Giveaway: Mike Mills’ Beginners

Mike Mills is one of my favorite multi-hyphenate creative people, and has been for a long time. Back in the era of my tidal obsession with Air’s Moon Safari, I read up everything I could on the band, and Mills– the designer who’d crafted their rad cover art. I watched as many of his music videos as I could track down with the middling assistance of dial-up internet and my primary pre-YouTube rad video source, the late great RES Magazine. Ever since then, Mike Mills’ creations– in print, feature filmmaking, documentary, graphic design and music video have only grown successively more and more awesome.

His latest endeavor is his most intimate and most emotionally evocative work yet, the film Beginners. It tells the story of a sad graphic designer (Ewan McGreggor) learning to love (Melanie Laurent) late in life, and his elderly father (Christopher Plumer) who comes out of the closet in the twilight of his life. It’s a simple story but its scope is epic: it’s about mortality, growing up, the unchangeable nature of historical circumstance and seeking connection in a disconnected family. As heavy Beginners‘ themes are, Mills juggles story and concepts with significant grace, blending melancholy and humor in a way that somehow manages to reveal the intimate inner lives of his characters.

Beginners is in theaters now, and I strongly urge you to check it out on the big screen. And luckily, since Mike Mills can’t be confined to one medium, he’s released a companion book to the film called Drawings From the Film Beginners. It’s full of funny and charming sketches that relate to the Ewan McGregor’s character in the film, who also designs album covers for a living.

Thanks to Focus Features, I’m stoked to announce that we’re giving away a copy of the book, as well as a dropcard that will let you to download the Beginners soundtrack for free. Comment with your favorite work by Mike Mills and we’ll choose a winner at random this Friday!

23 Responses to “Giveaway: Mike Mills’ Beginners”

  1. Calvin June 20, 2011 at 2:59 pm #

    My fave thing he’s done is the Architecture of Reassurance short.

  2. russell June 20, 2011 at 3:06 pm #

    Loved “Paper Boys.”

  3. Zandra June 20, 2011 at 3:09 pm #

    I loved that ribbion he made for the Human series he did and sold years ago maybe 06 or 07. It was very simple and poetic. In fact I need to go find some of it.

  4. Elinor June 20, 2011 at 3:11 pm #

    I have faith that Beginners is going to be my favorite Millsian thing, once I get out to see it, but in the meanwhile I’m awfully fond of the Humans fabrics…

  5. JJ Steeves June 20, 2011 at 3:13 pm #

    I’m a big fan of the Hair Shoes Love and Honesty project by Mike Mills.

  6. Steven June 20, 2011 at 3:15 pm #

    D E F O R M E R

  7. Michael Guerra June 20, 2011 at 3:19 pm #

    Beginners is definitely my favorite thing Mike Mills has done. DEFINITELY!

  8. Ryan Oskin June 20, 2011 at 6:16 pm #

    “Not How Or When Or Why But Yes” from the Humans project!

  9. JB June 20, 2011 at 7:01 pm #

    Kelly Watch The Stars

  10. Thijs June 21, 2011 at 3:22 am #

    This book looks like it could be a new favorite!

  11. Nancy Lili G. June 21, 2011 at 8:28 am #

    I’m voting “Paper Boys”– t’was awesome. And this book looks awesome as well!

  12. Pedro C June 21, 2011 at 7:37 pm #

    My Breath On Window Poster.

  13. Patrick June 22, 2011 at 7:06 am #

    While I do love his earlier stuff, and like you I sought out much of it through the likes of RES and excruciatingly buffered real player files in the 90′s, I think he’s really matured over time, and after seeing beginners I feel that this film is now my favorite. Maybe I’m biased, having had him there to speak about the work in person at the screening and add another layer of emotional depth, but it really was a wonderful piece of work.

  14. laurie June 23, 2011 at 12:49 am #

    Thumbsucker!

  15. saamntha blake June 23, 2011 at 4:38 pm #

    I haven’t seen beginners yet but I am sure i will love it.I love the piece bruises in the human 4 series.They are very delicate and serious washes of what looks like watercolor. “it speaks of humanity” (lol). I also like the human fabrics ,how cool .

  16. jose echeverria June 23, 2011 at 7:42 pm #

    i love thumbsucker.

  17. Graham Kolbeins June 24, 2011 at 11:56 am #

    Thanks for entering, everyone! Chosen by the random number generator at Random.org, the winner is commenter #2, Russell!

  18. J.Kent June 25, 2011 at 6:41 pm #

    I like the relationship he has created with Miranda July.
    It gives me hope.

  19. Gwendolyn Aker July 1, 2011 at 3:51 am #

    Thumbsucker!

  20. fikafikafika July 1, 2011 at 10:02 pm #

    I will forever be in love with what he has done with Zoot Woman’s It’s Automatic. I was already in love with the song… and the video just made me fall harder thanks to Mike Mills

  21. Lewis Scott - Dyson July 4, 2011 at 6:26 am #

    Big fan of the SONIC YOUTH washing machine. If you want to throw one of those jumpers in too…

  22. Katie July 29, 2011 at 12:47 pm #

    absolutely love our framed print of ‘Fireworks’ from the Humans series hanging in my living room.

  23. Elizabeth A January 5, 2012 at 3:10 pm #

    Gotta be Beginners.