The Reflecting Skin Movie Review
by Dirtbag
Tonight’s film, The Reflecting Skin (1990) starring Viggo Mortensen, Lindsay Duncan, and Jeremy Cooper, written and directed by Philip Ridley, comes from the Goodwill second-hand store in Los Angeles where Hollywood and Sunset Boulevards split. They had a surprisingly good selection of forgotten VHS tapes, all at $.99 each. Reflecting Skin had a 1956 Cadillac Fleetwood on the back of the box, so I had to buy it.
One of the things I look forward to most about watching movies on VHS are the old previews that often lead me to other movies I would have never otherwise found or wanted to see. The film previews on Reflecting Skin were for The Miracle and Tatie Danielle, which I am going to track down for a later review.
Of the three VHS movies I purchased, Reflecting is the darkest. It is a story of a young boy in the 50’s growing up too fast in a small Idaho town, all the while his friends are being murdered.
The opening scene is a little dark and it only continues to get darker throughout the movie. Rodger Ebert compared it to a David Lynch film but I really saw no relation.
The story follows a few months with a nearly nine-year-old boy named Seth. His home life seems fairly normal but it’s his daily life that has him keeping a cross under his pillow at night. When you are a young child the smallest things can seem like the biggest to you and adults never relate to what you are experiencing.
With a Black Cadillac full of hooligans roaming the town and his older brother dating a vampire, young Seth has quite a bit on his plate. Seems waterboarding was taking place in rural Idaho long before Guantanamo, and that was just for keeping the oil lamp on too late!
After an exploding frog incident involving his friends and the girl next door, he is sent to Dolphin’s house to apologise where he discovers she’s a vampire. The boys discuss how to handle this vampire next door they know they need the help of an angel, but what’s an angel? One boy believes an angel is a baby with wings, the other believes it is a person who doesn’t blink, and Seth has no idea. They all agree when you make your mom cry, an angel dies.
With Seth’s friends being murdered one by one and eye witnessing a suicide via drinking and bathing in gasoline, he must still find a way to save his brother before the girl next door sucks the last bit of life from him. With his best friend reincarnated as an angel fetus at his side, he manages a way to avoid the Cadillac of Death and devises a plan to keep his brother’s youth, but can he keep it all together at only eight years old?
Reflecting Skin doesn’t have much nudity in it; you see Viggo’s hairy chest and his man butt. The only female nudity is a picture of a nude pin-up girl Cameron keeps in his wallet. It did have that Black Cadillac in a few scenes so that was worth the $.99 alone.
I love traveling and finding new film treasures in thrift stores throughout the States. Only the older films are on VHS so you can never go too wrong, even if only the previews are what’s good about it.
Till next time,
The VHS Vagabond,
DIRTBAG
Oscar’s Best Screenplay Awards
Guest Post By Molly Duke
On Sunday, March 10, 2010, The 82nd Academy Awards will broadcast live from Hollywood’s Kodak Theatre, hosted by Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin. The nominations will be announced on February 2, 2010, so we don’t yet officially know which talented screenwriters are in the running for this year’s most prestigious awards in writing for the silver screen. We also don’t know who will emerge as this year’s Oscar losers. What we do know are which wordsmiths have won the coveted golden statue for the past 81 years.
Many awesomely talented screenwriters have walked away with an Oscar, leaving behind lessons that the rest of us movie lovers and fledgling screenwriters can learn by asking the question, What does it take to write the best screenplay?
Before the 2010 Oscar buzz begins, I thought it would be fun to take a look back at eight decades of Oscar’s best screenplays. That’s a lot of film titles to get through in one post, so I’ll highlight one best screenplay from each decade, and I’ll choose screenplays that not only won the Oscar, but also led to timeless and legendary films.
…and the Award for Best Screenplay Went To…
The 1920s – 1930s
In 1939, Gone with the Wind screenwriter Sidney Howard was posthumously (he was killed by a tractor – no joke) awarded the Oscar for best screenplay. The script for Gone with the Wind was based on the novel by the same name, and while the film deviates heavily from the book, both were huge successes. In other words, lots of people made lots of money. Sidney Howard was also a Pulitzer Prize winner and a playwright by trade.
The 1940s
Citizen Kane is one of the earliest and best-known films to engage movie-goers’ curiosity by employing the brain twister. As the rich and famous Charles Foster Kane dies, he utters one last word: “Rosebud.” This film tells the story of a reporter who embarks on a quest to find out what “Rosebud” meant to Kane. The ending is unforgettable (watch it for yourself and find out why). It’s no wonder this film won best screenplay in 1941. Welles co-wrote the script with Herman J. Mankiewicz.
The 1950s
There’s a famous scene right on the cover of the DVD. If you ever see a clip showing a man and woman rolling around in a suggestive way on the shore, being lapped by the waves (and each other), you’re either seeing a scene, a parody or a rip-off from the movie From Here to Eternity. Even if you’ve never heard of this movie, you’ll probably recognize that one snippet of the film. Daniel Taradash took home the Oscar for best screenplay in 1953.
The 1960s
Most young people will be amazed that just over forty years ago, a movie depicting an interracial marriage caused such a stir. But interracial marriage actually used to be illegal in the United States. In fact, it was still illegal in 17 (southern) states until the same year this film came out, just as the civil rights movement was drawing to a close in those parts. Screenwriter William Rose won the golden statue for Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner? in 1967.
The 1970s
Usually, when a screenplay is adapted from a novel, the filmmakers destroy the integrity of the original story but Lawrence Hauben and Bo Goldman didn’t do that to One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Then again, how can you go wrong when you’ve got Jack Nicholson in the leading role? This one took home the Academy Award for best screenplay adapted from other material in 1975. Read the book, watch the movie, and question your sanity!
The 1980s
Being an 80s movies buff, you’ll have to excuse me for getting a little carried away in this decade.
Some excellent 80s movies that were awarded the statuette for best screenplay are Witness, Rain Man, and Dead Poets Society.
Noteworthy screenplays that were nominated for best screenplay in the 80s but didn’t take home the gold are Fame, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, WarGames, Back to the Future, and When Harry Met Sally.
The cream of the crop for the 1980s is Moonstruck. It’s refreshing to see the Academy award a screenplay that’s somewhat lighthearted. Historically, comedies and science fiction or fantasy films don’t get a whole lot of love from Oscar, but in 1987, John Patrick Shanley proved it could be done with his quirky love story Moonstruck.
The 1990s
Don’t tell the 80s I said this, but I think the 90s produced even better films than the 80s. Actually, let me qualify that statement: The Academy made even better choices for best screenplay in the 90s. They did such a good job, in fact, that we have a tie for best of the best screenplays.
Pulp Fiction was immediately heralded as a cult classic, both for its screenplay by Quentin Tarantino and for the innovative way that it was directed and produced. This movie boasted a killer cast and some original stories woven together in a way that was both entertaining and at the time, somewhat shocking. Tarantino took home the golden statue in 1994.
Another killer film from the 90s that simply must be mentioned is The Usual Suspects, a film that takes you on a wild ride that makes you question, think, guess, and then guess again. Christopher McQuarrie deservedly got the gold for best screenplay in 1995.
The 2000s
The only thing you need to know about best screenplays of the past decade is that Diablo Cody won for Juno. And hopefully you all know how Diablo Cody got discovered? No, she didn’t get discovered as a stripper (although she did a stint as a stripper for a year – for fun!). Diablo Cody started out as a blogger. That’s right, she was once just like us. Her story of a quirky, knocked-up teen building a relationship with adoptive parents will pull your heartstrings, but not in that cheesy, fake way that after-school specials do. Cody won best screenplay in 2007.
Molly Duke is a throwback to legwarmers and boom boxes. She blogs about the 80s and spends a lot of time ogling totally vintage goodies on eBay while waxing nostalgic about pop culture and the days when MTV Music Television actually played music.
2 Best Holiday Movie Scripts of All Time
by Jaden
If you are looking to cash in on writing a holiday movie, watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas! and A Christmas Story.
Writers and filmmakers have endeavored through the decades to entertain us during the holidays, but none have touched our hearts like the movies that came from these two simple and yet masterful scripts.
Watch closely how the stories unfold and what key story points change the main characters. Using these story arches, story-telling styles, and character developments as guides, you can change the holiday to meet your cultural and personal holiday preferences to write a timeless script with characters to which we can all relate.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966)
This is my all time favorite Christmas movie.
Any good script will have character development wherein the character starts off with some less than desirable personality traits and through the course of some life lessons (story plot points, obstacles, and conflicts), the character changes and becomes a better individual. Our greedy green monster shall learn something from a darling little girl.
Animated characters with their larger-than-life facial expressions and body language are able to deliver emotional cues in a profound way that is relatable by all race, gender, and ages.
The original story was written by Dr. Seuss and further worked by Irv Spector and Bob Ogle; directed by Chuck Jones and co-directed by Ben Washam.
A Christmas Story (1983)
Overplayed in the U.S. and running incessantly through the holidays, most Americans have seen A Christmas Story countless times. Next time you watch it, contemplate why it is such an excellent family holiday movie script?
With moments everyone will forever remember, Peter Billingsley (as child actor playing Ralphie) gives a perfect performance and Jean Shepherd (as the voice of adult Ralphie and Narrator) tattoos the script words to the back of our brains.
Famous movie quotes:
[Ralphie is visiting Santa at the department store, only he can't remember what he wanted]
Santa Claus: How about a nice football?
Ralphie as Adult: [narrating] Football? Football? What’s a football? With unconscious will my voice squeaked out ‘football’.
Santa Claus: Okay, get him out of here.
Ralphie as Adult: [narrating] A football? Oh no, what was I doing? Wake up, Stupid! Wake up!
Ralphie: [Ralphie is shoved down the slide, but he stops himself and climbs back up] No! No! I want an Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle!
Santa Claus: You’ll shoot your eye out, kid.
Later in the movie…
Ralphie as Adult: [narrating, after BB gun shot bounces off target and hits his face] Oh my god, I shot my eye out!
A Christmas Story is written by Jean Shepherd (novel “In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash”) with further writing on the screenplay by Leigh Brown and director Bob Clark.
Forbidden Zone the Movie
by Jaden
“How have I not seen this movie? How have I never even heard of it? It’s amazing!” This is what I said to my friend as the opening credits of Forbidden Zone (1982) began to roll over the psychedelic cartoon images inspired by the dark ages of the early 1900s.
My friend said, “Not everyone is into movies like this.”
We two, we were mind blown.
It was late at night and I was trying to go home to go to sleep, but I couldn’t tear myself away from the strange happenings unfolding on the screen.
Forbidden Zone (1982) is written and directed by Richard Elfman (original leader of the band Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo and brother to composer Danny Elfman).
Forbidden Zone is a musical animated live action dream drama that resembles a genetic altering of Alice in Wonderland, The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975), and Looney Tunes televised animations, but naughtier.
My favorite character is Frenchy, played by Marie-Pascale Elfman, who makes her way through her basement to an underworld where rules a jealous wicked queen. Another great character is Squeezit the chicken boy — weird! Adventures ensue with all kinds of strange characters and indecipherable conversations. I don’t know what is going on, but I love it. Click here to read the synopsis.
Originally, Forbidden Zone was in black and white, which is beautiful and how I saw it, but I guess it is offered in color now too.
Forbidden Zone is the type of anti-Hollywood script that I can pretty much guarantee you will not sell in Hollywood and you will have to produce yourself; and by all means, please do!
Movies in Memory of Michael Jackson
Going Down the Yellow Brick Road with Michael Jackson
by Jaden
Born in Gary, Indiana, USA on August 29, 1958, Michael Joseph Jackson departed this world June 25, 2009. Most known for his dance moves, musical accomplishments, plastic surgery, and child-love scandals, what has been neglected are his magical movie moments on screen.
Bringing zombie horror cinema to music and television, the epic music video Thriller (1983), written and directed by The Blues Brothers director John Landis, was something of a scale that no other artist had touched before or ever since.
At the time of its release, MTV played Thriller night and day ad nauseam.
I remember they did a television special about the casting of the girlfriend in the video, Ola Ray, and talked at length about her historic scream. Of course they left out the most interesting detail that she was Playboy Playmate of the Month June 1980.
Below is dialog from the Thriller script:
Michael’s Girl: Can we get out of here?
Michael: No, I’m enjoying this!
Michael’s Girl: Well, I can’t watch!
Michael: It’s only a movie!
Michael’s Girl: It’s not funny.
Michael: You were scared, weren’t you?
Michael’s Girl: I wasn’t that scared.
Michael: Yeah, you were scared.
Michael’s smile in the opening sequence of this video, as he courts the girl, exemplifies the unique charm of Michael that will most be missed.
My favorite image of Michael Jackson is his sweet soft humble role as Scarecrow in The Wiz (1978), which is a Black musical adaptation of The Wizard of Oz. No one ever talks much about this movie, but it is a vibrant genius piece of film history. With its innocence and purity, it is an excellent movie for the whole family.
Wiz Costar singers are Diana Ross as Dorothy, Nipsey Russel as Tinman, and Ted Ross as Lion. Legend Lena Horne plays Glinda the Good Witch and Richard Pryor plays The Wiz. Directed by Sidney Lumet, the play was written by William F. Brown and the screenplay adaptation was written by Joel Schumacher.
SCARECROW
Do? Why, if I had a brain, I could –
(sings)
I could while away the hours,
Conferrin’ with the flowers,
Consultin’ with the rain.
And my head I’d be scratchin’
While my thoughts were busy hatchin’
If I only had a brain.
I’d unravel every riddle
For any individ’le
In trouble or in pain.
The genuine camaraderie of the performers, of Michael and of Diana, dives out of the screen at you. The Wiz is a great movie for a family fun night. It will probably be hard to rent in the wake of Michael’s death, so you might as well just buy it. Anyway, the kids will enjoy having it to watch over and over again so they can sing along.
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