Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations- 374th Edition

Welcome to the 374th Edition of my long-running series. Last night, my team the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Green Bay Packers to advance to the NFC conference championship and play the winner of today's Seahawks/Falcons game. It looks like Jim Harbaugh's controversial decision to take out quarterback Alex Smith and play Colin Kaepernick was the right one. Next week will be a tough game whoever they can take but the Niners are for real and are capable. I will now get to my selections for the week.

Carlos (2010): This is a biopic on Venezuelan revolutionary Ilich Ramirez Sanchez who went by the code name "Carlos the Jackal" though they never used the Jackal in this film like past films. This is honestly the first time I have seen any depiction upon this person who joined a terrorist group called the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine which is a political terrorist group and lead a famous raid on an OPEC meeting. Edgar Ramirez played the title character which focuses on his early life into his rise and then into his fall. Some of it is in English and other parts with various languages since he went to many places in the world for his cause. Ramirez does a great job as the title character and does not really portray this person as heroic but in some ways a puppet for modern terrorism. Ramirez is probably more authentic than some of the other actors in the past. This is not going to be for everyone as there is a lot of violence and nudity. This is available on Instant Netflix and it is available as both a three-part mini-series or a near three hour movie. I was going to watch it in mini-series format but found that the subtitles were just too small and while I have good eyes, and could read them, it took more effort making the mini-series hard to watch. I then turned to the movie and the subtitles were much better. I'm not really sure what parts I missed the the movie did cover a lot. In the beginning, it does admit that some of it is fictional as they could not find the facts on everything.

Public Enemies (2009): This is part four of at least five of my Johnny Depp series where he takes on the part of real-life bank robber John Dillinger. Michael Mann directed this film on the legendary bank robber. This movie takes place in his later years up to the infamous shooting at the Biograph movie theater. During the time of Dillinger, the Federal Bureau of Investigation was just getting on the rise and J. Edgar Hoover went after Dillinger at all costs. Christian Bale co-stars as G-Man Melvin Purvis who is appointed to bring down the Dillinger gang. We see some scenes of Dillinger and the gang eluding the authorities while still trying to enjoy life and the FBI making their plans to bring Dillinger down. Billy Crudup plays the part of Hoover and really did a good job. Crudup always seems to look different in everything he does and I don't think I would recognize him if I did not see the credits or if I was to have a photo put in front of me and was asked "guess the actor". Marion Cotillard played Dillinger's girlfriend Billie Frechette and did a good job in that role. Later in the movie, there is an interrogation where the FBI practically resorted to torture on Frechette. In looking into this, I found that this was a bit dramatized but that Baby Face Nelson's wife Helen was subjected to the tactics shown on Frechette in this film. I will admit that I prefer the 1973 film called DILLINGER but this one stands pretty good. One scene I liked in this was near the end at the movie theater where it shows people actually inside the theater watching MANHATTON MELODRAMA and even using scenes which compare some to Dillinger's life. I have always been interested in the history of Dillinger as he is from Indiana and did a lot of bank robberies in this state and is said to have robbed a bank in Daleville which is right by my town of Muncie and where I work. The other movies I have seen just show him coming out of the movie theater. Stephen Dorff, Channing Tatum, Rory Cochrane, Giovanni Ribisi, Stephen Graham, Stephen Lang, and others co-star.

Wackiki Wabbit (1943): This is my animated short for the week and stars everyone's favorite rabbit Bugs Bunny. Bugs is on a tropical island where a couple castaways see Bugs as food but Bugs in comical ways is able to thwart their attempts to eat Bugs. In watching this, it made me wonder if some statement was trying to be made and reminds me that cartoons then were violent just like they are now. This is a pretty enjoyable Bugs cartoon with some funny moments like Bugs being a puppeteer. Tedd Pierce and Michael Maltese provided the voices of the castaways and wrote the script in which the characters were caricatures of them. I found this on my Pub-D-Hub app on my Roku which is a public domain app but this is probably findable in other places.

Room Service (1938): My Dad bought me a few DVDs for Christmas and this comes from a Marx Brothers set. This one stars Marx Brothers Groucho, Harpo, and Chico. Groucho plays a penniless playwright who does everything possible to keep his hotel room and outsmart the head of the hotel trying to evict him while looking for a backer for his next play. Harpo and Chico are as usual kind of like Groucho's henchmen who help him in his crazy scheme and add to the comedic gags. A young Lucille Ball also adds to the comedy in a pre- I LOVE LUCY role. The Marx Brothers were a group of real-life brothers who started in Vaudeville and made many classic comedies in film usually starring three in this one. Groucho was usually the leader type in some scheme and always had some one-liners. Harpo was known for not talking and finding other ways to get laughs. Chico was usually kind of a con-artist type character. They have another brother named Zeppo who was in their first five films but left and is not in this one. Zeppo would usually play the part of the straight man but is said to have been one of the funniest outside of the brothers and even successfully stood in for Groucho at a show when he was sick. I have seen quite a few of their movies but this is one I don't remember ever hearing of but did deliver a lot of funny moments having a majority of the film being done in the room. This is actually a play that was adapted into a screenplay from the Marx Brothers which is the first and last film where the script was not originally written for them. Ann Miller and Frank Albertson also co-starred in this underrated entry with the Marx Brothers.

Kelly's Heroes (1970): This is another DVD my Dad got me for Christmas. Brian Hutton directed this WWII comedy which stars Clint Eastwood as the title character. Private Kelly learns through a captured German colonel that there is 16 million dollars worth of gold in enemy territory. He then becomes determined to get that gold and is able to get a group of soldiers that include Telly Savalas, Don Rickles, Carroll O'Connor, and the scene-stealer Donald Sutherland. Remember, this is not a serious war movie so if that is what you are looking for, this is not for you. This is more of a movie taking a stab at the establishment and there are some pretty funny moments, especially with Sutherland as a more hippie like soldier. Gavin Macleod, Stuart Margolin, and Harry Dean Stanton all co-star and look for John Landis and Yves Montand in uncredited scenes.

No Small Affair (1984): This is my 80s comedy for the week which star Brat Packers Jon Cryer and Demi Moore. TWO AND A HALF MEN star Jon Cryer, in his film debut, plays a 16 year old amateur photographer named Charles and someone who always says what is on his mind. Demi Moore plays local 22 year old rocker Laura who is looking to further her career but struggles. Charles accidentally shoots photos of Laura and takes an immediate liking to her and performs a stunt that gets her more fame than ever. Cryer plays his part very well and one I kind of relate to in my amateur photography that I do in music and wrestling. Moore's singing is actually dubbed in this movie but is believable to her own voice. CHEERS alum George Wendt, ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT alum Jeffrey Tambor, Jennifer Tilly, Tim Robbins, and others co-star. This is a comedy that for me works being in the 80s but if you don't appreciate comedy from the 80s, you may not like it. As I have said, I do a lot of photography work and started in music when I regularly attended my friend's shows and really began to enjoy it which lead to what I now call "Shaun Berkey Photography" which is mostly for Facebook.

The Old Man and the Sea (1958): John Sturges directed this adaptation of the classic Hemingway novel. Spencer Tracy stars as the title character and also narrates the film. Tracy plays a struggling and aging fisherman who soon goes to sea and hooks a very big marlin but struggles to bring him in battling both going too far into the sea and even sharks out to get the fish. Tracy carries most of this movie by himself besides people in the beginning, most notably a young boy who keeps faith in the old man and tries to make sure he is well fed before going out to sea. Tracy pulls this off quite well in a part where he is alone a lot and makes the most of it. His narration also helps carry the story. I will admit that I have never read the book and I am not much of a reader so I cannot really judge by an adaptation. Hemingway did not like this adaptation and the book does call for a Cuban fisherman in which Tracy obviously was not so if you cannot get past that element, this will not be something to watch. Also, without the narration, this movie may not have been as watchable for me but the movie was enjoyable in my mind.

The Help (2011): This is part one of a Cicely Tyson series which will have at least two parts but possibly three. Tate Taylor directed and wrote the screenplay based on the novel from Kathryn Stockett. This movie takes place in the 1960s Mississippi when racial segregation was at its worst. Emma Stone stars as Skeeter who is an aspiring author who has grown up there but does not agree with the racial views on most and decides she wants to write a book interviewing black maids from their point of view. Viola Davis stars as Abileen who is the first to step up to get interviewing much to the dismay of the other maids. Octavia Spencer, who won many Best Supporting Actress awards, co-stars as Minny who reluctantly agrees to contribute information but is soon more on board than anyone. This movie takes a very good look at the maids from this time period and their treatment. Skeeter could be considered a minority in her own right for not sharing the ideas of much of her family and treats them more with respect. Bryce Dallas Howard co-stars as Hilly who does everything possible to keep segregation going. She is in some ways the villain of the film but more in ignorance maybe because of the way she was raised. Jessica Chastain, Cicely Tyson, Sissy Spacek, and many others co-star in this film. I have become more and more of an Emma Stone fan and this one furthers my cause. This is a very moving and beautiful film with good performances and it is available on Showtime On-Demand to watch.

Jack the Giant Killer (1962): This is my fairy tale movie for the week. Kerwin Mathews stars as the title character who is a farmboy who has the skill of killing giants. He soon encounters one who has abducted a woman and he ends up saving her who turns out to be Princess Elaine, played by Judi Meredith. Torin Thatcher co-stars as the villain Pendragon who intends on taking over the kingdom but must now take on Jack who is a knight. Matthews was quite good as Jack and Thatcher plays his part evil to the core. This is a movie that the family can watch. The special effects are probably cheesy by today's standards but they did not have the great luxury of CGI. They use a lot of stop-motion animation for some of the giants and it does look pretty cool. I read that this was re-released as a musical so I have no idea how good or bad that is but this is not the musical. This is available on Instant Netflix and is good for people who like this genre.

The Last Witness (2003): Technically, this is a two-part episode to the BBC series PRIME SUSPECT. Both of these episodes were about 90 minutes so I will rule this as a movie since it is my blog and I'll do what I want to. This is actually the 6th episode of the series which stars Helen Mirren as Detective Superintendent Jane Tennison. Tennison is a detective who has been around a long time and is investigating a murder of a Bosnian refugee leading her to a suspect which is hard to arrest due to his status. She is also being pressured to retire due to her age when she feels she is not ready for retirement and wants to continue working. This is the first one of this series I have seen and it was a pretty good detective story with Mirren portraying her character in a very relating way. While this is considered a tv series, this was the first episode in seven years and would go onto have one more episode. These are all available on Instant Netflix and have heard good things on the other ones.

Well, that is it for this week. Tell me what you like and what you dislike. Stay tuned for next week which so far includes more Johnny Depp, Naomi Watts, Vin Diesel, Sophia Loren, Leslie Nielson, John Ford, more Cicely Tyson, and many others.

FUN AND USELESS FACTS

Stephen Dorff (Public Enemies) and Helen Mirren (The Last Witness) were in the 2005 movie SHADOWBOXER.

Christian Bale (Public Enemies) and Bryce Dallas Howard (The Help) were in the 2009 film TERMINATOR SALVATION.

Christian Bale (Public Enemies) plays Jesus Christ in the 1999 tv movie MARY, MOTHER OF JESUS. Donald Sutherland (Kelly's Heroes) plays Christ in the 1971 film JOHNNY GOT HIS GUN. Two very interesting choices for the film.

Stephen Lang (Public Enemies) played Colonel Jessup in a Broadway production of A FEW GOOD MEN. Demi Moore (No Small Affair) plays Lieutenant Commander Galloway in the 1992 film A FEW GOOD MEN.

Lucille Ball (Room Service) plays Mame Dennis in the 1974 movie MAME. My Facebook friend Laura played the part in a 2012 production at the Muncie Civic Theater.

Frank Albertson (Room Service) and Spencer Tracy (The Old Man and the Sea) were in the 1936 film FURY.

Clint Eastwood (Kelly's Heroes) directed Tim Robbins (No Small Affair) in the 2003 film MYSTIC RIVER.

Donald Sutherland (Kelly's Heroes) played Hawkeye in the 1970 film MASH. My Facebook friend Sam played the part in a 2007 production at Lee's Theatrical Productions in which I was Captain Walk Waldowski.

Donald Sutherland (Kelly's Heroes) and Carey Mulligan (Public Enemies) were father and daughter in the 2005 film PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.

Donald Sutherland (Kelly's Heroes) and Demi Moore (No Small Affair) were in the 1994 film DISCLOSURE.

Harry Dean Stanton (Kelly's Heroes) and Johnny Depp (Public Enemies) were in the 2011 film RANGO.

Harry Dean Stanton (Kelly's Heroes) and Jon Cryer (No Small Affair) were in the 1986 film PRETTY IN PINK.

Harry Dean Stanton (Kelly's Heroes) and Mary Steenburgen (The Help) were in the 1985 film ONE MAGIC CHRISTMAS.

Harry Dean Stanton (Kelly's Heroes) played Dillinger gang member Homer Van Meter in the 1973 film DILLINGER. Stephen Dorff played Van Meter in this week's feature PUBLIC ENEMIES.

Demi Moore (No Small Affair) auditioned for the part of Luisi Contina in the 2009 musical NINE which would ultimately go to Marion Cotillard (Public Enemies)

Viola Davis (The Help) and Christian Stolte (Public Enemies) were in the 2009 film LAW ABIDING CITIZEN.

Viola Davis (The Help) and Stephen Dorff (Public Enemies) were in the 2006 film WORLD TRADE CENTER.

Jessica Chastain (The Help) and Jason Clarke (Public Enemies) were in the 2012 film LAWLESS.

Sissy Spacek (The Help) and Harry Dean Stanton (Kelly's Heroes) were in the tv series BIG LOVE. Stanton was in it from start to finish while Spacek had a few appearances.

Sissy Spacek (The Help) and Donald Sutherland (Kelly's Heroes) were in the 1991 film JFK.

Mary Steenburgen (The Help) and Johnny Depp (Public Enemies) were in the 1993 film WHAT'S EATING GILBERT GRAPE.

Jessica Chastain (The Help) plays the younger version of Helen Mirren's (The Last Witness) character in the 2010 film THE DEBT.

Mark Strong (The Last Witness), Jason Clarke (Public Enemies), Jessica Chastain (The Help), and Edgar Ramirez (Carlos) are all the 2012 film ZERO DARK THIRTY