Where would filmdom be without the polar ice palace of Superman II, the sleek spacecraft of 2001: A Space Odyssey, or Jabba the Hutt's monastery on the shifting sands of Tattooine in the Star Wars films? It is a question that immediately comes to mind when reviewing the life and stunning career of German-born art director and production designer Harry Lange, who died at the age of 77 on May 22nd.

If these accomplishments seem wondrous in retrospect, bear in mind that few were better suited for the job: Lange himself lived an off-camera life that could easily have ranked among the cinematic plots he helped visualize.

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The documentary Super High Me follows comedian Doug Benson as he spends one month indulging in neither marijuana nor alcohol. Then the camera stayed with him for a second month while he smoked and drank all day every day. Along the way, viewers get a look at the history of medical marijuana in California, and a taste of how the political battles surrounding the issue continue. To mark the film’s DVD release, director Michael Blieden sat down with AllMovie’s Perry Seibert to answer questions about the film, and to discuss some of his more obscure gigs, his plans for the future, and the advantages of being part of the L.A. comedy scene.

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