artlovers’ movie critic, JAN ALBERT is an award winning TELEVISON,
RADIO, & PRINT producer, director & writer.
among her many accomplishments:
…. the A&E Biography of GLORIA STEINEM & the TV LAND biography of JOHNNY CARSON
She was awarded an EMMY in 1985 for: ‘Outstanding Coverage of a News Breaking Story’: for her role as,
PRODUCER, ‘Bhopal’, CBS Evening News
…. from 1981-1995 she was the PRODUCER/HOST of: ‘WBAI-FM Behind the Screens’
a long-running weekly series featuring interviews with directors, actors and screenwriters,
including: Akira Kurosawa, Jim Jarmusch, Emma Thompson, Spaulding Grey, and many others
…. from 1985 to 1991 she was the WRITER for ACOUSTIGUIDE, writing the audio tours, that became so popular,
for The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and The Library of Congress, among other institutions throughout the U.S.
She currently teaches a class on INDEPENDENT FILMMAKING in NEW YORK CITY,
at FILM/VIDEO ARTS, see: FILM/VIDEO ARTS: JAN ALBERT
The above image: is the card for the NOV/DEC 2005 showing of: Claude Sautet’s
CLASSE TOUS RISQUES at the FILM FORUM.
~Jan Albert |
Posted in Mystery Card | By Nancy Smith | November 18th, 2005, 3:13pm
Film Review
November 18, 2005 by JAN ALBERT
Don’t let this little film noir gem slip through the cracks again !
Originally released in 1960, just as the New Wave rushed in, Classe Tous Risques
(which is a play on a kind of French insurance policy and also slang for “tourist class”)
got lost in the shuffle. It hasn’t been shown in America in more than 40 years, but
it feels very fresh.
A couple of lines of pulp fiction narration introduce world weary tough guy Abel Davos
(Lino Ventura) and his partner seconds before they pull an audacious payroll heist on
a crowded Milano street. Then comes the exhilarating chase; cross borders by car,
motorcycle, boat, ambulance, and finally on foot. On the lam with 2 kids, the cops
are closing in and Davos calls in some favors. The former partners in crime he sprang
from the joint back in the day are now sitting pretty in Paris and not eager to get
involved. Still, it’s payback time and they send a very young Jean Paul Belmondo
(his next film, Breathless, would make him a star) to bring the old gang boss back
home with the help of (pre-Fellini) vavavoom Sandra Milo.
The gangsters and the good guys all have great faces, and the film is full of beautiful
touches throughout; a muddied high heel, a surreptitious meet in the Nice post office.
Director Claude Sautet includes a lovely first kiss in a great old Parisian elevator
and a pass the time of day exchange between our desparate criminal and a house maid
fetching water in the building where he’s hiding out —- moments that may add
nothing to the arc of the screenplay but are the stuff that make movies live in your heart.
Our anti-hero follows his code of ethics to the very end, taking care of his kids’ future,
making peace with his friends and fixing his enemies, before meeting his destiny
like a man.
Make it a film noir night to remember — rent Rififi and Touchez-pas au Grisbi, two
other fabulous French underworld flicks rescued from unjust obscurity by Film Forum
programmer Bruce Goldstein and Rialto Pictures.
Regrettably, they really don’t make them like this anymore.
~Classe Tous Risques |
Posted in Movie Reviews | By Jan Albert | November 18th, 2005, 1:23pm
Princess Gloria von Thurn und Taxis, photograph by Juergen Teller, on the front cover of the auction catalog:
Contemporary Art From the Collection of Princess Gloria von Thurn und Taxis,
Phillips de Pury & Company, November 7 & 8, 2005, New York
LOT 37
KEITH HARING, 1958-1992, Cruella De Vil
acrylic on canvas, 60 x 60 in, executed in 1984
estimate: $250,000-350,000
LOT 90
CINDY SHERMAN, B. 1954, Untitled
signed, titled, numbered and dated on a label adhered to the reverse
cibachrome, 57-7/8 x 38-3/4 in, executed in 1994, this work is from an edition of six
estimate: $60,000-80,000
LOT 5
PAUL McCARTHY, B. 1945, Michael Jackson Green and Red 1
C-print in multiple parts mounted with plexiglas, foamcore, and wood
108 x 70-7/8 in, executed in 2003,
this work is unique and is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity signed by the artist
estimate: $80,000-120,000
note: the above 4 images scanned from the Phillips de Pury & Company catalog:
Contemporary Art From the Collection of Princess Gloria von Thurn und Taxis,
November 7 & 8, 2005, New York
LOT 9
ELIZABETH PEYTON, B. 1965, Sid And His Mum
oil on board, 17 x 12 in, executed in 1994
estimate: $200,000-300,000
LOT 66
MARTIN KIPPENBERGER, 1953-1997, Theoretisches Bild-Mein Zahnstocher
oil on canvas, 120 x 97 in, executed in 1983
estimate: $200,000-300,000
LOT 73 (detail)
ANDREAS GURSKY, B. 1955, Atlanta
signed, titled, numbered of six and dated “Atlanta ’96 A. Gursky” on the reverse
chromogenic color print, 73-1/4 x 100-3/4 in, executed in 1996,
this work is from an edition of six
estimate: $200,000-300,000
LOT 20 (detail: close-up)
DAMIEN HIRST, B. 1966, After Stubbs
cigarette butts, MDF and glass wall mounted cabinet, 48 x 72 in
executed in 1993
estimate: $600,000-800,000
note: the above 4 images scanned from the Phillips de Pury & Company
Part I – Contemporary Art catalog
November 10, 2005, New York
LOT 163
THOMAS RUFF, B. 1958, Nudes gr20
signed, titled, numbered of five and dated “Th Ruff 2003 gr 20” on the reverse
chromogenic color print mounted with diasec face, 43-1/4 x 65 in
executed in 2003, this work is from an edition of five
estimate $80,000-120,000
LOT 189
MATTHEW BARNEY B. 1967, Cremaster 5: The Menagerie of the Queen of Chain
C-print in artist’s self-lubricating acrylic frame, 27 x 23 in
executed in in 1996, this work is from an edition of 30 plus six artist’s proofs
estimate: $12,000-18,000
LOT 173
CINDY SHERMAN, B. 1954, Untitled #66 (Biker)
signed and dated “To David for his 30th year-Always look both ways…Best Wishes and Lots of Love Cindy ’89”
below image in the white margin
C-print, 14 x 18 in, executed in 1989, this work is unique in this size
estimate: $20,000-30,000
LOT 178
RICHARD PRINCE, B. 1949, Untitled (Cowboy with Steer)
signed, dedicated and dated “R Prince 2000” on the reverse
color coupler print, 24-1/2 x 48-3/4 in, executed in 2000
this work is a unique printer’s proof
estimate: $80,000-120,000
note: the above 4 images scanned from the Phillips de Pury & Company
PART II – Contemporary Art catalog
November 11, 2005, New York
The PHILLIPS auction of contemporary art, November 7-11, although chock-full of Warhols, like the Sotheby’s contemporary auction, is a sale that will appeal more to younger collectors who are willing to take risks on less establshed (secondary market) artists. That, and the relatively lower prices for these art objects, should make for an exciting auction.
On November 7th and 8th, part of the vast collection of Princess Gloria von Thurn und Taxis goes up for sale. Phillips has produced a beautiful catalog, with a foreword by Bob Colacello and a JUERGEN TELLER photograph of the Princess, on the cover. This kind of impeccable provinance should add glamour and value to the auction.
The collection, for the most part, is in the spirit of LOT 37, Keith Haring’s “Cruella De Vil” 1984, in other words: “dark fun”. The Cindy Sherman “Untitled” 1994, (LOT 90), a photograph of a cooking clown, and the two Paul McCarthys (LOTS 5 & 21) are great examples of that spirit. It’s a wild collection and the action should be lots of fun.
On November 10th, at 7 pm, Part I of the Phillips Contemporary Art auction has some interesting offerings. Elizabeth Peyton (LOT 9), Martin Kippenberger (LOT 33, 66), and Andreas Gursky (LOT 73) are sprinkled among the usual suspects, such as: Jeff Koons (LOT 35, 65), Roy Lichtenstein (LOTS 45, 47) and Andy Warhol (LOTS 42, 43). These, along with the four Damien Hirsts and the three Richard Princes, should keep the collectors’ desires – stoked!
In Part II, on November 11th, at 10 am, the lots are all from the collection of DIDIER and CLEMENCE KRZENTOWSKI – where photography is king. There is a voluptuous Thomas Ruff nude from 2003 (LOT 163), some great Matthew Barneys (LOTS 188-190), with their very elegant frames, three Cindy Shermans (LOTS 121, 173, 174), and a large assortment of Richard Princes. This underlines the fact that the dominant aesthetic in contemporary art for the last few years has been, and still is, photography.
Didier and Clemence Krzentowski in their Paris apartment, photograph by: Philippe Munda
image scanned from the Phillips de Pury & Company
PART II – Contemporary Art catalog
November 11, 2005, New York
~Phillips – Part I/Nov 2005 |
Posted in The Bomb | By Simon Cerigo | November 4th, 2005, 1:00pm
LOT 22
DAMIEN HIRST, B. 1966, Love Lost
acquatic tank, large river fish, filtration unit, couch, table, gynecological stool, surgical
instruments, computer, jewelry, cup, 107-7/8 x 83-7/8 x 83-7/8 in
executed in 1999,
estimate: $800,000-1,200,000
LOT 22 (detail)
DAMIEN HIRST, B. 1966, Love Lost
(see above)
note: above 2 images scanned from the Phillips de Pury & Company
Part I – Contemporary Art catalog
November 10, 2005, New York
LOT 164
THOMAS RUFF, B. 1958, w.h.s. 10.
signed, titled, numbered of five and dated “Th Ruff w.h.s. 10 2001” on the reverse
Chromogenic color print mounted with diasec in wooden frame
51-1/8 x 67 in, executed in 2001. This work is from an edition of five plus two artist’s proofs
estimate: $30,000-40,000
LOT 165
THOMAS RUFF, B. 1958, Nudes pus 10
signed, numbered of five and dated “Thomas Ruff 2000” on the reverse
chromogenic color print mounted with diasec face in wooden frame, 52-1/2 x 47-1/2 in
executed in 2000
estimate: $25,000-35,000
LOT 187
MAURIZIO CATTELAN, B. 1960, untitled
black and white photograph mounted to shaped aluminum, 47-1/4 x 74-7/8 x 7/8 in
executed in 1995, this work is unique and is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity
estimate $100,000-150,000
note: above 3 images scanned from the Phillips de Pury & Company
Part II – Contemporary Art catalog
November 11, 2005, New York
~Phillips – Part II/Nov 2005 |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | November 4th, 2005, 10:16am
