Just a quick one before bed, as this film is hardly new to me.
I’ve been a little exhausted since my Goldie Hawn marathon, for which I had to write three reviews in a day. I haven’t worked that hard since I took my rubbish down to the wheelie bins last week. Alas! Anyway, can you believe it that not many people have read that post?! Apparently I’m not savvy to what the cool kids are into nowadays.
Oh well…
I bought this Blu-Ray, which is sadly underrepresented by special features, a year or so ago, but failed to give it a spin at the time. The Addams Family must have been one of those films I watched, after recording from television onto VHS, about a hundred times as a kid. I could say the same for Dark Star, Highlander, and The BFG. Not the shit Steven Spielberg BFG, the awesome Cosgrove-Hall animated one. This UK release of The Addams Family doesn’t even have a menu, for goodness sake! Plus, I was expecting a Barry Sonnenfeld commentary track, as he usually comes across as a great and willing raconteur. I’m guessing the US release is heartily packed with extras. The UK physical distribution industry is appalling at the moment.
I’m a nerd, dammit! I want to collect things!
Well, it was nice to finally sit down to The Addams Family after all these years. It’s a movie filled with characters that, like the vampires in What We Do in the Shadows and the replicants in Blade Runner, I can actually relate to very much. I don’t know why, but the story of “weird” shut-ins who, even though outcast by “normal” society, are still full of love and joy, is very close to my heart. I only wish I could find as much companionship as those loners, although I do have my generous stuffed toy collection.
Hmmm…
I wonder how many people, still to this day, believe The Addams Family was directed by Tim Burton. I suppose they can’t be blamed for thinking such a thing, as Burton and Sonnenfeld’s visual styles are quite similar. The same goes for A Nightmare Before Christmas, for which Burton merely wrote a paragraph-long story idea. Still, Sonnenfeld’s direction is immaculately confident for a first feature, although it is a shame that, like Jan de Bont, he gave up a sterling career as a cinematographer for an increasingly-mediocre directing career. Just look at that Miller’s Crossing film Sonnenfeld shot for the Coen Brothers. I mean look at it. Beautiful! I genuinely haven’t seen anything of his between 1997’s Men in Black and 2012’s Men in Black 3, or since. Which can’t be good. It looks like he’s been doing a lot of blah television work since the 90s. I’m guessing he won’t go back to cinematography due to money and ego reasons, which I hope allows him to sleep at night. I think Hollywood gave up on him after RV, which I’ve not heard terribly good things about.
Oh no, now I’m thinking about Robin Williams and getting all maudlin.
Sniff.
Golly, I do keep going rather off topic, don’t I!
I’d forgotten what a thrillingly un-politically correct film The Addams Family is, from Wednesday’s ongoing attempts to murder her brother, to Gomez and Morticia’s inappropriate lustful asides in public. It’s wonderful. I like how Morticia manages to pique the interest of an until-then prudish school teacher with some twisted family stories. I also noticed that annoying kid from the early archeological dig scene in Jurassic Park. See if you can spot him! You can tell him by his intensely dark eyelashes. This viewing also reminded me that I must count how many Dan Hedaya films I have in my collection. He turns up just as much as M Emmet Walsh.
Oh hey, they both starred in Blood Simple together! What a dreary film that is. I think I’ve only gotten through it once, but I do try every now and then. And fail. It’s just so boring. It must tie with The Grifters as being one of the most tedious film noirs available, although I do have a theory that The Grifters is actually a melodrama about the cycle of abuse. I should really watch that again too, just to see if my opinion has changed.
Look at me being sidetracked again! What were we talking about? Oh yeah, The Addams Family…
I think I’ve covered everything, to be honest. Although I can never say enough good things about Raul Julia. What a terrible, terrible loss! Apparently the awfulness of that Street Fighter movie is what finished him off. Bless. I’m sure he’s the best thing in it though, along with Kylie. I never liked The Addams Family Values, which I don’t have in my collection. Perhaps I should invest in that one and give it a second chance too (blimey, I’ve given myself a lot to do in this post!). Everyone but me seems to like it, but, then again, everyone seems to hate me except… except… uh oh.
Right, I best go to bed, as, after all, films must be watched and reviewed with a rested mind!
Can you believe I wrote this sober?!
Do stay in touch, darlings.
Toodles!
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