It's always good to have friends with similar obsessions as your own. I am a bit of a movie junkie and cult film fan. Early this morning I had the privilege of seeing an advance screening of World War Z in 3D. (A big thank you to Katina Lewis and Criterion Cinema in New Haven!) I am not a zombie fanatic. But recently they have taken over my life. My boyfriend is a psycho for zombies and is constantly theorizing what would happen during the Zombie Apocalypse. The catalyst for his going further down the undead spiral was his reading World War Z over and over again about 5 years ago. He read it so much the book fell apart. I believe he is now purchasing it via Kindle to read again.


Now I am always a big believer in book-to-film movies. I love that, especially if it's a book I enjoy. BUT the trick to actually being able to like book-to-film is to separate the two entities entirely. The film is very rarely a perfect interpretation. In fact the closest I have ever come was the comic to film of Scott Pilgrim, and even that took some liberties and departures. World War Z takes ideas from the book, but is in no way the same. In fact they were very smart in filming this. They left a lot of room open for a sequel that could take the tales of what the characters went through and make them into their own films. Brad Pitt's character Gerry is the narrator in the book. His place in print is as the writer reporting what happened to the other survivors.. In the movie, this is solely his tale and what happens to him and his own. This is never even discussed in the book. So it's already, in essence, created it's own prequel.

Now let me discuss what you really want to know. The ZOMBIES! This was in 3D and it worked because zombies coming at me is terrifying. However, they did not cash in on this enough. For the scare, the film relies mainly on the old loud sounds and the element of surprise. I jumped around a lot. But I am kind of a puss like that. Many of you more seasoned horror fans may not care.
The thing that really hooked me was this shrieking sound the zombies made, how fast they would go from human to zombie (as the epidemic spreads it goes from 10 or 15 minutes to a matter of seconds.) And the zombies constant need to bite things. They would see humans and start clicking their teeth. Just walking around going click click click was freaking my shit out!


Brad Pitt's involvement in this flick was what drew me into it. It was surprising. Really Brad Pitt is on board for a zombie flick? Oh wow, it's going to be World War Z? What's up with this? Naturally my Matthew had to go ask the Google what the deal was. And the great and powerful Google said Brad Pitt was a big fan of the book and signed on to do it but insisted on having script approval. He rejected the first script. Said it wasn't good enough, if you want me involved it needs to be better. So a few scripts later, we have what you will soon see before you.

Now I have to admit, it seemed like he phoned it in for the first ten minutes or so of the film. Luckily zombies madness start almost immediately. Which rocked considering the family BS was just awful in the opening of the film. As the movie progresses so does Pitt's acting.

This movie is not for everyone. If you're looking for gore you won't find it. But if you are looking for a different zombie experience you may be pleased with the outcome. A politically motivated zombie flick was pretty fascinating.

Dear James Spader,

I believe our love affair began in 2002 when I watched White Palace for the first time. I have to admit, I had made some previous assumptions about you having only known you as the rich white boy asshole in Pretty in Pink and Less Than Zero.
Perhaps I misjudged you. I did not know that beneath this classic 80's douche lied the heart of a lover.

Let's face it James Spader, White Palace was just a peek at what you had to offer. You were a widowed sad soul who found his libido screaming for a sexy older  woman. Watching the love scenes steamed up the screen of my TV - they were so hot! You learned to love again. And boy did you take that ball and run with it!

Next was David Cronenbergs' Crash. It had been a terrible accident that left you scarred and created a desire for the exploration of car crashes and raw sexuality. You and your wife discover the joys of underground eroticism. Did it come from the impact, the victim's scars, or the smell of engine coolant? Glass and metal is breaking and dirty love is in the air. James Spader you are eerily sexy here. And we have peeled away another layer leading closer to your deep core.

The last piece of my heart went to you when I had an intimate encounter with our dear Mr.E. Edward Grey and Secretary. I bought several red pens Mr. Spader, sir. And I am sure I have made many, many typographical errors. From the love of orchids right down to the rigidity of your nerves, it was mutual dom / sub love. The fragility of both Lee Holloway and Mr. Grey finding odd strength in each other creates for a mind blowing love story with an interesting twist.

I know you are not without flaw James. I have seen Supernova. But I am willing to accept you bad sci-fi and all. Please, give me one scoop of creamed potatoes. A slice of butter. Four peas. And as much ice cream as I'd like to eat.

Love,
Jillian



*** This was originally written for my former blog Come On Flick Me. I have re-editted it, added a few things and all new links!

So John Waters' Baltimore lead the way to my discovery of cult films. I explored exploitation and trash, indie and art house. But it wasn't until the late 1990's that I found what would be my one true love. I rented a film called Valley of the Dolls. I knew nothing of the late great Jackie Susann or her scandalous novels. I had always had a slight affection for classic films. But it had never occurred to me to search for classic BAD films. Valley of the Dolls was like finding the Holy Grail.
Upon first viewing I was engrossed. It set a criteria for me on which I now base my love of a quintessential wonderfully bad flick.

1) There must be an identifiable female lead in turmoil. In VOTD it could be all of these characters. Jennifer, the hot bitch with "only a body" and no talent. Anne, the good girl who falls into stardom and love with the wrong man. Helen Lawson, the old star who's still fighting to stay a star. And the BEST of all Neely O'Hara. She is the scrappy go-getter. She's got the talent and the drive but she just can't get by without that damn booze and dope. I heart Neely.

2) There must be loud ridiculous costumes and/or sets. Luckily for VOTD it was the mid 60's and Travilla did the gowns. GOOD GOD! They are so beaded and bright and fabulous. Travilla had done many trademark gowns for Marilyn Monroe, Jane Russell and Elizabeth Taylor. But these were like Travilla on psychedelics! Maddening!



3) There must be scandal! The more the merrier! VOTD is chock full of scandal! Now this is the point in which I'd like to recommend the book. If you have not read it, well you are a fool. Every library has it, I think at one point it out sold the Bible. So find it and pour over it's juicy narrative. Flick wise, the movie is fine on it's own. Separate it from the film. You really need to think of it as an entirely different entity. The film includes infidelity, disease, abortion, drug addiction, porn (ze art films?) ugh and so much more! You have to remember that this was made very much so in a time where these things were only discussed in the smarmy underbelly of film. So kind of ahead of it's time.


4) Lastly, it has to have every person on the film making the worst possible decision through out every frame. Valley of the Dolls is a wonderfully bad film for a myriad of magical reasons that all come together. The director seems more focused on the look rather than the actors. The actors seem to be trying to out chew one another on a buffet of scenery. The music is hilarious. The things that should have been cut out of the film and are oddly over looked (pay special attention to Patty Dukes boobs in the scene where she sings on a telethon.) It all culminates into movie magic!

I have only found a few other flicks that have met this criteria:
Showgirls, Total Recall, Black Book,(Paul Verhoeven is the patron saint of big budget camp!) Glitter, Peyton Place, and some Douglas Sirk flicks. They are rare gems to be treasured.
However, everyday I yearn for something similar. I'm forever chasing Neely. Looking for the next flick to appease my heart and fill the void that Valley has so thoroughly created.

Originally published in Come On Flick Me 1/2/11