Welcome to the 857th Edition of my series. I release this on the day that is apparently my birthday. In these crazy times, just know I will not raise the prices of reading this movie blog. I don't have much else happening so I'll just get on with my selections for the week.
Rumble Fish (1983): This is part eight of my ten part Nicolas Cage series where I start a little earlier in his career being directed by his uncle. Francis Ford Coppola directed this film based on the novel by S.E. Hinton. Matt Dillon stars as high school youth Rusty James who is the leader of a small gang but cannot live up to the reputation of his older brother the Motorcycle Boy, played by Mickey Rourke. He also must deal with his alcoholic father, played by Dennis Hopper, and his troubled relationship with Patty, played by Diane Lane. Cage, Diana Scarwid, Vincent Spano, Chris Penn, Lawrence Fishburne, William Smith, Michael Higgins, Glenn Withrow, Tom Waits, Sofia Coppola, Tracey Walter, and many others co-star in this film. This is more of a character driven story of struggle, jealousy, envy, to name a few. In some ways the cinematography from Stephen H. Burum got to be the star of this movie as well. This is available to watch on Peacock.
The King (2017): This is one of two documentaries featured tor this week. Eugene Jarecki directed this documentary that takes a look at the legacy and the effects that Elvis Presley has had through the years on society and the American Dream. This has interviews with James Carville, Chuck D, Ethan Hawke, Emmylou Harris, Mike Myers, Alec Baldwin, Ashton Kutcher, and many others get interviewed for this documentary. Others being interviewed are people who knew him or those that lived near him. Keep in mind, this is not really a biographical look at Elvis but more of an analysis of Elvis and society in general. This is available to watch on Prime with a subscription to Curiosity Stream and can be watched for free on Pluto TV.
The King of Staten Island (2020): I follow up with another king which was directed by Judd Apatow. Pete Davison stars as Scott Carlin who has not really adjusted to life after his firefight father died. He spends most of his days smoking pot but also dreams of being a tattoo artist though has a hard time being able to do what must be done. Marisa Tomei co-stars as Scott's mother who does not know what to do with her grown slacker son and Bel Powley stars as Scott's love interest Kelsey. Bill Burr, Ricky Velez, Lou Wilson, Moises Arias, Carly Aquilino, Steve Buscemi, Maude Apatow, Pauline Chalamet, Giselle King, Lynne Koplitz, Joseph Paul Kennedy, Nina Hellman, Kevin Corrigan, Pamela Adlon, Machine Gun Kelly, Robert Smigel, and many others co-star in this film. This is presented as a comedy and does have its funny moments but leans a lot toward the drama genre, maybe character study. I was not sure what to expect or where this was going but I like where it went. This was a moving story about a young man forced to try getting his life together.
Butterfly (1967): This is my short film for the week which was directed by Shirley Clarke. This is an experimental and abstract film protesting the Vietnam War. This has a mother with her child along with Brahms' LULLABY along with gunshots. This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.
Dragnet Girl (1933): This is my Japanese film for the week which was directed by Yasujiro Ozu. Kinuyo Tanaka stars as Tokiko whose boyfriend Joji is a washed-up boxer turned gangster. Joji is looking for redemption through a sister of an up and coming gangster but Tokiko is not having it. This is a silent film as Japan had not made the full transition to sound route as early as we did in the United States. This is still a very compelling story to watch and is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.
Alice in Wonderland (1951): Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, and Hamilton Luske directed this Disney adaptation to the Lewis Carroll novel that also looks at ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS. Alice, voiced by Kathryn Beaumont, who just can't sit still having stories read to her and encounters a white rabbit, voiced by Bill Thompson, and follows him down a rabbit hole where she encounters a lot of interesting characters along the way. Ed Wynn, Richard Haydn, Sterling Holloway, Jerry Colonna, Verna Felton, J. Pat O'Malley, and many others lend their voice to this Disney classic. This is a pretty fun adaptation of the classic story with some really good animation. This is available to watch on Disney Plus.
Loving Pablo (2017): Fernando Leon de Aranoa directed this biopic based on the book Virginia Vallejo, played by Penelop Cruz. Vallejo is a journalist and strikes up a relationship with infamous drug dealer Pablo Escobar, played by Javier Bardem. She starts out on cloud nine but as time goes on, she sees him more for the violent person that is and works with the DEA to bring him down lead by Shepard, played by Peter Sarsgaard. Julieth Restrepo, Oscar Jaenada, Fredy Yate, Ricardo Nino, and many others co-star in this biopic. This is taken from Vallejo's point of view. Bardem had declined past offers to play Escobar but finally liked this one as he was portrayed as human this time instead of a black and white drug dealer. Vallejo has said she liked Cruz's portrayal of her.
Weekend (1967): This is my French film for the week which was directed by Jean-Luc Godard. Jean Yanne and Mireille Darc star as married couple Roland and Corinne Durand who take a weekend trip to see the Corinne's parents. Things take a turn for the worst as they run into a lot really bizarre situations. This is a surrealistic film and is really difficult to explain this movie beyond the words bizarre and violent. It is also not for everyone but sure has its audience. This is available to watch on HBO Max and the Criterion Channel.
Blithe Spirit (1945): David Lean directed this comedy based on the Noel Coward. Rex Harrison and Constance Cummings star as married couple Charles and Ruth Condomine who arrange for the local mystic Madame Arcati, played by Margaret Rutherford, to give a seance. The side effect is that Charles's late first wife Elvira, played by Kay Hammond, returns from beyond the grave making things difficult for the couple. Hugh Wakefield, Joyce Carey, Jacqueline Clark, and many others co-star in this film. This is a pretty funny movie of the supernatural and the world of ghosts. This is a good trio with Hammond looking good as a ghost. This is also available on both HBO Max and the Criterion Channel.
Of Fathers and Sons (2017): I end the movie with the second of my two documentaries. Talal Derki directed this documentary and went quite to the extremes to get it made. He returned to his homeland in Syria where he gains the trust of a radical Islamist family that is part of the terrorist organization the Al-Nusra Front. It is mostly a movie where the cameras are going and we witness a family of terrorists where the children are also being trained. This is hard to watch sometimes but is a very interesting look where no sides are really taken.
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, Annette Bening, Toni Collette, Laurence Olivier, and many others.
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