Blood In Blood Out (1993)

"Miklo, orale, carnalito. What's up, ese?"

Damian Chapa impersonates the Miklo character in this movie, one of his first roles and since then on he would became obsessed with chicano gangster movies, both as actor and director. Too bad he's just not that good in both.. But at least he knows how to dress up properly as a chicano.

A film about three cousins growing up, one active as painter, the second as a narcotic officer and the latter as the leader of the La Onda prison gang. Director Taylor Hackford shot the film inside the San Quentin State Prison and managed to get a great deal of prisoners to act in the film. As for style concerned it's a chicano gangster walhalla; pleated (khaki) chino's, tanktops with flannel check shirts, completed with derby hats. When in prison they wear light blue shirts all with the button up top, denim jeans and jackets, navy colored beanies and all black sunglasses.

The Endless Summer (1966)

If you love the seashore and if you're fond of surfing you will definitely like Bruce Brown's documentary, one of the first ever shot on surf culture. Still if you don't like surfing or even the seashore its very likely you'll love it. It's not just the ultimate surfer movie, actually I didn't select one single shot in which there's actually someone riding the waves. This is one of these documentaries that covers so much more than just the main-subject; it's about unknown cultures, a cool lifestyle, traveling, beautiful sceneries, silly and good humor but most of all about some cool dudes that know how to enjoy life. And of course the endless shots of some guys and girls floating on the waves are breathtaking, wave after wave.

From Senegal, Ghana, Nigeria, South-Africa, Australia, New-Zeeland, Tahiti to Hawai the two surfers, Michael Hynson and Robert August, are searching for the best spots to practice their skills and to discover the surroundings. Persol sunglasses, fisherman knits, slick haircuts, khaki chino's, waterproof watches, Vans sneakers, Fiat 500's, Volkswagen Beetles, suits and naturally the oldskool surfboards are all present. Bruce Brown really knows how to cover a certain subculture.

If you liked 'The Endless Summer' you should make sure you get to see 'On Any Sunday' real soon too. The second documentary by Brown covers motorcycling and dirt-bike riding and features Steve McQueen (as a professional driver) among others and has the typical Bruce Brown elements added to it.

Gama No Abura (2009)

Up until now the best film I've visited in the cinemas this year. It's the first movie directed by Kôji Yakusho, known as an actor. Yakusho must like style, for the fact that most of the caps I've selected from this film subjects his character (young and old) or his belongings.

The character played by Yakusho, Takuro, is a stock investor and sits behind his desk checking stocking quotes all day. His office is probably the nicest one I've ever seen: eight fully equipped iMac's (with the black backsides) and a corner with targets to hit with all the imaginable toy guns available. Then he continuously wears his khaki colored chino's, the fine leather jacket and completed with, not sure though, Red Wing 8181's and his Australian Akubra hat. And even when not at home, he makes sure to bring along his three MacBook Pro's in his trailer. And have a look at the Takuro character as a kiddo, he knows how to look cool and get at places he shouldn't be. Just superb. This film is highly recommended - and not only for style.