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.
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