Welcome to the 136th Edition of my long
running series. It has been a long work week which include rehearsals
but that part I love and it has not kept me from putting together this
great blog series. Now it is time to get your netflix and blockbuster
queues out and take down some movies.
Copland (1997): This is part 2 of most likely 5 in my Robert De Niro series. James Mangold directed this movie which stars none other than Sylvester Stallone as a small-town hearing-impaired sheriff named Freddie Heflin who idolizes a group of New York cops who he allows to do business in his small town but finds that they are not who they seem and comes with a choice to make. Harvey Keitel is the leader of the corrupt group of cops. Robert De Niro plays an Internal Affairs cop who wants Freddie to see what is going on. The standout to me was Ray Liotta who is Freddie's burned-out cop friend. This movie has quite a cast and is kept alive by the performances including Stallone who held his own very well in a group of actors.
Knights of the Round Table (1953): This is in tribute to Mel Ferrer who recently passed away. Richard Thorpe directed this take of the Arthurian legend. Mel Ferrer plays King Arthur. Ava Gardner plays Guinevere and Robert Taylor plays Lancelot and we all know what happens here. Morgan de Far and Mordred try to take advantage of this happening and take over the kingdom. This is by no means the best of the legend but still entertains. It is not nearly as dark as EXCALIBUR but also not as good. We don't have anything of the supernatural in this one. This is the first MGM movie to be shot in Cinescope and the first wide-screen movie.
The Diary of Anne Frank (1959): George Stevens directed this true story of the Frank family who along with another family hide in an abandoned house while trying to hide from the Nazis. Millie Perkins plays the title character who wrote this diary to tell of their times in hiding. These eople did everything possible to make the most out of a little home with so many people. It's sad to think the real lives of Jews in this era but this movie can still provide inspiration. Shelley Winters plays the wild wife of the other family.
A Sailor-Made Man (1921): I decided to go the Harold Lloyd route this week and feature what is technically his first feature-film though it is 47 minutes and that was what it had to be considered as such. Harold Lloyd is regarded as "The Third Genius" of silent film and just guess the other two. Lloyd always plays wimpy characters who found strength to rise to the occasion to fight for a girl. This is not his best but still funny and worth a look.
The Doctor (1991): Randa Haines directed this movie which is based on a book by real-life Dr. Edward Rosenbaum who has a cameo in this film. William Hurt in what may be his best performance stars as Dr. Jack Mackee who thinks he has it all and does not have much regard for his patients. I can see how years on the job can lessen one's compassion, especially jobs like doctors, police officers, etc. Jack then learns that he has throat cancer and finally starts to see how he treats his patients when he is at the mercy of some uncaring doctors. Elizabeth Perkins is great as a fellow cancer patient who becomes friends with Dr. Mackee and who makes him understand the errors of his past. This movie did take a stab at the medical industry but it is still very moving. This would definetly be good for medical students to take a look at and show how we need to put ourselves in other people's shoes.
King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters (2007): I saw that this movie was on the G4 channels and after reading reviews from many of my peers I figured I should check this out. This is an interesting documentary. The competition in our society fascinates me sometimes. I mean, people can win five figures of money by winning a Paper, Rock, Scissors tournament. Here we have a video game legend named Billy Mitchell who has a record in Donkey Kong and even recorded the first perfect game in Pac-Man. Then we have Steve Wiebe, who is a regular guy but determined to break the record of Billy Mitchell. He possesses the arcade game in his home and studies very thoroughly and when breaking the record, something happens that it gets deleted so he goes on an endless pursuit to meet Billy Mitchell who does not seem eager to take his challenge. This was very fascinating to me and the intensity of the video game world amazed me.
A Better Tomorrow (1986): This was one I had on my so-called Top Ten list. John Woo directed this movie where with all the violence, we were able to focus just as much on the story. The story focuses on two brothers who are on opposite sides of the law. We have the dedicated police officer Kit (Leslie Cheung) and his older brother Sung (Tung Li) who has just been released from prison and finds that the gangster life is hard to get out of. Kit remains very bitter of his older brother. Chow Yun-Fat stars as Sung's loyal friend Mark Lee, who is a professional killer who also has issues with his superiors. With the violence, we still have a very moving story and we are able to care about all the characters, especially Mark. These John Woo/Chow Yun-Fat films set the standard for many American action films with with Chow who could both kill people and act.
Peter Pan (2000): I did a rare theatrical film which was on A & E which stars Olympic gymnatics legend Cathy Rigby as the title role in this musical version of the J.M. Barrie story of the boy who would not grow up. I decided to feature this after seeing this at the Beef and Boards Theater in Indianapolis, Indiana and seeing my friend Wes as one of the lost boys. This is definetly a show I would like to do someday and play the role of Smee. Cathy Rigby was very good as Peter Pan and so was everyone else. The Beef and Boards also did a great job.
The Panic in Needle Park (1971): Jerry Schatzberg directed this movie that has went under the radar. This is Al Pacino's pre-GODFATHER film which also co-starred Richard Bright who would play Michael Corleone's loyal bodyguard Al Neri in all three GODFATHER films. Al Pacino and Kitty Winn star as a couple who are both addicted to heroin in the "Needle Park" part of New York. This is not a cheerful love story but it still moves with great performances from the leads. If you want a preventive drug film to show your children, this is it. This takes a good look at the addiction of heroin and the lives lead by these addicts which is one I don't think anyone wants to lead.
Mr. Blandings Builds His House (1948): I have decided to do what is most likely a three-part Cary Grant series, all of which will be comedy. This is part one of a man who decides to build his own house to his specifications but finds that it is more trouble than he thought. Myrna Loy is great as his understanding wife. This movie delivers many funny moments in the Cary Grant way in this movie about not giving up.
Well, That is it for this week. Leave your comments, what did you like and what did you hate and stay tuned for next week.
HONORABLE MENTION
Megan's Mystical Harp: Megan and John Upchurch performed saturday of last week at the Blue Bottle coffee show where I was hanging out at during the day watching THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK and talking to my friend Jacob. Megan played her harp and John played a guitar and both played beautiful Celtic music which really drew me in. Megan also sang some of the time and sang some beautiful songs. I felt inclined to use them in this segment of my blog. You can check out Megan's myspace at http://www.myspace.com/megansmysticalharp. If you like Celtic music, you would have loved this.
CONNECTION TIME
-Ava Gardner (Knights of the Round Table) and Millie Perkins (Diary of Anne Frank) were in the 1985 mini-series A.D.
-Ava Gardner (Knights of the Round Table) and Shelley Winters (Diary of Anne Frank) were in the 1979 film City on Fire
-Ava Gardner (Knights of the Round Table) and Melvin Douglas (Mr. Blandings) were in the 1949 film The Great Sinner and the 1951 film My Forbidden Past
-Mel Ferrer (Knights of the Round Table) and Shelley Winters (Diary of Anne Frank) were in the 1979 film The VisitorCopland (1997): This is part 2 of most likely 5 in my Robert De Niro series. James Mangold directed this movie which stars none other than Sylvester Stallone as a small-town hearing-impaired sheriff named Freddie Heflin who idolizes a group of New York cops who he allows to do business in his small town but finds that they are not who they seem and comes with a choice to make. Harvey Keitel is the leader of the corrupt group of cops. Robert De Niro plays an Internal Affairs cop who wants Freddie to see what is going on. The standout to me was Ray Liotta who is Freddie's burned-out cop friend. This movie has quite a cast and is kept alive by the performances including Stallone who held his own very well in a group of actors.
Knights of the Round Table (1953): This is in tribute to Mel Ferrer who recently passed away. Richard Thorpe directed this take of the Arthurian legend. Mel Ferrer plays King Arthur. Ava Gardner plays Guinevere and Robert Taylor plays Lancelot and we all know what happens here. Morgan de Far and Mordred try to take advantage of this happening and take over the kingdom. This is by no means the best of the legend but still entertains. It is not nearly as dark as EXCALIBUR but also not as good. We don't have anything of the supernatural in this one. This is the first MGM movie to be shot in Cinescope and the first wide-screen movie.
The Diary of Anne Frank (1959): George Stevens directed this true story of the Frank family who along with another family hide in an abandoned house while trying to hide from the Nazis. Millie Perkins plays the title character who wrote this diary to tell of their times in hiding. These eople did everything possible to make the most out of a little home with so many people. It's sad to think the real lives of Jews in this era but this movie can still provide inspiration. Shelley Winters plays the wild wife of the other family.
A Sailor-Made Man (1921): I decided to go the Harold Lloyd route this week and feature what is technically his first feature-film though it is 47 minutes and that was what it had to be considered as such. Harold Lloyd is regarded as "The Third Genius" of silent film and just guess the other two. Lloyd always plays wimpy characters who found strength to rise to the occasion to fight for a girl. This is not his best but still funny and worth a look.
The Doctor (1991): Randa Haines directed this movie which is based on a book by real-life Dr. Edward Rosenbaum who has a cameo in this film. William Hurt in what may be his best performance stars as Dr. Jack Mackee who thinks he has it all and does not have much regard for his patients. I can see how years on the job can lessen one's compassion, especially jobs like doctors, police officers, etc. Jack then learns that he has throat cancer and finally starts to see how he treats his patients when he is at the mercy of some uncaring doctors. Elizabeth Perkins is great as a fellow cancer patient who becomes friends with Dr. Mackee and who makes him understand the errors of his past. This movie did take a stab at the medical industry but it is still very moving. This would definetly be good for medical students to take a look at and show how we need to put ourselves in other people's shoes.
King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters (2007): I saw that this movie was on the G4 channels and after reading reviews from many of my peers I figured I should check this out. This is an interesting documentary. The competition in our society fascinates me sometimes. I mean, people can win five figures of money by winning a Paper, Rock, Scissors tournament. Here we have a video game legend named Billy Mitchell who has a record in Donkey Kong and even recorded the first perfect game in Pac-Man. Then we have Steve Wiebe, who is a regular guy but determined to break the record of Billy Mitchell. He possesses the arcade game in his home and studies very thoroughly and when breaking the record, something happens that it gets deleted so he goes on an endless pursuit to meet Billy Mitchell who does not seem eager to take his challenge. This was very fascinating to me and the intensity of the video game world amazed me.
A Better Tomorrow (1986): This was one I had on my so-called Top Ten list. John Woo directed this movie where with all the violence, we were able to focus just as much on the story. The story focuses on two brothers who are on opposite sides of the law. We have the dedicated police officer Kit (Leslie Cheung) and his older brother Sung (Tung Li) who has just been released from prison and finds that the gangster life is hard to get out of. Kit remains very bitter of his older brother. Chow Yun-Fat stars as Sung's loyal friend Mark Lee, who is a professional killer who also has issues with his superiors. With the violence, we still have a very moving story and we are able to care about all the characters, especially Mark. These John Woo/Chow Yun-Fat films set the standard for many American action films with with Chow who could both kill people and act.
Peter Pan (2000): I did a rare theatrical film which was on A & E which stars Olympic gymnatics legend Cathy Rigby as the title role in this musical version of the J.M. Barrie story of the boy who would not grow up. I decided to feature this after seeing this at the Beef and Boards Theater in Indianapolis, Indiana and seeing my friend Wes as one of the lost boys. This is definetly a show I would like to do someday and play the role of Smee. Cathy Rigby was very good as Peter Pan and so was everyone else. The Beef and Boards also did a great job.
The Panic in Needle Park (1971): Jerry Schatzberg directed this movie that has went under the radar. This is Al Pacino's pre-GODFATHER film which also co-starred Richard Bright who would play Michael Corleone's loyal bodyguard Al Neri in all three GODFATHER films. Al Pacino and Kitty Winn star as a couple who are both addicted to heroin in the "Needle Park" part of New York. This is not a cheerful love story but it still moves with great performances from the leads. If you want a preventive drug film to show your children, this is it. This takes a good look at the addiction of heroin and the lives lead by these addicts which is one I don't think anyone wants to lead.
Mr. Blandings Builds His House (1948): I have decided to do what is most likely a three-part Cary Grant series, all of which will be comedy. This is part one of a man who decides to build his own house to his specifications but finds that it is more trouble than he thought. Myrna Loy is great as his understanding wife. This movie delivers many funny moments in the Cary Grant way in this movie about not giving up.
Well, That is it for this week. Leave your comments, what did you like and what did you hate and stay tuned for next week.
HONORABLE MENTION
Megan's Mystical Harp: Megan and John Upchurch performed saturday of last week at the Blue Bottle coffee show where I was hanging out at during the day watching THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK and talking to my friend Jacob. Megan played her harp and John played a guitar and both played beautiful Celtic music which really drew me in. Megan also sang some of the time and sang some beautiful songs. I felt inclined to use them in this segment of my blog. You can check out Megan's myspace at http://www.myspace.com/megansmysticalharp. If you like Celtic music, you would have loved this.
CONNECTION TIME
-Ava Gardner (Knights of the Round Table) and Millie Perkins (Diary of Anne Frank) were in the 1985 mini-series A.D.
-Ava Gardner (Knights of the Round Table) and Shelley Winters (Diary of Anne Frank) were in the 1979 film City on Fire
-Ava Gardner (Knights of the Round Table) and Melvin Douglas (Mr. Blandings) were in the 1949 film The Great Sinner and the 1951 film My Forbidden Past
-Shelley Winters (Diary of Anne Frank) and Richard Bright (Panic in Needle Park) were in the 1959 film Odds Against Tomorrow and the 1971 tv movie A Death of Innocence
-William Hurt (The Doctor) and Raul Julia (Panic in Needle Park) were in the 1985 film Kiss of the Spider Woman and the 1992 film La Peste
-Christine Lahti (The Doctor) and Al Pacino (Panic in Needle Park) were in the 1979 film And Justice For All
-Mandy Patinkin (The Doctor), Charlie Korsmo (The Doctor), Al Pacino (Panic in Needle Park) and Paul Sorvino (Panic in Needle Park) were in the 1990 film Dick Tracy
-Adam Arkin (The Doctor) and Paul Sorvino (Panic in Needle Park) were in the 1971 film Made For Each Other and the 1974 film It Couldn't Happen to a Nicer Guy
-Harvey Keitel (Copland) and William Hurt (The Doctor) were in the 1995 film Smoke
-Harvey Keitel (Copland) and Mandy Patinkin (The Doctor) were in the 1998 film Lulu on the Bridge
-Robert de Niro (Copland) and Shelley Winters (Diary of Anne Frank) were son and mother in the Barker gang in the 1970 film Bloody Mama
-Robert de Niro (Copland) and William Hurt (The Doctor) were in the 2006 film The Good Shepherd which de Niro also directed.
-Robert de Niro (Copland) and Bill Macy (The Doctor) were in the 1999 film Analyze This
-Robert de Niro (Copland) and Al Pacino (Panic in Needle Park) were in the 1974 film The Godfather Part 2, the 1995 film Heat, and the upcoming 2008 film Righteous Kill. Also of note Richard Bright (Panic in Needle Park) was in the Godfather Part 2. Also, De Niro and Bright were in the the 1984 film Once Upon a Time in America.
-Robert de Niro (Copland), Ray Liotta (Copland), Tony Sirico (Copland), and Paul Sorvino (Panic in Needle Park) were in the 1990 film Goodfellas
-Peter Berg (Copland), Mandy Patinkin (The Doctor), Adam Arkin (The Doctor) and Christine Lahti (The Doctor) were in the tv series Chicago Hope
-Janeane Garofalo (Copland) and Elizabeth Perkins (The Doctor) were in the 2004 film Jiminy Glick in Lalawood
-Michael Rapaport (Copland) and Christine Lahti (The Doctor) were in the 1997 tv movie SUBWAYStories: Tales from the Underground
-Michael Rapaport (Copland) and Adam Arkin (The Doctor) were in the 2005 film Hitch
-Michael Rapaport (Copland) and Richard Bright (Panic in Needle Park) were in the 1996 film Beautiful Girls
-Annabella Sciorra (Copland), Bruce Altman (Copland) and William Hurt (The Doctor) were in the 1993 film Mr. Wonderful. Altman and Hurt were in the 2002 film Changing Lanes
-Noah Emmerich (Copland), Cathy Moriarty (Copland) and Elizabeth Perkins (The Doctor) were in the 1999 film Crazy in Alabama
-Bruce Altman (Copland) and Al Pacino (Panic in Needle Park) were in the 1992 film Glengarry Glen Ross
-More than half of the actors named off in Copland besides the main four ended up in the Sopranos at one point or another
-Robert Taylor (Knights of the Round Table) and Shelley Winters (Diary of Anne Frank) were in the 1964 film A House is Not a Home
-Robert Taylor (Knights of the Round Table) and Myrna Loy (Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House) were in the 1939 film Lucky Night
-Robert Taylor (Knights of the Round Table) and Melvin Douglas (Mr. Blandings) were in the 1936 film The Gorgeous Hussy
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