Out of Focus

The last few years have seen plenty of examination of films from the 1970s .The late-’60s and early-’70s were certainly a pivotal time in the evolution of film and especially the modern film industry. The studio system which had dominated for the first half of the century was basically dying, independent film was becoming more of a reality, the censorship of the Hays office was replaced by the self-policing of the MPAA ratings system, and a whole slew of young filmmakers with a foundation in film history but a desire to create something new and different burst on to the scene. The movies reflected society and the counterculture maybe more than ever, and the cinema we have today is still in many ways heavily influenced by what happened during that decade.

Today’s Gothamist Interview is with Ron Hogan who recently released his first book, “The Stewardess Is Flying the Plane.” The title refers to a line from a quintessential ’70s disaster movie, Airport 1975. It’s an entertaining enough read, probably better as a basic film guide which can offer you a whole slew of suggestions for DVD and videotape rentals. While reading it myself, I was reminded of quite a few films I had totally forgotten about, and that doesn’t include the several about which I had never heard. However, fair warning, this book is a bit of a coffee table book: it contains a large selection of phenomenal photo stills, and it’s fun to breeze through, but if you’re looking for an in-depth survey covering “American Films of the 1970s” — which is the books subtitle — this isn’t really going to do it for you. Grand survey? Sure. In depth? Not so much.

That isn’t to say it’s still not an enjoyable and even valluable read, and as you can see if you read Ron’s interview over at Gothamist, you’ll see that he really knows his stuff. And meanwhile, if you read any of the big lit blogs out there, this will give you a peak into a completely different side of his personality. Ron writes the lit blog Beatrice.com and not too long ago he also became the co-editor of Galleycat. Between the two sites, you can read Ron’s musings on the literary and publishing worls. But for now, just check-out interview already. If you’re a film buff, you’ll enjoy it.

In the midst of doing a bunch of work this morning, I just realized about 15 minutes ago that when I leave my apartment in about 90 minutes, I won’t be back until about 1 AM. Nor will I be online for any of that time. I’m just hoping I won’t get the shakes.

One of the things I’m doing later is going to see Dogs of Winter at Lit Lounge at 10 … or 10:30 … I’m not sure. They’ll be followed by Surefire who play a calmer, less screaming type of music than Brian and the Dogs! [update: Surefire was on the web site and in an ad in the Voice, but wasn’t there.] They’re kind of hardcore punk with a bit of metal thrown in — a lot of screaming. But Brian Grosz, the lead singer, is a great frontman. He’s also my friend Sean’s roommate, and that’s how I first discovered his band. The guy lives music, and you can tell in his performance.

They have an EP you can buy via CDBaby and Amazon. Head to their website or their MySpace page to hear some samples. But one song NOT on the EP is a cover they do of Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game.” It is really, really, REALLY incredible. And you can hear it right here.

From Overheard in New York:

Guy #1: …and then I came in and Anne was watching some gay movie with Keanu Reeves and River Phoenix–
Guy #2: Who’s River Phoenix?
Guy #1: You know, Joaquin Phoenix’s brother.
Guy #2: Joaquin Phoenix has a brother?
Guy #1: I guess…

–A train

I suppose this shouldn’t come as such a surprise, especially if these two “Guys” are in their late teens/early 20s as expected. It’s somewhat shocking to realize that River Phoenix died over 12 years ago! It’s sad too because as much as I like Joaquin Phoenix, I don’t think he’s quite the actor his brother was.

I was no River fanatic or anything, but I vividly remember where I was when I learned of his death and, actually, at the moment he was dying. Well, now that I think about it, vividly is just one step above true. I was at a press junket at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills. The only part that isn’t “vivid,” is that I can’t remember what damn movie the junket was for. I want to say it was for Used People, Soapdish or Toys because I remember all of them taking place at that hotel, but their release dates don’t match-up with Phoenix’s 1993 death. I remember, however, walking in to the hotel and running into my friend and former UCLA Daily Bruin colleague (by this point I was actually working professionally … or something) Michael who came up to me and said, “Did you hear? I’m so depressed.” He told me River Phoenix had overdosed outside the Viper Room the night before. He was a huge River Phoenix fan, thinking that River was probably the next great young actor — a new DeNiro or Hoffman; the type of guy many of us hoped Leonardo DiCaprio would become (arguably he has) or that Johnny Depp has become. Regardless, he was bummed to say the least.

But his mentioning this to me made me realize something else. First, I had no idea where the Viper Room was. I was just that out of it. But I thought I knew, and it just so happened that the night before, driving east on Sunset Blvd. back towards my apartment in West Hollywood, I had passed a commotion near the big Tower Records. It was on the sidewalk outside the otherwise non-descript black club that I thought was probably the Viper Room, but as I had never been there, I couldn’t be sure. I had to pull to a stop before actually passing the crowd on the sidewalk because an ambulance was turning left in front of me to pull-up to that crowd. I had no idea what was going on. I couldn’t see the sidewalk or anything.

I went home and still knew nothing. When I got home from the press junket, I turned on the news and eventually saw someone reporting from where River had fallen to the ground, convulsed and died. Apparently, not long before — if not at the exact moment — as I was driving by. I had never interviewed or met him, and I didn’t stop my car to add to the rubbernecking congestion, but something about that night always stuck with me.

Yeah, Joaquin had a brother named River. It’s too bad he doesn’t anymore.

I don’t have a ton of time today, but as I have yet to weigh in on any of the critics’ awards, I obviously couldn’t let a whole day go by without commenting on today’s announcement of this year’s Golden Globe nominations. I’ve often been hard on the Hollywood Foreign Press, mostly because they’re a ridiculous organization with clout due more to to the fact that they lay out a nice red carpet than any other real judgment or influence, but a cursory examination of this year’s selection of nominees (at least on the film side) leaves me without too many complaints.

I still have to see Brokeback Mountain, Match Point and all the Best Musical/Comedy nominees other than The Squid and the Whale, but I’m happy that with the exception of Batman Begins, which as predicted and expected will — to my mind, at least — go down as the most underrated film of 2005 and maybe even the decade when all is said and done — most of my top films of the year (so far) received recognition. The Squid and the Whale, Good Night, and Good Luck, A History of Violence and The Constant Gardener will all be making my eventual Top 10 unless I’m surprised by several of the films I have yet to see but intend to get to.

I’m also pleasantly surprised that the two films quickly earning my title for “Most overrated of 2005” did not receive nominations in categories for which they don’t deserve. I haven’t seen Munich yet so, Time magazine brouhaha not withstanding, that’s not one of the films I’m talking about. I do mean Syriana, however, a film that was awards bait if I’ve ever seen one. I keep planning to write about Syriana and why it bugs me that so many critics seem to thing complexity for complexity’s sake is a good thing. Syriana is not a bad movie by any means, and it does attack some pretty major and important issues in today’s world, but it’s also so heavy-handed and preachy not to mention all over the place that I was constantly annoyed and bored, and occasionally confused. (I am happy to see George Clooney receive a Supporting Actor nod for his performance. All the performances were excellent.)

I’m even happier, however, to see Capote shut-out of the Best Picture, Director and Screenplay categories. As I wrote a couple weeks ago after Capote won its Gotham Awards, I don’t think it’s a bad film, but I do think it’s poorly directed and rises above mediocrity solely due to its performances. So I’m all for Philip Seymour Hoffman getting nominated (and even possibly winning) for his brilliant turn as Truman Capote, but director Bennett Miller already received more recognition for his work than he or the film deserved.

I am disappointed that Noah Baumbach did not receive a Directing nod or, especially, a Screenwriting nod for The Squid and the Whale, a film that has stuck with me ever since I saw it at the New York Film Festival and that keeps moving up my list. I certainly think it is more deserving for a writing nomination than Crash, another film which I liked but I found a bit heavy-handed and obvious in trying to transmit its message much of the time.

I’ll have more to say about all these nominations once I’ve finished seeing the films and before the actual awards. Unlike most people, I’m in no rush to announce my top of the year list — I haven’t seen everything I want/need to see, and until I do, I won’t put my list together. I hope to finish it before the Golden Globe Awards actually take place, though.

Meanwhile, and very briefly, the TV side did leave me a bit wanting, but that’s no surprise. All six of the comedy series nominees are deserving, but where’s Arrested Development? I don’t care if it has already been unofficially cancelled — it’s still the best show on all of television. And on the drama side, Grey’s Anatomy and Commander-in-Chief? Are you kidding me? I actually watch the latter and enjoy it, but a great show it isn’t. At least not yet. And Grey’s Anatomy — I can’t even watch it. I know a lot of people love it, and I’m still trying to figure out why. I’m actually still convinced that for the majority of the show’s audience (i.e., women in their late-20s to early 40s), it’s simply Patrick Dempsey. When the show first came on the air, the only thing anybody had to say about it is, “Oh Patrick Dempsey is so hot.” The show has a great cast, but every time I watch it, I can’t help but roll my eyes at how absurd the situations and the dialogue is.

I also enjoy Prison Break, but is it really one of the best shows of the year? I mean, where is Veronica Mars? I’ll tell you — it’s accepting the Buffy the Vampire Slayer mantle for best show to never receive the critical recognition it deserves. Veronica Mars is probably the best show on TV not called Arrested Development or Lost.

OK, gotta run. More later … some time.

Today’s Gothamist Interview is with the three partners who run the company Jimmyjane. What is Jimmyjane? Well, visiting their website will give you a more complete idea, but our short description is that they’re a “Luxury sexual brand.” So if you don’t think buying your partner a ring or pendant with a personalized engraving is personal enough, maybe you want to give them a personalized engraved platinum vibrator? I’m just saying …

This is another one of the interviews for which I can’t take much credit. I actually hadn’t heard of Jimmyjane before Lily mentioned them to me (what can I say? I’m sheltered. Or don’t shop in enough high-end stores!). They do, however, apparently have home bases in both New York and San Francisco which means they have managed to achieve my ultimate life-goal, so kudos to them.

Busy busy busy, primarily because of a nearly vegetative state in which I found myself this weekend, especially yesterday. And lo and behold, this is Lily’s and my week to produce Gothamist Interviews. Today’s is Writer/Director Max Makowski, who’s latest film One Last Dance will premiere at Sundance next month. Max actually considers himself a Hong Kong filmmaker, and for good reason — he mostly lives there, he mostly works within Hong Kong’s film industry, and One Last Dance is in Cantonese, even though Max doesn’t fluently speak the language himself. He does however spend a lot of time in New York, and when he’s here, he lives in Chinatown. Don’t hide it … you were curious!

Richard Pryor died of a heart attack early this morning at the age of 65. Like Christopher Reeve before him, let’s remember how great he was when healthy and not the sad degenerative state he’s lived in for several years with MS. (Although I encourage everyone to forget the film the two starred in together: the terrible Superman III. I prefer his pics with Gene Wilder, especially Silver Streak and Stir Crazy!) Other than that, I have no words. Just very very sad.

I wasn’t sitting at my computer all that much today, and now I need to get back to finishing up the last few films by Albert Maysles, to whom I will be speaking tomorrow for a Gothamist interview to run next week. I’ve you’ve never seen the films the Maysles Brothers did documenting almost all of the public arts projects by Christo & Jeanne-Claude, I highly suggest you check-out the Plexifilms DVD release of 5 Films About Christo and Jeanne-Claude. I hope to discuss them in a little more detail later, but they’re really well-worth watching. Maysles is in post-production (I believe) on a film documenting “The Gates” — the Christo and Jeanne-Claude project that took over Central park in February of this year. After watching these other Christo docs, I really can’t wait to sse this latest one.

Meanwhile, watching all these films plus the rest of my busy week has left so much to do this weekend. I don’t know that I’ll have time to go to anything, but look at how much is out there. I still haven’t seen plenty of current releases, and now, although I have seen The Chronicales of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe already, I certainly have to get to Brokeback Mountain and Memoirs of a Geisha, and there’s a ton of other great programming around town. But I shouldn’t repeat myself here as I’ve already discussed some recommendations and miscellaneous thoughts over at Gothamist as part of my weekly “Weekend Movies” post.

This may be the wrong question for people living in New York City, but of course, I’m sure some of you don’t. And if that’s the case, wouldn’t you just love to buy a whole collection of VHS tapes on the (realtively) cheap? No, not from me. But my friend has actually put-up his entire VHS collection of movies for sale on eBay. That’s right, for as little as $1 (plus, uhm, $60 shipping, natch!), you can own the entire collection of movies in this eBay listing. I can personally vouch for the fact that my friend (the seller!) is just compulsive and anal enough about his movies that the tapes themselves really are in “VERY GOOD CONDITION.”

Oh, you think this seems a little insane? Yeah, me too. I’m so hoping somebody actually buys them though!

I have a few specific post ideas in mind, but I can’t tackle them right now. Not that they’re so complicated or hard or will take any research or be better written than any of the other tripe on this site. But still — just not in the mood yet. Maybe later, or tomorrow. But I’m trying to do the whole discipline thing and write something every day, so here goes.

Yesterday a bunch of items popped-up and caught my eye, but as I am technically “working” (today’s my last day at this short job), and then I got started on my little reading screenplays post below, I didn’t have a chance. So, a day (or two even) late;p many dollars short:

• Monday’s Filmmaker Magazine blog turned me on to this post by David Poland about the fantastic documentary Street Fight. Aside from getting the name of the director wrong (James Baxter apparently wrote the music for the film, but the director is Marshall Curry), Poland makes some great points about why Street Fight is one of the best documentaries of 2005. The film won the audience award at the Tribeca Film Festival earlier this year, and I was lucky enough to see it early. (In fact, I enthusiastically wrote the program notes for the catalog.) It’s a fascinating look at the 2002 Newark Mayoral race, a contest that was as politically bloody as they come in modern America. It aired on PBS’ P.O.V. over the summer, and hopefully it will find a DVD distributor and/or air again soon. I imagine it will since the main participants are likely to go head-to-head again in May for the next election.

(Robert Iger and Disney, NBC on iTunes and the network news after the jump.)

Continue reading “MISCELLANEOUS MISCELLANY: BECAUSE I’M NOT IN THE FRAME OF MIND TO WRITE THE OTHER STUFF I’M THINKING ABOUT”