A Single Man (2009): Colin Firth stars as the title character who is a college professor in Los Angeles in the 60s. He is having a hard time dealing with the death of his partner Jim of many years. He then decides to get his affairs in order before he commits suicide and prepare for the suicide and the post-suicide. He then spends the day with various people in his life on which he begins to reconsider his fate. Julianne Moore co-stars as his long-time friend Charley who desires him despite his sexual orientation. Nicolas Hoult co-stars as Kenny who is a student that has a little more interest than being a student. This was a very moving film and Firth was very good in his starring role like he has shown many times.
Libeled Lady (1936): This is my screwball comedy for the week. Spencer Tracy plays Newpaper editor who continues to put off a marriage to Gladys, played by Jean Harlow. Myrna Loy co-stars as Connie who sues the paper for libel that she is a marriage-breaker. George then brings in his attorney Bill, played by William Powell, and arranges an unconsummated marriage between Gladys and Bill hoping to get Connie caught with a married man. This is the plot and then the results add much laughter with this star-studded cast that focuses on two couples instead of one.
A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965): This is one I never get tired of and I know it's a tv special but it's my blog and I can call it a movie all I want. This is one of the many great specials of the characters created by Charles Schultz. In this one Charlie Brown is his usual depressed self and looking for the true meaning of Christmas behind all the commercialism. He is then appointed the director of the nativity pageant where he also has a hard time getting his actors to cooperate. Last year, I bought the tree that Charlie Brown got and I made sure to use it again as my tree. We are also joined by all our other friends like Linus, Lucy, Schroeder, Sally, Snoopy, and the rest of the gang. We get to hear a great speech from Linus. This is actually the first Peanuts animated special.
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Tom Hanks (2004): This is part three of my three-part Tom Hanks series. The first two were the Pixar short SMALL FRY and YOU'VE GOT MAIL. This is a group of clips put together from SNL towards the many shows that Tom Hanks has hosted. He never really had any impersonations of anyone but had some very funny sketches. One of them was him being a roadie for Aerosmith in a segment for Wayne's World. There were also some funny parodies of his movies BIG and CASTAWAY. I also liked his involvement in the Cheerleader segment where Will Ferrell and Cheri Oteri were the cheerleaders who never made the team. There is also a great one on the "five-timers" club which brought in some special guests. For all the SNL fans, I feel you will get some pretty good laughs out of this one and I will be using these on occasion for movie recommendations.
Ma and Pa Kettle (1949): This is a DVD of this series of film of the title couple that my Dad bought and we watched many of these movies off and on when we had Christmas at his house. I finally found some quiet time to focus on the first one though they are characters from the THE EGG AND I. Ma and Pa Kettle are the parents of 15 children. They are about to be evicted from their run-down home in the country but Pa Kettle manages to win a really nice home by coming up with a new Tobacco slogan. In this new home, they experienced a very advanced home but overwhelms Pa Kettle's simple lifestyle. Everyone else must also experience a new life. There were many other very funny films in this series consisting of the hillbilly family trying to live in a very nice home. Marjorie Main and Percy Kilbride play the title characters in all eight of the films and are great in their parts. I'll likely start watching others of these when I am at my Dad's house.
The Brothers Bloom (2008): Rian Johnson wrote and directed this film which stars Mark Ruffalo and Adrien Brody as the title characters Stephen and Bloom. They are thrown around throughout their childhood to different orphanages and learn to be some of the best con artists in the world. Bloom decides he wants to leave that business and lead a more normal life. Stephen is able to talk him into one last job. They soon bring in Penelope, played by Rachel Weisz, who Bloom forms a liking which is against the rules in their game. They also see that Penelope is quite unpredictable and is pretty open to just about anything. Rinko Kikuchi is very amusing as Stephen's consistent sidekick who loves blowing things up and is usually silent. This was a pretty fun con artist film where the leads were pretty good.
It's a Wonderful Life (1946): This movie has been featured many times on this blog and is a timeless classic that gets better all the time. Frank Capra directed this wonderful tale. James Stewart stars as George Bailey who intends to leave his town of Bedford Falls but circumstances keep him from moving. His father runs a small bank in a town run by the mean Mr. Potter, played very well by Lionel Barrymore. When his father dies, the business is in danger of being overrun by Potter prompting George to stick around. In the process, he gets reacquainted with his childhood friend Mary, played by Donna Reed, and ends up marrying her. The movie focuses on significant moments of George's life from childhood into his adult life where George becomes very overwhelmed and has thoughts of worthlessness. Henry Travers plays the angel Clarence sent from above to show George a world where he was never born to show him that he has made a difference. Barrymore is also very good as Potter who usually was very likable in his films but not here. Look for a cameo from Carl Switzer who was most known as Alfalfa on THE LITTLE RASCALS. Ward Bond and Frank Faylen plays characters called Bert and Ernie who are best friends and I will always maintain that is where SESEME STREET got those names but the writers of the show deny this. This is a movie that I never tire of and always look forward to seeing each year especially after a long day at work that I had. This movie shows that when helping someone there is a domino effect on people that person helps where little things become very big. Remember that title everyone and think of those you have helped and remember there is nothing wrong with helping others. In the year it came out it was a big flop but the public domain has made this one of the most revered films of all time.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966): This is another tv animated classic and this one is from Dr. Seuss. The Grinch was an Ebenezer Scrooge type and despised Christmas. He did everything possible to ruin Christmas in Whoville but soon learns that presents, Christmas trees, and all the other material things are not everything. Boris Karloff narrates the story and voices the Grinch. This is also quite the classic that beats that feature film any day. Thurl Ravenscroft sings that great iconic song and he is most known for being Tony the Tiger for Frosted Flakes commercials.
Gomorrah (2008): This is my Italian film for the week which takes a look at five different people who have some kind of involvement in the local mafia. Each story is very intriguing but something that must be followed very closely and is very violent. Roberto Saviano wrote the novel to this film and was under death threats for exposing the many things the Neapolitan mafia do and is now under police protection. This movie is available on Instant Netflix and with the cover I had no idea what to expect but a good foreign film and authentic look on a local mafia. This is available on Instant Netflix.
Assassination of a High School President (2008): This is actually my third 2008 film of this edition which is quite rare. Reece Thompson plays school reporter Bobby Funke who must investigate the case of stolen exams. Mischa Barton plays Francesca who is the most popular girl in school and teams up to investigate. Through further investigation there is a bigger conspiracy going on in the school. Bruce Willis is amusing as the principal. This is a pretty funny high school comedy that is available on Instant Netflix.
FUN AND USELESS FACTS
Lionel Barrymore (It's a Wonderful Life) was originally cast as Mr. Allenbury in this week's feature LIBELED LADY but ultimately went to Walter Connolly.
My Facebook friend Corey played Linus in an Anderson Mainstage Theater version of YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN while Christopher Shea voiced the part in this week's feature A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS.
Sheldon Leonard (It's a Wonderful Life) played Harry the Horse in the 1955 film GUYS AND DOLLS. I played the part in the part in a 2010 production at the Belfry which is so far my only show there but a very good one.
Boris Karloff voices the Grinch in this week's feature HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS. My Facebook friends Eric and Joe have played the parts in various version of the the musical SEUSSICAL.
Boris Karloff (How the Grinch Stole Christmas) plays the Creature of Frankenstein in first three versions of Universal in the 30s. My Facebook friend Russ played the part in a 2007 version of FRANKENSTEIN at the Muncie Civic Theater of which I played a psychotic gravedigger.
Tom Hanks (SNL: Best of Tom Hanks) plays Joe Fox in the 1998 film YOU'VE GOT MAIL. James Stewart (It's a Wonderful Life) plays Alfred Kralik in the 1940 film THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER which is the original to YOU'VE GOT MAIL.
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