tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2118574901486983093.post2754142620152906369..comments2024-03-03T10:32:45.969-08:00Comments on Mr. Peel's Sardine Liqueur: Into The Or What CategoryMr. Peel aka Peter Avellinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553482286909862975noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2118574901486983093.post-69747259520956780092011-11-22T08:25:26.056-08:002011-11-22T08:25:26.056-08:00Just viewed this again via a 35mm print with Landi...Just viewed this again via a 35mm print with Landis in attendance to introduce and take questions. After complaining that the was too murky and faded and didn't do Bob Paynter's photography justice, he explained that the film was actually based on real events--a guy did end up at the airport in the middle of the night because his wife was cheating on him and this guy did end up trying to stop a murder involving some Persians and precious stones. <br /><br />Landis said that he almost entirely re-wrote Koslow's script ("Maybe 6 of Koslow's lines remain in the finished film."), but could not get the WGA to give him a writing credit. Koslow was pissed and had nothing to do with the film; his producing credit was stipulated by contract. <br /><br />Landis wanted Gene Hackman for the lead role, but the studio turned him down. He wanted Nicholson, but after dragging him out to his house in Aspen in the middle of a snowstorm echoing THE SHINING, Nicholson turned Landis down. The then-head of production at Universal, Frank Price, had previously held that post at Columbia; his biggest hit there was THE BIG CHILL and he insisted on one of the stars of that film starring in INTO THE NIGHT. After being turned down by Kevin Kline and others in that cast, the lead fell to Goldblum. Later, the studio was upset, Landis said, when he put the then relatively unknown Goldblum and Pfeiffer above the title. David Cronenberg, who appeared in INTO THE NIGHT, cast Jeff Goldblum in THE FLY off of his appearance here.<br /><br />Landis expressed a wish to have had shot this film in scope and wasn't extremely enthused about the film overall, but he was in his usual good, jovial spirits. He wasn't sure why it didn't perform as his earlier films had because in his view he really didn't anything different than he had on his earlier smash hits.Ned Merrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15436251586131278302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2118574901486983093.post-37729848704569185052010-04-01T06:40:20.630-07:002010-04-01T06:40:20.630-07:00You already knew I really appreciated this look ba...You already knew I really appreciated this look back at <i>Into the Night</i>. But, I also gave it a <a href="http://bit.ly/avFzrX" rel="nofollow">shout-out</a> today, my friend. Thanks Mr. Peel.le0pard13https://www.blogger.com/profile/09421175808461787862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2118574901486983093.post-66279282980770639722010-03-23T23:34:43.510-07:002010-03-23T23:34:43.510-07:00Det. Arbogast--
I think you just said it all in r...Det. Arbogast--<br /><br />I think you just said it all in regards to what's been swirling through my head lately, booze or no booze. Your comments here will stay with me, even if I don't know what to do about it. Many thanks.Mr. Peel aka Peter Avellinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10553482286909862975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2118574901486983093.post-24325815127350968692010-03-23T14:21:26.284-07:002010-03-23T14:21:26.284-07:00Yeah, I love this one, too. Not only did I see th...Yeah, I love this one, too. Not only did I see the movie first run but my roommate and I played the soundtrack endlessly. I think of this movie and that it was 13 years between this and <b>Cisco Pike</b> and now 25 years since <b>Into the Night</b> and the present day and I'm haunted by the ceaseless march of time, which just plows ahead, mindless of our feelings, of our desperation to hold onto the past. I think maybe that's the appeal of the night, the way it almost seems, in certain venues anyway, to hold time absolutely still. Or maybe that's just the booze talking.Arbogasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12670776992289080245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2118574901486983093.post-13786408427851829442010-03-06T22:39:14.993-08:002010-03-06T22:39:14.993-08:00Ah, this one has a funny backstory for me!
I reme...Ah, this one has a funny backstory for me!<br /><br />I remember when they showed it for the first time on German television. Saturday night, 10.30pm.<br /><br />As soon as the film started I fell asleep! When I woke up the end titles were running.<br /><br />OK. Better luck next time!<br /><br />Some ten years later I had my second chance. This time on 8.15pm - again a saturday. "Yummy, a John Landis-film!"<br /><br />The film starts and I fall asleep. Woke up at the last five minutes of story thinking to myself, this is a rather strange film then realising that I had (mostly) missed it AGAIN.<br /><br />Now I own it on DVD which somehow solves the problem once and for all. ;)<br /><br />Regards,<br />ZAR.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2118574901486983093.post-18977193608086461032010-03-06T17:26:15.861-08:002010-03-06T17:26:15.861-08:00J.D.--
If it's on cable, check it out. There&...J.D.--<br /><br />If it's on cable, check it out. There's a DVD which doesn't have very much on it, but at least it's out there. Hope you give it another look. <br /><br />Jeremy--<br /><br />Thanks so much for that, I'm very glad you liked it. It's almost tough to say why we respond to the film in a certain way but I'm glad we do. It's twisted, yes, but in ways that is very much its own. <br /><br />Joe--<br /><br />I suppose it'll remain a mystery. Koslow had certainly had material produced before so maybe it just got to Landis through the usual channels. But how much of it did Koslow base on himself? What did he really know about what went on in L.A. during those hours? I love your reasons for how you feel, I'm very much in agreement. <br /><br />Christian--<br /><br />I think I was there on the second night. "Unspoken axis of relationships"...damn, you're right and I'm sorry I didn't go into that. Films these days wind up spelling so much out that it feels like this sort of thing isn't allowed anymore. Glad to hear that you're such a fan of this one as well. <br /><br />Joe--<br /><br />I guess we'll disagree on this one but many thanks for your compliments on the piece. And don't worry about THE OSCAR--I already watched my tape of it this weekend!<br /><br />le0pard13--<br /><br />Many thanks. Alas, I never got to run through those streets so late at night during the 80s. I was just too young. But thanks for passing along how you responded to these elements, it's good to hear from somebody who was there.Mr. Peel aka Peter Avellinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10553482286909862975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2118574901486983093.post-57214855505103595452010-03-06T11:20:44.951-08:002010-03-06T11:20:44.951-08:00This review, on the heels of your wonderful Jackie...This review, on the heels of your wonderful Jackie Brown examination, is simply masterful timing. It's one of my all-time favorite 'L.A.' films. The film certainly covers the beautiful people of the <i>West Side</i> wonderfully, and makes splendid use of the locales. And yes, back in the mid-80's at <i>o'dark-thirty</i> you could run into and through empty streets like these depicted (at least, I know I did more than once). The leads here were such an odd, but appealing mix. For all of its odd points and tone, it works for me since it depicts so well that moment in time when the city was 'LaLa' town. It sounds like it was a great time at the New Bev for this showing (with Clu there and all). Thanks very much for this.le0pard13https://www.blogger.com/profile/09421175808461787862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2118574901486983093.post-9538546437723452182010-03-05T19:41:59.262-08:002010-03-05T19:41:59.262-08:00Peel,
Wow, amazingly insiteful article --but why ...Peel,<br /><br />Wow, amazingly insiteful article --but why don't I love this movie?<br /><br />Oh, I know -- I was bored. I saw this movie in New York a couple weeks before it opened at a provate screening. I couldn't wait. I was a huge Landis fan, but as the movie unspooled, all I could do was register disappointment. I found myself five seconds ahead of every joke and twist.<br /><br />Bottom line: Landis stopped surprising me with this movie. Many people say direcor turn bad after time. I don't believe it. I believe they get lazy, and Landis got lazy with this film.<br /><br />Just because it's frantic, does't make it funny. My one moment of pleasure was seeing Kathryn Harold on the big screen again.<br /><br />I could go on, but it's Friday and I have my family waitng for me to watch THE SOUP on my DVR. <br /><br />Have a good weekend, and don't forget to watch THE OSCAR on TCM this Sunday. Check local times.Joe Martinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11960803506051969149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2118574901486983093.post-9293565101673652082010-03-05T11:27:59.742-08:002010-03-05T11:27:59.742-08:00I saw this opening night -- that's what kind o...I saw this opening night -- that's what kind of Landis fan I am. It's always benone of my favorite of his films, a 70's script in an 80's vibe -- hence the strange tonal changes. <br /><br />I always love the unspoken axis of relationships between the characters; has Paul Mazursky ever been smarmier? His subtle contempt for a hanger on like Diana is beautiful, and very real in terms of character.<br /><br />And the Bowie reveal scene is AWESOME.<br /><br />I love the soundtrack and play it on a regular basis.christianhttp://christiandivine.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2118574901486983093.post-70152444326748968922010-03-05T11:13:51.437-08:002010-03-05T11:13:51.437-08:00I'd like to know where Ron Koslow came up with...I'd like to know where Ron Koslow came up with this material, how it got to Landis, what it was like to shoot nights with all these cameos and why the movie disappeared from theaters. But, Landis doesn't do director commentaries and aside from <em>Animal House</em>, never made the type of movies that get the 2-Disc treatment on DVD. <br /><br />Short of that, terrific article, Mr. Peel. <em>Into the Night</em> has an aesthetic I just fucking love: dangerous, strange, romantic. Pure Goldblum and Pfeiffer, no fx, no period costumes, just a goofy couple and their chemistry is palpable. Wish I could've seen it on the big screen.Joe Valdezhttp://thisdistractedglobe.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2118574901486983093.post-41969943250585743222010-03-05T07:08:54.715-08:002010-03-05T07:08:54.715-08:00Beautiful piece. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this film and...Beautiful piece. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this film and this particular thought, "The film almost shows who Landis is more than anything else he ever directed—a screwed up guy yet eager to get you to like him in a twisted way. I’ll say that it’s not only John Landis’s best film but for total entertainment value probably my favorite of his as well." sums it up perfectly for me. <br />Kudos for mentioning the amazing score and Bowie's supporting turn, which I think is one of the funniest from the eighties. <br />I adore this film and it was great reading your thoughts on it.Nostalgia Kinkyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02506680500183270767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2118574901486983093.post-18784389153939590232010-03-05T06:58:25.767-08:002010-03-05T06:58:25.767-08:00I haven't seen this film in ages but if memory...I haven't seen this film in ages but if memory serves Cinemax has been showing it on a semi-regular basis recently. I will have to give it a re-visit.<br /><br />I always liked Jeff Goldblum. He's had such a diverse, interesting career going back to small parts in Altman films to playing quirky characters in films like INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS and THE ADVENTURES OF BUCKAROO BANZAI, to a full-blown leading man in stuff like THE FLY and EARTH GIRLS ARE EASY. I just watched him in DEEP COVER a few days ago and was blown away by his performance in that one... so different from films I usually associate him with.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164105442273577128noreply@blogger.com