The Kidd here...
No more than 250 words on which David Cronenberg film is your favorite of all-time and why. That was the mission required of you if you wanted to take your best shot at landing a COSMOPOLIS theatrical one sheet, signed by the auteur himself as well as the film's lead, Robert Pattinson.
I expected some serious argument and debate for the one film that meant the most to you in Cronenberg's library... but what I didn't expect was one fan's dedication that went even beyond words. cementing his rightful place as the victor here.
See for yourself, but congrats to Jacob Knight. You truly deserve this one.
To be fair, Cronenberg's "best" film is probably DEAD RINGERS, but VIDEODROME will always be the one nearest and dearest to my heart. I first saw it when I was sixteen, at a rep screening in NJ on 35mm. At the time, I really only knew David Cronenberg as "the director of THE FLY and SCANNERS". I loved THE FLY and SCANNERS...well...it was alright. But when from the opening tracking shot across Max Renn's apartment, I was hooked.
The peverse sexuality, the body deformations, Marshall McChluan (who I recognized at 16 from Woody's ANNIE HALL) as Brian O'Blivion, Debbie Harry's lips, the pulsating TV (created by Rick Baker!) -- it was so overwhelming I had to seek the film out at my nearest West Coast Video and bribe the manager to let me buy his copy off the shelf (he let me for forty bucks, a minor fee for such a major influence on my life). I wore that tape out with the sheer number of times I watched it.
VIDEODROME would lead to my life long love of David Cronenberg. In college, I wrote a 25 page thesis paper on the thematic relevance of his filmography. I would go on to see most of his films in 35mm (I'm still missing CRASH and THEY CAME FROM WITHIN...but I'll get them someday). And on my first wedding anniversary, my wife and I decided to get each other tattoos (a tradition we've carried on for five years) and mine was this...
That's hardcore right there.
So congrats to Jacob on his far-reaching Cronenberg love. He's got a signed one sheet to show for his dedication, and thanks once again to Entertainment One Films U.S. for setting up this extraordinary opportunity.
-Billy Donnelly
"The Infamous Billy The Kidd"
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