You're A Big Boy Now

Just completed my Francis Ford Coppola collection with this his student film from UCLA. There is some debate if this really is his first film...he has other credits while working for Roger Corman and editing some 1960s soft core porn. But this as a student film is pretty inventive...very much from a different era...but you see plenty of glimpses of Coppola genius and genuine honesty, especially in the lost and longing love of the protagonist with his wanna be girlfriend, Barbra Darling. The soundtrack sounds like just an avenue for a full film music video for the Lovin' Spoonful...and the lead actor is pretty terrible and over the top...but this film is genuine, fun, and has some really great side characters, especially Rip Torn and Karen Black. This is a real sweet film, but again it has a lot of 60s in it. PLUS

Distillery: Francis Ford Coppola

Film	Year	Vin	Frank
Dementia 13	1963	x	-
You're a Big Boy Now	1966	-	x
Finian's Rainbow	1968	-	x
The Rain People	1969	+	+
The Godfather	1972	+	+
The Conversation	1974	+	+
The Godfather Part II	1974	+	+
Apocalypse Now	1979	+	+
One from the Heart	1982	+	x
The Outsiders	1983	+	+
Rumble Fish	1983	+	x
The Cotton Club	1984	+	x
Peggy Sue Got Married	1986	+	+
Gardens of Stone	1987	-	x
Tucker: The Man and His Dream	1988	+	x
The Godfather Part III	1990	+	+
Dracula	1992	+	-
Jack	1996	x	-
The Rainmaker	1997	+	x
Youth Without Youth	2007	x	+
Tetro	2009	+	+
FINAL DISTILLATION		71%	47%

Key: + = Film Liked; - = Film Not Liked; x = Film Not Seen

Playlist: The Rain People

Francis Ford Coppola's little known fourth film turns out to be quite a cinematic accomplishment. "Turns out" to me, of course; it's been that way for 41 years. It's another + in his Distillation (yes, I had to fire up Big D during the holiday weekend and, yes, I have the psychological scars to prove it) and raises FFC's score to a robust 60. Still, second place, but Finch is on notice.

The acting of the three leads--Shirley Knight, whose cross country flight from her marriage drives the story in more ways than one, Robert Duvall, of course, and Jimmy Caan, who looks more than a little like Edward Burns--is the centerpiece of a creatively and excitingly shot film. Seeing Caan here makes me wish someone would find a role for him other than the same old Sonny Corleone tough guy. He's earned a late career reanimation.

My only complaint is that the music used to emphasize some of the key emotional scenes only adds a distracting layer of melodrama. Just not a good fit. Still, one of Coppola's best.

Playlist: The Red Shoes (1948)

Why?

1. It's a Classic, Bitch

2. Really...Martin Scorsese just dumped a ton of money into its restoration and Criterion is putting out a primo set for it

3. I heard Scorsese say this is one of his favorite films

4. Francis Ford Coppola also has said it's one of his favorite films of all time...he also uses it as inspiration for his film TETRO...he takes parts of Red Shoes literally right out and has put recreations of it in Tetro...also the lovers triangle mimics the love story between Gallo, Father and a lady.

5. Ballet...anticipation for Darren Aronofsky's "The Black Swan" coming in December

SO WHAT?
It's tough to watch old films...most times I feel that it's all been done before so why should I watch an old film with the same stories that we get now...and today the camera work and acting is better anyway. Sometimes this is true...other times you get a surprise and see something that no one can duplicate...example you say?...Citizen Kane ...I say

The Red Shoes is also a good example of a story you have seen before...love, obsession, and tragedy...but that's like every film right? Here the music is great...the dancing is real fun and never boring...the 15 minute Red Shoes ballet/film within a film is mesmerizing..and the acting by the villain of the film, Anton Walbrook is spectacular. Old style acting...really anything before 1970 feels dated...even the greats...but then again acting today is getting dated...all the comedians feel like they want to do a retread of Will Ferrell or something...any way back to a good film and a great actor...Anton plays a French Ballet Producer...who is obsessed with these dancers and buries the ones who he can't have...he looks like DeNiro in some scenes and other times looks like famous Italian directors or a French New wave actor...he's got style damn it.

The Red Shoes lives up to the hype set up for me by Coppola and Scorsese...its tough because when you sit to watch a 2 1/2 hour film about Ballet you want to make sure it's good...this my be the best.

Playlist: Youth Without Youth

Why? Francis Ford Coppola's 2007 return to filmmaking

Yes, it was 10 years since Coppola last directed a movie (1997's forgettable The Rainmaker) and far longer since he had made a film. This and his follow-up, Tetro, are testaments to the resulting beauty of an artist rediscovering the love for his medium without the oppressive hand of a studio suit telling him how to be creative. These are indie arthouse films distilled from the mind that almost died under the bloated epicness of Apocalypse Now and all its fallout (Jack, anyone?).

I'm still trying to digest YWY. It's part Phenomenon, part Benjamin Button, part Mulholland Drive. I would go so far to say that it is a science fiction film, albeit one with far loftier ambitions than your standard time travel by the numbers fare. Not that it's a time travel movie...although it's not exactly not one either. Ok, let's go to the man himself, FFC, who calls it a meditation on time and on consciousness...a beautiful love story, or a mystery. Well, that clears things up.  

The source material was a 1976 novella by Romanian author Mircea Eliade about a professor (Tim Roth) who gets hit by lightning and starts a "new life with startling intellectual capacity". What's real and isn't, what happens and doesn't, is never clearly resolved. But thought-provokingly, not frustratingly. It's a film about ideas, or rather, the meaning and origin of ideas. I can't wait to hear Vin's take (yep, I saw a FFC film before him. Boom!)

Playlist: Dementia 13

SMC Exclusive: the next sacrifice to The Distillery will be Francis Ford Coppola. So, to prepare I watched what may or may not be counted as his first directorial effort, Dementia 13. I hope we do count it because despite it only being 75 minutes long, I'd hate to have wasted my time for no reason. There's nothing here at all. It's just another schlocky, 1960s Roger Corman-produced sub-B movie, but not one bad enough to enjoy MST3K style. It sets up as a ghost story, but doesn't go anywhere that interesting. Apparently, there was some concern at the time about the gore level, though since it was 1962 you can imagine how lame those fears look now.

The only interesting thing about this other than FFC's involvement is this (and it's a pretty good one):  The line, "The mood around this place isn't good for her. Especially an American girl. You can tell she's been raised on promises," may be the source for the chorus of Tom Petty's great "American Girl." Maybe we'll ask him in a future Contacting Greatness, though he may be a bit out of our league.

Playlist: The Godfather Part II

Micheal Corleone is a bad Father:

On this "Fathers Day"...I got breakfast cooked for me...then my children had a pillow, blanket and a remote control on the couch. Tucked between the remote and the blanket was the Godfather DVD set...so I got to watch the Godfather Part II today.

What a great gift...in the morning, no interruptions...just this film that I have as the best film of 1974 and probably in my top 5 films of all time.

I haven't seen this full and uninterrupted in a long time. It holds up great, but a few observations.

1. "Keep your friends close but your enemies closer"...Micheal doesn't really know who tried to kill him early in the film...he tries to smoke out the rats through telling Tom Hagen, Hymen Roth, and Frankie Pantangelo all someone else "did it"...until Fredo...freaking Fredo makes the mistake of saying the wrong thing in front of Micheal...

2. Its all Pacino....sure DeNiro is in it...DuVall really has a small role as does Diane Keaton

3. Pacino never smiles and is never happy...not once

4. I miss Bruno Kirby

5. I think only 4 people die...wait maybe 5

6. Coppola tried to get Brando to reprise the role as Godfather in a flash back scene..he refused, which then gives us the picture above.

7. If it wasn't for the flash back DeNiro and Little boy coming to America scenes..this film is a downer...great...but a downer, revenge thriller...I have never seen the "Saga" version that just plays out in chronology all 3 films...but it would be interesting.

Playlist: Tetro

Francis Ford Coppola: His last great movie...and I mean GREAT was Apocalypse Now...1979...that's 31 years ago. This guy should be in the scrap heap...but when real film buffs look at great directors, Coppola's name is always high on that list, we cant get away from the Godfather I and II...it could be argued that Godfather III was good...but great? To me Tetro is the next GREAT Coppola film...when it comes to his films, why not put this film on the same level with the classic Godfather films and Apocalypse...sure it never had the wide spread hype and fan fare of those films..but at its core is a cared for multi-level film that truly is close to the heart and life of the filmmaker. This is an artist at his best...I will not go into the story too much except to say that a young man comes to Argentina to fine his older brother and discover answers to his families questions..the film unravels these mysteries in a way that I was surprised by...even though toward thew middle of the film I saw the twist coming...so this is similar to my experience with a very different film , Shutter Island...where Scorsese is making films now that make tons of money..Coppola was lucky to get this film made as well as even seen. Coppola doesn't care for that anymore would be my guess...he just wants to make his films his way.
Many comparisons I have read compares this most closely with Rumble Fish (probably because its in black and white and pops with color at important spots...but I see it as bigger then that...this is a great film...not for everyone...but a top film in the career of Coppola...

Now for Vincent Gallo...Gallo was not the first choice...oddly, Matt Dillon was the first choice...lucky for us he was busy, and Gallo got the role...Gallo actually acts here, its a struggle...in interviews on the blu-ray he states as much...he respects Coppola and really wants to do a great job in a Coppola film...(On the title card of the film it has both their names at the same time..I mean I as Vincent Gallo fan #1 creamed my pants)...but Gallo is truly a haunted character as Tetro...things happen in this film like in Shutter Island that scream for a second viewing...his performance will be understood more after that second viewing for what is revealed in the end. Gallo is a director and an improvisational actor who claims is set in his way, and hates rehearsal..Coppola is like Andre in My Dinner with Andre...he goes to ridiculous extremes to rehearse and it was apparent that this was uneasy for Gallo...but he had to realize that it was to pay off..and it did...you get your Gallo being smug and a jerk here...you get your Gallo yelling and becoming unravelled...and you get a great performance. Coppola even states that he never heard of Gallo until Dillon pulled out, apparently the crew in Argentina's first choice to replace Dillon was Gallo...Coppola then watched Buffalo '66...thank God it wasn't The Brown Bunny.

See this: BOOM

Playlist: The Rain People

Francis Ford Coppola to me has one of the most interesting Directing careers of all the great American Filmmakers. He is honest and genuine..and you really get a sense of his insecurity and passion when you listen to a Coppola commentary, or interview. Coppola went to Hofstra University and started to direct plays and then off to California to film school to make shorts, films with Roger Corman and his first feature student film called You're a Big Boy Now. Coppola then had the great fortune to be asked to direct his first film from Warner Brothers and it was a musical staring Fred Astaire. Coppola wanted to direct small auteur films, like 400 Blows from the 1950's...he wanted to be an artist who made personal small films...its not ironic now in his 70's he is back to making those small personal films like Tetro and Youth Without Youth. Coppola has been on hiatus..after years of being in debt and having to make films that a young Coppola would have possibly looked down upon (like Jack, The Rainmaker, etc) to pay the bills and start his wine and hotel conglomerate, and possibly finance these personal films, his career arc has been one of a clear direction...in interviews and commentary Coppola rejoices in all his films, he truly is one who loves the work and not necessarily the prestige that the work may or may not bring. I have come to appreciate the joy of filmmaking through Coppola, and although I may not love all his films, they are all his children, his heartache, his failures and more than equally his successes.

The Rain People is most notable for having pre-Godfather stalwarts, James Caan and Robert Duvall..but the center piece is actress Shirley Knight, who plays a newly married and newly pregnant New Yorker who gets scarred and leaves her husband to get as far away from her responsibilities as possible, foreshadowing of the ideas that Coppola will eventually tackle like Kay wanting an abortion in Godfather II and the road aspect of Apocalypse Now are all here. But this film is magic for all the subtle camera work and character details that Coppola paints, slightly...we come to hate all the main characters at some points and want Shirley Knight's character to succeed and fail throughout.

For 1969 this film must have been a downer...but other films of the time looked at their films as a mirror to society of the 60s..and that society was bleak and had few happy endings.

One last thing..in an interview between Coppola and his latest star, Vincent Gallo, Gallo called The Rain People his favorite Coppola film, especially the ending...I am a fan of Gallo and see clear connections between this road film of 1969 and Gallo's film The Brown Bunny...in Coppola's road film a small crew of young filmmakers and actors went across the country from New York to the far mid-west, and in a just a few weeks made a film, they were poor and struggled to make an engrossing and original film..they dared to make this film..in the group with Coppola was a young associate producer and crew member named George Lucas..I really hope he can find it in his filmmaker soul to go back to his roots as Coppola has and start creating original honest work again.

I recommend the film to anyone who enjoys the process of any hard work, especially from young and talented people.

Lifetime Movies: 1974

Coming in later than our beloved Franco...let's get it out of the way and say that the easy choice, and the right choice, is Godfather Part II. Sure it's a no-brainer, but what about why it works..the great acting, the timeless tale, the morality play. Then there are the great actors...the saddest casting choice still is that FFC (Coppola) could not get Robert DuVall to be in The Godfather III...in my mind this would have led him to not focus on his sister and daughter so much in the failed last film of this great saga.

Also...I gotta say that this really was FFC's year, The Conversation also came out--this is a hidden classic, and FFC's last film to be written as an original script till last year's Tetro. Being that GF II is the first in this series lets also get straight that there was no way that Frank or I saw this as infants. I must have been 7 before I saw this film...it was always there, always a part of my life as a kid..the best memories must be reading the Italian and seeing DeNiro as my hero.

Other films that get a nod in 1974 are as follows with comments:

Benji: my first film I ever saw, it was in a church basement in Brooklyn

Godzilla v Mechagodzilla: funny I would have picked this to be made earlier, I loved all Godzilla films as a kid and loved the fact that all other ideas had failed and the Japanese had to resort to building a Mecha- version of Godzilla to defeat him

The Lords of Flatbush: this film is probably terrible...but as a kid from Brooklyn, you have to pay attention to films that specify your hometown, not to mention it features Stallone and the Fonz

A few other thoughts: There was a lot of crap this year, that's 1974...and it goes to show you, every year there is a lot of crap. It's our job to DISTILL it for you.

Lifetime Movies: 1974

Nominees: Blazing Saddles, Chinatown, The Conversation, The Godfather Part II, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Young Frankenstein

The influence of Tobe Hooper's Chainsaw should be recognized not only as a genre touchstone, but for it's low-budget, indie success. And it's that rawness, the starkness of the violence, that has kept it alive and relevant through the years. (Plus, it gave us Francis "Chainsaw" Gremp from Summer School.) Speaking of influence, Chinatown is still regarded as having a nearly perfect screenplay, not to mention a powerhouse lead performance by Jack Nicholson. But the year comes down to the unlikely showdown between Mel Brooks and Francis Ford Coppola, each with an amazing 2 classic films released during the year. Blazing Saddles has long been a favorite (not to mention a sentimental choice because my grandfather was a big fan--ah, baked beans) and has held up better than a lot of Brooks' other films as I got older. Besides being relentlessly quotable, it's a rare important comedy, handling race in a way that would never be allowed today. That said, I can't go against the family (not to mention what may be the best movie of all time.) This one's for you, Fredo.

Winner: The Godfather Part II

Notes: A lot of really cool-sounding schlock this year (including 5, count 'em 5, Street Fighter movies), but it's hard to overshadow the all-time classics at the top of the heap...Even more impressive are the directors not mentioned above: Scorsese, Cassavetes, Peckinpah, and Altman...This was Gene Wilder--who needs to be remembered as one of the top comedic actors ever--at his peak...And get this--check out who else was born this magical Year of the Tiger: Christian Bale, Penelope Cruz, Hillary Swank, Amy Adams, Leo. And, of course, on October 28, Joaquin Phoenix. Suck on that, '75.

(For more info on this series, click here.)