Joe Valdez

Novelist/ film historian. Get back in time at Video Days: A Gen X-er's Guide To Film (1982-1992). I trust in certain philosophies of Harry Dean Stanton.

[Joe Valdez @joevaldezauthor]

My look back at Francis Coppola's work in the '80s concludes with THE COTTON CLUB: ENCORE, as the new cut of THE COTTON CLUB (1984) was known in 2019. It's fast, has great women, is fast, has terrific dancing, is fast, and may have inspired GET SHORTY. https://t.co/vyKpaHs6E8

[Joe Valdez @joevaldezauthor]

My look back at the making of and impact of Francis Coppola's work in the '80s continues with THE OUTSIDERS: THE COMPLETE NOVEL, as THE OUTSIDERS (1983) became known in 2005. In this faithful adaptation of the YA novel, things are grander, more gorgeous. https://t.co/I3qlICTbxV

[Joe Valdez @joevaldezauthor]

My look back at the making of and impact of Francis Coppola's work in the '80s continues with ONE FROM THE HEART (1982), a Vegas lounge act with magic and Tom Waits music. Visit Video Days for the 20-minute read. https://t.co/AM6ur4CWjC

[Joe Valdez @joevaldezauthor]

Francis Coppola turns 87 today, and at Video Days, I begin a month-long look back on the making and impact of his work in the '80s, beginning with the documentary HEARTS OF DARKNESS: A FILMMAKER'S APOCALYPSE (1991). Visit Video Days for the 9-minute read. https://t.co/nVc4itpGDy

[Joe Valdez @joevaldezauthor]

March is a total fantasy at Video Days with retrospectives of five sword and sorcery films from the days of rewinding. CONAN THE BARBARIAN was created in Texas (by Robert E. Howard) and test screened in Texas (in Houston, where I saw it at the right age). https://t.co/To7xFxW1yv

[Joe Valdez @joevaldezauthor]

March is a total fantasy at Video Days with retrospectives of five sword and sorcery films from the days of rewinding. Next up, KRULL (1983). I kind of like this movie, which doesn't let its scale crush its high spirits. https://t.co/bR1gThR9c8

[Joe Valdez @joevaldezauthor]

Cinema Sliding Doors: What if Winona Ryder had played Mary Corleone in THE GODFATHER PART III (1990)? Her tics suggested a close study of Al Pacino in DOG DAY AFTERNOON (1975) and Diane Keaton in ANNIE HALL (1977) to style herself as their kid. https://t.co/xbUNGVepHS

[Joe Valdez @joevaldezauthor]

March is a total fantasy at Video Days with retrospectives of five sword and sorcery films from the days of rewinding. Next up, WILLOW (1988). I have questions about the version that was George Lucas approved and a few suggestions. https://t.co/pr40lTN7hj

[Joe Valdez @joevaldezauthor]

Cinema Sliding Doors: What if Lisa Bonet's pregnancy had been worked into her sitcom A DIFFERENT WORLD? TV would've looked very different in 1988-89, and five years later, Halle Berry, Sandra Bullock and Marisa Tomei might've lost some jobs. https://t.co/5fnfOaCf7Y

[Joe Valdez @joevaldezauthor]

@SophiaLiam25212 Since "great writing" is the one I can do something about, I'll say "great writing."

[Joe Valdez @joevaldezauthor]

March is a total fantasy at Video Days with retrospectives of five sword and sorcery films from the days of rewinding. Next up, LEGEND (1985), which mimicked STAR WARS without asking whether that was necessary. Part 2 of my look back coming on Friday. https://t.co/B2Y6FDOozd

[Joe Valdez @joevaldezauthor]

Cinematic Sliding Doors: What if Viggo Mortensen had become a star in the '80s instead of the '00s? I think a lot of actors in the late '80s/early '90s would've been looking over their shoulders. https://t.co/Tfyt57QJtC

[Joe Valdez @joevaldezauthor]

March is a total fantasy at Video Days with my retrospectives of five sword and sorcery films from the days of rewinding. First up, HIGHLANDER (1986), a candidate for worst movie to somehow launch a major franchise. Part 2 of my look back coming on Friday. https://t.co/PqKtUwyj6G

[Joe Valdez @joevaldezauthor]

Continuing my look at films dumped in February-one of the worst times of year to open a movie-- it's BILL & TED'S EXCELLENT (1989), not only dumped by its financier, but sold. It would've been the highest grossing film in that company's history. Crazy. https://t.co/odYjYnOtkP

[Joe Valdez @joevaldezauthor]

Continuing my look at movies dumped in Jan, Feb, Aug or Sept--historically the worst time of year to release a movie--comes NINE 1/2 WEEKS (1986). Some movies provoke so many disparate reactions they inspire 20 minute reads. Part 2 will be up Friday, 2/13. https://t.co/yUMze6Ifs2

[Joe Valdez @joevaldezauthor]

Continuing my look at movies dumped in Jan, Feb, Aug or Sept--historically the worst time of year to release a movie--comes THE KING OF COMEDY (1983), my favorite Robert DeNiro performance in a black comedy that is no less relevant now as it was then. https://t.co/y4ebtEqJJL

[Joe Valdez @joevaldezauthor]

Continuing my look at movies dumped in Jan, Feb, Aug or Sept--historically the worst time of year to release a movie--comes FANDANGO (1985), a sleeper which Steven Spielberg had buyer's remorse producing. It's one of the best movies (mostly) shot in Texas. https://t.co/EAiRUO53be

[Joe Valdez @joevaldezauthor]

Video Days separates treasure from trash with movies dumped by their distributors in Jan, Feb, Aug or Sept after significant delays. Next up, Daryl Hannah in the maligned adaptation of Jean Auel's 1980 bestseller THE CLAN OF THE CAVE BEAR (1986). https://t.co/9dYGN0y33g

[Joe Valdez @joevaldezauthor]

@klhicks912 Am I concerned about this character? Billionaires, geniuses or Navy SEALS, probably not. Does the title grab me? Is it a door stopper, or closer to 60-80K words? Most of all is page 1. Does the author hook me? Big action unnecessary but is there a question here?

[Joe Valdez @joevaldezauthor]

THE ADVENTURES OF BUCKAROO BANZAI: ACROSS THE 8TH DIMENSION (1984) is what a science fiction movie would at least feel like if the Coen brothers ever made one. It makes the "Staff Picks" section at Video Days. https://t.co/qYSfrujEMQ