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.
No comments:
Post a Comment