k is for ken russell

yes, i realize i've already given ken adequate praise on the planet, and often. but i couldn't let the k's go by without at least letting him have a slot. so, i wanted to post something obscure from one of his best films. so, a few hours ago, i threw my 'tommy' dvd in, and took some shots. i saw this frame of tommy's mother, (ann-margret) and step-father (oliver reed) primping and preening in the hallway just before going out for a night on the town, leaving tommy in the 'care' of his sadistic cousin kevin. (paul nicholas.) i liked the shot because it keenly depicted the arrogance and self-interest that frank and nora have settled into at this particular point in the story. they haven't given up on tommy's plight altogether, but they have no problem letting him 'just be' as they watch the telly, eat tv dinners, drink booze, and step out to escape their bleak and hopeless 'family life.' i also like this shot because it handily illustrates ken's eye for the theatrical. he has a great talent for getting his actors to go jussst a bit too far, just a bit over the top, in order to relate a mood or nuance or feeling. as in the best silent movies, the facial expressions in ken's films are often exaggerated, as are mannerisims, etc. but i like it. this movie is one of his best. (click to enlarge)