Velvet Goldmine

Complete with a love triangle (between men), musical numbers, make-up and musical numbers, 1999′s “Velvet Goldmine” is an indie film tribute to London’s early 70′s Glam Rock scene and its two most noticeable heroes, David Bowie and Iggy Pop.

The film was nominated for an academy award for outstanding costuming and I couldn’t agree more. The costuming and make up work in the film is worth watching the movie by itself, the fact that its awesome is an added bonus.

The David Bowie character is played by Johnathan Rhys-Meyers, whom you may reconigze from movies like “August Rush” (which sucks) and the Iggy Pop inspired character is played by Ewan Macgregor, but please don’t judge him for “Star Wars” episodes 1-3. Both contribute cover tunes to the soundtrack, alongside Thom Yorke of Radiohead. Any fan of the Glam scene should have a copy of this cd sitting next to their copy of  T.Rex’s “The Slider”

The one complaint that I have with the movie is at one point the audio is messed up and off track with the movements on the screen. After I noticed it the first time, it ruined tbe next 15 minutes of the movie for me, but i would still suggest the film to anyone who is interested in music films or who likes that genre and style of music. A solid 4/5.

New Moon- the real story.

Yes, I am an 18 year old male. Yes, I realize that I am writing a blog about the phenomona that 12 year old girls and cougars both wet their pants over. The series known as Twilight.

Now, some may ask if the “Twilight” saga counts as a cult film. and by definition, my answer is yes. There are legions of undying fans willing to do just about anything (and yes i do mean anything) to let everyone know that they are fans. Just because its a financial success and very, very mainstrean doesn’t mean its not a cult film.

The newest addition to the series is of course “New Moon.” I went to the midnight premiere of this film expecting and hoping for a trainwreck comparable to the first film, which I would describe on the uncomfortable scale as a “being touched inappropriately.”

However, “New Moon” was actually pretty good. The hipster in me loved the soundtrack (Thom Yorke and Bon Iver for the win!) and it was actually very aesthetically pleasing with interesting uses of conventional ideas and symbolism (i.e. the “Romeo and Juliet” cover when Bella falls asleep.

The movie isn’t all white make up and hot topic gift cards though, because let’s face it, the reason behind the movie actually happening is stupid. Edward leaves Bella after absolutely NOTHING happens at a birthday party and then Bella spends half a year whining about instead of doing what women ages 12-46 wanted her to do, which is get with werewolf Jacob Black. Also, there is one awkward part that just makes you feel nostalgic of the first film.

One last note, if you’re a guy DO NOT go see this movie with your significant other. The group of werewolves spend a majority of their time without shirts on and you WILL feel emasculated. I promise.

Labyrinth… nuff said

unfortunately in the world of cult films, not all bad films are good, some are just plain bad. take for example 1986′s “Labyrinth.” I’m not quite sure  where this film went wrong. It couldn’t have possibly had anything to do with casting David Bowie as a goblin king, a young Jennifer Connelly as a pubescent girl with more angst than a nirvana album, or even the weird, jail-baity relationship they forge throughout the film.

The saddest part of the film is that the awesomness of David Bowie’s music couldn’t save the film. And for the record i consider myself to be a HUGE Bowie fan.

The one saving grace of the film is director Jim Henson’s (“The Muppets”) imginative and sometimes amazing use of puppetry. Throughout all the terribleness of the actual film, the puppets are the element that provides the most fun and even captures a certain sense of childhood nostalgia that, if you listen to ”Fall Out Boy”, may even put a tear in your eye.

This film isn’t even worth watching during your free preview of HBO. Skip it. Buy a copy of “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust” and try to forget that Bowie ever did anything as terrible as what’s below this text.

Science Fiction/Double Feature (The Rocky Horror Picture Show)

 Over the past summer, my life was forever changed.  I finally saw “Rocky Horror Picture Show.” I fancied myself a fan of weird and obscene gems of cinema but I had no idea what i was missing until I bought “Rocky Horror” on VHS (in case you’re wondering, VHS is the preferred format for all cult films)

Within the first five minutes there are two musical numbers. Two musical numbers. Two terrible music numbers, and of course by terrible I mean AMAZING. What is often referred to as the most memorable of the musical numbers, ”Time Warp”, can be seen here. 

The premise is simple and cliche. Two young love birds get lost in the rain and go to the proverbial looming castle for help. Where the story takes a turn for the weird is when they come to find out that the castle is owned by a transsexual tranvestite from transylvania who is building a man for… “relieveing tension”. Then they watch him kill Meat Loaf. The singer. That’s right, Meat Loaf is in this movie. Awesome? Yes.

I suggest seeing this movie at any cost, but I also suggest pre-ordering the soundtrack, because these musical numbers WILL stay in your head.

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Cult Films? lets start at the beginning.

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Where do I start?

Based on the 1962 Anthony Burgess’ novel, ”A Clockwork Orange” was released theaterically in 1971, the “ultra-violent”  film is precisely that. Although somewhat tame when compared to the Rob Zombie’s or Eli Roth’s of the world, there are a few scenes that are untouchable in violent film history. I’m not going to divulge which ones, but I will say what songs are playing during them. “Singing In The Rain” and “Beethovens 9th Symphony”.

Even the trailer is a work of art, it can be seen here, here and here.

There are three reasons why Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece of classical music and gang fights makes my list of cult classics.

1) It was the first mainstream film to have scenes of eye scarring violence, and basically sets the presedence for directors like Quentin Tarantino and others to have commercially and critically accepted films that have excessive amounts of gross out violence. (thanks, Stanley Kubrick)

2) It was based on a novel that Andy Warhol read and found important enough to make a film out of way before Kubrick ever did.

3) When you quote it, most people dont get the reference, which is usually criteria number one for determining a cult film.

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