how's annie?

we're not hurting you; we're loving you

i heard you were dead

ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK (1981)

Reasons to like it:

*Kurt Russell in the role he was always meant to play: the ultimate badass.

*AWESOME score.

*Excellent cinematography/lighting (Ridley Scott's Blade Runner is very reminiscent in look and feel, which would make sense considering they used the same set for the model of the city.)

*Isaac Hayes as the Duke of New York being totally radical

*Planes landing on top of the World Trade Centers

Reasons Not to Like it:

*None I could think of.

Grade: 10/10

the motorcycle boy reigns

RUMBLE FISH (1983)

I love the Coppola family. Who can resist a Sofia Coppola film, Nic Cage's blank stare, or Jason Schwartzman's dead-pan comedy and striking resemblance to Ringo Starr? Heck, Roman co-directed The Life Aquatic and co-wrote AND co-directed The Darjeeling Limited. We're talking a talented family. And we haven't even gotten to Francis yet...

You either love him or hate him, but it's undeniable that at least 3 of his films (The Godfather, The Godfather pt. II, and Apocalypse Now) will forever have a place as absolute classics in cinema. I personally think he's of genius caliber. Sure, the man has definitely had his flops, especially in recent years, but he's always forging new territory for himself.

There is so much to admire about the guy to me. The very idea behind American-Zoetrope films is amazing...a studio that allows groundbreaking film-makers some financial freedom without having any say-so as far as content. Sure, it hasn't housed too many winners yet, but anyone who knows much about Francis knows that that has been a long time coming. However all three of Sofia's feature films are Zoetrope, and Robert De Niro's The Good Shepherd. Who knows? Maybe his vision will finally be completely realized someday soon.

Rumble Fish was released one year after the first American-Zoetrope financial flop of One From the Heart, a film that I'm dying to see, but unfortunately it's very much unavailable in any home video format (i was just informed that it actually was released on DVD a few years ago, thanks guys, guess what I'm buying next?). It was the third American-Zoetrope film. Directly following The Outsiders which was actually a fair commercial success. The source material of it is an S.E. Hinton novel, the same novelist who wrote the source material for The Outsiders. However, these films are strikingly different. Rumble Fish is much more of an experimental/art house film, whereas The Outsiders is more of a classically shot Hollywood film.

The story line revolves around lead character Rusty James, played by Matt Dillon, trying to live up to his brother who is known only as the Motorcycle Boy, played by Mickey Rourke in another GREAT performance. The Motorcycle Boy was a legendary gang leader in Tulsa before he went on a lengthy motorcycle road trip, leaving the gang without a leader. Thus Rusty James takes over. It is soon evident, however that Rusty James lacks the leadership skills that his brother is known for.

During a fight scene, that resembles a dance number more than a gang fight, the Motorcycle Boy returns. The rest of the film follows Rusty James following his brother around trying to be just like him, but only succeeding in losing himself and his girlfriend.

A theme of this film is the passage of time, and how young people, in particularly, sometimes aren't aware of how quickly it passes. There are several very neat-looking shots of a time lapsing sky behind the characters to sort of illustrate this point. And a very interesting set piece of a huge clock in the back of a truck in one scene.

Several scenes stick out in my mind as highlights. A scene in which Rusty James confronts one of his brother's girlfriends on a fire escape sticks out as particularly wonderful. And who can forget the out-of-body experience scene?

The film works on so many levels. The performances are all great, including a very young, very cute Diane Lane, Nic Cage in his first ever film performance, a small Christopher Penn role, Laurence Fishburne as the token black guy, Tom Waits in a wonderfully hilarious cameo, and Dennis hopper as the constantly shit-faced father. The score, written and performed by none other than the legendary Stewart Copeland of the police, fits almost perfectly and definitely adds a few layers to the mood. The cinematography is excellent; stark black and white with the occasional touch of color and excellent framing never detracting from the action on screen.

I recommend this film very highly. While it’s not flawless, I would not hesitate to consider it one of my very favorite films of all time.

Definitely looking forward to Tetro.

Grade: 9.5/10

I want a moustache, damnit

GUMMO (1997)

Absolutely vile. In a good way?

Grade: 8/10