A couple of new 4K releases deliver superlative versions of what are at least neglected and important genre films: The Last Boy Scout (1991) and Futureworld (1976).
The Last Boy Scout is a top notch Shane Black scripted action thriller thats gets overlooked in lieu of his contribution to Lethal Weapon, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, and yes even Iron Man 3. Director Tony Scott fought with the studio and the eventual theatrical version although not his vision still kicks ass.
Futureworld was the sequel to the hit Michael Crichton inspired sci-fi flick Westworld.
The Last Boy Scout
The amazing confluence of Shane Black, Bruce Willis, and Tony Scott at the height of their creative juices not to mention “bombastic” producer Joel Silver makes for a no-holds barred action thriller on overload.
Scott shoots and edits action uniquely and the continuity makes explosive moments seem real. Willis is a disgraced Secret Service agent working as freelance security. When his latest client is killed the plot kicks off in a thousand directions.
Taylor Negron as a crazed killer does not exist outside of Taylor Negron as the pizza delivery dude in Fast Times at Ridgemont High.
The noir aspect of this film is so appealing in 4K. Sometimes you have to squint to see character’s eyes because of the moody lighting.
Elevating the whole experience are dynamic new extras including an interview with Danielle Harris who played Willis’ daughter; a new interview with Black about the script; and a film essay The Art of Tony Scott by film historian Stéphane Moïssakis who is also the author of a definitive biography about Scott.
Futureworld
Perhaps a bit hokey at times yet Futureworld seduces you with its cross-genre approach to sci-fi and drama.
Peter Fonda and Blythe Danner are reporters and television hosts on a press tour of the redone Delos theme park. At the same time Fonda is surreptitiously investigating the murder of a whistleblower.
The viewer is expected to at least know that the previous film ended with robot/AI/human shenanigans at the future-themed vacation resort for the rich.
Futureworld featured an all new cast except for Yul Bryner returning as the robot gunslinger in a dream sequence.
For the record Bryner in Westworld (1973) was the prototype Terminator. Bryner had previously created the whole stubborn unstoppable walking predator as the android gunslinger in Westworld.
Segments were shot at Jones Hall in Houston as well as NASA in addition to the obvious California backlot hills. Houston natives will recognize the familiar red walls and steps of Jones Hall
NASA locations have their own featurettes both old and new. One set included an actual cylindrical door that measured over five-stories tall.
A new featurette interview with producer Paul N. Lazarus III goes in-depth into the machinations of how the sequel was bumped by MGM in favor of Logan’s Run. The studio didn’t want more than one sci-fi film on the dockett. He eventually set it up at AIP with a previous rival who was himself fired from the studio. Wild Hollywood tales.
While not covered in the commentary let me humbly note that Logan’s Run was shot in Dallas and Futureworld was shot in Houston. There’s a whole sports rivalry disguised as a film fetish rivalry shoot-in-my-city ethos hidden in that subtext.
