Data Based

Sitting in the dark with Robert Longo and Johnny Mnemonic.

Asian Dan and I caught a black-and-white screening of Johnny Mnemonic at The Roxy Monday night, with artist / director Robert Longo sitting in the front row for a post-show Q&A.

The Roxy is fun. Mixed crowd of ancient kooks and new kids, great rep picks alongside new stuff on 35mm, plus those lightly dank red velour seats mixing with popcorn butter and Mike & Ikes to create the best smell in the world.

It used to be Tribeca Grand’s screening room, home to many a music video premiere and, on one occasion, an Armadale-sponsored Beanie Sigel doc. Here is a picture of Beans holding a small alligator, just because.

There are no reptiles in Johnny Mnemonic.

There is a dolphin, floating in a Damien Hirst-inspired tank hardwired to a Nam June Paik-ian television tower. And of course Keanu Reeves, Vitruvian Man of the 1990s, as our dying data-brained protagonist, backed by the wildest supporting cast: Henry Rollins, Udo Kier, Beat Takeshi, Dolph Lundgren swinging a crucifix bowie knife and Ice-T (as “J-Bone”) with an Anarchy sign tatted between his eyes.

I haven’t even gotten to Stabbing Westward, or the drinking game you can play every time someone says “Newark.”

And the fonts! So many fonts!

Dolphin aside, none of this stuff is in cyberpunk creator William Gibson’s original short story. But Longo had a vision to lace ‘em all throughout his one (and to date, only) feature — which, like all cult classics, was considered a giant dud upon release.

Don’t worry, he’s doing fine.

For its 25th anniversary a few years back, Longo commissioned a new, lovingly recolored b&w version of the film, giving its hack-the-planet quirks a pulpy noir upgrade. Please go if it screens near you, or grab the Blu-Ray — it’s better than you remembered. Even if you’ve never seen Johnny Mnemonic in any version (I’m partial to the orange VHS with the brain window), it’s got all the craziness I already mentioned, plus beautiful imagery and genuine pep. We had a blast.

Longo was remarkably candid at the time of Johnny’s re-release about the studio fuckery that derailed his production, even more so at Monday’s post-screening Q&A. Highlights included “the good producer, and the evil one who tried to get me fired,” various Val Kilmer shenanigans, the collective behind-the-scenes angst that led to the “I want room service!” monologue, and his early meet-cute with megaproducer / art collector Joel Silver, who said if Longo really wanted to make a movie he should start by directing an episode of Tales From The Crypt for Silver’s production company.

Multiple idiots, morons and robots were identified by name. Spicy!

I’m naturally a cheerful, glass-half-full kinda guy, but no sucker; in this nonsense era, we need creative, principled haters more than ever. I love that Longo’s still cooking. And, with his The Wire and Clockers-penning bestie Richard Price, out here proving there are (some) good boomers.

There’s a certain type of well-earned crankiness — I think of the word “irascible,” with emphasis on rascal — that helps keep the world honest.

Audrey Nuna, Trench — I was not familiar with her game, shout out Manalapan. The simplicity of this song / vid is kinda mesmerizing… Ruff Ryders gone Rapunzel. Looking fwd to diving into the album and accompanying Tiny Desk.

92KTU Supermixes — friend of the ‘stack Matt Goias put me on to these phenomenal ‘80s radio rips, non stop cut-n-paste groove insanity that instantly made me think of Shaq re: George Kranz.

Luther Vandross, “Michelle” — waviest Beatles cover I have heard in some time. Fonzi Thornton just found it on a random tape in Luther’s archives!

Zell, “Starboy” — if u dug the NoahSoCold vids, run don’t walk.

Playlists updated…