Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations- 300th Edition

Welcome to the 300th Edition and something I have been looking forward to for some time now. I cannot believe I have been doing this for so long. I came up with the idea to do this when I wanted to do some kind of blogging towards movies but knew I could not write a detailed review. I started watching movies that the American Film Institute would name on their top 100 lists and that is when I started appreciating the classic cinema. I had watched a lot of variety of film so I got the idea to recommend a variety of films and it has stuck since. I just want to thank everyone who reads this on Facebook, Myspace, and on filmarcade.net. I want to thank filmarcade.net for allowing me to post on their website and the film geek group on Facebook.

Saturday Night Life: The Best of Commercial Parodies (2005): I guess some may not consider this a movie but I write this so I will make that judgement. Will Ferrell hosts this special which shows much of the commercials on SNL. See much of the SNL alums through the years in the most entertaining commercials poking fun at just about everything. Will Ferrell has some skits trying to be a spokesperson for a commercial. This is available on Instant Netflix for all you SNL fans.

The Young Victoria (2009): This film focuses on the younger years of Queen Victoria, played very well by Emily Blunt. This is a dramatic showing of Victoria who reflects that the royal life was not everything it was cracked up to be. She likes Albert, played by Rupert Friend, but has loyalty to Melbourne, played by Paul Bettany. Jim Broadbent co-stars as King William and is very good in his role. Miranda Richardson also co-stars as the Duchess of Kent. This is a very nice human portrait on royalty and the struggles for Victoria. I know I don't have much to say on this buf for those who like films on royalty, this is a great entry into the genre.

The 300 Spartans (1962): I was going to do the movie 300 but my friend David suggested that I do this one that inspired the graphic novel by Frank Miller so I took the suggestion. This is the story about Spartan king Leonidas who lead a very small army to fend off a very huge Persian army. This is based on a true story of how these people were determined to stop the army of King Xerxes from extending his slave empire and these 300 people whose country did not come through for them when needed leaving them on their own to fight to the death. Richard Egan stars as Leonidas and was pretty good in his part. I honestly prefer the Frank Miller version which Gerard Butler but this one entertained pretty well too though.

The Prestige (2006): This is part one of my possible three-part Scarlet Johannson series. Christopher Nolan makes his way to my 300th Edition with his story of two magicians in the late 19th Century. Christian Bale plays Alfred Borden and Hugh Jackman plays Robert Angier. They start out as friends and assistants to Cutter, played by Michael Caine. When a trick turns into tragedy, Angier blames Borden setting off a deadly rivalry in their quest to become the best. They each try to one-up each other in every way possibly. Johannson co-stars as Olivia who is a very good assistant. David Bowie has a small part as the real-life Nikola Tesla who was very revolutionary in his ways of electricity and helps both magicians. This movie was full of many twists and one that must be followed very closely. Bale and Jackman worked very well together.

Rembrandt (1936): This is my biopic of the week which stars Charles Laughton as the legendary artist. This movie focuses on a later part of his life where his wife dies and his painting takes a darker turn that does not sit well with the locals in the 1600s. It also takes a look at his relationships afterward, mainly with his maid and his trust with financial hardship. This is a very compelling look at the painter whose works became far more known many years after his death.

The Naked City (1948): Jules Dassin directed this movie which takes place in New York and is filmed there where the murder of a model is investigated by two officers. In the investigation, they find there are a lot of shifty characters that could have been involved. It is shot some in documentary form and gives us a look at people who work on the night shift with what they have to go through. The filming was shot with the actors and with the people in New York and gave a pretty realistic look at New York and a murder investigation. This is available on Instant Netflix.

The Fly (1958): David Hedison plays the title character who is a scientist named Andre who is trying to perfect a teleportation device in which he decides to become his own test subject with horrific results because of a fly. Vincent Price plays Andre's brother Francois who is trying to make sense of what happened. Usually Price plays the villain or sometimes the victim but here he takes a different turn but still a good performance. This is something I don't want to give too much away but I thought they put this together very well with a good use of flashback. This is available on Instant Netflix and quite worth it.

Casino Royale (2006): I decided to bring the James Bond who became my favorite to play the part and I have seen all of them. The man who might play me in THE RISE AND FALL OF SHAUN BERKEY, Daniel Craig takes on the part of 007 in what is essentially a prequel of James Bond and I'll bring out that term character study. This is actually the third version of what is actually the first book of the James Bond series written by Ian Fleming. In 1954, CBS did a teleplay of the story which starred Barry Nelson as Bond and Peter Lorre as Le Chiffre. In 1967, there was a spoof called this which starred everyone from Woody Allen to Peter Sellers to Orson Welles. This is the biggest reason why United Artists did not do this as a movie first was because CBS had the rights to the film so maybe all this was for the best. In this film, Bond has just been promoted to the 00 status but M, played again by Judi Dench, wonders if this is the right decision with his reckless attitude. Mads Mikkelson plays the part of Le Chiffre in this film who is the main villain but has his own problems with people with the money he owes people. Eva Green plays his main love interest in Vesper Lynd and even she has her own agenda. In this Bond experiences love and betrayal from the people around him as he soon sees he cannot trust anyone. This shows how Bond becomes that cold-hearted and emotionally unattached person we see throughout the series. Many do not like the dark portrayal that Craig gives but I am not one of those. In my opinion he plays Bond the way the part is supposed to be played and I hope he is around to stay.

The Godfather (1972): This is part two of my two-part Marlon Brando series. Francis Ford Coppola directed this epic mafia film based on the novel by Mario Puzo and making many in the process. This movie is based on the Corleone family and their struggles to stay on top. Marlon Brando plays the head of the family Don Vito Corleone who has done what he has had to do to keep the family in tact but struggles after refusing to become part of the drug industry leading into attacks from other families. Al Pacino has his breakthrough part as the youngest son of the Corleone family Michael who decided to go into the military entering the war. He never wanted any part of the business but slowly becomes a part of the business. James Caan plays his tempered son Santino "Sonny" Corleone who is the oldest but his temper is known to get him into trouble. John Cazale plays Fredo Corleone who struggles to fit into that family. Talia Shire plays the Don's only daughter Connie who is abused by her husband and whose wedding the movie starts at. Robert Duvall plays their attorney Tom Hagen who was taken in by Don Corleone and is pretty much one of his kids. The careers of Pacino, Caan, and Duvall were made by this movie. Also a breakthrough performance comes from Diane Keaton who plays Kay, Michael Corleone's girlfriend in the film. Other actors are Richard Castellano, Sterling Hayden, Abe Vigoda, and many others. This is a great portrait of a family and if you're looking for constant violence this is not really it. Many I know have cited this movie as long and boring for this reason but I believe it is a great look at a mafia family. I also believe this movie in many ways predicted the downfall of the mafia with drugs as Don Corleone wanted no part of drugs fearing long-term repercussions. This movie had some very memorable scenes and quotes like the horse's head. Coppola had to fight a lot with producers to keep these unknowns that he wanted. They did not want someone as unknown as Al Pacino and preferred someone like Robert Redford or Ryan O'Neal. There were some mobsters on the side who were kind of advisers. This is one of the best mafia films of all time and goes onto become a great trilogy. This is also a great book, even after you have seen the movie as it gives a lot of details to the main and supporting characters of the film.

House of Flying Daggers (2004): I end this edition with one of my favorites of the martial arts genre. Zhang Yimou directed this film which stars Ziyi Zhang in her follow-up to the hit 2003 film CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON and I actually like this film better. This film takes place during the Tang Dynasty. Zhang stars as blind singer and dancer Mei who has connections to a rebel group called the Flying Daggers. Takeshi Kaneshiro stars as Jin who is sent to investigate Mei and gain her trust to infiltrate the organization but finds himself falling in love with Mei. Andy Lau plays Leo who is the police officer sending Jin out to investigate him. These are the three main characters and none of which are who they really appear to be though. There are lots of very interesting turns. There are also some great fight scenes. It is also very very beautiful love story which has martial arts within it. The cinematography and music is also quite beautiful with the actors putting in great performances. If I say any more I'll give it away but for you Hong Kong fans, this is a great entry and one of my favorites.

Well, that is it for this week. Hope everyone will celebrate the 300th edition with my by letting me know what you like and what you dislike. Stay tuned for next week which so far includes more Scarlet Johannson, Christoph Waltz, Cary Grant, and many others.

FUN AND USELESS FACTS

What's a 300th Edition without this segment. I'm sure there are plenty of connections I missed since I did not thoroughly go through these people and mostly did things I know or recognized right away.

Will Ferrell (Saturday Night Live) and James Caan (The Godfather) play son and father in the 2003 film ELF.

Emily Blunt plays Queen Victoria in this week's feature THE YOUNG VICTORIA. Judi Dench (Casino Royale) plays the queen in the 1997 film HER MAJESTY, MRS. BROWN.

Emily Blunt (The Young Victoria) was originally cast as Natasha Rushman in the 2010 film IRON MAN 2 but dropped out and the part would ultimately go to Scarlet Johansson (The Prestige).

Paul Bettany (The Young Victoria) and Scarlet Johansson (The Prestige) are both in the 2010 film IRON MAN 2. Bettany is the voice of Jarvis.

Paul Bettany (The Young Victoria) considers Al Pacino (The Godfather) one of his acting heroes.

Jim Broadbent (The Young Victoria) and Judi Dench (Casino Royale) were husband and wife in the 2001 film IRIS

Jim Broadbent (The Young Victoria) plays the Duke of Buckingham in the 1995 film Richard III. Julian Glover (The Young Victoria) plays the part in the 1979 tv movie THE FAMOUS HISTORY OF THE LIFE OF KING HENRY THE EIGHT. Ralph Richardson (The 300 Spartans) plays the part in the 1955 film RICHARD III.

Hugh Jackman (The Prestige) plays Curly in the 1999 tv movie OKLAHOMA!. My Facebook friend Corby played the part in a 2008 production at Muncie Civic Theater which I played Slim.

Christian Bale (The Prestige) was considered for the part of James Bond in this week's feature CASINO ROYALE but the part would ultimately go to Daniel Craig.

Scarlet Johansson (The Prestige) was in the 2003 film LOST IN TRANSLATION of which Sofia Coppola (The Godfather as the baby) directed.

Charles Laughton (Rembrandt) plays Captain Bligh in the 1935 film MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY. Marlon Brando (The Godfather) plays Bligh's rival Fletcher Christian in the 1962 version of the same title.

Charles Laughton (Rembrandt) plays Dr. Moreau in the 1932 film ISLAND OF LOST SOULS. Marlon Brando plays the same part in the 1996 film THE ISLAND OF LOST SOULS.

HENRY VIII FRANCHISE
-Charles Laughton (Rembrandt) plays the king of many marriages in the 1933 film THE PRIVATE LIFE OF HENRY VIII.
-Scarlet Johansson (The Prestige) plays Mary Boleyn whose sister Anne was Henry's second wife and was one of his mistresses in the 2003 film THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL.
-Elsa Lanchester (Rembrandt) plays Henry's fourth wife Anne of Cleves in the same 1933 film which stars Laughton.
-Emily Blunt (The Young Victoria) plays Henry's fifth wife Catherine Howard in the 2003 film HENRY VIII

David Hedison (The Fly) played James Bond's CIA friend Felix Leiter in 1973 film LIVE AND LET DIE and the 1989 film LICENSE TO KILL. Jeffrey Wright plays Leiter in this week's feature CASINO ROYALE and in the Daniel Craig era of 007. Also in the 007 franchise, Julian Glover (The Young Victoria) plays the villain Kristatos in the 1981 film FOR YOUR EYES ONLY.

David Bowie (The Prestige) plays Andy Warhol and Jeffrey Wright (Casino Royale) plays Warhol's protege Jean Michel Basquiat in the 1996 film BASQUIAT.

Al Pacino (The Godfather) and Jeffrey Wright (Casino Royale) worked together in the 2003 mini-series ANGELS IN AMERICA.