Welcome to the 809th Edition of my series. I hope everyone is having a good Father's Day however celebrated. Just a reminder, MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET happens on July 22-24 at the Marion Civic Theater. I'm exciting to be playing the villainous role of Sawyer. This is also my last week at Navient before starting my new job next week. Okay, I've said enough so I will get on with my selections for the week.
Allied (2016): I start the week out with this WWII film which was directed by Robert Zemeckis. Brad Pitt stars as Canadian intelligence officer Max Vatan who meets French resistance fighter Marianne Beausejour, played by Marion Cotillard. They meet and fall in love in Casablanca but complications happen when Max learns that Marianne might be a German spy and does what he can to prove her innocence. Jared Harris, Lizzy Caplan, Sally Messham, Camille Cotton, August Diehl, Daniel Betts, Anton Blake Horowitz, Charlotte Hope, Celeste Dodwell, Simon McBurney, and many others co-star in this film. This is a pretty decent love story to go around the WWII backdrop. Pitt and Cotillard work very well together. This could be a good double feature to go along with this classic film CASABLANCA.
Talk Radio (1988): Oliver Stone directed this film based on the play by Eric Bogosian and based on the novel TALKED TO DEATH: THE LIFE AND MURDER OF ALAN BERG by Stephen Singular. Bogosian also stars as controversial radio host Barry Champlain whose world is turned upside-down when learning his local Dallas show is getting picked up by the nationwide circuit. He already has troubles in his love life but is also concerned about his show getting censored being on a more national basis. Ellen Greene, Alec Baldwin, Leslie Hope, John C. McGinley, John Pankow, Michael Wincott, Robert Trebor, Zach Grenier, Tony Frank, Allen Corduner, Peter Zapp, Carl Kissin, Park Overall, Earl Hindman, and many others co-star or provide their voices. I had the pleasure of being in this play years ago at the Muncie Civic Studio Theater and has always been one of my favorite shows that I was in. This movie expands from the play script which only takes place in the radio station and goes outside of it. Bogosian is great as Barry and is a good look at controversial radio star.
Superstar (1999): Last week I featured the SNL movie WAYNE'S WORLD, now I bring another one this week which was directed by Bruce McCulloch. Molly Shannon brings her most famous SNL Mary Katherine Gallagher to the big screen. She is very socially awkward in high school but still dreams of superstardom and dreams of being with high school jock Sky, played by Will Ferrell. She decides to enter the talent show with her main competition being the popular Evian, played by Elaine Hendrix. Harland Williams, Mark McKinney, Glynis Jones, Jason Blicker, Gerry Bamman, Emmy Laybourne, Jennifer Irwin, Natalie Radford, Karyn Dwyer, Tom Green, Chuck Campbell, Donna Hanover, Dan Redican, and many others co-star in this comedy. This is not as good as last week's SNL feature but this still delivers some laughs. This was a character that Shannon created and played to perfection. I just wish Chris Farley was still alive to have made a movie on Matt Foley.
The Tender Game (1958): This is my animated short for the week which was Directed by John Hubley and co-wrote with Faith Hubley. This is animation of a love story set to music by Ella Fitzgerald and the Oscar Peterson Trio. This has some very fascinating drawings with an effective animation technique that works very well with the drawings. This guy had quite a career in independent animation and this is available on the Criterion Channel.
Modern Times (1936): Charles Chaplin wrote and directed this this silent comedy, well mostly. As talkies were the thing, Chaplin still liked being silent though this is his last silent film. I will say though, there is a lot of sound effects, they have the factory boss talking through an intercom, and there is an interesting music number from Chaplin. Charlie reprises his role of the Tramp as he struggles to adjust to the industrial age of society. Paulette Goddard co-stars as a homeless woman who has had some tough cards dealt as well as they fall in love with one another. Tiny Sandford, Chester Conklin, Hank Mann, Al Ernest Garcia, and many others co-star in this comedy. I guess this is the closest that Chaplin ever came to sci-fi. I am referring mostly to the beginning in the factory and some of those machines within it. This is both funny and even sad at times but is also about moving forward in a sense. It is also a good story of love and the obstacles overcome. This is the first time the Tramp ever speaks as he does his music number. This is available to watch on HBO Max and the Criterion Channel.
Rocky (1976): John G. Avildsen directed this film that was written by Sylvester Stallone. As we all know, Stallone stars as local Philadelphia boxer Rocky Balboa. Carl Weathers co-stars as Apollo Creed, a boxing champion whose opponent had to pull out and thought he could get really good publicity by giving a local and unknown boxer a title shot. He chooses Rocky on account of his nickname "Italian Stallion" and expecting to knock him out quick, he gets far more than he bargained. Talia Shire co-stars as Adrian who would be his wife through the franchise as she's very socially awkward having Rocky bring her out of her shell. Burgess Meredith, Burt Young, Thayer David, Joe Spinell, Jimmy Gambina, Jodi Letizia, Stan Shaw, Lloyd Kaufman, Frank Stallone, Tony Burton, and many others co-star in this film. Most who know me know that this really is one of my favorites and has been a great franchise in my opinion even when spinning off to CREED. This was an absolute make or break project for Stallone to get this off the ground. The producers wanted his script but not him starring in it as he had not quite made a name for himself yet. He finally talked the producers out of the big name actors and for him to star for lesser money being able to introduce us to Rocky Balboa. When I went to visit my friend Ashley years ago in Philadelphia, this was really the only tourist site I was determined to see. This is available to watch on HBO Max.
Frozen II (2019): Now I bring some Disney animation for the week which was directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee. The story continues with Elsa, reprised by Idina Menzel, now being a queen is hearing a voice that no one else hears and sets out to the mystical enchanted forest being joined by her sister Anna, voiced by Kristen Bell, and the rest of the gang Kristoff, reprised by Jonathan Groff, Olaf, voiced by Josh Gad, and Sven, to learn of her origins and save the kingdom. Sterling K. Brown, Evan Rachel Wood, Alfred Molina, Martha Plimpton, Jason Ritter, Rachel Matthews, Jeremy Sisto, Ciaran Hinds, Alan Tudyk, Hadley Gannaway, Mattea Conforti, Aurora Aksnes, and many others provide their voices in this sequel. This may not have the memorable songs of the first one but still pretty good numbers and I thought had a pretty good continuation story that is not a rehash sequel. This is available to watch on Disney Plus.
The 39 Steps (1935): Alfred Hitchcock directed this spy film based on the novel by John Buchan. Robert Donat stars as Richard Hannay who is caught in the middle of a spy ring and being accused of murder. Madeleine Carroll co-stars as Pamela who meets Richard while he is fleeing the police and turns him in at first but starts to believe his innocence. Lucie Mannheim, Godfrey Tearle, Peggy Ashcroft, John Laurie, Helen Haye, Frank Cellier, Wylie Watson, and many others co-star in this film. I tend to favor '50s Hitchcock myself but I consider this my favorite from the Master of Suspense in this era. This uses Hitchcock's favored wrongly accused plot line. It is hard to describe this movie beyond what I have except there is a lot of suspense and humor. It has also become a pretty popular stage play. This is available to watch on HBO Max and the Criterion Channel.
Tom Sawyer (1973): Don Taylor directed this adaptation of the classic novel by Mark Twain as a musical with music written by brothers Robert and Richard Sherman. It might be that Twain based his book on the song by Rush but I guess we'll never know. Johnny Whitaker stars as the title character who along with his friend Huckleberry Finn, played by Jeff East, witness a murder and become in danger as they were seen. A young Jodie Foster co-stars as Becky Thatcher. Warren Oates co-stars as the friendly town alcoholic Muff Potter. Celeste Holm, Lucille Benson, Henry Jones, Noah Keen, Dub Taylor, Richard Eastham, Sandy Kenyon, Henry O'Brien, and many others co-star in this musical. This is a pretty good adaptation of the classic story which Twain loosely based on himself. It was also good to hear Oates sing in a movie. This is available to watch on Tubi.
Mystic River (2003): Clint Eastwood directed this film based on the mystery by Dennis Lahane. Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, and Kevin Bacon star as childhood friends who have mostly gone their separate ways and deal with a family tragedy in different ways. Laurence Fishburne, Marcia Gay Harden, Laura Linney, Kevin Chapman, Tom Guiry, Emmy Rossum, Spencer Treat Clark, Adam Nelson, Robert Wahlberg, Jenny O'Hara, John Doman, Cameron Bowen, Connor Paolo, Ari Graynor, Eli Wallach, and many others star in this crime drama. I don't want to explain too much more as I could give away some really good stuff. It is a very complex murder mystery where nothing is really black and white and many twists and turns happen. This is available to watch on Amazon Prime.
Well, that is it for this week but I did bring back my segment "Fun and Useless Facts". Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for next week which so far includes Charlie Chaplin, Annette Bening, Audrey Hepburn, Jack Lemmon, and many others.
FUN AND USELESS FACTS
I decided to bring back this segment for the week where I look at connections from multiple movies. I'm sure there is plenty on here to add but I stopped at 25 so if you see something, please comment.
Brad Pitt (Allied) and Sean Penn (Mystic River) play father and son in the 2011 film THE TREE OF LIFE.
Brad Pitt (Allied) and Will Ferrell (Superstar) play rivals in the 2010 animated superhero comedy MEGAMIND.
Brad Pitt (Allied) and Kevin Bacon (Mystic River) were in the 1996 film SLEEPERS.
Brad Pitt (Allied) and John C. McGinley (Talk Radio) were in the 1995 film SE7EN.
Brad Pitt (Allied) and Zach Grenier (Talk Radio) were in the 1999 film FIGHT CLUB thought I probably should not talk about that on here.
Marion Cotillard (Allied) and Will Ferrell (Superstar) were in the 2013 sequel ANCHORMAN 2: THE LEGEND CONTINUES.
Jared Harris (Allied) and Eric Bososian (Talk Radio) were in the 2002 film IGBY GOES DOWN.
Jared Harris (Allied) and Michael Wincott (Talk Radio) were in the 1995 western DEAD MAN.
Simon McBurney (Allied) and Alec Baldwin were in the 2015 action film MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE- ROGUE NATION.
Eric Bogosian (Talk Radio) and Laura Linney (Mystic River) were in the 2010 Broadway play TIME STANDS STILL.
Eric Bogosian (Talk Radio) and Idina Menzel (Frozen II) were in the 2019 film UNCUT GEMS.
John C. McGinley (Talk Radio) and Sylvester Stallone (Rocky) were in the 2000 movie GET CARTER.
John C. McGinley (Talk Radio) and Tim Robbins (Mystic River) were in the 1997 comedy NOTHING TO LOSE.
Alec Baldwin (Talk Radio) and Kevin Bacon (Mystic River) were in the 1988 comedy SHE'S HAVING A BABY.
Alec Baldwin (Talk Radio) and Sean Penn (Mystic River) were both parodied in the 2004 film TEAM AMERICA: WORLD POLICE.
Alec Baldwin (Talk Radio) and Evan Rachel Wood (Frozen II) were in the 2006 comedy RUNNING WITH SCISSORS.
Michael Wincott (Talk Radio) and Sean Penn (Mystic River) were brothers in the 2004 film THE ASSASSINATION OF RICHARD NIXON.
Michael Wincott (Talk Radio) was considered for the role of Willie O'Keefe in the 1991 film JFK which would ultimately go to Kevin Bacon (Mystic River)
Zach Grenier (Talk Radio) was in the 2011 biopic J. EDGAR which was directed by Clint Eastwood (Mystic River director.
Zach Grenier (Talk Radio) and Laurence Fishburne (Mystic River) were in the 2007 superhero movie FANTASTIC FOUR: RISE OF THE SILVER SURFER. Fishburne was the voice of Silver Surfer.
Zach Grenier (Talk Radio) and Sylvester Stallone (Rocky) were in the 1993 action film CLIFFHANGER.
Earl Hindman (Talk Radio) and Sean Penn (Mystic River) were in the 1981 movie TAPS.
Gerry Bamman (Superstar) and Clint Eastwood (Mystic River director) were in the 1989 movie PINK CADILLAC.
Burt Young (Rocky) and Sean Penn (Mystic River) were in the the 1997 film SHE'S SO LOVELY.
Joe Spinell (Rocky) and Jodie Foster (Tom Sawyer) were in the 1976 film TAXI DRIVER.
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