Dan Deacon: 'Total Recall' a 'perfect choice' for Maryland Film Festival
When the Maryland Film Festival first approached local musician Dan Deacon (pictured) about presenting a late night screening, Deacon had no idea what flick to pick.
Deacon came up with three options: "Dead Man," "Total Recall" and "Predator." He went with "Total Recall," the 1990 sci-fi flick starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sharon Stone.
At 11 p.m. Saturday, Deacon will host a late night screening of "Total Recall" at the Charles Theatre.
"A lot of people pick something overly esoteric or a movie that tries to make them seem more intelligent than they are," Deacon said.
"I wanted to pick a movie I really wanted to see in the theater and would be fun. I thought “Total Recall” was a perfect choice." ...
Deacon first saw "Total Recall" as a kid, and still loved it when he revisited it as an adult. The special effects hold up, and the plot line is as pointed as ever, he said.
"It's a movie that, for lack of a better term, is a mindf--- movie," Deacon said. "You honestly don't know if Schwarzenegger is actually saving Mars or if he's completely insane."
"Total Recall" isn't just director Paul Verhoeven's best film, Deacon said, it's one of the best sci-fi/action movies ever made. There is one line at the end of the movie (Deacon wouldn't say which line) that makes you rethink all of the characters' motivations, he said.
"I love "Starship Troopers" and "RoboCop" -- those are beautifully awesome films," he said. "But "Total Recall" is the crown jewel."
If "Total Recall" were to be made today, the score would be terrible, Deacon said. Most of today's action films have sub par scores, he thinks. Not so for "Total Recall."
"The score in "Total Recall" is beautiful," he said. "If that score were to be made this year, it would be nu metal throughout, and overly orchestrated nonsense."
This isn't the first time Deacon has presented a piece involving Schwarzenegger. Several years ago, he and renegade Baltimore filmmaker Jimmy Joe Roche collaborated on "Ultimate Reality," a video/music project with footage taken from Schwarzenegger films.
"In a lot of his films, he plays the heroic protagonist that's stopping evil forces, and (now) he's become the evil forces," Deacon said. "It’s the most awesome half-circle of life. He's the evil (governor). That's awesome."
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(Baltimore Sun archive photo)
Erik Maza is a features reporter at the Baltimore Sun. He writes for several sections of the Sun paper and contributes weekly columns on music and nightlife. He also writes and edits the Midnight Sun blog. He often covers entertainment, business, and the business of entertainment. Occasionally, he writes about Four Loko, The Block, the liquor board, and those who practice "
Comments
Hmmmm, this sounds like a game "Pick your Film Festival Movie."
If I were to pick a movie for a film festival, it would be "Big Trouble in Little China." Enough street cred with John Carpenter, and a movie that I never saw in theaters that I think would be great on the big screen. Ol' Jack Burton and the Pork Chop Express indeed...
Posted by: GMan | May 4, 2010 10:07 AM
I'm going to be a total cliche and say Big Lebowski. I was too young when it was in theaters (for that entire weekend) and it would be fun to watch on the big screen, with everyone in attendance knowing the plot, laughing at the right times, etc. Standard midnight showing fare.
Or! Birdemic! What a perfect place for a Birdemic screening!
Posted by: herm | May 4, 2010 2:25 PM
I would present the original Dawn of the Dead if I were in Deacon's position. While it sort of goes against the anti-pretentiousness that Deacon is going for, I think it's a movie that needs to be recognized again. Considering the explosion of zombie culture in America is largely due to George A. Romero's Dead series, Dawn of the Deaddeserves to be revisited and discussed. Also, I was pretty upset that during the 2010 Oscar's ode to horror films, Romero was not given any props. It was absolute blasphemy.
Posted by: Mitch | May 4, 2010 2:38 PM
I must second the Big Trouble nomination.
Jack Burton has the best quotes: Like I told my last wife, I says, "Honey, I never drive faster than I can see. Besides that, it's all in the reflexes."
Posted by: Greg Szeto | May 4, 2010 3:56 PM
It would have to be Reservoir Dogs, which seems to me to be Tarantino's best effort - great cast, taut action, grim humor and memorable music - always will hear the song "Stuck in the middle with you" in an ominous tone after that movie....
Posted by: Shamus | May 4, 2010 11:52 PM
Thirded.
When some wild-eyed, eight-foot-tall maniac grabs your neck, taps the back of your head up against the bar room wall, looks you crooked in the eye and asks you if ya paid your dues, you just stare that big sucker right back in the eye, and you remember what ol' Jack Burton always says at a time like that: "Have ya paid your dues, Jack?" "Yessir, the check is in the mail."
Posted by: Jed | May 5, 2010 1:27 AM
Just remember what ol' Jack Burton does when the earth quakes, and the poison arrows fall from the sky, and the pillars of Heaven shake. Yeah, Jack Burton just looks that big ol' storm right square in the eye and he says, "Give me your best shot, pal. I can take it."
Posted by: Stagger Lee | May 5, 2010 9:16 AM