Dark Shadows

        

            I got to see the Tim Burton movie adaptation of Dark Shadows, a television gothic soap opera from the 60's and 70's. I've always been a big fan of the old black and white television show, with all of the fantastic characters and the exceptional story, I was so thrilled to hear one of my favorite directors was going to be doing a film version, and with Johnny Depp no less. I thought Tim Burton's movie adaptation was very different, with vivid colors and less of a "soap opera" feel to it. Definitely done in Tim Burton fashion, and I loved every second of it. His films really take your mind hostage into his world for the duration of the film. I thought the film to be wildly entreating, and beautiful to watch. Of course, the original television show will always reign superior in my mind, but by no means did the Dark Shadows movie disappoint me in the least bit. They are very different in nature, and I don't even feel that it's fair to compare them since Burton took a very different approach to an otherwise very dramatic story. If I were to critique something about the movie, I wish it would have delivered more of that fierce drama and pulled the audience in just a little more, although I do not think there was quite enough time to fit everything in, and that's understandable. Overall, very satisfied. Go see it, and check out the original Dark Shadows  while you're at it.
          Unfortunately, actor Jonathan Frid (who played the original Barnabas Collins) has recently passed away. He did get to have a cameo appearance in the new movie, so all the more reason to see it!

Devil's Night Drive-In

          So, this is a drive-in type deal in Los Angeles, and I have just been dying to go to it for some time now. I wish we had more drive-in movie theaters around here. Anyways, they usually play some pretty badass movies. Thought I'd spread the word for anyone interested. I believe they are playing The Goonies next weekend.
         They've got some good films coming up this summer too: Donnie Darko, The Big Lebowski, and Pulp Fiction. 
          They also deal with "Hicksville", a set of trailers out in the desert, all decked out to be super bitchin'. Might need to get out there this summer.

Here is their website and Facebook:

Devil's Night Drive-In:

http://www.facebook.com/devilsnightdrivein

http://www.devilsnight.com/flash.htm

Hicksville:
http://www.hicksville.com/

Drugstore Cowboy

Drugstore Cowboy by rachelsherman 

         Gotta love the handsome Matt Dillon. I just can't get enough of his movies back in the days of his youth: Drugstore Cowboy, Over the Edge, Rumble Fish, The Outsiders, and  The Flamingo Kid. Drugstore Cowboy ( 1989) is a film by Gus Van Sant. The film is based on an autobiographical novel by James Fogle, about stealing drugs from pharmacies and hospitals to support a habit of drug use. This film is just so beautifully done, and the cast is fantastic. Matt Dillon really does a superb job in this film, giving one of his best performances for sure. Drugstore Cowboy was filmed mainly in Portland, Oregon, and features Matt Dillon, Kelly Lynch, James LeGros, Heather Graham, William S, Burroughs, Max Perlich, James Remar, and Grace Zabrisike. Definitely a must-see film.

Coffee and Cigarettes

Lust for Life by rachelsherman

          Coffee and Cigarettes is a film by Jim Jarmusch which features 11 short vignettes, all shot in black and white with a common thread of consuming coffee and smoking cigarettes. Jarmusch cast an ammmmmmazing set of people to each vignette. The likes of Iggy pop, Tom Waits, Jack and Meg White, Renée French, Cate Blanchett, GZA and RZA of Wu-Tang Clan, Steve Coogan, Alfred Molina, Steve Buscemi, Roberto Benigni, and Joie Lee among others are all featured in scenes centered around good conversation over coffee and cigarettes. Jim Jarmusch ties each vignette together so well, you don't even notice it at first. Each separate story is so interesting and funny. This is often my go-to film when I'm looking for something to watch. I just love how the people in each scene just totally don't agree about anything, yet manage to share a table or hang-around with each other.

          Jim Jarmusch always seems to make the most off-beat and interesting movies that really just have a special place in my heart. Some of his other films include Mystery Train, Stranger than Paradise, Permanent Vacation, Night on Earth, Down by Law, Broken Flowers, Dead Man, and  The Limits of Control (I've pretty much loved everything he has put out). Definitely look into his films, and more into Jim Jarmusch. I promise it will be worth your time.

          

Bad Things

Bad Things by rachelsherman 

          Sooooo, HBO's True Blood starts up again June 10th (finally)! I made this set a while ago, embodying aspects of the series, and used a photo of Evan Rachel Wood, who's character in the show died at the beginning of season 4 (or end of season 3?). This show is seriously so captivating, dramatic, and intense- it is so perfect. It just keeps getting better, and I've been helplessly hooked since I watched the first episode a couple summer's ago. The show is going on it's fifth season, and I never want to see it end (yes, I know, very unreasonable). 

          Anyway, before you laugh and look at as just another product of the vampire fad, and twilight mayhem, give it a chance and really watch it with no prior opinions. Alan Ball (Six Feet Under, American Beauty) created and produced it, so you know it's quality stuff. It's set in Louisiana, with lots of blood, fantasy creatures, and wild sex, all set in a fairly realistic scene, that makes you just wanna believe it's the real thing. Seriously, who doesn't like that? 

Be ready June 10th, and get on HBO GO to catch up on everything you missed (for free if you have an HBO subscription).

Lolita (1962)

Nobody Spoil My Fun by rachelsherman 

          Lolita, a film based on the novel by Vladimir Nabokov of the same name. Stanley Kubrick made this film in 1962 as a comedy-drama of Humbert Humbert, a middle-aged man (played by James Mason) who lusts for a teenage girl, Dolores Haze, or otherwise known as the sexually seductive "Lolita" (played by the fourteen year-old Sue Lyon). This is one of the first films that got me into a frenzy of watching as many movies as I possibly could, and really revealed my love for the cinema. I have yet to read the novel by Nabokov, but I certainly have intended to for some time now, even though Kubrick's version of Lolita  doesn't as closely follow the storyline of the novel as the more recent verison. ( I find myself constantly busy with school, work, and sleeping whenever I find the time). I'm a huge fan of Stanley Kubrick, and I immensly enjoy all of his films.

          The film had to be wildly censored because of it's highly sexual content, and limited Kubrick's ability to make the film as he wished. However, the film was very successful, and is indeed fantastic. I really like this story, and all of the characters within it. Highly recommend this version of the film to anyone who has yet to see it.

Cry Baby

All this and More by rachelsherman



This is one of my absolute favorite films ever. First of all, Johnny Depp is so delicious as "Cry-Baby" Wade Walker, I could watch him all day long. John Waters really knew what he was doing with this one. The story is fun and silly, and just plain badass (being set in the 1950s just makes it all the more perfect). It's a parody of teen musicals has gained a sort of cult following (as many of Waters' films have). I just love it, I'm watching this movie constantly. Cry Baby (1990) is full of delinquents, the "drapes", and the "squares". Cry baby falls in love with Alison a "square" and they tear up the town together. The cast is just amazing, with parts played by Iggy Pop, Traci Lords, and a couple  of not so well knowns, but certainly notable: Amy Locane, Susan Tyrrell, Ricki Lake (who is often featured in many of John Waters' other films), Kim McGuire, Darren E. Burrows, Patricia Hearst, Mink Stole, and Polly Bergen.The characters in this film are just downright bit chin'. They all have their own thing going on-- really makes you wanna be friends with them, hangout at Turkey Point, and just go wild.
The soundtrack to Cry Baby  is to die for. So good. It's full of musical numbers played by Johnny Depp, and Amy Locane, but the real vocals come from James Intveld and Rachel Sweet (some of these musical numbers were even written by The Blasters' Dave Alvin!). The rest of the soundtrack is just as good, featuring songs from The Students, The Crows, and Doc Starkes and the Nite Riders (with Johnny Depp's character singin' along, oh boy).

http://youtu.be/R7HjJ1_wa7k