Jason's Blog, page 147

Cigarette 14

Jesus' Son

I was curious about this film, based on Denis Johnson's short story collection. It follows some people in the 70s. Some drugs are involved. Starring, among others, Billy Crudup, Samantha Morton, Denis Leary and Jack Black, directed by Alison Mclean.

To base a film on shortstories is not the easiest thing to do. The whole point of the short story will often be hidden between the lines - it will come together in the reader's mind - and often be lost when told in images. Unfortunately, the director doesn't have much of a vision; the film has an annoyingly anonymous indie feel, as if made with some Sundance computer program. It lacks the precision of the short stories. Clinging to the text in a voiceover doesn't help. It should have been sadder, it should have been funnier. It should have been better, actually.

Cigarette 13

Signing / Dédicace

I will have a signing, together with French cartoonist Rica, at comic book shop Azimuts in Montpellier, 13 Rue St Guilhem, Saturday June 2, 3.30 PM.

Page One

... from Lost Cat. (Wait... have I already posted this?)

Cigarette 12

Cigarette 11

Kiss Me Deadly

Ralph Meeker is private detective Mike Hammer, a caveman in a suit going around and bitchslapping various people, trying to find out who killed Cloris Leachman. Also starring Jack Elam in a non cowboy role. And... what's in the box? Directed by Robert Aldrich.

I accidently caught this film on tv years ago, not knowing anything about it, but recognizing Mike Hammer from having read some Mickey Spillane novels. Mike Hammer is a mean bastard - you can see a link from this character to James Bond. The opening credits of the film goes downwards instead of the usual upwards, creating an impression that something is wrong right from the beginning. It has an amazing black and white cinematography from Ernest Laszlo. Car scenes seem to be shot in the street, and not in a studio using back projections. You can see why the French nouvelle vague directors liked it. There's a scene showing what I assume was the Angel's Flight funicular in Bunker Hill, Los Angeles. And wow, the ending...

Cigarette L.C.

MARITA
PLEASE FIND ME
I AM ALMOST 30

Leonard Cohen

Cigarette 10