Bodies, Rest & Motion | 1993 | KINO LORBER

[Youre My Boy Blu!]

Bodies, Rest & Motion | 1993 | KINO LORBER



After searching for a dedicated post on this particular title and coming up empty, I decided to go ahead and make one.
It's not a very popular movie, so I don't expect this to generate much feedback, but I still thought it deserved a post for possible discussion.

After watching Bodies, Rest & Motion for the first time recently and coming away almost in a daze, I felt it deserved another watch.
Dr. Atanasov's review of the film/blu-ray is excellent, so for a really in depth review, definitely worth checking out.
https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Bodie...222752/#Review

The movie had a very strange, alluring vibe accentuated by an interesting cast; the assembly of which shouts "you're about to watch some strange s#!t from from the 90's!"
Bridget Fonda, Phoebe Cates, Tim Roth, and Eric Stoltz all give good performances in this.
It's also funny to recall that both Eric Stoltz and Tim Roth would just one year later appear in Pulp Fiction.

Among the things that I was quite surprised with, even though there are some technical shortcomings with the the quality of the image and some inconsistencies with the audio, it didn't detract from the story for me and I still found the imagery, especially the brighter outdoor scenes to be beautifully photographed. Some of the colorful static wide shots of buildings really popped, and as the film progresses along I developed a greater appreciation for the cinematography and the color pallets in this film.

I wasn't exactly pleased with the ending, but then again given the general aimlessness of the characters involved, I wasn't really all that surprised either. Also, Bridget Fonda's Father, none other than The Easy Rider himself Peter Fonda makes a brief cameo. I'm sure that scene elicited quite a bit of laughter among the audiences at all the film festivals this appeared in back in 93.

[witheygull]

"I want an appliance that works."
One line of dialogue that perfectly encapsulates the frustration of someone who has bought into, and subsequently been let down by, the allure of consumerism.

"Nick's going to steal a TV!"
Was the broken coffee maker the catalyst for Nick's turn to larceny? Acquiring consumer goods through legal means has not brought Nick the satisfaction the manufacturers promised him; perhaps plunder will help fill the void he feels inside.

"Do you have something like that but fake?"
Confronted with the cost of something made with craftsmanship and care, Nick recoils and seeks comfort in the cheap and tacky.

"Have you ever used masking tape to mask?"
Always ask this question on a first date.

[Youre My Boy Blu!]

Originally Posted by witheygull

"I want an appliance that works."
One line of dialogue that perfectly encapsulates the frustration of someone who has bought into, and subsequently been let down by, the allure of consumerism.

"Nick's going to steal a TV!"
Was the broken coffee maker the catalyst for Nick's turn to larceny? Acquiring consumer goods through legal means has not brought Nick the satisfaction the manufacturers promised him; perhaps plunder will help fill the void he feels inside.

"Do you have something like that but fake?"
Confronted with the cost of something made with craftsmanship and care, Nick recoils and seeks comfort in the cheap and tacky.

That is a fairly accurate description of Nick.

Using the people in his life like disposable objects, no differently than the coffee maker or blender he throws in the trash that Beth later retrieves and still packs with her belongings because unlike him she still holds onto things even if they are malfunctioning or dysfunctional, which is an explanation for why she stays with Nick and tolerates his shenanigans.

Beth's reluctant involvement in stealing the TV was yet another example of this dynamic, of him using her to steal it, and of course him acting like he can't do anything else to help her.
I really loved that scene though when Beth and Sid finally open that box containing the T.V. And they're just sitting there exhausted, staring at that heavy ass tube TV not even plugged in.

Originally Posted by witheygull

"Have you ever used masking tape to mask?"
Always ask this question on a first date.

Haha and I especially loved how right when she answers: “No”, Sid tugs on the tape slightly as if to call B.S.

[witheygull]

Originally Posted by Youre My Boy Blu!

I wasn't exactly pleased with the ending, but then again given the general aimlessness of the characters involved, I wasn't really all that surprised either. Also, Bridget Fonda's Father, none other than The Easy Rider himself Peter Fonda makes a brief cameo. I'm sure that scene elicited quite a bit of laughter among the audiences at all the film festivals this appeared in back in 93.

I haven't seen the movie in well over a decade, and I'd forgotten about Peter Fonda's scene (it's still not coming to mind). Sounds like a good excuse for me to buy the Blu and revisit this old friend.

Something that this movie could be accused of now that wasn't as widely discussed when it was released is the concept of cultural appropriation, specifically the score. The liner notes of soundtrack CD have a quote from director Michael Steinberg "I sent him [composer Michael Convertino] a tape of Native American chants and told him my vague notion for crossing this music with either gospel or cowboy for our little relationship story."

I love the score and think it makes the film stand out in the field of movies about disaffected twentysomethings navigating the uncertain waters of adulting. The mp3s that I ripped from the CD (which I still own) and pop up periodically on my playlists are part of what keeps this movie at least somewhat fresh in my memory. I am curious though if taking native music, infusing it with other elements, and recording it with non-native singers would still fly today.

I never had any trouble any trouble with the ending. I personally relate to it when

[Show spoiler]I'm on a road trip and start looking for a motel around sunset

.

[-JKR-]

That's a helluva cast. How is the movie?

[witheygull]

Originally Posted by -JKR-

That's a helluva cast. How is the movie?

I like it quite a bit. Some other movies from the early/mid 90s in the same vein are Kicking and Screaming (the one with "and" in the middle, not "&"), Singles, and Reality Bites; so if any of those are ones you dig, then you'd do well to check out this one.

[Youre My Boy Blu!]

Originally Posted by witheygull

I haven't seen the movie in well over a decade, and I'd forgotten about Peter Fonda's scene (it's still not coming to mind). Sounds like a good excuse for me to buy the Blu and revisit this old friend.

Something that this movie could be accused of now that wasn't as widely discussed when it was released is the concept of cultural appropriation, specifically the score. The liner notes of soundtrack CD have a quote from director Michael Steinberg "I sent him [composer Michael Convertino] a tape of Native American chants and told him my vague notion for crossing this music with either gospel or cowboy for our little relationship story."

I love the score and think it makes the film stand out in the field of movies about disaffected twentysomethings navigating the uncertain waters of adulting. The mp3s that I ripped from the CD (which I still own) and pop up periodically on my playlists are part of what keeps this movie at least somewhat fresh in my memory. I am curious though if taking native music, infusing it with other elements, and recording it with non-native singers would still fly today.

I never had any trouble any trouble with the ending. I personally relate to it when

[Show spoiler]I'm on a road trip and start looking for a motel around sunset

.

Peter Fonda's cameo is very quick and he only has one line/question for Nick after pulling up on his motorcycle. I can understand how he might go unrecognized, since he's wearing a bandanna, sunglasses and has a mustache. Almost like he was deliberately trying to conceal his identity.

The score is so unique, it's very interesting how Steinberg wanted the composer to fuse those different cultural influences into it. Fortunately, nobody sought to intervene and cancel this creative endeavor because I think if anything about this film were to fall prey to revisionists, it would probably come about in the form of Nick's character having his Native American Indian Headdress digitally removed from the scenes where he's out drinking and driving.

I think I was displeased with the ending because

[Show spoiler]I had anticipated a more traditional form of closure between Beth and Sid. I still respect the ending for what it is though, as the once aimless Sid now had a new purpose and he was on a quest to find Beth. However, since it was left open ended, we don't really know if he ever finds her to resume their relationship, or if she finds him, or if he gives up after driving through the 100th motel parking lot and decides to just try calling around for her.