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.
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