Cinema is Dope

Psych-Out (1968) – Daily Movie Wallpaper – The Funeral

blake — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:55:20 +0000

[ View Image (1024x721) ]
[ View Image (1280x901) ]

The Daily Movie Wallpaper
Saturday, November 7, 2009

I love this image of Max Julien and Jack Nicholson at the funeral scene in, Psych-Out. When I first started thinking about doing a month long celebration for this film, this was one of the many original stills that I would be restoring and posting that I wondered that when all was said and done how many fans would find this as their overall favorite image. The jury is out in that regard but a fantastic image anyway that you look at it! And yes there will be more images from the funeral scene posted in this month long celebration!

A Month Long Celebration of Psych-Out (1968) at CID: November 2009

Each day in November of 2009 at CID we will be celebrating Richard Rush cinema one still at a time with his 1968 film, Psych-Out, along the way with added surprises.

I’d love to know what is your favorite Richard Rush film!?! Tweet what it is on Twitter with the following hashtag of #richardrush.

For fans of this film be sure and pick up Gary Kent’s new book, Shadows and Light, Journeys With Outlaws In Revolutionary Hollywood (details).

If you like this film and want to see other great films that have been reborn through Lars and Weird Wednesday, be sure to get out to this weekly series each Wednesday (info). In particular this month is the screening of Sam Peckinpah’s, BRING ME THE HEAD OF ALFREDO GARCIA.

Related Coverage:
::: Previous Movie Wallpaper
::: Lars Writeup for Weird Wednesday

Month Long Celebration:
::: 11/07 – The Funeral
::: 11/06 – Surprise #1: Freebie and the Bean
::: 11/05 – Jenny Davis in Love…
::: 11/04 – Warren, Stoney & Ben
::: 11/03 – Bruce Dern is The Seeker
::: 11/02 – Elwood, Jenny & Stoney
::: 11/01 – Jenny Davis in Classic Film Pose
::: Announcement

Image Source:
Official still that was used in the original USA release of the film.

Related Links:
::: IMDb Profile

Freebie and the Bean (1974) – Daily Movie Wallpaper – James Caan & Alan Arkin

blake — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:55:31 +0000

[ View Image (1024x732) ]
[ View Image (1280x915) ]

The Daily Movie Wallpaper
Friday, November 6, 2009

SURPRISE #1

As promised there would be some surprises and diversions to celebrate other films of Richard Rush. Today marks the first of these surprises with a film image so cool it might just be the single coolest one anyone has posted for 2009. If you love this film like I do then this image of James Caan and Alan Arkin is volume 11!

Caption:
A FIRST FOR ARKIN: Warner Bros.‘ “Freebie and the Bean” provides Alan Arkin, shown here with co-star James Caan, his first opportunity as a two-fisted action star. The outrageous comedy was produced and directed by Richard Rush from a screenplay by Robert Kaufman.

A Month Long Celebration of Psych-Out (1968) at CID: November 2009

Each day in November of 2009 at CID we will be celebrating Richard Rush cinema one still at a time with his 1968 film, Psych-Out, along the way with added surprises.

I’d love to know what is your favorite Richard Rush film!?! Tweet what it is on Twitter with the following hashtag of #richardrush.

For fans of this film be sure and pick up Gary Kent’s new book, Shadows and Light, Journeys With Outlaws In Revolutionary Hollywood (details).

If you like this film and want to see other great films that have been reborn through Lars and Weird Wednesday, be sure to get out to this weekly series each Wednesday (info). In particular this month is the screening of Sam Peckinpah’s, BRING ME THE HEAD OF ALFREDO GARCIA.

Related Coverage:
::: Previous Movie Wallpaper
::: Lars Writeup for Weird Wednesday

Month Long Celebration:
::: 11/06 – Surprise #1: Freebie and the Bean
::: 11/05 – Jenny Davis in Love…
::: 11/04 – Warren, Stoney & Ben
::: 11/03 – Bruce Dern is The Seeker
::: 11/02 – Elwood, Jenny & Stoney
::: 11/01 – Jenny Davis in Classic Film Pose
::: Announcement

Image Source:
Official still that was used in the original USA release of the film.

Related Links:
::: IMDb Profile

Psych-Out (1968) – Daily Movie Wallpaper – Jenny Davis in Love…

blake — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:55:18 +0000

[ View Image (1024x782) ]
[ View Image (1280x978) ]

The Daily Movie Wallpaper
Thursday, November 5, 2009

Again it feels like I’m repeating myself when I say that although Psych-Out might not have had a more typical Hollywood budget at its time (micro budget perhaps would be closest comparison) but what it didn’t have in terms of money it more than made up for it with creativity, soul and vision. Take the set design of the film in mind and in particular how Stoney’s (Jack Nicholson) room is laid out (as partially shown in image above) with what is essentially minimal choices in what they had on hand and yet take a few things and more than make it work! I’ve actually gone through at one point and watched the film purely on its set design aspects alone… cinema magic on a budget, indeed! Sometimes a film having all the money in the world is overrated. If you have the right director, crew and casting, they will often times trump budget and hardships and make something great. As is sometimes having too much money working against a film and more of a curse. Richard Rush, cast and crew like all the great film talents found ways to make obstacles work for them. Where they found an obstacle they found opportunity for at the end of the day there heart on down through everyone involved was to make a damn good film and let the chips fall where they lay.

One other thing about this image is I love this moment in the film that touches on the innocence of Jenny and how she awakens next to Stoney in this state of first love. If any other actress other than Susan Strasberg tried to pull this off it wold just come across as awkward, detached and silly. Susan completely sells this moment and you more than believe her state and in such a way you even forget you are watching a film.

A Month Long Celebration of Psych-Out (1968) at CID: November 2009

Each day in November of 2009 at CID we will be celebrating Richard Rush cinema one still at a time with his 1968 film, Psych-Out, along the way with added surprises.

I’d love to know what is your favorite Richard Rush film!?! Tweet what it is on Twitter with the following hashtag of #richardrush.

For fans of this film be sure and pick up Gary Kent’s new book, Shadows and Light, Journeys With Outlaws In Revolutionary Hollywood (details).

If you like this film and want to see other great films that have been reborn through Lars and Weird Wednesday, be sure to get out to this weekly series each Wednesday (info). In particular this month is the screening of Sam Peckinpah’s, BRING ME THE HEAD OF ALFREDO GARCIA.

Related Coverage:
::: Previous Movie Wallpaper
::: Lars Writeup for Weird Wednesday

Month Long Celebration:
::: 11/05 – Jenny Davis in Love…
::: 11/04 – Warren, Stoney & Ben
::: 11/03 – Bruce Dern is The Seeker
::: 11/02 – Elwood, Jenny & Stoney
::: 11/01 – Jenny Davis in Classic Film Pose
::: Announcement

Image Source:
Official still that was used in the original USA release of the film.

Related Links:
::: IMDb Profile

Psych-Out (1968) – Daily Movie Wallpaper – Warren is the psychedelic artist for Mumblin’ Jim

blake — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:55:05 +0000

[ View Image (1024x780) ]
[ View Image (1280x975) ]

The Daily Movie Wallpaper
Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Henry Jaglom is Warren, who makes psychedelic art and posters for Adam Roarke and Jack Nicholson’s band Mumblin’ Jim in Psych-Out.

A Month Long Celebration of Psych-Out (1968) at CID: November 2009

Each day in November of 2009 at CID we will be celebrating Richard Rush cinema one still at a time with his 1968 film, Psych-Out, along the way with added surprises.

The twitter hash tag for this month long celebration will simply be #richardrush.

For fans of this film be sure and pick up Gary Kent’s new book, Shadows and Light, Journeys With Outlaws In Revolutionary Hollywood (details).

If you like this film and want to see other great films that have been reborn through Lars and Weird Wednesday, be sure to get out to this weekly series each Wednesday (info). In particular this month is the screening of Sam Peckinpah’s, BRING ME THE HEAD OF ALFREDO GARCIA.

Related Coverage:
::: Previous Movie Wallpaper
::: Lars Writeup for Weird Wednesday

Month Long Celebration:
::: 11/04 – Warren, Stoney & Ben
::: 11/03 – Bruce Dern is The Seeker
::: 11/02 – Elwood, Jenny & Stoney
::: 11/01 – Jenny Davis in Classic Film Pose
::: Announcement

Image Source:
Official still that was used in the original USA release of the film.

Related Links:
::: IMDb Profile

Psych-Out (1968) – Daily Movie Wallpaper – Bruce Dern is The Seeker

blake — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:55:26 +0000

[ View Image (1024x779) ]
[ View Image (1280x974) ]

The Daily Movie Wallpaper
Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Jess Saes: God is alive and well and living in a sugar cube

Bruce Dern is The Seeker in Psych-Out. Although I believe Mr. Dern had a very tight shoot and brief stint, what is there is a memorable racing, clawing and offbeat performance.

A Month Long Celebration of Psych-Out (1968) at CID: November 2009

Each day in November of 2009 at CID we will be celebrating Richard Rush cinema one still at a time with his 1968 film, Psych-Out, along the way with added surprises.

The twitter hash tag for this month long celebration will simply be #richardrush.

For fans of this film be sure and pick up Gary Kent’s new book, Shadows and Light, Journeys With Outlaws In Revolutionary Hollywood (details).

If you like this film and want to see other great films that have been reborn through Lars and Weird Wednesday, be sure to get out to this weekly series each Wednesday (info). In particular this month is the screening of Sam Peckinpah’s, BRING ME THE HEAD OF ALFREDO GARCIA.

Related Coverage:
::: Previous Movie Wallpaper
::: Lars Writeup for Weird Wednesday

Month Long Celebration:
::: 11/03 – Bruce Dern is The Seeker
::: 11/02 – Elwood, Jenny & Stoney
::: 11/01 – Jenny Davis in Classic Film Pose
::: Announcement

Image Source:
Official still that was used in the original USA release of the film.

Related Links:
::: IMDb Profile

Psych-Out (1968) – Daily Movie Wallpaper – Elwood, Jenny & Stoney

blake — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 02:00:33 +0000

[ View Image (1024x710) ]
[ View Image (1280x888) ]

The Daily Movie Wallpaper
Monday, November 2, 2009

Elwood (Max Julien), Jenny (Susan Strasberg) and Stoney (Jack Nicholson) in a poetic and brimming with life image from Psych-Out.

A Month Long Celebration of Psych-Out (1968) at CID: November 2009

Each day in November of 2009 at CID we will be celebrating Richard Rush cinema one still at a time with his 1968 film, Psych-Out, along the way with added surprises.

The twitter hash tag for this month long celebration will simply be #richardrush.

For fans of this film be sure and pick up Gary Kent’s new book, Shadows and Light, Journeys With Outlaws In Revolutionary Hollywood (details).

If you like this film and want to see other great films that have been reborn through Lars and Weird Wednesday, be sure to get out to this weekly series each Wednesday (info). In particular this month is the screening of Sam Peckinpah’s, BRING ME THE HEAD OF ALFREDO GARCIA.

Related Coverage:
::: Previous Movie Wallpaper
::: Lars Writeup for Weird Wednesday

Month Long Celebration:
::: 11/02 – Elwood, Jenny & Stoney
::: 11/01 – Jenny Davis in Classic Film Pose
::: Announcement

Image Source:
Official still that was used in the original USA release of the film.

Related Links:
::: IMDb Profile

Upcoming at Cinema is Dope

blake — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 10:00:57 +0000

Just want to say a quick thanks to everyone who helped support and spread the word about Cinema is Dope in October. CID is a little indie effort out of Austin, Texas. I focus on celebrating cinema, spreading the word on great films past and present to check out, exploring cinema and as well restoring original stills from films so that future generations can enjoy them.

The monthly numbers for this site are currently 200,000 page views a month and now over 100,000 monthly unique visitors and growing.

November
In addition to celebrating Richard Rush’s Psych-Out, I will be posting a ton of film reviews and much more 42 Sitges Film Festival coverage. I have some more interviews in the pipeline but a bit of delay as I have to get them translated out with subtitles.

December
The month will kick off with original stills from The Wild Bunch, Getaway, Truck Turner, Torso, L’Eclisse, L’Avventura and a very rare image of Bruce Lee. Add to this mix more film reviews and more 42 Sitges Film Festival coverage!

Psych-Out (1968) – Daily Movie Wallpaper – A Month Long Celebration

blake — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 09:55:50 +0000

[ View Image (1024x784) ]
[ View Image (1280x980) ]

The Daily Movie Wallpaper
Sunday, November 1, 2009

Kicking off the month long celebration for this film with this classic pose of Jenny David (Susan Strasberg). It is this photograph and image that makes its way and weaves itself through nearly all the films promotional marketing and advertising pieces. When I had originally posted 10 original restored stills from this film, it was primarily not posting this one that I lamented the most and it seemed incredibly bleak I’d ever stumble across anymore. As luck would have it, fate stepped in and a whole big stack landed in my lap full of original stills (including this one) and a month long celebration was born!

I still don’t know what it is when Jenny Davis first sways into frame in Richard Rush’s, Psych-Out, but when she lands in frame it immediately causes you to sit up in your chair as if it signals this is a film that will captivate you from sequence to sequence. It is this nature of Psych-Out that breaths you into its universe and takes you by hand through a wild psychedelic journey through the streets of San Francisco. It may not have had anywhere the budget of bigger late 60’s Hollywood films but where it lacks in budget it more than makes up for it with engaging (though some are certainly more offbeat than others) characters, endless life and imagination that bounce throughout its run time and time capsule story. Perhaps its the universality of the story and its characters shining a light that anyone can relate to in finding ruts in our life where we aren’t sure who we are anymore or where we are going but we find these little pockets of journeys in strange lands with strange people which as we learn more aren’t really all that strange. What makes this film so special is the way it holds your hand and with Jenny Davis and Richard Rush leading the way its a journey that will never grow old.

I hope you follow along each day as we celebrate this under seen gem of the 60’s and if you haven’t already be sure and check it out on DVD.

A Month Long Celebration of Psych-Out (1968) at CID: November 2009

Each day in November of 2009 at CID we will be celebrating Richard Rush cinema one still at a time with his 1968 film, Psych-Out, along the way with added surprises.

The twitter hash tag for this month long celebration will simply be #richardrush.

For fans of this film be sure and pick up Gary Kent’s new book, Shadows and Light, Journeys With Outlaws In Revolutionary Hollywood (details).

If you like this film and want to see other great films that have been reborn through Lars and Weird Wednesday, be sure to get out to this weekly series each Wednesday (info). In particular this month is the screening of Sam Peckinpah’s, BRING ME THE HEAD OF ALFREDO GARCIA.

Related Coverage:
::: Previous Movie Wallpaper
::: Lars Writeup for Weird Wednesday

Month Long Celebration:
::: 11/01 – Jenny Davis in Classic Film Pose
::: Announcement

Image Source:
Official still that was used in the original USA release of the film.

Related Links:
::: IMDb Profile

Is Independent Cinema Dead? – Nicolas Winding Refn, Director of Bronson & Valhalla Rising

blake — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:00:32 +0000

NOTE: Higher res version of this interview can be downloaded/viewed here in Quicktime format

Cinema is Dope presents an ongoing series that asks those in the film industry the hot topic question, “Is Independent Cinema Dead?”

In the latest of this series we ask this question to Nicolas Winding Refn, director of Bronson & Valhalla Rising.

Sitges Film Festival 2009:
::: Official Site
::: Sitges Official Facebook Fan Page
::: Variety on Sitges ‘09
::: ‘Visage’, by Tsai Ming-liang, opens the Noves Visions category
::: Malcolm McDowell to receive the Grand Honorary Award at the opening, which will moved up to October 1st
::: [REC]2 to open Sitges 09
::: Alien is the inspiration for Sitges 09
::: The latest and most eagerly awaited genre films at Official Fantàstic Section
::: Animation, international variants of horror and 3D film
::: Sitges 09 will be recalling certain flashes from the 80’s

BRONSON Interview with Nicolas Winding Refn – Part 3

blake — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:55:03 +0000

Interview Table of Contents:

I Always Wanted to Make a Kenneth Anger Movie

When You Make a Film Make Sure You Are All Over It

WARNING SPOILERS: The Ending

NOTE: Higher res version of this interview can be downloaded/viewed here in Quicktime format

For those in Austin you can see Bronson at the Arbor starting on November 6th. Help spread the word that this will be coming out and be sure to check it out as well!

I want to say a huge thanks to everyone that has followed along with this interview series of Nicolas Winding Refn on Bronson and helped get the word out about them. Sadly this marks the last entry and I hope you have enjoyed it and found it informative of the film or sparked you to want to check it out as well as his other films. Thanks to 42 Sitges Film Festival and to Nicolas Winding Refn for taking the time out to do this interview. From getting to introduce this film at Fantastic Fest this year to now wrapping up this series it has been a great journey with Bronson!

Bronson is currently in limited release from Magnet (info) and more information can be found at its official website (www.magnetreleasing.com/bronson).

Magnet Release Schedule

Current Playing

West Hollywood, CA: Sunset 5
San Diego, CA: Ken Cinema
New York, NY: Angelika Film Center (6)
Philadelphia, PA: Ritz at the Bourse

Opening Soon

10/30/2009
San Francisco, CA: Lumiere Theatre 3
Denver, CO: Mayan Theatre
Chicago, IL: Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema
Cincinnati, OH: Esquire Theatre
Nashville, TN: Belcourt Theatre

11/5/2009
Winter Park, FL: Full Sail University

11/6/2009
Austin, TX: Arbor Cinemas at Great Hills

11/20/2009
Cambridge, MA: Kendall Square Cinema
Detroit, MI: Burton Theatre
Portland, OR: Fox Tower 10

12/12/2009
Rochester, NY: Dryden Theatre

12/19/2009
Cleveland, OH: Cleveland Cinematheque

1/8/2010
Keene, NH: Putnam Arts Lecture Hall