WONDERLAND
Its been awhile since i've posted. To be perfectly honest I don't know how many people even read this so its been hard to just write for my sake. I suppose i'd rather just write an email to a friend...a guaranteed read. But anyway.
While listening to This American Life, I heard a great description of a person's mind, describing it as a "rock tumbler."
Obviously since i'm noting it, I find it somewhat relevant to my own thought process; concepts, ideas, and events seem to shake and tumble around my mind like a washing machine I swear. Its like I grow obsessed with a certain theory or event and don't stop thinking about it in a multitude of ways until I have an explanation that I feel satisfies me. Most people are probably like this but I think in my respects, its unhealthy. I even pay a therapist to listen to me hash out this stuff.
My latest fascination has been the Wonderland murders, which occurred in July of my birth year (1981). I once heard a piece on NPR regarding how the events and "astrological" significance of a certain year can, to some degree, influence those born within each respective year. Their example was Britney Spears, also a 1981 birth...Olivia Newton John's "Lets Get Physical" was very hot; an implicitly sexual song. This was also very relevant to Britney's own eventual interests, i.e. music and performing. Due to Britney's overt sexuality and image therefrom, this individual rationalized that Newton-John's sexual "Lets Get Physical" to some degree helped explain Britney's natural draw to sexuality and the promoting of such images within her artistry.
I can't say I agree with that, but it was something that I remembered. I have seen the movie Wonderland twice now, and remain completely fascinated by it. I don't know why but feel that my natural draw towards crime, justice, and an explanation of human behaviors outside of the accepted norms may have been influenced by some of the Wonderland madness, or perhaps the greater truths they showed during that year (more explanation on that later). If you haven't seen the movie but want to (and I recommend it) do not read on.
--
The basic premise, for anyone who is unaware, is of John Holmes, the legendary porn star (this was new to me), and his mixes up with drugs and consequential addiction. The movie focuses around the contradicting stories of Holmes and David Lind, a friend of those murdered at Wonderland. Brutally murdered, I should add. Their heads were beaten in with lead pipes, and (at least in the movie) they described their heads as having pieces of bone simply beaten out of them. There was blood all over the place. I understand thats Hollywood but the premise of lead pipes + bone = that amount of blood - it appeared realistic at least...anyway. Eddie Nash is the question mark in the movie. He's a true "American Dream" realized, making big money from nightclubs (the birthplace of ostentaious sex and drug coupling) and then dealing out of his house. He's a womanizer, a sex a holic, a drug addict, and basically a rich and arrogant individual who is known for such antics. He has money and drugs at his disposal 24-7. This makes him a perfect candidate for a hit. When the rest of LA is dry, Nash is rolling in it.
When the Wonderland gang (Ron Launius, Billy Deverell, David Lind, and their respective girlfriends)become as strung out and desperate as you have to be to think to hit up millionaire Nash, Holmes is their liason. Holmes had burnt bridges with all the other party people and Launius reportedly was fascinated by the novelty of Holmes; his profession and the equipment he needed to be such a star. I think thats what we now call penis envy. But anyway. Because Nash was also envious (to some degree, more likely fascinated too) by Holmes and his profession, Holmes has access to Nash's house and is in and out for drugs all the time. He allegedly aids the Wonderland gang in the hit on Nash, leaving the kitchen door unlocked for them to enter and rob Nash. Nash, originally from Palestine, is one of the first examples of racial tension during that time period, and the movie doesn't mince words about racial discrimination throughout; the movies has plenty of inferences...I won't mimic them here but its indicative of the entire early 80's era...coping with the shattered confusion of the late '60's and '70's. Lind's character even mentions how the parties at Wonderland, prior to the murders, were reminiscent of the Summer of Love. The whole post late '60's and '70's era has also been an interest of mine. Perhaps it was the mainstreaming of narcotics, the extreme 180 that sexuality took towards advertising itself, as opposed to the 50's and early '60's introverted sexual course. To me, there's something to be said about the timing of history; how it recycles itself. This is, however, a different interest of mine but one that Wonderland's allure plays to. There's an overwhelming sadness and historical novelty (if thats even possible) to the entire situation. The brutality of sex, violence, and drugs simply exploding at its pinnacle; the 70's just slowly bred this vice-led dominance that the 80's became and what happened in Wonderland to me is a culmination of those vices.
To continue, the robbery takes place but that is just the start of the more pronounced confusion as to what precisely took place, and how the hit went down. Lind left his "butterfly" Barbara at Wonderland and took off for northern Cali after the hit. The night of the murders, her head was one of the one's bashed in and the rage Lind (played by Dermot Mulroney and looking much more biker heavy than I ever though could generate from anyone on The Practice) posesses when he realizes she is dead - that his whole gang has been beaten to death - leads him to call the police and begin one of the two stories detailing how the Wonderland murders went down. He immediately realizes Nash has discovered it was his crew who ripped him off, and fingers Holmes as the snitch.
Holmes, however, has a different story which we realize at the end of the movie is a complete fabrication. He claims the Wonderland gang was bragging about the hit to anyone who would listen; that Lind even said, while leaving Nash's after (and this is Holmes' story) raping and robbing and beating and demoralizing Nash and his entourage, that "John Holmes says Hi." Holmes claims that it caused Nash to beat him, and threaten to kill everyone "in his black book" if he did not confess as to where to find the Wonderland gang. This black book contained the number of his wife, Sharon Holmes, played incredibly well by Lisa Kudrow. Its a mystery as to why she never divorced Holmes and how she ended up forming such a close, rather Mother/Daugher relationship with Holmes's girlfriend, Dawn Schiller played by Kate Bosworth, who appeared every bit as addicted and naive and obsessively in love with Holmes (even when Holmes pimps her out to Eddie Nash for drugs).
It isn't until the very end, after the cops have exhausted the Lind/Holmes story due to lack of evidence; Holmes won't even place himself at the scene, that we realize that Holmes's story is partially true but in a bad way for Holmes. His wife, Sharon, through a flashback which ends up being adopted into a dream Holmes has based on the actual events, the Holmes showed up at Sharon's house, covered in blood, talking about how Nash's crew made him watch and participate in the Wonderland murders; he in fact was the person who got clearance into Wonderland that evening, because, as Lind testified, the house was on lockdown and keeping a low profile. The two stories merge into a watery truth of revenge. This last scene with Holmes and Sharon, perhaps the most powerful, as Sharon's blatant care for Holmes and his almost manic mumblings about what happened come to a head; and then we get to watch as he walks into the lie, that "he wasn't there" as Sharon cleans off his bloody body in a tub, thinking that he is bleeding, and not that he is covered in someone else's blood.
In the end, he and Dawn flee to Florida. She later reports her suspicions, he is tried and acquitted, as is Nash, for the Wonderland murders, despite Lind's testimony. Holmes of course dies of Aids in the '80's (along with many others) and Nash, although convicted on smaller charges, remains alive and thriving in the greater Los Angeles area.
--
Its been awhile since i've posted. To be perfectly honest I don't know how many people even read this so its been hard to just write for my sake. I suppose i'd rather just write an email to a friend...a guaranteed read. But anyway.
While listening to This American Life, I heard a great description of a person's mind, describing it as a "rock tumbler."
Obviously since i'm noting it, I find it somewhat relevant to my own thought process; concepts, ideas, and events seem to shake and tumble around my mind like a washing machine I swear. Its like I grow obsessed with a certain theory or event and don't stop thinking about it in a multitude of ways until I have an explanation that I feel satisfies me. Most people are probably like this but I think in my respects, its unhealthy. I even pay a therapist to listen to me hash out this stuff.
My latest fascination has been the Wonderland murders, which occurred in July of my birth year (1981). I once heard a piece on NPR regarding how the events and "astrological" significance of a certain year can, to some degree, influence those born within each respective year. Their example was Britney Spears, also a 1981 birth...Olivia Newton John's "Lets Get Physical" was very hot; an implicitly sexual song. This was also very relevant to Britney's own eventual interests, i.e. music and performing. Due to Britney's overt sexuality and image therefrom, this individual rationalized that Newton-John's sexual "Lets Get Physical" to some degree helped explain Britney's natural draw to sexuality and the promoting of such images within her artistry.
I can't say I agree with that, but it was something that I remembered. I have seen the movie Wonderland twice now, and remain completely fascinated by it. I don't know why but feel that my natural draw towards crime, justice, and an explanation of human behaviors outside of the accepted norms may have been influenced by some of the Wonderland madness, or perhaps the greater truths they showed during that year (more explanation on that later). If you haven't seen the movie but want to (and I recommend it) do not read on.
--
The basic premise, for anyone who is unaware, is of John Holmes, the legendary porn star (this was new to me), and his mixes up with drugs and consequential addiction. The movie focuses around the contradicting stories of Holmes and David Lind, a friend of those murdered at Wonderland. Brutally murdered, I should add. Their heads were beaten in with lead pipes, and (at least in the movie) they described their heads as having pieces of bone simply beaten out of them. There was blood all over the place. I understand thats Hollywood but the premise of lead pipes + bone = that amount of blood - it appeared realistic at least...anyway. Eddie Nash is the question mark in the movie. He's a true "American Dream" realized, making big money from nightclubs (the birthplace of ostentaious sex and drug coupling) and then dealing out of his house. He's a womanizer, a sex a holic, a drug addict, and basically a rich and arrogant individual who is known for such antics. He has money and drugs at his disposal 24-7. This makes him a perfect candidate for a hit. When the rest of LA is dry, Nash is rolling in it.
When the Wonderland gang (Ron Launius, Billy Deverell, David Lind, and their respective girlfriends)become as strung out and desperate as you have to be to think to hit up millionaire Nash, Holmes is their liason. Holmes had burnt bridges with all the other party people and Launius reportedly was fascinated by the novelty of Holmes; his profession and the equipment he needed to be such a star. I think thats what we now call penis envy. But anyway. Because Nash was also envious (to some degree, more likely fascinated too) by Holmes and his profession, Holmes has access to Nash's house and is in and out for drugs all the time. He allegedly aids the Wonderland gang in the hit on Nash, leaving the kitchen door unlocked for them to enter and rob Nash. Nash, originally from Palestine, is one of the first examples of racial tension during that time period, and the movie doesn't mince words about racial discrimination throughout; the movies has plenty of inferences...I won't mimic them here but its indicative of the entire early 80's era...coping with the shattered confusion of the late '60's and '70's. Lind's character even mentions how the parties at Wonderland, prior to the murders, were reminiscent of the Summer of Love. The whole post late '60's and '70's era has also been an interest of mine. Perhaps it was the mainstreaming of narcotics, the extreme 180 that sexuality took towards advertising itself, as opposed to the 50's and early '60's introverted sexual course. To me, there's something to be said about the timing of history; how it recycles itself. This is, however, a different interest of mine but one that Wonderland's allure plays to. There's an overwhelming sadness and historical novelty (if thats even possible) to the entire situation. The brutality of sex, violence, and drugs simply exploding at its pinnacle; the 70's just slowly bred this vice-led dominance that the 80's became and what happened in Wonderland to me is a culmination of those vices.
To continue, the robbery takes place but that is just the start of the more pronounced confusion as to what precisely took place, and how the hit went down. Lind left his "butterfly" Barbara at Wonderland and took off for northern Cali after the hit. The night of the murders, her head was one of the one's bashed in and the rage Lind (played by Dermot Mulroney and looking much more biker heavy than I ever though could generate from anyone on The Practice) posesses when he realizes she is dead - that his whole gang has been beaten to death - leads him to call the police and begin one of the two stories detailing how the Wonderland murders went down. He immediately realizes Nash has discovered it was his crew who ripped him off, and fingers Holmes as the snitch.
Holmes, however, has a different story which we realize at the end of the movie is a complete fabrication. He claims the Wonderland gang was bragging about the hit to anyone who would listen; that Lind even said, while leaving Nash's after (and this is Holmes' story) raping and robbing and beating and demoralizing Nash and his entourage, that "John Holmes says Hi." Holmes claims that it caused Nash to beat him, and threaten to kill everyone "in his black book" if he did not confess as to where to find the Wonderland gang. This black book contained the number of his wife, Sharon Holmes, played incredibly well by Lisa Kudrow. Its a mystery as to why she never divorced Holmes and how she ended up forming such a close, rather Mother/Daugher relationship with Holmes's girlfriend, Dawn Schiller played by Kate Bosworth, who appeared every bit as addicted and naive and obsessively in love with Holmes (even when Holmes pimps her out to Eddie Nash for drugs).
It isn't until the very end, after the cops have exhausted the Lind/Holmes story due to lack of evidence; Holmes won't even place himself at the scene, that we realize that Holmes's story is partially true but in a bad way for Holmes. His wife, Sharon, through a flashback which ends up being adopted into a dream Holmes has based on the actual events, the Holmes showed up at Sharon's house, covered in blood, talking about how Nash's crew made him watch and participate in the Wonderland murders; he in fact was the person who got clearance into Wonderland that evening, because, as Lind testified, the house was on lockdown and keeping a low profile. The two stories merge into a watery truth of revenge. This last scene with Holmes and Sharon, perhaps the most powerful, as Sharon's blatant care for Holmes and his almost manic mumblings about what happened come to a head; and then we get to watch as he walks into the lie, that "he wasn't there" as Sharon cleans off his bloody body in a tub, thinking that he is bleeding, and not that he is covered in someone else's blood.
In the end, he and Dawn flee to Florida. She later reports her suspicions, he is tried and acquitted, as is Nash, for the Wonderland murders, despite Lind's testimony. Holmes of course dies of Aids in the '80's (along with many others) and Nash, although convicted on smaller charges, remains alive and thriving in the greater Los Angeles area.
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