The Elvis Mitchell Dozen
The Treatment can be heard on Wednesdays at 2:30PT and Podcast from kcrw.com.
This month marks the 12th anniversary of The Treatment with Elvis Mitchell. There's a lot going on with Elvis, including the sale of his documentary film project, The Black List, which premiered at Sundance, to HBO. Although we know him as an extremely erudite film buff, Elvis is a man of wide-ranging cultural interests. In honor of his anniversary, we asked him to list a dozen of his favorite things. Herewith, the ELVIS MITCHELL DOZEN.
Audio-Technica AT-LP2DA LP-to-Digital Recording System
A turntable that plugs directly into your hard drive, for recording vinyl right into your computer-for that album that even the ambitious Japanese music industry won't release on CD.
Pictures at a Revolution: Five Movies and the Birth of the New Hollywood
Written by by Mark Harris, a thoughtful history about the beginning, and end, of an era, and the birth of Warren Beatty as we now know him.
Adidas campus 80s
Black vulcanized rubber, with a white stripe on one side of the shoe and metallic checks on the other -- from London's best "trainer" store, Consortium. C'mon, they're calling your name.
"A Bittersweet Life" Soundtrack
Korea's most rocking revenge movie - a blend of "In the Mood for Love" and "The Bodyguard"- with a contrasting flamenco score. Worth the search. I found it in NYC's one block Koreatown.
Persepolis: Story of a Childhood
Graphic novel by Marjane Satrapi. If you love the film, you can feel the emotional weight and breadth on the page.
The Ten Cent Plague: The Great Comic Book Scare and How It Changed America
Written by David Hadju. A perfect follow-up to Persepolis, and a sharp-eyed examination of comics as anthropology.
Penguin Classics Deluxe Editions: Lady Chatterley's Lover, The Dharma Bums, The Jungle, The Portable Dorothy Parker
Re-issues with covers by some of the best comics - pardon me, graphic novel - artists working.
The Friends of Eddie Coyle
Written by George V. Higgins. A tough-knuckled crime story from the streets of '70s Boston, the epicenter of thug culture, with a sparkling new intro by Elmore Leonard.
The Love of Jeanne Ney (DVD)
Directed by G. W. Pabst. A silent stunner I saw in high school and missed the opening credits. It haunted me forever until I happen to catch with a friend who's been diving through 20th century European silents. One word: heartbreaking. O.K., another one: enchanting.
The Sergio Leone Anthology (DVD)
His entire filmography, without all its epic shudders, burps and cardiac arrest, all in one box, featuring the new-to-DVD "Duck, You Sucker," one of the most richly insane Marxist Westerns you'll ever see - like there's another one.
"Giu La Testa," CD Soundtrack, Ennio Morricone
The "Duck, You Sucker" score- so lush you can create your own Leone Western as it enfolds you in its embrace.
"Klute"/"All the President's Men," CD Soundtrack. Michael Small, David Shire.
Finally issued in a version with actual fidelity- it no longer sounds like you're listening to it through a wall of Jello shots-Michael Small's score for "Klute" is the one of the finest elusive suites ever. I may have more bad bootleg versions than there are Pizzicato Five CDs, if that possible. The end credit song- jazzy, forlorn, percussive-brings tears to my eye almost every time I hear it; it's as much about loss as a Jane Fonda performance.