Lastly, VALLEY OF THE DOLLS at the Paramount theater here in Austin. This is the neatest theater in Austin. A turn of the century theatre with gorgeous design. This place makes every film 1 star better than it is. Which according to the dude that introduced the film, would make this a 1 star film.
I disagree. Maybe it's that I am currently in the middle of a media frenzy. The lights shinging on me, and interviews day after day, agents calling, directors calling, writers calling, aspiring film makers calling. Ring ring ring ring. Email after Email after Email. Going to the bank drive through and being held up by the bank teller because "Aren't you that guy Hollywood is afraid of?" Eating lunch with people coming up wishing you the best.
It's cool as hell. I love it. But I do have to wonder where this will all lead. Thus comes VALLEY OF THE DOLLS. First off, Dolls = drugs that pep you up or bring you down. Energy creators and taker awayers. Personally I'm a caffiene freak, and work till I fall asleep. Who the hell needs a pill to go to sleep. Well my mom did, she also had a severe alcohol problem, as did her mother before her. I took this film seriously.
The film takes place in an era of high camp, but personally I don't see the wink wink. Instead I saw a scathing look at what fame can do to those that let it a)get them down or b) get them use to a certain style of living, only to bring them back to where they started. It's a big slice of humble pie, and I thought it tasted good.
It also was quite politically incorrect. Well THANK GOD. I hate the polite little world we live in, where you look someone right in the face and tell them you love em, but turn around and when they aren't looking... well you destroy there rep.
Sharon Tate garnered the most audience attention based on her Manson connection. She was applauded each time she appeared on screen. A celebrity victim cheered. I saw this as the most tragic element of all. This girl, so full of beauty, who is being applauded for not what she did, but for what happened to her. Kinda sick if you ask me. Like the CROW, this film had some poignancy that events off the screen brought to the film.
This film got to me, not as a crappy film, but as a real film. Also I loved the structure of the film. The comparison of how 3 friends, each achieving fame in their own way, and how they cope with it.
The audience was in a participatory mood, hissing at the "bad guy" and howling in laughter at lines like, "You know all faggots are bitchy". Check the film out if you get a chance, it's very interesting, and a bit more than you are expecting.
Now in your city I recommend seeing Copland if you haven't. Followed by Mimic. I haven't seen Money Talks or GI JANE, but based on the most recent word I'm getting about 70% liking Money Talks, and about a 50/50 split on GI JANE if that helps you out. If you enjoy pain, go see that Greg Kinnear film. Filmic masochism, I call it. Test your cajones. And if you stay at home, check out Valley of the Dolls, or (shameless plug) go rent Ballad of the Sad Cafe to see the film debut of Harry Knowles, me. And then go do a subject line in the forum with my lines in quotes!!! Let's see if any of yall have the guts to watch a Merchant Ivory film starring Head Geek as Fat Boy.
