Heads Up, Ears Down

This blog accurately identifies depictions of violence and cruelty toward animals in films. The purpose is to provide viewers with a reliable guide so that such depictions do not come as unwelcome surprises. Films will be accurately notated, providing a time cue for each incident along with a concise description of the scene and perhaps relevant context surrounding the incident. In order to serve as a useful reference tool, films having no depictions of violence to animals will be included, with an indication that there are no such scenes. This is confirmation that the films have been watched with the stated purpose in mind.


Note that the word depictions figures prominently in the objective. It is a travesty that discussions about cruelty in film usually are derailed by the largely unrelated assertion that no animals really were hurt (true only in some films, dependent upon many factors), and that all this concern is just over a simulation. Not the point, whether true or false. We do not smugly dismiss depictions of five-year-olds being raped because those scenes are only simulations. No, we are appalled that such images are even staged, and we are appropriately horrified that the notion now has been planted into the minds of the weak and cruel.


Depictions of violence or harm to animals are assessed in keeping with our dominant culture, with physical abuse, harmful neglect, and similar mistreatment serving as a base line. This blog does not address extended issues of animal welfare, and as such does not identify scenes of people eating meat or mules pulling plows. The goal is to itemize images that might cause a disturbance in a compassionate household.


These notes provide a heads-up but do not necessarily discourage watching a film because of depicted cruelty. Consuming a piece of art does not make you a supporter of the ideas presented. Your ethical self is created by your public rhetoric and your private actions, not by your willingness to sit through a filmed act of violence.

Showing posts with label Music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Music. Show all posts

The Velvet Underground (Haynes)

The Velvet Underground. Todd Haynes, 2021.

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Edition screened: Criterion Blu-ray #1164, released 2022. English language. Runtime approximately 120 minutes.


Summary: No animals or references to animals in the film.


The Criterion release also includes three short films made by associates of Warhol and The Velvet Underground, and relevant to the environment of the time and place:


• Award Presentation to Andy Warhol (1965 Jonas Mekas, 12 minutes)

• Venus in Furs (1965 Piero Heliczer, 22 minutes)

• Walden: Diaries, Notes, and Sketches [excerpt] (1969 Jonas Mekas, 8 minutes)


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Becoming Led Zeppelin

Becoming Led Zeppelin. Bernard MacMahon, 2025.

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Edition screened: Watched online. English language. Runtime approximately 122 minutes.


Summary: No particular depictions of violence or harm to animals.


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Victims of Sin

Victims of Sin (Víctimas del pecado). Emilio Fernández, 1951.

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Edition screened: Criterion Blu-ray #1222, released 2024. Spanish language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 84 minutes.


Summary: No particular depictions of violence or harm to animals.


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Head

Head. Bob Rafelson, 1968.

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Edition screened: Criterion Blu-ray #544, included in America Lost and Found: The BBS Story box set, released 2010. English language. Runtime approximately 85 minutes.


Summary: No particular depictions of violence or harm to animals.


Head reminds us that The Monkees were not an emulation of The Beatles in general but of the film Help! specifically. Head surpasses individual episodes of The Monkees, but also bests Help! in many ways as Help! relies on stupendous music and some heart warming set pieces to compensate for an otherwise tedious watch. Like The Beatles’ precedent, Head makes hay of a youthful fanbase’s naïve understanding of psychedelia to disguise a series of unrelated skits as a trippy experience. While Help! dawdles around an absurd plot that absolutely begs for Mike Meyers, the superior direction of Head focuses on legitimate and timely social criticism softened with love beads and Lennonesque wordplay.


All members of The Beatles and The Monkees looked and spoke beautifully in the late 1960s, but the movie camera liked Ringo best among The Beatles, and similarly Micky Dolenz carries most of the acting and screen time in Head. Musical pieces show conclusively that Dolenz, Nesmith, and Tork play their instruments with ease, expertise, and panache and I can’t believe we’re still indulging that stupid discussion.


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The Ballad of Crowfoot

The Ballad of Crowfoot. Willie Dunn, 1968.

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Edition screened: Included in the Clearcut BD in Severin Blu-ray box set All the Haunts Be Ours: A Compendium of Folk Horror, released 2021. English language. Runtime approximately 11 minutes.


Summary: Buffalo hunting.


Details:

1) Historical clip of white people hunting buffalo and the field of bleached bones they leave behind, 3:04-3:23.

2) Quick historical clip of a buffalo falling after being shot (less than half a second), 9:33.


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Greendale

Greendale. Neil Young (as Bernard Shaky), 2003.

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Edition screened: BMG DVD, released 2004. English language. Runtime approximately 123 minutes.


Summary: No particular depictions of violence or harm to animals.


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9 Songs

9 Songs. Michael Winterbottom, 2004.

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Edition screened: Tartan DVD, released 2005. English language. Runtime approximately 69 minutes.


Summary: No animals or references to animals in the film.


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Bob Marley: One Love

Bob Marley: One Love. Reinaldo Marcus Green, 2024.

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Edition screened: Paramount Blu-ray, released 2024. English language. Runtime approximately 107 minutes.


Summary: No particular depictions of violence or harm to animals.


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Louie Bluie

Louie Bluie. Terry Zwigoff, 1985.

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Edition screened: Criterion DVD #532, released 2010. English language. Runtime approximately 60 minutes.


Summary: No depictions of violence or harm to animals.


A charming, entertaining film about Howard “Louie Bluie” Armstrong, also featuring the talents of well-known string band musicians Yank Rachell, “Banjo” Ikey Robinson, and Ted Bogan. 


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The Beatles: Get Back

The Beatles: Get Back. Peter Jackson, 2021.

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Edition screened: Walt Disney Blu-ray, released 2022. English language. Runtime approximately 467 minutes.


Summary: No animals or references to animals in the film.


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Butthole Surfers: Blind Eye Sees All

Butthole Surfers: Blind Eye Sees All: Live in Detroit 1985.

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Edition screened: MVD DVD, released 2006. English language with sousaphone and Gibbytronix. Runtime approximately 80 minutes.


Summary: No particular depictions of violence or harm to animals.


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Ode to the Dawn of Man

Ode to the Dawn of Man. Werner Herzog, 2011.

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Edition screened: Included on IFC Blu-ray Cave of Forgotten Dreams, released 2011. English language. Runtime approximately 39 minutes.


Summary: No depictions of violence or harm to animals.


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The El Duce Tapes

The El Duce Tapes. David Lawrence and Rodney Ascher, 2019.

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Edition screened: Arrow Blu-ray, released 2021. English language. Runtime approximately 104 minutes.


Summary: No animals or references to animals in the film.


This documentary about Mentors drummer and frontman Eldon Hoke (El Duce), is made from early 1990s interviews with El Duce himself, his sister, his best friend and bass guitarist Steve Broy, members of GWAR, and a few other associates. Intercut with these interviews are videotaped glimpses of the band performing in filthy Hollywood dives.


I found the film to be more entertaining than expected, due largely to the calm normalcy of Steve Broy who provides stable ground while idiocy swirls all around. I was left comfortably uncertain to what degree El Duce was making a statement, making a joke, or was the joke. As such, I believe our directors were successful in their portrayal of this sad madman.


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Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami

Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami. Sophie Fiennes, 2017.

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Edition screened: Kino Lorber Blu-ray, released 2018. English language. Runtime approximately 115 minutes.


Summary: No particular depictions of violence or harm to animals.


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A Hard Day’s Night

A Hard Day’s Night. Richard Lester, 1964.

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Edition screened: Criterion Blu-ray #711, released 2014. English language. Runtime approximately 87 minutes.


Summary: No depictions of violence or harm to animals.


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Twist Craze

Twist Craze. Allan David, 1961.

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Edition screened: Included in Arrow Blu-ray set Weird Wisconsin: The Bill Rebane Collection, released 2021. English language. Runtime approximately 9 minutes.


Summary: No animals or references to animals in the film.


An enjoyable short in which likable young dancers and musicians introduce an up-scale middle-aged crowd to The Twist. The performance takes place in a dinner club that features a small swimming pool in front of the stage.


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Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin. Jimmy Page, 2003.

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Edition screened: Rhino DVD set, released 2003. English language. Runtime approximately 320 minutes.


Summary: No particular depictions of violence or harm to animals.


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Rust Never Sleeps

Rust Never Sleeps. Neil Young (as Bernard Shakey), 1978.
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Edition screened: BMG DVD, released 2002. English language. Runtime approximately 116 minutes.


Summary: No depictions of violence or harm to animals.

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All Americans

All Americans. Joseph Santley, 1929.
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Edition screened: Included on Criterion Blu-ray #915 King of Jazz, released 2018. English language. Runtime approximately 19 minutes.

Summary: No depictions of violence or harm to animals.

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Festival: Folk Music at Newport, 1963-1966

Festival: Folk Music at Newport, 1963-1966. Murray Lerner, 1967.
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Edition screened: Criterion Blu-ray, released 2017. English language. Runtime approximately 98 minutes.


Summary: No animals or references to animals in the film.

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