It happens sometimes. People just explode. Natural causes.

Backstage during the run of Acme Love Machine, the cast engaged in a debate about movies that we thought were great the first time we saw them, that somehow attained cult status in our memories, but really don't hold up when you watch them today.

There were a lot of movies mentioned, but the most controversial were Fast Times at Ridgemont High (we were split on it; I think it holds up just fine) and Repo Man.

I was convinced that Repo Man was a brilliant movie that would totally hold up, but nobody agreed with me. Before I could beat them all senseless with a little air freshener tree, or force them to look in the trunk, the stage manager called places. The argument was tabled and never revisited, and, I forgot about the discussion until last night, when I saw that Repo Man had just started on cable. I put down Planetary (which is awesome, by the way) and watched the movie, so I could Prove To Everyone That Repo Man Still Rules.

Actually, I kept an entirely open mind and watched with a critical eye, as objectively as possible.

Guess what? Repo Man still rules.

No, really. It does. It's funny, it's clever, it's insightful, it has cameo appearances from some of the greatest Los Angeles punk bands in history, and it's entirely unique.

There's also this thing that really hits me about the look of the film: I lived in Los Angeles in 1983 when the movie was produced, and the look of the exteriors remind me so much of being 11 years old, it's easily worth an additional star in my personal review of the film. I can't quite explain it, but if you lived here then, you should recognize the quality of the light, the smog, the buildings and cars in films like Repo Man, Fast Times, Valley Girl, and all those early 80s cop shows on television. Things have changed dramatically in twenty years, but it's pretty cool to have so many films that capture how my formative years looked, you know?

Via Wikipedia, I found a great interview with Director Alex Cox about the making of the film, and some totally awesome trivia: Repo Man was produced by Mike Nesmith, whose mother invented Liquid Paper. He was also in some band in the 60s.

Comments

[cybele]

I really wanted to put Repo Man on the list of Greatest Fictional Angelenos ... it seriously changed my thinking when I saw it in college (that and Brother from Another Planet). I love Harry Dean Stanton.

[Natalie]

Find one in every car...you'll see.

[Greg]

Repo Man does rule. No question. Repo Man's always intense...

[Natalie]

You know what else I love about the movie? All the little things like the generic brand labels, for example. They get more and MORE ridiculously generic as the movie progresses to the point where there's a scene Emilio Estevez is eating out of a can that says something like "Food". Awesome.

[Erwin Blonk]

I saw it at a SF con. SF cons, good ones at least, exist in an alternate universe and Repo Man was right in its place :)
I need to watch it again in the discomfort of my home.

[Michael Rawdon]

What is the "Planetary" you put down?  If you're referring to the Warren Ellis/John Cassaday comic book, I love it too.  I just wish it came out more often! :-)

If you're referring to something else entirely, then never mind. :-)

[Clay]

Yes, if it's "Planetary" by Ellis/Cassaday, FANTASTIC! It's a great book.

And if you like that Nesmith guy, be sure you check out his 'Music Video' called "Elephant Parts." It's a brilliant piece of comedy.

Clay

[Wil]

Natalie: those labels were everywhere in the 80s in Los Angeles. I mostly saw them at Ralphs supermarkets, where they were called "Plain Wrap" brand. They even sold toys with that brand, like a plastic semi with the blue stripe and the word "Truck" down the side.

Clay and Michael: Yes, it's the book by Warren Ellis, and it's fucking brilliant.

[KeithD]

umm, "some band" that Mike Nesmith was in in the '60's is none other than The Beatles. Sheesh.

[LaWanna]

Things have changed dramatically in twenty years, but it's pretty cool to have so many films that capture how my formative years looked, you know?

I grew up in Santa Cruz, CA where the movie Lost Boys was filmed. I remember all the hub-bub when filming was going on. Now I watch that movie and am blown away by the changes to my hometown since that movie was filmed. Even down to the ever shrinking coastline. I to find it amazing and cool watching movies that visually display my childhood stomping grounds.

[RachelT]

umm, "some band" that Mike Nesmith was in in the '60's is none other than The Beatles. Sheesh.

I sure hope you're kidding! :D

[ChazB]

"umm, "some band" that Mike Nesmith was in in the '60's is none other than The Beatles. Sheesh."

I hope this was sarcasm because Nesmith was in the Monkees. I'm not sure if this is a plus or a minus.

Repo Man rules. Planetary is one of Ellis' best work. Switchblade Honey is really good too and I highly suggest you pick it up.

On an unrelated note, if you want to get nothing done for the next week, go buy Lego Star Wars II and try to get 100% completion. The game is fraking awesome and is way, way, way more challenging than the first one.

[Eric]

Yes I am sure Wil was kidding. Nesmith was really one of the driving forces behind the Music Video revolution back in the early 80s.

[kapgar]

Hey Keith, are you sure it wasn't The Rutles?

[ste3ve]

When I saw the headline, I thought "cool, another obscure quote that I totally get." Then you went and wrote the whole entry about one of my favorite movies.
According to the commentary on the DVD, the only sponsor they could get for the movie was the company that makes the little tree air-fresheners. They got a box of unscented pine trees. That also explains all the generic products.

"John Wayne was a fag."

[rmd]

mike nesmith also was behind the short film "Sorority Girls From Hell" (not to be confused with "Sorority Girls and the Creature from Hell").

it's frickin hilarious.

[KeithD]

Yeah, my bad. Mike Nesmith was the bassist for Generation X; Billy Idol's first punk band. Ready, steady, go!

[Tall Rob]

It's funny you mention Repo Man, Wil, because a few days ago I was thinking about the line about the "goddamn dipshit Rodriguez gypsy dildo punks." It's as if you said "plate" or "shrimp" or "plate of shrimp". :-)

I'm with those who believe the movie has held up well.

One that has NOT held up well for me is The Big Chill. Okay, it's not a cult movie, but I was in college when it came out and I thought how cool the characters were and how the film totally captured my friends and what we were going through and would be like when we aged to our 30s and 40s. Now that I'm in my 40s I see that the characters are mostly all pathetic and whiney. Hopefully that's not what we grew up to be. :-)

[Dread Pirate Robert]

Right on Mr. Wheaton, Repo Man rocks. Just for the multiple recurrences of Jumbo Shrimp, and the "I blame society" last words.

And I could probably still sing every word to every song on that soundtrack.

Mr. Nesmith also produced Tapeheads with Tim Robbins and John Cusack -- woulda been funnier if Robbins didn't have mono for the whole shoot.

[Insane_in_Huron]

I have been meaning to watch Fast Times at Ridgemont High for a long time, but I never seem to get around to it. Sadly, I have never heard of Repo Man, but I will check it out sometime. I have two reasons for wanting to check it out. First, your recommendations are great most of the time. Second, I have only ever seen Emilio Estevez in the Mighty Ducks films...for some reason I find that sad.

[FEJ]

Such a classic! A couple months ago it was shown at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. It was even better with a large crowd. Classic Soundtrack. "Hey, let's go do some crimes! Like ordering some sushi and not paying for it!"

KeithD:" Mike Nesmith was the bassist for Generation X; Billy Idol's first punk band. Ready, steady, go!"
I thought that was Tony James, later of The Sisters of Mercy and Sigue Sigue Sputnik :P

[Scott M]

For me, the movie that I bragged about... that later disappointed was Somewhere in Time. I foolishly shared it with the dorm crew... lots of egg on my face.

[UraiFenn]

Speaking of Alex Cox, I was just watching the documentary Breakfast with Hunter. He was the Director signed on to Fear and Loathing before Terry Gilliam came on board. This documentary shows the very fight when they decided to boot Cox off the project.

It's so viscious and so interesting and SO Hunter. Love it.

Not that there's anything wrong with Alex Cox...just sayin' is all :)

[BonzoGal]

Being born in '64, I don't fall into either Boomer or Gen X category, and pretty much ignored generational labels like that. Then one of my fave zine writers did an essay about how we 'uns are "The Repo Man Generation." It made complete sense.

"I'm GLAD I tortured you!"

Best. Plate. Of. Shrimp. Ever.

[Myshtuff]

What the hell is liquid paper? Actually, speaking of wikipedia, I can probably find it on there.