Tommy Lee Jones

i love that movie!

I haven't gotten to Tarantino's chapter on Rolling Thunder yet--fully expect him to go overboard--but it is good, with a very unusual, almost catatonic lead performance from William Devane (who's usually at the more florid end of the acting spectrum--and does lots of celebrity-testimonial commercials nowadays). Very proud that I recognized Paul A. Partain from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (Franklin), one of only seven films he ever made (one of only five that didn't have the word "chainsaw" in the title).

I find it funny that Shakey said TLJ is "awful" and could only justify this by saying he kept getting cast as hard-assed cop characters that Shakey found boring. TLJ kept getting cast in those parts because Hollywood kept making films filled with hard-assed cops and Jones did them very well, bringing an extra touch of humanity to them that worse actors couldn't achieve.

xp

Enjoying Tarantino’s podcast, but guy certainly (nothing new) enthuses over some undeniable crap. Rolling Thunder is legit pretty good though. Dig the vibe and performances. Remember watching a VHS rip of it a few times during my college years.

I bought Rolling Thunder on Blu-Ray a couple of months ago and yeah, it's pretty dark and fucked up. (Written by Paul Schrader, so...surprise, dark and fucked up!) Jones and Devane are both really good.

(xxpost) Also, even if that is your objection, you can hardly lump No Country in--a cop, yes, but far from hard-assed.

I'm finding the book useful, annoying--the way he uses italics is sometimes ridiculous--kind of random in the films that get chapters, informative (the title aside, there's lots of good making-of background on the films he writes about), and, for better and worse, true to his own films. My guess is he's a better podcaster than author.

I was surprised to see Schrader in the opening credits--don't think I knew that. Happily, was able to watch it for nothing on Tubi.

Written by Schrader for John Milius apparently. Final product not purely Schrader’s though, the other credited screenwriter did a pass on it. It’s a good script too, lot of quietly potent lines in there. Exploitation done with some gravitas.

Think I’ll rewatch it tonight if it’s streaming, been a while.

John Flynn was a cut above the usual exploitation director. He also directed The Outfit of course but also a trio of B-flicks in a row (Best Seller, Lock Up, Out For Justice) which aren’t amazing but are good genre movies.

Probably the kind of journeyman director that Tarantino loves, and the kind they don’t really make anymore to an extent.

TLJ rules.

Alfred I thought of you when I came across this recently but forgot to post it

https://www.julienslive.com/lot-details/index/catalog/167/lot/69314

Is Rolling Thunder the one where Schrader's original script had a Travis Bickle cameo?

Definitely thought of Taxi Driver while watching, especially the last 10 minutes.

My goal of watching every film beforehand that gets its own chapter will be put to the test with Paradise Alley.

Alfred I thought of you when I came across this recently but forgot to post it

https://www.julienslive.com/lot-details/index/catalog/167/lot/69314

― omar little

I hope you like squab!