The Forbidden Zone (1982)

I once read an interview where Quentin Tarantino said that any filmmaker worth their salt should be slightly embarrassed to show their latest film to friends. This has nothing to do with quality. He was referring to how many personal details have ended up in the film (ie: foot fetishism). Jean-Luc Godard's films were so personal that the dialogue would be written the day of filming so as to more accurately reflect his feelings at precisely that moment in time. Now I know it might sound precarious, but I'd like to throw Richard Elfman into the conversation.

Say what you will about its aesthetics, but The Forbidden Zone is an absolutely towering achievement in terms of personal art. If you were to look inside Elfman's head this is EXACTLY what you would see. The old novelty songs, the B-movies, the poop jokes, the raging libido and even his Jewish upbringing and some rather unsettling racial depictions are part of the mix. For people who respond to honesty, you can't get much more honest than The Forbidden Zone. 32 years ago Richard Elfman let us into his own forbidden zone by laying himself bare on the screen (warts and all) and today we are still talking about it. He must have done something right.