5/20/2023 0 Comments Backtrack movie jodie fosterBut as far as I can tell, it’s only available on VHS. The Director’s Cut (DC), on the other hand, can be found and can be viewed. Either way, it’s most likely the theatrical cut (TC). Sometimes the film goes by the alternative title Catch Fire, other times it goes by the intended title Backtrack. Upon my first viewing, that’s the version I saw. Bob Dylan even makes an appearance as an artist who carves abstract wooden relief-paintings with a chainsaw (they are actually the work of artist Charles Arnoldi).This is one of those films not many know about, and if they do know about it they’re probably only aware of the theatrical cut. Vincent Price, Charlie Sheen, John Turturro and Dean Stockwell all have major roles. Vestron Pictures later re-cut and released it against his wishes, under the title Backtrack (both titles are just as arbitrary) keeping Hopper’s name, which prompted a lawsuit.Įveryone involved in the film must have really, really liked Dennis Hopper (or they didn’t read the whole script) as the cast includes quite a few well-known actors, and Dick Clark was the producer. In fact, Hopper was so unhappy with his work on Catchfire that he disowned it, even crediting himself as Alan Smithee (the pseudonym of choice for disgraced filmmakers). This never happens, and a final shot during the end credits shows Hopper ridiculously serenading Jodie Foster with a saxophone on a boat, a scene I am almost positive he did not intend to be seen by the general public. At any moment, the viewer might expect Anne to finally reveal her behavior as either an escape plan, or an elaborate performance art piece about male oppression of women. Resisting this idea for two or three days, she then discovers that she loves him, too, even though they sometimes fight about what art really is: “Art is Charlie Parker and Hieronymus Bach, or whatever his name is,” Milo says.Īll of this is presented as perfectly natural, although the heavy-handed acting and implausibility of the plot often make the film seem like a comedy. Realizing that he has fallen in love, he abducts her and forces her into a sexual relationship. Though initially planning to kill her, he quickly becomes infatuated with her and her work, even purchasing a piece from her gallery. Hopper not only directs, but also plays Anne/Jenny’s kidnapper, Milo. Now is the time for her conceptual artist survival skills to kick in, so she pulls out her famous line “Protect me from what I want” and slaps it on a lipstick ad campaign as the tagline. After eluding both the mobsters and police, she changes her name and moves to a new city, taking a job at an advertising agency. The plot begins with Anne Benton/Jenny Holzer witnessing a mob assassination, and then going into hiding to avoid being targeted, herself. Instead, Catchfire is a celebration of how romantic and sexy Stockholm Syndrome can be if you just give in to your captor and go with it! He isn’t concerned with the obvious themes of power and feminism one might expect from a movie that is essentially about Jenny Holzer being kidnapped. Many of Holzer’s pieces are used throughout the film (she is even listed in the credits), but their meaning and cultural relevance is totally disregarded by director Dennis Hopper. It is only those who haven’t who might actually believe Jodie Foster’s character in Catchfire, Anne Benton, as the person behind that work. Anyone who has ever flipped through a book about late 20th century art will be familiar with Jenny Holzer’s text based work using LED screens and projectors.
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