Welcome to the 285th Edition of my long-running series. This week I pay tribute to Michael Serrazin and Tim Hetherington who both recently left us. I saw that this season's AMERICA'S GOT TALENT is to premier on the 31st of May so I don't know one way or the other if I will be used. Either way, I'll write a blog reflecting on my times with that show.
Disclosure (1994): This is the 24th link on The Chain and continues with Dylan Baker. This is based on the novel from Michael Crichton and directed by Barry Levinson. I remember I was in middle school when this came out and saw the previews where even then I was quite intrigued by this corporate drama. Michael Douglas plays Tom Sanders who is happily married and a computer expert with a company for a long time. He is expecting to be rewarded for his tenure and hard work by being promoted to CEO but has no such luck. The promotion goes to a very sexy woman who he once had an affair with named Meredith Johnson, played very well by Demi Moore. Things get even worse when he agrees to meet with her thinking it is just business and maybe to reflect but turns out to be much worse as she comes onto him. She first accuses him of harassment but he turns the tables and sues her which jeopardizes everything he has including his job and family. This is a pretty good and suspenseful film even if Michael Douglas plays these types of parts a lot. There is a lot more to this than the sexual harassment lawsuit. Donald Sutherland, Dennis Miller, and NIP/TUCK alum Roma Maffia co-star. I remember after seeing this I actually decided to read the book, I know a very rare thing for me, but I also really liked the book. I'll never forget having this at school with me and my friend Jess getting all over me about this "sick, disgusting book", yes I have quite a memory to remember a middle school moment like that, and for some it may be but if you can get past the intense sex scene it is very intriguing. This is available on Instant Netflix. The Chain will continue next week with one of the actors, actresses, or director of this film.
No Direction Home: Bob Dylan (2005): This is my rock documentary for the week which was directed by Martin Scorsese. As you might have guessed, this is based on singer Bob Dylan. It focuses on the 1961 to 1966 period of his career where his career rises and the evolution from becoming a folk singer to then becoming a protest singer. This documentary contains a lot of rare performance footage and interviews from the likes of Allen Ginsberg, Pete Seeger, Joan Baez, and many others. This is likely going to be enjoyed by people who are Dylan fans or at least the casual fans. People who do not like Bob Dylan as a person or his music may not like this movie. For me, there is some music of his I like and some I do not like but I really enjoyed the performance footage and his reflections. Scorsese put this together very well and is worth the three hours.
De Nachtmerrie (1946): This is my puppet animation short for the week and is translated to the nightmare in English. I found this on my Pub-D-Hub app on my Roku player. This was a very intriguing short film from an animation studio called 'factory' Dollywood and is some kind of advertising clip. It is a situation where a man is captured by pirates and is quite disturbing. The animation though was amazing and this can probably be found on youtube.
Tarzan and His Mate (1934): I found this one on TCM On-Demand. This is the second film of the MGM series of the title character which stars Johnny Weissmuller as Tarzan and Maureen O'Sullivan as Jane which is probably the best Tarzan/Jane duo of all time. Edgar Rice Burroughs wrote this character and the first novels. Harry Holt, an old friend of Jane, comes to the jungle leading an expedition with his friend Marlin to find and take back ivory. Harry also has ideas about bringing back Jane which becomes very hard to convince her. Harry's friend Marlin also shows how crooked and greedy he can be when Tarzan does not want them to take back the ivory. There is a lot of action for a movie of this era with Tarzan protecting Jane from every animal and fights with violent native tribes. There is a very interesting scene where Tarzan and Jane are under water and Jane is actually naked and even shows full frontal shots. This was a scene cut originally from the film for obvious censorship reasons. The nude scenes were discovered in the 90s by Turner Entertainment and Ted Turner ordered the scenes to be restored.
On Dangerous Ground (1952): This is my film noir for the week which I also found on TCM On-Demand. Nicholas Ray is credited as the director of this movie though it is said that Ida Lupino, who also co-stars in the film, did some of the directing. Robert Ryan stars as withdrawn cop Jim Wilson whose job has had a lot of clear effect on him through the years. He is then sent to a smaller town to investigate the murder of a young girl while also kind of being on probation with his job. When there, he meets the victims vengeful father Walter, played well by Ward Bond, and meets a woman that he really likes but is blind and the sister of the main suspect. This is a very watchable film and becomes a tale of redemption for Jim as he finds love possibly for the first time in his life but also knows he must do his job. Ida Lupino is also very good as Mary, the blind woman who tries to help Jim find peace within himself.
Killer Klowns From Outer Space (1988): This is my cult film for the week which was directed, writted, and produced by the Chiodo Brothers. We have a small town where aliens, who look like clowns, come and terrorize the town. Grant Cramer and Suzanne Snyder star in this film as a couple who witness the terror but have a very hard time getting anyone to believe them but like in many horror films, there is that cop that is open-minded and knows these people would not lie. There is not much more to explain than that since the title explains a lot. No matter what, we cannot really knock these people for originality in terms of the aliens being clowns. My Grandmother used to dress up as a clown and would give candy to children which was very admirable. My cousin Gary actually did it with her at times while at first he did not understand her reasoning since she did not get paid but when doing it with her really understood that it was to help people and make kids happy. In turn, my grandma would not have liked this film and it is not for everyone. However, it is a good guilty pleasure and even moves beyond guilty pleasure at times with a pretty good story and killing scenes. This is quite possibly the inspiration for the Insane Clown Posse.
The Gumball Rally (1976): This is my tribute to Michael Serrazin who stars in this film. He was more known for THEY SHOOT HORSES, DON'T THEY but I have used that not too long ago plus I can only watch that so many times. This is one of many illegal road race movies from the 70s. This is a race of the title and when a very diverse group of people hear "gumball" they go straight to the cross-country road race. I'm not huge on road movies but this provided some entertainment like a young Gary Busey and Raul Julia. If this is a type of film you like, this is for you.
Mafioso (1962): This is my Italian film for the week which I found on TCM On-Demand. This is a mafia movie and is also a comedy directed by Alberto Lattuada. Alberto Sordi stars as Antonio. He is a factory worker who decides to take his family to Sicily and meet his family. He is determined to dispel any mafia connections but his wife has a hard time believing it and is soon called upon by the family boss to do a "favor". This movie has some great cinematography in it and good performances. It was a good movie of a man discovering there is a lot more to his family than he remembers.
Restrepo (2010): This is my tribute to Tim Hetherington who was one of the directors of this documentary. He was recently killed when in Libya trying to film the conflict there. This is something he seemed very passionate about as it shows in this documentary. This is my second documentary this week which takes a look at a U.S. Platoon in Afghanistan. It really gives a no-nonsense look at what the group must go through and the various ways each one must deal with deaths which they do experience. There was some pretty intense war footage which I know I could never go out there to film. What I really liked about this was that there was no political message or even some statement being made in this film. There will be no bashing or compliments toward any president or other politician. There is no big music score but just compelling interviews and war footage that should keep everyone engaged. Hetherington appears to have died doing what he loves but my thoughts go out to his friends and family. This is available on Instant Netflix.
Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call- New Orleans (2009): This is part one of a two-part Nicolas Cage series. Werner Herzog directed this film which stars Nicolas Cage as detective Terence McDonagh who has a drug and gambling addiction. He is then assigned to investigate the murder of a family over drugs. Through this investigation he must deal with his demons as well as other things in his life which make his life more difficult. Eva Mendez co-stars as Terence's prostitute girlfriend and Val Kilmer plays his partner. Nicolas Cage has not always made the best decisions but please forget about everything else you may hate him in and try this. Many may remember the 1992 film BAD LIEUTENANT with Harvey Keitel and this is promoted as a remake but Herzog has made it clear that it is not really a remake and I agree. The title was used in many ways for marketing. One significant thing on the film is that this takes place kind of after hurricane Katrina with an event that leads to Terence's drug addiction. This movie is available on Instant Netflix. This movie is not for everyone but it has a good audience and I do not believe you'll be disappointed.
Well, that is it for this week. Tell me what you like and dislike. Also, I welcome suggestions but please comment on what I have written first and if you have not seen any of these titles, just say that in the comments. Stay tuned for next week which so far includes more Nicolas Cage, Helen Mirren, Ellen Page, Lucille Ball, Clark Gable, and many others.
HONORABLE TV MENTION
Beavis and Butt-Head (1993): I recently got reacquainted with my friends from middle school of the title. Mike Judge created this MTV cartoon series of these two heavy metal underachievers. These people never really have any friends and they are very rude to everyone they meet, even to each other. They spend lots of time sitting on the couch and watching music videos where some they absolutely love and some they just make fun of a lot. They are also in high school where no teachers seem to know how to deal with them and many other times they just skip school. They are also obsessed with "scoring" where they try in every way possible to hook up with women. Other times they work at the restaurant Burger World but always seem to cause a lot of chaos but their manager must be compassionate. They also get a lot of odd jobs like from Tom Anderson who always seems to forget they are not the smartest people in the world to do yard-work. Mike Judge also shows his voice talent as he provides the voices for the title characters, Tom Anderson, Mr. Van Driessen, Coach Buzzcut, Principal McVicker, among others. Mr. Van Driessen was their hippie teacher who never wanted to give up on Beavis and Butthead no matter what even if they did something wrong to him. He also wrote some good songs. Buzzcut was a more military minded teacher and did not like working with the characters. McVicker's toughest job was dealing with Beavis and Butthead. Beavis had some moments where when having a lot of caffeine and turns into Cornholio. Butt-Head in some some ways was the smarter of the two but that is not saying a lot. I watched this on Instant Netflix recently which was kind of a best-of collection from Mike Judge which does not include all episodes. Another problem here is that in the Instant collection, they do not have them watching the music videos which was always the best part of the show. That is likely because of royalty issues so I hope they can work something out in the future. However, watching these episodes without the videos, I also saw how innovative Judge was in his writing and there was always a pretty new situation each week. This show would come to an end so that Judge could start his next animated series KING OF THE HILL where Judge adopts Anderson's voice for Hank Hill. This show sparked a lot of controversy from parents, politicians, and everyone else. There was even a lawsuit where this show was blamed for a 5 year old boy burning down a house and in it the tragic death of the boy's two year old sister. From there, they could not make any fire references bout found "loopholes" around it. This show is very intelligently stupid and amazing. There would later be a movie and even a cd where Butt-Head and Beavis sings I GOT YOU BABE with Cher.
Welcome to another edition of Trailer Friday. It's been a while but I have some horrifying trailers from Brain Damage Film and Maxim Media to make this exciting edition.
"Evidence of a Haunting": Official Trailer
Trailer Courtesy of Maxim Media
While shooting their reality TV show, a team of ghost hunters get into the fight of their lives as they investigate the haunted tunnels deep below an old Texas college.
"Evidence Of A Haunting" is available through your local Video on Demand provider.
""Bound By Blood: Wendigo": Official Trailer
Trailer courtesy of Brain Damage Films
For Hundreds of years, Native American culture has believed in the evil cannibalistic spirit know as “the Wendigo”. For those who had taken part in cannibalism, no matter the reason, it was said “the Wendigo” would then take possession of the person’s body and soul. Once the Wendigo would take possession of the human host, the host would develop and insatiable desire to eat human flesh.
In the deep woods of Northern Pennsylvania, A small town sheriff is investigating a bloody crime scene. On the scene, he meets beautiful Angeni Stonechild , a traveling physician doing work in the area. During the investigation, the two stumble upon FBI Agents, two individuals under their witness protection program, dead bodies, and a whole slew of hired hit men out to ensure the witnesses never make it to trial. With a trail of mutilated bodies piling up, the sheriff and Angeni must not only confront the dangerous assassins but also find away to destroy….the Wendigo!
"Bound By Blood: Wendigo" hits DVD on May 3rd.
"Wisconsin Project X": Official Trailer
Trailer courtesy of Brain Damage Films
In the small town of Wisconsinville, Montana a scientist, Dr. Winston, works in a lab on a new experiment. While developing a new type of preservative for the snack cake industry he creates an artificial living organism. Dr. Winston creates a humanoid from the formula. They mutate and break free from the doctor's laboratory. Now, they have escaped the lab and into the town of Wisconsinville. Suddenly the humanoids enter the town destroying and killing everything in their path. A full out battle ensues; exploding humanoids, gun fire, coffee fire, body parts, and 80's horror mayhem! The small town underdogs give the humanoids a brutal beating. Now, they find Dr. Winston, who insists that he can make more humanoids. And, he can make them better. Ralphie and his group of friends strongly disagree. Dr. Winston ignores the groups' concern and heads back to his lab. Ralphie and the gang try to stop him from creating more humanoid monsters. It's too late, he has turned into a humanoid monster and fights them. Gun shots and a bullet hit to a main gas line causes a chain reaction of danger. A giant explosion and the group just barely gets away--but is this the end of the Dr. Winston humanoid monster?
"Wisconsin Project X" hits DVD on July 12th
Attention Independent Filmmakers. If you want your film's trailer featured on the film arcade youtube page and on an upcoming edition of Trailer Friday, send your email and trailer to anthonythurber@filmarcade.net.
The best way to describe “Source Code?” It’s “Groundhog Day” meets “Quantum Leap.” It stars Jake Gyllenhaal as Captain Colter Stevens, an army helicopter pilot who suddenly finds himself on a mission to find a bomber who blew up a
This is a great concept for a movie as we all have those moments that are as painful as they are unforgettable. Whether we admit or not, we keep playing them back in our minds over and over again, changing the outcome to something that is more pleasing to our ego and sense of well being. Even though it does us no good to dwell on the past, we fall into those patterns when our present isn’t all that great, and our future is more uncertain than we would like it to be. Through the breakthroughs of science, Jake gets to relive a moment that (while not his own) allows him to change things even if it’s in an alternate reality.
Of course, we can replay a moment from our lives to where we can no longer remember what was real or what was not. This movie explores that as well, making one believe that if our lives were predestined, they won’t be anymore thanks to science!
“Source Code” is director Duncan Jones’ follow up to “Moon” which itself was one of the very best movies of 2009. Like “Moon,” its main character is caught up in a situation not entirely of his making, but which becomes clear as the plot rolls along. Like Jake’s character, we are making discoveries about who he is along with him, and we will probably not like all the answers we find.
From the outset, this movie looks to be a whodunit, but that ceases to be the case before the story reaches its midpoint. Besides, it’s pretty easy to figure out who the bomber is, and it’s only a matter of time before Jake confronts that person to learn their true intentions. In actuality, it’s about a man caught up in a situation that he has no control over, and of how he gets that control back in a way no one can predict.
Jake Gyllenhaal remains one of the most dependable actors in movies today, and he doesn’t let the audience down in this one. In many ways, his performance is not too different from others he’s given in recent years, so there’s not much new to what he does here. All the same, he’s very good, so why complain? Jake engages us emotionally in his character’s struggle as, like him, we don’t know how we got into this and we are desperate to get answers.
Aside from Jake, “Source Code” also features other strong performances like the one from Vera Farmiga who was so great in “The Departed” and “Up In The Air.” Her character of Captain Colleen Goodwin at first looks to be Jake’s embattled conscience, but it’s really the other way around. Vera is great in taking a typical military stock character and giving her a heart and soul that strongly informs the decisions her character later makes.
Also in the film is Jeffrey Wright who plays the creator of Source Code, Dr. Rutledge. This could have been a simple obsessive doctor, one mad with power, or one that is overly cruel. Somehow, Jeffrey succeeds in making Rutledge something of an enigma to where you’re not quite sure what to make of him. He may not be a mad scientist, but he’s also not the warm kind either.
And of course we have the infinitely lovely Michelle Monaghan here as Christina Warren, girlfriend to the man Jake’s character inhabits. Whether its “
Is “Source Code” an original movie? Probably not, but it sure feels like it compared to most movies today which, if they’re not remakes, are simply not so subtle reflections of last year’s biggest hits. You could even say that there is a bit of “Inception” in this story as it involves searching through the mind of another person. But it’s a pointless argument because not much of anything is original these days. It becomes a quest to take elements from other movies or stories and make them your own, and
Duncan Jones is quickly becoming one of the most inventive directors in movies today, and I am eager to see where he goes from here. While “Source Code” is a bit confusing at times, and I didn’t quite buy the movie’s concluding act, it’s an enthralling mystery with a good dose of exciting action. Hopefully
Still, it would be nice to change some of the more painful moments from our past so that we can look at ourselves in a kinder light. While it is best to make peace and forgive ourselves for our foolish trespasses, science is always catching up with us. Just you wait!
* * * ½ out of * * * *
Lionsgate recently announced that they have acquired Barry Levinson's (Rain Man, The Natural) latest film, "The Bay", which is produced by the producers of "Paranormal Activity and "Insidious", which is scaring theaters right now .
LIONSGATE® , a leading global entertainment company, recently announced that it has acquired U.S. distribution rights to Barry Levinson's found footage eco-horror film THE BAY from Alliance Films. The announcement was made jointly by Joe Drake, President of the Motion Picture Group, and Jason Constantine, President of Acquisitions and Co-Productions.
From the producers of the PARANORMAL ACTIVITY franchise, the film is the next installment in their series following INSIDIOUS, and chronicles an unprecedented biological disaster unleashed from the waters of the Chesapeake Bay- an isopod parasite, carrying a horrific untreatable disease, that jumps from fish to human hosts. The true horror and scope of the event unfolds on footage captured on home videos and the internet by the town's victims.
"Ingenious genre films are and always will be a specialty at Lionsgate," explained Drake of the choice to acquire the film. "THE BAY is a shining example of the kind of truly fresh horror film that audiences are always ready for, and that we excel at eventizing with them. Thanks to Barry, we'll all be afraid to go in the water for years to come."
Adds Constantine, "We have been big admirers of Jason Blum, Steven Schneider and Oren Peli since their breakout hit PARANORMAL ACTIVITY, and are thrilled to be in business with them. This film works so effectively because it establishes a very natural, everyday world, places the audience intimately within it, and then sits back as everything takes a horrific turn. Barry has incorporated found footage to the most satisfying possible effect, and it's all the scarier for not relying on anything supernatural."
"It's exciting to see a company like Lionsgate embrace The Bay so enthusiastically. The found footage / multiplatform approach opened up the film to creative possibilities I hadn't encountered in my previous films, and I think these sorts of films will only continue to push boundaries as the technology changes," said director Barry Levinson.
The film was directed by Levinson, from a script he co-wrote with Michael Wallach. THE BAY was produced by Levinson, Jason Blum, Steven Schneider, and Oren Peli, and co-produced by Mythodic Films, with Brian Kavanaugh-Jones, Jason Sosnoff, Colin Strause, and Greg Strause executive producing.
THE BAY is an Alliance presentation in association with IM Global. IM Global handled foreign sales, and Alliance will distribute in Canada, the UK and Spain.
The deal was negotiated by Lionsgate's Constantine, with Eda Kowan, Senior Vice President of Acquisitions, and Wendy Jaffe, Executive Vice President Business & Legal Affairs for Acquisitions. The sale was brokered on behalf of Alliance by ICM and CAA. ICM packaged the film and represents Levinson and Wallach.
Universal Studios announced today, the George Lucas classic "American Graffiti" will be released in a special edition DVD and Blu-Ray for the very first time on May 31st.
Press Release:
From legendary director George Lucas (Star Wars) and celebrated producer Francis Ford Coppola (The Godfather), American Graffiti Special Edition is an Academy Award®-nominated classic coming-of-age story set against the 1960s backdrop of hot rods, drive-ins and rock n' roll. Debuting for the first time on Blu-ray™ on May 31, 2011 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment and featuring a new digitally remastered picture supervised by George Lucas, American Graffiti Special Edition stars Ron Howard ("Happy Days"), Richard Dreyfuss (Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Jaws), Harrison Ford (Cowboys & Aliens, Star Wars), Cindy Williams ("Laverne & Shirley," "Happy Days"), Mackenzie Phillips ( "One Day at a Time") and Suzanne Somers ("Three's Company," "Step by Step") in their breakout roles.
Nominated for five Oscars®, including Best Picture and Best Director, this nostalgic look back follows a group of teenagers as they cruise the streets on their last summer night before college. Featuring the howling sounds of Wolfman Jack and an unforgettable soundtrack with songs by Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, The Beach Boys and Bill Haley & His Comets, American Graffiti Special Edition recaptures the heart of America's last age of innocence. The American Graffiti Special Edition Blu-ray™ includes never-before-seen director video commentary and the Special Edition DVD features all-new director audio commentary.
AMERICAN GRAFFITI SPECIAL EDITION BLU-RAY™ BONUS FEATURES: Unleash the power of your HDTV with perfect picture and the purest digital sound available.
U-CONTROL™: Universal's exclusive feature that lets the viewer access bonus materials without leaving the movie!
Director Video Commentary: All new picture-picture video commentary with the director of American Graffiti.
The Music of American Graffiti: Instantly identify the songs heard while watching the film, create a custom playlist of your favorites and even purchase them from iTunes.
SCREEN TESTS: Never-before-seen screen tests with Ron Howard, Richard Dreyfuss, Cindy Williams, Mackenzie Phillips Paul Le Mat and Charles Martin Smith.
THE MAKING OF AMERICAN GRAFFITI: An original documentary featuring interviews with director George Lucas, executive producer Francis Ford Coppola, members of the cast including Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Paul Le Mat, Charles Martin Smith, Cindy Williams, Candy Clark, Mackenzie Phillips, Harrison Ford and Suzanne Somers.
BD-LIVE™: Access the BD-Live™ Center through your Internet-connected player to watch the latest trailers and more!
pocket BLU™: The groundbreaking pocket BLU™ app uses iPhone®, iPod® touch, Android™, PC and Macintosh to work seamlessly with a network-connected Blu-ray™ player. Also available on the iPad™, owners can enjoy a new, enhanced edition of pocket BLU™ made especially to take advantage of the tablet's larger screen and high resolution display. Consumers will be able to browse through a library of Blu-ray™ content and watch entertaining extras on-the-go in a way that's bigger and better than ever before. pocket BLU™ offers advanced features such as:
Advanced Remote Control: A sleek, elegant new way to operate your Blu-ray™ player. Users can navigate through menus, playback and BD-Live™ functions with ease.
Video Timeline: Users can easily bring up the video timeline, allowing them to instantly access any point in the film.
Mobile-To-Go: Users can unlock a selection of bonus content with their Blu-ray™ discs to save to their device or to stream from anywhere there is a Wi-Fi network, enabling them to enjoy content on the go, anytime, anywhere.
Browse Titles: Users will have access to a complete list of pocket BLU™-enabled titles available and coming to Blu-ray™ Hi-Def. They can view free previews and see what additional content is available to unlock on their device.
Keyboard: Entering data is fast and easy with your device's intuitive keyboard.
uHEAR™: Never miss another line of dialogue with this innovative feature that instantly skips back a few seconds on your Blu-ray™ disc and turns on the subtitles to highlight what you missed.
THEATRICAL TRAILER
AMERICAN GRAFFITI SPECIAL EDITION DVD BONUS FEATURES:
ALL-NEW AUDIO COMMENTARY: Audio commentary with the director of American Graffiti.
THE MAKING OF AMERICAN GRAFFITI: An original documentary featuring interviews with director George Lucas, executive producer Francis Ford Coppola, members of the cast including Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Paul Le Mat, Charles Martin Smith, Cindy Williams, Candy Clark, Mackenzie Phillips, Harrison Ford and Suzanne Somers.
THEATRICAL TRAILER
Joe Wright’s “Hanna” almost looks like this year’s “Kick Ass” in that it follows the exploits of a young girl who has been trained by her father to be an elite assassin so she can avenge her mother’s murder. But “Hanna” however is more down to earth in how it treats its characters and the events that envelop them. That doesn’t make it better than “Kick Ass,” just different.
On top of it being an action thriller with a bit of Luc Besson sleekness in its design, it’s also a fish out of water story as the title character makes her way into the real world. Hanna has spent her life in the woods, living in a snow-covered cabin where her dad has kept her safe. Now she is heading into a world she is as unfamiliar with as she is unprepared for it. Her mission of assassination is simultaneously a journey of discovery, making the story of “Hanna” come with more surprises than its premise would suggest.
Playing Hanna is Saoirse Ronan who starred in Joe Wright’s “Atonement” and Peter Jackson’s “The Lovely Bones.” These are two movies I should have seen already, but have not. The good news for you though is that I won’t be wasting time comparing this film to those two. What a shame, huh?
On paper, Hanna seems a completely unrealistic character that could in no way exist in real life. But the beauty of Saoirse’s performance is that she makes her seem as real as any 16-year old girl making discoveries about herself. It’s a wonderfully complex character who is at once a deadly killer while simultaneously an innocent person. Seeing her come in contact with a civilization that she has been sheltered from all her life provides her with evidence that not everything involves guns, bullets and violence. Of course, seeing her get her first kiss is frightening because she can flip back to assassin mode in a heartbeat.
Most of her adventures come as a result of befriending a British family on a road trip whose daughter Sophie (Jessica Barden is a kick to watch) introduces her to teenage rebellion and some rather tacky fashion statements. Sophie’s parents, Sebastian (Jason Flemyng) and Rachel (“The Ghost Writer’s” Olivia Williams), come to admire Hanna’s independence and help her as she moves on to safer haven from the government forces who want to eliminate her and her father. Little do they know her real intentions which she covers with a fake back story that she has memorized to death.
Joe Wright comes up with some invigorating action sequences that made me feel like I was watching a Jason Bourne movie. There’s not much in the way of nausea inducing shaky camerawork, but you can feel the bullets flying in the air and the punches and kicks that land on her opponents, crushing them as if she were simply swatting flies. This is the kind of action film I like to watch in that you feel it instead of just sitting back like you’re a passive observer. It doesn’t seem like there are a lot of action movies like that in theatres at the moment.
In addition, he gets some amazing unbroken shots as we watch characters make their way through crowds of people while being followed by cold-hearted adversaries. If there are any other shots like this in recent movie releases, I haven’t seen them. It makes me want to say “eat your heart out Brian DePalma” as the choreography involved in filming an unbroken sequence like this is anything but easy.
There are other great performances to be found in “Hanna” as well. One in particular is from Eric Bana who plays Hanna’s father Erik Heller. His character is also a spy on the run whose relationship with Hanna is much more complicated than at first glance. Watching Bana here reminded me of just how much he throws himself physically and emotionally into his characters. It’s exhausting watching him here as we get reminded of his strong work in movies like “Black Hawk Down,” and less of his more comedic roles like in “Funny People.”
Then there’s the infinitely brilliant Cate Blanchett who never seems to suck in anything she does. While listening to her southern accent feels a bit odd, she is still sharp as ever as corrupt CIA agent Marissa Wiegler. Throughout “Hanna,” Marissa is as obsessive in eliminating her and Erik as she is in cleaning her teeth. Heck, watching her brushing even while her gums are bleeding profusely reminded me of just how long it’s been since I’ve gone to the dentist. Cate also has a brilliant moment where she pays a visit to a key witness, but her face suddenly shows a wealth of pain that is mysterious in its origin. I don’t know how she did it, but it’s the one shot in “Hanna” that has stayed with me the most as her ruthless character succumbs to a moment of inescapable vulnerability.
On top of it all, you get a fantastically propulsive electronic film score from The Chemical Brothers. I immediately downloaded it off of iTunes as soon as I got back to my apartment. It’s actually the first time they have ever composed for a movie. Learning this made me want to say:
“Duh! What about “Fight Club?”
But wait, it was The Dust Brothers who did that one. I guess techno music is more of a family affair than I realized. Either that or all these brothers look alike. If you can, see “Hanna” in a movie theater with a great sound system. You just might find yourself bobbing along to the hypnotic beats coming right at you furiously.
“Hanna” is not without its faults. The pace of the movie tends to slag in between the action scenes which, while offering us some beautiful moments for the title character, drag the proceedings down more than they should. Also, it ends without resolving the fate of several characters, leaving us wondering what happened to them and if they came out of this alive and in one piece. The ending feels a bit too abrupt as a result.
Still, it’s a remarkably involving action thriller that doesn’t lay out everything for you at the start. The story continues to unfold throughout, revealing each of its secrets along the way. What brings it altogether is the fantastic performance of Saoirse Ronan who at her young age shows a professionalism and sharp focus on character equal to many acting veterans. Seeing her portray someone as innocent as she is very deadly makes it one of the most unforgettable performances I have seen so far in 2011.
* * * ½ out of * * * *
The organizers behind Rooftop Films recently announced the selections that will be playing at their 15th Annual Summer Series. The 2011 Summer Series will begin on Friday, May 13th on the roof of the New Design High School in the Lower East Side and continue with screenings throughout the city every weekend through August 20.
Press Release:
Rooftop Films is proud to announce the lineup for their 15th Annual Summer Series, presented by IFC and New York Magazine, featuring:
+ Over 50 shows: every weekend from May 13th - August 20th
+ 23 feature-length films including 2 World Premieres and 15 US or NY Premieres
+ 183 short films from 26 countries, shown in themed programs such as Romance Shorts, Thriller Shorts, and New York Non-Fiction
+ Fiction, documentary, comedy, drama, animation and more
+ 15 spectacular outdoor venues with stunning views across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens & The Bronx
+ Live music, filmmaker Q&As, and after parties with complimentary drinks
+ Special events such as a live wrestling match at the screening of Robert Green's Fake it So Real, featuring the semi-pro wrestlers from that film, and a sneak attack performance by the musical guerillas from the Swedish comedy The Sound of Noise
+ An expected 30,000 attendees
Although Rooftop Films has continued to experience remarkable growth since their initial single screening on the roof of founder Mark Elijah Rosenberg's tenement building in 1997, their focus remains on leveraging their grassroots popularity to bring out big crowds and shine a spotlight on new independent films that might otherwise never get the attention they deserve.
"15 years ago, screening films only available on 16mm prints, the problem was accessibility," says Rosenberg, Rooftop's Artistic Director. "Today, technology has made production and distribution available for thousands of films; the problem is getting people to watch them. Rooftop's model builds a community around the world's best independent films."
Acting as innovators and leading an event-based marketing revolution, Rooftop Films has helped enable the success of many of alumni, including the films Wasteland, Trouble the Water, Holy Rollers, Winnebago Man, and numerous others. In addition, through their Rooftop Filmmakers' Fund, they are helping more powerful, understated films not only be seen, but made; films such as Rooftop Filmmakers' Fund Grantee Martha Marcy May Marlene, which went on to win Sean Durkin best director at Sundance and a distribution deal with Fox Searchlight Pictures.
However, the popularity and longevity of Rooftop Films comes primarily from the fact that their events take audiences beyond the average multi-plex movie going experience. This year is no different.
Rooftop Program Director Dan Nuxoll adds, "Outdoor film screenings are always special, but we strive to go one step further, to create unforgettable and meaningful events. We are really excited to continue that tradition in 2011 with some really remarkable shows, especially our screening of Robert Greene's Fake It So Real, about a ragtag group of semi-professional wrestlers from North Carolina. For that show we'll include a live wrestling match featuring a battle royale between the subjects from the film. We'll also be screening Jarred Alterman's documentary Convento, about the Dutch kinetic artist, Christiaan Zwankikken, who makes amazing robots out of local dead wildlife. But instead of just showing the film, we will also fly in Christiaan and have him create an installation of his robots onsite."
Rooftop Films 15th Annual Summer Series Schedule for May 2011
Friday, May 13, 2011
Rooftop Films Summer Series Opening Night: This is What We Mean by Short Films
Opening Night of Rooftop Films 15th Annual Summer Series will feature grand stories in little packages, with some of the greatest new short films from all around the world.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Freeloader (Zachary Raines | New York | World Premiere)
A special World Premiere of a new film by New York based filmmaker, Zachary Raines. A serious comedy following Frank, a feckless young man recently dumped by his girlfriend. In need of a place to stay, Frank moves from couch to couch, testing the patience of friends - and the kindness of strangers - until his luck runs out.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Sound of Noise (Ola Simonsson & Johannes Stfarne Nillsson | Sweden | NY Premiere)
A clever and maniacally entertaining Swedish comedy about a group of "musical terrorists" who break into hospitals, banks, and other public places to play compositions using the surroundings as their instruments. The screening will feature a special live performance by the musicians from the film.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Dark 'Toons (Short Films)
Our popular annual program of enjoyably evil animation.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Short Film Thrillers: Trapped in the Machine
A selection of heart-racing, breath quickening, edge-of-your-seat films featuring all kinds of people and things struggling to break free.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Romance Short Films
Romance, served up with a twist.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Bad Posture (Malcolm Murray | Brooklyn, NY)
A nuanced, visually inventive vista of young life in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Bad Posture follows Flo as he seeks to make amends - and make a connection - with Marisa, a beautiful girl whose car his best friend has stolen.
Screenings continue every weekend from May 13 through August 20.
A full schedule will be available soon.
Additional 2011 Feature Selections will include:
Green (Sophia Takal | Brooklyn, NY | NY Premiere)
A haunting meditation on jealousy and the ways women manipulate and attempt to destroy each other.
The Catechism Cataclysm (Todd Rohal | Brooklyn, NY | Part of BAM Cinemafest) www.catechismcataclysm.com
Rooftop continues our partnership with BAM Cinemafest with Rooftop alum Todd Rohal's madcap story about Father William Smoortser, who drops his bible into a toilet at a rest stop just before embarking on a day-long canoe trip, breaking loose all glorious hell.
The Extraordinary Ordinary Life of Jose Gonzalez (Mikel Cee Karlsson and Fredrik Egerstrand | Sweden | NY Premiere) www.plattformproduktion.se
Shot over a three year period in José González's studio, at home and on tour, using a combination of video diary, surveillance camera, tour footage and animation, filmmakers Mikel Cee Karlsson and Fredrik Egerstrand provide a look into the life of one of Sweden's most interesting artists.
Codependent Lesbian Space Alien Seeks Same (Madeline Olnek | New York, NY | NY Premiere)
http://bit.ly/febsWy
Special Gay Pride Weekend celebration. Codependent Lesbian Space Alien Seeks Same is a joyously campy nod to 50's sci-fi, following the adventures of lesbian space aliens on the planet Earth, and the romance between Jane, a shy greeting card store employee, and Zoinx, the woman Jane does not realize is from outer-space.
The Redemption of General Butt Naked (Eric Strauss and Daniele Anastasion | Washington, DC)
Joshua Milton Blahyi, aka General Butt Naked, has reinvented himself from the murderer thousands during Liberia's horrific 14-year civil war to the evangelist Joshua Milton Blahyi. In a riveting cinema vérité journey that unfolds over the course of five years, filmmakers Eric Strauss and Daniele Anastasion follow Blahyi's unrelenting crusade to redeem his life.
Where Soldiers Come From (Heather Courtney | Austin, TX) www.pbs.org/pov/wheresoldierscomefrom
From a snowy small town in Northern Michigan to the mountains of Afghanistan and back, Where Soldiers Come From follows the four-year journey of childhood friends and their town, forever changed by a faraway war.
Northside DIY Film Competition Winner
Rooftop partners with Brooklyn's Northside Festival to present a special outdoor screening of Northside's first annual DIY Film Competition winner. (www.thelmagazine.com/blogs/NorthsideFestivalNews/)
Family Instinct (Andris Gauja | Austria)
Family Instinct is a film about incest - social taboo and a violation of religious norms. The film provides an extraordinarily intimate look into the lives of several people that live on the extreme margins of Latvian society, drawing you into a claustrophobic but compelling world that few viewers will have ever experienced.
Neurotypical (Adam Larsen | New York, NY | US Premiere) www.neuro-typical.com
What is the standard that identifies one person as whole and capable and another as disabled and broken? Neurotypical parallels the lives of three individuals on the autism spectrum, each facing a pivotal stage of growth.
Bellflower (Evan Glodel | New York, NY | NY Premiere)
An apocalyptic love story for the Mad Max generation, Evan Glodell's impressive feature debut paints a classic, yet urgently contemporary, tale of the destructive power of love.
Convento (Jarred Alterman | New York, NY | NY Premiere) convento.tumblr.com
With gorgeous, flowing camerawork filmmaker Jarred Alterman transports us into the world of Dutch kinetic artist Christiaan Zwanikken, who resurrects the deceased local wildlife by reanimating the skeletal remains with servomotors and robotic engineering. Christiaan Zwanikken and his robots will be there in person at the screening.
Fake it So Real (Robert Greene | New York, NY | NY Premiere) fakeitsoreal.com
Filmed over a single week leading up to a big show, the film follows a ragtag group of independent, semi-professional wrestlers in North Carolina, exploring what happens when the over-the-top theatrics of the wrestling ring collide with the realities of the working-class South. The show will include a live wrestling match featuring the film's subjects before the screening.
At the Edge of Russia (Michal Marczak | Poland)
Alexei is a nineteen year old recruit being flown in to perform his military service on the frontier of northern Russia. The base is one of few such remaining outposts on the Arctic Ocean. There are five other seasoned and long serving soldiers stationed here, each with their own personal story or secret that has caused them to retreat from the real world. Their training and breaking in of the new arrival is sometimes humorous, at times harsh. Gradually, they each reveal something of themselves in their daily interactions and private moments as they continue their absurd duty in this snow covered no man's land, hundreds of miles from the nearest human settlement.
World's Best Dad (Joshua Gross | New York, NY | World Premiere) www.worldsbestdadmovie.com
Miles hasn't seen Matt since their father passed away. Now, they're going to blast him into space. Once they steal his ashes. And figure out how to launch the rocket. And get him to Nevada...
Falling Overnight (Conrad Jackson | Los Angeles | New York Premiere) www.fallingovernight.com
Falling Overnight tells the story of twenty-two year old Elliot Carson on the day before he has surgery to remove a brain tumor. Facing what could be his last night, Elliot's path intersects with Chloe Webb, a young photographer who invites him to her art show. Elliot welcomes the distraction and as the night descends, Chloe takes him on an intimate and exhilarating journey through the city. But as morning approaches, and Chloe learns of Elliot's condition, the magic of the evening unravels, and they must together face the uncertainty of Elliot's future.
Additional 2011 Summer Series Short Film Programs include:
New York Non-Fiction
Scratches, beats, and elegies from the city of cities.
Clermont Ferrand
Rooftop works with the world's premier short film festival to bring you a stunning selection of short gems from across the globe.
Animation Block Party
Some call it punk rock, some call it grass roots, but labels aside, NYC-based Animation Block Party is dedicated to exhibiting the world's best independent, professional and student animation.
Kill Screen Video Game Night
Rooftop partners with the avante garde video game magazine Kill Screen to bring you an evening of short films that ask the question, "What does it mean to play games?"
Orbit (Film) (NY Premiere) www.orbitfilm.com
A collaborative, feature-length omnibus movie about our solar system where every planet is represented by a short film. Co-produced by Rooftop Films and Cinemad.
Rural Route
A program of film offering city dwellers a glimpse of the rural life, where the grass is indeed greener. This program will be fittingly screened on a brand new Rooftop Venue: The Brooklyn Grange, an organic rooftop farm in Long Island City, Queens.
Industriance
Razor sharp short films about the changing industrial and agricultural landscape in urban and rural America and beyond.
Rooftop Shots
The official Closing Night of Rooftop Films 2011 Summer Series includes short films all about endings. Films so sharp we call them shots, fired from the roof one last time this year.
Killjoy 3
Year: 2011
Director: John Lechago
Stars: Trent Haaga, Victoria De Mare, Al Burke
Studio: Full Moon Features
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 76 Mins
Going into “Killjoy 3“, I didn’t know what to expect with this film. I haven’t seen any of the sequel, so I’m relatively new to the series.
The film is about a group of college students, who find a mysterious mirror on the doorsteps of the house that they’re house-sitting. They decide to open up the package, even though it’s not addressed to the them. Once it’s opened, Killjoy wants to lure the students and have them play in his own realm with his group of friends. Now the students must find out who is Killjoy’s intended victim, before he and his sidekicks have their way with them.
When thinking about “Killjoy 3”, I can’t stop and think about what a wasted opportunity to make a good film. Writer/director John Lechago does a good job with the direction of the film, but the writing was less to be desired. Lechago does a good job with the visual aspects. I liked the way that he and his special effects team made the effects good. It didn’t feel cheesy or bad to the point that it distract you from what was going on. It helped cover some of the flaws in this film. What saved this film from being unbearable, the way that Lechago is able to get good acting from his cast. I liked , how he’s handles that aspect. One of the things that he does, he gets the performances that he needs to make it work. It kept my interest, even though I had problems with the screenplay.
Lechago’s screenplay was bad, as there’s no other way to put it. For the first fifty five minutes, this film felt like a comedy than a horror film. There wasn’t any attempt to generate some scares or intense moments, which really hurts this film. I was waiting for more action, but instead he just focuses on how many one liners Killjoy can get off. It’s one of the reasons that this film fails. The other reason, Lechago holds the majority of the horror action, until the last fifteen minutes. Even then, that isn’t even handled right. There was no suspense or intensity in the action, which made me feel bored. Thankfully this was a seventy-seven minute film or else it could’ve gotten even more worse.
“Killjoy 3” is a film that had promise with the direction, but the screenplay makes this film fall flat on its face.
Review Rating: Two stars.
Resonnances
Year: 2011
Director: Philippe Robert
Stars: Yann Sundberg, Vincent Lecompte, Romain Ogerau
Studio: Synapse Films
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 84 Mins
“Resonnances” is a micro-budget sci-fi film that comes to us from France. The film is about a group of friends, who go away to the French mountains for a fun weekend. On their way there, they come across a psychopath who has escaped from prison. After picking him up, they run into trouble and their car goes over a steep cliff. Now lost in the woods, an ancient creature is listening and waiting for them. Now it’s ready to devour the group and anything in it‘s path, as they look for a way out of the woods before its too late.
I was surprised that I enjoy “Resonnances“ very much considering that this was a micro budget foreign creature feature film. Writer/director Philippe Robert does a very good job making this film work very well with the limited resources that has. One of the reasons that I enjoyed this film, he’s able to keep your interest without resorting to various action sequences. Don’t get me wrong, there are some in the second half of the film. Robert is able to hold your interest, by generating tension among the main characters. It gets you invested in the story, so that your into the flow of the film. I liked, how he does a good job getting the performances to work in the context of the film. It’s something that really needed, if a micro budget film is going to succeed and hold your attention.
Robert’s screenplay also does a good job making this film work well. He does a very good job keeping the film’s dark tone . This is the other reason that I liked this film. Robert is able to keep the tone of the film dark, because the characters aren’t goofy or getting off one liners just to keep the film entertaining. He makes his character very level headed and it works. Never did the story feel cheesy or feel so uninteresting that you wanted to grab the DVD and throw it out into the woods. Robert’s also able to focus on the situation and not come off with creating annoying things just to make this film fun. He does that, by making the characters focus on the situation at head. It develops tension, which you gets you into the flow of the film.
“Resonnances” is an entertaining micro budgeted sci-fi film that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
Review Rating: Three and a half stars
Follow Me Down
Year: 2010
Director: Lee Whittle
Stars: Eddie Mahalick, Megan Powell
Studio:8th Ward Entertainment,
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 30 Mins
The film follows Johnny, who has a guilty conscience and finds that everyone around him has suddenly dropped dead. He is consumed with silence, as he figures out what’s going on. But Johnny begins to hear voices and sees someone who doesn’t look familiar to him. As things become apparently different, he finds out that he’s not alone.
I was kind of surprised that I enjoyed “Follow Me Down“, considering that there is very little dialogue spoken in this film. Writer/director Lee Whittle does a very good job making this film entertaining. He able to make it entertaining, by the way the film was shot and making the tone of the film dark and psychological. By using that style, you able to forget that there is virtually no dialogue in this film. It makes the film feel like an episode of “The Twilight Zone”. Another thing that I liked about the direction, the way that Whittle handles the lead performance. He handles that in a way that you couldn’t tell, if the main character is insane and delusional or that he is truly the only survivor of a society that just dropped dead. It makes everything work, very well
The idea of the story was well-executed. I liked how, Whittle created the basis of story. There is little dialogue spoken but the thought of not having much dialogue helps the film to be effective. It’s able generate some tense moments that make this entertaining. This is one of the few rare cases that a film can have little dialogue and is able to keep my attention throughout.
“Follow Me Down” an entertaining psychological horror film that will keep your interest through out.
Review Rating: Three and a half stars
Universal Pictures announced today that the Matt Damon, Emily Blunt thriller "The Adjustment Bureau" will be hitting Blu- Ray and DVD shelves on June 21st.
Press Release:
A rising politician finds himself caught up in a pulse-pounding, mind-bending conspiracy in The Adjustment Bureau, the acclaimed film coming to Blu-rayTM Combo Pack and DVD on June 21, 2011 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. Academy Award® winner Matt Damon (the Bourne series, True Grit) and Golden Globe® winner Emily Blunt (The Devil Wears Prada, The Wolfman) are the star-crossed lovers chased by mysterious forces that threaten to destroy their futures unless they abandon one another. Deleted and extended scenes, filmmaker commentary and exclusive bonus features offer behind-the-scenes looks at the making of the film. Plus, for a limited time only, the Blu-ray™ Combo Pack of The Adjustment Bureau includes a downloadable digital copy of the film that can be viewed anytime, anywhere, on an array of digital devices.
Written for the screen by George Nolfi (Ocean’s 12, The Bourne Ultimatum) who also makes his directorial debut, The Adjustment Bureau is based on the short story “Adjustment Team,” by visionary writer Philip K. Dick (Total Recall, Minority Report, Blade Runner). The Adjustment Bureau also stars Anthony Mackie (The Hurt Locker, Eagle Eye), John Slattery (“Mad Men,” Iron Man 2), Michael Kelly (Changeling, Dawn of the Dead) and Terence Stamp (Wanted, Valkyrie).
BONUS FEATURES AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY ON BLU-RAY™ COMBO PACK:
THE LABYRINTH OF DOORS: INTERACTIVE MAP OF NEW YORK – Explore the bustling metropolis of New York City as only a member of the Bureau can: using the intricate network of portals to leap from location to location. Each location will trigger a short video pod, either with a behind-the-scenes look at that location with cast and crew or a scene from the film that took place there.
BD-LIVE™—Access the BD-Live™ Center through your Internet-connected player to get even more content, watch the latest trailers and more.
pocket BLU™: The groundbreaking pocket BLU™ app uses iPhone®, iPod® touch, Android™, PC and Macintosh to work seamlessly with a network-connected Blu-ray™ player. Also available on the iPad®, owners can enjoy a new, enhanced edition of pocket BLU™ made especially to take advantage of the tablet's larger screen and high resolution display. Consumers will be able to browse through a library of Blu-ray™ content and watch entertaining extras on-the-go in a way that's bigger and better than ever before. pocket BLU™ offers advanced features such as:
Advanced Remote Control: A sleek, elegant new way to operate your Blu-ray™ player. Users can navigate through menus, playback and BD-Live™ functions with ease.
Video Timeline: Users can easily bring up the video timeline, allowing them to instantly access any point in the film.
Mobile-To-Go: Users can unlock a selection of bonus content with their Blu-ray™ discs to save to their device or to stream from anywhere there is a Wi-Fi network, enabling them to enjoy content on the go, anytime, anywhere.
Browse Titles: Users will have access to a complete list of pocket BLU™-enabled titles available and coming to Blu-ray™ Hi-Def. They can view free previews and see what additional content is available to unlock on their device.
Keyboard: Entering data is fast and easy with your device’s intuitive keyboard.
uHEAR™: Never miss another line of dialogue with this innovative feature that instantly skips back a few seconds on your Blu-ray™ disc and turns on the subtitles for the section you couldn’t hear!
MY MOVIES™: Consumers can rent a variety of Universal favorites such as Meet the Parents, Fast & Furious, Mamma Mia!, Coraline, Knocked Up, The 40-Year-Old-Virgin, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, or Role Models for $2.99 each, to instantly stream via BD-Live™, the pocket BLU™ app or on the web at UniversalHiDef.com
BONUS FEATURES AVAILABLE ON BOTH DVD AND BLU-RAY™ COMBO PACK:
DELETED AND EXTENDED SCENES
LEAPING THROUGH NEW YORK – An inside look at how the production team filmed David Norris’ (Matt Damon) race to the courthouse, featuring interviews with Damon, director George Nolfi, special effects coordinator Mark Russell and producers Michael Hackett and Chris Moore.
DESTINED TO BE – The Adjustment Bureau provided Matt Damon with his first opportunity to play a true romantic lead in a feature film. Co-star Emily Blunt, director George Nolfi and Damon himself reflect on this new role for the star and the relationship between David Norris and Blunt’s character, Elise Sellas.
BECOMING ELISE – A look at Emily Blunt’s dance training for the role of Elise. Blunt, Matt Damon, George Nolfi and Blunt’s dance choreographer discuss her transformation from slender actress to well-muscled athlete.
FEATURE COMMENTARY WITH WRITER AND DIRECTOR GEORGE NOLFI
SYNOPSIS
On the brink of winning a U.S. Senate seat, charismatic politician David Norris (Matt Damon) meets Elise Sellas (Emily Blunt), a woman unlike any he’s ever known. As he realizes he’s falling madly in love with the beautiful, contemporary ballet dancer, strangers conspire to keep the two apart. David learns he is up against the men of the Adjustment Bureau, who will do everything in their considerable power to prevent the pair from spending the rest of their lives together. In the face of overwhelming odds, he must decide whether to accept his predetermined path and let her go…or defy Fate and risk everything to be with the woman he loves.
WWE Studios recently send us over the official trailer and poster for their upcoming film "That's What I Am", which recently played the Santa Barbara International Film Festival and at the Palm Beach International Film Festival.
Plot Synopsis:
Set in California against the backdrop of the mid-sixties, That’s What I Am is a coming-of-age story that follows 12-year-old Andy Nichol (Chase Ellison), a bright student who, like most kids his age, will do anything to avoid conflict for fear of suffering overwhelming ridicule and punishment from his junior high school peers.
Everyone’s favorite teacher, Mr. Simon (Ed Harris), pairs Andy with the school’s biggest outcast and social pariah, Stanley aka “Big G” (Alexander Walters), on a critical school project. Sporting thick orange hair, a head too big for his body and ears too big for his head, “Big G” has been the object of ridicule since grade school. Before long, Andy will learn that there was truly a method behind Mr. Simon’s madness as to why he teamed these two up.
After a dramatic incident in the schoolyard, teachers and parents rethink their roles in school and society. Principal Kelner (Amy Madigan) suspends a school bully for brutally beating up a female classmate. The vindictive father of the bully makes Mr. Simon the target of a malicious rumor about his sexuality, causing Mr. Simon to question his calling as an educator and mentor to his students.
When Andy watches “Big G” fearlessly confront the school bully about the incident, a series of events are triggered. Much to Andy’s surprise, he learns that “Big G” is a brilliant, kind, tolerant human being, who as more dignity than anyone Andy has ever encountered.
Big G personifies Mr. Simon’s four word answer on how to obtain world peace:
HUMAN DIGNITY + COMPASSION = PEACE.
"That’s What I Am" will be released in select theaters on April 29th!
For more information on this film, you can visit the film's official website at:http://thatswhatiammovie.com
"That's What I Am": Official Trailer
Welcome to the 284th Edition of my series. I just got done trying out for A Few Good Men at the Anderson Mainstage Theatre. Hopefully, I'll find out next week sometime if I got a part since they are doing auditions next Saturday but saw people I haven't seen in a while so good times. I will now get to my ten selections for the week.
The Elizabeth Smart Story (2003): This is the 24th link on The Chain which continues with Dylan Baker who plays the father of the title character. This is my tv movie for the week and I believe it was on Lifetime and while I usually avoid those, this kind of sparked my interest. This is a true story on Elizabeth Smart, played by Amber Marshall, who was kidnapped in 2002 and held captive for many months and as you see this movie was made shortly after all this. The Smart family is a pretty big family and at least in the upper middle-class. The focus was on her parents' way of dealing with the situation as well as the siblings. Baker was pretty good as the father who would not give up hope on finding his daughter, especially since a body was never found. Lindsey Frost plays her mother who did not want to give up hope but also wanted to be able to be close to the rest of the family. Obviously, it also focused on Elizabeth and her captors with her focusing on an escape but was also afraid it might effect her family. I recall seeing some show discuss this and remember a lot of this was pretty accurate like when the event happened. Like any movie, liberties will be taken to get it to film but I found it pretty watchable. Some may say there is a lack of emotional depth with Elizabeth in her situation but I believe that might be pretty accurate in terms of her lack of crying and other things. Next week, The Chain will continue with another movie featuring Dylan Baker.
Flowers of Darkness (1972): This is my documentary short film for the week which was on TCM On-Demand and narrated by Paul Newman. This short film gives a brief history of Opium of which the title is referring to and all its effects on the world and on personal lives. This is really one of those films intended to educate but instead just entertains which I have been using a lot lately. However, good information on the 19th century Opium wars.
James Dean Era (1953): This is would be mostly of interest to fans of James Dean. Mr. Dean is from my state of Indiana and lived not too far from where I am in Fairmount. I recall my dad and stepmom once taking me to that museum I believe when I was in late middle school to early middle school and it was a pretty cool place though I believe it is out of business now except for when they have their annual car show which people from all of the world come to attend. Dean was most known for his three feature films EAST OF EDEN, GIANT, and REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE and then his very untimely death. This is really not a movie but just something that features three tv specials that are not as known. The first is SOMETHING FOR AN EMPTY BRIEFCASE where Dean plays a small-time criminal who wants to go straight and gets the idea to have a briefcase when he sees other successful people carrying one which makes him determined to put accomplishments in that briefcase. This is before he got his big break in film. The next one is THE UNLIGHTENED ROAD which seems to have come after EAST OF EDEN so he probably had some recognition by then and shows his growth a lot in this one. The last one was called I'M A FOOL which was hosted by our future president and co-stars Natalie Wood who he would go onto reunite with in the classic REBEL WITOUT A CAUSE. I'm pretty sure this was before that film but if anyone else has more info, feel free to share. There are also some amusing commercials in this. This is available on Instant Netflix and through DVD. I'm not sure if this is easy to obtain besides the Netflix outlet. To watch this, you really got to appreciate James Dean and already seen some of his three big films in order to really like this. Just watching this and not really knowing anything about James Dean might make it hard to watch.
Get Him to the Greek (2010): I needed something newer like this and Tony got this one on his Netflix account so I made the decision on this movie. This is a spin-off on the 2008 film FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL and I know I got to see that and have not yet but I will now. The spin-off is from the character Ardous Snow who is featured in that film with VERONICA MARS alum Kristen Bell even making a cameo as Sarah Marshall in this film. Ardous Snow, played by British actor Russell Brand, is a British rocker who has relapsed into drugs and alcohol following a break-up and a flop album. Jonah Hill stars as record company intern Aaron Green who has idolized Snow for years and has the idea to have him featured in a concert. He is then given the assignment of picking up Aldous Snow in London to bring him to L.A. which proves to not be an easy feat. Aldous brings Aaron into his world making Aaron question his choices. Brand was good as Aldous as well as Jonah Hill. This was not the greatest comedy I have seen and I'm sure FSM was a lot better but this still had some good moments and even a pretty good message. I'm sure this selection will get some mixed opinions. Lots of amusing celebrity cameos.
The Green Slime (1968): This is my cheesy sci-fi film for the week which I found on TCM On-Demand. So we have a group of astronauts who stop a giant asteroid but in turn accidentally bring back some slime which turns into a very bad decision. The title character mutates into a monster with eyes and then even multiplies into many which then tries to destroy everyone in its way. Some may recognize Richard Jaeckel who some may remember from THE DIRTY DOZEN and even in BAYWATCH in the beginning who co-stars in this film. Also, some may remember actress Luciana Paluzzi, most known as the female villain in the bond film THUNDERBALL also co-stars. This film goes down as being one of the best bad movies of all time. This is actually the first film to be shown on MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000 on a pilot episode that never aired.
The Killer (1989): This is quite possibly my favorite action film of all time and is a great Hong Kong collaboration between John Woo and Chow Yun-Fat. Chow plays the title character who is an assassin named Ah Jong. He does not like what he does but decides to take one more job in hopes of making enough money to help restore the sight of a singer who he accidentally blinds in a previous job. Danny Lee co-stars as Inspector Lee who is pursuing the assassin but forms a respect for the man when he sees his compassion. Besides their job, they strangely have a lot in common in their lives and then must team up with each other when Ah Jong's guys betray him to stay alive. In turn they form an unusual friendship. This movie has a very high body count but Woo still turns this into a beautiful film of love, trust and betrayal. If someone is looking to make an action film, this is a great example to follow. John Woo, at least in this era, knows how to make violence into an art. One of the best action scenes of all time comes at the climax when there is a shootout at a church amidst a bunch of doves.
Tennessee Johnson (1942): I now go from a compassionate hitman to an overwhelmed president. Van Heflin plays the title character Andrew Johnson, which is the name of a cousin of mine, who is most known for becoming Vice President to Lincoln and becoming actual President when Lincoln was assassinated. He is also known for being the first president to ever be impeached, but acquitted by one vote, and would be the only president to be impeached until many years later when Bill Clinton came along. In turn, he has gone down in history as one of the worst presidents of all time. This movie traces his early life when he was a "runaway apprentice" pretty much a version of a slave so he was always against slavery. He then meets his wife, played by Ruth Hussey, who teaches him to read and write and becomes a great speaker and advocate. This movie also shows his part in the Civil War and what earned his admiration from Lincoln. This is probably the only biopic on this man and Van Heflin was great as Johnson with Lionel Barrymore good as Thaddeus Stevens who was one of the main people to get him impeached disagreeing with Johnson's decisions. When watching this, I think of all these "bad presidents" and I form an understanding of how difficult it had to be to unexpectedly succeed Lincoln right after the assassination. Sure, there are some liberties taken from Hollywood but I feel this is a good portrayal of a more unknown president. I found this one on TCM On-Demand.
Ariel (1988): This is my Finnish film for the week which was directed by Aki Kaurismaki and considered by many to be his best. This story tells the story of Taisto who is a coal-miner whose father has just committed suicide and is framed for a crime. This is a very good portrait of the darkness of human life and the love he finds. When in prison, he plans an escape and dreams of leaving the country. I do not really have much to say on this except that it is a good satire on a difficult life and human spirit. This is a must for all foreign film buffs.
Great Guy (1936): I found this early James Cagney film on my Pub-D-Hub app on the Roku which features a lot of public domain films. Cagney plays Johnny Cave who is an investigator for the Bureau of Weights and Measures which I have never heard of in my life until this movie. He is brought in to rid the city of corruption which does not sit well with everyone including his girlfriend whose boss he is going after and she likes. Many times, goes on one-man investigations and is seen as paranoid by his peers. Cagney carries this well and is on the right side of the law for this one. Mostly of interest for James Cagney.
Spirited Away (2001): If you don't like anything else I have featured on this one, surely I end well with this anime selection. The main character is a ten year old girl named Chihiro who when we first meet is rather spoiled and whiny and hates that she has to move. Along with her parents, they make a stop, and find an open restaurant with lots of food. Her parents become tempted but Chihiro is the smart one to resist as her parents literally turn into pigs which sends Chihiro into the journey of a lifetime where she must learn to grow up if she ever wants to see her parents human again. I'm not going to go too far into the plot here but this is a great film from director Hayao Miyazaki who is possibly the best anime director or all time sending this film to be one of the best anime films as well as one of the top animated films of all time. This is watchable for parents and children and has a great story with beautiful animation and music. Disney produced this film to come to America which has become very popular here. I cannot believe it took me this long to see it but I am glad I did. John Lasseter of Pixar was the executive producer and supervised the English version making sure the English dialogue fit with the animation and did a great job. He also endorses this film before it starts on the DVD I had. This is one everyone should see at some point.
Well, that is all for this week. Tell me what you like and do not like. I welcome suggestions but please comment on the selections at hand first and if you have not seen any just say that and give the suggestions. So this week you see a kidnapped girl, the opium trade, past work of a legendary actor, a rock star, slime, a compassionate hitman, an overwhelmed president, a Finland film, an agent of the Bureau of Weights and Measures, and some great anime hopefully giving everyone something to watch. Stay tuned for next week which so far includes more Dylan Baker, Martin Scorsese, Ida Lupino, Gary Busey, and many others.
Honestly, we needed another “Scream” movie. Since the original was released back in 1996 (OMG!), we have had dozens upon dozens of horror movies thrust at us. Many of them had clear skinned teenage stars and were given PG-13 ratings which after awhile indicated that the horror was of a much defanged quality. This is not to mention “Saw” and all its endless barrage of sequels, each one more logistically impossible than the last. Horror went at times from being laughingly lame to hardcore bloody, but they could never top what Asian or Japanese movies achieved. However you look at it, we needed Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson more than ever to give us their take on the evolving rules of a horror movie.
But how much has really changed? In the 80’s, we had “Friday The 13th” and its endless number of sequels, and there are other series that deal with this same dilemma out of greed. Each generation has its ongoing horror franchise along with the occasional “remake” or “reboot.” When you look at movies from decade to decade, you begin to realize that the more things change, the more they stay the same. That’s even the case with “Scream 4” which while having a strong level of suspense, also has a weariness about it. In the process of dealing with a new generation of horror and its rabid fans, it feels more and more like the ones that came before it.
So the whole gang is back along with Wes Craven, and that includes screenwriter Kevin Williamson (sorely missed on “Scream 3”) and composer Marco Beltrami. Neve Campbell returns as Sidney Prescott who arrives back in her hometown of Woodsboro to promote her new self-help book, and she is reunited with her friends Dewey (David Arquette) who is now the Sheriff in this town, and Gayle (Courtney Cox) who has long since gotten married to him and retired from tabloid journalism. And then of course, the Ghostface killings start up again. You’d think the killer might be more imaginative and use another mask, but horror sequels are not heavy on originality, are they?
This time though, the focus of the killer’s rage appears to be on
With “Scream 4,” the chief thing to expect is to expect the unexpected, just like with any Peter Gabriel album that comes out. I do have to hand it to Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson though because even after a decade, they still leave us guessing throughout who’s the real culprit (or if there is more than one) and of what will happen next. The movie moves along fairly swiftly to where you really have no time to examine the logistics of all that is going on. I imagine you could punch a few holes in the plot, but only after you have seen it. I also got a huge kick out of the beginning which plays on the reality of what we are seeing on top of the monotony of a franchise that like Michael Meyers just won’t die.
But it’s also the inescapable problem with this sequel; we have gotten so used to expecting the unexpected to where while there is tension, the whole thing is not as scary as it used to be. I kept waiting for “Scream 4” to get seriously scary, but it never really happened. Even the moments designed to make us jump up out of our seats aren’t as effective as they were previously. The first “Scream” was more than just a simple satire of the horror genre, but a movie going experience that was more intense than we expected it to be at the time. This one could have been more so in retrospect.
It is nice to see Neve Campbell, David Arquette, and Courtney Cox back as the infamous characters they portrayed in the preceding trilogy. I kind of expected Neve to be this Ellen Ripley/Paul Kersey character by now, so used to seeing people and those closest to her get killed off in brutal fashion that she now desires to bring her own brand of vigilante justice to whatever nemesis chooses to cross the
Of all the veterans, Courtney Cox shines the most as we watch her character emerge from another desperate housewife to someone who is desperate overcome an unwelcome writer’s block. Seeing Gayle Weathers get back to her bitchy self is fun to watch. In the other movies you hated her for it, but knowing Gayle for this long makes you long for its inevitable return. As a result, it gives this sequel much of its bite.
In regards to the newcomers, they are more or less designed to be types, and part of me wished they existed a bit beyond that. Emma Roberts is fun to watch as Jill Roberts, but she gets the show stolen from her by “Heroes” star Hayden Panettiere whose character of Kirby is part tease, part sharp retort, and part movie geek more than she would openly admit. She’s got a lot of sass about her that reminds me of some of the girls I couldn’t stand from high school, and of the heart underneath them which I never noticed as much as I should have.
It’s also nice to see Rory Culkin here, having made a strong impression in movies like “You Can Count On Me,” “Mean Creek,” and “Signs.” As Charlie Walker, he represents the chief movie geek that Jamie Kennedy was in the first two “Scream” movies. Charlie is not exactly a geek nor is he exactly one of the cool guys. In the end, he’s kind of in between that like most people I know. Rory is truly one of the perfect actors to play someone very knowledgeable about movies in general, and he gives this film some of its more satirical moments.
When all is said and done though, I still came out of “Scream 4” feeling a little weary. I didn’t dislike it, and it did keep me interested throughout to where I wasn’t looking at my watch to see how much time was left before the movie was over. Really, it could have been a lot worse than it was. But in the process of creating a new formula for horror movies, it ends up getting caught in the clichés of them all. Also, I felt it could have gotten much more satirical in examining the endless films that came out in the wake of its success. This franchise was incredibly influential, and we continue to realize this with the passing years.
After all this talk, I still am open to seeing a “Scream 5.” Whatever problems this particular sequel has, I believe and hope they can be compensated for in the future. And like I said, we always need movies like “Scream” because the horror genre will constantly be its own worst enemy even with its unending successes. As it was described before, the more things change, the more they stay the same.
* * ½ out of * * * *
Welcome to the 283rd Edition of my series. This week I pay tribute to director Sidney Lumet who recently left us. Next week, I will be trying out for A FEW GOOD MEN at the Anderson Mainstage Theatre so if I get a part it will be my second version of the show. So I don't really have much to say right now so just read on and enjoy.
Love Potion No. 9 (1992): This is the 23rd link on The Chain and it continues with Dylan Baker who plays Prince Geoffrey in this movie. This is really my guilty pleasure for the week. Tate Donovan stars as biochemist Paul who has no luck with the ladies. He is then persuaded by his friends to visit Madame Ruth, played by Anne Bancroft, who then gives him a potion called Love Potion # 8 which he shares with his equally geeky biochemist colleague Diane, played by Sandra Bullock. Together, they embark on a journey to see how well this potion works while overlooking who they really like. This did have some funny moments and it was good seeing HIGHLANDER alum Adrian Paul. My uncle Cal actually got to be an extra in this film but his scenes were cut. Next week, The Chain continues with another movie with Dylan Baker.
Batman (1989): This is my superhero movie of the week and the a pretty groundbreaking superhero movie from Tim Burton. Michael Keaton stars as the caped crusader and for the first time in live-action film, they portrayed Batman as more of a haunted vigilante who was very bitter over the murder of his family. Jack Nicholson plays one of Batman's most common arch-enemies, the Joker and had a lot of fun doing so. Kim Basinger plays reporter Vicki Vale who is trying to understand Bruce Wayne and Batman. Billy Dee Williams plays Harvey Dent but long before he was Two-Face and there was intention of making him that character but Joel Schumacher took over the franchise and it did not happen. When this came out, most just remembered that sitcom but in this movie we are long past the "Pow", "Boom", "Sock" and so on. Robert Wuhl, Jerry Hall, Jack Palance, Michael Gough, and many others co-starred. This movie gave way to the future of the great Christopher Nolan franchise which is apparently coming to an end soon and will have a reboot. This movie really goes from when Batman was getting started and known but not really focusing on how he comes to be which I thought was fine. In here, he was that mysterious bat that nobody knew what to think of. One interesting thing about Nicholson taking the part of the Joker. He demanded top-billing which he got so his name is the first name and was able to get most of the royalties. Nicholson was fun but Heath Ledger would go onto play it a lot better in my opinion. Keaton was also quite good as the rich playboy Bruce Wayne and his alter-ego Batman. This is available on Instant Netflix.
Henry, The Funniest Living American (1935): This is my animated short for the week and since I have not done animated shorts in a long time, I would visit my public domain app on the Roku. This is actually a Betty Boop short where she owns a pet shop where her friend Henry, who is also a pretty famous character from the era, wants a little puppy but does not quite have enough money. Betty then lets him work it off but comes to regret her decision when things get out of hand. I have seen better Betty Boop but this provides some pretty funny moments.
The Docks of New York (1928): This is my silent film for the week which was directed by Josef Von Sternberg. George Bancroft stars as Bill who works as a stoker on the waterfront. Betty Compton stars as Betty who tries to drown herself but is saved by George. This becomes a very life-changing moment for both of them as they fall in love. However, George's co-workers do not make their relationship easy. This was released shortly after the talkies started coming out but remains a pretty good silent film on love.
The Blob (1958): This is something that should have been watched during Elizabeth's Horror Movie Madness but I just didn't get to it until now. Steve McQueen stars in this film as Steve who is a somewhat rebellious high school teen who comes upon the title character who is swallowing everyone up but no one believes him except one of the cops. This was a pretty good horror film which was a star-making role for McQueen and the only one who seemed to really have a big career afterwards. Burt Bacharach wrote the title song to this movie.
The Princess and the Frog (2009): I saw this for the first time when it was in theaters after a rehearsal for A TIME FOR CHRISTMAS. Lisa said she was going to I thought it might be good so I went too. Our other castmates Jade and Kasey also came to see it and we all left very happy. This is Disney returning to tradition of paper animation and having a good message. This movie expands on their concept of how when wishing upon a star and a dream comes true. This talks about how you can wish but the star can only get you so far and that hard work is required to achieve dreams. So this movie is set in the Jazz era of New Orleans where a very hardworking girl named Tiana, voiced by Anika Noni Rose dreams of owning her own restaurant but must work a low-end waitress job first. Tiana is now billed as Disney's first black Disney princess but she is not officially a princess in this movie. The other story is on Prince Naveen, voiced by Bruno Campos, who has been cut off by his parents. Naveen then meets voodoo man Dr. Facilier who offers him a lot but in the end turns him into a frog. With Prince Naveen being a frog, he desperately seeks to be human again. Tiana then encounters this frog and has always heard the great stories of kissing a frog to become human again but when it happens we have the opposite effect and they are both frogs. Tiana and Prince Naveen must then work together to become human again. This movie is quite possibly Disney's best and has some great songs written by Randy Newman who also provides one of the voices. I have heard of people accusing this film of racism but I saw nothing of the sort. This is available on Instant Netflix.
Equus (1977): This is my tribute to the late Sidney Lumet who directed this film. Richard Burton stars in this film as Dr. Martin Dysart who then agrees to help a 17 year old boy named Alan, played by Peter Firth, who blinded six horses with a metal spike. He tries to understand why he would do such a horrible thing and even interviews his parents to see what kind of part they could have had. Dysart also must also face demons of his own when looking into this situation. This is a rather dark film that is not for everyone and does a good job weaving from the present into flashbacks. I have sen this show twice done at the Muncie Civic Studio Theater and they do a good job but I felt Lumet transferred this Peter Shaffer play very well to film with the help of Shaffer on the screenplay. Many years later Daniel Radcliffe, known to most of us as Harry Potter, played the part on Broadway and yes he had to do the things that Firth had to do in this film. I know I'm too old to play Alan now but probably would have to turn that part down as I would not feel very comfortable. The climax scene can be disturbing for anyone. This is available on Instant Netflix.
Kayla (1999): I go from a rather depressing film to a more family oriented film. Tod Fennell stars as Sam whose explorer father disappeared but will not give hope that he is still alive but really effects his family life and school life. He then finds a wild dog that really resembles the leader of his dad's sled dogs so he decides to enter the dog race competition with that dog and his stepfather's two dogs but the community is not the most accepting of wild dogs and Sam who is 12 must really grow up to be able to do this race and protect the dogs. This really is a very good family film. I had never heard of this until I came across it and no actors I have ever heard of. It also comes from a studio called The Cookie Jar Company which is evidently a Canadian company showing that a good family movie is not impossible. Hopefully I can get this on the radar some so if you are looking for a good family film, please look into this one.
Romeo and Juliet (1968): I was inspired to watch this one after watching DANCING WITH THE STARS with my mom last week and Ralph Macchio and his dance partner Karina Smirnoff danced to this great musical score from Nino Rota. This is probably my favorite Shakespeare play and film adaptation and like the last one, no big-name actors besides a young Michael York who plays Tybalt. Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey were perfect for the title roles of the star-crossed lovers. This is the ultimate story of forbidden love and feuding families. Just for a brief description for those not familiar. Romeo is part of the Montague family and Juliet is part of the Capulet family and these are both rival families. As you might guess, these two meet and fall in love but must keep it secret. This story really conveys the price of hatred and one of the earlier stories to do so. The music score is great and in the party scene, a guy sings a really good song written by Nino Rota called WHAT IS A YOUTH. I'll warn you, there is a split-second where we see Juliet's boobs and this movie was made in Italy so maybe it was more acceptable there. The first time I saw this was in high school and even then I really liked this and when I saw the split second, if that even, of the boob shot, there was no reaction. Nobody cared. This was one of the few units in English class that I enjoyed. This is available on Instant Netflix.
Vision Quest (1985): Now this in some ways came upon chance. I was in Bracken Library at Ball State and my friend Ashley comes to see me and talk to me briefly. Somewhere in our conversation she asks me if I have seen this film and the truth there is that I had not even heard of it. She then mentions how it is a wrestling film and it is about a high-school wrestler and I believe if I remember correctly she was the manager for her high-school wrestling team. I then saw this was available on Netflix through DVD so I agreed to list it and put it to the top. About a week ago, I went over to The Landing where she was booked to sing and she reminded me of this but I showed it was on DVD and about to get watched. Matthew Modine stars as high school senior Louden Swain who is on the wrestling team and wants to drop to another weight class in order to wrestle a rival who has never lost. However, he does not receive much support as many believe he is being selfish towards the team. The wrestling was really just more of an element of the movie and is really about the person who is not sure what he really wants to do in life. Linda Fiorentino co-stars as a drifter named Carla who rents a room to Louden's father and they soon begin to fall in love. I have seen that there are some who do not like this movie but I am not really sure on that. It by no means will rank as one of my favorites but does a good job with high school wrestling from what I can tell and I'm sure many wrestlers can relate to this film. Also, look for Madonna in one of her first movie roles and introduces us to her hit song CRAZY FOR YOU. I do not usually write messages specifically for friends on this blog but will here for Ashley. Ashley, good suggestion and it was a pretty good movie from the 80s and on high school wrestling. In return, please look into my request of having a version of a non-SLEDGEHAMMER Peter Gabriel song because I think you could do a good job.
Well, that is it for this week. I seemed to focus a lot on animals this week and other fantasy elemends like potions, bats, dogs, blobs, frogs, alligators, horses, and many others. Tell me what you like and what you do not like. Leave suggestions if you like but please comment on the material at hand first. Stay tuned for next week which so far includes more Dylan Baker, James Dean, Jonah Hill, Chow Yun-Fat, Lionel Barrymore, and many others.
