Escape from New York

Tags

1980's, Action, Adrienne Barbeau, Donald Pleasence, Ernest Borgnine, Escape from New York, Harry Dean Stanton, Isaac Hayes, John Carpenter, Kurt Russell, Lee Van Cleef, Science Fiction

The ever wonderful Gill invited me to take part in a blogathon to honour Kurt Russell and I simply couldn’t refuse.

Director

John Carpenter

Starring

• Kurt Russell as Snake Plissken
• Lee Van Cleef as Bob Hauk
• Ernest Borgnine as Cabbie
• Adrienne Barbeau as Maggie
• Harry Dean Stanton as Brain
• Isaac Hayes as The Duke
• Donald Pleasence as the President

John Carpenter’s science-fiction action film Escape from New York is rightfully held in high regard for its vision and plot. And with atmosphere, imagination and a bad ass lead character to boot, it’s hard to disagree.

The year is a then futuristic 1997. Manhattan Island has been turned into a maximum security prison where once you go in, you never come out. In the main area that was once the central hub, anarchy reigns supreme with violence and destruction. When the President’s plane is hijacked and he crash lands in Manhattan, he is taken hostage by the local crime boss The Duke and his goons. He was supposed to be attending a peace summit with the Soviet Union, but that goes completely out the window with the events that unfurl. Sneaky and manipulative Commissioner Bob Hauk then strong arms the most unlikely person ever to rescue the President from an almost certain death. That person is Snake Plissken, a cynical ex soldier, serving time for theft. Snake is understandably not at all on board with this plan. But after being told that if he rescues the President within 24 hours he could be pardoned, he accepts reluctantly. Though Hauk makes sure he will do it as he has micro explosives implanted in Snake’s neck that will detonate if he doesn’t complete the mission. Hauk knows that Snake would use the opportunity to escape but has him by a tight leash now. With time ticking away, Snake enters the city where he encounters violence from various factions and some assistance by a rag tag group of renegades. They consist of a joking cab driver, hard edged lady and know all.

John Carpenter keeps events imaginative and engaging, with his ingenuity on clear display. I’ve always admired what he brings to a movie and he has the story be one that is very taut and entertaining. Some will say that the film has dated parts, which it does in areas, but the anachronistic touches really add to the oddball personality of the film that it isn’t easy to see why it’s a cult movie. Carpenter plays up the outlandish aspects of the story and the desecration of humanity, mainly in the case of Snake and his no cares attitude towards everything. On the visual front, the practical effects have aged well, with the shots of New York through a futuristic lens being particularly inspired. We get a grimy dystopia to witness and one that has certainly influenced many a film since. Escape from New York is often billed in some quarters as an action movie(which in many cases it is), but for me it’s more about the moody atmosphere than anything else. The cyberpunk echoes and vision of a world in free fall really make sure that Escape from New York is a film to remember. John Carpenter himself provides the pulsing electronic score that compliments the futuristic setting and has just the right notes of darkness there too.

Kurt Russell completely owns the screen as the growling, scowling yet sardonically witty bad ass that is Snake. Russell provides the cynicism and swagger of a man who doesn’t believe in anything and is proud of it. He is ironically the last person you’d think of to rescue a president and that is what ultimately drives the plot. Seriously, Snake ranks as one of the most charismatic and bad ass anti heroes there is. Lee Van Cleef is on nasty form as the scheming and controlling Comissioner who uses Snake to his own advantage. Ernest Borgnine, Adrienne Barbeau and Harry Dean Stanton flesh out the crew that Snake falls in with excellently.With some serious style, Isaac Hayes rocks it portraying the crime boss who stands in the way of Snake succeeding. And there’s Donald Pleasence appearing as the President, who it is revealed is not as squeaky clean as he seemed.

Exciting, inventive and engrossing, Escape from New York is John Carpenter at his imaginative and full blooded best, aided by a fine performance from Kurt Russell as one of cinema’s best anti-heroes.

Bone Tomahawk

Tags

2010's, Bone Tomahawk, David Arquette, Horror, Kurt Russell, Lili Simmons, Matthew Fox, Patrick Wilson, Richard Jenkins, S. Craig Zahler, Western

Film Title

Bone Tomahawk

Director

S. Craig Zahler

Starring

• Kurt Russell as Sheriff Franklin Hunt
• Richard Jenkins as Chicory
• Matthew Fox as John Brooder
• Patrick Wilson as Arthur O’Dwyer
• Lili Simmons as Samantha O’Dwyer
• David Arquette as Purvis

A grisly, well-paced and unexpectedly successful blend of horror and western, Bone Tomahawk is an impressive directorial debut from S. Craig Zahler that will leave a mark on viewers in search for something a little off kilter.

It’s the Old West and into the town of Bright Hope stumbles a thieving drifter sporting the name Buddy, but hiding his real name of Purvis. He lost his other comrade in pick pocketing when they trespassed on to unfamiliar territory and he met a brutal end. Caught acting suspiciously by the deputy Sheriff Chicory, Purvis is confronted by Sheriff Franklin Hunt about his behaviour and intentions. The conversation ends with Hunt putting a bullet in Purvis’ leg and hauling him into jail. As his gunshot wound gets worse and with the local doctor drunk, Hunt calls upon the doctor’s assistant Samantha, who is also the wife of injured foreman Arthur O’Dwyer, to help with the wound. She is kept company by Deputy Nick for the night. Yet when it comes to the morning, there is no sign of Samantha, Deputy Nick or Purvis to be found. And when the body of a young stable boy is found brutally butchered and an arrow is found in the jail cell, Hunt calls in a Native American man to help them with their search and what they could be up against. It transpires that in the caves that lie five days journey away, there lives a tribe of cannibals who kill all who enter. Realizing that they are the ones who kidnapped Samantha and the others, authoritative Hunt rounds up men to aid him on a mission to rescue her before it’s too late. Journeying with him is loyal Chicory, mercenary gunslinger John Brooder and Samantha’s crippled husband Arthur. The unlikely quartet travel on an arduous journey that is cruel and unforgiving. As supplies begin to dwindle, Arthur’s injury worsens and they start to get ever closer to the caves, none of the men are prepared for the savagery that will await them.

S. Craig Zahler crafts one hell of a debut with this ballsy horror-western that successfully builds tension as the journey of the quartet gets darker and darker. Considering this is his debut, Zahler shows a striking amount of confidence in his direction that shows that this guy could have a very bright future ahead of him if he churns out movies like this one. While it is a horror movie, the gore and violence are not overused a lot. This in turn ensures that when carnage does rear its head, we are left shocked because it comes out of nowhere and really knows how to pack a punch with grisly intent. There is one particular scene that will test even the least squeamish people due to its brutality and shock. Yet the horror doesn’t overtake everything, and the western side of the movie forms a lot of it. Zahler, who also wrote the script, blends dark, wry humour throughout Bone Tomahawk, adding another layer of unpredictability and eccentricity to the brew. The score of the film is sparse, which brings more attention to the journey through arid landscapes and harsh terrain. Yet when the score is used, the menace reverberates from the screen.

The main quartet of actors in Bone Tomahawk are perfectly cast and fill their roles with style and full-blooded presence. Heading the proceedings is Kurt Russell, who cuts a weathered, gruff and authoritative figure as Sheriff Hunt, the natural-born leader of the posse on the rescue mission. This is a man who cares about the people of his town and rather than being happy to go attack anything that comes his way, he is more pragmatic and takes head of the situation first. Really stealing the show is Richard Jenkins, with his blend of experience and sense of humour. Portraying the second in command, Jenkins excels at showing how Chicory tries to boost morale, even in the face of danger but is no fool in the slightest. Matthew Fox is mightily impressive as the well-dressed John Brooder, whose penchant is boasting about how many Indians he has killed. Essaying the role with a coldness and swaggering peacock walk, Fox really owns it. As the injured but not broken Arthur, whose determination to continue is in the hope of reclaiming his wife, Patrick Wilson crafts a character of substance. Not letting injury get in his way, Arthur pushes his body through the pain barrier with only faith to guide him on the harsh journey. Wilson does a tremendous job at showing his plight to save his wife and how he will never give up, even if it kills him in the process. In the brief but pivotal roles of the kidnapped Samantha and mysterious drifter, Lili Simmons and David Arquette are excellently cast.

A triumph of genre melding that brims with engaging characters, just the right amount of blood and cynical dashes of humour, Bone Tomahawk takes its place as an unusual but highly effective film that is hard to forget due to its journey into the Old West with a few sharp twists along the dark way it treads.

Death Proof

Tags

2000's, Action, Death Proof, Grindhouse, Jordan Ladd, Kurt Russell, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Quentin Tarantino, Robert Rodriguez, Rosario Dawson, Rose McGowan, Sydney Poitier, Thriller, Tracie Thoms, Vanessa Ferlito, Zoë Bell

Film Title

Death Proof

Director

Quentin Tarantino

Starring

• Kurt Russell as Stuntman Mike
• Rosario Dawson as Abernathy
• Tracie Thoms as Kim
• Zoë Bell
• Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Lee
• Vanessa Ferlito as Arlene
• Sydney Poitier as Jungle Julia
• Jordan Ladd as Shanna
• Rose McGowan as Pam

Quentin Tarantino’s side to the Grindhouse project he worked on with Robert Rodriguez comes in the shape of Death Proof. An homage to splatter movies, muscle cars and the sleazy exploitation movies he watched as a kid, Death Proof isn’t his best movie. But one can’t deny the adrenaline and style of the film that keeps it watchable.

The plot centres around the character of Stuntman Mike, a psychopathic stunt driver who picks up women in his death proof car and murders them in what he covers up as accidents. The film concerns his encounters with two groups of attractive females and the consequences. In the first segment, three female friends, Arlene, Shanna and resident DJ Jungle Julia are driving through Texas looking for a good time. Unbeknownst to them, the predatory Mike has been stalking them. They end up in the same bar together where Arlene performs a seductive lap dance for him for a bet made with her friends. After an intoxicated woman named Pam asks for a ride home, Mike offers her his services in his souped up automobile. Lets just say that things end up quite nasty and blood soaked. A number of months later in Tennessee another group of girls all involved some way with the film industry are travelling. The group consists of make-up artist Abernathy, stunt girls Kim and Zoë and aspiring actress Lee. Stuntman Mike begins to stalk the group but this time the girls are more aware of him. And boy do they fight back with a vengeance. Buckle up and get ready for high-octane shocks from Quentin Tarantino as he paints his homage to 70’s movies with visual flair.

As it mentioned earlier in this review, Death Proof isn’t the best work done by Tarantino. The tone is sometimes uneven and the story lags at various times, but having said that there is still much to praise within this film. The use of distortion to the film to give it that old, worn-out effect works wonders with this type of thriller. Tarantino directs some adrenaline pumping chase sequences that really are thrilling to watch as the second group of girls attempt to play psychopathic Mike at his own twisted game. The stunt work by professional Zoë Bell is hugely impressive throughout her duration on-screen. As is often the case with movies by Quentin Tarantino, the soundtrack is cool and full of grooves from just about every genre going.

Kurt Russell is frighteningly sadistic and strangely charming as Stuntman Mike, really delivering a memorable performance of psychosis and horror. The others who impress out of the cast are Rosario Dawson, Tracie Thoms and Zoë Bell. They deliver some kick ass attitude and sass that is more than a match for Stuntman Mike’s plans. Rose McGowan has a small but memorable cameo as the rather unfortunate Pam, who accepts the ride with Mike, little realising what he has planned for her. Vanessa Ferlito impresses the most out of the first bunch of girls, with her raunchy dance moves certainly sending temperatures soaring. Mary Elizabeth Winstead however is thoroughly wasted in that she’s given little to actually do.

So all in all, Death Proof isn’t the greatest by Tarantino. But it manages to deliver enough thrills, action and kick ass babes to keep you entertained.

Silkwood

Tags

1980's, Based on a true story, Cher, Karen Silkwood, Kurt Russell, Meryl Streep, Mike Nichols, Silkwood

Film Title

Silkwood

Director

Mike Nichols

Cast

• Meryl Streep as Karen Silkwood
• Kurt Russell as Drew Stephens
• Cher as Dolly Pelliker
• Craig T.Nelson as Winston
• Diana Scarwid as Angela

Based on the story of Karen Silkwood, a worker at a nuclear power plant in Oklahoma who died mysteriously whilst on her way to meet with a journalist, she was presumed to have had evidence regarding violations in the workplace. Directed by Mike Nichols, Silkwood emerges as a taut and effective, character driven drama full of fine performances.

Karen Silkwood works at Kerr-McGee power plant in Oklahoma with her boyfriend Drew Stephens and lesbian roommate Dolly Pelliker. Karen is a tough, mini-skirted, gum chewing worker who has a turbulent personal life. One day in the midst of her mundane shift, Karen is contaminated  and is hosed down in a harrowing shower scene. Aware that she will suffer a slow and painful death, she investigates the plant for further evidence of negligence and calls for union. Through her work and determination, her relationships with others become strained as she strives for the truth and justice.

As well as being somewhat of a biopic, the film is also an interesting character study of one normal women thrown into an extraordinary situation. In the title role, Meryl Streep embodies the determination, strength and defiance of this woman.As the story for her struggle for truth is told, the audience sympathises with her as a result of her refusal to back down. She is offered strong support from Kurt Russell and a low-key performance from singer turned actress Cher. Both of them surprised me with their effectiveness towards their characters. Cher especially caught my attention in the role that got her noticed as an actress; as Dolly she is the wise-cracking best friend but a melancholy pervades her quietly expressive portrayal. She is barely recognizable when clad in dowdy clothing and hardly any make-up really looking the part, but her subtle emotionally earnest performance adds to this.

The main themes are the struggle for justice and business corruption, but I also thought that fear was a theme expressed throughout a lot of Silkwood. The title character fears for her life because of her dangerous work and fears that no one will listen ,Drew fears losing Karen to both the contamination and her constant union work and the lonely Dolly fears losing her friends who she considers to be her own family. There is also a reference in the contamination sensor as each worker walks through it dreading the screaming of an alarm to confirm they’ve been what the others referer to as ‘cooked’.

Although the film unravels at a slow and thoughtful pace, it is still compulsive viewing as we watch Karen’s crusade becoming more vocal and her voice being heard by authority. Only in the last hour does the film slightly lull in places, but overall the slow unravelling works to show us the extent of what is happening. Even if the story doesn’t interest or grip you or the pace seems to last forever, the fine performances from the cast, especially Streep, Russell and Cher will keep you watching until the end. A moving and engaging film, made more moving due to the basis of the source material.