Cronenberg's "Videodrome" is about television and mass media. It is a horror movie. Right. But saying this is reducing a film that is above all a video prophecy, a statement on electronic image and its mental power. The only lack in it is the fact that Cronenberg might not have realized the prophetic inner power of his work and made it a classic length feature when it should have lasted something like three hours and told a much more precise path of Max Renn as a video Jesus Christ or something. The good thing is, as it is, "Videodrome" is the starting point of numerous video reflexions. A proposition for future generations that will start shooting (and already have) with video and will have forgotten or even never known there once had been such a thing as argentic film. At the same time, the film can be seen as a reactionary statement against that "new flesh" it is talking about. The digital flesh. But then remember Nietschze was used by Hitler as a prophet of the Aryan culture. So, is Cronenberg the Nietschze of a Reich that will claim for the return of a flesh made of meat ? The return of a cinema made of organic emulsions ? Check it out and make up your mind. But beware, "Videodrome" has a jihad subtext. If you read it well, you will have to choose your side. Will you run with the new flesh ?... But then, what is the new flesh ??? "Videodrome" could have been as powerful as "Akira" or "Blade Runner". It took the option to let you make it that powerful. And that's pretty cool that way !
Reviews
5 Reviews
Une étrange affaire
(1981)
Monarchy in 1981... still works today.
29 September 2004
This film is shy, one of those you'll fall over on a sleepless night, on an obscure TV station. And you'll find yourself attracted by its awkward mood and characters (check Jean Pierre Kalfon's performance, amazing here). Truth is, "une étrange affaire" is an "étrange" masterpiece, and I'm not ashamed to say it could have been a Kubrick film in the way it depicts extremely accurately the relationship between a king and his court, and the behaviour of mind bent court followers and how this relationship can work today, in a democracy. Piccoli is at his best, so are Balmer and Kalfon (two very under used and rated french actors) and this is probably Lanvin's best flick (that's if you're a fan of the guy). The film is cruel, and shows how easily a man can get his mind twisted, be it by a ceo or out of a "big company" context, anyone standing on any upper level and how weak and cheap the ways to use are. On that sleepless night, try to stay awake, you won't regret it, even at 4.00 AM.
2 Fast 2 Furious
(2003)
It is good... in a way.
8 September 2004
I'm one of the few who though "Fast & Furious" was a bad rip-off from Bigelow's masterpiece "Point Break". L.A. setting was not bad, Diesel was OK, but the rest sucked, and don't tell me about the cars. Enter "2Fast 2Furious". A lame plot, right ? But who cares when the cars eat the whole bloody screen ! They roar, they're flashy as hell and Devon Aoki is one of the most gorgeous kitties you will see these days in a film (deserves the spin-off). It will blow your 5.1 system off with engine rage and Miami bass, but that's not even the point ! Singleton is smart enough to shoot computerized cars with computerized cameras. What the hell if he doesn't care about the rest ? Having Aoki is already a cherry. Whoever comes here to see a major film is a DONKEY ! But the ones who come here to see a good racing car film, well, will be disappointed by the plot, and the acting too... OK... BUT THE CARS MAN ! They rock and such cars have never been as well shot. Now, for the ending, I like to talk about "Two lane Blacktop", my favorite film of all time, which happens to be a car film and moreover, a racing car film. Well, this one proposed two directions to follow the car film path. 2003 saw the expression of both. One, the ethic one, is Gallo's "The Brown Bunny". Good but boring as hell, but good. The other, that's the aesthetic one, is "2fast 2furious". Would it have been for a plot that was not a mere lost episode of "Miami Vice", "2f2f" may have become the modern reference for car films. 2 bad, this detail ruined the film and his reputation , but anyone saying "2fast" is crap and "Pitch Black" is good should think again. "2fast" is crap, right, but it's a hell of a shiny crap and never sold itself as more than that. Know this, and enjoy !
Horrors of Malformed Men
(1969)
A Doctor Moreau... that's Japanese.
8 September 2004
It's funny that Ishii says he was not familiar with the Moreau storyline because this flick looks so much like a crazy adaptation for it. Not an intense feature but one that will serve you very memorable freaky and somewhat psychedelic moments that, out of the wild context, will remind you of all the Japanese contemporary horror everyone yells for (think Ring, Dark Water as much as video games like Siren and Project Zero...). Very poorly written plot, but who cares when they're served such crazy visions and a final I would place in my top 10 of mindblowing movie endings - but that's just me... That's a very hard to see movie, and well worth seeing if you get the chance.
Two-Lane Blacktop
(1971)
2001, a road odyssey.
8 September 2004
"Two Lane Blacktop" is plain and simple, the "2001" of both road movies and car movies. A film experience like none other that will transcend you further than anything considering you have the slightest sensitivity for driving... or for cars... or for any of the actors involved in it... which is not anyone, sure. Even though, it remains an amazing film beautifully written and shot. And when you know it started as a Disney project surfing on the "Beetle" series' success, it turns out to be a piece of history. But hell, it's so strong it doesn't even need the anecdote. What it deserves is his freaking place in cinematic heaven, and it's a shame it's not there yet and remains hard to see in a theater ! Monte Hellman never made one as strong. Rudy Wurlitzer holding the pen probably helps. Still, Hellman is a fine director to be rediscovered too. One thing is to remember : if you have never seen it and see it plays around your block, cancel any previous plan and just GO FOR IT !
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