New Alex Cox Interview Now at Vantage Point Interviews!

Photo © Alex Cox.

My new interview with director Alex Cox about his film Tombstone Rashomon (2017) as well as his documentary Kurosawa: The Last Emperor (1999) is now up at Vantage Point Interviews. If you enjoy Kurosawa movies, as well as old Westerns, this one interview you'll want to check out!

A Review of Alex Cox's Latest Film: Tombstone Rashomon

Poster © TriCoast Entertainment.

Alex Cox, the iconoclastic director of the cult classic Repo Man (1984) and the critically acclaimed biopic Sid and Nancy (1986) is back with a new film, Tombstone Rashomon. As the title suggests, it retells the events that took place during the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral in a similar vein to Akira Kurosawa’s 1950 masterpiece.

But here’s where things get strange. The various testimonies by the principal witnesses to the legendary shootout are given to an unseen, time-traveling camera crew from the future. While that might make the film sound like “Doctor Who meets John Wayne,” the backstory of the reporters from the future is handled in expository text at the beginning of the movie. Other than that, the film has no sci-fi elements.

As the movie plays out, we hear a variety of perspectives from the participants of witnesses who were there on October 26, 1881, when all hell broke loose. Among those interviewed are: Doc Holliday, Sheriff Behan, Ike Clanton, and even Wyatt Earp himself (who declines to be interviewed but instead reads a prepared statement).

Photo © TriCoast Entertainment. 

While not a comedy, the movie has brilliant moments of absurdist humor. I won’t spoil it, but there’s a moment in Doc Holliday’s version of events that made me laugh out loud. There’s also an amusing scene in which the off-camera interviewer gives an emotional Wyatt Earp stage direction to increase the dramatic effect for the documentary. It’s here where the movie really shines, and I wish the satirical tone of the movie would have been enhanced. (You’d think there’d be more comedy in a film whose premise is that documentarians travel in time to record the historic Gunfight at the O.K. Corral only to miss it by a day.)

That said, not all the film's humor quite worked for me. When the documentary crew interview Doc Holliday’s love interest Kate, she repeatedly uses female pronouns to describe male characters. Of course, in this day and age of political correctness, a situation like that could become a potential minefield, but I just didn’t find it funny. 

While I enjoyed the movie overall, it did begin to lose me a bit when the comedic elements were played down, and some of the events leading up to the infamous gunfight were repeated (even with certain changes due to the varying perspectives of the particular storyteller). That, of course, is where the “Rashomon” part of Tombstone Rashomon comes into play, but I think it would have helped the film’s cause immensely to make the differences even broader and much more theatrical.

Photo © TriCoast Entertainment.

The performances are solid, but the standout of the cast is Jesse Lee Pacheco as the oily Sheriff Behan. Pacheco’s portrayal is entertainingly slimy, and his embodiment of the ambitious sheriff gives the audience the film’s most memorable character. It’s an even more incredible accomplishment when you consider that Doc Holliday is usually the character that gives actors the most material to work with. (Think Val Kilmer in 1993’s Tombstone.) Sheriff Behan is usually not the first character that comes to mind with regard to cinematic retellings of the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, but I think he’s finally earned his place in the spotlight.

The shootout itself has a realistic touch, and I’d wager looks a lot closer to the way things really happened than the carefully crafted choreography of the Hollywood classics of yesteryear. What it lacks in glamour, it makes up for in realism. The only drawback is the obvious CG muzzle flash that takes away from the scene’s authenticity.

Mostly filmed at Old Tucson Studios, gives it a feel of a modern-day Republic Western. Like those legendary motion pictures of yore, this one is a low-budget affair but with accurate settings and costumes. They say that Westerns are cyclical and tend to come and go as popular forms of entertainment, but I have a hard time seeing them make a comeback. Every once in a while, a good one comes along (2018’s The Sisters Brothers is a last one from Hollywood that I can recall), but it seems that the genre doesn’t speak to modern society the way it did during Hollywood’s golden age. I think any filmmaker who makes a Western these days ought to be commended. It’s certainly hard to argue that he or she is in it for the money.

Tombstone Rashomon is a breezy 80 minutes and is well worth a look. The film is now playing on Amazon Prime and can be purchased on DVD online or in your favorite brick-and-mortar establishment. With Tombstone Rashomon, TriCoast Entertainment has combined an American legend with a Japanese cinematic classic. Does it do for Rashomon what The Magnificent Seven (1960) did for Seven Samurai (1954)? Check it out for yourself and let me know what you think.

Gammera! Gammera!

Photo © Artie Butler.

I recently looked at my email archives and found my correspondences with music arranger and songwriter Artie Butler. Mr. Butler has an extensive resume, but in particular he is credited as music arranger and conductor of the Gammera theme for Gammera the Invincible (1966), which is where I come in. I was first in communication with Mr. Butler in October 2007 about an interview, and after a long break, discussions resumed in October 2009. Eventually, after he watched a DVD of Gammera to refresh his memories, Mr. Butler wrote me the following on January 1, 2010:

I finally looked at the film. I have to be honest. All I remember about working on this music, is doing a few recording sessions with Wes Farrell in New York. I really don't remember much about the sessions at all. It was so many years ago. It's amazing though after all these years how the film holds up as a classic for that type movie in it's day. What fun. Sorry I could not be more help to you. 

Warmest regards, 

Artie Butler

Given that a proper interview is not likely to happen, I felt it was important to document Mr. Butler's memories of working on Gammera.

New Interviews at Vantage Point Interviews!

Hong Kong voice actor Peter Boczar.

Several new interviews have been posted at Vantage Point Interviews, and as always, they are quite fascinating. Peter Boczar discusses dubbing in Hong Kong in the late 1970s under the direction of Ted Thomas. He goes into detail about the process of dubbing back then. If you enjoy HK dubbing, this is the interview for you!

Also on tap are interviews with Ultraman: The Ultimate Hero writer Todd Gilbert and cast member Sandra Guibord, who played Theresa Beck on the show. They reveal details about the program here for the very first time anywhere!

More content will continue to be posted, so please keep an eye out for what's next on Vantage Point Interviews!

Going Behind the Scenes with Toho Staff!

Takao Okawara. Photo by Brett Homenick.

On Friday, July 24, I attended another event related to Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II (1993) -- this time attended by director Takao Okawara and assistant SX director Yoshiaki Kondo.  

Compared to a few others guests, Okawara-san is a bit more reserved and laid-back, but he freely mingled with attendees, answered their questions, and signed their stuff.

 Yoshiaki Kondo. Photo by Brett Homenick.

I've met Kondo-san at several other events, and suffice it to say, he's more on the outgoing side. I always enjoy meeting both guests whenever they turn up at events.

The mask rule was certainly in effect, but an exception was made for picture-taking. Everything went smoothly, and it was another successful event. Which is nice, because it's probably has to last me a while!

Two Toho Suit Actors Raid Again!

 Kenpachiro Satsuma. Photo by Brett Homenick.

On Thursday, July 23, I had the opportunity take in a screening of a 35mm print of Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II (1993), which I've now seen a few times in Japan. It's always been a Heisei film I've enjoyed, and seeing again 25 years after first watching it was certainly nostalgic for me.

Two guests were on hand for the screening: Kenpachiro Satsuma and Hurricane Ryu. I'd imagine Satsuma-san needs no introduction. He played the Heisei-era Godzilla from 1984-1995. He has a well-deserved reputation for fan-friendliness, and this event was no exception.

 Hurricane Ryu. Photo by Brett Homenick.

The other guest was the versatile Hurricane Ryu, another monster suit actor. He played Baby in the day's movie. While not as prolific at events as Satsuma-san, he's another approachable fellow who's happy to meet and mingle.

The event was quite fun, as always. I spent the evening seated across from Satsuma-san, who talked about the difficulty of acting as Hedorah in Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster (1971), how much he liked playing Gigan, and some of the challenges filming Godzilla vs. Destoroyah (1995).

 It's Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah in real life! Photo by Brett Homenick.

Toward the end of the evening, the two suit actors, who squared off in Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991) as the titular kaiju, gave us a reenactment.

I'm very glad the event was still held, despite the pandemic. There have been comparatively very few events this year, so you have to take every opportunity you can to experience one.

A Return to the Stage!

On Saturday, July 25, I immediately left work to watch a small stage performance with Yumi Mizusawa, an actress whom I've come to know. The show was interesting and even featured yokai!

I didn't have much of a chance to speak with Mizusawa-san after the show, but it was certainly nice to see her again. Since these gatherings continue to be few and far between, you have to take the opportunities as they come.