_My New Obsession

_The Cinema, no, Movie Theatre.

The smell of old popcorn, tough velvet seats, heavy smocked curtains, dimmed glowing lighting - it all works especially well in Londons old cinemas - this weekend i went to the 1930's Richmond Filmhouse and it was ace - 1 tiny screen, old Art Deco Type face everywhere, kind of a restrained 'birdcage'.

_My other new obsession is Bruce Weber movies on the big screen - and this weekends was 'Chop Suey' - it was quite honestly one of the best films i've seen in years, from beautiful vintage footage to heart breaking stories, funny stories with friends to the glamour of the Upper Westsides apartments and grit of Wisconsin high school wrestling, all shot on everything from B&W 8mm to Super Eight and the amazing saturation of early Super Colour.

'Chop Suey' a Synopsis_

Filmmaker Bruce Weber, whose last feature-length documentary was the award-winning LET'S GET LOST in 1988 (about jazz great Chet Baker), returns with this fascinating look at his life and career. Starting off as a film about model Peter Johnson, whom Weber snatched from a high school wrestling team and turned into a star for Ralph Lauren and other fashionistas, CHOP SUEY is a tasty mix of vintage colour and black-and-white footage, still photos of everyone from Alfed Stieglitz and Georgia O'Keeffe to Montgomery Clift and Clark Gable, and insightful narration by Weber and Johnson about modelling, family, and the cult of celebrity. The film goes all over the place, but every side adventure is a worthy one. Teri Shepherd, manager and long-time partner of nightclub favourite Frances Faye, shares endearing stories of their exciting relationship; wrestler Rickson Gracie and surfer Christian Fletcher discuss what it was like becoming (homoerotic) sex symbols as seen through Weber's lens; aging explorer Sir Wilfred Thesiger and his book ARABIAN SANDS are featured; and former Vogue editor Diana Vreeland allows Weber in to shoot her fabulously tacky apartment. Other highlights include Robert Mitchum singing a duet with Dr. John and Weber talking about working with Jan Michael Vincent.