This brotha worked hard in October. I powered through 31 Days of Horror with a post (almost) every single day. By the time the first Thursday Movie Picks of November rolled around, I was in the middle of a much needed break. It was easy to stay away when I knew that the three movies I would have picked for last week's topic were pretty much the same as on everyone else's list. That might be the case this week, but I'm rolling with it anyway. Besides, I suggested the topic, movies about addiction, to our host, Wanderer of Wandering Through the Shelves. It would be pretty crappy of me to not show up this week, right? Luckily for you, I'm rejuvenated and ready to make my triumphant return to blogging and TMP. Well, I don't know how good a post this is, but I always wanted to have a triumphant return to something, so I'm claiming this. And since we're heading into the holiday season, I decided to steer clear of drug addiction...or alcohol, for that matter. Just too depressing. So, in the immortal words of Marvin Gaye, let's get it on. Better yet, in the words of Salt-N-Pepa, let's talk about sex.
Auto Focus
(2002)
Lots of biopics deal with famous addicts. I've never seen one quite like this. It's all about Bob Crane (a never-better Greg Kinnear), the star of 1960s sitcom, "Hogan's Heroes." If you've ever seen the show, you know it's goofy, but clean fun had at the expense of the Nazis. Little did we know Crane was a raging sex addict who was also into filming just about all of his sexual exploits, often without the knowledge of the women involved. Naturally, he kept them all, amassing a sizeable personal porn collection. Usually, his creepy friend John Henry Carpenter (Willem Dafoe) was a co-star. Oh, did I mention Crane was a church-going family man?
A Dirty Shame
(2004)
Harford Road is a peculiar community, to say the least. One one side, we have the neuters. These are holier-than-thou folks who seem to be somewhere between extreme right Christians and the Amish. On the other, we have the perverts. Well, they're perverts. All hell breaks loose when Sylvia (Tracey Ullman), one of the neuters, takes a bump on the head and finds herself firmly entrenched in the camp of the perverts and is relentlessly in search of "the ultimate sex act." It is completely ridiculous. The ending is something far beyond even that adjective and the whole thing is unabashedly campy. It might be a difficult movie to sit through unless you're a fan of this movie's director, the incomparable John Waters.
Black Snake Moan
(2006)
Speaking of bizarre films, we have this rusty piece of Mississippi blues infused grime. Rae (Christina Ricci) is a party girl who gets into drinking and drugs. However, her biggest vice is giving up them drawers. A funny thing happens on the way to her next booty call, though. She gets beaten up and left for dead by some chump. Good thing for her Lazarus (Samuel L. Jackson) happens to be riding by. He picks up her body, takes her to his home, and nurses her back to health. He also plans on curing her of her demons. How? Well, when Rae wakes up in Laz's place she finds herself chained up and not allowed to leave. Oh yeah, he's a bitter, guitar strumming, religious nut. It's a polarizing movie, to be sure. What's not up for debate is the excellence of the performances and weird, surrogate father/abductor-reluctant daughter/abductee vibe they have.
I've only seen bits of A Dirty Shame as it rarely comes on TV which sucks because I really want to see it in its uncut version. I do love Black Snake Moan and Auto Focus as the latter is quite underrated.
ReplyDeleteI hope you get to see A Dirty Shame. It is a wild ride.
Deletebaahahahhahaha A Dirty Shame! I worked at a movie theater when Harold and Kumar go to White Castle came out, and The Dirty Shame trailer was attached to it, we got this huge notice saying we had to remove it because our theater didn't play NC-17 movies, so we watched it once then took it off. God, that movie is wild.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen Auto Focus, I'll have to look into that one. I enjoyed Black Snake Moan quite a bit too.
Love that story. I probably could've picked Harold & Kumar, now that you mention it, lol. Auto Focus is quite interesting. Hope you check it out.
DeleteWelcome back and we take our triumphs where we can, especially considering the horrendous event of the week. The only one of the three I've seen completely is Auto Focus which was a sad and disturbing peek at a troubled man. I agree that this is one of Greg Kinnear's best performances.
ReplyDeleteI've seen pieces of A Dirty Shame but haven't pursued the whole thing despite my love of Tracey Ullman. I'm VERY variable on John Waters movies. I've heard of Black Snake Moan but it never really appealed to me.
Though our picks are very different they share some similarities. One of mine is a bio-pic and my last takes on sex addiction.
Drugstore Cowboy (1989)-A “family” of junkies consisting of two couples (Matt Dillon, Kelly Lynch, Heather Graham and James Le Gros) drift around the country subsisting and feeding their habit by robbing drug stores. They float along in a perpetual haze until a tragedy opens the eyes of the leader Bob (Dillon) and he determines to go straight. It’s a struggle and only gets more difficult when someone from his past shows up and tries to force him into scoring drugs. Gus Van Sant directed film is relentlessly downbeat with one of Dillon’s best performances.
The Doors (1991)-The story of the rise and fall of the 60’s rock band and its infamous leader Jim Morrison whose freewheeling lifestyle and many addictions lead to much acrimony within the band as well as his early death in Paris. Val Kilmer is terrific as The Lizard King, Meg Ryan less so as his wild child wife.
A Rage to Live (1965)-Soap opera pure and simple based on a John O’Hara novel about a woman who in more enlightened times would have been viewed as a person with a crippling disorder, nymphomania, that would require treatment but for our purposes here is a wanton slut. The great Suzanne Pleshette’s character Grace Caldwell Tate is ruled by urges she cannot control and nothing she attempts, marriage, a child etc., can stop them. There are minor attempts at some insight into her problem but they are quickly tossed away in favor of sensationalism. Good supporting cast including Peter Graves and in a rare on screen role Brett Somers Klugman from Match Game. If you enjoy trashy cinema with quality actors enacting silly situations with earnest professionalism this is right up your alley.
Thanks. Horrendous event, indeed. Auto Focus is very disturbing.
DeleteWaters is certainly an acquired taste. I don't blame anyone who hates his movies.
I've not seen any of your picks. I haven't even heard of A Rage to Live. That said, I have an odd relationship with your other picks. Drugstore Cowboy is one of those I've been meaning to see forever, but just never got around to. A couple years ago I was really close to actually watching it. It came down to that and the similarly titled Midnight Cowboy. I went with Midnight. As for The Doors, like I said, I haven't seen it. However, I have heard it several times. Back in my Army days, I had a roommate who fell in love with it and watched it every single day for about a month. I never sat with him to watch, but yeah, I clearly heard every word of dialogue and every song. I keep telling myself I'm actually going to add the visuals to go with it.
That's a funny story about The Doors. It's almost like a radio drama in your head! It's been a long time since I've watched it, and it's no great shakes frankly, but yes you should put faces with all those voices.
DeleteI can see why you would have to make a choice between the two Cowboys and only watch one. The thought of the duo as a double feature is oppressive.
A Rage to Live is similar to BUtterfield 8, From the Terrace, By Love Possessed, A Summer Place, Susan Slade and a host of others from the early 60's that purport to be a frank look at some issue or another but are more lushly produced soap operas with big stars in gorgeous settings suffering in mink. I'm good with that and in fact sometimes when I'm blue it's exactly what I need to raise my spirits.
A radio drama, yes! That's exactly what it was like.
DeleteHaven't seen any of these although I've been tempted by Black Snake Moan a few times (due to my undying love for Christina Ricci). John Waters can be great but A Dirty Shame never appealed to me on any level.
ReplyDeleteI'd give Black Snake Moan a shot. Very interesting, and odd, movie.
DeleteOf your three, I've only seen Auto Focus, which is a film that I wish more people knew about. A great, dark film and, as you say, Kinnear has never been better in a role.
ReplyDeleteI'll second Joel's nomination of Drugstore Cowboy. If you haven't seen it, you won't go wrong with it.
Glad to see Auto Focus getting lots of love. I definitely plan on seeing Drugstore Cowboy.
DeleteInteresting picks - different from the rest which I liked. A Dirty Shame is one weird film. The sex act she comes up with is equally bizarre. Not seen many John waters films before or after this...
ReplyDeleteThanks. I try to go off the beaten path. Weird is an understatement when it comes to the filmography of John Waters.
DeleteI have not seen any of these but they all appeal to me especially Auto Focus since it is on Bob Crane and his seedy hidden life. I love Hogan's Heroes although I never liked bob Crane because, as a child, he always gave me the creeps...now i know why. I love Tracey Ullman so i would give this weird flick a try. Black Snake Moan sounds uneasy to watch, even that picture is uneasy to look at but it sounds quite intriguing
ReplyDeleteI'd love to hear your thoughts on Auto Focus. Hope you get to see it, soon. A Dirty Shame is wonderfully bizarre. Black Snake Moan is uneasy, but worth it, to me.
DeleteI haven't seen any of these, but the flick with Jackson is quite intriguing. I'll definitely give it a try.
ReplyDeleteCool. I'll be on the lookout for your take on it.
DeleteI've actually never heard of those picks. If I was doing this post, I would include The Addiction starring Lili Taylor, a 90s horror which links vampirism with drug addiction. Has a hip hop soundtrack(music I know you enjoy). Worth checking out!
ReplyDeleteWow. I'm actually a bit surprised you haven't at least heard of Auto Focus and Black Snake Moan. I recommend both. Thanks for suggesting The Addiction. I'll seek that out.
DeleteBTW, during October I did a post on horror-themed music videos. I'd love for you to check those out.
http://dellonmovies.blogspot.com/2016/10/31-days-of-horror-13-music-videos.html
Love where you went here. First, I love Black Snake Moan. It is dirty, sweaty South to perfection. Ricci is fucking fierce and Jackson is at the top of his character acting powers. I usually love John Waters, but A Dirty Shame is one that I never got around too. One of these days... I haven't seen Auto Focus either, but I remember wanting to when it was out. Great stuff, man.
ReplyDeleteThanks! Dirty, sweaty South is definitely what Black Snake Moan does well. Ricci and Jackson are just perfect, too. Hope you get to see the other two, soon.
DeleteI haven't seen any of your picks...anyway glad you join us this week. And you're right, if you suggest it, you've got to show up :).
ReplyDeleteNo doubt. Hopefully, I'll be able to stay involved on a regular basis. Time has been scarce, lately.
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