The Late Director Jonathan Demme: A Few of My Favorite Earlier Films
RIP Jonathan Demme
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- DirectorJonathan DemmeStarsPaul Le MatCandy ClarkBruce McGillThe interlaced stories of several characters in a small town united by their use of CB (citizen's band) radio.Spot-on smalltown environs in which CB radios render people 'anonymous' by use of monikers (not unlike cyberspace and user names, eh?) A well written and entertaining film. I think that Demme has atmosphere, location, and set design nailed! And directing of course.
- DirectorJonathan DemmeStarsPaul Le MatJason RobardsElizabeth CheshireThe story of hard-luck Melvin E. Dummar, who claimed to have received a will naming him an heir to the fortune of Howard Hughes.More comic realism and social satire here, and a storyline with Howard Hughes and Melvin Dummar. Entertaining!
- DirectorJonathan DemmeStarsJeff DanielsMelanie GriffithGeorge 'Red' SchwartzA free-spirited woman "kidnaps" a yuppie for a weekend of adventure. But the fun quickly takes a dangerous turn when her ex-convict husband shows up.Jeff Daniels and Melanie Griffith were fun together. There is a drastic change in tone when Ray Liotta's character is introduced. Dig the high school reunion scenes. Watch for bit roles by famous indie directors.
- DirectorJonathan DemmeStarsSpalding GraySam WaterstonIra WheelerSpalding Gray discusses his participation in the film The Killing Fields (1984) and the background story about the troubles of Cambodia.A man. A desk. A chair. A glass of water. It's an entertaining, funny, dramatic ride of monologuist Spalding Gray's experience acting in "The Killing Fields". Lots of visual aids. Lighting design made it trippy, as did Laurie Anderson's score. Outstanding.
- DirectorJonathan DemmeStarsMichelle PfeifferAlec BaldwinPaul LazarA mobster's wife hates her lifestyle, but gets a chance to change it when her husband is killed - if the Long Island mob and the FBI let her.This is a giddy ride, sometimes quoted as being like 'the mafia on acid.' Michelle Pfeiffer, Alec Baldwin, Matthew Modine are great together. The mob is like a dysfunctional family: "You disappointed the sh*t outta me!" (bang! bang!) Check out the wonderful character actors playing mob and FBI. Set and costume design are over the top.
- DirectorJonathan DemmeStarsJodie FosterAnthony HopkinsScott GlennA young F.B.I. cadet must receive the help of an incarcerated and manipulative cannibal killer to help catch another serial killer, a madman who skins his victims.A change in tone for Demme? You bet.
The film followed Harris' book almost exactly. The trailer gave me nightmares. Hopkins and Foster were well-imagined characters. The whole cast was excellent.
Trivia: Pre-filming, there was a rumor that the actors were nervous about what to expect. Would Demme potentially try to portray the FBI as 'goofy inept republicans'? Of course not (it's a drama!). The actors and director blew each other away. And us.