Mad Sunday
The plan is to hump down to the American Cinematheque this evening and see John Boorman's Point Blank (on a big screen for the first time in my moviegoing life) and get back for either the 10 pm or 11 pm showing of the debut episode of the second Mad Men season.
A friend told me today he'd "only seen the Mel Gibson remake" of this classic 1967 noir. He meant Brian Helgeland's extremely troubled Payback, which pretty much sucked eggs when compared to the Boorman. It was ultimately shown in two different versions -- the cynical whammy-chart cut that Paramount put into theatres in '99 and the longer and more layered Helgeland version that came out on DVD eight years later.
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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on July 27, 2008 at 4:14 PM
comment #1
BurmaShave says ...
I'm sorry but the studio cut of PAYBACK is great fun. Some of the best work Gibson ever did. I'm also glad you're catching onto MAD MEN.
Posted by BurmaShave at July 27, 2008 4:46 PM
comment #2
D.Z. says ...
I could swear the New Beverly's played Point Blank a few times in recent years...
Posted by D.Z. at July 27, 2008 4:47 PM
comment #3
nemo says ...
Point Blank, Blowup, Wait Until Dark, A Man for All Seasons, The Good The Bad and The Ugly, Bonnie and Clyde, and The Dirty Dozen back in the day. Those are just the movies I can remember off the top of my head that I saw first run in 1967.
Man, looking at that list of movies I saw when I was 14 makes me remember just how pathetic the roster of movies has been so far this year. They made movies for adults back then, and kids like me went to see them.
Posted by nemo at July 27, 2008 5:06 PM
comment #4
quitstaringatme says ...
"Man, looking at that list of movies I saw when I was 14 makes me remember just how pathetic the roster of movies has been so far this year."
Everybody can say this, regardless of age. The best year for movies, music, books, anything is always when you're 14.
Posted by quitstaringatme at July 27, 2008 6:46 PM
comment #5
D.Z. says ...
quit: Nah, Forrest Gump and Clerks were the only films I could tolerate when I was 14. And the latter film's gotten old in light of Smith's recent work.
Posted by D.Z. at July 27, 2008 7:03 PM
comment #6
nemo says ...
Let's see, it's almost August, and the really great movies so far this year that people will still be talking about 40 years from now are ... let's see, they are ... uhm. Wall*E. Uhm. In Bruges. Er. Dark Knight. That's about it.
A pretty sad little list compared with 1967. Or any year in the 60s or 70s. Or 30s or 40s or 50s. Not a good year so far even compared with 2007.
Most entertainment for adults has headed to cable, and ceded the movie theaters to 14 year olds. And the 14 year olds are the poorer for it. Part of being a kid should be dissatisfaction with your immature state, and aiming to become an adult. If you only see entertainment that caters to 14 year olds, you're aiming backwards, regressing to being a 9 year old.
Posted by nemo at July 27, 2008 7:21 PM
comment #7
lipranzer says ...
I've been told the director's cut of PAYBACK is good, but I hated Gibson's version so much I've shied away from it. Is the director's cut available on DVD?
Posted by lipranzer at July 27, 2008 7:57 PM
comment #8
Yves says ...
Is Mad Men worth all of the press it is getting? Is it as good as The Wire? If I see another ad for it I'm going to pay for a banner ad popup blocker. I'm hoping that the explosion of press is a fad like the show about Swingers in the 70s-- I don't remember what network that was on-- either CW or Fox, but it got as much play. If it's a good show, I'm happy for it, but do they have to cram it down our throats? Whatever happened to word of mouth? Advertising akin to foie gras preparation.
Posted by Yves at July 27, 2008 8:31 PM
comment #9
MickTravis says ...
Yves, "Mad Men" kind of got beat up on by "Burn Notice," which was on at the same time. But this year, the show has gotten a bunch of Emmy noms, it's switched to a more HBO-like night and AMC is being understandably aggressive, hoping to build off the momentum.
I find the hype annoying, but I love the show so I can ignore it. It's a little understated for some people, but I think it's pretty fantastic.
My dilemma now, however, is that TV on DVD has spoiled me. And I'm thinking if I've waited all these months for season two, if I wait a little longer and don't watch any shows, I can stack up episodes on my DVR and not have to wait week to week. My prediction is I'll drink a beer and a half hour from now decide I can't wait.
Posted by MickTravis at July 27, 2008 8:52 PM
comment #10
BurmaShave says ...
BURN NOTICE is really silly but also a lot of fun. I'm glad they're not competing anymore. Bruce Campbell as a series regular and no one is talking about it!
Posted by BurmaShave at July 27, 2008 9:35 PM
comment #11
actionman says ...
Brian Helgeland's directors cut of Payback is out on DVD; it's called Payback: Straight Up.
I actually preferred Gibson's version; the blue-chrome tint that he did way back was one of the first times I'd ever seen a visual palette like that and I still love it to this day. I hate the subplot with Kristofferson's son but the musical score in Gibson's version is also better than what Helgeland ultimately did. Don't get me wrong, Helgeland's director's cut is cool too, I just like the original release a bit more for the stylistic touches.
Mad Men is one of the best shows I've ever seen. Last night was pretty damn sweet.
Posted by actionman at July 28, 2008 7:04 AM
comment #12
MickTravis says ...
I agree, actionman. I'd eagerly awaited Helgeland's cut but when it was available ... minute by minute it dawned on me that Gibson's version was better -- the blue tint, the pacing, the amazing score that's basically a nod to the "Pelham 1-2-3" theme.
Gibson's version has its flaws -- the last-minute kidnapping, the requisite torture scene -- but it still outperforms the director's cut.
Posted by MickTravis at July 28, 2008 10:47 AM
comment #13
Gnome de Guerre says ...
"Gibson's version"? Was he responsible for the theatrical cut?
Posted by Gnome de Guerre at July 28, 2008 1:06 PM
comment #14
Josh Massey says ...
The theatrical cut was indeed better, by quite a lot.
And yes, some of my favorite films came out when I was 14, but I think they're defensible: Goodfellas, Miller's Crossing, Dances With Wolves, The Hunt For Red October...
Posted by Josh Massey at July 28, 2008 2:17 PM
comment #15
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