Welcome to the 910th edition of my series which is also my 18 year anniversary. As indicated, this is the 18 year anniversary of this long running series. This started back in the Myspace days and I have been doing it since. I just want to thank everyone through the years that has supported me. I will shut up and get to my selections for the week.
Do Revenge (2022): The wild card for this selection is for BUFFY alum Sarah Michelle Gellar who plays the Headmaster of a school. Camila Mendes stars as the very popular Drea whose popularity goes in flames when a sex tape gets leaked and appears to be by her boyfriend Max, played by Austin Abrams. Maya Hawke co-stars as Eleanor who is a transfer student and more awkward. She must attend school with her former classmate Carissa, played by Ava Capri, who stars a nasty rumor about her in summer camp. Drea and Eleanor meet and string an unlikely friendship when they agree to go after each other's bullies. Rish Shah, Talia Ryder, Alisha Boe, J.D., Paris Berelc, Maia Reficco, Sophie Turner, Rachel Matthews, Eliza Bennett, Francesca Reale, Olivia Sui, Jade Timothy Harris, and many others co-star in this teen revenge satire. This pays homage to many high school movies of the '80s and '90s and is a pretty fun teen movie. It is also good to see Gellar paying a little homage to her past movie CRUEL INTENTIONS with her role. Hawke and Mendes also work well together as they look for revenge but their egos get in the way at times. This is available to watch on Netflix.
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Blow (2001): The wild card for this selection is for Pee-Wee himself Paul Reubens who helps to get George Jung going in the drug empire. Ted Demme directed this biopic that is based on the biography by Bruce Porter. Johnny Depp stars as George Jung who as a kid respected his father, plaeyd by Ray Liotta, but was determined to not struggle like him. Along with his friend Tuna, played by Ethan Suplee, he enters the Marijuana trade but gets arrested where he learns about Cocaine. Upon his release, he takes part in the Cocaine trade becoming very successful personally and professionally but it all comes at a price. Penelope Cruz, Franka Potente, Rachel Griffiths, Jordi Molla, Cliff Curtis, Miguel Sandoval, Kevin Gage, Max Perlich, Jesse James, Miguel Perez, Dan Ferro, Tony Amendola, Bobcat Goldthwait, Michael Tucci, Monet Mazur, Lola Glaudini, Jennifer Gimenez, Emma Roberts, Jaime King, Charles Noland, and many othesr co-star in this biopic. Roberts makes her own film debut in this giving us another member of the Roberts family and has been quite successful since this film. This is a pretty compelling film of the drug trade. Depp was a really good George Jung and made a lot of effort to resemble him. This is availbale to watch on Tubi.
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Lolita (1997): The wild card for this selection is Frank Langella who co-stars as the devious Clare Quilty. Adrian Lyne directed this film that is based on the novel by Vladimir Nabokov. Jeremy Irons stars as Engish professor Humbert Humbert who is looking for a place to stay and moves in with Charlotte Haze, played by Melanie Griffith, and her 13 year old daughter Delores, played by Dominique Swain. He forms an obsession with Delores and marries Charlotte to be close to her. When Charlotte dies after being hit by a car, Humbert picks up Delores from summer camp without telling her that her mother died and sets out on a cross country trip where their relationship crosses a lot of boundaries that go well beyond stepfather and stepdaughter. This is as controversial as it gets and is a remake to Kubrick's 1962 film of the same name. I believe both films each have their own qualities. What I like about this one is that there is a backstory in the beginning with Humbert that explains the obsession he has with Delores. I have also heard this version is more like the novel than the Kubrick film. I remember seeing a user review on imdb saying how we are forced to see Humbert through his eyes and how we are committing the crime with him and Irons does a great job in conveying this. This is by no means for everyone but for those that enjoy I say do a double feature of both versions. Maybe before watching the movies, form a book club and then watch both movies.
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Ninotchka (1939): The wild card for this selection is Bela Lugosi who has a cameo near the end as Razinin. Ernst Lubitsch directed this romantic comedy that was co-written by a young Billy Wilder before he would become a notable director. Greta Garbo stars as the title character who is a stern Soviet woman who is sent to Paris to supervise the sale of jewels seized by Russian nobles. Count Leon, played by Melvyn Douglas forms a fascination for Ninotchka slowly bringing her out of her shell. Ina Clare, Sig Ruman, Felix Bressart, Alexander Granach, Gregory Gaye, and many others co-star in this romantic comedy. This was a very big thing at the time as this was Garbo's first comedy and there was a tag line of "Garbo Laughs". We had to earn Greta's big laugh and when it finally happens it really means something. This is a good and rather unusual romantic comedy which deserves a look.
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Violent Playground (1958): The wild card for this selection is Peter Cushing who co-stars as a priest. Basil Dearden directed this film that takes a look at the juvenile system in Liverpool. Stanley Baker stars as juvenile Liaison officer who is investigating a gang lead by Johnnie Murphy, played by Johnnie McCallum, while being involved with his sister Cathie, played by Anne Heywood. John Slater, Clifford Evans, Moultrie Kelsall, George A. Cooper, Tsai Chin, and many others co-star in this film. This is a pretty intense film that has quite the climax. It also takes a good look at the juvenile system in England. Cushing also plays a much nicer person than usual in this film. This is available to watch on Prime and on MGM+.
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The Spy Who Loved Me (1977): The wild card for this selection is Caroline Munro who plays female villain Naomi in the Bond film. Lewis Gilbert directed this Bond film based on the book by Ian Fleming. Roger Moore reprises his role as James Bond who must team with Russian KGB agent Anya Amasova aka XXX, played by Barbara Bach, to investigate submarines that have disappeared. Curd Jurgens co-stars as sea-obsessed villain Stromberg who has some pretty extreme plans and a variety of way to kill people. Richard Kiel, Walter Gotell, Geoffrey Keen, Bernard Lee, George Baker, Michael Billington, Desmond Llewelyn, Lois Maxwell, and many others co-star in this 007 film. This has always been one of my favorite Bond films, especially of the Moore era. I thought this had a great story and some great action. I also really loved Bach as Agent XXX. It was too bad they didn't make a movie for her.
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Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002): The wild card for this selection is Rutger Hauer who plays the role of Keeler in this biopic. Georege Clooney directed this film based on the autobiography by Chuck Barris. Sam Rockwell stars as Chuck Barris who is best known for producing shows like THE DATING GAME and THE NEWLYWED GAME and hosting THE GONG SHOW. This shows how those shows were a cover for being an assassin for the CIA. Clooney also co-stars as Jim Byrd who recruited Barris to the CIA. Drew Barrymore, Julia Roberts, Michael Cera, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jerry Weintraub, Rachelle Lefevre, Robert John Burke, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Richard Kind, James Urbaniak, and many others co-star or have cameos in this film. There are some that play themselves including Dick Clark. This has always been a favorite of mine and I still maintain that it is all true. Rockwell plays Barris to perfection in this film. This is available to watch on Pluto TV.
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The Crimson Pirate (1952): The wild card for this selection is Christopher Lee who plays the role of Joseph in this adventure film. Robert Siodmak directed this adventure comedy. Burt Lancaster stars as Captain Vallo aka the Crimson Pirate who along with his mute sidekick Ojo, played by Nick Cravat, like to really stir things up in a revolution in the Caribbean in the late 1700s. Eva Bartok co-stars as Consuelo who becomes the love interest of Vallo and tries to help him change his ways a bit. Torin Thatcher, James Hayter, Leslie Bradley, Margot Grahame, Noel Purcell, and many others co-star in this adventure. This movie is tons of fun and Lancaster is clearly having a good time in this film. This was also a sly slap to the "Red Scare" that was going on in Hollywood at the time.
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The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964): The Wild card for this selection is Catherine Deneuve who stars in this French musical as Genevieve and was a career making role for her. Jacques Demy wrote and directed this musical love story. Deneuve stars as the 16 year old Genevieve who meets and falls in love with the 20 year old mechanic Guy, played by Nino Castelnuovo. They become separated when Guy is drafted into the military and is sent to Algeria. They thought they would be together when Guy returns but they find it is not that simple. Anne Vernon, Marc Michel, Ellen Farner, Mireille Perry, and many others co-star in this musical. I have always had a place in my heart for this movie since the first time I watched it a few years ago. It is a beautiful story on love and loss. Damien Chazelle cites this as his main inspiration for his own musical film LA LA LAND and could make a good double feature for if in a musical mood. This is available to watch on Max.
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Heat (1995): The wild card for this selection is Danny Trejo who plays Trejo and is part of the heist crew. Michael Mann directed this heist film that take a look at the police side and the criminal side. Al Pacino stars as Lt. Vincent Hanna of the LAPD and Robert De Niro stars as Neil McCauley who lead a group of criminals. When a heist goes wrong, Vincent and his men become hot on their trail as the criminals try to clean up the loose ends. Hanna and McCauley find their lives are quite parallel to one another. Val Kilmer, Jon Voight, Tom Sizemore, Diane Venora, Amy Brenneman, Ashley Judd, Mykelti Williamson, Wes Studi, Ted Levine, Dennis Haysbert, William Fichtner, Natalie Portman, Tom Noonan, Kevin Gage, Hank Azaria, Henry Rollins, Tone Loc, Jeremy Piven, Bud Cort, and many others co-star in this action film. This has the historical encounter of De Niro and Pacino. Yes, they were in THE GODFATHER PART II but they were in different eras and in this one they lead similar lives but are on the opposite sides of the law. This has always been one of my favorite movies and has some great action scenes along with a really good script. This is available to watch on Netflix.
Well, that is it for this week but I did bring back my "Fun and Useless Facts" segment. Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for a couple weeks.
FUN AND USELESS FACTS
This is a segment I do from time to time and I thought this would be the right time. These are all connections from movie to movie and not from the same movie. I have a limitation of 25 facts so there are probably a lot of other facts that I did not use so feel free to comment.
Sarah Michelle Gellar (Do Revenge) and Max Perlich (Blow) were in the 1998 two-part episode BECOMING of BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER. Perlich plays the role of Whistler who is shown in flashbacks mentoring Angel and shows up in the modern day to tell Buffy how to defeat the now soulless Angel.
Sarah Michelle Gellar (Do Revenge) and Natalie Portman (Heat) play girls from Bart Simpson's past in the 2012 episode MOONSHINE RIVER of THE SIMPSONS.
Johnny Depp (Blow) was considered for the role of Chris Shiherlis in this week's feature HEAT which would ultimately go to Val Kilmer.
Johnny Depp (Blow) get mentored by mobster Al Pacino (Heat) while also being undercover in the 1997 film DONNIE BRASCO.
Johnny Depp (Blow) and Jon Voight (Heat) were in the 2016 movie FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM.
Johnny Depp (Blow) and William Fichtner (Heat) were in the 2013 movie THE LONE RANGER.
Ray Liotta (Blow) gets mentored by mobster Robert De Niro (Heat) in the 1990 mob film GOODFELLAS. They also co-star in the 1997 film COP LAND.
Ray Liotta (Blow) and Dennis Haysbert are in the 2014 movie SIN CITY: A DAME TO KILL FOR.
Paul Reubens (Blow) is trained by Wes Studi (Heat) to be a better superhero in the superhero in the superhero comedy MYSTERY MEN.
Emma Roberts (Blow) and Julia Roberts (Confessions of a Dangerous Mind) are niece and aunt in real life.
Jeremy Irons (Lolita) and Robert De Niro (Heat) were in the 1986 film THE MISSION.
DRACULA
-Frank Langela (Lolita) plays Dracula in the 1979 film DRACULA.
-Bela Lugosi (Ninotchka) plays Dracula in the Universal era including the 1931 film DRACULA
-Christopher Lee (The Crimson Pirate) in the Hammer Films era.
-My Facebook friend Daniel played Dracula in the 2018 version at Richmond Civic Theater where I was Renfield.
THE CREATURE OF FRANKENSTEIN
-Bela Lugosi (Ninotchka) plays the Creature in 1943 Universal film FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLF MAN.
-Christopher Lee (The Crimson Pirate) plays the Creature in the 1957 film CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN.
-Robert De Niro (Heat) plays the Creature in the 1994 film MARY SHELLEY'S FRANKENSTEIN
-My Facebook friend Russ played the Creature in a 2007 version of FRANKENSTEIN at Muncie Civic Theater where I played gravedigger Peter Schmidt.
Peter Cushing (Violent Playground) plays Van Helsing in 1958 film HORROR OF DRACULA. Jon Voight (Heat) plays Van Helsing in the 2013 movie DRACULA: THE DARK PRINCE. My Facebook friend Matthew played Van Helsing in a 2018 version of DRACULA at the Richmond Civic Theater where I got to play Renfield.
Peter Cushing (Violent Playground) plays Victor Frankenstein in much of the Hammer films era. My Facebook friend Andrew played the role in the 2007 version at Muncie Civic Theater that was mentioned earlier.
Peter Cushing (Violent Playgound) and Christopher Lee (The Crimson Pirate) have been in a lot of movies together so I'm not going to get that detailed about that. They were in the 1959 film THE HOUSE OF THE BASKERVILLES where Cushing play Sherlock Holmes. Christopher Lee plays Sherlock Holmes in the 1962 movie SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE DEADLY NECKLACE. My Facebook friend Mitch played Holmes in a recent play I was in at the Pulse Opera House called SHERLOCK HOLMES: THE BAKER STREET IRREGULARS where I was the villain Morris Wiggins.
Roger Moore (The Spy Who Loved Me) played the 1962-1969 TV series THE SAINT. Val Kilmer (Heat) played the role in 1997 movie THE SAINT.
Drew Barrymore (Confessions of a Dangerous Mind) and Val Kilmer (Heat) were in the 1995 superhero movie BATMAN FOREVER.
George Clooney (Confessions of a Dangerous Mind) and Mykelti Williamson (Heat) were in the 1999 film THREE KINGS.
Julia Roberts (Confessions of a Dangerous Mind) and Natalie Portman (Heat) were in the 2004 film CLOSER.
Burt Lancaster (The Crimson Pirate) plays Wyatt Earp in the 1957 western GUNFIGHT AT THE O.K. CORRAL. Val Kilmer (Heat) plays Wyatt Earp in the 2012 movie WYATT EARP'S REVENGE.
Christopher Lee (The Crimson Pirate) and Natalie Portman (Heat) were in the 2002 film STAR WARS: EPISODE II- ATTACK OF THE CLONES and the 2005 film STAR WARS: EPISODE III- REVENGE OF THE SITH.
Al Pacino (Heat) play Shylock in the 2004 Shakespeare film THE MERCHANT OF VENICE. My Facebook friend Chris played the role over the summer in as part of the Marvelously Terrible Shakespeare Company at the New Castle Renaissance Fair where I played Bassanio.
Robert De Niro (Heat) was considered for the role of Willy Wonka in the 2005 film CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY before Tim Burton became the director and the role would ultimately go to Johnny Depp (Blow)
Natalie Portman (Heat) declined the title role in this week's feature LOLITA which would ultimately go to Dominique Swain.
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