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.
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