John Sayles
Just a quick reminder that Stanley Kubrick's last film, Eyes Wide Shut, opens on Friday. But it should be noted that there were some additions to the film since Kubrick's death that were required for the R rating the film currently holds. I will not comment here on how I feel about these changes nor what I believe Kubrick would have done if he were still alive. And a respectful farewell to producer Allan Carr. He produced the film Grease and the Broadway play La Cage aux Folles.
John Sayles was born in Schenectady, New York on September 28, 1950. Both of his parents were in education and they raised a very smart son who was reading novels before he was nine. After high school, Sayles attended Williams College where he majored in psychology. While in college, he did some acting in school plays and did some summer stock. After graduating, he worked a series of odd jobs as he began a writing career. He wrote and published two novels and a collection of short stories. In the mid 70s, Sayles went to work for Roger Cormen as a screenwriter. Then in 1980, he wrote and directed his first film. His work has been described as having a social consciousness. "My main interest is making films about people," Sayles says. "I am not interested in cinematic art." He has an excellent eye for detail and ear for dialogue which enhance the personal relationships that he portrays on film.
Using the money he earned as a screenwriter and hiring his friends as actors and crew, Sayles began work on his first film Return of the Secaucus 7. He shot the film in 25 days at a cost of about $60,000. Like all of his films, Sayles wrote and directed this one and like most of his films, he also acted in it. Said to be the inspiration for The Big Chill, this film is about a group of '60s college political activists who are arrested on their way to a protest rally in Washington, D.C. Ten years later, they meet again and Sayles explores the changes that have occurred or that have not occurred in those ten years. Return of the Secaucus 7 is an amusing and thought provoking film whose genuine characters are showcased brilliantly within a few sets and using very little action. Sayles keeps the film focused by keeping the camera still as much as possible.
Latest Articles