Leaves of Grass: Ed Norton Times Two

What if your past came back to haunt you in the present? The 2009 drama Leaves of Grass offers one answer to that question. Bill Kincaid (Ed Norton) is a philosophy professor at Brown University; he’s been successful in the world of academia, and is being courted by Harvard to create a philosophy curriculum within their law school. A phone call from home changes everything. Bill is told his twin brother Brady has been killed. Bill hasn’t been home in years and left his old world behind to re-invent himself in a new place, with a new life.

Ed Norton and...Ed Norton in Leaves of Grass

Bill heads home to Tulsa, but discovers Brady (also played by Norton) isn’t dead after all. He’s hatching a plan to break free of his allegiance to a local drug distributor, and start over with his pregnant girlfriend. Brady’s a pot grower, who makes some of the most potent weed in the state. He needs Bill to pose as him in order to enact a plot to outwit the drug dealer. Bill refuses at first, but is drawn into his sibling's plan. He also has to deal with his own demons, and reconcile his memories of the family he left behind.

Norton is excellent in the dual role, as the strait-laced Bill, and the free-spirited Brady. He expertly conveys Bill’s reluctance to deal with the ghosts of his past; the mixed emotions he feels for his brother, and his buried feelings of resentment towards his mother (a nice supporting turn by Susan Sarandon).  As Brady, he portrays how the brother who stayed behind feels about his sibling, who deserted the family, and never looked back. 

The story goes in directions you don’t expect, with moments of drama and pathos mixed with some unexpected black comedy. The fine supporting cast includes Keri Russell, Richard Dreyfuss and Tim Blake Nelson, who also wrote and directed the film. A soundtrack of Southern style rock and folk is a nice touch that adds flavor to the movie. This is a unique film, a little different from the usual Hollywood product. The closest comparison would be the films of The Coen Brothers (Blood Simple, Fargo, Miller’s Crossing). If you’re a fan of intelligent dramas that are a little off center, then I recommend you give Leaves of Grass a try.  Here's a link to the film's trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83AbvPYqIko.

Milius: Portrait of a Zen Anarchist

The ‘film school” generation of the 60s and 70s gave us such writer-directors as Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Francis Ford Coppola and John Milius. Who's John Milius, you ask? You may not know his name, but you’re certainly familiar with some of the films he’s worked on as a writer, director or both: Apocalypse Now (1979), Conan The Barbarian (1982), Red Dawn (1984) and later, the HBO series, Rome (2005). Now a new documentary entitled Milius (2013) covers the life and career of this talented, sometimes controversial filmmaker. Milius came to prominence as a screenwriter in the early to mid 1970s. He worked on movies such as 1971’s Dirty Harry (Milius did an uncredited rewrite of the script, and came up with the famous “Do you feel lucky, punk?” speech) and writing the screenplays for the 1972 Robert Redford film, Jeremiah Johnson, (for which he received a record payday at the time) and the Dirty Harry sequel, Magnum Force (1973).

Milius quickly became one of the most in demand writers in Hollywood. Interestingly enough, at a time when the movie business (and the country as a whole) was in the midst of a more liberal stance politically, he was very conservative, but was still able to be a success in the industry. He wrote and directed the old-fashioned adventure film, The Wind & The Lion (1975) starring Sean Connery, Candice Bergen and Brian Keith as Teddy Roosevelt, one of Milius' personal heroes. He also penned the famous monologue about the USS Indianapolis that Robert Shaw performs in Jaws (1975), as a favor to his friend Spielberg. Then he co-wrote the screenplay for Coppola’s Apocalypse Now, a project that he, Lucas and Coppola had talked about endlessly since film school. The documentary covers the genesis and production of the celebrated Vietnam war epic (and Milius' contributions to it) in great detail.

During the 80s, Milius worked on bringing Robert E. Howard’s legendary Conan character to the screen in Conan The Barbarian, and wrote and directed the original Red Dawn, about a Russian military takeover of the US, and a group of teenagers who rebel against the invaders. The film covers a lot of ground talking about these two movies, and the political controversy that was sparked by Red Dawn during its original release. During this period, Milius (and the entertainment business in general) were being heavily criticized for the overly violent content of films. And while Milius had famous friends and colleagues like Lucas, Coppola & Spielberg, his over the top personality often rubbed studio executives the wrong way, causing some of his projects to be derailed or cancelled. The self-proclaimed "zen anarchist" could sometimes be his own worst enemy.

The documentary is a well-rounded portrait of Milius, and features fascinting interviews with Lucas, Spielberg and Coppola. There are also comments from Harrison Ford, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone and Milius’ children, as well as current filmmakers like Bryan (X-Men) Singer and Kurt (Sons of Anarchy) Sutter, who've been inspired by him. The Lucas and Spielberg sequences are some of the most engrossing parts of the film. While they often give interviews about their current projects, it’s fascinating to see them really open up about their friendship and collaborations with Milius, and tell stories about their early days working together in the 70s. Milius really is the kind of larger than life persona that you don’t see in today’s Hollywood, and even the studio executives he knocked heads & battled with admit they admire his talent.

The latter part of the film goes into some health struggles Milius has suffered after having a stroke a few years ago, which is why he’s largely seen in archival footage. He’s working to get better, and is hoping to get a long in development project about Genghis Khan produced. This is an absorbing portrait of a man who’s given us a host of iconic movie moments. It’s a must see for fans of 70s & 80s cinema, and if you've read Peter Biskind's Easy Riders, Raging Bulls, you'll see that a lot of the information from that book resonates in this documentary. Milius, which was directed by Joey Figueroa and Zak Knutson, is often shown on the EPIX cable channel and is available for digital viewing at various sites. Here’s a link to the film’s trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLuPXfsCkWg.

It's All About Ray...Lamontagne

My latest piece for the wonderful arts & entertainment website Culture Sonar takes a look at the very talented singer-songwriter Ray Lamontagne. You can check it out by following the link below the photo. Feel free to use the search function to check out my other articles! Thanks for reading!

http://www.culturesonar.com/ray-lamontagne/

The Sounds of "Muscle Shoals"

The best stories, whether they’re fact-based or fictional, give you a true sense of their place and time. That's one of the strengths of the fascinating music documentary, Muscle Shoals, which was originally released in 2013. The film gives us an in-depth look at the Alabama town where two well-regarded studios have given us classic music by Percy Sledge, The Rolling Stones, Wilson Pickett, Arthur Alexander and many others. It’s also the story of producer Rick Hall, a fascinating man who survived quite a bit of personal tragedy and went on to open the celebrated FAME studios. Hall was a determined, driven man, who changed the shape of his own destiny, as well as the lives of many others. He gathered together a talented crew of studio musicians that came to be known as the Swampers, who became the backbone of the “Muscle Shoals sound.”

For many of those interviewed in the film, including Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Steve Winwood and reggae icon Jimmy Cliff, the town and its atmosphere have as much to do with the sounds they created and recorded there as the music itself. They all talk about the special energy of the place, and how being there affected them. Many artists found that the trajectory of their careers were changed by recording in Muscle Shoals, including Aretha Franklin, who was having trouble finding a sound on record which matched the intensity of her live shows. Until she headed to Muscle Shoals, and did a session with the Swampers for the song “I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You),” and her career changed forever. That’s just one of the classic tunes that were recorded at FAME studios.

Another interesting fact brought out by the film is that many people thought the Swampers were black, due to the funky, R&B laced grooves they were creating; in fact, they were mostly white. But they were playing and recording with many black artists at a time when the civil rights movement was at its height. Hall points out that there were no color lines in the studio, and everyone got along with each other. The Swampers became one of the most in demand backing groups in the business, even attracting the attention of Atlantic Records executive Jerry Wexler, who eventually brought them to LA to play on some sessions.

That success caused a rift with Hall, and the Swampers eventually broke off and founded their own studio, Muscle Shoals Sound Studios. They became just as successful in their own right, and the town found it now had two studios producing memorable music by Paul Simon, The Staple Singers, Rod Stewart, Bob Dylan and many others. The film is filled with excellent performance clips, and that footage, coupled with the intimate behind the scenes stories, really make the movie worth viewing. There’s also some interesting background on Lynyrd Skynyrd, who made some of their first recordings in Muscle Shoals, and famously name checked the Swampers in their classic song “Sweet Home Alabama.”

Muscle Shoals is about a remarkable town, an amazing group of people and the wonderful music they made. The story of Rick Hall (who passed way earlier this year) the Swampers and the songs that sprang from this celebrated location is essential viewing for rock and roll fans. The film was produced and directed by Greg 'Freddy' Camalier. Along with Standing In The Shadows Of Motown, 20 Feet From Stardom and The Wrecking Crew,  this is one of the best recent documentaries about the people “behind the music” I've seen. The movie is now available on DVD, Blu-ray and for online viewing at various sites. Here’s a link to the film’s trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UDe4JrFAIQ.

An Offbeat Coming of Age Story

Every once in a while, I like to champion a little known film which may have escaped the notice of most viewers. This time out, I'm recommending a little movie called Son of Rambow (2007), a film by writer-director Garth Jennings & producer Nick Goldsmith, who also teamed up for the big screen version of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy in 2005. Son of Rambow is the story of two British school kids: Lee Carter, the requisite bad boy, and Will Proudfoot, a quieter and more introverted young man, whose family belongs to a strict religious sect called the Plymouth Brethren. Due to his family’s beliefs, Will is not allowed to watch TV or see movies. When the two boys become friends after being thrown together by circumstance, Lee invites Will to star in a movie he’s making, inspired by First Blood (1982), the first cinematic appearance of Rambo. After seeing the Sylvester Stallone action film at Lee's house, Will agrees to participate in the project.

Bill Milner & Will Poulter in Son of Rambow

The two boys work on the film using video equipment they secretly borrow from Lee’s older brother, who’s something of a bully. Will hides their activities from his widowed mother, who’s struggling with her decision to leave the Brethren, and start a better life for her family. The boys' ideas for the movie become even more ambitious, and the rest of the school, including some French exchange students, become involved in the project. Lee intends to enter the finished movie in a young filmmaker’s competition. As their friendship grows stronger, both Will & Lee will find themselves tested, as their personal lives interfere with the film they're making. Both boys must grow up a lot faster than they thought. Can their friendship survive this experience? Will the movie get finished, and will anyone get the chance to see it?

Son of Rambow is a charming, likable story with a gentle and quirky sense of humor. In some ways, you can compare this film to the character driven, whimsical stories of director Bill Forsyth, who wrote and directed Gregory’s Girl (1981) and Local Hero (1983). Son of Rambow is a coming of age story that has some genuine laughs, a few tears and it still manages leaves you smiling at the end. The movie gives you a real sense of the 1980s timeframe in which the story is set, with believable and relatable characters. The cast is very good, with both Will Poulter as Lee and Bill Milner as Will giving wonderful performances. I highly recommend checking out this film, which is based on writer-director Jennings and producer Goldsmiths own childhood experiences in the 1980s. This is one of those "under the radar" type of films you'll definitely enjoy, and find yourself recommending to friends after seeing it. Son of Rambow is available on DVD. Here’s a link to the film’s trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnVt0tqT7YQ.

A "Fantastic" album from Elton John

Here's a link to my latest article at Culture Sonar, the marvelous arts and entertainment site. It's a retrospective piece on one of Elton John's best records, Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, which wasn't just an album, it was an event. You can read all about it by following this link: http://www.culturesonar.com/elton-john-captain-fantastic/. Thanks for reading!

"Lost In Space" Arrives on Netflix

A family of space explorers board a ship called the Jupiter 2, as they begin a mission to start an Earth colony at Alpha Centauri. Along the way, they encounter some deadly detours, courtesy of a powerful robot and a crafty saboteur. Sound familiar? The baby boomers among you will recall this as the basic setup for creator-producer Irwin Allen’s beloved television series, Lost In Space, which featured the adventures of the Robinson family. The original show ran from 1965-1968, and gained a whole new group of fans through syndicated reruns. The series was rebooted as a 1998 feature film, which was somewhat successful at the box office, but strayed a bit from the original concept, and alienated many longtime fans. In 2004, the WB network produced a pilot for a new series, entitled The Robinsons: Lost In Space. The project was directed by action maestro John Woo, but it never aired, and the series wasn't picked up by the network.

Now Netflix has produced a new version of the show, and it’s an enjoyable, old-fashioned science-fiction tale, written by Matt Sazama and Burke Sharpless. This time around, the Robinson family is part of a larger mission ship, the Resolute, which is filled with colonists searching for humanity’s new home after a disaster has caused the Earth to experience serious environmental issues. An alien vessel attacks the Resolute, and those aboard are forced to evacuate to a nearby planet in their smaller craft, which are called Jupiters. While stranded there, the Robinsons and their fellow travelers must survive in a hostile alien environment, and contend with the machinations of a stowaway who’s appropriated the identity of a doctor named Smith. Oh, and there’s also a huge alien robot who’s befriended young Will Robinson; but this particular robot has a dark side.

Molly Parker as Maureen Robinson (Photo Courtesy of Netflix)

The cast is headed by Molly (House of Cards) Parker, who is terrific as scientist Maureen Robinson. Toby (Die Another Day) Stephens plays her husband John, here recast as a former Navy Seal and, in a gender switch on Jonathan Harris’ iconic (and comic) villain from the original series, actress Parker Posey portrays the sly and scheming Dr. Smith. Also aboard are Ignacio Serricchio as pilot Don West (whose character is reinvented here as a con man and lovable rogue) and Taylor Russell, Mina Sundwall and Maxwell Jenkins are the Robinson kids: Judy, Penny and Will, respectively. The family’s relationships are interesting and the young performers are quite good, never slipping into that annoying kid mode that has plagued many shows of this type. The series is extremely well cast, and while some reviewers have taken exception to Posey's offbeat performance, I think she's quite effective as the manipulative Smith, who will go to any lengths for self-preservation. In fact, Posey and Parker have some great scenes together during the season.

The ten episode revival pays homage to the original in ways that will delight fans, but also goes off in some intriguing new directions. One of the best things about this revival of Lost in Space is that it’s a fairly straightforward space adventure saga, and it's quite entertaining on that level. The show offers enough action, narrow escapes, plot twists and turns and likeable characters to interest viewers seeking an old school science-fiction story. The show also retains the family friendly vibe of the classic series. The special effects and production vales are impressive, and the excellent direction by genre vets such as Neil Marshall and David Nutter guide the solid cast through their paces. I tried to stay relatively plot and spoiler free for this piece, so you can enjoy the show (and discover its merits) on your own. Lost In Space is definitely worth seeking out for fans and newcomers alike. The series is currently streaming on Netflix. Here’s a link to the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzmM0AB60QQ.