Midnight

 

 (wikipedia)

MIDNIGHT MOVIES: FROM THE MARGIN TO THE MAIN STREET-2005-Pretty great documentary about the evolution and eventual demise of "the midnight movie" using by far the most successful ones ever: Alejandro Jodorowsky's EL TOPO, George Romero's NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, John Waters' PINK FLAMINGOS, Henzell & Rhone's THE HARDER THEY COME, Jim Sharman's THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW & David Lynch's ERASERHEAD. Besides scenes of the movies there are great interviews with the directors (except Lynch) and others associated with the films including Richard O'Brien, Robert Shaye, Lou Adler and Alan Douglas. Good job by director Stuart Samuels!

3 Reviews For The Price of One On Tuesdays!

LOST HIGHWAY-1997-I’ll be the first to admit that David Lynch is a unique director with a visual style that sets him apart from other filmmakers. I also admit that I am not a fan. While I find his work behind the camera startling and unusual, his story telling technique seems muddled and overly symbolic. What good is making a movie that will only be understood (if in fact it’s suppose to be understood at all) by no one but the director? Of course there are those who would disagree with me and find HIGHWAY to be a challenging puzzle that grows better with each viewing (and in some ways this is true).

That said, LOST HIGHWAY does have the possibilities for cult status. It’s nearly incoherent story line is oozing symbolism. Bill Pullman plays Fred Madison, a jazz saxophonist who murders his wife (Patricia Arquette) who he believes is unfaithful. While on death row he “creates” a new identity (now played by Balthzaar Getty from HABITAT) to “escape reality” and becomes involved with sleazy thug Mr. Eddie (Robert Loggia) and his mistress (also played by Arquette who has a lot of nude scenes). Lurking around the whole time is Mystery Man (Robert “Baretta” Blake,looking like a CARNIVAL OF SOULS ghoul) who may be death, the devil or just another figment of Madison’s psycho killer’s mind. The key to the whole thing seems to be the phrase “Dick Laurent Is Dead”.

Co-star Natasha Gregson Wagner also has a nude scene. A strange bunch of smaller appearances highlight the film. Gary Busey plays Fred’s father and Richard Pryor and Henry Rollins have brief roles. For me the weirdest casting was Guy Siner (who played the gay Lieutenant Gruber on the British TV show ‘ALLO ‘ALLO) and Gene Ross (who played The Judge in DON’T LOOK IN THE BASEMENT!!) both featured in a prison parole scene! And of course Lynch regular Jack Nance (who was killed before this was released) puts in an appearance. The script is by Lynch and Barry Gifford (who wrote the novel Wild At Heart!).



This was kind of touted as Robert Blake’s “comeback” film but he went on to bigger and badder things.






CURSE OF THE MUMMY'S TOMB-Hammer-1964 -A usually over looked Hammer production directed and written by Hammer head honcho Michael Carreras takes along time to get started but is highlighted by an amusing performance by Fred Clark as (what else?) a big mouth, PT Barnum like American promoter who says things like: “Of course I have enemies. I’m in show business!”. Too bad he’s killed off before the action starts. I guess it’s a kind of follow up to THE MUMMY though hardly up to the standards set by Terence Fisher.

Roland (son of Leslie) Howard stars as an archeologist who helps open the cursed tomb of Ra-Antef. Naturally, the mummy (Dickie Owen) is stolen and comes back to life looking for revenge. It looks kind of like Lee’s bandaged ancient one except it has less facial features. Meanwhile Howard’s French fiancée (Jeanne Roland) is being wooed by the real villain (Terence Morgan), the mummy’s brother! It features nice flashbacks, severed hands and Michael Ripper in a small cameo. CURSE is by no means classic Hammer but is entertaining nonetheless. Quite ignobly, Ra-Antef meets his end in a sewer. The studio’s next mummy effort would be BLOOD FROM THE MUMMY’S TOMB in 1971 (which Carreras would finish after the death it’s original director, Seth Holt)!

And last and least:

MURDERCYCLE-1998 - A suspicious CIA agent, a psychic and a group of Marine troopers (led by a suicidal sergeant) battle an alien possessed motorcyclist armed with deadly lasers. The alien was sent by it’s race to recover a device the CIA won’t give back. This is pretty standard direct to video stuff except that all the characters have the names of real life comic book people: Lee, Kirby, Wood, Frazetta, Ditko, Buscema, Kubert, Vince Coletta and Joe Sinnott! Some of the troopers even compare themselves to The Fantastic Four! Most of them argue, scream and then get killed.

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Four Quickies

LOST IN LA MANCHA-2003-This is a documentary about Terry Gilliam's aborted attempt to film his version of Cervantes' "Don Quixote" called "Who Killed Don Quixote".

Apparently Terry never heard of Orson Welles and his attempts to film the same subject matter!

Gilliam comes off as a naive but determined happy idiot. Had he pulled it all off and made this film (whether it was a box office success or not) he may have been hailed as a maverick genius, on par with some one like Kubrick (as the spin doctoring narration by Jeff Bridges, who starred in Gilliam's THE FISHER KING, attempts to do) but more often than not he seems to be overwelmed by the unfortunate circumstances; i.e. : Quixote portrayer Jean Rochfort's prostate problems, heavy rains wiping out a set, etc.)

A must see documentary if there ever was one!!

THE STRAIGHT STORY-1999-This is David Lynch's greatest film!

A beautifully made heart felt story (based on a true character) with Richard Farnsworth (in his last role; he died in 2000) as Alvin Straight, a crippled almost blind WW2 veteran who decides to visit his estranged brother (Harry Dean Stanton) in Wisconsin, travelling by lawnmower!

The direction and photography are excellent as is the acting, especially from Farnsworth and Sissy Spacek as his daughter.

PUBLIC ENEMIES-1996-Glossy,un-real adaptation of the real life 1930's gangster Ma Barker (Teresa Russell) who heads a gang consisting of her 4 sons and Alvin Karpis (Frank Stallone). They rob banks and kill anyone in their path. Eric Roberts shows up in the middle of the story as a cop who becomes Ma's lover.

I've seen pictures of the real Barker. Not a pretty sight I assure you. Also with Richard Eden, Alyssa Milano and Dan Cortese as Melvin Purvis.

Director Mark L. Lester once made movies like CLASS OF 1984, FIRESTARTER and COMMANDO (with future governor Swartzenegger) but in recent years his output has been mainly direct to video.

BOYS OF THE CITY-1940-The East Side Kids (lead by Leo Grocey & Bobby Jordan) go to the country to stay out of trouble and run into gangsters, a haunted house and murder. Their "adult" guardian is named Knuckles (played by Dave O'Brien from "Pete Smith Shorts" and REEFER MADNESS). Minerva Urecal is the creepy housekeeper. Black East Side member Sunshine Sammy Morrison is on hand to look scared and make watermelon jokes. Director Joseph H. Lewis directed other "Eastside Comedies", Lugosi in THE INVISIBLE GHOST and the very cool film noir THE BIG COMBO before going into TV.

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