Blockbusters and Birdwalks

GATEWAY CINEMA, a conversation – Episode 20: Curator’s Conclusion

Garrett Chaffin-Quiray

This is Garrett Chaffin-Quiray’s summation of GATEWAY CINEMA, a multi-part series of conversations centered on key ideas in film studies. In these conversations, Garrett and Ed Rosa have interpreted and celebrated a set of eclectic feature films from across generations and from around the world, including “La Haine”, “Drum”, “Alien 3 (Assembly Cut)”, “Come and See”, “Perfect Days”, “Sweet Smell of Success”, “The Swimmer”, “Amadeus (Director’s Cut)”, “Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia”, “Friday”, “Marie Antoinette”, “The Night of the Hunter”, “Crank” and “Crank 2: High Voltage”, “Portrait of a Lady Fire”, “The Fabulous Baron Munchausen”, “Joker: Folie à Deux”, “Welcome to the Dollhouse”, “Heathers”, and “The Death of Stalin”.

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Referenced media in GATEWAY CINEMA, Episode 20:

  • “La Haine” (Mathieu Kassovitz, 1995)
  • “Drum” (Steve Carver, 1976)
  • “Alien 3 (Assembly Cut)” (David Fincher, 1992)
  • “Come and See” (Elen Klimov, 1985)
  • “Perfect Days” (Wim Wenders, 2023)
  • “Sweet Smell of Success” (Alexander Mackendrick, 1957)
  • “The Swimmer” (Frank Perry, 1968)
  • “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford” (Andrew Dominik, 2007)
  • “Amadeus (Director’s Cut)” (Miloš Forman, 1984/2002)
  • “Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia” (Sam Peckinpah, 1974)
  • “Friday” (F. Gary Gray, 1996)
  • “Marie Antoinette” (Sofia Coppola, 2006)
  • “The Night of the Hunter” (Charles Laughton, 1955)
  • “Crank” (Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor, 2006)
  • “Crank 2: High Voltage” (Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor, 2009)
  • “Portrait of a Lady Fire” (Céline Sciamma, 2019)
  • “The Fabulous Baron Munchausen” (Karel Zeman, 1962)
  • “Joker: Folie à Deux” (Todd Phillips, 2024)
  • “Welcome to the Dollhouse” (Todd Solondz, 1995)
  • “Heathers” (Michael Lehmann, 1988)
  • “The Death of Stalin” (Armando Iannucci, 2017)
  • "Star Trek" (Gene Roddenberry, 1966-1969)

Audio quotation in GATEWAY CINEMA, Episode 20:

  • “Also sprach Zarathustra” (1896) by Richard Strauss, performed by Berliner Philharmoniker, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Szdziw4tI9o
  • “Eugene’s Lament” by Beastie Boys, Nishita, Bobo, and Eugene Gore for the album “Ill Communication” by Beastie Boys (1994), used in “La Haine” (Mathieu Kassovitz, 1995)
  • “Drum” (Steve Carver, 1976)
  • “Alien 3 (Assembly Cut)” (David Fincher, 1992), including “End Credits” composed by Elliott Goldenthal
  • “Come and See” (Elem Klimov, 1985)
  • “Perfect Days” (Wim Wenders, 2023), including “Perfect Day (Piano Komorebi Version)” (2024) by Patrick Watson, https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhC3YPiBwS9Vc9nbBG1Dl6y4AfZPD23lm
  • “Sweet Smell of Success” (Alexander Mackendrick, 1957)
  • “The Swimmer” (Frank Perry, 1968), including “Theme from ‘The Swimmer’ (Send for Me in Summer) / Big Splash” and “My Kids Love Me / Traveling Home / Closer to Home / Home / Marcia Funebre” by Marvin Hamlisch, https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkAUJkbhd-RgA8zSAa_Uqqq45GMl_ONci
  • “Amadeus (Director’s Cut)” (Miloš Forman, 1984/2002)
  • “Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia” (Sam Peckinpah, 1974)
  • “Friday” (F. Gary Gray, 1996)
  • “Marie Antoinette” (Sofia Coppola, 2006), including the song “Hong Kong Garden” (1978) by Siouxsie and the Banshees, https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkTESLJ1DzwVuwneRvZRNBzJkbNQsX-sP
  • “The Night of the Hunter” (Charles Laughton, 1955)
  • “Crank” (Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor, 2006), including “Don’t Stop” by Paul Haslinger,