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.
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