Welcome to the 973rd edition of my series and to the first one of the new year. Later my San Francisco 49ers take on the Philadelphia Eagles so I hope for the best in that game. Also, I would like to announce that I am part of the Short Play Festival which takes place in February and March. There are posters at the end for both of the months. I am not in anything for February but I will be part of the March short play THINGS MENDED. I will shut up now and get on with my selections.
Halston (2021): This is part five of my Culkin series which features Rory in the first episode playing the role of Joel Schumacher. Daniel Minahan created this mini-series which is based on the novel SIMPLY HALSTON by Steven Gaines. Ewan McGregor stars as Roy Halston Frowick who would simply be known by the name Halston. This shows Halston's rise in the fashion empire starting from the '60s and going into the '80s. Things would become difficult in the world of sex and drugs. Rebecca Dayan, David Pittu, Krysta Rodriguez, Gian Franco Rodriguez, Sietzka Rose, Megan Danielle Gerald, Molly Jobe, Maxim Swinton, Deya Danielle Drake, Bill Pullman, Sullivan Jones, Eric T. Miller, Jason Kravits, Dilone, Freja Zeuthen, Rory Culkin, Mary Beth Peil, James Waterston, Vera Farmiga and many others co-star in this mini-series. This is told in five episodes that are usually between 45-50 minutes. McGregor plays Halston to perfection in the many eras this covers. A lot of this is about his close friendship with Liza Minelli, played by Rodriguez. This also goes into his success but also shows how he could be his own worst enemy. This is available to watch on Netflix.
The Three Faces of Eve (1957): Nunnally Johnson directed this film which is based on the book by Corbett Thigpen and Hervey M. Cleckley. Joanne Woodward stars as Eve White who is a seemingly simple wife and mother. She starts suffering from headaches and black outs. Lee J. Cobb co-stars as Dr. Luther who finds that Eve suffers from multiple personality disorder and dedicates himself to helping Eve get her three different personalities sorted out. David Wayne, Nancy Culp, Douglas Spencer, Ken Scott, Ken Scott, Mimi Gibson, Alistaire Cooke and many others co-star in this film. Having watched the 1976 movie SYBIL with Carrissa a few weeks ago where Woodward plays the psychiatrist treating multiple personality disorder, I remembered this one where she has the multiple personal disorder and agreed to obtain this at some point. This is probably one of the earlier movies dealing with this disorder. Woodward has a great performance differentiating the personalities. This could be a good double feature to go along with the mentioned film SYBIL.
Watch Your Left (1936): This is my French comedy short film for the week which was directed by Rene Clement. Jacques Tati, who also wrote, stars as the farmboy Roger who sees boxing and fantasizes about being a boxer himself, especially when one came into town. When the boxer's sparring partner cannot continue, Roger is asked to fill in despite not knowing anything about boxing. This is a pretty funny short of Tati possibly being inspired by Chaplin. This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.
The Dangerous Lives of Alter Boys (2002): This is part six of my Culkin series which includes Kieran and part three of my Jena Malone trilogy. Peter Care directed this film which is based on the novel by Chris Fuhrman. Emile Hirsch stars as Francis Doyle who attends a catholic school in the '70s and is friends with classmates Tim, played by Kieran Culkin, Wade, played by Jake Richardson, and Joey, played by Tyler Long. They rebel quite a bit, mostly on account of Tim. They also dedicate their time to a comic book and create their own world of superheroes. They get very rebellious when their comic book is taken from them. Jena Malone co-stars as Margie who becomes the love interest of Francis. Vincent D'Onofrio, Jodie Foster, Arthur Bridgers, Scott Simpson, Melissa McBride, Michael Harding, Yvonne Erickson, and many others co-star in this film. This is semi-autobiographical for Fuhrman who unfortunately died before completing the final draft of the book. This is a good look at growing up Catholic and I suppose the boredom that can come with it. The story gets quite deep at times.
Lifeguard (1976): Daniel Petrie directed this film which was written by Ron Koslow. Sam Elliott stars as Rick who is an L.A. lifeguard even into his 30s. When at a reunion, he reunites with his ex-girlfriend Cathy and meets her five-year-old son. He considers a life with them and also considers more "serious" work as people look down on him for his profession at his age. Stephen Young, Parker Stevenston, Kathleen Quinlan, Lenka Peterson, George D. Wallace, Beatrice Colen, Linda Gillen, and many others co-star in this film. I suppose this could be considered a pre-BAYWATCH film and Stevenson would go onto being in that series. This was a pretty well-done and underrated movie. A young Sam Elliott must decide what sort of life is best and this movie conveys it very well. This is available to watch on Youtube.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024): George Miller directed this prequel to his MAD MAX franchise which is about the young Furiosa who was made famous by Charlize Theron in MAD MAX: FURY ROAD. Anya Taylor-Joy plays Furiosa who is snatched from her family by a biker horde lead by the Dementus, played by Chris Hemsworth. Furiosa soon seeks revenge against those that wronged her with the help of Praetorian Jack, played by Tom Burke. Alyla Browne, George Shevtsov, Larry Hulme, John Howard, Angus Sampson, Charlee Fraser, Elsa Pataky, Nathan Jones, Josh Helman, David Field, Rahel Romahn, David Collins, Goran D. Kleut, CJ Broomfield, Matuse, and many others co-star in this action film. I thought Hemsworth had a very interesting villain turn while Anya Taylor-Joy perfected her own role.
Dial M For Murder (1954): Alfred Hitchcock directed this film which is based on the play by Frederick Knott. Ray Milland stars as former tennis pro and London playboy Tony Wendice who tries to plot a perfect murder of his unfaithful wife Margot, played by Grace Kelly. Robert Cummings co-stars as American writer Mark Halliday who has the affair with Margot. The murder does not go as planned leaving Tony to try and cover himself. John Williams, Anthony Dawson, Patrick Allen, Robin Hughes, and many others co-star in this film. Williams plays Inspector Hubbard and reprises his role from the play. He also won a Tony for that show. Hitchcock brings his usual great blend of suspense and dark comedy. This is available to watch on Plex and IndieFlix shorts with a subscription of Prime.
The King's Speech (2010): Tom Hooper directed this film which is based on true events. Colin Firth stars as Prince Albert but becomes King George VI who has unexpectedly ascended the throne. The problem is that he has a speech impediment and is sure to be expected to make a few speeches in his time. His wife Elizabeth, played by Helena Bonham Carter, hires Australian actor and speech therapist Lionel Logue, played by Geoffrey Rush, in hopes that Albert will overcome his speech issues. While things get difficult Lionel and the king form an unexpected friendship while WWII was going on as well. Derk Jacobi, Robert Portal, Richard Dixon, Paul Trussell, Adrian Scarborough, Andrew Havill, Charles Armstrong, Roger Hammond, Calum Gitins, Jennifer Ehle, Dominic Applewhite, Claire Bloom, Timothy Spall, Michael Gambon, Guy Pearce, and many others co-star in this biopic. Firth and Rush work very well together in this film. This also shows that sometimes people in royalty are human like us. It was a very moving film where we are all behind the protagonist. This is available to watch on Pluto TV, the Roku Channel, and Tribeca Shortlist with a subscription to Prime.
The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973): Peter Yates directed this heist film which is based on the novel by George V. Higgins. Robert Mitchum stars as long-time criminal Eddie Coyle who is looking at very serious time for his latest offenses. Coyle turns to ATF agent Dave Foley, played by Richard Jordan, to snitch on his friends in order to avoid a long sentence. As we might expect, things just aren't as expected. Peter Boyle, Steven Keats, Alex Rocco, Joe Santos, Mitchell Ryan, Peter MacLean, Kevin O'Morrison, James Tolkan, Matthew Cowles, and many others co-star in this film. I don't really want to go any further as I might give things away. It is a very compelling heist film that centers a lot around betrayal from more than one side. This has gone rather overlooked through the years so maybe this will help get it out there a little bit.
No Time to Die (2021): This is part one of a possible trilogy for Christoph Waltz who is Bond's main enemy Blofeld, and Jeffrey Wright who is Bond's main ally Felix Leiter. I end the week with the latest James Bond film which was directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga. Daniel Craig reprises his role of James Bond who out of the British Secret Service and enjoying a quiet life in Jamaica. His peace is interrupted by Bond's long-time CIA friend Felix Leiter, played by Wright, and learns the British service are after the mysterious Lyutsifer Safin, played by Rami Malek. Lashana Lynch co-stars as Nomi who is the new 007 with Bond gone and they must work together. Lea Seydoux, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Whishaw, Naomie Harris, Ana de Armas, Rory Kinnear, Billy Magnussen, David Dencik, Dali Benssalah, and many others co-star in this Bond film. This is as of now the latest James Bond movie and the last for Craig. This was a really good way to end the Craig era of Bond in my opinion. He has been my favorite James Bond from the start as I feel he brings a more emotional depth to the series and this exceeds in every way in my opinion. There are a lot of fun references to the history of the Bond franchise. I would suggest watching a few Bond films before getting to this one.
Well, that is it for this week but continue on for the return of my segment "Fun and Useless Facts". Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for the next couple weeks which so far includes Jeffrey Wright, Brad Pitt, Chloe Sevigny, Sean Connery, and many others.
FUN AND USELESS FACTS
I decided to bring back this segment where I look at the inter-connections of actors and actresses but none in the same movies. I always limit it to 25 facts so I'm sure there is plenty I missed so feel free to comment.
Rory Culkin (Halston) and Kieran Culkin (The Dangerous Lives of Alter Boys) are brothers in real-life.
Vera Farmiga (Halston) and Vincent D'Onofrio (The Dangerous Lives of Alter Boys) were in the 2021 MCU mini-series HAWKEYE.
Vera Farmiga (Halston) and Jeffrey Wright (No Time to Die) were in the 2004 remake THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE.
Bill Pullman (Halston) and Peter Boyle (The Friends of Eddie Coyle) were in the 1995 romantic comedy WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING.
Ewan McGregor (Halston) and Christoph Waltz (No Time to Die) were in the 2022 film GUILLERMO DEL TORO'S PINOCCHIO.
Ewan McGregor (Halston) and Helena Bonham Carter (The King's Speech) were in the 2003 film BIG FISH.
Lee J. Cobb (The Three Faces of Eve) plays Juror #3 in the 1957 film 12 ANGRY MEN. I got to play Juror #3 in 2024 at the Rushville Regional Theatre and still believe that is the best show I did.
Jodie Foster (The Dangerous Lives of Alter Boys) and Peter Boyle (The Friends of Eddie Coyle) were in the 1976 film TAXI DRIVER.
Sam Elliott (Lifeguard) and Ray Milland (Dial M for Murder) are in the 1972 B-movie FROGS.
Sam Elliott (Lifeguard) and Robert Mitchum (The Friends of Eddie Coyle) were in the 1993 western TOMBSTONE. Mitchum is the narrator of this movie.
Sam Elliott (Lifeguard) and Richard Jordan (The Friends of Eddie Coyle) were in the 1993 Civil War film GETTYSBURG.
Anya Taylor-Joy (Furiosa) visited a restaurant where Ralph Fiennes (No Time to Die) was the Chef in the 2022 horror comedy THE MENU.
Anthony Dawson (Dial M For Murder) plays Bond villain Ernst Stavro Blofeld in the 1963 Bond film FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE and the 1965 Bond film THUNDERBALL where he is uncredited and always has his back to the camera. Christoph Waltz plays Blofeld in this week's feature NO TIME TO DIE.
Ray Milland (Dial M For Murder) and Robert Mitchum (The Friends of Eddie Coyle) were in the 1976 film THE LAST TYCOON.
Guy Pearce (The King's Speech) and Ralph Fiennes (No Time to Die) were in the 2008 war film THE HURT LOCKER.
Colin Firth (The King's Speech) and Ben Whishaw (No Time to Die) were in the 2018 movie MARY POPPINS RETURNS.
Colin Firth (The King's Speech) and David Dencik (No Time to Die) were in the 2011 spy film TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY.
Colin Firth (The King's Speech) and Ralph Fiennes (No Time to Die) were in the 1996 film THE ENGLISH PATIENT.
Michael Gambon (The King's Speech) and Ben Whishaw (No Time to Die) are uncle and nephew in the 2014 movie PADDINGTON and the 2017 sequel PADDINGTON 2.
Michael Gambon (The King's Speech) and Daniel Craig (No Time to Die) were in the 2004 action film LAYER CAKE.
Geoffrey Rush (The King's Speech) and Naomie Harris (No Time to Die) are part of the PIRATES OF THE CARRIBEAN franchise.
Geoffrey Rush (The King's Speech) and Daniel Craig (No Time to Die) are in the 2005 film MUNICH.
Derek Jacobi (The King's Speech) and Daniel Craig (No Time to Die) were in 2007 movie THE GOLDEN COMPASS.
Peter Boyle (The Friends of Eddie Coyle) plays the Monster in the 1974 horror comedy YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN. My Facebook friend Russ played the Monster in a 2007 version of FRANKENSTEIN at the Muncie Civic Theater where I played gravedigger Peter Schmidt.
Daniel Craig (No Time to Die) was considered for the role of Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe which would ultimately go to Chris Hemsworth.
