Travis Simpkins

Sunday, January 11, 2015

Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001): Angelina Jolie, Daniel Craig and Pop Archaeology

Directed by Simon West, based on the popular video game series, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001) finds Angelina Jolie as a fantasy brought to life with stunning action and effects. The story concerns Lara Croft's quest to recover two pieces of an ancient triangle that can control time. Much like in the Indiana Jones series, archaeology and looting are popularized and glorified for mass market consumption… but with an entertaining and humorous edge. Angelina Jolie is beautiful and agile in her role, performing her own tough stunts. Daniel Craig appears in a supporting role. The rest of the cast is good as well, including Jolie's father, Jon Voight.

Angelina Jolie: Lara Croft: Tomb Raider

Daniel Craig: Lara Croft: Tomb Raider

Angelina Jolie: Lara Croft: Tomb Raider

Daniel Craig and Angelina Jolie: Lara Croft: Tomb Raider

Angelina Jolie: Lara Croft: Tomb Raider

"Lara Croft: Tomb Raider"- movie trailer

Angelina Jolie. by Travis Simpkins: Lara Croft: Tomb Raider

Saturday, January 10, 2015

Headhunters (2011): Norwegian Art Theft Film

Headhunters ( Hodejegerne )

Brief Review by Travis Simpkins

Directed by Morten Tyldum, based on the novel by Jo Nesbo, Headhunters or Hodejegerne (2011) was met with rave reviews by critics on both sides of the pond. It is currently the highest-grossing Norwegian film of all time. The story concerns an insecure corporate recruiter who moonlights as an art thief in order to support a lavish lifestyle. When he discovers that a prospective client recently inherited a Nazi-looted masterpiece by Peter Paul Rubens, he steals the painting… and soon finds himself in a maelstrom of murder and pursuit. Full of thrills, violence and tense intrigue, the film stays interesting from beginning to end. The art theft scenes are well done, with the thief stealing a Munch lithograph and others, swapping basic inkjet reproductions for the originals, noting "They won't notice for a few weeks." The cast is great, including Aksel Hennie, Synnove Macody Lund, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Eivind Sander and Julie Olgaard.

: Headhunters. Art Theft

stealing a Munch lithograph: Headhunters. Art Theft

replacing the original with a fake: Headhunters. Art Theft

: Headhunters. Art Theft

stealing a Nazi looted Rubens: Headhunters. Art Theft

stealing a Rubens painting: Headhunters. Art Theft

: Headhunters. Art Theft

Synnove Macody Lund: Headhunters. Art Theft

"Headhunters"- movie trailer

Thursday, January 8, 2015

"Stealing the Mystic Lamb: The True Story of the World's Most Coveted Masterpiece" by Noah Charney

Stealing the Mystic Lamb

by Noah Charney

PublicAffairs Publishers, 2010

Brief Review by Travis Simpkins

"The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb" by Jan van Eyck, better known as the Ghent Altarpiece, was completed in 1432 and has not had much peace in it's subsequent 583 years. It has been looted, burned, smuggled, forged and thankfully, rescued. In Stealing the Mystic Lamb: The True Story of the World's Most Coveted Masterpiece, Noah Charney takes an insightful and expert look at "the illicit whirlwind tour of Jan van Eyck's masterpiece, which is, in itself, a journey through the history of art theft." The text examines the origins, subjects, innovations and creative process involved in the Ghent Altarpiece, which is considered to be the stylistic bridge between Medieval and Renaissance painting. Much attention is given to the artist himself, Jan van Eyck, and the mysteries surrounding him. However, most of the well-written tome is dedicated to the various misfortunes that have befallen the Lamb. The altarpiece escaped destruction at the hands of torch-wielding Protestants, was looted by Napoleon, dismembered and sold to the Germans, hidden during World War I, had a panel stolen and ransomed in 1934, was looted by the Nazis in World War II and rescued by the Allies (The Monuments Men) in the Alt Aussee salt mine in 1945. With the exception of the one stolen panel (or perhaps not), the altarpiece is whole again and back in it's home at Sain Bavo Cathedral. Charney takes great care in his writing, providing equal balance between the acts of theft and efforts of recovery. Wonderful portrayals of the people, both good and evil, offer a greater depth to the story. Beyond a straightforward historical book, the pages offer a picture of the humanity and obsessive desire that have pervaded and surrounded this great masterpiece since it's creation.