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alfredosauce50 · 3 years ago

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The anatomy of the obsessed artist [2p! Italy x reader]

Synopsis: You have the golden opportunity to display your art at a newly opened gallery. Nobody stops to look at your work until an eccentric connoisseur praises it, even asking you if he can buy it. Touched and fascinated by his personality, you agree to meet him over coffee. Now that he’s no stranger, he keeps inviting you over to his lavish estate until he realizes it’s not the art he’s so obsessed with. It’s the artist. Wordcount: 3, 686 The reader is referred to as she/her. “Nihilism represented a crude form of positivism and materialism, a revolt against the established social order; it negated all authority exercised by the state, by the church, or by the family.” - Encyclopedia of Britannica

“It's hideous.” He murmured, his eyes narrowed with contempt. They were a hot magenta hue, quick-moving and critical of everything they fixed on. How much he wished to say he was standing back to admire a masterpiece. Tossing his paintbrush into the kitchen sink with a sigh, he sauntered to the couch and plummeted down on it.

A loud clang was heard, but it never fazed his companion, who barely dodged the trajectory of the brush. “Oh, really?” They snorted. “It looks the same as every other painting you've done.”

He whipped his head to him and glared.

“Like you'd have an eye for these things, Lutz.”

Said man gave a shrug. This was probably the hundredth time they had this conversation, so he could practically predict what Luciano was about to say—and how he would wind up listening unwillingly to his passionate spiels.

“Just listen to me speak for once.”

Lutz scoffed and poured himself a hot cup of coffee. “Here we go again...” He grumbled with a distinct droop to his features.

Rolling his head back to the pristine, white ceiling, Luciano threw his hands up in emphasis. “It's the only damn thing that gives this room some color. I need to do better, Lutz. Otherwise, I'll tear this whole place down!” Even then, his animated movements were minuscule compared to the tall walls that surrounded him.

The other sipped on his mug. “If you're so stuck—” He smacked his lips. “—how about going to the new art gallery downtown? Anything to get you to shut up.” Lutz grinned at that, half-expecting him to launch a few throwing knives his way. But he never did. Instead, he jumped up and extended an index to point at him accusingly.

“You think you're so smart, huh, cazzo? Well, I might just go. Just to prove you wrong.” Grabbing his coat hanging over the couch, he threw it on and marched downstairs. As the echoes of his footsteps faded, he gave one final reckoning. “You can't rush art, dumbass! I'll turn the place upside down, and I still won't find anything worth my time.”

The volume of his thoughts had never been so loud. It was the only thing he heard in this quiet institution during its downtime. Nobody was around, save for him, but that allowed him to ramble to himself--whatever he was staring at, it was everything he had been looking for.

“This was definitely worth my time.” He muttered with a pistol grip on his chin. As he scanned over the canvas to take in the brushstrokes, he shook his head. “I hate to think he said something smart for once.” They were so violent, yet so gentle. A unique balance of nihilism and faith. Reaching up to his dark maroon hair, he dug through it and laughed in awe. “This is magnificent. Bellisima!”

“I hope you mean what you say, sir. That means a lot to me.” He turned to the voice ended up gawking at a woman. As he processed the words, he was at a loss for his own.

“Oddio--you don't mean you painted this, do you, signorina?”

She nodded coyly, much to his delight.

“Mhm. The name on the label is mine.”

At the sound of that, he gleamed and took both her hands into his own. “How much?”

She blinked, unsure of whether she heard him correctly. Was he offering to buy her work? “Sorry?”

“How much do you want for your painting? I'll pay you handsomely. One grand. Ten grand. However much you desire! I just need this in my living room. Whatever you ask for, it's a done deal!”

In your short career, you never imagined capturing someone's attention so passionately with your work. Your initial impression of the man was a rich art collector of some kind--an eccentric enthusiast--and not a connoisseur by any means. He even dressed the part, having adorned himself in a loose, silky blouse with a coat tied around his waist. His fashion was flashy and exuded confidence, though nothing else could have suited his personality.

As you talked to him over a coffee, however, it became clear to you he was much more than that.

“I've never seen somebody use color like that! You must've done lots of practice to get that good, eh?” He mused, watching you light up at his praise. There was no denying the sincerity in his voice, so you couldn't help being drawn to him and his zeal. “I'll be honest with you, bella. I'm not letting you run off before we settle on something.”

He could tell from the way you leaned in so subtly, never once breaking your eye contact as you listened to him. And knowing this did wonders--he slowly found himself drawn to you.

“Thank you, Luciano. I'm really flattered, but I can't just sell it to you. It's part of the gallery now.” You smiled gently, curling your fingers around the cup handle. Even as you sipped on your beverage, your gaze on him never faltered. And before you could catch any disappointment on his part, you waved your hands at him.

“I don't mean anything by it, honestly. I'm glad that you understand what I'm trying to say--like, you could've interpreted it completely differently. I wouldn't be able to stop you, either. But the fact that you didn't...” He followed you attentively with those sharp and mysterious orbs, but you were strangely comfortable under his scrutiny.

“Maybe we have similar minds.”

The man had been studying you as you spoke. While he did, this one, singular thought occurred to him. There was nothing in the world he loved more in the world than being heard.

“Hearing you talk is the same as being listened to,” Luciano admitted with a small laugh. Deep inside, he knew Lutz always listened. Unwillingly, that was. But being heard and understood was another story. “You take the words right out of my mouth, bella. I don't know how you do it, but you have to stop reading my mind. It's invasive.” He darted his eyes over your expression that morphed into dumbfoundedness--which served as a prelude for embarrassment.

So he couldn't help but smile flirtatiously. “Take me out to dinner first. Only then will I let you finish my sentences.”

You furrowed your brows together, but his smile was far too contagious to be staved off. The end result was an endearingly stupid face that was a cross between a frown and a grin. “Does lunch count then, you impossible little man? I mean, it's around noon.”

He shook his head, amused. Luciano expected you to pull away, but it seemed like he bit off more than he could chew. You were a handful. He was never a fan of handfuls or really anything that required his energy, but he'd be damned if this was the last time he saw you.

“But seriously, (F/N). I need your paintings. And it doesn't have to be something you've already painted.” Standing up at that, he neared your side lowered himself to your level. He settled a hand on your shoulder, much to your surprise. But you never tried to pull away. “I want you to paint for me at my place. I'll do whatever it takes. I'll drink my weight in this mediocre coffee if I have to.”

With his intoxicating personality, all he needed was a few more espressos to do the convincing.

“I can tell from your taste that you're pretty nihilistic.” You commented with a hint of disbelief. “But this is just crazy! What do you even do for a living?” All the expensive decor and extravagance of his stupidly large mansion must have costed a fortune! Lifting your head to take in the sheer size and height of his living room, you then shot him an incredulous look. “Well? I'm curious.”

Luciano leaned against the couch and folded his arms. “Oh, you don't want to know, trust me.” He grinned devilishly.

“What, are you in the mafia or something?” You joked.

He craned his head from right to left.

“Eh. Something like that.”

You blinked, not expecting him to be so frank. Then, you laughed sheepishly, suddenly feeling as if you've walked right into a trap. “... Are you serious?” The man sensed your uneasiness and walked over promptly. Before you could react, he held your arm, but it was much too gentle to stir any panic.

“Don't worry. Nobody would go after an artist I hired.” He leaned in to keep you hostage to his piercing eyes. The close proximity only heightened the tension you didn't know existed. What he said next, however, would have you blushing like a bride. “To have a target on your head means you're a liability. So unless we were an item--”

He smiled contently at the sight of your reddening cheeks. “--nothing will happen.”

Fortunately, your mortification was short-lived as you remembered your circumstances. Giving him a light shove, you walked off to his hallway. While your back was turned to him, he bit back a sharp grin, but to no avail. Man, were you feisty.

“Stop being such a womanizer and show me your studio, Luciano.” You mused, pausing in the doorway to glance at him over your shoulder. Was that playfulness he saw in your eyes?

“It isn't very professional.”

He hung his head and threw his hands up. Being scolded and ordered around was his worst pet peeve. But when you did it, he was only more compelled to misbehave.

“Mi dispiace. But I was only kidding. If I was part of the mob, my windows wouldn't be this big. Nor this abundant.” Making his way to your side, he walked with you to the said studio.

“And Luciano is a bit of a mouthful, no? You call me Luci.”

Unbeknownst to the two of you, someone else had entered the kitchen to pour themselves a drink. And boy, were they in for a show.

“You got it, boss. You call the shots.” A voice spoke in a gravely-exaggerated mobster accent.

“You're milking it...”

“I'm just joking, Luci. Let me have this moment.”

“Fine. Maybe I should've kept pretending. That'll get you to be a little more obedient.”

“And where's the fun in that?”

“Hmph.”

Lutz narrowed his eyes once the voices faded into silence. And he thought he hated being called Luci.

A mischievous smirk plastered across his face.

“Looks like somebody's found their inspiration.”

A few hours later, he appeared in the studio with a canned beer in hand. Even in such a lavish estate, no form of entertainment could beat pestering an old friend. Waltzing inside like he owned the place, he grinned toothily at what he saw. You and Luciano were busy working on a painting. But rather than using brushes, you both used your fingers.

“Hey.”

Luciano glanced at him and immediately felt the beginnings of anger simmer inside. “What do you want?”

Lutz laughed breathily. “Heh. No knives today?”

“If you don't get out, there will be!” The other whisper-shouted.

You stopped painting and turned to the newcomer with nothing short of curiosity. “... Hi. Are you Luci's henchman?” The joke was probably long dead, but you couldn't resist. Not when the stranger was built on six feet of pure muscle. “Nice to meet you.”

So this was the mysterious artist who managed to tame the bastard, huh? Lutz flattened his lips thoughtfully. “... In a way.”

“No, he's not. Now, get out. Your presence is ruining the mood... And killing my brain cells.” At the sound of that, you exploded into a burst of hearty laughter. Seeing Luciano push him out and leave colorful handprints on his tank only intensified those laughs. Once he managed to get his henchman out of the room, he whipped his head to you with a flustered glare.

“What's so funny?” He frowned. For one, he was rather taken aback at how he wasn't annoyed at you. At all. If someone like Lutz pushed their luck by teasing him, there would be more than one scar marring that punchable face of his.

“Nothing, nothing. I just thought... Maybe we could ask for his top and sell it. That was definitely a masterpiece.” You sighed, catching him off guard yet again. “It's the best work you've done today...”

The blush on his face deepened. A comment like that should've ticked him off, but he only found himself thoroughly infatuated. But that was preposterous! He was only letting this slide because you weren't that German bastard of a bum. That had to be it. But no matter what you did, he didn't have a single mean bone in his body for you. And he was about to test that theory.

“If you thought that was a masterpiece, I'll make you some more.” Marching over and undoing your apron, he wiped his fingers all over your once crisp white shirt. Looking down with a gasp, you weren't prepared for him to clap your cheeks and leave two brown handprints.

“You bitch!”

In his whole life surrounded by the worst potty-mouths, himself included, he'd never heard somebody cuss with so much sincerity. So the most logical reaction was to return the favor, if not be a little annoyed. But even as you ruined his blouse, which happened to be more expensive than everything in the room, he was cackling hysterically.

By the time you both calmed down, he had settled his chin atop your head and wrapped two arms around your neck. The paint on his face was drying up, but he was in no hurry to wash it off. Giving you a squeeze, he leaned down and pressed his cheek to yours. “You're coming tomorrow, aren't you?”

“Mhm.”

“And the day after that?”

“I don't see why not.”

“Then what about the day after that?”

You faced him and pinched his cheek affectionately, but he never complained. “If I was, what's the point of leaving, hm? I have something on that day, but I'll update you.”

Standing up at that, you felt his arms slide off of your shoulders. Luciano pulled away reluctantly, and as you left his studio, he found himself trailing after you against his own will. As quiet as he was, inside, he was tearing himself apart, torn between asking you to stay in the guest room and driving you home. But in the end, he got in the car.

Once he arrived outside your house, his body acted out unexpectedly when he shot his hand out to grab yours. The sudden contact startled you, though you could only gleam at his paint-smeared face that stifled back a thousand words. “What, do you miss me that much already?” You chuckled, much to his pleasure.

“You're just missing me too less.” He closed his eyes for a satisfied look. When he opened them again, he added this. “I'll pick you up here. Same spot. 9 am. If you don't show up in five minutes, I'll break inside and pull you out of bed.” Only then did he let you go.

“You got it, boss.”

With that said, you waved at him and made your way inside. Once the door clicked shut, he returned his gaze to the dashboard and shook his head with a defeated smile. “Oh my god.”

When he climbed the flight of stairs to appear next to the kitchen, the hiss of an espresso machine was heard. Rolling his head to it absently, he dropped his keys on the island and dug his hands through his sticky hair. Without addressing the blonde, who took an obvious interest in his disheveled appearance, he sauntered to the couch and flopped down on it.

“... Luciano.”

“What do you want?” He muffled his voice into the cushion.

Lutz walked over with a mug in hand and sipped it. Pointing to his own face, he swirled his index in circles. “You have a little something there.” When the other rolled his head to him, so did their colorful face.

The next two days saw steady progress in the project he paid you to do. While the painting moved closer to completion, he cared less and less about the finished product. At the same time, his eagerness for you to come grew exponentially. He could never admit it, but that didn't mean Lutz couldn't see right through him.

A single glance at him working in the studio was more than enough to deduce the conclusion that he was hopelessly head over heels for you. For one, it wasn't right to say he was even working anymore. Instead, he was staring at you, and sometimes, for twenty minutes or more if you were particularly immersed in your art.

This was only confirmed in due time.

Trotting downstairs to the cellar, he discovered that over ten bottles of wine had disappeared. And the culprit promptly made an appearance when he returned to the living room. Luciano was holding an empty bottle when they bumped into each other, the contact on his shoulder causing him to drop it. When it shattered on the marble floor, so did his patience.

“What the fu--watch where you're going, you fucking idiot!” He hissed, giving the other a strong shove back.

Beer fizzed out of the can and splashed onto his white tank. Lutz couldn't care less about ruining his clothes, but wasting beer? He pulled back with a growl. “I could say the same for you. I'm not the stumbling drunk here cuz' I can actually hold my weight.”

Luciano rolled his eyes and inhaled a deep breath.

“You know what, just leave me alone.” He huffed, kicking the shards on the ground. Once he scattered the glass all over the hall, he stormed off to his studio. Letting out a frustrated string of colorful words, he tore through more canvases than he cared to count. Punching a hole in one, then using another as target practice, half of the artwork was completely destroyed by the time Lutz showed up.

“I don't get it! Why am I so angry? Why can't I paint something like this?” Luciano exasperated, gesturing forcefully to the painting you were working on. Then, he marched up to the man and gripped the front of his tank. “Am I just that shit? But that can't be!”

At this point, Lutz was done with arguing.

“... You know what I'm about to say.”

Luciano threw his hands up as they chorused the same line simultaneously. “It looks the same as every other painting you've done--yeah, I know! I didn't really expect you to give me any useful advice. I just wanted you to listen to me.”

“Don't I always listen to you?”

“No--”

“Wasn't it me who suggested for you to go to that art gallery?”

“Yeah, but it's not like--it's not like you knew she was gonna show up! (F/N) being there only happened once in a blue moon. You were just lucky, so don't think you're a genius or anything, ha!”

Lutz scoffed, but his unimpressed expression quickly morphed into a shrewd one. “Accept it, liebling. You're down bad. Down astronomically. Just invite her over, and when she comes, you'll know what I mean. It's not the paintings you're making a fuss over.” He watched Luciano's hair spike up like a cat, then him light up like a Christmas tree. That little man was many things, but an honest person was not one of them.

“You think you're so smart, huh, cazzo?” Luciano pointed at him accusingly. “Well, I might just do it. Just to prove you wrong.”

When he left, Lutz clicked his tongue with raised brows.

“That's what you said last time...”

And invite you over he did. When he spotted a silhouette on the other side of the blurry glass, he sprung up from the couch and swung open the door with great gusto. There you were, as effortlessly charming as he remembered, and a little startled. You never had the chance to knock, nor process his scruffy appearance.

“Luci--hey! You look... A little more tired than I remember.”

Without a shred of hesitation, he grabbed your hand and pulled you to his bedroom. Yet again, his body was acting against his will, but perhaps, this was what he wanted in the first place. He just never admitted it. As he slowly came to terms with it, his eyes widened to dinner plates, and his heart pounded obnoxiously in his chest.

“Hey, what're you--”

He pointed wordlessly to the bed.

You shook your head, unable to figure out what he meant. “What do you want me to do?”

Luciano glowered at you, but it served as a stark contrast to the softness in his voice. “I'll pay you. As much as you want. Just stay there.” Seeing that you had yet to go along with his requests, he marched over to you and laid you down. Before you could object, he threw the blanket over you and tucked you in.

Sliding himself in from the other side, he scooted in and coiled his arms around your stomach. “Now, sleep.”

Breathing out a soft sigh, you rolled to him and brushed his mussy bangs back. “For someone so straightforward, you're not very honest, are you?” Sitting up to unzip your jacket, you proceeded to take your shirt off. When you stripped down, blood rushed to flush his cheeks as he came to realize he was completely love-struck.

“... Holy shit.”

Climbing onto his lap, you laughed over his lips and squeezed his neck. “You're really bad at hiding things. But like you said, I can read your mind.”

Luciano knitted his brows together. Then, he leaned in and pressed a kiss to your mouth. “And it's very invasive. Please stop it.”

“Only if you promise to pay me in the morning.”

“... You're not a prostitute.”

“Oh, but you are one too. We're all whores, if you think about it. We just sell different parts of ourselves.”

“Go to sleep, idiota.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

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thisguyatthemovies · 5 years ago

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Four for the price of one

“The Last Black Man in San Francisco” (on disc/streaming Aug. 13, 2019; rated R; directed by Joe Talbot; run time 2 hours) is a cinematic love letter to San Francisco, one full of postcard-worthy imagery and tender moments but also one that questions what the City by the Bay has become. The story follows friends Jimmie Fails (as a version of himself) and Jonathan Majors (as Mont). They are adult black males, underemployed but clinging to big dreams. Mont is a sweet, odd man who is an artist and wants to be a playwright. Jimmie is pensive and sensitive. And he is homeless, sleeping on the floor next to Mont’s bed in the home of Mont’s grandfather (Danny Glover). Jimmie and Mont often wheel around town on Jimmie’s skateboard. Jimmie has a fascination for an old Victorian home in the Filmore part of the city, a neighborhood once predominantly black but one now that has been revamped through gentrification. Without the owners’ permission, Jimmie starts fixing up the house. When it becomes vacant, he and Mont move in and plan to get the property through squatting. Their plan is foiled, though, by an aggressive real-estate agent who wants to sell the $4 million home – a price Jimmie can’t possibly afford. While “The Last Black Man in San Francisco” is a story about gentrification (the black population in the city has fallen from about 15 percent in the 1970s to 5 percent today, and a one-bedroom apartment can cost more than $4,000 a month in previously blighted areas of the city), but it makes its social commentary subtly and uniquely (but offers no answers), and through the friendship between Jimmie and Mort. A sort of Greek chorus of young men who hang out on the street ruthlessly insult each other and Jimmie and Mort, and they and others sometimes let the two know they aren’t as “black” or “masculine” as young black men are traditionally expected to be. Fails and Majors are excellent even when they aren’t saying much with words. First-time feature director Joe Talbot (a childhood friend of Fails) fills the movie with warm but decidedly urban imagery. The entire movie seems to have been filmed just before dusk on a warm autumn day. “The Last Man in San Francisco” was released to talk of being a Best Picture contender. And it is worthy of the academy’s consideration. Rating: 95 out of 100.

“Ready or Not” (in theaters Aug. 21, 2019; rated R; directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett; run time 1 hour, 35 minutes) is a horror story (and a gruesome one at that) that also is a thinly disguised condemnation of old wealth. It stars Samara Weaving as Grace, a young woman who is about to marry into money. That money belongs to the Le Domas family, who inherited their riches from a relative who made his fortune through board games – and apparently made a deal with the devil in the process. After she marries black sheep Alex Le Domas (Mark O’Brien), the family informs Grace she must participate in a Le Domas wedding night tradition. Grace and her new in-laws will play a game randomly chosen from a stack of cards. When Grace draws a hide-and-seek card, she laughs it off. But soon she realizes the game is deadly. Grace must stay hidden from her armed pursuers in the darkly lit family mansion (candles everywhere despite the film being set in the present day) until dawn the next day. If she survives, terrible things will happen to the Le Domas family. “Ready or Not” is brutal in its violence but also aspires to be a dark comedy, and in the end it does both better than average, but not a lot better than average. It seems to work best as an action/suspense film when the family is chasing Grace. The black comedy has its moments, but the laughs are sporadic and the dialogue annoying (and full of F-bombs). Also grating are some of the characters, particularly Alex’s Aunt Helene (Nicky Guardagni), who glares at Grace throughout and looks ridiculous in swept-back hair and too much eyeliner (there are many smoky eyes throughout). Weaving is the film’s strong suit, but she delivers a ridiculous one-word last line, one that simultaneously goes for a cheap laugh and groans. “Ready or Not” is bloodier and more contemporary but mines much of the same territory as last year’s “The Favourite.” Both want us to know that the wealthy are weird at best and dangerous at worst. Rating: 74 out of 100.

“Overcomer” (in theaters Aug. 23, 2019; rated PG; directed by Alex Kendrick; run time 1 hour, 55 minutes) is a movie with a message, one it doesn’t reveal (though a few hints are apparent) until about a third of the way through. And then it hammers home that message time and time again. “Overcomer” is a faith-based film directed by Alex Kendrick and co-written by him and his brother, Stephen Kendrick, who have made a series of Christian dramas that are produced inexpensively but do moderately well at the box office. Alex Kendrick also stars as John Harrison, a basketball coach at a Christian high school. The city where it is located is experiencing hard times. When the largest employer shuts down, Harrison’s best players start moving away and the school starts cutting jobs. The principal (Priscilla Shirer) assigns Harrison the school’s cross-country team. But just one runner, Hannah Scott (Aryn Wright-Thompson), a sophomore move-in with asthma and a penchant for small-time theft, tries out. Harrison is trying to come to grips with his situation when he, by chance, meets a hospitalized middle-aged man (Cameron Arnett) who just happens to be a former cross-country runner and expert on the sport. When Harrison seeks his help, he gets more than he bargained for. At this point in the story, “Overcomer” shifts from a potential teen sports drama to an all-out story of faith. Much of the dialogue in the second two-thirds is praying or talking about praying (and much crying), and Hannah finds the Lord with the help of her principal. The climactic scene takes place at the state cross-country finals. And since we only get to know one of the many runners, and since she is the only one who we are certain has found Christ, guess who wins the state championship? “Overcomer” is predictable and full of many plot conveniences, and the acting, to put it kindly, is not major motion picture caliber. But it is a nice enough film. And if you are in the choir it preaches to, the message will mean much more than the way it is delivered. Rating: 35 out 100.

“Suspiria” (2018; rated R; directed by Luca Guadagnino; run time 2 hours, 32 minutes) is a film that is not for everyone. And when I say not for everyone, I mean it’s a film not for many people at all. But if you are into artsy, pretentious (to say the least), macabre stories about witchcraft and the ritualistic mutilation of human bodies set against a backdrop of a 1970s German dance troupe, this is the movie you’ve been waiting for. “Suspiria” is a reboot (not really a remake) of director Dario Argento’s 1977 horror classic of the same name. In this version, Susan (Dakota Johnson) is a young American dancer who comes to Berlin in the 1970s to study at a prestigious dance academy, Markos Tanzgruppen. Something is amiss from the get-go, as Susan is replacing a dancer who left the academy under mysterious circumstances. A power struggle is taking place among the academy’s leadership, but for now it is being run by Madame Blanc (Tilda Swinton). She becomes enamored with Susan, whose talent is immediately apparent. But Madame Blanc has more in mind for Susan than her becoming the academy’s star dancer. In the meantime, an elderly, grieving psychotherapist, Dr. Josef Klemperer (played by “Lutz Ebersdorf”), is treating the displaced dancer, Patricia Hingle (Chloe Grace Moretz), who is convinced the academy is being run by a cloven of witches. Soon, other dancers are meeting Patricia’s fate. What lies ahead for Susan? “Suspiria” might be the darkest movie you see, literally. The lighting budget could not have been more than a few dollars; some of the scenes are so dark as to make it difficult or impossible to tell what is going on. The Berlin setting is bleak; apparently it was never not raining in 1970s Berlin. Swinton is fantastic, of course, playing three roles, including a man. But much of “Suspiria” will be lost (or worse) on your average movie-goer. The audio alone is disturbing, with the crystal-clear sounds of breaking bones, much heavy breathing and grunting, and a wonderfully and fittingly strange-but-beautiful score by Radiohead’s Thom Yorke. And there will be blood. And guts. And lots of them. If you can stomach it, and if you don’t mind a film that seems to jump the rails but keep plowing ahead (sometimes into unintentionally funny territory) about the two-hour mark, “Supspiria” can be rewarding and mesmerizing. Everyone else should take a pass, though. Rating: 78 out of 100.

#movies #movie reviews #movie recommendation #the last black man in san francisco #ready or not #overcomer #suspiria #Horror #faith-based films #gentrification

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2pcontinued · 6 years ago

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“What’s the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen?”

2p England/Oliver Kirkland: “The most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen? Hmm, that’s tough, considering that I’ve lived long enough to see many things that I deem beautiful and rating them is rather difficult. I suppose, it would be watching Allen graduate high school. In all honesty, nearly everybody that knew him believed that he would never actually stay in high school, but I never doubted him. He’s intelligent, and although he’s a little rowdy, he’s a hard worker and works and fights for what he believes in. When I saw him in his cap and gown, receiving his diploma and grinning like a mad man, I couldn’t help but feel proud. It truly brought tears to my eyes, how fast I realize time passes by. My goodness, I even find myself crying a little bit now, please excuse my dramatic state. Now, would you like scone? Everyone whose tried one has said that they’re absolutely scrumptious! I swear on my great grandfather’s grave, love!”

2p Russia/Viktor Braginski: “Is this an interview? How odd that you ask me a personal question. Nonetheless, you will receive an answer. The most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen was probably more of a feeling than a sight. It was Christmas Day, and I was very young at the time, a child. My elder sister, Khrystyna, had woken me up with joy in her eyes. She had told me that she had found enough money for us to have a small treat for the holiday. We later went and woke up Tanya, my younger sister, and Khrystyna dragged us to the nearest bakery. Mind you, we were incredibly poor at the time, we could barely afford to buy bread, but Khrystyna worked hard enough to get us a treat, and the thought itself was amazing, since we hadn’t indulged ourselves in nearly two years. When we got there, the sweet smell of fresh-baked pastries filled my lungs, and my siblings and I were utterly entranced in the warmth of the shop. Khrystyna had bought each of us Pirozhki with our desired fillings on the inside; Mine had cottage cheese, Khrystyna’s had apricot, and Tanya’s had cabbage. When we were eating them, we had exchanged jokes and such and made each other laugh so hard that we almost spit out the food. A warm feeling filled up my chest, and I realized that that emotion had been appreciation. I used to never thank my sisters for staying and caring for me, but now I think about it everyday. All because of a little Christmas treat. It’s quite silly, really, but it means a lot to me.”

2p Germany/Lutz Beilschmidt: “Ah, the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen, huh? well right now, your cute face is topping the list! I’m just kidding, although you are very attractive, I’ll have to fess up on what I think the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen was. It was probably back in my hometown in Germany. I had gotten lost there again, even though I should know the town that I spent the first fifteen years of my life in like the back of my hand. But, I guess a little mystery is good for such a small town so it can be more exciting for people like me. Now then, I had gotten lost in the nearby forest at the base of a mountain, and I was absolutely terrified. Imagine a little chubby fifteen-year-old me, only 5’3, with no sunscreen on my pasty skin and a bunch of wildlife noises around me. However, while I was there, I saw the most stunning stag. It was standing proudly, against the greenery, it’s antlers large and protruding, while I was watching. A nearby stream was there too, so it stopped to get a sip, and looked back up at me. Actually, we both made eye-contact and practically had a staring contest right then and there. Usually when it comes to animals, when you make eye-contact with them, they take it as a challenge and try to attack you, but he didn’t. I was insanely scared, but it just stared at me with it’s big brown eyes. After a few seconds, it looked to its left, and ran off in the same direction. Only until I found my way out of the forest later and was at home, did I realize how amazing that encounter was. It was like it was out of a movie. That gorgeous stag had me entranced by it’s grace and steadiness. I guess that’s why I like stags so much now, haha. Anyway, shall we drink to my experience? I certainly think that it won’t be a waste of beer, my friend.”

2p Prussia/Gilen Beilschmidt: “I’m quite flattered that you’re interested in what I have to say. You deserve an honest answer, and I’m going to give one to you. I guess my most beautiful memory would have to be recent. I went to this really nice vintage ice cream parlor that I heard was really good through some gaming friends of mine, and I figured that I could go and check it out for myself. Haha, thinking back on it now it was probably pretty immature of me to visit a place intended for children, but I definitely don’t regret it, especially considering the experience I got out of acting out on my childish urges. I ordered my favorite ice cream flavors, Oreo, Rocky Road, and Brownie, in a sundae with hot fudge and and whipped cream and extra peanuts. Suddenly, a little boy with lovely dark skin and curly black hair walked up to where I was sitting outside of the parlor, on the porch at a white table. He couldn’t be any older than six years old, and he looked at me with wonder. When I was going to ask him if he needed help or was lost, he said ‘Hey! Why do you have white hair and red eyes?’. I was embarrassed at first, but I answered anyway. I told him that it was because I had a certain medical condition, called Albinism. He smiled widely, and giggled in response. I could feel my face turning red, but he spoke again. ‘That’s so cool! I think it makes you look like a superhero! Do you have any special powers?’ I wanted to be funny, so I gave a small smile and told him that I’m also from another planet, one where everybody has the ability to make things disappear, and in response, he told me he didn’t believe me. When he said that, I ate the sundae in front of me as quickly as possible, then I told him that I was telling the truth, and that my empty bowl was proof. He laughed at my actions. That laugh was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. The way a child’s face lights up when they feel happy, is a sight that I can never get tired of. His parents came by and excused his behavior, and I told them that it was no problem. He left soon after, and I just sat there thinking that making people happy is what really makes this world such a wonderful place to live in. Oh, I’m sorry to waste so much of your time! You can leave if you’d like to now, but I just want to thank you for asking me a personal question. I’m surprised that you’re still here, anyway.”

(This is for @sleepyhungrycat! Thank you for requesting this, this was so much fun to write! Thank you for allowing me to fulfill your request, and have a lovely day! ❤️)

#2p hetalia #2p england #2p russia #2p germany #2p prussia

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mystiquemaple · 6 years ago

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6 Thrillers to Read While You Wait for The Girl on the Train

In early 2015, a debut novel titled The Girl on the Train garnered quite a bit of hype when it opened at No. 1 on the New York Times bestseller list—and stayed there for 13 weeks.

On October 7, the highly anticipated movie adaptation of Paula Hawkins’ novel opens in theaters, starring Emily Blunt as a troubled woman who becomes involved in a missing person case after seeing something suspicious from her seat on the train.

If you have already read The Girl on the Train and need to get your female-led psychological thriller fix elsewhere while you wait for the film, pick up one (or more!) of these six page-turners:

1. Until You’re Mine, Samantha Hayes

Claudia is a wife and stepmother who is pregnant with a much-wanted first baby of her own. But there’s something about her new nanny that Claudia cannot trust, and a series of violent attacks on pregnant women in the area only heightens her vulnerability.

Why You’ll Love It: This thriller shares some major themes with The Girl on the Train, including characters struggling with infertility and an “outsider” who becomes enmeshed in a family’s life. (Instead of a passerby on a train, Until You’re Mine features a nanny with a murky motive for working in a particular family’s home.)

2. Sharp Objects, Gillian Flynn

Fresh from a brief stay at a psychiatric hospital, Camille returns to her hometown to cover the murders of two preteen girls. For years, Camille has hardly spoken to her family. Now, installed in her old bedroom, Camille must unravel the psychological puzzle of her own past if she wants to get the story—and survive this homecoming.

Why You’ll Love It: The Girl on the Train was constantly compared to Gone Girl, but Gillian Flynn’s other thrilling novels are also un-put-down-able and possibly even more disturbing. Readers who felt empathy for Rachel’s instability in The Girl on the Train might feel similar emotions for Camille as she fights to overcome her own psychological struggles in Sharp Objects.

3. Black-Eyed Susans, Julia Heaberlin

Nearly two decades ago, Tessa was found barely alive in a Texas field—the lone survivor of a serial killer. But when events suggest the wrong man was sent to prison, Tessa turns to the lawyers working to exonerate the man she testified against. As the clock ticks toward his execution, Tessa fears for her sanity and the safety of her teenaged daughter.

Why You’ll Love It: In The Girl on the Train, Rachel suffers memory loss and confusion from her alcohol abuse. In Black-Eyed Susans, Tessa struggles to move on with her life after surviving an attack by a serial killer that she can barely remember. And in both novels, there may still be a killer on the loose.

4. The Passenger, Lisa Lutz

After leaving her husband’s body at the base of the stairs, Tanya demands a new name from a shadowy voice over the phone and flees town. She meets Blue, who recognizes the hunted look in her eyes and forms an uneasy―and dangerous―alliance. It’s almost impossible to live off the grid today, but Tanya and Blue have the courage, ingenuity, and desperation to try.

Why You’ll Love It: Like Rachel’s chapters in The Girl on the Train, this story is told from the point of view of a woman with secrets and an agenda of her own, which means her memories can’t always be taken at face value. If you appreciated the added layer of mystery created by Rachel’s unreliable account of events, you’ll enjoy this narrator’s uncertain past and hidden motives.

The Widow, Fiona Barton

After Jean’s husband dies, she doesn’t have to stay quiet anymore. There’s a lot Jean hasn’t said over the years about the crime her husband was suspected of committing, but now there are people who want to hear her story. The truth—that’s all anyone wants. But the one lesson Jean has learned in the last few years is that she can make people believe anything.

Why You’ll Love It: Whereas a grown woman goes missing in The Girl on the Train, it is a young girl who disappears in The Widow. In both novels, the main characters might know more about the missing person than they let on, and both women have to confront uncomfortable rumors (or truths) about their husbands and their marriages.

6. Pretty Girls, Karin Slaughter

More than twenty years ago, Claire and Lydia’s teenaged sister Julia vanished without a trace. The two women have not spoken since, but when Claire’s husband is unexpectedly killed, the estranged sisters reunite to investigate a horrifying discovery that dredges up painful memories of their family’s past.

Why You’ll Love It: OK, we admit it—this book isn’t really that similar to The Girl on the Train other than its focus on a missing girl. BUT, if you are looking for another book to keep you up reading until 3 a.m., this book certainly delivers.

The post 6 Thrillers to Read While You Wait for The Girl on the Train appeared first on Mystique Maple Designs.

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gotojobin · 5 years ago

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#HonzukiNoGekokujouShishoNiNaruTameNiWaShudanWoErandeiraremasen #AscendanceOfaBookworm #本好きの下剋上司書になるためには手段を選んでいられません #HonzukiNoGekokujō #ShishoNiNaruTameNiwaShudanoErandeiraremasen #KingDevinJoseph #Weaboo #WéäBóo #キングデビンジョセフ #おたく #Otaku #オタク #GotoJobin #後藤Jobin #デヴィンジョセフ王 #Weeb #WeebDar #王デヴィンジョセフ 1. 7 The Budding of Distrust Finally, we are going to make paper, and it is exciting Mine. Mine and Lutz call from Benno. Benno says he will procure the materials needed to make paper. Mine negotiated with Benno about material collateral and future assistance. And, the contract magic is concluded using mysterious ink. On the way back, however, Main is always worried that Lutz's cheerful attitude is distant. Lutz felt uncomfortable with Mine, who was unconcerned and talking to Benno. STAFF Screenplay: Yuko Ishiyama / Storyboard Director: Yoshiki Kawasaki / Director: Toshihisa Kaitani / Drawing Director: Kanako Tsuji. 2. 7 Growing distrust Mine is excited to finally make paper. Benno calls out to Mine and Lutz. He says that Benno will procure the materials needed to make paper. Mine negotiated with Benno on collateral for material and future assistance. Using magical ink, he signs contract magic. But on the way home, Mine is always worried that Lutz's cheerful attitude is unfriendly. Lutz felt uncomfortable with Mine, who talks with Benno in a calm and difficult way. STAFF Screenplay: Yuko Ishiyama / Storyboard, Direction: Yoshiki Kawasaki / Total Animation Director: Toshihisa Kaiya / Animation Director: Kanako Tsuji. https://www.instagram.com/p/B6UOyPbHNfd/?igshid=1juf0t24thykg

#honzukinogekokujoushishoninarutameniwashudanwoerandeiraremasen #ascendanceofabookworm #本好きの下剋上司書になるためには手段を選んでいられません #honzukinogekokujō #shishoninarutameniwashudanoerandeiraremasen #kingdevinjoseph #weaboo #wéäbóo #キングデビンジョセフ #おたく #otaku #オタク #gotojobin #後藤jobin #デヴィンジョセフ王 #weeb #weebdar #王デヴィンジョセフ

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todaynewsstories · 6 years ago

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Who’s the mystery actor in horror remake Suspiria? Not me, says Tilda Swinton

VENICE, Italy (Reuters) – He is a key character in the remake of 1970s horror movie “Suspiria”, but no one has heard of the actor playing elderly psychiatrist Jozef Klemperer, and there are rumors he is actually co-star Tilda Swinton in disguise.

Ahead of the film’s world premiere on Saturday, Swinton, known for her remarkable physical transformations in films, read out a message from the actor, Lutz Ebersdorf, supposedly a 82-year-old retired performance artist and psychoanalyst, who chose not to attend the Venice Film Festival.

“To the esteemed ladies and gentlemen of the press, I am very sorry not to be able to greet you in person, I am a private individual who prefers to remain private,” Swinton read to reporters at a news conference.

“To quote Dr Klemperer: ‘the illusion that is the handwork of my colleagues is not mine’,” she continued – possibly a clue to Ebersdorf not really existing.

Ebersdorf’s only credit on the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) is for “Suspiria”, the remake of Dario Argento’s bloody classic from 1977, and in the statement read out by Swinton, he says he has no plans to make other movies.

One reporter tried to trick Swinton, 57, into admitting she really did play Klemperer, a frail, gray-haired man haunted by his past who gets drawn into the sinister world of a dance school in Berlin, asking her why she had played two roles.

“What two roles?” she replied.

When the reporter suggested that in additional to her role as Madame Blanc, the dance school’s domineering choreographer, Swinton also played Klemperer, she responded:

The 75th Venice International Film Festival – Photocall for the film “Suspiria” competing in the Venezia 75 section – Venice, Italy, September 1, 2018 – Cast member Tilda Swinton. REUTERS/Tony Gentile

“As you will see from the credits and on all the posters, Dr Klemperer is played by Lutz Ebersdorf who sent a message that I read just now.” Swinton kept a straight face but the news conference erupted in laughter.

The reporter pressed his case: “So there is an Oscar campaign that’s going to be for this…”

“For Lutz Ebersdorf? I hope,” Swinton replied, with a wink.

“Suspiria”, directed by Luca Guadagnino who made the acclaimed “Call Me by Your Name”, follows Susie, an ingenue American played by Dakota Johnson, excited but daunted as she arrives to study at the prestigious dance school where strange older women seem to have supernatural control over the girls.

Johnson denied rumors that filming the gory “Suspiria” had sent her into psychoanalysis, but admitted it had had some impact.

“When you are working sometimes with dark subject matter it can stay with you and then to talk to somebody really nice about it afterwards is a really nice way to move on from the project – and my therapist is a really nice woman!”

“It wasn’t that this film sent me to a psych ward, I just have a lot of feelings.”

Jessica Harper, who played Susie in the original “Suspiria”, returns in the remake as the wife of Dr Klemperer. She insisted the actor playing her husband was Lutz Ebersdorf.

“I personally loved working with Lutz Elbersdorf,” she told the news conference. “I found him an incredible acting partner.”

The 75th Venice International Film Festival – Photocall?for the film “Suspiria” competing in the Venezia 75 section – Venice, Italy, September 1, 2018 – Actors Fabrizia Sacchi, Chloe Moretz, Tilda Swinton, Jessica Harper, Dakota Johnson and Mia Goth. REUTERS/Tony Gentile

“Suspiria” is one of 21 films in the main competition at the Venice Film Festival that ends on Sept 8.

Reporting by Robin Pomeroy; Editing by Alexandra Hudson

Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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newsintodays-blog · 6 years ago

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Who's the mystery actor in horror remake Suspiria? Not me, says Tilda Swinton

New Post has been published on http://newsintoday.info/2018/09/02/whos-the-mystery-actor-in-horror-remake-suspiria-not-me-says-tilda-swinton/

Who's the mystery actor in horror remake Suspiria? Not me, says Tilda Swinton

“To quote Dr Klemperer: ‘the illusion that is the handwork of my colleagues is not mine’,” she continued – possibly a clue to Ebersdorf not really existing.

“What two roles?” she replied.

When the reporter suggested that in additional to her role as Madame Blanc, the dance school’s domineering choreographer, Swinton also played Klemperer, she responded:

The reporter pressed his case: “So there is an Oscar campaign that’s going to be for this…”

“For Lutz Ebersdorf? I hope,” Swinton replied, with a wink.

Johnson denied rumors that filming the gory “Suspiria” had sent her into psychoanalysis, but admitted it had had some impact.

“It wasn’t that this film sent me to a psych ward, I just have a lot of feelings.”

Jessica Harper, who played Susie in the original “Suspiria”, returns in the remake as the wife of Dr Klemperer. She insisted the actor playing her husband was Lutz Ebersdorf.

“I personally loved working with Lutz Elbersdorf,” she told the news conference. “I found him an incredible acting partner.”

“Suspiria” is one of 21 films in the main competition at the Venice Film Festival that ends on Sept 8.

Reporting by Robin Pomeroy; Editing by Alexandra Hudson

Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Source link

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askdashicorn · 7 years ago

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New fossil find might suggest a human origin in Europe

The teeth are unlike anything ever found inEuropeor Asia and will force us to reexamine the theory that humans originated from Africa.

The discovery was made near the German town ofEppelsheim in a former bed of the Rhine river. Due to sheer confusion researchers held off on publishing their research for the past year, that is until they released a preprinttoday. We spoke with the study's lead authorHerbert Lutzto find out more about the work.

Dig site inEppelsheim. Credit: Bastian Lischewsky

ResearchGate: What's so exciting about this find?

Herbert Lutz: The fossils we've found aren't what we'd expect for the area we found them in. We don't know where this new species fits in the family tree. There are similarities to species that lived in Europe around this time. But one tooth, the canine, differs from these. We know of similar examples from Africa, but these new finds are considerably older. We don't want to speculate, but we wonder what could explain that. That investigation is just starting.

RG: What other types of primates existed in Europe at that time, and how does your find fit into the picture?

Lutz: In the Miocene-we're talking about a window of time more or less 10 million years before present-there were multiple primate species in Europe, but they mostly lived near the Mediterranean. My colleagues in Spain, Italy, Turkey, Hungary have plenty of archaeological material from this time. But once you get north of the Alps, the fossil situation is very, very sparse. This region, Eppelsheim in Rhenish Hesse, is the northernmost site for deposits from this time period in existence. Over the last 200 years, around ten primate species were found there. Almost all of these finds were lost in the Second World War. This is not only the first time something like this has been found here in over 80 years, but it's something completely new, something previously unknown to science.

RG: Can you say already what this find will mean for our understanding of human history?

Lutz: We want to hold back on speculation. What these finds definitely show us is that the holes in our knowledge and in the fossil record are much bigger than previously thought. So we've got the puzzle of having finds that, in terms of the expected timeline, don't fit the region we found them in. We've got two teeth from a single individual. That means there must have been a whole population. It wouldn't have been just one, all alone like Robinson Crusoe. So the question is, if we're finding primate species all around the Mediterranean area, why not any like this? It's a complete mystery where this individual came from, and why nobody's ever found a tooth like this somewhere before.

Molar (left) and canine (right) fossils found in Germany raise questions about human history. Credit: Naturhistorisches Museum Mainz

RG: Do you have any ideas as to how this could happen?

Lutz: It's possible that, with the morphology of this canine tooth being so similar to more recent examples from Africa, the species could be related. That would mean that a group of primates was in Europe before they were in Africa.

There's also the phenomenon of convergence, when evolutionary pressure causes the same characteristic to develop in multiple locations. Now the questions is whether it's possible that's what happened. There are few thousand kilometers between the species in East Africa and here in Central Europe, and millions of years. Is it possible that this uncannily similar characteristic developed two times, completely independently of one another. So here we are, perplexed. We want to collaborate with other researchers to process these finds, and hopefully in one or two years, we'll know a lot more about what we've got on our hands. It's definitely a fantastic, exciting story.

RG: What are the next steps?

Lutz: We'll get in touch with our colleagues, who are just as surprised and dumbfounded as we are right now. We want to bring in specialists in particular investigative methods. The preservation of the crown of the tooth and it's enamel is absolutely outstanding. These teeth are as well preserved as if I'd ripped them out yesterday. So we can use high-resolution x-rays to examine the inner structure of the enamel. That can give you information about the individual's age and the development of this particular animal, things like stunted growth. It's similar to tree rings. Another colleague of mine is focusing on wear on the chewing surface. There are tiny scratches and indentations, and there are areas where the tooth is chewed up. From all of this, you can draw conclusions about diet. These are all investigations that can be done really well with these samples, but we're just getting started with all that.

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