Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations- 150th Edition

Welcome to the 150th Edition of my blog. That's a pretty cool number there. I just learned that not only do I play Cordell Hull in ANNIE but I also have a really good role as one of the homeless people in a beginning scene with some good lines. I know I have the blog of 150 but I didn't make it anything special, just another blog and with some pretty unknown films this week. I am now 2-1 in my Fantasy Football lead with the current division lead and I have Brett Farve, Larry Johnson, and pretty much my whole team excluding 49ers TE Vernon Davis who is just struggling to catch which really concerns me as both a fantasy owner and a fan of the 49ers. I really did not need him this week but hopefully we can repeat this success and give me a bigger lead in fantasy. I will shut up now and get on with the picks.

Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005): Peter Coyote narrates this documentary which charts the big rise and very quick fall of the infamous energy company. I will in no way claim to be some business expert but it was definetly very interesting to listen to the former employees and hear the story of the higher-ups who became victims of greed and the lives ruined in the process.

The Frozen North (1922): This is part 2 of my 3-part Buster Keaton series which was a short film on the DVD I had so I decided to use all of them. This one apparently only survives some of its film that was found. This is a parody to William S. Hart and Erich Von Stroheim films and has some pretty funny moments in this 17 minutes. This movie takes place in the Frozen North in a funny beginning scene of him robbing the gambling house. This is something silent film buffs should see.

The Star Packer (1934): I decided to do a three-part John Wayne series as well when I found Tony's John Wayne boxed set. This was a very early John Wayne film in his many short westerns that he made. Robert Bradbury wrote, and directed this western with Wayne starring as US Marshall John Travers, who along with his indian friend Yak goes after a dangerous gang who murdered the sheriff. There was some unintentionally funny moments with John and Yak but it was mostly worth to see an early John Wayne film.

Five Minutes to Live (1961): Here is the next obscurity for the week which is another movie I found of Tony's and it stars Johnny Cash as a psycho killer named Johnny Cabot. He terrorizes the wife of a bank manager and his partners-in-crime figure out that the manager does not mind if his wife is killed making things more difficult for the wife. Johnny Cash's acting career was something not mentioned in his bio-pic WALK THE LINE and this movie clearly shows he is a much more talented singer but it's worth it to see the effort and a very young Ron Howard which was done around the time he was on THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW.

All That Heaven Allows (1955): Now here is a more known film and one considered a classic directed by Douglas Sirk. Rock Hudson and Jane Wyman star in this film of the segregation of class. Jane Wyman is a wealthy widow who takes a liking to Rock Hudson who is her gardener who is not rich by any means but is more content in life than anyone who has money. They soon form a relationship much to the dismay of Wyman's children and friends who do not like seeing such a poor person in love with this rich person. This was a great movie to watch and very heartbreaking to see that the high class just was not allowed much freedom among peers if they wanted to fit in. Great performances by both make this worth watching.

Cheech and Chong's Nice Dreams (1981): As you see by the names, this is a movie with Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong. Chong actually directs this C & C film with them as their usual lovable stoners. They lose a lot of money when they sell marijuana with unusual side effects which we slowly see develop on Stacy Keach. If you like Cheech and Chong, you will like this. Also look for a young Paul Reubens aka Pee Wee Herman.

Sugar (2004): I found this movie on the IFC channel which focuses on an confused 18 year old who finds a gay hustler and forms a relationship. ROSWELL alum Brandon Fehr plays the hustler in this destructive relationship. I admit, this was rather disturbing and hard to watch at times and is not for everyone but there was just something about it that kept me intrigued. I also enjoyed the little sister who seemed to know a bit too much for her age.

Escape to Witch Mountain (1975): This is something I had heard of but I did not really know what to expect and I even suspected possible horror with the name Donald Pleasance but this turned out to be a fun, live-action Disney movie which centered around a couple of children who are siblings and have some pretty cool powers but have a scheming millionaire, played by Ray Milland, after them. Eddie Albert plays an older man who takes in the kids and help them to find what they consider home. There were some pretty cool effects for the time like the flying camper which was years before Spielberg did that with the bikes in E.T. This is something that parents can show their children unless of course the parents hate Harry Potter.

Satantango (1994): I have been trying to obtain this for a long time now and finally got all three disks from Netflix. For those of you who have never heard of this, this movie is over seven hours long which means it requires patience and attention to understand it. Bela Tarr directed this Hungarian film which takes place in a small village. This centers around many people who live in this depressing place who expect a large sum of money and plan to leave until they learn of a rich man coming to town. This is filmed in all black and white which uses a lot of long takes on both the people and the scenery. This is by no means an upbeat film but something to be enjoyed and something I am proud to include in this magic 150. I will say that it took four years to make this movie and me three days to watch it. I will ask that any of my readers who have seen this to please comment with your thoughts.

Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007): I end this edition with a bit of royalty in a sequal directed by Shekhar Kapur. This is a sequal to the 1998 film with Cate Blanchett reprising her role as the Virgin Queen. This movie focuses on her relationship with Sir Walter Raleigh, played by the man who will play me in THE RISE AND FALL OF SHAUN BERKEY Clive Owen. Raleigh was an adventurer and a loyal knight to Elizabeth. Geoffrey Rush also reprises his role as Francis Walsingham. This movie seemed to portray Elizabeth as more human even with a title of queen. I'm not going to pretend to be some expert on this history but the movie still entertained and moved me with a great performance by Cate Blanchett. I have always liked her even if she is criticized for her looks and while she may not be the hottest actress out there, she is a great one in my eyes. This one may receive some mixed opinions.

Well, that is it for this week. Please tell me what you love and hate and please know that no writers strike, steroids scandal or economic crisis will defeat me.