Harry Dean's Big Break

As usual, we watched three very different films lately.  We hadn't seen Paris, Texas in many years.  While the film has many fine moments, overall it just doesn't hang that well any more.  The first half of the film, up to where Travis gets to LA, is really good.  But after this point (there was no script after this) things go downhill slowly but steadily.  I have never met a film buff who does not love Harry Dean Stanton, and he is the perfect choice for this film.  Also turning in a very strong performance is Dean Stockwell.  And Nastassya Kinski turns in a solid performance, as does the little boy.  Problems develop when the film should be reaching a climax.  Instead, we are treated to very long and boring monologues inside a peepshow booth.  The mysterious story we've been waiting so long to hear about is painfully uninteresting and banal (he was a jealous alcoholic who blacked out for four years after hitting his wife (who was about 35 years younger than he was!).  The ending itself is quite ridiculous, as the absent father, after reuniting the boy with his mother, takes off again, leaving her to figure out what the hell to do now.  A film made by males for males.  Even Wenders admits that he is terrible at constructing endings.  Harry Dean was furious when he discovered that the family would not be staying together at the end, and wanted to punch the director.  Even a simple "I will see you again," at the end would have been better than what was given audiences, who for some reason loved it at the time.  So 4 stars for the first half, and 2 stars for the second half (which I would never watch again).  The opening scene, with Travis walking alone in the desert, is one of the great openings of a film.  It's too bad that Wenders couldn't have come up with a better ending.  Sam Shepherd wrote the final monologues in one night, and it shows.  The film has about two hours of extras to watch, which we are still finishing up.

 Now showing on Criterion Channel.

Next up was a film noir, part of a package of this type of film from Columbia that Criterion is currently showing.  We watched Dead Reckoning, with Bogart getting beaten up and shoved around for awhile.  The plot is all over the place, and the dame, Lizabeth Scott, is either the best liar in the world, or she really loves Bogart.  Which is it?  That's about the only interest here, and the ending, though surprising in some ways, is expected in others.  Deb claims it to be the most misogynistic film she has ever seen.  Right up there with Paris, Texas, in my reckoning.

 Now showing on Criterion. 

And now for something completely different.  In other words, something I would not let my mother watch.  Adan Jodorowsky's short film (27') The Voice Thief is stylish and edgy, and was obviously made for the film festival circuit.  It would likely do well at many festivals.  A man chokes his singing wife, who loses her voice.  He then sets out on a dark mission to capture other voices and give them to his wife, hoping she will be able to sing again.  Sets, use of colour, and camera work are quite incredible, though the subject matter often becomes very disturbing and uncomfortable.  Deb thought he pushed boundaries too far, while I thought that if it had gone any further, I would have jumped ship.  An interesting experiment, in the tradition of Eraserhead and its ilk.

 Disturbing short film showing on Criterion.  

On the home front things are going well here, as they are in Sudbury (my family) and Lindsay (Deb's mom).  We are not bored, still barely finding enough time in a day to get things done--practicing, writing, walking, yard work, watching films, making films, reading, gaming--there is no end of things to do at this location.  I think I should qualify for a long space voyage, if I can take my house with me and all belongings.

It's the new astronomy session, and so far it's been a bust.  I'm hoping for at least 3 good nights, but my hopes are dimming as we approach last quarter moon.  The weather here is very windy and very cold, so even if skies were clear, conditions are not good enough to get me driving 75 miles round trip.

And speaking of the moon and night time, here is a wonderful painting from the DIA, long a favourite of mine.

Matlock Tor By Moonlight, Joseph Wright of Derby, English, 1734-97.  Painted between 1778-1780.  Oil on canvas, 24" x 30", collection Detroit Institute of Arts.  

We have a Sam Fuller movie lined up, more episodes of season 5 Elementary, lots more to read, and my 2nd Valeria novel, which is bouncing along nicely.  I write at least one new page every day, plus some rewriting and editing.  Hoping to have it complete by the end of May, and sooner if I have to stop piano for awhile due to my blocked right ear.

My next outing is scheduled for Thursday, for some fresh food.  We already have an on-line order, to be picked up, for the following week.  And a big order of vitamins etc is due any time from Wal Mart.  So we are venturing out even less frequently than before.  All is good at Lone Mountain Homestead.  Though I am pining for New Mexico a lot.  And my craft beer supply is getting dangerously low.

Mapman Mike