Tag: The Filmography

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New Podcast Episode Available Now: “Dominion: Prequel To The Exorcist”

Stellan Skarsgard is the younger version of Father Merrin, and Billy Crawford is the boy possessed by the demon Pazuzu.

On this week’s episode of The Filmography podcast, Bjorn and I discuss Paul Schrader’s divisive 2005 prequel to William Friedkin’s 1973 horror classic, The Exorcist.

One of the greatest shots in cinema history (which also made for one of the all-time greatest film posters!) from William Friedkin’s 1973 original.

Listen to the podcast here:

The Filmography podcast is available on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes streaming every Friday.
Director Paul Schrader on location.

Considering that Schrader was taken off the picture in post-production, and replaced by Die Hard 2: Die Harder‘s Renny Harlin, who re-cast, re-shot, and retitled it, it’s a miracle that this version ever saw the light of day.

Renny Harlin, director of the re-shoot, re-titled The Exorcist: The Beginning.

Starring Stellan Skarsgard in the role originally made famous by the late, great Max Von Sydow, (and though my esteemed co-host may disagree with me) it’s worth the price of admission alone for the gorgeous cinematography by master of light, shadow, and (especially) colour, Vittorio Storaro (pictured with Schrader below).


Paul Schrader with legendary cinematographer Vittorio Storaro.

The least successful elements of the picture are those which are meant to tie the film into the “Exorcist” franchise. The exorcism sequence itself feels like an afterthought, but where the film succeeds on its own terms is in the very Schrader-esque exploration of a deep crisis of faith. After successfully exploring the humanity of the son of God in Martin Scorsese’s “The Last Temptation of Christ,” I was intrigued by the potential flip side of that coin. When not slipping into the silliness of its supernatural elements, “Dominion” asks some profound questions about the nature of faith in the presence of evil. If the devil exists, then surely God must also exist, right?

Willem Dafoe as Jesus, wearing his crown of thorns, in Scorsese & Schrader’s “The Last Temptation of Christ” (1988).
A still from Dominion‘s harrowing WW2 prologue, which serves as the core wound for Father Merrin’s crisis of faith.

Watch the trailer for “Dominion: Prequel To The Exorcist” here:

2005 trailer for “Dominion: Prequel To The Exorcist” on YouTube.

Watch the full movie here:

“Dominion: Prequel To The Exorcist” full movie on YouTube.

Watch the trailer for Scorsese & Schrader’s “The Last Temptation of Christ” here:

Trailer for Martin Scorsese’s “The Last Temptation of Christ,” written by Paul Schrader.

Watch the trailer for the 4K release of William Friedkin’s 1973 original “Exorcist” picture here:

Watch the trailer for Renny Harlin’s version, “The Exorcist: The Beginning” here:

2004 trailer for “The Exorcist: The Beginning” on YouTube.

Watch the full Renny Harlin version here:

Full movie (Renny Harlin version) on YouTube.

Watch Renny Harlin discussing his version, retitled “The Exorcist: The Beginning” here:

Renny Harlin talks The Exorcist: The Beginning.

Watch the trailer for the first sequel, John Boorman’s “The Exorcist II: The Heretic” here:

Trailer for Scream Factory’s Blu-ray release of The Exorcist II: The Heretic on YouTube, featuring a score by Ennio Morricone (expect future post on that).

Watch the trailer for William Peter Blatty’s “The Exorcist III” here:

Trailer for Scream Factory’s Blu-ray release of “The Exorcist III” on YouTube.

Watch the trailer for David Gordon Green’s “The Exorcist: Believer” here:

And while we’re at it, watch the trailer for Renny Harlin’s “Die Hard 2: Die Harder” here:

Die Hard 2: Die Harder trailer on YouTube.

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Podcast

New Podcast Episode Available Now: Auto Focus.

Trailer for “Auto Focus” on YouTube.

On this week’s episode of The Filmography podcast, Bjorn and I dive into Paul Schrader’s 2002 Bob Crane biopic, “Auto Focus,” a dark and funny portrait of the destabilizing effects of Crane’s twin addictions to sex and videotape.

Original theatrical poster.
Greg Kinnear giving the best performance of his life as sex and video-addicted Bob Crane.

Greg Kinnear gives a performance of great depth, one that was only suggested by his most popular roles, such as his Oscar-nominated turn in “As Good As It Gets.”

Willem Dafoe having a blast as John “Carpy” Carpenter, Crane’s friend, enabler, and (possibly) murderer.

In a brilliant supporting part, Willem Dafoe plays Crane’s friend, enabler, and (possibly) murderer, John “Carpy” Carpenter.

Their strange co-dependent relationship, and the chemistry between Kinnear and Dafoe, make for a fascinating psychological portrait of the destructive forces of addiction.

Wielding the video camera like a weapon.
The (video) fruits of Bob’s labour.

It’s a lot funnier than it’s subject matter would suggest, thanks in no smart part to the influence of co-producers Scott Alexander & Larry Karaszewski.

As co-screenwriters, Alexander & Karaszewski practically invented this particular brand of empathetic but irreverent biopic with their script for Tim Burton’s Ed Wood, and perfected it with their scripts for Milos Forman’s brilliant Andy Kauffman and Larry Flynt biopics (Man On The Moon and The People vs. Larry Flynt, respectively).

Ed Wood poster art (detail) from the soundtrack album (score by Howard Shore).
Man on The Moon theatrical poster (detail).
Theatrical poster (detail) for Milos’ Forman’s The People vs. Larry Flynt.

Listen to the podcast here:

The Filmography podcast, streaming on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Listen to the DVD audio commentary here:

Paul Schrader’s audio commentary for “Auto Focus.”

Watch the trailer for Ed Wood here:

Trailer for Ed Wood on YouTube.

Watch the trailer for The People vs. Larry Flynt here:

Watch the trailer for Man On The Moon here:

“Man On The Moon” trailer on YouTube.

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Podcast

New Podcast Episode Available Now.

DVD cover art for Paul Schrader’s “Forever Mine,” a film every bit as horny as critics said “The Comfort of Strangers” was.

On this week’s episode of The Filmography, Bjorn and I are joined by special guest Cameron Pulley for a discussion about Paul Schrader’s stylish and strange (and barely released!) 1999 neo-noir melodrama, “Forever Mine,” starring Joseph Fiennes, Gretchen Moll, and Ray Liotta.

Paul Schrader and Gretchen Moll on the set of “Forever Mine.”

The film is so strange in fact that rather than attempt to summarize the narrative myself, I’ll just re-post the synopsis from Paul Schrader’s website here:

“Forever Mine” synopsis from http://paulschrader.org
Joseph Fiennes and some very strange make-up choices.
(The greatly underrated) Gretchen Moll.

Listen to the podcast here:

Now streaming on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Watch the trailer for “Forever Mine” here:

“Forever Mine” trailer on YouTube.

Watch the full movie here:

“Forever Mine” on YouTube.

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Podcast

New Podcast Episode Available Now: Affliction

On this week’s episode of The Filmography, Bjorn Olson and I take a deep dive into Paul Schrader’s adaptation of Russell Banks’ harrowing account of the fallout from an abusive father-son relationship, featuring Oscar-nominated turns from Nick Nolte (who has only ever been better in Neil Jordan’s “The Good Thief“), and James Coburn. As the abusive father, Coburn won the Oscar.

Listen to the podcast here:

Now streaming on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Watch the trailer for “Affliction” here:

Nick Nolte was Oscar-nominated, and James Coburn won, for their portrayals of an embattled father and son on a collision course.

See what Siskel & Ebert had to say about “Affliction” here:

Siskel & Ebert raise their thumbs for Schrader’s picture.
Categories
Podcast

New Podcast Episode Available Now

Original poster for "Touch."
Paul Schrader’s 1997 adaptation of Elmore Leonard’s “Touch.”

Happy Filmography Friday! In this week’s episode, Bjorn Olson and I are joined by returning special guest, Noah Taylor, for a discussion of Paul Schrader’s adaptation of Elmore Leonard’s strangest novel, “Touch,” the first of two films Schrader released in 1997 (followed by Affliction). Thank you for listening!

New episode now streaming on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Watch the trailer for Touch here:

https://youtu.be/27YYTUZuUP8?si=2o6TwPkQKodt4qQy

Watch the film here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMD7CNZbmVA&t=208s

Purchase the Elmore Leonard novel here:

Elmore Leonard’s strangest novel.

Categories
Podcast

New Podcast Episode Available Now

Paul Schrader's 1994 HBO original.

On this week’s episode of The Filmography podcast, Bjorn and I discuss Paul Schrader’s 1994 HBO original film, Witch Hunt, a strange, comic, supernatural noir, starring Dennis Hopper as a 1950s private dick surrounded by magic and murder.

Watch the film here: