Pete's 2023 Breaking Death News Thread

[SuperBacon]

William Friedkin, aged 87.

What a body of work.

[SaitoRyo]

Ah man. I love Friedkin. 87 is no bad innings, but I swear I saw a video of him at a recent Q&A type deal and he looked as vibrant as ever. 

As @SuperBacon said, he leaves behind an incredible body of work. The French Connection is tremendous. The Exorcist is a genuine masterpiece. I have a lot of time for To Live and Die in LA, which is a great bit of action-filled 1980s neo-noir. Cruising is very interesting contextually, if not necessarily a great film. Bug is a gem. Killer Joe was overlooked and really deserved a bit more attention. I remember enjoying bits of The Guardian (silly as it is), as well as Jade and Rampage. 

Have yet to see Sorcerer, which is criminal, really, but I'll remedy that sooner than later.

On top of being an excellent filmmaker, he also just seemed like a really interesting bloke. Always forthcoming with his opinions, often right about stuff. Perhaps a tad abrasive in his heyday, but weren't they all?

I haven't read his autobiography, but I did read a bio on him called Hurricane Billy several years ago and would recommend it for people especially wanting to know more about his earlier stuff. 

[gmoney]

Worth tracking down the audio book of his book if you can (it's sadly not on Audible any more) as its fucking hilarious. Matter of fact descriptions of lewd sex acts in gay clubs while researching Cruising are probably the highlight, but it's all gold. A true filmmaker. 

[SaitoRyo]

Also, this: 

[LaGoosh]

The Exorcist is probably the best film ever made. But on top of that he made a bunch of other really, really great stuff. A totally brilliant and uncompromising and fearless filmmaker. We'll never see his like again.

Edited August 7, 2023 by LaGoosh

[Lorne Malvo]

1 hour ago, LaGoosh said:

The Exorcist is probably the best film ever made.

Finally, confirmation that Mark Kermode is a 'keffer.

I'm gutted about this one. Friedkin was a top notch filmmaker and storyteller. As mentioned, even during recent appearances he still seemed so full of life. A huge loss to cinema.

[SuperBacon]

DJ Casper has cha cha died.

 

[FLips]

That was pretty brutal, Bacon. You should take it back now, y'all.

[Jazzy G]

2 hours ago, SuperBacon said:

DJ Casper has cha cha died.

 

Just one time? 

[Hannibal Scorch]

5 hours ago, SuperBacon said:

DJ Casper has cha cha died.

 

Thank you DJ Casper for giving us this 

 

[Loki]

Sad news about Friedkin, a good director.  Reading some of the obits, I saw mentioned a film of his I've not seen called "To Live and Die in L.A" which sounds pretty insane so that's getting a watch.

And presumably was where L.A.X got their catchphrase?

[SuperBacon]

3 hours ago, Loki said:

Sad news about Friedkin, a good director.  Reading some of the obits, I saw mentioned a film of his I've not seen called "To Live and Die in L.A" which sounds pretty insane so that's getting a watch.

And presumably was where L.A.X got their catchphrase?

It's on YouTube. Saw that thanks to D-Mal on Twitter, keeping the film flag flying high

[WyattSheepMask]

11 hours ago, Loki said:

Sad news about Friedkin, a good director.  Reading some of the obits, I saw mentioned a film of his I've not seen called "To Live and Die in L.A" which sounds pretty insane so that's getting a watch.

And presumably was where L.A.X got their catchphrase?

I always thought that was a 2Pac reference. I’ve never seen To Live and Die In LA so you could well be right

[wordsfromlee]

RIP William Friedkin

 

[wordsfromlee]

If you haven’t watched Searching For Sugar Man then do yourself a favour. 
 

Those first two albums are brilliant too.