In this past week's "Album of the Week" rant, I referenced a film and its score that I had featured in previous rants. I suddenly felt the urge to revisit both as I had posted both exclusively to Facebook. So I decided to present both of them here. What follows is the film rant, originally written and posted on 16 March, 2024:
Like music, I tend to prefer physical media when it comes to my movies as well. I'm not so old school that I prefer VHS tapes or anything, but I do like having a tangible copy of the movie that I can hold--maybe read some liner notes or something. I also like all the behind the scenes "bonus features" that you get on DVD and Blu-ray that you don't usually get from streaming. To clarify, I don't have a problem with streaming. I've got plenty of films and TV shows in queues on Netflix and Paramount+ that I plan to get to at some point. I just prefer physical formats.
Like music, when shopping for new films, there have been a number of things that I've picked up on a whim over the years--movies that I had never seen before. Some were films that I'd heard about that I always thought I should see, like Citizen Kane (a good film, but highly overrated--not as good as Casablanca--more on those films another time). Other movies just kind of appear out of nowhere. While reading the summary on the back of the DVD case, checking out the cast, maybe the writer and director, sometimes I'll just think, "what the hell--this looks like something I would enjoy," and take it to the counter and pay for it. For the most part, my instincts have been correct. I've been burned more times going to see a film in a theater than I have buying it for my home video collection.
Some years back, my dear, dear friend Ellie Lawson informed me that Barnes & Noble was having a sale on their Criterion Collection Blu-rays and DVDs. The Criterion Collection, if you're not familiar, curates what they feel are important classic and contemporary films and releases them in special home video editions, replete with special features including written essays, archival documentaries, interviews, and trailers--usually with new interviews with some of the people connected to the film and appreciations by various scholars pontificating on the significance of the film... the kinds of things geeks like me eat up.
Anyway, I did my due diligence and checked out what was on the shelf. One film in particular grabbed my attention. I remembered stocking the original DVD release of it when I managed the music department at Barnes & Noble twenty years earlier. I had looked at it once or twice, but the only thing I remembered about it was that Burt Lancaster starred in it. For some reason, I don't know how I didn't recognize Peter Riegert on that original cover, but I didn't. While reading the back of this new edition, I discovered that it was filmed in Scotland--one of my favourite places on Earth. I decided, if nothing else, I wanted to see more of Riegert's work than I had, so I splurged and bought the Blu-ray. For a number of months in late 2019 and early 2020, I couldn't seem to stop watching this movie. It's one of the most beautiful films I've ever seen and have re-visited it many times. In fact, as I prepare to post this, I'm watching it yet again. I think it's safe to say I've definitely gotten my money's worth out of it (thanks, Ellie!).
Felix Happer, an eccentric Houston-based oil executive and astronomy buff, sends Mac, one of his top negotiators, to a fishing village in Scotland in order to purchase the land and develop it into an oil refinery (quite a shocking premise by today's standards, what with global warming and all). As the film progresses, we see Mac begin to adapt to a slower pace of life, in spite of his fondness for the materialistic yuppie-like trappings of his life in America. He endears himself to the locals as well as Victor, a Soviet businessman who makes periodic visits to the town--or maybe they endear themselves to him, it's kind of hard to tell. Either way, it becomes apparent that he falls in love with the place. As an American who's been to Scotland myself, I can't say I blame him. In fact, one of the draws of the film is the backdrop. It's one of those films where the location is just another character.
I became so taken with this film, that I even fell in love with its music. Composed by Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler, this was his first film score. In fact, I even featured the soundtrack as one of my "Album of the Week" submissions a few years back.
The film stars Peter Riegert (who is probably best remembered as Boone in National Lampoon's Animal House), Denis Lawson (Wedge from Star Wars), a young Peter Capaldi (more than 30 years before he became the twelfth "Doctor Who"), and the legendary Burt Lancaster as Felix Happer. Produced by David Puttnam and written and directed by Bill Forsyth and filmed entirely on location in Scotland and Houston, Texas, from 1983, I cannot recommend highly enough, Local Hero.
Until next week, stay safe, be good to your neighbours, and please remember that if at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
Yours in peace, love, and rock and roll!
The Reverend Will the Thrill
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