Welcome to the 421st Edition of my long-running series. We lost some people this week like Paul Walker, Nelson Mandela, as well as my high school/college friend Jim who left us at a very early time. My thoughts go out to all those whether I know them or not. The weather did not get as bad here as it did some places so I was glad of that. Now onto my recommendations for the week.
Roadie
(2011): I start the movie out with this independant drama which was
directed and co-wrote by Michael Cuesta. Ron Eldard stars as Jimmy who
has spent his life as a roadie with Blue Oyster Cult but was thrown
out. He looks to reconnect with his ailing mother, played by TRUE BLOOD
alum Lois Smith. He also must adjust to the real world after touring
with a band most of his life. His other complication is that the girl
he liked in high school, played by Jill Hennessy, is married to his
former nemesis Randy, played by Bobby Cavanale. This was a pretty good
and touching character study of a man who never really grew up. Eldard
was very good in his role and worked very well with Lois Smith. This is
available on Instant Netflix.
Okay
Toots! (1935): This is my comedy short of the week which stars Charley
Chase whose wife is with a fortune teller which makes the fortune go
quite wrong in many ways. This had a few funny gags in it. Chase was
known as silent comedian but did things in the talkie era as well,
mostly under producer Hal Roach. He did mostly short films so maybe
someone to look into if you like comedy from that era.
Santa
Claus (1959): Last week, I brought you all the b-movie SANTA CLAUS
CONQUERS THE MARTIANS but now I bring the one that's even better and
that I hope Rifftrax uses next year. I remember seeing this for the
first time years ago when I recorded it from TCM. When watching it, I
just kept watching and throughout this movie, Im just thinking WTF but
yet I could not keep my eyes off of it. There are many things I learned
when watching this movie. For starters, Santa does not have elves, he
has child labor from all over the world in which sing very annoying
music. Also, he is apparently at another planet and have reindeer which
are made up of what looks like styrofoam and can only last for so
long. We also learn that Santa and Satan are rivals in which Satan
tries every year to ruin Christmas and sends his very inept dance-loving
minion Pitch who is told he would be punished with ice cream if he
fails. Now to add to that, we learn that after Merlin was done helping
King Arthur, he decided to go work for Santa Claus. I still maintain to
this day this very well may be the most bizarre movie I have ever
seen. I actually watched this with MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000 but may
be a good idea to just get a few friends and even do a double feature
of these two holiday b-films.
The
Final (2010): This is another weird one per suggestion of my Facebook
friend Chris. This is brought by the After Dark Horrorfest which takes
the consequences of bullying to an even bigger level. Usually, when we
hear about a school shooting, it is from some sort of outcast who just
cannot take things like bullying anymore. In this one, a group of high
school outcasts decide that a shooting is not enough and set the popular
crowd up to be held captive to go through some sort of torture. Much
of us probably relate this movie. I was picked on quite a bit when I
was in school even to the point that I recall people joking that I will
do the next school shooting. Never at any point did I think about doing
something to that extreme nor did I ever really consider this sort of
payback that this movie shows. This was directed by Joey Stewart and
written by Jason Kabolati who might have wrote their fantasies as to
what they wanted to do to the bullies in their lives. I will start by
saying to those who get bullied that this is not the answer and neither
is doing a school shooting. Just remember there is life after high
school and I have learned of that. This is a very interesting and
rather well executed premise where the tension is set very early and I
was brought in quite a bit. 
Robin
and Marian (1976): This is a continuation of the Robin Hood story we
all know. Sean Connery plays Robin Hood in this film who is just
returning crusades only to find the Maid Marian, played by Audrey
Hepburn, is a nun and saves her from being arrested by the Sheriff of
Nottingham, played by Robert Shaw. Richard Harris, Nicol Williamson,
Denholm Elliott, and Ian Holm. This takes place about 20 years later
where the title character slowly reconnect in their love for each other
while also leading to a final showdown with the crooked sheriff. This
is a pretty fun movie with good action, performances and a good love
story. It is also a good continuation of the Robin Hood legend.
Stardust
(2007): Now I go into more of a fantasy film. Charlie Cox stars as
Tristan who looks to win the love of the village beauty. He also
pursues a fallen star which is the form of a human named Yvaine, which
is being pursued by many like a group of witches lead by Michelle
Pfeiffer. I'm just going to admit that it is very hard for me to really
describe this film but is very enjoyable. Robert De Niro is very
amusing as Captain Shakespeare. Ian McKellan provides narration and
Sienna Miller, Henry Cavill, Peter O'Toole, Mark Strong, and many others
co-star in this film. This is a pretty enjoyable movie of the genre
that would be something a family can watch together in my opinion.
Angel
Face (1952): Otto Preminger directed this film noir. Jean Simmons
stars as Diane, who is very beautiful but danger and schemes to knock
off her stepmother. Robert Mitchum stars as an ambulance driver named
Frank who becomes infatuated with her though learns she is very
dangerous and is brought into her dark world. If I explain anything
else it would give it away. This is really my favorite genre from this
era. I like these real gritty and dramatic films. This unfolds very
well to a very jaw-dropping ending.
Mickey's
Once Upon a Christmas (1999): I decided to go the Disney route and
feature one of their Christmas films. This is done over three stories.
One of which is Donald Duck's nephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie wishing
that everyday was Christmas so they can continue to open presents and
that sort of thing. They soon get their wish but then find they are
reliving the same day each day. The next story is of Goofy and his son
Max where Max becomes skeptical of Santa Claus and Goofy tries to
overcome the skepticism. The last story is of Mickey Mouse and Minnie
Mouse where they sacrifice to get each other gifts they have in mind.
Kelsey Grammar provides the narration of these films. Each of these
stories teach that Christmas is more than opening gifts but the
importance of family and selflessness. This is a great family movie for
the holidays and is available on Instant Netflix.
What's
Up, Tiger Lily? (1966): This is Woody Allen's film debut where he
takes an actual Japanese film, redubs it presenting it as a plot
revolving around a secret egg salad recipe. This is a James Bond sort
of spoof that has a lot of funny moments like Woody Allen every once in a
while explaining it. It also has great opening credits like a "no star
cast". The final credits were also very funny as well as a soundtrack
by Lovin' Spoonful. This is not Allen's best but was the start to a
good and controversial career. 
Hatfields
and McCoys (2012): I end with this mini-series which was done on the
History Channel last year which talks about the feuding families on the
West Virginia/Kentucky border after the Civil War. Kevin Costner stars
as Anse Hatfield and Bill Paxton stars as Randall McCoy. These people
are mostly the leaders of their families. These two people were once
friends but an incident tore them apart and the families got involved
which lead to a lot of bloodshed between the families. They become like
the Capulets and Montagues in ROMEO AND JULIET and in a way are like an
early mafia the way they would kill each other and get their
vengeance. Tom Berenger, Powers Boothe, Jena Malone, Matt Barr, and
many others co-star in this three part mini-series which each episode is
about 90 minutes or so. This was very well done. Kevin Coster was
great in this movie as well as the other performances. There is a lot
of violence but that is what happened between the families. This is
available on Instant Netflix and is well worth it.Well, that is it for this week. Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for next week.
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