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Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Visual Art / Film You Do Not Care About Fireworks: Here's Some Good Watchin' for Tonight

Posted by Jen Graves on Wed, Jul 4, 2012 at 4:06 PM

This is part one of Todd Haynes's 43-minute movie Superstar, a cult VHS hit that made his name (he went on to create films like Poison and Far From Heaven), and that's a centerpiece of the VHS exhibition at New York's Museum of Arts and Design.

It's the Karen Carpenter story, told in Barbies.

Unbelievably, it's not campy. This is a true horror film, a sociological horror film, with spliced-in slides of feminist academese and footage from events contemporary to the rise and death of the anorexic singer: female bodies dumped on a pile in Vietnam, maps of Cambodia, Nixon on TV. But most of the action is by the Barbies—so many types of Barbies who nevertheless look all the same. Karen's mom is a monstrous-looking aged Barbie. I'd almost forgotten how outlineless everything in VHS footage is.

You'll be glad you watched it.

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Wow. Despite the terrible VHS production values, a fine telling of her tragic story. I grew up listening to this music and always dismissed it as campy Bacharach produced pop. Which it was. Recently, though, I've given it another listen. Her voice was amazing. She played drums! And, although she never believed it, she was a very pretty woman. So sad.

Oh, and yay for Barbies tempering the sad.

Thanks.

Posted by Johnston on July 4, 2012 at 5:28 PM

The whole movie can be seen here http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=…

Posted by Lurleen on July 4, 2012 at 6:29 PM

I'm watching back to back episodes of the ID channel's I Almost Got Away With It.

Show about people who commit crimes and evade the law for years...decades even. In the end, the technology catches up with them...

But I'm taking a break to enjoy the endless free fire zone outside my balcony. This is Kent...our street fireworks are serious.

Posted by Supreme Ruler Of The Universe

on July 4, 2012 at 10:49 PM

Where are all the Carpenters tribute bands?

Posted by I Got Nuthin' on July 5, 2012 at 12:04 AM

What is the legal status of the film these days? Does anyone know? I remember it was forced out of regular circulation because Karen's brother, being unhappy with his portrayal in the movie, didn't authorize the use of Carpenters' songs for it.
Oh, and it's a wonderful movie; if you've never seen it before, do it.

Posted by Brunobär on July 5, 2012 at 2:17 AM

She was a Downey girl
http://youtu.be/5YAR7oRTFg0

Posted by David Thompson on July 5, 2012 at 7:05 AM

@5: funny you should ask:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/01/movies…

Posted by brocaine

on July 5, 2012 at 7:33 AM

Thank you so much for posting this. I was just talking about it this week and wondering where to see it. I was suprised to find the wholwe thing on YouTube, mainly because I thought the family would never allow it.

I spent my afternoon of the 4rth soaking in it...

Posted by M. Wells on July 5, 2012 at 10:40 AM