Jason's Blog, page 187
February 3, 2011
February 1, 2011
Illustration...
... done for the Angoulême edition of free French newspaper 20 minutes. Colours by Hubert.
January 28, 2011
Angoulême
It's time to go to Angoulême. Here's a strip I made from my first visit.
Text: Some impressions from Angoulême 2000 / Arrival! / Crumb concert! / Moebius exhibition! / Saturday! / Sunday! / Going home!
January 27, 2011
Somebody Up There Likes Me
Paul Newman is Rocky Graziano in this biopic. Also starring Pier Angeli, a young Robert Loggia (It took some time before I recognized him) and Steve McQueen in a small part, directed by Robert Wise.
It's a bit hard to get past Newman doing an Italian/NY east side accent, there weren't any Italian actors around?, but it's a decent film. It's the Hollywood version of Graziano's autobiography, so who knows how much of it is true. It's a pretty traditional rags to riches story, ending in triumph, giving the filmmakers a lot less freedom. I prefer Wises's earlier boxing picture the Set-Up.
It's a bit hard to get past Newman doing an Italian/NY east side accent, there weren't any Italian actors around?, but it's a decent film. It's the Hollywood version of Graziano's autobiography, so who knows how much of it is true. It's a pretty traditional rags to riches story, ending in triumph, giving the filmmakers a lot less freedom. I prefer Wises's earlier boxing picture the Set-Up.
Cover...
... for the first issue of my Norwegian comic book Mjau Mjau, published in 98.
January 26, 2011
The Drowning Pool
The sequel to Harper, made nine years later. Paul Newman is hired by an old flame, Joanne Woodward, who is being blackmailed. Also starring Melanie Griffith as jailbait, directed by Stuart Rosenberg.
I can understand why the private detective genre seems pretty dead. Unless you put in a car chase or something, and still keeping things realistic, there is not that much action to be had. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang was very good, but what else has there been? Brick and The Big Lebowski, but neither of those were straight detective stories. The Drowning Pool is not a bad film, but a bit slow, in a 70s way. There always seems to be a chauffeur in these stories, and as usual, they are never up to any good.
I can understand why the private detective genre seems pretty dead. Unless you put in a car chase or something, and still keeping things realistic, there is not that much action to be had. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang was very good, but what else has there been? Brick and The Big Lebowski, but neither of those were straight detective stories. The Drowning Pool is not a bad film, but a bit slow, in a 70s way. There always seems to be a chauffeur in these stories, and as usual, they are never up to any good.
January 25, 2011
Character sketch...
... for L'Île aux Cent Mille Morts, Isle of 100 000 Graves. The album is now out in French.
Harper
Paul Newman is Harper, a private detective. Based on the novel by Ross MacDonald, also starring Lauren Bacall, Janet Leigh and Shelley Winters, directed by Jack Smight.
I'm not sure how well the private eye genre works on film. It can be a bit repetitive - a guy walking around knocking on doors, asking questions. The story in the film seems to be a variation on The Big Sleep. Fortunately, there is no easily parodic Chandleresque voiceover. There is nothing really original here, though. As a viewer there are certain storyelements you wait for and can cross off as they appear: the nympho trying to get the detective in bed, the old broad that needs to be fed liquor to talk, the unfriendly cop, the two tough guys sent to threaten the detective, the scene where he's knocked out and so on. With a story so familiar, it needs some style, something you find plenty of in the Chandler novels, maybe in the MacDonald novels - I haven't read any - but don't see too much of in this mildly entertaining film.
I'm not sure how well the private eye genre works on film. It can be a bit repetitive - a guy walking around knocking on doors, asking questions. The story in the film seems to be a variation on The Big Sleep. Fortunately, there is no easily parodic Chandleresque voiceover. There is nothing really original here, though. As a viewer there are certain storyelements you wait for and can cross off as they appear: the nympho trying to get the detective in bed, the old broad that needs to be fed liquor to talk, the unfriendly cop, the two tough guys sent to threaten the detective, the scene where he's knocked out and so on. With a story so familiar, it needs some style, something you find plenty of in the Chandler novels, maybe in the MacDonald novels - I haven't read any - but don't see too much of in this mildly entertaining film.
January 24, 2011
Comic strip...
...done for a cd booklet, late 90s.
The Left Handed Gun
Paul Newman is Billy the Kid. Directed by Arthur Penn.
Did Arthur Penn come from the theater? This western has a theatrical feel to it, the characters don't ring true and everything seems a bit off. Newman is at his most method-y and least convincing. This kind of broody acting might look okay on stage in a Tennessee Williams play, but looks a bit silly in a western, dating the film pretty badly.
Did Arthur Penn come from the theater? This western has a theatrical feel to it, the characters don't ring true and everything seems a bit off. Newman is at his most method-y and least convincing. This kind of broody acting might look okay on stage in a Tennessee Williams play, but looks a bit silly in a western, dating the film pretty badly.
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