New Year. New Film Club.
This time we reached out to New York based filmmaker and photographer Waylon Bone.
The man behind some of our most favourite Thrasher ‘Out There’ episodes, as well as producing content for there likes of Apartamento, Calvin Klein and Polaroid to name a few. As expected Waylon’s list is high grade, ranging from art house blockbusters, to film noirs, to arguably one of the 20th century’s best documentary features. A fine selection of audiovisual treats to kick off the new year.
1) Phantom Thread, Paul Thomas Anderson, 2017
One thing I love about this movie is that Paul Thomas Anderson shot it himself? I think he used some loophole or didn’t give DOP credits, I forget the legal details but there’s a great video on YouTube of him testing out different film stocks and lenses before shooting began. Wow that got nerdy quick. A film so nice Daniel Day Lewis retired.
2) Crumb, Terry Zwigoff, 1994
I was always fascinated by this documentary when a roommate put it on in San Francisco, back when everyone gathered around and watched skate videos and movies in a small room haha. Anyways, I never really considered any career in storytelling but this must have stuck with me all these years. A couple of details: the fact it was shot on film, and what a perfect time and family to get into documenting. Respect to Terry Zwigoff (Bad Santa and Ghost World).
Should I explain the premise so people go and watch it? Robert Crumb is an cartoonist/illustrator(see cross hatching). He’s a pretty strange guy who escapes his family in Philadelphia to see what was going on in San Francisco during the 1960s. His position towards the world is a combination between Larry David and Charles Bukowski (who he collaborated with). As the film goes along you are feeling a little tripped out on his behaviour. Then you start to meet his brothers and eventually his mother who in their own way are much more eccentric. I can go on forever…
3) Body Heat, Lawrence Kasdan, 1981
The colours and grain and sense of temperature down in south Florida. I am drawn to movies from this era, runner up: Body Double if you’re in the mood for Los Angeles. Play trailer below.
4) The Long Goodbye, Robert Altman, 1973
Crap I guess it’s kind of similar but I rewatch this one all the time for inspiration. I love LA and Robert Altman and Elliott Gould. I always think of this review: The problem is that the Altman-Brackett Marlowe, played by Elliott Gould, is an untidy, unshaven, semiliterate, dim-wit slob who could not locate a missing skyscraper and would be refused service at a hot dog stand. Runner up: The Player.
5) Sicario, Denis Villeneuve, 2015
Denis Villeneuve and Roger Deakins work together on a sort of art film disguised as a big action packed cartel blockbuster. Denis has a great way of telling a story that has you making many assumptions all the way until the end and Deakins sees landscapes as characters as much as the actors. I love the handheld camerawork in the cars going over bumps and hills. I love all the actors in this, Emily Blunt was amazing and shoutout to having a skater in the movie, Josh Brolin.
*Honourable mention Moonlight, 2016, Barry Jenkins
