Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations- 875th Edition

Welcome to this week's edition of my series.  We opened for OUR TOWN yesterday and was received very well.  I have a performance today at 2:30 and one more tomorrow at 6:30.  I have a few announcements but will save them until tomorrow.

The Brady Bunch Movie (1995):  Betty Thomas directed this updated version of that popular sitcom about blended families.  As most know, it's a story of a lovely lady who we know as Carol, played by CHEERS alum Shelley Long, and has three daughters in Marcia, played by Christine Taylor, Jan, played by Jennifer Elise Cox, and Cindy, played by Olivia Hack.  Then that's a man named Brady who we know as Mike, played by Gary Cole, and he has three sons in Greg, played by Christopher Daniel Barnes, Peter, played by Paul Sutera, and Bobby, played by Jesse Lee Soffer.  They are in the '90s but still live as though they are in '60s.  Their scheming neighbor Larry Dittmeyer, played by Michael McKean, is determined to get everyone out of the neighborhood but has trouble with the Bradys.  Henriette Mantel, David Graf, Jack Noseworthy, Megan Ward, Jean Smart, Moriah Snyder, Alanna Ubach, Shane Conrad, Marissa Ribisi, R.D. Robb, Steven Gilborn, James Avery, David Proval, Rupaul, and many others co-star in this comedy.  Much of the cast of the original BRADY BUNCH have cameos including Florence Henderson, Christopher Knight, and Ann B. Davis.  Mike Lookinland, Susan Olsen, and Maureen McCormick filmed scenes but were cut.  Also look for a cameo from the Monkees.  This a pretty fun comedy that respected the original material pretty well and did a good job of casting.  This is available to watch on Prime.

Born in China (2016):  This is my documentary for the week which was directed by Chuan Lu.  THE OFFICE alum John Krasinski narrates this tale of animal families in the wilds of China like monkeys, pandas, and leopards.  They manage to get some amazing footage that they make stories out of the footage they have.  It is hard for me to describe this any further but is very enjoyable.  This can be a lot of fun for the family and is available to watch on Disney Plus.

Lakeview Terrace (2008):  I went over to Stephanie's house and when I got there, she was just starting this movie.  Neil Labute directed this film that is essentially about racial tension.  Samuel L. Jackson stars as troubled and racist LAPD cop Abel Turner and becomes dismayed when an interracial couple in Chris and Lisa Mattson, played by Patrick Wilson and Kerry Washington, move in next door.  Abel makes their lives hell as he tries to drive them away.  Ron Glass, Justin Chambers, Jay Hernandez, Regine Nehy, Jaishon Fisher, Robert Pine, Keith Loneker, Caleeb Pinkett, Robert Dahey, Ho-Jung, Elizabeth Tulloch, Vincent Laresca, and many others co-star in this film.  This is loosely based on a true story and this also takes place around wildfires that take place around this time.  This is a pretty entertaining movie that shows the price of racial tension and controlling parenting which is also something that happens with Abel.  This is available to watch on STARZ.

Asparagus (1979):  This is one of two animated selections for the week.  Suzan Pitt directed this independent animated short film.  This is a very abstract and surrealistic short film about womanhood and sexuality.  That is the best way for me to describe this short film.  I found that this took four years to make and was a really good effort that deserves a look in the world of independent animation.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.

Behind Office Doors (1931):  Melville W. Brown directed this romantic drama taking place in the workplace.  Mary Astor stars as receptionist Mary Linden who is in love with salesman James Duneen, played by Robert Ames.  As we would say in the wrestling industry, she politics to get James the executive position when the company president retires.  James continues to take Mary for granted until the rival Ronnie Wales, played by Ricardo Cortez, takes interest in her.  Catherine Dale Owen, Kitty Kelly, Edna Murphy, Charles Sellon, William Morris, George MacFarlane, and many others co-star in this film.  This is a pre-code drama where Astor puts on a really good performance.  This is available to watch on Prime. 

He Ran All the Way (1951):  John Berry directed this Film Noir which is based on the novel by Sam Ross.  John Garfield stars as Nick Robey who was part of an unsuccessful heist which resulted in his partner Al, played by Norman Lloyd, getting killed.  Nick hides out in a pool where he meets Peggy, played by Shelley Winters, and is able to get invited to her apartment with Peggy not knowing what has happened.  This results in Nick taking the family hostage to lie low.  Wallace Ford, Selena Royle, Gladys George, Robert Hyatt, Clancy Cooper, and many others co-star in this film.  Nick did not seem to run as far as the title implies or however long the Flock of Seagulls ran.  This movie does capture the tension very well with a good performance out of Garfield in his final film.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.

Heathers the Musical (2022):  Andy Fickman directed this live musical which is based on the '80s classic and with the music and lyrics written by Laurence O'Keefe and Kevin Murphy.  Ailsa Davidson stars as high school senior Veronica Sawyer who is trying to survive that senior year.  She falls in with the beautiful but mean Heather girls, played by Maddison Firth, Teleri Hughes, and Vivian Panka, while also meeting the new student J.D. Dean, played by Simon Gordon, who gets Veronica to resort to some extreme measures to address the bullying issues going on.  Mhairi Angus, Andy Brady, Oliver Brooks, Liam Doyle, Hannah Lowther, Vicki Lee Taylor, Rory Whelan, and many others co-star in this musical.  This was filmed in May of this year at the The Other Palace Theater in London, England.  I would recommend watching the '80s version first but this is a very fun watch and was very well done.  This is available exclusively to watch on the Roku Channel.

Bog (1979):  This is my B-Movie for the week which was directed by Don Keeslar.  Some fisherman are using dynamite to fish in a rural swamp.  This results in the awakening of a prehistoric gill monster that must have the blood of human females to survive.  Gloria DeHaven, Aldo Ray, Marshall Thompson, Leo Gordon, Carol Terry, Don Daniel, and many others co-star in this b-movie.  All I have to say is that RIFFTRAX and MST3K need to give this one a look.  I know one of my first thoughts was THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON upon reading the plot and this I guess was more the poor man's creature.  It will likely be best to get a group of friends together and just have some fun riffing.  This is available to watch on Hoopla Digital and TUBI.

Angels in the Outfield (1951):  Clarence Brown directed this baseball movie.  Paul Douglas stars as Guffy McGovern who coaches the unsuccessful Pittsburgh Pirates team and takes his anger out on everyone around him.  While alone on the baseball diamond, he hears the voice of an angel who offers help to Guffy if he promises to mend his ways.  Janet Leigh co-stars as reporter Jennifer Paige who wants to do a column on Guffy and slowly takes a liking to him.  Donna Corcoran co-stars as the orphaned child Bridget White who claims to see these angels that she has prayed for and becomes part of Guffy's becoming a better person.  Keenan Wynn, Lewis Stone, Spring Byington, Bruce Bennett, Marvin Kaplan, Ellen Corby, Jeff Richards, John Gallaudet, King Donovan, Don Haggerty, and many others co-star in this film.  There are also a few cameos including Bing Crosby and Ty Cobb.  The remake in 1994 is the more known movie which was more geared to be a children's movie and did start a bit of a franchise.  This is mostly a family movie but is also a tale of redemption which I think is the best element of this movie.  This would make a good double feature to go along with IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE.  This is available to watch on HBO Max.

The Final Joke (2020):  This is technically the season finale for the first season of the animated series HARLEY QUINN which has had three seasons so far and soon to be a fourth.  I decided that if I describe the episode, I'm really giving spoilers so I'll just try to go over the season in general.  This is based on Harley Quinn, voiced by Kaley Cuoco, who in the first season finally breaks away from the Joker, voiced by Alan Tudyk, to make it on her own and get out of his shadow in Gotham City.  She does this starting with the help of her best friend and voice of reason Poison Ivy, voiced by Lake Bell, and forms her own team in Clayface, also voiced by Tudyk, Dr. Psycho, voiced by Tony Hale, King Shark, voiced by Ron Funches, and Sy Borgman, voiced by Jason Alexander.  Diedrich Bader, Christopher Meloni, J.B. Smoove, Matt Oberg, Rahul Kohli, Andy Daly, Wayne Knight, and many others provide their voice in this animated series.  This is a very fun and violent show so this is not for the family by any means.  It is a good look at the point of view of a villainous, maybe anti-hero, character.  This is available to watch on HBO Max.

Well, that is it for this week.  Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for next week which includes Kane Hodder, Paul Rudd, Virginia Madsen, Christopher Lee, Robert Englund, Shelley Winters, Paul Sorvino, and many others.

Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations- 874th Edition

Welcome to the 874th Edition of my series.  Today is week 2 of the NFL.  Last week, I did not fare well in fantasy or reality of football so I hope to have a better week two.  Next weekend is OUR TOWN at the New Castle Public Library.  Go to the website https://nchcpl.librarycalendar.com/ and register for the day you want to see the show which is Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.  Shows are the 24th and 25th at 2:30 pm and the 26th is a 6:30 pm and the show is free.

Flesh and Bone (1993):  This is part ten of my ten-part James Caan series.  Steve Kloves wrote and directed this mystery romance.  Dennis Quaid stars as Arlis Sweeney who as a child witnesses his father Roy, played by Caan, murder a family.  He forms a relationship with Kay, played by Meg Ryan, not knowing at first that she was the baby that was spared in the murder.  Old wounds get reopened when Roy returns to town.  Julia McNeal, Gwyneth Paltrow, Joe Berryman, Scott Wilson, Betsy Brantley, John Hawkes, and many others co-star in this film.  This is a pretty intense movie and may not be for everyone.  I found it to be a pretty compelling film that has gone onto become quite underrated.  Ryan gives possibly the best performance of her career and was good to see a young Paltrow.  This is available to watch on Freevee, Plex and Tubi.

Double Happiness (1994):  Mina Shum wrote and directed this film that takes a look at tradition and modern society.  Sandra Oh stars as Chinese-Canadian Jade Li who comes from a traditional Chinese family.  While her family has plans for her in terms of career and marriage, she aspires to be an actress and also meets a man she likes in Mark, played by Callum Keith Renni, whose family would not approve due to him being white.  Stephen Chang, Alannah Ong, Leslie Ewen, and many others co-star in this coming of age story.  I feel this movie takes a look at the price of family traditions and how it can drive a wedge when trying to be forced upon someone who might want their own path.  This is Oh's feature film debut and is very good in her role of someone having to consider her family and what she wants in life.  This is available to watch on Freevee, Plex, and Tubi.

Change in the Air (2018):  Diane Dreyer directed this independent film.  Rachel Brosnahan stars as the mysterious new neighbor Wren who makes the neighborhood curious as she is not very open.  She also causes the neighborhood to come face to face with one another and themselves.  Aidan Quinn, Seth Gillam, M. Emmet Walsh, Olympia Dukakis, Mary Beth Hurt, Ronald Peet, Peter Gerety, Satya Bhabha, Macy Gray, Michael Potts, Rachel Zeiger-Haag, and many others co-star in this movie.  This is a pretty simple movie and is a feel-good story more than anything.  This is also a good watch for bird lovers.  This is available to watch on Prime.

Your Town A Story of America (1940):  This is my short film for the week.  This shows a teenage boy and his grandfather and the grandfather explaining to his grandson the importance how factories impact a town financially.  This is a good look at this era of America and in some ways the American dream of this era.  This did not seem to get much release but the footage has been found.  This is on public domain and is available to watch on Youtube.

This is the Night (1932):  This is part three of my Cary Grant trilogy where Grant makes his debut.  Frank Tuttle directed this pre-code comedy.  Thelma Todd co-stars as Claire who is having an affair with a man named Gerald with Claire's husband Stephen, played by Grant, being off at the Summer Olympics.  Stephen returns unexpectedly leading to some very comical situations.  Lili Damita, Charles Ruggles, Irving Bacon, and many others co-star in this comedy.  This is a rather offbeat movie to say the least which kind of makes light of having an extramarital affair.  This is of worth to see for Grant's debut.  I was able to find this on Youtube.

The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes (1969):  I decided to bring some live-action Disney which was directed by Robert Butler.  A young Kurt Russell stars as college student Dexter.  A donated computer at the college has a malfunction which gives him the knowledge that he retains very quickly.  It seems pretty cool at first but his friends feel left behind and he is used by criminals for things like horse racing.  He also must stop a criminal plan by the crooked A.J. Arno, played by Cesar Romero.  Joe Flynn, William Schallert, Alan Hewitt, Richard Bakalyan, Debbie Paine, Frank Webb, Jon Provost, Frank Welker, Bing Russell, and many others co-star in this Disney comedy.  Welker makes a rare live-action appearance as he would go onto to become a go to voice actor.  Bing Russell plays one of Arno's henchmen and is the father of Kurt.  The computer featured in this movie is not the computers that we known today.  This is available to watch on Disney Plus.

Christ Complex (2012):  My own Facebook friend Jeffrey Scott Richards wrote and directed this independent movie.  Jessica Blankenship stars as Zoey who is always inclined to help troubled men for her own completion.  Her latest is in a man named Quinn, played by Todd Stubbe, who is convinced he is the savior and must fight a friend to prevent to apocalypse.  Brandon Chowen, Susan Courtney, Heather Hepburn, Josh Martin, Kit Parsons, Allen Pennington, David Prather, Jenny Rebekah Richards, and many others co-star in this independent film.  Richards makes the most of his $1000 budget and is able to make a pretty decent character driven film.  This has some funny moments and provokes thought.  This is available for rental and purchase at Vimeo.  Jeffrey also met his future wife in actress Jenny Rebekah and have stayed married as well being supporters of mine for years.  Also, check On-Demand, it is available for some.

Princess Yang Kwei-Fei (1955):  This is my royalty selection for the week which takes place in 8th century China and is directed by Kenji Mizoguchi.  Masayuki Mori stars as stars as Emperor Xuanzong who recently became widowed and is grieving over his wife.  Machiko Kyo co-stars as a commoner who is working in the kitchen and the Emperor takes a liking to her and she becomes the title character but not without complications within the kingdom.  This was a rare Chinese film that was presented in color and has very beautiful visuals.  It is also a tragic love story in some ways and is really hard to explain further..  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel and is a must for foreign film buffs. 

The Shooting (1966):  This is my western for the week which was directed by Monte Hellman.  Warren Oates and Will Hutchins star as a couple of cowboy friends Willett and Coley whose lives get complicated by a mysterious woman, played by Millie Perkins.  She persuades them to help her in a revenge scheme even thought she is not very nice to them.  A young Jack Nicholson co-stars as gunslinger Billy Spear who does not make the situation any easier.  It is hard to explain this any further but is quite thought provoking.  I saw someone describe this as an existential western which is pretty accurate.  This is available to watch on HBO Max.  

Polygraph (2020):  I end the week with this Israeli short film which was written and directed by Samira Saraya.  Saraya also stars as Yasmine who is an openly lesbian Arab nurse and learns her lover Or, an Israeli intelligence officer, is reporting on their relationship.  Yasmine's sister Jehan comes to visit which brings more tension in the house learning of her sister's lover.  This was a pretty well done short with a good story.  It is worth about twenty minutes and is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.

Well, that is it for this week.  Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for next week which so far includes Christine Taylor, Jon Krasinski, Samuel L. Jackson, Mary Astor, Shelley Winters, and many others.

Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations- 873rd Edition

Welcome to the 873rd Edition of my series.  Today is a football day for me as I root for my own team of the San Francisco 49ers and I focus on my fantasy teams.  We're getting closer to putting on OUR TOWN at the New Castle Public Library and this is a free show.  To those in or near the area, maybe consider a day to come see our show and visit https://nchcpl.librarycalendar.com/ to register a seat as seating is limited.  I will get on with my selections for the week.

Morris From America (2016):  I start the week out with one of them coming of age movies which was directed by Chad Hartigan.  Markees Christmas stars as the 13 year old Morris Gentry who along with his father Curtis, played by THE OFFICE alum Craig Robinson, are living in Germany.  Morris struggles to fit in with the German kids and falls for the older Katrin, played by Lina Keller, who encourages him to open up more and even share his rap lyrics.  Carla Juri, Eva Lobau, Jakub Gierszal, and many others co-star in this film.  This has a good blend of comedy and drama with a more serious performances out of Robinson.  This simple but effective film has gone a bit overlooked so maybe this will get it on the radar.  This is available to watch on Hoopla Digital and Showtime.

Toby Tortoise Returns (1936):  This is my Disney animated short for the week and is a sequel to the animated short THE TORTOISE AND THE HARE.  Max Hare and Toby Tortoise return and this time take each other in a boxing match.  Like in the first one, Max underestimates Toby and gets more than he bargained for.  These are both really fun to watch.  The character of Max Hare did not go onto become one of the iconic Disney characters but was the basis for Warner's icon Bugs Bunny.  These are both available to watch on Disney Plus.

Psycho (1960):  Alfred Hitchcock directed this film based on the novel by Robert Bloch.  Anthony Perkins stars in his most iconic role of Norman Bates who owns the Bates Motel and seems to have a dysfunctional relationship with his mother.  Janet Leigh co-stars as Marion Crane who is on the run for embezzlement and hides out at the Bates Motel which might not have been the best decision.  Vera Miles, John Gavin, Martin Balsam, John McIntire, Simon Oakland, Frank Albertson, Patricia Hitchcock, Lurene Tuttle, John Anderson, and many others co-star in this classic film.  I got to see this on a bigger screen at an outside viewing in my town of Muncie.  This has quite a few iconic scenes and lines like the shower scene which I think just about everyone knows what I am referring to.  It also has a legendary music score from Bernard Herrmann who Hitchcock credits with a lot of the film.  It has also inspired quite the franchise of pretty decent sequels, a remake and the tv series BATES MOTEL.  This is available to watch on Peacock.

John Mulaney:  Kid Gorgeous from Radio City Music Hall (2018):  Alex Timbers directed this comedy special which features stand-up comedian John Mulaney as many might have guessed.  Mulaney goes into a lot of serious subjects and is able to make comedy out of it.  He talks a lot about his childhood, his family, going to church and a few other things.  Jon Brion is his organist that goes along well with the special.  Carole Shelley has an amusing cameo in the beginning.  This is available to watch on Netflix.  

The Seventh Veil (1945):  Compton Bennett directed this psychological film.  Ann Todd stars as concert pianist Francesca who has amnesia and with the help of Dr. Larsen, played by Herbert Lom, tries to piece together what has happened.  Through flashback we learn that Francesca has a very controlling guardian in Nicholas, played by James Mason, and forbade a relationship with artist Maxwell Leyden, played by Albert Lieven.  Hugh McDermott, David Horne, Manning Whiley, John Slater, and many others co-star in this film.  This is a pretty dark film at times.  Mason plays the controlling guardian and kind of reminded me of him in his later classic of LOLITA which could be a good double feature.  This is available to watch on HBO Max.

Nope (2022):  This is Jordan Peele's latest horror effort as writer and director and has us all talking again.  This takes place in a small California town.  Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer star as siblings O.J. and Emerald who look to prove there are UFOs out there with the help of tech salesman Angel Torres, played by Brandon Perea and documentariann Antlers Holst, played by Michael Wincott.  This happens after they see random objects falling from the sky that get progressively worse through time.  Steven Yuen, Wrenn Schmidt, Keith David, Devon Graye, Terry Notary, Barbie Ferreira, Donna Mills, Oz Perkins, Eddie Jemisom, Jacob Kim, Sophia Coto, Jennifer Lafleur, Andrew Patrick Ralston, Lincoln Lambert, and many others co-star in this horror film.  There are some out there that are just like "nope" when it comes to this movie.  It has also earned a lot of praise.  I felt it was quite different that Peele's other movies and even has an M. Night Shyamalan feel to it.  There was a slow progression but I thought worked well for this movie.

This Property is Condemned (1966):  Sydney Pollack directed this film based on a play by Tennessee Williams and the screenplay was co-written by a young Francis Ford Coppola.  This takes place in depression era Mississippi where Natalie Wood stars as Alva Starr whose mom, played by Kate Reid, owns what is essentially a brothel.  Robert Redford stars as railroad official Owen who falls for Alva and tries to get her out of her bad situation.  Charles Bronson, Mary Badham, Alan Baxter, Robert Blake, Jon Provost, and many others co-star in this film.  I through this was really of interest to see Mary Badham and Jon Provost who were still in their youth but a little older from their famous roles.  Badham is most known as Scout in TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD and Provost is most known as Timmy in the tv series LASSIE.  I liked seeing them in darker roles.  The movie as a whole was very good and very well written.  With Tennessee Williams being attached, I would not expect anything really upbeat.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.

Thief (1981):  This is part nine of my ten-part James Caan series.  Michael Mann directed this film based on the novel THE HOME INVADERS by Frank Hohimer.  Caan stars as Frank who has spent his life as a safe cracker but ends up in prison.  Upon getting out, he wants to get out of that industry and start a family with his girlfriend Jessie, played by Tuesday Weld.  Frank agrees to one more big heist for a gangster and will retire after that is all done.  Unfortunately, like any who want to do "one more" find themselves in a very complicated situation due to betrayal and deception.  Willie Nelson, Jim Belushi, Robert Prosky, Tom Signorelli, Dennis Farina, and many others co-star in this film.  This is a very well written film with some good action involved.  This goes on the lines some of the later film DRIVE which would make a good double feature.  This is available to watch on Prime.

Room For One More (1952):  This is part two of my Cary Grant trilogy.  Norman Taurog directed this film based on the novel by Anna Perrot Rose.  Grant and Betsy Drake star as married couple George and Anna Perrot Rose who have already built a family.  When Anna learns that that are a lot of kids out there in foster care, she decides to become a foster home bringing in the troubled and suicidal Jane, played by Iris Mann, and the aggressive and disabled Jimmy John, played by Clifford Tatum Jr.  Lurene Tuttle, Irving Bacon, Mary Treen, George Winslow, Gay Gordon, Larry Olsen, and many others co-star in this film.  This is some lesser known Grant who was usually in some sort of romantic comedy or an adventure film and this was quite a bit different.  This is a good and early look at the foster care system and is a very touching story.  Thanks to those that step up and try to make a better life for our troubled youth.  This is available to watch on HBO Max.

Papaya (2019):  I end the week with this short film which was written and directed by Kayleb Lee.  This slice-of-life short film takes a look at Asian cultures and maintaining cultural identity.  This is a non-linear short that shares the common theme of papaya salad.  This is a little too deep to really explain any further and I believe that is what the director wanted in discussing the interpretation.  This is 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 Gwyneth Paltrow, M. Emmet Walsh, Cary Grant, Kurt Russell, and many others.

Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations- 872nd Edition

Welcome to the 872nd edition of my series.  We are getting closer to OUR TOWN at the New Castle Public Library.  Dates and times are available on the bottom and the show is free to come see.  This does require registration to come see which can be done at the website of https://nchcpl.librarycalendar.com/ where you can access the calendar and just look for the date of the show attending.  Thursday starts the real season of the NFL so I am excited for that and hope my real team and fantasy team excel this year.  I don't have much else happening right now so I'll just get on with my selections for the week.

The Last Word (2017):  This is part three of my Anne Heche trilogy.  Mark Pellington directed this comedy-drama.  Shirley MacLaine stars as the successful and retired Harriett who always wants to control everything around her including her own obituary knowing she will die soon.  She hires obituary writer Anne, played by Amanda Seyfried, to write her own obituary and while Anne is reluctant at first, they form an unexpected friendship.  Heche, AnnJewel Lee Dixon, Thomas Sadoski, Philip Baker Hall, Gedde Watanabe, Tom Everett Scott, Joel Murray, Steven Culp, Adina Porter, Todd Louiso, and many others co-star in this movie.  The character of Harriett starts out as a pretty unlikable person but slowly we get to peel behind the surface and understand the character more.  It is kind of a reverse coming of age movie for this elderly person but Seyfried has a lot to learn herself.  This is available to watch on HBO Max.  

The Vagina Monologues (2002):  This is my live performance selection for the week which stars Eve Ensler who performs her popular play that she wrote.  This is a show where she performs the segments of a variety of women and their experiences in life.  She also interviews other people to get their insights on the subject in the title.  This is a popular play to perform and it is good to see Ensler giving insights about her show.  This is sometimes very serious and sometimes very funny.  My mom got to be in a version of this at the Muncie Civic Studio Theater and still looks back positively on the experience and those she worked with.  This is available to watch on HBO Max.

Misery (1990):  This is part eight of my ten part James Caan series.  Rob Reiner directed this film based on the novel by Stephen King.  James Caan stars as author Paul Sheldon who is out in the bad weather and has a really bad wreck.  Paul is unconscious and out in the middle of nowhere but luckily a nurse that lives out there in Annie Wilkes, played by Kathy Bates, is out there and rescues him.  Annie brings Paul to her home and turns out to be a big fan but also turns out to be an obsessed fan.  Richard Farnsworth, Frances Sternhagen, Lauren Bacall, Graham Jarvis, J.T. Walsh, and many others co-star in this film.  This is a classic suspense film and while King could be critical of the adaptations to his novels, he really liked this one.  Caan and Bates were great together and still holds up today.  This has since been made into a play and would love to be in it one day.   

The Face (1966):  This is my short film for the week which was directed Piotr Studzinski.  This was a student project in a school in Poland.  Krzysztof Kieslowski stars as a tortured artist that can never come to any satisfaction with his work and becomes very destructive.  They were classmates at this college and Studzinski appears to have done something outside of film while Kieslowski would go onto have a successful career primarily as a director and is known for his THREE COLORS trilogy.  This is available on the Criterion Channel and is worth about six minutes for a viewing.

The Freshman (1925):  This is my silent film for the week which was directed by Fred C. Newmeyer and Sam Taylor.  Harold Lloyd stars as nerdy student Harold Lamb whose goal is to become a popular campus student.  The biggest thing he does is to join the football team despite his limited athletic ability.  Jobyna Ralston stars as his love interest Peggy who likes Harold for who he is and tries to protect him from the bullying as the result of him trying to impress.  A couple movies that came to mind a could be a good triple feature are RUDY and THE WATERBOY.  Harold has elements of both of the protagonists in those movies.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel and on HBO Max.

Tea for Two (1950):  David Butler directed this musical romantic comedy based on the play NO, NO, NANETTE by Frank Mandel and Otto A. Harbach.  Doris Day stars as socialite Nanette Carter who wants a part in a Broadway show but her wealthy Uncle Max, played by S.Z. Sakall, just is not having it.  Max does agree to a $25000 bet that she can say "no" to everything for 48 hours.  Gordan MacRae stars as composer and pianist Jimmy Smith who has a romantic interest in Nanette which complicates her wager.  Gene Nelson, Eve Arden, Larry De Wolfe, Bill Goodwin, Patrice Wymore, Virginia Gibson, George Baxter, and many others co-star in this musical.  The music numbers were a very diverse group of the top songwriters from this era.  This is a pretty fun show where Doris shines very well and is the first movie where she receives top billing as well as the first movie where she dances on screen.  

Kicks (2016):  Justin Tipping directed and co-wrote this film.  Jahking Guillory stars as inner-city teen Brandon who has finally achieved his boyhood dream of owning a pair of Air Jordan shoes.  It is not much long after he gets those shoes that they get snatched by local and very feared hood Flaco, played by Kofi Siriboe.  Along with his reluctant friends Rico, played by Christopher Meyer, and Albert, played by Christopher Jordan Wallace, he sets out to get those shoes leading to some violent situations.  Kyndall, Mistah F.A.B, Mahershala Ali, Molly Shaiken, and many others co-star in this film.  Part of me felt like "all this over a pair of shoes"?  At the time, I tried to understand Brandon's mindset, even if a bit warped, of the boosted ego that makes him forget a little bit that he is from a poor family.  This is a very deep and thought-provoking film no matter your feelings toward the movie.  This is available to watch on Peacock.

The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer (1947):  This is part one of a Cary Grant trilogy.  Irving Reis directed this romantic comedy.  Cary Grant stars as playboy artist Dick Nugent who is the subject of a teenage crush from Susan Turner, played by a teenage Shirley Temple.  This leads to some misunderstandings from Susan's sister, played by Myrna Loy, who is a judge and to some comical situations.  Rudy Vallee, Ray Collins, Harry Davenport, Johnny Sands, Don Beddoe, Lillian Randolph, Veda Ann Borg, Dan Tobin, and many others co-star in this romantic comedy.  It was rare that we got to see Temple as a teenager though she was 18 years of age at the time.  Grant and Loy are also a good duo with Temple adding to it very well.  This is available to watch on HBO Max.

Friday Foster (1975):  This is my Blaxploitation film for the week which was directed and co-written by Arthur Marks and based on a comic strip by Jim Lawrence and Jorje Longeron.  Pam Grier stars as photographer Friday Foster who witnesses an assassination attempt of a billionaire.  She becomes a target and teams with private investigator Colt Hawkins, played by Yaphet Kotto, to investigate what is happening.  Godfrey Cambridge, Thalmus Rasulala, Eartha Kitt, Jim Backus, Scatman Crothers, Ted Lange, Tierre Turner, Paul Benjamin, Carl Weathers, and many others co-star in this Blaxploitation classic.  This was a syndicated comic strip in the early '70s which appears to have been mostly featured in the Chicago Tribune Syndicate.  This is one of the better of the genre in my opinion with Grier once again holding her own.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.

Groot's First Steps (2022):  I end the week with this animated short which is technically an episode of the Marvel series I AM GROOT.  This is a series of shorts that feature Guardians member Groot, reprised by Vin Diesel, as Baby Groot and in this one manages to take his first steps out of the pot that he was in.  It shows his struggles and triumphs as he tries to walk.  This is a series of animation shorts that are available to watch on Disney Plus.

Well, that is it for this week.  Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for next week which so far includes Janet Leigh, James Mason, Keith David, Robert Redford, James Caan, and many others.