Farewell to Robert Forster, another actor who owes a debt to Quentin Tarantino, for the lead role in "Jackie Brown" in 1997, but who also had a steady, stellar career as a classic character actor. He was 78, as reported by the Hollywood Reporter (referring to his "chiseled good looks, steely chin and earnest gaze").
Forster had a breakthrough role as a cameraman in Haskell Wexler's influential "Medium Cool" in 1969, and he even managed two short-lived TV shows in the 1970s. But we will always associate Forster with the role of David Madison, the put-upon police officer hunting a rogue reptile in the 1980 cult classic "Alligator." Madison has a reputation for killing off his partners, but his biggest worry, as he stalks a killer alligator, seems to be the male-pattern baldness that is plaguing him as he approaches middle age. Luckily there's a pretty gal (Robin Riker) to soothe his male ego.
Inspired by the urban legend (before we had memes) about the kid whose baby alligator gets flushed down the toilet, "Alligator" was written (tongue planted in cheek) by celebrated filmmaker John Sayles, sprinkling sardonic one-liners all over the place. Veteran hack Jack Carter gets his comeuppance as the motormouth mayor. Bryan Cranston worked on the production crew doing special effects (and would return the favor by casting Forster in "Breaking Bad"). It's cheesy, cheap horror, but Sayles' script and Forster's deadpan delivery are a total hoot.
BONUS TRACK
Here's the "Alligator" trailer:
No comments:
Post a Comment