Sunday, May 23, 2004
A BOY AND HIS DOG(1975)
Today's movie; NYTimes1176Best; cult favorite; the young Don Johnson; post apocalyptic fantasy; based on a Harlan Ellison short story.
L. Q. Jones (B picture actor and Sam Peckinpah favorite) is the one time auteur. He appears in the film in a filmwithinafilm porno appearance. We will see him when we get to the Peckinpah BestFilms. I am fascinated by people who are one-timers; best picture, best actor, best anything; then go back into the middle of the boat and keep on working. I admire that a lot.
This is a great movie. It is flawed in the very best ways; that is, by over-reaching. The dog is great. Don ain't bad either. 'Blood' and Johnson talk to each other telepathically and we get to listen in. Great ending.
The seventies had a lot of anti-establishment films that made it into the main stream. They were a considerable source of inspiration to the folks who were re-thinking their priorities. I am not sure whether I saw this the first time around (it is 30 years) but I sure remember the sentiment.
There is a sequence where the 'boy' has to go 'underground' to an enclave of what appear to be republican southern baptists who have a strong hand on how 'normal' is defined. Jason Robards is the head deacon. It is pretty heavy handed but one has to remember the times. Actually, it still holds up. Just put Ashcroft and fearless leader in the picture and a lot of it would still be the same. There is even a laura character; stepfordian wife.
I give it a 4 out of Netflix5.
Sorry about the picture, the film is so underground that it only has grainy takeouts in the google de google files.
