‘Stand Up Guys’. A fun and quirky journey with some great actors.

•February 3, 2013 • 2 Comments

Stand Up GuysStand Up Guys is a gangster movie—what a surprise! A rather good and modest one, that offers great performances, some good laughs and very few surprises. When you team up three actors like Al Pacino, Christopher Walken and Alan Arkin it probably comes as no shock to hear that it is also quirky and more than slightly eccentric. The movie is directed by actor Fisher Stevens and above all it is a movie that is all about the performances.

I would watch Al Pacino in a movie no matter how bad it is— in fact I have! In ‘Stand Up Guys,’ Pacino plays the part of Val and is a delight as a harder than nails criminal who has just been released from a 28 year prison sentence. From the moment he is greeted at the prison gate by his former colleague you know it is not going to be smooth sailing in the relationship between him and Doc, played in his inimitable style by Walken. No spoiler alert here. Actually there are no great surprises anywhere in Noah Haidle’s screenplay, but some great chances to explore the fully formed personalities that the movie’s stars bring to the table. The movie goes pretty much where you think it is going and enjoys the journey getting there.

Pacino has two modes of acting, full on and over the top, and even fuller on and more over the top. In this movie he gives us a welcome opportunity to catch a glimpse of what some of his earlier screen creations might have been like if they had made it to become senior citizens. Not mellow and definitely still ‘full on and over the top.’ You get to watch Walken and Pacino come to terms with the fact that after 28 years  separated, they are each others only real friends. They are predictably unexcited and embarrassed by the hint of emotion that this causes them. 

Just when you are getting comfortable with the interaction between Val and Doc the movie gets a fresh wave of Pacino, Walken & Arkinexcitement when they are united with Hirsch, a former mob driver. Hirsch is brought to life impressively by Alan Arkin who adds a synergistic blast of energy to the proceedings. None of the actors let you forget the fact that these are tough and violent men. We just get the benefit of enjoying some of the lighter moments that their relationship offers. I’m not sure we ever needed to know quite so much about aging mobsters sex lives but what the heck.

I suppose there are other actors in the movie, but when all is said and done, it is really only the relationship between the three leads that fuels the story. All the other actors are certainly strong enough for the fairly basic roles that they fill in the storyline but their parts are purposely underwritten. The whole movie is a low key and enjoyable meditation on some very basic After Hourselements of the gangster genre. There is more than a little of ‘The Expendables Go Mobster’ in this production, however spending 90 minutes in the company of these three stand up guys is a lesson in acting that I found really enjoyed. I can’t summon up the same enthusiasm for ‘The Expendibles,’ and can’t help feeling that some of them shouldn’t ‘Have Been Baaaack!’

This movie has received some fairly scathing reviews and I am a little lost to know why. From the moment it begins you understand the territory you are entering and what to expect from your tour guides. Three great performances, and 90 minutes that was never less than enjoyable— this was just fine by me! The movie pleasantly reminded me of Scorsese’s highly underrated 1985 movie ‘After Hours,’ as it chronicles an odyssey through an absurdly never ending urban night. In fact if you haven’t seen it recently you should screen Scorsese’s minor gem as part of a double bill with ‘Stand Up Guys,’ they won’t change your life but they should entertain the heck out of you.

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The ‘H’ word and dealing with it. Heckling 101.

•February 1, 2013 • 4 Comments

Muppet HecklersThe reason I am referring to the topic of this blog by an initial is for the same reason most words are handled in this manner. It is considered by many to be a dirty word, not by everyone but certainly by many. Brace yourself—the word is heckling. There I said it.

There has recently been a long flare on the Magic Castle Facebook page about how terrible the heckling has become at the Castle and how to deal with it. Some of the solutions range from thoughtful to downright stupid. I don’t want to get into a discussion of that particular situation because it is incredibly location specific.

The Magic Castle is a unique venue that seems to be suffering some audience problems as it has been transforming from an intimate private club into a mega busy niche entertainment centre that marches to a cash beat. Of course, to remain viable as our clubhouse that cash needs to flow in on a very regular basis. However no member should be surprised if the magicians areHeckle cartoon treated less with respectful awe and more as a commodity. This is the trade off.

If you perform for any length of time you will eventually get heckled. It is like that hard drive failure— not a case of if but when. Magic is a particularly delicate area when it comes to heckling. Sometimes a heckler is just saying something that is obvious to everyone—like the outcome of a trick. It can be disconcerting when after burning a dollar bill, the moment you pull out a lemon; someone says, “I’ll bet the dollar is in it!”   If you experience a decrease in interest and a loss of authority then consider yourself heckled—but not necessarily in a negative way.

If this happens more than once, you should try and add a few curve balls and re-construct your repertoire so that you turn the tables on your audience’s expectations. I do this in many routines as a matter of course, and it pays big dividends in reaction. Very often an audience is way ahead of the pace and direction you are operating at and it behooves you to add a couple of twists. You have to do it, while they only have to think it, and thoughts are infinitely faster than actions.

If on the other hand, someone drunkenly shouts out something incoherently during your show then you have received the most classic and toughest to handle heckle. If it is a woman heckling it is infinitely worse. Your job number 1 is silencing the person and keeping them from getting out of control and spoiling the show for everyone else. The strongest tool you have at your disposal is to unite the audience behind you and let the heckler know that they are not appreciated by anyone present and are making a fool of themselves.

hecklingThe easiest kind of heckling to handle, and yet one that I see the most consistently mishandled, is when someone makes a genuinely witty or salient comment during your show.  A simple technique under these circumstances is to register the remark, smile at the person who made it and say, “That’s funny—I must remember to say that next time.” Another approach is to give a rueful smile and say, “I hate it when the audience is funnier than I am!” Don’t treat this kind of heckler as the enemy or they may become one.

What I haven’t discussed is that ever-popular mythical beast of magical booklets, ‘The Put Down,’ ‘Zingers’ or ‘The Zaps.’ Leave them in the outdated ‘gag book’ you find them in, as they can often open a can of worms you don’t want opened. The real danger with hecklers is that they are often totally genuine in their belief that they are helping you out.

As you perform you will develop some genuinely funny and relevant lines that you can use to stop a heckler.  Not to put down, zap or zing him—but to STOP him. These lines are generally ad-libs that are contextually effective, and your job is to make a mental note of the effective ones for future occasions when similar circumstances.

My personal technique when I want to use humor to silence someone is to do three short, scathing and really funny lines in a row directed straight at the heckler and then gazing directly (and pointedly) into his eyes say, “The LAST thing you want is my total attention.” This usually gets a strong reaction from the audience and usually convinces the heckler that I have a very good point.  Never attempt this, or any comedic anti-heckling approaches unless you are armed with a microphone, and never let your microphone into the hands of a heckler. Amen.

I’ve been getting a great reaction to my book ‘Cruise Magic 101’. Check it out on my web site.

www.nicklewin.com

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My Brush with Alfred Hitchcock and Harry Houdini.

•January 27, 2013 • 4 Comments

Michael Melissa and NickSince the early 80s one of my closest friends has been the incredibly talented writer and producer Michael Sloan. Though Michael has written and produced movies and West End stage shows, he is probably most famous for his contribution to the medium of television. He is one of television’s classiest talents and finest gentlemen.

Sloan has nearly 300 hours of network television to his credit including the creation of iconic series ‘The Equalizer.’ This year will see the return of the Equalizer as a major motion picture starring Denzel Washington in the title role. The TV series starred the great English actor Edward Woodward, and Michael’s beautiful and talented wife Melissa Anderson as his daughter.

My favorite holiday will always be Halloween 1987 when Michael gave me the best Halloween ‘treat’ I ever received. I had been presenting a special event at ‘Carlos & Charlie’s’ nightclub on the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles, and just after I finished the show, Michael casually handed me a manila envelope containing a script.

The script was for an episode of ‘Alfred Hitchcock Presents,’ Universal Studios revival of the classic television series. The episode was called ‘Houdini on Channel 4’ and it was written for, and about, me. In fact my character practically never left the screen. He got to solve a kidnapping case, channel Houdini, die and come back from the dead bringing Houdini with him. I also got to perform some really neat magic while doing all of the above!

To say I was excited is a gigantic understatement. I had been featured in quite a few TV shows before, but never in a serious starring Alfred Hitchcock Presentsrole. Had I realized what an intense experience it would be, and the extent to which it would stretch my ‘drama school acting skills’ I would probably have been more nervous than excited. Fortunately Michael was on hand to guide me through the shooting of his script.

Sloan added a couple of special treats to the episode especially for magic buffs and they hugely benefited the impact of the episode. The production licensed some rarely seen Houdini footage from the Manny Weltman archives which was featured to fine effect in the production. It was really great to find myself onscreen working side by side with my childhood hero.

The second surprise that Michael included in the episode was in regard to the secret Houdini shrine/séance room created by my character in the storyline. With a lavish touch of authenticity, all the Houdini memorabilia that festooned my séance room actually belonged to Houdini himself. It had been shipped to Toronto from Abb Dickson’s collection in Atlanta, under the supervision of Mike Russo.

It was a blast to participate in such a beautifully mounted production and truly a career highlight. Michael featured two of my favorite routines into the show and shot them with a care that is seldom seen in these circumstances. The show opens with the levitation that I featured in my illusion show and also includes highlights from a close-up routine that I created for my Magic Castle show. I even got to talk a little speculative quantum mechanics, which was a feature in ‘Quantum Magic’ show. All these interludes were near and dear to my heart.

I will always be grateful to Michael Sloan for his kindness and consideration in creating and ensuring that this show took place in the manner in which it did. Michael and I would go on to work together on ‘Kung Fu—the Legend Continues,’ but this will always be one of the most special moments in my magical journey.

If you would like to watch the episode I have just placed it on my website and you can find it at

http://www.nicklewin.com/alfred-hitchcock-presents.html

I’ve been getting some great reactions since the release of my ‘Ultimate Linking Finger Ring Routine’ and would love you to read about them. Check out my blog and web sites.

www.remarkablemagic.com

www.nicklewin.com

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Mark Wilson, Billy McComb and the Note in Lemon.

•January 19, 2013 • Leave a Comment

Nick,Dad,Billy_2Last week I had the great pleasure of spending some time in Mark Wilson’s offices/warehouse in Valencia. I recorded the first half of an interview that will eventually appear as a two-part feature article in Vanish magazine. I had a great time peeping at the historic items that the 5000 square foot facility houses and I heard some great stories from Mark and Nani about their magical life together.

I got to share a story with Mark that he wasn’t familiar with, and I want to use it as part of this blog post. I was reminded of the events that inspired the story when I saw framed artwork from the first edition of ‘Mark Wilson’s Course in Magic’ on the wall. The other element in the story is my dear friend, hero and mentor Billy McComb.

McComb was our houseguest in Los Angeles and much midnight oil was burned, on a nightly basis, while Billy and I discussed magic and magicians. In late night conversations Billy and I had often discussed the ‘Note in Lemon,’ an effect that I loved and he felt was corny and not quite strong enough. I stuck to my guns and told Billy that before he totally disregarded the effect, he should at least perform it a few times. It was a very integral element in my show, and still is, and I felt strongly about it.

Billy returned from the Magic Castle one night with an early copy of ‘The Mark Wilson Course in Magic,’ He brewed a big pot of coffee, filled his pipe with Old Bruno Ready Rubbed Shag Tobacco, and settled down to read the book in an all night session. I took the opportunity to get an early night, not a usual occurrence when McComb was staying in your spare room!

The next morning (by which I mean early afternoon) when Billy emerged from his room, pipe already lit, he made a stately proclamation, “I’m going to give it a shot.” By the time we had finished our first cup of coffee I got the details behind his dramatic statement. Billy was going to add the Note in Lemon to his show during his next cruise engagement. He was going to perform the routine exactly as Mark detailed it in his book. I was quietly elated, as it wasn’t very often that I was in the position of directing Blilly’s magical path

I looked on this as something of a victory and I was waiting very excitedly to get his reaction, when he returned from his Sitmar Cruise AcornWorkflow-2011.05.15 16.34.16gig ten days later. However when he returned he steadfastly refused to mention anything about the trick. I rather assumed that it had been a bit of a disaster, but waited for him to bring up the topic. No immediate response was forthcoming though.

Eventually I asked Billy how Mark’s routine had worked out for him and if it had been a success. In a slightly aggrieved manner he responded that it had gone very well. In fact as the full story emerged it appeared that it had gone very well and instantly become a major addition to his act. Billy had in fact ben far from pleased to find that it elicited more reaction and comments from passengers than some of the most highly prized original tricks in his repertoire.

It is very easy to overlook the impact of some of the classic effects in magic. There is something emotionally satisfactory about borrowing money from someone, destroying it and then restoring it. This is a simple three-act play in miniature, with a very satisfactory theatrical arc. While over the years I added many surprises and twists to the basic effect, I have never wavered in my belief that this is great piece of magic. Learning to perform it successfully is a lesson in theatre that will add greatly to your skills as a magical entertainer.

’ve been getting some great reactions since the release of my ‘Ultimate Linking Finger Ring Routine’ and would love you to read about them. Check out my web site.

www.nicklewin.com

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Some New Raves about my ‘Ultimate Linking Finger Ring Routine.’

•January 15, 2013 • Leave a Comment

Linking Finger RingsI just had to share these recent raves about my Ultimate Linking Finger Ring Routine.

For full details about the routine and a PayPal link to purchase it go to my website

http://www.nicklewin.com

From J Neal Brown.

“Well, I am so very pleased at how well my neophyte efforts were received: after only four performances on two cruises… The reception has been overwhelming! Comments such as ‘…the most amazing thing I have ever seen in my life’ and ‘ I couldn’t sleep last night’ are typical of them. Those comments are all the more meaningful to me as I have been doing some of my other routines for over 20 years ! I’ve had to re-sequence the running order of my second 45 minute show to properly take advantage of this feature routine!”

From Jason Andrews.

“The linking finger rings have been getting INCREDIBLE reaction! It’s easily one of my favorite tricks in my repitoir because of the amount of reaction it gets PLUS there are virtually no props. I can’t thank you enough!!!”

From David Regal.

“The Linking Finger Rings is one of the great magic effects, and Nick Lewin’s original approach possesses elements found nowhere else. It fools the eyes, ears, and, more importantly, the mind.”

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50th Founders Day Party at the Magic Castle. Part Two.

•January 15, 2013 • Leave a Comment

Steve ValentineWell the first rush of celebration for the Magic Castle’s 50th year is over. What a great party it was, but there will be lots more events and surprises throughout the year. However, the Founders Day party on January 2nd was a smash, the Castle looked great and was filled with many familiar faces for her party.

I arrived at 3:30 for the 4:30 official start of the event, and was very pleased to have made this decision; I understand that parking was tougher as the time went on. At 3:30 I just dropped my car of and went right into meet and greet mode with the stellar crowd who were already assembling around the front of the Castle. It was as prestigious bunch of folk as I have seen gathered there.

I took the opportunity to catch up with many old friends including Milt Larsen, Max, Jon & Jonathan Erika Larsen and Liberty Larsen, Mark and Nani Wilson, Max Maven, John Lovick, Shawn McMaster, Bob Zabrecky, Pam Thompson, Dale Hindman, Chuck and Jan Jones, Jonathon Pendragon, Jon Armstrong, Jack Goldfinger, and many more. I waved at Irene Larsen and Siegfried, but by the time they arrived the gathering was getting pretty big!

A special seating area had been constructed in front of the Castle and it looked very festive, decorated elaborately with an intriguing selection of balloons. A large representation of the LA press had gathered to cover the event, which began promptly at 4:30. Taking his place at the podium was Steve Valentine, who acted as Master of Ceremonies for the evening’s events, and did a superb job throughout the evening.

If one celebrity was invoked the most during the party, it was the late Cary Grant, and it was obvious what a spell he had cast on everyone who was lucky enough to meet him. Count me firmly amongst this group! However, my 25-year old daughter, Katrina, was pretty darn excited to be rubbing shoulders with Steve Valentine and Patrick Neil Harris. It was very nice that they added their multi-generational appeal to the proceedings. One of the key elements to the Castle’s success is its appeal to youthful visitors.

Siegfried, Milt and Irene Milt Larsen was introduced and spoke about the conception and early days of the Castle, before being awarded a plaque by LA City Councilman Tom LaBonge. The proclamation declared the day to be official designated “Academy of Magic Arts and Magic Castle Day.” Irene Larsen also made a very touching speech that reflected both her continued involvement in the Castle history and of course invoked the absent, but never forgotten, influence of the late Bill Larsen.

An unveiling of a wall plaque from the brotherhood of the Ancient and Honorable Order of E. Clampus Vitus followed. There were a couple more speeches and then the party moved inside. By this time the numbers had swelled considerably and I was glad to have had a chance to chat with so many of my friends before the official ‘kick of.’

There was a great assortment of complimentary food and drink available throughout the new wing of the Castle— or the ‘garage’ as some of us veteran members still like to jokingly refer to it. I particularly enjoyed the gigantic ice louge that had been constructed for the party and flowed with Patron tequila. All of the many guests present enjoyed the beautifully though out festivities and the chance to mingle.

I spent a very happy time catching up with members that I had missed outside, including Dante and Blaire Larsen, Norm and Lupe Nick and MiltNielsen, Steve Mitchell, Joe Monti, David Regal, Gay Blackstone, Whit and Nancy Haydn and James Dimmere. Other friends present that I wanted to chat with were Luna Shimada and Amazing Johnathon, but I will have to wait until my return to Las Vegas next month.

Sheer numbers kept me out of the Palace for the final presentations, but the spirit of the party was not in the awards or speeches. What was made palpable by the event was the camaraderie and sense of community that the Magic Castle has created in the magic world, a place to relax amongst like-minded friends and associates. The first 50 years have been a blast— here is an icy Patron tequila toast to the next!  Congratulations to everyone who made the event such a success.

Posted in Entertainment News, Magic, Magic and Magicians
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Dai Vernon. The Master.

•January 8, 2013 • Leave a Comment

There are many magicians but very few masters in magic.

Dai VernonDai Vernon was above all a master. The professor, as he was known around the World was the man who changed the face of modern magic and reinvented close up magic.

I first met Dai when I joined the Magic Castle in Hollywood. He was every inch the master when you saw him holding court in a corner of the Castle with a brandy in a snifter, a cigarette in the ashtray and a deck of cards in his hand. Magicians would discretely shadow him for hours just to add a little touch or move from his endless store of wisdom. Dai was very subtle, nothing he did was flashy or “show-offy”, it was just right. For any situation that might present itself during a card trick the professor had at least half a dozen ways to get where he wanted to go. Some of the greatest books of sleight of hand routines can be traced directly to his fertile mind. He was also generous and a true gentleman.

In spite of the fact that I have always made my living performing comedy magic I have a guilty secret, I am also a first rate sleight of hand magician, shh, don’t tell anyone! However to me the mark of a true magician is to appear not to be doing anything other than watching the magic happen. My greatest joy is to find a move that works perfectly and then find a way to make it look like nothing is happening. Dai was a fan of my magic but deeply suspicious of the laughs my show created in audiences, to him anything that wasn’t magic was unnecessary and indeed a detraction from a magic show. Dai kept asking me why did I feel the need to make people laugh and in honesty it was a good question.

I learned a great deal from the ‘spirit’ of Dai, he was unique and a true living legend, in a world where everyone thinks they are legends. dai VernonIn spite of his disregard for comedy Dai gave me a comedy line once: “When you lick the envelope to steal it say I will seal this envelope in this unsanitary manner. There is a long list of people Dai gave ‘moves’ to but I was always pleased at him giving me a line for the show and used it proudly.

Sometimes late at night after the Castle closed I would take Dai for a late night supermarket run to the all night Hughes market in Hollywood, I would push the cart and he would throw some groceries into it, then I would drive him home and carry the grocery bags to his door. I always enjoyed these late night runs, it was fun to spend time alone with the great man and watch him choose between brands of dishwashing liquids. It made the legend into a real life person.

Well, I never did give up the comedy in my act and I still haven’t quite worked out why I need to get those laughs. However, after seeing one of my shows in the ‘Parlor of Prestidigitation’ Dai said something that I will never forget. He looked me in the eye and said that one of his greatest joys was that he had never needed to perform magic for a living. He then added that if he had to actually earn his living doing magic then he would come to me and buy my linking finger ring routine. He loved the strength of the magic and thought the comedy was perfect for the routine. Then he gave me a big wink and said; “But I wouldn’t ever want to perform magic for a living, it’s more fun perfecting it.”

Here’s to the great perfector, if there is a heaven, I know Dai will be in a corner of it with a brandy in a snifter, a cigarette in an ashtray and a deck of cards in his hand.

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The Magic Castle. 50 years and counting….

•January 7, 2013 • Leave a Comment

Milt January 2nd 2013 was a very special day in Los Angeles, and for magic lovers around the world. There are birthday parties and there are birthday parties, but when the Magic Castle hits the half-century mark we really have something to celebrate about.  While it is obviously inaccurate to describe the Castle as the Impossible Dream—it is only realistic to call it the Improbable Dream.

The Larsen family dream has become a glorious reality and only foolish money would bet on it not being around for another fifty years. Ever since I joined the Castle in 1974 there have been problems and potential disasters that threatened its future. Somehow this quirky clubhouse keeps right on ticking along. Viva La Castle!

I wonder how many magicians have enjoyed seven-day engagements at the CastleKat & Tag since it’s doors first opened? How many cards have been selected and found? How many visiting guest decided to dedicate their time and attention to become magicians themselves? There are many facts and figures that I would love to be able to quote in this blog but I don’t think you could even guess at the answers.

Let me give a personal testimony. When I arrived in Los Angeles in January 1974 as a full-time but rookie magician, it was the Castle that allowed me to become a fully-fledged and self-sufficient performer. I practiced and began to perfect my craft in its showrooms.  There are two kinds of magicians in the world; those who have played the Castle and those who want to.

What was great party we  all enjoyed on the 2nd of January, free booze, free food and a bunch of my favorite magicians all in one place! There was a cocktail party from 4:30 pm till 6:30 pm and then the Proclamation by the City and Presentation hosted by our very own Steve Valentine. Steve also handled the pre-party press event outside the Castle. Steve did a magnificent job of MC’ing the event and added a celebrity sparkle to everything. What a great assest to magic Mr Valentine is, he added as greatly to the event as the Patron Tequila Luge—high praise in my book.

The Patron LugeThe turn out was large enough to extend these activities for two more days, with events on the 3rd and 4th of January. A special booking in the Palace of Mystery features Milt Larsen and his niece Liberty Larsen all week and an all too rare Palace booking on January 6th by Goldfinger and Dove. In fact we will be kicking of an entire years worth of celebrations at the Castle, and I will be keeping you up to date on the events as they are announced.

There was a a galaxy of magical stars in attendence for the Founder’s Day party. I am fully aware that due to the mass of folk present I not only didnt get to meet with everyone, and in fact I have been discovering how many people I missed ever since. Amongst those I was delighted to spend some time with were, Milt Larsen, David Regal, Shawn McMaster, Max Maven. John Lovick, Steve Mitchell, Blaire and Dante Larsen, Pam Thompson, Jon Armstrong, Mark and Nani Wilson, Jack Goldfinger, Norm and Lupe Nielsen, Greg Wilson, Dale Hindman, Erika and Liberty Larsen, Joe Monti, Chuck and Jan Jones, Johnathan Pendragon, and a seemingly never ending array of IMG_5304fun people!

In perfect timing with the 50th year celebrations is the publishing of Milt Larsen’s new book ‘My Magical Journey: The First 30,000 Days.’ It is a delightful account of the life of the Castle’s co-founder and resident carpenter/creator. Very soon I will be writing a full-scale review of this delightful book. I started reading it at 2:00am in morning after Milt gave me a copy during a Castle visit, and couldn’t go to sleep until I had finished my first reading of it.

If you think the last paragraph constitutes a spoiler about what I thought of the book you would be absolutely right! It is a wonderful read that allows you to explore the life of one of the most influential men in magic. I have been proud to know Milt for 39 years and was very pleased to have a book that connected up so many dots in his extraordinary life.

You can check out my product line, order items and check out cool videos on my website. I have been receiving rave reviews for my ‘Ultimate Linking Finger Ring Routine’ and ‘Cruise Magic 101.’ You can find my website at www.nicklewin.com

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Don’t Miss ‘The Master.’ (Best of 2012)

•January 5, 2013 • Leave a Comment

The MasterThe reaction to Paul Anderson’s ‘The Master’ was a curious pathway across a full spectrum of emotions, if you believe what is published in the Internet. As a movie lover I enjoy reading all these reactions, what I haven’t found was anyone to discuss the movie with face to face—it just didn’t seem to attract any of my real world friends to the cinema and that is a shame. Maybe they are waiting for the blue-ray release, that is also a shame. Home viewing will be a shadow of the actual movie experience. This is unashamedly, what is often referred to as an Art House movie, and if you couldn’t find an ‘art house’ then a high brow multiplex (?) was a necessity  to enjoy the movie in its intended 70 mm film format.

There is a widely echoed sentiment that the movie doesn’t have a narrative and at 144 minutes it runs too long. Well, I will admit that the film is heavier on character than plot, but with Joaquin Phoenix and Philip Seymour Hoffman in front of the camera I’m not going to complain. The strength of their performances individually and synergistically add of to a plot all on their own. Conventional wisdom seems to want a plot to consist of a series of questions followed by answers. Well it isn’t happening here. The structure of ‘The Master’ seems to hinge on letting you guess the questions and then supply your own answers. As for the running time, the pace never seemed to drag to me and it left me wanting more at the end. I’ve seen plenty of 90 minute movies that fail this test.

The movie centers on the relationship between a troubled former soldier, Freddie Quell played by Joaquin Phoenix in a gripping and extremely mannered style. His refusal to look for sympathy in his role is reminiscent of Daniel Day Lewis in Anderson’s last movie ‘There Will Be Blood’ and I found it very refreshing. Phoenix puts the Trauma into this exploration of  post traumatic stress, set in an eraPhoenix and Hoffman when the syndrome was barely known or acknowledged. Quell finds an uneasy balm to his psychological terrors in his mysterious and ‘uber-potent’ alcoholic concoctions and also in his uneasy relationship with Lancaster Dodd, the enigmatic Master of the title. There are no easy answers for Quell’s inner demons but Dodd happily experiments with his own brand of improvised quasi-brain change. Every potential biologist/scientist needs guinea pigs.

Freddie Quell is played with a smoothly charismatic brio by Philip Seymour Hoffman. He may be making up the game and the rules as he goes along, but he never seems in doubt of the end result. This is a false assumption when it comes to Quell, who never finds his centre of gravity through their relationship.  Much has been made of the fact that Hoffman’s character was based on L.Ron Hubbard, the creator of Scientology, and this is certainly a major factor in the movie. However, there is a much bigger model for the lead character’s relationship in Anderson’s screenplay. The movie would probably have been a much bigger commercial success if it had been a simple expose of Scientology. The movie takes a much larger scale and it addresses the relationship between all ‘Seekers’ and the ‘Master’ they attract into their life.

images-1 If I had to make a guess about Anderson’s mechanics in his visualization of the story, I would say he very consciously based his Quell/Hubbard relationship on the way Orson Welles took Randolph Hearst as his starting point for his Charles Foster Kane character in ‘Citizen Kane.’ Both directors blended fact and fiction to create a myth attached to an obviously real world character. In many ways I saw an equally valid role model for Quell in G.I. Gurdjieff the Greek/Armenian Master who practiced a curious blend of techniques in Russia and France during the middle decades of the last century. Quell calls his teachings/path ‘The Cause,’ Gurdjieff ‘The Fourth Way,’ and Hubbard ‘Scientology.’ Would/do any of them work? The answer is probably a  qualified yes, but only if the seeker approaches his chosen ‘Master’ with the necessary belief to fuel the changes he needs to make.

Belief is at the heart of the seeker/Master relationship. A solid, bold and all encompassing belief that creates a magnetic bond through Joaquin Phoenixwhich change is made possible. This kind of devotional belief in another individual comes hard to the American psyche but is at the heart of many Eastern religions/philosophies. Generally the healing is accomplished when the Seeker finds the strength to leave his master after discovering the blend of truths and trickery that his ‘Master’ has used to ensnare him. In this movie Quell can’t quite invest enough belief in his Master to fully realize the recovery that he longs for. Maybe he has been around Dodd for too long and is just too aware of their shared weakness’ and contradictions. After all, Quell and Dodd drink the same alcoholic Kool-Aid—and Quell is the one who prepares the brew.

This is a full-blown cinematic voyage into a nebulous area of human relationships. It has no easy answers and no easy questions, it just allows you to watch two magnificent actors depict a curious relationship under the microscope of the camera. The screenplay may allow for some existential Rorschach testing on the part of the viewer. I suspect that it is going to be an ever increasing aspect of Anderson’s role in contemporary cinema to ensure that his viewers are free to take away as much from his movies as they bring to the table to begin with. It sounds like a fair and challenging deal to me.

The Master

 

All the technical aspects of this movie are meticulous and beautiful to watch and listen to. Paul Anderson had a first class role model and mentor with director Robert Altman. However much I loved Altman’s movies, you could never apply the word meticulous to them, not with a straight face. Anderson gives a nice idea of how the relativism of Altman’s movies would look if they were directed by a contemporary artist/scientist. One trait that both directors revel in, is their refusal to make movies for anyone but themselves—no movie making influenced by studio suits for these two mavericks. I see Anderson as a bearer of a sacred flame, and await his next release eagerly.

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My Favorite Podcast. ‘Kermode and Mayo’s Film Review.’ (Best of 2012)

•January 4, 2013 • Leave a Comment

Mark Kermode I am frequently amazed by how many people, otherwise attuned to the digital age, do not take advantage of the multitude of really great podcasts available to the discerning public. Once you discover the quality and quantity of  podcasts that can be effortlessly and automatically downloaded to you computer you will never look back.

This shouldn’t even be necessary to say, but all you need to do is visit the podcast tab in iTunes and explore a little to find something that fits your taste. A couple of clicks later you are a fully fledged member of the ‘podworld’ and have numerous hours of free entertainment available on demand. There is almost no subject matter so specific or obscure that there are not several podcasts dedicated to it.

I am a big fan of movie critics and love to read their reviews and compare my thoughts and impressions on current and classic movies. For me the world has been a far less enjoyable place to live since the late, great Pauline Kael passed on. I loved her scholarly and impassioned review of the movie scene in the pages of the New Yorker magazine.

For the past seven years I have consoled myself to the loss of Ms. Kael by a weekly ‘podcasted’ dose of ‘Kermode and Mayo’s Film Kermode and MayoReview.’ I should warn you now that this can be a very addictive process. Each Friday, Mark Kermode, the opinionated and obsessive British film critic sits down in a BBC studio with Simon Mayo and spends a couple of hours exploring the current movies. Their interaction is always amusing and often hysterical. A world wide cult audience has sprung up waiting to hear the latest ‘Kermodian Rants’ and raves.

Nobody could say that Kermode is anything less than passionate in his personal likes and dislikes, that’s what makes it all such fun. The duo have dubbed their show ‘Wittertainment’ and certainly the Wit and Entertainment level is duly represented, however so is some great movie reviewing. It is an effortless and expert slice of media entertainment.

Due to this podcast I have discovered many gems of movies that would have slipped silently into the night, but for an enthusiastic heads-up from Mark Kermode. No movie is so big or popular that it isn’t fair game for a devastating and scathing critical lambasting. No movie is too small to be lauded to the sky if Kermode sees fit. It is a truly personal thing—the way reviews should be. Never trust a reviewer who attempts to tell you what the world is thinking, Let him earn your trust by his consistency at articulating what he thinks.

Mayo and Kermode as Bond and BlofeldJust to give an personal example of a minor delight I discovered through this podcast, I would site  the movie ‘Bug’ by William Friedkin. A late career masterpiece by a movie legend, this movie wasn’t released it escaped. The prospect of my hunting down a movie with a title like ‘Bug’ is in equal proportion to my likelihood of enjoying any film starring Ashley Judd and Harry Connick Jr. However, I am delighted to say that in response to Mr Kermode’s waves of enthusiasm I discovered a mini masterpiece that now resides comfortably in my all time top-ten list.

Those of us hooked on the joys of this podcast are very aware of the constant bees that buzz in the bonnet of Kermode and gleefully await Simon Mayo’s skillful and laconic verbal agitation of them.  In England this art is usually referred to as winding someone up. Currently the number one source of irritation to Mr. Kermode is the matter of 3D movies, his single minded obsession with their weaknesses is a source of joy to many of us listening. To cut to the chase with a speed Kermode is genetically incapable of—he hates it!

Kermode can also be impressively graceful in his flexibility of viewpoints. His skewering of ‘Ikea Knightley’ and ‘Mathew Mahogany’ have recently faded into an appreciation of the manner in which the plywood has left their performances. I wouldn’t hold my breath for any Kermodian embrace of 3D though.

On a more serious note, how many dedicated movie goers have wished for a more educated and disciplined approach to attending a movie from their fellow ticket buyers? Like the weather, however, everyone talks about it and nobody does anything about it—until Kermode and Mayo! They have created a brilliant movie goers ‘Code of Conduct,’ with a detailed guide to responsible behavior in the multiplex. Check out a video of it at

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/markkermode/2010/12/the_moviegoers_code_of_conduct.html

The radio show that forms the heart of Kermode and Mayo’s podcast is broken into three basic elements. Ahh, the classic three act play…..

1 A run down of the current top ten box office movies in the UK.

2 An interview with a high profile director or actor.

3 Reviews of the latest movie releases.

The above format is interspersed with listeners emails, tweets and responses and frequent bickering between the two hosts. Sometimes Mark-Kermodethe length of the show and the features involved are begrudgingly cut short by inconsiderate sporting events.

Not one to back down from his cherished beliefs, during a recent interview segment, Kermode gently but firmly corrected Steven Spielberg about the directors belief that his blockbuster movie ‘Jaws’ was about a shark. While I wouldn’t say Spielberg sounded totally convinced that his movie was actually about marital infidelity, he realized that that argument was useless with Kermode and let the matter go. It is just as well they didn’t get to discuss ‘Jaws 3D,’ though chances are they might have been simpatico on their views on the subject matter.

If you love movies and feel passionate about them, you should sample this highly enjoyable detour through the mind of an obsessive/compulsive and his collaborator/tormentor. Give it a couple of episodes to whet your appetite and you may have found a new staple in your entertainment diet.

You can access ‘Kermode and Mayo’s Film Reviews via iTunes or can also watch a live stream of their show or download it, from ‘BBC 5 Live’ at http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00lvdrj

When you get hooked on the only double bass playing, skiffle band member, movie critic in the world……..check out his blog Kermode Uncut at http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/markkermode/

Code of conduct

 

Posted in Entertainment News, Entertainment Reviews, Movie Review, Movies
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