Welcome to the 813th edition of my series. It's going to be a busy week this week as I still have to work since I just started and have out show this week. MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET: THE MUSICAL is happening from Thursday to Sunday so check https://www.onthestage.tickets/show/marion-civic-theatre-inc/miracle-on-34th-street-the-musical-60140 for times and prices if you're in the area. Christmas in July everyone and to those that can't stand that concept, understand that was not our original intention as we tried last December. I think I have said enough so I'll just get on with my selections for the week.
The Untouchables (1987): Brian De Palma directed this classic gangster film of Eliot Ness and his men going after Al Capone. Kevin Costner stars as Eliot Ness in the prohibition era trying to bring down Al Capone, played by Robert De Niro, but finds much difficulty with all the people Capone has in his pocket. Ness then forms his own team starting with Irish-American cop Jim Malone, played by Sean Connery, who becomes a mentor of sorts to Ness in how to go about getting Capone. They recruit rookie cop George Stone, played by Andy Garcia, and FBI accountant Oscar Wallace, played by Charles Martin Smith. Richard Bradford, Jack Kehoe, Brad Sullivan, Billy Drago, Patricia Clarkson, Clifton James, and many others co-star in this film. Also, look for a young John Barrowman who is an extra as one of the recruits when they go to rookie school. Clarkson co-stars as Ness' Wife and makes her film debut in this one. This has always been a favorite of mine since my youth days. This is more of a dramatization of these events so if looking for absolute historical accuracy, you might be a bit disappointed. At the same time, if it was totally accurate we may not have much of a movie. Either way, this is a really compelling film looking at the Prohibition Era and some really good action scenes.
Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009): Wes Anderson directed this animated film based on the book by Roald Dahl. George Clooney stars as Mr. Fox who was at one time quite the criminal but put that behind him when he married Mrs. Fox, voiced by Meryl Streep, and had his son Ash, voiced by Jason Schwartzman. Mr. Fox just can't resist going back to his old ways for "one last raid" on the meanest farmers in town which gets not only his own family in trouble but the rest of his animal friends as well. Bill Murray, Wallace Wolodarsky, Eric Chase Anderson, Michael Gambon, Willem Dafoe, Owen Wilson, Jarvis Cocker, Wes Anderson, Karen Duffy, Hugo Guinness, Helen McCrory, Roman Coppola, Jeremy Dawson, Garth Jennings, Brian Cox, Adrien Brody, and many others co-star in this animated film. This is Anderson's debut into the world of animation in which stop motion animation was used. Think of this as animation the Anderson way, I know Wes Anderson is an acquired taste with his quirky humor. I thought this was a pretty fun animated movie of friends and family banding and working together during a crisis. This is available to watch on Disney Plus.
Office Space (1999): Mike Judge wrote and directed this popular comedy which is based on some of his own animated shorts of MILTON, played by NEWSRADIO alum Stephen Root. Ron Livingston stars as corporate worker Peter who gets tired of his job and along with his co-workers Michael and Samir, played by David Herman and Ajay Naidu, come up with a scheme to get back at their greedy boss Bill Lumbergh, played by Gary Cole, but backfires big time. FRIENDS alum Jennifer Aniston co-stars as Peter's love interest Joanna who has a waitress job that she also hates. Diedrich Bader, Richard Riehle, Alexandra Wentworth, Joe Bays, John C. Reilly, Paul Wilson, Kinna McInroe, Todd Duffey, Greg Pitts, Michael McShane, Orlando Jones, and many others co-star in this comedy. I think just about anyone can relate to this movie and to those that are high up on the corporate world could take note to not be like Bill Lumbergh. Some may feel this movie has been ruined by social media. The Bill Lumbergh character has become a very popular subject for memes. This started out as a box office failure but has become extremely popular through the years when going to video and I'm proud to say I was one of those that went to see this in theaters. If you can all just watch this comedy, that would be great.
Liquid Crystals (1978): This is my short film for the week which was directed by Jean Painleve. This is a a microscopic view of liquid crystals morphing into various shapes. It also has some title cards displaying shapes and colors. There is not much else to explain. Painleve did a lot of documentary shorts on scientific shorts, most notably on underwater marine biology. This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel as well as quite a bit of other Painleve shorts.
The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928): This is my silent film for the week which was directed by Carl Theodore Dreyer. Maria Falconetti stars as Joan of Arc which is based on documentary found of her trial for blasphemy. Eugene Silvain, Andre Berley, Maurice Schutz, Antonin Artaud, Michel Simon, and many others co-star in this classic silent film. This is quite possibly my favorite silent film of all time. This has very surrealistic and sometimes bizarre imagery and camera angles. There never seemed to be an original musical score so many have released this with different music scores. This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel and has a couple different versions.
Cattle Queen of Montana (1954): This is my western for the week which was directed by Allan Dwan. Barbara Stanwyck stars as Sierra Nevada Jones who survives an attack by a group of renegade Indians in league with the villainous rancher Tom McCord, played by Gene Evans. She is helped by the college-educated Coloradas, played by Lance Fuller, of the Blackfoot tribe and gunman Farrell, played by our former president Ronald Reagan, who takes a job with McCord but sees he is not a good man to work for. Anthony Caruso, Jack Elam, Yvette Duguay, Morris Ankrum, Chubby Johnson, Myron Healey, and many others co-star in this western. Not a bad B-western with a tough female lead in Stanwyck who does very well in her role. It also has some pretty good action and was worth a look. This is available to watch on Amazon Prime.
Mank (2020): David Fincher directed this film on '30s Hollywood. Gary Oldman stars as screenwriter Herman Mankiewicz who is called upon by RKO's newly hired Orson Welles, played by Tom Burke, to write the screenplay for CITIZEN KANE. He races to get this written while dealing with his alcoholism and his lack of filter with his mouth. Charles Dance co-stars as William Randolph Hearst who the script was written upon and Amanda Seyfried co-stars as actress and Hearst's mistress Marion Davies whose portrayal in the screenplay set off Hearst. Lily Collins, Tom Pelphrey, Arliss Howard, Tuppence Middleton, Monika Gossman, Joseph Cross, Sam Troughton, Toby Leonard Moore, Ferdinand Kingsley, Jamie McShane, Jack Romano, Adam Shapiro, John Churchill, Jeff Harms, Derek Petrolis, Paul Fox, Sean Persaud, Bill Nye, Richmond Arquette, and many others co-star in this biopic. This is more how it got written with Oldman playing Mankiewicz very well to help make this enjoyable. The black and white cinematography works really well and has a really good opening credits in my opinion. This is available to watch on Netflix.
Superman (1978): This is my tribute to Richard Donner who directed this movie and died on the same day I watched it but did not learn until later that he left us. Christopher Reeve stars as the title character but also known as Clark Kent or his Kryptonian name Kal-El. He is sent to Earth as a baby by his father Jor-El, played by Marlon Brando, who is certain the planet of Krypton is about to be destroyed. When on Earth, he is adopted by an elderly couple while he learns of the powers our son gives him and then obviously becomes Superman. He also meets his usual love interest in Lois Lane, played by Margot Kidder, and his usual rival Lex Luthor, played by Gene Hackman. The main story is that Lex is trying to destroy part of California to make his own. Ned Beatty, Jackie Cooper, Glenn Ford, Trevor Howard, Jack O'Halloran, Valerie Perrine, Maria Schell, Terence Stamp, Phyllis Thaxter, Jeff East, Marc McClure, Sarah Douglas, Diane Sherry Case, Larry Hagman, John Ratzenberger, and many others co-star in this superhero film. One thing that stuck out to me that I thought was strange was that in the opening credits, it shows Marlon Brando billed first and followed by Hackman before we see Reeve's name but I can let that go. I also realized how similar the Superman franchise is to the Spider-Man franchise in terms of their career choices and the types of people around them. This still stands up as one of the top superhero movies even in this time where superhero movies are extremely common. This was a great origin story that is quite possibly the best origin story. This is available to watch on HBO Max.
Black Fury (1935): Michael Curtiz directed this film on the rights of workers. Paul Muni stars as immigrant coal miner Joe Radek who finds himself in the middle of a labor dispute between the workers and the mine owners. His drinking problems get him in trouble both personally and professionally and must do what he can to make things right. Karen Morley, William Gargan, Barton MacLane, John Qualen, J. Carrol Naish, Vince Barnett, Tully Marshall, Henry O'Neill, Joseph Crehan, Mae Marsh, Ward Bond, and many others co-star in this film. This is based on a true story of a Pennsylvania walk-out that happened in 1929. I can just about always enjoy Paul Muni, someone that had a lot of talent but has not gotten the recognition into today's standards. This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel which has given Muni a tribute section.
Brown Sugar (2002): I end the week with this romantic comedy that takes a look into the world of rap and hip-hop which was directed and co-written by Rick Famuyiwa. Taye Diggs and Sanaa Lathan star as long-time friends Dre and Syd who are drifting into being more than friends even and they still have relationships going. Yasiin Bey, Nicole Ari Parker, Boris Kodjoe, Queen Latifah, Wendell Pierce, Erik Weiner, Reg Wyns, Sterling K. Brown, and many others co-star in this comedy. There are a few rap artists that appear as themselves in the beginning. This is a pretty good homage to the world of rap and hip hop. I really believe that Weiner and Wyns make it worth it as their black and white rap duo Ren and Ten which really made me laugh.
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 Maria Bello, Humphrey Bogart, George C. Scott, Marlon Brando, and many others.
FUN AND USELESS FACTS
Kevin Costner (The Untouchables) plays Jonathan Kent in the 2013 superhero movie MAN OF STEEL. Glenn Ford plays the role in this week's feature SUPERMAN.
Kevin Costner (The Untouchables) and Gene Hackman (Superman) play son and father in the 1994 western biopic WYATT EARP.
Kevin Costner (The Untouchables) and Gary Oldman (Mank) are in the 1991 film JFK.
Kevin Costner (The Untouchables) and Michael Gambon (Fantasic Mr. Fox) were in the 2003 western OPEN RANGE.
Kevin Costner plays Elliott Ness in this week's features The Untouchables. Ron Livingston (Office Space) plays Ness in a 1997 episode of the tv series TIMECOP called PUBLIC ENEMY.
Andy Garcia (The Untouchables) and George Clooney (Fantastic Mr. Fox) are in the OCEAN'S trilogy.
Andy Garcia (The Untouchables), Bill Murray (Fantastic Mr. Fox), and Charles Dance (Mank) were in the 2016 comedy GHOSTBUSTERS.
Robert De Niro (The Untouchables) and Marlon Brando (Superman) were in the 2001 movie THE SCORE. De Niro and Brando also share the iconic role of Don Vito Corleone where De Niro plays the younger version in the 1974 film THE GODFATHER PART II and Brando plays Don Corleone in the 1972 film THE GODFATHER. Roman Coppola (Fantastic Mr. Fox) plays the Vito's son Sonny Corleone at a younger age in the flashback scenes of THE GODFATHER PART II. Andy Garcia (The Untouchables) plays Don Vito Corleone's grandson Vincent Mancini in the 1990 film THE GODFATHER PART III.
Robert De Niro (The Untouchables) and Meryl Streep (Fantastic Mr. Fox) were in the 1996 film MARVIN'S ROOM, the 1984 movie FALLING IN LOVE, and the 1978 film THE DEER HUNTER and De Niro has cited that Streep is his favorite actress to work with.
Robert De Niro (The Untouchables) and Bill Murray (Fantastic Mr. Fox) were in the 1993 comedy MAD DOG AND GLORY.
Robert De Niro (The Untouchables) declined the role of Jesus in the 1988 film THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST which was ultimately go to Willem Dafoe. What could have been.
Robert De Niro (The Untouchables) and Owen Wilson (Fantastic Mr. Fox) were in the comedy trilogy that includes the 2000 movie MEET THE PARENTS, the 2004 movie MEET THE FOCKERS, and the 2010 movie LITTLE FOCKERS.
Robert De Niro (The Untouchables) and Ajay Naidu (Office Space) were in the 2008 movie RIGHTEOUS KILL.
Patricia Clarkson (The Untouchables) and George Clooney (Fantastic Mr. Fox) were in the 2005 film GOOD NIGHT AND GOOD LUCK.
Meryl Streep (Fantastic Mr. Fox) and Amanda Seyfried (Mank) were mother and daughter in the 2008 musical MOMMA MIA and the 2018 sequel MOMMA MIA: HERE WE GO AGAIN.
Meryl Streep (Fantastic Mr.Fox), Brian Cox (Fantastic Mr. Fox), and Ron Livingston (Office Space) were in the 2002 comedy ADAPTATION.
Michael Gambon (Fantastic Mr. Fox), Helen McCrory (Fantastic Mr. Fox), and Gary Oldman (Mank) were in the Harry Potter franchise.
Willem Dafoe (Fantastic Mr. Fox) and Gene Hackman (Superman) were in the 1988 film MISSISSIPPI BURNING.
Owen Wilson (Fantastic Mr. Fox) and Gene Hackman (Superman) were in the 2001 movie BEHIND ENEMY LINES.
Owen Wilson (Fantastic Mr.Fox) and Jennifer Aniston (Office Space) play a married couple in the 2008 comedy MARLEY AND ME.
Brian Cox (Fantastic Mr. Fox) plays Winston Churchill in the 2017 movie Churchill. Gary Oldman (Mank) plays Churchill in the 2017 film DARKEST HOUR.
Brian Cox (Fantastic Mr. Fox) plays Marlon Brando (Superman) in an unaired 2017 episode of the tv series URBAN MYTHS titled ELIZABETH, MARLON, AND MICHAEL. I'll leave it to all of you to determine what this was all about and why it was not aired.
Brian Cox (Fantastic Mr. Fox) and Joseph Cross (Mank) were in the 2006 film RUNNING WITH SCISSORS which was featured last week.
George Clooney (Fantastic Mr. Fox) plays Batman in the 1997 superhero movie BATMAN AND ROBIN. Diedrich Bader (Office Space) has voiced Batman in the animated series BATMAN: THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD.
Diedrich Bader (Office Space) voices Lex Luther in the 2020 animated movie SUPERMAN: RED SON. Gene Hackman plays Luther in this week's feature SUPERMAN and would do so in the sequels.
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