#simon 1980

[nitrateglow]

*spoilers for a 44 year old movie I feel like only I have watched more than once*

I don't usually advocate for remakes, but having rewatched Simon recently, I feel like that's a case where a redo could improve what was essentially a good concept let down by lukewarm execution.

I've always liked the central premise of Simon-- a bunch of egotistical scientists who waste their government funding on nonsense decide to brainwash a college professor named Simon into thinking he's an alien. And after they do that, Simon takes on delusions of messianic grandeur, believing that he can save modern society from its own endless banality and crassness. Escaping his scientist captors, he hijacks television signals, evangelizing his message on cable and gaining followers.

I really wish that premise WENT SOMEWHERE. It kinda doesn't.

The issue with the film is that it's all over the place. It jumps from topic to topic without delving much into anything, and then in the last 20 minutes, it tries growing a heart and getting sentimental by having Simon turn from his messianic delusions with the announcement that he's going to be a father even though up to that point the movie's just been goofy farce without a trace of serious feeling. None of it's developed enough to really work, even though there are funny moments and good scenes peppered throughout.

Nowadays, Simon would probably go on social media and get his followers that way. It would be interesting to see this story modernized tbh.

But no, let's remake films that were perfectly good in the first place...

[sgt-tombstone]

the comedic potential of Simon Riley’s middle name being John is unparalleled

He doesn’t tell anyone at first, but it’s definitely why he calls Soap “Johnny” and Price by his last name or rank only, because it’s weird that two of his teammates have the same name as his middle name

When Gaz finds out, he’s livid. The 141 is 75% John; he can’t fucking get away from them. Price points out that his name is actually Jonathan, thinking he’s being helpful (he’s not) and Johnny thinks it’s the funniest thing in the world

Simon seriously considers a legal name change just to keep the peace; he’s always loved the way John Riley sounds, but the ring in his dresser will make sure he hears that particular combination for the rest of his life

[nightisthenotion]

The Cure in Paris, France, 1982

📸 Claude Gassian

[twixnmix]

Duran Duran photographed by Brad Elterman in West Hollywood, 1982.

[secretceremonies]

karen black and carly simon, 1982

[eightiesfan]

Pioneer 1981

[tvneon]

Commercial for Castlevania II: Simon's Quest.

[vintagehomecollection]

The kitchen is set for lunch with Tiffany plates and Italian dessert plates, both sets hand-painted, and glasses hand-blown by Simon Pearce. Irish Sugan chairs are covered in fabric from Soulieado. The painting of a small girl above the settle is by Gustavo Montoya, a Mexican artist.

In an Irish House, 1988

[bobdylan-n-jonimitchell]

Nina Simone & Bob Dylan, The Hague, Netherlands, 1989 © Christina Svane.

[moviesludge]

me when the xmas commercials come on before november

[sposerosimonlebon]

A collection of photos of Duran Duran and Carol Firth in 1981 I found on her Flickr

I wonder if she was a very lucky fan or a friend of theirs, either way she was living the dream haha

[1985alive]

Noise! magazine, July 1982.

[ Mixing up Nick with John, how rude! Get it right! ]

[uspiria]

Pieces (1982) dir. Juan Piquer Simon

[cleopatragirlie]

𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐇𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧 𝐃𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧'𝐬 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐓𝐚𝐲𝐥𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐢𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐋𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐚𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐨 (𝟏𝟗𝟖𝟕)

[twixnmix]

Carly Simon photographed by Andy Warhol, 1980.

[aloneandforsakenbyfateandbyman]

Touch of Death (1988)