Categorie archief: Films

The Addiction

Posted on by Jeppe Kleijngeld

Director: Abel Ferrara
Written by: Nicholas St. John
Cast: Lili Taylor, Christopher Walken, Annabella Sciorra, Edie Falco

Year / Country: 1995, USA / Argentina
Running Time: 79 mins.

In Abel Ferrara’s take on the vampire genre, vampirism is a metaphor for drug addiction (and Aids). Together with regular collaborator Nicholas St. John, who wrote the screenplay, Ferrara explores the mean streets of New York once again. Amidst dope peddlers and junkies listening to Cypress Hill, the philosophy student Kathleen is bitten by the sardonic vampire Casanova (Annabella Sciorra).

Her turning into a hungry vampire is a path filled with suffering. While she is searching for relief from her addiction, she finds that her addiction is her only relief. In a memorable one-scene appearance, vampire Christopher Walken teaches here a few things about addictions (have you read ‘Naked Lunch’?). He practices abstinence and teaches Kathleen that like Tibetans, we can learn to survive on a little. But Kathleen must first go through a massive feeding frenzy at the end of the film before finally finding some relief through religion.

Besides being an unusual, but brilliantly effective genre film, this is also a work of art that deals with deeper questions. Most urgently it asks how we can resist evil. The movie features many references to historical acts of greater evil and – typical for Ferrara – deals with guilt, redemption and Catholicism. The black and white cinematography is beautiful and the cast, not in the least lead actress Lili Taylor, is impressive. But how much you will enjoy the final result will depend on your tolerance for philosophical and religious subject matter. Either way, this is one of Ferrara’s finest works to date.

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Biography: Abel Ferrara (1951, New York) is a New York artist and filmmaker. He started making amateur films on Super 8 in his teens before making his mark as independent film director with bloody underground films such as The Driller Killer. Ferrara has an independent way of working, uses low budgets, but is still able to attract Hollywood talent for his movies, such as Christopher Walken and Harvey Keitel. His raw, realistic style and controversial content has earned him a position as an important voice in American cult cinema.

Filmography (a selection): Nicky’s Film (1971, short) / 9 Lives of a Wet Pussy (1976) / Not Guilty: For Keith Richards (1977, short doc) / The Driller Killer (1979) / Ms. 45 (1981) / Fear City (1984) / Cat Chaser (1989) / King of New York (1990) / Bad Lieutenant (1992) / Body Snatchers (1993) / The Addiction (1995) / The Funeral (1996) / The Blackout (1997) / New Rose Hotel (1998) / ‘R Xmas (2001) / Mary (2005) / Go Go Tales (2007) / Chelsea on the Rocks (2008, doc) / Napoli, Napoli, Napoli (2009) / Welcome to New York (2014) / Pasolini (2014) / Alive in France (2017, doc) / Piazza Vittorio (2017, doc) / The Projectionist (2019, doc) / Tommaso (2019) / Siberia (2019)

The Violent Years

Posted on by Jeppe Kleijngeld

Director: William Morgan
Written by: Edward D. Wood Jr.
Cast: Jean Moorhead, Barbara Weeks, Arthur Millan

Year / Country: 1956, USA
Running Time: 57 mins.

The Violent Years is about a gang of four girls that commit violent robberies and take their thrills unashamed! The script was written by none other than the famed Ed Wood. Although he didn’t direct this himself, it has certainly got his signature all over it. Especially, the patronising voice-over is typical of Mr. Wood.

The theme of the movie is juvenile delinquency. Parents should bring up good children as their duty to society. Kids should strive for good citizenship, self restraint, politeness and loyalty. The way in which this message is delivered is laughable though. It reminds of Reefer Madness with the condescending tone that is insulting to the viewer. And then I haven’t even mentioned the terrible acting and clumsy direction.

At the end of the movie, when the leader of the gang Paula is in front of the judge, you realise the true ridiculousness of the film. The speech of the judge goes something like this; ‘The Thrillseeker is much like the drug addict. With his continual increase of dosage until its climax: a murder.’ I had expected more from Wood than a piece of propaganda about juvenile delinquency sold as an exploitation movie. Don’t waste your time on this one folks.

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Biography: William Morgan (1899, London – 1964) worked as an editor from the early thirties till the late fifties. His resume contains films of many different genres, including science fiction movies like Tarantula and the TV-show Lassie. In the forties he directed quite a few features, including a series of westerns starring Gene Autry. His final film as a director was the Ed Wood scripted film The Violent Years.

Filmography: Bowery Boy (1940), Mr. District Attorney (1941), The Gay Vagabond (1941), Sunset in Wyoming (1941), Mercy Island (1941), Sierra Sue (1941), Cowboy Serenade (1942), Heart of the Rio Grande (1942), Home in Wyomin’ (1942), Stardust on the Sage (1942), Bells of Capistrano (1942), Secrets of the Underground (1942), Headin’ for God’s Country (1943), Fun & Fancy Free (1947), The Violent Years (1956)

Jail Bait

Posted on by Jeppe Kleijngeld

Director: Edward D. Wood Jr.
Written by: Alex Gordon, Edward D. Wood Jr.
Cast: Lyle Talbot, Dolores Fuller, Herbert Rawlinson, Steve Reeves

Year / Country: 1954, USA
Running Time: 71 mins.

Marilyn Gregor bails out her brother Don who was caught carrying a gun. It appears that Don is under the influence of the hardened gangster Vic Brady. After Don’s release, he and Vic commit another robbery that ends with the death of an ex-cop. Don is now a murderer. His father, who is a plastic surgeon, wants to help him, but Vic has plans of his own.

Jail Bait is one of the least Ed Woodish films Ed Wood made. It is a crime movie for one thing, rather than a sci-fi / monster flick. There is also no Lugosi, less wooden acting and a whole lot less mistakes, although there are still plenty. One typical Wood element is still there: the message. This time it is ‘Never carry a gun or you will use it.’

The story gets kind of ridiculous as it unfolds, but hardly fails to amuse. The cast holds up well too. Fuller, who appears in many of Wood’s movies, is an enjoyable presence and the ending is really hilarious. Those elements together make this second feature film directed by Wood, one of his finer achievements.

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Biography: Edward D. Wood Jr. (1924, New York – 1978, Hollywood) is widely considered as the world’s worst filmmaker. His low-budget movies, usually mergers of science-fiction and horror, are mostly complete disasters in terms of production values and continuity. In 1994, Edward D. Wood Jr. became the subject of an amazing biopic directed by Tim Burton called Ed Wood.

Filmography: The Sun Was Setting (1951, TV short), Trick Shooting with Kenne Duncan (1953, short), Glen or Glenda (1953), Crossroad Avenger: The Adventures of the Tuscon Kid (1953, TV short), Boots (1953, short), Jail Bait (1954), Bride of the Monster (1955), The Night the Banshee Cried (1957, short), Final Curtain (1957, short), Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959), Night of the Ghouls (1959), The Sinister Urge (1960), Take It Out in Trade (1970), The Young Marrieds (1971), Necromania: A Tale of Weird Love (1971)

Speedracer

Posted on by Jeppe Kleijngeld

Director: Lana & Andy Wachowski
Written by: Lana & Andy Wachowski, Tatsuo Yoshida
Cast: Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci, John Goodman, Susan Sarandon

Year / Country: 2008, USA, Australia, Germany
Running Time: 129 mins.

After a five year break following the completion of The Matrix series, the Wachowski’s came up with another eastern inspired visual feast. Based on the Japanese manga and anime Mach GoGoGo from the sixties, which centred on automobile racing, this is the 120 million dollar version of the sunday morning cartoon series.

The Racers are a family obsessed with racing. Pops Racer (John Goodman) is the father who builds the insane racing vehicles and his two sons drive them. The oldest son Rex Racer is the specialist racer, but after he becomes involved in a tragic scandal, his little brother Speed (Emile Hirsch) takes over. Speed learns that racing is nothing but business these days, which goes against his old family values. He takes on the corporate evil of the racing world along with his family and the mysterious Racer X (Matthew Fox).

Speed Racer was targeted as a family film, but is probably most suitable for parking an ADD / ADHD child in front of. The hallucinogenic colour collages will drive the older generation insane, while the young ones will most likely love it. Also those who enjoy stunning visual eye candy and jaw dropping cinematography will have a great time. The movie lacks enough tension and takes a bit too long, but the enjoyable cast and breathtaking images makes this trip to the candy store still worth your time and attention.

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Biography: Lana & Andy Wachowski (1967/1965, Chicago) are famous film writers, producers and directors. Their best known work is box office smash hit The Matrix and its two sequels. They were born as Laurence ‘Larry’ Wachowski and Andrew ‘Andy’ Wachowski in Chicago. Prior to working in the film industry they wrote comic books for Marvel Comics Razorline. In 1996 they made their feature debut with the stylish thriller Bound. Three years later they made The Matrix which became the most influential science fiction film in recent history. After the release of the final ‘Matrix’ movie Larry Wachowski began appearing as a woman, using the name Lana.

Filmography: Bound (1996), The Matrix (1999), The Matrix Reloaded (2003), The Matrix Revolutions (2003), Speed Racer (2008)