BuzzSugar

Author Cormac McCarthy's Typewriter on the Auction Block

GeekSugar — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 03:50:37 PST

Again, I will profess my love for vintage typewriters. They're such a lovely mix of beautiful typeface, simplicity, and vintage geek. Now, a very famous typewriter is going on the auction block.

The machine belongs to Cormac McCarthy, author of The Road (which was recently made into a movie) and No Country For Old Men. He purchased it from a Knoxville, TN pawnshop in 1963. After finding a similar vintage model in better condition (after all, who knows how many words were typed on the vintage Olivetti typewriter), McCarthy agreed to sell it, donating the proceeds to charity.

According to New York auction house Christie's, the typewriter is expected to bring in upwards of $15,000.

And if, like me, you can't stop staring at these retro beauties, take a look at my gallery of vintage typewriters.

Photos courtesy of Christie's

The Road: A Bleak Journey That Will Haunt You

Lauren Bradshaw — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 07:00:00 PST

It's not that I was expecting a film adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's The Road to be happy sunshine - I just wasn't expecting it to seem so possible.

The apocalyptic tale takes place in a wasteland in the future after most humans are gone. It's desolate, the sky is a brownish-gray, and the land seems to be covered with ash. Unlike showy 2012, this is an end-of-the-world tale stripped down, which makes it all the more realistic and chilling.

To see what I mean, just

read more. We meet Man (Viggo Mortensen) and Boy (Kodi Smit-McPhee), a father and son making their way down south because they can't survive another Winter in this ominous setting. (Charlize Theron plays their wife and mother through a series of flashbacks). With a meager amount of food left on the planet, the select few people remaining (and there aren't many) will basically kill for supplies - or turn to cannibalism for sustenance. If this sounds like a horror film, it's because it pretty much is one. In fact, it's the worst, most plausible kind: one that explores the evils of humanity. I'm sure many viewers won't be able to (or won't want to) stomach the subject matter, but the film is worth seeing thanks to the relationship between the father and son. In terms of plot, there isn't a ton that happens, and most of the action involves bumping into new strangers, like an elderly man (Robert Duvall) and a threatening gang. Some may find the lack of events monotonous, but this is why father and son are so important. Man is an average Joe who questions how far he'll go to keep Boy safe and what that means for his conscience; Boy is an innocent who still looks for good in people. The film obviously raises questions about the nature of who we are when tested - but the story is ultimately about their relationship. As Man, Viggo Mortensen gives a mesmerizing performance that should bring his name up around awards season, and Smit-McPhee as his son is a great child actor, especially given the dark subject matter. If you're a McCarthy fan or even just a fan of great acting, you'll want to check this one out. But, I'd suggest saving it for next week - after you find your Thanksgiving warm fuzzies somewhere else.

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Charlize, Viggo Travel Cormac McCarthy's Road

BuzzSugar — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 16:28:19 PST

Cormac McCarthy's novel No Country for Old Men has proven so successful in movie format, there's already another film in pre-production based on another of his works, The Road. Variety is reporting today that Charlize Theron has signed on for the project, and will star alongside Viggo Mortensen. Apparently, Theron is a huge fan of the novel. Here's more:

Story centers on a man who embarks on a nightmarish road trip after a nuclear explosion in an attempt to transport his son to safety while fending off cannibals. Theron, who will play the wife of Mortensen's character, will be seen mostly in flashback. Although the role is small, Theron joined the project because she's a big fan of the book.

I haven't read the book - yet! - but I know from my recent Buzzworthy challenge that some of you are fans of this McCarthy work. Can you see these casting picks working for the film?

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