Welcome to the 816th Edition of my series. I hope everyone is doing well in these crazy times. I don't have a lot going on right now so I'll just get to my selections.
Nobody (2021): I start the week out with this action film which was directed by Ilya Naishuller and written by Derek Kostad. BETTER CALL SAUL star Bob Odenkirk stars as Hutch Mansell who is just trying to lead a normal and keep his family safe. After a robbery in his home, some pent up rage happens and sets off the dangerous Yulian Kuznetsov, played by Aleksey Serebryakov. Kuznetov learns though that he is messing with the wrong person. Connie Nielsen, Christopher Lloyd, Michael Ironside, Colin Salmon, Rza, Billy MacLellan, Araya Mengesha, Gage Munroe, Paisley Cadorath, Aleksandr Pal, Humberly Gonzalez, Edsson Morales, J.P Manoux, Adrian McLean, and many others co-star in this action film. Lloyd shows a more violent side than usual and Odenkirk does well as the action lead. This was a very pleasant surprise to me and was extremely enjoyable in my opinion.
Lumumba (2000): Raoul Peck directed this biopic. Eriq Ebouraney stars as the very controversial leader of independent Congo Patrice Lumumba who was able to free the Congo of Belgium imperialism but at a very high price. This takes a look from his younger days up to his assassination. Alex Descas, Maka Kotto, and many others co-star in this film. This is a pretty moving and underrated biopic as well as an underrated historical figure for that matter.
Life During Wartime (2009): Todd Solands wrote and directed this ensemble film. This is honestly a bit hard to describe but I feel the movie revolves around the character Timmy, played by Dylan Riley Snyder, whose mother Trish, played by Allison Janney, is about to remarry and his father Bill, played by Ciaran Hinds, is a pedophile having just being released from prison. That is the main part but other things happen as well. Shirley Henderson, Michael Kenneth Williams, Michael Lerner, Renee Taylor, Paul Reubens, Charlotte Rampling, Ally Sheedy, Rich Pecci, Gaby Hoffman, and many others co-star in this film. This is not upbeat by any means but sometimes that's what brings the humor. This is a rather fascinating piece that is not for everyone. This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.
From Hare to Heir (1960): This is my animated short for the week. This features Yosemite Sam who is in another character as Sam, the Duke of Yosemite which is essentially a spoiled rich boy. Bugs Bunny comes into the picture and promises Sam a pretty large sum of money but must behave to get it. This is some pretty funny stuff with Sam doing everything he can to not lose his temper. This is available to watch on HBO Max.
The Mayor of Hell (1933): Now I bring this film that takes a look at the flawed juvenile system which is directed by Archie Mayo. James Cagney stars as former gangster Patsy Gargan who is now deputy commissioner who does not like the conditions at the detention center and with the help of nurse Dorothy, played by Madge Evans, he looks to better the facility. Arthur Byron, Allen Jenkins, Dudley Digges, Frankie Darro, Sheila Terry, Robert Barrat, Allen 'Farina' Hoskins, Harold Huber, Dorothy Peterson, G. Pat Collins, Edwin Maxwell, and many others co-star in this film. This is a precursor to what we would come to know as the Dead End Kids. This is a really good and early look into the juvenile system and is really worth a look.
The Big Street (1942): Irving Reis directed this film that I suppose is a romance but that does not even scratch the surface. Lucille Ball stars as nightclub singer Gloria and Henry Fonda stars as busboy Little Pinks who is a big fan of Gloria even though she does not seem to return it. Gloria gets into a scuffle with a mobster ex-boyfriend which leaves her paralyzed with Pinks taking care of her no matter how ungrateful she may seem. Barton MacLane, Eugene Pallette, Agnes Moorehead, Same Levene, Ray Collins, Marion Martin, William T. Orr, George Cleveland, Vera Gordon, and many others co-star in this film. Lucille Ball cites this as the favorite of her films. The dynamic between Fonda and Ball was pretty interesting to see. This is one that has gone a bit overlooked so hoping to give this some help.
48 Hours (1982): This is not that news magazine that we all know, this is a buddy action comedy which might be the start of the subgenre. Nick Nolte stars as the hard nosed cop Jack Cates who is out to catch a killer and is assigned the furloughed convict Reggie Hammond, played by Eddie Murphy in one of his best roles, as a partner. What more do I need to say? Annette O'Toole, Frank McRae, James Remar, David Patrick Kelly, Sonny Landham, Brion James, Kerry Sherman, Jonathan Banks, James Keane, and many others co-star in this action comedy. Murphy makes his feature film debut in this one and it was a good one. This iconic '80s film has a great blend of action comedy and could be a good double feature to go along with MIDNIGHT RUN.
Moontide (1942): This is my film noir for the week which is directed by Archie Mayo and based on the novel by Willard Robinson. Jean Gabin stars as Bobo whose fears he might have committed a murder while drunk. He plans to flee but saves suicidal waitress Anna, played by Ida Lupino, and falls in love with her. As things seem to get better, Bobo's friend Tiny, played by Thomas Mitchell, tries to blackmail Bobo about the murder. Claude Rains, Jerome Cowan, Ralph Byrd, Victor Sen Yung, Chester Gan, Robin Raymond, Arthur Aylesworth, Arthur Hohl, and many others co-star in this film noir. This is a pretty compelling film that has a lot of suspense with a really good climax.
Bye Bye Birdie (1963): George Sidney directed this popular musical comedy by Charles Strouse and Lee Adams. Dick Van Dyke stars as Albert who along with his girlfriend Rosie, played by Janet Leigh, look to get the recently drafted rock star Conrad Birdie, played by Jesse Pearson, onto the Ed Sullivan show and having a lucky fan kiss him goodbye before he goes into the military. Ann-Margret co-stars as Kim who is that lucky fan but her father, played by Paul Lynde, and boyfriend Hugo, played by Bobby Rydell, aren't making this easy for her. Maureen Stapleton, Mary LaRoche, Michael Evans, Robert Paige, Bryan Russell, Milton Frome, Trudi Ames, Frank Albertson, and many others co-star in this musical. Ed Sullivan also plays himself in a cameo appearance. While it seems a bit cheesy, this was rather accurate to the times in this film. This is a parody towards Elvis who was drafted to the military himself.
Fine (2018): I end the week with this short film which was directed by Michelle Lulic. Lulic also co-stars as Amy who is with therapist Dr. Porter, played by Courtney Latrice. They get into very deep discussion and we learn more as it goes on. It is hard for me to explain any further from there being only five minutes long. Make no mistake, these are five effective minutes. This is available to watch on Amazon Prime and is worth five minutes of your time.
Well, that is all for this week. Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for next week which so far includes Bryce Dallas Howard, Leslie Nielsen, Randolph Scott, and many others.
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