The Girl Next Door (2004): Modern Cult Films (Risque Cinema)

     Although slammed by some (most notably Roger Ebert, who called the film "exploitative", and described Elisha Cuthbert's character as "thoroughly unlikeable"), I found The Girl Next Door (2004) to be an entertaining commentary on the facades we present, and what really matters in our relations to one another.
     Emile Hirsch plays a typical overachieving high school senior who hasn't explored much of life beyond academics. He is about to graduate and doesn't have any memorable anecdotes or experiences to share. This all changes when his next door neighbor goes away and has her cute, sexy niece Danielle (Elisha Cuthbert) reside there as a house sitter.

     Immediately attracted to her gorgeous looks and wild attitude, he introduces her around and becomes the envy of his two geeky friends.

     One of the friends (a smut aficionado) discovers that Danielle is a porn actress, and convinces Emile that she would be an easy score.

      A poorly set plan of sexual conquest, to take her to a cheap motel backfires, as Danielle is hurt by the assumption and tells him to get lost.

     Emile has truly fallen in love with her at this point, and is willing to do anything to convince her so. His efforts are hindered by the alternating comic/psychotic porn producer boss of Danielle.

     Can he prove the sincerity of his affection for Danielle and take her away from the porn industry, which they both know is not where she desires to be?

The Girl Next Door- movie trailer

Fog Island (1945): Obscure Classic Films

     George Zucco is a very under-appreciated star from the Golden Age of film. He was a B list actor and never had that one defining role that would've cemented a legacy. Still, Zucco had a certain charm and creepiness (he mainly starred in horror films) that resonate as being genuine. Fog Island (1945) is a typical example of his work, flawed yet intriguing. 

    Zucco plays Leo Granger, a business man who has just been released from prison after serving a five year sentence for embezzlement. 

     He lives on a gloomy, secluded, fog-shrouded island with his step-daughter, the daughter of Leo's now deceased wife. 

     Leo had been framed for crime, and he vows revenge on the four people responsible. He also suspects one of them of murdering his wife while he was in prison. So, he invites all four conspirators to the remote Fog Island under the false pretense that he had stashed the money he was supposed to have embezzled there, and they will all be payed their share. 

     Like moths to a flame, they come, including the supposed psychic who should've known better.

      Leo has configured his house (which was built by pirates) with secret passages and death traps.

      The tensions involved force the conspirators to turn on each other. 

     Which of them shall survive Fog Island?

Fog Island- full feature film

New Portrait Illustration: Ron Hansen (Author/Novelist)

Ron Hansen, 2012. By Travis Simpkins

     My introduction to Ron Hansen came in 2006, when I went to his lecture on "Writing as Vocation" at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. At that point, my knowledge of Ron's writing was limited to his novel, The Assassination of Jesse James By the Coward Robert Ford, his historic-fiction masterpiece about the old west outlaw, that was then being made as a feature film starring Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck.
     Ron's lecture and the way he articulated himself inspired me to seek out his other works, many of which are now amongst my favorite books. His prose rings as beautifully true and smooth as poetry... Atticus, Desperadoes, Hitler's Niece, A Wild Surge of Guilty Passion... to name a few.
     Subsequently, Ron and I developed a cordial, friendly correspondence in which he provided me with insight, thoughts and tips, not just on writing, but on all art in general. He is a very talented artist, and a gracious, helpful and kind man. I'm glad to know him.

     And I'm glad this portrait met with his approval.

The Assassination of Jesse James By the Coward Robert Ford- movie trailer

Ron Hansen talking about his novel, A Wild Surge of Guilty Passion

Ron Hansen Reading at Cornell University

Read more about Ron Hansen here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Hansen_(novelist)

Ron's classic: The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (1983)

Ron's latest: A Wild Surge of Guilty Passion (2011)

Purchase books by Ron Hansen on amazon.com here

One Million Years B.C. (1966): Classic B Movies (Risque Cinema)

     Although admirable in it's effort to explore different avenues in special effects, One Million Years B.C. (1966) can't hide it's true goal and purpose: to showcase the near-flawless, sensual physique of the young Raquel Welch. Eye candy aside, the film has enjoyable story elements as well.

    A young man of the Rock people is banished from his tribe after a fight with the leader. Seemingly doomed as he wanders the landscape, he is near death when he stumbles upon the peaceful Shell people, consisting of lovely, bikini-clad women and semi mild mannered men.

     One stand-out beauty amongst the Shell ladies (Raquel Welch) takes a liking to the new Cave Man stranger.

     The two spend time together, with her teaching him the ways of the tribe (and always finding nice ways to draw attention to her beauty)...

     Their existence is calm for a spell...

     But soon the man finds himself banished from his new home as well after a fight with a rival.

     Unable or unwilling to leave her new mate, Raquel Welch follows him off into the dangerous World populated with aggressive dinosaurs...

     Their ultimate survival will depend on their support and trust of one another... and the reconciliation with their tribe...

One Million Years B.C.- movie trailer

    

Tom Rush: Profiles from the Illustrations

Tom Rush, 2012. By Travis Simpkins

     Starting his musical career in Cambridge, MA in the early 1960s while attending Harvard, Tom Rush had already become an established performer before graduating. While other Folk musicians found a niche and stuck with it, Tom didn't subscribe to any one particular set, instead combining traditional songs, blues and country into a unique style that perfectly complimented his gentle voice.

Tom Rush- Panama Limited

     After releasing a few great albums, he hit a career highlight in 1968 with The Circle Game, which combined his own original compositions with covers of then-fledgling songwriters, Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne and James Taylor.

Tom Rush- No Regrets

Tom Rush- These Days

Tom Rush, 2012. By Travis Simpkins

     Recently celebrating 50 years as a professional musician, Tom Rush still performs to both large and small crowds alike. His keen ear, humorous wit and smart song selection make his shows as current and relevant as ever.

Tom Rush- Child's Song

Tom Rush- Let's Talk Dirty in Hawaiian

Tom Rush- The Remember Song

For more info, visit: http://tomrush.com/

Tom Rush, 2012. By Travis Simpkins

Prints are Available for Purchase

     By popular demand, 12x16 signed prints of some of my illustrations are available for purchase. The print(s) will be rolled in mailing tubes and you can pay securely with a credit/debit card via Paypal. They can be had for the low price of $15.00 each (plus shipping). Just click on the "Add to Cart" button under your selection on the side column here ----------->>>---------------------------------------------------------------------------------->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

For the time being, only these illustrations have been made into prints. More to follow. I am open to requests as well.

Quiet Desperation #4, 2011. By Travis Simpkins

Quiet Desperation #3, 2011. By Travis Simpkins

Sophia Cacciola and Michael J. Epstein, 2011. By Travis Simpkins

Golden Bloom, 2011. By Travis Simpkins

Arlo Guthrie, 2011. By Travis Simpkins

Dan Burke, 2011. By Travis Simpkins

New Portrait Illustration: Brad Roberts (Crash Test Dummies)

Brad Roberts, 2012. By Travis Simpkins

     With an instantly recognizable bass/baritone voice and beautiful, inspired music and lyrics, Brad Roberts and Crash Test Dummies had a string of hits in the early 1990s with songs like "Superman's Song" and "Mmm, Mmm, Mmm, Mmm." Though slightly under the radar now, Brad Roberts is still writing and recording music with the same level of artistry as he did twenty years ago. He is a nice, cool, witty, creative guy... and true to form as an artist, he is not afraid to experiment in different musical genres.

Crash Test Dummies- Mmm, Mmm, Mmm, Mmm

Brad Roberts, 2012. By Travis Simpkins

Crash Test Dummies- Superman's Song

Brad Roberts, 2012. By Travis Simpkins

Crash Test Dummies- God Shuffled His Feet

Crash Test Dummies- The Ghosts That Haunt Me

Interview with Brad Roberts

Brad Roberts, 2012. By Travis Simpkins

For more info, visit: http://www.crashtestdummies.com/#/home

Follow Brad's blog here: http://crashtestdummies.tumblr.com/

Freaks (1932): Sideshow Anomalies Brought to Film

     Fresh off the success of Dracula (1931), director Tod Browning sought to bring a short story called Spurs to the big screen. The resulting film, Freaks (1932), shocked audiences and censors, and delivered a fatal blow to Browning's career. A warning had to be shown prior to the film about the nature of it. The fact that the cast was comprised of real life Sideshow Freaks was horrific to some, exploitative to others. It took decades for people's sensibilities to ease and accept Freaks as a true classic horror/revenge film. However, some will still find it offensive, despite the passage of time and the anesthetic of modern media.

     Hans and Frieda are a happy midget couple. 

     When Cleopatra, the sexy trapeze artist, learns of Hans' inheritance, she seduces him and convinces him to marry her instead. 

     At an initiation ceremony put on by the Freaks, intending to accept Cleo, she gets drunk and reveals that she is only marrying Hans for his money...

     Humiliated, Hans is hurt but stays with Cleo. He is taken ill and it is discovered that Cleo has been poisoning him. 

     The Freaks, abiding by their code, set out to protect Hans and get revenge, through disfigurement, on Cleo and her muscle man co-conspirator...

Freaks- movie trailer

     The Sideshow acts in the cast include... Prince Randian, a living torso, who can roll and light cigarettes using only his mouth...

an armless woman...

pinheads...

Siamese twins...

Johnny Eck, the half-boy...

and Schlitzie...