Latest news with #HalNeedham
The Guardian
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Hooper: the film that turned the stuntman into a movie star
Writing about Hooper in his autobiography, director Hal Needham claims the film pioneered the concept of outtakes. Subsequent films would feature flubbed line readings, misbehaving props, actions gone wrong and various other bloopers in their credits sequences. But Hooper – a film about, as its tagline proclaims, 'the greatest stuntman alive!' – uses its final minutes to showcase extra stunts that didn't make the final cut. Instead of leaving them on the cutting room floor, these outtakes instead make the stunt performer's (typically effaced) labour not only visible, but a point of celebration. An original ditty, Nothin' Like the Life (Of A Hollywood Stuntman), was even commissioned as the soundtrack. In film production, the success of the stunt performer is paradoxically predicated on their invisibility. They do the work of constructing the star's image while maintaining the illusion that they were never there at all. In return, stars do interviews and claim – almost always falsely – that they 'do their own stunts'. It's this idea that Hooper – starring megastar Burt Reynolds, hot off the success of his and Needham's previous collaboration, Smokey and the Bandit – lays out, turning the spotlight on the unsung profession and foregrounding the stunt performer as not a faceless entity but the film's star. Needham, a former stuntman and perhaps the first in Hollywood to move from rigging wires to sitting in the director's chair, shoots the film with a palpable reverence for the profession, informed by his experience on more than 300 films and 3,000 episodes of television. (In Reynolds' own autobiography, he claims that Needham was so good at vehicle stunts that he earned the nickname 'the master of suspension'.) Sign up for the fun stuff with our rundown of must-reads, pop culture and tips for the weekend, every Saturday morning Hooper seems to live a relatively glamorous life as a stuntman. Clocking off from his role as stunt performer and coordinator on the fictional Bond riff The Spy Who Laughed at Danger, he returns to his ranch to be met by his girlfriend, Gwen (Sally Field), a fistful of beers and a horse to drink them with. All the brewskis are part of the problem; Hooper's an addict and an alcoholic, whose tendency to mask the pain of his many falls with pills and booze keeps him at arm's length with his sweetheart. He embodies an archetype Gwen's all too familiar with: her own father, Jocko (Brian Keith), is an ageing stuntman himself, equally in the wars. 'You should drink more,' Jocko tells Hooper. 'Nothing hurts when you're numb.' As his doctor informs him, Hooper's next accident could be his last – a danger accentuated by his director's desire to flout safety precautions. Making matters worse, Hooper has to contend with new blood personified in the hotshot Ski (Jan-Michael Vincent). Ski's affection for aerial antics and coiffed hair brings to mind none other than Tom Cruise, whose own turn towards stunting stardom – via high-profile, high-pressure capers – remains a high point of the latter-day Mission: Impossible films. Sign up to Saved for Later Catch up on the fun stuff with Guardian Australia's culture and lifestyle rundown of pop culture, trends and tips after newsletter promotion Contrastingly, much of Hooper's pleasures come from its lax and loose structure. The spectacle of the stunt almost becomes secondary to the amusement of hanging out with Hooper and his buddies: a post-bar brawl party at Hooper's house isn't a rambunctious rave, but a sleepy screening of his stunt reel, the room silent but for the flicker of the projector. A scratchy print showcases a bi-plane gag of Hooper's own. The film-within-a-film's director is a thinly veiled dig at New Hollywood auteur Peter Bogdanovich, whom Needham worked under, found pompous, and wrote skewering dialogue for. He takes glee in making the character bluster. 'Films are tiny pieces of time, and we captured it!' goes one stuffy comment – but I like to think there's some truth in there. Every stunt recorded is a small miracle – and Hooper captures the magic. Hooper is available to stream on HBO Max in Australia and available to rent in the US. For more recommendations of what to stream in Australia, click here
The Guardian
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Hooper: the film that turned the stuntman into a movie star
Writing about Hooper in his autobiography, director Hal Needham claims the film pioneered the concept of outtakes. Subsequent films would feature flubbed line readings, misbehaving props, actions gone wrong and various other bloopers in their credits sequences. But Hooper – a film about, as its tagline proclaims, 'the greatest stuntman alive!' – uses its final minutes to showcase extra stunts that didn't make the final cut. Instead of leaving them on the cutting room floor, these outtakes instead make the stunt performer's (typically effaced) labour not only visible, but a point of celebration. An original ditty, Nothin' Like The Life (Of A Hollywood Stuntman), was even commissioned as the soundtrack. In film production, the success of the stunt performer is paradoxically predicated on their invisibility. They do the work of constructing the star's image while maintaining the illusion that they were never there at all. In return, stars do interviews and claim – almost always falsely – that they 'do their own stunts'. It's this idea that Hooper – starring megastar Burt Reynolds, hot off the success of his and Needham's previous collaboration, Smokey and the Bandit – lays out, turning the spotlight on the unsung profession and foregrounding the stunt performer as not a faceless entity but the film's star. Needham, a former stuntman and perhaps the first in Hollywood to move from rigging wires to sitting in the director's chair, shoots the film with a palpable reverence for the profession, informed by his experience on over 300 films and 3,000 episodes of television. (In Reynolds' own autobiography, he claims that Needham was so good at vehicle stunts that he earned the nickname 'the master of suspension'.) Sign up for the fun stuff with our rundown of must-reads, pop culture and tips for the weekend, every Saturday morning Hooper seems to live a relatively glamorous life as a stuntman. Clocking off from his role as stunt performer and coordinator on the fictional Bond riff The Spy Who Laughed at Danger, he returns to his ranch to be met by his girlfriend, Gwen (Sally Field), a fistful of beers and a horse to drink them with. All the brewskis are part of the problem; Hooper's an addict and an alcoholic, whose tendency to mask the pain of his many falls with pills and booze keeps him at arm's length with his sweetheart. He embodies an archetype Gwen's all too familiar with: her own father, Jocko (Brian Keith), is an ageing stuntman himself, equally in the wars. 'You should drink more,' Jocko tells Hooper. 'Nothing hurts when you're numb.' As his doctor informs him, Hooper's next accident could be his last – a danger accentuated by his director's desire to flout safety precautions. Making matters worse, Hooper has to contend with new blood personified in the hotshot Ski (Jan-Michael Vincent). Ski's affection for aerial antics and coiffed hair brings to mind none other than Tom Cruise, whose own turn towards stunting stardom – via high-profile, high-pressure capers – remains a high point of the latter-day Mission: Impossible films. Sign up to Saved for Later Catch up on the fun stuff with Guardian Australia's culture and lifestyle rundown of pop culture, trends and tips after newsletter promotion Contrastingly, much of Hooper's pleasures come from its lax and loose structure. The spectacle of the stunt almost becomes secondary to the amusement of hanging out with Hooper and his buddies: a post-bar brawl party at Hooper's house isn't a rambunctious rave, but a sleepy screening of his stunt reel, the room silent but for the flicker of the projector. A scratchy print showcases a bi-plane gag of Hooper's own. The film-within-a-film's director is a thinly veiled dig at New Hollywood auteur Peter Bogdanovich, whom Needham worked under, found pompous, and wrote skewering dialogue for. He takes glee in making the character bluster. 'Films are tiny pieces of time, and we captured it!' goes one stuffy comment – but I like to think there's some truth in there. Every stunt recorded is a small miracle – and Hooper captures the magic. Hooper is available to stream on HBO Max in Australia and available to rent in the US. For more recommendations of what to stream in Australia, click here
Geek Vibes Nation
29-05-2025
- Automotive
- Geek Vibes Nation
Top 3 Famous Cars Used In Films
Many popular films have used luxury cars to catch viewers' attention. A few examples of famous luxury cars featured in major films include the Aston Martin DB5 in James Bond's 1974 movie 'The Man With the Golden Gun' and the 1964 Dodge Monaco used in the 'Blues Brothers'. American movie producers often hire luxury cars to shoot great scenes that inspire culture and lifestyle to enhance consumer interest. If you are wondering about more top cars that spark incredible narratives in famous films, make sure you read on to discover more details. Top 3 Famous Cars Used in Films That You Should Know Vintage cars and luxury car brands, such as Lamborghini, Rolls Royce, and Ferrari, are commonly used in movies to showcase wealth and sophistication. General Motors concept cars were largely displayed in the science fiction movie 'Demolition Man' starring Sylvester Stallone. Here are the top three famous cars used in films that you should know. 1. 1977 Pontiac Trans Am, Smokey and the Bandit The 1977 Pontiac Trans Am starred in the famous movie 'Smokey and the Bandit' alongside Burt Reynolds and Sally Field. This film made a substantial impact on the American film industry thanks to the great work of director Hal Needham. Prior to the release of this movie, the Pontiac Trans Am more or less stayed the same for almost half a decade. The most famous Pontiacs of all time used in films turned heads anytime they slid around corners. Following the Smokey and Bandit movie premier, Pontiac Trans Am sales reached about 30,000 sales between 1977 and 1978. The combination of the T-top roof and improved handling played an essential role in making this film car trend at the time. 2. 1973 Corvette Stingray – Corvette Summer (1978) The 1973 Corvette Stingray featured in an adventure comedy, where a high school student played by Mark Hamill went on an epic trip around Las Vegas to recover his stolen customised Corvette. He went on to find love and explore new places along the way. Whether you are shooting a movie, doing a photoshoot, or attending an important business meeting, you can rent your dream Corvette Stingray from trusted luxury car rental companies such as Milani Exotic Car Rental in Atlanta to make a lasting impression. Leading Atlanta car rental companies offer a diverse range of premium rides, including luxury SUVs and full-size sedans. Renting a luxury car for movies doesn't have to hurt your wallet, as you can find several models that suit your budget and travel style. 3. Aston Martin DB5 – Goldfinger (1964) Another popular car used in movies is the Aston Martin DB5. The film Goldfinger released in 1964 was named after gold smuggler Auric Goldfinger, who tried everything he could to boost the value of his bullion by detonating a nuclear device near Fort Knox. The film features Sean Connery, with Desmond Llewyelyn presenting the DB5 to Bond. Desmond Llewelyn, also known as Q, brags about how the car was equipped with special features such as machine guns, a GPS screen, smoke screen, and tire slashers. The leading actors in popular films often become global superstars. Science fiction, romance, and comedy lovers will understand that premium vehicles make a substantial impact on many movies. Exotic cars for movies come with superior features and performance metrics that make any film feel extra incredible. Film directors looking to revolutionize their movie production with world class vehicles can order them from Milani Exotic Car Rental.
