Nara in Berlin

So, I am back from Berlin. With intermittent access and/or 30 euros for net access, I couldn't do the daily blog from Berlin that I wanted to do. Therefore, I will consolidate as much as I can and send in a report early next week.
In the meantime, I ran into my friend Wei at Tegel airport and she was in town to catch some screenings and attend a Yoshitomo Nara opening!! He's designed everything from Shonen Knife album covers to and his work is revered by art enthusiasts and hipsters alike. In fact, Wei helped organize the Nara show at the Contemporary Museum in Honolulu last year. Thanks to Gallery Zink! You can check out some photos from my flickr!

Dakota Fanning

Well, before I leave for Berlin with, hopefully, daily news reports, I just want to highlight two very funny segments associated to precocious child star Dakota Fanning. SNL did a hilarious skit with Amy Poehler as Fanning, hosting her own talk show. Amy Poehler is dead on too! Another clip is from a Japanese TV show from 2004, when Fanning was on the press tour for WAR OF THE WORLDS in Japan. Anyway, the two Japanese hosts bring in a very nervous, and sometimes, convulsing high school kid who is the president of a Dakota Fanning fan club. Watch the pure terror and hilarity here. I have to say that Dakota takes it in stride and has a lot of fun with the interview.
In the meantime, no need to mention all the hoopla and controversy surrounding her latest film at Sundance.

Eagle vs. Shark

One of the sleeper hits at the Sundance Film Festival, Maori director Taika Waititi's EAGLE VS. SHARK is generating a lot of advance buzz before its U.S. summer release from Miramax. Over at GreenCine, they've compiled some review quotes about the film.
Spring Showcase Update: The film will have its Hawaii premiere in April!