I always liked the look of Engineer boots with jeans. I first noticed a lot of cool chicks wearing them around the nightclub scene in NY in the late 80's (which was when I moved to NY). Engineer boots obviously have a very iconic history in the movies with Marlon Brando wearing them in "The Wild One", James Dean mostly off camera, and even the KING wore 'em for god sake! (most notably in "Loving You", and probably other films too)
However, I never actually bought a pair for myself until the late 90's, probably because I didn't believe a mere $100 (back then) pair of boots could be as good as a pair of workboots that cost $200. I know, stupidity and snobbery. But the truth is I always found them incredibly uncomfortable. Painfully uncomfortable! I must have owned 6 or 7 pairs of Engineers since 1998, and every major brand have been the same, great looking but uncomfortable. It helps when they're worn in of course but still not recommended for a full day's wear. And this is in L.A. where you don't walk half as much as anywhere else. I am happy to say that I have finally found a truly comfortable pair in the Chippewa Engineers! I decided to try the Chippewa's because one of the styles had the Logger Boot brown sole look. They make all black as well.
To be honest, I didn't think anyone made Engineers with soles like that anymore. I remember seeing a photo of a 50's antique Engineer Boot in a Japanese magazine. Then I realized that brown sole look was a Chippewa thing. My favorite workboots in my New York days were Chippewa's had the same kind of brown leather/Vibram sole combo. I walked up and down the subway stairs, and miles after miles on the streets of N.Y. in those Logger Boots. But back then I didn't even know that Chippewa made Engineers. If you look up Engineer Boots in Wikipedia it says, " During the depression era, Chippewa Shoe Company, of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, developed a pair of boots with stovepipe leg and was fashioned over their "English Riding Boot" last. In the 1960s, Sears carried the Sears branded Chippewa Engineers and showed them as worn by land surveyors, a possibility as of how the name came about." So, it all goes back to these very boots. No wonder they're supposed to be the best. They also have a slightly more rounded and protruded toe that I love. Come on, they look super cool right? CHIPPEWA BOOTS Website.
- Elvis Presley on the set of "Loving You"
Controversial Anderson 'Spider' Silva vs Yushin Okami Fight Video
Some of you might know that my brother is the top trainer and MMA Promoter/Manager/Matchmaker, MAK TAKANO. Over the years, Mak has put together some very interesting fights for K-1, HERO's, and DREAM organizations in Japan. And he has represented and worked with great fighters like BJ Penn, Ralek Gracie (recently defeated the legendary Sakuraba), Sumo Legend Akebono, JZ Cavalcante, and current DREAM Champion Bibiano Fernandez. I will be alerting you all with interesting fight videos Mak posts on his site MakTakano.com from time to time. Mak put together the Anderson 'Spider' Silva vs Yushin Okami fight at BJ Penn's Rumble on the Rock event (before the two fighters went onto fight in the UFC Middleweight Division). The fight ended up as a rare loss in Anderson Silva's record but it was because of an illegal kick Disqulification. Controversial to some but no surprise to most. Watch the fight and you decide.
"Steve McQueen A Tribute To The King of Cool" Book Review
My friend and author, Marshall Terrill, just released another fabulous Steve McQueen book called "Steve McQueen A Tribute To The King of Cool". The book tells the actor’s story in chronological order through the eyes of those who knew him best, his family, friends, co-stars, business associates, acquaintances and adoring fans from around all over the world. Marshall himself told me that “It’s a very unique book because it reads like a biography, but it’s really a photo and tribute book.” In fact, Marshall used some of my interview audios of Martin Landau, Robert Vaughn, James Coburn, and Steve's longtime manager Hillard Elkins, for quotes and research, and was kind enough to give me a nice credit in the acknowledgements. Marshall Terrill has written biographies and books about Steve McQueen, Elvis, James Dean, and even sports icons like 'Pistol' Pete Maravich, and boxer Ken Norton.
Marshall's first book "Steve McQueen: Portrait of an American Rebel" was a bestseller in 1993, and in 2007 he co-authored "Steve McQueen The Last Mile" with Barbara McQueen. Folks, if you're a McQueen fan Marshall Terrill books are a must for your collection, or a good place to start a collection. The new book "Steve McQueen: A Tribute to the King of Cool" also features over 200 passages from McQueen related celebs and others, as well as literally hundreds of rare McQueen photos wall to wall.
"The Horseman" Movie Review
I watched a 2008 Australian film called "The Horseman" the other night (not to be confused with "The Horsemen" starring Dennis Quaid & Zhang Ziyi), and was very impressed by director Steven Kastrissios' debut feature film. I wasn't 'BLOWN AWAY' by it like many critics wrote last year but it was excellent, and definitely refreshing to see a quality project with unknown faces that delivers in every aspect of movie making. The film is about a bug exterminator and single father, Christian, played brilliantly by Peter Marshall, who finds out that his runaway daughter had died from a drug overose.
However, when Christian receives a rough amateur porn video in the mail, featuring his deceased daughter, he decides to avenge her by setting off on a bloody revenge of a road trip. Finding and killing every one responsible for luring his daughter into getting involved in filming the video and taking drugs. "The Horseman" is filled with unapologetic violence and torture, but it is very skillfully shot and edited, and amazingly you feel his rage for his loss. It is perhaps one of the best Australian films in the last five years, and definitely worth the look if you can handle the genre.
I recommend "Guest of Cindy Sherman"
I saw a wonderful documentary film last weekend on the Sundance Channel that I would like to strongly recommend. The film is called "Guest of Cindy Sherman". The doc is produced, directed, and about Paul H-O (Paul Hasegawa Overacker), a sort of real life Wayne's World type and New York Cable Access host of his own show "Gallery Beat". I used to watch bits and pieces of the show in my N.Y. days, and I rememeber being quite entertained by his humorous and refreshingly honest point of view about the art scene in N.Y. (I myself had a 18 months stint in the crazy peak of the Impressionist Art world in the late 80's) What we see in the doc is how Paul H-O met and began a relationship with photographer and darling of the art world, Cindy Sherman. The media shy Miss Sherman invites Paul H-O to her studio to tape a series of interviews, where he gains an unprecedented glimpse into the artist's process in some works in progress, and the incredible archival footage by Paul H-O captures the mutual flirting and the undeniable spark between the two. Paul H-O and his co-director, Tom Donohoe, probably had tons of video material to choose from since Paul H-O is the type that never leaves home without a video camera of some sort. I don't think I'm giving too much away by saying that this film's beginning, middle, and end are Paul meets Cindy, Paul lives happily with Cindy, and Paul breaks up with Cindy.
I'm a big fan of truly great documentaries because there are moments of reality that even the greatest actors couldn't recapture. It's called real life. In "Guest of Cindy Sherman" Paul H-O must confront issues of ego and losing his identity. I contacted Paul last week and congratulated him on his tremendous effort, and told him "Everybody in your film kept talking about how your greatest accomplishment was hooking up with Cindy, but this piece of art you created is your moment of glory, my friend!" I found out this week that "Guest of Cindy Sherman" was actually in a bunch of 'Best of the Year' lists last year. However, I still don't think the film's getting the look that it really deserves, so give this film a shot.
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- Elvis Presley on the set of "Loving You"
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Marshall's first book "Steve McQueen: Portrait of an American Rebel" was a bestseller in 1993, and in 2007 he co-authored "Steve McQueen The Last Mile" with Barbara McQueen. Folks, if you're a McQueen fan Marshall Terrill books are a must for your collection, or a good place to start a collection. The new book "Steve McQueen: A Tribute to the King of Cool" also features over 200 passages from McQueen related celebs and others, as well as literally hundreds of rare McQueen photos wall to wall.
However, when Christian receives a rough amateur porn video in the mail, featuring his deceased daughter, he decides to avenge her by setting off on a bloody revenge of a road trip. Finding and killing every one responsible for luring his daughter into getting involved in filming the video and taking drugs. "The Horseman" is filled with unapologetic violence and torture, but it is very skillfully shot and edited, and amazingly you feel his rage for his loss. It is perhaps one of the best Australian films in the last five years, and definitely worth the look if you can handle the genre.
