Every day is different. It sounds like an obvious statement, but it’s easy to forget when routine eats up the hours. Those devilish little details which make each instant unique vanish when no one is paying attention. Yet, every day there’s a second chance to appreciate things again.
See, writing about pop culture can begin to feel less like a privilege. The formulaic nature of such things tends to make them less marvelous. I’m reminded of a quote in Sunset Boulevard (1950). Paraphrasing is the best I can do, but it amounts to, “The problem with you readers is you know all the plots.” In other words, the more awareness of the formula, the less astonishing and more boringly predictable things become. However, that doesn’t mean something can’t still be surprising.
Last month I got to review a few films which, although they hit predictable points, still managed to charm. In addition, I watched a classic concert film which got rereleased, yet it delighted me to no end. Perhaps I’ve just been in better spirits, making me more receptive to certain things, but I doubt anyone would disagree that perspective has a profound effect on what we find enjoyable.
See, writing about pop culture can begin to feel less like a privilege. The formulaic nature of such things tends to make them less marvelous. I’m reminded of a quote in Sunset Boulevard (1950). Paraphrasing is the best I can do, but it amounts to, “The problem with you readers is you know all the plots.” In other words, the more awareness of the formula, the less astonishing and more boringly predictable things become. However, that doesn’t mean something can’t still be surprising.
Last month I got to review a few films which, although they hit predictable points, still managed to charm. In addition, I watched a classic concert film which got rereleased, yet it delighted me to no end. Perhaps I’ve just been in better spirits, making me more receptive to certain things, but I doubt anyone would disagree that perspective has a profound effect on what we find enjoyable.
Theater Camp is a delightful film that follows in the mockumentary styling of flicks like This is Spinal Tap (1984). It wonderfully yet lovingly skewers the antics of a particular niche. In this instance, theater folks are the target. And frankly, when I sat down to watch I worried the movie would be too much inside baseball. Fortunately, that wasn’t the case. Although I do think some jokes hit harder for folks who have even the most peripheral theater experiences, anyone can get into this flick. For more on why, check out the review below.
Honestly, I was not in a great mood when I first sat down for this movie. For various reasons, I had to watch it 2 a.m. then compose a review for the next day. It was basically watching the premiere on HULU then going straight into writing so the article could go up that morning. Full disclose, some of that pressure was a personal choice. I’m sure if I asked my editor for time, it would’ve been allowed, but let’s be honest here. No one cares about a review the day after something comes out. So we at Film Obsessive need to get reviews done day of, or days before a release. My bad mood really being just too many things going on at once and having to stay up late like this really fucked with my scheduling. But my overall point is that Theater Camp ended up being such a joy, my sourness evaporated.
Theater Camp Takes Center Stage | Film Obsessive
Honestly, I was not in a great mood when I first sat down for this movie. For various reasons, I had to watch it 2 a.m. then compose a review for the next day. It was basically watching the premiere on HULU then going straight into writing so the article could go up that morning. Full disclose, some of that pressure was a personal choice. I’m sure if I asked my editor for time, it would’ve been allowed, but let’s be honest here. No one cares about a review the day after something comes out. So we at Film Obsessive need to get reviews done day of, or days before a release. My bad mood really being just too many things going on at once and having to stay up late like this really fucked with my scheduling. But my overall point is that Theater Camp ended up being such a joy, my sourness evaporated.
Theater Camp Takes Center Stage | Film Obsessive
After that assignment, I found myself happily tasked with seeing Stop Making Sense. This concert film from 1984, directed by Jonathan Demme and featuring The Talking Heads, has long been considered the best music movie ever. The 4K restoration and rerelease promised to be nothing short of extraordinary.
Not particularly familiar with the film, I looked forward to seeing it for the first time. However, I could not imagine the joy of watching this concert. The rumors of it tempting people to start dancing in the aisles are a hundred percent true. At the very least, I felt the impulse to get up and groove. The only thing holding me back, a complete lack of physical coordination necessary to imply dancing. In other words, I didn’t want to worry any of the other press in attendance by seeming to have a seizure during “Girlfriend is Better”… which, by the by, has lately become a routine jukebox play of mine.
It might seem like a decades old concert movie isn’t worth the admission. Yet, I contend in my review, this is the kind of feature which could save theaters, far more so than blockbuster action CGI extravaganzas. The immersive potential of cinemas is what Stop Making Sense embraces. But I won’t go on about that here. Follow the link.
Stop Making Sense Is Best in Theaters | Film Obsessive
Not particularly familiar with the film, I looked forward to seeing it for the first time. However, I could not imagine the joy of watching this concert. The rumors of it tempting people to start dancing in the aisles are a hundred percent true. At the very least, I felt the impulse to get up and groove. The only thing holding me back, a complete lack of physical coordination necessary to imply dancing. In other words, I didn’t want to worry any of the other press in attendance by seeming to have a seizure during “Girlfriend is Better”… which, by the by, has lately become a routine jukebox play of mine.
It might seem like a decades old concert movie isn’t worth the admission. Yet, I contend in my review, this is the kind of feature which could save theaters, far more so than blockbuster action CGI extravaganzas. The immersive potential of cinemas is what Stop Making Sense embraces. But I won’t go on about that here. Follow the link.
Stop Making Sense Is Best in Theaters | Film Obsessive
I felt so bad earlier in September. I misread a colleague’s post in our Discord and thought they were asking if anyone wanted to cover a certain documentary. Truth is Alix Turner was simply sharing their excitement about the potential review. We chatted, and I apologized profusely. However, a little while later, they messaged me saying that their coverage of a film festival was eating up too much time. As such, Alix asked if I’d take over the documentary assignment. That’s how I ended up getting to cover the nearly five-hour film that is Robodoc: The Creation of Robocop.
Now, I am a fan of Robocop. But here’s the deal. We got word the PR company wanted a review before the release which meant I needed to binge watch this whole thing in basically a day. Then turn around and fire the afterburners so to speak in order to get the review out on time. This is the kind of thing that’s hard to express to folks. It doesn’t seem difficult to simply sit, watching something for five hours, but it is. No matter how entertaining, pressure and directed attention fatigue can kick a brain around.
Fortunately, Robodoc: The Creation of Robocop is an engaging film. Though I caution against binge watching, it is immensely informative. The documentary basically breaks down the movie scene by scene, getting input from every person conceivably involved with each moment. That means interviewing performers, crew, extras… it sets a new standard for behind-the-scenes documentaries going forward.
Robodoc Lovingly Shares the Good and the Bad | Film Obsessive
Now, I am a fan of Robocop. But here’s the deal. We got word the PR company wanted a review before the release which meant I needed to binge watch this whole thing in basically a day. Then turn around and fire the afterburners so to speak in order to get the review out on time. This is the kind of thing that’s hard to express to folks. It doesn’t seem difficult to simply sit, watching something for five hours, but it is. No matter how entertaining, pressure and directed attention fatigue can kick a brain around.
Fortunately, Robodoc: The Creation of Robocop is an engaging film. Though I caution against binge watching, it is immensely informative. The documentary basically breaks down the movie scene by scene, getting input from every person conceivably involved with each moment. That means interviewing performers, crew, extras… it sets a new standard for behind-the-scenes documentaries going forward.
Robodoc Lovingly Shares the Good and the Bad | Film Obsessive
What made this assignment even harder is that the same PR firm kicked another film my way. Turns out, the filmmakers behind Robodoc made another documentary called Hollywood Dreams and Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story. That movie was scheduled to come out around the same time, so they asked if we could kindly finish a review beforehand as well. That added another two hours to the watch list. So, essentially seven hours later, I sat down to pen a review of two very different documentaries.
The upside is that both are wonderful. However, Hollywood Dreams and Nightmares is more the story of one performer. The best part about it is that the movie doesn’t focus too much on Robert Englund’s time as Freddy. Of course, it needs to spend time there. The character is what he’s best known for, but there’s nothing new to offer in that department. What captivates are the stories about a person aspiring to have a career then getting comfortable, frankly, confined in a role. For more reasons this movie is wonderful, follow the link.
Enjoy Robert Englund's Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares | Film Obsessive
The upside is that both are wonderful. However, Hollywood Dreams and Nightmares is more the story of one performer. The best part about it is that the movie doesn’t focus too much on Robert Englund’s time as Freddy. Of course, it needs to spend time there. The character is what he’s best known for, but there’s nothing new to offer in that department. What captivates are the stories about a person aspiring to have a career then getting comfortable, frankly, confined in a role. For more reasons this movie is wonderful, follow the link.
Enjoy Robert Englund's Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares | Film Obsessive
Finally, I got to visit a little-known cult classic called Six-String Samurai (1998). This is one of those obscure gems few people have heard of, let alone seen. There’s a grainy, fuzzy version for free on YouTube, but instead of burning my eyes out of my skull, I opted to throw down for the recently released Blu-ray. Honestly, that’s the only way to really appreciate the cinematography of this indie jewel.
This was one of those movies I heard about in high school. Flipping through film magazines back then there would be an article and set pics—the plot intrigued me most of all. In an alternative history, the U.S. got nuked by Russian, and Elvis became literal king of the only city left standing, Lost Vegas, but with his death, guitar plucking, sword swinging rockers are headed across the wasteland to take the throne. Unfortunately, it never made it to any theaters around me. Or if it did, Six-String Samurai didn’t stick around long enough for me to catch it. Sometime around college, I remember seeing half the movie late-night on a cable channel. Cut up by commercial breaks, it failed to impress. Watching it three times for this article, though, gave me a better impression why the few fans who know are devoted to this movie.
And I’ll be the first to admit there are flaws. Six-String Samurai isn’t some lost diamond. Still, it’s a testament to audacious folks being too young and unscarred to stop themselves. That’s a quality too many, myself included, tend to lose over the years. That willingness to dive after a dream regardless of the wreckage that will ensue.
Six-String Samurai: Rocking the Wasteland for 25 Years | Film Obsessive
This was one of those movies I heard about in high school. Flipping through film magazines back then there would be an article and set pics—the plot intrigued me most of all. In an alternative history, the U.S. got nuked by Russian, and Elvis became literal king of the only city left standing, Lost Vegas, but with his death, guitar plucking, sword swinging rockers are headed across the wasteland to take the throne. Unfortunately, it never made it to any theaters around me. Or if it did, Six-String Samurai didn’t stick around long enough for me to catch it. Sometime around college, I remember seeing half the movie late-night on a cable channel. Cut up by commercial breaks, it failed to impress. Watching it three times for this article, though, gave me a better impression why the few fans who know are devoted to this movie.
And I’ll be the first to admit there are flaws. Six-String Samurai isn’t some lost diamond. Still, it’s a testament to audacious folks being too young and unscarred to stop themselves. That’s a quality too many, myself included, tend to lose over the years. That willingness to dive after a dream regardless of the wreckage that will ensue.
Six-String Samurai: Rocking the Wasteland for 25 Years | Film Obsessive
Anyhow, most of September ended up being devoted to fiction. I’ve put several stories in the pipeline. If they don’t sell at one publisher or another, well, at least they exist. Having finished some projects is the point, and selling them, although a headache, is part of the business. It's just nice to be finishing fiction again. Though that all said other things are very much in motion.
Dead Letters: Episodes of Epistolary Horror is due to come out December 1st. That date is fast approaching. And I can’t wait to share “Queen of this Carnival Creation” with all y’all. Meanwhile, stay weird, keep safe, and never forget to polish your knives so them fools can see their eyes getting carved out. Cheers!
Dead Letters: Episodes of Epistolary Horror is due to come out December 1st. That date is fast approaching. And I can’t wait to share “Queen of this Carnival Creation” with all y’all. Meanwhile, stay weird, keep safe, and never forget to polish your knives so them fools can see their eyes getting carved out. Cheers!
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