STACK #232 February 2024

EXTRAS

JOHN WOO

When it comes to action movies, few filmmakers compare to John Woo. The Hong Kong director not only revolutionised the genre, but also pioneered techniques that have become common practice in modern cinema. His latest film, Silent Night , is arriving on physical media this month and we’re taking the opportunity to look at a few of his iconic trademarks. White doves John Woo orchestrates his violence like a ballet, and there’s always majesty to his action. Perhaps the most iconic entry in his imagery arsenal are the white doves which appear during moments of bloodshed. Woo is a pacifist, and believes that doves represent peace and purity. He offers them as a means of saving the souls of villainous characters. Mexican stand-off Gunplay is fundamental to most of Woo’s contemporary stories. In the mid-’90s he created a new subgenre, which has been aptly dubbed Gun Fu (see page 12). One common occurrence in this style of gun-toting storytelling is the Mexican stand-off, in which several adversaries simultaneously taunt each other with pointed guns. This motif has since found its way into countless Hollywood movies, most notably in the films of Quentin Tarantino. Strict moral code It is perhaps due to Woo being a pacifist that many of his characters possess strong moral codes and robust professional integrity. Innocent people are rarely subjected to violence, and those who kill without remorse suffer fates far worse than a simple death.

FEBRUARY

that was shared with me by my grandmother when I was young, that has totally informed my sense of humour and appreciation of the absurd. What’s one of your all-time favourite films, and why? The Thing (1982) is one of the best films ever made. The stunning practical effects by Rob Bottin, the terrific ensemble cast including Kurt Russell, and the deft direction of John Carpenter combine to make a perfect film. What’s one of your all-time favourite TV series, and why? Monkey (1978) is a goofy, action-packed Japanese series based on the ancient Chinese fable Journey to the West . It’s a fantastic blend of philosophy, camp comedy, and martial arts mayhem that I have loved for years. What have you been watching lately that you would recommend? Australian distributors Umbrella and ViaVision have been doing great work releasing older, more obscure cult movies. Whether it’s Umbrella’s Ozploitation Classics or ViaVision’s Imprint, After Dark, Film Noir, Directed By, and Film Focus, get yourself a new favourite movie by seeking these out.

STACK’s ROVING REPORTER

MICHAEL PRYDE @ JB Shepparton, VIC

What’s the best thing about working at JB? It might sound quite asinine to say, but it really is the friends you make along the way. I’m privileged to work with a great team of individuals who all love what they do, and I’m proud to be a part of that. What’s a movie you saw as a child that has left a lasting impression on you? Arsenic and Old Lace (1944) is a dark comedy

On The Radar

Next month offers a mixed pack of tasty treats from all genres. We’ve got Timothée Chalamet in Wonka , followed by Eli Roth’s gruesome and gnarly holiday slasher flick Thanksgiving . DC also dive in with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom , starring our favourite sea-Hulk Jason Momoa.

QUIZ

Q3 Name the British actor who played an undercover cop and a restaurant robber in two of Quentin Tarantino movies? Q4 A biblical quote from the Book of Leviticus is liberally used as the opening lines of which western movie? Q5 Name the movie actress whose “suicide” is thought to have been a hit ordered by mobster Lucky Luciano? Q6 Who failed to get the role of Cockney Private

Henry Hook in Zulu but was offered another part instead? Q7 Which character actor adopted the name of the character he portrayed in his first film? Q8 Which film title translates as “Whither Goest Thou?” Q9 Who was the first actor to win an Academy Award for playing a gangster? Q10 In what movie did Harrison Ford’s character wear a name badge that read “G. Lucas”?

PRE-ORDER NOW IN DEVELOPMENT

Q1 Name the only actor to win an Oscar for playing a character named Oscar? Q2 Who won Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor Oscars playing the same character in two different movies?

Sam & Victor’s Day Off There is a moment in John Hughes’ 1986 classic Ferris Bueller’s Day Off when two parking valets take Cameron’s father’s beloved 1961 Ferrari for a joyride. That brief glimpse of the pair having the time of their lives in Chicago inspired this upcoming sidequel/spin-off, which will attempt to fill in the gaps and chronicle their mischievous day-long outing. Little else is known about the project at this stage, but it comes as no surprise that it’s being produced by the guys behind the Harold & Kumar movies. They also happen to be the creators of the Karate Kid legacy series Cobra Kai , which fills us with confidence.

DECEMBER 2023 (Issue 231) ANSWERS - A1. All Quiet on the Western Front A2. Al Mulock while filming Sergio Leone’s movie Once Upon a Time in the West A3. Steven Spielberg directed 1941 A4. Russell Crowe in Proof A5. Walter Brennan won Best Supporting Actor Oscars in 1936, 1938, and 1940 A6. John Ford, who won four Best Director Oscars A7. Knights of the Round Table (1953) A8. Rosemary’s Baby A9. Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing A10. They were all made and originally released in stereoscopic 3-D.

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