Author Archives: Jedadiah Leland

Do Not Disturb (2010, directed by BC Furtney)

Posted on by Jedadiah Leland

A film that gives new meaning to the word pointless, Do Not Disturb is about a screenwriter (Stephen Geoffreys) living in a run-down motel.  He hasn’t written anything in two years and is haunted by the murder of his girlfriend.  When a crass producer comes by to demand that the writer get to work, the writer decides to kidnap the producer, bound him in a bathtub, and remove his body parts one-at-a-time.  This gives him the inspiration to write again, which makes his agent (Tiffany Shepis) happy even if she is not always happy about the method he’s using to regain his creativity.

This talky movie is about living in a crapsack world.  Everyone is greedy, unlikable, and depressed.  Stephen Geoffreys and Tiffany Shepis both give good performances, showing they have more talent than their films usually allowed them to show.  But the movie itself feels pointless, a slow-moving and meandering slog through a world that just isn’t that interesting.

Do  Not Disturb (which was originally titled New Terminal Hotel) got some attention in 2010 as the last film that Corey Haim completed before his own death at the age of 38.  Haim was dating Shepis at the time and was visiting her on set when he asked if there was any part that he could play in the movie.  A role was invented on the spot and Haim plays a jaded rock star that the screenwriter meets at a bar.  It’s an extended cameo and a pointless one at that, with Haim playing the role with an accent that I think was supposed to be Australian.

There is a twist at the end of the movie but it’s not worth the trouble that it takes to reach it.  Some people may want to see this film just because of the cast.  To many people, Stephen Geoffreys will always be Evil Ed and Corey Haim will always be Sam Emerson.  Those people will have more fun rewatching Fright Night and The Lost Boys than sitting through this movie.

Music Video of the Day: Ashes to Ashes by David Bowie (1980, directed by David Bowie and David Mallet)

Posted on by Jedadiah Leland

David Bowie was one of the first artists to truly understand the potential power of a good music video and, as can be seen in this video for Ashes to Ashes, he was an early pioneer of the form.  At a time when most music videos were just performance clips, Bowie put together a narrative that offered an artistic interpretation of the song’s lyrics and themes and which invited viewers to interpret the song on their own.

The video was largely shot on two beaches in the UK, at Beachy Head and Hastings.  Interior scenes were filmed on the set of the Kenny Everett Show.  Bowie’s followers were played by the Blitz kids, who were known for frequenting the Blitz nightclub in Covent Garden.

Bowie said that the video was meant to combine the past and the future, which is why Bowie not only appears as an astronaut but also as an Edwardian clown.  The scenes with Bowie as an astronaut are, as the lyrics make clear, a reference to Major Tom.  The look of the scenes was heavily influenced by H.R. Giger’s work on Alien.

David Mallet would go on to become one of busiest directors of music videos of the 80s, directing videos for Queen, Iron Maiden, AC/DC, and others.  David Bowie would also go on to play a huge role in MTV’s history, due to both his videos and his willingness to call out that station’s initial refusal to feature videos from black artists.

Enjoy!

Artwork of the Day: Bachelor Party (Artist Unknown)

Posted on by Jedadiah Leland

Artist Unknown

I don’t know who designed the poster for Bachelor Party.  That name has been lost to history.  And it’s not even that good of a movie, though it’s easy to understand why Tom Hanks would give up every other woman on Earth for the chance to marry Tawny Kitaen.  But this poster has done more to establish my opinion of the ideal bachelor party than any of the real bachelor parties that I’ve ever attended.  Bravo, unknown artist.

Music Video of the Day: Slow An’ Easy by Whitesnake (1984, directed by ????)

Posted on by Jedadiah Leland

Slow an’ Easy was Whitesnake’s first big hit in the United States and the video, which featured the band, a car crash, and an act of strangulation, was Whitensake’s first big video on MTV.  It’s certainly much darker than the video for Here I Go Again.

Slow an’ Easy, by the way, appeared on an album called Slide It In.  Whitesnake was never particularly subtle but they still rocked.

Enjoy!

Rest In Peace, Bob Newhart

Posted on by Jedadiah Leland

Rest in Peace, the great Bob Newhart.

For my money, he was the funniest man to ever tell a joke.  People who worked with him said he was one of the nicest and most downright decent people they ever met.

He lived 94 years and starred in two of the best sitcoms ever made.  He was devoted to his wife.  His best friend was none other than Don Rickles.

And again, he was the funniest man who ever lived.

My favorite Bob Newhart joke was one he told on himself.  After saying that he had starred in sitcoms entitled “The Bob Newhart Show,” “Bob Newhart Show,” “Newhart,” and “Bob,” Newhart said that his next show would simply be called “The.”

Bob Newhart, RIP.

Music Video of the Day: Remember The Heroes by Sammy Hagar (1982, directed by ????)

Posted on by Jedadiah Leland

This video, which was taken at a 1982 concert in St. Louis, is as close as we have for a music video for Remember the Heroes.  Co-written by Journey keyboardist Jonathan Cain, this song is Sammy Hagar’s tribute to the men and women who have served this country, many of whom have made the ultimate sacrifice.

There aren’t many Memorial Day rock song out there.  Trust Sammy Hagar to do the day and it meaning justice.

Music Video Of The Day: Again by Alice In Chains 1996, directed by Layne Staley and George Vale)

Posted on by Jedadiah Leland

This video features the tragic Layne Staley at his best.  This would be the final music video that he would film with Alice in Chains.  Again was a moderate hit for the group, though it was also nominated for a Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance.

Director George Vale has also worked with Our Lady Peace, The Tea Party, Danko Jones, Stars, and Broken Social Scene.

Enjoy!

Texas Panhandle (1945, directed by Ray Nazarro)

Posted on by Jedadiah Leland

Secret Service agent Steve Buckner (Charles Starrett) is told by his boss that his activities as the Durango Kid have led some in the Agency to suspect that Steve is himself an outlaw.  Even after Steve explains that he only takes on the Durango Kid identity when he needs to step outside of the law to protect innocent people, Steve is still suspended pending an investigation.

With nothing better to do, Steve rides off to the Texas panhandle, where he learns that outlaws have been robbing settlers and stealing government gold.  Working as the Durango Kid, Steve discovers that it’s not just outlaws that are targeting the new arrivals but it’s also the corrupt head of the local land office, Ace Gatlin (Forest Taylor).  Helping out Steve are settler Tex Harding and Cannonball (Dub Taylor), who works at the saloon and sings a few songs.

This is a standard Durango Kid film.  It has all the usual gunfights and horse chases but it doesn’t have Smiley Burnette.  Dub Taylor takes Smiley’s place as the comedic sidekick and, while Taylor isn’t bad, he’s still no Smiley Burnette.  Dub Taylor’s characters were usually more buffoonish than the clever helpers played by Smiley Burnette and, as a result, the Durango Kid movies with Taylor feel more juvenile than the ones with Smiley.  That’s the case here.

This installment is interesting because it reveals that Steve’s superiors knew about his Durango Kid side hustle and were as a confused about why he needed it as everyone else was.  Steve reveals he would rather lose his job than give up being Durango.  Luckily, at the end of the movie, he gets a telegram telling him that the investigation is over and he’s been reinstated with the Secret Service.  All’s well that ends well.

Music Video of the Day: Heading Out To The Highway by Judas Priest (1981, directed by Julien Temple)

Posted on by Jedadiah Leland

You and me both, Priest, you and me both.

Rob Halford has said that this song is about “freedom.”  Once you are on the highway, you can go anywhere you want.  With it being Memorial Day weekend, a lot of people are going to be taking advantage of that freedom today.

This video was one of the man to be directed by Julien Temple.  Temple will probably always be best known for his work with the Sex Pistols.

Enjoy!