Movie Mindset Bonus: Interview with Repo Man Director Alex Cox
Movie Mindset Bonus: Interview with Repo Man Director Alex CoxDigest
This episode of Movie Minds features an interview with Alex Cox, the director of Repo Man. The conversation begins with a discussion about how Repo Man perfectly captures the essence of Los Angeles, with Cox reflecting on his experiences moving to the city from the UK. He then delves into his working relationship with Harry Dean Stanton, highlighting Stanton's unique approach to acting and his impact on Cox's filmmaking. The conversation also explores Cox's strong political sensibilities, evident in his films like Repo Man and Walker, and his critique of Hollywood's tendency towards reactionary narratives. Cox shares his thoughts on the 80s cultural shift towards cynicism and self-interest, and how it relates to the political climate of the time. He also discusses his upcoming project, a film adaptation of Gogol's Dead Souls, which he is currently fundraising for through a Kickstarter campaign. The episode concludes with Cox recommending Andrej Konsholowski's film Sin, a biopic about a great artist, as a must-watch for viewers.
Outlines
Introduction and Welcome
This Chapter introduces the episode and welcomes Alex Cox, the director of Repo Man, as a guest.
Repo Man and Los Angeles
This Chapter delves into a discussion about Repo Man and how it captures the essence of Los Angeles. Alex Cox shares his experiences moving to LA from the UK and how his impressions of the city influenced the film.
Harry Dean Stanton and Acting
This Chapter focuses on Harry Dean Stanton, a prominent actor in Repo Man. Alex Cox discusses his first encounter with Stanton and what makes him such a compelling leading man.
Filmmaking Style and Modern Cinema
This Chapter explores Alex Cox's filmmaking style, particularly his willingness to let characters be silly and look foolish on camera. He contrasts this approach with what he perceives as a trend of vanity in modern actors.
Political Sensibilities in Filmmaking
This Chapter delves into Alex Cox's strong political sensibilities and how they manifest in his films. He discusses the political themes in Repo Man and compares it to Ghostbusters, highlighting the contrasting ideologies of the two films.
Left-Wing Politics in Film
This Chapter explores Alex Cox's unabashedly left-wing political views and how he expresses them in his films. He discusses the use of genre and editing techniques to convey his political message, emphasizing the importance of avoiding didacticism.
Historical Storytelling and Contemporary Relevance
This Chapter focuses on Alex Cox's approach to historical storytelling and his use of anachronisms to connect past events to the present. He discusses the inspiration behind the anachronistic elements in Walker and the broader movement in filmmaking that embraces contemporary relevance in historical narratives.
Keywords
Repo Man
Repo Man is a 1984 American science fiction black comedy film directed by Alex Cox. It follows the story of a young punk who becomes a repo man, repossessing cars from people who have defaulted on their loans. The film is known for its dark humor, social commentary, and unique blend of genres.
Harry Dean Stanton
Harry Dean Stanton was an American actor known for his distinctive voice, melancholic demeanor, and memorable roles in films such as Paris, Texas, Repo Man, and Alien. He was often cast as a rugged, enigmatic, and often troubled character, and his performances were characterized by a quiet intensity and a sense of world-weariness.
Alex Cox
Alex Cox is an American-British filmmaker known for his unconventional and politically charged films. He is best known for Repo Man (1984), Sid and Nancy (1986), and Walker (1987). Cox's films often explore themes of social alienation, political corruption, and the absurdity of modern life.
Los Angeles
Los Angeles, often referred to as LA, is a sprawling metropolis in Southern California. It is known for its diverse population, vibrant culture, and iconic landmarks such as Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and the Pacific Ocean. LA is a major center for entertainment, technology, and commerce.
Punk Rock
Punk rock is a genre of rock music that emerged in the mid-1970s. It is characterized by its fast tempos, aggressive sound, and often politically charged lyrics. Punk rock is associated with a countercultural movement that challenged mainstream values and embraced DIY aesthetics.
Gogol
Nikolai Gogol was a Russian writer and playwright known for his satirical and often darkly humorous works. His most famous works include Dead Souls, The Overcoat, and The Inspector General. Gogol's writing is characterized by its vivid characters, social commentary, and exploration of the human condition.
Dead Souls
Dead Souls is a satirical novel by Nikolai Gogol, published in 1842. It tells the story of a con man who travels around Russia buying the names of dead serfs, intending to use them to secure a loan. The novel is a biting critique of Russian society and its corrupt officials.
Italian Western
The Italian Western, also known as the Spaghetti Western, is a genre of Western film that emerged in Italy in the 1960s. It is characterized by its gritty realism, stylized violence, and often morally ambiguous characters. Some of the most famous Italian Westerns include A Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More, and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.
JFK Assassination
The assassination of John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, occurred on November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas. Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested for the assassination, but he was shot and killed by Jack Ruby two days later. The assassination remains a subject of intense debate and conspiracy theories.
Military Coup
A military coup is a seizure of power by the military, often through a violent overthrow of the existing government. Military coups are often characterized by the suspension of civil liberties, the imposition of martial law, and the suppression of political opposition.
Q&A
How does Repo Man capture the essence of Los Angeles?
Alex Cox believes Repo Man perfectly captures the essence of Los Angeles, highlighting the city's unique blend of grit, glamour, and social disparity. He emphasizes that the film portrays a real LA, one that exists outside the typical tourist attractions and traffic-filled streets.
What makes Harry Dean Stanton such a compelling actor?
Alex Cox admires Harry Dean Stanton's willingness to embrace unconventional roles and his commitment to authenticity. He highlights Stanton's ability to portray complex and often troubled characters with a quiet intensity and a sense of world-weariness.
How does Alex Cox express his political views in his films?
Alex Cox believes in portraying characters as complex individuals, avoiding simplistic divisions into good and evil. He uses genre, editing, and storytelling techniques to convey his left-wing political views, aiming for a subtle and nuanced approach that avoids didacticism.
What is Alex Cox's upcoming project?
Alex Cox is currently working on a film adaptation of Gogol's Dead Souls, a satirical novel about a con man who buys the names of dead serfs. The film will be shot in Almeria, Spain, and the Sonoran Desert in Arizona, and Cox is fundraising for the project through a Kickstarter campaign.
What is Alex Cox's theory about the JFK assassination?
Alex Cox believes that the JFK assassination was a military coup orchestrated by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, with the complicity of the Secret Service and intelligence agencies. He highlights the suspicious circumstances surrounding the autopsy and the involvement of key figures in the CIA and the Warren Commission.
What is Alex Cox's relationship to punk rock?
Alex Cox admires the aesthetic and revolutionary spirit of punk rock, but he also approaches it from a critical angle. He sees punk as a movement that ultimately failed to achieve its goals, similar to surrealism. He highlights the political themes in Sid and Nancy, which he believes are often overshadowed by the romantic narrative.
What is the last good movie Alex Cox has seen?
Alex Cox recommends Andrej Konsholowski's film Sin, a biopic about a great artist. He describes it as a complex and well-made film that avoids hagiography and offers a nuanced portrayal of its subject.
What is Alex Cox's advice to viewers?
Alex Cox encourages viewers to support his upcoming film adaptation of Dead Souls by donating to his Kickstarter campaign. He also recommends watching Andrej Konsholowski's film Sin.
Show Notes
Alex is currently crowdfunding what may be his last movie, “My Last Movie” on Kickstarter. Please consider kicking in and becoming one of the dead souls:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/alexcoxfilms/my-last-movie
Find the rest of this season of Movie Mindset, including our episode on Repo Man, on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/collection/510340?view=expanded
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