Welcome to the 940th Edition of my series where I'm mostly back to normal now with the Madness being over. I hope everyone has a good Thanksgiving, however celebrated. I know I have a lot to be thankful for in my life. I don't have much happening so I will shut up and get on with my selections.
Grindhouse (2007): I finally watched this in the way it was meant to be watched. Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino were the main directors and creators of this homage to exploitation films of the '70s. Rodriguez directed the feature film PLANET TERROR and directed the fake trailer of MACHETE which would go onto be its own feature film. In PLANET TERROR, an experimental bio-weapon is released which turns thousands into zombie-like creatures. A group of survivors band together to save the day mainly in Cherry, played by CHARMED alum Rose McGowan, and Wray, played by Freddy Rodriguez. This is most known for McGowan having a machine gun for a leg. Tarantino directed the other feature film in DEATH PROOF where Kurt Russell stars as Stunt Man Mike who stalks and murders voluptuous women with his "death proof" cars. He messes with the wrong trio in Rosario Dawson, Tracie Thoms, and Zoe Bell. This was meant to be a "double feature" with a few "coming attractions" before and in-between which were directed by Eli Roth, Edgar Wright, and Rob Zombie. I did not realize that last year's horror hit THANKSGIVING was originally a fake trailer in this film which was also directed by Roth. Danny Trejo, Vanessa Ferlito, Sydney Tamiia Poitier, Jordan Ladd, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Marcy Harriell, Omar Doom, Michael Bacall, Monica Staggs, Jonathan Loughran, Michael Parks, James Parks, Marley Shelton, Electra Stone, Elise Avellan, Josh Brolin, Jeff Fahey, Michael Biehn, Rebel Rodriguez, Bruce Willis, Naveen Andrews, Julio Oscar Mechoso, Fergie, Nicky Katt, Tom Savini, Carlos Gallardo, Cheech Marin, Udo Kier, Sheri Moon Zombie, Tom Towles, Sybil Danning, Bill Moseley, Nicolas Cage and many others co-star or have cameos in the features and/or the fake trailers. This was quite the project thought up by the minds of Rodriguez and Tarantino and did a great job of paying homage to this kind of event. I had individually watched to two feature films but this was the presentation that was meant to be watched.
The Bucket List (2007): Rob Reiner directed this comedy which was written by Justin Zackham. Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman star as Edward Cole and Carter Chambers. Cole is a very wealthy and eccentric man and Chambers is more of an everyday sort of guy. The one thing they have in common is that they are in the same room of the cancer ward and are terminally ill. When Edward sees Carter making a bucket list, he gets the idea for them to escape the ward and do some of these things before they go. They set out on quite the adventure forming a very unlikely friendship. Sean Hayes, Beverly Todd, Rob Morrow, Alfonso Freeman, Rowena King, and many others co-star in this film. Nicholson and Freeman may a great duo and play off each other very well. Alfonso Freeman is Morgan's son and they play father and son in the movie. This is a funny but also very touching film on living life to the fullest.
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004): Rawson Marshall Thurber wrote and directed this comedy centered around the world of Dodgeball. Vince Vaughn stars as struggling gym owner Peter LaFleur who is in danger of having to sell to his rival White Goodman, played by Ben Stiller. Peter must raise $50,000 in a pretty short amount of time and is talked into entering a dodgeball tournament by his misfit but very loyal gym members. White decides to follow suit and form his own team which develops a very intense rivalry. Christine Taylor, Rip Torn, Justin Long, Stephen Root, Joel David Moore, Chris Williams, Alan Tudyk, Missi Pyle, Jamal Duff, Gary Cole, Jason Bateman, Hank Azaria, Al Kaplon, William Shatner, David Hasselhoff, Julie Gonzalo, Curtis Armstrong, and many others co-star or have cameos in this sports comedy. This actually started a resurgence in dodgeball leagues. This was all-out comedy and was a lot of fun in my opinion. Stiller goes all out in his villainous role of White. This is available to watch on Hulu and the Roku Channel.
The New Housekeeper (1960): This is my "short film" for the week which is technically the very first episode of the classic sitcom THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW. As I always say, it is my blog so I make the rules and can make whatever definition I want to film. Sheldon Leonard directed this episode of the series. Andy Griffith stars as the widowed small-town Sheriff Andy Taylor whose housekeeper Rose gets married and leaves the house much to the objection of Andy's six-year-old son Opie, played by Ron Howard. Andy asks his Aunt Bea, played by Frances Bavier, to movie in and help raise Opie. Don Knotts, Frank Ferguson and Cheerio Meredith co-star in this episode. This would become a very iconic series with very iconic characters. This was a good start to the series back when life was simpler, at least that's what people I know from that era would say. This series in available to watch on Paramount +, Peacock, and Pluto TV.
Yours for the Asking (1936): Alexander Hall directed this romantic comedy. George Raft stars as casino owner Johnny Lamb who hires struggling socialite Lucille Sutton, played by Delores Costello, to be his casino hostess. Lamb's buddies fear that Lucille could put him on the straight and narrow which might not be good for casino business. Ida Lupino, Reginald Owen, James Gleason, Edgar Kennedy, Lynne Overman, and many others co-star in this comedy. Lupino and Owen are fun as a couple of con artists. This is a pretty decent B-list movie that was able to hold my attention. This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.
The Crimson Kimono (1959): Samuel Fuller wrote and directed this Film Noir which I felt would be appropriate for the month with many people calling it "Noirvember". Glenn Corbett and James Shigeta star as LAPD detective partners Charlie Bancroft and James Shigeta. They are investigating the murder of a stripper on the Japanese side of Los Angeles and each one falls for the key witness Christine Downs, played by Victoria Shaw, which puts a ripple in their friendship and partnership. Anna Lee, Paul Dubov, Jaclynne Greene, Nelye Morrow, Gloria Pall, and many others co-star in this Film Noir. This is some rather unknown Fuller and is one that deserves a little more exposure in my opinion. Fuller was respectful of race in this movie as all Asians were played by Asian actors instead of white actors being made to look like Asians which was very common in this era. In addition, it has a really good story and was worth a watch. This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel and on Prime.
The Wild Robot (2024): Chris Sanders directed this Dreamworks film which is based on the book by Peter Brown. Lupita Nyong'o stars as the voice of intelligent robot ROZZUM unit 7134 with Roz for short and is on an uninhibited island where she learns to adapt to the harsh surroundings. She also takes in an orphaned gosling named Brightbill, voiced by Kit Connor, and tries to parent him with the help of the fox Fink, voiced by Pedro Pascal. Bill Nighy, Stephanie Hsu, Matt Berry, Ving Rhames, Mark Hamill, Catherine O'Hara, Boone Storm, Alexandra Novelle, Raphael Alejandro, Paul-Mikel Williams, Eddie Park, Dee Bradley Baker, and many others co-star in this Dreamsworks film. I went to the theaters to see this one having heard really good things from my peers. This did not disappoint. It was a very fun movie and a great movie about working through one's differences. This is a movie the whole family can enjoy.
The New Centurions (1972): I pay homage to Quincy Jones who composed the music score for this film and recently left us. Richard Fleischer directed this film which is based on the novel by Joseph Wambaugh. Stacy Keach stars in this cop drama as Ray Fehler who is in law school but also decides to join the LAPD while in school. He is paired with veteran cop Kilvinski as he learns the ropes in the police world. As time goes on, Ray starts to love his job too much and becomes neglectful of his wife and daughter. Jane Alexander, Scott Wilson, Rosalind Cash, Erik Estrada, Clifton James, James Sikking, Isabel Sanford, Carol Speed, William Atherton, Peter de Anda, Ed Lauter, and many others co-star in this film. This is a pretty good look at the police force and the types of effects it can have if they are not careful. This might be the start of Estrada in his police roles. He plays a rookie in this film and would go onto the popular tv series CHIPS. A few years ago, he filmed a short lived reality series in my town of Muncie called ARMED AND FAMOUS where he became a police officer along with other celebrities. This has gone onto be an underrated film but it is available to watch on Tubi.
Double Indemnity (1944): Here is another selection for Noirvember and is a classic at that. Billy Wilder directed this film which is based on the novel by James M. Cain and Wilder co-wrote the screenplay along with Raymond Chandler. Fred MacMurray stars as insurance agent Walter Neff and meets housewife Phyllis Dietrichson, played by Barbara Stanwyck, when trying to sell insurance to her husband. Phyllis is not the most happy wife in the world and forms an affair with Walter. Even worse, she proposes a plan to murder her husband and collect double indemnity as the title says. The murder seems so clever but Walter's boss Barton, played by Edward G. Robinson, does not buy it and suspects Phyllis of murder. Byron Barr, Porter Hall, Jean Heather, Tom Powers, Richard Gaines, Fortunio Bonanovo, and many others co-star in this Film Noir. Stanwyck is a top notch femme fatale and will stop at nothing. The story also holds up by today's standards and is just as compelling. This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel and is being released in select theaters.
Three Identical Strangers (2018): I end the week on this documentary which was directed by Tim Wardle. This takes a look at Edward Galland, David Kellman, and Robert Shafron who were just three everyday people. When they were just 19 years old, they discover they are actually triplets all adopted individually through the same adoption agency. At first these three guys were on cloud nine and experiencing their 15 minutes of fame through all the media publicity they were getting. The adoptive parents had a more realistic attitude trying to understand why the agency would keep the fact they are triplets from them. Reality would also finally sink in with the triplets when they learn the adoption agency the Jewish Board of Guardians is very corrupt and sinister. There were a few other twin groups this effected in their own scientific study. The phrase "truth is stranger than fiction" could not be truer for this story. This is a very fascinating and bizarre documentary that is very well done. This is available to watch on Hulu.
Well, that is it for this week but continue reading for the return of my segment "The Bookworm Corner" and my new segment "The Thankful Moments" as we prepare for Thanksgiving. Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for the first Sunday in December which so far includes Brad Pitt, Martin Scorsese, Akira Kurasawa, and many others.
THE BOOKWORM CORNER
I'm trying to become more of a reader and starting an early New Year's Resolution. I decided to go the more local route for this selection.
Ghosts of Old Muncie by Chris Flook (2024): This was written by our local historian Chris Flook. He did some research on some alleged hauntings that took part mostly in the late 19th century to the early 20th century in Delaware County which is where Muncie is for those who are not in the area. This has a variety of stories with some having explanation and others not so much. To the history buffs out there, this is a very good read for those in and out of the area. There are a couple of the historical figures that I have portrayed in the Historic Beech Grove Cemetery Walk where people tour and we bring these people to life to tell out story. Flook has written quite a bit of historical books about Muncie and even outside of Muncie. This includes the book INDIANAPOLIS GRAVEROBBING: A SYNDICATE OF DEATH which also has some very interesting stories. Check him out on Amazon and on his own website https://www.chrisflook.com/ where we can see a lot of his other work.
THE THANKFUL MOMENTS
I decided to make a new category which at least includes a reference to Thanksgiving so just be thankful for my efforts I guess.
The Glass Castle (2017): There is a Thanksgiving scene among the family much later into the film. Destin Daniel Cretton directed this film which is based on the book by Jeannette Walls, played by Chandler Head, Ella Anderson, and Naomi Watts in different ages in life. This takes a look at a family that is always moving lead by her eccentric artist mother Rose Mary, played by Naomi Watts, and her alcoholic father Rex, played by Woody Harrelson. While a dysfunctional family, they are still very loving and Jeannette must weigh the ups and downs with her parents in her own life. Max Greenfield, Josh Caras, Charlie Shotwell, Iain Armitage, Sarah Snook, Sadie Sink, Bridgette Lundy-Paine, Shree Crooks, Eden Grace Redfield, Robin Bartlett, Joe Pingue, and many others co-star in this biographical film. This can be very hard to watch at times. It is still a very good look at an impoverished and dysfunctional family and what they would do to survive. This is available to watch on Max.
The Daytrippers (1996): This starts out as a family Thanksgiving to establish what the family is like. Greg Mottola wrote and directed this road trip film. Hope Davis stars as Eliza who thinks her marriage to her husband Louis, played by Stanley Tucci, is going well until she discovers what appears to a mysterious love note. Eliza's mother Rita, played by Anne Meara, insists they go confront Louis and it becomes a family affair. Joining them are Eliza's father Jim, played by Pat McNamara, her sister Jo, played by Parker Posey, and Jo's boyfriend Carl, played by Liev Schreiber, where they all rethink their relationships and meet a lot of new people along the way. Stephanie Venditto, Campbell Scott, Marc Grapey, Douglas McGrath, Paul Herman, Amy Stiller, Marcia Haufrect, Marcia Gay Harden, and many others co-star in this film. This was very well done with a great blend of comedy and drama and even heartbreak in this film, also about a dysunctional but loving family like the selection above. Davis and Posey work very well as sisters in this film. This is available to watch on Max and Criterion Channel.
Holidate (2020): This references just about all the holidays mainly being Christmas but Thanksgiving comes into play. John Whitesell directed this holiday romantic comedy. Emma Roberts and Luke Bracey star as Sloane and Jackson who tire of being alone on the holidays and both have their own bad experiences on Christmas. When they meet, Sloane has the idea of them doing a "holidate" with the inspiration of a family member where they form a platonic relationship but only on the holidays. Remember, this is a romcom so we know where things are going. Kristin Chenoweth, Frances Fisher, Andrew Bachelor, Jessica Capshaw, Manish Dayal, Alex Moffat, Cynthy Wu, Jake Manley, Julien Marlon Samani, Nicola Peltz Beckham, Savannah Reina, Olivia H. Hunt, Dan Lauria, Aimee Carrero, Meeghan Holaway, Carlos Lacamara, and many others co-star in this holiday comedy. I thought at first it was going to be some Hallmark type movie but Hallmark has nothing on this one. I also found myself laughing quite a bit at this movie. It is more of an adult comedy with a bit of raunchiness. It is predictable but what else would one expect in a romcom? The journey getting there was good enough. This could be a good double feature to go along with HOLIDAY INN which also takes place on holidays throughout the year. This is available to watch on Netflix.
Thankskilling (2008): This is the only movie that is actually themed around Thanksgiving. I watched this when I was at my friend Carrissa and Arto's house along with Peter and we had a fun time watching this one. Jordan Downey wrote and directed this B-movie about a foul-mouthed homicidal turkey. A group of college kids go on a road trip during Thanksgiving break only to have a very mean turkey after them. I don't think much more really needs to be said. There is a sequel which is called THANKSKILLING 3, maybe Downey just wanted to play with our heads or maybe the turkey destroyed all the copies of the send one. I guess we will never know. This is to be enjoyed as a bad movie and is the perfect Thanksgiving B-movie. This could be a good double feature to go along with LLAMAGEDDON which is about a murderous llama. This is available to watch on TUBI.
Escape Room (2019): This takes place around Thanksgiving having referenced one of them going on Thanksgiving break and these people really have nothing to be thankful for. Adam Robitel directed this horror movie that capitalizes on the popularity of the escape rooms. Taylor Russell, Logan Miller, Jay Ellis, Tyler Labine, Deborah Ann Woll, and Nik Dodani star as a group of strangers that get a mysterious black box with tickets to an escape room. They learn it is a very extreme and deadly escape room where they must rely on their wits in order to survive. Yorick Van Wageningen, Cornelius Geaney Jr., Bart Fouche, Jessica Sutton, Paul Hampshire, Caely-Jo Levy, Jamie-Lee Money, and many others co-star in this psychological horror movie. This was pretty clever movie of working together hoping to survive but not everyone does survive which is to be expected. This is available to watch on Hulu.
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