Film Arcade recently received two clips from the upcoming Broken Lizard's Comedy "The Slammin Salmon" starring Michael Clarke Duncan, Jay Chandrasekhar, Kevin Heffernan, Steve Lemme, Paul Soter, Erik Stolhanske, Cobie Smulders, April Bowlby, Sendhil Ramamurthy, Lance Henriksen, Olivia Munn with Vivica A. Fox and Morgan Fairchild.
Clip #1: Meatdrapes
Clip #2: Swordfish
The film hits theaters on December 11th.
Zach Galifianakis, Emma Roberts and Viola Davis set to Star in Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck's New Film "It's Kind of a Funny Story"
Acclaimed writer/directors Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck’s (Half Nelson, Sugar) new film It’s Kind of a Funny Story begins production in New York City this week. Focus Features holds worldwide rights to the project, which it is co-financing with Wayfare Entertainment.
Keir Gilchrist, who stars as the title character’s son on the hit television series United States of Tara, has the film’s lead role. Costarring are Zach Galifianakis (The Hangover), Emma Roberts (of the upcoming Valentine’s Day), Academy Award nominee Viola Davis (Doubt), Zoe Kravitz (The Brave One), Aasif Mandvi (The Proposal), Lauren Graham (of this winter’s NBC series Parenthood), and Jim Gaffigan (of Focus’ Away We Go).
The comedy-drama has been adapted by Ms. Boden & Mr. Fleck from Ned Vizzini’s 2006 novel of the same name; 16-year-old Craig (played by Mr. Gilchrist), stressed out from the demands of being a teenager, checks himself into a mental health clinic. There he learns that the youth ward is closed – and finds himself stuck in the adult ward. One of the patients, Bobby (Mr. Galifianakis), soon becomes both Craig’s mentor and protégé. Craig is also quickly drawn to another 16-year-old, Noelle (Ms. Roberts). With a minimum five days’ stay imposed on him, Craig is sustained by friendships on both the inside and the outside as he learns more about life, love, and the pressures of growing up. Ms. Davis plays Dr. Minerva, the adult ward’s staff psychiatrist; Ms. Kravitz portrays Nia, Craig’s longtime crush; Mr. Mandvi is cast as Dr. Mahmoud, a hospital psychiatrist; and Ms. Graham and Mr. Gaffigan play Craig’s parents, Lynn and George.
The movie is the third feature from the filmmaking team of Ms. Boden & Mr. Fleck, following Half Nelson (2006), for which lead actor Ryan Gosling received an Academy Award nomination, and Sugar, which was released theatrically earlier this year. Focus director of production Matthew Plouffe is supervising It’s Kind of a Funny Story for president of production John Lyons. It’s Kind of a Funny Story is scheduled to be released by Focus in November 2010.
We here at Film Arcade.net are very thankful that you take time out of your busy lives to read our reviews and opinions.
We want to wish everyone a very happy and healthy thanksgiving, as the best is yet to come.
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone.
Many readers probably have not seen either of these films. They both feature actors playing themselves who must deal with the conflict of their own lives.
In MY NAME IS BRUCE, Bruce Campbell plays an absolute parody of himself as an actor who cannot ever find good movies and lives in a very bad trailer. He is then abducted by an obsessed friend and brought to a small town to defeat a real-monster with his fan thinking that he is really the guy in the movies where Bruce thinks someone is playing a prank on him as a publicity stunt but then realizes the monster is real and has really only learned from his movies. For those of you that do not know who Bruce Campbell is, he stars in a lot of b-films while making cameos in a lot of a-list films like the SPIDER-MAN series but is possibly playing Mysterio in the fourth one. He is most known for playing the role of Ash the EVIL DEAD trilogy which made both him and director Sam Raimi famous. He was also in some tv shows like THE ADVENTURES OF BRISCO COUNTY JR., JACK OF ALL TRADES, XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS, and BURN NOTICE. My favorite movie of his is BUBBA HO-TEP where he plays an aging man claiming to be Elvis and I also really liked Brisco County Jr. which I thought was canceled way too soon. He also directed and starred in THE MAN WITH THE SCREAMING BRAIN which my dad called "genius". He has also done some pretty bad movies like ALIEN APOCALYPSE but does it so well we forget. I also read his great autobiography IF CHINS COULD KILL: CONFESSIONS OF A B-MOVIE ACTOR. He has quite a following but unfortunately many don't know who he is.
JCVD features martial-arts star and real-life fighter Jean-Claude Van Damme who is most known for his action and martial arts films. His most known work is things like KICKBOXER, LIONHEART, and my favorite until JCVD which is TIMECOP. I used to watch him some in the 80s and early 90s but has confined a lot to these straight to tv action films. In JCVD, he plays himself and is going back to his country of France where he is doing another pointless action film and finds that age is catching up with him when filming an action scene and becomes hard to work with. He later finds that he loses his role to Steven Seagal and is also in a custody battle with his daughter. All this becomes trivial when he becomes part of a hostage situation at a post office where he must rely on his skills he has learned through the years but to make things worse, the people holding the place hostage make it look like he is the one doing it.
Both movies are rather similar but MNIB is far more comedic than JCVD. Bruce Campbell directed this movie with a very exaggerated characterization of himself and I'm pretty sure he does not live in a little, beat-up trailer. JCVD has some comedic moments and some rather comedic dialogue at times but is more believable where we can relate to Van Damme and see him in a whole new light. It is sad that it took a movie like this in order to do that and I do not feel this movie has been promoted enough as well as MNIB. I believe both movies accomplished what they wanted. I love the beginning of JCVD where it starts out looking like it will be just another Van Damme film and the he tires from all the filming in the one take due to his age. He also made a really awesome monologue reflecting on his career. The monologue did not have much to do with the film but is well worth seeing it and is what people in the wrestling industry a "shoot". From what I understand, JCVD was originally going to be more comedic but Mabrouk El Mechri was brought in to rewrite the script then direct.
In the end, it is really a hard decision for me to make for a winner. I am a bigger fan of Bruce Campbell but Van Damme probably had the better performance of the two. Bruce still played himself very well. If you think Jean-Claude is not a good actor, please check this out. I remember seeing this on the shelf at Wal-Mart and as soon as I saw Jean-Claude Van Damme I was about to blow it off until I read the back of it and saw that this might be pretty good. I am now glad I got that one. With MY NAME IS BRUCE, that is something you might only get into if you are a fan of Bruce which I am. If you haven't seen much of his work then you might not get it and you might not get some of the jokes. I will just admit that I have a bias towards Bruce and with that for me MY NAME IS BRUCE wins out. However, JCVD is the one I want to have more publicity since we all know Van Damme and the types of movies he has done. With JCVD, he acknowledges he has done a lot of bad movies and is quite a has-been and finally gets to show more of his acting talent instead of his great fight skills. I really encourage people to check these movies out and give me your own decision on who wins.
I have been planning this for a couple weeks now where last week I did a review which might have been more of a summary on THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES. In here I wanted to do a compare/contrast of these two which I know many have not seen but felt it was time to give these more publicity even though I have in my blog. I hope that someone will do something like this for Steven Seagal who at one time made some pretty decent action films but is now just getting tv movies. Don't forget to check out my weekly movie recommendations blog and stay tuned on Sunday for the 211th Edition.
Lionsgate recently send Filmarcade.net, the trailer for Nicolas Cage's new film "Season of the Witch", which is directed by Dominic Sena ("Swordfish", Gone in 60 Seconds" remake)
In the supernatural thriller SEASON OF THE WITCH, Cage stars as a 14th century Crusader who returns with his comrade (Ron Perlman) to a homeland devastated by the Black Plague. A beleaguered church, deeming sorcery the culprit of the plague, commands the two knights to transport an accused witch (Claire Foy) to a remote abbey, where monks will perform a ritual in hopes of ending the pestilence.
A priest (Stephen Campbell Moore), a grieving knight (Ulrich Thomsen), an itinerant swindler (Stephen Graham) and a headstrong youth who can only dream of becoming a knight (Robert Sheehan) join a mission troubled by mythically hostile wilderness and fierce contention over the fate of the girl.
When the embattled party arrives at the abbey, a horrific discovery jeopardizes the knight's pledge to ensure the girl fair treatment, and pits them against an inexplicably powerful and destructive force.
The film flies into theaters March 19, 2010!
Season of the Witch: Official Teaser
Welcome to the 210th Edition of my long-running series. This week, I have three selections from the Random Myspace Profile selection process and next week will have none.
An American Werewolf in London (1981): This is a selection from the Random Myspace Profile selection process an for this one I chose horror group Graveyard Tales. John Landis wrote and directed this werewolf tale which stars David Naughton as David Kessler who along with his friend Jack, played by Griffin Dunne, are American tourists in Britain who get attacked by a werewolf which kills Jack but just maims David who then becomes a werewolf killing people against his will. It is very atmospheric, takes place in a strange town, scares pretty well but has a good sense of humor making an enjoyable werewolf tale which references some werewolf classics. There was also good use of music where each song had the word "moon" and apparently Landis had a hard time getting rights to a lot of music he wanted. Look for Frank Oz who has a part and there is a muppet scene with Miss Piggy and Kermit who are both creditted in the film.
Flags of Our Fathers (2006): This is another selection from the Random Myspace Profile selection process and for his one I chose Ash1138. Clint Eastwook directed this WW2 drama and I don't care what anyone says, Clint Eastwood deserves all the credit he gets. This movie shows the battle of Iwo Jima and show the lives of the six soldiers who raised the flag in the significant statue where there are three survivors and all become a publicity piece to sell war bonds where they claim the stories are false. They all must deal with the exploitation of what is happening and they do not like being labeled as "heroes" as they feel the real ones died. It is a very well done film that shows three different time periods of them in the war, after the war, and in their older age reflecting on the times. Ryan Phillippe, Jesse Bradford, Adam Beach, Barry Pepper, Harve Presnell, and many others co-star in this great war piece.
Monsoon Wedding (2001): This is my Bollywood film for the week which centers on a family trying to put together an arranged marriage. The father is wanting this to be the best wedding in the world and is willing to put everything he has into it. His daughter is the one to be married and even she has quite a secret that could ruin her marriage but must consider what she really wants. There are also a few other intertwined stories that go along her but also work very well. This is a pretty well-done Bollywood film which manages to break out into a dance number but not really a musical one though but for the Bollywood lovers, you should check this out. Mira Nair did a great job directing this film. There is not much else I can explain but this is available on instant in Netflix and is pretty enjoyable.
The Ghost and Mr. Chicken (1966): Last week I used Don Knotts in the western parody THE SHAKIEST GUN IN THE WEST and this week I continue the Don Knotts series which will probably be the last for now. This is Knotts' first big film after leaving THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW where this time he plays bumbling wannabe reporter Luther Heggs. He then gets an assignment o investigate a famous murder-suicide 20 years ago by staying in what is believed by many to be a haunted house. When going into this house, he sees many strange things but when publishing the story, he gets sued by the owner of the house for libel. Joan Staley plays his friend who tries to helps him prove that he is not crazy. BEWITCHED alum Dick Sargent plays Luther's attorney. This was not the greatest but had its funny moments and I can always watch Don Knotts. I got this and last week's Don Knotts film from the dvd set of Don Knotts: Reluctant Hero. What a "loophole" this would have been for the Horror Movie Madness contest.
Homeless Hare (1950): This is my short film for the week which I got off the dvd of WHITE HEAT which I featured last week. This is a Bugs Bunny short where Bugs' home is destroyed by a construction worker to put a building there. Bugs pleas to let him keep his home but the construction worker does not seem to care so Bugs must declare revenge against the construction worker. This is a great classic cartoon and even has some social commentary on this on how we want to expand buildings and business so much that we then steal land from other people. Is this meant to be satire?
Monty Pyton's The Meaning of Life (1983): This is a selection from the Myspace Profile Selection process and for this one I chose Andy Bond who is a filmmaker himself so check out his profile http://www.myspace.com/vpictures. This is the last Monty Python film and while it was not the best work, they still went out very well. This one is more of a sketch comedy which reflect the title. The opening sequence from Terry Gilliam called THE CRIMSON PERMANENT ASSURANCE where man elderly workers revolted against the corporate world of today was great. Terry Jones had a very memorable scene as Mr. Creosote in a rather gross-out scene. There are also some good music numbers like EVERY SPERM IS SACRED and THE PENIS SONG. This movie is not for everyone but if you have a good stomach and can accept that it might not be as good as Holy Grail or Life of Brian, this is a very fun film with some great sketches and made me laugh a lot. The scene with the Grim Reaper in the end would have probably qualified this for the Horror Movie Madness contest.
The Brain Eaters (1958): This is my b-movie for the week which I found on AMC. If you want some great plot, great acting, and so on this is not it. This movie takes place in Riverdale, Illinois where strange parasites, possibly aliens, are infiltrating the earth and taking over people's bodies making them do things they would not usually do. Locals in the town must band together to stop these parasites. Not much needs to be said here. This does have its audience and it was entertaining to view.
Two Days in April (2007): I found this on the documentary channel which takes a look at four football players out of college who are hoping to be drafted by the NFL. It takes a look at the process and the training they must go through in order to prove themselves to coaches. They also learn how to handle themselves in the NFL and be professional. We then see each one with their families watching in suspense hoping to get drafted. This was really nothing flashy, just a simple documentary of people hoping to have a big career and the difficult process to get your name in the pot. It also shows coaches and scouts being interviewed and talking about what they are looking for in players.
Piccadilly (1929): This is my silent film for the week which I found on TCM. This movie takes place in a night club called the Piccadilly club which stars Cyril Richard as Vic and Gilda Gray as Mabel. They are the star attraction there as Vic is infatuated with Mabel but she rejects his advances because she likes the owner Valentine. Val then starts to see talent in his dishwasher Shosho, played very well by Anna Mae Wong who was the first Asian-American actresses to become popular here and Britain, and decides she has what it takes while firing his current act which leads to a lot of tension and tragedy. I was amazed by the transfer and the picture on the tv and I was also amazed by the title cards with a really good score. This is a nice, dramatic story and silent film buffs should check this one out.
Don't Make Waves (1967): This is also something I found on TCM. Tony Curtis stars as New Yorker Carlo who is a tourist in southern California. When there he meets some really strange people like Claudia Cardinale, a fortun teller, and many other people including a skydiver named Malibu. Malibu is played by Sharon Tate in her first feature role and she becomes the love interest of Carlo. Alexander Mackendrick directed this movie which was not nearly as good as his other collaboration with Tony Curtis which was 10 years earlier in SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS. To say that I got this movie would be a lie but it was still rather entertaining and interesting.
Well, that is it for this week. Tell me what you like and what you dislike. I know my dad will like that I have both classic animation short and a documentary featured here.
Film Arcade.net recently received sills and a TV Spot for "Daybreakers" courtesy from Lionsgate.
Two-time Academy Award nominee® Ethan Hawke plays Edward Dalton, a researcher in the year 2019, in which an unknown plague has transformed the world's population into vampires. As the human population nears extinction, vampires must capture and farm every remaining human, or find a blood substitute before time runs out.
However, a covert group of vampires makes a remarkable discovery, one which has the power to save the human race.
Daybreakers PSA TV Spot:
Film Arcade.net recently was given news and trailers for upcoming Alternative Cinema releases in 2010.
First on January 12th, Camp Motion Pictures will be relaesing Richard Griffen's latest film "Nun of That".
Sister Kelly Wrath is a nun with a temper problem. After being gunned down in an
alley, she is selected by God to join The Order of the Black Habit, a group of supernatural vigilante nuns on a mission to rub out the mob. But first, Moses, Gandhi and Jesus have a few challenges up their sleeves for her.
Starring Sarah Nicklin, Debbie Rochon and Lloyd Kaufman as The Pope
DVD Extras Include:
NUN OF THAT Feature Film 93 min
Breaking The Habit: The Making Of NUN OF THAT 30 min
Crew Commentary Track
Cast Commentary Track
NUN OF THAT Original Short Film 4 min
Exploitation Trailer Vault
Then on Febuary 10th comes SHOCK FESTIVAL presented by Stephen Romano from Bloody Earth Films.
A 3-Disc Audio and Video Exploitation Extravaganza Featuring Over 7 Hours of the Most Rare and Unusual Exploitation Trailers, TV Ads and Radio Spots from the Age of GRINDHOUSE CINEMA!
Plus original new content inspired by the amazing fictional b-movie world of Stephen Romano’s exploitation novel, SHOCK FESTIVAL
Take a wild journey through the exploitation movie scenes of the 1970s and 1980s with this collection of hundreds of actual previews of coming attractions, television commercials and radio spots for the sleaziest, sexiest most off-the-wall films ever made - all digitally re-mastered from Original Film Elements.
Find yourself thrust into a world of madmen and ghouls, perverts and lusty ladies – and wait till you get a load of all the special extra features we’ve cooked up just for this release! Interviews, a SHOCK FESTIVAL poster, original music and a batch of specially produced trailers based on the amazing fictional b-movie worlds of Stephen Romano’s acclaimed novel, SHOCK FESTIVAL. This must-have collector’s set includes over 7 hours of amazing stuff you won’t find anywhere else!
Brand New Media Inspired By the Best, Worst and most Outrageous Trailers From Horror and Exploitation Cinema Contributed By:
Michael Gingold, Stephen Romano, Nicanor Loreti, Adrian Santiago, Chris LaMartina, Paige Kay Davis, Richard Griffin, David Hartman, Dave Neabore, Victor Bonacore and German Val
DVD Extras Include:
Over 7 hours of the most rare and unusual exploitation trailers, TV ads and radio spots from the age of GRINDHOUSE CINEMA!
Over 4 Hours of the most unique, amazing and outrageous exploitation and horror trailers from the 1970s and 1980s!
Interview with Independent International Pictures President Sam Sherman
Commentary tracks by Stephen Romano and Uncle Creepy www.dreadcentral.com
Audio disc containing over 3 hours of exploitation radio spots plus original music on MP3s, ready to plug into your iPod, computer or CD player!
Bonus Collector’s Poster with Original Artwork by artist and author, Stephen Romano!
Shock Festival image gallery! All New Posters! Special Features!
Call this what you will, an actual review written by yours truly, an essay, an analysis, whatever but I decided after seeing this again recently that I really wanted to post something on here.
In this movie, we have the very common story of Jesse James and his gang called the James Gang. The James Gang is a name that has been adopted a lot like with Joe Walsh's band and with the TNA wrestling tag team the James Gang which consisted of B.G. James aka Road Dogg Jesse James and Kip James aka Billy Gunn. There have been many movies made of him as well and I am sure one can find plenty of historical documentaries and books written on the man.
Just to elaborate for someone who might not know or care about history. Jesse James was an outlaw in the mid-1800s who lead a gang with his brother Frank. Their gang would rob many trains and banks through the years and achieve quite the celebrity status and Jesse through the years has achieved a legend status. Many see James as a "Robin Hood" who would steal from the rich and give to the poor and many just see him as a cold-blooded killer who got what was coming to him.
Through the years, there have been plenty of people who have been played the role of Jesse James in films. In the earlier years, he was portrayed by such greats as Tyrone Power, Roy Rogers, Clayton Moore, and portrayed that heroic person so went into a life of crime out of circumstance. One of the earliest films that portrayed Jesse James as just a criminal wanting to make money was Bob Hope's 1959 comedy ALIAS JESSE JAMES where Hope sells him an insurance policy not knowing he is really the outlaw. After this and other things, Jesse James sets out to kill Bob Hope. In 1949, Samuel Fuller makes his directorial debut with a movie called I SHOT JESSE JAMES which portrays Ford after the assassination and Fuller made it very known of his thoughts of James. He found James to be a cold-blooded psychopath who shot down women, children, the elderly, and helpless and that Ford did what should have been done much earlier. In the later years, most of his portrayals are either of a Robin Hood figure or as a man who became an outlaw out of circumstance. No matter what, historians will always debate on his so-called heroic status.
I will just go ahead and say that I really do not see Mr. James as a hero even though I have seen much of the films that portray him as one and have even included in my recommendations. However, I do understand the reasoning for us to see him as heroic. We need that cool outlaw that we can apparently relate to and can give everyone something to live for in all the stories that have been written by him. I feel that Jesse James' heroic status was something that was created by Americans and mostly by ones who were poor and more oppressed. It was a myth that I feel that Jesse James really did not even create but just took full advantage.
Now we go to Robert Ford, a well-known member of the James Gang who would then go onto kill Jesse James for a pardon and for a reward which in real-life he had never received. When Ford killed Jesse James, he went onto become a big celebrity in his own right by posing for photos and reenacting the assassination on a stageshow with his brother Charlie. Ford was seen by many as the coward who shot their hero and would become a target to many. My feeling is that Ford was just doing what he felt he needed to do and lots can happen when one fears for their life. Ford would later get it in the end when Edward O'Kelley shot him and would become "The Man Who Killed the Man who Killed Jesse James".
Now onto the movie. Andrew Dominick directed this adaptation from the 1983 novel by Ron Hansen. This movie takes place in the later days of the James Gang and even when Jesse James was living under the name Thomas Howard. This movie is really more about Robert Ford and we start where he has idolized Jesse James all his life through all the dime novels and such. Casey Affleck plays the role of Bob Ford and I consider that performance one of the best of the decade. Brad Pitt is also very good as Jesse James whose heroism is surrounded by the hype like what Bob Ford had read all his life. The main relationship here is between James and Ford where Ford observes his every movement trying to be like him. Ford then slowly sees his idol may not be the hero the novels claim him to be and becomes conflicted.
Sam Shepard plays Frank James who actually left the gang and just seemed to be burned out by the robberies and all the young people trying to be like them. When Ford arrives on the scene, he first talks to Frank and tells him he wants to be just like them and Frank did not like that. Sam Rockwell is pretty good in his role as Bob's older brother Charlie who was already in the gang.
I loved this movie on so many levels. I will start Roger Deakins who was the cinematography and was the star of the film when you consider how beautiful the cinematography was in the movie. We also have singer Nick Cave and Warren Ellis who wrote the great musical score and some may notice I am a bit of a sucker to a good music score and it was a music score that was done in the absolute right places. Nick Cave also made a cameo towards the end of the film as a bar singer and sung about Jesse James. Hugh Ross provided narration in certain parts of the film which was done very limited and well.
If you are watching this and you are expecting all kinds of gun battles and killing, this is not the right Jesse James film for you. It shows a little bit of his robberies but more focuses on the people which I really liked as well. One of my favorite quotes from the movie was when Jesse James said to Ford "I don't know if you are trying to be like me or trying to be me".
This movie really looks at the James Gang from Bob Ford's perspective were we see him joining the James Gang and slowly become disappointed that his idol is not a good person. We obviously see him shoot James which the title already gives that away and his life afterwards where he had to deal with people thinking he was a coward. It shows him and Charlie reacting the shooting on the stage. I have seen a few adaptations of Jesse James and see this one as my favorite and the most accurate description. Through some research I have found that even descendants of Jesse James and Robert Ford felt this was the most accurate film portrayal of all time.
I could go on about this one forever so I won't and I'm sure there will be plenty of agreements and disagreements and so tell me how you feel on here. I am going to start doing these kinds of blogs more often, I'm shooting for at least a couple each month while my recommendation blogs are my most important but I will have some side projects and have something good prepared in about one or two weeks. Don't forget to check out Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations and I will release a new one on Sunday which so far features John Landis, Clint Eastwood, Don Knotts, John Cleese, and many more. I know reviews are not exactly my strong point but I hope everyone can appreciate the effort I put into writing this review.
Welcome to the 209th Edition of my blog. I have three selections from the Random Myspace Profile selections this week, next week will also likely be three but only two so far. I also pay tribute this week to the late actor Carl Ballatine. I am also using two selections from the Co-Op film series this week.
Dance of the Dead (2008): This is a selection of the Random Myspace Profile selection process and for this one I chose wrestler Jerry Legend. When thinking of zombie comedies, many think of ARMY OF DARKNESS, SHAUN OF THE DEAD, and the more recent ZOMBIELAND. This one is also a pretty decent low-budget film which takes place close to prom time and finding that many people are becoming zombies. Many losers who could not get dates to the prom must band together and the rock band discovers what zombies love. It was a pretty well-done film which worked with the unknown cast.
The Three Faces of Eve (1957): This is another selection from the Random Myspace Profile selection process and for this one I chose female wrestler Alere Little Feature. Joanne Woodward stars as all three personalities including Eve White, Eve Black, and Jane who is really just one person who suffers from multiple personality disorder in this true story. Lee J. Cobb is the very dedicated doctor who does what he can to treat her and each personality. David Wayne is the husband of the "Eve White" personality but the other two do not acknowledge him. Woodward was great as each personality especially as the mean Eve Black personality. There is really not much else to say except that it is very engaging and moves very well.
A League of Their Own (1992): This is a selection from the Random Myspace Profile selection process and for this one I chose Katie who I was in THE WIZARD OF OZ with and seems to be doing very well as a dancer. This is a true story that takes a look at the All American Pro Girls League which was a female baseball league that was put together during WW2 when all the men were off fighting in the war. The story takes place with a couple small-town Oregon sisters who play in their local league and are discovered by a scout looking to put together the league. Geena Davis plays Dottie, the perfect girl who is great at baseball. Lori Petty, in what I feel is her best performance, is her younger sister who is a good pitcher but must work harder and has a lot of jealousy. They are then recruited to try out by a scout played by Jon Lovitz. Tom Hanks is great as their has-been manager who is quite the alcoholic. Penny Marshall directed this movie which also stars Madonna, Rosie O'Donnell, David Strathairn, Megan Cavanaugh in her debut, and many others. The actresses actually had to learn baseball and had to do baseball playing for the audition. This is a fictional account of the league but pays good tribute to the league that actually lasted eleven years. This was one that really moved me and even made me shed tears at times. This is an important part of baseball history which took this movie to get it exposed.
Paris, Texas (1984): This is my Co-Op film selection for the week which Travis presented last week. BIG LOVE co-star Harry Dean Stanton stars as a drifter named Travis who does not remember anything until his brother Walt, played by Dean Stockwell, finds him and helps bring back his memories and a rather dark past. Travis also tries to reconnect with his son that he has not seen in four years and those are some great moments in the film of his son slowly warming up to his father. Wim Wenders directed this very nice portrait of an 80s family and many may remember Wenders for this movie WINGS OF DESIRE which he directed. Sam Shepard actually wrote the story. Stanton was great as Travis which may very well be one of his best performances among many for this underrated actor. This movie moves at a slow pace but worth every minute.
White Heat (1949): Raoul Walsh directed what would be James Cagney's last and possibly best gangster film. Here he plays Cody Jarrett, a gangster who is very ruthless and has no real redeaming qualities but still elicits a certain sympathy. He is the sadistic leader of a gang and has no problem killing anyone. He also has a very obsessive devotion to his equally-crooked mother, played very well by Margaret Wycherly, and promises her that he will be on "top of the world". Virginia Mayo is also very good as his wife Verna who is also just as ruthless as Cody and rather unloyal providing a rare performance for a ruthless female in that era. Especially rare in that era was to have two psychotic females which here was Cody's mom which was inspired by the real-life Ma Barker, and Cody's wife. Look for football legend Jim Thorpe as an extra in the prison scene. Cagney plays his common role of a gangster but manages to make even that performance very unique and you can tell the hard work he put into his character. To top it off it has one of the greatest endings of all time. This is no-nonsense gangster film with violence and no senseless romance like some mob films like to pack in.
Pandora's Box (1929): This is my silent film for the and probably the first movie I have used with sex symbol of her era Louise Brooks. This is also the movie that is the most known and iconic to her career. G.W. Pabst directed this German film which stars Brooks as Lulu, whose charm goes into just about every man and ensues a lot of tragedy. This movie was a very controversial and daring movie with a lot of sexual imagery for that era and a performance from Brooks that was good and easy on the eyes. Louise Brooks did not become a big star but her legend still lives on and a lot has to do with this film.
Breaking the Waves (1996): I continue the tragic heroine thing from my last movie on here where Emily Watson plays Bess McNeil who marries a rich oil rig worker named Jan (pronouced Yan), who is played very well by Stellan Skarsgard. This movie is set in a very strict religious town in Scotland where Jan is paralyzed in an accident. Jan then asks Bess to have an affair with another man and then tell him the experience so that he can fantasize the moment himself. She does what he asks but sends her into a world of darkness where she does not understand her feelings and believes she is going by the word of god to help Jan in his recovery and have some interesting moments where she "talks" to God and to her late father. Lars Von Trier directed and co-wrote this very fascinating and well-acted film which requires attention. There is also a lot of interesting religious themes that might offend some so just watch with caution.
Murder at the Gallop (1963): This is probably the first time I have used Agatha Christie's Miss Marple character. Christie wrote many novels with private detective Miss Marple who was probably in her 60s or 70s. We start the movie where an elderly man dies of a heart attack which makes Miss Marple suspect it was murder. This takes place in a a boarding school and she must investigate his four relatives to see which one did it. Margaret Rutherford was good as Miss Marple and played the role in some of the early movies. It is a good murder mystery mixed in with a lot of humor. Stringer Davis is fun as her partner Mr. Stringer.
The Shakiest Gun in the West (1968): This is my tribute to actor Carl Ballatine who played the part of Abel Swanson. This is my western parody for the week which reminded me a lot of Bob Hope THE PALEFACE and a little bit on ALIAS JESSE JAMES. Don Knotts plays recently graduated dentist Dr. Jesse Heywood who decides to go to the Wild West to start his big career but finds himself in the middle of some feuds. Barbara Rhoades plays outlaw Penelope Cushings who agrees to do a job for the government for a full pardon. In the process she marries Jesse which gets Jesse involved in some shootouts where everyone believes he is a hero even though she is doing the work. Don Knotts is funny like usual and Rhoades is pretty good too. Look for Pat Morita as Wong early in the movie.
Flag Wars (2003): This is my second Co-Op selection for the week which Travis presented last tuesday making it my documentary for the week which will make my dad happy since that is what he likes me to feature. This movie takes place in a community in Columbus, Ohio where a group of gay professionals move into a black working-class neighborhood which puts many at odds with them moving in. It takes a look at a divided community and it also looks at both sides where no one is good or bad. We see an black artist who is dealing with complaints of his decorations on his house, mostly a sign he made with his address which apparently defaces the property. We also have a black woman who is clearly unhealthy and likely on drugs who is trying to deal with a lot of zoning violations. We also have a very strong-minded priest who is really against the gay community being there. It is sad but real how divided this community is and is a good documentary which does not discriminate.
Well, that is it this week, tell me what you love and what you hate. Nobody can criticize me for my lack of strong female characters since I did feature a lot of complex female parts whether they are good or bad but most have some shades of gray. Stay tuned for next week which includes John Landis, Clint Eastwood, a Bollywood film, and many more.
Live Evil
Year: 2009
Director: Jay Woelfel
Studio: MT Entertainment
Stars: Tim Thomerson, Mark Hengst, Osa Wallander
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 96 Mins
Official Website: http://www.liveevilthemovie.com/
“Live Evil” is a film that I’ve been kind of looking forward for two reasons. First, I saw the trailer to this film and thought it looks like some b-movie fun and it had Tim Thomerson of Trancers fame playing a badass. Going into this my thinking was, it has to be one of those mindless film that I would enjoy. Right?
The film is about a cowboy priest with a samurai sword, who is on a quest for revenge against a vampire clique. The clique also has some problems, as they a caught up in a underground civil war as groups of vampires are fighting over blood, as there’s a shortage in the blood supply due to most of the blood being contaminated with drugs, cigarettes and anything that changes the blood. Soon everything leads to a bloody climax, in which no one might walk out of. The film also features cameos from Ken Foree (Dawn of the Dead, Rob Zombie’s Halloween) Tiffany Shepis (the upcoming “Night of the Demons” remake, Nympha) and Ellisa Dowling.
“Live Evil” is one of those films that you just back and enjoy. Writer/director Jay Woelfel does a very good job making this, a fun one to watch. The reason for that was how Woelfel paces this film. He does a good job moving the action along, as it didn’t get bogged down or just pain boring. That’s what makes B-movies like this entertaining. Woelfel also does a good job making the performances good enough to make this fun. I liked how especially how he directs Tim Thomerson here, as his preacher character. The character reminded me a little bit of Jack Deth from the Trancers films, in which Thomerson played. Woelfel also does a good job developing chemistry between the four actors and actresses, who play the vampires, are being chased by the preacher. They did a very good job making the characters entertaining, as it added to the film’s campiness and made the story fun to follow.
Woelfel also did a respectable job with the screenplay. One of the reasons why this screenplay works, the film doesn’t take itself too serious especially with the film’s dialogue. It’s cheesy, but it’s the kind of cheesy dialogue that makes a film like this fun, instead of annoying. A film like this can’t try and take itself too serious or else it ends up unwatchable. That’s why I enjoyed this. The other reason was the way that Woelfel develops the preacher character, as I really dug that character. The backstory explains the reason why he acts like a loner. He also develops the reason why the preacher wants to get rid of these vampires that he’s been stalking, through the character’s backstory. In film like this, the main character must be likeable or else the movie is just plain awful. Thankfully, it wasn’t the case here, as the character was badass.
“Live Evil” is a bloody and fun vampire film that packs a lot of action and gore.
The film is available and Video on Demand (Check your local cable provider) and it will hit DVD on February 23rd.
Review Rating: 3.5 Stars
Welcome to the 208th Edition of my blog which is also the FOUR YEAR ANNIVERSARY. I cannot believe I have stuck to this for so long. After years of trying to watch all the movies on AFI's top 100 lists, I came up with an idea to actually put out a blog of ten different movies. I can't really write a detailed review like some so I came up with this and it has come a long way. I rack my brain each week trying to come up with what I want in the blog but having people read it is worth it. I want to thank many people like Jerry, Jeremy the Critic, Shelley, Elizabeth, Royce, the Critic Wannabe, Mitch, Tony D, Tony F, Ben, Freddie, Jenny, Jeff, Clifford, filmarcade.com, and many others. This week, I pay tribute to August Coppola (Nicolas Cage's father). I also have two selections from the Random Myspace Profile selection process, next week will have three, possibly four.
Monty Python: Almost the Truth- The Lawyer's Cut (2009): This was a six-part documentary that was recently on the IFC channel which has the five surviving Python members reflecting on their time with Monty Python from their times before they formed the group, to their groundbreaking tv shows, and into their rise in film. This is a very informative and entertaining documentary which shows a lot of clips. I guess if you don't like them, then you won't like this min-series. It also has other actors, comedians and various other people who were fans of them to reflect on their times. This is also available on Netflix.
Fatal Attraction (1987): Michael Douglas stars as Dan Gallagher who has a good job, a good wife and a cute daughter but when the family leaves and he is home alone, he takes on an affair with a seemingly nice woman named Alex Forrest, played very well by Glenn Close. Dan pretty much forgets the affair but Alex sure does not and will do whatever she must to get back the man she loves. Alex is clearly crazy and goes about her anger the wrong way but Dan was not the most likable person himself. However, his wife and daughter were innocent in the whole thing and were very good to him. This was a great stalker film directed by Adrian Lyne. It brought back memories for me when the daughter is watching the Nickelodeon classic YOU CAN'T DO THAT ON TELEVISION.
Up in Smoke(1978): This is a selection from the Random Myspace Profile selection process and for this one I chose my myspace friend Tabitha. This is the debut film for the comedy duo of Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong and become unknowing members of a marijuana smuggling plot where they have a van made of hemp. This one is considered by me and most other people to be the best of the Cheech and Chong films and has music numbers sung by Cheech Marin. Stacy Keach plays the incompetant detective trying to stop the smuggling. Tom Skerritt has an interesting part in the beginning. This was a great drug movie with the big joint, the meeting of Cheech and Chong and the great finale. They were really two people trying to pursue a music career.
Adaptation. (2002): This is my tribute to Nicolas Cage whose father August Coppola recently passed away. I maintain that Nicolas Cage is good at what he does but just not always making the right choices but this was the right choice. Spike Jonze directed this movie which I didn't like as much as I did BEING JOHN MALKOVICH but still enjoyed this very much. Nicolas Cage plays real-life screenwriter Charlie Kaufman who is struggling to adapt a screenplay of the novel THE ORCHID THIEF written by author Susan Orlean. Meryl Streep plays Orlean where we see her interest in plant collector John Laroche, played very well by the underrated Chris Cooper, who Orlean wants to write a book about. We switch between the struggles of Kaufman who turns to his twin brother Donald, also played by Cage, for help. We then see Susan and John together with their attempts at her novel. They soon encounter each other where unexpected things occur and the things Charlie did not want in his screenplay actually happen to him in his struggles. There really is no better way to explain this complicated plot where the real screenplay was actually written by none other than Charlie Kaufman and his fictional twin brother Donald. Co-stars of the movie include Tilda Swinton, Cara Seymour, Doug Jones, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Ron Livingston, Brian Cox, among other unexpected cameos. Much of the characters in the film are real people and Susan Orlean actually makes a cameo in the film. This does require a lot of attention but was quite worth it to me.The Love Bug (1968): This is part of the Random Myspace Profile Selection process and for this one I chose Andrew. This is a racing movie that centers around washed up racer named Jim Douglas, played by Dean Jones, who just can't win who then finds a car that seems to have a mind of its own and he begins to win races believing that it is him winning instead of the car. Buddy Hackett is funny as Tennessee who is Jim's mechanic who sees that the car has human qualities which he then names Herbie. David Tomlinson plays Thorndyke who does what he can to get that car and stop Jim from winning the race. Michelle Lee plays Thorndyke's employee and love interest to Jim. This is a live action Disney film which had a car that was really snubbed an Oscar nomination which I felt the Academy discriminated just because he was a car. If you never thought cars had feelings, think again.
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931): I found this adaptation of the Robert Louis Stevenson classic on TCM and watched it for the Horror Movie Madness again so I was glad to see this one come up. Fredric March plays the title characters in this one in the classic story where Dr. Jekyll wants to prove that in every person is a good side and evil side and believes that he can expose the good side to make people much better. He wanted to experiment on someone but no one volunteered so he tries it on himself becoming the evil Mr. Hyde and does things that Jekyll would not do. Rose Hobart plays Muriel Carew which is Jekyll's fiancee but her father is finding him hard to approve for his daughter. Miriam Hopkins is good as Nightclub singer Ivy Pierson who Mr. Hyde targets for many reasons. The Mr. Hyde persona was done very well where he was very scary looking and March did a good job playing both people. There was also some very good special effects that still look pretty good in a time when computers did not exist and no one had CGI. This movie was made a little before the Hollywood code came around and got away with a lot but would later get some things cut like a lot of Hopkins' work. This is a very good adaptation of the classic and is worth a view.
The Full Monty (1997): I found this great British comedy on IFC which stars Robert Carlyle as unemployed steel worker Gaz who is able to form a group of five other people unemployed to do a one-night strip show to make money and for him to pay alimony. What adds to the comedy is that these are six men that are pretty out-of-shape that are planning to go all the way. This has been written as a musical which I have not seen yet. Tom Wilkinson also co-stars as one of the six. This was a very well-done comedy
The Badlands (1958): I found this western variation on THE ASPHALT JUNGLE on TCM. Alan Ladd and Ernest Borgnine star as a couple of ex-cons just released from prison. Ladd plays the Dutchman who wants revenge on the people who had him falsely imprisoned and Ernest Borgnine plays McBain who wants to go straight but finds it is not easy. McBain reluctantly joins the Dutchman in his scheme to steal gold. This was a pretty decent low-budget western with Borgnine great in his role.
Animal Factory (2000): I end the Four-Year Anniversary with this independent prison drama directed by Steve Buscemi. This is a novel written by Edward Bunker who some may remember as Mr. Blue in RESERVOIR DOGS and even has a cameo in this movie as well as director Buscemi. Edward Furlong stars as Ron, a 21 year old going to prison for marijuana charges and finds that prison is not an easy place to survive. Willem Dafoe plays a long-time inmate named Earl who takes Ron under his wing and even protects him some. This movie has quite an independent all-star cast with a bit part from Mickey Rourke where he plays a cross-dressing inmate named Jan the Actress which was a pretty good performance. Tom Arnold even has an interesting role which diverts from his usual. Other people in this film include Danny Trejo, Seymour Cassel, Mark Boone Junior, and many others. This is a pretty moving film about prison which really works with the friendship between Furlong and Dafoe.
Well, that is it for this week. Tell me what you love and what you hate and stay tuned for next week which features zombies, multiple personality disorder, baseball.
FUN LITTLE FACTS
Dan Aykroyd (Monty Python) plays Boolie in the 1989 film DRIVING MISS DAISY. My Facebook friend Judy played Boolie's mother and title character Daisy in a production at the Muncie Civic Theater in the 90s.
Dan Aykroyd (Monty Python) is apparently filming DOROTHY OF OZ where he will be the Scarecrow. My Facebook friend Corey played the Scarecrow in a Muncie Civic Theater production. Other friends in this production include Marty, Ryan, Lindsey, Gary, Lisa, Katie, Missy, Lauren, my mom Ruth Ann, and I'm sorry if I miss anyone.
John Cleese (Monty Python) plays R but later known Q in the later part of the Pierce Brosnan era of James Bond and hopefully in the Daniel Craig era at some point. Robert Carlyle plays the nearly indestructable villain Renard in the 1999 James Bond film THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH.
John Cleese (Monty Python) plays Sherlock Holmes in a 1973 episode of COMEDY PLAYHOUSE called ELEMENTARY, MY DEAR WATSON. My Facebook friend Sean played his rival Professor Moriarty in a Muncie Civic Theater version.
Eric Idle (Monty Python) played Drosselmeier in the 2004 animated film THE NUTCRACKER AND THE MOUSEKING. I played the role in a version at Cornerstone Center For the Arts in Muncie which also featured my facebook friends Kelsey, Esther, Marisa, Kendall, and Chris.
Eddie Izzard (Monty Python) does the voice for Reepicheep in the 2008 film THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: PRINCE CASPIAN. Tilda Swinton plays the White Witch in that and the 2005 THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE.
MARVEL FRANCHISE
-Tim Roth (Monty Python) plays Emil Blonsky in the 2008 film THE INCREDIBLE HULK who was the Hulk's rival and has a big showdown at the end.
-Nicolas Cage (Adaptation) plays the title character in the 2007 film GHOST RIDER and apparently working on a sequel.
-Doug Jones (Adaptation) plays the Silver Surfer in the 2007 film FANTASTIC 4: THE RISE OF THE SILVER SURFER and is apparently in the works for a movie for the Silver Surfer.
-Willem Dafoe (Animal Factory) plays the villain Green Goblin in the 2002 film SPIDER-MAN.
-Mickey Rourke (Animal Factory) plays the villain Jigsaw in the upcoming sequel to IRON MAN.
RESERVOIR DOGS FRANCHISE
-Tim Roth (Monty Python) plays Mr. Orange
-Steve Buscemi (Animal Factory) plays Mr. Pink
-Edward Bunker (Animal Factory) plays Mr. Blue
Meryl Streep (Adaptation) was at one time considered for the role of Alex Forrest in this week's feature FATAL ATTRACTION which would ultimately go to Glenn Close. They are good friends.
Glenn Close (Fatal Attraction) does the vocie Mary Todd Lincoln in the 1992 tv documentary LINCOLN. My facebook friend Jessica played the role in a high school production years ago which takes place after the assassination of her husband Abraham Lincoln.
Tom Skerritt (up in Smoke) plays the role of Duke Forrest in the 1970 film MASH. My Facebook friend Thom played the part in a production at Lee's Theatrical Productions. Other Myspace and Facebook friends in our production include Sam, Bill, Wes, Rhonda, Ben, Kellin, Kayla, Sammy, Ashley, Chad, and Trevor.
John Cleese (Monty Python), Eddie Izzard (Monty Python), John Cusack (Adaptation uncredited) and Steve Buscemi (Animal Factory) were in the 2008 film IGOR.
JEKYLL/HYDE franchise
-John Malkovich plays Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in the 1996 film MARY REILLY
-Fredric March plays the parts in the 1931 feature film of the week.
-My facebook friend Matt played the role in last year's version at Muncie Civic Theater of JEKYLL AND HYDE: THE MUSICAL
-Rose Hobart (Jekyll and Hyde) plays Muriel Carew in this week's 1931 feature. My Facebook friend Katie plays the equivalent Emma Carew in the musical version.
-Miriam Hopkins (Jekyll and Hyde) plays Ivy Pierson in this week's 1931 feature. My Facebook friend Nikki played Lucy which is the same character with a different name in the musical version.
-Edgar Norton (Jekyll and Hyde) plays Poole, Dr. Jekyll's servant, in the this week's 1931 feature. My Facebook friend Joe played the part in musical version.
-Halliwell Hobbes plays General Carew, The father of Muriel, in this week's 1931 feature. My Facebook friend Bob played the equivalent Sir Danvers Carew in the musical version.
-Other Facebook friends in last year's JEKYLL AND HYDE: THE MUSICAL at Muncie Civic Theater that were chorus or played characters not in the 1931 film include Edward, Lisa, Neil, my mom Ruth Ann, Julia, Bethany, Melissa, Jeff S., Kathy, and Jeff R. Sorry if I missed anyone
John Malkovich (Adaptation uncredited) was considered for the role of the Green Goblin in the 2002 film SPIDER-MAN that would ultimately go to Willem Dafoe (Animal Factory)
Nicolas Cage (Adaptation) was originally cast as Randy "The Ram" Robinson in the 2008 film THE WRESTLER but backed out and the part would ultimately go to Mickey Rourke (Animal Factory) who would go onto be nominated for his first Academy Award. Thank you Nic as I am seriously grateful for your decision.
Buddy Hacket (Love Bug) plays Marcellus in the 1962 film THE MUSIC MAN. My Facebook friend Marty played the part in a production at Muncie Civic Theater.
Fredric March (Jekyll and Hyde) plays Mark Twain in the 1944 film THE ADVENTURES OF MARK TWAIN. My Facebook friend Gary played the part in the recent musical BIG RIVER at the Muncie Civic Theater
Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations- 207th Edition and Horror Movie Madness: Bad Baby Edition week 4
Welcome to the 207th Edition, one week away from the FOUR YEAR ANNIVERSARY. This week, I pay tribute to Lucy Vodden, Lou Jacobi, Joseph Wiseman, Captain Lou Albano, and Bruce Springsteen. I have one movie from the Random Myspace Profile selection process and next week will have at least 1, possibly 3.
Whaledreamers (2006): This is my tribute to Lucy Vodden, the apparent inspiration for the Beatles' hit song LUCY IN THE SKY WITH DIAMONDS coming from a picture drawn from Julian Lennon of Lucy. I could not find anything for Vodden so I used something with Julian Lennon who produced and narrated this documentary. Kim Kindersley directed this documentary focusing on an indigenous tribe which talks about their history and their connection to the whale. It also talks about the poaching of whales which really angers the tribe. Julian Lennon narrates and takes part in some of these rituals. I really take interest in this subject and love the indigenous music that they play a lot of here. Julian Lennon wrote and performed a song played on here called SALTWATER showing he sounds exactly like his father John. Pierce Brosnan, John Hurt, and Geoffrey Rush all lend their voices here as well.
Chocolat (1988): This is not the same as the Johnny Depp film in 2000 of the same title. This is a French film about a French woman named France who gets picked up by a good samaritan and begins to reflect on her childhood when she and her family were in South Africa. She recalls the relationship between herself and a black man named Protee and the tension between him and her mother. There is a lot of racial and sexual tension which I felt was kept a little too low-key. I had a hard time with this movie which is not really what you expect and not knowing where I just went after watching. The high points are seeing the interactions of French and Protee and the scenery. Claire Denis directed this movie and apparently based it some on her childhood. This was nothing great to me but was worth a watch.
I'll Cry Tomorrow (1955): Susan Hayward stars in this biopic as singer/actress Lillian Roth. We first see her as a child whose mother is obsessed with making her a star and when Lillian becomes one as an adult, she takes to alcohol after her high-school sweetheart dies before they are about to get married. Jo Van Fleet is good as Lillian's mother and Hayward is great as Roth. Eddie Albert co-stars as one of the good men in her life. Susan Hayward does her own singing in the movie. This is not the most upbeat film of all time but can give people hope.
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (1984): The Facebook friend I chose for this week is Jess who I went to Yorktown with for many years. Hayao Miyazaki wrote and directed this anime tale which centers around the Princess of the title name who lives during a nuclear holocaust and is trying to prevent her people from warring. The animation in this movie is great. Apparently the original version was a little more adult-oriented but this one was produced by Disney so it was more family friendly. In this version, they brought in celebrities in 2004 like Allison Lohman, Edward James Olmos, Shia Lebeouf, Patrick Stewart, Mark Hamill, and many others.
The Man Without a Country (1937): This is my short film for the week which stars John Litel as Lt. Philip Nolan who is unhappy with his assignment in the army and is about to join Aaron Burr's plans to form a new country west of the Mississippi River. Before he can go through with it, he is charged with treason and is sentenced to life in exile on a US ship at sea. Gloria Holden plays his wife who lobbies through many years and to different presidents to get him a pardon. It is a pretty good 21 minutes while I'm not sure of the accuracy of what Burr was trying to do.
Splinter (2008): I found this low-budget horror film on Sci-Fi which actually pretty good. It shows a couple and escaped convict meet by chance but encounter a parasite that turns people into deadly hosts. They must all work together to stop this from effecting them. The performances are actually pretty good and director Toby Wilkins did a good job on a movie that went straight-to-dvd. Horror buffs might really like this and movie buffs in general should try it too.
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex * But Were Afraid to Ask (1972): This movie is in tribute to late actor Lou Jacobi who plays Sam Musgrave in this movie. I admit, I have seen and used a lot of Woody Allen for this blog and this one I find to be the most unknown and underrated of his movies. This is a parody on just what the title is saying and uses different sketches to get across its point. It starts out in medieval times where Woody plays a court jester who is having an affair with the queen but finds out the hilarious way that the king keeps the queen from having sex. We also have a sketch with Gene Wilder who is a psychiatrist who falls in love with a sheep that his client was already in love with. The best one in my opinion was with John Carradine playing a Victor Frankenstein type character who brings to life a giant body part that wreaks havoc all over the place. The last one shows all the hard-working sperm in our body and what they must do to reproduce where Woody plays the reluctant sperm. This might be my favorite Woody film which also co-stars Burt Reynolds, Lynn Redgrave, and even Regis Philbin who is part of a great game show segment. There were many segments cut from the film but the ones that stayed were great.
Dr. No (1962): This is in tribute to the late Joseph Wiseman who is most known for playing the title character in the first of many James Bond films which some say this one is the best. Sean Connery plays James Bond in the first Bond film and is investigating the death of his colleague which leads him to a strange island and meets Honey Ryder, played by Ursula Andress whose role here is iconic to her career and Bond women, and encounters Dr. No's fortress where he must find a way to save the world. HAWAII 5-0 alum Jack Lord plays the first Felix Leiter. This movie has some great dialogue and action and is worth a look.
Wise Guys (1986): This is my tribute to the late wrestling Captain Lou Albano who plays mob enforcer Frankie the Fixer and Bruce Springsteen whose cousin recently died. Springsteen's song PINK CADILLAC was played and I wanted to use BODY SLAM with Albano but could not obtain a copy from Netflix or library and even blockbuster so I chose this one. Brian De Palma directed this mafia comedy which stars Danny Devito and Joe Piscopo as best friends and errand boys for the mafia. When they lose $250,000, they are both separately ordered to kill each other. They go to New Jersey when trying to run from the mafia but find it is not easy. I know there are better mob comedies and I was on the fence some here but Devito and Piscopo are fun in this movie and Albano gave an interesting over-the-top performance. Albano looked a lot different with just short hair and a mustache. Dan Hedaya and Harvey Keitel also co-star. I was really hoping for a different end and I begged for it to not end like I thought it would but it did end how I thought it would and how I did not want it to end. I got this off Netflix and was worth a view to me. It's not anything I'll go out and buy.
The Thirteenth Guest (1932): I end with this selection from the Random Myspace Profile selection process and for this one I chose the Ginger Rogers tribute profile and decided to try this early Rogers film. 13 years ago, there was a dinner party with 13 guests and the 13th guest did not show up, the master of the manor died leaving the 13th guest the bulk of his estate which was a mystery to everyone. 13 years later, the guests are being murdered. Ginger plays a woman claiming to be the 13th guest. Lyle Talbot plays the head detective investigating the murders. This is nothing great but worth seeing for early Ginger Rogers. It might have been more enjoyable for me if the transfer was better but even today's technology could not salvage the bad print.
Well, that is it for this week. I made some pretty unusual selections and some not really my favorites but I never claim to do my favorites and some people reading this may have not seen any of these movies. Tell me what you love and what you hate and stay tuned for next week which is my 4 year anniversary which so far includes John Cleese, Glenn Close, Tom Skerritt, Meryl Streep, and much more.
HORROR MOVIE MADESS: BAD BABY EDITION WEEK 4
So this is the last one for the year and hope Elizabeth and Duckboy bring it back next year. Congrats on the baby, probably not something I'll ever do but who knows. When this went on a couple years ago, there was all kinds of leniency where there were many people listed where I took more notice than anyone of the words "Does not have to be horror" so I found all kinds of things like SPIDER-MAN, SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS, THE JACKIE CHAN ADVENTURES, JACK OF ALL TRADES, BLUE CHIPS, and much more. For various reasons when listing names, they did not make it nearly as big and mostly listed directors where the movies that did not have to be horror had to be directed, produced, written, or distributed so being known as the "King of the Loophole", I had a bigger challenge ahead of me and maybe a couple years ago they had no idea someone like me would take such advantage of these loopholes. This year, I really did not do as much on the list of names except for a couple things from William Friedkin and John Sayles including an episode of CSI directed by Friedkin. While I did not do as much of that, I still feel I have really done a lot in variety where I would usually find some non-horror movie that might have some horror element like LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST which featured the Devil. I also used some things from History which focus on categories like Satan, vampires, and werewolves, especially this week so read on
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (1984, 3 stars, 4 points): I believe this falls under fantasy and while I don't know Nausicaa's age, there were a couple village children that were endangered when the ohms were attacking.
The Man Without a Country (1937, 3 stars, .5 points): I know I'm pushing this one but it was 21 minutes and in the end when John Litel and Gloria Holden finally reuniting as ghosts after death. Since I put it on the recommendations, I figured I would give this a shot.
Splinter (2008, 2.5 stars, 2 points): This qualifies as the Splinter parasites effects a body and turns them into zombie-type people.
Vampire Secrets (2006, 2 points): This was one of the few documentaries I watched and this one focused on vampires in pop culture, through history and the supposed vampires of today.
Werewolves: The Dark Survivors (2009, 2 points): This was a mockumentary I found on Animal Planet. It looks at a fictional family of werewolves. This was interesting to say the least.
Fatal Attraction (1987, 3 stars, 4 points): I would like to see this being counted as psycho as Glenn Close was and four points because of Michael Douglas's little girl being endangered by Close.
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007, 3.5 stars, 4 points): I feel this should count because of the dark imagery, the gore from all the murders and 4 points because of Tobias being endangered near the end.
Everything Your Always Wanted To Know About Sex * But Were Afraid to Ask (1972, 3.5 stars, 2 points): I know I am pushing it on this one but John Carradine plays a mad scientist character who brings to like a giant breast which wreaks havoc all over town.
The Three Faces of Eve (1957, 3.5 stars, 4 points): I know I'm pushing this one too but Joanne Woodward plays Eve who has multiple personalities which one of them is very mean and tries to choke her daughter to death as that personality and is a pretty disturbing scene.
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966, 4 stars, .5 points): I need no explanation here as Linus awaits the arrival of the Great Pumpkin and I will look for a pumpkin patch myself to wait for the Great Pumpkin.
The Haunted History of Halloween (1997, 1 point): I found this on the History Channel which talks about the history of Halloween and the popularity of it today.
Bloodlines: The Dracula Family Tree (2003, 1 point): I also found this on History which talks about Vlad the Impaler who is kind of the inspiration behind Dracula.
Charmed: Series Finale (2006, 3.5 stars, 2 points): This show, BUFFY and ANGEL were the shows I grew up with in High School and I thought it was going to be a bad idea to have another season of this show but was I wrong. This show and episode ended greatly showing everyone the future of the Halliwell family. This was one hour but am asking for two points because of litle Wyatt being endangered.
Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey (1991, 3 stars, 2 points): This counts because they are in Hell, the Devil is a character and so is the Grim Reaper. Wow, the minds who came up with this storyline.
The Real Wolfman (2009?, 2 points): I found this one on History channel where a couple people investigate some past murders thought to be done by a werewolf and come to some interesting conclusions.
Little shop of Horrors (2009, 2 points): Last week I saw the one at Muncie Civic Theater, this is Jay County Civic Theater
It’s been over a week now since I saw the latest cinematic provocation from Danish film director Lars Von Trier. What I witnessed when I saw “Antichrist” is still on my mind, and it took me a long time to process all that I saw. I found myself talking to complete strangers about it as we each tried to interpret on our own terms. Some found it too long which had me wondering if they ever saw Von Trier’s “Dogville” which was 3 hours long (“Antichrist” is 109 minutes long). Some just didn’t get the story. Either way you look at it, “Antichrist” is to 2009 what Michael Haneke’s remake of “Funny Games” was to 2008; an immensely polarizing film event that people will have the most passionate of disagreements on. As for me, I found it a completely mesmerizing experience that had me transfixed throughout its entire length. No movie has been more thought provoking for me this year than this one, and I even watched it again as it was showing on Time Warner Cable’s On Demand service.
As those of you who have read my article regarding the saddest movies ever made can understand, seeing a Lars Von Trier movie more than once is quite an astonishing feat. He has never been about the easygoing mainstream movie going experience. In fact, Von Trier is the direct antithesis to it in a world where movie studios are infinitely risk adverse, and this realization proves to be more depressing than his films.
“Antichrist” stars Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg in performances that don’t deserve Oscars as much as they do Purple Hearts. They play a married couple who are referred to as “He” and “She,” and the movie opens with the two of them making love while their baby boy plays around in his room. There is even a hardcore insertion added to the sex scene which may seem inappropriate to some, but it ends up adding a raw carnality to a moment that makes it all the more immediate. Their act of sex becomes equated with death as their son goes up to an open window, fascinated with the falling snowflakes, and ends up plummeting to the ground. From there, “Antichrist” follows their road to repairing their lives as they cope with their son’s tragic death, but things just get worse for the both of them, and they get even worse from there. And just when you think they have hit rock bottom, things getting even worse than that. Yup, it’s that kind of movie.
You know, it really helps to go into “Antichrist” with no expectations and an open mind because it will not be anything you predict it will be. So much attention has been paid to the unnervingly graphic moments to where you think Von Trier is going out of his way to court the fans of the “Saw” and “Hostel” films. However, anyone expecting that will walk out of this movie horribly disappointed. Regardless of what many may say, “Antichrist” does not exist merely to shock its viewers with copious amounts of blood and gore. Being the provocative filmmaker that he is, Lars Von Trier seeks to challenge the things you believe in, and dares you to look beyond the darkness of our own human natures to get a glimpse of what he implies.
An ominous hum runs throughout “Antichrist” in the same way it runs through many of David Lynch’s films (“
You would think that Willem’s character has his wife’s best interests at heart, but the exposure therapy only exacerbates her grief and despair. We later find that her hold on reality is tenuous at best when He finds that She has been working on a thesis regarding gynocide, which itself is a take on the word gendercide; referring to the systematic killings of a specific sex., in this case women. He comes to see that She has embraced the witchcraft of women, and that they are seen as evil beings, something he quickly tries to disprove to her. But having made her emotional state even worse than it already is, He comes to see that through her grief, She has come to justify the punishment that She inflicts on herself as She lets herself believe that it is her fault their son died. She comes to inflict severe damage on her husband while She runs through manic states of love and anger, but also ends up inflicting even more severe pain upon herself.
Lars Von Trier has long been accused of rampant misogyny in his films, and yes, he does seem to put his actresses through an emotional wringer most of the time (the actors don’t get it much easier though). But while “Antichrist” deals with misogynistic themes, this does not in itself make it a misogynistic movie. I’m sure many will make a good case for that, but the film could also be interpreted as empowering in some respects. “Antichrist” does call into question how the female sex is viewed as nurturing and caring while the male sex is seen as stronger. But for the last half of the movie, even though She has gone completely mad, She seems to have all the power and proves to be anything but weak and helpless.
All of this led me to a big question when I walked out of the movie theater in my emotionally shaken state; who is the antichrist of the story? Many may see it as the Charlotte Gainsbourg character in how She embraces the sexist teachings that She has been studying, and of how the stick figure in the movie’s title seems to look like a woman. But I felt that this illustration was not gender specific in its design, so this makes it subject to interpretation. Neither character is of sound mind throughout the movie, and both deal with their soul sucking grief in ways that are far from healthy. Their collective greed manifests itself into a severe psychosis in not just the woman, but in the man as well.
Nature itself is a huge character in this piece, and the majority of the action takes place there. The house which sits upon “
“Chaos reigns!”
This scene apparently led to a lot of laughter in the audience at
I took some time to look at the definition of the word antichrist and what it really meant. I mean, you think you know what it means, but how often do we read the dictionary? According to Christianity, the antichrist is one who fulfills Biblical prophecies concerning an adversary of Christ while resembling him in a deceptive manner. Clearly someone of sin, he or she opposes against anything that is worshipped, claiming divine authority. Most notably, this person also works all kinds of counterfeit miracles and signs. With that in mind, I can’t help but think Dafoe’s character is the antichrist of this movie, for he has taken his wife’s well being into his hands thinking that his experience trumps that of a younger doctor. He rails against that which is medically sound, and he subjects his wife to unnecessary torment despite his seeming intent to help her. If he really thinks exposure therapy is the way to handle things, I wonder how it worked with his other patients that were not family related. I sure as hell would not have him as a doctor of mine after seeing him at work!
Like I said, much of what is seen in “Antichrist” is open to interpretation. Von Trier has not gone out of his way to try and justify what he has shown us. There is a story at work here, but its meanings will be different for the audiences that experience what is truly an art film here. Watching this movie reminded me when I was a student at UC Irvine, and I saw a production of David Mamet’s “Oleanna.” That was a play which focused on a meeting between a male professor and one of his female students whom he gave a bad grade to on a paper. At the end of it, no one could decide who was more at fault than the other. It frustrated many because the play seemed to be devoid of a straight answer, but that was really not the point. One made the play so great was how thought provoking it was. It made you think about what you had just saw, and as a result expanded how you saw certain things and maybe gave you a deeper understanding of the world around you more than ever before.
“Antichrist” gave me that same kind of experience, and I can’t remember the last time I had one like that. Most movies today don’t challenge you out of fear of offending too many paying customers they depend on, so as emotionally draining as this film is, it stills like a victory to me that something this artful in its conception actually got made. It is meant to shake you, and that it did to me. Many will hate the film, but for those filmgoers who are far more adventurous in what they watch, I think there is a lot they can find to appreciate.
Having sad all this, one has to wonder, is there anything audiences can come to agreement on with “Antichrist”? Well, one thing’s sure; you cannot deny the astonishing beauty of the cinematography on display here. The director of photography is Anthony Dod Mantle, the same cinematographer who shot the Best Picture winning “Slumdog Millionaire.” The opening prologue stands out as one of the most beautiful pieces of film I have ever seen. The juxtaposition of He and She making love while their son ends up accidentally falling from his bedroom window is as lovely as it is horrifically tragic. Mantle also gives us some incredible dreamlike shots that capture the beauty of nature while also hinting at its inescapable darkness lingering just beneath the surface. I somehow doubt that I will see more beautiful imagery in any other movie I see for the rest of 2009.
What else can we agree on about “Antichrist”? Ah yes, the performances! Both Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg rise up to the almost unthinkable challenges Von Trier lays at their feet. What they both do here almost seems criminal were they not such willing participants. Both actors are known for taking big risks in other projects they have worked on, so this makes them well suited to take on material that is so emotionally naked like Von Trier’s other cinematic struggles.
Charlotte herself won the Best Actress award at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, and it is hard to argue over how much she deserved it. Ironically enough, she also appeared in a production of David Mamet’s “Oleanna,” and she played the title character in the 1996 version of “Jane Eyre.” Her opening intro from “The Cement Garden” was used in one of my all time favorite Madonna songs, “What It Feels Like For A Girl.” Throughout her career, she has disappeared into her characters with an abandon you don’t find in many actors these days it seems. Her performance in “Antichrist” may show her at the peak of her powers, but I’m sure there is a lot more great work we will see from her in the future.
But let us not by any means leave out the great Willem Dafoe who can add his role here to the many risk taking roles he has played. To say that he has it easy compared to what
Lars Von Trier may not be “the greatest director in the world” as he proclaims whenever he is given the opportunity, but he is certainly one of the best directors working today. Watching his movies, you can understand why there is actually a benefit to people booing his material. Were a film like this were not give off strong emotions such as booing among others, this film would have been a failure for him. Art, be it in film or in paintings, serves to challenge the things we believe in, and that is what Von Trier has done here.
Unlike the showing at
Many will hate this movie intensely, but I count myself as one of its defenders. For me, this is far and away one of the best movies of 2009. But like both sides, I will warn you that this is not a movie for everybody. If you are easily offended or not in the mood for something deeply disturbing, then don’t see “Antichrist.”
**** out of ****
In the latest comedy from Broken Lizard, (the creators of Supertroopers and Beerfest) "Slammin" Cleon Salmon (Michael Clarke Duncan) is a former Heavyweight Champion of the World turned celebrity owner of a high end Miami seafood restaurant, The Slammin’ Salmon.
A terrifying bull of a man, Salmon uses fear to rule over his misfit waitstaff (Broken Lizard’s Jay Chandrasekhar, Kevin Heffernan, Steve Lemme, Paul Soter, Erik Stolhanske, as well as Cobie Smulders and April Bowlby) and on this particular night, he takes his bullying skills to a new level. In an effort to pay off a gambling debt to the Japanese Yakuza, Salmon sets up a contest to ‘inspire’ his waitstaff to sell more food than they ever have before: the top selling server wins $10,000 while the waiter in last place gets served with a broken rib sandwich—courtesy of the Champ himself.
Spurred on by greed and panic, the staff resort to backstabbing, bribery and indecent proposals in an attempt to upsell their patrons while simultaneously sabotaging their co-workers. As the hours pass, the dining room action becomes more frenzied as the contest escalates into a brawl for first place in order to win the money.
The film costars Sendhil Ramamurthy, Lance Henriksen, Vivica A. Fox, and Morgan Fairchild
The film hits theaters on December 11th.
Broken Lizard's The Slammin Salmon: Official Trailer
Starring: Thora Birch, Keith Carradine, Brendan Sexton III
Directed By: Eric Mandelbaum
Written By: Michael Graff, Michael Caughill
Grade: C
Winter of Frozen Dreams is an independent thriller based on the dramatized novel of the same name. In the 1970s, Barbara Hoffman was charged with 1st degree murder. Her trial was the first murder trial to be televised nationally. Winter of Frozen Dreams is more of a character study then a suspenseful film. The characters are somewhat interesting, but most of them, even Hoffman, weren’t gone in to nearly enough to create an intriguing draw or questioning of the true character and capacity for selfishness and caring, love and murder, and intelligence and conniving that it is suggested that Hoffman must have possessed.
Barbara Hoffman (Birch) left college where she was studying biochemistry and became a prostitute, opting for easy money over the career she was headed for. She gained her elderly boyfriend’s property and entire life savings before they were even married. When he turns up dead, she is the top suspect. His body was frozen over and found inside of her bathroom. She calls her current quiet and slightly socially awkward boyfriend, Jerry (Sexton III), in a panic. She claims her pimp killed this man for whatever reason and put him in her bathroom to show the other girls a lesson about not taking a stand against him; to keep them in their place. Jerry believes her, but also thinks that they should call the police. Barbara insists that they can’t do that as it will look like she had something to do with this. She insists that if they just get rid of the body than this will go away and it will show her pimp that he can’t mess with girls like her.
Before long, the body is found and Jerry is taken in for questioning. He tells them what happened, convinced that he is really protecting Barbara from being further suspected as he is sure that she is innocent. Agents begin following him around, for his protection as they fear that Jerry will be her next target. Things get rocky between Jerry and Barbara and she becomes more uneasy that these agents are constantly following them. Barbara realizes that Jerry could be what puts her away, but without him the police would only have circumstantial evidence. Questions are posed of whether or not his good intentions will ruin Barbara’s life, if she truly is guilty or just a pimp’s victim, and what she is capable of doing to look out for herself.
Thora Birch does well as the cold and selfish, Barbara Hoffman. There is still supposed to be a question of whether she is guilty or even capable of murder or not. She plays the game very well, looking out for herself, while still seeming like she might care for boyfriend and is simply looking for a way out of her life of prostitution. Brendan Sexton III did well as Jerry, displaying such an innocent naïve quality that perhaps made him the biggest victim of all. He wanted to believe in Barbara so badly, to believe that he really did have a good girl that he could spend the rest of his life with who liked him for who he was. This desperation to believe this is overwhelming, making him a very sympathetic character, his only crime being that he was too understanding. Keith Carradine also does good as always as a retiring cop, wanting to end his career on a high note by putting Barbara behind bars. Dean Winters also did pretty good as Ray, Barbara’s pimp. He established power, dominance, greed and belittled his girls when he could. Still, it was less overdone than you might expect, seeming natural and giving us a realistic character.
The first mistake the film makes is in the very first scene when they reveal that Barbara was found guilty for first degree murder. The rest of the movie seems to question whether she did commit murderer or not, but there really isn’t much question left at this point. Perhaps, the writers figured since it was a known crime case that there wasn’t any point in leaving the question of the verdict up in the air. Since this happened 30 years ago, it is safe to assume that majority of people who watch the film probably wouldn’t be familiar enough with the case to know whether she was found innocent or guilty. Barbara Hoffman has refused to talk since she was found guilty so the only evidence was the testimony given and that she was found guilty. The rest is just speculation, diving in to the events that led up to her arrest. Through this we get the two opposing sides to her character there would be a lot more suspense, build up, and satisfaction if we were able to go in with a clean slate, accepting Barbara as our protagonist and wanting to believe in her.
The non-chronological structure of the film could have worked, offering us little pieces of the puzzle in to Barbara’s existence. It really feels like what we are given is only scratching the surface though. Being up close, viewing so many moments that surrounded the murders and her arrest, we should have been able to see so much more of both sides of Barbara; the seemingly good as well as the selfishly bad. She is supposed to be a genius and all we see of that side of her is possible gold digger tendencies, which any girl with looks and a little bit of charm can pull off. I guess they wanted to leave it open, making it possible that Barbara could be either innocent or guilty. It would have been a much more compelling film if they would have really dove in to her character, displaying her extremely contradicting nature on the outside as well as the even darker and more self-serving side of her that she kept hidden in the inside.
Winter of Frozen Dreams is a decent film following the events that led up to Barbara Hoffman’s murder conviction and the questioning of whether she really was guilty and capable of committing this crime. Still it could have been a far more intriguing and involved film if the writers wouldn’t have hesitated to truly explore the interesting characters they had to work with. It seems like they wanted it to be a captivating character piece, but were too afraid to take a stance on the characters, wanting to leave everything up in the air. The problem is when you are just warily shown a bit of everything that’s on the surface the real value is lost.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
