haineshisway
Senior HTF Member
Last night, I watched the new Twilight Time Blu-ray of the Paul Schrader film Hardcore, a film I saw back when it came out and one I’ve seen a few times since. It’s hard-hitting but a very good film – it never quite achieves the greatness of Taxi Driver, but Schrader as a director is not Scorsese. George C. Scott, although I gather being problematic to work with, turns in a great performance as an anguished father searching for his missing daughter, who’s ended up in the world of porn. This was filmed the year after my movie, The First Nudie Musical was released, and interestingly it features one of Nudie’s co-stars in a brief role – Leslie Ackerman. There are some nice shots of late 1970s LA but most of the “red light” footage, even though supposedly taking place in LA, was filmed in San Diego and it’s blatantly obvious to anyone who knows LA. There were plenty of sex shops and theaters and massage parlors right here in LA proper, so it's a bit odd. There is an audio commentary with Mr. Schrader, who has one of the most annoying voices ever, can’t seem to connect thoughts, and who really alienated me because he thinks the casting of Season Hubley was a mistake – his original choice was Diana Scarwid. But for me, Season Hubley is terrific and gives the film some well-needed heart. Schrader keeps talking about it, too, while grudgingly admitting she's very good in the scenes. He also keeps talking about the slow pace of 1970s films and how he'd make it faster today, as well as the bright lighting, which he doesn't like these days. Well, of course I feel he's completely wrong and having seen a few of his recent films, they look like crap and are paced like crap and ARE crap, so he, IMO, has not gotten better, but worse. Peter Boyle is excellent, Ed Begley, Jr. is there in a small role, and while some scenes are a little wacky, it’s all done quite well. The good news is the transfer is fantastic – looks exactly as it should, nice, bright lighting (it isn't really bright) and all.
Hardcore was a portrait of its time, and boy, so is Tony Rome in the new Twilight Time double bill of Tony Rome and Lady in Cement. If one is politically correct or a sensitive feminist, these are not the films for you. Tony Rome is at least kind of fun to watch in a 60s kind of way. It's relaxed, the mystery is perfunctory and not very mysterious, and no, idiot who wrote the Wikipedia entry, it's not what you'd call "neo-noir." I don't believe I ever heard that expression prior to the 1980s. Sinatra is Sinatra and fun, Jill St. John I've never understood, it's always a pleasure to see Gena Rowlands in anything, although she's pretty underused here, Sue Lyon can't really do anything with her completely one-beat character, which has no character, Richard Conte is always great, Rocky Graziano has a cameo, the ubiquitous Lloyd Bochner has one scene, but otherwise this film has some of the worst performance I've ever seen. The "lesbian stripper" scene has to be seen to be believed, but that's nothing compared to the "my pussy was smiling" scene, which defies description. All in all, if you want a some wacky and weird fun it's fun in a wacky and weird way. Lady in Cement is a weak cousin, but also has its moments. Both are directed competently by Gordon Douglas, and feature fun scores - Billy May for Tony Rome and Hugo Montenegro for Lady in Cement. I don't think these are new transfers but they are both excellent, and show off Miami very well. And two movies for the price of one is always a nice thing.
Hardcore was a portrait of its time, and boy, so is Tony Rome in the new Twilight Time double bill of Tony Rome and Lady in Cement. If one is politically correct or a sensitive feminist, these are not the films for you. Tony Rome is at least kind of fun to watch in a 60s kind of way. It's relaxed, the mystery is perfunctory and not very mysterious, and no, idiot who wrote the Wikipedia entry, it's not what you'd call "neo-noir." I don't believe I ever heard that expression prior to the 1980s. Sinatra is Sinatra and fun, Jill St. John I've never understood, it's always a pleasure to see Gena Rowlands in anything, although she's pretty underused here, Sue Lyon can't really do anything with her completely one-beat character, which has no character, Richard Conte is always great, Rocky Graziano has a cameo, the ubiquitous Lloyd Bochner has one scene, but otherwise this film has some of the worst performance I've ever seen. The "lesbian stripper" scene has to be seen to be believed, but that's nothing compared to the "my pussy was smiling" scene, which defies description. All in all, if you want a some wacky and weird fun it's fun in a wacky and weird way. Lady in Cement is a weak cousin, but also has its moments. Both are directed competently by Gordon Douglas, and feature fun scores - Billy May for Tony Rome and Hugo Montenegro for Lady in Cement. I don't think these are new transfers but they are both excellent, and show off Miami very well. And two movies for the price of one is always a nice thing.
