A grindhouse, for those of you who don't know, was a movie theater that
showed primarily low-budget action and horror movies, with loads of violence
and sex. I say "was" because grindhouses don't exist anymore; nor, for the
most part, do the cinematic subgenres they displayed, like urban comedies,
kung-fu revenge sagas or Satan-worship monster shows.
Downtown Chicago used to be peppered with once-prestigious movie houses
that had evolved (or devolved, depending on your perspective) into grindhouses,
with names like the Woods, the United Artists, the Michael Todd, the Oriental
and, of course, the Chicago. A couple of these theaters (the Oriental and
the Chicago) survive as live-performance venues; the rest were demolished
long ago. No great surprise. Many of these theaters were in rough shape,
and the late Chicago Tribune/WBBM-TV film critic, Gene Siskel, once
showed a dead mouse in the lobby of one of the downtown theaters in a segment
on the evening news.
Grindhouse fare also popped up at drive-ins like the Bel-Air on Cicero Avenue
in Berwyn, where I saw the likes of Beyond the Door and Race with
the Devil, but most of those are gone as well. (A brief Internet search
turned up only two operating drive-ins near Chicago: the Cascade Drive-in
in West Chicago and the McHenry Outdoor Theatre in McHenry.)
I have more than a little affection for the grindhouse era--it's when I
started going to movies, no matter what was showing or where--but Robert
Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino obviously have not only affection, but a
deep, abiding love for the era. What else could explain Grindhouse,
the directors' attempt to re-create the experience of watching a cheap-looking
double feature at your neighborhood theater or local drive-in?
Rodriguez helms Planet Terror, the front end of the twin bill. It
stars Rose McGowan as Cherry darling, a go-go dancer ("Not a stripper,"
she explains, "There's a difference") who wants to do something else--maybe
become a stand-up comedian, since "everybody tells me I'm funny" except
her ex-boyfriend, Wray (Freddy Rodriguez, no relation to the director),
who still loves Cherry even though she walked out on him and took his jacket
with her.
They don't get much time for witty banter, though, as Cherry is attacked
in the dark by roaming, ravenous creatures chew off Cherry's right leg (OW!)
and run away with it. Wray rushes Cherry to the local hospital, where all
hell is breaking loose: Casualties are pouring in with similar wounds (or
worse), overwhelming the staff, which includes Doctor Block (Josh Brolin)
and his wife, Dakota (Marley Shelton), who's trying to run off with her
ex-girlfriend (Stacey Ferguson, a.k.a. Fergie) when the mayhem starts.
Pretty soon, the whole town is overrun by "sickos"--which are pretty much
your basic flesh-eating zombies, but with more personality (if they had
a speaking part before becoming infected, anyway) and nasty, puss-filled
boils all over their bodies. This whole mess ties back to some nerve-gas
nonsense and a mysterious military type (Bruce Willis), but does that really
matter? It's all an excuse for some gut-munching, head-'sploding action,
with Wray, Cherry (who's outfitted with a table leg and, later, a machine
gun in place of her missing limb) and an assortment of colorful characters
(played by the likes of Michael Biehn, Tom Savini, Jeff Fahey and Michael
Parks, playing Texas Ranger Earl McGraw just as he did in From Dusk Till
Dawn and Kill Bill) try to survive the zombie apocalypse long
enough to find a cure to the rapidly spreading infection.
Robert Rodriguez in one of the most energetic, exuberant filmmakers working
today, and his enthusiasm is hard to resist. He's clearly having fun with
the cheesy material and so are his actors--even McGowan, who gives a grueling
physical performance not only in the bump-and-grind she does beneath the
opening credits, but throughout the rest of Planet Terror, at least
half of which she spends bounding about with one leg missing.
Rodriguez mimics the action-horror films of the '70s and '80s well enough,
both in terms of content, with visual and plot cues to movies like George
Romero's The Crazies, John Carpenter's The Fog and Dan O'Bannon's
Return of the Living Dead, but in physical presentation as well,
with faux scratches on the film, a "missing reel" and a soundtrack heavy
on synthesizers (a direct reference to Carpenter, who, like Rodriguez, often
scores his own films).
One of the unfortunate side effects of directorial exuberance, though, is
lack of self-control. Rodriguez pours on the gore (sometimes literally)
to the point where it stops being funny and is merely gross. (Were the forensic-quality
close-ups of chewed up skulls or the popping boils all over the "sickos"
really needed? How the hell did the MPAA give this film an "R" rating?)
There's also Rodriguez's use of Quentin Tarantino, the actor. He chews the
scenery with abandon, which would be fine if Tarantino were even a mediocre
actor. But he's not. He's an annoyance, and Rodriguez should have known
better than to use him for anything more than the briefest of cameos. On
the plus side, Rodriguez's indulgences don't ruin the fun as much as momentarily
sidetrack it.
Tarantino indulges himself as well in his Grindhouse contribution,
Death Proof, a revenge drama/car-chase ode that begins with multiple
close-ups of women's feet (Tarantino has an admitted fetish). He follows
the feet--and the women attached to them (including Jordan Ladd, daughter
of Cheryl, and Sydney Poitier, daughter of Sidney)--as they tool around
Austin, TX, shooting the shit about boys, pot and what they're doing for
fun that night. They wind up in a bar (where the bartender is played by--surprise!--Tarantino),
where they get drunk, shoot the shits some more and generally kill time--until
they meet Stuntman Mike (Kurt Russell).
Stuntman Mike is a ruggedly handsome man--or he would be, if not for the
whopping scar down the left side of his face. Reasonably charming, too.
Except, of course, for the fact that he's a serial killer who likes to stalk
women and run them down with his armored-up, tricked-out stunt car. (The
skull and crossbones on the hood? Not a good sign.) After a horrific crash
in which Stuntman Mike is the only survivor, Earl McGraw (Michael Parks
again) muses that Mike is probably a murderer. But proof? None.
So Stuntman Mike goes back on the prowl, this time stalking a foursome of
females making a movie in Tennessee: Actress Lee (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), makeup
artist Abernathy (Rosario Dawson), and stuntwomen Kim (Tracie Thoms) and
Zoe Bell (billed "as herself" because she's a real-life stuntwoman who doubled
Uma Thurman in Kill Bill). Stuntman Mike gets a whole lot more than
he bargained for, though, when three of his intended victims fight back
in one of the most thrilling car chases ever filmed.
Even with the period subject matter and style, you can't mistake this for
a film by anyone but Tarantino. There are the usual obscure pop culture
references. There is great use of music, including the terrific "Hold Tight"
by Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich (perhaps the most awkwardly named rock group
ever) and the opening theme by Jack Nitzsche (which was also used as the
theme for Bert I. Gordon's Village
of the Giants and is one of the best instrumentals ever). And there
are long conversations that don't necessarily advance the plot, but
do flesh out the characters. Tarantino's dialog isn't nearly as sharp as
usual, though, so it's easy to become impatient while the women talk and
drive and drive and talk without seeming to go anywhere or say anything.
Still, one of my main complaints about mad slasher films has always been
that we hardly get to know the victims at all (other than hair color and
bra size) before they're dispatched by the crazed killer. Getting to know
these characters before they're threatened and/or slaughtered makes us care
a bit more about their eventual fates.
No matter how much Tarantino spins his wheels (pun intended) for much of
Death Proof, the chase at the end--by turns thrilling, frightening
and hilarious--more than makes up for it. It also doesn't hurt that Russell
gives a quietly menacing performance reminiscent of Robert Mitchum in Night
of the Hunter--calm and cool when playing with his intended prey, increasingly
frantic as the situation is yanked out of his control by women who refuse
to be victims anymore.
Both Tarantino and Rodriguez present strong female characters capable of
kicking serious amounts of ass, but both make these characters suffer before
they get to be strong; the women in Death Proof are terrorized by
Stuntman Mike before they turn the tables, and Cherry Darling has to be
outright mutilated before she's given the opportunity to save the day. Both
directors have been down this road before: Tarantino's Kill Bill features a martial-arts master who defeats everyone in her path, but not before she's shot in the head and substantially degraded. And Rodriguez's Sin
City is a misogyny-a-go-go. (To be fair, so are Frank Miller's
graphic novels, which Rodriguez faithfully adapted.) It would have been
nice if, this time around, both directors could have let their strong women have
some damn fun without paying such a high price for it.
Both halves of Grindhouse are a good time nonetheless, just
like they're meant to be. Sure, this is a vanity project suffused with nostalgia for
an era most filmgoers have forgotten, if they were even alive to experience
it--isn't the whole of Grindhouse an obscure pop reference, when
you get down to it?--created two obsessive cinema buffs who have the muscle
to get it made.
That's not the point. The point is, have Rodriguez and Tarantino achieved their goal? Is Grindhouse a cheesy, sleazy good time? Yes and yes.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Sunday, April 1, 2007
This Sporting Life: Opening Day 2007
The trees are budding. Flowers push their way through otherwise dormant
lawns. Ants crawl onto sidewalks to taste something sweet. Ozzie Guillen's
jaw flaps uncontrollably. Kerry Wood and Mark Prior are injured and/or ineffective.
Yep. It's spring in Chicago.
The baseball disappointments of last fall are fading into memory, but not entirely gone. The White Sox, coming off of the first World Series win this city had seen since Woodrow Wilson was president, had a winning season, but failed to make the playoffs. Their season was also marred by ugly comments from Guillen, who responded calmly and maturely to criticism from Chicago Sun-Times sports columnist Jay Mariotti by calling Mariotti a "fag."
As bad as Sox fans felt, though, Cubs fans had it worse (though I'm sure neither side of town was feeling any sympathy for the other). Prior and Wood were both being counted on for the starting rotation; both were injured much of the season. And after All-Star first baseman Derrek Lee broke his wrist last April, the team's fortunes took a decided turn for the worse, and manager Dusty Baker seemed unable or unwilling to motivate his players. Or, perhaps, the players were unable or unwilling to motivate themselves (at least while the team had a chance to win--Jacque Jones and Aramis Ramirez had fine seasons once the Cubs were well out of contention). Or maybe they were all willing and able, but just not good enough. Whatever the case, the Cubs wound up with a 66-96 record--the worst in the National League.
Most years, Cubs management would tinker with the chemistry of the team, but not make any drastic changes. This year, though, management shook things up. Baker's contract wasn't renewed, and the Tribune Company opened their corporate wallets and signed significant free agents, like slugger Alfonso Soriano, and starting pitchers Ted Lilly and Jason Marquis. Granted, neither Lilly nor Marquis is a Cy Young Award candidate, but each is capable of winning 10 to 15 games a year and giving new manager Lou Piniella plenty of innings. Soriano will be playing a new position (center field), but he's not here for his glove; he's here for his bat.
It's a shame that management didn't make one more big change--letting Wood and Prior go once and for all. It's not that I wish either of them ill. Quite the contrary: I hope that they both have long and, going forward, healthy careers. Thus far, even though neither is being counted on as in years past, their presence has been a distraction, with Wood's injuries preventing him from converting from a starter to a reliever, and Prior still working to regain his velocity. Neither will be on the opening-day roster. Neither should be.
Meanwhile, the White Sox spent their off-season doing little but make their fans scratch their heads. General Manager Kenny Williams traded starter Freddy Garcia to the Phillies, presumably to make room for Brandon McCarthy in their starting rotation, and then they...traded McCarthy, too. Sox fans were justifiably confused, until Guillen made it clear early in spring training that he didn't care for McCarthy's work habits, especially his propensity for hitting the local bars. It seems petty--vindictive, even--for Guillen to go there after McCarthy has permanently left town. Perhaps Guillen was feeling sensitive on that subject, since the team struggled to fill their fifth starter slot--the slot McCarthy was destined for--until the very end of spring training.
For the White Sox, then, it's more a matter of players already on their roster returning to form--like Mark Buerhle, who spent a few seasons as the ace of the starting rotation, but struggled last year; and Scott Podsednik, such a sparkplug in 2005, lacking spark in 2006. The Sox have all the parts necessary to contend in the American League Central. They'll need all those parts, too, with the Tigers, Twins and Indians all fielding teams capable of winning the division as well.
As for the Cubs, they will no doubt improve their record over 2006; they can't be much worse. Have they improved enough, though, to not only contend with the defending World Series champions, the Cardinals, but actually overtake them? There's only one way to find out...
Play ball.
Yep. It's spring in Chicago.
The baseball disappointments of last fall are fading into memory, but not entirely gone. The White Sox, coming off of the first World Series win this city had seen since Woodrow Wilson was president, had a winning season, but failed to make the playoffs. Their season was also marred by ugly comments from Guillen, who responded calmly and maturely to criticism from Chicago Sun-Times sports columnist Jay Mariotti by calling Mariotti a "fag."
As bad as Sox fans felt, though, Cubs fans had it worse (though I'm sure neither side of town was feeling any sympathy for the other). Prior and Wood were both being counted on for the starting rotation; both were injured much of the season. And after All-Star first baseman Derrek Lee broke his wrist last April, the team's fortunes took a decided turn for the worse, and manager Dusty Baker seemed unable or unwilling to motivate his players. Or, perhaps, the players were unable or unwilling to motivate themselves (at least while the team had a chance to win--Jacque Jones and Aramis Ramirez had fine seasons once the Cubs were well out of contention). Or maybe they were all willing and able, but just not good enough. Whatever the case, the Cubs wound up with a 66-96 record--the worst in the National League.
Most years, Cubs management would tinker with the chemistry of the team, but not make any drastic changes. This year, though, management shook things up. Baker's contract wasn't renewed, and the Tribune Company opened their corporate wallets and signed significant free agents, like slugger Alfonso Soriano, and starting pitchers Ted Lilly and Jason Marquis. Granted, neither Lilly nor Marquis is a Cy Young Award candidate, but each is capable of winning 10 to 15 games a year and giving new manager Lou Piniella plenty of innings. Soriano will be playing a new position (center field), but he's not here for his glove; he's here for his bat.
It's a shame that management didn't make one more big change--letting Wood and Prior go once and for all. It's not that I wish either of them ill. Quite the contrary: I hope that they both have long and, going forward, healthy careers. Thus far, even though neither is being counted on as in years past, their presence has been a distraction, with Wood's injuries preventing him from converting from a starter to a reliever, and Prior still working to regain his velocity. Neither will be on the opening-day roster. Neither should be.
Meanwhile, the White Sox spent their off-season doing little but make their fans scratch their heads. General Manager Kenny Williams traded starter Freddy Garcia to the Phillies, presumably to make room for Brandon McCarthy in their starting rotation, and then they...traded McCarthy, too. Sox fans were justifiably confused, until Guillen made it clear early in spring training that he didn't care for McCarthy's work habits, especially his propensity for hitting the local bars. It seems petty--vindictive, even--for Guillen to go there after McCarthy has permanently left town. Perhaps Guillen was feeling sensitive on that subject, since the team struggled to fill their fifth starter slot--the slot McCarthy was destined for--until the very end of spring training.
For the White Sox, then, it's more a matter of players already on their roster returning to form--like Mark Buerhle, who spent a few seasons as the ace of the starting rotation, but struggled last year; and Scott Podsednik, such a sparkplug in 2005, lacking spark in 2006. The Sox have all the parts necessary to contend in the American League Central. They'll need all those parts, too, with the Tigers, Twins and Indians all fielding teams capable of winning the division as well.
As for the Cubs, they will no doubt improve their record over 2006; they can't be much worse. Have they improved enough, though, to not only contend with the defending World Series champions, the Cardinals, but actually overtake them? There's only one way to find out...
Play ball.
Opening Day 2007
The trees are budding. Flowers push their way through otherwise dormant lawns. Ants crawl onto sidewalks to taste something sweet. Ozzie Guillen's jaw flaps uncontrollably. Kerry Wood and Mark Prior are injured and/or ineffective.
Yep. It's spring in Chicago.
The baseball disappointments of last fall are fading into memory, but not entirely gone. The White Sox, coming off of the first World Series win this city had seen since Woodrow Wilson was president, had a winning season, but failed to make the playoffs. Their season was also marred by ugly comments from Guillen, who responded calmly and maturely to criticism from Chicago Sun-Times sports columnist Jay Mariotti by calling Mariotti a "fag."
As bad as Sox fans felt, though, Cubs fans had it worse (though I'm sure neither side of town was feeling any sympathy for the other). Prior and Wood were both being counted on for the starting rotation; both were injured much of the season. And after All-Star first baseman Derrek Lee broke his wrist last April, the team's fortunes took a decided turn for the worse, and manager Dusty Baker seemed unable or unwilling to motivate his players. Or, perhaps, the players were unable or unwilling to motivate themselves (at least while the team had a chance to win--Jacque Jones and Aramis Ramirez had fine seasons once the Cubs were well out of contention). Or maybe they were all willing and able, but just not good enough. Whatever the case, the Cubs wound up with a 66-96 record--the worst in the National League.
Most years, Cubs management would tinker with the chemistry of the team, but not make any drastic changes. This year, though, management shook things up. Baker's contract wasn't renewed, and the Tribune Company opened their corporate wallets and signed significant free agents, like slugger Alfonso Soriano, and starting pitchers Ted Lilly and Jason Marquis. Granted, neither Lilly nor Marquis is a Cy Young Award candidate, but each is capable of winning 10 to 15 games a year and giving new manager Lou Piniella plenty of innings. Soriano will be playing a new position (center field), but he's not here for his glove; he's here for his bat.
It's a shame that management didn't make one more big change--letting Wood and Prior go once and for all. It's not that I wish either of them ill. Quite the contrary: I hope that they both have long and, going forward, healthy careers. Thus far, even though neither is being counted on as in years past, their presence has been a distraction, with Wood's injuries preventing him from converting from a starter to a reliever, and Prior still working to regain his velocity. Neither will be on the opening-day roster. Neither should be.
Meanwhile, the White Sox spent their off-season doing little but make their fans scratch their heads. General Manager Kenny Williams traded starter Freddy Garcia to the Phillies, presumably to make room for Brandon McCarthy in their starting rotation, and then they...traded McCarthy, too. Sox fans were justifiably confused, until Guillen made it clear early in spring training that he didn't care for McCarthy's work habits, especially his propensity for hitting the local bars. It seems petty--vindictive, even--for Guillen to go there after McCarthy has permanently left town. Perhaps Guillen was feeling sensitive on that subject, since the team struggled to fill their fifth starter slot--the slot McCarthy was destined for--until the very end of spring training.
For the White Sox, then, it's more a matter of players already on their roster returning to form--like Mark Buerhle, who spent a few seasons as the ace of the starting rotation, but struggled last year; and Scott Podsednik, such a sparkplug in 2005, lacking spark in 2006. The Sox have all the parts necessary to contend in the American League Central. They'll need all those parts, too, with the Tigers, Twins and Indians all fielding teams capable of winning the division as well.
As for the Cubs, they will no doubt improve their record over 2006; they can't be much worse. Have they improved enough, though, to not only contend with the defending World Series champions, the Cardinals, but actually overtake them? There's only one way to find out...
Play ball.
Yep. It's spring in Chicago.
The baseball disappointments of last fall are fading into memory, but not entirely gone. The White Sox, coming off of the first World Series win this city had seen since Woodrow Wilson was president, had a winning season, but failed to make the playoffs. Their season was also marred by ugly comments from Guillen, who responded calmly and maturely to criticism from Chicago Sun-Times sports columnist Jay Mariotti by calling Mariotti a "fag."
As bad as Sox fans felt, though, Cubs fans had it worse (though I'm sure neither side of town was feeling any sympathy for the other). Prior and Wood were both being counted on for the starting rotation; both were injured much of the season. And after All-Star first baseman Derrek Lee broke his wrist last April, the team's fortunes took a decided turn for the worse, and manager Dusty Baker seemed unable or unwilling to motivate his players. Or, perhaps, the players were unable or unwilling to motivate themselves (at least while the team had a chance to win--Jacque Jones and Aramis Ramirez had fine seasons once the Cubs were well out of contention). Or maybe they were all willing and able, but just not good enough. Whatever the case, the Cubs wound up with a 66-96 record--the worst in the National League.
Most years, Cubs management would tinker with the chemistry of the team, but not make any drastic changes. This year, though, management shook things up. Baker's contract wasn't renewed, and the Tribune Company opened their corporate wallets and signed significant free agents, like slugger Alfonso Soriano, and starting pitchers Ted Lilly and Jason Marquis. Granted, neither Lilly nor Marquis is a Cy Young Award candidate, but each is capable of winning 10 to 15 games a year and giving new manager Lou Piniella plenty of innings. Soriano will be playing a new position (center field), but he's not here for his glove; he's here for his bat.
It's a shame that management didn't make one more big change--letting Wood and Prior go once and for all. It's not that I wish either of them ill. Quite the contrary: I hope that they both have long and, going forward, healthy careers. Thus far, even though neither is being counted on as in years past, their presence has been a distraction, with Wood's injuries preventing him from converting from a starter to a reliever, and Prior still working to regain his velocity. Neither will be on the opening-day roster. Neither should be.
Meanwhile, the White Sox spent their off-season doing little but make their fans scratch their heads. General Manager Kenny Williams traded starter Freddy Garcia to the Phillies, presumably to make room for Brandon McCarthy in their starting rotation, and then they...traded McCarthy, too. Sox fans were justifiably confused, until Guillen made it clear early in spring training that he didn't care for McCarthy's work habits, especially his propensity for hitting the local bars. It seems petty--vindictive, even--for Guillen to go there after McCarthy has permanently left town. Perhaps Guillen was feeling sensitive on that subject, since the team struggled to fill their fifth starter slot--the slot McCarthy was destined for--until the very end of spring training.
For the White Sox, then, it's more a matter of players already on their roster returning to form--like Mark Buerhle, who spent a few seasons as the ace of the starting rotation, but struggled last year; and Scott Podsednik, such a sparkplug in 2005, lacking spark in 2006. The Sox have all the parts necessary to contend in the American League Central. They'll need all those parts, too, with the Tigers, Twins and Indians all fielding teams capable of winning the division as well.
As for the Cubs, they will no doubt improve their record over 2006; they can't be much worse. Have they improved enough, though, to not only contend with the defending World Series champions, the Cardinals, but actually overtake them? There's only one way to find out...
Play ball.
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