Fade to Black is a coming-of-age movie for psychopathic film geeks.
Any movie that opens with James Cagney clips gets a film buff/movie geeks attention.
You wonder what line is that from?
When you recognize the voice, you venture to identify the film before they show something iconic.
Its like trying to yell out the answers before the contestants on Jeopardy.
It might sound smart for a minute, but it marks you as a film geek.
Trivia can make you crazy.
It feeds itself and it is unquenchable.
I recognized the character of Eric Binford immediately.
Fade to Blackis a coming-of-age movie for psychotic film geeks.
It stars Dennis Christopher, a quintessential coming-of-age actor who came of age on the classic coming-of-age-on-a-bike filmBreaking Away.
BAFTA gave him an award for most promising newcomer.
Movie trivia infests Binfords world history.
What does he remember about Hitler?
ThatBroadway Melodywas his favorite movie.
Oswald was watching the double featureCry of BattleandWar is Hellwhen he was busted.
This geek lives in a nostalgic neverland.
At least thats what his Aunt Stella tells him.
Shes trying to keep him alive past thirty.
Its enough to drive you out of you mind.
Dr. Jerry Moriarty is an Irish shrink with a hard head.
Hes set up in the old basement drunk tank at the precinct.
I didnt know who Mickey Rourke was when I first saw this at the movies.
He would become one of my favorite actors after his performance as Boogie inDiner.
He was instantly cool.
You could hear it the way he talked to his counselor inBody Heat.
Maybe he was too cool to play the asshole in this movie.
Hes too cool to run.
He gets down on his knees.
He asks for an explanation.
Its not very movie logical, which makes it a little more real.
The kid Joey (Peter Horton) running down the alley is more real.
He plays Richie, the asshole that every coming-of-ager has to endure in his first shitty jobs.
Marilyn OConnor looks like Marilyn Monroe.
That sounds like a good premise for horror movie to me.
Linda Kerridge, who plays Marilyn OConnor, also looks like Marilyn Monroe.
Kerridge was born in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia.
Thats not really relevant, but I like typing Wagga Wagga.
The movie references inFade to Blackcome fast and furious.
Movie clips take the place of Binfords inner dialogue.
Binford spends a lot of time in a movie poster shop.
Enough that the owner knows which paraphernalia the geeks already bought.
Aunt Stella tips over his projector leaving Richard Widmarks cool grin shimmering off a chair.
You dont just know Binfords gonna snap, youre waiting for it, youre rooting for it.
You want him to pull a Tommy Udo on that bitch.
You ache for him to push her down the stairs.
Who cares if shes your mother, your aunt, your mother?
Youre rooting for this little psycho to fullfill his psycho potential.
That sets some horror movies apart.
Some monsters you care about.
King Kong (I cried when that big ape died).
Most popcorn eaters werent rooting for Freddie.
I was, but most people got some relief at the ends of theNightmaremovies.
InBreaking Away, Dennis Christophers Dave Stoller affected an Italian accent.
Here, he wears makeup.
He makes himself up to look like he just stepped out of a black and white movie.
He goes out to seeNight of the Living Deadas a film still fromDracula.
This begs a line from Roman PolanskisFearless Vampire Killers,the blood of these whores is killing me.
Binfords trivia comes spilling out of control.
When Binford pops Richie and disappears into the backlit haze, hes finally graduated to his second real kill.
He is becoming a man.
His spree is more than a popped cherry.
He acknowledges that the hitch-hiking crackpot has an eye for the pictures and sees good things in his future.
Hollywood Boulevard on parade.
He gets more aggressive and has an angry jerkoff session.
I think this was the first time I ever saw someone masturbate in a movie.
Id seen it implied, Alex inClockwork Orangecomes to mind, but this was full under-the-pants action.
It takes a brave actor to show off pillow case stains.
Binfords go-to movie sociopath is Cagneys Cody Jarrett fromWhite Heat.
The impact of the bullets spins him around on a barber chair.
The bright lights hit him just as hes getting ready for his close-up.
He takes his bow, but never gets to say his line.
The only thing this movie could have benefited from is better film stock and sound.
It is a low-budget wonder with very real sounding dialogue.
The answer is Blaine, by the way.
Watch the movie and youll know the question.
AndGoogle+, if thats your thing!
Rating:
3.5 out of 5
