Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations- 934th Edition

Welcome to the 934th Edition of my series.  This is the start of this year's Madness which is something I look forward to every year.  In the coming weeks, I'll be putting in my results in additional to my selections as I do every year.  My thoughts go out to those in the hurricane right now.  I don't have a lot going on right now so I'll just get on with my selections for the week.

Man-Thing (2005):  Brett Leonard directed this more unknown Marvel movie.  Matthew Le Nevez stars as the new sheriff Kyle Williams who is investigating some murders where an oil tycoon is drilling on sacred ground.  This leads to a swamp like creature that is brutally killing those involved.  Rachael Taylor co-stars as feisty teacher Teri Richards who helps the sheriff.  Jack Thompson, Steve Bastoni, Rawiri Paratene, Alex O'Loughlin, Robert Mammone, Patrick Thompson, William Zappa, John Batchelor, Ian Bliss, Brett Leonard, Imogen Bailey, and many others co-star in this marvel movie.  No franchise ever came from this movie nor have the MCU brought Man-Thing into their universe.  This was intended for theatrical release but ended up on the Sci-Fi channel.  I supposed this is Marvel's answer to SWAMP THING.  This was worth a look but best to get a group of friends to just enjoy it together.  This could be a good one for MST3K and Rifftrax to watch.  This is available to watch on Tubi.  

The Rental (2020):  Dave Franco directed and co-wrote this horror movie that shows the dark side of the Airbnb type services.  Dan Stevens, Alison Brie, Jeremy Allen White, and Sheila Vand star as a two couples who just want a getaway for the weekend and have a pretty nice rental home.  Things happen and they find they might be watched to discover something more sinister going on.  Toby Huss and Anthony Molinari co-star in this horror movie.  This is Franco's directorial debut in this horror movie.  This is a pretty decent horror movie and I liked the twist as well as the end.  This is available to watch  on Netflix, AMC +, and IFC Films Unlimited.

Onward (2020):  Don Scanlon directed and co-wrote this Pixar animated film.  This centers around a suburban fantasy world where elf brothers Barley and Ian, voiced by Chris Pratt and Tom Holland, learn there may be a way to resurrect their late father for a day and set out a quest while Ian learns more about himself.  Julia Louis-Dreyfuss co-stars as their mother who sets off to find her kids and teams with the legendary Manticore, voiced by a very amusing Octavia Spencer.  Mel Rodriguez, Kyle Bornheiner, Lena Waithe, Ali Wong, Grey Griffin, Tracey Ullman, Wilmer Valderrama, George Psarras, John Ratzenberger, and many others.  This is a really good coming of age story told by Pixar and has that usual Pixar magic.  There are a lot of good fantasy references for the fantasy buffs out there.  In this end, this is one the family can enjoy together.  This is available to watch on Disney Plus.

The Horseplayer (1961):  Technically this is an episode of ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS but I make the rules so I can call it my "short film for the week".  Alfred Hitchcock actually directed this episode and he does not directed them all.  Claude Rains stars as Father Amion whose church needs a new roof.  He starts to see generous donations only to learn it was a stranger named Sheridan, played by Ed Gardner, has been making donations from his winnings in horse racing which he claims are thanks to the church.  Percy Helton, Mike Ragan, Kenneth MacKenna, and many others co-star in this episode.  This is a good look at a priest caught between a rock and a hard place considering his struggling church and his own ethics.  This is available to watch on Peacock, Tubi, the Roku Cannel and Best TV Ever which is part of Prime.

Song at Midnight (1935):  Weibang Ma-Xu directed this horror film that is loosely based on book PHANTOM OF THE OPERA by Gaston Leroux.  Jin Shan stars as a disfigured composer who roams a Chinese Opera House punishing those that offend him.  Hu Ping co-star as the Phantom's love interest who were together but believes he is dead.  This is the first horror film from China.  When I watched this, I wasn't sure if I was going to get a silent film or sound but China did have the technology so this is not a silent film.  It is a pretty moving and tragic story.

The Invisible Man Returns (1940):  Joe May directed this Universal sequel to the 1933 film THE INVISIBLE MAN.  Vincent Price stars as Geoffrey Radcliffe who is scheduled to hang for a murder he didn't commit.  His friend Dr. Frank Griffin, played by John Sutton, gives him the formula needed to become invisible and is able to escape in hopes of finding who framed him.  Radcliffe also must be careful as he is experiencing gradual madness.  Nan Grey, Cedric Hardwicke, Cecil Kellaway, Alan Napier, Forrester Harvey, and many others co-star in this film.  This is a pretty good sequel, maybe not as known among the Universal monster universe.  This has some really good visual effects from this era.  I would recommend the 1933 film first but this has its own story to it.  This is available to watch on Peacock.

Evil Dead Rise (2023):  Lee Cronin wrote and directed this update to the EVIL DEAD franchise.  Lily Sullivan and Alyssa Sutherland star as estranged sisters Beth and Ellie as they try to reconnect but get disrupted by flesh-possessing demons.  They must fight for survival and protect the kids.  Mirabai Pease, Richard Crouchley, Anna-Maree Thomas, Noah Paul, Gabrielle Echols, Morgan Davies, Nell Fisher, and many others co-star in this film.  Also, listen for the voice of Bruce Campbell.  This was produced by Sam Raimi so he at least saw over this stand-alone entry.  While it is a stand-alone entry, some knowledge of the EVIL DEAD franchise would be beneficial.  This is a pretty good story to lead into the horror of a family reunion going on that just gets cut short because of a deadly book.  This is available to watch on Max.

Alien (1979):  Ridley Scott directed this sci-fi classic.  Sigourney Weaver stars as Ripley who is part of a crew on a commercial spaceship.  They encounter an unknown creature which wreaks havoc all over the ship.  Tom Skerritt, John Hurt, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton, Ian Holm, Yaphet Kotto, Bolaji Badejo, and many others co-star in this sci-fi thriller.  There is not a lot that needs to be said about this movie.  It is the start of quite the franchise as well as the iconic heroine Ellen Ripley.  This is perfect for the season and the rest of the year.  This is available to watch on Peacock.

A Bucket of Blood (1959):  Roger Corman directed this classic film.  This centers around a beatnik cafe where Dick Miller stars as Walter Paisley who is a dimwitted busboy but wants to fit in among the crowd.  This starts with some clay he wanted to use which was a struggle until he accidentally kills a cat and makes a statue of it by plastering it with the clay.  This gets him the respect he has always wanted but must resort to extreme measures to keep his popularity in the cafe.  Antony Carbone, Julian Burton, Ed Nelson, Judy Bamber, Myrtle Vail, Bert Convy, and many others co-star in this film.  This is probably my favorite Corman film.  That is honestly my sort of environment being coffee shop kind of guy.  Miller is perfect as the outcast trying to fit into society.  Walter Paisley is born everyone.  This is available to watch on Prime, Tubi, Freevee, Crackle, and most other streaming apps.

Last Night in Soho (2021):  Edgar Wright directed and co-wrote this horror mystery.  Thomasin McKenzie stars as Eloise who is an aspiring fashion designer going to college.  She starts having visions where she is in the '60s and living vicariously through an aspiring singer named Sandie, played by Anya Taylor-Joy.  As time goes on, the visions get darker and putting Eloise on the brink of insanity.  Matt Smith, Diana Rigg, Rita Tushingham, Michael Ajao, Kassius Nelson, Rebecca Harrod, Pauline McLynn, Terence Stamp, and many other co-star in this film.  This is Rigg's final film and she died before the movie was put out.  Stephen King also gave his endorsement of this film.  This does a good job of jumping through the time periods and not being too hard to follow but still giving suspense.  This is available to watch on Freevee.

Well, that is it for this week.  Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for next week which includes week 1 of the Madness and will include Amanda Seyfried, Vincent Price, Claude Rains, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charles Bronson, Donald Sutherland, and many others.

Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations- 933rd Edition

 

Welcome to the 933rd edition of my series.  There is not a lot going on right now so I will just get on with my selections for the week.

Score (2016):  I start the week out with this documentary which takes a look at the composers in the world of film and was directed by Matt Schrader.  This starts out discussing the early days of film on where the music score originated and how it would progress.  Interviews include Marco Beltrami, Christopher Young, Trevor Rabin, Bear McCreary, Mervyn Warren, Mychael Danna, Hans Zimmer, Rachel Portman, Christophe Beck, and many others.  I have always enjoyed a good music score, and this pays wonderful homage to that world.  I would have liked to have seen Nick Cave be featured more as he has my favorite music score from THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD.  I understand I can't always get what I want as Mick Jagger would say so I remain content by who all they do feature.  This is available to watch on Hoopla Digital, Freevee, Plex, TUBI, Pluto TV, and the Roku Channel.

12 Angry Men (1997):  William Friedkin directed this version on the classic which is based on the teleplay by Reginald Rose.  Jack Lemmon stars as juror #8 who stands alone with his eleven other jurors in his belief there is reasonable doubt in the murder case.  He tries to slowly win over the rest with the difficulty of #3, played by George C. Scott, and #10, played by Mykelti Williamson.  Courtney B. Vance, Ossie Davis, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Dorian Harewood, James Gandolfini, Tony Danza, Hume Cronyn, Edward James Olmos, and William Peterson play the remaining jurors.  Also, Mary McDonnell makes a cameo as the judge of the case.  This does not match the greatness of the 1957 version but they did a good job of updating the story.  Danza was perfectly cast in his role of juror #7.  As many know, I had the pleasure of being in this show, though it was 12 ANGRY JURORS where I got to play juror #3 and ranks high as one of my favorite roles.  This is available to watch on Prime, Freevee, the Roku Channel, and Tubi.  

Oliver and Company (1988):  George Scribner directed this Disney film which puts their treatment on the classic novel OLIVER TWIST by Charles Dickens.  In this story, Oliver, voiced by Joey Lawrence, is a homeless cat and is taken in by a group of mutts, led by Dodger, voiced by Billy Joel.  Dom Deluise co-stars as the voice of Fagin who owns the stray dogs.  When Oliver is taken in by a young girl, things get complicated when Fagin's boss Sykes, voiced by Robert Loggia, gets involved.  Cheech Marin, Richard Mulligan, Roscoe Lee Browne, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Taurean Blacque, Carl Weintraub, Natalie Gregory, Bette Midler, Frank Welker, Jonathan Brandis, and many others provide their voice in this film.  This is some pretty underrated Disney which puts a good twist, no pun really intended, to the Dickens novel.  It also has some really good music numbers like WHY SHOULD I WORRY from Billy Joel.  This is available to watch on Disney Plus.

Murder (1957):  This is my short film for the week which was written and directed by a young Roman Polanski.  This takes place in a very dark room where a murder has clearly taken place.  This was a college project by Polanski and his first completed film at State Film School in Lodz, Poland.  This would introduce themes that Polanski would use throughout his career.  This is only about two minutes long and is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.

I Am a Fugitive from the Chain Gang (1932):  Mervyn LeRoy directed this film which is based on the autobiography by Robert E. Burns of the same name.  Paul Muni stars as WWI veteran James Allen who tries to reenter society in hopes of being an engineer but unknowingly gets involved with a robbery.  He gets sent to prison and must endure the life of the chain gang.  He finds a chance to escape and becomes a Jean ValJean type but his past comes to catch up with him.  Glenda Farrell, Helen Vinson, Noel Francis, Preston Foster, Allen Jenkins, Berton Churchill, Edward Ellis, David Landau, Hale Hamilton, and many others co-star in this prison film.  This is based on a real person in Robert E. Burns who was on set some as a consultant and the movie would lead to a lot of reform on the chain gang.  I have mentioned many times how much I feel how underrated Paul Muni is and always glad to get him back on the radar.

A Woman Under the Influence (1974):  This is my tribute to the late Gena Rowlands who recently left us.  John Cassavetes wrote and directed this film that takes a look at mental illness, among other things.  Peter Falk and Rowlands star as married couple Nick and Mabel Longhetti who also have three children.  Mabel has a lot of mental instability which Nick tries deal with but he has his own issues being at overwhelmed at work.  George Dunn, Mario Gallo, Charles Hovarth, James Joyce, John Finnegan, Cliff Carnell, Frank Richards, and many others co-star in this film.  This is a very intense film that holds nothing back on how mental illness can effect a marriage.  Falk and Rowlands worked very well together and is not an easy watch but is compelling on many levels.  This is available to watch on Max and the Criterion Channel.

Justified:  City Primeval (2023):  This is technically a mini-series but as I always say, since it is my blog, I make the rules.  Dave Andron and Michael Dinner created this series that is based on the Elmore Leonard novel CITY PRIMEVAL:  HIGH NOON IN DETROIT.  It is also a continuation of the FX series JUSTIFIED which I have featured in my additional segment "Tube Time".  Timothy Olyphant reprises his role as Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens fifteen years after events that happened on the tv series.  Raylan is now in Miami trying to balance his time with being a marshal and trying to have a relationship with his troubled teen daughter Willa, played by Olyphant's real-life daughter Vivian Olyphant.  A chance encounter in Miami gets Raylan sent to Detroit to help bring down the violent sociopath Clinton Mansell, played by Boyd Holbrook.  Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Adelaide Clemens, Marin Ireland, Victor Williams, Norbert Leo Butz, Joseph Anthony Byrd, Alexander Pobutsky, Ravi Patel, Terry Kinney, Regina Taylor, Yosef Kasnetzkov, Eddie Martinez, David Cross, Paul Calderon, Keith David, Luis Guzman, Ahna O'Reilly, and many others co-star in this tv series.  The original novel uses a detective Raymond Cruz, but they decided to use Raylan Givens instead.  Many criticize this movie due to the lack of Boyd Crowder, but that story had already been told.  I also already know of Raylan Givens before the JUSTIFIED ever happened as I had read Leonard's novels PRONTO and RIDING THE RAP in the '90s that feature Givens.  The character Clinton Mansell could draw comparisons to Crowder.  The big difference to me is that Boyd Crowder had some redeeming qualities, and Mansell was just a villain to the core.  This is available to watch on Hulu.

The Great McGinty (1940):  Preston Sturges wrote and directed this political satire comedy.  Brian Donlevy stars as Depression-era bum Dan McGinty who is paid to make false votes in a rigged election.  He is recruited by the Boss, played by Akim Tamiroff, to be an enforcer and other things.  McGinty is soon elected as a "reform" candidate and must marry so he marries his secretary Catherine, played by Muriel Angelus, out of convenience.  While McGinty is being groomed for corruption, Catherine helps him to be more honest which leads to trouble.  Allyn Joslyn, William Demarest, Louis Jean Heydt, Harry Rosenthal, Arthur Hoyt, Libby Taylor, Thurston Hall, Steffi Duna, Esther Howard, Frank Moran, Jimmy Conlin, Dewey Robinson, and many others co-star in this film.  This has some really comedic moments with McGinty perfectly cast in his role.  It is a satire that remains relevant today.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.

White Rock (1977):  This is my second documentary for the week which was directed by Tony Maylam.  This takes a look at the 1976 Winter Olympics that were held in Innsbruck, Austria.  James Coburn narrates this documentary which takes a look at much of the Olympic events while also trying to take part in some of them.  This also has a really good music score from Yes member Rick Wakeman which was some cool synthesizer music that went along well with the documentary.  This has some really good footage and works really well along with the narration and music.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.

La Femme Nikita (1990):   I end the week with this French film that was written and directed by Luc Besson.  Anne Parillaud stars as Nikita who is a feral street girl and drug addict.  She also kills a cop at point blank and is convicted for her crimes but is given another chance through an organization that trains her to be an assassin.  Tcheky Karyo co-stars as her mentor Bob who has a limited amount of time to teach Nikita what she needs to know before her wild ways get her killed.  Marc Duret, Jeanne Moreau, Philippe Leroy, Jean-Hugues Anglade, Jean Reno, and many others co-star in this action film.  This was a very cleverly done film with Parillaud great as Nikita.  This movie started quite a franchise with the 1992 American remake POINT OF NO RETURN and the 1991 Chinese remake BLACK CAT.  It also spawned two tv shows, one of which is featured in "Tube Time".  In the tv series, Nikita is framed for murder and has more of a moral compass than in this movie.  Also to fans of Besson's THE PROFESSIONAL, Jean Reno's assassin character Victor the Cleaner is based on his character Leon which was written specifically for Reno.  

Well, that is it for this week but I did return with my segment Tube Time.  The Madness starts next week so I will be going back to my weekly format for the month of October and will go back to biweekly in November.

TUBE TIME

Justified (2010-2015):  Graham Yost created this tv series that is based on the short story FIRE IN THE HOLE by Elmore Leonard.  Timothy Olyphant stars as the loose cannon U.S. Marshall Raylan Givens who is working in Miami gets in trouble with his superiors and is sent back to his old hometown of Harlan, Kentucky.  While there, he must deal with what they call the "Dixie Mafia" which is mostly lead by his former co-worker turned rival Boyd Crowder, played by Walton Goggins.  Raylan has his own brand of justice that sometimes gets him in trouble with his superiors.  Nick Searcy, Joelle Carter, Jacob Pitts, Erica Tazel, Natalie Zea, Jere Burns, David Meunier, Jonathan Kowalski, Rick Gomez, Raymond J. Barry, Jesse Luken, Damon Harriman, Jeremy Davies, Justin Welborn, Mykelti Williamson, Kaitlyn Dever, Abby Miller, Jim Beaver, William Gregory Lee, Mel Fair, Michael Rapaport, Demetrius Grosse, William Ragsdale, Ron Eldard, Sam Elliott, Neal McDonough, Mary Steenburgen, Peter Murnik, Joseph Lyle Taylor, Margo Martindale, Linda Gehringer, Alicia Witt, Sam Anderson, A.J. Buckley, John Kapelos, Amy Smart, Garret Dillahunt, Jeff Fahey, Brad William Henke, Stephen Root, James Le Gros, Patton Oswalt, Scott Grimes, Danielle Panabaker, M.C. Gainey, Brian Howe, Jonathan Tucker, Dale Dickey, Steve Harris, Wood Harris, Max Perlich, Adam Arkin, Ned Bellamy, Stephen Tobolowsky, Will Sasso, Doug E. Doug, Xander Berkeley, David Koechner, Alan Ruck, W. Earl Brown, Kristin Bauer, Peter Greene, Tony Hale, Ray McKinnon, Mo Gaffney, Chadwick Boseman, Shea Whigham, Jessica Camacho, Desmond Harrington, William Forsythe, Jake Busey, Clarence Williams III, Jason Gedrick, Michael Ironside, Cathy Cahlin Ryan, Beth Grant, Dave Foley, Carla Gugino, Larenz Tate, Eric Roberts, Alan Tudyk, and many others star, play recurring characters or made guest appearances.  As one can see, this how had many big actors.  This is a really good contemporary western and it is also very violent.  There are a lot of very graphic killings and has a very high body count that I believe tops THE SOPRANOS.  Olyphant and Goggins were perfect in their roles with Goggins being a very compelling villain who was also an anti-hero.  Elmore Leonard had starting writing the character Raylan Givens in the mid-'90s so I was aware of the character.  I was also aware of the Crowe family from Leonard's books in general.  I think I finally started watching this show during Covid lockdown.  Two of the books are called PRONTO and RIDING THE RAP.  This show was based on FIRE IN THE HOLE which also has other short stories by Leonard.  The last book was called RAYLAN which is more based on this show and the last book the Leonard wrote before his death.  This is a very compelling series which is included on Hulu.

La Femme Nikita (1997-2001):  Joel Surnow created this series based on the characters created by Luc Besson from the 1990 movie of the same name.  Peta Wilson stars as Nikita who is framed for murder, condemned to death and recruited to be an assassin for an anti-terrorist government agency called Section One.  She is trained by Section One member Michael Samuelle, played by Roy Dupuis, and have a difficult relationship as they fall in love as time goes on but work for a ruthless organization.  Nikita's ethical dilemma sometimes gets her into trouble as well.  Don Francks, Eugene Robert Glazer, Matthew Ferguson, Alberta Watson, Carlo Rota, Cindy Dolenc, Lawrence Bayne, David Hemblin, Anais, Granofsky, Sian Phillips, Kris Lemche, Stephen Shellen, Hassan Coskuner, Malcolm Xerxes, Larissa Gomes, Edward Woodward, Samia Shoaib, Aiden Devine, Conrad Coates, Kira Clavell, Bruce Payne, Polly Shannon, Julian Richings, Callum Keith Rennie, Nigel Bennett, Colm Feore, Janet Kidder, Tobin Bell, Sean Whalen, Harris Yulin, Marnie McPhail, Maury Chaykin, Steven Berkoff, Gina Torres, Joaquim de Almeida, Khandi Alexander, Margot Kidder, Juliet Landau, Adam Ant, former WWE superstar Val Venis, Michael Cera, Patrick Gallagher, Jayne Eastwood, and many others co-star, play recurring characters, or guest star in this series.  This show lasted five seasons though season five had a much shorter season of eight episodes due to a contract dispute with Wilson and the producers.  This was not the best series of all time but it was usually pretty fun and interesting.  This is available to watch on Tubi.

Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations- 932nd Edition

Welcome to the 932nd edition of my series.  This week is the start of the regular season for the NFL.  I have my fantasy team together and I will be cheering on for the 49ers in hopes they will have another good year.  I don't really have anything else going on at this time son on with my selections for the week.

The Next Karate Kid (1994):  Christopher Cain directed this fourth installment of the franchise.  Daniel LaRusso has likely grown up and maybe has his car company.  Pat Morita reprises his iconic role of Mr. Miyagi and when visiting a widowed friend, he meets her granddaughter Julie Pierce, played by a young Hilary Swank.  Julie is very angry, and bitter having lost her parents and not fitting in at school.  Miyagi decides to take her in and teach her karate just like he did Daniel to help him to the right path in life.  She must also deal with a group of bullies being led by the football coach Dugan, played by Michael Ironside, and headed by Ned, played by Michael Cavalieri, who is one of the players.  Constance Towers, Chris Conrad, Arsenio Trinidad, Walton Goggins, Jim Ishida, Rodney Kageyama, Seth Sakai, and many others co-star in this movie.  Okay, so this is probably unnecessary, but it was good to see a young Swank and Goggins before they became big.  It would be good to see the character Julie Pierce in COBRA KAI but as far as I know that will not be happening, but the series is not over yet.  Morita and Swank did have pretty good chemistry between each other to make it watchable.  I supposed Ironside's character is the replacement for Kreese.  This is available to watch on Netflix

That's Him (1918):  This is my silent short comedy for the week.  Gilbert Pratt directed this short which stars silent film legend Harold Lloyd.  Lloyd has gotten married to Bebe Daniels and they are about to have a honeymoon but Lloyd loses the train tickets and he must go on a mad scramble to find them.  Snub Pollard co-stars as a robber and sets up Lloyd for a robbery leading to the complications.  This gave a warning beforehand that blackface makeup was being used which was by a train conductor.  This has some pretty funny moments in it with Lloyd.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.

The Kentucky Fried Movie (1977):  This is part four of my five-part Donald Sutherland series where like on the last edition, he has a cameo appearance.  John Landis directed this experimental sketch comedy film which was written by the iconic trio of David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker.  This has a series of highly irreverent skits with the main one being A FISTFUL OF YEN which parodies Bruce Lee mainly from ENTER THE DRAGON.  Evan C. Kim, Bill Bixby, George Lazenby, Marilyn Joi, Marcy Goldman, Barry Dennen, Robert Starr, Henry Gibson, Rick Baker, Branscombe Richard, and many others co-star in this comedy.  This led to a lot of future comedies from the director and writers including ANIMAL HOUSE the next year which Landis also directed.  This was kind of a variety show which I suppose is similar to GRINDHOUSE in some ways.  It is also very politically incorrect so if you offend easy, this might not be the one.  This is available to watch on Prime, Peacock, Freevee, Pluto TV, Roku Channel, TUBI, and Shout Factory TV which requires a subscription through Prime.

As of Yet (2021):  Taylor Garron and Chanel James directed this Covid film that Garron also wrote and even stars.  When I say Covid film, it is not about the virus or anything like that.  It is about the time were we were mostly in lockdown.  Garron stars as Naomi who is trying to make the most of her life in these crazy times and we see her communicate with her friends and family as well as a possible relationship.  Eva Victor, Amir Khan, Quinta Brunson, Ayo Edebiri, Yedoye Travis, and many others co-star in this movie.  I am sure many of us can relate to this film.  It is actually quite engaging with Garron very charismatic in the lead as she makes the most of lockdown.  Some of the best scenes are the communication with Naomi's roommates and their obvious disagreements.

12 Angry Men (1957):  Sidney Lumet directed this film which is based on a teleplay by Reginald Rose.  This centers around a jury who is to deliberate a verdict in a murder trial.  While this seems like an open and shut case, juror #8, played by Henry Fonda, feels there is doubt and wants to discuss the trial while the eleven other jurors believe the defendant is guilty.  Fonda then tries to convince the others of possible reasonable doubt and jurors 3, played by Lee J. Cobb, and 10, played by Ed Begley, prove to be the toughest to convince.  Martin Balsam, John Fiedler, E.G. Marshall, Jack Klugman, Edward Binns, Jack Warden, Joseph Sweeney, George Voskovec, and Robert Webber play the other jurors.  Having just done this show, I thought this was the right time to revisit this film.  I had the honor of plays Cobb's role of juror #3 who is the angriest of all these jurors.  Times were different in this era including a lot of smoking was going on in that jury room.  This was a very intense film where it was felt.  Lumet make his directorial debut in the way of a feature film and was hired by Fonda who was the producer of this movie.  Fonda always regarded this as one of his favorite movies and it is ranked up really high as one of my favorite plays I have done.  This also inspired a remake and tv shows to do episodes like this one.  This is available to watch on TUBI.

Sheena (1984):  John Guillermin directed this movie that is based on the comic series SHEENA:  QUEEN OF THE JUNGLE by Will Eisner and Jerry Iger.  CHARLIE'S ANGELS alum and Bond girl Tanya Roberts stars as Sheena who has been raised in the African jungles by the mystical Shaman, played by Elizabeth of Toro.  A group of mercenary type people invade the island and Sheena must rely on her gifts of communicating with animals to protect her tribe.  Ted Wass co-stars as reporter Vic Casey who is at first out for a story but finds there are more important things and helps Sheena in her fight.  Donovan Scott, France Zobda, Clifton Jones, John Forgeham, Errol John, Bob Sherman, Michael Shannon, Kathryn Gant, Nick Brimble, and many others co-star in this movie.  This is a lot of B-Movie fun where we get to see a lot of action and animals.  This is a comic series that started in 1938 where I supposed this was the answer to a female version of Tarzan.  It was a tv series in 1955 for abotu a year or so and no live action movie was ever made until this one.  In the later years, they would develop another TV series that would star BAYWATCH babe Gena Lee Nolin.  I feel we could have had some movie versions in the earlier years that maybe could starred Fay Wray and maybe even have a collaboration with Tarzan but that never happened.  Also, according to the Ramones, Sheena is a punk rocker but we did not get to see that side of her in this movie or the later tv series.  This is available to watch on Prime.

The Story of O (1975):  Just Jaeckin directed this French film which is based on a novel by Dominique Aury who used the name Pauline Reage.  I will start with the description on the Criterion Channel which says "Before the was 50 Shades of Gray, there was the Story of O" if that tells you anything.  Corinne Clery stars as O who is a photographer and is taken to a chateau where she is subject to the world of bondage and more.  Udo Kier, Anthony Steel, Jean Gaven, Christiane Minazzoli, Martine Kelly, and many others co-star in this very controversial film.  This is not for everyone and I won't use words that will get me red flagged like the last time.  It is a very interesting piece of arthouse cinema for those who are into that type of film.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel, Pluto TV, and CONtv which requires a subscription through Prime.

Knox Goes Away (2023):  Michael Keaton directed this film which was written by Gregory Poirier.  Keaton also stars as contract killer John "Aristotle" Knox who learns he is having a fast-moving form of dementia.  When his son Miles, played by James Marsden is in some trouble, he does what he can with the time he has left before his dementia fully sets in to save him.  Ray McKinnon, Paul Perri, Joanna Kulig, Edwin Garcia II, Nicole Reddinger, Suzy Nakamura, John Hoogenakker, Dennis Dugan, Charles Bisset, Lela Loren, Jay Paulson, Sasha Neboga, Al Pacino, and many others co-star in this action film.  This is a very well done film with Keaton doing a really good job in front of and behind the camera.  It is also a gritty but moving story that kept me engaged all the way through.  This is available to watch on Max.

Desert Fury (1947):  Lewis Allen directed this Film Noir which is based on the novel by Ramona Stewart.  John Hodiak stars as gangster Eddie Bendix who has been suspected of murder and gets involved with the casino owner's daughter Paula, played by Lizabeth Scott.  People around them do what they can to break them apart, all going through some rather extreme measures to do so.  Burt Lancaster, Wendell Corey, Mary Astor, Kristine Miller, William Harrigan, James Flavin, Jane Novak, and many others co-star in this film.  Corey makes his film debut as Johnny's henchman Eddie and their dynamic kind of remined me of Mr. Burns and Waylon Smithers on THE SIMPSONS if that means anything.  This movie comes at you from many angles so this will require some attention.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.

Pecker (1998):  John Waters wrote and directed this comedy and satire on fame.  Edward Furlong stars as Baltimore teen Pecker who is also a photographer.  When a New York art dealer named Rorey, played by Lili Taylor buys one of his photographs at a local art show and invites Pecker and his friends to an art gallery in New York City.  When Pecker's newfound fame comes about, the lives of those around him become more difficult including his girlfriend Shelley, played by Christina Ricci.  Mary Kay Place, Martha Plimpton, Bess Armstrong, Brendan Sexton III, Mink Stole, Patricia Hearst, Jean Schertler, Lauren Hulsey, Mo Fischer, and many others co-star in this comedy.  Also, look closely for WWE Hall of Famer Stacy Keibler who can be seen briefly on the bus.  This is the usual sort of unusal comedy from John Waters and has an array of colorful characters as well as some of his regular actors and actresses.  This is available to watch on the Criterion Collection.  

Well, that is it for this week.  Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for the next couple of weeks which so far includes Jack Lemmon, Bette Midler, Paul Muni, Gena Rowlands, and many others.