Kiss Kiss Bang Bang: A New Movie Thread!

[auto-da-fey]

So Phil Varone was the drummer for Saigon Kick and the late-90s tour version of Skid Row, and Waking Up Dead is a documentary about him. I have no fucking idea what inspired me to suddenly watch this thing; Varone is a braindead county-fair-level Tommy Lee, and a pedestrian drummer to boot (I mistook the first clip of him in action for a warm-up; it turned out to be a solo), and the film is shot and edited like a VH-1 Behind the Music episode. It's wholly predictable dreck, but I will give it credit (?) for some surprisingly raw footage of Varone getting hummers from groupies and snorting blow, sometimes at the same time. The ostensible lesson of the film is that the rock industry can be pretty hard on the dudes who rock for it, but I think the lesson I took away is that I should be a bit more discerning in my film selecting.

[elpollodiablo]

I'm just curious whit: how many hours a day do you spend in front of the television? I don't ask that in a finger-wagging, condescending kind of way, but more out of genuine curiosity. Cuz it seems like you watch two or three films a day.

[auto-da-fey]

I probably average about seven movies a week, I think. Probably more than most people, I'd wager, but also given something of a disproportionate appearance by the way I post so heavily in the movie threads. It does often cross my mind that I spend far too much time on cinematic pursuits, but then I sort of shrug it off because I'm actually pretty productive on the job and even writing fronts, so all it really does is chip into my social life, which doesn't faze me at all because I'm a pretty antisocial guy anyway.

Of course, my claim of moderation will almost certainly be countered later tonight, when I throw on movie #2 of the day. But only after I complete my daily checklist.

[peacocks]

has anyone seen a movie called the last house on dead end street?  My friend was talking about it the other night and it sounds so bizarre I am intrigued, but I hear there is a scene where a guy cuts of a woman's shins with a hack saw so that may be going too far for me although I generally like weird horror movies.  I'm not expecting anyone to know what my gore-tolerance is, just whether or not this is a good movie.

[auto-da-fey]

has anyone seen a movie called the last house on dead end street?  My friend was talking about it the other night and it sounds so bizarre I am intrigued, but I hear there is a scene where a guy cuts of a woman's shins with a hack saw so that may be going too far for me although I generally like weird horror movies.  I'm not expecting anyone to know what my gore-tolerance is, just whether or not this is a good movie.

Yes! For years this was a much-talked-about underground horror film that circulated only in fifth-generation bootlegs, but it came out on DVD a few years back. The gore factor is relatively high, but it's mostly notable for the overwhelmingly seedy atmosphere--it's a film that has the feel of a snuff movie (because it lacks credits and is in part about snuff movies, rumors circulated that it was one). Don't expect impressive production values or anything, but if you're able to suspend traditional markers of quality and instead really surrender to its evil vibe, it can be quite a film.

Also--wouldn't you know--the director, Roger Watkins, went on to make really grim and unerotic hardcore porn movies!

[peacocks]

I figured you would know.  I'm sure my friend will probably have people over to view this soon since he was talking about it a lot the other night and I think I might be able to watch this in a room full of friends but never EVER by myself.  thanks!

[auto-da-fey]

Alone and late at night is definitely the way I'd recommend, both for effect and because there's always the risk of a crowd converting gritty power into camp, but at any rate, glad to be of service!

[YojimboMonkey]

So hey Mindy and I signed up for that Netflix thing.  We have (finally) come around to the conclusion that Blockbuster can suck a fat one.  So how does this friends thing work?

[Maaik]

Ross and Rachael get together.

[girl]

So hey Mindy and I signed up for that Netflix thing.  We have (finally) come around to the conclusion that Blockbuster can suck a fat one.  So how does this friends thing work?

There's a link to invite friends under the community tab. What email did you use for Netflix? I'll invite you to be my friend!

edit: Never mind, there's a new thing where I can just send you a link to me, so I did that.

[auto-da-fey]

I sent one via PM, too, Jim--thanks for pointing out that link thing, girl.

[YojimboMonkey]

Sweet!  I have friends!!!

So keep in mind that you can basically split our movies into three categories.  Those Mindy puts in the queue--basically any dramas or comedies; those we put in the queue for the boys--basically a lot of Miyazaki movies but also some more mainstream kids' movies; or those I put in the queue for myself, which would be all the meatheaded action movies.  Oh, yeah, and anything more than 30 years old is probably doesn't indicate good taste on my part, but just being slow.

[girl]

Yeah, that's a good cover, Jim. That way you don't have to own up to Failure to Launch or The Lake House. 

[maggiego]

Jim, I just watched Babe with nephew Jake (3 1/2) and niece Zoe (22 mos.), and it went over really well. So if yourn haven't seen it, start star star star.

[YojimboMonkey]

Totally worth it to get a look at Whit's queue.  hahahahahahahaha awesome

[Andrew_TSKS]

someday, i swear to god, i will clear up my finances, get a credit card, and join netflix.

[auto-da-fey]

someday, i swear to god, i will clear up my finances, get a credit card, and join netflix.

Dude, don't--it's like celluloid crack!

[auto-da-fey]

Totally worth it to get a look at Whit's queue.  hahahahahahahaha awesome

Yeah, my lady was just looking at it this weekend, since technically it's hers too, and she was rather nonplussed by things like The Inconfessable Orgies of Emmanuelle. But what can I say, I follow my muse.

[auto-da-fey]

On which, this evening the muse led me to Jess Franco's She Killed in Ecstasy, a 1970 work about a woman who seeks revenge on the doctors who drove her husband to suicide. The usual elements are all in place--copious nudity, lesbian sex, zoom shots a'plenty, and a hip jazz score--but it all feels a little anonymous here, like Franco's warped heart just wasn't into it. Not even some scissor castrations can make this rise above average 70s Eurotrash.

(perhaps worth noting: among trash cinema aficionados, "Eurotrash" has the same resonance that "queer" does in GLBT circles, which is to say, it's a term of endearment when coming from within, but it's quite resented when used in a derogatory way. I would never use it in a derogatory way.)

[elpollodiablo]

So what do you call Eurotrash?

[auto-da-fey]

I dunno, "Audrey Tautou"?

[difficult]

Ha! I hope that was the derogapory way?
I used to watch 10-15 movies a week at one stage, and at least 5-10 for a long time, but I seem to have almost completely dried up now... watched about 3 films outside of film festival in 3 months... just can't do it much at the moment, I keep meaning to....
and Little Bits of Light is playing here in a week, I guess I'll go see that, to see if anyone turns up....Since I haven't managed to finish anything since then....

[YojimboMonkey]

On which, this evening the muse led me to Jess Franco's She Killed in Ecstasy

Please let us know when your muse leads you to The Curious Dr. Humpp 'cause it looks classic.

[auto-da-fey]

Most assuredly, Jim. That was the main source of Gaby's complaints about sleaze this past weekend, but I'm psyched for it.

And Campbell, an absolute yes to derogatory intent regarding Audrey Tautou. That woman is like the French equivalent of Sandra Bullock.

[edison]

And Campbell, an absolute yes to derogatory intent regarding Audrey Tautou. That woman is like the French equivalent of Sandra Bullock.

Truer words were never spoken.