Ridley Scott's Original "BLADE RUNNER"

Elegant within it’s cyber punk, dystopian madness “Blade Runner” stands momentously as a cinematic mild stone, a classic that continues to delight, bewilder, beguile and intrigue. You’re right; I am a fan. Former art director Ridley Scott set out to create something marvelous. He achieved just that as he eclipsed his himself and his magnificent crew’s original daring visions. Together they discovered (created) that rare wonder; a masterpiece of cinema and in that including of all of art and creativity.

The film as a whole is purely a visual splendor. Every performance to note from Harrison Ford to Sean Young to Rutger Hauer to Edward James Olmos to Daryl Hannah and M. Emmet Walsh is pitch perfect, nuanced and individually unique. The score is rich, enchanting, futuristic and reflective of an earlier form; the film noir. This atmospheric, dark, foggy acid rain refracting look is hypnotic and equally contributing to the film’s narrative. Former Police Officer/Blade Runner Rick Deckard must hunt down and “retire a group of super sophisticated, self-aware renegade androids (Replicants) and “retire” them.

The inspiration and basis of the film is the Phillip K. Dick Sci-Fi novel “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” It is a well-executed and provocative work that bears almost no resemblance to Scott’s film. I am guessing that it was Scott’s intention to do so.   

The film was not originally a huge hit. It was far too radical, distinctive and for all general purposes dark for that. How many times does the general public adapt and gravitate to the new and daring? It is an even rarer thing and in many ways a compliment to go unnoticed and unheralded at first encounter. I saw it at least four times in 1982 the summer of it’s release. Imagine too; that the lead, Harrison Ford was not a star in his own right at the time. He had appeared in “Star Wars” in 1977 a few years before but it was “Blade Runner” that established his remarkable and unique super stardom along with years of long and continuing acting successes.  

The iconic Poster (Left) features Deckard and Rachel above the aerial view of the fabled acid rain drenched city of the then future (2019) Los Angelos. Original versions of the poster retail for as much as $2,000.

Much of the visuals and themes of “Blade Runner” are influenced by the look of Fritz Lang’s “Metropolis.” It is a fitting homage of sorts to Lang’s film. It is also truly in the same vein of the H.G. Wells book “The Shape of Things to Come.” 

The film has gone through a number of rereleases and subsequent director’s cuts. It is the original 1982 release with the matter of fact and often nuanced voice over by Deckard (Harrison Ford) that was the most striking and entertaining incarnation that I most completely enjoyed. The eloquent and somewhat world weary voice added the right touch with the “film noir” over tones and feel of the production.

 As of date the seminal “Blade Runner” is without equal or legitimate successor. The film does create many questions in plot and purpose. One major question concerns who and what Deccard himself might actually be. The original cut of the movie alluded to in several instances and tone to the possibility of the Deckard character being himself a replicant. The final director’s cut of the film (2007) attempts to clear up the discrepancies. A dream sequence featuring a startled and running unicorn is held by Deckard in his sleep. The dream along with a strategically placed origami unicorn by the Gaff character late in the film serves as an explanation of sorts. The inference is that Gaff is privy to Deckard’s programmed and implanted dreams. This can be interpreted as a true explanation or the subject for more confusion; the debate continues.The mostly unsuccessful and lackluster sequel “Blade Runner 2049” attempts to expand, to enhance and explain other elements of the original film; the attempt was futile. In my imagination there was no need for a sequel or expansion and it falls far short of the original. Many, many films need no sequel and the attempt to extend their narratives are hackneyed, lackluster attempts at best but well the subjects for further debate. 

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 Animation Depicting Events Between Original Film and "Blade Runner 2049"

Another superb outing for director Scott was the “1984” titled commercial for the Apple PC that aired during the 1984 Super bowl. The commercial is a response to the George Orwell novel. It is considered by many aficionados and experts to be one of the greatest commercials of stated history.  See it here as originally and nationally viewed in January of said year.  

Until and if ever eclipsed Scott remains the pre-eminent and unchallenged champion of the cyber punk, the fantastic world of film experimentation and it’s successful execution!

Eyvind Earle a Fraternity of One

The extraordinary Eyvind Earle lived “The Artist’s Life” to its truest perfection and fulfillment. He was born to two creative nurturing parents. His mother a classical pianist and his father a painter that studied with some of the most respected artists of his time (most notably the champion Bouguereau.) It is not to say that Earle did not have set backs. As a child polio caused a life-long deformation of his mouth making it difficult for him to smile. But in spite of his affliction he became perhaps more focused and remained true to his calling in a most ambitious and dedicated way. In turn he would bring countless unconditional smiles to the many within the span of his creative journey through life.

He studied continually as he practiced his craft while traveling across country on his bicycle looking for subjects and inspiration. Earle also had the desire to make money from his work and was able to do so first with greeting cards and later to a far greater extent as a background painter for several Hollywood studios including United Artists and Disney. He was featured as the sole credited background artist for Disney’s Sleeping Beauty (something no other artist of yet has achieved.) The Sleeping Beauty paintings distinctive look of detailed verticality was influenced largely from medieval paintings and tapestries. He also contributed to “Lady and the Tramp,” “The Legend of Paul Bunyan,” and others. Earle would go on to opening his own production company where he garnished a number of commercial clients; Chrysler, Kellogg, Marlboro and he even created one of Universal Studios most intriguing animated logos. 

Eyvind Earle was always able to attract attention as a commercial artist. He returned to greeting cards several times over both on his on and for hire. There are collections devoted exclusively to his greeting cards. It would be within the refinement of fine art that Earle would find his greatest achievements. He would eventually come to work exclusively as a fine artist. He had realized early on that he had the ability to sell his marvelous paintings. This he used to great advantage. As his clientele’s scope grew and the polished works of his imagination became that of a world class nature; he prospered. Earle became a man and artist of tremendous success. He was particularly admired in Japan and the Asian influence along with a personal aesthetic and sensibility were actually very Japanese. It is much evident in his late work. Earle and Hiroshige surrogate brothers in craft and spirit. 

The works of Eyvind Earl are among a select group of artists that lead the viewer to a deeper, richer view of the world, life and the self. There is clarity within his art that transcends the physical. When viewing and experiencing Earle’s work there is a true feeling of the elevation of the spirit, of the heart. There is the union of both vision and mind coming together in a way truly unique, a Zen most sublime.  

                                                         

                                             

The Tell -Tale Heart

Poe is by most consensuses the first name of Gothic Horror in literature and in our minds. Wells, Lovecraft, Shelly, Stoker form a list that goes on including omitted others and continuing into our times. These author’s works have been adapted to film, television, radio and the stage. The scary story is great in any form and we are born with the gene that loves the thrill, rush and fascination a scary telling provides. The masters of horror are many but it is Poe that always guarantees a “good read,” a delight of the mind, a shutter of the soul.

In the nineteen fifties an animation studio; UPA (creators of the original Twilight Zone opening) chose to adapt Poe to their medium. Their short film The Tell-Tale Heart proved to be a perfect choice. It is an infectious and sufficiently eerie presentation of one of Poe’s best “Tells.”

Edgar Allen Poe goes well with the month of October; it’s goblins, shadows and chills. The UPA animation featured here is to enjoy. Let the alchemy of Poe be an enchantment and guilty thrill for you and your haunts in the season of treats and tricks. 

La Planète Sauvage

The opening minutes of the film La Planète Sauvage are among the most startling and engaging scenes of any film of any genre. A young mother runs in terror from some unknown threat. This; as she attempts to shield her infant child from their potential attacker or attackers.  She is eventually taunted, herded and humiliated into submission by something of extreme. The exhausted mother falters and falls; dead from her brutally abusive physical and psychological torture. The child will survive to become the film’s protagonist.

Fantastic Planet (as it was titled in America) appeared in theaters forty plus years ago. This creation from the minds of director René Laloux and designer Roland Topor has amazed and informed for two generations now and is still thrilling in concept, storytelling and visually. The hand drawing; technically good, with a definitive roughness of line and grain is vastly appealing. It marries the surreal and the fantastic with modernity. Elements of Fantasy and Science Fiction combined with the strange and haunting score by composer Alain Goraguer is complete in execution; touching the emotional as well as the intellectual.

Nothing short of exceptional; Fantastic Planet was ground-breaking Cinema. The creation of this film was years before the development of computer generated imagery. Pixar and DreamWorks rule and inform the world of today’s animation. The dialogue of animation has changed so much in the digital era. But the hand still ruled in the times that Fantastic Planet appeared. It is prevalent throughout this marvel. On most levels it holds up into this era as an entertainment and as history. 

I was living in Washington DC when I first saw La Planète Sauvage. My friends and I had taken a bus across the city from South East to George Town in North West DC. We had been witness to the most radical film offered at the time. Had we also been the witness to the brave new future of cinematic artistry?  Standing outside the theater waiting for our return bus I studied a poster for an upcoming feature. The art work was interesting but most of the names of the contributors (other than Ron Howard) were unfamiliar. The name of this feature was American Graffiti; directed by some guy…George Lucas.  

      

John Lennon Drawings (at auction)

As the song and legend goes…It was twenty years ago today that Sargent Pepper taught the band (The Beatles) to play. It was just prior to that he (or someone) taught the band’s leader John Lennon to draw and to write. He did it all with an impeccable style and humor. The ability to see the drama and pains of life while recognizing the element of humor was always a part of Lennon’s life and work. He expressed it beginning in his child-hood and it sustained him as it did his career and prodigious creativity.    

 Lennon is universally known for his achievements in music both as a collaborator and soloist. His drawing and writings are to be noted as well. Sotheby’s just days ago sold eighty nine lots exclusively of Lennon’s manuscripts and drawings.  The manuscripts: “In His Own Write” and “A Spaniard in the Works” were the center pieces. The books were published at the height of The Beatle’s popularity and the song “Paper Back Writer” was another humorous reflection of Lennon’s writings and life at that time. Like the best artists Lennon’s works were inspired by his own experiences.

The drawings were illustrations, random cartoons and whimsical musings largely done for himself, family and friends. Lennon’s drawings are on a par with other of the most popular cartoonists and illustrators of his time. Jules Feiffer, Ralph Steadman and Shel Silverstein all come to mind when looking at Lennon the cartoonist/illustrator. Lennon’s work stands up with the greats of the field.

Another of Lennon’s seminal works was the song “Nowhere Man.” He reflected on the writing of it:

“I was just sitting, trying to think of a song and I thought of myself sitting there, doing nothing and getting nowhere. Once I thought of that it was easy. It all came out. No, I remember now. I’d actually stopped trying to think of something. Nothing would come. I was cheesed off and went for a lie down, having given up. Then I thought of myself as Nowhere Man-sitting in his nowhere land”

                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                   John Lennon

In the animated film “Yellow Submarine” the Nowhere Man is a curiously drawn, genius of sorts. He is a master of philosophy, the sciences and the arts. The self-absorbed creature paints on canvas as he calculates complex mathematical problems. He even reviews his own novel as he writes the foot-notes with his own foot; no less. The Nowhere Man inhabits a blank world surrounded by nothingness and no other beings. The life of the creative individual can metaphorically be much like that. Lennon’s song is telling. His wit and honesty; a constant, his true genius, undenied in everything he attempted and in all he achieved. 

ANIME

There are four great works of Japanese Anime: 

                               
                     Ghost in the Shell,             Akira,                  Metropolis...

and everything by Hayao Miyazaki.

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