Sgt. Oddball

A happy birthday to Donald Sutherland!

In trying not to segue too harshly from Cloverfield, we'll remain on the topic of uncertain science fiction threats by pointing to the upcoming (September 11) 2-DVD special edition of Sutherland's starring turn in 1978's Invasion of the Body Snatchers remake. Often cited as one of the better remakes (along with this blog's namesake flick), Philip Kaufman's 1978 film doesn't improve on the original, doesn't make major changes, just transposes it from a 1950s style of science fiction to a 1970s style, something along the lines of McCarthy paranoia to Nixon paranoia. Both work.

The new disc may or may not be worth upgrading, depending on one's opinion on featurettes - the old DVD contains the Kaufman commentary track, "Pod Culture" retrospective, and theatrical trailer. The new version adds special effects, sound effects, and cinematography featurettes, and a "Re-Visitors from Outer Space" featurette with new interviews.

Sutherland would revisit similar material in 1994, co-starring in an adaptation of Heinlein's The Puppet Masters. The source material is different (the 1951 novel predates Jack Finney's 1954 publication of Invasion) but both deal with alien invaders posing as human.

Leaving aside the remake/adaptation relevance for a brief summary appreciation, Donald Sutherland has played Christ, a stewardess (if anyone can explain this, please do), nine doctors, four Sergeants, a Corporal, two Colonels, Fortinbras, a Lord, four Captains, two Fathers, two Reverends, two Lieutenants and the corpse of a third, Homer Simpson, the Clumsy Waiter, a Professor, a General, a Major General, two judges, a customs agent, Gauguin, and countless civilians. He has never played Kent Tekulve, though in my younger days I often hoped he would.
Happy birthday!