Hi, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab...
Fans of freaky psychedelic musicals are going to be in hog heaven as long as they’re in the Big Apple this coming weekend. Check this out...
Harry or whomever:
My name is Devin T. Quin, a long time fan, I’m writing in about two awesome things for Aint-It-Cool fans happening in NYC this week I didn’t see mentioned on your site: The Re-release of Richard Elfman’s Forbidden Zone, and a director’s commentary live recording of The American Astronaut.
1. If anyone has seen the movie The American Astronaut, they know it’s a musical, space-shooting time and a half. This Thursday (May 27th), the Director is screening the film and recording his Director’s Commentary track for the DVD release. I understand the taping of the commentary is a live recording during the showing of the print, so I can assume he’ll be taking questions from the audience (but who knows.) That will be at a bar called Union Pool at the corner of Union and the BQE at 8:30 I do believe. 484 Union Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211. According to the website for the movie, the commentary screening is at 8:30, followed by a regular full showing at 10:30.
2. Richard Elfman, Brother of Danny Elfman of Oingo Boingo and movie soundtrack fame, has a restored print of his 1980 masterpiece Forbidden Zone which is showing in select theaters across this fine land of ours. You can check the website for show times, though the run is almost over.
Anyway, it’s playing this Friday through Sunday at the Sunshine Theater in NYC and Richard Elfman himself is going to be at Friday and Saturday’s shows. I try not to geek out over things, but I think this is one of the greatest movies of all time. If you haven’t ever seen it and you like innovative, offbeat weird stuff it’s a MUST SEE! Forbidden Zone is an obscure cult fave akin to Rocky Horror or Flesh Gordon, but better than both combined.
The plot is amazingly surreal and dada, with dancing frogs, naked women, Herve Villaches as King Fausto of the Sixth dimension and Denny Elfman as Satan (Danny also scored the whole film) but the plot (while incredible) is not the amazing part.
The film does things UNIQUE you will not see in any other film. At its essence it is a black and white tribute to the bouncy, creepy Max Fleischer Betty Boop cartoons of the 30’s. The sets are German expressionist both out of design and budget restraint. The actors are mostly a motley of hammy no ones giving it their all. At any given time the action can flow seamlessly into mind blowing animation pieces. The humor is EXTREMELY UN-POLITICALLY CORRECT, and the sex and drug abuse in the film is rampant.
I can’t say enough about this film. I’m not hired to do any promoting for it or anything, it’s just about my favorite movie and The director’s going to be there and I didn’t see any reviews or mention of the re-release on your site.
I’m tired of seeing the same cookie-cutter Hollywood schlock. This is one movie that is as innovative and bizarre as it is entertaining.
Thanks a bunch, keep up the good work.
-Devin T. Quin
Friday, May 28, 2004 - Sunshine Theatre
Saturday, May 29, 2004 - Sunshine Theatre
Sunday, May 30, 2004 - Sunshine Theatre
Friday - Saturday
(Special Appearance By Richard Elfman)
Sunday - schedule permitting.
143 East Houston Street on the Lower East Side
New York, NY 10002
(212) 330-8182
Thanks, man. Wish I was in NYC this weekend, as both events sound absolutely groovy.
"Moriarty" out.
