Comments on: Retro-View: Point Blank (1967)

By: christian

christian — Tue, 13 May 2008 00:43:40 +0000

I spent a lot of needless time capturing just the right frame. i love the initial drizzle of color but it’s impossible to capture. I like to read my old stuff, my ego is morre needy.

And I just bumped into a SKIDOO actor at my local cafe. More to come.

By: Craig Kennedy

Craig Kennedy — Mon, 12 May 2008 23:42:08 +0000

Also, thanks for reading my review. Reading stuff I wrote in the past is always a little uncomfortable for me. I’m weird that way. In this case, I think there was way too much synopsizing going on, but there’s some ok stuff after that.

Your psychadelic screen cap is a little better than the one I made. I’m not sure how I got the one with the least amount of color or why that’s the one I went with.

Ah well.

By: Craig Kennedy

Craig Kennedy — Mon, 12 May 2008 23:37:30 +0000

I love The Limey, but Point Blank would take it out behind the shed and beat it with a shovel.

And you’re right, that’s one of the all time great commentaries. Between that and Schizopolis, I developed an enormous man crush on Soderbergh. The way he stood his ground without being a complete asshole to Dobbs was terrific. Dobbs probably had every reason to be cranky, but still.

By: Alexander Coleman

Alexander Coleman — Mon, 12 May 2008 23:30:01 +0000

Ahaha…

By: christian

christian — Mon, 12 May 2008 23:03:09 +0000

Alexander, I’m sure you can find something to say. if we were at Berkeley, you could analyze the film from a Marxist/feminist/Foucaultian perspective…or not…

By: Alexander Coleman

Alexander Coleman — Mon, 12 May 2008 22:59:21 +0000

Whoops, I spent a long time tapping out my comment, as I was reading an article in another window, and missed Craig’s post.

Sheesh, I didn’t know you wrote a review of this one, too, Craig. I’ll check that out right now.

Thanks for adding my blog to your links, Christian. Whenever I figure out/get time to put links on my infant blog, you, Craig and Chuck will all be there.

By: Alexander Coleman

Alexander Coleman — Mon, 12 May 2008 22:57:01 +0000

This is a fabulous review, Christian. It’ll be hard to find something else to say about this film when I review it, but I’ll try. The shot of Marvin’s face with the psychedelic colors pouring over it is tremendous, though, and a kind of echo of him looking at the psychedelic shampoo colors in the tub that he looks down at. I love this film. Your story about that teacher is funny and sounds like the archetypical teacher.

By: christian

christian — Mon, 12 May 2008 22:55:11 +0000

Don’t know how I missed your review. Good one. Glad to see we used the same photo of Walker in his psychedelic glory. And you can’t not use the word “weasel” to describe Vernon.

I know THE LIMEY has the more emotional quality, but POINT BLANK just beats it all around. I too love how Lem Dobbs denies any connect to POINT BLANK on the DVD, which is easily in the pantheon of great audio commentaries. Dobbs is cranky and Soderbergh is unflappable.

By: Craig Kennedy

Craig Kennedy — Mon, 12 May 2008 22:43:30 +0000

Great review of a terrific film. You can read my take here:
http://livingincinema.com/2007/10/23/review-point-blank-1967/
One of the few retro reviews I’ve managed to write.

I take the tack that Walker isn’t physically dead, but he’s spiritually dead – his zest for living replaced by a never satisfied thirst for revenge as he climbs the ladder of people he holds responsible for his betrayal, only to find nothingness at the very end.

Great stuff. And you’re right, that psychadelic scene is a beauty.

I love the whole opening.

By: christian

christian — Mon, 12 May 2008 04:57:16 +0000

I missed the Pumpkin Eater. Robert Neill (!) and I took the class…wish I could remember his name…What do you recall?

Lynn and I were both obssessed with BEDAZZLED, but I got her a letterbox copy…

Thanks for stopping by! Happy Mother’s Day!