Welcome to the 299th Edition of my series and one week away from the big
300th Edition. I'm still plugging away into the world of community
theater and so far in the last month or so I have been unsuccessful in
Farmland, Noblesville, Muncie, and Carmel but I still have my eyes set
on more so it is not over yet. However, there is a big possibility of
me being in a local movie so we'll see how that comes about. Usually I
release this on Sunday but I'll be gone for a lot of the time so I'll
release it today.
Gigantic: A Tale of Two Johns (2002): This
is my music documentary for the week which focuses on the band They
Might Be Giants and the main members John Linnell and John Flansburgh.
This band has never been in the mainstream but have a very loyal
following and even have actors reflecting on their style of music. It
also shows footage of their concerts and behind the scenes. This
focuses on the friendship between the two Johns. Their most known song
is likely the theme song for MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE. This is something
the fans will really like and also pretty informative for people like me
that do not know much about them but captured my interest.
Strikes
and Spares (1934): This is my short film for the week and part of the
oddity series. This short shows the world of bowling which was narrated
by Pete Smith. It focuses on professional bowler Andy Varipapa who
first shows the basics like gripping the ball but then demonstrates
bowling tricks. I remember being a bowler in my middle school days so
this was pretty enjoyable to me and was pretty entertaining.
That's
Entertainment! (1974): So my first three selections for the week
consist of documentaries and this one being based on the golden age of
MGM musicals from the 30s, 40s, and 50s. It features many of the icons
from that era like Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, Judy Garland, and many
others. It was also interesting to see footage of Clark Gable in a
musical called IDIOT'S DELIGHT. It also shows footage of Kelly and
Astaire in their one movie they did together. Kelly, Astaire, Elizabeth
Taylor, Liza Minelli, and many others are shown reflecting on their
times. Jack Haley Jr. directed this documentary who is the son of Jack
Haley most known as Tin Man in THE WIZARD OF OZ. This is another very
informative and entertaining documentary, especially for those who love
these MGM musicals. This was followed by two sequels.
Teenagers
From Outer Space (1959): This is my cheesy sci-fi film for the week
where aliens are invading earth and a teenage alien is trying to stop
his cohorts from taking over the world. Is there much more I need to
explain? I actually watched this as an episode of MYSTERY SCIENCE
THEATER 3000 which is available on Instant Netflix. It is likely
easiest to watch that way or if you get a group of friends together on a
late evening. I may start using MST3K more often for selections.
The
Nines (2007): John August wrote and directed this film which star Ryan
Reynolds, Melissa McCarthy, and Hope Davis in three different
intertwining stories. This was something I really did not know what I
was getting myself into but was very intrigued as I stuck with it. It
is hard to even really describe this film except that it is something
that you must really stick with. The three stars did a good job in each
of their characters. Elle Fanning co-stars as a mute child who becomes
a very significant character later and conveys herself very well. The
stories all center around a troubled actor, a television star, and a
video game designer where everything comes together in the end. To say I
totally got this would be an absolute lie but was a pretty compelling
film.
The Teahouse of the August Moon (1956): This movie takes
place in Okinawa one year after World War 2 and is satire on us wanting
to change the world. Glenn Ford stars as Captain Fisby who is sent
there by the military to teach democracy to a village there. One of the
things he is supposed to build is a school but the villagers try to
convince Fisby to build a teahouse. Fisby slowly becomes part of this
village and begins to dress like them take to their traditions much to
the dismay of his superiors. The interesting part of this film is
Marlon Brando who plays a Japanese man named Sakini who is the
translator for the military that are there. Yes, I said it, Marlon
Brando as a Japanese man. He was also a lot more comedic and
light-hearted than usual and he was really quite believable. His
performance was far less over the top and politically correct than
Mickey Rooney's performance in BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S.
Captain
America: The First Avenger (2011): This is actually pretty rare for me
to go to the movie theaters two weeks in a row and include it here.
This is my superhero film for the week which tells the story of Steve
Rogers, played by Chris Evans, in 1942 where we have entered World War
2. Steve is a very scrawny man who really wants to go into the service
but gets rejected each time. He then meets a man named Dr. Erskine,
played by Stanley Tucci, who offers Steve to go into the military if he
agrees to an experiment. This is an experiment that makes him taller
and more muscular and becomes a propaganda mascot named Captain America
for the military but with his new strength realizes he is meant for
more. Hugo Weaving plays Johann Schidt who is an old enemy of Dr.
Erskine and is who Captain America must contend with to save the world.
I really enjoyed this superhero movie and liked that it took place in
the Nazi era. Dominic Cooper plays Howard Stark who helped make what
made Steve who he was and for those who do not know Howard Stark, he is
the father of Tony Stark aka Iron Man. Tony likely was not born yet or
he was very young. Hayley Atwell, Tommy Lee Jones, Toby Jones, and Neal
McDonough all co-star and I really liked McDonough in his part when I
am uneasy with him a lot of times. I actually watched this in 3D and I
could have seen it in 2D but it was the most convenient show for me.
This is the last of the films for the solo avengers before the 2012 film
THE AVENGERS comes out. I felt this was a pretty well-done film that
did not have to overdo it with special effects but had a good story and
performances.
Onibaba (1964): This is my Japanese film for the
week which was directed by Kaneto Shindo. This movie features a widowed
wife and her daughter in law who live very poorly and make money by
murdering samurai to sell their things for money. The two women do not
get along but must co-exist to survive. Things change when a samurai
shows up who wears a mask and is coming to confront them. It is a very
good story on survival and the problems each woman has that brings
tension between them.
Drugstore Cowboy (1989): Gus Van Zant directed this brutally honest
film about a group of drug addicts and the crime they resort to in order
to get their drugs. Matt Dillon plays Bob and is essentially the
leader of the group. Kelly Lynch plays his drug-addicted wife. James
Le Gros and a young Heather Graham are the other two. This is based on
writings by James Fogle who was a real-life drug addict. There is not
much uplifting about this film but that is what makes it work so well is
that it is so realistic. I don't really have a lot to say about this
but it is an excellent film on drug addiction that pulls no punches.
A Better Tomorrow II (1987): I end this week with this sequel to the
great 1986 film which is directed by John Woo. Leslie Cheung reprises
his part of police officer Kit who is going very deep undercover. Lung
Ti reprises his part of Ho, his ex-con brother who is released from
prison to help Kit. Chow Yun-Fat plays restaurant owner Ken who joins
them. Dean Shek plays Lung who was a criminal doing everything he can
to go straight but his past always catches up with him and in this his
daughter is murdered so these people all team up to avenge that murder.
If all you have seen from Chow Yun-Fat are his American work then you
have never really seen him. These are in my opinion some of the best
action films of all time with John Woo and Chow Yun-Fat making a team on
the lines of De Niro/Scorsese. There was some very good action scenes
including the climax with an explosion that was pretty realistic and was
more powerful than they thought almost harming Chow. I do like the
first one better but this is a very fun sequel and a good sequel so make
a double feature night with your friends and the first one and this
one.
Well, that is it for this week. Tell me what you like and
what you do not like. This is one of those that I really like the end
result and nobody can dispute my diversity on this one. Stay tuned for
the milestone 300th Edition which so far includes Will Ferrell, Emily
Blunt, and many others.
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