Welcome to the 900th edition of my series. Yesterday I attended my first Renaissance festival in New Castle Indiana where I was part of the Marvelously Terrible Shakespeare Company. We did very abridged versions of OTHELLO and THE MERCHANT OF VENICE. I would be willing to do this next year if I am available. On August 26th, come to the Elm Street Brewery in Muncie for the Maybell Music Festival. I will be doing a duet with my friend K.J. That is about all I have for now so I will just get on with my selections for the week.
42 (2013): This is part four of my five-part Harrison Ford series. Brian Helgebrand directed this baseball film that is based on a true story. Chadwick Boseman stars as the legendary Jackie Robinson who is known for breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball and becoming the first black person to play. Ford stars as Brooklyn Dodgers owner Branch Rickey who decides to really shake things up and bring in the first black player. When going through prospects in the Negro Leagues he decides upon Robinson who would have a tough adjustment to make. T.R. Knight, Nicole Beharie, Christopher Meloni, Ryan Merriman, Lucas Black, Andre Holland, Alan Tudyk, Hamish Linklater, John C. McGinley, Toby Huss, Max Gail, Brad Beyer, James Pickens Jr., Gino Anthony Pesi, Brett Cullen, Jesse Luken, and many others co-star in this film. This is not an all-out biopic on Robinson. This shows Robinson playing in the Negro Leagues right before Rickey brought him in to start in the minor leagues into his rookie year with the Dodgers. This is a very inspirational movie in the time of segregation when one man must overcome hate while others must rethink their own viewpoints. This is available to watch on Prime with a subscription to Cinemax.
Miller's Crossing (1990): The Coen Brothers directed this gangster film that is based on works from Dashiell Hammett. Gabriel Byrne stars as Tom Reagan who is the main adviser to the crime boss Leo, played by Albert Finney. He becomes stuck in the middle of a mob rivalry under rival crime boss Johnny Caspar, played by Jon Polito, and in a complicated relationship with Leo's girlfriend Verna, played by Marcia Gay Harden. John Turturro, J.E. Freeman, Mike Starr, Al Mancini, Tom Toner, Steve Buscemi, Olek Krupa, Michael Jeter, Lanny Flaherty, John McConnell, Danny Aiello III, Michael Badalucco, Sam Raimi, Frances McDormand, and many others co-star in this film. This is a gangster film the Coen Brothers way. It is pretty complicated to give any more explanation. Just give it a go and I doubt you'll be disappointed.
The Old Man and the Gun (2018): This is part two of my Robert Redford trilogy. David Lowery directed this film that is based on a true story. Redford stars as bank robber Forrest Tucker who is very charming and likable while being a career criminal being being in and out of prison. In his older age, he is on the run with detective John Hunt, played by Casey Affleck, on his trail and maintaining a relationship with a woman named Jewel, played by Sissy Spacek, who loves him despite his criminal ways. Danny Glover and Tom Waits co-star as Forrest's partners being dubbed the Over the Hill Gang but what a trio. Tika Sumpter, Ari Elizabeth Johnson, Teagan Johnson, Gene Jones, John David Washington, Barlow Jacobs, Augustine Frizzell, Lisa DeRoberts, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Elizabeth Moss, Keith Carradine, and many others co-star in this movie. This has a really good blend of comedy and drama with Redford announcing this would be his last movie. This could be a good double feature to go along with CATCH ME IF YOU CAN.
Lonesome Luke, Messenger (1917): This is my silent short for the week which was directed by Hal Roach. Harold Lloyd stars as Lonesome Luke who is delivering a message and find himself in a girl's seminary. Bebe Daniels and Snub Pollard co-star in this silent short. This was a lot earlier in Lloyd's career when he played this character and this was the 59th of 67th short that he was do as Lonesome Luke and before he would become his more iconic character. Silent comedy buffs should enjoy this one and this is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.
Wait Until Dark (1967): This is part one of a trilogy for Alan Arkin who recently left us. Terence Young directed this film that was based on a play by Frederick Knott. Audrey Hepburn stars as the recently blinded Susy Hendrix and has recently gotten married to Sam, played by Efrem Zimbalist Jr., who is off on business. As Susy is trying to adjust, a group of thugs lead by Harry Rote, played by Arkin, scheme to get into her apartment looking for something that Sam has agreed to watch unbeknownst to Susy. She tries to thwart the criminals with the help of her youth neighbor Gloria, played by Julie Herrod. Richard Crenna, Jack Weston, Samantha Jones, and many others co-star in this thriller. I thought this was Hepburn's best performance and Arkin plays a very unlikable villain to perfection. This is a great suspense thriller that holds up today.
Bus Stop (1956): Joshua Logan directed this romantic comedy which is based on the play by William Inge. Don Murray stars as the naive and socially inept cowboy Bo Decker who is in Phoenix for a rodeo. While at a cafe, he encounters performer Cherie, played by Marilyn Monroe, and becomes convinced she is the one even though she is resistant of him. Arthur O'Connell, Betty Field, Eileen Heckart, Robert Bray, Hope Lange, Hans Conried, Max Showalter, and many others co-star in this film. I know I labeled this as a romantic comedy but it is not an all out comedy like a lot of Monroe's work and does lean toward drama at times. Wanting to do more in her career, Monroe decided to go to New York City and study under Lee Strasberg at the Actors Studio with this being the first after leaving the school. This was also produced under her own studio Marilyn Monroe Productions which would be the first of two and the other being THE PRINCE AND THE SHOWGIRL. This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.
Mission Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part 1 (2023): Christopher McQuarrie directed the latest installment of the popular action franchise. Tom Cruise is back as Ethan Hunt and his loyal IMF teammates Luther, played by Ving Rhames and Benji, played by Simon Pegg, as they must retrieve a dangerous new weapon from getting into the wrong hands. Hayley Atwell co-stars as the mysterious and uneasy ally of the team in Grace. Rebecca Ferguson, Vanessa Kirby, Esai Morales, Pom Klementieff, Henry Czerny, Shea Whigham, Greg Tarzan Davis, Frederick Schmidt, Cary Elwes, Charles Parnell, Mark Gatiss, Indira Varma, Rob Delaney, and many others co-star in this installment of the franchise. This was supposed to come out a couple years ago but was delayed by Covid and looks like the next one may get delayed due to the strike. This has been a very enjoyable action franchise and was great to see this one in theaters. I will just say this is a very good continuation of the franchise with Cruise still up to the game. I would recommend having knowledge of the other six films before seeing this one.
Port of Call (1948): This is my Swedish film for the week which was directed by Ingmar Bergman. Nine-Christine Jonsson stars as Berit who is out of reformatory school and wanting to get away from her overbearing mother. She falls in love with sailor Gosta, played by Bengt Eklund, who slowly gets to know Berit's past and has a hard time getting past it. Mimi Nelson, Berta Hall, Birgitta Valberg, Sif Ruud, and many others co-star in this Swedish film. This is a really well done love story of two rather difficult people. This is some earlier Bergman that really deserves a look. This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.
F.I.S.T. (1978): Norman Jewison directed and co-wrote this film along with Sylvester Stallone and Joe Eszterhas. Stallone stars as Johnny Kovak who is fed up with working conditions and becomes part of the trucking industry union. As he rises up the ranks, Senator Madison, played by Rod Steiger, begins to question his means and possible mob connections. Peter Boyle, Melinda Dillon, David Huffman, Kevin Conway, Tony Lo Bianco, Cassie Yates, Peter Donat, John Lehne, Henry Wilcoxon, Richard Herd, and many others co-star in this union film. I guess this is relevant for what is going on in the film industry right now. This is loosely based on union boss Jimmy Hoffa. This is a rather underrated film for Stallone who is fresh off his ROCKY success.
Secondhand Lions (2003): Tim McCanlies wrote and directed this coming of age story. Haley Joel Osment stars as Walter whose mother puts him on a couple of his wealthy and eccentric uncles in Texas. Robert Duvall and Michael Caine co-star as his Uncles Hub and Garth who are not used to having a kid around and must warm up to each other. Walter becomes more intrigued as he hears their adventure stories. Kyra Sedgwick, Nicky Katt, Josh Lucas, Michael O'Neill, Deirdre O'Connell, Eric Balfour, Christian Kane, Kevin Haberer, Emmanuelle Vaugier, Jennifer Stone, Adrian Pasdar, and many others co-star in this film. This is a very moving story and is a lot of fun. Duvall and Caine do well in their characters that are a little rough around the edges but have a heart of gold. This is a good one for the family.
Well that is it for this week. Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for the next couple weeks which so far include Harrison Ford, Alan Arkin, and many others.
No comments:
Post a Comment