Will She Survive "Gerald's Game?"

Film adaptations of the works of Stephen King have become so numerous, that they could easily fill several sections at your local video store; that is, if you still have a local video store. Because there are so many of them, not every movie can be as memorable as Carrie, The Shawshank Redemption, or It. Sometimes you get a film as atmospheric as The Dead Zone, other times you get the not scary (and not very good) 2003 version of Dreamcatcher.  Writer-director Mike Flanagan, who scored a critical and audience success in 2018 with the Netflix series The Haunting of Hill House, turned his attention toward the works of King with a chilling version of the King's 1992 novel Gerald’s Game.

Gerald’s Game (2017) stars Carla Gugino and Bruce Greenwood as a couple who decide to go on a weekend getaway to try to re-ignite the passion in their marriage. Gerald (Greenwood) thinks if they add a bit of kinkiness in the bedroom, it might help. What happens is (spoilers ahead) is that Jessie (Gugino) ends up handcuffed to the bed, and after an argument between them, Gerald dies of a heart attack. Since they’re staying at an isolated location, there’s no one to help Jessie. She begins to see ghostly manifestations of both Gerald (in a well-acted, nicely nuanced turn by Greenwood) and herself, who converse with her, and in turn taunt, cajole, challenge and infuriate her. A stray dog that Jessie spotted earlier in the day also plays into the proceedings.

As Jessie contemplates how to escape her predicament, her thoughts begin to wander, and she recalls a terrible instance of abuse from her childhood, one which she has buried deep in her mind. How did that incident shape the person she is today? How will she free herself from those restraints? Who is the mysterious, ghostly figure that appears to her in the corner of the room? Director and co-writer Flanagan effectively creates an atmosphere of mounting terror and intensity as Jessie deals with nightmares which are both real and imagined. Gugino (who was excellent as the mother in Flanagan’s Hill House) is outstanding as Jessie. She powerfully conveys the character’s fear, confusion and constantly shifting state of mind, but also displays her inner spirit and sheer force of will. It’s a terrific performance that anchors the film, and holds our interest throughout.

The terrors in Gerald’s Game are (for the most part) psychological in nature, and the monsters are (all too) human. Ultimately, it’s a story of resilience and having the strength to move beyond your past. Flanagan and his cast (which also includes Henry Thomas and Kate Siegel, both of whom appeared in Hill House) and crew have done an excellent job adapting King’s novel. Gerald’s Game is a riveting thriller with a strong emotional core and depth of character that are not always evident in films of this type. Based on his work here and on The Haunting Of Hill House, as well as earlier projects like Hush and Oculus, Mike Flanagan is proving himself to be one of the best filmmakers currently working in the horror genre. I highly recommend checking out this film, and the other movies mentioned in this review. Gerald's Game is currently streaming on Netflix. Here’s a link to the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twbGU2CqqQU. The movie is currently streaming on Netflix.

The Many Entanglements of Modern Love: Drew Pisarra's Infinity Standing Up

Most of us have, at one time or another, fallen in love with the wrong person. During the time we’re with them, we’re sure they’re the right person, but ultimately the relationship is a fire that burns brightly, then flares out, sometimes in spectacular fashion. Many people have written songs, books, plays or films about such complicated affairs of the heart. But when’s the last time you read a contemporary set of sonnets about the pleasures and pitfalls of love in the modern age? Well, look no further. Author Drew Pisarra has just published Infinity Standing Up, a book of poems recalling his affair with a man who in turn, delighted, dazzled, intoxicated and infuriated him in equal measure.

The sonnets, which are grouped and broken up into “Acts” detail the excitement, yearning and joy inspired by a new relationship, and guide us through the beginning, middle, ending (and fitful restart) of the affair. The poems beautifully convey the complex emotions one feels in words that are at times affectionate, yet also terse and brutally honest. Pisarra expertly charts the twists and turns of a romantic journey we’ve all taken, in one way or another. You’ll feel the emotions rise up through the pages as you read these passionate odes to a muse who captured the author’s heart, but also inspired feelings of anger, frustration and loss.

Infinity Standing Up is a powerful, intense and electrifying work. It’s witty and wondrous, romantic and reflective, and tough and tender. There's something of a free-form, rock and roll energy and sensibility to these sonnets. We can empathize with this story, because we’ve all been there, and we’ve all experienced the multi-layered complexities of love and desire. This is a book that will resonate with lovers, poetry fans (and devotees of clever wordplay) everywhere. Drew Pisarra is an award-winning poet and playwright who has worked in the television industry, and toured with his one–man shows, such as The Gospel According to St. Genet. He's also had several plays produced Off-Broadway, including Burst. You can support his work by ordering the book online at Amazon. Infinity Standing Up is a wild ride, but it’s one worth taking.

GLAD: The Music (and Spirit) of Traffic

Rich Pagano

Traffic, the band originally formed in 1967 by Steve Winwood, Dave Mason, Jim Capaldi and Chris Wood, created some of the most memorable and diverse-sounding music of the classic rock era. On Friday, February 9 at The Fairfield Theatre Company’s Stage One, a group of outstanding musicians known as GLAD gathered to pay tribute to the band. GLAD: The Music of Traffic features Mark Rivera (who’s played with Billy Joel and Ringo Starr), Rich Pagano and Jeff Kazee (of Early Elton and many other groups), as well as the talented Marc Ribler and Kevin Bents. These incomparable musicians blew the roof off the place in the process of blowing our minds and enriching our souls with an unforgettable night of incredible music.

Things kicked off with a tasty trio of tunes from Traffic’s 1970 album John Barleycorn Must Die: “Glad,” “Freedom Rider” and “Empty Pages.” The band performed these songs with true passion and power. That was the hallmark of the entire evening: the group’s palpable love for this music could be felt in every note. Pagano’s incredible lead vocals and impressive drumming on “The Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys” and “Every Mother’s Son,” Kazee’s excellent keyboards and vocals on tunes like “Light Up Or Leave Me Alone” and Rivera’s sax, flute, cowbell (!) and fantastic lead on “Shanghai Noodle Factory." Guitarist Marc Ribler and Bassist Kevin Bents also got in on the fun, providing terrific vocals and switching instruments with ease, for classic numbers like “Stranger To Himself,” “Paper Sun” and “Medicated Goo.” Everyone played and sang masterfully; these are musicians at the top of their craft. This band truly provides not just a show, but a night full of wonderful memories. For GLAD, it's all about the music, the feeling and the experience.

Mark Rivera and Jeff Kazee

Every song was a highlight: from the iconic “Dear Mr. Fantasy” to the folk-laden “John Barleycorn Must Die” (about which Kazee quipped “This is the closest we’ll ever get to a renaissance fair") and “Pearly Queen.” The band’s love and respect for this music (and each other) shone through in the electricity of their performances. Their unabashed joy at playing together was truly infectious, and enriched the intensity of the show. By the time the band got to the encore, which featured a pair of tunes from Winwood’s supergroup Blind Faith (“Can’t Find My Way Home” and “Presence of The Lord”) and the show closer, The Spencer Davis Group’s “I’m A Man” we had been rocked, rolled, transported and uplifted. GLAD: The Music of Traffic not only pays tribute to the music and truly evokes the spirit of Traffic, they elevate our love and appreciation of the music to a whole new level. Do not miss this incredible band if you get the chance to see them. The words "must see" and "utterly fantastic" do not do them justice. Here's a link to a promo video featuring some highlights of the band's live shows: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xfttx2EJeoE.

The Wild, Weird and Wonderful! It's the Amazing World of “Trailers From Hell”

As dedicated film fans, we all have our favorite websites, the ones we visit regularly to indulge our cinematic passions. One of my favorites is Trailers From Hell. Writer-director Joe Dante, along with several other collaborators, including graphic artist and writer Charlie Largent, founded the site in 2007. It’s a marvelous compendium of trailers for all kinds of films, with its feet planted firmly in the horror, science fiction, thriller and comedy genres, though there’s a wide range of preview clips for other types of movies as well. These original “coming attractions” feature commentaries by filmmakers such as John Landis, Katt Shea, Mick Garris, Guillermo Del Toro, Karyn Kusama, Edgar Wright and many others. There's also an option to view the trailers without the commentaries.

One of TFH's original (and very cool) logos

The commentaries are entertaining and insightful. Want to hear makeup artist extraordinaire Rick Baker’s enthusiasm regardingWar of the Worlds? Director John Badham’s thoughts about A Fistful of Dollars? Or writer-director Ernest Dickerson’s musings about Chinatown? Trailers From Hell is the place to find all of that, and much more. From Key Largo to The Wasp Woman to Almost Famous, you’ll find a treasure trove of delightful observations from the site’s “gurus” about a plethora of films. What shines through in the wonderful commentaries is these artists’ love and appreciation for movies. It’s a passion they share with us. They’re some of the most talented and creative people from the world of cinema, but when it comes right down to it, they’re fans, just like us. They share our profound love and passion for movies and those who make them, from Bava to Leone to Scorcese.

Trailers from Hell is also the home for film scribes/reviewers Dennis Cozzalio, director Allan Arkush and the indispensable Glenn Erickson, aka CineSavant. You can check out some very cool trivia challenges, and a selection of co-founder Dante’s vintage movie reviews. It’s all essential reading for film fanatics. There are also several trailers with a shared theme spotlighted every week. The site’s newest and perhaps coolest feature is the excellent podcast entitled “The Movies That Made Me,” now in its second season, hosted by screenwriter Josh Olson and Joe Dante. Each episode features Olson and Dante chatting with the likes of William Friedkin, Ron Perlman, Allison Anders and Robert Forster about the movies they love; those films that made a lasting impression on them, and inspired them. The casual and informal nature of these illuminating conversations makes them both enjoyable and informative. You can find the episodes on the site, as well as places like iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn and Google Play.

Trailers from Hell is truly a “go-to” destination for those of us who love and appreciate movies. The best thing about the site is that it’s really a lot of fun. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the veritable treasure trove of information that’s available. When you visit, I bet you’ll find yourself spending a lot more time there than you originally planned. Here’s a link to the site’s main page: https://trailersfromhell.com, and also links for two trailers, for Roger Corman’s It Conquered The World: https://trailersfromhell.com/conquered-world/ and Brian De Palma’s Blow Out: https://trailersfromhell.com/blow-out//. So head on over, watch a bunch of trailers, read some articles, and listen to an episode of the podcast. This is one “hell” you won’t mind being trapped in!

Note: As I was preparing this post, I found out that the wonderful character actor Dick Miller passed away this past week. You've likely seen him in films like Gremlins, The Terminator and many others. I know he was a good friend to Joe Dante and many other filmmakers. He was certainly an icon and hero to myself and genre fans everywhere. This talented man truly left his mark in our movie-watching memories, and holds a special place in our hearts. I'm very glad I got to meet him at Chiller Con a few years ago. RIP, Dick. You will be missed.