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.
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