#michaellehmann

[agrpress-blog]

Dexter: Original Sin. Paramount+ annuncia il teaser e la data della première Paramount+ ha svelato il teaser e la da... #ChristianSlater #Dexter #DexterOriginalSin #MichaelLehmann #paramount #PatrickGibson #serialkiller https://agrpress.it/dexter-original-sin-paramount-annuncia-il-teaser-e-la-data-della-premiere/?feed_id=6832&_unique_id=66e2f57e811e5

[doomonfilm]

Favorites : Heathers (1988)

As a child of the 1980′s, I feel that I was the benefactor of a very special time for teenage-focused cinema.  Things went either screwball or overly-adult in the 1990′s, and skewed deep into the realms of YA-fiction in the 2000′s and beyond, but in the 1980's, we were blessed with very self-aware comedies that were not afraid to skew towards edgy.  John Hughes made a slew of these films, Amy Heckerling dropped a jewel with Fast Times at Ridgemont High, but for my money’s worth, my favorite of the era was Heathers. 

In Sherwood, Ohio, Veronica Sawyer (Winona Ryder) is a high school student who begrudgingly finds herself a member of a popular group of high school girls known as the Heathers : the bold and brash Heather McNamara (Lisanne Falk), the stylish and sly Heather Chandler (Kim Walker), and the self-conscious and shy Heather Duke (Shannen Doherty).  While conducting the daily polls that Heather M. subjects her to, Veronica meets J.D. (Christian Slater), a mysterious and rebellious new student who immediately becomes infamous after threatening jocks Kurt Kelly (Lance Fenton) and Ram Sweeney (Patrick Labyorteaux) with a real gun loaded with blanks.  Veronica becomes intrigued with J.D., and the two beginning a budding friendship that blossoms into a strange relationship.  As the two become closer, however, J.D.’s influence on Veronica begins to cost students their lives, forcing Veronica to ultimately face the reality of a relationship gone wild.

Heathers, to this day, is one of the most wonderfully absurdist and extreme examinations on bullying, peer pressure and popularity.  By choice, the film selects a list of some of the toughest topics to face while remaining entertaining : eating disorders, teen sex, teen suicide and dysfunctional homes are all addressed with waves of dark humor.  The story is full of angst-filled antiheroes and antagonists, where the audience is forced to justify shades of wrong rather than be presented with a clear element that stands in the right.  In turn, the concept of value is expressed in the way that death can sometimes absolve even the worst people of all bad character aspects that they portray.  With the word so heavily populated by teenagers, the brief asides given to show how out of touch the adults are, be it by ignorance or by choosing to dance around the issues, help way the world in a bleak foundation.

The film is very forward thinking in terms of using objective dark humor towards its taboo topics, with arguably the most popular character shooting personality traits of a school shooter.  With this skewed element given such influence, the presentation of the traditional teenage hierarchy trope becomes unique, with characters that possess recognizable traits being given an edge that makes them magnetic.  The level of ‘maturity’ presented in teen films like this seem to be a tonal thing of the past, with the characters of Heathers somehow managing to ring true despite their outlandish dialogue and high style.  This outlandish dialogue was also a gateway to many philosophical and existential ruminations dressed up as witty teenage banter. 

The Veronica Sawyer and Betty Finn naming convention used to inform viewers of personality types is subtle but effective, especially with Veronica being the only non-Heather of the titular Heathers.  The writing is amazing, with some of the best moments being highly questionable and highly offensive lines.  The use of traditional, old-school cinematography tricks like low camera placements, dutch angles, implied expressionism and slow pushes gives the film echoes of Kubrick and Hitchcock feels.

Winona Ryder solidified herself as the princess of tortured females with the Veronica role, bringing a grounded approach to the same disconnection issues used for her Lydia performance earlier in the year.  Christian Slater’s magnetic personality works well opposite Ryder, with the best aspects of his Jack Nicholson-esque personality rising to the top.  Lisanne Falk is so snide it hurts, with her brief showing in the film leaving a strong, lasting impression.  Kim Walker brings in Gretchen Weiner vibes ages before Gretchen was imagined, while Shannen Doherty plays the opportunist in disguise so perfectly that it sneaks upon you.  Renee Estvez and Carrie Lynn provide solid diametric shades in opposition to our main characters, while Lance Fenton and Patrick Labyorteaux provide absurd comedy in a realm flush with dark comedic tones.  Appearances by Glenn Shadix, Jeremy Applegate, Chuck LaFont and Phill Lewis round things out.

I often forget to give this film the love that it deserves when I mention my favorite films, or films that have had a heavy influence on me.  That being said, every viewing of Heathers I’ve had has been a rewarding one, and the film continues to age well, even if the dialogue skews away from modern day political correctness.   This film, in my opinion, is always worth your time and consideration.

[whileiamdying]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Márcio Padilha (@_marciopadilha_)

#TheTruthAboutCatsAndDogs, a 1996 movie written by #AudreyWells, directed by #MichaelLehmann, with #UmaThurman, #JaneaneGarofalo and #BenChaplin. #NoelleSlusarsky: It’s a #book! #Brian: Yeah, it’s the #letters that #SimoneDeBeauvoir wrote to #Sartre… (“You do something to me” by #PaulWeller starts playing in the background) (Noelle starts tearing up.) Brian: What? You don’t have it already, have you? Noelle: No, I don’t have it already… It’s just that… uh… no one’s ever given me a book that didn’t have #pictures in it… Brian: Well, I’m glad you liked it. Noelle: I love it! Noelle: Wow! I mean it’s … Brian and Noelle: … a book!! This is the most beautiful scene I have ever seen in my life; truly #touching. (at Los Angeles, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CSYbilKjGII/?utm_medium=tumblr

[outhouseofhorror]

The #FridayNightHorrorShow #MeetUp #triplefeature #online #watchparty for #Thursday night #January 21st will include 🎀 #Heathers 1989 🎀 by #director #MichaelLehmann at 7 PM EST - @ShaolinJazz #CanIKickIt presents 🎯#SurvivingtheGame 1994 🎯 by dir #ErnestRDickerson at 9 PM EST - 👻 #SchoolSpirits 2017 👻 by dir #AllisonEckert at 1 PM EST 🤓🛋️🍕🍺📺📡🎬🎞️🎭🎀👻😱😷 #FNHS uses #Kast - Let's watch at https://s.kast.live/g/b7pqcss4jaa 🤓🛋️🍕🍺📺📡🎬🎞️🎭🎯😱😷 ShaolinJazz Can I Kick It? Live Stream at https://www.twitch.tv/shaolinjazz or https://dlive.tv/shaolinjazz 🤓🛋️📺📡🎬🎞️🎭😷 #OoH #ilovemovies #ilovehorrormovies #ThursdayNightMovie #ThursdayMotivation #selfquarantine #socialdistancing https://www.instagram.com/p/CKU5v7OLQ-h/?igshid=7icn7t17avy6

[gilsonufba]

#boatarde #pensenisso #AtraçãoMortal #MichaelLehmann (em Lauro de Freitas, Brazil) https://www.instagram.com/p/CGP8hgPlVdR/?igshid=t1ah60qjj9ho

[adafine]

Never seen this one. I think maybe I’ve seen parts but never front to back. #hudsonhawk #brucewillis #dannyaiello #andiemacdowell #richardegrant #sandrabernhard #jamescoburn #michaelkamen #dantespinotti #stevenedesouza #danielwaters #michaellehmann #bluray #firsttimewatch (at El Apartamento De Sweeney) https://www.instagram.com/p/CD3xpffAS0W/?igshid=omrsyg3ebe26

[spacerangerprince]

Heathers (1988 film) 🧑🏻💙👩🏻💚👩🏻💛👩🏼☠️💔👱🏻‍♀️ #timehop #abe #wade #michaellehmann #winonaryder #christianslater #heathers #heathers1988 #blackcomedy #teenfilm (at Church of the Angels) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-bHt7WhE22/?igshid=1heeuziv9ans6

[deenadraws]

Inktober day 17, Winona Ryder in Heathers #inktober #inktober2017 #ink #artistsoninstagram #films #80sfilms #winonaryder #heathers #veronica #michaellehmann #femalefilmcharacters #teenagnst

[josephfrady]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by @quotes_in_movies

#heathers #1988 DIR #michaellehmann CAST #winonaryder #kimwalker #comedy #drama #movie DP #franciskenny (à Los Angeles, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/B4NA-6moISF/?igshid=18t1g97owhtl9

[darthtalon89]

#AmericanHorrorStory #Horror #Anthology #Supernatural #Slasher #Drama #UnholyNight #Season2 #Episode8 #MichaelLehmann #IanMcShane #LeighEmerson #FredricLehne #FrankMcCann #BritneOldford #Alma Walker #BarbaraTarbuck #MotherSuperiorClaudia #ChrisMcGarry #MrLancaster #LaraHarris #RhondaLancaster #JenniferHolland #NurseBlackwell #TehyaScarth #SusieLancaster #psychoticbreak #SantaClaus https://www.instagram.com/p/BoMvUDkl5wc/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1ipdqhcqmntrs

[josephfrady]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by @quotes_in_movies

#heathers #1988 #michaellehmann #wynonaryder #comedy #drama #quote #movie DP #franciskenny (à Los Angeles, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/BphNdBXFIAz/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1qkmiq1qxjlnp