Bound For Glory

I am very saddened to report that Oscar nominee & cult film legend David Carradine has died. He was 72.

I'll let the news sites relate to you the details of his passing. Here we just want to focus on the amazing career of a notoriously awesome and notoriously difficult actor.

I think part of the reason why this death is hitting me so strongly is the fact that I just watched him get killed two days ago in his cameo in Mean Streets. How can he be dead when I just watched him on my television machine? But I guess in the end that's what celluloid and DVD are for. As long as they're around he's not really dead.

I highly recommend honoring him with a triple feature of Boxcar Bertha, Death Race 2000 & Kill Bill Vol. 2

Thank You For Being A Friend

Ciao Middleman!

Yet another brilliant and funny TV show has bitten the dust. According to The New York Post's Pop Culture Blog, ABC Family has decided to pull the plug on Javier Grillo-Marxuach's pop savy series.

This show was brilliant in so many ways. It was funny, filled with great pop culture gags and had an ass-kicking latina for a lead. I still need to pick up the comics on which it was based. Le sigh. I hope all of the talented people behind this show are able to find work that makes use of their awesome talents.

Let us at least take comfort in the fact that the season will soon be coming to DVD as well as a comic book realization of the unfilmed season finale.

Farewell Middleman - we hardly knew ye.

Photobooth Beauty Queen

I am a huge Andy Warhol fan. Though he could be rather aloof to many and a dick to some I still appreciate the works he created with both film and paint. I even named my photo "company" Pink Cow Photography after my second favorite Warhol creation. So what is my first favorite?

By and large I am not a fan of Warhol's portraits. Yet if I were a billionaire I would buy this painting. I love everything about it. The vibrant colors, the goofy poses, the patchiness of the silk-screen. In spite of the mechanical apparatus(es) used to create it (ie: a photo booth and silk-screening) it contains more life than many/most expressionist works.

So why am I writing about this painting? Because it's subject, arts patrol Ethel Scull, died today at the age of 79. As sad as that news made me - looking at this painting makes me happy.

You can read more about Ethel here.

You came, you saw, you conquered

The music industry has lost 1/3 of a legend. Estelle Bennett, one of the three Ronettes, died on Wednesday at 67.

Before I'd ever heard the term "wall of sound" I knew I loved the Ronettes. Those voices. And now one of them is forever silent.

My personal favorite track is an easy and predictable one. Sure it's been used over and again in crap like Dirty Dancing, but it's also been used for one of the greatest openings in film history. Rest In Peace.

Thanks For Listening

I read the news today oh boy. Indie 103 is going off the air.

Of course they'll still be online, but the days of picking up their shitty signal in the car are over and done with. Unlike some of your heartless bastards I can't help but shead a tear.

Sure they weren't truly "indie". But where else could I hear both Frank Sinatra and Public Enemy without having to turn the dial? Where else could I get DJs like Steve Jones & Henry Rollins? And most importantly, who else would let an asshole like me on the air for an hour?

It was the perfect station for a late night drive when you didn't have your iPod with you. Unfortunately I can't get my computer to go 55mph. le sigh.

Thank you Indie 103. You will be missed.

No Fun

Ron Asheton, founding member of and guitarist for The Stooges, was found dead yesterday from an apparent heart attack. He was only 60. Without him there would be no punk rock. OK maybe there would be punk rock. But having him gone is definitely -

"Are the girls in Phoenix that bad?"

Though I've only seen her in one film I would be remiss if I did not mark the passing of film noir legend Ann Savage at the age of 87. Her performance in Edgar G. Ulmer's Detour has to be seen to believed. She really lives up to that last name of hers. She recently appeared in Guy Maddin's latest film My Winnipeg which I still desperately need to see.

Ms. Savage, you will be missed.

It's Beautiful

Sam Bottoms, who made his screen debut as the innocent Billy in Peter Bogdanovich's classic The Last Picture Show, died today. He was only 53. Bottoms also appeared in Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now as surfing superstar Lance B. Johnson . Though he has left this world, those two performances will remain forever. Rest in peace sir.

The Queen Is Dead

Bettie Page, queen of the pin-ups, died today at the age of 85. While I do not worship at her altar like many in other crowds do, I still find her to be absolutely stunning. A reminder of a time when real, live, women roamed the earth.

I am also eternally indebted to her. It was a film about her life which brought me together with the love of my life. May you will live on forever in the wet dreams of greasers everywhere.

Legend of the Sun Virgin & More

Peruvian Goddess Yma Sumac, has died at the age of 86.

While definitely an acquired taste, I think anyone can at least appreciate her stunning vocal range. At her peak it is said that she could cover five octaves. That is INSANE. You will be very greatly missed ma'am and I know for a fact that there shall never be another like her. RIP Yma



In other news...

We have an election going on tomorrow.
The following is your soundtrack for the revolution.

-"Revolution" by The Beatles
-"Kick Out the Jams" by MC5
-"Subterranean Homesick Blues" by Bob Dylan
-"Fortunate Son" by Creedence Clearwater Revival
-"The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" by Gil Scott-Heron
-"New Kicks" by Le Tigre
-"When Ya Get Drafted" by Dead Kennedys
-"B.Y.O.B." by System Of A Down
-"The Message" by Grandmaster Flash And The Furious Five
-"Gimme Some Truth" by John Lennon
-"Wake Up" by Rage Against The Machine
-"White Riot" by The Clash
-"Rise Above" by Black Flag
-"Won't Bleed Me" by Melvin Van Peebles
-"Guerilla Radio" by Rage Against The Machine
-"Fight The Power" by Public Enemy
-"Road To Joy" by Bright Eyes
-"Power To The People" by John Lennon
-"Intervention" by The Arcade Fire
-"Street Fighting Man" by The Rolling Stones
-"Bring On The Lucie (Freeda Peeple) by John Lennon

And last but most certainly not least...

Who wants to eat the girl? & Other Stuff

With October rapidly approaching I thought I'd recommend a recent horror film I watched the other day.

"Mother of Tears" (released in it's native Italy as "La Terza Madre") is the third film in a trilogy that director Dario Argento began back in the late 70s & early 80s with "Susperia" and "Inferno" respectively. Now please don't be scared off by the fact that it's an Italian film and a sequel to two films you likely have not seen. The film is dubbed into English (as Italian films often are) and no prior knowledge is required in order to "get" the story. All that you as a viewer will need is a strong stomach and the ability to appreciate genre filmmaking of a high order.

Though some of the effects appear to be rather lo-fi they make up for it in brutality. Argento's camera never turns away and always goes in for a closer look. Some of the images in this film cannot be unseen - and that's a good thing. While many films depict a hero fighting against "unspeakable evil" the menace that villain is often not made palpable. By showing all the gory details of what these bad people do, the stakes are raised. We know what is at risk if the hero fails. There is no doubt that it will be bad. But there are also great moments of levity.

Don't feel guilty if you find yourself laughing at parts. This movie is not a one trick pony. Argento is a skilled filmmaker, capable of pushing all your right buttons. This movie features an evil monkey for fuck's sake. Have fun with it. This is by no means the real world. It's a movie and takes place very much in a movie world.

Fuck the "Saw" films. There's nothing fun in those films. And more importantly, you don't give a fuck who dies. Nothing hurts. I want a film that hurts. It let's me know I'm still human.

In other news...

As you've likely already heard, Paul Newman died today at the age of 83. Over his long career he brought so many memorable characters to life. I have yet to see a film where I didn't like him in it and I doubt I ever will. We have lost one of the greats.

With all respect to Mr. Newman and his loved ones, let's end this blog on a lighter note.

Here is a picture of Sacha Baron Cohen crashing a runway show during Milan Fashion Week as his flamboyantly gay Austrian fashionista character Brüno!

Too bad he didn't do this at New York Fashion Week. Oh to see him interacting with Tim Gunn and the Project Runway Gang! One can only dream.

Aww fuck it. Let's end this on a somber note. Paul's worth it.

Comics and Film: A Dialogue

Here’s a link to the new trailer for Frank Miller’s adaptation of Will Eisner’s “The Spirit”. When you're done come back and enjoy a lively discussion on comics and film.

http://www.moviefone.com/movie/the-spirit/26912/trailer?trailerId=2254867

Well hopefully this will be a more successful film than “Sin City”

Oh my God! Did he just rag on “Sin City”?

Yes I did. A little.

But Craig, you own “Sin City” on DVD. The special edition no less!

Guilty as charged.

Then what is this heresy thou speakest?

Don’t get me wrong I enjoy “Sin City” but not as a film. I marvel at what was achieved visually by all those involved. Marv walking through the rain, white silhouettes on black screen, racing cars, etc.

OK. So where’s the problem?

The problem is that I hardly ever feel the urge to re-watch it as a whole film. I’ll watch a scene or even a particular shot, but not the whole film.

Why do you think that is?

I think it’s the result of those involved being too reverent to the source material.

Too reverent? Don’t you geeks get all in a twitter about film adaptations that stray too much from the source material?

Yes we do. We want the film’s creators to be respectful of source material.

Then what’s the problem?

The problem is that if you hold something too tightly you can kill it.

Like a bunny rabbit?

Yes. Like a cute little bunny rabbit. “Sin City” is so fetishistically obsessed with depicting each and every panel of the comic that it loses it’s energy. “Sin City” does not feel alive for me. It feels like an exercise in replication. I came down to the theatre to have a cinematic experience. If I wanted the comic I would read the comic. A film needs to be allowed to be a film.

So then are you entirely against the idea of adapting comics into films?

No. Not at all. Take “Ghost World” for example. That was a very respectful adaptation while at the same time being drastically different from the book. Terry Zwigoff’s visual style complimented Daniel Clowes’ illustrations but is not slavish to them. Also it remained true to the emotional story. The same goes from “American Splendor”.

So then are you going to see “The Spirit” when it comes out?

Probably.

But what if it's missing energy or whatever you accused "Sin City" of doing?

That's absolutely possible but I don't think it will happen.

Why not?

Because this film isn't a slavish recreation of anything. Aside from character names and basic set-up, this film looks to have little in common with the old Will Eisner books. Frank Miller having some fun with Will Eisner's toys. I cannot wait to see what comes of it. Good pulpy fun.

You baffle me.

I baffle myself all the time. See you in the funny papers and at the movies.

PS - Speaking of movies...

Here are two other cool trailers you might like:

First up the Tom Cruise tries to kill Hitler pic "Valkyrie"



And finally the new trailer for "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button". You'll have to go to the actual site and watch the quicktime trailer cause it's just too beautiful to experience in muddy ol' youtube

http://www.apple.com/trailers/paramount/thecuriouscaseofbenjaminbutton/

And lastly

When I first became politically active and able to vote I registered Green. The first ballot I ever cast was for Peter Miguel Camejo for Governor of California. Sadly Peter died on September 13th at the age of 68. I did not find out about this until yesterday. This brings me much sadness. Camejo was a great man who stood up for what he believed.

Read more about him over at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Camejo

RIP

Sterotypes Rock!

About a month ago I went on a “Love & Rockets” spree reading anything by Los Bros Hernandez I could get my hands on. While making my way through Jaime’s stories about “Las Locas” Maggie and Hopey I came across an epically long story entitled “Wig-Wam Bam”. The title is a reference to a song which bonded two characters when they were younger and it’s by the band Sweet (often referred to as “The Sweet” on early albums). Most people know them as the band behind “Ballroom Blitz”.

After finishing the story I decided to give the song a listen. It’s really catchy with its fuzzy glam guitars and all. The perfect song to rock out to in 1977 (or 2008 if you’re a geek like me). Anyhow, I never really paid attention to the lyrics until recently, and boy are they kind of racist.

Now I’m not talking Johnny Reb ‘get a rope’ racist, but a touch offensive nonetheless. The song is about Native American’s getting it on. Check out this youtube clip and the guitarist's fashion choice:



The bleeding heart liberal in me is a little offended. The rocker side of me just plain loves the song. And the part of me that loves to be inappropriate is insanely giddy over this song.

With a final score of 2 against 1 this song is officially declared –

AWESOME!

PS:

On a much more somber note I would like to mark the passing of two insanely talented individuals.

Isaac Hayes & Bernie Mac

You will both be greatly missed.

Mahalo