Welcome to the 274th Edition of my long-running series. Tonight I have a
show at the Muncie Amvets called THE DUMB AND THE DESPERATE which is a
murder mystery. Cocktail hour starts at 6 and the show starts at 7. It
is quite the comedy and will be very entertaining. Next Saturday, I am
ring announcing for a new wrestling promotion called Action Packed
Wrestling which is at the Ross Community Center in Muncie. I continue
the month with a few Black History Month selections. I also pay tribute
to the late Maria Schneider who recently left us. Let's get on with my
selection for the week.
Dave (1993): This is my 14th link on
The Chain and this week I feature Kevin Dunn who plays Alan Reed. Also
with this being Black History Month I thought I should also mention Ving
Rhames who plays a secret service agent. The next year he would make
quite a name for himself in the 1994 film PULP FICTION. Ivan Reitman
directed this idealistic political comedy which stars Kevin Kline as the
title character who runs a temp agency and also plays President Bill
Mitchell. Mitchell suffers a very severe stroke and Dave is brought in
to be his stand-in because of his resemblance. Frank Langella plays
corrupt Chief-of-Staff Bob Alexander who concocts this plan of bringing
in a stand-in not knowing that Dave was going to take the job very
seriously and actually try to do good. I think we should make a new
requirement for every politician and political candidate to watch this
film and MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON and maybe that would make this
country a better place. Sigourney Weaver co-stars as the estranged
first lady who takes a liking to the replacement president. Ben
Kingsley, Laura Linney, and Charles Grodin also co-star. Klein is great
in his dual role and this ranks as one of my favorite candidates. Next
week The Chain continues with Kevin Dunn.
The Shop Around the
Corner (1940): Just as I mention a James Stewart film in my last
selection, I include this one. For those of you that do not know, the
Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan film YOU'VE GOT MAIL is the technological remake
of this selection. This film takes place in a very successful gift shop
where Stewart plays the long-time employee Alfred Kralik and his life
gets a bit complicated when a new hire named Klara Novak, Margaret
Sullivan comes to work there. The two of them are constantly bickering
and disagreeing with each other not knowing they are each other's pen
pals that are writing letters to each other. Frank Morgan, who most
know as the Wizard and many other parts in the 1939 classic THE WIZARD
OF OZ, plays the owner of the shop who also has a complicated
employer/employee relationship with Kralik. This is a very fun romantic
comedy which deserves a chance. The remake was pretty decent in its
own right.
Jammin' the Blues (1944): This is my short film for
the week which I found on TCM On-Demand and a selection for Black
History Month. This is the filming of an actual Jazz session from some
high-profile jazz artists from the 40s. I admit I do not know any of
these people but it was a very entertaining 10 minutes which includes
the JITTERBUG. This is a must find for Jazz fans.
Mo'Nique: I
Coulda Been Your Cellmate (2007): This is another Black History Month
which is obviously for Mo'Nique who will likely be included in the next
couple of weeks. This is actually a live comedy show that she put on at
the Ohio Reformatory for Women. In the beginning of the film, she is
interviewing prisoners and treating them like she does anyone else. She
also put on some statistics for women who are in prison like a large
percentage have been sexually abused which while not mentioning that
here, Mo'Nique was sexually abused as a child which may have been a
reason why she wanted to do this. From then on, she did some comedy
which related to the women in prison while encouraging them to not give
up. It was pretty inspiring and I admire Mo'Nique doing this very
unusual show. This is available on Instant Netflix.
One False
Move (1992): This is a selection for Black History Month and wanted to
pay tribute to Cynda Williams who is a graduate from Ball State
University which is where I went and in the town of Muncie, Indiana
where I live. I actually saw her perform live years back at a Ball
State University show which I now forget the name but while it was a
great effort and everyone played their parts well really lacked story
where I just could not get past in this situation but it was cool seeing
her perform live though. Now, we'll get to the movie. The first time I
saw this I believe I was in high school and at my dad's house where I
was just beginning to take interest in the IFC channel which he had.
This movie has always stayed with me since watching it and these kinds
of movies are the reason I do this. This is the first of I believe
three times where Billy Bob Thornton and Bill Paxton worked together.
Also, at this time Billy Bob Thornton and Cynda Williams were married
and appeared to have divorced shortly after this movie. Paxton plays
police chief Dale "The Hurricane" Dixon in a small Arkansas town who
works with a couple L.A. detectives to get some criminals taking refuge
in the small town while also trying to impress the LAPD in hopes of
being able to get a job with them. Thornton, Williams, and Michael
Beach play the three criminals who are on the run for crimes in L.A. to
take refuge in the small town. This is a great good vs. bad film but
with quite a twist. Anything I say will just give this away but it is
available on Comcast On-Demand section in the free movie section. It's
actually under the Fearnet category for some reason as I don't feel it
qualifies for that but I'll accept it since it is an independent film
that deserves more exposure so I hope I can help the film get more
exposure. Film critic Gene Siskel named this as the best movie of 1992.
Their
Eyes Were Watching God (2005): I guess you could call this my two-part
Oprah Winfrey series because she produced this tv movie as well as last
week's feature PRECIOUS. This is based on a novel by Zora Neale
Hurston where Berry stars as 1920s black lady named Janie Starks who was
a very free-spirited woman which leads to multiple marriages and
conflicts with her family morals who do not agree with her lifestyle.
This really is not the greatest movie of all time but Berry carries it
with her good performance. I have heard the book is a lot better so
make your best selection.
The Big House (1930): I found this and
recorded it on TCM. I love these classic prison films and this one
really came through. Robert Montgomery plays a first-time convict who
is just starting his prison sentence for manslaughter where he was
driving drunk. He clearly has a hard-time adjusting to his new life
with his cell-mates John Morgan, played by Chester Morris, and long-time
inmate Butch, played by Wallace Beery. This movie takes a look at the
rough life in a prison leading up to a pretty violent climax. There
were many of these prison films from this era that were propaganda for
the "crime doesn't pay" phrase and really wanted people to take note of
what they saw. Lon Chaney Sr. was originally going to play Butch but
died around the time being replaced by Wallace Beery who proved to be a
great replacement.
Last Tango in Paris (1972): This is my
tribute to Maria Schneider who recently left us. Last week I featured
Brando in A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE and this week I include him here in
the follow-up to his other big 1972 hit THE GODFATHER. Bernardo
Bertolucci directed this French film which stars Marlon Brando as an
American in Paris named Paul whose wife has committed suicide.
Schneider plays Jeanne who also has her issues. They meet in an
apartment and agree to live their together but Paul did not want to give
names to each other. They begin a very steamy affair leading into an
intense climax. This is a film which is rated NC-17 so it is not for
everyone. It is also not likely the movie to watch for "Girl's Night".
However, it is a well-shot and acted film with pretty likable and
relating characters. This is available on Instant Netflix.
The
Exploding Girl (2009): This is another independent film I selected
which was wrote and directed Bradley Rust Gray. Zoe Kazan stars as Ivy,
who is a college student home for the summer who has a boyfriend but
only seems to be able to communicate with him over the phone. She also
has a long-time friend named Al who needs a place to stay and lets him
stay in her house while she is home for the summer and develops feelings
for him so she must figure out what she wants in life. There is also
an emphasis on Ivy's Epilepsy which does not really come into play in
the movie. This is an absolute character study which has gone to mixed
opinions. It was not as good as the other independent feature this week
ONE FALSE MOVE but Kazan is pretty good as Ivy and carries the movie.
This is available on Instant Netflix.
Dillinger (1945): This is
to my knowledge the first movie on the notorious bank robber John
Dillinger who was from my state of Indiana. Lawrence Tierney plays
Dillinger and most would probably know him from the independent 1992
classic Tarantino film Reservoir Dogs as Joe. This movie documents his
beginnings in petty crime which lead him to prison only to form his
future robbery gang and then into his times with his gang and the
robberies. This is really more of a b-movie but a pretty entertaining
portrait. It was fairly accurate besides not mentioning J. Edgar
hoover, Melvin Purvis, and the way the portrayed "The Lady in Red" whose
name here is Helen Rogers. The real-life "Lady in Red" was Anna Sage
and betrayed Dillinger for different reasons than in this film. I
prefer the 1973 version with Warren Oates who pretty much looked like
Dillinger but Tierney still did a pretty good job. This was very
controversial when it first came out for the violence and subject matter
and was banned from being shown in Chicago for two years.
Well,
that is it for this week. I seemed to have focused on some pretty
brutal subject manner. Please leave your comments to what you like and
what you do not like. I know I can't impress everyone but if you are
going to criticize one of my selections, please take a look at the other
nine to see if there is something you do like or want to see. Stay
tuned for next week which so far includes more Kevin Dunn, Katherine
Hepburn, more Mo'Nique, and many others.
FUN LITTLE FACTS
Sigourney
Weaver (Dave) played Paulina Escobar in the 1994 film DEATH AND THE
MAIDEN. My Facebook friend Lysa played the part in a production years
ago at the Muncie Civic Studio Theater. DAVE co-star Ben Kingsley was
also in the 1994 film.
Sigourney Weaver (Dave) and Bill Paxton (One False Move) both went after some evil aliens in the 1986 film ALIENS.
Frank
Langella (Dave) played Dracula in the 1979 film DRACULA and has played
the part on Broadway. My Facebook friend Sean played the part years ago
in a Muncie Civic Theater version of DRACULA.
Frank Langella
(Dave) played Zorro in the 1974 tv movie THE MARK OF ZORRO. I have been
known to be Zorro for Halloween and even went to see THE LEGEND OF
ZORRO dressed as Zorro where my loyal friend Lisa was willing to be seen
with me.
Frank Langella (Dave) plays Daily Planet editor Perry
White in the 2006 film SUPERMAN RETURNS. Marlon Brando (Last Tango in
Paris) plays Superman's biological father Jor-El in the 1978 film
SUPERMAN
Ben Kingsley (Dave) played Sweeney Todd in the 1997 tv
movie THE TALE OF SWEENEY TODD. My Facebook friends Rick and Michael
have played the part in musical versions called SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON
BARBER OF FLEET STREET which was done in Muncie and Anderson.
Ben
Kingsley (Dave) plays the part of Otto Frank, Anne's father, in the
2001 mini-series ANNE FRANK: THE WHOLE STORY. Joseph Schildkraut (The
Shop Around the Corner) played the part in the 1959 film THE DIARY OF
ANNE FRANK.
Joseph Schildkraut (The Shop Around the Corner) plays
Judas in the 1927 film THE KING OF KINGS. My Facebook friend Stevie
played the part in a version of the musical GODSPELL at Muncie Civic
Theater.
THE EARP FRANCHISE
-James Stewart (The Shop Around the Corner) plays Wyatt Earp in the 1964 film CHEYENNE AUTUMN
-Bill Paxton (One False Move) plays Morgan Earp in the 1993 film TOMBSTONE
James
Stewart (The Shop Around the Corner) and Laurence Tierney (Dillinger)
were both in the 1952 film THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH
Frank
Morgan (The Shop Around the Corner) plays the Gate Keeper, among other
things, in the 1939 classic THE WIZARD OF OZ. My Facebook friend Gary
played the part years ago in a Muncie Civic Theater production.
Frank
Morgan (The Shop Around the Corner) plays Sid Davis in the 1948 film
SUMMER HOLIDAY. Wallace Beery (The Big House) plays the part in the
1935 film AH, WILDERNESS. Also between the two, Wallace Beery had to
turn down the title character in the 1939 film THE WIZARD OF OZ which
would ultimately go to Frank Morgan.
Cynda Williams (One False
Move) and Halle Berry (Their Eyes Were Watching God) have played
sisters in the 1998 tv movie THE WEDDING and the 1999 tv movie
INTRODUCING DOROTHY DANDRIDGE.
Billy Bob Thornton (One False
Move) and Halle Berry (Their Eyes Were Watching God) played unusual
love interests in 2001 film MONSTER'S BALL which when analyzing the
film closely it worked so well for me especially the end.
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