almadóvar´s own house (peak into his home office here - looks familiar doesnt it?) and the art on the walls are copies of pieces from his personal collection.

Mallo has put his fortune on the gallery like walls of his apartment. His house is full of colorful details, little sculptures, vases and velvet. He seems to have a fabulous taste in art, kitchy objects and fashion. He spends most of his days in this mausoleum of art and culture - reading, writing, dwelling in pain or drugs. His house is almost like a colorful pharao´s tomb.

Almadóvar has been especially influenced by the painter Maruja Mallo - the name of the main character Salvador Mallo seems like a tribute.

Here´s a little list of the artwork seen in Salvadors/ Almadóvars apartment:

 1. Pedro Almodóvar, Explosion of Spring 1 (2018), image from here 

Almadóvar is a multidisciplinary artist and some of his own floral still lifes can be seen in the film.

2. Guillermo Pérez Villalta: Artist looking at an art book (2008), image from here

3. Maruja Mallo: El racimo de uvas (1944), image from here

The rich burgundy shade of the grapes contrasted with the fresh and crisp light blue is a color scheme that goes through the entire movie - the main character (whose name is also Mallo) wears these colors and they appear again and again in the background.

4. Abraham Lacalle: Portería (2017), image from here

5. Sigfrido Martín Begué: El olfato Santa Casilda (1986), image from here

6. Dis Berlin: sculptures in the exhibition Galaxia Homo Sapiens. Exposición Homo Sapiens. Centro de Arte Tomás y Valiente. Fuenlabrada (Madrid). 2016

Some of these sculptures can be found in Mallo´s apartment.

7. Enzo Mari: la Pera

This poster is on the wall of the actor Crespo´s house (Crespo is played by the charismatic Asier Etxeandia - all the actors in this film do a superb job) and you can have it on your wall as well!