Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations- 853rd Edition

Welcome to the 853rd Edition of my series.  It has been nice having this warmer weather but hear it will cool down this week.  It's a start I guess, not much I can do so I'll just get on with my selections for the week.

National Treasure (2004):  This is part four of my potential six-part Nicolas Cage series.  Jon Turtletaub directed this adventure film which was written by Jim Kouf, Cormac Wibberly, and Marianne Wibberly.  Cage stars as Benjamin Franklin Gates who learns from his Grandfather, played by Christopher Plummer, that there is a treasure and involves the Declaration of Independence.  Ben's father, played by Jon Voight, does not agree with this but Ben must go to extreme measures to save the Declaration along with his assistant Riley, played by Justin Bartha, and the reluctant curator Abigail, played by Diane Kruger.  Sean Bean, Harvey Keitel, David Dayan Fisher, Stewart Finlay-McLennan, Oleg Taktarov, and many others co-star in this adventure.  This is a pretty fun movie to watch and I have to wonder about the minds that came up with this whole concept.  This is available to watch on Disney Plus.

The Legend of the Drunken Master (1994):  This is my martial arts film for the week which was directed by Chia-Liang Liu and Jackie Chan.  Chan also stars as Chinese folk hero Wong Fei-Hung who is trying to respect his father's wishes of non-violence but also comes across foreigners stealing artifacts.  He has also learned the the unusual fight style of "drunken boxing" which is especially what his father does not want to see.  Ho-Sung Pak, Lung Ti, Anita Mui, Felix Wong, Ken Lo, Kar Lok Chin, Chi-Kwong Cheung, Yi-Sheng Han, Andy Lau, and many others co-star in this film.  I have come to realize that the '90s are my favorite era for Hong Kong martial arts films.  I also believe this is my favorite Jackie Chan film which is a sequel to the 1978 movie DRUNKEN MASTER.  

Borat:  Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2006):  Larry Charles directed this comedy which was co-written by Sacha Baron Cohen, Anthony Hines, and Peter Baynham.  Cohen also stars as Kazakh tv reporter Borat who is sent to America to make a documentary on American society and culture.  When getting there, he comes across Pamela Anderson and falls in love with her setting out to find her.  This is as controversial as it gets and is not going to be everyone's cup of tea.  Cohen had the cops called upon and got a few lawsuits from various coalitions.  This is a satire on today's society and has a lot of funny moments if you don't offend easily.

A Fractured Leghorn (1950):  This is my animated short which was directed by Robert McKimson.  This features our favorite rooster Foghorn Leghorn, voiced by Mel Blanc.  Foghorn fights a cat, not Sylvester, over a worm, both of which want the worm for different reasons.  Lots of funny jokes and gags in this animated short.  I say, I say go check this out.  This is available to watch on HBO Max.

Don't Play Us Cheap (1972):  Melvin Van Peebles wrote and directed this musical which is based on his own Broadway musical.  A pair of devil bats take human form and crash a Harlem house hoping to break it up.  Their attempts to ruin the party continually fail and make them rethink their own values.  Mabel King, Esther Rolle, Avon Long, Rhetta Hughes, and many others co-star in this musical.  This is a pretty fun musical and is not as exploitative as some some of Peebles's works from this era.  This was a Tony nominated musical before it became this movie.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.

Lost Horizon (1937):  Frank Capra directed this fantasy adventure which is based on the novel by James Hilton.  Ronald Colman stars as British diplomat Robert Conway whose plane crashes in the Himalayas.  Him and a few others are rescued by the people of the land of Shangri-La which is an island where people age a lot slowly.  There is also tension on leaving the island versus staying on the island.  Jane Wyatt, Edward Everett Horton, John Howard, Thomas Mitchell, Margo, Isabel Jewell, and many others co-star in this film.  Earlier in the year I co-starred in a radio version of this story which will eventually be on the Richmond Radioworks podcast.  This is a Capra's entry into the adventure film and succeeds in the genre as in the end, it remains classic Capra.  This is available to watch on Tubi. 

The Mauritanian (2021):  Kevin MacDonald directed this film based on the novel by Mohammedou Ould Slahi.  Tahar Rahim stars as Slahi who is detained and imprisoned for many years without a trial but under suspicion of being a 9/11 terrorist.  Jodie Foster co-stars as attorney Nancy Hollander who agrees to represent Slahi along with her associate Teri, played by Shailene Woodley.  Benedict Cumberbatch co-stars as prosecuting attorney Stuart Couch who along with the defense finds very questionable means of what is happening.  Clayton Boyd, Denis Menochet, Pope Jerrod, Daniel Janks, Corey Johnson, Adam Neill, Darron Meyer, Lionel Strasky, Langley Kirkwood, Zachary Levi, and many others co-star in this film.  This is based on a true story and a very sad but inspirational story.  This is not easy to watch but it realy should get watched.

Death of a Cyclist (1955):  Juan Antonio Bardem wrote and directed this Spanish film.  Alberto Closas and Lucia Bose star as Juan and Maria who are having an affair and strike a cyclist with their vehicle.  Fearing exposure, they decide to keep it a secret and try going about their lives like nothing happened but remain conflicted on their misdeed.  Bardem is the uncle of famed actor Javier Bardem.  This is a good tale of morality and class in Spain.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.

Paris When it Sizzles (1964):  Now I go the romantic comedy route which was written by Richard Quine.  William Holden stars as Hollywood screenwriter Richard Benson who is experiencing writer's block while trying to write a screenplay.  He hires Gabrielle Simpson, played by Audrey Hepburn to be his typist where he is able to fantasize his next screenplay through her.  Gregoire Aslan, Raymond Bussieres, Noel Coward co-star in this romantic comedy and Tony Curtis, Marlene Dietrich, and Mel Ferrer have cameos.  This is a fun and lighthearted romantic comedy with Holden and Hepburn working very well together.  It also has a nice homage to film.  

Saturday Night Live:  The Best of John Belushi (2005):  I end the week with what is technically more of a tv special but I make my rules so I can call it what I want.  This features original SNL member John Belushi who unfortunately left us too soon but made quite a mark in comedy.  This features some of his memorable characters like King Bee, Samurai Warrior, and the Blues Brothers.  It also shows impersonations of Marlon Brando, Joe Cocker, Beethoven, and even Elizabeth Taylor.  There is even a superhero sketch where he plays the Hulk and combines a lot of superheroes from DC and Marvel.  This is fun to relive the legendary comic and wonder what we might have today had he not left us so soon.

Well, that is it for this week.  Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for next week which so far includes Nicolas Cage, Elizabeth Shue, James Spader, Groucho Marx, Will Patton, and many others.

Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations- 852rd Edition

Welcome to the 852nd edition of my series.  I hope everyone is having a good holiday weekend however celebrated.  At 5 pm eastern time today, my radio play LOST HORIZON airs one more time on https://www.weciradio.org/.  It will eventually be on the Richmond Radioworks podcast which is at least available on Spotify.  On Saturday, April 23rd, I'm a guest on TOM CHERRY'S OLD TIME RADIO SHOW at 3 pm which is a monthly show done in Farmland where they pay homage to the old days of radio.  I think that is enough for now so I will get on with my selections for the week.

Raising Arizona (1987):  This is part three of a possible six-part Nicolas Cage series.  The Coen Brothers wrote and directed this dark comedy.  Cage stars as ex-con H.I. McDunnough who marries ex-police officer Ed, played by Holly Hunter.  They want children but they cannot have any of his own and cannot adopt due to H.I.'s criminal past.  After learning a successful businessman has quintuplets, they feel he needs help and kidnap one of them thinking they are doing them a favor.  Things become complicated when a couple prison escapees, played by John Goodman and William Forsythe, come to their house.  Trey Wilson, Sam McMurray, Frances McDormand, Randall 'Tex' Cobb, T.J. Kuhn, M. Emmet Walsh, and many others co-star in this dark comedy.  This is one of Cage's best roles in my opinion.  This has a lot of that Coen Brothers dark humor.

Mabel's Strange Predicament (1914):  This is my silent short for the week which was directed by Mabel Normand and also stars.  Charlie Chaplin co-stars in this short film where essentially the Tramp character debuts though this is a blueprint for his iconic character.  Normand was very popular in her own time and had her own character named Mabel.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.

Death on the Nile (1978):  John Guillermin directed this film which is based on the novel by Agatha Christie.  Peter Ustinov stars as Christie's famed detective Hercule Poirot who is on a cruise going down the Nile but as one would expect he gets put to work when a newlywed heiress is murdered.  He must question a colorful array of characters and finds just about everyone on that ship has a motive.  Mia Farrow, Simon MacCorkindale, Jane Birkin, Lois Chiles, Bette Davis, Jon Finch, Olivia Hussey, I.S. Johar, George Kennedy, Angela Lansbury, David Niven, Maggie Smith, Jack Warden, Harry Andrews, Sam Wanamaker, and many others co-star in this murder mystery.  This has quite the all-star group of murder suspects and is a pretty compelling adaptation of the novel.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.  

Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022):  Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert wrote and directed this this film that is really just what the title describes.  Michelle Yeoh stars as Chinese immigrant Evelyn who is brought along through multiple universes to try saving her own universe.  Stephanie Hsu, Ke Huy Quan, James Hong, Jamie Lee Curtis, Tallie Medel, Jenny Slate, Harry Shum Jr., Biff Wiff, Sunita Mani, Aaron Lazar, Brian Le, Andy Le, Narayana Cabral, Chelsey Goldsmith, Anthony Molinari, Dan Brown, and many others co-star in this film.  I honestly was not really aware of this movie until I was looking at the movie times and had a very convenient time for me and sounded interesting enough.  I was blown away by this movie, though I really can't put into words about what it was really about.  I believe part of the theme is to be appreciative of what you have.  This has everything from martial arts which is to be expected with Michelle Yeoh.  There are also some elements of wrestling in this movie and so much more.  This is also a pretty original kind of film.  Yeoh shows her more comedic side in this film and does a great job.  This was worth my trip to the movie theaters.

Footlight Glamour (1943):  This is an entry of the popular Blondie and Dagwood series which was based on the long-running comic strip series which was directed by Frank Strayer.  Penny Singleton and Arthur Lake star as Blondie and Dagwood Bumstead.  Dagwood gets hired for a new plant and the boss also wants him to watch his daughter Vicki, played by Ann Savage, but upsets him when she is cast in a play.  This is based around a local play in which Dagwood gets cast even though he has no experience and does not want to be in it which leads to much of the comedy.  Larry Simms, Jonathan Hale, Irving Bacon, Danny Mummert, and many others co-star in this comedy.  Lake is very funny as the bumbling Dagwood.  This is available to watch on imdb tv.

Leave No Trace (2018):  Debra Granik directed this film based on the novel MY ABANDONMENT by Peter Rock.  Ben Foster and Thomasin McKenzie star as father and daughter combo Will and Tom who try living off the grid and live in the forests of Portland, Oregon for a long time.  Things happen where they are caught and put into social services with the expectation they live a more normal life like living in a home and going to school and all that stuff.  Tom starts to embrace this more conventional life but Will still wants to still be more in the outside world.  Michael Draper, Peter Simpson, Dana Millican, Alyssa McKay, Jeff Kober, Spencer S. Hanley, Isaiah Stone, Dale Dickey, and many others co-star in this independent film.  This is a very deep meaning film on the conventionality of today.  Foster and McKenzie work well together as father and daughter.  This could make a good double feature to go along with the movie CAPTAIN FANTASTIC.  This is available to watch on Hulu.

Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song (1971):  Melvin Van Peebles wrote and directed this Blaxploitation film that has one onto be one of the most iconic of this genre.  Van Peebles stars as male prostitute Sweetback who saves a Black Panther from a couple of corrupt white cops which puts him on the run and looks to make it Mexico while fleeing the cops and Hell's Angels.  John Dullaghan, Simon Chuckster, Mario Van Peebles, Rhetta Hughes, John Amos, Lavelle Roby, and many others co-star in this Blaxploitation film.  Melvin's 13 year old son Mario plays the younger Sweetback.  This is his film debut and would go onto have a really good career in his own right but is in a scene in this movie that likely would not get over well these days.  This also has a good soundtrack by Earth, Wind, and Fire early in their career.  This is not for everyone, do your research on the Blaxploitation and make your judgment.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.

The Heir Apparent:  Largo Winch (2008):  Jerome Salle directed this French action film which is based on a comic book by Jean Van Hamme and Philippe Francq.  Tomer Sisley stars as Largo Winch whose adoptive father is murdered.  The problem is that Largo's adoption was kept secret and must race to prove his legitimacy, find his father's killers, and save his father's financial empire.  Kristin Scott Thomas, Predrag 'Miki' Manojlovic, Melanie Thierry, Gilbert Melki, Karel Roden, Steven Waddington, Anne Consigny, Radivoje, Benedict Wong, and many others co-star in this film.  This is kind of modern-day sort of James Bond movie in terms of the action and globe travel.  This has some really good action scenes and is quite a bit of fun.  This is available to watch on Hoopla Digital.

Moonrise (1948):  Frank Borzage directed this film noir.  Dane Clark stars as Danny Hawkins whose father was executed for murder when he was a child.  This results in all the kids bullying him about it in school, mostly by Jerry Sykes, played by Lloyd Bridges in the adult years, and never lets up when they are adults.  They get into a fight resulting in Jerry's death and Danny struggles with his guilt and is afraid to talk to the police.  Gail Russell, Allyn Joslyn, Rex Ingram, Harry Morgan, David Street, Selena Royle, Harry Carey Jr., Irving Bacon, Houseley Stevenson, and many others co-star in this film.  This takes a look at the effects of bullying which will always be a relevant topic.  Clark plays the role of Danny to perfection and is an underrated performance in the world of film.  

8 Mile (2002):  Curtis Hanson directed this movie on the rap world.  This takes place in Detroit where Eminem stars as young white rapper Jimmy 'B-Rabbit' Smith who dreams of a career in hip-hop and to get out of his location.  As creative as B-Rabbit is, he struggles to find the nerve to perform a local rapoff and has a lot of other struggles in life.  Kim Basinger, Brittany Murphy, Mekhi Phifer, Evan Jones, Omar Benson Miller, De'Angelo Wilson, Eugene Byrd, Taryn Manning, Proof, Michael Shannon, Chloe Greenfield, Anthony Mackie, Xzibit, and many others co-star in this film.  The interesting thing that some may not know is that Eminem is actually a rapper in real life.  Mackie makes his film debut and co-stars as B-Rabbit's rival Papa Doc and we learn Falcon has nothing on Eminem.  This is what resulted in Eminem's hit song LOSE YOURSELF.  I admit, when Eminem first came out, I could not stand him and wanted nothing to do with this movie when I first heard about it.  As I started listening to him more though, I started becoming a fan.  This is a pretty inspiring film of someone trying to achieve his dreams in life.

Well, that is it for this week.  Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for next week which so far includes Nicolas Cage, Jackie Chan, Frank Capra, Jodie Foster, and many others.

Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations- 851st Edition

Welcome to the 851st Edition of my series.  I know I'm later than usual, I have just been busy today.  Part of this is due to the filming of a movie I am in called SHE.  It's sure to be very good and I will look to keep everyone posted as time goes on.  I would also like to announce that I will be a guest on the next TOM CHERRY'S OLD TIME RADIO SHOW on April 23rd.  This is a group in Farmland, Indiana that pays homage to the old time radio.  This will be at the Farmland Cultural Center at 3 pm so anyone in or near the area, come on out.  It only costs a dollar to get in, a dollar for some old fashioned entertainment.  I will now get on with my selections for the week.

Les Miserables (2018):  I start the week out with this mini-series which was directed by Tom Shankland and based on the novel by Victor Hugo.  Dominic West stars as Jean ValJean who is paroled after 19 years of hard labor and must break his parole to start a new life.  Always on his trail is the obsessive police officer Javert, played by David Oyelowo, whose view of the law is very black and white.  Valjean through the years must evade the law to keep the promise of a dying Fantine, played by Lilly Collins, to raise her daughter Cosette, played by Ellie Bamber.  Adeel Akhtar, David Bradley, Emma Fielding, Olivia Colman, Enzo Cilenti, Josh O'Connor, Joseph Quinn, Erin Kellyman, Archie Madekwe, Turlough Convery, Natalie Simpson, Donald Sumpter, and many others co-star in this mini-series.  There is no singing in this version.  This is based on a very long novel so most of the movies and the musical follow a similar formula of the events.  This is a six episode mini-series which goes more in-depth with some of the other characters.  This has a great look at the post-Napoleonic France period this takes place in.  This is available on Amazon Prime with a subscription of PBS Masterpiece.

Blue Valentine (2010):  Derek Cianfrance co-wrote and directed this film of a marriage.  Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams star as married couple Dean and Cindy Pereira which goes back and forth between two periods of when they first met and in the modern-day where they have a daughter named Frankie, played by Faith Wladyka.  This shows the effects of personal and professional struggle and how it effects their marriage.  John Doman, Mike Vogel, Maryann Plunkett, Ben Shenkman, Enid Graham, Tamara Torres, Michelle Nagy, and many others co-star in this film.  This was a good look at a struggling marriage with Gosling and Williams working well together and some clever things Cianfrance did to create tensions between each other.  

Three Identical Strangers (2018):  Tim Wardle directed this documentary.  This takes place in New York of 1980 where three 19 year old strangers named Edward Galland, David Kellman, and Robert Shafron learn they are triplets.  They experience a 15 minutes of fame with the media where they are on cloud nine but as time goes on, they learn more about what happened that they all got adopted separately.  This is a very surreal story to say the least and has really stuck with me.  I was not aware of this story until now and words just can't describe this story of real-life twists and turns in a story that would seem like fiction.  It is really best to watch this unfold with as little knowledge as possible, at least if you don't know the situation.  A really good double feature would be to have this and the documentary THE IMPOSTER.

Just Plane Beep (1965):  This is my animated short for the week which feature Wile E. Coyote and Road runner.  Wile E. Coyote tries to put together a plane in his pursuit of Road Runner.  I continue my theory that Road Runner is a figment of Wile's imagination.  

Marihuana (1936):  Most of us know about REEFER MADNESS which was one of the many drug propaganda movies from this era.  Just a little before that cult classic, though in the same year, came this movie about that horrible drug at this time apparently was spelled with an H instead of a J.  A young girl at a beach party succumbs to marijuana which apparently lead to her pregnancy.  In trying to get married, she becomes a dope pusher to get the money needed.  This is B-movie to the core and a perfect movie for the RIFFTRAX guys to cover, maybe have a special night of this and REEFER MADNESS as a double feature.  The cover looks funny but was very serious at the time.  This is available to watch on imdb tv.

Shadows (1958):  John Cassavetes wrote and directed this film on social situations in Beat-Era New York.  A lot of it centers around racial situations as well.  Ben Carruthers, Lelia Goldoni, and Hugh Hurd star as biracial siblings whose skin tones vary a bit making it easier for some and more difficult for others.  Anthony Ray, Tom Reese, and many others co-star in this film.  This is more of a character driven film and is very early in the career of Cassavetes and his first feature.  This film is also driven by a really good Jazz score, most of which by Charles Mingus.  This is available to watch on HBO Max and the Criterion Channel.   

Pig (2021):  This is part two of a possible five-part Nicolas Cage series.  Michael Sarnoski directed and co-wrote this film.  Cage stars as Rob, who was at one point a successful chef but lives as a recluse now as a truffle hunter in the middle of nowhere.  He does have a companion in life which is a pig as the title infers  and the pig gets kidnapped.  He sets out with the help of his uneasy business partner Amir, played by Alex Wolff, to find his pig and must confront his past to do so.  Adam Arkin, Cassandra Violet Julia Bray, Elijah Ungvary, Gretchen Corbett, Sean Tarjyoto, Darius Pierce, and many others co-star in this film.  This seems like a rather absurd plot but as strange as it sounds, only Nicolas Cage could make this work as much as we might make a joke out of him at times.  This film is oddly compelling and Cage rises to the occasion in my opinion.  This is available to watch on Hulu.

Trapped (1949):  Richard Fleischer directed this film that pays homage to the United States Treasury Department.  Lloyd Bridges stars as Tris Stewart who is in prison for counterfeiting.  The Secret Service make a deal for early parole in return for his help to recover some bogus moneymaking plates.  Stewart may have other ideas in mind.  Barbara Payton, John Hoyt, Russ Conway, Robert Karnes, and many others co-star in this film.  This is a good look at the world of counterfeiting.  It is also a pretty entertaining movie that was considered a B-movie of that era.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel. It is also available on Epix as well as streaming apps like Plex, Tubi, and Pluto TV.   

Sugar Hill (1974):  This is my Blaxploitation selection for the week which was directed by Paul Maslansky.  Marki Bey stars as the title character whose boyfriend is murdered by gangsters.  She takes revenge, and I suppose justice, to a whole new level when she enlists the voodoo queen Mama Maitresse, played by Zara Cully.  The Lord of the Dead Baron Samedi, played by Don Pedro Colley, does Sugar's bidding with the help of a zombie army.  Robert Quarry, Betty Anne Rees, Richard Lawson, Charles Robinson, and many others co-star in this Blaxploitation film.  For those that do not know the Blaxploitation era, I would suggest doing some research first as most of these would probably not fly today but is still a significant part of the film industry.  There is a lot of reverse racism and stereotyping in these movies including this one.  Colley clearly has a lot of fun as Baron Samedi and is a more unknown entry into the zombie genre.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel and on AMC + with a Prime subscription.  It is also available to watch on Pluto TV. 

Grace of My Heart (1996):  Allison Anders wrote and directed this film on the music industry in the late '50s to the '60s.  Illeana Douglas stars as Philadelphia girl Edna Buxton who wins a contract in a local competition for a recording contract.  She goes to New York in hopes of becoming a singer but ends up writing the songs for others while still longing to make an album.  John Turturro, Jennifer Leigh Warren, Eric Stoltz, Bruce Davison, Matt Dillon, Patsy Kensit, Chris Isaak, Bridget Fonda, Lucinda Jenney, Christina Pickles, Tracy Vilar, Shawn Colvin, Jill Sobule, and many others co-star in this film.  This takes a look at all the ups and downs of someone in the movie industry both professionally and personally.  This has a lot of good performances and a good homage to the music industry of this era which I hope to get it on the radar.

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 Nicolas Cage, Charles Chaplin, Bette Davis, Jamie Lee Curtis, and many others.

MOVIE TIME IN THE TOWN OF POTTERSVILLE

Resident Evil (2002):  I went over to Stephanie's house and she insisted on watching the start of this franchise, especially learning that I had not seen any of these movies.  This is the start of the movie franchise that is based on the popular video game series.  Paul W.S. Anderson directed this entry of the series.  A virus gets out in a secret facility called "The Hive" and turns people into zombies.  Milla Jovovich stars as Alice who is suffering from amnesia due to exposure to the gas.  She helps an elite military group as her memories slowly come back.  Michelle Rodriguez, Ryan McCluskey, Indra Ove, Anna Bolt, Joseph May, Heike Makatsch, Jaymes Butler, Stephen Billington, Fiona Glascott, Eric Mabius, Colin Salmon, Martin Crewes, Pasquale Aleardi, Jason Isaacs, and many others co-star in this film.  This is the start to a very popular franchise.  This has a lot of action and gore and is really worth a look.  This is available to watch on HBO Max.

Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations- 850th Edition

Welcome to the 850th edition of my series.  This has been a wrestling week for me as it continues into tonight for the conclusion of WRESTLEMANIA.  I would like to announce that the radio play LOST HORIZON. I did earlier in the year airs today at 5 pm eastern time on the website https://www.weciradio.org/.  It will also air the next two Sundays and will eventually be available on platforms like Spotify on the podcast "Richmond Radioworks".  I will shut up now and get on with my selections.

Captain America:  Civil War (2016):  This is part three of my trilogy for the late William Hurt.  Anthony and Joe Russo direct this entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the third in the Captain America series though was more of an Avengers movie.  Events happen that pit Captain America, reprised by Chris Evans, and Iron Man, reprised by Robert Downey Jr., against one another.  Essentially we have team Captain America where he is joined by Falcon, played by Anthony Mackie, Hawkeye, played by Jeremy Renner, Winter Soldier, played by Sebastian Stan, Ant-Man, played by Paul Rudd, and the Scarlet Witch, played by Elizabeth Olsen, and Team Iron Man where he is joined by Black Widow, played by Scarlett Johansson, War Machine, played by Don Cheadle, Vision, played by Paul Bettany, Black Panther, played by Chadwick Boseman in his introduction to the MCU, and Spider-Man, played by Tom Holland in his introduction to the MCU.  Emily VanCamp, Daniel Bruhl, Frank Grillo, Martin Freeman, John Kani, John Slattery, Hope Davis, Alfre Woodard, and many others co-star in this superhero film.  Hurt reprises his role of Thaddeus Ross who is now Secretary of State.  I guess we will not get our Red Hulk from Hurt though I don't know they were going in that direction.  This movie shows that everyone has to have consequences and the disagreement, among other things, leads to these people who have fought together for so long to go against each other.  This has a great storyline and some really good action.  The events of this movie play into the Disney Plus series FALCON AND WINTER SOLDIER which could make a good double feature.  This is available to watch on Disney Plus.

Birdy (1984):  This is part one of a possible six-part Nicolas Cage series.  Alan Parker directed this film based on the novel by William Wharton.  Matthew Modine and Nicolas Cage star as Philly friends Birdy and Al who are in the Vietnam war.  When getting home, Al suffers some serious injuries while Birdy is in a military institution and seemingly emotionally scarred.  Al looks to get through to his bird-obsessed friend.  John Harkins, Sandy Baron, Karen Young, Bruno Kirby, Nancy Fish, and many others co-star in this film.  I did not really know what to expect but its was a pretty moving film.  My own favorite singer Peter Gabriel wrote the music score which is his first and with his limited time constraints, he recycled some of his own movie which fits really well.  I would love to see Peter work more in film with composing music and I believe he could write a really good movie.  This is a really good look at the effects of a couple Vietnam Veterans.  This is available to watch on Prime.

One Day (2011):  Lone Scherfig directed this film based on the book by David Nicholls.  Jim Sturgess and Anne Hathaway stars as Dexter and Emma who meet at college graduation.  They remain friends and the movie shows them on the anniversary date they met on through the years and sometimes they are closer than others.  Each life takes a different turn but continue to find each other whether in person or just over the phone.  Patricia Clarkson, Tom Misom, Jodie Whittaker, Rafe Spall, Josephine de La Baume, Ken Stott, Heida Reed, Amanda Fairbanks-Hynes, Gil Alma, David Ajaja, Georgia King, Lorna Gayle, Matt Berry, Romola Garai, Diana Kent, James Laurenson, Matthew Beard, Toby Regbo, Thomas Arnold, and many others co-star in this film.  This is a really good look at a friendship through the years and the changes the characters go through in life.  This is available to watch on Starz.  

The Red Balloon (1956):  This is my short film for the week which was written and directed by Albert Lamorisse.  As one might guess, this is a balloon that is red in this movie.  This balloon appears to have a mind of its own as it follows a young boy through the streets of Paris.  This has been a rather timeless film of a simple but effective story with the star being a balloon.  This is always worth a half hour watch.  It is available to watch on HBO Max and the Criterion Channel.

This Day and Age (1933):  Cecil B. DeMille directed this pre-code crime drama.  A group of high school students band together after the town tailor is murdered when refusing to pay protection money to the local gangster Louis Garrett, played by Charles Bickford.  After Garrett is acquitted, the students go through extreme measures to get justice.  Judith Allen, Richard Cromwell, Harry Green, Bradley Page, Edward Nugent, Ben Alexander, John Carradine, and many others co-star in this film.  DeMille is more known for his big extravaganza films but takes it down a bit here while still focusing on a very important topic.  It is also one of his more underrated films and is every bit as good as the Dead End Kids movies.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.

Dead Ringer (1964):  Paul Henreid directed this horror film.  Fresh off the success of WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE, Bette Davis stars as estranged twin sisters Margaret and Edith.  Edith is bitter towards her twin sister and kills her while also taking her identity.  She finds that impersonating her sister is not easy as she must deal with Margaret's sleazy boyfriend Tony, played by Peter Lawford, and Sergeant Jim Hobbson, played by Karl Malden.  Philip Carey, Jean Hagen, George Macready, Estelle Winwood, George Chandler, Mario Alcalde, Cyril Delevanti, Monika Henreid, Bert Remsen, and many others co-star in this film.  This is a pretty decent twin thriller that still holds up together.  Davis takes on both roles very well.  I would even say it is a good look at upper-class jealousy. 

The Power of the Dog (2021):  This is my western for the week which was directed by Jane Campion and based on the novel by Thomas Savage.  Benedict Cumberbatch and Jesse Plemons star as brothers Phil and George Burbank who are wealthy ranchers.  George finds love in the widowed Rose, played by Kirsten Dunst, while Phil does what he can to make them miserable until he finds his own possibility of love.  Kodi Smit-McPhee, Kenneth Radley, Sean Keenan, George Mason, Ramontay McConnell, Cohen Holloway, Alistair Sewell, Alice Englert, Thomasin McKenzie, Keith Carradine, Alison Bruce, Adam Beach, and many others co-star in this western.  This is a more psychological western so if expecting a lot of action, this is not the western to watch.  It is hard to really describe this further than what I already did without spoiling it but Cumberbatch is very compelling in his role.  

The Card (1952):  Ronald Neame directed this comedy based on the novel by Arnold Bennett.  Alec Guinness stars as Denry who comes from a poor background and decides he must do what he can to raise his living standards.  He finds many ways to rise in the ranks of business and social class.  Glynis Johns, Valerie Hobson, Petula Clark, Edward Chapman, Veronica Turleigh, George Devine, Joan Hickson, Frank Pettingill, Gibb McLaughlin, and many others co-star in this comedy.  This is one of the Ealing comedies that were produced in Britain.  This is a good satire on social class.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.

Boeing, Boeing (1965):  John Rich directed this comedy that is based on the play by Marc Camoletti.  Tony Curtis stars as Bernard Lawrence who is engaged to three different flight attendants, played by Dany Saval, Christiane Schmidtmer, and Suzanna Leigh, and able to keep them away from each other knowing their schedules.  Jerry Lewis co-stars as Bernard's visiting friend Robert Reed who haplessly tries to help his philandering friend keep it altogether.  Thelma Ritter co-stars as Bernard's maid Bertha who also tries to keep it altogether for Robert even if she does not seem to like it.  Curtis is really good in his role and Jerry Lewis tones it down in this one speaking in his normal voice instead of the nerdy voice he used a lot in this era.  This does have a lot of funny moments and is available to watch on Pluto TV.  

Tupac:  Resurrection (2003):  I end the week on this documentary that was directed by Lauren Lazin.  This takes a look at rapper Tupac Shakur's life through home movies, photographs, recited poetry and some recorded audio from Tupac himself.  This shows Tupac as a very complicated person who could be described in many ways.  This was produced by Tupac's mother Afeni Shakur.  This is a pretty insightful documentary and there is not a lot more I can say but presents him as human and not so much a hero.  This really deserves a look.

Well, that is it for this week but continue on for my segment of "Fun and Useless Facts".  Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for next week which so far includes Olivia Colman, Michelle Williams, and many others.

FUN AND USELESS FACTS

These are some interconnections of actors and actresses in my selections for the week.  I stopped after 25 facts and mostly focused on the first three selections of the week and some that connected to the later selections.  I am sure there is plenty I have missed so feel free to comment.

Anthony Mackie (Captain America:  Civil War) plays Tupac Shakur (Tupac:  Resurrection) in the 2009 biopic NOTORIOUS.

Daniel Bruhl (Captain America:  Civil War) and Josephine de La Baume (One Day) were in the 2013 film RUSH.

Diana Kent (One Day) and Kirsten Dunst (The Power of the Dog) were in the 2008 comedy HOW TO LOSE FRIENDS AND ALIENATE PEOPLE.

Don Cheadle (Captain America:  Civil War) and Nicolas Cage (Birdy) were in the 2000 holiday film THE FAMILY MAN.

Hope Davis (Captain America:  Civil War) and Nicolas Cage (Birdy) play an estranged couple in the 2005 movie THE WEATHER MAN.

John Slattery (Captain America:  Civil War) and Patricia Clarkson (One Day) co-star in the 2003 independent film THE STATION AGENT.

John Slattery (Captain America:  Civil War) and Bruno Kirby (Birdy) were in the 1996 film SLEEPERS.

Marisa Tomei (Captain America:  Civil War) and Rafe Spall (One Day) were in the 2015 film THE BIG SHORT.

Martin Freeman (Captain America:  Civil War) and Benedict Cumberbatch (The Power of the Dog) star as Watson and Holmes in the BBC series SHERLOCK.

Martin Freeman (Captain America:  Civil War) and Ken Stott (One Day) were in THE HOBBIT trilogy.

Martin Freeman (Captain America:  Civil War) and Rafe Spall (One Day) were in the 2007 comedy HOT FUZZ.

Matthew Modine (Birdy) and Anne Hathaway (One Day) were in the 2012 superhero film THE DARK KNIGHT RISES.

Nicolas Cage (Birdy) and Adam Beach (The Power of the Dog) were in the 2002 war movie WINDTALKERS.  

Nicolas Cage (Birdy) plays Dracula in the upcoming film RENFIELD, and yes, you read that right.  John Carradine (This Day and Age) plays Dracula in the Universal era most notably with the 1944 film HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN and the 1945 film HOUSE OF DRACULA.

Patricia Clarkson (One Day) and Kirsten Dunst (The Power of the Dog) were in the 1995 film JUMANJI.

Paul Rudd (Captain America:  Civil War) plays Paris in the 1996 film ROMEO + JULIET.  I played Paris in a 2013 production of ROMEO AND JULIET in Farmland, Indiana.  I am pretty sure this is the only role that Paul and me will ever share.

Robert Downey Jr. (Captain America:  Civil War) plays Sherlock Holmes in the 2009 film SHERLOCK HOLMES, the 2011 sequel SHERLOCK HOLMES:  GAME OF SHADOWS, and I have heard there is a third one in production.  Fellow MCU alum Benedict Cumberbatch (The Power of the Dog) plays Holmes in the BBC series SHERLOCK in a more modern take to the famed detective.

Robert Downey Jr. (Captain America:  Civil War) and Nancy Fish (Birdy) are in the 2005 film KISS KISS BANG BANG.

Robert Downey Jr. (Captain America:  Civil War) and Patricia Clarkson (One Day) were in the 2005 film GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK.

Scarlett Johansson (Captain America:  Civil War) auditioned for roles in the 1995 film JUMANJI and the 2005 film ELIZABETHTOWN that would both ultimately go to Kirsten Dunst (The Power of the Dog).

Scarlett Johansson (Captain America:  Civil War) auditioned for the role of Fantine in the 2012 musical LES MISERABLES which would ultimately go to Anne Hathaway (One Day).

Scarlett Johansson (Captain America:  Civil War) and Jim Sturgess (One Day) play siblings in the 2008 film THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL.

Scarlett Johansson (Captain America:  Civil War) and Patricia Clarkson (One Day) are in the 2008 film VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA.

Scarlett Johansson (Captain America:  Civil War) and Romola Garai (One Day) are in the 2006 movie SCOOP.

Sebastian Stan (Captain America:  Civil War) and Anne Hathaway (One Day) were in the 2008 film RACHEL GETTING MARRIED.