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.
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