Zabriskie Point

[pemmican]

Kinjitsu pointed this thread out to me on THE PASSENGER thread (thanks!). Thought I'd keep it alive -- is there any news on the DVD release? I'm still waiting... The new print seemed to surface at a time when it studios must have thought they could make money on films criticizing America -- it was struck at around the peak of Michael Moore's ascendancy, say, and corporate exec types thought they could make money on releasing films like this -- but I'm not sure that the climate is the same now...

For me, this film is a favourite. The lovemaking in the desert is one of the most touching moments I've seen in a movie -- seeing the youth culture of America through Antonioni's sentimentalizing gaze, I feel a profound liking for this man and his desires of this film, watching it -- I imagine Antonioni weeping over Reich and looking for some new hope for the body and its possiblities, for some new, playful, innocent place to begin anew... It doesn't really matter to me if his desires of hippie culture and the reality of it don't add up, and I agree that the film borders on cliche and oversimplification at times, falls into traps Europeans viewing America are prone to fall into, and has its clunky moments. Truth is, I like the film's unabashed sincerity and shameless idealism even moreso for how heavy handed and outrageously obvious its points can be, and I'm fascinated by the trivia about Marc Frechette that goes along with the film -- his membership in the Mel Lyman group, and his subsequent arrest for robbing banks (justified ideologically) and death in prison make for fascinating background to the film. There's a quirky Canadian novel -- THE FIRST PERSON, by Pierre Turgeon -- which has a disillusioned businessman abandon his identity, job, and family and take up Frechette's. I guess there's a reference to THE PASSENGER in there, too!

The "Fuck America" thing is mentioned, I believe, in the liner notes for the expanded soundtrack CD, btw -- that's probably as much of a source as you're likely to find.

If anyone hasn't noticed, I should add that ZP is great on psychedelics... I'm not sure Antonioni had tried drugs at that point, but I think he was very interested in them. If you look really carefully, Frechette and Daria drop acid just before the lovemaking commences... Which greatly explains his desire to bring the plane back; he's thinking metaphorically -- "I'll be back in time before you know it," as if he's been "out" of time... If you see what I mean.

A.

[kinjitsu]

I hate to admit this, but I haven't seen the film since its initial release (now corrected), and recall being downright ambivalent about the film, if not completely disgruntled. It was indeed a visually stunning film, yes, but seemed about as empty and barren as the Nevada desert, though that might have been Antonioni's intention. Coming so close on the heels of his brilliant Blowup, it was a major letdown. That said, I'm certain that my opinion might go up a notch or two were I to see it again (it has).

[ltfontaine]

The Dick Cavett Comic Legends DVD set includes a show from 1970 featuring Mel Brooks, Rex Reed, Mark Frechette and Daria Halprin. Frechette and Halprin were living together at Mel Lyman's Fort Hill commune at the time. Frechette, who was hired by Antonioni because "he's twenty and he hates," demonstrates plenty of animosity toward Cavett, who eventually gives up trying to interview the pair before going to a commercial break, after which Mark and Daria have been vanquished to the far end of guest seating. Reed tries to probe Frechette for dirt on Antonioni, but learns only that Mark didn't like Mike. Most fun is the byplay with Brooks, who cannot resist teasing hapless Halprin. As a glimpse into the zeitgeist, the episode rates three out of five stars.

[ellipsis7]

yeah, "Ironically, Mark Frechette died in 1975 under suspicious circumstances in Massachusetts prison where he was serving a 6-15 year sentence for his participation in a 1973 bank robbery in Boston in which 2 men were killed..."

[pemmican]

David, no. Daria offers him a toke, and he says he doesn't turn on; but later, just around the "SoAnyway River" scene, you see him unfold a tiny package, tear a chunk of blotter, and hand it to Daria, as he puts another in his mouth (or something like that -- it's clear if you pay attention that they're dropping, but Antonioni frames the scene so it's pretty hard to see.) It's more obvious in the Japanese widescreen VHS edition -- which, alas, ends on the Roy Orbison tune, not the correct resurgence of 'Floyd, or I'd recommend it more enthusiastically -- you can still get it thru Amazon Japan, I believe -- it tides me over while I wait for an R1 release).

ltfontaine, that sounds great. That disc doesn't have any of the "Cassavetes-Gazzara-Falk show" on it, does it? If so, I need to get it...

[Faux Hulot]

That disc doesn't have any of the "Cassavetes-Gazzara-Falk show" on it, does it? If so, I need to get it...

I'll second that! If anyone has a copy of that show -- in any format, in any condition -- please PM me.

[Barmy]

As mentioned elsewhere, the ZP laserdisc is amazing--the only reason I've kept my LD player. Although I absolutely do not agree that the home theater "experience" can come anywhere near the experience of seeing a projected FILM, in this instance the LD looks better than the new print of ZP that recently circulated in NYC. Except, of course, the LD has that horrific Orbison song at the end. Whoever put that in should be bombed.

[Gordon]

Sounds incredible! I'd give it 3 and a half unseen!

It is a mixed bag, apparently, but I'd love to see the one with Dick interviewing Truman Capote with Groucho Marx (about 82 years old at this point) bascially hogging the limelight from TC and calling him "shifty". Yowza.

[pemmican]

Aha! There you go -- that's the scene (the second image) of Frechette getting out the tab of acid. (I'm convinced that this is what's happening, but let me know if you disagree...).

A.

[kinjitsu]

Thanks for the LD caps David. They really make me want to see the film again.

[Dylan]

I've been thinking about Antonioni's films and his style a lot lately (perhaps in preparation for next week's release of "The Passenger," which I'm looking immensely forward to experiencing for the first time), and this thread makes "Zabriskie Point" sound completely awesome. And God, Antonioni in 2.35:1! The possibilities! Warner needs to jump on this as soon as possible.

[kinjitsu]

David, my earlier comments were not meant to be dismissive of Antonioni's mise-en-scene or cinematographic pyrotechnics, but rather had to with the emptiness I felt after seeing the film back then. And I sat through it more than once, to be sure. As I said, maybe that was A's intention, though I doubt it would have the same effect were I to see it again today. Unfortunate for me then, that it didn't resonate as it did for you, though must admit, it did resonate visually, just not internally, at least not on that ethereal metaphysical plane as Blowup had done. Of course today, my brain is capable of taking in much more than in 1970.

[kinjitsu]

I've been thinking about Antonioni's films and his style a lot lately (perhaps in preparation for next week's release of "The Passenger," which I'm looking immensely forward to experiencing for the first time), and this thread makes "Zabriskie Point" sound completely awesome. And God, Antonioni in 2.35:1! The possibilities! Warner needs to jump on this as soon as possible.

Forthcoming Warner Classics List (No Speculation!)

2.) Distinct Possibilities: (Titles that haven't been fully confirmed yet, but have either been mentioned by Warner or linked to Warner by other events/companies)

ZABRISKIE POINT - Mentioned for May 2005 release at Roger Waters Online. Obviously, that didn't happen, but Warner says that "it is under consideration (for release) at some point."

Here's hoping Dylan!

My eyes and gray matter are in MUCH worse condition than they were in 1970! (All that red wine and dolls and bad 70s pop/crossover music.). But I hope you have a change of heart. I actually find the earnestness I probably brought to it then has been replaced by the compassionate detachment A displays in this movie, along with his formidable vision and mise-en-scene. (Surely like Sternberg he is one of THE great mise-en-scene directors.)

And I am still profoundly moved by the controlled rage at the wrongness of things he expresses through Daria in the climax,

David, I'm sure it's not as bad as you make it all sound. If it weren't for visual aids and good strong Italian coffee, my eyes would be less focussed than they are, and as for my brain, it somehow managed to survive three decades of moderate abuse, so there's always hope. The only thing I haven't been able to moderate is my diet, and thankfully, my love of good cinema. Nevertheless, I'm certain that seeing the Zabriskie again will be a completely different experience than the first time around, and come to think of it, I thought The Passenger was brilliant in 1975, and thought more highly of the film after seeing it again earlier this year.

[Barmy]

Thanks david for those caps, although IMHO they don't do the LD justice as it appears on a nice "TV". For me, visually, this is by far MA's most spectacular film. I'm a Republican but I love this film to death. Some of the shots of the desert locations with the clouds in the background, the bar scenes that have been mentioned, as well as, of course, the blow-up scenes, are just breathtaking. Ditto the "buzzing" scenes where at one point the plane is framed by the window of Daria's car. Just amazing.

[Jean-Luc Garbo]

What? Homosexual Republicans who love Antonioni? There's hope for America yet!

[kinjitsu]

Antonioni at BAM

Zabriskie Point: New Print courtesy of Warner Brothers.

New York Cool lists this as a recently stuck 35 mm print.

[ellipsis7]

New print=first step to DVD release?...

[Gordon]

New print=first step to DVD release?...

If only things were that straight forward, we would have so many great, yet unreleased films on DVD with gorgeous transfers. But it's still good news and I'd love to see a new print of the film on a big screen, though I doubt that this new print will be as vibrant as the original dye-transfer prints, but it's still bound to be impressive.

[pemmican]

It can't be "newer" than the one that played three or four years ago at the Vancouver International Film Festival -- it must be the same print. That one looked pretty good...

A.

[Barmy]

That "new print" has shown at MMI at least 4 times in the last year. Also it's grainy and worse than the LD.

[kinjitsu]

From the HTF interview with Warner's exec George Feltenstein:

HTF: Do you have any plans for ... Zabriskie Point ... ?

GF: We're talking about Zabriskie, as we know there are a lot of Antonioni fans that want it.

[DrewReiber]

I was like, "George Feltenstein, give me Zabriskie Point OR ELSE!"

Obviously he was so terrified that they put a new print out immediately.

[pemmican]

Sorry, no news about the DVD, but didja all catch this great scan of Mark and Daria that Dave Kehr put up? Also of interest - this is linked off IMDB, but still special - anyone curious what Daria looks like these days?

BTW, the Vancouver International Film Center will be playing "that print" September 14 (technically today as I write this) and Monday. They identify said new print as having been struck for the VIFF in 2003.

Still would love to hear news on a DVD. Surely it's coming soon?

[ellipsis7]

That whole article on Zabriskie Point from LOOK here

[pemmican]

Wow, thank you - a very interesting read, particularly Antonioni's talk about sex; his attitude towards it really does seem to change with this film.