Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations- 871st Edition

Welcome to the 871st Edition of my series.  I continue to rehearse for OUR TOWN.  It is continuing to come along very well.  On the bottom are the dates and times for the show.  It is also a free showing at the New Castle Public Library.  It will require registration so I will have that info likely next week.  I don't have much else happening so I will just get on with my selections for the week.

Catfight (2016):  This is part two of my Anne Heche trilogy.  Onur Tukel wrote and directed this dark comedy.  Sandra Oh stars as Veronica who is a self-entitled housewife.  Heche stars as Lisa who is artist dealing with her career and the fact her girlfriend Lisa, played by Alicia Silverstone wants to have a baby.  They are two very unlikable people who were rivals in college and whose paths continue to cross where things have not gotten much better.  Amy Hill, Myra Lucretia Taylor, Ariel Kavoussi, Damian Young, Stephen Gevedon, Giullian Yao Gioiello, Tituss Burgess, and many others co-star in this comedy.  This is more of a satire maybe of the pointlessness of having such animosity toward one another.  The title says it all but but I felt they do a good job leading up to it.  This is available to watch on Netflix.

Short Term 12 (2013):  Destin Daniel Cretton wrote and directed this independent film.  Brie Larson stars as Grace who works at a foster care facility for at-risk youth.  She takes a interest in the troubled Jayden, played by Kaitlyn Dever, and tries to help her situation even resorted to some extreme measures.  Grace also has her own troubles dealing with the relationship with her boyfriend and co-worker Mason, played by John Gallagher Jr.  Frantz Turner, Stephanie Beatriz, Rami Malek, Alex Calloway, Kevin Balmore, LaKeith Stanfield, Diana Maria Riva, Melora Walters, and many others co-star in this film.  This is a very moving film that is very character driven. Larson and Dever work very well together.  This is a rather underrated film that deserves a watch.  This is available to watch on Freevee, Peacock, AMC+, Fandor, Plex, Pluto TV, Shout! TV Factory, Sundance Now, and TUBI.  

Tyrannosaur (2011):  Paddy Considine wrote and directed this film that is also quite independent.  Peter Mullan stars as Joseph who has as lot of tendencies for violence and rage.  He finds opportunity for possible redemption in Christian shop owner Hannah, played by Olivia Colman, who is having her own marital issues and tries to help her in her abusive relationship.  Eddie Marsan, Sally Carman, Ned Dennehy, Fiona Carnegie, and many others co-star in this film.  This is another one that is driven by the characters and is brutally honest.  This is a very well done film, just not a very upbeat one.  This is available to watch on Hoopla Digital, TUBI and on Strand Releasing subscription with Prime.  

Daffy Duck Hunt (1949):  This is my classic animated short for the week which you might have guessed featured Daffy Duck.  Porky Pig is the hunter who along with his dog takes home a live Daffy Duck with the intentions of cooking him.  Daffy has other ideas and heckles Porky and his dog.  This is pretty funny and is available to watch on HBO Max.

Algiers (1938):  John Cromwell directed this film based on the novel PEPE LE MOKO.  Charles Boyer stars as Pepe Le Moko who is a charming thief that escaped a French prison and is now the leader of the immense Casbah and no the Clash are not in this movie.  He forms a relationship with the beautiful Gaby, played by Hedy Lamarr, while trying to evade capture.  Sigrid Gurie, Joseph Calleia, Alan Hale, Gene Lockhart, Walter Kingsford, Paul Harvey, Stanley Fields, and many others.  The character of Pepe Le Moko became the inspiration for the Warner Brothers' cartoon character Pepe le Pew who has come under some controversy in the last few years.  Boyer plays his role very well and is a pretty decent film from this era. This is available to watch on Prime, Epix, Paramount Plus, and many other platforms.

Lady in a Cage (1964):  This is part seven of my ten part series of James Caan where he makes his film debut.  Walter Grauman directed this psychological horror film.  Olivia de Havilland stars as Cornelia who has broken her hip and needs an elevator in her home to get around.  When she is alone, the elevator stops working and when using emergency means, she manages to attract a couple groups of thieves that have different intentions.  Jennifer Billingsley, Rafael Campos, William Swan, Jeff Corey, Ann Sothern, Scatman Crothers, and many others co-star in this film.  This is a pretty cool thriller with a really good debut from Caan and the start of a really good career.  De Havilland is very good as the helpless Cornelia and replaced Joan Crawford.  

The Resurrection of Jake the Snake (2015):  This is my wrestling documentary for the week which was directed by Steve Yu.  This features the fallen wrestling legend Jake "The Snake" Roberts who is almost at the end of his rope.  His longtime friend and colleague Diamond Dallas Page decides to take him into his home and into the Accountability Crib.  Other interviews include Steve Austin, Adam Copeland aka Edge, Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Ted Dibiase, Scott Hall, Chris Jericho, Gene Okerlund, Dustin Rhodes, and Jim Ross.  This is a sad story at times but is a very inspiration film about not giving up.  While this shows Roberts getting better, it also shows the roadblocks and the difficulty of recovery from drugs and alcohol.  I listen to DDP and Roberts on a weekly basis now on their podcast DDP SNAKEPIT which is hosted by Jon Alba and in the beginning was Conrad Thompson.  There was also a really good episode of DARK SIDE OF THE RING which features Jake Roberts but is based on his family and plays into some of the reasons he became the man he did.  This is something that both wrestling fans and non-wrestling fans should watch.  DDP has helped a lot of people through his program and while I'm not usually one for celebrity quotes, I do love his quote of "never underestimate the power you give someone by believing in them".  This is available to watch on Prime and check out their podcast that was mentioned as well.

Toomorrow (1970):  I haven't really done anything for Olivia Newton-John since her recent death so I wanted to look into something I had not seen and this seemed interesting enough.  Val Guest wrote and directed this sci-fi rock movie I guess you would call it.  Olivia stars as the singer of a rock band actually called Toomorrow.  Unfortunately, there are some aliens that are dying and kidnap them in hopes their music will save them.  Roy Dotrice, Imogen Hassall, Margaret Nolan, Roy Marsden, Carl Rigg, and many others co-star in this sci-fi movie.  I don't think that much more explanation is needed.  This is no blockbuster nor did it win any awards, at least none I know of.  It was still a pretty fun watch and could be good for a group of friends to get together.  It is also good to see a young Olivia Newton-John before her most popular film of GREASE.  This is available to watch on Youtube.

Fog Island (1945):  Terry O. Morse directed this film based on the play ANGEL ISLAND by Bernadine Angus.  George Zucco stars as Leo Grainer who has recently been released from prison for the murder of his wife that he did not commit and lives on a secluded island with his stepdaughter.  Leo has a very vengeful mind and wants to know who framed him so he invites a group of people that he suspects with the temptation of a hidden fortune.  Lionel Atwill, Jerome Cowan, Veda Ann Borg, John Whitney, Jacqueline deWit, Ian Keith, George Lloyd, and many others co-star in this film.  This is kind of a low-budget version of Agatha Christie's TEN LITTLE INDIANS and I suppose the movie version of CLUE is as well.  It is not the best transfer in the world but still entertains enough.  This is available to watch on Prime.

An Animated Short Where Pissed-Off Supes Kill Their Parents (2022):  I end the week with this animated short which is technically an episode of the superhero animated series THE BOYS PRESENTS:  DIABOLICAL.  This episode features a group of superheroes that ended up with ridiculous powers much to the dismay of their parents.  Frances Conroy, Asjha Cooper, Grey Griffin, Xolo Mariduena, Caleb McLaughlin, Eugene Mirman, Retta, Justin Roiland, Ben Schwartz, Christian Slater, Kevin Smith, Kenan Thompson, Angela Marie Volpa, Gary Anthony Williams, and many others co-star in thsi episode.  The title mostly gives it away but is very funny and violent.  I would recommend watching the first couple of seasons of the show THE BOYS at least to get familiarized with the superhero world they live in.  Both of these are available to watch on Prime.

Well, that is it for this week.  Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for next week which so far includes Shirley MacLaine, Kathy Bates, Harold Lloyd, Doris Day, Shirley Temple, and many others.

Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations- 870th Edition

Welcome to the 870th Edition of my series.  I continue having rehearsals for OUR TOWN in New Castle and will get ticket information closer to time.  I don't have much else happening so I'll just get on with my selections for the week.

The Way of the Gun (2000):  This is part six of my ten-part James Caan series.  Christopher McQuarrie directed and wrote this modern-day Noir film and makes his directorial debut.  Ryan Phillippe and Benicio Del Toro star as petty criminals Parker and Longbaugh who look for a bigger score by kidnapping surrogate mother Robin, played by Juliette Lewis.  Robin is carrying for the shady Hale Chidduck, played by Scott Wilson, and her kidnappers expect a big ransom but get far more than they bargained for when Hale sends his bodyguards after them.  James Caan, Taye Diggs, Nicky Katt, Geoffrey Lewis, Kristin Lehman, Mando Guerrero, Sarah Silverman, and many others co-star in this film.  This is a pretty fun action film that is regarded as a cult classic.  Lots of violence, twists, and turns as well as well-written characters.  This is available to watch on Hoopla Digital, Plex, TUBI, and Pluto TV.

Pearl Jam Twenty (2011):  This is my music documentary for the week which was directed by Cameron Crowe.  When this movie was made, this was the 20th anniversary for Pearl Jam.  This takes a look at their younger days before they became Pearl Jam when some of them were in the band Mother Love Bone.  This also takes a look at the Grunge music scene in general like with Soundgarden and Nirvana.  I have always been a pretty big fan of Pearl Jam and like much of the music from the Grunge scene so this was pretty easy for me to get through.  This is a very informative documentary that I think just about anyone can enjoy this as a documentary.  Crowe also directed his semi-autobiographical film ALMOST FAMOUS which is based on his times as an aspiring music journalist and could be a really good double feature.

Little (2019):  Tina Gordon directed and co-wrote this this comedy of seeing the error of your ways.  Regina Hall stars as the overbearing boss Jordan Sanders who is turned back to her 13 year old self, played by Marsai Martin.  Jordan's assistant April Williams, played by Issa Rae, is the only one aware of what has happened and while helping her, she also looks to make her boss see how overbearing she has been.  SMALLVILLE alum Justin Hartley, Tone Bell, Mikey Day, JD McCrary, Tucker Meek, Thalia Tran, Eva Carlton, Luke James, Rachel Dratch, Noree Victoria, Kendra L. Franklin, Marc Hawes, Tracee Ellis Ross, and many others co-star in this comedy.  This is not an original premise by any means, we can all name off at least two that come to mind.  This still has some laughs with some really good performances including Martin as young Sanders.  This also has a good lesson to be learned.  This is available to watch on FXNOW.

The Tortoise and the Hare (1935):  This is my animated short that comes from Disney and is their take on the classic story of the race between a tortoise and a hare.  Max Hare is very fast and is convinced he will defeat Toby Tortoise due to his own slowness.  However, Toby sticks to the race while Max gets a bit cocky and steers away from the race.  Neither character would really go into being featured characters but Max served as the blueprint for Warner's iconic Bugs Bunny.  This is available to watch on Disney Plus.

Diabolique (1955):  This is my French film for the week which was directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot and based on the novel by Pierre Boileau and Thomas Narcejac.  Vera Clouzot stars as schoolteacher Christina Delassalle who is in a very unhappy marriage with the school's principal Michel Delassalle, played by Paul Meurisse.  Christina and her colleague as well as her husband's mistress Nicole, played by Simone Signoret, develop a plan to murder the reviled principal.  Charles Vanel, Jean Brochard, Michel Serrault, Georges Chamarat, Robert Dalban, and many others co-star in this film.  This is a very compelling film with a lot of twists and turns.  If I say anything else, I'll start giving away.  This is available to watch on HBO Max.  

Cactus Flower (1969):  Gene Saks directed this comedy which is based on the play by Abe Burrows.  Goldie Hawn stars as the rather free-spirited Toni Simmons who believes that she is having an affair with a married dentist named Dr. Julian Winston, played by Walter Matthau.  What is really happening is Julian is claiming to be married and claiming to have kids wanting to avoid commitment.  Julian claims to be breaking up with his wife but Toni insists on meeting the wife first and enlists the help of his dental assistant Stephanie, played by Ingrid Bergman.  Jack Weston, Rick Lenz, Vito Scotti, Irene Hervey, Eve Bruce, and many others co-star in this film.  While the choices of Dr. Winston are pretty strange, it still has a lot of funny moments.  Bergman gets to show more of her comedic side even though she was the straight person of the film most of the time.  This is available to watch on TUBI.

My Friend Dahmer (2017):  This is part two of my Anne Heche trilogy where she plays the mother of Jeffrey Dahmer.  Marc Meyers directed this movie which is based on the graphic novel by John Backderf, played by Alex Wolff.  Ross Lynch stars as a young Jeffrey Dahmer who is an outcast in his high school and we see events that possibly lead into the person Dahmer would become.  I think just about every knows the basic story so I won't go into it.  Vincent Kartheiser, Dallas Roberts, Liam Koeth, Tommy Nelson, Harrison Holzer, Cameron McKendry, and many others co-star in this biopic.  I remember years ago actually reading this graphic novel.  My stepmom bought my nephew and her grandson a bunch of comic books that were mostly about superheroes but found this one might not be appropriate for him at the time so they kept this one.  It is a pretty good story of 20/20 hindsight vision and some signs that might have been missed.  Ross Lynch was very well cast as Dahmer

China Sky (1945):  Ray Enright directed this film based on the novel by Pearl S. Buck.  This takes place in war-torn China at an American mission hospital run by Dr. Gray Thompson, played by western star Randolph Scott, and Dr. Sara Durand, played by Ruth Warrick.  Part of this is a love triangle going on and the other part is a Japanese air raid that is happening.  They also have a Japanese prisoner where they must choose between their medical duties and their feelings on helping the enemy.  Ellen Drew, Anthony Quinn, Carol Thurston, Richard Loo, Philip Ahn, Benson Fong, and many others co-star in this film.  This is a pretty decent war melodrama and yes while there are some Asian actors, there are some white actors portraying the Japanese and Mexican-American actor Quinn portrays one as well.  This is available on the Criterion Channel.

Blue Collar (1978):  Paul Schrader directed this film that takes a look at poor working conditions.  Richard Pryor stars as car factory worker Zeke who is very frustrated about being underpaid and the struggles to support his family.  He is able to get his coworkers Jerry, played by Harvey Keitel, and Smokey, played by Yaphet Kotto, to rob the local union's bureau safe and despite not being able to get much money, they find information they can blackmail.  Ed Begley Jr., Harry Bellaver, George Memmoli, Lucy Saroyan, Lane Smith, Cliff De Young, Borah Silver, Chip Fields, Harry Northup, and many others co-star in this film.  Pryor shows a lot more of his serious side in this movie and does a great job.  I know I mentioned poor working conditions but it was also about union corruption and what people are willing to do to get ahead. This is a very underrated film that deserves a look.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.

Tony (2021):  I end the week with this short film which was directed and co-written by Timi Akindele-Ajani.  Cora Kirk stars as Malaya who must pay her rent by the end of the working day and did not get paid as much as she thought.  She is forced to make phone calls she was not wanting to make where she must seek money.  Lauren Drennan, Gavin Dunn, Estrella Mabika, Miles Paloma, Samuel Rintoul, and John Vernon co-star as the people Malaya talks to on the phone.  This is only about nine minutes long and does well to convey the struggle of one person desperate for money.  This can be seen at https://collab.sundance.org/catalog/TONY-2021-03-08-040118 .

Well, that is it for this week.  Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for next week which so far includes Anne Heche, Brie Larson, Olivia Colman, and many others.

Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations- 869th Edition

Welcome to the 869th Edition of my series.  I continue to work through rehearsals for OUR TOWN which I think will come together very well.  We at least have the pre-season of football which is a start I guess, now for the real thing.  I don't have much else happening so I'll just get on with my selections for the week.

I'm No Dummy (2009):  I start the week with a documentary which was directed by Bryan W. Simon.  This takes a look at the world of ventriloquism including but not limited to the most known modern-day ventriloquist Jeff Dunham.  They explore the history of this art and some of their inspirations.  Other interviews include Jay Johnson, Jimmy Nelson, Kelly Asbury, and many others.  It also takes a look at possibly the most famous ventriloquist of the all in Edgar Bergen and his dummy Charlie McCarthy.  This is a very good look at this very difficult form of acting.  I don't think I could ever pull this off.  This is available to watch on Hoopla Digital.

Swallow (2019):  Carlo Mirabella-David wrote and directed this psychological thriller.  Haley Bennett stars as the newlywed housewife Hunter who marries Richie, played by Austin Stowell, and she is also pregnant.  She has a hard time meeting the expectations of her newfound family and also develops the rare eating disorder Pica.  She starts to consume objects that are not meant to be eaten.  Denis O'Hare, Elizabeth Marvel, David Rasche, Luna Lauren Velez, Zabryna Guevera, Laith Nakli, Babak Tafti, Nicole Kang, Olivia Perez, Kristi Kirk, Alyssa Bresnahan, Maya Days, Elise Santora, and many others co-star in this psychological film.  This is really a look at a stressed woman and her world crumbling around her.  I don't know how to describe this any better except it is very intriguing and compelling.  This is available to watch on AMC+ and IFC Films Unlimited.

Once Upon a Time in the Midlands (2002):  Shane Meadows directed and co-wrote this offbeat romantic comedy.  Robert Carlyle stars as small town crook Jimmy who happens to be watching a show with his ex-girlfriend Shirley, played by Shirley Henderson, as she rejects a marriage proposal by her awkward boyfriend Dek, played by Rhys Ifans.  This prompts Jimmy to move from Glasgow back to the Midlands with the belief that he can win back Shirley.  Kathy Burke, Ricky Tomlinson, Andrew Shinn, Eliot Otis Brown Walters, Antony Strachan, James Cosmo, and many others co-star in this film.  This is a pretty complex story with some twists along the way.  Carlyle is great as Jimmy in a very versatile performance.  

Zuckerkandl! (1968):  This is my animated short for the week and is based on a book by Robert Maynard Hutchins.  Hutchins also does the narration of this short of a fictitious philosopher named Alexander Zuckerkandl who is a parody of Freud.  This is a satire of moral psychology and philosophy and is worth a few minutes.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.

King of Chinatown (1939):  Nick Grindle directed this film from the Golden Year of Hollywood.  The Chinese faction of Chicago are being subject to death and violence through their protection scam.  Sidney Toler and Anna May Wong star as father and daughter Dr. Chang and Mary Ling.  Akim Tamiroff co-stars as gang leader Frank Baturin whose life that Mary saves but fears her father shot him.  J. Carrol Naish, Philip Ahn, Anthony Quinn, Bernadine Hayes, Roscoe Karns, and many othesr co-star in this film.  Wong is considered to be the first Chinese American star of Hollywood.  This is a pretty good early look at prejudice and even redemption and is only about an hour long.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.

Neptune's Daughter (1949):  Edward Buzzell directed this musical with the music and lyrics written by Frank Loesser.  Esther Williams stars as Eve Barrett who believes her sister Betty, played by Betty Garrett, is in love with South American heartbreaker Jose O'Rourke, played by Ricardo Montalban, and is determined to protect her from him.  Eve slowly falls in love with Jose herself not knowing that her sister is really in love with Jack Spratt, played by Red Skelton, through a case of mistaken identity.  Keenan Wynn, Xavier Cugat, Ted de Corsia, Mike Mazurki, Mel Blanc, and many others co-star in this musical.  This movie introduces the world to Loesser's BABY, IT'S COLD OUTSIDE which was a song he wrote for himself and his wife at parties.  Unfortunately, this song has come under the subject of controversy where people tend to associate the lyrics to date rape which I do not agree with.  It eventually got associated as a holiday song though that's not what it was for in this movie and was a pretty comical rendition of the song.  Williams has a couple of her aquatic musical numbers with her being known for her musicals that involved swimming and was very easy on the eyes.  

The 12th Man (2017):  This is my WWII film for the week which was directed by Harald Zwart.  Thomas Gullestad stars as Jan Baalsrud who is part of the resistance against the Nazis and was the survivor of a 12 man group.  Now he is on the run and out for survival as he heads to Sweden.  Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Marie Blokhus, Mads Sjogard Pettersen, Geir Vegar Hoel, Hakon T. Nielsen, and many othesr co-star in this film.  This is based on a true story.  It is very hard hard to watch at times but it is a very good movie on survival and perseverance.  This is available to watch on AMC+, IFC Films Unlimited, and Plex.

Rollerball (1975):  This is part five of my 10 part James Caan series.  Norman Jewison directed this sci-fi film that was written by William Harrison.  This centers around a corporate run world which I guess is not a big stretch and it centers around the sport of Rollerball which is a more extreme form of Roller Derby.  Caan stars as the popular Jonathan E. who they are trying to force into retirement but he defies them making things a lot more difficult to control everyone else.  Maud Adams, John Houseman, John Beck, Moses Gunn, Pamela Hensley, Barbara Trentham, John Normington, Shane Rimmer, Burt Kwouk, Nancy Bleier, Richard LeParmentier, Robert Ito, Ralph Richardson, and many others co-star in this sci-fi film.  This is meant to convey the futility of existence that revolves around a very violent sport.  This is a really good entry into the dystopian genre that really deserves a look.  This is available to watch on Prime, TUBI and Pluto TV.

The Flowers of St. Francis (1950):  This is my Italian film for the week which was directed and co-written by Roberto Rossellini.  This is a series of vignettes that depict the lives of the original Franciscan monks that include St. Francis himself.  Each story features the same group but they separate them into non-linear scenes instead of a specific plot.  Each scene has a lesson to be learned.  This is not for everyone and is a pretty subtle and spiritual movie.  This focuses more on life messages and not so much religious messages.  This is available to watch on HBO Max.

Bring the Weapons (2008):  I end the week with this documentary short which was directed by Andrew Laker and even features yours truly.  This centers around the Columbus, Indiana wrestling promotion Hooosier Pro Wrestling in the 2007-2008 season which was run by Jerry Wilson.  This centers around a violent feud between the wrestlers Ox Harley and Pastor Pain that went on for a few months.  I am featured a little bit from when I was the ring announcer for the promotion and was where I got my start.  I had forgotten about this until my dad brought it up when I was there to visit and he spoke very highly of it even though he is not a wrestling fan.  They also feature a good match between Jeremy Hadley and Donny Idol.  This was very well put together and a great look at the independent wrestling scene.  It was also good to hear a little of myself and see some of my friends.  Hoosier Pro Wrestling is no longer running shows but they did leave a lot of good memories.  This is available to watch at https://vimeo.com/1863129 .

Well, that is it for this week.  Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for next week which so far includes Juliette Lewis, Goldie Hawn, the late Anne Heche, and many others.

Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations- 868th Edition

Welcome to the 868th Edition of my series.  I have been busy with OUR TOWN rehearsals but still found some time to get this out.  It has been going well in the beginning stages and hope people in and around the area can attend.  I don't have much else to say so I'll just get on with my selections for the week.

The Boss Baby (2017):  I start the week with this animated feature from Dreamworks which was directed by Tom McGrath and based on the book by Marla Frazee.  Tobey Maguire stars as the seven year old Tim who has everything going for him as an only child but gets disrupted by a new baby brother, voiced by Alec Baldwin, in a suit and tie.  It turns out there is a lot more to that baby and they team to take on the crooked boss, voiced by Steve Buscemi, that runs Puppy Co. who has some really bad plans.  Jimmy Kimmel, Lisa Kudrow, Miles Bakshi, James McGrath, Conrad Vernon, ViviAnn Lee, Eric Bell Jr., Edie Mirman, Walt Dohrn, Tom McGrath, and many others co-star in this animated movie.  As I watch this movie, I realized this has a very bizarre storyline even by animation standards.  It is also very clever and very family oriented.  This is available to watch on FXNOW.  

Love and Other Disasters (2006):  Alek Keshishian wrote and directed this romantic comedy.  Brittany Murphy stars as American Vogue intern Emily Jackson but goes by Jacks.  She plays matchmaker for her friends which includes her gay roommate Peter, played by Matthew Rhys.  Unfortunately for her, she is so intent on setting up her friends and does not see the love right under her nose.  Catherine Tate, Santiago Cabrera, Elliot Cowan, Stephanie Beacham, Jamie Sives, Will Keen, Michael Lerner, and many others co-star in this romantic comedy and has some surprise celebrity cameos.  This would be a great selection for a date night or a girls' night.  There is some really good commentary in this movie about what happens in the movies and real life.  Murphy is also a lot of fun in this movie.  This is available to watch on Hoopla Digital and TUBI.

A Long Way Down (2014):  Pascal Chaumeil directed this film which is based on the novel by Nick Hornby.  This starts out on New Year's Eve in London where four people go to the top of a big building and all have the same intention of suicide.  This consists of Martin, played by Pierce Brosnan, Maureen, played by Toni Collette, Jess, played by Imogen Poots, and J.J., played by BREAKING BAD alum Aaron Paul and they each have their own story on what is happening in their lives.  They all come together and form a friendship in hopes of helping each other through their problems.  Joe Cole, Sam Neill, Josef Altin, Diana Kent, Rosamund Pike, Shola Adewusi, Enrique Arce, Tuppence Middleton, and many others co-star in this character driven film.  This is a really good look at depression and how coming together can help a lot.  

Barbecue Brawl (1956):  This is my animated short for the week and features our favorite cat and mouse in Tom and Jerry.  This has a side story with the bulldog Spike having a barbecue with his son which gets disrupted by Tom and Jerry as they chase one another.  This is a pretty fun animated short with a couple stories coming together.  This is available to watch on HBO Max.

The Winning of Barbara Worth (1926):  This is my silent western for the week which was directed by Henry King.  Ronald Colman stars as engineer Willard Holmes who is in love with a rancher's daughter named Barbara Worth, played by Vilma Banky, but competes with a local cowboy, played by a young Gary Cooper in his acting debut.  This has a lot of good special effects for its time.  Cooper had been a stuntman and this movie has shades of him becoming that all-american man he would become known for in his career.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.

Brian's Song (1971):  This is part four of my ten-part series to the late James Caan.  Buzz Kulik directed this classic tv movie based on the novel I AM THIRD by Gale Sayers and Al Silverman.  James Caan and Billy Dee Williams star as Bears teammates Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers who have nothing in common except they are competing for the running back position.  They form a close friendship when Piccolo helps Sayers recover from and injury.  Through it all, Piccolo has the biggest battle with cancer.  Jack Warden, Shelley Fabares, David Huddleston, Judy Pace, and many others co-star in this tv movie.  This is based on a true story and has been called a chick flick for the guys.  I recommend not trying to hold back the tears on this one.  It is a very moving story that deserves a look.

The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob (1973):  This is my French comedy for the week which was directed and co-written by Gerard Oury.  Louis de Funes stars as bigoted Frenchman Victor Pivert who must go on the run from a group of assassins and the police.  To elude the police, he poses as a popular rabbi which leads to some comical misunderstandings.  Miou-Miou, Suzy Delair, Marcel Dalio, Claude Girard, Renzo Montagnani, Janet Brandt, and many others co-star in this comedy.  I laughed pretty hard at this movie.  It has a hilarious scene that takes place in a bubblegum factory where others fall in and are covered in bubblegum.  This is available to watch on Freevee, Plex, and Tubi and is a must among foreign film buffs as well as classic comedy.

Where the Crawdads Sing (2022):  I made a trip to the theaters to check this one out which was directed by Olivia Newman and based on the novel by Delia Owens.  Daisy Edgar-Jones stars as Kya Clark who was raised in the marshlands by the south and is referred to as "the Marsh Girl" among the townspeople.  When a murder happens, she becomes a prime suspect and her attorney Tom Milton, played by David Strathairn, looks to understand her difficult past.  Taylor John Smith, Harris Dickinson, Michael Hyatt, Sterling Macer Jr., Logan Macrae, Bill Kelly, Ahna O'Reilly, Garret Dillahunt, Jojo Regina, Luke David Blumm, Blue Clarke, Will Bundon, Jayson Warner Smith, Dane Rhodes, Eric Ladin, Robert Larriviere, and many others co-star in this film.  I really liked how this movie unfolds as we slowly learn about Kya throughout the trial with her dysfunctional family situation and how she has mostly been alone.  I also liked not really knowing much about this when watching it.  For those that love the book, I have heard that this was a very faithful adaptation.

Anything Goes (1956):  This is my song and dance musical for the week which was directed by Robert Lewis and based on the play by Guy Bolton and P.G. Wodehouse.  Bing Crosby and Donald O'Connor star as song and dance team Bill Benson and Ted Adams.  While in Paris, they each discover who they feel is a perfect leading lady without informing one another.  Zizi Jeanmarie and Mitzi Gaynor co-star as these potential leading ladies.  Phil Harris, Walter Sande, Archer MacDonald, Argentina Brunetti, and many others co-star in this musical.  Crosby and O'Connor make a pretty good team.  Jeanmarie and Gaynor add a lot to the fun.  Classic music lovers should give this a look.

Yearbook (2014):  I end the week with this animated short which was written and directed by Bernard Britto.  This short centers around a man that works a desk job and is hired to compile the definitive history of human existence before the planet's eventual demise.  This is a really good look at anxiety and loneliness as well as human history.  This is only about five minutes long and worth every minute.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel and Vimeo.

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