Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations- 238th Edition

Welcome to the 238th Edition of my long-running series. Opening weekend for GUYS AND DOLLS went real well. We have two more weekends. Go to http://ibelfry.com to call and reserve tickets if you plan to come. This week I pay tribute to Gary Coleman and Dennis Hopper who both left us. I also have three selections from the Random Myspace Profile selection process. I think I have said everything I want to hear so get out your Netflix and Blockbuster queues and let's get started.

The Passion of the Christ (2004): This is my first selection for the Random Myspace Profile selection process and for this one I chose Melissa who goes by Young Kill Bill on Myspace. I have worked with Melissa in a couple shows at the Muncie Civic Theater. I watched this controversial Mel Gibson piece last time I was at my dad's house and that day he had a handyman come out to look at his dryer. The guy working on his dryer came and told us the story of him trying to see this movie when it was at theaters. He told us that first his new car that was two weeks old would not start and then when he was in another car and driving to the theater, a black rock came down and his car causing some damage. I thought I would relay that story on here. Mel Gibson directed this film which looks at the last few hours of the life of our savior Jesus Christ and used a little bit of flashback. James Caviezel stars as Christ and shows the sacrifice he made to die for our sins and the torture he took. Some people believed that it was "too violent" and even "unnecessary" but a crucifixion was not a quick, humble execution. This was absolute torture and I have heard Caviezel did get hurt some playing this part. This is hard to watch but can be rewarding to knowing that he was doing this for all of us.

The Jazz Singer (1927): Now I go from what some may anti-religious or whatever else you want to call it to something some may believe is racist. This movie is very historical as it is the first "talkie". There were a few movies before this that had sound effects and even music but this was the first to use a voice. Make not mistake, part of it is silent and usually uses the sound for the music numbers from Al Jolson. Here, Al plays the son of a Jewish Cantor who is the 5th generation of the family and is expected by his father to follow in his footsteps. Now with this title, does it sound like he intends to follow his footsteps? No, he wants a career in music which does not sit well with his father at all but he pays the price and becomes disowned by his father though his mother hates the situation and wants him to be able to follow his own dreams. Jolson used the blackface make-up which he made an absolute career of which is what I said some might consider racist but that is really not the case as this was acceptable at the time and was pretty tasteful on his part where he was really trying to pay tribute to the black race. I really did not like the way it ended so if you want to know my analysis just send me a message. Let's just say that as someone in community theater, you always keep your commitments. This movie had some good musical numbers and will always have its place in history which is what makes this movie so well known. Neil Diamond starred in a remake of the film which flopped big-time and they had another remake somewhere in there. The movie should be viewed for historical purposes and they had to start somewhere but is nothing absolutely great in my opinion.

Boogie Nights (1997): What other list would have both a movie about Jesus Christ and one on the adult film industry? I chose my facebook friend Ben for this week who has been a loyal reader to me and writes some good stuff for associatedcontent.com so check his stuff out at http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/78685/ben_kenber.html. Paul Thomas Anderson wrote and directed this movie on the industry which actually is a very moving film on a "family" in the 70s in the adult film industry. Mark Wahlberg stars as Eddie Adams who is discovered and signed to be an actor and becomes Dirk Diggler. Dirk first is very naive but then takes a downward spiral into drugs and his ego. Burt Reynolds has his best performance of his career as Jack Warner who discovers Eddie Adams and runs the film studio. This really becomes a character study on quite a few people who are involved in the industry and gives each character a nice, humanistic look. Other actors in this film include Julianne Moore, William H. Macy, John C. Reilly, Heather Graham, and many others. This is actually based off a 1988 short film called THE DIRK DIGGLER STORY which was also wrote and directed by PTA.

Midgets vs. Mascots (2009): This is my tribute to Gary Coleman for the week. This is a mockumentary which I only heard of after I was looking at what Coleman did in his career and it was available on Netflix instantly. This is a very strange and pretty tasteless film. This movie had five midgets, including Gary Coleman being one of them and five mascots, which one of them was played by Jason Mewes who is most known as Jay in the movies with Jay and Silent Bob, who were put in some pretty ridiculous and humiliating contests including the gross-out milk-chugging contest, where the winners would get one million bucks. If you're not too politically correct, you might enjoy this humor because it was pretty funny and boast some interesting cameos like adult film star Ron Jeremy and former Chicago Bull Scottie Pippen. I know it is very strange where I have two movies in a row that reference the porn industry which this does a little bit in the beginning. I must say I laughed some but also just watched out of curiosity. It is available instantly on Netflix if this sounds like something you like but as you see not for everyone.

I Know Where I'm Going (1945): This is actually one of four foreign films and this one takes place in England. Wendy Hiller stars as Joan Webster, an ambitious middle class woman who has always known what she wants since childhood. She then tells her father she is going to marry an industrialist she has not met so she sets off for the island of Mull. She then gets stuck on the island due to the wind and meets a naval officer who she falls for but is still determined to get her marriage of convenience and must do some deciding. This was a pretty light comedy and delivers laughs. This is available instantly on Netflix.

Tokyo Story (1953): This is another selection from the Random Myspace Profile selection process and for this one I chose Remodernist Film & Photograph. This is my Japanese film for the week which was co-written and directed by Yasujiro Ozu. This movie focuses on an older couple who are going from Onomichi to Tokyo to visit the children and grandchildren who have very little time for the where the only one real glad to see them is a widowed daughter-in-law. Each side of the family discusses what to do with this inconvenient visit from their parents. This movie was very good and gave a great message about taking family for granted and the penalties for treating a visit like this as an obligation. This ranks in the best movies of all time and is also available through Netflix instantly.

Mad Dog Morgan (1976): This is my tribute for the week to Dennis Hopper who recently left us. This is actually an Australian film where Dennis Hopper plays outlaw Dan Morgan who was a real-life person. This movie takes a look at what happened to turn Dan Morgan into such an outlaw and to go avenge those who wronged him leading a very dangerous lifestyle. This is a more unknown Hopper film. The DVD I got had a very bad transfer but I found it worth it to see Hopper who looked quite different in this movie.

American Carny: True Tales from the Circus Sideshow (2008): This is my documentary for the week which I found on the Doc channel. I really liked this one which takes a look at many unusual carnival acts like people who swallow swords, can pick things up with their nipple, and many other things. It also looks at the history of "freak shows". If this interests you, then take a look at the Documentary channel called Doc. They have some pretty good documentaries on there like this one that deserves more exposure.

Where the Wild Things Are (2009): This is my last selection for the week for the Random Myspace Profile selection process and for this one I chose filmarcade.net who had their default pic with this movie cover. They have helped me get exposure by allowing me to post this on their website so thank you for that. This movie is actually based on the classic children's book of the same title where a little boy is being naughty and is sent to his room without supper. The difference from the book to the movie is that in the book, the fantasy world develops in his room and in the movie, the boy runs away from home to create his fantasy world. The little boy's name is Max who finds a world where large creatures exist led by Carol, voiced so well by SOPRANOS alum James Gandolfini, who relates to Max the most. Most humans they eat but they really like him and name him their king. This movie did a great job of adapting the book while accommodating to both the children and parents. Paul Dano, Catherine O'Hara, Forrest Whitaker, Lauren Ambrose, Michael Berry Jr., and Chris Cooper lend their voices and Catherine Keener plays Max's mother with Mark Ruffalo in a small part as her boyfriend. I really liked this movie a lot where each monster kind of conveyed parts in Max's personality. Spike Jonze directed this movie.

The Spirit of the Beehive (1973): This is another movie that focuses on childhood fantasy. Victor Erice wrote and directed this Spanish film. This movie takes place in the 1940s during the Spanish Civil War where we meet a sensitive seven year old girl named Ana who goes to a screening of James Whale's 1931 film FRANKENSTEIN. She then becomes very disturbed when the monster kills the little girl and is then killed by the villagers. Along with a friend, they set off to find the creature who Ana is told the spirit exists. This is an interesting movie which questions life and death. When watching FRANKENSTEIN now, you will see it is not that scary but at the time, it was considered pretty scary since they did not see it.

Well, that is it for this week. I see I had some pretty strange selections this week but that is what I am all about. Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned next week which so far includes Robert De Niro, Topol, Olivia Hussey, Karen Black, and many others.