TERRILL LANKFORD (TOLANKFORD@webtv.net)
Wed, 16 Jun 1999 03:53:00 -0700 (PDT)
A public thank you to Mark Sullivan for bringing attention to
THE PHENIX CITY STORY on CINEMAX yesterday. I've wanted to
see that movie for years and it did not disappoint. Quite an
amazing picture for its time.
I'm also very surprised at how similar the picture was to the
same director's later film (almost 20 years later!) WALKING
TALL. Phil Karlson was one of those workhorses that explored
similar themes over and over, but WALKING TALL seems almost a
virtual remake of PHENIX CITY, even though both films are
based on very specific true stories that took place a
generation apart.
Both films are gritty, hardboiled and brutally violent.
There's a bit of Ellroy trudging about in Phenix City. There
were moments that reminded me of the Dog's writing.
Phenix City was so violent that they had to tack on a 13
minute
"documentary" at the beginning of the picture which
supposedly justified the carnage to come. Most theatres in
the Southern states lopped off the interview footage because
it was too "inflammatory."
This was a crude but fascinating movie and a unique viewing
experience. A time capsule in a feature film. If you didn't
catch it this time be on the lookout for it in the
future.
TL
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