hackthis_archive ([personal profile] hackthis_archive) wrote2010-10-07 02:42 pm

Friday Recs (Yes, it's still Thursday)

Yes, these are Friday recommendations. Yes, it's still Thursday. Yes, I am sure because I'm sober. Why am I doing them today? a) Because I fucking can b) Because it's been that kind of week and c) See a & b.

Before we get to the Inception Recs, however, there are three other things that I'd very much like to draw your attention to:

a. Flowers for a Girl by [livejournal.com profile] yahtzee63, which is season five Mad Man about Joan and Peggy and Don. This story fit so seamlessly between last week and this week that when it was over I was pretty sure I'd just seen a scene from the TV show. Sharp, visceral writing of which even Matt Weiner himself would be like "That's what I'm talking about."

b. Bloodbuzz by [livejournal.com profile] wearemany -- Southland fic. Oh Southland how I love you. How I miss you. How nobody ever seems to write you. Why is that? I suppose because it's so dense. So complete on its own. And yet, there's always a tiny thread that you can tug on. [livejournal.com profile] wearemany tugged on the Ben Sherman Sr. thread. And man did the rug unravel. Ben/John, NC-17. With suits.

c. You all know how I feel about film recs. You only get one a year and I spent that vote on Inception this year. However. If you feel like I steered you in the right direction with that one, if you feel like maybe I know what I'm talking about sometimes, then listen to me now when I tell you: Go see The Social Network. I detest Facebook. I couldn't give a shit about Aaron Sorkin. The last good thing David Fincher did was Fight Club. Every time this movie trailer came on I wanted to slit someone else's throat. The only reason I think I got suckered into going is because they used an a cappella version of Radiohead's Creep and Kayne's Power for the previews. But you know what? The movie was extraordinary clever. And smart. And human. And you will leave there amazed by the power of just wanting to belong. Two very very enthusiastic thumbs up. (And there's a special treat for LJ people. No, for real). Go. See. It. When you get back you can write me fic about you know who (or you will once you see it).

And now, to that other stuff.


Art Recs

Get The Fuck Out Of My Head_2 by tatarnikova -- The artist gave this a much more poetic title than I did. I think of it as, "OMG that drawing where Arthur's in the shower!"

Hard Candy#1 and Version #2 by Sofie Hallor -- If you suspect I'm a tad picky about my Arthur/Joe art, you have no idea how I am about the Eames/Tom art. When I looked at this, all I could think, apart from "That is how you use color, people!", was, "Oh, look, it's Tom." I should also point out that version #1 is the artist-preferred version, because she didn't like the way the eyes looked (but I do, which is why you also get version 2).

Mal & Eames by smilevintage -- The artist put this together as a push for Mal/Eames. I'm including it, not because I am interested in the pairing, but because this Mal? This is my Mal. Smiling and happy and mischievous and loved. There seems to be a segment that believes that Mal is some how manipulative and mean and harsh, that Dom was her victim or whatever, but I don't buy into that shit at all. I think Dom betrayed her love and her trust when he incepted her. I think she gave him everything and he turned out to be a selfish ass. If anybody's a manipulative prick it's Dom. My Mal is Arthur's Mal, and we both think, "she's lovely."



Fic Recs

Believe Me if You Can (The House at Pooh Corner) by [livejournal.com profile] gyzym -- See. This. What. I can't even. Tee. Eye. Double Guh. Err. That's what this story is about. You have been warned. Also, Rabbit's growing pot in his garden. In the last three weeks my childhood has been utterly besmirched by [livejournal.com profile] angelgazing, [livejournal.com profile] aredblush and [livejournal.com profile] gyzym I need to go cry somewhere.

Beni Asla Bırakma by [livejournal.com profile] atomicskull -- This is the Yusuf fic of my heart. No, that's not hyperbole, that's the truth. [livejournal.com profile] atomicskull knew what I needed and wrote it without me even needing to ask and I am eternally grateful. Yusuf is smart, and kind, and falls in love and his friendship with Eames is built on the firmest foundations. There is a life pre-Inception and there's one post-Inception.

Childish Thoughts, Adult Minds by [livejournal.com profile] sekkritbandlj -- You would think my Kryptonite would be wee!Eames. I thought my Kryptonite was wee!Eames. Turns out it's wee!Arthur. And Eames with wee!Arthur. On the slide. And at the ice cream parlor. And tiny Arthur. You don't understand. I was defenseless. I blame [livejournal.com profile] johanirae since she made the art for it that showed me its existence

Eames Character Study by [livejournal.com profile] temperance_k -- There are all kinds of Eames characterizations in this fandom. Everyone sees something different. Some people believe Eames comes from some sort of abusive home, that it's all rag-tag gutter living and that he's unspeakably dim. I don't see that. I don't buy it; you couldn't sell it to me on a naked man. Then again, there are people who don't believe that Eames planned the entire fucking Inception job. I can only assume that anti-monopolistic sentiments are being discussed on the back of a can of Carlsberg. Doesn't make it any less valid. Just means it doesn't work for me. My characterization tends to come from the idea of Eames being a public school boy, from money, from his clear military background and the fact that he uses an endearment once, ostensibly to get Arthur's head back in the game; [livejournal.com profile] lazlet insisted he was firmly middle class. She only capitulated to me when she found an interview where Tom and Chris admit that Eames is old money, but you know, it's like I said before. Everybody sees things differently. And this story. The one that [livejournal.com profile] temperance_k wrote. I buy this story. I believe this story. So will you.

A Piece of the Plate (Got Stuck In My Heart) by [livejournal.com profile] jibrailis -- IRON CHEF AU FTW! Run, scurry, flee, read it now!

Plate Tectonics by [livejournal.com profile] indysaur -- Arthur moves in with Eames when his ex-fiancee tries to kill him. Like you do. But this story isn't really about that. This story is about living together and making room in your life for somebody else. But really, this story is about the awesome that is Yusuf. \o/ I love the Yusuf in this story. I want to take him home and make tea for him and give him biscuits

Plus One by [livejournal.com profile] someidiothasice -- I found this story last week through [livejournal.com profile] foxxcub and I'd give her a pony as a thank you, but I already gave her a pony. I can't have her running around taking other people's ponies. This is a story about Arthur in his off hours, about what he potentially gets up. This is about what happens when Eames comes along. It's the kind of thing you'll want to smoke something after, whether that's incense or a cigarette is up to you.

Put Your Hands On Me by [livejournal.com profile] meiface -- Arthur likes to be touched more than he thinks he does. This is yet another one of those things that is just kind of bulletproof for me. I know everybody's shocked. But I love the way [livejournal.com profile] meiface explores it here. The way Arthur thinks it's all about Eames when it's really all about him.

And before I go...

Upon my most recent viewing of Inception I am firmly convinced of the fact that Arthur is not a cold fish, that he's anything but repressed. That he's sensitive and emotionally aware. If you look a) at the scene where Ariadne wakes up after being stabbed and Arthur immediate runs to her side, b) when he talks about Mal being lovely c) when Dom is yelling at him, and Arthur's upset -- yes, because he fucked up but also because Dom is furious with him and d) where he drops down to Eames' side in the hotel room, that conversation. They'll run you down. Go to sleep, Mr. Eames. That shared smile. It's all there.

Arthur is astute. He is emotionally aware. He picks up on other people's cues. Whatever he is. He is not a fucking robot. Whatever he is, he feels things and he feels them deeply. Do not discount that.

Also, while I'm on my soapbox I'd just like to say that, "I love Eames clothes." I think they show a lot of fucking character and personality. I don't think they're tacky or gauche. They may not be bespoke suits and whatever, but the man fucking has style and he owns it. It's easy to wear something that comes preassembled from the same cloth. It's easy to stack black with black. It's a lot harder to decide who you want to be and let your clothes say that. Whether you spend an hour getting dressed or two minutes it all makes a statement, what do you want your statement to be?

And on a final note: if Eames were an animal, he'd totally be an otter. Adorable, self-absorbed, quick on the paw and unable to be denied at all.


And with that, you'll have to excuse me, I have to go back to my life being utter shite.

[identity profile] wordsalone.livejournal.com 2010-10-08 08:09 pm (UTC)(link)
• So much awesomeness to go through!

• Zodiac is my shit.

• I love that Mal/Eames art and I'd like to think that they were friends. They would have been quite a pair to hang out with. I really enjoy the idea of Mal as this force of life. Fun. Vibrant. I think that's who she was and I think that's how Dom knew her. That's the girl he loved. I think the film did a good job of showing her as a sympathetic character, at least to me. Yeah, she was screwing things up in the dreams, but that's because Dom was projecting all of his guilt onto her. It had nothing to do with her. The more I watch the film, the more I feel for Mal. Anyway, part of the reason I love the Iron Chef AU so much is because of those moments of Mal shouting and being ridiculous. &Mal;

• I love that when you linked, "I love Eames' clothes," I knew what photo it would be before even clicking on it. He looks so fabulous in that shot. Really, I think a lot of fashion has to do with owning your look. It can be silly to other people, but if you own it, you rock it...and somehow people can make it work. Eames' clothes look warm and lively. It's bold. Mmm...so fierce.

[identity profile] hackthis.livejournal.com 2010-10-09 04:46 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah, she was screwing things up in the dreams, but that's because Dom was projecting all of his guilt onto her. It had nothing to do with her. The more I watch the film, the more I feel for Mal. Anyway, part of the reason I love the Iron Chef AU so much is because of those moments of Mal shouting and being ridiculous. &Mal;

WORD! And double WORD! High five!

I think everything in fashion is about owning your look. Look at Lady Gaga or Kanye West or Karl Lagerfield or Jean Paul Gaultier. Look at the men who wear Brooks Brothers like a badge or the punk kids. Whatever you are, be a good one.

[identity profile] euoi.livejournal.com 2010-10-09 12:00 am (UTC)(link)
Thanks for the recs! ^^

[identity profile] hackthis.livejournal.com 2010-10-09 04:43 am (UTC)(link)
You're welcome!

[identity profile] eaconwell.livejournal.com 2010-10-09 03:46 am (UTC)(link)
@.@ can you give me a link to the interview with tom and chris? i can't find it ANYWHERE and i feel like everyone is talking about it

[identity profile] hackthis.livejournal.com 2010-10-09 04:44 am (UTC)(link)
I'm sorry I don't have a link. Maybe try a community.

[identity profile] aredblush.livejournal.com 2010-10-09 11:51 am (UTC)(link)
Recs recs recs *dances* and your soapbox is the best soapbox! <333 Can I come visit?

I am so sorry for tarnishing your childhood D: *hands you a tissue* Can I do anything to make up for that?

And, um, is it okay if I friend you?

[identity profile] hackthis.livejournal.com 2010-10-09 03:38 pm (UTC)(link)
You are always allowed to visit. Can you do something to make up for tarnishing my childhood. Are you serious? Can I take a raincheck, b/c my brain was like, .....????????!!!!!!

(And you are always free to friend or de-friend as the case may be. I'm rather liberal that way :)

[identity profile] aredblush.livejournal.com 2010-10-09 03:52 pm (UTC)(link)
I am always serious when it comes to making up for accidental besmirching of people's childhood! :)

(yay! Friending you right away, then :D)

[identity profile] wintersjuly.livejournal.com 2010-10-09 12:48 pm (UTC)(link)
i still think some of eames' colour and pattern combinations makes my eyes burn, but i think that's mostly the fact that i'm not a fan of the relaxed fit when it's that relaxed (i kind of made /:? face at all the relaxed fit things on the runways this season). but i'm not going to lie: he owns it, and really, that's all that matters when it comes to dressing yourself. eames' outfits show that stacks of thought and personality have gone into it, which is more than i can say for most people, so.

and eames screams old money for me. something about that confidence, that accent, the way he's totally happy to wear whatever the hell he likes - arthur's more middle to lower class for me, i think? (i also kind of think that eames irritates arthur partly because arthur can obviously tell there was a class difference and it irks him that eames could care less about it)

[identity profile] hackthis.livejournal.com 2010-10-09 08:32 pm (UTC)(link)
I don't tend to think of it as a relaxed fit as much as I think of it as people buying clothes that actually *fit* their bodies; I vastly prefer it to people looking as though their clothes are sprayed on. I honestly don't need to know that much about your body shape. Or whether or not you've been circumsized...or have no ass what so ever... or that you think you can wear those jeans and that that roll of fat over the top is just invisible to everyone else. So, yeah, clearly all subjective.
Edited 2010-10-09 20:33 (UTC)

[identity profile] wintersjuly.livejournal.com 2010-10-10 12:33 pm (UTC)(link)
fashion is almost always subjective! that's what i like about it, i think. i may think the kenzo collection is crazy brilliant (and heavier on the crazy) but someone else might think it terrible and unflattering. i'm just glad inception is allowing me to indulge in fashion so freely XD

mostly i think the pleated trousers eames' wears and the yellow mustard shirt are kind of heinous. i'm pretty fond of everything else actually, though what is with everyone having something against the tweed? i like the tweed jacket!
(deleted comment)

[identity profile] hackthis.livejournal.com 2010-10-12 05:52 pm (UTC)(link)
LOL. I don't mind, I assure you. The first time I saw the film, which was actually a long time ago all things considered, Jesus, ahem, you know I had a rough idea of who they were, not so much the nuances, but little mannerisms and personal canon and with every viewing and every story I write the canon gets revised a little, whittled down a more, something else gets added along. And so this... three months later, is where I'm at: with zero endearments in my stories, with a love of everybody's personal style and their own brands of intelligence -- I don't know how anybody could not see how fucking smart Eames is -- but you know hey. I also harbour an overwhelming adoration for all things Yusuf-related, but you know, everybody sees it differently. This is just my two cents.

[identity profile] schesinger.livejournal.com 2010-10-12 04:26 pm (UTC)(link)
Is this the quote?

"... what sort of person he wanted my character to be. I felt that he was along the lines of an old, Graham Greene-type diplomat. Sort of faded, shabby, grandeur the old Shakespeare lovey mixed with somebody from her Majesties' Special Forces[...] And then the costumes were like a peacock...campy, old money. Like a traveler, very savvy person."

i.e., his COSTUMES are said to evoke "old money"; Eames himself is not referred to as such, and I don't think he could be characterized as coming from money and being extremely wealthy or whatever. Eames himself is "faded/shabby," though conjuring an old-fashioned romance and grandeur. In the U.S. we think of "old money" as someone fantastically wealthy and sleek, but I think in England it is conjures more a historical, shabby casual clothes, unconcerned with appearance, comfortable around power, dark public school reference, where maybe wealth was passed down and gambled away but name is more important.

So I think that argues for more of a middle-class shabby but well-educated diplomat's family background, where he picks up that casual colorful toss-off kind of style, rather than those ridiculous aristocratic silver-spoon-in-mouth duke-of-somerset-etc characterizations of Eames.

Just wanting to comment on being careful interpreting "old money" :)

[identity profile] hackthis.livejournal.com 2010-10-12 06:00 pm (UTC)(link)
I don't read press for Inception (personal choice) so I couldn't tell you one way or the other. My confirmation came a few months back when building an Eames background for one of my stories where I'd decided on his being in the Peerage, not new or old money, just a Peer, and one of the people I was building with said "no, he's firmly middle class." So I went with that for the story only to have person X come back and say, she'd read his being old money somewhere, so that's what I've gone with since. Frankly, I would never use the American version of new or old money since Eames is English and two are not interchangable. I also wouldn't be foolish enough to assume that "old money" means that you have money at all as there are plenty of titled people all over the world who are flat-broke.

ETA: Furthermore as someone who's written one of those "ridiculous aristocratic silver-spoon-in-mouth duke-of-somerset-etc characterizations of Eames" as you so put it I don't think my interpretations is any less or more valid than anyone else's. Interpretations is subjective, as is characterization.
Edited 2010-10-12 19:04 (UTC)

[identity profile] schesinger.livejournal.com 2010-10-12 07:20 pm (UTC)(link)
lol my first comment was a little sharp, apologies that was not my intention or definitely did not mean to imply foolishness. really just wanted a little more background of how you thought of his backstory--i was like, 'hmm, is there another nolan quote out there? totally not sure i see it from that.'

thanks for the reply & the great original post!

[identity profile] demiana-kassio.livejournal.com 2010-10-12 07:04 pm (UTC)(link)
Totally late to the party, but hey, whatever.

I just watched The Social Network, like three hours ago, so that's what I'm going to be commenting on.

While I'm pretty sure that Mark Zuckerberg is a giant asshole in real life, his movie incarnation actually made me pity him for a little while: When Eduardo breaks up with him (while Justin Timberlake gloats in the background), and during some part of their lawsuit scenes.

On a totally, totally shallow note: While I still think Andrew Garfield has a slight case of bobblehead-syndrom (and looked all of 15 in some scenes), he shares a quality with James MacAvoy - looking really beautiful when on the verge of tears.

And something that occurred to me during some close up shots of Mr Timberlake: I really don't find him attractive. But I don't mind his acting. Who knew.

Damnit, now I want to read fanfic. This can't end well..

[identity profile] out-there.livejournal.com 2010-10-12 11:00 pm (UTC)(link)
Also, while I'm on my soapbox I'd just like to say that, "I love Eames clothes."

Word. As someone who adores dressing in colour -- yes, even as an office worker in winter, where the standard colour palette of most coworkers in black, charcoal, and maybe some lighter grey or deep purple thrown in there for variety -- I have hit my limit on the number of fics featuring "Eames dresses badly" as a theme. Admittedly, I've only seen the movie twice, but I don't think Arthur actually insults Eames' clothes in the film -- sure, it's not Arthur's style or how he'd personally dress, but there's no need to write as if Eames dresses out of an op-shop.

And now that I've ranted, I'm going to go get distracted by itty-bitty, Arthur. There is no way that won't be adorable.

[identity profile] hackthis.livejournal.com 2010-10-14 12:12 am (UTC)(link)
Arthur never comments whatsoever on Eames clothes in the film. I think based on Arthur's sedate clothing choices people assume that he must hate Eames' taste. I know when I first started writing them (fuck that seems like a long time ago) I had Arthur mock him a few times, but I also tend to point out that what Eames' wears is nice, regardless. These days I just write it all down to personal choice. Would most people look ridiculous in a green tweed and pink paisley, hell yeah, does Eames look amazing though? Hell yeah!

[identity profile] wearemany.livejournal.com 2010-10-13 06:25 am (UTC)(link)
thanks for the rec!

[identity profile] hackthis.livejournal.com 2010-10-14 12:12 am (UTC)(link)
You are very welcome! Thanks for the fic!

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