posted
Ever since Tarantino and Rodriguez did "Grindhouse" a few years back, filmmakers, always on the look out for an idea to do to death, have given us the "homage film." You know, those loving tributes to exploitation films from the past that we all adore, often decked out with faux scratches, missing reels, and crappy acting. We've seen "Black Dynamite," actually quite an excellent blaxploitation parody, as well as "Machete," and this year's "Drive Angry." There was even a Russ Myers' parody, "Pervert!" which didn't really work because Myers' films were already parodies. And now comes the homage to the 80s vigilante film, "Hobo with a Shotgun," playing in Canadian theatres and on U.S. pay-per-view, with U.S. theatrical dates beginning May 6. Let's run down the 80s elements: Rutger Hauer as a hobo with a shotgun. Check Hooker with heart of gold. Check Bada** dialogue ("I'll wash the blood off my face with your blood."). Check Oversaturated Technicolor generating rusty- colored flesh tones. Check. Over-the-top, sadistic villains. Check Buckets of blood. Check Cheesy syntehsizer score. Check Robots. Check.
OK, so what is the problem, you ask. As much as I adore 80s exploitation films, and as well made as this movie is (and it's actually too well made for the films that it is parodying), it's just not the same. It's like doing an excellent rendition of the Mona Lisa in paint-by-numbers. It may look good, but it's just not the same as the real thing. There isn't a lot of creativity at work when you simply use beloved 80s films as a cookbook of ingredients and expect folks to "ooooo and ahhhh" over your cool film. I think that the two Nova Scotia guys behind this film are talents to watch, and if you can stomach the incredible amount of blood and gore (I think they must've used all the corn syrup in Nova Scotia), then "Hobo" is worth a look. But let's just say "no" to more of these fan specials. The 80s films stand on their own, in their own special way. There's no need to make slavish copies today.
Posts: 2008 | From: Dixieland | Registered: Oct 2008 | Site Updates: 0
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Helen_S
Hiding behind the shower curtain.....
Member # 5804
posted
No doubt I'll agree with your no more in the end, but for now I'm enjoying them Wish they'd show Hobo here Posts: 4057 | From: uk | Registered: May 2007 | Site Updates: 0
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posted
I have the same issue with a lot of stuff. I find it hard giving credit to people who've, for want of a better word - 'traced' something. When the influences are more present than whatever new ideas someone has put in, it just seems like a copy.
I feel the same about certain bands. The two words that always come to mind are; 'pastiche' and 'ersatz'.
quote:Originally posted by Helen_S: No doubt I'll agree with your no more in the end, but for now I'm enjoying them Wish they'd show Hobo here
posted
Logan, you said it better than I did. It's hard to feel love for something that's simply "traced." And "Hobo with a Shotgun" is a pastiche of 80s vigilante films and an ersatz 80s exploitation film. Those two adjectives perfectly describe it. Instead of making these silly knock-offs, why don't these folks just come on the Rewind and talk about the films, preserve memories, catalogue trivia for historical purposes, etc.?
High marks for "The Littlest Hobo" credits!
[ 04. April 2011, 18:11: Message edited by: Crash ]
Posts: 2008 | From: Dixieland | Registered: Oct 2008 | Site Updates: 0
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Helen_S
Hiding behind the shower curtain.....
Member # 5804
posted
I am against slavish, mechanical replications of 80s films that have this "gee, isn't this so cool?" attitude simply because the filmmakers checked off the boxes of required elements--bad color, synth track, Rutger Hauer...
You can do an 80s exploitation film in today's style. The guys who did the remake of My Bloody Valentine and Drive Angry succeeded pretty well. Less winking at the fans and more creativity... That's all I ask.
Posts: 2008 | From: Dixieland | Registered: Oct 2008 | Site Updates: 0
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posted
ah, the shameless cash-in thing. i would like to see orginal stories too.
Posts: 1605 | From: Lake Chicamocomico | Registered: Feb 2011 | Site Updates: 0
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posted
Yeah, and I'd forgotten to mention "House of the Devil" from a few years ago, another shameless attempt to ape a 70s-80s exploitation film that just didn't work at all.
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kevdugp73
He's eating after dark again....
Member # 5978
posted
I really haven't watched enough of this stuff to comment. I believe Hobo With A Shotgun was filmed in my "backyard", about an hour and a half away from where I live. A friend of a friend apparently had a run in with Rutger Hauer, and noted, in as nice a way as possible, that...he was one freaky dude!
Posts: 2148 | From: Nova Scotia, Canada | Registered: Aug 2007 | Site Updates: 0
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posted
Kev, your beautiful part of the world was made to look pretty darn seedy by your fellow Nova Scotians in "Hobo with a Shotgun."
Even at his age, Rutger Hauer is still pretty intimidating. I wouldn't want to tangle with him in a dark alley, shotgun or no shotgun. LOL
Posts: 2008 | From: Dixieland | Registered: Oct 2008 | Site Updates: 0
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kevdugp73
He's eating after dark again....
Member # 5978
posted
I'm actually interested in seeing this now...maybe recognize a few spots in the movie....
Posts: 2148 | From: Nova Scotia, Canada | Registered: Aug 2007 | Site Updates: 0
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posted
crash, this is probably the best trailer i have seen this year so far, at least its better than mars needs moms
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