Mike Williams on The Descent

Why do you love this movie?

It’s so fun to watch. It’s got all the right ingredients for a good horror film. Plenty of blood and gore. Edge of your seat the whole time. A pinch of corniness. Babes. 

How many times have you seen it?
I dunno maybe 4 or 5 times

Do you remember where/how you first saw it?

I was at the legendary Rob Rivera’s house when we lived on the same block. Typical lights out scary movie scenario. 

If you could recast one role in this movie, which one and who would your replacement be?

I like that the cast is unknown. At least to me. It’s a huge part of why I think the movie is so great. But we could throw Angelina in As Sarah.  Lara Croft vibes (Biebel voice) 

Favorite scene in the movie?

When we first see the humanoid scurry away. Shits about to go down. 

Nominate this movie for a made-up Academy Award.

Best British Horror film about American women. 

Is this the best horror movie of all-time?  If not, what is? If it is, what's #2?

Close. Not the best. I think my favorite is The Omen. The best is probably the Shining. I have to say that though?
 

Anything about it you don’t like?

It’s not one of those movies that gets better the more you watch it. And the fact that the monsters have sonic hearing but can touch the women as they walk over them doesn’t make much sense. They can’t hear them breathing or their heartbeat?! But I’m not a stickler for those types of things.

Can you be friends with someone who doesn’t like this movie?

Sure. It’s not Forrest Gump or Shawshank.

If you heard they were remaking this movie in 2020, would you be bummed?

No. I’d hit 

We're making a gender-swap remake of this movie and you have to cast two guys to play the two main characters.  Who do you pick? Why?

Owen Wilson and Vinny Vaughn.  All of the monsters look like albino Ben Stillers. Because it’s a comedy reboot. Hollywood has done much worse. 

Is this movie offensive to the people of West Virginia?

Different type of humanoid 

Are you claustrophobic?

I don’t think so 

Were the monsters real?

Yes 

Does she really get away?

Well in the American version she does. But the British version she wakes up after escaping and the monsters are creeping up on her. So I’m gonna go with no.

Ever see the sequel?

Only the first few minutes. 

Is this movie really about a woman’s struggle to maintain lasting friendships?

Damn. Probably not. 

Davis Campbell on Venus in Fur

Davis Campbell - Unafraid to huck

Why do you love this movie? The mounting tension and excitement throughout, the baiting and denial of desire. It’s stripped down nature and the intertwining conventions of playwriting and cinema. The exploration of the pleasures of being dominated and humiliated. How many times have you seen it? Once 

Do you remember where/how you first saw it? Took it out of the library 

Favorite scene in the movie? The whole movie is essentially one long, drawn out scene. 

Nominate this movie for a made-up Academy Award. Best Screenplay by a Fugitive of the State of California 

Is this peak Polanski? Hard to judge when an artist is still living and working 

Highlights? I didn’t mind watching with subtitles, this is a movie that sounds better in French. The strength of the movie is the script, so the conversation kept me excited.

Can you be friends with someone who doesn’t like this movie? I might like you more if you feel a kinship with the movie, but I won’t like you any less if you don’t.

Can you separate the artist from the art? As a general rule for myself, yes, I don’t see the two as being reflections of each other. There is a lot more I could expand upon this, and if you don’t agree that’s okay and let’s talk about it.

What did you think of Tarantino’s take on Sharon Tate? Rob, I know you enjoyed “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”, but I’m not sure you watched my movie. Something about the lack of questions about my movie 

Artwork by Holly Farrell

Did you know Tarantino initially offered the role of Sharon Tate to Jennifer Lawrence but Sharon Tate’s sister said she wasn’t pretty enough? 

Then I guess Tarantino and Sister Tate both agree that Margot Robbie is hot. Emmanuelle Seigner was so sensual in my movie, and I just found out she is actually Polanski’s wife, which must’ve made for quite an intimate shooting set.

Do you think Jennifer Lawrence is pretty? I don’t know who that is 

Do you know who skates to the song Venus in Furs? Tom Penny, or did Arto just dream it? 

Have you ever been in a play? Romeo and Juliet, I spoke the opening lines 

What’s another movie you love with just two actors? I can’t think of one, another reason I was drawn to the movie 

If you could ask Roman Polanski one question, and he promised he’d be honest, would it be A.) about the murders, B.) about the rape, or C.) other______? C.) The Holocaust 

Is there something inherent to the art of moviemaking, and directing in particular, that makes it especially difficult for people to retire from? I just read this for the first time last night, “Painting is the best way I’ve found to get along with myself.” Creative pursuits can offer a way to exist in the world, and walking away from them isn’t always an option 

Any artistic goals for your 80s/90s? I take in a lot, but I don’t have much output. I hope to have found a way to share more of what I want to say by then.

Do you think Roman Polanski wishes he was young again? Everyone wishes to stay young a little longer, a young person couldn't make this film though 

Ian Kline on Blue Velvet

Why do you love this movie?

It reveals and embraces the underlying darkness in an environment which is uniquely American and one that is supposed to be tidy, put together, and safe. An environment that we are supposed to want and fall in line with. Through the darkness and uncomfortability Lynch also shows us there is light and beauty. You need the light and the dark, we cannot exist without the combination. There is a push and pull between innocence and corruption, Lynch shows us how murky the middle ground where we exist actually is, it’s not always black and white. Oh and Kyle MacLachlan and Laura Dern are hot as hell. 

How many times have you seen it?
I’ve lost count but probably somewhere in the low teens.

Do you remember where/how you first saw it?
I was 17 going into my senior year of high school, peak angst. I had been aware of Lynch through people referencing him in interviews, but I had never seen anything by him at that point. I’m not sure exactly what made me rent the movie this particular night, but I remember it was storming and dark, one of those end of summer storms, and I had this blue fuzzy chair in the corner of my bedroom that I never really used too much but I sat in it this night. After the opening scene in the yard where the father collapses and the baby is walking alone on the driveway I knew this movie was going to stick with me.    

If you could recast one role in this movie, which one and who would your replacement be?
Ok, I really tried to think of someone to at least humor you but I can’t imagine this movie with any variation in the cast. 

Favorite scene in the movie?
Heineken?! FUCK THAT SHIT. PABST. BLUE. RIBBON.

This is about to be Ian's local skatepark

Nominate this movie for a made-up Academy Award.
Most uncomfortable apartment scene. 

Is this peak Lynch?

Lynch has many peaks, this is one of them. Dune is not one of them.

Anything about it you don’t like?
That it is not streaming for free anywhere right now. 

Highlights?
Too many to list, but I do love the scene when Jeffrey (Kyle MacLachlan) stayed out all night in his car waiting to shoot photos of the man in the yellow suit with his makeshift hidden camera. I can empathize with that.  

Artwork by Holly Farrell

Can you be friends with someone who doesn’t like this movie?
I’d be interested in why they don’t like it, so yeah.

If you heard they were remaking this movie in 2020, would you be bummed?
I would not affiliate myself with any Blue Velvet remake.

Molly Ringwald was originally offered the Laura Dern role, but passed.  Conversely, Laura Dern auditioned for the role Ringwald would eventually play in the Breakfast Club.  Are you more of a Dern or a Ringwald?
Dern all day. 

This film takes place in Lumberton.  Twin Peaks centers around a sawmill and a log lady.  What’s with David Lynch and lumber?
It’s the American dream. A landscape built on labor that is specific yet universal to the construction of a blue collar, small town identity. 

Worst locals

If you found an ear in a field would you take an artistic photograph of it or would you focus more on capturing its context as a piece of evidence for the investigators?  Can you do both in the same image?
ACAB. I’d make a photo that felt like evidence but never served the larger purpose of useful evidence to law enforcement. An artistic photograph is evidence and evidence is an artistic photograph, the only thing that differentiates the two is the context in which the photograph is shown.  

How does the blind guy know how many fingers Kyle McLaughlin is holding up?
He is a prophet, Tiresias-esque 

Why isn’t that ledge in front of Laura Dern’s high school waxed?
David Lynch rolled his ankle pretty bad right before they started shooting the film. If it wasn’t for this he would have sauced it up and we woulda seen his infamous back smith in the extended cut. 

Have you ever uncovered a seedy underbelly?
I shouldn’t talk about this, for both of our sakes. 

At one point Helen Mirren was considered for the Dorothy Vallens role.  Is that movie better or worse?
It’s different. 

Lotta unseen activity in this one

Roger Ebert famously trashed this movie, but it clearly intrigued him.  Please read his 1986 review (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/blue-velvet-1986) and tell me, what do you think of his take?
God I love a bad review, well maybe not bad but a critical review, I feel like they’re rare now, everybody wants to be nice and not actually say what they’re feeling even when everything should be held under a critical light once it is offered to the masses, that’s when it becomes so much more interesting. I get what he is saying but I also think he is being narrow minded. Yes, the movie is about these dark sexual desires and interests but that is really only part of it to me. Lynch needed to create this larger landscape of Lumberton filled with satire and varying narratives in the light to house the “darkness”, the counter to the white picket fence with a yard and 2.5 kids. The paint will always crack away from the fence.  

When Dennis Hopper first read the script he said “I’ve got to play Frank, because I AM Frank!” Does this make you want to hang out with him more or less?
I simultaneously want to hang with him and run away screaming. I’m intrigued by him.  

It’s never made clear when this movie takes place. Is this a period film?
I think it’s definitely a period film but small towns change slowly, if at all, so the period is one that actually represents decades.  

Was the Dorothy Vallens character always a masochist or did Frank turn her into one?
Masochism is everywhere, even if it is quiet in the corner, unassuming. Frank just pulled it into the light.

Brendan Spohn on Pee Wee's Big Adventure

Why do you love this movie?
Every single thing Paul Reubens does, his mannerisms, the way he says things: makes me laugh. every. single. line. 

Do you remember where/how you first saw it?
I was 16 in Max's basement watching it on his 13" TV/VCR combo back when we all practically lived down there, and it changed the course of what I thought was funny forever. 

Brendan, stalefish, New Britain, CT

If you could recast one role in this movie, which one and who would your replacement be?
No one, but I would give Crazy Larry his own spin off movie, because I might be more interested in how he got so damn crazy. 

Favorite scene? 

When he goes to Mario's Magic Shop and the way Pee Wee screams "NOOOO" and immediately laughs when Mario brings the giant head out - real ones know.  Or when he twirls around in front of the cop with that "cute little outfit" he has on... makes me piss my pants. 

Waking up here always feels good

Anything about it you don’t like? 

Pee Wee goes through all that work to make breakfast, only to take two fucking bites of Mr. T cereal and walk away from it.  What a complete asshole. 

Not pictured: mud pit

If you heard they were remaking this movie in 2020, would you be bummed? 

They basically did remake it as that stupid Netflix original movie a few years ago, that sucked total ass, and I will not speak of it ever again. I think it's worse than Big Top Pee Wee. 

Big walls, big adventures

Are you scared of Large Marge? 

Nowhere near as scared as I am of big Andy thumping my skull with that giant bone. 

Tell em

Pee Wee and Dottie... they fuckin?
Pee Wee does not have sex. Paul however likes a porno theater here and there, and that's none of our goddamn business. 

Any unanswered questions? 

Why did Phil Hartman have to be taken away from us, and why couldn't it have been Andy Dick instead?

The worst skatepark in CT became one of the best

Nick Tyrrell on Blade Runner

With the world self-isolating to prevent the spread of Coronavirus, it's safe to assume the release party for Skateboarders and the Movies They Love Pt. 2, which is supposed to happen next weekend, will almost surely be cancelled.

If you'd like to have a zine mailed to you, please slide into my Instagram (@robertjreed) dm's for more info.  I'm not sure what the deal with post offices being open is going to be though, so please be patient.  SO, in the interest of giving the people out there something to do while sitting around their homes, I'll slowly but surely be restocking the ol' photo blog with the FULL interviews with everyone from this issue (not the edited version in the zine) and possibly the previous issue as well.  Enjoy!  

And now, Nick Tyrrell on... Blade Runner... artwork by Holly Farrell, photos by me

Artwork by Holly Farrell

Why do you love this movie?
Philip K Dick

How many times have you seen it?
Countless

Do you remember where/how you first saw it?
No

If you could recast one role in this movie, which one and who would your replacement be?
None

Favorite scene in the movie?
Like tears in rain

Nick Tyrrell in New Haven, CT

Nominate this movie for a made-up Academy Award.

Cautionary tale

Is this peak Harrison Ford?
Yes

Anything about it you don’t like?
I wish they spelled the Tyrell corporation "Tyrrell"

Can you be friends with someone who doesn’t like this movie?
You probably hate this movie. So there's your answer

Did you know Doug Benson was in extra in this?
I hate Doug Benson

What is your affiliation with the Tyrell Corporation?

Heir

Blade Runner takes place in 2019… what’d they get right about the future?
That LA is an awful place

This movie was nominated for the Best Visual Effects Oscar and lost to E.T.  How does that sit with you?
It doesn't affect my life whatsoever

Ridley Scott has never won the Academy Award for Best Director. Which of his films should have won?
Most

Do any of your memories feel like they were implanted?
You bet

If you found out you were a robot would you tell me?
No

Nick in vacation mode.  Sea Ranch, CA

Let’s say Ridley Scott had directed Blade Runner 2049 instead of Denis Villeneuve.  Is that movie better or worse?
Better

Blade Runner: 2079... are you in or out?
100% in

Ever consider yourself a cyber punk?
No. But I loved Neuromancer

Sean Young or Daryl Hannah?
Sean Young

What's up with that unicorn?
Please.

Can replicants get drunk?
Can you?

Van inspection

Why is there an ostrich in that street market?
Commentary on the Asianification of the future United States

Who's the Harrison Ford of 2020?
Harrison Ford's son

What do you think of Harrison Ford’s acting when he pretends to be from the Confidential Committee on Moral Abuses as compared to, in Last Crusade, when he pretends to be a tapestry expert to sneak into the castle? 
Don't care.