Tag: Bob Balaban

Altered States

Altered States VHS cover art. Drama fantasy horror movie starring William Hurt, Blair Brown, Bob Balaban, Charles Haid. Based on the novel by Paddy Chayefsky. Directed by Ken Russell. 1980.

Altered States on VHS. Movie starring William Hurt, Blair Brown, Bob Balaban, Charles Haid. Based on the novel by Paddy Chayefsky. Directed by Ken Russell. 1980.

From the VHS box:

IN THE BASEMENT OF A MEDICAL SCHOOL DR. JESSUP FLOATS NAKED IN TOTAL DARKNESS. THE MOST TERRIFYING EXPERIMENT IN THE HISTORY OF SCIENCE IS OUT OF CONTROL… AND THE SUBJECT IS HIMSELF.

Research scientist Eddie Jessup (William Hurt) believes other states of consciousness are as real as everyday reality. Using sensory deprivation, then adding powerful hallucinogenic drugs, he explores these altered states… and endures experiences that make madness seem a blessing.

Academy Award winner William Hurt as Jessup (his film debut) heads a solid cast featuring Blair Brown, Bob Balaban and Charles Haid. Working from Paddy Chayefsky’s novel, director Ken Russell guides us with a sorcerer’s skill through Eddie’s magical and horrific journey as Altered States gyrates with dazzling visual bravado and rumbles with John Corigliano’s all-stops-out, Oscar-nominated score. Unlock the doorways of your mind — if you dare.

DVD it in your mind: Altered States

Read it in your mind: Altered States: A Novel

Hear it in your mind: Altered States (1980 Film)




Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Close Encounters of the Third Kind VHS cover art. Movie starring Richard Dreyfuss, François Truffaut, Teri Garr. With Melinda Dillon, Bob Balaban, Cary Guffey. Directed by Steven Spielberg. 1977.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind on VHS. Starring Richard Dreyfuss, François Truffaut, Teri Garr. With Melinda Dillon, Bob Balaban, Cary Guffey. Directed by Steven Spielberg. 1977.

From the box:

We Are Not Alone.

In the night skies near his Muncie, Indiana home, power repairman Roy Neary (Richard Dreyfuss) experiences something out of this world. His close encounter sets into action an amazing chain of events that lead to contact with the benevolent aliens and their Mothership.

DVD Upgrade: Close Encounters of the Third Kind (30th Anniversary Ultimate Edition)

Read The Making Of: Close Encounters of the Third Kind: The Making of Steven Spielberg’s Classic Film Paperback by Ray Morton (Author)

Watch Now: Close Encounters Of The Third Kind (Director’s Cut)

2010: The Year We Make Contact

2010: The Year We Make Contact VHS cover art. Movie starring Roy Scheider, John Lithgow, Helen Mirren. With Bob Balaban, Keir Dullea, Candice Bergen. Directed by Peter Hyams. Based on the novel by Arthur C. Clarke. 1984.

2010: The Year We Make Contact on VHS. Starring Roy Scheider, John Lithgow, Helen Mirren. With Bob Balaban, Keir Dullea, Candice Bergen. Directed by Peter Hyams. Based on the novel by Arthur C. Clarke. 1984.

From the box:

While planet Earth poises on the brink of nuclear self-destruction, a team of Russian and American scientists hurtle to a rendezvous with the abandoned Discovery spacecraft and its sole known survivor, the homicidal computer HAL. Their mission: “awaken” HAL and unravel the puzzling skein of events that culminated in Dave Bowman’s last transmission, “My God, it’s full of stars!”

DVD Upgrade: 2010: The Year We Make Contact

Travel To The Stars In Your Mind: 2010: Odyssey Two Mass Market Paperback by Arthur C. Clarke (Author)

Waiting For Guffman

Waiting For Guffman on VHS. Starring Christopher Guest, Fred Willard, Catherine O'Hara, Parker Posey, David Cross, Eugene Levy, Bob Balaban, Lewis Arquette, Matt Keeslar, Brian Doyle-Murray. Directed by Christopher Guest. Written by Christopher Guest, Eugene Levy. Music by Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer. 1996.

Waiting For Guffman on VHS. Starring Christopher Guest, Fred Willard, Catherine O’Hara, Parker Posey, David Cross, Eugene Levy, Bob Balaban, Lewis Arquette, Matt Keeslar, Brian Doyle-Murray. Directed by Christopher Guest. Written by Christopher Guest, Eugene Levy. Music by Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer. 1996.

From the box:

Blaine, Missouri, may be little, but that will not stop Corky St. Claire from dreaming big. He’s determined to get back to the bright lights of Broadway, and he thinks he has the ticket. He’s created Red, White and Blaine, an ambitious musical celebrating the town’s 150th anniversary. This is Spinal Tap’s Christopher Guest plays Corky in the acclaimed comedy. Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, Parker Posey, Fred Willard and Bob Balaban co-star as stagestruck residents who pin their hopes of being discovered on Corky’s hilariously hapless theater production…and on reports that big-time talent scout Mort Guffman will be in the audience.

Upgrade To DVD: Waiting for Guffman