It has come to my attention that there may be people out there who have no idea about Sunset Boulevard – only one of the best films of all time by iconic director Billy Wilder. This disturbs me slightly, so here’s a glimmer of that inspiration in guise of one of our classic {MUSIC MINUTE}s.
Scored by legendary Hollywood composer Franz Waxman, the moody jazzy score provides the perfect sultry and mysterious backdrop for this strange tale. If I had a dime for every time I said “they don’t make them like they used to” . . . but this film is the epitome of that sentiment.
The film opens as a murder investigation, but delves into the twisted depths of an aging silent movie starlet who coerced a handsome screenwriter to be her live-in gigolo. When he decides its time to leave, things get very . . . dramatic.
Gloria Swanson who was an aging silent movie star herself brings such complexity, vulnerability, and diva strength – you are sure to be shook. On top of that, the film is a gorgeous display of midcentury Hollywood style and glamour; from the grandeur of the mansion (which was also used in Rebel Without a Cause) littered with gold leaf, exotic mouldings, tapestries, and furs to some seriously chic loungewear – there really is inspiration at every turn.
So watch these Main Titles, take in that awesome score, and get yourself a copy of Sunset Boulevard!
You wont regret it.
Just doing our duty of bring the {past} to the {present} to shape the {future}.
So, its probably safe to say we all love a break from the status-quo when it comes to what to watch . . . we are all fed the same things via Netflix, cable, etc. but sometimes you find yourself thirsting for something off the beaten path that truly quenches that need for the weird, the wonderful, and the strange!
That’s why we are starting this new series we aptly have named {WEIRD T.V.}!
We know many of you fine viewers continue to come back to our site because we aim to offer something a bit more eclectic and unique than your average blog, and have been searching the depths of the interwebs for gems dying to be rediscovered!
We’re gonna present the first video in this series, “Silent Twins: Without My Shadow” which was a BBC special that premiered in 1994 about the strange case of June and Jennifer Gibbons AKA The Silent Twins.
The bizarre story of these twin girls from the UK first caught our eye on the vlogosphere with several Youtubers telling the strange tale, but this first-hand account includes amazing insight from doctors and journalists who followed the girls’ case since they were young, as well as their parents, and remarkable excerpts from their many journals and short stories.
We don’t want to reveal too much, because the story truly unfolds in such an odd and fantastic way that you really just have to give yourself over to this oddity of a tale.
The story is UNBELIEVABLE! So, If you need a good weird before bed something to watch – this is IT!!!
Alas, we hope you enjoy our first entry into our {WEIRD T.V.} category, and hope you come back for more!
Let us know what you thought in the COMMENTS below!
Indescribable… indestructible… insatiable… It crawls… It creeps… It eats you alive!
The 1958 film “The Blob” might just be the pinnacle of classic 50s B-Movie awesomeness! Check it out for the sci-fi camp, the american nostalgia, and above-all the wicked vintage style inspiration in every moment of the film.
E.O.F. {STYLE IDOL} STEVE MCQUEEN actually made his feature film debut starring in this flick! His brooding blonde badass-ness is still a refreshing sight on the screen. Funny enough, the star was 27 at the time of filming but playing a 17 year old!
We were enraptured recently discovering that Burt Bacharach created the film’s charming happy-go-lucky theme song, and wanted to bring it to the forefront!
If you’re not, you need to get your life together and watch one of THE most visually and philosophically opulent shows that has graced the small screen in a very very long time . . .
Each shot, each sound, each choice and decision is stunning, and we have to admit we are hooked!
It’s nice to watch a show that feels like it embodies a deeper meaning to it. If you want a taste of what we mean, here’s a glimpse at the opening credits which in themselves are a true work of art!
It’s really a complex work! Here’s a rundown of what we’ve seen from the title’s director Patrick Claire {via Reddit}:
A broken cowboy who’s got a prosthetic limb similar to so many of our veterans who have faced tragic events in warzones overseas. And he’s accompanied by a centaur instead of a horse, and the centaur is made out of BigDog, the robotic pack horse that the military is developing
We thought it apropos to delve into the fantastic and fundamentalstylish-ness of this poignant and severely under-rated film.
Whilst the flower power movement is mostly seen as Woodstock, flower children dancing in parks, peace, love, and rainbows – the counter-culture movement that began to arise from the horrors of the Vietnam War and injustices in America was also an aggressive and violent force ready for radical change.
Parties like The Weathermen, Baader Meinhoff, and the Black Panthers fought for revolutionary change from the capitalist bourgeoise regimes that still run the world to this day.
Much the way Antonioni’s fashionable masterpiece Blow-Up captured the Swinging London of the mid-60s in his chic docu-stylized manner, Zabriskie Point aimed to shed light on this particular moment in time.
The film even features a cameo by THE political power-force and activist Kathleen Cleaver (who is also very due to be inaugurated to the rank of E.O.F. DIVINITY}!
The turbulently good-looking Mark Ferchette plays Mark, an armed student radical on the run from the cops.
While flying an airplane over the desert he spots Daria Halprin who plays Daria, a gorgeous bohemian goddess who may or may not have a thing for wealthy older business execs, and they engage in an erotic (and dusty) desert orgy.
Whilst a desert orgy might seem like a tried and true climax for any film- the real climax drifts dreamily to Daria’s increasing discomfort and disgust over bourgeoise attempts to redevelop the gorgeous Mojave desert.
What follows this moment of realization is a fantastical finale that tells a thousand thoughts, statements, and poetic musings through the universality of cinema.
This final moment cannot be denied.
SPOILER ALERT!
{WATCH THE FINALE BELOW}
If you watched the clip, you can see why Zabriskie Point is really fuelling our psych-rock summer.
Would have to recommend musing over the desert love scene, if you’re in the romantic mood . . .
And whether you’re in it to take in all the timelessly cool/counter-culture chic/boho American stylings of costume designer Ray Summers or the epic psych-rock soundtrack that features a theme song by Roy Orbison, and tracks by the Grateful Dead, Rolling Stones, The Youngbloods, Patti Page, and the ultimate Pink Floyd– this film is ICONIC in every right!!!
Interestingly, both of the films stars were non-actors who both appeared in exactly three films.
Mark Ferchette was a carpenter discovered during a loud argument on the streets of Boston where he allegedly threw a flower pot at a woman, while Daria Halprin was spotted by Antonioni in the Jack O’Connell documentary ‘Revolution‘ which profiled the counter-culture movement in San Francisco.
The two make for a beautiful All-American bohemian brunette couple, whose enigmatic bond is as mysterious as it is inspiring…
They gained the status of the first counter-culture couple, and actually maintained a real life romance, which later led to them getting a string of magazine covers, TV appearances, and even joining a cult together.
After all, a couple that joins a cult together stays together!
”It put me in a kind of lifestyle and situation that in many, many ways I wasn’t ready to deal with,”
Whilst the film garnered lack lustre reviews at the time for its meandering plot and docu-surrealism which may have just been a little too ahead of its time.
But, that’s what’s great about exploring the {PAST} you have the opportunity of looking at it through the lens of the {PRESENT} and hopefully keep the dialogue going into the {FUTURE}.
In a world as messed up today (if not more than)- a film like Zabriskie Point is a fearless reminder of the people who almost 50 years ago cried for change, the timelessness of true style, and the dreaminess of the desert . . .
Where did this courage and fight go in our day to day? Have we really been brainwashed to believe everything will be OK?
Sometimes it feels like you just might pull a Daria, too?
Talk about American beauty . . . do yourself a favour and watch this film!
Based on the French comic series first published in 1967 and reappearing again in 2010, Valérian and Laureline; the trailer is full of astounding moments that dazzle the eyes (that PALETTE, though?!) and are all the more amplified by the surge of emotions provided by the addition of the very first original recording by the Beatles to ever appear in a movie trailer!
Sounds like a big feat, but apparently all it took was for Luc Besson to ask Paul McCartney himself.
“I just asked! We reached out to Paul McCartney, and he asked, ‘What is the film?’ and then he said yes! I never met him – I wish I could, to thank him. From what I heard, he’s seen a couple of my films…There is a vibe that I think, from what I heard, made him say, ‘For this one, because it’s at least new and fresh.’ So I think that he likes that. He likes to be part of something new.” {source}
While the French director certainly isn’t a stranger to the genre of science fiction, count on today’s advances in technology breaking the walls down for true aesthetic mastery, much the same way he did years ago with the stellar 90s masterpiece “THE FIFTH ELEMENT“!
According to most conspiracy websites, the Queen of Witches herself: RI RI , GOOD GIRL GONE BAD , MISS SUNSHINE . . . RIHANNA where you at?
Well, if you’re asking yourself that question, here’s the second teaser to drop this week to get another look!
Alright, if you haven’t spotted it yet, lets post our own little teaser below, just because . . .
+SORRY NOT SORRY+
Only Luc Besson could pull of making this film, and we can’t wait for it to land in theatres July 21!
We were super inspired, as always, by the style and look of this film – most particularly that super rad vintage Hawaiian graphic shirt that Dean DaHaan sports in the film! Are we not always saying that a wicked wild graphic shirt is absolutely timelessly cool?!
Who knows how long it will be available for your viewing pleasure . . .
Absolutely amazing footage of The Young Vic’s masterful production of Tennesse William’s American masterpiece “A Streetcar Named Desire”, starring Ben Foster as Stanley Kowalski and the Queen herself, Gillian Anderson, as Blanche Dubois.
ICONIC, MUCH?
The production brings this timeless story of vanity, lust, shame, misconception, and denial to a very vivid place that truly makes the audience feel like they themselves are somehow teetering a fine line between fantasy and reality.
I’ve always depended on the kindness of the internet . . .
If you’re looking for horror, sex, and a little intrigue look no further than this incredible cult classic from 1964: Hiroshi Teshigahara’s “Woman in the Dunes”. This art house film that could would garner Teshigahara an Academy Award nomination for Best Director in 1967 (he was beat by Robert Wise for “The Sound of Music”).
It’s a strange story, one first told by Japanese author Kôbô Abe (who also wrote the film’s screenplay) in the hugely successful novel by the same name. This is 1960s cinema at its finest and absolutely darkest. It’s also the kind of film that you wish was made now; a film that is provocative, lingering, sexy, intellectual, and above-all screams style!
So if you enjoy films with a core, and our thirst for the strange you’ll definitely appreciate this one. There’s little blood, and definitely no ghosts, but there’s definitely something creepy that lurks with you long after the movie has ended. Trust us on this one and grab a copy from Amazon today!
“The most frightening thing in the world is to discover the abnormal in that which is closest to us.”
We were so pleased to have Kristin Archer of local blog I Heart Hamilton come by The Eye of Faith Headquarters to peruse our record collection for her upcoming set at Discography {Session 48} this Sunday at The Baltimore House that we decided to document some of her finds on video, and pick her brain a bit on how she has evolved from doing her blog and radio show to DJing alongside some of the city’s best!
“I came from a very hardened punk background in the late 80’s and early 90’s and my early films really projected that. Of course there have been aspects of the more mainstream-type stuff I’m currently doing that, at first, have been difficult to navigate due to my past. But I’m learning. It’s a very rewarding process and I’m loving it.”
-Johnny Terris
Johnny Terris is one bad ass dude.
A true Renaissance man, Johnny has engaged in roles as actor, film maker, author, model, photographer and painter. Best known for his transgressive, violent punk-influenced films that were far from mainstream, even in the indie sense; Johnny would distribute his earliest on VHS in the streets of Halifax, Nova Scotia, to strangers. He even went as far to use his own blood in scenes!
Legendary for being asked to be Johnny Depp’s double in the early 90s – Johnny, in true rebel fashion, turned it down. Now he continues his work as an actor (AKA Edward Terris) in the TV miniseries “Sex & Violence”, which co-stars Academy Award winning actress, Olympia Dukakis.
The Eye of Faith is honoured to post this interview with a true pioneer of the subversively cool right here in the True North Strong and Free!
Special thanks to our correspondent John Wisniewski for the interview.
JW: When did you begin making films and and acting, Johnny?
JT: I started doing movies around 1987 when I was 14 years old. Basically out of boredom living in a small town. My cousin, who was also my best friend, would film various things typical boys would do and then just decided to make a movie one day. We were heavily influenced by retro horror and grind house style film and my work of course reflected that. I never fit in with anyone in the small town where I lived and neither did he, so doing films were an outlet for us, an expression. When I left home at 16, I became angrier and had an axe to grind with the world, so they eventually became more graphic and explicit and transgressive.
JW: Why did you decide to write an autobiographical novel?
JT: I started writing Sinister Splendor & Broken Glass back around 2002 but shelved it for many years. I originally started to write it for myself only, basically for therapeutic purposes because in 2001, the love of my life became a missing person and was never found so I thought writing about it would help with dealing with it. From there it just kind of spiraled into writing about my life from childhood, my early years on the street doing underground films and present stuff. The next thing I knew I pretty much had a book.
I compiled it together and released the first draft in 2011. It has since changed direction. Instead of an autobiography, it’s now more of a fictional character story that is set in the 1970’s and 1980’s, about a guy named Aaron, that is heavily based on my life instead of being about my life. That’s the third and final draft and the most recent one.
Nobody really knows who I am, and I’m sure most of the world wouldn’t care anyway so I decided to make it fiction that is based on me with characters based on my friends an family instead of the standard autobiography. It made it more interesting to me that way. And I think to others reading it too. The book is still my life, but the characters are different.
JW: Any artists that have influenced your work?
JT: A few artists have influenced me in big way, Richard Kern and The Cinema Of Transgression were probably the biggest influence on me in terms of my own films. Retro 70’s and 80’s horror played a huge part as well. Early Dario Argento played a huge part. Grindhouse flicks, drive-in movies form that period.
From a very young age I was really influenced by a lot of vintage heterosexual porn too like Devil In Miss Jones, Devil Inside Her, Behind The Green Door etc. All the really strange and surreal X-rated films of that period. Early John Waters of course played an influence, especially in my early work.
Musically I was, and still am, obsessed with the NWOBHM/New Wave Of British Heavy Metal from the late 70’s and early 80’s. Bands like Girlschool, Motorhead, Plasmatics/Wendy O Williams, Saxon, Turbonegro, Judas Priest, bands like that. Tight jeans, white t-shirt, spiked wristband, leather jacket wearing, sneering bands. A lot of punk-tinged heavy metal from that period. Listening to that stuff gets me in writing mode immediately.
JW: Do you enjoy acting?
JT: Yeah of course, I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t enjoy it. I’m actually more comfortable in front of the camera being someone else than I am in my personal life. It’s always been that way. When I was a little kid I used to memorize scripts at the age of 9 or 10 years old and perform every character in my bedroom by myself for hours on end. Acting has always triggered something in me, as far back as I can remember.
JW: You once doubled for Johnny Depp. What was that like?
JT: I never doubled for Johnny Depp. I was asked to when I was younger and living in Los Angeles but I was moving back to Canada at the time. I wouldn’t have done it anyway. I have no desire to be another actor, or anyone other than myself.
JW: What is your opinion of Hollywood and Hollywood movies?
JT: When I first went to Hollywood it was nothing like I expected it to be. It was actually pretty grimy and trashy. The Rainbow Bar & Grill was always fun. The Whiskey was fun. I don’t have a problem with mainstream cinema or the Hollywood stuff; it’s not exactly my thing, but being older now I’m not as ferocious against it like I used to be.
I used to revolt against it in a really hardcore way. But I’m currently one of the leads in a television series with Olympia Dukakis (who is an Oscar winner) so I’ve obviously tamed a bit in the old age and don’t care about that as much haha.
Most Hollywood films are formula and neatly packed for selling purposes and because of that it’s the same stuff just rehashed over and over again with a different title, and I personally find that very boring. Hollywood is very loud and explosive and action packed. They make and market their films that way. I prefer psychological films that are slower in tone and make you think.
JW: Are you a horror film fan? Any favorite horror films, Johnny?
JT: Yeah I am a huge horror fan, I grew up on them and they are a huge influence. My mother was a huge lover of horror movies and nothing was really ever censored from me so I was watching stuff like ‘The Exorcist’ and ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ when I was just a little kid. I usually prefer the physiological ones over the gore. I have lots of favorite horror films, though my favorite one would have to be the original ‘Carrie’.
JW: Are you working on any screenplays, Johnny?
JT: Nothing really big right now, no. I’m very slowly writing a screenplay/script which is a greaser-style drama film about two brothers and their alcoholic father. But that’s a work in progress and who knows how that will evolve; too early to tell right now. I am though, currently helping a friend of mine shoot his apocalyptic style film.
