Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations- 920th Edition

Welcome to the 920th edition of my series.  While THE INVISIBLE MAN:  A LIVE RADIO PLAY came to an end, I am now in rehearsals for my second round of RADIUM GIRLS at the Elwood Opera House in Elwood, Indiana.  Last year, I was in the production in Anderson.  Next weekend is Easter weekend so I hope everyone has a good holiday however celebrated.  I will be at the Squared Circle Expo wrestling convention on Friday and Saturday so I am excited for that one.  I don't have much else happening so I'll just shut up and get on with my selections for the week.

One Life (2023):  This was the result of me going to AMC Screen Unseen and this was the mystery film.  James Hawes directed this WWII drama which was based on the book IF IT'S NOT IMPOSSIBLE:  THE LIFE OF SIR NICHOLAS WINTON by Barbara Winton, played by Lena Olin.  Anthony Hopkins star as Nicky Winton whose wife wrote the book in the modern era while Johnny Flynn plays him in the WWII era.  Winton was a young broker in the months leading up to WWII Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia.  While there, he found there were families that fled from the Nazis and with the help of a team around him, he would help get children out.  Helena Bonham Carter co-stars as Nicky's mother in the earlier era who would help him in his cause.  Tim Steed, Matilda Thorpe, Daniel Brown, Alex Sharp, Jiri Simek, Romola Garai, Jonathan Pryce, and many others co-star in this film.  I was pleasantly surprised with this selection.  This is a very beautiful and moving film about doing what is right.  This is one that deserves a look in the theaters and has a wider release now.

The Vanishing of Sidney Hall (2017):  Shawn Christensen directed and co-wrote this mystery film.  Logan Lerman stars as Sidney Hall who we get to see in different eras.  Sidney writes a novel that becomes an unexpected success and would disappear for years.  Elle Fanning co-stars as Sidney's love interest Melody.  Kyle Chandler, Michelle Monaghan, Blake Jenner, Nathan Lane, Margaret Qualley, Yahya Abdule-Mateen II, Tim Blake Nelson, Janina Gavankar, Darren Pettie, Alex Karpovsky, Michael Chen, Avery Whitted, Ariane Rinehart, Sean Cullen, and many others co-star in this film.  This movie does a lot of jumping but is not too hard to follow with everything coming into place.  There is a lot to follow and if I say anything else, I'm just going to likely spoil it.  This is available to watch on Prime with a subscription to Cinemax.

Woman Walks Ahead (2017):  Susanna White directed this historical western drama.  Jessica Chastain stars as widowed painter Catherine Weldon from Brooklyn and goes to the Dakotas in hopes of doing painting a portrait of Sitting Bull, played by Michael Greyeyes.  While there, Catherine gets a very hostile reception by the military there including Silas Groves, played by Sam Rockwell.  She also forms a bond with Sitting Bull and becomes embroiled in the Lakota peoples' struggle over their rights to the land.  Louisa Krause, Ciaran Hinds, Chaske Spencer, Monika Crowfoot, David Midthunder, Bill Camp, and many others co-star in this historical drama.  Greyeyes plays Sitting Bull very well in this dramatization of this part of his life.  This is a really story with great scenery and is worth a look.  This is available to watch on Prime with a subscription to Cinemax.  

Voyage to the Sky (1937):  This is my educational French short film for the week which was directed by A.P. Dufour and Jean Painleve.  This is a documentary short that takes a look at our universe.  They start with our own Earth and to the further limits to our universe.  This is a bit dated but still very interesting and worth about ten minutes of your time.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.

The Invisible Woman (1940):  A. Edward Sutherland directed this Universal sequel that is more of a sci-fi comedy than a horror film.  Virginia Bruce stars as model Kitty Carroll who answers an ad for the eccentric Professor Gibbs, played by John Barrymore, to essentially become a guinea pig for his invisibility machine.  Kitty has her own ulterior motives like getting back at her unfriendly employer.  John Howard co-stars as Richard Russell who is more of a benefactor for Gibbs and becomes Kitty's love interest.  Charles Ruggles, Oscar Homolka, Edward Brophy, Donald MacBride, Margaret Hamilton, Shemp Howard, Anne Nagel, Kathryn Adams, Maria Montez, CHarles Lane, and many others co-star in this comedy.  Shemp Howard was known for his role as "the Third Stooge" in the THREE STOOGES.  This is the third in Universal's THE INVISIBLE MAN series.  This was meant to be more fun and it really was a lot of fun.  Barrymore was also very enjoyable in his comedic role as a scientist.  This is part of the boxed set for THE INVISIBLE MAN.

Dr. Strangelove or:  How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964):  Stanley Kubrick directed and co-wrote this very dark comedy.  Sterling Hayden stars as General Jack D. Ripper who is very paranoid and makes unauthorized orders for a nuclear attack on the Soviet Union.  Peter Sellers co-stars in three roles including President Muffley, Captain Mandrake, and the crazed title character Dr. Strangelove.  President Muffley tries to work with his staff to prevent nuclear war.  George C. Scott, Keenan Wynn, Slim Pickens, Peter Bull, James Earl Jones, Peter Bull, Tracy Reed, Jack Creley, and many others co-star in this dark comedy.  This has a lot of very iconic moments and a very memorable performance from Sellers in his three roles.  We get everything from not being allowed to fight in a war room, owing Coke products, some great George C. Scott Rants, and many other things.  This is available to watch on Max.

Mamma Mia! (2008):  This is part five of my five-part Amanda Seyfried series.  Phyllida Lloyd directed this Musical which uses the music of Abba.  Seyfried stars as bride-to-be Sophie who really wants to have her father in the wedding but does not know for sure who is her father.  She knows it is one of three people so she invites these three people which include Pierce Brosnan, Stellan Skarsgard, and Colin Firth and to her surprise they all answer the invitations leading to complications.  Meryl Streep co-stars as Sophie's mother who cannot believe she is seeing three of her past flames.  Heather Emmanuelle, Rachel McDowall, Julie Walters, Christine Baranski, Ricardo Montez, Mia Soteriou, Enzo Squillino Jr, Dominic Cooper, Philip Michael, and many others co-star in this musical.  This has become a very popular musical to be done and is enjoyed by many.  If you just absolutely hate Abba they I guess this is not for you.  The numbers were arranged very well and the cast does a really good job.  If you're looking for an upbeat and feel good movie to see, this would be a very good choice.  This is available to watch on Netflix.

The Revolt of Mamie Stover (1956):  Raoul Walsh directed this drama which is based on the novel by William Bradford Huie.  Jane Russell stars as Mamie Stover who is a San Franciscan prostitute being run out and settles in Hawaii.  She hopes to start a new life but can never fully get out of her previous life.  She forms a relationship with writer Jim Blair, played by Richard Egan, and while they fall in love, Jim is called into the military complicating their relationship.  Joan Leslie, Agnes Moorehead, Joan Leslie, Agnes Moorehead, Jorja Curtright, Michael Pate, Richard Coogan, Alan Reed, Eddie Firestone, Jean Willes, and many others co-star in this movie.  This is a pretty decent movie that takes place during the backdrop of Pearl Harbor.  With all the standards at the time, apparently this had to be toned down.  Jane Russell still satisfies either way as the title character.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.

The End (1978):  Burt Reynolds directed this dark comedy.  He also stars as Wendell who is given a few months to life.  He decides that he just wants to go and tries to attempt suicide which always goes awry.  Dom DeLuise co-stars as mental patient Marlon Borunki who tries to assist Wendell in his attempts and is the most comedic in this movie.  Strother Martin, Sally Field, David Steinberg, Joanne Woodward, Norman Fell, Myrna Loy, Kristy McNichol, Pat O'Brien, Robby Benson, Carl Reiner, and many others co-star in this comedy.  I had not heard of this movie until I came across it.  Once I found it, the movie did catch my interest and was quite intrigued by the plot.  It is not quite as bleak as it seems and did move in some ways in my opinion.  This is some more unknown early Reynolds and does deserve a look.  This is available to watch on Tubi and Pluto TV.

The Equalizer (2014):  This is part five of my five-part Denzel Washington series.  Antoine Fuqua directed this updated movie to the popular '80s tv series.  Washington stars as Robert McCall who is trying to lead a much simpler life than the one he had before.  He spends a lot of time at an evening cafe reading books and observes a young girl named Teri, played by Chloe Grace Moretz, who he sees is in danger with a group of Russian gangsters prompting him to go back to his old, violent ways.  Marton Csokas, David Harbour, Haley Bennett, Bill Pullman, Melissa Leo, David Meunier, Johnny Skourtis, Alex Veadov, Vladimir Kulich, and many others co-star in this action film.  I might have seen an episode or two of the series so I can't make a judgment in that regard.  I thought this did have a really good story and some good interaction between Washington and Moretz.  This is also Washington's first series of films having this be the first of a trilogy.  This is available to watch on the NBC app.

Well, that is it for this week but I am bringing back my "Tube Time" segment.  Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for the next couple weeks which so far includes Margot Robbie, Robin Wright, Betty White, Burt Reynolds, Annold Schwarzenegger, Glenn Close, and many others. 

TUBE TIME

I Am Groot (2022-2023):  This is where I am right now in my Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline binge.  Vin Diesel reprises his role as the voice of the humanoid tree Groot of the Guardians of the Galaxy.  He is in baby form and is still trying to learn the world.  Bradley Cooper makes a guest appearance as the voice of Rocket.  Fred Tatasciore, Terri Douglas, Kaitlyn Robrock, James Gunn, Bob Bergen, Jeffrey Wright, Trevor Devall, Dee Bradley Baker, Scott Menville, Kari Wahlgren, and Matthew Wood provide their voice in this series..  This is just a series of shorts that last maybe 3-5 minutes and there are 10 episodes in total so it does not take that long to get through.  They are pretty humorous and this is available to watch on Disney Plus.  To those that want to do a timeline binge of the MCU, here is the link that does a really good job of updating on https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a825774/marvel-cinematic-universe-in-chronological-order/

Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations- 919th Edition

Welcome to the 919th Edition of my series.  Today is our last performance for THE INVISIBLE MAN:  A LIVE RADIO PLAY at the Pulse Opera House in Warren, Indiana at 4 pm.  If you are in or near the area, tickets are $15 and $5 for children 12 and under.  I hope everyone is adjusting okay to Daylight Savings Time.  I don't have much else for right now so I will just get on with my selections for the week.

Papi Chulo (2018):  John Butler wrote and directed this independent film.  DOOM PATROL alum Matt Bomer stars as the weatherman Sean who has a breakdown on the air after becoming single and is asked to take some time off.  Sean decides to work on some home improvement and picks a a migrant worker in Ernesto, played by Alejandro Patino, for help.  Despite the language barrier between the two and not having much in common, they strike up an unexpected friendship.  Elena Campbell-Martinez, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Michael Shepperd, Tommie Earl Jenkins, Shaugh Buchholz, and many others co-star in this independent film.  This is more of a character driven film and the leads work very well together.  I thought I knew where this was going, then it went in a different direction for me.  This is a rather underrated film in my opinion so I am glad I came across this one.  This is available to watch on Freevee and Fandor with a Prime Subscription.

Alpha Dog (2006):  This is part four of my five-part Amanda Seyfried series.  Nick Cassavetes wrote and directed this film that is based on a true story.  Emile Hirsch stars as Johnny Truelove who is a drug dealer.  He threatens Jake, played by Foster, who owes him money and Jake responds by breaking into Johnny's home.  When Johnny and a couple of friends see Jake's younger brother Zack, played by Anton Yelchin, and kidnap him where things spiral out of control.  Bruce Willis, Matthew Berry, Fernando Vargas, Vincent Kartheiser, Shawn Hatosy, Alex Solowitz, Alec Vigil, Harry Dean Stanton, David Thornton, Sharon Stone, Olivia Wilde, Dominique Swain, Alex Kingston, Amber Heard, Janet Jones, Alan Thicke, Lukas Haas, Holt McCallany, and many others co-star in this film.  This is a very sad and disturbing story but also quite compelling.  It also has quite the cast with Willis very good as Johnny's father.  I say the less you know the better in my opinion.  This is available to watch on STARZ.

Captain America:  The Winter Soldier (2014):  Anthony and Joe Russo directed this film from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  Chris Evans reprises his role as Steve Rogers aka Captain America who is still struggling to adjust to the modern world.  Steve teams with Black Widow, played by Scarlett Johansson, to take on a new assassin named Winter Soldier, played by Sebastian Stan, who is a familiar part of Steve's past.  Anthony Mackie is introduced in this one as Sam Wilson aka Falcon who also helps Steve where they find there is corruption in S.H.I.E.L.D.  Robert Redford, Samuel L. Jackson, Cobie Smulders, Frank Grillo, Maximiliano Hernandez, Emily VanCamp, Hayley Atwell, Toby Jones, Gary Shandling, Georges St.-Pierre, and many others co-star in this MCU film.  Listen for Gary Sinise who is the narrator in the Smithsonian Museum.  This one is more of a mystery than the other MCU films.  Nothing is what it seems and forces Steve to wonder who he can trust.  There are also two post credit scenes in this one.  This is available to watch on Disney Plus.

Bambi Meets Godzilla (1969):  This is my animated short for the week which was directed and written by Marv Newland.  We see our favorite deer Bambi just happily munching on grass now knowing he will be soon meeting Godzilla.  This is only about two minutes long but two pretty entertaining minutes showing what might happen if these iconic characters meet.  This can be found on Youtube.

Men Are Not Gods (1936):  Walter Reisch directed this British movie.  Miriam Hopkins stars as Ann Williams who is the secretary to theater critic T.H. Skeates, played by A.E. Matthews.  Skeates is about to write a bad review for the Shakespeare play OTHELLO and their actor Edmond Davey, played by Sebastian Shaw.  Davey's wife Barbara, played by Gertrude Lawrence, convinces Ann to rewrite the review more positively.  Rex Harrison also co-star in this film.  This is a pretty interesting film centering around the theater industry.  More happens from what I described where it turns into a bit of a love triangle.  Last summer, I was also in a 15 minute version of OTHELLO where I played the title role.  Usually that would be a miscasting but we are the Marvelously Terrible Shakespeare Company.  With all that, I jumped at the chance to see this one when looking for this era.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948):  Charles Barton and Walter Lantz directed this monster comedy which brings some of the monsters from the Universal universe.  Bud Abbott and Lou Costello star as freight handlers Chick Young and Wilbur Gray.  They encounter Dracula, reprised by Bela Lugosi, who has the body of Frankenstein's Monster, played by Glenn Strange, and wants to revive him with a new brain.  Lon Chaney Jr. co-stars as Larry Talbot aka the Wolf Man who tries to thwart Dracula's plans but being careful about being the wolf.  Lenore Aubert, Jane Randolph, Frank Ferguson, Charles Bradstreet, and many others co-star in this comedy along with an unseen Vincent Price.  This might be the first horror comedy and they do a great job of weaving the Universal franchise and bringing the legendary comedy duo.  This is a classic comedy that ranks up with just about any from this era and has some great monsters.

Hi Mom (1970):  Brian De Palma directed and co-wrote this dark comedy.  A young Robert De Niro stars as Vietnam veteran Jon Rubin who rents a run-down flat in Greenwich Village where he films people in apartments across the street believing he can make a lot of money.  Later, he falls in with a "black power" group.  Allen Garfield, Lara Parker, Charles Durning, Jennifer Salt, Gerrit Graham, and many others co-star in this comedy.  This is very early work for both De Palma and De Niro.  This a very dark comedy and much of this does not age too well.  This has always been a guilty pleasure of mine though and is still enjoyable to me.  This is available to watch on Tubi.

Oppenheimer (2023):  Christopher Nolan directed this biopic which is based on the book by Kai Bird and Martin Sherwin. Cillian Murphy stars as J. Robert Oppenheimer who played a big part of the controversial atomic bomb during WWII.  This takes a look at Oppenheimer from his college days into the post-WWII years.  Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., Alden Ehrenreich, Scott Grimes, Jason Clarke, Kurt Koehler, Tony Goldwyn, John Gowans, Macon Blair, James D'Arcy, Kenneth Branagh, Harry Groener, Gregory Jbara, Ted King, Tim DeKay, Steven Houska, Tom Conti, Josh Hartnett, Alex Wolff, Florence Pugh, Matthew Modine, Jack Quaid, Benny Safdie, James Urbaniak, Trond Fausa, Rami Malek, Olivia Thirlby, Casey Affleck, James Remar, Gary Oldman, Hap Lawrence, and many others co-star in this biopic.  This has been a very popular film and rightfully so.  It was a very good look at the controversial historic figure.  Murphy does a great job in a complex performance and Oppenheimer and Downey is nearly unrecognizable.  This is three hours that are very worth it for this film.  This is available to watch on Peacock.

Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941):  Alexander Hall directed this heavenly comedy which is based on the play HEAVEN CAN WAIT by Harry Segall.  Robert Montgomery stars as boxer Joe Pendleton who is about to have a championship fight but his life is taken.  It turns out the new heavenly messenger, played by Edward Everett Horton, takes Joe 50 years too soon.  Claude Rains co-stars as the title character who essentially runs the world of heaven and tries to rectify the mistake but the body was cremated so Mr. Jordan must give Joe another body to work with.  Evelyn Keyes, Rita Johnson, James Gleason, John Emery, Donald MacBride, Don Costello, Halliwell Hobbes, Benny Rubin, Lloyd Bridges, and many others co-star in this comedy.  Rains is very good as Mr. Jordan along with Horton being quite amusing as the heavenly messenger.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Collection.

The Great Debaters (2007):  This is part four of my possible Denzel Washington series.  Washington directed this historical drama and stars as college professor Melvin Tolson who is a professor at at the black college Wiley College Texas.  He puts together the first debate team that would go onto challenge Harvard.  Denzel Whitaker co-stars as James Farmer Jr., who is a 14 year old graduating high school early and ends up on the debate team.  Forrest Whitaker co-stars as James Farmer Sr. and while having resemblance to Denzel Whitaker who share the same name and play father and son, they are not related much to my surprise.  Kimber Elise, Nate Parker, Jurnee Smollett, Jermaine Williams, Gina Ravera, John Heard, Devyn A. Tyler, Glen Powell, and many others co-star in this film.  This is based on a true story and early days of racism.  The real-life James Farmer Jr. would go onto become a civil rights activist serving alongside Martin Luther King Jr.  This is a really good and inspiring film that deserves a look.  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" so read on for that.  Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for the next one in two weeks which so far include Helena Bonham Carter, Elle Fanning, Jessica Chastain, John Barrymore, Peter Sellers, Meryl Streep, and many others.

FUN AND USELESS FACTS

I always limit these to 25 facts which are from interconnected movies and not within the same movie.  I know there is plenty more so feel free to comment.

Matt Bomer (Papi Chulo) and Denzel Washington (The Great Debaters) were in the 2016 western THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN.

Justin Timberlake (Alpha Dog) and Samuel L. Jackson (Captain America:  Winter Soldier) are in the 2006 film BLACK SNAKE MOAN.

Bruce Willis (Alpha Dog) and Samuel L. Jackson (Captain America:  Winter Soldier) were in the 1994 film PULP FICTION, the 2000 film UNBREAKABLE and reprise those roles in the 2019 film GLASS.

Vincent Kartheiser (Alpha Dog) plays Jonathan Crane aka Scarecrow in the DC series TITANS.  Cillian Murphy (Oppenheimer) plays Crane in Christopher Nolan's BATMAN trilogy starting with the 2005 film BATMAN BEGINS.

Sharon Stone (Alpha Dog) and Robert De Niro (Hi Mom) play a married couple in 1995 mafia film CASINO.

Amanda Seyfried (Alpha Dog) and Gary Oldman (Oppenheimer) play Marion Davies and Herman Mankiewicz in the 2020 film MANK.

Emile Hirsch (Alpha Dog) and Olivia Thirlby (Oppenheimer) are in the 2011 movie THE DARKEST HOUR.

Emile Hirsch (Alpha Dog) and Forest Whitaker (The Great Debaters) were in the 2007 film THE AIR I BREATHE

Samuel L. Jackson (Captain America:  The Winter Soldier) and Robert De Niro (Hi Mom) were in the 1990 film GOODFELLAS and in the 1997 film JACKIE BROWN.

Samuel L. Jackson (Captain America:  The Winter Soldier) and Jurnee Smollett (The Great Debaters) play father and daughter in the 1997 film EVE'S BAYOU.

Samuel L. Jackson (Captain America:  The Winter Soldier) and Denzel Washington are in the 1990 film MO' BETTER BLUES.

Scarlett Johansson (Captain America:  The Winter Soldier) and Florence Pugh (Oppenheimer) play sisters in 2021 superhero movie BLACK WIDOW.

Scarlett Johansson (Captain America:  The Winter Soldier) and Cillian Murphy (Openheimer) are in the 2003 movie GIRL WITH THE PEARL EARRING.

Hayley Atwell (Captain America:  The Winter Soldier) and James D'Arcy (Oppenheimer) are recruited by Howard Stark to clear his name from treason in the marvel series AGENT CARTER.

Rex Harrison (Men are not Gods) plays Dr. Dolittle in the 1967 musical DOCTOR DOLITTLE.  Robert Downey Jr. plays Dolittle in the 2020 movie DOLITTLE. 

Bela Lugosi (Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein) plays Dracula in this week's feature ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN.  Gary Oldman (Oppenheimer) pays Dracula in the 1992 film BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA.

Lon Chaney Jr. (Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein) and Claude Rains (Here Comes Mr. Jordan) are son and Father in 1941 film THE WOLF MAN where Chaney plays Talbot for the first time.

Robert De Niro (Hi Mom) and Kenneth Branaugh (Oppenheimer) play the creature and his make in the 1994 film MARY SHELLEY'S FRANKENSTEIN.  Glenn Strange plays Frankenstein's Monster in this week's feature ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN.  

Robert De Niro (Hi Mom) and Matt Damon (Oppenheimer) were in the 2006 film THE GOOD SHEPHERD which De Niro directed.

Robert De Niro (Hi Mom) and John Heard (The Great Debaters) were in the 1990 film AWAKENINGS.

Kenneth Branagh (Oppenheimer) and Denzel Washington (The Great Debaters) were in the 1993 Shakespeare comedy MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING.

Matthew Modine (Oppenheimer) and Forrest Whitaker (The Great Debaters) were in the 1985 film VISION QUEST.

Josh Hartnett (Oppenheimer) and John Heard (The Great Debaters) were in the 2001 movie O which is modern-day adaptation of Shakespeare's OTHELLO.

Emily Blunt (Oppenheimer) was originally cast as Black Widow in the 2010 superhero film IRON MAN 2 but dropped out and would ultimately go to Scarlett Johansson who plays the role in this week's feature CAPTAIN AMERICA:  THE WINTER SOLDIER.  Emily was also in consideration for the role of Peggy Carter in the 2011 superhero film CAPTAIN AMERICA:  THE FIRST AVENGER which would ultimately go to Hayley Atwell who would have a cameo as the role in CAPTAIN AMERICA:  THE WINTER SOLIDER.

Scott Grimes (Oppenheimer) and Denzel Washington (The Great Debaters) were in the 1995 action film CRIMSON TIDE.