A Young Hare

Review #1:

Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528), a famous painter, printmaker and theorist during the Northern Renaissance in Germany, is known for his intricate and skilled woodcuts. His piece, A Young Hare (1502), has become one of his most well known images. 

This painting depicts a fluffy, furry rabbit posed in the center of the page. It is rendered quite realistically with special attention to detail in the fur, whiskers and features of the animal.  This piece is pleasant to look at since the rabbit is quite cute and realistic, and pops off the page.

Created with watercolor and gouache on paper, this piece is a nice example of Dürer’s technical skill. However, it is too simple a piece to be more than an exercise for the artist.  The rabbit simply sits on a blank background, and almost appears to be a diagraph for a textbook. In addition, since the rabbit floats in the center of the page, it is very calm with no movement or direction in the piece. Since Dürer has not even placed the rabbit in a setting or background, it is difficult to find much more meaning in the piece.

There is no narrative or interest to draw the viewer in further than the surface of the paper. Compared to Dürer’s other printmaking work, this piece is simply an exercise: a small sketch.

Review #2:

During the time of the Renaissance, portraits of animals were not widely accepted as high art. However, Albrecht Dürer’s painting of a rabbit goes beyond being simply a sketch. Dürer’s A Young Hare (1502) is an excellent example of the artist’s technical skill. The small painting, which was created with watercolor and gouache on paper, depicts a furry rabbit posing quietly. Dürer (1471-1528), a famous painter, printmaker and theorist during the Northern Renaissance in Germany, formed a great interest in animals throughout his life.

In this image, it is easy to see Dürer’s skill in creating a realistic representation of a creature. Not only are the proportions of the hare correct, but Dürer also used layers of watercolor and gouache to build up the depth and texture of the rabbit’s fur, resulting in a very lifelike piece. It is his attention to detail that makes the painting work well. Even of the smallest features are visible, from each strand of fur, to the whiskers and the reflection in the hare’s eye. It is genuinely nice to look at because the viewer is able to connect with the creature through Dürer’s use of realism.

The small and intimate painting (measuring only 25 cm by 23 cm) portrays a calm, natural feeling because of the warm browns and the central placement of the rabbit in the composition. Although calm, there is also life found in this portrait because Dürer has captured the moment between the rabbit posing and hopping away.

This small hare has become an iconic image from the artist for good reason. Dürer has captured the life of this animal in his painting.

Black Dogs

At 7:30pm on July 29, 1973 Richard Cole, Led Zeppelin’s manager, discovered that more than $200,000 in cash had been taken from the band’s safe deposit box. Who would attempt to steal from one of the most popular rock bands in history? In Black Dogs, Jason Buhrmester attempts to uncover the characters who might try a theft like this.

Buhrmester developed this story from real events as follows: in 1973, Led Zeppelin finished up their tour with three sold out shows at Madison Square Garden. However, $203,000 they made from the tour was stolen right before their last show—from a safe deposit box they rented at the Drake Hotel. Although the robbers and the money never turned up, Buhrmester uses this story as a backdrop for his explanation of how the money actually disappeared.

Therefore, Black Dogs is set in 1973, and is narrated by Patrick, a young guy who comes home from working in New York City to his high school (drop out) friends in Maryland. Although Patrick returns to greet his friend Alex who just got out of prison (a result from one of Patrick’s last schemes), he also decides to present the group with a plan to rob Led Zeppelin. It is easy to disapprove of the main characters when starting this book, considering that they are all criminals and seem to get themselves into the pretty dumb situations. However, the comic circumstances throughout the story quickly allow the reader to relate to the kids, and the book becomes a fun, fast read as the ridiculous scenes keep piling up.

Patrick’s friends, all thieves like him, are an unlikely group for the job. Frenchy, a spazzy guitar player; Keith, the dumb one whose only skill is stealing car radios; Alex, a recent ex-con; and Danny, an idiot scumbag; all jump on board for the job. The imperfect plan soon starts to falter as the kids get caught up with criminals worse than themselves. The reader starts to forget that the main characters are even thieves and starts to pity them. In this way it is easy to be drawn into the story further allowing the tension to build. The kids are certainly no high profile criminals, and the story is engaging because of the knowledge that the band actually is robbed. During much of the journey the reader wonders how this can possibly be pulled off. The comic situations and twists from their original plan makes for quite an entertaining read.

The premise behind this book is so epic that the explanation has to be a good read. Overall, this book was a fast read and a good combination of comedy, crime and drama. Wrapped up in a nice rock ‘n roll package with music history, lots of swearing and a great soundtrack, it is sure to be a popular read with rock fans and anyone else who wants to experience the life of a rock ‘n roll burnout in the 70s. 

The Town

Is Charlestown the bank robbery capital of the country? Although disputed by current residents, the claim makes for a good movie. Based off of the book, Prince of Thieves: A Novel, by Chuck Hogan, The Town tells the story of Charlestown—a neighborhood in Boston, Massachusetts—which the book and movie claim is the home to the most armored car robberies in America.

Starring Ben Affleck as Doug MacRay, the leader of a criminal group, the movie works its way through various bank robberies and car chases as expected. Early on, Doug falls for the young woman, Claire Keesey (played by Rebecca Hall), who the gang temporarily kidnaps during one of their raids. However, viewing the trailer will already tell you this—and unfortunately more of the plot.

The other members of the gang add a plethora of realistic, drama-filled characters, all of which are flawed but engaging. Although the plot was somewhat predictable at points, the characters kept it original. And while the viewer at first may question why this group is robbing banks, the film delves into their private lives giving us more understanding as to their motivations. As the movie continues, we begin to notice the regret and melancholy that Doug experiences. Along with the raw characters, the scenes weren’t dressed up and this added a sort of authenticity, most likely a result from Ben Affleck (also the director and co-writer of the film) having grown up in Massachusetts.

The stunts pulled by the gang in each subsequent raid continually get better and better, keeping the robberies interesting for both the characters and the viewer. There is also a great car chase scene on narrow streets, resulting in a much more tense and engaging action sequence than the normal high-speed chases found in usual action flicks.

While the majority of the music seemed to blend into the background, there were a few wide shots of Charlestown where the music accompanying the scene sounded reminiscent of the Dark Knight soundtrack. There was a nice feeling of dread and adventure.  Compared to other crime movies, this one appeared more realistic and quite refreshing. The characters seem real, about what to expect from bank robbers in Boston and unlike clean-cut, high-profile, classy criminals. Blending action with drama, romance, comedy and brutality, this movie provides a realistic look into the world of robberies in Charlestown.

While the majority of the movie presents genuine characters and a realistic plot, the end seems like out of a different movie entirely, and entirely cheesy. It results in quite a disappointing end to a fairly good movie. Although current residents may dispute that Charlestown is home to the most bank robberies in the country, there is history to support the ideas behind this movie. Moral of the story? Don’t start a bank in Charlestown.