Born Ready: Kurt Russell

Not only was this past Monday St. Patrick's Day, it was also the birthday of one titan of cinema and life: Kurt Russell.  While Russell didn't inspire me the way Jean-Claude Van Damme or Arnold did as a kid, his films and attitude were definitely a big part of my formative movie watching years.  Always a perfect mix of funny and physical with a rough around the edges charm, Russell just effortlessly comes off as a cool guy.  After hearing stories about him and then seeing him in person last year, I can definitely say I still believe it to be true.  A few weeks ago I opined that America doesn't have many leading men of the durable and capable variety and I would argue that Russell was one of our last.

Coming off a string of television work and Disney features, Russell transitioned to Hollywood leading man the help of directors like Robert Zemeckis, John Carpenter, Mike Nichols, Garry Marshall, Ron Howard and Roland Emmerich while playing a multitude of iconic characters like Snake Plissken, R.J. MacReady, Jack Burton, Gabriel Cash, Captain Ron and Wyatt Earp.

Let's take a trip down memory lane, shall we?

Used Cars - Probably Russell's funniest and most dialog heavy role of all time where he plays salesman Rudy Russo, a small time hustler/charmer trying to raise enough money to join the Senate and skim all the graft he knows is waiting.  Socially irresponsible with some great practical car stunts.

Escape From New York - The B-Movie classic that helped launch his career and a character that has lived on through a sequel, comic books, toys and more.  The ultimate wise ass anti-hero before there were wise ass anti-heroes.

The Thing - Drinks whiskey, plays computer chess, flies a helicopter, wears a huge sombrero and blows shit up.  What more could you ask for from an arctic set, alien thriller with Cold War paranoia?

Big Trouble In Little China - Arguably my favorite Russell flick since the time I saw it late night on TBS then bought the VHS at Saturday Matinee in the mall.  Russell's turn as blowhard trucker Jack Burton is hilarious and shows his gameness for not giving the audience what they expect as he's actually the sidekick but doesn't know it.

Tango & Cash - A beautiful love story between two hard working men just trying to make it in life.

Captain Ron - Good times.  Again shows his willingness not to be pigeonholed as he seemingly plays a buffoon in this broad family comedy who isn't actually an idiot.

Tombstone - The master class example.  Russell plays legendary lawman Wyatt Earp in this popcorn western action classic that nearly fell apart but was saved and came out a winner unlike the bloated attempt by "serious" actor and Oscar winner Kevin Costner.

Executive Decision - Showcases Russell's ability to play heroic but not cartoonish as an intelligence analyst thrown into a combat/hostage scenario after leader Steven Seagal plunges to his death aboard a Stealth Bomber 1/3 of the way into the movie.

Breakdown - Russell plays regular here, very regular as a guy moving cross country with his wife and becomes the target of a kidnapping scheme run by truckers out in the middle of nowhere.  Very freaky and became my mind's worst case scenario when thinking of pulling up stakes and driving cross country to California.

Soldier - Is it a good film?  That's debatable.  Is Russell awesome in it?  Yes.  As a silent career soldier facing his younger replacement, Russell is built like a tank in this science fiction action flick set on a near deserted trash planet in the same universe as Blade Runner.

Mr. Russell had taken a hiatus from filmmaking as he and life partner Goldie Hawn have been busy running a winery and producing their own label.  He's slowly coming back as Canadian heist flick The Art of the Steal has rolled out this year and a part in the latest Fast and Furious chapter is in the works.  Russell had already turned down an offer from friend Stallone to appear in The Expendables, citing he wasn't interested in ensemble acting or looking back.  While it would be nice to see him in one of the 90's reunions, you gotta respect the fact he doesn't need the work and is still setting out to do his own thing.

Ask Me a Question: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

The Autumnal Equinox (the end of summer) doesn't occur until 9.22 but this past weekend was my last outdoor screening of the season.  You're probably all used to reading about manly, macho men and ways to be kick ass but Saturday was a change of pace for the lady with 1953's Gentlemen Prefer Blondes at the Oscars Outdoors.

Starring the blonde myth herself, Marilyn Monroe and buxom outlaw brunette Jane Russell, GPB is a fun time at the movies filled with humor, musical numbers and a whole lotta double entendres.  Directed by Howard Hawks...wait, Howard Hawks?  You mean the guy who made John Wayne a star with Red River?  The guy who produced The Thing From Another World and directed everyone from Robert Mitchum to Clark Gable to Humphrey Bogart to James Caan?  Yup.  I guess macho, manly and kick ass are never far from the mind of Dammaged Goods.

Before the movie, a renowned figure in the dance world (sorry I'm not there to cover, just enjoy) presented a few slides about GPB choreographer, Jack Cole, an exotic looking gent who was one of Hollywood's top dancers/choreographers/instructors.  Cole worked with Monroe officially on three films and unofficially on several more.  Then, we were treated to the presence of a guy (sorry again) who looked like Ringo Starr but had actually danced in the film.  If GPB was released in 1953, that means he had to be in his 70's and damn did he look good for his age.  As a young dancer, he prepped for the famous "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend" number for 4 weeks and the sequence itself took 3 days to shoot.  He shared a quick story about a mistake that was kept in the picture.  During Russell's, "Anybody Here For Love?", she crouches down as members of the men's Olympic team dive over her into a pool.  One came in too low and knocked her in.  He also made a point to mention how hard Monroe worked, her professionalism and her surprisingly quiet nature.

With the sun down and a surprisingly chilly August wind kicking in, it was time to start the show.  Several bizarre trailers and clips played including Wild and Wonderful, starring Tony Curtis opposite a poodle with human tendencies.  Then it was time.  Blondes opens with a musical number and introduces us to Monroe's Lorelei Lee and Russell's Dorothy Shaw.  Lee is looking to marry up and has the perfect target in a nebbish, bespectacled type who gets woozy from a kiss.  The duo hitch a ride on a cruise to Europe where private investigator/buff Olympians/young millionaires/diamond tiaras/straight vodka hijinks ensue.

Monroe is endearingly sweet as the dumb but maybe smart Lorelei which is balanced out by Russell's more aware, primal and simple living Shaw.  Hawks gives the two women all of the power in the film as they're the commotion of every crowd, the main attraction at every show and the desire of every man.  Their beauty might be on display but it's their charm, wit, show-womanship and confidence that keeps us interested.

Ask Me a Question: The Thing

Back again for night three of EW's Cape Town Film Festival at The Egyptian Theater.  Tonight's main dish?  1982's The Thing with introduction and discussion with director John Carpenter!

To get us warm in the pants, a bevy of 35mm trailers played to much fanfare.  Christine, Starman, Prince of Darkness, They Live and more but no Big Trouble In Little China!

Mr. Carpenter watched the mini-career retrospective from the wings and came out to warm applause. 



The hits included:

- It was cold!  The Thing was filmed on set at Universal and on location in British Columbia.
- The all male cast worked hard, had fun and did their best to hit on the few women in BC to much chagrin of the locals.  A gun or two may have been pulled on the cast.
- One effect they couldn't figure out was having the monster attacking from beneath the ice.
- Universal wanted the movie to end after Mac Ready blows up the structure instead of finding Childs and leaving the audience to ponder if either one is now The Thing.
- Carpenter fought for his ending as as both versions tested badly.
- Upon release, an audience member asked who was The Thing?  When told to use her imagination, she said, "I hate doing that!".
- The movie tanked, the studio didn't know what to do with it.
- No comment on the 2011 version.  They worked hard, don't need his two cents.
- There's two types of remakes, 1) He gets a lunch and 2) He gets a check.  Likes # 2 better!
- Working on a comic book and an adaptation of Darkchylde.

With that, he left us with his usual excuse for needing to meet his drug dealer and catch the basketball playoffs.

The movie played and is still a prime example of character based horror at it's best.  The themes of paranoia and fear mixed with Rob Bottin's incredibly unnerving creature effects had the audience jumping out of their seats.  All of the elements come together for this flick, the arctic setting, the gallery of characters, freaky aliens, freakier effects and a sense of humor so you don't feel bad when it all ends.