Hi, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab...
I’ve got this one sitting on top of the TV, and I’ve watched it twice since it showed up here at the Labs. It’s a fascinating film, and I lament the fact that I didn’t live in LA when Z Channel was on the air. I would read about it, and I even managed to send away for some of the program guides, which were like these incredible, impossible promises that somewhere out there, someone was broadcasting a channel that seemed too cool to exist. And, indeed, it was too cool to last for long. Here’s FNORDCinco to tell you more:
I just got back from a free outdoor screening of, Z CHANNEL: A MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION at the Cable Center on the University of Denver Campus. They are also showing in the coming Fridays, BETWEEN STRANGERS, HERODES LAW, SLASHER, and a HiDef THE SHINNING (But not before 7 thats’ willies time).
Z CHANNEL: A MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION is two documentary’s in one. One about Z Channel and its effect on Hollywood and Independent films that will be felt for years to come. And the other on the life of Jerry Harvey their programming chief, a modern day above average manic movie geek with problems. Not being from LA I had only the information on the Internet for any kind of history of the Z Channel. Seemed interesting, lots of very great movies early on when Cable was still sold door to door by salesman. I was shocked while watching, not knowing such a channel existed in the 80's.
First Z Channel is promoted as STARRING Quentin Tarantino, but much like other documentary’s seeking wider audience, he is just a player being interviewed about his experiences. His purview is on the side of the documentary that talks about Z Channel itself. He speaks of his video store job and all the recordings of Z Channel his boss gave him to watch. And in one of the more energetic of spots QT somewhat loses it and starts muttering like he seems to do when talking film.
Z Channel itself in the 80's brought life to movies not seen since their two weeks in the cinema or internationally known but cut to suck for America. Jerry Harvey asked directors to do their own cuts in a time when that was unthinkable. He spent massive amounts of the stations cash and gave up so much on films that could easily be called Failures. Producing an independent film guide that is the precursor to all the movie websites and magazines. Also for the pervy talk backers this documentary provides lots and lots of full frontal female nudity. As highlighted in Z CHANNELS’ After Hours programming, but even that was shown for a reason. Highlighting that Z Channel wasn’t just about showing Indi or Foreign films, but the Full Spectrum of the Art.
Harvey himself was a movie geek before that term existed. Doing what we all want to do, get paid to watch lots and lots of films. Being appreciated for spreading knowledge and giving joy to those with no ability to see such films on their own. Starting the fire inside so many directors and reigniting burnt out film makers.
Through interviews and sound clips of Harvey himself (Always followed by silence) his life is told with loving, by his friends and the women in his life. Z CHANNEL: A MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION doesn’t allow the lay to speculate on what happened to Jerry Harvey, having it come out early that he killed his wife then himself. No answers are given for what he suffered and the crime he committed. One has to wonder why this story took so long to get out but as Harvey’s best friends said "We were just so angry at him."
This documentary is a primer on films you haven’t seen and wont see on Cable ever again, and the price of being dedicated.
FNORDcinco
It’s great stuff. Thanks for the review, man.
"Moriarty" out.
