Saturday, 21 March 2009

Rumble Fish
(1983)

60%

A movie about teenage males that stylishly gets the fact that time seems to be standing still while passing at a rate of knots. Its impressionistic take on youthful ennui tends toward the pretentious since its character analysis is the essential theme of this drama rather than any plot device. Growing up means finding one's place in the world; while avoiding pseudo gang leaders with nowhere to lead one because one possesses a childlike need to be led.

There is also madness here, as a result of loveless childhoods, from this who lack the courage to liberate themselves with a pained obsession with the past; leading to a lack of a future.

Ultimately, this is an intelligent exercise in style (with the addition of pertinent references to Greek mythology) from a great film director treading water. The high contrast photography is crisp, clear and long focused; creating a strong illusion of depth. The performances are excellently charismatic – especially Mickey Rourke as the doomed Motorcycle Boy – and the music toe tapping.


Copyright © 2009 Frank TALKER. Permission granted to reproduce and distribute it in any format; provided that mention of the author’s Weblog (http://franktalker5.blogspot.com/) is included: E-mail notification requested. All other rights reserved.

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Science:



No science is immune to the infection of politics and the corruption of power.



Jacob Bronowski… (1908 - 74), British scientist, author. Encounter (London, July 1971).


Sleep of Reason:



The dream of reason produces monsters. Imagination deserted by reason creates impossible, useless thoughts. United with reason, imagination is the mother of all art and the source of all its beauty.



Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes… (1746-1828), Spanish painter. Caption to Caprichos, number 43, a series of eighty etchings completed in 1798, satirical and grotesque in form.


Humans & Aliens:



I am human and let nothing human be alien to me.



Terence… (circa 190-159 BC), Roman dramatist. Chremes, in The Self-Tormentor [Heauton Timorumenos], act 1, scene 1.


Führerprinzip:



One leader, one people, signifies one master and millions of slaves… There is no organ of conciliation or mediation interposed between the leader and the people, nothing in fact but the apparatus - in other words, the party - which is the emanation of the leader and the tool of his will to oppress. In this way the first and sole principle of this degraded form of mysticism is born, the Führerprinzip, which restores idolatry and a debased deity to the world of nihilism.