You’ve seen the movie The Commitments, right? It’s a must-see for any musician that’s toured the bar scene waiting for their big break to pull them out of their working-class hell. It’s full of solid soul tunes with some killer musicians. It’s an Alan Parker film.
What about Mississippi Burning? It’s the story of two FBI agents investigating the disappearance of civil rights workers back in 1964. It’s an Alan Parker film. Unfortunately, it’s just as relevant today as it was when he made it back in 1988.
One of my favorite movies ever is Pink Floyd - The Wall. You can read about it in detail here. It’s brilliant and visually stunning. It’s an Alan Parker film.
Did you see Angel Heart? Midnight Express? Fame? Evita? Angela’s Ashes?
All works of art directed by British filmmaker, Sir Alan Parker, who passed away on Friday, July 31 after a long illness. He was a cinematic genius with ten Golden Globes and six Academy Awards to his credit.
His passing may have been a fleeting moment on your Facebook feed but he’s by far one of the best filmmakers and storytellers of the past 50 years who was able to craft dark, deep stories as well as uplifting, hopeful musicals. Drawing from his upbringing in a working class family raised in Northern London, he was able to relate to people that were struggling to rise out of the ashes and make something better of themselves.
He could wield a camera like no other, using the screen as his moving canvas to paint a story that you could stare at for hours, much like a painting by van Gogh, Munch or Picasso. His dark tones must be seen on film to see how he plays deep contrasting light to shadow the faces of this characters.
Take a break today from the mundane series bingeing of Netflix or Hulu. Do yourself a favor and watch an Alan Parker film.
Wal Ozello is a science fiction techno-thriller novelist and the author of Assignment 1989, Revolution 1990, and Sacrifice 2086. He was the lead singer of the now-defunct Columbus rock band Armada and is now an independent filmmaker. His works include Colin Gawel’s video Dad Can’t Help You Now.