Hooray! I mean, it’s possibly not for everyone, and it might be because I’ve been watching a lot of terrible 80s movies for another piece but it came as a real breath of fresh air to me and I really enjoyed watching it
So, we gave it a watch tonight and I have to say there is much to love about it, but in a more analytical than visceral way, I think. I agree that you can see the influence on subsequent indie films and there is a lot of humour in the film’s general quirkiness. I was immediately reminded of Grease watching the scenes in the LA river and felt this tied in nicely with the end of the film. It definitely has something to say and is a lot of fun as long as you don’t think too carefully about what is going on. My main response was “Oh my God, that was weird!” but I’m glad I watched it.
Well, I’m glad you were glad - and yes, it really feels like the beginning of something, doesn’t it? The other thing that struck me was that the New Hollywood ‘70s was partly revolutionary by taking genre movies seriously - The Shining, The Godfather, Jaws - whereas Repo Man uses genre but in a much more playful, knowing way that feels like a look forward the more ironic ‘90s
Gosh, I hadn’t thought about that. It possibly explains why I have so much time for 70s cinema. But I really like the idea that you can see the shift to where we end up in the 90s. It’s a good observation.
Hello! I responded per email, but just in case that doesn't reach you, I wanted to thank you for this review (and for Wings of Desire, too), and for dropping my name in there. In fact, this is the first time I am seeing this, as I had a rather memorable year in 2023, one which precluded my staying up to date on most subscriptions, for reasons you can read on my own substack if it is of interest.
In any case, the year ended up with my moving back to my North American ancestral lands...and to a spit of land just over the knobs (an actual geological term, not what you think it is in the UK) from HDS's childhood home in rural Kentucky.
I have never seen this film. This article makes me want to make the effort to watch it.
Hooray! I mean, it’s possibly not for everyone, and it might be because I’ve been watching a lot of terrible 80s movies for another piece but it came as a real breath of fresh air to me and I really enjoyed watching it
So, we gave it a watch tonight and I have to say there is much to love about it, but in a more analytical than visceral way, I think. I agree that you can see the influence on subsequent indie films and there is a lot of humour in the film’s general quirkiness. I was immediately reminded of Grease watching the scenes in the LA river and felt this tied in nicely with the end of the film. It definitely has something to say and is a lot of fun as long as you don’t think too carefully about what is going on. My main response was “Oh my God, that was weird!” but I’m glad I watched it.
Well, I’m glad you were glad - and yes, it really feels like the beginning of something, doesn’t it? The other thing that struck me was that the New Hollywood ‘70s was partly revolutionary by taking genre movies seriously - The Shining, The Godfather, Jaws - whereas Repo Man uses genre but in a much more playful, knowing way that feels like a look forward the more ironic ‘90s
Gosh, I hadn’t thought about that. It possibly explains why I have so much time for 70s cinema. But I really like the idea that you can see the shift to where we end up in the 90s. It’s a good observation.
...and now I’m wondering whether it’s the start of a full Metropolitan essay - thank you!
Hello! I responded per email, but just in case that doesn't reach you, I wanted to thank you for this review (and for Wings of Desire, too), and for dropping my name in there. In fact, this is the first time I am seeing this, as I had a rather memorable year in 2023, one which precluded my staying up to date on most subscriptions, for reasons you can read on my own substack if it is of interest.
In any case, the year ended up with my moving back to my North American ancestral lands...and to a spit of land just over the knobs (an actual geological term, not what you think it is in the UK) from HDS's childhood home in rural Kentucky.
Thanks!
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