Against the Wall [aka Quality of Life] (2004, dir. Benjamin Morgan)

Against the Wall [aka Quality of Life] (2004, dir. Benjamin Morgan)

What Is It?: A well-crafted and heartfelt indie film about two graf writers living in the Mission District in San Francisco.

What About It?: Following Basquiat and Bomb the System, this film, though without the pedigree of the first and without the cash and caché that comes from its NYC location, Against the Wall is honestly a better film than both. Honest being the key word in that this is one of the more genuine films we've seen lately. The story is fairly simple -- and kinda besides the point -- but the director tells it exceedingly well, making the life that these two artists lead more lived in than a spectacle to watch. It doesn't feel like we're watching the characters in a zoo. It's neither preachy nor hectoring about the question of the ethics of street art, and makes the act of "bombing" seem as exciting as to make the characters as junked out as they are about it.

Why Should I See It?: It's a really good film, well-acted and -shot and -directed. And graffiti can be very cool.

What Else Is It Like?: The Graffiti Artist, Groove, Los Angeles Street Art.

When Is It Showing Until ON DEMAND?: Sadly, it's not playing on ON DEMAND as of this writing, but it is available at your local video store and here.

Watch It ON DEMAND on Comcast cable.

--ddt/pdx

Basquiat (1996, dir. Julian Schnabel)

Basquiat (1996, dir. Julian Schnabel)

What Is It?: A biopic about the meteoric rise and swift demise of street artist-turned-New York-Art-Scene-Darling Jean-Michel Basquiat.

What About It?: The impressive directorial debut of 80's Art World superstar-cum-chubby egotist, Julian Schnabel, Basquiat is a well-crafted, vibrant -- if ultimately empty -- portrait of one of the first street artists to gain "legitimate" fame on the walls of galleries and museums. In his first starring vehicle, the perfectly cast Jeffery Wright disappears into the role and adds considerable depth to an otherwise shallow script. Fun cameos abound from Gary Oldman as Schnabel himself to David Bowie as Andy Warhol, wearing Warhol's actual hairpieces.

Why Should I See It?: An excellent example of the oft-tedious, completely fairly maligned genre of the biopic, Basquiat is both engaging and entertaining while giving the impression that we're learning about the enigmatic titular artist. That Wright turns in a terrific performance and Schnabel makes a colorful, well-edited film seems to be almost a bonus.

What Else Is It Like?: Love is the Devil, Vincent and Theo, the Scorsese bit of New York Stories.

When Is It Showing Until ON DEMAND?: 9/18/06

Watch It ON DEMAND on Comcast cable.

--ddt/pdx

Bomb the System (2002, dir. Adam Bhala Lough)

Bomb the System (2002, dir. Adam Bhala Lough)

What Is It?: A slight, over-heated melodrama about a young man -- and graffiti celebrity -- trying to decide what to do with his life.

What About It?: According to the DVD box, this is the first major fictional feature about graffiti since Wild Style in 1982. And it is about graffiti. Lough gives us a movie that feels like a primer on the underground world of taggers, and the film has a definite feel of verisimilitude to it.

Why Should I See It?: Visually, it's a lush tapestry of colors, evoking the garish, lovely tags of the graffiti artists in the film in ways that one wouldn't initially imagine. Ben Kutchins, the cinematographer comes up with fresh ideas throughout the entire film. Even if the story is hoary and more than a little lame, afterwards we were struck at how complete the world in the film felt. Though the script was not particularly programmatic, it feels like we learn quite a bit about the New York that these characters walked around in and what it was like to be them. In addition, the soundtrack by El-P was redolent and compelling without being distracting.

What Else Is It Like?: Dreams Don't Die, Style Wars, The Fast and the Furious.

When Is It Showing Until ON DEMAND?: 08/29/06

Watch It ON DEMAND on Comcast cable.

--ddt/pdx

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And please visit our sister site, The Painted Ground of San Jose Avenue for more sweet stencils and tags, yo.

Darkman (1990, dir. Sam Raimi)

Darkman (1990, dir. Sam Raimi)

What Is It?: A superhero B-movie made by the (future) maker of the Spider-Man series.

What About It?: Though Sam Raimi is not the Lost Classic's favorite, he sure did know how to liven up the superhero genre. This was his first mainstream flick after great cult success making Evil Dead I and II: Dead by Dawn. It's a fast-paced, visually restless comic book flick about a brilliant scientist way unfairly dipped into acid by evil real estate magnates, exacting his revenge as he slowly loses his mind.

Why Should I See It?: The DP Bill Pope and Raimi have a singular feel for camera placement that many of his generation lack. It's enjoyable all by itself and neat to see a once cult filmmaker make his first steps into the mainstream juggernaut that he's become. Interesting that two of the most successful filmmakers of the last decade, -- both critically and financially -- Raimi and Peter Jackson both were initially splatter-horror underground shooters before moving on to the Main of the

What Else Is It Like?: RoboCop, Face/Off, The Crow.

When Is It Showing Until ON DEMAND?: 12/07/06

Watch It ON DEMAND on Comcast cable.

--ddt/pdx

The Tall T (1957, dir. Budd Boetticher) [Out of Print]

The Tall T (1957, dir. Budd Boetticher)

What Is It?: A lean, mean western about criminals and a kidnapping starring Randolph Scott and the lovely and talented Maureen O'Hara based on an early Elmore Leonard short story, "The Captive."

What About It?: Like the recently re-released 7 Men From Now, this is one (the second) of the Ranown cycle of westerns with Burt Kennedy writing, the taciturn Randolph Scott starring, and Budd Boetticher directing. Also like the others, this is a fine, lean picture with rapid-fire dialogue, no-nonsense directing and top-notch storytelling. Unlike the above 7 Men, this isn't a revenge tale, rather it's a standard-issue kidnapping thriller.

Why Should I See It?: The casting is perfect, from the heroes above, to the evil trio of Richard Boone, a truly creepy Henry Silva and Skip Homeier. Though the outcome is never in doubt, Boetticher keeps the movie moving along and tense throughout.

What Else Is It Like?: The Comancheros, Johnny Guitar, 3:10 to Yuma.

When Is It Showing Until ON DEMAND?: 10/19/06

Watch It ON DEMAND on Comcast cable.

--ddt/pdx

The Devil's Own (1997, dir. Alan J. Pakula)

The Devil's Own (1997, dir. Alan J. Pakula)

What Is It?: A New York thriller about one of the Troubles of Northern Ireland (Brad Pitt) comeing to America to live in the basement of a credulous, kind-hearted cop (Harrison Ford).

What About It?: By no means is the Lost Classic trying to say that this is a great film -- we are not -- but we are saying that there is much to recommend this movie. Is one of those things Brad Pitt's accent? Well, sure. It gets under your skin and much fun is to be had relaying its peculiarities to one's friends. Another is that the flick is truly gorgeous, with Gordon Willis behind the lens in his last film (so far). It's nowhere near as deep as it wants to be, playing with the morality of violence and blah, blah, blah, but it's a gripping drama that goes well with a couple of beers and a bowl of popcorn.

Why Should I See It?: Because you can't think of anything else, and you like the two main actors, who seem to genuinely dislike each other in the scenes where their animosity reaches its apex. It's worth your time.

What Else Is It Like?: City Hall, The General, The Anderson Tapes.

When Is It Showing Until ON DEMAND?: 09/30/06

Watch It ON DEMAND on Comcast cable.

--ddt/pdx

Stagecoach (1939, dir. John Ford)

Stagecoach (1939, dir. John Ford)

What Is It?: It's an action-adventure-western in which John Wayne is made from a bit player into the iconic star we know today.

What About It?: We're hard-pressed to think of a movie that's more fun than Stagecoach. One can look at the titular stage and see a microcosm of America or see the tensions between the classes as a statement on the America contemporaneous to the film, or you can just enjoy the archetype for most westerns -- not to mention most actioners, period -- that followed. Ford's beloved Monument Valley also makes its debut in this rollicking good-time of a film.

Why Should I See It?: Because the film is pure cinematic fun. From the first focus-pull on Wayne as the stage comes around the bend to the hilarious asides from Andy Devine, we can't think of a more enjoyable western.

What Else Is It Like?: Rio Bravo, The Plainsman, Ride the High Country.

When Is It Showing Until ON DEMAND?: 10/26/06

Watch It ON DEMAND on Comcast cable.

--ddt/pdx

Lenny (1974, dir. Bob Fosse)

Lenny (1974, dir. Bob Fosse)

What Is It?: The story of the rise and fall of seminal stand-up, Lenny Bruce.

What About It?: Bob Fosse, famed choreographer, directed this as his follow-up to the brilliant Cabaret. Though it doesn't reach that film's heights (how many do, though?), it is one of the best biopics of all time. Some critics complained upon release of its chilliness, or cold detachment, but we at the Lost Classic think they're looking at what the film isn't rather than what the film is. And what it is is one of the most beautifully shot, artfully cut (edited with a jazz-like acuity, perfectly married to the Miles Davis score) and masterfully acted film.

Why Should I See It?: For many reasons, we suppose, but first and foremost for Dustin Hoffman's staggering portrayal. Far more than a brilliant mimic of Bruce (though it is that, too), Hoffman brings Bruce to vivid life, disappearing into the role. One of the best perfomances in a decade rife with them.

What Else Is It Like?: Raging Bull, Man on the Moon, All That Jazz.

When Is It Showing Until ON DEMAND?: 09/30/06

Watch It ON DEMAND on Comcast cable.

--ddt/pdx