Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations- 424th Edition

Welcome to the 424th Edition of my series.  This is my last post of the year and have continued with a few holiday selections seeing as my family is celebrating Christmas today.  With this being the last one of the year, I have reflected quite a bit on this year.  Like anyone, I'm going to have some downs but have had a lot of ups.  This year, I have put more importance upon friendship than I ever have and have met a lot of new friends and became closer to others.  I suppose my New Years resolution is to keep these friendships I have made and to keep them stronger as I'm not really one for resolutions.  I am also proud to annouce that last week, I replaced the 1988 Buick LeSabre with a 2004 Dodge Caravan which drives very well.  I will now get to my selections for the week.

Christmas Vacation (1989):  I start the week out with this Christmas comedy which was directed by Jeremiah Chechik and written by John Hughes.  This is the third of the National Lampoon's Vacation series which have Chevy Chase and Beverley D'Angelo reprising their roles as married couple Clark and Ellen Griswold while Juliette Lewis and THE BIG BANG THEORY co-star Johnny Galecki play their kids Audrey and Rusty.  Clark wants to really go all out like he always does and throw a great Christmas party no matter what great intentions, he has things just always go wrong.  It does not get easier when the relatives come to the house especially his cousin Eddie, played by Randy Quaid, and his trailer park trash family are there.  John Randolph, Diane Ladd, E.G. Marshall, Doris Roberts, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Brian Doyle-Murray, Betty Boop's voice of Mae Questel, and many others co-star in this Christmas comedy.  This movie delivers many holiday laughs and for those who are tired of the sappy holiday films can turn to this one for refuge.  It is a very fun comedy with a very amusing opening sequence up to the end where the only predicability is that things will not go right but in a funny way.  This is available on Instant Netflix.

Mickey's Magical Christmas:  Snowed in at the House of Mouse (2001):  This is a Disney movie based on HOUSE OF MOUSE where Mickey and friends are snowed in for the holiday and Donald Duck is not feeling the Christmas spirit.  This consists of footage from the house and Mickey presenting classic Disney shorts like MICKEY'S CHRISTMAS CAROL and even original ones like I believe the one on THE NUTCRACKER was added but I could be wrong on that one.  A lot of people did not like this and while it was flawed I still found it to be a pretty decent holiday selection which featured just about everyone from Disney from old to the time this was made.  It looked like the heroes and villains were able to put their differences aside at least for Christmas.  It is also good to see MICKEY'S CHRISTMAS CAROL featured as it is a classic from Disney.  This is available on Instant Netflix and one for the family.

Wake up the Gypsy in Me (1933):  This is my animated short for the week from Merry Melodies.  This consists of a band of Russian Gypsies in which girls are targetted by the mad monk Rice-Puddin' which is an obvious caricacture of Rasputin.  This is rather racy for its time but has some pretty funny moments.  This was part of the dvd of PICTURE SNATCHER which I featured last week.

Tommy (1975):  This is my rock opera for the week which is based on the Who's album of the same title.  The Who member Roger Daltrey plays the title character in his grown years and is deaf and blind.  He soon begins to master pinball even though he cannot hear or see and becomes the subject of a religious cult.  Ann-Margret and Oliver Reed play Tommy's exploitive parents.  Elton John, Eric Clapton, Jack Nicholson, Tina Turner, and many others co-star in this rather strange musical but interesting and enjoyable.  Nicholson shows his musical side which was not bad.  Fans of the Who will likely enjoy this one.  Some who are really religious may find this offensive.  This ambitious project really is worth a look.  The Muncie Civic Theater actually put on a stage version years ago that was pretty good.

High School Hellcats (1958): This was a rather daring movie from this era which focused on a female gang of the title.  Yvonne Fedderson stars as Joyce who is a new student who looks for acceptance and to fit in where she it taken in by the Hellcats after passing tests.  She soon begins a more rebellious life but must begin to choose between her gang and a man she likes where being with men is pretty much forbidden.  This grabbed my interest when I heard about female gangs which was rather unheard of in those days for movies and these girls were very mean.  This was probably meant to be a message film and is really more of a drive-in movie night for the friends.  This is available on Instant Netflix.

Game Change (2012):  This is my HBO movie of the week which was directed by Jay Roach, written by BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER alum Danny Strong and based on the novel by Mark Halperin.  This is based on the 2008 presidential campaign of John McCain, played by Ed Harris, whose strategist Steve Schmidt, played by Woody Harrelson, suggests a conservative female as his running mate so chooses Alaskan governor Sarah Palin, played very well by Julianne Moore.  Once Palin comes into the picture, it focuses on her trying to adjust to becoming part of the nation and finding herself in over her head to the point of having a meltdown.  This is a very good political film where a progressive decision proves to be a possible downfall.  This puts a more human portrait on Palin as a family person who did not know what she was getting herself into.  This is available on HBO On-Demand.

It Happened on 5th Avenue (1947):  This is the last of the holiday films and looked into it after seeing my Facebook friend Carter put a quote and none other than Sean knowing the movie in which I had not heard of until then so found it on TCM and recorded it.  Roy Del Ruth directed this film which stars Dom DeFore as Jim who has just become homeless due to his apartment complex being closed.  He then meets a man named Aloysius, played by Victor Moore, who has been occupying a house, which is the former owner of the apartment complex, when no one is there.  He then joins the home and starts taking in others looking for a home.  Ann Harding co-stars as Mary who is the daughter of the owner and likes that people are using the house and a very harmless people.  This is a very fun and good-spirited movie that shows the giving side of the holidays.  It is also a very underrated film that should get more exposure so maybe put this on your holiday list next year.

Frances Ha (2012):  I got the idea to look into this one when my Facebook friend Robert posted his gift of this dvd.  Noah Baumbach co-wrote and directed this film.  Greta Gerwig stars as the title character who has been an apprentice at a dance company pursuing a dream of being in a touring dance group but does not seem to be going very far.  She still looks to pursue this dream no matter how unrealistic it is becoming.  This was very well shot in black and white with Gerwig very perfect for her role.  I found this to be more of a character study than anything on someone who did not have any realistic goals or ambitions and maybe just wanted to enjoy life day by day instead of growing up.  It is really hard to put a description of this in words.  The relatively unknown cast worked very well.  This movie really deserves a look and is available on Instant Netflix.

Mandabi (1968):  This is my foreign film for the week which takes place in Africa.  Ousmane Sembene wrote and directed this film where an African man named Ibrahim receives a much needed money order from a family member in France.  The problem is that he must deal with the bureaucratic and societal forces in trying to get this money which he finds is very difficult.  This is a very good look at the African culture in Senegal.  Sembene is the first African filmmaker to achieve international recognition and in this movie paints a very authentic portrait of people in the country.  Makhaouredia Gueye plays Ibrihim and does a very good job in his role.  This is a rather sad film at times but has some funny moments.  This is available on Instant Netflix and is a must for foreign film buffs as well as those interested in the African culture.

Fargo (1996):  I now end with some Coen Brothers.  William H. Macy stars as Jerry Lundegaard who works at his father-in-law's, played by Harve Presnell, auto dealership.  He soon falls into some financial problems and comes up with what he believes is a simple and foolproof scheme.  He hires a couple criminals, played by BOARDWALK EMPIRE star Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare, to kidnap his wife and then to have her wealthy father pay the ransom in which they would split.  Soon, the plan goes awry as the criminals soon she bloodshed due to their bungling of the crime and lack of preparation like forgetting to put license plates on a car when they have kidnapped someone.  Soon, the pregnant Sheriff Marge Gunderson, played by Frances McDormand, begins to investigate the murders which lead her to the car dealership.  The beginning puts a disclaimer that this is a true story.  A lot of that was for dramatic reasons as the plot is very fictional.  There was inspiration drawn from the murder of a Danish flight attendant named Helle Crafts.  Macy really became a lot more known after this film and really fought for the part.  He is great in his role as a desperate man who sinks very low to recover.  McDormand is also very good as the sheriff.  Bruce Campbell can be seen near the end when there is a tv that does not get very good reception.  They are watching an tv series called GENERATIONS that Bruce Campbell was in.  This was a rather dark film that had its comedic moments.  I really believe that just about everything in this movie worked with the direction, performances, cinematography, and even the music score by Carter Burwell.  This is available on Instant Netflix.

Well, that is it for this week.  Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for next week and hope everyone has a good new year and a great 2014.

Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations- 423rd Edition

Welcome to the 423rd Edition of my series.  I hope everyone has a good holiday season whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or you just don't really celebrate at all.  I will not really be celebrating until next week but I have both Christmas Eve and Christmas off work so I'll enjoy that part of it and probably just watch some Christmas movies all day.  I will now get to my selections for this week.

It's a Wonderful Life (1946):  This is my annual viewing and really my favorite holiday film.  Frank Capra directs this classic which stars James Stewart as small-town boy George Bailey.  The movie documents his life from mid-childhood to becoming and adult which marries and has children.  All his life, George longs to leave his small town of Bedford Falls to travel the world but things change when the very greedy and ruthless businessman Mr. Potter, played very well by Lionel Barrymore, looks to take over the town if he can get a hold of the family business his father started.  Through these years, George has benefitted the lives of many when not leaving town but things become very complicated for him making him feel worthless making all his loved ones pray for him in a prayer which becomes answered by the second-class angel Clarence, played by character actor Henry Travers in his best role, who does what he can to get through to George in order to earn his wings and exposes George to a world that would have been had he not been born.  This is a movie I have watched annually since I was in high school when it is on NBC and never tire of it each year.  Thomas Mitchell, Donna Reed, Beulah Bondi, Frank Faylen, Gloria Grahame, and many others co-star in this film.  I really like the message this sends in how what we do for people can start a chain reaction that can help many others.  Look for Carl Switzer, who is known for being Alfalfa, in an uncreddited appearance in the reunion scene and is the one who lets out the swimming pool.  I have heard that there is actually a sequel in the works where Karolyn Grimes, who plays George's daughter Zuzu, plays an angel who shows George's unlikeable grandson what the world would be like if he had not been born so the opposite of this film.  I really hope this is a hoax but have read quite a few sources and I suppose I could just be very wrong and this turns out to be good but it is just really difficult to mess with a classic like this one.  This is on NBC on Christmas Eve so after you have viewed A CHRISTMAS STORY twenty times you should tune into this one to draw some great inspiration.

Peace on Earth (1939):  This is my animated short for the week which has a holiday theme to it but then becomes very weird anti-war propaganda.  This takes place among a family of squirrels and Grandpa Squirrel, voiced by voice acting legend Mel Blanc, who explains what "men" are explaining how their war ways have destroyed them with some very interesting war footage while singing the song of the title.  This is available on Youtube and really deserves a look.

Where the Red Fern Grows (1974):  This is a movie based on the novel for all ages by Wilson Rawls which many at least in my generation read it during elementary school and was one of the better books we were forced to read.  Stewart Peterson stars as Billy whose family lives in the Ozark mountains during the depression era and is a poor but very loving family who fight for survival.  Billy soon wants to get coonhunting dogs in which cannot be afforded by his family so works many odd jobs to get enough money to get them.  When finally getting these dogs, Billy and the two hounds become very inseparable in their hunting adventures that lead up in an annual coon-hunt contest.  James Whitmore, Beverly Garland, and Jack Ging all co-star.  This is a very timeless coming of age story that can be enjoyed by all generations.  This is available on Instant Netflix.

The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992):  Last week I included which I believe was the first musical version of the Charles Dickens classic A CHRISTMAS CAROL.  This week, I include the Muppets putting on the classic.  Human being Michael Caine stars as the bitter Ebenezer Scrooge who hates the Christmas season which he feels everyone is picking his pocket but only really cares what goes into his own.  Soon, he gets a visit by the ghosts of his former business partners, Jacob and Robert Marley and yes usually it is just Jacob but hecklers Statler and Waldorf were put into these roles and we know there cannot be one without the other.  They are ghosts who due to their misdeeds must wear a chain for punishment and warn that if Scrooge does not change his ways, he is destined to the same fate.  They soon warn of three ghosts who will come visit him to show him Christmas in the past, present, and future for himself and those around him.  Kermit the Frog plays Scrooge's employee Bob Cratchit whils Miss Piggy is Mrs. Cratchit.  It is a very interesting dynamic in which their sons are frogs and daughters are pigs.  Fozzy Bear plays Fozziwig who in most stories is Fezziwig which is Scrooge's boss when he was younger.  Michael Caine was great as the mizer and really had very few humans in this one unlike much of the Muppet movies there are lots of celebrity cameos.  Paul Williams also wrote some really good musical numbers in thsi film.  The only part that bothered me some was the Ghost of Christmas Past which was just a ghost image of a little girl but was really a bit weird even for me.  Other than that, I really enjoyed this version and really like this time of year.

Safe (2012):  I have done a lot of holiday and family selections for this week so for those who want the action movies, here you go.  Boaz Yakin wrote and directed this action film which stars Jason Statham who is a former cage fighter and former elite agent named Luke, who looks to protect a young Chinese girl named Mei, played by Catherine Chan, who holds a very important numerical code, from the Triads, Russian Mafia, and corrupt NYC cops.  Statham once again shows his great fight skills but this one has more of a plot than other Statham films while many entertaining action scenes that are very enjoyable as long as you can suspend your disbelief for awhile.  This is a very fun and pretty moving action film at times which is available on Instant Netflix. This is also the end of the holiday films for the week.

Overnight (2003):  This is the start of three documentaries for the week.  This documentary focuses on Troy Duffy who is most known for writing and directed the cult hit BOONDOCK SAINTS.  Duffy was a local bar owner who had the idea for this script which famous producer Harvey Weinstein really liked and signed him to a contract with Miramax.  Soon though, Miramax jumped shipped and shows Duffy's determination and struggles to get this movie made.  Much of Duffy's problem was his arrogance and alienation to those around him like the members of his band in which he had for his own soundtrack.  This shows the promising overnight career of Duffy whose arrogance proved to be his downfall.  I did admire his determination and drive in knowing exactly what he wanted and writing a clever script.  After this, his only other movie he directed was the 2008 sequel which did not have near the success as the first one.

I Accuse My Parents (1944):  This is from an episode of MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000.  Usually, they watch real cheesy sci-fi movies but this one was one of those "message" films from that era.  We see a high school student who falls in with gangsters and when a job goes bad he blames his parents for ignoring him.  The mother was amusing at times, crashing parties all drunk and the dad was just a working man which is all the reason to commit crime.  The great message I got from this movie was that if I commit a crime, I just need to blame my parents.  Yes, the perfect movie for Joel and his robots to make fun of and be forced to watch.  This is available on instant Netflix.

Blackfish (2013):  This is my second documentary for the week which was a suggestion from my Facebook friend Andrea.  This movie shows the dark side of places like Seaworld where killer whales put on a show for the families out there in the world.  This mainly talks about a killer whale named Tilikum which was responsible for the deaths of three trainers.  Many former employees of Sea World reflect on their times at the place and a court case that happened between Sea World and OSHA, which is Occupational Safety and Health Admissions.  It also talks about the consequences of keeping such intelligent creatures in captivity as well as some very cruel methods in training the whales.  This is very informative and even disheartening.  I remember as a kid seeing the dolphin shows at the zoo and now think twice about going to these types of shows.  A really good double feature would be THE COVE which is a documentary more on the exploitation of dolphins.  This is available on Instant Netflix.

Chariots of the Gods (1970):  This is my third and last documentary for the week.  This is based on a book by Erich Von Daniken concerning ancient mysteries on things like cave drawings, pyramids, the monuments on Easter Island, among many other things.  It talks about these things could have been influenced by extraterrestrial visitations years ago.  There is some interesting theories on the reasoning and I have always been a believer in alien life.  This is nothing great but can provoke some thoughts into the possibility of other life out there beyond our planet which brings up some good points.  This is available on Instant Netflix. 

Next Avengers:  Heroes of Tomorrow (2008):  I end with this animated superhero movie which I put off watching for a long time but finally broke down.  This is based on children of some of the Avengers who had made the ultimate sacrifice and now the kids are going after the enemy responsible for the demise.  The characters are James Rogers who is the son of Captain America and Black Widow, Pym who is the son of Giant Man/Ant Man and Wasp, Barton who is the son of Hawkeye, Azari who is the son of Black Panther, and Torunn who is the daughter of Thor.  I was pleasantly surprised at how much I really liked this movie.  The characters are pretty well done with a story that is not bad.  It also has some pretty good action to keep your attention.  I do not really want to go any further into the storyline but might be a good prerequisite to first watch the animated series AVENGERS:  EARTH'S MIGHTIEST HEROES first to know some of the characters in this one that the live-action Marvel films have not featured yet.  The cartoon series and this movie are both available on Instant Netflix.

Well, that is it for this week.  Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for next week.  Continue to read on for a new segment.

NIGHT AT THE SHERA DOUBLE FEATURE

This was double feature that happened at my friend Shera's house where we watched two of my favorite movies.

It's a Wonderful Life (1946):  This was already featured as the first movie of the week.  I have DVD of this movie and for many years, I have either watched it with my dad or my mom, wherever I am at the time.  This is the first time I have watched it with other first-time watchers.  I watched this with Shera and her two older daughters who are 12 and 11.   One of the kids made a good point in not really understanding why it is considered a holiday film.  The Christmas part does not really come along until much later and this was not really meant to be a holiday film and in fact I learned it was billed as a romantic comedy which I would be quite disappointed if that was my expectation.  Another comment that was continued in the beginning was how his life really didn't seem so bad and yes that is true.  This does focus on getting established but things don't go nearly as wrong until much later when we first establish the kind of loyal person George is and so we care when things go wrong. We all in the end though really seemed to enjoy it.  Shera really liked this movie and it was different experience being the one to present the movie.

Les Miserables (2012):  This one was mostly watched by myself and Shera.  This has really become possibly my favorite musical which is based on the classic novel by Victor Hugo which was published in 1862 and would stand the test of time throughout the years with the book and many movie adaptations which then brought about the musical by Herbert Kretzmer and Claude-Michel Schonberg.  Hugh Jackman stars as Jean ValJean who is paroled from a prison in the 19th Century France after serving 19 years for stealing a loaf of bread.  He finds that it is hard to be able to find any sort of work as an ex-convict and with the help of a noble priest, played by Colm Wilkinson who originated the role on stage, is able to start a new life with a new identity.  Many years later, Valjean finds he just cannot escape the presence of the ruthless police officer Javert, played by Russell Crowe, who sees the law as very black and white.  Valjean also promises a dying woman named Fantine, played very well by Anne Hathaway, to watch her daughter Cosette, played by Isabelle Allen in the younger years and Amanda Seyfried in the older years.  Sacha Baron Cohen, Helena Bonham Carter, Eddie Redmayne, and many others co-star in this musical.  When we first saw it Shera realized it was going to be mostly singing with little dialogue and was on the fence at first but as we got more into it she really started enjoying the story and performances in this film.  Jackman was great as ValJean and he fully exposes his vocal talent in this movie.  Many will disagree but I really believe we have been too hard on Russell Crowe's singing ability.  I really thought his singing voice fit that character very well and that he really did not sound that bad, especially within the context the character.  The whole movie was so well done in my opinion.  I have noticed more community theaters are trying this one and hope that one day I can be in this production.

Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations- 422nd Edition

Welcome to the 422nd Edition of my long running series.  I hope everyone is having a good holiday season and has a great holiday no matter what you might celebrate.  I'm a little late in putting this out and apoligize for not having pictures but the website I use was not working well so I will just release as is and hope you it.  I will not get onto my selections for the week.

The Lost Weekend (1945):  I start the week out with this Billy Wilder film which takes a look at the life of an alcoholic and something that was rather controversial to show in that era.  Ray Milland stars as Don who is supposed to go away with his girlfriend Helen, played by Jane Wyman, and his brother Wick, played by Phillip Terry.  He decides not to go with them and when finding $10, he resorts back to the bottle.  Eventually he ends up at a bar where he reflects on his past as an alcoholic.  This is a very brutal look at the effects off alcoholism and what it can do to those involved including the alcoholic and their loved ones.  Milland was very good in his role and was a very compelling film to watch.  I watch a lot from this era and usually prefer these more gritty films that at the time took more guts to make.  The alcohol industry and Paramount were very leary about the film but then it became very praised by the critics and won an Academy Award for Best Picture.

Stuff for Stuff (1949):  This is my short film for the week.  This takes a look at the importance of trading through the years starting with the early days of the cavemen up to the days of WWII.  This is a rather entertaining short film which shows the evolution of our society.

Scrooge (1970):  This is my holiday selection of the week which was directed by Ronald Neame.  This is a musical version of the classic novel A CHRISTMAS CAROL by Charles Dickens and possibly the first musical version of the timeless classic which is really one of my favorite holiday stories.  Most people know the basic story pretty well.  A bitter man named Ebenezer Scrooge, played by Albert Finney, each year expresses his disdain towards Christmas and those who he feel are trying to take adventage of him making him think "bah humbug".  He is soon visited by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley, played by Alec Guinness, who informs him that their business practices which only focus on money and very little towards mankind are not the right ways.  Marley has been given the fate to wear many heavy chains and hopes to save Ebenezer from that fate.  He then informs him he will be visited by three ghosts which are the Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present, and the Ghost of Christmas Future who will show Ebenezer the times of him and those around him in each of these eras in hope that he will become a more generous man.  Leslie Bricusse wrote the music and lyrics to this film and wrote some very good music numbers.  Finney was only 34 years of age at this time and did a great job of playing much older.  This is always a great one to watch with family to show that Christmas is so much more than gifts.

This is England (2006):  This British film came per suggestion of my friend Chris.  Shane Meadows wrote and directed this film which is based on some of his experiences.  Thomas Turgoose stars as a young troubled boy named Shaun and thanks for spelling the name correctly.  He is trying to get through life and after a fight he comes across a group of skinheads who he becomes good friends with and hangs out with them.  He becomes willing to shave his head and dress like them and soon must decide if this is the right group to be around as he takes part in some dangerous and mean activities towards others.  This is a really good look at '80s Britain from the point of view of a troubled pre-teen.  It is very compelling throughout the film and one which deserves a look.  This is available on Instant Netflix.

Living in Oblivion (1995):  Tom DiCillo wrote and directed this independent film about making and independent film.  Steve Buscemi stars as director Nick Reve who is the director of this indendent film and just about anything that can go wrong goes wrong in such a low budget movie.  Dermot Mulroney co-stars as Wolf who is the camera man is a lot of fun in his role.  Other actors include Catherine Keener, James LeGros, Peter Dinklage, and many others.  It's really hard to go into detail into this film except that it is a great tribute to filming an independent film.  This is available on Crackle.

Picture Snatcher (1933):  Lloyd Bacon directed this film which stars James Cagney as Danny Kean who is being released from prison and looks to go straight.  He soon takes takes a job as a photographer for a tabloid.  He begins to cause a lot of controversy when sneaking a photo of an execution which was unheard of at that time.  Cagney clearly had a great time in this role and this movie had some pretty good action scenes including a climatic shootout at the end.  This is a good early look into the world of photography and a good and overlooked Cagney film.

Gimme the Loot (2012):  I continue with my independent film kick of the week.  Adam Leon wrote and directed this independent film that is in New York and centers around a group of graffiti artists.  Ty Hickson and Tashiana Washington star as Malcolm and Sophia who decide to target of the New York Mets home run apple which always comes up when home runs are hit and do the ultimate graffiti.  This was a pretty well-done low budget film where they made a couple small-time crooks rather likable.  People who hate the Mets will really like this one.  This is available on Instant Netflix and has been pretty well received. 

Gamera vs. Guiron (1969):  This comes from an episode of MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000.  In this movie, aliens kidnap two children to be taken to their planet.  Soon, everyone's favorite flying turtle Gamera comes to the rescue though I don't really know his connection to the whole situation.  Gamera must soon take on the other title character Guiron who is a monster with a giant knife on his head.  This I don't really believe requires much more detail.  This is a b-movie which MST3K chose to pay homage for being so bad that it is good and give some great commentary through the movie.  This episode is available on Instant Netflix though it might be good to get a copy, invite some friends and have your own MST3K or Rifftrax.

Bonnie and Clyde (2013):  I end with Movie Night at the Shera where we watched this two-part mini-series about the depression-era outlaws.  Holliday Grainger and Emile Hirsch star as the outlaws which show them in their younger days where they soon meet up and form a relationship while going on quite bank-robbing spree.  In 1963, Arthur Penn directed the film of the same name which starred Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway.  That movie is quite a classic and portrays them more as anti-heroes wheras this movie really didn't so much.  I also thought this version did a better job in the costumes and the looks as well as some of the real-life photos of Bonnie and Clyde.  Shera was researching some as we were watching and found the imagery in this mini-series was pretty good in that regard.  In this one, Bonnie was portrayed as the more villainous one and really kind of coerces Clyde into much of these crimes which the 1963 version was not quite like that as I recall.  I am not quite sure of the accuracy of the Bonnie Parker portrayal but was an interesting spin.  The first episode was more establishing of the characters where the second episode was the gang at full force and held nothing back in terms of violence.  This was a decent version though I will look to check out the original one again at some point.

Well, that is it for this week.  Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for next week.  Happy Holidays everyone.

Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations- 421st Edition

Welcome to the 421st Edition of my long-running series.  We lost some people this week like Paul Walker, Nelson Mandela, as well as my high school/college friend Jim who left us at a very early time.  My thoughts go out to all those whether I know them or not.  The weather did not get as bad here as it did some places so I was glad of that.  Now onto my recommendations for the week.

Roadie (2011):  I start the movie out with this independant drama which was directed and co-wrote by Michael Cuesta.  Ron Eldard stars as Jimmy who has spent his life as a roadie with Blue Oyster Cult but was thrown out.  He looks to reconnect with his ailing mother, played by TRUE BLOOD alum Lois Smith.  He also must adjust to the real world after touring with a band most of his life.  His other complication is that the girl he liked in high school, played by Jill Hennessy, is married to his former nemesis Randy, played by Bobby Cavanale.  This was a pretty good and touching character study of a man who never really grew up.  Eldard was very good in his role and worked very well with Lois Smith.  This is available on Instant Netflix.

Okay Toots! (1935):  This is my comedy short of the week which stars Charley Chase whose wife is with a fortune teller which makes the fortune go quite wrong in many ways.  This had a few funny gags in it.  Chase was known as silent comedian but did things in the talkie era as well, mostly under producer Hal Roach.  He did mostly short films so maybe someone to look into if you like comedy from that era.

Santa Claus (1959):  Last week, I brought you all the b-movie SANTA CLAUS CONQUERS THE MARTIANS but now I bring the one that's even better and that I hope Rifftrax uses next year.  I remember seeing this for the first time years ago when I recorded it from TCM.  When watching it, I just kept watching and throughout this movie, Im just thinking WTF but yet I could not keep my eyes off of it.  There are many things I learned when watching this movie.  For starters, Santa does not have elves, he has child labor from all over the world in which sing very annoying music.  Also, he is apparently at another planet and have reindeer which are made up of what looks like styrofoam and can only last for so long.  We also learn that Santa and Satan are rivals in which Satan tries every year to ruin Christmas and sends his very inept dance-loving minion Pitch who is told he would be punished with ice cream if he fails.  Now to add to that, we learn that after Merlin was done helping King Arthur, he decided to go work for Santa Claus.  I still maintain to this day this very well may be the most bizarre movie I have ever seen.  I actually watched this with MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000 but may be a good idea to just get a few friends and even do a double feature of these two holiday b-films.

The Final (2010):  This is another weird one per suggestion of my Facebook friend Chris.  This is brought by the After Dark Horrorfest which takes the consequences of bullying to an even bigger level.  Usually, when we hear about a school shooting, it is from some sort of outcast who just cannot take things like bullying anymore.  In this one, a group of high school outcasts decide that a shooting is not enough and set the popular crowd up to be held captive to go through some sort of torture.  Much of us probably relate this movie.  I was picked on quite a bit when I was in school even to the point that I recall people joking that I will do the next school shooting.  Never at any point did I think about doing something to that extreme nor did I ever really consider this sort of payback that this movie shows.  This was directed by Joey Stewart and written by Jason Kabolati who might have wrote their fantasies as to what they wanted to do to the bullies in their lives.  I will start by saying to those who get bullied that this is not the answer and neither is doing a school shooting.  Just remember there is life after high school and I have learned of that.  This is a very interesting and rather well executed premise where the tension is set very early and I was brought in quite a bit.

Robin and Marian (1976):  This is a continuation of the Robin Hood story we all know.  Sean Connery plays Robin Hood in this film who is just returning crusades only to find the Maid Marian, played by Audrey Hepburn, is a nun and saves her from being arrested by the Sheriff of Nottingham, played by Robert Shaw.  Richard Harris, Nicol Williamson, Denholm Elliott, and Ian Holm.  This takes place about 20 years later where the title character slowly reconnect in their love for each other while also leading to a final showdown with the crooked sheriff.  This is a pretty fun movie with good action, performances and a good love story.  It is also a good continuation of the Robin Hood legend.

Stardust (2007):  Now I go into more of a fantasy film.  Charlie Cox stars as Tristan who looks to win the love of the village beauty.  He also pursues a fallen star which is the form of a human named Yvaine, which is being pursued by many like a group of witches lead by Michelle Pfeiffer.  I'm just going to admit that it is very hard for me to really describe this film but is very enjoyable.  Robert De Niro is very amusing as Captain Shakespeare.  Ian McKellan provides narration and Sienna Miller, Henry Cavill, Peter O'Toole, Mark Strong, and many others co-star in this film.  This is a pretty enjoyable movie of the genre that would be something a family can watch together in my opinion.

Angel Face (1952):  Otto Preminger directed this film noir.  Jean Simmons stars as Diane, who is very beautiful but danger and schemes to knock off her stepmother.  Robert Mitchum stars as an ambulance driver named Frank who becomes infatuated with her though learns she is very dangerous and is brought into her dark world.  If I explain anything else it would give it away.  This is really my favorite genre from this era.  I like these real gritty and dramatic films.  This unfolds very well to a very jaw-dropping ending.

Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas (1999):  I decided to go the Disney route and feature one of their Christmas films.  This is done over three stories.  One of which is Donald Duck's nephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie wishing that everyday was Christmas so they can continue to open presents and that sort of thing.  They soon get their wish but then find they are reliving the same day each day.  The next story is of Goofy and his son Max where Max becomes skeptical of Santa Claus and Goofy tries to overcome the skepticism.  The last story is of Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse where they sacrifice to get each other gifts they have in mind.  Kelsey Grammar provides the narration of these films.  Each of these stories teach that Christmas is more than opening gifts but the importance of family and selflessness.  This is a great family movie for the holidays and is available on Instant Netflix.

What's Up, Tiger Lily? (1966):  This is Woody Allen's film debut where he takes an actual Japanese film, redubs it presenting it as a plot revolving around a secret egg salad recipe.  This is a James Bond sort of spoof that has a lot of funny moments like Woody Allen every once in a while explaining it.  It also has great opening credits like a "no star cast".  The final credits were also very funny as well as a soundtrack by Lovin' Spoonful.  This is not Allen's best but was the start to a good and controversial career. 

Hatfields and McCoys (2012):  I end with this mini-series which was done on the History Channel last year which talks about the feuding families on the West Virginia/Kentucky border after the Civil War.  Kevin Costner stars as Anse Hatfield and Bill Paxton stars as Randall McCoy.  These people are mostly the leaders of their families.  These two people were once friends but an incident tore them apart and the families got involved which lead to a lot of bloodshed between the families.  They become like the Capulets and Montagues in ROMEO AND JULIET and in a way are like an early mafia the way they would kill each other and get their vengeance.  Tom Berenger, Powers Boothe, Jena Malone, Matt Barr, and many others co-star in this three part mini-series which each episode is about 90 minutes or so.  This was very well done.  Kevin Coster was great in this movie as well as the other performances.  There is a lot of violence but that is what happened between the families. This is available on Instant Netflix and is well worth it.

Well, that is it for this week.  Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for next week.

Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations- 420th Edition

Welcome to the 420th Edition of my long running series.  I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving.  This week I starts the next holiday season which is a rather enjoyable time for me.  I do kind of get caught up in this season but I also hate the weather that comes so I just hope for a rather mild winter and not too much snow.  After a rather fun night last night, I will now get to this week's recommendations.

A Mother's Courage:  Talking Back to Autism (2009):  I start this week out with this documentary where a mother of an autistic child becomes determined to understand her autism and to help the child become a useful member of society.  She then meets many people that include parents of autistic children and people who work at schools to learn of how they go about teaching these kids.  She also meets Temple Grandin who is autistic and is a college professor to understand how she got to where she did in life.  It is very informative and very admirable to see a parent who really does not know what to do go out and learn from others.  This is available on Instant Netflix.

Reefer Madness (1936):  How can I have a 420th edition without this cult classic.  This was originally meant to be an educational film about the really horrible menace known as marijuana.  A couple of teens who smoke marijuana are then lead to do horrible things.  By now, most can see that the effects are very exaggerated.  It is now known as a b-movie and I'm sure a great movie to smoke marijuana to.  It has also been turned into a musical.  This is a good b-movie for the friends to gather and smoke marijuana if they want to as I do believe in the legalization of reefer.  This is also available on Instant Netflix.

Shop Talk (1936):  This is my short film for the week which features Bob Hope.  Hope stars as art student Robert Hope Jr. who inherits his father's department store on the condition that he successfully runs it for a year.  Acting manager Bill Hobbs, played by Richard Lane, wants to keep his job and schemes to drive Robert away.  There are some pretty fun moments in this short and fans of Bob Hope will love this one.

Brick (2005):  Rian Johnson wrote and directed this modern-day film noir which takes place in the world of high school.  Joseph Gordon-Levitt stars as Brendan who is a loner teen whose ex-girlfriend Emily, played by Emilie de Ravin, is killed and tries to piece together what happened leading himself into a dangerous world.  Nora Zehetner, Lukas Haas, Noah Fleiss, Richard Roundtree, and many others co-star.  This is a really well-told, gritty mystery film with many good twists.  Gordon-Levitt is great in his role and is a really different take to the film-noir genre.  This is also available on Instant Netflix.

A Clockwork Orange (1971):  Last week I featured Kubrick's DR. STRANGELOVE and now I follow up with his adaptation to the Anthony Burgess novel.  Malcolm McDowell stars as Alex who is the leader of a gang called the Droogs.  They go around terrorizing homes.  Soon the rest of the gang turns on Alex which gets him arrested.  When in prison he learns of an experimental program which will get him out of prison that he agrees to do.  This makes him fear everything he loves including violence and even Beethoven.  Back on the streets he is left defenseless to those who seek revenge for his past misdeeds.  This movie takes place in a very bleak futuristic England.  The imagery is very bizarre and the violence is quite strange too but very compelling.  For some reason I always get amused on the scene where Alex is torturing a couple and singing SINGIN' IN THE RAIN.  I understand that Gene Kelly was very bitter towards McDowell for singing that song in this type of movie.  This was originally rated X mostly because it was so bizarre and unconventional that no one knew really what to think.  Through time it has been taken down to R.  This is by no means for everyone but very compelling.  It has some great performances, cinematography, and a really good music score.  I have heard that this is a statement towards psychological drugs and the reform system.

A Bronx Tale (1993):  This is a movie that has always stuck with me.  Robert De Niro made his directorial debut in this film and also co-starred as local bus driver named Lorenzo who may not make a lot of money but is proud that he makes an honest living.  His son Calogero, played by Lillo Brancato in his older days, witnesses a killing from a local gangster named Sonny, played by Chazz Palminteri, and does not implicate him.  Calogero and Sonny soon form a bond which Lorenzo does not approve.  Sonny becomes like a second father to Calogero in teaching street smarts while his biological father is trying to teach him things like integrity and working hard.  I remember seeing the plot description and finding it to be rather misleading where it says that Sonny is trying to turn Calogero into him.  I do not find that to be the case and he just wants to teach him certain street smarts.  One thing I always found interesting about this movie is how Lorenzo is trying to keep him from Sonny but Sonny is trying to keep him away from a youth gang he hangs out with which are clearly a worse influence that Sonny.  Look for Joe Pesci who has a cameo appearance.  Lillo Brancato was very good in this movie but unfortunately never got to propel his career soon getting typecast in gangster roles like in THE SOPRANOS.  Unfortunately now he is doing a ten year sentence for a burglary that resulted in the murder of a police officer which was by his accomplice.  This is actually based on a play written by co-star Chazz Palminteri.  The play is a one-man show where Chazz Palminteri tells the story of Calogero.  De Niro really liked the show and bought the rights under the agreement that Palminteri can write and screenplay and play the part of Sonny.  I would love to see the play sometime which he revived in 2007 and lasted for over a year. 

Stakeout on Dope Street (1958):  Irvin Kershner directed this this movie which feature three teenagers who come across a briefcase and throw everything away.  Soon they learn that there is a can of heroine so they seek to recover it and do so.  They decide to look into making money but find that the people who had it first are after them.  I came across this and thought that there are not a lot from this era that really deal with drugs like this so I took an interest.  It does a really good job with its low budget and has a good jazzy music score.  If you can get past the absurd scene where they actually go to a landfill to find the drugs and find them, this is a pretty well done film by Kershner in his directorial debut.  This is right now available on TCM On-Demand.

Dredd (2012):  This is I suppose a reboot to the 1995 movie JUDGE DREDD which starred Sylvester Stallone in a movie that did not get a very good reception.  Pete Travis directed this action film that takes place in a violent futuristic city where the police become judge, jury, and executioner.  Karl Urban stars as Judge Dredd who teams with a trainee named Cassandra Anderson, played by Olivia Thirlby, to take down a drug empire lead by a ruthless female drug lord named Ma-Ma, played by Lena Headey, possibly a take on Ma Barker I suppose.  This is a far more serious take than the original and is very gritty and violent.  This holds nothing back on violence and I admit there were scenes that just made my jaw drop.  This is a very dark film based on a comic book.  This is available on Instant Netflix.

Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1964):  I decided to start the holiday season out with this great B-movie.  Martians on Mars learn about Santa Claus on our planet Earth and are upset that there is not someone like him on our planet.  They soon decide to abduct Santa and bring him to Mars.  While most were well-intentioned, one of the martians did not like the idea of Santa bringing joy to the planet and attempts to get rid of him.  This is one of the top b-movies and remember it is not a very good movie but it is just so bad it is good.  This is available on Instant Netflix and on Thursday theaters are showing this through Rifftrax so check out the movies at your local movie theaters and might get to see this on the big screen brought to us by MST3K alums Michael J. Nelson, Kevin Murphy, and Bill Corbett.

Land of the Heads (2009):  I end this week with this animated short film.  This is really hard to describe.  It is centered around a vampire couple where the male vampire must go after something really strange.  There are some pretty funny moments and some really good visual moments in this short film.  If I describe too much I would be giving it away.  If you can find this, it is a good one to check out.

Well, that is it for this week.  Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for next week.

Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations- 419th Edition

 

Welcome to the 419th Edition of my long-running series.  I don't really have much to say today so I'll just get on with my selections for the week.

DMT:  The Spirit Molecule (2010):  I start this week out with a documentary.  This takes a look at the molecule Dimethyltryptamine which is a molecule found in just about all living organisms.  This documentary takes a look at the possible spiritual effects of the molecule.  This focuses on research from Dr. Rick Strassman's research and the effects of it.  It has interviews with many in the medical field and the contributors for its theories like possible links to near death experiences.  This is a very interesting look into this and one I had not really taken time to look into myself.  This is available on Instant Netflix.

Rambling 'Round Radio Row # 6 (1933):  This is my short film for the week which shows a radio salesman trying to sell a radio to a group of Gypsies but finds it very difficult as the gypsies have a crystal ball where they can get most of what they need.  They demonstrate the ball by bringing up music acts from that era.  The music is not my kind of music but a good showcase of music from that era.

Dr. Strangelove or:  How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964):  Stanley Kubrick directed this dark comedy which is satire to the Cold War with Russia.  A tragic event causes a discussion of possible nuclear holocaust.  Peter Sellers stars as three roles.  One is of Captain Mandrake who is trying to get a code to recall the B-52 bombers that only General Jack D. Ripper, played well by Sterling Hayden, knows but will not tell.  Sellers also plays President Merkin Muffley who does not really seem to be in the loop about everything.  The last part that he plays is of the title character who is a former Nazi and his funniest of the three roles.  George C. Scott is great as the war crazed General Turgidson.  Slim Pickens, Keenan Wynn, and James Earl Jones are very amusing as the pilots about to drop the bomb and Pickens is very funny as a redneck pilot.  This is a great satire that still holds up today and has a lot of laughs even among danger of nuclear war.

Oldboy (2003):  This is my Korean film the for the week which was directed by Chan-Wook Park.  This is soon to become an American remake from Spike Lee which has gone to a very mixed reaction.  In some ways I really understand the reasoning for remakes.  Many people refuse to watch foreign language films because they just do not want to deal with the subtitles and the English dubbing is really bad which is really to be expected as far as I'm concerned.  I do not believe you can really do a quality dubbing in putting your own language to theirs but that might just be me.  I do try to look into the realm of the foreign film from time to time especially Asian films.  I have been hearing about this one for many years and finally get around to watching it.  Min-Sik Choi stars as Oh Dae-Su who has been abducted and imprisoned for 15 years with no explanation.  When getting out, he is equipped with money, cell phone, and expensive clothes.  He then sets out fo find his captors for revenge and answers but finds that it goes very deep. This movie is very stylish and really has a good story to it with a very good performance from Choi.  The movie has some rather graphic violence and if you can get past that and the subtitles, it will be a great experience.  This is available on Instant Netflix and I am going to start looking ever more into the Asian cinema.

Sudden Fear (1952):  This is my film noir for the week.  Joan Crawford stars as successful playwright Myra Hudson who marries actor Lester Blaine, played by Jack Palance, who she had just fired from a play but become friends afterwards.  Myra soon stumbles onto a plot where Lester and his mistress Irene, played by Gloria Grahame, are plotting to murder her.  This is really my favorite genre in this era and really liked the theater element in this one.  Crawford is great as the playwright who is doing what she can to say alive.  This is a very underrated and suspenseful film which really deserves a watch.

A Time to Kill (1996):  Joel Schumacher directed this film adaptation of the John Grisham novel.  Samuel L. Jackson stars as Carl Lee Hailey whose daughter is brutally attacked by a couple racist rednecks in a small Mississippi town.  Enraged by what happened, Carl Lee takes matters into his own hands by gunning them down as they go to court but also wounds a cop in the process.  Matthew McConaughey co-stars as up and coming attorney Jake Brigance who agrees to defend Carl Lee but then finds that his life and those around him are in danger due to the resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan who obviously want to see Carl Lee executed.  Sandra Bullock, Oliver Platt, Donald Sutherland, Kiefer Sutherland, Beth Grant, Kevin Spacey, Ashley Judd, Charles S. Dutton, and many others co-star in this film that really in the end focus on racial tensions and it really got me thinking.  Many people who are fathers will watch this and think "this is exactly what I would do if someone does that to my child".  In the beginning, these two guys are running roughshot in the black community and doing very stupid, unnessary, and cruel things to people of this community but their msot heinous act was attacking an innocent 10 year old girl who was just getting groceries for her family.  This was a pretty well-mannered child even to the point of apoligizing to her parents for dropping the groceries which happened when she was attacked.  After this, their family members get the clan together and commit even more horrible acts towards those of Jake who is just doing his job right or wrong.  I will try to speak realistically and say that vengeance does not erase anything that happened but I am also someone who does not have children and makes me wonder who I am to say I would not commit that sort of act myself.  It does beg a lot of gray areas of the way we treat each other and how and act of cruelty can really start a chain of unncessary acts.  I will shut up now, I've gone on long enough.  I did like a more toned down Jackson in this one and McConaughey was also quite good as Jake.

My Name is Julia Ross (1945):  Nina Foch stars as the title character who gains employment through an agency.  She soon learns they are not who they say they are when she awakens in a different home with different clothes and having a different identity.  She is being called by a totally different name and soon learns she is part of a very sinister plan that involves murder and must prove she is not this person the family claims her to be.  I really liked this movie and it is very suspenseful.  A rather unknown cast by today's standard but is still very well done with the story and acting.  This is available on TCM On-Demand.

Pitch Perfect (2012):  Jason Moore directed this film that centers into the popular world of a cappella.  Anna Kendrick stars as Beca who is a freshman at Barden University.  Soon, she soon reluctantly joins the all-girl group the Bellas to take on the all male group at the University that is their rivals.  She soon tries to get a new look and sound to the group which brings a bit of tension among them and even forms a relationship with their rival Jesse, played by Skylar Astin.  There are a couple other groups with a variety of sterotypical characters from those sorts of groups.  This I am sure has a lot of mixed opinions.  Fans of GLEE I'm sure will love this movie.  I would say that if you do not like this sort of performance, this might not be your type of movie.  For me, it was a lot of fun and I do admit to usually enjoying this sort of thing.  Brittany Snow, Anna Camp, Rebel Wilson, and many others co-star in this film.

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977):  This is my more family oriented selection.  This is based on three short stories from A.A. Milne.  Each one we get to be with our friends Winnie, Tigger, Rabbit, Kanga, Roo, Eeyore, Piglet, and Christopher Robin.  They are pretty closely related to the books.  Sebastian Cabot, Sterling Holloway, Clint Howard, and many others provide voices.  This is very harmless fun that everybody in the family can enjoy for the parents and the children no matter what age.  This is available on Instant Netflix.

Cannibal! The Musical (1993):  Trey Parker wrote and directed this really unusual musical about the real-life Alfred Packer who is the only American to have been convicted of cannibalism.  Packer lead a group of gold prospectors and a lot of tension came which lead to murder and possibly cannibalism to survive.  There were a lot of accounts that Packer was innocent.  Juan Schwartz whose name is really the same as the director stars in this film as Packer.  Matt Stone who would later become Parker's writing partner in their hit show SOUTH PARK co-stars as James.  It is really not as tasteless as it sounds and is really pretty funny with humorous musical numbers.  As I look into the story, it is somewhat accurate.  This is a purposely silly and stupid movie but is quite fun.  This is the start of the team of Parker and Stone who would go onto have a lot of success together in television, film, and Broadway.  This is available on Instant Netflix.

Well, that is it for this week.  Tell me what you like and what you dislike.  Stay tuned for next week.