Film Review by Marlene Ardoin
I’ve recently seen three films this summer, that I would classify as baby boomer films, “Yesterday”, “Once Upon A Time in Hollywood”, and “Echo In the Canyon”.
If you were not alive in the 1960’s, you may not get what these films are trying to say. Going a step further, if you did not live in California, or have never been to Los Angeles, San Francisco, or the United Kingdom, but were alive then, you also may not get what these films are trying to say.
Being a baby boomer is a frame of mind that is uniquely Los Angeles, California, where the Beatles cross-pollinated with a culture and a creative idea.
“Yesterday”
Himesh Patel plays Jack Malik, who resurrects all the Beatles songs in “Yesterday.”
The film “Yesterday” is the first film that set off the alarm for me, that I needed to have lived through the 1960’s to appreciate this film, which I did. In fact, I grew up in San Francisco, California.
If you were not alive during that time, you might not even recognize the aged John Lennon look alike, when he appears is in this film.
Robert Carlyle appears as the aging, uncanny look-alike of John Lennon.
There are many sides to being a baby boomer, the good, the bad and the ugly.
“Yesterday” shows us the good. In this film, the flower child era was a tender, loving one.
“Yesterday” expresses a heartfelt appreciation of the time and of what the Beatles contributed to the dialogue of that era.
The message was simple, “All You Need Is Love.”
Also, no one can really take the place of a John Lennon, even if they can sing just as well.
“Yesterday” poses the question, what if the Beatles and their music never existed? That would have changed the era a lot.
Just like if cigarettes never existed, or if Harry Potter never happened.
The point being made with “Yesterday” is that individual contributions to an era matter in good ways and in bad ways.
I loved the fact that the character of the roadie is even appreciated. Everyone in that time and place mattered. Everyone had a gift to give and they were the perfect individuals to give it.
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
“Once Upon A Time in Hollywood” features DiCaprio, 44, as Rick Dalton, an ageing, out-of-work actor, with Pitt, 55, playing his longtime stunt double named Cliff Booth, and director Quentin Tarantino riding shotgun.
Then, I saw “Once upon A Time in Hollywood”, which depicts the ugly side of the era. I have to say that this is the only Tarantino film that I actually like.
Tarantino has a unique memory of the Manson family murder of the very pregnant Sharon Tate, who was Roman Polanski’s wife.
He is pretty tough on the hippies, who had taken over a Hollywood property used for shooting westerns.
Tarantino destroys the image of the flower child, summer of love hippies, who in “Once”, come off as being opportunistic, crass and malevolent.
Both Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio are in perfect sync with each other as loyal buddies, who have been up and now down together.
But, baby boomers age well, just look at the Rolling Stones, who keep on rolling.
I want to claim the Stones as American, but no, like the Beatles, they came from the UK. Their band was formed in 1962 to present.
In “Once”, we get to know Sharon Tate extremely well. Shall I say, there is definite bias towards her self-preservation?
Having lived through the horrific events of her death, I found Tarantino’s version a psychedelic, flaming, cathartic comfort. Thank you for that.
In “Once”, Sharon Tate is not just some slab of meat that gets stabbed 15 times.
“Echo in the Canyon”
Fiona Apple and Jakob Dylan in “Echo in the Canyon” (Photo by Chad Elder)
Then, finally, I go see “Echo in the Canyon,” which is both the good and the bad of the baby boomer era.
The son of folk singer, Bob Dylan, Jakob Dylan, is the star and executive producer of this film.
What is missing is footage of his father, Bob Dylan, whose career was from 1959 to present, and who was definitely a big part of the boomer era.
Had Bob Dylan been included, it would have filled out the protest side of the boomers.
In fact, the biggest boomer contribution was creating protest music.
Boomers had a lot on their plate to protest, they were anti-war for one.
But, they also protested for civil rights, women’s rights, and against constricted sexual roles.
“Echo” paints a romantic view of Los Angeles as the creative hub of the boomer music of the 60’s.
Los Angeles was a place where folk music and rock music got joined at the hip.
Musicians came together in that one place to flourish and create music together.
Musicians admired each other’s work and fed off of each other’s energy and creativity.
The Beatles’ confess that they were inspired by the Byrds, an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964.
From 1965 onwards, the Beatles rose to prominence until their band broke up in 1970.
“Echo” makes the point that the music of this era played a big part in changing the world at that time.
Singer Jakob Dylan (Son of folk singer, Bob Dylan)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jakob_Dylan
Baby Boomers: Born 1946 – 1964 wiki:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baby_boomers
“Yesterday”
Joel Fry as roadie, Rocky, with Himesh Patel as Jack Malik.
Cast:
Wiki “Yesterday”:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yesterday_(2019_film)
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
Margot Robbie as Sharon Tate.
Cast
- Leonardo DiCaprio as Rick Dalton:
An actor who starred in the television Western series Bounty Law from 1958 to 1963, based on Wanted Dead or Alive (1958–1961). His attempt to transition to film failed and in 1969 he is struggling. Dalton’s relationship with Cliff Booth is based on that of actor Burt Reynolds and his long time stunt double Hal Needham.[9] Dalton is modeled on actors who started their career in Classical Hollywood, but faltered in the 1960s after their type of leading men went out of fashion.[10]
- Brad Pitt as Cliff Booth:
A war veteran and Rick’s longtime stunt double and best friend.[11] Tarantino and Pitt modeled Booth after Billy Jack, a character portrayed in four films by actor Tom Laughlin.
- Margot Robbie as Sharon Tate:
A pregnant actress and next door neighbor of Dalton. Robbie did not consult with Polanski in preparation for the role, but read his 1985 autobiography Roman by Polanski.[12][13]
- Emile Hirsch as Jay Sebring:
A Hollywood hairstylist and friend and ex-boyfriend of Tate.
- Margaret Qualley as Pussycat:
A member of the “Manson Family“. Based loosely on Kathryn Lutesinger who had the nickname “Kitty”.
- Timothy Olyphant as James Stacy:
An actor who starred on Lancer.[11]
- Julia Butters as Trudi Fraser:
A child actor, who stars as Maribel on Lancer.
- Austin Butler as Charles “Tex” Watson:
A member of the “Manson Family”.
- Dakota Fanning as Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme:
A member of the “Manson Family” who obtained her nickname while living on George Spahn’s ranch.
- Bruce Dern as George Spahn:
An 80-year-old nearly blind man who rented his ranch out for Westerns. Charles Manson convinced Spahn to allow him and his followers to live on the ranch. Burt Reynolds was initially cast in the role, but died before his scenes could be filmed.[14][15]
- Mike Moh as Bruce Lee
- Luke Perry as Wayne Maunder
- Damian Lewis as Steve McQueen
- Al Pacino as Marvin Schwarz:
A Hollywood producer and Dalton’s agent.
- Brenda Vaccaro as Mary Alice Schwarz, Marvin’s wife
- Nicholas Hammond as Sam Wanamaker
- Samantha Robinson as Abigail Folger
- Rafał Zawierucha as Roman Polanski
- Lorenza Izzo as Francesca Cappucci, Dalton’s eventual wife.
- Costa Ronin as Wojciech Frykowski
- Damon Herriman as Charles Manson
- Lena Dunham as Catherine Share
- Madisen Beaty as Patricia Krenwinkel
- Mikey Madison as Susan Atkins
- James Landry Hébert as Steve Grogan
- Maya Hawke as Linda Kasabian
- Victoria Pedretti as Leslie Van Houten
- Sydney Sweeney as Manson Family member, Dianne Lake
- Harley Quinn Smith as Manson Family member, Froggie
- Dallas Jay Hunter as Manson Family member, Deliah
- Kansas Bowling as Sandra Good
- Parker Love Bowling as Manson Family member, Tadpole
- Cassidy Hice as Manson Family member, Sundance
- Ruby Rose Skotchdopole as Manson Family member, Butterfly
- Danielle Harris as Manson Family member, Angel
- Josephine Valentina Clark as Manson Family member, Catherine Gillies
- Dyani Del Castillo as Manson Family member, Pebbles.
- David Steen as a Straight Satan MC member living on Spahn Ranch
- Scoot McNairy as Business Bob Gilbert, a villain on Lancer
- Clifton Collins Jr. as Ernesto The Mexican Vaquero on Lancer
- Marco Rodríguez as the Bartender on Lancer
- Ramón Franco as Ruben, a movie theater manager
- Dreama Walker as Connie Stevens
- Rachel Redleaf as Mama Cass
- Rebecca Rittenhouse as Michelle Phillips
- Rumer Willis as Joanna Pettet
- Spencer Garrett as Allen Kincade, a fictional TV personality.
- Clu Gulager as the book store owner
- Martin Kove as a Bounty Law Sheriff
- Rebecca Gayheart as Billie Booth, Cliff’s late wife.
- Kurt Russell as Randy, a stunt coordinator and the narrator.
- Zoë Bell as Janet, Randy’s wife, also a stunt coordinator.
- Michael Madsen as Sheriff Hackett on Bounty Law
- Daniella Pick as fictional actress Daphna Ben-Cobo
- Perla Haney-Jardine as a Hippie drug dealer
- James Remar as Ugly Owl Hoot, a villain on Bounty Law
- Kate Berlant as a movie theater ticket booth attendant
- Quentin Tarantino as the director of the Red Apple Cigarettes ad
- Craig Stark, Keith Jefferson, Lew Temple, Vincent Laresca, Maurice Compte, Gilbert Salvidar, and Eddie Perez as the Land Pirates.
- Tim Roth, James Marsden, and Danny Strong shot scenes for the film but are not included in the theatrical release. Roth portrayed Jay Sebring’s English Butler, Marsden portrayed Burt Reynolds, and Danny Strong portrayed Dean Martin.
Director/writer Quentin Tarantino:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quentin_Tarantino
Biography of Sharon Tate:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharon_Tate
Biography of Charles Manson:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Manson
“Echo in the Canyon”
Jakob Dylan (second from left) serves as host of “Echo in the Canyon,” a documentary about the 1960s Laurel Canyon music scene in LA.
Also pictured: Regina Spektor, Beck and Cat Power. (Greenwich Entertainment)
“Echo in the Canyon” is a new documentary about the Laurel Canyon scene in the 1960s, framed around the rise of the Byrds, the Beach Boys, Buffalo Springfield, the Mamas And The Papas, and more. The film features rare archival footage and contemporary interviews with artists and musicians that were around at that time or were inspired by the music that came out of it.
Participating artists include the late Tom Petty (in his last filmed interview), Brian Wilson, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Stephen Stills, David Crosby, Graham Nash, Roger McGuinn, Jackson Browne, Beck, Fiona Apple, Cat Power, Regina Spektor, Norah Jones, and more.
The film was directed by Andrew Slater and had its premiere at the Los Angeles Film Festival last year. It’ll be in theaters in Los Angeles on 5/24/19 and in New York on 5/31/19.
Watch the trailer below.
https://youtu.be/QRVFBQHBUls
8/5/2019 # the Boomer Films – “Yesterday” & “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” & “Echo in the Canyon”
