Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations- 177th Edition

Welcome to the 177th Edition of the series. I'm being flown out on Tuesday to L.A. to try out in front of the tv judges for AMERICA'S GOT TALENT. It is such an exciting moment. Even if I do not make it, I am proud that I have gotten this far. I'll keep you all updated to what is going on.

My Name is Bruce (2007): I bought this off Amazon.com in this movie that was directed by the star Bruce Campbell. Campbell plays himself and is brought to a small town in Oregon to fight a real monster when a teen who has seen all his movies believes he is really Ash. This is kind of a spoof on Bruce Campbell playing himself and is great for Bruce Campbell fans. Ted Raimi is pretty amusing in the three roles he has. If you haven't seen any of his movies, you probably won't get this and you should at least watch the EVIL DEAD trilogy before watching this one.

Waitress (2007): This was a selection on account of my facebook bucket but the person chosen asked to remain anonymous so I will respect that request. Adrienne Shelley wrote, co-starred and directed this story which takes place in a small, southern town where FELICITY alum Keri Russell plays Jenna, an unhappily married waitress who has a gift for making pies and finds out she is pregnant. Enter in the new town doctor played by FIREFLY alum Nathan Fillion, who takes an interest in Jenna even though he is married. Jeremy Sisto plays Jenna's controlling husband who is very lazy. Andy Griffith is very amusing in a rare film appearance who is the owner of the restaurant. This was a great slice-of-life film that just about anyone can watch where the pies attribute to Jenna's life and her chance at happiness. The sad part is that this is the final film of Adrienne Shelley who was murdered.

You Know My Name (1999): This is my western and tv movie for the week which stars Sam Elliot as the Bill Tilghman, the former partner of Wyatt Earp, who is one of the last cowboys who is going into the film industry to make westerns. He wants his westerns to be as real as possible but no one wants to see the realism and non-stars. In this, he also gets dragged into the law and contends with a corrupt sheriff played by Arliss Howard. This is based on a true story and worth watching for Sam Elliot who was well cast in this role.

The Black Cat (1934): Edgar G. Ulmer directed this film very loosely based on the story by Edgar Allen Poe meaning nothing to really do with it at all. A newlywed couple ends up in the home of Dr. Vitus Werdegast, a man who experiences a lot of tragedy and learns a lot of secrets of his daughter and must play a game of chess to save the lives of the couple with Poelzig, played by Boris Karloff. It is hard to really explain this whole movie but if you like the classic horror films, I believe you'll love this one. This is the first and in my opinion the best of the eight Karloff/Legosi teamings where both actors have equal value.

Betty Blowtorch (And Her Amazing True Life Adventures) (2003): Anthony Scarpa wrote and directed this documentary focusing on the band of the title name. They were an all-female band which had quite a following but with their style of music and the things they sang about could never get much radio play. In here we see Bianca Butthole, Blare 'N Bitch, Sharon Needles and other reflect on their times through the good times and the many bad times. It also leads up to the tragic death of Bianca. It was amusing to see Vanilla Ice do some work with them. I am not a fan of their music but I can relate to them though and appreciate the efforts they used to do what they wanted to do.

The Untouchables (1987): This is my prohibition drama for the week directed by Brian De Palma. Kevin Costner stars as the real-life Elliot Ness, who did everything he could to bring down Al Capone. He decides to put together a team of incorrupt cops which include Malone, played very well by Sean Connery, the rooke cop George Stone played by a young Andy Garcia, and the FBI accountant Oscar Wallace, played by Charles Martin Smith. Robert De Niro is very good as Al Capone. There were some if not many fictional moments like the way Frank Nitti, played by Billy Drago, died but still a compelling story and some good action sequences like the one on the stairway.

Klute (1971): Alan Pakula directed this fascinating story. Donald Sutherland plays John Klute, a small-town private detective who is investigating the disappearance of his friend. His only connection is a prostitute named Bree Daniels, who he tries to blackmail but realizes she is being stalked. Jane Fonda plays Bree in possibly her best performance. After hurting and using so many men, she finds that Klute is more difficult and begins to fall for him. Roy Scheider is good as Bree's pimp. Good performances all around make this one worth watching.

Donald Gets Drafted (1942): This is my Disney short for the week which shows even Donald Duck wanting to fight for his country and must go through boot camp and finds it to be quite challenging. This was one of the WWII propaganda shorts and there were many Disney shorts like that in that era.

The Adventures of Don Juan (1948): Errol Flynn stars as the legendary Swordsman who returns to his country leading a scandalous lifestyle but tries to rehabilitate his image and falls in love with the queen. He then uncovers a plot by the king that will put England and Spain at war and must do everything he can to stop it. It's one of his great swordsman films which entertains a lot. Don Juan is a term used towards people who are "ladie's Man" types. Definitely a great one in the career of Errol.

Network (1976): I end with Travis' Co-Op film series selection for the week and the one that was way too ahead of its time. Sidney Lumet directed this satire on the corruption in the media which really might just be a prophecy. Peter Finch stars as one of the greatest movie characters of all time Howard Beale. He is a news anchor about to be fired but then makes an on-air rant which draws ratings so they decide to keep him and claim him to be a modern-day prophet. They network does what they can to get those ratings up no matter how much they exploit Beale and do what they must when the ratings are going down. This was a great movie giving birth to the line "I'm as mad as hell and I'm not going take this anymore" which I have felt that some lately but not quite to that degree. William Holden, Faye Dunaway, Robert Duvall and Ned Beatty co-star.

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

FUN LITTLE TRIVIA

Bruce Campbell (My Name is Bruce) plays Autolycus in HERCULES: THE LEGENDARY JOURNEYS and XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS. His co-star Ted Raimi (My Name is Bruce) was Joxer the both series.

THE ADVENTURES OF BRISCO COUNTY JR.
-Bruce Campbell (My Name is Bruce) plays the title character
-R. Lee Ermey (You Know My Name) plays Brisco County Sr.
-Billy Drago (The Untouchables) plays John Bly, the leader of the Bly gang and the one who kills Brisco County Sr. and the one Jr. wants to bring to justice.

Sam Elliot (You Know My Name) played Bill Tighlman in this week's feature YOU KNOW MY NAME and Kevin Costner (Untouchables) played Tighlman's more known partner Wyatt Earp in the 1994 film of that title. Sam Elliot plays Wyatt's brother Virgil in the 1993 film TOMBSTONE.

James Gammon (You Know My Name) played Teddy Roosevelt in a 1992 episode of THE YOUNG INDIANA JONES CHRONICLES and Charles Martin Smith (The Untouchables) played the role in a 1977 episode of THE LIFE AND TIMES OF GRIZZLEY ADAMS.

FRANKENSTEIN franchise
-Boris Karloff (Black Cat) played Baron Victor Von Frankenstein in the 1958 film FRANKENSTEIN-1970. He also made Frankenstein's Monster very iconic in the 1931 film FRANKENSTEIN, 1935 BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN and the 1939 SON OF FRANKENSTEIN
-Bela Legosi (Black Cat) played the part in the 1943 film FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLF MAN. Before that he played the role of Ygor in the 1939 SON OF FRANKENSTEIN and the 1942 film GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN
-Robert De Niro (Untouchables) played the Creature in the 1994 film MARY SHELLEY'S FRANKENSTEIN

Boris Karloff (The Black Cat) played King Arthur in 1952 episode of STUDIO ONE called A CONNECTICUT YANKEE IN KING ARTHUR'S COURT and in the 1955 tv movie called A CONNECTICUT YANKEE. Sean Connery played the part in the 1995 film FIRST KNIGHT.

Kevin Costner (The Untouchables) and Robert Duvall (Network) were partners in the 2003 film OPEN RANGE.

ROBIN HOOD FRANCHISE
-Kevin Costner (The Untouchables) played Robin Hood in 1991 film ROBIN HOOD: PRINCE OF THIEVES
-Sean Connery (The Untouchables) played Robin Hood in 1976 film ROBIN & MARIAN
-Errol Flynn (The Adventures of Don Juan) played Robin Hood in the 1938 film THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD

UNTOUCHABLES actors Andy Garcia and Billy Drago played Lucky Luciano
-Andy Garcia played the role in the 1997 film HOODLUM
-Billy Drago played the role in the 1993 film The Outlet

THE CORLEONE FAMILY
-Andy Garcia (Untouchables) played Vincent Mancini in the 1990 THE GODFATHER PART III who was Sonny Corleone's (James Caan) wild nephew
-Robert De Niro (Untouchables) was a young Vito Corleone in THE GODFATHER PART II who would have been Vincent's grandfather
-Robert Duvall (Network) was Tom Hagen in parts I and II who was the adopted son of Vito Corleone and the attorney for the family.

Robert De Niro (Untouchables) plays Jimmy Morrow in the 1990 GOODFELLAS. Donald Sutherland (Klute) plays the role in the 2001 tv movie THE BIG HEIST where is name was Jimmy Burke which was his real name. I don't know why they changed the name for GOODFELLAS.

Robert De Niro (Untouchables) and Jane Fonda (Klute) play the title characters in the 1990 film STANLEY & IRIS.

Jane Fonda (Klute) felt she was not desirable enough for this week's feature KLUTE and suggested Faye Dunaway (Network) play the role but would stick with it.

Jane Fonda (Klute) was considered by producer Robert Evans for the role Evelyn in the 1974 film CHINATOWN but the part would ultimately go to Faye Dunaway (Network)

Donald Sutherland (Klute) played Hawkeye and Robert Duvall plays Captain Frank Burns in the 1970 film MASH. In the play at Lee's Theater I was in, my myspace friend Sam played Hawkeye and my myspace and facebook friend Bill played Burns.

Roy Scheider (Klute) was originally for the role of Michael in the 1978 film THE DEER HUNTER which would ultimately go to Robert De Niro (Untouchables). I wonder where Scheider's career would be if he had not pulled out.

Errol Flynn (The Adventures of Don Juan) plays John Barrymore in the 1958 film TOO MUCH, TOO SOON. My facebook friend Terry played the role in an Anderson Mainstage Theater production I HATE HAMLET.