Books |
One2One
Elodie Mailliet and William Hannigan
By
Published: Jan 01, 2006
Category:
Non Fiction
One2One
Elodie Mailliet and William Hannigan
I want to be a huge star
who hangs out in hotel bars
I want to wake up at noon
in somebody else’s room
I want to shine so bright it hurts….
Teddy Thompson’s song has it right: Stars are bigger than life. The world waits — without complaint — when they’re late. The room changes when they enter. Mere celebrities move to the side. Pundits babble. Fans faint.
Talk about Evangelical Christianity all you like — stardom is our national religion. We deliberately stand in the longest checkout line at the grocery so we can read the celebrity magazines. We watch TV biographies of our favorites. And we tune in early for the red carpet.
The star-making machinery is based largely on images. A picture really does matter more than a thousand words — this is all about a deep reaction to a shallow surface. "Love," says someone in a Woody Allen movie, "is a matter of timing. To which Woody wisely replies: "Yes…and lighting."
Cinematographers matter. But magazine photographers are gods. That is why a book of star photographs that measures 13.7" x 11.2" does not seem excessive, why 5.9 pounds of book doesn’t seem indulgent.
The idea is simple: Mark Selinger photographs Drew Barrymoore, Ben Watts photographs his sister Naomi, Sam Jones photographs George Clooney, Matthew Rolston photographs Selma Hayek, Andrew MacPherson photographs Charlize Theron, James White photographs Nicole Kidman, Martin Schoeller photographs Bill Clinton. [Bill Clinton a movie star? If you think not, you haven’t seen him step into an event in New York — I’m telling you: the waters part.]
In each case, the photographer and the star have worked together before. They know each other well — they can make a project that could easily be a chore into a day of fun. Even a day of exploration and discovery. So you may expect images that tell you a bit more than you’re used to.
After the photo spreads, there are words. The photographer talks. And then the star does. (The George Clooney interview is, as you might expect, hilarious.)
The pictures are best viewed with sunglasses on — these people are that radiant. Very simply, they’re some of the most gorgeous specimens on the planet. And, man, do they take care of themselves. But more than the physicality, there’s the star thing. Analyze it all day and you won’t be any wiser about it.
Except, perhaps, to know this: These people seem 110% present. So vibrant you wish you could rush to the Aliveness Store and buy some of what they’ve got.
If you love movies and are dazzled by stars, this is a gift you want someone to get you. And if you need a gift, this is a coffee table book that puts most of the others to shame.
To buy ‘One2One’ from Amazon.com, click here.
