(An Interview with Mitchell A. Hallock): A Man of Many Talents

AN INTERVIEW WITH MITCHELL A. HALLOCK: A MAN OF MANY TALENTS By Jerry Saravia So who is Mitchell A. Hallock? He is an author, ran twice for political office, a cartoonist, a pop culture writer, and created COMICONN to name just a few of his talents. His most notable achievement is helping to get the Indycast Podcast off the ground, and he certainly has a love for the iconic character of Indiana Jones.   1.) What first drew you to Indiana Jones and what motivated you to become a fan? "I was already a huge Harrison Ford fan from seeing him in Star Wars in 1977 - he was the coolest dude in the galaxy. When I heard Raiders had him in it -- I honestly didnt recognize him -- and I wasnt a big fan of the 30s serials like Flash Gordon - and thought the "Lost Ark" was some lame Noah's Ark movie --- but boy was I wrong! I became a true convert when I saw Raiders at a sneak preview. I was stunned and couldnt wait to see it again - 14 times that summer. Indiana Jones was not a superhero - he was somebody you could actually grow up to be -- and became a hero for me at 13."  2.) Tell us how the Indycast podcast came together that you started in 2007.  "The ForceCast was covering news on Indiana Jones in 2007, and when the local paper said they would casting for filming at Yale for extras - I ran down there. I even got written up in Entertainment Weekly along with my sons -- but I wasnt chosen -- I started sending in reports from the set for various websites - including TheRaider.net wher I became a staff writer. I thought of doiing a podcast - but auditioned for TheForceCast - but was beaten to it by Ed Dolista from Australia - who was reading my news reports from TheRaider - so I started as the script writer for the show - but had so much news - I started recording segments and sending them in. I was first the Indy product review guy, then covered comics, books, toys, and then started doing interviews at cons. soon after the show expanded and we had guys doing Indy Trivia, polls and music specials. Then started getting to be THE Indyfan source - and appeared in more magazines like Vanity Fair and then did the movie Indyfans and Indiana James." 3.) Mitch, tell us about your background. Judging from your book "Father Vegas," you have been a pop culture writer, a movie extra, cartoonist, artist, marketing director...um, politics, too? "Yes like Indy - I am a man of many talents. Schooled as an illustrator I wanted to be a movie poster artist in the 1980s. Graduated college with degrees in design and became an art director at a direct mail catalog company, where I drew and photographed designs based on comics and of course Indiana Jones. Offered a a job at Marvel (I turned it down - I know stupid me). Did theater, public access TV shows, wrote sketches auditioned for SNL, moved on to be a Creative Director for a computer company, then Marketing Director for a software company - but along the way writing spec scripts for The X-Files, comics and other stuff - if the web was in the early 90s - I'd be famous by now. Appeared in a movie or two and yes ran for public office - one of which I lost the seat on the Town Council by 3 votes! and auditioned for Kevin Smith's Comic Book Men as the 'Indiana Jones expert'." 4.) Ever meet George Lucas? "While I did see him at the set in New Haven on Indy 4 - I have never met him personally. I also saw Spielberg, Ford, Shia and the rest. I have met Harrison Ford and thats a whole other story. I have been invited to Lucasfilm and ILM for a tour last year." 5.) Thoughts on your favorite Indy flick and your least favorite, and should they make a fifth Indy film? "Love them all - dont have a least favorite. but Raiders is my favorite - followed by Last Crusade - as that was the last film I saw with my Dad before he passed away. Yes I want an Indy 5! and a 6 and a 7 and an 8..." 6.) Also, what are your impressions of the upcoming parody of the Indiana Jones flicks entitled "Indiana James"? "I think Indiana James will be great - and not only because I have a cameo in it -- its a Mel Brooks type Indiana Jones film they SHOULD have made years ago -- thank God someone has done it! Cant wait to see the final product."  7.) I also see you are involved in ComicConn as an owner. How did that come about?  "I interviewed for the Marketing Director job for Reed Expo for NY Comic Con for about 13 hours and got passed over. I was ticked and was talking to my pal who owns a comic shop-- he said lets do our own show -- as CT never had a comic con in 25 years... thus ComiCONN was born." 8.) Finally, tell us your plans for the future and future Indycast podcasts  "I just relaunched my marketing consultant business - it was Indy Marketing - now its Big Fedora Marketing. I am working on ComiCONN 2012 for this August in Trumbull, CT. In the midst of starting a tie-in podcast on comics and pop culture and still reporting on Indiana Jones! Amazingly we continue to have more content without Indy 5 news! I have expanded and started covering more interviews with crew and cast from the films - and also talking with folks involved with action movies like my recent talk with the actors in The Avengers. The show is actually still getting new listeners and downloads -- so we will continue to make it up as we go -- just like Indiana Jones would!!"

Detroit is manic and diluted

DOCTOR DETROIT (1983)

Reviewed by Jerry Saravia

There is always room for a comedic take on mistaken identity, and all the pratfalls and comic possibilities it can offer. "Doctor Detroit" doesn't fit in and doesn't even try to. The movie is spirited technically in terms of Dan Aykroyd's performance, who will do anything for a laugh, but it has no real pizazz otherwise. It is a labored effort that plays it either too straight or not comical enough.

Aykroyd is Clifford Skridlow, a professor of comparative literature, a snoozer of a class. He power walks 6 miles everyday to the Monroe College where he teaches, an institution that is about to be shut due to limited funds. Clifford frequents his favorite restaurant where he meets a classy pimp named Smooth Walker (Howard Hesseman, in an odd bit of casting) who along with his four prostitutes try to coax Clifford into becoming the fictitious Doctor Detroit, the most dangerous man from Michigan. Smooth Walker owes money to Ma (Kate Murtaugh), the most dangerous mob boss in Chicago so in order to get her off his back, he creates Doctor Detroit, a fictitious partner. Everybody's name sound like a liquor label in this movie.

The first two-thirds of "Doctor Detroit" are dull and left me in laughless despair. The problem is the movie has no engine to rev it up. The other problem is Aykroyd plays the role of a dapper professor who has the time of his life with Smooth Walker and the women, but there are no consequences. When he arrives home to his father after a night of binge drinking and one toke too many, he looks as if he just came from a four-hour shift at Denny's. There is no momentum and the whole Chicago nightlife montage lacks purpose. After one threatens to doze off, Clifford is suddenly Doctor Detroit and we wonder why he is going through with it and for whose sake. I had said earlier that I had high hopes for a case of mistaken identity but that is not the case with the plot of the film. Instead, Clifford knows has to be Doctor Detroit and does it as if it is his duty since Smooth Walker skips town. Huh?

The last third of the film has some laughs but there is no tone and no real energy (despite a brief performance by James Brown). Aykroyd gives it all he can give but his whole life of the party act drained me out. This is the first comedy I can remember seeing where it exhausted me from a lack of laughs.

Footnote: Look fast for Glenne Headly as a student in the Comparative Lit. class.

Lynchian work process

DON'T LOOK AT ME (1988)

Reviewed by Jerry Saravia

David Lynch remains one of the most fascinating, illuminating directors in the history of cinema. One wonders how he came up with such Byzantine puzzles such as "Lost Highway" or "Eraserhead," or sickeningly perverse comments on suburbia such as "Blue Velvet." "Don't Look at Me" will not answer many questions nor should it about Mr. Lynch. Shot back in 1989 in French, it will give everyone an opportunity to witness the creative process behind an artist.

The documentary is directed by Guy Girard who stylizes the film in a Lynchian mode. For example, the opening scene is a conversation with Lynch and Girard at Bob's Big Boy in L.A., shot and framed outside the restaurant as if you were peering through the Venetian blinds. Inspired for sure, not to mention the various industrial sounds and abstract whistles heard on the soundtrack, most often associated with Lynch himself. There are also clips from his work, including "Eraserhead" and "Blue Velvet," which are shown on some television monitor as the camera tracks Lynch dictating a script. The most stupendous moment is seeing Lynch thinking silently about how to continue a scene in the script.

Girard's focus on Lynch is simply avante-garde in his choices for camera set-ups while interviewing the director. In fact, the only time we focus on Lynch's face is when Girard hands him polaroids of some shots from his work. Often, Lynch shows his back to the camera while wearing a fishing hat. Mostly, he refuses to divulge the meaning in his work as he correctly assumes that interpretations should be left to the audience (I certainly don't want him to tell me why the Lady from the Radiator in "Eraserhead" has puffed-up cheeks). So you will not learn much about Lynch in terms of his background or his fixation on the dark side, but you do get glimpses ("Most people do not know what they are doing. They are confused.").

Choice moments include a drive with Lynch and the late Jack Nance (who played Henry in "Eraserhead") to a reservoir used in one of his films, seeing Lynch sculpting and molding naked figurines for some mini-environment, recording the beautiful voice of Julee Cruise for an unspecified project (she sang melodies for many of Lynch's films), and in general seeing Lynch at work, indulging in creative ideas ("I like the shape of an ear. An ear, in a grassy field, with ants crawling on it - there's hardly anything better than that.") Although not as enveloping or cohesive as the other Lynch documentary, "Pretty as a Picture," this is still enthralling and informative for anyone who wants to see the Dark Side of Genius revel in his own obsessions and dreams. Essential for anyone who is a fan.