neon angst


Will Graham: "It's just you and me now, sport."

Manhunter (86) written and directed by Michael Mann, based on the novel, Red Dragon by Thomas Harris. Starring: William L. Petersen (Will Graham), Kim Greist (Molly Graham), Joan Allen (Reba McClane), Brian Cox (Dr. Hannibal Lecktor), Dennis Farina (Jack Crawford), Stephen Lang (Freddy Lounds) and Tom Noonan (Francis Dollarhyde).

Cinematography by Dante Spinotti

The original; the one and only. Simply one of the best thrillers of all-time and the most stylish crime film of the 80's. The story's intelligent but flawed characters, played effortlessly by Petersen, Cox and Noonan represent the spokes of a troika at the heart of the film. As FBI profiler Will Graham, Petersen brings an intensity bordering on the psychotic, and personifies the theme of a hunter attempting to achieve empathy for his prey. This concept would be re-examined again in Mann's Heat (95) but was never more functional and realized than it was right here. Graham and Lecktor are the same. There are no true victims out of these three damaged and soulful characters. Even Dollarhyde (Tom Noonan, in an inexcusably over-looked performance from the Academy) is a man following his own nature. The genius of the film is that it never asks you to side with anyone. Who are the good guys? Just how reprehensible can a killer be? Seeing these themes take shape is simply like watching several cars headed directly toward one another at top speed and waiting for the inevitable impact. Just brace yourself, because no matter how many times you've seen it - nothing's going to prepare you. Silence (91) may be a great film (and even a masterpiece in it's own right) but Manhunter fills in the gaps between all the bravado and showy scene-chewing. It simply is stepping into the mind of insanity (as it is in real life) - and it's not a pretty place. A masterpiece.

Trivia (from imdb): The film was originally to be entitled "Red Dragon" after the novel, but when Year of the Dragon (85) flopped, producer Dino De Laurentiis decided to avoid a dragon title. Frankie Faison (Lt. Fisk) is the only actor to appear in all four Thomas Harris "Hannibal" adaptations (he appears as Barney in The Silence Of The Lambs (91), Hannibal (01) and Red Dragon (02). Tom Noonan (Dollarhyde) has said that he avoided all contact with cast members in order to heighten the isolation and tension between himself and other people, particularly William L. Petersen (Graham).

During the filming of this movie, Anthony Hopkins was playing King Lear at the National Theatre. During the filming of The Silence of the Lambs (91) Brian Cox was playing King Lear at the National Theatre. Tom Noonan (Dollarhyde) spent many hours in make-up so that artists could paint fake tattoos on his back and torso modeled after William Blake's "Great Red Dragon" paintings. Though Noonan appeared with the tattoos in publicity photographs (available in the region 1 Special Edition DVD), director Michael Mann concluded that the tattoos were too "over the top," and discarded the idea. This is the only Hannibal movie where his last name is spelled Lecktor. In all future movies, it's spelled Dr. Hannibal Lecter.

5 out of 5 stars

Will Graham: "I know that I'm not smarter than you."
Doctor Hannibal Lecktor: "Then how did you catch me?"
Will Graham: "You had disadvantages."
Doctor Hannibal Lecktor: "What disadvantages?"
Will Graham: "Passion. And you're insane."

The Films of Michael Mann (as director):

Thief (81) ****1/2

The Keep (83) ****

Manhunter (86) *****

The Last of the Mohicans (92) ****

Heat (95) ****1/2

The Insider (99) *****

Ali (01) ****1/2

Collateral (04) ****

Natural Born Killers (94) directed by Oliver Stone, written by David Veloz and based on a story by Quentin Tarantino

Dwight McClusky: "Mickey & Mallory Knox are without a doubt the most twisted depraved pair of shitfucks it has ever been my displeasure to lay my god damn eyes on. I tell you these two motherfuckers are a walking reminder of just how fucked up this system really is."

Tommy Lee Jones (Warden Dwight McClusky)


Mickey: "Even ugliness looks beautiful next to you."

Juliette Lewis (Mallory Knox) and Woody Harrelson (Mickey Knox)

Check out this Top 50 films list...

for C.

2005: a space travesty?

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (05)

theatrical trailer
teaser trailer

Directed by Garth Jennings, based on the book and written for the screen by Douglas Adams
Starring:
Martin Freeman as Arthur Dent
Mos Def as Ford Prefect
Sam Rockwell as Zaphod Beeblebrox
Zooey Deschanel as Tricia McMillan/Trillian
Bill Nighy as Slartibartfast
Warwick Davis as Marvin the Paranoid Android
Stephen Fry as The Book/voice

This will be the ninth version of the "Hitchhiker's Guide". It previously appeared as a radio series, a record album, a novel, a television series, a computer game, a stage show, a comic book and a towel.

in theaters 4/29/05

2005 BAFTA Winners

Best Film
The Aviator

Alexander Korda Award for Outstanding British Film of the Year
My Summer of Love

Best Actor
Jamie Foxx for Ray

Best Actress
Imelda Staunton for Vera Drake

Best Supporting Actor
Clive Owen for Closer

Best Supporting Actress
Cate Blanchett for The Aviator

David Lean Award for Achievement in Direction
Mike Leigh for Vera Drake

Best Film not in the English Language
Diarios de motocicleta/The Motorcycle Diaries

I believe that The Aviator and Jaime Foxx will be the only 2 sure-fire carry-overs to the Oscars (for Best Picture and Best Actor). Cate Blanchett has been picking up alot of momemtum for Supporting Actress, so she may take home a long-deserved statuette after-all come Oscar time. Owen is still a long-shot for Supporting Actor, but Staunton could give Swank a good run for her money. Leigh does not stand a chance against Scorsese and Eastwood for Director, and my money's still on Josey Wales. It's going to be a good race.

Eastwood and his Women at this years Golden Globes

yin and yang

2 reasons to get excited about Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins (05): Gary Oldman (as Lt. James Gordon) and Ken Watanabe (as Ra's Al Ghul)

quotes of the week

Chris Rock on the Oscars:

"Awards for art are fucking idiotic."

When someone asked the producer of the Oscar show how it was that Rock was chosen over Billy Crystal, the exchange went like this, reportedly: "Billy [Crystal] is doing a show in New York," Gil Cates said, "Steve Martin is doing a movie..."

Rock interrupted the producer to continue, saying, "Ellen DeGeneres has crabs. Jay Leno’s got a gig. They got to the R’s. Burt Reynolds said no."

"Come on, it's a fashion show," Rock said in a recent issue of Entertainment Weekly. "What straight black man sits there and watches the Oscars? Show me one. And they don't recognize comedy, and you don't see a lot of black people nominated, so why should I watch it?"

Chris Rock is an enormously talented and funny man. The only negative thing I can say about him regarding all of this - is he obviously does not love film. At least not the way that I do. Let me explain: I guess some of this makes sense. I mean, if Jaime Foxx plays Ray Charles, then Clint Eastwood, Don Cheadle, Leonardo DiCaprio and Johnny Depp also have to play Ray Charles to all be judged fairly. For me, it's not about the clothes. For some people it is - so be it. It's also about history and tradition and honoring a very serious and sacred craft. Of course it's all political - but there's also a certain grace to it at times. When Sean Penn won last year for Best Actor my spirit was lifted. His performance in Mystic River deserved no less than to be honored by the establishment - and when that crowd of hundreds of the world's finest actors, actresses, directors, producers, writers, cinematographers, art directors and alike all stood up to pay their respects - it was almost transcendental. That to me, is what the Oscars are all about. It's not about the whole picture - it's the few precious moments like that one.

As far as the Academy not honoring comedy, well, how about these past nominees (and some winners in italics) in the 6 major categories of Best Picture, Director, Actor, Actress, Supporting Actor and Supporting Actress alone:

It Happened One Night (34) Best Picture, Director, Actor and Actress
The Thin Man (34)
Mr. Deeds Goes To Town (36)
My Man Godfrey (36)
The Awful Truth (37) Best Director
You Can't Take it With You (38)
The Great Dictator (40)
The Philadelphia Story (40) Best Actor
The More the Merrier (43) Best Supporting Actor
Going My Way (44) Best Picture, Director, Actor and Supporting Actor
The Bishop's Wife (47)
Father of the Bride (50)
The Quiet Man (52) Best Director
The Lavender Hill Mob (52)
Mister Roberts (55) Best Supporting Actor
Teacher's Pet (58)
Pillow Talk (59)
The Apartment (60) Best Picture and Director
Divorce-Italian Style (62)
Tom Jones (63) Best Picture and Director
Mary Poppins (64) Best Actress
Cat Ballou (65) Best Actor
A Thousand Clowns (65) Best Supporting Actor
The Russians are Coming, the Russians are Coming (66)
Morgan! (66)
The Fortune Cookie (66) Best Supporting Actor
The Graduate (67) Best Director
MASH (70)
Little Big Man (70)
Diary of a Mad Housewife (70)
The Heartbreak Kid (72)
The Sting (73) Best Picture and Director
American Graffiti (73)
Blazing Saddles (74)
The Sunshine Boys (75) Best Supporting Actor
Seven Beauties (76)
Annie Hall (77) Best Picture, Actress and Director
The Goodbye Girl (77) Best Actor
Heaven Can Wait (78)
California Suite (78) Best Supporting Actress
Being There (79) Best Supporting Actor
La Cage Aux Folles (79)
Private Benjamin (80)
Melvin and Howard (80) Best Supporting Actress
Arthur (81) Best Supporting Actor
Tootsie (82) Best Supporting Actress
Victor/Victoria (82)
To Be or Not to Be (83)
Broadway Danny Rose (84)
Prizzi's Honor (85) Best Supporting Actress
Hannah and Her Sisters (86) Best Supporting Actor and Supporting Actress
Peggy Sue Got Married (86)
Broadcast News (87)
Moonstruck (87) Best Actress and Supporting Actress
Throw Momma From the Train (87)
Big (88)
A Fish Called Wanda (88) Best Supporting Actor
Married to the Mob (88)
Pretty Woman (90)
Barton Fink (91)
City Slickers (91) Best Supporting Actor
My Cousin Vinny (92) Best Supporting Actress
Four Weddings and a Funeral (94)
Ed Wood (94) Best Supporting Actor
Bullets Over Broadway (94) Best Supporting Actress
Babe (95)
Jerry Maguire (96) Best Supporting Actor
The Full Monty (97)
As Good As it Gets (97) Best Actor and Actress
The Truman Show (98)
Little Voice (98)
Shakespeare in Love (98) Best Picture, Director, Actress and Supporting Actress
Sweet and Lowdown (99)
Being John Malkovich (99)
Almost Famous (00)
Bridget Jones's Diary (01)
Adaptation (02)
About Schmidt (02)
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (03)

I might have missed a few.

Like all truly great "comedies" - most of these are more than just films that make you laugh. If Rock meant comedies like "Dogma" or "Pootie Tang" - then I guess maybe he's not the right man for the job afterall.

and whoever said the world was fair?

xoxoxox

James Stewart (as Det. John "Scottie" Ferguson) and Kim Novak as Madeleine Elster/Judy Barton) from Alfred Hitchcock's immortal, Vertigo (58).

My favorite movie kiss.

Click on "Theme from Vertigo" by Bernard Herrmann Score Selection for full effect.

Here's some recent Hollywood news that made me want to throw up
from dark horizons:

In a posting on the View Askew site, Kevin Smith confirmed an April 8th start of shooting date for this "Clerks" sequel along with a few other tidbits: "This week, we're having a reading of the script, with Brian, Jeff, Mewes and others...This isn't gonna be a cameo-heavy or star-heavy affair. Jay and Silent Bob have about as much screen time as they had in 'Clerks.' This is Dante and Randal's flick all the way. This is the funniest thing I've ever written. It's also really poignant. We'll still be making a 'Clerks' cartoon movie, separate of this."

I thought the original "Clerks" was Dante and Randal's flick "all the way"...Anybody else done with this guy, yet? If I have to see one more film that even so much as references Jay or Silent Bob, I'm going to have to take Smith off my 365 Directors list (for Chasing Amy), and replace him with Rod Browning (the guy who directed Oh, Heavenly Dog!).



Rumours are swirling that George Clooney's scouring through ol' Blue Eyes back catalogue for his next effort. According to Moviehole, Clooney has reportedly just bought the rights to another ratpack flick "Robin And The 7 Hoods", and already has "Ocean's" pals Brad Pitt and Matt Damon on board. The new version is expected to be updated and possibly set in modern times, and there's wonder whether Steven Soderbergh will direct, or at the very least, produce.

Maybe George Clooney should just dig up Sinatra's dead body and skull-fuck his corpse. Enough already! Ocean's 11 (remake) sucked. Ocean's 12 sucked worse. I like George Clooney. Confessions of a Dangerous Mind was an incredibly under-rated film - but anybody who keeps throwing vanity projects Brad Pitt's way and gives him an excuse to be a full-fledged platinum blonde Hollywood diva can just go to hell. Brad, we still love ya for 12 Monkeys...but that's about it. Okay, Kalifornia was good too, but who's keeping score?


An AICN source attended the Dallas Comic Con Convention over the weekend where actor Thomas Jane was at a panel and was asked about the "Punisher" sequel rumours: "Thomas' response was..."Oh, is that still just a rumor?" We all perked up, Niles asked Jane if he could talk about this, and Thomas said "Why Not." Jane let the cat out of the bag and told the room that yesterday at a studio in north Dallas he filmed the teaser for "Punisher 2". No word on when or where we will see this trailer though. Jane said that while the script is not finished, he is working closely with the team. He said that he is doing EVERYTHING he can do to get the setting moved to the borroughs of New York and that Jigsaw is "more than likely" going to be the villian in the movie.

I'm a little confused...just who is "Thomas Jane" anyway? I know that the lead actor of the first Punisher film was named "Tom Jane" but who the hell is this "Thomas" person? Are they fucking serious? He went to "Tom" for that shit sandwich of a movie and it crappin' died. Did anybody see The Punisher? No, not the Dolph Lundgren version (that one actually had it's moments). It's so bad...it's so bad I had to cancel my membership to Blockbuster (where I rented it from). As penace, John Travolta should have been made to make another straight-to-video Look Who's Talking sequel after The Punisher; either that or 240 hours of community service. I would rather be tied to a chair with my eye-lids pinned open and forced to watch Oh, Heavenly Dog! with Chevy Chase and Benji for the rest of eternity than to ever watch the "Tom" Jane Punisher ever again. You can tell how excited I am about the sequel.


In the past few months, muscle-rippling spunk Vin Diesel ("xXx", "The Fast & The Furious") has often mentioned his desire to develop his pet project - the long in development movie about Hannibal The Conqueror. The project would have Diesel starring as the young man from the ruling clans of the city of Carthage in North Africa who makes an oath of vengeance against Rome when they kill his father. Dedicating his life to fulfilling that challenge, Hannibal becomes a general by the time he's in his mid-20s, and with an army of 100,000 committed to his goal, he sets out to bring Rome down, first by conquering Spain, and then by setting loose a surprise (and famous) attack on Italy by way of the Alps, with an array of forces that included war-trained elephants. Diesel divulged this exclusive tidbit - "I'm going to direct it."

Hannibal = Shit Sandwich. I found Vin Diesel to be much more tolerable when he was just "that guy" from Saving Private Ryan. Aside from that and doing the voice of The Iron Giant, this guy has about as much talent as he has hairs on his head. Face it Vin, Yul Brynner: cool. Telly Savalas: cool. Vin Diesel: bald guy with delusions of grandeur.

author's note: Oh Heavenly Dog! is not actually as bad as I may have made it out to seem. In alot of ways, it's a much better film than the ones speculated on above. I'm not sure how anyone can dislike a film with a tagline like: "Chevy Chase and Benji team up for big laughs in this tail of murder, mystery and puppy love." Know what I mean?

scream queen

Barbara Steele was born on December 19, 1938 in Birkenhead, Cheshire, England. She originally studied to become a painter and in 1957, she joined an acting repertory company. Her feature acting debut was in the British comedy, Bachelor of Hearts (58). At age 21, this strikingly lovely lady, with the hauntingly beautiful face, large eyes, sensuous lips and long, dark hair got her breakout role by starring in: Black Sunday, the quintessential Italian film about witchcraft (it was the directorial debut for cinematographer Mario Bava; with his background it was exquisitely photographed and atmospheric). Although her voice was dubbed for international audiences, the film established her as a major star of the horror genre. After its American success, AIP brought Barbara to America, to star in Roger Corman's The Pit and the Pendulum (61). In 1962, she answered an open-casting call and won a role in Federico Fellini's masterpiece: 8 1/2; she only had a small but memorable role. Often times working in small or no-budget films, she would tell her directors: "I've worked with some of the best directors in the world. I've worked with Fellini!"

More horror movies followed: The Spectre (63), Castle of Blood (64), An Angel for Satan (66); some now classics - some not. In describing her inevitable typecasting, she once said in an interview: "I never want to climb out of another freakin' coffin again!" She eventually met American screenwriter James Poe; they got married, and remained together for many years. James Poe wrote an excellent role for Barbara in They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (69). The role ended up going to Susannah York, and Barbara wouldn't act in movies again for 5 years. Her return to film was in the pseudo-cult classic Caged Heat (74). As the wheelchair-bound warden, she was terribly mis-cast. She appeared in Louis Malle's Pretty Baby (78) but was wasted and then She and James Poe got divorced, (he died a few years later). Maybe because her ex-husband was now dead, or because her acting career was going nowhere, Barbara retired from acting for an entire decade. She found success as an associate producer for the TV mini-series, The Winds of War (83), and produced War and Remembrance (89), for which she won an Emmy award. She made a return to the horror film genre in a revival of the beloved 60's supernatural soap-opera, Dark Shadows (91). She still acts occasionally; her latest film was, The Prophet (99). Now in her sixties, the still beautiful Steele is adored by her loyal fans the world over.