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Previews of Coming Attractions

Filed under: Imported

Here are some favorites of mine that I may get around to writing about at length someday. Until then, here are some teasers.

Blue Collar (1978) directed by Paul Schrader

This was the first film Schrader directed, and his commentary on the DVD is basically the story of all the problems he had and all the mistakes he made. The three lead actors-- Richard Pryor, Yaphet Kotto and Harvey Keitel-- who play longtime friends in the film actually hated each other, according to Schrader, and novice director that he was, he didn't know what to do about it or how to control them (there were real fistfights on the set).

There's no trace of that animosity on the screen, though (except for the great closing shot with Pryor and Keitel, old friends who now are about to kill each other), and the story about three assembly-line workers and their financial problems is still fresh today, almost 25 years later. The scene where they steal the safe from their union's headquarters has always been a fave of mine, especially their choice in disguises.

The Jackals (1967 - South Africa) starring Vincent Price

Here's a rarity-- a South African spaghetti Western! (For those who have never understood that term, it's used to describe the 500 or so Westerns that came out of Europe in the '60s and '70s, especially Italy, where the genre was basically invented by Sergio Leone.) Surprisingly, even though there's absolutely nothing new about it-- some bank robbers on the lam discover an old man's gold mine-- it's still pretty good, and Price gives an unusual performance that's every bit as fine as his best Hollywood work at the time.

Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge (1994 - UK)

Steve Coogan is the funniest man on television, but he's almost completely unknown in the U.S. My personal favorite comedy discovery from last year was the collected TV series that feature Coogan's best known character, uber-prick TV and radio host, Alan Partridge. Partridge began as a sportscaster on an earlier show that Coogan was on, a mock news program called The Day Today. From there, the character hosted his own radio talk show (six of the funniest radio comedies ever) and then on to this, a BBC chat-and-variety show.

A huge Abba fan (his son is named Fernando), Partridge greets his audience with a big "A-ha!", and from there begins one of the greatest train-wrecks of live television. His first guest, an expert, prize-winning horse rider and breeder, refuses Alan's offer to ride and jump a horse on the set because the concrete floor would break its legs. As they take the horse away, it takes a steaming shit on stage, which stays in Alan's shot for the rest of the show.

His second guest, a popular gameshow host, takes offence when Alan brings the host's son out and embarrasses him by mentioning that, because of his divorce agreement, he has to keep his distance from the boy. Things continue to get worse: the seemingly-innocuous pop group that performs suddenly turns into an out-of-control thrash band, and Alan's guest of honor-- Roger Moore-- never makes it to the studio. Finally, the show ends in a three-way critique by the guests of Alan and his show. Alan doesn't take it well.

The other five episodes in the series are even funnier, and they pave the way for Coogan's real triumph, the 1997 series I'm Alan Partridge, a personal off-camera look at the troubled soul of one of broadcasting's all-time bastards. Highest recommendation!

Posted by Steve Monaco at May 25, 2003 7:48 PM

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