Film & TV on DVD - John Doe News & Reviews

Greetings Film Fiends and welcome to John Doe's Film Blog. 30 years of dedicated celluloid obsession has meant that I have seen a few films. Drawing attention to some of the lesser discussed gems that I love. Cult classics, obscure curios and quality genre pictures. This blogs purpose is to translate some of my passion for these films and with luck, inspire you the reader to go check em out.

Action Drama - Film & TV on DVD

Two Lane Blacktop (1971) - Trailer Included

March 17th 2008 00:01

The Fumes of Change

DVD Available in Australia

Director: Monte Hellman
Screenplay: Rudy Wurlitzer
Starring: Warren Oates, James Taylor, Laurie Bird, Dennis Wilson, James Mitchum

“I don't believe I've seen you. 'Course there's lots o' cars on the road like yours, they all get to lookin' the same.” – The Driver

In the 70’s their was an unofficial trilogy of films linked by their cultural purpose and fuel injected message. Occupying the same orbit as Easy Rider (1969) Vanishing Point (1971) Dirty Mary Crazy Larry (1974) these are a series of anti-establishment road movies, super charged with a 140MPH death wish.

Central figures, often specks upon a wider landscape fighting society’s polluted regime. Struggling to escape the restrictions of class, colour and cash they see their high powered automobiles as a spiritual vessels speeding towards a malfunctioning fate.

Soaked in gasoline and burning rubber, Two Lane Blacktop is the story of a worked 56 Chevy and its three occupants, The Driver, the Mechanic and the Girl.

Touring through Middle America, Driver (James Taylor) and Mechanic (Dennis Wilson) are destined to drive. Earning a buck street racing and experiencing the country. They stop for some chow one day and the Girl (Laurie Bird) helps herself to the backseat of the car, she is silently accepted.
“You guys aren't like the Zodiac killers or anything, right?” – The Girl

Since the beginning of their journey a yellow GTO (Warren Oates) has also been following the same path. Its navigator, a lost soul whose 9-5, married life and career has crumbled leaving only confusion and a lack of identity.
“Performance and image, that's what it's all about.” – G.T.O

Soon the green light beams on a race for Washington D.C revealing everyone’s true self and nature in a changing society.

The Trio and their Machine

John Doe says:
Directed by cult master Monte Hellman, (Cockfighter, Ride the Whirlwind, The Shooting) a mood of disillusionment permeates the cinematography and minimalist script. The camera balances wide open vistas with claustrophobic interiors within the automobile.

The music of the day including the Doors, Chuck Berry and Kris Kristoffesen is used sparingly. Naturalistically only appearing when a jukebox or radio is on in a scene.

There is an improvised feeling to the film that adds truth to the organic story. This is a movie about the characters and their relationship to each other and a changing society. The cars serve as a metaphor of escape while we watch an intriguing postcard in time.

Two Lane Blacktop is ripe in behind the scenes cinema lore. Making his only feature film appearance, Folk music icon James Taylor is the introverted and focused Driver, silent and brooding.

Bringing enigmatic charisma before the lens, the Mechanic comes in the form of tragic Beach Boys drummer Dennis Wilson. A one time friend of Charles Manson, Wilson had a long struggle with substance abuse and drowned in 1983.

The films dark side notes continue as Laurie Bird (Annie Hall, Cockfighter) plays the Girl, a nomad drifting from place to place without any boundaries or inhabitation's. Laurie committed suicide in 1979, she was 25 years old and living with musician Art Garfunkel at the time.

Between shots - James Taylor, Dennis Wilson, Laurie Bird and Warren Oates

The trio all log worthy performances but stealing the show is Warren Oates (the Wild Bunch, Bring Me The Head of Alfredo Garcia) as G.T.O. His man without a compass portrayal is unforgettable. There seems to be a deeper understanding of his character that adds pain and poetry to the part.

It is no secret John Doe gets a buzz out of witnessing death defying stunt driving and this has plenty. What makes the film such a cool experience to watch though is the casting and skilful capturing of moments in time. There is an authenticity caught on film that elevates it to being an historical document in this house.

Watch the Two Lane Blacktop Trailer

Warning Spoilers: Here is a scene from the film that lets you feel the mood

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Posted By: JohnDoe - Category: Action, Drama

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Heat (1995) - Footage Included

January 2nd 2008 00:01

Explosive motivations in the mirror

Heat DVD Cover- Available in Australia

Writer/Director: Michael Mann
Starring Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Natalie Portman, Val Kilmer, Tom Sizemore, Ashley Judd, Hank Azaria, William Fichtner, Henry Rollins, Jon Voight, Wes Studi

"A guy told me one time, "Don't let yourself get attached to anything you are not willing to walk out on in 30 seconds flat if you feel the heat around the corner." Now, if you're on me and you gotta move when I move, how do you expect to keep a marriage?" - Neil Mccauley

Performing micro surgery on the life of professional criminals and the lawmen that hunt them, Heat is a character study of machinations and consequences. Remaking his own film L.A Takedown, Stylist Director Michael Mann drenches Los Angeles in a thick ambience for this electrifying cops and robbers epic.

Neil McCauley (Robert De Niro) is the steely eyed, withdrawn lifetime crook who follows a strict code of emotional detachment. The blood hound L.A policeman on his trail and in his head is Vincent Hanna (Al Pacino).
"You know, we are sitting here, you and I, like a couple of regular fellas. You do what you do, and I do what I gotta do. And now that we've been face to face, if I'm there and I gotta put you away, I won't like it. But I tell you, if it's between you and some poor bastard whose wife you're gonna turn into a widow, brother, you are going down." - Vincent Hanna

Both men lead expert crews, obsess over every detail of their work and have fully accepted the realities of their chosen fields. Now the City of Angels streets are going to become a battleground of counter surveillance, covert techniques and destructive automatic weapons.
"Well ya know, for me, the action is the juice. " - Michael Cheritto

It is the daylight robbery of a payroll van that triggers a collision of destinies as McCauley executes the operation with military precision and Hanna is assigned to investigate the case.

A rivetting test of wills, skills and kills ensue as adversary and prey manoeuvre on instinct, jockeying to out guess their opponents.
"M.O.? Is that they're good... Once it escalated into a murder one beef for all of 'em after they killed the first two guards, they didn't hesitate. Pop guard number three because... what difference does it make? Why leave a living witness? Drop of a hat these guys will rock and roll." - Vincent Hanna

The Robbery, the talk and the mood

John Doe Says:
Taking a pair of cinematic legends and finally having them in same frame on the big screen then favouring neither side. The power plays and dealings of both sides receive equal attention to become a definitive portrait. Scrutinising their private lives, social interactions and psychology to deliver an authentic and powerful work, complete in its demanding portrayals.

Obsessively researched by the ever thorough Michael Mann (Thief, Manhunter), the sledgehammer plotting and deliberately uncomfortable pacing lets the numb melancholy and trademark atmosphere enter the audience subconscious. The lengthy running time goes by unnoticed, there is too much to see and think about in every silence.

The bullet riddled, intensity of realism from the central bank heist has been used in coaching anti-crime divisions since, testament to its commitment to physical honesty.

The intense screenplay thrives on moral ambiguity and subjective character choices. Taking you into the mindset of its players the loaded words are used sparingly and by the finale tribute to Bullitt seem to have multiple implications.

Robert De Niro (Greetings, Godfather II, Midnight Run, Deer Hunter) lodges one of the few notable performances of his later career here. His withdrawn and guarded manner ideally suited to this ghost of a man.

Al Pacino (Scarface, Scarecrow, Godfather, Cruisin, Serpico, Dog day Afternoon) as the man commanded by his killer instinct thrives on the thrill of the chase. The actors exuberant style is perfectly suited to the interrogation and domination of situations that his part requires.

The singular coffee shop verbal confrontation is as compelling as any in the history of cinema. Alternate energies bounce of one another as the plot pivotal conversation plays out, revealing the subconscious motivation of each.

Val Kilmer (The Doors, Kiss Kiss bang bang, salton sea, Thunderheart) proves his versatile dedication to craft, his career criminal icy proficiency comes through in every glance. Watching his wham-bam reload in the street battle in swift, coordinated movements you see the endless hours of repetition that must have been spent weapons training.

Tom Sizemore is a great character actor and here his glassy edge is an unquestionable strength, much like Scagneti in Natural Born Killers.

It’s not all macho posturing though as the strong woman add dimension to their counterparts. There’s Diane Venora (Insider, Ironweed, Bird) as suffering wife Justine Hanna and her troubled daughter played by Natalie Portman (Leon: The Professional, Garden State, Beautiful Girls). Amy Brennan is the woman who falls for an enigma, and Ashley Judd is at wits end with her risk junkie husband.

John Doe is not alone in his love for this immersing experience, the cinematic technique is faultless. The breaking down of the jobs and revealing similarities enthrall. This is quality action cinema of high calibre pedigree, the ensemble cast and crew make it essential for every DVD collection.

Watch the Heat trailer