Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations- 727th Edition

Welcome to the 727th Edition of my series.  I hope everyone has a good Thanksgiving and a safe black Friday for those crazy enough to get out in it.  I don't have a lot of else happening so I will just get on with my selections for the week.

Her (2013):  This is part four of my four-part Joaquin Phoenix series.  Spike Jonze wrote and directed this pretty light-hearted futuristic film.  Phoenix stars as a letter writer named Theodore who is going through a divorce and is rather lonely.  He decides to purchase the new OS1 operating system that is being billed as the first artificially intelligent operating system.  When installing it, the operating system is in the form of a female calling herself Samantha, voiced by Scarlett Johansson, who seems to have a mind of her own.  Theodore becomes drawn to Samantha to the point they form a very unconventional relationship.  Amy Adams, Chris Pratt, Rooney Mara, Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig, Matt Letscher, Olivia Wilde, Brian Cox, and many others co-star in this film.  Jonze is very amusing in his voicing of Alien Child.  The plot of this seems very absurd but it really works and Phoenix does a great job in helping that to happen.  In my four part series for Phoenix, I have included his very dark characters, even playing "himself" in I'M STILL HERE.  In this one, he is a lot lighter in his portrayal.  This does a great job of portraying a future without having to get real dark.  This is available to watch on Netflix.

The Heat Theory (1966):  This is my animated short for the week which is technically the first episode of the animated series SPACE GHOST which was an early superhero cartoon.  This is the first one where Space Ghost, voiced by Gary Owens, and his sidekicks Jan and Jace, voiced by Ginny Tyler and Tim Matheson, and their monkey Blip take on a lava monster.  This was an animated series that did 20 episodes but would live on, most notably in SPACE GHOST COAST TO COAST.

That Hamilton Woman (1941):  I saw this in part of the "Coffee and Classics" series they do at my local library.  Alexander Korda directed this film that takes place during the Napoleonic Wars.  Vivien Leigh stars as Emma who marries British ambassador William Hamilton, played by Alan Mowbray.  Things are going well until she meets Lord Horation Nelson, played by Laurence Olivier, where they form a relationship but keep being torn apart by the war.  Sara Allgood, Gladys Cooper, Henry Wilcoxon, Halliwell Hobbes, Gilbert Emery, Miles Mander, and many others co-star in this film.  This is the 3rd and last movie between Leigh and Olivier.  This is based on true events and is played out very well with Emma telling her story through the use of flashback.  This is available to watch on Criterion Channel.

Winning:  The Racing Life of Paul Newman (2015):  Adam Carolla and Nate Adams directed this documentary on Paul Newman which I guess goes without saying seeing as his name is in the title.  Most people know Paul Newman through years of great film and iconic characters but not so much for his real passion which was the world of auto racing.  I admit, I was kind of aware of it but not to the extent I learned in this movie.  When Newman was cast in the 1969 racing movie WINNING, he had to get some training for auto racing and took an actual liking to it.  He decided he wanted to continue learning and even had a pretty successful career as a driver and as an owner in the later years.  There are interviews with Mario Andretti, Michael Andretti, Jay Leno, Patrick Dempsey, Robert Redford, John Lasseter, and Robert Wagner.  While I vaguely knew of Newman as having involvement in auto racing, I did know know that Patrick Dempsey is also a professional auto racer.  Lasseter was one of the directors of CARS which has Newman as one of the voices and expresses gratitude towards Newman for helping to make it more authentic in the way of the racing.  It also goes briefly into his Newman's Own salad dressing brand and the charities it would support.  This was a very informative documentary and is available to watch on Amazon Prime.

She (1935):  Now I bring this sci-fi movie and the second selection that is the title of a feminine pronoun.  Lansing C. Holden and Irving Pichel directed this film based on a novel by H. Rider Haggard.  Randolph Scott stars as Leo Vincey who is told by his uncle of a land visited 500 years ago by his ancestor.  He sets out with family friend Horace, played by Nigel Bruce, and a guide's daughter Tanya, played by Helen Mack, to discover its land and the secret to immortality.  When getting there, they meet an immortal queen named She, played by Helen Gahagan, who believes Leo is his ancestor John Vincey.  This is kind of some pre-Indiana Jones and most notably INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM in my opinion.  There is an action climax where they evidently did not have the camera to do close up shots that I think would have made it better.  Other than that, some fun action from the era in this guilty pleasure.  This is available to watch on Amazon Prime.

If Beale Street Could Talk (2018):  This is part two of a possible four-part Regina King series.  Barry Jenkins directed this film based on a book by James Baldwin.  Kiki Layne stars as Tish who is a 19 year old learning she is pregnant.  She also is looking to prove the innocence of her friend and lover Fonny, who is the father of her child and in jail for a rape he did not commit.  King co-stars in this movie has Tish's compassionate mother Sharon.  Teyonnah Parris, Coman Domingo, Ebony Obsidian, Michael Beach, Aunjanue Ellis, Diego Luna, Emily Rios, Ed Skrein, Finn Wittrock, Brian Tyree Henry, Dave Franco, and many others co-star in this film.  This shows a family banding together to help Tish get through her pregnancy and with legal services.  It is a pretty moving story that can make one cringe at times and is available to watch on Hulu.

Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye (1950):  Gordon Douglas directed this film noir which is based on the novel by Horace McCoy.  James Cagney stars as gangster Ralph Cotter who leads a very violent prison break.  He gets the help of Holiday Carleton, played by Barbara Payton whose brother was part of the prison break but did not make it.  Ralph manages to lure Holiday into a life of crime and others around him.  Helena Carter, Ward Bond, Luther Adler, Barton McLane, Steve Brodie, and many others co-star in this film.  This is a more unknown Cagney film but is very compelling in the way he manages to corrupt those around him.  This is available to watch on Youtube.

Big Time (1988):  This has nothing to do with the song by Peter Gabriel.  This is part of the library series "Attack of the Movie" where each month a few librarians choose a movie which is usually maybe a b-movie or cult classic.  Librarian Luke chose this movie which is a rather unique sort of concert film with Tom Waits which was a combination of music and a bit of comedy.  This is pretty hard to put into words and probably need to be a least somewhat a fan of Waits.  This was a very intriguing experience is the best I can really say about this movie.

Walk on the Wild Side (1962):  This has nothing to do with the song by Lou Reed.  Edward Dmytryk directed this film based on a novel by Nelson Algren.  This takes place in New Orleans bordello in the 1930s.  Capucine stars as their main attaction Hallie whose rather comfortable life is disrupted by past love Dove Linklorn, played by Laurence Harvey.  Jane Fonda, Anne Baxter, Barbara Stanwyck, Joanna Moore, Richard Rust, Karl Swenson, Don Barry, and many others co-star in this film.  This is more of an ensemble piece among characters.  This is a pretty compelling film that is another one that is difficult to put into words.  This relatively unknown movie is available to watch on Amazon Prime.

Wings of Desire (1987):  I end the week with this selection that I got to view as part of the Cinemuncie series so I'm pretty sure this is the first time I have included Coffee and Classics, Attack of the Movie, and Cinemuncie in one week.  Wim Wenders directed this German film for which he co-wrote.  Bruno Gans and Otto Sander star as angels Damiel and Cassiel.  They wander the West Berlin area to observe and preserve life.  Damiel sees a trapese artist in Marion, played by Solveig Dommartin, and takes a liking to her to the point that he wants to turn into a human.  Peter Falk co-stars in this movie as himself where he is working on the set of a movie and we learn a lot about him in this movie.  Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are also in this movie in a live music setting.  This would be remade into CITY OF ANGELS but could not come close to this one.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.

Well, that is it for this week.  Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for next week which so far includes Regina King, and many others.

Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations- 726th Edition

Welcome to the 726th Edition of my series.  There is not much happening at this time, I've just been trying to survive the weather brought on this week.  I will just get on with my selections for the week.

I'm Still Here (2010):  This is part three of a four-part Joaquin Phoenix series.  Casey Affleck goes behind the camera to direct this "documentary" on his brother-in-law Joaquin Phoenix.  This takes a look at the time that Phoenix decided to retire from the acting industry to pursue a career in hip-hop.  The most known part of this movie was when Phoenix went on David Letterman in a very unusual interview that inspired countless imitations.  We all know this "retirement" did not last and and as far as I know he did not put out any actual albums.  In the end, it was an Andy Kaufman sort of stunt.  This lasted about a year and they did a very good job with this.  Phoenix did make some recordings and performed in some nightclubs.  I will say that words cannot describe how weird this was but yet I could not take my eyes off it.  I also believe that Todd Phillips saw this and decided that Phoenix would be perfect for his movie JOKER which I featured last week.  This is available to watch on Hoopla Digital.

Chess in Concert (2009):  This is technically an episode of GREAT PERFORMANCES but as I always say, this is my blog so I get to decide what qualifies as a movie.  This is a musical which was written by Tim Rice and Abba members Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus.  Adam Pascal and Josh Groban star as Frederick Thumper and Anatoly Sergievsky who are rivals in both chess and love.  Idina Menzel, David Bedella, Kerry Ellis, Clarke Peters, and many others co-star in this live concert musical.  This takes place during the cold war in the '80s which was around the time it was written.  I actually was not aware the song ONE NIGHT IN BANGKOK originated from this musical.  This does have some very good music numbers and performances and was very fun to watch.

The Life of David Gale (2003):  Alan Parker directed this film which really brings the death penalty into question.  Kevin Spacey stars as the title character who is a big advocate against the death penalty a and ironically convicted of murder while being sentenced to death.  Kate Winslet co-stars as reporter Bitsey Bloom who is assigned to do an interview with Gale and decides to investigate the murder a little further before he is put to death learning some disturbing things along the way.  Laura Linney, Gabriel Mann, Matt Craven, Brandy Little, Rhona Mitra, Jim Beaver, Cleo King, Melissa McCarthy, and many others co-star in this film.  This is a pretty disturbing and intriguing film that really kept me guessing.  They made very good use of flashback to learn of the character of David Gale and the people around him.  This is available on Amazon Prime.

Begone Dull Care (1949):  This is my animated short film for the week which was directed by Evelyn Lambart and Norman McLaren.  This short film uses abstract animation to music by the Oscar Peterson Trio.  The animation that is being done is called camera-less animation and is about eight minutes long.  People who are fans of abstract art and jazz music should really enjoy this one.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.

My Man Godfrey (1936):  Now I bring lighter comedy to the week.  Gregory La Cava directed this classic comedy which stars William Powell as the title character.  Godfrey is a homeless man and meets socialite Irene Bullock, played by Carole Lombard, who is playing a "game" and ends up hiring him as a butler in the Bullock home.  Godfrey soon learns how rich the family is and how nutty that family is as well.  We soon learn there is a lot more to our Godrey than meets they eye.  Alice Brady, Gail Patrick, Eugene Pallette, Jean Dixon, Alan Mowbray, Mischa Auer, Pat Flaherty, Robert Light, and many others co-star in this comedy.  This has many funny moments and makes good comedy out of the imperfections of a wealthy and rather dysfunctional family.  Powell and Lombard were a real-life divorced couple and Powell suggested his own ex-wife for the role feeling their relationship was similar to the characters in the movie.  This is available to watch on Amazon Prime and has options of watching it in black and white and in color.

The Killers (1964):  This is part two of a possible Ronald Reagan trilogy.  Don Siegel directed this film which is based on the book by Ernest Hemingway.  Lee Marvin and Clu Gulager star as hitmen Charlie and Lee who perform a hired job of race car driver Johnny North, played by John Cassavetes, and Charlie becomes intrigued and curious on why the the victim did not run or put up a fight.  Reagan, Angie Dickinson, Claude Akins, Norman Fell, Virginia Christine, and many others co-star in this film.  This is the second adaptation of Hemingway's novel and a remake to the movie made in 1946 which I have not seen but will look to get a hold of it at some point soon.  The biggest reason I wanted to see this one was to see Reagan in his last feature film before he would go into politics and never return to the world of acting.  This is also the only movie where Reagan played a villainous character which he apparently hated but did a pretty good job.  Obviously I cannot say one way or the other if this is better than the first movie but still found this to be quite enjoyable.  This is available to watch for free on Youtube.

Mr. Church (2016):  I have had some pretty dark selections so far which I usually favor that sort of thing but sometimes I just want something much lighter and sentimental which comes in the form of this movie.  Bruce Beresford directed this film which was based on a short story called THE COOK WHO CAME TO LIVE WITH US and stars Eddie Murphy as the title character.  Mr. Church is a cook and seems to be just a jack of all trades when he is appointed to cook for the terminally ill Marie, played by Natascha McElhone, and her daughter Charlie, played by Britt Robinson and Natalie Coughlin in the younger years.  This was supposed to be a six month arrangement which was the estimated time that Marie had to live but it spanned many years and becomes more of a friend and family member.  Xavier Samuel, Lucy Fry, Christian Madsen, McKenna Grace, Madison Wolfe, Lincoln Melcher, and many others co-star in this film.  Madsen is the son of actor Michael Madsen and is very obvious.  This is a very touching movie and shows how little things can a make a difference in the lives of others.  Murphy does very well in this role which was his first movie in four years.  This is available to watch on Netflix.

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954):  This is my second musical for the week which was directed by Stanley Donen with the musical numbers written by Gene de Paul and Johnny Mercer.  Howard Keel stars as Adam Pontipee who lives in the backwoods with six other brothers and is the oldest of them all.  He goes into town in search of a wife and finds one that very day in Milly, played by Jane Powell, who he convinces to marry him that very day.  The other brothers decide they want a woman in their lives and go about it by essentially kidnapping the women they liked.  Russ Tamblyn, Tommy Rall, Marc Platt, Jane Powell, Julie Newmar, Betty Carr, Ruta Lee, Ian Wolfe, and many others co-star in this musical.  This is a bit dated by today's standards and these sort of methods would not likely go over well when looking for love.  Either way, it was still a pretty well done movie with some good musical numbers which might have made the movie most watchable.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.

Boxcar Bertha (1972):  Now I bring some early Martin Scorsese with Roger Corman as the producer and loosely based on a book by Ben L. Reitman called SISTER OF THE ROAD.  Barbara Hershey stars as Bertha Thompson who was a labor organizer during the Depression and meets union man "Big" Bill Shelley, played by David Carradine.  Together, they band together to take on a corrupt railroad while becoming criminals in the process.  Barry Primus, John Carradine, Bernie Casey, Victor Argo, Harry Northup, and many others co-star in this film.  As far as I know this is the only time that David Carradine has done a movie with his father John but I could be wrong so I welcome any corrections.  This comes fresh after Corman's gangster film BLOODY MAMA and wanted to follow up with another female gangster sort of movie.  This does give a good look at the Depression era and the kinds of things people would do in order to survive.  This is available to watch on Amazon Prime.

Seven Seconds (2018):  This is part one of my possible four-part Regina King series.  I end the week on this mini-series so technically not a movie but as I said on my second selection, my blog, my rules.  Racial tensions hit in the Jersey area when an African American teen is hit and critically injured on his bike by a cop.  This officer happens to be part of a corrupt unit that could be comparable to the Strike Team on the FX series THE SHIELD and they do what they must to cover up the crime.  Clare-Hope Ashitey plays the main character in troubled prosecuting attorney KJ Harper who is assigned the investigation of the crime and later a trial.  She gets help in detective Joe 'Fish' Rinaldi in her investigation but have trouble coexisting at first.  Russell Hornsby and Regina King also co-star as the boys parents whose lives are changed forever and each handle it in different ways.  Beau Knapp, David Lyons, Raul Castillo, Patrick Murney, Zachary Momoh, Michelle Veintimilla, Nadia Alexander, Jeremy Davidson, Coley Speaks, Adriana DeMeo, Corey Champagne, Lesli Margherita, Fredric Lehne, Gretchen Mol, David Zayas, and many others co-star in this mini-series.  Lyons plays his role well as a corrupt cop being extremely unlikable and really having no redeeming qualities.  This is ten episodes long with each being around an hour.  This is a good look at how lives can change with a tragedy for both friends, family, and just those involved like the investigators.  This is available to watch on Netflix.

Well, that is it for this week.  Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for next week which so far includes Joaquin Phoenix, and many others.

THE BOOKWORM CORNER

Wicked Ways by Lisa Jackson and Nancy Bush (2014):  I obtained this book when I was at a movie viewing at the library and those attended got to pick a book and this one sounded the most compelling to me and with my wanting to start reading I figured I'd just give that a shot.  This story centers around surburban wife and mother Elizabeth Gaines Ellis whose husband and other people have died seemingly after she wished them dead.  A distant cousin named Ravinia hires a private investigator looking to find Elizabeth to let know what is going on with Elizabeth.  I found this to be a very compelling story that kept my interest and tried to read a chapter every day of the 400+ page book.  I see there are more books in the Wicked series that have various characters so could be something I look into in the future.

Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations- 725th Edition aka the 14 year anniversary

Welcome to the 725 edition of my series and the the 14 year anniversary of this blog.  I know, I can't believe it either.   However, I have to say that for the first time this year I took a break for about a month or so when I was in THE LARAMIE PROJECT and just didn't have enough time to dedicate to this.  I just want to thank all the old and new readers and hope you'll all stick around.

Let the Right One In (2008):  I start the week out with this Swedish vampire film which was directed by Tomas Alfredson and based on the novel by John Ajvide Linqvist who also wrote the screenplay.  Kare Hedebrant stars as the 12 year old and bullied Oskar who meets and falls in love a girl named Eli, played by Lina Leandersson.  Eli is a seemingly 12 years old as well but became a vampire at that age and she helps Oskar to stand up to the bullies while maintaining their unusual relationship.  Some could say this is about young love but I feel it goes much deeper than just that and goes deep than just some vampire movie.  I watched this last week as part of the Cinemuncie series at my local library which prompted a very in-depth discussion.  While this is very violent and gory, it also has an amount of beauty to it as well.  It is very hard to put into words further than I have described so I suggest just watching it.

Similarities Between Length and Speed (1937):  This is my educational short for the week.  Jean Painleve directed this short explaining the relationship of size in organisms.  This includes things like why rabbits don't get as big as an elephant.  Painleve recorded this to be presented at the Paris Museum's 1937 international expedition.  This is a pretty insightful 10 minutes and is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.

Bedtime for Bonzo (1951):  This is part one of a possible Ronald Reagan trilogy.  Long before Reagan became our president, he was in movies.  Reagan stars as Professor Peter Boyd who goes to extreme measures to win approval from her fiancee's father who is also the Dean of where he is working.  The Deal learns that Boyd's father had a criminal past and fears the same thing for future grandchildren.  Boyd decides to take in a chimpanzee named Bonzo from the lab to prove the nature vs. nurture question on how one's environment effects behavior.  Diana Lynn co-stars as Jane who Peter hires to help with Bonzo.  Walter Slezak, Lucille Barkley, Jesse White, Herbert Heyes, Herb Vigran, Harry Tyler, Edward Clar, and many others co-star in this comedy.  This is a bit absurd at times but is still really funny.  This was also presented at my local library.  The next year there was a sequel called BONZO GOES TO COLLEGE but I think an even better sequel would be decades later with RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES.

We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011):  Lynne Ramsay directed this film which was based on a novel by Lionel Shriver.  Tilda Swinton and John C. Reilly star as married couple Eva and Franklin who are the parents of the troubled Kevin, played by Rock Duer, Jasper Newell, and Ezra Miller at various times of his life.  Eva is driven to the edge by her son's behavior while Franklin is more oblivious to it and is not treated as bad by Kevin.  Ashley Gerasimovich, Siobhan Fallon Hogan, Alex Manette, and many others co-star in this film.  This movie jumps around in the way of timelines and mostly from Eva's point of view and her dealing with her disrespectful son leading up to quite a climax.  This is not always easy to watch and furthers my point that I do not want kids.  This is available to watch on Amazon Prime.

The Medusa Touch (1978):  I bring another very dark film which was directed by Jack Gold and based on the novel by Peter Van Greenaway.  Lino Ventura stars as detective-inspector Brunel who is investigating the attempted killing on John Morlar, played by Richard Burton, which put him into a coma but should have never survived.  Brunel learns that Morlar claims to have had telekinetic powers and the ability to cause disasters to happen.  Lee Remick co-stars as Morlar's psychiatrist Dr. Zonfeld who Morlar spoke to the most about his abilities.  Harry Andrews, Alan Badel, Marie-Christine Barrault, Jeremy Brett, Michael Hordern, Gordon Jackson, Michael Byrne, Derek Jacobi, and many others co-star in this film.  This uses the format of flashbacks while Brunel is investigating what happened.  I feel this British psychological thriller has been overlooked through the years and unfolds very well as we slowly learn about Morlar.  This is available to watch on Amazon Prime.

The King of Kong:  A Fistful of Quarters (2007):  Seth Gordon directed this documentary on the rather cutthroat world of classic arcade gaming.  This mostly centers around legendary gamer Billy Mitchell and the everyday guy Steve Wiebe.  Mitchell is known to hold a record for DONKEY KONG for many years.  When Wiebe got laid off in his job, he took the game up and obsessively tried to break the record.  When finally doing so, Mitchell and the arcade community find a way to not make it count.  Wiebe continues to pursue it while putting out the challenge to Mitchell.  I always love documentaries like these and the dedication of those involved.  This is a very fun and compelling documentary to watch.

Angel on my Shoulder (1946):  Archie Mayo directed this film based on a story by Harry Segall.  Paul Muni stars in this movie as gangster Eddie Kagle who is murdered by a trusted lieutenant and is sent to hell.  Claude Rains co-stars as the Devil who goes by the name Nick and sees that he is an exact double for a respected judge.  He has Eddie go into the judge's body and in return he'd get to avenge his murder but he has a crisis of conscience when doubling the body and falling in love with the judge's fiance Barbara, played by Anne Baxter.  Onslow Stevens, George Cleveland, Erskine Sanford, Marion Martin, Hardie Albright, and many others co-star in this film.  The look of the world of Hell was really good by Harry Redmond Jr.  I have always said that Muni has gone onto be very underrated and is great in his dual role in this film and Rains is fun as the Devil.  This is available to watch on Hoopla Digital.

Mulan:  Rise of a Warrior (2009):  This is my biopic for the week which was directed by Jingle Ma and Wei Dong.  This is the story of a woman in early China named Mulan, played by Wei Zhao, whose father, played by Rongguang Yu, is drafted to the military but is too sick so she takes his place and poses as a man with the risk she could be executed if caught.  In time, she gains the respect of those around her and develops some leadership skills.  Kun Chen, Jaycee Chan, Jiao Xu, Jun Hu, Angel Liu, and many others co-star in this film.  Jaycee Chan is the son of Jackie Chan and is a spitting image of his father.  Thanks to Disney, just about everyone knows who Mulan is by now.  This movie does not have those great musical numbers or comical dragon.  This is a more serious approach to the Asian historical figure and a pretty compelling watch.

The Last Wave (1977):  Peter Weir directed this and co-wrote this dark mystery film that takes place in Australia.  Richard Chaimberlain stars as attorney David Burton who is called to defend five Aborigines for a ritual murder and discovers he shares a connection to them.  He uncovers the truth about the tribe and has some very bizarre dreams.  Olivia Hamnett, David Gulpilil, Peter Carroll, and many others co-star in this film.  This is had to really put into words.  This is a pretty dark and disturbing film.  This is another one that has gone a bit overlooked through the years but really deserves a watch.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.

Joker (2019):  This is part two of a possible four-part Joaquin Phoenix series.  I end the week with this supervillain origin story that could really start a trend on the genre.  Todd Phillips directed and co-wrote this story which stars Phoenix as Arthur Fleck who is an aspiring stand-up comedian and works as a clown.  He struggles in his aspirations in stand-up with his mental issues and the way he is treated by society.  He goes into a downward spiral that leads to murder and would become Batman's main rival.  Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, Frances Conroy, Frances Conroy, Brett Cullen, Shea Whigham, Bill Camp, Glenn Fleshler, Leigh Gill, Josh Pais, Marc Maron, Sondra James, Murphy Guyer, Douglas Hodge, Dante Pereira-Olson, Carrie Louise Putrello, and many others co-star in this film.  This does take place in Gotham City and even deals within the Batman universe.  Phoenix adds to the great Jokers out there and found this to be a well done origin story.  This deals with an interesting line of fantasy and reality.  This could be a good double feature to watch with THE KING OF COMEDY where De Niro kind of switches roles.

Well, that is it for this week.  Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for next week which so far includes Joaquin Phoenix, and many others.

Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations- 724th Edition and the Madness: Kings and Masters- Week 4

Welcome to the 724th Edition of my series.  This will be the last week of the Madness and will go back to normal next week.  Next week is also my 14 year anniversary of this blog.  I know, I can't believe it either.  Last Monday, the Encore Awards had their annual show.  This is a community theater award show in Indianapolis that determines awards through eleven different community theaters.  The Center Stage Community Theater is one of them and that is where I was in THE LARAMIE PROJECT where our show received an Encore Judge's Special Award.  I am very proud be a part of this award and something that will always stay with me.  I've gone on long enough so I'll just get to my selections for the week.

Malcolm X (1992):  I start the week out with this biopic which was directed by Spike Lee and based on the novel by Malcolm X and Alex Haley.  Denzel Washington stars as the controversial civil rights activist which covers an important moment in his childhood, his younger days when he lead a life a crime, and his learning the ways of Elijah Muhammed, played by Al Little Jr.  Angela Bassett, Albert Hall, Delroy Lindo, Theresa Randle, Kate Vernon, Lonette McKee, James McDaniel, Ernest Thomas, Debi Mazar, and many others co-star in this film.  This covers a lot of ground as a man who was very controversial, even among civil rights activists.  Lee had trouble getting the money necessary from the movie studio and got help from other black celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jordan, and even Denzel Washington who put up his salary.  It all paid off in the end as they made a very good biopic which shows many layers of Malcolm X.

The Dead Zone (1983):  I follow up with an adaptation of a Stephen King novel which was directed by David Cronenberg.  Christopher Walken stars as Johnny Smith who had a good life going for himself in his personal and professional life until a car accident puts him in a coma for five years.  When waking from the coma he learns he has psychic abilities when he touches someone.  It seems like a gift at first but ends up being more of a curse but comes across a very dark vision which he must find a way to stop.  Brooke Adams, Tom Skerritt, Herbert Lom, Anthony Zerbe, Colleen Dewhurst, Martin Sheen, Nicholas Campbell, Sean Sullivan, Jackie Burroughs, and many others co-star in this film.  I had not seen this movie until now but have watched a lot of the tv series which I enjoyed.  I see they had to rewrite it a little bit for episodic television but I think it worked for both this movie and the show.  This was a very compelling film with a really good climax.

You Were Never Really Here (2017):  Lynne Ramsay directed this film that was based on the novel by Jonathan Ames.  Joaquin Phoenix stars as Joe who is a traumatized veteran and tracks down missing teens for a living.  His latest job brings complications and really tows the line of fantasy and reality not really knowing one from the other.  Dante Pereira-Olson, Vinicius Damasceno, Judith Roberts, Frank Pando, John Doman, Alex Manette, and many others co-star in this film.  Joaquin Phoenix brings an intensity that only Joaquin Phoenix can bring to a film.  I would say if you liked JOKER, I don't see any reason to dislike this one.  This is available to watch on Amazon Prime.

24 Frames Per Second (1977):  This is my short film for the week.  Shirley Clarke directed this very experimental short film which is about three minutes of images and doing multiple frames each second just like the title implies.  This is an interesting experimental effort and only takes about three minutes, hopefully Eric Bischoff does not order the team of Three Minute Warning to attack those who watch it.  They did not attack me.  This is available on the Criterion Channel.

Chandu the Magician (1932):  William Cameron Menzies and Marcel Varnel directed this early film.  Edmund Lowe stars as Chandu who is a powerful hypnotist and yogi.  His brother-in-law Robert Regent, played by Henry B. Walthall, is kidnapped by the evil Roxor, played by Bela Lugosi, who wants to use Regent's death ray for world dominance and his only hope is Chandu.  Irene Ware, Herbert Mundin, Weldon Heyburn, June Lang, Virginia Hammond, and many others co-star in this film.  This is a pretty fun adventure film and is worth a watch from classic movie lovers.

A Bucket of Blood (1959):  Robert Corman directed this horror-comedy.  Dick Miller stars as Walter Paisley who is a dim busboy in a Bohemian cafe.  He is admirable and jealous of other artists that frequent the place and wants to get recognized.  The accidental killing of a cat results as him plastering it up and claiming it to be a sculpture which gets him the recognition he desires.  His newfound popularity leads to killing others and doing the same thing.  Antony Carbone, Julian Burton, Ed Nelson, Judy Bamber, Myrtle Vail, Bert Convy, and many others co-star in this film.  This has always been one of my favorite movies.  It looks like a place I'd at least hang out at and the element of a nerdy man becoming a murderer to continue their new life.  Corman's follow-up LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS that came out the next year has a rather similar premise.  This is available to watch on Amazon Prime.

Unbreakable (2000):  M. Night Shyamalan wrote and directed this film which is now the 1st of a trilogy.  Bruce Willis stars as David Dunn who is in a bad train accident which not only left him the sole survivor but also unhurt.  He meets a mysterious stranger in Elijah Price, played by Samuel L. Jackson, who tries to convince David that he has a gift and should be used to help others.  Robin Wright, Spencer Treat Clark, Charlayne Woodard, Eamonn Walker, Leslie Stefanson, Johnny Hiram Jamison, and many others co-star in this film.  This is a pretty cool homage to the comic book world told in an M. Night Shyamalan way and in some ways was an early Nick Fury role for Jackson who would go onto play that character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Foxy Brown (1974):  This is my Blaxploitation selection for the week which was written and directed by Jack Hill.  Pam Grier plays the title character who is out for some revenge after her boyfriend is murdered by Steve and Katherine, played by Peter Brown and Kathryn Loder.  Foxy poses as a model to infiltrate the gang leading to quite the action climax.  Antonio Fargas, Terry Carter, Sid Haid, Juanita Brown, and many others co-star in this film.  This has always been a guilty pleasure of mine for many reasons.  This is one of those where the blacks are good and the villains are white.  There are a few stereotypes but this was a different era.  I would say before watching this, look up Blaxploitation if this is the first one that has been watched and understand the genre better before getting into these types of movies.

Dragonwyck (1946):  Joseph L. Mankewicz directed this film in his directorial debut and is based on the novel by Anya Seton.  Long before we had the McMahon family in Greenwich, Connecticut, we had the Wells family in the mid-1800s.  They get a letter from a distant and wealthy relative named Nicholas Van Ryn, played by Vincent Price, inviting one of the daughters to work in his home and be a guardian figure to their daughter.  Miranda, played by Gene Tierney, likes the idea of travelling and through much convincing of her father, played by Walter Huston, finally gets to do it.  Glenn Langan, Anne Revere, Spring Byington, Connie Marshall, Harry Morgan, Vivienne Osborne, Jessica Tandy, and many others co-star in this film.  This is a really hard one to describe except maybe that Miranda thinks she has a dream life but slowly sees the tyranny in Nicholas despite deciding to marry him.  This is a very complex and atmospheric film that really deserves a look.

Sunshine (2007):  Danny Boyle directed this sci-fi film.  A group of astronauts in 2057 are sent on a dangerous mission to reignite the dying sun.  This group of people must do what they can to save the world and are prepared to do whatever it takes to get this done but tensions flare during these times of stress.  Cliff Curtis, Michelle Yeoh, Cillian Murphy, Chris Evans, Hiroyuki Sanada, Rose Byrne, Benedict Wong, Troy Garrity, and Mark Strong co-star in this film.  This is another one that is really tough to describe beyond the basic description I gave it.  I guess this is a look at humanity and maintaining sanity at the worst of times.  It is driven by a good story and well-written characters to keep it going.

Well, that is it for this week but continue on for the last week of the Madness.  Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for the 14 year anniversary of this blog.

THE MADNESS:  KINGS AND QUEENS- WEEK 4

This is the last week for the Madness.  This along with football are the only parts I really enjoy about the fall season.  I use these to mostly clean out my Netflix list.  I also love organizing it and putting it together the way I do.  I have a moniker of "The King of the Loophole" which I never really strove to get that, I just need the non-horror selections in order to keep up with the variety factor in my blogs.  I have featured a lot of BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER and ANGEL which I have been binging.  Here's to the last week.

ALAN CUMMING

Alan is not a wild card but has a couple selections so I thought I'd make him into a a category this year.

Reefer Madness:  The Movie Musical (2005, 112 minutes, 666 1/2):  Alan plays the lecturer in this musical comedy that does have horror elements to make this count.  The is the devil and there are the "effects" of marijuana going on that lead to a very dark world.  This is a musical I would love to see someone do one day.

The Smurfs (2011, 103 minutes, 66 1/2):  Alan voices the Smurf known as Gutsy.  I would say Gargamel the sorcerer should make this count and the Smurfs should should qualify as a creature feature.

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BRUCE WILLIS

Bruce is not a wild card this year but found a couple movies on my list that qualify so made a category for him.

12 Monkeys (2019, 129 minutes, 666):  This takes place in a futuristic world that was destroyed by a virus where Willis stars as convict James Cole who is sent back in time to stop the virus.  I think the virus element should make this one count.

Unbreakable (2000, 106 minutes, 666):  Bruce plays David Dunn who comes out unhurt in a train wreck that kills everyone else.  Samuel L. Jackson co-stars as Elijah who tries to convince David that he has a gift that he should use.  This is M. Night Shyamalan's take to the superhero genre and the dark tones of the film should make this qualify.

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CALEB LANDRY JONES

Caleb is not a wild card this year but could see his name getting in there one day.

Byzantium (2012, 118 minutes, 66 1/2):  This is a subtle vampire tale where Gemma Arterton and Saoirse Ronan are in danger when one of them exposes their secret.

X-Men:  First Class (2011, 131 minutes, 666):  Caleb co-stars as Banshee in this origin tale of the X-Men.  I liked how they worked the Cuban Missile Crisis and involved the X-men.

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CILLIAN MURPHY

Cillian is not a wild card name but have a couple movies that he was in that should qualify.

Retreat (2011, 90 minutes, 66 1/2):  Cillian and Thandie Newton star as a married couple staying on a remote Scottish island.  They soon have a visitor in Jamie Bell who claims there is a virus all over the area.

Sunshine (2007, 107 minutes, 666):  This sci-fi film should count this year seeing as there is a group of astronauts that must reignite the dying sun.  Chris is one of the astronauts in this movie.

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ERNEST R. DICKERSON

Ernest is on the guest list this year.

Malcolm X (1992, 202 minutes, 666):  This biopic movie would not usually count but Dickerson is the cinematographer for this one and that qualifies the movie for this year.

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GHOSTS

Poltergeist (2015, 93 minutes, 66 1/2):  This is the remake and was watchable for me.  It has been awhile since I saw the original.  I watched this with Stephanie and Drew and we all agreed that Kennedi Clements, who played Madison, is quite the doppelganger to the daughter of our mutual friends Josh and Jessie.  Below is a photo of Josh and Jessie with their daughter Minerva on the left and on the right is Kennedi Clements.

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JEREMY RENNER

Jeremy is not a wild card this year but found a couple worthy selections for him to be a category.

Angel:  Somnambulist- Episode 1.11 (2000, 41 minutes, 666 1/2):  Jeremy had a guest appearance in his earlier career before he became such a big name.  He co-stars in this episode as a vampire named Penn who was a protege of Angel in his evil days and comes to L.A. making a series of killings.  The working relationship of Angel and Kate becomes more complicated when Kate learns who Angel really is and of his dark past.

The Avengers (2012, 143 minutes, 6666):  Jeremy plays Hawkeye and has been a big part of the MCU.  I still consider this possibly my favorite from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  I just really thought they lead into it perfectly with the other movies unlike how DC lead into their own JUSTICE LEAGUE.  This counts with the gods like Thor and Loki, the creature of Hulk, and those creatures near the end.

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JESSICA TANDY

Jessica is most known as Daisy in DRIVING MISS DAISY.  She is not a wild card this year but found a couple older selections to use for her.

The Birds (1963, 119 minutes, 666):  Jessica plays the mother Lydia in this film.  This is an Alfred Hitchcock movie and likely the most conventional horror movie he ever made where the birds are just on the attack and no one can figure out why.

Dragonwyck (1946, 103 minutes, 66 1/2):  Jessica plays a disabled servant in this movie.  I believe this Vincent Price movie should count with the gothic tones of the film.

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KEN MARINO

Ken is not a wild card but found a couple qualifying selections.

Angel:  Expecting- Episode 1.12 (2000, 41 minutes, 666):  I already had this category for Ken but did not know he would come up in my Buffy/Angel binge but here is another person that guest starred in ANGEL at one point.  In this one, Cordelia finds that she is all of a sudden eight months pregnant after a date with Wilson Christopher, played by Marino, who is not what he seems.  Angel and Wesley look to figure it out and stop what is happening.

Bad Milo (2013, 85 minutes, 66):  Ken stars in this movie as Duncan who learns he has a demon living in his intestines.  For me, it had funny moments but got to be a bit much.

Goosebumps (2015, 103 minutes, 666 1/2):  Ken plays the coach in this movie.  Jack Black stars as R.L. Stine himself whose books as it turns out contain his actual characters from the popular book series and a book gets opened letting his characters out.

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LYNNE RAMSEY

Lynne is on the Guest List this year so found a couple selections for her.

We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011, 112 minutes, 666):  Lynne directed this very dark film about a mother trying to deal with a son that just seems very evil.

You Were Never Really Here (2017, 89 minutes, 666):  Lynne directed this psychological film that stars Joaquin Phoenix.

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MADELINE KAHN

Clue (1985, 104 minutes, 666 1/2):  Madeline plays the role of Mrs. White in this movie based on the popular board game.  I didn't really think this would count but with my discussion with the Hauntress, turns out it does count.  I guess the multiple murders and the atmosphere qualifies this one.  There is also a dinner party.

Young Frankenstein (1974, 106 minutes, 666 1/2):  Madeline plays the role of Elizabeth in this parody from Mel Brooks.  This parody of the Mary Shelley classic may just be the best parody of all time.

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MAGICAL MADNESS

Chandu the Magician (1932, 71 minutes, 66 1/2):  This is some classic adventure that stars Bela Lugosi who has a death ray.

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MEAGAN GOOD

Meagan is not a wild card this year but found a couple legit selections so decided to make her into a category and maybe this is a preview for the possibility of the women in horror category I have been wanting for years.

Saw V (2008, 92 minutes, 66 1/2):  Jigsaw is at it again with his deadly games.  Meagan plays one of five people in a trap together where they learn they are all connected.

The Unborn (2009, 88 minutes, 66):  This movie deals with possession.  Odette Annable fights a spirit that is taking over her.  Meagan plays her best friend Romy.

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RAMI MALEK

Rami is not a wild card this year but found qualifying selections so I made a category.  I did previously use his movie BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY as a loophole with Bryan Singer as the director.

Da Sweet Blood of Jesus (2014,123 minutes, 66):  This is Spike Lee's vampire take though I guess this was not a vampire.  Dr. Hess Greene develops a thirst for blood after being cursed by an ancient African artifact.  I never really could get into this movie, the music score from Bruce Hornsby helps me a little bit.

The Twilight Saga:  Breaking Dawn- Part 2 (2012, 115 minutes, 66):  This is the conclusion of the series based on the Stephanie Meyer vampire novels where the Cullens must gather other vampire clans to go against the Volturi.

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ROB ZOMBIE

Rob is on the Guest List this year.

31 (2016, 66 1/2):  Rob wrote and directed this horror movie that in holds nothing back in typical Rob Zombie fashion.  Five carnival workers are kidnapped and forced to participate in a game of taking on sadistic clowns for twelve hours.

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ROGER CORMAN

Roger Corman was not a wild card this year but has been in the past and I'm sure had consideration this year.

A Bucket of Blood (1959, 61 minutes, 666 1/2):  This has always been one of my favorites.  A dim-witted busboy resorts to murder to find his newfound talent in "sculpting".

Little Shop of Horrors (1960, 72 minutes, 66 1/2):  This is the original which inspired the popular musical we know today.  Similar premise of a nerdy person trying to fit into society and when doing so resorts to murder.  The plant should make this qualify.  Fans of the musical need to give credit where credit is due.

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SID HAIG

Sid is a wild card this year.

Foxy Brown (1974, 92 minutes, 666):  This blaxploition classic does not usually count but having Sid in the movie gives me a loophole.

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STEPHEN KING

Big Driver (2014, 87 minutes, 666):  This is based on a book by Stephen King.  Maria Bello stars as a mystery author who gets raped and decides to investigate the situation while getting revenge rather than go to the police.

The Dead Zone (1983, 103 minutes, 666 1/2):  David Cronenberg directed this adaption of the Stephen King novel.  Christopher Walken stars as Johnny Smith who comes out of a coma with psychic abilities.

The Green Mile (1999, 189 minutes, 6666):  Frank Darabont directed this Stephen King adaptation and while I have always enjoyed it, I realized just how great this movie really is.  Good performances, story, and just well-written characters.  I never realized what a beautiful movie this really is and how it can just resonate with just about anyone with its message.

Shawshank Redemption (1994, 142 minutes, 666 1/2):  I always have to get this one in anytime I can use it.  This is King's other prison story which is also directed by Frank Darabont and has many actors who would go onto be in THE GREEN MILE.  This is also a great film with Tim Robbins as a prisoner framed for the murder of his wife and earns the respect of his inmates, including Morgan Freeman, for the things he did within the prison.  This is also a very moving film about redemption more than anything.

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VAMPIRES

Angel:  I Will Remember You- Episode 1.8 (1999, 43 minutes, 666 1/2):  Having learned that Angel was in her town of Sunnydale, Buffy comes to visit.  They encounter a demon which could change everything between Buffy and Angel but Angel must consider what is right.  This is a more emotional episode.

Angel:  Hero- Episode 1.9 (1999, 43 minutes, 666 1/2):  Angel, Cordelia, and Doyle must help a group of mixed-heritage demons that are being targeted by a deadly group called the Scourge.  This was also a very emotional episode.

Angel:  Parting Gifts- Episode 1.10 (1999, 41 minutes, 666):  After the death of Doyle, Cordelia finds that he passed on his gift of visions to her.  Wesley Wyndam-Price returns after his stint on the 3rd season of Buffy and sporting a whole new look and lifestyle.

Angel:  She- Episode 4.13 (2000, 43 minutes, 666):  Bai Ling guest stars as a female demon fighting her male oppressors.  Angel must fight demons from an alternate dimension.

Angel:  I've Got You Under My Skin - Episode 4.14 (2000, 42 minutes, 666):  Angel and Wesley must perform an exorcism on a boy possessed by a demon.

Angel:  The Prodigal- Episode 4.15 (2000, 43 minutes, 666 1/2):  Angel investigates Kate's father who seems to be involved with other demons.  There are also flashbacks showing Angel and the problems he had with his father.  The flashbacks also have his maker Darla, played by Julie Benz, who makes her first appearance on the show.

Angel:  The Ring- Episode 4.16 (2000, 42 minutes, 666):  Angel is enslaved in an underground fight ring where demons of all sorts are forced to fight to the death in gladiator type fights.  This episode is the beginning of Angel's rivalry with the corrupt law firm Wolfram and Hart and the introduction of their employee Lilah Morgan, played by Stephanie Romanov.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer:  Something Blue- Episode 4.9 (1999, 43 minutes, 666):  Willow casts a spell that backfires and everything she says becomes the truth including Giles being blind.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer:  Hush- Episode 4.10 (1999, 43 minutes, 666 1/2):  This is probably the most well-known and popular episode of the series.  A group of demons called the Gentlemen, which includes Doug Jones, take the voices from everyone in Sunnydale so a bit of an homage to silent film.  This is also the episode that introduces Amber Benson as Tara.  Before it becomes a silent episode, I thought it had some very funny dialogue.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer:  Doomed- Episode 4.11 (2000, 43 minutes, 666):  The gang must stop a group of demons trying to reopen the Hellmouth.  Buffy and Riley learn they have both been hiding secrets from one another on their lives and try to understand each other more.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer:  A New Man- Episode 4.12 (2000, 43 minutes, 666):  Ethan Rayne returns to town and talks Giles into going to the bar for some drinks.  The beer Giles drank had a bit of a side effect when he became a demon and his only help was in Spike.  I was not aware until now that Robin Sachs died in 2013.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer:  The I in Team- Episode 4.13 (2000, 43 minutes, 666):  Maggie Walsh gives Buffy clearance into the Initiative headquarters.  We also get introduced to the main season four villain in Adam.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer:  Goodbye, Iowa- Episode 4.14  (2000, 43 minutes, 666):  Tensions arise with Buffy and Riley as well as the initiative in their investigation of Maggie's murder.  Riley also learns more truth about his life and about Adam

Buffy the Vampire Slayer:  This Year's Girl- Episode 4.15 (2000, 43 minutes, 666 1/2):  Faith awakens from her Coma and seeks revenge against Buffy and the gang.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer:  Who Are You- Episode 4.16 (2000, 43 minutes 666 1/2):  Faith and Buffy have switched bodies with one another leading Buffy, not in the body of Faith, captured by a group from the council.  Faith, now in the body of Buffy, looks to make her way into Buffy's group of friends.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer:  Superstar- Episode 4.17 (2000, 43 minutes, 666):  The usual nerdy Jonathan Levinson is now a big hero in Sunnydale who seems to be able to do everything making Buffy suspicious.  This is probably Jonathan's biggest episode after making recurring cameos until the 6th season when he becomes more of a regular.

Let the Right One In (2008, 114 minutes, 666 1/2):  This is not so much a vampire movie but involves a vampire.  This revolves around a young boy named Oskar who is bullied at his school.  He soon meets Eli who he learns is a vampire and they form a friendship with Eli helps Oskar to stand up to the bullies.

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WILL ARNETT

Will is not a wild card this year but has a couple animated selections that should qualify so made this comedian a category.

The Lego Batman Movie (2017, 104 minutes, 666 1/2):  Will voices the dark knight in this movie where he once again looks to thwart the Joker.  This is extremely fun and a bit of an homage to Batman while also a parody.  The Batman character as well as the creatures in the Phantom Zone should make this one count.

Monsters vs. Aliens (2009, 94 minutes, 666):  This is another animated movie featuring Will where he voices the Missing Link where he works with other monsters to stop an alien invasion.  Plays great homage to a lot of horror creatures.

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