Retro Movie: A "Race" Against Evil

There’s nothing like a good drive-in movie to cure the winter doldrums. We’ve been getting pounded with cold weather and snow here in the Northeast, but maybe we all just need to put some snacks together, grab a cold one, and huddle under the blankets to watch: Race With The Devil! This 1975 release is part action movie & part horror film. It features Peter Fonda (Easy Rider) and Warren Oates (Stripes), who portray two friends who own a motorcycle shop in Texas. They decide to head to Colorado with their wives in an RV and take a vacation. Along the way, they stop to race their bikes and later rest for the night. After their wives go to bed, the guys witness a girl being used as a human sacrifice by a satanic cult. The rest of the movie is a chase thriller, as our heroes try to escape the cult, who has marked them for death because they've witnessed the ritual killing.

 

Peter Fonda and Warren Oates

 

The couples try to convince various people of what they saw, but no one believes them. Or do they? A sheriff who they relate their story to initially dismisses it, but he acts suspiciously. Everyone they run into as their journey goes on seems to act a little…odd. Strange things begin to happen; a cryptic rune is pinned to the door of the RV, rattlesnakes are released into the camper, and a dog owned by one of the couples is killed. There are car chases, close escapes & eerie occurrences. Will our heroes escape the clutches of this evil cult, who seem to have members & eyes everywhere? Is there any end to this terror in sight!?

Fonda and Oates are very good as the friends who are thrust into a fight for their lives, and Lara Parker (Dark Shadows) and Loretta Swit (M*A*S*H) offer solid support as their spouses. Well known character actor R.G. Armstrong co-stars as the sheriff. Jack Starrett, who acted in & directed a few biker & action films in the 70s, helmed the film; he also has a cameo as a gas station attendant. The screenplay is by Wes Bishop and Lee Frost. Race With The Devil is a fast-paced movie that has an enjoyable combination of action and occult elements. It’s the kind of flick that played endlessly on the late show in the 70s and 80s. If you’re a fan of this type of genre movie, or enjoy any of the actors who star in the film, it’s worth watching.

Since I'm posting this on the day of this year's Oscar telecast, let's be clear that this movie certainly wasn't nominated for any awards. But it's a lot of fun, and a perfect example of solid B movie filmmaking. Race With The Devil is available on DVD and Blu-ray and has most recently been released as a double feature disc with another car chase film, 1974’s Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry, which also features Peter Fonda. It’s a car chase/heist thriller, which co-stars Vic Morrow, Susan George and...Roddy McDowall!? Watch both films for a night of 70s drive-in style entertainment. Here’s a link to the trailer for Race With The Devil: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqv6PIH_ymY. And remember, "When you race with the devil, you'd better be faster than hell!"

Masters of the Telecaster: Superb Rock, Blues, Country & Soul at The Kate

Masters of the Telecaster: photo by John V

True musical artistry is a rare thing in these days of reality TV pop stars & manufactured music. That’s why it’s so refreshing to see a show like “Masters of the Telecaster,” featuring G.E. Smith, Danny Kortchmar & Jim Weider. On Friday, February 13, at The Kate in Old Saybrook, this trio of guitar virtuosos, along with drummer Randy Ciarlante & bassist Byron Isaacs, treated us to an electrifying night of music. The concert was excellent from start to finish, with a fantastic mix of rock, blues, folk & country performed with passion & energy by a group of supremely talented musicians. The diverse set list ranged from rock & roll classics like “Suzie Q” to country standards such as “Sweet Dreams” and a touch of blues: Son House’s “Empire State Express,” with fantastic lead vocals & guitar from Smith, was one of the high points of the night for me.

The night was filled with wonderful music: “Mercury Blues,” an often covered track probably best remembered for David Lindley’s version, sounded superb, as did a percolated rave up on Little Richard’s “Lucille.” The band members traded off doing leads on the songs, and you could genuinely feel their joy at performing together. One look at Smith’s ecstatic face during the show spoke a thousand words. He burned up the stage with his enthusiasm and smokin’ licks; Kortchmar rocked & jammed like nobody’s business, and Weider was tight and fluid, especially during his stunning take on Roy Buchanan’s “The Messiah Will Come Again.” Ciarlante & Isaacs also contributed heavily to the show’s success, providing excellent vocals and solid playing throughout the night. Other high-water marks: Smith’s emotional reading of “Arrowhead,” Richard Schindell’s folk tune set during the Civil War, and Kortchmar's scorching interpretation of Al Green's "I'm A Ram."

If you’re a dyed in the wool music fan, this terrific trio needs no introduction, but here’s a brief look at their resumes: Smith was Saturday Night Live’s bandleader/musical director for 10 years, and has played with Bob Dylan, Hall & Oates and many others. Wieder was a member of The Band (replacing Robbie Robertson) from 1985-2000, and has also performed with many other artists, including Dr. John & Keith Richards. Kortchmar was part of the legendary group of session musicians known as The Section, and worked with James Taylor, Jackson Browne and Carole King. He also collaborated with Don Henley on the albums Building The Perfect Beast & The End of The Innocence. In fact, another cool moment during the evening was the band rocking out on “All She Wants To Do Is Dance,” which was written by Kortchmar.

For real music aficionados, this show is as close to nirvana as it gets. A band of brothers jamming on classic rock, blues, country & soul the way it was meant to be played; with passion, joy & energy. Two amazing sets of music, concluding with a rousing encore performance of The Bottle Rockets’ “Thousand Dollar Car,” led by Smith, that left us wanting two more sets by this extraordinary group. If you get a chance to see them live, don’t hesitate. It’s a powerful night of music you won’t soon forget. The “Masters of the Telecaster,” will be performing tonight, February 14, at Infinity Hall in Hartford. If you can get a ticket, I highly recommend attending the show. For more info on the band and upcoming concerts, you can visit G.E. Smith’s website at https://gesmithmusic.wordpress.com. 

Cary Elwes' Princess Bride Diaries

The Princess Bride has become a classic film, beloved by several generations of fans. But when it was first released in 1987, it was only moderately successful, despite positive reviews. The home video market helped make the film a success, and its great cast, quotable dialogue & effective mix of adventure, comedy & romance continue to delight viewers. Cary Elwes, one of the film’s stars, has penned a memoir about the making of the movie. As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride, is the story of the film from Elwes’ perspective, and it’s an enjoyable book. Elwes, who played Westley/The Man in Black, charts the production from director Rob Reiner’s struggle to get the movie made, through the casting, production & release of the film.

The book, co-written with Joe Layden, has an easygoing, relaxed style. It’s kind of like sitting down for a couple of pints with Elwes & chatting with him. You get an insider’s look at the day-to-day process of making a movie, and while it’s not overly technical, there’s a lot of great detail about the production. Some of the best stories involve Elwes & co-star Mandy Patinkin’s arduous training with swords, so they can perform the famous swordfight featured in the film. There are some wonderful stories about the cast & crew. Some of the most touching anecdotes involve Andre The Giant, who played the gentle giant, Fezzik, and Robin Wright, who portrayed Elwes’ love interest, the beautiful Buttercup, in the film. The book also features sidebars written by some of the cast & crew, including Rob Reiner, Wallace Shawn & Chris Sarandon.

If you’re a fan of the movie, this is a light, engaging read. Elwes also touches on the film’s journey from mild success to cult classic, and talks about the cast’s reunion for the film’s 25^th anniversary. While many actors talk about how wonderful it was to make a certain project, and how everyone really got along, in this case you truly believe it. The cast & crew of The Princess Bride really felt they were working on something special, and Elwes & his co-stars still regard the experience as one of the best they’ve ever had. Take some time to journey back to the world of The Princess Bride, and join Cary Elwes & the gang for a delightful look at the filming of the movie version of William Goldman’s classic novel. As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride is now available in stores & online. 

Brosnan & Washington's Spy Games

Two actors well known for their roles as action heroes return in a pair of recent video releases. Former James Bond Pierce Brosnan stars in The November Man (2014), an espionage thriller from director Roger Donaldson, who worked with the actor on the 1997 disaster film Dante's Peak. Brosnan plays Peter Devereaux, a former CIA operative who comes out of retirement to help extract a deep cover operative from Russia. It turns out the operative has a personal connection to him. The mission goes awry and the operative is killed. Devereaux finds himself hunted by both our side & the Russians, as a deadly game of lies, deceit & and double crosses ensues. Leading the American team pursuing him is his former protégé, whose partnership with Devereaux ended badly a few years earlier.

There’s more to the mission (and the story) than meets the eye, and our hero has to get to the bottom of things before either side kills him. Why was the agent in Russia marked for death, and what does it have to do with our own government? The movie is fast-paced, and has a few good plot twists, though parts of the story are a bit predictable. The film is based on the novel There Are No Spies, by Bill Granger, part of a series featuring the Devereaux character. It's got somewhat of an old school vibe, and the Cold War-esque plot is spiced up with a modern edge. Brosnan (who co-produced the film) is good in his role as an aging spy, and the supporting cast includes Will Patton, Bill Smitrovich and Olga Kurylenko, who also has a Bond connection. She co-starred with Daniel Craig as 007 in Quantum of Solace (2008).

Also returning to the world of intrigue is Denzel Washington, who stars in a re-make/re-imagining of the 1980s TV series The Equalizer. He plays Robert McCall, a man living a quiet existence in Boston, where he works at a Home Depot-like store. He's well liked by his co-workers. McCall is even helping one of them prepare for an upcoming test for a job as a security guard. He spends his evenings reading & drinking tea at a local diner, where he befriends a young prostitute named Teri. When she’s brutally beaten by her pimp, McCall steps in to help her. It turns out he’s a former government operative, and he makes short work of her pimp, Slavi, and his men. But Slavi is employed by the Russian mob, and they send an enforcer to take out McCall.

McCall, who had promised his late wife he’d walk away from the brutal life he led as an agent, is nevertheless drawn back into that world, as he tries to stay one step ahead of Teddy, the enforcer, and his men. What follows is a game of cat & mouse between McCall and the Russian Mafia, as they try to bring him down, and he keeps beating them at their own game. He also comes to realize he can’t sit by while innocent people are hurt or threatened by evil & powerful men. The film reunites Washington with his Training Day director, Antoine Fuqua. The screenplay is by Richard Wenk; it's almost like the origin of The Equalizer. The movie is a dark, violent thriller that has some well-staged action sequences. Washington can play this type of role in his sleep, and he’s very effective here, giving the character more depth than is usual for this genre. The cast also features Chloe-Grace Moretz, Bill Pullman and Melissa Leo.

The films are now available on Blu-ray, DVD and for online viewing. They're worth a look for spy thriller fans, as both movies are a bit more enjoyable than today's standard action film fare. Here’s a link to the trailers for The November Man:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jREIRTyj9Mk and The Equalizer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAI7rF0eQyQ.

Stevie Nicks Opens The "Vault"

Stevie Nicks & her music have seen something of a renaissance in recent years. Her solo songs (as well as her work with Fleetwood Mac) have been featured on shows like Glee and American Horror Story, which also boasted an appearance & performance by the artist during last season’s “Coven” storyline. Currently, Nicks is on a very successful tour with the reunited Fleetwood Mac, who has welcomed Christine McVie back into the fold. Last September, Nicks issued 24 Karat Gold: Songs From The Vault, a collection of previously unreleased songs that she originally recorded as demos between 1969 & 1987. It’s a diverse collection of tunes that’s one of her strongest solo releases.

The tracks were recorded in Nashville & Los Angeles, with Nicks, legendary guitarist Waddy Wachtel & Dave Stewart of Eurythmics fame sharing the producing duties. The talented session players include Wachtel, Stewart & longtime Elton John guitarist Davey Johnstone. The songs include the excellent “Hard Advice” which is about Nicks’ friendship with Tom Petty, and “Blue Water,” which features Lady Antebellum on backing vocals. There’s also the beautiful ballad ”Lady” and “Mabel Normand,” an anti-drug abuse tale that name checks the titular silent film star to tell its story. Other highlights include the Stones-esque  “Starshine,” and “She Still Loves Him,” an excellent collaboration with Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits, one of the best tunes on the album.

The album features a cover of Vanessa Carlton’s “Carousel,” which was a favorite song of Nicks’ late mother. Nicks still has the strength to convey beautiful, sensual & ethereal imagery thru her lyrics, and that distinctive voice has lost none of its power. Of course, long-time Nicks/Fleetwood Mac fans will have fun figuring out which songs might be about her long-time, often turbulent relationship & friendship with Lindsey Buckingham. The rock goddess sounds confident & assured here, and you’d be hard pressed to guess she’s 66 years old. The queen of shawls & onstage twirls also leaves herself room to rock out a little on a couple of songs, like the harder-edged “I Don’t Care,” and “Belle Fleur.”

I’ve really been enjoying this disc, and it’s especially recommended if you’re a Nicks or Fleetwood Mac fan. This is a fantastic group of songs, and despite being written at different stages of her career, they hang together very well. It is one of the best albums of her long career. 24 Karat Gold: Songs From The Vault is available in two configurations: a 14 track standard edition and a 16 track deluxe version, which also includes a 48-page book. Here are links to “Hard Advice,” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJKeD5zoSB4, and “Belle Fleur,” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qaWpjF3X_Q.

Snowpiercer: Train To Nowhere

Apparently, Al Gore was right; Global warming will be the end of us all. In Snowpiercer (2013), the governments of the world try to stop the escalating climate issues caused by global warming by releasing a chemical into the atmosphere. The problem? This causes the planet to completely freeze over, and much of the world’s population dies. Years later, the survivors are all riding a hi-tech train called the Snowpiercer, which continually circles the globe. The train is divided into sections mirroring our current society: the wealthy have the best living conditions toward the front, while the poor live in the rear section, and have crowded conditions & little food. The Wilford Corporation (led by Ed Harris) controls the Snowpiercer's world. A group of rebels from the rear section want to take over the train and disperse the goods more evenly, so everyone can be treated fairly. But they’ll have to battle their way thru the length of the train (and Wilford’s forces) to get to the head car & seize control. There’s also a possibility this “new ice age” is ending and the Earth may be habitable again. Is Wilford hiding the truth? And why do children keep disappearing from the poorer sections of the train?

This movie garnered a lot of buzz upon its release in the US in 2014. It was touted as being a different type of sci-fi movie, with a new & original look. It is stylishly filmed, and the design of the train & some of the visual effects are interesting. But the plot is a hodgepodge of other dystopian sci-fi films & novels such as Soylent Green, The Hunger Games, 1984 & Brave New World. While the concepts are interesting, the story feels a bit tacked together, and some of the plot points are left unexplained or glossed over. The film does try to raise some interesting philosophical issues, but they are never fully explored. I’m all for suspending disbelief in a movie, and going along for the ride (pun intended) but this film just leaves too many questions open: How is this train serviced? How did the class system on the train come to be? Why is the inhumane method of operation that’s chosen by Wilford the only way to run the engine?

The movie features a talented cast including Harris, Chris Evans, John Hurt & a scenery chewing Tilda Swinton, who makes the most of her role as a Wilford spokesperson/henchwoman. But some of the characters are oddly portrayed for no apparent reason, reminding me a bit of the supporting cast in 1997's The Fifth Element. The action sequences are poorly staged, and at just over two hours, the film feels a bit overlong. The story’s resolution and the final sequences are just plain illogical. The film was helmed by South Korean director Bong Joon-ho, and is based on a French graphic novel entitled Le Transperceneige. I had high hopes for this one; sadly, it left me feeling disappointed. There are some intriguing ideas in the film, but the pieces just don’t gel together well enough to make this the great sci-fi tale it could have been. Might be worth a look for genre fans, but not recommended. Snowpiercer is available on Blu-ray, DVD & available for streaming on Netflix. Here’s a link to the film’s trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nX5PwfEMBM0.