Pablo Picasso (Taschen Basic Art Series)
Pablo Picasso (Taschen Basic Art Series)
Customer Review: Excellent value
(A review of the papeback editon)
The two volume book is arranged in seventeen chapters concluding with a considerable Chronology illustrated with numerous black and white pictures, mostly photographs with many of the artist, Notes, a Bibliography which includes exhibition catalogues, and a rather brief (one page) Index of Names.
The opening Chapter reminds us of the stature of the man, and of his prodigious output; briefly summarising his career. The subsequent Chapters chronicle Picasso’s progress starting with his childhood efforts, through the Blue and Rose Periods, Cubism, “Guernica” to mention just a few and concluding with “The Legend of the Artist”. It is intelligently written, accessible and makes very interesting reading. The illustrations run with the text and are usually within a page or two of the relevant reference.
Produced in two paperback volumes in a cardboard slipcase Taschen’s 25 anniversary edition is an impressive effort. It is superbly illustrated throughout with approaching 1,500 images mainly in colour but with a few back and white (usually drawings or photographs). The smallest pictures are just thumbnails, the largest full page and the occasional double page spread, with every size between; but there are plenty of good sized pictures with whole sections of colour plates, it certainly makes an impressive array. Overall the pictures far outweigh the text.
At such good value for money it is hard to be critical of this two volume set, but I fear I have two concerns. Firstly the Index seems wholly inadequate, an Index of Names which amounts to one page; finding a particular painting or anything else might prove difficult. Secondly, while the two volumes come protected in a slipcase, the card covers (paperback edition) to the individual volumes feel very slight; with each approaching 400 pages one feels one has to handle them with great care for fear of damaging the binding. It is however a very worthwhile set, one would be hard pressed to find so many reproductions of Picasso’s work elsewhere for the money,
and would not hesitate to recommend it.
Customer Review: A 'Must Have' book for Picasso lovers.
A must have for anyone really. Lovely cover, big print, easy to get around and absorb. Educational for those who are not familiar with his work. Now a classic really for it refers to last rather than this century.
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Are you quick on the draw? Even harder, can you put a title to someone else’s masterpiece?
Customer Review: Picasso the funniest game around
Picasso is a very simple game to play with few rules, but so much fun. It’s best if you can’t draw too well; the fun is all in the ridiculous suggestions that the other competitors come up with for your drawings. Even ardent Pictionary fans have agreed that this is much better.
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Under Fire was one of a trio of notable films from the mid-1980s about journalists involved in Third World war zones. While certainly a lesser film than Salvador (1986) or The Killing Fields (1984) Roger Spottiswoode’s movie is still a commendable work from a director who later brought a similarly political edge to Noriega: God’s Favourite (2000).
Nick Nolte plays an American photo-journalist covering the civil war in Nicaragua in 1979, finding himself caught in a dangerous and cynical web of duplicity and self-interest, as well as falling in love with fellow American, Claire (Joanna Cassidy). Nolte gradually uncovers the degree of his own government’s involvement with the corrupt regime, and inevitably ends up crossing the line from neutral observer to helping the rebel cause.
Under Fire is in essence a reworking of Casablanca, especially as Gene Hackman’s network newsman proves to be Cassidy’s ex-lover, yet thanks to an intelligent script, strong support from Ed Harris as a mercenary and some genuinely unnerving and frightening scenes of the random chaos of war, it’s one which packs a powerful punch. Jerry Goldsmith’s evocative score is among his best of the 1980s.
On the DVD: Under Fire is presented in an anamorphic 1.77:1 transfer which is very clean and clear with minimal grain. The well-mixed Dolby Pro-logic soundtrack is highly effective, if not so startling as a 5.1 track. Beyond multi-language and subtitle options, the only extra is the original trailer, which is also anamorphically enhanced. –Gary S Dalkin
Customer Review: Taking sides
Under Fire is one of the few mainstream American `political’ movies to emerge from the studio system, but along with Missing it’s probably the best. On one level it grafts a traditional romantic triangle onto its story of American war correspondents in Nicaragua gradually finding themselves drawn to taking sides instead of taking pictures, but at least it’s a convincingly grown-up relationship that allows Nick Nolte, Gene Hackman and a never better Joanna Cassidy to really shine. It’s a shame that Cassidy never got more opportunities like this: a last-minute replacement for Julie Christie, she’s extraordinarily good here. The film also boasts an impressive supporting cast, with a star-making turn from Ed Harris as an amiable but deadly mercenary a standout, although Jean-Louis Tritignant’s deceptively unsubtle CIA man gives him a run for his money (not so much for his performance - his English was non-existent and it’s obvious he’s learned his lines phonetically - but because he has most of the film’s best dialog). Extremely well directed by Roger Spottiswoode with a promise he never really fulfilled, it’s an impressive albeit partisan portrait of a country decaying in the last stages of revolution and also boasts what is possibly Jerry Goldsmith’s finest score (which is saying quite something). Impressive stuff. The DVD’s only extra is the superb theatrical trailer, although it does boast a decent widescreen transfer.
Customer Review: A film with new resonance
Set in civil war torn Nicaragua where the US was propping up the regime of a Dictator (Antonio Somoza) against a popular left wing uprising. Stars Nick Nolte Joanna Cassidy and Gene Hackman. The heroes all make poor choices and are flawed, for both good and bad reasons. The journalists become committed to one side in the conflict, and in this action harm those they wish to support, and yet ultimately an honest piece of reporting does produce change. Thus it addresses the eternal dilemma for journalists who must ask whether to remain passive or become active - record or participate? Now probably - “suppress or report”? Its resonance is the hypocrisy and arrogance of US foreign policy - then supporting South American Juntas through the 1980s and 1990s - and now… It is based upon a true story - the the death of journalist Bill Stewart at the hands of a Nicarguan soldier was filmed by a TV crew and really did change the course of a Civil war - but not before countless “less important” deaths. The film is driven along by an excellent soundtrack, which sucks you in as the tension builds. Weaved in this is an inevitable but credible love story. The leads all give strong performances. I think this film has been rather overlooked - perhaps it said too many things the American public did not want to hear. Better than Salvador. A policitical drama and love story about a murder set in a war! Worth a watch.
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If I asked you to name the major artists who have produced a body of work with strong religious themes, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli and Rembrandt would probably come to mind. Whomever you chose, chances are that Andy Warhol wouldn’t Continue
Pablo Picasso (Artists in Their World)
