Duel review draft

 Directorial Debuts/First Starts/Out the Gate/ Episode 1: Duel 

Directorial debuts is a series by new Why We Watch writer Anthony Carioscia where he tackles the first full length film of famous directors to see if they started their career with a bang, or if they had a rough start, and to see if there are any signs of the director’s later style in this debut film length work. Before we begin though there will be some rules for these articles. We will be looking at the directors first full length feature film so this means no shorts, no episodes of TV shows, no co-director works unless the film credits both directors in the director slot, no lost films that are impossible to watch in full, and we will not be counting their non-directing debuts. TV movies are allowed to be factored in though as this first article will be focused on a made for TV movie,the directorial debut of none other than the most famous director of all time, Steven Spielberg's Duel. 

Steven Spielberg is someone who needs no introduction. Born in Cincinnati,Ohio, Steven Spielberg is from a wave of directors that made their names in the late 60s and early 70s known as New Hollywood. This wave of directors changed mainstream Hollywood forever and included other famous directors such as Martin Scorsese,Brian Depalma,Peter Bogdanovich, Paul Shrader,George Lucas and William Friedkin. Spielberg's biggest contribution to Hollywood would be of course the invention of the Summer Blockbuster with Jaws being such a megahit that it made studios release all their planned blockbusters during the summer. This would eventually lead to mainstream studios putting the control back into their films vs mostly releasing director driven films like which at the time was common during the New Hollywood era. Spielberg would continue to make some of the most famous blockbusters of all time including Jurassic Park,The Indiana Jones series and ET.  He is also well versed in making acclaimed drama films something that though he had early examples with The Color Purple and Empire of the Sun, became his usual focus(with exceptions here and there) after the success of Schindler's List.  He also co founded the studios,Dreamworks and Amblin both which put out many hit films as well as worked as executive producer on several TV shows including the popular 90s cartoons animaniacs and Tiny Tunes and the critically acclaimed war based mini series Band of Brothers and Pacific. But none of this would likely exist if the man didn't give us a made for TV thriller known as duel. 

Duel premiered on ABC in 1971 and was written by Richard Mattheson who also wrote the short story of the same name which was published in Playboy earlier that same year. This was part of a series ABC would do at the time called ABC’s movie of the week. This was a series on ABC where a different made for TV movie would premier on that channel every week.  This series would end up producing pilots for popular shows like Kung Fu,and Starky and Hutch as well as several films that have become cult classics such as Trilogy of Terror(also based on Matheson stories),Crowhaven Farms and Satan's School for Girls. But back to Duel. Duel is about a traveling salesman played by Dennis Weaver is psychotically stalked by a mysterious truck driver. The film has very little dialogue and is mostly told through visuals and we never see the driver even is. 

Several of Spielberg's later tropes can be seen as well as the potential of the awesome director he would go on to be. Even this early in his career he was showing that he was a master behind the camera with its excellent cinematography. The style of the film is almost of that of a classic monster movie being filmed in a way to give the truck threatening characteristics kind of like what he would later do with the shark in jaws,and like with Jaws not showing the driver gives a sense of fear of the unknown just like what Jaws would later do with its limited footage of the shark. The style of the film would be leave people on the edge of their seats as t home and 2 years later, it would leave them on the edge of the seats in theaters when it was released to theaters with 16 minutes of extra footage.

So how does Duel rank with the director's later material ? Up there with with the greats,not only is this a good start but it's also his first masterpiece,one of the best TV movies ever made (yes I know that's a low bar….) and is up there with Last Man on Earth,The Omega Man,Legend of hell house ,Stir of Echoes and the third segment of Trilogy of terror. If you have not seen Duel fix that now, you are missing out!!!!

Eric Fischl’s Paintings of Trump’s America

Eric Fischl’s Paintings of Trump’s America definitely doesn't show Donald's good side for sure. Beside the fact that it is Donald Trump I think the artist did a really good job with the colors. I liked that he painted the painting right after the election, I had the same reaction with the election he was surprised and confused by the outcome.

Eric Fishcl - Late America

This work by Eric Fishcl is a rather controversial one. Many believe that the old man keeling over next to the young boy holding the flag is supposed to symbolize his passing of responsibilities to a younger generation, as he is to old to carry on. Others claim that because he is white the painting is meant to say that white people don't know what to do. Regardless of what you think, it's a nicely coated painting with a sort of simplicity to it that makes it special. Very interesting in my opinion.

Eric Fishcl's Late America

Late America is a charged political piece in reaction to our newest election results. This piece has some very interesting concepts that I would like to recognize. First of all the use of dark colors and a ominous background adds to a possible feeling of almost an impending doom. Secondly the white man lying down is an unwritten message regarding the white man not having the answers.

Daddy's Gone, Girl

While I think all of Eric Fishcl's new paintings are really well portrayed. I like this one the most. It has a depressed feel to it when you look at the lady and see her alcohol next to her, but then seems happy at the same time because the dog is swimming and it's sunny out. I think this portrays America right now, well.

I think that this painting is disturbing in that it gives the feeling that our older generation has made a mess of things, being the old man on the ground, and now the responsibility has been passed to the next genertation, being the child, in order to survive.

Eric Fischl

I think Fischl's pieces are amazing. The pool setting and its metaphorically meaning mentioned is genius. I think that a lot of the paintings' messages can be open for interpretation. However, it is clear that the control is lost. I think that maybe it's showing the fall of the rich dominant white man in America. The son hovering over the father draped in the flag shows the future, unsure of what's so wrong with the world- what the father could be so upset about. Children see nothing wrong with politics and race in general for that matter which could be why a youth is represented as America, showing hope. The daughter being set with a drink in a black gown is obviously post-father's funeral. According to the meaning of his past daddy's girl paintings, maybe she is free of him and his possible abuse. Or, maybe, she is a product of her father's ideas on social rank based on money and race and therefore the death of her rich father is the changing of her world that she was taught to live in-it is too late for her.

Daddy’s Gone, Girl by Eric Fischl

Cute Dog

On a more serious note America does feel like its in a dark time and these images capture that feeling within the emotion of the people in the paintings while still being a vibrant, colorful sunny days.

 I actually really like these pieces of Art work. This one in particular stood out the most to me. I like the message that he is conveying that the white male does not have all the answers. I love that the child is standing over him. It shows that the upcoming youth is really the people that will have the most power. Children are the future.

Eric Fischl, Late America, 2016

These are some relatively interesting pieces, I was intrigued at the fact that he stated that these were non political whatsoever. The author made this clear by stating that “It’s about a pivotal moment in the U.S. when the white male figure no longer has the answers, when the future doesn’t seem to be inhabited by the old power structure," The future lies within our youth and the upcoming generations, which is why we need to educate and prepare them. 

Late America

This piece is interesting because it can be viewed as both America's political and economical state. It shows how the american Dream is harder to reach than one would first expect

Late America - Eric Fischl

I really find Fischl’s painting, “Late America” intriguing because this piece allows you to observe and interpret the scene - in either a political or economic stance, even though that was not the true intention of it. I think that for most people, it is hard to stray from the political aspect of the picture due to the presence of the American flag and the timing of the pictures release (which was right after the 2016 Presidential Election). I believe that this painting refers to the confusion, frustration and overall rollercoaster of an election. I think that the older person portrayed in the painting represents the loss of power and control that this country has recently experienced. I think the artist represented the young boy draped in the American flag as the new and inexperienced political/economic trends that this country is quickly shifting towards.

Late America

Late America created by Eric Fischl, makes me extremely uncomfortable.  I do not think that the artist captivated the point he was trying to address.  I do not understand the relevance nor do I like his reasoning’s behind the painting.   However, I do like the realistic features of the people featured and the bright, vivid colors used to create the painting.

Eric Fischl

Fischl used this painting as a way to get his frustration out over the election and I feel like this painting represents many things. The man may represent the Americans who were upset over the election results, and the boy represents the Americans who were happy with the outcome. This painting could also be looked at as the man being the older generation that currently run the country and the boy is the younger generation trying to regain their strength and country back.

Eric Fischl Blog

I felt that this picture was political even though Eric Fischl may not have planned for it to be. It is unclear whether the man in the picture is Donald Trump or it may even be the average American who is paralyzed from the election's results. I do think the picture has some humor with a white bottom and red burnt legs. This picture has brought some frustration but setting aside the meaning of the art, I think his work is amazing and very realistic. I think that is interesting that a man is the constant figure in most of his paintings.

Eric Fischl

I personally like this painting and to me it represents the economic instability in the United States today. The man represents that the older generation is helpless and essentially given up, while the little kid or newer generation still has pride in our country but is oblivious to our political and economic volatility.

Daddy's Gone, Girl

From looking at this picture, I can feel the emotion from the woman being sad to the dog swimming in the pool.  The woman is sitting on the edge of her pool mourning the loss of her father, which is why she is upset.  The dog can sense the woman's sadness and is swimming over to cheer her up.  The picture shows that despite the surrondings and appearance of the woman, it is not enough to help make her feel better.  I feel the title accurately describes the painting despite the Girl part because the woman lost her father and seems to be still grieving him.  I think the picture is interesting that tells a story from the painting to the title.

Eric Fischl's: Daddy's Gone (Literally)

I am a big fan of these paintings and the idea but I'm afraid I don't fully understand where he was going with it. I do get the concept of white male not having the solution anymore. I believe that the topic is rather political to say the least but he said it was not. With this particular piece, the daddy figure is not in the painting like all his other pieces. However, the title suggest that there is still a daddy issue going on. Furthermore, the title, "Daddy's Gone" takes on a literal meaning when brings a whole different perspective to the painting. without the title, the piece would be subjected to open perspective on what it is about. However, the Daddy's Gone title makes the audience understand why the girl seems to be sitting in grief.

Last Blog

https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-eric-fischls-paintings-trumps-america-daddys-trouble

Fearless Girl

This is a very interesting and controversial work of art. Originally, it was just a bull standing there, appearing to charge down wall street. The charging bull, which represents the sort of free market economy we have here in the U.S. – is in my opinion the perfect work of art to go on wall street. However, later on (very recently) the little girl statue was added on to appear standing in front of the charging bull. This piece if meant to represent a fearless girl, which is meant to empower the modern feminist movement. Overall, I like both pieces but I think the fearless girl is simply out of place, also I think that it’s disrespectful to the other artists works (the bull), since it wasn’t his intention to have the girl there – and as a result changes the whole meaning of the art.