Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations- 832nd Edition

Welcome to the 832nd edition of my series.  I hope hope everyone had a good holiday however celebrated and that we will will all continue to enjoy this time of year.  I want everyone to know, I'll accept Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Joyous Kwanzaa, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Life Day, or any other greeting you might have or just nothing at all.  Starting today and throughout December, I will be doing a full focus on holiday oriented movies.  Anything posted will at least have some sort of reference to the holidays.  They will include comedy, action, horror, foreign, you name it.  They will still be towards my usual format of old and new as well as diversity.  I will shut up now and get on with my selections for the week.

The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996):  I start the week out with some holiday action which was directed by Renny Harlin.  Geena Davis stars as Samantha Caine who seems to live the perfect life with her husband Hal, played by Tom Amandes, and daughter Caitlin, played by Yvonne Zima.  However, she has amnesia and only knows the last eight years.  She slowly discovers her past and how violent it was.  She enlists private detective Mitch Henessy, played by Samuel L. Jackson, to help her remember who she is and to stay alive.  Craig Bierko, Tom Amandes, Brian Cox, Patrick Malahide, David Morse, Melina Kanakaredes, G.D. Spradlin, and many others co-star in this action film.  Bierko is as mean as it gets in his very villainous role.  I never really see this gets mentioned by those that love action movies during the holidays so I decided to get this one out there.  It is a holiday film in that it takes place shortly before Christmas.  This is likely not a holiday movie to watch with the family.  This has some high octane action with a decent enough story to enjoy this adrenaline rush it can be at times.

Santa's Slay (2005):  David Steiman wrote and directed this rather unconventional look at Santa Claus.  Former WCW and WWE champion Bill Goldberg stars as Santa who is actually a demon that lost a bet with an angel and had to become the giver of toys and happiness.  However, the pact is over and now Santa is out for vengeance and terrorizes a small town.  Douglas Smith, Emilie de Ravin, Robert Culp, Dave Thomas, Saul Rubinek, Rebecca Gayheart, Chris Kattan, Fran Drescher, Tiny Lister, James Caan, and many others co-star in this movie.  Look for wrestling figure Vince Russo in a bit role in the bar scene.  This is my holiday B-movie for the week so one must take this for what it is, a B-movie.  This is very violent and very funny.  It is not exactly for the family and it is far from being a Hallmark movie.  Stay tuned for an end credit scene which will be understood by those who followed Goldberg's wrestling career.  This is available to watch on Peacock.

A Bad Moms Christmas (2017):  I start with a lot of violence and cheesiness and now I go to the more raunchy.  Jon Lucas and Scott Moore direct this sequel, or whatever you want to call it, to the 2016 hit comedy BAD MOMS.  Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, and Kathryn Hahn all reprise their roles of best friends Amy, Kiki, and Carla who are overwhelmed to give their families the best Christmas ever.  Things get even more overwhelming for them when their own moms come, each of which are overbearing in their own way.  Christine Baranski, Cheryl Hines, and Susan Sarandon co-star as their mothers and are able to acclimate themselves into the story and comedy very well.  Jay Hernandez, Justin Hartley, Peter Gallagher, Oona Lawrence, Emjay Anthony, Lyle Brocato, Wanda Sykes, Christina Applegate, Ariana Greenblatt, Jacks Dean, Madison Muffley, and many others co-star in this comedy.  I am sure this hits home to many moms out there.  This is not for the easily offended and is quite vulgar and raunchy.  While it is all these things, it also has a pretty good message.  This is for those that can't take the Hallmark movies.

A Christmas Dream (1946):  This is my Czechoslovakian short film for the week.  Karel and Borivoj Zeman directed this short film that combines live action with stop-motion animation.  A little girl waiting for Christmas has a dream of her toys coming to life.  This also may not be a dream.  This is mostly of worth for the stop-motion animation.  I am also usually intrigued by Czech films so I jumped at this one for a selection.  This is available to watch on the the Criterion Channel and on Tubi. 

Placido (1961):  I go from Czechoslovakia to Spain in this holiday satire.  Luis Garcia Berlanga directed this comedy which stars Cassen as the title character who is trying to pay the bill on his vehicle on the holiday before it gets taken but the bank makes it very difficult.  Another part of the story are a group of old ladies arrange for each wealthy family to have a homeless person dine with them on Christmas Eve.  Jose Luis Lopez Vazquez, Elvira Quintilla, Manuel Alexandre, Maria Frances, and many others co-star in this film.  This is quite the satire on class that will make you laugh and cringe.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.

Little Women (1933):  This takes place around the Christmas period.  George Cukor directed this film that is the first movie adaptation of the talkie era of the classic novel from Louisa May Alcott.  This takes place during the Civil War time and focuses on the women of the loving March family including the daughters Jo, Amy, Beth, and Meg, played by Katherine Hepburn, Joan Bennett, Jean Parker, and Frances Dee, and their mother Marmee March, played by Spring Byington.  They must all fend for themselves while their father is serving as a minister for the troops.  Paul Lukas, Edna May Oliver, Henry Stephenson, Douglass Montgomery, John Lodge, Samuel Hinds, Mabel Colcord, Marion Ballou, Nydia Westman, Harry Beresford, and many others co-star in this film.  When I first wrote this, I thought this was the first movie adaptation but there were a couple versions in the silent era.  Hepburn is really good in one of her early roles as the tomboyish Jo.  The rest of the cast is rounded out very well.  This also has a really good message of sticking together in difficult circumstances and is more family oriented than the other selections I have given so far.   

Happiest Season (2020):  Now I go the LGBTQ route for holiday selections.  Clea Duvall wrote and directed this holiday film which is really both a comedy and drama.  Kristen Stewart stars as Abby who agrees to go with her girlfriend Harper, played by Mackenzie Davis, not knowing until right before she gets there that Harper has not told her family.  It is very difficult for Harper with the fear she might ruin Christmas and for Abby as she questions her relationship.  Mary Steenburgen, Victor Garber, Alison Brie, Mary Holland, Dan Levy, Burl Moseley, Aubrey Plaza, Sarayu Blue, Jake McDorman, Ana Gasteyer, Caroline Harris, Jenny Gulley, Dominique Lawson, Michelle Buteau, and many others co-star in this romantic comedy which is a lot more.  I felt Stewart shined very well in this film.  This is an autobiographical film that DuVall wrote about her own situation.  I think just about anyone can learn something by watching this movie.  This conveys the price of hiding who you are and how families can make that difficult if they are not careful.  This is available to watch on Hulu.

Morning for the Osone Family (1946):  This is my Japanese holiday section for the week which was directed by Keisuke Kinoshita.  This takes place around the holidays during WWII that takes place around the holidays.  This centers around the Osone family which is being torn apart by war and imperialist politics, as well as their war-minded uncle.  This movie was filmed after WWII was over and was Kinoshita's first film after the war.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel and is worth a look, especially to foreign film buffs.  

Home for the Holidays (1972):  This is a psychological horror tv movie which was directed by John Llewellyn Moxey.  Walter Brennan plays the ailing Ben who summons his four estranged daughters, played by Jessica Walter, Eleanor Parker, Jill Haworth, and Sally Field, to his home on Christmas.  He wants his girls to kill his wife Elizabeth, played by Julie Harris, who he believes is trying to kill him.  John Fink and Ned Flory co-star in this tv movie.  This is a decent effort with quite the cast from this era.  They made the most of their network limitations from this era.  I was able to find this on Youtube.

Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983):  I end the week with this animated short and Disney's retelling of the Dickens classic.  Scrooge McDuck, voiced by Alan Young, plays the miser Ebenezer Scrooge who we all know is visited by the ghost of his former partner Jacob Marley, played by Goofy, and is told of three ghosts that will visit him.  Wayne Allwine, Hal Smith, Will Ryan, Eddie Carroll, Patricia Parris, Dick Billingsley, and Clarence Nash provide their voices in this animated classic.  Mickey Mouse, voiced by Wayne Allwine in his first time as the iconic mouse, plays Scrooge's hapless and humble employee Bob Cratchit.  Clarence Nash voices Donald Duck for the last time where Donald plays Scrooge's nephew Fred.  We also see a lot of our familiar Disney friends in this half hour showing.  I believe this could have been a feature but it still covers a lot of ground for a half hour.  This is available to watch on Disney Plus.

Well, that is it for this week.  Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for some more holiday selections next week.

Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations- 831st Edition

Welcome to the 831st edition of my series.   I hope everyone has a good holiday week this Thanksgiving however celebrated.  Next week, I am doing a first.  Starting next Sunday and all of December, I am doing all holiday oriented selections.  Usually, I might have three or four but have never done a full focus.  All of my selections will at least reference Christmas in some way.  I will still look to keep my format of the diversity.  My selections will have selections of action, comedy, horror, foreign, and maybe even some Hallmark to Hallmarkish selections.  As always I will try to accommodate to everyone's taste in some way.  I can't promise that I will have everyone's favorite and I'm even trying to broaden my own horizons by doing this.  I will shut up now and get on with my selections.

The Color of Money (1986):  This is part three of my Tom Cruise trilogy.  Martin Scorsese directed this sequel to the 1961 classic THE HUSTLER which is based on the novel by Walter Tevis.  Paul Newman reprises his role of Eddie Felson who has retired from the world of pool hustling and is a bartender.  He encounters a cocky but very promising youngster in Vincent, played by Cruise, and offers to teach him the way of the hustle.  Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Helen Shaver, John Turturro, Bill Cobbs, Elizabeth Bracco, Paul Herman, Iggy Pop, Forest Whitaker, and many others co-star in this film.  Scorsese made this work and did it not using some of his usual actors.  It is a nice look at the world of pool and a slice of life.  This is a very compelling sequel and can be watched without the mentioned movie but would be a good double feature.

The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln (2009):  This is technically an episode from the PBS documentary series AMERICAN EXPERIENCE.  Barak Goodman directed this documentary which as the title says talks about the first presidential assassination.  This puts more focus on Lincoln's assassin John Wilkes Booth, voiced by Will Patton, going into his earlier life where he was part of a rather famous acting group.  He then started really disagreeing with a lot of things Lincoln was doing and forms a conspiracy leading to Lincoln's assassination.  My friend Ian wrote a play called AMERICAN BRUTUS which was about Booth who has been compared to Brutus and his own assassination of Caesar.  Unfortunately, things were too much up in the air for me at the time so I was unable to be in it or even see it.  Chris Cooper narrates this documentary which taking a look at the events leading up to the very infamous moment in our history.  

Phoenix (2014):  Christian Petzold directed this German film that is based on the novel by Hubert Monteilhet.  Nina Hoss stars as Holocaust survivor Nelly Lenz whose face was disfigured and goes through a lot of facial reconstruction.  She tracks down her husband Johnny, played by Ronald Zehrfeld, who does not recognize her with her new face and tries to determine if Johnny betrayed her to the Nazis.  Johnny does get Nelly to pose as his late wife who he believes is dead.  Michael Maertens, Valerie Koch, Eva Bay, and many others co-star in this film.  This is a very compelling story of intrigue and betrayal.  It is hard to really explain further than what I have described and just requires a watch, maybe a couple watches.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.

An Egg Scramble (1950):  This is my animated short for the week.  Ironic farmer Porky Pig, voiced by Mel Blanc, tries to understand why the hen Miss Prissy is unable to lay an egg.  When Prissy finds an egg with her name on it, she tries to track it down after Porky sells it to a market truck.  This has some fairly funny moments and was worth a look.  This is available on HBO Max with the "Looney Tunes" animated shorts.

Five Star Final (1931):  Mervyn LeRoy directed this film based on the play by Louis Weitzenkorn.  Edward G. Robinson stars as Joseph Randall who is the editor for a tabloid.  His ethical journalistic policies become the concern of publisher Hinchcliffe, played by Oscar Apfel, in the way of circulation so he pressures him to run more sensational stories which include a twenty year old murder case which leads to tragedy.  Marian Marsh, H.B. Warner, Anthony Bushell, George E. Stone, Frances Starr, Ona Munson, Boris Karloff, Aline MacMahon, Robert Pratt, Robert Elliott, and many others co-star in this film.  Karloff is good in his very sleazy role and was one of 16 movies that Karloff made in the year 1931 which includes his most known one FRANKENSTEIN.  This is an early look at the corrupt media and caused some controversy with press baron William Randolph Heart.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.

Frankenstein Must be Destroyed (1969):  Terence Fisher directed this entry into Hammer Films.  Peter Cushing reprises his role of Baron Frankenstein who is able to blackmail a doctor named Karl, played by Simon Ward, and his fiance Anna, played by Veronica Carlson, into helping him with a brain transplant.  Freddie Jones, Thorley Walters, Maxine Audley, George Pravda, and many others co-star in this film. This is the fifth entry of the FRANKENSTEIN franchise from Hammer Films.  Cushing is a lot meaner than usual in this movie as Frankenstein.  This is still an enjoyable entry in the series that deserves a look

Pieces of April (2003):  This is my Thanksgiving selection for the week which was written and directed by Peter Hedges.  DAWSON'S CREEK alum Katie Holmes stars as the title character April who invites her dying mother Joy, played by Patricia Clarkson, and her estranged family to a Thanksgiving dinner.  Just about everything goes wrong for April when her oven breaks and tries to get help from her neighbors, some are accommodating and others not so much.  Oliver Platt, Derek Luke, Alison Pill, John Gallagher Jr., Alice Drummond, Lillias White, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Sean Hayes, Sisqo, and many others co-star in this film.  This is mostly a character driven film and is not quite as predictable as it may seem.  It is also a pretty moving film that made the most of a small budget.  This is available to watch on Amazon Prime.

Paper Moon (1973):  This is part three of my Madeline Kahn trilogy where she co-stars as Trixie Delight.  Peter Bogdanovich directed this film based on a novel by Joe David Brown.  Ryan O'Neal plays depression-era con man Moses Pray who goes to a sparsely attended funeral of a woman he once knew.  He ends up with her daughter Addie, played by Ryan's daughter Tatum O'Neal, who might be his daughter and agrees to transport her to a family member which of course was for money.  Addie catches onto Moses' way of the con and they form a partnership.  John Hillerman, P.J. Johnson, Jessie Lee Fulton, Noble Willingham, Ed Reed, Randy Quaid, and many others co-star in this film.  Ryan and Tatum are quite the team in this movie where Tatum won an academy award at 10 years of age.  This is a good look at the depression era and what people would resort to for survival.  This is available to watch on Amazon Prime.

Panic in the Streets (1950):  Elia Kazan directed this film of a murder investigation that becomes much more.  Richard Widmark stars as Lt. Commander Clint Reed, a doctor with the U.S. Public Health Service, determines that a murdered body was killed by bullets but also had Pneumonic Plague and looks to stop the spread by finding everyone that came into contact.  He teams with police Captain Tom Warren, played by Paul Douglas, to find the killers and those in contact with the dead body.  Barbara Bel Geddes, Jack Palance, Zero Mostel, Dan Riss, Tommy Cook, and many others co-star in this film.  Mostel is known for his comedies like THE PRODUCERS and SOMETHING FUNNY HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM but gets to be a little more serious in this one.  Palance makes his debut in this film and he was a bit creepy looking I have to say as I see him younger.  This is a very compelling Film Noir which goes way beyond the Noir.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.

Black Widow (2021):  I end the week with my favorite universe, the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  Cate Shortland directed this film that takes a look at Natasha Romanoff which takes place after the events in CAPTAIN AMERICA:  CIVIL WAR.  Scarlet Johansson reprises her role as the Black Widow as her past comes back to haunt her as she reunites with her dysfunctional family that includes her parents Alexie, played by David Harbour, and Melina, played by Rachel Weisz, as well as her sister Yelena, played by Florence Pugh.  They must work together to rewrite the wrongs of their past.  Ray Winstone, Ever Anderson, Violet McGraw, O-T Fagbenle, William Hurt, Olga Kurylenko, Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Nanna Blondell, and many others co-star in this film.  I have come to realize that Pugh is someone I would never know who she is unless I'm already aware she is in the movie as she seems to look very different in everything I have seen her in.  I guess this is a superhero movie but not a very conventional one.  This is a look at Natasha and how she became who we know.  As mentioned, I really enjoy the Marvel Cinematic Universe and love seeing how it comes together and I thought this connected very well.  This is available to watch on Disney Plus.

Well, that is it for this week but continue on for my segment "Movie Time in the Town of Pottersville" where I get the Christmas holiday started a little early.  Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for next week which so far includes Geena Davis, James Caan, Susan Sarandon, Katherine Hepburn, Kristen Stewart, and many others.

MOVIE TIME IN THE TOWN OF POTTERSVILLE

Stephanie texted me letting know she was making dinner and was going to watch KRAMPUS so I took her up on her offer.  I'll get the holidays started a little early for those that are ready.

Krampus (2015):  This is probably one of Steph's favorite holiday movies.  Michael Dougherty directed this horror comedy about the Krampus legend.  A young boy Max, played by Emjay Anthony, becomes disillusioned by Christmas and accidentally summons the demon Krampus who strikes during their holiday celebration.  Adam Scott and Toni Collette star as Max's parents trying to get through the holidays.  David Koechner co-stars as Howard who is in some ways like Cousin Eddie in NATIONAL LAMPOON'S CHRISTMAS VACATION.  Allison Tolman, Stefania LaVie Own, Krista Stadler, Conchata Ferrell, Queenie Samuel, Seth Green, and many others co-star in this horror comedy.  This is a very entertaining holiday film that is creepy in some ways but also really funny.  To those that like a little horror, this is a great holiday movie to get started on.

Home Alone (1990):  Stephanie suggested we watch this popular holiday comedy that was a childhood favorite of mine.  Chris Columbus directed this holiday comedy that was written by John Hughes.  Macauley Culkin stars as his iconic character Kevin McCallister who is accidentally left behind when his family goes on a Christmas Vacation to France.  He must fend for himself when he learns that burglars Marv and Harry, played by Daniel Stern and Joe Pesci, are looking to rob his home as well as the rest of the neighborhood.  This leads to quite the climax of some very interesting booby traps that Kevin manages to come up with the counter the burglars.  John Heard, Catherine O'Hara, Roberts Blossom, Angela Goethals, Devin Ratray, Gerry Bamman, Hillary Wolf, John Candy, Larry Hankin, Micheal C. Maronna, Kristin Minter, Diana Rein, Kieran Culkin, Senta Moses Mikan, Hope Davis, and many others co-star in this film.  I have come to believe that Kevin McCallister would grow up to become Jigsaw.  This is mostly a family film as long as you don't mind a little cartoonish violence.  This is still really funny after all these years.  

Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations- 830th Edition

Welcome to the 830th edition of my series.  I know some people are excited about this snowfall that happened this morning but as some know I can't stand the snow.  My point was furthered when going to the sports bar and the televisions weren't working due to the snow effecting their satellite.  I don't really have anything further to say and I hope we are all staying safe out there. 

Mission:  Impossible- Fallout (2018):  I start the week out with this last film of the franchise until next year.  Christopher McQuarrie wrote and directed this entry into the franchise.  Tom Cruise reprises his role of Ethan Hunt who along with his IMF team must race against time to find three plutonium cores before a terrorist group gets it.  Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, Rebecca Ferguson, and a few allies along the way join Ethan in this rather intense action film.  Henry Cavill, Sean Harris, Angela Bassett, Vanessa Kirby, Michelle Monaghan, Wes Bentley, Frederick Schmidt, Alec Baldwin, Liang Yang, Kristoffer Joner, and many others co-star in this action film.  Cruise is up to the game as always in this entry and went through a lot of training for his really dangerous stunt towards the end of the film.  I also really like the loyalty feel of the team.  This is available to watch on Paramount Plus.

The Other Dream Team (2012):  This is my sports documentary for the week which was directed by Marius Markevicius.  This takes a look at the Lithuanian team that was in the 1992 Olympics along with our own first "Dream Team".  This also takes a look at the struggles of the country of Lithuania along with their athletes and trying to break free from the Soviet rule.  This has various interviews with the players and coaching staff, some of which made the NBA.  This can also make us appreciate what we have in our own country.  This is a pretty moving documentary that any sports or non-sports fan can really enjoy and appreciate.

With Great Power:  The Stan Lee Story (2010):  Terry Douglas, Nikki Frakes, and Will Hess directed this documentary on the legendary comic book writer.  This takes a look at Stanley Martin Lieber who we all know as Stan Lee.  This takes a look at his early days on how he got involved in the comics and his rise to Marvel where he would become an American icon.  He also takes a look at his staff through the years that also helped make all this possible.  There are a lot of interviews with actors and people involved in the comic book world.  This is a very insightful documentary and really deserves a look.  This is available to watch on Imdb Tv.

Falling Leaves (1912):  This is my silent short for the week which was directed by Alice Guy and based on the novel by O. Henry.  Magda Foy stars as young Trixie Thompson whose sister Winifred, played by Marian Swayne, has Tuberculosis and is on the verge of death.  She takes something she hears very literally that if the last leave falls, she will die.  This is a pretty touching short film of sisterly love.  I honestly thought when I read the description, that this might be an early look at alcoholism when I saw the word "consumption" but then put two and two together that it was Tuberculosis.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.

Blazing Saddles (1974):  This is part two of my Madeline Kahn trilogy.  This is my western parody for the week which was directed by Mel Brooks.  Cleavon Little stars as Bart who is appointed the first black sheriff by the corrupt politician Hedley Lamarr, played by Harvey Korman, in hopes he will ruin the town.  Bart soon becomes his adversary as he tries to save the town with the help of Jim aka the Waco Kid, played by Gene Wilder.  Slim Pickens, Mel Brooks, Burton Gilliam, Alex Karras, David Huddleston, Liam Dunn, John Hillerman, George Furth, Jack Garrett, Carol Arthur, Richard Collier, Dom Deluise, and many others co-star in this iconic western parody.  This is a very politically incorrect movie but emphasizes the ignorance and stupidity of the racist town.  A running joke of the movie is the character of Hedley Lamarr being mistakenly called Hedy Lamarr like the real-life actress.  I read that the real Hedy Lamarr sued over the use of the name and settled out of court.  This is available to watch on HBO Max. 

The Wolf Man (1941):  This is part three of my Bela Lugosi trilogy where he plays a small but very significant role where he keeps his first name Bela.  Lon Chaney Jr. stars as Larry Talbot who is coming to his home of Wales.  A life-changing event happens where he turns into a werewolf during a full moon.  Claude Rains co-stars as Larry's father Sir John Talbot.  Warren William, Ralph Bellamy, Patric Knowles, Evelyn Ankers, J.M Kerrigan, Fay Helm, and Forrester Harvey co-star in this Universal classic.  Universal serves as kind of the original Marvel Cinematic Universe.  This is where these monster characters that also include Dracula and Frankenstein's Monster come together and meet up for something.  Chaney would make this a very iconic role for himself and lives on with immortality.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.  

Last Night in Soho (2021):  I decided to make a trip to the theaters to check out this psychological horror film which was directed by Edgar Wright.  Thomasine McKenzie stars as Eloise, an aspiring fashion designer who is mysteriously able to enter the '60s where she encounters a struggling singer named Sandie, played by Anya Taylor-Joy.  Eloise starts to like vicariously through Sandie but soon learns what a dark life Sandie leads.  Matt Smith, Diana Rigg, Aimee Cassettari, Rita Tushingham, Michael Ajao, Synnove Karlsen, Jessie Mei Li, Kassius Nelson, Rebecca Harrod, Pauline Mclynn, Terence Stamp, and many others co-star in this film.  This is Rigg's last movie before her death.  It is really hard to explain this any further than what I have but was quite a theatrical treat.  

Bitter Rice (1949):  This is my Italian film for the week which was directed by Giuseppe De Santis.  Vittorio Gassman and Doris Dowling star as Walter and Francesca who are on the run and take refuge with a group of women rice workers.  They team up there and become involved with a couple workers there in a complex plot involving robbery.  Silvana Mangano, Raf Vallone, Checco Rissone, and many others co-star in this film.  This is a good look at what people had to resort to for survival in this era.  Like my last selection, this is hard to explain much further but is really worth a look for those that don't mind subtitles.  This is also available to watch on the Criterion Channel.

Daisies (1966):  I go from Italy to Czechoslovakia for this surrealist comedy directed by Vera Chytilova.  This focuses on best friends Marie and Marie, played by Ivana Karbanova and Jitka Cerhova, who see the world as very spoiled and are determined to become spoiled themselves.  They enjoy themselves by ripping off older men, feast on lavish meals, and take nothing at all seriously.  This was a very controversial at the time being seen as being critical of things like communism so this was banned in Czechoslovakia. This is also regarded as a milestone in the Czechoslovakian New Wave movement in film.  The lead actresses had a great time and has some funny moments while also thinking wtf throughout the film into the ending and a scene involving newspapers.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel and on HBO Max. 

Laggies (2014):  I end the week with this coming of age at a later age film which as directed by Lynn Shelton.  Keira Knightley stars as Megan who panics upon a marriage proposal and takes refuge with her new 16 year old friend Annika, played by Chloe Grace Moretz, to hide out in her home.  She also must get past Annika's attorney and single father Craig, played by Sam Rockwell.  Kaitlyn Dever, Mark Webber, Rocki DuCharme, Larissa Schmitz, Philip Abraham, Ellie Kemper, Sara Coates, Louis Hobson, Jeff Garlin, Jodi Thelen, and many others co-star in this comedy.  This is a pretty moving character driven movie with flawed but likable characters and with Knightley and Moretz working very well together.  This is available to watch on Hoopla Digital.

Well, that is it for this week but continue on for my segment "Movie Time in the Town of Pottersville"..  Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for next week which so far includes Tom Cruise, Chris Cooper,  and many others.

MOVIE TIME IN THE TOWN OF POTTERSVILLE

Frozen (2010):  I know some will get excited when they see this title and might want to build a snowman and then will be dismayed to see that's not what I'm featuring.  All I have to say to that is let it go, I've featured it in the past.  I knew Steph wasn't going to watch that Disney movie but thought this might appeal to her horror tastes so we agreed on this independent horror film which was written and directed by Adam Green.  Kevin Zegers, Emma Bell, and Shawn Ashmore star as Dan, Parker, and Joe who are trying to get away and have a good time at a ski resort.  They are determined to ride the lift but through misunderstandings, they are forgotten and left out on the lift while it is freezing.  They must make some hard choices for survival while battling the elements and everything else there is out there.  Ed Ackerman, Rileah Vanderbilt, Kane Hodder, and Adam Johnson co-star in this film.  This was a very authentic film and was shot that way at a mountain in Utah.  This is not for everyone but was a very suspenseful and well written thriller.  This is available to watch on imdb tv.

Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations- 829th Edition and 16 year anniversary

Welcome to the 829th Edition of my series and to the Sweet 16 of my blog series.  I don't usually do a special focus except on these types of entries that celebrate a milestone.  I decided for this one that all my selections are to be of movies in which I have been in some version of a play or musical.  Thank you to all my supporters through the years both young and new.  Also, thanks to Myspace for having the format they had for me come up with my vision.  Yesterday, I recorded a radio play for Richmond Radioworks called LOST HORIZON which will eventually be aired on a local radio station so I'll keep everyone posted.  Also, if you search for the podcast Richmond Radioworks which I know is at least on Spotify, I am on the one for TREASURE ISLAND.  I will shut up now and get on will my selections.

Clue (1985):  This is part one of a possible Madeline Kahn trilogy.  This is the latest show I was in earlier last month where I got to play Colonel Mustard, played by Martin Mull in this movie. at the Marion Civic Theater.  This was not in my original plans and was not really aware of how I fit Colonel Mustard as I don't really have much knowledge of the board game outside of the names of the characters.  Our director seemed very intent on me auditioning so it intrigued me enough and learn in auditions they want me as Colonel Mustard.  I had seen this movie one other time but it had been awhile so I decided to check this one out after the show was over.  Jonathan Lynn directed and co-wrote this adaptation of the board game along with John Landis which would really be the basis for the play I was in and a musical adaptation that is out there.  Tim Curry stars as Wadsworth the butler who is putting on a dinner for six anonymous guests that have been invited in Colonel Mustard, played by Mull, Mrs. Peacock, played by Eileen Brennan, Professor Plum, played by Christopher Lloyd, Mr. Green, played by Michael McKean, and Miss Scarlet, played by Lesley Ann Warren.  After their host, Mr. Boddy, played by Lee Ving, dies, they must all cooperate to find the killer as the body count starts to rack up.  Colleen Camp co-stars as the maid Yvette who is a very significant part of this story.  Bill Henderson, Jane Wiedlin, Jeffrey Kramer, Kellye Nakahara, Howard Hesseman, and many others co-star in this comedic murder mystery.  Curry has cited this movie as one of his favorites.  Wiedlin is the rhythm guitarist for the Go-Gos and Lee Ving is with the punk rock band Fear.  This is the first board game to be adapted into a movie and has been quite the cult classic since.  This is available to watch on Paramount Plus and to those that do not have that subscription, this is available to watch on Pluto Tv.  

A Christmas Carol (2019):  I have been in two versions of this classic tale, both of which were musicals and both of which happened to be at the Muncie Civic Theater.  It is also of interest that the first version in 1993 was my very first play and the other version happened in 2004 which was my first play in my adulthood.  I was also in both of these version with my mom where I would play chorus roles.  I'm sure one day I'll make a trilogy of this where as I have learned the type of character I play best, I would love to play Marley.  I'm sorry to those that are anti-Christmas or hate Christmas before promoted outside of December.  Nick Murphy directed this FX mini-series in which Stephen Knight wrote this series based on the classic novel by Charles Dickens.  Guy Pearce stars as Ebenezer Scrooge who we know is a miser visited by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley, played by Stephen Graham.  Marley warns Scrooge of what will happen if he does not change his ways and that he will be visited by three ghosts.  Andy Serkis, Joe Alwyn, Vinette Robinson, Remmie Miller, Jason Flemyng, Charlotte Riley, Johnny Harris, Kayvan Novak, and many others co-star in this mini-series.  Now I have given the usual basic story but this was a much different presentation that was more like horror.  Usually, Marley is just there to warn Scrooge of what is about to happen but this one goes more in depth of the character and is also a story about Marley's own redemption.  This one is not going to be for everyone and is likely not for the children.  I really enjoyed this presentation and hope I gave enough of a description for others to decide.  This is available on Hulu for those who are interested in this version.

Sweeney Todd:  The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007):  This is the first show I did for the Jay County Civic Theater in Portland, Indiana in 2011 where I played the sadistic lawman Beadle Bamford, played by Timothy Spall in this movie.  This is really my favorite musical I have gotten to do and many who know me know that I have an obsession of being in Sondheim's musical ASSASSINS one day.  Tim Burton directed this adaptation of the musical by Stephen Sondheim.  Johnny Depp stars as Benjamin Barker whose life was ruined when the corrupt Judge Turpin, played by Alan Rickman, exiled him to prison on false charges.  Barker escapes and takes revenge on the town of London but mostly Judge Turpin and has changed his name from Barker to Sweeney Todd.  He meets Mrs. Lovett, played by Helena Bonham Carter, who helps him start a front by allowing him to have a barber shop at the upstairs of her meat pie shop.  Sacha Baron Cohen, Jamie Campbell Bower, Laura Michelle Kelly, Jayne Wisener, Ed Sanders, Anthony Head, and many others co-star in this musical.  This would be another selection that may not be for everyone.  While I enjoyed this, my big gripe is that Christopher Lee and Anthony Head were going to be ghostly characters and were to sing THE BALLAD OF SWEENEY TODD and the reprises.  Burton decided to cut these particular scenes feeling they were too theatrical for the film.  Head still has a cameo appearance in this musical.  This is available to watch on Pluto TV.

Dracula (1931):  I bring the timeless version of this classic where I got to play insane asylum patient Renfield, played by Dwight Frye in this movie, at my only show at the Richmond Civic Theater in Richmond, Indiana in 2018 excluding a couple of radio plays but those were only a week.  It was a bit of a drive to get out there but I knew I had a chance to play Renfield so I just had to do it.  This is part two of my Bela Lugosi trilogy.  Tod Browning directed this film which is based on a play by Garrett Fort and based on the novel by Bram Stoker.  Bela Lugosi plays the iconic Count Dracula where the naive real estate agent Renfield sells him real estate in Carfax Abbey.  Dracula also hypnotizes him and lands him in the asylum while using him as his communication so a bit rewritten there.  Edward Van Sloan co-stars as Van Helsing who must convince his peers that Dracula is a vampire.  Helen Chandler, David Manners, Herbert Bunston, Frances Dade, and many others co-star in this film.  This is part of the classic Universal Horror collection and still holds up today.  This is available to watch on Peacock.

The Bad Seed (1956):  This is the first show I ever did for the Commons Theater in Alexandria in 2016.  I had some knowledge of the show and had seen a version of the play and this movie.  I went in going for the role of Leroy and ended up getting the role of Emory, played by Jesse White in this movie.  I'd still love to play the role of Leroy someday.  Mervyn Leroy directed this film that was based on the novel by William March and the play by Maxwell Anderson.  Nancy Kelly stars as Christine Penmark who has the most perfect eight year old daughter in the world in Rhoda, played by Patty McCormack.  She starts to find that she'd just a little too perfect and suspects Rhoda of being a cold blooded killer where she must figure out how she will handle the situation.  Henry Jones co-stars as the gardener Leroy who sees right though Rhoda where they form a rivalry in a sense.  Gage Clark, William Hopper, Paul Fix, Evelyn Varden, Eileen Heckart, Frank Cady, and many others co-star in this film.  I am sure this was very controversial in this era as a murderous little girl was probably unheard of at the time.  This also lends some very interesting psychological discussion on murder.  This was put out as a play the year before this came out and Mervyn Leroy decided to cast much of the original cast in this movie.  I thought this movie was as disturbing as it comes.  

1776 (1972):  I got to play the role of Samuel Chase, played by Patrick Hines, in this political musical in 2014 for the Belfry Theater group at the Ivy Tech auditorium in Noblesville, Indiana.  This was a pretty enjoyable role as I got to eat on stage and mostly had dialogue and only one song.  In the future, if I am to be in this musical again, I'd likely go for one of the more antagonistic roles of Rutledge or Dickinson but I'm willing to be whoever in this one.   Peter H. Hunt directed this adaptation of the musical written by Sherman Edwards.  This is a dramatization based on the events that lead to the signing of the Declaration of Independence.  William Daniels stars as Congressman John Adams who along with fellow Congressman Benjamin Franklin, played by Howard Da Silva, try to convince the rest of Congress to break away from British rule.  They are able to convince Thomas Jefferson, played by Ken Howard, to write the Declaration of Independence.  Donald Madden, John Callum, Roy Poole, David Ford, Ray Middleton, William Hansen, Blythe Danner, Virginia Vestoff, Howard Caine, Leo Leyden, Stephen Nathan, James Noble, and many others co-star in this musical.  If looking for something in historical accuracy, this is not quite the one to watch.  This is as mentioned, more of a dramatization of the events though some of the references hold truth and a pretty fun watch.  I do like that they include a lot of obscure historical figures where people might be provoked to look into more.  This would be a really good double feature to go along with the later musical HAMILTON.

The Laramie Project (2002):  This is the most meaningful show I have ever done and was never planned.  This was done at the Center Stage Community Theater in 2019 in Lebanon, Indiana which is just a little outside of my radius for driving.  My friend David was already in this and messaged me that they needed one more guy and that I could meet him in Anderson to ride the rest of the way.  I thought about it and it seemed interesting enough so I hit up the director and rode with David to audition.  I was brought in immediately to fill up the cast where people at the theater were even thanking me.  We were a cast of eight people consisting of four men and four women, one of which made his debut very seamlessly and two of the females had just graduated high school.  There were 60 roles to fill so we all played various people.  Some of the roles I played were Doc O'Connor, played by Steve Buscemi, a very conservative reverend, played by Michael Emerson, Bill McKinney, played by Steef Sealy, and Conrad Miller, played by John Lodico.  Moises Kaufman directed this HBO movie of his own play where he lead a New York based theater group called the Tectonic Theatre Project.  This group traveled to Laramie, Wyoming in the wake of the murder of Matthew Shepard who was a young gay man brutally beaten, tied to a fence which lead to his death.  The group interviewed citizens of the town who were willing to speak of their times with Shepard.  They also used media footage and court footage to their documentary-like script with all of this taking about two years to complete.  Kathleen Chalfont, Laura Linney, Peter Fonda, Jeremy Davies, Nestor Carbonell, Camryn Manheim, Grant Varjas, Kelli Simpkins, Clea DuVall, Frances Sternhagen, Margo Martindale, Christina Ricci, Janeane Garofalo, Joshua Jackson, Mark Webber, Ben Foster, Lois Smith, Daniel Ahearn, Amy Madigan, Clancy Brown, Tom Bower, Dylan Baker, Stephen Belber, Noah Fleiss, Summer Phoenix, Bill Irwin, James Murtaugh, Richard Riehle, Terry Kinney, and many others co-star in this HBO movie.  This was not an easy show to do by any means and the movie also was not very easy to watch at times.  The dialogue we all had to memorize and the differentiating of the characters was difficult enough.  It was also very emotionally draining at times as we remained on stage the entire time and sat to the side when we were not in a scene.  For the first time, I was being thanked by audience members and people I had never seen in my life would approach me for a hug.  I will be forever grateful to have been brought into this production.  The movie version is available to watch on HBO Max.

Romeo and Juliet (1968):  I played the roles of Abraham, played by Roberto Antonelli, in the beginning and later would play Paris, played by Roberto Bisacco, in an outside production at a park in Farmland, Indiana so in short "Shakespeare in the Park".  I went to auditions looking into the role of Tybalt and if I am to be in this production again, I'd likely look into Tybalt or Mercutio.  Franco Zeffirelli directed this version of the Shakespeare play and is the definitive version in many ways.  Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey star as the star crossed lovers whose families feuded with one another but they meet and fall into forbidden love.  John McEnery, Milo O'Shea, Robert Stephens, Michael York, Bruce Robinson, Paul Hardwick, Natasha Parry, Roy Holder, Keith Skinner, Dyson Lovell, Richard Wardwick, Laurence Olivier, and many others co-star in this film.  Olivier had a lot of respect for Zeffirelli and a Shakespeare fan that he agreed to be uncredited role as the narrator and dubbed other characters in which he took no payment.  Another random fact I learned is that former Beatle Paul McCartney was approached to play Romeo but declined feeling he would not bring the role to justice, what could have been.  This has always been my favorite Shakespeare story.  I know a lot of people share the M-word claiming that this is not a love story but a brief relationship resulting in death.  I have to say I don't quite a agree with that sentiment.  I believe this is the start of the tragic love story genre.  This also really conveys the price of hatred and how just about all of the characters have certain responsibility of the tragedy that I think we just about all know by now.  The version I was in was an abridged version but I did talk the director into putting in a scene for my character that was left out.  Knowing me, I probably also probably tried to get him to let me sing the song WHAT IS A YOUTH that is featured in this movie but I am sure he drew the line at that request.  This has always been my favorite version of the story and is available to watch on Amazon Prime.

Oklahoma (1955):  I was in this Rodgers and Hammerstein musical in 2008 at the Muncie Civic Theater where I would play the role of Slim which is not a character featured in this movie.  If I am to ever be in this production again, I'd likely look into Jud Fry.  Fred Zinneman directed this musical western which really consists of two main stories involving cowboys Curly McLain, played by Gordon MacRae, and Will Parker, played by Gene Nelson.  Curly is vying for the love of Laurie, played by Shirley Jones, but must deal with the tempered farmhand Jud, played by Rod Steiger.  Will is in love with Ado Annie, played by Gloria Grahame, but must deal with traveling peddler Ali Hakim, played by Eddie Albert.  Charlotte Greenwood, James Whitmore, Barbara Lawrence, Jay C. Flippen, and many others co-star in this musical.  This is a pretty good adaptation of the musical.  There is also a very well-shot dream sequence in my opinion.  To those that enjoy traditional musicals, this would be a good one to watch.  This is available to watch on Disney Plus.

A Few Good Men (1992):  I have been in two versions of this show.  The first was was in Greenfield, Indiana in 2009 for the Ricks-Weil group where I played Corporal Howard, played by Noah Wyle in the movie, and was the first show for this group.  This is probably the start of me branching out to other towns beyond my town of Muncie and Anderson.  A few Anderson friends were going to audition so I just could not say no.  In 2019, I was in this show at the Marion Civic Theater in Marion, Indiana.  By this time, I knew more of my strengths and I went for the role of Lieutenant Kendrick, played by Kiefer Sutherland in the movie, and I got it.  This is one of my favorite roles I have gotten to do and with these being 10 years apart, maybe in 2029 I'll get to play Jessup..  Now to the movie which is part one of a possible Tom Cruise trilogy.  Rob Reiner directed this film which is based on the play by Aaron Sorkin and loosely based on a true story.  Cruise stars as Navy lawyer Lt. Daniel Kaffee who usually cops pleas and does not need to go to court.  Now, he is appointed to represent a couple of Marines being accused of murdering a colleague.  He is joined by Lt. Cmr. Jo Galloway, played by Demi Moore, and they see there is far more to it that leads to Colonel Jessup, played by Jack Nicholson.  Kevin Bacon, Kevin Pollak, James Marshall, J.T. Walsh, Christopher Guest, J.A. Preston, Matt Craven, Wolfgang Bodison, Xander Berkeley, John M. Jackson, Cuba Gooding Jr., Joshua Malina, and many others co-star in this film.  This is a very compelling drama with a lot of very memorable scenes.  I don't know if you can handle the truth, hopefully you can handle this movie.

Well, that is it for this week but continue on for the return of my Fun and Useless Facts segment.  Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for next week which so far includes Tom Cruise, Madeline Kahn, Bela Lugosi, Anya Taylor-Joy, Keira Knightley, and many others.

FUN AND USELESS FACTS

I decided this would be a good time to bring in this segment of the blog.  With this, I use actors from different movies and none from the same movie unless there might be another person.  I also purposely stop at 25 facts so if anyone finds something I miss, feel free to comment.

Charlotte Riley (A Christmas Carol) and Tom Cruise (A Few Good Men) were in the 2014 sci-fi film EDGE OF TOMORROW.

Christopher Lloyd (Clue) and Christina Ricci (The Laramie Project) were uncle and niece in the 1991 comedy THE ADDAMS FAMILY and its 1993 sequel THE ADDAMS FAMILY VALUES.

Christopher Lloyd (Clue) and Jack Nicholson (A Few Good Men) were in the 1975 film ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST, the 1978 western comedy GOIN' SOUTH, and the 1981 remake THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE.

Colleeen Camp (Clue) and Kevin Pollak (A Few Good Men) were in the 1996 comedy HOUSE ARREST.

Guy Pearce and Joe Alwyn play Ebenezer Scrooge and Bob Cratchit in this week's feature A CHRISTMAS CAROL.  Tim Curry (Clue) and Michael York (Romeo and Juliet) play Scrooge and Cratchit in the 1997 animated movie A CHRISTMAS CAROL.

Howard Hesseman (Clue) and Jack Nicholson (A Few Good Men) were in the 2002 film ABOUT SCHMIDT.

Jason Flemyng (A Christmas Carol) and Kevin Bacon (A Few Good Men) were in the 2011 superhero film X-MEN:  FIRST CLASS.

Jason Flemyng (A Christmas Carol) and Johnny Depp (Sweeney Todd) were in the 2001 film FROM HELL.

Johnny Depp (Sweeney Todd) and Christina Ricci (The Laramie Project) were in the 1998 film FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS and the 1999 film SLEEPY HOLLOW.

Johnny Depp (Sweeney Todd) purchased the home of Bela Lugosi (Dracula).

Johnny Depp (Sweeney Todd) was considered for roles in the 1985 film LEGEND, the 1994 film INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE, and the 1996 film JERRY MAGUIRE which would ultimately go to Tom Cruise (A Few Good Men).

Kellye Nakahara (Clue) and J.T. Walsh (A Few Good Men) were in the 1995 movie BLACK DAY BLUE NIGHT.

Michael McKean (Clue) and Christopher Guest (A Few Good Men) were in the 1984 mockumentary THIS IS SPINAL TAP in the same band Spinal Tap.  They were also in the 2000 mockumentary BEST IN SHOW, 2003 mockumentary A MIGHTY WIND, and the 2006 mockumentary FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

Michael McKean (Clue) and Christina Ricci (The Laramie Project) were in 1997 movie THAT DARN CAT.

Michael McKean (Clue) and Steve Buscemi (The Laramie Project) were in the 1994 comedy AIRHEADS.

Patty McCormack (The Bad Seed) and Kevin Bacon (A Few Good Men) were in the 2008 film FROST/NIXON.

Peter Fonda (The Laramie Project) and Jack Nicholson (A Few Good Men) were in the 1969 film EASY RIDER.

Stephen Graham (A Christmas Carol) and Johnny Depp (Sweeney Todd) are part of the PIRATES OF THE CARRIBEAN franchise.  They were also in the 2009 film PUBLIC ENEMIES where Graham was Baby Face Nelson and Depp was John Dillinger.

Stephen Graham (A Christmas Carol) plays Al Capone in the HBO series BOARDWALK EMPIRE.  Rod Steiger (Oklahoma) plays Capone in the 1959 film AL CAPONE.

Tim Curry (Clue) and Laura Linney (The Laramie Project) were in the 1995 movie CONGO and the 2004 film KINSEY.  Dylan Baker (The Laramie Project) was also in KINSEY.

Tim Curry (Clue) and Tom Cruise (A Few Good Men) were in the 1985 classic fantasy film LEGEND.

Tim Curry (Clue) was considered for the role of the Joker in the 1989 film BATMAN which would ultimately go to Jack Nicholson (A Few Good Men).

Tim Curry (Clue) plays Bill Sikes in the 1982 tv movie OLIVER TWIST.  Andy Serkis plays Bill Sikes in the 1999 mini-series OLIVER TWIST.  That is a role I'd love to play someday in the musical version.

Timothy Spall (Sweeney Todd) and Tom Cruise (A Few Good Men) were in the 2001 film VANILLA SKY and the 2003 film THE LAST SAMURAI.

Virginia Vestoff (1776) plays Abigail Adams in this week's feature 1776.  Laura Linney (The Laramie Project) plays Abigail Adams in the 2008 mini-series JOHN ADAMS.