9/17/05 Quentin Tarantino Festival - Day 9 - Encore Night
Hello from Austin. I'm Micah and this is coverage of the final night of QT6 at the Alamo Drafthouse. We've had a lot of new readers find Dumb Distraction through this Festival Coverage, and I wanna encourage you to check us out after the festival is over. We run movie reviews every Friday, ranging from older obscure classics like Sun Ra: Space is the Place to recent direct to video bombs like the Gunman. We even sneak in some recent Hollywood movies that we deem worthy. Basically anything that we think is cool or interesting we'll post.
I'm also proud to announce the beginning of a new column at Dumb Distraction: Tarantino Approved Movies. During the course of QT6 I've been compiling an ever growing list of movies, directors, and actors that Tarantino mentioned and for the forseeable future, I'll be reviewing all of them that I can get my hands on. It'll probably take me at least until QT7 to get through them all, but I'll do my best. I'm not ready for the festival to end just yet, and now it doesn't have to. Up first I'll have reviews of Sergio Corbucci's Navajo Joe (1966) and Fernando Di Leo's Wipeout! (1973).
Tonight was marketed simply as Encore Presentations, so no one was sure what movies we'd see, or even how many would be shown. Would Tarantino show several movies from this festival? Some of his favorites from festivals past? Many of us were hoping that he would slip in at least one or two new movies...
The crowd waits in anticipation for tonight's final festivities.
Click for Wallpaper Sized QT6 Poster.
No Way Out (1973)
Directed by: Duccio Tessari
Starring: Alain Delon & Richard Conte
Lars Introduction:
Lars takes the stage to introduce tonight's first film, an encore presentation of No Way Out. But first, he points out that he's not Quentin. Apparently Tarantino was at the Austin Convention Center helping with Hurricane Katrina victims, and Lars tells us that anyone who has a problem with that is a cold-blooded motherfucker. He keeps the intro pretty short, hitting most of the same points that QT did on Day 6, especially praising the film's sets and score. In a funny moment, Lars throws in an 'alright' to make up for not being Tarantino.
Trailers:
Gambit - A previous QT fest entry that was apparently pretty great.
Watch Out... We're Mad - Terence Hill & Bud Spencer
The Nickel Ride
Machine Gun McCain - Another film from an earlier QT fest.
The Movie:
For info on this movie, feel free to check out my Day 6 Review. Though to be perfectly honest, the crowd (at least those that were here on Day 6) didn't react as enthusiastically as the first time we saw it. Maybe it was the fact that Tarantino and his boundless enthusiasm were missing, or maybe it was the fact that we had seen this movie 3 days ago.
Tarzoon: Shame of the Jungle (1967)
Directed by: Picha
Tarantino & Rodriguez Introduction:
The second movie of the night is another encore presentation... Tarzoon: Shame of the Jungle. In a great moment, both Tarantino and Rodriguez take the stage. Rodriguez points out that this is the 10th anniversary of QT1 and the 10th anniversary of the two of them working together on From Dusk Till Dawn. He also mentions their upcoming teamup: Grindhouse, and tells us that the trailer for that movie will probably use a quote from the Burt Reynolds and Charles Bronson double feature trailer we saw on Day 6: Rodriguez and Tarantino are back... only this time they're Back to Back!
Then, in a fantastic moment, Tarantino asks us if we remember a movie from Day 2's horror marathon called Silent Night, Deadly Night. The place lights up as those of us that were here know what's coming. "Well," Quentin tells us "Robert and I are going to act out a scene from that movie. I'm going to play young Billy and he's going to play the comatose grandfather." The two of them launch into the scene, and Rodriguez's rendition is amazing, but probably only funny to those of us who had seen the movie. After they finish, Rodriguez tells us that the last time he did that monologue it was to 'freak out the kids on the Spy Kids set.'
Tarantino tells us that there's nothing he can tell us about Tarzoon that will prepare those who haven't seen it... you should just let it wash over you. He also hypes up the next film, a fantastic exploitation movie called Fight For Your Life. I can't wait to see that movie again. But first...
Click for Wallpaper Sized Buddies.
Trailers:
Wonder Women
Ecco - From a Religious Ceremony in Japan to the Election of the Most Beautiful Buttocks... Ecco is a Spectacular Orgy of Sight & Sound
The Magic Christmas Tree - A zero budget children's movie featuring, you guessed it, a Magic Christmas Tree. The trailer also features the most miserable Santa Clause I've ever seen, and fit perfectly after seeing Rodriguez's Grandfather Monologue.
The Movie:
I wasn't sure if I would enjoy this movie without the benefit of a bucket of Schlitz, but sure enough, I thought it was funny even though I was stone cold sober. I never woulda guessed it. For more info on this movie, feel free to check out my Day 1 Review.
Fight for Your Life (1977)
Directed by: Robert A. Endelson
Starring: William Sanderson
Tarantino Introduction:
When Tarantino saw Fight for Your Life in Tim's collection he freaked out, because it is one of his favorite exploitation movies of all time. He says nothing can touch this movie for it's incredible incendiary nature. "In fact, you could make a movie as incendiary as Fight For Your Life, but you can never make a movie more incendiary than Fight For Your Life."
This movie is part of a sub-genre of movies known as the Desperate Hours genre. If you haven't seen 1955's Desperate Hours, it's basically the story of criminals who take a family hostage in their own home. Other good films in this genre include Funny Games, and as NY Sean pointed out, the first half of From Dusk Till Dawn.
"But in Fight for Your Life... the race angle is played up just a little bit as a black family is taken hostage by three deranged lunatics, lead by a cracker southern hillbilly psycho nutcase... played like nobody's motherfuckin business by William Sanderson."
Trailers:
The Born Losers - Featuring the first appearance of Billy Jack
Moms Mabley as Amazing Grace - This movie looks fantastic
Race With The Devil - When You Race With the Devil You'd Better Be Faster Than Hell
Scream Blacula Scream
The Movie:
Fight for Your Life is a movie that I've watched a half dozen times, and is one that I'll always pull out when I want to shock a group of unsuspecting viewers. However, this is the first time I've seen it in a theater, so I was psyched to watch it. Just a warning though, if you're the type that gets offended by phrases like Blackass Coons, Tar-babies, Monkey Face, Uncle Remus or Aunt Jemima, this may not be the movie for you. And if you aren't the type that gets offended by those phrases, what the hell is wrong with you?
The plot for this movie is very bare-bones. Sanderson escapes from a prison transport van, along with a Mexican named Chino and an Asian named Chow. The three of them go on a mini-killing spree before eventually holing up at the home of a black preacher & his family. They take the family hostage, and then Sanderson spends the rest of the day torturing, harrassing, and humiliating the family.
Sanderson's performance is a true tour de force as he becomes the most spectacular racist you've ever seen. Almost every sentence out of his mouth contains a racial epitaph or derogatory comment... it's like the man just can't help it. And he's not just spewing his vile taunts towards the family... the other escaped cons take their share of insults as well. In one particuarly funny moment that most of the crowd seemed to miss among all the family's screaming and yelling, Sanderson tells Chino to hide the family dog in a closet because he 'didn't want Chow messing with it.' Another time Sanderson is shocked to find the family's young son can't dance. "Don't let word of that get out," he tells them with sincere concern. "It'll give the race a bad name!"
The whole movie is like that, with Sanderson saying and doing things so wrong you can't imagine it could get worse. Then it does. Throughout the day the family has a few minor victories (one great scene has Sanderson making the father sing... the father chooses The Battle Hymn of the Republic, and soon the whole family is booming "Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!" as Sanderson tries vainly to shut them up) but mostly they just get degraded and pushed around.
As the movie builds towards it's conclusion, the audience got more and more bloodthirsty... we just had to see Sanderson pay. So when Granny hit the line "Don't move or I'll shoot your mother fuckin' balls off!" the crowd went bezerk. This was an absolutely perfect choice for this night as the crowd ate up every minute of the film. I should point out that the credits for this movie list a Mr/ Dick Punch. Unfortunately it doesn't list his character name, and he has no IMDB entry. Anyone know anything about this undoubtably amazing character?
Johnny Firecloud (1975)
Directed by: William Allen Castleman
Starring: Victor Mohica, Ralph Meeker, Sacheen Littlefeather
Tim League Introduction:
Tim took the stage before this final film looking somewhat bewildered. It seems Tarantino had disappeared into the Austin night, and no one knew where he was. Well, I guess we've heard my final Tarantino intro of the festival without even knowing it. It was kinda lame that he bailed, but it's his show and I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he was helpng those Katrina folks again. At 2AM.
In his place, Tim intro'd the movie. He started by asking how many die-hards had been present for every single movie. I'm proud to say that I, along with about a dozen other people (mostly the AICN crew), was able to raise my hand and cheer. I rock.
Several people had missed only one movie, and for a great percentage of those people, the one movie was Madman Marz, the final movie of the Day 2 Horror Marathon. "Ah yeah... Madman fuckin Marz... did anyone actually like that movie?" A few cheers. "You guys are high or stupid or something. I've got news for you... you watch it again you'll find out that movie sucks!"
Tim promises that the Alamo Drafhouse isn't normally a racist theater, despite tonight's final two movies. Johnny Firecloud was produced by David F. Friedman, a legendary filmmaker man who liked to take a popular theme and make super bloody and violent and wrong. And that's exactly what he did with this movie, obviously inspired by the Billy Jack movies. Tim left the stage, thanking us for coming to QT6 and telling us to enjoy this momentous final film.
Trailers:
Pretty Maids all in a Row - This School Has Real School Spirit... It's Just Too Bad About the Dead Cheerleader in the 2d Floor John. Starring Rock Hudson & Telly Savalas.
Brannigan - Starring an elderly John Wayne in one of his final films. He still had it.
Mother, Jugs & Speed - Bill Cosby, Harvey Keitel, Raquel Welch
The Gravy Train - Funny trailer about the misadventures of the Dion Brothers. The title Gravy Train flashed on the screen every 10 seconds, then at the very end a still frame came up that said: Title is Now 'The Dion Brothers'. Crowd got a kick out of that.
The Movie:
Johnny Firecloud comes home from the war. Mr. Bigshot doesn't like Johnny Firecloud. Mr. Bigshot kills Firecloud's grandfather. Firecloud gets revenge.
Folks, I'm not going to tell you that this was a great movie. Hell, it wasn't even a good movie. The runtime was supposedly 94 minutes but I would have sworn the movie was well over 2 hours. There were only two redeeming things about this movie.
1 - Several interesting/creative/bloody deaths. However, they come at the far end of the movie when the audience is too bored to care.
2 - Richard Kennedy. Kennedy co-starred in one of my all-time favorite movies, 1974's Holy Wednesday. He was great in that movie and he was great in this one as one of Mr. Bigshot's flunies. He gets to deliver the movie's best line: "One'a these day's... you and me is gonna tangle assholes!" That line is made even better when you later discover the man he threatens (the town sheriff) is a closet homosexual.
And that's it... but you know what? It didn't matter. Looking around me at the people who had made it this far, and at the small group of people who had made it through the entire festival I realized that we were in the final stretch of an amazing marathon. To me, it almost made it better that the last movie kinda sucked... if watching this many movies was easy everybody would do it.
I've just spent 11 straight nights at the Alamo Drafthouse (I was there the Wednesday & Thursday before the festival getting warmed up) watching mostly teriffic movies. For those that are keeping track there were 30 films in the Festival Proper. That's a pretty sweet run. I've made a lot of new friends, and hopefully a lot of new readers. I just checked and over the last 9 days I've posted reviews totally 20,000+ words... that's 47 MS Word Pages! I've had the time of my life and thank you all for coming along with me. I hope those of you that couldn't make it felt, if only a little, like you were here with us.
To end this final day of coverage, I want to share some of my Top Moments from this festival, in no particular order (other than the final one):
Tarantino's first appearance on the stage: Hey everybody... where were we?
Tarantino apologizing for saying 'Alright?' too much during one of his early intros.
Debating with those around me just how close to snapping Nicky Katt was... and trying to figure out why he never changes clothes.
On Grindhouse Night Tarantino's description of how sometimes a print that he really wants gets sold before he can get it. When that happens, he often calls up the buyer and 'you know... play the celebrity card a bit... sign some posters, talk to him on the phone... I really want that fucking print!'
The gonzo experience of watching R Kelly's Urban Opera at 5 in the morning... and being completely blown away by how much fun it was.
The human baby into penis army sequence in Tarzoon. It kicked my ass both times.
Tarantino, almost as an afterthought, annoucing that the print of The Sell-Out that we were about to watch was missing a reel, then managing to convince us that this was a good thing.
The scene in Four Desperate Men where the Aldo Ray is threatening to shoot a cannon at a ship filled with explosives docked just off the coast of Sydney. The city and military leaders gather together to determine what they options are. In the middle of the board room is a very intricate recreation of the city. It spans about 10 feet long, with tons of miniature buildings and cars and trees and people. On of the military leaders asks the demolitions expert what will happen if the ship explodes. The expert looks thoughtfully at the miniature city, pauses like he's going to give a scientific explanation... then swings his arm wildly across the city, knocking tiny cars & buildings everywhere. Best explanation sequence ever.
The scene in The Spy With My Face where one of the spies takes a throwing knife in the chest. It doesn't do serious damage, and he goes to pull it out, but Robert Vaughn stops him. "You'd better leave that in for the doctor." Pause. "Seriously." The injured spy agrees and the two of them walk off to explore the rest of the enemy complex.
The scene in Blue Water, White Death where the divers first venture among dozens of feeding sharks. It's been a long time since I've heard a crowd of adults gasp at what they were watching on-screen. For the duration of that scene we were all awestruck children.
The trailers for Who?, The Return of Captain Invincible, The Bodyguard and Emanuelle in America.
Tarantino's excited rendition of the CCCCC-utlery! line from Psycho II where he got himself so worked up that he could barely deliver the line.
Tarantino's rendition of Rodriguez doing the Grandfather monologue in Silent Night, Deadly Night.
Finally getting to see Rodriguez doing the monologue and being just as good as Tarantino described.
Watching Yul Brynner and Alain Delon, back to back, play very similar roles in amazingly different way. Brynner with his in-your-face rage, and Delon with his quiet unspoken intensity. I'm not sure which one was scarier, but I wouldn't want to be on either of their bad sides.
The scene in Fistful of Talons where the Evil Ching Dynasty is discussing their plans to overthrow the People's Republic. When the leader yells to his followers "We must defeat the Republicans" the Drafthouse crowd went insane. No matter what your political persuasion, that was funny.
Finally, the moment that sums up QT6 for me:
After Italian Crime Films night let out, I overheard Tarantino talking to a young woman who looked to be in her late 20's. The woman told Quentin that this was the only night of the festival she had attended, that she didn't normally watch 'old movies', and that she really enjoyed watching these actors she had never heard of, many of whom who were probably dead by now.
Tarantino looked at her and, in a very honest moment, said "yeah... but for tonight, they're alive. They're on screen performing for the audience, the audience is reacting and getting involved with what's going on... they're alive man."
Yes they are Quentin, and thank you for bringing them to us.
- Micah
