A challenging film is not inherently interesting or, you know, enjoyable. On this episode of Adjust Your Tracking, Joe and I dig deep into our beloved 1970s-era cinema, but we find out the hard way that not all auteurs of the era made one blazing masterpiece after another. We use this realization, and the episode that follows, as a way to check our own, often misplaced and highly curated nostalgia for the movies of that time.
Of course, it was an exciting time, but lost works like “The Last Movie,” Dennis Hopper‘s infamous directorial followup to his megahit “Easy Rider,” remind that not all arthouse films are created equal. Newly restored on 4K by Arbelos and having just recently screened at some rep houses in the U.S. as well as an upcoming blu-ray release later this year, the film now finally has the chance to be seen in all its glory. Some critics have reassessed the film with modern eyes and find it to be a lost and misunderstood masterpiece of the rebellious time. Joe and I have a… different take on it. We also make sure to mention the accompanying documentary, “The American Dreamer,” which follows Hopper and his cohorts as they party during the post production of “The Last Movie.”
READ MORE: The Essentials: The Films Of Hal Ashby
Tying nicely into that discussion, in the back half of the show we swing into a chat about should-be legendary director Hal Ashby (“Being There,” Harold and Maude“) and the new documentary about him and his films, “Hal” (check here for when its opening in your city, otherwise look out for on VOD). It’s another gem of a movie for cinephiles, and a reminder that he’s still an undervalued filmmaker from the era. And so, we discuss. Hope you enjoy!
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