Film No. 40. 10th film shown Thurs 10th May 2007
Philip French said "Hellmans masterpiece, based on Charles Willeford's novel about clandestine sporting contests in the Deep South (and scourge of animal rights protestors) was shown only twice, and refused a BBFC certificate. Terrific performances from Warren Oates and Harry Dean Stanton, lovingly photographed by Nestor Almendros."
1 comment:
We had the opportunity to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Warren Oates' untimely death by watching him in near silent action in Monte Hellman's notorious and elusive Cockfighter.
For me, the film was all about repression and self-destruction (echoes of Two Lane Blacktop), perfectly represented by Oates' self-imposed silence. This device also meant that Oates had to communicate with specific coded sign language, nicely enhancing the clandestine world of cockfighting, which Hellman effortlessly created by shooting on authentic locations of farms, riversides and hotel rooms. It was all brought to life by Nestor Almendros's photography which was married perfectly with Michael Franks' music (I loved that sad honky-tonk piano sound).
Within the first 10 seconds Oates' deep gravelled voice-over explains entirely his character's motivation. He says "this is something you don't conquer", "you make your luck", "I can't look into his heart and tell you how game he is", "anything that can fight to death and not utter a sound, well...". And the very first scene illustrates that his obsession isn't with love/women, when we see Laurie 'Bird' unhappy about his not uttering a sound.
Oates's sexual repression is shown when he casually hands Laurie over to Harry Dean in a lost bet, and in all the hotel rooms where any usual illicit sexual liaisons are replaced by cockfights. Oates finally demonstrates his love for his girl by literally tearing the head off his winning cock!
I thought the fights themselves were cleverly and beautifully choreographed. The first fight is truly stunning in slow motion, heightening Oates' focused flashback recollection of what went wrong when his big mouth lost him the title. Thereafter, the fights gradually develop into something altogether more ugly and visceral, with the camera finally right down on the ground with the cocks.
In a great comedy sequence, Oates even becomes a silent fighting cock when Ed Begley Jnr attacks him on the very spot where their birds just fought.
A great director, a great D.O.P., a great cast, and a great lead in Warren Oates. It is criminal that this film is nigh impossible to see now.
Post a Comment