Tagged: Black Shirt
Goodfellas – Henry’s “Half Mick, Half Guinea” Green Suit
Ray Liotta as Henry Hill in Goodfellas (1990).
Vitals
Ray Liotta as Henry Hill, New York mob associate and club owner
Queens, NY, June 11, 1970
Film: Goodfellas
Release Date: September 19, 1990
Director: Martin Scorsese
Costume Designer: Richard Bruno
Background
As Morrie Kessler’s favorite “half mick, half guinea”, it’s nice to see Henry Hill channeling his Irish side with a green suit while out at a bar. In particular, his bar – The Suite Lounge in Queens. (In reality, the scene was filmed at the Lido Cabaret at 7320 Grand Avenue in Maspeth.) Unfortunately for us, it wasn’t St. Patrick’s Day, and unfortunately for Billy Batts, an angry Joe Pesci was around. Continue reading
Johnny Cash in All Black (Walk the Line)
Joaquin Phoenix as Johnny Cash in Walk the Line (2005).
Vitals
Joaquin Phoenix as Johnny Cash, badass but troubled country rock musician
Los Angeles, January 1968
Film: Walk the Line
Release Date: November 18, 2005
Director: James Mangold
Costume Designer: Arianne Phillips
Tailor: Pam Lisenby
Background
Columbia Exec: Your fans are church folk, Johnny. Christians. They don’t wanna hear you singing to a bunch of murderers and rapists, tryin’ to cheer ’em up.
Johnny Cash: Well, they’re not Christians, then.
The terrific 2005 biopic Walk the Line features a great scene of Cash rebooting his career as a prison performer (and reformer) when he confidently strides into Columbia Records and announces his plan to record an album live from Folsom Prison. He dudes himself up appropriately in all black and is the most self-assured as we’ve seen him throughout the film.
To honor Johnny Cash’s birthday (he would have been exactly 83 years old today), here’s a look at Joaquin Phoenix’s take on “the Man in Black”. Continue reading
The Sopranos: Christopher’s Red Sport Coat
Michael Imperioli as Christopher Moltisanti in “A Hit is a Hit”, episode 1.10 of The Sopranos.
Vitals
Michael Imperioli as Christopher Moltisanti, Jersey mob associate and aspiring screenwriter
New York City, Spring 1998
Series: The Sopranos
Episodes: “A Hit is a Hit” (Episode 1.10) and “D-Girl” (Episode 2.07)
Air Dates: March 14, 1999 (1.10) and February 27, 2000 (2.07)
Directors: Matthew Penn (1.10) and Allen Coulter (2.07)
Costume Designer: Juliet Polcsa
Background
Although a bit late for this Valentine’s Day (and my self-proclaimed #MafiaMonday), this post explores a creative integration of red into a man’s outfit. While some – and, likely, most – will consider it over-the-top, the character in question isn’t exactly known for his good taste.
For date nights in New York City with Adriana, Chris likes to show off his gangster status by donning his two favorite wardrobe colors: red and black. The pairing of a red sport coat with black trousers and shirt evokes a look made famous by Robert De Niro in Casino. Given Christopher’s obsession with mob movies (and Martin Scorsese), it would make sense that he would choose to mimic an outfit from one of the best-known mob movies sported by the genre’s undisputed maestro. Continue reading
Casino Royale: Bond Visits M in a Dark Topcoat
Daniel Craig on the set of Casino Royale (2006) in a photograph by Greg Williams that appeared in the book Bond on Set: Filming Casino Royale.
Vitals
Daniel Craig as James Bond, British secret agent
London, July 2006
Film: Casino Royale
Release Date: November 14, 2006
Director: Martin Campbell
Costume Designer: Lindy Hemming
Background
Arrogance and self-awareness seldom go hand in hand.
After getting caught on camera shooting up an embassy and then breaking into his boss’s apartment, Bond receives just the advice that he needs to hear at the start of his budding career as a secret agent. Dressing in dark colors and wearing a smirk straight from the Bruce Willis School of Badassery, Bond doesn’t impress the stern but wise M as she lays down the law. Continue reading
Californication – Hank Moody on a Plane (Season 1)
David Duchovny as Hank Moody at LAX in “Filthy Lucre”, the ninth episode of Californication.
Vitals
David Duchovny as Hank Moody, womanizing novelist with substance abuse issues
Venice Beach, Fall 2007
Series: Californication
Episodes: “California Son” (Episode 1.08) & “Filthy Lucre” (Episode 1.09)
Air Dates: October 1, 2007 & October 8, 2007
Directors: Scott Winant (Episode 1.08) & Scott Burns (Episode 1.09)
Costume Designer: Peggy A. Schnitzer
Background
It’s been almost three months since BAMF Style has checked in with Hank Moody, the hero of Californication. In “California Son”, Hank had just come to terms with the death of his father with the help of a roll in the sack with ex-girlfriend Karen. He departs LAX for a brief exodus home to JFK, returning a few weeks later. Upon his return in the next episode, Hank is pleasantly surprised to find Karen waiting outside LAX but soon discovers that she is there to meet boring dial tone Bill – her fiance – rather than Hank. Hank makes the best of this uncomfortable situation. Continue reading
Brad Pitt in Killing Them Softly
Brad Pitt as Jackie Cogan in Killing Them Softly (2012)
Vitals
Brad Pitt as Jackie Cogan, freelance mob hitman
Boston*, November 2008
* The movie—like the source novel—was indeed set in the Boston area but was filmed in New Orleans.
Film: Killing Them Softly
Release Date: November 30, 2012
Director: Andrew Dominik
Costume Designer: Patricia Norris
WARNING! Spoilers ahead!
Background
Although it met with mixed reviews, many fans of George V. Higgins appreciate the recent film version of his 1974 book Cogan’s Trade, released as Killing Them Softly based on a line from the novel’s titular protagonist, Jackie Cogan:
They cry. They plead. They beg. They piss themselves. They call for their mothers. It gets embarrassing. I like to kill ’em softly, from a distance. Not close enough for feelings. Don’t like feelings. Don’t want to think about them.
Californication – “Turn the Page” (1.11)
David Duchovny as Hank Moody in “Turn the Page”, episode 1.11 of Californication.
Vitals
David Duchovny as Hank Moody, womanizing novelist with substance abuse issues
Venice Beach, Fall 2007
Series: Californication
Episode: “Turn the Page” (Episode 1.11)
Air Date: October 22, 2007
Director: David Von Ancken
Costume Designer: Peggy A. Schnitzer
Background
In the penultimate episode of Californication‘s first season, Hank Moody has spent the majority of the season wistfully hoping that his ex-wife (common law, at least) Karen will abandon her thoughts of marrying the “dial-tone” Bill and come back to Hank. He thought he had his life on track when he wrote a new novel, but it was unfortunately lost when his new car was stolen. He and Karen briefly rekindled their passions after the death of Hank’s father, but it didn’t last. Finally, Hank hit his seasonal rock bottom in “The Devil’s Threesome” when doing just that with gym rat Laura and his best friend/agent Charlie.
It’s safe to say that, by this point, Hank’s been swallowed up and shit out by the powers that be. Continue reading
Californication – “Girls Interrupted”
David Duchovny as bored writer and master chef Hank Moody on Californication.
Vitals
David Duchovny as Hank Moody, womanizing novelist with substance abuse issues
Venice Beach, Summer 2007
Series: Californication
Episode: “Girls Interrupted” (Episode 1.07)
Air Date: September 24, 2007
Director: Tucker Gates
Costume Designer: Peggy A. Schnitzer
Background
As one of the first episodes to feature more heavily on the Flanderization of Charlie Runkle (Evan Handler), Hank Moody gets relatively less screen time than usual in “Girls Interrupted”, the seventh episode of Californication‘s first season.
When we do see him, the attire is all pretty standard. We do get a better look at the green button-up he wore earlier in the season and finally find out about Hank’s signature dish, an infamous conglomeration of cheese for the whole family! Continue reading
Goodfellas – Henry at Idlewild Airport, 1963
Ray Liotta as Henry Hill in Goodfellas (1990)
Vitals
Ray Liotta as Henry Hill, Lucchese family Mafia associate
New York City, Summer 1963
Film: Goodfellas
Release Date: September 19, 1990
Director: Martin Scorsese
Costume Designer: Richard Bruno
Background
The popularity of Nicholas Pileggi’s mob expose Wiseguy in 1985 and the subsequent film version, Goodfellas, five years later changed the pop culture view of Mafioso. For thirty years, they were a crew of fedora-wearing guys in loud suits and pinkie rings who would shove a .38 under your chin and hope the coppers weren’t onto them, get me? In 1972, The Godfather paved the way for mob films about honor and family. Great movies but still hardly closer to depicting the truth about the mob.
Finally, in 1990, a realistic depiction of the American Mafia was released in theaters. Made with the help of “advisors” such as mob associates Henry Hill and Jimmy Burke and even starring ex-mob associates such as Tony Sirico (later to become famous as Paulie on The Sopranos), people were seeing the mob for what it was: a business made up of criminally-inclined lowlifes who saw themselves as much more important than they were.
Many terrific suits (and many awful ones) are worn throughout the film. Although it takes place from 1955 to 1980, some of the most stylish attire, as one would expect, is seen during the sequences set in the early ’60s. Continue reading
Californication – Pilot Episode
David Duchovny as Hank Moody in the pilot episode of Showtime’s Californication (2007).
In honor of Wednesday being hump day, I present the first article on someone who does plenty of humping as well.
A far cry from Cary Grant or William Powell, Hank’s simple but individual style has been one of the most inquired about and copied since Californication‘s debut in 2007. This is interesting (and ironic?), because what makes Hank so appealing is the way that he avoids copying anyone else.
Vitals
David Duchovny as Hank Moody, womanizing novelist with substance abuse issues
Venice Beach, Summer 2007
Series: Californication
Episode: “Pilot” (Episode 1.01)
Air Date: August 13, 2007
Director: Stephen Hopkins
Costume Designer: Peggy A. Schnitzer
Background
The first time we meet Hank Moody is cinematic and instantly and hilariously establishes his character. With the operatic intro to the Stones’ “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” playing, he pulls up to a grand-looking California church in his dirty and beat-up black Porsche. He exits the car, his permanent hangover causing him to squint at the sun through his sunglasses. A half-smoked Camel dangles from his mouth. He removes the sunglasses, looks at the church with agony, and raises his hand to the cigarette. Continue reading
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