What's up with CAT PEOPLE?
Got a new book coming out in the Fall (A MATTER OF REVENGE, the next Apparite novel), so it's time to resuscitate my blog, which is kind of funny since my blog has infinitely more to do with The Movies than my writing, but then again, the world is full of mysteries that cannot be explained (Paris Hilton's popularity, the persistence of the penny, Robin Williams' existence), so here goes anyway.
Just watched CAT PEOPLE (1982, not the 40's version) for the first time in decades. Now, we all know the original by Val Lewton is a minimalist classic, almost a horror-noir, with no violence or blood, but lots and LOTS of shadows. A pretty good little flick, all told, with great shadows.
Now it's 1982, and Paul Schrader, writer of the all-time great TAXI DRIVER, remakes CAT PEOPLE in a modern style without shadows.
By 'modern,' I mean that you will Nastasia Kinski in a state of utter buck-nakedness more times than you can swing a Cat Person, plus a little Annette O'Toole skin added for good measure and spice (I always liked her--after this film, I liked her even more). It's got this great syntho-Moroder score, some provocative images, and a GREAT ending. I remember watching it on Cinemax loads of times in the early 80's, even bought the soundtrack. Yeah, I'm sure all the nudity had NOTHING to do with it!
Unfortunately, it also has this thing called 'the bulk of the film,' which is about as flabby as John Goodman after a night of heavy sodium intake. Schrader is a great screenwriter--frankly, one of THE greatest--but his direction is anemic. Little things escape his attention--bored-looking extras, wooden takes, poor sound quality--but overall, he is still able to craft a reasonably interesting piece.
At least, interesting in the fact that it was made in 1982 and you can insert a bunch of nudity, sex, bestiality, and so on in high enough doses to keep a person awake. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but it seems cheap and obvious, like give-away government American cheese. Sure, you can make an okay sandwich out of it, but is it REALLY what you came for? Is it REALLY any good?
Truly, I think they should remake it yet again, since the basic story is so strong, especially with the Schrader film's ending. I've thought this about a lot of older films but, oddly, NEVER about the one's they actually DO remake!
Please, we need AT LEAST a ten year Jane Austen film moratorium--but on the other hand, why not take a crack at something like SERGEANT YORK again? Actually, I have a real jones for anything WWI these days, and--yeah, try to believe it--the fact that I'm writing a big WWI novel has got nothing to do with it. We're about to lose our last WWI soldier on our planet, and that's a story that needs revisiting, and soon, before we forget. Also, importantly, WWI is the absolute most kick-ass material for truly literate film-making. In dramatic terms, WWI is the Titanic whereas WWII is the Andrea Doria. Both were tragic shipwrecks but one has a timeless resonance that will never be exceeded or forgotten.
Until then, I'd settle for a $120 million-budgeted John Apparite film to deaden my pain. Oh, almost forgot my plug: A MATTER OF REVENGE: A JOHN APPARITE NOVEL, coming September 2008. It's a good book: fun, adventure, absurdist baseball games, romance, plus a few Kriek Lambic beers to boot. Check out http://www.imkoontz.com/ for more.
Between now and then, in case anyone's listening, I plan on blogging three times a week on The Movies and occasionally my books. If you don't believe me, check back and prove me wrong. I dare you!
Got a new book coming out in the Fall (A MATTER OF REVENGE, the next Apparite novel), so it's time to resuscitate my blog, which is kind of funny since my blog has infinitely more to do with The Movies than my writing, but then again, the world is full of mysteries that cannot be explained (Paris Hilton's popularity, the persistence of the penny, Robin Williams' existence), so here goes anyway.
Just watched CAT PEOPLE (1982, not the 40's version) for the first time in decades. Now, we all know the original by Val Lewton is a minimalist classic, almost a horror-noir, with no violence or blood, but lots and LOTS of shadows. A pretty good little flick, all told, with great shadows.
Now it's 1982, and Paul Schrader, writer of the all-time great TAXI DRIVER, remakes CAT PEOPLE in a modern style without shadows.
By 'modern,' I mean that you will Nastasia Kinski in a state of utter buck-nakedness more times than you can swing a Cat Person, plus a little Annette O'Toole skin added for good measure and spice (I always liked her--after this film, I liked her even more). It's got this great syntho-Moroder score, some provocative images, and a GREAT ending. I remember watching it on Cinemax loads of times in the early 80's, even bought the soundtrack. Yeah, I'm sure all the nudity had NOTHING to do with it!
Unfortunately, it also has this thing called 'the bulk of the film,' which is about as flabby as John Goodman after a night of heavy sodium intake. Schrader is a great screenwriter--frankly, one of THE greatest--but his direction is anemic. Little things escape his attention--bored-looking extras, wooden takes, poor sound quality--but overall, he is still able to craft a reasonably interesting piece.
At least, interesting in the fact that it was made in 1982 and you can insert a bunch of nudity, sex, bestiality, and so on in high enough doses to keep a person awake. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but it seems cheap and obvious, like give-away government American cheese. Sure, you can make an okay sandwich out of it, but is it REALLY what you came for? Is it REALLY any good?
Truly, I think they should remake it yet again, since the basic story is so strong, especially with the Schrader film's ending. I've thought this about a lot of older films but, oddly, NEVER about the one's they actually DO remake!
Please, we need AT LEAST a ten year Jane Austen film moratorium--but on the other hand, why not take a crack at something like SERGEANT YORK again? Actually, I have a real jones for anything WWI these days, and--yeah, try to believe it--the fact that I'm writing a big WWI novel has got nothing to do with it. We're about to lose our last WWI soldier on our planet, and that's a story that needs revisiting, and soon, before we forget. Also, importantly, WWI is the absolute most kick-ass material for truly literate film-making. In dramatic terms, WWI is the Titanic whereas WWII is the Andrea Doria. Both were tragic shipwrecks but one has a timeless resonance that will never be exceeded or forgotten.
Until then, I'd settle for a $120 million-budgeted John Apparite film to deaden my pain. Oh, almost forgot my plug: A MATTER OF REVENGE: A JOHN APPARITE NOVEL, coming September 2008. It's a good book: fun, adventure, absurdist baseball games, romance, plus a few Kriek Lambic beers to boot. Check out http://www.imkoontz.com/ for more.
Between now and then, in case anyone's listening, I plan on blogging three times a week on The Movies and occasionally my books. If you don't believe me, check back and prove me wrong. I dare you!
posted by I. Michael Koontz | 5:24 PM
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