Willie & Phil (1980)
DIRECTOR: Paul Mazursky (Harry and Tonto, An Unmarried Woman)
STARS: Michael Ontkean (Twin Peaks), Margot Kidder (Dion Brothers, Heartaches), Ray Sharkey (Idol Maker, P.I., Hellhole), Kristine DeBell (Meatballs), Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix, King of the City), Jerry Hall
SYNOPSIS: Paul Mazursky directed this romantic drama that was inspired by Truffaut's French classic Jules and Jim. This movie has never received a release on dvd but I think it's worth another look. Ontkean and Sharkey become fast friends after meeting in the lobby of an arthouse theater in New York's Greenwich Village. They soon become like long lost brothers and talk movies, literature, life and of course women. Hanging out in Washington Square park they find a friendly compatriot in Margot Kidder. She flirts with both men but gravitates to Ontkean and they have carefree sex. Ontkean even tells her she can sleep with Sharkey if she wants to. Neither men have any jealousy and they spend days together eating, watching movies and traveling to upstate New York for some skinny dipping. One night they all drop acid and go to see Russ Meyer's Beyond the Valley of the Dolls. Eventually Sharkey heads to California and gets work as a commercial director while Ontkean and Kidder move to a farmhouse and have a daughter. Years go by and they meet up again to spend time at Sharkey's beach house. Ontkean is unhappy and leaves for India for some soul searching while Kidder finds works as film editor and raises their daughter. Time goes by and more changes come to the three friends. This film takes place over the span of 10 years and feels very authentic. The three leads are all in top form. It's especially nice to see Sharkey playing a nice guy and it's his best work outside of The Idolmaker and Wiseguy. The bulk of the film was shot in Greenwich Village and it's cool to see the area and all its charms circa 1979 / 1980. At one point the two men actually go to see Jules and Jim at the "Bleeker Street Cinema". Viewers will see early appearances from Robert Townsend, Tom Noonan and Laurence Fishburne who gives a show stopping rendition of lines from "Hamlet". Director Mazursky occasionally narrates the story giving it the feel of a fable. A forgotten sleeper.
Fullscreen / Color
Region Free / Code Free DVD-R
DIRECTOR: Paul Mazursky (Harry and Tonto, An Unmarried Woman)
STARS: Michael Ontkean (Twin Peaks), Margot Kidder (Dion Brothers, Heartaches), Ray Sharkey (Idol Maker, P.I., Hellhole), Kristine DeBell (Meatballs), Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix, King of the City), Jerry Hall
SYNOPSIS: Paul Mazursky directed this romantic drama that was inspired by Truffaut's French classic Jules and Jim. This movie has never received a release on dvd but I think it's worth another look. Ontkean and Sharkey become fast friends after meeting in the lobby of an arthouse theater in New York's Greenwich Village. They soon become like long lost brothers and talk movies, literature, life and of course women. Hanging out in Washington Square park they find a friendly compatriot in Margot Kidder. She flirts with both men but gravitates to Ontkean and they have carefree sex. Ontkean even tells her she can sleep with Sharkey if she wants to. Neither men have any jealousy and they spend days together eating, watching movies and traveling to upstate New York for some skinny dipping. One night they all drop acid and go to see Russ Meyer's Beyond the Valley of the Dolls. Eventually Sharkey heads to California and gets work as a commercial director while Ontkean and Kidder move to a farmhouse and have a daughter. Years go by and they meet up again to spend time at Sharkey's beach house. Ontkean is unhappy and leaves for India for some soul searching while Kidder finds works as film editor and raises their daughter. Time goes by and more changes come to the three friends. This film takes place over the span of 10 years and feels very authentic. The three leads are all in top form. It's especially nice to see Sharkey playing a nice guy and it's his best work outside of The Idolmaker and Wiseguy. The bulk of the film was shot in Greenwich Village and it's cool to see the area and all its charms circa 1979 / 1980. At one point the two men actually go to see Jules and Jim at the "Bleeker Street Cinema". Viewers will see early appearances from Robert Townsend, Tom Noonan and Laurence Fishburne who gives a show stopping rendition of lines from "Hamlet". Director Mazursky occasionally narrates the story giving it the feel of a fable. A forgotten sleeper.
Fullscreen / Color
Region Free / Code Free DVD-R
DIRECTOR: Paul Mazursky (Harry and Tonto, An Unmarried Woman)
STARS: Michael Ontkean (Twin Peaks), Margot Kidder (Dion Brothers, Heartaches), Ray Sharkey (Idol Maker, P.I., Hellhole), Kristine DeBell (Meatballs), Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix, King of the City), Jerry Hall
SYNOPSIS: Paul Mazursky directed this romantic drama that was inspired by Truffaut's French classic Jules and Jim. This movie has never received a release on dvd but I think it's worth another look. Ontkean and Sharkey become fast friends after meeting in the lobby of an arthouse theater in New York's Greenwich Village. They soon become like long lost brothers and talk movies, literature, life and of course women. Hanging out in Washington Square park they find a friendly compatriot in Margot Kidder. She flirts with both men but gravitates to Ontkean and they have carefree sex. Ontkean even tells her she can sleep with Sharkey if she wants to. Neither men have any jealousy and they spend days together eating, watching movies and traveling to upstate New York for some skinny dipping. One night they all drop acid and go to see Russ Meyer's Beyond the Valley of the Dolls. Eventually Sharkey heads to California and gets work as a commercial director while Ontkean and Kidder move to a farmhouse and have a daughter. Years go by and they meet up again to spend time at Sharkey's beach house. Ontkean is unhappy and leaves for India for some soul searching while Kidder finds works as film editor and raises their daughter. Time goes by and more changes come to the three friends. This film takes place over the span of 10 years and feels very authentic. The three leads are all in top form. It's especially nice to see Sharkey playing a nice guy and it's his best work outside of The Idolmaker and Wiseguy. The bulk of the film was shot in Greenwich Village and it's cool to see the area and all its charms circa 1979 / 1980. At one point the two men actually go to see Jules and Jim at the "Bleeker Street Cinema". Viewers will see early appearances from Robert Townsend, Tom Noonan and Laurence Fishburne who gives a show stopping rendition of lines from "Hamlet". Director Mazursky occasionally narrates the story giving it the feel of a fable. A forgotten sleeper.
Fullscreen / Color
Region Free / Code Free DVD-R