Category: Cinema

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Saturday Evening Soundtrack (Literally)

Peter Gabriel – Passion (1988)

When The Last Temptation of Christ originally opened on August 12, 1988, it was playing at the Northpoint Theater in San Francisco. This was not one of my usual movie venues in The City, but there was such buzz about the film I wanted to see it nevertheless. I don’t remember who I saw it with, although it was probably Philip, a very cute bear I was dating whom I metβ€”at The Detour nonethelessβ€”the night of the Pride Parade the previous June.

Philip is a story unto himself and maybe someday I’ll share it. He’s no longer with us, another victim of the early 90s, so I’ll be kind because I do have mostly fond memories of our time together.

Anyhow, the release of the film was highly controversial, drawing significant protests, which led Universal to release it six weeks earlier than originally planned. Despite opening in only 123 theaters across the United States and Canada, it grossed over $400,000 in its opening weekend.

Frankly, I’m surprised it grossed that much.

The film didn’t move me one way or another. The strongest memories I have of it (I only saw it that once) was of the dream sequence (?) Jesus was having as he hung on the cross wherein had gone on to live a “normal” life and raise a family, and the protestors who greeted us as we left the theater, threatening us with hellfire and eternal damnation.

I do remember laughing in their faces.

But the music was ambient and haunting, and that’s what prompted me to purchase (and recently repurchase) the CD. With a few exceptions, I’ve never been a fan of Peter Gabriel’s work, but for some reason Passion really captured me.

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In Theaters On This Day 45 Years Ago

π— π—’π— π— π—œπ—˜ π——π—˜π—”π—₯π—˜π—¦π—§ is a 1981 American psychological biographical drama film directed by Frank Perry and starring Faye Dunaway, Steve Forrest, Mara Hobel, and Diana Scarwid, with supporting performances from Rutanya Alda, Howard da Silva, Jocelyn Brando, Alice Nunn and Xander Berkeley in his feature film debut.

Adapted from Christina Crawford’s 1978 autobiography of the same name, the film follows her and her brother Christopher’s upbringing by their adoptive mother Joan Crawford depicting her as abusive, controlling, and manipulative, constantly prioritizing her Hollywood career over her family.

I saw this opening night in the theater. While it’s considered high camp today, some of these scenes remain as deeply disturbing as they were 45 years ago.

“Tina! Bring me the axe!”

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I Love The Look

I couldn’t name a single song she’s done (although I’d probably recognize them if I heard them), but Chappell Roan certainly has immediately recognizable look down.

“Now leaving for Floston Paradise!”

All that’s missing is the white hair.

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Some Of The Greatest Movies Were Made In The 1980s

I saw this in San Francisco at a theater on Filmore Street in 1988 shortly after it was released. I’d completely forgotten about it until I ran across this clip.

Big Business came out in 1988, and the entire premise is exactly the kind of wonderfully ridiculous comedy setup that could only work this well in an 80s movie.

Bette Midler and Lily Tomlin each play TWO characters β€” two sets of identical twin sisters who are accidentally mixed up at birth after both sets are born at the same hospital on the same night. One pair grows up wealthy in New York City, while the other grows up in a small West Virginia town… and years later all four women end up in the SAME hotel. 

So yes, Bette Midler is playing opposite Bette Midler, Lily Tomlin is playing opposite Lily Tomlin, and everybody is running around trying to figure out why strangers suddenly look exactly like them.Β 

Fun fact: the movie was directed by Jim Abrahams, one of the filmmakers behind comedies like Airplane!, so the increasingly ridiculous mix-ups make a lot more sense once you know that.

And can we appreciate how much work movies like this required BEFORE modern digital effects? Scenes featuring both versions of the same actress had to be carefully staged using techniques like body doubles, split-screen photography, and precise camera setups to sell the illusion that the twins were actually standing together.

Honestly, Bette Midler and Lily Tomlin playing four women in one movie was already enough to get me.

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Released 40 Years Ago Today

James Cameron – Aliens (1986)

“Get away from her, you BITCH!”

Opening night, as I was wont to do back in the day. Came home to my apartment and turned on every light in the place.

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Late Again. 😒

I saw this on opening night at Cine Capri (the original location) in 1979. It left me so shaken I drove home constantly looking out the rear window at the bed of my truck to make sure nothing was there.

And don’t even get me started onΒ Aliens (1985). I came home from that and turned on every light in the apartment and opened every door interior door!

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Released 44 Years Ago Today

An absolute masterpiece.

“Describe your mother.”

“Do you like our owl?”

“He say you Brade Runner!”

“Like tears in the rain.”

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I Gave It A Second Chance

It’s been three weeks since I sawΒ Backrooms,Β leaving the theater disappointed and to be honest, somewhat angry.

Since I first saw it, I’ve seen several reviews of the film, and I think I may have been too hasty in my summary judgment and dismissal. I approached it expecting to see all the internet lore faithfully rendered on the big screen, instead of just viewing it as a standalone film.

That being said, today was my one day this week when I didn’t have to attend to anythingΒ medical (such is my life these days) and I had a $5 off coupon from Fandango from my last ticket purchase, so I thought what the hell…give it another shot from this new perspective.

And you know what? I enjoyed it quite a bit this time. And I actually missed many of easter egg nods to fans of the online lore on my first viewing. As a standalone story, it really isn’t bad at all, and why the monster is what it is in this film and not the “bacteria” from the video series makes sense. Β And I wouldn’t mind finding out what happens to Mary (Renate Reinsve)β€”or her still life, for that matterβ€”ASYNC, and Phil (Mark Duplass) in a future sequel.

 

 

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