Film writing by Sean Michael Erickson
Following the success of Easy Rider, Peter Fonda tried his hand at directing with two wildly different films. Both feature a score by the influential musician Bruce Langhorne, and one is a minor masterpiece that attempts to rewrite the rules of the western genre.
Read MoreOver at the internet oasis that is Aquarium Drunkard, I write about the early days of Bill L. Norton. In 1972, Norton would see the release of his first two movies. One was Cisco Pike, a movie he wrote (with a punch-up by Robert Towne) and directed, and which marks the debut staring role for the legendary Kris Kristofferson. The other was Gargoyles, a CBS TV-movie that is perhaps most notable for marking the introduction of legendary makeup effects artist Stan Winston. One movie is a whole lot better than the other, but together they show just how tough Hollywood can be to newcomers.
Read MoreWhat happens when a 50s Beat Generation photographer and a 60s counterculture novelist make an 80s movie about commerce and artistic integrity with a bunch of 70s musicians? The ambling yet profound Candy Mountain is what happens. You can read some thoughts on this elusive film over at Aquarium Drunkard.
Read MoreIn 1969, James Frawley made the jump from being an Emmy-winning director of the joyous Monkees TV-show to thoroughly bumming people out with his debut film The Christian Licorice Store. That movie, staring Baeu Bridges as a tennis player going through an existential crisis, barely earned a formal release. But it did lead to 1973’s Kid Blue, a thoughtful, ramblin’ western featuring an acting trifecta for the ages: Dennis Hopper, Warren Oates and Peter Boyle. Find some thoughts on these two offbeat movies over at Aquarium Drunkard.
Read MoreI put down some words and thoughts on Roland Klick’s DEADLOCK for Aquarium Drunkard’s Videodrome feature.
Read MoreAn article on Alex Cox’s STRAIGHT TO HELL, written for Aquarium Drunkard’s Videodrome column.
Read MoreFinal day of the online press screenings includes a mesmerizing Vietnamese fever dream, a dreary Swiss drama, and a lovingly melancholic animated short. Plus, some final thoughts on this First Round of 2021’s two part Berlinale Film Festival.
Read MoreIt’s a trifecta today: a brilliant three-chapter Japanese film WHEEL OF FORTUNE AND FANTASY, the impressive Iranian tragedy BALLAD OF A WHITE COW, and the psychedelic mind-bending document of Hawaii that is Fern Silva’s ROCK BOTTOM RISER.
Read MoreDay Three of the Berlinale Industry Event online screenings includes a look at Céline Sciamma’s PETITE MAMAN, Alexandre Koberidze’s WHAT DO WE SEE WHEN WE LOOK AT THE SKY?, Soi Cheang’s cops vs serial killer movie LIMBO, and another trip to Hungary in Benedek Fliegauf’s FOREST - I SEE YOU EVERYWHERE.
Read MoreAltogether, around 150 at-home screenings were made available to the press. We had five days to watch them. I was able to watch 22 of them. This is Part One.
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