tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54979286413983224952024-03-08T06:34:21.727-05:00Junta Juleil's Culture ShockSean Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537515557596273876noreply@blogger.comBlogger1401125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5497928641398322495.post-29463207778034990752024-02-15T19:30:00.006-05:002024-02-15T19:30:48.943-05:00"Dr. Bronner's or Dr. Strangelove?" in Slackjaw Magazine<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6wE4-1gsaIuADsEAZUTIAxthyWaAhl5gfvViTecD2TRRSmkI_Uin7KZykkQCqdfvZ1Qe-npXCBkD9huRq9ot6lW7irZM2mw0vTurX-Gnf3OhD29SQFt7ZdkIbHJy5tGFx_YpoS3vz65dXOA5Mj3P_bL5tTZYrtMM_yXpvUb-KiMDlSDn7OMsQx-sgCGw/s170/Screen%20Shot%202019-11-10%20at%204.47.18%20PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="170" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6wE4-1gsaIuADsEAZUTIAxthyWaAhl5gfvViTecD2TRRSmkI_Uin7KZykkQCqdfvZ1Qe-npXCBkD9huRq9ot6lW7irZM2mw0vTurX-Gnf3OhD29SQFt7ZdkIbHJy5tGFx_YpoS3vz65dXOA5Mj3P_bL5tTZYrtMM_yXpvUb-KiMDlSDn7OMsQx-sgCGw/s1600/Screen%20Shot%202019-11-10%20at%204.47.18%20PM.jpg" width="170" /></a></div>In honor of the 60th Anniversary of Stanley Kubrick's <i>Dr. Strangelove, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb</i>, <a href="https://medium.com/slackjaw/dr-bronners-or-dr-strangelove-6fb2082e656d">I have a new humor piece up in </a><i><a href="https://medium.com/slackjaw/dr-bronners-or-dr-strangelove-6fb2082e656d">Slackjaw Magazine</a>.</i><br /><p></p>Sean Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537515557596273876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5497928641398322495.post-80781038854790579342024-02-02T15:13:00.005-05:002024-02-02T15:13:43.094-05:00R.I.P., Carl Weathers<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_dI3gPJTqgV__3voyhHrj0i9KUHYpd1m6wcCKy8JTOlmvDNTs1S6BqbIPQdJQwGZ5kP1ymCiXiySMWqQWvfLHDTrXNsR7dne2PRGibr87GKdwcurqtgh2JUdGDfaS9VNhyv-THfK7CBRcaMuI_9IHWsbw9wFBiZAFY7riutQi4o-_6sit7lHLbAXZQRU/s1280/predator.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_dI3gPJTqgV__3voyhHrj0i9KUHYpd1m6wcCKy8JTOlmvDNTs1S6BqbIPQdJQwGZ5kP1ymCiXiySMWqQWvfLHDTrXNsR7dne2PRGibr87GKdwcurqtgh2JUdGDfaS9VNhyv-THfK7CBRcaMuI_9IHWsbw9wFBiZAFY7riutQi4o-_6sit7lHLbAXZQRU/w400-h225/predator.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXHLGc5jPJJyYmkozbYF0biDAjz84hBBPiQL0AQumAFFszCfjemiaDOXaf7yTvtrJ6lAXrQKrRTS8hQzLymUT37hnTJtI8MKyluArL80gcp7dSe1YgQT6aqS2RA7Ad284Jx82a6PT1xmxo6CHsiIN_lXkUBDCQd-fx3jXef9pAKtc0EI_xzkEJycJ8CWs/s1200/rocky4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="818" data-original-width="1200" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXHLGc5jPJJyYmkozbYF0biDAjz84hBBPiQL0AQumAFFszCfjemiaDOXaf7yTvtrJ6lAXrQKrRTS8hQzLymUT37hnTJtI8MKyluArL80gcp7dSe1YgQT6aqS2RA7Ad284Jx82a6PT1xmxo6CHsiIN_lXkUBDCQd-fx3jXef9pAKtc0EI_xzkEJycJ8CWs/w400-h272/rocky4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWCfHN5Asnoe0lL9OIGR0p_l9Ajt3wTv-0TucFy4yQItv_wAWoJ7VLKUuoRo1RI42KbbJwKtnvbwozqgplt55AW1EvXebckBX30KHrRmqYFqymy_33WCH0eO2rGZMV9Hynm_KOPPNYk5vqt0YKhbgW6sFPwS9I2H3BlY_bSldpD_5-OP_5dk0pH73FeGU/s640/Carl-Weathers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWCfHN5Asnoe0lL9OIGR0p_l9Ajt3wTv-0TucFy4yQItv_wAWoJ7VLKUuoRo1RI42KbbJwKtnvbwozqgplt55AW1EvXebckBX30KHrRmqYFqymy_33WCH0eO2rGZMV9Hynm_KOPPNYk5vqt0YKhbgW6sFPwS9I2H3BlY_bSldpD_5-OP_5dk0pH73FeGU/w400-h225/Carl-Weathers.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Sean Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537515557596273876noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5497928641398322495.post-58385883131418710542024-01-23T14:28:00.001-05:002024-01-23T14:28:09.606-05:00Sean Gill's "The Marked Book" Anthologized by The Lascaux Review<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs601eaNhP3qKaZ35GtUfCx1Xaoi18opN_9j4Gy_Dv_S2r4Y4Odu1v8gj_dbTq58zRn5asZiAzWzvCgIsdyTI-N_5-2FvCAQ1JlOcHivOY-8zF_jzuYMzmlpxWiOjMlf67gZ5L6ITFLX41tUrLXXHhbBA9WoDzo-GhajeziVu4WFW3xdGJRZ31kYebE7Y/s1500/61En+Chv95L._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="985" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs601eaNhP3qKaZ35GtUfCx1Xaoi18opN_9j4Gy_Dv_S2r4Y4Odu1v8gj_dbTq58zRn5asZiAzWzvCgIsdyTI-N_5-2FvCAQ1JlOcHivOY-8zF_jzuYMzmlpxWiOjMlf67gZ5L6ITFLX41tUrLXXHhbBA9WoDzo-GhajeziVu4WFW3xdGJRZ31kYebE7Y/s320/61En+Chv95L._SL1500_.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>My short story "The Marked Book," which first appeared in <a href="https://iowareview.org/issue/volume-47-issue-3-%E2%80%94-winter-201718"><em>The Iowa Review</em></a> and was a finalist for the 2022 Lascaux Prize in Flash Fiction, is newly anthologized in <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1734496657/ref=x_gr_bb_amazon?ie=UTF8&tag=x_gr_bb_amazon-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1734496657&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2"><em>The Lascaux Review</em> prize issue, Volume 10, which is available to purchase in print</a>.<p></p>Sean Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537515557596273876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5497928641398322495.post-22571071336634682512023-12-28T14:32:00.003-05:002023-12-28T14:32:27.047-05:00Sean Gill's "Join Hands" Anthologized by the Scottish Arts Trust<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjITJ8RP_rLih2VnI9b6DJV8rENvr5yVMK4BY2qRMquemQPFN6_H0FGUYoHU6kd-rc4JbBtoU4GhHpwqNRYGhv52REiLR6Gp3OMMaxQ2nf6Qt3gXhJUyYC1NWe_MOL-CGvA0_CXUlzr48oyEV9BE6pp1fUCLYfarT92EzX7EXksTSN0vMv_66U91IXYvOI/s1499/71U3bDSIK-L._SL1499_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1499" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjITJ8RP_rLih2VnI9b6DJV8rENvr5yVMK4BY2qRMquemQPFN6_H0FGUYoHU6kd-rc4JbBtoU4GhHpwqNRYGhv52REiLR6Gp3OMMaxQ2nf6Qt3gXhJUyYC1NWe_MOL-CGvA0_CXUlzr48oyEV9BE6pp1fUCLYfarT92EzX7EXksTSN0vMv_66U91IXYvOI/s320/71U3bDSIK-L._SL1499_.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>My short story "Join Hands," which won the the <a href="https://www.scottishartstrust.org/results-story/#2023flashresults">Third Prize of the 2023 Edinburgh Award </a>for Flash Fiction (judged by Zoë Strachan and Louise
Welsh), is featured in the Scottish Arts Trust's latest anthology, <em>Solemates and Other Stories</em>, <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Solemates-other-stories-Scottish-Anthologies/dp/B0CMDB19CV">which is now available to purchase in print and electronically</a>.<p></p>Sean Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537515557596273876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5497928641398322495.post-68306945965438245872023-12-24T10:43:00.004-05:002023-12-24T10:43:57.439-05:00Only now does it occur to me... SANTA WITH MUSCLES (1996)<p><i>Only now does it occur to me... </i> I never thought I'd witness a Christmas-themed off-brand lightsaber duel between Ed Begley, Jr. and Hulk Hogan.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6MuBRuGLv1H8P2zpKkgslRL5gGWF48upQwV6UMZVYbXAPJQpO-m1pIHCiGfGB_S7u3GOnD8HYT8IaRC3Ana6DvE82KKy5G4sHl285LTTb-YstgZHyEstWuOPl2FrUkuLBq9MbcdiQ5__dLh-Psa_NEotoQ-AiWDRk-H0AuM-kBwJmMY9HvI8VzkVxp7U/s2936/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-18%20at%206.48.51%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1666" data-original-width="2936" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6MuBRuGLv1H8P2zpKkgslRL5gGWF48upQwV6UMZVYbXAPJQpO-m1pIHCiGfGB_S7u3GOnD8HYT8IaRC3Ana6DvE82KKy5G4sHl285LTTb-YstgZHyEstWuOPl2FrUkuLBq9MbcdiQ5__dLh-Psa_NEotoQ-AiWDRk-H0AuM-kBwJmMY9HvI8VzkVxp7U/w400-h228/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-18%20at%206.48.51%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgosGPmOnmGO0gZdxXchO-nHTqmqahp4e2yO0hPRLx3APtHSapp_l1zXlKumImu_XKP4jgIopQgMrzrt0giMJQqPQAj_ANEzb-AF55CV6HrBkY_VXItk8uWibET0FagQfYYz8JEh2EWKxBqZc21DaFRdk28Ap0NEFuXMJbMrJHvuEli1wjVrvp1-PYphG0/s2956/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-18%20at%206.47.43%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1598" data-original-width="2956" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgosGPmOnmGO0gZdxXchO-nHTqmqahp4e2yO0hPRLx3APtHSapp_l1zXlKumImu_XKP4jgIopQgMrzrt0giMJQqPQAj_ANEzb-AF55CV6HrBkY_VXItk8uWibET0FagQfYYz8JEh2EWKxBqZc21DaFRdk28Ap0NEFuXMJbMrJHvuEli1wjVrvp1-PYphG0/w400-h216/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-18%20at%206.47.43%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmDFBIxgklRATERzG_D7lsiNf7Y9hyphenhyphenO4YObQYi5Uuot_6tg7PUPmqyCpL_4-KTy4a-OLHw5ONMYth556Z3zGwcmnOC4wyYJKvNSKarSLYGWKV6QWXP2kqyT_CmwTg0b4j2axRNj5AkgKMix_NpBjqTyemWO-yY2mIAP4pUCI8XrVqS_jNFuSif2O3vsXE/s2926/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-18%20at%206.47.03%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1664" data-original-width="2926" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmDFBIxgklRATERzG_D7lsiNf7Y9hyphenhyphenO4YObQYi5Uuot_6tg7PUPmqyCpL_4-KTy4a-OLHw5ONMYth556Z3zGwcmnOC4wyYJKvNSKarSLYGWKV6QWXP2kqyT_CmwTg0b4j2axRNj5AkgKMix_NpBjqTyemWO-yY2mIAP4pUCI8XrVqS_jNFuSif2O3vsXE/w400-h228/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-18%20at%206.47.03%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4Bm2sdb8rwQxNhmTlW1WU209obXX4sLLT4wC7XMNqOX_bzT9_on2OM1fcqtBYo-WLLd_EGoSFOx59YTvNf-86_VcBUzT-tL0DCzzNy9Xy42KV2ziRbZD0x1ql1_rWmArM-jembmbMqqg4_0zFIZmZl_DbxmEt1-cG17JSa2-0zVR-yNz6BD1w7saZIU/s2968/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-18%20at%206.47.49%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1674" data-original-width="2968" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4Bm2sdb8rwQxNhmTlW1WU209obXX4sLLT4wC7XMNqOX_bzT9_on2OM1fcqtBYo-WLLd_EGoSFOx59YTvNf-86_VcBUzT-tL0DCzzNy9Xy42KV2ziRbZD0x1ql1_rWmArM-jembmbMqqg4_0zFIZmZl_DbxmEt1-cG17JSa2-0zVR-yNz6BD1w7saZIU/w400-h225/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-18%20at%206.47.49%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBcM7ogdkeldthyGaicNS0p-JP9yU24dsAQ3PusRJtpaczA1IWGdrj1zZx9jSgh7ddFv2OtpigFUF58GZlQrBZy5NAt9d7RP4cWCbaxz_rRoju_f3N_MKS1u5EamUd7au4YlF24UB4vFbp1aVU8CKpblvGgIz5LJrZucSa5sq9eVyp8_qXNRGayaobSSY/s2954/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-18%20at%206.46.51%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1668" data-original-width="2954" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBcM7ogdkeldthyGaicNS0p-JP9yU24dsAQ3PusRJtpaczA1IWGdrj1zZx9jSgh7ddFv2OtpigFUF58GZlQrBZy5NAt9d7RP4cWCbaxz_rRoju_f3N_MKS1u5EamUd7au4YlF24UB4vFbp1aVU8CKpblvGgIz5LJrZucSa5sq9eVyp8_qXNRGayaobSSY/w400-h226/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-18%20at%206.46.51%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p>And yet, this is indeed the final setpiece of SANTA WITH MUSCLES, a comedy-fantasy-actioner produced by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_Belfort">Jordan Belfort, the real-life inspiration for THE WOLF OF WALL STREET</a>. This last part actually makes sense, given that this is a movie which smacks deeply of money laundering.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgdV3gqVd8S2TQxl-R-ll676nwpeb0D03G3owdKUEvHL7vO2t91G8YQbDG28ecX2P8Hj-EaUQQV818XfCnA1uGwB_9lPA-IAHPNVofFZA-npgIVG8vmO3Wj9CI9SWrNtDhg4nXnz-IIRANf2WbfHODQc6U_CP2gW6ja_9pEx8nd7rx0fdrY592-mbRA-E/s2954/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-18%20at%206.35.07%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1654" data-original-width="2954" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgdV3gqVd8S2TQxl-R-ll676nwpeb0D03G3owdKUEvHL7vO2t91G8YQbDG28ecX2P8Hj-EaUQQV818XfCnA1uGwB_9lPA-IAHPNVofFZA-npgIVG8vmO3Wj9CI9SWrNtDhg4nXnz-IIRANf2WbfHODQc6U_CP2gW6ja_9pEx8nd7rx0fdrY592-mbRA-E/w400-h224/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-18%20at%206.35.07%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>I can give you a little more context, even though you haven't asked for it.<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-XkDX1p1QxDwSjWjKCC7YgS4tR04M7u1XxskWpXfzFh_y0xyVtOqwJDn0Yv66kSZTeoFTeb1ukoSzWqc9KE3XkIKZRJaU1gx8opVrhbgl6UxHdRlJjf9OEAHuQsI1b-XXWK0cXpkBGH24PW319DUXts5t_DIL8-YSTHUgpy0fknglLiWX1lfUVVVCDjU/s2938/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-18%20at%206.35.40%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1646" data-original-width="2938" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-XkDX1p1QxDwSjWjKCC7YgS4tR04M7u1XxskWpXfzFh_y0xyVtOqwJDn0Yv66kSZTeoFTeb1ukoSzWqc9KE3XkIKZRJaU1gx8opVrhbgl6UxHdRlJjf9OEAHuQsI1b-XXWK0cXpkBGH24PW319DUXts5t_DIL8-YSTHUgpy0fknglLiWX1lfUVVVCDjU/w400-h224/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-18%20at%206.35.40%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> </p><p>The premise of SANTA WITH MUSCLES is that Hulk Hogan plays a rich jerk who made his fortune in questionable dietary supplements</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjwkTlUMM31YtpyA678wNbkjqLG012SQBTajPIkAx4TrHSuMlGpztRv9vjQtKuV4BS-DZ_X_lL-v8KFjn4kVzlwGNMscnWXX-HX09fS0LlpLpQZM9HNIbIcgsQg6o6oL7UtRyTyIHCWndCKeR3hfnZ4RUn2XZ6fZeQcU1lKDzkdpCLTbCCF8Gmq7MfIRg/s2960/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-18%20at%206.36.02%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1668" data-original-width="2960" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjwkTlUMM31YtpyA678wNbkjqLG012SQBTajPIkAx4TrHSuMlGpztRv9vjQtKuV4BS-DZ_X_lL-v8KFjn4kVzlwGNMscnWXX-HX09fS0LlpLpQZM9HNIbIcgsQg6o6oL7UtRyTyIHCWndCKeR3hfnZ4RUn2XZ6fZeQcU1lKDzkdpCLTbCCF8Gmq7MfIRg/w400-h225/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-18%20at%206.36.02%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>and spends his days lecturing his sizeable staff about philosophy, self-defense, and paintball.<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj9AOMTA8R_0kjklY0P11Ay-UnL51X-DpvIci4Ke-qRW4rjeXi01F10i0hfMxxFwokic3cSzWIho30aU-vH0zpZJY4UqjOHbfwE_9A6oErgEI1twrDHwegtTz1wOZ9XpaMk7JEfxaOq2ZhuhsK-LTlEUh1VrrSXK-iLPcyoPyhP2xalG8JP0gUyLkvurU/s2956/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-18%20at%206.37.48%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1662" data-original-width="2956" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj9AOMTA8R_0kjklY0P11Ay-UnL51X-DpvIci4Ke-qRW4rjeXi01F10i0hfMxxFwokic3cSzWIho30aU-vH0zpZJY4UqjOHbfwE_9A6oErgEI1twrDHwegtTz1wOZ9XpaMk7JEfxaOq2ZhuhsK-LTlEUh1VrrSXK-iLPcyoPyhP2xalG8JP0gUyLkvurU/w400-h225/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-18%20at%206.37.48%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /></p><p>During one of the Hulkster's paintball tournaments, his scofflaw behavior attracts the attention of the local police (depicted by Clint Howard, lending this a real New World Pictures/lesser Corman vibe). </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPH5aozNh8DNL53Sqk7AwKEdGdAPEEX5ao6pqBPPjkLDfzX8dTsuHASzRZUSsP5jCgcenRFTbYYdmoZ4g-Sc5G3I66vieZkC3gASOK_eDEnk0927wPAiJ9RtumRa-9F2vug_YBSl9N52U5qC_Y2Qy2cC33HaB9QCNgaoXWHeL2JW_2vNe8AFZcADp_UOo/s2948/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-18%20at%206.38.03%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1654" data-original-width="2948" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPH5aozNh8DNL53Sqk7AwKEdGdAPEEX5ao6pqBPPjkLDfzX8dTsuHASzRZUSsP5jCgcenRFTbYYdmoZ4g-Sc5G3I66vieZkC3gASOK_eDEnk0927wPAiJ9RtumRa-9F2vug_YBSl9N52U5qC_Y2Qy2cC33HaB9QCNgaoXWHeL2JW_2vNe8AFZcADp_UOo/w400-h225/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-18%20at%206.38.03%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /></p><p>In the subsequent chase sequence, the Hulkster suffers a brain injury leaving him convinced that he is Santa Claus.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd3L6UJnQZJ_kJAAq70rqSavdAA9Fadrqsql1VAyUOF0Aj3EfGCSjkHC6BFXZWF6AV92OdCHGtGjXOtPPv3Jch3Y0rC2IDBxiSOiIXaisn_EtEv6vY3s8IeJcW89loiFwTOF_Ysf1EPrvomaSKe_OdkwGIBIAr379XmwMZoJ6hCEX85MayD3b_C8wuid8/s2946/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-18%20at%206.38.59%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1654" data-original-width="2946" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd3L6UJnQZJ_kJAAq70rqSavdAA9Fadrqsql1VAyUOF0Aj3EfGCSjkHC6BFXZWF6AV92OdCHGtGjXOtPPv3Jch3Y0rC2IDBxiSOiIXaisn_EtEv6vY3s8IeJcW89loiFwTOF_Ysf1EPrvomaSKe_OdkwGIBIAr379XmwMZoJ6hCEX85MayD3b_C8wuid8/w400-h225/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-18%20at%206.38.59%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>When gang members mess with him at a local mall, the Hulkster's heroic actions––in character as Santa––earn him minor celebrity as "Santa With Muscles."'</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9lbncrhkzlkrxEXqkkhXwxWc_QWz3Nhz7fD73157JeSo9-eB04NJEKuvxzke8p4Wo4Oxw1p_NjR3_4GfjdrG5ZqQOHGxlR08rHZbUKXFhPbIQIYCdTIn4RAe4jrsN9U_qAMrQvtkRpH51brp2b7rKWdijqersiNlqzlmseEzEGe5Q0C8-9ujkNc1X3I/s2812/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-18%20at%206.40.21%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1642" data-original-width="2812" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9lbncrhkzlkrxEXqkkhXwxWc_QWz3Nhz7fD73157JeSo9-eB04NJEKuvxzke8p4Wo4Oxw1p_NjR3_4GfjdrG5ZqQOHGxlR08rHZbUKXFhPbIQIYCdTIn4RAe4jrsN9U_qAMrQvtkRpH51brp2b7rKWdijqersiNlqzlmseEzEGe5Q0C8-9ujkNc1X3I/w400-h234/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-18%20at%206.40.21%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFwn48czhZRE8x7-a2vrgsqCVpnwGRyOawUKzFWMTIahpYx5THBPjGkTuOlLYhILq995kuhRD5OiAkInlOhwBd9eMzLwAp4TF4DdXQ4SAQjwlWPm42R0c7kvhOB3Dyvq-Z05ghPPc4qrvQITSkzmk_HIGGMXE3qw-3U8RVAv6OPI7zkOyr9lmHXkfY0Q/s2952/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-18%20at%206.41.29%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1664" data-original-width="2952" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFwn48czhZRE8x7-a2vrgsqCVpnwGRyOawUKzFWMTIahpYx5THBPjGkTuOlLYhILq995kuhRD5OiAkInlOhwBd9eMzLwAp4TF4DdXQ4SAQjwlWPm42R0c7kvhOB3Dyvq-Z05ghPPc4qrvQITSkzmk_HIGGMXE3qw-3U8RVAv6OPI7zkOyr9lmHXkfY0Q/w400-h225/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-18%20at%206.41.29%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLtkOkuKa9qgUdrkgi7FtEEbjjI9sJFBpfzOsEAvyKNCmJhiT9FE6OwyQCcLpOCVpL567aBDNDa7r6s5-dzXs1W_b5WqlrF-7OBPiN9M_wTeKFot1HAaaoczP7XJiKqXwhcyce9dJWFt8KpAdRjQBDhXIeUWI2G3DjJcCJYt8e_lDJkgMFtICn0JJUOeI/s2962/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-18%20at%206.44.13%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1660" data-original-width="2962" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLtkOkuKa9qgUdrkgi7FtEEbjjI9sJFBpfzOsEAvyKNCmJhiT9FE6OwyQCcLpOCVpL567aBDNDa7r6s5-dzXs1W_b5WqlrF-7OBPiN9M_wTeKFot1HAaaoczP7XJiKqXwhcyce9dJWFt8KpAdRjQBDhXIeUWI2G3DjJcCJYt8e_lDJkgMFtICn0JJUOeI/w400-h224/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-18%20at%206.44.13%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />Note: S&M accoutrement</span></i><br /></p><p>This leads to his involvement with a local orphanage, which is under siege from the minions of mad scientist Ed Begley, Jr. The orphanage sits upon a cave of magic crystals which Begley, Jr. requires for his experiments (?).</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiguv2vu-GPv98opFKuSDd2sUuxwmxSejZVmQaYLgV9tBC-zu0hGbSyBKvUVdgWJmytEP13-_RY2Qi2A4g_R8wisf37Q-laHgx3LDconYY-LbPKvkzJHvRdwC4hrDRkxlT8hiChv06LdMFdJKFs06EKvS9-OoK1yWNXo0v4Bdv-Dg1jCNj0CLbRFHhgPY8/s2964/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-18%20at%206.45.15%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1632" data-original-width="2964" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiguv2vu-GPv98opFKuSDd2sUuxwmxSejZVmQaYLgV9tBC-zu0hGbSyBKvUVdgWJmytEP13-_RY2Qi2A4g_R8wisf37Q-laHgx3LDconYY-LbPKvkzJHvRdwC4hrDRkxlT8hiChv06LdMFdJKFs06EKvS9-OoK1yWNXo0v4Bdv-Dg1jCNj0CLbRFHhgPY8/w400-h220/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-18%20at%206.45.15%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />The orphanage also contains the theatrical film debut of Mila Kunis, <br /></p><p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK4UKAQCJtjDU4JD9619P6qWLfM8D6WwFTWNMKjb6uuogEtTzjgZxnl0I5Rw3vKvsld7nJFRHW-sLIbvPKr6NQdAd0BOL60WRsQbPnSGdMcguQvlXFqIWML34gVq4ZBO8Gi-kd7v60qdXosdy4kP807sn6toBgzf1Zo3O93HKrjxpbx38sMK3k5FgQMj8/s2950/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-18%20at%206.42.10%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1660" data-original-width="2950" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK4UKAQCJtjDU4JD9619P6qWLfM8D6WwFTWNMKjb6uuogEtTzjgZxnl0I5Rw3vKvsld7nJFRHW-sLIbvPKr6NQdAd0BOL60WRsQbPnSGdMcguQvlXFqIWML34gVq4ZBO8Gi-kd7v60qdXosdy4kP807sn6toBgzf1Zo3O93HKrjxpbx38sMK3k5FgQMj8/w400-h225/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-18%20at%206.42.10%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />who manages to emerge from this thing relatively unscathed, </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNHnlEjSREqY-etSnXpYSlyEChT2WxZzR5DESDJ2C_eo6QnHoyDrG_HgACC95IP2P8t-WJyONzSA83TGE7qCRFONec_j3uNhCyjMqf-B_6Veh3RQcWmz9vRBrtNMgeXH4g_OhbNfXbKBZWX-G21j3FHdHBhU08VvBj_lrDb2UkPkO_sUUN534lmdJqt-o/s2964/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-18%20at%206.45.04%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1686" data-original-width="2964" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNHnlEjSREqY-etSnXpYSlyEChT2WxZzR5DESDJ2C_eo6QnHoyDrG_HgACC95IP2P8t-WJyONzSA83TGE7qCRFONec_j3uNhCyjMqf-B_6Veh3RQcWmz9vRBrtNMgeXH4g_OhbNfXbKBZWX-G21j3FHdHBhU08VvBj_lrDb2UkPkO_sUUN534lmdJqt-o/w400-h228/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-18%20at%206.45.04%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>even though she is saddled with one-liners like "Keep your pants on, Q-tip!"</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLEF2_v5SID8DsPE-rpkV2bhxPF5_SmH9Ouo8jifIwRgdodA-bmmfISZ4nVdXlSlaC3Wb7uP4WYIZNeHZs2CUR7bTCiluUMD3Yl7IFxbYqxQ_WjyXxPpzUyLJNqIc3WcZPMApmpnHEcYMlHRnPD_tx1tH930wJScK07BTtSSrW_O9W573_tOR83fPv870/s2948/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-18%20at%206.44.43%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1668" data-original-width="2948" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLEF2_v5SID8DsPE-rpkV2bhxPF5_SmH9Ouo8jifIwRgdodA-bmmfISZ4nVdXlSlaC3Wb7uP4WYIZNeHZs2CUR7bTCiluUMD3Yl7IFxbYqxQ_WjyXxPpzUyLJNqIc3WcZPMApmpnHEcYMlHRnPD_tx1tH930wJScK07BTtSSrW_O9W573_tOR83fPv870/w400-h226/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-18%20at%206.44.43%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>As far as I can tell, the only time she has been asked about this in adult life was during a <a href="https://www.gq.com/story/mila-kunis-gq-august-2011-cover-story">2011 interview with GQ</a>. The following represents the extent of her public comment: <br /></p><p></p><blockquote><b>GQ: </b>[asks about <i>Santa with Muscles</i>]</blockquote><p></p><p><b></b></p><blockquote><p><b>Mila Kunis:</b> Jesus. You did not watch <i>Santa with Muscles</i>.</p><p><b>GQ:</b> Fine. I watched the trailer on YouTube.</p><div class="inline-recirc-wrapper inline-recirc-observer-target-2 viewport-monitor-anchor" data-attr-viewport-monitor="inline-recirc" data-event-boundary="click" data-event-click="{"pattern":"InlineRecirc"}" data-in-view="{"pattern":"InlineRecirc"}" data-include-experiments="true"></div><b>Mila Kunis:</b> I was too young to fully understand the importance of working with Hulk Hogan. I just thought he was this huge man. </blockquote><p></p><p>That's just shoddy journalism, GQ, only watching the trailer. That's why you come to <i>Junta Juleil's Culture Shock, </i>to learn all the important info the glossies and the trades are too lazy to tell you. <br /></p><p>The orphanage also contains Adam Wylie, a.k.a. "the kid from PICKET FENCES,"</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7NA9LNkKs8Q-ZcT7gwUlJKz0P1h48dONEyVP9wRGYgD61-zO8OyyfdR1yL3Sh956BbWMGsODsSiyHE2dI4Bs_HklE8f_CeYusUTff1JMR9Sx_i_su7gNuwBSy-ZC85euXTU-Mpohd_L2g6wsUzZr0rb3JTP1OWr51DpSX6F7uNyOh5QUBUglVAckd780/s2966/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-18%20at%206.46.11%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1668" data-original-width="2966" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7NA9LNkKs8Q-ZcT7gwUlJKz0P1h48dONEyVP9wRGYgD61-zO8OyyfdR1yL3Sh956BbWMGsODsSiyHE2dI4Bs_HklE8f_CeYusUTff1JMR9Sx_i_su7gNuwBSy-ZC85euXTU-Mpohd_L2g6wsUzZr0rb3JTP1OWr51DpSX6F7uNyOh5QUBUglVAckd780/w400-h225/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-18%20at%206.46.11%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />and Garrett Morris (SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE from 1975-1980, COOLEY HIGH, <a href="http://juntajuleil.blogspot.com/2015/10/film-review-stuff-1985-larry-cohen.html">THE STUFF</a>). The earnestness of Garrett's performance actually makes me sad that they made him do this. He deserves better.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpcGaRoQRVrAegyxgwq9JCcfy1ZsCBb8VKQtkLC-bNp9Oa1y4iKAxxp9NK7z10wCv9YKFnY2WPekPQahGpvIfStqJos_xpIylNsJOagTVO2S7Ne4SO6b-_i_N9eFPDioiSZdGcJKpdTY7fByLuLR2vNuHdZUcY4pMz5HOoHhnTv_oikrx_yD3hDP83JYc/s2942/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-18%20at%206.50.08%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1654" data-original-width="2942" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpcGaRoQRVrAegyxgwq9JCcfy1ZsCBb8VKQtkLC-bNp9Oa1y4iKAxxp9NK7z10wCv9YKFnY2WPekPQahGpvIfStqJos_xpIylNsJOagTVO2S7Ne4SO6b-_i_N9eFPDioiSZdGcJKpdTY7fByLuLR2vNuHdZUcY4pMz5HOoHhnTv_oikrx_yD3hDP83JYc/w400-h225/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-18%20at%206.50.08%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>Anyway, Begley Jr.'s interest in the magic crystal cave is what leads to the aforementioned ersatz lightsaber duel. It's <a href="http://juntajuleil.blogspot.com/2020/07/only-now-does-it-occur-to-me-suburban.html">not the first time that the Hulkster has flirted with a STAR WAR</a>. Happy holidays, I suppose?<br /></p>Sean Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537515557596273876noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5497928641398322495.post-51317136851654884862023-12-11T12:15:00.003-05:002023-12-11T12:15:28.611-05:00Sean Gill's "Classic Florida Literature: On the Novelization of Porky's II: The Next Day" in Evergreen Review<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPl9iJ1ugl9fR6VkE1W_PqzyALU-8uvYL28-yjQo0H0KMxoHuVNIQO9mkqr02jI1CAsibLhtst0TK7uqftw-NwA0iWdsMrboJPMjVDrER0YvooLTab7BxngXYPhS5DnQ_BHLta_JDXHwcZs5WHGJY4oFPREOb5-1iYLJVFwL9r1pWnfbZbnUTMtGJgELk/s2560/Porkys2Cover-scaled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1915" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPl9iJ1ugl9fR6VkE1W_PqzyALU-8uvYL28-yjQo0H0KMxoHuVNIQO9mkqr02jI1CAsibLhtst0TK7uqftw-NwA0iWdsMrboJPMjVDrER0YvooLTab7BxngXYPhS5DnQ_BHLta_JDXHwcZs5WHGJY4oFPREOb5-1iYLJVFwL9r1pWnfbZbnUTMtGJgELk/w239-h320/Porkys2Cover-scaled.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>My latest essay, "Classic Florida Literature: On the Novelization of <em>Porky's II: The Next Day</em>" <a href="https://evergreenreview.com/read/classic-florida-literature-on-the-novelization-of-porkys-ii/">has been published online by </a><em><a href="https://evergreenreview.com/read/classic-florida-literature-on-the-novelization-of-porkys-ii/">Evergreen Review</a>, </em>a longstanding
literary journal, founded in 1957, and known for publishing Samuel Beckett,
Jean Genet, Vladimir Nabokov, Susan Sontag... and now an essay about the paperback tie-in of <i>Porky's II.</i><br /><p></p>Sean Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537515557596273876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5497928641398322495.post-54072346959465659302023-10-31T16:17:00.002-04:002023-11-01T16:18:08.679-04:00Only now does it occur to me... PHANTASM III: LORD OF THE DEAD (1994)<p><i>Only now does it occur to me... </i>that PHANTASM III is one of the wildest collection of happenings and imagery and disparate tones to ever inhabit a motion picture... and that, somehow, against all odds, it works.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjq2KoL7XSp1s6q0nmIVY3Sjwu-6PHvuQdCcM-my-HUhspzwrEEsg4RqjFY1BaZtsGFE7m7gKwI68jmpXPdNSx5seFXZ5fnMOh1VXEP3ZzMW44nYwcnVNIUuTrWzbtFE2r4seolndYtQpNVPbNkByfrvjvfrWhEcnpSyP6je9imCvZnQJxRAy_hPb2kaQ/s2026/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.39.30%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1126" data-original-width="2026" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjq2KoL7XSp1s6q0nmIVY3Sjwu-6PHvuQdCcM-my-HUhspzwrEEsg4RqjFY1BaZtsGFE7m7gKwI68jmpXPdNSx5seFXZ5fnMOh1VXEP3ZzMW44nYwcnVNIUuTrWzbtFE2r4seolndYtQpNVPbNkByfrvjvfrWhEcnpSyP6je9imCvZnQJxRAy_hPb2kaQ/w400-h223/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.39.30%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p>This is the handiwork of a filmmaker who was certain this would be the last film in the series and, damn the torpedoes, intended to go down with the ship. Therefore, Don Coscarelli has assembled a true Frankenstein's monster of his favorite things: it's Buñuel's UN CHIEN ANDALOU, Cocteau's ORPHEUS, Malick's BADLANDS, Lynch's TWIN PEAKS, Golan & Globus' NINJA trilogy, THE LORD OF THE RINGS, Waters' PINK FLAMINGOS, and a Lloyd Kaufman Troma flick, all shaken and stirred into the PHANTASM universe, where truth is a hallucination, and the only logic is dream logic.<br /></p><p>The Tall Man (Angus Scrimm) broods in his lair, contemplating his orb like Saruman.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBeIuZHXEHd9MdubsWo-nalG6c5ti9DFz1L4rZhav46piKm9ebLSoAYfA8nyrtY2U9paTRH4l6xcs_BVd7uCfNCE4sqBqc617MsXm4X-Fr7M7LTTWruCyk0lPzwhTX2SgSjuGYrLCoxIzrz8c0nc4BY4AhT1nT9xSVbXeHAjG2eKOTBUYSOi8-bPmkuxg/s2018/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.20.58%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1124" data-original-width="2018" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBeIuZHXEHd9MdubsWo-nalG6c5ti9DFz1L4rZhav46piKm9ebLSoAYfA8nyrtY2U9paTRH4l6xcs_BVd7uCfNCE4sqBqc617MsXm4X-Fr7M7LTTWruCyk0lPzwhTX2SgSjuGYrLCoxIzrz8c0nc4BY4AhT1nT9xSVbXeHAjG2eKOTBUYSOi8-bPmkuxg/w400-h223/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.20.58%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>A. Michael Baldwin––the original "Mike" from <a href="http://juntajuleil.blogspot.com/2023/10/only-now-does-it-occur-to-me-phantasm.html">PHANTASM</a> and famously replaced by James LeGros in <a href="http://juntajuleil.blogspot.com/2023/10/only-now-does-it-occur-to-me-phantasm_27.html">PHANTASM II</a>––reappears fifteen years later, having aged into "if young David Patrick Kelly were a New Wave musician."<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLdVfqpAt_UVLLlL2hHDiOfwizXF7jXSZEcJwxWkdotOBhur2TcnfYO3PzFf43J_EnJAda9RIhngKrsA5DdDFVNnyuO_l17OYQ9_oeA1swylZfWmSKnvG6pcE6jAo1IRNn9CHbAyqVO-92QtCZg0oxKY4DiqHMOvkV5EFS4kONklnEhBsGQePxSUnHzrA/s2020/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.22.33%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1134" data-original-width="2020" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLdVfqpAt_UVLLlL2hHDiOfwizXF7jXSZEcJwxWkdotOBhur2TcnfYO3PzFf43J_EnJAda9RIhngKrsA5DdDFVNnyuO_l17OYQ9_oeA1swylZfWmSKnvG6pcE6jAo1IRNn9CHbAyqVO-92QtCZg0oxKY4DiqHMOvkV5EFS4kONklnEhBsGQePxSUnHzrA/w400-h225/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.22.33%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>In its David Lynch-inflected surrealist mayhem, it feels both post-TWIN PEAKS and pre-LOST HIGHWAY. The original PHANTASM's Jody (Bill Thornbury) reappears as one of the iconic spheres<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjctBqgDNX0WAjrab65c9cPycAQTsHP_bhLh_DfNL7ZLg3tgM_kqNLT86TcsWjrXOlAUOyb1PRcqgyvh3J-d3OL5VhH73qMZGFFy2YOO0THHjNzG4Jo9hSF4Mq1ms9d3A_MPVnuPFg7Ze5st09cIzxpcGYVJ8nYiW4OZNtcNBZrMuQOyXvUHHjVRrcIiVo/s2018/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.22.56%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1132" data-original-width="2018" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjctBqgDNX0WAjrab65c9cPycAQTsHP_bhLh_DfNL7ZLg3tgM_kqNLT86TcsWjrXOlAUOyb1PRcqgyvh3J-d3OL5VhH73qMZGFFy2YOO0THHjNzG4Jo9hSF4Mq1ms9d3A_MPVnuPFg7Ze5st09cIzxpcGYVJ8nYiW4OZNtcNBZrMuQOyXvUHHjVRrcIiVo/w400-h225/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.22.56%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>in a twist (?) that presages Lynch's use of tulpa-spheres in TWIN PEAKS: THE RETURN, or David Bowie's steam-kettle reincarnation in that same series. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT3ffser2oGq0R9rMTaPCVrPqpJbxuoiULn8_BCEGCRhvuF35k6Fe8LNxsraCnNOqT5a4nD4yhpdUVJ8Pal1bzfgmSagimNs8AomunHs8_Cm8xDn_Ca0Hdk9sh8P8Ay37ZLqw3FJ9W5BzWTvU882XmI8P4p_hyphenhyphen38vnyPP5JgafprOhrmQ_UQ5wYBGgzCw/s2034/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.23.28%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1138" data-original-width="2034" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT3ffser2oGq0R9rMTaPCVrPqpJbxuoiULn8_BCEGCRhvuF35k6Fe8LNxsraCnNOqT5a4nD4yhpdUVJ8Pal1bzfgmSagimNs8AomunHs8_Cm8xDn_Ca0Hdk9sh8P8Ay37ZLqw3FJ9W5BzWTvU882XmI8P4p_hyphenhyphen38vnyPP5JgafprOhrmQ_UQ5wYBGgzCw/w400-h224/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.23.28%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>There's something very visceral and elemental here in Coscarelli's use of electricity, contorted reflections, fabricated/unnatural objects, and liminal spaces.<br /></p><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiK5IByka83grz6XqVM5leUKWYjEhI0f7D6IflgmgjZp1aulloj0s-sT760CEAxd_k8DbQnwV4UrGeyHipx-TSLmxjdmNmOQEwjQnxFvAfmUEqEMwShQ8PqxZIZJ238hgYHZMLQD9JiYCDIkATKkJhi5WSpi87kBF4sr4kv2DkkiYAMp1afMzvmLKYJHE/s2016/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.34.38%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1132" data-original-width="2016" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiK5IByka83grz6XqVM5leUKWYjEhI0f7D6IflgmgjZp1aulloj0s-sT760CEAxd_k8DbQnwV4UrGeyHipx-TSLmxjdmNmOQEwjQnxFvAfmUEqEMwShQ8PqxZIZJ238hgYHZMLQD9JiYCDIkATKkJhi5WSpi87kBF4sr4kv2DkkiYAMp1afMzvmLKYJHE/w400-h225/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.34.38%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDUnjELcrlg-jQRqs-r4Yl5Zy6Zd_geiPJcu1Hy6tPKHZuei2WxvxX7QNymcWbUs4JfWHrmPx3aryonOLQGz19RzmAx9v_-6MMQodNghFhcQITt_hg3jbzRWpbVrUVQT3W8ItTubZ05fFY6g6-KcF0840G8MIeYVg_-oLPRPoZvuTW5wTIzQdgQZIKd5o/s2024/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.34.50%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="2024" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDUnjELcrlg-jQRqs-r4Yl5Zy6Zd_geiPJcu1Hy6tPKHZuei2WxvxX7QNymcWbUs4JfWHrmPx3aryonOLQGz19RzmAx9v_-6MMQodNghFhcQITt_hg3jbzRWpbVrUVQT3W8ItTubZ05fFY6g6-KcF0840G8MIeYVg_-oLPRPoZvuTW5wTIzQdgQZIKd5o/w400-h225/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.34.50%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>I think it's because Lynch and Coscarelli have both dipped deeply into the shared imagery pool of 20th Century surrealists like Dali, Escher, Magritte, Ernst, and Miró (and Cocteau and Buñuel, of course).</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGfK5jHNSkGtQA25XoDROCzzJHB-F9ECcJmmjPP668QRYwd1_9bF7a6NyZy5cvgtecVyFdVijIXIIzpWnOThWlisa1-7_Nbd941kfsjFz3Z00F6FzW4r7YMkH9G7UKxnBrA9bh2bjW7xZNm4VJMR1hweJxmp97Mef5qi29aL4_osiMavmOthoBKUfnDlk/s2016/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.21.29%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1130" data-original-width="2016" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGfK5jHNSkGtQA25XoDROCzzJHB-F9ECcJmmjPP668QRYwd1_9bF7a6NyZy5cvgtecVyFdVijIXIIzpWnOThWlisa1-7_Nbd941kfsjFz3Z00F6FzW4r7YMkH9G7UKxnBrA9bh2bjW7xZNm4VJMR1hweJxmp97Mef5qi29aL4_osiMavmOthoBKUfnDlk/w400-h224/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.21.29%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>But Coscarelli is not merely content to make a surrealist, arthouse-horror picture like the original. He quickly introduces a gang of criminals (Brooks Gardner, Cindy Ambuehl, and John Davis Chandler) who clearly escaped from an early John Waters flick and appear to represent the tackiest/greediest elements of late stage capitalism.<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidn3PSxaiFympKEBDid2G9HjytcmM0qU9nXigECU_IckC4lsxSzhftDOpUEktV54EsJLCffgqJdfG0QCbuI9zt0eO3JqEGNHPuhGOkVZm2QHvJ0XTMpuhVp25ijaF8B8KSQmXZ2fdd-zsSVFpq6bzWTjBvE0N6bOjIH_LFwvAiqRC-PSRGvmIXm9bKTAg/s2032/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.25.27%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1138" data-original-width="2032" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidn3PSxaiFympKEBDid2G9HjytcmM0qU9nXigECU_IckC4lsxSzhftDOpUEktV54EsJLCffgqJdfG0QCbuI9zt0eO3JqEGNHPuhGOkVZm2QHvJ0XTMpuhVp25ijaF8B8KSQmXZ2fdd-zsSVFpq6bzWTjBvE0N6bOjIH_LFwvAiqRC-PSRGvmIXm9bKTAg/w400-h224/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.25.27%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>You see, Coscarelli is also endeavoring to build an apocalyptic universe where America's Main Streets have fallen victim to a combination of Reaganomics and the Tall Man, all of which feels a little tonally similar to, say, Stephen King's THE DARK TOWER or THE STAND.<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7UzgF7M37Pm-2RLaby5ZrNJ1VhQ0jmq6Y7zaNz66MEjOWdiIcI5pm2zJe5Gi58wEj2im0ygeTzdOPZuwdHQcHCLHrL96_3kB38LvecmyYM5LNKL71IEPNu4RMhjzGh3Rs_ItS3kyOQ9HKmq_JJPtIFNYZhPUFyIvqeqX1e0iPFotOe6HZ5IEnpQXrYuw/s2028/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.24.15%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1134" data-original-width="2028" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7UzgF7M37Pm-2RLaby5ZrNJ1VhQ0jmq6Y7zaNz66MEjOWdiIcI5pm2zJe5Gi58wEj2im0ygeTzdOPZuwdHQcHCLHrL96_3kB38LvecmyYM5LNKL71IEPNu4RMhjzGh3Rs_ItS3kyOQ9HKmq_JJPtIFNYZhPUFyIvqeqX1e0iPFotOe6HZ5IEnpQXrYuw/w400-h224/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.24.15%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>These campy criminals attempt to ply their trade by robbing <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091223/">the house from HOUSE</a> (1985),</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzonw4LqsnZFp7n_R6zLw-s2KR3O7LPNrGUG6pcN3QTSgODoiwaYlkEgesCHI8bs4O8mSJ3njU6Cqay4oJwtwt0MvyXyiQX0SNv6iUiBjl5OYWnXDPE-IN0CHm4PTWg7hq3YNr5AnSKEDpKzKOy6hZvNhsGfsCvY1PHlbsMnX7uPoorDGbIsTbCtwA_18/s2024/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.29.11%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1128" data-original-width="2024" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzonw4LqsnZFp7n_R6zLw-s2KR3O7LPNrGUG6pcN3QTSgODoiwaYlkEgesCHI8bs4O8mSJ3njU6Cqay4oJwtwt0MvyXyiQX0SNv6iUiBjl5OYWnXDPE-IN0CHm4PTWg7hq3YNr5AnSKEDpKzKOy6hZvNhsGfsCvY1PHlbsMnX7uPoorDGbIsTbCtwA_18/w400-h223/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.29.11%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>and only succeed in being dismantled by Tim (Kevin Connors), a survivalist child armed with a razor frisbee.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBBRhUutFtH2UORHavz36LpPidVZu_3-OPUUtSJ8M7YjnVu7ig5brsTlLOP_7bI4QT3Ft9oVlO8eW01a4N2JaebelhbCJfpo0ndxtG-1r55_-5Jeycfj1opAu884x9ivkqWbjXKCT82WHHxyvvyDJx5yKgch8xefmdL8qySXs8renW1opZV8qoCaDmKwk/s2024/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.27.40%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1130" data-original-width="2024" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBBRhUutFtH2UORHavz36LpPidVZu_3-OPUUtSJ8M7YjnVu7ig5brsTlLOP_7bI4QT3Ft9oVlO8eW01a4N2JaebelhbCJfpo0ndxtG-1r55_-5Jeycfj1opAu884x9ivkqWbjXKCT82WHHxyvvyDJx5yKgch8xefmdL8qySXs8renW1opZV8qoCaDmKwk/w400-h224/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.27.40%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG0m-n1ki8hvzycGyc7OSpchYJqVWs481x5gdCkZcDciQ_zGaLCSuWG-UDCL4VMThtvS34auEjhIx1TBx6AfY9lnGUu8tykc5WEGjNk21rC886_Krqw_-EfUdrEZrQn0MHEA17EBhFaMRwbQdAXyaIPfpJhDUyxZFlVZkT5wzr5hpeX0zq4Caj25Ux_dU/s2022/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.26.58%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1142" data-original-width="2022" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG0m-n1ki8hvzycGyc7OSpchYJqVWs481x5gdCkZcDciQ_zGaLCSuWG-UDCL4VMThtvS34auEjhIx1TBx6AfY9lnGUu8tykc5WEGjNk21rC886_Krqw_-EfUdrEZrQn0MHEA17EBhFaMRwbQdAXyaIPfpJhDUyxZFlVZkT5wzr5hpeX0zq4Caj25Ux_dU/w400-h226/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.26.58%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmF_EwnxKVHH0UnI6xd7AHMhKRSC6Uj4tZBzaSUvf-0aGsgPxMVeOGR1vPBZhk82GX-O-np3QGDQepC8mziVKZWaLZwRMkbTA4SLCRf9xw_mQtCCdRFNM5X4vKBiq_GQf34v3do_V5Jmcc-u5EIxfbiU9rwbf9E2zXPPulLbfdwuiAbqCxncuBzy0PL30/s2028/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.27.51%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1132" data-original-width="2028" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmF_EwnxKVHH0UnI6xd7AHMhKRSC6Uj4tZBzaSUvf-0aGsgPxMVeOGR1vPBZhk82GX-O-np3QGDQepC8mziVKZWaLZwRMkbTA4SLCRf9xw_mQtCCdRFNM5X4vKBiq_GQf34v3do_V5Jmcc-u5EIxfbiU9rwbf9E2zXPPulLbfdwuiAbqCxncuBzy0PL30/w400-h224/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.27.51%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>Of all the things that any viewer of the series might have anticipated from PHANTASM III, I believe its brief transformation into an R-rated HOME ALONE qualifies as the most surprising.<br /></p><p>Draped in only the best denims that 1994 has to offer, Tim teams up with Reggie the Ice Cream Man (slow-jammin' Reggie Bannister, of PHANTASMs 1 and 2, and the answer to the question, "What if Clint Howard were the last action hero?")</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVJDqe_ZBhzxfjq5MObJxxRznKFpxCpKN_4EzuXzAKnCGyTnad03KOk0_561NKmze7PDXf-SEJ836UUF9JC8ZdBER2Hc1MWCxj-QRQwJCe32lMRlcHuS_fW2y461rh0BeNt2JuFGRQxSVLd5bKs6z84UR_bdloW9vP1MEZiJIzyl4kEH_bTHMEYMFb9e0/s2026/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.28.13%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1132" data-original-width="2026" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVJDqe_ZBhzxfjq5MObJxxRznKFpxCpKN_4EzuXzAKnCGyTnad03KOk0_561NKmze7PDXf-SEJ836UUF9JC8ZdBER2Hc1MWCxj-QRQwJCe32lMRlcHuS_fW2y461rh0BeNt2JuFGRQxSVLd5bKs6z84UR_bdloW9vP1MEZiJIzyl4kEH_bTHMEYMFb9e0/w400-h224/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.28.13%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>and though he is "too old for this shit,"</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmTRMPrfB0sLVwXfca35O1W5Ej_iA2nlEy3SUgTFGfTziy5hH5oKZ4ngD09YaEKPLo1haX1K2q8GcVR7t1m4XtPG27yLzqJsOr08lYna-EXRgr53_ZenUPO6qitxgw7rgqGyo9KlZyyGX9uR8v009BuEej9XHRt4NywId_swQYVNALfZ5R5qFHAx-HD-E/s2024/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.35.03%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1132" data-original-width="2024" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmTRMPrfB0sLVwXfca35O1W5Ej_iA2nlEy3SUgTFGfTziy5hH5oKZ4ngD09YaEKPLo1haX1K2q8GcVR7t1m4XtPG27yLzqJsOr08lYna-EXRgr53_ZenUPO6qitxgw7rgqGyo9KlZyyGX9uR8v009BuEej9XHRt4NywId_swQYVNALfZ5R5qFHAx-HD-E/w400-h224/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.35.03%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />the quest to dismantle the Tall Man's Earth-altering influence must continue. </p><p>They are aided in this pursuit by another new addition to the cast: funk-rock singer Gloria Lynn Henry, playing an ankh-earring-wearing, Grace-Jones-flattopped, and nunchaku-wielding army vet named "Rocky."</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIfYA8de-Hq8gSeF6SUwhV0LCaN4-_zsQOrykLYxLJQ9i8DGWjZiCXkO7hCv5AApSbRtIkRfjREvTtXIndxKyvQMLCd900sM797a-GrzC8uX6oao241RPGZKK8YYXPwxa4y3C48nb802cGZgyHgeiCQ9QOylG8E0AhXMrFd2VFiJaqZP8o6Vy4t8ip7Uo/s2020/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.31.36%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1138" data-original-width="2020" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIfYA8de-Hq8gSeF6SUwhV0LCaN4-_zsQOrykLYxLJQ9i8DGWjZiCXkO7hCv5AApSbRtIkRfjREvTtXIndxKyvQMLCd900sM797a-GrzC8uX6oao241RPGZKK8YYXPwxa4y3C48nb802cGZgyHgeiCQ9QOylG8E0AhXMrFd2VFiJaqZP8o6Vy4t8ip7Uo/w400-h225/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.31.36%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />If you guessed that are were multiple sequences of Rocky facing off against PHANTASM spheres with nunchucks, then you are beginning to attune yourself to the PHANTASM III wavelength.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2bEQJgAhtr92Yc49AKComfmN2uGPB9kPUdm09H3lLNh2FKLbsymm-ap2E3IBwh3a9Yw2gzRTRY4Wi7gyyDbCyGXl9fJRnxhRUTZrhkOwDwncH6FiBXQ_NVbwZy2tnmAD_wgBJJ2n4Mf6IrjaUu3udthbJTtD4k2AgiBp3WFjmHBSAy30DHC50xFYGLh4/s2020/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.30.53%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1140" data-original-width="2020" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2bEQJgAhtr92Yc49AKComfmN2uGPB9kPUdm09H3lLNh2FKLbsymm-ap2E3IBwh3a9Yw2gzRTRY4Wi7gyyDbCyGXl9fJRnxhRUTZrhkOwDwncH6FiBXQ_NVbwZy2tnmAD_wgBJJ2n4Mf6IrjaUu3udthbJTtD4k2AgiBp3WFjmHBSAy30DHC50xFYGLh4/w400-h226/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.30.53%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7fOihZzi07exEH2uUFBH2rQKspTi1Fy99q_IosgwYKceBF6YGeF8Ws242AE1HYP1yZDSQl7KGfKqUha2OiToJHTuH_u2tf93Gty2XgarWLWfawsOffqaOnaXIZmFJfZ1X8b_Oz0UmoPVLg0FWDs1FMy9QCtJRnO2E8xPWDE9pHq37agl8YCMg965dhrY/s2024/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.29.56%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1134" data-original-width="2024" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7fOihZzi07exEH2uUFBH2rQKspTi1Fy99q_IosgwYKceBF6YGeF8Ws242AE1HYP1yZDSQl7KGfKqUha2OiToJHTuH_u2tf93Gty2XgarWLWfawsOffqaOnaXIZmFJfZ1X8b_Oz0UmoPVLg0FWDs1FMy9QCtJRnO2E8xPWDE9pHq37agl8YCMg965dhrY/w400-h224/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.29.56%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRhfu6NgFJkb_SAmv6DTjuUEgStpnieqxYSa-nre67rYAzXCfNYEzjKyXLgCLzpNnBeImVZCQsHuWWk8xhbJUroJp04SOjcZmVdWQ7J_Ur6vj4X5Kjnc4xYGY01U73ZKrEWZ3H2Siir7sIU3TNP8qLA4SARhD7Lv8mKs7Nsx1XXLoduxh5cIIMt5dJeDw/s2032/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.30.14%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1138" data-original-width="2032" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRhfu6NgFJkb_SAmv6DTjuUEgStpnieqxYSa-nre67rYAzXCfNYEzjKyXLgCLzpNnBeImVZCQsHuWWk8xhbJUroJp04SOjcZmVdWQ7J_Ur6vj4X5Kjnc4xYGY01U73ZKrEWZ3H2Siir7sIU3TNP8qLA4SARhD7Lv8mKs7Nsx1XXLoduxh5cIIMt5dJeDw/w400-h224/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.30.14%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />That her acting repertoire includes a lot of flat line readings and a singular look of disgust/a withering glare</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMOISTIOngWDQlasRIe_iS2tYJqtPNNSeoWebC-U8M-pIuiwAQSO2He4frFmSkGZg5Bv3TlLtS1zAC1zH_aAgXiiO849DRUu2nCmHsdQPDddWNct9RhCklOYNBeObLNMpdRIPTo_ar6ZMwIAg2cpHZPkJP7dlXcCCyABJA1UPgWPycLLtG1WhM6q7rVZU/s2020/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.35.41%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1134" data-original-width="2020" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMOISTIOngWDQlasRIe_iS2tYJqtPNNSeoWebC-U8M-pIuiwAQSO2He4frFmSkGZg5Bv3TlLtS1zAC1zH_aAgXiiO849DRUu2nCmHsdQPDddWNct9RhCklOYNBeObLNMpdRIPTo_ar6ZMwIAg2cpHZPkJP7dlXcCCyABJA1UPgWPycLLtG1WhM6q7rVZU/w400-h225/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.35.41%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />is only another addition to the Plus Column. To me, this is A+ avant-garde theater. It's especially welcome in a gross scene where the Ice Cream Man attempts to mack on the out-of-his-league Rocky</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGLurRS1xEWcRxNcjpixX7RrF8bFBX76Ys2xl3sRXqXFHWhgp9_lKt3U0XQTe-Gq1rxwYJEpajt3xEj6sEdASvY30O6zh5RlBBgkvIkeTb4gA12PcMYHsRoEQbJ7YGN5oWhG2F1RhPCpzynscCtrtTpfFDv4hMOmdgokR3bOS_5pe8eA7hbbkyc1RttnA/s2020/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.32.17%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="2020" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGLurRS1xEWcRxNcjpixX7RrF8bFBX76Ys2xl3sRXqXFHWhgp9_lKt3U0XQTe-Gq1rxwYJEpajt3xEj6sEdASvY30O6zh5RlBBgkvIkeTb4gA12PcMYHsRoEQbJ7YGN5oWhG2F1RhPCpzynscCtrtTpfFDv4hMOmdgokR3bOS_5pe8eA7hbbkyc1RttnA/w400-h225/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.32.17%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>and is righteously shut down (at least outside of his orb-influenced hallucinations). </p><p>Generally speaking, Gloria Lynn Henry plays it like she dropped into the film from someone else's dream and regards her current surroundings with disbelief and disdain. This is appropriate.<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNIIy49hNUBM9F4hyphenhyphen-1kBCyWZ1OuKoN3ocd5kg4her5ilXdGbxK2NSoSURQv3Lnj65hreoG0iaw_5X1nOfUsG4Ccw5g7yzmsc0dzD0zz5J3ZqT673bi2jez-TExb3JRy61M_XD66PthOEDbbQYTC7qZJsXsnwUVy2DC5FQhc1bQUOooVpTwlfwo6FzuUI/s2020/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.33.56%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1126" data-original-width="2020" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNIIy49hNUBM9F4hyphenhyphen-1kBCyWZ1OuKoN3ocd5kg4her5ilXdGbxK2NSoSURQv3Lnj65hreoG0iaw_5X1nOfUsG4Ccw5g7yzmsc0dzD0zz5J3ZqT673bi2jez-TExb3JRy61M_XD66PthOEDbbQYTC7qZJsXsnwUVy2DC5FQhc1bQUOooVpTwlfwo6FzuUI/w400-h223/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.33.56%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />She also undergoes more costume changes per capita than any other character in the film, probably ten outfits or more. Whether this is a continuity error or an illustration of PHANTASM's ever-shifting dream boundaries is up for the viewer to decide.<br /></p><p>I have a theory that each PHANTASM film represents the same<span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs xlh3980 xvmahel x1n0sxbx x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u" dir="auto" lang="en"> dream being slowly remembered and interpreted and
misinterpreted over time, sort of like the Mark Twain quote about
"History never repeats itself, but it does often rhyme," and this is simply the version which happens to place a nunchaku badass in a central role. </span></p><p><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs xlh3980 xvmahel x1n0sxbx x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u" dir="auto" lang="en">[In a sense, it resembles Robert Rodriguez's EL MARIACHI series, conceived by Rodriguez as a quotidian crime story (EL MARIACHI) retold as a tall tale (DESPERADO) and finally as mythology (ONCE UPON A TIME IN MEXICO), with the storytelling itself approximating a whispered game of Telephone.]<br /></span></p><p><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs xlh3980 xvmahel x1n0sxbx x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u" dir="auto" lang="en">With each variation, however, there are recurring motifs. At this point, we can decidedly say that exploding cars have, somehow, become an essential ingredient of the PHANTASM experience. </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9oOKGVzpNfQSMPzHB8jeXXZs7kG9R4h2hO1Wg_QBHDySbCef6RP_WaS31fo2Z8WorjP3uTV7D0FOwyk5EY9mP_SCNMdKXQO9jQ8tR56-7IHoYk2uergB0lxbW2SpPvvONMP6o-xQzZZG26PxMoE1C4YDwMAa2FhdJVUEpU9eQaEhrrXJtKpChyDA0AmY/s2022/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.35.24%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1140" data-original-width="2022" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9oOKGVzpNfQSMPzHB8jeXXZs7kG9R4h2hO1Wg_QBHDySbCef6RP_WaS31fo2Z8WorjP3uTV7D0FOwyk5EY9mP_SCNMdKXQO9jQ8tR56-7IHoYk2uergB0lxbW2SpPvvONMP6o-xQzZZG26PxMoE1C4YDwMAa2FhdJVUEpU9eQaEhrrXJtKpChyDA0AmY/w400-h225/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.35.24%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs xlh3980 xvmahel x1n0sxbx x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u" dir="auto" lang="en"> </span><br /><br />As have STAR WARS references.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8MFxpMrPNDKpLdpfErtTi2tBNf1VwWLhjHSN_-kSXlsdh9RExr7EF_n5kG0FIrEM-_89C0UYZczuogzNeUK4EQB_J7FnPj8fjr8ww9CWscxjMOFNe5-_Jbs4fxL1FPvdiyXgu5fYWfyMnD51G7FRzA9sZRSObaOt-5H-yhlnRS5KZAWpdjabsnlT0x4Q/s2028/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.36.50%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1138" data-original-width="2028" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8MFxpMrPNDKpLdpfErtTi2tBNf1VwWLhjHSN_-kSXlsdh9RExr7EF_n5kG0FIrEM-_89C0UYZczuogzNeUK4EQB_J7FnPj8fjr8ww9CWscxjMOFNe5-_Jbs4fxL1FPvdiyXgu5fYWfyMnD51G7FRzA9sZRSObaOt-5H-yhlnRS5KZAWpdjabsnlT0x4Q/w400-h225/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.36.50%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />(The delivery and essence of this scene seems to rhyme with Darth Vader's "the circle is now complete" speech in the STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE.)</p><p></p><p>And the idea of ice cream eventually morphing into cryogenics perfectly encapsulates <br />this cycling of PHANTASM's dream logic.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDDUU42yXLSL8InHwTZQcwH21ld-l1_gpjf7-fKEoyaUuoz4VqoCO-J_GR-zWYVFSi11w6c2hLkGHHCBQuUAjYwN3ARYUyynXQkq7F5QqcyoqPbZUdiEx1EybV7bnXH08RKGEAb_hj1iSTutRHUbdKGoby0IAyMqURfzFTxel8nEnzpzJqaIIPrQjQssw/s2020/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.36.07%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1128" data-original-width="2020" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDDUU42yXLSL8InHwTZQcwH21ld-l1_gpjf7-fKEoyaUuoz4VqoCO-J_GR-zWYVFSi11w6c2hLkGHHCBQuUAjYwN3ARYUyynXQkq7F5QqcyoqPbZUdiEx1EybV7bnXH08RKGEAb_hj1iSTutRHUbdKGoby0IAyMqURfzFTxel8nEnzpzJqaIIPrQjQssw/w400-h224/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.36.07%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> </p><p>And let it be said that Coscarelli does not take himself too seriously––a plunger plays an outsized role in the finale.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYRx-L0Y1L9W5M0-pJEFAM0yOC-nhy4XgkGtP0wnWcok7Xir82vYsBKWyijwdltR0APVEj0HXs6weHiAtM0hPopDTpZXnO8lOOjmgAoZvDOW9kMQl44Jvy7VjrCjTxwFUcDSkhb54owQfuYI1OvFAj75DCQnYTcEW6diOQPm34yTXFdS-4FxxFFjsTb9k/s2010/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.38.54%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="2010" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYRx-L0Y1L9W5M0-pJEFAM0yOC-nhy4XgkGtP0wnWcok7Xir82vYsBKWyijwdltR0APVEj0HXs6weHiAtM0hPopDTpZXnO8lOOjmgAoZvDOW9kMQl44Jvy7VjrCjTxwFUcDSkhb54owQfuYI1OvFAj75DCQnYTcEW6diOQPm34yTXFdS-4FxxFFjsTb9k/w400-h226/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.38.54%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsrlq0N20jO7PROss9t9gP39F_N6qY-73mnIJhuU67fjnhXFCjzmN_Wvq3vSae8R7VXLiZuXnU2ygBBQmnt8NtQV5S5DHNoktHLyCk4YyM9rMvY51bvWlZS9eVhoDkKkMUg3VZxfMey0gz_Bbao_MYZ7BgiekTmOenqq2vKSFwy9puiNuXTv4LspBLbFI/s2014/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.39.03%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1124" data-original-width="2014" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsrlq0N20jO7PROss9t9gP39F_N6qY-73mnIJhuU67fjnhXFCjzmN_Wvq3vSae8R7VXLiZuXnU2ygBBQmnt8NtQV5S5DHNoktHLyCk4YyM9rMvY51bvWlZS9eVhoDkKkMUg3VZxfMey0gz_Bbao_MYZ7BgiekTmOenqq2vKSFwy9puiNuXTv4LspBLbFI/w400-h224/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-26%20at%208.39.03%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />I do think the best way to conclude a review of PHANTASM III is to watch the footage of Rocky and Reggie's farewell:
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7SK75g2JFo4?si=WAN8uMxrQuso4ImD" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>
<br /><br />A stilted goodbye of true comic perfection, open to a variety of interpretations and intentions, and perfectly unique to the world of PHANTASM III. </p><p>"Enough of that!"</p><p> </p><p> </p><p><i>To be continued...</i><br /></p>Sean Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537515557596273876noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5497928641398322495.post-23902039700573501522023-10-27T11:29:00.000-04:002023-10-27T11:29:02.029-04:00Only now does it occur to me... PHANTASM II: THE BALL IS BACK (1988)<p><i>Only now does it occur to me...</i> is PHANTASM II (1988) <i>good</i>? I thought so, back when I saw it for the first time, about fifteen years ago.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPUKNtTBwdhQMQxMH2_tzKUhAOvGnZ0qpj4fG-xzAdP0GteHWFKA_sNc28zfqKJegYIuKWjTEKZxwIb73JBn7yPWRd19vbxwPRoemBldcUQeOvM4TYSbfgX7y4_1oQWZE7XabOrnnzmIkIseisHj3oHnsPamHa7fUUAWXgH1nFuiT-3-mhNzDLYga95sk/s2034/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%204.57.40%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1124" data-original-width="2034" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPUKNtTBwdhQMQxMH2_tzKUhAOvGnZ0qpj4fG-xzAdP0GteHWFKA_sNc28zfqKJegYIuKWjTEKZxwIb73JBn7yPWRd19vbxwPRoemBldcUQeOvM4TYSbfgX7y4_1oQWZE7XabOrnnzmIkIseisHj3oHnsPamHa7fUUAWXgH1nFuiT-3-mhNzDLYga95sk/w400-h221/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%204.57.40%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNxa5CNTITL4rV-7OQcvNt8yGZke-INVwzMletB0qxZcfDNuxpx0JqUNbXDaxANHpbBeO8UKeedhStMofk2HtNnjXVG9eC36tyFgRVyvWK2552Isx5bd22BC_DUUdQCahu1BgI9AOt93QGPuF2qsqN-f0eliKxAu29VAhoP_mGps-ECoZlHk916KF6Bi8/s2028/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%205.04.52%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1128" data-original-width="2028" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNxa5CNTITL4rV-7OQcvNt8yGZke-INVwzMletB0qxZcfDNuxpx0JqUNbXDaxANHpbBeO8UKeedhStMofk2HtNnjXVG9eC36tyFgRVyvWK2552Isx5bd22BC_DUUdQCahu1BgI9AOt93QGPuF2qsqN-f0eliKxAu29VAhoP_mGps-ECoZlHk916KF6Bi8/w400-h223/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%205.04.52%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p>The budget is ten times larger (at $3 million) than PHANTASM's, and Universal Pictures put its major studio heft behind it (though it was the cheapest movie that Universal produced in the 1980s and generally feels like an upper-tier New World Picture). </p><p>The Greg Nicotero and Robert Kurtzman SFX are solid,</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjevMsKYHd8eBfjOSSlmwqbwQj6TESzgc-aYVMym7llarMUfM_9Vv_11X2l1DwBW0ZpnO4cHkpuZWEObpdjWePnOcRubXgYNeCYMZaIFZgNDXlrIyubat8o8S8XIQqRtZ5SooBJfpXPtgeMc9fcnOFhrAp-zNMHs7Py8bZ-pwEWg-ZodAHrlJI2hlE2vUA/s2026/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%204.53.39%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1134" data-original-width="2026" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjevMsKYHd8eBfjOSSlmwqbwQj6TESzgc-aYVMym7llarMUfM_9Vv_11X2l1DwBW0ZpnO4cHkpuZWEObpdjWePnOcRubXgYNeCYMZaIFZgNDXlrIyubat8o8S8XIQqRtZ5SooBJfpXPtgeMc9fcnOFhrAp-zNMHs7Py8bZ-pwEWg-ZodAHrlJI2hlE2vUA/w400-h224/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%204.53.39%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> </p><p> and the cinematography by Daryn Okada is crisp and impressive. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRFDyx7BGQsSNkrbWQLXWt7DycHF9pgPMEUYgJh0Xjo5yO8Y21EUwA1nxE1SEzu3IntwszLe9pwKcPkwK5p9vKVoEoVgs82wEug41Tkt3RCNyo3aiLeAX_9ZtfP2utJKJKuocznfvu7BPfX5i-H6-kge2kZV5zRyk_EiLbtWtnTYyfVNhGF10T_mzjLNA/s2022/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%204.52.08%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1116" data-original-width="2022" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRFDyx7BGQsSNkrbWQLXWt7DycHF9pgPMEUYgJh0Xjo5yO8Y21EUwA1nxE1SEzu3IntwszLe9pwKcPkwK5p9vKVoEoVgs82wEug41Tkt3RCNyo3aiLeAX_9ZtfP2utJKJKuocznfvu7BPfX5i-H6-kge2kZV5zRyk_EiLbtWtnTYyfVNhGF10T_mzjLNA/w400-h221/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%204.52.08%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> </p><p>They've changed up the essential formula from melancholy horror to sci-fi actioner, and it's somehow the median point between EVIL DEAD 2, ALIENS, and TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 2 on the "horror sequel reinvention" scale. Maybe it's the RETURN TO SALEM'S LOT of PHANTASM sequels?</p><p>In the lead role of "Mike," indie child actor A. Michael Baldwin has been upgraded (?) to '80s-'90s standby <a href="http://juntajuleil.blogspot.com/search/label/James%20LeGros">James LeGros</a> (POINT BREAK, DRUGSTORE COWBOY) who basically plays him as <a href="https://juntajuleil.blogspot.com/2009/11/film-review-exterminator-1980-james.html">THE EXTERMINATOR</a>.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcSUyJupOruvlwwZoccr-gAw58Tiqh-EhHpi_Ml-Y9_OGnXeoAtnZGON074gYF9FrAWXYxu2vU0gQMC_sKY-FMSjUOffrff17dkSKVbLTWbjs_SbwWaFz-ERPd_tAcqX-VIhx79hiQPBqiQzXctKXrz4GfmMnQGM37yc-A9JpaiSNByrswFGVJOaDFE3M/s2026/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%204.53.16%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1126" data-original-width="2026" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcSUyJupOruvlwwZoccr-gAw58Tiqh-EhHpi_Ml-Y9_OGnXeoAtnZGON074gYF9FrAWXYxu2vU0gQMC_sKY-FMSjUOffrff17dkSKVbLTWbjs_SbwWaFz-ERPd_tAcqX-VIhx79hiQPBqiQzXctKXrz4GfmMnQGM37yc-A9JpaiSNByrswFGVJOaDFE3M/w400-h223/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%204.53.16%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEsMYHMArMB_Q8JES1319RHy2-ezhv9LqK5W9VaRWS2_2_9mbXspFO-_mSGBRPXPt3h4yVQCpsC1VPKZWBVpXEB_6zUIg5QbVs2yuiycorNqQzWYkKnDpqMkqUiiQCKLzPvTfCWYXLTmFz706Zej5cIwWTeLFMX59GtHOrxrTBGXgaCp9CTWOM0nbGc2Q/s2024/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%205.03.28%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1120" data-original-width="2024" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEsMYHMArMB_Q8JES1319RHy2-ezhv9LqK5W9VaRWS2_2_9mbXspFO-_mSGBRPXPt3h4yVQCpsC1VPKZWBVpXEB_6zUIg5QbVs2yuiycorNqQzWYkKnDpqMkqUiiQCKLzPvTfCWYXLTmFz706Zej5cIwWTeLFMX59GtHOrxrTBGXgaCp9CTWOM0nbGc2Q/w400-h221/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%205.03.28%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>Slow-jammin' Ice Cream Man Reggie Bannister is back, baby,</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjupMagCkDJXLP914cf_Sh_vl9jaNw029KjNxL9xkVMDwxdF9njMnpYoSflgIa9TkcoTtDozVzNCZaPwOzcyiRnROVWzV0xaRYJ4pPeW-Nav9l_j3CfyWKZSrzb-dr3CkY8wmHp930-5f7z-Gruluic-dTL__6nxOx9MyzgDzQqdmRyzQqrbMopvDeaIv4/s2036/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%204.55.51%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1106" data-original-width="2036" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjupMagCkDJXLP914cf_Sh_vl9jaNw029KjNxL9xkVMDwxdF9njMnpYoSflgIa9TkcoTtDozVzNCZaPwOzcyiRnROVWzV0xaRYJ4pPeW-Nav9l_j3CfyWKZSrzb-dr3CkY8wmHp930-5f7z-Gruluic-dTL__6nxOx9MyzgDzQqdmRyzQqrbMopvDeaIv4/w400-h217/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%204.55.51%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> </p><p>as is Angus Scrimm, who is always a sobering, dangerous presence and, as the "Tall Man," wears the scariest bob haircut of all time. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4kL5Jd4sbae83q9PDHx5K_73sFQ3KIXiO34nVy-3PW5fRr_jc9kQxXS0wpSyls5vV30r6aseiQV6JtZ-jH_nG3HB9kpRjqg2EvQeC6-s3VuFnyi-4Hgsrs2iAYdt_8grhEd8KPXGmJbuV043v9etUE5sZ-bHvNssqcOiOVuuQ8XG9fTiJdb251vHKrbw/s2030/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%205.10.15%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1124" data-original-width="2030" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4kL5Jd4sbae83q9PDHx5K_73sFQ3KIXiO34nVy-3PW5fRr_jc9kQxXS0wpSyls5vV30r6aseiQV6JtZ-jH_nG3HB9kpRjqg2EvQeC6-s3VuFnyi-4Hgsrs2iAYdt_8grhEd8KPXGmJbuV043v9etUE5sZ-bHvNssqcOiOVuuQ8XG9fTiJdb251vHKrbw/w400-h221/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%205.10.15%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> </p><p>The sentinel sphere gang even gets a new member, in the form of a gold-plated, lightsaber-laser-wielding (?) video-game-boss-looking gadget. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2Err_RJ5b5VaH0n9uGIr3ZdHFPolSlW52dpzTfCpRvg3YAOTCz_Bhc7PmtDvTywqab5NYJ3TML5rRh9zXp89n6FNWiXNsOl2e-HDV1M70T-fx_a1Y0JJfJhe-s9A08OXzYCaR7J0EY9Ab2DmoGIXbPPgpL2Z_IslE6YjPPysCNrn-g6jOwo8d9T1H6o/s2018/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%205.15.00%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1130" data-original-width="2018" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2Err_RJ5b5VaH0n9uGIr3ZdHFPolSlW52dpzTfCpRvg3YAOTCz_Bhc7PmtDvTywqab5NYJ3TML5rRh9zXp89n6FNWiXNsOl2e-HDV1M70T-fx_a1Y0JJfJhe-s9A08OXzYCaR7J0EY9Ab2DmoGIXbPPgpL2Z_IslE6YjPPysCNrn-g6jOwo8d9T1H6o/w400-h224/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%205.15.00%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiqHcdzgQMaIIBn3VDcCLkCCsJgKiuXdQFwmulCkUV2LAHayITHKhGHfeTrdQeJre3C6J2crBlBWGmVOStIVwoljY52_sUVvqYoMyDwVIgj9DQV_zYLL3iinVSbdekAHeVOtsLLaxhQu_iqi_1G8-_uL0-ZRzgA7mssz-8g-T-DAhSptoYFYhLcuJXrtA/s2028/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%205.15.27%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1132" data-original-width="2028" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiqHcdzgQMaIIBn3VDcCLkCCsJgKiuXdQFwmulCkUV2LAHayITHKhGHfeTrdQeJre3C6J2crBlBWGmVOStIVwoljY52_sUVvqYoMyDwVIgj9DQV_zYLL3iinVSbdekAHeVOtsLLaxhQu_iqi_1G8-_uL0-ZRzgA7mssz-8g-T-DAhSptoYFYhLcuJXrtA/w400-h224/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%205.15.27%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> </p><p>This movie features a four-barreled shotgun, for godssakes. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnl7x1PC_E-2S3uyC7HffEM6rK5SBVQYnTMe6ncRS2IBcklPotGp0BHSl0olcshGQ2je9YgSuVtA0rzWJvjjpXYwDMDJsL04sJCQwsZsFcEkRMzZ9ZCSIXSfYbrI97ZypjA4c0Kkd4K3dZDzQBCeSWM4pQqTfrq57R635o9jNzogHSpkucN1wQexn-NHU/s2020/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%205.09.08%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1130" data-original-width="2020" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnl7x1PC_E-2S3uyC7HffEM6rK5SBVQYnTMe6ncRS2IBcklPotGp0BHSl0olcshGQ2je9YgSuVtA0rzWJvjjpXYwDMDJsL04sJCQwsZsFcEkRMzZ9ZCSIXSfYbrI97ZypjA4c0Kkd4K3dZDzQBCeSWM4pQqTfrq57R635o9jNzogHSpkucN1wQexn-NHU/w400-h224/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%205.09.08%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlKK3dgLlSz_NXsW93bdfsx5zitewo_kO7Y3sA5z9PjWVtqs64Qch3szcADxxtFQye6tSkvjA1jZL8jSyGCvJR7ycaKaJT8hExevcq3gmccTBFPqqaswkSGq4GI9Xm5-cljZZzZOitRDCurqleB34A7SXP_kHEBnkLXeOzhWFJqdD-VTJyk5LgovQCKng/s2024/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%205.08.34%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1128" data-original-width="2024" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlKK3dgLlSz_NXsW93bdfsx5zitewo_kO7Y3sA5z9PjWVtqs64Qch3szcADxxtFQye6tSkvjA1jZL8jSyGCvJR7ycaKaJT8hExevcq3gmccTBFPqqaswkSGq4GI9Xm5-cljZZzZOitRDCurqleB34A7SXP_kHEBnkLXeOzhWFJqdD-VTJyk5LgovQCKng/w400-h223/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%205.08.34%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p>There are a lot more explosions per capita, that's for sure.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTISv5oxrDm1JAV4lcDivnblZhMPy11YN_b5WbutGJ44vjlH2OSfOyDg-bJWsRJ0RmqkC4kQWkIH0qx2T9dn2cVPkN8FEs35GZ52AqdQDWUVUf1tgiHH5plNm_Od3nX50BjZqtENtLJshaDHWN84cITtvenK34VhrEj8y3daUKNF-kK8SMZhmk30AsL2U/s2030/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%205.03.06%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1112" data-original-width="2030" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTISv5oxrDm1JAV4lcDivnblZhMPy11YN_b5WbutGJ44vjlH2OSfOyDg-bJWsRJ0RmqkC4kQWkIH0qx2T9dn2cVPkN8FEs35GZ52AqdQDWUVUf1tgiHH5plNm_Od3nX50BjZqtENtLJshaDHWN84cITtvenK34VhrEj8y3daUKNF-kK8SMZhmk30AsL2U/w400-h219/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%205.03.06%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>Does this mean the movie is <i>good</i>, though? Not precisely. It doesn't have the craftsmanship or sheer adrenaline (or budget) of ALIENS, the satire of TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 2, or the comedy of EVIL DEAD 2––though we do get one of the most ludicrous sex scenes of all time with Reggie the Ice Cream Man ("You're a bald, middle-aged former ice cream vendor," says LeGros' Mike) cavorting with a mostly unexplained hitchhiking fashion model, in a scene so gratuitous that Reggie Bannister's actual wife insisted on being on set, just out of frame, for the duration. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVyuDZuv_WgQfG29loTy_WlxSce1-pTm3Xs-Cvj-kXrb3OWIjTt01-6lFT09xlsEx9nNbCDP4T64krByekMS8fmI9eglmktgR2EYIFauJtfAwwPNqRRTKIFmzQlGwvlHcCicZ8HBA1mdoQxPZfJiO1cE3O6pgfcWNXXhe7mtNmG7NGMj8aiHNGOVg8GBE/s2028/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%205.00.44%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1126" data-original-width="2028" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVyuDZuv_WgQfG29loTy_WlxSce1-pTm3Xs-Cvj-kXrb3OWIjTt01-6lFT09xlsEx9nNbCDP4T64krByekMS8fmI9eglmktgR2EYIFauJtfAwwPNqRRTKIFmzQlGwvlHcCicZ8HBA1mdoQxPZfJiO1cE3O6pgfcWNXXhe7mtNmG7NGMj8aiHNGOVg8GBE/w400-h223/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%205.00.44%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkCNDUh0IA1UyPLFmA5qi_Q3oWjaUKDbUrlF3miq1Y_k1QpcwtnnLbyEDtLDWuvTGVuJrKUXe6uO_q-O0Lzn9TmWvxj7_qgWSWkFgayFqpT6JUe1k8hTTlVODl8LlIr-7CPNF9k6LhGX0ONQjcUX0BfExP4Hg-4uCmUr6mYy_Jt42x9ObKfn_fkUmfTO8/s2026/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%205.01.23%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1128" data-original-width="2026" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkCNDUh0IA1UyPLFmA5qi_Q3oWjaUKDbUrlF3miq1Y_k1QpcwtnnLbyEDtLDWuvTGVuJrKUXe6uO_q-O0Lzn9TmWvxj7_qgWSWkFgayFqpT6JUe1k8hTTlVODl8LlIr-7CPNF9k6LhGX0ONQjcUX0BfExP4Hg-4uCmUr6mYy_Jt42x9ObKfn_fkUmfTO8/w400-h223/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%205.01.23%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyz6PrhhLvfbnF3ElatEyYVPUWJJq17ERc5XxhAT2gdUtt6MWK5U3-qz-f7VswXlXhEu50Xygtmx-xBackNVnkJ9GhRVLwEPTJumWtFf3FP3oFwPZUDacay9io6wp5Yuwvrg0JR0JkaIbgRoRq2k-Vif9LxdHNMNMwfZ32X6JRHQbvwe-9LBiZaCjxe3c/s2022/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%205.00.53%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1120" data-original-width="2022" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyz6PrhhLvfbnF3ElatEyYVPUWJJq17ERc5XxhAT2gdUtt6MWK5U3-qz-f7VswXlXhEu50Xygtmx-xBackNVnkJ9GhRVLwEPTJumWtFf3FP3oFwPZUDacay9io6wp5Yuwvrg0JR0JkaIbgRoRq2k-Vif9LxdHNMNMwfZ32X6JRHQbvwe-9LBiZaCjxe3c/w400-h221/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%205.00.53%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p>The actress playing the hitchhiker––Samantha Phillips––cannot keep a straight face throughout, possibly due to the proximity of Reggie's wife, and her unabashed mockery of the scene <i>almost</i> reclaims it from the male gaze. If this film offers Reggie as a sex symbol (and he plays it... like Clint Howard doing James Bond?), Samantha offers, through her performance, a sly retort.<br /></p><p>While watching the film, I, too, had something like a dumb grin on my face for much of the duration––it's a movie that feels like it <i>shouldn't exist</i>, as if it were inexplicable, higher-budget fan fiction of an obscure indie. It's chock full of references for genre nerds, like Alex Murphy's grave (Peter Weller from ROBOCOP)</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfTu1Bxwm2SUSowA4sC9vgS-hcWamsICHHcgIgtX9STuMzoMa0DlS6RmgioyDoNcN7AT5NWdF3Z-1vUk2WPr6BzG-2bTt4YbG9SAJMrt9QcNR9p74O95ZZsF9zwXREHMnYU-bYdgGx_9Cimu6u2PEpjLiu7staDsRsD6RdAXsCOjhjuniBYuG-9HdDfs/s2024/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%204.59.24%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1130" data-original-width="2024" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfTu1Bxwm2SUSowA4sC9vgS-hcWamsICHHcgIgtX9STuMzoMa0DlS6RmgioyDoNcN7AT5NWdF3Z-1vUk2WPr6BzG-2bTt4YbG9SAJMrt9QcNR9p74O95ZZsF9zwXREHMnYU-bYdgGx_9Cimu6u2PEpjLiu7staDsRsD6RdAXsCOjhjuniBYuG-9HdDfs/w400-h224/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%204.59.24%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> </p><p> or a bag full of Sam Raimi's ashes </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_uxOjpWVjoHjztflHISz6-ZWvOSuUFA8hfcx7t8f1LsRJ7YJ3UleZuN9lkpzRS5Pcr79hunYiq1Sgg1p0S2GwoPwCYmbnkPoGyD7_dOfKKaXOO5aOu6w7c5MeQDDdxU-1X982eH0nIDZ5f-NuEz2qKuMTcZxOJNE1jRpV7XL6oVegvqEiTscSRkYR0Hc/s2030/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%205.18.20%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1130" data-original-width="2030" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_uxOjpWVjoHjztflHISz6-ZWvOSuUFA8hfcx7t8f1LsRJ7YJ3UleZuN9lkpzRS5Pcr79hunYiq1Sgg1p0S2GwoPwCYmbnkPoGyD7_dOfKKaXOO5aOu6w7c5MeQDDdxU-1X982eH0nIDZ5f-NuEz2qKuMTcZxOJNE1jRpV7XL6oVegvqEiTscSRkYR0Hc/w400-h223/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%205.18.20%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> </p><p>(as well as some Raimi-inspired POV shots </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDjN4redij-NOP4qjzkAg2F367DY7IoTLqoay1SNipU4QYt414RxcZGRMFAOpugA1bEy6jyYqYkNauH7nwJNYFmlf401oemhXD0lVAM7BI3C_nBXPJz4lDzlPhlQD3DUB8FuwKqjXDyTwpF9-nUJ92gkM5pMlLaViiAks02swHIlUwPetm9e-WwNClOGM/s2034/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%205.07.20%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1114" data-original-width="2034" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDjN4redij-NOP4qjzkAg2F367DY7IoTLqoay1SNipU4QYt414RxcZGRMFAOpugA1bEy6jyYqYkNauH7nwJNYFmlf401oemhXD0lVAM7BI3C_nBXPJz4lDzlPhlQD3DUB8FuwKqjXDyTwpF9-nUJ92gkM5pMlLaViiAks02swHIlUwPetm9e-WwNClOGM/w400-h219/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%205.07.20%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> </p><p>and an arch moment of self-amputation). </p><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJyC70ePf0C4QILpyrX5cJmngxHNkCh4h0dJarDJBBX8yzAEOaGmfE4iLJ-g6KHgBbNXECPa6J4o-R-c__IPwSKwprwktL7NImWyTtfTFGYD9zsokTjINqJN0w-5Hdrs8kNRHK_aiQNnOkOz2RekUApWO9MRXEX3C4any_wQRqNS7x9bxWHHc1tHLq9M/s2022/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%205.05.53%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1134" data-original-width="2022" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJyC70ePf0C4QILpyrX5cJmngxHNkCh4h0dJarDJBBX8yzAEOaGmfE4iLJ-g6KHgBbNXECPa6J4o-R-c__IPwSKwprwktL7NImWyTtfTFGYD9zsokTjINqJN0w-5Hdrs8kNRHK_aiQNnOkOz2RekUApWO9MRXEX3C4any_wQRqNS7x9bxWHHc1tHLq9M/w400-h224/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%205.05.53%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>There's a weird whiskey priest subplot that goes nowhere, extended chainsaw duels, </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5AG4XLtRZFPqTb3TKgdr_nCCKVsQXSm4YM6RHM7xFOQzCgpbEN5TYjH69lFn_8JX6aQWW45IZgqYuSs3uddaqOyXfkvJUMUpvbubXdOOgDGDYGcoYLHtWtiGgWSSYbKfA292RcN6PM2ew0tfN9Moe2DYrxc5592JkeHB_dj83UogWlBqMwV4x8CYpDUI/s2030/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%205.08.17%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1132" data-original-width="2030" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5AG4XLtRZFPqTb3TKgdr_nCCKVsQXSm4YM6RHM7xFOQzCgpbEN5TYjH69lFn_8JX6aQWW45IZgqYuSs3uddaqOyXfkvJUMUpvbubXdOOgDGDYGcoYLHtWtiGgWSSYbKfA292RcN6PM2ew0tfN9Moe2DYrxc5592JkeHB_dj83UogWlBqMwV4x8CYpDUI/w400-h223/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%205.08.17%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> </p><p>rat-exploding lasers,</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm429oDjPoNp1GHia7X9_W_mhXve66A4G7NT-Eo5Ns-dKvQMgT39BdEXDF6SbtbjMtDbGMH36WVwC05wrpt_dJ5BInqqcnnXHQAtTfAe7gE_pKPLYEqZGlFqnWJrwOljxz0XFHwK0JIAToKIWucErJjia-4XYq0FNoJMtLdj-C_uO5PjRr9pOKInM3Q5Y/s2024/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%205.14.20%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="2024" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm429oDjPoNp1GHia7X9_W_mhXve66A4G7NT-Eo5Ns-dKvQMgT39BdEXDF6SbtbjMtDbGMH36WVwC05wrpt_dJ5BInqqcnnXHQAtTfAe7gE_pKPLYEqZGlFqnWJrwOljxz0XFHwK0JIAToKIWucErJjia-4XYq0FNoJMtLdj-C_uO5PjRr9pOKInM3Q5Y/w400-h225/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%205.14.20%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZNdXNjRigd5FYfIO2dRu6mPsbsxzsRDddyvOWzeM5Peh-D37WkBZ1kdIjDET4mDAcL3YRYf1Kstwp0Xj6ZmdSZG2MDu7pjD0ZTSid5NTrELAHCBc3pDs5C15ZCH4Ts7yWORbrp0MuXWfsLu1GKhNvl05AjvkFpfWL5hCgIX9Dq7tT0G9TNYo1fe94geA/s2022/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%205.14.27%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1122" data-original-width="2022" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZNdXNjRigd5FYfIO2dRu6mPsbsxzsRDddyvOWzeM5Peh-D37WkBZ1kdIjDET4mDAcL3YRYf1Kstwp0Xj6ZmdSZG2MDu7pjD0ZTSid5NTrELAHCBc3pDs5C15ZCH4Ts7yWORbrp0MuXWfsLu1GKhNvl05AjvkFpfWL5hCgIX9Dq7tT0G9TNYo1fe94geA/w400-h223/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%205.14.27%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p>and the poetic use of "Suck on this!" as a third-act one-liner.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHxZWZLYxEWoOYyckzNllU4WK6GZfCLQx4l67gfBcPtPJy3dlurQsK4ItsJry1pggdenOiFdkWgxAI4P5zVGzrThVJcy04Ryfx3d54Guzn-B6UU4cINOjtuelGC2PnA2KIq7C8UMfIsC2xO85HkFEAJWoO8jcSQgDtXSXnqOosxdSOlSRe3NUj_a_aUoA/s2020/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%205.13.05%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1126" data-original-width="2020" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHxZWZLYxEWoOYyckzNllU4WK6GZfCLQx4l67gfBcPtPJy3dlurQsK4ItsJry1pggdenOiFdkWgxAI4P5zVGzrThVJcy04Ryfx3d54Guzn-B6UU4cINOjtuelGC2PnA2KIq7C8UMfIsC2xO85HkFEAJWoO8jcSQgDtXSXnqOosxdSOlSRe3NUj_a_aUoA/w400-h223/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%205.13.05%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKk6J6DD3ke9aFliwQbN3SxiSl-U0zof9a4ciNgjgbxdLNFAAZLzWy7OnCeeuLDQLab_TsCH-O4Wl1AkDMRoeSbqCHhyphenhyphenT7VurztiG_ltitG8tuj4iXSlVAilUwF5v2-Nt29DOpxjpFyr1nzKAxIdR7986GhRKkWWbZ6bHuyjWyQaOJM9Nlnhi3AERcmu0/s2032/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%205.13.15%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1124" data-original-width="2032" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKk6J6DD3ke9aFliwQbN3SxiSl-U0zof9a4ciNgjgbxdLNFAAZLzWy7OnCeeuLDQLab_TsCH-O4Wl1AkDMRoeSbqCHhyphenhyphenT7VurztiG_ltitG8tuj4iXSlVAilUwF5v2-Nt29DOpxjpFyr1nzKAxIdR7986GhRKkWWbZ6bHuyjWyQaOJM9Nlnhi3AERcmu0/w400-h221/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%205.13.15%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>In the end, this is all more of a curiosity than a genre classic, but I suppose I'm glad that it exists? It seems that for most PHANTASM "phans," they either love part 2 and dislike part 3, or they dislike part 2 and love part 3. As you will soon see, I'm much closer to being in the latter camp.</p><p>To be continued...<br /></p>Sean Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537515557596273876noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5497928641398322495.post-29709335857307522772023-10-24T12:09:00.000-04:002023-10-24T12:09:14.665-04:00Only now does it occur to me... PHANTASM (1979)<p><i>Only now does it occur to me... </i> I've written a little about PHANTASM (1979) <a href="http://juntajuleil.blogspot.com/2012/10/junta-juleils-guide-to-melancholy-horror.html">a few times before.</a> It's a surrealistic indie melancholy horror which owes more to Luis Buñuel and Jean Cocteau (and a little Ray Bradbury) than, say, NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD or the Universal horror classics. <br /></p><p></p><blockquote><p><i>Fred Myrow's spooky-rockin' soundtrack. The yellow blood. The Jawa-men. The
box of pain (a DUNE homage?). That sleazy lean-to shack-bar that looks
like a stiff wind could blow it over. The noiseless, alabaster-white
corridors of the mausoleum. The angry red sky of the other dimension.
The phantasm balls, and their hidden secrets. The Tall Man. </i>"BOYYYYYYYYY!<i>"<br /></i></p></blockquote><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMLS7woamfm2gU8sw2XYFxoNMbZeTvNjy8oF9ZGR5kTSFGfrR63c82GRvjFTvM6TPldJe72TTbCxSI0dYUXIkF_CGqtpgflQ9T5_mkEvGOfT0SJH1Q4fk7Akem0TJArNwrM47wPQC08ACecqj5UdUCE3lSABK7nEVOtyElG5jOjaa2xKqlehGvXQuzd2M/s2024/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%203.46.59%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1134" data-original-width="2024" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMLS7woamfm2gU8sw2XYFxoNMbZeTvNjy8oF9ZGR5kTSFGfrR63c82GRvjFTvM6TPldJe72TTbCxSI0dYUXIkF_CGqtpgflQ9T5_mkEvGOfT0SJH1Q4fk7Akem0TJArNwrM47wPQC08ACecqj5UdUCE3lSABK7nEVOtyElG5jOjaa2xKqlehGvXQuzd2M/w400-h224/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%203.46.59%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><blockquote><p><i><br />Few films build such a wonderful impression of the end of summer and the
beginning of autumn. Ultimately, it's a grim coming-of-age, and minus
the supernatural elements, I think that its honesty and sheer quality should have even made the establishment critics take notice. In fact,
Coscarelli's first two films were slice-of-life coming-of-age pictures
played straight (the excellent KENNY & CO. and JIM, THE WORLD'S
GREATEST). But let the
establishment have their films, and let genre fans have
PHANTASM. </i></p></blockquote><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1lSTxOfD7bK1tlk_5E-nanxCL6y0DcDumUntbkCheHGjpvVQ-tBZ-v38GIOUj-_ipoOybzR-p9oHf6GkNOZJ1ifm7v0fvilwhJxwlKnrlGQb-XafDYcP07_c4eKw5_WH91FIZM79LpwleEjrI2JNJB3MLbBTeJ1X8N5NMaFHtn0Dyg39JlZ_AkXEPC5M/s2032/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%203.46.25%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1130" data-original-width="2032" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1lSTxOfD7bK1tlk_5E-nanxCL6y0DcDumUntbkCheHGjpvVQ-tBZ-v38GIOUj-_ipoOybzR-p9oHf6GkNOZJ1ifm7v0fvilwhJxwlKnrlGQb-XafDYcP07_c4eKw5_WH91FIZM79LpwleEjrI2JNJB3MLbBTeJ1X8N5NMaFHtn0Dyg39JlZ_AkXEPC5M/w400-h223/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%203.46.25%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><blockquote><p><i>And despite all of its wonderful bells (and balls) and whistles, it all
really comes down to a feeling, an emptiness, a melancholy born of
grieving. That secret urge to wander the graveyard on an overcast day,
and see what you can see...</i></p></blockquote><p> </p><p>I also once wrote about <a href="https://juntajuleil.blogspot.com/2015/03/only-now-does-it-occur-to-me-other.html">THE OTHER (1972) as the missing link between SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES and PHANTASM</a>, but I'd like to add a few new observations as well. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfmLMIPDnxTDrPL8wmyKhW7oyPF5FNtceK6_HSz2JX0Iit4Wr98YnCbs2nNzvG9eyg_R0FlrefesRYleo8ZKkfi76qTbMAqoy3vq96U5iEAjM7OW7uvAc2c-JopwDRdRFsXbOyzSEq1biuEVzLxuFAkVcyYaKLp6jqc8mov9r9fxHbH2USD9IH0k00p-w/s2016/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%203.46.08%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1140" data-original-width="2016" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfmLMIPDnxTDrPL8wmyKhW7oyPF5FNtceK6_HSz2JX0Iit4Wr98YnCbs2nNzvG9eyg_R0FlrefesRYleo8ZKkfi76qTbMAqoy3vq96U5iEAjM7OW7uvAc2c-JopwDRdRFsXbOyzSEq1biuEVzLxuFAkVcyYaKLp6jqc8mov9r9fxHbH2USD9IH0k00p-w/w400-h226/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%203.46.08%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p>First, that it's incredible how deeply PHANTASM aligns––more psychically than literally––with STAR WARS. Both take deep inspiration from DUNE (STAR WARS with Tatooine, the Tusken Raiders, spice-running, Jedi spirituality, and the Butlerian jihad reflected in "we don't serve their kind here," etc.; PHANTASM with the faux-Bene Gesserit "put your hand in the box/fear is the mind killer" scene, </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEillmZGRYw3YNr1MZa9LG8_H4iuyDcpuoYWttampQNudTI89b_oAfkv96HhqgMvrMCWgpLoQP0_Kyhzl7QYfmbRcQcN-9welbAbytEMCNLhF0D7RH8F-olDT540jACxrgwSLqsROClljiJW5pKrdZYYpY2RbGOqecLnRVsH015whz-EyX3PyTyUoWs1hso/s2026/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%203.41.43%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1134" data-original-width="2026" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEillmZGRYw3YNr1MZa9LG8_H4iuyDcpuoYWttampQNudTI89b_oAfkv96HhqgMvrMCWgpLoQP0_Kyhzl7QYfmbRcQcN-9welbAbytEMCNLhF0D7RH8F-olDT540jACxrgwSLqsROClljiJW5pKrdZYYpY2RbGOqecLnRVsH015whz-EyX3PyTyUoWs1hso/w400-h224/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%203.41.43%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidEBdS1BLFdH8m7Yus2MnuZbi_i8WdHwUEMhFztAPmYvrgch5FdNXvajzztEsJIqIXdGiGrgHzbCnmh63BcPQSSiBTRKQbDmb252gHBBGPAtfWbG5sHJ8OpBKC47BU3gMuHW72jBnzQbybs0cEjgfVfSYDAtID3p-TTQJS1wDZnSHlGxIy6rukA9f8pwc/s2026/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%203.42.11%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1130" data-original-width="2026" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidEBdS1BLFdH8m7Yus2MnuZbi_i8WdHwUEMhFztAPmYvrgch5FdNXvajzztEsJIqIXdGiGrgHzbCnmh63BcPQSSiBTRKQbDmb252gHBBGPAtfWbG5sHJ8OpBKC47BU3gMuHW72jBnzQbybs0cEjgfVfSYDAtID3p-TTQJS1wDZnSHlGxIy6rukA9f8pwc/w400-h223/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%203.42.11%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyS81OwF0G_txEDH-vX7gkgHcpCPIAkMOpdQrgq9xA8dH7_5S-2v77mEKH4hcXvokoVfhHymtxHWc_NevSNGLn8p7J8bHp-gUxgbnGTgmz0BWZUHykQmfuUlwJg33EFS1QeZTmq3yYmE0dX8Zd7omnsTueqlDWZCmEItOTi1-k1pcPHDooTxoWNwisO_A/s2018/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%203.43.03%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1132" data-original-width="2018" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyS81OwF0G_txEDH-vX7gkgHcpCPIAkMOpdQrgq9xA8dH7_5S-2v77mEKH4hcXvokoVfhHymtxHWc_NevSNGLn8p7J8bHp-gUxgbnGTgmz0BWZUHykQmfuUlwJg33EFS1QeZTmq3yYmE0dX8Zd7omnsTueqlDWZCmEItOTi1-k1pcPHDooTxoWNwisO_A/w400-h225/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%203.43.03%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNWqTHXDYVDjKa6wF6N5yN73RCW2cwREKD2Bz5jqfY_NUEj_Ks034BkJk0SqHQ968rqvbAAQFDuU7GEAHPgwgxSffJjyrOC7l6QD8HrrKhcrVa_HzF7WG0CKflp-x_QOU8Z5PhZfLRlH0rcY3CPnHPjbYnPwYvbXxKId3VdTHLYKvrVXSthqItnkaLdU/s2028/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%203.42.24%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1130" data-original-width="2028" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNWqTHXDYVDjKa6wF6N5yN73RCW2cwREKD2Bz5jqfY_NUEj_Ks034BkJk0SqHQ968rqvbAAQFDuU7GEAHPgwgxSffJjyrOC7l6QD8HrrKhcrVa_HzF7WG0CKflp-x_QOU8Z5PhZfLRlH0rcY3CPnHPjbYnPwYvbXxKId3VdTHLYKvrVXSthqItnkaLdU/w400-h223/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%203.42.24%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiee_bKxZQcyxn4qrkEvYqOFzm_lBV9moraqZz0UmRfJ9TprHUnoyqQ4Qk-1B2i5VPF8YpY7QSxaKgNAZLvdtL-f0wFGAu872OEONm34tdgGVO1uOtDx08jPCMUZ6wPGtB2Cq3jKyBAGGcbFJvkGD7H1ps-buBQe2ygaU3K-HJ2swVBqyeqxyGSYk9By2c/s2024/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%203.42.52%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1128" data-original-width="2024" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiee_bKxZQcyxn4qrkEvYqOFzm_lBV9moraqZz0UmRfJ9TprHUnoyqQ4Qk-1B2i5VPF8YpY7QSxaKgNAZLvdtL-f0wFGAu872OEONm34tdgGVO1uOtDx08jPCMUZ6wPGtB2Cq3jKyBAGGcbFJvkGD7H1ps-buBQe2ygaU3K-HJ2swVBqyeqxyGSYk9By2c/w400-h223/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%203.42.52%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p>a hostile wasteland planet, and "Dune's Cantina"), </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOi5Xh91PEpe_opoJSg4DK3kTYc_9zFKNJudUw9vdD9VQ_gZWO4iAiBLsdGYFeREdYT2uHBP3Vjl36Yi4j1LQT12NBz7-ZDdnX0KHr3x-_WTYGU1NqB319YQWXvaA6qpiL9bIDzvFm5wzwYRcCZPeTP1rFCkt9sAKtNxUJRo21mGed9TGvm20IyzFD5wI/s2030/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%203.44.05%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1138" data-original-width="2030" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOi5Xh91PEpe_opoJSg4DK3kTYc_9zFKNJudUw9vdD9VQ_gZWO4iAiBLsdGYFeREdYT2uHBP3Vjl36Yi4j1LQT12NBz7-ZDdnX0KHr3x-_WTYGU1NqB319YQWXvaA6qpiL9bIDzvFm5wzwYRcCZPeTP1rFCkt9sAKtNxUJRo21mGed9TGvm20IyzFD5wI/w400-h224/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%203.44.05%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> </p><p>and both feature little people in desert robes (in STAR WARS, the iconic Jawas; in PHANTASM, the compressed bodies of the dead... reanimated by the Tall Man and used as interdimensional minions). </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8qnHXym0sOU-jatcmvBbMBpPPoOojZkjnVHLnFB7sMwWUJjPclH0Q40EhxeTLcCg_qy4Go22M2NQfcqPwjRQaOvzMHXtwMhZsvd0LRtI4fVRIaf80DnhpULpfZ6CZj-m1_ITzrHBHbteEWFMXKVqaMpKooXhS5kOc6zFS7jBuGO2wnkH1IybfUUJt0wI/s2026/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%203.49.16%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1138" data-original-width="2026" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8qnHXym0sOU-jatcmvBbMBpPPoOojZkjnVHLnFB7sMwWUJjPclH0Q40EhxeTLcCg_qy4Go22M2NQfcqPwjRQaOvzMHXtwMhZsvd0LRtI4fVRIaf80DnhpULpfZ6CZj-m1_ITzrHBHbteEWFMXKVqaMpKooXhS5kOc6zFS7jBuGO2wnkH1IybfUUJt0wI/w400-h225/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%203.49.16%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p>Director <a href="https://uproxx.com/hitfix/don-coscarelli-talks-phantasms-strange-four-decade-long-star-wars-connection/">Don Coscarelli has described this as a coincidence</a>. He was apparently midway through production on PHANTASM when a friend told him he had seen "a trailer for this new movie <i>Star Wars</i> and your characters, the little brown dwarf guys, are in it." Later, STAR WARS fan and <a href="https://juntajuleil.blogspot.com/2020/05/only-now-does-it-occur-to-me-star-wars.html">THE FORCE AWAKENS</a> director J.J. Abrams helped restore the original print of PHANTASM and named Gwendoline Christie's shiny chrome STAR WARS character "Phasma" as a tribute.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPyvY_DIYWb1QtVsduOfnMjwPlH2yJO9ewxERCUzUixTEu3WEalT60s3-IpOeQNkd3LOLwpzV70S6D_x03xrnrSPt-pix1XnZ59U_UOKng31Yt6GNaDkl-j0mq-4vwVAZoPMp_N5st25itziLRf0p3xAOhnNRqYlxWQDwYTycjjLZK0KdQQUZ2nb4Kt_M/s2032/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%203.48.47%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="2032" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPyvY_DIYWb1QtVsduOfnMjwPlH2yJO9ewxERCUzUixTEu3WEalT60s3-IpOeQNkd3LOLwpzV70S6D_x03xrnrSPt-pix1XnZ59U_UOKng31Yt6GNaDkl-j0mq-4vwVAZoPMp_N5st25itziLRf0p3xAOhnNRqYlxWQDwYTycjjLZK0KdQQUZ2nb4Kt_M/w400-h224/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%203.48.47%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>Anyway, PHANTASM is great. It's meandering and dreamlike and a true indie, with bold editorial choices and stunning visuals. It's a little rough around the edges, and the performances (aside from A. Michael Baldwin's lead (child) performance and Angus Scrimm's elementally terrifying Tall Man) are uneven, but it's spooky, charming, and in a class of its own. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8bgg2zZoTsfuGBd-JmC1PxVoWGH16_ptw7gNV2yv0e8YxLniItMyRQjMDm8fjU0JmHncvWYP6ksKIgA55HnFR7bBlZpUCppAhDcmEwglQYqn5aV3fT-3Av2ufUzH_xlLJ4j_1bqbSAekXotVWWLLOoBpMtIhyphenhyphenngGFJZN_AopJRHrSAleVFHHYcDk9E3A/s2024/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%203.44.51%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1138" data-original-width="2024" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8bgg2zZoTsfuGBd-JmC1PxVoWGH16_ptw7gNV2yv0e8YxLniItMyRQjMDm8fjU0JmHncvWYP6ksKIgA55HnFR7bBlZpUCppAhDcmEwglQYqn5aV3fT-3Av2ufUzH_xlLJ4j_1bqbSAekXotVWWLLOoBpMtIhyphenhyphenngGFJZN_AopJRHrSAleVFHHYcDk9E3A/w400-h225/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%203.44.51%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjuai_rofOzsP_4xUQtZOQO69NsTRqMTbMiH_YhnvmoFF8KwKD9mQ4RydT5UWsjce7NJRxDrjVmx5l37iU21yv4sIREz1HrdV2Ws9UW3bUEZB7mLuN_n6qu7mEsjAwr7ouWryy0vJQakkdimx3rSCCM1I498EOcxbD5Req8z_ve7qzY9GxFfATmc6lKGI/s2028/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%203.44.25%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1134" data-original-width="2028" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjuai_rofOzsP_4xUQtZOQO69NsTRqMTbMiH_YhnvmoFF8KwKD9mQ4RydT5UWsjce7NJRxDrjVmx5l37iU21yv4sIREz1HrdV2Ws9UW3bUEZB7mLuN_n6qu7mEsjAwr7ouWryy0vJQakkdimx3rSCCM1I498EOcxbD5Req8z_ve7qzY9GxFfATmc6lKGI/w400-h224/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%203.44.25%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p>It makes the time for <i>multiple</i> Reggie the Ice Cream Man (Reggie Bannister) guitar jam sessions</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3bk8aqIrZiLZiyAWoqaDM0BohZQJyYGvcrdIvcYImekyO2dMEawOBmMRV78sI2aIz5C1TY_vFDfLhksaCvd0R6mmI_u1MSmEy_HTHgEedwsqRyCA7LS57XK21AkW-L-rOVBftWiddIVQyEtUvWFvPww4G4qMsYQ6iLz6a2NYVaxwfiVvviWUUco-wylU/s2030/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%203.43.19%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1130" data-original-width="2030" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3bk8aqIrZiLZiyAWoqaDM0BohZQJyYGvcrdIvcYImekyO2dMEawOBmMRV78sI2aIz5C1TY_vFDfLhksaCvd0R6mmI_u1MSmEy_HTHgEedwsqRyCA7LS57XK21AkW-L-rOVBftWiddIVQyEtUvWFvPww4G4qMsYQ6iLz6a2NYVaxwfiVvviWUUco-wylU/w400-h223/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%203.43.19%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimbkJByt_tV1H8FyLPTwXvK1mb1_ZBCof17yJ5e4otm__f67hZwGGpkOaUYOTCRlLWiw1NxBIe2GYTzLdgYwP4pJv85eh6Gsszo_0RyLRf8rMtz6d4teD5Z6ZotCWye1dCZFtRQyhuvFdnNkzYxXDhIvfxsvp4aly6ln53p_BhyOvSbLjvWluBcdXmOTI/s2016/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%203.51.05%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1138" data-original-width="2016" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimbkJByt_tV1H8FyLPTwXvK1mb1_ZBCof17yJ5e4otm__f67hZwGGpkOaUYOTCRlLWiw1NxBIe2GYTzLdgYwP4pJv85eh6Gsszo_0RyLRf8rMtz6d4teD5Z6ZotCWye1dCZFtRQyhuvFdnNkzYxXDhIvfxsvp4aly6ln53p_BhyOvSbLjvWluBcdXmOTI/w400-h226/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%203.51.05%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>and definitely is <i>not</i> a screenplay they're going to teach in SAVE THE CAT or Robert McKee-inspired film schools. This gives it time to develop its potently weird dream energy, like a more adult ALICE IN WONDERLAND (or like <a href="http://juntajuleil.blogspot.com/2010/06/film-review-valerie-and-her-week-of.html">VALERIE AND HER WEEK OF WONDERS</a> or <a href="https://juntajuleil.blogspot.com/2018/01/film-review-lemora-childs-tale-of.html">LEMORA: A CHILD'S TALE OF THE SUPERNATURAL</a>).<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnlC2GW0SXRAL52oXHst9iwhADLEYN3QEr-B4WOJ6YzLTqBnCHoZPuzTm9XaqNoY9tw8EtNYozAvNjx5kCq0WVm_zntiSgWAJJFgLf8upGUfy6UOhiVp4FiXgwUhg8WKstX45Pj5_Vc8_67wkSIqptUUx36HDdqR7X8lVTZcs1mJsDub-IIO4w5j1hU_E/s2012/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%203.48.23%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1128" data-original-width="2012" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnlC2GW0SXRAL52oXHst9iwhADLEYN3QEr-B4WOJ6YzLTqBnCHoZPuzTm9XaqNoY9tw8EtNYozAvNjx5kCq0WVm_zntiSgWAJJFgLf8upGUfy6UOhiVp4FiXgwUhg8WKstX45Pj5_Vc8_67wkSIqptUUx36HDdqR7X8lVTZcs1mJsDub-IIO4w5j1hU_E/w400-h224/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%203.48.23%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> </p><p> Like most melancholy horror films, it's about grief, abandonment, and fear of the unknown.<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKAGVxdc-UtP1SXbcbChk7VvU871QUd-c72RgVUSNC0oy5EVSlJKoVzaygEHdlFoWJ6omt4mseVE2E4J0obh1eatAsWNd4WhRtw58l1R8N2GVn28hfpkePxge_B47bZawtJiXrU20wB70MapXu_mApQ71CYVsxdYHhsLDFLCkbwH2XOhuR-o1pFbGQbcA/s2018/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%203.52.19%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1142" data-original-width="2018" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKAGVxdc-UtP1SXbcbChk7VvU871QUd-c72RgVUSNC0oy5EVSlJKoVzaygEHdlFoWJ6omt4mseVE2E4J0obh1eatAsWNd4WhRtw58l1R8N2GVn28hfpkePxge_B47bZawtJiXrU20wB70MapXu_mApQ71CYVsxdYHhsLDFLCkbwH2XOhuR-o1pFbGQbcA/w400-h226/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-19%20at%203.52.19%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p>A strong recommend if you've never seen it, especially <a href="https://variety.com/2016/film/global/berlin-classic-horror-film-phantasm-restored-thanks-to-j-j-abrams-being-sold-at-efm-exclusive-1201700553/">in its gorgeous new restoration</a>.<br /></p>Sean Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537515557596273876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5497928641398322495.post-88363345826615887982023-10-16T11:54:00.001-04:002023-10-16T11:54:27.134-04:00Only now does it occur to me... KAGERO-ZA (1981)<p><i>Only now does it occur to me...</i> that I have to say a few words in praise of KAGERO-ZA (1981), the second film in the Japanese director Seijun Suzuki's trilogy of Taishō-set, literary-supernatural Gothic romances. KAGERO-ZA is the middle film, bookended themetically by ZIGEUNERWEISEN (1980) and YUMEJI (1991), and it's my favorite of the three. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgos0nuiy1WYGnI-OCqHRyAcf_TkTrJiVN83VyyJsgycagkaxTPWLnJWoOpPgUtbdvEqD7wUJhobU8-dmBlTwKpZZlH_4Jp4daUxJ2k4c7kdcfTqXUV9ghYxtsNIkvKhDez8SmUIgdC6iEyD5Unya5UcbWk4v6uai7oQW9kwr6B2LGIgDfBfZheN-1o/s1914/Screen%20Shot%202023-06-02%20at%202.41.23%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1444" data-original-width="1914" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgos0nuiy1WYGnI-OCqHRyAcf_TkTrJiVN83VyyJsgycagkaxTPWLnJWoOpPgUtbdvEqD7wUJhobU8-dmBlTwKpZZlH_4Jp4daUxJ2k4c7kdcfTqXUV9ghYxtsNIkvKhDez8SmUIgdC6iEyD5Unya5UcbWk4v6uai7oQW9kwr6B2LGIgDfBfZheN-1o/w400-h301/Screen%20Shot%202023-06-02%20at%202.41.23%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p>Suzuki was best known for his anarchic, jazzy, classy crime flicks he made for Nikkatsu in the 1960s [BRANDED TO KILL (1967), TOKYO DRIFTER (1966), and YOUTH OF THE BEAST (1963)], which careen to and fro with psychedelic, pop-art cool, like Jean-Pierre Melville collaborating with the Looney Tunes. They were an influence on filmmakers from Jim Jarmusch to Sam Raimi to George Miller to Quentin Tarantino. Eventually, Suzuki fell out of favor at Nikkatsu, was fired in 1968, and reemerged a decade later, making films at a slower rhythm, though still with an eye for astounding visuals. </p><p>The ZIGEUNERWEISEN trilogy probably qualifies as "slow cinema"––less appealing for those who want his tried and true bursts of arthouse adrenaline. But these were very well-received in Japan, where they were heavily nominated and honored at the Japanese Academy Awards. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAoPwtTDND1f_xGqrfeXrbUdbG1MG3rOSs_A64t26yZE5IqcuLpsFo3owUx5TtYXyHdtrtYdZphsG6fDpwV9k9rEf_rT1O-xCqIr3OhEY6M17N-PAp0Vs0PYqr1jddypWXot5B3T8uaiG3jJwCBwg41zsxrZ8jBuUi0peDJLTafKi2ftNfNCd6IPfR/s1916/Screen%20Shot%202023-06-02%20at%202.41.00%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1450" data-original-width="1916" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAoPwtTDND1f_xGqrfeXrbUdbG1MG3rOSs_A64t26yZE5IqcuLpsFo3owUx5TtYXyHdtrtYdZphsG6fDpwV9k9rEf_rT1O-xCqIr3OhEY6M17N-PAp0Vs0PYqr1jddypWXot5B3T8uaiG3jJwCBwg41zsxrZ8jBuUi0peDJLTafKi2ftNfNCd6IPfR/w400-h303/Screen%20Shot%202023-06-02%20at%202.41.00%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMWCrZSb2gm4ntNfKHM7IeX5l0u86txNbncRL8yt2adlQdyz7aoaL2poT8JqQ4X_4kM5mf_JtJCp74WpSE4J7DHaR_uTcg_S-WYHAuey64ht8OQgw6S6f19zl0gogVjx1x9HZbIIfyWoG29uz494_x4PPAjN4W7ywFEMn-wPXXHfaK3X5QNSWTUG9a/s1932/Screen%20Shot%202023-06-02%20at%202.41.05%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1454" data-original-width="1932" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMWCrZSb2gm4ntNfKHM7IeX5l0u86txNbncRL8yt2adlQdyz7aoaL2poT8JqQ4X_4kM5mf_JtJCp74WpSE4J7DHaR_uTcg_S-WYHAuey64ht8OQgw6S6f19zl0gogVjx1x9HZbIIfyWoG29uz494_x4PPAjN4W7ywFEMn-wPXXHfaK3X5QNSWTUG9a/w400-h301/Screen%20Shot%202023-06-02%20at%202.41.05%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyeOGDiBKn6BYrSc7YsNbKS6kJW5fAwoUZRTJaAG9z_JQovq8dZrsQ1v3cl99iPgOcElRqrbMuhfkFIMzCn-Qf2YAF37YYaYa7CQDx7LQAXZv5jLPunPUsGnEaGxp_T1kSrLAnA0irB5LeyLmY0yNnUhUyIkMVSExvMttsU0beH25a0Yk1YngtCq2_/s1906/Screen%20Shot%202023-06-02%20at%202.41.09%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1446" data-original-width="1906" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyeOGDiBKn6BYrSc7YsNbKS6kJW5fAwoUZRTJaAG9z_JQovq8dZrsQ1v3cl99iPgOcElRqrbMuhfkFIMzCn-Qf2YAF37YYaYa7CQDx7LQAXZv5jLPunPUsGnEaGxp_T1kSrLAnA0irB5LeyLmY0yNnUhUyIkMVSExvMttsU0beH25a0Yk1YngtCq2_/w400-h304/Screen%20Shot%202023-06-02%20at%202.41.09%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVVrLDGh5QkHx1R5uoAHyWdpVMMPj7nQ6pkFKrLO7NfYT428iRm0Z31E0QODiw7giA3rv0_lZpzKdoPV4uat2V4UoxtwcPvSQQQXwzPAmCTA2BT53cWeY5q7KetVu63IJ-YSnLCSYw1mx2m2zzfwb-y7kMSx-4iLzQ1dDF0mHG-EgnWREazg220dmI/s1912/Screen%20Shot%202023-06-02%20at%202.41.14%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1442" data-original-width="1912" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVVrLDGh5QkHx1R5uoAHyWdpVMMPj7nQ6pkFKrLO7NfYT428iRm0Z31E0QODiw7giA3rv0_lZpzKdoPV4uat2V4UoxtwcPvSQQQXwzPAmCTA2BT53cWeY5q7KetVu63IJ-YSnLCSYw1mx2m2zzfwb-y7kMSx-4iLzQ1dDF0mHG-EgnWREazg220dmI/w400-h301/Screen%20Shot%202023-06-02%20at%202.41.14%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-YurqPI-9w3uGqxB41HYisUKwtX_Okc5xbK53LUYGz2VXAUKpbc0eVTxAZfLp0riIlm4jZo7HWUBMZ_RcXQsDkAEJvl5un8LbtyCzhvhUOAuzOat0ObvQeZeIBJn5DO-GXOJrmPFfjsJMzoc2VKaRsumAYOqjzZACTDmpV3od7ILuQ-ZoCTfoV8l/s1914/Screen%20Shot%202023-06-02%20at%202.41.18%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1438" data-original-width="1914" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-YurqPI-9w3uGqxB41HYisUKwtX_Okc5xbK53LUYGz2VXAUKpbc0eVTxAZfLp0riIlm4jZo7HWUBMZ_RcXQsDkAEJvl5un8LbtyCzhvhUOAuzOat0ObvQeZeIBJn5DO-GXOJrmPFfjsJMzoc2VKaRsumAYOqjzZACTDmpV3od7ILuQ-ZoCTfoV8l/w400-h300/Screen%20Shot%202023-06-02%20at%202.41.18%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>About KAGERO-ZA, specifically: I suppose I'll tell you it's the story of a playwright during that hinge point of history known as the Taishō era, when liberal democracy crept into Japanese society between 1912 and 1926 (a sort of Weimar moment before the imperial ambitions of the Shōwa era fully formed). It has much to say about this, and love, and theater, and of Faustian bargains, <br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTd0NUmq2sQsmZ3wHNL48ggXKRUZJwPG-bTbw3MDUehBiQ-rg4Vayj5sSYab3WKASD-E-FVYjRgiwHact3aiWuK2elJw_W4BrxbSnXR_Uw984kS7j28eOdUCejDYKNVUAWFinqOP_-51Z5TzK-GbIax1U5k6oLc8uVM9ciqSnIdg2zcR3uBuFaQVgZ/s1920/Screen%20Shot%202023-06-02%20at%202.40.26%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1438" data-original-width="1920" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTd0NUmq2sQsmZ3wHNL48ggXKRUZJwPG-bTbw3MDUehBiQ-rg4Vayj5sSYab3WKASD-E-FVYjRgiwHact3aiWuK2elJw_W4BrxbSnXR_Uw984kS7j28eOdUCejDYKNVUAWFinqOP_-51Z5TzK-GbIax1U5k6oLc8uVM9ciqSnIdg2zcR3uBuFaQVgZ/w400-h300/Screen%20Shot%202023-06-02%20at%202.40.26%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpYgtJHA6pP-1zTqifwKo4HwzjwylwYD2873QBiKMjbayySaasTICu_OKXjkhAE5BHtmpViPsDVZsGHzNOk2_rkYHn5HJJ4XaHXyjs0Cg_aarOy_9KAfRo19xF9fgGUO416muGuu1DquwJ1RtVHR9c5iE9hYiBc47_M2Nk9mfCdMOjCzqn-NcApkPI/s1924/Screen%20Shot%202023-06-02%20at%202.40.31%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1438" data-original-width="1924" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpYgtJHA6pP-1zTqifwKo4HwzjwylwYD2873QBiKMjbayySaasTICu_OKXjkhAE5BHtmpViPsDVZsGHzNOk2_rkYHn5HJJ4XaHXyjs0Cg_aarOy_9KAfRo19xF9fgGUO416muGuu1DquwJ1RtVHR9c5iE9hYiBc47_M2Nk9mfCdMOjCzqn-NcApkPI/w400-h299/Screen%20Shot%202023-06-02%20at%202.40.31%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5mMuXgi1wYFMlIYDNUe687GcLFGgr8N4VoWsDX8Nr55bfCEQByP4I2KlOI2v9-CHZo7VYi_vZaY3y44qY6_vYlPITwUHQdaDcyqhgkniFxKDwDxpDM-mnjykRDNOcxQAbgQgUH7UmYx8Lttb-YUHF_6sPteCaJhZuKBZdxXsNZfxzMjVqgekiXORa/s1918/Screen%20Shot%202023-06-02%20at%202.40.41%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1436" data-original-width="1918" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5mMuXgi1wYFMlIYDNUe687GcLFGgr8N4VoWsDX8Nr55bfCEQByP4I2KlOI2v9-CHZo7VYi_vZaY3y44qY6_vYlPITwUHQdaDcyqhgkniFxKDwDxpDM-mnjykRDNOcxQAbgQgUH7UmYx8Lttb-YUHF_6sPteCaJhZuKBZdxXsNZfxzMjVqgekiXORa/w400-h300/Screen%20Shot%202023-06-02%20at%202.40.41%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIKStpAsaTMF14iSv1GOThAiN7lPmVom5aW1ru4omG-zTZ3B8SRVls8i1wLuA_SWQbwFDs8-3vB6b_WGwgziGvKfVl3op6-tIa5Q6CKwDu6T5RR_JZOYOPXMEgfKS1FT9IxdOXColRajhZoRZVn-vOYu85JawBM1hMDLFXD0jgIN2oSsVLRl2kgudc/s1908/Screen%20Shot%202023-06-02%20at%202.40.46%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1446" data-original-width="1908" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIKStpAsaTMF14iSv1GOThAiN7lPmVom5aW1ru4omG-zTZ3B8SRVls8i1wLuA_SWQbwFDs8-3vB6b_WGwgziGvKfVl3op6-tIa5Q6CKwDu6T5RR_JZOYOPXMEgfKS1FT9IxdOXColRajhZoRZVn-vOYu85JawBM1hMDLFXD0jgIN2oSsVLRl2kgudc/w400-h304/Screen%20Shot%202023-06-02%20at%202.40.46%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHv2wJk6F7E1LN10tlOMUJGmv8HeOwamMWFYWrnMKZOyFidE__CHWkkMq0H7GbFebj_6YoeXngcP0ONi2xkKKBHVkDXUXiLWsnvKWfh42_unHlnzz9iGCM9zQzGJYs0xat27zBA3m20WJQZuVlV6AUdMB-P8W-BitIe41dJFEETOTRuHEk1daenlxg/s1908/Screen%20Shot%202023-06-02%20at%202.40.21%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1424" data-original-width="1908" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHv2wJk6F7E1LN10tlOMUJGmv8HeOwamMWFYWrnMKZOyFidE__CHWkkMq0H7GbFebj_6YoeXngcP0ONi2xkKKBHVkDXUXiLWsnvKWfh42_unHlnzz9iGCM9zQzGJYs0xat27zBA3m20WJQZuVlV6AUdMB-P8W-BitIe41dJFEETOTRuHEk1daenlxg/w400-h299/Screen%20Shot%202023-06-02%20at%202.40.21%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9kwIOUasIPxnEFuzH7k3RW0CAGsMkJ2JLJo5SccfuxY4vMhEmd7twX3InwWNDBn-lqPSdYT5KWi3kIoTM8smui9MI8V5g88JiIWMa9AIOHVr8WHeceIFyu9cCgccBIwhglpjqG6BWd8dD6_k_0pEOCLMTl-7OoLoQr4X2k5SNuY194KmZXBCVk_yT/s1922/Screen%20Shot%202023-06-02%20at%202.40.51%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1444" data-original-width="1922" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9kwIOUasIPxnEFuzH7k3RW0CAGsMkJ2JLJo5SccfuxY4vMhEmd7twX3InwWNDBn-lqPSdYT5KWi3kIoTM8smui9MI8V5g88JiIWMa9AIOHVr8WHeceIFyu9cCgccBIwhglpjqG6BWd8dD6_k_0pEOCLMTl-7OoLoQr4X2k5SNuY194KmZXBCVk_yT/w400-h300/Screen%20Shot%202023-06-02%20at%202.40.51%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ESLinh4peH4D5IQxz4LuoilqQf9w3V00SFecliOLQwgdglcki8Clldh2CWc0Nwp2aRvQ9jyRUv8KJEBKpaIie05j_k9mTCfGokKbJl5aFYQMduwvObvXlku0UMEBrhxUGtj0NtILoTK2z0Y0eqqyX7WQwoeDoPl89lhaBuPliZbWNyHR5Jut9ExD/s1918/Screen%20Shot%202023-06-02%20at%202.40.55%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1446" data-original-width="1918" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ESLinh4peH4D5IQxz4LuoilqQf9w3V00SFecliOLQwgdglcki8Clldh2CWc0Nwp2aRvQ9jyRUv8KJEBKpaIie05j_k9mTCfGokKbJl5aFYQMduwvObvXlku0UMEBrhxUGtj0NtILoTK2z0Y0eqqyX7WQwoeDoPl89lhaBuPliZbWNyHR5Jut9ExD/w400-h301/Screen%20Shot%202023-06-02%20at%202.40.55%20PM.jpg" width="400" /><br /></a>and it says it with such superlative and carefully crafted visuals.<br /></p><p></p>Sean Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537515557596273876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5497928641398322495.post-86164151521272904482023-08-13T10:58:00.004-04:002023-08-13T11:03:29.679-04:00Only now does it occur to me... DANIELLE STEEL'S FAMILY ALBUM (1994)<p><i>Only now does it occur to me...</i> to say a few words about the 1994 NBC miniseries DANIELLE STEEL'S FAMILY ALBUM. I must admit that I sought this out entirely to explore John Waters' role as "Vincent," an appearance so apparently obscure that I could not find a single image to prove the existence of his involvement on the entire internet. Not a one! He mentioned the project by name in a few interviews, but to me, it became one of the most intriguing omissions in his filmography. (Worry not, in the end, I shall provide you with a video of his entire performance.) But first, what even is this thing?</p><p>FAMILY ALBUM is adapted from the 1985 Danielle Steel novel of the same name (one of over 140 novels she has written), and it tells the epic, four-decade saga of a 1950s Hollywood actress who decides to break the mold and become a film director. In the process, it basically tells a fictionalized version of the life of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ida_Lupino">Ida Lupino</a>.</p><p>Our Lupino stand-in is CHARLIE'S ANGELS' own Jaclyn Smith as "Faye Price":</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8o7LgyTRszFusb0AkohZzw8NK4JDNBIEcm3nWVS6JWWzazHXoMAYeI91auE8EfMVci5NaYo42NM7ccp4nXubqBckuLtCgUcQSFvKFvPy9UKzau2b01wWPFmd3NAfftq8bRW5JsOwiQwLmsAcORuUEbCHzrXiH6xf2S3po-xboRjMPfByHIYnse7fDe4/s1248/Screen%20Shot%202023-08-12%20at%203.55.38%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="932" data-original-width="1248" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8o7LgyTRszFusb0AkohZzw8NK4JDNBIEcm3nWVS6JWWzazHXoMAYeI91auE8EfMVci5NaYo42NM7ccp4nXubqBckuLtCgUcQSFvKFvPy9UKzau2b01wWPFmd3NAfftq8bRW5JsOwiQwLmsAcORuUEbCHzrXiH6xf2S3po-xboRjMPfByHIYnse7fDe4/w400-h299/Screen%20Shot%202023-08-12%20at%203.55.38%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> </p><p>and her brow-furrowing husband, "Ward Thayer," is played by TWIN PEAKS' own Michael Ontkean:</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8jUMTxIkxo-kQtQHDs-4Pt9pIgBklIb4l9X6lMHtAhu1r5rb1zAgqdSpEcANEQfDukmTW6aW5E_EQ-pBgBOy0elP30kSXsG1dAQ5dQb7PgulcaIMeFjA-sNwYLwaqcfzLjJjEUOXFIg5TK3av6hQsLFXgAeZ_Ly2ocEYTpYnnPY-fgosNIqJEnzm9To/s1250/Screen%20Shot%202023-08-12%20at%203.56.03%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="934" data-original-width="1250" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8jUMTxIkxo-kQtQHDs-4Pt9pIgBklIb4l9X6lMHtAhu1r5rb1zAgqdSpEcANEQfDukmTW6aW5E_EQ-pBgBOy0elP30kSXsG1dAQ5dQb7PgulcaIMeFjA-sNwYLwaqcfzLjJjEUOXFIg5TK3av6hQsLFXgAeZ_Ly2ocEYTpYnnPY-fgosNIqJEnzm9To/w400-h299/Screen%20Shot%202023-08-12%20at%203.56.03%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> </p><p>Honestly, this is all a <i>little</i> better than it should be, though it's still a pretty long three hours and twenty minutes and very indicative of pre-prestige 1990s soapy network "two evening event"-style television.</p><p>Where does John Waters fit in? Well, Faye's daughter (played by Leslie Horan) is trying to break into the movies without using any of her mother's connections. She finds an "in" with a horror filmmaker who is sort of a sleazier William Castle/Tobe Hooper/Wes Craven-type making a CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON/SWAMP THING-inflected movie in the 1970s. This filmmaker, "Vincent"––surely named for Vincent Price, given who's playing him––is portrayed by John Waters. He spends his single minute of screentime attempting to pressure his leading lady into doing nudity in the picture ("What's the big deal about showing some skin, it's an art film, it could go to Cannes, it's my best work!").</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-bqkJi0Z_vqnPb70jMFaQSQWyIVkNQ901jQU6rvUEsxMp7wYBYW3vPbWqcQUfaXQHSUxBGfx9ai-pVDitErR6_KzCPI7yucq333YuFv9p4i6JowFY1TcJFDTNpxWzgbIc5Z7OqV6guiT3oGFDU82dxDaKN3jbMaqT9-tO4ZLBwvwXMxA_GcZg1jPZtTo/s1252/Screen%20Shot%202023-08-12%20at%203.58.55%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="944" data-original-width="1252" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-bqkJi0Z_vqnPb70jMFaQSQWyIVkNQ901jQU6rvUEsxMp7wYBYW3vPbWqcQUfaXQHSUxBGfx9ai-pVDitErR6_KzCPI7yucq333YuFv9p4i6JowFY1TcJFDTNpxWzgbIc5Z7OqV6guiT3oGFDU82dxDaKN3jbMaqT9-tO4ZLBwvwXMxA_GcZg1jPZtTo/w400-h301/Screen%20Shot%202023-08-12%20at%203.58.55%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTDa1U1G7vRmeviIizmya3SbjHbBny5I6OqUAvdiAc3SXDYJqZV1bfgtnDY6s1xVLg4rBPjIM2aRaap0Ih16vNap0NOH6aVU_gnJrjM9sFXr9drnuNiEUK4R6NPh-8uDxYqVqIs1x92rud52-CBtKf8GPfhGbdJgBY34RcHK9HAR85JCicYHqcRc2Xv9Y/s1258/Screen%20Shot%202023-08-12%20at%203.59.12%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="940" data-original-width="1258" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTDa1U1G7vRmeviIizmya3SbjHbBny5I6OqUAvdiAc3SXDYJqZV1bfgtnDY6s1xVLg4rBPjIM2aRaap0Ih16vNap0NOH6aVU_gnJrjM9sFXr9drnuNiEUK4R6NPh-8uDxYqVqIs1x92rud52-CBtKf8GPfhGbdJgBY34RcHK9HAR85JCicYHqcRc2Xv9Y/w400-h299/Screen%20Shot%202023-08-12%20at%203.59.12%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p>So there you have it. Mystery solved! John Waters in DANIELLE STEEL'S FAMILY ALBUM, ladies and gentlemen:<br />
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/B4x9no8d7OQ" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><br /><br /><br /><p><br /></p>Sean Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537515557596273876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5497928641398322495.post-46312660258556411012023-07-04T13:40:00.000-04:002023-07-04T13:40:34.439-04:00Only now does it occur to me... SNIPER (1993)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Only now does it occur to me... </i> that SNIPER (1993) might be the live action movie with the most sequels (<i>eight</i>, and counting!) of which I
had never before seen a single installment (discounting, perhaps, some Republic serials from the '40s or
the deepest cuts from the Full Moon catalogue).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Instead of the dopey, straight-to-video-style shoot-em-up I expected, the tone is
much more dignified and even has designs of being a moody and artistic "two in the chamber" piece about a morally grey veteran sniper (Tom Berenger––excellent, as usual) who has seen too much death, and his new, underprepared civilian partner. <br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpL9oTQI33y_39HgIJxknDTb6yCiVhsZNvQFcXff1bRzLSjZDcKuGNmQbVWELzCjzgx9GiSfEiO6x8jp4dnFi-H6gJIP3WRNeWIDDH65cXiE1tZDFc79O1hw1tA0CkamttYH-g-TjmXiQYhIf3b7mQ27jceEuOyhr4i2aNYsMLpqz-4RBzASQAOjqE/s1890/Screen%20Shot%202023-05-30%20at%204.49.17%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1418" data-original-width="1890" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpL9oTQI33y_39HgIJxknDTb6yCiVhsZNvQFcXff1bRzLSjZDcKuGNmQbVWELzCjzgx9GiSfEiO6x8jp4dnFi-H6gJIP3WRNeWIDDH65cXiE1tZDFc79O1hw1tA0CkamttYH-g-TjmXiQYhIf3b7mQ27jceEuOyhr4i2aNYsMLpqz-4RBzASQAOjqE/w400-h300/Screen%20Shot%202023-05-30%20at%204.49.17%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's about stolen valor, PTSD, indiscriminate killing, civilian blowback, Herzogian madness, and disastrous foreign policy. In essence, it's trying to be more APOCALYPSE NOW than <a href="http://juntajuleil.blogspot.com/2008/12/film-review-rambo-iii-1988-peter.html">RAMBO III</a>––a point driven home by Berenger looking with disdain at a bus with a RAMBO III mural on it.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz5AAUu7RM80OwpUTd-kXiJhxverlkzQkhqtfyy6JdnD--BZaBJchGMoEJfiIdeZvPgCJ3T3wo_hbeRSLUIAJ7sCRBwfnQF9VCdeLz5SzXPuwfl_fd1fYhBYs-X7Qg35oOGjnBHjOeR6hMqTN_mdexPJBrA_ACax-EOgAgIYJvOCfWVbEVaafvZBhb/s1900/Screen%20Shot%202023-05-30%20at%204.54.52%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1434" data-original-width="1900" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz5AAUu7RM80OwpUTd-kXiJhxverlkzQkhqtfyy6JdnD--BZaBJchGMoEJfiIdeZvPgCJ3T3wo_hbeRSLUIAJ7sCRBwfnQF9VCdeLz5SzXPuwfl_fd1fYhBYs-X7Qg35oOGjnBHjOeR6hMqTN_mdexPJBrA_ACax-EOgAgIYJvOCfWVbEVaafvZBhb/w400-h303/Screen%20Shot%202023-05-30%20at%204.54.52%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Zx17GWKqhxPRRhyTHCSuhYblCfi8PI6jK_k0NjD6r7lRlFR_ShVHRKhmufm3f4EajBsurKrOez008zKZ7HMX5giJb6Atct_u4yX08syR2b_P8h9s3P2QrYgOiAdxfBUaQiE0hP9J_p2-B6OX5QfXLj3EItptC5XytXS6fenNthG14o5s6m_6jCU-/s1888/Screen%20Shot%202023-05-30%20at%204.54.46%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1432" data-original-width="1888" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Zx17GWKqhxPRRhyTHCSuhYblCfi8PI6jK_k0NjD6r7lRlFR_ShVHRKhmufm3f4EajBsurKrOez008zKZ7HMX5giJb6Atct_u4yX08syR2b_P8h9s3P2QrYgOiAdxfBUaQiE0hP9J_p2-B6OX5QfXLj3EItptC5XytXS6fenNthG14o5s6m_6jCU-/w400-h304/Screen%20Shot%202023-05-30%20at%204.54.46%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Does it live up to
these lofty goals? Well, not exactly. But it's a hell of a lot better than you'd expect. The first five minutes alone are of higher quality than any scene in Clint Eastwood's laughable, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKrG_6JFlhA">fake-baby-wielding</a> Oscar bait, AMERICAN SNIPER (2014).<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The film's Peruvian director, Luis Llosa, makes a few off-handed critiques about covert CIA military obtrusions in Central and South America,<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHpL0sUzg00KDfS8zbzQLuBO_vkTiS3n7xHPEY52c16KAXP30Ex8Qkf99CNO1c5vdBfesOJxYBwR-IiK9r5L9WktZuB56JK3gBvXr-ovt9mPyx44Favckl9mKN1jbUggbASflwslK2U-nf2ANTVUiVbIdySxuMGcFoaod9zp_pSwh9DuiPlYB4hAaA/s1898/Screen%20Shot%202023-05-30%20at%204.56.18%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1410" data-original-width="1898" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHpL0sUzg00KDfS8zbzQLuBO_vkTiS3n7xHPEY52c16KAXP30Ex8Qkf99CNO1c5vdBfesOJxYBwR-IiK9r5L9WktZuB56JK3gBvXr-ovt9mPyx44Favckl9mKN1jbUggbASflwslK2U-nf2ANTVUiVbIdySxuMGcFoaod9zp_pSwh9DuiPlYB4hAaA/w400-h297/Screen%20Shot%202023-05-30%20at%204.56.18%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">mostly by using J.T. Walsh as a glib politico-military operator named "Chester Van Damme" (!), but in the end, the film flattens a bit and sides fully with the snipers who are facing off against nuance-lacking, mustache-twirling Noriega and Escobar-style heavies. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Slick and stylish cinematography by Bill Butler (JAWS, GREASE, ROCKY IV) and rousing music by Gary Chang (UNDER SIEGE, MIAMI BLUES) & Hans Zimmer (credited as "additional music by") make this seem much more like a prestige project than its budget and theatrical poster ("One shot... one kill... no exceptions") would imply.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6PUFpOIg0LgpiEcsp3TkCcEekm5IWiNm-VXJnyNESfQy3sz7y9TpBdS4Env4dXJliDGZN8EMvHdSjxMwaiFmw-SlgUog5UVA4eW1VON1SGwsVBdeq-AIxZsnNJcPH-uzRGtXy7d-Dgfo-Qk0kd2J8wCx6B8aQNtS8RCLXh8vkcYBsD-NLUEIWUVfg/s1904/Screen%20Shot%202023-05-30%20at%204.50.13%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1432" data-original-width="1904" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6PUFpOIg0LgpiEcsp3TkCcEekm5IWiNm-VXJnyNESfQy3sz7y9TpBdS4Env4dXJliDGZN8EMvHdSjxMwaiFmw-SlgUog5UVA4eW1VON1SGwsVBdeq-AIxZsnNJcPH-uzRGtXy7d-Dgfo-Qk0kd2J8wCx6B8aQNtS8RCLXh8vkcYBsD-NLUEIWUVfg/w400-h301/Screen%20Shot%202023-05-30%20at%204.50.13%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">To put it in context, it was semi-buried among January 1993 junk like <a href="http://juntajuleil.blogspot.com/2010/01/film-review-body-of-evidence-1993-uli.html">BODY OF EVIDENCE</a> and <a href="http://juntajuleil.blogspot.com/2013/08/film-review-nowhere-to-run-1993-robert.html">NOWHERE TO RUN</a>, in a year whose box office headliners would be JURASSIC PARK, CLIFFHANGER, SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE, FREE WILLY, and THE FIRM.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipAsJ8qwEHHd6N66Pqb9zw4uiKHAbegBUfJnViVS-wsm5w_dfOfN4r0H8ftz9FSTKXjolBe8TlVshE8zI7JyOKPOgpEsx4TwycT9wczQXPOTBT5JBuIzO7F1ifTkGxgaKBOPa8z_j0XvECvOKgD9tsMEHe9gJoeZGGlW0RXZLK_EKv4bMu9LM1a-rg/s1894/Screen%20Shot%202023-05-30%20at%204.47.47%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1344" data-original-width="1894" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipAsJ8qwEHHd6N66Pqb9zw4uiKHAbegBUfJnViVS-wsm5w_dfOfN4r0H8ftz9FSTKXjolBe8TlVshE8zI7JyOKPOgpEsx4TwycT9wczQXPOTBT5JBuIzO7F1ifTkGxgaKBOPa8z_j0XvECvOKgD9tsMEHe9gJoeZGGlW0RXZLK_EKv4bMu9LM1a-rg/w400-h284/Screen%20Shot%202023-05-30%20at%204.47.47%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But there's one element in particular which really takes this movie over the top. This element is an actor, the one playing Berenger's aforementioned and underprepared partner on this mission––an Olympic sharpshooter who has never been involved in a military operation. Someone whom the <i>Toledo Blade</i> might describe as a... "psycho hunk."<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicOP8rOgt4qFzVL1vc56fqQZxRHYSHRtoDxwQt6vrt0pvOMLG0J3IPHMI6bg2_f86eQU5uebI-iVnaDKElSYfVVAZ0MeDFLzCqaZDBNu_YlCjBvAG0y8oEwzDV7ju_o8iSo7YOCit3ghZdxOkJzQxhinx0ETbCq6-K4UQAdn4w_v1feNHD27Kn_whq/s1906/Screen%20Shot%202023-05-31%20at%2010.20.52%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" data-original-height="1906" data-original-width="1658" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicOP8rOgt4qFzVL1vc56fqQZxRHYSHRtoDxwQt6vrt0pvOMLG0J3IPHMI6bg2_f86eQU5uebI-iVnaDKElSYfVVAZ0MeDFLzCqaZDBNu_YlCjBvAG0y8oEwzDV7ju_o8iSo7YOCit3ghZdxOkJzQxhinx0ETbCq6-K4UQAdn4w_v1feNHD27Kn_whq/w557-h640/Screen%20Shot%202023-05-31%20at%2010.20.52%20AM.jpg" width="557" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That's right––to my ama-Zane-ment, this movie features meaty roles for both <a href="http://juntajuleil.blogspot.com/search/label/Billy%20Zane">Billy Zane</a> <i>and</i> his withering gaze. Before <a href="http://juntajuleil.blogspot.com/2014/05/film-review-phantom-1996-simon-wincer.html">THE PHANTOM</a> let us know there was no smoking in the Skull Cave, and before his expressive, Svengali-ish, and immaculately waxed eyebrows let us know who was really the "king of the world" in <a href="http://juntajuleil.blogspot.com/2014/04/only-now-does-it-occur-to-me-titanic.html">TITANIC</a>, Billy Zane served bitch from the corridors of power in Washington, D.C.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijFdA6JrmWzqSNUTqWQN-8WToRI-D49DXHPV6P0wQIwuTI2_8KT-LlJlif2dlxCtJwpco_0iUFdY_RhuojSp--oBzmlCWCvyLEzgUpjCKSe2pvHe4VVmI7RViv_sC8AMDQfR5pXGemFV2rx4EZkBIil9Tj54nfq02pnFcXLHK83B_jo9IrUIXoId2s/s1878/Screen%20Shot%202023-05-30%20at%204.54.05%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1420" data-original-width="1878" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijFdA6JrmWzqSNUTqWQN-8WToRI-D49DXHPV6P0wQIwuTI2_8KT-LlJlif2dlxCtJwpco_0iUFdY_RhuojSp--oBzmlCWCvyLEzgUpjCKSe2pvHe4VVmI7RViv_sC8AMDQfR5pXGemFV2rx4EZkBIil9Tj54nfq02pnFcXLHK83B_jo9IrUIXoId2s/w400-h303/Screen%20Shot%202023-05-30%20at%204.54.05%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">"If looks could kill..."</span></i> <br /></p><p>to the jungles of Panama.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijSWUejZBvPRTJyZFcDHTUt1sWYe-kaOO3Lb1ueGOYQ-54nFfZc7BV5C2cku82_bRKUEU7uczXa46q2xvtzhulqXvppHO-lKImCuT75SEGV8P-srOlLFFnteMyDYEjDE_wqcVU_6WdM8hHLb-4pmXad2xlBRs8DQlH1Cn4ZzI56qjih6LVhdb22TNT/s1892/Screen%20Shot%202023-05-30%20at%205.21.48%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1430" data-original-width="1892" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijSWUejZBvPRTJyZFcDHTUt1sWYe-kaOO3Lb1ueGOYQ-54nFfZc7BV5C2cku82_bRKUEU7uczXa46q2xvtzhulqXvppHO-lKImCuT75SEGV8P-srOlLFFnteMyDYEjDE_wqcVU_6WdM8hHLb-4pmXad2xlBRs8DQlH1Cn4ZzI56qjih6LVhdb22TNT/w400-h303/Screen%20Shot%202023-05-30%20at%205.21.48%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> </p><p><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">"...You'd be lyin' on the floor"<br /><br /></span></i></p><p>If you think we don't get an extended scene of Billy Zane carefully applying Max Factor camo makeup to the <i>true stars of this movie</i>, you've got another thing coming.<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpGOQmCQVfPvd9qabFfMte5hFYyxQZMpjq1tEWSlLy76dub_6JA483KCbQCkarxbLvFomjMq3UWY4rYcOr_7k94Z7N0bJoL34wm-Nh8DOUxk6h7rCxbe0Z0Eh9rJaiwGdDwUQTeEidqsAUFaTjSbz171ZSirYI3Pg1MHqk79mJhF2OiYfMMvjgRYP_/s1890/Screen%20Shot%202023-05-30%20at%205.14.02%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1434" data-original-width="1890" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpGOQmCQVfPvd9qabFfMte5hFYyxQZMpjq1tEWSlLy76dub_6JA483KCbQCkarxbLvFomjMq3UWY4rYcOr_7k94Z7N0bJoL34wm-Nh8DOUxk6h7rCxbe0Z0Eh9rJaiwGdDwUQTeEidqsAUFaTjSbz171ZSirYI3Pg1MHqk79mJhF2OiYfMMvjgRYP_/w400-h304/Screen%20Shot%202023-05-30%20at%205.14.02%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqRM23RGS7XvFSYexxsRjih3ctsX_v-HCiLyW-8XhOT3yEadEpDk1dAw33GJA86_7B1HiK6zXhDTOshf_jqlXFr4MDsfwlbK_puGFcvqezf2Cti3zWYvX9zemOoJ7gGw8V0DN4DlV1UMQheEcl93tGh7zT6ZZPn8BMHKt4lONccA_8sDjqSr55YobU/s1902/Screen%20Shot%202023-05-30%20at%205.14.29%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1434" data-original-width="1902" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqRM23RGS7XvFSYexxsRjih3ctsX_v-HCiLyW-8XhOT3yEadEpDk1dAw33GJA86_7B1HiK6zXhDTOshf_jqlXFr4MDsfwlbK_puGFcvqezf2Cti3zWYvX9zemOoJ7gGw8V0DN4DlV1UMQheEcl93tGh7zT6ZZPn8BMHKt4lONccA_8sDjqSr55YobU/w400-h301/Screen%20Shot%202023-05-30%20at%205.14.29%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkwEPNSN1QFnVrdXAuCSai_0qe4-Olg_0-lPSfVdcwslCiaoj2_PmoLhwBwCBBaAvFEMCWyGYrfXQ7ncjs1IyP0aHbVODp8oiAHAfHyQuARGvXrnyHjTfECeIiNHSC0pQvFL-VgRYJDjTtSwtMGl8MSvK6497Ghlfa3yvYBXvDBKV379N3onRS-WUz/s1902/Screen%20Shot%202023-05-30%20at%205.14.41%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1426" data-original-width="1902" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkwEPNSN1QFnVrdXAuCSai_0qe4-Olg_0-lPSfVdcwslCiaoj2_PmoLhwBwCBBaAvFEMCWyGYrfXQ7ncjs1IyP0aHbVODp8oiAHAfHyQuARGvXrnyHjTfECeIiNHSC0pQvFL-VgRYJDjTtSwtMGl8MSvK6497Ghlfa3yvYBXvDBKV379N3onRS-WUz/w400-h300/Screen%20Shot%202023-05-30%20at%205.14.41%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p></p><p>They must've blown their lace-front wig budget in the opening D.C. scenes, because for the rest of the movie it's all hats and Little Edie headscarves.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHYvrkPttzYiWY77UcV1Y1oSgjez_rIhvYWDkBre5UjiOfBlh-tRPZtIS_pYQeDmO4CpgaJzs_d5fpRPv4RmNI40kp-has3YGdi2vR2fH58l1idiPnpC7Np_A1gPtJwKPJ9Dljkc-W-2YTV_eORHzsbi96-sVd3MzPNMzjdszb3TbYWfG1Bo9-FvZp/s1914/Screen%20Shot%202023-05-30%20at%204.52.11%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1436" data-original-width="1914" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHYvrkPttzYiWY77UcV1Y1oSgjez_rIhvYWDkBre5UjiOfBlh-tRPZtIS_pYQeDmO4CpgaJzs_d5fpRPv4RmNI40kp-has3YGdi2vR2fH58l1idiPnpC7Np_A1gPtJwKPJ9Dljkc-W-2YTV_eORHzsbi96-sVd3MzPNMzjdszb3TbYWfG1Bo9-FvZp/w400-h300/Screen%20Shot%202023-05-30%20at%204.52.11%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p></p><p><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">"Completely covert?"... except for that eyebrow action, maybe<br /><br /></span></i></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOfc_zzt9B4fwN8pqfNSATsXFm8iyM6mpV6S_Y56J-oCIrmk2NXoEsYR4qcgcQeOdC3LTnQiimUUlFm83PUICB3p0rMUZdnSO0xem8mzCexJTVAO5qOXkERvYOv_CajNfc4-VrnKe6d_g7fNHlGeAZb2KqL0AihMtG3eXXpdXbaOTwRkeGP4oACjA/s630/Screen%20Shot%202023-06-01%20at%2010.12.14%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="476" data-original-width="630" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOfc_zzt9B4fwN8pqfNSATsXFm8iyM6mpV6S_Y56J-oCIrmk2NXoEsYR4qcgcQeOdC3LTnQiimUUlFm83PUICB3p0rMUZdnSO0xem8mzCexJTVAO5qOXkERvYOv_CajNfc4-VrnKe6d_g7fNHlGeAZb2KqL0AihMtG3eXXpdXbaOTwRkeGP4oACjA/w400-h303/Screen%20Shot%202023-06-01%20at%2010.12.14%20AM.jpg" width="400" /></a><span class="character"></span><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />"I'm scared to death of
doors, locks, people roaming around in the background, under the trees,
in the bushes, I'm absolutely terrified." ––"Little Edie" Bouvier Beale in GREY GARDENS<br /> </span></i><br /></p><p>Yep, Billy Zane gonna smolder all over this thing. There's an incredible scene when Tom Berenger calls him out for having designer camouflage called... wait for it...</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCsKQw47AawPm_yZ75qOo7t7m5JHgjLY9bHGgP0kBU3RlhDAQdWr1FqalyyZfzfoudsdathSExK3eNOxJHuFSvOzK3-QoFC4kZL9uTztVZPEupHxtPsoWAsCmS8BrwFdCl7Ixl2pUDVXlMUsGhPHEezLfBCp8VI8Jd2foTVKwqJFHJPV130btCT0FO/s1900/Screen%20Shot%202023-05-30%20at%205.11.38%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1428" data-original-width="1900" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCsKQw47AawPm_yZ75qOo7t7m5JHgjLY9bHGgP0kBU3RlhDAQdWr1FqalyyZfzfoudsdathSExK3eNOxJHuFSvOzK3-QoFC4kZL9uTztVZPEupHxtPsoWAsCmS8BrwFdCl7Ixl2pUDVXlMUsGhPHEezLfBCp8VI8Jd2foTVKwqJFHJPV130btCT0FO/w400-h301/Screen%20Shot%202023-05-30%20at%205.11.38%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaniJkWq_oHZJaavwyAxkd6U2tT_dooLAj-EuUMYemZAdbgenIlU2Dj9qBhxBDYoJ9a6t2yQwNZ61ivA14hCRNdL63LneRYIXo71lQ4e_NFjar1FGTOPi7JUISSZwPsIdwbHcAneanZb_2XkP01NQNN3bokW1s4ehHvgTh0RaW-2LYBZ_nESdAev8Y/s1890/Screen%20Shot%202023-05-30%20at%205.11.19%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1434" data-original-width="1890" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaniJkWq_oHZJaavwyAxkd6U2tT_dooLAj-EuUMYemZAdbgenIlU2Dj9qBhxBDYoJ9a6t2yQwNZ61ivA14hCRNdL63LneRYIXo71lQ4e_NFjar1FGTOPi7JUISSZwPsIdwbHcAneanZb_2XkP01NQNN3bokW1s4ehHvgTh0RaW-2LYBZ_nESdAev8Y/w400-h304/Screen%20Shot%202023-05-30%20at%205.11.19%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT0pnF0sj7H1jXqHZyI7irVO17GfEWYYcofH8kqcILOdfcEldtNzLMIzGNkONYBx8wIZzaj5o9HPO-VQIf9jn3P0DD-J7prsokKmGRwgd9J6zFxoB1y-QD2Q6CWVwWYqdR17zbrNWYB_B9GiSjHIBUsZOqmT_3_1d0kYj00T8YugbShjBCVmEPCIOQ/s1902/Screen%20Shot%202023-05-30%20at%205.11.08%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1426" data-original-width="1902" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT0pnF0sj7H1jXqHZyI7irVO17GfEWYYcofH8kqcILOdfcEldtNzLMIzGNkONYBx8wIZzaj5o9HPO-VQIf9jn3P0DD-J7prsokKmGRwgd9J6zFxoB1y-QD2Q6CWVwWYqdR17zbrNWYB_B9GiSjHIBUsZOqmT_3_1d0kYj00T8YugbShjBCVmEPCIOQ/w400-h300/Screen%20Shot%202023-05-30%20at%205.11.08%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>..."Gucciflage." (What is this, the Berlusconi-produced, Zane-starring, spaghetti soap opera, <a href="http://juntajuleil.blogspot.com/2016/05/film-review-millions-1991-carlo-vanzina.html">MILLIONS</a>?)</p><p></p><p>Anyway. Come for the sniper scope... stay for the Psycho Hunk™lookin' through it?</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvjmAdmASLU0NGup3RGqeu9HYXkutAkxvaXyFFciaXOfJIPaEdPssuATioEPbK2IFMkhQQIDxa-Mn97aQAY2snHj5GAT-meHKOZyc-eWqt90PaSSLl-PdesrJf37czZoX7wodeDD84QjsOYoyk0jkiOFfzsNPMVP6z1dPwUFQ00oTQOh6kRVWiZnLZ/s625/Screen%20Shot%202023-06-01%20at%2010.12.50%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="625" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvjmAdmASLU0NGup3RGqeu9HYXkutAkxvaXyFFciaXOfJIPaEdPssuATioEPbK2IFMkhQQIDxa-Mn97aQAY2snHj5GAT-meHKOZyc-eWqt90PaSSLl-PdesrJf37czZoX7wodeDD84QjsOYoyk0jkiOFfzsNPMVP6z1dPwUFQ00oTQOh6kRVWiZnLZ/w400-h299/Screen%20Shot%202023-06-01%20at%2010.12.50%20AM.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br /></p>Sean Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537515557596273876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5497928641398322495.post-38070496711411434442023-06-15T15:01:00.002-04:002023-06-15T15:01:55.486-04:00R.I.P, Glenda Jackson<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKyp_JSYVQ3CAQA7vyQ8RlMIcxhrm9Z1-j1T_r3PHKP-naMY7wqJ_3b0yRnW7oRQ0SzzfN3anJNLzFQtR_18NXEZiQDbrapMTC-XaTV9bitIX9FzfX-eDGIqp6u7vkZGIJfFTRWbE7QqxuG5D0vmgKLD4__WJfi1kEEeHvpMr9aa5M_CJGZX_-lzso/s1300/Screen%20Shot%202017-01-18%20at%2012.07.34%20PM%20copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="594" data-original-width="1300" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKyp_JSYVQ3CAQA7vyQ8RlMIcxhrm9Z1-j1T_r3PHKP-naMY7wqJ_3b0yRnW7oRQ0SzzfN3anJNLzFQtR_18NXEZiQDbrapMTC-XaTV9bitIX9FzfX-eDGIqp6u7vkZGIJfFTRWbE7QqxuG5D0vmgKLD4__WJfi1kEEeHvpMr9aa5M_CJGZX_-lzso/s320/Screen%20Shot%202017-01-18%20at%2012.07.34%20PM%20copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>One of the greats is gone. A two-time Oscar winner, the fire that fueled several of Ken Russell's greatest films (THE MUSIC LOVERS, WOMEN IN LOVE), host of THE MUPPET SHOW, a member of parliament. I'm so glad I got to see her live as KING LEAR in 2019. It's no exaggeration to say she was one of the most fearless and talented performers of all time.<br /><p></p>Sean Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537515557596273876noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5497928641398322495.post-81417583618837623042023-05-23T09:18:00.000-04:002023-05-23T09:18:59.978-04:00Only now does it occur to me... SPEED 2: CRUISE CONTROL (1997)<p><i>Only now does it occur to me...</i> that they should've named this picture after a phrase which appears on screen about an hour and twenty minutes in:<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3uQ7OY0ZaLu8B7CU2AiY7J5o7aLA4n71TDVVw_Q-NM7YKUQycFwzvzgPmDvogM2gAF5yQFCF92SWUxcNrrtp-Ja_e85wr4sxm_i6N0u83Wrr0eAj3ko_62RyzvhAhUBsS5cJIPzyvv_JDAogzYHwNNMvZBcRBuNm1wtoG12_Dm7K6T9SAVFKdDr5q=s1508" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1116" data-original-width="1508" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3uQ7OY0ZaLu8B7CU2AiY7J5o7aLA4n71TDVVw_Q-NM7YKUQycFwzvzgPmDvogM2gAF5yQFCF92SWUxcNrrtp-Ja_e85wr4sxm_i6N0u83Wrr0eAj3ko_62RyzvhAhUBsS5cJIPzyvv_JDAogzYHwNNMvZBcRBuNm1wtoG12_Dm7K6T9SAVFKdDr5q=w400-h296" width="400" /></a></p><p>"SPEED 2: SPEED MALFUNCTION."</p><p>Yes, despite Jan de Bont's workmanlike direction (you likely know him best as Paul Verhoeven's and John McTiernan's cinematographer), a denouement involving a $25 million setpiece with a cruise ship crashing into Saint Martin ("the most expensive stunt ever filmed"),</p><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-WkTyWIC1Bfhc4Bli72twuWQnbU8vSoNNViezeMlaUgA77xWT5qvJTeuc6iwGPH-9-ELuAHzNujahHeZ9Aiwna9-sK275nQcEBX4QOeFDmr9Bj19PTtPMeoBX0tBmLE-YjnVC6aGXnwdmVoanr59-DEePbF5cWVKfLqqEv_Fq5MQ8jduECE7oK7KR=s1506" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1506" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-WkTyWIC1Bfhc4Bli72twuWQnbU8vSoNNViezeMlaUgA77xWT5qvJTeuc6iwGPH-9-ELuAHzNujahHeZ9Aiwna9-sK275nQcEBX4QOeFDmr9Bj19PTtPMeoBX0tBmLE-YjnVC6aGXnwdmVoanr59-DEePbF5cWVKfLqqEv_Fq5MQ8jduECE7oK7KR=w400-h286" width="400" /></a></p><p> and Willem Dafoe's finest crazyface (throughout),<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVtJ7X3vyc8w_y3ERn7wAQpnm2isI-Bln30ngxb8Ub3Xxvjsl9XAc6U0_Mb09kDSlfIZApFVEmSH02vjadYoS8xNOCabdcZyc9D0sXGzLstlz7sT6Y6LAmNFKvJq656cz4kVfKzXJqwRvnWWvF_Z-vhdBMEuIDLFzKf7l_tryv04MIaZGnA4VplpdJ=s1190" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="896" data-original-width="1190" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVtJ7X3vyc8w_y3ERn7wAQpnm2isI-Bln30ngxb8Ub3Xxvjsl9XAc6U0_Mb09kDSlfIZApFVEmSH02vjadYoS8xNOCabdcZyc9D0sXGzLstlz7sT6Y6LAmNFKvJq656cz4kVfKzXJqwRvnWWvF_Z-vhdBMEuIDLFzKf7l_tryv04MIaZGnA4VplpdJ=w400-h301" width="400" /></a></p><p>this thing is the mess that everyone says it is. Witness my disdain by enjoying these screen captures taken from a VHS, which I photographed off of my television set. </p><p>Anyway, SPEED 2 follows two of my ironclad 1990s rules: one of which is <a href="http://juntajuleil.blogspot.com/2020/11/only-now-does-it-occur-to-me-waterworld.html">It Takes Place on a Boat</a>, and the other being "<a href="http://juntajuleil.blogspot.com/2017/04/only-now-does-it-occur-to-me-speed.html">if it's a SPEED movie, it must star a David Lynch villain as the Big Bad</a>." In this instance, obviously, it's <a href="http://juntajuleil.blogspot.com/2010/01/film-review-wild-at-heart-1990-david.html">WILD AT HEART</a>'s Willem Dafoe gobbling the scenery. He plays a computer hacking leech enthusiast</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgLJlx2x3b1yfeI4atMVPXjYPQZ_fyTQ9WuMRtAi6cbWW0HCKJqaY65YiAL8OfAlz7gV6XPLC6usqqzD0PGC9LAX8J9GzJa5ruKtrLkhFO5TagFkDUJp0TkYjlkmBOE1k04DzdVRjO0izS_vSk_D5VSTsD5gA7U6rff6quiMh8EJQYiUp5uv2GoZMZ3=s1334" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1026" data-original-width="1334" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgLJlx2x3b1yfeI4atMVPXjYPQZ_fyTQ9WuMRtAi6cbWW0HCKJqaY65YiAL8OfAlz7gV6XPLC6usqqzD0PGC9LAX8J9GzJa5ruKtrLkhFO5TagFkDUJp0TkYjlkmBOE1k04DzdVRjO0izS_vSk_D5VSTsD5gA7U6rff6quiMh8EJQYiUp5uv2GoZMZ3=w400-h308" width="400" /></a></p><p></p><p></p><p>with a caddy bag full of golf club bombs</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjGsWl3Cdox6gexGcdAyZiIL5DCsZnjZaUp_84wrMOCl3cwk7Nw3SRMAGXoE3Aj7urak_p3icAfUAEJ9jxlski2ZFNpFuYYHcDEtEnQChR03h2R7JcQMOw0UPMeUQm77SHvPb5kPcGN3AanHakWzSlBLdF5a3c-ysyWG2Nnxk-gGAbnW16XB_ulHMDp=s1538" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1538" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjGsWl3Cdox6gexGcdAyZiIL5DCsZnjZaUp_84wrMOCl3cwk7Nw3SRMAGXoE3Aj7urak_p3icAfUAEJ9jxlski2ZFNpFuYYHcDEtEnQChR03h2R7JcQMOw0UPMeUQm77SHvPb5kPcGN3AanHakWzSlBLdF5a3c-ysyWG2Nnxk-gGAbnW16XB_ulHMDp=w400-h278" width="400" /></a><br /></p><p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjB-2HbvCt2a4gbr0ocSH9WJWzeXdRv8LZNbqpxsN-wQhdvuu038kUMXA-RhvGLFPIqnco5RrWgkLKHc6SRhd0q7b33yr8PdXXvEBEo9HL8uDubkkAIKwomDTdQr0H-Rtu5UfFLTpp1qj3e4Mbi1c9lnMhVbzTR67piTK6QJh2e5LRPExqYzbwfDOf5=s1498" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="1498" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjB-2HbvCt2a4gbr0ocSH9WJWzeXdRv8LZNbqpxsN-wQhdvuu038kUMXA-RhvGLFPIqnco5RrWgkLKHc6SRhd0q7b33yr8PdXXvEBEo9HL8uDubkkAIKwomDTdQr0H-Rtu5UfFLTpp1qj3e4Mbi1c9lnMhVbzTR67piTK6QJh2e5LRPExqYzbwfDOf5=w400-h304" width="400" /></a><br /></p><p>and a nefarious plan to throw Bo Svenson overboard, steal some jewels (?), and ram a cruise ship into an oil tanker. When you first lay eyes on the <i>shopping mall</i> aboard this cruise ship, you find yourself rooting for Dafoe.</p><p>Anyway, Keanu Reeves has been replaced by Jason Patric (THE LOST BOYS, SOLARBABIES), </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxpP4TRGEzSmsHJuHH4Mt4OvAI5Bp2Cwd-GGT5W-9C71MzMkKQnVleGKyS0ybzdZKJD95GpMGscSTFr72BcvM5joiWN90Ti1-TnFjU7f0svUgz80pNYNaAn-a99gy9UjOjHwwYy6V8PC39FiCC5zNkZyrvReus8IE1UstBg6WA34f9XSZeU06UsYKA=s1548" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1548" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxpP4TRGEzSmsHJuHH4Mt4OvAI5Bp2Cwd-GGT5W-9C71MzMkKQnVleGKyS0ybzdZKJD95GpMGscSTFr72BcvM5joiWN90Ti1-TnFjU7f0svUgz80pNYNaAn-a99gy9UjOjHwwYy6V8PC39FiCC5zNkZyrvReus8IE1UstBg6WA34f9XSZeU06UsYKA=w400-h276" width="400" /></a></p><p>and if Sandra Bullock wasn't in it (seen here wielding a chainsaw in her only moment of agency), you would have no reason to believe this was a SPEED film. The supporting cast is of a shockingly high pedigree: Temuera Morrison (ONCE WERE WARRIORS, THE BOOK OF BOBA FETT)<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOc2a8K9NrFrS-GFBW0tIN3jC166WVnGj2u3_OxKrqEn5wIokk6pp9hlKjDp7nUexXPgN-XY8GJuNw6fD1Q_IlYUh6cHewkGqYbKwzV7BfxZjdj0mZ9a-k0fwN8149XNdLmO2yZRBVnO7VlYXLS6Vs1IWv7lkOjGhTwgBJTb-zZDZWdAgTKTZyk0bE=s1506" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1114" data-original-width="1506" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOc2a8K9NrFrS-GFBW0tIN3jC166WVnGj2u3_OxKrqEn5wIokk6pp9hlKjDp7nUexXPgN-XY8GJuNw6fD1Q_IlYUh6cHewkGqYbKwzV7BfxZjdj0mZ9a-k0fwN8149XNdLmO2yZRBVnO7VlYXLS6Vs1IWv7lkOjGhTwgBJTb-zZDZWdAgTKTZyk0bE=w400-h296" width="400" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Please, sir, I beg you, watch ONCE WERE WARRIORS instead</i></span></p><p>the aforementioned Bo Svenson (THE INGLORIOUS BASTARDS, KILL BILL VOL. 2), Colleen Camp (CLUE, WAYNE'S WORLD, POLICE ACADEMY 2), Joe Morton (THE BROTHER FROM ANOTHER PLANET, "Miles Dyson" in TERMINATOR 2), Glenn Plummer (SHOWGIRLS, MENACE II SOCIETY), and Kimmy Robertson (Lucy from TWIN PEAKS, LEPRECHAUN 2) as "Liza the Cruise Director."</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjRJeUK8q4NNB-C8oYxS379LrHK7Yd8XxuoHwbAEeam-vMNf1iwzKyNNQB2LQX9xEIAupcZ1SyO4KnkCJT-kcfmKo1bvRsEXr2HQDqV6Egj1D0hGtLRhFQnkZoeEquC9p3OO6a5m7K3-A6vZDnr7lbb2lStpHq-F6Z5dT6NvoN53t8D614ellkaek__=s1448" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1130" data-original-width="1448" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjRJeUK8q4NNB-C8oYxS379LrHK7Yd8XxuoHwbAEeam-vMNf1iwzKyNNQB2LQX9xEIAupcZ1SyO4KnkCJT-kcfmKo1bvRsEXr2HQDqV6Egj1D0hGtLRhFQnkZoeEquC9p3OO6a5m7K3-A6vZDnr7lbb2lStpHq-F6Z5dT6NvoN53t8D614ellkaek__=w400-h313" width="400" /></a></p><p>Which is probably a bizarre enough note to end this on. Anyway. SPEED 2.<br /></p>Sean Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537515557596273876noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5497928641398322495.post-39397801825129800612023-03-25T12:25:00.000-04:002023-03-25T12:25:14.504-04:00Only now does it occur to me... NEXT OF KIN (1989)<p><i>Only now does it occur to me... </i>that NEXT OF KIN ('89)––which is not to be confused with Atom Egoyan's debut feature, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Next_of_Kin_(1984_film)">NEXT OF KIN ('84)</a>, an excellent arthouse tract about found family––should just be a run-of-the-mill, direct-to-video hillbilly-sploitation flick starring, at <i>best,</i> a Chuck Norris or a Michael Dudikoff. However, in a spot of brilliant work by a trio of casting directors with an eye for ensemble [Shelley Andreas (MIDNIGHT RUN, CHILD'S PLAY, FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF), Jane Alderman (CANDYMAN, THE COLOR OF MONEY), and Mindy Marin (CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER, MYSTERY MEN, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE–FALLOUT)], they've assembled a well-rounded troupe who are somehow capable of elevating a film which was surely pitched as a "redneck revenge" thriller.</p><p>For starters, the lead is Patrick Swayze, who lends genuine sincerity and sensitivity to a part that's about as well-written as the Chuck Norris role in <a href="https://juntajuleil.blogspot.com/2012/11/film-review-invasion-usa-1985-joseph.html">INVASION USA</a>. As a tuff Chicago cop from a Kentucky holler who dresses like a Wild West lawman and has a mullet which sometimes masquerades as a ponytail, you could say that Swayze must animate a character with "not enough" <i>and</i> "perhaps too much" to work with.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUPvsdDYhwTMlubQYYB6nT19bST2nFn-ZYIHz24kQ2ZwUGX-VuUV-McdSLk050SqVjaIamn41n-pQRn9TR0bjc-8sSNFyBxZ5Bfil46D3RMUvO4Ykgs_Kv-D5vpWubzKEYY6s5d_32edUTQyRJtl8yLJ-9_d7MtnAdxkFU6pIG0xpFvOEJtzUxq5_o/s1718/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-20%20at%2011.41.36%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1294" data-original-width="1718" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUPvsdDYhwTMlubQYYB6nT19bST2nFn-ZYIHz24kQ2ZwUGX-VuUV-McdSLk050SqVjaIamn41n-pQRn9TR0bjc-8sSNFyBxZ5Bfil46D3RMUvO4Ykgs_Kv-D5vpWubzKEYY6s5d_32edUTQyRJtl8yLJ-9_d7MtnAdxkFU6pIG0xpFvOEJtzUxq5_o/w400-h301/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-20%20at%2011.41.36%20AM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>He displays both the pathos of GHOST and the hot-blooded fervency of <a href="http://juntajuleil.blogspot.com/2009/09/film-review-red-dawn-1984-john-milius.html">RED DAWN</a>, as well as a large helping of "dignity-in-the-face-of-kitsch" which he demonstrated so well in ROAD HOUSE (which had come out earlier that year).</p><p>This is one of those films which acts as if "hillbillies" are the most persecuted minority in the United States, a quality which certainly elevates its paracinematic value, at the very least.<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-TVB41BqRrCTnikUyXH3m14Jmdtt89qpNarAv_7Y59jarcPtlVAoCsQCboTYK-ByCJ05Z60k64DUu2eN0bzjjwfdJ2gKMSjTTXfrZSzxCW95XFX2eJ6TUazuMOulxIeHznynM9TKFay7mj3Uao3To6CnhfT_wMw5gehiGrfphjxEZ6yoc9CeV9iv9/s1714/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-20%20at%2011.35.22%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1282" data-original-width="1714" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-TVB41BqRrCTnikUyXH3m14Jmdtt89qpNarAv_7Y59jarcPtlVAoCsQCboTYK-ByCJ05Z60k64DUu2eN0bzjjwfdJ2gKMSjTTXfrZSzxCW95XFX2eJ6TUazuMOulxIeHznynM9TKFay7mj3Uao3To6CnhfT_wMw5gehiGrfphjxEZ6yoc9CeV9iv9/w400-h299/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-20%20at%2011.35.22%20AM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5F2YPPcT7_kum5SwjxfcLHaKF8alPM0I5LIWPSQ1WB4yJ_qKlJp2fK862xWbys3Bbhl0ZtmccagbDw0F6Fo5Gu9ONbU6rlWLuhDSPKbaCqeUbSw7YisXfckkAUQbspvfaBxnq28VGFxqfKFjo-v9Net26VaGsj4P6Ss6xAwS4aTQjwUJ4YDFFPaRj/s1716/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-20%20at%2011.35.42%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1282" data-original-width="1716" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5F2YPPcT7_kum5SwjxfcLHaKF8alPM0I5LIWPSQ1WB4yJ_qKlJp2fK862xWbys3Bbhl0ZtmccagbDw0F6Fo5Gu9ONbU6rlWLuhDSPKbaCqeUbSw7YisXfckkAUQbspvfaBxnq28VGFxqfKFjo-v9Net26VaGsj4P6Ss6xAwS4aTQjwUJ4YDFFPaRj/w400-h299/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-20%20at%2011.35.42%20AM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPzkHxDw-qCfZkCSpLE8eBmiT8tGTsVJZ-4hCCoJ0CdmwJXgrFZva_PHVIHxGZok0FskPgP-kXPFcF8iDS2MTW1tod4y8DUd252qGlAEo7cpDDyjogGHro0DIiMfG-83hVDCQ04heTJjAdQu_lTzJNmiVHp_mlHxRWdqzCjGN2tcdMM6EIlgqfQAa-/s1722/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-20%20at%2011.35.51%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1290" data-original-width="1722" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPzkHxDw-qCfZkCSpLE8eBmiT8tGTsVJZ-4hCCoJ0CdmwJXgrFZva_PHVIHxGZok0FskPgP-kXPFcF8iDS2MTW1tod4y8DUd252qGlAEo7cpDDyjogGHro0DIiMfG-83hVDCQ04heTJjAdQu_lTzJNmiVHp_mlHxRWdqzCjGN2tcdMM6EIlgqfQAa-/w400-h300/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-20%20at%2011.35.51%20AM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>The "hillbilly wacko" in question is the excellent Ted Levine––"Buffalo Bill" in THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS––who decides to turn his single scene into a craft workshop/an audition for the next Sam Shepard play.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdqzLqcrKfcLoOCvNOXvGyXshtQG6ls5dWL437NTsNg5SKroQU7q3T2BLdYqrBzfmLk3EK7qO6I3QUpPmQEUtKAtNl54bhC3b44DGpRrzauMYKq70BmZnAqiias-TzorUnoqzoNXFe38dz0_OGf8--pTLvInooqdi1BLLYnxTjEgHtasc7sZa4USMb/s1716/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-20%20at%2011.37.02%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1282" data-original-width="1716" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdqzLqcrKfcLoOCvNOXvGyXshtQG6ls5dWL437NTsNg5SKroQU7q3T2BLdYqrBzfmLk3EK7qO6I3QUpPmQEUtKAtNl54bhC3b44DGpRrzauMYKq70BmZnAqiias-TzorUnoqzoNXFe38dz0_OGf8--pTLvInooqdi1BLLYnxTjEgHtasc7sZa4USMb/w400-h299/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-20%20at%2011.37.02%20AM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>Next, we have Helen Hunt playing one of only four named female characters, and the only one to deliver more than three lines. She plays Swayze's refined, concert violinist girlfriend, a sitcom-style development which is never properly mined for its inherent highbrow vs. lowbrow comedy value.<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWnIJZ_BpoueL249ekxsgjVEwdTLSOhZ62WcTFau5r_YWOhoghm-Luk4OKrFcLMyn48rvdReT6yyUC1n2xYRSlFMsVN6p0Xe4v2K-6pw9g1kh_pNG06-2tZpAel8rTibhQU2Vt5gLsR6Z29pfe3rxu8Fm2wMiQjx8GX9p_XATSdGK_MoJ7Gqs1pM5/s1716/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-20%20at%2011.38.04%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1284" data-original-width="1716" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWnIJZ_BpoueL249ekxsgjVEwdTLSOhZ62WcTFau5r_YWOhoghm-Luk4OKrFcLMyn48rvdReT6yyUC1n2xYRSlFMsVN6p0Xe4v2K-6pw9g1kh_pNG06-2tZpAel8rTibhQU2Vt5gLsR6Z29pfe3rxu8Fm2wMiQjx8GX9p_XATSdGK_MoJ7Gqs1pM5/w400-h299/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-20%20at%2011.38.04%20AM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>Her character only really exists to be threatened by mobsters and therefore unleash Swayze's ire, but I'm getting ahead of myself. Nonetheless, she does an excellent job with the material, considering, and gets to work alongside her eventual TWISTER costar...</p><p>Bill Paxton!</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaSdxAarfG_yRwmDItdx8o1xDX8FM6iGw5XFgdyYL860wDinOylXC8Cd10fCK73GaqgCD8tmQmXdyShba_04UpeCAWCt-ADsqz0PoWR8hmQ8114zLIiXPCgvGUiKEJnR7uNyGxMjKdjFbhRbuOO8ETh_fO4e0bexqdYS8D2NvP2_za5hgF4nCBEgb7/s1716/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-20%20at%2011.39.41%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1290" data-original-width="1716" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaSdxAarfG_yRwmDItdx8o1xDX8FM6iGw5XFgdyYL860wDinOylXC8Cd10fCK73GaqgCD8tmQmXdyShba_04UpeCAWCt-ADsqz0PoWR8hmQ8114zLIiXPCgvGUiKEJnR7uNyGxMjKdjFbhRbuOO8ETh_fO4e0bexqdYS8D2NvP2_za5hgF4nCBEgb7/w400-h301/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-20%20at%2011.39.41%20AM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>Paxton plays Swayze's little brother, another Kentucky transplant living in the big city. He's not in the movie for very long, since his murder (at the hands of mobsters) is the inciting incident of the movie. He does that likably nutty "Paxton thing" and the bulk of his performance is contained in a scene wherein he discusses rap music with a black co-worker. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ7-M5jYqbC-lbJLr8SUiBP6qQ_dVOztEAVOUquExPNVdojPOpeVpZklKt7Km74WNXJjeJvMfwgsXg3U2Cp3p2uQA8qonzHNn6BUFgdkjwuIL34LaaIF85OhuFXBIqNjudpiHdmRHt0ONyEAlxqduiW8lZMrq7Dp71x5rL26_BVGP9Lql42w4sxYky/s1716/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-20%20at%2011.39.50%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1296" data-original-width="1716" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ7-M5jYqbC-lbJLr8SUiBP6qQ_dVOztEAVOUquExPNVdojPOpeVpZklKt7Km74WNXJjeJvMfwgsXg3U2Cp3p2uQA8qonzHNn6BUFgdkjwuIL34LaaIF85OhuFXBIqNjudpiHdmRHt0ONyEAlxqduiW8lZMrq7Dp71x5rL26_BVGP9Lql42w4sxYky/w400-h303/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-20%20at%2011.39.50%20AM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwFXAFxHI9lFtkemd1W864FqsAOVvatRhcEGOdWPeKuDsBTOhSvcWCHbGHSlq1PgDsl-5eR7hZDXSzFxQkQdy-w0OO-if36kYp9ixpp9LGA08OMJhmtSJUir_AiApxp-Il0U4rDLwvDmvMklClrvYeNdoxnE9qsEsjkGkchn39Pbil2Z4alir2h-g8/s1716/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-20%20at%2011.40.01%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1292" data-original-width="1716" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwFXAFxHI9lFtkemd1W864FqsAOVvatRhcEGOdWPeKuDsBTOhSvcWCHbGHSlq1PgDsl-5eR7hZDXSzFxQkQdy-w0OO-if36kYp9ixpp9LGA08OMJhmtSJUir_AiApxp-Il0U4rDLwvDmvMklClrvYeNdoxnE9qsEsjkGkchn39Pbil2Z4alir2h-g8/w400-h301/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-20%20at%2011.40.01%20AM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ls4D7zuuf-X46V3ftQcV0B2AS-RvM1EwDozp8a7vktZcn6YhgvsfoD8hBYOkuxk_1j7zHG-j3F-aR-M6v9jLK5A4CWkNVPEtD-bkfC3xmzaqyWNP_r7h_2HElejaDT9db7o5NGlnAIgKya1AssBs5P1yXsZal9SW64xjO1Zkp_QNR1in1ppUuqpA/s1722/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-20%20at%2011.40.18%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1722" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ls4D7zuuf-X46V3ftQcV0B2AS-RvM1EwDozp8a7vktZcn6YhgvsfoD8hBYOkuxk_1j7zHG-j3F-aR-M6v9jLK5A4CWkNVPEtD-bkfC3xmzaqyWNP_r7h_2HElejaDT9db7o5NGlnAIgKya1AssBs5P1yXsZal9SW64xjO1Zkp_QNR1in1ppUuqpA/w400-h297/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-20%20at%2011.40.18%20AM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>Truly a moment for the annals of film history. The mobsters in question are also well cast––<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Ni_5ZZycXyZJH3-kSlTFAzmTcHXZNyaf5ybPoVeKHQA_ap72jsY1JmWmJ8TucxB5yRoV2l4gxEDtK-frkAh99SmLpTB3V4cNasNtxwAgrNbeakTaDKtUKCimNjRHUs15eIJ7MD2yzetUV3vXJY0Qkhlkq2NYcOfU37s5wUeQQcDZMKFBIvPkwuZ3/s1712/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-20%20at%2011.38.21%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1288" data-original-width="1712" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Ni_5ZZycXyZJH3-kSlTFAzmTcHXZNyaf5ybPoVeKHQA_ap72jsY1JmWmJ8TucxB5yRoV2l4gxEDtK-frkAh99SmLpTB3V4cNasNtxwAgrNbeakTaDKtUKCimNjRHUs15eIJ7MD2yzetUV3vXJY0Qkhlkq2NYcOfU37s5wUeQQcDZMKFBIvPkwuZ3/w400-h301/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-20%20at%2011.38.21%20AM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>On the left is baby Ben Stiller as the Don's nerdy son who is dragged along for the murderous ride. In the center is Andreas Katsulas (THE FUGITIVE, EXECUTIVE DECISION) who plays the Don. On the right is Adam Baldwin (FIREFLY, "Animal Mother" in FULL METAL JACKET), who plays a gleefully murderous psychopath and the principal villain of the picture. Sorta strange to see Stiller in the 1980s, and in a serious role,</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8yNGUzVPTwg46YDh6DafiAr-IF1KKMtxhQWfYiqUc0Mr5JZb8z1I8XH3Pu_jHgqCp2hJyV_SlAnY6ufgQXL7js_xTvMbn5YA7MLnK8oC9-KSptpf0Emw1fhG3HPUB3hchtFJtpsXGCI8OORiZ03UTmsTqrfLJd6My7mcH48XWQntUnwCp4f05pH5M/s1712/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-20%20at%2011.46.33%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1284" data-original-width="1712" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8yNGUzVPTwg46YDh6DafiAr-IF1KKMtxhQWfYiqUc0Mr5JZb8z1I8XH3Pu_jHgqCp2hJyV_SlAnY6ufgQXL7js_xTvMbn5YA7MLnK8oC9-KSptpf0Emw1fhG3HPUB3hchtFJtpsXGCI8OORiZ03UTmsTqrfLJd6My7mcH48XWQntUnwCp4f05pH5M/w400-h300/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-20%20at%2011.46.33%20AM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>but he gives it the proper "rich kid twerpitude" as well as some degree of childish vulnerability.<br /></p><p>Paxton's murder brings the third brother, "Briar," to town, the eldest, who never forsook his Kentucky identity and is only coming to Chicago for revenge purposes. It's Liam Neeson!<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM9tJXPc-XQEmnvMGGcY-_eWPY8p1pM0ta7ZxP0DXs-K7UL6grcIU8dUWpUzIa8DIDqpjJWjVj6iSqtiKl201w34KHccEk9-WX0VPMlYCSeQmwoA5-CdIVsuv1BNJBg1RNfi5Tb-yzW_-SaiYLV2OXzJ1-QADttlg5qGuXfspSeXihQ162wn4Zne_y/s1728/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-20%20at%2011.42.08%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1290" data-original-width="1728" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM9tJXPc-XQEmnvMGGcY-_eWPY8p1pM0ta7ZxP0DXs-K7UL6grcIU8dUWpUzIa8DIDqpjJWjVj6iSqtiKl201w34KHccEk9-WX0VPMlYCSeQmwoA5-CdIVsuv1BNJBg1RNfi5Tb-yzW_-SaiYLV2OXzJ1-QADttlg5qGuXfspSeXihQ162wn4Zne_y/w400-h299/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-20%20at%2011.42.08%20AM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>He brings the proper gravity and badassery, but boy, he can't seem to lose that Irish accent.<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix97xAGtg-qGj37S9EsqauZfjEa4hOQVo846clm-i43yaEzUyW792bNTpI7iwcObCbxgjYMcOHLZV_u-e-Nk6VwNmNSNL-EqOld5XYuUBk0RZphVcAD-Ek1xZk-cgXZJIVL4N8Zc2ZaX9GoYDXWcKXHMiZ-6BRQGgDZaIfKU7afMDNuDRyppJB51Xk/s1714/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-20%20at%2011.42.42%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1284" data-original-width="1714" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix97xAGtg-qGj37S9EsqauZfjEa4hOQVo846clm-i43yaEzUyW792bNTpI7iwcObCbxgjYMcOHLZV_u-e-Nk6VwNmNSNL-EqOld5XYuUBk0RZphVcAD-Ek1xZk-cgXZJIVL4N8Zc2ZaX9GoYDXWcKXHMiZ-6BRQGgDZaIfKU7afMDNuDRyppJB51Xk/w400-h300/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-20%20at%2011.42.42%20AM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>Being as this predates even DARKMAN, this feels like the ur-Badass role which has defined the latter-half of Neeson's career. There's a great scene where, in order to intimidate some mobsters, he shoots up a bunch of pinball machines.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDGqTo-hTo3x1c6UPnrtlmqrCLM8EO18PvYcM3PvJzCQTzivRsTUm0bA-Jxs-3j-hBRj388R5_b9xnM8D9T5lGzvbEw69tXn8hj6d1rnxijqBF5NjGEnWN-fW5039L_aPfAk05WKliSXJnf24DLNrI_BUtu6zgECMVXZQe9TbDwBEN7yW3CtK_BS9z/s1720/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-20%20at%2011.43.13%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1292" data-original-width="1720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDGqTo-hTo3x1c6UPnrtlmqrCLM8EO18PvYcM3PvJzCQTzivRsTUm0bA-Jxs-3j-hBRj388R5_b9xnM8D9T5lGzvbEw69tXn8hj6d1rnxijqBF5NjGEnWN-fW5039L_aPfAk05WKliSXJnf24DLNrI_BUtu6zgECMVXZQe9TbDwBEN7yW3CtK_BS9z/w400-h300/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-20%20at%2011.43.13%20AM.jpg" width="400" /></a> </p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Check out Gorgar, over there </i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> </i></span><br /></p><p>BONNIE AND CLYDE's Michael J. Pollard shows up in a weirdly delicate performance as a "flophouse owner sympathetic to Neeson's cause."</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyRI7sGjI--r-jUkKqZZRgqaM8CgRJtdcGLX6TSrDpP5Dv4J_tnHmrXiCRdXhi8FN17lXNfK4Ic4brsiUfs8ojW6GIQQ5XoSTrITivymVKz7a6qaFRZR2S6eeUZAvPjb-OZ0uBujkmXxkCiPL3zw65jo9MY4-UH6RjScfaidcnqRgUPWcHh9iOXGBK/s1722/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-20%20at%2011.42.24%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1288" data-original-width="1722" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyRI7sGjI--r-jUkKqZZRgqaM8CgRJtdcGLX6TSrDpP5Dv4J_tnHmrXiCRdXhi8FN17lXNfK4Ic4brsiUfs8ojW6GIQQ5XoSTrITivymVKz7a6qaFRZR2S6eeUZAvPjb-OZ0uBujkmXxkCiPL3zw65jo9MY4-UH6RjScfaidcnqRgUPWcHh9iOXGBK/w400-h299/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-20%20at%2011.42.24%20AM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>This is the sort of thing you really don't expect in a movie like this. He pounds a lot of Old Styles, too, which reminds us again that this film is set in Chicago, like every other '80s movie.<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjATRWxD3S3VIQWuLzfoVUbPAWb8mvT-R8SgoACdxKgM-fS_aOs2qI9s2GFK5y4VIS-naNjm3Zi2idolnu2OCq6WZ6Ly-NbUkvmvrVdx1P3AG0Ak_lIUpllzCYXZUaC65NbnY9usRT0I7dmJ0jB5kkaiGCuYmHzYkXiTT1Gvm_bW87oqCFASRs4wky/s1716/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-20%20at%2011.46.09%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1278" data-original-width="1716" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjATRWxD3S3VIQWuLzfoVUbPAWb8mvT-R8SgoACdxKgM-fS_aOs2qI9s2GFK5y4VIS-naNjm3Zi2idolnu2OCq6WZ6Ly-NbUkvmvrVdx1P3AG0Ak_lIUpllzCYXZUaC65NbnY9usRT0I7dmJ0jB5kkaiGCuYmHzYkXiTT1Gvm_bW87oqCFASRs4wky/w400-h297/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-20%20at%2011.46.09%20AM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>Anyway, the whole thing ends with a Swayze vs. Mobsters showdown in a graveyard where Swayze wields a bow and arrow like he's John Rambo.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYH8aFI4c-Owbv4XtPpP-AEHYtU1FskwioB4yVR1y3h9FoUGsXmKie4_-VCzSvjRpb1py--jaghRxDtiK0HrCjLMlpD92JoYe3cpFpKVZClvcKblnHZRGqO11XW-6j2bxtQPI2hteZ5DjJmF1IEaWaZUY-KPaUNrAr-SwcOan4HVZwsGZ4wD-woMSd/s1716/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-20%20at%2011.45.32%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1288" data-original-width="1716" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYH8aFI4c-Owbv4XtPpP-AEHYtU1FskwioB4yVR1y3h9FoUGsXmKie4_-VCzSvjRpb1py--jaghRxDtiK0HrCjLMlpD92JoYe3cpFpKVZClvcKblnHZRGqO11XW-6j2bxtQPI2hteZ5DjJmF1IEaWaZUY-KPaUNrAr-SwcOan4HVZwsGZ4wD-woMSd/w400-h300/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-20%20at%2011.45.32%20AM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgp7r3ppXASpr_yFaqf4eZLfMIa3j1zorkFTMuze24mO-X1mEu38qfycyYavLnu7leqE1J864xsBijZdj4gyDvlgTQj0Cz0Mtw5CqxJqGSxLZdMmtLNOOkZZ9cIY7sk1Z1zyEjs1qiZr2ZjdHoJucS3rdwu9WwTxMz1NCMBILKlTwN4LctUEVPoF9/s1720/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-20%20at%2011.45.47%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1290" data-original-width="1720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgp7r3ppXASpr_yFaqf4eZLfMIa3j1zorkFTMuze24mO-X1mEu38qfycyYavLnu7leqE1J864xsBijZdj4gyDvlgTQj0Cz0Mtw5CqxJqGSxLZdMmtLNOOkZZ9cIY7sk1Z1zyEjs1qiZr2ZjdHoJucS3rdwu9WwTxMz1NCMBILKlTwN4LctUEVPoF9/w400-h300/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-20%20at%2011.45.47%20AM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiftBncOZUjL0zkHIB7btCZr1a7BkAqjR-mdznj_yC2nOr3whJiKzBKxnoFqasarhi_LT5b9MNi4Rn4mUt8SRnez1E97e_1zaFZoBC4x9bzG5ta_YBILP9T7LZxDZiHeRfizlrcop_Ye4AtbcDO8ISKOpgGYYv1PCWKTjlg2bX5RP8hXcppJblZHOa-/s1700/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-20%20at%2011.44.47%20AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1274" data-original-width="1700" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiftBncOZUjL0zkHIB7btCZr1a7BkAqjR-mdznj_yC2nOr3whJiKzBKxnoFqasarhi_LT5b9MNi4Rn4mUt8SRnez1E97e_1zaFZoBC4x9bzG5ta_YBILP9T7LZxDZiHeRfizlrcop_Ye4AtbcDO8ISKOpgGYYv1PCWKTjlg2bX5RP8hXcppJblZHOa-/w400-h300/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-20%20at%2011.44.47%20AM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>In all, this is way more watchable than it has any right to be, and due to the nature of its success, I can't think of anyone to thank beyond the casting directors. So... thanks!<br /></p>Sean Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537515557596273876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5497928641398322495.post-68444291132611874232023-02-06T12:12:00.005-05:002023-02-06T12:13:48.631-05:00Sean Gill's "Join Hands" Named a Finalist for the Scottish Arts Trust Story Awards' 2023 Edinburgh Award for Flash Fiction<p><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs xlh3980 xvmahel x1n0sxbx x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u x1yc453h" dir="auto"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUsFsiuDTAsPJN7tGoUb4lux6tNX4jUSrScwOrCtqTcdAcKCgmwCWDfXdQ8EdOz794y5_IZvMJUKDtxzpQCGdMtRsC1erHq9uiGkqKdWBGQQrS-6YgxIHoUKFVzKTiTtdbLI3um9b_YSXZuV9qYY6zb7thqUanJ1O6X74uPovkfriGdt6zq707hYiW/s4030/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-06%20at%2011.33.40%20AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1332" data-original-width="4030" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUsFsiuDTAsPJN7tGoUb4lux6tNX4jUSrScwOrCtqTcdAcKCgmwCWDfXdQ8EdOz794y5_IZvMJUKDtxzpQCGdMtRsC1erHq9uiGkqKdWBGQQrS-6YgxIHoUKFVzKTiTtdbLI3um9b_YSXZuV9qYY6zb7thqUanJ1O6X74uPovkfriGdt6zq707hYiW/w400-h133/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-06%20at%2011.33.40%20AM.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>My short story "Join Hands" has been named a finalist for the <a href="https://www.scottishartstrust.org/"><span></span></a><a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x6umtig x1b1mbwd xaqea5y xav7gou x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv x1qq9wsj xo1l8bm" role="link" tabindex="0"><span class="xt0psk2"><span>Scottish Arts Trust Story Awards</span></span></a>' 2023 Edinburgh Award for Flash Fiction, with the winner to be announced at the <span><a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x6umtig x1b1mbwd xaqea5y xav7gou x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv x1qq9wsj xo1l8bm" href="https://www.facebook.com/scottishartsclub?__cft__[0]=AZV9pk4W5C5dPYZKZ0z5k72s4Snlq1AnujK2M4M2eHf_Qz5V4Y3AFt9kb1V2gjCtf_-reMSmeI1b_P7FLfEg1dMPKdQWTj3r6yxSm4XtyhEzdbYI_lcHyMOfX0A4aVig4nWpgzd4sQKoxJr19FjJz0FY0tik9hT3Gv9dBQzK9z0LLDUMPjgfqv2Htnvua4x-cPQ&__tn__=-]K-R" role="link" tabindex="0"><span class="xt0psk2"><span>The Scottish Arts Club</span></span></a></span>
later in February. My story <a href="https://www.scottishartstrust.org/flash-fiction-finalists">is available to read on their website temporarily</a> and will be anthologized in print this November.<p></p>Sean Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537515557596273876noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5497928641398322495.post-70948936350728193622023-01-29T10:32:00.001-05:002023-01-29T10:32:25.087-05:00Only now does it occur to me... INTERCEPTOR FORCE (1999)<p><i>Only now does it occur to me...</i> that I would like to raise a toast to everyone involved in INTERCEPTOR FORCE (1999), a rock-bottom CGI-heavy PREDATOR rip-off, inflected with Robert Rodriguez-inspired panache. The vibe is very "if Full Moon Pictures did a Syfy Channel original movie," and the plot is "commandos find themselves fighting a fake Predator in a Mexican cartel town which is probably a recycled set from DR. QUINN, MEDICINE WOMAN."<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4C2BaOfAqR2MkE1wawenJe77WQIanRq8RD65YFsC458BKKTv_0EBTMjaZMdY9YrcCJNWqantlfVCMaG8if3UarJ53P6kejDAPbdha7iIQSIGOxCU6UMRpgPcbOodn_AF6m1gscNyl-rgINv8SeTMFrporZKNfvhEvenK6s22NO4QxZ1Cf5gh2G57-/s2278/Screen%20Shot%202022-12-15%20at%204.22.01%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1250" data-original-width="2278" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4C2BaOfAqR2MkE1wawenJe77WQIanRq8RD65YFsC458BKKTv_0EBTMjaZMdY9YrcCJNWqantlfVCMaG8if3UarJ53P6kejDAPbdha7iIQSIGOxCU6UMRpgPcbOodn_AF6m1gscNyl-rgINv8SeTMFrporZKNfvhEvenK6s22NO4QxZ1Cf5gh2G57-/w400-h220/Screen%20Shot%202022-12-15%20at%204.22.01%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXoP8bozPGo-S7J-KGUK7eG-7JzsXixzx8LpCWTMGBcKGygz-M8Oy3k93WBCAAHHRe4RePDZLqGM6YioCpwAp9ozbVi6FcUR-uPdGOuPf7BikWREChkuOWjQiLUqxMNajK9DgJBIGW-RF3nFw8qoTalTPmM1oJKORfmqwdUU-9ON2aQCymNXz96uy_/s2266/Screen%20Shot%202022-12-15%20at%204.35.22%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1270" data-original-width="2266" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXoP8bozPGo-S7J-KGUK7eG-7JzsXixzx8LpCWTMGBcKGygz-M8Oy3k93WBCAAHHRe4RePDZLqGM6YioCpwAp9ozbVi6FcUR-uPdGOuPf7BikWREChkuOWjQiLUqxMNajK9DgJBIGW-RF3nFw8qoTalTPmM1oJKORfmqwdUU-9ON2aQCymNXz96uy_/w400-h224/Screen%20Shot%202022-12-15%20at%204.35.22%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwjA4JJoMAOGauJToUibO-o9FHjOHubQhdsFYAP_FbDn37u-XEmbPKiwZ0gxihGE3wJmav-mjUMvtBATTT11lCoGinznjp2bo30cRKso_dDkJsfUcmQxVwMbJ6BcuPFl_20TI73VJXKad4E1pep63lGitP2dLaHKoVXE9uwW46hHI2nxXN91VySp0x/s2290/Screen%20Shot%202022-12-15%20at%204.33.39%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1226" data-original-width="2290" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwjA4JJoMAOGauJToUibO-o9FHjOHubQhdsFYAP_FbDn37u-XEmbPKiwZ0gxihGE3wJmav-mjUMvtBATTT11lCoGinznjp2bo30cRKso_dDkJsfUcmQxVwMbJ6BcuPFl_20TI73VJXKad4E1pep63lGitP2dLaHKoVXE9uwW46hHI2nxXN91VySp0x/w400-h214/Screen%20Shot%202022-12-15%20at%204.33.39%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS9jOHehOpfbIsVzaRtoibbsBwsPoQxCwzzX4LXlxEzQSHF0FjEIxFBubYBYcJtx-yabtEWM2KiHcdDgXAlX5JzXgalRcWCNbpcnA8yBbj01bT__MM4YxVdtCi_uKX0twZkhdqEregtMsL28IR2fp8TFrj0qhHgM0xxqhqdsoAB6ap6oC-8DEBDX8T/s2280/Screen%20Shot%202022-12-15%20at%204.33.48%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1232" data-original-width="2280" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS9jOHehOpfbIsVzaRtoibbsBwsPoQxCwzzX4LXlxEzQSHF0FjEIxFBubYBYcJtx-yabtEWM2KiHcdDgXAlX5JzXgalRcWCNbpcnA8yBbj01bT__MM4YxVdtCi_uKX0twZkhdqEregtMsL28IR2fp8TFrj0qhHgM0xxqhqdsoAB6ap6oC-8DEBDX8T/w400-h216/Screen%20Shot%202022-12-15%20at%204.33.48%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>My first toast is for the SFX team, whose N64 cut-scene-lookin' nonsense has been jerry-rigged with love. I mean, look at that alien. The movie's tag-line––no joke––is: "An Elite Force ... An Alien Enemy ... An Impossible Deadline." It is my belief that this tag-line, specifically the "impossible deadline" part, was written by the SFX team.<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6wl6MFcWKUa9ZI7PHaZr_i805E-M36CFPBG1_kuEngJIDE7SZhm1PmBhmFpx2fOh8lrARHzPF9QCyQ4bJRX-8BqS8MWIOJdRfMjIYWsWU7f6SsJ1Qa5rOjORNl4SWRzZkUIrihpRCAxmTFaliPwvpNjcB_2366GEQHNTObbvwKerKHq5cTWcKH-yI/s2278/Screen%20Shot%202022-12-15%20at%204.33.19%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1240" data-original-width="2278" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6wl6MFcWKUa9ZI7PHaZr_i805E-M36CFPBG1_kuEngJIDE7SZhm1PmBhmFpx2fOh8lrARHzPF9QCyQ4bJRX-8BqS8MWIOJdRfMjIYWsWU7f6SsJ1Qa5rOjORNl4SWRzZkUIrihpRCAxmTFaliPwvpNjcB_2366GEQHNTObbvwKerKHq5cTWcKH-yI/w400-h217/Screen%20Shot%202022-12-15%20at%204.33.19%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p>My next toast is to "Mad Bus." They did the music, and are credited only within the film itself and not on IMDb.<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRvELdfM-Xjw5bldnPMInJdVWxM3joPV8WqAZgS4NBwQeY5OMhRRSuupMvOdeS-EB8HIuDeSapt6I-NYNFr8IBo9ubqEnvsIhEH5N7iz9W8OfjP-V-L1_cDejbN1AOTJQ6AZEjka3xh5kv1z4gqwTM8uAocq-0ntuvkzbiepUQyArDJgyts9Lek6TG/s1712/Screen%20Shot%202022-12-16%20at%205.00.47%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="890" data-original-width="1712" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRvELdfM-Xjw5bldnPMInJdVWxM3joPV8WqAZgS4NBwQeY5OMhRRSuupMvOdeS-EB8HIuDeSapt6I-NYNFr8IBo9ubqEnvsIhEH5N7iz9W8OfjP-V-L1_cDejbN1AOTJQ6AZEjka3xh5kv1z4gqwTM8uAocq-0ntuvkzbiepUQyArDJgyts9Lek6TG/w400-h208/Screen%20Shot%202022-12-16%20at%205.00.47%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>They offer an electronic soundtrack which was characterized as "some pretty tedious techno" by the startup screen to MORTAL KOMBAT 3.</p><p> </p><p>The first actor I'd like to honor is William Zabka, best known as "Johnny Lawrence" in THE KARATE KID and COBRA KAI.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG4dmraQd4svl9fXvlCkIspay-7Oc891_eoVqNlabC_RqEyM_YapXUaLI9FufKMdTRm6DGP3IhS8Zkt2K8MLtSTK_4b48NcIosO9suGRrUb6LbB9AYUoUgXhOPK4WDGfX5ikNQdFdphMCUam6rBfuQvFYDmHcGhvYIkbf9miUF4kAdL7GKoA-PsSl1/s2262/Screen%20Shot%202022-12-15%20at%204.16.46%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1278" data-original-width="2262" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG4dmraQd4svl9fXvlCkIspay-7Oc891_eoVqNlabC_RqEyM_YapXUaLI9FufKMdTRm6DGP3IhS8Zkt2K8MLtSTK_4b48NcIosO9suGRrUb6LbB9AYUoUgXhOPK4WDGfX5ikNQdFdphMCUam6rBfuQvFYDmHcGhvYIkbf9miUF4kAdL7GKoA-PsSl1/w400-h226/Screen%20Shot%202022-12-15%20at%204.16.46%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p>Zabka's simply a member of the commando team––technically, the lead is seated there on his left: a poor man's <a href="http://juntajuleil.blogspot.com/search/label/Daniel%20Bernhardt">Daniel Bernhardt</a> named Olivier Gruner. I'd say he's "no Olivier," but in fact, his first name <i>is </i>Olivier. But anyway, back to Zabka: he's the "hacker" of the outfit, which means he often wears a headset, types feverishly into a laptop, and then exclaims words like "Jackpot!"</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Lc2aclNsFlqPuBBdkOd755PT0VRLH0s2dOi_QANEs0SZr_Rhaj2O_VkRakKeEMtPQL8LztGvXiVS3qZi1QsURLEtGaYzyeHwEpJF0f8anjDreItcZSJHx8gwvskebav54-3h3Hw4lPiZNyjVUDqbzh6DEjx9WlGfxGc6k5vri1KQrwQJUEbaStPj/s2250/Screen%20Shot%202022-12-15%20at%204.27.51%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1234" data-original-width="2250" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Lc2aclNsFlqPuBBdkOd755PT0VRLH0s2dOi_QANEs0SZr_Rhaj2O_VkRakKeEMtPQL8LztGvXiVS3qZi1QsURLEtGaYzyeHwEpJF0f8anjDreItcZSJHx8gwvskebav54-3h3Hw4lPiZNyjVUDqbzh6DEjx9WlGfxGc6k5vri1KQrwQJUEbaStPj/w400-h220/Screen%20Shot%202022-12-15%20at%204.27.51%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4LQpoClvDLTpmlcKgHsJKlMUwF0TfG96OCprCqXHhCRqHizm3guuSrLlpgExbECMufMqME-IfCVKh_0sD3krb-W5hyb3MpMU4pykt6G_rwZzOSfdO8elFqIrtWJVOiJxLtVRmrKeIG8vB039l4yQmi-kvg2533o9r9HI4RjKVm9NxbCjFkfXrxTih/s2278/Screen%20Shot%202022-12-15%20at%204.32.39%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1222" data-original-width="2278" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4LQpoClvDLTpmlcKgHsJKlMUwF0TfG96OCprCqXHhCRqHizm3guuSrLlpgExbECMufMqME-IfCVKh_0sD3krb-W5hyb3MpMU4pykt6G_rwZzOSfdO8elFqIrtWJVOiJxLtVRmrKeIG8vB039l4yQmi-kvg2533o9r9HI4RjKVm9NxbCjFkfXrxTih/w400-h215/Screen%20Shot%202022-12-15%20at%204.32.39%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>He's having a lot of fun here, and for all you KARATE KID/COBRA KAI diehards, I think you should definitely watch the following clip, which I have entitled "Hey, buddy, what was that for?" and is best enjoyed out of context.<br /></p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mbChsmf_w9g" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>
<p> </p><p>I would be remiss if I didn't toast a... Diet Coke to Glenn
Plummer––a talented character actor best known to me for his turns in
SHOWGIRLS and ER––</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh--nRoSbDztKvnpcszacmpYDxubt0oaTnXtzEonYaOXkIh1t5425JR9ckDy4WEo0dTeyhboAU3rTRj3_d09xGjP_1D0GYllh3GtVPNyE4CA21qvBOq9GrFb7sDOV4xJZk1damjdW80yOYrmpVxAaGKzminWpO28BlRg2o-zGeq32skzPBaxeYhuHAr/s2274/Screen%20Shot%202022-12-15%20at%204.17.04%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1244" data-original-width="2274" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh--nRoSbDztKvnpcszacmpYDxubt0oaTnXtzEonYaOXkIh1t5425JR9ckDy4WEo0dTeyhboAU3rTRj3_d09xGjP_1D0GYllh3GtVPNyE4CA21qvBOq9GrFb7sDOV4xJZk1damjdW80yOYrmpVxAaGKzminWpO28BlRg2o-zGeq32skzPBaxeYhuHAr/w400-h219/Screen%20Shot%202022-12-15%20at%204.17.04%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p>who seems a little depressed to be in this movie, or at least a little depressed that his scene partner is a can of Diet Coke. Anyway, he's a member of the commando team here as well, and would later go on to get top billing in SHOWGIRLS 2: PENNY'S FROM HEAVEN.<br /><p> </p><p>My next toast is for Ernie Hudson (GHOSTBUSTERS, THE CROW, TWIN PEAKS: THE RETURN, GRACE & FRANKIE) who plays "The Major," a generic air force commander who spends 97% of his time on the phone. It's an insult to underwritten characters to call "The Major" underwritten, cause he's not really written at all. It's just Ernie Hudson wearing a commercial airline pilot costume speaking words into a telephone.<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ1NVIYbi4UnwY4wQwc99j4MgF5kF0KUaoIT10ZGF0m3hCW71zM809eCn5CBuErx4v49U_xcUkm7AavrRvjVjUJBxFBqfM91XIkI1ortsK86cgq9NDx3Oxn6IPLS_Fvj47hdg5Iut4UqvJwsUBXQ2SGALaDgieDAmIEvV3HHM5GWG_p5rTz8PwYZuC/s2276/Screen%20Shot%202022-12-15%20at%204.18.46%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1232" data-original-width="2276" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ1NVIYbi4UnwY4wQwc99j4MgF5kF0KUaoIT10ZGF0m3hCW71zM809eCn5CBuErx4v49U_xcUkm7AavrRvjVjUJBxFBqfM91XIkI1ortsK86cgq9NDx3Oxn6IPLS_Fvj47hdg5Iut4UqvJwsUBXQ2SGALaDgieDAmIEvV3HHM5GWG_p5rTz8PwYZuC/w400-h216/Screen%20Shot%202022-12-15%20at%204.18.46%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p>I would say the producers may have tricked him into believing he was appearing on the X-FILES, but something tells me that when he arrived on set at what the script called a "high-tech military HQ"<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinaYv73Ner_50il7BHPp9TyM39iE_ovmbYBpQu5utzpIHqvKEwgjj4hZVsFe_bOfAvcHhLSXkFlgzsZDDY8__K3tJEM6CD5CsQlNyDz4Rd5gTW43wBLKLGHUDB0RiA36mgsEMGMCvreMlisltAJWydi7svK24ygpQOe58cALvOybGj-xq_SoNq4EYJ/s2266/Screen%20Shot%202022-12-15%20at%204.35.09%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1228" data-original-width="2266" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinaYv73Ner_50il7BHPp9TyM39iE_ovmbYBpQu5utzpIHqvKEwgjj4hZVsFe_bOfAvcHhLSXkFlgzsZDDY8__K3tJEM6CD5CsQlNyDz4Rd5gTW43wBLKLGHUDB0RiA36mgsEMGMCvreMlisltAJWydi7svK24ygpQOe58cALvOybGj-xq_SoNq4EYJ/w400-h216/Screen%20Shot%202022-12-15%20at%204.35.09%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK37YP_yXF-CElnmh2My3XLPrVZWgwDfIIG3U1r0GYFVX15VlswqMX6QQJkkb7_Njt-g1wCIeLmGqL8Z0Y6CyKYlj0-vIEkaJKWaN1bJDIAU_0GplsWikwnItW3tiFni3tx87ZO49R1zO08daqmaf94HBdkXLZ9ZZnGug8CTeghwK_7TqS0N9gig2J/s2270/Screen%20Shot%202022-12-15%20at%204.23.48%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1236" data-original-width="2270" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK37YP_yXF-CElnmh2My3XLPrVZWgwDfIIG3U1r0GYFVX15VlswqMX6QQJkkb7_Njt-g1wCIeLmGqL8Z0Y6CyKYlj0-vIEkaJKWaN1bJDIAU_0GplsWikwnItW3tiFni3tx87ZO49R1zO08daqmaf94HBdkXLZ9ZZnGug8CTeghwK_7TqS0N9gig2J/w400-h217/Screen%20Shot%202022-12-15%20at%204.23.48%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>but was actually a "telemarketing firm which gave permission to shoot on the weekends," he sized things up pretty quickly.<br /></p><p>Regardless, it is Hudson's agent who snagged the coveted "<i>and</i> Ernie Hudson as" credit, and not his fellow character-acting heavyweight who's standing beside him in the above photo.</p><p>Oh, don't you recognize who that is? Is the issue that his head is facing the floor and you can't see his face? Well, allow me to offer a theory along with my toast.<br /></p><p>This toast is for... Brad Dourif (!), who attempts to maintain his dignity as "Weber," some kind of Project Blue Book/Cigarette Smoking Man-type personality. His main character trait is that his head is always aimed downward, his eyes seemingly reading <i>something</i> off-screen:</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBL-jCytJYJug3lchCbrMYD38eogpXq9TgKiuA42XfY23PGICRrcTMbCxQqV2WC5GbO2shGn8JHHW3gd-nIGgD0OmBKvvci8WjCS6sBwKzWxWMWoZmsxpKkpaWZ3W7_hfTH16qsUU7LMiVwkGGhosnb0WjHc-h_mOjCtlRqItKwxGpDlZvG-6eurGG/s2270/Screen%20Shot%202022-12-15%20at%204.24.00%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1236" data-original-width="2270" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBL-jCytJYJug3lchCbrMYD38eogpXq9TgKiuA42XfY23PGICRrcTMbCxQqV2WC5GbO2shGn8JHHW3gd-nIGgD0OmBKvvci8WjCS6sBwKzWxWMWoZmsxpKkpaWZ3W7_hfTH16qsUU7LMiVwkGGhosnb0WjHc-h_mOjCtlRqItKwxGpDlZvG-6eurGG/w400-h217/Screen%20Shot%202022-12-15%20at%204.24.00%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>If I didn't know better</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbknW4ezW6kTOQlj3fiAhhY5moq2doiZfnMPEkplFh0PoqAZqNVcvYlz8euKGM8-QCoPekmZEg1DlYTedZIN9vo92xbHLBh7gogoLVXymgAZm4ygPxybZLCdRK62k99wXT6_QVCSlXPujXrYLS2xapzY2NW4jf2zn5h8L5VEW52z54X3xuJqBRY5UB/s2270/Screen%20Shot%202022-12-15%20at%204.21.23%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1236" data-original-width="2270" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbknW4ezW6kTOQlj3fiAhhY5moq2doiZfnMPEkplFh0PoqAZqNVcvYlz8euKGM8-QCoPekmZEg1DlYTedZIN9vo92xbHLBh7gogoLVXymgAZm4ygPxybZLCdRK62k99wXT6_QVCSlXPujXrYLS2xapzY2NW4jf2zn5h8L5VEW52z54X3xuJqBRY5UB/w400-h217/Screen%20Shot%202022-12-15%20at%204.21.23%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p>I might jump to the conclusion</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWZOGOa8aEIcSFbHBcrcKilZ3ElOMu78XpGcZ0FCvOL3xVjp-eMuemY_7GjZhzL2rD7XM1CIKL6u6PT3F3QFuaeUDrwVj7YUApL9ZTT14ZK5aslR98u6xJvb_NcFX2Jk3Th4GiritNCYirsiz7uSG5yUmrRzEtazZNl3f_TgscVBsFwffRfVrOeUfJ/s2276/Screen%20Shot%202022-12-15%20at%204.32.02%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1226" data-original-width="2276" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWZOGOa8aEIcSFbHBcrcKilZ3ElOMu78XpGcZ0FCvOL3xVjp-eMuemY_7GjZhzL2rD7XM1CIKL6u6PT3F3QFuaeUDrwVj7YUApL9ZTT14ZK5aslR98u6xJvb_NcFX2Jk3Th4GiritNCYirsiz7uSG5yUmrRzEtazZNl3f_TgscVBsFwffRfVrOeUfJ/w400-h215/Screen%20Shot%202022-12-15%20at%204.32.02%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p>that Brad Dourif didn't think it was worth</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ylhTMjudVLlboE27Kio-W0PwlFYteCsUHanZFR0Ax3M6Z45W12T6GGMB9V8jUbZd91bhEjvhUKvP0u4-zDwZQsC6ntaMx-rxNWzSlrc56OEIb63H-uX2Cqjgfl71xG55z-MWtf2ku0Rjn-sAzoW9NUUwIZcO_FLAwWHmda7jUaqzp--CidlUBg9b/s2276/Screen%20Shot%202022-12-15%20at%204.34.56%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1254" data-original-width="2276" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ylhTMjudVLlboE27Kio-W0PwlFYteCsUHanZFR0Ax3M6Z45W12T6GGMB9V8jUbZd91bhEjvhUKvP0u4-zDwZQsC6ntaMx-rxNWzSlrc56OEIb63H-uX2Cqjgfl71xG55z-MWtf2ku0Rjn-sAzoW9NUUwIZcO_FLAwWHmda7jUaqzp--CidlUBg9b/w400-h220/Screen%20Shot%202022-12-15%20at%204.34.56%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p>going off-book</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi23kXgQLyg-W5T18a9K8ey1sUN7VwXo4JAzPuXBZX6HvWUBh0iEY0e5oIUK9bRbZUoAw9a_VpXL8HanZXqWmXQqEyvficDgDIt3V-iL83VvQkJ3Tffs5xugypTfd9JYYy4UEzILY2llTFIs2qKMGwFK7rnN6z-ZcUZs_IhvJad9tIdfLWRtP8WngiM/s2256/Screen%20Shot%202022-12-15%20at%204.20.36%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1244" data-original-width="2256" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi23kXgQLyg-W5T18a9K8ey1sUN7VwXo4JAzPuXBZX6HvWUBh0iEY0e5oIUK9bRbZUoAw9a_VpXL8HanZXqWmXQqEyvficDgDIt3V-iL83VvQkJ3Tffs5xugypTfd9JYYy4UEzILY2llTFIs2qKMGwFK7rnN6z-ZcUZs_IhvJad9tIdfLWRtP8WngiM/w400-h220/Screen%20Shot%202022-12-15%20at%204.20.36%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p>or even memorizing <br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitLT0GjPNMM7xMQsm9SaNItG7FBnyszGpnrfx3h2F6eKuVdmWEbCq7edqtPGQ9aLUXAIOsULPNfdVrxrv2_82zZPZmBfEOkpOEiLRMBvUS361AYFmQiMPhZKLcZzjg0OLOFaZF5TvwZ26KkYTlV7GUjj_KEX_l6YyDqDGCsjJNV4y0MX5XryAL7Uu9/s2254/Screen%20Shot%202022-12-15%20at%204.22.56%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1240" data-original-width="2254" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitLT0GjPNMM7xMQsm9SaNItG7FBnyszGpnrfx3h2F6eKuVdmWEbCq7edqtPGQ9aLUXAIOsULPNfdVrxrv2_82zZPZmBfEOkpOEiLRMBvUS361AYFmQiMPhZKLcZzjg0OLOFaZF5TvwZ26KkYTlV7GUjj_KEX_l6YyDqDGCsjJNV4y0MX5XryAL7Uu9/w400-h220/Screen%20Shot%202022-12-15%20at%204.22.56%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p>a single line of the script to INTERCEPTOR FORCE, really.<p><br /></p><p>My final toast is for Phillip Roth, writer and director.<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB8plV5rTZGFZEWlKegUMB41TGSEGlarmqtSpbgqeFJRZu8cB6rJNuMnh5jVplcoVbljCvjyfGQseegExNXJ2JqoW0OeD_nkJ4-Cu7CFX9HOS2wQ2XfKFcF6VFgFtg1yAOTk0ymAIucjDErK6WOV6Ia2O4FxNlNEByQ9xx352u6QwFyIHeOpltSNXI/s1696/Screen%20Shot%202022-12-16%20at%205.00.18%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="878" data-original-width="1696" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB8plV5rTZGFZEWlKegUMB41TGSEGlarmqtSpbgqeFJRZu8cB6rJNuMnh5jVplcoVbljCvjyfGQseegExNXJ2JqoW0OeD_nkJ4-Cu7CFX9HOS2wQ2XfKFcF6VFgFtg1yAOTk0ymAIucjDErK6WOV6Ia2O4FxNlNEByQ9xx352u6QwFyIHeOpltSNXI/w400-h208/Screen%20Shot%202022-12-16%20at%205.00.18%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>Sadly, it's Z-movie maven Phillip Roth (ROBOSHARK, LAKE PLACID VS. ANACONDA) and not PORTNOY'S COMPLAINT/PLOT AGAINST AMERICA/AMERICAN PASTORAL Philip Roth. Regardless, I'll leave you all to contemplate the film along with this hastily Photoshopped book cover:</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZr2D7i_5_OuZUkxpsgz8wwf-xCZdOczC7HfyE14QpDifpFhD8iPGoDJh3N7yqZrikMYVrSYG2InyhZSGvpanJZkyl2wB5K7K2lqjwtn3mJzKTA-kKl5hXJMqsNQt2npZ5TcsBjTcyDQpgtjtoemP9vgTzcj7SZGLrvQDb20xFDqOn3m1GkjmapCud/s1260/PhillipRothInterceptorForce.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1260" data-original-width="848" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZr2D7i_5_OuZUkxpsgz8wwf-xCZdOczC7HfyE14QpDifpFhD8iPGoDJh3N7yqZrikMYVrSYG2InyhZSGvpanJZkyl2wB5K7K2lqjwtn3mJzKTA-kKl5hXJMqsNQt2npZ5TcsBjTcyDQpgtjtoemP9vgTzcj7SZGLrvQDb20xFDqOn3m1GkjmapCud/w430-h640/PhillipRothInterceptorForce.jpg" width="430" /></a> <br /></p>Sean Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537515557596273876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5497928641398322495.post-69607857194873796422022-12-21T11:55:00.000-05:002022-12-21T11:55:00.571-05:00Television Review: YES, VIRGINIA, THERE IS A SANTA CLAUS (1991, Charles Jarrott)<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiUuvRHzdp6JUQljOdq1s6KIkVmzPebh4zQ2d3eHAttlCaA1GR7O9Bry95GKEb9zOT1kHsGqlAR8JseHBBpi9DcWkpWiJ0EZIX5YADV4fBq_0VB0sL7U_uk9U3jDipgbQ7P00m-ryFMgU9aXx768j8xfe6AuXBqRNt4-kwbs8KFVqg79nDBhb5KCGTk=s1218" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1218" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiUuvRHzdp6JUQljOdq1s6KIkVmzPebh4zQ2d3eHAttlCaA1GR7O9Bry95GKEb9zOT1kHsGqlAR8JseHBBpi9DcWkpWiJ0EZIX5YADV4fBq_0VB0sL7U_uk9U3jDipgbQ7P00m-ryFMgU9aXx768j8xfe6AuXBqRNt4-kwbs8KFVqg79nDBhb5KCGTk=s320" width="236" /></a>Stars: 2.5 of 5.<br />Running Time: 95 minutes.<br />Notable Cast or Crew: Richard Thomas (STEPHEN KING'S IT '90, WONDER BOYS, THE WALTONS), Charles Bronson (DEATH WISH 3, Mandom spokesman), Ed Asner (THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW, LOU GRANT, JFK), Colleen Winton (THE X-FILES, BIG EYES), Katharine Isabelle (FREDDY VS. JASON, GINGER SNAPS), Frank C. Turner (UNFORGIVEN, multiple AIR BUD movies, Bev Marsh's creepy dad in IT '90).<br />Tag-line: None.<br />Best one-liner: "Aw, Frank, even you were a kid once."<span class="character"> <br />–"Y</span>eah, heh, it took me a lot of years to get over it.<br />"Nobody ever gets over it."</p><p><i>In a familiar, darkened alleyway:</i></p><p>"At last, we're going to spend Christmas the right way."<i></i></p><p><i>–"</i>What do you mean?<i> </i>We've had plenty of good Christmas fare over the years. <a href="http://juntajuleil.blogspot.com/2021/12/only-now-does-it-occur-to-me-dial-code.html">French survival horror</a>, <a href="http://juntajuleil.blogspot.com/2020/12/television-review-christmas-in.html">Arnold Schwarzenegger-directed romantic comedies</a>, <a href="http://juntajuleil.blogspot.com/2013/12/film-review-jingle-all-way-1996-brian.html">Arnold Schwarzenegger cold cocking reindeer</a>, <a href="http://juntajuleil.blogspot.com/2014/12/television-review-christmas-at-pee-wees.html">Grace Jones accidentally mailed to Pee-Wee Herman in a box</a>, <a href="http://juntajuleil.blogspot.com/2015/12/film-review-die-hard-1988-john-mctiernan.html">Nakatomi Plaza holiday celebrations</a>, <a href="http://juntajuleil.blogspot.com/2016/12/film-review-batman-returns-1992-tim.html">Vincent Schiavelli commandeering a life-sized toy choo-choo train of kidnapping and child murder</a>, <a href="http://juntajuleil.blogspot.com/2012/12/only-now-does-it-occur-to-me-home-alone.html">Tim Curry's shit-eating grin</a>, <a href="http://juntajuleil.blogspot.com/2011/12/only-now-does-it-occur-to-me-scrooged.html">Bob Mitchum and John Glover as scene partners</a>, <a href="http://juntajuleil.blogspot.com/2009/12/theater-review-john-waters-christmas.html">a John Waters Christmas</a>, <a href="http://juntajuleil.blogspot.com/2010/12/film-review-elves-1989-jeffrey-mandel.html">Grizzly Adams taking on Nazi elves</a>, and my personal favorite, <a href="http://juntajuleil.blogspot.com/2017/12/film-review-reindeer-games-2000-john.html">Gary Sinise using Ben Affleck as a dartboard</a>."</p><p>"Ah, I don't believe, however, that you said <i>'Charles Bronson</i>' anywhere on that list."</p><p>–"If there was a good Charles Bronson Christmas movie, we would have seen it already, right?"</p><p>"Wrong. Er––half wrong. What we've got here is YES, VIRGINIA THERE IS A SANTA CLAUS, a TV movie from 1991."<br /></p><p>–"1991?! The same year as <a href="http://juntajuleil.blogspot.com/2018/03/only-now-does-it-occur-to-me-indian.html">THE INDIAN RUNNER</a>? Don't tell me you've brought me more 'stacheless Bronson!"</p><p>"No, no, there's Bronson 'stache here, no need to worry."<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiXwmk1EjYFkP8N5Q1q9QH2Fv31zchITIsIRgGgP_w0RyJelrLwHvoCUFzJL-xFJNpbmUHuyinY5gptxCbvPXe3BZeRNagFrnA6vvO4-eRq6DV3hVcSyiiZwn3J3V6Ic8s3oJy5VZAsR28zAhTm3vSLbQpH9CYDjq4zBGxyMFINuqaFsr56ACvCEbXl=s1770" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1090" data-original-width="1770" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiXwmk1EjYFkP8N5Q1q9QH2Fv31zchITIsIRgGgP_w0RyJelrLwHvoCUFzJL-xFJNpbmUHuyinY5gptxCbvPXe3BZeRNagFrnA6vvO4-eRq6DV3hVcSyiiZwn3J3V6Ic8s3oJy5VZAsR28zAhTm3vSLbQpH9CYDjq4zBGxyMFINuqaFsr56ACvCEbXl=w400-h246" width="400" /></a></p><p>–"Is he playing with a <i>baby rattle</i>? What the hell is this movie about?"</p><p>"It's only about the most famous editorial in American newspaper history––Francis Pharcellus Church's 1897 reply to an eight-year-old girl named Virginia who asked if Santa Claus was real. Only he turned his response into a meditation on faith, fancy, romance, poetry, love, beauty, and childlike joy." <br /></p><p>–Okay, I'm not sure where Charles Bronson is going to fit in here. Does he say '<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ak-_8cysltI">Santa's good, I like Santa</a>?' <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvSwpljtxlg">Does Santa try to steal his car?</a> Does he <i>shoot</i> Santa?"<br /></p><p>"No. Try and get into the Christmas spirit. He says, 'No Santa Claus?! Thank God he lives and lives forever. A thousand years
from now, Virginia, nay, ten times 10,000 years from now, he will continue
to make glad the heart of childhood.'"</p><p>–"Ha ha ha, that's pretty good, but I think his numbers are a little off. If he manages to flee the North Pole in time, Santa'll be <i>lucky</i> if he gets a hundred, maybe two hundred years. But I guess they didn't know about climate change back then."</p><p>"Will you stop it? It's Christmas!"</p><p>–"I just don't see how they turn this into a movie. What you just described is a ten minute vignette, tops. Girl writes Bronson; Bronson writes girl. Girl's heart is warmed. The end."</p><p>"Well, they <i>do </i>pad it a little. She doesn't even write Bronson till forty-five minutes into a ninety minute movie."</p><p>–"As long as they pad it with nonstop Bronson action, I'm all good."</p><p>"Well..."</p><p>–"Okay. Why don't you tell me what they actually pad it with."</p><p>"So... Richard Thomas is Virginia's dad."</p><p>–"'John Boy,' from THE WALTONS? 'Stuttering Bill' from the original IT?"</p><p>"The very same. Anyway, he plays an Irish dockworker (with a spotty accent) who loses his job due to racism <br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgOevdTEX1hioTImsQhWDvEfqK2JaAzFJAU4z5NTaG5J_4KDDXVkHGfXdMuxpZJxpFS1Bf4wWpBlUYTODBvybVehpNqJyW_1qi93XXJR-AIFQgPMvCVcbKvhthc8QKf9GA7Xiq2fNOKc780fsRGg5FCP0kZHVt5TdnmZhv-CD4akiqHCJv0HGqZSGOm=s1768" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1098" data-original-width="1768" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgOevdTEX1hioTImsQhWDvEfqK2JaAzFJAU4z5NTaG5J_4KDDXVkHGfXdMuxpZJxpFS1Bf4wWpBlUYTODBvybVehpNqJyW_1qi93XXJR-AIFQgPMvCVcbKvhthc8QKf9GA7Xiq2fNOKc780fsRGg5FCP0kZHVt5TdnmZhv-CD4akiqHCJv0HGqZSGOm=w400-h249" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br />Ethnically motivated fistfights at the docks! What every kid loves in a Christmas movie.</i></span><br /></p><p>and, despite being completely broke, is trying to scrape together enough to buy presents for his five-member family on Christmas."</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRUpK5P-ZiFvN9VODZQHtyJJ_NVqeO8w3IJ9W232ZoLxkOjRtVR6xIZHP18D57Ynhtbu6ezI_94iOyyI9q1AHEv5b-y6OZ3nlgQr4tmhnWf3H34GT4onBw_YoYBrMmebO0tNHYgT42lc0hM2fjIZaKc_k-8EBWhbKcMU5mZBrm3sNQjufswy10v7j1=s1770" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1096" data-original-width="1770" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRUpK5P-ZiFvN9VODZQHtyJJ_NVqeO8w3IJ9W232ZoLxkOjRtVR6xIZHP18D57Ynhtbu6ezI_94iOyyI9q1AHEv5b-y6OZ3nlgQr4tmhnWf3H34GT4onBw_YoYBrMmebO0tNHYgT42lc0hM2fjIZaKc_k-8EBWhbKcMU5mZBrm3sNQjufswy10v7j1=w400-h248" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p>–"That looks like some Bob Cratchit-y bullshit, and I don't have any patience for that. Hey, maybe he should've scraped together enough to buy some condoms instead."</p><p>"Whoa, will you stop it!"</p><p>–"Maybe the movie should be about Virginia? Isn't she in the one in the title?"</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgv9ne4YMXFdifVkaJ6unp0TmAGTg9JtTzrSChUw0sOXZNvChtn3mrrqHtzFM3I-X0RI2EWsBCGU2JaRhKhfDaiRuU4RwX0ew2RMx58Ba4Fy6T0rnLXuEM_vrqMCjxnVLYsT-QuiS4qTYVTNSQNaVQXcMN4Szz2IC-yF89c5ya_vbZr5SSKHEmfPd2x=s1766" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1096" data-original-width="1766" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgv9ne4YMXFdifVkaJ6unp0TmAGTg9JtTzrSChUw0sOXZNvChtn3mrrqHtzFM3I-X0RI2EWsBCGU2JaRhKhfDaiRuU4RwX0ew2RMx58Ba4Fy6T0rnLXuEM_vrqMCjxnVLYsT-QuiS4qTYVTNSQNaVQXcMN4Szz2IC-yF89c5ya_vbZr5SSKHEmfPd2x=w400-h249" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p>"Nah, it's a man's world, bub. Obviously this movie wasn't geared toward kids, or else the main characters probably wouldn't be cigar-chomping dudes who are about four hundred years old."</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhiq6BS2bFvScFSpq2fqrjQ5NUO5SEJV3WkCt39_OgFir_6dshP0e6yO8BrQUmqnVLVuKavrN7RCg3SJAC-4Ta5Dr7ok3G8hErLWW8ziR7hWRev5GYZSraCIBtj00nz0Ir50aW01Ar9xE1amc6d4aFfdBu8v25Ti57WZEE5-JycICHYnB2G5wbzM-W4=s1768" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1096" data-original-width="1768" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhiq6BS2bFvScFSpq2fqrjQ5NUO5SEJV3WkCt39_OgFir_6dshP0e6yO8BrQUmqnVLVuKavrN7RCg3SJAC-4Ta5Dr7ok3G8hErLWW8ziR7hWRev5GYZSraCIBtj00nz0Ir50aW01Ar9xE1amc6d4aFfdBu8v25Ti57WZEE5-JycICHYnB2G5wbzM-W4=w400-h248" width="400" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgq2hG_kMtd90sxSA5Ea5BgbKaFck9lYgURI-pCHYBeWOnIGWc0Bo4bcdK-oTDQfnLvVm3Sbr8NpJlRo7k9U1JQEFC1WQLCSDTuL8igd966_oGYC_1CV_QjGm01AhnPO6oD3I4kPLc5VeuYMF-UuxvlTTlpPuEBUNe0ROUjT2sJVyw4zigyaCVvbde7=s1768" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1100" data-original-width="1768" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgq2hG_kMtd90sxSA5Ea5BgbKaFck9lYgURI-pCHYBeWOnIGWc0Bo4bcdK-oTDQfnLvVm3Sbr8NpJlRo7k9U1JQEFC1WQLCSDTuL8igd966_oGYC_1CV_QjGm01AhnPO6oD3I4kPLc5VeuYMF-UuxvlTTlpPuEBUNe0ROUjT2sJVyw4zigyaCVvbde7=w400-h249" width="400" /></a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigTQKVr9Yegy29D2HxF_7IujxME4DA8hjIK6cmTvnlnXFd6LycYeXWN7-6gRf3-OpHyOmFs8C_cj0Og3Ikpq83TN2-lyg7vyvy7BEDKOY4wGkEDY46ZCgJFGIVApCsw4wc80VJP51-4zdC41tusXN6LNiYrAIygNOxFVLxqtLgb1vetgbT_PS8SWFN=s1776" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1098" data-original-width="1776" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigTQKVr9Yegy29D2HxF_7IujxME4DA8hjIK6cmTvnlnXFd6LycYeXWN7-6gRf3-OpHyOmFs8C_cj0Og3Ikpq83TN2-lyg7vyvy7BEDKOY4wGkEDY46ZCgJFGIVApCsw4wc80VJP51-4zdC41tusXN6LNiYrAIygNOxFVLxqtLgb1vetgbT_PS8SWFN=w400-h248" width="400" /></a></p><p>–"Is that Ed Asner?"</p><p>"Yep. And he's basically playing the exact character he played on THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW, and later, LOU GRANT: he's a gruff, hard-boiled, bossy newspaperman with a corner office and an (eventual) heart of gold."</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhgk1nZW699_Txx_w6U91hxSc-GKDObtOVNwUZpqZxQRfJ504IGPBIqPWX5uy8NiU-tGdyTP9_5eXE1i9UE6wgA1oAeBQHgRoLPPZvSzeIOdhvjNMf9RNKYNpgMBSfD8D-9w8MZ39kF1NYlGJRW6p0LUWhTwJRMtg8oG6JnLKWt39qDB8TyN9p-WiaU=s1766" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1092" data-original-width="1766" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhgk1nZW699_Txx_w6U91hxSc-GKDObtOVNwUZpqZxQRfJ504IGPBIqPWX5uy8NiU-tGdyTP9_5eXE1i9UE6wgA1oAeBQHgRoLPPZvSzeIOdhvjNMf9RNKYNpgMBSfD8D-9w8MZ39kF1NYlGJRW6p0LUWhTwJRMtg8oG6JnLKWt39qDB8TyN9p-WiaU=w400-h248" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p>–"Nice. So tell me about Bronson."</p><p>"As a semi-fictionalized version of the historical Francis Church, he's an alcoholic writer who used to be great, a muck-raking journalist who brought the fight to the robber barons. Asner tolerates him because, even completely soused, his pages are better than most of the other reporters. There are skeptics, however: there's a subplot where some pud named Cornelius (John Novak) busts his balls every time he's at the bar.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4ZAZq7vLWDfHINQGn4Ak2JEnpuIoDulGHKRqSQ4MPG89TfsBITeOjey_RWU3c_4eWqnXgdzpvIWC8AtAu-XgDQOZxLm8G5q0OInLHVhn1tQVN_6QmvcM_4tNDJLaSLe9jULfYJpdGW9B5btCPGKXgNiPQShxyGmR_bwpZnin6Ao6FT2DmsgXgR4EX=s1766" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="1766" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4ZAZq7vLWDfHINQGn4Ak2JEnpuIoDulGHKRqSQ4MPG89TfsBITeOjey_RWU3c_4eWqnXgdzpvIWC8AtAu-XgDQOZxLm8G5q0OInLHVhn1tQVN_6QmvcM_4tNDJLaSLe9jULfYJpdGW9B5btCPGKXgNiPQShxyGmR_bwpZnin6Ao6FT2DmsgXgR4EX=w400-h250" width="400" /></a></p><p>Obviously, this leads to a solid payoff where Bronson punches him in the face.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZU39_2F1jN7vgJ_maHuakkJ2KW2pvE1CyP44lPAxo__N9oJQkyiVIrXC_Duwu-H5jVgKwr0SQ0127LnNROYv8ZdRHOLH5YR2ahbr1n6Uj8fJew8YDz1Ru1yBaKt0-bvXWRjS_w3gfLvjDaBvxq9lOHb4tqr9OkldtujvnR9mZj6YT7CGQ69X_nX9P=s1770" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1096" data-original-width="1770" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZU39_2F1jN7vgJ_maHuakkJ2KW2pvE1CyP44lPAxo__N9oJQkyiVIrXC_Duwu-H5jVgKwr0SQ0127LnNROYv8ZdRHOLH5YR2ahbr1n6Uj8fJew8YDz1Ru1yBaKt0-bvXWRjS_w3gfLvjDaBvxq9lOHb4tqr9OkldtujvnR9mZj6YT7CGQ69X_nX9P=w400-h248" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjB5VeQOcR2V0yz21q2iv1MaZO7gxEgWd73mCxHY8GvRJ5F9RJrllIJGc_qbx8myMB3i_IgS0dWwy23_Yg8xeTv-SQFYayOKe01Olatm2QZLMuA7UqmLjCzih6Oys9jRRjXOC4wx0DRgB-lRIZfl2gntRulAOqNK1Ur05eCM8uwo-lNlkmPl3e9yknz=s1764" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1098" data-original-width="1764" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjB5VeQOcR2V0yz21q2iv1MaZO7gxEgWd73mCxHY8GvRJ5F9RJrllIJGc_qbx8myMB3i_IgS0dWwy23_Yg8xeTv-SQFYayOKe01Olatm2QZLMuA7UqmLjCzih6Oys9jRRjXOC4wx0DRgB-lRIZfl2gntRulAOqNK1Ur05eCM8uwo-lNlkmPl3e9yknz=w400-h249" width="400" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiyFxwgx-BYCcDqpsCPDUpsCMgx4-71HWZCbQ6NvIc8oh-wHms2LFXgZ2CFrVN7OE3w7QhLg4wZ3S5A3nKs94qalzPwKNW5YznXdtkd2802ZlONzxyWN8D_ubKfOnEHSqmrxNUU7s6D_wYH496_yaPO8q97V6-kw4qkxhujkKcLNs_gIMfCnnvQsA-x=s1764" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1098" data-original-width="1764" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiyFxwgx-BYCcDqpsCPDUpsCMgx4-71HWZCbQ6NvIc8oh-wHms2LFXgZ2CFrVN7OE3w7QhLg4wZ3S5A3nKs94qalzPwKNW5YznXdtkd2802ZlONzxyWN8D_ubKfOnEHSqmrxNUU7s6D_wYH496_yaPO8q97V6-kw4qkxhujkKcLNs_gIMfCnnvQsA-x=w400-h249" width="400" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5NFNjzNm_2h8ocZq3yB1RK1x9HCKNmHHostI15UnEGdnAok_PEgFqZTG2IdLmmKrS06yNr6bzez9fCzr5_uaSHLPeqafO9BtTf0Zf8YRp88PY1RUaFPRq0tVqJwip2-09M_NzutTnDSh8VQUbpdSEY5X9pKtEc0TNNMfzBYdALslpvpHbFpzHutc-=s1764" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1092" data-original-width="1764" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5NFNjzNm_2h8ocZq3yB1RK1x9HCKNmHHostI15UnEGdnAok_PEgFqZTG2IdLmmKrS06yNr6bzez9fCzr5_uaSHLPeqafO9BtTf0Zf8YRp88PY1RUaFPRq0tVqJwip2-09M_NzutTnDSh8VQUbpdSEY5X9pKtEc0TNNMfzBYdALslpvpHbFpzHutc-=w400-h248" width="400" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1A5WB7FfvUAHRetoT6daMb6wVvZq0y_9LL37JfoGUyaXGHkYMGhnp82RzOahI1QnZq587SkKXAdWENJn9poZk91s6vcDRnMrdGLcI6_pJiyXJ93CL_Um3EV0octosJ3JXc_SVvzcGBI1fneKMKxY4dL4HfowraTUuB9rumV3Wcgk2YyVROqMedENQ=s1770" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1098" data-original-width="1770" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1A5WB7FfvUAHRetoT6daMb6wVvZq0y_9LL37JfoGUyaXGHkYMGhnp82RzOahI1QnZq587SkKXAdWENJn9poZk91s6vcDRnMrdGLcI6_pJiyXJ93CL_Um3EV0octosJ3JXc_SVvzcGBI1fneKMKxY4dL4HfowraTUuB9rumV3Wcgk2YyVROqMedENQ=w400-h249" width="400" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiEUnQ5zcrq_wnFjn5RWPcQ0px56XS97oASJBxyXKuiDP9urrJmuUObdRPOk87TRQpEGtUe4xavaTv10j13aInJkEiWCYwyviVtU1QLcrxoxrnkYvmzevTWb0AL2DZQK6MOljZraWtX9AgiLkHIkIsUymvzjnRzvbixL6GUGsmgtkKBujYNV5ODZnt3=s1758" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1100" data-original-width="1758" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiEUnQ5zcrq_wnFjn5RWPcQ0px56XS97oASJBxyXKuiDP9urrJmuUObdRPOk87TRQpEGtUe4xavaTv10j13aInJkEiWCYwyviVtU1QLcrxoxrnkYvmzevTWb0AL2DZQK6MOljZraWtX9AgiLkHIkIsUymvzjnRzvbixL6GUGsmgtkKBujYNV5ODZnt3=w400-h250" width="400" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6iXLbtEd5QFLn0ZqzpxevqOlJ2pUEfUMqOXj0jAM9yOAbG1WcergXq8TRMx3_PYoC0a0g94amZu-CS-ubZsw1MqWgeVuEl1feoYcpfMQwhrf4Clvl_NeDz3Ex1SFLGvVOD4vgvWJDOAKsT2-c8aaed905_0NDUYMJunJezIAkxiQDrFdj6SXxiuog=s1760" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1082" data-original-width="1760" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6iXLbtEd5QFLn0ZqzpxevqOlJ2pUEfUMqOXj0jAM9yOAbG1WcergXq8TRMx3_PYoC0a0g94amZu-CS-ubZsw1MqWgeVuEl1feoYcpfMQwhrf4Clvl_NeDz3Ex1SFLGvVOD4vgvWJDOAKsT2-c8aaed905_0NDUYMJunJezIAkxiQDrFdj6SXxiuog=w400-h246" width="400" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBE1fzw-mc4NP0LtVfdfvuxGGf272NcypTlSVVtRtMQbw9hWS4KZTgcnvDkruzjaED3tV8q279yVw762Z_VfTqcMK2QY86kk1GR4rwIRbWRkqIwp5WCnsbUL6aP8rw4ZijeeOVaz7tap5d-PC4pVwtGBb0p9sid3MPbvm1gTX3HJ5XT2vtRqqz2fDo=s1770" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1092" data-original-width="1770" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBE1fzw-mc4NP0LtVfdfvuxGGf272NcypTlSVVtRtMQbw9hWS4KZTgcnvDkruzjaED3tV8q279yVw762Z_VfTqcMK2QY86kk1GR4rwIRbWRkqIwp5WCnsbUL6aP8rw4ZijeeOVaz7tap5d-PC4pVwtGBb0p9sid3MPbvm1gTX3HJ5XT2vtRqqz2fDo=w400-h246" width="400" /></a></p><p>And I'm not gonna lie to you: this is where the movie peaks. Most everybody is trying their best––Bronson and Asner included––but I'm not sure how 'directed' they were. But I can't be too hard on it: it's a TV movie from 1991."</p><p>–"Wait, why is Bronson's character such a drunk?"</p><p>"Prepare yourself: here's the one truly affecting part of the movie. Francis Church is a mess because his wife recently died. Just like Charles Bronson's real-life wife, Jill Ireland, who succumbed to cancer a year before they filmed this. All of the graveyard scenes––in stark contrast with 95% of the movie––have a genuine poignancy."</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiEUl26Rokg2JrPVwUdpgEm_elYjI1x6HPtmYCtrgngi7xmNHm2gma7M5Zuf2T5VrwpiI1DJFe7fFUPs7hJGWmwhGSTV3V2L4XJ4ZH4G2P3NOAisQbtGmuw0NW-mbX8tWUvDG97KZfpnLleC5AMG8Cy3TkC9g3zlHVJpkSmDwoxeHq_TZfPIkdrXBw_=s1774" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1090" data-original-width="1774" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiEUl26Rokg2JrPVwUdpgEm_elYjI1x6HPtmYCtrgngi7xmNHm2gma7M5Zuf2T5VrwpiI1DJFe7fFUPs7hJGWmwhGSTV3V2L4XJ4ZH4G2P3NOAisQbtGmuw0NW-mbX8tWUvDG97KZfpnLleC5AMG8Cy3TkC9g3zlHVJpkSmDwoxeHq_TZfPIkdrXBw_=w400-h246" width="400" /></a></p><p>–"Man, that's heavy. So how does drunken Francis turn it all around and become an inspirational figure?"</p><p>"This is where the teleplay writers get lazy. They have him get the assignment and then he walks around town. He, uh, sees some Christmas-y things on his walk and decides to, uh, throw the bottle away and write his historic editorial."</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEicOmRNXCAAyRg2dTJiHur4Vf04dcaG9GOAz49CZd31SQPxgZHUKdNm-hLnN9vFE2ENsdCK41O1GVkD9r6P3b_DKk332aJMTl1safnsLWqi6VZNORtpV3hD8DER4CH-VX8oR2P1s7FclO_Bm5tEjDHgax808UB-e16WGwmvUzjoS-g-8TmD5QJM2Jkf=s1762" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="1762" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEicOmRNXCAAyRg2dTJiHur4Vf04dcaG9GOAz49CZd31SQPxgZHUKdNm-hLnN9vFE2ENsdCK41O1GVkD9r6P3b_DKk332aJMTl1safnsLWqi6VZNORtpV3hD8DER4CH-VX8oR2P1s7FclO_Bm5tEjDHgax808UB-e16WGwmvUzjoS-g-8TmD5QJM2Jkf=w400-h250" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p>–"He must've seen some serious shit, then, huh?"</p><p>"He saw a toy drive..."</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9YjaQeM_SCWKR0e03WHX0I6nNRdyeJ1rC3c45eGbBCFPkkLB8LxJ1b_VeV9fNI7_54AfBzFjc5IAQuD5y3hghyEFqpHkm09F4yYKX-Hv38NQ1eNuR1Y5F1TvY7eNu571mWuDOeMSOviFR63RjoouV-ZRD_U-zKDjP_lHLjKG_A1kQrDlV9vKGQKMs=s1766" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1100" data-original-width="1766" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9YjaQeM_SCWKR0e03WHX0I6nNRdyeJ1rC3c45eGbBCFPkkLB8LxJ1b_VeV9fNI7_54AfBzFjc5IAQuD5y3hghyEFqpHkm09F4yYKX-Hv38NQ1eNuR1Y5F1TvY7eNu571mWuDOeMSOviFR63RjoouV-ZRD_U-zKDjP_lHLjKG_A1kQrDlV9vKGQKMs=w400-h249" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p>–"Uh huh..."</p><p>"And then he saw a cop about to beat a homeless man who looked like Santa..."</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjJh_3Tw-dyz-oP4LunrkyBWaVYcIMyMoe7S6WbDipB7UiSG5A2HMNGb-mE7aGOT8cc-I_ZvkBNlugddnOn9-tXv62wfnvDQQ5e7bJlAmoA2Q-0oObxKWh1vSxbt9SQRopP6ZZ4Dkh2U4msDLz4vcp-xfBKkParD0NB39YwrVH7yt3XBkD0u0Y_O-O1=s1774" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="1774" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjJh_3Tw-dyz-oP4LunrkyBWaVYcIMyMoe7S6WbDipB7UiSG5A2HMNGb-mE7aGOT8cc-I_ZvkBNlugddnOn9-tXv62wfnvDQQ5e7bJlAmoA2Q-0oObxKWh1vSxbt9SQRopP6ZZ4Dkh2U4msDLz4vcp-xfBKkParD0NB39YwrVH7yt3XBkD0u0Y_O-O1=w400-h249" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p>–"Uh huh..."</p><p>"And then Bronson looked concerned..."</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEges97TSbLfb6K-28B9KDvwavnvtoGaF7wnKAtCDRIdhzR2OGVasGytQU8BuuHfhdps0cTgPL9Lgjro53QCOtRO7uy2YRqM9qnY-kxS2s83vCZ0CI8uwEitnYliC2grvRrIDstPNp1W3Zb3umB4qelMomCTSBpGPRFgUwVsrXVbdWQ2FqGcfx0MdM8l=s1770" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1084" data-original-width="1770" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEges97TSbLfb6K-28B9KDvwavnvtoGaF7wnKAtCDRIdhzR2OGVasGytQU8BuuHfhdps0cTgPL9Lgjro53QCOtRO7uy2YRqM9qnY-kxS2s83vCZ0CI8uwEitnYliC2grvRrIDstPNp1W3Zb3umB4qelMomCTSBpGPRFgUwVsrXVbdWQ2FqGcfx0MdM8l=w400-h245" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p>–"Uh huh..." <br /></p><p>"And then the cop didn't actually beat the homeless man."</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjX8hyt3dmlbX2theFWzKT9jfUeN0LQPpFerNh_qQRY-u9DAXHydxKYC4sBbAF5zqtOV0xf42fld34Yt42z9x1VtbTT96Vaoe_xXRyd0fE9LT_RRx8mke2WnlpgjlaWA4Uz-sE9ClF1tb9L6UChFBBrhfZxwuPfZZTFo1yoCKOxIJXjMCjxQigYnskm=s1766" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1100" data-original-width="1766" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjX8hyt3dmlbX2theFWzKT9jfUeN0LQPpFerNh_qQRY-u9DAXHydxKYC4sBbAF5zqtOV0xf42fld34Yt42z9x1VtbTT96Vaoe_xXRyd0fE9LT_RRx8mke2WnlpgjlaWA4Uz-sE9ClF1tb9L6UChFBBrhfZxwuPfZZTFo1yoCKOxIJXjMCjxQigYnskm=w400-h249" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p>–"Uh huh..."</p><p>"And that's about it."</p><p>–"Uh huh."</p><p>"Hey man, this ain't ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN, nor is it supposed to be. In the end, Virginia's editorial is answered, </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjbcToXU8NA6mqAD-lTtS0ZSBdNx5Ye7igiv_ERuCtaswfTVjkAC8hyhv0J8Ujs2dz0K4zt2ibMRUDdD6rVIDMxmavaDAguxdo2K3jnhYb-q_RjlEybbyJTo1KWti0NDewQ_onOI_82BqYXzXpV9fD6CfbIxWPZHagk7XuF99pKVFw4uxPQaNeW5b_k=s1768" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="1768" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjbcToXU8NA6mqAD-lTtS0ZSBdNx5Ye7igiv_ERuCtaswfTVjkAC8hyhv0J8Ujs2dz0K4zt2ibMRUDdD6rVIDMxmavaDAguxdo2K3jnhYb-q_RjlEybbyJTo1KWti0NDewQ_onOI_82BqYXzXpV9fD6CfbIxWPZHagk7XuF99pKVFw4uxPQaNeW5b_k=w400-h248" width="400" /></a> </p><p>Richard Thomas gets a job as a cop, and a bunch of other people get jobs as cops, too, including his stock Italian immigrant pal who I forgot to mention.<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFUwKGFD4k4huVT89W3KoQxR_fZN1zsnyyE-ZMgjsBDaVs5paPMG_9G5GqVTDYR8wsgDAGmndDm8txseR3nIidHDnfQUdm1UNzpxs7Lee-hrYr2ioh1k70Ae3nnljgENmOX8vNHkQ9BrFgL3Bpm3aVGscZCFiq_nGscfZgHDDKqFVu0ZUj8b_2qUmf=s1768" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="1768" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFUwKGFD4k4huVT89W3KoQxR_fZN1zsnyyE-ZMgjsBDaVs5paPMG_9G5GqVTDYR8wsgDAGmndDm8txseR3nIidHDnfQUdm1UNzpxs7Lee-hrYr2ioh1k70Ae3nnljgENmOX8vNHkQ9BrFgL3Bpm3aVGscZCFiq_nGscfZgHDDKqFVu0ZUj8b_2qUmf=w400-h248" width="400" /></a></p><p> Basically, everybody becomes a cop."</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2Ds_dmPgA7y371FsuLoRo8hYQhvb_S7O0aiTpUx1UflzRj1bMo53X9rAXgP1iRDST5GkCnuuyWxxWP9c1ckETl-FUDiSeoxaCjS2Fdr-3BUwpkWabj02I1564soD_DdT_PWvMaSdH_jyKShmhRMU6D-IYo1-qD90oBGUslK0Ba_Iv4U-OGeJR1ZnN=s1768" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1092" data-original-width="1768" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2Ds_dmPgA7y371FsuLoRo8hYQhvb_S7O0aiTpUx1UflzRj1bMo53X9rAXgP1iRDST5GkCnuuyWxxWP9c1ckETl-FUDiSeoxaCjS2Fdr-3BUwpkWabj02I1564soD_DdT_PWvMaSdH_jyKShmhRMU6D-IYo1-qD90oBGUslK0Ba_Iv4U-OGeJR1ZnN=w400-h248" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p>–"So...are they gonna hunt Paul Kersey, New York vigilante?"</p><p>"Stop trying to bring DEATH WISH into this. It's a sweet holiday movie, where John Boy says things like 'what a bright goose of a boy.'"<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh5ew_KJC1Cd_O7d7DOQmx7uzkGMsrjDkoj0jmZldnJSBkCoEKWZBZefnOhPlvIouVphRGaUYiw2DyASJiuGU6vlG6L5-7eENcf5juxJUHFi429OAllq8cVSFRUT5qxiyRPlG2ud7MsM4fTVM59qEF_CgPf6nEh-SvcvX5YdDfKF0I7M4t5GQk4keGY=s1766" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1090" data-original-width="1766" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh5ew_KJC1Cd_O7d7DOQmx7uzkGMsrjDkoj0jmZldnJSBkCoEKWZBZefnOhPlvIouVphRGaUYiw2DyASJiuGU6vlG6L5-7eENcf5juxJUHFi429OAllq8cVSFRUT5qxiyRPlG2ud7MsM4fTVM59qEF_CgPf6nEh-SvcvX5YdDfKF0I7M4t5GQk4keGY=w400-h248" width="400" /></a></p><p>–"Now <i>that</i> is some of that Bob Cratchit-y bullshit I was talking about."<br /></p><p>"Don't be such a bastard. Can't you derive any pleasure in the fact that Bronson was in a 'Christmas movie period piece?'"</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjKfG1-QAmST_Q35cTvNDydYwr60FaryKrxjZ11ER3xaW4EIhh8fkgLRonMiX8Xayy1UULYEl7m8TlfLmXitdGlN3iIdYkjiCKTFldxkJaKAorf5xi10oqDgM_bWf7wX8YhbmgL_1qf32bMw4ysua1TVAVeWn7EB0cz-OdIAJdYmLb31RDIySl1AU_L=s1772" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1090" data-original-width="1772" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjKfG1-QAmST_Q35cTvNDydYwr60FaryKrxjZ11ER3xaW4EIhh8fkgLRonMiX8Xayy1UULYEl7m8TlfLmXitdGlN3iIdYkjiCKTFldxkJaKAorf5xi10oqDgM_bWf7wX8YhbmgL_1qf32bMw4ysua1TVAVeWn7EB0cz-OdIAJdYmLb31RDIySl1AU_L=w400-h246" width="400" /></a></p><p> –"Eh, I guess."<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p>"Oh yeah, one last thing: so Virginia––who never interacts with Bronson 'in-scene,' and is a supporting character in her own story––is played by Katharine Isabelle, who went on to become a minor horror icon. She's a lead in multiple GINGER SNAPS movies, and appears in THE X-FILES, FREDDY VS. JASON, GOOSEBUMPS, THE RAY BRADBURY THEATER, a 30 DAYS OF NIGHT sequel, and Bryan Fuller's HANNIBAL. Here she is interacting with a produce vendor, played by fellow minor horror icon Frank C. Turner (NEEDFUL THINGS, <a href="http://juntajuleil.blogspot.com/2013/11/only-now-does-it-occur-to-me-fly-ii.html">THE FLY II</a>, ALONE IN THE DARK, <a href="http://juntajuleil.blogspot.com/2010/02/television-review-hitchhikerthe.html">THE HITCHHIKER</a>, WATCHERS, THE X-FILES, the new TWILIGHT ZONE, and, most notably, as Bev's creepy dad in the original IT)!"<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiBIeAV4az9JkaPx5yiiPEFBKkFLrn64IugKIMFOr_WxKHD9U6rWg1YAXgMv74HORlRGQVVl00GF7EMi8ie0IQ7D-aKcxWyV5hwQPWCZ-sLvKMjbdOCPNWPNCPtQVCL1n10qtvW7sa_ecIFufSfWZ8N_5sTWflgMSVUqOep6H3LJN-T0VUOOeinbu8v=s1766" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1098" data-original-width="1766" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiBIeAV4az9JkaPx5yiiPEFBKkFLrn64IugKIMFOr_WxKHD9U6rWg1YAXgMv74HORlRGQVVl00GF7EMi8ie0IQ7D-aKcxWyV5hwQPWCZ-sLvKMjbdOCPNWPNCPtQVCL1n10qtvW7sa_ecIFufSfWZ8N_5sTWflgMSVUqOep6H3LJN-T0VUOOeinbu8v=w400-h249" width="400" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjb-WYSG-hI7bEGsSyXmvTW1EUmoWt9ty3bUGlHIpMD0fTc3zMYg7tDHBFXTUumBmcMKUv6nvTGeezC8xSoLUXItB_wdT6FOdRnuVsrTjch5DD0EuVx8BXoMH4pDwx6AjvmfjquZLDcf8C4hbMv-ggTAkMQ5uNuPHydDHUyI6LJhX4so8MTmUiWgTI7=s1678" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1092" data-original-width="1678" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjb-WYSG-hI7bEGsSyXmvTW1EUmoWt9ty3bUGlHIpMD0fTc3zMYg7tDHBFXTUumBmcMKUv6nvTGeezC8xSoLUXItB_wdT6FOdRnuVsrTjch5DD0EuVx8BXoMH4pDwx6AjvmfjquZLDcf8C4hbMv-ggTAkMQ5uNuPHydDHUyI6LJhX4so8MTmUiWgTI7=w400-h260" width="400" /></a><br /><br />–"Uh. Cool."<br /><br /></p>Sean Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537515557596273876noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5497928641398322495.post-58188700470576937122022-11-26T13:15:00.001-05:002022-11-27T17:23:08.635-05:00Only now does it occur to me... CASA DE LOS BABYS (2003)<p><i>Only now does it occur to me... </i>that I have derived a BLADE RUNNER reference from John Sayles' sensitive and not-at-all science-fiction-related drama, CASA DE LOS BABYS. </p><p>The story of six women (Mary Steenburgen, Lili Taylor, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Marcia Gay Harden, Susan Lynch, and Daryl Hannah) caught in limbo at a Mexican resort, waiting for the paperwork to clear on prospective adoptions, CASA DE LOS BABYS is par for the course in the 'Sayles catalogue': a mosaic of characters, rendered humanistically, and possessing a quiet and universal dignity. </p><p>Of course I'm going to zero in on a moment when Daryl Hannah's character "Skipper"––a Coloradan hippie, who, of all the women, has been waiting the longest––is running along the beach. I couldn't help but feel she was channeling her performance as "Pris," from BLADE RUNNER, <br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhodRT-C5clnaKIYigF5jgXZLK65E8aVGY1tfK0ste4NJzqyHzHeFC6F2yf-SH78z94_AhbO9_S553wZAi5SyADyhlDNGy8yjpgWUApiXpGZETvEy52D_lpi_e8Yr4fRW1JkbQ2m323xpRzoxsNU3GWYKTFw4chSBS0vR2ps9mDJYkKH5fdNyGJfCRM/s1680/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-14%20at%204.41.25%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="1680" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhodRT-C5clnaKIYigF5jgXZLK65E8aVGY1tfK0ste4NJzqyHzHeFC6F2yf-SH78z94_AhbO9_S553wZAi5SyADyhlDNGy8yjpgWUApiXpGZETvEy52D_lpi_e8Yr4fRW1JkbQ2m323xpRzoxsNU3GWYKTFw4chSBS0vR2ps9mDJYkKH5fdNyGJfCRM/w400-h219/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-14%20at%204.41.25%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>who takes great running leaps as she attacks Harrison Ford with her replicant thighs, fists, sticks her fingers up his nose, etc.<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtqdbVwF9RTsFNnaJ1bumhejLovNwzUstjh0mwDKFD_FDipQa5X8txitkGag58q62pmgpY0KhxaPjPuQA-7_uOnFgazZF_uK3cYpfd76yA4x9uAc0anRIRrhHpsuIp1Jyqstazr_SaUIitdEJKvxEWXrQzprOYH2XLuXsTNaM8YuAsFmh1cwEdOian/s2098/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-14%20at%204.44.40%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="956" data-original-width="2098" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtqdbVwF9RTsFNnaJ1bumhejLovNwzUstjh0mwDKFD_FDipQa5X8txitkGag58q62pmgpY0KhxaPjPuQA-7_uOnFgazZF_uK3cYpfd76yA4x9uAc0anRIRrhHpsuIp1Jyqstazr_SaUIitdEJKvxEWXrQzprOYH2XLuXsTNaM8YuAsFmh1cwEdOian/w400-h183/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-14%20at%204.44.40%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>This, you should note, is a <i>stretch</i>. Obviously "Skipper" and "Pris" run in a similar way because they are both portrayed by Daryl Hannah. However, in the following scene, the other women of the Casa are discussing "Skipper" as they wait for her to arrive at lunch.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB7lxBC1_agBJ7Er0Dusf1hV8ofxNRjPKlNvbAQv_yneHjv4enGGOsjFqfL8VLP-dZyNZw22mdcQkSN525cVG9KFhzWizTIHl_U0_NS2i9DoRle8_QVRZQ8XZs_NKy-uKqzA0jLPeJxpK3M2OJ5Plcc9FoKR0o4bJ4bZsrarHA0GWmeqRc1TG6-uDW/s1676/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-14%20at%204.42.08%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="938" data-original-width="1676" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB7lxBC1_agBJ7Er0Dusf1hV8ofxNRjPKlNvbAQv_yneHjv4enGGOsjFqfL8VLP-dZyNZw22mdcQkSN525cVG9KFhzWizTIHl_U0_NS2i9DoRle8_QVRZQ8XZs_NKy-uKqzA0jLPeJxpK3M2OJ5Plcc9FoKR0o4bJ4bZsrarHA0GWmeqRc1TG6-uDW/w400-h224/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-14%20at%204.42.08%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>Soon, a <a href="http://juntajuleil.blogspot.com/2012/10/junta-juleils-guide-to-melancholy-horror.html">STEPFORD WIVES</a> reference gets dropped and Lili Taylor offers some real (trash) talk.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVHsuHEC3f2RGf_mGAP7RkxZ179i_Vm6nQYLuM4aYlFIvhhs92sAKhSuj2Sk8RSBRHK4SmXiuvkxcyYhJYx4Prqvyl17cLhYv60cIT2UN1qwYtTj8fhuAq-iLzhgNtrjO-FuwqHMrjOzBRvhKaebVM9B-OOVnhOZa-IDLHp1dmUOvMThcVdJvQvVV7/s1684/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-14%20at%204.42.32%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="920" data-original-width="1684" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVHsuHEC3f2RGf_mGAP7RkxZ179i_Vm6nQYLuM4aYlFIvhhs92sAKhSuj2Sk8RSBRHK4SmXiuvkxcyYhJYx4Prqvyl17cLhYv60cIT2UN1qwYtTj8fhuAq-iLzhgNtrjO-FuwqHMrjOzBRvhKaebVM9B-OOVnhOZa-IDLHp1dmUOvMThcVdJvQvVV7/w400-h219/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-14%20at%204.42.32%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBjCEBoQUrw3fYmN9Ciq-h0fueiHI20x530lMHSJOfEWeYs7rataBdpXqU8QRCiu6UCVRzgB-xYT6s76HEn4C6jrTpx2NKPQo3oHuAqOMdSI8eW6AeJUOzx50zN3qQSaf__v6eVNyg15OAteqMVH-eyuWEmrVPcKXA8-lkC2g_JATRFZwPtMUIWH0p/s1672/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-14%20at%204.42.44%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="920" data-original-width="1672" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBjCEBoQUrw3fYmN9Ciq-h0fueiHI20x530lMHSJOfEWeYs7rataBdpXqU8QRCiu6UCVRzgB-xYT6s76HEn4C6jrTpx2NKPQo3oHuAqOMdSI8eW6AeJUOzx50zN3qQSaf__v6eVNyg15OAteqMVH-eyuWEmrVPcKXA8-lkC2g_JATRFZwPtMUIWH0p/w400-h220/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-14%20at%204.42.44%20PM.jpg" width="400" /> </a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6VUARzZ7HUn2ZcgMVbyvWneLJgt7rDzSyX9E_cUhqtxQJktpexWBZKkaLjBww7XkgFoJiF0pl9AAlRDmoXWcWz3qZh0qNo0euHqmlN548Rj8SqDu3TzoOPQXwGGPhSCr6IXaOcub_tQU9oo8xiZC_loAbbqGyumiLBBPe2FM2m2VET9mrssIB082j/s1686/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-14%20at%204.43.01%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="928" data-original-width="1686" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6VUARzZ7HUn2ZcgMVbyvWneLJgt7rDzSyX9E_cUhqtxQJktpexWBZKkaLjBww7XkgFoJiF0pl9AAlRDmoXWcWz3qZh0qNo0euHqmlN548Rj8SqDu3TzoOPQXwGGPhSCr6IXaOcub_tQU9oo8xiZC_loAbbqGyumiLBBPe2FM2m2VET9mrssIB082j/w400-h220/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-14%20at%204.43.01%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p> "Someday, one of her microchips is gonna misfire." Alright, I've seen enough, I'm calling it: this is an implicit BLADE RUNNER reference!</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfuEKVUDnw235bVii_3bIxV_HlhlVdoHVYw8dnQR4ms7ZbPnrRy6E5LG_hSxdrr2uob08Kjc9NS2IpcdorTDRMDlu-Lj9znkiP07XD5kZZIkDLE7DGAXGkgcuyMlWY21sjHCh4rH8b0xQGR5K-UNzjosQTO6n8jZqZvnxXj2iFXlCRP2YmhaB3tc1U/s2230/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-14%20at%204.45.14%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="942" data-original-width="2230" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfuEKVUDnw235bVii_3bIxV_HlhlVdoHVYw8dnQR4ms7ZbPnrRy6E5LG_hSxdrr2uob08Kjc9NS2IpcdorTDRMDlu-Lj9znkiP07XD5kZZIkDLE7DGAXGkgcuyMlWY21sjHCh4rH8b0xQGR5K-UNzjosQTO6n8jZqZvnxXj2iFXlCRP2YmhaB3tc1U/w400-h169/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-14%20at%204.45.14%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br />The Nexus 6 microchips barely ever misfire. </i></span><br /></p><p>It's also worth noting that Hannah has a long history of Sayles performance, from CLAN OF THE CAVE BEAR (whose screenplay Sayles wrote) to SILVER CITY (where she plays another Coloradan hippie in a performance which lightly riffs with her role in CASA DE LOS BABYS). In closing, you should watch this movie for reasons unrelated to BLADE RUNNER; it's a good one.<br /></p>Sean Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537515557596273876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5497928641398322495.post-40073563503751754102022-11-12T12:27:00.001-05:002022-11-12T12:27:32.710-05:00Only now does it occur to me... HARPER (1966)<p><i>Only now does it occur to me...</i> that I'd like to take (yet another) moment to celebrate Shelley Winters, whose latter-day career was often defined by playing "women unaware they are in a sham romance with the protagonist" (LOLITA, NIGHT OF THE HUNTER) and yet she rose above this by making exuberant and affirming and actualizing choices on screen. </p><p> Here, in HARPER––William Goldman's attempt at a mid-60s BIG SLEEP–– Winters plays a "wilted starlet" whom Paul Newman's private eye Lew Harper seduces (while pretending to be a superfan with a Texas accent). In relation to the other characters she is meant to be kooky and astrology-crazed. The film does its best to present her as comically undesirable, going as far as to show Paul Newman suffering fatigue while attempting to be nice to her. Shelley's revenge, however, has to be this dance montage where she tries out everything she learned from Debbie Reynolds (don't get me started on Shelley's <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-g2YQ9HgOM">legendary appearance in the Reynolds workout VHS called "DO IT DEBBIE'S WAY" where she does her best to sabotage the whole affair</a>) and does a frantic Frug which culminates in her spilling her drink on Paul Newman.Well, just watch it:<br /></p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QFlflxfe1RI" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><br />A+!Sean Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537515557596273876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5497928641398322495.post-55981926195661489882022-10-11T19:42:00.003-04:002022-10-11T19:42:58.639-04:00R.I.P., Angela Lansbury<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-eXdJHVf9gU" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>Sean Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537515557596273876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5497928641398322495.post-65977033334175850992022-10-08T10:03:00.000-04:002022-10-08T10:03:59.525-04:00Only now does it occur to me... BLUEBEARD (1972)<p><i>Only now does it occur to me... </i>somehow, by putting a drunken Richard Burton into what is essentially a Vincent Price role––playing "Bluebeard," <i>with an actual blue spray-painted beard</i>, in a campy Technicolor French-Italian-German-Hungarian co-production––</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgMlRwxw3sRJUckvpaYTL88EymrpatTb3pB7ylg4C1JJUb4t5mAt-SrolqKVBoYV9AP2vvZozMhZIjM_9Up6o256k-k1eXX9-0OTy9p87rrGEQG4YzVzmif-LleWqtS3OR8h42KYpBRtFTYblqKW2Z-NRkmVFDvyaDzyMk4zMj4Z-WlzgUDq844Uokl=s1674" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="914" data-original-width="1674" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgMlRwxw3sRJUckvpaYTL88EymrpatTb3pB7ylg4C1JJUb4t5mAt-SrolqKVBoYV9AP2vvZozMhZIjM_9Up6o256k-k1eXX9-0OTy9p87rrGEQG4YzVzmif-LleWqtS3OR8h42KYpBRtFTYblqKW2Z-NRkmVFDvyaDzyMk4zMj4Z-WlzgUDq844Uokl=w400-h219" width="400" /></a> </p><p>that you could end up with something that's quite so... mediocre.</p><p>This is an odd duck. It's directed by former Golden Age Hollywood player Edward Dmytryk (CROSSFIRE, THE CAINE MUTINY, and MURDER, MY SWEET), has a haunting soundtrack by Ennio Morricone (which is very reminiscent of his work on DUCK, YOU SUCKER, completed one year prior), and brilliant cinematography (Gábor Pogány),</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgCn6p-H0Wg7NeBayNEH5-pDsNf1XvKKX8PoghdUYrXkqGnvfJ4ZOsgg7XuF2HjK-FhX8-BwoBNGBW5dk0nbiZXI7J_hHA6N3MyocNNtDNC6jHMUmVMqKo0v0QOyKxSjaYx8W4hndpslTr33vy7cfhfcqExmhOP24CXrLcxYK5untHDzRfRPtGo5Yi9=s1694" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1694" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgCn6p-H0Wg7NeBayNEH5-pDsNf1XvKKX8PoghdUYrXkqGnvfJ4ZOsgg7XuF2HjK-FhX8-BwoBNGBW5dk0nbiZXI7J_hHA6N3MyocNNtDNC6jHMUmVMqKo0v0QOyKxSjaYx8W4hndpslTr33vy7cfhfcqExmhOP24CXrLcxYK5untHDzRfRPtGo5Yi9=w400-h215" width="400" /></a> </p><p>art direction (Tamás Vayer ), </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh4M4kCgnKBKJQHekQPi39-EJNsF4vkx0ZxlXW4I8r6CwM0KJkbHYepo_moa4YDsu3qaTuOf4RvOsbQNg-r57uGLYbqVayosaJ7sJKzTAgzc845gqse2SHke__AJRj41EM6yDv0vVJ60Shoga_qy23gRelzM0VL0KAOh8Ghr9iv_IPvu-7-EDFTEx4y=s1690" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="910" data-original-width="1690" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh4M4kCgnKBKJQHekQPi39-EJNsF4vkx0ZxlXW4I8r6CwM0KJkbHYepo_moa4YDsu3qaTuOf4RvOsbQNg-r57uGLYbqVayosaJ7sJKzTAgzc845gqse2SHke__AJRj41EM6yDv0vVJ60Shoga_qy23gRelzM0VL0KAOh8Ghr9iv_IPvu-7-EDFTEx4y=w400-h215" width="400" /></a> </p><p>and set decoration (Boldizsár Simonka), </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiRgpJZYdoeXuW413JBAJ7VX_PDK1NYvAqOHMn19lAL3cOHOO-GXl2QtR47nEjbrnu1Qv70NzTO5lCd2ZcbpB64-XjJTK1OQzL-F_Rud9AlEJsxfUgWg_kh6I02qWwh6A8Xg8sxm32z4aRYOkNoiZnCRbhSMPmH5SrHpKoqqp8r50FL8N3XgRUols1u=s1684" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1684" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiRgpJZYdoeXuW413JBAJ7VX_PDK1NYvAqOHMn19lAL3cOHOO-GXl2QtR47nEjbrnu1Qv70NzTO5lCd2ZcbpB64-XjJTK1OQzL-F_Rud9AlEJsxfUgWg_kh6I02qWwh6A8Xg8sxm32z4aRYOkNoiZnCRbhSMPmH5SrHpKoqqp8r50FL8N3XgRUols1u=w400-h216" width="400" /></a> </p><p>by a trio of talented Hungarians who would rarely find work outside of their own country. It occasionally evokes shades of Mario Bava, Hammer horror flicks, and Nicolas Roeg's work for Roger Corman. All of this is good.<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjetS_7kbkI--HqhY7PRlzpe1Ni5VL5pU6zc3yBz3athESofT_WttCVHxLTvpsxM60Y3WhhfB7FfdYTOwTk0_qcaihfHCwM3jZBPRhGSLS75EIAO7awmF2L9jKJcbI7S3YqSaiShBiP9uL3OVZwZ80st2H7drMwkNXKiFHcn-wXhNMksV2RSk_NYEdV=s1692" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="910" data-original-width="1692" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjetS_7kbkI--HqhY7PRlzpe1Ni5VL5pU6zc3yBz3athESofT_WttCVHxLTvpsxM60Y3WhhfB7FfdYTOwTk0_qcaihfHCwM3jZBPRhGSLS75EIAO7awmF2L9jKJcbI7S3YqSaiShBiP9uL3OVZwZ80st2H7drMwkNXKiFHcn-wXhNMksV2RSk_NYEdV=w400-h215" width="400" /></a></p><p>However, the screenplay (by Dmytryk and three Italian collaborators, based on the dark fairy tale but updated for a 1930s setting) is an absolute train-wreck: unfocused, pretentious, and meandering. Or perhaps it's more like a messy bird attack, ordered by a lethargic Richard Burton on his wife who just blew a raspberry at him?</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgCKOGdnhCyItdzkns5ODphhYdItI_gwxkqt5jy2K1yTJuS2XavJAGmUfT2ajb-ATAJT-JQrt9hV9mpr7EnNwxUMM0GqF-obIfy9xfsSZelIc_B1PER8HDNuTw3pg4iaS9T-lnNwnEKUIRNVOfEUBsJstPY9NPfFJuaZpzJgjMukbTqlWH54NSCBsyf=s1402" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="710" data-original-width="1402" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgCKOGdnhCyItdzkns5ODphhYdItI_gwxkqt5jy2K1yTJuS2XavJAGmUfT2ajb-ATAJT-JQrt9hV9mpr7EnNwxUMM0GqF-obIfy9xfsSZelIc_B1PER8HDNuTw3pg4iaS9T-lnNwnEKUIRNVOfEUBsJstPY9NPfFJuaZpzJgjMukbTqlWH54NSCBsyf=w400-h203" width="400" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjIrM0rOYVD2D09Ubwtq7vTnZG6iac1zuKcrZqo9o2pW8-nSBxuNdlBqckB0iguOyfed6OrxD7Ol3PqfBrH_Ih8RrtQ0VgI441OH7beA6pjmhFwQV8yfNU3NVKBAdcNAlvZ5e3c2NwPVQj7W7qGDe1PFv0N49xVeZRmTeuWivOQx3MH7NEjszxah6eg=s1688" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="912" data-original-width="1688" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjIrM0rOYVD2D09Ubwtq7vTnZG6iac1zuKcrZqo9o2pW8-nSBxuNdlBqckB0iguOyfed6OrxD7Ol3PqfBrH_Ih8RrtQ0VgI441OH7beA6pjmhFwQV8yfNU3NVKBAdcNAlvZ5e3c2NwPVQj7W7qGDe1PFv0N49xVeZRmTeuWivOQx3MH7NEjszxah6eg=w400-h216" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgjrf4PJqwNY0MPw1WySk5Gkc0urtHfENiYouCSibzCQ9x_AMNs8zGAhkfJD0E3kXf19YmkrYhx_y710U6sEo9ti6Vr_8_BRM6ncP9zI9ZipY9-COW1rJp9MzJ3dUoN2zJcgcixytMqaBtoTbBHPAb6v7hnB63ZnQkdRU5SsnIPOqVWwug0nD5HMg8y=s1690" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1690" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgjrf4PJqwNY0MPw1WySk5Gkc0urtHfENiYouCSibzCQ9x_AMNs8zGAhkfJD0E3kXf19YmkrYhx_y710U6sEo9ti6Vr_8_BRM6ncP9zI9ZipY9-COW1rJp9MzJ3dUoN2zJcgcixytMqaBtoTbBHPAb6v7hnB63ZnQkdRU5SsnIPOqVWwug0nD5HMg8y=w400-h215" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiXeruxQ5UxZ_dTV_hyYGQDOA0FxIFXHeKQqVqqeIprxJnW0F1INxzW2cDnqpYi2Dfaa1h_hTVOdPZ-J8WPnFOCJ_YRrr8h1AVnQmJJCMiEL1R04WhIOwVl6A4jVo3dZCboef5uDYA0TJX0Cb1Y_OhZsQ-9oVs2ow9sP-mEFR66d0dqI88I0QOE7AAv=s1686" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="906" data-original-width="1686" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiXeruxQ5UxZ_dTV_hyYGQDOA0FxIFXHeKQqVqqeIprxJnW0F1INxzW2cDnqpYi2Dfaa1h_hTVOdPZ-J8WPnFOCJ_YRrr8h1AVnQmJJCMiEL1R04WhIOwVl6A4jVo3dZCboef5uDYA0TJX0Cb1Y_OhZsQ-9oVs2ow9sP-mEFR66d0dqI88I0QOE7AAv=w400-h215" width="400" /></a></p><p>I'm sorry, I'm afraid I'm making this look better than it is. There <i>is</i> artistic merit here, and, hell, there<i> is</i> camp merit, too, but it keeps getting dragged down into a morass of Italo skin-flickery and wannabe arthouse pomp. Like the Nazi subplot that it can't quite support.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh7poUWnFF5vVxM7-xkA196SRxsc0J_PjFf4UVWvar8YZklEsWZagmzWWpvP3mPu7G3DvWs8ql6M-3AY7wU-TpDMZPUto_QpQ4b4xHrlIDyN-zKrEPfMmvFsP9ZMMB07wd2n-MyxXotlT2XQCxBn4QY28-WzOVqdlf-EI0fydLUM7q-93f9UrrB-6JN=s1680" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="910" data-original-width="1680" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh7poUWnFF5vVxM7-xkA196SRxsc0J_PjFf4UVWvar8YZklEsWZagmzWWpvP3mPu7G3DvWs8ql6M-3AY7wU-TpDMZPUto_QpQ4b4xHrlIDyN-zKrEPfMmvFsP9ZMMB07wd2n-MyxXotlT2XQCxBn4QY28-WzOVqdlf-EI0fydLUM7q-93f9UrrB-6JN=w400-h216" width="400" /></a></p><p><span style="font-size: small;">(That's right, this Bluebeard is also an Austrian Nazi––and the cheapjack scaffolding this film provides can't come close to bearing that historical load.)</span></p><p>So while the director and writers believe it is something closer to CABARET or MEPHISTO, and its design team believes it is something closer to THE ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES or BLOOD AND BLACK LACE, and its star believes that it's his naptime (between his morning tipple and his happy hour), I think the producers––with their reliance on tawdry Eurosleaze thrills––think they're making a Tinto Brass or Joe D'Amato flick. Whew.</p><p> Also, on a semi-related note, there are way more musical numbers in this than I would have imagined.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggwL5wIwHlal7b6kriUcvuVeo2ebTY3nqDSKxk1G4XRDsav8KH0c6ygq9OUZ1xcEzm7ogQs0T77jGq24Et91jfZqw6NSD0DfuZilYy7EVrRMr72DyQeQE8Qc1YJqr3jS8jQDF2ACTK7jnoHhA3e9Xw9c_7FbyVTq4rOTg_CK19aC6j4Osq9gY3Z85q=s1688" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="906" data-original-width="1688" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggwL5wIwHlal7b6kriUcvuVeo2ebTY3nqDSKxk1G4XRDsav8KH0c6ygq9OUZ1xcEzm7ogQs0T77jGq24Et91jfZqw6NSD0DfuZilYy7EVrRMr72DyQeQE8Qc1YJqr3jS8jQDF2ACTK7jnoHhA3e9Xw9c_7FbyVTq4rOTg_CK19aC6j4Osq9gY3Z85q=w400-h215" width="400" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPBXE-MyFqrNTGUErwci1HgMk_ySgXM4-gQ8g20NOQzYC8_eXO7Y9dlA3tsMfnE_dAeH0L-AwfWMSxf6TGJqTuheIxff9H35ivPCbEVWl4LNKiwrT5-VciI7mst2kcmt9PAZehk66h1EWj5UM3ZeQmEUXE2vLk_Sv6cx1dThD9A7eBQ6aPf5Oo_dMs=s1692" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="904" data-original-width="1692" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPBXE-MyFqrNTGUErwci1HgMk_ySgXM4-gQ8g20NOQzYC8_eXO7Y9dlA3tsMfnE_dAeH0L-AwfWMSxf6TGJqTuheIxff9H35ivPCbEVWl4LNKiwrT5-VciI7mst2kcmt9PAZehk66h1EWj5UM3ZeQmEUXE2vLk_Sv6cx1dThD9A7eBQ6aPf5Oo_dMs=w400-h214" width="400" /></a></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Oh, and Raquel Welch kinda sorta plays a nun. Maybe Ken Russell should have directed this. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjYoxt9UoQKPe9goU6v8aWwlXp4L7UiMAL5whAOgvETkA0j4GAm-c_pqgzbuOOQ9GKRkZlWEjoGOH6ntFOFehrIfMfFh-5O6hpFjIurWS7SHP_LOrTI1lkonlq_5P9QrYnqK7vWHWy1DMn2EAeYTZIErDeXCZWUqIQXpvyxybEvc2O78l8TPRUz7i-8=s1700" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="910" data-original-width="1700" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjYoxt9UoQKPe9goU6v8aWwlXp4L7UiMAL5whAOgvETkA0j4GAm-c_pqgzbuOOQ9GKRkZlWEjoGOH6ntFOFehrIfMfFh-5O6hpFjIurWS7SHP_LOrTI1lkonlq_5P9QrYnqK7vWHWy1DMn2EAeYTZIErDeXCZWUqIQXpvyxybEvc2O78l8TPRUz7i-8=w400-h214" width="400" /></a><br />Speaking of Ken Russell, there's a ridiculous phallic moment where one of Bluebeard's wives cheats on him and then makes the mistake of falling asleep, naked, entwined with her lover beneath a rhino horn antler-chandelier. Which Burton gleefully unleashes upon the couple, impaling them.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggPS_wD6AtmuS8A84ub_gHPoeHNVBdYKnnpVamJHHjg-0S-e9lSWP6WbEk3oFDvMgo0bliRzDERLWSrG5r--vsIZXCKUIdeakGSrdg702MtQ-w8iDHmT-lgZxqcpxIq9b8jrgvq1MxKrPmPztDZWYO55m-Ky-wQ6usXQDcXfokHTw2I6J5JW87orLF=s1692" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="912" data-original-width="1692" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggPS_wD6AtmuS8A84ub_gHPoeHNVBdYKnnpVamJHHjg-0S-e9lSWP6WbEk3oFDvMgo0bliRzDERLWSrG5r--vsIZXCKUIdeakGSrdg702MtQ-w8iDHmT-lgZxqcpxIq9b8jrgvq1MxKrPmPztDZWYO55m-Ky-wQ6usXQDcXfokHTw2I6J5JW87orLF=w400-h215" width="400" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZNVxxRFaYFoOscsipRXJF1UU_MK9g86CzgX4fS2aVBcPXBLsj8tM9M7DznSBKXGCyjFoOD8HrhLtMJMZG-tfkmJJ08YOr7KAs5UTcJg9JKwipsUvLnzNR4g5h6zgk61NMfZ32p705uDV5RcVluhwPAomYBuk2H-5weK8790pd4PRU1SBnYxRqZgYQ=s1688" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="894" data-original-width="1688" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZNVxxRFaYFoOscsipRXJF1UU_MK9g86CzgX4fS2aVBcPXBLsj8tM9M7DznSBKXGCyjFoOD8HrhLtMJMZG-tfkmJJ08YOr7KAs5UTcJg9JKwipsUvLnzNR4g5h6zgk61NMfZ32p705uDV5RcVluhwPAomYBuk2H-5weK8790pd4PRU1SBnYxRqZgYQ=w400-h211" width="400" /></a><br /></p><p>And even though it's set in the 1930s, I guess Joey Heatherton is playing "Shirley Partridge" from THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY?<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg1I4x5tYWymHMuq6wg2DEGZ9uYrrphC7kOH_PJ59sj0WebWj2j5xnnqUrcQ9eyaroRECULh1XeHle0PfBJLbwrrGbw0njHe8oj0n3PSau-Tx-c0RP24vwqkTHNt6EbBGw0iiQqT-yYC4p27FwvJ54S3NCOWvHdmw7IeMq9CUtaS1Sr9-a21b8ePHrZ=s1698" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="902" data-original-width="1698" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg1I4x5tYWymHMuq6wg2DEGZ9uYrrphC7kOH_PJ59sj0WebWj2j5xnnqUrcQ9eyaroRECULh1XeHle0PfBJLbwrrGbw0njHe8oj0n3PSau-Tx-c0RP24vwqkTHNt6EbBGw0iiQqT-yYC4p27FwvJ54S3NCOWvHdmw7IeMq9CUtaS1Sr9-a21b8ePHrZ=w400-h213" width="400" /></a></p><p>Damn, there I go again, making this look better than it is. Anyway, just go watch <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluebeard_(2009_film)">Catherine Breillat's BLUEBEARD</a> instead.<br /></p>Sean Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537515557596273876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5497928641398322495.post-40651224212797388842022-09-25T16:15:00.000-04:002022-09-25T16:15:00.088-04:00Only now does it occur to me... ALIENS: GENOCIDE (1992)<p><i> Only now does it occur to me...</i> that ranking the best ALIEN-related media goes something like this:</p><p><br /></p><p>#1. ALIEN (1979)<br /></p><p>#2. ALIENS (1986)<br /></p><p>#3. That ALIEN comic book where a space marine throws a saxophone at a Xenomorph</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmUTBr9nNYkr4SKC4u-OZ0UE9oCBEOTaNDucN332JlLiELICKGW1kI8sKNV2TLBXjEgWPKK8C2eJGOM-k7hv9bq_uzAXPzlkSgniAxUscmbNm1ZGuerCGxmGRA08DasvWsTPVExy8qxoE-0ZIOH_QENDL0CSeIie7Rqv4aXJbarwFRg9gaSpY9yB8s/s2442/Screen%20Shot%202022-09-25%20at%204.05.13%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1324" data-original-width="2442" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmUTBr9nNYkr4SKC4u-OZ0UE9oCBEOTaNDucN332JlLiELICKGW1kI8sKNV2TLBXjEgWPKK8C2eJGOM-k7hv9bq_uzAXPzlkSgniAxUscmbNm1ZGuerCGxmGRA08DasvWsTPVExy8qxoE-0ZIOH_QENDL0CSeIie7Rqv4aXJbarwFRg9gaSpY9yB8s/w400-h216/Screen%20Shot%202022-09-25%20at%204.05.13%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR5sliRgBnmO9uHSKpW5m0jqMUse0sRdv5lfBsfFAFDAlP3oOxg5mHEYprR71Se7bnqkbeae1sMIE5JJ259-mJ6RUzb7fxo-kp074GK3ghSHNSbqP6lI_EItNW0ibk9qXIVoZlv_uG6v4MgzkITKZkcyMg9Jee6SBqz1m-8sidy9yExKcLvpmUAqsw/s1976/Screen%20Shot%202022-09-25%20at%204.05.22%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1976" data-original-width="1010" height="778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR5sliRgBnmO9uHSKpW5m0jqMUse0sRdv5lfBsfFAFDAlP3oOxg5mHEYprR71Se7bnqkbeae1sMIE5JJ259-mJ6RUzb7fxo-kp074GK3ghSHNSbqP6lI_EItNW0ibk9qXIVoZlv_uG6v4MgzkITKZkcyMg9Jee6SBqz1m-8sidy9yExKcLvpmUAqsw/w399-h778/Screen%20Shot%202022-09-25%20at%204.05.22%20PM.jpg" width="399" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdhaSbGva1WL8No0TiaP85BCZHb1DPQNyR31DiAtwMvfPTJEXKluOqr07tUvr-oIYg9Z7WIntIUXpeM9SabBZFiF0zMOM6VA7V14b8PjFpNAMOD5SEs3CJwyGOu1MJLcOoYhyyEwtai7R6tRfjJKcsFBU1bE_7_MnHQmNgFliY-cEY0cq5xLaHDo9X/s2340/Screen%20Shot%202022-09-25%20at%204.05.31%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2306" data-original-width="2340" height="391" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdhaSbGva1WL8No0TiaP85BCZHb1DPQNyR31DiAtwMvfPTJEXKluOqr07tUvr-oIYg9Z7WIntIUXpeM9SabBZFiF0zMOM6VA7V14b8PjFpNAMOD5SEs3CJwyGOu1MJLcOoYhyyEwtai7R6tRfjJKcsFBU1bE_7_MnHQmNgFliY-cEY0cq5xLaHDo9X/w397-h391/Screen%20Shot%202022-09-25%20at%204.05.31%20PM.jpg" width="397" /></a></p><p>and after the space marines leave, said Xenomorph thinks about learning to play it. Objectively, this rules.<br /></p><p> </p><p> </p><p>[For the curious, the comic in question is Dark Horse's ALIENS: GENOCIDE (1991-1992). I've only read the first two of six ALIEN omnibuses and they are <i>extremely</i> hit or miss. Some are excellent and carry novel concepts into the ALIEN universe (humans worshipping Xenomorphs in a death cult) or offer closure that ALIEN 3 denied us (the continued adventures of Newt and Hicks––renamed "Billie and Wilks" so as not to bruise the egos of the makers of ALIEN 3?). Others are hot garbage, basically deadline slapdash. Your mileage may vary!]<br /></p>Sean Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537515557596273876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5497928641398322495.post-58624694369686142712022-09-16T14:35:00.005-04:002022-09-16T14:35:52.125-04:00"The Marked Book" Chosen as a 2022 Lascaux Prize Finalist<p><em></em></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXaz3PRfEvRnb8qFcbQygOyxjpSuCuJf4TxoG_qj_kW6VK9XLG2pIiUzZvGyj-Ju0NP6qspsUm39YeJwV4vLIyQRUix-kmKzFYwlsJlP2pyR-KQ_DMmiIyjIGQuc_MzaEIyomNrcLj1hBVjnjYt8VjSL4YW31o-UTBxnfekcpAYM01PrI_BHRzmthb/s990/Screen%20Shot%202022-09-16%20at%2011.45.18%20AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="990" data-original-width="908" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXaz3PRfEvRnb8qFcbQygOyxjpSuCuJf4TxoG_qj_kW6VK9XLG2pIiUzZvGyj-Ju0NP6qspsUm39YeJwV4vLIyQRUix-kmKzFYwlsJlP2pyR-KQ_DMmiIyjIGQuc_MzaEIyomNrcLj1hBVjnjYt8VjSL4YW31o-UTBxnfekcpAYM01PrI_BHRzmthb/w183-h200/Screen%20Shot%202022-09-16%20at%2011.45.18%20AM.jpg" width="183" /></a></em></div><em>The Lascaux Review</em> has just announced that <a href="https://lascauxreview.com/contest-results/">my short story, "The Marked Book," has been chosen as a finalist</a> for their 2022 Prize in Flash Fiction. It will appear in print in their next volume, <em>The Lascaux Prize Anthology</em>.
<p></p>Sean Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537515557596273876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5497928641398322495.post-30831418739120408852022-08-19T09:56:00.001-04:002022-08-19T09:56:53.365-04:00Television Review: ZUMA BEACH (1978, Lee H. Katzin)<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjreljB1AY5aC7BsRoAI113ZUgihOKkF8EfNVXA-mccf6lk97H1WReJmmSe4MHoUbms1CCFsUn1_CztD-fFC23S-ezO8t5r4szQgb9ydqVed915iI5Tc1eOgY6zW8eEh33cnq2_ZK0sR84G6APQD9-9KoH-5MSrpgaloGx7SFqiE7JeiAZi19ykVmIi/s992/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-13%20at%206.45.04%20PM.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="992" data-original-width="696" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjreljB1AY5aC7BsRoAI113ZUgihOKkF8EfNVXA-mccf6lk97H1WReJmmSe4MHoUbms1CCFsUn1_CztD-fFC23S-ezO8t5r4szQgb9ydqVed915iI5Tc1eOgY6zW8eEh33cnq2_ZK0sR84G6APQD9-9KoH-5MSrpgaloGx7SFqiE7JeiAZi19ykVmIi/s320/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-13%20at%206.45.04%20PM.jpg" width="225" /></a>Stars: 2 of 5.<br />Running Time: 104 minutes.<br />Notable
Cast or Crew: Suzanne Somers (THREE'S COMPANY, SERIAL MOM), Michael Biehn (ALIENS, TOMBSTONE, THE TERMINATOR), Rosanna Arquette (PULP FICTION, AFTER HOURS, DESPERATELY SEEKING SUSAN), P.J. Soles (HALLOWEEN, ROCK N' ROLL HIGH SCHOOL, CARRIE), Tanya Roberts (THE BEASTMASTER, A VIEW TO A KILL), Steven Keats (DEATH WISH, THE FRIENDS OF EDDIE COYLE), Mark Wheeler (THE CONVERSATION, APOLLO 13), Gary Imhoff (SUMMER SCHOOL, THE GREEN MILE), Delta Burke (DESIGNING WOMEN, WHAT WOMEN WANT), Kimberly Beck (ROLLER BOOGIE, FRIDAY THE 13TH PART IV: THE FINAL CHAPTER).<br />Tagline: "Her life had suddenly become a long drive to nowhere... so what better place to get it all together than her old stomping grounds, Zuma Beach! Let's get it together with a batch of beach boys and their golden girls... frolic with Suzanne Somers on Zuma Beach!"<br />Best one-liner: "Have some confidence in yourself." –"I can't. It's 9:30, and the stores stop selling confidence at five o'clock. And tomorrow is a holiday."</p><p><br /></p><p></p><blockquote>"I wrote that for a producer who just said he wanted a beach movie. He
ended up selling it to Warner Bros., and soon Suzanne Somers was
starring in it. I was going to direct it––for about ten seconds––but one
of my mentors, Richard Kobritz, who later produced <i>Christine</i>,
helped me see I didn’t want to do it. It was vastly rewritten, so I
really shouldn’t have taken credit for it, but I was a little asshole in
those days."</blockquote><p></p><p>–John Carpenter, when asked about ZUMA BEACH by <i>Fangoria</i> in 2013 </p><p> </p><p>Almost ten years ago, I did a "Poor Man's Carpy" series on this blog, devoted to John Carpenter marginalia like the co-scripted TV movie <a href="https://juntajuleil.blogspot.com/2013/10/television-review-silent-predators-1999.html">SILENT PREDATORS</a>, the Tommy Lee Wallace-helmed <a href="https://juntajuleil.blogspot.com/2013/12/film-review-vampires-los-muertos-2002.html">VAMPIRES: LOS MUERTOS</a>, trashy Hallo-sequels <a href="https://juntajuleil.blogspot.com/2013/10/film-review-halloween-666-curse-of.html">HALLOWEEN 666</a> and <a href="https://juntajuleil.blogspot.com/2013/10/film-review-halloween-resurrection-2002.html">RESURRECTION</a>, and the Dennis Etchison novelizations of <a href="https://juntajuleil.blogspot.com/2013/10/book-review-fog-novelization-1980.html">THE FOG</a> and <a href="https://juntajuleil.blogspot.com/2013/10/book-review-halloween-iii-season-of.html">HALLOWEEN III: SEASON OF THE WITCH</a>. One which slipped under the radar was ZUMA BEACH. So here we are, in the dog days of summer, finally taking a look at this forgotten CBS Late Movie "sort of" written by Carpenter and three other guys.<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGUnc0SxHGE251nKYSRTDyiCWHN0GsP9ZuVyaCfY8nGYBkX-k5z1gnsLrlV6H4r0AikxkC9OacOkeheSLoU-RQ21OxMCPFWgJopo-DtDkbXZs5K084OoXyrJsFujvC8WRWhBZ5ztCG1ebQuwN-pWwAG_CDI2I4OUoa2RJu3z02YBQsBGzhI8b5FGTd/s1652/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-13%20at%205.49.33%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1238" data-original-width="1652" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGUnc0SxHGE251nKYSRTDyiCWHN0GsP9ZuVyaCfY8nGYBkX-k5z1gnsLrlV6H4r0AikxkC9OacOkeheSLoU-RQ21OxMCPFWgJopo-DtDkbXZs5K084OoXyrJsFujvC8WRWhBZ5ztCG1ebQuwN-pWwAG_CDI2I4OUoa2RJu3z02YBQsBGzhI8b5FGTd/w400-h300/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-13%20at%205.49.33%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>What can we learn about John Carpenter from ZUMA BEACH? Very little, I'm sure, given his above quote, but I think it's worth looking into. (Says the guy who did a <a href="http://juntajuleil.blogspot.com/2010/10/music-review-waiting-out-eighties-part.html">two-part</a> <a href="http://juntajuleil.blogspot.com/2010/10/music-review-waiting-out-eighties-part_11.html">deep dive</a> into John Carpenter's filmmaker-buddy-garage band, The Coupe de Villes.)</p><p>It's a straightforward slice of life, giggle and jiggle flick designed to eliminate two hours on a lazy, hazy summer evening. Though it ends with a volleyball game, it never even possesses stakes as high as in <a href="https://juntajuleil.blogspot.com/2022/06/only-now-does-it-occur-to-me-side-out.html">SIDE OUT</a>. </p><p> Suzanne Somers plays a pop star (whose big hit is the fictitious "Silent Whisper"), and she's having a mid-career crisis. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc3HhUgrqitsM6iPd2uc_tbRkYB8j0WRaFRtikN-Rs5i0ODDyMxjPVmU04CBE5pqAM7S0bHGClhY3rq7o_RkFRC7Hpk4msUMCz01Xzcwz_CblosH02vt70v7njx6BjGFQXiopydG1UJi8qmWp2gvm78VWwyyfJHw8DUof6MxcibVK5qpW1x-v_QgHB/s1656/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-13%20at%205.49.10%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1246" data-original-width="1656" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc3HhUgrqitsM6iPd2uc_tbRkYB8j0WRaFRtikN-Rs5i0ODDyMxjPVmU04CBE5pqAM7S0bHGClhY3rq7o_RkFRC7Hpk4msUMCz01Xzcwz_CblosH02vt70v7njx6BjGFQXiopydG1UJi8qmWp2gvm78VWwyyfJHw8DUof6MxcibVK5qpW1x-v_QgHB/w400-h301/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-13%20at%205.49.10%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> </p><p>In need of a reset, she clears her head at Zuma Beach, where she once enjoyed poetry and sand castles as a child. Zuma Beach is populated with a rogue's gallery of horny teens, pre-makeover nerds, beach bums, surfers, football jerks, hot dog enthusiasts, kite fliers, windjammers, cool visor-dudes and the like.</p><p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmmenQRciVlPHRJoDnEvLITMypr9CCJ962XAgIY-5piqFaMYKJFRf7KpEIZ1CJ3tBB0yj_UoKGdtyB6F0hCZodoTW4gYqWeUa4IpsMc3HpEnV1-L9SQJ7L5ULkribdbP1yeeqNNulpceqJ4t3zYDusBA55OsAsl3PgUOJmLLU76olGLbRTCj5OmCr-/s1638/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-13%20at%205.54.40%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1252" data-original-width="1638" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmmenQRciVlPHRJoDnEvLITMypr9CCJ962XAgIY-5piqFaMYKJFRf7KpEIZ1CJ3tBB0yj_UoKGdtyB6F0hCZodoTW4gYqWeUa4IpsMc3HpEnV1-L9SQJ7L5ULkribdbP1yeeqNNulpceqJ4t3zYDusBA55OsAsl3PgUOJmLLU76olGLbRTCj5OmCr-/w400-h306/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-13%20at%205.54.40%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL4RffbqRkpOF5-DOdykvlylZ9-k_vEZ0k3Zqa0ySMuqF7KS_caUD3GjyrgFm6lunABgHOc8iThVhDSvLwODzbRkFgW7Lgd78dWlQx30Xq8gRLFigWRXbiUdaXs2cyCasItAnfWcDUqVWMmWCaH-UkX5-31fB1wuAiUThYz24ssR2tIgRrUdgXCGbC/s1650/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-13%20at%205.51.08%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1238" data-original-width="1650" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL4RffbqRkpOF5-DOdykvlylZ9-k_vEZ0k3Zqa0ySMuqF7KS_caUD3GjyrgFm6lunABgHOc8iThVhDSvLwODzbRkFgW7Lgd78dWlQx30Xq8gRLFigWRXbiUdaXs2cyCasItAnfWcDUqVWMmWCaH-UkX5-31fB1wuAiUThYz24ssR2tIgRrUdgXCGbC/w400-h300/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-13%20at%205.51.08%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmmenQRciVlPHRJoDnEvLITMypr9CCJ962XAgIY-5piqFaMYKJFRf7KpEIZ1CJ3tBB0yj_UoKGdtyB6F0hCZodoTW4gYqWeUa4IpsMc3HpEnV1-L9SQJ7L5ULkribdbP1yeeqNNulpceqJ4t3zYDusBA55OsAsl3PgUOJmLLU76olGLbRTCj5OmCr-/s1638/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-13%20at%205.54.40%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <br /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikfMN6NjP-_Vrp8LCEyVCmk8eH0u-Lu0SF2ujBa5RnuyMJzB-Ti9ZHd62vLlGuy2kC26J8EEH-6j0b8kpw6lmiS3epiS03Myk8G0CuCpQuBS2A7vqHXQLZRuaCsvap9B2nFK5C5OSwDCxwrisRvn2ZlU_D-rno-UDOzqE8IVfNyLTb8-SRg2Z6fn6N/s1644/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-13%20at%205.50.00%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1258" data-original-width="1644" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikfMN6NjP-_Vrp8LCEyVCmk8eH0u-Lu0SF2ujBa5RnuyMJzB-Ti9ZHd62vLlGuy2kC26J8EEH-6j0b8kpw6lmiS3epiS03Myk8G0CuCpQuBS2A7vqHXQLZRuaCsvap9B2nFK5C5OSwDCxwrisRvn2ZlU_D-rno-UDOzqE8IVfNyLTb8-SRg2Z6fn6N/w400-h306/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-13%20at%205.50.00%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>Somers becomes something of a beach elder here, primarily because it's a teenage hotspot. She dispenses wisdom, smiles pensively, and takes in some rays. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibwP0s5itQGCuprb6-95BRxoXD-Esyknzev2_r9P6UDwgBQzlUIUuVZeSquwh76st9wyNbKFYghWxI4Y6O8F5szRpBA6raWivE-h1G9SYbjQ0QCUcwR9x5teYQrbnFIOia_AlSMLB932y1zol6641t0FQQan2JHT5PcdTHUXuIaadxATz5jYROomcc/s1652/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-13%20at%205.51.34%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1244" data-original-width="1652" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibwP0s5itQGCuprb6-95BRxoXD-Esyknzev2_r9P6UDwgBQzlUIUuVZeSquwh76st9wyNbKFYghWxI4Y6O8F5szRpBA6raWivE-h1G9SYbjQ0QCUcwR9x5teYQrbnFIOia_AlSMLB932y1zol6641t0FQQan2JHT5PcdTHUXuIaadxATz5jYROomcc/w400-h301/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-13%20at%205.51.34%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> </p><p>Bullies vaguely receive their comeuppance, romances spark and fizzle, and everyone more or less fritters the summer away. This is ZUMA BEACH, ladies and gentlemen. It's so dedicated to its quotidian ensemble that if it were better written and had more interesting characters, it might even feel like an Altman or Linklater flick. As is, it's merely a pleasant time-waster filled with bright 1970s colors and some amusing and unexpected performances. For reference, the real Zuma Beach is in Malibu, about a 70 minute drive from the <a href="http://juntajuleil.blogspot.com/2008/11/film-review-prince-of-darkness-1987.html">PRINCE OF DARKNESS</a> church.</p><p>If I were trying to draw a real John Carpenter connection, I'd probably compare it to THE FOG, which also sees a strong woman adjacent to the music industry (Adrienne Barbeau as "DJ Stevie Wayne") finding her footing in a California beach community. There are even times that ZUMA BEACH feels like "a Carpenter horror movie, but before the horror begins."</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZC7s9Jj_9uhv7Wv_xCUQMlNHXVwH4MMFgzuEGkX0YipIi683uIo_cppDTnws-3QL681NMrgu8L4Uc8Eu63aj_SgI18fIIKwJYQzp61IO9xpAEcNWJ1DEiJzGROaNF6l4BZGrwjbPj2EBJRw_537WMzvJbhG_bhhfnA_7-9w3ivxufctGeDl3BbStk/s1644/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-13%20at%205.50.20%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1244" data-original-width="1644" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZC7s9Jj_9uhv7Wv_xCUQMlNHXVwH4MMFgzuEGkX0YipIi683uIo_cppDTnws-3QL681NMrgu8L4Uc8Eu63aj_SgI18fIIKwJYQzp61IO9xpAEcNWJ1DEiJzGROaNF6l4BZGrwjbPj2EBJRw_537WMzvJbhG_bhhfnA_7-9w3ivxufctGeDl3BbStk/w400-h303/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-13%20at%205.50.20%20PM.jpg" width="400" /><i></i></a><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />The image of a child playing with his dog in the surf... recalls Stevie Wayne's son finding a plank from the Elizabeth Dane in THE FOG? C'mon, I'm trying here.</span></i><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Oh, and there is a lot of feathered hair in this movie. Might I remind you that it was shot in 1978.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSsUJThBRURlIdx2uyb5kgubHh1_vTYZfXtvYahdXDWYactj5DXKENnQT97yNkrpycVVyCpJqLyAB0RJPkIIlg9kC8C6uSLlsxtydCQZrCBopuMjACMrgt7GeTpMHK3UPUG6AT5zmyIh6echCiwoOlU0TwVkXdsnujPtm4BCtuC5Iu-NxdQB9VZEwl/s1642/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-13%20at%205.52.36%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1240" data-original-width="1642" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSsUJThBRURlIdx2uyb5kgubHh1_vTYZfXtvYahdXDWYactj5DXKENnQT97yNkrpycVVyCpJqLyAB0RJPkIIlg9kC8C6uSLlsxtydCQZrCBopuMjACMrgt7GeTpMHK3UPUG6AT5zmyIh6echCiwoOlU0TwVkXdsnujPtm4BCtuC5Iu-NxdQB9VZEwl/w400-h303/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-13%20at%205.52.36%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Mark Wheeler's elaborate feathered coiffure helmet puts Mark Hamill's to shame </i></span><br /></p><p>With such a bare bones plot, you start focusing on strange details. Like Suzanne Somers' suntan oil, which looks like it's being dispensed from an Elmer's glue bottle.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGf50NCnUBCWQ5t2Z7tNDJ0zMnM3Q-294BaGM3hZCnV24BhzxzAltmKfI9uVX3YhZrRpqPOKpdmZVtwi1W8iKGl4z7_K0Q3hEOV8MpvfNEDDMWotHkXZjgb113wwdTFILmbEBIBb8mKcwAVZr8nOuSxJ3fc3EN6ktZVwkLKQHg0te4bGGVLYbkgHQZ/s1652/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-13%20at%205.54.17%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1252" data-original-width="1652" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGf50NCnUBCWQ5t2Z7tNDJ0zMnM3Q-294BaGM3hZCnV24BhzxzAltmKfI9uVX3YhZrRpqPOKpdmZVtwi1W8iKGl4z7_K0Q3hEOV8MpvfNEDDMWotHkXZjgb113wwdTFILmbEBIBb8mKcwAVZr8nOuSxJ3fc3EN6ktZVwkLKQHg0te4bGGVLYbkgHQZ/w400-h304/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-13%20at%205.54.17%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>We have young, Toto-era Rosanna Arquette as a character who tokes a lot of reefer. She's doing that quirky comedic 'Rosanna Arquette thing,' mostly indistinguishable from her performances in AFTER HOURS and DESPERATELY SEEKING SUSAN, which is okay!</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkzZF3j-pa638oMIkzh6Rp9dWjmBHa8aAzT60WtxVlCrNOKFYBjGVTviLzfwrLSUBX9cBjBsIBw_VxgrNQLLG0IJ5ZJOoLtXDvDA-RgLwa1ptO-55GtUEpvoNt3LUWscUSG3VGDscRhEE2xL4RtBLdkD3bwTI4FDAv3HqJ-xelE0I-41qy6PcWEUqC/s1652/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-13%20at%205.53.22%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1250" data-original-width="1652" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkzZF3j-pa638oMIkzh6Rp9dWjmBHa8aAzT60WtxVlCrNOKFYBjGVTviLzfwrLSUBX9cBjBsIBw_VxgrNQLLG0IJ5ZJOoLtXDvDA-RgLwa1ptO-55GtUEpvoNt3LUWscUSG3VGDscRhEE2xL4RtBLdkD3bwTI4FDAv3HqJ-xelE0I-41qy6PcWEUqC/w400-h303/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-13%20at%205.53.22%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkFf1frNdo1BkgLLaenjRkPJjXmRoZpVa9cJ5_HmBEzd4sOSF6WLZK8kF1m9QmUuFZEAXDys-fQCA361Qa_iBxZBLac10bx3ytL9kWFQS5P8wik6-I2LCpLxwpq6OQpddnTUYh5pp8XfdpwrkMjeGlgsfRarVHCR_QW6PGPvBC963MlPBhVvm_GSwK/s1644/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-13%20at%205.53.40%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1248" data-original-width="1644" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkFf1frNdo1BkgLLaenjRkPJjXmRoZpVa9cJ5_HmBEzd4sOSF6WLZK8kF1m9QmUuFZEAXDys-fQCA361Qa_iBxZBLac10bx3ytL9kWFQS5P8wik6-I2LCpLxwpq6OQpddnTUYh5pp8XfdpwrkMjeGlgsfRarVHCR_QW6PGPvBC963MlPBhVvm_GSwK/w400-h304/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-13%20at%205.53.40%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>You have to admire (pre-Reagan) CBS Standards & Practices allowing such casual drug use to slip by without dramaturgical rebuke. </p><p>Michael Biehn pops up, also in one of his very first roles, as a crazy-eyed, eyebrow-indicating lifeguard who uses his lifeguard tower as a bachelor pad.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN4VoZHhdf-yp4Dac6LUF8c7dA0ag8K-qmFIHdcpwaG2FPiYbMO19POhVWwd3fM0Z_nnJg5LwPlX1ydnxvtbkHP9Hi-llk1K6yWjLVcuk3UVuuTuK5dSessggygwd2oDPm2jTkMiJ91Z6Q0Chl4r8FddFm75-8SLGVy8Y_GfQWVGFTc8IfjFH2dU-d/s1648/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-13%20at%205.52.00%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1244" data-original-width="1648" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN4VoZHhdf-yp4Dac6LUF8c7dA0ag8K-qmFIHdcpwaG2FPiYbMO19POhVWwd3fM0Z_nnJg5LwPlX1ydnxvtbkHP9Hi-llk1K6yWjLVcuk3UVuuTuK5dSessggygwd2oDPm2jTkMiJ91Z6Q0Chl4r8FddFm75-8SLGVy8Y_GfQWVGFTc8IfjFH2dU-d/w400-h303/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-13%20at%205.52.00%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>Here, he's trying to pressure <a href="http://juntajuleil.blogspot.com/2014/10/film-review-halloween-1978-john.html">HALLOWEEN</a>'s own P.J. Soles into pre-marital sex. It's a good thing Michael Myers isn't around!<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEich1kHDoadojD9gyrF0pKxuF64r_o3ZQD9pW7iA2DWQ0_q8DxDN6ZosMCBtGG_g2ETEZogGPsbgGz9o8ThnGz070mnM1iTSLy3IjlTqcUIimXv_sw29M4idbhDm16cXWx0q2pchym-Y5gp09DikxmTWZ87e8t5l74YjNAeSDxLTCQQx7yt0cOJ1QUg/s1656/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-13%20at%205.50.41%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1248" data-original-width="1656" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEich1kHDoadojD9gyrF0pKxuF64r_o3ZQD9pW7iA2DWQ0_q8DxDN6ZosMCBtGG_g2ETEZogGPsbgGz9o8ThnGz070mnM1iTSLy3IjlTqcUIimXv_sw29M4idbhDm16cXWx0q2pchym-Y5gp09DikxmTWZ87e8t5l74YjNAeSDxLTCQQx7yt0cOJ1QUg/w400-h301/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-13%20at%205.50.41%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>HALLOWEEN was released October 25, 1978; ZUMA BEACH debuted September
27, 1978. HALLOWEEN was filmed in May, and based on the look and general disposability of ZUMA BEACH, I have to imagine it was filmed that
summer. It's quite possible that P.J. appears here as part of some John Carpenter favor; but given his disconnect to this movie, it's equally plausible that it's pure coincidence. I at least have to hope that John Carpenter was not responsible for a line of dialogue about "extracurricular sex-tivity."</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-4sGZPNttKl3Z-Wmg-VwDBJgbk5Rwr2kW4MhePgB2ZduXp0-MpLNQ-k8zwg8eZatxzLKhDHRGlTZS0zndP8vHfB9-DhVfS-V7qVZEMjCAud8pStRzw7EdOrBa6_SpG5ySO1NnEQu6AVIFuX0B25rNvKl2sxgz8hYeqKOKZzi_X026cWql1oT0Yici/s1640/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-13%20at%205.52.24%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1248" data-original-width="1640" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-4sGZPNttKl3Z-Wmg-VwDBJgbk5Rwr2kW4MhePgB2ZduXp0-MpLNQ-k8zwg8eZatxzLKhDHRGlTZS0zndP8vHfB9-DhVfS-V7qVZEMjCAud8pStRzw7EdOrBa6_SpG5ySO1NnEQu6AVIFuX0B25rNvKl2sxgz8hYeqKOKZzi_X026cWql1oT0Yici/w400-h305/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-13%20at%205.52.24%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Soles: "I have six pigtails"</i></span><br /></p><p>As usual, P.J. Soles is a hilarious delight. And she has <i>six </i>pigtails. Count 'em––six! Why would anybody need six pigtails? Maybe she's choosing to pull focus by-way-of ridiculous hair/costume accoutrement––she <i>does </i>has a history of that. You may recall that <a href="http://juntajuleil.blogspot.com/2012/07/only-now-does-it-occur-to-me-carrie.html">in Brian De Palma's CARRIE</a>, she established herself as the Queen of Pulling Focus with her big 'ol red rainbow ballcap. Bless.</p><p>There are some terrible, copyright-skirting faux-Beach Boys songs which play throughout, Tanya Roberts and Delta Burke wander through the frame, and Michael Biehn gets sand kicked in his face: a sobering experience for Zuma Beach's resident bully/Casanova.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQt2JhkLdXEQNJdYhstLUeWuJzUg6oIvnWN8YZY3-xeNxwycRCv-LoaoZO2fSXURrDt0KcoTuF2I4rXq7u9xGS9tXkXp_8kcDvhtK1UFNfuJ_wtgAwuGfaN5FMCk90sd5QY4VW7uAXFaCUEMPZvTSvnY60WzYtYtk1BtCeW3ytv2NTFsrEhP_K0lFK/s1648/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-13%20at%205.57.18%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1250" data-original-width="1648" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQt2JhkLdXEQNJdYhstLUeWuJzUg6oIvnWN8YZY3-xeNxwycRCv-LoaoZO2fSXURrDt0KcoTuF2I4rXq7u9xGS9tXkXp_8kcDvhtK1UFNfuJ_wtgAwuGfaN5FMCk90sd5QY4VW7uAXFaCUEMPZvTSvnY60WzYtYtk1BtCeW3ytv2NTFsrEhP_K0lFK/w400-h304/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-13%20at%205.57.18%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>There's a volleyball game and a riding-men-by-the-shoulders race,</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtoDJOqAXongoRGb0Vyh28h5NWXrVDzPGo56tEncS1hWusn0iMb-itP19zsH8dR24lyl8tFnPFFUZaBtv8AzRl_fV7qgqWtQJHXvtACdSTzafEJ3Bmb5E24w28KOeGDkTm2eR2KMCCaCQjEcd4JvtlDbVItqGeHFz8VC5vV3vpJlZVbFM7tPCTQasE/s1644/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-13%20at%205.55.58%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1242" data-original-width="1644" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtoDJOqAXongoRGb0Vyh28h5NWXrVDzPGo56tEncS1hWusn0iMb-itP19zsH8dR24lyl8tFnPFFUZaBtv8AzRl_fV7qgqWtQJHXvtACdSTzafEJ3Bmb5E24w28KOeGDkTm2eR2KMCCaCQjEcd4JvtlDbVItqGeHFz8VC5vV3vpJlZVbFM7tPCTQasE/w400-h303/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-13%20at%205.55.58%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>and that's all she wrote. Er, rather, that's all John Carpenter and (at least) three other guys wrote. Do you feel like know all you need to about the ZUMA BEACH experience? I hope so.<br /></p>Sean Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537515557596273876noreply@blogger.com3