NOTHING LASTS FOREVER
US, 1984, 82 minutes, Colour/Black and white.
Zach Galligan, Appolonia Van Ravenstein, Dan Aykroyd, Lauren Tom, Imogen Coca, Paul Rogers, Bill Murray, Eddie Fisher, Sam Jaffe, Mort Sahl.
Directed by Tom Schiller.
Nothing Lasts Forever is an unusual film, scarcely released. It is principally in black and white - with some colour sequences, especially in an exotic underworld under New York City as well as in lands of fantasy. The film opens with the old MGM logo, the old MGM credits styles and the film is designed, as well as directed, in the style of an MGM movie of the '30s or '40s.
However, it is a film of the '80s - a touch flip, a fable, written and directed by Tom Schiller. Made on a small budget, the film suddenly comes to an end. However, part of the pleasures of the unexpected fantasy are the performances of Zack Gallaghan (Gremlins) in the central role, along with guest stars Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, British Shakespearian actor Paul Rogers and Same Jaffe.
The plot meanders from nightmare to waking up and the reality of New York City as well as fantasies and nightmares as the central character tries to discern what he is to be in life. A curiosity item.
1. The impact of the film? For what audience? The sensibility of the '80s? Young audiences? Older audiences?
2. The MGM style, credits, black and white photography, visual compositions, writing and direction? The transition to the '80s? The colour sequences - and the atmosphere of fantasy? Musical score and songs?
3. The title, meaning, themes?
4. The picture of Adam and his journey and quest? The piano-playing, the applause, the manipulation and his revealing the hoax? His waking up, travelling in Europe? The stranger in the train and his advice? The return to New York, trying to settle, trying to decide what he would do? The singer? The apartment? At work on the tollgate? His encounters with people and learning about life? The visit to Carnegie Hall, the beggar, his kindness, the beggar guiding him down to the world below New York, the wise man, the strange dreamlike experience of who was real and who was not? The return to the world? The encounter with his girlfriend? The further dream, the Eurasian woman in the dream? His future? The voyage to the moon, the bus, the host and his malice? The experience on the moon? The return to Earth? Adam and his dreams and reality?
5. The two women, the girlfriend, singing, relationship with Adam? The bonds between them? The girl in the dream, the attraction, her singing? Reality or fantasy?
6. The manipulators in Adam's life - especially in his dream about being a pianist? The helper in the man in the train in Sweden? The kindly beggar - as a wise man, a guru, guiding Adam's life and sense of direction? The wise old man and his world? His relationship with people, their incarnations in history? His guiding Adam to the moon? The co-workers at the tollgate?
7. The journey to the moon, the host, his malice? Manipulating people's lives?
8. The themes and issues - and the uncertainty of search in the modern world? Reality and fantasy?
