Vol. 30 - Special Gifts and Would-be-Dictators
Our Monthly Newsletter
What’s New
Not Black Friday, Nor Cyber Monday
With Communique, we strive to bring you something of real value each month. We sincerely hope that you find our monthly musings on comfort, culture, and style interesting, amusing, and otherwise worthy of your attention. And we feel tremendous amount of gratitude for you, your patronage, your readership, and your friendship. That's especially true this time of year as we find ourselves taking stock of what matters most.
It is through this spirit of holiday good cheer, as it aligns with our values of quality and gratitude, that we have for you something that we feel is quite special. It's a gift, for you, Dear Reader, one that we feel truly captures the reason for the season. But there's a catch...you can't open it. Yet. Like a present sitting under the tree, you will have to wait a bit to see what's inside.
Keep you eyes on your inbox in the next few weeks for a holiday treat from us.
FEATURED PIECE: The LEto Barstool
Surprises, we understand, are not for everyone. For those of you who just can't wait, we can offer this month's featured piece. A classic Denman barstool, tried, tested, and chic as ever. The Leto Bar Stool. Pictured here with Polished Brass and a seasonally appropriate emerald green fabric. This barstool remains and enduring favorite, for obvious reasons.
Red bow available upon request.
What We’re LOVING
Napoleon
Directed by Ridley Scott
December is traditionally a time for big budget, high minded, prestige pictures, often set in France. Something about the winter chill in the air and the impending Yuletide joy renders us desirous of a little substance injected into our on screen confections. This year, Ridley Scott takes up the mantle of delivering us our prestigio-info-taiment as he has done many times before (Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven, 1492, etc etc). Mr Scott directing a large scale historical feature is nothing new, and that's just fine with us. This is an epic on a grand scale with sweeping music and stunning vistas, charismatic movie stars, and thrilling battle sequences.
But, what elevates the film beyond the standard December fair (which is quite a high water mark) into something sublime, are the performances. Joaquin Pheonix simply cannot bring himself to play the part of the would-be-dictator the way you'd expect it, and the results are fascinating. Even more engaging, however, is Vanessa Kirby's star turn as his first wife, Josephine. Conniving yet fragile. Powerful, yet vulnerable. She's the heart of this epic, enthralling, and emotional film.
It will arrive on Apple TV+ shortly, but if you can, take the chance to see this one the big screen.
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
Directed by Francis Lawrence
No one else seems to have noticed, but The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is as actually an equally interesting treatment of some same ideas that Napoleon engages with. Just beneath he slick surface of this hollywood-esque book adaptation lies a fascinating character study that asks shrewdly challenging questions about how good intentions can transform into tyranny and the alarming social perils of "entertainment value." And there some great blue grass music too!
This film actually a prequel to The Hunger Gamestrilogy, but you might get some of that art-house-nothing-is-explained-too-clearly feel back if you go in blind. It's the origin story of a young Coriolanus Snow, the original trilogy's aging antagonist, and his transformation from a open hearted poor schoolboy to tyrant-in-waiting.
It's not all good. Bio-Engineered rainbow colored snakes who don't like new smells and birds that are secretly tape recorders play key roles. But, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is, in may ways, exactly what a movie should be. Epic and sweeping, full of spectacle, moments of big drama, and human insight, challenging ideas, with a touch of the fantastic.
In other ways, however, it's an entirely new kind of film. Subtly inclusive casting that never draws attention to itself adds a level of nuance to film's major themes feels quite bold, once you notice it, and like a way forward for an industry still struggling to move alway from stories featuring exclusively perfect looking people. It's refreshing, it's interesting, and it's entertaining. In a maneuver that mimics the real Napoleons tactical brilliance, this film delivers a forward thinking, thought provoking, all too urgent warning, wrapped up in a Hollywood Blockbuster bow.
Featured Artist: Chris MIller
If you find yourself looking for a further antidote to the polished and perfect, we have just the artist for you. Chris Miller's work has been described as “uncertain scenarios where something vital has been forgotten or lost.” Well, we're certain of one thing: We're intrigued. Complex shapes, colors and textures combine to form "objects that are vaguely familiar yet undefinable." Challenging to wrap, to be sure, but otherwise, a surely superlative gift for the discerning art collector in your life.
Find more from this phenomenal artist at his site: www.chris-m-miller.com
A closing to thought to carry with you:
"Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others." Cicero.
And with that thought warming our holiday hearths, we must bid you farewell, but only until next month, when, like the last leaves of autumn, or Napoleon returning from exile, we'll be back, with more comfort, cultures, and style.
KD + LR