Lisa Blount died a few days ago at the tragically young age of 53. Among her list of much more prestigious movies she also appeared in the little seen film SOUTH OF RENO, which is one of the best movies I was involved with back in my screenwriting days. She also starred in a really terrific little chiller the year before, John Carpenter's PRINCE OF DARKNESS. If you're looking for some Halloween styled viewing tonight, maybe you could give this one a try. It features some truly haunting imagery and Lisa turns in a terrific performance, as usual.
She won an Oscar a few years ago for a short film she produced and gave the most moving speech of the night as she discussed the ageism in Hollywood which had inspired her to explore avenues behind the camera in the hopes of staying in the game just a bit longer. You could feel the collective wave of fearful recognition sweep through the room. I always felt there was an underlying sadness in Lisa's performances. It's there in AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN. It's there in SOUTH OF RENO. It's even there in PRINCE OF DARKNESS.
It's this sense of melancholia that always gave her performances that extra weight that would make you remember her long after the screen had grown dark.
It's hard to believe the week could get worse, but it did. George Hickenlooper died yesterday. He was only 47. He was a talented and prolific filmmaker. His film, CASINO JACK, starring Kevin Spacey opens soon. Below is the preview for one of his best, and most underrated films.
This is turning out to be a really terrible Halloween at my house and my heart is too heavy to wish you a Happy one. But I will wish you safe travel on your own roads. Life is short. Grab it while you can.
Two talented people, and you've chosen two underrated films that show them at their best. I'm sorry for your losses.
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