Shawn Levy

CHOAM Nomsky 💭 @thielman.bsky.social [ View ] Jul 02, 2024 at 01:30 UTC

Oh boy, $150,000!

104 replies 1196 reposts 6979 likes

Shawn Levy @shawnlevy.bsky.social [ View ] Jul 03, 2024 at 18:50 UTC

Towne's Oregon trilogy is a strange Venn Diagram of athletic excellence, politics, sexuality, fame, poetic imagery, and the quirky textures, rhythms, and harmonies of life in the Pacific Northwest. And all of it coming from the mind of a lifelong Southern Californian. Color me dazzled. (5/5)

0 replies 0 reposts 2 likes

Shawn Levy @shawnlevy.bsky.social [ View ] Jul 03, 2024 at 18:49 UTC

16 years later, Towne made "Without Limits," which I mentioned upon the passing of Donald Sutherland -- a splendid, moody biopic about the great Steve Prefontaine, played by Billy Crudup. (Not to be confused with that same year's "Prefontaine," which was shot in Tacoma and starred Jared Leto.) (4/5)

1 replies 0 reposts 1 likes

Shawn Levy @shawnlevy.bsky.social [ View ] Jul 03, 2024 at 18:48 UTC

Towne's directorial debut, 1982's "Personal Best" (shot only partly but memorably in Track Town), concerns a pair of Olympic hopeful runners (Mariel Hemingway and Patrice Donnelly) who become lovers. (That's Scott Glenn as their coach.) (3/5)

1 replies 0 reposts 2 likes

Shawn Levy @shawnlevy.bsky.social [ View ] Jul 03, 2024 at 18:48 UTC

In 1971, Jack Nicholson directed Towne's adaptation of the novel "Drive, He Said," the story of a basketball team beset by sexual drama, the specter of the Vietnam War, and the unlikely Bruce Dern as their coach. (2/5)

1 replies 0 reposts 1 likes

Shawn Levy @shawnlevy.bsky.social [ View ] Jul 03, 2024 at 18:47 UTC

Before we move on from memorializing Robert Towne, who wrote my favorite movie, I want to note the unique place he holds in the movie history of Oregon. Over the span of 27 years, Towne wrote 3 films about sports that were set in Eugene, 2 of which he directed, all of which are worth seeing. (1/5)

1 replies 0 reposts 1 likes

Shawn Levy @shawnlevy.bsky.social [ View ] Jul 03, 2024 at 05:06 UTC

"It takes all kinds." "That's what it takes? I always wondered what it took."

1 replies 0 reposts 0 likes

Shawn Levy @shawnlevy.bsky.social [ View ] Jul 03, 2024 at 02:06 UTC

Given my work, I am often asked what my favorite film is. Decades ago I determined that I'd only ever answer "Chinatown." Thank you, Mr. Towne.

0 replies 0 reposts 5 likes