FILM REVIEW: The Fly (1986)

[Blarg]

Bumping this for my man diebitter, cuz we were talking about film reviews, and I remember this was one of his I really agreed with strongly.

And then on clicking up this link, I remembered how much the sense of daily loss reminded me of another of one of the films diebitter, in his good taste, reviewed, - The Incredible Shrinking Man. The haunting, terrible sense of daily diminishing and loss, so heartbreaking in the two of them if you let yourself open up to what the films are really all about. In the case of The Fly, the writing, directing, and Jeff Goldblum's great performance make it easy.

There is something in it of addiction, of moral compromise, of aging in a way that young OOT'ers may not understand. But for those of us who do, it's brilliant.

I remember thinking Jeff Goldblum was awesome in this movie. Haven't seen it in ages though. Wonder why he doesn't make many films. He's quirky but I like him.

[Vavavoom]

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I remember thinking Jeff Goldblum was awesome in this movie. Haven't seen it in ages though. Wonder why he doesn't make many films. He's quirky but I like him.

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His best role was in Jurassic Park.... [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] <font color="white"> Or maybe not...Lol ! </font>

[Blarg]

"You don't get out much, do you?", was one of Gena Davis's lines to him in this film. Along with some of his subsequent film roles, I think it permanently typecast him as "a bit off" in a way that limited the rest of his career.

I'm reminded of Peter Lorre and his heartstopping virtuosity in "M" at the very beginning of his career. It's not that Lorre couldn't possibly play another type of character. It's that nobody cared that he could, since he was so perfect at what he did. Lorre, like Goldblum, had almost no chance of escaping the doom of his own perfection.

[diebitter]

I remember also really digging JG in a film from the same time as 'The Fly' - a BBC production about how Watson and Crick unravelled the secrets of DNA -Life Story

He was great as Watson, who by all accounts was also quirky and charismatic - perfect casting, I'd say [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

PS. Blarg, your account box is full, will you empty out the [censored] please?

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It's not that Lorre couldn't possibly play another type of character. It's that nobody cared that he could, since he was so perfect at what he did. Lorre, like Goldblum, had almost no chance of escaping the doom of his own perfection.

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If that's true what a terrible shame. Wouldn't you love to see what Goldblum could do with another character? Man I would. Maybe he's been given opportunities but has blown them, maybe he really is too quirky to play more mainstream roles. I just don't get hollywood.

Diebitter I'd love to see him playing Watson. I'll bet he was great.

[codewarrior]

Plus Crash has Holly Hunter in it. The NC-17 version is quite good, and very weird overall.

[ChipWrecked]

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Plus Crash has Holly Hunter in it. The NC-17 version is quite good, and very weird overall.

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IF you know that's what you're getting. If you mistakenly NetFlix it thinking you're going to watch the 2005 movie of the same name, it is apallingly awful. I hated it.

Seeing Holly Hunter getting repeatedly boned does have a strange fascination, I'll grant ya that.

[Blarg]

J.G. Ballard, the writer of the original "Crash" whose name got ripped, was a very interesting sci-fi writer who could actually write and write very well, a real rarity in the genre. I hope we one day see some more of his stuff brought to film. I can't say I loved all of it, but his high points were pretty f*cking magnificent.

Haven't seen either version of Crash ATM. Read the first one, but it seemed untranslateable to film.

Re Goldblum - I'd love to see him in a role as good as The Fly again. We shouldn't have to put up with so many lesser stars when he's around. Typecasting can be ruinous.

[Ulysses]

diebitter,

I am a big fan of your reviews! Keep 'em coming!