Movielogr
Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession (2004)
Directed by Xan Cassavetes
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A documentary on the Z Channel, one of the first pay cable stations in the US, and its programming chief, Jerry Harvey. Debuting in 1974, the LA-based channel’s eclectic slate of movies became a prime example of the untapped power of cable television.
Rated R | Length 121 minutes
Actors
Quentin Tarantino | Robert Altman | Jim Jarmusch | Paul Verhoeven | Alexander Payne | James Woods | Henry Jaglom | Jacqueline Bisset | Kris Kristofferson | Theresa Russell | Vilmos Zsigmond | Penelope Spheeris | James B. Harris | Vera Carlisle Anderson | Doreen Ringer Ross | Douglas Venturelli | Kevin Thomas | Jerry Harvey
Viewing History (seen 1 time)
| Date Viewed | Device | Format | Source | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/04/2013 | TV | DVD | Rented | 3 stars |
| (Average) 3 stars |
Viewing Notes
Note that I use a 4-star scale.
This a really solid documentary about something I had no previous knowledge of. The film history included in this is fascinating, and introduced me to tons of films I’d never even heard of. Because the director has some wonderful connections (being the daughter of John Cassavetes), the documentary contains tons of big name directors, including Quentin Tarantino, Paul Verh, Robert Altman, and Jim Jarmusch to name a few. They discuss the influence that Jerry Harvey and Z Channel (the first pay television station, stationed in Los Angeles) had on their careers. It’s a fascinating look at a man obsessed with film, and his eventual tragic submission to personal demons that haunted him his whole life. Film fanatics will find a hell of a lot to enjoy about Z Channel.
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