Movie and DVD Reviews

Jon Jost, independent film-maker. The early films

11. Conclusion and filmography

‘Slow Moves’ is an anti-love story love story, ‘Stagefright’ is an anti-theatre theatrical piece, ‘Chameleon’ is an anti-art art-movie, ‘Angel City’ is an anti-detective story detective story, and ‘Speaking Directly’ is an anti-feature-film feature-film. It may appear that Jost, and he has been accused of this, is an anti-film film-maker. Jean Luc Godard has come to Jost’s defence on this point, saying: “He is not against the movies, he makes them move,” the point being that it is only the conventions Jost is attacking, not cinema itself, his aim being not to destroy, but to re-invent.

Looking at Jost’s first twenty years of work then, we can see a development of themes and methods which is remarkable for its consistency, and for its progress from short ’single idea’ films to complex multi-layered narratives. He is always exploring the medium and extending its potential for communication.

His films, though always rewarding, are not always pleasant to watch, and, as he has said himself, if they were so they would have failed in their purpose. Jost is concerned that we live in a society riddled with conflict, alienation, loss of meaning, and the debasement of values, and he sees that our reluctance to face these problems is half the reason for their existence. His films are disturbing because they are an attempt to face these things which we, to our detriment, prefer not to think about.

Perhaps what most distinguishes Jost’s work from that of commercial directors is his uncompromising respect for both the medium and the audience; he never abuses either, and his comment, (from ‘Susannah’s Film’), defines the point at which the viewing, and the criticism of his films must start and finish: ‘Film is like a mirror. If an ape looks in an apostle cannot look out’.

* All quotes, from the films and the interview, are approximations taken from notes made immediately after seeing the films.

Jon Jost, early filmography (up to 1983)

Shorts

Portrait 1963
City 1964
Leah 1967
Traps 1967
13 Fragments and 3 Narratives From Life 1968
Primaries 1968-70
A Turning Point in Lunatic China II 1968-70
l, 2, 3, Four 1968-70
Susannah’s Film 1969
Canyon 1970
Flower 1970
Fall Creek 1970
A Man is More Than the Sum of His Parts/A Woman is . . . 1971
Beauty Sells Best 1976
X2: 2 Dances by Nancy Karp 1980
Godard 1980

Features

Speaking Directly 1973-75
Angel City 1976
Last Chants For a Slow Dance 1977
Chameleon 1978
Stagefright 1980
Slow Moves 1983

Interview

Jon Jost GB 1982. Directed by Keith Griffiths and Jon Jost. Made for Channel 4’s ‘Late Hour’.

Read the full version of this essay at: http://www.literature-study-online.com/essays/jon-jost.html

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Reality television shows first burst onto the scene back in early 1990s when the television show Real World first premiered. Even though that show started in the early 1990s, more reality shows did not really pop up until the late 1990s. Once survivor came out and was a huge ratings hit, everyone started to jump on the bandwagon and produce shows about anything and everything. Their have been shows such as The Bachelor and For Love or Money that are dating shows. Their have been shows such as Big Brother in which people live together and compete for prizes.

A lot of reality shows have been broadcast but many of them bomb. By now this is a trend that most would think would have died down but it has only picked up lately with Skating with Celebrities and Dancing With the Stars being popular. With the way things are going there is only a certain amount of time for shows to broadcast and reality show will not get dropped in favor of them even though many of them fail, so who will be the loser. If more and more reality shows get picked up less sitcoms will get picked up. Dramas are just as popular as reality shows right now so networks won’t bet against them.

In sum, if you are not a big fan of reality shows you can sell your television because it looks like networks will keep coming up with anything and everything until they run out of ideas.

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I learned on one of the news channels that there were problems ahead created by HD television for television performers with warts, moles, or other skin blemishes. Demi Moore was mentioned. I suppose that meant that if they show a Demi Moore movie with HD television she might show a blemish sending her zillion fans a running.

Demi has spent some time here in Idaho (having investments here and a failed marriage). From what I hear first hand, she is absolutely stunning even under close scrutiny when she dances in that joint up in Sun Valley. Do you really think her fans will care?

The shop owners in Ketchum can hardly wait for her to come into their stores to buy a button (which she collects), or a claw hammer. The men merchants are all in love with her. I don’t think she has any HD problems. One said to me, “She’s my little sweatheart.” He said it like he believed it and that it was true. (That can’t be true. Demi wouldn’t do that to me, would she? I wish she’d stay away from that kid!)

Whoever thinks that Hollywood can’t hide a Demi Moore blemish thinks that Kangaroos thrive in the mountains of Greenland.

A television ad flashes a toad on my old television screen. First, the toad had no color. Then they show me what it would be like if I just had a HD television set. It is gorgeous; just full of color. I ask my wife, “If that toad appears like that on my old television, why do I need HD television?”

“You don’t!” is what she said.

I explained to my wife that it would make a difference if we had a 50-inch television set. I told her they had a nice one on sale down at Costco

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