Welcome to the 528th Edition of my series. I hope everyone had a good Christmas this year and I extend the holidays a little bit into this week. A couple weeks ago, I won a 48 inch Smart tv at work and am really enjoying that right now. I added a new segment called "Holiday Time" which might get used in the future for other holidays This is the last one of this year so next year we will be into the new year so I hope everyone has a good new year.
Twenty Feet From Stardom (2013): I start the week out with this documentary directed by Morgan Neville. This documentary takes a look at the backup singers of popular musicians and their importance to the industry. It shows some of them who desire more of a career and others who are content being in the background instead of the spotlight. There are interviews with both the background and feature singers. This gave a really good look at the unsung heroes of the industry that may not be very well known by the public but respected within the industry.
The Terrible Truth (1951): This is my short for the week and one of those humorous older ones which take a look at the horrors of mainly marijuana. There are many teens in juvenile court which have an addiction. This would be a good start to a night of viewing this before movies like REEFER MADNESS and COCAINE FIENDS. A good entry into the "message" movies long before we found benefits to the drug that we know today.
Miracle on 34th Street (1947): Since I just got done being in the musical version, I thought it would be good to revisit this holiday classic. Edmund Gwenn stars as Kris Kringle who is a very friendly older man claiming to be the real Santa Claus. He is recruited to be the Santa in the Macy's Parade by the director Doris Walker, played by Maureen O'Hara, after he discovers the person playing Santa is drunk. Doris is a very business driven person who is raising her daughter Susan, played by a young Natalie Wood, in a more reality based world. Kringle becomes the Macy's Santa who takes the world by storm and starts a very unorthodox way of doing business by referring people to other places if they do not have what they want resulting in success for business. John Payne stars as attorney Fred Gailey who is Doris and Susan's neighbor and really takes a liking to the way Kris tries to reduce the commercialism of the holidays. The climax of it all is where Kris Kringle must go on trial looking to prove he is the real Santa and Fred gladly defends him in court. Gene Lockhart, Porter Hall, William Frawley, Phililp Tonge, and many others co-star in this film. I have never seen the 1994 remake, maybe one day I'll look into it but this one is a really good film about believing. This also includes Fred trying to make Doris and Susan believe in more of the Christmas Spirit and having faith which states means believing in something that common sense says not to believe. I really enjoyed being a part of this cast and then to revisit this great holiday film.
The Debt (2010): John Madden directed this espionage thriller which takes place in two eras. This starts out in the year of 1997 where secret agents Rachel, played by Helen Mirren, Stephan, played by Tom Wilkinson, and David, played by Ciaran Hinds, are about to receive a reward for the accomplishments. They flash back to their mission in 1965 where the characters are played by Jessica Chastain, Martin Csokas, and Sam Worthington are on a mission to capture Nazi war criminal Vogel, played by Jesper Christensen. They show what happens in this the first era to lead into what happens in the modern era. Romi Aboulafia, Brigitte Kren, and many others co-star in this film. This is one that requires a lot of attention but in the end it was quite worth it to me to see the way the two eras kind of came together. This is available on Instant Netflix.
Three on a Match (1932): Mervyn Leroy directed this film. This focuses on three childhood friends in Mary, played by Joan Blondell, Vivian, played by Ann Dvorak, and Ruth, played by Bette Davis. Vivian seems to have everything in life including marriage and a son but goes off the deep end into a life of drugs and alcohol. Mary ends up becoming a stepmother to the boy. Anne Shirley, Lyle Talbot, Humphrey Bogart, Allen Jenkins, and Edward Arnold co-star in this film. This is a pretty good showcase for a lot of actors early in the career. This is also a crime drama with quite an intense climax. This is just a little over an hour and is really worth a look
Ironweed (1987): Hector Babenco directed this depression era film based on the novel by William Kennedy and depression describes the movie quite well. Jack Nicholson stars as drifter Francis Phelan who returns to his hometown after many years. He gets reacquainted with his old friend Helen, played by Meryl Streep. Both of them are reduced to bums after having some success early in their life. Francis is trying to make amends with his family while dealing with the ghosts of his past in a literal way. Carroll Baker, Michael O'Keefe, Diane Venora, Fred Gwynne, Margaret Whitton, Tom Waits, Nathan Lane, James Gammon, Will Zahrn, Joe Grifasi, Ted Levine, Frank Whaley, and many others co-star in this film. This movie has its depressing moments but at the same time it does a great job of showing friendship and loyalty. Nicholson and Streep work real well together playing much different characters than usual.
Those Calloways (1965): This is my Disney selection for the week and possibly part one of a two-part Vera Miles series. Norman Tokar directed this live action Disney movie based on the novel by Paul Annixter. Brian Keith stars as New England resident Cam Calloway who looks to build a sanctuary for the geese that fly over every year. In his way are the local hunters and a salesperson who tricking him with a loan. Vera Miles co-stars as his Cam's wife who stands by him even if she does not agree with what he is doing. Brandon De Wilde c-stars as their son Bucky who clearly takes a lot after his father. Walter Brennan, Ed Wynn, Parley Baer, and a young Tom Skerritt co-star in this Disney film. This is a pretty good family oriented film and a good one about a small town community. There are some decent performances and some really good scenery.
The Sessions (2012): This is part one of a potential William H. Macy series. Ben Lewin directed and co-wrote this film based on an article by Mark O'Brien who is portrayed very well by John Hawkes in this film. O'Brien was a journalist and a poet who was confined to being paralyzed in an iron lung. He decides that he wants to lose his virginity and gets help from a professional sex surrogate named Cheryl, played by Helen Hunt. This focuses on their relationship and on O'Brien's journey in life. William H. Macy, Moon Bloodgard, Annika Marks, Adam Arkin, Rhea Perlman, W. Earl Brown, Robin Wiegert, Rusty Schwimmer, and many others co-star in this film. It was good to see Helen Hunt in a good role like this one and she is still very beautiful after all these years. I suppose it could have gone into more background into the main people but is based more on an article and a certain part of O'Brien's life. This was a really good look at someone with paralysis trying to experience life through his limitations.
Fools' Parade (1971): I bring another depression-era film but this one is more upbeat than my other one. Andrew V. McLaglen directed this adaptation based on the novel by James Lee Barrett. James Stewart stars as ex-con Mattie Appleyard who is just being released from prison after 40 years and has a very sizable check that he saved up some money. Joining him are bank robber Lee Cottrill, played by Strother Martin, and Johnny Jesus, played by a young Kurt Russell. They are hoping to open a store with Mattie's check but a corrupt prison official and banker make it really difficult where they resort to criminal means after hoping to avoid crime in order to get their money. George Kennedy, Anne Baxter, William Windom, Mike Kellin, Katherine Cannon, David Huddleston, and many others co-star in this film. It is good to see an older Stewart working with a very young Russell which I did not know they worked together. This had some pretty comedic moments around this depression era drama with a good trio of actors working together. This is a rather unknown one that deserves a look.
Napoleon Dynamite (2004): This was an unexpected selection that came on Christmas Day when my mom and Uncle Bill were over and in the morning they found this on Starz so we went ahead Bill and I watched it while mom got Christmas ready. Jared Hess directed and co-wrote this independent film in Idaho. Jon Heder stars as the title character who is an outcast in his school and lives with his grandmother and 32 year old brother Kip, played by Aaron Ruell, who goes on chat rooms for ladies. Napoleon becomes friends with the new student Pedro, played by Efren Ramirez, who he helps in the school presidency to defeat the mean and popular Summer, played by Haylie Duff. Jon Gries, Diedrich Bader, Tina Majorino, Sandy Martin, Trevor Snarr, Shondrella Avery, Emily Dunn, and many others co-star in this film. This was never really meant to be a big project and even Heder only got paid $1000 to do the film which ended up grossing $40,000, 000 in the United States. I don't usually go over those kinds of statistics but found that to be a very interesting element of the unexpected success of this comedy. This movie did go onto very mixed opinions from people. I thought it was a good look into the "popularity" of high school. It has gone onto become one of my Dad's favorite movies. The movie does very well with its very limited budget and is quite different. I know I was an outcast in school so rather relating at times.Well, that is it for this week but did add a segment called "Holiday Time" which I might start using. Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for next week which so far includes George Clooney, Gene Wilder, Juliette Lewis, and many others.
HOLIDAY TIME
I'm not adding anything new or different by any means but always embrace these this time of year. These are some good traditions that a family can always enjoy.
It's a Wonderful Life (1946): This is my annual holiday film that I have been watching since my late high school days. I usually either watch it with my dad or mom when it airs on NBC just depending where I am. I even had the pleasure a couple years ago to host it myself at my friend Shera's house with her and her daughters. Frank Capra directed this film where I believe that the message conveyed is anything one person does to help another can make a big difference no matter how small the favor might seem at the time. James Stewart stars as small-town boy George Bailey who wants to get out of Bedford Falls but things always happen and ends up staying there. He marries his childhood friend Mary, played by Donna Reed, and has four kids. He does what he can to prevent Mr. Potter, played by Lionel Barrymore, from taking over the town and screwing everyone over. Something happens where George feels he has hit rock bottom and contemplates suicide. An unusual angel named Clarence, played by Henry Travers, comes down to stop him and show him a world that would have happened had he not been born. Thomas Mitchell, Ward Bond, Beulah Bondi, Gloria Grahame, H.B. Warner, and many others co-star in this film. I always look forward to seeing this one and am always moved to tears each time. It always reminds me of how little things can be a lot bigger than they appear. I have heard about a sequel on this called IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE: THE REST OF THE STORY. Supposedly, this centers around George's grandson who is not a very nice person and is shown by his aunt Zuzu, apparently reprised by Karolyn Grimes from this movie as child, who is now an angel how much better people would be if he had not been born instead of how much better things would be. I just do not see this working and I also have not really found any other info exception on imdb which has the status of "announced" as of right now. Feel free to share any info you might have on this apparent sequel. Please ring some bells and help angels get their wings.
A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965): This is an absolute timeless classic which is the 50th Anniversary this year. The usual Peanuts gang is trying to get everything together for the holidays. Charlie Brown is turned off by all the commercialism of the holidays which still exists today. He looks to find the true meaning of Christmas. He is named director of the Christmas Pageant which was a struggle as well as picking a bad looking Christmas tree. There are a lot of really great moments like Linus giving the monologue on the true meaning of Christmas. This is the first animated special and also the first to use actual children for the voices instead of adults imitating children. It also has a great Christmas song of CHRISTMAS TIME IS HERE. This is a very enjoyable half hour and happy 50th.
A Christmas Story (1983): This is the one that most probably have not seen straight through but have seen the whole thing at some point or another through the 24 hour Christmas marathon they do every year. Bob Clark directed this movie based on the novel IN GOD WE TRUST, ALL OTHERS PAY CASH by Jean Shepherd who provided the narration in this movie. Peter Billingsley stars as 9 year old Ralphie who wants a Red Ryder bb gun for Christmas but must deal with everyone telling him he will shoot his eye out. Melinda Dillon and Darren McGavin co-star as Ralphie's parents. Not a lot has to be said about this one. It has become a pretty big part of pop culture like in being able to buy the leg lamps and the Red Ryder bb gun which is out for purchase this time of year.
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