Fun City Editions

[domino harvey]

Three relatively obscure French crime films from the 80s coming as a package in May - all three unseen by me, and can’t say that Annie Girardot as Charles Bronson instills much confidence in me, but as ever I fully support labels trying to get French titles out in English friendly releases

[tenia]

I saw that and they all three look like run-of-the-mill 80s "tough" French gangster movies (ie very mediocre).

can’t say that Annie Girardot as Charles Bronson instills much confidence in me

Seemingly as a "former race driver" too !

[Finch]

FCE announced Strangers Kiss 1983 directed by Matthew Chapman as their June title on Facebook with a link to the film's trailer

[beamish14]

Canadian aerobicsploitation classic Heavenly Bodies (1984) is coming soon! Go into it as blind as possible, and remember to thank me later

[jazzo]

It’s even more bonkers when you find out that co-lead, Richard Rebiere, is a classmate of your’s in first year film school, circa Toronto,1991, and you caught it on CityTV’s “Not-So-Great Movies” not a year earlier!

[beamish14]

It’s even more bonkers when you find out that co-lead, Richard Rebiere, is a classmate of your’s in first year film school, circa Toronto,1991, and you caught it on CityTV’s “Not-So-Great Movies” not a year earlier!

Wow! I think it’s up with The Apple and Ninja III in terms of 80’s camp greatness

[jazzo]

I do love it

[therewillbeblus]

Canadian aerobicsploitation classic Heavenly Bodies (1984) is coming soon! Go into it as blind as possible, and remember to thank me later

I went in blind and enjoyed some of its ridiculous idiosyncrasies (as well as genuinely at face value, as a low-stakes "aerobicsploitation" film, like you say), but didn't come away bowled over by any 'shock' - other than an early moment where we surely witness the first on-screen

Spoiler

"orgy" conversation between a mother and her son. Also, apparently orgies cannot contain love, but if it's a man and a woman getting together monogomously, it's always love!

[Finch]

FCE's next title is Robert Benton's Bad Company (1972).

They uploaded the trailer to Youtube.

Specs include Limited edition, site exclusive slipcover with new artwork by Tom Ralston
Double-sided wrap with legacy artwork
Newly recorded audio commentary by Walter Chaw
Booklet with new essay by Margaret Barton-Fumo (first pressing only)
Radio spots
Image gallery
Theatrical trailer

[domino harvey]

Good movie, though not one I would have pegged coming from this label. Here’s my write up from the Westerns List

Bad Company (Robert Benton 1972) Benton’s directorial debut begins as something of a Vietnam statement (the Union rolls around with a wagon, plucking up draft dodging teenagers and forcing them into the war), but it quickly settles down into a more period-specific exploration of the de-romanticized West. The film does a good job of showing the other side rarely seen by Hollywood westerns of earlier decades by plucking its teenage hoodlums down in the elements and showing how, one by one, they succumb to the environs or the assorted human dangers waiting for the weak out in the Plains. This is a pessimistic film, on par with Heaven’s Gate in its demystification of the Western mythos, but it never feels heavy-handed or preachy. Recommended.

[Aunt Peg]

Yes, I agreed an odd choice for Fun City but a very welcome addition.

[beamish14]

1972 was a terrific year for revisionist westerns with this, Ulzanna’s Raid, and The Great Northfield, Minnesota Raid. Glad to see Robert Benton get more attention in recent years

[colinr0380]

1972 was a terrific year for revisionist westerns with this, Ulzanna’s Raid, and The Great Northfield, Minnesota Raid. Glad to see Robert Benton get more attention in recent years

Plus The Culpepper Cattle Co., and Dirty Little Billy.

[Finch]

I haven't decided yet if Bad Company is a once-and-done thing or a film I can see myself returning to often enough to buy FCE's Blu-Ray, but I am recommending the film nonetheless. The film feels true to the period and is anchored by an excellent cast. Fun to see the Dude and Mr Lebowski together twenty-seven or so years before the Coens paired them again. Barry Brown stood out the most for me as Drew Dixon. Liked how unembellished the film is compared to the more traditional westerns. The man giving his wife away for eight dollars to the boys. The ending to the pie stealing scene has lodged itself in my memory forever. Peckinpah would have appreciated the raw honesty. The film's final scene felt like the logical progression for Dixon and the freeze frame was perfect.

[therewillbeblus]

I couldn't see myself revisiting it more than maybe once, but I agree with your praise even if I'd have a tougher time publicly recommending the film to the forum. The final scene was indeed strong. I really want FCE to go back to being my favorite label, but the last year has been tough

[Finch]

I literally only bought Married to the Mob from them and nothing since (or at least nothing that I kept: I enjoyed Party Girl but that was a once-and-done thing and I sold it on). But I always watch out for their announcements and am grateful they are around.

[therewillbeblus]

FCE announced Strangers Kiss 1983 directed by Matthew Chapman as their June title on Facebook with a link to the film's trailer

Another dud from the label, but I also had zero interest in the development of Kubrick's second feature to begin with. Maybe you'll like it more if you do?

Victoria Tennant is the standout performer, and it's another reminder why I often wish her career was more fruitful.

[beamish14]

I literally only bought Married to the Mob from them and nothing since (or at least nothing that I kept: I enjoyed Party Girl but that was a once-and-done thing and I sold it on). But I always watch out for their announcements and am grateful they are around.

I implore you to get The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz


As I mentioned in another thread, you can probably hold out on Morvern Callar due to Lynne Ramsey wanting to do a 4K scan

[therewillbeblus]

I implore you to get The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz

I tried this twice, and while I appreciate what the film is trying to do, I just couldn't connect with it. I do hope we keep getting more fun and bold tonal blends like it tho (really a staple of the label's early ethos) than the majority of what we have been getting lately

[beamish14]

I implore you to get The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz

I tried this twice, and while I appreciate what the film is trying to do, I just couldn't connect with it. I do hope we keep getting more fun and bold tonal blends like it tho (really a staple of the label's early ethos) than the majority of what we have been getting lately

I get it. I think for many, the eponymous character is such an abrasive asshole that it’s hard to connect, but it’s one of those films (and novels) that always speaks to me

[therewillbeblus]

That was definitely not my problem with it, as I love films that stand behind characters like that (see: Baumbach)

[The Elegant Dandy Fop]

I literally only bought Married to the Mob from them and nothing since (or at least nothing that I kept: I enjoyed Party Girl but that was a once-and-done thing and I sold it on). But I always watch out for their announcements and am grateful they are around.

I implore you to get The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz


As I mentioned in another thread, you can probably hold out on Morvern Callar due to Lynne Ramsey wanting to do a 4K scan

Were you at the Cinematheque Q&A too? She didn't just complain about the scan, but complained about Fun City not granting any of her suggestions and requests. She also mentioned hating the cover and that she wish they used the poster. I personally hate the faux VHS cover.

[beamish14]

[-X

I literally only bought Married to the Mob from them and nothing since (or at least nothing that I kept: I enjoyed Party Girl but that was a once-and-done thing and I sold it on). But I always watch out for their announcements and am grateful they are around.

I implore you to get The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz


As I mentioned in another thread, you can probably hold out on Morvern Callar due to Lynne Ramsey wanting to do a 4K scan

Were you at the Cinematheque Q&A too? She didn't just complain about the scan, but complained about Fun City not granting any of her suggestions and requests. She also mentioned hating the cover and that she wish they used the poster. I personally hate the faux VHS cover.

Haha! Yep, I was there. Truly one of the best Q&A’s I’ve ever attended. She was careful not to mention Fun City by name, but she was very pissed at them

[dwk]

FC announces on twitter that they are going to be releasing Paradise. A movie that I assume Pheobe Cates would prefer stay on VHS.

[rapta]

As I mentioned in another thread, you can probably hold out on Morvern Callar due to Lynne Ramsey wanting to do a 4K scan

How close are we to this actually happening though? I feel like availability of her films is scattershot, with the Ratcatcher restoration not even being available on UK Blu-ray (still crazy to me, but the same situation with a number of other British classics). Might take years for a 4K scan of Morvern Callar, and even then it may be tied up in red tape (I believe BFI said they had tried and failed to acquire it).

I'm happy with the FCE disc for the time being, far better than a DVD (and the Tony Stella slip is quite nice, so I don't have to look at the dodgy cover underneath it). A shame they didn't fulfil her requests, but what were they?