Cinema Speculation

1. The Power of the Moviegoing Experience

It was fucking thrilling to be the only child in a packed room of adults watching an adult movie and hearing the room laugh at (usually) something I knew was probably naughty.

Shared experience. The author emphasizes the communal aspect of watching movies in a theater, especially as a child among adults. This experience was not just about the film itself, but also about observing the reactions of others, learning about adult humor, and understanding social dynamics.

Learning through observation. The author's early moviegoing experiences were a form of social education. He learned how adults interacted, what they found funny, and how they responded to different types of films. This observation was crucial in shaping his understanding of the world.

• He learned about satire from Where's Poppa?
• He learned about adult humor from The Owl and the Pussycat
• He learned about audience reactions from Dirty Harry

Beyond the screen. The movie theater was a space where the author could observe adults in their "natural habitat," learning about their social rituals and the things they found funny. This experience was as much about the audience as it was about the films themselves.

2. New Hollywood's Gritty Realism and Moral Ambiguity

These were the first couple of years of New Hollywood. These audiences had grown up on movies from the fifties and sixties. They were used to peekaboo, insinuation, double entendres, and word play.

Challenging conventions. New Hollywood films of the 1970s broke away from the sanitized and morally simplistic narratives of previous decades. They embraced gritty realism, moral ambiguity, and complex characters, often reflecting the social and political turmoil of the era.

Pushing boundaries. These films explored previously taboo subjects, including sex, violence, and social injustice, often with a raw and unflinching honesty. This new approach challenged the audience's expectations and forced them to confront uncomfortable truths.

• Joe explored class conflict and violence
• Deliverance depicted primal fear and moral quandary
• Dirty Harry questioned the limits of law enforcement

Moral complexity. Unlike the clear-cut heroes and villains of Old Hollywood, New Hollywood films often presented characters with flawed motivations and questionable actions. This moral ambiguity forced audiences to grapple with complex ethical dilemmas.

3. McQueen's Cool and the Reinvention of the Cop

Steve saw himself as a MOVIE STAR. It was one of the most charming characteristics about Steve. He knew what he was good at. He knew what the audience liked about him and that’s what he wanted to give them.

The last of the true movie stars. Steve McQueen was not just an actor, but a movie star who understood his audience and his own iconic persona. He chose roles that allowed him to be cool, charismatic, and ultimately victorious.

Breaking the mold. McQueen's portrayal of Frank Bullitt in Bullitt redefined the cop film genre. He moved away from the somber, serious, and often interchangeable cops of the past, creating a character who was stylish, cool, and effortlessly in control.

• Bullitt's wardrobe was chic and modern
• He had a hot girlfriend and a cool car
• He was emotionally detached and unflappable

Beyond the plot. Bullitt was not just about a crime story, but about action, atmosphere, and the cool persona of Steve McQueen. The plot was secondary to the overall experience of watching McQueen in action.

4. Siegel's Brutal Honesty and the Birth of the Serial Killer Thriller

When it came to directing violence you could call Don Siegel the Surgeon.

Action as violence. Don Siegel's action sequences were not just about spectacle, but about the brutal reality of violence. He used his background in montage to create fast-paced, visceral scenes that shocked and disturbed audiences.

The rogue lawman. Siegel's protagonists were often rogue law enforcement officers who operated outside the bounds of the law to achieve their own sense of justice. This theme reflected Siegel's own rebellious attitude towards studio executives and the established order.

• The Verdict's Grodman
• Dirty Harry's Callahan
• Coogan's Bluff's Coogan

The serial killer thriller. Dirty Harry is credited with creating the modern serial killer thriller, pitting Eastwood's rogue cop against a calculated and depraved killer. This film established many of the tropes that would become common in the genre.

5. Deliverance: A Descent into Primal Fear and Moral Quandary

But what the story and the theme of Dickey’s book is really about is what happens after the inciting incident of violence.

Beyond the rapids. Deliverance is not just a survival story, but a descent into primal fear and a moral quandary. The film explores the consequences of violence and the breakdown of civilization when confronted with the raw power of nature.

The macho pose. Burt Reynolds' character, Lewis, embodies a macho pose that is ultimately revealed to be a facade. He is not the survivalist he pretends to be, and his actions often lead to disastrous consequences.

• He is full of consumed facts, rather than experience-derived wisdom
• He is a sportsman, not a survivalist
• He is more balls than brains, more opinion than knowledge

The aftermath of violence. The film's true focus is on the aftermath of the rape scene and the moral choices the characters must make. It explores the complexities of guilt, responsibility, and the struggle to maintain one's humanity in the face of extreme violence.

6. Peckinpah's Getaway: A Love Story Amidst Chaos

The imprint of Steve McQueen, and Sam Peckinpah, and the stuntmen, and the location, and the kind of maleness of it all, was so exciting . . . and it’s never been duplicated.

Beyond the crime. The Getaway is not just a crime thriller, but a love story set against a backdrop of chaos and violence. The film explores the complex relationship between Doc and Carol, as they navigate a world of betrayal, danger, and uncertainty.

McQueen's charisma. Steve McQueen's performance as Doc McCoy is a masterclass in minimalist acting. He embodies a cool, stoic persona that is both captivating and enigmatic.

• He doesn't overact
• He doesn't explain his actions
• He just is

A doomed romance. Despite the violence and chaos, the film ultimately focuses on the bond between Doc and Carol. Their relationship is tested by betrayal and mistrust, but they ultimately find a way to connect and survive together.

7. The Outfit: A Study in Rogue Justice and Genre Subversion

I think I AM that Character. Certainly I am at the studios!

The quintessential Siegel protagonist. Don Siegel's films often feature rogue law enforcement officers who operate outside the bounds of the law to achieve their own sense of justice. This theme reflects Siegel's own rebellious attitude towards authority.

A stripped-down approach. The Outfit is a lean, mean, and efficient action film that subverts the conventions of the genre. It strips away the melodrama and focuses on the raw, brutal reality of violence.

• The characters are uncliched
• The action is expertly executed
• The story is simple and direct

Iconoclasm. Siegel's protagonists, whether cops or criminals, often go rogue, challenging the established order and operating by their own rules. This iconoclasm reflects Siegel's own relationship with the studio system.

8. Kevin Thomas: Champion of the Underdog and Genre Cinema

The importance of Neile McQueen to Steve’s success as a movie star can’t be overemphasized.

A second-string hero. Kevin Thomas, a second-string critic for the Los Angeles Times, was a champion of the underdog and genre cinema. He recognized the talent and potential in low-budget exploitation films that were often overlooked by other critics.

A voice for the voiceless. Thomas gave a platform to filmmakers who were often marginalized by the mainstream press. He praised their creativity, their technical skills, and their ability to connect with audiences.

• He championed Jonathan Demme's early work
• He recognized the talent of Tobe Hooper
• He appreciated the artistry of Russ Meyer

Beyond the surface. Thomas looked beyond the surface of exploitation films, recognizing their artistic merit and their ability to reflect the social and cultural anxieties of the time. He was a champion of the genre, not just a fan.

9. The Auteurs vs. the Brats: A Generational Shift in Hollywood

I think I AM that Character. Certainly I am at the studios!

A clash of styles. The New Hollywood era saw a generational shift in filmmaking, with the Post-Sixties Anti-Establishment Auteurs giving way to the Movie Brats. These two groups had different approaches to cinema, different influences, and different goals.

The Anti-Establishment Auteurs. This group of filmmakers, including Robert Altman, Sam Peckinpah, and Arthur Penn, were influenced by European art cinema and the counterculture movement. They sought to challenge the conventions of Hollywood and explore complex social and political themes.

• They rejected Old Hollywood's morality
• They embraced gritty realism and moral ambiguity
• They often used historical settings to comment on contemporary issues

The Movie Brats. This group of filmmakers, including Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese, and Steven Spielberg, were film school educated and grew up watching movies on television. They were more interested in genre filmmaking and creating crowd-pleasing entertainment.

• They embraced genre films
• They were influenced by both Hollywood and European cinema
• They were more interested in technique and style

A new era. The Movie Brats ultimately came to dominate Hollywood, ushering in a new era of blockbuster filmmaking that was both technically sophisticated and commercially successful.

10. De Palma's Hitchcockian Thrillers and the Power of Technique

Steve would say, ‘Let him say that. I’ll be over here peeling an apple.’

Technique over substance. Brian De Palma was not as interested in the themes of Hitchcock's films as he was in his cinematic techniques. He used Hitchcock's methods of suspense and audience manipulation to create his own unique brand of thrillers.

A master of suspense. De Palma's films are known for their elaborate set pieces, their use of split-screen, and their voyeuristic camera angles. He was a master of creating tension and suspense through purely cinematic means.

• He used long takes and slow motion
• He employed subjective camera angles
• He often used music to heighten the tension

A commercial approach. Unlike some of his contemporaries, De Palma was always aware of the commercial potential of his films. He used his technical skills to create movies that were both artistically ambitious and commercially viable.

11. The Enduring Legacy of Taxi Driver's Dark Vision

I loved Dirty Harry, even though I was appalled by it. A terrible piece of trash that Don Siegel really made something out of. Hated what it was saying, but the day I saw it the audience was cheering.

A descent into madness. Taxi Driver is not just a crime thriller, but a descent into the mind of a disturbed and alienated man. The film explores the themes of loneliness, paranoia, and the seductive power of violence.

A flawed protagonist. Travis Bickle is not a hero, but a deeply flawed and troubled character. His racism, his misogyny, and his violent fantasies make him a difficult character to sympathize with.

• He is a racist
• He is a loner
• He is a ticking time bomb

A critique of the vigilante. The film subverts the conventions of the vigilante genre, presenting a protagonist who is not a righteous avenger, but a deeply disturbed individual who is ultimately consumed by his own rage.

12. Paradise Alley: Stallone's Passion Project and a Look at the Past

To one degree or another I’ve spent my entire life since both attending movies and making them, trying to re-create the experience of watching a brand-new Jim Brown film, on a Saturday night, in a black cinema in 1972.

A personal vision. Paradise Alley is a deeply personal film for Sylvester Stallone, reflecting his love for old movies, his fascination with the past, and his own working-class roots. It's a movie that is both a tribute to the past and a showcase for his own unique talents.

A blend of genres. The film combines elements of the gangster film, the boxing movie, and the period piece, creating a unique and often bizarre cinematic experience. It's a movie that is both funny and tragic, sentimental and cynical.

• It's a love letter to the East Side Kids
• It's a showcase for Stallone's writing and acting
• It's a celebration of the working class

A flawed masterpiece. While Paradise Alley is not a perfect film, it is a passionate and ambitious work that reveals the unique vision of its creator. It's a movie that is both deeply personal and broadly appealing, a testament to the power of cinema to transport us to other times and places.

Last updated: May 4, 2025